Checklist: Prepare Your Home For an Elderly Parent

Sandwich Generation

It’s a fact, as we get older so do our parents, and along with our aging parents can come some problems. I recently did a book review on siblings and caring for aging parents. More and more Baby Boomers are facing tough choices with our aging parents regarding their living arrangements.  Some adult children choose to send our parent(s) to a nursing home or assisted living facility where they’ll get around the clock care; others decide to hire help that can come to the parents’ home; while still others may decide to bring the parent to live with them.

My independent grandmother lived alone in senior citizen housing until she was 95.  As her conservator, I arranged for her to have certain medical alert systems in place.  For example, a service checked in on her every day by phone.  My grandmother also  had a medical alert button that she wore around her neck in the event she fell.

Alternatively, my late mother-in-law lived for many years with my husband’s sister.  As mom grew older, adaptations were made in the house so that she could remain ambulatory.

If you’re considering tucking your parent under your own roof, and that parent is disabled, there’s many things you need to do to prepare your home for their safety.  This isn’t an exhaustive list, but rather a starting point in helping you figure out just what you need to do in order to make your home ready.

With a clipboard in hand, take a tour of your house from the front entrance to all interior spaces and take notes.

Entrance -
Check to see if the walkway is even for ease of walking, that the steps are not too steep, and that the handrail is adequate.  Does the door open easily and is the whole area well lit?  If your parent is in a wheelchair, the walkway needs to be wide enough to accommodate it and you may need to install a ramp.

Kitchen -
Take a look at the electrical outlets and make sure there are several within easy reach.  Keep dishes and utensils within easy reach too.  Pull-out shelves in the bottom cabinetry make for easier access.  Buy small appliances that are made for people with arthritis as they are easier to use.  Are all the bigger appliances accessible?  Can your parent reach the microwave and the controls on the oven?  A fire extinguisher is a must for the kitchen, whether your parent is living with you or not.

Bath -
Make sure your water heater is not set too high as this could cause potential scalding. A single lever faucet may be a better choice to allow them control over the water temperature.  You should install grab bars around the toilet area and shower/tub.  Consider adding a seat in the shower as well.  Put a non-stick surface in the shower/tub and make sure the bathroom flooring won’t get slick and slippery when wet.  Everything they need should be within easy reach.  If your parent is in a wheelchair, create knee space under the sink and insulate the hot water pipe to prevent burns.  Have a nightlight that turns on automatically at night.

Bedroom -
You can install grab bars wherever they are needed.  Consider getting a hospital-type bed if they need some help getting to a sitting position.  Make sure there is adequate lighting and no exposed cords or drapery to trip on. Are the bedroom and closet doors easy to open?  Keep the path to the bathroom well lit and clear of stuff at night.

The decision to have your parent move into your house isn’t an easy one.  Take the time to make your home as accommodating by researching medical alert products and as safe as you can before you lay out the welcome mat.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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In Home Spa Treatment: Pamper Yourself

Me Time

Stress isn’t limited strictly to young families and moms with kids at home, believe me.  People have busy lives and are constantly dealing with stress. Whether you’re a WAHM, stay-at-home mom or corporate execute executive, all of us have important tasks to do on a daily basis and we’re always on the move. As long as we get to have a moment to relax and rejuvenate ourselves so we can start each day refreshed, it’s OK.

What can we do to relax and rejuvenate our minds and bodies? Soaking in a tub can do wonders for the mind and body. No time, you might ask?  Well then create the time! After the house is quiet at night, take at least 30-minutes for yourself, because you’re worth it!

There are all kinds of bath products available for you to pamper yourself with and some of my favorites are listed right here on this site that I’ve done product reviews on in the past. If you enjoy taking a bath, there are soaps, bath salts, bath bubbles, sugar scrubs, which come in variety of scents (my personal favorite is Citrus). Soak away your stress with the bath products of your choice – light a candle or two, turn out your bathroom light, have some soft relaxing music in the background, put your head on an orthopedic pillow and you are good to go. Close your eyes and enjoy the wonderful scent, let it take you to wherever you’d like to be. Try not to fall asleep!

Of course if you can afford a day spa on a regular basis, that’s great, but if you’re like me and most busy women I know,the do-it-yourself spa is just as good as the real one. Here are 3 big reasons why:

You can enjoy a luxurious bath from the comfort of your own home. So if you have little kids, there is no need to hire a baby sitter. Tell the kids or spouse it’s “Me Time” and you have all the time you need for your home spa treatment.

