Rebecca Alston, Author at Mamas Like Me

4 Things to Consider When Elderly Parents Choose To Live Alone

Witnessing your parents grow old, lose their strength, and eventually even their independence is never easy.

Images source: https://unsplash.com/photos/VyarWMe4C2A

Witnessing your parents grow old, lose their strength, and eventually even their independence is never easy.

Still, they seem to cling so hard to keep it, even when you’re unsure whether they are still capable of living on their own. Studies show that 90% of older adults prefer to live in their own homes, and unless they are completely incapable of deciding, we can only respect such a choice.

But there are ways we can help them out in this new stage in their life and make it less risky for them. Read on to find out what you can do and how you can make this new situation easier for both sides.

Home Adaptations

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We’ve all heard the gloomy statistics: one in four people older than 65 falls during a year, while every 19 minutes an elderly person dies as a result of such a fall. With age, mobility tends to decline, and the last thing your parents need is an injury.

To help your parents keep their independence as long as their health permits, one of the first things to consider is whether their home needs some adjustments. Even if your parents don’t have any critical issues with their mobility at the moment, talk to them about taking preventative measures.

Here are a few suggestions about adjustments you can consider:

Eliminate doorsteps.
Modify doors and hallways to make them wider.
Try to minimize the use of stairs by having a stairclimber or creating a single-level living space.
Ensure the stairs are clean and protected with non-skid treads.
Make sure the floor and all the pathways are clear to remove tripping hazards.
Add necessary changes to the bathroom: modify the bathtub into a step-in shower, add non-slip surfaces inside and outside the shower, grab bars, a shower chair, a raised toilet, etc.
Add extra lights and make the current ones easier to access.

If one of your parents has dementia or some other cognitive impairment, they’ll need more support to be safe at their home, so you will have to take some extra measures.

Health Care

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Most elderly persons take their medications daily, and it’s important to be sure that they are following the doctor’s directions. Especially when there are some clear signs of cognitive decline, impaired vision, or decreased mobility, which could result in their inability to follow their routine completely on their own.

If you notice any of those, make arrangements with your parents to go to their next doctor’s appointment together, and get more information on their health needs.

Also, try to find a solution that your parents will find suitable, whether that includes using pillboxes that they will keep right next to their bed or a phone call to remind them to take their meds.

Sometimes your parent is going to need even more support, including the presence of a caregiver – their spouse, another relative, or a professional, so it’s important to have such care arranged on time.

You also need to be prepared for the cases of emergency, should your parents need to be taken care of as soon as possible. Talk to them about installing a medical alert system for seniors, so that you can rest assured that they will get help and assistance immediately.

Meal Preparation

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A healthy diet is essential for the physical and emotional wellbeing of your parents.

If they live alone, your parents will eventually need some support with their grocery shopping and meal preparation to be able to maintain a proper diet.

There is also a number of ways you can accommodate the kitchen to better fit the needs of older adults, and make everything, including cookware, more accessible.

Meals on Wheels can also be a solution, but if they still don’t feel like choosing such an option, fortunately, you can have food delivered to their doorstep. Either way, you’ll save them, or yourself, the trouble of driving and waiting in long lines.

Emotional Wellbeing

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Living in their own home can make your parents happy only if their social and emotional needs are met too. Social isolation and loneliness are not uncommon in people of a certain age; as a matter of fact, more than a third of older adults in America admit to being lonely.

These factors pose a great risk to their quality of life and may result in many health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, depression, cognitive decline, etc.

These are the issues you also need to address when caring for your elderly parent, and they’re just as important as caring for their physical wellbeing.

Talk to your parents about how they spend their days. If you find that they are mostly homebound and that they lack interaction with others or meaningful activities, look for ways to provide them with support in being socially active.

At the end of the day, the thing that matters the most to our aging parents, aside from maintaining their dignity and independence, is knowing that they’re loved and cared for. Sometimes a simple phone call or a message to ask them how they are and whether they need anything will be enough to brighten their day. Make sure to do that every day, no matter how busy you are.

Changing Surname Step By Step Process

Even though not something that is done too often, changing your surname actually isn’t all that uncommon.

