Why Parents Should Talk to Their Kids About Sex and Sexuality

January 13, 2020 Leave a Comment

It should be no secret that kids are heavily influenced by their parents. After all, they spend most of their lives around you and will pick up different habits that you have. As a result, it’s your responsibility to instil good values into your children, and this is where it helps to sit them down and speak to them about important life concepts.

 

One good example is regarding sex and sexuality. This is a topic that your children will eventually find out about, even if it means talking to friends or asking their teachers. However, we believe it’s a good idea to step in at an early stage to teach them about it before they have a chance to stumble upon it.

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It’s an opportunity to bond

 

When raising children, finding opportunities to bond with your kids is really important for their development and your relationship with them. Your children want to know that you’re always looking out for them and that you’re not afraid of talking about difficult or unique subjects with them. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to bond and teach your child about certain important concepts in life, so try to do it before they have a chance to learn from their peers.

 

But when exactly should you do it? Most children are exposed to information about sex and sexuality at a much younger age than you’d expect. This is especially true if you give them unfiltered access to the internet or television. While many parents do rely on the school system to teach their kids about sex and sexuality, it’s never a bad idea to start talking about it especially as your child’s body begins to develop.

 

Topics to cover with your child

 

We believe that safety is one of the most important topics to cover. For instance, talking about contraception methods and sexually transmitted diseases will help them understand the dangers of having unprotected sex. However, they should also understand that regular unprotected sex with a partner is the most common way to start a family.

 

You also shouldn’t be afraid to answer questions that your child has, especially if an intimate scene appears on television. If your child’s school is teaching sex education, then you should ask your child about the topics they’ve covered and review them together. It’s also important that you help your child differentiate between the portrayal of sex in the media and real relationships. While it can initially seem embarrassing or awkward to talk with your child about intimate subjects like sex, it’s an essential part of their development and it ensures that they’re learning from a trustworthy source as opposed to just their peers.

 

Contrary to popular belief, teaching your child about sex and sexuality from an early age does not lead to promiscuity. With that said, we hope that you and your child can bond over discussing important topics in life to give them more experience and to improve your family relationships.

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3 Rules For Keeping Your Kids On The Straight And Narrow

January 6, 2020 Leave a Comment

(Pixabay CC0)

 

It’s the phone call that every parent dreads.

 

“Hi mom, I’m currently at the police station. Please help!”

 

On hearing the news, two questions will inevitably come to mind.

 

  1. What have they done?

 

  1. What have I done to allow this to happen?

 

Of course, you probably aren’t to blame at all. Thanks to that blessed thing known as free will, our children have the freedom to behave in ways according to their choosing. Still, that can be of little solace when our children get into trouble, be they of junior or adult age. 

 

All hope isn’t lost, of course. Your children can still be put on the right path, despite the actions they have already taken. There are some excellent law firms out there too, so the legal consequences could be mitigated. Check out the services of Takajian & Sitkoff as just one notable example. So, despite the stress that follows after that one phone call, life can return to normal. 

 

Still, the best course of action is to prevent that phone call from ever happening in the first place. While your children do have free will, as we said, there is still much you can do when they are very young to keep them on the path that is straight and narrow. 

 

Here are some suggestions.

 

#1: Spend time with them

 

The more time you spend with your kids, the less opportunity they will have to put a foot wrong. So, rather than let them loose on the streets on the weekend to do their own thing, do something with them on the weekend instead. Go camping with them, take them to a sports game, or anything else that will bring about family bonding. Of course, time together isn’t only about distracting them from boredom and the risk of wrongdoing. You will also have more time to teach them lessons about morality, be that with the words you speak or the actions that you role model to your children. And on that point…

 

#2: Be a good role model

 

Your children are never going to learn positive life lessons if you are less than ethical yourself. If you pay little credence to traffic laws, fiddle your taxes, verbally attack your neighbors, or do something else that can put you on the wrong side of the law, no matter how small, then your children are going to pay attention. You’re not perfect, of course, but you still have the free will to be that better person, so keep yourself in check for the long-term benefits of your children. 

 

#3: Address any issues quickly

 

If you can spot any issues within your family, deal with them promptly. So, if you get the sense that your children are hanging out with the wrong people, for example, or if they start to behave in ways that are less than moral, make sure you intervene. Hold family meetings, speak to your children’s teachers, and have those all-important sit-down chats with your child to remind them of the consequences of their actions. Your children will still have free will to do what they want, of course, but at least you will have done something rather than nothing to put them back on the right path. 

 

Parenting isn’t easy, and there is no guarantee that your children will be the little angels that you want them to be. However, by paying attention to the rules we have listed, you might be able to circumnavigate the risk of future trouble.

 

Let us know what you think, and please share your advice with us.

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Quick Tips For Adjusting To Life After The Army

November 22, 2019 Leave a Comment

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Joining the armed forces is one of the biggest responsibilities as well as privileges of being a citizen. When you make the choice to join the armed forces in whichever realm, you immediately become a protector of your home country and this should make you feel incredibly proud.

 

Of course, being in the armed forces is not easy and often you may not take control of your own health and wellbeing. This can lead you to feel recluse, depressed, and suffer from PTSD when you do finally make it home. 

 

Adjusting to life back on the outside can be a difficult task and it may take a long time to get there. You’ll likely need a lot of support from family and friends, Veterans Disability Info, and support getting back to work. Here are some of the ways that you can help yourself adjust back into life once you have left the armed forces for good. 

 

Acknowledge yourself

 

It is important in the first instance to acknowledge who you are and what you have been through. Life can be hard when you have lived in a different environment for so long and you need to acknowledge that you are not the same as everyone else. Own your feelings and understand them, and this will be the first step to controlling them in the future. 

 

Talk it out 

 

The best thing you can do whny ou come back and start to struggle with life is talk to your family. Never bottle up your feelings because all this will do is cause you stress and pull you further and further away from those who love you. Sit down and chat to your family and explain that you are finding it hard. They will be able to give you all of the support you need and you will have a whole network there to catch you when you fall. 

 

Get help

 

Nearly two thirds of those who suffer with mental illness after being in the army and this can have a detrimental effect on their health. It is important when you come out and try to adjust to real life that you know where support lies and how to access it. Call Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647 for a free resource that can direct you to the support you need. 

 

Pace yourself 

 

It’s not a sprint. If you have friends who live in the same town as you who also left the armed forces at the same time, don’t feel disheartened if they adjust to life easier than you. It is important to remember that everyone has different experiences in the army and it doesn’t make you any weaker than anyone else. Focus on your own progress and don’t push yourself too far too soon. Baby steps are the way to go and they will allow you to get back to your own life in your own time without any relapse. 

 

Manage stressful situations 

 

Be sure to watch out for your triggers. We all have stress triggers to be aware of and it is important that you think about what yours is and how to manage it. Learn to avoid high risk situations and prepare yourself for others. It may take time but you will get there in the end.

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Giving Your Child The Extra Help They Might Need

October 28, 2019 Leave a Comment

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As parents, from a pride perspective it’s easy to get caught up with what you think your child should be doing, should know and the skills we think they should have. But each child is an individual, they learn at their own pace and we have to accept that and encourage them if they’re doing their best. However, if you’ve noticed that your child is falling behind, struggling and needs a boost, here are some of the ways you can help them. 

 

Have any problems properly diagnosed

If your child has any kind of mental health, learning or physical condition then this is likely to impact their lives in some way. Getting to the bottom of the problem and having it properly diagnosed can be really helpful, that way they can get the assistance and any additional help and resources they might need. Take dyslexia for example, this can make reading and keeping up with classmates incredibly difficult for a child. But with a diagnosis, they can be given extra help from teachers, be shown software and given additional help that perhaps teaches them in a different way and allows them to stay on track. Get yourself some books for dyslexia or whatever condition you’re dealing with and read up yourself as well, the better you understand what’s going on, the better position you’re in to either help or find the right help for your child. 

