The Mom Crowd

Children are as prone to depression as adults. Youngsters do not get depressed for the same reasons and not to the same degree as adults but they can get down and feel blue in a similar manner to grown-ups.

Depression is a mental disorder that it was once believed did not affect youngsters at all. Research studies that have looked closely at this over the years have discovered that this is not the case. It has been estimated that as many as three in 100 young children suffer from the effects of depression. Depression in children needs to be acknowledged and addressed the same as it does in adults and an appropriate treatment needs to be undertaken before it leads into a more serious stage.

What Causes Depression in Children?

Just as depression in adults is not necessarily brought on by one particular thing but can be influenced by a number of factors, the same can be said for depression in kids. Childhood depression can come about due to a genetic predisposition towards it. It can also result from a traumatic or stressful event in life such as a death, a new school or a move to a new place. Medications can sometimes bring about depression as can an imbalance of chemistry in the brain. Learned helplessness is also believed to be a potential cause of depression in kids when it works in combination with the type of personality traits that a youngster has.

Seeing the Doctor for a Diagnosis

If your child seems lethargic and is sad and unhappy all of the time and no longer enjoys spending time with his friends or doing the things he use to enjoy doing then it may be time to take him in to see his doctor. The family physician has the training needed to make a proper diagnosis. He can first rule out other physical problems as the cause of the condition.

After examining the child and asking him or her series of questions the doctor will then be able to decide if the child is suffering from depression. If he is then one of the most suitable means of helping a young child is by way of counseling. For children who are quite young play therapy can be very beneficial to helping them to cope with their depressive feelings and thoughts while for older kids cognitive behavior therapy tends to be the most helpful approach to dealing with depression. Sometimes family therapy is recommended or in some cases, interpersonal therapy.

Most doctors do not prescribe antidepressants for their young patients as their brains are still in the developing stages. In the rare cases where medication is prescribed it is used as a last resort and not as the first option for treatment. If medication is used then it is combined with a type of therapy. This is something that as a parent you must discuss with your child’s doctor. You must consider the advantages and disadvantages of every treatment option.

Helping Your Child

As a mother you do not have to sit back and take a passive role as you watch your child battle with depression. As a loving and supportive parent there are plenty of ways in which you can support your child in having the most uplifted mental state possible. To contribute to positive mental health and a better outlook you can do everything possible to ensure that your child eats as nutritiously as possible, gets enough exercise on a daily basis and gets the right amount of sleep. It is also extremely important that you are always available to listen to your child and to talk with him whenever he is feeling sad or upset. Your child needs to know that you are there for him and that he will be heard.

A child who is depressed feels that his world is falling apart and caving in on him. You need to shower him with love and understanding and he needs to know that you are his biggest supporter. Show your child that you are in his corner and let him know that he will get through this difficult period of time in his life with your help.

Shopping for Baby is not as easy as it may sound.   With so many brands available today and an overflow of resources at your disposal, it can be difficult for even the most seasoned parent to easily decide what to purchase, how much of it to purchase and when to make those purchases.

The good news is that manufacturers have evolved enough to better satisfy parent’s needs and budgets.  The even better news is that retailers too have listened to parent’s feedback and now make it possible to make the same in store purchases and more online.

All of those bulky baby must-haves can be purchased through your favorite retailer’s website and shipped directly to your home, sometimes for free.

Retailers who have a focus on baby merchandise, like Argos, carry a wide selection these baby items from all of the major brands.  With a wide inventory selection, it is possible to find items that are not available in stores or are sold out in others online.

If you walk into your favorite Argos location, for example, because you know that Argos provide prams, but they don’t have the color you prefer in store, you can always visit Argos online, order the pram in the color you want and have it shipped to your home.

Due to space constraints, these same retailers are limited in what they are able to stock on site.  Even though the manufacturers they carry in store manufacture a variety of styles of prams, stores cannot carry an inventory of each, so they offer them for sale online instead.

Not only does Argos provide prams, Argos also carries a wide selection of pram accessories and toy prams that your child may one day enjoy.  Just remember, whichever pram it is that you are seeking to buy, if it’s not available in store, it is most likely available online.

