I love my girls…most of the time.  Can I say that?

I remember the numerous times that my wife and I would be shopping and someone would stop to see our baby and comment “isn’t it a miracle?”  My wife and I would walk away and utter… only miracle here is how long a human being can continue to function on little to no sleep.  But of course we wouldn’t say that to our baby admirer.   We would smile and agree about how it is truly a  miracle.

Why can’t we be honest about the hardships associated with child rearing?  Would we stop procreating if we truly knew how hard it is to have kids?

There were numerous times that my wife and I would ask, “why didn’t anyone tell us this was going to be this hard?”  Now, to be fair to our first daughter, we did move from Portland, OR to Indianapolis when she was 4 weeks old, so she might not be responsible for all the stress we experienced.

With most hardships, it is nice to know that you’re not alone.  Unlike many hardships, there aren’t many support groups for parents who are struggling.  In times past the typical support group was the family, but over 50% of the population lives away from their family and unfortunately emails and Skype don’t quite fill the void.

Recently my wife sent me a video that examined “Parenting Taboos.” This video looks at those things that, as a parent, we’re not supposed to think, let alone say out loud.  I found the brutal honesty in this video very refreshing and entertaining.  I hope you enjoy.

I love Halloween, especially now that our daughter is two and a half.  I have a feeling that she is going to enjoy Halloween more this year with her new found love of sweets.

Halloween can still be fun and healthy and you don’t have to give up your favorite sweets.  There are a few  things that you should be aware of when getting your little one ready to trick or treat.  Original article EWG website.

1. Pick play makeup carefully. Many children like to wear colorful cosmetics as part of their costumes. If they do, make sure they’re using safer products and applying them as directed. Visit cosmeticsdatabase.com to look up your products and find safer ones.

Kids should avoid:

• Face paints can contain lead, which can impair brain development at extremely low doses, as well as nickel, cobalt and chromium, which can cause skin sensitization and contact dermatitis. Learn more here.
• Lipstick can also contain hidden lead. Because little ones tend to eat almost as much as they put on their lips, it’s best to avoid lipstick all together. Opt instead for a shiny, beeswax-based lip balm. You can find some on Amazon.
• Nail polish often contains dibutyl phthalate and toluene, chemicals linked to hormone disruption and cancer. You can find safer nail polishes on Skin Deep.
• Cosmetics in powder form can easily be inhaled. Depending on the particle size, the powder can lodge in children’s nasal passages and even lungs — where it may cause damage.
• Fragranced products Read ingredient labels and avoid products listing “fragrance” — EWG research found that fragrances may contain allergens or hormone-disrupting chemicals. Learn more in our short video.

2. Skip the (colored) hairspray. Many hairsprays contain toxic chemicals and fragrance. Kids can easily breathe in sprays. Instead, find a great hat or wig at a second-hand store; or create a great hair-do with ribbons, barrettes and safer, non-spray hair products.

3. Burn more eco-friendly candles — if at all. Candles can give off toxic compounds. Choose fragrance-free candles made from bee, palm or soy wax. Traditional paraffin-wax candles are made from petroleum by-products. Order your eco-friendly candles.

4. Don’t wear synthetic facemasks or teeth. Masks and fake teeth are made from a variety of synthetic materials that aren’t always labeled. Plastics may be softened with endocrine-disrupting phthalates. Rather than covering your head with unknown, possibly toxic materials, make your own mask from simple materials or try a half-face, masquerade-style mask instead.

5. Offer treats that you would like your kids to receive. Hand out items that have fewer, more natural ingredients. Click here and here for more tips on choosing Halloween treats.

6. Create a low-impact costume. Rather than buying a new costume, get creative with items you already own or can get used at a local resale shop or from friends. Consider a costume swap at school or among friends. Click here to learn more about hosting your own swap.

7. If you are going to a party or planning a quick meal, skip the single-use dinnerware. Choose a more sustainable option, like compostable products. Click here to find compostable dinnerware on Amazon.

8. Decorate naturally. Pick up pumpkins, gourds and hay bales from a local farm to create a haunting scene and reuse decorations from year to year.

The original article can be found at Environmental Working Group’s Green Halloween Page

A new study out of Switzerland shows that Pycnogenol (pic-noj-en-all), an extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, reduces ADHD in children.  These findings will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Nutritional Neuroscience.

In this study stress hormones where monitored in the urine of children who took the Pycnogenol and those who were given a placebo for a one month period.  It is believed that these stress hormones cause children to experience excitement, arousal and irritability.  This is the first time that a natural substance has shown to decrease these hormones.

The only isotonic form of Pycnogenol is found in Nutrametrix OPC-3 and can be purchased online by clicking here.

Read more about the study Incredible News_Pycnogenol ADHD.

For more information about Pycnogenol click Medline or Drugs.com.