Make Time For Family Time

02/13/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Fresh air is the best free medicine for most ailments, especially boredom amongst children – and adults alike.

Even with every conceivable bit of technology at their disposal, young people eventually get to the point where they want something different to do, and preferably with a friend, or better still their Mom and Dad!

But parents are inevitably busy people. Paying the household bills means Dad has to be focused on work and his career, and for Mom running a home and general day to day life take up a lot of time. Often this leaves them little time and energy to plan and enjoy quality family time.
So what outdoor activities can you share with your boys and girls, to get the best out of the time you do have together.

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Plan a bike ride

Everyone can get involved in planning the route for an expedition on your bikes. Be creative and go somewhere different to your usual rides. Have a point of interest that is your go to destination and combine a bit of culture along the way. Make sure you are prepared with protective clothing, helmets and plenty of water and most of all, don’t rush it. Try to make it a relaxed family event, rather than something you are fitting into an otherwise busy day.

How about a picnic

Eating outdoors is always a pleasure, and again, the whole family can help to prepare the picnic food. For more choice of destinations further afield, you could take this trip in your car, and why not add a bit of fun by writing down some suggestions, and popping them into a jar.

Mom or Dad can pick one out, and it will be a magical mystery trip!

Taking the trip in your car will mean you can pack plenty of food, games, and blankets to sit on ready for when you stop for your food. Don’t forget the family dog too if you have one!

Take something out of a box

Sometimes when you are short on time, but you and the family need to get out in the fresh air and do something impulsive, that requires no planning, taking something out of a box, such as rc cars, and having instant fun can be a good idea and a great distraction for bored youngsters.

Drones are becoming accessible to more people and a great way to view your local area from an entirely different perspective. You could even use the information from your drone to plan those bike rides and picnics.

Everything is more enjoyable when you are doing it with someone else. Children need direction, and simply telling them to ‘go outside and play’ won’t be half as inviting than if you took the time to plan an adventure as a whole family.

Every parent knows that scheduling in specific family time can be almost impossible. Demands on your time are never ending. There is always something to do, somewhere to be. Shopping trips, DIY and the general maintenance of a family home often takes precedence over leisure activities. But once you’ve made the effort, and set a day aside for nothing but family, it will be so rewarding and you will be making fantastic memories to look back on too.

Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle

Improving How You Look Is Dead Simple. Honest!

02/12/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

If you think that improving your appearance is tricky, then think again, my friend! Going to bed early, eating right, and getting the latest treatments can all make a massive difference in how you look. Do them all at the same time, and you have a recipe for being your best self yet.

Start With Your Teeth

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Your teeth are an excellent first place to start. They are one of the things that people notice first when they meet you. It pays, therefore, to make them look good.

If you have crooked teeth, then sorting them out should be your priority. Crooked teeth not only make you feel self-conscious, but they can also provide opportunities for bacterial buildup. Next, go to the hygienist and ask them to give your teeth a thorough clean to remove all the stains and plaque. Usually, your teeth will come out much whiter than when you went in. Finally, choose a whitening product – either a toothpaste or in-office treatment to transform your smile.

Eat Red And Green Veggies

The plants that you eat can have a profound impact on your overall appearance and health. For years, scientists have known that people who consume green, yellow, and red vegetables tend to have the best skin. The reason for this has to do with the chemicals in the plants themselves. Beta-carotenes in foods like sweet potatoes and broccoli make their way through the gut into your bloodstream, which then transports them to the cells in your skin. The body does this to provide your skin with extra protection against the sun (and other environmental toxins), but it has the nice side-effect of giving you a healthy glow.

Get Treatment For Issues That Diet Alone Cannot Solve

While diet is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal, it can’t solve everything. If you have varicose or spider veins, for instance, you may need venous insufficiency treatment. The idea here is to use lasers to reduce the visible signs of these veins, no matter where they are on your body. The technique closes off abnormal veins, allowing your body to redirect blood supply through other, undamaged channels. The veins then shrink back and eventually become invisible.

Get Exercise In The Outdoors

While gyms are a popular venue for taking exercise, they may not be the best for your appearance. Evidence suggests that we do best when we exercise outdoors, not just because of the fresh air, but also because of the positive effects on other systems in our bodies.

