Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Quality Time With Our Kids Isn't Just Being In The Same Room

My daughter sent me a text yesterday asking me for a simple cookie recipe. She needed to find something new and fun for John, he is 3 1/2, to do. I love to bake, so I was very happy to see that they were going to bake something together. It is a great way for parents and kids to have some quality time.

I know that the weather has not been the best for them lately. They have had about a week of rain, ice, and snow. John and his older brother, Tyler, who is 5, were so excited when they woke up Monday morning to see snow on the ground that, in an excited hurry to build a snow man, they got dressed and ran out the door not realizing how cold it was. Unfortunately, not only was it far too cold to be playing outside, Tyler had to go to school. That meant that John was going to be inside all day, again, and he would not have his brother to play with.

Even as adults we know what it's like to feel a little stir crazy. Children have a much harder time trying to channel all that energy productively. I have to say though that John came up with a way that was pretty creative. I can laugh because and it didn't happen to me.

You see, my daughter has a newborn as well, a little girl, so she tries to get a nap in when she can. It was a Sunday, and the whole family was home. She asked their dad to watch the two boys for a little while so she could take a nap while the baby was sleeping. He agreed, reluctantly, so she reminded him that it would give them a chance to spend a little time together. Well, he put a movie in for John and Tyler to watch, and then fell asleep.

When my daughter woke from her nap, she went into the front room and froze in disbelief. She said, "Mom, the whole room was sparkling." It turns out that while their dad was sleeping, John, the mischievous one of the two, went into the kitchen and got the Elmer's glue out of the drawer. He then proceeded to squeeze glue all over the floor, and all over the couch, and all over his dad.

He then got a container of glitter and shook it out all over the floor, and all over the couch, and all over his dad, who slept through the whole thing. My daughter said, "Mom I wanted to be mad but all I could do was laugh. I try to tell him that the boys have got to be watched. You can't just stick them in front of the TV and expect them to not get into anything. They are boys. He he just doesn't get it, now maybe it will sink in." She said that he still had glitter in his hair when he left for work the next day.

Obviously John was feeling like doing some arts & crafts, not watching a movie. It is a good idea to give kids an option as opposed to making them just sit and stare at the TV and expecting them to enjoy it.

I can see dad leaning more toward food than glue and glitter. Try suggesting making some mini pizzas on English Muffins. They still get to make something, and then they get to eat it. Then next time, get a tube of crescent rolls and a package of mini hot dogs, and make some pigs in a blanket. There are so many ideas and recipes online for easy things you can make together. If you set aside a regular day and time for that, your kids will look forward to it all week and before you know it, so will you. Most importantly, spend quality time with your children, you can't get that time back, and memories are priceless. One day memories of you is all they will have, so make them the best that you can.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7527651

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

A Few Things To Consider Before Buying A Home

Purchasing a home is considered part of the "American dream." And while it is a great privilege, it is also something that comes with a lot of responsibility, both before and after you close (finalize the purchase). If you have ever rented an apartment, you know that that is also an extensive process, with you having to find a place, save up a deposit, and undergo a tenant screening before you even pack the first box.

Buying a home is a similar, if not even more extensive process. While the process has a few similarities, there are quite a few differences. For example, instead of saving a deposit and the first month's rent, you will likely need a down payment, which is way more than the "first and last month's rent". Most lenders require at least three percent (3%) of the mortgage price. For example, a home selling for $150,000 requires minimum of $4,500 down. The percentage varies, and three percent normally applies to first time buyers or those with excellent credit, although exceptions apply. You also have to consider closing costs, although the seller may help you as well.

While you may have the deposit in hand, you also have to undergo a background check. Not the type of background check that looks into criminal history, but your credit. Here, the mortgage broker makes sure you have made past payments in a timely manner, and that you have a satisfactory score, a minimum of 620 or 650. If you do not have the proper credit score, obtain your credit report and look at the problem areas, then try to resolve them.

Your debt to income (DTI) ratio also comes into play here. This is the amount of revolving bills (debt) compared to what you make each month (income). For example, if you have $1,200 in debt and make $3,000, your DTI would be 40 percent (40%). Most lenders want a DTI of less than 33 percent (33%), but are possibly willing to make exceptions for factors like good credit. However, 40% would put you in jeopardy regardless of credit. Take a look at your expenses and income, and work on reducing the former and somehow increasing the latter. Paying off credit cards, car or student loans are all the best ways to get a reasonable DTI, and increase your chances of purchasing a home.

In the meantime, if you see a house you like, ask the seller if her or she is willing to rent the place out for a year or two, while you work on your credit or other issues. When you feel you are ready, you could always try and purchase the place down the line.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7538446

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Safety Tips for Families

Home safety should be your main priority at all times. Your loved ones are the most important people in your life, so it is only natural to keep them safe. Your job as a parent is to teach your children the dos and don'ts at home to prevent accidents. Have the right home fixtures to keep everything in order and prevent the spread of diseases. Learning the fundamentals of home safety should help you keep your family free from dangers.

Create an Emergency Plan
Come up with a plan you can use when unexpected situations arise. Emergencies can happen when you least expect them, so preparing for these situations is ideal. Think of all the possible threats you might face at home such as a fire, accidents, and break-ins. Teach your children what they need to do in case someone gets hurt or when an intruder enters your house. Write down emergency hotlines or numbers of friends and family they should call to get help. Every level of your home must have an extension of your landline so your family members can call for help easily.

