 Can you imagine how one creature, one animal has the power to shape an entire ecosystem? I knew the blue whale was the largest animal that ever lived…Even bigger than the dinosaurs, but I never imagined it could affect our oceans. When I read an article about blue whales from Animals Around the World, I knew I had to write about them. Their link: https://www.animalsaroundtheglobe.com/why-a-single-blue-whale-can-reshape-an-entire-ecosystem-3-333179/ 1. How Big is a Blue Whale? - A blue whale is 100 feet long, or 6 feet longer than a basketball court. - It weighs 200 tons. That’s as heavy as the engine pulling a train. - Their tongue weighs about 2.7 tons. Can you imagine a whale with an elephant-sized tongue?  i - Their hearts weigh as much as a car. Ours, only 10 ounces. That’s the size of a grocery store can. - Blue whales pump 220 pounds of blood through their body. That’s what some football players weigh. - Their arteries are so big grown-ups could swim through them. - When a blue whale eats, goes to the bathroom, or decays after death, it changes the ocean around them. 2. How Much Do They Eat?  - One blue whale can eat up to 4 tons of krill in 24 hours. - 4 tons of krill equal the weight of one hippo. - It also equals 40 million teeny tiny creatures. - Each one, 1-2 centimeters long. - Eating all that krill keeps their population in check. - That leaves room for other kinds of krill and plankton to live too. - Blue whales feed on thick patches of krill. - A single blue whale can set the trophic levels lower in the ocean. - The plants and animals at the lowest trophic levels are also at the bottom of the food chain. - These 2 animals can equal each other… - 40 million krill equal one 4-ton hippo.  3. How Do Blue Whales Affect the Ocean? Do you remember how one blue whale eats about 49 million krill? That’s about 4 tons a day! That gives them the power to keep krill populations in check. It also allows diversity within plankton communities too.  This map shows where blue whales live and influence ocean life. They don’t live in the white spaces, and they don’t control krill populations there either. 4. Do Blue Whales Fight Climate Change?  Yes, they can! Blue whales live more than 90 years. During that time, they accumulate tons of carbon inside their bodies; 33 tons of carbon dioxide to be precise. When a whale dies and sinks to the bottom of the ocean, it’s called a whale fall. Those tons of carbon are stored away inside their bodies for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. The blue whale population is now in decline, meaning they’re pulling less carbon out of the environment. One blue whale can capture the same amount of carbon dioxide as thousands of trees, and now there are fewer blue whales to do that. 5. Can a Dead Whale Create an Oasis Under the Sea?  Yes! A blue whale stimulates the ocean long beyond its lifetime. As its carcass reaches the ocean floor, the seabed grows rich in resources that can last ocean creatures for 75 years, or the turn of the next century. One blue whale carcass can deposit 2,000 years’ worth of carbon. That’s the year 4025. There are 400 species that can colonize a whale fall. Some of those organisms are found nowhere else on earth. That new community will become a hotspot for biodiversity for decades. It will also serve as a steppingstone for the spread of those species across the plains of our deepest oceans. 6. Did You Know When Blue Whales Move, It Changes the Ocean?  When a blue whale eats, each lunge they make moves over 70 tons of water. The turbulence extends down hundreds of meters. That movement mixes and distributes nutrients, oxygen, and heat through the layers of water. It also affects the chemistry and circulation patterns, and blue whales can temporarily change the temperature and microbes in the water. Would you believe as blue whales dive and surface, they create pressure waves that keep seafloor sediments in shallow water? It also pulls up buried nutrients for ocean communities. Those disturbances are multiplied across a whale’s migration route. One whale can influence ecosystems across thousands of miles of ocean. 7. Do Blue Whales Change the Behavior of their Prey? Absolutely! When a blue whale swims into an area full of krill, they change the way they swarm. Krill take defensive measures like migrating vertically, changing when they reproduce, and where they live. Why wouldn’t they? One blue whale eats 4 tons of krill in 24 hours; that’s the weight of one hippo. When blue whales often swim through an area, the krill population is more stable and diverse. They also feed other ocean animals like seabirds and small fish. 8. How Loud Are Blue Whales?  They are the loudest creature on Earth. As the Earth’s largest animal, it makes sense they have a HUGE voice. It’s 188 decibels loud, or as loud as a rocket ship when it blasts off. Their voice is deep because of its low frequency. Its long wavelength lets it travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles across the ocean. Would you believe the call of one blue whale can change how schools of fish swim? That it can trigger defensive responses in prey, or that it can change migration patterns for zooplankton. Blue whales have ONE powerful voice! 9. Do Migration Routes Affect Ocean Habitats? Absolutely! Blue Whales travel up to 10,000 miles each year between their feeding and breeding grounds. Their routes are biological highways that connect ocean ecosystems. As whales swim between both points, they carry with them nutrients, microorganisms, even parasites. Seabirds, sharks, and other smaller fish know when whales will arrive. They gather, waiting to share in the feast. Some parasites complete their entire life cycle aboard a whale during one of those journeys. It’s hard to believe that just one blue whale can strengthen an ecosystem. They prevent isolation and promote genetic exchange between distant communities. 10. Do Blue Whales Affect Ocean Evolution?  Absolutely! Krill have changed and evolved how they swarm, migrate vertically, and reproduce based on the presence or absence of blue whales. There are distinct differences between the two krill populations. The whale’s baleen digestive system also favors certain krill species and sizes over others in the evolutionary fight to survive. That in turn favors some krill-eating seabirds and fish too. It’s hard to believe one blue whale can drive marine evolution across thousands of ocean habitats. 11. What if Blue Whales Disappeared?  Ocean habitats would suffer. In the Southern Ocean, it’s already happened. Commercial whaling removed about 99% of the blue whales. You can still see the results today. Without whales feeding on them, the krill populations have changed. They’ve grown larger and denser. They’ve stopped changing physically; there’s no need to escape a predator. There’s also a reduction in nutrients. Without whale poop, there’s less iron in the ocean, almost 40% less. Without their deaths, other creatures aren’t born. They become rarer and more isolated. There are millions of tons of carbon that whales no longer remove and store away. We need blue whales to keep the oceans healthy and thriving. 12. Is There Still Time to Save Them?  Of course, if we do the work. The blue whale population used to be over 350,000. Today it’s only about 10-25,000. Thank goodness people have realized we must save the blue whale because of what they do for our oceans. How do we save them? Protect their feeding grounds and migration routes. It saves the whales and other species too. One blue whale is worth millions of dollars to the ocean over its lifetime. Think of the carbon they hold, the nutrients they recycle, and the fish populations that thrive because of them. 13. Is One Blue Whale Irreplaceable?  The conclusion to the article—YES! A blue whale is so much more than its incredible size. Just one whale influences the ocean by the way they eat, migrate, poop, communicate, and even die. All those things enhance biodiversity, stabilize food webs, and connect distant ecosystems.
