Traveling With Your Pets

Traveling with pets is not much different from traveling with children.  Here are some must-haves for those who treasure days off:

• Up-to-date info on vaccinations
• Vet contact info
• First-aid kit with any prescription medications, gauze, bandages, tape, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, etc.
• Anti-flea and tick collars or products
• Dishes, food, bottled water and treats
• Favorite toys, blanket and bedding
• Crate or carrier
• Lint brush or furniture covers (keep you room clean and improve the chances you'll get back your security deposit)
• Photo of your pet and you together (just in case he gets lost)
• Information on hotels, restaurants and attraction.

10 Tips for Social Success

1. Share the stage.  Talking about your interests is fun, but remember that social encounters can be short and others enjoy talking about their interests too.
2. Don't flaunt knowledge.  You may think it makes you look smart and informed, but others may find you arrogant.  "talking at" people is a kiss of death in making a good impression.
3. Keep it short.  Telling long stories about people and topics others may not know or care about will bore and tire them. It's better to get to the point.
4. Go light on humor.  Telling joles helps people relax and connect.  But you can alienate others by performing for too long and forcing them to be your audience.
5. Observe body language.  Smiling, eye contact and leaning forward suggest others are enjoying listening to you.  Fidgeting, leaning back and looking away convey boredom.  People may feign interest to be polite, so its always good to be brief or let them pursue or change the topic.
6. Step off the soapbox.  You can discuss almost any topic with people if you are open to their views, but trying to convert them to your way of thinking or convince them that they're wrong and you're right doesn't play well.  
7. Don't flatter yourself.  When tempted to name-drop, repeat compliments paid to you or brag about achievements, remember that while others may be impressed, they may also find you vain and sense insecurity behind your need to boast.
8. Focus outward.  It's fun to note things we have in common with others: "Oh, I've been to Italy, too!"  But if we always bring the subject back to ourselves, we seem disengaged and self-involved.  It's better to show interest: " Did you enjoy your stay?"
9. Pay attention.  Do you listen when others speak or are you just waiting to break in?  Rapid nodding and saying "Uh huh, uh huh" suggests you're hungry to talk and not listening at all.
10. Curb complaints.  Your personal problems are much more interesting to you and your close friends than to other people.  New acquaintances do not want to hear them.

18 Questions to Ponder on Your Child's Studies

 Are you as involved in your child's education as you can be?  Parental involvement is a critical part of a child's school success, and self-assessment can help parents discover areas where they can improve.  What grade would you earn?  Take this quiz to find out.  (Place a check by each "yes" answer.)

Connect with School

• Do you attend every parent-teacher conference and almost all school programs?
• Do you read the school's newsletter and memos regularly?
• Do you contact teachers if there is a problem and give positive feedback to teachers when things are going well?

Nurture Mind and Body

• Do you help with homework if your child asks and limit outside activities if they conflict with schoolwork?
• Does your child have a regular time and place to do homework each day?
• Do you limit television and video games to one or, at the most, two hours a day?
• Do you read to your child at least 15 minutes a day?
• Does your child see you read on your own each day?
• Does your child get at least eight hours of sleep a night?
• Does your child get at least one hour of exercise/physical activity every day?

Be a Role Model

• Do you encourage good sportsmanship at school athletic events?
• Do you encourage your child to do volunteer work at least once a month?
• Do you volunteer with your youngster?

Set Boundaries

• Do you set fair and clear limits for your child and enforce them reasonably?
• Do you work with the school to resolve discipline problems?

Show you Care

• Do you take time for your child each day and listen to his or her problems?
• Do you ask questions each evening about what your child is learning in school?
• Do you look for ways to enrich your child's learning (such as visiting museums with him or her, and attend cultural events together)? 

Scoring:  Count the number of checks

16-18 = A:  You're a valuable partner in your child's education.

13-15 = B:  You are doing many things right, but there is room for improvement.

12 and below = C:  It's not too late to raise your parenting grade.  The most valuable thing you can do is talk with your children about school and what they've learned each day.  This sends the message that school is important to you and should be important to them as well.  Also, ask your child's teacher or school counselor for more specific ways to become involved.

Back-to-School Clen-up

Involve your entire family in keeping the house clean once school and other activities resume.

Knapsack neatness.  Encourage children to remove leftover food, crumbs and wrappers from knapsacks (and bags) each day.

It's a shoe-in.  Have the family store shoes-especially athletic shoes-in an area with good air circulation.

Clean-up!  Following after-school activities in your home, encourage your children to participate in cleaning-up.  Make it fun by simultaneously playing music of your child's choice.

The Golden Rules for Parents

You are your child's cheerleader.  Stand up for your child's best interest, because no one else knows what's really best.

Never let them go to school mad or sad!  Resolve or delay any morning upsets so your child can start the day on a positive note.

Homework is for kids (and sometimes for parents).  If you find after-school work taking more than an hour or two, talk to the teacher.

E is for effort as well as excellence!  Reward hard work, not just the grades your child gets.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.  Play their video games and listen to their music to understand their world.