How Healthy Are You?

If you're anything like me, you make sure your child is taken care of, setting up doctor's appointments in a timely manner and take him to the doctor when his fever is high, his cough lingers too long or something just doesn't seem right.

If you're anything like me, you haven't been to the doctor yourself for quite some time. So, how do you know if you're healthy then? What preventative measures can you take to make sure you remain strong and healthy so you can continue to take care of your child?

With a better general awareness of health, fitness, and nutrition, many people may feel that they are staying on track in doing what they need to in order to stay healthy. If you would like to see how you measure up, then take a few online quizzes and tests to see what you know and learn how you can keep yourself healthy and fit.

With categories including women’s health, men’s health, children’s and teen health, specific health issues, fitness, nutrition, and more, you will find plenty of quizzes to ensure you are on the right track with you and your family’s health. Remember, though, that these quizzes never substitute for a visit to your doctor.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I remember adults asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up and having no idea how to answer that question. I've only recently discovered what I truly want to do that would be fulfilling, provide me with a stable income and allow me to have the flexibility that I desire.

Young women have limitless options when it comes to the type of career they want but it certainly isn't easy to figure out as a teen or young adult what job would suit them best.

In Their Shoes is a wonderful resource put together by Deborah Reber that just might help young women narrow down their career choices. Interviewing women in different professions, from a forensic scientist to librarian, firefighter to architect and over a dozen more, Reber highlights successful women and what it took for them to get to where they are today.

Senator Barbara Boxer and actress Maura Tierney are two recognizable names - and faces - included in this collection of careers that young women will understand more clearly after reading through this book.

In the back of the book is a Career Chooser checklist to help readers determine which jobs fall into categories that they might find appealing, such as jobs involving travel to interesting places, careers that provide opportunities to attend hip parties or that allow you to work from home.

I wish I had this book when I was in high school, trying to figure it all out. With this book and the information provided, young women can select a career path that they will be confident and eager to dive into when the time comes.

Questions You'd Never Ask Your Parents

Having an open and trusting relationship with our children is a goal that most parents have, but let's be honest. No matter how open and respectful our relationship, there are many subjects that are a little embarrassing for both kids and parents.

I remember my mom telling me (over and over) how I could talk to her about anything and oftentimes I found myself (and still do) sharing too much information. But the fact remains that there were certain questions I had or things I wanted to know about that I just could never bring up with her.

Elisabeth Henderson and Nancy Armstrong put together an amazing book that I plan on purchasing for my son and slipping under his door someday. 100 Questions You'd Never Ask Your Parents answers many questions in thoughtful, simple ways for those curious and developing teens and tweens.

Providing your child with a safe environment to ask questions is a wonderful thing, but for those kids who just can't seem to say some of these things out loud, this book is a must-have. I even suggest that parents buy this book before their children are ready for these topics so that they can come up with ways to answer their children's questions if and when they are asked.

Next Generation Parenting

Through Facebook, I was introduced to a parenting blog with great articles and resources. Next Generation Parenting. Founded by a husband and wife who have a baby on the way, the site is set to launch in early 2009. They're looking for bloggers to contribute to their site. Already, I'm impressed with the content that I've come across, from the article on Teaching Kids about Money to that of fingerprinting your child - the articles are relevant, interesting and include some fabulous contributors, all in one site.

Head on over to read articles categorized under education, teenagers, communication, child development, safety, special children, motherhood, entertainment and several others.

You can also join their Facebook group to be kept up to date on the latest articles and resources.

Words of Wisdom

Things have changed since I was in high school and certainly since my parents were teenagers. Young people today are constantly "connected" and social networking has changed the way people meet, date and get to know one another.

One thing that I noticed is that my perception, of myself and the world, has changed quite drastically since I was young.

My life experiences have made me more confident, more comfortable and because of this, more attractive. I'm not afraid to look someone in the eye and say this and I hope that all young women will embrace this knowledge for themselves:

A woman should not expect to feel special because a man treats her well. She should expect a man to treat her well because she is special.

It Takes a (San Diego) Village

Redirecting Children's Behavior (RCB) of San Diego is proud to present

The First Annual "IT TAKES A VILLAGE" Conference

A 1-day convention for parents, teachers, coaches, grandparents, caregivers,
and anyone who interacts with children.

