Okay Mamas, fess up. Who is guilty of sneaking your kids hard earned Halloween candy after they have gone to bed?? It’s only fair to put a little tax on that candy after you have hiked all over God’s creation trick or treating, am I right?! But before you kick back with that handful of Reese’s peanut butter cups and your big ole Diet Coke, do you know what you are going to have to do to negate all those calories? If any of us needed any motivation to NOT eat as much of that delicious candy this year I’ve got it right here. I saw this on Pinterest a few years ago and it changed the way I celebrated Halloween forever.

Check out what you’re going to have to do to lose those extra calories: (read at your own risk!)

Candy:                 Calories:                          Exercise:

Starburst                   40                               10 flights of stairs
York                            50                               10 flights of stairs
Crunch                       60                               150 crunches
Skittles                       63                               100 push-ups
Hershey’s                   63                               6 minutes of running @ 6mph
Kit Kat                        70                               10 minutes on the elliptical
M&Ms                         73                               15 minutes of physique
Snickers                     80                               50 burpees
Twix                            80                               5 minutes on Jacob’s Ladder
Butterfinger               85                               4 minutes of tabata
Baby Ruth                  85                               200 jump squats
Reese’s                        90                               10 minutes of spin

…….I don’t think I will ever eat another piece of candy again. And this is not only for the mini Halloween versions of these candies- but it’s for ONE of them! I could easily eat 5 mini snickers and then what??  250 burpees?? I don’t think so. You’re welcome for saving your tail from having to do about 20 repetitions of each of these exercises like I would be doing if I hadn’t found this ahead of time.  Don’t let you kids eat too much candy either- get them out for a family walk or a hike at the state park to burn off some of their extra calories!!

About Brittany:

Brittany was born and raised in Alabama. She is a Wife and Mama of two sweet babies- her son John is two years old and her daughter Annie is ten months old. She is pursuing her degree in Home and Family Studies with an emphasis on Child Development from BYU. She is looking forward to writing for Birmingham Mommy in preparation for graduation in the Fall of 2016.

Moms get busy.. Like, really busy. Sometimes getting a night out or an afternoon off to pamper ourselves doesn’t fit into our busy schedules but our friend Ashley, with Rodan + Fields has a way to help you look a little less tired until you can get that much needed time to recharge.. Here’s what she says:

“I’m a mom to a 1st grade boy and a very active 4 year old son, I am tired – ALL THE TIME! I work two jobs and sometimes just need to make some “ME TIME!” Do you ever feel that way being a mom?  We do A LOT for our families, friends, community, churches etc.. I know mamas, I know! Well lucky for you Rodan +Fields has just the key to getting you some refreshing MOM time! Its quick, its easy and our products are proven to show results and are backed by our Stanford trained Doctors who created ProActiv.

My favorite routine on night’s I am wiped out:  Leave the anti aging eye cloths, multi-functioning eye cream (to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles) and our pm anti-aging Redefine night cream by your bed.

Step 1: Wipe face clean with cloths removing make-up all while depositing peptides into your skin and under your eyes!

Step 2: Place the eye cream under your eyes and out to your temples.

Step 3: Simply dab the Redefine pm all over face and neck and VOILA! Get some precious mommy Zzzzzs!

Remember.. the keyword here is ROUTINE! Consistency is key when you’re bettering your skin. Look at the difference in 8 weeks of consistence use!

Visit my site for more information on our products or for a consultation, call me at 205.541.4445