Even though not something that is done too often, changing your surname actually isn’t all that uncommon. Of course, people tend to have different reasons why they’re changing their surname, but it is certainly doable.

Now, how easy you can do it, and how the process goes, does depend on where you are. For example, changing your surname in the United States can sometimes be very different from changing your surname in the UK. Changing your name in the United States also varies from state to state. For example, if you’re in California, the cost of changing your name might be different than if you are in New York. Details like location and pricing are important factors to consider when changing your name.

That being said, how is it done? Well, if that’s what you want to know, we’ve got a step-by-step process for you. Before we get to it, though, let’s take a look at the different situations that will allow you to change your surname.

What is your surname?

Your surname is actually a part of your name that you have either inherited, from your parents, or assumed, as a kind of nickname. As such, it’s not a part of the name you’re “given”, whether in baptism or otherwise.

Just like with your first name, there is nothing in the law that’s going to stop you from changing your surname, at pretty much any time. All that’s required is for you not to have any kind of fraudulent or criminal intent.

You get to choose any surname you want and use it in addition to, or as a substitution for, your current surname. There are a few things that you should know about changing it, though.

The surname also isn’t someone’s right or property. Nothing can stop you from assuming someone else’s surname. There are multiple cases to prove this, such as Dubolay v Dubolay.

When can you change your surname?

Even though you can do it at pretty much any time (with some limitations), the most common occurrence of changing your surname is when you’re getting married or divorced. When you’re getting married to your spouse, you can choose between continuing to use your surname, taking your spouse’s, or using a combination of both. This, legally speaking, is no different from changing your surname with a deed poll.

Now, getting married doesn’t oblige you to change your name. Nothing is wrong with assuming your partner’s surname, as long as you don’t have any fraudulent intention, and as long as you aren’t fraudulently claiming you’re married, when in fact, you aren’t.

When getting divorced, you can either choose to keep your married name, or you can go back to your maiden name. Also, when getting married for the second time, you can also choose to keep the married name from your previous marriage.

Are there any limitations?

To prevent abuse, there are certain limitations to changing one’s surname. For example, if a child is under 16 years old, only one change of surname is allowed, as well as one change of forename. And if there is a registered change of forename in infancy, the child doesn’t have a right to change their forename until they’re 16 years old.

For persons that are 16 years old, or over, up to three changes of the surname may be recorded. However, again, to prevent abuse, there must be a period of five years between successive surname changes. Note that these laws apply in the UK, other places might have different limitations in place.

So, how do you change your surname?

As mentioned earlier, you can change your surname during marriage or divorce. If you do this during the marriage, you shall use your new surname when signing your marriage license. However, if it’s done during divorce, you can ask your attorney to take care of this for you, and they should be able to revert you to your maiden name.

If it is done outside of these circumstances, you can change your surname with a deed poll. A deed poll is a declaration of your intent to assume a change of your surname, and as such, is evidence that you have done the change in good faith. You can use the deed poll to update your documents and records, and thus show you’re using your name publicly.

That’s it – it’s actually quite a bit simpler than you might think, but changing your surname can be done pretty quickly.

Ways to Enhance Your Beauty as a Busy Mom

Moms that work and all moms, in general, don’t get enough credit for what they are doing, which is work all the time, and most of that isn’t paid it’s for the family. During the busiest and most stressful weeks, it looks like that moms work more than 98 hours a week. So it is super important to spend some time pampering yourself to feel as beautiful as you can.

Eat Healthy Snacks

During those hard busy days having snacks is important because if you don’t, you will get hungry. When hunger hits you, if you don’t have some healthy food near you, of course, you will eat whatever you can find near you. To avoid those moments, prepare some healthy snacks for the upcoming week. Having a healthy snack will give you more energy and keep you from gaining unwanted pounds, and most important of them all, it will make you feel more beautiful and good about yourself. These Lactation Bites are delicious bite-sized snacks that include wholesome ingredients and beneficial herbs to give lasting energy. They’re also full of antioxidants and galactagogues which help Moms produce more breastmilk.

Sleep As Much As You Can

As we all know, sleep is essential. Most moms get only 5 to 6 hours of sleep per night. But that is not enough rest for a woman that works all day every day. Not getting enough sleep will affect how much you eat, how you look and how you feel. Moms need beauty sleep too. It is very important that you get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. With a good night’s sleep, not only will your body be thankful, but your skin and face will have a magical glow.

