Pick Baby Name

If you can't have the patience of a preschool teacher, you can at least have the same strategies
Today is the beginning of my last three days at the Boston Globe, ending 19 years as the Globe's...
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Budget for young parent program sliced
A program to help young parents graduate from high school has been shut down in the Metro East.
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CHOSEN TO LEAD - Jul 17
Last weekend the Archdiocese received the joyous news that two of its sons had been raised to the office of Bishop. Catholic News once again congratulates Archbishop-elect Fr Joseph Harris and Bishop-elect Msgr Jason Gordon on their appointments.
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Sydney Ferry Warning

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Pretty obvious warning on a Sydney Harbor Ferry.

Life Notes: Parenting young children is hard work, but rewarding
A friend is having her first child soon, and I have a touch of baby fever.
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Birth: Logan Gerard Troyan
Katie Siepierski and Jacob Troyan are the proud new parents of Logan Gerard Troyan.
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Joan Smith: Miriam and her amazing cojones
An atheist is leader of the Labour Party. Gay MPs hold parties on the terrace of the House of Commons to celebrate civil partnerships. Oh, and the Deputy Prime Minister is married to a feminist. Not any old feminist, either, but a "militantly ball-breaking" Spanish lawyer – I'm quoting a popular daily newspaper here, you understand – who doesn't like being called a wife. Honestly, it's enough to ...
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About Olivia Gordon
Olivia Gordon cut her teeth as a features writer on women's magazine Real. As a successful freelance journalist for the past four years, she has written for the Times, Telegraph, Guardian/Observer, Independent, Mail and Express (in particular for the Sunday supplements), as well as for magazines including Red, She, Grazia, Prima, Woman's Own, Psychologies, Tatler, Essentials, Cosmo Bride, Closer ...
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Parenting advice

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no babies in boxes!

Birth: Logan Gerard Troyan
Katie Siepierski and Jacob Troyan are the proud new parents of Logan Gerard Troyan.
Read more on Ile Camera

Get a horse — It’s fair time
The 2011 Upper Missouri Valley Fair kicked off Tuesday and will continue through Sunday at the fairgrounds just north of Williston on U.S. Highway 2.
Read more on Williston Herald

Get a horse — It’s fair time
The 2011 Upper Missouri Valley Fair kicked off Tuesday and will continue through Sunday at the fairgrounds just north of Williston on U.S. Highway 2.
Read more on Williston Herald

Declarations of independence ... from baby bottle
Parent Forward by Bonnie J. Toomey "You have arrived." It's like my GPS (in this case, God of Parenting Services) has validated my parking ticket.
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TRAVPR.COM ASIAROOMS.COM - HEALTH CUISINE AND BEAUTY FESTIVAL PREPARES TO OPEN ITS DOORS
TRAVPR.COM UK - June 28th, 2011 - The seventh annual Health, Cuisine and Beauty Festival looks set to entice residents and travellers from Bangkok and surrounding areas such as Pattaya when it kicks off in July.It will take place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre QSNCC and offer people a vast selection of options for all their pampering needs.Running from July 6th to 10th, the...
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Parenting Advice - What Is Your Job As A Parent?

Parenting is a tough job. All too often we do not come to appreciate just how rough our parents had it until we become parents ourselves. While parenting has always been challenging, it seems that parenting today is even tougher than it was for the generations before ours. I believe that is is more difficult because we are raising our children in a far different world than our parents raised us. For the most part, our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents had a pretty good parenting guide set out for them by watching the other members of their family and the world did not change the greatly from one generation to the next. In addition, previous generations of parents had a strong support system of not only examples but helping hands. Today, our mobile society and high rate of single parenthood (through divorce or from the beginning) have not only destroyed the support system of yesteryear but also created a lot more challenging childhood to parent. In our electronic age we do not lack for parenting advice and parenting tips, but it is so hard to pick and choose from the myriad of "helpful hints" to know just what will work for you and your child. However, just like so many other problems in life we are often our own worst enemies. Whenever the parenting choices get too tough then boil it down in importance by asking yourself one of these three key parenting questions.

First, are you a good role model for your child? You know right from wrong. You know what it means to be an adult. You know what kind of man or woman you hope your child to be when he or she grows up. If you want your child to grow up a certain way then try to give them a role model to follow. Children do as you do, not as you say, my mother always says, and I know this is true from watching my own child as well as my students. If you want your child to be kind then you need to demonstrate kindness. If you want your child to be a good student then model scholarship and demonstrate that you value education. If you want your child to have strong work ethic that show them what it means. You can tell your children you want them to stay in school but if you are a dropout who never pursued a G.E.D. then what message does that send? Our children can learn from our mistakes but too often they simply repeat them unless we show them how to change their life.

Second, are you preparing your child for life and adulthood? Don't get me wrong. I think children should be allowed to be children. They should have fun and play. All too often today's child grows up far too soon. I am not talking about talking about sex with your 6-year-old or forcing your 12-year-old to get a job. I mean simply starting when your child is young to teach responsibility, decision-making, and consequences. Start them small with little jobs and little decisions and then as they grow older you can increase the level. If you do too much for your child then they will not be able to do for themselves when they grow older. Also, if you teach your child that life is all fun and games then they are going to be really upset when they discover it is not. I don't allow my 6-year-old to operate any kitchen equipment without supervision but he can make himself a peanut butter sandwich and pour a glass of milk. He can't unload the entire dishwasher (and I shudder to think about him putting glassware in a cupboard over his head) but he can put the silverware away.

Finally, are you providing a solid emotional, physical and educational foundation for your child? Remember, your child may well be in charge of your life some day or maybe even in charge of all of our lives (hey somebody's kid has to be President, why not mine or yours?). Many people with tremendously flawed beginnings grow up to be good people, but why handicap your child that way? No matter how many challenges you face personally it is your job as a parent to provide security and comfort for your child.

I believe that one of the keys to being a good parent is keeping your eyes on the prize. Focus on one universal rule or measuring stick and everything else will get much easier. What measuring stick should you use? That is up to you as this is your life and your child, but the measuring stick my husband and I use is a simple one. We think about what kind of man we want our son to be and apply that goal to the situation at hand. If you focus on being a good role model, preparing your child for life and adulthood, and providing a solid foundation then you are a good parent. Don't sweat the small stuff if the big stuff is taken care of.