If you’ve ever dreamed of writing for children, here’s your best chance to test that dream and find out if you have the aptitude to crack the $2 billion children’s book market. Read on to discover:
- how to get your writing aptitude tested FREE by professionals . . .
- how to benefit from a unique course that has turned thousands of aspiring writers into published authors . . .
Dear Friend, 
The tremendous recent success of children’s books has made the general public aware of what we’ve known for years: there’s a huge market out there.
And there’s a growing need for new writers trained to create the $2 billion worth of children’s books bought each year . . . plus stories and articles needed by more than 600 publishers of magazines for and about children and teenagers.
Who are these needed writers?
They’re ordinary folks like you and me.
Ready, set, relax! Keep your kids safe on your next trip.
On the Airplane
A vacation should be fun for the whole family, and keeping your child safe is an essential element of a good trip. Check out these travel safety tips for your next getaway:
- All children need their own seats on airplanes. And children under the age of 2 or weighing less than 40 pounds should be securely fastened in child restraint seats on planes, according to new recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
- If you plan to use a car seat on the plane, make sure that it's FAA approved. The label on the restraint should read: "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft." Check the seat size, too. A car seat wider than 16 inches can't fit properly in a coach seat.
- Ask about child-size emergency equipment. Call the airlines to make sure your particular aircraft has emergency equipment, such as life preservers, specifically designed for small children.
- Keep your child belted at all times. Turbulence can happen without warning, so keep your child belted in as much as possible. If your child wants to get up and move around, make sure the seat-belt sign is off before you unbuckle him.
- Don't seat your child on the aisle. Small children enjoy reaching out and exploring. If they are on the aisle, they could get hurt by a person or serving cart going down the aisle.
- Accompany your child to the lavatory. The bathroom may have sharp or hard objects that can injure a child. The lavatory door can trap a child's finger or hand as it opens and closes.
Wondering if you've got a baby on board? Pay close attention to your body. "The hormones released as soon as you conceive may start causing subtle changes even before they're detectable on a home pregnancy test," says Melissa Goist, MD, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Ohio State University Medical Center. Unfortunately many, like sore breasts or bloating, also happen right before your period (a sure sign that you're not pregnant), so it's all a guessing game until you take a test. But if you spot a few of the following symptoms -- and your period is MIA -- it may be time to head to the drugstore or your ob-gyn:
Sore Breasts
This is a very common complaint, says Goist. "Breast tissue is extremely hormone-sensitive," she explains. "When progesterone and hCG start flooding the body after the egg is fertilized, they increase your blood volume, which makes your breasts swell and feel heavier than usual."
Cramps
You may feel crampy like you have or are about to get your period, but this discomfort is actually triggered by implantation -- when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. Your uterus may be stretching a little now (hence the cramps) to prep for its massive expansion over the next nine months.
Spotting
"Many women mistake some light bleeding for a period, but as many as 25 percent will have some spotting during implantation," says Goist. If you notice that your "period" seems way shorter or different from usual, it may be time to take a pregnancy test.
Fatigue
There's tired, and then there's this: If all you can think about at work is taking a nap or if you're too exhausted to keep up with everyday activities like hitting the gym, then it may be your body adjusting to its new mini inhabitant. "Even at this early stage of pregnancy -- within two weeks of conception -- your baby is starting to use up your calories, which can wipe out your energy stores pretty quickly," says Goist.
Nipple Darkening
Are the boobs are looking a little different these days? Pregnancy hormones also affect the activity of melanocytes, or cells in the nipples responsible for their color. "Darker-complexioned women may not notice this until later in pregnancy -- say, around 10 weeks or so," says Goist.
Nausea
While full-blown morning sickness -- which affects up to 85 percent of all preggos -- likely won't strike for a few more weeks, some women may experience more subtle motion sickness early on. "I've had patients tell me they'd suddenly get queasy from reading in the car or would feel sick during flights," says Goist.
Bloating
Can't zip up those skinny jeans? Ramped-up levels of progesterone slow down your digestive track and may make your tummy feel puffier than usual. (This also happens during PMS, notes Goist, but bloating stops when your period arrives, causing progesterone levels to plummet.) If the bloating doesn't go away -- and your period never comes -- start watching for that stick to turn pink.