Book Review: The Right Words at the Right Time

I really enjoyed Marlo Thomas's new book, The Right Words at the Right Time.

Publisher Weekly says:

"Thomas follows up her bestselling inspirational volume, which collected stories from luminaries describing times when well-chosen words impacted their lives, with this collection of personal essays from more than 90 'ordinary Americans' selected from thousands of submissions to a national contest. From the experience of a naval officer who comes to a major career decision in a Burger King to a woman's epiphany at a Zen Buddhist Monastery in Japan, these simple, touching stories highlight the moments when the right phrases or comments made a life-changing difference. Divided into thematic sections like "At a Crossroads," "Taking Chances," and "Letting Go," Thomas's new title may be a little Chicken Soup-esque, but this is no canned concentrate-this is genuine, home-cooked comfort food. Proceeds benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital."

This collection includes 108 stories, each about two pages long, by different unknown authors who share how hearing or reading the right words at the time time made a difference in their lives. This would be a great book for the bathroom (don't you love to read in the bathroom?) or for the coffee-table . . . each story is a quick read, a little morsel of inspiration.

I'm probably going to pass my book along as a Christmas gift (it's the thought that counts, right? not the amount of money spent?). I really enjoyed it and I know someone in my family who will enjoy it, too.

Two thumbs up!

Entertainment Software Rating Board

My boys are huge fans of video games. The 14-year olds push the limits, as teenagers like to do, and ask for games unfamiliar to me. What's a mom to do when she wants to protect her children from inappropriate images and sounds?

That's when I rely on the rating systems provided by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Each game is rated into one of six categories (ages 3+, 6+, 10+, 17+ and 18+). If you have children and you are concerned about what they see and hear, you can check out all the information provided in the links above. I know I will be educating myself more on this issue.

Last weekend, I heard Kim Komando on the radio advise parents to avoid five particular new video games. Click and read what she has to say about them.

As I tell my children, "you can't unsee things," so be careful what you allow them to see in the first place.

Care.com

Finding a trustworthy babysitter is one of the tough tasks of parenthood. My husband and I tend to rely on my mother, paying her handsomely to hang out with our children. We used to have a fantastic sitter, but she had the nerve to go to college. So, I found the idea of Care.com intriguing.

Care.com is "an innovative new website which helps busy Moms connect with trustworthy caregivers matched specifically to their family's needs. We'd like to offer you the opportunity to sample this site with a complimentary 3-month premium membership (a $60 value!).

Hiring a new caregiver can be fraught with anxiety. With significantly more services and security than you would find on a virtual bulletin board like craigslist.org, Care.com offers you peace of mind by posting extensive information about each caregiver-age, certifications, education level, and years of experience. Care.com helps to ensure that you find someone qualified and trustworthy by providing you with references from other clients and free driving record and criminal background checks for anyone you're considering for a job."

Care.com is not just for finding a babysitter, either. They also have categories for pet care, tutoring and senior care. You plug in your zip code and category, and up pop provider names with information. And to safeguard everyone involved, you'll find background checks and references as well as other information.

I personally have not found a childcare provider using this site (my lucky mom!), but I am happy to know about this website. Excellent idea!