3 Must-Have Health Screenings for Women

Posted on September 25, 2012 by viviankirkfield

I just received an email from a blogging friend over at Diva Cafe. She went for a routine colonoscopy…and they discovered precancerous polyps.

I went for my first routine colonoscopy when I turned 50…and a couple of years ago I had my second…they usually tell you to have one at age 50…and, if everything looks good, another ten years later. I will tell you that the prep stuff I had to drink the night before the first time was yucky! The prep stuff a couple of years ago was much better. The actual procedure was a piece of cake…they give you something so you think you are sleeping and then you don’t remember anything…perfect!

How about the rest of you? An annual routine check-up with a family doctor should be on every woman’s calendar. Also, a mammogram (first at age 35 or so for a baseline reading and then, if all is ok, check with your doc as to when and how often you should have the next ones. In addition, a Pap smear and, as I just mentioned, a colonoscopy at age 50.

Are these exams fun? NO! But not having them could impact your life very seriously!
Find doctors you are comfortable with…ask friends who they go to and, if your insurance allows, schedule appointments with them.
If you don’t have the money for them, check with community organizations…for many people these exams are free or at a very low cost.
Try to schedule the annual routine exam first (maybe around your B-day or the first of the year so you will remember to do it). Your family doc may have to write referrals or lab orders for the other tests, depending on your health insurance.

Moms often get so caught up with caring for their children and their home; they tend to put themselves last.

But your health is paramount…if you get sick, who is going to take care of your family?

So please, take care of yourselves!

What other important check-ups should moms have? Please share!

Top Ten Health Care Screenings to Maintain Physical Fitness (savings.com)
Essential Tests for After Menopause (everydayhealth.com)
Colon cancer harder to detect in women (utsandiego.com)

Sunday Post: People: Who Are the Most Important People in Your Life?

Posted on September 23, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is PEOPLE.

When I saw the theme, I immediately began thinking of the most important people in my life. First, I thought of my husband. We’ve been married over 45 years and still enjoy sitting on the couch, watching a good movie and walking down a country lane, hand in hand, talking about anything and everything under the sun. Yes, I know, we are so very fortunate.

A WORD TO THE WISE: Every relationship has its ups and downs and no one is perfect. We all make mistakes…don’t be ashamed to say, “I’m sorry!” Be consistent, be compassionate and think before you speak.

Then I thought about my children and grandchildren. I love spending time with them…and count myself fortunate that they enjoy spending time with me as well.

WORD TO THE WISE: Parenting young children is a difficult task…you need patience and energy and lots of love. We all make mistakes…don’t be ashamed to say “I’m sorry!” Be consistent, be compassionate and think before you speak.

Then I thought about my friends…some I’ve known for many years. Jane and I met each other when we were only two years old…we played house and Superman and colored in coloring books and had picnics together in the park. When we each got married, we continued that friendship and now, after sixty-three years, although we live thousands of miles apart, we are close in heart and soul.

WORD TO THE WISE: Friendship is a skill we need to teach our kids…how to care for and respect one another. We all make mistakes…don’t be ashamed to say, “I’m sorry!” Be consistent, be compassionate and think before you speak.

Then I thought about the friends I have made this past year in the blogging community…especially those who blog about writing and illustrating for children. There are dozens of them…authors, illustrators, librarians, teachers, moms…and they inspire and encourage me to pursue my dream of seeing my own children’s picture books on the bookshelves of libraries and homes around the world.

Does this dream sound familiar? Would you like to pursue your writing in an unbelievable setting? Have you always wanted to go to Italy, but hesitated because you didn’t want to go alone or with a group of travelers with whom you have nothing in common? Here is your golden opportunity to spend a week in Italy, learning and writing with a fantastic group of like-minded women.

A writer friend of mine has organized an amazing retreat for women writers in Florence, Italy. It will take place from April 7-13, 2013. I cannot attend, but you might like to go. Julie has an overview of the retreat on her website, plus specific information about the Program, Faculty, Accommodation and Rates. If you do register, please let Julie know I sent you!

We have ten more days for nominations to give a dozen free copies of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cookingto schools or other childcare facilities. Nominate your child’s school, or your own school if you are a teacher, in the Show Me How School Initiative by leaving a comment and telling us why you’d like that school or classroom to have this book. If you don’t have young children, but know people who do, please tell them about the free book their child’s school can receive! Please tweet this or spread the word across any of your social media networks. At the beginning of October we will use Random.org to choose 12 lucky schools.

Author and educator Susan Case just did a fantastic review of Show Me How! on her Kindergarten Basics blog. Click on the link if you’d like to see what she thinks about this award-winning resource that makes planning activities and spending quality time with your kids a SNAP!

Want to scoop up a copy of Show Me How! while you can still get FREE SHIPPING and a BONUS GIFT? Please visit my book’s website.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

Sunday Post: Splendid…Places, People and Things (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)
Sunday Post: From a Distance…Parenting Solutions (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)

Picture Perfect Book Friday: Frizzy the Fearful

Posted on September 21, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday where I link up with Susanna Leonard Hill’s fantastic group of picture book writers, illustrators, librarians and others who contribute a picture book review and related resources for parents, teachers and children.

