The Parent Station - Parenting, Pregnancy & Women's Resource

Increase Your Brain Power
Did You Know...?
"...I have a plethora of facts to quote to him. Everything from protons, neutrons and electrons, to facts about the Cold War, Stock Markets, Religion, Philosophy, art, music and so much more. Facts that are more likely to be topics of interest on Jeopardy as opposed to which actor is divorcing over a love interest they met on their last movie set. Not that either of us will ever end up on Jeopardy, but Know It All: The Little Book of Essential Knowledge is in fact the best book I have on hand to help me feel like the studious citizen I wish I had time to be!"

In the Classroom
Wanting More From Our Students
"Tony Wagner, a scholar of the school system, has spent a good part of his life in examination of the building blocks and the makings of the American school system. His book, The Global Achievement Gap is a call to action, bringing attention to our schools, who are producing test takers and not the critical thinkers we need our children to grow to be. Wagner produces a laundry list of pathways and solutions for real change in our schools. He presents new learning styles, real alternatives to current curriculums, ways to motivate our educators to teach in new ways and motivation for their students to want more out of their own education." Read more...

Life Postpartum
New Mom? Here's the Survival Guide You Need!
"...we (and baby) are the center of attention when we are pregnant. We are in regular contact with a physician or someone of the like, always interested in how we are feeling. However, after birth, all the attention is then shifted to our new little blessings and we are left to fend for ourselves. All the while, our bodies are changing, our lives have turned upside down, and even our own focus is pointed outward." Read more...

Parenting Teenagers
Understanding Teens Made Easy
"As a thirty-something mom to a kindergartener and twin infants, I face daily challenges that test not only my parenting skills, but my negotiation skills, time-management skills, communication skills and a laundry list full of other skills needed to make my family and home a happy and safe place to be. As a step-mother to a sixteen year old, I have to work from a completely different playbook. Although I feel like it wasn't that long ago I was actually a teenager myself, I am reminded of just how far removed I am from those teenage years. It is almost as if I am an outsider looking at something completely foreign to me… something so different from what I remember my teenage years as being… something completely alien." Read more...

Back to School
Parents and Failure
"One major obstacle in a teacher’s quest for instilling academic superiority in her students is parents; after all, every educator knows that the school is a partnership among students, teachers, and parents. This is an unspoken--and sometimes formal--contract. But when parents fail to do their part, the institution breaks down. Students learn less, teachers percolate with frustration, and precious monetary resources jut into ineffectual directions." Read more...

Vegan Living
Become a Successful Vegan with Smart Food Substitutions
"Though the reasons may vary, veganism is on the rise. Some do it for health reasons, other do it for environmental reasons while still others do it for ethical reasons. Regardless of what your reason is, going from a cuisine that includes meats and dairy to one that is devoid of any animal produced substance can be extremely hard. While some of us may be able to go cold turkey, most of us need to be weaned off our habits and this includes meat and dairy. Here are some great ways to start working towards a completely vegan cuisine." Read more...

Behavioral Issues
Anger in Children
"If children feel unloved, they also feel unworthy and inadequate, with no reason to develop a confidence in their capabilities, or in their worth as a person. Feelings of insecurity turn their world into a fearful place to live. They might become hypersensitive to perceived rejection, and other perceived indicators of their unworthiness. These exaggerated perceived threats to the child's well being (e.g., parental refusals/restrictions) are highly prone to giving way to anger as a response. Tantrums in these circumstances are an excellent example of this fear reaction being expressed in the form of anger." Read more...

Toy Safety
Assassins in Toyland
"Although most people are already well aware of many of the details of this crisis, it is worth at least briefly recapping the extent to which America's toys have been turned into instruments of death by unscrupulous Chinese manufacturers. Here's just a brief scorecard of the kinds of toys that have been recalled from the shelves by the likes of Toys "R" Us, Target, and Wal-Mart..." Read more...

Women's Health
A Lift and Boost in All the Right Ways
"It isn't always easy - rather, it is never easy to always eat healthy and maintain my energy level. When you are eating on the run or just eating when you can, you tend to eat less healthy foods and guzzle down sugary drinks with caffeine to help keep you going. That isn't the best combination for a healthy lifestyle! Then I came across the Herbal Tea Concentrate..." Read more...

