Parenting Archives - Page 17 of 27

Baby Carrying Guide Through Different Types of Carriers

As a parent, you tend to go out with your baby every now and then. Using a stroller is a good idea that increases mobility and gets you close to your baby. But have you ever considered a babywearing wrap?

If not, after reading this article, you’ll definitely consider having one. So, we help you choose one baby carrier that eventually proves to be very purposeful. After all, it’s about keeping the fader down the baby comfortable and maintaining the closeness they have from the beginning.

So, let’s start with the standard features that all the baby carriers have and then jump onto the differences between these types.

The Standard Features of all Baby Carriers

Most of the carriers, if worn comfortably, prove to be soothing for the parent and the baby. You have to practice reading every type with the help of another person.
Every carrier can be used until a certain age of the baby. After that limit, the baby is comfortable, and you might find it difficult to carry him all around. Maybe, a stroller is a better option after the baby reaches 45 pounds.
Any baby wrap that is made of fabric is more comfortable than any other type.
Not every baby carrier is of the same size, and you have to choose one according to your comfort.
You have to get used to the baby carrier, but you cannot have someone by your side every time. So, make sure you practice using it alone after a few tries.
Every baby carrier wrap has to be versatile in fitting everyone who uses it. For example, if you and your babysitter use the baby carrier, it should fit both of you perfectly.

The Differences Between Baby Carriers

After going through these common features, let’s find the differences between different types of baby carriers. Let’s go through these details and help you find one according to your requirements.

The first type of wrap, which was traditionally a simple piece of cloth wrapped around the body. The loose ends of the baby run over your shoulder, making a cozy, secure place for your baby. You can find different baby wraps in the market with different materials and styles. Take proper typing practice for a beginner. It is ideal for locations with heavy winters as it adds an extra layer of clothing.
Then comes the ring sling that is just a wrap with a ring to fasten one of the ends through it. It has almost the same features as the baby wrap.
Then comes the soft structured front carrier. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to carrying babies with a soft structured seed for them that you carry in the front. It is ideal for almost every situation.
Then you have the backpack carriers that are designed to wear like a bag at the back. These can be faster and around your waist and chest, and the baby is fully secure. Your body bears uniform weight distribution for more extended periods.

So, after going through all these types, you can choose the best baby wrap, backpack, or sling according to yourself. Make sure you think from the perspective of yourself and the baby.

5 Top Sleep Tips for New Parents

For nine months, parents are sleepless with excitement, but as soon as you welcome your new family member into your home, you discover that the many joys of parenting will inevitably be riddled with challenges – sleep deprivation included. However, too many parents take this at face value and simply embrace the fact that sleep will be scarce and that they won’t have a single moment to themselves until their offspring grows up a little bit.

Still, this is not entirely true. It definitely pays to reevaluate your attitude, to pick up a few handy tips from versed parents and to start adjusting your routine to make more room (and time) for proper rest. Now that you’re embracing your new roles, it’s time to introduce some self-care practices and prepare for the new, extraordinary chapter of your life, preferably while not gluing your eyelids to keep ‘em open. These tips should do the trick!

Nap while your baby sleeps

One key way in which parents can get more rest is to use the natural sleep cycle of their little ones. Whenever your baby falls asleep, you should pick up your favorite pillow, a blanket, and get some rest yourself. Tune out all distractions and make sure that you always have a comfortable place with no noise and chaos around you so that you can fall asleep more quickly and without any trouble.

Ensure comfort for you and your partner

Too many of us are completely clueless about what kind of beds, mattresses, and bedding we should get, let alone the right positions for our spine and neck and how we should sleep to get the most of our downtime. The right choice can mean the difference between getting ample sleep and ending up restless during the night, so it pays to find out more about the right bedroom essential to get enough rest.

Start by choosing a mattress that will give your entire body enough support while also ensuring ample comfort to help you fall asleep faster without causing any pain. A hybrid mattress that blends the memory foam with steel coils, for example, which makes it a great option to ensure comfort and support.

