Category Archives: children

6 Activities That Can Be Accidently Fatal To Your Child

If you have children you probably try very hard to protect them, or at least I hope you do. You childproof your house, watch them as much as you can, and tend to their needs.
However, you are failing to notice some of the most hidden dangers that can strike your child, potentially killing them.
1. Shaken Baby Syndrome
Everyone knows you are not supposed to shake a baby. Even when your adorable bundle of joy is screaming bloody murder in the middle of the night, refusing to go to sleep after being changed, fed, burped, walked, glided, and flown. Even after you perform several headstands for his amusement. Yes, even then, the baby should not be shaken.
As you are tearing your hair out, quite ready to start screaming yourself, in the back of your head you know your baby is not supposed to be shaken, so you take a deep breath, walk away for a few minutes and collect yourself for your baby’s sake and then you kick your significant other out of bed, grumbling at them that it is their turn.
But wait, did you know that shaken baby syndrome does not only apply to babies, but also toddlers? And that they don’t have to be shaken all that vigorously for it to be fatal? The year mark does not signify you have bypassed the danger zone. In fact, because most people are unaware of this, it can actually become more of a danger as your screaming baby turns into a screaming kid.
Remember that time you were in the back yard roughhousing around, tossing your kid in the air as they squealed with joy, asking you to do it again and again until your back almost broke and you ended up in the ER looking like the hunchback of Notre Dame? You thought you were bonding and having a grand time. You were potentially accidently killing your child.
As your child was flying through the air, their brain was rattling around in their head, and the outcome could have been fatal if parts of the brain pulled away from each other and blood vessels broke. This is what shaken baby syndrome does. It causes inter-cranium bleeding, blood clots, and seizures. Luckily that did not happen this time, but now you know.
2. Teaching Your Kids How To Swim
What is the best way of preventing drowning accidents? Teaching your kids how to swim of course.
That mentality right there is why there are so many drowning accidents involving children aged one to fourteen. When parents think their children can swim, they become over confident in their child’s abilities, because of course your child is the best at everything he does and your little angel is the next Michael Phelps.
So what happens when your children are running around an unattended pool? You tend to pay less attention because you know your kids can swim. At least you thought they could swim.
3. Going Out Without Your Kids
We all know you should not leave your kids with just anyone. When you went out on your date night you screened your baby sitter, finger printed her and background checked her. You called her references and dug up everything you could on her on the internet. You drug checked her. And then you grilled her with further questions, just for good measure.
Or, she is the one you have been leaving with your children for a long time. She knows your kids, and they love her. You are comfortable with her in your home, and she is easy to get a hold of.
4. Third Hand Smoking
Children should not smoke. You also know you should not smoke around your children. It can cause all sorts of upper respiratory problems, and may also be a cause of SIDS. But did you know about third hand smoke? No, I am not referring to the three handed monster from some distant unpronounceable planet that comes to your house to smoke in front of your children while you are taking a shower.
Even if you only smoke on your lunch break at work, miles and miles away from your children, the chemicals that smoking has left in your hair and clothes can be just as bad as if you smoked in the same room with them.
5. Camping
Camping is a great way for a family to bond, take a mini vacation, and spend relatively little money. Unless you really know how to camp, in which case you go for broke. Literally.
You know not to leave your little one unattended by the fire, and to watch them when they approach the lake. You make sure they are all snug and comfy in their sleeping bags, and try not to drown them in bug repellent.
You heard the rumors about bears lurking around, but you thought that was just too far fetched. Well, you were wrong. Bears do attack small children on camping trips, especially when they are left with food. How else would you leave your child? A child without treats is like asking for a temper tantrum.
6. Driving
Of course you strap your kids into the latest and safest child seats when they are in the car. You probably even purchased all the fancy accessories that came with your overly priced car seat. When you are driving with your kids they are super safe.
But where are they when you are not driving with them? Every time you back out of your driveway and your children are not in the car with you, you are potentially murdering your children. And the neighbor’s kids too.
More children are killed by vehicles backing out of driveways than in car accidents. It is kind of how more people get into accidents within five miles of their house than anywhere else on their commute. There is a certain comfort level associated with your own driveway that allows you to lower your guard. And you thought you were just running out for a few things at the store.

