I Care About ____________.

I care about ______________.

Quick. What are the first five words that pop into your head to complete that sentence?

Keep goin’…What are the first ten words that pop into your head?

Be honest. Did the word “me” make it to your top ten list?

Chances are good that it didn’t, and unfortunately, that means you’re pretty normal!

People, especially women…especially caregivers tend to put their own health and wellbeing on hold, thinking that if they spend less time on themselves, they’ll have more time to spend on the people and things they care about.
More minutes does not equal better quality!

Caring for yourself is the best thing you can do to make sure that you have the energy you need to give the kind of care you want to those you want!

Caregiver ugggh that word! What image do you get in your head when you read it? A dimly lit somber room with an older person holding vigil for an even older person?

Get that vision out of your head, please! Yes, it’s true that in the traditional sense of the word a caregiver is someone who takes care of a sick or elderly family member…I get that, and I am on a passionate mission to help those 50-million volunteer family caregivers.

BUT…

I as a wife, mother of five healthy young children, step-mother to an older daughter, “traditional” caregiver for my father-in-law, sister, aunt, business owner, and more…I fully understand that:
—new moms are caregivers
—new couples are caregivers
—employees are caregivers
—friends are caregivers
and it goes on and on.

My way of thinking is that anytime we care for someone or something else to the point that it makes us struggle to care for ourselves, we are a caregiver—and as such—are putting ourselves at risk for all of the same proven medical risks as traditional caregiver. Did you know that caregivers are at increased risk—sometimes by as much as double the normal risk—for developing heart disease, certain cancers, stress-related illnesses, depression, and more?
It’s true.

The good news is that we have the power to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start on a new, healthy path of caregiving!

I don’t want you to stop caring! I want to help you to care stronger—care smarter!

As a result of my own caregiving experiences, and my journalism background, I have spent years interviewing experts in a variety of fields that can help with stress relief, nutrition, sleep, positive thinking, fitness, personal time, appearance, and organization.

I gathered up important information on each of those topics, but then I also put together little action plans…strategies that you can use in ten minutes or less—that will get you started on that healthier path quickly!

I put all of that information into a book called Take Care Tips that was released earlier this year. I have a second book coming this fall, and I’m in development for national multimedia projects to help all of us learn to care for ourselves in a practical—but extremely efficient and effective way (I understand time and budget constraints)!

Please visit TakeCareTips.com to find out more about the book…

AND…I’d love to hear your thoughts/comments/questions related to careving and taking care of YOU! How can I help? What do you need?
j.

The Caring Place: Children and Grieving

We know how devastating it can be when someone close to us dies. For children, too, when someone they love dies, their life changes forever.

If your family, or one you know is struggling to cope with a death, I found that help is just a phone call away at the Highmark Caring Place I got to meet some of the administrators and counselors, and get a tour of their offices in downtown Pittsburgh (there are other locations too ).

As soon as you walk in the front doors you feel hugged…surrounded by love and support. Maybe it’s the comfy furniture, children’s books, and big fish tank in the lobby. Maybe it’s the quilts that hang, lining the hallways…made of individual squares representing loved ones of families who have been helped by the Caring Place. Maybe it’s the large and ever-growing hand-painted tree mural on the wall featuring leaves with the names of each of the children who go through the grief program.

It’s impossible I think, not to be touched by the emotion that spills from the projects in each room. I learned that children and grief is a complex issue. Like us grown-ups, every child grieves in his or her own way…but, their age and stage of development can have a big impact on how the grieving process works.

One in twenty children will have a parent die by the time they turn 18. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1990)

Research on Bereaved Children shows that they:
-have higher levels of depression and anxiety
-have lower self-esteem
-show less optimism for success later in life
-have more accidents and health problems over time

We worked with Highmark Healthy High 5 to do a whole jennifer show on The Caring Place. If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, you can watch Sunday, June 28th at 11am on WTAE-TV, Channel 4 to find out more about how the program works, meet a family who’s been through it, and hear from experts on how we can help our children and our families after the loss of a loved one.

No worries if you’re not in our viewing area! We’ll post clips and information from the show at jenniferTVshow.com
j.

Cyberbullying

It’s a growing trend among teenagers and even adults – cyberbulling. How do you know if your child is a victim? What are steps you can take to prevent it from happening?

Join Jennifer as she talks about this issue to gain some insight and tips – please leave your comments if your child has been a victim. We’d love to hear how you identified the problem and steps you took to correct it!

Thoughts on Swimming Pool Safety From a Lifeguard

The kids had been counting down the days until the opening of the swimming pool that we go to; so I pushed aside my swimming suit insecurities, packed up the suntan lotion, put a smile on my face, and got everybody in the car.

