Healthy Snacks for Kids~priddymomma

Hey guys!  Hope you are enjoying your summer!  Having the kids around all the time, constantly complaining about how hungry they are can sure be stressful.  Hopefully you’ll find a bit of relief with this post about healthy kids’ snacks.

***Just a real quick reminder:  the ages of your kiddos matter in deciding what snacks to feed.  Please never give honey to kids under 1 year.  Also keep “choke hazard” foods away from kids under three (nuts, popcorn, etc.)

My kids get a healthy snack one or two times a day.  Snack time is between breakfast and lunch and/or between nap time and dinner.  Portion control is a big deal.  If you feed your kids a huge snack an hour before dinner, they likely won’t want to eat dinner when it is served.  They only need a couple hundred calories max for a snack. 

My go-to formula is to give them a good source of protein and a fruit or vegetable.  Here are some of our favorite snack options:

·         Grapes and cheese

·         Cottage cheese and blueberries (or pineapple)

·         Granola bars (or celery sticks) with peanut butter and raisins

·         Bell pepper slices or carrots dipped in hummus

·         Nuts and carrot sticks

·         Pretzels dipped in nutella and/or peanut butter and a fruit or vegetable (this is sugar-packed, so we only have this occasionally)

·         Popcorn with homemade toppings (1 Tablespoon of honey and 1 Tablespoon melted peanut butter drizzled over top, plus pretzel pieces and/or nuts)

·         Leftover pancake or waffle topped with peanut butter and strawberries, bananas, or blueberries

Best of luck to you!  I have to run.  Hungry kiddos yet again!  If you have any brilliant snack ideas, please share them below  We’d love to hear from you.  Chat with you all next week!

Teaching your kids to do good deeds~priddymomma

How do you teach your kids to do good deeds?  I guess you should probably start by deciding what it is you consider a good deed.  For our family, it isn’t that complicated.  I expect our kids to display kindness to each other and to others.  That is basic stuff they can understand at any age and that can grow with them in complexity as they are ready.  Today, it might be not pulling your sister’s pigtails.  Ten years from today, it might be volunteering at a soup kitchen.  An action brought about by kindness and love would be my definition of a good deed. 

Now that you’ve identified what you consider a good deed to be (and you don’t have to agree with my definition by any means, but for the purposes of this post, we’ll assume you do), you have to decide how to teach to you children what you know of the subject.  In this case, I need to teach my children about kindness and love.  Lucky for me, I’ve been teaching my kids about both of these things all of their lives.  The first moment I held each child in my arms after they were born (even arguably sooner), I began teaching them what I know about love.  With every boo boo that needed a kiss and every wounded feeling I had a kind word for, I’ve taught them about kindness.  I’m willing to bet your kids know a lot about both of these things from you as well.  

Point out good deeds that yourself or others perform.  Kids learn best through imitation.  If they see you hold open a door for an elderly person, when they are able it is likely they will do the same.  Let them see video spotlights on a great deed someone did, or let them read an article.  Expose your kids to books where someone chooses to do something kind for someone else.  Ask them how they think different characters feel at intervals throughout the book.  Teach manners (so few people use them these days!), respect, how to take the high road in a disagreement, and remember the Golden Rule:  treat others the way you would like to be treated.

The final step is performing the good deeds themselves.  I believe that if you’ve prepped your kids, they will take the steps without further measures.  If you would still like to nudge them a bit, help them brainstorm ideas for good deeds they could do for family, friends, animals, and the community at large.  Listen for what they sound passionate about, and encourage those deeds.  And don’t forget to take them along on any volunteering you do when appropriate. 

Do you agree with my definition of a good deed, or do you have one of your own?  Comment and let me know!

That’s it for me this week, folks!  Thanks for reading.  

 If you’d like to request a topic, we would love to write on it for you!  Comment below, or email us at thecaseofthemissingcheerios@gmail.com  Fan us on facebook!   https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Case-of-the-Missing-Cheerios-blog/317836935013256

Keeping Children Busy~priddymomma

My kids are always busy.  If they can’t find something to do, I will find that something for them or die trying.  Bored kids pound each other, I’ve discovered.  If you’re like me and can’t afford the constant ER trips, you’ll love this list!  (Calm down.  They don’t REALLY hospitalize each other.  Yeesh.)