Last week we touched on the topic of knowing when or if your kid is bullying others. There are many red flags that your kid is bullying and you’ve probably heard many before: getting into physical fights; threatening or intimidating a sibling or playmate; having a poor relationship with parents and teachers; frequently pushing limits and boundaries; witnessing or being victimized by violence or emotional abuse in the home. All of these issues warrant intervention immediately because bullying is associated with all kinds of negative consequences for your child from disrupted friendships, and family and romantic relationships, to anger problems, depression, anxiety, and legal trouble. But, not all bullying is obvious or physically violent. Relational aggression is a kind of bullying in which harm is caused by damaging someone’s relationships or social status. What we typically think of as “mean girl” behavior, boys also engage in relational aggression. Some examples: spreading rumors, revealing crushes, talking behind someone’s back, getting others to exclude a particular kid, pretending to be a friend to another child while constantly putting her down, and withdrawing friendship as a way to control someone’s behavior. Cyberbullying often falls into this category. Relational aggression can start much earlier than we think so it’s a good idea to monitor your child’s social world early. Here are 5 more subtle signs that your kid might be bullying (and what to do about them):

1. It’s never your kid’s fault. Children who bully usually have a lot of trouble taking responsibility for their actions and blame others for what happened. If your child always has an excuse for why they mistreated someone, try an exercise where he sits in a chair and tells you his side of the story. Then, have him switch to a different chair to tell you the sides of the other people involved. See if, together, you can get a more complete picture of the incident and help your child start to take responsibility for his own role in what happened.

2. If your daughter is bossy or overly controlling with siblings, there’s a good chance she’s taking that with her to school. Check with teachers about how she’s getting along in the classroom but also during less structured times like at recess. When you witness problematic interactions with siblings, step in. Ask your younger child to give feedback to your daughter about how it feels to be bossed around and provide consequences if your daughter won’t stop trying to control her siblings.

3. Seems counter-intuitive but usually kids who bully have been bullied. So, if your kid seems to be neglected or rejected by other kids, he may be doing the same thing to others. You will likely need to work with your child’s school to determine the whens, whys, hows, and wheres of the bullying so that it can be addressed.

4. She lacks empathy. Kids who don’t seem to understand or care about how others feel are much more likely to cause them emotional or physical pain without thinking twice. Often this is done to improve the child’s own social standing. Lack of or low empathy is associated with a number of very negative outcomes in terms of mental health and social, academic, occupational, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Helping your child understand someone else’s perspectives and giving them feedback about how their actions affect you and others are ways of helping empathy to grow.

5. Your child witnesses you engaging in relational aggression. This one is hard. Chances are, you’ve talked about a friend or acquaintance behind her back, excluded someone on purpose, or done something you’re not proud of for social standing – even as an adult. Stop doing it within eye- and earshot of your kids. They are always aware. You can’t tell your child to treat everyone equally and then turn to your friend and criticize what a mom at the park is wearing. Keep the snark where it belongs – in text messages to your friends on your password-protected iPhone!

If bringing relationally aggressive behaviors to your child’s attention and giving her feedback about the problems they cause doesn’t seem to get you anywhere, talk to your child’s pediatrician about a referral for a therapist. There could be more going on than is immediately apparent and letting this kind of behavior go unchecked could quickly land your child in a very sad and lonely place. Through therapy, he can learn social and coping skills that will help him feel better about himself and his relationships.

About Kristen:

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her daughters, ages seven and one, and four-year-old son.

My friends and I are starting a program called “Kind Is Cool”. We want to stop bullying around the world. We started this when we saw a brand at “Target.” We liked the idea, so we kept going with it. The shirts from the brand come with 2 neon yellow bracelets. Everybody who is helping start the club has one. What I want to do with the club is to make  “Rainbow Loom” (elastic band) bracelets and put a bunch on my arm. When I see someone who needs help or needs somebody to play with, I help them, then invite them into the club, and give them a bracelet, and hope they will spread the kindness to others.  Including everyone and finding kids who aren’t being included and helping them out, is what “Kind Is Cool” means to me.

Here is what “Kind is Cool” means to my friends:

 My friend C.W. says,

I think “Kind Is Cool” is an inspiring program that helps kids of any age stop bullying. You can help, all you need to do is tell your friends, buy a shirt, and stop people from bullying. It is that simple. Tell your friends so they can tell their friends, so this anti bullying program can go all over the world. By the way you can get the shirts at “Target”. Hope you can help!