I’m not a strong swimmer, and I get a little nervous at the pool, trying to keep constant watch over my no-fear children. I had my little Flip video camera with me and I asked an experienced lifeguard, Lauren, what she would want parents to know about making their children comfortable and keeping them safe at the pool.
j.

How to Fuel Your Young Athlete

We get the right gloves and helmets, and pads to protect them on the outside, but how can we make sure we’re doing all that we can to make them strong on the inside?
As a mom of five football, soccer, tee-ball, and basketball players…this is something I care about!

Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Serve a variety of healthy foods to make sure they’re getting enough protein(from meat, eggs, and dairy); carbohydrates (from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains); vitamins (from fruits and vegetables; and minerals like calcium (from dairy products). Healthy fats from meats, cheeses, nuts, oils, and butter are needed, too.

2. Kids who practice and play a lot may need more food, because they are burning more calories. Children ages 6 to 12 generally need between 1,600 and 2,500 calories a day.

3. Active kids need to get calcium and iron to build strong bones, and energy.

4. Athletes need to drink water before, during, and after the practice or game. Being hydrated allows our bodies to function at their best levels. Water is the best way to stay hydrated, fruit drinks mixed with water and sports drinks are OK once in a while, but they often include lots of extra sugar and calories.

5. It’s best to eat at least 2 hours before the practice or game so that your child’s body has time to digest the food, and is able to use energy needed to play when the time comes.

Have fun! Play smart.
j.

Last Minute Holiday Hot Picks

Hello there! Scrambling for last-minute ideas for the hard to buy for? Some of our friends at the Westmoreland Mall have some great ideas! Check out their holiday hot picks:

Happy Shopping!
-j

Have Fun, Help Others

If we saw each other and started talking and I asked, “Guess where I was today”? I’ll bet Rock Star Challenge wouldn’t top your list. That’s where I was though.
I did not compete in the event (I still need my kids to practice with me a little bit more before I’m ready to take that show on the road!) but I did get to see and meet many of the people who did. Most were very young, and besides having fun trying to win a real electric guitar; they were helping to do something very special for someone their age. The Rock Star Challenge at the Monroeville Mall benefits the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Many of the young people there used their own ten dollars to register. I spoke with Stephanie from Make-a-Wish, and Mindy from the mall about the event:

Again, you can catch the next Rock Star Challenge to benefit Make-a-Wish on October 11th at Westmoreland Mall. Hope to see you there!
j.

Smile! Get the Best School Pictures

It’s that time of year again…school pictures! Have you ever taken any time to look through some of yours? If I can find one of me I’ll post it so we can have a laugh together.
362 days out of the year my hair was long and straight. The night before Christmas, Easter, and School Picture Day, my mother would put me to bed with pink foam rollers in my hair. I would wake up with straight bangs, and long, long curls everywhere else. That and the buck teeth made for priceless shots-ha!
Well, now I’m sending my kids off to school for their school picture day, and I want them to feel comfortable and confident. I got some advice for myself, and for all of you from my photographer (and friend), Becky Thurner:

So don’t even think about going out to look for those pink sponge rollers!!!
j.

Important Bullying Information

This week on our jennifer TV show, we discuss the serious issue of bullying.
Recent research by our partners at Highmark Healthy High 5 found that only 25% of the parents they talked with believe that bullying is a problem. However, according to U.S. Department of Justice Statistics, Every seven minutes a school child is bullied, and 85% of the time, there is no intervention at all.
Highmark Healthy High 5 working to stop bullying by providing grants and supporting bullying prevention programs. You can get helpful resources and find out more by clicking here.
On our show, I interviewed a beautiful young girl who shared a painful story of being a bullying victim in high school.
Click here to watch a clip.
Here’s what Highmark Healthy High 5 Project Director, Kweilin Nassar wants parents to keep in mind as they watch the bullying show:

I am proud to be partnering with Highmark Healthy High 5 to provide important messages for parents regarding bullying for National Bullying Prevention week October 5th through October 11th; and beyond! I’ll keep you posted.
j.

Teach Your Children Well

Hope you can join me for a fun event that will make it easy for you to share many good lessons with your children:
A rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence will be on display at the Carnegie Science Center on August 1, from 10 am to 5 pm and August 2, from 10 am to 7 pm as part of Declare Yourself, a nonpartisan youth voter initiative.
You’ll get to make your own “Get Out to Vote” buttons at a station lead by the members of Handmade Arcade and sponsored by Clearview Federal Credit Union.
Also Clearview Federal Credit Union is sponsoring a chance to win 4 tickets to a private preview of America’s Birth Certificate (What a cool subject for a “What I did this Summer” report)!
You can enter to win right now at any Clearview Federal Credit Union branch location.
Plus! Don’t miss out on the on-site voter registration and children’s voting booths designed to educate young people about the importance of the voting process and voicing their opinions.
Hope to see you there!
j.

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