Blue whales are one BIG animal in the ocean, but they’re key to its health. With the decline in their population, protecting blue whales is more crucial today for the whales, for the health of our oceans, and for their fellow creatures. My source link: https://www.animalsaroundtheglobe.com/why-a-single-blue-whale-can-reshape-an-entire-ecosystem-3-333179/
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 Sometimes your mind just stalls out. Not from lack of effort, but from running in too many directions without pause. Creative energy isn’t infinite—it depletes, especially when life demands too much and gives too little space in return. The good news? You can restart it. Like a muscle, creativity responds to movement, rhythm, and shifts in perspective—especially when you step outside the loop you’re stuck in. Tip #1: Shift What You Take In  If you’ve felt stuck in a creative rut lately, it might be time to change what you feed your brain. Building creative momentum again starts by interrupting your usual routines and leaning into unfamiliar patterns. Sketch something that makes no sense. Read outside your field. Play with an idea you don’t believe in. The point is to dislodge your default thoughts and let the weird stuff in. Letting in new input helps break circular thinking patterns. It pushes your attention to reroute through unexpected mental neighborhoods. Once those connections start firing again, you’ll find the spark hasn’t disappeared—it was just waiting for you to change the angle. Tip #2: Use Movement to Clear Mental Clutter  There’s a strange relief that comes when your feet are moving and your mind trails behind them. A walk clears static you didn’t know you were carrying. It's not just exercise—it's a way of thinking without trying. The repetition of footsteps untangles thoughts quietly in the background. That rhythmic forward motion often acts like a reset switch on problem-solving. Not every idea is born at a desk. Some of your best breakthroughs might be waiting just outside your door, pacing alongside your shadow. Tip #3: Rely on Practical Creative Tools  You don’t need a giant breakthrough. Simple ways to stay creative include sticky notes, sketchpads, lists of bad ideas, or mind maps that go nowhere. These aren’t productivity hacks. They’re frictionless ways to loosen mental bottlenecks. Let your tools be dumb. Let your output be pointless. Eventually, something catches. You’ll be surprised by how often a diagram or scattered phrase gives shape to something previously invisible. Small tools work because they lower the stakes. They allow you to experiment without overthinking, and that freedom lets deeper thought patterns start to move again. Tip #4: Pursue New Professional Pathways  Sometimes creativity doesn’t just slow—it stalls completely, stuck in work that no longer lights you up. That’s when a bigger change can spark something deeper. If you’ve always felt drawn to technology, pursuing an online computer science degree gives you a way to explore programming, IT, and real-world tech applications with fresh eyes. You don’t have to quit everything to start—online programs make it easier to study while keeping your current job. The shift might be the very thing that brings energy and creativity back into your work and your thinking. Tip #5: Engage with Hands-On Expression  You don’t need to “be an artist.” You need space to move your thoughts with your hands. Using art to slow down works best when you stop expecting results. Try a pen, some markers, maybe clay. Let it be terrible. The process is the payoff. The reflection comes later. Making something visual or tactile gives your brain a different channel. You’re not analyzing or solving—you’re observing, releasing, shaping. That act alone can return you to center, especially during periods of mental fog. It doesn’t have to look good. It just has to move something that’s been sitting still for too long. Tip #6: Create Distance to Gain Perspective  Problem-solving isn’t always about staring harder. Taking a step back mentally allows insights to surface sideways. Let the pressure drop for a minute. Change the scenery. Pretend it’s someone else’s problem. These shifts open up angles that brute force can’t. Psychological distance reshuffles mental associations, turning stuck ideas into movable ones. When you detach, even briefly, your subconscious does work your conscious mind can’t. It’s not about giving up—it’s about letting the solution come through the side door while your ego takes a break. Tip #7: Make Time for Drifting  You’re not lazy—you’re building space. Letting your mind wander is how new connections form without effort. Don’t fill every pause with scrolling. Just stare out the window sometimes. Doodle. Breathe. Let yourself be bored long enough for something unusual to slip through. That quiet space where nothing is demanded often becomes the birthplace of something unexpectedly clear. It’s not distraction—it’s incubation. And it only works when you stop forcing it and let your attention soften. Part 8: A Conclusion  Creativity isn’t a single switch. It’s a circuit with multiple wires: movement, curiosity, quiet, reflection, structure, space. You can learn how to rebuild it, even after long periods of burnout or doubt. The key isn’t inspiration—it’s rhythm. You don’t need to wait for something big to spark again. Just start where you are. Small shifts, repeated often, lead to very real change. And if you treat creativity as something to be fed, rather than forced, you’ll find it begins to show up more often—and stay longer when it does. Discover the magic of storytelling with Rinda Beach, a passionate children's author, teacher, and speaker! Explore her books, blog, and author visit opportunities to inspire creativity and learning today! Meet Guest Blogger, Kent Elliot  I am a retired architect with a passion for dogs, DIY, and universal design. After my stroke that left me with mobility issues, I thought I’d need to move out of my home and into an assisted living community. But, using my experience as an architect and with a little creativity, I was able to successfully remodel my family home instead. The relief I felt has inspired me to help others do the same. I created At Home Aging to share what I’ve learned and I’m currently working on a book, Aging in Place One Project at a Time: DIY Home Modifications That Don’t Require a Professional  Can you imagine meeting King Charles wearing a second-hand dress? That’s exactly what Caroline Jones did earlier this year. Her dress cost £8.50 (£ is the symbol for pounds in British money). I used an internet link and converted it to dollars. That day it equaled $11.49. Caroline’s invitation came as recognition for her charity work for Cancer Research UK. Every day she finds a thrift store outfit, takes a picture, and puts it on her Instagram feed. Then it goes on sale at her local Cancer Research UK shop. Copy and paste in my Source link: https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/other/i- wore-an-8-50-dress-to-meet-the-king/ar-AA1IpLVy Her Instagram Feed: https://www.instagram.com/knickers_models_own Part 1—The Story: Caroline’s story started when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mary volunteered regularly at her local Cancer Research UK shop. When she was going through chemo, she asked her daughter to cover her shift. That’s when Caroline started doing the shop’s window displays.  When her mother died, Carolyn did her first social media campaign in January 2015. How? She shared a year of photos of herself wearing thrift shop bargains. She came up with a name for her charity and then set up a JustGiving page. Her target, £1,000. This year Caroline is repeating her campaign using her preloved outfits, and I have a feeling it’s already more successful. Afterall, it caught the attention of England’s King and Queen, Part 2—Tips for Second Hand Shopping:  Are you ready for some bargain basement deals? Try your local thrift store! Think of it as a treasure hunt. When I looked at the original article, Caroline Jones had 11 tips to get you started… #1. Don’t be afraid to clash.  OOH! I have trouble with this one, but I like Caroline’s suggestion. Pick a basic color and build from there using accessories and make-up. Use them to give your foundation a twist. One of her favorite designs, to pull a triple floral using your dress, bag, and earrings. She said if the dress pattern is too ditzy, go for a bigger one in your accessories. The trick, to balance the outfit so that you’re happy with it. If you aren’t, keep adjusting until you are. 2. Accessorize, accessorize.  Now Caroline’s talking my language! I love to use jewelry in my outfits. Caroline said she spends 70% of her time thinking about it. Not me. I keep trying things on until I’m happy. When you’re not feeling your best, keep accessorizing until you are. When I dress happy, I feel happy. 3. Get the underwear right.  