Easy Easter Meals

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About Today




Easy Easter Meals



No, you can't just eat candy for Easter dinner ... though I really wish we could. Luckily, you don't have to start prepping your Easter menu weeks in advance. Whip up some delicious, spring-y salads, a few surprisingly simple desserts, ever-popular deviled eggs and—of course—a traditional Easter ham, made easy. Oh, and don't miss these tasty recipes for hardboiled eggs; what else are you going to do with all the leftover eggs from the hunt?How to Make Hot Cross BunsPreparing an Easter BrunchEasy Early Easter Breakfasts







Practicing Proper Etiquette



We know, we know—having your entire family over for Easter dinner can be, ahem, trying. Whether you're new to hosting family holidays or a seasoned pro, we've got tips on being a gracious host or guest, dinner conversations you should definitely avoid and great table manners. Remember: if you run out of stuff to talk about, you can always start a (friendly) debate on the world's most polarizing Easter candy: marshmallow Peeps.Can I Stop Hosting Holidays Now?Minding Your Manners in ChurchCleaning for Houseguests







Decorating for Easter



As if hosting Easter isn't impressive enough—you'll really wow your guests with festive, handmade decorations. Dress up the Easter dinner table with a DIY cake stand or pretty, spring-inspired decor; make a beautiful flower arrangement for your centerpiece; or craft personalized place settings inspired by these gorgeous, DIY greeting cards.DIY Honeycomb Easter EggsIdeas to Inspire Your Dinner TableEasy Easter Egg Decorating










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Are Detoxes Really Necessary?

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Health and Fitness - The Huffington Post




Are Detoxes Really Necessary?



From Mother Nature Network's Jennifer Nelson:







Detox diets are everywhere, but cleanliness may not be next to godliness when it comes to the body. Are these popular juice fasts, master cleanses and detoxification diets really necessary?







“There is no evidence that those detox diets do any kind of detoxification in the body,” says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Hermosa Beach, Calif.







One of the reasons that people, especially celebrities, embark on master cleanses and detox plans is that there are a lot of overweight and obese people in our society, and people are looking for the quick fix, explains Giancoli. Detoxes and cleanses promise quick weight loss.







What’s more, there’s a paranoia in today’s culture that our bodies are full of toxins and that we must detox in order to rid ourselves of these offensive chemicals.







“In reality, if you really want to detox your body the best thing to do is have a diet that has plenty of fiber, plenty of fruits and vegetables, a lot of whole grains, a lot of plant foods so that your immune system, your liver, kidneys, lungs and other organs in your body can naturally do their job to detox you on its own,” says Giancoli.







“We need to have more trust in our body’s ability to do that, but we also need to feed our body the right foods so that it can be at its best.”







The fact is we have a natural detox system in our body that works very well when treated well. The liver does a great job of flushing out waste every day, our lungs breathe out pollutants, our kidneys filter out toxins, and our digestive system lets things pass through that we don’t need.







Worse, Giancoli warns that juice diets and cleanses only lead to water weight loss. Depending on how long people do this, they’ll lose water weight and then start losing lean tissue mass where muscle breaks down, a huge no-no which is only increasing your fat to lean muscle ratio.







Detoxing has also become the umbrella term for a lot of different diets. Sometimes the word may be used positively, as in feeding your body a healthy diet of natural, whole foods, and other times the word typically means drinking nothing but a fluid concoction of lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper or some such for days, which is supposed to flush poisons from the body. The latter detox diet is the one to skip.







Interestingly, you may be creating toxins when you go on these detoxes for a very long time, says Giancoli. When you’re not eating and you’re taking in very few calories, you start to break down muscle mass, which creates nitrogen compounds that your body has to excrete. After a period of time not taking in enough calories, the body will make ketones, which are acidic substitutes for fuel that have to be flushed out and neutralized so they don’t potentially cause loss of minerals like calcium from the bones. Seems “cleansing” may actually create toxins that the body then has to rid.







“You can bounce back after a day or two of that but why put your body in a position it has to recover from in the first place?” Giancoli says.







“I will say that the good side of them [cleanse diets] is that for short periods they may inspire people to eat better or inspire a better way of living or a healthy lifestyle, but you can do that without the torture of these so-called detoxes.”







