It's back-to-school again!


Some students are excited at the thought of seeing their friends once again. There are those, however, who may not be ready at the thought of summer vacation being over. And then there are those who are nervous or a bit scared due to: new friends, new school and/or graduating to an older class.

To ease your child's anxiety, talk positively about what he/she might expect in school. Make it sound exciting and fun. Talk to him/her about his/her fears and try to explain that it is normal and that he/she would overcome this. Help them organize their things for school. Help with the transition by trying to be there when they leave for school and when they come home on the first day.

Preparing Your Home for a Special Delivery: Feng Shui, Baby!
By Angela Scott

With the baby due in less than two months, time for completing the nursery is winding down. Although every piece of décor has been meticulously placed, something isn't quite right. You circle the room, checking and double-checking for beloved baby shower gifts or possibly missing trinkets passed down from the in-laws. But everything is in its place. Eggshell walls match perfectly with the crib's soft yellow layette. The multicolored animal mobile hanging above the changing table and bright red toy chest are definite visual stimulators. Maybe the nursery is fine, but the rest of the house is in disarray, says Laura Forbes Carlin, co-author of The Peaceful Nursery: Preparing a Home for Your Baby with Feng Shui (Bantam Dell, 2005). "If the energy flow is off balance, then the environment feels all wrong. It's like you feel it instinctively," says Carlin, who, along with her sister and co-author, Alison Forbes, are owners of an interior design consulting company called The Art of Everyday Living.

Second Wind
''Big Brother'': It's a do-over! After technical difficulties on last night's telecast, a new HOH competition yielded interesting results by Lynette Rice

I actually started writing this column the minute Tuesday's episode was over, mostly because I knew that Kaysar's ouster was a fait accompli and that Janelle wouldn't be able to convince enough floaters that James was playing both sides. Too bad — not because I thought Kay-Kay deserved to stick around (his dour intensity was matched only by his inability to say or do anything even remotely interesting), but James was such an idiot for bidding for prizes during that veto competition that he deserved to be back-doored. What a duplicitous, indignant boob he's turned out to be. Didn't he learn anything last season by putting Sarah and himself at risk that when he attempted to play both sides? All I can say is, poor Danielle. Will was right to point out how harsh it was that the house's only mom was stuck in solitary confinement (not that I didn't enjoy watching her eat crow. Girlfriend gets awfully cocky when you give her a little power). Still, she deserved better from her partner-in-crime, James. As the shrewdest female player in BB history, Danielle came into this house with a pretty significant target on her head and a bitter enemy in Marcellas. And though she suffered a tremendous brain fart during the first week, she made a necessary course correction, kept her mouth shut, and look how far she's come! Of course I attribute her staying power to her secret alliance with James and Chill Town (yes, I learned that by watching the feeds. No, I don't always acknowledge them because this is about the TV show. So ease up on the smack talk, will ya, folks?). But Danielle is still smart enough to stand on her own. Gotta hand it to home girl for not giving into pressure Tuesday to nominate Marcellas when she knew that picking a Sixer was the wiser way to go (but I also gotta hand it to Chill Town for shrewdly positioning Marcellas as the greedy new owner of $5,000 and a plasma TV. Can Will get any better at playing this game?). But that's ancient history now, especially since we have a more pressing issue to address: the next HOH. No, it is not boring Erica (cue Hallelujah chorus). For anyone who doesn't have the privilege of an internet feed (or the patience to pull a late nighter while waiting for a damn answer), you didn't learn from last night's episode that BB opted for a do-over on the HOH competition because Howie couldn't push his button. Now I'm sure there wasn't a soul in the BB universe who thought Big Boy was robbed of a much-deserved win (it's not like he's normally a lightning-fast thinker). They just thought he faced some unfair technical difficulties so a new competition was deemed necessary. All I can say is, hell yeah! [SPOILER ALERT! Stop reading if you don�t want to know the results.] The contest finally commenced around 11 p.m. PT with the HGs using those silly wheel thingies instead of the unpredictable buzzers. And though the questions were far less interesting than the first time around, the results were much more enjoyable (and well deserved). Janelle won again! Now my first thought was how James was probably thinking to himself, ''Man that fat beeyotch is gonna come after me now. Probably shouldn't have bid for those prizes this week.'' Then my second thought was how that skinny tool deserved to be the next to go because he bid for those prizes this week. And my third thought? What a lovely time it must be for Will and Boogie. A win for Janelle means another free week in the house — though those guys would be wise to stop relying on Will's uncanny ability to schmooze the women and start actually competing for a change. Seriously, has Will managed to go beyond the first round of any of the competition? But that's a problem for later. I do hope Janelle goes with her gut and nominates James; if there's anything he's done this week, it's proven how much he lies. But my fear is that James and Chill Town will convince her to pick Marcellas, who I don't believe deserves to hit the road when far more useless players remain intact (hello, Chicken George? Erica? Chicken George? Erica?). So what do you think? Do you like the sound of the coup d'etat twist? Were you disappointed to see Kaysar go? Did CBS do right by Howie by staging that do-over? Will Janelle put her Sixer alliance in jeopardizing by targeting James?

