If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you’re heard about the Swine Flu that has hit Mexico City and certain areas of the US including Texas, Kansas, California and possibly New York City. Over 60 people have died in Mexico as of now. In the US there are no casualties but 2 people have been hospitalized.

How do you not panic about your children, or you getting the Swine Flu?

• Keep in mind that the people in the US who have this type of flu have been to Mexico or have had close contact with someone who has.
• This is not considered a pandemic at this time.
• “Symptoms of swine flu include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the CDC said.” (per CNN.com) But in the US, Tamiflu has been able to work against it.
• If you are healthy, don’t be afraid to go out, send your children to school, go to work, etc. Use precautions like good hand washing and staying away from someone who is noticeably sick. Also if you are sick, remember to sneeze or cough into your elbow not your hands.
• If you have any concerns about your children or yourself being sick, call your physician. Of course, any time you have a fever, you should not go to work and you should keep your children home from school.
• I believe that the government is prepared for a pandemic now since 9/11. From local communities up to the Federal level, the CDC and Homeland Security have worked on these types of emergencies.
• Keep informed online, with newspapers and TV with reliable sources.
• If your child questions you about Swine Flu, give them the information they can understand based on their age.

How do you feel about this situation? Do you think that enough is being done? Are you more worried by what you are hearing? If so or if not, what sources are you getting your information from?

We are not going to agree on what you want your children to see on TV, to read, to watch at the movies, what music they should listen to or what toys they should own. But I think we can agree on the idea of setting boundaries.

Tonight my 10 year old daughter and I watched Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards when to my shock on came the Pussy Cat Dolls, gyrating in their clothes that expose a lot of skin. I wondered why in the world would this group be at a children’s event. They are not something that I want my daughter to see. Their are way to provocative for my taste.

One of the songs they sang was “When I Grow Up”. I looked up the lyrics and here’s the beginning of the song:

Boys call you sexy and you don’t care what they say. See every time you turn around, they calling your name. (Repeat 2x) Now I’ve got a confession. When I was young I wanted attention and I promised myself that I’d do anything, anything at all for them to notice me….

Not the kind of message that I want my daughter to learn either. But did I turn off the TV or forbid her from watching the rest of the show? No. After it was over, we sat and talked about them and what they stand for. I didn’t lecture but I was sure to get my point across that being sexy, or dressing like a slut isn’t what anyone needs to do. I allowed her to tell me why she liked this group and then we looked at the lyrics of the song.

Just think, Chris Brown was removed from the Kids Choice Awards, why were the Pussy Cat Dolls even considered to be on the show in the first place?

I don’t hide my child from real life but I do set boundaries about certain areas of her life. One of my responsibilities as a mother is to educate her on morals. And I can’t do that if she’s playing with a Bratz doll while watching young women in skimpy clothes sing about using sex to gain success.

What are some of the boundaries you have for your children?