Would you move thousands and thousands of miles away from friends and relatives to give your family a piece of mind and a better future? To a place where schools are the best in the nation, where crime rates and cost of living are low, and children have a safer environment to grow up in?

My family and I made such a move about a year ago. We left the busy streets of the city, for the quite and narrow streets of the suburbs in another state, a state that we had never been to before and had no friends or relatives in. A bit risky, you might think, but very well worth it. We have no regrets. Life is so much better where we are now.

If you are considering or have ever considered doing such a thing, here is a helpful list published by Business Week that can make your search for such a place much easier. To access the complete story click on this link: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1116_bestplaces_kids/index_01.htm

No. 50 - Patterson, Ga.
Nearest city: Savannah (92 miles)
Population: 627
Median household income: $26,591

No. 49 - Galesburg, Mich.
Nearest city: Grand Rapids (67 miles)
Population: 1,988
Median household income: $34,663

No. 48 - Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Nearest city: Cleveland (24 miles)
Population: 4,024
Median household income: $62,917

No. 47 - South Cleveland, Tenn.
Nearest city: Chattanooga (30 miles)
Population: 6,216
Median household income: $35,995

No. 46 - St. Johnsville, N.Y.
Nearest city: Rochester (167 miles)
Population: 1,685
Median household income: $28,043

No. 45 - Mariemont, Ohio
Nearest city: Cincinnati (7 miles)
Population: 3,408
Median household income: $57,614

No. 44 - Davenport, Neb.
Nearest city: Lincoln (99 miles)
Population: 339
Median household income: $26,964

No. 43 - Oakland, N.J.
Nearest city: Newark (36 miles)
Population: 12,466
Median household income: $86,629

No. 42 - Haslett, Mich.
Nearest city: Lansing (9 miles)
Population: 11,283
Median household income: $50,679

No. 41 - Arlington, Neb.
Nearest city: Omaha (50 miles)
Population: 1,197
Median household income: $45,365

No. 40 - Madeira, Ohio
Nearest city: Cincinnati (7 miles)
Population: 8,923Median household income: $59,626

No. 39 - Loomis, Neb.
Nearest city: Lincoln (167 miles)
Population: 397
Median household income: $36,719

No. 38 - Oakland, Neb.
Nearest city: Omaha (67 miles)
Population: 1,367
Median household income: $32,663

No. 37 - Diller, Neb.
Nearest city: Lincoln (62 miles)
Population: 287
Median household income: $37,813

No. 36 - Newcastle, Neb.
Nearest city: Omaha (125 miles)
Population: 299
Median household income: $29,000

No. 35 - Franklin, Ga.
Nearest city: Atlanta (65 miles)
Population: 902
Median household income: $19,125

No. 34 - Clarence Center, N.Y.
Nearest city: Buffalo (20 miles)
Population: 1,747
Median household income: $66,311

No. 33 - Clarendon Hills, Ill.
Nearest city: Chicago (22 miles)
Population: 7,610
Median household income: $84,795

No. 32 - Petersburg, Neb.
Nearest city: Lincoln (131 miles)
Population: 374
Median household income: $29,688

No. 31 - Friendship, N.Y.
Nearest city: Buffalo (101 miles)
Population: 1,176
Median household income: $25,524

No. 30 - Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Nearest city: Chicago (32 miles)
Population: 42,909
Median household income: $80,525

No. 29 - Nolanville, Tex.
Nearest city: Austin (68 miles)
Population: 2,150
Median household income: $36,140

No. 28 - Lyndhurst, Ohio
Nearest city: Cleveland (11 miles)
Population: 15,279
Median household income: $52,272

No. 27 - Fairmount, N.Y.
Nearest city: Syracuse (5
miles)
Population: 10,795
Median household income: $48,329

No. 26 - Dundee, Ore.
Nearest city: Portland (26 miles)
Population: 2,598
Median household income: $50,284

No. 25 - Barrington, Ill.
Nearest city: Chicago (38 miles)
Population: 10,168
Median household income: $83,085

No. 24 - Sherman, N.Y.
Nearest city: Buffalo (88 miles)
Population: 714
Median household income: $30,583

No. 23 - Douglas, Mich.
Nearest city: Grand Rapids (43 miles)
Population: 1,214
Median household income: $41,250

No. 22 - Bartlett, Neb.
Nearest city: Lincoln (169 miles)
Population: 128
Median household income: $33,250

