Gansta Grandparents

(CNN) -- Harry and Barbara Cooper are telling everyone how their marriage has lasted seven decades.



On the day of their 72nd wedding anniversary, they leaned toward each other, hands tenderly clasped, as they peered into the camera.

'It's a give-and-take situation," said Harry, as Barbara, giggled. "I give, and she takes."

This is an unconventional showcase for any elderly couple in their retirement home, but a typical day for two of the oldest bloggers in Los Angeles, California. Harry recently turned 98. Barbara is 93. The Coopers rely on their granddaughters to videotape their chat, which is later posted on their blog, "The OGs" (short for Original Grandparents).

Harry and Barbara have become an internet sensation, attracting thousands of fans since their blog debuted in late 2008. Their grandchildren helped them launch the OG blog as a way for them to share their wisdom, humor and relationship with the rest of the world.

When most people their age shy away from the mysteries of the Internet, the pair boasts 1,900 Facebook fans. Barbara, whose dark hair has turned to a wispy white, also tweets and posts restaurant reviews on Yelp.

read the rest of this story @ CNN.com

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5 Keys to Stopping Toddler Bad Behavior and Aggressive Toddlers

Either you have seen it or you have experienced it personally. Aggressive toddler behavior can catch you off guard and make you feel like you are not a good parent. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is important to remember that every parent goes through aggressive toddler behavior at some time or another and you can absolutely do something about.

Here are 5 keys to stopping bad behavior from your toddler:

1. First, remember that you are the parent and you always have control, whether or not you feel like you are in control. Sometimes, when we experience a particularly nasty bout of aggressive toddler behavior, we can feel like we have no control over our child. You have to remain calm and be firm. Stick to your plan of action, and carry it out. Never let your child feel like they have the upper hand, or you will lose all control of your child.

2. Even though aggressive toddler behavior can be alarming at times, you need to remember the context in which your child is behaving. Most young children are still learning communication skills. If they cannot communicate effectively with you, then they may become aggressive out of frustration. Imagine if you were trying to communicate with someone and they had no idea what you were trying to say. You might become frustrated and display aggressive toddler behavior yourself!

3. Get down to your child's level - try squatting down

so that you are making direct eye contact. Allow your child time to try to speak to you and explain why they are upset. After you get the gist of what is happening, you can deal more effectively with the situation.

4. Lead by example. If your toddler sees that the general communication in the household is by argument, yelling or otherwise, they will model this behavior. Aggressive toddler behavior can result from your toddler witnessing you having an argument with your spouse or one of their siblings. If you don't want your child to hit, then you do not hit your child or anyone else. Children only learn what they see. If you deal with a situation in a calm and rational manner, then your child will absorb this and learn to model this behavior.

5. Have a common plan of attack. If your child is in daycare, make sure that your daycare deals with your child's behavior in the same way that you do. Consistency is the key here. If everyone deals with these situations in a different way, your child may become confused and frustrated, therefore escalating aggressive toddler behavior.

Dealing with a toddler is draining sometimes. You need to have a sense of humor and you have to learn to relax. Giving your toddler some of your time, in a one on one situation can help them to realize that they are important in your life and it will reassure them that they have a rightful place in your family unit. Having a look at the whole picture and identifying any triggers that may cause aggressive behavior is a great starting point.

Aggressive Toddler Behavior Help. Alan B is an Expert Author on child issues, including aggressive toddler behaviors and issues. If your Toddlers Behavior is a Problem, visit ChildBehaviorHelp.info today for information and recommended resources that will change how your approach your aggressive toddler.

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The Dreaded Terrible Twos

How to Deal With the Terrible Twos

Member

By Kristal Blanford

When a child reaches around 2 years old they will feel like they need to become independent. This means that they will test you to see how far they can get with you, and they will also try to start making their own choices and doing things on their own. Two year olds are also very curious and will tend to get into things they are not supposed to just so they can cure their curiosity. Try to understand as a parent that this is perfectly normal behaviour for a two year old.


Step 1

When dealing toddler terrible twos, have a regular routine. Breakfast, Playtime, Lunch, Naptime, etc. and try to stick as close to the same times everyday.

Step 2

Offer your toddler choices. For example ask them, “Do you want milk or juice?” and do not ask them “What do you want to drink.” If you give them a choice it makes them feel like they are being independent and they are less likely to change their mind.