Walking through a forest, for instance, helps to reduce psychological markers of stress, which, in turn, can improve your ability to sleep. Being in nature may also have beneficial effects on your microbiome. Being in contact with beneficial bacteria helps your skin health.

Don’t Do Any Work Before Bed

Sleep is the king of all beauty tips, but few people get enough of the stuff. The current advice is to stop working several hours before bed to give your body a chance it needs to unwind and relax.

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting

Why (and How) Dads Should Spend Time Alone with Their Kids

02/06/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Food on the table. A roof over their heads. Education from the best schools. Money for their other needs.

What does it mean to be a good father? For many men, they equate that role with being a good provider. While there is certainly nothing wrong with providing for the needs of your children, the truth is that it is just a fraction of what fatherhood is really about.

Times are a-changin’

Traditionally, dads have taken the role of the provider or breadwinner while moms tended to their kids and homes. For many dads, that can mean having little time to spend with their kids.

But with the changing times and the evolution of cultures, more and more dads are now beginning to spend more quality time with their young ones. Compared to 50 years ago, dads have tripled the time they spend with their kids.

Why spend more time with your kids

Numerous studies indicate that spending more time together benefits both dads and their kids. What are these benefits?

Kids perform well in school

When a father takes a paternity leave to take care of his little one, his child is more likely to do well in school later on. And when a dad spends more time helping his child with schoolwork, his chances of becoming successful inside the class increases exponentially.

Kids develop positive traits

Masculinity has been associated with many positive characteristics, like confidence, assertiveness, and loyalty. But on the flip side, these same traits, when taken to the extreme, can lead to qualities associated with toxic masculinity. These include lack of empathy, aggression, and detachment.

When dads spend more time at home, they provide their kids, especially boys, with a positive role model to pattern their behavior after. The result? Boys who are open and emotionally present.

Happier couples

Apart from the kids, both moms and dads also benefit from the increased time that fathers spend with their children.

When a father spends more time at home, not just to play with the kids, he becomes more aware of the things involved in raising his children. Tracking appointments with doctors and school activities as well as tending to the house all take a mental toll on moms.

If you spend more time at home, you’ll be able to share and unburden your spouse of this mental stress. In turn, you develop an equal partnership that strengthens your relationship.

Spending quality time with the kids

Most fathers get the opportunity to spend time with their children after coming home from work and during the weekends. If you have never been alone with your kids, this may seem like a daunting idea.

Part of that fear stems from the fact that these interactions are usually done in the presence of your wife. Plus, your mind may be swirling with several questions. These are perfectly natural.

If you wish to overcome these fears and ensure that you have a good time with the kids, whether you’re just staying at home to play video games or you’re planning to visit a park, here are a few essential things to remember.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions

You might think that you know your kids well, but your wife probably knows their quirks better. From their favorite foods to their preferred clothes, don’t hesitate to ask your wife things that you might not know about your kids yet. And don’t commit things to memory; write everything down instead.

Let your kids be your focus

If you rarely spend quality time with the kids, every second that you spend with them should be sacred and respected. That simply means that you should be physically and mentally present. Turn your gadgets off before entering the kids’ play area with the young ones.

Momentarily forget about your commitments at work or the upcoming football match that you had been raring to see and focus your attention on the activities that you have planned to do with your little ones.

Plan your day around your kids’ personal rhythms

Kids, especially toddlers, have their own rhythms. As much as possible, you should plan your day with them around that rhythm.

For example, if you are heading out somewhere, make sure that you do so after they have been fed and have had their naps. This will help ensure that your kids won’t make a fuss and you will be able to maximize your enjoyment of the time spent with them.

Let your wife have her “me time”

Spending time alone with your kids will give you a better perspective of the things that your spouse does to keep the household in good order while taking care of the children.

While you are taking care of the kids, allow your wife to have the opportunity to do the things that she wants, whether she needs a well-deserved trip to the salon or spa or she wants to simply catch up on her favorite series on Netflix.

The clock is ticking

Your kids will only be young once. Soon, they’ll be making friends and would rather spend time with them. Take advantage of their youth and spend as much time with them as you possibly can, whether that means buying kids’ play area tickets for some fun bonding time this weekend or spending a lazy afternoon together at home.