Jokes are a great way to have fun in a short amount of time, and laughing puts everyone in a happier, more relaxed mood. Learn some funny dad-appropriate jokes and tell him one at the breakfast table, when he gets home from work, or whenever he looks like he needs a laugh. Then ask him to tell you one of his favorite jokes in return. If you don't know any good jokes, there are lots of great joke books for kids at the library, and many websites full of funny jokes. Search for "jokes for kids" and get ready to start laughing. If your dad doesn't play a lot of video games, or isn't familiar with the games you like to play, give him a lesson! Invite your dad to play Minecraft or another video game you like. Show him how the controls work and explain what the point of the game is. Then give him a little while to get into it before you start killing him or blowing up his stuff. It can get pretty silly when non-gamer parents first try to play video games. Go easy on your dad, and don't be too upset if he doesn't enjoy your game as much as you do, OR if he turns out to be a lot better at it than you! Board games are even better than computer games for spending quality time with another person, because you actually have to look at each other and talk! Get out your favorite game out and set it up, and ask your dad if he'd like to play. You two will be having fun in no time! Doing chores may not sound like a lot of fun, but you might be surprised how much fun it can be to help your dad cook dinner, or do the grocery shopping, or help him with yard work. If your dad is really busy, or you have a lot of siblings, this might be your best chance for getting some one-on-one time with your dad. He will be pleased that you offered to help, and it will give you a chance to spend some quality time together. Plus, if your dad gets finished doing chores early, he might have time for a more fun activity afterwards. Make chores more fun by turning them into a competition. For example, if you are raking leaves, challenge your dad to see who can finish his half of the yard first. Not only does this make the work more fun, you might finish early and have time to do go get ice cream afterwards. This will be fun for you to hear, and it will be fun for your dad to tell. It will also remind your dad of what it was like to be your age, which might help the two of you feel more connected. Better yet, ask him if he has any pictures from his childhood he can show you. You can both share a laugh about how goofy everyone's hair was, or how much you and your dad look alike. One of the best ways to have fun with your dad every day is to not get too upset about the dad things that he does. For example, if your dad tells you to pick up your socks, don't get mad and argue about it, just pick up your socks. If your dad seems tired and grumpy in the evening, realize that he probably had a hard day at work and give him a break. Remember that being a parent is hard work, and dads are people, too.

Summary: Tell your dad a joke. Invite your dad to play video games with you. Ask your dad to play a board game. Offer to help your dad around the house. Ask your dad to tell you a story about when he was your age. Be patient with your dad.

This may seem counter-intuitive to an article on having a healthy sex life, but consider this: if 2/3s of teenagers are engaging in sex, that means 1/3 are not. Also, abstinence does not mean not feeling sexual: it means not having sex. If this is the choice you and your partner have made, then do not be ashamed of it. Neither should you be ashamed to have sexual urges with your partnerit would be unnatural not to. There are some things you can do to help calm those urges, and still share the kinds of intimacies that people in love share: If his (or her) wandering hands land where you don't want them, don't just try to block the move with your body language: move them away with your own hands, and say "No, I'm not ready for that." They should get the idea immediately, and respect you enough to stop that approach. It's completely natural to feel desire, but it's not required that you act on that. If you find yourself suddenly overwhelmed with passion, but are committed to remaining chaste for now, simply back off a bit and say something like "wow, that's hot, but I'm not ready to go further right now. Let's go watch a movie." If your partner doesn't understand, or is insistent, don't be surprised: they may not be quite as ready to stop as you are, and might be a little confused and flustered. However, if they remain insistent, or demanding, or even attempt emotional blackmail such as "If you loved me you would keep going," send them home to cool down, and re-think if you want to be in that situation with them again. Surprisingly, abstinence actually has a higher failure rate than condoms in preventing STDs and pregnancy. This doesn't mean you can get pregnant from kissing, of course. What this means is that a large number of abstaining teens lose their resolve and have some form of sex in the heat of the moment, often without protection. Educate yourself about pregnancy and STDs. Understanding these risks can help you stick to your plan, or run out and buy a condom if you change your minds.

Summary: Refrain from having sex. Enjoy the make-out session but keep your limits firmly in place. Break off the make-out session if it gets too hot for either of you to handle. Understand the risks.

Tail bobbing after exercise may be done while the bird is trying to catch its breath. However, if the bird is doing this behavior without having done any exercise, that can signal respiratory problems. If your bird is bobbing its tail without having done any exercise, have it seen by a veterinarian. Panting in birds can signal a variety of things, including that they are thirsty, that they have a respiratory infection, or that they just exercised. Make sure your bird has access to water immediately and monitor the panting. It it stops, then it was likely caused by physical exertion. If your bird likes to mimic sounds, panting can simply be a sound that they have heard that they are repeating. However, if your bird has had no way of hearing that sound, it is likely not a mimicked sound. Birds are generally sick for a week or two before they actually show signs of sickness. Birds tend to mask their sickness in the wild to avoid being spotted by predators and pet birds are nonetheless. Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment. Rush your bird to an Avian Vet immediately. Make sure you check your bird's eating habits and food intake regularly. Reduced appetite is one of the first signs of a sick bird. Never ignore it if your bird shows signs of sickness. There is no time to procrastinate. Get your bird veterinary care immediately. If your bird is usually very vocal but has not been singing or chattering lately, then you should have it checked out by a veterinarian. A lack of singing or chattering can be a sign that your bird it not feeling well.
Summary: Look for tail bobbing without previous exercise. Pay attention to panting. Notice changes in behavior. Pay attention to a lack of vocalization.