My son is now on his 20's and successfully working in a call center office and still wears spectacles whenever he needs to. He's now at 500 on his right eye and 300 on the left. It's actually 1000 but the opt  doctor says its best to give him half of the usual grade.

 

And since it was Father's day yesterday. Gosh! Happy Father's day my boy.

2nd Day Weaning

My son get use to the taste of calamansi. I guess he like sour milk now. Nightime is a battle,not good either. He doesnt want to bottlefeed. And so I tried to change his focus from liking to breastfeed. I carry him in my arms and let him sleep, he sleep succesfully but in the midmorning he still choose to breastfeed.

Weaning my 19th month old Son

I have been breastfeeding from birth to now and my son is now 19th months. Im ready to stop breastfeeding him. Not only does he nurse to eat but also for comfort especially when sleeping. He is actually drinking milk in his bottle but only when he is watching TV or if we went out.
My 1st day: I browse in the internet and found that Lemon helps to some mother who wish to wean their kids like me.
Just after eading the article. I grab calamansi inside my fridge and slice it into two part. I put it into my nipple and hoping it will work. It's Afternoon Nap time, my son grab my blouse and want to breastfeed. I said that he mommy's milk is dirty but he still insist. He tasted the calamansi in my nipple and he started to cry. I comfort him and said that he cannot drink my milk anymore bcoz it's dirty. I tried to give his bottle and he drink 2oz. only. The most difficult time is at night. I tried bottles tonight but he fights to nurse.I have tried saying no to him and he starts to cry and I give in. My husband is of no help he tells me to give it to her to keep him from crying.

Cuties update

After few days of exchanging emails from the seller..We finalize to share the tax.
I paid RM81.60 to the post office to release my parcel

Cuties didnt Listen

I recently bought a baby item to an Online Seller from Singapore. I thought we had a great talk as I was thinking of purchasing another item from their site. First, I asked her about the tax cause I am aware of it. The seller said its not taxable and the price wouldn't be a problem. I told her to declare lower amount as I am afraid that it might be hold.
After a week of waiting: The long wait is over and I am upset. I received a letter from Kastam Diraja (custom)and it says that my item (baby chair) is on hold.
I immediately call their hotline and asked for my item.
Me: I thought its not taxable,Mr.Officer.
Officer: because of the declred amount of SGD200 (RM500).
Me: I bought it online Mr. Officer and the seller told me that it's not taxable that's why I bought it.
Officer: They want to make sale so they can say anything.
Me: How much do I have to pay?
Officer: It will cost RM88 for this.
***********************************
RM88 is a big money for me. Not only that, I trusted the seller words that her item is not taxable. Why she didn't listen to what I ask her to do. It shouldn't happen in the first place if she follow what I said to lower the custom declaration.
I email the seller and said she can't do anything. Well, It's all your fault Katherine (Sales), you never listen to my direction. I trusted you but you are so damn to follow it. You cannot do simple task. You think you are smart but you are just one of the stupid sale person I ever encounter.

******************************

Astigmatism

My son is now 8 1/2 year in age, but he had diagnosed to have Astigmatism of average 50 degree on HIS eyes.
His optometrist told my mom that he should wear a glasses.I am worried.
What will be his future?will it last or is there any chance of him recovering.how can we help to prevent from further damage?

Kaleb learning to walk

Home Remedies for Kid's Cough and Cold

Sharing some very useful article

1) Honey (12 months and up)

How it helps Honey coats and soothes the throat and helps tame a cough. In a study conducted by Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine, parents of 105 children ages 2 to 18 rated honey helpful and better than cough syrup for treating children's nighttime coughs.  What you need Honey, available at any grocery store. Honey often gets hard at room temperature. To soften it, spoon some into a container and heat it briefly in a microwave or boil some water and then set the honey jar in the very hot water for five or ten minutes. Your child must be at least a year old to try this remedy. How to use it If your child is 1 to 5 years old, give him 1/2 teaspoon of honey. If he's between 6 and 11 years old, give him 1 teaspoon. Some people mix their honey with hot water and add a squeeze of lemon, which provides a little vitamin C along with the soothing honey. Because honey is a sticky sweet, it's important for you or your child to brush his teeth after he takes it, especially if you give it to him at bedtime. Cautions Don't give honey to a child before his first birthday. It can cause a rare and sometimes fatal illness called infant botulism. 