Always Wear SPF

Most moms don’t have the time to go out on a ton of different moisturizers every morning. But wearing SPF will protect your skin from sun damage and skin cancer. So before you start skipping on putting SPF, look for BB or CC creams that have SPF in them, with that you are putting foundation and SPF at the same time. With this step in the morning, you will not only protect your skin, but you will also enhance your beauty.

Moisturize Your Hands

Moms are always cleaning, washing dishes, doing laundry, and because of that, your hands will suffer. Because of that, you need to be moisturizing them all the time. Put little tubes of hand creams into places that are easily reached, like your purse, car, desk drawer, or cabinet. Keeping up with moisturizing your hands will make your hands feel and look amazing. And we all know that ladies feel most beautiful if their hands are smooth and nice looking.

Save Time by Getting Eyelash Extensions

This is one of the best time-saving beauty tips for moms. Getting eyelash extensions, you are saving time every morning because you don’t have to spend time putting mascara on and putting fake eyelashes. Lash extensions are out in your current natural eyelashes. Many women who get lash extensions don’t wear any eye makeup at all, because they are such beauty on their own. They won’t leak and smudge as mascara will, and you will have fuller and more curled lashes. All you need to do is get high quality mink lash extensions, and you will feel the most beautiful even right after you get out of bed.

These are some easy, quick, and practical beauty tips and products in mind as you go about your hectic mom’s life. As a mom, you need to take a few minutes every day to take care of and pamper yourself, and that will do miracles for both your inner and outer self.

Guest Blogger Bio

Maggie Holmes is a passionate blogger keen on writing about beauty and fashion. Her exclusive hobby is to surf the net to find amazing articles that can inspire her with some fresh ideas for article writing. She loathes being a common person who wastes her time.

You can follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MaggieH04666334

How to Detox Your Beauty Routine in 5 Steps

Read on to learn more about beauty routine detox.

Our beauty routine changes as we get older, which is quite understandable considering that our needs aren’t the same when we’re teenagers, so it’s only logical to change products that we use. There are so many various beauty products, that choosing something appropriate shouldn’t be hard, yet the biggest issues with a lot of these products are their ingredients. Unfortunately, not many people know how to read them, so they often end up using products that can be quite harmful to their skin and hair.

Therefore, in order to get the maximum out of your beauty routine, it’s sometimes necessary to do a bit of detox so you can be sure that you’re using the right products, so for that reason here are some tips that will help you make that happen:

1. Cut out the fragrances

Fragrances (often labeled as “parfum”) are the staple part of almost every ingredients list, and their main and only purpose is to provide you with a pleasant smell and also to cover the smells from more aggressive chemical ingredients. Since almost everyone loves floral and fruity scents in their products, it’s easy to see why brands still stick to adding fragrances. Yet, for some, these same fragrances can be the cause of allergic reactions, so if you’re looking to detox your beauty routine, the safest place to start is to switch to skincare and haircare products that are completely fragrance-free.

2. Learn to read the ingredients

Reading the ingredients can be quite hard, especially if you weren’t that keen on chemistry lessons at school. But, in order to understand what your product consists of, you should at least learn to recognize the ingredients that could potentially be harmful to your hair and skin. Also, it’s important to remember that the ingredients are placed in descending order of concentration, meaning that the most concentrated ones are always on top, so if you ever see drying alcohol or parabens near the top of the list, it’s better to skip buying that product.

3. Focus on plant-based and organic products

There is a difference between natural and organic products, and it’s totally up to you to decide which is your cup of tea. Still, if you’re looking to change your beauty routine, it would be great if you could try using products that contain more plant extracts and fewer synthetic ingredients. This can be especially important when choosing hair care products, as they’re often full of complicated ingredients that tend to weigh your hair down and cause buildup on your scalp.

If you are prone to hair greasiness and buildup, then you should consider getting an eco-friendly and allergy certified oily hair shampoo that will leave your scalp clean and your locks bouncy and shiny. Aggressive shampoos can strip off your scalp of its natural oils which can only cause further oiling, as your scalp works to make up for everything that’s been lost by using a sulfate-heavy shampoo.

