•Meet your teachers – If possible, drop by your children’s school in weeks prior to first day to meet your child’s teacher. Most of these dedicated professionals will can be found organizing and decorating classrooms in anticipation of start of new year. If you are fortunate enough to arrange such a meeting, introduce yourself and your child and offer your help. Most teachers will welcome this type of volunteer work and your child will be beneficiary.

Many additional details will remain to be taken care of prior to first day of school, but time spent in weeks prior will help to ease transition for your entire family. Speak with your child now about his or her goals for coming school year. Obtain school calendar and work to arrange vacations, doctor’s appointments and other meetings during off school time. Do your best to face school year in an organized fashion and before you know it, you’ll be counting days until summer!

Lisa M. Hendey is mom to two school aged sons and webmaster of http://www.catholicmom.com and http://www.digitalcropper.com and numerous other web sites.

(Helpful hint: grind chamomile and lavender into a fine powder using a clean coffee grinder, food processor, or blender).

Better Baby Oil Vegetable oils are far more nourishing, soothing, and moisturizing than mineral oils. This makes an excellent after-bath or anytime moisturizer, and also works well to gently loosen and heal cradle cap or eczema. The benefits of infant massage are many and well-documented; this oil also makes a wonderfully soothing natural massage oil.

1 cup grapeseed, almond, sunflower or olive oil 2-3 capsules vitamin E

Cut open or pierce vitamin E capsules, and squeeze vitamin E oil into base oil. Stir or shake oils until they are combined. Place in a recycled squeeze bottle and use as needed in bath, as a lotion, or massage oil. Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant and has many healing properties. It’s an excellent moisturizer, wound healer, and is extremely soothing to dry, chapped, or irritated skin.

Herbal Baby Balm The healing powers of herbs in this salve are safe and gentle, yet powerfully effective. The healing powers of herbs are transferred to oils, and then beeswax is added to make a creamy balm. Beeswax naturally helps seal moisture into skin, while still allowing it to ‘breathe”.

2 cups oil (olive, sunflower, grapeseed or almond) 1/3 cup dried comfrey 1/3 cup dried chamomile 6 capsules vitamin E 2 ounces (approximately 2 tablespoons) beeswax

Combine herbs and oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Place on lowest possible heat – oil should be warm, but not hot enough to “fry” herbs! Let oils and herbs infuse for at least three hours. Let oil cool, then strain out and compost herbs. Gently re-warm oil, and add beeswax. Cut or pierce vitamin E capsules and squeeze oil into beeswax/oil mixture. Stir together until beeswax is completely melted, and then remove from heat. Pour salve into clean jars or tins. This gentle salve can be used to help relieve diaper rash, to heal any cuts or scrapes, or act as a moisturizer or lotion for very dry skin.

Hopefully you will enjoy creating your own natural baby products. There are many excellent natural baby products on market, also. Unscented, handmade soaps (especially castile or goat’s milk soaps) can often be found at your local farmer’s markets or natural foods stores. These are also excellent for care of your baby. Please read labels and look for all-natural products free from petroleum products, mineral oils, synthetic colors, and synthetic fragrances. You and your child will both be happier and healthier!