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“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
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Breastfeeding Numbers reach highest level. The percentage rates of moms who began breastfeeding reached a record in 2001, with the rates when baby is 6 months old at a record as well, a recent study shows. Breastfeeding at the beginning of life rose to 69.5 percent and those who were breastfeeding at least some of the time at six months was at 32.5 percent, according to a published account in Pediatrics, the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, the breastfeeding rates continue to lag for mothers in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC. And mothers working part time were more likely to begin and continue breastfeeding than those working full time. Breastfeeding is considered a vital component to early life by The American Academy of Pediatrics because it lowers the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, disease, ear infections, allergies, diabetes, diarrhea, tooth decay, it fortifies the immune system, and promotes development. The study is based on the Ross Mother's Survey, which tracks infant feeding trends in the United States. Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories has been tracking trends in breastfeeding since 1954. A low point in the category of "breastfeeding at least some of the time at six months" was in 1971 (5.4 percent). That figure topped 30 percent for the first time in 1999. The current survey drew more than 340,000 responses from moms. Summer and Water More tips to keep your children safe In June, Inland Empire Family Magazine published safety tips for the summer, including those to help prevent drowning. The San Bernardino County coroner, for example, reports that six deaths occurred last year in swimming pools and the like, with four of those involving children ages 4 and under. Statistically, that may have been an unusually lucky year. In 2001, for example, there were 17 drownings, 14 involving children ages 3 and under. In Riverside County, the Community Health Agency reported 20 drowning deaths in 2001; 10 in 2000. As the summer's two busiest months for swimming activities arrive - July and August - here are more ideas from the American Red Cross. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional, injury-related death among children ages 14 and under. More than half of childhood drownings occur in swimming pools - a child's home or that of a friend, neighbor or relative. The American Red Cross has developed these water safety tips; we've embellished a few to add emphasis:
High School Lax Seniors, studying less, get higher GPAs High school seniors spend less time studying and doing homework and more time on the Internet - a potentially combustible process for preparing for college - an annual study by UCLA indicates of the nation's students entering colleges and universities. Despite this decline in schoolwork, their high school gpas continue to climb. A record low 33.4 percent of entering freshmen report studying or doing homework six more hours per week during their senior high school year, according to the fall 2002 survey by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. The high was 47 percent in 1987, when the question was first asked. And the percent of students studying less than one hour per week has nearly doubled to 15.9 percent over the past 15 years. What is unclear is whether the use of the Internet for research - which can be extremely useful if not abused - allows students to complete homework in less time. Perhaps, though, "the time students spend using the computer simply takes away from the time that they could be spending on their studies," says Linda Sax, UCLA education professor and director of the survey. Frequent use of personal computers among survey respondents hit a record 83.9 percent in 2002. The percentage of freshmen saying they used the Internet for research and homework during their last high school year also was at an all-time high in 2002 - 78.4 percent. Other survey results: ΠToday, 45.7 percent of freshmen report earning "A" averages in high school, up from a record of 44.1 percent in 2001. The low was 17.6 percent in 1968. ΠToday's students apply to more colleges (13.7 percent apply to seven or more, up from 8.3 percent in 1991). More than two-thirds (69.2 percent) attend their first choice, but that number continues to decline, from a high of 79.7 in 1977. ΠCollege rankings in national magazines and information on college websites are having an increasing affect on applications. ΠA growing number of incoming freshmen expect to get a job to help pay for college. That number for 2002 was at a record high, 47.1 percent. Some 65.3 percent of respondents say they have either "some" or "major" financial concerns. Women are more concerned about this aspect than men. For a copy of the 37th annual report, "The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2002," send $25 plus $4.79 for the first book and 40 cents for each additional book for shipping, to: Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, 3005 Moore Hall, Box 951521, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1521. Single Parenthood By Lynn Armitage Voice in the Wilderness Understand that you're in good company My childhood dream of the perfect life never included divorce and single parenting. Barbie and Ken are supposed to live happily ever after. There's no such thing as Divorced Barbie or Single Mom Barbie. But perhaps Mattel missed the boat. Had we played with these superheroes, maybe we'd be better prepared as adults for the hard reality that in California, close to 60 percent of marriages end in divorce, with Barbie forced to vacate the Dream House and move to the Barbie Trailer. I am a divorced, single parent, as many of us are. And I didn't realize until after my divorce what a tremendous responsibility it is to shape the life of another human being. In my case, two human beings, ages 9 and 5. While I try my hardest to maintain a semblance of strength and normalcy in our fractured and altered lives, there's a strong undercurrent of guilt and worry. Did I do the right thing? Are my kids happy? Will they end up in therapy? While I would love to go back about 15 years, knowing what I know now, and marry the RIGHT man, I can't. Instead, I have to make lemonade and remember why I chose to be a single parent in the first place - because it was the only shot at happiness for me and my girls. As single parents, there are many issues we grapple with day after day independent of two-parent households. In this column, I hope to provide you with a voice in the wilderness of single parenting, and address those topics that are so relevant to us. While being a single parent isn't easy, it helps to know that no matter how alone we feel sometimes, we're definitely in good company. Now, let's go make some lemonade. Helping Hand Local