4. Determine your needs

Every person had different needs and preferences, so for example, a skincare junkie would find great pleasure in Korean 10-step beauty routine, while an ultra-busy mom who juggles multiple tasks will benefit from a simpler skincare routine. So, in order to make your beauty routine simpler, first, you need to realize what is that you need. If you’re too busy (or lazy), then there’s no point in buying too many products that you won’t use. The best tip would be to start with the basics and then add other products if you feel like you need them.

5. Don’t overspend

Some natural and eco-friendly products are a bit more expensive than the mainstream ones, but that price is mostly due to their quality ingredients and ethical manufacturing practices. Yet, there’s no need to overspend, especially if you’re unsure whether these products are the right for you. In case you want to try a certain cream or a cleanser, then it’s best to buy a mini or travel-sized bottle, as these are more than enough to make sure whether these products are worth buying or not.

In conclusion, detoxing your beauty routine is necessary, especially if you’re suffering from certain conditions that simply won’t go away. Still, reading the ingredients and monitoring your skin and hair are the best ways to make sure that you’re using the right products that are beneficial to you.

5 Things You Can Do To Stay Alive When Trapped In Fire

Getting out of a high rise building that is on fire can seem impossible. But if you stop panicking and start thinking straight you might find ways to protect yourself from the damage. Here are a few things you can do when trapped in fire:

Close all the doors and windows between you and the fire

If you are at a safe distance from the fire, make sure you close all the doors and windows that are between you and the fire. Fresh oxygen might make it easier for you to breathe, but it also feeds the fire and makes it grow. To block all the paths between the fire and you and seal out the smoke from entering the place where you are trapped.

Notify the fire authorities

Once you have secured your location, make it a point to notify the local fire authorities. Give them your address and let them know where you are trapped so that they can locate you efficiently. Installing a smoke alarm or a fire protection system like abv phel can help in detecting such fires before they cause any damage and will also signal the fire authorities to take action.

Cover the vents and cracks in doors and windows

Even after closing the doors and windows between you and the fire, you can still be exposed to some smoke if there are vents and cracks in them. So try your best to close these vents and cracks before the smoke causes any harm to your health. Look for blankets, towels, sheets, or any other cloth that you can use to block the smoke from getting through these vents and cracks. Run the cloth under cold water and stuff it around the cracks and vents. This will keep the smoke out until the rescuers come for you.

Help Rescuers Locate You

If you haven’t been able to call 9-11, wave a light-colored cloth or a flashlight at the window to signal rescuers. You can also hang a sheet or cloth outside the window. You can open the window slightly until the rescuers see you. But make it a point to close it back if the smoke condition becomes worse.

Filter the air that you inhale

Heat and smoke tend to rise up whenever a fire breaks out. Staying low will help you reduce the amount of smoke that you inhale. If this isn’t helping much you can even use a mask to filter the air that you inhale. You can also wet cloth and cover your nose and mouth with it if you don’t have a smoke mask. It may not be perfect, but it will still help you filter the air that you breathe until the rescuers save you.

One thing you should avoid at all costs when trapped in a fire is getting out through the roof. By doing so, you will only be exposing yourself to the rising smoke, while limiting the options of your rescuers to save you.

Ways to Tackle Common Household Allergens

Nowadays, our homes are filled with a lot of allergens makes our lives miserable. A home should be a place you feel safe and relaxed, but these allergens can prevent that. However, you can tackle the common allergens in your home in various ways.

Be smart when dusting

Mold, pollen, and dust particles are the most common allergens in our homes. During dusting, make sure that you start cleaning from the top toward the bottom. This helps in avoiding the dust from spreading to cleaned areas. Remember also that you will need more than a cloth or feather duster to remove dust. You can use damp microfiber cloths, as they will hold the dust. Clean blinds, curtains, and ceiling fans.

Remember the filters

Ensure that your filters are clean and in good shape. These include filters in the air conditioning units and air conditioning and heating system.

If you don’t have filters in your home, consider adding them. You can get an air filter with HEPA if you have a single room. You can turn your air conditioning and heating system into a filter system that serves the entire home.

