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Maternity and Newborn Photography: Capturing The Most Precious Moments of Your Family’s New Beginnings

Human history has been told over the eons through pictures and stories. Today, instead of cave drawings, we have photography. The “times of our lives,” including pregnancy and new parenthood, can be told now and in the years to come by using the services of a professional photographer.

Some years ago a famous celebrity celebrated her advanced pregnancy on a well-known magazine cover. Since then mothers-to-be have been recording this life milestone much as they would their weddings, graduations and holidays, and family photographers have expanded their scope of work to include gorgeous portraits of the family members awaiting their new arrival. The old ultrasound black and white snaps on the refrigerator have given way to stunningly beautiful images of the expectant mother in the full bloom of pregnancy, at times actually holding the ultrasound photograph. There is also the popular option of showcasing both mom and dad together, in a variety of adoring poses.

Baby photographers also offer packages to record the first year of your child’s life. During each photo session photographers will capture your child’s rapid development in wonderfully staged vignettes of your choice. You can opt for a fully staged prop-filled memento, or a more simple, classic look. Just imagine posing your little one in a wheelbarrow surrounded by flowers and perhaps a trowel if your family is into gardening. Or, how about a future dancer sporting a tutu, sitting next to a pair of silky pink ballet shoes?

Then, instead of these cherished moments being left in your digital camera or put away in a drawer, the photos can be uploaded to a photo-sharing site, featured on your Facebook page, installed in a digital photo frame or even sent to friends and family.

When selecting a photographer, it’s important to confirm he or she has experience working with babies. They will know how to prop your child amongst the flowers or other piece of stagecraft in a manner that will avoid injury or unhappiness. Of course, it helps if they know just how much excitement baby can handle before running out of patience and energy. The best photographers will be able to advise you on keeping your baby’s other activities on picture day very low key (doctor’s appointments or lots of errands can result in crankiness and tears).

Another advantage to hiring professionals is that if any touchups or other tweaks are necessary to achieve that perfect shot, these talented photographers have the skills and know-how.

So, don’t let these precious moments slip by. Let a maternity and baby photographer help you capture them. Your loved ones will appreciate it.

Reproduction permitted only if all active links are maintained and byline is preserved, and/or your byline is omitted. 2012 All Rights Reserved.

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Helping Your Child or Teen Overcome Depression

Depression is a very real ailment that affects millions of Americans every year. Nationally recognized psychiatrists nationwide serve their communities by offering psychotherapeutic solutions for those in whom depression manifests. Although it’s typically thought of as something adults predominantly experience, depression commonly presents itself in children. Compounding this issue, it is often more difficult to diagnose in kids, especially those under the age of twelve. As a result, some kids suffer tremendously from the mental condition.

The same factors that lead to adult depression apply to children as well. These include genetic disposition, drug use, family history, physical health and life-changing events. Symptoms of childhood depression include:

•    Lingering sadness
•    Appetite changes
•    Sleep pattern changes
•    Difficulty concentrating
•    Withdrawal socially
•    Irritability
•    Guilty, worthless feelings
•    Suicidal thoughts

Mental health problems have a stigma, which may cause many parents to deny that anything could be wrong with their child. Kids whose parents are depressed are also more likely to develop symptoms. However, just because a child is depressed does not mean the parents are somehow at fault. It is crucial, though, that parents recognize it early and seek treatment.

Medical diagnosis – especially in children – can be tricky, because there aren’t any medical tests that will confirm depression. A question-and-answer session involving the child, parent(s) and the therapist is necessary. Before the condition is allowed to fester, a psychiatrist must be consulted. The risk of suicide increases dramatically for depressed children. In addition to depressive symptoms, other suicidal indicators include:

•    Isolation from family and friends
•    Talking about suicide
•    Aberrant actions (behavioral, sexual, risk-taking)
•    Drug/alcohol abuse

Overcoming the condition starts with diagnosing that there is a problem. The earlier the better, for depression doesn’t merely go away. A clinical mental health professional will dispense individual therapy, but family therapy could be recommended as well. Well-structured therapy is the ideal approach for managing the condition, although antidepressants or another type of medicine may be prescribed.

For many kids, depression manifests as a symptom of another physical or mental illness. Depression may mask bipolar disorder, ADHD, or oppositional defiance disorder, or it could arise from a physical problem such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and other diseases. The relationship between depression and physical illness works both ways. Depression can lower a person’s immunity and increase susceptibility to physical problems. Likewise, the pain or stigma from a physical illness can cause depression.

If you suspect your kid is depressed, counseling specialists are there to help. Identifying childhood depression as soon as possible is critical given its destructive effects, its connection to physical disease and the elevated risk of suicide it brings. With your love and support and the assistance of a qualified mental health professional, your child or teen can break away from the mental morass of depression and live free again.

Reproduction permitted only if all active links are maintained and byline is preserved, and/or your byline is omitted. 2012 All Rights Reserved.

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Arranging Excursions with Autistic Children

Despite the fact that planning for a holiday for the family is fairly hectic for any parent or guardian, this can be the best way in order for close relatives to have fresh experiences and a good time with each other. Having an autistic young child in the household makes no difference. Maybe one just needs to include some additional gear,  that is all. An individual only ought to be ready for whatever takes place out there. The way the autistic child views a vacation depends sometime on the amount of self-assurance he or she has. Nevertheless vacations are excellent learning experiences plus they remain as joyful memories to be happily recounted later.

The autistic child’s comfort should first be regarded in picking the holiday site. After that, every member of the family should be expecting an excellent holiday from the place decided on. The children’s school activities should not be disturbed by the vacation you plan. Boisterous areas might make the autistic individual scared, therefore calmer areas like around small beaches should be favored. Taking the vacation during the off-season might be ideal since the crowds can be avoided as well as when one goes to see points of interest earlier as well as later during the day. In selecting a vacation site, one should consider the distance from your home, the sort of transportation necessary and  if there is a need to contend with an airport terminal, then one should be well prepared for this.

You ought to consider the education and social interaction possibilities for your autistic youngster and also the entertainment which everybody can get from the location picked out.

For example, a child that does not prefer touch sensations might take pleasure in the smooth sands of any beach, plus the waves can provide an extremely different sort of feeling for him or her. Being out of doors, the seaside is also a great spot for your little one to holler without the need of disrupting others. Youngsters that happen to be usually non-responsive may benefit from an art gallery , where they could ask questions and you can ask questions of them in return.

Perhaps individuals whom one will often be meeting at the holiday spot might have no experience interacting with autistic people, so one should be aware of this fact. You ought to understand the constitutional privileges of one’s child, so that if she or he is addressed unfairly, one should be well prepared to defend him or her. Be understanding regarding the ignorance of individuals  with respect to one’s autistic son or daughter yet be willing to make satisfactory arrangements instead of making faces of looking rudely at folks. Be  charming whenever you can during the holiday and lead one’s family wherever possible to pay attention to enjoying themselves.

The author is a multifaceted writer. She creates articles for a number of topics such as marriage and relationship advices, great deals on cheap gowns and prom dresses, family and parenting concerns, fashion and beauty tips and a lot more.