King for a Day

By Sharon Merritt
Published on Parents.com

Father’s Day is June 19^th. This year, give Dad the royal treatment by stepping outside the box of golf balls and the tie. Take a cue from the following 11 families who share their special plans and memories for a fun and affordable Father’s Day that Dad won’t forget.

1.Off the Hook

Instead of gifts, Jason Stinson of Woodstock, GA would rather spend the day with his wife and three kids doing what he loves best, fishing. “I love to fish. Even though most of the day will most likely be spent baiting hooks and removing fish, that’s okay with me. I’d rather have time with my family than a gift any day.”

2.Dadcast

Ken Skurtu of Knoxville, TN has a Father’s Day keepsake he’ll always treasure. His two kids, Emily and Noah, created a 4 minute newscast dressed up as anchor and reporter with the latest breaking news on what a great father they have. Ken says “It’s the best gift I’ve ever received. Better than anything you could buy in a store.”

3. Triple the Fun

For Eric Grann of San Ramon, CA, Father’s Day is full of blessings. It’s also his and wife, Sue Ann’s anniversary of twelve years. But that’s only part of the story. Six years ago, Sue Ann gave birth to triplet boys, Gavin, Ian, and Aaron on Father’s Day weekend. Two years later, little sister Eliana was born. “For our family, Father’s Day is a perfect reminder of how one blessed union created the family of our dreams and with that family, my husband became a father,” says Sue Ann.

4.Musical Tribute

Free concerts in the park are a pretty affordable way for kids to spend the day with Dad. Janet Collins of Atlanta, GA says, “My husband who’s a musician, loves to hear live music. It’s the perfect Father’s Day for him and the kids love to be outside.”

5.Vintage Treats

John Rivers of Columbia, SC has a big sweet tooth and likes to reminisce about the penny candy of his childhood. His sons, Jack and Seth, went online and found Hometown Favorites a site that sells nostalgic candy in the original packaging. “Now Dad just needs to make a dentist appointment,” says son, Jack.

6.Worth a Thousand Words

Mas Takano of Alameda, CA is the father of three kids who have all grown up and moved away. “Each year we put together a photo album for him for Father’s Day,” says son Kent. That way he can have something to look through from the past year that shows how his family is growing from year to year.

7.Make Dad the Star

“Our Father’s Day begins at 12:01am,” says Kelly Brabson of Bowling Green, KY. The family prepares a midnight picnic and packs up a telescope to head to the nearest rural area where the light pollution is low. Kelly’s husband, Mark, loves astronomy and wants to share it with his kids, Elijah and Sarah. “ The kids think it’s neat to stay up late and don’t even notice that they’re getting a lesson in astronomy,” says Kelly.

8.A Bird in the Lens

Dale Hoffman’s love of photography began when he snapped a picture of a hummingbird at the feeder outside his Ortonville, MI home. He soon became enthralled with birds and catching them on film. So naturally, his daughters Sara and Sam knew exactly what to give him for Father’s Day... bird watching guides. Wife, Robin jokes, “Now he not only photographs them, he actually knows what they are.”

9.Remembering Fathers Past

In Rockaway, NY, Thomas O’Callaghan pays homage to his father, who passed away in 1990. Thomas says of his father who spent his early years in the Detroit area “He was devoted to his family. Maintaining a steady job, he raised four children through tough economic times.” Every year, Thomas pays tribute to his father by raising the state flag of Michigan stating, “The locals have long since asked why.”

10.And Fathers Fallen

United States Army Captain Eric Livengood will spend his Father’s Day at his Lacey, WA home for the first time in two years. But instead of spending it with just his wife, Carrie, and their five children, the couple has another plan. They are inviting the families of his fellow soldiers, who have fallen in the line of duty, to their home to celebrate the lives of all of their fathers. The Livengoods participate in Wear Blue Run to Remember, an organization that is a living memorial to the service and sacrifice of the American Military.

11.A Step Forward

In our family, my kids spend Father’s Day with my ex-husband. But now that I’m remarried, they’ve developed a close relationship with my new husband and want to honor him as well. We reserve the Sunday after Father’s Day as “Step-Father’s Day”. We start the day by making him a batch of his favorite cookies. Then we head to our favorite park where we spend the afternoon flying remote control airplanes or tossing a Frisbee. We end the day by heading back home for his favorite dinner of spaghetti and meatballs.

