Volume 8 April 2008

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Welcome to TAKE-A-MOMENT!

The Take-A-Moment newsletters strive to provide quick-to-read content to improve and enhance the quality of life at home and in the work place...for when you can "take-a-moment" from your hectic schedule. Take-a-Moment is provided by the Louisville Area Cooperative Extension Agents. When you have "more-than-a-moment" visit our web site for expanded articles, article archives, sign-up and contact information, and links to other web sites of interest.

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C O N T E N T S

Stain Removal -- Wash Day Blues....Reds....Greens....Purples!
Financial Fitness --  Use Economic Stimulus Payments Wisely
KidsKorner --  Tips for Parents on Handling Sibling Rivalry
Family Life --  Parents Help Literacy Development Begin Early
Nutrition & What's Cooking --  Grilling Weather
Home Tips --  Handling Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Ways to Wellness --  5 e
In The Work Place --  Find Time For Your Family

STAIN REMOVAL
WASH DAY BLUES...REDS...GREENS...PURPLES
stainremoval@take-a-moment.com

Wash Day Blues....Reds....Greens....Purples!

Often in our fast pace life, little mishaps occur during the laundry process that can change the COLOR of everything. Have you ever had a colored garment or towel get mixed into the wrong load? Thus your whole load comes out in that color! This can be especially true of new apparel or new home furnishings. Don't despair. Here is some guidance on what to look for when trying to
salvage the garments:

Rule #1: Do not dry any of the items unless you want the color to be permanent.

Rule #2: Look for a Color Remover is you need to remove dye stains from whites washed by mistake with colored items. A color remover will also help remove brown iron rust stains on white fabric that come from hard mineral waters. Carbona Color Remover, Dylon Run Away and Rit Fabric Treatment are examples.

Rule #3: Use a Color retention to prevent fading and color runs. It is used to set colors on non-colorfast cottons and cotton/polyester. Dylon Color Shield and Retayne are two examples.

Rule #4: Use a Color Run Remover to remove excess dye. With nonstable dyes being used quite often by the industry as a way of cutting costs, this can be quite useful. Examples of this are Dylon Run Away, RIT Color Remover, and Synthrapol.

Where trade names are used no endorsement is intended nor criticism implied of similar products not named.

FINANCIAL FITNESS
USE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS WISELY
finances@take-a-moment.com

This summer many Kentuckians will receive a check from the federal government as part of an effort to stimulate the national economy.

Before these checks arrive, think about what will be the best use of this money for you and your family. Spending the money on vacations or new items for your family may not be the best choice.

If you have credit card or other debt, paying down that would be a better use of the income for your own economic future. Another option may be to invest the money. You could also split the payment with some going to pay off bills, some going to investments and some left for the family to use as it chooses.

It is estimated 130 million U.S. households will receive payments ranging from $300 to $600 for an individual and $600 to $1,200 for couples filing jointly. Taxpayers’ eligibility and the size of stimulus payments they will receive will vary according to income and family situations.

Eligible taxpayers may receive an additional $300 for each qualifying child. To qualify a child must be under age 17. The stimulus payment – both the basic component and the additional funds for qualifying children – begins to phase out for individuals with adjusted gross incomes greater than $75,000 and married couples who file a joint return with adjusted gross incomes greater than $150,000. The combined payment is reduced by 5 percent of the income above these income thresholds.

Most people will not have to do anything to get the payment other than file a 2007 federal income tax return. These returns will be used to determine eligibility and calculate the amount of the stimulus payments. However, people receiving Social Security, Railroad Retirement or veterans' benefits as well as taxpayers who do not make enough money to normally have to file a 2007 tax return will need to file in order to receive the economic stimulus payment.

The Internal Revenue Service will begin sending these checks in May. The agency’s Web site, http://www.irs.gov, contains eligibility and other information about the stimulus payments.

