1. Apple Sauce for Oil, Butter or Sugar – You can replace fatty ingredients like oil, butter and sugar with applesauce, which will provide the sweetness your kids crave without packing in extra fats and calories. Because oils, butter and fats are binding agents that inhibit the separation of gluten in baked goods, it’s better to simply reduce the amount of butter or oil your recipe calls for and substitute the bulk of it with applesauce. With a bit of experimentation, you’ll be able to find the ratio that works for you.
2. Non-Fat Greek Yogurt for Sour Cream or Mayonnaise – Sour cream adds zip to tacos and baked potatoes, while mayonnaise is the glue that holds chicken salad together. In either case, those fatty ingredients can easily be swapped for non-fat Greek yogurt, which has a similar consistency and taste without all the empty calories.
3. Whole Wheat Flour for White Flour – Whole wheat is high in fiber, which helps lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease. For every cup of white flour, substitute 7/8 cup of whole wheat to boost your family’s fiber intake without a struggle.
4. Avocado Puree for Butter – Yes, avocados are rich in fat. But, avocados contain monounsaturated fats, which are the kind that can help to actually lower blood cholesterol levels. If you’re looking for a way to reduce the amount of butter your kids eat, try substituting avocado puree for butter in chocolate baked goods. While you may find that it requires a bit of adjusting to suit your preferences, a 1:1 ratio is usually acceptable.
5. Stevia for Sugar – Stevia is more expensive than sugar, but it’s also far more potent and lower in calories. A recipe that calls for a full cup of sugar can be substituted with two tablespoons of stevia powder or one teaspoon of liquid.
6. Flax Meal for Eggs – Mixing one tablespoon of flax seeds with three tablespoons of warm water and whisking the mixture until it’s combined is a vegan-friendly egg substitute that actually works. Just be sure that you let the mixture chill in the refrigerator for five to 10 minutes before use.
7. Bison for Beef – From burgers to tacos, kids love ground beef. If you’re looking for something a bit higher in B vitamins and lower in fat, bison may be just the thing you’re looking for. Bison is also available in a variety of cuts, not just ground meat.
8. Coconut Milk for Cream – Heavy cream is a heavy hitter in soups and stews, but it can also pack quite a punch in terms of fat and calories. Coconut milk is an ideal substitute, and it doesn’t necessarily add the sweetened piña colada taste you’re accustomed to from a coconut.
9. Cacao Nibs for Chocolate Chips – Subbing unprocessed cacao nibs for the more additive-laden processed chocolate chips in cookie recipes adds a healthy dose of antioxidants without adding sugar or other chemicals.
10. Prune Puree for Oil – In brownies and other chocolate-flavored baked goods, prune puree can provide a great substitute for butter with roughly half the calories and fat. Combine 3/4 cup of prunes with a 1/4 cup of boiling water and puree. The mixture can be subbed for butter in equal amounts in most dark-colored baked goods without tipping anyone off.

The real trick for passing off healthier snacks for more traditionally-prepared ones is to simply not mention the substitution. When children know that there’s something different about their food, their picky tendencies and complaints about taste or texture are sure to follow. On the same token, discussing the need to make healthier choices when it comes to food is the best way to instill good eating habits in your children. Talking about food and healthy habits is a smart move, but that doesn’t mean that you have to tell all of your secrets!

Getting Ready for the Unexpected

First things first; get ready for the unexpected. You can do this by not trying to overly analyze what it means to be a mother of multiples before you have even given birth. Things are going to get hectic, but that doesn’t mean you are a bad mother. Babies are extremely demanding. Your little ones are going to completely rely on you for their every need. These five blogs will get you prepared for some of the early challenges you will face and provide valuable coping strategies to ease the burden.

1. Our Best Tips And Advice For New Parents
2. Postnatal Blues
3. Attachment Advice for Parents of Multiples?
4. Caring for newborn twins or multiples
5. Countdown to Multiple Motherhood!

Feeding and Breastfeeding with Multiples

Feeding your babies will present an exercise in extreme organization and multitasking skills. There is also a lot of misinformation out there that states you can’t breastfeed with twins or multiples. While that is completely untrue, it can get difficult to manage feedings for all your babies. However, perseverance is the key, along with lots of advice from a lactation consultant. These five blogs will also give you some perspective and ideas from both mothers and professionals.

