I’m usually the type of person who’s willing to try anything.  I tend to be a bit naïve and believe the claims made by many products.  But I’ve grown skeptical and weary about this when it comes to multi-vitamins.  They all swear they’re different but, to me, they all seem to be the same. 

So when I was sent a bottle of Passion4Life liquid vitamins I wasn’t very hopeful but I did immediately like the fact that it was a liquid.

I know through my research that absorption is a huge factor and traditional pills just don’t do it as well.  Typically only about 10% – 20% of the vitamins and minerals are absorbed from pills and tablets.  I wanted to find something that really made me feel energized so that I knew it was working.  I also wanted to find a multi that didn’t make me feel nauseous after taking it. 

Now I need to digress and tell you a bit of my back story.  Four months ago my husband was diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis.  This causes him fatigue and a loss of balance.  There are no drugs available to help this particular kind of MS but there are some alternative treatments which include, among them, a raw food diet high in kale and other leafy greens and Vitamin D3.  We’ve been eating healthier than ever, consuming a great deal of kale and numerous multi-colored vegetables but I’m always looking for an extra boost. 

Back to Passion4Life.  When we received it I immediately went to the website to get more info.  I was impressed that not only are there tons of non-paid testimonials from athletes but also from physicians.  I also was impressed that part of the proceeds goes towards Passion for K.I.D.S. (Kids in Desperate Situations), a non-profit that was established by the founder Charles Van Kessler. 

Passion4Life has 135 vitamins and minerals including Liposomal Resveratrol.  Resveratrol is the compound in red wine that is beneficial for heart health and anti-aging.  I still think I’d like a glass of red wine with dinner but this definitely is a nice bonus!  What really impressed me was the whole food juices from vegetables and fruits especially the kale that my husband needs.   It also has four times the amount of D3 recommended by the US RDA. 

That all sounds OK but then it came down to two things – does it work and what does it taste like?  My husband took it first.  I can tell you that he’s not a big fan of the taste.  I don’t find it too bad but I certainly wouldn’t call it delicious.  But here’s what sold me.  By that evening my husband told me he felt “different.”  I asked him to define “different.”  He said it was easier for him to move and his legs felt energized!   So huge DISCLAIMER here!  I can only relate how my husband felt.  I have no idea what effect it will have on anyone else but I can tell you he now LOVES it.  And, I can tell you that it’s also made me way more energized.  I just feel better!

I didn’t realize that kids can take this as well.  My son has ADHD and I saw that there’s an article on the site about the benefits for kids with ADD/ADHD.  It has no sugar, only stevia and agave to sweeten it.  And it’s caffeine free, gluten free and dairy free.

I never would have imagined that I would say this but we definitely have found a multi-vitamin that we love and works! 

Disclaimer: I was sent a free bottle of Passion4Life to try but, as always, the words and opinion are mine.

Recently there was an issue in my town where a nanny was arrested for abusing two small children in her care.  She was at the local pharmacy when apparently she was screaming at the children and grabbed the 2 year-old by the neck.

The police arrested her and called the mother who was at work to inform her of what had happened.  Can you imagine getting a call like that at work!?!!  I’m sure this mom had checked the woman’s references and felt that she was safe but it just goes to show, you never know.  I don’t know if it’s because of the stress of the economy or something else, but it seems that people are literally “snapping.”  And the last person you want to snap is the person entrusted with caring for your kids.

Of course, there are those isolated incidents – those momentary lapses in judgement that we all have where we just lose it.  Whether as parents or caregivers, they happen.  But what about when it’s more than that?  What about the nanny or babysitter that we learn is stealing from us or truly neglecting our child?  And particularly, what about those of us who have a special needs’ child where we absolutely must find someone who is highly qualified to care for our child?  Sure, there are nanny agencies out there but often they’re extremely expensive and not all of us need someone full time.

So, what’s a parent to do?  I’ve often relied on recommendations from friends or asked around in my local community but I know many instances where the person came with glowing references only to turn out to be a disaster for the next family.  Even if you’ve received the reference from a trusted source, you still should do a background check.  A great place to start is Free Public Record Sites (www.publicrecordsources.com) .  This lists available resources by state including driving, criminal, civil and financial records.  Prior to starting your search however, find out the privacy laws for your particular state.  Each state’s laws are different.  Some require written consent from the person for whom you’re conducting the background check but others don’t.  If you inform the person and get their date of birth and social security number you can run a check through the Federal Bureau of Investigations (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks ).  I’ve had people say to me that this is insulting but the bottom line is this is my family’s safety.  They are free to refuse and I am free not to hire them.

The relationship with a caregiver is different than any other one.  I mean after all, they’re caring for your kids and, while it’s a business relationship, it’s far more personal than any other.  Sometimes it’s hard to maintain the level of professionalism that’s needed.  They become a part of your family and you want to trust them.  But unfortunately that trust can be abused.  That’s why I firmly believe in nanny cams and security systems that provide video monitoring.  Again, I have people tell me they think this is an invasion of privacy but, if it gives you a sense of security when you’re away from your child, that’s your right.

