Tag Archives: parents

Sep25

Protecting Your Nearest And Dearest From The Pitfalls Of Ageing

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Protecting Your Nearest And Dearest From The Pitfalls Of Ageing

When we were young and vulnerable, our adult loved ones cared for us, fed us, and clothed us, and it is the way of life that we look after them as they proceed through the aging process. However, caring for an ageing relative can be something riddled with pitfalls and difficulties. To find out more about these and how to avoid them, read on:

Declining Health: Declining health is the most obvious pitfall that you want to protect your ageing loved ones from. So what can you actually do to help them stay in tip-top condition in their twilight years? It’s going to take a partnership between the both of you for the best results.

First, you will need them to take as much responsibility for their health as possible by eating well, exercising sensibly, and keeping up with medical appointments. You can help by being there to support and educate, if necessary, when they need it.

Something else that you can do to have a more direct role in helping is to look at websites like medicalert.systems with them. This is where you can get some information on medical alarms. These can really assist in keeping your loved ones safe if they have a medical emergency and you are not able to be there immediately to help.

Declining Mental State: Unfortunately, it’s not just physical health that can decline during your nearest and dearest’s twilight years. It’s also their mental health. This can be in terms of things like Alzheimer’s and dementia, which you can find out more about at webmd.com. As well as more general mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, which are sometimes brought on by isolated living conditions and going through the aging process.

Remember, as their physical health declines and people around them are passing away or moving into sheltered accommodation it can be very easy for your older relatives to become more isolated in their own home.  Seeing fewer people as time goes on can make it more likely that they will struggle with mental health issues as discussed at onlinelibrary.wiley.

To help in this situation, you can provide a regular schedule of contact for your ageing relatives, so they know that they will get to go out and see people that are important to them at least once a week. You can also encourage them to get involved in community programs, which will help to minimize isolation and allow them to make new friends.

Dementia isn’t quite such as easy of an issue to deal with, though. The best course of action here is to seek medical assessment and get some specialist help as soon as possible. As a residential setting may be the safest option.

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❤

Those Seeking To Take Advantage: Sadly, there are those in the world that seek to take advantage of the frailties of your loved ones as they age. This means that protecting them is a vital part of helping them to work through the pitfalls of ageing.

Help them keep up to date with the latest scam techniques, such as the ones mentioned on itv.com, both in the real world and online. Do be sure to do it in a sensible way that doesn’t scare them and feed into the isolation that is mentioned above. Offer too, to be around whenever they have consultations for work on the home done or a sale’s pitch so that you can help protect them against unscrupulous salespeople or con artists.

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Pixabay Image

Aging can be a sad and difficult process, but the above tips can help ease some of those hardships to make it all around more enjoyable for you and your loved one.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Aug17

#blessed

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#blessed

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! This post is about to be TMI so if reading about female hygiene problems grosses you out, then feel free to tune in with a new addition of If The Shoe Fits tomorrow! I won’t be offended, I promise.

Okay, so the other night I was so excited because I had on my brand new Calvin Klein sleep pants. If you forget what they look like, here they are:

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They’re cute, right? Really, really white, right? The type of pants that you wouldn’t want Aunt Flo visiting you in, right? Well, of course, that’s what happened. The sequence of events went like this:

  1. I changed into my pajama pants.
  2. I made it a point to announce to everyone in my home how happy I was about said pajama pants.
  3. Promptly did a little twirl to show off.
  4. Sat down to watch TV after realizing that no one cared.
  5. BOOM. Started my period. -___-

After realizing that a really unfortunate “accident” happened on my brand new white jammies, I didn’t know what to do. My mom wasn’t home, so I couldn’t tell her and hear her sage advice. And my dad gets upset whenever I ask him to shave the back of my neck compliments of my short hair, so I knew he wouldn’t be of any help. But, boy was I wrong.

The thing about my dad, is that he HATES 1) Talking about bodily functions and 2) When I use the washing machine. The few times that I’ve tried to do laundry, I royally messed it up and after those unfortunate incidents, my dad doesn’t want me anywhere near an expensive piece of technology. With this knowledge, can you imagine approaching my father with a period related laundry problem? Yeah, yikes.