No, Caroline didn’t pick this image. I did; it’s from a 1913 ad. I doubt Caroline gets her underwear from the thrift shop, and I won’t get mine pre-loved either. Wherever you get yours, she said to make sure they’re comfortable and give you good coverage. To quote her, “definitely spend some time on your underwear. It’s something we should all be doing. It makes you feel really good,” and who doesn’t love feeling good?! 4. Don’t get hung up on sizing.  Caroline doesn’t even look at it. She focuses on the cut of the cloth and how it looks. She tries on whatever appeals to her, whether it’s a men’s shirt or a maternity dress. PS—when she posted that dress on Instagram, people wanted to know where to find it. It looked that good on her! 5. Go for bold color.  Remember the rainbow! Caroline loves color and rarely wears black. Why? It makes her unhappy. Check her Instagram account, and you’ll see color everywhere. Caroline starts an outfit with navies, grays and earth tones. Then she layers in those bright colors. Me, I love black. I only buy pieces when they catch my eye and convince me I’ve got to have them. Then I mix in elements from the store or my closet, until I’m happy with who’s in the mirror. 6. Hosiery is my happy place. (except in the summer)  I wonder if Caroline buys hers at a thrift shop. I’m not sure I would. She recommended 2 brands…Falke tights…with extra fabric to help them stay up, and they’re on Amazon too. YAY! The other, Heist Studios, in the UK. Sorry. And her tip that I’d never heard before, put moisturizer on your hands and legs first. It prevents snags. I’m dying to try it out! Caroline also likes ankle socks that match the color of her eye shadow or jewelry. She’s been known to pick up souvenir socks and fishnet pop socks. Fishnet pop socks, who knew?! Caroline says at 56, she’s allowed to play with color and messaging. Me, I think fun is priceless at any age. 7. Be playful.  And yes, Caroline’s worn a Snoopy T-shirt on her Instagram page, but you’ll also find her in bowties, tiaras, pillbox hats, and fancy dresses. Thrift shops are a great place to play with your clothes. Where else would you find a cape? But if you think you need one, keep the lines under it simple and neat. 8. Embrace the skirt.  Caroline loves them, but she also knows a lot of ladies don’t. They’re afraid if they tuck in the top, their hips will look bigger, and no one wants that! Caroline says it’s all about the drape of the fabric, getting the proportions right for you, and drawing the eye up. In this photo, I’m drawn to the hat first, then the shoes. I see the skirt last. Caroline uses jewelry and make-up to get the same effect. PS—I think I should try the same strategy with pants. 9. Layering is your friend.  If you’re experiencing temperature changes from the weather or menopause, light layers are wonderful! I found these two shots of Caroline on Instagram. Jackets are great! When you’re hot, you pull them off, and when you’re cold, put them back on again. And don’t forget, they look great draped over pants and skirts. 10. It’s all about proportions.  If you have curves, you might look away from a bias-cut dress. They’re cut diagonally and run across your body. If you have broad shoulders, spaghetti straps and halter necks might not be a good choice. So what works? Nice wide straps, cap sleeves and boat necks. You’ll look better in them and feel better too. 11. There really is a pair of jeans for you. 
I haven’t looked for a long time…I love leggings. Caroline’s suggestions, first measure the zipper length with your hand. Caroline likes a long one, like the length of her hand. She wears anything from stonewashed to dark shades. She loves the cut of wide-leg button-fly Levi 501 ‘54s. Would you believe they’re based on a pair of jeans made back in 1954? And now, they’re back! Whether you pick wide-leg or boot cut, take a look in the mirror to see if you like the way you look. After reading and sharing these tips, take a chance and walk through your local thrift shop. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a treasure! Me too! I remember bringing my first child home some 38 years ago. It was easy…my husband drove. It took a couple weeks before I finally made MY first drive. I remember the fear and anxiety like it was yesterday. I hope sharing this post will make it easy for you to take that first trip together.  This link came in an email from Morgan Coleman and The Barnes Firm. Please feel free to share this link/post with anyone who’s expecting. It would make my day, Morgan’s too. We both love being helpful?! And that link: thebarnesfirm.com/driving-with-infants-tips-for-new-parents/ #1. Choosing the best seat  This is one of the most important choices you’ll make for your baby. Here’s the original checklist:
Three additional things to consider…Make sure your seat is free from product recalls and that you don’t see any defects (if it’s been in an accident, walk away). Finally think about your routine, car size, and the number of times you’ll pull that seat in and out. Back in my day, we eyeballed ours and picked the one that looked best. #2. Installing that car seat  Installing the seat correctly is as important as selecting it. Here’s the original list:
#3. Never hold your baby while the car’s moving  When a baby cries or needs a bottle, all you want to do is pick them up. Don’t. It’s super dangerous. You can’t protect them from harm in a car, even if you’re in a low-speed crash. I’m not going to imagine it at a higher speed. It’s also illegal. Babies and small children must ride in the back seat, facing backwards, properly secured and buckled into that car seat. It’s the only way to keep them safe. But, there’s an option…I use it all the time…I buckle in beside baby! #4. Make a quick safety check before driving away  Get ready for take-off! Here’s the original list from the website:
#5. Never leave baby alone in the car  Cars heat up quickly, and babies can’t hold their body temperature steady. If they’re left alone, baby could suffocate, have a heat stroke, or even be kidnapped. It’s also illegal in many states. You might think you’ll only be gone a few minutes, but it’s just not worth the consequences if something goes wrong. #6. Minimize distractions so you can focus on driving  When baby’s crying, it’s excruciating for anyone, especially a new parent. Here’s the original list of tips:
7. If your baby is crying, it’s OK to pull over  Having a baby screaming from the backseat can push any parent’s buttons. The simplest solution—look for a safe place to pull over and fix what’s bothering baby. There’s no shame in it; it’s what smart parents do for baby, for themselves, and for everyone’s safety. Tips for Reducing Stress While Driving as a New Parent  - What to Pack in Your Baby Travel Kit
- Planning Feedings and Diaper Changes - Keeping Your Baby Cool and Comfortable in the Car - Soothing Your Baby While You’re Behind the Wheel - Baby-Friendly Safety Gear for a Less Stressful Drive - Frequently Asked Questions About Driving With a Newborn - More Driving Safety Resources and Tools for New Parents Life finds a way…that’s a quote from the movie, Jurassic Park.The scientists from Colossal want to bring back extinct animals like the dire wolf. Someone from Animal Planet wrote a cautionary post so fascinating I had to write about it too. The Link: https://www.rindabeach.com/blog/game-of-thrones-are-dire-wolves-back  I just found a post from Animals Around the Globe that makes that quote even more true. Here are 13 creatures that now exist because somehow, life found a way. That link: 13 Creatures That Did Not Exist 100 Years Ago #1. The Coywolf  Would you believe it’s a cross between a coyote and a wolf? It’s one of North America’s most successful hybrids. This one was spotted in West Virginia near the Virginia border. In the early 1900s wolves in the east were hunted to death, so coyotes moved in, mated with wolves, and created a new species, the coywolf. It’s about 60% coyote, 30% wolf, and 10% dog. Looking at the picture, a coywolf is bigger than a coyote but smaller than a wolf. That means they thrive in forests and in urban areas too. Some hybrids can’t have babies, but coywolves can. Their population already numbers in the millions. #2. The London Underground Mosquito  I’d never heard of mosquitoes in the subway, but they’re definitely in London. They were born when the Underground was built in the late 1800s, and they were recognized as a species in the 1990s. Underground mosquitoes can breed year-round. They don’t hibernate like their above-ground cousins. The ones underground prefer mammal blood, especially human. They can reproduce without it but can’t mate with their cousins above-ground. #3. The Grolar Bear  It’s not a typo. Some say it was a match made by climate change. As the Arctic has grown warmer, polar bears and grizzlies met and created a new species…the grolar bear. It’s also known as a pizzly…This one came from the Osnabrück Zoo in Germany. The first wild grolar was shot by a hunter in Canada in 2006, although my source thought Native Americans already knew about it. Grolars are a combination of both bears. They’re middle sized with