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So, he volunteered us to babysit for his friends’ littles, agreed to backyard barbecues with his family-focused buds, and pretty much oohed and aahed over every kiddo we walked by. At the time, I worked with kids — and 40 hours a week spent with four-year-olds was good enough for me. But it didn’t take long for me to want one of my own. Just shy of my 26th birthday, I was pregnant....

Parents who are new to homeschooling share certain characteristics. They want to provide a great education for their children, and they are willing to go that extra mile for them. However, they’re also very uncertain — if not actually terrified — about the homeschooling road that lies ahead. I know from personal experience that this uncertainty can cause well-meaning parents to make mistakes. By sharing a few of the errors I’ve made myself, I hope to help others avoid repeating them....

The following American heroes are just a sample of the thousands that can be included in this category. Many of them did have a significant impact on name fashions at various times. Others might spark you to start a naming fashion of your own. Either way, your child would do well to start out standing on the shoulders of these giants: Amelia Earhart, the aviator who gained international recognition as the first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and the first to make a solo flight across the Pacific....

But in 2015, when she got pregnant with her first son, she realized that she was no longer actually passionate about what she was doing. “That bug was already in my head when I got pregnant—what is my purpose, what [can I do that] has a greater impact?” Ruch says. “When I had my son, as soon as I saw him, I just felt so clear. I finally felt the sense of confidence that I was looking for....

Index cards Pen or marker Old magazines (optional) Scissors (optional) Glue (optional) Directions

“I was getting to a certain age and knew that if we didn’t have children yet and continued to wait, it could become an issue,” she recalls. “Then it presented to us that the only way we could actually get pregnant was to do IVF.” At the same time that she and her husband started exploring it, Dr. Levin decided to open her own practice, making her already hectic schedule even busier....

In the 12 months or so since the Omicron variant was first detected, scientists have learned that it spreads more easily than previous variants, such as Delta, and that its symptoms tend to be similar to previous variants. It causes less severe illness and death, and some antiviral treatments are effective. And vaccines help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Across the board, though, experts are urging everyone—including parents—not to worry too much....

As you consider baby gifts for that special new baby in your life, a great gift idea is to choose a personalized keepsake that gives meaning to the baby’s name as it is highlighted as a central part of the present. This always makes for a unique gift, and there are many options to choose from ranging from a baby name art print to a gift that shares the baby’s name origin....

What Causes Period Cramps? Cramps are caused by prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are naturally occurring chemicals and can be found in tissues throughout the body, including in the uterus. They also trigger the uterine muscles to contract, which helps expel the uterine lining during menstruation. Prostaglandins are also involved in inducing labor contractions and childbirth. If your levels of prostaglandins are too high, it can trigger uterine contractions that are more intense. When the uterine contractions are especially strong, oxygen is temporarily cut off to parts of the muscle, which can lead to painful period cramps....

Directions Cut paper into one-by-four-inch strips. Glue or staple the ends of the first strip to make a ring. Thread the next strip through this ring and glue the ends together. Continue threading the strips through the previous rings until the chain reaches the desired length, or you run out of paper. The chain can be used for holiday or birthday decoration.

Level: Easy Time involved: One to two hours Materials: Pictures from magazines or magic markers (See step 1.) White glue Poster board Sticker letters You could make this an on-going family project during Passover and add to it as the days pass. You also might want to divide the poster in half and place traditional Passover symbols of freedom on one half and modern-day symbols of what this freedom means to you personally on the other half....

Polyurethane caulk can work well on small cracks. For the best results, make sure the concrete is dry before applying it, and force the material into the crack as far as you can. If there’s any loose material in the crack, remove it before you apply the caulk. Larger cracks take a little more work, and more materials. Here’s what you’ll need: Wire brush. Masonry chisel and heavy hammer. Quick-dry hydraulic cement....

Directions Take the strip of paper or poster board and evenly divide it into the number of pictures you plan to draw, or photos you will attach. Color or decorate in between the pictures. Curve the strip around in a circle and staple it so you have an open circle with pictures or drawings on the outside. Take three pieces of string of equal length and attach them to the top of the cylinder in three evenly spaced spots....

Although you have ample reason to feel happy and exhilarated, you probably have plenty of good reasons to feel depressed, too. The following sections address some of the most common causes of depression for new fathers. Changing Roles Having a baby changes relationships within the whole family. You may find it difficult to adjust to these changes. For one thing, you probably won’t make love with your partner as often as you did before having the baby....

During their growth spurt, some boys become tall and reedy, and they may develop an interest in muscle-building (looking like a “weakling” makes them vulnerable to teasing). However, boys should wait until late puberty before they begin any type of weight-lifting program. In addition to wanting to grow taller and more muscular, your son will be interested in the development of his reproductive organs. Growth of pubic hair is the most obvious indication of male puberty, but penile growth and enlargement of the testes actually begins before that....

Age group: 30-40 months Duration of activity: 15 minutes Materials: Toilet paper tube Scissors Black felt-tip marker Paper plate Crayons or colored markers White craft glue Gold sequins This cute craft makes a pretty centerpiece for a holiday party. Add some gold-foil chocolate coins for extra excitement.

Over the last four decades, there’s been a slow but steady increase in young adults moving back home. In 2012, 36% of young adults ages 18 to 31 were living in their parents’ homes, according to a 2012 Pew Research Center survey. If you doubt you’ll be a fan of your teen living on your couch until he’s 30, take steps to encourage him to leave the nest – and stay there....

For example, Christina, age seven, asked her parents whether they were rich, and when they asked her why she wanted to know, she explained that one of her classmates had said that her father had lost his job and they were going to have to move. “If we’re rich,” Christina told her parents, “we won’t have to move if Daddy loses his job.” Bruce and Diane recently bought a new home....

People who have firearms for protection are naturally inclined to want their guns to be kept loaded and handy in case of an intruder. Unfortunately, most unintentional shootings of children happen because they are playing with a loaded gun. Kids are curious, and they like to imitate adult behavior. They’re also very clever—they can find guns that parents think are well hidden and out of reach. One study found that 75 to 80 percent of first and second graders in homes with a gun knew where it was kept....