 

Hire a tutor

Kids don’t need to be struggling with a condition to fall behind with school work, there are lots of reasons they might do so. Not all children will learn subjects at the same pace, and yours might struggle with things here and there even if the rest of their schoolwork is good. Hiring a tutor can be a way to overcome the issues that crop up here and there, having someone else explain things in a slightly different way, one on one might just be what’s needed for it to click in their mind. There are plenty of tutors out there that work freelance and will be able to come to your home so scheduling in a little extra study is quick and hassle free- have a look online and see who is available in your area. 

 

Build skills outside of the classroom

Schools teach our kids so much, but there are lots of skills we’ll need to build or at least build upon as parents. Learning outside of the classroom can be a lot of fun, and generally gives your child more life experience and understanding to build upon which can be useful when it comes to their studies. Take them to the farm or zoo to teach them about animals, or a museum or religious building to teach about culture, history or religion. Go camping or spend time outdoors to build practical skills, or travel to new places so they can experience completely new things for themselves without just seeing them in books or on tv. Skills like cooking, cleaning and budgeting money are things you can start teaching about when kids are young and build up over the years.

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Fun Things To Do As A Family On The Weekend

October 9, 2019 Leave a Comment

As the weekend rolls around, it’s an opportunity for you to relax after the working week and for the children to have fun after a week of learning at school. However, sitting around all weekend can be wasteful and although a rest is needed, having fun with your family is important. Here are fun things to do as a family on the weekend. 

 

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Get Some Education

Education is beneficial to a child’s development, and it can dictate what your child does as a career when they grow up. Their level of education will decide on what college they get into and what career options are available to them. Therefore, any parent wants to give their children the best opportunity to do anything they wish to do. So the more life experiences and knowledge you offer them, the better. You can all get a bit of education in the form of a popup museum that may be local to you. With museums, they can offer a wealth of knowledge that can even be new to yourself. It’s great to do as a family because you can chat about what you’ve learned afterward and you can spend hours at a time in a museum.

 

Visit A Theme Park

A theme park is the ultimate day out, and whether you’re children enjoy going on roller coasters or not, there’s a ride that’s tame enough for anyone. Just being in a theme park is exciting enough because it can create a certain atmosphere that can lift anyone’s spirits, especially with theme parks like Disneyland existing. Make the most of your day by venturing out as early as possible. That way, you have the whole day to yourself, and if you’re trying to save money, packed lunches are a great way to ensure you don’t need to leave earlier than planned.

 

Have A Picnic

Talking of food, a picnic is a great family activity to do together, particularly when the weather is nice. Head down to the local park or even outside in your back garden. As long as you’re getting some fresh air, that’s all that matters. Try to create the spread together as a family, and this can help build up skills within the kitchen for your children too. Get a soft blanket or towel and spend the afternoon eating, kicking a ball around, or just relax. You can also try removing any electronic devices to have a mini detox. 

 

Throw A Games Night

And finally, there’s always a family games night. It’s something that you can make as a tradition for the family. Perhaps it’s a specific game, or something different that you play each weekend. It’s a great way of getting everyone together and encouraging a little competitiveness between family members. It also teaches them to play fair and to know that winning isn’t always the point, it’s the taking part that matters most.

 

Hopefully, with these tips, you can fill up your weekend with lots of fun activities for you and the family.

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How To Prepare For Your Family’s Future

September 19, 2019 Leave a Comment

Image by Mario Renteria from Pixabay 

 

If you have just started a family, then you’re probably very busy with feeding, bathing and bedtimes and with all this going on, looking ahead to the future may seem a long way away. However, now that you have a family, it’s more important than ever to plan for the future, and it’s never too early to start. 

 

Education, Education, Education

As early as possible, you need to think about children’s education. From teaching them the alphabet and making sure that you are giving them the best start in life you can, you also need to look ahead at their education in the future. While you don’t want to put too much pressure on your child, it’s important to have a back-up and be prepared financially for your child’s higher education. Make a plan as early as possible as it’s a long-term goal and make allowances for inflation and other potential unforeseen issues.

 

Make Memories And Live In The Here And Now

When thinking about planning for the future, it’s very important not to forget to concentrate on the here and now of your family life. It’s good to make sure you’ve got a good life balance and ensure that although working hard for the future is important it’s good to create happy, joyful memories that you and the kids can both enjoy. You also have a job in raising the kids; you need to be aware that life is not just a financial goal, but the children need education on life and guidance from you.

Make A Will

It is also really important that you make a will, and this will ensure your wishes are followed in the event of your death. It’s not just about distributing your finances, but a will covers other things such as funeral arrangements and what happens with your children in the event. Take the appropriate advice; you will need to speak to someone specializing in estate litigation; make sure your views are known, legally, in this document.

 

Make Sure You Have Insurance

Adequate life insurance is very important, and especially if you are the main earner in your family, it is essential for your’s and your family’s peace of mind. Should the worst happen, your family will be provided for financially? Have a look at life insurance quotes to find out what the best policy is for you.

 

Teach Children From Your Mistakes

An important lesson in life is for children to learn is that everyone makes mistakes and that there shouldn’t be too much pressure to live up to an unrealistic notion of perfection. You can teach them that failures and setbacks happen to all of us, but it’s how we deal with them that’s just as important as the failure itself.

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The Growing Dangers Of Raising A Family

September 18, 2019 Leave a Comment

Raising a family is something you’re either going to have been so passionate about from a young age, something you feel like you’ve been forced into, or perhaps even something you’re being thrown into right now. Either way, most of us are going to end up raising a family, whether you feel like you’re ready to or willing to. For the most part, raising a family is going to be one big happy memory. The love that they will bring into your life is like nothing else, and the way that you see the world will change because of them. All of the sudden you won’t be bothered about the trivial things you used to be bothered about, and you’ll have an interest in things that you never thought possible. Because from the moment those newborn baby eyes look straight back into yours, and you feel that loving connection, you’ll be hooked on the life they give you. Even through the times where you’re in tears of tiredness, fits of rage, or stages of doubt, you’ll always end up having that passion to make their life incredible. But with all of this, becomes a deep desire to provide and care for them, more than you will have ever done in your life before. So, to make sure that you’re only experiencing all of the lovely things we started off with, we’re going to show you some of the growing dangers of raising a family.

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It’s Just So Expensive!

 

One of the most expensive times to raise a child is during the first year. But this is only because it can be so hard to get used to money management when you haven’t had to do it before. Because even though it might seem like it’s all easy to do, the prices just keep going up and up, and as time goes on, the money you’re bringing in will go down. Most companies will allow a certain amount of maternity leave, and then another certain amount of time with reduced pay. But then it will be you on your own for a few months, or maybe even more depending on how long you’re planning on having off. But it’s something you get into the swing of doing, and you will eventually learn how to budget your money, even if that means you’re going to miss out on some of the luxuries you once used to love. As time goes on, new expenses will come into your life that will lead you to feel that raising a child is so financially draining. When they get into high school years, you’re going to go through the stage of having to pay for their uniforms, and then having to pay to repair them, and then having to pay for their school lunches. So realistically, no matter what stage in their life they’re at, it’s going to test your money management skills, but with good management and compromises, it’s going to be so easy for you!

 

Horrible Dangers We Hate To Think About

 

It’s so easy to want to keep your children wrapped up in the little bubble that you’ve kept them in since day one, but it’s not always as easy as that. Sadly, there are now more and more cases of criminal offences involving children, and they just prove how hard it is to keep our bundles of joy safe. One of the growing dangers that we’re noticing at the minute, is through social media. There are two big dangers here. Teenagers and young children who are being allowed to use social media are now being groomed by pedophiles who are posing as fellow young teenagers into a meeting. Luckily, a lot is now being done to combat this, and members of the public as well as police officers are now posing as teenagers to catch these criminals out. It’s so hard to police this as a parent without being overbearing horrible parent, but it is something that needs to be done. You should always have an idea of who they’re talking to, who they’re meeting, and generally what they’re doing until they’re at an age where they don’t need you anymore. Bullying is also another massive problem that needs to be dealt with, and social media is definitely fueling it. It could be anything from a hurtful messages on a picture, to daily bullying through messages. But again, as long as you have some sort of control over their social media accounts until they reach at least 16, you should be ok! 

