http://www.minti.com/members/cookclan/advice/ Most Recent Advice on Minti by cookclan Copyright 2008 Minti en-uk cookclan Children and growing up...The first teen to move out...Well it has been a while since I have written advice but I thought it was  high time I did some again to once again share something with the Minti community that I have recently experienced myself... My eldest Child Aidan has moved out of home...He is 17 and a bit of ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7752/Children-and-growing-upThe-first-teen-to-move-out/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7752/Children-and-growing-upThe-first-teen-to-move-out/ Sun, 28 Oct 2007 05:58:23 -0700 cookclan Hi all....Thought It was high time I wrote another article to express my thoughts on something that is really close to my heart right now...This is also close to alot of my friends with teenagers hearts right now too....Let me ask you all a question...Is it possible to love your teenager but not like them at all??? Let me answer ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7142/I-love-my-teenager-Of-course-I-doBut-you-know-whatI-do-not-really-like-them-right-now/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7142/I-love-my-teenager-Of-course-I-doBut-you-know-whatI-do-not-really-like-them-right-now/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:36:40 -0700 cookclan I wanted to share this with all out there in the Minti community. This is about something that I would not even wish on my worst enemy. This is something that should be shared but. I am a mother of a teenager. I am a good mum caring, reliable, always there for my child and they always come first in ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6896/A-Childs-Suicide-attempt-Through-a-mothers-eyes/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6896/A-Childs-Suicide-attempt-Through-a-mothers-eyes/ Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:56:53 -0700 cookclan Well we have a family of Nine here and out of that Nine three of them wear glasses...Ken (my hubby) Aidan and Tiana...out of those three tow of them wear glasses for the same reasons...You see in grade seven when I had Aidan's eyes tested it didn't take too long beofre the optomotrist came up with the conclusion that Aidan ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6544/AstigmatismWhat-is-it/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6544/AstigmatismWhat-is-it/ Sun, 24 Jun 2007 21:35:19 -0700 cookclan I dont know how many times Ken and I have told our teenagers they can do something and told them the rules of how it can be done and what times is curfew etc...and the kids have turned to us when the event is closer or that day and told us that those are not the rules we have said ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6542/Written-AgreementsMaking-sure-that-all-involved-know-the-rules/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6542/Written-AgreementsMaking-sure-that-all-involved-know-the-rules/ Sun, 24 Jun 2007 20:58:57 -0700 cookclan Well raising teens can be so hard hey...We have all made our fair share of mistakes in our own teen years...Things that we did when we thought we too were ten foot tall and bullet proof...Things we did to fit in with the crowd...I would like to share a little bit of advice with you all that  my mother shared ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6531/Sharing-your-past-with-your-teensKeep-your-past-in-your-past/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6531/Sharing-your-past-with-your-teensKeep-your-past-in-your-past/ Sun, 24 Jun 2007 00:01:27 -0700 cookclan When our kids are little we teach them alot of things...Numbers, Letters, Colours, about nature and body parts...We teach them their nose...By touching it and saying it well thats how i did it...We teach them all the names of their body parts and for some reason alot of us find the need to find a Nikname for their genitals...I know ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6529/Boys-have-a-Penis-and-Girls-have-a-VaginaThe-real-names-and-why/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6529/Boys-have-a-Penis-and-Girls-have-a-VaginaThe-real-names-and-why/ Sat, 23 Jun 2007 21:20:58 -0700 cookclan All kids are clever...But have you ever wondered if your clever little one is actually gifted?  Do you think that your child does things that are a bit more out of the norm for a toddler of their age?  All kids develop at different rates...But sometimes a toddler displays signs that are really very advanced for thier age bracket...Sometimes If ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6520/Advanced-ToddlersDo-you-think-your-toddler-is-Gifted/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6520/Advanced-ToddlersDo-you-think-your-toddler-is-Gifted/ Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:47:46 -0700 cookclan Well I wanted to write a bit about teens going away...Going for a weekend with their mates either camping...or going and staying in a hotel...My eldest went away at the end of last year with his older mates to the coast...It was a scary experience but the mates he went with were mates I trusted and he was camping in ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6508/Teens-and-HolidaysThe-Holiday-without-you/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6508/Teens-and-HolidaysThe-Holiday-without-you/ Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:12:53 -0700 cookclan In Qld this has been the last day of the term for half way through the year in schools...With the end of term comes alot of stress from kids as they look down the barrel of half yearly exams...I remember back to years ago when I was at high school and I stressed so bad about exams that I would ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6491/Teens-and-examsWhat-we-do-to-try-and-lessen-the-stress/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6491/Teens-and-examsWhat-we-do-to-try-and-lessen-the-stress/ Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:34:56 -0700 cookclan This is something that has come to my attention in the last couple of weeks and it is something that really worries me...My eldest boy goes late night shopping with his mates on Thursday nights...He goes with his usual mates and they all hang aroung near the food court...One of his mates recently turned 18...Those that live in Australia know ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6488/Teens-and-GamblingIt-really-is-an-addiction/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6488/Teens-and-GamblingIt-really-is-an-addiction/ Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:21:54 -0700 cookclan I have always been an advocate for allowing my kids to go with their own style of dressing...recently Aidan wanted piercings and as he was 16 I could not stop it happening so he got one in his lip and in his eyebrow...He is a skater that wears jeans down his backside with the top of his jocks showing out ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6482/Teens-and-clothesDont-judge-a-book-by-its-cover/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6482/Teens-and-clothesDont-judge-a-book-by-its-cover/ Thu, 21 Jun 2007 05:29:47 -0700 cookclan Most people who know me know I have a special child...They are all special but I have a special need child one who needs things to be that little bit different than the norm...One that has mental health issues and can be difficult to deal with at time...I am constantly judged by other people...Strangers, teachers, and even my friends in ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6476/Save-your-SanitySome-tips-for-parents-of-a-special-needs-child/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6476/Save-your-SanitySome-tips-for-parents-of-a-special-needs-child/ Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:20:08 -0700 cookclan This is just something I want to share with you all as I have been there myself...Even though I was not an overweight teen I was talller than most of my friends and a bigger build...By grade 9 I was almost 6 foot and towered over most of my classmates and most boys...I had big thighs...I loved sport and they ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6475/BulimiaMy-story-and-the-signs/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6475/BulimiaMy-story-and-the-signs/ Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:20:18 -0700 cookclan There is pretty much two reasons why kids run away from home...No matter what reason it is, as I am sure there are many they all seem to fit into to main reasons...They are usually running away from something...A person at home, a bad situation at home, something they thought was a threat, abuse, a disipline decision they thought was ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6474/The-Runaway-TeenThe-things-we-did-to-try-to-stop-it-again/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6474/The-Runaway-TeenThe-things-we-did-to-try-to-stop-it-again/ Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:04:55 -0700 cookclan Well i have written an article about the puberty talk with my girls so I thought I should write one for the boys also...Those little boys you see running around the yard or park now will be running around the park soon looking at every pretty girl that passes by or sticking their chest out for the girl looking over ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6465/Mum-dadWhat-is-going-on-with-meHow-I-talked-about-puberty-with-our-boys/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6465/Mum-dadWhat-is-going-on-with-meHow-I-talked-about-puberty-with-our-boys/ Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:19:06 -0700 cookclan Well whether we like it or not our lovely little girls will all hit puberty one day...The little girl as we know them will blossom into a lovely young lady and nothing we can do to stop it...As much as we want them to stay small they just don't...So I thought I would write an article about the things I ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6464/MumWhat-is-going-on-with-meHow-I-talked-about-puberty-with-my-girls/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6464/MumWhat-is-going-on-with-meHow-I-talked-about-puberty-with-my-girls/ Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:21:15 -0700 cookclan With the ages of children being able to get a job dropping it is really an important thing to let them experience what work is all about...There are a few places in Queensland that will hire Children at the age of 13 for a part time job...When one of my kids approached me to get a job I thought hmm ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6455/Teenagers-and-partime-jobs/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6455/Teenagers-and-partime-jobs/ Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:11:26 -0700 cookclan I just wanted to share something with you all about something that had happened to me...I had a c setion with my last baby and chose to have this though a spinal block where they place a needle similar to an epidural in your spine except it is supposed to last for a shorter period than the epidural does...On the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6446/Spinal-LeakMy-story/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6446/Spinal-LeakMy-story/ Tue, 19 Jun 2007 03:35:21 -0700 cookclan Have you ever sat there and had a converstion with one of your tweens or teens and things seemed to be going wel then on what seemed like nothing to you they shut down...And that was it Like a door is slammed in your face? Well I know it has happened to me on a regular basis and I think ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6444/Keeping-the-lines-of-communication-openOur-greatest-tool/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6444/Keeping-the-lines-of-communication-openOur-greatest-tool/ Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:29:01 -0700 cookclan Have you ever sat there and thought to yourself Where is the handbook for this kid...LOL...I can see you all nodding cause we all do...Not one of us are perfect with anything we do with our kids...We all make mistakes when it comes to our kids... What we need to do is learn from this mistake to make it worth ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6443/MistakesLearn-from-them-and-then-Move-on/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6443/MistakesLearn-from-them-and-then-Move-on/ Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:11:54 -0700 cookclan I really wanted to write this article about this because for one I think it is made to be a taboo subject so easily and for two it is a natural and normal part of life so we need to squash all the myths when it comes to our teens and we need to tell them that this is not ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6439/Teens-and-their-sexualityMasturbation/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6439/Teens-and-their-sexualityMasturbation/ Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:30:51 -0700 cookclan Michalea told me a couple of days ago that one of the girls that has been calling her and a few other girls in the school fat and ugly had been ousted by a large group of her friends and they were making a stand and not having anything to do with this girl...Michaela was a little concerned that this ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6438/Kids-ArguementsShould-you-get-involed/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6438/Kids-ArguementsShould-you-get-involed/ Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:04:30 -0700 cookclan A long time ago a woman was married off to a man and came with a dowry...It was property that the womn owned and it was used to entice a man into a marriage sometimes...This has since been called a  glory box...Glory boxes are a place where you and your daughter can place things in when you shop for things ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6427/My-Crystal-BellGlory-Boxes/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6427/My-Crystal-BellGlory-Boxes/ Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:13:28 -0700 cookclan I was surfing the net AGAIN as I do on a regular basis and come across an interesting thing that I would like to share with all Minti families...You see I have always been under the belief that having pets around your home can lead to more allergies for your kids later in  life...Well it seems this is not necessarily ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6424/Kids-and-PetsOwning-a-pet-in-the-early-years-helps-with-allergies/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6424/Kids-and-PetsOwning-a-pet-in-the-early-years-helps-with-allergies/ Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:18:37 -0700 cookclan As I sat here yesterday morning and looked at the activity page on Minti... I sat here and wondered what are we doing? Why are we inavertantly trying to undermine others choices in what they do in