Babies & Kids Blog

Last night I watched a rerun of the Dr. Phil show “Cyber Bullies”.  This morning a read an article entitled “Bullying from behind the computer screen” where Jay McGraw, who was once a victim of bullying, discussed how cyber bullying is growing.  It is still growing even though stories have come out like the 13 year-old who commited suicide after being taunted and tricked by someone whom she thought was a cute teenage boy on MySpace (which ended up being some mean girls and a mother of one of the girls who just wanted to mess with her). 

I know cyber bullies exist, but I am only familiar with the “old school” way of bullying - teasing and harassing at school, and the victim goes home or doesn’t want to go to school to deal with it.  With all the little gadgets kids have these days (if their parents allow them) it is seemingly harder to escape harassment even at home.  Kids can be really mean and it really disturbs me that being a bully is somewhat still considered “cool” or pardon my French “bad ass” to most kids. 

You should read the entire article. 

You can purchase Jay McGraw’s book Life Strategies for Dealing with Bullies at Smarter.com - Lowest price: $6.88

I went to pick up a costume to wear to work last night, and the store I went to was packed because Halloween is on Friday, and I’m a procrastinator. :)  As I tried to maneuver my way through the aisles, I looked up at the wall of costumes to choose from and noticed these very young girls trying to decide which costume to get.  I noticed that they were a certain brand, I won’t mention, who is known for their sexy costumes.  These girls had to be about 12-14.  They looked the age which I personally feel is inappropriate to sport such sexy costumes, but I also thought to myself: “Those costumes apparently fit them, otherwise they would not be trying to pick out their favorite.  Geesh.”

These types of costumes are pretty much the only options out there as far as costumes to purchase for adults, so I’ve had come up with ways to make them not as sexy or a bit more modest, if you will.  There are ways to make the costume work, if that is the only available option.  For example, if you feel the bare midriff on the first preteen’s costumes is a bit much, have her put on a tank top or cami underneath.  Too much leg, you think?  Have her wear some knee length spandex shorts underneath.

Dr. Gail Saltz gives some great tips on MSNBC.com on how to “put your foot down,” so to speak, and make sure your daughter knows what is appropriate for her age.

Check out her great tips here.

We all know parenting is tiring and stressful at times, but how do you stay relaxed enough at night to get a good night’s sleep?  MSNBC.com gives us some tips on how to sleep better at night:

• Relax, relax, relax. By exercising during the day — but not too close to bedtime — you’ll likely have an easier time relaxing at night. Relaxation tapes and techniques also may help. If you have health insurance, check to see whether your plan would cover a visit to a cognitive behavioral therapist who could teach you relaxation techniques and other methods for falling asleep. (Find relaxation tapes at Smarter.com.)
• Who’s that sleeping in your bed? If you allow your children or pets to sleep in bed with you, this could be contributing to your sleep problems in a big way. Decide whether it’s time to reassess the situation. (It is my opinion that your bed should be your sanctuary.)
• Monitor your habits. Consumer Reports says these habits could affect your ability to sleep at night: long or late-day naps; watching TV in bed; drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages close to bedtime; eating large meals at night; and varying your bedtime and wake-up times throughout the week.  (I always thought drinking a glass of red wine before bed helps you relax…?  I think it’s an exception to the no alcohol rule. Calming tea helps as well. )
• Think about your mattress. Is it more than eight years old? If so, it might be time to replace it. (If you aren’t in the market for a new mattress yet, flipping your mattress every season every 3 months helps.You can shop through a wide variety of mattresses at Smarter.com.) 
• Talk to your doctor. If these alternatives don’t work for you and you continue to suffer from insomnia, visit your doctor. You may be a candidate for a prescription sleep aid on a short-term basis.

Read the full article at MSNBC.com.  There is some interesting statistics and information on why sleep meds are bad and why you can’t sleep in the first place.

Does anyone have any products or other tips to recommend for better sleep?

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