Sunday Snippets

Tidbits of information I picked up this week.

• Changing values: Twenty years ago, 81% of children lived with parents who were married, in 2006, 66% did. (Today's Parent, January 2011). 
• Also from TP: The birth rate in Canada is climbing in the last decade. It grew from 10.6 per 1000 population in 2004 to 11.3 per 1000 population in 2009. Women's fertility rate is also on the rise: 1.66 children per woman of childbearing age (defined as 15 to 49) in 2007, up from 1.53 children per woman in 2003. 
• Most of us now know that grapefruit juice can interfere with some drugs being absorbed properly in the body.... but I just learned that calcium can decrease the effectiveness of some antibiotics and cough/cold medications can interact negatively with blood-pressure medication AND diabetes drugs. Good to know! (Chatelaine magazine, January 2011)
• Kids complaining about snow getting down the wrist of their mittens? Momicillin has an interesting solution: cut a hole (for the thumb) in a long or adult sock and put on your child's hand; slip mitten on over it. this will put an extra barrier between child and elements.... genius!
• The Eastern School District is attempting to address the shifting demographics in the St. John's area. I have not yet read the report, but I am interested in this initiative. The City and surrounding area have changed so much since we grew up, and yet many of the newer neighbourhoods do not have their own schools. Read more here