Raising Children is a Big Job: How Parents Can Get Support(ARA) - Do you know anyone who would buy a new car, drive it day in and day out and never bother to fill the gas tank, change the oil, or rotate the tires? And when it broke down, leave it by the side of the road to go off and look for another vehicle?
Most people see a new car as an investment that is worth the time and energy it takes to keep it clean and shiny and in good repair. They know that taking good care of their car will help them avoid costly repairs in the future and extend the life and value of their purchase.
It is time to care for parents as well as we care for a new SUV, to do more than wait for parents and families to break down, leave them by the side of the road, and then, go off to look for a replacement.
Parents are the single most important influence in their childrens lives. But even the most involved, caring, informed parent doesnt raise a child alone. Many of the supports parents need will require communities to act giving parents help with the essential resources so they can do their jobs day in and day out while others will require a better understanding of parents and their concerns.
In a 2002 poll of parents, Building Strong Families, A majority of parents surveyed are going it alone in the vital and challenging task of raising children and teenagers. Most say they dont often turn to their extended family friends, and community resources for support in parenting.
Thats why we must begin to create parenting rich communities that focus on parenting as a lifelong occupation, one that evolves constantly with the changing needs of the child, family priorities, career concerns, and the quality of life within the community.
A parenting-rich community values families and the role of parents and caregivers. It supports parents and caregivers from all backgrounds, raising children of all ages from infancy through young adulthood. When asked what they need to do a great job as parents, parents indicate a desire for affordable housing in safe neighborhoods, good schools and adults they can trust with their children. In a parenting-rich community, resources, information, support and public awareness about parenting are so abundant and so widely accepted that all parents and caregivers have easy access to the help they need to raise their children successfully.
In a parenting-rich community, policy makers and community leaders understand, value and support the needs of parents. Public policy decisions on such topics as economic development, zoning, education and social, recreational and cultural services are made with an understanding of their effects on parents and their parenting role. Supporting parents in the wonderful, difficult and challenging task of raising children is essential to social and economic well being.
There is a wealth of information out there that will help communities understand what parents need and how they can build these supports. The next best step is to consolidate this information into easy-to-use tools that are available in every community to guide anyone looking for ways to improve the ability and stability of parents so that their children can thrive.
It is time to fill the tank, check the oil and rotate the tires for the members of our neighborhoods who run 24 hours a day: parents.
For more information on CWLA and on its national initiative Creating Parenting-Rich Communities, visit www.cwla.org or call (202) 638-2952.
Will Your Brakes Provide the Stop You Need? ARA(ARA) - Have you ever stopped your car at a busy intersection and cringed in embarrassment as your brakes let out an ear-jarring squeal? Or braked and felt the whole car shudder and chug to a stop? Or worst of all, have you pressed on the pedal and realized that absolutely nothing was happening?
Anyone who drives a car has heard their brakes make funny noises and wondered what it meant. But how do you tell the difference between normal sounds and the danger signals that tell you its time for a new brake job?
Some braking noise is normal, but it should be minimal, says Pete Murnen of Federal-Mogul, manufacturer of Wagner brake products. An occasional squeal does not necessarily mean there is a problem; noise can be related to a lot of different factors, he adds.
For consumers who want high-quality, quiet brakes with an extended life span, there is now a new alternative. ThermoQuiet Disc Pads are dramatically different from any other brake pad available. The one-piece, integrally molded insulator (IMI) design eliminates the squeaks and vibration often associated with other brake pads, while still providing superior stopping power. This patented, heat-dissipating configuration also extends the life of the braking system well beyond that of most conventional pads.
ThermoQuiet quite literally has changed the game in brake pad design, says Murnen. It has virtually eliminated brake-noise complaints, and the stopping performance and durability is excellent.
The experts at Federal-Mogul offer guidelines for monitoring the condition of your brakes. Here are some common scenarios and what they mean:
* Brakes grab at the slightest pressure: It could mean a problem with grease- or oil-contaminated linings, or a loose or broken component that could fail in an emergency.
* Vehicle pulls to the side when braking: This could mean an underinflated tire, brakes in need of adjustment or brakes in need of repair.
* Brake pedal or steering wheel shakes or vibrates, or the vehicle shakes when the brakes are applied: It could mean disc brake rotors need resurfacing, there is a loose component, or a faulty steering mechanism.
* Brakes are sticky, wheels are hot or there is a loss of engine power: It could mean brakes are failing to release.
* Excessive squealing, grinding, screeching, clattering, chattering, and groaning: Brakes need attention.
ThemoQuiet brake pads are available for most domestic and import vehicles. Consumers can request them from their local service technician. For more information, call (888) 444-1660 or visit www.federal-mogul.com.
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