Step 3

For discipline measures, start using time outs for your terrible two toddler. If they throw a tantrum give them a hug and tell them “That’s enough.” If they throw an even bigger fit then you should give them a time out. Pick them up and sit them in a chair and tell them “Stop crying and you can get up.” If you think your toddler may not understand time outs, you can sit them on the couch and ignore their crying. Make it a point to wonder off and do something else. Do not give them attention for bad behavior when dealing with toddler terrible twos.

Step 4

Make sure your child has a safe enviroment that is childproof to play and explore in. If your child gets into things she isn’t supposed to but she doesn’t know any better yet, tell her not to do it and put those items away where she cannot reach them. Remember, it is normal for your child to be very curious at this age.

Step 5

Be very direct and understandable with your words. A two year old will not understand “The oven is on and it will burn you really bad if you touch it.” Especially a child in their terrible twos. But they will understand, “No no, oven hot, you’ll get a boo boo.” Keep your answers and requests as simple and easy as you can.

Step 6

Make sure your toddler is getting enough sleep. Some toddlers still need naps at the age of 2, although naptime can be a difficult task, it is important for your child to get enough sleep during the toddler terrible twos.

Step 7

Do not show any emotional responses when dealing with your toddler. If you cry in front of them, get super angry, scream, or throw something, your toddler will do the same thing even more and that is the behavior that you are trying to end.

Step 8

If you are in a public place, remove the child and take them into the restroom or a quiet room and have them calm down and understand what is expected of them before returning to the previous area. If you need to discipline your child, always do it in a private area.

Step 9

If your child continues to fuss and misbehave, you must ignore the fussing and discipline the bad behaviour. Be consistent when dealing with toddler terrible twos. In the end, always tell your child you love them and give them a hug, even if they are still in a screaming fit. Stay calm.

Step 10

Keep your stress under control by talking to friends or family, venting in your diary, or stepping outside for a breath of fresh air while someone else takes over so you can take a break.



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Crying Babies, How Do You Know What is Normal?

Crying Babies, what's normal, what's too much

Colic?

It's been said fully 1/3 of all newborns. I'm of the (non doctor) opinion that breast feeding cuts down on this reason for your baby crying "too much". All my kids were breast fed so I'm biased, I base my "opinion" on experience of seeing babies that were not breast fed be "colic-y".

My daughter found these baby bottles that (almost) eliminate air getting into the baby bottle, and I have to report that it seemed to work like a charm. I put them into the category of "I wish they had these back when I was a young father".

I found these videos on the topic of "babies crying" on Ehow.com The videos are from someone named Alicia from "Expert Village", I learned a little from them and thought I'd pass them on.

Babies can cry because they are "over stimulated", that's one I'd not thought of.

Here's a line I thought was useful: "No baby has ever cried themselves to death"

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Parenting Tips for a Crying Baby -- powered by eHow.com

I found this article on Fussy Babies on Ezine.

Fussy Baby Won't Stop Crying
By Maureen Brownell

When an infant cries or screams often and for extended periods without any apparent reason, the cause may be colic. Baby colic affects around one third of all newborns so it a fairly common problem. The baby suffers sharp intermittent abdominal pains and can't seem to be easily soothed. Often the baby will extend its legs, arch its back, its face will become very red, fist will be clenched, gas will be passed but the baby will have a hard time passing stools.

Baby colic appears without warning causing your baby to cry out in pain and just as quickly it will disappear. Characteristics of baby colic also known as infant colic is repeated excessive crying episodes, in a baby between three weeks and three months, for no apparent reason. About 20% of all babies are affected by colic.

Since doctors don't know the cause of colic in infants, defining the actually syndrome makes it difficult. As you may have guessed however, there are a lot of theories floating around out there.

One such theory believes baby colic may have to do with the digestive system. The digestive system for some reason does not allow the release of gas. This build-up of gas would cause the baby severe stomach pain.

Other theories believe that baby colic is due to several factors such as adverse environmental condition, inherent sensitivity and possibly the baby's premature nervous system. It is believed that these factors make for uncontrollable crying babies.

Other studies show that half the babies suffering from colic had some form of gastro-esophageal reflux and lactose intolerance. Baby colic is greatly influenced by gut flora which simply put is bacteria that live in our digestive tract that perform many useful functions such as helping in the digestion of our food. Some researchers refer to gut flora as the forgotten organ. Lack of gut flora in a baby causes problems with the digestive system and the result is a fussy baby.