1. Feeding Tips
2. How to Succeed in Nursing Multiples
3. 5 Facts About Breastfeeding Multiples
4. 10 tips for breastfeeding multiples
5. Twins & Breastfeeding Goals: What’s Realistic?

Finding Time to Bond

Although a lot of the time it will seem like your babies are a single unit, only focused on having you running around in circles, each baby still needs some one-on-one bonding. These five blogs deal with how to best allocate your time with each of your babies, ensuring you have healthy individual relationships with your little ones.

1. Bonding with Twins During the First Year
2. Bonding with Multiple Infants
3. Twins Week: bonding with each child
4. The Best Routines for Twin Babies
5. Let’s Talk About Twins (Triplets, Quads, etc.) Part 2: Bonding with Multiples

Traveling with Multiples

Traveling becomes a completely new experience with multiple babies in tow. First of all, you need a car big enough for all your babies’ car seats. If you use public transport, you may need a number of strollers, depending on how many are in your brood. Regardless of your exact circumstances, getting around with your babies is going to present a lot of unique challenges.

1. Packing Tips for Traveling with Twins or Multiples
2. Travel With Twins Or Multiples
3. Going It Alone: Solo Air Travel with Twins
4. Traveling with Twins, Multiples & More
5. Traveling With Twins

Managing Money Matters with Multiples

If there is one thing that you can bank on, it’s that you will stretch your budget to the limits catering to your babies’ needs. You will need to make sure that you are thrifty with your cash and take advantage of deals where ever you can find them. These five blogs will help you get to grips with management your money.

1. Multiple Money Matters
2. The Costs of Raising Twins
3. How to Beat the High-Cost of Raising Twins
4. Free Stuff for Twins! Freebies, Coupons and Discounts
5. Cost-benefit of Breastfeeding Twins

Support for Parents of Multiples

There is nothing better for parents of multiple babies than the support of those who know what it is like. There are many groups out there; however, most parents don’t even know that they exist. These five blogs share platforms that are specifically tailored towards supporting parents of multiples.

1. Resources For Twins And Their Families
2. My Twintopia
3. The Ishum Quads
4. Finding a Moms Group
5. So you’re pregnant with twins…

