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5 Conversations You Should Have Before Sending Your Child to College

Every August and September, parents and kids everywhere prepare for the first day of school. While the first day of school is always a big deal, there are few first days bigger than the first day of college. If your (big) baby is starting their first semester at a higher education institution, you know there is a lot to do – packing, unpacking, registering for classes and meeting new people are just a few items on a very long list. If you haven’t had these conversations with your college-bound son or daughter, make sure you add these discussions onto your to-do list.

Summer may be almost over, but you can't forget about water safety

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of death for children. Florida is known for beautiful weather year-round, which unfortunately means that

Sending a child with epilepsy to school: what every parent should know

Why antibiotics aren't always the answer

When our kids get sick, we often feel desperate for relief and many parents look to antibiotics to help their children get better faster.

Distraction can be a useful tool in helping your child cope with a difficult situation

As a Child Life Specialist, I often joke about the proverbial “toolkit” that I seem to have invisibly available when I work with children. In it are a variety of ideas, books, toys, and other items that I have used in the past that can benefit children as they go through painful procedures or times in the hospital that are particularly stressful. One of my best “tools” in this kit of mine is distraction.

Stitches of love: how a community of volunteers cares for children in the hospital

Four years ago Georgy Cartwright, along with several other ladies, created their very own knitting, crocheting and sewing group which they named, “Stitches of Love.” Most of the members migrated to Florida and were looking to make new friends and put their skills to use. Now, every month they make a special trip to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies to donate their handmade items.  

Do your children really know better than to sext?

As caregivers, we do our best to instill values and morals in our children. We want our children to do the right thing even when we are not around to see their actions. We want them to make good decisions, but as the use of electronics and the number of apps available to them increases, making good decisions often clashes with what’s “trending.”

How do you cope with a debilitating and invisible chronic illness?

How do you cope with having a debilitating invisible chronic illness, like Gastroparesis? When I was first diagnosed with Gastroparesis, I honestly didn’t know how to feel. It was like I was on a rollercoaster of emotions - accepting one day, and completely confused the next. I later came to the realization that those feelings are completely normal. 

How to keep your kids from begging for Halloween candy

Halloween has become one of my favorite holidays. I never cared for it much before I became a parent, but now I look forward to it every year. My kids get so excited for the day to finally arrive, and I love seeing them dressed up in their little costumes, even if it’s only long enough for a couple of pictures. We take them door to door, and they continue to be thrilled each and every time a neighbor drops a treat into their ever-growing stash. We come home way past their bedtime with loads of treasure, and they can’t wait to dig through it all and sample their goodies.

Inhaled flu vaccine isn’t recommended this year: Find out why

During each year, there are consistently two types of drama that you can count on: middle school girl drama and flu shot drama.