Although colic in newborns happens worldwide it is not considered a serious disorder since it will eventually disappear without any particular treatment. It seems to be at its worst between the ages of six to eight weeks.

Mothers who are breastfeeding should avoid foods that cause gas as this can be passed on to the baby. Also it should be noted that probiotics (which are helpful with digestion) occur naturally in breast milk so therefore the gut flora of a breast fed baby is quite different than a formula fed baby. Mothers who are breastfeeding and who change their diets have found their babies to be less colicky.

There are studies being done now to see if pre-natal stress, birth mother smoking during pregnancy and trauma at the actual birth can be contributing factors to colic.

As I said earlier there are many theories floating around about colic in newborns so thank goodness it is something that infants seem to grow out of.

Our infants and newborns need many things in their new lives. They need us to feed and clothe them. In this modern new world of technology we can now even shop online for just about anything we can buy.

At http://www.mybabysbest.com you will find this new technology at your disposable.

Dampa? Dampa? She can't say Granpa

I hear my name dozens of times a day...

Dampa? Dampa?

Daammpa!

My precious little 17 month old granddaughter is a joy to spend a day with.

And I get to spend EVERY day with her.

I'm her live-in full time baby sitter and I'm lovin life right now. My Dad, when he was still alive, was known to my kids as Grandpa, so at first I wanted to be called "Grand Daddy" by my second tier off spring. That caused a problem of jealousy with my son in law, my grandbaby could be heard calling ME daddy. The fact that I spend more time with her than any other human being, including her parents made this natural... but depending on your perspective not understandable.

Extended Family

I never had extended family, when I was in my 20's I had to figure stuff out for myself and pay any consequences for my learning curve, fully aware of the fact that my family had to pay for any mistakes I made, not me.

I solved this conundrum by having my grandbaby call me GranPA. Which at this juncture comes out as Dampa, and I'm fine with that.

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I found this interesting article about children and nutrition on Hubpages:

f your child seems to be bored, angry, irritable, hostile and/or sad they may need psychological help but they may also benefit enormously from some biochemical help. It is this latter route we will consider here. The child who is well nourished will not only have an improved mood but they will also have the energy to cope with the ups and downs of life.

A British scientist, Bernard Gesch, from Oxford, has clearly demonstrated the link between diet and behavior. In a ground-breaking study which involved 231 male prisoners in one of the UK's maximum security prisons, half were given a daily multi-vitamin pill and the other half a placebo. The results which are published in the British Journal of Psychiatry show an amazing 35 % decrease in acts of aggression from the prisoners eating the multi-vitamin. There was no change in the behavior of the prisoners on the placebo. Once the study was over and the vitamins stopped the violent and aggressive behavior increased again.

The common imbalances that children can suffer from which will affect behavior and mood include the following:

Blood sugar imbalances
Deficiencies of nutrients
Allergies and sensitivities
Deficiencies of tryptophan and tyrosine which are precursors of neurotransmitters (but more on those later).
Blood sugar imbalances are an easy thing for a parent to control. This is what my son suffers from and once he has something to eat he is a different child. The best way of avoiding these imbalances is by ensuring your child has a proper breakfast of unprocessed food and doesn't go too long without food. Sugary cereals may not be the best breakfast food.
read more=>

Parenting Trends

Non medical remedies making a comeback?

From Parents.com

Chicken soup is so in!

Due to new warnings about the dangers of using cough and cold medicines on kids, parents will be employing more traditional techniques to soothe their sick tots. "Parents are going back to basics," says Jennifer Shu, MD, who recommends trying nasal washes and chicken soup, which eases inflammation, to help kids feel better (she also loves Breath Right strips for her own 8-year-old son). "Medicine never sped up the healing," she says, "It only provided relief." More natural approaches are increasingly seen as the safest route, considering medicinal overdoses send an average of 7,000 kids to the ER every year. You can't overdose on soup.

Trend Tip: Next time your child has a cold, Dr. Shu suggests trying a nasal wash like NeilMed Sinus Rinse, which can help her blow out some congestion (you can also suck it out with an aspirator if your kid's too young to blow her nose). Or make a saline solution at home with 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water. If your little one is eating solids, try giving her some chicken soup or broth to boost the immune system and keep her hydrated. At night, place a Breathe-Right strip on her nose to help her breathe. Studies also show honey can soothe a cough if your child is older than 1.

