Q: Eliminate all the distractions you can, starting with the TV and/or screens. Turn the screens off when study time begins and make this a consistent rule. It's loud and colourful, and there's no way your child can study well in front of it. Help your child find a place to work in a room without a TV. For younger kids who might still need lots of help from parents, try the kitchen or dining room table. Older children might prefer to study alone at a desk in their room, so resist their requests to put a TV in their bedroom. During study time, everyone in the house should put their phones on silent and limit their screen time. Modeling this behavior for younger children is especially important, as they'll feel like they're part of a team effort. If you have older and younger children in the same house, ask older children to put their phones on silent and not check them when in front of younger, studying siblings. Because so much homework is online now, you won't be able to avoid the distraction of the computer. Either sit with your child or check in with them frequently to make sure they're not on social media or browsing the Internet when they should be studying. You can also set up software to limit Internet distraction. For Macs, Self-Control is a free service that blocks a list of websites during study times. For Windows, go with Cold Turkey for a fee of $20 per month. There's also StayFocused for Chrome browsers or LeechBlock for Firefox. Having a well-lit space will keep your child awake and focused and prevent them from straining their eyes. Make sure there are bright overhead lights or several lamps in your study space. A window is also a good idea, but keep on eye your child in case it becomes a distraction. If you're watching TV while your child is studying, that's only going to make them jealous and distracted. Teach them by example. Sit down next to your child and work on something while they study. Finish your work, write a grocery list, or pay bills in their study space while they're working. This will keep them from feeling alone. For example, if your child is studying at the kitchen table, sit down next to them and work on a task of your own. Seeing you focused on your tasks is also a great way to model good behavior for your child.
A: Pick a spot away from the television or any other kind of screens. Set up rules for everyone's cell phones. Accept the computer as a necessary distraction. Provide plenty of light. Do your own work in the space with your child.

Q: Your everyday life has several distractions and worries. For the first part of your yoga meditation, allow yourself to embrace the various things going on in your life. Acknowledge your own personal chaos. By recognizing the many distractions in your life, it allows you to more easily remove yourself of exterior distractions when you begin to focus. Direct your attention inside, to the base of your spine. Slowly, pull your attention up through the center of your body along the spinal column, and move through each part of your body. Take inventory of each body part as you move along. Be aware of your various senses (i.e. taste, smell, sight). Acknowledge thoughts, emotions, and your progression towards acceptance. Think about how your various body parts are functioning with one another. Notice if you have any tension or pain. In order to attain a higher level of concentration while meditating, the mind must gradually become silenced during reflection. The ability to set your mind at ease is not possible if your body and breath are not focused. To help become aware of your mind, follow what is called the "Four Functions of Mind": Observe your mind and its impressions, ego, judgments, and discriminations. Accept the various observations for what they are, whether positive or negative. Understand how your train of thought flows from one thing to the next. Train your mind to choose the object of focus, rather than allowing consciousness to flow between items. The point is to embrace the current moment. If you're just beginning yoga meditation, your attention may falter. Redirect your attention as best you can back to the object, and you'll be able to ignore more distractions as you get better at meditating. Try focusing on something like one of the following items: A dot on a sheet of paper. The center point of tile. The design in a floorboard. At the end of your meditation, bring your attention back to your body by making a small movement while opening your eyes. Become aware of any change you may feel inside your body, or any shift in your attention. Try one of the following techniques to help end the yoga meditation sessions: Lightly ball your fists a few times. Flex your calf muscles. Smiling is a good way to focus muscles, and it has the added benefit of enhancing meditation.
A: Dissolve away distractions. Reflect on your body. Discipline your mind to focus. Concentrate on a singular object. Open your eyes slowly.

Q: Also called "pre-baking," this step leads to stronger bang for you bud. Marijuana is filled with many compounds, some of which are medicinal/psychoactive, and some of which are not. You can get rid of the not so useful ones if you decarboxylate the weed first, which simply means baking it at a low temperature. This vaporizes compounds like THCA, which doesn't get you high, leading to a stronger butter. You can also use shake, leaves, or a mixture of buds and leaves if you'd like. You want a nice, low temperature. While a higher temp will remove the compounds faster, it will also cause wanted compounds, like terpenes (which give each strain it's unique aroma and flavor) to leak out too. 240F is a good, safe temperature. You want smaller pieces of bud, roughly 1/2" or less in diameter, though exact measurements aren't needed. Use a baking sheet just big enough to contain all of the weed. Empty space will heat up the pan quickly, which causes uneven "cooking." When done, the weed will be a light brown color and will crumble easily in your hands. Don't grind it into a powder -- you just want it to be in small, manageable bits, like small pieces of gravel. You can use an herb grinder or simply pulse it quickly in a blender or food processor. This will remove some of the chlorophyll, dirt and fertilizers from the plant matter which can cause a "grassy" taste in your butter. THC and other cannabinoids are not water soluble, and will not be affected by the soak. When done, strain out the water with a colander and pat dry with paper towels.
A:
Know that, while not necessary, decarboxylating is a simple process that makes the most of every bud. Pre-heat the oven to 240F (115C). Hand-crumble the weed into in a rimmed baking sheet, spreading so there are no holes or gaps. Bake the buds for 30 minutes or so, mixing it every 10 minutes to prevent burning. Grind the bud until it is a course mixture, with recognizable buds. Optionally, soak your cannabis in water for 20-60 minutes before cooking.