humped shoulders like a grizzly, but they have the creamy fur and extended neck of a polar bear. Their fur isn’t pure white; it’s spotted with grizzly brown patches. #4. Glofish  Meet the first genetically modified animals to be sold as pets. They hit stores in 2003. A few common kinds—zebrafish, tetras, and tiger barbs. Their colors—red, green, orange, blue, and purple. Put them under ultraviolet lights, and their color is spectacular. Would you believe glofish didn’t begin as pets? Scientists at the National University of Singapore designed them to monitor the environment. They took genes from bioluminescent jellyfish and sea anemones and put them into zebrafish. There are some arguments over how they were created, but it also shows how technology can create new life. #5. Ligers and Tigons  Liger from Novosibirsk Zoo, Russia, and Maude the tigon from the Manchester Museum, England. Ligers and Tigons, oh my! They’re magnificent and man-made. Ligers have lion fathers and tiger mothers, and Tigons have tiger fathers and lion mothers. But neither animal could exist in the wild—they’re from different parts of the world, plus they often have health problems. Add in that it’s difficult for them to reproduce. Sometimes female ligers and tigons can have cubs, but males rarely can. No wonder they’re a controversial animal that only exists in zoos. Fun fact—Ligers are known for their size. The world’s biggest cat, Hercules. He stands 11 feet tall on his hind legs and weighs over 900 pounds. He is ONE, BIG cat! #6. Beefalo  Can you guess this hybrid? It’s part cow and part buffalo, and it was dreamed up on purpose. Cattlemen have been trying since the 1880s, and they finally did it in the 1970s…3/8 buffalo and 5/8 cow. This one is supposed to be a bull, but where are the horns? My source showed one that was part Texas longhorn. That beefalo HAD HORNS! Beefalo have some real advantages. Their meat has less fat, cholesterol, and calories, and it’s higher in protein. Beefalo have the hardiness of the buffalo, but they’re docile, make milk and baby calves like cows do. Beefalo love cold weather, and they’ll thrive on cheaper forage. I’ve never heard of beefalo meat, but I read The American Beefalo Association registers thousands of them every year. Maybe someday I’ll find it at the grocery store! #7. Savannah Cat  Here, kitty, kitty ! This one is only four months old, but it’s rather extraordinary. Part house cat. Part serval. That’s a medium sized wild African cat. The first one was born in 1986 when someone put a wild and tame cat together. I thought wild animals stayed wild at heart. Savannah cats have long legs, sharp ears, and a spotted coat. They have a house cat’s temperament and a wild cat’s energy and intelligence. They’re great at jumping and solving problems, yet they’re loyal like dogs. Would you believe the International Cat Association recognized them in 2001, or that they won championship status in 2012? #8. Wholphin  A what? Break the word in half, and you get a creature who’s part whale, part dolphin. The first documented, born in Hawaii in1985. It was an unplanned birth. The mother, a female bottlenose dolphin, shared a tank with a male false killer whale. Their calf, the first wholphin ever. Her color, a shade in between her parents. She has 66 teeth, a number in between too. Her mom had 88. Her dad, 44. Her size, would you believe in between? Bigger than mom, but smaller than dad. BTW, a false killer whale is one of the largest members of the dolphin family. It makes me wonder if they’re hybrids too, but I couldn’t find any proof. Another fun fact, the first wholphin went on to have a few calves of her own. Wholphins are rare because their parents would never ever meet in the wild. #9. Belgian Blue Cattle  Sounds like a normal breed, but it all started with a natural mutation. Before selective breeding, the Belgians were big milk and meat producers. Then cattlemen discovered a mutation…it regulates muscle growth. It lets Belgians develop 20-30% more muscles than their nonmutated cousins. That means Belgians are lean and mean. Their nickname, ‘bodybuilder cattle.’ Can you see it in this photo? The good news—their meat is less fatty, has more protein. The down side—most female Belgians need a Caesarean section to give birth. If you look up Belgians on Wikipedia, you’ll see a female. It looks like she has a huge patch on her side. It’s a scar from giving birth. Sad fact—the modern Belgian looks completely different from their nonmutated great grandparents a hundred years ago. #10. Africanized Honey Bees  You mean ‘killer bees!’ Yep! They’re the result of a 1950s science experiment gone wrong. A Brazilian scientist brought them from Africa to improve honey production. He bred them with European bees, but unfortunately 26 queens escaped quarantine in 1957, and their hybrid children spread across South America. The hybrids inherited their mom’s defensive nature. That means if threatened, they respond quicker, in bigger numbers, and chase the threat farther than their European cousins would. They didn’t make their way to the US until 1990, and they’ve spread across our southern states. The up side to the Africanized bees—they’re great pollinators and honey makers. They’re also one of the most successful species at adapting to their environment. The horrifying side, in 65 years those bees have killed over 1,000 people. #11. The First Cloned Animals  When I read the title, I immediately thought of Dolly the sheep. She made news in 1996 when she became the first successful animal to be cloned or copied from an adult cell. Evidently, I missed the other news. Dolly was the first mammal. The first animal ever cloned, a northern leopard frog in 1952. Carps, the fish came in the 1960s. After Dolly, cloning exploded, literally! Mice and cattle in 1998, goats in 1999, pigs 2000, rabbits 2002, horses 2003, dogs 2005, and last but not least ferrets in 2020. I thought of clones as copies, but they actually have a few tiny differences from the original animal. That’s because of the differences in where and how the two grew up. Cloning could preserve endangered species, create special research animals. It could even revive extinct species, but that made me think of dire wolves and Jurassic Park. YIKES! #12. Genetically Modified Lab Animals  No, the mice in the picture weren’t the first GMO animals, but they were the first to have foreign DNA added to their embryos back in 1974. By 1980, scientists came up with the opposite, ‘knockout mice.’ They disabled certain genes for research purposes. In 1988 someone patented the ‘OncoMouse.’ Poor Mouse, it was genetically designed to develop cancer, but it made history…the first animal ever patented. The possibilities are endless now, like the mice in the photo. Ultraviolet light makes them glow. Would you believe there are goats that make spider silk protein in their milk? The silk has medical uses for things like artificial ligaments, and it also makes airbags work better. Wow, great silk! There’s more…pigs with immune systems to help transplant research, mosquitoes designed to resist malaria parasites., and the saddest…mice who will develop Alzheimer’s or muscular dystrophy. I’m sad for the mice, but grateful for future patients. My dad died from Alzheimer’s. It feels like we’re living in a brave new world. #13. Carolina Hamsters 
This is a pet Syrian hamster, and it’s where the Carolina story begins…with the pets escaping or being released into the wild. They adapted, evolved, and were found in the southern Appalachian Mountains. That was in 2013. When scientists checked their DNA, it had already changed, 60-70 years ago. That means they’re the youngest mammal on the planet. Our newest mammal has 3 different names: the Carolina, Eastern, or Appalachian hamster. It’s bigger than its pet ancestor. It has thicker fur and hibernates better. It’s more nocturnal and guarded. The Syrian hamsters had to change, to survive. The Carolina hamster has done what most escaped pets can’t…it survived, without invading or destroying its neighborhood. Finding them showed scientist how quickly evolution occurs when a creature faces new problems. Syrian hamsters found a way to live, and thrive.  