So, instead of using the washing machine without asking, I casually changed my pants, applied stain remover to the problem area, and asked my dad, “Do you know how to get stains out of white clothes?”. Of course, my dad had to ask, “Well, what kind of stain is it?”. I literally didn’t know what to say. Honestly, I think I would have preferred to tell him that I peed my pants. ANYTHING but my period. I shuffled my feet for at least five seconds and finally said, “It’s blood, if you really have to know”.

And what did my dad do? If you’re thinking that his head exploded from the sheer shock that his adult daughter was menstruating, then you’ll be surprised to know that he calmly replied with, “Okay, did you put stain remover on it?”. He then proceeded to ask me what material the pants were made out of and then GOOGLED “how to remove blood stains from cotton clothes”. Like, what?

My dad then walked me through, step by step, how to use the washing machine and how to remove the stain according to Google. How to presoak the pants, that I should put more stain remover on after the soak, which setting I should wash it on next, how to dry it without the pants shrinking. Every step in the dance of removing a period stain from white pants, my dad covered in detail.

And guess what? It worked! Thanks to my dad helping me and keeping a level head, the stain out of my WHITE pajama bottoms was gone. I was shocked, but after it happened, I don’t know why I thought that he would have reacted any differently. I think my dad saw that I really just needed help and taken care of. I’ve had a rough few weeks and instead of telling me to figure my woman problems out myself, he taught me how to handle it.

My dad faced his fears of 1) Me being within a foot of the washing machine and 2) Me talking about my body problems because he saw his daughter in distress. I don’t know, this just really showed me the man that my dad is so clearly and it was special to me. I put him in an awkward situation and he handled it in the way that I so desperately needed. I love my parents so much, but I’m genuinely happy that my mom wasn’t home so that my dad and I could tackle this #periodproblem together.

I feel so #blessed about my Aunt Flo scenario, but I think I’ll be waiting until after my period is done to wear my new sleep pants again! Has anyone ever had an awkward moment with their parents that brought you closer together? How do you beat the period blues? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul5

New Earrings Surprise

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New Earrings Surprise

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! I hope that all of you are having a fabulous week so far. So this past weekend my mom surprised me and my sister with new matching earrings and they are SO pretty. She got my new little beauties from Target and I was pleasantly surprised because they are pretty hit or miss with their jewelry selection, in my most humble opinion. My mom hit the nail on the head with these dangling darlings so take a look and let’s discuss:

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^^^ Love.

It’s nice to know that my mom didn’t break the bank with these eight buck beauties for me and my sister. But, it’s even nicer to know that she saw these and thought of us enough to actually buy them. Little gifts and surprises like my new earrings make me so happy because everyone likes to be thought of every once in a while. To come home to my mom saying that she bought something special just for me automatically gave me the warm fuzzies. And I’m even warmer AND fuzzier considering that I’m beyond obsessed with my terrestrial themed earrings! :*)

I LOVE YOU, MOM!!!!!!!! ❤

So there you have it, my New Earrings Surprise compliments of my darling mama! What is your favorite gift that someone has given you? How do you like to surprise your loved ones? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun29

EducHate – Why Does Your Kid Hate School (& How Can You Fix It)?

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EducHate – Why Does Your Kid Hate School (& How Can You Fix It)?

Most children will fool their parents into thinking that they’re ill at one point or another. Moreover, most kids will probably experience the fear of going to a certain lesson after forgetting to do their homework. These things are natural. What isn’t right, however, is when a child wakes up dreading to go to school on a daily basis. If this situation has crept into your household, you must find a quick solution.

The root of those problems could come from one of many sources. Pinpointing the reasons behind your child’s fear will soon give you a far better chance of rectifying the problem. Here are some of the most common troubles, along with a suitable solution:

Struggling With The Work: School isn’t supposed to be a walk in the park, and it’s good that your child needs to work for positive results. However, if they’re falling behind, it can leave them fearing the worst. Not only will it stop them from getting good grades, but they could fear it’ll upset you, too. Being supportive is key.

