The last thing a financially struggling parent wants to see is their child’s teeth coming in crooked. After groceries, school clothes, car payments and the rent or mortgage, there may not be much left to pay for a trip to the orthodontist so the child can be fitted with braces.
But for those determined to help their child improve their smile, there are ways to work around those financial difficulties.
“Sometimes you must be creative, but many families who want to give their children orthodontic care can do so with a little planning and budgeting,” says Dr. Ana Castilla, an orthodontist and author of The Smile of Your Life: Everything You Need to Know for Your Orthodontic Journey (dranacastilla.com).
Dr. Castilla knows from personal experience what it’s like to be a child who needs and wants braces, but whose parents can’t afford them. She had to wait until she was an adult and could pay for them herself.
She says one of the first mistakes parents make is waiting until they think they can afford orthodontic treatment before taking their child in for an evaluation. However, waiting can only make the situation worse as many issues can be corrected easier and less expensively with early treatment.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children be seen by an orthodontist no later than age 7. Dr. Castilla encourages all parents to take advantage of free consultations offered by most orthodontists so they can become aware of any issues with their children’s teeth. She also has several recommendations for ways to work orthodontic treatment into the budget:
Flexible financing. “Most orthodontic practices offer zero-interest in-house financing but not all of them are equally flexible in their payment plans,” says Dr. Castilla. She says parents should ask if they offer “extended financing.” This type of financing is longer than the length of treatment. For example, the treatment may last only 24 months, but the last payment may not be due for 36 months.
Insurance. You are not required to have insurance to get orthodontic treatment. However, Dr. Castilla says if you do have insurance, be sure to read the policy. “You need to be your own advocate and learn the rules of your coverage,” she says. Many parents rely on an employer promises instead of reading the policy. “Just because your employer says you have coverage for braces, that doesn’t mean you are fully covered – or even covered at all,” says Dr. Castilla. There are many factors that affect coverage such as age limitations, waiting periods, and insurance payment schedules.
Combine insurance policies if possible. If you and another member of your household have two or more separate insurance policies, there is a chance that both insurances can help pay for treatment. Your employer’s human resources department should be able to help you maximize your benefits.
Use flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts. “Many employers offer these accounts to their employees to help them manage their health expenses,” says Dr. Castilla. Employees can contribute tax-free dollars for payment of qualified medical expenses, such as orthodontics.
Use third-party financing companies (medical credit cards). This is not the No. 1 option that Dr. Castilla recommends because of high interest rates. “I would only consider this option if you cannot find an orthodontist that offers extended financing near you,” she says. “Make sure you read the fine print.”
“I hated my teeth as a child, but I kept it to myself because I knew my parents could not afford braces for me,” Dr. Castilla says. “When I was finally able as an adult to fix my smile, I realized what a negative impact my old smile had on my self esteem. That’s why I want to help as many parents as possible afford a bright smile for their kids.”
Easter brings images of bunnies, jelly beans, crosses and spring to mind! Most families do the traditional Easter basket, egg hunt and church routine, but this Easter shake things up a bit by thinking outside of the box and incorporating a few more meaningful activities into your Easter traditions.
Natural egg dyes – Did you know that you can dye your eggs without chemicals? Annie’s Eats provides a list of different colors that you can easily create at home by using food to provide the color. You can find recipes for grey-blue, blue, yellow, pink and lavender.
Egg dying techniques – Why not make egg dying an artistic process? Spoonful has various techniques to use for your egg dying experience, including using tin foil, string, bubble wrap, thumbprints and tissue paper.
Easter egg hunts – Egg hunts are a traditional Easter activity for most Christian families. A lot of towns or churches will host an egg hunt, but if they don’t you should consider arranging one for your neighborhood or family! You can use real eggs (make sure they are hard-boiled first!) or use plastic eggs filled with various items, such as money, candy or other small trinkets.
Tissue paper egg art – Egg art is an easy way to decorate your house for Easter. This simple project requires some poster board, tissue paper, a pencil and a bit of glue. Have your child cut out an egg shape from poster board, draw a design on the egg with pencil, and then, using small squares of tissue paper, the eraser end of the pencil and a bit of glue, fill in the spaces with the tissue paper to create your Easter egg!