I usually pick books that I have recommended in Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. If you click on the link, you will visit the wonderful blog of Kimberley Moran’s First in Maine. This former preschool teacher did a lovely review of my book yesterday.

I know it’s hard to think about the gift-giving holidays of winter when we are just entering these scarlet and gold days of autumn…but Christmas and Hanukkah and Kwanza will be here before we know it. If you are needing a great gift for a teacher, parent or grandparent of young kids, a daycare provider or anyone who loves reading, crafting and cooking with children…or anyone who might be a little hesitant about doing activities with kids, please direct them to my website. They can grab a copy of this award-winning resource that makes planning fun-filled educational self-esteem building activities a snap…and we are offering FREE SHIPPING and a small BONUS gift for the next 30 days! THIS IS A GIFT THAT REQUIRES NO BATTERIES…IT’S POWERED BY A CHILD’S IMAGINATION AND A PARENT’S POSITIVE PARTICIPATION!

Young children are often beset with many different fears: fear of the dark and going to sleep, fear of monsters, fear of separation and getting lost, fear of new experiences and new places and fear of illness and death.

Do you have a young child who is afraid of something?

Is that fear keeping him or her from joining activities or socializing?

Sitting down and talking to your child is a good step to take to try to help your child overcome that fear. But sometimes it’s hard to start a conversation about difficult topics. That’s why picture books are so valuable because they set the stage for a relaxed discussion about almost anything.

For this situation,a wonderful choice would be Frizzy The Fearful by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. This little tiger is afraid of EVERYTHING, but with the help of his friends and mother, he learns that he can cope with those fears.

Frizzy the Fearful

Written by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Illustrated by John Wollner

Publisher: Holiday House (1983)

Ages: 4 and up

Themes:

Acknowledging and overcoming fears, helping others, self-esteem, friendship

Synopsis:

Poor little Frizzy Tiger! He is afraid of almost everything…high places and low places, the dark, loud noises and pits in fruit. He avoids going places with his friends and misses out on many fun-filled activities because he doesn’t want anyone to know how frightened he is. When he climbs a tree to help a friend, even though he is terrified, Frizzy realizes that everyone has fears, and he begins to feel a little better about his own situation.

Why do I like this book:

Children love to hear about others who have experiences and feelings similar to their own. This is a wonderful book to share with any child, but especially one who has some fears…Frizzy Tiger has so many. Young kids will be able to relate to the little tiger and will cheer him on, hopefully acknowledging and perhaps overcoming their own fears as they do so. The illustrations keep pace with the text and will help a young listener identify with the many situations that frighten Frizzy. During the story or afterwards, the adult reader will have a great opportunity to listen with respect to what the child has to say. Perhaps sharing an experience from your own childhood will also help the child understand that everyone has fears.

Related Activities:

A BADGE OF COURAGE

Here’s a quick and easy craft project that any young child would love to make. Perhaps your child has been to the dentist and was very brave in the chair…or maybe she finished her first week of nursery school and even though she was hesitant at first, she has made the adjustment and is enjoying her day there. Pin this badge on to affirm his willingness to overcome his fears and his acceptance of life’s challenges.

Education.com has instructions for a bravery badge: http://www.education.com/activity/article/bravery-badge/

You will need: Construction paper, aluminum foil, glue stick, ribbon, scissors, crayons or markers and one safety pin.

1. Cut out 3 circles of different sizes.

2. Glue the circles, one on top of the other.

3. Glue the ribbon on the back.

4. Write the child’s name on the smallest circle.

5. Cut out small stars from aluminum foil or draw stars or use gummed star

stickers.

Cooking with kids is another great way to extend the learning experience that starts with reading the book.

Here’s a simple fruit salad that is a nutritious snack or lunch. We all know how important it is to encourage young children to eat healthy foods. We need to make every meal count…especially snacks!

CHILD-FRIENDLY PIT-LESS FRUIT SALAD

You will need: 1 banana, a small bunch of seedless grapes, 1 pear, 1 navel orange and a few leaes of lettuce to use as the base. You can substitute any fruits your child enjoys…just try to add one or two new ones that he can try.

1. Wash all the fruit and lettuce and put the lettuce leaves in the bowls.

2. Slice the apple and pear and arrange on the lettuce.

3. Peel the orange, separate into sections and arrange on the plate.

4. Peel the banana, slice and add to the arrangement.

5. Cut each grape in half and add to the salad.

6. Serves 2-3 as a main dish (add some grilled chicken strips or cheese cubes for protein). Serves 4-6 as a side salad or snack (add a couple of whole grain crackers).

The Show-Me-How School Initiative is still looking for A FEW GOOD SCHOOLS. Please leave a comment on this post, telling which school or other child-care facility you would like to nominate to receive a free copy of Show Me How!

This post is part of a series for parents and teachers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays hosted by Susanna Leonard Hill. Click on her link and find lots of other picture book suggestions with summaries and activities. This is an unbelievable resource for any parent, teacher or children’s librarian.

And please don’t forget to visit my website for a chance to get a copy of Show Me How!…FREE SHIPPING AND A FREE BONUS GIFT FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS!!!