 2) A neti pot (4 years and up) How it helps A neti pot flushes a mild saline solution through the nasal passages, moisturizing the area and thinning, loosening, and rinsing away mucus. Think of it as nasal irrigation. According to a report published in 2008, researchers in Europe studied 390 children ages 6 to 10 and found that a nasal spray made from seawater relieved cold symptoms faster than standard cold medications. It's not certain whether the salt water simply helps clear the mucus or if trace elements in the water are beneficial. But other scientists who studied the effectiveness of saline nasal wash solutions also found benefits. What you need A neti pot, which looks like a very small watering can or teapot and is typically ceramic or metal.You can buy neti pots at drugstores, natural food stores, and online. You'll also need a cooperative child. Your child must be old enough and willing to go along with the procedure, which isn't painful but does feel strange at first. It's definitely not for babies or young toddlers, and older children (and adults) might not go for it. Some people think it's neat, while others are grossed out. How to use it By tilting your child's head sideways over the sink and placing the spout of the pot in the top nostril, you can run water through the nasal passages to clean and moisturize them. This takes a little trial and error, but it's easy once you get the hang of it. Try practicing on yourself before teaching your child to use a neti pot. Then let your child watch you use it. And finally, help him if he's up for it. 

 Here's the basic method: 1.Fill the pot with the warm saline solution. 2.Bending over a sink, tilt your head to one side and place the spout of the pot deep in the top nostril. The water will flow gently through the nasal cavity and out the other nostril. (Breath through your mouth while rinsing.) 3.Repeat on the other side. It may be easiest to practice with your child in the tub or shower.

 Cautions Don't force a child who's not interested. This needs to be a very gentle procedure, to prevent both traumatizing him and damaging his nasal passages if he struggles 

3) Nose blowing (2 years and up) How it helps Clearing the nose of mucus helps your child breathe and sleep more easily and generally makes him feel more comfortable. And he'll be nicer to look at, too! What you need A container of soft tissues. How to do it Many kids don't master this skill until after age 4, but some are game by age 2. Tips for teaching nose blowing: •Let your child copy you. For some kids, that's all it takes. •Explain that blowing your nose is "backward smelling." •Have your child hold one nostril shut and practice gently blowing air out one side. A mirror or a little piece of tissue under the nose will help him see his breath, too. •Teach him to blow gently. Blowing too hard can hurt his ears. •Give your child his own little package of fun tissues. •Teach him to discard used tissues in the trash can and to wash his hands after blowing his nose. If your child's nose is sore from all the sniffling and blowing, you can rub a little petroleum jelly or other child-safe ointment around his nostrils. Find out more about when your child will be old enough to blow his own nose and how to teach him. 

 4) A bulb syringe (best for babies) How it helps Clears the nose of kids who are too young to blow their nose. A bulb syringe really comes in handy if a stuffy nose interferes with your baby's breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Try using it about 15 minutes beforehand. Clearing a stuffy nose with a bulb syringe works best for young babies, but if your older baby or child doesn't mind the procedure, there's no reason not to do it. What you need •A rubber bulb syringe •Saline (salt water) solution. You can buy bottles of saline nose drops at a drugstore or make your own. Recipe for homemade saline drops: Dissolve about 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Make a fresh batch each day and store it in a clean, covered glass jar. Bacteria can grow in the solution, so don't keep it for more than 24 hours. 

How to use it 1.Tip your baby's head back and squeeze ten to 20 drops of saline solution into each nostril to thin and loosen the mucus. Try to keep her head still afterward for about ten seconds. 2.Squeeze the bulb of the syringe, then gently insert the rubber tip into her nostril. 3.Slowly release the bulb to collect mucus and saline solution. 4.Remove the syringe and squeeze the bulb to expel the mucus into a tissue. 5.Wipe the syringe and repeat with the other nostril. 6.Repeat procedure if necessary. Don't suction your baby's nose more than a few times a day or you might irritate the lining of her nose. Don't use the saline drops for more than four days in a row, because they can dry out her nose over time, which would make things worse. If your baby is really upset by the syringe, use the saline drops and then gently swipe the lower part of her nostrils with a cotton swab. It doesn't have the suction of the syringe, but it's better than nothing! Cautions Don't use nasal decongestant sprays on your baby unless her doctor tells you to. They may work for a bit, but they can also cause a rebound effect, making congestion worse in the long run. 

