Parenting – Page 2

Working Moms – 5 Tips for Balancing the Pressures of Work & Family

July 18, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Balancing your work life with being a mom can be overwhelming at best, and sometimes it can seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. However, being a great mother while holding down a job is possible – countless moms have done it before, and you can too. Here are 5 tips to reduce stress on yourself and make your life as a working mom easier:

Photo by Jurien Huggins on Unsplash

Investing In Proper Childcare

One of the most significant concerns of every mother is the safety of their children. Establishing a good childcare system comprising nannies, babysitters, and child care centres will help to ease the tension. Opt for daycare centres that are closer to your home or office, which will make it easier for you or your partner to rush there in case of any problems. Do your research thoroughly and choose a centre that is highly recommended by other parents, has employees with the necessary training and certifications, offers flexible hours, and is equipped with proper medical facilities.

Communicate With Your Employer

Many working mothers are scared to have an open discussion with their employers, with fear of ridicule, rejection, or losing their job stopping them from openly communicating their issues. However, to expertly manage both work and home pressures, it’s imperative to have an open channel of communication with your higher-ups. Many a time, the mother is the primary contact for nannies and daycare centres to call in case of emergencies, which means you may have to leave the office at a moment’s notice. Or, you may have to work from home or skip a day because your child has fallen ill suddenly. Talking about these issues with your employer is essential. Assure them that you will make up for the lost hours by either working during lunchtime or on weekends.

Tech For Good

We are living in a highly connected world where everything has gone digital. Take full advantage of all the technology available at our disposal. Ordering groceries online, getting food delivered, and using doorstep laundry services will free up your time for other pressing family issues. There are also numerous mobile apps that you can use to arrange babysitting services and even book doctor’s appointments.

Plan Beforehand

Sorting tasks for the next day after a tiring shift at work can be arduous, but taking that extra 20 minutes every night to organize your child’s clothing, plan meals, and schedule tasks and appointments for the next day can help ease up your mornings. This will ensure that you’re not hurried and frustrated when you step out to face the day.

Don’t Feel Guilty

Mother’s guilt is a universal phenomenon. Trying to adhere to antiquated societal expectations of how a mother should behave can invoke a sense of guilt in many women, who are often torn between wanting to spend more time with their kids and work commitments. Don’t give in to the pressure, and think about the positives of being a working mother. It makes you financially independent and boosts your family income while giving your kids a strong role model to look up to. Moreover, your children will always be your priority, and that knowledge itself should free you from any guilt.

Being a working mother is not easy, and now and then you may need to take a break to recuperate and rejuvenate. Most importantly, don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back for making a tough job look effortless.

Safety First – 5 Ways to Keep Safe at Home and in the Office

January 8, 2018 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

Nearly everything used in a home or office operates on an electrical current. Electrical equipment carries a risk of burn or shock if used or maintained incorrectly. Shock and burn injuries occur when any part of the body touches an electrical circuit. An electrical current travels through the body causing pain, damage, and even death.

To protect your household members, guests, or coworkers from electrical injury, teach them right and ensure that your home or office is safe from potential electrical hazards.

Be Smart About Outlet Use

No matter whether you’re at home or in the office, there never seems to be enough places to plug in all the electronics we use every day. For this reason, it’s common for people to overload the outlets they have. Unfortunately, this dangerous practice can result in a fire. Rather than endangering yourself and others, consider hiring a commercial electrician in Melbourne to install the additional electrical outlets you need to ensure that all your appliances and devices can operate safely.

Learn How to Use Extension Cords and Power Strips

It’s tempting to plug two extension cords into each other to reach an outlet, or to plug one power strip into another to give yourself more options, but both these practices can have devastating consequences.

While it is completely possible to plug two extension cords into each other, you must first look at the tag on each to determine if they can handle the load set forth by the device(s) you intend to plug into them. Using cords rated less than ideal for the devices you plug into them can cause them to overheat. The same holds true for plugging multiple power strips into each other. If you are unable to determine the proper load for the cords you are using, err on the side of caution and don’t plug them into each other.

Don’t Cover Cords With Mats or Rugs

Another fire hazard is the practice of covering exposed wires and cords with rugs or mats to reduce tripping hazards. While this achieves the intended purpose in most cases, it creates another more dangerous situation. Take the time to eliminate this fire and tripping hazard by running all cords along the wall instead of through a walkway.

