The World Almanac^® for Kids 2012 includes:

• Faces and Places: Huge full-color photographs.
• Animals: Explore animals on a scientific level, from endangered species to creatures of the deep.
• Environment: A brand-new section on “Living Green.”
• Games: Check out the top-selling video games of all times.
• Military: Information on historical wars and military innovations civilians use every day.
• Movies and TV: Fun facts about this year’s most popular movies and TV shows.
• Music and Dance: Get the inside scoop on the year’s hottest acts.
• Nations: Interesting facts and trivia about every country in the world.
• Population: Results from the 2010 census.
• Sports: Coverage of kids’ favorite teams, athletes, and sports.
• Technology and Computers: New advice on the best ways to avoid cyberbullying and stay safe online.
• United States: Information about the 50 states.

FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Tell us the areas of most interest to your kiddo in the comments section below and you could win a free copy of The World Almanac^® for Kids 2012.

About The World Almanac:
The World Almanac^® is part of Infobase Learning, an educational media company that owns such well-known brands as Facts On File, Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Chelsea House, Bloom’s, Ferguson’s, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Buy The World Almanac^® for Kids 2012 today!

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We love Wild Planet Foods because they are dedicated to producing sustainably-fished, safe, nutritious, and great-tasting seafood. Exclusive use of pole and troll fishing techniques eliminates the bycatch of sea turtles, seabirds, sharks and other fish commonly killed by the methods used by conventional canned seafood companies. Wild Planet Foods is 100% US owned and operates its own docks where selection and delivery of fish are taken directly from the fishermen, many of whom are also shareholders with the company.

Try two delicious recipes you can make with Wild Planet tuna or shrimp right here on SingleMindedWomen.com and win some seafood for yourself!

FREE GIVEAWAY!

Tell us why you like cooking with seafood in the comments section below and you could win a free gift pack from Wild Planet Foods!

In the meantime, check out Wild Planet Foods’ website www.wildplanetfoods.com, Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/wildplanetfoods and Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/wildplanetfoods.

Starting December 7^th and ending December 22^nd, one new appliance will be announced via the KRUPS Facebook and Twitter page each weekday.  To win the item, entrants can simply tell us why they want the appliance for the holidays; or, more creative entrants can comment with an updated “verse” from the beloved “12 Days of Christmas” carol, highlighting the day’s item.   All entries must be posted on the KRUPS Facebook wall for that day: http://www.facebook.com/KrupsUSA.

Check back daily to view each day’s item! Giveaways will include fan favorites like the Beertender, the new Cup-on-Request Coffee Machine, a Waffle Maker, Espresso Machine, and more!

Life Savers: Life-Simplifying Gifts

Every single mother—heck, pretty much every human being—could use a gift that streamlines, de-stresses, and simplifies our life. Help your pal stay organized and on top of her myriad PTA meetings, doctor appointments, and soccer games with Kate Spade’s playfully designed desk calendar, or a floral-printed WeekDate planner, which tracks recurring commitments.

Another great gift idea: treat her to a gift certificate to a kid-friendly restaurant or a gift card to Dream Dinners, which cuts down on kitchen and grocery shopping time by assembling the ingredients for tasty, seasonal dishes perfect for families.

Speaking of food, a digital DaysAgo kitchen tool—a certified Oprah pick—is a clever gadget that any mom will love; affix the digital clock to leftovers, baby food, meats, etc. to keep track of its freshness (or not so freshness).

Finally, we all know single moms are short on personal time. And if you happen to be short on funds, there’s one gift you can give that will keep everyone happy: the gift of your babysitting services. (Bring the new Wall-E DVD and some chicken nuggets and everything will work out just fine.)

Single Parent Reads

Want to give your loved one something to read besides “Goodnight, Moon”? Pay for a subscription ($19.99) to Single Parent Magazine, a bimonthly publication that addresses the issues that single parents face.

Another page-turner: Life in Beauty by Kate Porter, a single mother who seeks to find the pure beauty in life’s experiences.