Youth Sports
Diversity in Youth Sports
"Researchers estimate that over 14 million children play one type of organized sport and several of those youngsters play multiple sports depending on the season. Sports are important for teaching good sportsmanship, goal-setting, teamwork, and for encouraging children to have an active lifestyle. Aside from these obvious advantages, organized sports can also play a much larger and culturally significant role as well." Read more...

Women's Interest Featured Article
Frugal Living Tip - Giving Yourself A Reason To Save Money
"In the US and much of the Western world, we equate money with happiness, even though our personal experience seldom gives us reason to believe that the old saying "you can't buy happiness" is anything less than true. We assure ourselves that if we only get a raise or get a better job or win the lottery, all of the stress of daily life will disappear and we'll have time for those things in life we really enjoy." Read more...

Cooking
Seven Tips for Successful Crockpot Creations
"Everyone today is so busy, with two worker households and the kids involved in numerous extra-curricular activities, many people are turning to "slow cookers" or crockpots to prepare nutritious and delicious family dinners." Read more...

Nail Care
10 Tips to Keep Your Nails Strong and Pretty
"It's that time of year for spring cleaning and outdoor gardening. While our hands and fingernails are an integral part of these chores, you don't have to ruin your manicure. Consider the following nail care tips and your nails will never show that you have been digging in the dirt or scrubbing that kitchen floor." Read more...

Oral Health During Pregnancy
The Unsweetened Truth - Pregnancy, Sugar and Oral Health
" According to the Surgeon General's report in 2000, "toxins or other products generated by periodontal (around the teeth) bacteria in the mother may reach the general circulation, cross the placenta, and harm the fetus." Pregnant women with severe gum infections are seven times more prone to having a baby that is premature. Prevention and early diagnosis of dental decay and gingivitis (swollen, tender gums) are important for your health as well as your baby's." Read more...

Hobbies & Leisure Featured Article
Fun Things to Do with Your Kids this Summer
"10 Fun Things You Can Do With Your Children this Summer that Won’t Break the Bank For a family with small children like my own, a big family vacation in the summer isn’t always an option. But just because your summer entertainment budget is small doesn’t mean you and your kids can’t have lots of fun this summer. Here are ten ideas to get you started on lots of fun this summer – on a budget." Read more...

Pregnancy, Birth & Parenting Featured Article
A Major Cause of Tantrums
"Childhood tantrums most commonly result from negative interaction initiated by the parent toward the child. I don't think anyone would disagree with that statement. The difficulty that so many parents have in dealing with this behavior stems from a lack of understanding as to how and why this seemingly mysterious behavior occurs. What I've discovered as a potentially eye-opening way for some parents to gain a greater understanding and empathy toward this behavior in children involves starting-out by first taking a brief look at our own behavior. I'm still sometimes surprised at the number of parents I encounter who appear to be under the impression that children are born as beings from an unknown species that behave in completely non-human and entirely alien ways." Read more...

Cats
Litter Box Choices
"With the increasing popularity of cats as pets, there have been many developments in the accessories we can get to help make their lives, and ours, much happier and more convenient. Litter boxes, for example, have come a long way from the simple, plastic rectangle filled with plain old sand. Now you can find boxes in many shapes, sizes and colors, as well as other litter disposal and handling mechanisms and systems." Read more...

Paranormal Ponderables
Paranormal - What Happens When We Die?
"Have you ever wonder what happens when you die? Well your not alone peole have been wondering this since the beginning of time & probably long before. Any answer to this question is theoretical at best. Why you ask? Because no one has ever died and returned to the mortal world with the memory of what it was like on the other side. There has however been a lot of conjecture as to what happens when we die." Read more...

At-Home Moms
You Can Have It All (Just Not At The Same Time)
"Before going any further, let me say that I wholeheartedly believe in all the feminist principles and ideals that women fought so long and hard to achieve. I think that women absolutely should be free to pursue whatever path they choose and be able to do so without being pigeonholed by their gender." Read more...

Maternity Clothing
Great Maternity Clothes and Nursing Clothes for Summer
"The weather is warming up, Spring is in full swing and Summer is just around the corner. Your body is changing daily and you are not sure what to buy next when compounded by seasons changing and long summer months ahead. Here are a few suggestions on some must-haves to get you started out in style this season without breaking the bank." Read more...

