What Do You Do If You Can’t Cope With Being A Parent Anymore?

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While our children are the most important thing in our lives, there can be so many underlying anxieties associated with prioritizing our children in this manner. It's something that we've all got to give consideration to, especially when we've been awake for what seems like days! And these days turn into months, which can turn into years. What happens when if we feel that, for even 30 minutes, that were not able to cope with being a parent? And what happens if this compounds down the years?

Breaking The Routine

We've all been there, that we have a routine of getting the kids up, getting ready for school, and everything else, and it seems then that we are forever focused on our children, and never ourselves. But it's this that can lead to issues like high-functioning depression. It might have actually got to the point that we're going so fast that we don't notice our emotions. What we have to do in these instances is to learn how to break the routine. Usually, someone will tell you that you need a break, but if you are on autopilot, you've got to realize at what point that you have been continually neglecting your needs. Break the routine, do something different, and make sure it's for yourself.

What Is Underneath It?

Sometimes there's an underlying health issue, and sometimes it can result in self-medicating. Sometimes we think that we've just got to cope because there's no other choice. But if you find yourself self-medicating, or there is an underlying health or mental health problem, you've got to address this. After all, if you can function at your best, this means you will look after your children better. There are many ways you can do this, you can go to rehab facility like the Lake Wellness Center, or you could go and seek professional help. Counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, or even hypnosis can provide a way for you to function at your best without feeling like you've just got to push through for the sake of everyone else.

Retraining Your Priorities

We all have our children as the priority in our lives. But we've got to make ourselves a priority as well. Self-care is essential. And if you're not looking after your health, how are you able to look after anybody else properly? That's not to say that you need to make yourself more important than your children, but make sure that you are giving the things that your body and mind need for you to function at your best. It's a very simple idea, but as every mother can attest, there is always a lack of time. This is why you have got to learn to function with the minimum of effort. There are plenty of resources out there; it's about finding the right one for you. You could take 10 minutes out of your day, even if you split into 10 one-minute practices, of understanding of what you require to function. This could be the morning coffee, or this could be barricading yourself away from your busy household. Whatever it is, learn to make yourself as important as your children.

10 Ways To Reduce Stress During Pregnancy

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Becoming a mom is a responsibility that should never be taken lightly. From the moment you first become pregnant, you are responsible for the health and care of your little one. This is a lot of pressure for anyone to take on. While pregnancy is a joyous and wonderful time, the anxiety and doubt that comes with it can cause a lot of stress. Although it’s normal to feel worried now and then, if you’re feeling anxious all the time, it can have serious consequences for you and the new baby. With that in mind, here are ten things that you can do to reduce stress during pregnancy.

1. Attend An Antenatal Class

Those becoming parents for the first time often face much more anxiety than people that have done it before. After all, everything about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting is completely new to them. This sense of unknown can leave you constantly doubting yourself and exaggerating your fears. Joining an antenatal class, therefore, can be incredibly beneficial. You’ll learn a lot more about the process and your options, which will give you confidence and quiet any worries.

2. Sort Out Money Worries

As small as they are, babies aren’t cheap creatures. There is a lot that you need to buy before they arrive, which often leaves new parents with money worries. Thankfully, there are plenty of things that you can do to cut costs. You could use selloscope, for example, to find and compare the prices of different products. Some people borrow things from their family and friends too. If you’re really struggling for money, there are also charities out there that might be able to help.

3. Get Plenty Of Rest

Growing an entirely new person is going to take it out of you now and then. Your body will need a lot more energy than normal, so, if it’s telling you that you’re tired, then you need to listen. Taking short naps in the middle of the day can give you a much-needed energy boost, but, if napping isn’t for you, then you should move your bedtime routine instead. Heading to bed just an hour or two earlier will make it a lot less likely that you’ll feel emotional or snappy the next day.

