It’s interesting that in the world of babysitters and nannies, the majority of them are female. You gladly hire the neighbor teen-age girl up the street and think little about it. However, when a young male volunteers to be a babysitter or shows an interest in your children – many people think there is something wrong with him. The truth is that no matter whom you hire, male or female, you should have an overall sense of comfort with the person. And no matter how well you know or trust someone, you should always remain alert to foul play.
For many young boys especially, hiring a teen boy may be just the fit. He can play football with them in the yard, watch silly cartoons, and probably be a person that they can look up to in the future. He may wrestle with them eagerly and rough house while you are gone – not necessarily imposing a whole lot of rules but getting the job done nonetheless. And as he becomes a buddy to the kids, you may find that the children actually look forward to him coming. If you have a houseful of little girls, hiring a male babysitter comes with obvious reservations that are easy to understand. Still, it is unfair to immediately think a male is flawed if he likes to baby-sit.

In the big world, there are plenty of male influences from teachers to coaches that will play a huge role in your child’s development and growth. While men seem to bring something different to the table for our children than women do, they should be seen as just as capable and accepted just the same. In polls conducted by a leading baby magazine, 483 people out of 500 said that they would not hire a male babysitter to watch their children regardless of the situation. While none of them had experienced any problems with doing so, they admitted that they saw the situation unusual and one that ‘asks for trouble.’ The problem with this line of thinking is that parents seem to feel comfortable and safe with female care child takers just because they are female, and there is plenty of evidence that females can injure children just as easily as a male.

If you have a mixed family of little boys and girls, you may want to hire a teenage couple that you know to sit your kids for the night. This way the two of them can see first hand what having children is like and your little boys will have someone fun and rough to play with as well.

Parents should always do what they are comfortable with when it comes to finding people to care for their children. You shouldn’t automatically make negative or positive assumptions about anyone – and should do thorough research on every person that is left alone with your children. If you cannot find one in your area, your best bet is to take the kids along on your date or find suitable family members to watch your kids.

The time from pregnancy through infancy and into the toddler years seems to pass at lightning speed. One moment, you are immersed in caring for a newborn and the next you realize that your child is slowly but surely moving away from you. For many parents, this is a time when they start wondering about whether or not the time is right to add to the family again.
The answer is not exactly concrete, as each family has a different set of circumstances. But if the inkling is there and you truly wish to expand upon your family – there are some benefits to going ahead and doing it. For one thing, siblings tend to be a lot closer when they are just a few years apart. In addition to that, you probably have a houseful of baby products you haven’t been able to part with, which means your next child will have plenty of stuff! Best part is you won’t have to pay for it. Apart from that, waiting too long to have children can feel like starting over. While you may not see it now, there is some solace in having your infants and babies raised up a little bit and off to school. Not only can you start having half a life of your own – but you can also start building your future.

If you are thinking about planning a child, you should consider a few things. For many people finances and their housing situation are factors in whether they have another child. For others, it could be the developmental status of their other children. I can say firsthand that having them very close together robs you of some very special moments with each child. It is wonderful to have only one baby at a time. If you have another too quickly, life gets hectic and instead of just enjoying your baby you will often feel overwhelmed.

It is common that one parent wants another child and the other doesn’t. For many couples this argument can linger on for days. You aren’t the first one to try and make deals and bargains with your mate in order to have another child. It is best for both of you to agree. Since that is not always possible, you should be as honest with your spouse as possible as to why you want another child. For many women especially, seeing their children grow up and away is a sad experience and they long to be needed again in the ways they were with a baby in the house. Thing is…he or she wont be a baby for long.
The truth is there is never a perfect time to have a child. Doing so definitely doesn’t fix broken relationships and certainly doesn’t ensure that you won’t lose your job in a year’s time or have some other difficulty arise. The best notion to base this important decision on is your heart. Having children, building a family takes a long-term commitment. Sadly, the shortest period of time you will spend as a parent is in raising an infant or baby. What comes next is harder by far and often more troubling. If your heart is ready for another child, then go for it! Worrying about all the ‘what if’s’ and trying to make sure your life is perfect can take much longer than you have left.

How to Keep Kids from Picking Their Nose? It is a question asked by every parent at some point. This information shoudl help!

It’s gross and disgusting, is a sign of terrible manners, and is discouraged in every household and school across the world. Yet still, kids do it. As soon as they gain finger control and realize that their fingers fit into their nose – they begin sticking their fingers (and other things) inside. Sadly, some kids do eat their boogers and commonly pick their nose at the first hint of stress in their life. The question is that obvious punishment and persistence toward the matter just don’t work in getting children to stop. So what does?

