Eat, Save, and Be Healthy

This fall, there will be many people who will celebrate the year of “firsts”.  First child off to pre-school or kindergarten, first child on a sports team or band, first or last child off to college, first marriage, first grandchild and the list could go on.  You can fill in the blank with whatever new milestone is in your life right now.  As we navigate these milestones in life, it seems that it may also be time to re evaluate our personal relationships with our spouse.

I was called this week for a phone interview about marriage challenges that couples face through the seasons of life.  In doing some research, I found this from the University of Missouri that I could personally relate to and thought you might also, on ways to strengthen marriage.

• Remain good friends-be polite and respectful to each other.  Gain enjoyment and satisfaction from the friendship you’ve built.
• Partners in a growing relationship are committed to a strong marriage and will work through the problems to build a stronger marriage in the process.  It’s  not always easy and fun, but knowing you can count on your spouse, helps to ease the challenge.
• Perform daily acts of kindness- a simple way to express fondness and concern for each other is to lend a helping hand without being asked.  This sends out messages of love and concern.
• Share enjoyable times, go on a date and have fun together! Or write a love note or e-mail to let them know you are thinking of them throughout the day.
• It is essential to make your marriage a priority, to take time to enjoy each other—research has shown that the amount of fun time spouses spend together is a major factor in the happiness of their marriage.
• Create family traditions, they help to figure out what is important to you and they give meaning and predictability to marriages and families.  Traditions enable us to reaffirm our love and devotion to one another. 
• Each of us continue to grow as individuals so that we may grow together.  We are not the same people we were 20 years ago.  Taking care of ourselves and doing things we enjoy help us to improve the relationship.

Marriage is a challenging relationship that has many seasons.  It requires hard work for each of us and when we combine that with determination and discipline,  it has the potential to be very rewarding and satisfying.  If we seek to have a positive attitude, be empathetic and committed in our purpose and combine that with a lot of love and respect then more than likely we can have a fulfilling marriage.  Having our spouse as our friend throughout the history of our life allows us to enjoy the friendship,the  fun and traditions that have given us the joy of a  strong marriage and that’s definitely worth the effort!!

Author: Melinda Hill, CFCS, CFLE

Have you noticed that more companies are issuing rebates in the form of gift cards instead of checks? Some states have complained that company ads gave the impression that rebates would come as checks instead of gift cards. Disclosure is now required in a few states.

And for good reason. Rebate cards often have fees and expiration dates attached to them. Also, retailer-branded cards generally can be used only at the issuing retailer. If the card company goes out of business your left with worthless plastic. Bank-issued cards are more widely accepted but may have fees and expiration dates too.

What can you do? If a rebate promotion doesn’t indicate what form the rebate will take, ask for specifics. Also check for fees and expiration date and use the card quickly.

Resource: Consumer Report, Money Advisor

Written by: Cora French-Robinson, CFLE
Extension Educator

Earlier this week we told you about a recent report from the Annie E Casey Foundation highlighting the importance of reading, especially in the early years of life.  Though reading success if often seen as the “job” of the education system, parents should remember that they are their child’s first and most important educator.

What can Parents do to help their child succeed?

While there is a place for school and teachers, parents should never forget that they are the primary caregivers for their children at all ages- their first and most important teacher.  There are many things that a parent can do to help their child succeed in reading and also thus in other areas of school.

Read to your Child- this can never be overemphasized It is NEVER too early to begin reading to your children.  Children of all ages can benefit from being read to, and this can help instill a love of reading in your child.

Help you child be ready to enter school- this starts at a young age as well, but the more ready your child is to enter the classroom at kindergarten or first grade, the more successful he or she will be.  This includes a wide variety of skills ranging from knowing basic colors or shapes to being able to sit still for a short amount of time, and follow simple instructions.

Help your child be ready to learn when they go to school- often life can get in the way of learning.  If a child goes to school in the morning hungry, stressed or tired they are not going to be as successful in their education.  Help your child succeed by making sure they have a healthy breakfast, and get plenty of sleep the night before.

Don’t let the summer waste away- many of the skills a child learns throughout the year can be lost in the summer months unless a parents is actively engaging their child in educational activities.  Take part in a summer reading program at the local library or review different subjects through the summer months.  If a child spends 3 months without any review of reading or math skills they can be far behind when they start back in the fall.

Instill in your child a love of learning and desire for education.- the more your child begins to dread school and homework, the less motivated they will be to become independent learners.  Encourage your children in their education and be excited to hear about the things they are learning.  Take advantage of their natural interest in certain topics and help them explore those.

Reading and learning are so important for school success and success in late life.  Help your kids get on the right foot now and it can affect them for many years to come.

Visit the Annie E Casey site to view the full report: Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters: A KIDS COUNT Special Report to learn more about the  importance of early reading.