Gifts that Give Back

Why not give a gift that you can both feel great about? Charity Choice gift cards are perfect for budding philanthropists—you buy the card, and the recipient can select up to three different charities (from a list of 100) to donate the amount to.

Add some fun to the mix with the DivaGirl Game, a fabulous girls-night-out party game that donates a portion of every sale to women’s and children’s charities like Camp Laurel and Home Makers.

We also love the You Are My Inspiration pay-it-forward gift offering from the Step Up Women’s Network. Buy an “Inspiration Gift” ($50 and up) in honor of an amazing woman in your life, and you’ll both receive a gorgeous Isabella Bijoux necklace, while an underprivileged teen girl in the Step Up program receives a gift (a digital camera, money towards a college visit, etc.) in your pal’s honor.

Know a new mom? Snag her some Dr. Bloom’s Chewable Jewels, eye-catching baubles that are safe for teething babies to gnaw on.

The finishing touch: a Kids Helping Kids gift card from MAC Cosmetics, an adorable set of illustrated cards that benefit children living with HIV and AIDS.

Pampered Presents

Just want to shower a single mom with love? You can’t go wrong with a stunning and sentimental Etched Four-Photo Locket from Things Remembered, or an incredibly indulgent Italian-inspired beauty gift set (a bargain at $25) from La Dolce Diva—almond biscotti or tiramisu, anyone?

Or, splurge on a beyond-relaxing Jimmyjane Form 6 Vibrating Massager, a waterproof wand designed to work the kinks out.

If that doesn’t do the trick, snuggling up to an irresistibly soft Max Daniel Adult Throw—available in a slew of sassy animal prints—surely will.

And jewelry buffs on the hunt for something unique will fall hard for the nature-inspired, sustainable pieces from Prismera Designs. Our favorite: the cheerful, stainless steel leaf motif of the Woodruff Necklace. What mom—or woman, for that matter—wouldn’t love that?

Other Great SMW Gift Ideas

Best Kitchen Gift Guide Ever

Holiday Gifts for Staff and Boss

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty Gift Ideas

BB guns are not nearly as popular today as they were in Ralphie’s time, but unfortunately eye injuries are still all too common, particularly at this time of year. In fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds us that last year alone there were more than 250,000 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms.

So the dilemma for parents is how do we get the kids what they’re hoping to find under the tree and hopefully safeguard them from injury as well?

David Wheeler, MD, pediatric ophthalmologist with the academy suggests, “A good rule of thumb is to choose a toy that is appropriate for your child’s age and abilities.” Consider as well, Wheeler says, the time that you will have to supervise their use of any new toy. “Being aware and thoughtful about what you are putting in your children’s hands is the best preventative medicine.”

It’s no surprise that a serious eye injury can ruin a family’s holiday. Christmas Day spent in a hospital emergency room is not on any parent’s list of hoped for things to do for the holidays. And, you’ll be surprised to learn that over 20% of the eye related toy injuries are suffered by adults trying to figure the toy out or on the receiving end of a misaimed projectile.

The academy gives four important tips for keeping eyes save during the holiday season and all year around.

First, and most importantly, avoid purchasing toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.

Second, when there is a potential safety hazard, do your very best to assure your children have appropriate supervision and discuss fully with them the potential dangers.

Third, if you plan to give sports equipment, provide appropriate eye protective gear that has “polycarbonate” lenses.

Fourth, always check product labels for age recommendations and be sure to select gifts that are appropriate for your child’s age and maturity.

In this age of Internet and television marketing children are exposed constantly to toy options that are not appropriate for their age. The only true gatekeeper is you, the parent. This is a role that has become more challenging today than it has perhaps ever been before.

It’s a sober message and not fun to think about over the holidays, but as we all know, eyes are precious. As parents we need to do all that we can to protect them.

_________________________________________

Martin Brown is the Heath Channel Editor for SingleMindedWomen.com, and co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Finding Mr. Right.

His latest book is Fit in 50 Days.