Different children learn through different methods. While some learn by listening, others need a more active approach. Alternatively, your child might retain information that they’ve read. Appreciating those methods is vital. Meanwhile, write my essay for me services can help your child transform their knowledge to paper in a more technical manner. In many cases, just taking one step to accommodating their learning style can make all of the difference.

Struggling To Make Friends: Education isn’t all about academic progress in the classroom. Human interaction and the development of key communication skills are equally important. Unfortunately, some kids struggle to ever master this aspect of their school life. Worse still, the effects can be quite catastrophic.

At the worst end of the scale, your child may be getting bullied. Knowing how to help your son or daughter through this difficult period is essential knowledge for all parents, especially since no kid is immune to it. Most situations can be solved, but you shouldn’t rule out the possibility of changing classes or schools if that’s something that the child wants. A positive learning environment is something that everyone deserves.

In many cases, though, it’s simply a lack of confidence that has disrupted a child’s ability to make friends. Help them find a hobby that enables them to gain friends outside of the classroom, and the results should influence their school life, too.

Struggling With The Long Days: For youngsters, the school day can be tiring. However, it shouldn’t be so knackering that they cannot function properly. If this has become an issue, a few lifestyle upgrades should get your child back on track.

The importance of sleeping patterns cannot be emphasized enough. Encourage your child to get a better quality of rest, which will ensure that they wake up with far greater energy levels. Meanwhile, improved nutrition and hydration can also work wonders. As they say, a healthy body breeds a healthy mind.

Every child can agree that school isn’t their favorite sometimes but helping to make their school days easier can make a huge difference in their experience.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jun26

Bully-Proof: What to Do If Your Child is Being Picked On

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Bully-Proof: What to Do If Your Child is Being Picked On

When you first have kids, you like to think that you will always be there to protect them from any negative situations that may arise. But when they start school, that is a big part of the day where you can’t be there to supervise them.

Some school issues are minor and can be dealt with in a single conversation while others are more serious and may require an education lawyer. Bullying is certainly one of the trickiest problems to handle, but it is something that a lot of kids go through at one time or another (I did!). Here are a few steps to take if your child is going through a bullying problem:

Listen to Your Child: The first thing to do is to listen to your child about what has been going on. Sometimes, they won’t come to you directly, but you should look out for any signs of emotional distress, like becoming particularly quiet and withdrawn. When you are listening to them, try to avoid becoming too emotional, but instead you should try to calmly reassure them that this is not their fault. Of course, some action needs to be taken but you need to think about the right thing to do before rushing in headfirst.

Things to Avoid: The reaction that most kids dread is that you go immediately to speak to the head teacher or the bully’s parents. And you should also avoid telling them to hit or call names back as this can cause the problem to quickly escalate. And definitely avoid dismissing the experience as just something they have to go through when they are growing up. School should be a safe haven for kids, not somewhere that they dread going because of being bullied.

Helping Your Kids Deal with the Issue: Many bullies are looking to draw a reaction out of the kids they pick on, so try to encourage your child to appear confident even if they don’t feel it. If your child gives the impression that they aren’t bothered by what is being said, the bullies are more likely to get tired of it and move on. Encouraging your kids to join some social or sporting activities can help to boost their confidence when they are at school.

Getting Support From the School: If the issue continues, it may be time to get support from the school. The anti-bullying policy varies from place to place, so you should look up what your child’s school is before taking action. You should always make an appointment with the teacher you want to see rather than turning up unexpectedly. Find out how they think is best to proceed and make sure to follow this up to see how successful they have been.

Dealing With Your Own Feelings: You will probably have a whole range of emotions going through your system, so you should try talking with people who are close to you and get advice from a range of different sources. If you know parents whose kids have also gone through this issue, they may be a good place to start.

A child’s education is so important and a bully standing in the way of that is something that should never be tolerated!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May14

Happy Mother’s Day!!

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Happy Mother’s Day!!

