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The challenge of
being a parent
Os all the jobs in the world,
being a parent may be the
trickiest. Children are often
hard to understand. They seem
impossible to control.
Sometimes, no matter how
hard we try, it seems that
everything we do is wrong. No
one can make parenting easy.
But by learning more about
children and their needs and by
talking to other parents, we
can learn many things to make
us more effective as parents.
What are the most important
things parents can do for their
children? How can you tell
when you are a successful par
ent? What are the qualities you
most want your children to
develop? One child psycholo
gist suggested that there are
two qualities that are most
important for children and all
people to develop.
The first quality is to be
strong. Children should learn
to make decisions, to be
responsible and to be trustwor
thy. They should learn how to
deal with difficult situations.
Children should
leam to make
decisions, to be
responsible and to
be trustworthy.
The second quality is to be
caring. Children should learn
to love and be loved, to care
about people, to show respect,
to be close with their families
and others. Good parenting
pays off.
You work at becoming a good
parent so that your children
will turn out to be strong, car
ing adults. But what are the
benefits for you? Does being a
good parent take tons of work
and leave you worn out? Why
go to all the trouble?
The fact is, good parenting is
easier in the long run than bad
parenting. Good parenting is
like good car repair. When car
repair is done by someone with
good tools who understands
the job, the car will run well.
When a car >is repaired by
someone who knows little or is
careless, the car is likely to be
a big problem. \
Bad parehting develops chil-
Grass tetany season is on its way
Chances for grass tetany are great
est under warm, rainy conditions in
late winter and early spring (mid-
February to mid-April). Forages
most likely to produce tetany are
winter annuals and fescue. It is most
ly confined to cows in the early
stages of lactation and often affects
the highest-producing animals in a
—CP I c t
herd. Symptoms of grass tetany are nervous animals,
with twitching muscles. They often stagger when walk
ing, and later go down on their side, with muscle spasms
and convulsions. If not treated, death can occur.
What causes tetany?
Grass tetany is associated with low levels of magne
sium (Mg) in the blood of cattle and sheep. It results
from animals grazing plants grown on soils low in avail
able Mg, causing them to be deficient in this element,
especially when lactation requires a substantial quantity
of Mg.
Wet soils, low in oxygen, may prevent plants from tak
ing up sufficient Mg regardless of the soil Mg level.
Grass tetany is more likely to occur on soils low in
phosphorous (P) but high in Potassium (K) and N
because this combination tends to inhibit Mg uptake.
This can be a problem with cool season grass forages
(such as Tall Fescue) fertilized with high rates of broiler
litter. Generally forage containing 0.2 percent Mg or
more is unlikely to cause tetany.
Control
Pastures deficient in Mg should be limed with
dolomitic limestone, which contains Mg. However, as
mentioned before. Mg must be available for plant
uptake, and adding more magnesium to a soil having
adequate levels of Mg does not assure availability.
Phosphorous fertilization may also be helpfill on some
soils, but soils in this area not usually lacking in phos
phorous.
The most dependable control is supplemental feeding
j with Mg-fortified mineral mix during the tetany season.
: About 25 grams of Mg daily should provide protection
against grass tetany. About half of the intake should
come from the feed and half from the Mg containing
mineral mix. The following is a good basic magnesium
based mineral mix, which can be mixed on the farm:
FjK””i Debbie
dren who are more likely to be
moody, angry, disobedient,
immature and low in social
ability. Good parenting devel
ops children who are more
likely to be happy, capable,
responsible and enjoyable.
Which kind of children do you
prefer to live with?
Reading about parenting, tak
ing classes in parenting and
visiting with other good par
ents will help you be more
effective. It does take effort to
leam about children and to be
a good parent.
It takes time to reason with
children, to read them stories
and to follow up on rules. But
it makes life more pleasant and
helps you develop children you
will be proud of.
