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Whether you’re new to homeschooling or you’ve been homeschooling for several years now, planning your curriculum for the school year is the cornerstone of homeschooling. Even if you plan to use an online homeschool curriculum, it still takes some initial research and planning. If you have never created your own plan for teaching at home, this can seem like an overwhelming and daunting task. But taking the time to personalize the curriculum you will be using for your kids this school year can make your homeschooling experience much more meaningful and individualized for your children....

Don’t be surprised if your preschooler calls you anything from a “stupid-head” to a “doo-doo face.” It’s common for 3- and 4-year-old kids to test your reaction by using “potty words” or other phrases they know are naughty. The way you react to name-calling, however, makes a big difference in how likely your preschooler is to continue the name-calling. Manage Your Reaction Although it may be tempting to laugh when your preschooler calls you a silly name, paying too much attention to the name-calling encourages your preschooler to do it again....

Do you know someone affected by the coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and are you wondering how best to support them during this time? Perhaps this person isn’t answering the phone or you know that they are struggling. While you obviously can’t physically be there for someone who is quarantined or currently infected with COVID-19, you surely still feel concerned and aren’t sure how to help. Key Takeaways It can be difficult to know how to help a loved one with COVID-19 when you can’t be physically close....

Not all contractions that occur during the final weeks of pregnancy are a sign of labor. We typically refer to these as “false labor.” False labor is characterized by contractions that come and go with no pattern or consistency, usually in the last two to four weeks before your due date. While these contractions may be uncomfortable, false labor does not tend to be truly painful or get stronger over time....

A hydrosalpinx is a specific type of fallopian tube blockage. Studies have found that hydrosalpinx blockages are present in 10% to 30% of tubal infertility cases. When a hydrosalpinx blockage occurs, it is typically on the far end of the fallopian tube, near the ovaries. But it is possible for blockage to exist at both ends. If the fallopian tubes become blocked or infected, infertility may result. In a healthy reproductive system, the fallopian tubes serve as pathways for an ovulated egg to reach the uterus....

An estimated 57.2 million Americans aged 12 and over used illicit drugs in the past year, according to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). That means about 20.8% of the U.S. population uses illegal drugs. The category of illicit drugs includes marijuana, psychotherapeutic drugs (prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives used for non-medical purposes), cocaine, hallucinogens (including ecstasy), methamphetamine, inhalants, and heroin. Marijuana Of the 57....

New research from Australia and New Zealand reveals that the live birth rate for IVF cycles has increased over the last 10 years for both younger and older women. In 2019, the most recent year for which data are available, there were 16,310 babies born through IVF treatment performed in Australia and New Zealand. Key Takeaways The live birth rate for IVF cycles has risen in the last decade, two new studies show....

Lithium toxicity is a potentially serious condition caused by having too much lithium in your system. Since lithium’s primary medical use is as a mood stabilizer, most cases occur among people who have bipolar disorder. In fact, many people who take lithium regularly experience this drug toxicity at least once, so it’s very important for people who take this medication to be aware of the symptoms. Loved ones and friends should also be educated about the symptoms so they can help you if you’re unable to help yourself....

OWI is an acronym for operating while intoxicated, referring to a legal charge for drunken driving. For the most part, the acronym that indicates a drunk driving charge depends on the state in which you are driving. Other acronyms are used to refer to charges related to the severity of the drunken driving charge: Common Drunk Driving Acronyms Depending on the terminology the state’s lawmakers used when creating their drunk driving laws, the charge could be referred to by the following acronyms:...

Many people who are newly pregnant wonder if they can (or should) get a Pap smear while pregnant. The answer is yes. In fact, most doctors recommend getting a Pap smear (also known as a Pap test) in early pregnancy as a part of routine prenatal care. The test checks for abnormal cervical cells, which could mean cervical cancer. It’s a good idea to get regular Pap smears even when you’re not pregnant....

In social psychology, the term “person perception” refers to the different mental processes that we use to form impressions of other people. This includes not just how we form these impressions, but the different conclusions we make about other people based on our impressions. Consider how often you make this kind of judgment every day. When you meet with a new co-worker, you immediately begin to develop an initial impression of this person....

At the beginning of every new year, you might come up with lofty resolutions: cook more frequently, spend more time creating, exercise more, learn how to speak Italian. But how often do you achieve them? Often these goals are too vague or you don’t properly plan for them. And they add to the pressure to make your new year better than the previous one. Setting and achieving resolutions can prove challenging for some and seemingly impossible for others....

While some teens would never post a selfie on Facebook, others can’t seem to resist posting selfies on Instagram at least a few times per day. For parents, the whole selfie phenomenon can be a bit perplexing. Why would you want to take 50 pictures of yourself standing in a bathroom and then choose the one that you think makes you look best and post it on your profile so people can give you feedback?...

Looking for a space-efficient way to get a low-impact workout? It might be worth investing in a glider. Also known as “air walkers,” gliders are conceptually similar to ellipticals, but their pedals aren’t anchored in a bulky base—they glide seamlessly through the air. This spatially economic design also results in a more challenging workout, as the more compact frame requires optimal core recruitment to maintain balance. This combination of space efficiency and a low-impact, total-body challenge makes the glider a worthwhile addition to many at-home fitness routines....

How you think about your future is bound up with your well-being. Positive future thinking (PFT) is an important component of healthy cognitive functioning. When people can’t imagine a positive future, that negative view often becomes a central feature of anxiety and depression. Positive Psychology Positive psychology is a branch of psychology focused on the positive events and influences in life. By focusing on positives, people find a life of meaning and purpose....

Postpartum depression is a form of depression that occurs after the birth of a child. While it’s often experienced by mothers, it can also be experienced by fathers. Men may not experience the pain of childbirth or need physical recovery, but the presence of a new child is a major life change. Fathers, like mothers, need to pay attention to their mental health. Exhaustion and stress, in addition to other factors, can lead to male postpartum depression....

If your child, adolescent, or young adult is displaying signs of an eating disorder, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or orthorexia, what should you do? In the past, parents were often taught that parental intervention with an eating disorder would make the problem worse. We now know this not to be the case: you are your child’s best ally in treatment. It is important to act rather than stand by and watch....

When it comes to relationships, not everyone is the same. Some people want to take things slow and see where they go, while others jump into a relationship with marriage on their minds. When you are ready to settle down, it is important to have an open and honest conversation with your partner with caring, curiosity, calmness, and respect. It’s natural to feel an intense desire for commitment in your relationship, especially if it involves starting a family path together....

Pregnancy is a time for excitement and preparation, as well as caution and hypervigilance. You want to do everything to keep yourself and your growing baby safe, and that includes staying free of disease. One such disease to avoid is cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV, a common virus, can pass from the pregnant individual to their growing baby and cause issues, such as birth defects. “Although CMV is very common and rarely causes illness, the congenital form of the virus can be problematic,” says Sandra El Hajj, N-MD, a health professional specializing in preventive and global health....

When Halloween rolls around, everyone gets excited to dress up, go trick-or-treating, and carve pumpkins. And while all of those Halloween activities are fun and should be a part of the October holiday, a movie night at home should also be on the family to-do list. Gathering on the couch together to watch Halloween movies is a great time to bond as a family and create memories that can last a lifetime....