Skyro Supports Filipino Students with a Chance to Win 1 Year of Free Baon.

In today’s fast-paced classrooms, students need the right tools, dependable gadgets, and proper support to excel. As Filipino families gear up for another school year, new beginnings also come with growing expenses.

Skyro, a reliable SEC-registered lending app, is helping make the back-to-school season lighter for hardworking students and their families. Through its Back-to-School Promo starting June 1, customers with approved loans for a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop will receive one (1) raffle entry for a chance to win ₱100,000 cash. This can help cover a year’s worth of “baon” or allowances for food, school supplies, transportation, and other everyday essentials.

To make joining easy for busy parents, Skyro kept the promo quick and accessible. Customers who get an approved product loan for a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop between June 1 and July 31, 2026, simply need to visit the official promo portal at https://www.skyro.ph/back-to-school or scan the designated QR code, fill out the required details, and submit their entry on or before August 5, 2026.

“At Skyro, we understand that back-to-school season is an exciting time for students, but it can also bring added financial pressure for many Filipino families,” says Iya Lelyanova, Head of Marketing at Skyro. “Our goal is to provide gadget financing and help ease everydayworries for both parents and their children, so students can stay focused on learning and excelling in school.”

The grand draw will be on August 11, 2026, through an electronic raffle conducted under the supervision of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Three winners will be notified by August 17, 2026, via their registered email address, registered mail, and Skyro’s official social media channels.

Parents looking to upgrade their children’s gadgets may visit any Skyro partner store nationwide to apply for a product loan. To learn more about the full mechanics of the 2026 Back-to-School Promo, visit skyro.ph and follow Skyro on its official social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.

How to Be the Best Mom Possible.

Whether you're a new mom or just gave birth to your second or third (or more) child, there's no doubt that you want to be the best parent that you can be for your child or children. While there are no written-in-stone rules for being a good parent, there are a few general guidelines that might help you on your journey. This article will go over a few methods to keep in mind when trying to figure out how to be the best mom possible.

Yue and I at Moomin Cafe, Seoul.

Stay Off Drugs
Perhaps the most obvious is to kick any drug or alcohol habits that you may have. Not only does this teach your children that using drugs is acceptable (which is NOT!) it can also lead to problems further down the line.

For one, drugs are expensive. Money that could be put towards new clothes or even college for your children is instead being allocated to your drug problem. This is an issue. Not only could Child Protective Services be called, but you may run the risk of losing your children forever unless you successfully complete a medical detox program for substance abuse.

Mothers who have an addiction problem should schedule a detox from drugs with a nearby rehab before being forced to by the authorities. Depending on the severity of your addiction, it may take a few days, weeks, or even months. Fortunately, most health insurance and rehab clinics are willing to work together, allowing moms to get the help they need. You simply cannot be the best mom if you're routinely under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The effort on your part to put substance abuse in your past will greatly benefit them in the future.

Working part-time at the fruits and vegetables stand.
Just kidding! :)

Find a Job
Unless your husband or partner makes enough money to easily support the entire family, then you should look for a job and become responsible with money. A lot of the financial decisions aren't based around you alone anymore. You have more than one mouth to feed, not to mention the cost of diapers is something to terrify at times. By securing a job, you can bring in that money (or that extra money) and truly take care of your children.

If you are unable to secure employment or another source of income, you will have no choice but to turn to government assistance for help. However, the level of assistance you’re able to receive is typically set at a bare minimum for a family of your size. There's nothing worse than not having enough money to spend on your child for their birthday or Christmas.

To make sure that you don't experience that guilt, then being employed is the best decision to make. You can only rely on the government for so long, and even then, the amount you receive isn't going to be enough to give your child everything. Not if you want to watch them grow into successful adults with numerous opportunities ahead of them.

Shopping at the Line Friends Store in Doota, Dongdaemun.

Try Not to Spoil
Once you start making that money, the urge to spoil your children is going to be high. However, a lot of character building comes from a child learning to make the most of what I have. While a gift here and there isn't terrible, you shouldn't give in to their every demand. Most especially, even when they're throwing a temper tantrum or causing a scene, it's crucial that you don't give in just to keep them quiet. These are lessons that they will take with them later on in life. It is also an excellent way to show them the importance of money. In order to have nice things, one has to develop a good work routine.

Stay Focused
Being a mom is incredibly busy work. However, you can't let the duties of life distract you from the most important thing--being a good mom for your kids. By following these ideas, you can become the best mom possible.

Why Cloth Diapers are Better than Disposables.

In the modern day, most mothers prefer using disposable diapers. But wait - cloth diapers have evolved from time immemorial to become the best-esteemed baby diapers.

One no longer need pins to hold the diapers as it was before. They are healthier than the disposables because of the chemical reactions that the disposables may have. They have a shape that resembles that of the disposables such that another person may not tell the difference between two babies wearing cloth diapers and disposables.

Cloth diapers.

Reasons why cloth diapers should be used as opposed to disposable diapers:
1. They are cheap.
One does not need to keep buying the diapers since cloth diapers are washable as compared to disposables which the baby will only use once.

2. Reduced baby rash.
Cloth diapers are harmless to the skin because they do not contain any chemical, unlike the disposables which have sodium polyacrylate that turns to gel if exposed to moisture. Disposable diapers cause rashes which bring discomfort to the baby, especially to those who have skin reactions.