Nurturing program
Are you looking for a conve
nient, affordable and fun way
to become a more effective
parent? If so, plan on attending
the Winter 1999 Nurturing
Program. This is a 12-week
positive parenting program
focusing on new skills, fresh
ideas and shared concerns. The
nurturing program is sponsored
by the Cumming/Forsyth
County Council on Youth, a
Family Connection site.
This program is designed for
all parents, especially those
with children over four years
old through adolescence. It
will be held on Tuesdays, Jan.
19 through April 13, from
6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Episcopal
Church of the Holy Spirit, 724
Pilgrim Mill Road, Cumming.
The cost of S6O per family
covers 12 weeks of instruction,
supplies, children's programs
for children older than four,
baby-sitting for those younger.
To register, call Elizabeth M.
Cooke at (770) 205-1701. .
If you have questions in the
area of Family and Consumer
Sciences, please call Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. at (770) 887-2418.
Sam SK
Geer
mi— ; ' I
intake a cow will receive about 0.4 - 0.7 ounces (11-22
grams) of actual Mg from the mineral mix daily. When
using the mineral mix, remove all other salt sources
from the cattle’s diet If a hot mix is being used as a
protein supplement Mg oxide can be added at the nec
essary level where each cow should receive about 1.0
ounce/day in the mix.
Commercial mixes are also available. High-mag
blocks or mixes should contain 11-13 percent Mg. For
the small cattleman it may be more practical and easier
to purchase a high-mag material than to mix individual
ingredients.
Monitoring consumption of Mg supplement is impor
tant Because Mg is an unpalatable mineral, salt and the
oil meals are added to increase consumption.
Occasionally, more than 20 percent meal is necessary
to get consumption to the needed levels.
Some commercial high-mag mixes use dry molasses.
to increase palatability. Don’t make the mistake of
believing that lower-than-expected consumption is due
to the lack of need on the cow’s part. More than likely it
is an indication that die cows don’t like die way it tastes.
Other causes for low consumption can be poor feeder
placement or not enough feeders. Put feeders in high
traffic or loafing areas and provide one feeder for every
twenty cows. This way, cows at the bottom of the herd
pecking order will consume enough minerals.
High-mag materials are only necessary during the pre
viously mentioned high-risk periods. There is no advan
tage in using high-mag materials the rest of the year.
Start offering high-mag materials 21-30 days prior to die
critical period and stop after the pasture forages in ques
tion put up a seed head.
For more information you can contact the Forsyth
County Extension Office at (770) 887-241&
Abby
Cell phones in cars add to arsenal of distraction
By Abigail Van Buren
Universal Press Syndicate
DEAR ABBY: As a longtime member of
our local traffic safety commission and
past volunteer AARP 55-Alive driving
instructor, I wish to comment on the recent
letter from Tom Lynch of Cedar Rapids,
lowa.
Mr. Lynch suggested that the use of cell
phones is safe because truck drivers have
used CB radios for many years. What he
failed to add is that accidents involving
trucks have increased dramatically in
recent years. Part of the reason is the
increased number of trucks on the road
but how many others are due to inattentive
driving because the driver was on the radio
or otherwise occupied?
He also suggested that you will next
advocate passing laws against tuning the
radio while driving, looking at your pas
senger and conversing while driving,
adjusting the temperature while driving or
driving without adequate sleep. While I
don’t advocate laws preventing those
activities, if drivers could be convinced to
refrain from those practices, we would
have much safer highways.
Driving is a full-time responsibility.
Inattentive driving is the cause of more
motor vehicle accidents than any other sin
gle activity, although it’s not always listed
on accident reports as such, because it’s
too difficult to prove in a court of law.
Thanks for your support of highway and
Well-used hammer can be delivered for Georgia cattle
By Joe Couraon
Georgia Extension Service
A hammer could save literally
hundreds of farm animals from
dying during winter freezes,
says a University of Georgia
expert.
Animals really need water dur
ing cold weather, but it often
freezes, said Robert Stewart, an
Extension Service animal scien
tist with the UGA College of
Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences.
