Here’s part two of my thoughts on the recent rise in school violence. Another caller felt we should bring the military in to combat this growing problem. “How about we use the military to protect our children in our schools instead of sending them abroad to protect other countries’ children in their schools? Put a man with an M-13 in front of every schoolyard, and then see if some dirt bag wants to enter the school to kill children.” I’m not sure we should go that far. But what about metal detectors? Then again, even with a military presence that … Continue reading →

Here in Mobile the local paper, the Mobile-Press Register, has a “sound off” section where readers are invited to call and leave comments pertaining to either something they read in the paper or anything of national or local importance. With the recent killing of the young Amish girls and the school suspension of a student who had a list of students that he hated, many readers called in to voice their opinions about this scary situation. In Thursday’s paper I found three interesting comments that I want to share with you and also add my own two cents. If you … Continue reading →

Do you have the number for the National Poison Control Center posted by your telephone? According to the Home Safety Council, 75% of parents don’t and this is sad because approximately 1/3 of all unintentional injuries are poison-related. Here are some things you need to keep in mind, according to the National Poison Control Center. If you think someone has been poisoned call 1-800-222-1222 for your Poison Control Center. The toll-free number works from anyplace in the U.S. 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. ******Reactions to poisons vary, depending on the product. The child may vomit, appear to be drowsy or sluggish, there may … Continue reading →

This is a blog I wish I didn’t have to write. But I want to ask all parents with toddlers to please watch your kids carefully and make sure they cannot get out of the house. On Monday when I went to pick Tyler up from school, a child no older than two, was wandering down the street headed toward a busy highway. Thank God, a driver who didn’t mean him any harm, got to him before he made it to the highway. He flagged a school bus down and asked the driver to take him back to Tyler’s school … Continue reading →

The kitchen is one of the most dangerous places for a baby or toddler. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these tips on making sure your kitchen is babyproof. (1) The safest way to prevent injury is to watch your child. Since this is generally not possible while you are trying to prepare dinner, use a playpen, highchair or other stationary activity center to keep your little one at bay. But never use a walker because it could put your child at greater risk for injury. (2) When cooking, use back burners and if you have to use the front … Continue reading →

I recently came across these facts taken from a fact sheet titled “Marketing Sex to Children.” I guess I must be naive but I was appalled at how much sex children and teenagers are exposed to in the media. It is no wonder that so many teens are having sex themselves. They are practically bombarded with the message that it is not only fun but also appropriate. So how much sex are teens actually being exposed to in the media? “In 2003, 83% of the episodes of the top 20 shows among teen viewers contained some sexual content, including 20% … Continue reading →

I know you’ll probably thinking that I have my months mixed up. But it really isn’t too early to start thinking about Halloween safety. Before you know it, that time will be upon us once again and if you plan to let your kids trick or treat or attend Halloween parties, now is the time to start thinking about their safety. Halloween can and should be a fun time for the kids. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning your Halloween celebration. (1) If you are making your child’s costume or buying one, make sure it’s … Continue reading →

We hear a lot about identify theft and most of us take the necessary steps to guard ourselves from thieves. What parents need to realize is that adults aren’t the only ones who may become the victims of identity theft. If you have a social security number you are at risk and that includes infants, young children and teens. And in some cases the perpetrator is known including the child’s own non-custodial parent. It is important that you take the necessary steps to guard against having your child’s identification stolen. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your information to open … Continue reading →