Know someone who may need this?

For Anonymous & Confidential Help 24/7

For a safety plan and referral to a shelter 24 Hours:

call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at

1−800−799−7233 (or 1-800−799-SAFE)

in LA County: 1-800-978-3600 or

West LA (310) 264-6644

____________________________________________________

Helpguide:

Get info online under TOPIC:

Mental & Emotional Health / Trauma & Abuse

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_types_signs_causes_effects.htm

How to know if you are being abused,

and what to do about it go to:

www.thehotline.org:

IN Southern CALIFORNIA: The Sheepfold is a WONDERFUL Christian organization that helps mom’s and their kids:

www.thesheepfold.org or call (877)743-3736

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE IF YOU ARE BEING ABUSED:

http://www.thesheepfold.org/victim/victim-signs.htm

LEARN about the CYCLE of ABUSE

HOW to LEAVE

WHERE to find a SHELTER and MORE:

YOU WIN THE PRIZE, TOO – A POTTY TRAINED CHILD!

Potty Training can be a JOY, and NOT a CHORE
– IF YOU MAKE IT A GAME!

DON’T CROAK!

If you look around you, you’ll notice that most adults walking around today managed to get potty trained somewhere along the line . . .

So don’t worry – you’ll get through it!

This is what worked for my 7 kids: Make a ladder like the one to the LEFT, (from adding machine paper, etc., or download the one at the end of this article to print out), and tape it on the wall right near the potty. Choose an inexpensive prize to buy that you know your child will enjoy (a small toy, a lollipop, a candy, etc.) plus a pack of small stickers in advance (and HIDE IT!). Draw or paste a picture of the prize in the square above the ladder. Each time your child goes potty in the RIGHT PLACE (on the pot), make a big deal over it, smile and give him or her a sticker, starting at the bottom of the paper ladder. As you praise him enthusiastically, mention how each time he does, he will get another sticker, and when he gets to the top of the ladder, he will win the prize!

-> >> If the prize is candy – DO NOT give him ANY Candy AT ANY OTHER TIMES UNTIL HE HAS EARNED IT by doing his ‘JOB’!

Many kids enjoy placing their earned sticker on their chart by themselves – and show them where it goes. That in itself will be a temporary satisfaction for their good behavior until they have earned their ‘big’ prize on top.

If he has an accident outside the bathroom, instead of scolding, just say, “I’m sorry, I can’t give you a sticker this time. But next time, when you do it on the potty, I can give you a sticker!” And smile as you say that! Make another chart after they complete it and win the prize, and before long it will be a habit, even without the prize!

Click on the picture below to download the free printable chart plus instructions!

Question: What if they pee on the pot but poo in their pants and then hide it?
Be calm, don’t mind the mess, and never shame your child for natural functions. Someone along the line has made them feel bad about pooping.
You don’t want your child to hold it in and get constipated. I read that “Constipation is the thief of HEALTH!”

Let them know it’s quite natural to poo and you can’t wait till you see them going on the pot! Sit with your child while he is trying and use it as a chance to talk about the day. It will make it fun and not something to be ashamed of. Let them know how proud you are when they do it in the right place. Usually after a meal people have the urge to go. Give ’em more liquids and watch ’em go! But above all, Don’t shame them for ‘accidents’. I LOVE the approach of a wonderful mom named Tara. Check out her blog on potty training here. What she is doing is really the thing that makes any ‘technique’ work- the love and cooperative spirit that you show in being there for your kids. You are on their side, and they can feel it, see it and know it for the great support that it is. How could they NOT want to cooperate with someone like that?

Question: What about while they are learning? Should I use ‘pullups’ or regular underwear?

HEIDI (a fantastic mother of FIVE) made this wise observation ABOUT ‘pull-ups’:
“Pullups = a diaper ; a DIAPER = go ahead and pee.”
I agree! SMART MAMA, HEIDI! THANKS for your contribution to the mom’s and kids of the world! I could never afford pullups anyway and thought they were probably invented to get more of my hard-earned money! Some ‘experts’ believe that children actually learn faster when they can feel their ‘mistake’ running down their legs, but you do have to be able to afford the time and handling more mess to allow it! But what about kids DOESN’T involve mess? There’s no avoiding it – JUMP RIGHT IN FOLKS! Join the FUN!