5) Vapor rubs (3 months and up) How it helps Vapor rubs may help kids sleep better at night. Many of us remember being rubbed with a potent eucalyptus, camphor, and menthol vapor rub when we were sick as children. Research suggests that these ingredients actually have no effect on nasal congestion, but they make the cold sufferer feel as though she's breathing better by producing a cooling sensation in the nose. What you need You can now find vapor rub products made specifically for babies 3 months and older. The familiar commercial rub contains petrolatum, oils, and eucalyptus (though no camphor or menthol). Natural vapor balms are available, too, if you'd prefer not to use products that contain petroleum or paraben. These are typically made with aloe, herbs, oils, beeswax, and essential oils. Search online for "baby rub," "baby vapor rub," or similar words. You can also find recipes to make your own rub. Try searching for "vapor rub recipe natural" or something similar. How to do it Massage the vapor rub into your child's chest, neck, and back. Cautions Don't put vapor rub on broken or sensitive skin or apply it to your child's mouth or nose, around her eyes, or anywhere on her face, for that matter. 

 6) Gargling with salt water (4 years and up) How it helps Gargling with salt water is a time-honored way to soothe a sore throat. It also helps clear mucus from the throat. While scientists haven't determined exactly why it works, studies have shown that the remedy is effective. What you need Warm salt water. Simply combine 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and stir. If your child doesn't mind the taste, a squirt or two of fresh lemon juice can be a soothing addition. Your child must be old enough to learn to gargle. For many kids, that means school age or older. But some children can manage it sooner. 

  How to do it Aim for gargling three or four times a day while your child is sick. A few tips for teaching your child to gargle: •Practice with plain water. •Tell your child to tilt her head up and try to hold the water in the back of her throat without swallowing it. •Once she's comfortable doing that, have her try to make sounds with her throat. Show her what that looks and sounds like. •Teach her to spit out the water rather than swallow it. 

7) Elevating the head (all ages) How it helps Elevating your child's head while he rests can help him breathe more comfortably. What you need Towels or pillows to raise the head of the mattress, or pillows to raise your child's head. How to do it If your child sleeps in a crib, place a couple of towels or a slim pillow between the head of the mattress and the crib springs. Never put towels or pillows in the crib with your baby, as they could suffocate him. Don't try to raise the legs of the crib, either. It could make the crib unstable. If your child sleeps in a big bed, an extra pillow under his head might do the trick. But if he's at all squirmy while he sleeps, it's better to raise the head of the bed by sliding towels or a pillow underneath the mattress. This also creates a more gradual, comfortable slope than extra pillows under his head. Another option: Let your child sleep in his car seat. Like many adults who sleep in a favorite recliner when they're ill, he may rest better in a semi-upright position. In fact, if your grade-schooler needs propping while he sleeps, he may slumber more comfortably in a recliner. Cautions Whether it's a crib or a bed, don't overdo it. If your child's a restless sleeper, he might flip around so that his feet are higher than his head, defeating the purpose. 

 8) Lots of rest (all ages) How it helps It takes energy to fight an infection, and that can wear a child (or adult) out. When your child's resting, she's healing, which is what exactly she needs to do. Studies show that stress plays a role in illness, too. If your child is under pressure -- because of school or friends, or something happening at home -- giving her a break may be just what she needs to fight off her symptoms. What you need A comfortable place for your child to rest and things to occupy her. How to do it Now's the time to let your child watch that favorite video or television program one more time. Or bring her a new set of crayons and paper or coloring book. Even a puzzle can be manageable in bed. Of course, a bed isn't necessarily the best place to rest. Sometimes a change of scenery is helpful. If the weather is good, set up a comfortable place in the yard or on the porch for your child to rest. Indoors, fashion something more fun than her bed -- like a tent in the living room or a snug, pillow-filled area near you. If your child finds it hard to rest, help her by cuddling up with some books. Teach her some finger rhymes (like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider") or tell stories together. Or bring her the phone so she can chat with Grandma or a friend. 