It’s affordable!  As much as we’d like, a visit to a day spa is nice, but it’s definitely not cheap.

If you’re not so much a bath person, then turn your shower into what I call “a relaxation staycation”.  A high pressure shower massage head does wonders and acts as a back pain treatment.

No need to make an appointment! You can set up your special bath time whenever you want.

Now that you’re thoroughly rejuvenated, curl up with a neck pain pillow, and read your favorite book or gossip magazine!

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Baby Everywhere: A Book and a Bag Review and Giveaway

A Caring Gift

Baby Safety

You could call me “Antique Roadshow.” As a grandmom, I often still find myself carrying around a diaper bag for Slugger, who’s going on two.  A diaper bag is one of those essentials most grandmoms or moms would be lost without.

I received A Book and A Bag from Baby-Everywhere to try out.
When you want to take an excursion out of your home with a small baby, there’s no telling what you might need. A good diaper bag can hold everything you might need including baby wipes, diapers, diaper ointment, baby powder, clothing, bottles, food, just about anything else you might possibly need while out and about with your baby.

A Book and a Bag is a wide tote that can be used by moms, grandmoms, nanny, daycare providers or babysitters.  Also an organizer, there’s a place for keys, cell phones, wallet as well as baby’s necessities. It includes a Safe Baby Organizer – a 50-page loose-leaf book (4″x7″), containing expert advice on how to prevent injuries and handle an emergency, should one occur, which fits into an outside pocket – available in English or Spanish. Colored tabs divide the sections.

Since the most important item in a diaper bag is diapers, A Book and A Bag also contains a changing pad! In fact, anything that you need to use on a daily basis can go into this tote.   Since all the “stuff” in your diaper bag can make it really heavy so if you’re going to have to be carrying it for a long distance, it has two sturdy handles that you can easily put over your shoulder.

This tote comes in either marine blue, or fire engine red – colors that even dad or grandpa wouldn’t mind carrying around!

• Recommended by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine

• iParentingMediaAward.com voted the Safe Baby Tote one of the most outstanding safety products of the year

At Baby-Everywhere, you can find diaper bags and grandmother bags that vary from basic, to trendy …

… beautiful, affordably-priced products that can be used anywhere the baby is – at home, in a car, with the babysitter and at grandma’s home.

Baby-Everywhere is offering readers of Moomette’s Magnificents a $5.00 discount promo code at checkout on these bags.

Use Code: 2442

For More Information Visit: Baby Everywhere

Moomette’s Magnificents  is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of the Baby-Everywhere Information Station. Designed to hang on the refrigerator door, a babysitter has everything –phone numbers, reminders — all in one place, and doesn’t have to run through the house looking for little pieces of paper left by the baby’s mother! Parent Tested and Parent Approved recently voted the Information Station a winning product.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Baby-Everywhere and leave a comment about what you like best about their site and another product you’d like to try.

This contest will run until March 22, 2010 at 11:00 pm. EST

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Bean Appetit: Childrens Cookbook Review and Giveaway

Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food

Bring Kookiness to the Kitchen

As any grandmom knows, kids learn through emulation – watching and imitating the actions of others.  That’s why it’s a good thing to always strive to be a good example.

For me, I learned to cook by watching my mom and aunts who passed down many of the traditional Polish recipes that I learned to love as a child.  I’ve since passed down those traditions to my own girls.

Recently I had the opportunity to review a new cookbook – Bean Appetit:  Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food (Andrews McMeel Publishing) which was recently featured on Martha Stewart Radio.

The authors, Shannon Payette Seip and Kelly Parthen are co-owners of  Bean Sprouts Café and Cooking School.  They offer cooking classes for toddlers and grade school children.  The school lets the kids have fun with food while exploring new ingredients.  The authors are also currently developing a kids’ cooking show.

Bean Sprouts, a hip and healthy kids’ cafe, opened to much anticipation near Madison, WI in 2007. Bean Sprouts has drawn great media attention for providing a place for families that is both healthy and fun. Under the guidance of a child nutritionist, Bean Sprouts built its menu with the help and enthusiasm of Gale Gand–renowned chef, author, and Food Network star, who believes in Bean Sprouts’ mission.

One of my favorite chapters in the book was the breakfast chapter.  The meal that both of my grandkids, ‘Lil Moomette and Slugger, enjoy best is breakfast.  Soon they’ll be spending their first overnight with my husband and I, so I paid particular attention to finding recipes that would start their day off right!