More SMW Dieting Tips

Are You a Nibbler? Curbing Empty Calories

Dieting With the Support of Online Girlfriends

Staying Motivated with Buddy Workouts

BPA, the common term for Bisphenol-A, is an organic compound used in lots of common products from thermal receipts to plastic sports equipment.  BPA is added to plastics to make the products virtually shatterproof.  These products range from baby bottles to eyeglass lenses.  Plastics made from this compound are also used as a liner in almost all cans and bottles because of its ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria, thus extending the safety and shelf-life of our foods and beverages.

Despite this chemical being in use for almost eighty years, reports began to surface around 2008 associating BPA with lots of ailments from obesity to tumors.  The most recent study draws a conclusion that ingesting BPA during pregnancy causes behavior disorders in children.  The downfall of these studies is they rely on a correlation rather than showing a cause and effect.  It is akin to claiming that increases in crime also cause the sales of ice cream to rise.  This statement is a correlation, because both events are more common during the hottest months of the year, rather than directly related to one another. Without the missing link of realizing those two events are connected by weather, many incorrect conclusions are inferred.

The data many researchers use as “evidence” of BPA ingestion is by detecting it in the urine.  As a physician, this measurement is not of significance because it is excreted from the body, meaning it is unbound and has not remained within to create the metabolic chaos that has been inferred.  By definition, being water soluble and excreted in the urine means the BPA that is measured is not being stored in fat and left to accumulate in our bodies as claimed by some groups.

With this understanding, let us examine the recent report about the exposure of BPA during pregnancy and behavioral problems later reported in children.  This is a correlation and there is no data, at all, that can demonstrate a causative effect.  Additionally, it does not explore other reasons, like the summer months in the example above.  What if we considered that women with higher levels of BPA excretion, were by definition, eating more processed foods?  Could there be reasons that pregnant moms without time to prepare healthful meals, might also be under more stress than say a mom able to nourish her body with fresh fruits and vegetables?  What if her exposure to BPA occurred while working as a cashier?  Could it be possible that a mom working as a cashier (exposed to the BPA from the thermal receipts) might have less time or energy to nurture her children than a stay-at-home mom?  I am NOT stating these are reasons or even that they represent a defined trend.  I am simply suggesting that the investigation be widened to include other possible causes before we blame a chemical that has actually improved most of our lives, literally everyday.

While we are researching this, however, please allow me to share a very real, very prominent danger of living “BPA-free.” In response to the bad-press of BPA, many parents have chosen to forego plastic bottles for their children.  Resultantly, many are drinking from glass bottles.  How do I know?  Because I stitch the faces of these precious angels when their bottle shatters and lacerates their skin.  Sometimes, they only have to endure the trauma of stitches to their hands or arms, but all too frequently they are drinking as they trip and fall resulting in glass shards in their faces.  It still turns my stomach every time.  As I ease their fears and meticulously repair the damage, I listen to the concerns of parents about how big and how permanent these scars will be.  The trauma of receiving stitches takes quite an emotional toll on children and parents alike.

It would be impossible to say that BPA has absolutely no long-term effects, but neither do we have reliable evidence that it is the harmful chemical it has been deemed in headlines meant to drive up ratings rather than improve our understanding.

I DO know the fear of a suspected effect has driven many parents from the physical safety of plastic into the dangerous territory of glass containers.  Scientists created BPA to help solve the problem of containers that shattered and keep us safe from broken glass and plastic.   As I routinely fix the wounds of the children living with the consequences of a “BPA-Free” environment, I can’t help but wonder if avoiding an almost negligent chemical from fear of a potential risk, is really worth scarring a face for life?

Until there is compelling data that uses sound science, rather than fear and correlation to alarm the public, I strongly recommend plastic bottles to avoid the need for plastic surgery.