Teach your child how to perform first aid and use fire extinguishers. Create an evacuation plan in case of fire. Have fire exits around the house so that you and your family can evacuate during emergencies. Make sure you can only open these fire exits from the inside to prevent burglary. Draw a map of your house shows the fire exits. Have regular fire drills to give them an idea how to do it properly.

Maintain a Healthy Environment
Keep your home clutter-free to reduce the risk of diseases. Use storage cabinets in all of your rooms to keep things organised. Clean your house regularly, especially your kitchen and bathroom, to prevent slips when you move around the house. Clear out walking paths like stairs to prevent accidents. Buy home equipment like a dehumidifier to prevent health threats. Dehumidifiers keep home cool and prevent the growth of mould and mildew, which causes several diseases such as asthma and allergies.

Maintain privacy and safety
Maintain privacy to prevent intrusions. Be mindful of whatever you share with the public using the Internet. Announcing that you are away from home can give intruders an opportunity to enter your home. Use curtains to prevent someone from sneaking in. Leave your lights on or play music to make it look like someone is inside the house even when no one is around. Lower your landline volume or transfer calls to your mobile to prevent someone from noticing that no one answers from your home.

Enhance security
Keep your entry points secured. Use security devices like doors and window alarms to prevent burglary. Set up surveillance cameras to have an eye around the house 24/7 if you are willing to spend more money for security. Choose cameras with high resolution to get a clearer view. Installing these kinds of appliances and security devices are important to maintain home safety.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7543805

Monday, October 8, 2012

Finding the Right Home for Your Needs

If you intend to live in a large city or any highly urbanized area, you are likely to live in a standardized production home. You can either rent or buy a production home such as those found in suburban subdivisions. Condominiums, townhouses and apartments are the best options if you prefer to live near the business district. The population density in cities makes it necessary to save land spaces. Since the land area of a city is fixed, the alternative is to build upwards. Hence, it is not surprising why skyscrapers are the standard landmarks that dot the landscape of many major cities.

Urban homes
Finding a production home in an urban jungle is the best bet that you have in terms of a decent but affordable dwelling place. By definition, a house is a building that is intended for human dwelling. It could be a bungalow, a duplex, a single detached, or a row house. For most city-dwellers, the high population density means that competition for spacious homes is steep.
Apartments and condominiums are classified as duplex dwellings. These are the most common types of dwellings found in highly urbanized areas because of the limited amount of space. Most of these dwellings are either too cramped or too expensive for the average working person. Achieving balance between affordability and functionality should be the main goal when searching for homes. This applies both in highly urbanized areas and in rural areas.

Budgetary constraints
Searching for the right type of house is not only limited by the location and the available land space but also by personal circumstance. As mentioned earlier, a balance between affordability and functionality must be the primary consideration when searching for homes to buy or rent. The budgetary constraints, however, will primarily determine your range of options. If you have very limited financial resources, it would be difficult to have a spacious and beautiful home.
Hence, it is important to have comparative list of house prices or rental costs. Renting a dwelling place is a more practical option for those who are living in cities. This option is also good for those who are not planning to settle down in one place. Paying real property taxes and other legal obligations can be avoided in this manner.

Family size
Choosing the location, type and size of house will also be determined by the number of people that will live in a house. Newly wed couples may get by living in a small, two-bedroom apartment. However, the need for larger house becomes more apparent and compelling as the number of family members increases. Additional family members will also mean major changes. For instance, raising children will make it necessary to look for a house that is near the schools and other conveniences.
The size of the family is may also serve as the basis for choosing the type of dwelling. A large family will need several bedrooms. A two-storey, single detached home is ideal for a family with growing number of children. There will be a need for ample yard space for playing and recreational or bonding activities of the family.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7585088

Monday, October 1, 2012

Healthy Family Life

Building Healthy Families and Communities.

Counselors, educators, ministers, and anyone else who has a vested interest in helping others must sometimes cry out in pain when confronted with the challenges facing those who come to them for direction.

Why do an estimated seventeen percent of middle school and high school students dabble in drugs and alcohol? Why is this on the rise even in private schools?

Why do people suffer from psychiatric illnesses stemming from child abuse, extended trauma, and ongoing stress in their lives?

Why do children suffer the pain of living in homes tainted by alcohol and drug abuse?
The incidence of psychosis nearly triples around the age of fifteen to twenty one among young people who were raised in abusive homes. The nervous systems of preschool children become under attack by the presence of child abuse. These children may mature into adults whose capacity for functioning normally is severely compromised. The cost to society can be huge.
So how do we turn the corner?

Consider the following ten steps to healthy individuals, families, and communities.
1. Encourage development of positive community connections including:
Connections with spiritual groups such as churches, synagogues, or mosques.
Connections with support groups designed to help people overcome challenges.
Connections with education systems.
2. Encourage abstinence from mind altering substances. Criminal activity and drug and alcohol abuse go hand in hand. Thousands can be spared the horror of trauma and abuse if incidence of addictions are reduced. Children will be spared the trauma of abuse.
3. Find local and national resources that support the development of healthy families. Check out this information on the internet.
4. Make a consistent effort to keep yourself and your family healthy with the implementation of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Simply avoiding simple sugars can have a profound influence on health.
5. Change your mindset from one of living only for self to one of networking in an effort to reach out and help others. This will result in support being reciprocal.
6. Learn to live in your strengths and to encourage others to find theirs. An excellent resource for this is Dr. Martin Seligman's positive psychology.
7. Find your personal passion and line up your activities to fit that desire.
8. Live to encourage, exhort, and uplift self and others. Doing so will have a positive effect on everyone in your circle.
9. Make your family your first priority.
10. Above all, learn to laugh and appreciate the gift of life.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7443217