Did you know that almost 50% of American children will see their parents divorce? It’s a very sad reality, and this might be happening to your own family soon.

Raising a child is already challenging enough. Through a divorce into the mix, and things can get even more complicated.

If you need some advice on raising a kid in two houses, then read on. We’ll give you some great tips for divorced parents.

Have Two Sets of Basic Items in Each Home

When you’re living in two households, it can become tedious remembering to bring all your things with you each time you go to a different house. Not to mention, if you forget something, it can put a huge damper on your day.

Make sure you and your ex have sets of basic items in each home so your children don’t have the burden of lugging their belongings around. Some things to include are:

• Toothbrush and other toiletries
• Underwear, socks, and clothes (including pajamas)
• Toys

Make a Packing Checklist

For everything else that needs to go back and forth, make a packing checklist. This can ease anxiety for everyone involved and with enough time, it’ll become so routine that packing won’t be stressful at all.

Have a checklist on the wall in each home. A day before your kids go to your ex’s, take a look at the list and help them pack.

Set Ground Rules

You and your ex may already agree on some parenting methods. However, once you’ve split up, each household might diverge slightly on parenting, especially if there are stepparents involved.

Have everyone sit down and agree on some ground rules. And if there are different schedules in each house, that’s fine! Just make sure that everything’s clearly understood and that no parent will break the rules of the other.

Once you’ve agreed on the ground rules, you need to stand together as a united front. Acknowledge that while things might be done a certain way in your house, they’ll be different in their other parent’s house. Your kids will adapt quickly if things are kept consistent.

If you aren’t able to get along with your ex, then it might be a good idea to hire a custody lawyer. Click here to find out more.

Do Drop-Offs Smartly

It might be a good idea for the parent with the kids to drop them off when their time’s up. If you have the other parent go pick them up, then there’s a chance they might interrupt some valuable bonding time.

When you leave drop-offs in the hands of the parent who’s currently with the children, this enables them to wrap up those special moments without it being jarring.

Cooperate When Raising a Child With Your Ex

In this article, we’ve given you some great tips for raising a child in two households.

But in the end, what really matters is that you cooperate and communicate with your ex. When your kids see that you’re still working together as a team, this can give them a healthy environment to grow up in. Plus, it’ll make custody much easier, so it’s a win-win situation!

For more parenting tips, make sure you check out the rest of our family blog page.

 

Every parent knows at least one child that says “I’m bored” at least once a day. While many parents may go for the easiest option of putting their child in front of a television, it’s not always the best way to encourage imagination. The more that you allow your children to turn to screens when they’re bored, the more that they’ll lack the ability to entertain themselves.

So the next time that you find yourself dealing with a bored child, refer to this list of awesome activities to choose from.

Make Slime

Homemade slime videos are all the rage on YouTube, and chances are your child is a slime fan. The great news is that there are recipes for slime which are pretty simple to make, with ingredients you likely already have in your home. Just make sure that you set some ground rules for where the kids can play with the slime in the house. If you hope to sell your home one day, you probably don’t want slime spread throughout your home.

Have a Dance Party

You heard us right, turn on some music and have a dance party. Dancing is something that everybody loves to do regardless of their age. Put on some tunes and bust out your best dance moves. Older kids may even enjoy turning whatever dance you do into a TikTok. The possibilities are endless!

Do Yoga

Initially, your child may scoff at the idea of doing yoga. However, yoga is something that is incredibly enjoyable once you give it a chance. The great news is that there are all sorts of videos online that guide you through yoga poses. There are even kid yoga videos that incorporate popular cartoon themes into the yoga poses.

Paint

Why not grab a set of paints and have a family painting session? Painting is something that is soothing, entertaining, and above all, you have something to show off at the end of your painting session! Don’t stress yourself out about needing the right supplies. While ideally, you’ll have some paints and paintbrushes lying around, markers should do the trick for creating a masterpiece.

Play Board Games

There are so many different video games and apps nowadays that people often forget the joy of traditional board games. Yet, there’s still tons of fun to be had with some of your favorite old classics like Sorry and Monopoly. It’s something the whole family can enjoy and brings out your competitive nature with each other.

These are just a few ideas to turn to when you’re bored at home. Consider adding some more ideas of your own and writing everything down on pieces of paper, and putting it in a box. The next time someone’s bored at your house, they can pull a piece of paper out of the box for a random activity idea!

