As we flock from indoors to outdoors, we enjoy not only the change of scene but also the change in air. Spring cleaning was historically a way to purge your home of ‘bad bugs (viruses)’ and replace with healthy air. All should be good except if you suffer from allergies. Then those ‘Bad Bugs’ (pollen) will come in and reside in your home causing chaos. probably in the middle of the night. What are we to do? Stay in? NO! Fresh air is clarifying for your body and soul and we…

Spring has given us some warm, sunny weather. It is nice to have sunny days and more opportunities to be outside. Even if it is just laying on a park lawn, the fresh air helps rejuvenate after a long winter. Maybe hiking, biking, climbing, running and outdoor sports are on your weekend agenda. Getting active it is great. But take precautions, too. Now that we have had weather over 60/62 degrees for many days, the bugs will come. With the flies and mosquitos, there will also be ticks. Just walking through a…

From the day we are born, we age. It is inevitable. But did you know that the more sedentary you are, the less efficient all your organs become? And as we age, our ability to make up for this sedentary lifestyle decreases dramatically. As more children are diagnosed with what I refer to as ‘TOO MUCH Sitting Syndrome.’ From urinary incontinence, skin rashes on their laps from laptop computers, lack of normal sleep and chronic backpain and eyestrain, where will our children be at 30? 40? 50? Probably not well.…

Remember when you were a teenager and you had some big test, activity or responsibility coming up, how you tried but just could not sleep? Does it still happen today? Our ability to adjust to stressful events is often also reflected in our children. Yes, does our son or daughter react as you did? How difficult it was for you then and how difficult it is to watch your child going through that anxiety now. What is a parent to do? First, a certian level of anxiety is normal and…

Photo by Michele Mieklejohn

Responsibilties at any age are important. They teach us the value of taking something to completion. Yes, even your two year old can handle some responsibilities, such as putting clothes in the hamper and making the bed. It is a great way to instill routines that can make life easier later. But what if your child runs from responsibility, what then? I have a ten year old who seems to hide whenever his name is called! Granted, at times, he thinks it is funny, but is it? We have had…

Ask young children what they want to be when “they grow up,” and you may be pleasantly surprised by their responses. Childhood is filled with wonderful, almost magical, looks at the real world. To all of us adults who may be a little more reality focused, we laugh and think longingly of our own dreams. If you think back to your feelings about growing up, you may have also had very high hopes. Wasn’t that a great feeling? Where did that joy go? Well, dreaming up these marvelous carreer paths never has…

Flashback to your childhood and recall what your parents would say to you if you were about to do something that could cause harm to yourself, like climb out of the crib or venture into the street. It was usually a resounding, “No!” They were trying to protect you, and you may or may not have known it then but it was for your own good. Today, it seems children rarely hear the word no.

Some parents, when put to the test, will say they want their child to figure it out,…

Many people feel overwhelmed by the diet and nutrition information that abounds in type and online. If you are always trying to lose weight this time of year–let’s all get ready for summer!–then you have probably tried many different weight-loss plans over the years. How about your kids? Have some of your diet successes and failures trickled down to them?

You know showing your children how to eat healthy is necessary, but buying fresh fruit for a change is only a part of it. Many children, both boys and girls, begin developing food issues,…

Photo by healingdream at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Our lifestyles are killing us. From the day we are born to the day we leave this world, a lot of us seem to be making the wrong choices. Why? Could it be that we think good health is not that important? Or could it be that we are not thinking so clearly given our poor diets, lack of exercise and electronic lifestyle?

Consider this: When was the last time you walked anywhere? If you live in a city, you may have walked to work. But if you are like most people,…

  When you asked for something, does it go something like this? “Please, hand me the [fill in the blank].” And do you reply with “thank you” when your request is approved? It seems pretty basic but, these days, I rarely hear it. Remember when you were a child and you always felt you had to be nicer to the child who was nicer to you? We tend to gravitate toward those who respect, acknowledge and care about us. Why? Because it feels comforting and nice. Can we be nice in return? Yes, most of us…