Your Healthy Home Checklist

By Sharon Merritt
Published on BHG.com

You’ve changed the batteries in your smoke alarms and locked up the cleaning supplies but don’t sit down yet. Throughout your home, there are probably dozens of other not-so-obvious dangers lurking. Whether it’s environmental or the possibility for injury, every room in your house has potential hazards that pose a threat to you and your family that you may have never considered. Here’s a home health and safety check list with some easy and affordable solutions for making your house a safe haven.

1. In the Kitchen: Be Prepared!

According to Meri-K Appy, President of The Home Safety Council in Washington D.C., cooking is the number one cause of home fires. “Most cooking fires happen when the cook leaves the stove unattended or is distracted.” To keep a stovetop fire from spreading, always keep the pan lid or a cookie sheet close by to cover the fire. Covering the fire with the lid or cookie sheet cuts off the oxygen and allows the fire to go down. Additionally, be sure to wear oven mitts to protect your skin when cooking and covering any pan fires. Never throw water on a grease fire.

If the fire has spread beyond the pan, the best thing to do is get everyone out safely and call 911. “The Home Safety Council does not recommend using a fire extinguisher in the event of a pan fire” says Appy. “Unless you are experienced in using one, the force of the spray may cause the pan to move or flip and cause the fire to spread.”

2. Fireplace Check-up

When you think of fireplaces do you think of warm and cozy nights with your loved ones? Rebecca Morley, Executive Director of The National Center for Healthy Housing in Columbia, MD, says “nearly 36,000 fires and 250 deaths occur each year from portable heaters, fireplaces, and chimneys.” In addition to potential fire hazards, the combustion gases such as carbon monoxide can accumulate when a blocked chimney, or broken chimney connector pipe (flu) prevents the gas from leaving the home.

“There are approximately 200 deaths per year known that are caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Even low-level CO poisoning can cause serious health effects that feel similar to flu or allergy symptoms.”

Morley suggests putting a CO detector on each level of your home (average cost is about $40 each). At the beginning of every heating season, have a trained professional check all your chimney as well as your fuel-burning appliances: furnaces, water heaters, ovens, dryers, fireplaces and wood stoves.

3. Beware of the Bathroom

From slips and falls, to drowning dangers, to medicine and chemical access, to mold exposure, bathrooms hold a world of hazards for your family. The Home Safety Council suggests keeping all appliances unplugged and put away when not in use. Install toilet locks to prevent drowning accidents for little ones. Also, falls in the bathtub are a common cause of ER visits. Using a bathmat and installing grab bars and non-slip strips in the tub and shower can prevent injuries for the whole family.

Meri-K Appy, also stresses the importance of locking up cleaners, medicines, and even cosmetics. “Look for the words ‘caution’, ‘danger’, or ‘keep out of reach of children’ on all labels in the bathroom and throughout your home.” Anything with a warning like that should be in a safe place with child safety latches installed. And don’t forget to post the number for the Poison Help Hotline, 1-800-222-1222 in the bathrooms as well as the kitchen.

4. Don’t Let Mold Take Hold

Mold isn’t just lurking in your fridge, it can grow anywhere in your home where moisture is present. Mold spores can wreak havoc on the lungs and worsen symptoms of asthma. Allergic reactions such as coughing, wheezing, watery eyes, and inflamed sinuses are among the most common.

Bathrooms, basements, and attics are the most common areas where mold can be detected. Carter Oosterhouse, home building expert and host of HGTV’s Carter Can, says “using backer board in the bathroom is a moisture-resistant alternative to drywall as well as using moisture resistant paints.”

Rebecca Morley also recommends checking your grout lines around the tub and tile areas to make sure water isn’t escaping behind the walls. “Also check to make sure your fans are ventilating to the outside of your home, not your attic.”

5. Foyer Faux Pas

Home after a hard day’s work, do you come in and toss your purse to the nearest spot available? Ever think about what’s in your purse? What you keep in your handbag can be a danger to little ones and pets. Things like pepper spray or medicines, matches and lighters or even coins can be a risk. Hang your purse up high to keep it out of reach so curious little ones don’t go digging.

