How many of us have been trapped in a relationship we know is not good for us? Since a young age I had always yearned after the bagel. In my young adult years I never settled down with one bagel, but like most teenagers played the field – having a quick fling with an onion bagel before moving on to a sour cream friend, and even occasionally dating multiple bagels at once. I can’t say I was always proud of my behavior, but everyone else was doing it, so I felt justified.

As I got older, and my friends were settling down more, I found myself in a long term relationship with the onion bagel. We kept the love interesting by experimenting with different covers like jalapeno cheese, the old standby of cream cheese, and occasionally would invite others to join us such as a poppyseed bagel [although this behavior was frowned upon by many].

Teaching Your Child to: Identify and Express Emotions

Maggie is playing with her four-year-old son. He selects a truck puzzle and begins matching and placing the pieces in the holes. He has a difficult time turning a piece around so that it will match the hole and fit. Maggie tells him, “Let me help you turn it the right way.” Her son pushes her hand away and says in an agitated voice, “Let me do it.” He tries to fit the piece in again, but is unsuccessful. He screams and throws the piece across the room and then throws the puzzle at Maggie. What would you do if this happened in your home? Would you throw in the towel and quit for the night, maybe try again tomorrow? OR would you turn it around and create a brand new lesson, about helping your child understand and talk about his emotions?

The Focus 

Young children deal with many of the same emotions adults do.  Children get angry, sad, frustrated, nervous, happy, or embarrassed, but they often do not have the words to talk about how they are feeling.   Instead, they sometimes act out these emotions in very physical and inappropriate ways. For example, when Maggie’s son was frustrated, he threw the puzzle piece and the puzzle.

By Mark Newsom, Public Information – Southern Stone County Fire Protection District

With spring right around the corner, many of us begin stowing away our winter weather items in the shed and start making a list of repairs around the house so we can enjoy the great outdoors.Being aware of a few safety practices will help you make your spring experience more enjoyable and worry-free.

Inside the Home:

• Check your fire extinguishers and have them serviced if necessary
• Check and clean your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, making sure they have fresh batteries
• Check for damaged or overloaded extension cords and power strips
• Be prepared for storm-related emergencies by checking the batteries in your flashlights and portable radios and keep other supplies on-hand, such as bottled water

Lifestyles – Presented by…