If your child has never met the other parent or if the parent has been absent for a long time, be prepared for lots of questions. Your child will likely want to know who the parent is, where he is, and why he is not involved. Questions about an absent parent will most likely begin when your child starts school and begins learning more about classmates' families. Answer basic questions about who the absent parent is, and consider sharing a photograph if you have one. Tell your child that all families are different and remind her about all the people who love her. Try using examples from books and movies, or from real life, to teach her about all different kinds of families Be upfront about the likelihood of your child ever meeting the other parent. If the other parent has no interest in being involved or you are not able to contact them, don't get your child's hopes up by promising an eventual meeting. Make sure you emphasize that this is not the child's fault in any way. Keep your personal feelings to yourself as much as possible. You can share more details about the circumstances of the other parent's absence as your child gets older, but try not to say negative things about the other parent. If the absence is predictable and regular, tell your child when the other parent is coming back by showing them a calendar and talking it over with them. Discuss regular travel as a family, so that it becomes a normal expectation within the family and all members can be prepared for the parent to miss occasional special events, such as sports games and celebratory occasions, and can prepare well in advance. If business trips regularly occur with little warning, be sure to explain that as well so there will be no surprises. Help your child keep in touch with the absent parent by arranging phone calls or video chats. You can also encourage the parent who is away to bring the child back souvenirs from their travels. Be sure to give your child the opportunity to express her feelings and concerns, and offer her plenty of support. Be as honest as the age of your child permits. A toddler only needs to know that daddy will be back by Christmas, while a teenager will need to know the truth about the length of the deployment and where the parent will be. Include your child in your communications with the absent parent, including letters and phone calls, as much as possible. If regular contact is not possible, explain to the child that her mom or dad really wants to talk to her, but can't because of work. No matter what the reason for the absence, be sure to make it clear that it is not the child's fault. Younger children in particular may feel as though they are responsible for the absence if you don't assure them otherwise. If the absence is unpredictable (if, for example, a parent is in the hospital after an accident), explain what has happened, give a generous estimate of when mommy or daddy will be back, and keep your child updated on progress and changes to the dates. Try to keep your child from worrying. Answer her questions and make sure she understands the situation, but don't provide her with details that might confuse her more. Be sure to tell your child that the absence has nothing to do with her, and answer any questions she has honestly. If a parent has separated from the marriage and family, you have to be honest without letting any anger get in the way. For example, you could say, "Daddy loves you but was unhappy with his life, so he's gone to live in Vegas. We'll do our best to keep in touch but it will be hard sometimes. I can give you his address if you'd like to write to see how he is doing." If a parent passes away, be open and honest, encourage the child to express her emotions, and help her cope with her grief as best you can.

Summary: Be honest about a parent who has never been involved. Prepare your child for business-related absences in advance. Explain military absences according to the advice that your deployment officers provide. Explain sudden absences according to what has happened and the age of your child. Be honest if the absence is forever.

If you're feeling guilty about taking off time to have a relaxing soak, think about the last time you took a bath and remind yourself how valuable it can be for you to languish in and soak away the stresses of the day, week or even longer. Either complete household chores or decide to leave them be for another day before you have your bath. Setting aside these mundane things will give your mind a break. It's now time to give your mind, body, and spirit some attention, letting your worries drift away for a time.

Summary: Let yourself have this special time. Set aside this time for you to relax yourself.

When you're done editing your photo, click Done in the top-right corner of the window. The changes will be saved. You can revert your changes to the photo at any time by double-clicking the photo in Photos, clicking Edit, and clicking Revert to Original in the upper-left side of the window.

Summary: Save your changes.

Once the participant has settled, take four of the smaller stones, without oil, and place them on the acupressure areas on their face. There should be one stone on their forehead, one under their lips, and one on each of their cheeks. You should avoid putting oil on these stones as it may clog their pores or irritate their skin. A great alternative is to chill the stones for the face instead of heating them as this will help reduce any puffiness. Depending on the height and width of the participant, the size of the stones you use may vary. However, you should try to place one stone or more on either side of their collarbone, two large ones along the breastbone, and two palm-sized stones in their hands. They do not need to clasp these, but should instead remain fully relaxed and gently cupping the stones. After you've finished massaging the front, have the participant turn over to lie on their stomach.To make the participant more comfortable, try placing a rolled up towel under their ankles. You should also make sure that you are changing your stones so they stay warm.
Summary: Please note that you should never have a participant lay down on top of hot stones as serious burns can occur. Place four small sized stones on the participant's face. Put medium to large stones along the breastbone, the collarbones, and in the participant's hands. Turn the participant over.