Set up a schedule

You and your partner have decided to bring a baby into this world, and you’re in for one rewarding, yet bumpy ride. It’s vital that you share every single obligation when it comes to taking care of your little earthling since you’ll also be cherishing all the joyous moments together. A schedule for those shared responsibilities is a great way to set up a system that both of you can develop together and adjust according to your needs.

For example, you and your partner can take turns getting up during the night for feeding your baby, whereas you can also switch when someone makes meals, takes care of the dishes, and handles nappies. Some parents easily communicate these chores, but just in case one of you feels overwhelmed, you should share your concerns and find a fair way to share chores with a newborn schedule.

Build a support system

Moms and dads everywhere: you’re not alone. Your friends and family members are also there for you, as they should be, and you can and should ask for help when you need to get some rest. There is no shame in letting your loved ones know that you’re exhausted, so they can jump in occasionally to take care of your little one while you get a few hours of sleep.

In case you don’t have a big family and none of your relatives are able to help, there are professionals whom you can hire. A sitter or a trained nurse can be of great help from time to time.

Practice sleep-inducing rituals

It’s easy to think that you’ll fall immediately asleep as soon as you put your little angel down for the night. As many parents will attest to, this doesn’t always turn out to be true, because many parents are too tense or have many other chores to think of, so they end up revising their to-do lists for hours in bed instead of falling asleep. To help your body unwind and turn on that sleep mode in your mind, you can introduce relaxing rituals.

For example, you can use scented candles with lavender to add this lovely, soothing fragrance to your bedroom. Also, you can prepare and sip on a cup of chamomile tea while you read a book to let go of all those daily worries. Some stretching and belly-breathing can also be of great help!

Parenthood is a time of revelation, beauty, and of course, ups and downs. Take downtime seriously, because you will have more energy to bond with your baby, you’ll reduce your risk of developing postpartum depression, and you’ll also preserve and deepen your connection with your partner. Hopefully, these tips will help you get your shuteye and rest more easily, and ultimately help you enjoy your new role for months to come.

Seeing some parenting books can be very handy.

About the author

Mia Taylor is a 33 year old blogger who writes about beauty, fashion and travel. She had always been passionate about fashion and over time she had developed a style of her own. Mia loves to mix and match and inspire girls with her advice about outfit and accessories. She loves telling a story about her travels, providing beauty tips with readers.

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4 Gifts That Will Get Your Kids Outside

It’s true that kids these days spend more time inside then they do in the great outdoors. Most children absolutely love spending time in nature and getting muddy, dirty, exploring and climbing trees, it’s just convincing them to step away from their screens and the comfort of their own bedrooms that proves to be a sticking point.

Getting kids outdoors gets them some fresh air, it sparks their imaginations, they can get some exercise and learn a lot about the world around them in the comfort and safety of their own backyards. It’s such a shame that most of our kids would prefer to stay indoors and watch TV!

Luckily, if your child has a birthday or a special occasion coming up – click here to discover the best toys for an 8 year old – you can easily treat them to an amazing gift, all whilst encouraging them to head outdoors. Looking for a little inspiration? Read on for 4 gifts that will get your kids outside.

Something sporty

If your child is into sports, then spoiling them with some simple sports equipment to use at home could tick all the boxes. A simple goal to get them practicing their football skills away from the pitch, a netball or basketball hoop, even some simple cones so they can dribble a football or dribble with a hockey ball and stick. The possibilities are endless, and no matter what their favorite sport is you’ll probably find something to suit! However, if your child is more of an indoorsy type, there are plenty of alternative options for them to enjoy here.

A fairy garden

You have a couple of options here, you can either purchase a pre-made kit from a toy shop or you can create your very own from scratch. Either option is simple. A fairy garden allows children to plant their own grass seed in a small planter and decorate the surface area with a fairy house, fairy, wishing well and other little accessories. It’s a cute way to spend an afternoon and your child can spend the subsequent weeks watering and tending to their fairy garden. Once the garden has grown, they can have even more fun playing with it!