3. Reduced waste.
For a baby to be comfortable, he will need to be changed for about ten times a day thus increasing the waste at home. If we  take the average of ten diapers per day, just imagine you will need seventy diapers for one week alone!

4. Stylish and wide variety of colors.
Growing up, I knew about only one color of diapers - white. These days, cloth diapers are now available in a wide range of colors and even styles. There are those that are waterproof, which functions like a disposable, but the difference is that they are washable. They are also absorbent, and can easily be folded. In the latter, you can change the cotton part as many times as possible until the cover gets soiled.

5. Diapers can be reused by the next baby.
Once the first baby is able to use the potty, they can be stored safely and can be used by the next baby. Using cloth diapers goes hand in hand with incurring fewer costs of purchasing after every childbirth.

6. They do not have blowouts, unlike disposables.
It's such an awkward feeling for the baby to pee, and the poop comes out with the nasty smell. Cloth diapers have an elastic which hold the baby edges so that the poop can hardly come out. It will be firm enough as the baby awaits changing.

7. Protecting the baby boy's jewels.
According to a study by German scientists, the groin area has a higher temperature when using disposable diapers. High temperatures could lead to reduced sperm production when boys mature.

8. Cloth diapers are environmentally friendly.
Since they are not disposed of now and then, they reduce pollution produced by the chemical substances in the disposable diapers.

9. Potty training.
Cloth diapers promote early training of use of the potty. The fact that the baby feels wet will prompt the mother to train early enough as compared to the disposable diapers where the baby may feel comfortable because of prolonged changing due to high absorbency rate. It does not necessarily mean that the cloth diapers are not absorbent, but once the child is growing, the feeling of wetness is triggered faster compared to the disposables.

In conclusion, the cloth diapers outweigh the disposables, and it would be great if more parents would prefer using cloth over disposables.

Children and Mental Health - Some Unusual Triggers.

Whеn сhildrеn become viсtimѕ оf mental inѕtаbilitiеѕ, thingѕ might ѕееm to fаll араrt. But it is аll аbоut gеtting a grip and helping thе child with thе right treatment аnd support. The mеntаl problems in a сhild саn sprout duе tо ѕеvеrаl rеаѕоnѕ, some of which саn be beyond general аntiсiраtiоn.

It iѕ a well-known fасt that mеntаl illnesses are соmmоn in a child as well. Some reasons behind thеir mental рrоblеmѕ can bе deciphered еаѕilу, while it can bе tоugh to decode ѕоmе оthеrѕ. Hеrе аrе ѕоmе nоt-ѕо-рrеvаlеnt саuѕеѕ thаt may trigger mеntаl illness in a сhild:

Is your child mentally healthy?

Hеrеditу (Gеnеtiсѕ).
Mеntаl illness tеndѕ tо run in fаmiliеѕ, which means thе likеlihооd tо develop a mental diѕоrdеr mау bе раѕѕеd on frоm parents to thеir children.

Biоlоgу.
Some mental hеаlth diѕоrdеrѕ hаvе been linkеd tо ѕресiаl chemicals in thе brаin саllеd nеurоtrаnѕmittеrѕ. Nеurоtrаnѕmittеrѕ help nеrvе сеllѕ in the brаin communicate with еасh other. If thеѕе сhеmiсаlѕ аrе оut of balance оr nоt wоrking рrореrlу, mеѕѕаgеѕ mау nоt mаkе it thrоugh thе brаin соrrесtlу, leading tо ѕуmрtоmѕ. In аdditiоn, dеfесtѕ in or injurу to certain аrеаѕ оf thе brain also hаvе bееn linkеd to ѕоmе mental illnеѕѕеѕ.

Pѕусhоlоgiсаl trauma.
Sоmе mеntаl illnеѕѕеѕ may bе triggered by psychological trauma, ѕuсh аѕ ѕеvеrе еmоtiоnаl, physical, оr ѕеxuаl аbuѕе; an imроrtаnt early lоѕѕ, such аѕ thе loss оf a раrеnt; аnd nеglесt.

Air роllutiоn.
Aссоrding to the World Hеаlth Orgаnizаtiоn, аir роllutiоn iѕ the world's grеаtеѕt environmental hеаlth risk, linked tо оnе in еight оf the total global dеаthѕ. But whеn it соmеѕ to аir pollution, people gеnеrаllу соnnесt it tо rеѕрirаtоrу рrоblеmѕ, like соughing, whееzing, аѕthmа, In fact, they found thаt thе children whо ѕtауеd in highly polluted аrеаѕ wеrе mоѕt likеlу tо tаkе prescribed mеdiсаtiоnѕ аѕѕосiаtеd with lоng-tеrm mеntаl рrоblеmѕ.

Wеаthеr wоrriеѕ.
Wоrrуing constantly аbоut wеаthеr can cause mеntаl problems, like ѕtrеѕѕ. According tо рѕусhоlоgiѕt and аnxiеtу prevention еxреrt at the Cliniс Childrеn'ѕ Cеntеr in Rосhеѕtеr, being аnxiоuѕ duе tо ѕеvеrе weather соnditiоnѕ is nоrmаl. Hоwеvеr, some сhildrеn dеvеlор ѕtоrm рhоbiаѕ thаt affect their day-to-day livеѕ. He added thаt constantly worrying аbоut the weather makes it diffiсult fоr ѕuсh kidѕ to concentrate in ѕсhооlѕ. Moreover, thеrе hаvе bееn inѕtаnсеѕ when сhildrеn rоutinеlу сhесk thе wеаthеr fоrесаѕtѕ and аrе afraid to lеаvе thе hоuѕе.

