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	<title>Raising a Skeptic</title>
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	<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com</link>
	<description>A Journey in Secular Parenting</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:20:02 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Being a Good Parent</title>
		<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/104/being-a-good-parent</link>
		<comments>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/104/being-a-good-parent#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:20:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Being]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/104/being-a-good-parent</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Being a Good Parent Parenting is one of the hardest jobs to do. Just ask any parents out there. It is a responsibility that you have to do for the rest of your life and it is also the most rewarding as well. Looking at your own child with love is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. There is no greater feeling than holding your own child in your arms and taking care of it. What is&#8230; <a href="http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/104/being-a-good-parent">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#187;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> Being a Good Parent </strong></p>
<p>Parenting is one of the hardest jobs to do. Just ask any parents out there. It is a responsibility that you have to do for the rest of your life and it is also the most rewarding as well. Looking at your own child with love is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. There is no greater feeling than holding your own child in your arms and taking care of it.</p>
<p>What is a good parent? This question seems hard to answer because the most obvious answer is not enough. Yes it is not enough that you support your child and take care of it. It is not enough that as a parent you provide for them and give them the best in life. After all, you are responsible for the growth of a human being emotionally, physically and spirituality. There are many factors that you have to do make it the best and happiest person there is.</p>
<p>If there is one thing that you can do as a parent is that you need to let your children express themselves. </p>
<p>By letting themselves express freely, they can find their own individuality. It can make them be the best in what they want to do and can make them unique. You can do that by even doing some simple things like letting them wear the clothes they want to wear, no matter how ridiculous those clothes are.</p>
<p>One example is when your child love rock and roll music. I know this type of music may be not main stream and they look absolutely ridiculous. But if it makes your children happy then by all means support them. You can buy skull baby clothes for your toddler. Don’t worry though because these clothes are made of 100% cotton so you are sure that it is safe for your kids. This is a fun way for them to dress up and to express themselves. If you want other designs you can try skull and crossbones baby clothes. </p>
<p>These clothes would surely make your children be more creative and happier when they can wear something they want. Who knows, you might have a future rock star in the family.</p>
<p>It is not hard to find these types of clothes. You can check your local children’s clothing store if you want. If you want to, you can also order them online. It is actually better if you do that because you can shop at the comforts of your own home. You need to be careful though because you need to make sure that size is right and the quality of the materials as well. Stick to the site that you trust and just order clothes from them.</p>
<p>There’s more to it than being a parent. It is one of the most rewarding jobs that you’ll experience. Raising a child is something hard to do but if you do it the right way, they benefits you get is tremendous and you can start doing that by letting your kids express themselves freely. Try it now and you’ll see how it can affect them.</p>
<div>
<p align="left" class="text">Brenna A. Welker enjoys writing for Crazy Baby Clothing Company which sells <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.crazybabyclothing.com/skull-and-crossbones-baby-clothes.html">skull baby clothes</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.crazybabyclothing.com/">skull and crossbones baby clothes</a> as well as a host of additional products.</p>
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		<title>Mothers&#8217; Parental Custody Rights</title>
		<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/103/mothers-parental-custody-rights</link>
		<comments>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/103/mothers-parental-custody-rights#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:20:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Custody]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mothers']]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parental]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rights]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/103/mothers-parental-custody-rights</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mothers&#8217; Parental Custody Rights At one time, child custody was almost always awarded to the mother in a divorce case. In the last few decades, courts have become more comfortable with awarding joint custody, or even awarding sole custody to fathers. Custody is generally given based on the best interest of the child.  If you are a mother seeking to gain parental custody of your children, you need to learn as much as possible about how the legal system works,&#8230; <a href="http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/103/mothers-parental-custody-rights">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#187;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> Mothers&#8217; Parental Custody Rights </strong></p>
