Mommy Has to Work

Tips for Creating a Fitness-Loving Household

November 18, 2021 By Anne

Physical fitness, and physically active pastimes, can be remarkably beneficial in all sorts of different ways – ranging from significantly improving health, to boosting mood, increasing resilience, and generating more enthusiasm and zest for life.

For many parents who have been bitten by the fitness bug, finding ways to get their kids interested in physically active pastimes from an early age is very important, not least of all because of the assorted long-term benefits that can come from a physically active lifestyle.

Here are just a few tips for creating a fitness loving household, where the whole family has a healthy appreciation for exercise.

Make regular physical activity a fun thing to do, rather a gruelling chore

First things first: if you want your whole family, and especially your kids, to enjoy regular physical activity, you need to make it a fun and appealing thing to do, rather than a gruelling chore.

Partly what this means, is that you should avoid high intensity and exhausting workouts that take serious willpower and energy to accomplish, and that leave the participants feeling totally drained and wiped out afterwards.

Instead, look for ways to get everyone physically active that are enjoyable in and of themselves. Things like playing catch in the garden, playing different sports or games, jumping around and dancing to music, and so on.

The more you can associate physical activity and exercise with joy and fun, the higher the likelihood that you’ll end up with a fitness-loving household.

Focus on supporting physical fitness and activity with good nutrition

Living a physically active lifestyle inevitably takes up quite a lot of energy, and can be exhausting – especially if you aren’t fueling your lifestyle properly.

Anyone who has ever tried to keep up a vigorous workout routine, while simultaneously dieting and cutting back their calories by a significant margin, can attest to this. Trying to be physically active when you aren’t eating enough, or aren’t eating enough of the right things, can be very draining and can require a lot of effort and willpower.

For this reason, it should be pretty clear that if you want your family to enjoy physical exercise, and a physically active lifestyle, it’s important to focus on supporting that physical activity with good nutrition all around.

Among other things, this means that you should emphasise filling, nutritious, home-cooked meals made from whole food ingredients, in addition to having a good portion of healthy carbohydrates in each meal.

Maintain set mealtimes, too, and try to eat meals together as a family wherever possible. Skipping meals, snacking throughout the day, or “grabbing lunch on the go” can all be very detrimental.

Extend these same principles to all members of your family, animal members included. After all, you can find great, high quality dog food online these days.

Look for regular opportunities to get active in the great outdoors as a family

There are plenty of great benefits associated with regularly spending time outside in nature, ranging from reduced stress, to increased overall health.

It’s no doubt largely for this reason that exercise that’s done in a natural environment seems to be even more beneficial than exercise done in the gym, or at home.

By looking for regular opportunities to get the whole family active in the great outdoors, you can make physical activity an even more uplifting and positive thing.

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!

The Proper Way To Handle A Death In The Family

November 15, 2021 By Anne

Whoever you are, you are going to find yourself tested greatly when someone in your family passes away. If you are also a parent, you are going to have the extra difficulty of having to explain to your children what has happened, and helping them through that emotional trouble can be tricky while you are going through it yourself. In this post, we are going to take a look at what you can do to ensure you are handling all of this as well as possible, by looking at some of the steps you should be following along the way.

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Talk To One Another

First things first, you should make sure that you are talking to the people close to you in your family, in particular your children if you have any, as they are going to need your help with understanding what is going on. And if they are in their teens or above, they might need some emotional assistance with all of this as well. The more that you are able to talk to one another, the sooner you can get through it and out the other side, so it’s important that you really are doing this in the right way. It makes all the difference in the world.

Start Making Preparations

One of the strange things about a death in the family is that you need to start doing all of those official duties, even while you are grieving and going through tough emotional times yourself. You have to start thinking about the funeral plans, whether that’s making sure you download piano sheet music to their favorite song or picking out a coffin. You’ll then need to think about registering the death and so on, and all of this usually has to happen quite fast indeed. So it’s best if you simply start making preparations as soon as possible to ensure that you can get it done right, and that will then be one more thing that you can cross off your list, freeing you to mourn.