No. 21 - Batavia, Ill.
Nearest city: Chicago (44 miles)
Population: 23,866
Median household income: $68,656

No. 20 - Ackerman, Miss.
Nearest city: Birmingham, Ala. (160 miles)
Population:1,696
Median household income: $21,287

No. 19 - Fort Thomas, Ky.
Nearest city: Cincinnati (6 miles)
Population: 16,495
Median household income: $49,575

No. 18 - Jamestown, Ky.
Nearest city: Lexington (88 miles)
Population: 1,624Median household income: $18,587
No. 17 - Lawrence, Neb.
Nearest city: Lincoln (136 miles)
Population: 312
Median household income: $25,089

No. 16 - Green, Ohio
Nearest city: Akron (11 miles)
Population: 22,817
Median household income: $54,133

No. 15 - East Brainerd, Tenn.
Nearest city: Chattanooga (13 miles)
Population: 14,132
Median household income: $66,151

No. 14 - Ridgetop, Tenn.
Nearest city: Nashville (20 miles)
Population: 1,083
Median household income: $52,381

No. 13 - Helena, Ala.
Nearest city: Birmingham (20 miles)
Population: 10,296
Median household income: $62,908

No. 12 - Matawan, N.J.
Nearest city: Edison (16 miles)
Population: 8,910
Median household income: $63,594

No. 11 - Middleport, N.Y.
Nearest city: Buffalo (40 miles)
Population: 1,917
Median household income: $36,464

No. 10 - Hopewell, Tenn.
Nearest city: Nashville (104 miles)
Population: 1,815
Median household income: $43,973

No. 9 - Waterville, Ohio
Nearest city: Toledo (15 miles)
Population: 4,828
Median household income: $60,000

No. 8 - Lackland, Tex.
Nearest city: San Antonio (12 miles)
Population: 7,123
Median household income: $32,250

No. 7 - Wilmette, Ill.
Nearest city: Chicago (20 miles)
Population: 27,651
Median household income: $106,773

No. 6 - Waverly, Neb.
Nearest city: Lincoln (15 miles)
Population: 2,448
Median household income: $52,454

No. 5 - Arapahoe, Neb.
Nearest city: Lincoln (192 miles)
Population: 1,028
Median household income: $29,500

No. 4 - Echelon, N.J.
Nearest city: Philadelphia (17 miles)
Population: 10,440
Median household income: $49,410

No. 3 - Deerfield, Ill.
Nearest city: Chicago (27 miles)
Population: 18,420
Median household income: $107,194

No. 2 - Western Springs, Ill.
Nearest city: Chicago (21 miles)
Population: 12,493
Median household income: $98,876

No. 1 - Groesbeck, Ohio
Nearest city: Cincinnati (7 miles)
Population: 7,202
Median household income: $49,235

Some people say that this could happen to anyone. But c’mon, are we really that forgetful? How can we forget our children in the back of our cars? I don’t know, maybe I’m a paranoid parent, but I have to know minute by minute what my kids are doing and where they are. They’re constantly on my mind. Maybe it helps that I’m stay-at-home mom and know that if my children are not with me they are not with any one else, but still, being a working parent or not, I just can’t comprehend how can anyone forget their child in the back of their car for hours.

Some may argue that it’s easy to forget a sleeping baby in the back of a car. And I say what? How can anyone forget about their baby? You know that they are going to need milk soon or later, so they are always on your mind, or they should be anyway. I don’t know, maybe some of us are suffering of an epidemic early case of Alzheimer’s disease. Excuse my bluntness, but just the thought of a baby or child dying in the back of a car just angers me. I already made the decision that this is not going to happen to me. I know that I have two kids, and I’ve made the decision that no matter where I go, and no matter what short of time I’m going to spend there, I will never leave my children in my car. I will always bring them along with me. So when I turn that key to off, and the engine of my car stops running, the first things I do is get out of my car and go to the back and open the door to get my children. I have made this a habit–even when my children are home with my husband and I go somewhere, I get out of my car and then go to open the back door to check if my children are there.

Let’s be proactive, don’t be of the mindset that this could happen to anyone and just hope that it doesn’t happen to you. Let’s take the necessary measures to ensure that this horrible thing doesn’t happen to our children. If you consider yourself a forgetful person, or if you’re going trough a busy or difficult time in your life which causes you to forget things, please make sure you come up with a plan that will work for you, to remember your baby or child in the back of your car.

