How to Travel Safely With Kids This Holiday Season

Anxious about traveling during the holidays? You’re not alone. Here are some of the questions parents are asking. Should I buy a refundable ticket? Should we stay home? Is it worth it?

Let’s assume you’re not staying home. You have a family to visit. Maybe a child who’s never met his grandparent. It’s worth it to make that introduction. It might be worth it for the memories you’ll store up during the holidays.

Should We Self Quarantine?

According to the CDC, Individuals should stay home for at least seven days after being declared sick.

Take Covid 19 Tests?

Economist Emily Oster, who writes about parenting and pregnancy in her book, ParentData, said that rapid testing is an excellent idea for traveling. She added that even if everyone in the group is vaccinated, having the test before and after they get to the airport can help prevent the spread of the illness.

Getting the test can also be challenging, especially since it’s only sometimes available at pharmacies.

Who Can Hold the Baby?

Pediatricians suggest that all relatives wear a mask while holding the baby to keep the child healthy. Everyone should wash their hands properly. Go ahead and blame your doctor for making relatives do these things; they won’t mind.

Travel

It’s hard to avoid people while you’re at the airport, for instance, as you queue up to get in line or wrestle a car seat into an overhead bin. However, a blanket or a protective shield can help keep your child away from masses of people.

It’s always better to avoid public transportation when traveling with an infant.

Was it the Right Choice?

Think about your risk tolerance. It’s also easier said than done depending on the person you’re trying to protect. For instance, you may have a different risk tolerance for an older relative who is not vaccinated than for a young child who is healthy and has immunity from their mother.

Make sure you and your partner are on the same page when setting boundaries. Wherever your stance is, you should be able to stand up for yourself. It’s your right to keep your child safe.

Gifts Ideas for New Parents

During the holiday season, new parents can experience both the best and worst times. Whether they’re celebrating the birth of their child or preparing for the arrival of their new bundle of joy, this time of year can feel very different for them.

It’s natural to want to spoil the new baby in your family. However, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t mean you’re only shopping for the baby. Plenty of gifts will help new parents feel supported as they navigate their new life. Here are some suggestions.

Automatic Baby Rocker

New parents often spend a lot of time holding their newborn in their arms. However, after a while, it’s tiring. A baby rocker will help new parents get some rest. It can provide them with a break and allow them to get back to tasks.

A Meditation App Subscription

It can be very challenging to become a new parent. However, with the help of a guided meditation app like Headspace, you can help new parents relieve their stress and get back to their regular routines. The practice will allow them to feel more grounded and relaxed.

A Couples Parenting Journal

When couples become parents, their relationship often takes a backseat. It’s a great idea to keep their romance alive. A couple’s parenting journal is filled with questions that couples can answer together.

A Meal Delivery Gift Card

It can be very challenging for new parents to prepare food for the family. A meal delivery gift card from a company such as Grubhub or Seamless can help new parents get food delivered to their homes. A local restaurant gift card is also a good alternative.

European Cheese Board

After nine months of abstaining, it’s time to give the mom what she really wants; a bottle of wine, cheese, or cold cuts. These items are usually off-limits during pregnancy, so a party featuring these foods can be a great way to celebrate the new arrival.

A Comfy Robe

A soft robe is an excellent choice for busy parents who want to keep themselves warm and comfortable after a quick shower. Go for midweight Turkish cotton, which is fast drying and comfortable.

A Stylish Nursing Cover

New moms may feel a bit uncomfortable breastfeeding in public. A good nursing cover can help ease the transition, allowing both the mother and baby to breastfeed peacefully.

A Manly Fanny Pack

Fanny packs are often criticized, but they can be a lifesaver for parents needing additional hands. A masculine belt bag can hold all the items they need while they keep the baby safe.

Happy shopping!

Dealing With Toxic Parents

It can be incredibly challenging to cope with someone who is toxic when it happens to be a parent. Various things can be done to minimize the effects of toxic parents. This article will walk you through some of these steps and provide helpful tips on handling toxic parents.

The term toxic parent is not a medical term or a defined concept. Instead, it refers to parents who regularly act in a way that causes resentment, fear, and guilt in their kids. Instead of apologizing, toxic parents usually refuse to acknowledge that their actions are wrong. They also tend to abuse or neglect their kids.

