Technology Means Celebrities have no Privacy

The life of a celebrity can be hard. Constantly trying to stay out of the spotlight is difficult when people are always trying to take your picture or catch you doing something scandalous. Technology has allowed the paparazzi to easily capture celebrity moments that may be something the celebrity would rather have forgotten.

Celebrity Photographers at the Tribeca Film Fe...

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The paparazzi benefit from advancements in technology. New and better cameras allow them to take pictures of celebrities from many perspectives. Hidden cameras are a way that the they can capture moments which celebrities believe to be private. Technology has made it so that privacy is something from the past.

Cameras have improved so much that the paparazzi can catch an embarrassing moment from very long distances. Camera lenses can now take pictures from 300 feet away and still get a clear picture.

Photographers can even develop their own pictures instead of having to take them somewhere to get developed because of technology. This means people can keep celebrity pictures to themselves until they want them to be shown to the public.

Technology has also been an issue when it comes to celebrities because any trip to the doctor, or to rehab, is made public. Any medical problem a celebrity has is also not kept a secret. If a celebrity ever needs to go to rehab because of drug use, all headlines for the next week will be about it and won’t necessarily tell the complete truth.

Although advances in technology benefit the paparazzi, they can be a nightmare to celebrities.

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Great Moms Select Great Education

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As a mother, Mother’s Day is likely one of your favorite days of the year. It is a time to relax and enjoy the one day a year that mothers everywhere are celebrated. As a mom, it can also be a day that you dedicate to developing your children and their ability to succeed in life by thinking carefully about their education. Whether your child is a newborn or getting ready to head off to college, Mother’s Day is the perfect day to begin planning for their education.

Education Matters

You know how important a degree is. Those that hold a bachelor degree or better have employment and financial opportunities that are far greater than those that do not. Every child, no matter what their age, should be encouraged to excel in their education goals. On Mother’s Day, consider dedicating an hour each day to help your children explore their educational opportunities. Whether you spend the time reading to your toddler or helping your high school junior fill out applications, education matters.

Money Matters

Unfortunately, a good education is costly. Obtaining a bachelor degree can cost $100,000. On Mother’s Day, consider making a promise to your children to begin actively working on saving for their education. Look into opening a saving account or making a small monthly investment for your child’s education.

You may receive cards, flowers, and hand-made gifts for Mother’s Day. Give your child a gift in return. Give them the gift of a great education and a bachelor degree.

 

Filed Under: Famous Mothers, Parenting Tagged With: , ,

Why Young Children Love Peek-a-boo

Play peek-a-boo with a one-year-old, and she’ll have the time of her, admittedly short, life. Try it with a five-year-old, though, and you’ll probably get looked at with scorn. Why is it that only young children enjoy playing peek-a-boo? The answer lies in brain development.

Object Permanence

 

Peek-a-boo!

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Object permanence is the ability to understand that an object continues to exist even when you do not see it. If you hit a home run while playing baseball, then you know that the ball is somewhere over the fence. That’s because object permanence tells you that the ball continues to exist even though it is further away and you can’t see it.

Children don’t develop this skill until they are about two years old. For them, the home run ball simply doesn’t exist anymore.

Playing Peek-a-boo

That’s what happens during peek-a-boo, too. When you cover your face, it’s like you have performed the world’s greatest magic trick. As far as your baby understands, you have just made yourself disappear. Even more amazingly, you made yourself reappear just seconds later.

The enjoyment that babies get from peek-a-boo, therefore, might come from a mixture of surprise and concern. When you disappear, they might immediately wonder, “oh, no! Where has mommy gone!” When you reappear almost instantly, they are overcome with relief, not to mention the surprise of seeing a truly amazing illusion.

When did your kids stop thinking that peek-a-boo was a great way to pass the time? What other games can you think of that might rely on certain developmental stages?

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Should I Spank My Child?

Most parents want to help their children develop healthy psyches that will benefit them throughout their lives. This leads to a sensitive question, though: is it okay for parents to spank their children. It’s not that you want to spank your child, but you might think that it is the best way to control his or her behavior.

Does Spanking Work?

Set aside all ethical concerns for a moment and focus on scientific data. Spanking doesn’t work. It’s that simple.

A study conducted by researchers at Duke, Harvard, and several other universities found that spanking has an adverse effect on behavior. Children who were spanked were actually more likely to misbehave and use violence than children who were reprimanded in other ways. That’s not surprising since the child has been taught that violence is an acceptable method for people to get what they want. Spanked children even showed slower cognitive development than kids that were not spanked.

Alternatives to Spanking

OK, so spanking does work. Parents need some way to control behavior and teach their kids the difference between right and wrong. What are some good alternatives that actually work? One of the most effective techniques involves showing the child that actions have consequences. If, for instance, your son doesn’t want to pick up his toys, then you take the toys away from him, explaining that he can’t have things he isn’t willing to treat well. It might take a few times, but he’ll eventually learn his lesson.

