You Have Better Things to Do Than Wait in Line
Last updated on March 29th, 2018 at 12:20 am
When you’re juggling work, household chores and a sick kid, it can seem like there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. But don’t throw your hands up in defeat — the secret to fitting it all in is doing certain tasks or errands at specific times throughout the week. We turned to the experts and found out how to adjust your routine to avoid long lines and crowds, to help you get back home as fast as possible.
Go to the gym … on Sunday mornings.
“You’ll avoid waiting to use your favorite machines, since a lot of people go to church or use this time to be with their families,” says Mark Di Vincenzo, author of Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon and the upcoming book Your Pinkie Is More Powerful Than Your Thumb. And because you won’t be twiddling your thumbs while some guy finishes four sets on the pull-down machine, you’ll speed through your workout in record time.
Pick up groceries … early on Wednesday.
Not only is this when supermarkets are the emptiest, meaning no long lines at the check-out, but it’s also the day chains usually start their weekly sales. “The shelves will still be fully stocked, so you won’t miss out on the deal,” says Di Vincenzo, who also recommends avoiding Sunday afternoons. People often clip coupons on Sundays and shop for the week, so stores are usually packed.
Schedule a doctor’s appointment … at 1:00 in the afternoon.
You have better places to be than a waiting room, so show up right when the office reopens after its midday break. “Physicians see their morning patients before they go to lunch, so when they return, they usually have a clean slate,” says Michael Kaplan, author of The Best Time to Do Everything. “And you also miss the a.m. chaos, when people who woke up feeling sick get squeezed in.”
Go to the DMV … on Wednesday around 3:00 p.m.
“Many people try to get this errand out of the way during lunchtime early in the week or right before the weekend,” says Di Vincenzo. “But during the afternoon on Wednesdays, it’s a lot emptier.” And head there around the 15th of the month. Di Vincenzo says that many state workers are pressed with deadlines near the end or beginning of the month, so going to the DMV smack in the middle is best.
Go to the bank … 30 minutes after doors open on Wednesday.
“If you actually have to talk to a teller, try not to go on Mondays, when people take care of weekend business, or Fridays, which is when paychecks come out and get cashed,” says Kaplan. Why not go right when the doors open? Believe it or not, people are often waiting then to get in, so there’s an immediate line. Kaplan says to give those early birds half an hour to disappear.
Ship a package … half an hour after the post office opens.
Similar to what happens at the bank, Di Vincenzo says that people want to get this task out of the way and are there bright and early. Show up after that rush — but before lunchtime — and you’ll probably be able to walk right up to the counter.
Get your car repaired … first thing on Thursday.
“For some reason, auto mechanics are less busy on Thursdays,” says Di Vincenzo. “So not only will you be seen faster, but since the repair shop is so anxious for business, you might also be able to negotiate a better rate.” Drop your car off in the morning. “If it’s a more complex job and the mechanic needs a part, they can order it and have it included in their afternoon shipment,” says Kaplan. That means you’ll get your vehicle back sooner — so you can get on with your day.
Add low-cost therapy items to your special needs child’s gift list
Last updated on March 12th, 2018 at 10:15 am
Raising kids is expensive, but raising special needs kids can be VERY expensive. Holly Robinson Peete even cites that fact as one of the reasons she and her husband created their Holly Rod Foundation. As the holidays arrive you might want to give your special needs child a gift that doubles as a therapy item (or suggest the item to Grandma or Uncle Richie). As this article by special needs mom Marj Hatzell points out, many therapy items can be found for a lot less than in those medical catalogs.
As you look around for items to help your child with his or her challenges, think about the skills they need to practice. Last Christmas while my daughter was working on her fine motor skills I gave her a Disney Princess craft kit, which involved scrunching up colorful papers and sticking them to a pre-printed picture. She loved it and scrunched happily for a long time, blissfully unaware that she was building her hand strength and coordination. Another year I found a collapsible play tunnel and a balance board in the clearance section of sporting goods at Target. When one of my daughter’s therapists saw it she actually ran out to see if they had any more.
Hatzell has great ideas for creating your own therapy toys, too. She’s also a fan of the prices at Target, and also of IKEA. Find your local IKEA store.
Other financial resources for families with special needs kids:
Surviving their very first “off to school” day
Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 01:05 pm
Summer is nearing an end, and children are preparing to go to school or have already begun. For some of you, this is a repeat performance, but some of you are experiencing the “empty 
nest” for the very first time and entertain a profusion of ambivalent feelings. Your “baby”, who you have fed, clothed, nurtured, and loved is venturing off to a room filled with many other children of similar age, to fend for themselves out from under your protective shadow. How will this ever happen??!!
