Tag: children

The following is a news item selected by the Hitched editors during the week of September 11, 2014.

Why Do Children of Married Parents Do Better?
There are countless studies that demonstrate that children of married parents do better in life. These kids typically do better in school (in all stages), including the fact that they're more likely to attend college; they're more likely to earn more money; and they're more likely to create their own stable families, which continues the cycle of prosperity. The big question is why?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 60 percent of our children do not eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables they need. Gardening is an excellent way to encourage and increase your child’s consumption of these vitamin-rich foods.

Gardening is fun, plain and simple. The process involves dirt, water and digging; it yields hours of fun; a lifetime of memories; and most importantly, fresh and tasty treats that nourish growing bodies—so much more than just plants are grown in a garden.

Fall is when many moms are busy making a list of all the things every teacher should know about their child. And not only do moms spend days on this list, they honestly believe that a teacher who averages six classes a day with sometimes 30 kids each, actually remembers every child’s name, quirk, allergies, sleeping schedule, or has time to remember that Heather’s dad was a math genius so she only may appear to be numerically challenged.

Looking forward to a well-deserved timeout, at least once a year, to vacation is what nearly every person needs. However, if you are like many couples with children, trying to find some romance while away with kids in tow is not an easy task.

In speaking with many divorced individuals—most of whom complained that the flame had gone out of their marriages—one common lament was the lack of romance. Further, because of tough economic times, most confessed they had money for only one yearly vacation and that vacation was one they felt must include the children.

For many married couples with young teens, or for couples that have younger children who get free-reign of the remote control or have a television in their room, keeping tabs on what type of TV they’re watching can go right out the window when it comes to monitoring them on a daily basis. For instance, the highly publicized and risqué television show, Skins, debuted on Viacom’s MTV with a viewership of 3.3 million viewers and was its highest rated show in the 12-34 year-old demographic. Viacom, by the way, is the same company that brings you Dora the Explorer on Nickelodeon. You and your spouse don’t have to look too far to see the concerns with the show Skins—just watch the trailer if you haven’t already seen the show or read about it in the news.

It's a good time to start talking to your children about what you expect when you visit friends and family over the holiday season before your arrive. By the age of three the words "Please," "Thank you," and "You’re welcome" should be familiar and user friendly. "Would you please pass the gravy" and "Thank you for the nice dinner" are good starts. The following are a few basic table tips that will get you over the holiday dining hurdle and maybe even a few compliments on how well behaved your kids are:

Chances are, you and your spouse talked before you were married about having children. You probably discussed parenting in general and even watched each other interacting with children. Now that you are parents and the realities of daily life with a young child are sinking in, you might be seeing differences you don’t like. When you try to discuss it, you might not agree on the best way to handle a situation. The stress is not only affecting you and your marriage, but your young child is picking up on it, too.