<p>At one time, child custody was almost always awarded to the mother in a divorce case. In the last few decades, courts have become more comfortable with awarding joint custody, or even awarding sole custody to fathers. Custody is generally given based on the best interest of the child.  If you are a mother seeking to gain parental custody of your children, you need to learn as much as possible about how the legal system works, and how custody is determined.</p>
<p>There is a difference between legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody refers to the right to make decisions about your child&#8217;s upbringing, regardless of where they live. Most jurisdictions prefer joint legal custody. In special circumstances (most commonly abuse, criminal activity or addiction), sole legal custody can be awarded. When you have physical custody, your child lives with you in your residence. </p>
<p>You can have joint legal custody even if your child resides with his or her other parent.</p>
<p>As a mother, you are likely involved with every aspect of your child&#8217;s life. If you are the primary caregiver for your children, you are much more likely to be granted physical custody of them. The vast majority of physical custody cases are decided in the mother&#8217;s favor. You may still share legal responsibilities with your former spouse even if the children are in your sole physical custody.</p>
<p>There are a few steps you should take to ensure that you win your case.</p>
<p>1. Meet with a family lawyer. Even if you are the primary caretaker of your children, you should retain an attorney. At the very least, you should consult with a lawyer about your case before filing papers on your own.</p>
<p>2. </p>
<p>Seek temporary custody. If you can be awarded temporary custody of your children, you stand a much better chance of making that arrangement permanent. If at all possible, seek a temporary custody award.</p>
<p>3. Propose a custody arrangement. Try to work with your former spouse to come up with an agreement that you can present to the court. If you are unable to come to an agreement, make a written plan of your own to submit to the court. An organized, well thought out plan has a better chance of being adopted by the judge.</p>
<p>4. File your child custody papers. If you have a lawyer, they will do this on your behalf. If you don&#8217;t make sure you research the rules and fees that are in place before filing.</p>
<p>5. Attend a court hearing and present your case. Be as prepared as possible, and be sure to relay to the court that you are an integral part of your children&#8217;s daily lives. Most times, child custody is awarded to the parent who is already involved with and responsible for the child on a daily basis.</p>
<p>While being the mother has some innate advantages in a custody case, you must be prepared to fight for your rights, and for what is best for your children. Never assume that you will be awarded parental custody, and be sure to go to court with a plan.  </p>
<div>
<p>Discover how Custody X Change can help you fight for your <a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.custodyxchange.com/custody/mothers-child-custody-rights.php">mother&#8217;s child custody rights</a> and find out more information about <a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.custodyxchange.com/custody/parental-custody.php">parental custody</a> that can help your case.</p>
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		<title>An Effective Parenting</title>
		<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/102/an-effective-parenting</link>
		<comments>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/102/an-effective-parenting#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:20:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Effective]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/102/an-effective-parenting</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An Effective Parenting Everything in life goes through a step by step process from conception until death. In each step, there are different roles to be fulfilled. One of these roles when you reach adulthood is parenting in which it entails proper guidance, wisdom and principles to mold the children and bring good influence to their lives. The child learns first at home therefore, good parenting must be practiced so that the child will also develop a better self in&#8230; <a href="http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/102/an-effective-parenting">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#187;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> An Effective Parenting </strong></p>
<p>Everything in life goes through a step by step process from conception until death. In each step, there are different roles to be fulfilled. One of these roles when you reach adulthood is parenting in which it entails proper guidance, wisdom and principles to mold the children and bring good influence to their lives. The child learns first at home therefore, good parenting must be practiced so that the child will also develop a better self in the future equipped with good attitude, behavior, morale and self-concept. This is the sole responsibility of parents when it comes to bringing up children in the way they should be.</p>