their parenting...So it got me thinking you know and i thought I would write this advice on how I feel about alot of ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6422/ChoicesTo-do-or-not-to-doThat-is-the-Question/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6422/ChoicesTo-do-or-not-to-doThat-is-the-Question/ Sun, 17 Jun 2007 15:15:16 -0700 cookclan Recently in our home this has been a big part of our daily life...A few of  my sons mates have lost their lives either to taking it themselves or in car accidents in the last year...This has been a very rough subject of late thinking each time that maybe the call from my son might be another crying session as ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6412/The-Final-GoodbyeTeenagers-and-Loss/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6412/The-Final-GoodbyeTeenagers-and-Loss/ Sat, 16 Jun 2007 19:18:39 -0700 cookclan You know I was thinking about this today as a comment was made that a female friend of my sons was just hanging around because she fancied him...Is society so badly warped that they think this sort of thing...Is it possible to have a best mate who is not a girl if your a girl and not a boy if ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6404/MatesCan-people-hold-a-real-friendship-with-the-opposite-gender/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6404/MatesCan-people-hold-a-real-friendship-with-the-opposite-gender/ Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:31:25 -0700 cookclan I have recieved this email a couple of times before but this time My thougths were what better way to share this with all who have not gotten it than to put this up as advice article on MInti...So here is the email I recieved in it's full form...New kind of Breast Cancer Please forward to all of the women ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6403/Pagets-DiseasePlease-pass-this-on-to-all-you-know/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6403/Pagets-DiseasePlease-pass-this-on-to-all-you-know/ Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:57:39 -0700 cookclan Smiling...What can it do for us? How does a simple smile affect yours and any other persons day...Have you ever been walking in the shops and someone smile at you? What was your reaction from a simple smile out of the blue? I know what mine is...I smile back...You see smiles are one of the only things that are contagious ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6392/Smiling-improves-your-HealthSo-go-on-Do-itSmile/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6392/Smiling-improves-your-HealthSo-go-on-Do-itSmile/ Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:00:27 -0700 cookclan Hmm this was a really interesting topic i wanted to write some advice about...You see I really do not like name calling...Not only do I see it as an effort to spark up an argument..I also find it nasty and mean and degrading for the person the name is directed at...To me name calling is this...Name calling is a form ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6390/Name-CallingNot-phsyical-bullying-but-just-as-bad/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6390/Name-CallingNot-phsyical-bullying-but-just-as-bad/ Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:21:42 -0700 cookclan On the weekend one of my sons mates was in a car accident...Young kids driving fast and not enough experience to do so...It scares me on a constant basis each time I let him get in the car with one of his mates...Cars and full of teenage rowdy kids and showing off is a mixture for danger...I drive the kids ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6378/Another-teens-Life-lostQld-new-road-rules/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6378/Another-teens-Life-lostQld-new-road-rules/ Thu, 14 Jun 2007 02:06:45 -0700 cookclan I was watching sunrise(the morning show) the other day and there was a piece on there where they talked about a Virus called RSV...So I thought oh well I didnt know that much about it so I thought I would share this with all of you...My daughter caught this when she was younger and was hospitalised with it due to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6364/RSVRespiratory-Syncytial-Virus/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6364/RSVRespiratory-Syncytial-Virus/ Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:34:07 -0700 cookclan I am all for breastfeeding..It is natural and is made for bubby...Why wouldn't people want to breastfeed?  Okay this is constantly coming up an Minti and I have avoided it like the plague as I watch people be attacked and the hurt they feel from the statements that are made...It is high time someone said this and I am going ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6351/The-breastfed-debateMy-views-and-opinions/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6351/The-breastfed-debateMy-views-and-opinions/ Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:23:51 -0700 cookclan Well after the articles that have been written already about Toowoomba and the surrounding areas i just wanted to add a few more to tell you a little more what there is to do here...Around about half an hour out of Toowoomba is a small town called Oakey...Oakey is the home to the Museum of Australian Army Flying...This place displays ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6348/Holidaying-in-Toowoomba-Oakey-Jondaryan-What-to-do-in-my-town/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6348/Holidaying-in-Toowoomba-Oakey-Jondaryan-What-to-do-in-my-town/ Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:01:59 -0700 cookclan Well I thought I would write a little advice on a subject that has been a bit of an issue here of late...I know it sounds like we have a few issues but hey with 4 teens and three younger kids when is there not an issue in the cookclan household...It isn't that bad really just seems like it sometimes...But ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6342/CurfewsHow-much-independence-you-give-is-your-choice/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6342/CurfewsHow-much-independence-you-give-is-your-choice/ Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:37:47 -0700 cookclan Rude language in this day and age is more widely accepted than it was when I was a teenager and is definately more accepted than when my mother was a teenager...Some don't think this is right and some don't think it is wrong...But no matter what is our opinion on this it is happening...As much as we tell our kids ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6333/The-Swear-chartLarge-families-and-the-problems-with-older-kids-language/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6333/The-Swear-chartLarge-families-and-the-problems-with-older-kids-language/ Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:42:11 -0700 cookclan Well Something that has gone in this house recently again so I thought I would write a little bit about what we did to help ease the pain for our daughter...You see as your teens  grow up they will become interested in Boys/girls and will start with the whole I have a boy/girlfriend thing...I am not saying that they will ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6330/Teens-and-heartbreakThe-first-Love-and-the-first-break-up/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6330/Teens-and-heartbreakThe-first-Love-and-the-first-break-up/ Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:37:27 -0700 