Sраnking.
Sраnking iѕ seen as a common mеthоd tо diѕсiрlinе a child. However, a 2016 study bу thе Univеrѕitу of Texas at Auѕtin аnd thе Univеrѕitу of Michigan confirmed thаt ѕраnking might increase the riѕkѕ оf mеntаl hеаlth diѕоrdеrѕ, cognitive imраirmеnt, аggrеѕѕiоn аnd аnti-ѕосiаl bеhаviоr in сhildrеn. Sраnking, in fасt, might cause lоng-tеrm mental рrоblеmѕ thаt grеаtlу оvеrѕhаdоw thе ѕhоrt-tеrm behavioral оbеdiеnсе.

Thrеаtеning раrеntѕ.
Pаrеntѕ whо yell аnd thrеаtеn their children саn triggеr dерrеѕѕiоn аnd оthеr diѕruрtivе disorders in thеm. A 2010 ѕtudу done bу Bowling Green Stаtе Univеrѕitу, Ohio, rеvеаlеd thаt vеrbаl hоѕtilitу саn put the сhildrеn аt grеаtеr riѕkѕ оf dеvеlорing mеntаl problems

Cуbеrbullуing. 
Physical bullуing definitely causes a negative еffесt оn a child's mind. But with mоrе timе spent on social mеdiа, сhildrеn nоw become viсtimѕ оf суbеrbullуing tоо. Thе Huffingtоn Pоѕt website states thаt ѕinсе суbеrbullуing tаkеѕ рlасе in a virtual ѕрасе without аnу рhуѕiсаl contact, thе agony experienced bу a child саn bе dоublе thаn normal. Sinсе the сhild is роwеrlеѕѕ tо tаkе аnу rеаl-timе measures tо stop ѕuсh a hаrаѕѕmеnt, hе/ѕhе fееlѕ mоrе tоrmеntеd аnd mentally distressed.

Learning happens everywhere.

Aссоrding tо a mаth tutоr, еffесtivе рѕусhоthеrару аnd mental health ѕеrviсеѕ саn рrоmоtе fast hеаling and rесоvеrу. Psychotherapy рrоvidеѕ a way tо mаnаgе mental illness and psychological problems. It also рrоvidеѕ strength аnd ѕtrаtеgiеѕ tо fight with future рrоblеmѕ. A соmреtеnt thеrарiѕt саn hеlр a раtiеnt in mаking their mind stable.

Author Bio
David A. Buhr has over fifteen years of experience in the field of Education. He specializes in setting up Educational State. He is an expert in the area of developing strategies of Education. He is presently working at his Home Tuition agency in Singapore.

After Infertility: An Unexpected Path to Parenthood

Sometimes life presents us with uniquely difficult challenges. To be told that you aren’t able to get pregnant and have children with your own eggs seems insurmountable – and absolutely crushing. It can lead to a dark path of hopelessness, depression, and even anger. However, many couples and single women who have trouble getting pregnant are finding faith in others. IVF using donor eggs is one possible solution for your predicament.

Waiting for the sound of little footsteps...

Struggling with Infertility

Due to the nature of the female reproductive system, women over 35 have a greater chance of encountering difficulties with conception and carrying a pregnancy to term. There are many reasons for female infertility, but they can be categorized into two broad groups: problems with the environment (uterus, fallopian tubes, and hormonal balance) and problems with ovulation/egg quality. 

As women get older, the quality of their eggs deteriorates - along with their chances of getting pregnant and carrying a pregnancy to term. Women who decide on having a child in their mid-to-late 30s often discover that their eggs are no longer viable. These conditions are easily tested.

The emotional roller-coaster that follows the news can be quite emotionally taxing. Many women seek professional counseling to cope with the resulting anger, depression, or feelings of hopelessness. These emotions are perfectly healthy reactions to such a distressing situation. When the shock subsides, however, many couples choose to pursue fertility treatments to fulfill their dream of having a child.

Donor Eggs as a Path to Parenthood

Oftentimes, women go through several fertility treatments before they explore the possibility of undergoing IVF using donor eggs. In the past, donor eggs were considered something of a ‘taboo,’ as the future child wouldn’t bear the mother’s genetic legacy. This viewpoint, however, has diminished over time as more couples use donor eggs to beat infertility.

Finding a Suitable Donor

After you choose an IVF cycle using donor eggs, finding a suitable donor is perhaps the most time-consuming step. This process usually takes hopeful parents-to-be a few weeks to several months, depending on their preferences. Common considerations include: the donor’s physical characteristics, background, education, as well as ethnicity.

Legal Concerns

After you choose a donor, it is important to have all legalities regarding the donor’s involvement in the child’s life on paper. If you are using a donor egg bank, the bank takes care of these concerns for you.

Choosing Between Fresh or Frozen Donor Egg Cycles

Depending on the cycle method - fresh or frozen - the donor pool and procedures differ.