6. Childrens’ Room Danger

Windows in second floor bedrooms are the hot spot for danger in kids’ rooms. Move furniture away from windows in children's rooms to keep them from getting too close and install specially designed window guards to keep kids from falling out. “But make sure they have a quick release mechanism in case of fire” says Appy.

7. Nursery Know-How

For infants, the leading cause of death from ages one month to one year is associated with an unsafe sleep environment. The Home Safety Council does not recommend sleeping with an infant or letting them sleep in your adult bed, sofas or chairs. Exhausted new parents can roll over and pose a smothering threat. Appy recommends following the ABC’s of safe sleeping for baby. “Alone. On the Back. In a Crib.” No blankets, pillows or toys in the crib that can cause suffocation or strangulation. Zip up sleeper pj’s are as effective as a blanket in keeping your precious baby warm.

8. Lurking in the Basement

The second leading cause of lung cancer could be lurking in your basement. Radon gas is dangerous to your family and could exist in any home. However, radon test kits are available at your local hardware store for about $10 and are easy to use. Once you perform the test, it is mailed to a test lab (address and envelopes are included in the kit). If your home tests positive, don’t panic. Local radon experts can help you install a mitigation system that directs the gas outside.

9. Laundry Room Lint

Dryer vents carry the heat from your dryer outside. But lint and hair can build up in them and should be checked regularly. “These pose a potential fire hazard but are easy to clean out” says Carter Oosterhouse. “Keeping it unblocked will also help the efficiency of your dryer.”

10. Taking it outside

Children’s play equipment is a leading cause of broken bones and head injuries in the backyard. The Home Safety Council does not recommend keeping a trampoline in your yard. For play structures, create a soft “landing pad” for kids. Soft surfacing under play equipment should be one foot deep and extend at least six feet out from all sides of the structure. Grass, dirt, and even sand do not offer enough protection. “The area under and around playsets can be filled with wood chips, rubber mulch, or even pea gravel. Any of these will absorb the impact and minimize injuries when playing outdoors” says Appy.

11. Pool Safety

Swimming pool drains have a powerful suction; so powerful, adults can be held underwater. Hair and bathing suits on children can get caught in the drain causing them to be pulled under. Make sure all drain covers meet new safety recommendations and are intact and in place every time you use your pool. If broken or missing, replace them before allowing anyone to swim.

Appy also strongly recommends constant, attentive adult supervision when little ones are in our near water, and installing a lockable gated fence surrounding all four sides of the pool that’s not easy for outsiders to climb.

12. Older Home Hazards

Many older homes were built before modern building standards and regulations were in place. When purchasing an older home, Carter Oosterhouse recommends checking for lead paint and asbestos if built before 1980. Also, make sure your electrical wiring is up to code. If your home has only two-pronged outlets then it will not be able to handle larger electrical loads. Have a licensed electrician inspect your home for potential dangers.

13. Stay Safe and Healthy

For a comprehensive health and safety check of your home, you can take a virtual tour at MySafeHome.org via the Home Safety Council website. For more information on preventing home poisoning visit the CDC website poison prevention page.

How to Start a New Family Tradition

By Sharon Merritt
Published on Parents.com

In these days of far-flung families and busy schedules, it’s often up to you to create your own traditions. As families move apart physically, they can sometimes leave the old traditions behind. Here’s how 9 families developed new rituals that bring them together.

My kids never loved camping the way I do. I practically had to force them at gunpoint to get them to go. But now, we’ve adopted a new twist on camping called geocaching, which involves using your GPS to find little treasures hidden by other geocache enthusiasts. We’ve discovered little places we would otherwise not know existed while on our camping trips and it’s an adventure we now enjoy together. A new family tradition is born!

Finding these new ways to bond with your family is particularly important today, because we live “in an age where we are growing ‘super children’ and sports and activities are taking precedence over family time,” says family therapist, Laura Doerflinger, MS, LMHC, of Kirkland, WA. “It’s important to create rituals and make family time together a priority. These activities aren’t just for fun. They work to keep the family bonded during crucial developmental stages in kids’ lives.” Holiday traditions also aid in “giving each family its own unique identity, based on family history, heritage, and religion.”