1. Avoid Manipulation– Manipulating your child is never the way to get lasting results. It’ll just teach them the art of manipulation, and it may raise some resentment issues in the future. Instead of manipulating them to get them to do what you want, try asking them what they want to do and working out a solution that benefits everyone.
2. Practice Taking Turns – Teaching your child to take turns can create a working cooperation. This works easiest when there is more than one child in the household. Do not favor one child over the other, or you will have a rebellion on your hands. Make sure that whatever your children are doing, they are taking turns with it, whether it be using their favorite color crayon, playing with dolls or simply watching TV.
3. Teach Through Storytelling – You’re probably thinking, how will telling stories get my kid to cooperate? It’s quite simple: tell them stories about kids cooperating. Kids love to hear stories and they may not understand right away that they are learning something, but eventually it will catch on. You could subtly remind them with things like, “Remember the story about Suzy? She helped bake cookies and then helped clean up. Will you do that with me?”
4. Just Listen – Being a good listener is important in all situations, but it’s very important for a parent to listen to a child. If your little one has a problem with something, simply ask him what it is and really listen to what he has to say. You might be surprised at the good points kids can bring up when they know they are actually being heard.
5. Play Games – Games are always great tools for learning. You can either create your own games or find ones that are available that are geared toward cooperation. Having trouble thinking of some? Any board game teaches cooperation because each player has to take a turn and cannot skip someone else.
6. Practice Reinforcement – Positive reinforcement is a way to get kids to cooperate in that they will realize they are being rewarded for good behavior. Eventually, they won’t need to be rewarded as often because they will just automatically act the way you want them to. Keep in mind that reward does not always mean a material thing. A reward can be a simple “thank you.”
7. Reverse Roles – Take the chance and reverse roles with your child. Tell them they get to be the parent for the next ten minutes while you get to be the child. Act like your child was behaving and see how they handle the situation. It may just change their mind the next time they decided to go against the rules you’ve established.
8. Work on Sharing Skills – While sharing is similar to taking turns, it’s not quite the same. Sharing involves giving something of your own to someone else and trusting that he will eventually give it back. Kids should learn sharing at a young age. Make sure they understand it’s not a hostile takeover, but just someone borrowing something for a  little while.
9.  Model the Behavior You Want to See – Kids watch and learn from everything going on around them. Mostly, they look to you for examples of how to react in a given situation. If you model the behavior you’d like them to adopt, your children will naturally start to fall in line. Keep in mind that this needs to be practiced in all areas, not just at home. If you follow a guideline out in public too, such as standing patiently in line or being courteous to the cashier at the checkout, your children will soon catch on.
10. Provide Choices – Everyone likes choices. If you tell someone you are doing this and there are no other options, she will either laugh in your face or leave. Without being given a choice, your children might feel like they are trapped and will act out accordingly.
11. Make a Chore List –  Don’t do all the housework yourself! Your kids need to learn that chores are part of everyday living. Working together to maintain the household also helps your child learn to cooperate naturally.
12. Ask Your Child to Solve An Issue – If there is a situation going on that is out of control and your child will not listen to what you have to say, give them a scenario with a similar situation and ask them to solve the problem for that child. It will teach them problem solving skills while reinforcing the behavior they already know is right.
13. Set Expectations – Set high expectations for your kids and they will feed off that need to make you proud. No kid likes disappointing his parents, but not all parents set the bar high enough to challenge their child. If you set the bar high, they will reach as far as they can to achieve it.
14. Make Kids Feel Needed – Sometimes kids act out because they want attention. Be sure you’re giving your kids as much time and attention as they need. True, life gets busy and you have a lot to do during the day, but get your kids involved! Have them help you out. The feeling of being needed is a very strong motivator.
15. Compromise – If the situation warrants it, consider a compromise with your child. If she doesn’t want to clean up her room right now, give her an alternative option or tell her she can have something, such as playing a video game, once they are done with the chore. It’s all about give and take.

As they say, pick your battles. Not all arguments will be settled with these tips, but you’ll learn along with your child which methods work and which don’t. But, with hard work and dedication, you will soon have a cooperative young child at your side.

Keep an Eye on Medications

The prescription medications that safeguard your health and the over-the-counter pills that ease minor aches and pains can be a blessing to ailing adults, but present a very serious danger to young children. Making sure that all of your household medications are stored in a place children cannot reach and are inside child-resistant containers is imperative. It’s also very important to make sure that you keep an eye on visitors’ belongings. When Grandma stows her pills in a daily dosage container with a simple flip-top and tosses it in her purse for easy access on the go, there’s very little keeping an inquisitive child from ingesting those medications. This especially holds true for toddlers and preschoolers that may have learned to associate “Grandma’s Purse” with “candies and sweets.” Make sure that visitors have a safe place to store their bags while they spend time in your home.

Clean Up Your Household Cleaner Shelf

Keeping all of your household cleaners in the cabinet under the sink is both wildly common and quite convenient. Even if you spring for the cabinet locks touted by baby-proofing experts as infallible, it’s important to keep in mind that no baby-proofing product is immune to failure. Installing cabinet locks is a great idea that can keep children from accessing a variety of unsafe objects, but moving the chemical cleaners to a high cabinet is the most effective way of keeping them out of kids’ reach.

Check the Paint

Buying older houses in rebounding neighborhoods is a popular trend for lots of reasons. Older houses have character, the price point can be more manageable than a shiny, new McMansion and they’re generally packed with charming features. Before moving into your new-to-you home, however, you’ll want to make sure that none of the paint inside it contains lead before you start scraping. Using a lead testing kit is your safest bet, especially if you suspect that the existing paint is a relic from a society that wasn’t so aware of the danger of lead.