 

When They Go Out Alone

 

It’s so nice for your children to finally be allowed to go out on their own. It’s that sense of freedom that they just have to have at some point, and it’s up to you as to what age you let this happen. But letting them go out alone definitely does bring their own set of dangers, and one we want to talk about is dangers with the roads. You can teach them all you want about road safety, but silly things happen when they’re out with their friends. From playing games in the road such as chicken, to simply cutting it fine with trying to get to the other side of the road to see their friends. AssuranceAmerica is just one company who is promoting the dangers of the roads, with them noting that the number of children seriously or fatally injured in road traffic accidents rapidly rising. So as much as you can, try to make sure they’re leaving your home with safety in mind, and always coming back safe!

 

If They Start To Hate You

 

It’s more of a case of when they start to hate you, rather than if they start to hate you. When they get to those teenage years and hormones are flowing, it can be so easy for a divide to be created between the two of you, and for what you might see as hate to grow. But hate is such a strong word, and it’s more them rebelling against the rules that have been there since day one, and your dying need to know what’s going on in their life. So, as much as you possibly can, make sure that you’re giving them all the space they need to be their own person. Take an interest in their life, but don’t be so pushy that they feel like you’re overbearing. Try and reduce the ground rules a little bit, and allow them to become their own person. The more you battle them at this age, the harder it’s going to be to carry on the strong relationship that you once had. Don’t become that pushover either. It’s about finding the perfect balance of being that authority figure, and a friend they can come and talk to when they’re in need.

 

A Family Being Torn Apart

Whether this has already happened to you or not, it’s more common to see children coming from a broken home than it is from a whole one. So many children are the product of a failed marriage, and depending on how you handle that, it can seriously affect their life. So, make sure that you’re keeping anything civil in front of your children, no matter how nasty it might be getting behind closed doors. Focus on coming up with a system that’s going to support you as a family still, and make sure that you are still doing things as a family, rather than leaving them hardly seeing a parent still.

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Single Mothers – It’s Okay To Enlist Help

September 4, 2019 Leave a Comment

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If parenting is one of the hardest jobs out there (and it is), then it’s not hard to imagine how doing this alone could be one of the most challenging things anyone could experience. However, many single parents take care of their children brilliantly, and are shining examples of the unconditional love that parenthood brings.

 

However, it can sometimes be that single parents are unfortunately happy to denigrate themselves, to believe they do not deserve help. Sometimes, they have been told these very things by unsupported parents or other guiding figures, and the wish to go against that advice and help their child become raised in a loving environment is more important than anything.

 

It’s fine to enlist help if experiencing this yourself, particularly if you do not know which way to turn. In fact, it is absolutely essential. When we think of this we often think of our child having to be taken over by some kind of child protective service, but enlisting help needn’t be anything as extreme or unnecessary as that.

 

Let us see what those practical solutions could be to make your life just a little easier.

 

Legal Assistance

 

Unfortunately, many single parents are there because of the ineptitude of their previous partner, which may not have showed itself until your beautiful child was here and in need of care. But there’s no reason why you should have to take this treatment. Finding legal assistance to defend yourself, utilizing a child support calculator to ensure you are being paid the amount you are due and keeping the records of correspondence or previous issues may denote the need for a restraining order, or perhaps a healthier means of setting up contact with said defunct parent. When you are assisted legally, you have a better chance of keeping yourself supported in the manner you deserve.

 

Family & Friends

 

It is not a great sin to ask for your parents to babysit while you experience some fun with your friends, or have a night on the town. Many mothers can feel absolutely terrible about needing some time to let their hair down, but actually, this can keep them sane and comfortable. That’s not to say that motherhood is some kind of crazy venture that leaves people distraught and unable to function, but a little break from any intense issue is fantastic now and then. Even if it’s just an evening to read, soak in a bath and watch a movie, this could be appropriate.

 

Care For Yourself, Too.

 

As a new single mother, your time is going to be fraught. But that doesn’t mean it’s not important to care for yourself, too. You have your own needs, and if you ignore yourself it will only have a negative impact on how irritable you are. Purchasing an exercise bike for ten to fifteen minutes of exercise in the morning, eating healthy foods and adopting a meal plan Sunday routine to save time through the week can truly help you reduce stress and maintain yourself. It’s in this way that you are strengthened over time, just as you need to be.

 

With these tips, we hope the burden and beauty of single motherhood can be just a little bit easier to deal with or comprehend. You’re doing a fantastic job.

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The Debts Of Motherhood Nobody Thinks About

August 14, 2019 Leave a Comment

For many mothers, the biggest dilemma about having a child is to put their professional career on pause. Some moms find themselves forced to start a side hustle venture from home to make ends meet. Others go back to work earlier than planned because they can’t afford to stay on leave any longer. Ultimately, having a baby can put your career on hold, but more importantly, it also puts your income on standby. As new parents, if there’s one thing you can’t afford to ignore is your household income. Indeed, having a baby puts your finances back. For professional women who enjoyed a successful career, going back to work can be a challenge. But more importantly, managing the debts of motherhood and pregnancy can prove tricky without a thorough plan. 

Photo from Pxhere 

 

A brutal call to reality

Having a baby in the US doesn’t come for free. Indeed, featuring pregnancy care, delivery and post-birth care, mothers are likely to pay on average $30,000. Maternity costs in the US healthcare system are going through the roof. A rule of thumb is to ensure that your health insurer can help you to cover some of those astronomical costs. However, the costs remain significant throughout the US, even for insured women. Having a C-section in Vermont with insurance is going to cost over $10,640. However, in Alabama moms pay less than $8,000 for the same service. 

 

There are affordable alternatives

You can” t save money on your pregnancy and delivery – it’s unwise to go through pregnancy without medical checkups. However, you can make sure you’re smart about purchasing your baby gears. Indeed, you can find cost-effective options online, such as coupons for diapers or even Facebook Marketplace. Used items are not always a bad choice, as long as you make sure they are safe for your baby. High chairs, strollers and even baby clothes can be bought second-hand without putting your family at risk. Alternatively, you can also ask your relatives and friends for hand-me-downs they don’t need anymore. 

 

Most parents think about college already

Do you know what the first thing that many future parents do is? They open a saving account to help pay for their child’s education. Indeed, students spend on average almost $99,500 throughout their academic studies in college. American universities, unfortunately, can be a financial drain. Top-tier universities add up living costs up to $60,000 per year to the student fees. Even with funding and financial support, academic education can lead to lasting debts for your child and yourself. 

Photo from Pxhere

 

 

Can you compensate for the extra baby expenses?

Can you recover the expenses through smart saving tricks? The answer is, unfortunately, no. However, you can gradually transform your household budget to accommodate new financial projects. For instance, changing your mortgage deal can be a good idea to free up a lump of money every month. If you prefer a long-term investment, switching your energy supplier for an off-grid solution can help you to reduce your utility bills and maybe create a savings pot for your family. 

 

From the cost of pregnancy care to kitting your baby, there are a lot of expenses you need to consider. Money, of course, isn’t everything, but when you’re starting a family, it’s important to budget for the essentials and develop saving strategies. Your household will be a lot happier if you don’t have to worry too much about money!

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New Mom Tips You Need To Know

February 5, 2019 Leave a Comment

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The moment we become a Mum is a defining time in our lives and it can change the way we live forever more. Now that we have a little baby who relies on us for everything in its life we have a new sense of purpose and something to look after as our own.

