There seems to be no hope to the child of an alcoholic.  Their days could be spent taking care of the home and the substance-abusing parent.  They may be responsible for taking care of other siblings making it difficult for them to concentrate on schoolwork or even having fun with friends.  It becomes hard for them to maintain friendships and develop social skills because of their embarrassment over the condition of their home life. 

These children of alcoholics must understand that they are not responsible for their parent’s behavior.  It is not their fault that their parent drinks.  They should also know that they are not all alone in the world or even in dealing with this problem.  Children of alcoholics may have witnessed violent behavior in their home.  It is important that they understand that the alcoholism is responsible for this behavior. 

Family members of the alcoholic who is raising children can help children develop into positive and responsible adults.  The alcoholic parents abilities to successfully raise children is severely limited by their addiction. Children of alcoholics suffer from increased stress and depression.  Other family members can help the child remove themselves from their difficult home life by looking at the positive aspects of their life. 

Some children of alcoholics move in the opposite direction as their addicted parent.  They will become more successful in school and grow into exceptionally responsible adults.  These children seem to have resilience to the problems going on at home.  It is important to understand where this resilience comes from to help those children who may not be as immune to their parent’s abusive behavior. 

It is up to everyone in the greater community to identify these children and help them when their parents can’t.  A child who has an advocate in their corner has a greater chance of success than one who does not. 

On the evening news parents are exposed to stories of missing children.  It is the nightmare of every parent.  What can a parent do to make sure that their child does not end up one of the many missing children reported every day?

A parent must know where their children are at every moment.  This may not have been the case in the past, but times have changed and it is imperative that parents know this information.  Not only where they are but also where they will be at any point in the day.  This information is critical to detection that your child is unaccounted for during the course of their day.  While the child may be perfectly fine it is important for finding a potentially missing child that the search begin as soon as possible.  Some parents are using GPS devices in their child’s cell phones to know exactly where their children are at any given time.  This also helps if your child is not telling you the truth of where they are during the day.  If they are not in school during school hours you will know immediately.  Cell phone services offer a family locator service for this purpose. 

Let your children know what places are off limits to them.  It is important that children know where dangers might present themselves.  If you know of predators in your area, let your children know to stay away from those homes.  It is not necessary to go into graphic detail to your children; just let them know to stay away. 

Get to know your neighbors.  Other parents can be of invaluable help in the case of missing children or predators lurking in your neighborhood.  Keep track of suspicious behavior in the neighborhood. 

While we may never eliminate the tragedy of missing children, as parents we can do a great many things to keep our children safe. 

It is a very noble decision to foster parent.  That statement just does not do justice to the self-sacrificing act of foster parenting.  For a person to open up their home and heart to a child in need is one of the greatest displays of human kindness there is. Although someone may have the heart and the desire, a person who is thinking about entering into a foster parenting situation should ponder the choice long and hard before they make any decision.  This decision affects an entire family not just the one making the decision. 

A person seeking to foster parent should spend some time with all the considerations before taking in a foster child.  One such consideration is time.  Some of these children have lived particularly horrific lives.  They have witnessed things that no child should ever have to see.  A foster parent must be understanding of that fact and realize that these children will exhibit behaviors that require constant supervision.  Further they might require counseling and therapy to help them work through their issues.  This will mean that the foster parent will bring them to therapy, spend time with the child and just be there whenever the child needs them.

A foster parent very rarely receives the respect that they deserve.  This lack of respect comes especially from the child.  Many adults may have let this child down which will make it extremely difficult to trust again.  It will take time to break through the walls that a foster child has built up around their heart.  Some people unfairly tend to see foster parents as people interested in the miniscule money that is given for foster parenting.  While it may seem ridiculous to think foster parenting is done for the money, many people believe that to be true. 

Of course, one should consider the emotional investment in foster parenting.  If a person opens their home and heart to a child it is perfectly natural for them to become attached.  When a child enters into a foster parenting situation it is unknown how long they will stay with any given family.  There have been countless news stories of foster families ripped apart when the state decides to move the child or return them to their natural family.  A foster parent must be prepared for this eventuality. 

With all these considerations many honorable and caring folks make the decision to foster parent.  It is fortunate for the children that need someone to care for them during a time when no one is able.  Make this decision carefully; it is of no help for these kids if the decision is made in haste and for the wrong reasons. 

