A Confession from a Twilight Mom

Yes, I'm obsessed with Twilight. No, I am not a 14-year-old girl. I won't reveal my age, but let's just say I have been married for 20 plus years and am the mother of two teenage children. Back in June my daughter begged me to read Twilight by author and mom Stephenie Meyer. It's the story of eternal love between a teenage girl and her teenage vampire boyfriend. I was reluctant at first, but by the second chapter I was hooked. I have read all four books in the series, listened to three of the books on tape, and was one of those obsessed "Twilighters" who stayed up until midnight to be one of the first to see the movie. Although I'm also obsessed with getting my sleep, my daughter and her friend wanted me to join them for opening night, and hey, how often does your teenage daughter "allow" you to hang out with her?

Dressed in our homemade t-shirts, we arrived at the movie theater an hour and a half before showtime. Armed with our previously purchased tickets, an extra large tub of popcorn, and boxes of Goobers and Rasinets, we were lucky we could find three seats together. The theater was packed - with screaming girls of all ages! While I'm still on the fence as to whether I liked the movie or not, I do know that there is nothing as satisfying as reading a good book, or two, or three or four - and bonding with your teen daughter. For that, Ms. Meyer, I'm eternally grateful. And I'm not alone, this week in Family Matters Hot Topics, we revisit our interview with Karen Stabiner, author of My Girl: Adventures of a Teen in Training, to find out about that special mother-daughter bond.

'Tis the Season for Colds and Flu

Unless you live your life in a bubble, you know that cold and flu season is upon us. With no cure for the common cold or flu, your best friend is prevention. Diet plays a big role and can actually boost your immune system and help your body ward off illness. Having the right mix of immune boosting supplements on hand to attack various viruses can also help diminish the length and the severity of your sickness.
In this week's hot topics, we talk with Suzy Cohen, author of The 24 Hour Pharmacist about the safest and most effective medicines and supplements to stock you pantry and medicine cabinet with this season. Click here to listen to the podcast.

Venus Feels Stress More than Mars

In a recent survey, women expressed more fear about the economic situation than men and reported more physical and psychological effects because of related stress.

The survey, conducted by the American Psychology Association, showed that 84 percent of women expressed fear about where the economy is going, compared with 75 percent of men.

One reason could be the primary caretaker role many women hold in their families. A financial crisis can become even more worrying if you are responsible for caring for children and older relatives than if you are just taking care of yourself. As well, although surveys have shown a shift toward a splitting of chores between genders, women still carry a heavier burden in maintaining the home.

This weekend on Family Matters Radio, we'll talk with Stress Management Expert Debbie Mandel. She'll share tips on how you can reclaim joy and spontaneity in your life by reducing stress.

Dr. Bob is Back!

One of our most popular guests returns this weekend- Dr. Bob DeMaria. Our audience has always responded positively when we have Dr.Bob on the show. We think it's because he explains his findings in straight-forward terms when he discusses all of the different ways the body can be in or out of sync and what contributes to each condition. Dr.Bob makes people feel empowered and filled with a sense of hope. His message boils down to one singular point- the body knows how to fix itself if it is treated well. This weekend on Family Matters, we'll talk about the findings in his new book Dr. Bob's Drugless Guide to Balancing Female Hormones.