What are some other ways that you have seen parents correct and shape the behaviors of their children? What methods have worked particularly well for you?

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Helping Your Kid Face a Bully

At some point, every mother has to deal with a little bully. With any luck, that bully isn’t your own child. If your kid has drawn the attention of a bully, then you will want to know a few types that will help him or her learn from the experience in a positive way instead of becoming fearful and self-conscious.

The Power of Bravery

Most bullies want to feel that they have power over someone else. Perhaps they have their own emotional problems that make them feel inadequate, so they need to find someone to control. Advise your child to stand strong against bullies. If, for instance, a bully calls your daughter a name, advise her to ignore the quip or develop her own witty comebacks. If the bully pushes your son to the ground, then advise him to stand back up and brush himself off as if he isn’t threatened at all. Make sure your kids know that violence isn’t the answer. It’s all about nonviolent resistance and self-confidence.

Travel in Packs

Some bullies are completely immune to self-confidence. They might smell the secret fear in your child or simply become even angrier that someone has dared to compromise their authority. If the bully simply will not leave your kid alone, then have him or her find a good friend and travel in packs. The combination of self-confidence and good friends will repel almost any bully. There is strength in numbers, so make friends and enjoy the power that comes from the group.

If you were bullied as a child, how did you handle the situation? Do you have any advice for today’s young parents?

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Keeping Your Relationship Healthy, Even With New Kids

Becoming a mother obviously requires a lot of work. Your new child isn’t your only responsibility, though. You also have to set time aside from your busy schedule to make sure that your romantic relationship thrives in spite of the new changes. Here are some ideas that will help you keep romance in your relationships after you have a child.

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Date Night

Date night can mean whatever you want it to mean, as long as it occurs away from the kids. Ask the new grandparents to take the kids one night a week. That way, you can put on cute date night clothes, go out to dinner, catch a movie, or simply lie around the house getting some much needed relaxation. Be sure that you and your partner actually do something fun together, though. Catching up on housework doesn’t count. Rent a movie, play a game, or take a romantic bath with rose petals and scented candles. Remember, this is your night to enjoy yourself without interruption.

Split Responsibilities

Nothing ruins a relationship more quickly than one person feeling that she, or he, is pulling most of the weight. You and your mate should split responsibilities so that neither of you begins to feel spiteful. Alternate who gets up when the baby cries; assign weekly chores; and do your best to remember that each one of you now faces a new set of responsibilities that can lead to stress.

For parents out there who have already lived with young children, what techniques did you use to keep your romantic relationship strong while you raised the kids?

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Promote a Healthy Lifestyle for Your Kids

 

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Did you know that childhood obesity rates have tripled over the last 30 years? Today, nearly 20 percent of children between ages 6 and 11 are obese. This isn’t a trivial matter. Obesity contributes to serious health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancers. If you want your child to live a long, healthy life that they can enjoy, then it is up to you to help them develop good habits that will promote good eating and exercise.

Choose Nutritious Foods

Start by teaching your children the differences between healthy and unhealthy foods. Plan to eat most meals at home so that you have greater control over the types of foods on the table. Children who eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables when they are young are more likely to choose these healthy foods when they grow up. You can also teach your kids to minimize the amount of fats and sugars that they eat. Don’t outlaw sweets, but make sure they are seen as special occasions.

Get Active with Your Kids

If you sit on the couch all day, then your children are likely to mimic that behavior. Take your children outside and get active with them. Sign up to join sports teams, take nature hikes, ride bikes, and explore the world. You’ll have the opportunity to create lasting memories while instilling healthy lifestyle habits that will help your children view activity as recreation rather than work.

What are some of the activities that you enjoyed most when you were a kid?

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Finance Tips for New Parents

Having a baby changes every aspect of your life. One area where this is evident is management of finances. Some couples use a pregnancy calendar to track their needs as they prepare for the new arrival. They use it to prompt major purchases like cribs.

Once they plan for a baby, many couples start developing a calendar pregnancy chart. It helps them track important events and future plans.

Some things that any parent, but especially new ones need to start doing include:

  • Plan for eventualities. Once children enter a family, unexpected expenses will crop up. Apart from planned immunizations and doctor’s visits, children sometimes need medical attention. The more adventurous will get bumps, bruises and even broken bones as they explore their world.
  • Set a budget: This will help you track savings and weekly or monthly spending.
  • Save for college: While this may be years off, it makes sense to start early. It is also important to save for your retirement. Including these two items is a necessary part of any parenting financial plan.
  • Get an insurance policy if you did not have one before. Dependents need to be taken care of even if you are no longer around. This will provide some peace of mind to you as well.
  • Create or change your will. Many new parents never stop to think about this, but it makes sense to make plans for the wellbeing of children as soon as they are born.

The changes that a child brings into your financial world can be significant. Just as you use a pregnancy calendar, consider developing a financial calendar to help you manage your money.

 

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