November 2020 - Mamas Like Me

A Simple Recipe for Daily Gratitude

Daily gratitude is a habit that can benefit all of us. If more people practiced daily gratitude, there’s a good chance we’d have a more empathetic, caring society. Gratitude reminds us that things shouldn’t be taken for granted and that being grateful for what we have is an essential part of a healthy mindset.

Have you practiced gratitude before? Do you know what it actually means, why it matters, and how to include it in your daily mindset? In this guide, we’ll cover this and more. Here’s your simple recipe for daily gratitude.

What Is Gratitude?

So, what does it actually mean to be grateful? What is gratitude? Most people think of the common phrase “thank you” when gratitude is mentioned, but it’s so much more than just a phrase showing appreciation for action or feeling. Gratitude runs deeper, down to our very soul. Being grateful for your life, your friends and family, and the opportunities you’ve been granted is what is considered gratitude.

Gratitude is an emotion that we’ve all felt at some point. You can feel the difference between simply saying thank you and actually being truly grateful for someone’s efforts. Maybe you’re grateful for your father’s efforts to help you fix your car for free. Or, maybe you’re grateful that you’ve been granted the opportunity to reach your dream job. There are a million different things to be grateful for in our lives.

Don’t make the common mistake of thinking you should only practice gratitude for big things in life. A slight breeze on a summer day, the sun shining on your face, or a successful bible meditations session are all things to be grateful for.

Why Does It Matter?

Why does gratitude matter, anyway? What’s the point of being grateful or showing that you’re grateful? I’m glad you asked. Gratitude is important for a number of reasons. To begin with, it strengthens our relationships with other people, with God, and with ourselves. Being grateful for the love of a family member, of God, or for being able to love who you are as a person is uplifting and motivating.

Gratitude can also take the form of selfless acts. When you appreciate someone’s presence in your life, you’re more apt to go out of your way to help them or improve their lives in some way. When’s the last time someone did something really nice for you out of the blue? It’s a great feeling, isn’t it? You were grateful for that action, just as they were showing their gratitude for your presence in their life.

Showing your gratitude can make you a more mindful and compassionate person. When you understand the things you’re grateful for, the things that make a difference in your life, it’s far easier to empathize with someone else’s suffering. You’ll start to see that not everyone has the same privileges, opportunities, or resources as you do. You’ll begin to understand that the world isn’t at an even keel, and some people are more fortunate than others.

Even if you don’t have access to lots of resources or opportunities, you should still show gratitude for the things you do have access to. Life itself is a wonderful gift, and we should all be grateful that we’re breathing today!

How To Practice Gratitude

How does one learn to practice more gratitude in their life? Luckily, there are hundreds of ways to show your gratitude both to yourself and to other people.

A Journal:

Some people choose to keep a gratitude journal. At the beginning or end of every day, they’ll jot down some of the things that occurred on that day or people they interacted with that they are grateful for. A journal is a great resource for when you’re feeling down, as you can look back at all of the things you can be grateful for.

Doing Something Nice:

If there’s a person in your life you love and admire, you can show them gratitude by doing something nice. It can be something small like taking them to a movie, to the park, or out for ice cream, or something big like paying for college, fixing their car, or offering to fix up their house for them. You can also just tell them how grateful you are that they’re in your life! Don’t discount the power of words.

Appreciate The Little Things:

Sadly, the little “wins” in our day are often overlooked or even forgotten, but it’s important to remember that everything is something to be grateful for. If you’re breathing, in good health, and have a roof over your head, you should be grateful!

Don’t Ignore The Challenges:

We tend to give obstacles and challenges a negative connotation, and that’s not a good practice to keep. Challenges offer us a unique opportunity to grow and evolve, which is something we should always be grateful for. The hardest challenges often reap the richest rewards, but it’s difficult to be grateful for it while you’re going through it. That’s why self-reflection is so important.

Include Others:

Volunteer work or something similar is a great way to include other people in your gratitude. There are always organizations that need volunteers. Volunteering is a selfless way to give back to the community and show your gratitude for being a part of the human community.

Take Time To Be Grateful Today

Take some time out of your day today and be grateful for everything around you. Take a look at even the smallest things—today’s good weather, the good food you ate for dinner, etc. Don’t be afraid to make gratitude a daily habit, even for things that seem small.

Fitness and Weight Loss Tips in your 30s For Mom

Just stepped into the 30s? Do not worry; you are not alone in the race. The truth is there is nothing that you cannot achieve at 30 that you achieved in the 20s. You can still lose weight fast, even get fit, and attain your ideal body weight. But it would help if you discovered the changes that the body is undergoing. Being aware of those changes and acting accordingly is the way to go. Fitness and weight loss have no age bar.

Weight loss calculator helps you to determine that how much weight you have to loss within a specific period of time. All you need is to provide your existing weight, gender, age, and mostly crucially your height, it will let you know how much daily calories your body is required to intake. High weight and obesity can cause various diseases that can harmful for your body. Weight loss calculator is also so beneficial for women especially after giving birth to a baby, because women are most likely to gain weight during and after the pregnancy.

Shuffling work-life and conventional obligations is an intense undertaking, yet ladies have been doing this with incredible. In the savagely serious world, ladies have demonstrated their proficiency over and over, yet in an offer to demonstrate their multi-witty worth, has their wellbeing assumed a lower priority? Stop and think. Have you missed your morning meal to scramble for a significant gathering thinking you’ll get up to speed with a light nibble later? Is it accurate to say that you are observing your carb, protein, and fat admission while having your lunch? These minor concerns, which might not have made a big deal about a distinction in your 20’s, are here to frequent you in your 30’s. Fortunately, you can stand tall before every one of these difficulties with these proposals.

Know the Changes

In the 30s, the metabolism rate will be a little slow, which means it will burn fewer calories than before. But before you find yourself on the TV Show My 600lb Life and in need of Dr Now diet, these simple rules can be followed. Besides, you will also experience hormonal changes. The elasticity of the skin will fall, and the face will have tiny wrinkles. The renewal of the skin is too slow. These changes are never sudden or drastic, but the process begins as you enter the 30s. Thus it is time to undergo some corrective measures that help you look healthy, young, and fit as you shed the extra pounds.

Right Diet

A vital part of the weight loss and fitness plan is the diet. To start with, it is essential to keep all junk food away along with habits such as excessive smoking and drinking. Along with weight gain, these habits can lead to several adverse health impacts. Most importantly, drink an adequate amount of water to flush out all the toxins and keep the skin hydrated and healthy.

Eat 4 to 5 small meals daily to keep the metabolism going. Include lots of vegetables and fruits to cut calories and get enough vital antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Add lean protein to keep muscles lean and healthy, and take milk and milk products in abundance to get sufficient calcium.

If You Are Planning to Start a Family

The same number of ladies in their 30’s is likewise intending to consider, their iron and folate content turn into even more basic. Folate is a nutrient ladies need in wealth to forestall any birth surrenders.

You can have beans to up your folate levels. A cup of beans contains 200 to 300 micrograms of folate. Folate helps produce DNA and structure new sound cells, accordingly fundamental for anticipating ladies. Different approaches to build your folate admission are green verdant vegetables like spinach and citrus natural products.

Exercise

Along with a proper diet, the right exercise is also essential to stay in the pink of health. It will help you lose weight and keep you fit and healthy. Making you slim and doing exercise daily will boost the skin’s elasticity and improve muscle tone. Besides, it will improve blood circulation and keep stress at bay.

For Better Bone Health

The following significant concern is shrinking bone wellbeing. Indeed, an issue usually connected with more seasoned ladies presently influences ladies in their 30s too. As you develop old, your estrogen level decays, which thus influences your bone-thickness unfavorably. Along these lines, an expanded calcium admission combined with nutrient D gets basic at this point. Ladies need around 1000mg of calcium daily. Great wellsprings of calcium incorporate milk, curd, chia seeds, cheddar, broccoli, almonds, bukchoy, and so forth

Incorporate these master recommendations and stand tall and solid against a portion of these organic difficulties like the wide range of various difficulties you’ve been propping so effectively.

Fat Burners

Despite doing a regular workout and eating a balanced diet you should check out herbalife afresh benefits, also there may still be a bit of flab that you cannot burn, which can be frustrating. Here, effective fat burners such as burning fat supplements and others like vintage burn fat burner can act as a savior. These supplements can do a lot, such as stop food cravings, boost energy, and eliminate fat spots. They have ample health benefits such as increased energy levels, thermogenesis, and suppression of appetite.

The specialty of these fat burner supplements is that they are made with some of the best ingredients such as caffeine, green tea extract, hot peppers, vitamin D, and Glucomannan, which are all useful for burn fat quickly fast.

Look out for these ingredients, choose the best fat burner, and stay in good shape now and forever. Your body will thank you for this.

7 Expert-Approved Tips for Lighting Your Home

Lighting may not be something you pay attention to when you’re at home, but it’s something vital.

Think about it; you really won’t be able to enjoy your regular home activities when the lights are out. Also, if your lights are dim, you really won’t be able to enjoy any interior design you have.

So, depending on how you arrange your lighting will help make you enjoy being at home more. Here are seven expert-approved tips that will help find proper lighting for each home.

Come up with a plan

To start, you would need to come up with a plan. You can’t just place any light in the room without trying to understand the whys.

Try to get the feel of the atmosphere and style of your home. What type of vibe do you want to feel while you’re at home? What do you want visitors to feel? Do you want to set a theme? All these will be able to influence the type of lighting, style, and design you want.

Develop an individual plan for every room in the house. Take a look at your floor plan and determine the factor that may affect the lighting, such as doors, windows, and furniture.

You can also use different lighting fixtures as each serves a different purpose based on their style. The design would also be vital as it helps in adding to the aesthetics of your home.

As for the amount of light, you may want to make the living room light brighter than the other rooms like the kitchen or bedroom.

Employ professionals

A lot of people think that installing lights is an easy task. But truthfully, there’s more to it than just installing. Because depending on the lighting fixture you install and where you install it can bring a lot of difference in your home.

This is where Auckland lighting specialists come in. These professionals or experts know what they’re doing when it comes to proper light installation. And trust me, they bring a lot to the table.

They can give you good advice, and they can even explain why this specific lighting is needed for the area. At the same time, they will ensure that you can save money despite choosing your home’s best light aesthetics.

Use energy-efficient bulbs

Speaking of saving, It’s also imperative to use energy-efficient bulbs for your house’s lighting. These bulbs last longer than traditional light bulbs, although it took years to perfect their invention.

When choosing an energy-efficient bulb, you should consider the type (LED, CFL, or B-rated halogen light bulbs). Another factor to consider is the lumen value (equivalent to watts of a traditional bulb).

Now, each energy-saving bulb differs in brightness. Try to think about where you’d want to install the bulbs and how bright you’d want the room to be.

Layer your lighting

Another great technique you can use is layering your lighting. Generally, there are three different layers to consider:

Ambient: This is the very foundation of the lighting in the room. It’s what we use to see the whole place so we can walk around comfortably.
Task: This is the lighting to use when doing specific tasks such as reading, cooking, or doing your make-up. Examples are table lamps, floor lamps, and under-cabinet lighting.
Accent: Most houses prefer only to have the first two lightings. But, there’s nothing wrong with adding a third layer to emphasize specific details of your home.

Use spotlights properly

Speaking of accents, you should also make sure to use spotlights properly. This is what adds to your home’s aesthetics. Whether this is a beautiful painting, your collection, or your small items on top of your cupboard, don’t hesitate to emphasize it.

Install functional lighting

Your lighting shouldn’t just be placed for the sake of having one. You should think about purpose, too. Here are some great questions to ask:

How will you use the room?
What do you want the lighting to do?
How much light do you need?
How critical is color?
How important is the design?

Answering these questions will help you determine what kind of lighting you need to install in every room of your house.

Get dimmer switches

Dimmer switches allow you to control the level of brightness to have in your home. This way, you get to save more energy, your lights will last longer, and you get to have control over how the room should look and feel.

It also helps if you think the lights are too bright, but you also don’t want to turn it off, or else the surroundings will get very dark.

Over to You

Lighting plays a critical role in your home’s overall aesthetics, too. So, it’s something that you should plan out carefully and with the help of an expert.

Remember, lighting doesn’t just provide light; it can also set the ambiance. If you follow the tips above, you’ll bring a lot of difference to the overall feel of your home.

5 Simple Tips to Keep Your Heat Pump at Home Well-Maintained

Heat pumps are probably one of the best heating and cooling systems you can have in your home. They are generally more energy-saving, which allows you to save money from your monthly bills.

However, if your heat pump is not well-maintained, you will be using 10-25% more energy than you could have saved. On top of that, your heat pump may not last longer than you think. It will also be bad in terms of your health and comfortability as your heat pump is no longer working at its best.

All these things are what make heat pump maintenance very important, and below are five simple tips to keep your heat pump well-maintained:

Prevent excess build-up from happening

Ice and snow can sometimes clog up your heat pump without you noticing. This will then block the airflow, make your heat pump work with lesser efficiency, and even lead to the system breaking down. So, to prevent this, here’s what you can do:

Turn off the unit to clear away any debris. Be very careful that you don’t damage the heat pump. You should also check the condenser and make sure it’s clear of snow and that it’s undamaged. Continue clearing away snow as much as you can, especially if it’s surrounding your unit.

You also have the option to create a free-standing cover to protect the heat pump from the snow during winter and intense heat during the summer. Just make sure to provide a 2-foot clearance.

Clean or change filters as needed

Dirty air filters will cause your system to work harder than required because they restrict airflow. This results in a higher electrical bill. At the same time makes you uncomfortable because your desired temperature is not maintained.

Besides this, dust and dirt build-up may affect your system and may cause total breakdown.

So, clean or change your filters regularly depending on how often you use them, how dusty your environment is, and if you have furry pets. But generally, it’s usually recommended to do this once every 1-2 months, and do not go over three months without changing your air filters.

Check on the unit placement

Upon the installation of your heat pump, you always need to consider the location. As much as possible, you should choose an area where it’s easy for you to check the heat pump and do some maintenance.

It’s almost always recommended not to install the unit near driveways, vegetation areas, or in areas with large equipment.

Other tips will include:

Select an open space
Avoid vibration and direct sunlight
Don’t cover the heat pump
Clean the gutters to prevent water leakage
There should be drainage
Place it in an area where it won’t disturb others.

The better the placement of your heat pump, the safe it will be from any outside accidents that might damage it.

Clean outdoor coils

Condenser coils facilitate heat transfers, which is the number one reason why your heat pump is working. Therefore, it’s essential to keep it clean so your heat pump continues to perform well.

By cleaning your condenser coils, you’ll benefit on:

Improved comfort
Lower electrical bills
Lesser repairs and maintenance
Extended system lifespan
Better indoor air quality

Seek professional help

Lastly, and probably the most important, seek professional help. Heat pumps may be following a simple system, but it’s a very complex technology. And maintaining it without furthering the damage can be challenging.

If you’re not familiar with heat pumps, you should call a professional. If you had your heat pump installed by an Auckland heat pump installer, they could do some repairs and check-ups, too.

Wrap Up

Heat pumps provide us with excellent benefits. It improves your quality of life by improving air quality, saving energy, and saving you money.

If used correctly and maintained well, it’s a significant investment.

So follow the five simple tips above to get your money’s worth. After all, heat pumps are not that cheap.

Essential Ways of Raising a Healthy Dog

Don’t you love it when your dog pet is healthy, strong, and happy? Your dog is part of your family, and you need to care for it by ensuring it is healthy. These are the essential ways of raising a healthy dog pet.

Feed Your Dog with Nutritious Food

When you feed your dog proper nutritious dog meals, they will be healthy. The right diet is essential since it leads to a healthy weight, fur, skin, and energy levels. You can buy top quality dog foods from an online pet store. As you buy the food, only source from reputable companies. Also, please do not change the diet suddenly since they may suffer vomiting and diarrhea.

An appropriate diet will make your dog have shinny fur and high energy lever. However, you need to take care to avoid making them obese. Yes, even dog pets suffer obesity if they are fed the wrong diet. A qualified vet can also recommend a homemade balanced diet for your pet.

Take Them for Veterinary Appointments

Taking your pet for veterinary care is the best way of confirming their overall health. You can visit your local vet for regular wellness check-ups. You can schedule annual examinations.

The veterinarian will care for your dog by vaccinating and deworming them. They can receive a rabies vaccine and also the prevention of flea and ticks. If you have a pregnant dog, the vet can help with the delivery and vaccination of puppies.

Old aged dogs, also known as senior ones, should see vets frequently, for instance, a minimum of six months. They will be tested to ensure all organs are functioning correctly.

Regular and Proper Grooming

All dogs need grooming. You can groom them by trimming the nails and bathing them. Brush their fur, and if they have fast-growing hair, they may need regular haircuts. Appropriate grooming also involves dental care. Do not wait until your dog has bad breath for you to clean the teeth. A foul odor is a sign of mouth problems.

You can prevent the buildup of tartar and plaque by buying oral rinses from an online pet store and brushing your dog’s teeth. The dental health of their teeth is essential, and if the issue persists, you can consult your vet to help with professional cleaning.

Ensure Appropriate Regular Exercises

For your dog to stay healthy, it needs to exercise. A well-fed pet has enough energy, and it needs to release some by exercising. Failure to train may cause the dog to develop obesity. An inactive dog can also be bored, causing them to have aggressive behavior. To help your dog become more active, you can walk or jog with them daily. You can buy playing balls from a pet store and bond, and you play together.

Keenly monitor your dog

Another way of raising a healthy dog is by monitoring them to determine if they experience any changes. A dog communicates through signs. For instance, some breeds develop arthritis, and they may show symptoms of experience joint pains. When you watch and notice any changes, you can intervene before the illness becomes severe.

Dogs are excellent pets, and you can raise a healthy one by keenly monitoring, feeding nutritious diets, ensure proper excises, taking them to the vet, and giving regular grooming such as preventing ticks or fleas.

7 Family-Friendly Hikes in the U.S. That Active Families Should Explore

Hiking can be a challenging activity. That’s why it is tricky to find a family-friendly hike in the US.

For one, it has to be safe and less strenuous. Second, it should be interesting that your kids will not wander. Lastly, it should be stimulating for your kids.

To help you narrow down your list, we have listed down the top seven family-friendly hikes in the US.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Reserve, Colorado

Colorado is home to the country’s tallest dunes. The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Reserve is tucked against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains’ east side.

The main dune field has spread across 30 square miles, and it can reach more than 700 feet high.

While it is not your “go out and have fun” kind of dunes park, parents and kids are welcome to run, slide, and roll here. However, you need to heed the necessary precautions when the sand is scorching hot in the summer.

Sourdough Ridge Trail, Washington

Located in the subalpine zone of the Mount Rainier National Park, the Sourdough Ridge Trail offers fantastic views of Washington’s snow-capped peaks.

It boasts a one-mile loop with gentle elevation, and it passes through flower-filled meadows. This makes the trail a great way to introduce the beauty of nature to kids.

Just keep in mind that the snow closes this area most of the time. So, it would be best to plan your hike during summer or early fall.

Frozen Niagara Tour, Kentucky

Some cave tours can be cumbersome for children. But not the Frozen Niagara Tour at the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky.

The tour is short enough at a quarter-mile round trip. It also boasts spectacular cave sceneries like the Rainbow Dome, Crystal Lake, and the Frozen Niagara flowstone.

If you want to stimulate your kids’ imagination, we recommend that you bring them here.

But depending on when you want to take the tour, we suggest bringing a decent rain jacket. That’s because the wet season lasts more than four months in Kentucky. And it usually peaks around June.

Giant Logs Trail, Arizona

A wide, open space can be uneventful for kids. But if you bring them to a place where they can see enormous “fallen trees” made of rock, that can be a different story.

The Giant Logs Trail in Arizona is one of the best short hikes for kids. It starts at the Rainbow Forest Museum and can lead you to the Old Faithful, the most massive log in the park.

Here, you and your family will be able to see bark, knotholes, and growth rings in great detail.

Base Loop Trail, Wyoming

There is a reason why Native American have long considered the Devils Tower National Monument a sacred site.

The Devil Tower is a butte that rises 867 feet above the rock rubble.

But do not just marvel at it from afar. You and your family can take the 1.3-mile base loop trail that starts across the parking area from the visitor center.

When you take the trail, you will notice clothes and bundles that are attached to the trees. These are Native American prayer clothes that you should leave undisturbed.

There are also benches where you can rest and waysides informing you about the park’s natural and cultural history. Another trail highlight is up-close views of the Tower and boulder field.

Life of the Marsh and Woodland Trails, Maryland

It will not come as a surprise if kids love ponies. And if your kids do, we recommend that you bring them to the Assateague Island National Seashore.

The park encompasses a 37-mile-long barrier between Maryland and Virginia. However, the ponies from the Maryland side run wild and free, and you can see them when you take the Life of the Marsh and Woodland Trails.

The trail winds through a salt marsh where many ponies convene.

Trails Along Redwood Creek, California

If you want to bring your kids to a magical place, the trails along Redwood Creek is the place to be.

It is a cathedral-life forest of coast redwoods that can be as high as 250 feet. Hence, do not be surprised to see people with upturned faces and wide-open eyes.

Luckily, you do not have to step on the roots of these centuries-old trees. That’s because there are paved trails alongside Redwood Creek.

National Parks Abound Family-friendly Hikes

We know how challenging it can be to find a family-friendly hike.

For one, it has to be easy enough for the youngsters. Second, it should be enticing for the adults.

Luckily, there are several worthwhile trails throughout the US that your entire family can enjoy. And it is not just because it piques the parents’ interest while ensuring it will not tire out the kids. If you need help getting started then check out this guide for the perfect hiking trip.

The hiking trails we have listed above are sure to stimulate your kids’ imagination and allow them to learn about nature.

5 Must-Haves for Family Camping

Going on a camping trip is an ideal place to spend some quality time connecting with your family. It’s also an opportunity to rekindle the spark of being out in the open and reestablishing your lost connection to nature. From the perspective of a survivalist, it’s a chance for a person to test their capability to make it out there in the wild. All of this, however, is done in controlled circumstances and is mostly fun-oriented. It is fun for the whole family and here are five things you need to bring in order to ensure the success of this trip.

1. A proper tent

The first requirement for a family camping trip is definitely a proper camping tent. This will ensure that you’re protected from all sorts of weather occurrences. Still, there are two more things worth taking into consideration. First, the size of the tent needs to be big enough for the entire family. Second, the poles should be color-coded so that the setup is easy and it doesn’t take too much of your time. Including your kids in the setup process is another underestimated family camping activity.

2. Automatic knife

Another thing you need is a reliable camping knife. The best thing to look for is an automatic knife, seeing as how they’re safe, portable and quite efficient. Regardless if you need to cut or pierce something, there is a series of camping tasks that will be on your to-do list. Ideally, you would buy quality OTF automatic knives that can last you a lifetime. Remember, you buy a knife for the first camping trip and have it for every subsequent one. Moreover, there are so many household DIY repairs where an automatic knife could come in handy.

3. Portable cooler

Depending on when and how you intend to go camping, the quality of the trip itself may be affected by your ability to keep your beverages cool. This is where a portable cooler is a must-have. Keep in mind that this is an inexpensive investment, seeing as how you can find coolers for as little as $30. However, make sure that the one that you’re buying has enough space. Also, look for coolers with positive reviews in order to ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth instead of making an investment that you’re going to regret.

4. Camping grill

Technically, you could just start a fire and make the food in improvised conditions. A rock can serve as an oven panel and a pot could technically fulfill the purpose of a deep fryer. Still, getting a real camping grill can help you make a world of a difference and prepare proper gourmet meals for your entire family. This way, you could elevate the quality of the camping trip in question by quite a margin. Keep in mind that you have so much to do around the campsite. This means that making just one of the tasks easier might help you enjoy camping a lot more.

5. Camping chairs

Sitting on the grass, earth, or even a blanket definitely has its merits but by bringing some camping chairs, you will opt for a simpler, safer option. The most important thing worth keeping in mind is the fact that camping chairs are foldable. As such, they’re easy to fit in the trunk and transport for miles and miles. Camping chairs come in various colors, shapes and folding mechanisms. Therefore, some shopping around might be a good idea.

Conclusion

One of the most important things worth keeping in mind is the fact that each of the above-listed purchases needs to be done once. You buy all of this once and have a suitable inventory for each subsequent trip. This alone makes buying quality an even greater priority. You should also look at this as a way to customize your camping trips in an easy and simple manner. Overall, you have a lot of maneuvering space and so many options to choose from.

What to do when your teen has a drinking problem

The drinking problem is an umbrella term that encompasses heavy drinking, binge drinking, and alcohol use disorder. The person loses control over alcohol intake, and there are withdrawal symptoms involving intense craving and a negative emotional state. Studies reveal that more than a million people all across the globe suffer from this disorder. Alcohol use disorder or AUD is not just limited to adults but also adolescence between the age of thirteen and seventeen suffer.

Early age alcohol abuse may lead to dangerous long term consequences on a person’s health. It also increases the risk of other substance addiction and abuse patterns. Moreover, a negative impact on internal organs and problems in brain development may also follow. It is crucial to learn about how to help teenagers who are struggling with alcohol use disorder.

The dangers of alcohol use disorder in teens

Developing alcohol use disorder in the formative years of life may lead to severe health and legal consequences. It makes the person dependent on all alcohol in the later part of life. Moreover, it enhances the risk of stroke, heart diseases, liver diseases, mood disorders, and many kinds of cancer. Teenage drinking is a significant contributor to death resulting from injuries.

The risk of developing other forms of addiction and Polydrug abusers also heightens. It leads to engagement in risky sexual behavior, becoming victims of sexual assault, and getting into serious accidents, particularly physical fights and car crashes. Alcohol hampers the functioning of some areas in the brain, which may lead to reduced neuroplasticity, poor memory, decreased ability to learn, and changes in behavior.

The ways of inferring alcohol abuse in adolescence

There physical signs that can tell you whether the teenager is abusing alcohol. They include a deterioration in appearance, change in sleep pattern and appetite, bloodshot eyes, staggering academic activities, change in social groups, degraded coordination, demanding privacy and becoming isolated, stealing of cash, lying about probable alcohol abuse, mood swings, and other related behavioral changes.

The best treatment options for adolescence

The parents or guardians of the teenager have the legal right to force the child into treatment, making intervention necessary. They may have to arrange for relevant rehabilitation and detox process. The treatment method is available in both outpatient and inpatient options. However, the focus needs to be on developing a unique program for each personality. The treatment approach must cover the whole nature of the teenager rather than just focusing on substance abuse. These include social, academics, personal and creative issues.

Outpatient rehabilitation program: many people opt for this option because they feel the child is safe at home with their parents. Moreover, the treatment allows the adolescent to attend school during regular hours. They have different kinds of sessions designed according to the case in focus. Following the sessions regularly may help the teenager to overcome the problems associated with alcohol abuse.

Inpatient treatment: it is useful for those teenagers who have serious addiction issues and co-occurring mental illness. The method works with an approach of modifying all the aspects of the teenager’s personality. The inpatient drug and alcohol rehab focuses on therapies and sessions that can help the person fight and win drug abuse. The different programs so designed, does not give enough time to the teenagers to think about drugs. The continued support on a 24/7 basis helps the individual to get the much-needed support that they want. It relieves them of all the anxiety and depression. Since access to the outer world is limited, it positively affects their reach to drugs and alcohol. It thereby curtails the risk of relapse.

Adolescent-focused recovery program: these are mostly outpatient programs that provide room for the teenagers to continue with their schooling and daily activities. They help meet the local and state education requirements. Studies reveal that brief interventions may work well to help the adolescent end the substance abuse problem. The support provided by behavioral therapy is adequate for teenagers who are into heavy drinking, abusing drugs, binge drinking, etc. The programs focus on developing solidarity between teenagers and their parents. They believe that a strong association between them can help the teenager open up regarding their problems before their parents.

Visiting college may not mean relapse

After recovering from alcohol use disorder, they slowly return to everyday life. However, sending them to college may be intimidating. It is because college campuses are popular for drinking events. Since they are on their own, parents often fear sending their children to meet their academic requirements.

Fortunately, many educational institutions are trying to develop ways to support students recovering from the disorder. They try to promote small groups of students getting together for various events that do not involve drugs or alcohol. You must know that the inpatient alcohol rehab in Maine focuses on teenagers’ importance of getting back to college life. It is because they feel that getting back to college will give them a feeling of normalcy. They provide the necessary resources for treatment and recovery. The continued provision for psychologists, medical professionals, and therapists helps the teenager overcome substance abuse easily.

Providing support to the adolescence through their recovery process is very crucial. Learning how to speak about the risks of alcohol and drug abuse, distinguishing myths from facts during the treatment process, supporting sobriety at home is critical. Parents need to make use of the necessary resources to get their children the best possible treatment option.

Best Mompreneur Business Ideas

In the past few years, the phenomenon of the charmingly named ‘mompreneur’ has established itself as the dream of new moms everywhere.

Once the kids arrive, it’s common for women to leave behind their careers and take the full-time job of being a wife and a mother. And this is perfectly fine! But as children grow up, many women find themselves with more and more free time they could devote to something that fulfills them, and the extra income doesn’t hurt the household budget, either. So due to the flexible schedule owning your own small business allows, many of them take the leap of faith into entrepreneurship.

With the help, love and support from their partners, the modern moms actually can have it all. But what type of business can they start? Here are some profitable ideas.

Microblading

In the past few years, permanent makeup artist has been popping up everywhere as one of the most lucrative jobs. You must have heard about the term microblading, but you might be wondering what exactly it is.

In short, this is a permanent makeup procedure for the eyebrows that is done by injecting pigments into the skin. This creates an illusion of thicker, modified brow arches everyone seems to want.

The main reasons why microblading is a great option for moms is the fact that the skill can be learned relatively quickly. Having finished a live microblading course in Washington DC, most attendees get licensed and start taking clients within a couple of months. And the earning, we must add, are more than satisfactory, as the average price of a microblading session starts at $250 and goes as high as $1000.

Freelancing

Freelancing is an umbrella term for all sorts of online jobs. This is a way for many moms to put their degrees or prior experience to work, while being able to stay at home and take care of their family.

There are many types of freelancers. Moms versed in IT can try coding. Sweet talking moms can look into copywriting, or content creation for various websites, blogs, or marketing agencies. Foreign language knowledge can also prove very profitable – there are tons of translation jobs available online.

2020 has transformed the job market in many ways, one of them being the fact that many companies are reorienting to online business, so there are many jobs available that can be done from home. So all that it takes to become a freelancer is a computer, a stable internet connection, and a bit of courage to take on your first project.

Childcare Business

With many moms going back to work while their children are still a few years away from elementary school, the childcare business can be very profitable. Everyone knows the value of a responsible, reliable babysitter, and many parents prefer this arrangement over the traditional daycare, especially in areas where kindergartens are overcrowded.

Taking on a few of your neighbors’ kids to look after while they’re at work allows you to stay home with your own kids, and while it might sound like a big responsibility, it can be very rewarding. It can also be an opportunity to put to work the organization skills you’ve inevitably obtained mothering your own children and cash in on them.

Of course, one thing to look into are the laws and regulations in your state or province, but once you make sure you and your home meet all the criteria, all you need to get you started is a toy collection and a smile.