Exercise-My number one recommendation is to get some exercise in that kid!  Kids need to run around.  They have a lot of energy to burn and sitting still is boring.  Make it a family affair and everybody wins.  Take a walk, throw a Frisbee, or build a snowman together.  My family hikes at a local park three days a week.  We all get exercise, and the outdoors really recharges us.  The kids sleep great at night too!  My kids also enjoy yoga and dancing to The Wiggles.  (So do I!  shh!)

Get messy-Most* kids love to get messy.  Play in the dirt, mud, sand, or snow.  Get to finger painting.  Use clay, glitter, markers, chalk.  Anything dirty, dusty, messy, or wet is fair game.  Wash the car afterwards or play in the sprinkler to make clean up easier.

(*Cheerio Champ does not like to get messy.  Princess Cheerio loves to get messy.  She then thinks it is funny to try to get Cheerio Champ messy.)

Give them a job-Kids love to help.  Cheerio Champ is patient at the store when he gets to help his daddy with the shopping list.  Princess Cheerio is super proud of herself when she puts a book back on the shelf when told to do so.

How old?-Age should be taken into consideration when trying to find a way to keep your child busy.  Princess Cheerio, for instance, is 16 months old.  She loves to put and take.  Give her a small box and a few old Christmas cards and she is set for twenty minutes.  Cheerio Champ (5 years), however, would much rather put together a 100 piece puzzle or play with his LeapPad 2.  And I’m guessing when she’s a teenager, my friend’s 15 month old daughter won’t be as easily amused by a partially filled water bottle as she was on the car ride the other evening.  You get the picture.

Read-Read to your kids as much as you can.  It helps encourage a love of reading, and it builds vocabulary.  Cuddling is also a bonus.

Tell them a story, teach them something, or both-Kids are intellectual sponges, and they think you are awesome.  Use that to your advantage.  Tell them a story about when you were a kid.  Teach them about ants (hopefully not the magnifying glass part, creep).  Make up a story to teach them an important moral about a situation they are having an issue with (There once was a girl named Susie.  She refused to clean up her room…).

Try an experiment-Kids are so curious.  They always want to know why something happens.  Blow bubbles in the winter and watch them shatter, or make your own bubble solution!  Add colored vinegar to baking soda with a medicine dropper (total win with Cheerio Champ). 

TV or video games-This is an obvious one, but keep in mind that they can still learn something!  There are amazing programs and movies out there geared towards kids of all ages, and video games have come a long way.  They can get active, learn something, or do both things at once.  And you can finally wash those dishes.

If all else fails, consult pinterest.  They have boatloads of ideas.  Good luck with the little monsters!  See ya next week!  XD

***Note:  This post has centered around keeping kids busy so they don’t drive you insane, but I want to take a minute to point out that there is a benefit to down time too.  You don’t want to over-schedule your kid with school, sports, play dates, piano lessons, etc.  They will get burnt out and emotional.  Think about how you feel if you don’t have a moment to kick up your feet.  Kids need the down time to let their imaginations run free and sit quietly for a while.  I strongly believe that as soon as a kid outgrows his or her nap, it should be replaced with a quiet time.  Cheerio Champ has a quiet time that lines up with Princess Cheerio’s nap time.  That works great for her.  It’s quiet while she naps.  It works great for him, because he’s not missing out on anything.  And it works out for me, because I get to recharge, exercise, get chores done, and shower.  (Yes.  I do squeeze all of that in most days.  Don’t you?)  You can encourage your wee one to do a puzzle, draw, or read books during the quiet period.  I like to keep Cheerio Champ in his room.  Other than while he sleeps, it’s the only time he bothers to use it.***

Working Out~priddymomma

Welcome back!  This week, we’re discussing workouts.  Whether you are an athlete or a novice, we hope to have some good advice for you.  Here are some common excuses for not exercising and what you can do to beat them once and for all.

 “I don’t have time to workout.”

Not to sound like Jillian Michaels here, but excuses much?  Who has time to workout?  You make time.  Get up earlier and make sure to go to bed at the same time every night.  Get plenty of sleep and get up when your alarm goes off the first time.  Sleep in your workout clothes if that’s what it takes to get motivated.  You don’t have to get up six hours before you have to be at work or before the kids will be up.  I recommend getting at least an hour of exercise every day, but you can break that up in manageable segments.  If you only have thirty minutes in the morning before you need to be in the shower, great!  Work it, shower, and then find time to exercise the other thirty when you get home.  Or maybe take advantage of breaks at work to do some squats and such.  Workouts can be very portable and do not need to require equipment or large amounts of time.  Also assess how you are spending your time.  Do you have two hours for facebook or twitter, and time every evening to watch your favorite shows?  Give them up, abbreviate the time, or multi task and voilà!