Unplug Electrical Devices and Equipment Before Maintenance or Repair

While this sounds like common sense, you’d be surprised by the number of people who wind up spending their day in the emergency room each year with shocks and burns resulting from failure to disconnect electrical equipment before servicing. A reliable rule of thumb here is to unplug the appliance, then double check that you have in fact done so before beginning any repair or maintenance work.

Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs

If you notice a hot cord or plug, or you hear a strange noise (a hum, or buzz) coming from a piece of electrical equipment, or it sparks or smokes when you plug or unplug it, immediately remove it from operation and don’t use it again. In some cases, you might be able to have it fixed. However, your safest bet is to replace it. It’s tempting to try to continue using a faulty piece of equipment, especially if it’s expensive to repair or replace. However, doing so could result in even more expense and heartache if the device catches fire.

Using electricity is no joke. Most of us take it for granted, but the reality is, it’s dangerous if not used correctly and respectfully. Following the five tips above will help keep you safe at home and in the office.

A Future Culture-Vulture: Use Your Travels to Inspire Your Kids

October 30, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Developing a love of culture often starts at an early age and if you expose your children to works of art and arrange a variety of cultural experiences, there is a good chance that their interest could develop into a passion.

A vacation is often the perfect opportunity to soak up some cultural highlights and give your kids an education while having some fun. Here are some pointers on how you can use travel to inspire your children to appreciate the arts and history.

A chance to inspire and educate

If you arrange a stay at somewhere like a Marriott New Jersey hotel you will often find yourself in an area that offers access to a range of free attractions like museums and art galleries.

There’s a lot to like about a museum when you are on a family trip and you don’t have to pay an entrance fee, but there are more valid reasons to go inside than the obvious attraction that you don’t have to reach for your wallet.

Museums offer a great opportunity to expose your children to some new experiences and broaden their understanding in a positive educational environment.

This exposure to learning and the chance to satisfy their curiosity will often prove to be the foundation for a greater connection to the world around them and the history that has shaped where we are today.

The power of art

Art has the ability to shape our feelings and perception of things like very little else can and many people have been inspired by a certain work of art that ended up having a profound effect on them.

Letting your child view some great works of art and allowing them to form their own opinion on what they are looking at and what it says to them can really help their creativity and critical thinking.

It’s a win-win situation as you can enjoy soaking up the culture too while knowing that your children are enjoying the experience in their own way at the same time.

Sign up for the tour

Many of the major museums and galleries and plenty of the smaller ones too offer a free guided tour of their works.

It can be a good way to enrich your learning experience and work your way around the exhibition in the most efficient way possible. Getting the inside track on the works from a knowledgeable tour guide is only going to help improve your enjoyment of the visit.

Follow the rules

You want to encourage your children to explore and appreciate the displays but it is also a good idea to set some ground rules if they are young and haven’t been exposed to this sort of environment before.

Fill them in on the usual protocol for visiting a museum or gallery, which includes no running and no touching, unless it’s interactive for the kids, which will be highlighted anyway if that’s the case.

It would also be a good idea to ensure that they have comfortable clothes and shoes for the trip so that your kids don’t start to flag after a couple of hours of walking around.

Take advantage of the chance to expose your children to some culture when you are on vacation or whenever you get the chance and enjoy seeing how it broadens their horizons.

4 Ways to Help Your Kids Get Better Grades on Their Homework

May 16, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Your children’s educational journey doesn’t begin and end at school. It’s a lifelong adventure that comes home with them and persists through evenings, weekends, and even summer vacations. Make sure you’re supporting your children’s learning and helping them excel at their homework with these smart strategies.

Develop a Routine

Image via Flickr by dgoomany

Consistent study habits are essential if you want your children to excel in school. Choose a regular block of time when they’ll study and do homework each night. Determine your child’s learning style and incorporate strategies that cater to these preferences. Your child may understand math better with manipulatives, thrive with flashcards, or prefer a math program on the computer. Include at least 20 minutes of reading for elementary-age children.

Give kids some time to unwind after school, but don’t push the homework routine so close to bedtime that the kids go to sleep late if the study session runs over. A late-afternoon block is best.