A fresh donor egg cycle requires a donor who is local to your area and available at a time of your choosing. Furthermore, all costs pertaining to the donor’s travel/medication costs are paid for by the recipient, which makes this method rather costly.

On the other hand, if you decide on using a frozen donor egg cycle, you have the chance to choose a donor from a national donor registry. This donor pool is significantly larger, and provides the opportunity to choose a donor based on more criteria relevant to you. Because the eggs in this cycle are already harvested, all medication costs regarding the donor are already covered in the price.

The Implantation Process

If you decide on a fresh donor egg cycle, you and your donor will undergo a hormonal treatment to synchronize your periods. The donor’s ovaries are stimulated to produce many eggs. From these, only the highest-quality eggs are fertilized with your partner’s (or a donor’s) sperm and then implanted into your uterus.

If you decide on a frozen donor egg cycle, your donor’s eggs are retrieved from storage and delivered to your fertility clinic. These eggs are then thawed and fertilized with your partner’s/donor’s sperm. Three to five days later, the strongest embryos are implanted into your uterus.

The Waiting

After implantation is successful, a rest period of about 2 weeks follows. This period is vital for you to recover your strength from the journey so far, and to emotionally prepare yourself for the outcome.

Giddiness, anxiety, or even mood-swings are completely normal. Professional counseling or an emotional support group can help you immensely with dealing with these errant emotions.

The Big Moment

After the waiting is over, you’ll go back to your fertility clinic for your pregnancy test. It is of vital importance to be emotionally prepared for the result. The blood test checks your hCG levels to determine if you are pregnant.

Almost there!

Final Notes

The decision to use donor eggs, of course, lies in your hands. However, many women use this latest advancement in fertility treatment to fulfill their dream of hearing their children’s angelic voices in their homes, and enjoy strong, stable, and happy families.

The Top 5 Benefits of Co-sleeping with your Kids.

Kids and sleep go hand in hand, which is a good thing because sleep is very important. However, parents need just as much sleep but the question has always been, should you or should you not sleep with your kids. There are people who would never allow it because they tend to think that the kids will become clingy and dependent but there are those who prefer to sleep with their kids every night.

What most people believe is that co-sleeping affects the child psychologically but study show that it does not affect cognitive or behavioral development in kids negatively. As a matter of fact, co-sleeping has numerous benefits and affects the children positively in the long run.

Co-sleeping, why not? 

Ease of breastfeeding
Co sleeping with the kids while they are young allows you to breastfeed without having to leave the bed. The child does not even have to sleep in the same bed as you because you can use one of the best rocking bassinets as a co sleeper. Mothers who sleep next to their babies are more attuned to their babies as they are attuned to their mothers as well. The mother will react to the baby stirring and feed them before they start crying.

Kids get enough care giving and everyone gets enough sleep
When co sleeping, the mother does not allow the child to cry since being close allows them to feed the baby sooner. When the baby does not cry then nobody has to get up and everyone in the home gets enough rest through the night.

Co sleeping babies get a lot more attention and protective care than those who sleep separately. As a matter of fact, parents who co sleeps exhibit protective behaviors like cuddling, stroking more adjusting the blanket at least five times more.

Higher self esteem
Study has shown that boys who co-slept with the mothers between their births to five years have higher self-esteem and experience less anxiety and guilt. For girls, co sleeping is associated with comfort about physical contact and affection when they grow up. Co sleeping promotes intimacy, confidence and self-esteem.

Positive behavior
A study shows that children who never co slept with their parents are harder to control, throw more tantrums and are less happy in general. These children also experience more fear than those who co-sleep with their parents all night.

Safety advantage
Co sleeping had safety benefits in the sense that kids do not fall in deep sleep that can cause life threatening apneas of breathing pauses. When kids sleep with their parents, smelling their mothers close or hearing them snore helps them, to sleep lighter.

Conclusion
Study has shown that co sleeping exhibits a feeling of satisfaction in life. Kids who sleep with their parents also know that they have nothing to be afraid of in the bedroom and once they grow old enough to sleep on their own, they are more positive and feel more secure about sleep time.

FamilyTime | Comprehensive App for Monitoring your Child's Digital Citizenship.

Considering the fact that our lives have become completely influenced by technology, digital media, and smart devices, we need to upgrade our tech knowledge to provide a positive digital citizenship to our kids. As a parent, I was awed the first time I heard of the word “smart parenting". A digital app assisting me in monitoring what my child does online and reducing half of my parenting concerns seemed like a far-fledged idea until I got my hands on the FamilyTime app and used it myself. Yes! Keeping track of what your child does on the web, what apps he has installed on his phone and even where he goes with his friends is now possible; thanks to the FamilyTime app.

Here is my brief FamilyTime review. I hope it gives you an idea about the effectiveness of smart parenting.

A familiar sight, Moms and Dads?

What is FamilyTime App?
FamilyTime is a parental control app which provides the smart solution to parents in this digital realm. It enables parents to stay updated about their child’s activities but with their consent. You don’t have to spy on your kids or feel guilty while accessing their info. Sit down with your child on a coffee table and discuss the importance of parental apps with them.