“I don’t have energy for exercise.”

As counter intuitive as it sounds, exercise provides you with energy.  The more often you work your body, the more often your body can provide its own energy boost.  Strength training, for instance, allows you to perform every day activities with less effort, thereby saving energy for that three o’clock hour when you normally crash through the floor and grab a latte.  You might just find your morning mocha isn’t as necessary as you thought it was.

“I can’t afford a gym membership.”

Neither can I.  I’ve never been in a gym, yet I’ve worked out for years.  You can buy equipment for a home gym, or you can use what you have.  You’d be surprised what you can accomplish with a step stool, two one-gallon jugs of water, and a towel. 

Never underestimate fitness DVDs.  Home videos have come a long way since Richard Simmons (though in no way am I dissing him.  He’s FUN!).  The advantages are many, including cost, privacy, and ability to pause when you have to pee or get the baby. 

There are also many classes you can go to that are not associated with a gym, such as Zumba.  Zumba classes are usually only $4 or $5 each class. 

As Kim mentioned, there are many great video games, ranging from having a virtual personal trainer to dancing your booty off against friends. 

Not really your thing?  Don’t forget good old walking, jogging, running, or biking.  Long standing exercises all, and for good reason:  they work.

“I don’t have anyone to watch the kids.”

Higher end gyms offer child care, but you don’t have to be a gym rat to get fit.  Many Zumba classes, for instance, offer free child care.  Try trading off sitting with another mommy for fitness reasons (or maybe she needs a sitter for a hot date!).

If you can’t get away from them, have them join the fun!  There are great jogging strollers on the market for active mommies to take baby for a run.    You can try mom and baby yoga.  Both my kids (5 years and 15 months) love to do yoga and to dance.  You can get a great workout on a playground while they play right next to you.  Go swimming!  Hiking!  Bike riding! (I do not recommend bike seats for small children, however.  They are not safe.  Wait until they can ride their own bike.)  Play a sport together!  You’ll get fit, bond, set a good example, and wear the kids out so they sleep good in the evening.  Everyone wins!

“Working out is boring.”

You aren’t doing it right.  You can’t keep the same routine for five years and expect it to be fascinating.  If it’s boring, change it.  I change mine up every five or six weeks, keeping a separate calendar just for my fitness routine and goals.  Running on the treadmill?  Go outside or try running backwards (seriously!).  Is your walk boring you?  Grab a pal and chat while you hit a local park.  Change your DVD, try a new class, challenge yourself with a heavier pair of dumbbells, add some jumping jacks between sets, try interval training, or race a pal.  Reward yourself with non-food goodies, like a new fitness DVD or some cute workout clothes.  Mani-pedi, new shoes, that dress you’ve had your eye on…set a goal, accomplish it, and it’s yours!  Everyone needs some motivation now and again.  Goals like, “Not be fat by March” are just not good enough to keep you interested, and they’re too vague. 

“Sweating is gross.”

Yeah.  It kinda is.  However, you don’t have to sweat like a Gatorade commercial.  There are plenty of gentle exercises that don’t cause you to perspire profusely, such as yoga, tai chi, or walking.  You can always bring a towel to dab off.  And if all else fails, plan to shower immediately afterwards.

“I have bad knees.”

If you have some physical condition that keeps you from doing certain things, then you already know what things you can’t do.  You need to learn to think more positively and focus on what you CAN do.  I know many women with bad knees who love to swim, saying it is much easier on their joints.  You can do many low-impact exercises if your joints are an issue.  There is even a Zumba instructor that is in a wheelchair because of a physical handicap.  She’s still exercising with what she can do, and that’s what you need to do too. 

Kim mentioned exercise-induced asthma.  I have that condition too, but notice I didn’t say I’m an avid runner.  I know my limits, and the condition for me lessens the stronger my lungs become from cardio.  I go to Zumba once a week, strength train once a week, hike with my thirty pound baby on my back in a backpack carrier three times a week, and do yoga twice a week.  I almost never have an attack, and if I feel I’m exerting myself too hard, I take a break to breathe.

