Rexanne's
Web Review
Web sites and insights
Issue # 2 - March 21,
2000
Welcome all newcomers!
WOWIE! ... I've had such a wonderful response from so many of you on the first issue of my newsletter that my head's a lil' swelled! :-) BIG thanks to everyone who wrote and told me nice things about the Web Review!
So, did everyone survive St. Patrick's Day? Green beer, green clothes, green rivers?! LOL! Some people really love to get into the spirit of the holidays. Well, you all know that I am one of them but never managed to get a St. Patrick's Day site up and running. Forgive me, my Irish readers! Hey, I love the Irish. They're as fun-loving and warm hearted as we Italians - we're almost family. Actually, we are ALL family, especially readers of this newsletter. I'll be Mom ... ;-)
I've found some wonderful sites for you to check out this week. Lots of goodies so let's get to it, shall we?
OK, here's the scoop:
Quote of the Week:
"If you're going through hell, keep moving!" (Winston Churchill)
This Week's Web Review is sponsored by: More4Kids
Personalized Children's Books & Music that will delight any child. Featuring your child's name, age, friends and home town, nothing compares to a book or song starring them! Lots of choices and fun ideas on this site. Visit More4Kids today!
Parenting and Family Link(s) of the Week:
Spanking - A Shortcut
to Nowhere
Well, now we're gonna open the floodgates of controversy! LOL! Actually, it's no
laughing matter. Spanking, hitting, pinching or physical hurting of ANY kind toward our
children is appalling to me. Yep ... I said it. I know I might have readers who believe
differently about this subject. I am certainly not trying to argue the point nor do I
especially want to get into an e-mail debate with anyone on the subject, but this is an
issue I feel very strongly about. I am not condemning those parents who physically punish
their children. As long as I don't have to witness the assault, I suppose I have no right
to butt in to anyone else's business.
The above article, from Empathic Parenting,
is an extensive, well written article about spanking as a dead-end. It explains the
ramifications of physical punishment, alternate means of doling out consequences and some
great advice on helping our children learn to respect our rules and values without
resorting to a superficial remedy or scare tactic such as spanking.
Another great article on this subject can be found here: The No Spanking Page.
9 Things to do Instead of Spanking is a page with helpful hints and remedies for when you feel like hitting or hurting your child in the heat of anger.
Here's a favorite book of mine on the subject: Parents Please Don't Sit on Your Kids. I have lived with this in my bathroom for the past 9 years!
Ya know, I've hauled off and whacked my kids once or twice in their lives. Once when my younger daughter was quite small, in a tizzy fit, she kicked me in the face. I slapped her leg from a sheer knee-jerk reaction. I suppose she realized how much it hurt when she kicked me. The fact that I hurt her back drove that point home more dramatically. Not too long ago, I wanted desperately to slap my older daughter when she intentionally hurt her younger sister. Instead, I swatted her upper arm. She howled as if I'd broken a bone when, in fact, I barely grazed her skin. In either case, I still do not feel justified in my actions. I would have loved to have been more in control, to have held my little toddler's legs down and told her clearly that what she did hurt me and I would not tolerate it. I could have driven the point home to my older daughter much stronger had I immediately suspended her phone privileges for the night.
We are all loving parents. I sincerely believe this of all my readers. Removing privileges (as in telephone calls for older kids, TV viewing for all ages, etc.), is a less abusive and more appropriate consequence than a spanking or other physical punishment. We are also teaching our children to use physical violence to "get their way" in doing so to them. It's a thought.
Food & Cooking Site of the Week:
Teri's Recipe Page is not
just a "page!" It's pages and pages of unbelievable recipes. From appetizers to
desserts, you'll find a selection of easy, medium and down right gourmet recipes to
tantalize your family and friends. There is a special section just for Pennsylvania Dutch
cooking.
Also, don't miss her page on The Well Stocked Pantry. Uhhhhmmmm
... I don't know about you, but I would have a really hard time stocking all these
delectable delights anywhere in my house, let alone my pantry! LOL! But it's an inspiring
page that will give you some great ideas on what to have around the house for those times
you need to feed the brood in a hurry with not much thought on preparation or time for a
grocery trip.
Another must-see is Teri's page on The Well-Equipped Kitchen. Teri
has laid out all the essentials that any cook would need to maintain a highly efficient
kitchen. There are sections devoted to leftovers, light cooking, holiday cooking and much
more. Simply awesome site, with lots of little unexpected goodies. Bon Appetit!
Kid's Site of the Week:
Aimee Angelique's
Alphabet
This is a terrific site for toddlers and for children up to age 8. Well, I visit this site
and get lost for hours myself, so even if you don't have a child this age in the house to
share it with, take a peek at Aimee Angelique's fantastic site. You'll find one of the
most delightful alphabet games online, created by a wonderful, loving woman who also
happens to be Aimee Angelique's grandmother. Each letter in the alphabet is discovered as
your child browses through the many pages. Also, you'll find some great links to wonderful
sites hidden throughout.
Be sure to stop by Aimee Angelique's About
Me page, too! Meet this adorable child and hear a heart-touching song written for
her by RedSal.
Another super page on the site not to miss is: Pixie Round Up. This is a very fun game where the player has to round up all the little "pixies" into a goal area. My younger daughter (6) and I took turns playing this one. Sorry to say, I was thrilled when she had to go to bed! I got the game all to myself for the rest of the night! LOL! Kids will love this game and yes, so will you. ;-)
Tip or Trick of the Week:
"Ice baggies for owies "
One day, at my younger daughter's preschool, one of the munchkins in the play yard tripped
and bumped his little bean on the slide. OUCH! He sported a bump the size of a full-grown
egg within minutes. His teacher whisked him into the kitchen for an "ice
baggie." Huh? Naturally, I followed to make sure the little guy was receiving all the
hugs and reassurance he *should* be receiving and also to discover just what on earth an
"ice baggie" was! Well, an "ice baggie" is a wet, folded paper towel
that has been neatly stored in a zip lock baggie in the freezer. It works as an ice pack,
only it molds to the traumatized body part and doesn't drip all over the place.
I immediately went home and made up four or five "ice baggies" in various sizes for future nasty but inevitable events that would befall my kids. I even used one when I burned myself on the stove. Wrapped one of the littler suckers around my fried finger and resumed cooking! Ice baggies can be used for bumps, bruises, burns and even for headaches. Place one on your forehead when the thumping starts and it will relieve some of the milder headaches. They can be used to keep food cold for short spells, too. Throw a few into a picnic basket or a Tupperware container you're taking to Grandma's. I'm sure you'll find other uses for the super little "ice baggie."
Got a tip or trick your fellow readers would enjoy or could use? Please send here for possible publication in one of the next issues: TIPS
Freebie of the Week:
Weekly Time Waster:
(Because life is supposed to be fun!)
OK, I don't know about you all, but I love a good game of Yahtzee! Trouble is, no one in my house will play with me! Boo Hoo ... well, boo hoo until I discovered Yahtzee online! Oh, life is sweet! LOL! Here's the place to play to your heart's content: Yahtzee. You'll have to have your Java script enabled to play this one. It's ever so much fun, guys! Click, roll and pick your spot. There's always that "chance" box if you don't make the roll you were going for! ;-) Remember ... feed the kids first.
Featured Home Page of the Week:
Strange Old Lady
The story of something weird that happened to someone, somewhere, somehow and it's
something! LOL! Very cute page rendition of a funny story about what happens when age
sneaks up on us! You can visit CoffeeCup's homepage from here, too. She has other
delightful pages, pages to make you think and pages to touch your heart.
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