_______________________________________

A board certified emergency physician, Jennifer Hanes, D.O., discovered that patients have greater success when they understand their bodies.  With that unique philosophy, she founded Empowered Medicine, PLLC, where knowledge is powerful medicine.  She empowers patients with her articles, motivational speeches and private consultations.  You can learn more at www.DrHanes.com

HomeFree cookies are about safety, taste, health, and inclusiveness. Most of their cookies are now gluten free.  Their Vanilla Minis, which are free of the top 8 allergens and gluten, recently won a Best Snack Award from Shape Magazine for being such a delicious and healthy choice.

SingleMindedWomen.com talked to Jill Robbins, PhD, a clinical psychologist, self-taught baker, author of Allergen Free Baking: Baked Treats for All Occasions and president and founder of HomeFree, the manufacturer of organic, ready-to-eat, whole grain cookies and coffee cakes.

SMW: Tell us a little bit about your new line of treats; how did you come up with the concept for this particular line?

Jill: Almost anywhere you go, including most social occasions, baked treats are served, and the social experience is partly about enjoying the treats together. I started this company as the mom of a child with food allergies, and as a psychologist, so children like mine can be included when treats are served.    First I was baking for my son, then for other children in town. This evolved into my baking cookbook, “Allergen Free Baking: Baked Treats for All Occasions.” But not everyone has time to bake, and families with and without allergies want to be able to find inclusive snacks at the grocery store, so I started to produce organic cookies and coffee cakes. We have a dedicated bakery where we manufacture baked treats free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and dairy, and most people with wheat and soy allergies can enjoy them as well.

Our treats are also certified organic, kosher pareve and whole grain, and contain no cholesterol or trans fat.  With our products, people with and without special dietary needs can enjoy the same delicious treats together.

SMW: How will feeding their kids these snacks give single moms a little peace of mind- what makes them so different from all the other frozen foods in the market right now?

Jill: Single moms handle so many tasks that time can be especially tight, especially if shopping with children. Our packages have a large, easy to read “peanut free, tree nut free, egg free, and dairy free” right along the top of the box, and say “made in a dedicated bakery” on the box front as well.

With our boxes, single moms shopping to feed children with food allergies won’t have to stop to read the ingredients and allergen warnings in little writing on the back of the boxes, and won’t have to call the facility to check on manufacturing practices before feeding their children.

Whether shopping for their own children, or for a classroom party, they can pick up the box and know these are “treats you can trust.”   Single moms can feel great knowing that with each serving, they are feeding their children at least ½ serving of whole grain out of the 3 recommended daily servings.

And the kids won’t even notice.  And HomeFree treats never contain trans fat or cholesterol, and they are certified organic.

SMW: What are your tips for single moms, in terms of helping them make sure they’re feeding their kids, snacks? What are some quick simple tips they can start doing today?

Jill: For quick easy shopping selections, single moms can watch for certifications now on some packages. For example, the Whole Grain Council has a gold and black logo (on the sides of our boxes) certifying that a product is a good or excellent source of whole grain. The American Heart Association has a heart healthy symbol.

And some markets have their own systems for directing shoppers to healthful food choices.  Of course, there’s nothing for nutrition like a piece of fruit – let your kids select the fruit at the store and they’ll be more likely to eat it! But kids want to eat sweet treats too like everyone else. For these, Moms can seek out tasty choices that are wholesome too.

For more information, or to purchase HomeFree products, please visit homefreetreats.com.

Andrea is 43, a resourceful savvy single divorced mom of two teenage daughters who really trusts her gut. I call that the internal TUG within, that small voice of better judgment that beckons us moms when we tune inward. One day when Andrea was laying down the law to her daughters about having some nighttime weekend parameters and guidelines and trying to enlist them to become part of the decision making, they looked at her and simply said: “Mom, you don’t know what you are talking about. You’re crazy. We both know it and all of our friends know it too. Every one of our friends who has met you thinks you are crazy.” As a single mom with no one to back her up, that really hit her where it hurt and even caused her to question herself.