Tips and Tricks

• Schedule in time to exercise like you would a work meeting, doctor’s appointment, or play date.  If someone or something tries to take that time, you are booked.  You have an appointment with yourself, and if you don’t put yourself first, no one will.

• Exercise and food work together.  Food is fuel.  If you eat crap, you’ll be running on crap all day. 
• Take a day off every now and again, especially if you feel very ill or aren’t feeling it.  You’ll enjoy the time off and hopefully be more interested in jumping back on the workout wagon the next day.
• Know your limits.  Don’t give 112% or you might well end up injured.  That goes double if you haven’t tried a workout before.  Sometimes you can’t tell how sore you will be until a day or two later.
• Watch your form.  Having a poor form can cause injury, limit results, or drain you too quickly.
• Results won’t occur overnight.  It might be six weeks before other people really start to comment on your weight loss or tone, but you will notice a difference in your strength and energy almost immediately.  Keep it up!
• Having a fitness friend is fun, but it’s also a great motivator.  You are now accountable to another person.  You don’t want to let them down or have them disapprove, so you go do your thing.  Try sites like sparkpeople.com to find online communities of like-minded folks.

My friend Allisse and I after a Zumba class.  Glamorous.  I know.

• Little things add up.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk or bike to work (even just once a week), do five or ten minutes of exercise during a break, sit on an exercise ball to engage abs while at the computer (or stand!), and dance like a crazy person at your girl’s wedding.  Hubby and I like to go on active dates where we play basketball, hike, walk, or go bowling.  You can try rock climbing, zip lining, or horseback riding.  If it’s fun, you’ll be less likely to view it as exercise, but it is!  It all counts!  Don’t forget sex! 
• Don’t make too many changes at once.  Start by requiring yourself to walk thirty minutes, three times a week.  If you keep that up for a week or two, step it up to forty-five minutes, or five days a week.  Habits aren’t formed until you’ve done something four months in a row, so it’ll take some time to ease yourself into a new routine.  You don’t want to start a new job, pick up exercising seven days a week, get pregnant, move to New Zealand, learn Portuguese, begin volunteering at the homeless shelter, change the way you eat, learn to knit, and quit smoking all at the same time.  You’ll blow a gasket and give up something…and that something will probably be working out as it takes a good deal of time and effort.
• The scale measures weight.  That may seem pretty obvious, but your scale lists a weight and not a height, not a measurement of body fat (unless you have that special one, though they aren’t always accurate), not a measurement of beauty, brains, or wit.  You are more than your weight, and whether you gain or lose, if you feel good about yourself, you have nothing to fear from the scale.  Muscle and fat weigh the same, but muscle takes up less room than fat.  So if your pants are looser, but the scale is being stubborn, be proud of the fat you changed to muscle.  Muscle burns more calories than fat, and pretty soon you’ll be looking down at a number you love.  

• Indulge every once in a while.  I love chocolate.  I would smack someone in the face if they suggested I not eat it ever again.  Do what makes you feel good, but within reason.  If you can’t give up your morning cup of joe, at least don’t have a 64 ounce caramel mocha super espresso double shot with extra syrup, cream, and lard.  Watch serving sizes.  Have one cup the way you want it and be done for the day.

Hopefully you’ve taken some valuable things away from our posts this week.  We hope you check in again next Monday on our nifty new topic.  Until then, farewell!   

Diaper Bag Essentials ~ Tori

Diaper bags are a necessity when young ones are involved. But a few questions remain on how big of a diaper bag do you need? How long do you carry one? What do you put in there? etc.

This week we will hopefully be helping answer some of those questions. First let me start by giving a few of the diaper bag essentials:

Diapers/Extra Pair of Toddler Underwear (the amount of diapers can be controversial, only you know your baby. Typically they recommend one for each hour you are going to be out and about but I take along an additional three extras just in case. When talking diapers it's always better safe than sorry. And I take along an extra pair of underwear for my oldest whom is five. He is fully potty trained but there has been a couple times there has been an accident even though we frequently have him potty)
Wipes (make sure you have a well stocked box or better yet the easy to pack packs)
Bottles/Sippy Cups (obvious)
Hand Sanitizer (for after diaper changes and when you need to clean your hands but there's no time or place)
Changing pad (or baby blanket/towel that you don't mind gets stained or dirty. This is helpful when you need to do a diaper change and need to lay your baby on something)
Pacifier (if your child takes one, mine didn't)
Bottle of water (obvious)
Sunscreen (again obvious)
An extra change of clothing for your child (accidents do happen, especially when you don't expect them. you can roll the clothes army style after folding and it doesn't wrinkle plus takes less space)
Small first aid kit (I can't tell you how many times I didn't have one and wished I had, I do now)
Busy toys (for the times your child is bored/cranky and needs something to keep them busy. This is best put in a ziploc bag big or small and includes crayons, paper, board books, an easily packed toy your child likes, etc)

