6 Truths About Helicopter Parents
My parenting style can be best described as a hybrid mashup—a combination of authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive. But if one parenting style was to surface and all others sink, at the end of the day I would emerge a predominantly helicopter parent. The term "helicopter parenting" was coined back in 1990 by child development researchers Foster Cline and Jim Fay in their book, Parenting With Love and Logic. Helicopter parents, according to the official definition, take an overprotective or excessive interest in the life of Read more
How to Plan the Ultimate Staycation
Who wouldn’t want to take a vacation every month, or even every weekend? Unfortunately for most, there isn’t room for a trip in the schedule—or budget. Plus, as most holiday vacations prove, it can be exhausting and overwhelming to coordinate a family trip out of town. That’s why many people in need of a small getaway take staycations instead. Staycations allow you to relax and do fun activities with your family, all without the expense of travel or booking Read more
Top of the Tingles: The ASMR A-List
Relaxation. Euphoria. Tingling. These are the words used to describe the result of an Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, or ASMR, trigger. In a piece I recently wrote for Sanity & Self, I describe the concept as "the physical response to auditory, visual, or tactile triggers, usually a tingly sensation similar to feeling chills. Think of the goosebumps you might get when someone whispers into your ear. That’s ASMR. Most experts attribute ASMR’s relaxing sensations to the release of endorphins, Read more
Self-Discovery Questions to Ask Yourself Each Day
In today’s uber-connected world, it’s so easy to get caught up in your phone wherever you go. Whether you're responding to work emails, organizing your kids’ schedules, or updating your Instagram, the hours can fly by before you know it. While this is certainly convenient, it can become unhealthy if it turns into a habit. Because we’re all so busy, your mental health could be suffering and you wouldn’t even know it because you’re too preoccupied to pay attention Read more
Warmer weather has finally arrived, which means kids will want to spend more time outside. But in the era of coronavirus, we’ve got to be extra careful about getting our kids outdoors. Here are a few tips for parents and other caregivers to help make this spring and summer a safe one so the whole family can avoid emergencies and keep the focus on fun. Read more
A pet can add an element of excitement and bonding to a family unit. It’s cute and can make the perfect subject for any photo, but it also comes with a set of challenges and higher level of responsibility. Training a pet can be time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, especially in the beginning stages. Stains can be embarrassing and hard to clean. However, removing an odor from the carpet can be done in as little as five steps.
With the proper tools and techniques, you can take the stains and odor right out of your carpet. Different flooring materials should be approached carefully so as not to cause permanent damage. Enzyme-based, odor-neutralizing cleansers may be the best option for stain and odor removal. If a smell has sunk deeper into the carpet than you thought, it may take more than one cleansing session to fully remove it. Read more
In the United States, every April is recognized as Financial Literacy Month. April is the perfect time to learn a little about finances and apply it to your own life. While the word “budget” can be daunting for many people, some might not know where to start, and others may be skeptical about changing their current spending lifestyle. But the fact is that everyone needs a thought out and sensible plan when it comes to how you are managing your money. Millions of people live from paycheck-to-paycheck each month, and this can severely hurt not only your credit, but your ability to retire comfortably later in life. Finding items in your budget that you can cut back on, or cut out completely could potentially save you hundreds of dollars every month! Here are some great tips to hone your budgeting skills and build your savings right before your eyes. Read more
There’s an endemic going on. No, we’re not talking about obesity or any viruses. We’re talking about the lack of coping skills and emotional intelligence there is in the general population. Think about the oldest generation, the ones the kids call “boomers”. They’re likely your parents age, or maybe your grandparents age.
That generation wasn’t taught to express their feelings, even though they went through World Wars and even fought in them. We’ve seen how bottled up they can be emotionally, and the kind of long-term mental health damage it does. Needless to say, no one wants that for their kids. One of your duties as a parent is to prepare your child for all the things in life, the good and the bad, including losing loved ones.
Need to know how to talk to kids about death? We’re breaking it down into age groups, below. Read more
The daily grind of work and school is bound to wear down on all members of your family eventually. That’s why it’s so important to make time for family vacations. Not only do these trips provide valuable time your family can spend together, but they also provide a much-needed mental break. Children and adults alike benefit from getting time away from their regular routines to rest and reset. Read more
You want your yard to be a place where your kids can create happy memories. However, if your property is dotted by tree stumps, there’s a chance they could get hurt. These obstacles can get in the way of foot races, backyard football games and other activities. If children trip over them or collide with them, there’s a serious potential for injury. Not only are stumps tripping hazards, but they also can attract insects, wreak havoc on your home’s foundation and ruin the appearance of your lawn. This is why many homeowners choose to remove these unsightly nuisances. Read more
Natural light in a home makes rooms appear brighter and bigger and allows occupants to enjoy surrounding views. Unfortunately, that same light is damaging to people, fabrics, wood furnishings, and the family budget. The quandary of how to maximize the positive aspects of natural light while diminishing the damage is resolved with window tinting. Read more