Food Poisoning is Still Poisoning

Just because food is intended to be ingested doesn’t mean that it can’t be poisonous. Making sure that you are well informed regarding safe food handling practices and that all foods you feed your child are kept at the proper temperature and prepared in such a manner so harmful bacteria is eliminated is essential to his health. It’s also important to make sure that your child isn’t able to access the contents of the garbage can. Adults might think that the off-putting smell of a garbage can is enough to repel anyone, but the curiosity of an inquisitive child knows no bounds.

Monitor Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors

When you change your clocks and the batteries in your smoke detector at the beginning and end of daylight savings, make sure that you also change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector and test it to ensure full functionality. Carbon monoxide is tasteless, odorless and colorless, so the only way to truly protect your family from accidental poisoning is to make sure that your first line of defense, your detectors, are working.

Kitchens, bathrooms and garages are the most common sites of accidental household poisonings. Paying special attention to these areas of your home and making sure that any potentially dangerous substances are stored far out of kids’ reach can help you prevent a poisoning emergency in your home. It’s also imperative that you store all chemical products in their original containers, as they contain important information that your physician or poison control specialist will need to ensure that your child gets the proper treatment in the event of an inadvertent poisoning emergency. Parents and childcare providers should also know how to spot the signs of poison ingestion, which consist of burns or redness around the mouth and lips, a chemical smell on kids’ breath, vomiting, dizziness, sleepiness, confusion and other strange behavior, including difficulty breathing, seizures and unconsciousness.

1. Make a Plan – Concepts are easier to adhere to when there’s a plan. Pick one day a week to create a meal plan so you know what foods you need thawed or purchased for each day. Then, each evening, check to see what’s on the plan for the following day. If something can be prepared a night ahead of time, take that opportunity to get it started. That way, when the time comes to throw the meal together, parts of it are already assembled and there are no surprises for the rest.
2. Read Through the Recipe Beforehand – It is very important to know your recipe well before trying to put it together. If you don’t read it beforehand, you might get a surprise when you come to the part that says you were supposed to marinate the meat overnight even though dinner is supposed to be ready in half an hour. Also, if there’s any part of the directions that you are unsure of, this would be the time to look up the terms that puzzle you to get some clarity and will save you precious time while you’re frantically trying to get a meal on the table.
3. Gather the Ingredients – Get all of your ingredients out and organized before starting to put any part of the recipe together. Also, be sure to have all the bowls and utensils out and ready to go as well. You’ll be amazed at how much time you’ll save just by having everything at your fingertips.
4. Have the Right Tools – While not everyone can afford to have every single attachment for a food processor or mixer, there are several tools you should invest in that will save you a ton of time. Chopping vegetables and herbs tend to take a lot of time and a simple cutting tool for a food processor will cut the time in half – or more!
5. Cover the Pot – Some people recommend putting salt in the water to make it boil faster, but the best way to make water boil faster is to put a lid on the pot. It sounds simple, but it works.
6. Make Two – This only works for some dishes. Casseroles or lasagnas work the best. While you are troubling yourself to make the one, go ahead and make another. The second one you can freeze (before you bake it) and save for a rainy day. It doesn’t take much longer to make the second one right away, but it saves a ton of time for that second meal whenever you decide to make it.
7. Freeze It – Chopped peppers and onions freeze really well and last a while. Keep them in freezer bags by the cup or whatever most of your recipes need. The freezer is your new best friend in your kitchen when it comes to saving time. Without having to chop up those peppers while you’re making your dish, you will save several minutes.
8. Cook It and Forget It – Well, you can’t completely forget it. But, you can buy several pounds of ground beef at a time instead of just one or two for what you need. Some might say that freezing the meat straight from the grocery store is the way to go, but some flavor is lost that way and the thawing process makes the meat a bit on the sticky side. So, instead, consider cooking the ground beef – and seasoning it however you like – and then freezing it from there. The meat will keep well until you’re ready to take it out for that casserole or other meat dish you are making.
9. Extra! Extra! – Pancakes are easy to make and just as easy to double or even triple, so make those extra pancakes and – you guessed it – freeze them! Pancakes may not last forever in the freezer, but don’t you wish you could eat them for breakfast on busy mornings instead of just reserving them as a weekend treat? Take out a couple of pancakes, wrap them in a paper towel and pop them in the microwave for a minute or so and you’re ready to go.
10. Clean as You Go – Many recipes have some down time where the dish is in the oven or you have to wait for this or that before you can do such and such. So, use that time a little more wisely by cleaning up whatever utensils or pots and pans that you’ve used and won’t need again. Either completely wash them or put them in the dishwasher. That way, you’ll have fewer dishes to worry about later and you won’t be just standing around waiting for your meal to be finished.