<p>Parenting is a complex responsibility. It does not end just by giving birth. The process goes on as the child grows. The child needs to be nurtured from birth until time will come that the child can already go on his own. The primary role of a parent is to provide the child the nourishment that he needs physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. </p>
<p>Being a good parent promotes effective mother-father-child relationship. For this reason, the child will grow as an effective individual in the society with good outlook in life as he was taught to be developing good habits and attitude or behavior. Most of the parents wanted their children to have a bright future and live a good life on their own when the right time comes. This is the main concern of parents once the child is born. There must be some strategies or methods to be followed to ensure an effective parenting and achieve those goals for the child.</p>
<p>First and foremost, a parent must be a good example to the child. Be a role model to your children. If you have a positive outlook in life, most probably your child will also do the same. </p>
<p>Set constant rules. Give appropriate reasons for everything so that the child will understand it well. If you will restrict him to do something, explain to him why so that he will be able to know. Next, give time to your child to express about himself. Give him chance to show what he can do and what he thinks. This will boost his confidence and ego. Just make sure that he will not hurt anybody including himself. If the child is your second, third or fourth baby, never ever compare them with each other. Each child has different innate characteristics and way of thinking. The child might feel inferiority if he is being treated less compared to his other siblings and this might affect his entire life. Lastly, do not throw threats to your child. The primary fear of a child is abandonment by the parents. An effective parenting does not develop fear in their children’s heart and mind. A child has simple thinking. A child believes everything parents would say so do not threaten him because he might take your threat seriously even if you didn’t mean it to happen. Parenting is a crucial role. Therefore, have an effective method that will help you nurture your child to become a good citizen in the future. </p>
<div>
<p align="left" class="text">Brenna A. Welker enjoys writing for Crazy Baby Clothing Company which sells <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.crazybabyclothing.com/camo-baby-clothes-c-26.html">camouflage baby clothes</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.crazybabyclothing.com/">skull baby clothes</a> as well as a host of additional products.</p>
</div>
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		<title>Parent Child Relationships</title>
		<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/101/parent-child-relationships</link>
		<comments>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/101/parent-child-relationships#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:20:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Relationships]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/101/parent-child-relationships</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Parent Child Relationships This article simply expresses my own thoughts and ideas on parent child relationships. It is certainly an intelligent dissertation based on my own education and experience. I would not however use my beliefs to counter anyone elses beliefs. Relationships are not exact and cant be approached with formulas which might work for mathematical equations and scientific experiments. Relationships are personal and there are too many variables involved for me to attempt to dictate what yours should be.&#8230; <a href="http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/101/parent-child-relationships">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#187;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> Parent Child Relationships </strong><br />
 This article simply expresses my own thoughts and ideas on parent child relationships. It is certainly an intelligent dissertation based on my own education and experience. I would not however use my beliefs to counter anyone elses beliefs. Relationships are not exact and cant be approached with formulas which might work for mathematical equations and scientific experiments. Relationships are personal and there are too many variables involved for me to attempt to dictate what yours should be. Lets keep those thoughts in mind as we go forward.</p>
<p>The parent child relationship of different types of parents varies based on established social mores. Korean parents will not have the same relationship as urban Americans regardless of their race. Parents who lived four or five centuries ago certainly didnt have the same type of relationship with their children as parents today. The idea of what is normal is established by the mores of the society that the families exist in.</p>
<p>I feel that the most important aspect of the parent child relationship is that the child should trust the parent implicitly. The child may not like every decision that the parent makes but he or she needs to know that all decisions are made with their well being in mind. The parent should play additional roles as the childs mentor, disciplinarian, and guide. Discipline is essential because the child needs to know that there are bounds which cant be crossed in life. In other words it is imperative that the child learns in its formative years that it cant do whatever it wants to do. The parent however must recognize that the child needs room to explore and learn. Too many times we hinder the development of our children by being too strict as disciplinarians.</p>