 

Being a new parent can be stressful and at the start, it can be easy to think you won’t be able to do all the things that your parents did. But there’s no reason not to trust in yourself and in fact, the relationship you build with your baby will allow you to come up with your own parenting style in time which suits you both. Today we are going to take a look at some of the small hacks you can try to make your life a little easier and a little more comfortable when you have a little one.

 

Stay comfortable

 

The first thing you will want to do when you have a baby is to stop looking at all of the new mums on Instagram and comparing yourself to them. These mums are likely wearing sweaters and joggers 99% of the time and you shouldn’t feel bad for wanting to dress in clothes which are comfortable for you when you are looking after your baby. There are actually tonnes of sites such as innerparents which offer clothes for new mums which are more comfortable to wear and which will allow you the freedom of movement you need for cleaning and nappy changing.

 

Don’t listen to everyone else

 

From the moment you announce that you are pregnant to the world, every single person you come across will have some nugget of wisdom to enforce on you and to tell you what to do. When you are in the stages of pregnancy or you have just given birth you will not necessarily think twice about taking every piece of advice handed to you. The issue is that everyone has a different idea of what is right and if you don’t take this into account you will struggle with looking after your baby in the best way. Shut out the white noise which is advice and let you and your baby find your own flow.

 

You know best

 

Just like Mother Gothel always says… mother knows best. Although you will be given a lot of opinions about your baby in terms of their weight or their health, it is important for you to listen to your gut instinct and let your own mind make the decision. If people are telling you that your baby is fine but you think they need a doctor, always stick with your own instinct and be on the safe side with things.

 

Go with the flow

 

As much as it would be a helpful tool, there is no such thing as an instruction manual for looking after a baby. Every single baby will be different from the moment they leave the womb and this means that you need to simply let the baby tell you what they need. It’s like getting a pet, even though you can’t talk you can sense what they need, and with a baby, they will let you know if something is wrong. Go with the flow and don’t worry about all the strict guidelines and rules right now.


Your baby is unique

 

Remember that your baby is like no other. If you have just had a baby and your friends are telling you to do one thing, don’t worry if this doesn’t work for your child. One size doesn’t fit all and different things will work for different babies. This will mean a lot of trial and error, but you will eventually find things which work for your child which you can implement into your life to make it easier.

 

Don’t sweat the bad days

 

As a new parent, you will likely feel as if you are walking on eggshells for the first year or so to try and make sure your baby is happy and healthy, and you may have days when you just want to stay in bed and do absolutely nothing. It’s normal to feel exhausted and sad at times and the important thing is not to beat yourself up about it all. If you feel as if you cannot look after your baby the best you can today, ask a family member or a friend if they don’t mind taking over so that you can rest. You are only human after all.

 

Ask for help

 

Following on from that last point, it is incredibly important that you take the time out to ask when you aren’t sure of something or you need help with something. Make sure that you don’t let issues simmer inside and let them out. You don’t have to be perfect all of the time and it is totally normal for you to need a little bit of aid now and again.

 

Always have wet wipes

 

As a new Mum or Dad you will have a lot of mess to clean up during your everyday lives, and when it comes to cleaning up after your baby there is nothing which can quite beat a good wet wipe. This can be used for dribbling mouths, crumbs, to protect your shoulder when you wind your baby… the list is endless and this should become a staple in your bag.

 

Make sure to sleep

 

Honestly, as annoying as it may seem, you are no good to your baby if you can’t keep your eyes open. The idea of sleeping when your baby sleeps can be difficult to adjust to, but this can actually be the best way for you to get enough rest in your day to keep you healthy and happy. If your baby tends to sleep for an hour after eating lunch, sit on the sofa and do the same. Take any little respite you can because your body and your mind need to be fresh to look after your baby in the best way it can.

 

Celebrate small wins

 

Sometimes being a parent feels like a constant battle between waking up, feeding, winding, changing and playing with your baby… and this cycle often feels like it will never end. However if you want to feel happy and in a good mood every day, you will want to celebrate every small win you have as a parent. Like for example changing your nappy in record time or not getting it inside out, managing to get your baby to eat all of its dinners… it might not seem like much but it can put you in a darn good mood after a long day.

 

Prep your meals

 

Eating as a parent can be one of the most difficult things you have to try and do. You will no longer have the same meal times as you were used to because with a baby it can be hard enough to predict one minute from the next. This is why a lot of parents either end up losing a lot of weight or putting it on due to eating at strange times of the day. To make your life much easier, make sure that you cook a few batches of meals at the weekend which you can heat up in the microwave throughout the week. This will make life so much easier for you every day and you’ll always be able to reach for a meal which is substantial and healthy at the last minute.

 

Plan breaks

 

As a parent, it will feel like all you do is work and Work and Work, and this is largely true. You don’t really have a break from your baby, because even when they are asleep they could awake at any moment. The main thing is to make sure you plan one day a week where you have time out with your partner to be you again. Ask your family to look after your baby for the night and spend some time together chilling out on the sofa or head out for a date if you want to. Taking the time out like this can be essential for your mental health every day and it can be exactly what you need to cope with having a little bundle of joy in your life.

 

Take it day by day

 

Every baby is unique and this also means that every baby develops at a different time to others. As you raise your baby you shouldn’t be sticking to a schedule and worrying if your child isn’t crawling or talking yet. Your baby will learn this skill when they are ready and if it takes a while it’s nothing to worry about. It doesn’t mean that your child isn’t as smart as other children, it simply means that they are developing different skills and at a different rate to others, which is normal! Let things happen when they happen and don’t stress yourself out.

Filed Under: Family

Are You Ready To Start A Family?

October 18, 2018 Leave a Comment

In one sense, starting a family is about the most natural, instinctive thing you can want to do. But in quite another, it is likely to be exactly something which you don’t want to rush into, and should be given a lot of careful consideration. If you are prone to acting first and thinking second, you might find that this is one occasion where that approach doesn’t fly. In any case, most of us will at some point in life consider the question of whether to have a child or multiple children and when those questions start arising it is a good and useful thing to know how to approach it. In this article, we will look at some of the concerns, questions, and issues which you should familiarize yourself with as you grapple with this difficult decision. You might find that there is more to it than you had really considered.

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Know Your Options

 

Firstly, you will want to make sure that you are fully aware of what options you have for the actual process of having children. It might sound as though this is a little premature, but the truth is that you need to think about it first and foremost, just in case it proves to be something that you need to worry about later on. By knowing your options first, you put yourself in a much stronger position from which to think about having children. The first thing to remember is that you always have options, even if all seems lost. If you take a look here https://www.conceiveabilities.com/about/surrogacy-egg-donor-locations/egg-donor-denver-colorado you will see that there are a number of options available to anyone struggling to conceive, so you don’t need to worry. You should also make sure that you are aware of the ins and outs of them all; infertility and other problems are very common these days, so knowing this upfront helps you save time and effort during a potentially more stressful time later on. Know your options, and if nothing else you will feel considerably more able to deal with the situation at hand, should it arise.

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Assess Your Relationship

 

In truth, assessing your relationship is probably going to be something you do largely unconsciously, but it’s still a good idea to be aware of some of the factors you might want to consider regardless. It’s highly valuable to determine what your relationship is like, as this is of prime importance in ensuring that you know whether or not you should be having children and starting a family. You need to try and gauge whether you are a stable and secure couple, which can be harder to grasp than you might at first think. You should also try and make sure that you are likely to stay together, and that you can stick it out through the tough times. That is especially important, because of the simple fact that having children is often extremely stressful, and the kind of thing that you need to be strong to get through. If you can do so as a couple in most situations, you will have more faith and confidence in yourselves to be able to do so when you are raising children.