A bubble machine

Kids and adults of all ages cannot resist the urge to blow and pop bubbles! They’re so much fun! A bubble machine is a simple, inexpensive yet entertaining gift that they can use all year round. Whether they’re chasing bubbles around the garden or seeing who can pop the most in 30 seconds!

A tent

Tents are another gift that just keeps on giving and they’re great for inducing imaginative play and getting the kids outdoors! From a battle fort to a princess castle, a camping trip to a mock home-style environment, your kids will have a blast outdoors in their very own play tent. There are lots of different options available, either a simple pop-up version will suffice, or you could go all out and purchase a real camping tent with lots of different rooms and compartments to play in! Your kids will have hours of fun!

5 Common Health Problems During Pregnancy (And What to Do About Them)

During pregnancy, your body undergoes several changes. Some of these changes can cause problems. Here are common health problems during pregnancy.

Do you have concerns about common health issues during pregnancy? Pregnancy can be a beautiful experience, but you need to be aware of certain health problems that might occur during the process.

Take a look at these 5 common health problems that you might have. Here’s how you can manage these issues.

1. Headaches Are Common Health Problems

You may experience headache pains during your first, second, or third trimester. These could be natural headaches that you may experience.

Some of these are tension, cluster, and migraine headaches. You may experience dull aches, throbbing pains, or pains on both sides of your head.

These headaches may also occur at different stages of your pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms you may also experience from your headaches.

To alleviate this problem, you can try acupuncture, yoga, and meditation relaxation techniques.

2. You May Have Abdominal Pains

At some point during your pregnancy, you may experience abdominal pains. This could be a sharp or stretching pain in your lower abdomen.

This could be a natural pain that occurs as your body undergoes significant changes during your pregnancy. Gas, bloating, and constipation could also be the cause of your abdominal pains.

To ease your discomfort, you need to avoid the consumption of unhealthy foods such as high-mercury seafood, undercooked or processed meat, high sodium foods, alcohol, and processed foods that may cause digestive problems.

Focus on eating organic fruits and vegetables and taking pregnancy vitamins to ensure you’re getting an excellent variety of nutrients that can help you to achieve a safe and healthy pregnancy.

3. You May Get Varicose Veins

Do you have swollen or painful areas on your legs? Your pregnancy hormones are a common cause of varicose veins.

These veins will usually appear as bluish or swollen on your legs. If you have painful varicose veins, you need to avoid standing for long periods or crossing your legs at the ankles when you’re sitting.

To relieve this problem, you can perform light walking exercises and wear supportive stockings. You can also get in the habit of elevating your feet and legs at a level that’s higher than the rest of your body.

4. You Could Get Backaches

Since you’re carrying around extra weight from your pregnancy, you may experience backaches. Due to the increasing size of your uterus, it could also be difficult for you to walk or stand for long periods.

Try to avoid lifting heavy objects to reduce your backaches. It is also beneficial for you to sit in a chair with good back support.

You can also engage in light exercise routines that help to strengthen your back and abdominal muscles.

5. You May Have Sleeping Problems

You may have difficulty sleeping when you’re pregnant. Getting a body massage before you go to bed helps to relax your body and makes it easier for you to fall asleep.

You can also relax your body by reading a book or listening to music.

Get the Best Solutions

If you’re experiencing these common health problems, make sure you tell your doctor. Whether you’re having problems during or after your pregnancy, you can get the treatment that’s suitable for your situation.

If you enjoyed reading this article you can visit our website for more information.

5 Ways to Reconnect with Your Partner after Giving Birth

Parents already know that bringing a child into this world comes from an entire universe of intimacy, closeness, and love. Yet, when the baby is born, the focus can shift entirely to this new little earthling in your home, and you might feel that your bond with your partner is getting strangely neglected, despite being strengthened by your new family member. It might sound like a paradox, but sometimes the very experience that brings you closer can tear your relationship apart, precisely because your bond consists of so much more than expanding your family.