<p>The child must learn at an early age to trust the parent as a mentor and guide. Confidence must be established. The child can only learn these things by observation. Many times parents think that their job is to give orders or administer commands and to expect blind obedience. The parent must set the established standard by setting the example for the child to follow. The parent who tells the child to go clean his or her room must use their own room as the standard. Anything less only confuses the child. Children will quickly learn to evaluate the words that the parent speaks. Children learn whether to use parents or grandparents to get what they want. They learn which behaviors will elicit the response that they want. We as parents must learn to be careful in our relationship with our children. We must learn to be loving but objective at the same time. We must objectively evaluate our own behaviors as well as those of our children and adjust them as required.</p>
<p>The most difficult parental role is that of the step parent. The natural spouse can make the step parent effective in their relationship with the child or children or they can totally sabotage the relationship based on the amount of support that they give. The mother who has been with her children as a single parent for a long period of time must be very careful not to undermine the step dad in his establishment of authority in the household, especially if the children are male and older.</p>
<p>Many say that the parent must also be a friend and I agree, however the parent must be a parent and disciplinarian first of all. The parents with whom the child resides must be the bigger disciplinarians because they child will get the majority of their socialization and ideals about life from what they observe at home. <a rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow" href="http://cedricrice-A.webcopycat.com/">The Good Life</a></p>
<div>
<p><a rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow" href="http://cedricrice-A.webcopycat.com/">The Good Life</a></p>
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		<title>Mortgage plan from our president</title>
		<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/99/mortgage-plan-from-our-president</link>
		<comments>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/99/mortgage-plan-from-our-president#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:59:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/?p=99</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are so many kinds of methods and ways in how you could buy house for your family and make it as your home. One of the ways and methods is to use the mortgage. By using the mortgage, you do not need to pay the whole house price at the installment. When you use the mortgage, you will be able to pay the house in, let us say, ten or even five years, depending on how much the home&#8230; <a href="http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/99/mortgage-plan-from-our-president">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#187;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are so many kinds of methods and ways in how you could buy house for your family and make it as your home. One of the ways and methods is to use the mortgage. By using the mortgage, you do not need to pay the whole house price at the installment. When you use the mortgage, you will be able to pay the house in, let us say, ten or even five years, depending on how much the <a href="http://www.mortgagerefinancerates.org/">home mortgage rates</a> that you can handle. If you want to have your home cheaper, it is better for you to start looking for the best mortgage that you can find.</p>
<p>To help you buying your home, our president, Barrack Obama has come up with the best mortgage plan which is called as the Obama’s HARP plan. This new mortgage system has been known as one of the best mortgage for everyone. The <a href="http://www.mortgagerefinancerates.org/home-affordable-refinance-program.php">Obama&#8217;s mortgage plan</a> is also said has been helping so many people who want to have a home for their family. So, if you are interested in buying home, you can look for home sellers and ask theme whether or not they have the mortgage plan from Obama because the mortgage is <a href="http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/pages/default.aspx">Making Home Affordable</a>.</p>
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		<title>Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)</title>
		<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/98/parental-alienation-syndrome-pas</link>
		<comments>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/98/parental-alienation-syndrome-pas#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:20:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alienation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parental]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Syndrome]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/98/parental-alienation-syndrome-pas</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) Divorce can be messy not just in terms of monetary compensation or dividing of property but also in terms of the relationship between the parents and the children because of a disorder called parental alienation syndrome.  It was a child psychiatrist who invented that term in the 1980s. This happens when you go through a divorce and then your child will begin to belittle and insult you without good reason as a result of your spouse&#8230; <a href="http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/98/parental-alienation-syndrome-pas">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#187;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) </strong></p>