Cover and wash your pillows

Pillows tend to host dust mites. You need washable pillow covers. You should wash them every three weeks. Some pillows can also be dry cleaned or washed every four months.

Clean your home often

Consider vacuuming your home with a HEPA filter every week. This will eliminate indoor allergens like pet dander and dust mites. When cleaning around the books section, use an electronic or microfiber cloth. This will trap the dust and not just move them around. Remember to use a filter mask when cleaning since dust will fill the air.

As much as possible, avoid placing your carpet such that it extends wall to wall. Hardwood floors can be easier to clean because dust can be seen during cleaning. You can also clean with washable area rugs.

Having a clean home is crucial, but most people are always busy, which makes it impossible to clean their homes. That’s why it is wise to get Bennetts services to get your home sparkling clean and remove all allergens.

Avoid pet’s dander

Pets spend most of their time indoors during winter as we do. Pet allergens can be found in dog’s or cat’s dander and in the saliva. You can reduce the danger that they shed by bathing your pets every week.

Avoidance is crucial when it comes to animal allergies. However, you can wash your hands with water and soap after petting a dog or cat. Keep your pets out of the bedroom and vacuum carpet regularly to avoid allergens, the best vacuums for pet hair are much better for this than regular vacuums.

Check humidity levels

Since air is dry during winter, most people use a humidifier to add some moisture. If you use humidifiers to avoid dryness, remember to check the humidity levels. Failing to do so will be creating a perfect environment that dust mites and mold can grow in number. You need a humidity meter to keep the moisture level in check. The recommended humidity level is 50%. You can use a dehumidifier when required and a vent fan for you to eliminate moisture in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Reduce the pollen entering your home

You can keep pollen away from your home by ensuring that the windows remain closed. Avoid entering your home with shoes on or at least have a doormat to wipe your shoes before entering. You can also prevent humidity by ensuring that the temperatures are cool. Dust mites do well with high humidity.

Clean vents

Allergens can be found anywhere in your home. This includes vents. Cleaning the dryer vent helps in reducing the allergens. Clean the air ducts every year as dust mites, pet hair, and others can build up there. You will be sure that you are inhaling clean air when you switch on the heating and air conditioning system.

Get Mold Services

If you find that there are molds in your home, the chances are that it will bring allergies to your family. This will affect their health. When you can see visible signs that the mold is affecting your health, consider getting a mold removal service. The company will test your home and offer you the best action plan.

Use medications

The best step you can apply to tackle household allergens is to be aware of your allergy’s triggers. This will help in taking preventative measures. Medications usually eliminate allergy symptoms and make you enjoy staying at home. Consult your doctor on the right options you can take.

Conclusion

Allergens can make our home unbearable to stay in, but with the right steps on how to tackle them, you can make it much more comfortable. Apply the tips above to reduce allergens and keep your family healthy.

How to Help Your Child Get Motivated in Elementary School. 10 Tips

Learning and homework are never fun for students in all grades. It is the desire of every parent to see his or her child perform well in school. MyHomeworkDone provides the best academic assistance services for students in all grades. Lack of motivation will affect the speed of completing the assignments and the urge to study.

ednext

https://www.educationnext.org/case-for-quality-homework-improves-learning-how-parents-can-help/

In an attempt to keep the students focused on academics, the parent will be required to motivate his or her children to focus on work. This is a delicate task that each parent should master. Here are tips on how to motivate your child to keep working on his academic work.

1. Get Involved In School Work

Talking and staying away from schoolwork is one of the ways to motivate the student to work on his or her own. However, it does not deliver as many fruits as getting involved directly in school work. A parent should follow the assignments his or her child is supposed to handle, how well it is completed, and performance in school, among other factors. The child feels the weight and needs to perform well.

2. Use Positive Reinforcement Strategies

The progress made by a child should be recognized and emphasis placed on these areas. Positive reinforcement with tangible rewards may appear like the best way, but this path is slippery because the child becomes dependant on these rewards. However, such reinforcements as kind words, hugs, hi-five, and such praise formats will transform the academic approach of your child. Ensure that the child will still make an effort to perform better in the absence of reinforcement.

