Category Archives: Parenting

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting

Who Gets the House in a Divorce? The Court Will Decide Based on These 3 Factors

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The layers of divorce are an endless corridor of questions. There are three major things that decide who gets the home in a divorce, but how much does a divorce cost? Your home is a huge investment, and can very well be the most expensive thing in a relationship. This is why going for the cheapest option you find when it comes to lawyers can be the undoing of some people’s cases before they get going. There are lawyers out there like Peters May (petersmay.com) that specialize in separation and divorce, but before you get too deep into a divorce, keep these things in mind when trying to claim the home.

1. Children

The entire divorce process is traumatizing to kids of any age. That is why when the house is up for grabs, children become the pivotal reason the home goes to the primary caregiver. This is usually the person that spends the most time with the kids. Courts don’t like ripping children from the home they grew up in, or forcing them to change schools. Any of these things can disrupt their development, causing enough stress to completely change the outlook of their lives.

If both parents are working and there is a primary care person that lives outside of the home, things become less clear cut. In the rare case a divorce happens while the mother is on maternity leave, it will come down to an individual court’s opinion. But not matter which way you look at it, when children are involved, the primary caregiver will always have the advantage.

2. Was The Home Owned Before Marriage?

When the home is owned by one person before getting married, then there are a few things to consider. Do you have children together? How long have you been married? If there is a mortgage, who paid it during the duration of the marriage? The original owner has an edge in all of these scenarios, even when children are involved.

Paperwork of who took care of the mortgage, utilities and other home related bills are required for a divorce. Lack of paperwork is a cause for alarm, even if you are the homeowner. If you decide to add your spouse to the original deed after getting married, then a court will look at it as equal ownership. And yet again, when children are involved, the scale for ownership will tip more in the favor of the primary caregiver.

In that scenario, the original owner can easily be at a disadvantage that ends with the loss of their home.

3. Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is frowned upon worldwide. When it comes to domestic violence divorce settlements, things can get even more complicated. When dividing up the assets during a divorce, proof of domestic violence is a big deal. Not only will a court favor the abused, but they are more likely to kick the abuser out (or grant a speedy restraining order) to protect the victim. The experts at thefloridatriallawyer.com, explain that introducing domestic violence to a divorce proceeding is a huge deal, and no two cases are alike. Therefore the plaintiff needs to be sure about the pieces of evidence to support their claim.

Wrap Up

Don’t assume that there is a guarantee that you’ll get the home in a divorce. Be cautious about the things you do leading up to a separation, and document everything. It’s better to be prepared to lose a home than to go into court and get blindsided.

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Parenting

Seven Healthy Habits To Teach Your Kids

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When you’re a parent, it’s your sole job to take care of your children and help them to be healthy and well-rounded adults. It’s the healthy habits that we instill into our children that will carry them through life, but the problem is that adults have so many unhealthy ones that it’s hard to tell which you should be teaching. Adults aren’t always raised to be unhealthy, but the bad habits that we develop over time are those that we have to avoid teaching our children.
Children are clay to be moulded, unpainted canvases, and they deserve to have the very best start in life. It would help if you were on the ball to ensure that from the day that your child is born, they are shown only healthy and balanced habits that they can take in and imitate. The patterns that children learn early in life will be those that bring the best benefits to them, and as your children will look up to you, it’s up to you to set the best possible example. With that in mind, let’s talk through seven tips that will get your family started on the road to healthy behavior.

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Image Source: Pexels

Embrace Positivity

We are bringing children into a cynical world. Well, let’s rephrase that: a scary world. There is a lot wrong with this planet, and it feels frightening to know that we brought children into a world of war, hunger and fear. The thing is, the world has a lot of positivity, too. You can help your children to develop a positive attitude by merely spinning all things negative into a positive. Yes, there is war, and yes, there are climate issues. However, if you can teach your children to recycle, to look after the world around them, those small movements can be massive. Focus on what CAN be done to help their world and not what can’t. Teach them kindness and positivity. Teach them how to look after the world around them and show them how to be better.

Reduce Screen Time

Health is so important with your children, and part of that will be in reducing the amount of screentime that they have. Blue light technology is something that prevents a good night of sleep and strains the eyes, but growing up in an increasingly digital world is hard enough. Children do not need to be exposed to social media at a young age, but people insist on allowing it. Children and teenager’s mental health is so important, and parents play a significant role in teaching them how to use their screens smartly. Enhancing their daily life with technology is one thing, but overuse can be damaging and addictive. Set limits and be a parent in this; screen discipline is so important.

Encourage Reading

Children are blessed with an imagination beyond anything else. When you sit and read with your children, not only are you embracing their passion for reading, you’re showing them a whole world that they can immerse themselves in. Reading gives them the chance to explore and discover, but it also gives you a chance to discuss and bond. You can talk to them about their own imagination and their hopes and dreams, too. When you teach your children to read, you teach them to embrace a new way of thinking and being. It teaches them social and emotional skills that are all going to build them into the best possible human being that they can be.

