InfoGuide4Parents.com

The origins of those customs surrounding birth, death and marriage are perhaps the hardest to trace. After all, these are among the oldest and least negotiable facts of human experience (along with eating, government, inclement weather, the sense of the sacred, and, perhaps, bad sitcom reruns). When did people begin throwing rice at newlyweds? Why do newborn boys wear blue, while girls wear pink? (Before World War I, pink was a boy’s color, believe it or not.) Why the pancake supper following the burial?

Here’s another conundrum to join the ones mentioned above: Why is cigar smoking associated with newborns? Why do new dads give cigars away to their friends?

We hand them out during bachelor parties. We give them to new fathers. We hand them out to potential business partners and employees (”Sit down. Have a cigar.”).

Mother’s Day is an ideal time to show Mom just how special she is with the thoughtful gift of jewelry. Today’s choices range from both traditional Mother-themed gifts to more unique items chosen with Mom in mind. Whatever your budget, jewelry is a perfect choice for Mother’s Day.

For those of us who are old enough to remember classrooms with walls, the methods we used to learn math were teacher-centered and method-based. Those who came of age before cooperative learning became prevalent in schools probably remember learning one method of solving problems and some of us may have felt the sting when we could not understand or even use that method at all.

When it comes time to preparing your freshman for college, the list may seem endless - from towels and dishes to furniture and clothes. And you may find yourself returning to the store for items that slipped your mind. Something that may have slipped your mind altogether is a college toolbox. Your budding adult may not be the handiest of the group, but a basic tool kit will come in handy for the million and one little projects your freshman may have to tackle during this new season of life.