And here's a great diaper bag tip: Make sure you can fit a couple things for yourself in there as well. Parent's sometimes have items needed to bring also. I for one never go anywhere without bringing a book along and a bottle of water for myself. And make sure you have a place for your wallet and keys to fit conveniently.


How long do you carry a diaper bag? What kind of diaper bag should you carry?
A controversial topic- everyone views this differently. Only you know your child and your child's needs. Personally as a mother to two young children (2 and 5) I still carry a diaper bag. Usually I keep a diaper bag in the trunk of my car since my kids are a bit older.
If your child is younger than two I recommend carrying one at all times just to be safe. Otherwise I recommend keeping one in the trunk of your car at least until your child is out of the accident range or around age 7. Nobody has to know you have it in there and it really doesn't matter if they do. You are doing what is best for your child and if an accident happens at least you are prepared. If your child is older you can switch to a tote bag/backpack etc. A diaper bag doesn't HAVE to be a diaper bag. It's what fits you best. Carry what feels comfortable and has enough room for all your needs.

Mom Alienation, losing non-mom friends...

Becoming a mom is life changing. Nothing is the same. You change your whole view of the world, priorities, thoughts, relationships, etc. Nothing is left unaffected.

Having a baby is a beautiful thing, but the very MOMENT you find out you are going to be a mother you aren't the same.
The only bad thing is that your friends become different towards you too. Mainly we are talking about your non-mom friends. Not all of them will do this, but there will be some.
Now this is not to say that the non-mom friends are bad people. Not at all. I guess you have to see it from both perspectives and add the fact that everyone is different.

When I found out I was pregnant all the people close to me were very excited right along with me. However, that quickly changed as I started changing. After all I now was growing a life inside me, I wanted to get ready for the baby. I couldn't go out and party with friends anymore. I still hung out with some of them and we would see movies, go swimming, just hang out, etc. But it wasn't the same.
I was tired often, I no longer wanted to stay out late, I didn't want to drive around, etc. I wanted to go home and crochet baby blankets, I wanted to shop for baby clothes instead of other stuff, etc. It may sound boring but that's just who I became. I didn't think badly of my friends who got to go out and have a good time. I even still enjoyed hearing their stories, but some of them had no interest in hearing mine. Friendship goes both ways, and that's the main thing to remember.

Once I had my first son things some friends separated even more from me. I noticed it but didn't fret too much. We were both different people now. Or as some of them seen it they stayed the same while I changed. I was fine with this, however. No sense in crying over spilled milk. It's sad to lose friends, but if your losing them then they weren't your REAL friends to begin with.
I was told by one friend that our lives were too different and I didn't have the time needed to hang out. I was now boring and just because I changed didn't mean they were going to. But she didn't look at the fact I was a new mom with a newborn to take care of. I didn't want to leave my baby and go party. I had diapers and wipes to buy, doctor appointments to attend. Sleep was now a precious commodity, no longer a right but a luxury.
But one thing I quickly learned is this golden rule:

You win some, you lose some.

This can easily be applied to mommy hood. While you will inevitably lose some of your non-mom friends as you are changing you will gain some new mom friends. And don't forget your TRUE friends will be around for you no matter what the situation. They will learn to adapt to your lifestyle and you still need to remember to make time for them. Involve them in stuff and when you can do some stuff they want to do. Let your partner have some daddy/child time and go out with your friends for a little bit. Call your friends and keep in touch via text/email/etc. And make sure they make time for you too. Have them over for movie night, let them accompany you to the park when you take your kiddos, invite them to birthday's, etc. Your friendships don't have to stop just because your a mom. Your true friends will stick around, they will respect the fact that your life has changed and they will still be there. They will listen to all your parenting stories from dirty diapers to lack of sleep. They won't care you have spit up on your shirt (which does happen more often than you think). Fact of the matter is when it comes to true friends you may even go months without talking but when you finally get back to it, it won't be awkward or different. You'll be able to pick right back up where you left off and both parties will be understanding.