<p>Divorce can be messy not just in terms of monetary compensation or dividing of property but also in terms of the relationship between the parents and the children because of a disorder called <strong><a rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow" onclick="_gaq.push([" href="http://www.child-custody-strategies.net/">parental alienation syndrome</a></strong>.  It was a child psychiatrist who invented that term in the 1980s. This happens when you go through a divorce and then your child will begin to belittle and insult you without good reason as a result of your spouse influencing your children. It&#8217;s nasty when you get insulted by others. It&#8217;s even worse when it&#8217;s your own child. </p>
<p>Your spouse will be brainwashing the mind of your child against you. It can happen through body language, verbal language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and even humiliation. Imagine the emotional damage parental alienation syndrome does to your child. </p>
<p>Parental Alienation Syndrome can happen to you for various reasons. </p>
<p>Here are some of those reasons: <br />
Your spouse wants you out of their life completely. By losing your only connection to your spouse, your child, you&#8217;ll be erased from their life.<br />
Your spouse thinks that you are unworthy of your children.<br />
Your spouse is possessive and jealous and does not want to share your children with you.<br />
Your spouse wants to use your children as bargaining tools in exchange for your money and property.</p>
<p>These reasons can effectively turn your child against you. Your spouse can withhold or limit visitation to your kids. He or she can make evil remarks about you in the presence of the children and even make untrue allegations of abuse. </p>
<p>Through these tactics, the kid feels he or she must choose one parent. They cannot have both parents. </p>
<p>Experience has shown that when a child is subjected to these mind games, the children will likely side with the alienating parent. They actually believe the evil remarks or allegations of abuse done by you. Another reason why this happens is to gain approval from that alienating parent. You can see that parental alienation syndrome can be quite a terrible situation to handle. </p>
<p>Parental alienation syndrome can be mild or severe but either way it has alarming effects on the child. The child gets in the middle of the war between the parents. The saddest part is that is that you are one the most important people in your child&#8217;s life. </p>
<p>Psychiatrists would recommend that the child should foster good relationships with both parents even if they are divorced. The troubling part is that courts do not recognize parental alienation syndrome as valid evidence. This means you can&#8217;t use this argument to get some control over your child against your spouse. It&#8217;s hard to get concrete evidence on this matter.</p>
<div>
<p>Don&#8217;t risk losing custody or visitation rights to your child. To find out how to get the best chance to win your custody battle, visit <a rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow" onclick="_gaq.push([" href="http://www.child-custody-strategies.net/">http://www.child-custody-strategies.net</a>.</p>
<p>I highly recommend you check it out.</p>
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		<title>Single Parent Dating Tips</title>
		<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/97/single-parent-dating-tips</link>
		<comments>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/97/single-parent-dating-tips#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:20:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Single]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/97/single-parent-dating-tips</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Single Parent Dating Tips Who says that a single parent cannot go out on his or her own and have a good time once in a while?  Whoever says that is dead wrong!  Not only are single parents allowed to have time to themselves sometimes (for going out with friends, having a night alone, etc), single parents should make sure to take time for themselves once in a while.  Most single parents, especially those newly single, think that taking time&#8230; <a href="http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/97/single-parent-dating-tips">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#187;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> Single Parent Dating Tips </strong></p>
<p>Who says that a single parent cannot go out on his or her own and have a good time once in a while?  Whoever says that is dead wrong!  Not only are single parents allowed to have time to themselves sometimes (for going out with friends, having a night alone, etc), single parents should make sure to take time for themselves once in a while. </p>
<p>Most single parents, especially those newly single, think that taking time for themselves is selfish and that, instead, they should revolve their entire lives around their children.  The truth is that kids need well rounded parents who also have their own lives-it is those &#8220;outside&#8221; lives that your kids will look to for examples of how to act when they are adults.  So-it is absolutely, 100% okay to date as a single parent.  Here are some single parent dating tips to help you get started.</p>
<p><strong>Honesty is the Best Policy</strong></p>