Hello everyone and a Happy Happy Mother’s Day to all of the lovely people celebrating today. I’ll keep this post short and sweet so that you can get on with your brunches, walks in the park, and other Mother’s Day activities. But I just wanted to give a big lifewithlilred thank you to all of the mamas out there. Whether you’re a mom to children, your pets, a foster parent, or are in the process of trying to conceive or adopt – this day is all for you! Thank you for all that you do and for giving the world a dose of the love and care that only a mother can provide! Much love. -Sarah

May12

A Parents And Teacher’s Guide To Teenage Depression

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A Parents And Teacher’s Guide To Teenage Depression

As a parent or teacher, we know that it is normal for teenagers to be moody and sullen. However, it is important to understand when this becomes something more serious. It is a sad fact that the suicide rate in young people is growing, so as a concerned adult you need to recognize the symptoms of depression and understand the pressures your children might be facing.

It may be that you already work in the field of mental health, are considering a career in doing so, or taking one of the masters in clinical mental health counseling programs. Parents, teachers, and counselors are on the front line when it comes to caring for children, and it is vitally important that you know how to help when they are suffering inside. Depression sucks, and here’s a few of the reasons of what might be causing it in your children, students, or friends:

Causes of Depression: Medically speaking, there is still no real evidence as to what causes depression. Genetics may play a part, as is a chemical imbalance in the brain. For the teenager, there are certain factors that can contribute. These include:

Self-Image: Every day, children are bombarded with messages from the media, peers, and social networking on how they should look, feel, and conform. Many young people suffer from body issues when they unrealistically compare themselves to the airbrushed models in magazines and online. If they are not the right weight or don’t have the right clothing, this can be a great source of stress for the teenager, especially when they face bullying because of it.

School: We all know how hard school can be (as if we needed reminding!). It is supposed to be a place of learning and growth, however, for some young people, the only knowledge they are getting is that they are not good enough. Fitting in with peers, broken relationships, dealing with too much homework, studying for tests and exams, and preparing for colleges can add a huge amount of stress into your child’s life.

Bullying is a major issue that can affect children physically and mentally. With the rise of social media, so much bullying is done online, with vile private messages and the posting of personal pictures, which the child has no control over. This can give off the illusion of nowhere being safe for the child.

What can you do? For starters, be there to offer support. They may not tell you how they are feeling, but encourage them to talk when appropriate. Symptoms of depression include moodiness, withdrawal from family and friends, lack of passion in things that they normally enjoyed doing, and mood swings. Some of these are normal for a teenager as their bodies change, but they could also be warning signs.

When you talk to your child or student, be open and listen to what they have to say. Do not judge or say something glib, such as ‘snap out of it’ (smh!!). Share your concerns with a doctor and other mental health professionals to ensure that the child receives the help that they need to get them back on track and smiling again.

Featured Image By: Vimeo

Mar22

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

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Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! Today is a special day because it’s my mommy’s birthday!! As I’m sure that you guys have gathered by now, my mom is basically my best friend. We love to hang out together, cook, watch movies, go shopping, pet dogs, and play Scrabble. My mom is easily one of my favorite human beings on the planet and everyone who has the honor of knowing her feels similarly. It’s hard not to!

I am so thankful for having a mom who is as funny, smart, wonderful, and perfect as mine. Not to mention how caring, supportive, and encouraging she is. I can always count on good ol’ JANE to be there when I need to talk and am appreciative to have a mother who is a fantastic listener. No matter how my mom and I spend our time together, I always enjoy it because I am seriously in the best of company when I’m with her. I love you so much, mommy!

Happy Birthday!! ❤

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Jan9

The Tides Will Turn; Helping Elderly Parents Get The Best Life

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When you’re young, you rely on your parents for everything. Food, money, shelter, and love. As you get older you start to provide for yourself or you find other sources to provide these needs. You get your love from a husband or boyfriend, you find your own income, and you buy your house. But as your parents age, they may become less independent, and this can be difficult to deal with. It can be hard to see your parents lose who they used to be. They need your help now, they need you to, at least in some ways, look after them. If you don’t do this, as your parents get older, they might struggle to get the quality of life that they deserve. What can you do to ensure that they get the life you want them to have?