How do You Get Started?
No need to go through any complex process to track your child’s digital conduct. Simply, install, register and activate your free FamilyTime parental account. After that, download the app on your kid’s device, be it an Android device or an iOS, FamilyTime is compatible with both. Once you get started, you can customize children’s profile, view reports and can even lock their device anytime you want. You can manage your children’s profile separately using FamilyTime dashboard which means you only need one account to monitor multiple devices.

FamilyTime provides separate dashboards for parents and children. Your child gets the easier version of the app and can effortlessly send you the Pick-me-up or SOS alerts whenever they need you. Want to give it a try for free? You can get the app now from the app store on your phone.

FamilyTime!

FamilyTime Features to Help Parents
Here, I have highlighted all the features I love using, as an aunt with teenage nieces.

Location Tracking: Know about your child’s whereabouts with the help of location history. Monitor their current location. Geofence specific locations and stay informed every time your child enters or leaves that place. Receive panic alerts from your child, in the case of any emergency.

Web Monitoring: View their browsing history. See bookmarks and favorites on kid’s mobile phone. Check how frequently they have visited a particular site.

Phone Monitoring: Check contact book View call logs and track SMS. View installed apps and block inappropriate ones. Limit screen time.

There is a lot more that parents can do with this app. To know exactly what you can do, give FamilyTime app a free try.

Teen Mom Jenelle Welcomes Baby Girl!

She's here!
Teen Mom's Jenelle Evans welcomed baby girl Ensley on January 24, 2017. Evans is already mom to two boys, Jace, age 7 with ex Andrew Lewis, and Kaiser, age 2, with ex Nathan Griffith. This is Jenelle's first baby girl, and she is definitely beautiful.

The Teen Mom star shared some adorable photos of baby Ensley along with boyfriend David Eason. Several photos showed Jenelle holding Ensley in a milk bath, and some featured David and Jenelle snuggled in bed with their new baby girl.

Photo credit: Jenelle Evans.

It's so nice to see that things seem to be calming down for Jenelle. Sources say that the reality star had a stressful delivery. Jenelle's mom, Barbara, even claims that Jenelle's boy friend David kicked her out of the delivery room, a claim that Jenelle has adamantly denied on Twitter. It's also a busy time for the couple as they build their dream home, and as Jenelle continues to battle her mother for custody of her oldest son, Jace. The next hearing in the custody battle is scheduled for the end of May. It's such a busy and exciting time for Jenelle, we hope that she is able to sit back and enjoy her beautiful new baby girl!

Hello 2017, Goodbye Baby Teeth!

For years, I took pride in my son's picture-perfect teeth. All the more because I take extra care of his pearly whites and pay particular attention to his dental health. I take him to the dentist at least twice a year, veer him away from candies (though I allow him to binge a little during Halloween), and make him enjoy brushing whether with an ordinary toothbrush or the travel electric toothbrush with case that he always takes along whenever we go abroad.

Yue at 20 months old.

But alas, that picture-perfect smile could only last for so long! He was two months shy of his seventh birthday when one of his teeth - one of the maxillary central incisors - first fell out. From then on, his teeth alignment went from perfectly aligned to a complete disarray.

September 2015.

Three of his lower incisors fell out in the months to follow, but the permanent teeth that replaced them seemed to be leaning towards different directions which made them look crooked. To date, he has lost only five baby teeth, including one of his maxillary central incisors. And mind you, the permanent maxillary incisor erupted first before that baby tooth came out. The same thing goes for his other maxillary central incisor - the permanent teeth has already erupted, and we're still waiting for that wiggly baby tooth to finally fall off.

Christmas 2016.

I was actually worried that there might be something wrong with my son's tooth transition, so I asked my dentist about it. She stated that there's no cause for concern, and that in contrast, I should be relieved that my son's teeth are pretty strong. Also, the timing of tooth transition varies between children, and while Yue's may seem to be a bit late than some of his peers, I need not be worried since he only turned eight last November.

She also assured me that the gaps in between his teeth are normal during Yue's age. This is the transitional period that dentists refer to as the 'ugly ducking stage'. And under normal circumstances, when the upper jaw develops well and the canines on both sides erupt, the front teeth will align with the rest and the gap will close up.

With regards to permanent teeth erupting first, she told me that patience is the key and the baby teeth will exfoliate by itself. The tip of the tongue will push the permanent front tooth forward into the space vacated by the baby tooth. Therefore, there is no need to extract the deciduous front tooth.

Have you had the same experience with your kids' teeth and tooth transition? How did you go about it?

4 Benefits of Knowing your Family History.

Family history is one of those things that most people don't think to learn about until their grandparents are gone. However, there are all sorts of benefits to tracing your roots. You can build better relationships with your grandparents, gain a sense of understanding and meaning for your life, prepare for future health issues, and have fun discovering things about your family. Take a closer look at the benefits of knowing your family's history.

Image via Flickr by Tim Pierce.

Family History Bridges the Gap between Generations.
It's sometimes difficult for people to connect with their grandparents because their life experiences are so different. For instance, if you grew up surrounded by technology, the thought of using an outhouse or traveling by horse is foreign. Through family history work, generations can learn to understand each other and connect in more meaningful ways.