Pancakes is a favorite of both grandkids, and “Stick Stacks” incorporates yummy fruit and skewers in an eye-appealing manner.

A great rule of thumb when it comes to cooking with children is keep it simple silly. Foremost, most children have relatively short attention spans. While they want to learn and help mommy out, they also don’t want to have enough time to get bored with the details. Use simple recipes when cooking with children and your chances for success will be much greater than with overly complicated or ingredient intense recipes.

The book is full of whimsical presentations, as well as food-themed games, crafts and activities.

Bean Appetit would like you to help them taste-test some recipes.  You can test online recipes for Bean-GO (a healthy twist on Bingo that gets kids to try to new tastes) found in the book. Feedback Form

Visit on Facebook

Moomette’s Magnificents  is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of the book, Bean Appetit.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Bean Sprouts and leave a comment about what you like best about their site and why you’d like to win this book.

This contest will run until March 15, 2010 at 11:00 pm. EST

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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@Moomettes

They’re Your Parents, Too! Caring For Aging Parents: Book Review & Giveaway

Sibling Rumble

How Sibilings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy

By 2030, there will be a record 71 million Americans aged 65 and older and the majority will need some sort of long-term care, according to The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Several years ago I considered myself a member of what was referred to as the “sandwich generation.” Esteemed members are those who are parents of young children, yet are facing the responsibility of being caretakers for their aging parents. 

In my case, I became the caretaker of my elderly grandmother, who lived to be 101.  Yes, I come from a family with very strong genes.  My grandmother, born in 1901,  was the oldest of 9 children, and just about outlived them all.

My grandmother, who never spent a day in the hospital in her life, was quite independent, living alone in a senior citizen apartment until she was 95.  A good life, and natural aging caught up with her, and I had to apply to the probate court for conservatorship. Eventually she was admitted to a convalescent home nearby.

I recently had the opportunity to review an informative book by Francine Russo, “They’re Your Parents, Too! How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy” (Bantam Books, New York)

Francine Russo is a widely recognized journalist known for her alertness to developing trends, especially in her own boomer generation.  For nearly a decade Russo covered the boomer beat for Time magazine.  She brings a rich personal history to her writing as a daughter, sister, wife, widow, mother of two, and stepmother of three.  She has a Ph.D in English and lives in Manhattan.

In the book, Russo draws on her own experiences as well as those of dozens of families, healthcare works and assisted living experts to get to the heart of the matter:  what it costs – financially, physically and emotionally – to become your parents’ caregiver.

My daughter is currently a Marketing Director for an assisted living facility here in Connecticut and deals on a daily basis with the tribulations of adult children making life-altering decisions such as those described by Russo. Always close to her great-grandmother, as a teen she was quite aware of the tremendous pressure I was under.  I think this experience has aided in her success as a Director of the facility.

In the book, Russo addresses:

• Communicating more constructively to escape the “anger/built gridlock”

• How to reach consensus when siblings disagree about their parents needs:  overcoming denial and “distrusting the messanger.”

• How sibilings can be in it “together,” even long-distance, when one is doing almost all of the caregiving.

My brother lives out of state and caught up in his own career.  Although we consulted on what course of treatment was best for my grandmother, the bulk of the  responsibility fell on me –  a parent of two teenagers at the time, who also worked full-time.

Caring for dependent elderly parents or grandparents can be one of the most isolating experiences most people ever have to face. Becoming a carer can sometimes be rewarding, but it’s hardly ever easy. It can be a very lonely life, and friends can start to disappear when you’re not so readily available for evenings out, etc. Even those who stay the course can find it hard to listen to the things you feel the need to talk about, and you’re likely to find their conversation very trivial compared to what you’re dealing with.

The author touches on topics that siblings of aging parents need to know that it’s essential that primary caregivers get some time off. This is absolutely vital, and not likely to be offered unless you make a point of saying that you need it. It’s no reflection on your abilities as a carer, or your love for the person that you’re caring for, but you need to take at least some care of yourself if you’re going to take effective care of anybody else.

Caring for someone can very tiring, both physically and emotionally, so you need to be able to recharge your batteries as often as you can, in order to avoid falling victim to depression yourself.

You have a life, as well, and the right to some enjoyment.

The author further discusses opportunities for reconciliation even when sibiling tensions still simmer after parents die, while reinventing the family and sustaining the family connection into the future.

I highly recommend this book, and suggest that if you’re currently in a position with aging relatives, to read it and circulate it to your family members.  Oftentimes it’s easier to make a subliminal point rather than have a face-to-face confrontation over responsibilities.