1. Diaper Bag – Your diaper bag doesn’t have to be a clunky, chunky bag bursting to the brim with diapers, wet wipes and toys. It can be stylish and chic. In fact, any large purse can double as a diaper bag as long as it has as many compartments as you want for the various needs you have.
2. Scarves – Scarves are always practical, especially in the dead of winter when the weather is less than favorable. Also, scarves do not have to be just one color or be bulky. There are many styles and colors to choose from and they go with nearly every outfit!
3. Baby Sling – Instead of carrying your baby around on your back, on your belly in a harness or toting her around in a stroller, you can keep her close to your heart with a stylish sling that drapes over one shoulder.
4. Shawl – A shawl is much like a scarf in that it can go with anything. It also has multiple purposes: aside from being fashionable and keeping you warm, it can also act as a nursing wrap. A shawl can gracefully drape over you to hide your little one as he feeds.
5. Wedding Ring Holder Necklace – Jewelry is not always known for its functionality, but instead is simply purchased for how it makes you look and feel. However, there are some jewelry pieces that serve a higher purpose, like a necklace designed to hold your wedding ring while you are doing the dishes or other activities where you don’t want to ruin the ring or get it dirty. Look for a pendant that works as a clasp that closes around the ring so that it cannot be lost.
6. Choker – For moms of the youngest tots, you know that jewelry is not the most practical thing to wear. Kids love to grab at necklaces and can either break them, get tangled in them or accidentally start to choke you with them. A choker can be the solution. It is close enough to the neck that a chain is not going to get in the way and some are made so that they pull off much like a one-size-fits-all bracelet, should your child get a tight grasp.
7. Belts – Finding the right belt for an outfit is like discovering the secret to success. A belt can make a post-baby belly look slimmer or a functional belt for jeans can act as a holster for the baby monitor, so you can listen for sounds wherever you are without carrying it around in your hands that are busy with other things.
8. Nail Polish – It may not be that functional of an accessory, but it can dress up any outfit and make a new mom feel like a hundred bucks. Cleaning up those chipped nails with a fresh coat will spice up your attitude and turn a hectic day into something special.
9. Mitten Gloves – Mittens are nice and so are gloves, but today’s mom can get great use out of the combined version. Instead of taking the time to slip off the glove to get something out of your purse or pick up that pacifier off the ground, you can flip back the mitten area to have full access to your fingers while keeping the rest of your hand toasty warm.
10. Foldable Brush – A foldable brush or a mini brush is something every woman should have in her purse. It doesn’t take up much room and it comes in handy almost every day. You can use it to go from having your hair down to being up in a seamless ponytail or simply brush out those knots from the blowing wind – unless, of course, you were going for that windswept look.
11. Umbrella – An umbrella may seem impractical on clear days, but using it to shield you and baby from the harmful rays of the sun can be just as sensible as using it during those sudden downpours. There are hundreds of prints to choose from to suit any mood or style.
12. Water Resistant Watch – Watches are a necessity for anyone who never seems to know what time it is but who wants to keep all appointments and run on schedule. The water resistance is just for those moms who know that the watch will probably end up in baby’s mouth more than once.
13. Matching Sunglasses – Not everyone enjoys being matchy-matchy with her kids, but sometimes doing so can be really cute. Kids love to play with sunglasses so they can look like their moms, so why not get a pair that looks like yours so she can wear it all the time?
14. Knitted Hats – Knitted slouch hats are all the rage and can keep even the coldest person feeling cozy warm. Other styles are stylish too. Pick yours, wear it and enjoy!
15. Nursing Wrap – All moms run into that awkward moment when you know you have to nurse your baby but there isn’t a great place to do it. So, whip out that nursing wrap from your bag to cover up and no one will be the wiser. Nursing wraps come in all styles and colors, just like any other kind of wrap.