 

When it comes to your child’s safety and comfort, you wouldn’t think that you would need to think twice about sleepwear and pajamas. However, the fact is that some companies don’t abide by certain regulations for children’s pajamas, meaning that you could be putting your child at unnecessary risk without realizing it.

This might be difficult to hear. In this article, we can highlight all the things you need to look out for to ensure your child gets the coziest night sleep as well as being as safe as possible.

When you tuck your precious ones in at night, it’s important you are dressing them in the best in children’s PJs. Read on to find out more.

Check the Labels

Some companies will allude that their pajamas are for sleeping, even if they haven’t gone through the necessary requirements for sleepwear. It might be a case that they don’t even have their CPS certificate and they haven’t adapted their garments to pass the safety checks.

You should be able to check the labels to see whether this is the case, you are looking for something that says ‘not intended for sleeping’ or a disclaimer in the small print. These sets should be avoided at all costs and not used to sleep in whatsoever.

Other things to consider with labels, is whether it states if it is flame resistant or not. If it is not flame resistant there will be a label stating that it isn’t and that the garment should be worn snugly and not loosely.

Although snug and tight pajamas are not ideal for your child and their sleep. You want loose and breathable fabric. Good quality pajamas will use a flame resistance material and should always be prioritized.

Check for Loose Hanging Embellishments

Some children’s PJs can have elaborate and brightly colored designs on them which children can love to wear. However, you need to check that the designs don’t have any long embellishments such as ribbon or string that can get stuck or caught on things, causing a risk of injury.

This is also a worry if your child is sleeping and could get tangled up in it at night when they are asleep, also posing a risk of injury. Regulations from the CPS state that tags or ribbons can’t hang longer than 1/4” longer than it’s attached to the garment.

If you are concerned that any tags or ribbons are hanging longer than that then they might have not passed the relevant safety checks.

Consider the Material

The material of the pajamas will be crucial in ensuring a blissful night’s sleep for your child. The last thing you want is itchy uncomfortable material that a child feels unsettled in.

There are pajamas that are made with synthetic materials like nylon and polyester and also natural fiber garments that are made from cotton and wool. On the whole, it’s recommended that are more comfortable, although this can depend on the season.

Wool and cotton can be a great choice for snugglier and more cozy fabric in the winter, although synthetics can be more breathable for the summer months. It’s good to have a few sets in each so that your child has the right pajamas for the changing seasons.

You also want to look out for materials or blends that are chemical-free, moist-absorbent, and hypoallergenic. These factors will make the difference when it comes to your child being able to comfortably drift off to sleep. Check out these pajamas to have a look at some excellent children’s pajama sets.

Think About Your Child’s Age 

Depending on the age of your child, will indicate the type of pajama set you will need to buy. For newborns and young children of up to 6 months, sleep gowns footsie sleepers offer the most protection as they cover the child completely.

This replicates the cozy, protected feeling they had growing in the womb so they tend to enjoy feeling all of the body covered up. With toddler age, you can gravitate towards more of the footless romper style.

This is because they are often wanting to walk around and they are able to get more of a stable base without the sock element attached.

When your child grows out of the toddler stage and starts to be more independent, you can move away from the one-piece sets and start to build in two-piece pajama sets.

Your child might be able to dress themselves, or certainly give it a good attempt, so these pajama sets are great for them to practice that with loose, breathable material. Two-piece pajama sets are also good for those children that are going through potty training.

Tight Fit vs. Loose Fit Pajamas 

There are benefits to both tight fit and loose-fitting pajamas. Ultimately it is your decision and your child’s whether you gravitate towards more of a loose fit or whether you prefer the pajamas to fit more snuggly.

It might be a case of trial and error in some circumstances, tight fit pajamas don’t mean that there isn’t any stretch in them whatsoever. The same with a loose fit not having any grip at all.

The main thing is sourcing your pajamas from a quality company that has ensured that their garments comply with the CPS health and safety checks and meet the standards expected of children’s pajamas. Do your research and read up on the reviews before you make any purchases.

Buying Children’s Pajamas: Where Can I Find Out More?