1. Find your Family Identity
According to family traditions expert, Meg Cox, Princeton, NJ, author of The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays and Everyday , creating new family traditions is a way to generate memories and experiences that children can share.

Cox says: Start with what your family identifies with the most. “If you’re a musical family, put on a holiday concert. If you’re an outdoorsy family, plan an annual rafting trip.”

2. A Birthday Party at Christmas
As much as we love religious holidays, they’re sometimes less meaningful to young children who don’t understand the significance of the event. That’s why every Christmas, the Skurtu family of Knoxville, TN, bakes a birthday cake for Jesus and sings “Happy Birthday” before blowing out the candles. “When the kids were younger it was an easy way for them to understand what Christmas was about. Now, it’s tradition and even as teenagers, they still insist on having a birthday cake.”

3. Happy Chinese New Year!

Sometimes new traditions spring from the merging of cultures. When the Doyle family, Farragut, TN, wanted their adopted Chinese-born daughters to better understand their roots, they started celebrating Chinese New Year (which occurs in February of each year). “This was a way to meet other Chinese families and involve our daughters in the celebration of who they are” says mom, Carolyn.

4. Two Holidays in One

It’s essential to let kids get involved whether it’s with the planning of each event, or the cooking, or the decorating, etc. Cox says the most successful traditions “develop when each family member feels like an integral part of the ritual”.

Brian and Jaimee Kelsey of Westport, CT observe both Christmas and Chanukah with their sons Carter and Russ by lighting the menorah and then going as a family to choose a “cut-your-own” Christmas tree. “This way we can share both of our religions with our boys. And they love being ‘in charge’ of lighting the candle and choosing the tree.”

5. "Bloch" Party
Traditions are especially helpful when it comes to creating friendships in a newly blended household, says Doerflinger. One way to initiate bonding is by planning an all-new tradition.

When Chad and Morgan Bloch of Chicago, IL got married and created an instant family of 5, they immediately began “Friday Bloch Party”. The kids decide the menu, do the cooking, and take turns choosing board games they play for the night. “The only rule is no complaining about the games chosen” says Morgan.

Doerflinger says game nights are the perfect opportunity to bring people together where kids also learn life skills such as group dynamics, negotiating, money management, etc. She does not recommend a “movie night” however, as this leaves little opportunity for interaction and bonding.

6.Extra Christmas

As families grow and move further away, it becomes increasingly difficult to carry on the time-honored family traditions.

Originally from Vermont, the Abbot Family moved to Landsdale, PA. As their 3 boys grew, it became almost impossible to cut out time during the holidays to visit with their Vermont relatives. The solution? “Extra Christmas”. The entire family gets together in Vermont in March so they can all be together, open gifts, put up a tree, and celebrate all over again. According to mom, Joyce, “Our kids look forward to Extra Christmas almost as much as ‘real’ Christmas!”

7. The Big-Boy Underpants Party
To make new traditions really personal, therapist Cox and her family focus on milestones. For instance, she regularly celebrates important events with a banner ritual. “For my son’s 3^rd birthday, I painted symbolic icons on a banner made out of a bed sheet. One icon was a pair of big-boy underpants to celebrate that he was now potty-trained. He had to pass through the banner to get to his birthday gift.” When we cross thresholds in life, Cox says we need to mark them with a ritual so we can recognize that these are moments significant not just to us, but the whole family.

8. Post-Thanksgiving Football Brunch
With so many different households in one extended family, it can be tough to see them all for Thanksgiving. Jim McNulty and family of Gaithersburg, MD give relatives a second chance at getting together by hosting a morning-after brunch and football game. “After we fill our bellies… again, we take it outside to work off a few of those calories.”

9. The Creative Spirit

Halloween conjures up a family tradition for the LaPorte family. This family of artists makes the most of their favorite holiday by transforming their own Oak Park, IL home into a haunted house. Sons Max and Ben are in charge of scaring up their own rooms and their friends are invited to stay. “Instead of worrying about them knocking on strangers’ doors, we have the celebration at our house” says mom, Marcia. “It’s the safest way to enjoy Halloween. And all the neighborhood kids make our house the last stop so they can stay and get spooked.”