INPUT ARTICLE: Article: First, figure out whether you should address your letter to both of your parents or start by coming out to one. You might feel more comfortable writing your letter to one parent, who can then help you come out to the other. If you address one letter to both of your parents, it might be a good idea to make a copy of your letter, print two copies, or send each of them an email. That way, they'll each have their own copy to read at their own pace and in their own time. Before you come out to your parents, find a trusted friend, and come out to them first. Ask this person for support throughout the process so that you have someone you can rely on if you need it. Be clear and direct, but use terms that you're most comfortable with and that will be easiest for your parents to digest. Sometimes, telling your parents that you're attracted to men or women is easier than saying, "I'm gay." Further, sometimes the most specific terms are hard for parents to understand. For example, they might be able to understand that you're transgender, but you might confuse them if you start by describing your specific trans identity using terms they've never heard. Be confident, and let your parents know that discovering who you are has been a process. Tell them that you want to be honest with them, but you aren't asking their permission to be yourself. For example, you could write, "I hope you understand that this isn't just a phase, and that it's taken some time for me to discover and accept myself." After writing about who you are and how you've come to accept yourself, you should include specific, actionable steps that your parents can take. Let them know exactly what you want and need from them. For example, let them know that you want to have an honest relationship with them. Write that you hope you can continue to rely on them for support and guidance. If you're writing to one parent, tell them that you'd like them to help you come out to your other parent. You could also ask them to keep this to themselves and mention that you'd like to come out to other family members on your own time. If you'd prefer to continue the conversation in writing, ask them to reply with letters of their own. If you're writing to a parent who lives far away, ask them to write back to you or to set aside some time to talk on the phone. If you don't have a preference, you could write, "I'm not sure what steps we should take next. You can write me a letter if it would help you make sense of all this, or we could talk face to face." After composing your letter, set it aside in a secure place and take some time away from it. Get a good night's sleep, then read it back to yourself. Look for spots where you could be clearer, more confident, or more respectful, and revise it accordingly.

SUMMARY: Decide whether to come out to one or both parents. Use simple, approachable language. Explain that you know who you are. Tell them what you need from them. Propose ways of continuing the conversation. Reread and revise your letter.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If your dog's pregnancy is planned, take her to the veterinarian for a check-up before breeding her. Bring her in again about 30 days into the pregnancy. If the pregnancy wasn't planned, take her to the vet as soon as you find out she's pregnant. If you plan to breed your dog, it's recommended that you wait until she's at least 24 months old. By that point she will be mature enough for any relevant medical problems to become apparent. Some dog breeds may be prone to genetic conditions like dental problems, dislocating patellas, hip dysplasia, spine problems, allergies, heart conditions, and/or behavioral problems. It's important to be aware of these conditions before breeding your dog. Unless directly instructed by your vet, you should not give your dog medications unsafe for pregnancy. You also shouldn't have her vaccinated. Your dog should have been vaccinated before she became pregnant so she can pass the antibodies on to her pups. But if not, don't vaccinate her while pregnant, as some vaccines can be harmful to developing fetuses. If using flea control, be sure to use a product that's safe for use on pregnant dogs. Do make sure that your dog is on a deworming program. An untreated mother can pass on roundworms, hookworms, or heartworms to her puppies. The average gestation period for a dog is between 58 and 68 days. Try to accurately pinpoint when conception occurred so you can anticipate labor accordingly. By 45 days into the pregnancy, your vet can use x-rays to detect the number of puppies in the litter. You may also notice nesting behavior and a tendency to want to withdraw or retreat; this is normal and to be expected. Most pregnant dogs who are not overweight should eat puppy food during the last third to the last half of pregnancy. Puppy food typically has more calories than regular adult food, which the mother will need in order to pass on nutrition to the fetuses. Do not supplement her diet with extra calcium unless instructed by your veterinarian. Milk fever, or eclampsia, is common for small breed dogs a few weeks after giving birth. It's more likely to occur if the mother receives an over-supplementation of calcium during pregnancy. The vet will be able to count the number of puppies in the litter using x-rays by 45 days into the pregnancy. If your dog is a large breed like a German shepherd or Labrador, as many as 10 puppies is common. If your dog is a small breed like a Chihuahua or Shih Tzu, 3 or 4 puppies in a litter would be plenty. If the vet can see only one or two puppies, it may pose problems at the time of birth. Fewer puppies mean the puppies will be larger and may be too big to pass through the birth canal naturally. In such cases, a planned C-section is often the best option. Though a planned C-section will be more costly, it will still be cheaper than an emergency C-section. So plan ahead. About a week before your dog is due to begin labor, set up a nesting box in a quiet, private area where she can go to give birth. Help your dog feel comfortable by setting up a cozy box in an area away from other pets. A box or kiddy pool with bedding like clean old towels or blankets works well. As soon as you know your dog's pregnant, whether it was planned or not, begin arranging for homes for the puppies. If you aren't able to find homes for all the puppies, be prepared to keep them yourself until you can find them a home. Thousands of dogs end up in over-crowded shelters because irresponsible owners breed their dogs without providing homes for the puppies. Don't be part of the problem. Prepare to live with puppies for at least 8 weeks before they leave your house for new homes. In certain states like California, it's illegal to adopt out a puppy younger than 8 weeks of age. To ensure the puppies go to good homes, have an application process and ask questions of the interested parties. It's also a good idea to charge a modest amount for each puppy. This ensures the interested parties are serious about and committed to adopting the puppy. Newborn puppies will need to eat every 2-4 hours around the clock. Have formula on hand in case a puppy has trouble nursing. You can buy puppy formula at most pet supply stores. To protect the mother and her puppies from contracting illness or disease like canine herpes, confine her away from all other dogs in the three weeks leading up to her expected delivery date. It's also highly advisable to keep the mother away from other dogs for three weeks following the delivery.

SUMMARY:
Take your dog to the veterinarian. Be careful of giving your pregnant dog medication or vaccines. Understand the normal progression of pregnancy. Discuss proper nutrition with your veterinarian. Have your veterinarian take x-rays of the puppies. Prepare a nesting area. Arrange for homes for the puppies. Buy puppy formula ahead of time. Isolate the mother three weeks before expected delivery.