Four Ways To Share Your Values With Your Kids

October 10, 2022 By Anne

The teenage years are a time of a lot of change and growth. Teenagers learn very quickly. Changes are happening very quickly. We can see the changes in our bodies and feel the changes in how we feel. We are amazed by how much more teens are able to think things through and understand how complicated the world is. Their morals and sense of right and wrong are also growing. Parents can help teens develop this way by letting them figure out their own values while showing them the values that are important to the family as a whole.

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash

What Values and Morality Mean

Morality is the set of rules that help us decide what is right and what is wrong. That tell us what to do even when no one is watching. Values are everywhere, and each family may have its own set. Some of the values we teach our kids are honesty, fairness, integrity, kindness, tolerance, compassion, and respect. Both what we do and what we don’t do shows what we value.

We learn about morals and values from a lot of different places and things, like religion, society, the government, cultural and ethnic traditions, and our own lives. But our families and other important people in our lives teach us the most. You should also talk to them about petty theft.

Parents’ Role

Parents need to set limits for their kids that they can’t cross. Setting rules about safety and morality lets young people make mistakes and learn how to get back on their feet. But the way we decide what is safe and what is right is not the same. Safety is a fact that can’t be changed. We need to make sure that our kids are not in danger of getting hurt. On the other hand, you can’t make someone have morals. It’s something we encourage when we teach our kids to think about what they value and what their actions might lead to.

These are not lessons that start in middle school or high school. When they are toddlers learning to share, we start to teach them about values. As they get older, we try to help them understand how what they do affects other people. We act in ways we want them to copy and put them in touch with people whose values we want them to notice. We sometimes show them the bad things that are going on in our communities to make them want to help fix the world.

All of this is done to help them grow up to be good people.

Communicating Your Values

It’s fine and even better for your teens to know what you think is important. The key is to explain why you believe what you do. Make it a conversation, not a lecture that says your way of thinking is the only right way. Ask what they think. Find out what’s important to them. Help them think about how they want to be seen over time.

Many of us make choices based on how they will make us feel in the moment or on how they will make us look to others. But this kind of attention doesn’t last. When we think about how our friends, coworkers, and family will think of us in the long run, we make different decisions in the present. Teens will be more likely to stick to their core values if they understand this.

Getting Clear On Their Values

Not every value your teen has will be the same as yours. Even if you are similar, it’s likely that you think a little bit differently than your parents. Our kids will learn to follow their own moral compass best when they know they are safe, but we also let them figure out what matters most to them in life. They need to know why you care so much about how they learn right from wrong. Your goal is for them to be the best versions of themselves and care deeply about other people.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Cooking Quality Meals Around Busy Family Life

September 29, 2022 By Anne

Image Source

Managing a family is no mean feat. Most parents find themselves running around doing something constantly. Whether that’s trying to balance work, the school run, chores, getting your kids to their clubs and hobbies on time or anything else, you’re going to be kepy busy most of the day, every day. This is manageable for most, but you do need to make sure that your family’s meals aren’t declining in quality in the process. Nowadays, a lot of busy parents find themselves leaning towards convenience foods for main family meals on too regular a basis. Junk food, fast food, takeaways, drive thrus, ready meals… sure, these may all allow you to fill your little one’s stomachs with minimal time and effort, but they’re not ideal. These types of foods lack nutrition and can contain too many saturated fats, too much sugar and too much salt. Instead, here are some ways that you can make quality meals around your busy family life.

Meal Plan and Meal Prep

The key to successfully providing your family with healthy meals, day in and day out, is meal planning and meal prepping. Meal planning involves coming up with what you’re going to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the week ahead, allowing you to head out and get all of the necessary ingredients in. Meal prepping involves preparing certain elements of the meals when you have time, helping to make cooking them easier and faster when the time comes to actually make the meal.

Make Do With Ingredients You Have

All too often, parents will go to make a delicious, healthy, wholesome meal, but find one ingreident is missing and don’t have time to head to the shops to pick it up. This can often result in the whole meal being thrown out of the window and the parents opting for something delivered instead. Avoid this. Instead, you can often replace particularly ingredients with something else you may have in the cupboard, or modify the recipe to make do without. You can find plenty of replacements out there, from chia seed mixes replacing eggs to sweetener to replace sugar or these are the top brown rice flour substitutes.