15 All-Natural Cold and Cough Fighters

14 Natural Remedies for Colic, Headaches, and More

Making the change from diapers to pull-ups

From Mamasource.com

From:Holly BDate:Tue. Aug. 25, 2009
Just getting advice on when and how to get my son out of pull-up's at nightime. He's been potty trained for a year (he's 3 1/2) but still wakes up a little bit wet most days...I try not to give alot of fluids after 7'ish and he goes potty before bedtime, usually, but he is just a little wet when he wakes up. Also, i'm trying to tell him it's ok to get up and go potty if he needs to....but he's such a sound sleeper, i don't think that will work either. Is he still too young? Should i wait until he's dry most days? He has good control during the day and even at naptime, no accidents at all! Any advice would be appreciated...Thanks! holly

A little about me:

Im a 34 year old working mom of an almost 3 1/2 yr old boy.(whew!) Motherhood is the best ride of my life! My husband and I bought a house and are hoping to grow our family soon.....but i'm still learning....parenting is tough! I always feel i'm not doing stuff right....but i learn more every day!

Respond to Holly on Mommasource.com here

As a Grandpa who never had the experience of extended family I'm discovering stuff I wasn't prepared for. Jealousy for one, my counterpart on the father's side of the family views me as competition?

And I'm learning to keep certain things to myself:

I spend more time with my granddaughter than any other human being, including her Mommie and Daddy... I was the first one to see her stand on her own, she balanced herself upright with her little hands hovering over my knees.

I was the first person to see her take her first step.

I bragged about it (bragging is a codependent trait ) Well neither daughter or her husband were very pleased about that. I need to learn to keep that sort of thing under my hat.

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Quick Fix for Discipline Problems

The 5-Second Discipline Fix

By Diane Debrovner From:

If you want your kid to wash his hands, pick up his trains, or give his sister's tiara back, don't ask -- tell.

The Friendly Approach to Discipline

Let's face it: If you had a dollar for every time you wanted your child to do something, paying the bills would be painless. You need him to listen up so you can make it through the day -- and keep your home from becoming a total disaster zone. Yet, like most parents, you probably don't want to be a nag (or a drill sergeant), so you constantly ask your child to cooperate. You figure he'll be more likely to pick up his towel off the bathroom floor or sit down at the dinner table if you come across as friendly rather than bossy. After all, you'll catch more flies with honey, right?

It seems like a reasonable approach, especially since that's the way that we typically talk to adults. "Being polite in our society requires making indirect requests, such as 'Can you pass the salt?'" explains developmental psychologist Linda Acredolo, PhD, a Parents advisor and coauthor of Baby Hearts. "If you interpret this question literally -- as young children always do -- it isn't actually a request for salt, it's a question of whether or not the person is capable of passing the salt." (Of course, you'd never expect your dinner companion to simply answer, "Yes.") So when you ask your child, "Would you like to take a bath now?" he thinks that you're actually offering him the opportunity to say no -- even though you really meant it as a polite way to make a direct command. The result? "You get upset and your child gets upset -- and confused," says Dr. Acredolo.

read more...

Helmet or No Helmet on a tricycle?

My Husband and I differ on this issue. - Shari M
Our son just turned 4 and suddenly took an interest in his tricycle. It's an antique one (circa 1948) that my Dad refurbished that all us kids used and then all the grandkids. It is a little tall and somewhat "tippier" than a modern tricycle that has a lower center of gravity. My husband was mad when I asked him if he'd put a helmet on him when our son rode it all the way down to and around the park. He thought I was insane for suggesting it "Cos a tricycle doesn't go very fast" I said it isn't about fast - it's about the distance from sitting on the thing to the ground which if you fall wrong he can crack his head on the concrete which is the whole point of a helmet. I'm a little mad that he is making this decision cos it would seem "not tough" or "uncool" for his BOY on a tricycle. What do you ladies think? FYI: He doesn't have a problem with helmets on bicycles.
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A little about me: I'm 47 and a SAHM. My only child is a 4 yr old joyful little boy!! It took me a long time to have this baby and I stayed at home so I wouldn't miss one second with him. I'm working on several creative business ideas so I can have a business at home and stay a Full Time Mom - even when he is in school!

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