 

Look At Your Finances

 

Unfortunately, we live in a world where the desire to do something is not enough – you also need to think about whether or not you can make it work financially. Figuring out the potential financial viability of having children is, however, luckily very simple, look at what you earn as a couple and rack it up against the likely costs of having children. Use an online calculator to help you work out the latter if necessary – it can be hard to consider all the costs before you know what those costs really are. Once you have the two figures, you should be able to see pretty easily whether or not you are going to be able to raise children. Also consider any future expenses which might have to be taken into account, whether or not they are expenses to do with your children. By looking at all of this sensibly and rationally, you can make sure that you are going to be in a good situation to decide if you should have children or not. Take a look at https://www.familyeducation.com/pregnancy/family-planning/10-questions-ask-when-considering-starting-family for help here too.

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As long as you consider the above, you will be able to know whether it’s a good time to have children – so make sure that you do.

Filed Under: Family

4 Ways To Keep Your Children Entertained This Summer!

July 30, 2018 Leave a Comment

It’s the time of year which every child across the land looks forward to – the long summer holidays! Only Christmas rivals the delight of the school gates shutting for the next six weeks. Although summer is a fantastic way for families to spend quality time together, it is also a time which fills many a parents hearts with trepidation. Thoughts of “how will I cope?” springs to mind. There is also the inconvenience of work, most people in employment don’t have the luxury of taking six weeks off work, unless you are a teacher!

 

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The summer holiday gives everyone the chance to rest and recuperate. It is well documented that the pressure children are under at school is immense, they are tested at every opportunity and the early mornings and after school activities can take their toll, resulting in grumpiness and tiredness. Lazy mornings during the summer gives children the opportunity to get their full allocation of sleep, how much sleep kids should get depends on their age, activity levels and the child as an individual. There are guidelines according to age, but there are considerable variants. Children need varying amounts of sleep according to life stages. If they are entering a growth spurt, more sleep is necessary which is one of the reasons why teenagers appear to want to sleep 24/7!

 

Unlike older people, to relax children do need activity. It is good to be bored on occasions as long as there is lots of opportunity and stimulation around them. Being bored actually stimulates the creative nature in children.

 

Most people book a holiday during the summer holidays, which will break up the weeks, but you still have a few weeks to fill. The remainder of this article will look at ways of entertaining your children through the summer break.

 

Free activities in your local area

Often local towns and villages put on free festivals and activities during the summer holidays. Try to look for a programme of events and book your days around them. Perhaps your town has a free puppet show at 2pm in the market square, you could pack up a lunch to eat in your local park, followed by the show, an icecream on the way home and that’s one day ticked off the calendar!

 

Visit your local library and see what events they have over summer. Often libraries have storytelling sessions followed by a craft session, visits by local authors and summer read schemes.

 

Some country parks and stately homes are run by the council allowing free access in the summer. Privately owned visitor attractions also have a couple of days allowing free access.

 

Arts and crafts

Before the summer break starts, try to collect a stash of items that can be used for arts and crafts. Cardboard boxes, scraps of wool, silver foil, paper, pens and paints can all inspire creations. Don’t forget plenty of glue and sticky tape!

 

Some art and crafts ideas could include creating homes for dolls, making pom pom creatures, painting and drawing. Your child will probably make their own plans as they have a tendency to have oodles of imagination.

 

Games and jigsaws

Remember all those games and jigsaws your child got for Christmas, only to be played with once? Summer is the ideal time to dust them down and get playing with them. Long lazy days mean that jigsaws are likely to be completed in time before bed and the extra long game of Monopoly can be accommodated!

 

Games and jigsaws are perfect for rainy days.

 

Go to the beach

 

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If you live fairly close to the beach – fantastic! If not get the train and make it part of the fun. Lakes are also lovely to visit in the summer. A trip to the beach can be as expensive or cheap as you like. Head to a more deserted spot, well away from the amusements to do some beach combing and sculptures. Pack all your loose change and divide it between your children for a fun hour or two in the amusements – making it clear that once the money is spent it’s gone!

 

A packed lunch will make the trip more affordable and pack a big picnic rug to prevent sand in the sandwiches!

 

Try to create fabulous memories for your children’s summer holidays. If you try to get out of the house once a day, even for just a short walk the summer will be less likely to be filled with squabbles and grumpiness. Children are naturally inquisitive and they love to learn and experience new things.

 

Have fun and have a wonderful summer!

 

Filed Under: Children, Family, Kids, Summer, Vacation

Bare Republic Sun Block

July 30, 2018 Leave a Comment

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest

opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links

 

My family and I love swimming, camping, and everything outdoors. My boys can be outside all day with no problem, but when it’s time to apply sunblock, they give me the hardest time in the world. I’ve tried letting them apply sunblock lotion to themselves and even playing a game with the spray bottle, but nothing seemed to give. As soon as I thought I was out of options, we found Bare Republic Neon Stick Sunscreen!  They come in 6 fun neon colors, Lighting Yellow, Electric Blue, Wicked Purple, Goblin Green, Atomic Orange, Pin-Rock Pink and they even smell good! They are naturally scented Coco Vanilla, Citrus Cooler, Coco Mango, and Pina Coco scented sunscreens. What’s not to love about this sunscreen, it’s fun and smells good!

My boys can’t get enough of them! They have so much fun ‘drawing’ on themselves and love how good they smell! This makes all of our outdoor events more enjoyable not having to fuss to apply sunblock. The sunblock sticks are easy for them to hold and compact enough to put in their pocket as walk to the pool. Being able to carry the sunblock sticks makes them feel very important. The colors go on so easy and very visible. Of course, if you want a brighter color, you just have to go over it a few times. My boys have a fair skin color, so we had to go over the orange and yellow a few times.

I love the fact that my boys enjoy applying sunblock and it’s not such a pain anymore. But most of all I love that it is safe for all of us to use. It is SPF 50, water resistant and last 80 min. Another huge plus is it will fade away when it is time to reapply. Unlike other sunblocks that can harm or burn your skin. Bare Republic Sunscreen is for the entire family, so we don’t have to buy a separate ‘kid’ sunblock. They are also free of chemical actives, synthetic fragrances, petroleum, parabens and anything else we wouldn’t want to put on our skin or leave behind in nature. They are also known as cruelty-free sunscreens that combine antioxidant-rich oils, plant extracts, and non-nano mineral actives Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide to offer broad-spectrum protection from UV rays

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Family, Lifestyle

A Pup Really Could Be Your Entire Family’s Best Friend!

July 6, 2018 Leave a Comment

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Chances are that if you’re reading this post, you have some sort of interest in introducing a canine companion to your family unit. This could be one of the best decisions that you have ever made. Dogs make perfect pals and can also benefit your children greatly too. Kids with pups tend to be much kinder, healthier, calm, and comfortable. So, if you think that a four-legged friend could well be the perfect addition to your family, here’s absolutely everything that you need to know in order to meet their wants and needs!

 

Food

 

Dog food is widely available and tends to be sold in almost any supermarket or corner shop. This isn’t all too surprising considering so many of us have canine companions. But not all dog foods are created equal and believe it or not, some will prove a whole lot better for your pet than others. Seeing as your dog is entirely dependent on you when it comes to eating a healthy and balanced diet that meets all of their nutritional needs, it’s extremely important that you don’t just throw down the cheapest or most convenient feed in their bowl each morning or night. You need to do your research to find what’s best! Another thing to bear in mind is that every breed requires different portions of food. A Yorkshire Terrier, for example, will require different portions to a cockapoo. So, do a little research regarding your dog’s breed and how much they should be eating. If you’re ever in doubt, consult your vet. They will be able to tell you whether your pooch is a healthy weight or not and will be able to recommend exact portion sizes for them as a unique individual.

