advice

It takes a village to raise a family; advice and tips to make the most of yours.

What Happens If Your Baby Is Born Earlier than Expected?
My friend Karen discovered this when she went into labor several weeks before her due date. Her husband was at work at the time, so she took a taxi to the hospital. After a substantial wait at the hospital, staff told her that she was several weeks too early. They sent her home.
By Andrea Dawson8 years ago in Families
Hosting for the Holidays
It's a time of joy, love and family. All the ads say it's the happiest time of the year, but if you are hosting the holidays it can also be incredibly stressful. Here are some helpful hints to get you through this season.
By Amy Jourdan8 years ago in Families
Single Mum Survival at Christmas
As the Christmas season is upon us we find that it is required to go to the shops and buy other people gifts and suchlike. It is required that we attend social events and smile nicely. It is required we do all manner of things to make Christmas go smoothly. Here's a list of Do's and Don'ts for Yuletide cheer. 🎅🏻🎄
By Eve Tawfick8 years ago in Families
Wake Up Call
Have you ever watched the news and just asked yourself what it is that is wrong with this world? Or why people treat the planet and one another the way they do? Because I certainly have. It makes me feel down and depressed. Sort of hopeless, as if this world is doomed and there’s no point in trying to implement change. But if we all succumb to the sadness that tragic events bring and the frustration we feel when we witness the horrible situations that take place, nothing can ever get better. It’s our job to make a change. Though it may seem cliche, that’s not a motto to be taken lightly.
By Jenna Fanelli8 years ago in Families
Adventures in Motherhood (Part 2)
Well, I had planned on writing once a week more or less but it's only been three days and I'm ready to write again! Okay, parents, let's talk crying babies... I know, I know, it isn't a very uncommon thing for a baby to cry but what about a baby who, up until about a week ago, has been a fairly happy baby and is now up multiple times in a night and crying all day? This is what is happening to me and I think it is because of a number of factors.
By Erin Davie8 years ago in Families
My Little Blessings
I don't know what it is about children or babies (whichever word helps you imagine a cute little being) that has us adults considering creating these little creatures. Don't get me wrong; I love babies! I mean I should, considering the fact that I have three of them! (Wide eyed emoji). But what is it about them that has us under this spell to keep populating the earth with them? If you really think about it, children are the death of us. Point blank period! We make them, only to be subjected to their every demanding need, 24 hours of the day. I mean that's a job in its self. One that should be paying top dollar! I'm talking about presidential lifestyle. YESSS HONEY!!! I should be living like a queen. Bigger than Queen Elizabeth because I got babies! Yeah that's right. I should be richer than Richie Rich. Why? Because I got babies. Now you see, having these babies is not cheap and man do they take my sanity and turn it into insanity by the end of the day. I'm talking about not being able to shower until 1 PM, because when I'm forcefully woken up at 7 AM in the morning by the two energetic toodlers, I gots to get up and GO GO GO GO. Honey, I'm talking about not being able to brush my teeth because these kids got me running around in the kitchen like I'm on the red team of Hell's Kitchen preparing a meal to just get thrown back in my face because, "it's too cold", "it's not enough" or because they don't want it anymore. And Lord forgive me for wanting my children to just sit down and SHUT UP when 2:00 PM rolls around, because you know that's when momma gotta watch her Maury and Steve Wilkos show. That is if the baby doesn't demand my attention during this time. I mean, like it's not bad enough that right now at this very moment as I am typing, I cannot correct every spelling mistake I have or polish my grammar because these kids are driving me nuts at this very second as I'm trying to put them to sleep. You know what, I am feeling very compelled to start praying right now; here goes...... Lord, I love you. Lord, I thank you for each and every day that I wake up and am able to walk and talk, and just enjoy life. But Lord, I just have one question to ask you...... why in the world didn't you stop the clock when you saw that I was engaging in non-marital relations when my momma told me no? Lord, these children have taken me from 0 to 100 real quick and have caused physical damage to me. Lord, they have taken my once before sexy