September 20, 2008
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

University of San Diego
Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110

Over a dozen parenting workshops will be held throughout this one-day event. Here are just a sample of courses offered:

• Consequences that Work
  
• Effective Parent-Child Communication
  
• Enjoying the Teen Years
  
• Flower Essence Therapy
  
• Power Struggles in the Classroom
  
• Handling Sibling Rivalry
  
• Kids and Money, Abundance and Scarcity
  
• Let’s Talk about Sex..the Birds and the Bees (Please help me prepare for this workshop by filling out this questionnaire!)
• New Tools and Techniques in Place of Praise
  
• Redirecting for a Cooperative Classroom
  
• Redirecting for the Single Parent
  
• Couple's Communication
  
• Strategies for Parents in High-conflict Divorce
  
• Welcome to the Wonderful World of Sports
  
• Balancing Love with Discipline (English & Spanish)
  
• No I Won’t & You Can’t Make Me! (English & Spanish)
  

Keynote Speaker, Max Simon will join over a dozen Certified Parent Educators* from the San Diego RCB team to inspire peace!

Max Simon, a new school leader of consciousness, has toured the country with Deepak Chopra M.D. and his father, Dr. David Simon, teaching meditation and yoga to thousands of people.

Also presenting will be Emcee, Jeff Detrow from Star 94.1 (the Jeff‐N‐Jer Radio Show) and Susie Walton, founder of Indigo Village and recipient of the San Diego Parent Educator of the Year award. Susie will be presenting a special message about Indigo Children.

Register before September 13th for your early-bird discount!

*Educators are certified through the International Network for Children and Families (INCAF).

Show and Tell

It has become a mission of mine to find - and share - the humorous, insightful and delightful blog posts that are posted on the web relating to parenting, relationships, sex and psychology. Here's several that I discovered from the last few days:

• Subtle Differences Between Siblings
• Condom Popsicles
• Why Gender Doesn't Matter
• Friends with Benefits
• Tweens and Teens Experiencing Abuse in Dating Relationships?

Pregnancy Pact

This saddens me:

Teen Girls Make Pact to Get Pregnant

I can't even begin to comment. But, The Blogess did a great job and pretty much covers everything I would've said, were I not drinking decaf espresso (I'll save that story for another day).

Y Not?

Printed on recycled paper and taking 10% of everything you spend to go toward changing the world, The Y Catalog is definitely a company and catalog that I encourage you to check out.

Here is a list of the organizations that receive a percentage of the proceeds:

CARE
The 11th Hour Action
The Fisher House Foundation
The Mukti Mission
Solar Meninos de Luz
Organic Farming Research Fund
YouthAids
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Africa Yoga Project
Friends of Animals
The Santa Fe Mountain Center
Surfrider Foundation
3 Phases Energy
Trees for the Future
Y.O.G.A.
Shanti House
EBMRF
The Food Bank for NYC
Room to Read
Yoga Ed.
Teens for Safe Cosmetics
Seva Foundation
The Telluride Adaptive Sports Program (TASP)

Backseat Driver

It'll be a few years until I need to worry about my son being out there on the road, driving, but he'll have a hard time being patient waiting for that day to come, I have a feeling.

Just the other day, as I was sitting behind four or five cars at a red light, he calls from the back seat, "Mom, you're not driving the right way." I looked up to make sure I was on the correct side of the road (just recently he and I were driving on the incorrect side of the road - but that's another story).

As the light turned green, I started to move forward behind the other cars. I was still trying to figure out what he had been referring to, when a second later he yells, "Both of your hands need to be on the steering wheel."

I took a quick glance back at him and smiled. "You're right, Dominic," I said, "I was driving wrong way."

Instead of telling me it was OK - as he's said before when I have admitted to doing something wrong, he says to me, in a very matter-of-fact voice, "I'll show you how to drive."

I will be a nervous wreck once he actually does get behind the wheel for the first time. Although by then, there will hopefully be some new technology that will allow me to have a GPS tracking system on the car so that I can make sure he hasn't been run off the road or fallen asleep at the wheel - or worse - lying about where he is.

Thinking back to my own years and the first years of freedom, it was much different then. My mom was excited to learn that I purchased a pager for myself. (Note to self: Must check to see if people - besides doctors - still use them.)

My mom would page me when I was out too late or past my curfew or didn't come home the night before. I can't say that having a pager made her life any easier. I would either ignore the page and not call her, or call her back and casually explain why I just had to spend the night at my boyfriend's house - again.

Being young and having freedom is exciting. It's just as exciting - if not anxiety-inducing - for parents.

That's why, when I heard about this new system, I wanted to know more. Will this be something that is going to be even more technologically advanced when the time comes for me to really have a use for it?

I don't usually think that far ahead, but when it comes to the safety of our children, what a parent wouldn't do...

What do you think? Is this GPS Tracking System too invasive? Do your teenagers have the right to total independence when they get their license to drive?