Create a Functional Study Space

Children learn best if they have a dedicated space set aside for studying. Even a tiny desk set in the corner is sufficient. Use task lighting so your kids don’t have to squint over their papers. Keep all the essentials handy, including paper, pencils, and reference materials. You don’t want to interrupt your routine hunting for an eraser or ruler. Make sure it’s all handy in a drawer or supply tote.

Consider including a blackboard, whiteboard, or bulletin board in your study space. You can write up the week’s spelling words, leave encouraging notes, or work out math problems on a larger scale with these tools.

Set and Reward Goals

Set homework and study goals for your children, and track their progress so they can see their growth and achievements. You might track passing grades, demonstrated math fluency, or the number of books read each week. Stickers on a chart are easily visible and provide a visual incentive. Set a reward system with perks like a pizza night, screen time, or freedom from a particular chore if children meet their goals.

Keep Kids Healthy

Healthy kids will have an easier time with all their activities, including school. Make sure your children are eating a well-balanced diet that’s low in sugar and processed foods and high in whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. Children between the ages of 5 and 17 should get at least an hour of moderate to vigorous activity each day.

Make sure your home is a healthy space by keeping it clean. Proper humidity levels will help keep asthma and allergies under control. High humidity creates a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and dust mites, yet excessively dry air encourages these irritants to dry out and become airborne. Keep your humidity level between 30 and 50 percent for the healthiest environment.

With the right home environment and routine, your children can thrive in all their activities, from learning a musical instrument to mastering math facts. Work closely with your children’s teachers to set appropriate goals and make sure they’re working on the right activities during their homework time.

Smartphone Apps to Keep your Children Safe

May 16, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Children are easily distracted by people and activities around them which can lead parents to lose children in small crowds or where there are engaging activities taking place. Parents are always concerned about what their children are doing and their current location. It is, however, impossible to keep track due to various commitments. The good news is that different apps in the market can help paranoid parents monitor their children from wherever they are. With these apps, it becomes easy for parents to know the exact location of their children and the various activities that they are performing with their smartphones. Some of these phones are installed in the children’s phone without their knowledge while others are agreed upon especially when they are in a new neighborhood or traveling so as to alert the parents in case of danger.

Family Locator

The Verizon Family Locator app allows parents to monitor the whereabouts of their children as they go about their day’s activities. The app is in a position to alert you via email or text message when it recognizes an abnormality in the location of your children. When your child, for example, skips a lesson and decides to go out with friends, you can get a notification, and her smartphone signal will pinpoint the current location on an aerial map or photo.

Family Medical Info

The health of a growing child is one of the biggest concerns of a parent. Having the vital medical information of your baby stored in an app is a perfect way to stay stress-free regarding your child’s medical condition. This app stores some relevant medical history which includes the child’s vaccinations, allergies, blood type, a list of prescriptions, and other complicated conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. With this kind of information, you can contact your insurance rep or your family doctor with a tap of a button regardless of the distance between you and your child.

FamilyBase

Digital interactions via social media have become rampant among the young generation. Children are in a phase where their curiosity might lead them into accessing sites meant for adults. This app aids you in controlling how, when and with whom your child communicates with at all times. It also has an option where you can restrict the service hours, limiting the child’s text messages, calls, and purchase options. The FamilyBase app will also help you in controlling your internet bills by limiting your child’s data usage.

Child ID

According to the FBI, more than 400,000 are reported missing annually. The thought of losing a child in a mall without a trace is a nightmare for every parent. With this app, you can store some vital data that can help the authorities in identifying your children when you accidentally lose them. The app can be used to store your baby’s current photos, height, eye colour, weight, mannerism, and birthmarks. The information saved in this app should be able to distinguish your child from the rest for easier tracking by the security agents. This app also comes with advice and safety on what parents need to do when a crisis occurs.

Lassy Project

Most children disappear without trace due to the extended time taken by parents to realize that their child has gone missing. This app provides an instant alert when your child goes missing so as to facilitate an immediate rescue mission. Lassy Project provides an updated image of the missing child and a real-time map displaying the coordinates of the last recognized site. This app makes a perfect alert tool for notifying when a child goes missing as only relevant people in the immediate area are informed.