Your relationship is based on so many other commonalities, shared experiences, and of course, intimacy, hence the need to reignite that flame and invest time and effort to reconnect with your spouse now that you’ve become parents. Here are a few suggestions that can help you grow your bond even stronger.

Find a shared activity

Restoring your health, energy, and endurance starts with your nutrition and exercise. However, instead of treating it as yet another chore, you can shift your perspective and look at your workout routine as another opportunity to bond with your partner.

In fact, couples exercising on a regular basis can use this time to boost each other’s confidence, provide moral support, and help each other get strong and healthy. At the same time, this simple practice can bring you closer together and improve your quality of life.

Work on your intimacy

Post-partum depression, body issues after giving birth, complications, and a slew of other issues are so common among new moms that it’s not so strange that many new parents find it difficult to enjoy their love-making in the first months of parenthood. It can be difficult to regain your confidence, but you’re not alone. Why not talk to your partner, share your desires and fears, and explore your options together?

Perhaps if you browse through a fun adult shop and find creative ways to explore your intimacy, you can rediscover your sensuality and your connection to your partner. Sometimes a flattering piece of lingerie can remind you of your own physicality and slowly restore your confidence. Dedicating time to your intimacy can be a powerful way to strengthen your bond and your confidence, too.

Make time for dating

Yes, we know that you’ll feel tempted to spend your free time wrapped in a blanket, asleep, whenever a grandparent volunteers to take care of the little sleepless rascal but consider other options, too. For instance, you can set aside a monthly date for you and your partner to go out for a romantic dinner, enjoy a picnic in the park, go for an afternoon of walking in nature, or anything you love doing.

Dating in marriage is not just advisable, it’s necessary for your romance to continue evolving as you accept new roles in life, including the one of being a parent.

Talk to a professional

Too many couples believe that counseling is their last resort, whereas in fact, they should treat it as a valid option when they notice they have issues in communication. To prevent neglecting your marriage, communication problems, and to prevent the loss of intimacy, you can talk to a professional marriage counselor and face your issues head-on.

Work on your shared responsibilities

Conflict is natural, especially when there’s a misunderstanding and you’re too tired and impatient, which happens to us all – because, let’s face it, we’re all human. When you have this new life to take care of in addition to your own, the responsibilities are constantly piling up, and if you find yourself struggling, it’s natural to feel tense and exhausted.

That’s precisely why you need to work through this period with your partner so that you can share your responsibilities and all the little daily tasks, find the time to rest, and you’ll feel appreciated, loved, and cared for. When you can manage that, you can reduce conflict, and you can find more energy to bond and be emotionally generous to one another.

Now that you’re parents, the stakes are all the higher for you to work on your family, on your bond, and to find time in this learning curve to connect with one another. It means relying on your support system, asking for help, sharing your insecurities and fears, and finding patience within you to recognize opportunities instead of looking for excuses to postpone your time together. Use these tips to bond, and you’ll enjoy your partnership and parenthood all the more for it.

Keep Your Kids Healthy This Spring Season

With many bright and sunny days, spring is the perfect season for outdoor games and exploration. However, along with the days of extra fun for your kids, comes the higher risk of injuries, accidents, or diseases.

Here are a few essential tips on how to minimize those risks, and keep your kids healthy this spring season.

Use Sunscreen

Since your kids will be spending a lot of time outdoors, exposed to sun rays, you must take adequate measures of precaution.

The skin grows thicker as we age – the skin of the face, limbs, and trunk in kids aged two to 13 is significantly thinner than in adults and much more sensitive.

A study found that UV exposure during the first 18 years of our lives is the most critical when it comes to premature aging, skin damage, and skin cancer.

To minimize the risks of getting sunburns now, and severe skin damage later, your kids should be protected from UVA and UVB rays even during the cloudy days.

Make sure they have their sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before going out. If your kids will stay longer outside, ensure they/you reapply it often.

Using protective hats and clothing during outdoor activities is also advised.

Watch Out for Allergies

When the springtime comes, everything blooms, including our allergies. Kids can have as severe allergies as adults and can develop them anytime.