Homeschooling
How To Schedule Your Homeschooling Day, And Have Time To Spare
"When creating a homeschooling schedule, areas of instruction, student age, and family schedule should all be taken into consideration. These three things should be integrated to come up with a schedule that will benefit children and adults alike. There is no need, however, to redesign the wheel. Use tools available to you to come up with a schedule that meets your needs." Read more...

Skin Care
Facial Cleansing for Specific Skin Types
"Cleansing is a vital step in your skin care regime. Proper cleansing with products specific for your skin type will improve your overall appearance. Daily cleansing is important to remove dirt and bacteria, sweat, air pollution, excess oils and in addition cleansing exfoliates the skin surface to promote circulation." Read more...

Baby Showers
Couples Baby Shower - A Quick Planning Guide
"Believe it or not, but many husbands would really enjoy going to a Couples Baby Shower with their wife. A baby shower is a fun get-together with friends and family to celebrate a new little baby. Often, the father-to-be would love to be part of that celebration. It helps him get excited about his new son or daughter. And whether he admits it or not, his heart will melt when he opens up a baby shower gift and sees a little pink dress or a little pair of denim overalls." Read more...

Dating & Marriage
Dating with Kids: 12 Tips for Single Moms
"Dating with kids can be challenging – whether you’re recently divorced or you’ve already endured two years’ worth of Starbucks dates -- and whether your kids are two or twenty-two. But your children can also be helpful, especially if you recognize their wisdom. Here are a dozen tips on how they can help or hinder your social life." Read more...

Harmony & Humor
Summer of My Blissful Miscontent
"I felt like I had started a new chapter. The part of the story where the heroine spirals into some sort of disgusting, addictive or slutty behavior and the reader panics wondering how she'll ever pull it together. But for me, it was a journey I looked forward to. Because I knew I could write the next chapter. Perhaps I'd go back to teaching aerobics, join a rolling blade hockey team, or take up mountain biking and meet some rough-n-tumble boy with big hands and a great laugh on the trail. But for now, my role as a foul mouthed, beer swilling, French fry snatching waitress was, well, fun." Read more...

Book Excerpts
Excerpt from Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Toddlers and Preschoolers
"If you've been looking for a fun and loving way to help your children learn and improve their development, look no further than Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Toddlers and Preschoolers. New studies show that young kids learn best through play and need at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity each day. There's no better way to engage your child than through the simple practice of yoga." Read more...

Parenting Twins & Multiples
Raising Twins: Say Goodbye to Social Stigmas!
"It all goes back to the stigma attached to twins. The stigma of always being a twin, being compared to someone else, having to always share the spotlight with a sibling that just happened to be born on the same day. I suppose if you aren't a twin yourself, you may not think about these things until you become a mom to twins. To go even further, parenting and raising twins to not feel that stigma could be the challenge of a lifetime." Read more...

Women's Personal Relationships
Women and Their Sisters - How They Get Mired in Their Childhood Relationships as Siblings
"It's always sad when sisters close in age don't get along. You love each other because you are related, but when you harbor resentments from childhood, it's hard to like each other. " Read more...

Gestational Diabetes
The Infant Risk Factor of Gestational Diabetes
"Gestational diabetes brings a variety serious risk factors for any infant whose mother suffers its effects. Most of the problems caused to the growing fetus are a result of high blood glucose levels which makes controlling sugar intake so important. This is true of the woman with either preexisting diabetes or gestational diabetes because the increased risk associated with this disease left uncontrolled include both congenital birth defects and fetal death." Read more...

Exercise During Pregnancy
Pregnancy Fitness - 5 Simple & Beneficial Pregnancy Exercises
"Do you feel as though you do not know what types of exercise are right for you now that you are pregnant? When I was pregnant with my child, I was uncertain about what exercises I should do and there was so much conflicting information on the Internet that I was not certain where to begin. I would like to share five simple exercises that are beneficial for you as well as your baby." Read more...

Green Living
Organics Goes Beyond the Food We Eat
This is a special .pdf document about the benefits of going organic. You can click on the link and save the document to your computer, or you can right click and save the document from there.