Stereotype

I like to think that your worth as a parent is based on how you love your child. It shouldn't matter if you choose breast or bottle, cloth or disposable diapers, daycare or stay at home and it certainly shouldn't depend on how you look. I think as long as you love your child and care for him or her as best you can then you are doing alright. That's why I was so angry to hear a story from one of my friends who was treated like a bad mother based on her appearance.

Ellie is kind of punk rock! I guess you could call her 'alternative'. She has 9 tattoos, some visible if she wears short sleeves or a skirt, and several body modifications including a ring in her nose, a barbell in her eyebrow and I'm sure a few other piercings under her clothing! She dresses punk and often experiments with wacky hair color. She is also THE best mother I know. Ellie and her husband (of 15 years) have 5 children. The oldest is 14 and the youngest just turned 3 and started preschool. I am in awe of Ellie. I struggle to get my one 6 month old baby and me dressed and fed most mornings and there is Ellie packing 4 kids off to school, getting her husband out to his job and now a little one to preschool before heading off to her own part time job. She doesn't have a nanny, her kids do well at school and she cooks fresh food daily. She rarely loses her cool with her children or other people and her kids are a credit to her with their behaviour and good manners. So it came as something of a surprise when I met her for lunch the other day and she was totally wound up!

It emerged that the preschool had pulled her husband to one side when he was collecting Harrison and expressed concern over 'the child's mother'. They apparently felt that it was not setting a good example for Harrison if his mother looked like a deviant! Needless to say Jamie was livid and asked for an explanation. The woman then elaborated that the tattoos and piercings and her general dress were making her concerned for Harrison's well-being and that surely a respectable gentleman like himself could understand that. Jamie proceeded to remove his shirt and show off his own (copious) ink and nipple rings! The woman was speechless. You same Jamie too is into body modification, but his city job requires that it be hidden under a suit! Come the weekend though it's all leather pants and guy-liner! Needless to say Harrison has been removed and will start a new preschool next week, but the damage was already done.

Ellie has never in the last 14 years been treated like that. She's had some disapproving looks, but never has anyone suggested that her appearance means she is neglecting or abusing her child. Since when did body modification make someone a bad person?

Household Fungus Be Gone!

Some people feel that household fungus is something they don’t really have to worry about. On the contrary, ignoring this molds in your home could mark the beginning of some serious health problems. Although at first household fungus may seem harmless, they have the potential to stir up serious health related issues. Their fungi are known to cause respiratory problems, instigate asthma attacks and even affect memory functions. Aside from that, household fungus can also cause damage to the home in the form of dry rot, aesthetic damage and musty doors.

The problem is severe and it should be immediately taken care of. One can only imagine the hazardous problems these molds can produce. The first symptom of having household fungus is having musty doors. If there is a musty door in the house there laid the terror hidden. The symptoms that the human beings would get is having dry cough, burning eyes and skin rashes. If you already have them, you cannot waste anymore time but call the specialized team. The Silver-lining of the situation is there lay a team that is specialized to splash all the molds and promise healthy living. The team would inspect the house properly with care and do the necessary tasks in order to get rid of those molds. They would process in three different steps, inspecting, testing and then the mold removal process.

People cannot overlook those molds because they cause more harm than people are aware of. They secretly do their job in silence and no one really knows it until they are faced with the ultimate problem. Those molds grow so fast but remain unchecked for a long time, no one pays much heed to them until they are so severe that the house owners need medical attention. The team is specialized and they put on their special gear like goggles, gloves, safety breathing masks so that they remain safe while they get rid of those unwanted creatures. As they are highly trained to pretend the spreading of those molds, eventually the house becomes mold free and safe for a better living.

The source of moisture is also our concern. We ensure that the root cause of the dampness is rectified when we carry out mold removal . We handle the necessary repair to restore dry conditions and prevent further growth of spores. The complete removal of leakage is confirmed by use of infra red test which checks the inside of walls for remaining moisture.

3 Places You Should Consider Visiting with Your Kids

Planning where to go for a vacation can be stressful. But planning where to go that the whole family would have a nice time, especially when you have kids of varying ages, that is a whole different dimension. There are many fancy resorts and vacation destinations in the U.S but only a handful cater to children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers.

Out ‘n’ About Treehouse Treesort

This is a ‘treesort’ that has achieved international fame. Located in Takilma, Oregon, it is a group of lovely, resort quality accommodation. What is particularly unique about this place is that the lodges are tree houses. It is a child’s dream come true and adults get to enjoy the scenic and picturesque view from lofty heights.

Each lodge is unique and a work of art. The Treezebo is very high up and is in fact, one of the treehouses that is farthest from the ground. The advantage of that is that you get really spectacular views. But if you are not comfortable with such heights however, you could try the Elementree which is a cozy lodge that can take a family with two kids.

This Treesort also operates as a family summer camp with the Treehouse Institute which teaches how to construct a great treehouse so that you can have yours up in your backyard when you go back home. It is safe for children even though basic safety precautions need to be employed.

Arizona

You could decide to make a trip of it to Arizona; don’t forget that this is the home of the Grand Canyon. There are a number of things a family can do in this state and staying at one of the various dude ranches is a great option.