9) Steamy air (all ages) How it helps Breathing moist air helps loosen the mucus in the nasal passages. A warm bath has the added benefit of relaxing your child. What you need A humidifier, cool-mist vaporizer, or steamy bathroom. Be sure to clean humidifiers often (every three days is one recommendation), and according to the manufacturer's directions. Humidifiers accumulate mold, which they then spray into the air if they're not kept scrupulously clean. How to use it Have a humidifier or a cool-mist vaporizer going in your child's bedroom when she's sleeping, resting, or playing in the room. Give your child a warm bath in a steamy bathroom. If she's old enough, let her play in the bath as long as she likes -- supervised, of course, unless she's old enough to hang out on her own. Adding a few drops of menthol, eucalyptus, or pine oil to the bath water (or vaporizer) may also help her feel less congested. These oils are available at most natural food stores. If it's not a convenient time for a bath, simply turn on the hot water in the tub or shower, close the bathroom door, block any gap under the door with a towel, and sit in the steamy room with your child for about 15 minutes. (Bring a couple of books.) 

10) Extra fluids (6 months and up) How it helps Drinking plenty of fluids helps prevent dehydration, and flushes and thins your child's nasal secretions. What you need Fluids that your child enjoys drinking. How to use it Plain water is great, but your child might not find it very appealing. Try fruit smoothies and other favorite healthful beverages, and ice pops made from juice. Cautions Stick to breast milk or formula for babies younger than 6 months old unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Babies that young don't need water, and too much could even be harmful. 

11) Chicken soup and other warm liquids (6 months and up) How it helps Warm liquids can be very soothing and help relieve congestion. Studies have shown that chicken soup actually relieves cold symptoms like aches, fatigue, congestion, and fever. What you need: Soup and tea or other warm liquids that your child likes. How to use it Serve soup warm (not hot). Canned soup works as well as homemade, according to researchers at the University of Nebraska. If your child is at least 6 months old, she may enjoy some weak, lukewarm chamomile tea. Cautions There are other herbal teas that are safe for children, but consult your healthcare provider before trying herbal teas other than chamomile, as not all "natural" products are safe. Stick to breast milk or formula for babies younger than 6 months old unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Babies that young don't need water, and too much could even be harmful.

To handle a tantrum

Don't lose your cool. A tantrum is not a pretty sight. In addition to kicking, screaming, or pounding the floor, your toddler's repertoire may include throwing things, hitting, and even holding his breath to the point of turning blue. When your child is swept up in a tantrum, he's unlikely to listen to reason, though he will respond — negatively — to your yelling or threatening. "I found the more I shouted at Brandon to stop, the wilder he would get," says one mother of a 2-year-old. What worked instead, she discovered, was to just sit down and be with him while he raged.

Staying with your child during a tantrum is a good idea. Stomping out of the room — alluring as that may be — can make him feel abandoned. The storm of emotion he's going through can be frightening to him, and he'll appreciate knowing you're nearby. Some experts recommend picking up your child and holding him if it's feasible (i.e., he's not flailing too much), saying he'll find your embrace comforting. But others say it's better to ignore the tantrum until your child calms down, rather than rewarding negative behavior. Through trial and error, you'll learn which approach is right for your child.

Remember that you're the adult. No matter how long the tantrum continues, don't give in to unreasonable demands or negotiate with your screaming toddler. It's especially tempting in public to cave in as a way of ending the episode. Try not to worry about what others think — anyone who's a parent has been there before. By conceding, you'll only be teaching your child that throwing a fit is a good way to get what he wants, and setting the stage for future behavior problems. Besides, your child is already frightened by being out of control. The last thing he needs is to feel that you're not in control either.

If your child's outburst escalates to the point where he's hitting people or pets, throwing things, or screaming nonstop, pick him up and carry him to a safe place, such as his bedroom. Tell him why he's there ("because you hit Aunt Sally"), and let him know that you'll stay with him until his negative behavior stops. If you're in a public place — a common breeding ground for tantrums — be prepared to leave with your child until he calms down.

"When my daughter was 2, she had an absolute fit at a restaurant because the plain spaghetti she ordered arrived with chopped parsley on it," recalls one mother. "Although I realized why she was upset, I wasn't about to let her disrupt everyone's dinner. I took her outside until she calmed down."

Talk it over afterward. When the storm subsides, hold your child close and talk about what happened. Acknowledge his frustration, and help him put his feelings into words, saying something like, "You were very angry because your food wasn't the way you wanted it." Let him see that once he expresses himself in words, he'll get better results. Say with a smile, "I'm sorry I didn't understand you. Now that you're not screaming, I can find out what you want."

Try to head off tantrum-inducing situations. Pay attention to what situations push your child's buttons and plan accordingly. If he falls apart when he's hungry, carry snacks with you. If he has trouble making a transition from one activity to the next, give him a gentle heads-up before a change. Alerting him to the fact that you're about to leave the playground or sit down to dinner ("We're going to eat when you and Daddy are done with your story") gives him a chance to adjust instead of react.