Summer Camp Christian focus planned in the Big Bear Area The owners of Eagle Ridge Camps and Conference Center are working hard to help an estimated 20,000 Southern California kids attend a future Christian summer camp. It is not that these kids do not have the desire or the means to attend. Existing camps, such as Forest Home and Hume Lake, are just not able to accommodate all of the youngsters who would like to spend part of their summer becoming better acquainted with their Christian faith. Eagle Ridge Camps has acquired 440 acres of property in the Big Bear Lake area of the San Bernardino Mountains. Bradley D. Smith, board chairman of Eagle Ridge, saw the challenge and felt the inspiration to build a large Christian camp that could help close the gap between the number of kids who want to attend camp and the space available for them. Eagle Ridge's long-term plans include the development of four to six separate camps dedicated to the needs of youngsters of different ages, ranging from 8-18. Plans for the main camp include an Olympic-sized swimming pool and more than 10 acres of sports fields, as well as meeting rooms, a chapel, and outside amphitheaters. They also plan to leave several acres of open space where individuals or small groups can find secluded spots for meetings or quiet reflection. The ultimate goal is to build a facility that will serve 650 to 1,250 Christian campers each week. Eagle Ridge sees its mission as providing "a place away from the routine and distractions of life, where people can freshly experience God." Eagle Ridge operates a website at www.eagleridgecamps.org. Further information: 714.596.7733. Family Finance By Craig Reem Women & Money Solid advice includes upcoming conference Internationally known investment planner Victoria Collins, a principal with The Keller Group Investment Management, Inc. in Irvine, can readily explain why today's woman - particularly the working woman with a growing family - should and must understand money management. "There are three compelling reasons," says Collins, who will be part of a group helping spread the word at an Orange County conference aimed at women in September. "Given the job market is somewhat uncertain, either that individual or her spouse may have the impact of not having a job, or a layoff, or a job change, which means they have to be even more conscious of taking care of finances. 2., With the market down over the last three years, it is even more crucial that people maximize...investing, and understand risk tolerance, and what is the appropriate allocation. They have less money to work with for retirement. The third reason is that the last three years has damaged confidence." Collins quotes from a recent Money magazine article that lists the top money concerns for women: affording retirement, being able to live on what they make, paying for health care, buying a home, and getting out of debt. As Collins points out, women more than ever need money management and investment savvy because increasingly they are playing a bigger role in a family's income stream. Plus, some 90 percent will manage the family's money at sometime in their lives, in part because women outlive their spouses by an average of seven years. Now is the time, with young families and years to plan, to understand the money stream. "Knowledge is power," Collins advises. Collins will join keynote speakers on Sept. 13 for an annual conference, "Invest in Yourself: Financial Strategies Conference for Women." It is presented by an Orange County-based nonprofit, WISE (Women Investing in Security and Education), of which Collins is a co-founder. This year, 15 workshops will be offered on financial subjects for the beginning, intermediate and advanced participant. It will be held from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Hilton Costa Mesa, 3050 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. Collins will be joined by Jane Wells, CNBC business reporter out of Los Angeles, and an expert panel. Information: www.wiseinvestors.org or 949.588.2429. FAMILY NEWS BITES STUDENT FOCUSES ON PREMATURE BABIES A Cal State Fullerton student has won a statewide award for her project involving the treatment of premature babies who have neonatal jaundice. Tram Hoang, a mathematics major who graduates this summer, earned first place in the physical and mathematical sciences category. The contest is sponsored by the California State University Student Research Competition, the 17th annual. The Garden Grove resident collaborated with Shazia Khan of Ontario and graduate student Lorena Ortiz of South Gate on the project inspired by Preston Lee of Chino Hills. The boy is now a healthy 4-year-old who was born one month premature with neonatal jaundice. MUSEUM RECEIVES GRANT TO MAKE COLLECTIONS ACCESSIBLE The San Bernardino County Museum has been awarded more than $400,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to implement a web module project. The web module will allow public assess to museum collections over the Internet, provide standards-based curricula relative to museum programs, exhibits and collections, and invite users on virtual tours of museum exhibits. SCHOOL HONORED FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT Camino Real Elementary School in Riverside was recently certified as a Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence by the National PTA. The certification recognizes schools that uphold the highest standards in parent involvement. It also serves as a tool to help schools meet the parent involvement provisions in the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. CALIFORNIA'S DISTINQUISHED SCHOOLS NAMED The California Department of Education recently announced that 132 public middle schools and high schools have been slected as 2003 California Distinguished Schools. Of the 2,228 middle and high schools in the state, fewer than 400 were eligible to apply for the honor based upon their Academic Performance Index (API) results. Applications were evaluated by teams of local educators under the direction of the California Department of Education. Those schools judged to be exemplary were visited by an outside review team. Initiated in 1985, the program honors elementary and secondary schools in alternate years. Distinguished schools from the Inland Empire include: Norco High, Norco Intermediate, La Quinta High, Palm Desert Middle, Rancho Cucamonga High and Grace Yokley Middle in Ontario. UCR EDUCATOR APPOINTED TO STATE COMMISSION Athena Waite, director of teacher education at UC Riverside, has been named to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The commission certifies and regulates teacher credentialing, develops teacher preparation and performance standards, conducts research and oversees disciplinary procedures involving the state's public school teachers. Waite represents the Regents of the University of California on the commission. |
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