Thankfully rather than letting it go, Andrea decided to investigate the situation further. She sensed something was fishy. It just didn’t sound like something her daughters would say. Acting on instinct, she called up the mothers of some of her daughters’ friends to get their perspective and discovered something amazing: their daughters had been saying the exact same thing to them. Apparently the tactic of undermining Mom by calling her crazy had worked for one teen and word had spread. This group of moms decided they would launch a coordinated response by confronting their daughters that same evening. Andrea’s daughters melted with shame when she told them what she had learned and how disappointed she was in their behavior.

Our daughters can be masterful at the art of manipulation when they want something, but how this working single mom handled the situation is a lesson in how to be both composed and clever!

Tips for Single Moms

Here are some tips for strengthening, cultivating and maintaining a strong, respectful, empathic, attuned connection and bond with your tween and teenage daughters:

• Use your head and trust your small voice within, it won’t ever steer you wrong. Turn up your instinctual inner volume and pay close attention.
• If you are on your own, like Andrea, consult with other Moms that may be in the same position. Having a Moms network of friends, belonging to a support group is absolutely invaluable and essential.
• Try to rise above and not be baited or lured in by your daughter’s provocations. Take a breath, self talk, “I need to collect myself,” then approach your daughter from a place of concern and love. Don’t come from a place of anger, or threaten punishment. That’s a sure fire way to alienate your daughter and not get down to the bottom of what is actually going on.
• Use the experience as an opportunity for a positive teaching moment. Take advantage of TV programs, like Glee and any teen driven media for spring boards for conversation and discussion.
• Take a peek at Chapter 1, for my 13 Tips, Introduction to Aerial Parenting in What Do You Expect? She’s A Teenager! A Hope and Happiness Guide for Moms with Daughters 11-19.

What Do You Expect? She’s a Teenager! is the ultimate preparation manual and survival guide for mothers of tweens and teens.  Packed with tips, expert interviews, real-life vignettes, and helpful conversation starters, What Do You Expect? She’s a Teenager! preps moms in advance for the issues they’ll face, from the familiar teen problems–sex, drugs, and alcohol use–to newer territory–cyberbullying, sexting, and internet pornography.

Now, there’s a smart new way for parents to find out – without spying!

SafetyWeb.com is a brand new service that helps protect kids from common online dangers. It scours the internet for questionable activity, making parents aware of videos and photos their kids share publicly, cyber-bullying, potential internet addiction, when privacy settings are changed on social networking sites, and more. The service also goes a step further, helping parents keep tabs on their child’s mobile calls and text messages! SafetyWeb.com also helps parents guard their child’s reputation by flagging postings that could potentially harm their child’s future.

SafetyWeb makes protecting kids’ and teens’ online activity easy for any parent with no software to download or programs to install. Parents simply sign up and submit their child’s email address — SafetyWeb takes care of the rest, scanning 45+ social networks. SafetyWeb also offers a mobile integration allowing parents to use the service from their iPhone.  www.safetyweb.com

WIN A FREE MONTH’S SUBSCRIPTION TO SAFETYWEB.COM!

Tell us some of your concerns about social media and your child in the comments section below and you could win a free month’s subscription to SafetyWeb.com.

More SingleMindedWomen.com Articles on Bullying

7 Signs Your Child May Be a Bully

Help! My Kid is a Bully

How to Stop Your Child From Being Bullied

1. Coach
2. Creative Counselor
3. Time Manager
4. Media Director
5. Academic Advocate
6. Professor of Gender Studies
7. Relationship Counselor
8. Sex Ed Teacher
9. Financial Consultant
10. Bodyguard
11. Communications Specialist
12. In-Home Demonstrator
13. Military Specialist

FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Tell us something about raising your daughter in the comments section below and you could win a free copy of Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters.

About the Author:
Music industry veteran Darlene Brock is the co-founder of Forefront Records, home of five-time GRAMMY ® Award winning artist TobyMac. Her new company, The Grit & Grace Project, is dedicated to helping women reach their full potential.  Merging two of their  primary strengths, Grit and Grace, women can call upon those strengths to find purpose as individuals, wives and mothers.

Buy Help Wanted: Moms Raising Daughters by Darlene Brock today!

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