Documenting Memories

With my daughter graduating from high school this year, I wanted to give her something that would remind her of our special family times together through the years. Something she could get out if she were to get homesick away at college.

So I decided to create  a Memory Book for her. I know there are various sites that can help you organize your photos and will print your book for you. I choose Shutterfly. I was intimidated when I saw what a few of my friends had created, but both of the two popular sites, Shutterfly and Snapfish, provide ways to make it very easy. The hardest part has been deciding which pictures to include!

It’s a wonderful way to remember any event, graduation, birthdays, births, vacations. Here’s a page of what I’m making. Shhhhhhhhhhh….don’t let Hailee know about it!

–Lori Polakowski, LPC, Individual Family Support Coordinator

Greener Choices For Your Next Picnic

image credit: Arlyna Blanchard

With so much to do and so many outings and friends and family gatherings to plan for this summer, it’s easy to take our beautiful surroundings for granted. So while you’re out enjoying the longer summer days (and nights), think about your impact on the environment.

It Takes Less Than Five Minutes To Drown

Would you be surprised if I said that drowning was the number one cause of accidental death in children ages 1-4? I was. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC):

“Among children ages 1 to 4 years, most drownings occur in residential swimming pools. Most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time”.

The CDC recommends four key steps to help you to protect your child from drowning:

Four Points About Breast Milk

image credit: paxye

Breastfeeding has gotten a lot of press lately — both good and bad. The World Health Organization (WHO) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend exclusive breastfeeding the first 6 months of life. And there are benefits to continuing breastfeeding through two years of age and beyond.

AAP offers these tips for breastfeeding beyond one year, including fielding the opinions of naysayers.

There are many reasons why breast milk is the best milk. Here are four we promote at Beaumont Hospital:

Baby Fair This Weekend

Join Beaumont experts and area vendors for a unique event that provides new or expectant parents with free information, allow you to take a mini-class or sign up for a tour. Because your baby doesn’t come with an owner’s manual.

Attend mini-classes on:

• making your own baby food
• relief of choking in infants and children
• comfort measures in labor
• infant massage
• infant care
• and more

Informational, interactive displays include:

• breastfeeding equipment
• children’s toys and clothes
• libraries and county health department

Drawings for prizes will be held hourly.

May 19
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Assumption Cultural Center
21800 Marter Road, St. Clair Shores

For more information, call Beaumont’s Parenting Program at 248-898-3230.