The best line of defense against a nose picker is to make them aware that they are doing it, each and every time they do it. When you catch them ‘digging for gold’ march them to wash their hands and gather a tissue. You don’t have to get excited about it, just remain very matter of factly. For most kids who pick their nose it is a nervous habit, much like a twitch that they don’t automatically realize they are doing. Bringing attention to it is an effective means of biofeedback that will work over time.

If your child is older, than it is time to discuss the ramifications of nose picking. Try to help them understand how quickly nose picking can spread germs throughout their body. At this point, they are able to understand that picking their nose can make them sick. Using hand sanitizer, because of its strong alcohol scent is a good way to ‘remind’ them that nose picking is not sanitary. When they stick their fingers in their nose, they will immediately smell the sanitizer.

If you notice that your child is a nervous nose picker – you need to find something else to replace the habit with. Get them something to hold on to so that they can fidget with that rather than their nose. Make them aware of what they are doing and most importantly, see it as a signal to talk to them about what might be bothering them. Often eliminating the stress can stop the habit. Using band-aids on their fingers can also serve as a discreet reminder to not nose pick.

As our children get older, have faith that the nose picking will stop. Teachers and other children will be much less tolerant than you are. As the embarrassment factor sets in, your child will have a first hand reminder that they shouldn’t nose pick. No child wants to get teased for doing so, or worse – caught with a booger on their finger while in school.
Nose picking is not just limited to children. Plenty of adults pick their nose as well – behind tinted windows or in the privacy of their own home. While it may be natural – it really should be discouraged. Many things such as MRSA, an easily be transmitted and caught by a child who picks their nose and doesn’t practice diligent hand washing (which you know they don’t!) No matter what – by the time your child is a teenager you will be off and worrying about much bigger things.

It never occurred to me before having children, just how wonderful and amazing the female body is. Before I decided to allow children to forever alter the shape I had worked a lifetime to keep, I monitored everything I ate or drink (only water), ate cereal for breakfast and worked out every opportunity I got. I called it staying healthy, but I realize now that I was motivated by the fact that I believed at some level of my womanhood – that the world would end if I grew out of my favorite sized jeans. Fast forward 9 months, 50+ (real amounts do not need to be disclosed) carrying twins plus an extreme case of pre-eclampsia that actually made me gain weight after delivery – and you have the recipe for post partum depression and remorse. Surprising though, that isn’t what happened.

Most women are concerned during pregnancy about gaining too much weight. They also worry what they will look like after they have a baby. There are so many preconceived notions about spreading nose and hips that pregnancy can be stressful to a woman worried about her appearance. However, there is another way to look at things. There will also be some ‘loser’ who asks you when you are due – two weeks after you gave birth. There will always be yummy mummies and a media obsessed with how a wife and mother should look. But what counts is what you think and feel about yourself.

Sure, it is frustrating to gain weight and see changes. But instead of dwelling on that, you have to take a look at what you just accomplished. You have to be realistic about how hard your body just worked in order to give birth to something as complex and perfect as another human being. You also have to learn to realize that you are much more than perfect hair, tan lines, and a ‘favorite size’ of jeans. While you might be worried that your husband doesn’t find you attractive, surveys show that that is not the case. In fact, many men like to see their wife with more curves and are so impressed by the feats of pregnancy and childbirth that they desire you even more. So even if you have a C-section scar or a stretch mark or two (or three or four) – it is your confidence that will speak volumes to your spouse and others. Just because you are a mother, and perhaps have experienced some changes to your body, doesn’t mean you have something to feel bad about or hide from. Instead, embrace it.

Throw out your old clothes. Why? Because you are starting a brand new sort of life and you deserve new clothes to go along with it. Rather than reading a scale or trying to fit into sizes, try to be and stay healthy emotionally and physically. Life isn’t about watching everything you eat and feeling bad about enjoying Aunt Becky’s cheesecake. Rather than let your body be something that brings you down, start giving it the respect it deserves! You just had a baby. Yeah, people do it every day – but still…you just had a baby. How amazing are you? How amazing is that?

If you had a daughter, you have to decide that now is the time to accept yourself even more. As they grow up they will be constantly judging themselves based on the way you feel about yourself. The best thing you can do for your child is to empower them to be healthy and to feel good about the way they look, even if they aren’t magazine perfect. After all who is?

