Friday, May 27, 2011

Raising Children When You're in Your 40's

My daughter
When I was told that I couldn't have children, I cried. Of course every time someone else tells me that I can't do something I try my best to prove them wrong. In this case I ended up having four great kids.

I was thinking today, after watching my daughter with her new born son, about how different I parented after having my second set of children. In my 20's I was much more high strung about the children. As they grew up I didn't have nearly the patience as I did with the second set. My two older ones will tell you that they were spanked growing up. My two younger ones will tell you they haven't been spanked. It's an entirely different way of raising children.

So is age the difference? It's not just the age. I went to college after having the first two. I studied to become and educator for children with learning differences. I was schooled in different types of behavior management. I understood more about what a child was going through as they grew older and the different stages of their development. I also changed my living situation.

My new grandson
What I do know is that each child is and individual. What may work on one child may not work on another. While visiting with my daughter and new grandson yesterday I teased her a bit. "Put the baby on a schedule if you don't like how often he's nursing," I smiled. She gave me an odd look and replied, "Yeah. That worked so well when we tried it coming home from the hospital. You try to tell him he can wait ten or fifteen more minutes to eat."

That was my point. Sometimes you just have to develop a system that works for both of you. I'm very proud of my daughter and her growing relationship with her own child. They are both amazing. She has read books on raising children and what you should and shouldn't do for infants, but in the long run she is developing her own parenting style - and it works.

My three sons
I have no doubt in my mind that her little guy will grow up to be a very loving, intelligent, and amusing young man just like his uncles. After all, his mother is doing a fantastic job.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Here's the Bzz on Trend Micro's Online Guardian

I am a BzzAgent and I was asked to check out Trend Micro Systems new Online Guardian Program. I was excited to do this one, to tell the truth. One reason is because at one time I had sneaky teenagers in my home. I know, no way, right? But yes, it happened. They were doing rather unsavory and unsafe things on the computer. Of course when confronted they denied it. Again, I know, a child lying to us? Unthinkable, right? But it happened. It must have been gremlins coming in and sneaking on the computer visiting porn sites that could bring computer viruses and other children hacking into their Facebook accounts and emails writing unsafe things to total strangers.

Like most parents we didn't want to call the children liars, but we didn't always have proof of what they were doing. With this program you can keep them from having to lie. You can see exactly what they are doing and curtail their activities. This program is even geared toward different age groups and allows the parents to give specific times they can be on the computer. You can even decide how long they can be on a website. It's super cool. Well, the kids might not think so, but your peace of mind will thank you.

 So my recommendation is that if you are a parent of  children that are accessing the internet you really need this program.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Color me Surprised!

Okay, I admit it. I read a blog claiming it was spoiler and Dancing with the Stars was rigged. It claimed that Chelsea Kane was going to win. Week after week it was as if the blog was coming true. Would they do that and rig the competition making us believe that our votes actually mattered?

In the end Hines Ward won. I loved watching both Kirstie Alley and Hines. Now the only thing that will make the entire thing perfect is for Hines to join the Green Bay Packers. Right now he plays for the Pittsburg Steelers, who are now having a flagrant foul rule named after them for their numerous illegal hits. Hines would be better off with the Packers, don't you think?  :)