Author Archives: Jacky Gamble

When One Parent’s Spoiling Results in Conflict With the Other Parent

One of my comments from my previous post about chores for children asked what to do when one parent has chores and the other doesn’t. I, for one, can relate to that question since my ex-husband does everything for the kids when they are with him. Maybe he is doing it out of guilt for not being with them every day, maybe he doesn’t think they should spend their time with him doing work, or maybe he just doesn’t “get” that they should be picking up after themselves, or otherwise doing certain things for themselves. Whatever the reason is, the … Continue reading →

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy

Each week I participate in the 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy challenge, which is a set of weekly prompts that were created by Amy Coffin of We Tree. Each prompt is designed to allow genealogists, both beginning and advanced, to further their genealogical knowledge. I have found the challenge to be both fun and beneficial to my own genealogy research and know-how. Anyways, this week’s prompt is to encourage other genealogists to participate in a challenge of my own choosing, so I thought what better way to do this than to post about it here. Come up with a personal … Continue reading →

Glossary of Genealogy Abbreviations

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I sometimes look back at my previous posts for inspiration for new posts, or sometimes to see which topics may need a bit more elaboration. Today I want to create an extension from my genealogy glossary post from a few weeks ago. However, rather than providing you, my readers, with more genealogy terms, I want to help you understand the many genealogy abbreviations that are often used. General Genealogy Abbreviations abt. – about (sometimes also abbreviated as a. or ab.) ad. – adopted (sometimes adCL for adopted child, adD for adopted daughter, or adS for adopted son are also used) … Continue reading →

Chores for Children

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The other day, a mother told me that she doesn’t have her children do household chores. Her philosophy is that children are only young once, and she does not want to burden their childhoods with having to cook and clean. My children do perform chores. My three-year-old does what he can (putting his plate in the sink, helping his sister feed the pets, etc.). My daughter is responsible for feeding our pets twice each day, cleaning her own room, tidying up other areas of the house, and other chores that I sometimes ask of her. She is also learning how … Continue reading →

Genealogy Volunteerism

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There are many ways to better yourself at genealogy. One way is to volunteer your services to others. There are several ways for a genealogist to volunteer. Genealogical or Historical Societies Many (if not all) historical and genealogical societies need volunteers to help keep them going. Volunteer opportunities at these organizations may be helping visitors with their genealogical research, working in the administrative offices, cleaning, gardening, filing, etc. Transcribe Data for Genealogy Trails If you have access to non-copywritten genealogical records, and the time to transcribe them, you may want to consider hosting a state or county on Genealogy Trails. … Continue reading →

More Free Genealogy Websites

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In my previous post, I talked about four of my favorite free genealogy websites. Besides the four listed in that post, there are many more free sites available to genealogists. Some of these websites I do not personally use, but in the interest of providing you with as many free resources as I can, I am including them here. I do want to mention that prior to posting any of these sites here, regardless if I have used them during my own personal research, I did spend time reviewing each one to ensure I only provide you with sites that … Continue reading →

Single Parent Travel: Camps Designed for Single Parents

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In a previous post, I talked about planning a vacation as a single parent. This post discusses some of the many places that offer vacations that have been designed for single parents and their children. Rocking Horse Ranch Resort Rocking Horse Ranch Resort is located in Highland, New York, about 90 minutes north of New York City. The 2010 weekend-long single parent camp takes place during mid-November, and starts at $615 (the cost of one adult and one child). The cost includes amenities and activities, including horseback riding, swimming, childcare, hayrides, talent shows, line dancing, bonfires, fitness center, and more. … Continue reading →

Alhohol Abuse in Single-Parent Teens

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Studies have shown that children who are raised in single parent households are at a higher risk of developing alcohol-related problems. This could possibly be due to low supervision, inconsistent discipline, poor communication, or conflicts within the family. Teens with the highest risk of developing alcoholism are girls, those who begin drinking prior to age 14, and those with a parent who suffers from alcohol-related problems. Alcohol contributes to a number of problems, including an inability to pay attention, the risk for developing alcoholism, car-related deaths, higher risk for suicide, greater possibility of engaging in unprotected sex or sex with … Continue reading →

Four Best Free Online Genealogy Sources

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My own personal favorite online resource for performing genealogy is Ancestry.com, which requires a monthly subscription fee to access most records. They do offer a free 14 day trial to new users, which may be something a beginning genealogist may want to consider, but if you do not remember to cancel before the end of the trial, your account will be billed their normal monthly fee. There are many other websites available online that are completely free of charge. Here is a list of some of what I consider the best free genealogy websites. RootsWeb I consider RootsWeb to be … Continue reading →

Genealogy Magazines

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There are a number of magazines that are dedicated to helping genealogists further their research. Some magazines are specialized, pertaining to genealogy for a particular location, ethnicity, time period, etc. Other magazines are more general, and can be useful to the majority of genealogists. Listed here are five of the most popular genealogy magazines. Prices listed here are effective as of May 27, 2010, and are subject to change. Family Tree Magazine According to their website, Family Tree Magazine is “American’s #1 family history magazine”. This magazine is perfect for beginning genealogists wanting to learn how to get started. Topics … Continue reading →