Manufacturers have paid attention to feedback from parents.  Companies who focus on baby goods have started to manufacture merchandise that grows with your child.  From strollers to prams to pushchairs, we no longer have to make several purchases of similar items to keep up with your child.

Today, these baby must haves follow your child at least through three stages of their quick growing early years from the infant to toddler to kid stage.

It’s always a good idea to see any baby items you are interested in purchasing in person.  Check out the floor models at your preferred baby item retailer.  Test out the items by carrying them, pushing them, lifting them and if possible, sitting in them.

It’s OK to treat these floor models a little rough.  Retailers make them available to you so that you can make your purchase with some peace of mind.

Once you have narrowed down your list, go ahead and consider ordering the items online.  Making these purchases online saves you and your vehicle some wear and tear.  We’re not always prepared to arrange our purchases into our vehicles because we’re not anticipating the shape and size of the boxes in which they are packaged.

Retailers understand that parents want to make the right purchase the first time, so if there is a problem with any merchandise, easy exchange, return and refund policies have been set up.

So go ahead and enjoy the process of making these purchases for your child whether you are a new or seasoned parent.

You have been noticing of late that your style is well … not so upbeat (admit it, totally drab) and this has you wanting to make some changes in the way you look. There is something missing in your style that no longer grabs your attention or anyone else’s anymore. You feel bored when you look at yourself in the mirror. This is not a good sign for anyone. What should you do about this  wardrobe problem of yours?

It is really not a problem and you should not view it as such. In fact it can be an adventure you embark upon to revamp and reinvent your sense of style. It can be fun and challenging and it can provide insight into who you really are. Looking good my friend is much easier than you might think!

Change Your Thinking

Take a close look at your wardrobe. You might want to invite a friend along to give you an objective opinion. If your wardrobe is devoid of any lively colors and all you see is neutrals such as brown, gray and black hanging in your closest then that is a good place to start. The same can be said for your style of clothing. If all you have is jeans and tee shirts or if you own six brown sweaters then you need to add some pep to your wardrobe.

Do some shopping but visit stores that you usually do not go into. Take the friend whom you feel has the best fashion sense with you. Try on different colors and styles. Just have fun with it. By trying on a spectrum of different colors and by mixing and matching separates your clothing ideas will start to take you in a new and exciting direction. It will open your eyes to what you have not been seeing!

You cannot picture yourself wearing a lavender dress? Try it on anyway. What about a turquoise blouse? A little bright for you maybe? Or perhaps it brings more color to your face and shows off your amazing facial features?  Open your mind to the possibilities. This is not the time to be a wardrobe wallflower. You need to get creative and you need to push past your wardrobe boundaries. Have your friends be a part of the process because you want their opinions. You must have at least one friend who will give it to you straight, right?

You may want to ease into wearing brighter colors at a gradual pace. We don’t want to stress you out too much. The same can be said if you have been wearing solid colors for longer than you can remember. Give patterns and prints a try but start small and do not choose anything that is overpowering or busy looking. You want to look good but you want to be the focal point of interest for others and not your blouse, dress, skirt, jacket, etc.

Bringing back the life and vibrancy into the outfits you wear is just a matter of the willingness to experiment with new styles and new colors. You do not have to settle for being a wardrobe wallflower. You can decide that  you need to enliven your look and from there you can recruit your fashion savvy pals to help you to send dull, depressing clothing away and to replace them with bright stylish choices that make you look as fantastic as you are!

Empty nest syndrome is upon you. Are you ready to let your children fly on your own? Are you prepared for what this will mean for your life as well?

As a mother you have always been used to being there to do everything from clean up scraped knees to wipe up tears to tuck your children into bed at night with a kiss and a wish for a good night’s sleep. But now the time has come to let them go. It can be a trying time for both of you. Your grown children are embarking upon their adult futures and you must step aside and let them live their adult lives. That can be difficult for any mother who is used to being hands on with everything.

Just like baby birds, all children must grow up and leave home in order to develop into happy and healthy adults. Just as the adult children are starting down a new path so can the parents who are experiencing a phenomenon that is known as empty nest syndrome. What is this syndrome exactly and how do you cope with it?

What is Empty Nest Syndrome?