This is what could happen to child left unattended in a vehicle:

• Heatstroke occurs when a person’s temperature exceeds 104 degrees F and their thermo regulatory mechanism is overwhelmed
  - Symptoms include : dizziness, disorientation, agitation, confusion, sluggishness, seizure, hot dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, loss of consciousness, rapid heart beat, hallucinations
• A core body temperature of 107 degrees F is considered lethal as cells are damaged and internal organs shut down
• Children’s thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult’s and their bodies warm at a rate 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

• NEVER LEAVE A CHILD UNATTENDED IN A VEHICLE. NOT EVEN FOR A MINUTE!
• Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don’t overlook sleeping babies.
• Always lock your car and ensure children do not have access to keys or remote entry devices. If a child is missing, check the car first, including the trunk. Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.
• Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat and when the child is put in the seat place the animal in the front with the driver.
• Or place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car.
• Make “look before you leave” a routine whenever you get out of the car.
• Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if your child does not show up for school.

STATISTICS

• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 2008: 15
• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 2007: 35
• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 1998-2008: 376
• Average number of U.S. child hyperthermia fatalities per year since 1998: 36
  

An examination of media reports about the 361 child vehicular hyperthermia deaths for a ten year period (1998 through 2007) shows the following circumstances:

· Circumstances

· 51% - child “forgotten” by caregiver

· 30% - child playing in unattended vehicle

· 18% - child intentionally left in vehicle by adult

· 1% - circumstances unknown

_____________________________________________________________________

For additional information on Hyperthermia visit: http://ggweather.com/heat


Those are my thoughts on Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Hot Vehicles, I would love to hear your thoughts and or concerns on this matter. Please feel free to leave a comment. Look forward in hearing your thoughts.

16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears, star of TV show “Zoey 101”, is having a baby. How can that affect your family?

The United States has the highest teen pregnancy in the Western World. To make matters worse we have these teen celebrities that our kids look up to getting pregnant. Although I am glad that Jamie Lynn decided to keep her baby, I ‘m really concern about the impact her actions is going to have in our teens. As we all know, celebrities are role models that influence our society, specially our vulnerable youth, whether they like or not, whether they intend to or not.

When Jamie Lynn’s pregnancy news came out, MTV wrote an article about it and created a poll and comment section on this article for people to give their opinion on the matter, and this is what some of our teens had to say about it:

- “I think she has done nothing wrong… she is not doing anything wrong at all..i am glad she is just ignoring everyone and remembering the only thing that matters is her and that baby”

- “So what, everyone has their irresponsible moments. We all do it sooner or later. All because she’s pregnant doesn’t mean people should be jumping down her throat about it cause she’s a celebrity, she’s the same as every other pregnant person. But still, I hope for the very best for her & her boyfriend & that everything works out okay. Honestly, I hope she’s ready for this because this is more bigger than being a celebrity.”

- “I feel some of the people’s comments on here, are not as open-minded as they should be in this day in age. Some of you obviously don’t realize that you have sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and whatnot that have unprotected sex, intentional or not. Sure, I agree with your opinions on the topic that she is too young. So was I, so was alot of teenagers had their first child or sexual experince. You people can NOT blame Jamie-Lynn for portraying a “bad image” for being pregnant! Simply because, look at the television nowadays! Seriously, sex, sexually eplict scenes, and teenage pregnancy is EVERYWHERE. And what’s sad is that even though you don’t realize it at the time children and teenagers see something sexual on the tv all the time, it’s even in the cartoons that they play for kids. Think about it…. teletubies and spongebob are a few that come straight to mind with me. It’s in the schools, it’s in books, it’s in the minds of teenagers trying to deal with their raging hormones. You people need to lighten up, because when I was 15 and younger, I swore to remain virgin until marriage. Uh, yeah, things happen and change. when I was 16 it “happened”, and when I was 17 I got pregnant. Due to mishappens and tons of haunting pains I lost my child. And seeing some of you people mock Jamie because of her pregnancy sickens me, simply because I would give ANYTHING in the world to have my child. Who are you people to say when she is ready to have sex and not or anyone for that matter?….”

- “I think that she is brave, i’m seventeen and i have a 7 1/2 month baby, and it is hard, but Jamie is brave, people need to support her, not berate her.”