Stained glass crosses – You can easily create a stained glass cross to hang in your window with your child using tissue paper and clear contact paper. Cut the tissue paper into small shapes (have your child help, if it’s age appropriate) and cut out a sheet of contact paper. Draw a cross on the non-sticky side of the contact paper, remove the paper, and have your child fill in the cross with the tissue paper shapes. Once they are done, place another sheet of contact paper over the tissue paper and then cut inside the lines of the cross you drew on the first sheet of contact paper. Hang your creation in the window for the entire family to enjoy!
The jelly bean story – The jelly bean story is a great way to represent what Jesus gave his people and why Easter is celebrated. There is a short story to print out to go along with the project and each jelly bean color represents different things, such as the sun, grace or sorrow.
Envelope bunnies – Envelope bunnies are a great way to welcome guests to your home during the Easter season. Have your children help create them and then fill them with treats!
Egg chickens – Egg chickens are a cute way to spruce up a hard-boiled egg for a centerpiece at your table! You can create other animals too, so let your imaginations go wild!
Egg relay races – If you live in a climate that makes it possible to head outside on Easter day, consider doing some active outdoor activities with the kids. Who doesn’t love an egg relay race? You can place the eggs (hard-boiled!) on spoons and run with them (if they fall, you have to stop and pick it up). You can also pass off the egg to each other or pass the eggs down the line using only your elbows! The possibilities are endless, and the entire family can get involved!
Egg bocce ball – Use your leftover hard-boiled eggs to play a game of egg bocce ball. You’ll need one white egg (the pallino) and each player will need two of the same colors of eggs to play. Roll the pallino in the grass and have players take turns trying to roll their eggs as close to the pallino as possible. The closest egg wins!
Children live in an adult world that requires patience, and has strict rules. They don’t always want to play along with the structure that is required for their parents to have a good and successful day.
Tantrums are inevitable at times. But parents can arm themselves with some awareness tactics in advance to head off any problems in advance.
Here are 6 ways to get your child to cooperate
1. Help map out the day as best you can for your child. Often, parents have an idea of what the day will be like, but fail to communicate those plans to their child. When possible, help her envision your day by communicating it with her either that morning or the night before. Younger children will need this to be repeated, so it can help to recap it a few times. It is true that plans might change, but changes will be easier if she knew what the plan was in the first place.
2. Give warnings when time is coming close for transitions to take place. Children tend to live entirely in the present, so they are usually completely engrossed in the activity they are involved in at any given moment. This is obvious for younger children, but is also true of older children. By giving your child warnings when you need to leave in 10 minutes, your child can begin to finish with what she has started. Timers can be a big help for these warnings for both you and your child. A timer can not only keep you on track to follow through with the time you allotted, but will also give your child an auditory clue to listen for.
3. Provide your child with choices so that she feels in control of the situation to some degree. It is very difficult for your child to be at the mercy of the adults in her life. Often times, the errands or activities she is being forced to participate in are not activities she would choose to do. You can ease this frustration by making small parts of the day her choice. Small children do well with two or three choices. “Do you want to wear the blue boots, the red shoes or the purple clogs?” Older children can help you decide where you will go first or what music you will listen to along the way. Simple choices can make the difference between a cranky child who drags her feet and a cooperative child who does what is asked of her. Giving teens the choice can relieve some of the pressure too. “The garbage needs to go out before 6AM tomorrow. Do you want to do it before you go to bed or early in the morning” You may know the most common sense option is to do it now and get it over with. But giving your child the option can ease the tension often felt by parents and teens.
4. Create excitement for the thing you are trying to get your child to cooperate in doing. You might be so caught up in completing your to-do list that you forget to enjoy the process. You are motivated to get the tasks complete because you can see the outcome. Your child could not care less about that outcome, she just wants to have fun. So if you want her to cooperate with you, you will need to bring a little fun to the to-do list. If you are running errands, build a little fun break into every other stop. If you are in the car for a long time, find some games to play, such as I-Spy or 20 questions. Help keep her mind going and you will find she is much more compliant.
5. Make sure all her physical needs are met before asking her to do something you know she will be resistant about. Is your child hungry, thirsty, tired, overstimulated, cold/hot or sick? It is hard for adults to operate when they have these needs. Your child will be understandably cranky when she needs food or has simply had too much. Take a break and don’t expect your child to do too much.