Have you had nanny nightmares?  Share them here.

For many people, going home for the holidays means facing an unpleasant reality.  Our parents are aging and, in fact, could be rapidly declining to a point that intervention is required in order to keep them safe.

It’s hard to face.  After all, this means admitting that we’re getting older as well but, more importantly, the people who have cared for you all your life are now going to require your care.  And sometimes, the situation is made even worse because one parent is “covering” for the other and refuses to admit that caring for their spouse is becoming increasingly difficult.

If you live nearby these changes might not be as apparent but if you visit infrequently, the decline might be dramatic.  How do you know when it’s time to intervene?  Here are some clues:

• Becoming forgetful, depressed or disoriented – Your parent could be feeling isolated and alone.  A change in behavior could also signal an underlying physical condition.
• Forgetting to pay bills or leaving mail unopened - If daily responsibilities are not being managed the financial ramifications can be immense.  Balancing a check book may have become too overwhelming.
• Had one or more car accidents – One of the most difficult decisions is when it’s time to take away a parent’s car keys.  This is a loss of independence that is profound but the potential of a life-threatening accident in which your parent is hurt, or someone else, is too great to ignore.
• The refrigerator is empty or full of spoiled food – Whether  your parent has forgotten to grocery shop or feels that it is too overwhelming, not eating properly or getting sufficient nutrition can lead to severe health issues.
• The house is messy and your parent is not taking care of personal hygiene – If your parent has always been a tidy person and now the house is cluttered, daily chores might be too difficult.  Your parent also might fear slipping in the bath tub and avoid bathing.  Falls are the leading cause of injury for older adults and clutter is a big culprit.

If you’re friendly with your parent’s neighbors, ask them if they have notice a change in behavior.  Make sure that you are aware of any prescribed medicine and check that your parent has been taking it regularly.  Check that smoke detectors are in good working order.  If you don’t live nearby, it’s also a good idea to check with local community organizations that can check in on your parent and provide meal delivery and transportation if required.

As I’ve told my kids, everyone has at least one area of “weakness.”  For me, it’s organizing.  I admit, my desk is a mess and I spend way too much time trying to find misplaced keys or other items in the morning.  Part of the problem is I get distracted easily.  As I’m organizing one thing, another “to-do” comes into my mind and off I go – leaving one project half-finished as I move on to that other thought.

But I’ve come to realize that organizing is about more than just having a place for everything.  It’s about making sure that my home is safe from dangers and I’m prepared for an emergency.  I’ve committed to taking at least one day this week to do nothing but organize and make sure I’ve got my act together.

Even if you’re the most organized person and your best friend is a label maker, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

-          Rearrange linen closets so that dangerous items such as medicines and cleaning products are kept on the top shelves away from toddlers.  Linens and towels which won’t hurt them if they get into them are better positioned on the lower shelves

-          Do a quick inventory of all toys to make sure that there are no missing or broken pieces.  Store small toys that could present a choking hazard to smaller children in see-through bins with lids on them.  Take a photo of each toy that is kept in the bin and tape it to the outside so your child knows exactly what belongs in there.

-          Check cold medicines and other prescription drugs to make sure that they have not expired.  Stock up for all of these items you will need during the upcoming cold and flu season.

-          Check that smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are still in good working order and, if you don’t have a CO detector, place one outside every bedroom and one on each floor of the house.

Now is also a great time to prepare and practice emergency evacuation plans with your family.  Keep all emergency numbers on a laminated card attached to your refrigerator, plan an alternate escape route and assign a meeting place outside of the house in case of an emergency.

I know that New Year’s resolutions usually center around losing weight, quitting smoking or some other personal improvement goal but, if you’re a parent, how about adding some New Year’s resolutions to improve your relationship with your kids and keep them safe? I recently asked my 9 year-old daughter about some resolutions and here’s what she came up with:

1. Keep your hands on the wheel – It’s a fact that adults are texting or talking on the phone and driving more than kids. We need to set an example for our teens and even younger kids who are learning by watching us. Put the phone down and concentrate on the road!

2. Learn about other people’s differences – As the sibling of a special needs’ child, my daughter understands only too well about bullying and intolerance. Let’s teach our kids to look for the beauty in everyone, appreciate their unique talents and celebrate their differences.

3. Have more fun – I’ll admit, as a working mom nothing makes me feel worse than when one of my kids complains I’m not around enough. Unfortunately they sometimes don’t realize that we need to work just to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. And yes, our stress sometimes comes out by being short with our kids. But I’ve come to realize that I’d rather my house be a bit (OK a lot) messy if it means I can spend a little extra time with my kids having fun and being silly. When they’re grown up I’d much rather have them say that they enjoyed having fun with me rather than comment on how clean the house was.