I’m going to make certain that my own adult children read it.

ISBN: 978-0-553-80699-1
Pages: 286
MSRP: $26

Moomette’s Magnificents  is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of the book DO IT OR AGE QUICKLY: 60-Second Practices to Live Better, Stronger, and Longer by personal wellness trainer and martial artist JB Berns.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Share whether you or someone you know will be or has ever experienced the responsibility of caring for aging relatives and how you or they were affected by it.

This contest will run until March 8, 2010 at 11:00 pm.

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Germguardian UV-C Mini Sanitizer Wand – Review and Giveaway

A Healthy Home

Germguaridan UV-C Mini Sanitzer Wand

Safe and Natural

I have a sign in my house that says “Our Home is Clean Enough to be Happy and Dirty Enough to Be Happy.”

Actually, this saying  may be a bit outdated, since I’ve been married for over 35 years, and times have changed.  There’s so many Super-Bugs and diseases around now that we hadn’t even heard of in the 1970s, which are antibiotic resistant.

I’ve recently been asked to review the Germguardian UV-C Mini Sanitizer Wand.

The Germguardian is a product that promotes a healthy and natural way to sanitize your home without using harsh chemicals.  It states  the sanitizer wand kills up to 99% of bacteria and viruses, and also fights odors and reduces allergens like mold spores and dust mights.

Science was never my strong subject, but Ultraviolet light is used in hospitals to sanitize surfaces and kill germs.

The sanitizer takes 4 AA batteries.  I inserted the batteries and had a difficult time trying to put the top back on.  I held the button for the recommended 3 seconds, which turned the sanitzer on.

I ran it over my kitchen table and countertops.  I can’t say with any certainty that it actually did anything, because everything looked the same to me.

The product comes with a black drawstring carrying case, which is good for business travelers.

I’ve been reading that many cities and hotels are experiencing infestations of bed bugs – so this might be a good idea for travelers to take with them and use on pillows and bedding after a visual inspection of the room.

The sanitizer is chemical-free, and recommended uses include:

• toilets
• phones
• computers
• sinks
• countertops
• bedding
• pillows
• shoes

Dimensions: 10.3″ L x 1.5″ w x 1.6″ h

MSRP: $79.99

Instruction Book Included

For More Information Visit: Germguardian

Moomette’s Magnificents  is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of a Germguardian UV-C Mini Sanitzer Wand.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Germguardian and leave a comment about what you like best about their site and another product you’d like to try.

This contest will run until February 17, 2010 at 11:00 pm.

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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@Moomettes

Pepsi Refresh Project: Giving Back to Community Projects

Help Make Communities Better

Pepsi can help make their – and your friends’ and families’ – ideas happen with the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Our family has always been pet-friendly.  We had a purebred Black Lab before the girls were born and as they were growing up.  Now I have a grand-dog, also a Black Labrador.

My own Lab was leash-trained, and didn’t roam freely, even in our own backyard.  The grand-dog, however, was trained off-leash, feels quite at ease responding to commands, and is quite social with other dogs and people.

Through combined efforts and donations, my town recently opened a dog park. Dog Parks are becoming more and more popular. Not only  are they fun for our dogs but , but are also a great place for humans to interact. They provide a place for dogs to run off leash and socialize with other dogs, as well as allowing for owners to socialize at the same time.

Unfortunately not all communities have Dog Parks available for our canine friends.

I’ve been asked to let you know that through the Pepsi Refresh Project, Pepsi will give away more than $20 million dollars to fund projects – both big and small – that help make communities better. The company invested significant resources, and opted not to advertise at the Superbowl this year, in order to support meaningful social engagement.

Through grass-roots community effort, our town has also upgraded a local playground to make it more handicapped accessible as well as added new lights for the football field at the high school.  Neighboring towns were able to build a skateboard park, and another one built new sports fields for youth lacrosse, baseball and football programs.

Pepsi wants to hear what needs they can help fulfill for you and your community.

Each month, you have the opportunity to submit a project in one of six categories:

• health
• arts & culture
• food & shelter
• the planet
• neighborhood
• education.

At the end of the month, Pepsi will post the top submissions on their website and let the public vote on who should win grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 (totaling up to $1.3 million dollars!)

Lauren Hebart, Mom and CMO of Sparking Brands at Pepsi was interviewed and states:

Why is Pepsi Refresh Unique?
The program is unique because it puts the power in the hands of the consumer. Individuals submit their ideas and then the nation votes on the idea that moves them the most. This is done in a very ground up way. Essentially, we’ve democratized the process.