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4. Find Ways To Exercise

While it’s important to rest, you shouldn’t avoid activity altogether. Even when it’s the last thing that you feel like doing, exercise can be hugely beneficial for almost all pregnant women. As well as helping you to maintain a healthy weight, physical activity will make it easier for you to sleep, improve your mood, and reduce the possibility of pregnancy complications. There are many great exercises that you could try, but you should ask your doctor for the go-ahead before you do.

5. Rethink The Household Chores

The house still needs to be cleaned, even when you’re pregnant. You’ll only worry about the mess otherwise. The trouble is, many everyday household chores, such as scrubbing the floors and cleaning up after the pets, can put your pregnancy at risk. Instead of attempting these tasks anyway, you should ask your loved ones for a hand. Most friends and relatives will be more than willing to help out. You might want to hire a cleaner to visit the house once or twice a week too.

6. Meet Up With Friends

When it comes to tackling stress, one of the best things that you can do is talk to your friends. You’re not the only one to have gone through pregnancy, after all, so some of them might understand exactly what you’re going through. This makes them well-equipped to offer you advice or just a shoulder to cry on. Enjoying some quality time with those you love can also provide perspective and show you that it is still possible to have fun, even when you’re stressed.

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7. Wear More Comfortable Clothing

Women often wear clothing that is far too tight while they’re pregnant. This can cause serious discomfort, resulting in feelings that are anything but relaxing. It also makes it impossible not to focus on the weight that you’re gaining, which is a sore spot for some new moms. For this reason, you should switch to clothes that you actually feel comfortable in. Make sure that tops and pants are stretchy or loose and that shoes fit well and are relatively easy to walk in.

8. Eat A Healthy Diet

Pregnancy is a busy time in a woman’s life. However, a drop in blood sugar can leave you feeling tired and irritable. Because of this, you should try to eat regular meals, no matter how much you’ve got to do. Make sure that you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables throughout the day, but don’t limit yourself to greenery alone. As long as you stick to a balanced diet, you can indulge in an unhealthy craving now and then. You must also remember to drink plenty of water each day.

9. Focus On The Baby

As stressful as being pregnant can be, it will all be worth it when you’re holding your newborn in your arms. This is what you need to focus on. Instead of thinking about nausea or the financial burden, you should talk, sing, and read to your baby. This is a great way to bond with your little one and can often help you to feel more positive about pregnancy. Some women also write letters to their children and put them away until they’re old enough to read them.

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10. Speak To A Doctor

Pregnancy can be stressful for any woman, but it is more difficult for some than others. If you’re feeling particularly anxious and scared, then seeking professional help is the way to go. This is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of. In fact, it’s an incredibly brave decision. It’s also a sensible one and the best thing that you can do for yourself and your child. Depending on the circumstances, your doctor may be able to prescribe a treatment to help you.

Being pregnant can definitely be stressful, but with the advice above, you should be able to tackle your anxieties and enjoy this special time.

Finding A Partner When You're Single

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Anyone who has been single for a long time while looking for someone will know just how frustrating it can be. It can be all too easy to find yourself feeling down or wishing that things would change, and sometimes merely being patient about it can be very upsetting in itself. Of course, if you are in such a situation and you’d like it to change as soon as possible, then you might well want to start looking at many different options for doing so. The more that you keep your options open, the more likely it is that you will be able to find that right person at some time, and hopefully you won’t even need to wait that long. In this post, we are going to look at just a few things to consider if you are hoping to find a partner some time soon.

Get Out There

First of all, you need to remember that the single most important thing is that you make a point of getting out there and speaking to people. The more that you are able to do that, the more likely it is that you will meet someone, whereas if you are stuck at home all the time, it is much less likely to happen. This can prove difficult if you have any kind of responsibilities, such as working long hours or having to look after children. But it is important to take the timeout to go out and look for people if that is what you really want, otherwise you are denying yourself a basic thing which you don’t want to deny yourself. Make a point of getting out there as much as possible, and you will feel better just for trying.

