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8 stouffvule suntribune saturday march 3 2007 introducing the onetouch ultra 2 blood glucose meter if you love food and who doesnt diabetes doesnt have to get in your way the new onetouch ultra 2 meter helps you see which food and portion choices work to keep your glucose in your target range you also get a dvd and booklet called simplesteps diabetes and food with your meter everything works together to help you see how simple changes can make a big difference to your diabetes t11 u mewl talk to your pharmacist call tollfree 1 800 6635521 or visit wwwonetouchca onetouch vltra2 m m o onetouch vitra2 m 07notu2e with the purchase of 100 onetouch ultra test strips t to receive your free onetouch ultra2 system kit give this voucher to your pharmacist when you buy a box of 1 00 oretouch ultra test strips limit of one voucher per person not valid for existing onetouch ultra2 users or in combination with other rebates coupons or promotional offers from lifescan canada ltd valid for enduser only institutions and resellers are not eligible good only in canada and void where prohibited restricted or taxed by law offer expires december 31 2007 to the dealer attach redeemed vouchers to completed customer warranty cards and retain for reimbursement by lifescan sales representative lifescan canada ltd will reimburse your cost to a maximum of 4000 for the onetouch ultra2 system kit other applications may constitute fraud invoices showing purchase of sufficient stock in the previous 90 days to cover all vouchers submitted for redemption must be presented on request failure to do so will at our option void those vouchers vouchers submitted become om property reimbursement will be made only to retail distributors who redeemed vouchers la trademarks owned by johnson johnson and used under license 2007 ufescan canada ltd aw 08614a 0207 ontfovch changes everything forget fancy schools time to get back to basics libraries are full of them so are malls swimming pools and playgroups if you havent guessed the above reference relates to kids and their parents every kidfriendly outlet in the city is bombarded by par ents in search of a place to go and spend a few hours of the day as a mom of toddler twins ive become increasingly dependent on such outlets my girls are driven around on such strict schedules a bystander might think theyre being conditioned for the 2008 toddler olympics how did our parents deal with babies toddlers and preteens before the emerging playgroup era after polling some friends and neigh bours much to my surprise i realize that as much as kids are criticized today for sitting in front of video games a mere few decades ago we were sitting around watching fred flintstone and barney rubble hash out issues of the stone age milena brkic todays ar the pressure used to be on outdoing mr and mrs smiths perfectly manicured lawn now its outdoing each others birthday parties most of us managed to get to univer sity without fancy montessori schools open up your weekend newspaper and the lure of promises to have your child reading by the age three entices many to pay the big bucks is it due to the recent announcement that its becoming more and more diffi cult to get accepted at a decent universi ty are we all worried that it will be too costly so we must ensure our kids all receive scholarships if cost is on our minds lets plan for it there are many resources out there to help us plan for the near future surely if youve recently entered a bank with your child by your side youve probably been solicited at least once by a teller to invest in registered education savings plans if youre not convinced that is the way to go maybe the flat panel tv can be put on the back burner until youve built at least two years worth of college funds allowing kids to be kids is the grand est informal education we can offer them lets alleviate the pressure on kids and take the matter into our own adult hands for many professionals responsible parenting is constantly debated does it suffice to simply offer the basic necessi ties of clothing food and shelter to be deemed a great parent or does it require a minimum of two hours of homework help an average of three hours per week in the family mini- van expensive movies and lets not for get the perfectly catered birthday par ties which sometimes include limou sine rides the pressure used to be on outdoing mr and mrs smiths perfectly mani cured lawn now its outdoing each oth ers birthday parties my girls are about to turn three and the birthday party planning department is suddenly open for business in our house cake or cupcakes a pink or pur ple color theme and last but not least the pressure to conjure up a thoughtful gift is it even necessary to buy a gift for a threeyearold who doesnt even grasp the concept yet in retrospect clear images of my childhood include playing in sandbox es looking for clubhouses and visiting the riverdale farm with my dad and brother every weekend my father used to holler at us to run faster as we neared the bridge that runs across the don val ley parkway for us it was merely kids having a funfilled weekend whats on your parenting mind send your ques tions or comments to milenabnichotmailcom wtt xau sfcbstea tcs3ks bss23 s325035 vcxsju sbsss tsimh dont let your dreams go up in smoke quitting saves more than your life calculate how at cancerca smokershelpune canadian canccft society 1 877 5135333 this message brought to you as a community service of the economist sutvsuntribune