Your toddler is grappling with independence, so offer him choices whenever possible. No one likes being told what to do all the time. Saying, "Would you like corn or carrots?" rather than "Eat your corn!" will give him a sense of control. Monitor how often you're saying "no." If you find you're rattling it off routinely, you're probably putting unnecessary stress on both of you. Try to ease up and choose your battles. Would it really wreck your schedule to spend an extra five minutes at the playground? And does anybody really care if your tike wears mismatched mittens?

Watch for signs of overstress. Although daily tantrums are a perfectly normal part of the mid-toddler years, you do need to keep an eye out for possible problems. Has there been upheaval in the family? An extremely busy or harried period? Tension between Mom and Dad? All of these can provoke tantrums. If after the age of 30 months your child is still having major tantrums every day, talk to your doctor. If your child is younger than 30 months and has three or four tantrums a day and isn't cooperating with any routines, such as getting dressed or picking up toys, you also may want to seek help. Your doctor can make sure your child has no serious physical or psychological problems and suggest ways to deal with the outbursts. Also, talk to your doctor if your child has frightening breath-holding spells when he gets upset. There's some evidence that this behavior is linked to an iron deficiency.

Child temper tantrums

A temper tantrum is the emotional equivalent of a summer storm — sudden and sometimes fierce. One minute you and your child are in a restaurant enjoying your dinner, the next minute he's whimpering, whining, and then screaming at the top of his lungs because his straw is bent. Children between the ages of 1 and 3 are especially prone to such episodes.

Though you may worry that you're raising a tyrant, take heart — at this age, it's unlikely that your child is throwing a fit to be manipulative. More likely, he's having a meltdown in response to frustration. Claire B. Kopp, professor of applied developmental psychology at California's Claremont Graduate University, attributes much of the problem to uneven language skills. "Toddlers are beginning to understand a lot more of the words they hear, yet their ability to produce language is so limited," she says. When your child can't express how he feels or what he wants, frustration mounts.

What we wish for most

Self-help gurus tell us to find "balance." Advertisements for spas and chocolate bars urge us to take a moment for ourselves. Unfortunately, this doesn't feel possible for many of the moms we asked.



42% of moms want more timeSo it's not surprising that when asked to choose one thing you wish you could have more of, you picked time (42 percent). Next came money (38 percent). More friends, love, good looks, and nice things barely captured your votes. What would you choose?

Not having enough time to balance the demands of your job and those of your family is your biggest challenge as a mom (16 percent), followed by trying to get enough time to yourself (14 percent).

"Moms are still expected to do the equivalent of a full-time job at home, plus meet the demands of their jobs outside the home," one mom said. "There are just never enough hours in the day to get it all done, let alone have any time to myself."

"I'm too stressed and tired to take care of my kids"Lack of time is also to blame for some of your worst feelings of "mommy guilt." After letting your kids watch too much TV, you said your biggest guilt triggers are not spending enough time with your kids (35 percent), not setting a good enough example with your behavior (33 percent), and working outside the home (27 percent). What makes you feel mommy guilt?

Many moms said that although some modern workplaces are more flexible these days — offering jobs that are part-time, at home, shared, and so on — most don't respect the realities of your priorities as a mom.

"I fear that I'll have to work even more and have less time with my kids," said one mom. "Where does the enjoyment come in? We're practically strangers. This isn't what I signed up for!"

"I worry that I'm not a good mom," said another. "I'm too stressed and too tired to take care of my kids."

Learning to read

Expert Answers
Elaine McEwan-Adkins, educational consultant
Most children will learn to read between kindergarten and 2nd grade, but only when someone — a teacher, parent, grandparent, or older friend — teaches them how to do it.

Even if you begin reading aloud to your baby during pregnancy and don't miss a day from birth to age 5, your child will still need to learn how to decode the printed page. The majority of children will pass through several important stages on their way to becoming good readers — that is, able to gain meaning and understanding from the printed page.

You should monitor your child's passage through these various stages to make sure he's on schedule. Most preschoolers are in the prereading stage. Readers in this stage of development should be able to repeat materials that have been read to them over and over, particularly if the books are predictable and contain lots of rhyming words. Although children at this stage are not really reading in the sense of identifying words on the page, they do engage in "pretend reading" because they understand that books have meaning. They also know that groups of letters written on a page stand for words.

