Parenting help

Mommy track: This parenting stuff is hard work, which is why it's so great there are professionals like the folks at Cincinnati Children's Hospital ready to lend a hand.

Check out the sessions they're planning for November: Building Self-Esteem in Your School Aged Child, Thursday, will teach you how to help your kids feel good about themselves. While you're at it, Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and other teen realities, Nov. 11, is a good primer for years to come. Got younger ones at home? Potty Training Time, scheduled for Nov. 13, offers tips for keeping the frustration level (for you and toddler) down.

Classes take place 7-8:30 p.m. at the Cincinnati Children's Outpatient Mason. Cost is $5 per class. To register, (513) 636-5714.

Dating tips

My escargot: Valentine's Day has nothing on Halloween in terms of romance, say the folks at Petland, a franchise pet chain.According to superstition uncovered by the company, catching and keeping a snail on Halloween can identify your mate. To find out who your spouse will be, place a snail in a flat dish overnight. In the morning, folklore says the initials of your future husband or wife can be seen, traced in the slime on the surface of the dish.

Love those kids

Sharpen your skills: More than 2,000 Tristaters are expected to converge Nov. 8 for one reason: To learn how to become better parents. There's still time to register for the fifth annual For the Love of Kids Conference on Practical Parenting, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Event is sponsored by Beech Acres, a family service organization.

Two keynote addresses, "Raising Responsible Kids: How to Parent Effectively, Kindly and Compassionately" by Dr. Ruth Peters, and "Stop Screaming at the Microwave: How to Connect your Disconnected Life" by Mary LoVerde, will take place during breakfast and lunch sessions. Between and afterward, participants can choose two of 13 breakout sessions on a variety of topics. Registration is $30 per person and includes meals and all sessions; you'll also get a gift bag and a chance to win door prizes. Details, 241-6897 or www.beechacres.org.

Life skills

Teach your teens: Etiquette is more than just raising your pinky finger while sipping tea - a whole set of rules needs to be learned. Christine Chen, an etiquette consultant in Washington, D.C., thinks the best way to raise polite adults who know how to interact in any situation and have respect for themselves and others is to target them as teens. Her recent video, The Contest: Building Social Skills That Last A Lifetime can help; it's a 40-minute video that teaches lessons along with the drama. Cost is $19.95 plus shipping at www.modernmanners.net.