 

Grooming

 

All dogs have different coat types. However, generally speaking, there are six main coat types that you should familiarise yourself with – smooth, double, silky, wool, wire, and combination. The type of grooming that your pooch will require, as well as the length of their hair, will ultimately determine what grooming regime you will have to carry out for them. Most shorthaired molting breeds will only require an occasional bath at home. This is relatively simple to carry out yourself, as long as you are particularly careful around their eyes, and try to avoid letting the water running into their ears or mouth. Your vet can then clip their nails and take care of their anal glands. Long haired or non-molting dogs are likely to be a little more tricky, as their fur doesn’t shed, so will grow and need trimming. Curly haired dogs’ fur is also more prone to matting and will need to be brushed out. For these kinds of dogs, a trip to a professional groomer is preferable. These specially trained individuals will know how to wash, brush, and cut their fur into shape.

 

These are just two responsibilities that you will need to take on in order to keep your pooch happy and healthy! So, keep them in mind and ensure that you can cater to the breed you’re interested in before taking a new family member on!

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: , , , ,

Coping With Secondary Infertility

June 18, 2018 Leave a Comment

Raising children is wonderful, isn’t it? When you have your own children, you spend every day in a state of bliss mixed with wonder mixed with frustration at the small creatures that you have to train into adulthood. You go from wanting to hide in a closet with a glass of wine to avoid the knocking, mashed-potato covered minion that you created yourself, to standing and staring while they sleep in total awe that you have created this little piece of immortality. It’s a rollercoaster of a ride and for most people, having one or two children is the goal in their life. They get to have a family, their first born gets a sibling and everyone is happy.

Except, there are a minority of people that suffer with secondary infertility. If you haven’t heard of it, you’re not alone. When you try for and conceive your first child, there’s a part of you that feels a flood of relief. It’s like ticking a box to say that your body can function the way that it was built to by nature. You can create and carry life within your womb; it’s a blessing. So, when it comes to trying for another baby and nothing happens, you’re not immediately concerned. After all, you’ve got a toddler tearaway running around chattering to imaginary friends and tormenting the cat. You’ve already confirmed that you can carry children, so it’s bound to happen again eventually, right?

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Well, no, not quite. Secondary infertility is the struggle to conceive children again after a successful conception and pregnancy of a first child. It’s not something that’s talked about, mainly because there are a bunch of clichés that people hit you with when you try to explain that you’re struggling to conceive despite months of trying. Some of these are:

 

“Oh, well at least you CAN carry a baby.”

“Even if it doesn’t happen for you again, at least you have the one child already.”

“How can you be struggling, you’ve been pregnant before!”

Each of these clichés is a needle in the heart of a woman yearning for another baby to carry, nurture and birth. The thing is, secondary infertility has no rhyme or reason to it. It has no pattern, no predictability and you can find yourself desperately clawing for information as to why you managed to conceive once, but despite regular ovulation and sex, it’s just not happening again. Some couples try for years before turning desperately to affordable IVF. They go through heartache trying to figure out what’s ‘wrong’, but if the medical professionals run their tests and scans and can find nothing, this is often far worse. At least if there’s a reason to blame, you have a focus, a thing to think, ‘yes, this is why I can’t get pregnant, and now I can fix it.’ Once you know the problem, you can find a solution. Secondary infertility unfortunately has solutions that are more than just the sperm meets egg plan.

When you have a child already, there is an added layer of heartache for secondary infertility: you already know what you are missing. Your body has already experienced the joy of pregnancy, labour and birth. You’ve already got the war wounds of scars and stretchmarks on your belly to represent fecundity and fertility. And now your fertility has abandoned you and the guilt of not being able to provide your child with a sibling and your partner with another child can be crippling. Secondary infertility is no less devastating than infertility when you are childless in the first place; they are both hard situations to be a part of. The key here, is learning to cope with the diagnosis. Understanding any changes in your life since your first child was born is the first place to look. Sometimes, secondary infertility can be due to age – especially if you were much younger with your first child compared to now. Fertility diminishes over time, and your choices in when you choose to try for a baby can affect your egg quality and the regularity of an egg being released.

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You should be as proactive as possible about medical help. It’s not just about finding the best fertility doctor, either. You should read up on acupuncture and homeopathy so that you can learn the ways that you can help your body to regulate properly, to ovulate with good quality eggs. While you’re researching the best doctors and help out there, you should do as much research as you can about the tests that you can expect. Testing for secondary infertility can be invasive, which you should be okay with before you get started. Make a plan for you and your partner to face it all together and embrace how you feel. The pain you are going through isn’t going to go away immediately and the anger, sadness and anxious feelings are all normal responses to being told that you are not able to have children without help. It’s a hard blow to the heart and can make you feel rather empty on the inside.

The important thing to remember if you get a diagnosis of secondary infertility is that you haven’t done anything wrong. You need to accept that this is the situation, but that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your dream of expanding your family. You do have a child to concentrate on at home, which can provide an excellent distraction while you’re attending appointments and having tests done. It’s important that you accept how you feel and keep moving forward, finding a way to have more children that you desire. Worrying about what’s doing to come next can really rob you of the joy that you feel today. There will be tough questions ahead for you; some you’ll ask and others you’ll receive. The way to handle it is to keep as positive as you can and be truthful. Secondary infertility is not something to be ashamed of.

 

 

Filed Under: Baby, Family, Fertility, Uncategorized

Injured? Here’s How to Make The Most Out of Your Free Time

May 16, 2018 Leave a Comment

When we get injured or suffer a road accident, it is easy to focus on the negatives and get depressed. What if you focused on the opportunity that this time off gives you to sort out your finances, learn new skills, improve your relationships, or do what you always wanted to. Below you’ll find a few tips on what to do with your free time and better yourself while recovering from an injury.

Image via Austin Chan

 

Reconnect with Friends and Family Members

Image via Jon Ly

 

A sudden break from your daily rush lifestyle might come as a shock. If you failed to give your parents a call or sit down with your kids after school due to work, now this is the time to improve your relationships. If you have been wondering about how your old classmates and friends are doing, it might be time to look them up on Facebook and reconnect with them. List everyone you want to get in touch with, and make the most out of your time.

Take on a Course

Whether you always wanted to learn meditation or have been dreaming of a career change for a long time, but had no time to study, this is your chance. There are plenty of accredited online courses that will help you secure a promotion or pay rise, even lead to a career change after you have fully recovered. Do your research and dig deep to find out what you really want to learn.

Start a Blog

In case you have always wanted to connect with like minded people, but had no time, you can start your own blog. This will give you a new routine and a purpose in life, so you become more positive about your abilities and talk to people who might be facing similar issues as you. If you are facing disability forever or just for a few months, you can use your blog to write about your emotions and release stress and frustration.

Explore Your Legal Options

You can also use the time on your hands to explore your legal options and get the compensation you deserve from the person or business that caused your injury. Whether it was a road accident caused by a careless driver or a work injury due to the negligence of your employer, you can start building your legal case while recovering. You can also get in touch with an attorney to help you with your personal injury so you don’t have to do everything alone.

Plan Your Life

When you can take a step back from your regular busy life, take the opportunity to plan your life. Whether you would like to sort out your finances and get a better mortgage rate or deal with your home improvements, make a decision whether to move or not, you will now have the time and focus to get these pressing issues out of the way.

Suffering an injury is never great. You can, however, focus on the positives and make the most out of the free time to better your life.

Filed Under: Children, Family, Health, Lifestyle, Wellness

Swim Video Analysis

May 8, 2018 Leave a Comment

How to Use Video Analysis to Evaluate Your Swimming Technique

If you are a swim racing professional, you probably are familiar with using video to evaluate your technique. This is a method that has been used for many decades by professionals and aspiring amateurs alike. But if you are just entering the world of competitive swimming, the idea of using video to evaluate and improve your performance may be a new one. You should know that swim video analysis is an excellent way to document your strengths and weaknesses. Using video to highlight the pros and cons of your performance is a great way to help you get better.

