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.

 

2020 was undoubtedly tough for everyone. Between the Covid-19 socializing restrictions and the working from home––if working was still a feasible option––people have felt more isolated than ever before. However, whilst most adults silently struggle but rise to the challenge, recent times have been particularly difficult for younger citizens of the United States.

Moving a senior family member to an assisted living facility can feel overwhelming and intimidating for everyone, especially if they seem a little unsure about the idea. Change can be scary. Assisted living may make them feel incapable and old, which can lead to a bad reaction. However, just because a chapter ends, this doesn’t mean that a new and more suitable one can’t start. To help your senior family member make the right decision for them, you need to do some research together and let them know the pros. So, here are five benefits of moving a family member to assisted living.

Royalty Free Photo

Reduces Loneliness and Isolation

Nothing is worse than feeling alone, especially as you start to go older. Even if you are a supportive family, many senior family members can feel isolated, especially if you lead busy lives and they have lost people close to them. Assisted living can prevent social isolation as it provides a community environment full of people to socialize with. Staff will encourage partaking in social events, which has its benefits.

Can Help with Finances

Elderly people can find it difficult to keep up with all of their bills and online payments as they grow older. They are also more susceptible to scams. Debt can pile up easily and quickly. This could get your senior family member in financial trouble and cause unnecessary stress. If they make the decision to move into assisted living, they will be able to manage their finances easier and keep their savings safe.

Offers Peace of Mind

Moving your senior family member to assisted living will give you both peace of mind. You will know that they are in safe hands with 24/7 healthcare available to them and plenty of people to make friends with. They will also be able to rest comfortably knowing this. To reassure you and your senior family member, there are considerations to make and questions to ask the staff and residents.

More Focus on Fun and Independence

Many seniors are put off moving into assisted living because they don’t want to lose their independence. However, residents in these communities are usually more independent and have more fun. This is because the customized care services and assistance ensure residents can do what they want to do, when they want to do it. There are also many fun activities and social events for them to take part in.

Safer and Better-Quality Living

Everything about assisted living is safer. The facility will be secured and there will be people on-site at all times. Transportation is readily available and safe, which is perfect for seniors who struggle to drive or can’t afford to own a car. There are great facilities on-site, like a gym and fun classes, which can improve quality of life. Residents can also get delicious and nutritious meals cooked for them.

Communication is key when it comes to making a big decision like this one. At the end of the day, it is your loved one’s choice whether or not to make that decision, you just need to support them and provide them with all of the information that they need to reassure them.

 

While moving yourself from one home or city to another can be an ordeal, having a family that you’re uprooting can make this whole process even more complicated. But while you might be dreading breaking the news to your kids, having this conversation early and in the right way can make things go much smoother for everyone involved.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for talking with your family about an imminent move.

Get Yourself In The Right Mindset Beforehand

Chances are that you’ve given yourself some time to come to grips with the reality of your move. And while you might be excited or hopeful, you may also be nervous or even upset about what this move could mean for your family. But while having all of those emotions is normal, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got yourself under control before you talk with your kids about moving.

According to Carrie of DistanceParenting.org, your kids will be able to tell if you’re not feeling very good about your decision to move, even if you’re trying to hide it. Because of this, they might feel negatively as well. So to do your best to avoid this, make sure you’ve gotten yourself in the right mindset about your move before talking with your family.

Expect Big Emotions

Once you’ve said your piece about your upcoming move, you should then give your kids time to express what they’re feeling about this news.

As far as the response from your kids, Dr. Sarah Ramsi, a contributor to Psychology Today, shares that there’s a chance that your kids will be upset or feel other big emotions when you tell them what’s going on. In this situation, the best thing for you to do is to allow them to express whatever it is they’re feeling and validate that you understand them. In time, things should calm down as you work through this process together.

Don’t Let Them Think They Have A Say If The Decision Has Been Made

Sometimes, parents come to their kids talking about an impending move before things have really been decided. If this is your plan, and you’re trying to get your kids’ thoughts on the matter, make sure you actually take what they’re saying into consideration.

On the other hand, Diane Schmidt, a contributor to The Spruce, shares that if the decision has already been made, don’t let your kids think that they have a say in the matter. Rather, let them know that you’re here for them if they need anything or want to talk but that the move will be happening regardless.

If you’re thinking about moving soon but are unsure how to best bring this up with your kids, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you with this conversation.

 

As a parent, one of the best things in life is when your kids start sleeping through the night. Not only does this mean that your little one is likely getting better sleep, but you’re able to get some solid sleep now as well. However, if your toddler isn’t sleeping through the night yet, or isn’t doing so consistently, you may find yourself desperate to make this happen.

To help you in doing this, here are three tips for getting your toddler to sleep through the night.

Go Back To Classic Sleep Training Techniques

When your toddler was a baby, you may have tried some sleep training techniques meant to help him or her learn how to soothe themselves back to sleep. And while you might have thought that sleep training was over, this isn’t always the case.

If your toddler has started waking up at night again, or hasn’t completely gotten the hang of sleeping through the night, Julia Savacool, a contributor to Fatherly.com, recommends that you go back to some of the classic sleep training techniques. Specifically, you may want to try simply revisiting your child in their room if they wake up at night. When you notice on the baby monitor that they’re awake, go in briefly to help them calm down and then leave so they can fall back asleep on their own. While this might take a while to seem effective, it can help your child learn to go back to sleep quickly after waking up during the night.

Create The Right Sleep Environment

One reason why your toddler might have a hard time sleeping through the night could be because their room isn’t set up for the ideal sleep environment.

To create the optimal sleep space for your child, Marygrace Taylor, a contributor to What To Expect, recommends making sure that your child is physically comfortable by not being too hot or too cold. Also, you should consider adding a fan or other white noise machine in their room to block out any sounds that might be waking them up.

Be Consistent With Sleep Habits

What you and your toddler do prior to going to bed can have a big impact on how well he or she sleeps through the night. Knowing this, it’s vital that you’re consistent with your sleep habits.

Ideally, the Cleveland Clinic shares that your toddler should be going to sleep and waking up around the same time every day. Additionally, you and your toddler should go through the same routine each night leading up to going to bed, whether this means taking a warm bath, reading a bedtime story, or singing nursery rhymes.

If you’re having a hard time getting your toddler to sleep through the night, consider using the tips mentioned above to help everyone start to get more rest.