“Plus, if you do fast or ‘cleanse’ for a number of days, the physiology of your body then wants foods so you’re now in danger of binging and storing fat more easily. So while you might lose weight during the cleanse, your body is more primed to store fat because it’s thinking ‘Oh my gosh, I’m in the feast period so I better store all these calories for the next famine period,’” Giancoli says.







Bottom line: Detoxing or cleansing is not a sustainable weight-loss technique. Nor do you need to do anything to help your body rid itself of toxins. The body is essentially a self-cleaning machine.







Mammography: Just Some of the Facts, Ma'am



Since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) report on breast cancer screening in 2009, articles about the benefits and harms of mammography screening have accelerated. It is remarkable that a technology that women have counted on for decades for the early detection of breast cancer and its subsequent reporting life-saving benefits receive such polar opposite messages and conclusions. While these reports are primarily designed to assist women in making an informed decision about breast cancer screening, they often lead to more confusion about what to do and whom to believe to be protected from late-stage disease.







Breast cancer, next to lung cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among all races in the United States. Yearly, 230,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,000 die from the disease. It is a substantial public health issue with deadly consequences.







A recent study by Pace & Keating published in JAMA reports that while mammography reduces mortality by 20 percent, it also has "harms" that must be taken into consideration when determining a patient's screening protocol. The authors conclude that mammography screening decisions should be individualized based on patients' risks and preferences.







I am a strong believer in personal responsibility and my ability to make healthful choices to control MOST of my health destiny. No smoking, moving my body daily, an abundance of green hues on my plate and a modest consumption of alcohol (although I have increased my consumption of red "antioxidant" wine since my advanced-stage breast cancer diagnosis); yet in spite of my health-conscious lifestyle with no family history of breast cancer and my relentless yearly mammographic screening appointments, I was diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer within weeks of my 11th NORMAL mammogram. I only received all the facts of my individual risk of breast cancer AFTER my advanced stage diagnosis as I learned that my extremely dense breast tissue not only can mask cancer on mammography but is an independent risk-factor for breast cancer. Even though the masking and risk of dense breast tissue were reported in the scientific literature for more two decades, not one of my health care providers over a dozen years ever informed me of "all the facts" about the limitations of mammograms and the missed positives caused by dense breast tissue. This harm of dense breast tissue, which is the strongest predictor of the failure of mammography to detect cancer, is seldom discussed in the popular media.







Having a conversation about the harms of over-diagnosis and over-treatment of indolent cancers have little value to a patient when it cannot be precisely determined which cancers will harm and which will not. As Denise Grady aptly reveals about mammography and harms in the Well blog of the New York Times, "So where are these over-treated women? Nobody knows." Additionally, we need better risk models to accurately communicate an individual's personal risk for breast cancer, as indicated by my "low risk" assessment status prior to my advanced-stage diagnosis.







An editorial in JAMA by Elmore and Kramer insists on balanced messaging from health care providers about the facts of mammography, supporting shared-decision making by respecting women's preferences and values. I applaud this recommendation, as all too often I hear from women about how physicians shockingly dismiss their concerns about dense tissue and the likelihood of masked cancers by mammography. Sadly, time, money, inconvenience and health care providers' preferences and knowledge trump "just the facts."







Physicians have an ethical responsibility to truthfully communicate the current scientific facts with their patients. Additionally, they need to listen to and respect patients' preferences even when it may collide with their own preferences. An informed decision about such a personal health issue as breast cancer screening and prevention can only be made after receiving all the facts!







For information about dense breast tissue and risk, visit AreYouDense.org



For legislative efforts about density reporting, visit AreYouDenseAdvocacy.org










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Awaken to Your True Purpose: Your Weekly Wake-Up Call to Make a Difference in the World

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GPS for the Soul - The Huffington Post




Awaken to Your True Purpose: Your Weekly Wake-Up Call to Make a Difference in the World



The least of things with a meaning



is worth more in life



than the greatest of things without it.



-- Carl Jung







All the possessions in the world won't give you as much to live for as one ounce of purpose. This is why connecting with your inner motivations and greater life purpose is the greatest promotion you will ever obtain.