One thing that's important is to keep your friendships many. I have friends that have older children, friends that have no children, friends that have younger children. As a mother they have all contributed to me in so many ways from helpful hints and tips to inspiration. I have been able to pass down handy tips and tricks and I have had tips and tricks passed down to me.

Even if your losing some friends you will gain more, and the true ones will stay.

Keeping children safe with Car Seat Safety - Tori

There are many ways we need to factor safety into our children's lives. From teaching them about strangers, baby proofing the house, internet safety, etc., safety topics are unlimited. This week we are each going to be picking a topic to discuss on child safety. My topic will be:

Car Safety

 

Did you know?



Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among children ages 1 to 19.

Children ages 2 to 5 who use safety belts prematurely are four times more likely to suffer a serious head injury in a crash than those in child safety seats or booster seats.

Of those children ages 8 and under who died in vehicle crashes in 2011, 29 percent were unrestrained.

Children should ride in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.

 When my first son was born it was only recommended that he sit in a rear facing car seat until he reached a certain weight limit. Once that weight limit was reached forward facing was just fine and dandy. Recently though after a talk with our pediatrician we were informed that it is now recommended to keep your child rear facing for as long as possible, or at least until 2 years of age. Kids who ride in rear-facing seats have the maximum protection for the head, neck and spine.
Here's a video that will show you the difference involving rear facing vs. forward facing in a car accident.

Did you know?
There is an expiration date (usually around six years) on every car seat label?

 Make sure you know when the expiration date is so your child is riding around in a safe car seat that is still safe for today's standards. Pay close attention to the weight, age, and height label on the car seat so your getting the right kind of protection for your child.


Here's some other tips that will make your child safer in a car/car seat:

Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle whether in a booster seat, car seat, or other. This should be common sense but all too often I hear on the news about children suffering heatstroke. There's no sense for this. Don't even leave your child in a running car, take them with you. Could you bare to live with yourself if something happened? It's better to be safe than sorry.

Make sure your child is buckled in his/her seat correctly. Buckling up properly is the number one way you can help save your child's life should you ever be in a crash. Never expect that you won't be in a crash. Even if your the safest driver on the planet there are other drivers/cars who are not. Never take the risk.

Make sure your child's car seat is installed correctly. Don't be embarrassed if you are unsure whether it is or isn't. Again, it's better to be safe than sorry. Your child's life is more important than your pride. There are so many ways to have your child's car seat checked in this day and age. You can go to your local fire department, police department, and even hospital. Not to mention there are all sorts of programs that inspect car seats to make sure your child is safe.
73% of car seats are not used or installed correctly. That's well over half. Before you hit the road have your car seat checked.
Here's some things to check for::

Inch Test. Once your car seat is installed, give it a good tug at the base where the seat belt goes through it. Can you move it more than an inch side to side or front to back? A properly installed seat will not move more than an inch.

Pinch Test. Make sure the harness is tightly buckled and coming from the correct slots (check your car seat manual). With the chest clip placed at armpit level, pinch the strap at your child’s shoulder. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you’re good to go.

For both rear- and forward-facing child safety seats, use either the car’s seat belt or the lower anchors and for forward-facing, the top tether to lock the car seat in place. Don’t use both the lower anchors and seat belt at the same time. They are equally safe- so pick the one that gives you the best fit.

If you are having even the slightest trouble, questions or concerns, certified child passenger safety technicians are able to help or even double check your work. Visit a certified technician to make sure your car seat is properly installed.

Now this one is a biggie:
Don't use a used car seat, and if you have no choice, know the car seat's history. Car seats are expensive yes, but if you don't have the funds for a new car seat check around. There are many programs that will give you a car seat for your child, and you can receive financial assistance in cases. Your hospital's maternity ward, your local fire station, or your local health/family department would be likely to have information to help you along. Make sure to check into them.
If a car seat has been in a car accident it's no longer safe to use. We don't always see the effects that an impact can have on the workings of a car seat. It's best to buy a used one so your child is receiving the maximum protection. Just like if you are in a wreck and your airbags deploy you can't just stuff them back in there. You have to have new ones installed. Be safe and again check around, there are many options available.

Hopefully you've taken something valuable away from this. Just remember when it comes to your kids pride is not an option. If your unsure of something ask someone. And even if you think your sure about something and you've had five kids so your experienced, ask anyway. It won't hurt. Things change all the time, we find new things out everyday. New light is shed constantly on keeping our children safe so you can do your part by keeping up to date with it. Be safe.

