Helping Your Child
Cope with Pet Loss
It is a sad time in any family when a beloved pet
dies. It can be especially hard on your children,
who often have known their pet all their lives. The
loss of a pet may also mark the first time a child
has had to deal with any type of death, which can
lead to varied and confusing emotions. To help
your child deal with this grief, consider some of
these approaches:
• Keep a small memento of your pet. A collar,
favorite toy, or tag can be comforting.
• Gather up some photos of your pet with your child and frame them. You can also
put together a photo album of pictures of your pet.
• Be sure to talk about your pet and share memories. Sometimes laughing about good
memories can help in the grieving process.
Good Clean Funnies
Riddles for Kids: Halloween
Q: Why are mummies so selfcentered?
A: Because they tend to get wrapped
up in themselves!
Q: Why are books about cemeteries
so boring?
A: They have weak plots!
Q: Why do ghosts make good
cheerleaders?
A: Because they have a lot of spirit!
Q: Why did the witch’s broom have
such a bad first day at work?
A: It couldn’t get a handle on things!
The Good Life
• Encourage your child to continue regular activities, even if those used to include
your pet.
• If possible, hold a memorial service for your pet. You can invite friends to share in
this. Planting a tree in your pet’s honor is a tangible way to remember him or her.
Getting Enough ZZZs
Good rest is a cornerstone of good health. Numerous studies have shown the health
benefits of adequate sleep. A chronic state of fatigue can result in more accidents,
impairment in attention and reasoning, an increased risk of heart disease and high
blood pressure, and increased healing time from injury or illness.
As far as knowing how much sleep you
need, there is no magic number. Different
age groups need different amounts of
sleep, but even within age groups, each
person’s needs are individual. Research
has shown that adults who get around
seven hours of sleep have the best longterm health outcomes.
To increase your chances of getting a
good night’s sleep, try to keep a regular
schedule. Going to bed at the same time
each night and rising in the morning at
the same time helps your body know when to sleep and when to be awake. If you are
feeling sleep-deprived, it is better to take a short afternoon nap than to sleep in late
the next morning.
Melatonin is a naturally-occurring hormone that helps regulate sleep. Its production
can be altered if your day is spent out of sync with the natural changes in daily light.
If you spend much of the day in an office away from natural light and then spend
your evenings in front of a TV or computer screen, your body may not be producing
melatonin correctly. To help correct this, try to get periods of natural sunlight during
the day. At night, turn off artificial light from televisions and computers earlier in the
evening.
If you’ve tried to get better sleep, but often feel tired during the day, it may be time
for some help. A doctor that specializes in sleep disorders can offer natural and
medication-based strategies to help you get some needed rest.
Quick Tips
Home Tip
When painting a surface in your
home that needs to be primed, tint
the primer to match the finish coat.
This is great when you are painting
newly textured drywall or are trying
to cover up a strong color that was
already on your wall. This way you
can save another coat of paint, and
you’ll end up with color that is more
vibrant and clear.
Green Living Tip
You may think that your dishwasher
is using a lot of energy, but in fact it
is more energy-efficient to run your
dishwasher than to hand wash your
dishes. Dishwashers use considerably
less water than hand washing does.
You’ll conserve even more by not
rinsing your dishes before loading
your dishwasher. Simply scrape the
plates and place in the racks.
H E A LT H Y, W E A LT H Y & W I S E