What Can the Tale of the Tape Do to Improve Your Performance?

There are many reasons why using video to make note of your performance is a smart move. For one thing, when you are in the middle of exercising, you can hardly stop to evaluate how you are doing. You are in the moment and can’t break away from it. Even if your coach is with you, they may not notice every little last detail. But the camera will record every nanosecond of the experience with an absolutely honest eye.

You’ll Be Amazed at What You Can Learn from Watching Videos

Once you have your performance caught on video, you will be able to learn from it. As noted above, the camera captures it all. There is no judging and no lying. Every last part of your technique will be there for the world to see. This is exactly why you should be using video to critique your performance. Everything you do right and everything you do wrong is right there on the tape. This is how a strong athlete gets better in the end.

The Time for You to Make Use of Video Analysis is Now

There are a great many methods that you can make use of in order to improve your swimming technique. But if you want to be competitive, you owe it to yourself to make use of this amazingly effective technique. What you see revealed by the tale of the tape may be shocking at first. However, it’s the cold, hard truth and you will do well to learn from it. Before you know it, you’ll be improving on a daily basis and looking forward to seeing yourself excel. The time to tape yourself is now.

Filed Under: Family

Is It Time To Give Your Teen The Independence They Need?

April 19, 2018 2 Comments

 

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Being a parent is tough. Sometimes, you won’t have a clue what you’re doing, and you’ll often doubt yourself. Sometimes, you’ll really feel like you’ve got this thing down, and you’ll enjoy the journey. But one thing’s for sure, when your children suddenly start to get older, you’ll find that you get a little scared. Because children are one thing, but teenagers are something totally different altogether. And to make sure that you can enjoy being a parent to a teenager, you really do have to adapt your parenting. As hard as it may be, you have to realize that your children are growing up and they need a little more independence.

 

While you may not want to change too much about your style of parenting or loosen the reigns too much, you do have to approach things differently. It’s not healthy to wrap your children in cotton wool all of the time. You do have to be able to let them breathe and learn for themselves. When this isn’t something that you’re necessarily used to, you may think that you just can’t do it. However, as with anything in life, you can. You just have to put your mind to it, pick up a few ideas and techniques, and be persistent. So let’s take a look at what will help you to be a parent to teenagers.

 

Support From Afar

 

Of course, you’re always going to want to make sure that your kids are doing as well as possible in school, but this really does have to be about them and what they can do. It’s always okay to help out and try and support your children with their schooling, but you’re definitely not going to want to do it for them. Make sure that you support from afar. Guide them, check work, and give feedback, but make sure they do what they can themselves.

 

Help Them Move Forward

 

When your child hits their teens, they definitely start to adapt to what their lives will be like as an adult. So you’ll find that they need to move on with their skills and life experiences. This includes driving. So make sure they take their learners permit test and get practicing. When they do get their driver’s license, you’re then going to want to ensure that they can be a responsible road user and take care of their car.

 

Give Them Space

 

Next, you’re going to want to make sure that you can give your children a bit of space and privacy. This isn’t always something that they want when they’re small, but as soon as they hit their teens they will definitely want some time to adjust to the way their lives are changing. So make sure that you respect this and give them a little more independence.

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Trust Them More

 

It may seem scary at first, but you also have to be okay with them doing things on their own. Whether you ease yourself in or dive in at the deep end, letting them head out without adult supervision is something that will need to happen at some point or another. To test the waters and make sure they’re responsible enough to stay safe.

 

Let Them Make Decisions

 

So far, you’ve made all of their decisions for them in life. Well, most of the time. But now that they’re a teen, it’s time that they had a lot more say. Starting off with their clothing or taste in music can help. But this is all part of the process of letting them grow.

 

Guide Don’t Drive

 

From here, you’re then going to want to make sure that you take a bit of a backseat on what you want for them. Of course, it’s always okay to steer them in the right direction, particularly with their college decision, but don’t necessarily choose for them. It is important that they can figure out for themselves what their future will look like.

 

Set Boundaries

 

Finally, you’re also going to want to make sure that you’re really cautious with how you give them their independence. You don’t want to be relaxed and discover that they’re kind of running away with things. At the same time, you do want to ensure that they can still rely on you for support. This is often where boundaries can come in. Make sure that you still enforce your rules. Things like a curfew or getting a job can be a good way to balance things out and to ensure that they’re responsible, trustworthy, and on the right track.

Filed Under: Children, Family

The New Parenting Rules For 21st-Century Parents

April 16, 2018 1 Comment

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Things come and go so quickly these days. It seems like fashions and trends are only in the public focus for a few months at a time before they vanish and quickly become uncool. As a result, our lives are so quick to change and what is normal right now might look very different to the normality of a decade or two ago.

 

That means that you will no doubt notice that the certain parenting rules and guides that your parents swore by when they were bringing you up might no longer apply these days to your own kids. In fact, trying to keep up to date with all of the current parenting guidance and best practices can be a minefield. Even parents who have teenagers and have been parenting for quite some time can feel a bit overwhelmed with what they are supposed to do.

 

As a result, it is really critical that you try and keep up with the changing world and become a modern parent who is able to deal with all of the trials and tribulations that the modern world brings to your children. Only then will you be able to keep them as safe and secure as possible. Using Talkspace is a great option also!

 

Ready to change your parenting style for the better? Here are the new parenting rules for 21st-century parents. Hopefully, they will help you improve your parenting skills so that you are ready to take on this changing modern world.

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Always Use Parental Controls

 

Lots of parents try and restrict their young children’s use of technology. It might be easy enough to keep it away from toddlers, but there is going to be a point (often a lot sooner than expected) when you are going to have to give in and let your kids use your devices. In fact, some parents are happy to let their young children get used to smartphones and tablet devices as it can teach them some key tech skills that they might need later on in their life. However, when you do have over all of this tech, you should always take advantage of the parental controls that are available to make sure your kids aren’t exposed to any age-inappropriate content. Lots of broadband suppliers, such as i3 Broadband now offer family-friendly packages that make it easy to control what your kids see and what they are kept away from. Once you have your parental controls locked down, you will find that you can leave your kids to browse the internet and play games without too much to worry about.

Set Passwords Yourself

 

Whenever your child needs to set up an account online for whatever reason – maybe it is to play a game, for instance – you should always be there when they do this. It is also necessary that you set their passwords for them. That way, you will always have access to their account and so can keep an eye on their online activity. You might be worried that this could count as an invasion of privacy, but that really isn’t the case. After all, it is a lot better to double check on what they get up to online when you aren’t watching to make sure that they are safe and protected from any pedophiles and cyberbullying. Just remember that once they start to get older, you will need to step away and let them create their own passwords so that they know you trust them. But while they are still under ten-years-old, it’s always necessary to track their passwords.

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Communicate Well With Their School

 

It is always important that parents and their children’s schools communicate well with one another. This ensures that both parties are well aware of any issues that the child may be going through at home and in the classroom. Not only that, though, but this also gives you a chance to find out all about the school rules regarding technology. Not every school may be happy about their pupils taking smartphones in with them. If this is the case, you need to be aware so that you can stop your child taking any prohibited tech in with them. It’s also a good idea to find out what your child has been learning in their IT lessons so that you can reinforce these lessons at home when they use tech and computers at home.

 

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Step Away From Social Media

 

Children always learn best through example. So, it is always necessary for you and your partner to be shining examples in everything that you do that your children see. That way, they will find it a lot easier to pick up good habits from the both of you. This also counts when it comes to all things tech as well. One great thing that all parents need to start doing is to step away from their social media accounts. If your kids grow up to see you attached to your Facebook or Twitter apps on your phone, then they will think that this is an incredibly normal thing to do. They will then pick up this habit and grow up addicted to social media. So, be sure to put your smartphone away when you are around your kids. Not only does this prevent them getting into any bad habits themselves, but it also helps you focus your attention on them so that you can spend some quality time together as a family.