The IRS will be mailing two informational notices to taxpayers advising them of the payments. However, be alert for tax rebate scams such as telephone calls or e-mails claiming to be from the IRS and asking for sensitive information. According to an IRS news release, they will not call or e-mail taxpayers about these payments nor will they be asking for financial information. Scam e-mails and information about scam calls should be forwarded to phishing@irs.gov.

For more information on these payments, check out the IRS Web site or for more financial resource management contact the Cooperative Extension Service.

KIDS KORNER
TIPS FOR PARENTS ON HANDLING SIBLING RIVALRY
KidsKorner@take-a-moment.com

As parents, helping brothers and sisters get along with each other is one of the hardest skills to develop. Parents envision their children being companions for each other, growing in friendship that lasts a lifetime. However, the reality is that in many families the reality is just the opposite of the vision. Often the wounds inflicted in the rivalry last into adulthood. How can parents help their children learn to live together in peace, solving their problems with justice for all?

This is a critical question and not easily answered. In Siblings without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too, the authors describe how they facilitated a series of parenting sessions on dealing with siblings. Here are a few of the principles that parents and facilitators worked out together that are also supported by sound research. The good news is that parents can make a difference in their children’s behavior and the quality of their family’s life.

• Respectfully listen to each child’s side of the story. Then use words that describe each child’s feelings or express each child’s wishes about the situation. Make sure your view accurately reflects the children’s feelings or wishes. Suggest a non-violent, acceptable way to vent their anger. Example: “Tell your brother with words how angry you feel and what needs to happen to make things right.”
• Avoid unfavorably comparing one child to another. Instead, comment only on what you observe each child doing, how you feel about the issue, and how the children should fix the problem.
• Show your children that you love each one—not equally, because they are not identical—but as the unique individuals they are. Assure each child that he is loved just the way he is, because he is special. Be sure to follow through promptly with your promise to spend time with each one.
• Pay attention to the victim, not to the aggressor. This action removes the aggressor’s power over the victim. Later, listen to the aggressor’s side of the story and discuss better ways to get her needs met.
• Handle fighting according to the level of intensity of the conflict. Level 1—Normal bickering: Ignore it, knowing that the children will be able to find a resolution without your help. Level 2—Issue is becoming heated: Comment calmly to all siblings that you can see that they sound angry at each other. Listen and reflect each child’s position. Respectfully restate the problem. State your confidence that they can work it out peacefully. Leave the room. Level 3—Fighting could be dangerous: Ask if this is a play fight or a real fight. State that play fighting is permitted only if all participants agree. If it is not play, it has to stop. Make sure that non-play fighting stops by separating the children. Level 4—Fighting is really dangerous. You are definitely needed. Calmly point out what you see: Very angry children who could hurt each other or damage property. A cooling off period is required. Send them to their rooms. Talk to each one separately when they have cooled off. Together, create ground rules to resolve future flash points. Follow through in enforcing the rules.

Because of parents’ position of power as family models and leaders, they can positively or negatively affect the behavior of their children. By keeping their emotions under control, using non-violent, reasonable skills focused on solutions, and remembering to respectfully listen and understand, parents can make great progress toward peace.

Reference: Faber, A. and Mazlish, E. (1987). Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too. New York: Avon/Hearst.
Source: Carole Gnatuk, Extension Child Development Specialist and Laura Arnold, Graduate Assistant, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture

FAMILY LIFE
PARENTS HELPS LITERACY DEVELOPMENT BEGIN EARLY
familylife@take-a-moment.com

Because literacy develops long before children begin school, parents have a good opportunity to introduce their children to its richness and benefits. There are many easy, everyday ways parents can introduce youngsters to communicating in the world around them.
It may be as simple as talking to infants by prompting them to communicate by repeating their cooing sounds. Parents also can describe what they are doing as they perform routine activities and describe what the baby is doing.
Reading also is an important way to help youngsters develop literacy, especially if it is a loving personal experience with the baby snuggled comfortably on a parent's lap. To make reading an enjoyable, educational experience, choose books with one colorful picture on every page. Change your voice as you point to each picture. Act out and exaggerate animal noises. Choose books with cloth or cardboard pages, and don't worry about ripping them.
Making these suggestions a part of everyday routines will help produce a strong foundation for further literacy development during the toddler and pre-school years.