The most common symptoms of allergies include itchy eyes, ears and throat, heavy breathing, repetitive sneezing, and a runny nose.

There are many ways to keep your kids healthy during allergy season. If they already have a history of allergic rhinitis, they must start taking their medications early, at the end of March, before their symptoms begin to develop.

However, if besides these symptoms, your kid has a fever too, it’s more likely they are affected by the virus than a seasonal allergy. To make your kids’ immune system stronger, as well as ready to fight flu and infections, consider natural children’s supplements so that you’re sure they have all essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients needed.

Beware of Ticks and Insect Bites

Ticks are another risk related to the spring season and spending more time outdoors. They begin to hatch as soon as the ground defrosts, and since they carry and transmit Lyme disease, their bites can be extremely dangerous to kids.

However, to transmit Lyme disease, a tick needs to be attached to the skin for more than 36 hours. To reduce the risk of developing the disease, check your children for ticks before they go to bed. Pay special attention to skin folds and the scalp, as ticks love dark and warm places.

If you find the tick attached to your kids’ skin, have it properly removed.

Bites and stings of other insects, such as spiders, bees, and wasps can be harmful too and require a medical action. Teach your kids to let you or other adults know if they’ve been stung by an insect immediately.

If there are any symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, nausea, dizziness, or a tight feeling in the throat, seek medical help right away.

It’s also essential to remove the stinger from the skin as quickly as possible and wash the area with soap and water.

Also, teach your kids how to minimize the risk of getting bitten or stung when they’re outdoors.

Develop Healthy Habits

You should make it your goal to use this spring season wisely, and bring more healthy habits into the life of your kids, and your whole family.

Your kids will best learn by your example, so consider focusing more on:

Healthy food. Spring is a perfect season to enrich your meals with fruits, veggies, and grain. Try to be more creative and include them in your cuisine the fun way, and teach your kids to like them. The health of your kids and their development largely depends on their nutrition, so try to cut down on the processed food.
Your kids need to take enough water whole year-round, but it’s harder to stay adequately hydrated during spring and summer. Teach your kids to always have their water bottles with them. Also, remind them to replenish themselves often.
Active lifestyle. Use the happy spring days to walk with your kids around the park, go jogging, hiking, or cycling. If they see how much you value physical activity, they’ll think highly of it too, so they’ll find it reasonable to engage in sports and lead a healthier lifestyle later on. However, to minimize the risks of getting injured, make sure your kids always have the proper gear.

Washing Up

Kids will be kids, and when they’re back home from the outside, they’ll be dirty.

However, while it’s almost impossible to change this fact, you can do a lot for their health by enforcing a good washing-up policy.

Teach your kids to wash their hands when they’re back from the outside, as well as not to consume food, touch their face, nose, or mouth with dirty hands.

By using the tips above, your kids will be protected this spring. However, if they acquire healthy habits, they will be in good health for many years to come.

Kevin has gone through an extensive home renovation with his son, which he has both

thoroughly enjoyed, and dreaded every morning. He is now the proud owner of half his dream house (the other half has been waiting for spring). You can read more of Kevin’s work on PlainHelp.

5 Ways to Stay Sane As A New Mom

Having a baby is the most stressful, difficult task any human can undertake. After delivery, all the added expenses, time drain, emotional ups and downs, and general anxiety of parenthood can drive you crazy as a new mom.

Still, there is a lot you can do to keep your sanity during these stressful times.

Here are 5 tips to help get you started:

It Takes A Community

You’ve done enough. I mean seriously, you made the baby it’s time to call in the team to help raise the thing.

You can’t do it all. Getting your significant other and family involved is step one to staying sane as a new mom. After all, they always say: ‘it takes a community’.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help as a new mom, whether that’s from your significant other, family, friends, or even online with organizations like The Mommies Network.

The Mommies Network is a nationwide organization that helps moms connect, establish a community and help each other out. The Mommies Network isn’t the only organization out there to help new moms either. There are dozens of organizations in the U.S that can help with everything from clean diapers to food and even education.