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Don’t Post Photos Of Your Child Online Without Their Consent

 

Right now there is a big debate raging about whether it is ethical or not to post photos of your children online on the likes of Facebook and Instagram. There is a growing group of people who argue that it is never ok to do so as it is impossible to get informed consent from children who are under the legal age. After all, they might end up embarrassed when they get older by some of the pictures that were circulated of them online. Some parents also prevent their children’s pictures from being posted anywhere online to prevent any privacy risks or their image being stolen in identity theft. So, you need to really think carefully about how you handle your photographs of your kids and whether or not you post them online.


Don’t Leave Your Kids Alone With Tech

 

There is probably no wonder that many parents really worry about the effects of technology on their children. Not only can heavy use of tech become quite addictive, but it can also pose a danger from external threats, such as hackers, criminals, and sexual predators. There is one easy way around this, though – just don’t leave your children alone with any technology. You should always supervise children who are under ten years of age when they are using any devices or computers. Pre-teens and young teenagers should also be carefully monitored, though it is not necessary to watch over their shoulder at all times. After all, you need to start giving them some space so that they can learn about being responsible tech users on their own.  

 

Don’t Expose Them To On-Demand TV Too Early

 

For some parents, on-demand TV channels are an absolute godsend. That’s because they can put on an episode of Peppa Pig whenever their kids want to watch it – it’s no longer necessary to wait until the show is scheduled to be on TV and you also don’t need to spend a lot of money to buy the DVDs. However, even it’s important that you don’t introduce on-demand TV to your kids while they are still very young. Otherwise, they might simply end up demanding the TV all the time! This could be very stressful for you as they might start to throw a tantrum when you say now. So, it’s a good idea to wait until your kids are old enough to understand that they can’t watch TV all day every day. That way, your on-demand TV won’t become such a burden.

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Don’t Google Your Child’s Symptoms

 

We all know about Dr. Google and I daresay that a few of you might have even used him to look up some of your own symptoms at times when you have been under the weather. However, it is really important that you don’t do a Google search for any symptoms that your child starts to show. This will only cause you to panic a lot when there might not be anything to worry about. So, instead of heading over to Google at the first sign of a child’s illness, you should instead simply book an appointment with your family doctor. They will examine your child and be able to prescribe any necessary medication and treatment. That way, you won’t have to worry about using Google to misdiagnose your child. So, remember – when in doubt, you should always go straight to your family doctor.

 

Hopefully, all of these rules for 21st-century parents will help you bring up your children into responsible and respectful adults. Good luck!

Filed Under: Educational, Family

Improve Your Quality Of Life

April 13, 2018 1 Comment

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Some people’s quality of life is amazing. They can go wherever they want, free from any aches, pains, or even just setbacks. But some people are the complete opposite, and just getting out of the house is a struggle. But it’s not just health, the quality of life people can have is largely determined by the income they have, and the way in which they have been brought up. It can also be determined by the quality of life you believe you’re having, and how much you actually enjoy life on a daily basis. However, it doesn’t matter what your beliefs are; there’s always something that could be improved. At the end of the day, life is far too short to be held back by a quality of life, especially when there are so many things you can do to improve it. Here are just a few ways that we think your life could be completely transformed.

 

Is Your Health Holding You Back?

 

Health is probably the number one factor to consider if you feel as though your quality of life isn’t the best. Most of the time, the way we treat our bodies determines whether we’re going to be held back. There are some people who treat their bodies like a temple. They’re at the gym every other day, eating healthy every single day, and maybe having a little treat here and there come the weekend. These are the people you want to try and be like, but obviously, not everyone has the self-control to be like this. The people who might be being held back a bit in life are the ones who don’t seem to look after their bodies as well as they could do. If this sounds like you, there are a few things that you need to change that could seriously improve the quality of your life. First, you need to focus on your fitness routine. Fitness plays a big part in how you feel overall. Despite popular belief, exercise doesn’t tire you out, it gives you more energy in the short term and makes you feel absolutely amazing after doing a bit of exercise. Endorphins are released from the body during exercise, and it’s these endorphins that give you that rush of a good feeling. Although actually having the motivation to get up and go to the gym is the biggest problem people face. If you do manage to go a few times a week, you’ll notice improvements in your weight, muscle tone, and overall energy throughout the day. Plus, a good work out a few hours before bed will knock you right out when it comes to sleeping.

 

Then you’ve got the things that we just can’t help that could be holding you back. These are the things that happen to us as we age, and when they do, they can be rather frightening. All of the sudden we aren’t the young spring chicken we used to be and things just seem to start falling apart. One of the most common is the loss of hearing of sight. Not a complete loss, but if you’re noticing a reduction in hearing, for example, it might be worth considering what options are out there for you. A lot of people hate the thought of having to wear a hearing aid due to them being on display all of the time. But companies are now working to reduce the size, but increase the effectiveness of their products. This 2018 guide to buying TV Ears will show you the best ones you can get for general everyday use. If you’re noticing your sight decreasing, then things might be a bit easier to sort. All you’ll need to do visit your local opticians and have a checkup. Again, people are reluctant to do so because they feel as though it’s giving into old age, especially if they’ve had the perfect vision all their life. Even though it’ll be a tad expensive, it’ll definitely be worth it in the long run when the quality of life is improved overall.

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Are Your Finances Holding You Back?

 

This is the main one for a lot of people. Money is everything, and there’s not much you can do without it nowadays. So to improve your quality of life, sometimes you need to find a way to take the stress away by removing financial issues. The best way to do this is to look at your spending and decide where you might be going wrong. A lot of people don’t realize how much money they’re wasting on rubbish all the time until they actually total up their monthly spendings. So, sit down and do a money plan, focusing on absolutely everything that you might need to buy on a monthly basis. We’re talking everything from food shops and household bills, to days out with the kids or a meal out with friends. What you’re left with is usually a lot of things that you can actually cut down on. For example, your TV box company. Some companies out there charge through the nose for additions such as movie channels, sports channels etc. Do you really need it all? The flat rate to just have normal channels could save you big bucks each month! Anything you can cut back on to give you a better quality of life, in general, is going to pay off. There’s no point being left with hardly any money left over to be able to treat yourself just so that you can have something as simple as a few extra channels each month!

 

Is Your Work The Problem?

 

Whether your quality of life is amazing, or whether you feel like there’s some room for improvements, work is always going to be a problem. We’re a slave to the system until it comes to retirement age, and sometimes that system is absolutely terrible to work for. Granted, there are a few people out there who get to live the absolute dream and have their dream job that they enjoy. But for the most of us, we really struggle with getting through the day and staying motivated. So, if this sounds like you, take a stand and find a reason to enjoy work again! If that means leaving your job, leave your job! There are so many different career paths out there that a person can take that will mean their whole quality of life is changed. Life is just far too short to be worrying about work and having to get up every morning to be there. Plus, you never know, some careers that you’ll find might end up taking you around the world, which brings us to our next paragraph.

Why Not Go Travelling?

 

Travelling is one of the most liberating and freeing things that you’ll ever do. But so many people get to old age and look back and think ‘I wish I actually gone traveling’. So many people waste the perfect opportunity to go and see the world. Instead, they’re stuck in work just waiting for their life to pass them by. Sound like you? Well, find a way to go traveling and go and do it. Don’t let money hold you back, you can always bar hop in different countries to bring in a little money. Or you could go freelance so you’re able to take your work with you wherever you go! Even if you go traveling solo it is still worth doing to get that excellent life experience. The people you meet along the way could well remain friends for life as well!

 

So, do you now feel as though you can improve your quality of life? Don’t spend life wishing you could, be proactive and make it happen!

 

Filed Under: Family, Lifestyle Tagged With:

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