cookclan Okay well as you all know I live fairly close to Toowoomba but I live outside on the way to a place called Crows Nest...I wanted to add this to the articles in the series we have started as it is not only fairly close to Toowoomba about an 30-45 minute drive it also sports a great national part and ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6322/Holidaying-in-ToowoombaCrows-NestWhat-to-do-in-my-town-part-3/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6322/Holidaying-in-ToowoombaCrows-NestWhat-to-do-in-my-town-part-3/ Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:34:00 -0700 cookclan Hi guys...I have thought of a great idea and series for Minti and thought well lets do this...This is how it will work for all and it will keep going for as long as we can...I would love for all of you to participate in this as I think it will be great for others to write advice about something ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6264/Holidaying-in-Toowoomba-What-to-do-in-my-town/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6264/Holidaying-in-Toowoomba-What-to-do-in-my-town/ Sat, 09 Jun 2007 02:13:05 -0700 cookclan Okay this is another article about another thing on Minti that is a fun thing for you to get...The medals... I will explain them to you and how to get them ...Again, I will say it the rankings and awards  aren't to say you are a better person or parent they are just a little fun to get rewards for participating ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6249/Minti-MedalsA-pat-on-the-back-as-you-move-through-the-ranks/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6249/Minti-MedalsA-pat-on-the-back-as-you-move-through-the-ranks/ Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:25:51 -0700 cookclan Okay some some more advice along the same lines as the last two...On the orange box to the left hand page of you Home page you will see a title that reads Awards...If you click that it will take you to your awards you have recieved...First I will explain the patches...there is six of these patches that you can get ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6240/Minti-PatchesA-pat-on-the-back-as-you-move-through-the-ranks/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6240/Minti-PatchesA-pat-on-the-back-as-you-move-through-the-ranks/ Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:40:38 -0700 cookclan I have written an article here about The shields we recieve on Minti for our participation...In this article I mentioned about admin functions that appear with the fifth shield...Like many I am sure you get up one day and realise you have changed shield and all of a sudden there is this thing on the bottom of your orange box ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6238/Admin-FunctionsIm-not-AdminWhat-are-these-for/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6238/Admin-FunctionsIm-not-AdminWhat-are-these-for/ Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:06:38 -0700 cookclan Hi there all I just wanted to write a bit of advice about the shields we recieve and get so excited over on Minti...I was having a converstaion on meseenger with a dear friend and she told me she had no idea about the shields and didn't even realise hers had changed...So here is my take on what happens with ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6235/Minti-ShieldsA-pat-on-the-back-as-you-move-through-the-ranks/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6235/Minti-ShieldsA-pat-on-the-back-as-you-move-through-the-ranks/ Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:38:14 -0700 cookclan I am sitting here today after a really interesting night of a few arguements with my teenagers...It seems I have cut of their only contact with the outside world and I don't care according to them...I am the meanest Mother in the world right now...Let me tell you what happened...My four eldest kids all have mobile phones as do most ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6230/Text-BullyingIt-is-real-and-just-as-hurtful/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6230/Text-BullyingIt-is-real-and-just-as-hurtful/ Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:34:48 -0700 cookclan Hi all well alot of people might think this is not parenting advice but I think it is and a great option for all of us... How many times have you been in the middle of dinner and the phone rings and its a telemarketer...Or you are in the middle of doing something with your family and another rings...The baby ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6197/Sick-of-telemarketers--Check-this-site-out/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6197/Sick-of-telemarketers--Check-this-site-out/ Sun, 03 Jun 2007 16:03:50 -0700 cookclan Well as winter in upon us here in Australia we drag out the heaters and some drag out electric blankets...There is a few things that are need to be done during winter to be that extra bit safer than before...If you use electric blankets Have them tested before you use them...Make sure they are turned off before you get into ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6194/Winter-and-the-risk-of-housefiresSome-tips-for-you-all-for-protection/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6194/Winter-and-the-risk-of-housefiresSome-tips-for-you-all-for-protection/ Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:21:19 -0700 cookclan It all started one night when my son went to a mates 17th party..I dropped him off and told him to take things lightly...Have a good time this was about three in the afternoon...He sent me a few text through the night to tell me things were okay and then a text came through at about eight telling me to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6176/Mobile-phonesWhos-number-do-you-have/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6176/Mobile-phonesWhos-number-do-you-have/ Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:05:58 -0700 cookclan Hi there... I thought due to the things I have had go worng with the schooling system I thought I would write a little advice on the things I have done so far to help me and maybe this can help someone...The school system can be a wonderful thing for our kids...It can be a place for not only learning ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6172/Do-you-think-the-school-is-wrong-in-their-decisionWhere-to-go-from-there/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6172/Do-you-think-the-school-is-wrong-in-their-decisionWhere-to-go-from-there/ Fri, 01 Jun 2007 14:36:11 -0700 cookclan You Know what my kids fight...They fight and argue over meanial things and sometimes the words they use to each other can be hurtful and nasty...There is many a time that I have had to step into the middle of a heated discussion and referee as two or three of my teens have gone at each other...Sometime even heading for ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6132/Sibling-BondsWhat-is-required-to-have-a-sibling-bond/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6132/Sibling-BondsWhat-is-required-to-have-a-sibling-bond/ Tue, 29 May 2007 20:53:21 -0700 cookclan I did another check on Minti for this too and thought I would write about it also...I have had one of these and felt a little sad and kind of weird about it like I wasnt really sure how I felt if that makes sense...But I am sure I am not the only one who has had one...So I thought ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6095/Blighted-OvumWhat-is-it/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6095/Blighted-OvumWhat-is-it/ Sun, 27 May 2007 15:17:01 -0700 cookclan This is just a subject I wanted to write about and share...It is a certain thing that has come to my thoughts again so I searched here and could not find anything so I thought there is an article topic here so I will write about it...The subject I wanted to cover in this advice Is Molar pregnancy...A molar pregnancy ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6088/Molar-PregnancyWhat-is-it/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6088/Molar-PregnancyWhat-is-it/ Sun, 27 May 2007 04:23:14 -0700 cookclan Hi there all...This was just my thought I was having on a subject that I wanted to share with you all...I had these thoughts after reading an article on another webisite here...Please read it otherwise this article here will not really make sense...Something that gives us all something to think about I think...Something that really does make sense to me...There ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6075/We-all-say-itBut-do-we-know-how-to-say-it-with-meaning-I-LOVE-YOU/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6075/We-all-say-itBut-do-we-know-how-to-say-it-with-meaning-I-LOVE-YOU/ Fri, 25 May 2007 20:22:59 -0700 cookclan Well after writing these few articles i thought I would finish these all off with an article about Why I wrote these and a few other Std's I have discovered along the way in my research for this series...I have touched on some of the most common ones out there but there are a few more that I have found ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6062/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedSome-other-important-things-to-know/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6062/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedSome-other-important-things-to-know/ Thu, 24 May 2007 19:50:04 -0700 cookclan Hi guys well over the next few weeks I will write about the more common STI's (sexually transmitted infections) which were more comonly known to me as STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) Sooner or later our kids will be having intimate relations with their boyfriend/girlfriends and if you have a good open relationship with you kids then this is also the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6061/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedHuman-Papilloma-Virus-HPV/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6061/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedHuman-Papilloma-Virus-HPV/ Thu, 24 May 2007 18:16:23 -0700 cookclan Hi guys well over the next few weeks I will write about the more common STI's (sexually transmitted infections) which were more comonly known to me as STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) Sooner or later our kids will be having intimate relations with their boyfriend/girlfriends and if you have a good open relationship with you kids then this is also the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6060/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedHIVAIDS/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6060/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedHIVAIDS/ Thu, 24 May 2007 16:41:55 -0700 cookclan Hi guys well over the next few weeks I will write about the more common STI's (sexually transmitted infections) which were more comonly known to me as STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) Sooner or later our kids will be having intimate relations with their boyfriend/girlfriends and if you have a good open relationship with you kids then this is also the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6043/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedHepatitis-B-HBV/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6043/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedHepatitis-B-HBV/ Thu, 24 May 2007 01:01:27 -0700 cookclan Hi guys well over the next few weeks I will write about the more common STI's (sexually transmitted infections) which were more comonly known to me as STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) Sooner or later our kids will be having intimate relations with their boyfriend/girlfriends and if you have a good open relationship with you kids then this is also the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6041/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedPubic-lice-Crabs/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6041/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedPubic-lice-Crabs/ Wed, 23 May 2007 15:20:29 -0700 cookclan Hi guys well over the next few weeks I will write about the more common STI's (sexually transmitted infections) which were more comonly known to me as STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) Sooner or later our kids will be having intimate relations with their boyfriend/girlfriends and if you have a good open relationship with you kids then this is also the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6037/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedTrichomoniasis/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6037/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedTrichomoniasis/ Wed, 23 May 2007 14:31:08 -0700 cookclan Hi guys well over the next few weeks I will write about the more common STI's (sexually transmitted infections) which were more comonly known to me as STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) Sooner or later our kids will be having intimate relations with their boyfriend/girlfriends and if you have a good open relationship with you kids then this is also the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6036/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedChlamydia/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6036/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedChlamydia/ Wed, 23 May 2007 13:49:44 -0700 cookclan Hi guys well over the next few weeks I will write about the more common STI's (sexually transmitted infections) which were more comonly known to me as STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) Sooner or later our kids will be having intimate relations with their boyfriend/girlfriends and if you have a good open relationship with you kids then this is also the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6023/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedGonorrhea/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6023/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedGonorrhea/ Tue, 22 May 2007 23:45:34 -0700 cookclan Hi guys well over the next few weeks I will write about the more common STI's (sexually transmitted infections) which were more comonly known to me as STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) Sooner or later our kids will be having intimate relations with their boyfriend/girlfriends and if you have a good open relationship with you teenagers then this is also the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6021/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedSyphilis/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6021/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedSyphilis/ Tue, 22 May 2007 21:55:26 -0700 cookclan Hi guys well over the next few weeks I will write about the more common STI's (sexually transmitted infections) which were more commonly known to me as STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) Sooner or later our kids will be having