You might also feel that their behavior is self-centered. It could be that they cannot provide the support you need. You also might think that their behavior is manipulative. They use their emotions to control you. Although it’s normal for people to have bad days and outbursts, it’s also possible that the behaviors during your childhood affected the way you developed as an adult.

DON’T BLAME YOURSELF

You might also blame yourself for their actions. Being an adult can make it hard to live up to your expectations. It can also make it hard to form healthy self-esteem. Family is a vital part of a person’s life, and it influences their thoughts and behavior. It’s also the foundation for their general worldview.

After learning that you were exposed to toxic parents, it may be helpful to recognize some of the harmful behaviors you experienced. Although it can be hard to change, behavior patterns can be modified with time and support. The first step in developing new habits is acknowledging the things that have affected your behavior.

SETTING CLEAR BOUNDARIES

One of the first things that you should do is set clear boundaries. While it can’t change the behavior of other individuals, setting boundaries can help you manage the interactions with toxic parents. This is an invisible line you can set for yourself and prevent someone from crossing, such as setting specific topics off-limits in conversations. Don’t leave the boundaries up for interpretation. Having clear boundaries can help you avoid accidentally pushing past them. Don’t get defensive if they have crossed them; just reiterate your limits and take a step back from contact if needed. You are the person who can make changes and take back control of your life. Set goals and make a plan to achieve them.

DON’T CARRY THE BURDEN ALONE

It’s important to reflect on how your childhood experiences affected you and what made you act. Talk to a trusted friend or family member about this topic. You don’t have to go on a path of healing alone. Having a mental health professional can also help guide you through the process.

To start, write down a list of things you would like to change. Once you have a list, practice addressing the one you want to change first.

In this situation, expect to face some challenging times. But, remember that you are also responsible for the progress of the things you want to change. You can also change the way you act and react by reminding yourself that you are the one who has control over all of your actions.

Consider starting therapy and sharing your boundaries with family members who will back you up. This will give you peace of mind knowing that the people involved are there to help.

Originally published on JenniferPowers.me

How to Really Listen to your Children

This may seem obvious, but listening is more than just hearing what someone is saying. When parents are engaged with their children, they’re actively involved. This means that the speaker feels heard and validated through physical touch (holding hands) or eye contact (looking into your child’s eyes), as well as verbally (asking questions). Listening properly takes practice, but it can be learned. Here are some tips to help you listen to your children:

Use a Good Question

If your child is speaking to you, but you’re not listening to her, then she’s probably not going to feel that she has your complete attention. Be careful not to interrupt. A good question will let your child know that you’re interested in what she has to say and will keep her talking. A good question will keep your child talking and help you learn more about your child’s experiences, feelings, and thoughts. So ask open-ended questions that encourage your child to talk about things that are new and interesting.

Sit Back and Listen

When you listen, sit back and give your child your full attention. If you’re watching your child’s every move, then you’re not really listening properly. Try to be still and look into their eyes as much as possible, without turning or interrupting them with questions or comments.

Summarize What You Hear

Good listeners don’t just listen to their child; they also listen to the child’s experience. They’re able to summarize what the child has just said and present it in a way that makes sense to them to apply it in the future.

Focus on the Child Fully

Try not to look at your child’s face while you listen — instead, listen to what they’re saying. Watch your child’s hands, arms, or legs to see if they are expressing themselves through body language. You may find your child’s expression is speaking louder than their words.

Use Non-Verbal Communication

As parents, we try hard to communicate our love for our children verbally, but sometimes all the words in the world aren’t enough. Your non-verbal communication can help your child to feel you are genuinely listening to them.

Fostering Independence: Back-to-School Tips for Parents and Kids

Getting the kids back to school is an annual tradition. Summer vacations are over, and kids are in classes all day long again. While many families love having the kids around so much during the summer, it can be a relief to parents to have kids back in school during the day. Having said that, it can also come at the expense of school buses clogging up the roads again.

The transition is a big seasonal change, however, and making it can be complicated. Fortunately, there are a number of back-to-school hacks your family can use.

For starters, consider using a visual chart. Kids do best when they have routine and structure. If they’re under the age of 6, then they’re primarily visual and concrete learners. A routine chart can help them get used to a routine and handle a few responsibilities on their own.

Secondly, your entryway needs to be convenient for everyone. That includes your kids. They need to know when and how to hang up jackets or coats or even put them on. They can learn how to dress and about managing layers based on weather.

