When you have to bury a loved one, there are many choices that you have to make. Picking the right stone is an important decision. Take some time to think about the stone that is right for the situation.  First, choice the type of marker you want. You can look for upright, flat, or obelisk markers. Choose your material. Markers come in a variety of materials, such as marble, sandstone, and granite. Granite is cost effective and very sturdy. Talk to the cemetery. Check the regulations about size and type of marker before you make a purchase. There may be guidelines you need to follow. Gravestones do not require regular cleaning. Although it might seem natural to want to frequently clean the stone, resist the urge. Instead, you should clean the stone approximately 18-24 months. Some will require even less frequent cleanings.  Write down the date each time you clean the stone. This will help you prevent over cleaning. Talk to the cemetery about maintenance plans. Some sites may offer service plans. They will take care of the cleaning for you. In addition to properly maintaining the gravestone, there are other ways that you can honor your loved one. Consider decorating the grave site. Doing so can help you feel connected to the departed.  You can leave flowers near the headstone. This is especially nice to do on holidays, anniversaries, or birthdays. You can also leave small mementos at the burial site. For example, a baseball for a sports fan. Ask the cemetery for a list of regulations. Some materials may not be allowed to be left behind.

Summary: Choose the right stone. Keep a record. Decorate the area.


Your glass tile will come with instructions from the manufacturer and there may be specific installation guidelines. Read and follow the directions provided. The thickness of your glass tile may require a particular cutting tool, for instance, or the manufacturer may recommend a particular technique. Some manufacturers won’t provide a warranty for the materials you purchased unless you follow their specific guidelines for installation.  If you don’t feel comfortable with the installation after reading the instructions, consider contacting the manufacturer directly for more information. You may want to consider using a qualified contractor, carpenter or professional installer for this job. The number of tiles you buy depends on the size of the space and the size of the tiles you choose. Glass tiles are frequently used as backsplash in kitchens, as well as in bathrooms. However, glass tile is very versatile and can be used in many other ways. Measure the space carefully beforehand and purchase the tiles accordingly.  You can purchase glass tiles at most home improvement stores. Try to buy about 5% more tile than you need for the job to account for any errors that occur during installation, though if you're putting in a backsplash with many outlets or otherwise has many difficult cuts, allow yourself an additional 10%. The manufacturer’s instructions will elaborate on what you should expect from the materials. Depending on the type of tile, some variations in shape, color, shade and tone may be normal and should be expected. Sheet mosaic tiles will often have a mix of glass, metal and ceramic tiles. Confirm that the purchased materials meet your expectations before you begin the installation process. Check for any defective or broken glass, as well. Glass tiles with paper or foil backing should be checked carefully for manufacturing defects that will hard to spot until after it is installed. Small slivers of glass will be discharged as you make cuts, creating a potential safety hazard. Be very careful. It’s imperative that you wear some kind of eye protection or safety goggles when cutting glass tile. It’s also recommended that you wear heavy cloth or leather gloves to protect your hands from flying glass shards. Gloves will also protect your hands from the extremely sharp edges of freshly cut glass tile.

Summary: Read the manufacturer’s instructions. Measure the space carefully and then purchase the tile. Inspect the tiles for consistency before you begin. Wear protective gear.


You might not be able to find a book that addresses the child's issues, or you may not feel that the books available are appropriate to your child. You may decide to create your own story about a child facing a similar problem.  You can decide if you want to write out the story, and perhaps illustrate it, or tell the story aloud to the child. Look for a bibliotherapy or writing group nearby where you can get support and assistance. Meetup.com is a great place to start looking. Think of ways the child exhibits a particular behavior or deals with a certain situation, common consequences to the child's actions, and the outcome you would like to see.  Describe the child's current behavior or situation at the beginning of the story. Have the child engage in this behavior and then receive consequences for their actions. Or, the child is exposed to a new situation and doesn't know how to handle it. Describe the character's reaction to the situation. For example, “When Sally the Bunny was teased on the playground, her ears drooped and she got very quiet.” Or, “Even though the teacher had already told him to raise his hand, Johnny couldn't resist shouting out the answer again. The teacher told Johnny to stay after school.” The child should be able to relate to the main character's “crisis” in the story. Enter a character like parent, teacher, or someone older and respected. This character connects with the protagonist and helps them understand what they are feeling, giving them ways to change their behavior. Present a solution that you think your child would be willing to try.  Give the character another opportunity to face the same situation, this time using the techniques they learned to successfully solve the problem. For example, “After talking to Miss Cabbage, Little Onion knew just what to say when the other kids at Vegetable School called her stinky. And she made sure to take a good bath in the sink that night.” Your character in the story will successfully face the situation in the story using the new behavior or coping skills, and will live happily ever after! People like to be entertained, not preached at. Provide silly moments in the story and don't let it get too heavy. Remember, you want to give the child tools to deal with the issue, not leave them overwhelmed or daunted by it.  Don't give the character the same name as the child. Consider making the protagonist the child's favorite animal, or give them a silly nonsense name to make the child laugh. Use language close enough to what your child hears to allow them to make the connection to their own life, just make sure you are changing it up enough so that it does not sound like the story is about them. For example, “Tommy, make your bed!” could become, “Silly Goose, make your nest!” Create a fictional place for the setting. Don't give it the same name as the child's town or school. While your story may need to contain consequences for the character's behavior, do not make the consequences so dire that you will frighten the child. For example, “Robbie behaved so badly at school that he had to miss the pizza party,” would be better than, “Robbie behaved so badly that the principal locked him in the janitor's closet for the rest of the day.”

Summary: Consider writing your own story. Develop a story. Keep the story light and fictional.


In preparing to go, the first person should hold the handlebars firmly and stand, both feet flat on the ground, while the other person mounts. It is much easier if the person in front has a backpack. This is difficult, but you have to keep the bike as straight up and down as possible, or else the takeoff is nearly impossible. It hurts. They have to sit on one side of that particular body part.
Summary: Have the more experienced cyclist mount first. The other person should then sit down on the seat and put their feet on the rear axles while holding onto the first person. The person in front should put their foot on the pedal and gently take off. The person in front should stand up while pedaling, but if their legs get tired, and they're riding a man's style bicycle, they can sit on the tube, but they can't sit directly on it.