6. Make sure your child has enough time for play in her day. Parents today have a tendency to overschedule their children, filling their time with sports, art and other activities. The thought is that an active mind is a healthy mind. To a degree, this is true. However, if the mind of a child is not given the opportunity to think creatively and freely, it will begin to shut down. This is when children become easily agitated, inflexible and unsatisfied. To ensure that you have a more cooperative and helpful child, make sure that your child is given enough time for free play both with you and by herself.
Parents dream of a child who gets her shoes on the first time they ask or takes the garbage out when it needs to go out. Though it may not be possible for your child to do this with 100% accuracy, it is possible to improve her cooperation level.
This week is Holy Week for Catholics and Christians that are preparing for Easter.
EHow assembled an excellent summary of the week that can be used for helping parents explain the holiday to their children.
It is instructional also for non-Catholics as well who may want to understand or explain the holiday for themselves or their children too.
Palm Sunday
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on his donkey, there were many followers who wanted to see him. People crowded around him and called his name. Many called out “King” or “Savior.”
Worshipers knelt down and waved palm fronds as Jesus passed by. Children and grownups wanted to hear him speak to them. They wanted to touch him. Sick people wanted their Savior to make them well. Another name for this day is Fig Sunday.
Holy Monday and Tuesday
Some people believe that on the Monday of Holy Week, Jesus freed the animals being sold and killed. The freeing of the many sheep and oxen has been compared to the slaves being set free. Tuesday is the day that the Pharisees got together and made a plan to gang up on Jesus and kill him. Holy Monday and Tuesday are not major days for celebration, but the events did lead up to Jesus’ death.
Spy Wednesday
Judas had been Jesus’ good friend, but he got jealous that so many people loved Jesus. Judas got together with the Pharisees and said he would play a trick on Jesus and kill him.
Today, many people go to church on Ash Wednesday to remember this day. A priest will put ashes from burned palm fronds on a person’s forehead in the shape of a cross and say a prayer.
Holy Thursday
The Last Supper was on this day. Jesus sat down to eat with 12 other people. Those people were the disciples. His friend Judas was there that night. Jesus shared his bread and wine with everyone. He told the disciples that it was more important to serve someone else than to be served.
He lovingly washed the feet of his disciples. After the meal was over, Jesus wanted to be alone to pray. Guards appeared a short time later and he was arrested.
Good Friday
Jesus was forced to make a huge cross and drag it up a hill all by himself. He had a crown on his head made of a branch of thorns. He was nailed to the cross by his hands and feet. One of the ways Good Friday is celebrated is by fasting, which means not eating at all. It is a day to mourn the death of Jesus, but also to celebrate that he gave his life for everyone.
Holy Saturday or Black Sabbath
After Jesus died, he was put in a tomb. The tomb was like a cave. The guards rolled a big rock in front of the opening to make sure that no one could get in or out. They knew that Jesus was dead, but they still wanted to close off the opening just to make sure he didn’t get out. Some of the ways to commemorate this day are meditating, praying, and lighting candles in church.
We’re thinking of eventually getting a family dog, especially for our middle kid who loves animals so in honor of National Pet Day which was yesterday, April 11, I’m resharing these pics for selecting the right dog comes in handy:
In the age-old “cat people versus dog people” debate, the votes have been tabulated and the results show that your household is a “dog family.”
The only problem is that you don’t actually have a family dog.
Remedying the situation provides everyone in the household with companionship and entertainment, helps to teach kids about the responsibility of caring for another living thing and puts a stop to the endless begging, cajoling and whining for a dog.
The only thing left to do is choose your dog, but how do you make such a big decision?
Do Your Research Before you make a selection, you’ll need to have a bit of basic knowledge at your disposal. Purebred dogs purchased from a breeder may have a genetic disposition for certain health problems, but their personalities can be predicted more precisely when they’re still puppies. Mixed breed dogs tend to be healthier than their purebred counterparts, but may be a bit more difficult in terms of personality and predictability. It’s very important that you learn whether or not the dog breed is good for families, small children, babies, people who live in apartments etc.
Like if you live in a busy city like Chicago, you may think a chihuahua, a small dog for a big cramped city would work until you realize that while that breed doesn’t need too many big wide spaces to roam and a tiny dog park will do, they’re better for children over 10 as opposed to small babies.
In this example, you can find services online that will work with your budget and lifestyle, and connect the best dog with your family, like Get Your Pet, for example, an online community that helps connect people who aren’t able to keep their pets directly to people who want to adopt them in their region, relieving shelters and saving animals’ lives all at the same time.
Visit a Shelter or Breeder Choosing to adopt from a shelter rescues a dog that may otherwise be euthanized, allows you to brag about making a socially-conscious choice and gives you the option of adopting an adult animal, rather than a rambunctious youngster in need of training. Purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder allows you to select a particular breed and bring home a young animal that you can train to suit the needs of your family. But be ethical and avoid puppy mills and online pup websites which don’t provide the best beginning or nurturing start for most dogs. Whichever route you choose, you should make a few kid-free visits before making a decision so you can observe the environment the dog is accustomed to, learn more about their individual personalities and make an informed decision before the younger members of your family become attached to a dog that’s ultimately a bad fit with your collective lifestyle.
Think About Your Family Routine Choosing the right dog for your family will require you to carefully examine the routine of your household. If everyone is away from the house for hours on end, you may want to select a more independent animal that requires less affection and dedicated play time. If you homeschool, have kids that haven’t yet reached school age and one parent stays home, you can comfortably select a dog that requires more attention.
Consider the Age of Your Youngest Child If you have a toddler or infant that doesn’t yet respond well to verbal direction, you’ll need to make sure that the dog you bring into your home is patient and mature. In these situations, an adult dog may be more suitable than a puppy. Breeds that are known to be anxious, like Chihuahuas, will almost certainly be too nervous when the boisterous attention of a very young child is focused on the dog.
Realize That Babies and Puppies Don’t “Grow Up Together” The idea that your baby and your puppy will “grow up together” is a charming one, but it’s just not feasible most of the time. Juggling the demands of an infant with those of an untrained, excitable puppy can easily prove to be overwhelming, which is why so many great dogs find themselves in a shelter. An adult dog may be a better choice for families with very young children, while a charming puppy is fine for households with older kids that can understand the proper handling and treatment of a fragile, high-energy puppy.
Keep Size in Mind The adorable pup that fits in the palm of your hand will one day grow up, and its size will have an impact on how you care for it. Remember that even Saint Bernards start off relatively small, but they grow quickly and can be too much for a small household with young children. Before you fall in love with a puppy at the shelter, try to determine how big it will be when it reaches adulthood. A Great Dane-sized animal simply won’t fit in a small apartment. If you make a mistake, do NOT let your dog go in the country like we see on TV, talk to family and friends to see if there is a better home. Be humane. You can also check for pet communities of animal lovers for ideas.
Choosing a dog is an exciting milestone, but it’s not a trial-and-error situation. Surrendering a dog because he isn’t right for your family will almost always endanger his life, a situation that simply isn’t fair to the defenseless dog in your care. Rather than making an impulsive choice that you later discover was a bad one, take your time and determine exactly what sort of dog will be best for your family. When you’re patient and committed to making the right choice the first time, you’re making a wonderful addition to your family and are not risking the life of an innocent animal.
Regrettably, damaging hair is a
pretty simple process. There are certain things you do that deny you the
opportunity to rock beautiful shiny hair with excellent body and volume.
Chemicals, diet, weather conditions, styling, combing, and wash routines are just
a few of the factors that cause major damage to your mane.
Thankfully, you do not have to live
with unhealthy frizzled hair for the rest of your life. There are a few steps
you can take to prevent further damage or even stop the damage process in its tracks
such as:
Getting Rid of Split Ends
Split ends are one of the major
signs of hair damage giving your crown a lifeless, brittle, and dull look.
Because these do not go away on their own, it is advisable to use top-notch
clippers like the wahl designer clippers,
my fave, for example, to get rid of these unwanted hairs to help enhance the feel
and look of your hair.
Note that with split ends in the
way, no amount of spa treatments, hair masks, and conditioning will restore the
shine back to your locks.
Trimming the unhealthy split ends is
also beneficial in that it prevents fewer flyaways and breakage giving it a
thicker and shiner look.
Keeping the Scalp Clean
Beautiful hair comes from a healthy
scalp.