<p>When single parenting is new, your kids might feel nervous or even resentful of the time you spend away from them.  Be honest with them and tell your kids that while they are your very top priority, you also need some time to yourself so that you can continue being a good Mom or Dad.  Make sure that they know that they are first on your list and that their needs come first.  It is also a good idea to spell out that you are not trying to replace their other parent.  A lot of kids get scared at the idea of having a potential step parent around, so make sure that your kids understand that such a scenario is a long way off and that you will make sure that their relationship with their other parent does not get compromised.</p>
<p><strong>Honesty is Good For Dates Too</strong></p>
<p>More <a rel="nofollow" target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.singleparentdatingtips.com/">single parent dating tips</a> is never let your date assume that you do not have kids.  Sadly, being a single parent is no longer rare in our society but some might feel blindsided if, after dating a while, you suddenly tell them that you have kids.  You don&#8217;t have to get your kids and your date together right away (in fact, sometimes that is a down right bad idea), but be honest.  Tell your date that you are a Mom or a Dad and leave it at that.  You can tell your date more about your kids as you get to know each other. </p>
<p><strong>Do Not Rush Things</strong></p>
<p>There is no reason to invite a first date to a day with your kids.  In fact, it is a good idea to keep them separate until you and your date know how you feel about each other.  If you think that you could get serious with the person then, by all means, introduce him/her to your kids.  But do not force relationships until you are certain that those relationships will last for a while!</p>
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<p>Pieter West travels the world on a regular basis and have written about numerous subjects. He has an extensive knowledge about, finances, DIY, parenting advice and many more subjects.</p>
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		<title>Reduce Parenting Stress</title>
		<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/96/reduce-parenting-stress</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:20:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reduce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Reduce Parenting Stress Being a parent is an extremely difficult, albeit rewarding job. Every day there is something new and unexpected thrown at you and you are somehow expected, without any real training, to know exactly what to do. When you first come home from the hospital with your new baby the daunting feeling of the task before you finally hits you and the stress is sometimes incredibly overwhelming. If you can manage to reduce parenting stress you will find&#8230; <a href="http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/96/reduce-parenting-stress">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#187;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> Reduce Parenting Stress </strong></p>
<p>Being a parent is an extremely difficult, albeit rewarding job. Every day there is something new and unexpected thrown at you and you are somehow expected, without any real training, to know exactly what to do. When you first come home from the hospital with your new baby the daunting feeling of the task before you finally hits you and the stress is sometimes incredibly overwhelming. If you can manage to reduce parenting stress you will find that being a parent is an amazing opportunity and probably one of the best feelings in the world.</p>
<p>Children grow at an alarming rate! When they are born and you experience the baby stage, you may not notice at the time because you are too tired how quickly this stage passes. Each day your baby does something or learns something new. Before you know it the toddler stage is upon you and temper tantrums strike. </p>
<p>Overnight your cute, innocent child is replaced by a stranger who throws a fit at the drop of the hat and often for reasons unknown. Getting through the toddler stage can be a challenge, but if you learn a few coping techniques you can reduce parenting stress and find the sweet child you thought had disappeared for good.</p>
<p>One of the first ways you can handle your children when their behavior gets difficult is to distract them from the reason they are getting upset. Children are amazing in this way, unlike adults who get so focused on something that we tend to obsess, children can easily be taken away from a situation and forget about why they were upset in the first place. This is sometimes the best technique for dousing the flames of a fire before it gets out of control.</p>
<p>The second way to help reduce parenting stress is to keep a schedule. </p>
<p>Children need structure and by knowing what comes next during the day they are more likely to follow your routine without difficulty. Having a set naptime is also very important because if naps are late or skipped entirely, this can have a huge impact on their mood and cause many unwanted tantrums.</p>
<p>The third option for helping to keep the home a happy place is to have fun activities to keep your children engaged and busy. Being bored is often the biggest reason children act out, if they have something to keep them entertained and occupied they will be less likely to get upset about not getting their way. Of course tantrums during your activities can happen, perhaps they have not learned the art of sharing, or they simply want to do something other than what you&#8217;ve planned. These situations can be handled calmly by offering your child an alternative; it is amazing how letting them pick between two options lets them feel like they are in control without actually taking the control away from you.</p>
<div>