We hope this article on the important things to consider when looking at buying children’s pajamas has made you more aware of the safety and health risks you need to look out for. Children’s pajamas can be extremely fun and vibrant and children love wearing them.

It’s just a case of making sure you are buying the right fabrics and materials so that your child is safe and happy in their bed at night.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at some of our other articles on this site!

 

Experiencing the death of a loved one is difficult for anyone at any age. Having to say goodbye to someone who you love dearly requires a lot of grieving. However, children may have an even more difficult time handling the death of a loved one.

Because it’s the first time that they’ve likely experienced a death, they may not understand what to expect at the funeral services or the stages of grief they may experience. Kids may react in many different ways that can be tricky to handle. They need your help to navigate the feelings that they are experiencing and plenty of support.

 

Take a look at some of the best things you can do to help your child handle the loss of a loved one.

 

Use Language They Can Understand

 

Heavy subjects like death can be tricky for children to understand. Concepts like death may be very confusing for them to wrap their head around. Therefore, it’s important that when you break the news about the death of a loved one that you use simplistic yet straightforward language. Trying to dance around the subject too much can cause confusion and misunderstanding. Use basic language that directly expresses what’s happened.

Chances are that they’ll have plenty of questions, so prepare yourself to answer them. For example, if they want to know how their grandma died, try to prepare an acceptable way to explain the circumstances. You can explain something like as people get older, their bodies may not be able to heal as well as they once did in their younger years. Going into detail isn’t necessary.

 

Comfort Them

 

Comforting your child is incredibly important. Even if they may not seem very sad initially, offering your love and physical affection can make a big difference in how well they receive the news. Physical affection is incredibly helpful for children to be reminded that they’re safe and protected. Offer hugs whenever they need it and give them whatever they need to feel better. Sometimes they may want to talk, and sometimes they may just want to be with you without saying a thing. It helps to follow their cues.

 

Explain The Next Steps

 

A lot of things can change when a loved one passes away. You may not have the same family rituals or routines. It’s important that you help your child understand what changes they can expect as time goes on. Be as clear as possible when explaining how routines will change so that they will know what to expect. The better that they can anticipate the future, the more prepared they will be for the changes.

 

By applying these tips and managing to handle your own emotions as well, you should be able to help your child navigate the complications and pain associated with the death of a loved one.

While most stay-at-home moms spend the majority of their time at home with their kids, they also usually don’t have a lot of time to devote to actually caring for their home the way they’d like. Rather, most of their time is spent keeping kids out of trouble, refereeing fights, making food, cleaning up immediate messes, helping with homework, and a million other things. Because of this, deep cleaning the house is often put on the backburner.

If this sounds like your life, here are three tips for keeping your home clean as a stay-at-home mom.

Don’t Aim For A Germ-Free Home

Many times, our expectations for ourselves are a little extreme, and this is true for stay-at-home moms, too. So if you think that your home should be constantly spotless, you’ve likely put your aim a little too high.

According to What To Expect, it’s not realistic to think that you should be keeping your home completely germ-free. In fact, having some germs around your house can help your family to have stronger immune systems. So as long as you’re keeping up with the big messes or hazardous materials and bodily fluids, you’re likely already doing a great job.

Bring In Reinforcements

All of the tasks required of stay-at-home moms can’t always be accomplished by just one person. Because of this, it’s perfectly fine to bring in some reinforcements when you need them.

If your kids are old enough, you can give them chores to help ease the burden of cleaning. Or, if you’d rather handle things on your own, Denise Stirk, a contributor to PopSugar.com, suggests hiring a babysitter to play with your kids while you get some housework done. On the other hand, if you’d rather spend your time doing anything but cleaning, you can also hire a cleaning service to take care of all the mess for you. None of these options makes you any less of a good mom than the woman who appears to do everything herself all the time.

Schedule It In

For busy parents, things usually won’t get done unless they’re on the calendar or scheduled into your phone. Knowing this, you may need to physically schedule in cleaning in order for you to make it happen.

To help with this, Katarina Milovanovic, a contributor to LifeHack.org, suggests making a concrete schedule of when you’ll do which jobs around your house. You can either split your time into days or devote a certain hour of your day to cleaning whatever needs it most. But as long as you’re planning to do some cleaning, it’s much more likely to actually get done.

