These days, it seems like there’s a holiday or observance for everything. For instance, did you know that May is National Egg Month? That’s right, an entire month celebrating the “incredible, edible egg”! May also happens to be National Hamburger Month, which is only fitting since it is also National BBQ Month.

But along with the often silly and fun observances, we also have those that aim to make the world a better place. Like National Family Month.

Celebrated during the five weeks between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, National Family Month encourages families to spend more quality time together, to reconnect, and to recognize the importance of family involvement in shaping the lives of children.

So in honor of Family Month, here are a few simple ways spend more time with the youngest members of your family.

Put a ban on electronics for a week (or even a day). The fewer the distractions, the more present and “in the moment” we can be with our loved ones.

Eat dinner together. Talk about your day, share your plans and achievements. If dinner doesn’t work, aim for breakfast. Just enjoy good food and conversation every chance you get.

Learn something new together. Get everyone out of their comfort level by trying something new. Art classes, yoga, indoor rock climbing, or bird watching – tons of possibilities!

Start a new tradition. Perhaps every Sunday is family dinner day, or the last Friday of the month is pegged for a backyard (or living room) campout.

Cook together. Better yet, try making new dishes from around the world. Get your kids involved with the menu planning, shopping, and prep. The older ones can even be responsible for making the entire meal.

Reach out. Teach your kids the importance of family by staying in touch with yours. In this day and age, distance is no excuse for not keeping in touch with loved ones.

At Absolute Air, we support family togetherness in our own unique way, bringing higher levels of indoor comfort, convenience, and safety to every customer we serve. If we haven’t already, we hope to earn that opportunity with your family, as well.

Absolute Air offers quality air conditioning services in forney tx and crandall . We have other indoor air quality solutions, too.  Contact us today for details or to schedule installation.

Now that summer’s around the corner a lot of good-intentioned parents are getting ready to plop their toddlers into the pool expecting a “drown proofed” child in return.

If you’re one of them, first of all, congratulations on wanting to introduce your little one to swimming at an early age, but secondly, it may be time to back off just a wee bit, especially when considering what the American Association of Pediatrics has to say. They recommend that parents hold off on formal swimming lessons until after their child’s fourth birthday. According to the AAP, that’s the age when children become developmentally able to learn the skills needed to stay afloat.

Still, don’t let that stop you from at least introducing your little one to the water, having fun, and staying cool this summer. There are plenty of programs out there that focus on games and safety, all designed to help make you and your child more comfortable around the water.

Taking your baby in for a dip? Here are some tips to help keep them safe:

• Keep your baby in your arms , and in your sight at all times.

• Never “dunk” your small child under water. Even little children, especially, those under three years old, can swallow a large amount of water – and this can be fatal.

• If you have a pool, be sure it has at least a four-foot fence on all sides. Also install a self-closing, self-latching gate that’s positioned out of your child’s reach.

• Beware of all water hazards, including inflatable baby pools, buckets, toilets, and tubs — an infant can drown in as little as an inch of water in less than 30 seconds.

• Keep rescue equipment handy. A plastic ring buoy, a pole, a first-aid kit, and a portable phone should be close by at all times.

Lastly, get in touch with your local Red Cross, YMCA or community organizations for more information on programs that properly introduce your toddler to the water.

While bringing a pet into your home can be an important and fabulously rewarding part of family life, it’s also serious business.

Even for those who don’t have primary care responsibilities, it’s still a huge responsibility for the entire family. Especially when you consider that, depending on the type of pet you select, it can be with you for up to ten and even 20 years. And that’s what you initially need to focus on, especially during the pet selection process, because that’s where emotions usually reign supreme. And if you’ve ever taken your kids to a petting zoo before – let alone a per store – you know exactly what we mean.

Ultimately, it comes down to this: pets are far easier to love and play with than take care of. And that’s really important to keep in mind while you go through the process of deciding whether or not yours can be a pet-friendly household. Here are a few specifics to help you along:

• Are you and your child comfortable around animals? Some adults and many children find they are not.
• Do you have adequate room for a pet – both indoors and out? Keep in mind pets – especially dogs – don’t stay tiny forever. They will eventually occupy and require more space, perhaps even their own.
• Do we have adequate time for a pet? (This is a big one!) All pets require time and attention. In your heart of hearts, it’s vitally important to be fair to your pet, and to yourself. Answer honestly, “Can we as a family devote the necessary time a pet deserves?”
• Can we afford a pet? If you don’t think pets are like family members, wait until you see how much it can cost to keep one, especially when you factor in vet care. Do the math before casting your final vote.
• Is everyone committed to the responsibility? It may not take a village to raise a pet, but typically it takes more than one devoted care giver. So don’t wait until you have the pet before asking for volunteers for specific responsibilities – ideally, that should be decided well in advance.

When all is said and done, raising a pet truly is a labor of love. Just keep in mind that there’s plenty of both to be expected – labor AND love – and that one is no good without the other.