Q: Get your hair wet in the shower first. Next, pour shampoo diluted with water over it, focusing on the scalp. Massage your scalp with your fingertips, then rinse your hair with water. Plan on using 8 parts water to 1 part shampoo. You can mix this ahead of time in a large bottle so that you have more for later. If this method makes the twists too heavy, use a spray bottle to apply the water and diluted shampoo instead. How often you wash your hair depends on how fast your scalp gets oily. In general, however, you shouldn't have to wash it more than once per week. Use a towel to gently squeeze the excess water from your hair first, then wrap your hair up in the towel for 1 to 2 hours. Remove the towel, then let your hair finish air drying on its own. If your twists aren't completely dry after a few hours, speed the process up with a hairdryer. This is important; if you don't, they may develop mold! How often you end up doing this really depends on how dry or oily your scalp gets. The more dry your scalp gets, the more often you should moisturize it. You can use a hair moisturizing cream or hair oil to do this. Use natural products, such as olive oil or shea butter on your scalp. Massage them in with your fingertips. You can use natural or store-bought products from the salon on the twists themselves. Like with the shampoo, use about 8 parts water to 1 part leave-in conditioner. Spray the solution onto your twists after you get out of the shower. You only need to do this once per week. If you do it more than that, you may get build-up. If your twists are especially long, you can put them into a loose ponytail first. Wrap a silk scarf around your head to cover all your hair, then put on a bonnet. The bonnet is not absolutely necessary, but it will help keep the silk scarf in place as you sleep. Don't twist the hair elastic too many times, or you may get dents in your hair. The goal here is just to gather your twists into 1 bunch.
A: Wash your twists with diluted shampoo. Let your hair air dry when possible. Moisturize your scalp and twists 2 to 3 times per week. Smooth down frizz with diluted leave-in conditioner. Cover your twists with a silk scarf and bonnet when sleeping.

Q: For instructions on doing this, see How to make a spinning Cartesian diver. To do this, simply remove the saucepan from the bowl of hot water to a bowl of iced water. Now dip the surface of the heart straw dipper back in hot water again. Only pull it out when the heat has melted the surface of the chocolate.
A: Seal the other end of each heart straw. Dip the sealed end in the melted chocolate placed in a hot water bath. Cool down with ice to solidify the chocolate on the end of the straw. Put the saucepan back into the hot water bowl. Place into little paper candy or cupcake holders or similar item for giving to your loved one.

Q: It's important that your kids understand the value of bonding with their grandparents and having regular intergenerational interactions. Explain to your kids why it's important to you and their grandparents. Make sure you talk about tangible benefits appropriate to their age and developmental stage. Try saying, "Bobby, I am excited you want to spend time with Grandpa. I used to go horseback riding with my Grandpa as a child and those were some of the best moments of my life." Let your kids play a role in deciding how and when they will bond with their grandparents. Ask them to come up with a list of thing they love to do that they think Grandma would enjoy as well. You can also try asking your kids to write down things Grandpa might be able to teach them. Having a weekly meal where your children and their grandparents can get together and talk about the week's highlights is a great way to encourage bonding between your children and their grandparents. If the grandparents are open to it, invite them to take turns hosting the weekly event. You can even encourage your children to help their grandparents prepare a dish for the occasion. If the idea of a weekly dinner seems overwhelming, try a monthly gathering where everyone brings a dish or two to share. This will relieve pressure on both guests and hosts. Chances are your children are involved in a host of afterschool and weekend activities. Whether it's a football game, dance recital, or the school play, encourage your children to invite their grandparents to share in these important moments with them. You should also extend the invitation yourself to ensure the grandparents feel welcome at these events. If your kids are involved in sports, try giving their grandparents a copy of their game and practice schedule. This will allow the grandparents to plan ahead and participate more fully in such events. Many grandparents have busy schedules of their own. This often includes working full-time. It can be difficult for them to manage their own schedule as well as those of your children. This is why it's important to keep inviting them to events and opportunities to get involved in your children's lives. Just because Grandma couldn't make it to the ballet recital last month doesn't mean she won't be excited to attend this week's baton-twirling extravaganza. You will need to be clear about rules the children are expected to follow, and may need to ask the grandparents to childproof their home for younger children. Approach the topic in a friendly way by first thanking them for spending time with your kids. Let them know what your rules and expectations are, and listen to their responses while holding back your judgment. Try saying, "Dad, I'm really excited that you will be watching the kids after school this fall. We have some rules the boys need to follow. Do you think we can work together to make sure they follow them at your house, too? Make suggestions for childproofing. Try saying, "Mom, would it be possible for you to put childproof locks on your kitchen cabinets? I'm more than happy to buy and install them for you." If the grandparents do not have a close relationship with your children, knowing how to interact with the children may be awkward for them. Giving the grandparents some encouragement may help. Try saying something like, "Dad, thanks for putting that puzzle together with Jake. I know he really enjoys spending time with you." Or, "Mom, I know it's hard to connect with Jenna at her age, but you're doing a great job."
A:
Talk to your kids about bonding with their grandparents. Encourage your kids to come up with bonding activities. Host a weekly dinner. Invite the grandparents to extracurricular activities. Give grandparents multiple and ongoing opportunities to get involved. Discuss guidelines with your kids' grandparents. Facilitate interactions by offering encouragement.