Second Amendment~priddymomma

Boy, am I going to cheese off some people with this post!  Hold on to your hats!  The second amendment.  DUM DUM DUN!  (Again, please remember to keep your comments and discussions respectful.  My beliefs are my own, and you are free to believe as you chose.)

The first thing you need to know, to those that are living under a rock, is that the second amendment is the right to keep and bear arms.  It was adopted for several reasons.  First, the age was dangerous.  Protecting your family was your job.  A gun went a long way towards protecting your loved ones, your livestock, and your possessions.  Second, it was your duty to defend your homeland when necessary.  It was also your duty to resist tyranny, for yourself and for your fellow man.  Having separated from a country we felt stifled by, it made sense that we would wish to have the ability to defend ourselves if another country were to try to take hold. 

My feelings?  I am extremely liberal.  I am the first one on the bandwagon when it comes to protecting our rights and freedoms.  Even so, I believe the right is antiquated.  Historians often believe that “arms” is to actually mean “weapons.”  Guns are only one of the options that the amendment protects.  No one is boycotting mace or stun guns.  (Well, maybe some people are boycotting them, but nothing gets through to the news, and there are no stun-gun clubs that people create a society around and go to practice their mad skills either.)  Just guns become the controversy.  The writers of the amendment could not have possibly imagined the guns, (hell, weapons!) we have created since the amendment came into effect.  We have abused the right by making the most dangerous things we can think of.  Weapons that not only can take a life, but can take dozens or hundreds or thousands of lives in just a matter of seconds.  Minutes at the most.  We’ve created video games and movies and television shows that have made weapons cool, and people that use them even cooler.  They aren’t a necessity to protect.  They are a fashion item.

That’s not to say that everyone is trigger-happy, irresponsible idiots or that in no way is a gun warranted.  That isn’t what I’m saying at all.  Just the opposite, in fact.  I believe that with most of the population here in the United States, we have no good reason to own a gun and we’re better off not owning one.  The people that have a legit reason?  They should.  That’s where gun control comes in.  A gun can easily take a life.  I have never been injured walking into an exam room, yet I have to fill out a stack of papers as thick as my leg every time I go to a doctor’s appointment.   “With great power comes great responsibility.”  Perhaps if you want to own a gun, you should be required to fill out a large packet of information, which is then submitted to a committee.  At that point, if you can read, make a decent case for your need to own a gun, and not kill anyone while waiting, you would be granted one.  You could own a gun if you lived in a high crime area and lived alone, but not if you wanted revenge on your ex-boyfriend.  See where I’m going with this?  Maybe the committee could just issue dogs.  Seems more fulfilling.  To my knowledge, we have yet to create a gun that gives you a friendly kiss when you come home, and it would do dual duty by finding homes for all the shelter dogs in the country.  See?  I should run for president.   

And to the real issue I have with guns:  kids get them.  They get the wrong idea about them, they hurt themselves or other people, the stories go on.  In every one, it is totally unacceptable and 100% preventable.  If you are a gun owner, it is your number one responsibility to make sure that you keep other people safe.  Practice in intelligent places.  Store your guns and ammunition under lock and key, in separate places.  I also believe it is important to teach your kids about guns, but know that your child will likely do just what you asked them not to.  It is in their natures.  They are curious!  When I was eight years old, I found a gun in the garage.  I knew the rules.  I picked up the gun, aimed it at an elderly lady gardening across the street, and pulled the trigger.  Thankfully, that gun wasn’t loaded.  I’m sure even if it was loaded, I wasn’t aiming correctly and wouldn’t have hurt that sweet old lady.  But what if it had been a friend three feet from me?  I knew the rules about guns.  I knew I shouldn’t touch it and should find an adult.  I did any way.  The truth is that I didn’t have any kind of grasp on the amount of damage a gun could do.  I hadn’t seen anyone die, didn’t have the capacity to think that far in the future to grasp the finite.  Even if you don’t own a gun, but you have a child, it is your responsibility to ask at play dates and relatives’ homes if they own a gun and find out how they keep it.  Sure, it’ll be a bit on the awkward side the first few times you ask people (akin to asking them what they’re wearing while you chat on the phone), but there is no price too high to pay for peace of mind when it comes to your child’s safety.