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Take Time Off Work

Some people find it easier to continue with their work when they are mourning, as it gives them something to focus on. There is no right and wrong here, but you might want to think about doing all you can to consider deeply whether you need to take some time off work instead. It can be altogether more helpful if you are allowing yourself this time, and you might find that you recover emotionally more quickly and fully, so that is something to consider at least. If you run your own business, then it should be fairly simple to do this, but even then you need to make sure you are doing it right and not leaving anyone in the lurch. However, you also need to prioritise your own mental health.

Seek professional guidance

First, it can be challenging to deal with the emotions of losing a loved one. A professional can help you work through your grief and provide support during this difficult time. Additionally, there can be a lot of practical considerations to take care of after death, such as making funeral arrangements and dealing with the person’s estate. Where a professional like a Wrongful Death Lawyer can help you navigate other complicated issues and make sure everything is taken care of quickly and efficiently. Finally, dealing with the death of a family member can be highly stressful. Again, a professional can provide guidance and support to help you healthily cope with this stress.

If you can do all that, you should find that handling a death in the family is a lot simpler and easier to get right, and that you are going to be able to get back to normal much sooner. Don’t forget the really vital thing is to spend time with your loved ones.

Anne

Is It Worth Buying A New Car Yet?

November 9, 2021 By Anne

The lifespan of a car can decently reach twenty years for the most enduring models. And since the automotive market is a sector whose expansion never slows down, the choices in terms of models, makes, ages and budgets are numerous. It is difficult to do a comparative study yourself to find the most profitable, comfortable, ecological option. But there always comes a time when keeping your old car is more expensive than buying another. Some people sell parts of their car for new ones or scrap metal pick up for cash which can help you save up for a new car, but what is an old car?

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The trouble with older cars

The main quality of “old” cars is their robustness and reliability. As with many other sectors where technology is important, the reality of obsolescence (planned or not) is making itself felt. Cars of 15, 20, 30 years ago were designed to be not only strong and durable, but above all easy to repair. Anyone could, with a little toolbox and the necessary knowledge, do most of the maintenance of their car for years to come. But if this good old Peugeot 205 or this very first Renault Scénic seems to have a lot of good will to accumulate the years, the kilometers also accumulate on the odometer, and with them an inevitable wear of all the parts. And there comes a time when for several months in a row, mechanical parts stop working, leading to a hunt for car scraps.

New technologies, good or bad?

Give up your old vehicle for a new car, okay, but is new best? The most recent models are full of technological innovations, each more impressive than the last. Feats that improve the comfort, safety and ecological impact of cars as well. But all these new technologies and connected automatics have a very unpleasant dark side. By leaving more and more control to the on-board computer, we have less and less control over the maintenance of our cars. Now, it is impossible to do the oil change yourself, since without the “beacon” and the specific computer, we will not be able to update the level recorded by the car which will continue to alert on the maintenance to be provided. And the parts to be replaced, if they are easier to find, are often more expensive. But the future is ultimately going to be electric.

A used vehicle?

In fact, there is no right solution, it all depends on individual tastes and requirements, from those who prefer the authentic charm of a sedan or that brand new SUV with heated seats. Keeping an old car too long becomes voracious in maintenance costs, and changing regularly to new cars means managing the resale cycle well to limit losses.

By purchasing a model 3 or 4 years after its release, its price is reduced at least in half. And that already makes it possible to take advantage of recent innovations. Be careful, however, to always inquire about the maintenance given to the vehicle in its first life, which will have a definite impact on future costs.

Anne

The Powerful Connection Between School & Parents

October 20, 2021 By Anne

Schools and parents share a complex responsibility in the education of children. Indeed, while not all parents are teachers and not all teachers are parents, they both play an influential role in helping children find their strengths, manage their weaknesses, and define their plans for the future. Therefore, the right school needs to meet many criteria for parents, including the balance of education responsibility. Finding a school that can work with your family priorities and your schedule is no easy task. As a working parent, you might not realize that you’ve got a lot of choices. Here are some tips for working with your child’s school and supporting their growth as best as you can.

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Consider an online school

While it’s become hugely popular during the pandemic, online learning has been around for over 20 years. Online classes and lessons can be highly beneficial for children who struggle in a physical classroom. Introverted kids, who find it hard to cope with group discussions and the constant interaction of students and teachers during the day, can find peace with e-learning. Children are more relaxed and therefore can enjoy time with parents after class.