To read MTV’s complete story on Jamie Lynn’s pregnancy you may go to: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1576804/20071219/spears_britney.jhtml

I don’t know about you, but when I finished reading this article I was alarmed at what some of our teens had to say about Jamie Lynn’s pregnancy. There were some speculations about whether or not the show was going to be off the air after the news broke out, but as you probably already know, it didn’t. A lot of outrage mothers have taking the step to prohibit their kids from watching the show, and I don’t blame them.

I’m of the opinion that kids should be taught absolute abstinence until marriage. Teenagers are children themselves. They shouldn’t be having children even if they were married. If I had the opportunity, I would do anything in my power to discourage a teenage couple from having children while they are teens. They are at stage in their lives where they’re the most selfish and are not equip emotionally, physically, mentally, and in some many other ways to take care of a baby. They have so much more growing to do, and so much yet to learn, specially, learning a skill, trade, or profession that would allow them the income necessary to support their family. There is a new reality show on TV called “Baby Borrowers”. Finally a reality show that can teach our kids a valuable lesson! In the show a couple of teenagers that are thinking about having a baby are given the opportunity to borrow someone else’s baby for a couple of weeks. There they have the opportunity to play house and see how it’s really like to have a family, go to work and take care of the kids. The teens on the show are having a major eye opening experience, many having melt downs and wanting to quit and go home. The show is still being aired on NBC on Wednesdays 9/8c. We can save our children from a lot trouble and heartache and help their future to be a brighter one. I say, have your kids watched this show, tape it or buy the DVD, because they can really get a dose of reality when they see the struggle this group of teens go trough trying to take care of a baby and a household at their age.

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Babies born in the U.S. to teenage mothers are at risk for long-term problems in many major areas of life, including school failure, poverty, and physical or mental illness. Babies born to teenagers are at risk for neglect and abuse because their young mothers are uncertain about their roles and may be frustrated by the constant demands of caretaking. A child born to a teenage mother is also seen to be at a disadvantage in society. Newborns of teen mothers tend to have a lower birth weight. As they get older, they are more likely to do poorly in school and have a greater chance of experiencing abuse and neglect. It has been found that sons of teenage mothers are more likely to wind up in prison. Daughters of teen mothers have an increased risk of experiencing a teenage pregnancy themselves. Not to mention the impact it has on the young mother.

We parents can help prevent teenage pregnancy through open communication and by providing guidance to our children about sexuality, and the risks and responsibilities of intimate relationships and pregnancy.

Studies have found that teens that have a good relationship with their parents are less likely to experience a pregnancy. If you have not yet discussed the subjects of sexuality and pregnancy with your teen, now is the time to do so, especially if they are females and a fan of “Zoey 101”. Make sure your teen understands that there is a difference between them and Jamie Lynn Spears. Jamie Lynn has already established a very lucrative carrier, and has the means to support herself and her baby at the age of 16, which it is not the fate of the thousands and thousands of teens who get pregnant every year.

Let’s be proactive. Let’s take a stand and not cross our fingers and hope that something like this doesn’t happen to our family. Let’s do whatever it takes to prevent this from happening to one of our children. I know it is not easy, and it could feel very awkward to sit down and discuss sex and pregnancy with our children, but they need desperately that we do so. I remember when I was a teen my parents never discussed sex and pregnancy with me, but fortunate for me, my grandmother did one day. And she did it in a very informal way, but I got it and it stuck with me all trough my high school years and beyond. I still remember her words. She said: “you know, there is going to be a time when boys are going to like you, and will tell you that they love you, and a lot of other things to get you in bed with them. But remember this, a boy that proposes that to you does not respect you, and must likely after they get what they want, they will dump you and move on to the next. They might even ridicule you and laugh at you after. They might even tell your pears about it, and give you a bad reputation in school. And worse, you can even get pregnant and get dumped.” Those words was all it took for me to remain pure. Sure, there were times when hormones were ragging and temptation was great, but I just had to remember little old grandma’s words and good sense would suddenly come back to me. Now-a-days it might take a lot more conversation than that, and there are more risks to discuss besides an unexpected pregnancy, such as, sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) and HIV, but once you’ve done, it will be all worth it. Don’t hesitate to talk to your kids about sex, pregnancy, STD’s, HIV, and other possible risks. They need you to do so today…

Those are my thoughts on Teen Pregnancy, I would love to hear your thoughts and or concerns on this matter. Please feel free to leave a comment. Look forward in hearing your thoughts.