The scalp has oil glands that
produce a natural oil known as sebum, which lubricates the hair strands as they
grow. In the absence of this oil, you can be sure that you will have dry
damaged hair that is tough to manage.
To avoid this, you need to treat
your scalp well by washing the hair every one to two weeks with proper products
like sulfate-free shampoo that will not damage or strip the hair of its natural
oils. It is also recommended that you use oils that mimic sebum to keep the
scalp and hair roots moisturized to promote growth. A
dditionally, you should enrich your
diet with fish oils and Omega3s to keep the scalp balanced and
moisturized.
Brushing the Hair so Hard
If you see some people brushing
their manes, you would mistake this for some sort of war. Aggressive brushing
is the wrong approach that often leads to broken strands which translates to
frizz.
Rather than brush out knots
hysterically, it is better to use conditioner and a wide tooth comb to detangle
the hair slowly and gently. Remember to work the knots from the ends upwards
instead of top to down to prevent all kinds of damage.
Using Too Much Heat
Frying your hair is not the way to
go! You will get better results in the long run if you opt to dry your hair
naturally. However, if you must use heat
make sure you use flat irons or curling irons on the lowest heat setting for
not more than 10 seconds. When using a blow dryer, make sure that it is not too
close to the hair. Hold it about 5-6 inches away so that it does not affect
your scalp as well.
Avoid Hairstyles that are Too Tight
Another mistake that many ladies
make is to wear braids, ponytails, and other updos that are too tight. The
constant pull and tug with these hairstyles negatively affects the scalp and
can lead to a great deal of damage on your hair. Avoid pulling your hair all
the time and embrace loose hairstyles as a means of looking after your hair.
If you are guilty of some bad habits in regards to hair care, it is important to adapt better habits like the ones mentioned above as soon as possible. By doing this it will only be a matter of time before you see positive change in your treasured hair.
It’s that time again…for a round up of the most popular blog posts you might have missed. I just sent this to my email newsletter subscribers and figured I’d share it here as well!
You can skip to the category that apply or resonate with you. No pressure. Click. Read and if you like it, share! Thanks!
I think it’s interesting that there was a survey of parents who give their children these names regret them after a celebrity names her kid that too! Doh!
When you are trying for a baby and you get those all-important positive results when doing a test, you life changes right then. You become so much more aware of your body and the amazing things that it is doing. You read every book or subscribe to every application about pregnancy, and you track things week by week. Those scans are exciting, the preparation is all part of the fun, and then when your baby does arrive it changes you once more.
Those first few weeks and months can often feel like a blur. One day merging into the next as you soak up that newborn bubble. Family visit, friends text, but once the initial excitement has calmed down, you are left with the baby and trying to create this whole new life and routine based around having someone else’s needs to cater for. It can be overwhelming. This is why it is so important to raise awareness of your mental health during this time. Being a new mum, or even being a second or third timer, it is still isolating, and every baby is different. Becoming a mum changes you beyond what words can describe, but there are some major benefits that you can take advantage of. Here are some of them. Hopefully it will inspire you to make some great changes in your life and to bring your family along for the ride.
1 Change your career
One of the big questions that you may be faced with now that you are a mom is wondering whether or not your career was all it was cracked up to be. Some women only have a certain amount of maternity leave before they need to head back into the workplace. Is this right for you and your baby? Of course, some people don’t have a choice, but often being a mom changes the way you see things and you decide that perhaps now might be the time to do something different. Here are some of the things that you could consider to change your career and how being a mom may help you do it.
2 Work from home and start your own business
Not everyone has the desire to leave the home after they have had a baby, work long hours and then subsequently not get to spend anytime with their little ones. It can often be the case for successful professionals when they return to work. However, why not use the skills that you have developed in your current job to start your own business? Maybe you have had an idea for some time, or perhaps since becoming a mom you have spotted a gap in the market for a product or service. So many mothers use their maternity leave to start up something from home, and have it become a real possibility that they don’t have to return back to work as it becomes their jobs. Working from home can give you greater flexibility around your family, and can often be the dream position for many mothers. You could make it your reality.
3 Use your empathy skills to help
When you become a mom you develop empathy and caring feelings like no other, and so it might be great to use this to your advantage in terms of a career. Counselling or helping people through traumatic times could now become a career option for you as you learn to listen more and empathize with certain situations, especially with things like postnatal depression. This is when getting skills and knowledge such as taking on a bs psychology online degrees could work in your favor. This could definitely be a rewarding career change, and it may work around your family such as taking on part time hours, or even looking into things such as starting your own business in this field.
4 Help other women go through pregnancy and giving birth
Lastly, you may have absolutely loved giving birth and your whole pregnancy and might want to help others have a positive experience as well. So a career change could see you doing things such as training to be a nurse or midwife, or perhaps just being a doula who is present at the birth and becomes a birthing partner for a mother to be. It could be a very rewarding role and while it can be demanding, and often requires you to work shifts, it could certainly change your life and enable you to share in the positive experiences with others.
5 You learn to prioritize
Now that you are a new mom you certainly learn how to prioritize in different ways, and so it may be worth thinking about how this could be effective when it comes to your life day to day. Not only do you ensure that your child has a schedule and routine in place, but this can also work for you as a mom as well. So here are some of the ways that you can learn to prioritize and make some changes along the way.
6 Get a cleaning schedule going
When it comes to cleaning, it can often be put on the back burner when you become a mom, and for good reason. You have other things that you want to be doing instead. However, cleaning is something that you will still need to do, so it might be worth ensuring that you do all that you can to get yourself a schedule going on. Often little by little you can come up with a plan that enables you to stay on top of things, without it being a big deal to you. There are so many different methods you can follow online that could help you get something together yourself. Whether that is tackling a different room each day, or just doing specific jobs daily to keep on top of things. You will feel better for getting things in order.
7 Meal plan and batch cook
It might be time to start thinking about a meal plan and batch cooking. This can really help you out on those days where you feel lethargic, are running on low energy and need to concentrate on your little one. Having a home cooked meal already cooked and frozen makes things so much simple, and you know you are getting a nutritious meal. It might be worth ensuring that you can meal plan which helps you to be more aware of what it is you and the family are going to eat. It helps to avoid the temptation of convenience food or take away, and also enables you to save some money on your food shop. It makes it easier to do things such as online shopping, which frees up your time for other things.
8 Become strict with the finances
Of course, part of being on maternity means that you may not be bringing in as much money as you normally do, and while this can cause you a bit of stress and worry, there are also things you can do to help you take advantage and make things a bit easier. You can prioritize and become a little stricter with the finances. Meal planning is one of the ways but you can also do things such as ensure that work on things like electricity usage and shop around for the best deals within your budget.
9 You are still you
Finally, as a new mom you are still the same person as you were before you got pregnant. While things may have changed for you, and while you may be thinking about some of the other things that have become more important in life, it is still important to take care of yourself. Here are some of the things that you can do.
10 Give yourself time for self-care
Self-care is so important as a new mom and there are many ways that you can do it. It might be as simple as a hot bath or a chance to read a book, or it could be something like getting your hair done or your nails. It might seem like a small thing, but it can make the world of difference to your mindset and how you feel.
11 Work on your mindset
On the subject of your mindset, it is also very important for you to ensure that you work on your thought process and your outlook on life. It can be easy to feel negative and down in the dumps when you have just had a baby, and this is when you can be at your most vulnerable. So take some time to be more aware of your thoughts and try and actively be more positive.
12 Make your lifestyle a focus
Finally, make your lifestyle more of a focus for you. It can all be part of your self care, but if you can, be aware of your diet and the food that you eat, how much exercise you take and also ensuring that you drink plenty of water. These may be the basics, but combined they can help you to feel so much better in yourself.
Let’s hope these tips help you when it comes to the changes you feel as a new mom.
Spring is coming and very soon it will be time to start thinking of doing a thorough and comprehensive cleaning and overhaul of the family home. Spring Cleaning is a time to start fresh and get rid of all the accumulated dust, grime and dirt from everyone being crammed indoors.
A little while ago the Imperfect Homemaking blog came up with a pretty thorough list of over 100 tasks including some of these below to guide your cleaning:
FOYER 1. Dust lighting fixtures. 2. Wash walls and trim 3. Wash doors, knobs and switch plates. 4. Wash bench or other furnishings. Launder bench cushion, if applicable. 5. Empty out coat closet. Wash walls and floor, if needed. Sort items as you return them to the closet. 6. 6. Store out of season items, donate unneeded items. 7. Clean or replace entry mat. 8. Sweep and scrub floors. 9. Reseal grout lines, if necessary.