3. Recognize And Reward Effort Even As You Focus On Results

Motivating a student mainly focuses on results. This is a delicate approach considering that the performance will not always be 100%. An improvement from 40% to 50% should be recognized. It tells the student that he or she can perform better tomorrow with more effort. It also shows that the target is not to capture 100% all the time but to improve on the current performance over time.

4. Help The Child To Get External Help

Spending too much time on a difficult question or topic is heartbreaking. It sucks all the motivation and energy of such a student. External help enables a student to unlock some topics or exercises that could be taking a lot of time. Hire a professional assistant who will help your child to work faster and tackle some of the most difficult topics.

5. Talk To The Teacher

The teacher spends a lot of time with students and their academic work. This provides the teachers with sufficient time and data to understand the challenges of such a child. Some of the challenges can be solved by the teacher, while others require effort by the parent. Discuss the challenges the child could be facing and possible solutions. You will find the best ways to keep your child motivated about academic work.

6. Break The Assignment Into Manageable Portions

A complex and voluminous assignment discourages a student and may suck most of his energy. A student will feel the weight of tackling such an assignment. The secret is to cut the assignment into manageable portions. These portions provide a chance for quick wins that are a great source of motivation.

7. Discuss A Reasonable Homework Plan

A homework plan helps the student to tackle all the assignments within the required duration. Develop the plan in consultation with the student. Engaging the student gives the kid control over his or her academics. The responsibility feels like it is his or hers and, therefore, has to be completed.

8. Show The Kids The Bigger Picture

The student should get a bigger picture of studying. The students must drop the mentality that academic work is tough and bother. Help the student to connect the achievement of his dreams with education. A student will make an effort to perform better in school.

9. Allow The Child To Take Charge Of His Or Her School Work

While the assistance from a parent is necessary, it must never go to the point of taking over homework. Children must complete their assignments regardless of the level of difficulty. Let the student design his or her timetable. Only assist the student when the need arises.

10. Diversify Learning Methods

Use different methods to deliver content and teach about different ideas. Each student has a unique way of learning. Applying the same method on all students disadvantages others. The conclusion will, therefore, be erroneous. Using diverse methods like videos, audios, text, field trips, demonstrations, and such varieties will assist the student in understanding complex ideas better and in the process, enjoying learning.

Motivation in elementary school does not translate into helping the kids with work. Follow up on the work they do in school and consult the teacher to give you a better understanding of performance in school. Provide all the support necessary, but still allow the student to take charge of his or her schoolwork.

Ways to Earn an Online Degree As a Busy Mom

Ever since you became a parent, your dreams of earning a degree might have taken a back seat. Between parenting and managing the house, it might seem like you barely have enough time for anything else, least of all yourself. But thanks to the internet, busy people—most especially busy moms—can earn that much-coveted degree without having to physically go to school.

But how would you do it with your hectic schedule, you ask? Let’s take a look.

1. Seek the Babysitter’s Help

You’ll need a few hours to yourself while attending your online classes, which means you will most likely not be able to attend to your kids in that span of time. Call your babysitter and ask for help. There’s no shame in relieving yourself of your babysitting responsibilities once in a while, especially if it’s to learn something new. As they say, reliable child care actually helps mothers improve their career.

2. Plan Ahead

If your online classes are scheduled, this means you would have time to plan your activities for the day. So if you have to take your son to basketball practice at 5 p.m. and your classes are at 5 p.m., then take him earlier. If you have to attend a meeting between parents and teachers at your daughter’s school next week, make sure to tell the school to schedule your one-on-one with the homeroom teacher at a time you don’t need to log in to study.

To keep track of all the things you have to do, and to avoid any overlap, make sure to bring a journal and jot those items down.

If, on the other hand, your online classes are not scheduled, then you wouldn’t have any problems. You’d be able to log in to your classes at a time that is most convenient.

3. Take Courses that are Flexible

There are online courses that are “friendly” to the busy people because they are more flexible. Consider avoiding a course that might require too much writing assignments and puts a lot of emphasis on deadlines. Courses like journalism might not be the best because you’ll be tasked to write a lot and trained to respect the dates of submissions, precisely because this is exactly what you’ll be doing once you become a media professional. In communication research, on the other hand, students are trained to conduct different types of research, which includes a lot of fieldwork and a lot of writing. These courses are obviously very time-consuming and will require your full attention. As a very busy mother, you may not be able to give that in the first place.