Be proud of yourself. Stop dwelling on a few pounds. Embrace your new body and all the curves that come with it and realize for once how perfectly amazing your body (inside and out) really is. That’s what I did. I can say that I have never been quite as small as I was before I had my children. But I can also say that I have never been as happy or as proud of being a woman as I am now.

For many people, this means finding a willing and able neighborhood teen to sit with the kids. But what happens when something goes wrong. If you came home and find your babysitter drinking a beer, or engaging in immodest acts with their boyfriend, how would you handle it?

First of all – you should not allow a teen, no matter how responsible – to care for an infant. In one crying fit, a teen may not be able to control their frustration and inadvertently shake your baby. The second thing before you hand the reins over to a teenager is to make sure that you leave them plenty of immediate contact information so if a problem emerges they can find an adult quickly to assist. And lastly, try to wait until your child is old enough (around 2) to talk before employing a teenager. This way they can tell you in a fragmented version what went on while you were away.

If you are out for the evening to enjoy a nice dinner and have a teenager babysitting your children, you have to lay down some ground rules. You also should safeguard your personal information, perhaps disconnect your internet, and make some limitations on phone use – so that you aren’t surprised with illicit activity. Secondly, you should make rules about whether or not anyone else can be at the house with them. If you allow them to have a friend or boyfriend over while you are gone, you should know who this person is. After all, they will be in your house. Make sure that the teenager you are employing knows the rules and that you are extremely clear about what the expectations are.

Even then, things can go wrong. Your sitter could invite one friend over who invites a handful of others. Before you know it, your home is turned into a party house. Or, playing house for the night with a boyfriend, may make your teen sitter apt to try the wine or beer in your fridge. Some take this opportunity of being without parents as a time to experiment with things like pot. If you come home and suspect that anything went on – you should confront the teen straight away. Ask for straight answers and expect them. The next decision you have to make is whether or not to share your insight into their personal life with their parents. This one can be tricky. If you told them no boys and come home to find everything in order and them making out with their boyfriend, you may not have to make a scene. In fact, you could just tell them you are disappointed and choose not to hire them again. If they are a great sitter, then you may just share your feelings and out of respect – let it go, hoping next time they will follow your rules.

If the behavior however is illegal, detrimental to themselves or others – you have an obligation to share it with their parents. Think about it, you would want to know. If you find the babysitter experimenting with alcohol or drugs – there is a chance, the parents don’t know about it. Your involvement could perhaps make a difference in the rest of their lives. The same is true if you catch them having sex. Covering up for them or keeping it a secret in the interest of ‘being cool’ or making them feel safe with you is not the right path to take. Consider that you are a parent now too, and try to make your decision to share or not based on how you would feel if it were your child.

If you decide not to share and not to rehire the child – sometimes the message is clear enough. The bottom line is that a teenager will be a teenager. Even the most responsible and diligent are apt to make mistakes. If your kids are being taken care of properly, (which you can find out by asking them) and you think they are comfortable with the sitter, indulging the teen just a little may not be the end of the world. Perhaps one day, someone will do the same for your teenager!

You might think that combining your love for another into the birth of a baby would be the perfect ingredients for a perfect marriage. Problem is there is no such thing as a perfect marriage and having a baby causes deep shifts in both men and women that have them reevaluating what is important in life and in relationships. The good news is that this shift in consciousness and partnership can forge something even more powerful than just love. Friendship.

It’s easy to see why having a baby can make things in your life so topsy-turvy for a while. Not only are you sleep deprived but also a lifetime of expectations and perceived gender responsibilities merge. Without thinking, you have to talk about it or discuss it; you expect your partner to blend into your idea of the perfect parent and spouse. Chances are they have a different idea of how things could be. So both partners are left feeling disappointed and radically adjusting to all the new responsibilities that having a baby brings.

Pre-baby impromptu shopping trips or golf weekends with the boys may not have been a problem. Now with one baby in the nest, simple things like this can feel like grounds for divorce. However, rather than going off the deep end and turning every minor disappointment along the way commit to talking to each other. If you can communicate to your spouse what you expect and how you are feeling; they will have a fighting chance of finding middle ground. However, if you spew anger at a spouse because you quite simply don’t feel like they are living up to their end of the bargain – and you assume (important word) that they should just “know” how you are feeling; you can be left not communicating for years.