Babygaga.com has a great list of resources to help get you started if you’re feeling your sanity slipping as a new mom.

Maintain (at least some of) Your Diet and Exercise Routine

Maintaining your diet and exercise routine from pre-baby times is going to be nearly impossible as a new mom. Still, any effort you put towards exercise, upper cervical care, and diet will surely be rewarded.

Of course, this can be easier said than done given your ‘new mom’ time constraints. There will be times where you just don’t have time to feed yourself properly, what’s important is doing the best you can and not getting too stressed about what you can’t control.

Now is not the time for rigid diets, insane exercise routines, or focusing on your weight. Instead focus on eating quality foods, doing a little very moderate exercise and just getting healthy. You should also consider making premade meals, and avoiding constantly eating out—it’s bad for the wallet and the stomach.

Also, remember, your body has been through a lot, the last thing you should be doing is focusing on your figure. So don’t be afraid of Doctors’ increased calorie recommendations.

That’s right, Doctors recommend that women eat 500 calories more than their pre-pregnancy average after giving birth. Take advantage of this while you can!

Don’t Forget To Take Some ‘Me’ Time

After you have a baby, the whole world begins to revolve around the newly acquired love of your life. It has to. Still, don’t forget to take some ‘me’ time. Leave the little guy with your family or something and go do something you love.

Or even better just sleep, watch tv, or take a shower. Really anything but working or raising children is fair game here.

Yes, you’re a mom now, but you’re also still you, don’t stop doing what you love, or you’ll lose your sanity and become resentful before you even realize it.

Go To A Class With Your Baby

Ok, so you can’t take your baby to a boxing class, and maybe they aren’t ready for SoulCycle, still, there are a number of classes you can take with your baby to help get you out of the house.

Baby & Me yoga workshops are some of the most popular classes for moms and newborns. They are also a great way to meet other new parents. I mean, who else would be willing to listen to your best diaper discussion for an hour?

Another common class for new moms is Music Together classes which involve singing, playing instruments and dancing along with your baby and other new moms.

Even if money is tight there are a number of free classes available to new moms at the YMCA or your local library. Getting out of the house with your baby by taking classes is a great way to maintain your sanity as a new mom.

Infant Care

Infant care is perhaps the number one way to ease stress and maintain your sanity as a new mom. Once your baby hits six weeks, it’s time to start looking for their day job.

Infant care has been proven to be good not just for stressed-out Moms, but for babies as well. The socialization process should begin as soon as possible and although you can’t leave your baby at infant care for more than 20 hours per week. Those 20 hours can be an absolute blessing—allowing you to take that ‘me’ time we talked about earlier.

Infant care can be expensive, but there are a number of options out there, even at more affordable rates. Still, if you want the best, like Phoenix Children’s Academy, you may have to pony up some extra cash. Your baby and your mental health are well worth it.

Above all, know that your baby will thank you for all the hard work you’re putting in right now, it just may take until they’re 30 and having kids of their own. But hey, patience is a virtue—right?

Having a baby can be a nightmare and a dream come true all at once. Hopefully, these simple tips will help make keep you sane through these insane times.

Fun in the Sun: 5 Great Summer Activities for Kids

Looking to keep the kids busy this summer while they’re on school break? Get a few ideas using this list of summer activities for kids!

There’s nothing more exciting than summer break when you’re a kid, but becoming a parent can make that time of the year stressful.

If you have kids who will be home from school this summer, having a big list of activities is the best way to keep everyone in your family happy and occupied.

Do you need some inspiration to plan fun stuff to do in the summer? Keep reading to learn about five summer activities for kids.

1. Sign Up for Summer Camp

Learning how to find a summer camp that your kids will enjoy can help them grow as independent people and learn valuable skills.

Aside from having lots of fun with new friends who share their interests, they can improve their socializing skills and discover new hobbies. If a sleep-away camp is too scary for your child, there are plenty of day camps that are great for all personalities.

2. Go for a Nature Walk and Enjoy a Picnic

One of the best things to do with kids over the summer is to teach them how to explore and appreciate nature safely.