So, in thinking about which course to take, also consider what kind of career path it can give you. How about getting a marketing degree, where you will be taught how to effectively reach people? While your professor might also be the kind who likes to give deadlines, a course in marketing would be a lot less stressful and time-consuming compared to others.

You might also want to consider learning how to help manage branding and public image. With this course, you can be a social media manager, an event manager or a public relations officer, among other things. These jobs do not require you to render as much time in the office as other jobs would—something that works to your advantage as a busy mom.

Social Media Manager: You’re essentially tasked to boost a company’s online presence and client engagement by producing good social media content and analyzing usage data, among other things. These do not require you to be in the office at all times since all you need is a laptop and an Internet connection. As a social media manager, you can actually also work from home and tend to your duties as a mom!
Event Manager: You’re in charge of running and organizing promotional events for a specific company. After attending the event, then, you can always go home and tend to other things. No need to report to the office afterward, unless of course there’s some paperwork you need to do.
Public Relations Officer: A public relations officer, on the other hand, concerns herself with managing reputation through events and by writing press releases, among other things. These things can also be done outside the confines of the office.

In these situations, it pays to be practical but without sacrificing what you really want to be in the future.

Final Thoughts

Motherhood should never be a hindrance to achieving your dreams. If anything, motherhood should even inspire you to achieve them because you have a cheering squad behind you all the way—wonderful kids who look up to you in everything that you do.

Go and take that big step. When everything seems to go haywire, just remember that mothers are superwomen when it comes to raising their kids. Surely, earning an online degree is a walk in the park compared to that.

How to Find the Best SAT Prep Material to Help Your Kid Ace the Test

Soon, your child might be taking one of the most important tests of their lives. As a parent, you naturally want to help them ace the SAT (or at least get a passing grade) so they can enter into a good college. You might spend the entire day thinking about what you can do to help but have ended up being unproductive.

Take a deep breath! In this post, we share with you the ways you can find the best SAT material to help your child ace the test.

1. Check the Internet

The Internet is a gold mine of online programs for SAT takers, but always remember that your child does not have all the time in the world to go through all of them. It’s best to be picky and to choose an SAT program like PrepScholar SAT courses, which will pinpoint your child’s strengths, and the weaknesses they have to work on. Choose a program that motivates your child, not one that coddles them. Inspire them and not make them lazy. In short, sign them up for that one program that already covers everything and has been proven to be effective.

2. Spend Time in a Bookstore or Go to a Public Library

If there’s anywhere you have to be to score good SAT material, it’s the bookstore or the public library. This is where you are bound to find prep books that will assess what your child already knows and doesn’t.

These tests are important because they will give your child an idea of what the SAT makers actually want them to learn. Your child can also get a feel of how taking the SAT would be, allowing them to precondition their mind before actually going to “war.” Remember that the SAT is not only about your child knowing their world history or Math; it’s also about them knowing how to cope with the mental stress of having to answer difficult questions for hours on end.

Check out the reference books section, and spend some time going through the books you think your child will easily understand. You can go to other specialized sections and browse through those, too.

Here is a list of subjects you should cover with the books you purchase and borrow:

Literature
US History
World History
Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Foreign Language: Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Spanish, Italian, German or Modern Hebrew

This is not to say that you have to limit yourself to these subjects alone. The more subjects you can cover, the better.

3. Talk to Other Parents

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for tips from other parents who have already gone through the grueling process of helping their child prepare for the SAT. If we go by the saying that experience is the best teacher, these types of parents, then, are the best teachers for you. Go ahead and call your friend whose daughter passed the SAT with flying colors, and ask for titles of books she got to help her prepare. Or maybe host a lunch meeting for the “experienced” and “not-so-experienced” parents so you can get each other’s recommendations for other SAT material. You may have to invest a little time and even money to organize this last one, but once you have that list for your child, you’ll feel like everything was worth it.

