Parents are always looking for ways to improve the safety of their kids. Consumer Reports is doing its best to help. Consumer Reports’ Guide to Childproofing and Safety has recently been published by the highly-regarded Consumer Reports group.

At $12.95, this guide to family safety provides 600 safety tips in order to help parents navigate all the safety concerns presented on a seemingly endless basis. Every room in the house is covered  as well as the backyard and the car-even everyday life outdoors. Just in time for summer, this safety manual is just what many parents need.

Additionally, highlights from the book will be featured online in the Consumer Reports’ child safety hub. Parents interested in buying the book itself can find it at various bookstores or through a variety of booksellers on the Web.

As the 11th Annual Food Allergy Awareness Week draws to a close, it’s a good time to take a look at some interesting facts regarding food allergies.  For the last several years, food allergies have become a growing public health concern across the country, especially since children are some of the most hard-hit victims.

Here are some recent numbers according to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN):

• More than 12 million Americans have food allergies which translates to 1 out of every 25 people in the country.
• In children under 3, there is a higher percentage of food allergies-1 out of every 17 young children.
• Total, approximately 3 million U.S. children have food allergies.
• 8 foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions in the nation: [1] milk [2] eggs [3] peanuts [4] tree nuts like almonds and cashews [5] wheat [6] soy [7] fish and [8] shellfish.

Since there is no cure for food allergies and even the smallest amount of a food allergen can cause a reaction in someone, parents need to take note of what their kids are eating and if their kids experience unusual reactions. Visit the FAAN website for even more information regarding food allergies and 5 steps forward the country is taking to combat this growing problem.

If you know a dad who can dance, tell him about the Hallmark Cards Daddy of All Dance-Offs Contest. He could win $5,000! The rules are pretty simple:

• Dads who are 21 years of age or older are eligible
• Dads must submit a video of themselves dancing to the song “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer
• Videos must be between 60-90 seconds in length
• Judging will be based on creativity and enthusiasm and energy
• Videos must be submitted online by May 28

The top 10 entries selected by the Hallmark panel will be posted online and site visitors will vote for their favorite. The 1st 2nd and 3rd place winners all receive cash prizes while the 1st place winner also gets a chance to compete for the $5,000 grand prize at the finals event. All of the official rules, including how to download the song and submit your video, can be found on the Hallmark official contest website.

Tell your favorite dancing dad to get his dancing shoes on and get the camera ready. There’s definitely no better time to have an extra spring in your step…especially since it might mean some extra cash in your pocket.

Know a new mom who could use a little help? Or maybe you know an old mom who could use a good laugh. Parade magazine recently suggested two gifts that could give a mom you know a little lift.

Surviving Motherhood is a TLC series that comes in a two-disc set and costs $25. On the videos, a group of moms bond over coffee and kids. The Rookie Mom’s Handbook might be the perfect fit for a novice mom in your life who needs a break. Lots of laughter and fun ideas can be found inside.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, Parade magazine has even more gift ideas at parade.com. And remember, there’s no rule that says you can’t treat yourself to a gift or two too!

Looks like Baby Mama took the #1 spot at the box office over the weekend. They’re estimating that it took in $18.3 million in ticket sales.

Trailers for the comedy have been all over the television for weeks now. And Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have hit most of the network talk shows to discuss their comeday about surrogate motherhood. People magazine only gave the movie 2 1/2 stars. Richard Roeper gave it a thumbs up while Michael Phillips (sitting in for Roger Ebert) gave it a thumbs down.

I think it looks hysterical. What are your thoughts? I’m hoping I can convice at least one of my girlfriends to go see it with me. If not, I’ll twist the hubby’s arm and remind him that I sat through No Country for Old Men for him.

Moms are going back to school in record numbers and online learning is making it possible for more and more of them each day. Vicki Salemi wrote an article, “Moms Head Back to School” for ClassesUSA and profiled why and how moms today are getting into the higher education groove.

While traditional college classes might not even be feasible for most moms, distance education classes are a real possibility. eLearning provides people with the flexibility they need to meet the demands of their family, their home, their friends, and their classes. Balance can be achieved for moms in order to meet their personal, professional, and educational goals.

Salemi pointed out 4 keys to success for moms, taken from Melissa Leonard, a business and social etiquette expert:

1. It’s okay to say no. Something has to give and that might be a play date or lunch with friends or stuffing envelopes at your child’s school. Your education can be a priority when it needs to be.
2. Put yourself first by accepting help when it’s offered and asking for it when you need it. Use free time and space to get those assignments done or study for that upcoming test.
3. Schedule quiet time for you and your children. Give yourselves an hour of work time with no unnecessary interruptions and distractions.
4. Make time to clean the house. Really. The idea here is to give yourself a mental break, away from your due dates and assignments. Getting your mind onto, well, mindless things can clear your head and make way for great new ideas.

The principal of my old school just sent out an email. It contains a link to a story that ESPN wrote about one of our former students, Jeremiah Homuth.

I remember when I received a different email about Jeremiah two years ago. We had just found out that his unit in Afghanistan had been hit by a grenade. Jeremiah sustained very serious injuries. The email asked us all to keep Jeremiah in his prayers.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of the Army, Jeremiah is not the only one who needs our prayers.

• 158,000 sons and daughters are currently deployed in the war with Iraq
• 395,000 sons and daughters who have children of their own have been deployed since March 2005 to both Iraq and Afghanistan
• 3,988 sons and daughters have been killed
• 29,395 sons and daughters have been wounded

Jeremiah was a great kid. He is an incredible young man. He deserves to have his story told.