4. Be a parent first and friend second – Most teens will admit that they actually like their parents setting rules and boundaries. Sure, they might complain about it in public, but it gives them a sense of order and it’s what they expect of parents. For any parent who serves alcohol at a party to their child’s under-age friends, tries to dress like their teen daughter or tells them everything they did when they were a kid, this will only lead to a lack of respect not a friendship.

5. Be willing to learn from your child – Chances are they know way more about social media and online sites than you do. If you want to communicate with your kids, you need to do it on their terms and that generally means in short cryptic texts. But, if the goal is to understand what’s going on in their lives and protect them from cyberbullying and other dangers than understand what they’re doing.

Last week, The Centers for Disease Control released the data from an exhaustive survey finding that one in three women have experienced sexual assault, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.  Couple this with what seems to be weekly news reports of abusive husbands gunning down their entire family and it makes almost every woman in America stop and wonder whether they would know what to do if they were attacked.

As moms, it can feel as if we deal with endless cycles of coughs and runny noses.  But what if the cause of all these colds is not our child’s friend at school or the germ-laden grocery cart they touched?  Perhaps what’s making them sick is their very own home.  Two major culprits are mold and lead.

Where Does Mold Grow?

Mold can be found in any area of your home where moisture levels are elevated:

• Basements
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Ceilings and wall interiors where water from leaky pipes or roof leakage can accumulate
• Personal possessions

What Are The Symptoms?

Infants and children are most susceptible to allergens from mold exposure and their symptoms can be confused for a cold:

• Nasal and sinus congestion
• Cough
• Wheeze/breathing difficulties
• Sore throat

You can help lower mold levels by reducing the humidity in your home, using mold-reducing products and keeping items in your home as dry as possible. Be on the lookout for the more obvious signs of possible growth, such as musty smells or watermarks on walls and ceilings.  Once mold is detected it needs to be removed immediately and the source of the moisture needs to be identified and eliminated.

Get The Lead Out!

Lead is highly toxic and especially dangerous for children under 7, whose major organs have not fully developed.  If your home was constructed prior to 1978, there is a high likelihood that lead-based paint was used.  And, until Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1988, lead solder was used extensively in residential water piping.

Lead paint in your home is a hazard even if it isn’t peeling, chipping or cracking when it’s on high-use, high-friction surfaces including:

• Windows and window sills
• Doors and door frames
• Stairs, railings and banisters
• Porches and fences

What are The Symptoms?

Even low levels of lead exposure can cause permanent neurological damage in children including:

• Nervous system and kidney damage
• Learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and decreased intelligence
• Speech, language abnd behavior problems
• Poor muscle coordination
• Hearing damage

Immediate symptoms can also, like mold exposure, appear like cold and flu symptoms – tiredness, irritability, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping and constipation.

If you suspect your child has been exposed to lead you should contact your pediatrician immediately.

We’re all familiar with “mean girl” bullying – the subtle put-downs, gossiping and condescending glances that are the hallmarks.  Unfortunately I’m not referring to teens, I’m talking about the moms.

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day (let’s call her Ms. C) and she was relating how upset she was over some comments made by another “friend” regarding her tennis ability.  Seems this “friend” felt the need to point out that she was surprised Ms. C wasn’t better at her game given how often she plays.  She then went on to complain to Ms. C that their instructor was adding more players to their group and she was upset that these less-than-stellar players would be playing with them.

Sound like a bunch of high school cheerleaders?  You betcha.  And of course I wouldn’t be surprised if this woman’s daughter was saying the exact same thing about her fellow cheerleaders at school.  The old saying “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to mean-girl bullying.

Whether it’s about a girl’s fashion choices, physical appearance, amount of money or status her family has, religious beliefs or sexual orientation, there’s always something the mean girls can find to attack in not-so-subtle ways.

I’ve learned this first-hand over the past year or so. After a nasty divorce from an emotionally and verbally abusive man who has made it his mission to spread inaccuracies in a seemingly rational manner, I’ve learned that people love juicy gossip and will draw conclusions without questioning facts.  This has led to some women in my very small town to make some pretty nasty comments to my face and behind my back.  My 9 year-old has witnessed this and it upsets her greatly.  Personally, I’ve developed a thick skin (usually) but I worry how the children of these women will treat my daughter now that school has begun.

How can we expect teenage girls to have tolerance for people’s differences when their parents, for whatever reason, are the role models for this behavior?  Whether it’s out of envy, boredom, jealousy, bigotry or just plain stupidity, these girls are learning that the best way to make themselves feel better is to diminish everyone around them.

So how do we teach our girls to stand-up against this behavior?  Once again, I guess the answer starts at home.  We need to choose to eliminate “toxic” people from our circle of friends.  If someone isn’t going to support us and make us feel good about ourselves then they have no purpose in our lives.  If we hear gossip from a friend, we need to question the motive and understand that we never know the entire story (what goes on behind closed doors and all that.)  And, when someone is being insulted or put down, it’s our job to question the “mean-girl”and not be a silent witness.

If mean-girl behavior can be learned so can strength of character.