This news blew me away.  Nobody can care for and afford fourteen children.  Especially one that is single, receives assistance, and lives with her parents.  My heart goes out to those children.  They will never receive the love and attention a child deserves.  The doctors who have allowed this woman to become pregnant are to blame.   These doctors should be the ones to pay child support and assist this family.  Unfortunately that is not the case.  We, the taxpayers, will raise and support these children throughout their lives.  What is wrong with our system in California?  This mother did not have any reservations bringing 8 additional children into this world knowing she would not be able to provide for them.  She knew the state would support her and all her 14 children.  That is ridiculous. 

It has been reported by numerous sources that teaching a child (as young as 3 months) sign language will increase their vocabulary, reduce tantrums, give them a hands-on second language, and you will be able to communicate sooner with your child.  Is it true?  If it is, why don’t all parents teach their children sign language? 

I would have to say that it is all true.  I have a 2.5 year old son who has learned sign language.  At 1 year old he was alble to communicate his wants and needs with us.  His father and I never had to guess what is was asking for.  He would sign what he wanted and that was that.  He never got frustrated and never had a tantrum.  He was able to communicate with us before he was able to speak and now has a good grasp on a second language.  I also feel signing has helped him in the learning process.  At 1.5 years, he knew all his letters, could spell his name, count to 20, knew all his colors, not to mention a ton of animals.  It has been amazing to watch as he learns and grows using sign-language.  He is currently teaching his 8 month old sister how to sign.  She signs milk and knows the signs for eat and bath. 

 I would recommend to any parent to teach their child sign language.  It is a fun interactive second language.  If you are interested in learning more about teaching sign-language to your child/grandchild or whoever, check out www.signingtime.com

Veggies are usually not our favorite food.  However, it is very important that we eat enough servings of vegetable each day.  A great way of getting in all our veggies is to hide it in foods.  My favorite recipe (for my son) is macaroni and cheese.  I make a serving a mac and cheese, puree carrots, squash, even broccoli and stir them right on in.  He love his mac and cheese and I love him getting his veggies.  There is a great recipe book by Jessica Seinfeld title Deceitfully Delicious that has a huge variety of recipes that helps moms make sure their children are getting their veggies.

This is from Sophia’s 17-soon-to-be-almost-18 year old son, Trent, who will be going to CSU Fresno in the Fall. 

Wow!  These past four years have been a wild ride.  From Freshman year to Senior year felt like a blink of an eye.  But now, off to another adventure.  College.  Moving on from having everything given to me to having to work very hard to it.  High school was tough, but there were teachers willing to help when needed.  I now reaalize that some of my upcoming professors won’t be that way.  I will have to do extra studying.  Also, I will not be living at my home.  I will be moving to an apartment near the school.  It will be nice, but very different.  It is a chance to really get to know myself.  And I feel excited about that.  It will be an experience of a lifetime.  And I pray that everything will work out for the good, whether is be easy or just frustrating. 

Autism Spectrum Disorders can only be diagnosed by a clinical psychologist or physician that specializes in diagnosing Autism.  Autism is complex and often difficult to understand for families and professionals alike.  Autism is described as a brain development disorder.  It is characterized by social and communication impairments and repetitive and restricted behavior.  Most children exhibit these behaviors before the age of three.

Parents in Madera County are encouraged to join the Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT).  They are a non-profit organization providing advocacy, support and education for the Central California community at large.  Family support for Autism can be obtained from the many people who provide their time and dedication to help insure understanding and treatment for this disorder.

FEAT will be able to provide you with various resources such as; internet resource services, networking, conferences, social events and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training.  There are strong partnerships between government organizations, schools, corporations, physicians and educators.  FEAT may be able to arrange help for your child with Autism with Early Intervention Therapy, speech programs and occupational therapy.  FEAT also provides assistance with IEP, educational materials, Parent Resource Groups and training.

FEAT holds parent meetings on the fourth Tuesday of every month at Children’s Hospital Central California, 9300 Valley Children’s Place, Madera, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  They are free and open to the public.  Each meeting has a featured guest speaker who is an expert in the field or will provide information on services or research based information. 

If you would like to join their database or find out more information, please visit http://www.feat-fmc.org/aboutFEAT-FMC.htm or call 559-459-5958.

Now is the time of year when everyone is thinking about gifts and shopping.
It is not only the season of giving; it is also the season of spending.
One of the best gifts you can give your kids is to teach them how to manage money so when it is time to buy gifts they are prepared.

Saving
Good saving habits start early. Require your kids to save their money—be it an allowance, birthday money, Christmas money, or money they get from babysitting and odd jobs.

You could offer to match their savings after they reach a certain amount. This will encourage them to put money aside.

Spending
Teach comparison shopping. Go through the ads with them and compare what different stores are charging. Look at quantity and quality. The lowest price isn’t always the best. Ask them to think of a reason why you might want to pay more for certain items.

Borrowing
If you give your kids an allowance, don’t give them advances. If they spend all of their allowance quickly, help them set up a budget for next time. Talk to them about how much borrowing really costs and that when adults borrow money, they often have to pay interest.

Check out these websites for more thoughts on teaching kids about money:

MoneyInstructor.com 

Kidsmoney.org 

As we “fall back” and the afternoons turn dark, it is important for parents to teach their kids safety tips to keep them safe.

Here are a few to keep in mind:

1. Teach them your phone number and address at a young age.

2. Teach them not to talk to strangers, especially when you are not around.

3. Teach your kids to walk home in groups of 2 or more.

4. Teach them not to go to a car just because a stranger calls to you.

5. Teach them to move away from an unfamiliar stranger or car that gets too close.

6. Teach them to scream “help” or “you are not my mommy or daddy” if a stranger tries to drag them away. And teach them to SCREAM.

7. Practice these drills regularly.

8. Teach them not to be enticed by promises of toys or candy.

9. Teach them not to be scared about something bad happening to mommy or daddy.

10. Teach them to stay in the last place they saw you, and not wander around.

11. Teach them to ask a policeman for help.

12. Enlist the help of your neighbors to watch the kids at play outdoors.

13. Teach them what to do if you should get separated in public.

14. If you have a medical condition in the family, teach your kids what to do about it, and what to do in an emergency.

The Sherriff’s department has many helpful tips for parents on their website