Back to school

Living In an Empty Nest

Start an Indoor Herb Garden

Ms. Molly
Foundation

Taking Care
of Yourself

Back to School - Helping Kids Succeed
All across the country, children are heading back to school for another year of learning. Whether your kids are in elementary school or high school, you can take steps to help them succeed in the classroom.

We asked the U.S. Department of Education and veteran teachers for tips on helping kids succeed at school. Here are a few of our favorites:

Get Involved
Stay in contact with your child's teacher. Many teachers post classroom assignments on the Internet or send out weekly emails about class activities. Ask the teacher how you can help your child.
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Learning to Live in an Empty Nest
You've Spent 20 Years Raising Your Kids. Now What?
Whether you've been looking forward to this day for years or dreading it, the day your youngest child moves out of the house is a major life change. Psychologists say, for some, it can be as stressful as the death of a loved one or the end of a marriage. Others are able to embrace the change and jump into the next stage of life with excitement and passion. Everyone handles it differently - and that's OK. | more

Start an Indoor Herb Garden
Do you love to taste fresh basil in your pesto? Fresh oregano in your spaghetti sauce? Chives on your baked potato? Cooking with homegrown herbs may seem a little overwhelming - but it doesn't need to be. You can start a simple herb garden on your windowsill today.
Growing your own herbs not only spices up your cooking (fresh herbs are always more flavorful than dried herbs), an indoor herb garden can also be a fun, year-round project for you and your family. | more

Help for Domestic Violence Victims
In May 2006, a young mother named Julie came to a stark realization: She needed to escape her abusive husband - and fast. His physical abuse was quickly becoming more and more brutal. She feared for her own safety and her young son's safety. But, like many victims of domestic violence, she felt she had nowhere to turn.

In desperation and fear - just minutes before her husband was to return home one afternoon - Julie took her son to a local hospital and asked for help. Within an hour she was on her way to a domestic violence shelter where she received free housing, food and personal care items until she was able to find a safe place to live. | more

Taking Care of Yourself
Caregivers Often Neglect Their Own Needs
You're on an airplane, getting ready to take off. The flight attendant is giving the pre-flight instructions. "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the ceiling. Put your own mask on before helping others." It's good advice for women - even if you never get on an airplane.

Women often lead busy lives - taking care of everyone in the family except themselves. But neglecting our own needs can cause a host of problems, including stress and serious illnesses. Make sure you are taking care of yourself as well as others in your family. Letting yourself get run down or sick won't do anyone any good.

• Eat right - Fuel up with fruits, vegetables and protein.
• Get enough sleep - Try to get 7 to 9 hours a night.
• Learn to relax - Deep breathing, yoga, exercise. Do whatever works for you.
• Set limits - You can't do it all, so don't even try. It's OK to say "no."
• Plan your time - Make a to-do list and prioritize what you need to get done.
• Don't deal with stress in unhealthy ways like drinking, smoking or overeating.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services