Going on a family hike can give you an excellent opportunity to bond, find new species of plants and animals, and take lots of memorable photos. After you’ve all worked up an appetite, you can relax on a blanket and share a delicious and nutritious picnic.

3. Try Fun Arts and Crafts

If you’re interested in finding fun summer activities, the good news is that there are plenty of simple woodworking projects for kids, arts and crafts projects that won’t make too big of a mess.

Your kids can have a blast making upcycled bird feeders, paper lanterns, tie-dyed shirts, and so much more. This comprehensive guide can teach your family how to do over 300 different kinds of crafts.

4. Have Fun Movie Nights

There’s nothing more low-key and entertaining than watching a movie for two hours. You can turn this activity into a special event by hosting movie nights complete with ice cream sundaes, popcorn, and other tasty treats.

If you and other parents take turns inviting other kids over for movie nights, then these events can be a great way to help every parent in your child’s friend group have some downtime for themselves.

5. Visit Local Attractions

Since businesses know that lots of families will be at home during the summer, it’s easy to find impressive deals on tickets to local attractions.

With so many great summer things to do, you and your kids can explore museums, aquariums, art studios, and amusement parks. Another benefit is that these activities are often educational, so you can keep their minds engaged while school is out.

Your Family Will Love These Summer Activities for Kids

Now that you know some of the best summer activities for kids, you can keep your family entertained during the warmer months. Plus as a side bonus, the kids will be making a mess elsewhere, so you don’t have to be house cleaning all the time!

Do you want to learn other ways you can help your family stay happy and healthy? Explore our site to find more helpful tips and guides.

How Can Parents of Addicted Adults Practice Tough Love?

Being a parent of an addict is hard. How can parents of addicted adults do needed things that go against their parental instincts? Learn more about tough love.

As a parent of an addict, it’s hard to find the right mix between helping and enabling. For many parents, it’s also difficult to express and follow through with tough love.

Are you struggling with this issue? Do you want to help your adult child break his or her addiction without enabling him or her?

Parents of addicted adults all over the world struggle with this problem, so you’re not in this alone.

If you want to learn how to practice tough love, here are some principles you should consider using.

Understand the Difference Between Helping and Enabling

If you’re serious about using tough love in this situation, an excellent place to start is by learning the difference between enabling and helping.

Helping your addict adult child break an addiction includes steps that create boundaries and hold them accountable for their actions.

Enabling, on the other hand, gives them the upper hand and helps them continue using.

A good way to measure whether you are helping or enabling is by watching how they view your response. If they are happy with you, you’re likely enabling. If they’re mad at you, you’re probably helping.

Educating yourself with addiction can help you create boundaries, understand what enabling is, and find the healthiest ways to respond.

Accept That You Can’t Fix the Problem

Another necessary principle to understand is that you can’t fix the problem. Any attempts you have to help your child could potentially help them, but ultimately it’s up to them to take the path of recovery.

You can’t fix the problem, and you should never accept the blame for it or take responsibility for fixing it.

Never Give Them Money or Other Things

Tough love is hard to do, but it is the loving thing – even if it doesn’t feel that way. To practice it, you’ll need to stop giving your child money or things.

You shouldn’t even offer him or her a place to stay for the night, no matter how much you’d like him or her to be safe in your home. Offering an addict a place to stay enables him or her to continue the addiction.

Don’t Fall for Giving Them Pity

Addicts are notorious for making people feel sorry for them. Many addicts will say or do whatever they have to do to achieve this goal. As a parent of an addict, don’t fall for it.

Parents of Addicted Adults Need to Let Them Hit Rock Bottom

The hardest part of tough love is letting your adult child hit rock bottom, but this is often a necessary step. Until a person hits rock bottom, he or she may have no motivation to stop the addiction.

As they say, “when you hit rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up,” and this is true with addiction.

When they hit this point, they may agree to start evaluating some drug rehabilitation centers for help.

Seek Help Instead of Doing It Alone

It’s tough for parents of addicted adults to talk about this problem, and it’s even harder for them to seek help for themselves.