My friend E.B. says,

“Kind is cool” means you shouldn’t make fun of people who don’t make one hundred on their sit and reach test (that’s me!) It means that you shouldn’t tear people down, even if they couldn’t do a sit up. Or when you see someone sitting alone, you go ask if they want to play. It doesn’t matter if you’re just talking with someone, it’s simple, ask if they want to join. “Kind Is Cool” means being kind. Never try and be annoying, because it’s fun or funny, or because you’re trying to make a certain person mad. Being kind is making a difference, and I think I speak for all of us when I say, making a difference can feel really good. So be kind and you will make your life and the people’s lives so much easier. That’s what “Kind Is Cool” means to me.

My friend A.K. says,

“Kind is cool” means to be kind and cool. If you see a kindergartner fighting say, “Hey, kindness is cool.” I really think that being kind is awesome!!!

From my friend M.H:

Kind is cool means encouraging friends to be kind because being kind isn’t always seen as cool, but it’s good to be reminded that kind really is cool. It’s just how you look at it!
We started this where we are by telling everyone we  know to be kind and cool, we also made some fun posters to hang up around our neighborhood so others can be reminded everyday to be kind.  Now we’re encouraging you to start this movement where you are too!!! -Kind Is Cool

Mom’s dread no phrase like they dread, “it’s that time of year again!” As soon as you hear that phrase, like some kind of sick curse, your kid gets sick. Come to think of it- is there a time of year that isn’t THAT time of year?

What’s your initial reaction when you realize your child is running a fever? Do you drop to your knees and ask the good Lord for mercy or immediately break out the hazmat suits for the other kids and begin a quarantine operation? Do you immediately call the pediatricians office and wait for them to call back?

Pour yourself a diet coke and relax, Mama. Normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees. For adults and children alike, that temperature fluctuates throughout the day. The lucky number for an actual fever is 100.4 degrees and up.

When not to worry

• Fevers that last less than five days -As long as your child’s behavior is pretty much normal-playing, eating, and drinking wise- you don’t need to stress. (It’s okay if they are tired, too!)
• Temperature up to 102.5 degrees – If you child is 3 months to 3 years fevers up to this temperature are a normal sign of fighting an illness.
• If your child recently got a shot- Low grade fevers (lasting fewer than 24 hours) are normal if your baby or child has received a    shot.

When you call your pediatrician

• You have an infant younger than 3 months-  A fever may be your baby’s only warning sign that they are fighting a serious illness
• Your child’s fever has lasted more than five days – Your child’s doctor may need to investigate the underlying causes further
• Your child’s fever is higher than 104 degrees – If your child has a fever of 104 degrees that doesn’t come down with the use to acetaminophen or ibuprofen call your pediatrician for any advice.
• Your child is not acting like themselves – Not playing, eating, or drinking like normal and being hard to rouse are cause for concern. Also, babies who aren’t wetting 3 diapers a day and older kids who aren’t using the bathroom 8-12 times per day are at risk of becoming dehydrated.
• Your child has recently been immunized and has a fever higher than 102 degrees of a fever more than 24 hours  –   Your pediatrician may want to check for an adverse side effect of the immunization that needs to be treated.
• You’re worried!! If you have questions about your child’s temperature or illness, don’t hesitate to call your pediatricians office just for peace of mind.

RARE but important things to keep in mind

Febrile Seizures

These are a scary side effect of fevers in 2 to 4 percent of all children under age 5. If your child has twitching movements or seeming like they are passing out:

• Put your child on their side
• Do NOT put anything inside your child’s mouth
• Call 911 if your child’s seizure lasts more than 5 minutes
• Call your pediatrician if your child’s seizure lasts less than 5 minutes

*tips were pulled from Cleveland Clinic Children’s

About Brittany:

Brittany was born and raised in Alabama. She is a Wife and Mama of two sweet babies- her son John is two years old and her daughter Annie is ten months old. She is pursuing her degree in Home and Family Studies with an emphasis on Child Development from BYU. She is looking forward to writing for Birmingham Mommy in preparation for graduation in the Fall of 2016.