When we do not make this connection, it is easy to become obsessed with drugs, alcohol, sex, money, food, or vain arguments that squeeze out any time to truly relate to others. We unwittingly transform our lives every day into a quest to experience short-term pleasure and avoid pain without assessing that pleasure or pain with respect to anything.







If you are unwilling to put your short-term needs for intimacy, sexual pleasure, an assuring nod from your parents, or bringing in those dollars on the back burner, then don't expect to move toward your long-term goals. How can you reach your destination if you're heading in another direction, or in no direction at all?







I know it's not easy to shelve what feels in the moment like a burning desire. Yet it's even more difficult to live with the consequences of decisions that transform you into someone you don't want to become.







This week, ask yourself why you are here on this planet and what you, uniquely, are here to contribute to the rest of us. The universe awaits your response.








Health & Science: Science News, Health News, Scientific Developments, Healthcare & Nutrition - The Washington Post




Earth-size, ‘Goldilocks-zone’ planet found in distant solar system




The hunt for Earth’s alien twin reached a new milestone with the discovery of a faraway planet that’s similar in size to our globe and has the right temperature to potentially support liquid water — and possibly life.


Read full article >>























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Bershan Shaw, 'Love In The City' Star And Breast Cancer Survivor, Shares What Helped Her Beat Remarkable Odds (VIDEO)

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Health and Fitness - The Huffington Post




Bershan Shaw, 'Love In The City' Star And Breast Cancer Survivor, Shares What Helped Her Beat Remarkable Odds (VIDEO)



In the mid-2000s, Bershan Shaw was a thriving young woman living in New York City, pursuing her dream of being an actress. In between her acting gigs and full-time job as a bartender, the ambitious 30-something even found time to open her own restaurant and bar in midtown Manhattan. Life was busy and full. Then, everything came to a halt.







At age 33, Bershan was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though devastated, she was determined to fight.







"I didn't want to be 'the sick girl' at 33," she says. "I didn't want to be the girl who needed sympathy and empathy."







Bershan opted for radiation and seemed to respond well to the treatment. But two years after that initial diagnosis -- just weeks before her wedding -- Bershan learned that her cancer had returned.







It was stage four, the doctors said. She was given three months to live.







"I was literally praying every day, 'Please don't take my life, God. Please. This is not my time,'" Bershan says.







That was five years ago. Today, Bershan is cancer-free with no evidence of the disease. Since her diagnosis, the "Love in the City" star has been on a mission to change lives, creating an online community of "warriors" who support each other through tough times. During an art event for this URAWarrior organization, Bershan opens up about her breast cancer battle and how art helped heal her.







"During that time, I was going to museums every day, looking at artists, looking at their struggle," she says. "I connected with the artists."







Eager to give back to the art community, Bershan announces that this URAWarrior project will happen every three months and invites the various artists to stand up and share their own remarkable stories of survival. In the video, the artists open up about what they have overcome. Like Bershan, they each found comfort and strength in art.







"Art really does heal us," Bershan says. "I want this to be a movement. Don't be afraid, stand up... You are a warrior."







"Love in the City" airs Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET on OWN.







How To Save Your Skin One Snack At A Time (VIDEO)



Could a snack a day keep the dermatologist away? Board certified dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe says that by eating certain foods, you can reduce the skin inflammation that may be causing us to look older.







"Inflammation is a major player when it comes to aging," Bowe says on the "OWN Show" web series. "Oxidative stress and free radicals can actually damage the molecules in the skin. They can damage things like protein or collagen, they can damage DNA and they can damage lipids over time as well."







While short bursts of inflammation help the body fight infection, chronic, low-levels of inflammation can wreak havoc on the skin.







To reduce inflammation, Bowe says there are a couple options. "You can actually add antioxidants topically, in the form of say a serum or a cream," she says. "Or you can add antioxidants to your diet by including multiple colored fruits and vegetables."







Also shown to reduce inflammation in the skin are probiotics, Bowe says.







"So simply eating a cup of yogurt that has the words 'live active cultures' on the label once a day can actually help to reduce inflammation in the skin over time," she says.