What about teaching them to WIPE? Here are some great links to help kids learn to wipe:

LINK 1: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Pediatrics-1429/teaching-child-clean-BM.htm
LINK 2: http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/8/586186
—From this site I read a cute ‘game’ you can make of wiping skills:
“We make a game of how many wipes it will take, so I will say, ‘I think it is a 3 wipe poo’ and he will say, ‘nope it is 5’, and promptly wipe and check, wipe and check and see who had the best guess before his bottom is clean!”
LINK 3: http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/potty/wiping.html
LINK 4: http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/how-to-teach-your-child-to-wipe-while-learning-to-use-the-potty/

Question: What about CONSTIPATION?

The one thing that always seems to be the problem in that area is a need for more more water in the diet, (grape juice works wonders too, plus fiber and probiotics (good yogurt works for that too).

To show the kids how drinking more water helps them go to the bathroom easier, I would show them a little demonstration using an empty toilet paper tube, toilet paper and a glass of water. Stuff a wad of toilet paper into the empty tube, hold it over the sink and try to shake the paper out the bottom of the tube. Tell them, “Imagine the paper is the food we eat and the tube is our intestines.This won’t come out, because it’s dry, but if I pour water into the tube, it will come right out the bottom.”

The kids are amazed at the trick and understand the concept immediately!

There is a lady named Brenda Watson who tells all about FIBER and it’s benefits: – she does the HOPE method to improve health – Have you heard about her on PBS? Hope stands for:
H= High Fiber
O= Omega three oils
P= Probiotics
E= Enzymes
http://www.brendawatson.com/In-the-News/Brenda’s-News/HOPE/
I’ve learned a lot from watching her, and now I’ve lost 10 lbs without trying, plus never have constipation if I follow the diet that way.

I heard someone say long ago:
“CONSTIPATION IS THE THIEF OF HEALTH” and it seems to be true!
Though it is a rather ‘crappy’ topic to discuss, it is important. Learn what you can, do your best and don’t worry – everything will come out all right in the end!

BABY SOUNDS

Dunstan Baby Language – Learn the Meaning of Your Baby’s Cries

The Secret Language of Babies: (This article is adapted from WikiParenting)

In 2006, musician Priscilla Dunstan released a DVD titled , “Dunstan Baby Language – Learn the Meaning of your Baby’s Cries”.

Dunstan promises to help frustrated parents unlock the meaning in their infant’s cries. Oprah featured Priscilla Dunstan on her show. Watch the clip to be amazed!

HOW TO UNDERSTAND YOUR BABY'S CRIES

According to Dunstan, it’s easiest to recognize the words if you listen during what Dunstan calls the “pre-cry” stage, before your baby is hysterical. If you hear more than one word, act on the word you hear most. You may need to shift your baby’s position (sit her up on your lap, for example) and try to listen for the distinctive part of each word. Dunstan says there is no one sound that’s harder to hear than others because it varies by individual and some babies use some words more than others.

THE LANGUAGE:

I’m Hungry: “Neh”

This is the noise made when a baby pushes his tongue to the roof of his mouth because he wants to eat. “Neh,” is an infant’s sucking reflex with sound added to it.

I want to burp : “Eh”

When a bubble of air is caught in your baby’s chest, the sound the baby makes as he tries to push the air out is “eh”. Burp your baby if they make this type of cry.

I’m tired: “Owh”

”Owh” is an audible yawn. When making this sound, the baby’s mouth forms an oval shape.

I’m having discomfort: “Heh”

This is the noise made when a baby is responding to a skin reflex. It signals irritation such as sweating, a wet diaper or itchy clothing.

I have gas: “Eaire”

If a baby can’t push out his burp, it moves through the baby’s digestive system and “eaire” is the sound he makes as the muscles of the intestine and stomach tighten to force the air bubble out.

Here is the link to her site if you wish to get additional information: