Life of a #officermom

I hate what is going on in this world.

I hate that my son, an officer, has to fear for his life daily and put himself in the way of danger every day for people who do not even appreciate it.

I hate all of the hate in the world.

I hate that people can not see how the media is causing a majority of the problem.

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I will never understand what makes someone want to be an officer in the world we live in now. It is the most underappreciated, life-threatening job. I spend evenings praying and worrying because my son had to work a demonstration or a march.

This is a sad time we live in and we need to come together not apart. I pray for everyone to learn and understand each other. We must come together and stop the violence. Everyone has the right to peacefully stand up for what they believe in.

But please remember, my son’s life matters too!

Preparing For Your Parents’ Future

While you are busy preparing for your future and the future of your children, have you passed a thought for your parents? You are not in any way obligated to plan and prepare your parents for their future, and yet as their child, you want to see them happy and comfortable for the entirety of their life. 

Parents Health

No child wants to think about the health of their parents, even adult children don’t want to think about it, and we subconsciously prepare ourselves for our parents to decline. We do need to get ready for our parents to age, and you need to include them in the conversation when making choices surrounding their health and care. With that in mind, let’s check out a few ways in which you can prepare for their future.

Image Source: Pexels

Steps to handle parent’s health needs

  1. Hold A Family Meeting. Sit down with your parents and siblings, your aunts and uncles if necessary. You want to know what your parents want as they age. Some people don’t want to go into a retirement home but would be perfectly happy with home care services from companies like https://serenityhomehealth.com/services/. You won’t know that though unless you ask! So, bring up this topic and be gentle but practical. We all age; there’s no hiding from that, and you want to give your parents what they want.
  2. Talk About Their Needs. If your parents are already elderly, then you need to consider their needs right now. If their home situation has changed, you should work with them to figure out what they can do to be more supported. Do they need a financial help? Is the house turning into a mess? Could they use the services of a cleaner? These questions need to be answered, and only your parents can answer them.
  3. Assess Their Finances. You need to think about the financial resources of your parents. Are they able to manage their own money? Do they need someone to step in and take over? You can help them to come to that decision by seeing whether they can continue paying their bills each month. Please speak to an attorney about their finances and nominate someone to help them with their management.
  4. Medical Planning. Do your parents have a medical power of attorney nominated? If not, then it’s time to get that sorted and fast. You want them to have someone on their side to answer the critical questions about their health when the time comes that they cannot do it themselves. Knowing that this is in place should be a big help!
  5. Talk About Change. Ask your parents how they feel about everything. Don’t allow your feelings to get in the way of theirs here; they’ll feel angry and upset that they can’t do things for themselves, so let them feel it. A loss of independence is hard to cope with, and you should be supportive of them and their decisions as much as possible. Help them through their future planning, and you will have happier parents for it.

Reaching Out For Chronic Health Issues (Where To Go When You Need Help)

Sometimes getting help when we have a chronic condition can feel like a challenge. In fact, there are so many options out there that it can be hard to know where the time, money and effort you put into recovery will be best invested. Happily, if you have a particular issue and are wondering how to reach out for help, you may just find the answer in my post below. 

 

Your family doctor 

 

Of course, before we look at some of the more specialized health care out there, it pays to remember that a visit to your family doctor is never a bad idea. In fact, while your doctor’s office may not be equipped to offer you the specialist treatment, you need to recover, they can advise you. 

 

In fact, if you feel there is something wrong but you aren’t quite sure what heading to your doctors’ office is the best thing you can do.  (Although, if it is an emergency, always go to the hospital or call an ambulance!) 

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Sinus issues  

 

Being able to breath is essential for life. Although, often sinus issues may not be seen as the most severe medical problems a person can experience. However, they can be very destructive to a person’s quality of life and can be pretty darn painful as well. 

 

With that in mind, knowing where to go to get some help for your sinus issues is vital. Of course, some folks end up in the emergency room. Although, you can go to a specialist ent doctor for many problems such as Chronic Sinusitis, Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, and even Balloon Sinuplasty too. Such doctors can also offer acute care for sinus pain. Although, once again if you are in any doubt, a trip to the emergency room is often the best course of action. 

 

Skin conditions 

 

Acne, contact dermatitis and even psoriasis are conditions that can have a severe impact on the life of the sufferer. However, they tend to be chronic rather than acute or energy, which means they may be deprioritized in the medical care system. 

 

The good news is that for one set of medical professionals, these conditions are always a priority. These folks are of course dermatologists, and it’s to them you should go if you are concerned about any of the conditions above. 

 

In fact, because of their vast knowledge and experience in the area, dermatologists will be in the best position to diagnose and treat any non-emergency non-life threatening skin conditions. 

 

Summary 

 

In summary, who to see when you have a medical issue all comes down to two things. The first is how urgent the problem is. With life-threatening issues needing to be seen right away at an emergency room. 

 

The second is whether you know with confidence what your issue is. If you do, you can then book an appointment to see the relevant specialist, two of which are discussed above. Whereas if you don’t, head to your family doctor for advice can be the best option. 

Tips For Making Kids Happy in Their New Home

Anyone who’s seen Pixar’s outstanding movie Inside Out can tell you just how stressful moving home can be for kids of any age. Especially if the move takes them away from their support network of school, friends, and extracurricular activities like sports and the arts. Everything may seem the same to you in your new home with similar amenities and attractions… but in the eyes of your child, you might as well have relocated to Mars. 

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The unfortunate truth is that even if you’ve taken all the right steps to manage a smooth, predictable, and (relatively) stress-free move, even if you used the best moving and storage companies, and even if you’ve taken every possible care to minimize disruption, the truth is that the prospect of settling happily into their new home may seem impossible for your child. Especially if they’re already navigating those challenging teen or preteen years. 

 

Here are some ways to make it easier for your youngsters to settle down and enjoy life in their new home…

 

Accentuate the positives

 

There’s a lot to get excited about when it comes to moving home, even if the idea of starting afresh in a new town, city, or state is daunting. It’s up to you to accentuate the positives and help them focus less on the negatives. Draw attention to the coolest things about your new house. Help them get excited about decorating their room however they want. Show them cool attractions that you know they’ll love like the local mall, movie theater, or sports stadium. Help them to visualize a better, happier life for themselves and the whole family. 

 

Listen to them when they tell you about the negatives

 

Of course, hewing closely to the positives doesn’t mean that you should jam your fingers in your ears when they pipe up about the negatives. Listening is one of the most important skills a parent can have. If your child feels like their opinion is invalidated by a parent they are likely to view the move as an even more negative prospect. 

 

Let them vent about their anxieties and frustrations before telling them in a calm and measured way what you can do together to help them feel better about it. 

 

Make yourselves a part of your new community

 

The family as a whole will find the whole move much easier if you form close links with the greater community as soon as possible. Encourage your son or daughter to sign up for sports teams or acting classes or whatever else they love to do in their free time. Find a local church and help your child make friends among the other parishioners. Give them a nice busy schedule to help them to weave themselves into the fabric of their new community.

 

But don’t burn bridges in your old community

 

Of course, that doesn’t mean that you should encourage your child to cut ties with their old friends. You should still encourage Skype chatting with their old friends and arrange visits and sleepovers if feasible.

 

While it may take a little while, eventually your child can come to realize that moving might just be the best thing that could have happened to them.

The Mindset Of Healing And Cancer

 

Cancer is a disease that can strike anyone at any time, without warning. Not only that, but it’s a pernicious condition that grows from dysregulation of your own body. It’s a part of you, but one that isn’t good for your body and mind as a whole. 

 

Research, however, suggests that the way that we react to a cancer diagnosis can have a profound impact on how we heal, both emotionally and physically. 

 

On hearing of their cancer diagnosis, people react in a variety of ways. Some bury their feelings of fear and despair, trying to promote feeling positive as much as they can. Others immediately reach out for help of others, getting them to assist them through the most challenging times. Some hide under the blanket, hoping the problem will go away but knowing deep down that it won’t – not until they’ve completed cancer treatment, anyway. 

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So if you have cancer, how do you get through it? What mindset should you adopt to maximize the chance of success? 

 

Live For The Day 

 

People often talk about “thriving” as an essential prerequisite for a long and healthy life, but what does it mean? 

 

For many, thriving is living life to the full every day that you’re alive and not missing out on opportunities as they present themselves. For instance, it could mean joining a club, changing directions, committing to new mental habits, starting a relationship, or doing volunteer work. It could be anything that you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t do before your diagnosis. 

 

While doing all of this might sound reckless in the face of a cancer diagnosis, it can help you enormously when it comes to living a full and worthwhile life. The more people in your life to who you contribute positively, the more fulfilled you’ll feel. 

 

Don’t Spend Too Much Time With Doctor Google

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While Google is helpful most of the time, it can be a nightmare when you have a cancer diagnosis. The last thing you want to be doing is spending your days worrying about your diagnosis and whether people in a similar predicament have survived or not. 

 

Remember, your body is unique. The way cancer interacts with your body, and your medical treatment will be different from somebody else. Sometimes, that’s a good thing; other times, it’s terrible. You just don’t know. 

 

Don’t Feel You Have To Fight Cancer

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People often talk about the “fight against cancer” or how a specific person “lost their fight with cancer.” We don’t talk about any other disease in this way. It makes it seem as if it is something that you can fight when the truth is that often it isn’t.

 

That isn’t to say that there is no hope – there is always hope. It just means, however, that the way you think about cancer needs to change. Willpower is not enough to beat a formidable disease like this, but feeling content, no matter what your situation, can help. The happier you are throughout your treatment, the better your odds.

Paying It Forward: How To Help Your Parents In Their Old Age

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When you’re a child, you get very used to your parents looking after you. In fact, they do everything for you. And it’s very natural. But then at some stage along the way, perhaps between your twenties and thirties, that changes. You then start to take care of them. Perhaps it’s not even until you’re in your forties. Either way, there comes a time when you start to worry more about them, and you want to make sure that they’re provided for. Just as you need to take care of yourself and your children, you’ll want to make sure that your parents are happy and healthy too. Yet, when you’re new to this, it’s not always easy to work out how you can help. And your proud parents may not tell you either. So let’s consider a few things you could do.

 

Do Chores For Them

 

First of all, one of the best ways that you can help is to make sure that their chores are covered. If you’re worried about them moving around or getting things done, then you need to be able to ensure they are done for them. So maybe hire some help or you take over the grocery shopping for them.

 

Ensure They’re Healthy

 

Next, you’re going to want to ensure that your parents are as healthy as possible. This means that you’ll want to know they’re regularly going to the doctor and that you’re aware of any potential illnesses. Also, make sure they are eating well and getting some exercise if they can, as this will help.

 

Help Them To Get Around

 

From here, you’re then going to want to make sure that they’re as mobile as they can be. If they are struggling, then it might be time to look into walking aids and wheelchairs. See what option might be best for them. And, not only that but consider the best power wheelchair repair and maintenance options to have to hand. Because if anything goes wrong and they’re stuck, it’s good to know how you’re going to get help.

 

Make Sure They’re Provided For

 

It’s quite often a difficult topic to broach with your aging parents, but talking about money is essential. For your own peace of mind, you’re going to want to know that their bills are paid for and that they have enough money to buy what they need. So talk about finances with them. If they’re covered, then fine. If not, you might want to consider helping out because it’s important that their basic needs are met.

 

Spend Enough Time With Them

 

But then also, this is something that you might not necessarily think about. Yet it’s a very important way to care for them and ensure that they are happy and healthy. So spend time with them. Make sure that you’re inviting them over and taking them out. Don’t let them get lonely or miss you. Make sure that they are active in your life. That way, they are going to be emotionally fulfilled too.

12 Creative and Cheap Ideas to Decorate Your Nursery

When you find out that you are expecting a baby, one of the first thoughts that will enter your mind is how to make your home suitable for the new arrival. If you need to convert a room into a nursery or build an extension, you will start planning in your head immediately. Then you start adding up the costs, and get scared. You want the first few years of your little one to be perfect and special, but don’t want to spend a fortune on a designer nursery. Below you will find ten low-cost and easy ideas to take care of your nursery decoration.

  1. Sew Your Own Curtains and Covers

You can use your DIY skills to upgrade an old blanket or create a theme. If you would like to get a jungle themed nursery set, you are looking at a cost of hundreds of dollars. However, if you already have a sewing machine, you can get the job done for much less. Make sure that you get enough of the same fabric to have matching curtains, wall covers, crib skirts, and blankets. If you are up for the task, you can even get some foam filling and make your own playing mat with the same material.

  1. Upcycle Furniture

Instead of getting a custom changing cabinet and all the matching furniture spending thousands of dollars, you can upcycle your current chest of drawers and paint it the colors that suit your nursery decor. Give an old rocking chair a new purpose by adding a new colorful upholstery, so you can use it for breastfeeding in the nursery. Use your existing cabinets to store baby items and paint floating shelves to have easy access to baby items, such as the diaper cream, baby oil, and powder.

  1. Make Your Own Patchwork Bedding

If you feel creative, you can create the perfect look in your nursery by creating a patchwork bedding. You can ask your friends and family members to give you any colorful materials they have left, or even cut offs of curtains and other upholstery. You will enjoy completing this work while resting at home, and can create something completely unique for your baby.

  1. Use Smart Storage

Instead of investing into a lot of cabinets that you will have to change in a few years when your child grows, get multi-purpose and variable items that can be changed over and upcycled. Get a large shelving unit that will hold all your storage baskets where you keep your diapers and baby care items. Hide away your bin, and use shelves to display stuffed animals that are not yet safe to use by your baby.

  1. Print Your Own Wall Art

Image by Wikimedia Commons

 

You can design your wall art and get it printed at the local digital photo shop, instead of paying hundreds of dollars for designer items, You can get cartoon characters, animals, letters, shapes, or anything printed on matching canvas, and use them to create an educational and inspiring environment in the nursery. Alternatively, you can make collage photos and word art displayed on your wall in your favorite colors.

  1. Paint the Walls Yourself or Use Decals

Image by Flickr

 

Whether it is a jungle or an ocean scene you would like to create, you don’t have to spend a fortune on decoration. If you are any good at painting and drawing, you can use your skills to make a play corner and paint the scene around the bed. If you cannot draw a straight line or a circle, not to mention animals, you can still use colorful decals to decorate the walls. Simply choose one main color for the walls, and add your baby’s name, the alphabet, animals, or shapes to keep inspiring your little one.

  1. DIY Baby Mobile

Your baby will appreciate a unique baby mobile, and it doesn’t take a long time to make. Look for templates and ideas online. You can use paper, plastic, recycled materials, or even felt and plush. Find your unused ribbons or find some cheap small teddy bears to go on the mobile. You can also use beads and add solar panel lights to keep your baby entertained and stimulate their senses more. If you would like to add music, you can upgrade your existing wind chime to become a colorful and inspirational crib mobile.

  1. Button Art

If you are on a low budget, you can go out to a local thrift store or a craft store and get some unique picture frames and buttons. If you don’t have enough buttons, you will find plenty of them in stores, and buy them in bulk online. Button art is not only relaxing, but also looks great. All you need is a few colorful buttons, glue, a few used picture frames that you can paint and upcycle, and some cardboard. You can create different shapes and compositions, even your baby’s name letters in separate frames. This inexpensive project will make you feel proud every time you show off your nursery to friends and family members.

  1. Get Your Hands on Embroidery

When you are ordered to rest, you will find it hard to sit down for hours. Get a pattern from the internet or the local craft shop, and create your own embroidered blankets, pillowcases, and sheets. You can make everything unique, showing how much you care about your baby. You might even create an embroidered picture on the wall with your baby’s name or initials.

  1. Knit Your Wall Covers

You can make your own wall covers to keep your baby comfortable and warm in their cot. All you need is a little creativity and a pattern. Knitting is coming back, as it is cheap and allows you to express yourself instead of buying ready made items. You might even crochet a patchwork style wall cover that consists of different patterned boxes, sewn together.

  1. Make Your Teddies

You might transform any room into a stunning nursery by getting a few floating shelves and putting unique teddies in each box. You can knit your own animals using templates or buying sets, and display them on the wall in each floating shelf. This way, you will create a unique nursery look that will impress visitors, as well as your baby. Add the names of the teddies to each shelf, and teach your growing baby to find out which one belongs to which box.

  1. Make a Rag Rug

When you simply don’t find anything in the stores that is colorful enough for your baby’s room, you can make your own rag rug. There are several online tutorials that show you how to use scrap materials, old clothes, and other items to make your own rag rug. The rug can be used as a play mat or simply as a decoration. You can use anything; old scarves, pair less socks, and even the curtains you just removed from the room that will serve as your nursery.

 

When planning your nursery, creativity pays off. You can use your old furniture and up-cycle them to make a unique looking nursery, or even create your own baby mobile. If you have the imagination, you can create your own color scheme and theme to make the nursery more inspiring for your new baby. You can save hundreds of dollars on furniture, upholstery, bedding, and wall covering, so why not give it a go? After all, your baby is unique, and you don’t want their nursery to look exactly the same as others’. Put your creative hat on and start designing.