Find more from the "OWN Show" on Oprah.com.







These Ingenious 'Pop-Art Condoms' May Help Save Lives



Condom packaging isn’t discussed enough in design circles, in our opinion. Consider these wrappers by the Kenyan artist Michael Soi:







2014-04-17-ScreenShot20140417at1.17.51PM.png







What makes them interesting? Not only are the packages visually striking, they’re discrete. You might think they're postcards, instead of prophylactics.







Which is precisely the point. Commissioned by the Center for African Family Studies, Soi’s “pop-art condoms” are meant to attract young buyers who might otherwise face social stigma. The project is in its infancy, with an ask for funding on Indiegogo.







Discretion of design is critical in parts of the world where HIV rates are highest. As a 2009 study of Nairobi youth showed, a prime reason people don't use condoms is because of the stigma associated with simply buying them.







"Most people are actually very afraid of going to vendors in supermarkets and chemists," a CAFS communications officer told CNN.







According to CNN, the CAFS team struggled to find an artist for the project, for the same reason teens don’t want to buy condoms -- artists didn’t want to be “associated with sex.”







Soi, meanwhile, seems unfazed. His subjects are modern, often interracial couples or young women drinking Tusker, a popular Kenyan beer brand.







In a video about the project, a CAFS representative says the funds will also go to producing high quality condoms. For more on the project, check out the video below.







Pop art condoms from Jon Spangler on Vimeo.












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Checking baby poop color is important, and there’s an app for it

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Health & Science: Science News, Health News, Scientific Developments, Healthcare & Nutrition - The Washington Post




Checking baby poop color is important, and there’s an app for it




Johns Hopkins University gastroenterologists have developed a free app they believe will help provide quick diagnosis of the leading cause of liver failure in children.


The app uses “color recognition software,” according to a news release from the university, that allows parents to compare photos of their child’s stool against normal colors for infant stool, in the hope of quickly catching the first signs of biliary atresia. The app also allows parents to send the photos to their pediatrician, and reminds them to conduct the color check every two weeks between birth and two months of age.


Read full article >>























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These Ingenious Pop Art Condoms May Help Save Lives

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Health and Fitness - The Huffington Post




These Ingenious Pop Art Condoms May Help Save Lives



Condom packaging isn’t discussed enough in design circles, in our opinion. Consider these wrappers by the Kenyan artist Michael Soi:







2014-04-17-ScreenShot20140417at1.17.51PM.png







What makes them interesting? Not only are the packages visually striking, they’re discrete. You might think they're postcards, instead of prophylactics.







Which is precisely the point. Commissioned by the Center for African Family Studies, Soi’s “pop-art condoms” are meant to attract young buyers who might otherwise face social stigma. The project is in its infancy, with an ask for funding on Indiegogo.







Discretion of design is critical in parts of the world where HIV rates are highest. As a 2009 study of Nairobi youth showed, a prime reason people don't use condoms is because of the stigma associated with simply buying them.







"Most people are actually very afraid of going to vendors in supermarkets and chemists," a CAFS communications officer told CNN.







According to CNN, the CAFS team struggled to find an artist for the project, for the same reason teens don’t want to buy condoms -- artists didn’t want to be “associated with sex.”







Soi, meanwhile, seems unfazed. His subjects are modern, often interracial couples or young women drinking Tusker, a popular Kenyan beer brand.







In a video about the project, a CAFS representative says the funds will also go to producing high quality condoms. For more on the project, check out the video below.







Pop art condoms from Jon Spangler on Vimeo.









11 Things You Should Know About Piercings



Despite what your grandma thinks of kids these days, piercing is nothing new.







Bedazzling the ears dates back thousands of years. Testament to the fact that everything old is new again: Dangling, chandelier-style earrings were particularly popular in the 18th century, the Chicago Tribune reported. One of the oldest mummies ever discovered, Otzi the Iceman, had stretched ear lobes, according to the BBC. Nose piercing is mentioned in the Bible.







But just because it's been around for ages and has only grown more and more socially acceptable in the Western world, doesn't mean we have all the answers. Whether you're in the market for something shiny or still nursing your latest addition, whether you're pierced as cultural tradition or as a unique form of self-expression, here are a few facts you might not have known about piercings.