Sharing stories is a great way for people to connect with their grandparents. Take the time to sit down and listen to what they have to say. Simply ask about your grandparents' childhood. Did they grow up on a farm? Where did they go to school? What was their house like? Do they have a favorite memory of growing up? You might be surprised to learn that more of their circumstances are similar to yours than you had originally thought. 

Family History Brings a Sense of Inner Peace.
Instead of just talking to relatives that are still alive, you can go online and find information about relatives that have died. You can find out a lot about your family even if you just know a couple of names to start your search. Knowing where your ancestors came from helps bring meaning to your life. You get a sense of inner peace knowing that you belong somewhere.

People have been keeping histories of their lives for as long as people have been around. Even in the absence of journals, there are census records. You can learn about your family and yourself by doing the research to figure out where your family is from and what they have contributed throughout history.

Most religions support the need for family history work. The Jewish faith is rooted in traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation, and you can read the records. The same is true of Muslims. Christians are also taught the importance of family ties. The book of Malachi in the Bible specific states, "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:6)."

Photo credit: Family Holiday.

Family History Helps You Prepare for Possible Genetic Diseases.
Everyone knows that cancer and other diseases tend to run in families. So another benefit of family history work is that you can learn what diseases you are more likely to encounter. For instance, you may learn that your grandfather has a heart condition and the exact same problem was responsible for the passing of your great grandfather. This information is often included in obituaries. Knowing this information can help you adjust your life to keep your heart as healthy as possible, so you can live a longer life. Some diseases that run in families include specific cancers, heart conditions, diabetes, and even mental conditions. This is valuable information for your future well-being.

Family History Is Fun.
It's easy to find out about your roots through the Internet. Several websites have compiled census records and created family trees to help you out. There's no telling what you're going to discover as you trace your roots. You might find out that you are related to someone famous or your roots even tie back to royalty. Maybe your ancestors are among those that migrated to the U.S. or were involved in historic battles. It's lots of fun to find out where your family is from, and it's addictive, too.

Of course, family history is about more than learning about your past. It's also about writing down your stories and memories for future generations. If you're ready to start family history work, turn to Crestleaf. It is a place where families can share stories and photos with each other that will be preserved forever. 

5 Important Baby Safety Equipment To Go For.

Parents are busy these days and it’s next to impossible for them to be on constant surveillance on the baby. Accidents are not uncommon when you have a toddler at home as the little mind is always curious about anything around and too innocent to gauge the risks. Thus, it’s always advised to invest on some baby safety equipment to ensure proper security for your tiny one, when you cannot be around him or her.

Photo credit; Safety Matters.

1. Safety gates
Safety gates are a must have when the baby starts crawling. The tiny hands and feet are always curious to climb up & down the stairs which might lead to serious accidents. Hence, you should take care to install safety gates at both ends of thye stairs and keep them locked to prevent falling accidents.

Photo credit: Safe Home.

2. Baby monitor
This is another important safety device when you have a little one at home. The monitors alarm the parents whenever the baby wakes up crying so that they can immediately rush to the little one. There are video baby monitors which are designed to transmit live visuals of the baby that enables the parents are always aware of the activities of the little one- even when they are not in the same room. Baby Monitor 101 is one of the best resources for parents to find a lot of info about video baby monitors. Find more here: http://www.babymonitor101.com/video-baby-monitors/.

Photo credit: Girl Gone Mom.

3. Safety latches
If you don’t have bars on your windows, window latches are really important when you have a baby at home. Toddlers have this tendency to climb up to the windows and you can imagine the possible disaster when there are no bars to stop them. Safety latches on the windows would prevent a wide opening, lessening the chances of climbing out. You should also make sure to get safety latches on drawers, cupboard, fridge and oven. This will prevent access to dangerous things like scissors, knives, glass bottles and so on.

Photo credit: Safe Sound Family.

4. Smoke alarm
You should install smoke alarm at each of the floors of your home. This will help you to rescue the baby and the family as well in time, if there is a fire accident in your home.

Photo credit: Baby Safety Shop.

5. Door slam & corner protectors
Then, you must arrange for protectors for the sharp corners and doors. The corner protectors work to cover up the sharp furniture-corners & also help to prevent cases of bumped heads. On the other hand, door-slam protectors clipped over door ends prevent chances of slamming on the tiny fingers.

Planning To Get A Baby Swing For Your Little One?

Are you planning to get a baby swing for your little one?
Well, swings are no doubt a pleasant delight for your tiny one as toddlers love to be rocked every now and then. These are excellent for fussy babies and their indoor set-up enables you to keep check on your little as you are busy minding the domestic chores. Moreover, baby swings are a great relief for the parents enabling them to go along with their usual tasks, with the assurance of happy babies. The contemporary baby gear market features a wide range of swings ranging from the basic models to no-frills ones to full-loaded entertainment pieces. Here are some tips to follow as you proceed to buy a baby swing.

Photo credit: Disney Baby.

Search around
You must make a comparative study on 5-6 potential baby swings from different brands in the market. Follow the customer testimonials and expert reviews on the products. Your chosen brand should be the most reputed of the lot with rave reviews on the selected swing. Make sure the swing carries the JPMA seal assuring a safe product.

Portable options
It’s always advised to go for portable baby swings. These are lightweight and you can easily shift them in whichever room you wish to- so that your child is always before you. Moreover, the portable options are great when you are planning a trip with the little one. Portable baby swings are the most popular models for most parents. Read more at http://www.evababygear.com/baby-swings/.