Seeking help, though, for yourself, is crucial for your well-being. It’s also critical for the way you handle the situation from this point on. To learn more about this subject, check out the rest of our blog for more helpful articles on addiction.

5 Ways to Get Your Kids Interested in Golf

In this day and age, getting your kids interested in sports, music, reading, or any other hobby other than playing video games is quite hard. This wasn’t the case ten or fifteen years ago, but it’s nothing to worry about – you just need to think harder and find something that might interest them. And keep in mind that weirder ideas and suggestions are quite popular, so don’t be afraid to think outside the box and find a great activity for your loved ones. Golf is among those less popular ideas that can still go a long way and make your kids interested in investing their time and energy into this sport. If this is something you’d like to do as well, here are five great ways that will probably help you get your children interested in golf.

Teach them the basics

One of the main reasons why so many kids don’t like golfing is because they know nothing about this game. Instead, they prefer football or basketball, because all their friends are playing these sports and they can join them. But, if you took some time to teach your kids a thing or two about golfing and show them why it’s so much fun, you might be able to reach them more easily.

Teaching your kids how to golf may not be the easiest thing you’ll ever do, but it’s still a wonderful idea. Show them the equipment, pay special attention to the clubs, show them the difference, and tell them everything they need to know. This will show your kids how exciting golfing is and will keep them interested in the future as well, so it’s a great way to start turning your idea into practice. Look into the top 10 disc golf putters to get started on your journey.

Don’t criticize them

This is one of the worst things you can do when trying to get your kids interested in any new activity – criticizing them is bad for their motivation and their willingness to continue learning new things. Instead of being critical and turning into a bad guy, you should keep things light and try to encourage your kids to have fun. That way, they’ll start liking golf more easily and it will always remind them of the great time they’ve had with you.

Lots of grown-ups have a problem understanding their children and responding to their needs in the right way. Just because you love golfing and think this is the best past-time activity in the world doesn’t mean your child will love it as well. Take it easy, stay cool and relaxed, and try to help your kids have as much fun as possible while playing golf.

Get the right equipment

Once your children learn a few basics things about golfing and understand why this activity is so prestigious yet exciting, they’ll want to know more and more things. Luckily, there are always new things you can teach them, so be sure to cover all the bases.

Start by talking about the equipment. Besides the aforementioned different clubs, you also need to have the right shoes, the right gloves, the right bag, and the right outfit. Finding all these things can be quite hard, so don’t be afraid to rely on professionals as well. Many great websites could help you find suitable equipment quickly and professionally. Look into their articles and you’ll learn quite a lot about golfing equipment and useful tips, so look into them asap.

Forget about your own game

Teaching your kids to do anything in this world usually means we have to take a break from whatever we’re doing and focus on them. And if you’re a passionate golfer, this might not always be that easy. That’s why you have to forget about your own gave and turn into a tutor for your loved ones.

Another thing you could do is take your kids golfing and let them observe you while you’re playing. That way, they’ll learn more about the basics and start developing strategies of their own. Observing things before actually doing them is a must, especially for young kids who have no idea what they’re doing, so let them watch you before they start using golfing equipment on your own.

Keep having fun

In the end, this is the most important thing when golfing and an idea that should really help you attract your kids to this amazing game. Just keep telling and showing them how much fun you’re having, and they’ll start associating golfing with fun on their own. Once you do that, encouraging them to have even more fun is quite easy, and your children will turn into golfing fans before you know it!

Turning golf into a fun, children-friendly activity might take a while, so be persistent and don’t give up. Come up with some mini-golfing sessions between yourself and your child, and use this time to teach them even more reasons why golfing is so great. You could also bring sandwiches and snacks that will satisfy their hunger, which means your children will be ready to continue golfing even after a while, and that’s something all parents are looking for.

Getting your kids interested in golfing isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but it’s not that hard either. You just need to stay focused and dedicated to your final result, so just imagine how much fun you’ll be having playing golf with your children in the decades to come as well.