What is ‘safe food’?

By ‘safe food’ we mean food that is free of pathogens (bacteria, viruses and parasites) that can cause illness in humans. Why is safe food important in pregnancy? Food that is safe to eat is important for pregnant women. While you are pregnant your levels of immunity are lower than usual, so you are at more risk of getting diseases carried by food. Your illness may also be worse than it would normally have been. Rarely, certain pathogens – such as those described later in this booklet – can cause miscarriage, still or premature birth, and serious illness or even death to newborn babies. The good news is that following simple rules on food safety can help prevent most foodborne illness. Remember the 4 Cs – clean, cook, cover, chill.

Food-Safety Cheat Sheet

For moms-to-be: what's okay, and what to avoid

By Stephanie Wood

Raw/undercooked foods the issue: Some raw foods can cause listeriosis, salmonellosis, and other illnesses that may lead to miscarriage or serious health problems for your baby. what's okay: Well-done meats, poultry, and fish; vegetarian sushi; deli meats (cold cuts) and hot dogs that have been reheated to steaming in a microwave; canned or shelf-stable pâtés and meat spreads. what to avoid: Any of the above items that have not been cooked to the proper temperature; raw sprouts (including radishes); raw shellfish; raw eggs.

Fish the issue: Certain fish may contain high levels of mercury, which can contribute to developmental delays. Farm-raised fish may be contaminated with PCBs (cancer-causing agents) and other toxins. what's okay: You can safely consume up to 12 ounces a week of wild salmon (not farm-raised), sea bass, shrimp, sole, snapper, flounder, catfish, cod, haddock, sardines, tilapia, ocean perch, and pollack. Restrict tuna consumption to the "chunk light" canned variety and no more than six ounces a week. Canned or shelf-stable salmon is safe. what to avoid: Swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, and fresh (as well as canned albacore) tuna; raw sushi and raw shellfish; refrigerated smoked seafood such as lox, trout, and whitefish (unless cooked as an ingredient in another dish).

Amniotic Fluid Abnormalities

The amniotic fluid that surrounds a developing baby plays a crucial role in normal development. This clear-colored liquid cushions and protects the baby and provides it with fluids. By the second trimester, the baby is able to breathe the fluid into his lungs and to swallow it, promoting normal growth and development of the lungs and gastrointestinal system. Amniotic fluid also allows the baby to move around, which aids in normal development of muscle and bone. The amniotic sac that contains the embryo forms about 12 days after conception. Amniotic fluid immediately begins to fill the sac. In the early weeks of pregnancy, amniotic fluid consists mainly of water supplied by the mother. After about 12 weeks, fetal urine makes up most of the fluid. The amount of amniotic fluid increases until about 28 to 32 weeks of pregnancy, when it measures a little less than 1 quart. After that time, the level of fluid generally stays about the same until the baby is full term (about 37 to 40 weeks), when the level begins to decline. In some pregnancies, however, there may be too little or too much amniotic fluid. These conditions are referred to as oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios, respectively. Both can sometimes cause problems for mother and baby or be a sign of other problems. However, in the majority of cases, the baby is born healthy. Here’s what expectant parents should know about these disorders.