Baby makes three means that the tide of responsibility changes. Each of you now has a different role to fill in life. For many couples, it can be hard to admit that all the attention one parent gives to the baby makes them feel like they are being neglected. And couples need to remember that just because there is a baby in the house, doesn’t give them the right to forget about their partner! Talk, talk, talk and then talk some more. Try to continue talking about things that are not baby related. Also, find joy in seeing your partner in the new light. Even if they aren’t the ‘perfect’ mom or dad yet – take notice for how well they have done. Things are always different when the baby is born, then they are when you are simply expecting.

Having children and becoming a family takes tons of give and take. Mostly though, you have to be willing to lay your expectations of how you thought things would be – the picket white fence and all that, to the side. Instead, find things that work for your relationship and that make both of you feel equally loved and responsible. There will always be a time when one-half of the relationship seems to take on more responsibility than the other will. If one parent is staying home, they may feel overwhelmed by the work involved in tending to a baby. If another parent is the sole income winner, they may feel increasingly pressured by financial aspects of the relationship. All of this is normal.

One thing is for sure; if you are thinking about divorce shortly after having a baby – chances are you and your partner need to express your thoughts and feelings. Rather than hide behind being ashamed to say what you really feel and a lifetime of conditioning that defines ‘gender roles’ in your family – talk about the things both of you can do to make things work. Give and take. Compromise. And above all else – set aside time each week to just be together sans the little bundle of joy. Marriage is constantly changing and in order to keep up with it, you must be willing to be honest and to compromise.

There are plenty of mothers who know upon becoming pregnant that they have the desire to breastfeed their child. And why not? Breastfeeding is an extremely natural, healthy, easy, and affordable way to feed an infant and increase the bonds that exist between mother and child. But what happens when it (meaning breastfeeding) doesn’t work?

According to Statistics by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, every 1 out of 3 women experience problems breastfeeding. And there are lots of things that can go wrong. From sore nipples to infections that can become life threatening, breastfeeding has its challenges. If you are one of the lucky ones whose baby took to the breast without a problem, consider yourself blessed. However, if you are not – realize that what you are going through is very commonplace in the world of raising children. In fact, the failure to breastfeed or the inability to do so can be the first disappointment in a long list of those that commonly occur as mothers.

If your baby is unable to latch on or if you experience problems with supply and demand – you are not alone. And even more importantly, you shouldn’t feel bad about it. Unfortunately, the trials and tribulations of breastfeeding occur during a time in your life when you are no doubt vulnerable (and dare we say hormonal). You have a perfect picture in your mind of holding your baby while they nurse and not being able to do so can be heartbreaking. There are many women, who cling to lactation consultants and take many trips back and forth to the hospital post partum in the hopes that their breasts and their baby make the necessary connection. This can feel like a race against the clock, because the longer your baby goes without adequate nourishment, the more concerned doctors will get. Then suddenly there is pressure from both sides. The lactation nurses and the pediatrician.

During this time, lots of people will try to help, which makes things worse. They will tell you their own war stories of breastfeeding or try to give you ideas and tips to make things better. The sad part is that while you may be suffering emotional pain; you may also be having physical pain. Many women end up with swollen and sore breasts and nipples and infections that are anything but easy to cure. And for most women, they continuously come back. Bleeding nipples, pus, swollen glands, and breasts that are tender to the touch are horrific to endure.

What you need to understand, what you MUST understand is that it is okay if it doesn’t work out! If you really wanted to breastfeed or felt compelled to do so in order to be the metaphorical “perfect mother” and you tried…then it is okay to stop. Additionally, if you don’t enjoy breastfeeding or pumping milk very much – you aren’t a bad mother. Sometimes breastfeeding works and sometimes it doesn’t. It runs the gamut with things like having an epidural or not, using cloth versus disposable diapers. The tricky thing to realize with all the outward pressure indicating, “breast is best” is that it isn’t so for everyone. If breastfeeding doesn’t work out for you, or your baby just doesn’t seem to be satisfied, your life will be much easier when you decide to roll with the punches and move on.

There are many women who have literally endured breastfeeding, feeling the emotional or physical tolls (or both) just to prove something. Silly! They may feel they just have to, or are afraid to admit that it isn’t working out like they planned. After all, we all want pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing to go perfectly. And it rarely does.

The mark of a good mother is not whether she breastfed or not. Rather the mark of a good mother is left by one who does what is right FOR HER and for her baby. Often in that order. A happy mother – one who is calm, at peace and not feeling pressured by a breastfeeding plan that isn’t quite working out – makes for the very best kind. And if this mother decides to feed her baby a bottle, she will bond just as well and perhaps more quickly than she would by throwing her health under the bus.