If you’re needing to find some better ways to keep your home clean as a stay-at-home mom, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.

 

Being a parent or spouse can often feel like a full time job in itself, and you should be commended for everything you do around the house for your family. Unfortunately, most people also have to work outside of the home in order to make a living. This can often cause a lot of stress or to force people to feel like they have to choose whether their career or their family is more important to them.

Of course you love your family more than anything, but the main reason you have a job in the first place is to be able to provide for them so it has its own value. Because the two are often difficult to juggle, here are 3 tips for balancing work and family.

Work From Home When Possible

Depending on what type of job you do, find out if it is possible to work from home sometimes instead of always going into the office. If you work for yourself, such as in real estate, try doing some of your marketing from your computer at home or bring your kids along when you run to the post office to send out real estate postcard mailings. Working from home once in a while will also save you money on gas and childcare. If it is an option for you it’s definitely worth a try to help balancing your work and family life feel much more manageable.

Take Time Off

This one may seem obvious, but no matter what type of job you do, always make sure to take time off to spend with your family. If you can take a couple of days off every week that’s great, but if not just make sure you are getting adequate days off at some point! Not only will this help you to rest and reset but it will also allow you to have some much needed quality time with the ones you love.

Get Plenty Of Sleep

Trying to balance family life with a full time job, you may feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day most days. Sometimes it might seem like you barely have time to sleep! But don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s rest. Your body will thank you and you will be much better equipped to take on all of the stresses and challenges of all aspects of your life.

No matter what, remember that you are doing the best you can in all aspects of your life and even when you don’t feel like you’re good enough, you are! Everyone gets a little stressed and has issues balancing work and family, so just know that you’re not alone!

 

When it comes to buying retirement gifts for Dad, it can get complicated. While many kids love their parents, that doesn’t always mean you “get” them.

If you’d like help figuring out the best retirement gifts for your father, we decided we could help. Join us as we review a few of the best retirement gifts for dads.

Idea 1: A Cruise

The average man retires around the age of 64 (with women averaging two years younger than that). The odds are good when your father retires, he’s going to be a bit older and a bit more tired than he used to be.

One of the most desirable aspects of retiring is that you can now take a break. While there’s plenty of ways to do that, one of the best is a cruise.

The odds are good your father would appreciate a long trip on a nice cruise, where little is expected of him and he can relax.

The exact form this cruise might take will depend on your dad and your budget. Some fathers might appreciate a big family cruise. Others might want to get away from it all, kids included.

Whatever the case, remember this is your dad’s retirement gift. Go with the option he’d enjoy the most (or venture to ask what he’d prefer if you’re really worried you’d choose wrong).

Idea 2: An Engraved Watch

This may sound strange for those unfamiliar but watches tend to carry a strange reverence among American men (and plenty of women too). Something about our culture seems to put a lot of value on a good watch.

This all said, you don’t need to go out and buy your father a Rolex if that isn’t in the budget. The important part is making the gift feel like a genuine gesture in appreciation of what is a pretty important occasion.

Our recommendation is either custom-ordering the watch or buying a watch within your budget and then having it engraved. Where you look for the watch depends on your budget.

The cost to get an engraved watch varies enough that there is an option at pretty much every price point. A simple wooden engraved watch might cost you 70 dollars while a real Swiss masterpiece could cost upwards of 5 grand.

You may also want to spend a bit extra on a nice wooden case for the watch as well. Many people who receive gifts like this prefer to use them as a decorative object rather than wear them and a nice box makes that easier.

Idea 3: A Simple Gesture

Some people don’t like gifts. Some fathers may be uncomfortable receiving anything from their children. So what’s a good choice when these dads retire?

The best retirement gifts are tailored to who will receive them. Some men don’t want much. Oblige them; gifts are for the receiver.

Consider sending your father a nice message. Just as WishesAlbum.com lets you text birthday wishes for Father, you can also use the service to text him for his retirement.

You might also hug your dad or congratulate them in person. It’s also worth noting this particular idea is not exactly expensive! If you think your father would like more, you can do this idea and another one.

We have a habit of giving gifts as a replacement for open expressions of love and appreciation. It is okay to let down one’s guard on occasion. It should be okay to tell your father you are proud of them and you love them.