Your back-to-school work needs to start with about a month left in the summer if possible. Have your kids start learning how to dress on their own. Have them practice putting on various pieces of school clothing so they build up muscle memory.

If you want your kids to eat their lunch while at school, or even dinner at home for that matter, then include them in the family food process whenever you can. Small tasks in meal preparation and taking them with you to the grocery store makes it more likely that they’ll eat the food you serve them.

Finally, develop a ‘happy goodbye’ routine. Whether you wind up dropping them off at school or put them on a bus, you have to let them go at some point. A goodbye that’s full of happiness helps relieve their anxiety about going to school for the day. You can encourage them to be brave enough to face the day and all that might come with it before you see them again in the afternoon or evening later on in the day.

This article was originally published on JenniferPowers.me

Top Parenting Podcasts

Whether it is a new parent or one in the process of raising teenagers, there are a few podcasts that offer helpful and relatable advice for all stages of parenthood. Here is a list of some highly rated podcasts for parents organized by age.

For parents to be, there are several podcasts that can help prepare moms and dads for this new stage in their life. Pregnancy Confidential offers answers to all pregnancy and motherhood questions, even those that are embarrassing to ask. This podcast gives an honest and witty perspective of a soon-to-be mother in the preparation of their child. Another podcast for a mom-to-be is FearFreeChildbirth. This podcast is intended to acknowledge the fear of childbirth and replace the mother’s concerns with the excitement of what is to come. Both of these are great options for mothers to be.

New mothers could use advice as well. The Boob Group is a podcast for all new moms and gives them all the necessary information for raising an infant. This podcast addresses everything from breastfeeding to latching and more. Newbies is another podcast that addresses the struggles of raising a newborn and the challenges many mothers face during their baby’s first year. Most importantly, this podcast also addresses the mother’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

Some podcasts for parents with kids under the age of six include Little Springs, Parenting Beyond Discipline, and Good Inside. All of these features common struggles of parenting young children and techniques to improve communication with young ones. The goal of these podcasts is to better the relationship between the child and parent as well as dealing with challenges.

Raising school-age children requires an entirely new style of parenting. Podcasts like The Mom Hour and Sunshine Parenting attempt to make this stage of parenting more clear. Both of these podcasts focus on encouragement and strategies for child development to raise well equipt adults.

Finally, when it comes to raising teens and young adults, there are a couple of podcasts that provide insight into emotional and social challenges that arise when parenting these age groups. Talking to Teens gives effective communication techniques between parent and teen that help tackle the struggles of dating, social media, and other challenging teenage activities.

This article was originally published on JenniferPowers.me

How Female Poker Players are Making Their Mark

Poker is a game in which the players place a bet based on who they perceive has the better hand. This is a game for strategic thinkers. In the past, this was a gentleman’s game. It is still rare to see women in the upper echelon of poker society. Three women have broken that glass ceiling Vanessa Selbst, Jennifer Haman, and Annette Obrestad. They are the most successful female poker players of our time.

Vanessa Selbst was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1984. Selbst has been playing competitive poker since she was 18 years old. During that time, she went on to become a Yale University graduate. Her professional accomplishments include three first prize-winning bracelets in the World Series of Poker (WSOP). She also placed first in a series of tournaments and main events over the years. It is estimated that she has winnings of over 11 million dollars. Selbst has been in a committed relationship with Miranda Foster since 2013. In 2017 Vaness Selbst decided she would retire from professional poker due to the stress and constant scrutiny.

Jennifer Harman was born in Reno, Nevada, in 1964. Harman’s first experience at a poker table began when she was only 8 years old. In the early part of her life, she had some struggles with kidney disease. She overcame that part of her life and later received a degree in Biology from the University of Nevada. As for her professional accomplishments, she won two World Series of Poker bracelets. Her earning are over 2.6 million dollars. She was the first woman to win two WSOP tournaments, which is an extraordinary accomplishment.

Annette Obrestad was born in Sandnes, Norway, in 1988. She began playing poker at the age of fifteen. She is known around the world as a YouTube poker sensation. In 2007, Obrestad became the youngest World Series of Poker winner. Annette Obrestad’s has won over $3.9 million. As of 2019, Obrestad is no longer playing professionally but periodically take part in some games.