Once your child is in kindergarten, he should learn to hear the differences between the various sounds that letters make. This ability is an important prerequisite to learning to read, and without it, even the best phonics instruction can fail.

In 1st grade, your child should move into the decoding stage, where children begin to associate letters with sounds and spoken words with printed ones. Because children at this stage are still in the process of learning to sound out words, they are able to read only a fraction of the words whose meanings they can understand orally. As your child becomes less and less dependent on having to painstakingly sound out each word, he will be able to focus more of his attention on the meaning of what he has read and can begin to tackle increasingly difficult books on his own.

The Least

From wardrobe malfunctions to words you never want to hear from your 2-year-old, the media onslaught of sex, profanity, and violence is the worst thing about being a mom today, according to a whopping 70 percent of you. Do you agree?

"My kids repeat things from TV shows and it's not what I want to hear them say," one mom said. "I can't isolate them from the world, but I wish I could!"



Worst of today: Media mayhemOnly a small minority of you — 6 percent — spoke up in the media's favor, naming the variety of family-oriented TV shows, movies, and other entertainment as a plus for today's moms.

Television took the brunt of your media beating. The boob tube came in a distant fourth on your list of must-have technologies and gadgets (11 percent). And when asked what causes the most "mommy guilt," in your life, your top answer was letting your kids watch too much TV (36 percent).

Taking the second spot on your "worst" list was the high price of a good education (43 percent). "The school system is so obviously broken," said one mom, echoing many others who said their number-one concern is making sure their kids get the education and opportunities to meet their potential. (The worry that their kids won't have these advantages, moms said, is the thing most likely to keep them up fretting at night.)

Other hates: High expenses, school worriesSticker shock didn't stop at school-related expenses. Many of you voiced concern over the rising cost of groceries, gas, and health insurance, and said your family sometimes struggles to make ends meet.

"The cost of basics weighs heavily on me," said one mom. Said another: "I love being home with my children, but it's extremely difficult with only one income coming in."

Today,Loves?

Still, there were a few clear winners in our survey — aspects of life today that earn far more "bravos" than "oh nos" from moms.

Best of today: Dads who help.The hands-down winner? The sight of your partner jumping in to change a diaper, make a meal, or give your baby a bottle. When asked for the best thing about being a mom today, a solid 64 percent of you named the fact that men are expected to take more responsibility for childcare and childrearing than they were in your mom's day. Do you agree?

Your second-favorite feature of modern motherhood: The sheer variety of things to buy. Many of you said you love having dozens of choices for strollers and car seats, as well as other products moms need (34 percent). A mere 2 percent voiced dislike for the mountain of stuff marketed to today's moms.

And though many of you have mixed feelings about the influence of technology on our lives, you do enjoy your high-tech toys. When asked what technology or gadget you can't live without in your life as a mom, you ranked your cell phone numero uno (23 percent), followed closely by your Internet connection (21 percent) and your digital camera (19 percent). Which tech gadget do you love most?

Other loves: Shopping, gadgets, connectionsMany of you are using the Internet to get much-needed support from other moms. Twenty percent named being able to participate in online communities of mothers or other people who share your interests as a best thing about motherhood today.

The majority of you (52 percent) say you get enough interaction with other moms — and interestingly, much of it happens in old-fashioned ways: chatting on the phone (53 percent), meeting for "moms' night out" over drinks, dinner, or lunch (45 percent), or having mom-and-kid play dates (37 percent).

You take your opportunities for connection where you can — talking with other moms who happen to be at the park with their kids (29 percent) or just hanging out with moms in your neighborhood (25 percent).

But you also rely on newer technology to keep in touch. E-mail is the second-most-popular way you connect with other moms (50 percent), and you also rely on online social networking (20 percent), online chat (14 percent), instant messaging (9 percent), and text messaging (11 percent).

The Modern Mom

Cell phones are great — until yours rings nonstop or your 6-year-old begs you for one of her own. The wealth of kids' music classes and after-school sports programs is wonderful ... until you start feeling guilty for not scheduling every minute of your children's time.

According to you, a serious downside accompanies almost every advantage of modern motherhood. In fact, many of your most-loved aspects of being a mom now also showed up on your most-hated list.

You love — and hate — modern mommyhoodFor instance, you love how convenient shopping is now, when anyone with an Internet connection can snap up bargains, necessities, and splurges with the click of a mouse (24 percent), but you hate the increased materialism and consumerism of modern life (39 percent).