Keeping the flame of curiosity burning in your child isn’t just about getting good grades or meeting school benchmarks—it’s about cultivating an environment where learning feels exciting, relevant, and personal. The real magic happens when learning doesn’t feel like a chore but instead feels like play, like discovery, like becoming more of who we are. That magic starts at home, where parents set the tone, lay the groundwork, and model the joy of discovery. If you’ve ever felt awe while reading about black holes, felt compelled to sketch a new idea, or stayed up late figuring out how something works, you’ve already tapped into that wellspring of learning—and you’re better equipped than you think to pass it on! #1. Infuse Your Home with Curiosity Triggers  Your home doesn’t have to resemble a science museum or a library to be a place of learning—it just has to invite wonder. Keep books in every room, not just the kids’ bedrooms. Rotate educational toys and puzzles so they stay fresh. Keep bins of LEGOs, building materials, old electronics to tinker with, paints, clay, or anything that lets your child make something with their hands. A magnifying glass near the windowsill or a world map over the dining room table can spark unexpected questions. The point isn’t to overwhelm, but to subtly infuse your home with quiet invitations to explore and investigate. #2. Start Early, and Never Stop Reading  If there’s a single golden rule in nurturing a love of learning, it’s to read aloud to your child—often, and from the very beginning. Don’t wait for them to start school, and don’t stop once they can read on their own. Read picture books, poetry, myths, fairy tales, even nonfiction. Let them see you reading your own books, too. Make library visits a part of your weekly rhythm, not just a chore or a once-a-year field trip. As your child grows, help them find stories that challenge, comfort, and expand their world. Show them that books aren’t assignments—they’re keys to new realms. #3. Live What You Teach  Your child is always watching, and one of the most powerful ways to show that learning matters is by continuing your own education. Whether it’s picking up a new language, taking a creative writing workshop, or going back to school for a degree, your commitment sends a message louder than any pep talk. And thanks to flexible options like online degree programs, it’s easier than ever to juggle school alongside work and family life. By pursuing a psychology degree online, for instance, you can study how cognitive and emotional processes shape human behavior—and use that knowledge to help others, including your own children. #4. Expose Them to the Unexpected  Children can’t love what they haven’t been introduced to, so be intentional about broadening their exposure. Visit your local museums, watch documentaries on nature or space, try beginner videos on sign language or coding. Go to concerts, cultural festivals, hiking trails, farmer’s markets, and historical landmarks. You don’t have to be an expert to introduce a subject—you just need to show up with enthusiasm and openness. Let your child see that there are more ways to be smart than just solving math problems or diagramming sentences. The broader the buffet of ideas and experiences, the more likely they are to find something that resonates deeply. #5. Turn Learning into Play  Games and interactive experiences take the pressure off and reintroduce fun into the learning process. Turn spelling drills into scavenger hunts or trivia nights. Let your child help measure ingredients while cooking to sneak in math practice. Try hands-on science experiments with simple household materials, or explore ecosystems with augmented reality apps. For older kids, explore digital tools and websites that match their interests, from architecture simulation games to language learning apps. The goal is to integrate learning into the kinds of play they already enjoy, bridging the gap between structured education and self-directed fun. #6. Support Their Natural Interests  Children naturally gravitate toward certain subjects, and these preferences can shift over time. Pay attention to what excites them and try to build on it. If they’re into animals, visit a local wildlife reserve or volunteer at an animal shelter. If they love to draw, set up an art corner with different mediums. If your child starts asking a lot of “why” questions about space, bugs, or machines, find books and videos that dive deeper into those topics. Leaning into their interests doesn’t mean letting them dictate everything—it means helping them feel seen, validated, and encouraged to keep going. #7. Celebrate Progress, Not Just Perfection  Positive reinforcement is one of your most powerful tools as a parent. Recognize and celebrate effort, curiosity, and persistence more than just correct answers. When your child solves a tricky puzzle, learns a new word, or finishes a challenging project, take a moment to reflect and share that pride with them. Even setbacks are worthy of recognition if your child shows resilience. When learning becomes something worth celebrating, it creates positive emotional associations that stick with them. They begin to see themselves as capable, as learners, and that identity makes all the difference. #8. Conclusion  At the heart of it all, keeping the love of learning alive means creating a culture in your home where curiosity is valued and explored. It’s not about being perfect or having all the answers—it’s about being open, interested, and willing to learn alongside your child. You don’t need a formal curriculum to raise a lifelong learner. What you need is a home where questions are welcomed, creativity is encouraged, and the journey of learning is never over. If you can model that for your child, they’ll carry that spark with them—wherever life takes them.  Thank you to Guest Blogger, Kylie Eckerd, for her two great tips. Kylie is the creator of Live Passive. She makes the most of her gig economy income by investing in developing passive income streams and loves helping others find ways to improve their lives. She created Live Passive because she believes that financial independence is key to true happiness. Kylie also enjoys dancing, spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and reading.
Embark on a journey to live your dreams with Rinda Beach — explore inspiring books, schedule an author visit, and subscribe to her newsletter for endless adventures! Have you heard of Game of Thrones? I have, but I’ve never watched it. Two or three weeks ago, it came to my attention for a new reason . . . because someone brought back Dire Wolves. I’d never heard of them either, but the incredible part – Dire Wolves have been extinct for over 10,000 years.  To see and hear that something that’s extinct is alive again made me flash back to Jurassic Park. The movie where scientists made T Rex and Velociraptor live again. YIKES! Part 1 – Picturing a Dire Wolf: I couldn’t find a picture to match my imagination. I thought I’d be staring into its eyes as it stood on four legs looking at me. Something that big has an enormous appetite, and wolves eat meat.  But dire wolves aren’t that huge. They look more like gray wolves. They even share a common ancestor . . . it lived over 6 million years ago. The first image below, it’s a fossilized skeleton of a dire wolf from North America. If you’d like to see it face to face, tooth to tooth, check out the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays, Kansas. Does it still look big to you? Me too!  Now take a look at the second image, on the graph. It helps me picture their true size. Dire wolves would have been about a meter or 40 inches tall. My height is 65 inches, so that wolf would have stood about hip high. But, when I look at his length, the dire wolf was about 2 meters long. That’s 80 inches of wolf standing on his hind legs. He would have towered 15 inches above my head. Now check out his teeth . . . YIKES! This link from Animal Planet explains why dire wolves are still extinct. No, Geneticists Did Not Bring The Dire Wolf Back Part 2 – Are Dire Wolves Back, or Not?:  Colossal or Colossal Bioscience is the company at the heart of this debate. They say they brought the dire wolf back after being extinct for over 10,000 years. I took a screenshot from their website, and this is their logo. If you’d like to read about them, here’s their link: De-extinction Projects, Facts & Statistics | Colossal  This IS NOT a dire wolf. It’s a gray one. They look a lot alike. That’s because they share a common ancestor that lived over 6 million years ago. Think of your 6 million times great grandparents. It was that long ago. Colossal used ancient DNA samples from dire wolves, then altered some gray wolf DNA, but some experts say not so fast. They say the pups aren’t really dire wolves. They’re really gray ones with some modified and superficial traits. Remember this image from part 1? It’s our friend, the dire wolf. Let’s compare some of his traits to a gray wolf. A dire wolf stands 39 inches tall at the shoulder. A gray wolf, only 30 inches tall. A dire wolf is about 80 inches long, and so is the gray wolf…but that includes his tail. A dire wolf weighed 130-150 pounds. A gray wolf, 100-143 pounds. And last the teeth! Dire wolves have larger teeth than any wolf living today, and that includes the gray one. I really hope those new dire wolf pups are more like their gray cousins than their own great grandparents. My Research links: Dire wolf | Size, Origins, De-Extinction, & Characteristics | Britannica Gray wolf | Size, Habitat, Diet, Predators, & Facts | Britannica  Animal Planet reported that the modern dire wolf story began when Colossal extracted DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. They used the DNA as a guide to help them bring back the dire wolf. Then they took blood from a gray wolf, edited its DNA using the ancient genetic information, and transferred the updated DNA to a dog egg. That egg was then implanted into a female dog who gave birth to dire wolf pups for the first time in 10,000 years. That sounds like the right recipe, especially since gray wolves and dire wolves have DNA that’s 99.5% the same. That’s a lot, but would you believe it leaves out millions of DNA differences between the two kinds of wolves? Then consider Colossal only edited 20 of those millions of genetic differences, and 5 edits gave them white coats, like the ones in Game of Thrones. That still leaves millions of bits of DNA that were never edited. Colossal’s pups sound like they’re more related to their gray wolf cousins than their extinct ones. Part 3 – The Implications of De-Extinction: When Colossal introduced their dire wolf pups, they advanced genetic engineering but fell short of de-extinction. My source from Animal Planet said it raised questions about the implications.  