<p>These simple ways of creating structure in your home and using distraction to cope with tantrums can help <a rel="nofollow" target="_new" href="http://www.squidoo.com/reduce-parenting-stress">reduce parenting stress</a> considerably. And by doing that you will be able to enjoy your children more and really pay attention to the precious time you have with them. Because although certain moments may seem to last forever, their childhood will ultimately fly by in a flash and you will soon be whisking them off to college before returning to your empty next. Don&#8217;t let small tantrums and unwanted behavior get in the way of your time with your children, stay calm and have patience and you will reap the benefits by experiencing some wonderful moments with your amazing little ones.</p>
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		<title>Tablet PC Parental Control</title>
		<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/95/tablet-pc-parental-control</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:20:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Control]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parental]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tablet]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/95/tablet-pc-parental-control</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tablet PC Parental Control Is Your Kid At Risk Right on Internet Now? The Internet and computer use in general is growing by unimaginable numbers every single day. Along with this fantastic growth and opportunity comes increased need for personal security and peace of mind. But what it an Internet predator still manages to get through? How would you know? In the following part, we will look at some of the major signs that someone is after your child. 1.&#8230; <a href="http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/95/tablet-pc-parental-control">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#187;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> Tablet PC Parental Control </strong></p>
<p>Is Your Kid At Risk Right on Internet Now?</p>
<p>The Internet and computer use in general is growing by unimaginable numbers every single day. Along with this fantastic growth and opportunity comes increased need for personal security and peace of mind. But what it an Internet predator still manages to get through? How would you know? In the following part, we will look at some of the major signs that someone is after your child.</p>
<p>1. Lots of Time Spent Online at Night</p>
<p>2. Pornography on the Computer</p>
<p>3. Your Child is Receiving Calls From People You Don&#8217;t Know</p>
<p>4. Becoming Withdrawn from the Family</p>
<p>5. Using a Stranger&#8217;s Online Account</p>
<p>6. Meeting stranger face to face</p>
<p>Positive Steps to Control How Children Use the Internet</p>
<p>1. Learn what your children are doing &#8211; Ask your children about their favourite online hangouts and who they meet there. </p>
<p>Find out if they have a blog, a Web site, an IM account, or email accounts.</p>
<p>2. Set Internet policies &#8211; Create family policies for email, IM, blogs, and social networking accounts-including the kinds of programs your children can use. Using Tablet PC Parental Control (<a rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow" onclick="_gaq.push([" href="http://www.any-parental-control.com/">http://www.any-parental-control.com</a>) will help you control computer/laptop usage by creating computer schedules.</p>
<p>3. Monitor your children&#8217;s accounts &#8211; Make sure you know who your children are meeting online. Effective Internet Monitoring programs like Tablet PC Parental Control will help you do this.</p>
<p>4. Make the Internet a family activity &#8211; Maybe more important than anything else, keep your computers in a central part of the house; that way you can stay involved and keep an eye on what your children are doing. If this is not an available option then Tablet PC Parental Control will help you monitor the computers in other rooms.</p>
<p>Tablet PC Parental Control &#8212; Best Internet Monitoring Software</p>
<p>Tablet PC Parental Control (<a rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow" onclick="_gaq.push([" href="http://www.any-parental-control.com/">http://www.any-parental-control.com</a>)  is your fastest and easiest solution to safeguard your children&#8217;s Internet experience and maximize the efficiency of the time they spend on the computer. With improved features and functionality, Tablet PC Parental Control offers total control over your kids&#8217; computer activity. Tablet PC Parental Control records entire system activities, windows snapshots, clipboards, chat logs, websites visited, composed emails, applications accessed, and etc.</p>
<p>Tablet PC Parental Control is much more than the best-rated Parental Controls solution. It is loaded and preloaded with many optional benefits and features that improve the security and the quality of the Internet your children see. Installing Tablet PC Parental Control on your computer is customizing the Internet, by child, the way you want your kids to experience and use it.</p>
<p>Features That Make Tablet PC Parental Control Unique</p>
<p>1. Run in a invisible and stealthy mode.</p>
<p>2. Take screen snapshots in real-time and watch the screenshots in video-style playback.</p>
<p>3. Record the date and time an email was sent or received, the subject, the contents and any attachments.</p>
<p>4. Blocking access to dangerous and inappropriate web sites.</p>
<p>5. Record all the visited websites, URLs, captions, users, and computers to estimate users&#8217; browsing activity.</p>
<p>6. Block IM Chats IM outgoing files with specific application names.</p>