New parents walk around with question marks stapled to their forehead.  Breast or bottle, work or stay at home, home school or public school, and the list goes on and on.  New parents are full of these questions and it’s important that they find reliable sources of parenting information.

Where then do they turn?  Family is a great source of information about parenting.  Whether they want to believe it or not, their mother in law has raised children successfully and can probably give a few pointers about how to best take care of babies.  After all, they raised the person they’re married to, and did a pretty good job or there wouldn’t have been a wedding.  New parents would be wise to take advantage of the years of experience right at their fingertips. 

The hospital where the baby was born can provide parenting information.  They may also be able to point a new parent in the direction of parenting groups.  These parenting groups can give a wealth of information about baby care as well as some support for the stress that new parents face. 

The web can be a great resource for information on babies.  A new parent can find developmental information about their babies as well as advice geared especially for new parents.  At the very least a new parent can find parenting information that they can ask the pediatrician about at the next baby appointment.  An informed parent is a better advocate for their baby at the doctor’s office. 

Of course, the parenting section of the local bookstore can provide a wealth of information on a new baby.  From pregnancy all the way through to the toddler years, a parent will have experts at their fingertips through the multitude of books available. 

New parents can spend hours digging their way through all of the parenting information available to them.  Eventually, they will have to put the books aside, turn off the computer and just savor those precious years. 

Young kids light up like Christmas trees when their parents visit their school.  They are so proud of the work they do, their cubby where they keep their stuff, and the teacher they have come to love.  Parents can encourage that excitement about school if they continue their involvement in the life their child lives outside of the home.

Parent’s involvement in school benefits children on two different levels.  First it speaks volumes about the importance that is placed on education.  Second it lets the parents know exactly where their children are excelling and where they may be having difficulty.  This information is crucial if parents are going to assist their children with their schoolwork. 

It gets a little tricky as children get older.  Parents are the last people a kid wants to see wandering the hallways of their school.  A parent must start involvement in their child’s education early enough so that it is just expected.  Parents embarrass children, no matter what.   Face it mom and dad you just aren’t cool.  Get used to that fact and plow ahead anyway. 

There are many opportunities to get involved in your child’s school.  Volunteers are always welcome and it puts you in touch with the events and activities at the school.  Get to know your child’s teacher.  Teachers appreciate parent involvement in the school.  It lets them know that at least one child in their class is receiving the help and support they need at home.  With the busy schedules parents have this can be a rarity. 

Volunteer for chaperone duty the next time your child has a field trip.  Parents who are able to assist teachers during field trips get a chance to meet some of their children’s classmates.  Field trips are an exciting adventure for children and a parent’s involvement in that fun develops a much closer relationship with their children. 

Showing an interest in your child’s education is a wonderful thing for both parent and child.  Helping out with homework puts parents in touch with what children are learning.  So get out there parents and get involved.   

First time parents are usually busy in the months before the child arrives, planning the nursery, buying baby clothes and baby proofing their home.  When the child arrives and the reality of the situation settles in they may be feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the work involved with the care of their cherished baby. 

First time moms are especially susceptible to this feeling of inadequacy and isolation that goes hand in hand with caring for a newborn.  New moms will question every decision they make and wonder if they are capable of this awesome responsibility.  There are days spent alone caring for the child, not being able to shower or even take a moment for quiet thought.  A parenting group may be just the answer to their prayers.

The most wonderful thing about a parenting group is adult talk.  At a parenting group they will find other adults to talk to, share their experiences with and get some much needed advice.  The best part of these groups is that the other adults are going through the exact same thing.  Couples can join groups and meet other couples with new babies.  Or a new mother can join one just for her to be around other new moms.

Some parenting groups invite speakers to talk to the group.  This can be a great source of information for first time parents.  Parents will find that the more informed they are the less worried and stressed they will be.  The less worried and stressed they are the better they will be able to enjoy their child and these wonderful baby years.  After all, babies can sense nervousness in their mothers and respond to it with fussing and crying. 

The hospital where the child will be delivered is a great resource for information on parenting groups.  They should have information about how to join the group and which group would be appropriate.  Or some church groups have parenting groups available.  Whichever avenue is taken a parenting group is a great tool for a new parent.  One should take advantage of them.