1. Just 14 percent of people have piercings somewhere other than their ear lobes , according to a 2006 study co-authored by board-certified dermatologist Amy J. Derick, M.D.







piercing regulations







And only 7 percent have a piercing somewhere other than their ear entirely, according to a 2012 Harris Interactive poll.











2. There is some form of complication in up to 35 percent of piercings.



A 1998 study is still frequently cited in estimates of ear piercing complications. The study found that 35 percent of nurses surveyed at a major Midwestern hospital who had ear piercings had reported some complication. Major complications were reported less than 1 percent of the time, and minor infection accounted for the majority of the issues. "You can get infection when you're actually getting the piercing," says Derick, who is also a clinical instructor of dermatology at Northwestern University, if the piercer doesn't wear gloves or isn't using clean instruments, "or later, in a piercing that's already been done but didn't heal well."











3. You can be allergic to your piercing.



Jewelry containing nickel, cobalt or white gold can cause allergic reactions, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). "Nickel is a common allergen," says Derick, and any reaction would usually go away shortly after removing the piercing, she says. Surgical-grade stainless steel, titanium or 14- or 18-karat gold shouldn't cause problems, according to the AAD.











4. Don't consider it a trial run.



If you find yourself in a piercing parlor with the cavalier attitude that, hey, you can always take your piercing out, Derick suggests you reconsider. Yes, she says, you can take the jewelry out, but healing flawlessly is a different story. Scarring, bumps, depressions or holes may remain even after you remove the piercing, she says. Not what you bargained for.











5. A piercing is technically trauma.



It's a wound -- and a little bit of swelling and redness is all part of the body's natural healing response and doesn't necessarily mean you're infected, says jewelry designer and retailer Maria Tash, whose company Maria Tash Inc. provides piercing services at two New York City locations. "We see more redness due to harsh [cleaning] products" than from infection, she says.







The body works hard to heal all wounds, piercings or not, and doesn't need much help from you other than keeping your jewelry clean. In some cases, the body will interpret a new piece of jewelry as a foreign body, like having a thorn stuck in your thumb. If it rejects the piercing, it's essentially trying to "spit out" that thorn, says Derick.











6. There's an art to it.







piercing art







"There's an art to piercing, to do it well," says Tash, who recently trained Harrison Ford in preparation for his piercing of Jimmy Fallon's ear. "The truth is, to do it well is a lot more complicated." Yes, a sterile procedure is of utmost importance, but don't forget jewelry is typically worn to improve appearances. Placement of a piercing requires more thought than a "let's just throw a dart at it" kind of attitude, she says.







It's also for this reason that Tash recommends not piercing an infant's ears. Not only is he or she likely to squirm and cry, but the ear lobe is not yet fully developed, and what was once centered and flattering as a young child might look off as an adult.











7. Piercings in certain areas take longer to heal than others.



You're not imagining it. The greater the blood flow to a certain area, the faster it will heal -- and the less vulnerable it will be to infection, Dr. Joseph Adrian Tyndall, M.D., of Brooklyn Hospital Center told ABC News. Ear lobes, tongues and lips have some of the fastest healing times, says Tash, at four to six weeks, thanks to their high blood flow, or vascularity. Cartilage on the outer ear or nose takes longer to heal. That doesn't mean a nose piercing will hurt for months on end, says Tash, just that it still requires careful cleaning during that time.











8. There is such a thing as over-cleaning.



Speaking of cleaning: The aim is to assist the body's nature healing process, not derail it. Light cleaning twice a day will typically be sufficient, says Tash, with a very mild product. Sterile saline wound wash is the best bet, she says, which will irrigate a new piercing without causing reactions in people with sensitive skin, like iodine-based products used in the past sometimes did.











9. Ointment is out.



You'd put it on a cut, so why not put some antibiotic ointment on your new piercing? Turns out, this thinking is dated, says Tash. Ointment doesn't rinse the piercing like a saline wash will, plus, dust or other irritants in the air might actually stick to that goo, finding their way into the piercing later, she says.