BEDROOMS 11. Open windows 12. Dust furniture. 13. For each drawer: remove items, wash drawer, place items back neatly. Donate Items you no longer need. 14. Remove everything from closets. Sweep and wash closet floor. Put everything back neatly. Donate items you no longer need. Try not to store things on closet floor. 15. Move Bed. Sort and put away anything that was under bed. Sweep or vacuum under bed. Try not to store things under bed. 16. Put bed back. Freshen mattress by sprinkling with baking soda, letting sit briefly, and the vacuuming it up. 17. Launder bedding and curtains. Wash pillows and duvet in hot water. Air out mattress pad, if you have one. 18. Dust lights. Clean lamp shades. 19. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens. 20. Wash switch plates. Wash walls and trim as needed. 21. Wash mirrors or dust art. 22. Wash doors and doorknobs. 23. Wash floor registers and other vent covers. 24. Sweep and wash floor or vacuum.
BATHROOMS 25. Open windows 26. Empty all cabinets and vanity. Wash inside, replace items neatly. Discard expired medications and cosmetics. 27. Wash outside of cabinets and vanities 28. Clean tub. Wax if necessary. Clean drain. 29. Clean toilet, inside and out. Remove seat and clean around seat bolts. 30. Clean sink and drain. 31. Shine faucets. 32. Clean mirror and frame . 33. Dust light fixtures. 34. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens. 35. Wash switch plates. wash walls and trim. Wash doors and door knobs. 36. Wash floor registers and other vent covers. 37. Sweep and wash floors. 38. Reseal grout lines if necessary.
KITCHEN 39. Open windows. 40. Remove and clean window coverings. Click here for instructions on cleaning mini blinds. 41. For each cabinet or drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly. Donate unneeded items. 42. Wash and sanitize cutting boards 43. Sharpen knives 44. Wash cabinet doors and knobs 45. Clean and organize pantry. Check food expiry dates. 46. Clean oven. 47. Clean stove top. Remove elements and drip bowls, if applicable, wash and put back. 48. Clean and organize fridge and freezer. Defrost freezer, if necessary. Check food expiry dates. 49. Clean under fridge and stove. 50. Vacuum refrigerator coils.
Continue READING and get the rest of the list for other areas of the home at Imperfect Homemaking and download a PRINTABLE LIST HERE!
As if you don’t have enough feelings of anxiety as it is! When you are uprooting the entire family and going to a new location for a new adventure in life, the people that will feel it the most isn’t you, but your children. Moving the entire family comes with its fair share of stress, and while we can get swept up in the entire flow and excitement of moving, we could neglect our children to an extent. After all, you’re taking them away from everything that they know, and depending on their age, they will react in certain ways.
What can we do to ensure that everybody feels the excitement of moving, but also address the common concerns that come with it?
Communicate
We are inundated with issues that need to be fixed. Whether it’s dealing with removalists or fixing short-term problems, and tying up loose ends, we can be very busy. And these are all things that we have to do. And all of this box ticking can be somewhat alien to our children. After all, if we focus so much on tying up loose ends before we go, we might not have the opportunity to stop and talk to our children to see how they’re feeling. It’s important to check in on them from time to time and see if there’s anything that you can do to help them.
It’s a very simple thing, but when we are too busy, or we are really working hard at making life easier for everyone when we get there, we can neglect how our children are feeling right now. And when we’re stressed, it can seem like every minute is time wasted. But, if you’ve got children that are desperate for your attention, and they are showing the signs of anxiety or stress, put the computer away, and focus on them. Give them five minutes at the very least!
Allow Your Children To Help In The Preparation
Letting your children help gives them the opportunity to become familiar with the situation. After all, if you are spending so much time calling up utility companies, getting the removal company details ready, and ensuring everything goes like clockwork, doesn’t it make sense for you to give your children some tasks so they are part of the process, but it also makes life a bit easier for you? By allowing them to help lets them become familiar with everything that’s going to happen.
