Long shadows

Children who experience mental, economic or social hardship can develop long-term emotional, immune and metabolic problems that increase their risk of age-related diseases in adulthood, researchers say. All the more reason why parenting is such a huge responsibility.

You owe it to your kids to give them as stable and secure a childhood as possible. You don't have to have wads of cash or an army of helpers. Routine, calm consistency, the fulfilling of basic needs, and lots of love, time and attention will do it. The best gift you can give your child is a healthy sense of self and a belief in their own abilities. You don't need to be a millionaire to do that.

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Kids' hardship = sick adults

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