This chart shows how we classify the animal world according to what they look like on the inside, outside, and how those sides work together. Animal Planet’s first concern, that this was too subjective, and not rigorous enough. They thought evolutionary relationships between dire wolves and gray ones over time should have had more emphasis. That DNA sequencing of traits should have been studied then applied. For me the debate between the two views shows how hard it is to define a species, let alone bring an extinct one back to life. My question, how do you know you’re interpreting the DNA correctly, then putting it together properly?  Another concern from Animal Planet was about protecting our endangered animals. If companies like Colossal invest in de-extinction, there are less resources for animals who aren’t extinct yet, but could be. Reintroduced species like the wolves at Yellowstone must be considered. They vanished from the national park but are found in other places. There’s only so much money for conservation. Spending it on de-extinction won’t save animals in danger today.  Animal Planet shared another reason for caution using the example of the Pyrenean Ibex. It was cloned and brought back from de-extinction. The scientists thought they’d chosen the right set of genes, but the baby Ibex died soon after birth. If it had survived, where would it live? How about the dire wolves? Many animals are struggling to survive as habitats shrink. Adding de-extincted animals to those habitats would put more living creatures at risk.  Animal Planet’s final concern, that a commercial or entertainment interest might push a project too far, too fast, and end badly.
Think Jurassic Park and bringing the dinosaurs back. Remember the ending with kids hiding from a T Rex and a herd of Velociraptors? They pushed the science too far, underestimated dinosaur intelligence, and overestimated ours. The dire wolf has the same potential thanks to Game of Thrones. Science and entertainment have different interests, different requirements. Thank goodness, those pups are genetically enhanced gray wolves, with only a few dire wolf traits. It’s heartwarming to bring back an extinct animal, but it’s also scary. Even scientists don’t know what they don’t know. Think Pyrenean Ibex or Jurassic Park. I hope scientists working on de-extinction will take careful steps as they continue their research.  Did you ever reread a story and discover there’s more to it? I read this for Saturday Reads in March of 2023. But when I read it out loud for fourth graders at Cridersville Elementary, I knew I had to write about it. For you, for them, and for me too…I was curious. The Water Princess in the story spends her morning walking to the well. She returns home in the afternoon. That’s about 4 miles a day, or a hike through 70 football fields lined up back-to-back. That’s a long way.  Part 1 – Meet the Real Water Princess: Her name, Georgie Badiel. The book said it was based on her childhood. The real Georgie didn’t walk to the well every day, only during summer vacations with her grandmother. Georgie grew up, became a model, an author, and an activist. Today she lives in New York City, but she has never forgotten those childhood walks to collect water. Now she has a platform to help people back home. It’s dedicated to building and restoring wells in Burkina Faso. This screenshot is from her board of directors. The link: Team — Georgiebadielfoundation Part 2 – A Foundation for a Princess: This Georgie Badiel’s Foundation’s home page. The link: Georgiebadielfoundation Georgie said, “I used to walk 3 hours to fetch water for my family. My goal is to break that cycle.”  Georgie's Mission = CLEAN WATER in Burkina. Ensure the SUSTAINABILITY of the water system through WOMEN ENGINEERING program. When you can provide clean water to someone, it impacts every aspect of life. If you’d like to watch this video, click on: Mission — Georgiebadielfoundation  Part 3 – Where the Princess is Working: Georgie Badiel’s Foundation works in Burkina Faso. The link: Where We Work — Georgiebadielfoundation  Burkina Faso is shown in red and green, with a star in the center. It looks small on the map, but it’s about the size of Montana. Burkina Faso has way more people. Montana only has 1million, and Burkina Faso, 20.9. That’s like 21 times more! Burkina Faso was once a French colony. Its official language is still French, but half the people speak Mossi. Its citizens are called Burkinabe, and its capital is Ougadougou. Its neighbors—Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin and Togo to the southeast, Ghana to the south, and the Ivory Coast to the southwest. BTW, Georgie was born in the Ivory Coast. How the Princess Gets to Work: First Georgie Badiel’s Foundation finds the places where they need clean water. Then they run a campaign to teach people about sanitation, hygiene, and well maintenance. The community elects 2 women to care for the well. (More on that later.)  Remember those 2 women? The foundation teaches them basic engineering, how to restore, and maintain those wells. Why women? They’re the ones who collect the water, so they need to keep it working. Would you believe Burkina Faso has 9,775 broken wells? Georgie’s foundation wants to insure their new wells are maintained and cared for, so they manage them until the women are ready to take over. The Links: How We Work — Georgiebadielfoundation Women Engineering — Georgiebadielfoundation The Princess & Her Other Jobs: This is Georgie Badiel’s other website. If you look across the top of her home page, there’s more to her than her fashion/modelling career or her charity work. Georgie is also a chef! She loves to introduce people to West African cuisine. You can even book her for special events so she can cook up some of her favorite foods from back home.  The Link: Georgie Badiel-Liberty - Home Part 4 – Another Water Hero: I thought I was done with the Water Princess, but I saw something on Fox News that made me keep going. One of the reporters did a charity event for Africa 6000 International. I listened, and I was hooked. It was a story I had to tell! Africa 6000 was born in 2007. That didn’t catch my attention, but this did—6000 children died EVERY DAY in 2007 because of waterborne diseases. What a heartbreaking statistic. The good news, that number has been cut in half…down to under 3000 kids. But that’s still too many, and it’s still heartbreaking. Their link: Our Mission - Africa 6000 International  Africa 6000, their mission is the same as Georgie Badiel’s. To deliver clean water to the thirstiest people in Africa. Their charity builds long-term, solar-powered water wells that can be accessed and maintained successfully by the people who live beside them. Africa 6000 hires and trains teams to drill wells and drive support vehicles.  Meet Jesse Waters. He’s the Fox reporter who introduced me to Africa 6000. He only had 30-60 seconds to tell his story, but it was compelling. He said the number of children dying was closer to 2000 now. Imagine building a program that saves the lives of 3-4000 children every single day. THAT’S an accomplishment! Imagine that clean water makes medical clinics and schools possible. Picture water flowing to your garden or farm. And dream that you and the people in your village are trained and empowered to keep those wells working. THAT’S powerful! Plus, women and children can go to school, can learn to read and write. And me, I’m proud to introduce you to this incredible program!  These 2 maps show the success Africa 6000 has had. Do you see those blue circles with white dots? Each one represents a well built by Africa 6000. They’ve done a lot of work in18 years! Here’s an interesting fact I learned from Africa 6000—Did you know…A whole family in Africa exists on 5 gallons of water a day? Each American, every single one of us, uses 175 gallons EVERY DAY! Wow, Americans are blessed!  This post was born when Jazmin Regist emailed and asked if I’d share a pair of links with you. I took one look and said absolutely! I also asked if I could let you peek at the site, and she said absolutely too! Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/ I focused on the first link with its 9 places to babyproof. You’ll have to check out the second link for more child safety tips, but Consumer Notice has so much great information that Jazmin sent the link to their home page to help you find it. That link: consumernotice.org #1. Sleep: Did you know new babies sleep 16 hours a day? Or 14 the rest of that first year? Picking the right crib is HUGE for babyproofing your house. Take a look at these two cribs. Which is safer. Do you know why?  It’s the 2nd, with nothing inside the crib except a sheet. Forget the bumper pads and pillows and lovies. Baby is better with just a sheet and a pacifier. BTW – Did you know sleeping with a pacifier reduces the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)? Click on the link to learn how to pick the safest crib, and find 6 tips to reduce the risk of SIDS. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #2. Furniture: Did you know every 30 minutes a TV or piece of furniture tips over and injures a child? Or that every 10 days a child dies from that injury? Take a look at this baby’s bedroom. Do you know which two pieces of furniture are the most dangerous? Think ‘tippable.’  It’s the little table and the big chest of drawers. When kids see something interesting, they’ll try to get it. Consumer Notice.org said they’ll even pull out dresser drawers to make their own ladder. Kids ARE creative! The best solution – clear the clutter and save your child from temptation. Another danger – unanchored TVs that fall off dressers. Would you believe they can hit with 10 times the force of two NFL lineman running into each other? YIKES! Don’t take a chance – when in doubt, anchor that TV or anything else that could tip over and land on your child. Click on the link and scan past cribs to find 5 tip-over prevention ideas. If you keep going, you’ll see the next one, on falls. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #3.Falls: Did you know falls are the leading cause of death for children and young adults? They’re at the top for injuries too. I was surprised that over 2.8 million children wind up in the emergency room every year after a fall. AND that falls cause more than half of the nonfatal injuries for babies who haven’t had a birthday yet. So what are the dangerous areas you should baby/childproof in your house?  Stairs – I have them and a grandson who just learned to crawl. We need a gate to keep him safe. But that’s not all – think changing tables, highchairs, beds, and couches. Basically, anyplace that’s high☹ The best safety tip – keep an eye on those toddlers! It’s amazing how fast they can get themselves into danger. Don’t forget your favorite senior citizen! Did you know that falls are dangerous for them too? If your grandma or grandpa falls 3 times within 6-8 weeks, they’re in danger. The best tip for any age – secure rugs and wires, and keep clutter off the floor. Here’s that link again. Just keep scanning until you find the 7 safety tips for falling. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #4. Windows: Did you know about 5200 children fall out the window every year, or that kids under 4 are more likely to have head injuries, be hospitalized, and die than their older siblings? So what can you do to make your windows safer?  Make sure your windows have either stops or guards. Stops keep the windows shut or let them open only a few inches. Guards let the windows open, but they won’t let your child fall out. Watch out for blinds for babies and young kids. They can get tangled up in the cords. Accidents, even death can happen if kids are left alone in a room to sleep, play or watch TV with cords nearby. Check out the link below. Scan down to find 3 tips on how to handle those cords. The next set of tips focus on electrical outlets. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #5. Electricity: Think outlets. I have a grandson who’s fascinated with them. Did you know about 2400 kids get severe shocks or burns from sticking things into them or from biting cords? Or that about 12 children a year die from electricity? It’s so sad when there’s a simple way to fix the problem.  The solution – head to the hardware store/department for outlet caps and covers, but keep your eye on your child. Would you believe kids can even pull out tamper-resistant ones? Check the link for 3 more tips to protect your child from electricity. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #6. Choking: Have you ever noticed babies love to stick things in their mouths? Food, toys, anything that fits, but it’s risky – they could choke.  If you have a guest who’s not yet one, don’t let them have: hot dogs, chunks of meat, grapes, peanut butter, popcorn, hard candies, marshmallows and gummies. It’s a long list, but it’s not complete – some raw fruits and vegetables can cause problems too. Did you know something as tiny as ground cinnamon can make babies choke? When they inhale the powder, they stop breathing. No wonder baby food is so plain. Consumer Notice didn’t have any tips, but I recommend constant vigilance. I’m always watching my grandboy and what he’s putting in his mouth. Babies aren’t the only ones who can choke. If you see someone with hands on their throat, they’re choking. (It’s the international symbol.) I hope someone nearby knows the Heimlich Maneuver. It could save a life. Link for more Information: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ 7. Batteries/Magnets: Did you ever think they could be dangerous to babies? I didn’t. Take a guess . . . What makes batteries and magnets super-dangerous for toddlers? Is it choking, or swallowing?  Swallowing! If batteries get stuck in the esophagus on the way down, they can burn through the tissue in 2 short hours. YIKES! If swallowed, babies may need surgery, hopefully without any complications. Would you believe just putting them in an ear or nose is dangerous?! Or that you should rush immediately to the emergency room? Swallowing magnets can cause trouble too. Imagine them breaking apart inside baby’s body. They will still attract each other. That can rip or tear the intestines and bowels. Babies shouldn’t play with magnets until they’re old enough to use them safely. As for batteries in hearing aids, remote controls, even greeting cards, tape their compartments closed with something strong like mailing tape. Even better, buy ones that need a screwdriver to get inside, and never forget – constant vigilance. That Link Again: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ Next Up: Water. Poison, and Staying Safe #8. Poison: Did you know more than 300 children are treated every day for accidental poisoning? Or that two of them will die? Two is too many. So how do you protect your kids?  Consumer Notice suggests getting on your hands and knees to look through every room in your house. Anything a child can reach, move it up where they can’t get to it. And even better – lock them up. Here are a few rooms and the things inside them that are poisonous. - Kitchen: dishwasher soaps, pods, and powders - Living Room: houseplants - Bathroom: medications - Garage: car products Don’t forget recreational drugs, e-cigarettes and their refill cartridges. Did you know liquid nicotine is so concentrated that a small amount swallowed or touching the skin can kill a child? Lock those up too! Click on the link and scan down to read about the poisons you can find at home, plus 4 prevention tips. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #9. Bath Water: Don’t leave babies unattended in the tub, or let an older child watch them. Did you know in the time it takes you to cross the bathroom and grab a towel, they can slip underwater? Or that in the two minutes it takes to answer the phone or text someone back, your child can lose consciousness. Irreversible brain damage can happen in 4-6 minutes, so how do you protect your child in the tub?  Gather all your supplies together before you put baby in the tub. If you have to answer the phone or leave for a few seconds, take your baby with you. Constant vigilance! Don’t forget the water temperature! Keep it under 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns. You can set your water heater, or put anti-scald devices on faucets and shower heads. You can also use spout covers to protect baby’s head. Some even have built in thermometers that will keep that temperature just right. Click on the link and scan past poisons to find 5 more bath safety tips. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #10. Pools: Did you know that more than 300 kids under age 5 drown in swimming pools every year, or that 2000 are treated for injuries that happen when they’re underwater? Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for kids ages 1-4, and 57% of them happen in backyard pools.  So how do you protect your child? Fences or safety barriers! They should be at least 4 feet tall with gates that self-close and self- latch. Five feet is even better, and so are pool alarms.