And depending on the age of the children, their duties can vary. But what you can do if you have young children that are quite anxious about the whole thing, is give them a task that’s very minimal, like finding nice places to eat in the new town or city. Or, if food isn’t their thing, letting them find out about family-friendly places where the children can go and play. That way, it minimizes a lot of the mystique. After all, we are fearful of the unknown, so just let them become acquainted with the place by giving them the simplest of tasks.
Hitting The Ground Running
It’s all about keeping as many of the old routines as possible. And while you are moving to a new place, if you can hit the ground running by removing some of the mystique, but also sticking to a lot of what you are used to doing as a family, this makes it far more manageable. Your children will look to you for emotional cues. If you are stressed in the build-up to the move, or there’s just too many things for you to do that you are crumbling under the pressure, what are they going to think? As such, you’d better prepare yourself for an abundance of tantrums.
But by hitting the ground running, and making a big plan that can be stuck to, while also adhering to your old family routines, this will make the shift not so seismic. And this is very helpful if you’ve got young children that are pretty confused by what’s going on. You need to do what you can to stick to what’s considered “normal” for your kids.
A very good example would be your child’s bedding. If they are of toddler age, by giving them their blankets and teddy bears they are used to, this gives them that little bit of comfort that could very well help them go to sleep if they’ve been struggling. We got to think about the shakeup in a routine that can drastically impact younger children. So by being as rigid as possible in our normal routines, as well as making sure that we are positive in our state of mind, this will go a long way.
Giving It Time
Of course, it doesn’t all go smoothly. It’s important to note that you may have tantrums, disagreements, and full-blown arguments with your children and them lashing out at you because it’s your fault, you’ve taken them away from their normal lives, and they won’t see that it’s for the greater good.
It’s important to give it time, and let them vent. By letting them express themselves like this, rather than shutting them down and telling them why you’ve done this in the first place, it’s going to help them in the long run. And at the same time, if you have younger children, it’s common to expect regression. For example, if your child was potty trained around 2 years old and they’re now 4 or so, you may very well expect to see a couple of accidents.
But remember, this is how a child deals with a stressful situation. Just be calm and give it time. These things will pass. And if your children are missing aspects of their old life, is there anything you can do to make them feel a little bit better in the meantime? Old friends can be contacted online, or they can phone their grandparents for a nice chat. These things are very important, and shouldn’t be severed as a result of the new move. But also, you don’t want them to rely on their old life to get them through. But it’s about that comfort blanket situation, letting them do what they can to feel that they can cope with each and every day in this new place. But it’s the same thing for you, you can feel like everything has changed, but what hasn’t changed is that you’re all together, as a family unit.
Bonding
You’re going to be sticking together a lot more, especially in those first few weeks of settling down in the new place. Your children will be going to a new school, and they will take some time to find their feet. What you can do in the meantime is to reinforce the stability of the family unit. Remember, they look to you for emotional cues. So walk the walk, and maintain positivity.
And the things that you’ve been doing together in the build-up to the move can help to achieve that stability, especially as everyone is going through a major change. And this is important to remember, because everyone is going to have their own ups and downs, yourself included, and while you’re all finding your feet, this is where you can all go on adventures together.
Whether it’s finding a new place to go eat, introducing yourselves to the new neighbors, or just going exploring, you have to remember that these are the prime opportunities for you to solidify your relationships even more. During a stressful process like moving, you can either get closer or become more distant as a result.
Helping Your Children Socialize
But you won’t be this solid family unit for long, your children will have to go to school and make new friends. And this can be one of the most difficult aspects of moving the entire family. We can panic that our children won’t make new friends, and they will be unhappy for a long time to come. But, what might be beneficial would be to give them a few pep talks. It’s easier with young children to make new friends, but when they go to school, it can be a very difficult process.
But children make friends in school because of shared activities. So, do a bit of research and find common interests in the local school, as well as the neighborhood. If there are certain games or pastimes that can help your children to integrate with other kids better, go for it. At least this way, if your child has nothing in common with them, they can at least walk the walk in their own way until they are confident enough to make friends by themselves.
Don’t forget, you will go through a lot of stress, not just because of the admin side of things, or the move, but you will genuinely worry about your children. It’s important to be as calm and as positive as possible. And as making a big move is all about starting again, we can get overwhelmed by the stress, but there’s a reason you’re all moving in the first place. Sometimes it can feel like you have made a mistake.
But you know, deep down, this is for the benefit of everyone.
