Juicy tidbits from Parenting Magazine's March '12 Issue

Let's face it... I rarely have time to fly through a Pottery Barn catalog these days (which would have been a true SIN a couple years ago!).  But I have decided I needed some "me" attention the last couple of days.  So yesterday I got my [monthly] massage.  Today I treated myself to a basic manicure & pedicure.  And tonight I indulged in opening up a magazine.  Yes, a real deal, sit-down-and-read-an-article-or-two, magazine.  This month's edition of Parenting magazine is phenomenal.  {and no, I did not get paid to say that}...  So here are the juicy tidbits I got from my little indulgence tonight.  Hope you enjoy as much as I did...

• Mandarin is the new foreign language that's a must-learn... experts predict China will become the world's top economy by the time our kids finish college.  [If the Lord doesn't come back!...totally my 2 cents right there...]
• Pooping in the potty doesn't come til age 3 or 4... SERIOUSLY?!?  3 or 4?!  O.M.Goodness.  I have 3 more years of this!?  I had my hopes set on 2........
• A study has shown a link between kids that take acetaminophen (Tylenol) and asthma symptoms.  This totally explains so much about Zane.  It is blowing my mind.  And we are not doing Tylenol ever again.
• "There are only 940 Saturdays between a child's birth and her [or him!] leaving for college.  That may sound like a lot, but how many have you already used up?" (p.78)
• They suggested ways to include more time together, even if the child is still a toddler, like my Z.  Loved the idea of a "pajama walk" - kids in their pajamas, teeth brushed, etc.  No toys or animated conversations, just a relaxing walk each night to spend time and wind down for bed.  Also love the taco night idea (choose a night, always make it a themed-food night)... but maybe it's because I have a part-Mexican little dude in the house and partly because I {heart} Mexican food! :)
• Apparently I am NOT the only parent in the world whose child will eat practically nothing.  OK, I take that back.  He literally begs for graham crackers and grapes.  That is all.  
• "People who auto-deposit part of their paycheck into savings increase their wealth accumulation by up to 30 percent more than those who don't." (p.142) - well duh.  seriously, why didn't my braniac of a banker hubby think about that?  (love ya babe)
• There is an entire. page. with pictures! dedicated just on "How to Cut Up a Chicken".  Well thank the Lord!  Finally.  I was just telling Justin the other day that I truly had not a clue as to how to cut up a whole chicken into parts.  And how that was utterly embarrassing.  And now I've told the whole world.  HA!

And here is some sweet eye-sugar for you to feast on.  I love this little guy.