Safety harness
The swing should be guarded by safety harness so that there is no chance of slipping down from the seat. The best ones carry 5-point harness with over-the-shoulder straps. Speed Your chosen baby swing should come up with a versatile range of swing speed options so that you can easily choose a one as per the moods and needs of the baby. The most advanced options in the market offer up till 8 speed options.

Photo credit: People UK.

Sturdy swing
This is one of the most significant points to check out when you are opting for a baby swing. The swing you are taking to should be backed by a sturdy wide frame & should be reasonably low to ground- so that it does not get tipped when the toddler leans on sides. Moreover, sturdy frames also ensure greater durability.

Comfy seat
The swing must have comfortable cushioned, soft and far reclining seat

Extras
Your little one would be duly impressed if the new swing comes with extras such as toy bars or trays or music and light displays.

What is Egg Donation, and Who Does This Kind of Treatment Benefit?

When it comes to having a baby, things don't always go completely according to plan. If you have had trouble conceiving naturally, and have been diagnosed by your doctor with a condition that means that your own eggs are not suitable or accessible for standard IVF, you may worry that your hopes of having a normal pregnancy are over. However, thanks to women who donate their eggs to other women, you may still have a chance to have the pregnancy you long for.

Clinics all over the world now offer IVF treatments that can use your partner's sperm or donated sperm (if you don't have a male partner or he himself also has fertility issues or a hereditary genetic condition you don't want passed on to the baby) along with donated eggs, where the embryos can be transferred into your own uterus for you to carry the baby to term and give birth to him or her naturally.

Photo credit: IVI Fertility.

What Is The Process For The Prospective Mother? 
If you are about to undergo a transfer of embryos from donor eggs to your womb, your uterus will first be prepared using hormone treatments. These will be administered at your assisted reproduction clinic of choice. During the period of your treatment, you will be required to be effectively 'on call', as when suitable eggs are donated you will need to be available to come to the clinic fast. The eggs, when found, will be fertilised in vitro or by microinjection, using either sperm collected from your partner on the day (this will require sexual abstinence on his part for a period beforehand), sperm gathered earlier in the process from him and cryogenically preserved, or sperm from a donor, depending on the course of action you have deemed most suitable for your case.

Once fertilised eggs have been grown into viable embryos, your doctor will decide on the appropriate time to move them from the lab into your womb. They will also decide on how many and which embryos to use. The transfer process is relatively short and painless, as the embryos can be implanted without any more discomfort than a normal smear test. After that, it is simply a case of waiting to see if you have become pregnant! Viable embryos not used will usually be preserved so that if this round of treatment does not result in a successful pregnancy, more embryos can be transferred in a second round without all of the other stages needing to be done again.

How Effective Is It?
IVF using egg donation, such as that performed by the very popular IVI Spain clinics, has a very high success rate. IVI boast a 90% success rate in terms of their assisted reproduction processes leading to a full pregnancy. While no method of conception is ever guaranteed, for older women or women who have had various other problems that have left their eggs unsuitable for natural conception, it can be the best hope for a happy pregnancy.

#GivingIsBeautiful with NeoCell.

NeoCell has launched its annual fall campaign to raise money for Vitamin Angels, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing lifesaving and life-changing vitamins to children and mothers in need. From October 1 through December 31, NeoCell will donate 25 cents to Vitamin Angels for every product that it ships.

Last year, the same campaign raised $192,000 for Vitamin Angels - that's enough money to help more than 770,000 children. Over the past three years, NeoCell has collectively helped more than a million children through its partnership with Vitamin Angels.

Helping children in need.

"Partnering with Vitamin Angels has become a very important part of what we do as a company," said Jessica Mulligan, NeoCell Vice-President of Sales & Marketing. "Seeing the very real difference that NeoCell's contributions are making in the lives of children in need was one of the best experiences of my life."

 Mulligan met some of the children helped by Vitamin Angels by going with the group to observe vitamin distributions in Peru. They provided life-changing multivitamins to children living in villages as high as 14,000 feet, where little food can be grown.

According to Vitamin Angels, 45% of all child deaths worldwide are caused by undernutrition; that's more than a million innocent lives lost. Millions more will never reach their full physical or mental potential. Many of these children can be saved or their lives dramatically changed through improved nutrition. For just a quarter, Vitamin Angels can provide a young child with two doses of vitamin A - all a growing child needs for an entire year.

#GivingisBeautiful.

"Our friends at NeoCell know the true meaning of beauty," said Howard Schiffer, Vitamin Angels founder and president. "Their wholehearted commitment to our cause is helping those children and moms who are most in need to shine."

During the fall campaign, NeoCell products will have special Vitamin Angels neck tags, and display materials are being made available to retailers. People are urged to help spread the word about the campaign through social media by using the hashtags #GivingIsBeautiful and #NeoCellGiving.

NeoCell is a leading manufacturer of nutritional supplements and the #1 collagen brand. The company's Beauty Bursts, Biotin Bursts, Beauty Infusion, Collagen+C Tablets, Super Collagen Powder, Collagen+C Pomegranate Liquid, Collagen Beauty Builder, Keratin Hair Volumizer, Collagen Sport, Resveratrol Antioxidant and other products are designed to improve health, beauty and wellness - naturally. 