Photography

Photography is a great way for creative moms to put their love of art to good use. Photography businesses have been thriving lately, with advanced technology so widely available. All moms with an artistic sensibility have to do in order to start earning from photography is to master photoshop.

Starting out may be a bit difficult though, as it takes some time to build a name for yourself. A good strategy is to start by doing some volunteer work, for example at local weddings, and build your portfolio. Another must is to keep networking every step of the way, as contacts are the most valuable resource in this business.

The reason why photography is a great option for busy moms is the fact that they can take on as many or as few projects as they want and adapt their schedule to the rest of their obligations.

5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Child Custody Attorneys

Are you and your ex-spouse at odds for who will get custody of your children after the divorce is finalized? Are you afraid that they’ll try and use a few actions in the past to strengthen their case? if so, then you need to search for reputable child custody attorneys.

Doing so can help you have guidance throughout this process. You hoped this day would never come, but a child custody lawyer can help you make a case for yourself.

See below for several factors that you should consider while you search for the child custody attorney to represent your side during these trying times.

1. Use References and Reviews as Your Guide

Unless you’ve gone through a child custody battle before, you probably aren’t sure where to turn to find a reputable child custody attorney. Fortunately, you live in an age where all the information is available via the digital world.

For that reason, it’s always advantageous to use online reviews to find a trustworthy lawyer with actual child custody experience.

While the ratings are a nice feature to glance over, they don’t tell the whole story. A lawyer can pay people to askew those ratings in their favor. Pay more attention to the comments, that’s where you’ll get a taste for what they’re like from a client’s perspective.

Take the time to read through the comments and ask yourself a few things. Did they hire the lawyer for a child custody battle? What was the outcome? Would they recommend them to others? Did the attorney help or hinder the process?

All of these questions can help point you in the right direction. If you get a bad feeling about an attorney you speak with, turn the other way. Find a child custody lawyer that you feel like you can trust. It will help your case immensely.

2. Child Custody Experience

We briefly mentioned it in the last point, but it bears worth repeating, you must hire an attorney with years of experience with child custody cases. Not doing so is sacrificing your entire case over a battle you can’t afford to lose.

Too many people give the advantage to their ex-spouse by hiring a family lawyer who specializes in something other than family law. This is a huge disadvantage for your side.

The family law process contains several loopholes and stages in the process. You need to hire someone with the experience and the know-how to build your case, use tried-and-true strategies, and can compile the right kind of evidence to help you win.

On the flip side of that, don’t hire a family law attorney just because they helped someone you know to win their child custody battle. Every situation is different. For all you know, their custody battle may have been more black and white than yours is.

3. Optimal Communication

Imagine hiring a child custody attorney for your case and not hearing much from them leading up to the trial. Even worse, you might find out they’ve been making certain moves (like trying to settle) without getting your consent.

If the situation is even somewhat amicable, you don’t want to risk causing tension from hiring a lawyer with poor communication. You want to hire one that listens first, then alters their course of action based on what you want.

More importantly, you should never be left in the dark with your own case. You need a family law practitioner who has excellent communication skills. Someone that will fill you in every step of the way.

There’s also the matter of hiring someone that can take over the communication needs with the opposition if you’re going the pretrial route. This can help you find a solution before the intensity heats up in a courtroom.

4. Price

Price is always a factor in finding the attorney that you hire. You want to do all that it takes to win the child custody battle, but you also have to consider your financial situation.

Many people try to avoid the conversation, but in doing so, you might cause yourself a greater amount of financial strain. Something that you’re already experiencing enough of during the divorce process.

It’s better to bring this question up right away. Ask them to give you a quote on everything from courtroom fees, lawyer fees, and so on. Make sure you have a firm understanding of the factors that could cause the price to fluctuate as well.

5. Chemistry

You could hire the most well-regarded child custody attorney in the entire state, but if you find them off-putting, your trial might be sabotaged in the process.

Chemistry is a more important factor than most people might think. You want someone that can empathize with your situation and genuinely cares about the outcome. It will drive them to do all they can to help you win.

If you talk to a family law attorney and love the way that you’re hitting it off with them from the jump, don’t hesitate to act on it. As long as they have the child custody experience you need, it can make the entire process less stressful for you.

Find the Best Child Custody Attorneys for Your Situation

Now that you have seen all the different factors to consider as you search for child custody attorneys to represent you, be sure to use them all as you look for the perfect fit.

Don’t hesitate to be thorough. This is an important decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Take as long as you need until you find someone that you’re comfortable and confident in.

Be sure to browse our website for more articles on family law, as well as many other helpful topics that you will enjoy.