Have Healthy Snacks on Hand

If you’ve been out or busy all day and collect your kids from school, chances are, dinner isn’t going to be on the table as soon as they walk through the door. They are also likely to be hungry. So, instead of handing snacks that may overly fill them (causing them to leave their healthy dinner), or junk food that isn’t going to be good for them, you should make sure that you have plenty of healthy snacks around. This will allow you to temporarily satiate their hunger while you get on with making their main meal.

As you can see, you don’t have to compromise when it comes to feeding your family well around your other commitments and responsibilities. Hopefully, the guide above should help you to find a good balance that meets everyone’s needs!

Anne

How To Pull Off The Ultimate Pot Luck At Home

September 8, 2022 By Anne

A potluck is a great way to get friends and family together for a meal without having to do all the cooking yourself. But if you’ve never hosted a potluck before, it can seem like a daunting task. Here are some tips to help you pull off the ultimate potluck at your home.

1. Choose a theme

One of the first things you need to do when planning a potluck is to choose a theme. This will help you focus your menu and make sure that all the dishes complement each other. Some popular themes for potlucks include regional cuisine (like Italian or Mexican), comfort food, or seasonally-appropriate dishes.

2. Make a list of what you need

Once you’ve chosen your theme, it’s time to make a list of what you’ll need. This includes both ingredients for the dishes you plan to make and any serving items or utensils you’ll need. It’s also a good idea to ask each guest to RSVP with what they’re bringing, so you can avoid having too many of the same dish.

3. Prep ahead of time

One of the keys to a successful potluck is to prep as much as possible ahead of time. This includes chopping vegetables, pre-cooking meats, and making sauces or dressings. By doing some of the work in advance, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your own party.

4. Set the table

It’s important to have a beautiful and inviting table setting for your potluck. This doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, but it should be well-organized and appealing to the eye. Consider using color-coordinated place settings or festive tablecloths and napkins.

5. Make sure there’s enough food

When it comes to potlucks, it’s always better to err on the side of too much food rather than not enough. No one wants to leave a party feeling hungry, so make sure you have plenty of food to go around. This includes both main dishes and sides, as well as snacks and desserts.Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings is a definite must!

6. Offer non-alcoholic beverages

While some potlucks may revolve around drinking, it’s important to offer non-alcoholic beverages as well. This way, everyone can enjoy themselves regardless of their personal preferences. Some good options include soda, juice, and water.

7. Keep things organized

Another crucial element of a successful potluck is organization. This means having a plan for how the food will be served and making sure that all the dishes are labeled. You may even want to create a seating chart to avoid any confusion.

8. Don’t forget the music

No party is complete without music, and your potluck is no exception. Make sure to have some tunes playing in the background to help create a festive atmosphere. You can either use a streaming service like Pandora or Spotify or create your own playlist.

9. Make it a potluck-themed party

If you really want to go all out, you can make your potluck into a themed party. This can include decoration, games, and even prizes for the best dishes. By turning it into an event, you’re sure to please all your guests.

10. Cater for kids too

If you have kids, it’s important to make sure that they’re taken care of as well. This can include having a few kid-friendly dishes on hand or setting up a kids’ table with coloring books and crayons. Childminders can also be a welcome addition to potlucks with kids. By catering to the little ones, you’ll ensure that everyone has a good time.

11. Take photos

With all the delicious food and happy guests, your potluck is sure to be a success. Don’t forget to take some photos to capture the memories—you’ll be glad you did. Set up a photo booth or have someone designated to take pictures throughout the party.

12. Have fun!

Last but not least, don’t forget to have fun! Even though potlucks require some extra work on your part, they’re still meant to be enjoyable. So relax, enjoy the company of your friends and family, and savor all the delicious food.

Bonus Tip:

If you’re really short on time, you can always order food from a catering service. This way, you’ll still be able to host a potluck without all the stress. Just be sure to specify that it’s a potluck when making your reservation, so they know to expect multiple dishes.

There you go!

Potlucks are a great way to enjoy good food and company without having to do all the work yourself. By following these tips, you can be sure that your potluck will be a success. And who knows, it might even become a new tradition.