Additionally, children who require a unique schedule, either to learn at their own pace or to make time for other activities, can find self-managed online courses more suitable. They can also spend more time with their family without worrying about being late for school.

Be on the lookout for charter schools

Charter schools are unique because they present an independent resource for education, fully established by a public group. Unlike public schools, charter schools can operate outside of the typical regulations, providing families with another educational choice where the government does not mandate innovation and education. If you have no local charter school, you can seek online charter schools, which follow the same principles. Grades and academic results obtained in charter schools are recognized by the education system. However, children do not learn just to pass a test; therefore, the support they receive can contribute to personal growth. For parents who want more control over the education of their children, this is a fantastic option. It’s also beneficial to think about the impact of charter schools as your children get older, and how the right institution has a major impact on their development into adulthood. Depending on your religion, a Christian university might prove to be very useful as they can develop in a safe and supportive environment. Whatever your thoughts, a charter school can be a very great foundation.

Have a strict WFH schedule

Busy work-from-home mothers need to be organized with their daily schedule to ensure they can still make plenty of time for their children when they go to a public school. Public schools are not a bad choice, especially if you’ve carefully selected schools that perform well in terms of academic grades and student satisfaction. But juggling your priorities as a busy professional and a mom requires setting strict boundaries when your kids go to school.

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Homeschooling could help you teach new skills

For parents who want to make sure that kids are equipped with the right skills for life, homeschooling can be a fantastic opportunity to mix academic knowledge with everyday skills. Work-from-home or stay-at-home parents invest a lot of time and effort in building a homeschooling program that involves the curriculum and crucial life skills, such as cooking and budgeting. It’s also a great option for families who live in remote locations, so you can ensure that your children have access to education without the hassle of a long commute.

What are your expectations of school as a parent? There is the right school for every child out there. But the first step is to define what a good school should do for your family.

Anne

Take These Steps If Your Child’s Health Suddenly Changes

October 20, 2021 By Anne

A sudden change in your child’s health can be quite distressing as a parent. You might be worried that there is something seriously wrong. The good news is that the majority of the time, this won’t be the case. But you still need to make sure that you are taking the right steps from day one. Here are some of the possibilities that we do recommend that you keep in mind.

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Monitor The Situation

First, you need to make sure that you are monitoring your situation. A change to your child’s health shouldn’t be a cause for concern unless it lasts longer than two weeks. Alternatively, if the symptoms are quite serious. An example of this would be if your child’s temperature has risen and it isn’t coming back down with typical forms of treatment.

Run All The Traditional Checks

There are various checks that you can implement yourself when you notice a change to your child’s health before you consult a doctor. For instance, you should think about checking their temperature. Checking their temperature will make sure that you know whether your child is under the weather. It’s great if you have a baseline here or the typical temperature for your child that you can work with. You might also want to check your child’s temperature several times as this can change, even over a limited period. If it’s in flux, it’s probably not that concerning compared to a temperature that remains stubbornly high.

Try Some Basic Solutions

Next, you might want to think about trying some basic options that could help your child if they aren’t feeling too great. It’s possible that they are just hungry. This is something to keep in mind if your child has quite a slender form. If this is the case, then they likely have a high metabolism. This means that they will need a lot of food to provide them with the vitamins and nutrients that they need to ensure they don’t seem exhausted throughout the day.

Consult With A Doctor

Finally, you might want to think about checking with a doctor. Do be aware that you can get an opinion from more than one doctor if you are concerned about your child’s health. In fact, this is often encouraged. It will mean that you don’t have to worry about the issue of a misdiagnosis which can cause trouble for you further down the road. Medical malpractice lawyers often warn about the dangers of a wrong diagnosis and the impact that it can have on families in the long term. So, this might be something you need to keep in mind.

We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you should take if your child’s health does suddenly change. Remember, throughout development your child will experience a lot of changes and these aren’t usually going to be things that you need to worry about. But you still need to keep an eye on differences to your child’s health. Particularly if they catch you off guard.