You need to enjoy the precious first months of your baby’s life together. This is a very special time whether you are breastfeeding or not. Today’s formulas and bottles can do the job just as well as your sore breasts can. This is not to say that breastfeeding doesn’t provide a grand entrance into this world, it does. But so does any experience between you and your baby that feels right and feels good to you. If breastfeeding isn’t working for you, leave the guilt and remorse behind and get on with it already! There are millions of things you do every moment with your baby that are just as special!

It is natural that parents are concerned. There is nothing more dear to loving parents than their beautiful children. The idea that a child could be permanently harmed by what is meant to protect them is horrifying. Add to that, when the instrument of harm is parent sanctioned, it becomes more than horrifying. It is down right crippling. There is not a decent parent on this earth who would knowingly damage their child. Parents are afraid to vaccinate and are also fearful of what may happen if they don’t.

The possible injurious affects on a child who has not been vaccinated are documented. We are aware of what could happen if we fail to immunize our children. History is the best teacher. Children of the 40’s, and prior, were in danger of contracting polio and many did. Of that number some were crippled forever, and most died. When was the last time you heard of a child who died of polio, or the measles for that matter? These diseases have nearly been eradicated in this country because we vaccinate our children. Perhaps this adds to our dilemma. Parents are not faced with the ravishes of what was once common childhood diseases. However, we are keenly aware of autism.

The media has drawn our attention to the dreadful possibilities. Parents of children with autism have been vocal on what they deem to be the perpetrator on their once healthy child. There testimony details how soon after their child was immunized a change took place. On closer examination and evaluation they were given the heart wrenching news that this once vibrant child is now autistic. There are no words to describe how tragic this is. Moms and dads sum up their thoughts on this sad matter in the form of a prayer, “God bless that child and his parents, and please God save us from the same.”

As parents you must understand the risk to harm ratio. The risk of your child becoming autistic after receiving a shot to protect him from the measles is very small. The risk that your child could catch the measles and die, if he is not immunized, is far greater. It is a documented fact that children die from diseases which are easily avoided.
It has been documented in this country. In third world countries, where the vaccine is unavailable, children still die everyday. Parents have to consider the risk to harm ratio and settle the controversy for themselves, in their own minds.
This article is not intended to negate the experience of parents of children with autism. They are right to draw attention to what they believe to be true concerning vaccinations as it relates to autism. It is possible that they are pioneers. In the future their efforts may lead to an understanding of autism and may on some level, connect it to immunization. For now, to date, there is no definitive proof linking autism to immunizations. Until that time the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, urges parents to have their children immunized. The negative consequences of choosing not to immunize your child is greater than the risk.

Your fear is understandable. Talk to your child’s pediatrician for the facts on vaccines and autism. If he or she is unwilling to address your concerns, find a pediatrician who us.

If you plan to visit friends, family or relatives not only will you save a lot of money – but you will also have a more permanent and welcoming place to stay with your child. If your baby has become mobile – you should bring pipe cleaners and duct tape along with your sun block and bathing suits. Why? You can pretty much temporarily baby proof anything in Grandma’s house with either of those two products and you won’t be causing any permanent holes in the walls of your family members. If your baby is used to a baby-proofed home staying somewhere that isn’t can be trying. You can also use these two handy and inexpensive childproofing products to effectively make hotel rooms safer as well.

Be prepared that your child may not sleep as well in their new environment as they do at home. This means that while planning a few days at Disney or a local theme park may seem exciting to you, your child may be a little cranky and overwhelmed. Many parents feel pressured to provide exciting entertainment for their child that costs a lot of money. However, parents that have been there done that will tell you – it may be better to wait a few years. Strolling around expensive theme parks with a sleeping baby in a stroller, a diaper bag and worrying about the crowds can be exhausting for the whole family. Instead, plan a day trip to a less expensive and more local park to see how well your child enjoys it. Before the age of 5 or 6, your child will not forge very many long lasting memories of their time with Mickey or Cinderella anyways.

Camping is inexpensive and can be relaxing. If you plan to camp on vacation with your baby, bring plenty of sunscreen and bug spray. You also should have a fully stocked medical kit with you complete with ibuprofen and Advil. Tagging along a portable DVD player may also help give your child some down time (and don’t worry Mother Nature wont mind.) Try not to plan too many days in the wild outdoors and know your area well. Before you go try to get names of local pediatricians as well as doctors or emergency care centers in the area in case of a late night illness or emergency.