Dude ranches are generally ranches that accept paying guests. You can expect the style to be ranch like but most have modern amenities and some even have luxury spas. The whole family would enjoy the horseback riding. Some have kids’ camps where kids can have fun with games and adventures.

The Grand Canyon Railway with its Dome observation car would certainly fascinate most kids. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you could get to witness an exciting chase by train robbers and watch the Sheriff protect the train.

Disneyland Resort

There is so much to see and do at the Disneyland resort and although there are activities which might be favorites with specific age groups, there is also a ton of stuff that the whole family can enjoy. There are lovely rides for little ones like the Alice in Wonderland ride which is for preschoolers. Your kids would have fun as they follow the Rabbit down the rabbit hole to a whole new world.

The Animation Academy also draws a lot of attention as children of all ages are taken through the basics of creating animation including lessons from Disney artists on how to draw the Disney characters they already love.

Big Thunder Ranch is a petting zoo filled with adorable farm animals like goats, cows, sheep and many more. Your preschoolers would absolutely adore this and so would the older kids as a matter of fact.

The U.S. is filled with so many lovely places where a family can vacationand have fun. These three are worth trying out, if you haven’t already after which, you can explore some other places.

Household Fungus Presents A Looming Danger

Household fungus is sometimes one of the issues most people are less concerned about. However, ignoring the growth of molds in your home is courting trouble. This is because as harmless as it may seem the fungus has the potential to cause serious health problems. The fungi are known to cause respiratory complications, aggravate asthma conditions and cause memory deterioration. Of great concern is with people who have weak immunity such as children, the elderly and the ailing individuals. There are other problems with household fungus such as causing dry rot, aesthetics damage and musty odors but the health issues are the greatest concern.


The question is: what causes fungal growth in the home? Well, the answer is moisture; fungal spores exist suspended in air all the time. However, the spore will only germinate ones they land on a damp surface like the walls, wooden surfaces and carpets. Any cause of moist conditions will cause growth of household fungus. This may be a leak inside the walls, a roof leak that is difficult to detect, water form a broken pipe, improperly dried structure after a flooding and general high humidity. Any source of moisture will lead to household fungus growth and come with risk that the molds pose to home occupants.

For a conclusive handling of the household fungus in your home, call in a professional immediately. The most highly regarded mold remediation experts use the best mold removal technology that is designed to completely remove the fungus and ensure no future growth of the molds. The process involves the inspection and testing to establish the extent of the contamination and the type of fungus you are contending with. Professional technicians are fully trained and have are certified to the IICRC certification. All these ensure that they carry out the job in a thorough way that is also safe for the house occupants and the attending staff too. The vacuuming process most service providers employ and the HEPA technology employed ensure that spores are prevented from spreading to other rooms. This is aided by sealing off of the place and also application of air scrubbers and EPA-approved antimicrobials to kill any spore in the air.

The source of moisture is also a major concern. When mold removal is performed, it is important to ensure that the root cause of the dampness is rectified. The technicians will handle the necessary repair to restore dry conditions and prevent further growth of spores. The complete removal of leakage is confirmed by use of infra red test which checks the inside of walls for remaining moisture.

Trusting Your Parental Intuition

If you are a parent, then you will understand that paralyzing fear when you come to realize that your child depends on you completely for everything. You hold his or her life in your hands. I always assumed that this was a first time parent thing, but my friends who have more than one child all say it happens prior to the birth of every single child. One of my girlfriends in particular is a Mom of 5 and has another bundle of joy on the way and yet she says she still has cold sweats and is adamant that this one will be the one she won't know how to look after! One huge piece of advice I can give you as a parent is to relax! You've got this! No baby comes with an instruction manual, but you will get the hang of it!

Mommy, Daddy & Tyler

The great news is, that when it comes to parenting it is mostly intuitive. There is no special class or a specific book which can give you all of the answers! In fact, with modern technology we perhaps have access to too much information. There is such a huge amount of information out there, much of it conflicting, and it can be difficult to know what to put your faith in. So why not put your faith in yourself? Inside of every parent is a little voice that is telling you the right thing to do. That is the voice of your intuition. Learn to listen to that voice and you will soon find your own path. If you are having difficulty, then by all means consult books and websites, talk to other parents. But, instead of following their advice to the letter, just use it as inspiration. Listen to your intuition and decide what piece of advice fits for you and your child. We are all different. What works for baby A will not work for baby B. For example, often women feel lie they are under pressure to breastfeed their babies, but sometimes this is not what is right for you. I tried breastfeeding Tyler when he came along, but after a few weeks of bleeding nipples and the constant crying from Tyler because he wasn't getting enough milk I finally let go of the guilt and took the advice of the midwife to try bottle feeding. We are both much happier and my husband can help with the night feeds. I think even from the early days I knew it wasn't right for me and Tyler and I only wish I had listened to my intuition then instead of going through the pain and upset. That doesn't mean I won't try to breastfeed our next baby. I'd definitely give it a go in case it was just an incompatibility issue for Tyler and I.

I think that what I am trying to say here is that as you get to know your baby, you will get to know what he  or she needs. When you witness your child experiencing any strong emotion - be it fear, pain or even joy - it will trigger your on response. You will intuitively know how to sooth them and if you don't ... call your Mother!