Pay Them Back: Over the past few years, you have probably found that your parents contributed a lot to your life, financially. They might have paid part of your college bills, helped you buy your first home, or put down the deposit on that new apartment. They may have acted as a guarantor and ensured that if you couldn’t pay your bills, you wouldn’t be left out on the street. It’s possible that they never asked for anything in return, they never requested that you pay them back.

However, one day they might need money from you, particularly after they retire. They might need to borrow from you to maintain their home. Or, they might need help moving to a different location. You should be willing to help them financially in this type of situation. You might be surprised how difficult this decision becomes as you get older. You might have your own financial commitments and needs. But, you just have to remember what they did for you and how much you really do owe them.

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Flickr Image

Help Them Move Forward: At a certain age, it’s not practical or sensible to live in a home with two floors. You need to think about moving to a bungalow and before you make this decision for yourself, you’ll have to help your parents make the same choice. Many parents will push against this idea and keep a home they are used to for as long as possible. They don’t want to feel old and won’t tell you that it might actually even hurt to walk up and down the stairs. At that stage, you have two options. You can help them change the home to make it more suitable. Or, you can help them move, but they will need your support either way.

You might even find that the best option for them is a retirement home. This should be their choice unless they aren’t fit to make it. In that situation, you might have to step in. Be aware that there are plenty of nursing homes like Anglican Care that provide luxury accommodation to elderly parents. You just need to help them find the right place for them to live that will suit all their needs. Please keep in mind that this is a highly sensitive topic to bring up to your parents and should be handled with care. Look into tips for navigating the assisted living discussion as well as asking friends who have been in a similar situation for advice. This is something that should be talked about as lovingly and gracefully as possible.

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Pixabay Image

Keep Them In Your Life: Last but not least, your parents will need more than just emotional support. One day it will be up to you to ensure that they stay an important part of your life. You’ll decide when you see them and when they see their grandchildren. It’s crucial that they feel connected to your life and who you have become. Otherwise, you might find your parents suffering from depression and other emotional issues.

Something that can be really helpful is setting a schedule for visits. It will give both parties something to look forward to and establishes a routine. It could be a family lunch every Sunday. Or perhaps bringing the grandchildren by for some weekly Bingo if your parents or loved ones are residing in Assisted living and memory care facilities. That would surely be a treat for all and the residents too to see little ones joining the game! Set a schedule, commit to it fully, and see the emotional benefits before your eyes.

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Pixabay Image

Dec29

New Coat Heaven!

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New Coat Heaven!

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday! On Christmas day I died and found myself in New Coat Heaven. If you read yesterday’s Monday Update: Holiday Haul Edition, you’ll know that my parents gifted me with a gorgeous new coat. If you didn’t know that – then now you know! I am so madly in love with my new beauty from Target that I just had to give it some extra special attention in today’s post. Take a look at this bad boy:

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^^^ Swoon. ❤

I’ve had my eyes on this stunning knee length coat from Target for over two months but it was quite expensive so I never would have bought it for myself. While my mom and I went on one of our monthly Target excursions, I pointed the coat out to her and tried it on. I modeled the coat, expressed my desperate interest, and then hung it up and put it away so we could continue our shopping. That shopping trip was Operation: Planting the Seed.

And believe me, the seed in my mother’s brain was planted, alright. When I was gifted with the Corella Deville coat on Christmas day, my mom told me that the day after our outing she went out and bought it for me for one of my presents. She said that if she didn’t do it right away then she would have forgotten the size I needed and she didn’t want it to get sold out. What a lady! ❤

I’ve been planning outfits in my head around this knock out of a coat for days now. The unveiling of my new winter garb will take place on New Year’s Eve, when Kyle and I go out for a date night to ring in 2016. I’m going to pair it with a beautiful, knee length, floral dress along with a killer pair of heels and of course, a bright red lip! Be on the look out for pictures!!

I really am in New Coat Heaven and I’m so thankful for the amazing gift compliments of my mom and dad! Who received new clothes for Christmas? What about new jewelry or accessories? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah