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Parent's Right to Homeschool Threatened
By Rexanne Mancini
While I was reluctant to entrust
my children to a “religious” school not necessarily aligned with
my spiritual beliefs, I considered it a far better option than
enrolling them in the public school system in the state of
California and I would fight to the bone if anyone tried to force
me to do otherwise. That is what is happening with this case of
the State of California vs. The Longs. I shudder to imagine where
this ruling could lead …
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Baby Tooth Stem Cell Research
By Rexanne Mancini
By preserving and
properly storing our children’s baby teeth, we could be buying them
the most beneficial insurance policy available today. If my children
were younger, I would absolutely store their baby teeth for potential
stem cell therapy that would cure them of devastating illness or
potential nerve and/or spinal cord injury. I think most parents would
feel the same. I do take comfort in knowing that my future grand
children will reap the rewards of baby tooth stem cell storage. It
will be one of my first gifts to them.
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Children's Self-Esteem
By Rexanne Mancini
Self-esteem is not just built on
physical appearance or talent. It is instilled in children when
parents and caretakers treat them with the respect they deserve as
living beings. Acknowledging their uniqueness, embracing their
personalities no matter how different from ours and accepting our
children for who they are is tantamount to building a strong
foundation of self-esteem.
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Having The
Sex Talk With Kids
By Rexanne Mancini
Parents, at some point, need to
discuss sex with their children. It’s an uncomfortable topic,
could be embarrassing and it’s certainly not easy, however, it’s
mandatory so be prepared. I think the earlier we have “the sex
talk” with our kids, the better.
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Routine and Schedules for Children
Rexanne Mancini
Routines are an
ideal way to keep your family and children calm, secure and at
ease with life’s variables.
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School Over-Placement
Rexanne Mancini
Some children are over-placed in school.
These children are either too young to start school in the first
place or not ready to move on to the next grade, be it for their
chronological age or maturity level.
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Convicting a Child
Rexanne Mancini
Sex offender laws are supposed to
protect our children, not destroy them! I urge each of you to read
the evidence in this case and make up your own minds about the
verdict and outcome.
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Entitlement and Gratitude
Rexanne Mancini
It doesn’t really matter what children
choose to be grateful for, it matters that they learn to be
grateful and to appreciate good fortune and benefits when they
occur. In essence, they learn that life is not all about just them
and that life and life’s goodness is a gift, not something to be
expected or taken for granted.
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A Parent's
Educational Responsibility
Rexanne Mancini
School will teach our
children academics … we need to teach them morality and values.
If you don’t have a handle on your own, try to learn and grow with
your children. Consider what you feel is important in life and
what you hold dear. Know that our children will learn these
lessons from us and become the adults we create. They are our
gift to the world – let’s make it a great gift!
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The Magic of
Santa Claus
Rexanne Mancini
Allow kids the innocence of believing in Santa for as long as they
will. And while they still believe, make Santa as magical and
outrageously fantastical as you can. After all, the spirit of Santa is
what parenting is all about.
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Traditions
Rexanne Mancini
Though we might not realize how deeply our kids are touched by family
traditions, most children look forward to the holidays and the little
ways we make them special. It's a form of security for children to
know that certain events and personal touches will always be part of
their celebrations.
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Eating
Disorders in Children
Rexanne
Mancini
Eating disorders are almost as
common as acne in teenagers today. These can create many health
problems, not the least of which is potential death. Try telling a
15 year-old girl that she is not fat after her mother or both
parents have been urging her to diet from the time she was old
enough to dress herself.
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Physical
Freedom
Rexanne Mancini
There are so many
restrictions in society as it is. Our kids should be allowed as
much physical freedom as possible. By age 5 or 6, they will begin
to assume a more universal attitude toward their nakedness and not
demand liberation from garments so much, if at all. Allow them
those few, unrestricted years to run free, to feel nature on their
skin and to rejoice in their precious little bodies.
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Holiday
Expectations
Rexanne Mancini
What’s
one person to do when it becomes overwhelming and seems there’s
never going to be enough time, resources or energy to cope? Well,
I’m not sure I have the answer. What I’m longing to do is
escape to an undisclosed location (me and Dick Cheney) to save my
sanity, health and well-being. Naturally, this isn’t an option
… I hold the holidays too dear and my daughters have come to
expect huge fanfare on these special days.
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Febrile
Seizures
Rexanne Mancini
While fever is the
body's natural defense against infection, approximately five
percent of children have what are classified as "simple"
febrile seizures while running a fever. If anyone has a child who
suffers from febrile seizures, take heart ... 99% of children
outgrow them by the time they are six years old and there are
generally no ill after effects.
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The
Importance of Hobbies
Rexanne Mancini
If
your kids are busy after school at dance class, soccer practice, rock
collecting or any other hobby or interest they find engaging, they
won't have time to hang with the kids who have nothing better to
do than experiment with drugs, gangs, alcohol or whatever else
could get them into serious trouble.
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Grieving
Children
Rexanne
Mancini
It is our
responsibility to help our children understand that the unknown is
not a scary place and to feel secure in life’s mysteries. Even
if you feel there is “nothing” after this life, children will
benefit by assurances that they and their loved ones have a
purpose for being.
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Childhood
Friendships
Rexanne
Mancini
Childhood
friendships are as special as they are a necessary part of growing
up. Whatever form a childhood friendship is taking, know that
these relationships are vital to your child’s well-being and
growth as a human being.
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Children's
Allowance
Rexanne
Mancini
Allowance
is a great teaching tool when given in the spirit of generosity
and practicality. It’s never too early to learn or teach
responsibility and when we consider that allowance is a good math
lesson, we’ve just added to our children’s knowledge base
considerably.
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Children's
Sexuality
Rexanne
Mancini
It’s important to realize that children
have sexual feelings, just not as developed as adult feelings.
Whether these instincts remain healthy is quite another story. As
parents, I believe we need to instill a healthy outlook in our
kids about sex and their imminent sexuality.
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Childhood
Vaccinations
Rexanne
Mancini
While infant and childhood vaccinations
remain a rite of passage for babies born in the United States and
most other countries, there is a growing trend by concerned
parents of questioning this practice.
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Children
Patriots
Rexanne
Mancini
Children need to feel a sense of belonging,
in their family, their classrooms and their country. If we teach
our kids love, honor, compassion and respect for their country as
well as for their fellow man, they will not only be graced by a
sense of patriotism, they will become better citizens.
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Teaching
Children Good Manners
Rexanne
Mancini
If
our kids learn that they are free to trample on the peace, space
or rose gardens of others, they will develop into spoiled and
inconsiderate brats. And then who will like them? Who will want to
spend time with them? Who, besides their forgiving parents, will
be able to tolerate their lack of social graces and good manners?
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Gifted
Children
Rexanne
Mancini
Highly
gifted children can be found in all walks of life, in any economic
class and from parents who are themselves high achievers or not.
These are children who are born to learn, excel and accomplish.
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Learning
Disabilities
Rexanne
Mancini
These
children are the different ones among us. They should be
honored for their uniqueness. Unfortunately, they are more likely
to be labeled and boxed into a problem corner, snuffing out
their bright lights and destroying their self-esteem at a tender
age.
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Bullies
Rexanne
Mancini
We do not regularly teach our children to
kick someone's teeth down their throat or fill their ears with a
vicious verbal attack but I do believe that, under extenuating
circumstances, children should be taught to fight back, to do
whatever it takes to stop their attacker.
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Head
Lice
Rexanne
Mancini
My children were traumatized, I was reduced
to a crying, hysterical bug-fearing heap and our 19-year-old cat
was tortured by twice-weekly flea baths that he appreciated about
as much as a bowl of steamed rice.
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Potty
Training
Rexanne
Mancini
We went a little stupid each time they were
successful users of the throne and they got rewards and accolades
just like the kids who were put through a regimen of potty
training tactics fit for Patton's soldiers. But we never made it a
big issue in our house and, consequently, it never became an
issue.
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Spanking
Children
Rexanne
Mancini
I
feel we have evolved enough as a society to understand that
violence breeds violence. Hitting is physically violent. I do not
believe spanking children teaches them to mind their parents or
caretakers any better than other forms of constructive discipline.
If it is unacceptable to hit an adult, what makes it acceptable to
hit a child?
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The
Importance of Mothers
Rexanne
Mancini
Scientific
studies are beginning to point to the overwhelming value of a
mother's love, hugs and support. Nannies, baby-sitters and
relatives are terrific. They just aren't as terrific as Mom.
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The
Importance of Fathers
Rexanne
Mancini
I
think when a father holds his newborn baby, he is touched by pure
vulnerability for the first time in his adult life, leaving him
forever humbled by the unexplained miracles of life.
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Gaining
a Child's Trust
Rexanne
Mancini
You
might have a child who embraces adventure and roller coasters with
passion or a child who is horrified by a small slide at the park.
This is your baby. No
matter what you think they should be feeling, they have their own
wiring.
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Security
Items
Rexanne
Mancini
Know
this parents ... your kids are not going to start high school
sucking on their thumbs, a pacifier or bottle. They might still
have a shred of their old security blanket, a severely damaged
favorite stuffed toy or a doll that has seen the better side of
new but they will move on and grow up without these
babyish soothers.
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Postpartum
Depression
Rexanne
Mancini
As joyously
anticipated as the birth of her baby was, a postpartum woman can
become riddled with severe anxiety over her ability to care for
her newborn, her self-esteem can plummet and her brain’s
chemical changes can produce intolerable levels of panic. This is
no one’s “fault.” It is a condition that can strike even the
ordinarily soundest individual.
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Infant
Circumcision
Rexanne
Mancini
As life decisions go, circumcision is not one
of the most enormous in relation to the impact it will have on our
babies. I believe it is more an issue of questioning generally
accepted practices that no longer serve logical purposes.
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Stuttering
& Speech Impediments
Rexanne
Mancini
All children must learn how to speak ... a
given under normal circumstances. While not all children have
problems developing their speech and linguistic fluency, some kids
find pronunciation and language flow difficult.
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Baby
Sitter's Checklist
Rexanne
Mancini
What your child's caretaker needs to know. Free, printable
one page list.
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