Anne

4 Tips for Moving Abroad with Your Family

August 20, 2022 By Anne

The thought of moving abroad can be exciting, especially if you are going with your loved ones. It is always amazing to visit new places, learn about new cultures and interact with people from different backgrounds. So it’s not surprising that 8.7 million Americans are living abroad. Whatever the reasons, you want to make the relocation a positive experience for your family. Below are some top tips to consider when moving abroad with your family.

Do your homework

Image Credit

Researching is crucial for moving from your home country to unfamiliar territory. Even for the adventurous family, you can’t skip this step. Learning about employment, education, lifestyle, healthcare, culture, and things to do is advisable. The internet offers many resources to learn almost everything you need about a new country. However, never limit your research to travel websites and brochures, as they will only paint a rosy picture of the destination. If possible, contact other foreigners, ideally those from your own country living there, and ask specific questions.

Go on a test trip

Moving with family can be a rollercoaster. You can never be sure how prepared your family is, especially if you have young kids. It makes sense to take them on holiday to the country you intend to move to. A test trip can be extremely beneficial if you are unfamiliar with the location and uncertain how your family will respond to living there. Even if for a brief time, you can still learn much about what to expect when you move. It is worth mentioning that many people usually focus on the positive aspect of a new area when on vacation. However, the experience could be different when living there permanently.

Consider the housing type

Housing type may vary from country to country. For instance, residential properties in some countries may offer more amenities than others. So before you move, learn about the housing types available in the destination you are moving to. You will also have to consider your lifestyle and how your family will be affected. For example, if your family is accustomed to living in a large house with a garden, they may dislike the idea of living in a flat or apartment when they relocate. Moving to a condominium building with new amenities can be more appealing. Home-hunting can be complicated, especially when you are a foreigner. Fortunately, you can do a few things to make the search easier, including hiring an estate agent.

Make your house a home

Image Credit

Most ex-pats may have to wait longer for their belongings to be shipped to their new country. However, you can expect your possessions to be moved faster when using reliable moving services such as North American Van Lines and many others. Until then, you can use the time to relax and explore your new environment. Afterwards, you can focus on making the new house your home and help your family readjust and build positivity and excitement about their new city.

Amid the chaos of the move, you can restore some normalcy to your life by adhering to traditions and routines from your previous residence. For example, you can have a meal together like a family, share family rituals, and stick to routines that help your family feel more together.

Anne

Finding Help For Your Elderly Relatives

August 17, 2022 By Anne

If you have some elderly relatives in the family who you think might need some help from time to time, you are not alone. This is a situation that most of us are going to be in at some point or another, and it’s just one of those phases of life that you need to learn how to deal with effectively and get through in style. As it happens, there are a few things that you might want to consider when it comes to finding help for your elderly loved ones, so let’s take a look at some of those in some detail right now.

Image Source – CCO License

Speak To Them

The first thing you need to do again and again is to make sure that you are speaking to them, to figure out what it is that they want and need so that you can make sure you are actually providing it to them in the way that they need it. This is not always easy to ensure, but you are going to need to think about what you can do to make it easier to manage. As long as you are speaking with them often, you’ll be more likely to get an honest response, and that is obviously the most important thing in helping to figure out how to help them best.

Look At Your Options

There are so many options available when you are looking for some help for a loved one, and you’ll need to consider what the specific situation is and what they actually need in order to work out what’s most appropriate for them. For instance, it might be that they just need a standard domiciliary care worker, or they might prefer to go down a different route, such as a consumer directed personal assistance program. In any case, it’s important to look at the options together.

Be Patient

It might be that it takes a while to find exactly the help that they need, and in a sense you are really just going to need to be a little patient if you can. This is a really important thing that you need to consider, and it’s one of those situations where a little patience goes a long way, so make sure that you are bearing that in mind and that you do everything you can to get through the situation as a family. That is going to help everyone involved in a big way.

Image Source – CCO License

Offering Help

Of course, you might also want to offer help yourself, although this may or may not be possible, depending on a variety of factors to do with your personal situation. However, the important thing is that you are offering help in such a way that you should be able to know that they are able to ask you if they should need it, and that is the most important thing of all. Offer your help where you can, and you know that you are doing all you can for them.