Category Archives: Uncategorized

Are Your Kids Prepared for Emergencies?

Extreme weather, terrorism, school shootings—every day, 69 million U.S. children are separated from their families when emergencies strike. After Hurricane Katrina there were more than 5,000 reports of missing children. It took 7 months to reunite the last child with her family. (Pretty scary, huh?)

While we may not be able to control what happens in the future, we can try to prepare for the worst. Having a packed bag for every member of the family with necessities is a very important place to start. I’ve filled ours with toiletries, shelf-stable foods, and a few other goodies. Another vital step for parents is creating ICE (In Case of Emergency) cards for our kids.

These cards contain relevant info that will help in case of separation. Your child’s ICE card should include 3 emergency contacts—including an out-of-town contact, because during emergencies, local communications are often down.

Make your ICE contact cards at www.SavetheChildren.org/ICE. It’s free and easy! Fill out one form for your whole family online (Save the Children will not store your child’s info anywhere). Print out the cards (you’ll get two copies for each child), cut and fold. Put one copy in a luggage tag to keep inside your child’s bag. Keep the other copy in your wallet.

Will you join me in this important effort? Let me know if you have created ICE cards!

Brighten Outdoor Space with PermaLeaf

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Creating a beautiful backyard that my family can enjoy has always been important to me. Because we have a busy lifestyle, keeping up with watering foliage and mowing the lawn is a struggle! While I don’t know of any solution to make grass grow slower, there is an alternative to tending plants.

Yes, I’m talking about high quality, zero upkeep, gorgeous looking artificial plants, made by Permaleaf. Many folks have enjoyed these indoors before, but weren’t aware that they could also be used outside.

Not only do they look nice, they are good for anyone who’s environmentally conscious—no water needed, no fertilizer/pesticides needed. Since we’re experiencing a record-level drought here in New England, water conservation is critical! Combine a lack of moisture with the extreme heat of summer and artificial options really do make good sense. Instead of having to re-buy yearly, you can also save money; aside from the initial purchase, there won’t be any maintenance fees.

In addition to outdoor plants perfect for backyards, Permaleaf has options for rooftops/balconies, window boxes, hanging baskets, and privacy screens. Check out their website for many excellent products, or they will send you a catalog by mail.

Help Prevent Suicides

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Did you know suicide is the 10th leading cause of death? Neither did I! Crazy, right? Any death is sad, but a preventable death is almost beyond words. There is so much shame/secrecy surrounding this delicate topic and that only compounds the tragedy. By being open and discussing the problem honestly, we can make great strides forward to eliminate these deaths.

Since this is National Suicide Prevention Week, we must all do our part to raise awareness. If you or someone you know is dangerously depressed, please seek out help! There are resources, both online and in person, that can make a huge difference. Don’t suffer alone.

While nobody close to me has ever committed suicide, I have had acquaintances that unfortunately did. The one I remember the most vividly occurred when I was a sophomore in high school. A classmate hung himself in a barn and it was devastating to the whole community.

Youngsters, in particular, are reluctant to admit their feelings. Parents, teachers, and those who come into regular contact with kids must be extra vigilant. Every single life is precious and nobody should be bullied or excluded to the point where they feel worthless.

Has suicide ever impacted your life?