Just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you have to look like one! Go out in style and show off the woman in you.

1. Picking Up Toys – Kids may not like the idea of picking up their toys and books after a long day of playing, but it will instill the habit of keeping things tidy and will also help him learn about the importance of taking care of his things. It may be necessary to give direction or help a very young toddler remember where everything goes, but he should be able to handle the basics of straightening up after himself.
2. Throwing Things Away – Teaching your child to throw things away when he’s directed helps to solidify the concept of “everything in its place.” If you maintain several recycling bins, however, you should be prepared to direct him to the right one. If they’re color-coded, this can also be an exercise in color recognition.
3. Putting Clothes in a Hamper – Provided that the hamper you expect him to use is low enough for your child to comfortably reach over the side of, a toddler is capable of collecting his dirty clothes and putting them into a hamper or basket.
4. Helping to Care for Pets – One of the best ways to teach kids about responsibility is to allow them to assist in the care of another living thing. Helping your child to measure the right amount of dog or cat food, and to add water to the bowl with a small pitcher, can help to refine his grasping and pouring skills while also teaching him the importance of caring for his pets.
5. Cleaning Up Spills and Crumbs – Spills, crumbs and messes are par for the course when there’s a toddler in the house. Though there’s a good chance that he’ll miss a few spots and probably leave the floors sticky, wiping them up is a great way for your toddler to learn that he’s responsible for cleaning up his own messes. To avoid making him feel inadequate, you may want to wait to finish the job until he’s occupied elsewhere.
6. Helping to Set the Table – It probably isn’t a good idea to trust the fine china to the motor skills of a toddler, but he can help to place unbreakable plastic items and silverware on the table in preparation for family meals. Doing so not only establishes his role in the family meal ritual, but also makes him responsible for a specific, routine task.
7. Making the Bed – Tucking in sheets and smoothing out all of the wrinkles isn’t realistic, but your toddler can straighten the blankets on his bed and pull them up with the help of a grown-up, and doing so every morning helps him to understand from an early age that it’s part of the daily routine.
8. Sweeping – Those kid-sized brooms are not only adorable, they’re also useful. A toddler is more likely to spread crumbs and dirt than he is to actually sweep it up, but going through the motions alongside you helps him to feel proud of himself for helping and can help him begin the work of mastering the motions by improving his coordination a bit.
9. Put His Clothes Away – A toddler will naturally be incapable of putting his clothes on hangers or reaching a closet rod to hang them up, but he can put his socks and other items in drawers that are low enough for him to reach. It is wise to open the drawers for him and to close them when he’s finished, however, to avoid the possibility of pinched fingers in the process.

It’s important to remember that a very young child may not be able to complete his chores perfectly. During the toddler years, doing chores is an exercise in learning about responsibility and housework, rather than perfecting technique. Rather than scolding a little one for missing spots, keep in mind that he’s still absorbing the concept of responsibility, even if his developing motor skills don’t allow him to leave surfaces spotless or beds perfectly made.

Let Them Experience Natural Consequences

It’s normal to want to limit your teen’s exposure to disappointment, failure and hurt as she grows into an adult. However, shielding her from the natural consequences of her more irresponsible behavior will only make it more difficult for her to connect her choices to those consequences. While you certainly shouldn’t allow your child to behave recklessly or take dangerous risks without intervening, you also should think twice before stepping in to protect her from the inconvenience or even disappointment of making an irresponsible choice. For instance, nagging and cajoling your teen to collect her laundry or pay her cell phone bill will probably only make her more likely to resist in an attempt to test boundaries and assert her independence. Allowing her phone to be shut off or her clothes to go unwashed as a result of her choice not to manage those tasks, however, can help her to understand the importance of managing her responsibilities.

Model Responsible Behavior

While a teenager may not show many signs of listening to what you say, you can be certain that she’s watching the things that you do. Demanding her to behave responsibly while allowing her to see you making decidedly irresponsible choices is not only ineffective, it can also be downright offensive to kids. Taking a “do as I say, not as I do” approach to parenting doesn’t usually help your children gain the skills or learn the lessons that they need to learn, so be sure that you’re practicing what you preach when it comes to accepting responsibility and behaving accordingly.