Source: Gary Hansen

NUTRITION & WHAT'S COOKING
GRILLING WEATHER
whatscooking@take-a-moment.com

It’s spring and the weather is warming up, therefore grills will be lighting up soon. Grilling is a fun, economical and healthy way of serving foods. Many foods flavor can be improved with just a flame-broiled flavor.

Try your grilling know-how: (Answers below, try not to peek.)

1. Marinades contain an acidic agent to tenderize the meat and add flavor. Which of the following could you use to make a healthy marinade? A. Lime juice B. Vinegar C. Light yogurt D. Any of the above

2. Basting sauces should be brushed over meat as soon as the meat is place on the grill. T or F

3. Why do some marinades call for small amounts of oil? A. To carry flavors and add moisture B. To eliminate burning C. To tenderize meat

4. A rub is a combination of herbs and seasonings that is pressed onto the surface of meats before cooking. T or F

5. You should always marinate meat in an aluminum pan in the refrigerator. T or F

6. Which of the following items would make a healthy basting sauce? A. Low-fat vinaigrette B. Low-sodium marinade C. Salsa D All of the above

Answers:
1. D. Citrus juices, vinegar and many tomato products are good ingredients
2. False. Meat should be cooked for 5 minutes to seal in juices before basting.
3. A
4. True
5. False. Best to use a heavy-duty re-sealable plastic bag
6. D.

HOME TIPS
HANDLING COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS
hometips@take-a-moment.com

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs as they are commonly called, have gained in popularity as one way to help reduce energy bills. As with all light bulbs, handle them with care. For instance, when installing or replacing a CFL, always screw and unscrew the bulb by the base (not the glass) and never use force when twisting it into a light socket.

If a CFL burns out or breaks, don’t just toss it in the trash. The bulbs have a very small amount of mercury in them, so follow some simple precautions:

• Remember that Energy Star qualified CFLs have a warranty period. If a bulb burns out and it’s still within this warranty time period, simply return the bulb to the retailer.

• If a CFL breaks, open a window and have everyone leave the room for about 15 minutes. Then carefully remove all the materials that you can without using a vacuum cleaner. To do this, wear rubber gloves and scoop up the remains with stiff paper or cardboard. Then wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or wet disposal wipes. Use a sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small bits and place all of these cleanup materials in a double plastic bag that’s sealed tight. The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, place the bag and contents in a plastic bag or empty the contents into a plastic bag and wipe the canister with a damp paper towel. Then place all cleanup materials in double sealed plastic bags and follow the disposal recommendations given by your local solid waste service.

Source: Linda Adler, Extension Specialist for Home Furnishings, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture.

WAYS TO WELLNESS
HOW YOU CAN RAISE A PHYSICALLY ACTIVE FAMILY?
wellness@take-a-moment.com

Get moving yourself!
Children often “inherit” their family’s lifestyle. If you do active things, chances are your child will, too. Adults set the tone for active living in the family.

Fit activity into your family life.
You don’t need to spend extra money, or even get involved in sports. You can all be active – just by doing everyday things like walking the family dog or planting a garden.

Do more than watch.
Play! Let yourself feel young enough to play, especially with your child or grandchild. Playing is okay at any age! If you have forgotten how, your child or grandchild can show you. Your involvement and enthusiasm can encourage your child’s or grandchild’s play.

Set limits on TV and computer time – for the whole family.
Use the time that would have been spent in front of the TV or computer for active play!

Source: April 2004 Health Bulletin from the University of Kentucky

IN THE WORK PLACE
FIND TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY
workplace@take-a-moment.com

• Dedicate some time each day to your family with no interruptions.
• Remember that just setting aside time together with no planned activities can be a relaxing and fulfilling choice.
• Choose activities that you all enjoy.
• Plan special outings and holiday getaways as often as you can.
• Enjoy a meal together at least several times a week.