Are You Raising an Entitled Child?

It’s no secret that kids today have more than ever before. The majority of the elementary school classrooms I walk into have children with much nicer phones than I have. They also have ipods and all sorts of other things we didn’t have as children. They have no concept of the value of a dollar because things simply get handed to them without any expectation. As a parent we want to provide our children with as much as we can, but we also want to teach them the value of hard work. If you feel that your child may be … Continue reading

8 Things Kids Need to Know about Money

It is never too early to start teaching your children about money. While many parents shy away from discussing financial issues with their kids, this can be one of the biggest mistakes that they make. Instilling good habits and a basic understanding about how finances work can give your child an edge that will stay with him or her for a lifetime. 1. There is a difference between the things that you want and the things that you need. Wants versus needs can be a tough concept for kids to understand, but teaching them that real necessities must be met … Continue reading

Mother’s Blog About Mentally Ill Son Goes Viral

A mother has written a blog that has been passed around the internet via Facebook and in links in several other blogs and news articles. In it, she discusses her fear that her son will someday do something similar to what Adam Lanza did in Connecticut. It is an eye-opening piece of writing. Yesterday, I wrote a blog that clarified that not all people who have Asperger’s Syndrome are violent. Some can, and do, express loud, verbal, outbursts or may push someone away from them. Typically, the violence that people with Asperger’s Syndrome express is not premeditated or planned out. … Continue reading

Larry Hagman Dies at 81

Actor Larry Hagman passed away yesterday due to complications from throat cancer. He was 81. If you are close to my age (49), you may remember first seeing Hagman as Capt. Tony Nelson in “I Dream of Jeannie,” a slightly dumb, but popular show that ran from 1965 until 1970. Before that, he had appeared on television in shows such as “Sea Hunt” and “The Defenders,” but it was really “I Dream of Jeannie” that put Hagman on the map. After “Jeannie” ended, Hagman bounced around television, appearing in “Ellery Queen,” “Barnaby Jones,” and “The Rockford Files” while starring in … Continue reading

Alaska Calls Medicaid an “Entitlement Program”

Every state has its own Medicaid program. You can learn a lot about the political environment in a state by the wording it chooses to use on its official Medicaid website. Alaska refers to Medicaid as an “entitlement program”. The state put that phrase in quotes. This speaks volumes. Medicaid is a public, or government run, health insurance program. It is designed to cover individuals and families who are low income and who cannot afford to purchase a health plan from a private insurance company. Medicaid is funded, in part, by the federal government. It is also funded, in part, … Continue reading

Blogging From the Personal Side of Parenting

The internet has a wealth of information about a vast variety of special needs. It is fairly easy to look up medical information or news articles regarding a special need. Sometimes, it can be comforting to read a blog written by a parent about the personal side of parenting a child who has a special need. Here are a few interesting ones to explore. Parents can get online and quickly look up symptoms, recommended diets, help with IEPs, and news about health insurance coverage for their child’s special needs. What about if all you want is some conformation that your … Continue reading

1 in 88 Can’t Wait

Are you the parent of a child who has autism? AutismSpeaks wants you to get involved, politically, to make this country a better place for your child (and for children like him or her). AutismSpeaks wants all public officials to recognize autism as an urgent public health crisis. Adding your voice can help. AutismSpeaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. The group is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and a cure for autism. They also want to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders. They advocate for the needs of individuals who have autism … Continue reading

Where to Start Your Family’s Genealogy Blog

Are you considering starting your own, personal, genealogy blog for your family? One of the first things you need to decide is where that blog is going to go. Fortunately, there are several simple online resources that can help you get started. Here are a few good ones to choose from. You’re ready to make a genealogy blog. The first thing you are going to need to do is figure out where online you want that blog to be. Here are some options to choose from. One of the easiest ways to make a genealogy blog is to go with … Continue reading

Insurance Blog Week in Review – July 15 – 21, 2012

Once a week, the Insurance Blog Week in Review brings you an easy way to “ketchup” on the blogs that have been posted here in the past seven days. There could be anywhere between twelve and fourteen blogs that appear. What did you miss? Governor Jay Nixon Vetoes Law Denying Birth Control Coverage Missouri Governor Jay Nixon vetoed a bill that would have allowed health insurers to opt-out of covering birth control even if the employer and employee wanted it to be covered. Missouri already has a law that allows employers or workers opt-out of birth control coverage if it … Continue reading

Random Deals – July 18, 2012

Sometimes, it can feel like you are being bombarded with information about sales. We hear about a sale on the radio, and forget what store it was for by the time we leave the car. You find a deal while surfing online, and forget to bookmark it. Here is a quick list of some random deals and sales that are all on one, easy to locate, convenient, place. That should help! Michaels has a Clearance sale where you can get up to 80% off the items included in the sale. This is “while supplies last”. They also have some printable … Continue reading