10. Only some states regulate the piercing industry.



There's no federal regulation of the piercing industry, and some states don't have any legislation on the books. Yes, confirms Tash, that means that just about anybody can open up a piercing parlor, so it falls on us as consumers to make good choices about our health and safety. Check reviews online, but be sure to visit piercing shops in person, too. Take a look around at how obviously clean (or not!) the space is, and ask the staff some questions that can help you gauge how knowledgable they are, she suggests. See how comfortable you are in the space in general. Tattooing requires a license, but piercing doesn't, says Tash, which drives many to a doctor's office, where you're certain (we hope!) to get a sterile procedure -- but perhaps not the most flattering one, she says.











11. A certain complication varies among populations.







ear piercings







In some instances, thickened scar tissue can form on cartilage on the back of the ear or on the nose, for example, says Derick. This piercing complication, called a keloid, is typically very difficult to treat. Keloids often run in families, and are more common in people of African, Asian or Hispanic descent. Keloids are also more common in people between the ages of 10 and 20, according to the National Institutes of Health.











What do you wish you knew before you got pierced? Tell us in the comments below!







Fit Links: Health Benefits Of Kissing, Your Yoga Horoscope And More



There are hundreds of wonderful sites on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. Here at Fit Links, we'll introduce you to some that have caught our eye.







Not that you really need a reason to kiss your main squeeze, but smooching has a surprising variety of health benefits, according to Fit Bottomed Girls.







Could your astrological sign correspond to weaknesses in your yoga practice? Check out your yoga horoscope over on Well + Good.







We could all use a little self-esteem boost now and again, and these body-positive mantras from SparkPeople are just what the doctor ordered.







Take your next workout to the stairs, and you can strengthen abs, hips and glutes with this outdoor workout from POPSUGAR Fitness.







--Posted by Sarah Klein







Easter Candy: Is It Worth It?



Cadbury Creme Eggs, Peeps, Robin's Eggs: We love you. But you pack quite the caloric punch. Figure out what it'll take to burn off those Easter season indulgences before you hit the candy aisle.







*Calories burned based on a 135-pound woman.







Use our calculator to see your calories burned!







By JD Rinne, SELF















More from SELF:



20 Superfoods For Weight Loss



Secrets To Firing Up Your Metabolism



6 Moves To Resize Your Butt and Thighs



Look Better Naked










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Dr. Gupta dispels Ebola myths

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CNN.com - Health




Dr. Gupta dispels Ebola myths



Reporting from Guinea, Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains some common misconceptions of one of the world's most deadly viruses.









Good News - The Huffington Post




16 Ways My Dog Has Made Me a Better Parent



People roll their eyes at comparisons of dogs to children, and I support this exasperation -- in theory. At the same time, in my heart of hearts, I know that our dog has profoundly influenced my experience as a mother: by providing solace during my infertility, giving me parent "practice" throughout my IVF pregnancy, and, finally, modeling a pack mentality that helps me enjoy my (human) twin sons.







From a standpoint of logic or practicality, I wouldn't recommend having a puppy in a family with small children, and people everywhere figure out how to parent without a pet's presence. For many others, the extra work, space, and money required rule it out. For me, though, it takes a dog to raise my village.







2014-04-04-reading.jpg







Here are 16 ways my sweet puffball bichon, whom my 2-and-a-half-year-old boys have dubbed "Fufu," has made me a better parent.







1. When I met Fufu as a tiny puppy, I'd been struggling with infertility for three years. Our first week home, while I was in the kitchen panicking about his poop schedule, I scooped him into my arms and something inside me clicked. It felt as if a switch had been flipped. All at once, I knew I could be a mother, a feeling that had been stripped away by my inability to conceive. I sometimes think of Fufu as the stork who brought our children. Of course, the doctors and the IVF also get some credit.







2. Because it was a puppy and not a human baby that first awakened my mothering sense, I've come to more deeply appreciate that love in its many forms -- whether for animals, God, self, nature, partner, friends, or children -- is all sacred. Family can mean many things.