Work is a mixed bag for many of you: While some said you're grateful that working moms get more respect today (26 percent), a greater percentage (38 percent) said you hate feeling pressured to work or needing to for financial reasons.

And while 29 percent of moms appreciate the openness these days to different ways of parenting, 17 percent are overwhelmed by the seemingly endless choices: Cry it out or co-sleep? Time-outs or time-ins? Junk food once a day, once in a blue moon, or never?

High-tech gadgets also won high and low marks, with 30 percent calling them a "best" and 18 percent calling them a "worst." Sure, you said, high-speed Internet connections and TiVo are convenient. But you're tired of handling the constant distractions from buzzing, beeping gadgets, and dragging your kids away from the lure of the idiot box and video game console.

3 Generation

Your grandma had no cell phone, your mother no online shopping, but despite these modern conveniences — and all the medical, technological, and cultural advances over the past two generations — about half of you think being a mom is more difficult today than it was back then. Do you agree?


53% think your mom had it easierWhen comparing motherhood now to when our moms raised young kids, 53 percent of you said the previous generation had it easier. And 47 percent also said Grandma had an easier time being a mom — despite doing it without cable TV, microwave ovens, and readily available epidurals.

For many moms we asked, the ease of modern-day life doesn't compensate for the lack of friendliness and safety we feel. Some pined for the "good old days," a golden time when children played safely together on the block while moms chatted over coffee.

Whether those times of close-knit communities are real or imagined, we've definitely got Leave It to Beaver on our minds. "People stayed home more, so it was easier to make friends with other moms and children," said one mom. "Neighborhoods were more like one big, happy family."

"Moms today have too many choices"But there's more to our affection for the past than simple nostalgia. Many moms said they long for a simpler era, one that came with clearer rules and expectations and shared values. As one mom put it, "Moms today have it harder than our moms or grandmothers because we have too many choices and worry too much about what others think about our style of parenting."

Of course, whether it was easier or harder for our moms and grandmothers may be begging the question. Motherhood is always throwing up strange days and tough questions, as well as many unique joys. One of the moms surveyed may have said it best: "The problems were very different for all three generations — but equally scary."

Limit the amount of TV your toddler watches

Since your child is under age 2, it's best to keep TV-watching to a bare minimum. If you choose to allow some television, break it up into 15-minute increments. Much more than that, and your toddler's brain can shift to autopilot.

Once your child hits 2, limit his total viewing time to an hour a day — even that amount is a lot for an active toddler. You should also keep the television out of your child's bedroom and turned off during meal times.

Generation Mom

What a wonderful time to be a mom: We have vaccines to protect our kids against terrible diseases. Disposable diapers. Dozens of jogging strollers to choose from. Work we love — outside the home or not. An entire shelf of parenting books. Partners who cook, clean, and watch the kids. And mom friends who are just a text message, e-mail, or phone call away.

But flip that coin, and life doesn't look so rosy. There's controversy about vaccines. Guilt over all the disposable diapers we send to landfills. Way too many choices in what to buy and how to parent. The need to work more hours than we'd like. And all the time, the world's moving faster, the media messages are getting louder, and the pressure is increasing.

Using Children Medicine Responsibly

* Important Guidelines for Parents

When it comes to treating your child’s cold, you can never be too careful. When giving your child any kind of medication, please consider these important guidelines:

Always follow labeled instructions.

Always use the dosage device that comes with the medicine. Learn more about how to give medicine correctly.

Keep all medicines out of reach.

Know the medicine’s active ingredients and the symptoms for which they are indicated.

Don’t give your child more than one medication intended to treat the same symptom at the same time.

Never use over-the-counter cough, cold.

How to Give Medication Correctly

1.Know your child's weight so that you can give the correct dose.
2.Read the package instructions carefully. Not all medicines should be given at the same hourly intervals or in the same amount. Follow the package instructions and give the full amount of medicine that is labeled for your child.
3.Always use the dropper, dosage cup, or other measuring device that comes with the medicine. Other items like kitchen teaspoons may not be accurate. Never use spoons, droppers, or cups that come with other medicines.
4.Make sure you're giving the right formula for your child's weight and age. Infants' and children's medicines are specially formulated, so you need to change formulas as they grow older. Don't give infants' medicine to an older child, or children's medicine to an infant.
5.Don't give medicine to a baby who is lying down; this could cause choking.