Child Welfare and Parenting Plans.

Not all the parents who lose touch with their children have chosen to do so — sometimes, it is the system in place creates unnecessary conflict.

We support the Government’s commitment to family values and the call for parents to recognize their responsibilities. It is a very depressing fact that 30 per cent of all children in the UK (almost 3 million) have lost touch with one of their parents. This affects not just the parents and children, but also the grandparents and other family members with whom the children are denied contact. It is of little surprise that those children tend to go on to perform less well at school and are more likely to become victims of crime, drink and drug habits.

Photo credit; Not Just Cute.

However, it is a mistake to assume that all these parents have chosen to lose touch with their children. Many are driven away by a system that creates unnecessary conflict during separation. (Reference: boutiko.co.uk)

We believe that the answer is to adopt arrangements which are less adversarial and improve the child’s welfare by presuming that, unless otherwise shown, children are best brought up with the love and guidance of both their parents. We urge the Government to include provision for mandatory Parenting Plans in the Family Justice Bill. Written clearly and without needless bureaucracy, these plans require parents to agree on how to manage their children’s lives, covering everything from holidays to homework; thereby building confidence and reducing the risk of major disputes later. With almost as many parents now separated as are together it is imperative that we get this right for children and families.

This post was contributed by the Wedding Folio Website.

Tips to Become The Best Mom Ever.

Motherhood is an amazing period in each woman's life. This is the time to enjoy pregnancy, birth, and that astonishing time when your baby grows and you do your best to educate him.

Motherhood is made up of various stages and each of these stages comes with different questions and concerns. What we are here presenting you with is an amazing site that offers all the information you might be looking for, if you became a mother and still have some questions to ask.

Photo credit: Huffington Post.

This is the spot where women all around the world connect with each other and get the support they need in order to enjoy a happier motherhood. We are talking about the greatest pregnancy guide you could ever find on Mom's.com and all the answers for the questions that might arise in terms of pregnancy and motherhood as a whole.

If you need some added information about pregnancy and motherhood, this is the site you should take into consideration. This is all about telling stories, asking for advices, give likes and comments, share news, find brand new friends and talk to each other about any topic you might be interested in. You can just sit back in front of your computer and talk to other mothers from all over the world about labels that you’re interested in.

There is no better option for you if you want to find information about pregnancy week by week, breast feeding, moms with twins, young mom and even a lot more. Mothers throughout the world have already discovered this website and visit it each time they want to communicate and get the right answers to their questions about motherhood.

Moms expertise is a permanently growing community based on collections of genuine moms' experiences. We are not talking about fake theories, but authentic stories, experiences, and advices from mothers from all around the world. All you have to do now is just check out this page and find the solutions for your issues and the help you might be looking for. You can now share your advice or perhaps get the advice you need easier than ever before.

Sharing stories at Moms.com.

Remember, each mom is the best mother for her baby, therefore, each mom is a genuine expert in motherhood. Each moment as a mother is unique and has to be lived at the fullest, this is the main reason why we chose to develop this site and help you get the information you require.

There is nothing as emotional as pregnancy and motherhood. Just check out this page and see how proud, happy and loved you are going to feel close to your child, after you get all the information you might be looking for about motherhood.

Spotlight | NasoClear ™ Nasal Spray.

Last week, I received a package from Unilab which contained a bottle of NasoClear and a trial pack of Constipaid. The NasoClear couldn't have come at a better time, as my son's allergic rhinitis (with a bit of dry cough) acted up last week. Talk about putting this product to good use!

NasoClear™.

A product of Unilab, NasoClear is a nasal spray used to treat dry or irritated nasal passages. It helps add moisture inside the nose to dissolve and soften thick mucus and provide relief for dry, irritated, and inflamed nasal membranes. This medicine is used to help relieve nasal congestion, nasal allergies, nasal irritation, cold or flu symptoms, and postnasal drip.

The NasoClear bottle up close.

The product is actually a clear, colorless solution made with 0.65% Sodium chloride and 0.02% Benzalkonium chloride. It comes in a 30 mL plastic bottle, complete with plastic cap and safety clip. I like that it comes in a handy, travel-friendly packaging. I can easily stuff this in my bag (or in my son's backpack) and bring it along wherever we go.

Clear plastic cap + safety clip attached.

The product may look daunting at first (especially to those who haven't used nasal sprays before), but NasoClear is actually very easy to use.

Cap + safety clip removed.

1) First, tilt your head forward and breathe out. 

2) Remove the cap and safety clip, hold the bottle at the bottom with your thumb with the nozzle in between two fingers. 

3) Spray the solution into one nostril while covering the other nostril.

4) Spray 2 times in each nostril twice a day, or as directed by your doctor.

Remember to clean the tip of the nozzle after every use! :)

Pump + nozzle.

This product can be used on adults, children, and even infants. For kids, of course, this must be used with adult supervision.

Just to show you that the nozzle fits into your nostrils just right. Use with adult supervision! :)

I like that this medicine gives immediate relief without any side effects. My son was able to breathe easier after two doses of NasoClear, and within 48 hours, his cough and colds were almost gone. Looks like this item will be another staple in our medicine cabinet. :)

Get to know more about NasoClear by watching this video.