3. Through months of brutal morning sickness while pregnant with twins, Fufu would sit next to me as I crouched by the toilet, his tail wagging as if to ask, Are you done yet? I'd always thought a dog would cuddle and soothe, a furry lightening rod of comfort and empathy. Fufu, however, acted as if everything was fine and we should move on as rapidly as possible. It turned out he was right.







4. As two babies expanded in my 5'3" frame, I grew too front-heavy to lumber without breathless discomfort. I'd take Fufu out to walk with utmost reluctance, but that routine kept me tethered to core things like sunlight, conversation, and exercise. A few times I'd stop on my neighbor's stoop, dizzy and exhausted, and she'd come out to check on me. We've now become friends. In fact, the whole neighborhood knows us. A friend from puppy school doubled down, and we remain close. The dog shattered my isolation.







5. On bed rest at six months gestation, I was full of guilt about how little I could do for Fufu. My husband Ken stepped up and did most dog-related duties, despite his insanely busy work schedule and having to tend to me too. Friends, neighbors, and even the teenage daughter of my massage therapist came by to walk him. It became an early lesson about family: how we are held by others, part of the whole.







6. Toward the end of my pregnancy, I took Fufu for IV fluids at the vet, after he'd been mysteriously vomiting. Leaving him there to head home, I found myself sobbing in the parking lot. A stranger came over and consoled me, mistakenly, for the loss of my animal companion. I took a deep sniff and got some perspective. I still need perspective and a deep breath whenever my sons go to the doctor.







7. In the first year, Fufu introduced Ken and me to fragmented sleep and constant discussions of poop. The arrival of infant twins became a seamless segue to even more fractured sleep and late-night Googling of poop types on our iPhones. Especially in the beginning, we'd pore over our excrement insights like stock data on the trading floor, with minute-by-minute analysis. Puppies and kids alike remind you that the life of the body and its immediate demands can take center stage.







8. Fufu introduced a new degree of routine to my life: walk time, playtime, downtime, mealtime. It turns out routine is also the best way (for me) to handle the challenge of twins. It so happens that I like it, too, the planning and order. With baby twins and a dog, it can feel like a SEAL Team Six operation for us to get out of the house, and it was Fufu who originally introduced the need for checklists, packed supplies and precision drills.







9. Fufu is not writing a memoir about his puppyhood experience with the tentative title, Mommy Was Always Trying to Lie Down. He's remarkably non-judgmental. It's me who does the self-flagellation.







10. Treats, bribes, rewards, alpha posture, affection: these work for both canines and small humans. They work in getting myself to do things, too.







11. Just putting my hand on Fufu's puffy head makes me feel calmer. There are so many ways to communicate without speaking, which is crucial with kids. Now that our bichon is older, it turns out he is a lightening rod of empathy and comfort. I aspire to be this myself.







12. Fufu does not need to escape into any kind of screen or send one more anxious business email. He's not trying to have it all. He'll take just the belly rub and a bully stick, thank you. The more I practice dog-mind, the happier I become.







13. Fufu finds my efforts at meditation hilarious, and will not tolerate an empty lotus-positioned lap or relaxed open hands. Usually I give in to his belly rub demands. There's more than one way to be in the moment.







14. When my husband and I come home with the boys, Fufu sprints to each of us in turn, full speed, paws clacking on the wood floors. He draws a line of connection between us, like weaving a web. Fufu always thinks about the pack, and his wholehearted displays of pack-love put me in that frame of mind.







15. Fufu captures the kids' toys and the boys splash in his water bowl. My sons have figured out a game of howling like wolves, getting Fufu to join them. They also like to run as a threesome in circles around the dining room table. I could not have come up with this entertainment myself, and without our dog, I would miss the beauty of all their overlapping natures. The interspecies walls vanish. They're all brothers, and we call them that.







16. Also part of his pack-love leadership: Fufu always wants to be in the room with us, even if only to wedge himself between the boys' cribs to sleep. He believes in togetherness for its own sake, in all circumstances. I see this as a core lesson of family. He doesn't think we should have more kids, fewer kids, or that things should be easier. He doesn't worry about statistics, spreadsheets, or parenting trends. Here we all are! Family is about going for it, celebrating and appreciating whatever you happen to have. Be dogged in your love.







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