By the end of day one you soon find out that things went fairly well. Here come those feelings again. “I guess he/she doesn’t really need me anymore. I’m so happy it went well. They are sure growing up fast. That really makes me feel old.”, etc. Rest easy parents. As the leaves are beginning to turn strikingly beautiful colors, and the smells and sounds of Autumn begin circulating, so too your children are changing and entering a different but predictable and natural stage in their lives. Sure, you have looked over their every move for the past five years but it’s about time they find out how to do some of this for themselves: a process that will never stop.
Human beings are the only creatures in the animal kingdom who hold onto their young, emotionally and physically, for such a long time after birth. Most animals are born and within hours are up on their feet and moving around the immediate area and some even begin finding and eating food for the very first time. It is not a lack of mothering that this represents but a practical issue that most animals do not have permanent homes in which they will stay for a couple of years. No, they must be able to move around, looking for food sources, protecting themselves from larger predators; not held behind by a small image of themselves needing minute to minute nurturing and requiring some form of transportation.
Most animals form packs or herds because there is safety in numbers; they can and must be out in the world foraging and raising more young so that the species may continue.
It’s not that your children don’t need you anymore, they don’t need you for the same things. But they need you just as much if not more than they did as an infant. It is you who will instill values into these youngsters that they will add to their growing library of such things and take with them for ever. No small task! And by the way, look in the mirror; you’re no older than you were the day before they left for school.
Pediatric nebulizers help the littlest patients relax
Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 01:09 pm
Modern Oxygen offers pediatric compressor nebulizer systems in fun designs like fire trucks, panda bears and building blocks that appeal to children and help reduce the anxiety of treatments. The building block model also helps keep the child sitting still and entertained for the duration of the treatment. Priced at $75 and eligible for insurance reimbursement, these machines can help manage your child’s condition in a fun way. There is even a pacifier model for the youngest patients. Modern Oxygen offers free delivery in the Los Angeles area and ships nationwide. You can reach Modern Oxygen at 818-344-3434 or 888-77-OXYGEN (776-9943).
Moms: How to Control Your Fears Before They Control You
Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 01:24 pm
It’s part of a mom’s job to watch over her children’s health and wellness. And when kids don’t feel well, we nurture them back to health as best we can.
But have you ever heard your child cough 
once and wondered if it’s something serious? Sometimes a small concern can quickly escalate into feelings of real fear. If this sounds familiar, there are steps you can take to avoid making yourself sick with worry — for your sake and your child’s.
“Children are very sensitive to mom’s mood,” says Betsy Cetnarowski, a certified child life specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio. “So when mom is anxious, it can make kids anxious as well.”
Check out these strategies for managing fears that come with being the No. 1 caretaker for your child’s health.
- Make a list. If you notice your nerves getting out of control, you may be dwelling on one negative detail and disqualifying the positive signs of health or recovery. Write down five positive things about your child’s health — for example, he has a good appetite, his fever is going down, he’s energetic or he’s sleeping better. If you feel yourself heading down that road of negativity, just look at your list for some reassurance,” says Howsam.
They Want Independence…You Want Them Safe: Middle Ground?
Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 02:37 pm
Before setting a limit, offer empathy and recognition of their needs or wants. Saying, “I understand that you want to join Tommy in going to the park after dark and that you feel there is nothing to worry about.” Validating their feelings also models respect and the importance of valuing each other’s perspective. Rather than immediately devaluing their requests as immature or possibly dangerous, recognizing their desires as something that within their world makes sense, lays the groundwork for your child to become an empathic adult.
Problem solving or compromising together shows your child a way to reach a resolution in a mature and calm manner. For instance, “Since I feel it is unsafe to go to the park after dark, is there another time in which the two of you could go?” Offering choices is a great way to foster autonomy within limits, such as, “It’s cold out and you gotta wear a coat. Which would you like, your black one or your green windbreaker?” Being consistent, of course, is always key and staying firm when concerns over their safety is warranted. It is our responsibility to take care of our children. However, it is also our duty to ensure they are learning the way to be safe and healthy.
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This post reflects Dr Kenney’s “The Family Coach Method” used in practice for a number of years, and released for publication just this past September. The Family Coach Method is ‘rug-level,’ friendly and centered on the concept of families as a winning team – with dozens of age-appropriate sample conversations and problem solving scenarios to guide a family to the desired place of mutual respect, shared values and strengths. The goal is to help children to develop the life skills, judgment and independence that can help them navigate the challenges of an increasingly complex world. The Family Coach Method is also being taught as an Educational Series where parents can join with other moms and dads in live calls with Dr Kenney.