Idea 4: A Camping Trip

Camping can be a great, inexpensive way to connect with family. Unlike other family trips, camping has a pretty low barrier to entry; renting a site for a day is unlikely to cost more than 45 dollars or so.

While that isn’t the only expense (you still need food and camping supplies), a camping trip doesn’t need to be expensive to be enjoyable.

Like many of these other ideas, the ideal camping trip will of course depend on your father. Does he enjoy a rugged outing in the winter wilderness? Or would he prefer a spring trip at a family campground with all the amenities?

Camping can be great fun but we’ll note a few caveats. First, make sure your father would like to camp. Second, make sure you prepare for the weather; choose sleeping bags and tents appropriate to how cold it might get.

For a little more, you can also instead rent a cabin. It can offer a similar vibe to camping but is much easier in terms of prep and comfort. If your dad’s back makes the ground a hard sell, it may be the better choice.

Idea 5: Top-Shelf Whiskey

Maybe even more than watches, Americans have a soft spot in their heart for good whiskey. Why not get Dad some for his retirement?

Whiskey is one of the funny retirement gifts few would buy themselves but many would love to have. Many people have an interest in “luxury-tier” consumables but get put off by the price.

Top-shelf whiskey doesn’t have to be very expensive; 90-140 dollars will net you a bottle of something respectable. Of course, if you and Dad make big money, you can find bottles much more expensive than that if you so desire.

As for how to enjoy the drink, that’s up to you (or at least up to your father). Most would say an expensive whiskey is best had neat if you’ve never tried it but, to be honest, we say use ice if that’s what you want to do.

One option for the prepared would be to use whiskey stones. These are stones that can be cooled in the freezer, serving the same purpose as ice but without any risk that you might dilute the flavor.

Idea 6: A VR Rig

This is an option that is a bit odd and we admit won’t be for every dad. Not every 64-year-old is tech-savvy enough to even turn a VR rig on, let alone enjoy it.

At the same time, if you can make sure your dad has an interest in new tech, VR is another indulgence many avoid spending on but would love to have.

For those not in the know, VR rigs are devices which allow a person to play around in virtual reality (VR). By using a special headset and pair of controllers, the rig can make it feel like you’re actually in a virtual space.

Even if your father doesn’t play games, this can allow for other experiences all but impossible even a few decades ago. There are virtual tours where you can see the moon or under the sea. The possibilities are endless.

Many who hear about this technology assume it to be a fun gimmick but it’s more than that. Unless someone has worn this technology, there is almost no comparison to be made.

When choosing a rig, you have a few good options to choose from. Our current recommendation might be the Valve Index at $1000 but the technology evolves enough that you should do your research before buying a rig.

Idea 7: Movie or TV Memorabilia

The odds are pretty good there is a show or movie your father loves. Luckily, almost every piece of media ever made has some kind of memorabilia for sale.

In terms of retirement gifts for men interested in that sort of thing, it’s hard to go wrong at any price point. At the low end, there are posters and figurines. At the highest end, you may even get props seen on screen!

These sorts of gifts tend to be pretty safe too. Unless your father is a minimalist, most people enjoy getting a neat reference to something they like. (If you’re worried, go small so that you can guarantee they have the room.)

We will recommend you try to aim for your father’s favorite media properties when buying props. It’s neat and all to get some memorabilia for a show you saw once and sort of liked, but you may as well aim for what they like most.

Idea 8: Something Practical

A lot of the ideas presented here today are fun, one-off experiences or nice things your father could use but doesn’t need. For our final idea, we’ll suggest you go practical.

If your dad doesn’t like knick-knacks or going on trips, figure out something practical that would really help him out.

This is a bit open-ended since the exact gift should depend on what might help the most. Some quick suggestions include power tools, a maid or yard service, or getting his car repaired.

The benefit of these gifts is they’re really convenient! You might worry it won’t feel sentimental enough but if you save your dad some hard work and hours of time, that’s a pretty darn good gift.

Retirement Gifts for Dad Come in All Shapes

When buying retirement gifts for Dad, what you want to do is answer one question: What will he like? If your dad likes the gift and you put your heart into it, you’ll do fine.

If you found this article helpful, we hope you’ll explore our site. We offer a variety of content, including more advice like what you saw here!