Make Meals Fun

Almost all children go through a fussy stage in their lives. They find it hard to try new things and eat fresh foods. Children have far more taste buds than we do, and encouraging them to try new things is essential. You can make meals as colorful as possible and encourage healthy habits with food. Fruits and vegetables from an early age can help your children to grow and feel good on the inside. Juices from goodnature.com/ can help your children to get the right nutrients as early as possible. With a plate filled with color, your children can have the right minerals, vitamins and the best start in life, and as a parent, it’s all you want.

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Image Source: Pexels

Eat A Family Breakfast

Sitting together as a family every day for breakfast is one of the most important lessons to teach your kids. It’s the chance to sit and eat a balanced meal in each other’s company, and it’s going to teach your children how to keep their table manners. A protein-loaded breakfast will keep them fuller for longer, and it will mean that your children develop great morning habits when they watch you do it, too.

Embrace Exercise

As a family, you can workout together without making it a focus on working out. Cycling together, going to trampolining sessions, introducing martial arts and even taking a walk every day. It would help if you thought about all the ways you can incorporate activities for your children that get them off of Netflix and out into the world. Children can tire quickly, so keep it to around an hour at a time to avoid cranky behavior as a result. There’s bound to be something out there that they will enjoy doing!

Encourage Great Sleep

Children are continually growing and developing. If they can see that you have a healthy sleep routine, it will be easier for them to follow one for themselves. When you ensure that your children are comfortable in their room, you can ensure that their sleep is just as comfortable and makes them feel energized. A pleasant sleep environment is essential for your children, as is using the same techniques so that they can learn from you. Routine is vital, and you can keep the same routines, too. Teach your children to rest well, and you will teach them how to remain balanced and focused.
Children need you to be healthier and happier – start today and watch them grow up happy!

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Parenting

How Hearing Loss Can Affect Dads (And How To Nip It In The Bud)

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“I’m not that old”, you’re probably thinking “There’s no way I’m losing my hearing!”. But this denial is actually extremely common in those whose hearing has begun to deteriorate. All-too often, we’re the last people to learn that we’re losing our hearing. After all, rarely does it happen overnight. It takes place slowly and gradually over the course of years (and even decades). And while you may be a good few years away from collecting your pension, you may still be afflicted by hearing loss, even if it’s not age related. Genetic conditions such as Meniere’s disease, and even a stressful lifestyle (which leads to high blood pressure) can cause you to start losing your hearing early.

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Image by Ddmitrova via Pixabay

Take the time to look for them, and you may find that the signs add up. Your kids or your partner rolling their eyes when they have to repeat themselves. Complaints that the TV is on too loud. Misunderstandings at work or at home. There comes a point where the facts cannot be denied. Check out this link to find out more about the signs of hearing loss. In this post, we’ll take a look at how hearing loss can affect your ability to be a great Dad, and how to nip it in the bud.

It can add to your stress

Being a Dad is stressful enough as it is. But hearing loss can actually exacerbate your stress. It can cause you (and those you’re trying to communicate with) great frustration, leading to frayed nerves all round. 

Unfortunately, stress can, in turn, elevate your blood pressure and exacerbate issues with your hearing. 

It can lead to mistakes and misunderstandings at work

As a Dad, you feel that it’s your responsibility to provide for your kids. And that means that you need to be firing on all cylinders at work. But if you don’t take steps to improve your hearing, it can result in misunderstandings and mistakes that may not get you fired, but could harm your chances of promotion or progression. 

It can cause those you love to feel ignored

Hearing loss can result in heartbreaking consequences for the people you love the most in the whole world like your partner and your kids. Especially if it goes undiagnosed. If they don’t know that you’re having trouble hearing them, they may assume that you’re ignoring or dismissing them. Which can have terrible repercussions for their self-esteem, and cause them to feel unloved and undervalued.

It can cause your kids embarrassment

Okay, so outwardly our kids act as though we’re super embarrassing anyway. Still, when we keep asking people to repeat themselves in public and mishear them, your partner or (worse still) their friends, it can lead to embarrassment and resentment.  

It’s time to take action!
The good news is that there’s always something you can do to mitigate hearing loss. The first thing you should do is find a local audiologist who can determine the cause and extent of your hearing loss and prescribe a solution. Whether it’s a thorough cleaning of your ears, a hearing aid or even referring you for surgery, you can enjoy better hearing and less stressful conversation. As the years advanced, there are now smaller hearing aid models that are comfortable to wear all day. They can also be paired with your smartphone using a Bluetooth connection to make phone calls and play music. You should also try and exercise regularly, even under lockdown. Not only will it help you to control your stress and blood pressure, it can help you lose weight and feel better about yourself.