Stewart suggests using a ham
mer to break the ice in water
troughs, so cattle will have
access to water.
In hard freezes like the one
that gripped the state in early
January, he said, it might take
two or three ice-breakings for
the cattle to have enough to
drink.
The cold weather endangers
• 30 percent trace mineralized salt
• 30 percent dicalcium or denomi
nated phosphate
• 30 percent magnesium oxide
• 10 percent cottonseed meal or
soybean meal
A mature cow needs to consume
2-4 ounces (60-120 grams) of the
mineral mix daily. With this level of
What many people seem
to forget is that the car
continues to move while
the driver is distracted
99
driver safety, Abby.
JAMES G. SEIDL, MEDFORD, WIS.
DEAR JAMES: You put your finger on
the problem when you said that inattentive
driving is the culprit. I have received mail
from many readers complaining about hav
ing been caught in traffic with commuters
who apply makeup while driving, who turn
around to converse with passengers in the
rear seat, or to try to control animals that
are loose in the car. What many people
seem to forget is that the car continues to
move while the driver is distracted.
So many drivers ignore stop signs and red
lights that some cities have begun installing
cameras at busy intersections to record the
license plates of the scofflaws. Pedestrians
shouldn’t have to fear stepping off the curb.
In my own defense, I wasn’t entirely off
the wall when I suggested there ought to be
a law. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: Using a cell phone while
operating a motor vehicle is against the law
young calves born during the
winter, too. The calving season
has started, Stewart said, and
some new mothers may not take
care of their newborns.
Stewart tells farmers to check
pregnant cattle several times
during the cold night and have
plenty of dry towels nearby. A
newborn calf needs to get dry
immediately or it could freeze
•W'
cm
■F
It is the perfect time for prospective parents to see and hear about the valu
able opportunities Woodward North offers children enrolled in grades Pre-K
through 6. During this informative and enjoyable evening, you will talk
to administrators, teachers, and parents of current
students, as well as tour the campus. Discover BJT
why Woodward is known as the starting point
for endless possibilities. For directions, please call WOODWARD
(770) 623-3304. We look forward to seeing you. ACADEMY
Woodward North
6565 Boles Road, Duluth, GA 30097 Office of Admissions (404) 765-8262
WOODWARD ACADEMY ADMINISTERS ANON- DI SC RIM I N ATO RY
POLICY OF ADMISSIONS.
-A. 1-
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Thuraday, January !♦, 1898 I
to death.
If the mother doesn’t dry the
calf herself, Stewart suggests
drying the animal and putting it
inside the cab of a warm truck.
Then put it close to the mother
and urge it to get a drink of
milk.
Cattlemen should open barns
to provide a wind break, too.
That helps the cattle get through
in Connecticut, and has been since the days
of the old radio-telephone. However, the
law is seldom enforced.
Some drivers even keep a telephone head
set draped over their rearview mirror for
hands-free telephony.
R.C. JESPERSEN, KEENE, N.H.
DEAR R.C.: Thank you for the informa
tion. Whether it’s enforced to the max or
not, I’m pleased to learn that law is on the
books. One down, 49 to go. Other countries
have such laws, and we should, too.
DEAR ABBY: I won a gift certificate for
two free dinners at a very nice restaurant. If
I call another couple to join us for dinner,
should I be expected to share the certificate
with them or do I explain that my wife
and I will be eating for free because of the
certificate and they will pay for their own
dinner?
JOSEPH F. IN
SHERMAN OAKS, CALIF.
DEAR JOSEPH F.: It would be far more
diplomatic if you and your wife went alone
to the restaurant and enjoyed your windfall,
rather than pulling out your certificate for
two freebies while your friends present cash
or their credit card.
PONDER THIS: “Many a man owes his
success to his first wife and his second
wife to success.” Sean Connery
the cold nights.
“If mature animals have plenty
of hay and water, they should
handle the cold just fine,” he
said.
Joe Courson is a radio and TV
news editor with the University
of Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences.
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