All three of these women have made their mark on the professional poker stage in their own unique way. They have been formidable opponents whose winnings total in the millions.

Originally Published to jenniferpowersnyc.com.

5 Quick Poker Tips

Some of the world’s best poker players deploy smart tactics and strategies to try and win as many times as possible. Knowing the rules of the game is not a guarantor to winning in poker. The following tips can help beginner players improve their game and start walking away with prizes:

1. Play Solid Poker Early in the Game

Many poker players use the stack preservation strategy in poker tournaments. It is ineffective, and the best solution is doubling or tripling the usual starting stack. It is advisable to play solid and aggressive poker from the beginning. It enables players to start building up a stack for a deep run.

2. Play when in the Right Mood

Professionals and those who play poker as a hobby enjoy the game since it provides a fun experience. It is mentally intensive, and the participant can only perform best when in a happy mood. Playing with feelings of anger, fatigue, or frustration can end up being the way to lose a lot of money.

3. Observe Other Players

Another important strategy that can be quite valuable is knowing the other players. It is easier to predict the moves of close friends than when facing new faces. Paying attention to their facial expressions and habits can provide insight into how they are likely to play their game.

4. Prepare Enough for Long Games

Generally, most poker tournaments involving professional players take a lot of time. Before committing to a lengthy game, it is important to set aside all other activities. It is similar to a football game where players warm up and prepare their bodies and minds. In a poker tournament, players need to be refreshed, nourished, and wide awake.

5. Avoid Playing Every Hand

Beginners find this game thrilling and keep up with the action by playing their every hand. Sometimes folding is necessary even when the cards are terrible. Playing more cards does not guarantee the chances of winning. In fact, it reduces.

Conclusion

Poker is a casino game globally enjoyed by many. It is an exciting game that challenges the mind. Players whose game has become a little rusty or newbies who cannot wait to get in the action can polish their skills with these tips.

Originally Published to jenniferpowersnyc.com

The Best Poker Podcasts

With millions of fans around the globe, poker is easily the world’s most popular card game. The critical reason poker is so popular is that it is easy to learn but challenging to master. In addition to understanding complex strategies, poker players also have to read their opponents. A great way to keep up with your favorite card game is by listening to podcasts. These are the four best poker podcasts.

Thinking Poker

While Thinking Poker spends time covering strategy, it is best known for its behind-the-scenes look at the poker world. If you have ever wanted to know what life was like for a celebrity poker player, then this is the podcast for you. The Thinking Poker hosts regularly interview poker’s biggest names to reveal their unique takes on the game. Listening to these stories is a great entertainment source that can also help improve your skills at the table.

Red Chip Poker

When it comes to poker podcasts, none of them are more popular than Red Chip Poker. This podcast has built a dedicated following thanks to the high-level strategies discussed in every episode. While many podcasts only cover no-limit hold’em, Red Chip Poker covers virtually every poker game imaginable. Listening to this podcast is practically like hiring your own personal poker coach.

Read the full article at JenniferPowersNYC.com.

Education Charities To Support This Fall

Children living in poverty and under harsh regimes are often unable to enjoy a well-rounded education. In extreme cases, it’s up to concerned philanthropists to donate the time, finances, and resources to help these children grow. Education-based charities are looking for donations now more than ever. Are you going to step up and help kids in need?

The Turing Trust

Named after Andrew Turing, the nephew of British mathematician and logician Alan Turing, the Turing Trust helps students in Malawi and Ghana by providing thousands of computers to schools. It has supported 39 schools in Malawi and 76 schools in Ghana. Thanks to this program, more than 41,000 African students have become I.T. literate. Those wishing to support this program can donate to the Turing Trust through their businesses.

Mobile Education Partnerships

An educational charity working in Myanmar (formerly Burma) that has been operative for 20 years, Mobile Education Partnerships provides teacher training in remote communities and marginalized areas. Since 2011, this charity has contributed to the preparation of nearly 2,000 teachers. It has also brought 350 teachers through Cambridge teaching exams and produced textbooks used by almost 18,000 children. People’s donations to MEP through their businesses can support this charity.

Lightyear Foundation

This foundation brings science education to children with disabilities in the U.K. To gain the interest of these students, one program, Sensory Science, is a creative and immersive experience that also provides practical knowledge that can improve their lives.

Read the full article at JenniferPowers.info.