Finding ways to get out of the house with your partner

A picnic with your partner is a simple date idea to get you out of the house and have some one-on-one time together.

Are you and your partner looking to get out of the house for a change? And I don’t mean just a trip to the store, I mean something special for the two of you. While there are many different things you can do as a couple like go to the movies or out to eat there are also a few other things that you probably never thought about doing before.

If you and your partner want to mix things up when the weather is nice, you could go to the park for a long bike ride or maybe pack up a picnic and leave for the afternoon. Every once in a while you should do something very special with one another.

Are either one of you good cooks or interested in learning in how to improve your cooking skills? Taking a cooking class could be for you. Not only do you get a meal but you get to cook together in a different environment without your kids asking you a thousand questions and asking a 100 times, “is dinner ready yet?!”

Another idea would be taking a day off for yourselves and having a nice relaxing day at the spa together. Spas offer couple massages but if a couple massage isn’t your thing, there are many other treatments offered.

Get you out of your house every once in a while so that you can just spend time with your partner. And let’s be honest everyone needs a day off from their kids once in awhile.

*This post was contributed by Canisius College marketing student Molly Mayhew

What are your children thinking after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting? Conversations Parents Should Have

Sandy Hook Remembrance

It’s been almost two months since the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy occurred in Newtown, CT. Although media coverage has settled down and the families of the victims have been left to mourn, I wonder about elementary school children all over the country and how they have been affected. I also wonder about the conversations parents should have with their children since this will be an issue for quite some time.

When the shooting was still fresh, I watched as my sister sat my five year old niece down to discuss the tragedy. She said “There are a lot of sad mommies and daddies this Christmas.” My sister was surprised to find out that my niece had already learned about the shooting in school, but was very proud that she wanted to make Christmas cards for the families in Connecticut.

Kids pay attention and know so much that parents are often blindsided when it’s time to deal with tough conversations. In the coming months, gun laws will continue to be on the agenda and school security systems will be adjusted. Children are going to be told of these events in school, which means these are conversations parents should have. The sooner, the better!

If your child comes home sprouting off new information that they have heard in school, use that to start a discussion that will help to guide their thinking. Ask them if they know what to do during an emergency at their school. If they do know, see what they think about their schools emergency plan. Find out what they consider to be an emergency and how they think the situation could be fixed or handled. If they are unsure of what to do in a school emergency, give them some ideas that they can ask their teacher about. The objective is not to make your child afraid, but to allow them to discuss their feelings and clear up any uncertainties. At the end of the day, open communication can help to keep them as safe as possible.

Written by Canisius College Communication Studies student Brandi Banks, Class of 2013

By Contributing Author Nan Gibbons of Eat Breathe Blog

Image courtesy of all in green 

One of the most important healthy habits you can teach your children is how to brush their teeth correctly and to do so daily. Getting kids to brush their teeth, however, can be a challenge because it’s not a fun activity and they might not understand the importance of good oral hygiene. Here are a few suggestions for making the process easier.