Tag: Editorial

Knowledge is Power in Fighting Ovarian Cancer

momstownFamily LifeNo comments,

Based on 2009 estimates, about 1 in 72 Canadian women is expected to develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime and 1 in 93 will die from it.
It is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, and, with this in mind, how aware are you of risks, signs and symptoms of this ‘can be fatal’ disease? Ovarian Cancer Canada claims that ‘Knowledge is Power’. I challenge all you ladies to empower yourself and others by spreading the word about this fifth most common cancer for women!

Lana Kelly, Editor
momstown Belleville

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Things to Consider When Adopting a Family Pooch

momstownBaby, Family Life, Parenting, Preschooler, ToddlersNo comments, , , , ,

March 23rd marks National Puppy Day. As you probably know, there are millions of unwanted puppies that sit alone in the shelter each and every day, just waiting, and waiting some more, to be adopted into a forever home – and to have a forever family.

Is that forever family your family? Are you considering a new and adopted doggie for your home? If so, you are among the four in ten (37%) Canadians who have adopted from an animal shelter in the past.

It is truly admirable that your family wants to make a difference in the lives of orphaned pets, as there are millions of homeless animals in Canada longing for a forever home. However, adopting a pet is a big decision to make, and I encourage you to consider a few things when adopting a puppy for your family.

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Focusing Too Much on Your Child’s Weight Can Be Harmful

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Everywhere we turn, there are commercials, poster ads, and social media images which shame us, as parents, into believing that we are solely to blame for the fact that our child is overweight. It can even start as early as birth, when you have that first ‘well-baby check-up’, only to be advised that you are feeding your baby too much (on demand, imagine that!) and that he or she is above the average weight percentile. And, when our child gets older, we are constantly comparing him to his thin peers, and wondering where we went wrong, since he does not seem ‘a-typical’. In a sense, we are being brain- washed by the societal demands placed upon us as parents. We are conned into thinking that just because our child does not fit the ‘norm’, he is going to be ostracized because of it, and we tend to develop extremist attitudes that force us to do anything in our power to prevent the bullying that he will, no doubt endure, because of his ‘abnormal’ bodily appearance. Studies show, however, that focusing too much on our child’s weight can be harmful to their health – both physically and emotionally.

Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Belleville

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Marriage: Is Yours Happy or Pleasurable?

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Is it just me, or every time you turn a corner do you hear of a married couple, famous or not, announcing that they have decided to go their separate ways? It seems that the number one reason is that one, or both of the people involved are saying, “I am just not happy anymore.” Reasons for the rise in the divorce rate, are not entirely clear, but, it would seem that the factors suggest that an increased divorce rate may be an indication that expectations about the quality of marriage have risen, and that many people prefer a divorce to an unhappy marriage. (statistical reference below) There’s that word again with ‘un’ at the beginning. Let’s suggest that we take a closer look at the word ‘happiness’, and see why we, as married couples of today’s society, find it difficult to find pleasure and contentment in our marriages.

Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Belleville

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Preventing Prejudice in our Children

momstownFamily Life, Parenting, Preschooler, School Life, ToddlersNo comments, , , ,

We live in a highly diverse population of people, and, as much as we would like to ignore the fact that biases still exist in our society, we can’t. As parents, we have a necessary and challenging role to play in our children’s lives, as a teacher who models appropriate strategies when faced with situations of discrimination or prejudice. As an Early Childhood Educator, I have been taught the anti-bias approach for the education of young children. You see, although multicultural education has been a focus in our classrooms for over a decade, the idea of diversity (including all prejudices, such as issues of racism and sexism, ageism, et cetera) is becoming more complex, and needs to be taught to young children as a basis for an anti-bias value system. Did you know that preventing prejudice in your young child, and in our future generation actually begins with you? No pressure there, right? Wrong! You can have a hand in creating the possibility of a gradually emerging anti-bias society – a society in which all people, regardless of race, culture, ability, gender, are accepted, valued, respected, and included. This Black History Month, I encourage you to accept the challenge of preventing prejudice in your own children, and paving the way to an inclusive society.

Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Belleville

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Am I Trying to Buy My Child’s Love?

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If you’re a parent, you have been there. The little, scratchy fingers that tug at your coat, the whining, the crying, and sometimes, the all-out temper tantrum while you try to calm your child, and gently explain that he or she cannot have this toy that they sooooooooooo desperately desire. You feel like hiding behind the toy shelves, and pretending that your child (or is it your child?) belongs to someone else. You wonder if you (or other family members who lavishly spoil your child) have done something wrong. How did your child come to expect or feel he deserves these expensive items? How did you manage to spoil him to this extent, and not notice that you were turning him into an aggressive monster who punched and kicked and screamed when he didn’t get something he wanted? How did this happen?

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Round Up of Indoor Play Spaces and Activities for Kids in the Quinte Region

momstownFamily Life, Parenting, Preschooler, ToddlersNo comments, , , , , , , , ,

Well, it’s that time of year again. You know, the one Canadian season that seems to stretch on forever, that can last from October to (sometimes even) May.

Don’t despair! We’ve gathered some indoor play space information (and other indoor outings) that are perfect for a too cold and too wet day with the kids. They are also sure to wear them out both physically and mentally!!!

Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Belleville

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Why Does My Child Not Like Reading? Strategies for Resistant Readers

momstownParenting, PreschoolerNo comments, , , , , ,

As parents, we are well aware of the benefits of reading. We remember our love for reading, and, it only makes sense that we want our children to share a love of books too. While a good many children do become excited and engaged in reading (especially in the primary grades), some are resistant, and, not to mention, truly disinterested. While a child may not show a natural interest in reading, this does not mean that he cannot become a skilled and even enthusiastic reader. There are a number of things that parents and teachers can do to help engage reluctant readers.

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