Empty nest syndrome is the name that has been given to the combination of mixed emotions that many parents feel when their last or only child leaves home to start a new chapter in their life. With a nest that is now empty many parents find the transition difficult to cope with.

Older women and women over 40 in the past used to experience empty nest syndrome more readily than men because traditionally they were the primary caregivers for their children. In today’s society many men also play a paramount role in raising their children and therefore are struck by a maelstrom of emotions as well when they become empty nesters. However for single mothers empty nest syndrome can be even more difficult because there is no other parent –and spouse- in the picture.

Coping with Change

While change and separation may not be easy for you it is necessary for your son or daughter to leave your home and start an adult life of their own. While you will still be an important part of your adult child’s life you now must forge a relationship that is more adult in nature. You need to view this syndrome in as positive a light as possible. Talk with your adult child about the changes this will bring to your relationship and prepare yourself for the new adventures that lie ahead for you both.

Now is the time for you to put more energy and effort into your marriage and to bring the focus back more on just the two of you.  Once you become empty nesters you and your spouse can enjoy privacy in your home, reignite the romance in your relationship and may decide to put some long anticipated travel plans into play.

What to Do About Your Empty Nest

It is smart to plan in advance of the day that you will see your child off to his or her new start down the adulthood path. Talk to your daughter or son about the future. Assure him/her that this is what is supposed to take place. Be encouraging and supportive.

In the same way, before empty nest syndrome sets in talk to your spouse about the changes that are about to occur. Think about how you want to face the future together and what you would like to do. You may be surprised to discover that you and your spouse are on the same wavelength regarding your future dreams and plans.

Do not make any big changes in your life or lifestyle right away when you are entering the stage of life when you will become empty nesters. It takes the average person anywhere from a year and a half to two years to adjust to their child being gone. Give yourself time to get used to the changes before you decide to do something major. After that, do what you wish to move forward!

Your kids observe the use of money from an early age and want to be able to use it themselves. Teaching them about the importance of money and the exchange of money for goods is a lesson that starts long before they enter school. Children learn quickly about what money is and what it is used for. Before long they want money of their own so they can purchase things that they want to have such as candy and toys. Children also observe the gift giving process at special occasions such as Christmas time and birthdays and want to be able to have some money to take part in this as well.

Off to the Right Start

As a mother you should not be frightened or bothered when you child wants to earn money of his own but you should feel a sense of pride. Everyone must start somewhere when it comes to the use of money and one place that is good for youngsters to start is selling glasses of juice or lemonade for a few cents from a homemade stand that you set up for you child in the front yard. You can oversee the whole process and it can serve as a valuable lesson for your son or daughter.

Another small way to teach your young child about money is if you child wants to sell something that he owns to another child in order to have money to buy something else that he wants even more. You have to make sure that the trade is fair for both children but it serves as a means of teaching your child about how money works.

Whenever you child expresses to you that he or she wants to buy something, whether it be a toy truck, a Barbie doll, a coloring book or an electronic gadget this offers an opportunity to teach you son or daughter about the value of money and about the responsible use of money.

Financial Lessons for Children

You need to teach your little one that money must be earned. Your child learns this by example when he observes you going to work every day or observes you working at home if you run a small business from your residence. You need him to realize that hard work is needed to earn money, as is commitment, energy and lots of effort. Make sure that the money lessons you impart are age appropriate. You do not want to confuse or overwhelm your child when he or she is too young to understand the concepts involving money.

When you give your child an allowance for doing chores around the house this demonstrates how money works and it provides a solid foundation for the equation hard work equals money earned. You need for him to realize that earning money becomes more complicated as you get older and earning a living for a family is different than just having some spending money for the weekend. Once again though, make sure that the financial lessons are suitable for your child’s age.

Talk About Money with Kids

Talk to your child about money and make yourself available to answer any questions he may have. If there are opportunities to get him involved in your money making endeavors then do so. For instance if you are involved in a church or group that has bake sales then let your child join in with helping you bake cookies, cupcakes or muffins. If you help out at book sales or other sales to raise money for good causes then bring your son or daughter along to see how this takes place. You may not be earning the money yourself but when you do this you show him that charitable giving and earning money to help others makes a difference as well.