As Thanksgiving approaches, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the calculus of what families might be thankful for this year. Those of us lucky enough to remain healthy and employed can focus on those two facts during this year’s feasts. But for many, it’s easy to feel there is little to be thankful for this year, given all that continues to be infected, affected or simply canceled — including many of those traditional feasts. In other words, cultivating a grateful mindset during this traditional season of thanks requires many us to dig deeper this year. For me, digging deep into history helps … [Read more...]
Flu Shot an Annual Essential for You, Your Family, Others
No one enjoys taking a needle to the arm, but getting an annual flu shot has health benefits for you, your children and those around you. Let's look at how you can improve the chances of you and your loved ones being free of influenza this year. Flu hits children hardest The U.S. Centers for Disease Control notes that child under age 5 who contract the flu often require medical care with an average of 20,000 kids a year needing hospitalization. Children under age 2 most commonly suffer the most complications, ranging for ear and sinus infections to pneumonia or worse. Children and adults … [Read more...]
Is This the Golden Age of Parenting?
The free-range parenting debate ignited by children wandering around neighborhoods and on subways by themselves brought an interesting conversation to Facebook the other day. The big question is: Why? Why are we so paranoid about our children exploring by themselves or looking after their younger siblings. That's not how it was in the old days. The rule used to be "come home when the streetlights come on." My response was it has something to do with the loss of our neighborhood networks, social isolation, and lack of community policing. Yet another way to go was that we live in a more … [Read more...]