Archive for January, 2009

30
Jan

4 Things To Get Your Teenager To Open Up To You

   Posted by: author1    in Home and Family: Parenting

Teenagers’ lives are often a closed book to parents and however hard we may try we simply cannot get them to open the book and read what is inside it. But how are we going to keep our children safe and help them to develop into self-sufficient and confident adults if we are not sure what they are doing, where they are going, who they are spending time with, what they think and how they feel?

Well, here are 4 tips that might help to open that book just enough to get a glimpse inside.

Tip 1 – Start when your children are young. It is much easier to keep a relationship rolling along than it is to start it up initially and this is particularly true with our children. If we start literally from the day they are born and build a close and strong relationship then life will be relatively easy when they get to those difficult teenage years. However, if we keep our distance, or simply do not have the time to get close to them when they are young, then it is going to become increasingly hard to do so as they get older.

Tip 2 – Seek out common ground. We all have things which we enjoy doing by ourselves but it is important that partners also share interests and have some things, such as fishing, hiking or gardening which they enjoy doing together. This is not only true of partners however and should also extend to parents and children. Accordingly, seek out something, and preferably a number of things, which you and your kids can enjoy doing together as a family and that provides you with a common interest to talk about.

Tip 3 – Listen to what your children say and maintain an open mind. During their teenage years children often form opinions very quickly and often without an adequate understanding of the issues at hand. This means that they will sometimes come out with comments which you find concerning or which you do not like or agree with. Nevertheless, take the time to listen to what they are saying and try not to judge them too quickly or harshly. There is nothing wrong with telling them that do not agree with them or do not approve of something provided you go on to explain why and do not turn what you are saying so that becomes an attack on them.

Tip 4 – Make time for your children. One of the main concerns for most teenagers is that they are not able to spend enough time with their parents and this is frequently seen as a matter of their parents not caring enough about how they are feeling or what they are doing. One major result of this is that teenagers also frequently feel unable to talk to their parents when they have a problem and want some help.

Many of us lead very busy lives but if we were talking about a client instead of our own kid you can bet your life that we would make the time necessary for that client. Well, our kids are far more important than any client at work and so it should not really be too hard to make some time every day, or at the very least every week, to devote ourselves solely to our children for a while.

There are many different ways of ensuring that we spend sufficient time with our kids and often it is just a matter of organizing our time better. One simple way to meet our aims is to ensure that the entire family sits down to dinner each evening and that this is a time to both eat and talk. Another way to spend time with your teenagers is to drive them to school every morning rather than letting them ride the bus. Yet another suggestion is to play sport together one or two times a week. There are any number of ways to make time for your kids if you just your mind to it.

Parenting is not easy and this is especially true when it comes to troubled teenagers but always remember that hundreds of thousands of parents are already been down this road and are only too willing to let you have some parenting advice if you just ask for it.

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30
Jan

Risks of Cancer Moles and how to spot one

   Posted by: author1    in Cancer: Skin Cancer

All of us know someone who has been touched by cancer in some way, whether it is skin cancer or another type. Skin cancer, while normally not considered to be as serious as other types, can still be a chronic disease. However, if skin cancer is caught in the early stages, as when a individual notices changes in the moles that they have on their body, then it can possibly be cured. This is why it is so important to watch for any changes that may be occurring that would lead you to believe that you may have skin cancer, such as skin tags and changes in the moles, especially if you believe they are cancer moles.

Cancer moles can be identified by using what is called the ABCD method. The letters stand for the symptoms of the disease and can be used to pinpoint when medical attention needs to be sought. It is important to remember that if you suspect that you may have skin cancer, then the earlier that it is caught, the better. This can mean looking for any changes in the moles that you may have and also being aware of what those changes could be.

The first letter A stands for ‘asymmetry.’ Normally, a mole is round and symmetrical in shape. It is often when the mole begins to grow that it looks a little skewed or asymmetric. Always visit your doctor and let them know if you observe a change in the skin moles. The second letter B stands for ‘border.’ If the border of your moles looks jagged or irregular, instead of definite and strong, then this could be a sign of cancer. The letter C indicates another important aspect, ‘color.’ Unlike warts or other skin blemishes, these moles change in color suddenly, leaving you quite surprised. Lastly, the letter D stands for ‘diameter.’ Most cancerous moles will grow in size; hence, an increasingly larger diameter could alert you to see your physician.

There are two categories of people who are likely to fall prey to this type of cancer: those with fair (white) skin; those who work for long hours in the sun; those with a family history of cancer (heredity). If you fall into any one of these brackets, then keep a close watch on the cancer moles so you will have the best odds, when and if you discover you suffer from skin cancer moles.

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27
Jan

Improve Your Skin with a Home Sauna

   Posted by: author1    in Health and Fitness, Skin Care

Relaxing in a sauna after a good workout is a luxury not too many of us have the time for. And most people don’t even know where they could go to use a sauna. If you can’t get out to a sauna, how can you reap its many benefits? Bring the sauna to you!

A home sauna is a great addition to any home. It’s convenient and guaranteed to get lots of use, unlike that treadmill that’s gathering dust. It’s a worthwhile investment and it’s guaranteed to be enjoyed by all the family. It’s a great way to spend some time relaxing, and there are also lots of health benefits associated with a home sauna.

A sauna is a small room that is specially designed to be heated to very high temperatures, in order to induce sweating and offer significant health benefits. There are actually two different types of sauna that you can choose from, which are a steam sauna or a dry sauna.

Great Benefits

If you feel like your skin looks dull or tired then a home sauna could be a great way to restore a healthy glow to your skin. Very often, skin problems are a result of the toxins found in our bodies. When you wash your face using a cleanser, it only affects the top layer of skin.

If you want skin that’s deep down clean, a home sauna could be just the answer you’re looking for. The lymphatic system will be revved up and all those toxins that lead to a variety of skin problems will be eliminated.

Start your home sauna skin cleansing session with a workout. It needn’t be too intense. Just something that will get your heart rate up and produce a light sweat. After a bit of sweating, sit down and relax in your sauna for fifteen minutes or so.

Get in and out of your home sauna at fifteen minute intervals so that you spend at least forty five minutes in total in there. Following each session, you need to cool down by hopping in the shower briefly. Remember to keep hydrated by drinking lots of water before and during your skin cleansing session.

You’ll not only discover that your skin’s appearance is improved, but your overall health is enhanced. You’re likely to discover that you are more relaxed after spending some time in the sauna. It is a great way to ease stress if you’ve had a long day in the office and need a way to unwind and forget about all the annoying things in your day.

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