Babies and toddlers are adorable. From their language as they learn to speak to their facial expressions. I am always in awe as I watch my grandchildren now 6mo. and 3 years old. Grand parenting is wonderful,all the cuteness and no parenting. I loved being a child, I loved having children and now I love watching the grand babies grow.

Not everyone is that fortunate. As the number of abused children grow yearly we are left watching helplessly. There are some wonderful groups out their such as Child Help who assist with the families and the children. We all know it is not enough. The injuring and killing has got to stop.

Find a group and give. Give of your time or your money. The child you save will go on to be a productive citizen. One that, we hope, will end the abusive cycle at least in their family.

Anger, some say it is a necessary emotion. I agree,  but only  if someone is threatening your life. In that case it would be good, and better than fear. In any other situation it shows, well, a lack of knowing how to deal with situations. Stop sometime when someone is getting angry and really put it in perspective. Is it necessary? Will it help or hurt the situation?  Why do they feel angry and out of control? Then take a deep breath, when they calm down let them know, in a gentle calm voice, that you are not angry and would like to know what you can do to help. It may not help immediately but over time it should. Grace, it is a free gift you can give out to everyone.

People: you love them, you hate them, you put up with them. One thing you don't want to do is get out of touch with people. We all need each other.  You may not agree with everyone, but celebrate uniqueness, it will broaden your horizon. Don't put up your walls to keep people out. Take a chance. We live once make it the best life ever.... and smile. 

In this crazy busy world we live in where the pace seems to pick up daily, do you ever stop to smell the roses? Sounds funny doesn't it. "I have too many people depending on me to slow down" you say. How much better would it be if you did take time for yourself. Stopped, refreshed then jumped back into the world as it continues to spin out of control. You would be able to do more, participate more, help more, love more. Live, love and rejoice in what God has placed on this earth. We are only here for a brief time.

What is most important in your life? No, not money lol. It is important but, as the Bible says, without love we are just noise. Love makes the world go around. Doesn't the ocean look bluer and the grass greener when you are in love? It is important your children understand love. Not just saying the words "I love you" but the feeling and the meaning behind those words.  What is it to: love each other, yourself, your siblings. Instill in your child love; say the words and live out the meaning. 

Memory surely is an elusive thing. It is funny the things we remember and the things we forget or seem not to have access to. I remember a lot of things about my childhood and as Betsy stated in the blog called "Memory", things prior to age 3 seem to be lost but are amplified if trauma is involved. For me I have a number of memories about my early childhood, some involving trauma and some that are memories involving play. Some of the memories are in picture form while others seem to be feelings that I cannot seem to attach to anything, just a feeling.
One of my fondest memories was running through my grandmother’s big house hiding behind the couch and the chairs and just seeming to run forever. I remember going up the huge set of stairs to the upstairs bathroom. I remember the sights, the sounds, the smells, etc; The house seemed so large; however, being in the same house as an adult I was amazed at the size difference. It seemed so much smaller than I remembered. Isn’t it interesting that our memories don't grow with us - they are our reality at that time and place in our lives and remain that way. 

How far back do you remember? I have trouble remembering yesterday but I do remember when my dog Tippy became ill and they had to "take her away". I was probably close to 4 years old. I was talking with my granddaughter the other day, she will be 3 this month she was helping me make her first skirt. Will she remember it? I don't think so. Unless it is traumatic we don't seem to have conscious memories until at least 3+. She remembered where I put the spray bottle, she remembers what we are having for lunch but everything up to this year won't be saved in the long term memory bank.

It is not a 4 letter word but we don't talk loudly when discussing weight, especially when it has to do with body fat. We live in a generation that feels thin is in. The advertising we watch is the opposite: Can we super size your meal? We are bombarded by food food and more food. Unfortunately  it isn't vegetables they are advertising.

In Forbes magazine "The Fattest Countries" America ranks 9th out of 194 countries with 74.1% of  our citizens ages 15+ are overweight, ouch. Children now have diseases such as type 2 diabetes.  Roger Skegelken of Cornell University: Obese children risk developing type 2 diabetes which is linked to heart attack, stroke, blindness, amputation and kidney disease”

According to Steve Conrad, Science Editor, Independent News. Referring to childhood obesity:  "We are the first generation where parents may outlive their children”.

Where do you stand? The bmi (body mass index) is the standardized method used to determine if a person is overweight.
 
(body weight in pounds X 703) then divided by (height X height).  A bmi equal to or greater than 25 is overweight, a bmi equal to or greater than 30 is Obese. 

Any helpful hints out there on how to keep children at a healthy weight? Share them with us!

Children are our greatest asset. They are the next: Leaders, CEO's, Teachers, Doctors, Lawyers. Our children at this young age need to be taught about morals. What they learn now won't leave them. It is also important at this age to foster their imagination. 

From the Baby Center: As you expose your toddler to new sights, sounds, and sensations, you open his/her mind to a bigger, more exciting world. And when you use your imagination with them — "Look, I'm a tiger in the jungle!" "Let's pretend we're going to Grandma's house" — you spur their brain to forge "imagination pathways" of its own.
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-raise-an-imaginative-child_11544.bc

It became apparent the other day that the first grandchild of the family, now 2 and 1/2, is going to grow up whether we like it or not. Of course we do love it, but every time you hit a mile stone a little piece of your heart goes also.  I am not sure when it happened; one day she was talking in incomplete sentences babbling and mimicking everything you say. Then the next day a full complete sentence shoots right out and another in the long road of firsts has occurred. Enjoy each moment there won’t be another just like it.