<p>7. See the complete dialog of your child&#8217;s chat conversations on facebook, MySpace, Yahoo, AIM and MSN.</p>
<p>8. Easy to use and install which do not demand a degree in Computer Science to configure and operate.</p>
<p>9. 30 days free trial and free customer service.</p>
<p>(<a rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow" onclick="_gaq.push([" href="http://www.any-parental-control.com/">http://www.any-parental-control.com</a>)</p>
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		<title>Parents Filing For Taxes</title>
		<link>http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/94/parents-filing-for-taxes</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Dec 2011 06:20:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Filing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parents]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Parents Filing For Taxes There is a large tax credit available to many households who have a dependent child. This may come as a surprise to many new parents, but it is important to plan for it. It is worth up to ,000 per child, and one of the real benefits is that it is a tariff credit, not a deduction. Unlike a deduction, a credit reduces your tariff bill dollar-for-dollar. The reduction is limited to those with certain incomes.&#8230; <a href="http://www.raisingaskeptic.com/94/parents-filing-for-taxes">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#187;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> Parents Filing For Taxes </strong><br />
 There is a large tax credit available to many households who have a dependent child. This may come as a surprise to many new parents, but it is important to plan for it.</p>
<p>It is worth up to ,000 per child, and one of the real benefits is that it is a tariff credit, not a deduction. Unlike a deduction, a credit reduces your tariff bill dollar-for-dollar.</p>
<p>The reduction is limited to those with certain incomes. First, to qualify you must be able to pass a few governmental tests.</p>
<p>The dependent must be a U.S. citizen or resident who are under age 17 at the end of the tariff year. You can claim your child, stepchild, adopted child, grandchild, or great-grandchild.</p>
<p>You may also be able to claim foster children if they were placed with you by a court or other authorized agency. The child must also live with you for more than half the year in which you are trying to claim the deduction.</p>
<p>The dependent also must not provide more than half of their own support, which is typically only an issue for older dependents. This is also a nonrefundable tax credit, which means that if you do not have enough tariff owed the credit would be reduced so that no refund would be issued.</p>
<p>If you do not qualify for this credit, you may qualify for an addition form. The additional child levy credit is a refundable, and is for those who had a qualifying child and did not receive the full amount of the child tax credit.</p>
<p>Since this is a refundable credit it is possible to get a refund even if you do not have any tariff liability. Qualifying for the additional child tax reduction benefits has the same qualifying and income guidelines.</p>
<p>In addition, if you qualify for the earned income levy reduction benefit, your additional child tariff reduction would be reduced by the earned income credit that you received. There is also the annual gift exclusion tax law to take into consideration.</p>
<p>The annual gift exclusion has nothing to do with the portion of your tax return known as gross income, which includes wages and profits from a business. It actually has to do with gift and estate tariff, or the amount the government charges people if they give away or die with too much money.</p>
<p>In the United States, every person that dies with more than a certain amount is charged a &#8220;death tax&#8221; on the excess if the money goes to anyone besides their spouse. Currently, the limit is ,500,000 per person.</p>
<p>To keep people from avoiding estate taxation by giving away all their money right before they die, the IRS also puts limits on the amount you can gift in any one year to any one person. There is also a cumulative limit over their lifetime for gifts that exceed the annual exemption amount.</p>
<p>In 2009, this annual gift exclusion was ,000 per recipient, per year. The lifetime gift limit is then maxed out at ,000,000.</p>
<p>Anything you give in excess to ,000 per recipient, per year is essentially subtracted from the lifetime limit of ,000,000. This simultaneously reduces the amount they can be transferred tariff-free at death.</p>
<p>The only time a recipient would ever get taxed is if the donor exceeds their lifetime gift exemption while still alive and refuses to use their credit or to pay the &#8220;gift&#8221; tariff. Then, in theory, the IRS could ask the recipient to pay it.</p>
<p>There is even more confusion when it comes to paying for college and the annual gift levy exclusion. Anyone is allowed to pay unlimited educational or medical bills of any other person without having to worry about the annual gift limit.</p>
<p>The only requirement is that the payment must be made directly to the educational institution. If an individual puts more than the annual gift limit into a Section 529 account, it may reduce his or her estate tariff exemption. </p>
<div>
<p>
Jack R. Landry has worked since 1988 as a tax attorney. He has written hundreds of articles about finding a <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.taxcrisisinstitute.com/">Unfiled Returns California<br /></a> .</p>
<p>Contact Info:<br />
Jack R. Landry<br />
JackRLandry@gmail.com</p>
<p>http://www.TaxCrisisInstitute.com</p>
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