Sit your mom down for a talk after she has had time to wind down from her day. If you know she has a lot going on at work or at home, delay the conversation to a less busy time. Cook dinner or wash the dishes so she has less to do and you'll have more time to talk. Pull her aside and say "Hey Ma, can I talk to you about something? It's been on my mind for a while." Be direct and truthful with your mom about how her behavior is affecting you. Tell her about how you want and need more independence in your life to be happier. Appeal to her from both an emotional and a logical standpoint. You can say "Mom, it bothers me that you won't let me choose my own clothes for school. I am getting older and it's embarrassing. I'm trying to become more responsible and mature, but I feel like you won't even let me make the smallest decisions." Your mom may not react well to this discussion. She might yell or get very upset with you. She might even deny it or try to justify her actions as a way of showing that she loves you. However, be calm and keep your voice at a neutral tone. Keep your hands in your lap and practice deep breathing so that you don't get worked up. It is okay to cry, as this is an emotional discussion. But try to avoid allowing your emotions to consume you. You want to seem mature and put together. When your mom starts to make her own points, don't dismiss them. Instead let her know that you hear her, even if you don't agree. Remind her that you love and respect her. Say something like "I know you're scared that I could get hurt if I play basketball. I understand that. But Mom, I don't want to live my life based on fears. I really love basketball and want to play." After you have talked more about the things that bother you, tell your mom what you'd like to do moving forward. Be positive and forward thinking during this part of the conversation instead of harping on the negatives. Say something like "I would like more of a say on my curfew. It has been 9 pm for the last 2 years, and since I'm 18 now, I think that moving it to 11 pm makes sense. I have never broken curfew or gotten into trouble, so I've proven that I'm responsible." Using phrases like "you always" followed by something negative are sure to put your mother on defense. Instead of doing this, use concrete examples of things that have frustrated you. Set a tone of improving your relationship rather than blaming her for all problems. Say "Mom, on Tuesday when you called me 5 times back to back, that was really stressful. I was at work and had to finally pick up and my manager got upset. If you call me once, I promise to always call you back as soon as I am able." If you are an adult living away from home, it will be important to showcase strength with your domineering mother. This should not be a battle of the wits, but 2 adults coming together to have a conversation. Remind her that though you love and respect her, she cannot boss you around anymore. Say "Mom, I love you and I want our relationship to improve. But, if you expect me to come over every day after work, I have to draw the line. I love you, but I can't do things like that anymore."

Summary: Talk during a non-stressful time. Express yourself honestly. Keep calm. Affirm her feelings. Be clear about your goals for your relationship. Be optimistic and avoid the defensive. Remind her that though you are her child, you are not a child.

Peanut butter is a staple food for school age children because of its nutritional values and low cost. It's important to determine if your child is allergic before sending them to school where exposure is likely unless precautions are made in advance. A young child with no family history of food allergies does not need a formal medical food allergy test regime. Children of peanut allergic siblings were studied and assessed with an ImmunoCap study to check for the allergy to peanuts. The study indicated that a peanut allergy was markedly and significantly increased in siblings of peanut allergic patients. Allergies are believed to not appear until the 2nd exposure or later. Upon the first exposure the body may determine if the food is 'safe' or not, so small and gradual food introduction over weeks time may be the best approach, just like introducing any new food to a baby. The mucus membranes may be sensitive if the person is highly allergic, so eating the food is not always a requirement to test. First check to see if you child has an aversion to the odor (sinus pain or sneezing), any skin reaction on the back of the hand, or any burning or tingling with the food on the lips. With any high risk, top-8 food it's best to take it slow, because once the allergen is in the stomach, you aren't going to get it all out even if they vomit. It is commonly believed that peanut allergies tend to be more severe that other food allergies. Some allergic responses to food can happen within about two hours of eating the food. Others, such as anaphylaxis, can happen within minutes. If the allergy symptoms are on the mild end of the scale, track how much time elapsed between eating the food and developing the symptoms. Pay attention to other allergies. Between 25% and 35% of those allergic to peanuts have allergies to tree nuts as well. If the individual is presenting allergy symptoms when he eats tree nuts he may also be allergic to peanuts. If you suspect a peanut allergy, check the labels on foods that have been recently consumed. Peanuts are often included in processed and prepared foods or certain batches of food may be exposed to cross contamination in the factory.

Summary: Observe symptoms that indicate an allergic reaction. Follow these guidelines to recognize allergic reactions Write down all the foods that the person ate in the hours leading up to the reaction, including amounts and ingredients. Check ingredient labels.

You don't have to get them exactly in the armpits -- just move your feet in the general area. If you have bare feet, make sure your toenails are trimmed unless you want to scratch your opponent. Move your feet along the ribs as well. You can start tickling the lower back with your hands for maximum effect. Remember that you want to make use of all four of your limbs, so the sooner you start, the better. You can really dig in with the sides of your big toes and heels. Try tickling his legs as well. If your opponent's shoes are still on, try taking them off to maximize your tickle skills. Watch out for your opponent's free arms. You need to start your tickle attack pronto so he is too weakened to fight back.

Summary: Insert your toes into his armpits or sides. Begin to tickle the armpits with the sides of your feet. Reach in front of you to tickle your opponent's feet. Continue tickling your opponent's feet, sides, and armpits until he gives up.

Investors often determine a required yield, or the minimum return they want to get on a bond, before purchasing. Calculating the yield to maturity can inform you about whether a specific bond purchase will meet an investors expectations. These expectations may vary from investor to investor. However, the calculation gives investors concrete data with which to compare the value of different bonds. Bond issuers may not choose to allow a bond to grow until maturity. These actions decrease the yield on a bond. They may call a bond, which means redeeming it before it matures. Or, they may put it, which means that the issuer repurchases the bond before its maturity date. Yield to call (YTC) calculates the yield rate between the present and the call date of a bond. Yield to put (YTP) calculates the yield rate until the issuer puts the bond. The YTM does not account for taxes or for purchasing or selling costs. These effectively lower the yield on a bond. Also, investors must remember that these calculations are estimates only. Fluctuations in the market can have significant effects on the bond yield.
Summary: Use it to evaluate whether or not a bond is a good investment. Learn the variations of yield to maturity. Understand the limitations of yield to maturity.