One point with which there is universal agreement is that caring for a newborn is tough work.  Once baby arrives, there is not enough time in the day to accomplish the multitude of tasks that materialize.  One of the best forms of therapy when it seems the walls are closing in is to get outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature with your child.

Whether it’s going to be a weekend getaway or a leisurely hour pacing around the neighborhood, taking steps to ensure personal security must be an integral part of the planning process.  With this in mind, there are a few points that deserve consideration before venturing out.

Take Only What You Need for the Outing

Strollers have been around for decades and will most likely remain so. Just remember, don’t think of them as wagons that you can load up with just about anything.  Case in point, I recently conducted a safety inspection of one mom’s stroller and found a pipe wrench and a roll of duct tape.  Trying desperately to keep my imagination in check I asked the obvious question, “Why do you have these in your child’s stroller?”  The woman was as surprised as I and stated she had no idea they were there and suggested that her husband was the culprit.  OK, maybe her husband was doing some repairs around the house and needed a second pair of hands to lug his tools from A to B., but this does illustrate the occasional need to clean out unnecessary items…who among us hasn’t found a day’s old, half-eaten sandwich in the folds of baby’s chariot? Continue reading →

Amusement Parks No Place for Complacency

Summer is in full swing and kids both young and young at heart love amusement parks.  One doesn’t need to drive too far to find one of many scattered across the country.

Before you go, keep in mind these three important tips to ensure your personal safety.

1.    Use lockers to store valuables or keep your necessities with you at all times. Today’s amusement parks now have some fantastic water rides.  Nothing says cool off better than a trip up the Lazy River or down the Adventure Falls.  Signage warns, “You will get soaked”.   Most parks how have barrels or shelving where you can place your belongings before boarding the water ride.  Anyone with a backpack, cell phone or wallet certainly would not want to have those items drenched; therefore they set their items in a staging area to ensure they stay dry.  However signage also warns, ‘Not responsible for lost or stolen items’.  The staging location is not manned or monitored.  Anyone could walk over to the shelves and grab any backpack or tote bag that looked interesting.  Unknowing ride passengers have just made their wallet, cell phone, keys and personal information available to a complete stranger.  Next time, opt for a zip lock bag to store your valuables, place them inside a backpack and take everything with you on the water ride.  So what if your tote gets wet; your personal information will remain secure at your side. Continue reading →