As a Mom what types of lessons do you hope children learn by getting involved in community projects?
Parents want to instill good values in their children and encourage them to act on their ideas and beliefs. As a Mom myself, I’ve shared this program with other moms in my community and have found that it sparks a cord with everyone. I’ve also seen my own children get very excited about it. I think it just feels right to them

If you and your family have a fantastic idea for an improvement you’d like to see in your community, submit it for consideration for the March round of grants.

When I do drink soda, Pepsi is my beverage of choice.  You can connect with the Pepsi Refresh program via Twitter (@pepsi) or on Facebook

Vote for your favorite submissions for February’s grants at RefreshEverything.com

There are many creative, fun and unique meaningful ways to give back, and Mom Central thinks it’s fantastic that Pepsi wants to help.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Pepsi Refresh. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Look Your Best At the Beach – Are You Bikini Ready?

Because Your Worth It

We wait all year for vacation season and summer. Great weather, lots of sunshine, shorts, tank tops, bathing suits, and for those brave souls out there, bikinis. No matter which summer attire suits your fancy, you’ll definitely want to look your best. Here’s how to put it all together and be bikini ready for that upcoming cruise.

Last year about this time, my youngest daughter was in her senior year at college and planning a cruise to the Caribbean during Spring Break.  I actually did a post here of all the text messages I received from the “Little Mermaid” and you could say I traveled ‘vicariously.’

Whether your planning a spring break road trip, honeymoon or family trip to Disney, you’ll no doubt want to shop for some new funky new beach wear for poolside, walks around the promenade deck, or on those tropical island beaches. Your choice of a new bathing suit is no longer limited to the basic one-piece or bikini. There’s a huge variety of new styles, one of which will be perfect for you. I recently bought a tankini, to try to hide a flabby stomach. If the tops of your legs aren’t your best feature, go for a mini swim skirt to go with your bikini. To get rid of any unsightly body hair, try using hair removal wax strips.

Once you’ve found the perfect suit, you’ll also want to look for some accessories to accentuate it. There are many different types of swimwear cover-ups. A cover-up is a good way to protect your skin from over-exposure to the sun. Just about anything goes when it comes to cover-ups. From an over-sized t-shirt to a lacy beach robe, you’re sure to find one that fits your taste and goes well with your suit. One very popular type of cover up, for those just wanting to cover the bottom half of the body, is a sarong.  It so reminds me of  “South Pacific!”

Hats are a pretty yet practical accessory. Wearing a hat helps to protect your face, neck and shoulders from the damaging rays of the sun. You’ve spent all that time with facials and facial hair removal, so it’s a bonus if your hat just happens to perfectly coordinate with your cover-up and suit. Even though in reality your hat will shade your eyes, sunglasses are another absolute necessity. Fashionably dark is better, and be sure they have a good level of UV blocking for maximum eye protection.

The importance of shielding yourself from the sun makes sunscreen one of your most important accessories. Apply liberally and thoroughly and re-apply periodically throughout the day.

Many beach lovers like to get a head start on their tanning by visiting a tanning studio before heading to the beach. A better idea might be to use one of the self-tanning products that are available on the market today. A base tan helps avoid painful sunburn and because you already look tanned, you’ll probably be more willing to use a more protective sunscreen and avoid getting too much sun.

Before you hit the beach, you’ll want to give your feet a little extra attention too. After all, they’ve been hidden away and maybe even neglected for months. If you spring for a pedicure your feet will be very grateful and look great too. At the minimum, massage some cooling foot lotion into your heels and cuticles, and don’t forget hair removal to get rid of any pesky hair on your tootsies!  This will go a long way toward making your feet ready for that new shade of nail polish.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your towel and beach bag, put on those cute sandals along with that pretty cover-up over your bikini and head out to the beach looking fab-u-lous, dahling!

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Clorox & Danny Gokey Team Up – I Don’t Want to Miss …

I Don’t Want to Miss …

Balancing schoolwork with sports practice, play rehearsal, and club meetings complicates any youngster, pre-teen and teen’s life enough without the added burden of getting sick. The dual risk of the seasonal flu as well as the 2009 H1N1 virus, makes this year’s flu season especially complicated.