Try New Methods

Of course, these days you are just as likely to find someone sitting on your own sofa than anywhere else, and you will probably need to think about using such methods if you are really keen to find someone soon. Dating apps like Tinder might have their dark sides, but many people have managed to find their next love this way, and it is certainly something that you will want to try if you are keen to make sure that you are going to find someone sometime soon. As well as those apps, you might want to think about using free chatlines, which can be a great way to forge a deeper connection than you might get with dating apps. The main thing is that you try out whatever methods you can find.

Patience

Finally, remember that the most important thing is that you are patient with yourself and with the world, and that you trust that your time will come. As long as you manage to adopt this approach, you will probably find that your time does come - but once you start to get too impatient, it generally means that you get desperate, and that is when you start to make compromises that you wish you hadn’t made. Instead focus on yourself while developing that patience - you will be glad you did in the long run.

How to Help a Loved One After Surgery

                 

When someone you love has a serious surgery, it can be difficult for the whole family. Long recovery times can be frustrating and may even come with some financial stress. It can be challenging to know what to do to help without being too pushy. Try following these guidelines to get you started on the right path.

Hire Help

There are home health care agencies Bethesda MD that can come help out when needed. This is a great option for if the person requires constant care, but you need to go to work. It also gives your loved one company when you are not able to be there. Be sure to talk to your insurance company to see if they cover all or part of this service.

Don't Hover

Right now, your loved one is not able to do everything that they were before the surgery. This can be frustrating for him or even embarrassing. Hovering over him and trying to do every little task can be a bit much at times. Try to be available without treating him like a complete invalid. This can help ease some of the depression that often happens after a surgery.

Create a Restful Environment

One of the best ways for someone to recover is by rest and relaxation. You can help to promote this by creating a calm environment within your home. If you have young children, you might want to see if they can stay with someone else for the first few days. Have healthy meals prepared and make sure the house is clean and sanitary to help prevent infections.

The most important thing to remember is that recovery takes time. It can be extremely frustrating for everyone, but try to be strong for your loved one. If you are feeling overwhelmed, see if there is a family member or friend that can lend some help and support during this time.

               

Five Ways To Save Your Household Money

Running a family household can be expensive, but you want to be able to give you, and your children the best lives possible. So here are five ways to save your household money so you can put it towards making memories.

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Use A Credit Card In An Emergency Only

A lot of us forget that the credit card needs to be used in an emergency only or when you can’t afford a big payment all at once. Try to pay off your credit card as soon as you can and then lock it away in a draw so that it’s not in your wallet or handbag to tempt you to use. You should also look at capping your spend on the credit card so that you don’t spend beyond your means. Your credit card limit shouldn’t really be higher than how much you make on a monthly basis. Use this as a guide! If you’re new to credit cards then this secured credit cards for bad credit guide can help you understand what’s available to you.

Condense Your Food Shopping List

The food shop is one of the biggest expenses on your household’s monthly income, so condensing it down as much as possible is important. Look at your previous shopping list and cut out anything that’s not a necessity. Each person in the household can have one treat so that it's fair, and not one person is getting more than the other. This comes in handy when you have children and want them to know that everyone gets their equal share. When shopping, look for deals but don’t get roped into too many of them if it’s not a product you really need.

Find Cheaper Utility Providers

Utility bills are something everyone has to pay, and like the food shop, they can take a sizeable chunk of your wages. Every so often, utility providers will have new deals for customers that aren’t yet customers,and this can be an advantage on your part. If you feel like you can be paying less, then shop around for cheaper utility providers. You can always challenge what you’ve been offered to your current providers to see if they’ll match it.

Sell Things You Don’t Need

In your home, there’s likely to be plenty of things lying around that you no longer use or need. This might be old electronics like mobile phones, laptops, etc. and these can end up fetching a nice amount if sold on. The same goes for clothes, books, DVDs and games to mention but a few. With so many platforms available online now, there’s a place out there to sell anything, so start collecting the things you don’t need anymore and sell them on.

Always Allocate Some Money To Savings

Even if you’re left with a small amount from your wages, always try to allocate some money to your savings. It’s good to have savings because you never know what might happen in life or unexpected surprises that could cost you financially.

Hopefully, with these five tips, you’ll be able to save your family a bit of money for the future.