Why My Children’s Goldfish Scares Me

I have to confess, I am terrible at keeping things alive. Since I have two small children, I know this may sound scary, but I assure you, I am great with the kids. Plants and high maintenance pets on the other hand are a completely different story.
I once had a fern. It died. Ferns are supposed to be super easy to maintain and extremely durable. I inadvertently killed a cactus. They don’t even require water! People give me plants as gifts a lot. Despite my best efforts they never make it more than a week.
So, one day, not long from now, when one of my kids brings home a pet, unless it is a kitty or a puppy, I am terrified of the outcome. I can just see the tears and screaming when their goldfish, which they so carefully named, and loved, goes missing. How many times am I going to have to replace it in the middle of the night? How similar do hamster look? Will they know Buttons is an imposter?
Aside from cats and dogs (of which I have my share), pets can be a lot of maintenance. And even though I know my kids will absolutely promise to take care of them, I know from experience that the duty will fall to the parents. Which is why I pray my husband’s green thumb translates into a purple thumb and he will be better equipped to understand the complex filtration and temperature system which comes with a fish tank. I hope he knows about overfeeding small rodents. I hope he knows about the temperature requirements of iguanas. Because I thought I did. I had done all the research, spend meticulous hours adjusting and readjusting the living conditions for my various pets (and mind you I was not a little kid at the time, I was in college). I would check water alkalinity and even make sure there were enough bubbles. I may have even counted the grains of sand at the bottom of the tank. All for nothing. My fish never made it to the end of the week. My mice passed out and died. I never had a bird, but if I had, it probably would have suffered a similar fate. Which is why I am terrified of my children’s pets.
How do you feel about pets your children brought home?P.S. I had to amend this post, because my husband brought it to my attention that I did not specify that after stating my mice passed out I did not follow up with their untimely death. Poor little Blackie passed out and died.

8 Reasons to Attend a Community College

Although my children are far from college age, I cannot help plan for their futures. As any mother, I want what is best for children, so honestly when the time comes I would really like if they were to go to a local community college first and then transfer to a larger four year institution. This is why:
1.       Going to a community college first can help them discover what they really want to do. We all have ideas of what we want to major in when we are in high school, but sometimes in our first or second year we find new interests. Most community colleges allow them to explore these options, dabble in coursework for different fields, and identify their goals.
2.       Regardless of whether they will attend a four year out of high school, or transfer to one from a community college, they will still have to go through the college acceptance process. However, if they choose to transfer it postpones the process by a few years. Along with number one above, this grants them the opportunity to mature a bit, and deal with the stress and aggravation of the acceptance process at a time when they are better prepared for it.
3.       Community colleges have some amazing professors and learning opportunities and they are nothing to scoff at.
4.       Honestly, a lot of money can be saved following this route. I cannot say what the economy will be like 15 years from now when my daughter will be going to college, or 16 years from now when my son will follow. But saving money is a good thing in any economy.
5.       In large university settings they may not always get the attention they might need from a professor. Community colleges are often in smaller settings and they have more chances to speak to their professors privately after class or during office hours to discuss any questions about lectures or coursework.
6.       Community colleges are often smaller in size than four year institutions, which may offer just the transition they need.
7.       Not everyone is out to get a four year degree. Sometimes an Associates Degree or just learning some marketable skills will suffice.
8.       A community college can allow them to live at home for a few more years if the four year they will aim towards is out of town. Not only will that save money, but it may again help them mature a bit before having to be on their own.
Having considered all of the above I really hope my children will be inclined to attend a community college. However, it will ultimately be their choice.
How do you feel about community colleges?