For millions of parents around the world, the day does not end with the school bell. There are still pictures to be painted, songs to be sung and games to be played. This all adds up to keeping children happy, safe and out of trouble. But, parents have to steer away from going overboard.  My own girls were actively involved in after-school activities such as Brownies, dance lessons, religious classes, and sports.  Parents should keep in mind that in order to keep your children healthy, everything should be in moderation:

After school is not baby-sitting
After school activities thrive only if it is backed by sufficient parental involvement. What would a soccer match be without parents cheering their little heroes from the sidelines?.

Research and choose
Instead of convenience being the decisive factor, find out things that will interest your child. Once you select a program, get the fine print and find out what you have to contribute.

Free time
Many children attend piano classes, followed by ballet and squeeze in some time for play dates in between just before they rush home in time for bed. This rigor is too much for a child. So, go slow.

When to quit
Often, parents enroll their child in an activity to discover that he may not be the prodigy they thought he would be. This is the time to let go. Your child may not become the next wonder-kid. But, let him cultivate an interest that he enjoys. Remember, happiness and fulfillment are all that matter.

To help spread the word about flu prevention, former American Idol finalist Danny Gokey has paired up with The Clorox Company to launch I Don’t Want to Miss…, a national campaign designed to get kids and their teachers involved in flu prevention.

Now in its second year, the program features a contest that invites school musical groups, like glee clubs, show choirs, etc.  to develop a video performance of a song written by Berklee College of Music student Will Wells on what they don’t want to miss out on if they were home sick and why prevention is important. The winning school will win a music class led by former American Idol finalist Danny Gokey!

For each entry submitted, The Clorox Company will donate $100 (up to $10,000) to the Sophia’s Heart Foundation, a charity founded by Gokey in honor of his late wife, Sophia, and dedicated to helping children achieve academic success via musical training and restoring musical dreams in children.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children and teens over 6 months and up to age 18 get flu vaccinations. In addition to vaccination, the most important step in flu prevention, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and washing hands often play an important role in prevention.

Visit the Clorox page on Facebook to learn more about this creative and informational challenge. For the first 100 groups to submit, the teacher will receive a wellness care package from The Clorox Company.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Clorox and received $20 thank-you gift certificate.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Triaminic Thin Strips – Coupon

Sick Day Guideline

Cold and Flu Symptoms in Children

When my daughters were younger both were enrolled in family daycare while I worked. My daycare provider was a mom of grown children, and had plenty of experience in recognizing when my girls weren’t feeling quite up to par.

As any new parent or parent will learn, children are very susceptible to illnesses, in part because their immune systems aren’t quite fully mature.

Breastfeeding is a recommended way of providing some immunity to common illnesses, however with so many moms returning to the workforce, most children are weaned by the time they’re 1 year old.

Children also have a habit of exploring the world around them with their mouths and their hands. Anything that comes into contact with their mouth and hands can potentially cause an illness.

The good news is that the more your child is exposed the stronger their immune systems will become, and their ability to fight off infection in the future.

This past fall we’ve all heard about the H1N1 virus.

Now that winter is here, as parents and grandparents we also must recognize symptoms of illness in our children, and know when to take action.

Colds/Cough – Cold and coughs are usually caused by viral infections, thus must be spread by person to person contact, not through the weather alone. Common symptoms of a cold include a stuffy nose, cough, possible sore throat and occasionally a temperature. Colds can become more severe and result in bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections. Signs that a cold is becoming worse and may need medical treatment include green or yellow nasal discharge, fever lasting more than one day or a persistent and wheezy cough.

Flu – The flu is characterized by headaches, chills, muscle aches and a high fever. Respiratory symptoms may also develop, and a feeling of fatigue which may last for several weeks after initial symptoms. The flu is also spread from person to person contact usually with respiratory secretions of someone who is sick. Antibiotics can’t treat the flu.

Recently I heard through Debbie at We Speak Media about how Triaminic, a leader in children’s over-the-counter cold and flu symptom medication, has put together an online Cold & Flu Symptom Tracker, based on data from SDI Fan® (a source used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).  I checked for my state, and Hartford, Connecticut is currently experiencing moderate cases right now.

Triaminic offers a downloadable sick day guideline which can help parents whether to send their child to daycare or school, or whether to keep them at home.

When dispensing medication to children, remember to always read and follow medicine labels exactly, to ensure that the child receives the right dosage. Single-use products like Triaminic Thin Strips® provides a pre-measured dose of medicine that dissolves quickly on the tongue, so parents know their children are receiving the recommended amount for their age.

You can download a free coupon for $1.50 off TriamincThin strips, an easy way to administer cough and cold medicine to your child.

Visit Triaminic.com and to find out the level of cold/flu activity in the city nearest to you.

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