intimate relations with their boyfriend/girlfriends and if you have a good open relationship with your teemagers then this is also the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6017/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedGenital-herpes/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6017/So-your-teen-is-sexually-activeThe-hidden-dangers-of-being-unprotectedGenital-herpes/ Tue, 22 May 2007 21:35:13 -0700 cookclan This is another disorder that I wanted to share with you all...See as I see the psychcologist with Aidan there is alot of disorders that come up and are mentioned and I come home and do some research into them...As I do the research and learn about it myself I then find myself wanting to share it with you all...See ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6015/Depersonalization-DisorderWhat-is-it-and-what-are-the-symptoms/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6015/Depersonalization-DisorderWhat-is-it-and-what-are-the-symptoms/ Tue, 22 May 2007 16:15:56 -0700 cookclan Cheese the new form of heroin?Cheese is being branded as the new form of heroin...Yes you read right the name for it is cheese...It is made by mixing black tar heroin and crushed Tylenol PM tablets...As far as I know this drug has not hit our Australian shores but then it may of who am I to know for sure...Cheese ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6003/Drugs-and-teensCheese-the-new-face-of-Heroin/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6003/Drugs-and-teensCheese-the-new-face-of-Heroin/ Mon, 21 May 2007 21:18:40 -0700 cookclan I am an army wife...We have seven kids and relocating up until recently was definatly something that was on the cards...My husband is getting a medical discharge so therefore there is no longer a chance of this for us...BUT for alot of you here there surely is...Some of us have to move and some of us want to...Whether it be ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6002/Moving-house-with-teensSome-tips-to-make-the-transition-easier/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6002/Moving-house-with-teensSome-tips-to-make-the-transition-easier/ Mon, 21 May 2007 19:58:29 -0700 cookclan Well...I know there will probably be alot of people out there that will read this and say this is not parenting advice...The time has way passed that I myself wrote an article that was not all about the bad things in life...All doom and gloom as some might like to say...So here is my attempt at a light hearted article ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5964/The-Humble-Piece-of-toastButtered-side-up-or-down/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5964/The-Humble-Piece-of-toastButtered-side-up-or-down/ Fri, 18 May 2007 23:09:06 -0700 cookclan I'm really struggling leaving my daughter at daycare and going to work.  I hate leaving her behind. I feel she belongs at home with me but can't afford to stay home with her.  I get no assistance from her father financially so I have to do it all myself.  I know it's not an option stopping work.  I also know that ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5963/Bad-Mother-SyndromeWorking-Mums-stop-feeling-the-guilt/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5963/Bad-Mother-SyndromeWorking-Mums-stop-feeling-the-guilt/ Fri, 18 May 2007 20:54:43 -0700 cookclan Okay so you do like the beach then...Along with the sand the surf and the sun come alot of other dangers to you and your children...What I am talking about is Blue bottles...Blue bottles have a painful burning sting...they can make an adult cripple in pain let alone a small child...So when we are at the beach we usually keep ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5962/Our-beaches-and-the-dangerous-Bluebottles/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5962/Our-beaches-and-the-dangerous-Bluebottles/ Fri, 18 May 2007 18:47:15 -0700 cookclan Unfortunately this disorder was passed over in the early treatment of my son and there is no way knowing if this was the disorder that was originally present in him...It is diagnosed by mild elation that swings back to normal moods...(as normal as a teens moods can be I suppose hehe) then it swings into mild depression but only small ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5955/Cyclothymia-Cyclothymic-Disorderthe-signs-and-symptoms/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5955/Cyclothymia-Cyclothymic-Disorderthe-signs-and-symptoms/ Thu, 17 May 2007 15:11:23 -0700 cookclan Mental illness really interests me at the moment...Maybe it is because my son is touched by it and therefore we all are...Maybe it is jsut because it fasinates me that the general world still has such a stigma attached to it just because it can not be seen as well as a physical disability can be seen...Maybe it is just ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5952/DysthymiaEver-identified-with-EEYOREThe-signs-the-symptoms/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5952/DysthymiaEver-identified-with-EEYOREThe-signs-the-symptoms/ Thu, 17 May 2007 13:04:16 -0700 cookclan This is just something I wanted to share with others about something I have done with my kids....When Alana (Kellzacar) was up visiting me we saw this on the tv and I thought to myself wow that looks like a great idea...So I have recently tried it and guess what it was great...It worked and the kids loved doing it ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5940/Let-the-kids-paint-the-concreteMake-your-own-solid-or-liquid-chalk/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5940/Let-the-kids-paint-the-concreteMake-your-own-solid-or-liquid-chalk/ Wed, 16 May 2007 16:30:15 -0700 cookclan I went to the Psychologist the other day and picked up a piece of paper from her that talks about something that would be of great help to me I feel and thought after a few things I have read on the internet could be of great help to other with similar situations...There are a few things this can help ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5939/EEG-BiofeedbackGet-your-Brain-into-gear/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5939/EEG-BiofeedbackGet-your-Brain-into-gear/ Wed, 16 May 2007 15:19:53 -0700 cookclan  Around 10% of teenagers and young kids are so anxious that it affects their daily lifestyle...Had times where you yourself feel anxiou? Well an anxiety disorder is a really intense type of that..For weeks before something happens you can be panicing about it..Even trying really hard to get out of the actual thing you are fearing...People with an anxiety disorder ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5927/Anxiety-and-teensThe-Brave-Program/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5927/Anxiety-and-teensThe-Brave-Program/ Tue, 15 May 2007 18:58:41 -0700 cookclan I heard something about this the other day and thought I would write an article about it and share it with you all....We have all seen it...Kids who do heaps of extra activities including their schooling...Kids who go from school to practice of some sport then on to another activity and then comes some other tutoring on something else all ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5896/Hurried-child-syndromeIs-it-real-Are-we-doing-this-to-our-kids/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5896/Hurried-child-syndromeIs-it-real-Are-we-doing-this-to-our-kids/ Sun, 13 May 2007 02:30:28 -0700 cookclan I was sitting here today and thinking about alot of things that we