Swimming lessons are great, but it doesn’t make babies and toddlers safe. Life jackets do. Swimming with an adult around will too. The Link for more Information: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ If you’d like to read more about safety barriers, click on this link Consumer Notice and CPSC shared. Link: pool safety guidelines About a month ago Richard Welsh from Public Relations emailed and asked if I’d share a pair of links with you. I looked them up and said sure. They’re all about vetting a doctor if you live in Florida, but the advice applies anywhere. Here are the links Richard sent me, and what I thought about them. Picking a doctor is important, but it’s critical if you’re facing surgery. You want the best doctor doing your operation. An ounce of pre-op research is worth a pound of post-op complications. The 1st link: Vetting a doctor before surgery - fhvlegal.com/vetting-doctor-before-surgery/ The 2nd: A checklist to keep things simple - Vetting a Doctor Before Surgery Checklist   Part 1 – Research – This is the first, and most important step. That’s because research plays a part in all the other steps you take to find that doctor, who’s just right for you.  - Check their credentials. Search your state’s Department of Health for your doctor’s name and license status. Check to see if there are any errors or mistakes on their record, or if they’ve received any disciplinary action. Richard shared Florida’s Department of Health link, but your state should have one too.  - Check for board certification and professional associations. The American Board of Specialties has a button that lists all of them. Find the one you need, then your doctor’s name. You’ll see what he/she is certified in. The Florida site also has a list of associations. Use it as a guide to find the ones in your home state.  - Check reviews online or from people you know. Try websites like Healthgrades, Vitals, RateMDs, and local hospitals, and don’t forget to talk to the people you know.  Part 2 – Ask Questions – Some questions will come from your research. Others will pop up as you move forward. Think about the things you want to know about the surgery and the doctor who’ll do it. If you’re worried, jot down your questions. The answers will make you feel better, or they’ll drive you to find more information. Maybe you’ll even seek a second opinion. Here are some suggestions from the Florida site that might help you find your way.  - Ask about experience – How often does your doctor operate per week? The more, the better. What’s their experience, positive and negative? (Ask your surgeon, their patients, even your friends and family doctor.)  - Ask about successes – How does your doctor define success, and what’s their success rate for your surgery? What kind of anesthesia will they use, and are there side effects? Where can I find testimonials/referrals for you as a surgeon, or from your patients?  - Ask about continuing education – What’s your doctor doing to stay current with new developments within their area of expertise? Are there alternative options, and what do they say about them?  - Ask about surgery, post-op, and recovery – What are the risks and side effects of surgery? What will it cost? How long will I need hospital care? What is the post-op plan? Will I need therapy? What will insurance cover, and what’s my cost? How long until I’m recovered and back to work/normal? These are all basic questions from the Florida website. They can help you find answers to your own unique situation.  Part 3 – Get Referrals – Ask people you know. They’ll help you in your search for the right doctor. How? Ask them to refer you to a specialist or to a procedure.  - Get referrals from your primary care doctor. That’s where I go to find a specialist. I trust my doctor and his/her suggestions. Doctors get feedback when the patient returns. If they’ve had a good experience, they’ll continue to send the specialist new patients. If it was a bad one, my doctor would have to decide if they’d recommend them again. I’ve been happy with all the specialists my primary care doctor recommended, except one. Practically perfect is a great record😊  - Get referrals from people you trust. Ask the people you know. Like family, friends, or acquaintances for their recommendations. I was lucky, I always found someone in the teachers’ lounge who’d experienced the new problems that appeared with age. I never asked someone I didn’t trust.  - Ask for another referral, or a second opinion. If something feels wrong, get another opinion. It will either confirm the information you already have, or it will confirm your suspicions. Sometimes you have to listen to your gut; then do the research to help you make a good decision.  Part 4 – Red Flags – Look for red flags when you vet a new doctor. When you have a bad feeling, listen and check it out. Maybe it’s your imagination, but maybe it isn’t. Do your due diligence. Then decide if you want to move forward, or search for a new doctor.  - Lacks board certification. If a doctor doesn’t have it, there’s a reason why. Either they lack the training and evaluation, or it’s been pulled because of malpractice. This is a HUGE Red Flag that you should find someone else.  Check credentials. Look at a physician’s experience. If you have a choice between someone who does 1-2 surgeries a week versus someone who does 50, who would you pick? My father chose the one in the 50-a-week club for his, and I’m glad he did. Don’t forget to check for malpractice claims, disciplinary actions, and for patterns of negligence. These are NO-GO signs. My advice – find another doctor.  - Examine everyday behaviors for flags. When you meet with the doctor, do they rush through the appointment, or fail to answer your questions? Do they dismiss your concerns without explanation, or refuse to consider other alternatives? You’re paying the doctor, and he serves you. If he doesn’t, look elsewhere. Look to see if the doctor’s office is clean and organized. If it’s not, it tells you something about the way they do business. Do what feels right for you – after all, you’re paying the bill. Finally does the doctor pressure you to make a decision, without getting a second opinion? My daughter had one of those doctors, so we checked with another one. He offered advice and monitored her for changes over the next several years. I’m glad we said thanks, but no thanks to the first one.  Part 5 – Final Thoughts & Conclusions – At the end of the process, vetting a doctor is like trying to fit the right puzzle pieces together. If you do it well, you have a match that fits you and your family. If you feel like you’re shoving a square peg into a round hole, you probably are. I’d take a fresh look at your research, plus a few new variables.  Double-check your insurance coverage. Healthcare is expensive, and insurance is the gate keeper. Make sure your choices are covered, or consider making a change. Otherwise, be prepared to pay a little, or A LOT More for your medical bills. Your financial health is another important part of this decision.  Trust your instincts/gut. If you have a bad feeling about a doctor and/or surgery, listen. Sometimes your gut is your first and strongest warning sign that danger lies ahead. Getting a second opinion can give you peace of mind. Mental health is part of your physical health too.  Make sure you’re comfortable with your decision. Knowing you can trust your doctor for information. That they don’t pooh-pooh your choices can give you peace of mind when your body is under stress. That’s a very good thing 😊  Don’t forget accessibility. If your surgeon is hours away, getting treatment and follow-up care can be tricky, and expensive. On the other hand, if your doctor makes you feel safe, like you’re in good hands, it might be worth driving a little farther to get that safety net.
So in conclusion, take the time you need to make a good decision. Don’t forget the doctor serves you. You’re paying for their time and expertise. Make sure you’re getting what you paid for. |
AuthorWhen I write, I can only have one voice in my head, mine. A little noise is fine. But too much, or worse yet, WORDS, and I must change rooms or pull out headphones. Then I can write on! Categories
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