Families face a variety of daily challenges. Here are a few subjects you may have questions about.

Family Budgeting

• Cut up and throw away credit cards;
• Eat out only once a week;
• Trade down to a less expensive car;
• Limit long distance telephone calls;
• Cut back on brand name products – buy store brands or generic;
• Determine your fixed monthly expenses: rent/mortgage, utilities, insurance, credit card payments;
• Determine your flexible expenses: clothing, food, recreation/entertainment;
• Use envelope budgeting. Label envelopes for each of your fixed expenses. Figure out how much money you need to save from each check to cover that payment and ‘deposit’ that amount to each envelope. This is especially helpful for people who have trouble balancing a checkbook.

• Exhibit the traits you want your child to develop;
• Teach your children respect;
• Teach cooperation with others;
• Encourage individuality by offering choices;
• Teach your children the consequences of their actions;
• Encourage compassion for others;
• Provide unconditional love;
• Teach good citizenship;
• Teach trustworthiness and the value of honesty.

• Praise your child frequently;
• Notice your child’s special efforts;
• Recognize good decisions;
• Praise effort as well as success;
• Don’t compare your children;
• Avoid put-downs, even in a joking manner.

• Strike up a conversation with the adult to direct attention away from the child.
• Divert the child's attention (if misbehaving) by talking to the child.
• Praise the child and parent at the first opportunity.
• If the child is in danger, offer assistance.
• Avoid negative remarks or looks. These reactions are likely to increase the parent’s anger and could make matters worse.

• Take a deep breath. And another. Remember, you are the adult
• Close your eyes and pretend you're hearing what your child is about to hear.
• Press your lips together and count to 10. Better yet, count to 20.
• Phone a friend.
• If someone can watch your child, go outside and take a walk.
• Take a hot bath or splash water on your face.
• Hug a pillow.
• Turn on some relaxing music or maybe even sing a song.
• Write down as many helpful words as you can think of. Save the list.

• Be flexible. Know what you can change and what you can't.
• Laugh more. Watch a funny movie, read the comics.
• Breathe slowly, deeply, and well.
• Learn to say "no". Recognize you can't do everything, pace yourself.
• Go ahead and make mistakes. No one's perfect.
• Have fun... with your partner, a friend, a child. Having fun is the natural way of reducing stress hormones.
• Get active. Exercise brings out the body's endorphins, natural pain-killers and pleasure-producing substances produced by all of us.
• Eat well. A healthy diet makes the body strong and increases a sense of well-being.
• Avoid stimulants. Beware of caffeine and nicotine; they put more stress on our musculature and nervous system.
• Talk to others. Share life's difficulties and problems with another person to shed the weight of burdens shouldered alone.
• Face your difficulties. Set achievable goals and tackle them one at a time.
• Lastly, allow yourself to mourn. Even good changes can bring a sense of loss for how things used to be. You have the right to grieve this loss.

• Show your love as often as possible;
• Be the best role model you can be;
• Talk with your child, not at them;
• Don’t take yourself too seriously;
• Make time to be together;
• Celebrate your successes;
• Admit your mistakes;
• Keep your promises;
• Treat your child with respect;
• Discipline with love.

• Don’t avoid mentioning their loss or the name of a loved one for fear of reminding them of their pain (they haven’t forgotten it)
• Don’t wait until you know the perfect thing to say. Nothing you say will ever make them sadder than the reality of what has happened;
• Allow them to express as much grief/sadness as they are able and willing to share;
• Do let your genuine concern and caring show;
• Make specific offers to help. Offer to run errands, clean, baby-sit or prepare meals;
• Remember important days such as birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and any other significant day which may be difficult for the bereaved;
• Don’t let friends, family, or co-workers grieve alone. There is a tremendous sense of isolation during the grief process.

• Let your child know school and education matter to you;
• Create a study routine and a place for your child to complete schoolwork daily;
• Support good study skills;
• Read with your child
• Be involved with your child’s school;
• Enlist the help of your child’s teacher;
• Ask for help.

• Chronic fatigue - exhaustion, tiredness, a sense of being physically run down
• Anger at those making demands
• Self-criticism for putting up with the demands
• Cynicism, negativity, and irritability
• A sense of being besieged
• Blowing up easily at insignificant things
• Frequent headaches and gastrointestinal disturbances
• Weight loss or gain
• Sleeplessness and depression
• Shortness of breath
• Suspiciousness
• Feelings of helplessness;
• Increased degree of risk taking.

• Place your baby on his/her back to sleep at night & naptime;
• Use a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib or bassinet;
• Eliminate fluffy, loose bedding from baby’s sleep area;
• Keep your baby’s face clear of coverings;
• Be careful not to overheat your baby;
• Don’t smoke around your child;
• Educate babysitters, grandparents and anyone who cares for your baby about the risk of SIDS.

• Start Early;
• Initiate Conversations With Your Child...
• ...Even about Sex and Relationships;
• Create an Open Environment;
• Communicate your Values;
• Listen to Your Child;
• Be Honest;
• Be Patient;
• Use Everyday Opportunities to Talk;
• Talk About it Again, And Again.