Below is a list of questions you can ask fellow parents:

What SAT materials did you get your child? Where can I get them?
Did you enroll your child in an SAT prep course? If so, where?
How did you help your child study? Did you implement a strict study plan, or simply allowed them to go at their own pace?

Conclusion

The SAT is arguably one of the most important tests your child will take. It will, after all, determine which colleges they can go to. But the process of preparing does not have to be as cumbersome for your child. As a parent, you can do your part by making it as easy for them as possible. Get the best materials and courses so they don’t have to spend precious time they could to studying instead. Also, make their environment as conducive to learning as possible. If they want a change of scenery while studying, you can help them design the perfect outdoor reading nook.

Those are only some of the many ways you can help as a parent. If you do your part and your child does theirs, there’s no reason they won’t ace that test.

Tips for Helping Children Develop Better Study Habits

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The “back to school” mood is a special one for parents and kids alike. In the first week or so, your little ones will excitedly share their impressions from the summer break, while parents still have some time to adjust to their new schedule, probably packed to the brim with extracurriculars, play dates, birthday parties, and let’s not forget the holidays.

As soon as that youthful frenzy fades in the face of new homework assignments and upcoming tests, your kids will once again have to deal with distractions, study sessions, and limited access to their favorite TV shows. To give your kids the positive nudge they need to study more efficiently, give learning a fun twist, and to eliminate distractions, here are a few tips to get you started as soon as all that buzz dwindles!

Develop a routine

Much like with all else in their lives, kids work best and develop with ease when there’s a reliable, stable routine they can follow. Kids need structure so that they can develop good habits, and if you help them mold the right kind of routine around their studies, then homework and studying will not be any trouble for their curious minds. Although using a planner or a digital tool may be appropriate for older kids with established habits, perhaps a more creative approach would work best with youngsters.

Set up a little to-do board above or next to the study desk in your kids’ bedroom. They can use it to pin tasks, homework reminders, study groups, and new lessons they have yet to master, color-coded, and add any notes they please. You could even use planner stickers to make it more fun for them.

Create a study nook

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The little board is neither the beginning nor the end of your project for the kid’s study nook, on the contrary! In order to inspire hours of uninterrupted learning, the kids need to immerse themselves in an environment specially designed for that task only. In addition to equipping their room with a desk of appropriate height and storage space, you should look for an ergonomic chair that will give your little ones ample support.

Help your kids organize their materials, books and notebooks, their drawing material, and other items they need. Encourage them to keep their desk tidy and to use the desk for their school tasks only, so that they can keep distractions to a minimum.

Encourage creative outlets

Every child has different proclivities, and they all have their own processes to master new skills and absorb all of this knowledge shared with them at school. Some kids like to write it all down in neat notes, others love brainstorming, while some enjoy a more visual approach. Both for their art projects and for underlining the most relevant bits of information, using paint markers can be helpful to give their study sessions a creative edge.

They can assign colors to different subjects, such as orange for history and blue for math, or they can use them to practice drawing and coloring. Add to that, help them master the art of mind mapping so that they can remember information with greater ease.

Inspire your kids to collaborate

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Some kids do enjoy studying on their own, but that is certainly not always the case. Plus, enabling your kids to study in pairs with their school friends can provide them with new perspectives and ways to better review the subject matter from each lesson, especially if they come up with unique ways to revise lessons together.

Teamwork is a life skill that every child should slowly develop, so even organizing study groups before tests can be a good way for them to revise and go over the lessons more than they would on their own. Plus, the prospect of some fun time with friends after the study session is a great source of motivation to inspire them to be truly efficient and dedicated to the task at hand.

Work on eliminating distractions

One of the biggest sources of study trouble for most kids is the time they spend using various digital devices. As soon as their social media apps notify them of a message, they’ll quickly abandon what they were doing to check their phones. This kind of disruptive behavior will only make it harder for them to develop self-discipline and focus.

So, from the very beginning, implement certain rules such as limited time of phone and tablet use, and keep those devices away or turned off during study sessions. Of course, you should lead by example, so make sure that you use digital devices in moderation as well!

Our kids live in a very noisy world oversaturated with distractions, so your approach to their schooling will make all the difference in how they form their own attitudes towards learning. Use these tips to teach them good study habits from day one, and they’ll later use them in life and work as well.