Food-borne Risks in Pregnancy

When a pregnant woman eats right, she helps ensure that her baby gets all the nutrients needed for healthy growth and development.

A healthy, well-balanced diet includes: protein foods (meats, poultry, fish, beans); grains (cereals, bread, pasta, rice); dairy products (milk, cheese); fruits and vegetables. Most of these foods are safe and should be part of a healthy pregnancy diet.

However, there are a few foods—including certain fish, some soft cheeses, ready-to-eat meats and raw sprouts—that may pose risks during pregnancy. A pregnant woman should be aware of these risks, so she can choose the safest foods to nourish herself and her baby. Which fish are unsafe to eat in pregnancy? Fish provides plenty of protein and some vitamins, and is low in fat. For these reasons, most types of fish are good choices for a healthy diet. However, a March 2004 advisory from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that pregnant women, women who could become pregnant, nursing mothers and young children avoid eating certain types of fish that are high in mercury.1 These include shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. According to the FDA/EPA, a pregnant woman can safely eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.1 These include shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish. But she should eat no more than 6 ounces (one can) of albacore (white) tuna per week because white tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. For the same reason, she should limit her consumption of tuna steak to up to 6 ounces per week. By following the above guidelines, a pregnant woman can obtain the health benefits of eating fish, while reducing her baby’s exposure to mercury. High levels of mercury can harm an unborn baby or young child’s developing nervous system. Mercury is a metal that is present naturally in the environment. It also can be released into the air through industrial pollution. When mercury settles into bodies of water, bacteria convert it into a more dangerous form (methylmercury) that accumulates in the fatty tissues of fish. While trace amounts of mercury are present in nearly all types of fish, it builds up most in large predatory fish such as swordfish and sharks. According to the FDA/EPA, women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant should check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in local waters. This information is generallly available from local and state health departments and the EPA. If no advice about a particular location or kind of fish is available, limit consumption to less than 6 ounces (one average meal) a week of fish caught in local waters, and don’t eat any other fish during that week.1 Some game fish (including bluefish, striped bass, salmon, trout and northern and walleyed pike) may be contaminated by mercury and other industrial pollutants such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). Some studies suggest that exposure to high levels of PCBs before birth may contribute to learning problems, decreased IQ and reduced birthweight.2

The Importance of Showing Appreciation

By: Family First Staff

According to Josh McDowell, "When we express appreciation to young people, we give them a sense of significance." And this appreciation is one of the cornerstones of connecting to our children.

McDowell goes on to state that: "Our acceptance of young people tells them that their being matters. Expressing our appreciation to them says that their doing matters too. Appreciation gives people a sense of significance -- feeling that they are valued and that their accomplishments do make a difference to someone."

McDowell encourages parents to show appreciation for their children not only for the sake of their children's self-esteem, but for improving discipline in the home, as well. He says, "The more you praise your young people for what they are doing right, the less you have to criticize and discipline them for doing something wrong."

Many parents struggle with finding the right words to say or knowing what to praise. McDowell says, "It isn't a matter of not being able to find things to appreciate about your kids; it's about disciplining yourself to speak up and tell your kids what you see -- to give them honest praise for their effort." He offers several practical examples:

"Thank you for getting your homework done on time."

"I appreciate it when you take your dirty dishes to the sink after we eat."

"Thank you for putting the car in the garage for me without being asked."

"I appreciate you for spending time with your little sister when you wanted to be out with your friends."

However, McDowell throws in a bit of caution. "Unless your young people are absolutely convinced that you accept them for who they are, your praise and appreciation can become manipulative. Appreciation without acceptance may prompt a student to relate to you on a performance basis." While giving praise is necessary to your child's well-being, make sure they also feel secure and accepted for who they are. They need to know you will love them whether they succeed or not.