Caring for a family member who has dementia is one of the most difficult things that a person can do, but it’s also one of the most profound acts of love that there is. For people with dementia, it’s the care of their loved ones that makes the difference and means that they can live a comfortable and meaningful life.

Ask for help

Caring for someone with dementia is hard work, and it’s not something that it’s easy to take a break from.

When you’re worried about a family member, it’s tempting to try and be there all of the time because you want to make sure they’re OK, but it’s important that you actively prioritize your own needs – you won’t be able to help anyone if you’re completely burned out.

Some things that you can do are:

• Involve other family members in the care process as much as possible. This not only ensures that the burden isn’t all on one person, but it means that you have other people to talk to who really understand your family members’ care needs when you’re making decisions.
• Talk to someone. Seek out a local carers support group or call a national helpline and talk about what you’re experiencing. Your doctor should be able to point you in the right direction. Talking will help you to better deal with things.
• Research respite carers who can help you by taking on your caring duties for a day or two at a time, to give you a break.

Financial support

It can also be difficult when you need to provide care for a family member because caring is a full-time job, and many of us already have full-time jobs, which we need in order to pay our bills!

It’s worth doing some research on which disability benefits you could be entitled to as a carer, as this will help to ease some of the financial pressure.

Empathy

People with dementia often become confused and disoriented and don’t know where they are, and they can also become angry and act out as a result.

It’s important that you maintain a sense of empathy in the face of these difficult situations by trying to imagine what your family member is going through. This will help you to be a better carer for your family member.

Plan ahead

Dementia can progress rapidly, so it’s important that you prepare yourself for the future. There may well come a time when it’s difficult to manage your loved one’s dementia at home, and it’s a good idea to prepare for this by researching elderly care homes so that you know what your next steps are.

Doing this while your loved one can still have some input into the decision-making process is a great idea, as then you will know that they are happy with your decision.

Learn as much as you can

The best way that you can help yourself when it comes to supporting a family member with dementia is to learn as much about dementia as possible.

This will help you to feel more prepared, and better able to care for your family member.

 

Family vacations are supposed to be a time of bonding and fun, but that doesn’t mean you should push safety issues to the side. This is especially true if you are traveling with children – getaways can often prove dangerous for those who don’t take the proper precautions. If you want a hassle-free vacation, then read on for how to stay safe while enjoying your time away.

Check Your Health and Travel Insurance

Before you board the plane, make sure every family member has health and travel insurance for full coverage. Health insurance is important because you never know when someone might get sick or suffer an accident, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Travel insurance will help in situations such as baggage loss and flight cancellations, saving you lots of hassle, time, and money.

Book in Advance

You should never leave your planning until the last minute when it comes to a family vacation. To make sure your plans work out smoothly, book your flights, hotels, and other transportations well in advance. This includes the little things like airport parking, too, so reserve your spot early with ParkOn.

One of the benefits of booking in advance means you can rest assured that everything is in place by the time it comes to traveling. Plus, if any cancellations occur, you have more time to book somewhere else.

Research the Destination

You should always research your destination no matter where you are heading. Some questions to ask about the area include:

• What is the language?
• How high is the crime rate?
• Where do tourists usually stay?
• Is it kid-friendly?

You should also make sure you know the key phrases in the country’s language to help you get around, such as ‘where is the nearest restaurant?’ and ‘please may I have directions?’.

Give Everyone a Phone

Knowing where your kids are while away is a huge priority, but if you do end up losing sight of them, you’ll be grateful that they have a way to get in touch. Even if your kids don’t have phones at home, make sure they have them in their possession throughout the entire vacation. The only exception here will be if they’re too young to use one!

Avoid Posting on Social Media

It can be very tempting to post your beach snaps on social media while you are away, but you should wait until you’re safely back at home to do so. Thieves use social media to figure out who is away from their home, and posting that you’re on vacation might make them target your house, which is, of course, something you must avoid. By all means, take plenty of pictures, but just wait until you’ve walked through your front door to share them with the world.

Talk to Your Kids

If your kids are old enough to understand safety, you should have a conversation with them about what is expected on vacation. Let them know the importance of staying close to you, keeping their phones on them, and staying clear of strangers.

Vacations are the perfect time to have fun and bond with your family. By keeping safe, you ensure that the time spent away is filled with laughter, entertainment, and memories to last a lifetime.