lose it over and get angry about... There has been a few things on Minti today which have made me sit and think about alot...Those of us that are blessed with children of our own will know what I am talking about and those of you who ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5891/Stop-to-smell-the-flowersGo-on-SmileI-know-you-want-to/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5891/Stop-to-smell-the-flowersGo-on-SmileI-know-you-want-to/ Sat, 12 May 2007 20:14:21 -0700 cookclan I am sure a fair few of you who read this know a bit about Bipolar...You might even know people who live with it daily...I must admit that until it touched my life I never really knew alot about it...For those of you who don't Bipolar disorder is charactorised by swings of depression, mania and times where there is mixed ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5855/Bipolar-and-TeensA-bit-of-a-look-into-the-Bipolar-adolescent/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5855/Bipolar-and-TeensA-bit-of-a-look-into-the-Bipolar-adolescent/ Thu, 10 May 2007 16:13:34 -0700 cookclan After a few discussions with friends of my own and family as well I have decided to write an article on knowing as much as you can about yours and your family medical history....How important is it? How much about your family medical History do you know?My reason behind writing this in particular as most who know me or have ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5786/Family-Medical-HistoryWhat-do-you-know-What-have-you-left-for-future-generations/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5786/Family-Medical-HistoryWhat-do-you-know-What-have-you-left-for-future-generations/ Sat, 05 May 2007 03:56:57 -0700 cookclan Well this is the next one in my articles on drugs and teens...At the moment I am looking in the kitchen cupboard with what teens are doing these days to get drunk or high on  legal substances...Some of them I knew about and some of them have shocked me so I thought I would add them to the articles I ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5708/Drugs-and-teensMint-and-Lemon-Extract/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5708/Drugs-and-teensMint-and-Lemon-Extract/ Sat, 28 Apr 2007 20:59:58 -0700 cookclan Well after reading a comment on my Kava article here... I went to the website that this person gave me and wow to my shock and horror thought geez raising kids in this time and age is hard and there is alot out there that scares the absolute poop out of me to be frank hehe...So I thought I better ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5694/Drugs-and-teensNutmeg/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5694/Drugs-and-teensNutmeg/ Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:40:01 -0700 cookclan Do you have a child who jsut refuses to go to school? They tell you they are not going or they tell you they are scared to go? This is called school refusal...A change in schools the transition between primaray school and high school... Even someone being sick at home or any sort of stress can cause this...This is similar ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5693/-I-dont-want-to-go-to-school-Mummy-School-refusal-and-some-ideas-on-what-to-do/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5693/-I-dont-want-to-go-to-school-Mummy-School-refusal-and-some-ideas-on-what-to-do/ Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:20:05 -0700 cookclan KavaI know I said I had finished writing advice on drugs but I was surfing the net for something else and came across this one and thought to myself I would write an article on it...Just to let you all know about it and what it does...So here it is...Kava is a plant that belongs to the pepper family...Piperaceae...It has ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5687/Kava-has-its-place-in-Cultural-practicesBut-does-it-have-a-place-with-young-teens/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5687/Kava-has-its-place-in-Cultural-practicesBut-does-it-have-a-place-with-young-teens/ Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:47:36 -0700 cookclan I had  dealt with this on a weekly basis...Probably because I have so many kids but most likely because I have a bit of a troubled child who is one of the eldest of the kids...Okay this is the story so far...John has been in trouble a bit...He is a bit of a hot head and loses his temper quite ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5685/Judging-Kids-on-older-siblingsIt-does-still-happen-but-shouldnt/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5685/Judging-Kids-on-older-siblingsIt-does-still-happen-but-shouldnt/ Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:04:52 -0700 cookclan Well after writing an article on comfort eating I recieved a comment on the article that prompted me to write another article on the difference between comfort eating and comfort food...What is comfort eating? Comfort eating is a form of eating that is used to help cover up the feelings we have on a subject or the feelings we do ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5607/Comfort-food-and-comfort-eatingWhat-is-the-difference/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5607/Comfort-food-and-comfort-eatingWhat-is-the-difference/ Thu, 19 Apr 2007 01:17:36 -0700 cookclan There is probably quite a few of us on here that do this...I am guilty of doing it myself regularly...But what are we showing our kids on how to control their emotions? Comfort eating...Reaching for that tub of ice cream or that frozen cheesecake when our life isn't going the way we wanted to...Is it the right thing to do?So ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5601/Comfort-eatingWhat-am-I-teaching-my-kids/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5601/Comfort-eatingWhat-am-I-teaching-my-kids/ Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:36:12 -0700 cookclan I really wanted to write some advice about something that has been worrying me for a while...Aidan had some friends over the other night and we were sitting out the back listening to music and haveing a chat and a bit of a sing along with the music...It then became more of a karaoke style sing along...At about this time ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5569/YoutubeDo-your-kids-do-youtube/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5569/YoutubeDo-your-kids-do-youtube/ Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:27:43 -0700 cookclan Over the last couple of months I have learnt something that I wanted to share with all on here. Friendships are important and something we really cherish...Well I know I do...Along the way in my life I have made a fair amount of friends and also lost a few probably more than I have kept..No definately more than I have ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5446/Negativity-breeds-NegativityCheck-out-your-friendships/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5446/Negativity-breeds-NegativityCheck-out-your-friendships/ Sun, 08 Apr 2007 15:12:16 -0700 cookclan Well something I wanted to write an article about was something that did actually affect my eldest child and when I took him to the doctor the doctor said really when you think about it is a real disorder...A real condition...What I am talking about is Mondayitis...This is our story...When Aidan was in grade 8 on a Monday we would ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5385/MondayitisIs-it-real-You-be-the-judge/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5385/MondayitisIs-it-real-You-be-the-judge/ Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:25:49 -0700 cookclan What will be next hey...To say I am in shock would be the understatement of the year from me...I have always thought I was an in tune mum to teenage children and was very practicle about educating them on drugs and sexual practices to try to keep them safe but this new craze that is becoming so popular amonst teens ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5360/The-Choking-Game-And-I-thought-drugs-were-a-danger-to-my-teens/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5360/The-Choking-Game-And-I-thought-drugs-were-a-danger-to-my-teens/ Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:02:36 -0700 cookclan Well this is something that has been brought to my attention of late and is a little concerning to me as the novelty of this is attractive to alot of our experiementing teenagers that are going to parties and that are learning about life in general...Ever let your kids make Jelly...It is fun hey and the way they make it ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5346/Experimenting-TeenagersJelly-shots-a-new-thing-among-teens/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5346/Experimenting-TeenagersJelly-shots-a-new-thing-among-teens/ Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:13:42 -0700 cookclan Alot of us have heard it...I know I have anyway but those words still sometimes cut hard and deep and even worse when it comes from a teenager...I hate you...I don't like you....Sound familiar? Well I have seven kids and not one of them has never said this to me... When kids are younger they try to test boundaries to ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5343/I-Hate-You-The-hurtful-things-kids-sayBut-dont-mean/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5343/I-Hate-You-The-hurtful-things-kids-sayBut-dont-mean/ Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:49:38 -0700 cookclan When your kids go to school we all have these high expectations for them...We all hope for the day that an A+ report card is bought home and the excitement on your childs face...Wouldn't it be wonderful if this was always the case with every single one of our kids...Most of us spend the first 5 years at home teaching ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5235/Kids-report-cardsWas-it-something-you-werent-expecting/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5235/Kids-report-cardsWas-it-something-you-werent-expecting/ Thu, 22 Mar 2007 04:32:18 -0700 cookclan I was looking on the internet with one of my girls when I came across a website called PETA(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and read an article on how promoting... just, kindness, and consideration towards animals teaches our children to give this to humans as well and thought this would be a great topic for Minti...It is sooo ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5233/Teaching-kids-kindness-to-animals-may-help-with-reducing-violence-/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5233/Teaching-kids-kindness-to-animals-may-help-with-reducing-violence-/ Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:43:07 -0700 cookclan Okay you know they are sexually active...you have had the talk and all with your son...Next you told him all about safe sex and all the sexually transmitted diseases out there if it is not practiced...BUT have you actually told your son how to use a condom properly...I know that sounds a little perverted but this is something that can ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5228/Condoms-and-safe-sex-for-teensDo-they-know-how-to-use-them-correctly/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5228/Condoms-and-safe-sex-for-teensDo-they-know-how-to-use-them-correctly/ Wed, 21 Mar 2007 18:28:41 -0700 cookclan One thing I have learnt through having a large tribe of children going to school is when you are filling the back to school list and buying new shoes, uniforms, lunch boxes and the like there is one thing we as parents need to be aware of...The school bag...School bags especially in High school can be an issue...How heavy and ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5227/Is-your-child-having-back-pain-Look-at-the-school-bag-and-how-they-carry-it/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5227/Is-your-child-having-back-pain-Look-at-the-school-bag-and-how-they-carry-it/ Wed, 21 Mar 2007 17:45:07 -0700 cookclan When I was a teen you could pretty much guarantee that if I wanted to go out or we were going somewhere special I would get one of these...A stye in the eye is not only annoying it can be real inconvienience and really, really  uncomfortable....An eye stye is a pretty common infection in the eye it happens when a ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5215/Eye-StyeWhat-are-they-and-what-causes-them/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5215/Eye-StyeWhat-are-they-and-what-causes-them/ Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:01:47 -0700 cookclan ImpetigoImpetigo is usually called 'school sores' and is  a sore that crusts up...It is pretty common and not usually dangerous and is definately a treatable condition... It can be caused either by the staph virus (there is that word again) or group A streptoccocci (strep) bacteria...School sores are really contagious...no extremely contagious and can spread either through direct contact with ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5199/ImpetigoCommonly-known-as-school-sores/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5199/ImpetigoCommonly-known-as-school-sores/ Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:15:37 -0700 cookclan Nuva ringI was watching the update tonight and saw the heading that this was now available in Australia so I thought I would write some advice about it and give you a link so you can check it out... What is it?This is a ring that is put in the vagina and releases synthetic female hormones...These are absorbed through the ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5195/New-contraceptionNuva-ring-now-available-in-Australia/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5195/New-contraceptionNuva-ring-now-available-in-Australia/ Tue, 20 Mar 2007 03:07:18 -0700 cookclan Do your Kids eat you out of house and home when they get home from school?...Are you always trying to allow them to have a snack so thet will still eat their dinner?...Most kids come home have a snack then do their homework all while you are trying to cook dinner to have it ready and help with homework...I know ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5194/Kids-eating-you-out-of-house-and-home-in-the-arvo-Why-not-try-this/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5194/Kids-eating-you-out-of-house-and-home-in-the-arvo-Why-not-try-this/ Tue, 20 Mar 2007 01:51:00 -0700 cookclan I wanted to write a little about something again that has happened to myself and does on a regular basis now seems it is an issue for my eldest as well...Dermatitis...I get dermatitis on my hands and around my eyes...On my eyelids and under them...I get it on my hands so bad that once my actual fingernails fell off..Ewww I ... http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5186/DermatitisOur-experience/ http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5186/DermatitisOur-experience/ Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:48:21 -0700