Often the worst part of taking a vacation with little ones is the car ride. Being strapped into a car seat for endless hours is not cozy for anyone – especially a baby or toddler. One word to the wise would be to ensure that the adults driving get a long daytime nap and take the trip at night when your child normally sleeps. This way they will be tried and more likely to sleep through the bulk of the trip. If the trip is extra long, don’t rush and hurry to get to your vacation – instead break up the travel time with an overnight stop. Also, plan plenty of snacks as a way to keep your child busy and try to purchase a few new toys or creative items for the ride itself to entertain them. If nothing else, hand them your Ipod touch and let them go to town. ()

You may just want to stay conveniently Oceanside at your favorite beach resort. A hotel with an indoor and outdoor pool and a little room service sounds great to you, right? Your first step should be to prepare the hotel room to make it safe. Next up, make sure that you have all the safety gear necessary for a day waterside. You may want to travel with another family or some relatives so that you can have a helping hand with the baby. This way you and your husband can also enjoy some nightlife while your child is tucked safely into bed. Remember, that while your baby will be stimulated by the new scenery and things to do – you also deserve a break, especially after being so busy with the baby at home.

You should also bring along plenty of patience. After staying in a routine for so long, this change in itinerary can make things a little crazy. If you remain flexible and keep your attitude positive, your baby will notice and they too will be less stressed. If you have older children, make sure that you school them in typical stranger safety techniques and ensure that they know your cell phone numbers as well as other pertinent information. Especially in crowded venues, children have a way of escaping their parent’s clutches and you want to empower your child to remain calm and know what to do. Beyond that, enjoy! The pictures and time away from the humdrum routine of your normal life will give you the fuel you need to continue being the best parent you can be.

Poor Dad! Every year around this time tiny secret Santa’s start perusing the stores and the internet for the perfect gift for Dad. Between ties and useless electronics or accessories for the grille, it seems there really is no easy way to properly thank or please the man in your life. And while he may look excited about the personalized photo tie or coffee mug – what he really wants is a day to relax! With a house full of kids, that may seem like a far stretched fantasy, but the truth is that YOU can make it happen.

If your kids are little, remember that planning the perfect family picnic or outing for the day will more than likely be more stressful than its worth. Allow your kids to make dad breakfast in bed. Hand him their hand made cards (he will happy you didn’t spend money) and let the kiddos brag about their artistic impressions. Then instead of buying dad a golf shirt – let him off the hook to actually go and play. Gather up the other dads in your family and send them all off for the afternoon. If golf isn’t their thing, then a fishing trip with just the guys or a late morning motorcycle ride may be just the thing. While the men are away, the women can plan an easy barbeque, complete with dad’s favorite foods for a mess free and easy evening.

One thing you might want to consider, especially with very young children who don’t know a whole lot about Father’s day yet is to plan something special and sexy for you and your husband. Cart the kids to Grandpas’s house and instead of spending money on cheesy gifts – rent a hotel room or go to a favorite (all grown up) restaurant. Instead of buying him a gift, have him open a carefully wrapped bag of some sexy lingerie. Remember, that long before your husband became a father – the two of you were CRAZY about each other. Very few men would feel cheated to celebrate Father’s Day with their wife (without the kids) at least for a little while.
If you are deadest on getting a gift, then try to choose something non-cliché that matches his personal interests. Don’t think that handing him the latest Dora the Explorers made for DVD movie is going to start any fireworks. Instead, try to sort back through your file and remember all the things that your husband loves to do. A Grateful Dead CD or a DVD of his favorite movie is a great gift idea. If you look for something personal that resonates with his interests, you are also giving your kids a chance to know their father as you do. If he has a hobby that you don’t know much about, ask some of his buddies for advice and chances are you will come up with the perfect gift. Remember as well that just because you hate baseball, doesn’t mean that spending Father’s Day with the family at the Dodgers came won’t please your husband.

The fathers in our lives – whether they are our brothers, uncles, in-laws, nephews, or dads have a truly positive and lasting effect on our lives. Often, women are the ones credited for raising children and nurturing them. That being said, there is nothing quite as nice as seeing a big, strong man playing dolls with his toddler daughter on the living room floor. While they may not do everything they way you do, or the way you would like them to – make sure that you take every stride necessary to make Father’s Day special. It really isn’t about the gifts, but about letting him know just how special and meaningful he is in your and your children’s lives. Above all – enjoy the day! In just a few Father’s Day from now, your children may not be able to come home to celebrate!