petite body and turned it, into a size 14 stretch mark, back fat, granny panty, fat armed walking machine. Lord, I used to take pride in how I looked and now my husband's lucky if I even draw on my eyebrows in the morning. Lord, I have learned my lesson. SEX is BAD!!! And I promise to spread the word of the consequences of having children to all the teenagers who are out of their horny adolescent minds. Forgive me for my sins Lord, amen. You know what? I actually feel a lot better now. I love my kids y'all, but I would be lying if I said I wish I had waited a bit longer to have them. I wish I really sat back and thought about the alter life change I would have by not taking the proper precautions when having intercourse. I wish I had really LISTENED to my mother when she told me "your whole life will change, you will change." But here I am and here I stand. A 25-years-old who has three beautiful healthy children, but who had to postpone certain things because she was having kids, when she should have postponed having kids to focus on the important things. Like the old saying goes; "you live and you learn," and boy have I learned. Nevertheless, I am grateful for them, because they have given me a completely new purpose in life and drive that I have never had before I had them. So to all the childless readers out there; really evaluate your life before contemplating about having children, because having children is easy; it's raising them and being able to care for them physically, emotionally, and mentally that's the hard part.
By Shebona fortune-Williams8 years ago in Families
My Father Hated Me
I’ve titled this article “My Father Hated Me” but in fact it was a lot worse than that: the truth is my father despised me and everything about me. As I write this I hope I’m not sounding too much like a victim, and to this day I still wonder if a lot of this is in my head, but then I remember: I know the truth, because this has been my life ever since I was a little girl. For reasons unknown to me, my father has always had an intense dislike of me, and that includes just the sight of me. I often wonder: What do I remind you of; or what was going on when I was a baby that turned you so against me? But, I don’t know the answer.
By Mari-Louise Speirs8 years ago in Families
Netflix: Dangers and Solutions
Netflix has to be one of the most subscribed internet companies on the planet. Netflix has, according to Wikipedia published back in October 2017, 109.25 million subscribers and is no doubt growing.
By Nicholas Bishop8 years ago in Families
5 Life Lessons I Learned When I Lost My Father
My father was just 49 when he died at the start of this year; I was 19. My dad had a bad heart condition when he was a child but he hadn’t had any major issues with his heart since his teenage years. The week before my dad passed away he was complaining of not being able to breathe and how he was in an extreme amount of pain, the doctor told him he had a torn muscle, gave him ibuprofen and he left. A few days later my dad died very suddenly due to a heart Aneurysm. That was almost 7 months ago. Everyday is still a struggle for me and there are some days where the mention of his name brings me to a crying state, but most days I try to find positivity in this loss and I have been successful so far.
By Chloe Murphy8 years ago in Families
The Sh*t They Don't Tell You: Lesson 6
Battery Operated Frustration Christmas is just around the corner, my friends, and that means that all sorts of relatives are going to buy all sorts of toys for your youngins. From candy-filled stockings, to the sweaters that Aunt June knitted that they JUST HAVE TO try on, our kids are about to enter into a world of spoil. And yes, this includes what I like to call Battery Operated Frustration AKA those noisy ass toys that won't shut up.
By Tiffany Wade8 years ago in Families
Tips for Breastfeeding
Nursing your baby can be more difficult than you might think, so it can't hurt to pick up some tips for breastfeeding. You're a new parent, so you've got enough to be concerned about already, you shouldn't have to worry that your baby isn't getting enough breast milk on top of it all.
By Amanda Stamper8 years ago in Families
5 Ways to Be a Better Parent
Just remember to breathe. Parenting is a journey with so many paths and roadways, sometimes the way isn't clear and we may need to pave our own, but ultimately it is a learning experience for you and your child. Parenting can be done a number of ways, some good and some bad, but in the end, the goal is to create a productive and positive future for your child. These five tips are not concrete guidelines but are tools that may prove helpful in your life, within or outside of your parenting life.
By Sam8 years ago in Families