While it may seem counterintuitive, allowing your children to play outside and cover themselves in dirt and mud can have health benefits. If children are exposed to naturally-occurring bacteria and germs from a young age, they may develop stronger immune systems and have a healthier variety of digestive-system bacteria. While children should still bathe regularly, you don't need to be overly concerned with keeping them germ-free at all times. To cultivate healthy bacteria in your children's guts, also avoid washing their hands with antibacterial soap, which can kill off healthy bacteria as well as unhealthy germs. If children have a deficit of healthy gut bacteria, they may exhibit one or more of the following signs: excessive gas, diarrhea, or nausea. In more serious cases of imbalanced gut bacteria, children may develop irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease, and may experience serious weight loss, bloating, abdominal pain, or even blood in the stool. While changing your child's diet and increasing their probiotic consumption can improve their gut health, these symptoms can occur for reasons unrelated to gut health. If dietary modification doesn't clear up the symptoms, schedule an appointment with your child's doctor. Whether or not you've noticed signs and symptoms of imbalanced gut bacteria levels, it's a good idea to ask your child's doctor about ways you can promote balanced levels of gut bacteria. Ask if they recommend specific dietary changes (including ones you may not have considered), and ask their opinion on probiotic supplements for children. If your children are experiencing uncommon problems with their gut health, the pediatrician may provide a referral to a nutritionist or a gastroenterologist.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Let kids play outside and get dirty. Watch for the signs of poor gut health. Consult your children's pediatrician about gut bacteria.

When talking to a difficult person, stay calm and rational, avoid the temptation to try to win the argument, and don't be drawn into a battle you don't want to wage. You are much more likely to reach a satisfactory outcome if you can stay calm and rational. Think before reacting. Even if someone is extremely angry or rude to you, formulating a calm response is the best approach. It sets boundaries, and sends a message to them that they need to calm down. As previously mentioned, many people behave in a difficult way because they don't feel heard or understood. Just showing that you are listening to what they have to say can sometimes improve the situation. It's a good idea to let the person know you recognize their feelings. Offer your perceptions of their feelings, and ask for feedback, saying something like "It sounds like you're very angry right now, and I'm sorry you feel that way." This shows your willingness to understand their perspective. Ask what they are upset about. You can further show your willingness to empathize if you ask them to tell you about their feelings. Acknowledge valid criticisms. If the person is being extremely critical of you, try to find a kernel of truth in what they are saying, and acknowledge the validity of the point, even if their criticism isn't entirely fair or accurate. This may reduce the person's sense that they are being challenged, even if you then go on to point out where they aren't being fair or accurate. When dealing with a difficult person, it is important to communicate in a clear and open way. Many conflicts arise from misunderstandings. If you can, try to talk to the person face-to-face rather than via email or other technology. This reduces the risk of miscommunication and may foster more empathy. If you must engage in a dispute with someone, bring written evidence for your perspective to the table, and try to steer the discussion toward fact-based argument rather than statements of opinion or emotion. Focus your conversation on the issue or problem you have to solve, rather than the person you are dealing with. This helps prevent the conversation from devolving into personal attacks and may lead to more rational thinking on the part of the difficult individual. This approach has the added benefit of projecting yourself as a problem-solver who really cares about the issue at hand and wants to change the situation for the better. Communicate in a way that allows you to express your views and ideas about the situation at hand in a clear way, but without silencing the other person or making them feel that you aren't listening or being rude. Where possible, ask questions rather than making statements. Difficult people often have strong opinions. If you can lead them to see potential flaws in their reasoning without telling them they are wrong, you can often avoid unnecessary conflict. For example, politely asking them "have you considered this problem?" might be more productive than saying "your way of thinking about this doesn't account for this issue." Use "I" statements. When you do make statements, make them about yourself rather than the person. This can diffuse the feeling that you are challenging or blaming them. For example, saying, "I never received that email" is less provocative than "you never sent that email." Similarly, "I felt disrespected by that comment" could be less inflammatory than "you were very rude."
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Keep your cool. Acknowledge their feelings. Communicate clearly. Focus on the issue, not the person. Be assertive, but not aggressive.

The Bengal breed's most distinctive physical feature is their beautiful spotted coat, though sometimes their coats will be marbled. These cats have inherited these spots from their leopard ancestors. All Bengals will, without exception, have a spotted coat. Bengal cats usually have a shine or shimmer to their coat that is most visible in direct sunlight. Breeders often call this the "glitter" effect. All Bengals have spotted coats, but they can come in a variety of colors. The most common color pattern is a brown or golden background color. But these cats can also come in cinnamon-sorrel colors, gray-beige, charcoal, silver, or blue color patterns. Sometimes the spots link together to resemble more of a striped patterns, but these are still considered Bengal cats. This is often called a marbled pattern variation. Bengal cats also have a striped black-tipped tail. Bengal cats are usually quite large and lean. They have an athletic build and very rarely develop the saggy belly that many other cat breeds get when they gain a little extra weight. Bengal cats typically weigh between 8lb (3.6kg) and 15lb (6.8kg) once they reach their adult weight.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Check for a spotted coat. Look for the right color pattern. Notice the large, athletic build.