Minimize Large, No-Strings-Attached Purchases

It’s become something of a rite of passage for teenagers to receive vehicles and other pricey objects as they come of age, but simply presenting them with such items without requiring that they take ownership for care and maintenance of them, or make any financial investment of their own, can cause your teen to feel as if she’s entitled to such grand gestures. Helping your teen to purchase a car but insisting that she make part of the payments, purchasing a car outright but requiring her to pay for the insurance, and making sure that she alone is responsible for the care and upkeep of her things can help her learn more about how to be responsible and that she has to earn the things she wants rather than them just being given to her.

Maintain an Open Line of Communication

When your teen knows that she can approach you with her problems, concerns or questions, she may be more likely to do just that. Part of being responsible is learning how to admit when you need help, and learning from the experiences she has along the way. Make sure that your child knows she can come to you when she’s feeling pressured or anxious so that she’ll be more likely to address her problems than to seek an irresponsible, escapist solution that could have far-reaching implications.

Make a Chore List

If your teen wasn’t responsible for keeping track of and completing a list of chores as a child, instituting a policy of doing just that after she reaches adolescence can be a struggle. Still, she needs to understand that there are tasks in life that must be completed, even if they’re distasteful or less than thrilling. Giving your teen a list of chores and some real-life, practical consequences that accompany her failure to complete them are two ways of helping her to gain responsibility through experience and consequences.

Eat Dinner as a Family

In today’s busy world, sitting down to family dinners can seem like a major inconvenience. Studies at Emory University, The National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University and a white paper study by Dr. William J. Dougherty all show, however, that kids and teens that regularly share meals with their families have lower rates of obesity, higher academic performance, are less likely to develop or struggle with eating disorders, have higher self-esteem, and have lowered risks of depression, substance abuse and teen pregnancy than their peers whose families don’t share meals together. Preparing and sharing dinner as a family unit can help your child make more responsible choices and be more capable, productive and successful in adulthood.

Vaccinations and Infants

Most infants are vaccinated shortly after birth. Many of the vaccinations they receive, however, contain aluminum; the debate is whether the amount of aluminum in the vaccinations can be toxic for babies.  See what these five bloggers have to say.

• Does Aluminum in Vaccines Help an Infant’s Immune System?
• Vaccine FAQs Aluminum Information from The Vaccine Book
• Mercury and Aluminum in Vaccines
• Cashing in on Fear:: The Danger of Dr. Sears
• The Truth About Vaccines and Toxins: Less Aluminum than Breast Milk

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Vaccines and Autism

There was a study performed by Dr. Wakefield that indicated the MMR vaccine could cause autism. Although these findings were later retracted and no scientific link has been found between the MMR vaccine and autism, many still believe that vaccines can and do cause autism.  Check out what these five bloggers have to say.

• Dateline Weighs in On Autism Vaccination Debate
• The Great Vaccine Debate
• Dr. Wakefield’s Study on MMR and Autism Was Never Wrong
• MMR and Autism, Collective Hysteria
• Autism Link to MMR Vaccine Receives Serious Debunking

Flu Vaccines

Every winter, flu vaccinations become available for infants who are at least six months and older, as well as for older children and adults.  Should you get a flu shot or not? What about your kids?  The following blog posts may help you decide.

• Flu Vaccine: Not Good for Your Child
• The Flu Vaccine- Protection from the Flu. Peace of Mind for You.
• Say NO to Flu Vaccines… Dr. Mercola
• CDC Pushes Flu Vaccine for Children in New Fear-Mongering Campaign
• New Children’s Flu Vaccine Testing

Hepatitis

Newborns are immunized every day with the hepatitis vaccine. The question is if this is actually a good move or not.  Are you putting your newborn at risk by immunizing her with the hepatitis vaccine? These five blog entries will provide information to help you make a more informed decision regarding vaccinating your newborn for hepatitis.

• Hepatitis B Vaccination Campaign for Newborns Shows Promise
• Hep-B Vaccinations for Newborn are Crimes Against Infants
• Hepatitis B Vaccine for US Newborns – a Good Idea?
• The Birth of a Warrior
• Hep B Vaccine: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

Mandatory HPV Vaccine

The human papilloma virus, or HPV, vaccine was created to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.  Controversy surrounding this vaccine has been going on for years.  See for yourself what all of the fuss is about by checking out these five blog posts.

• The Great HPV Hoax Exposed
• Should the HPV Vaccine be Mandatory?
• HPV Vaccine: Science versus Reality
• HPV Vaccines, Promiscuous Sex & Young Girls
• American Academy of Pediatrics Backs Mandatory HPV Vaccines for Boys

School Vaccine Requirements

For your child to start kindergarten he must have certain vaccinations that are mandated by the state you live in.  Other vaccines are now being required for new college students as well.  Should the state be regulating what kind of vaccines your children get?  Judge for yourself, as these posts describe in more detail what your choices are.

• Abuse of School Mandates?
• Study Explores Medical Exemptions from School Vaccination Requirements Across States
• Meningitis Vaccine Required at College Campuses
• The Problem of Non-Medical Exemptions to School Vaccine Mandates
• The Myth of Mandatory School Vaccinations

Boosting Self-Confidence

One of the most effective ways of making positive changes in your life is to believe wholeheartedly in your ability to do so and in your own power as a person. These five blog entries are dedicated solely to helping you find the best ways of believing in yourself and your ability to change any situation in your life, boosting your self-confidence and building a strong sense of your own self-worth.

• The Confidence Blog
• How to Build Self Confidence: 6 Essential and Timeless Tips
• 10 Ways to Instantly Build Self Confidence
• Building Self-Confidence
• 25 Killer Actions to Boost Your Self-Confidence

Managing Finances

Few things make a person feel as powerless as an out-of-control financial situation. Getting your budget back in line and learning to live within it will not only reduce an enormous amount of stress and pressure in your life, but will also give you faith in your own ability to turn any situation around. These five bloggers offer financial advice with a self-help bent, providing tips and hints for keeping your budget under control.

• My Best Financial Tip
• Financial Advice from Jean Chatzky
• Consumer Protection Bureau Can Teach Financial Self-Help
• Financial Stress: 5 Ways Couples Can Survive Money Problems & Prosper
• Top 10 Personal Finance Self Help Books

Weight Loss and Fitness

Being out of shape and overweight can make many people feel less confident, more self-conscious and less capable of handling the curveballs that life throws at them. These five blog entries are built around the idea of offering real-life weight loss and fitness advice to those who need it, helping them get their bodies and their lives back under control.

• 5 Weight Loss Motivation Tips That Work
• To Lose the Weight, You Gotta Change How You Relate (to Food)
• Self Help for Women When It Comes to How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off
• 18 Secrets of the Super Motivated
• FITNESS MOTIVATION: Just Keep Showing Up

Professional Success

Succeeding and making an impact in your professional life can directly contribute to a strong sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, which is why these five bloggers tackle the subject and offer their advice for how to make the most of your time at work. If climbing the corporate ladder is one of your ambitions, these entries can help you along the way.

• Career Success Starts With a “T”
• The 10 Most Important Personality Traits for Career Success
• Recommendations from the Recently Employed
• 33 Rules to Boost Your Productivity
• 40 Best Quotes to Boost Your Daily Motivation, Productivity and Optimism

Dealing with Stress

Stress is an obvious drain on your mental and emotional health, but it can also cause actual physical symptoms as well, which can then affect your ability to heal from illness, fight off germs, and maintain your overall health. These five blogs offer stress-busting advice for those that feel overwhelmed, and aim to help you learn to manage and avoid stress on your own.

• Self-Help Stress Management
• Undoing Stress
• Stress Self-Help
• Stress Reduction & Meditation Center
• Self-Help: Stress Management

Controlling Your Temper

Keeping a grip on your temper isn’t always easy, especially if you’re under a lot of pressure in other areas of your life. These five blogs will help you learn to rein that anger in so that you don’t lash out and inadvertently hurt those around you.

• Anger Management Self Help – What are “Arguments” really about?
• Self-Help and Anger Management Counseling
• Anger Management 10 Tips to Tame Your Temper
• Eight Simple Anger Management Tips
• Anger Management: How to Control Anger?