Here are a few simple ways you can do your part to save the planet!

 

A few months ago, an anonymous flyer was placed under the door of every house on our street. It was a print out from the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board’s Web site, warning neighbors that a convicted sex offender had moved next door.

As a mother, I admit I appreciated the information—after all, I have three little boys to protect. But as a lawyer, the flyer made me cringe. Was it in violation of personal privacy rights?

 

Nine-year-old Emily Braunstein of Needham wants to be a chef. But she's not the type of girl that follows a set recipe. She airs on the side of experimental. Some of her past creations have included hot dog omelets and French Toast that she now says "had way too much sugar." Today she's in the mood to create something on the healthier side.

 

Question: My 5-year-old son is extremely sensitive and gets his feelings easily hurt by other children. As we get him ready to enter kindergarten, what coping skills can I arm him with so he isn't spending his school days in tears?

 

By Connie Fielding
She has continued to live her life in this way.  Throughout high school she was herself.  She did her hair the way she liked, wore very little makeup, and dressed in the clothes she wanted to.  There was one morning just recently that I drove her to school, and she had an “I Love (with a heart) Mom” T-shirt on.  I laughed and said I couldn’t believe she was courageous enough to wear that to school, explaining that I didn’t want her to feel pressure from me to do so.  But she just smiled and walked to class.

 

By Jeff May
Dust mites and other allergen-producing organisms may be uninvited guests in your child’s bedroom. If your child has allergies or asthma, there are things you can do to make his bedroom as clean and allergen-free as possible.

 

By Barbara DidonaWhen most people hear the word hippotherapy, the jokes are as inevitable as they are predictable. They feature either a person riding a hippopotamus, or a hippopotamus stretched on a therapist's couch.  People can't seem to help themselves.
 In fact, hippotherapy is defined as "therapy using the movement of the horse", and it is a therapy that in the last ten years has become increasingly popular for children with a wide variety of special needs.


 

By Dr. Jacqueline Vorpahl
Q: When I pick my 31/2 year old son up from preschool I notice that he’s playing alone, should I be concerned about his social skills?

Preschool is a wonderful environment for your child to be observed playing and interacting with peers his own age. Where one child may blossom with an intuitive understanding of nonverbal communication and social etiquette, another child may appear to be content with solitary play, reducing his opportunity to practice social skills. Solitary play is a form of exploration and interaction with the environment that serves us throughout adulthood. Whether we are shaking a rattle or completing a crossword puzzle, individuals of all ages engage in solitary activities.

 

By Monica MansfieldEuthanasia is one of the toughest decisions pet owners face. Whether due to slowly debilitating disease, severe illness, or a traumatic accident, this is always a poignant time for the family, even when it's the right thing to do. How will you know when its time to say goodbye to your beloved elderly dog whose arthritis seems more prevalent this year than ever before? First, consult with your veterinarian about your particular pet's condition. There are many situations that may be treatable.

 

By Michelle ApuzzioSometimes it's numbness; other times it's a crying jag. Sometimes it's uncontrollable rage; other times it's re-reading the same page without absorbing it. Depression has many symptoms that slowly erode the lives of its prey, destroying everything in its wake - marriages, families, careers. Help is out there, for sure. But many men won't ask for it.