Author: MamatheFox

How To Up Your Fundraising Game

 

Image Credit: Pexels

 

Whether you need some quick ideas before the school year is out or you’re already planning for next year, there are tons of things you can do to help with your kids’ school or sports team fundraising efforts and spend some time with the family too, so try using a GoFundMe fundraiser.

 

Bike-a-thon

What more beautiful thing is there to do in the summer than get your bike out and go for a lovely bike ride? This is a great one for the summer months and for everyone to get involved in. What’s lovely about a bike-a-thon is that anyone can take part and most of the participants will already have bikes. Parents can ride with their kids; teachers can ride with their classes; it gives everyone a common goal and can bond people together. Also, don’t forget that bike-a-thons are great exercise too and if you do a bit of training beforehand then there’s even more reason to get fit and get out enjoying the outdoors on your bike.

 

Tough Mudder

These muddy challenges have become extremely popular of late and could be an enjoyable thing to do with kids, parents, teachers, coaches, etc. It is fun for everyone, it’s fun for the kids to see the adults get muddy, everyone loves the obstacles, and you could get people to sponsor you for doing it. Get some team shirts from End Zone Athletics so that you can show people you’re a team and who you’re raising money for. 

 

Family Bingo Night

This is another one which is fun for all the family. A family bingo night in the local community or at school gets everyone involved, and if everyone has to pay a small amount for a ticket, then it’s a great money-maker too. People might even want to buy more than one ticket. 

 

Talent show

Everyone loves a talent show and with all the ones on TV now there are so many ideas to take from The Voice, America’s Got Talent, Lip Sync Battles, and Idol. All you need to do is add a fundraising element, so charge people to attend or tease people with a secret talent you will unveil if you get enough money such as your Principal riding a unicycle while juggling (if they can). You could have a load of secret talents to tease out throughout the evening and get more and more money to reveal them. 

 

Auction

Auctions are a great way to raise money and can be so cheap too. Either get people to donate prizes or even better get people to donate services. So people could auction off a couple of hours babysitting, ironing 20 shirts, cooking for someone, cleaning someone’s house. There are loads of things you can auction off and the more absurd, the better. It makes for a great night of fun, bonding again with students, kids, teachers, parents, and coaches, it will get the whole community involved, and if you take your auction online you’ll get even better results!

What You Need To Know About Wooden Furniture

Image

 

When you have a child at home, you can expect that their things will be all over the place, spread from room to room, clearly proclaiming that “there’s a child in this house,” to anyone who visits. You’ll see toys everywhere, from the floor to the highest cupboard in the house. It’s a fun mess at first, but as the day goes by, it just looks really annoying and it overwhelms the whole appeal of the home. Your best bet is to get a toy box large enough to accommodate all their stuff. You can strategically place it in corners, where it can easily blend in and not get noticed by anyone visiting.

But if you want the toy box to look more like a part of the house, opt for a wood toy box that looks and feels like expensive furniture. You can position it anywhere in the house and it won’t feel odd even to the most discerning eye. Aside from the looks, a wooden toy box have more merits that you can appreciate for your home. Here’s a list of some of them.

A wooden furniture is undeniably good, not only in the looks department, but also in terms of performance. You can also easily combine your wood toy box or furniture to furniture produced using steel or glass. The natural beauty of the wood would be in full display for everyone in the room to enjoy and admire.

Quality and sturdiness

The wood toy box is amazingly strong and requires almost no support. Wood is a dependable normal material that can stand steady maltreatment, regardless of whether it’s spills in the kitchen or scratches in the lounge area. Strong wood furniture can keep going for ages with least consideration.

Simplicity of upkeep

Kids are sloppy, messy little creatures. Fortunately, the wood toy box is very easy to maintain. Basically wipe the outside of the wood seat parts with a wood cleaner all the time. Try not to enable water or residue to choose your tables, seats or armoires for broadened periods.

A stylistic layout staple

Including a bit of wood furniture, even if it’s really a toy box, to a room will totally change its look and feel. Wood furniture offers class, appeal and refinement to any room.

Modifiable

The excellence of wood furniture is that it can be changed after time to allow it to have a second, third, or fourth life. Though the piece of wooden furniture will have undergone an extensive process before making its way into your home (the manufacturers may have decided to use “Used Woodworking Machinery” to get the finished outcome), you may also decide to sand, recolor, and paint it yourself. As such, this will allow you to restore wood furniture and give it a totally new look. This will be beneficial if you ever decide to renovate your home when you’ve decided against buying new furniture.

Value

In spite of the fact that you may pay more in the first place for a bit of strong wood furniture, wood is more profitable than other material utilized in furniture producing. Wood’s characteristic grain ensures that each household item is interesting. The underlying expense of wood furniture might be higher than lower end materials, however you will receive the rewards for quite a long time to come. Contingent upon your financial limit, you can choose furniture that is produced utilizing wood furniture parts in softwood, for example, pine, or you can decide on furniture that is made utilizing harder, progressively extraordinary woods.

Bunch O Balloons Self Sealing Party Balloons Giveaway

Welcome to the Star Spangled Giveaway Hop

Hosted by: MamatheFox.com

Sponsored by: Zuru

 

Enter for your chance to win (1) Bunch O Balloons Party Pumps

2 Winners! 

Valued at $16.99 each

 

 

Who’s ready for a Bunch O Balloons Party from ZURU?! Party planning can be tons of fun, but the execution itself can literally take your breath away, especially when it comes to balloons, but there is a magical game-changer to it all! With BOB Party you can fill, tie and string 40 balloons in only 40 secondsThere is literally no more blowing, no more tying and no need to add ribbon or string!

 

Simply attach the stems to our Electric Party Pump nozzle and press GO! Within seconds, your Bunch O Balloons Party stems will fill and self-tie with ease and convenience and once inflated, you can cut the stems (hard cord) and the ribbon remains!  All our Balloons are totally reusable and refillable and come in so many colors and themes. Our Electric Party Pump is also compatible with helium tanks for even more fun and convenience! Whatever you choose, make sure you join the party and fill, tie and string up to 40 balloons in just 40 seconds! See it for Yourself – BOB Party In Action for a WOW Factor

 

Bunch O Balloons Party is available in Walmart and Target. The ZURU Bunch O Balloons Party Pump Starter Pack with attachment accessories and two balloon stems (16 balloons) SRP $16.99 and ZURU Bunch O Balloons 3 stem (24 Balloon) packs including a helium adapter will be offered in various colors for SRP $9.99. Shop Walmart at  http://www.bobparty.shop/walmart and Target https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=bunch+o+party+air

Tips On Throwing A Great Party

Whether you’re throwing a birthday party or planning a family event to celebrate a special occasion, here are some top tips to throw a great party.

Image Source

Set The Right Atmosphere

The atmosphere needs to be a memorable one, and so a lot of that comes from the hosting you do as the party organizer. Be sure to greet everyone that comes through the door, instead of letting latecomers stand around awkwardly by the entrance. Ensure that any music you have playing is constant and that you’ve got enough of a playlist to see you through from the beginning and throughout. Think about the type of music and whether you might need to change the genre throughout the evening. Look on https://www.alivenetwork.com/hirelivemusic/hire_a_band_in.asp?area=London&style=Jazz%20and%20Blues for some inspiration on different types of bands.

First Impressions Count

First impressions count when it comes to your guests and so from the moment they arrive, you want them to feel like they’re at a party. Introduce them to other guests and offer them a drink to help them relax. This will certainly be important when you might have guests who don’t know anyone at the party. Pick out guests that will have no problem in meeting new people so that they can be your go-to if you have a guest who arrives and doesn’t have anyone with them.

Offer Great Food And Drink

Depending on the type of event, as a host, you should be offering some sort of food and drink service. You might install a bar and then charge guests to buy a drink, or maybe you can provide guests with a free bar if the budget allows and you are up for the challenge! Better still, you can get in touch with an online liquor delivery store (similar to a Denver wine delivery service provider) to order just what your guests want! Just make sure that they are not getting in the driving seat of the car after they’ve had a couple of drinks, it’s best to ask them to get a taxi service instead, however, if they do without your knowledge and they get pulled over, then they may want to look into something like a Fort Worth DWI lawyer or one similar, to help plead their case in court. You can’t monitor everyone at your party but always keep a watchful eye. When it comes to food, you want to cater enough to the amount and where possible, cater to those who may have a few dietary requests. Think about the layout for the food and what cuisines you’d like to serve. Would you like a sit-down meal or would a buffet work better?

Party Games

Party games are definitely needed if it’s a hen party or a dinner party. These are great ways of breaking the ice, especially if it’s a group of friends who may not know each other that well. It could be a drinking game or a quiz, which could be more appropriate if it is a hen party (look here for more hen party ideas). That said, it’s all dependent on what type of party you are throwing. When thinking up party games, make sure you think about your age group and what they’ll enjoy and what they may find inappropriate or not suited to the theme.

Outdoor Activities

Depending on the time of year that you are hosting your party, you may find that the weather is too glorious to be stuck indoors. Though it is a great place to stay cool, it is very likely that most of your guests will want to spend time outdoors. This is great! There are many things that you can do outside. Not only can you look into somewhere like these Sarasota Bounce House Rentals to see about getting a bouncy house or water slide, but you can also play a magnitude of games too. If you are hosting on behalf of your child or partner, ask them what type of games they can play outdoors to ensure that they are just as part of the planning process as you.

Consider Party Favors

At the end of the party, you might want to consider offering some form of party favors. If it’s a children’s party, then a goody bag will go down a treat. For a hen party, it might be a little keepsake that will remind them of the occasion. Party favors are also just a nice way of saying thank you for coming, and it always serves as a nice surprise for your guests.

When throwing a party, you want to make sure it’s well organised and that way, no matter what you plan, it should go down very well with all your guests!

Sixthreezero – Best Cities for Electric Bikes

Electric bikes have taken the world by storm. A ton of bicycling enthusiasts have discovered the advantages of e-bikes. The truth of the matter is that depending on where in the United States you live, you may benefit from the best electric bikes more than others. Here are the cities where you really want an e-bike if you want to get around more efficiently or to better see all of the beautiful sights.

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco is a tough city to live in with a car. You constantly need to find parking, and you can expect so spend a lot on gas. San Francisco is also right by the ocean. In a car, you cannot truly appreciate the entire splendor of the sea. On any of the popular hybrid bicycles for sale, you can gain a newfound appreciation of the city and everything it has to offer.

Tucson, AZ

Tucson is one of the best cities to live in if you love to bike. The city has roughly 700 miles of designated bikeways, so you do not have to worry about fighting traffic. When you are in Tucson, you definitely need to check out the nearby Santa Catalina Mountains when the sun sets. You will see an incredible view like no other.

Austin, TX

Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in the state of Texas. It is known for its bustling downtown scene as well as the bohemian vibe a lot of new residents have brought to the area. There is 325 miles devoted to bike lanes, including the six-mile long Lance Armstrong Bikeway. You will find plenty of Austin residents riding their bikes around, so get yourself a bike from somewhere like REIGHT GOOD BIKES and get in on the action.

Portland, OR

Portland was truly built to be seen on two wheels. There are numerous cyclist enthusiast communities, so you will find plenty of people to ride with. It is a lot simpler to get around the city on an e-bike compared to a car. With your bike, you can also check out Forest Park and see mountain trails that have been immaculately maintained.

New York City, NY

New York City has remained a hub of public transportation. Therefore, it is already perfectly primed for e-bikes. Millions of people live in the city, so not everyone can get around in a car. Instead of trying to hail a cab or deal with the subway system, you can hop on your bike and get around the city with ease.

Washington, D.C.

You can cruise through the nation’s capital while on an e-bike. The city runs on punctuality, so whether you work for the federal government or in the private sector, you need to show up on time. With an e-bike, you can make your commute much easier and get around the capital in style.

E-bikes have already changed numerous lives, and they can change yours next. No matter what city you live in, you can purchase an e-bike and start the trend in your community. You can find the perfect store to buy your new e-bike and start riding with the best of them.

4 Tactics To Raise More Money For Summer Fun

If you envision a perfect summer with the kids as one full of day trips, picnics, and vacations, you are not alone. Of course, these things do tend to cost money, and that can mean what we want to do and what we have the funds for don’t always match up. Happily, there are some smart tactics you can use to ensure there is enough money in the kitty to enjoy the summer with your kids. Just read on to find out what they are.

Image here

Save money on energy bills.

One super smart way of raising enough money for some summer fun is to save money on your energy bills.

Happily, there are some straightforward ways of doing this, including making sure that you turn the lights off when you leave the room, and insulate your house well, so it stays warm in the cold, and cooler in the heat.

It can even make good financial sense to consider UV Window Film Installation in your home. The reason being that once you have paid the initial cost, the reduction in energy bills can be significant. Something that means you can then save up that money all year and have a nice little nest egg to spend one summer rolls around.

Get a side hustle.

Another way that you can raise enough money to take the kids on vacation or out on plenty of day trips once the summer arrives is to get a side hustle. A side hustle, for the uninitiated, is when you create a second income stream in addition to your primary job. If you’re looking for a side hustle that makes you money, first think about what skills you have and how they can be used to generate some income. For example, if you happen to be good at sewing, making embroidered products or providing tailoring services could be a great idea for a side hustle. You could even try selling these online for a good price and earn some side money. If you’re thinking about pursuing this route, start by building a website and hiring an seo agency to assist you with website traffic management. They might also provide you with tips on how to improve your website’s Google ranking so that more of your target audience can see what you’re selling. The idea is that you save any extra money you make for summer shenanigans. Or, if you are good at writing, you could start blogging and make money through new recurring affiliate programs.

The great thing about side hustles is that you can actually find things that are super easy to do like filling in surveys on your phone while watching TV, creating crafts to sell online, or taking up the art of helium mining (learn how to get a helium miner here) to see how you can gradually grow your income for fun summer activities with your family, as well as saving up valuable money for your future. Regardless of which option that you decide to pursue, all you need to know is that it won’t feel like work, and you will also be bringing in some extra buck as well.

Cut down your grocery bills.

We all know that groceries cost a lot, but if you end up throwing a lot away at the end of each week, you could be wasting a significant amount of money.

With that in mind, it’s imperative that you only buy the items you need, and make a meal plan to ensure you use them. Then any money you can reduce your grocery bill by can be added to the summer savings pot.

Look for day trip coupons.

OK, so you aren’t actually saving money for a fun summer with this method, but saving on the cost of the activities you want to do. The good news is that there are some super smart deals you can get on entry to theme parks and fun family attractions.

Many attractions now offer discount coupons.

Image

Some will require you to buy a modestly priced product, and others just require you to print them off and take them along on your visit, To that end, be sure you keep an eye open for the best deals if you want to have as much summer family fun as possible.

3 Simple Tips for Reducing Overwhelm in Your Life

Image via Pixabay

We all encounter challenges, setbacks, and moments of tension and frustration in our everyday lives on a fairly regular basis – but there is essentially a world of difference between having to deal with a fairly substantial amount of irritation on the one hand, and feeling absolutely swamped and overwhelmed on the other hand, to the point where you struggle to comprehend how you can even begin to cope with the situations that befall you.

If this kind of sense of overwhelm endures for long enough, it can have an absolutely destructive effect on your overall sense of well-being, on your ability to live your life in a properly uplifting and productive manner, and it can even decimate your health, too.

Feeling constantly overwhelmed means feeling chronically stressed – and when you feel chronically stressed, hormones such as cortisol remain elevated far more than they should, and result in damage to the brain and other organs of the body. Some people may seek relief from feelings of stress and anxiety from cannabis products (such as those found if you click here). It is a well sort after alternative by many around the world. Cannabis has the medicinal properties to reduce headache, stress, anxiety, and chronic pain. You can also consider getting some from a cannabis dispensary near you. Some others may choose talking therapies, more traditional medications, or a combination of the two. Sometimes, the problem may not be as serious, and simply require knowledge of a couple of little strategies to help you take back control.

So, with that in mind, here are a few simple tips for reducing overwhelm in your everyday life, so that things don’t all fall apart arbitrarily.

Don’t be afraid to “subcontract” out some of your issues

Some of the issues that confront you will, of course, be the sort of things that only you can directly resolve and handle, on your own.

But, at the same time, many of the other issues that you face will be specifically the sort of things that you will struggle immensely to try and handle your own, and that will pile on a major degree of stress, unless you get them resolved quickly.

Sometimes, we are reluctant to “subcontract” some of our issues out to other people – partly for financial reasons, and partly out of a desire to maintain autonomy.

While this motivation is completely understandable and admirable, sometimes you really do just need to bite the bullet and call a professional fridge repair expert, or an accountant. It is understandable that some people cannot take care of their taxes and file them on time, while others cannot do basic repairs. Especially, if you own a small business, you could definitely consider hiring a tax consultant or an accountant. Therefore, it might be an intelligent decision to get in touch with a tax consultant, who could look at your taxes and help you out! There are some really good options out there for you to approach for such services should you need them including tax-resolution-services-testimonials and more that can get you out of complicated money scenarios.

Cut way down on the tech and digital services and entertainment

Modern digital technology is amazing in all kinds of ways, and certainly has the potential to enhance and uplift your life, if you use it properly, and with the correct degree of moderation.

Increasingly, though, research finds that the constant information overload provided by many of these tools and services has a potentially deeply negative impact on many of us, and can contribute heavily to a sense of enduring overwhelm.

Social media use, for example, is highly correlated with conditions such as depression and social anxiety. Solutions like these can help reduce anxiety and stress naturally.

By cutting way down on the tech and digital services and entertainment, and only visiting a few valued sites, from time to time, you may significantly increase how “in control” you feel in your life.

Base your life around positive “systems” that help you to stay on the right track

If you are always reaching for certain goals and targets that lie at some indeterminate point in the future, it goes without saying that you are likely to feel stressed and overwhelmed – by definition, you’ve put yourself in a position where you consciously don’t have what you want, and have to struggle and scramble to try and get it.

Basing your life around positive “systems” – in the form of daily habits and routines that help you to stay on track and move in a positive direction – on the other hand, may allow you to have just the same chance of achieving great things, without all the added stress.

Much has been written already about the benefit of systems versus goals. But it might be that implementing some effective “systems” can make your life a vast degree more positive and low-stress.

Smart Ways To Make More Time for Momma

Whether you have a newly born baby, a teenager, or a child of an age in between, one thing is a given when you are a mom, and it’s that you will be busy! In fact, what with all the worldly responsibilities, and worrying you do as a momma, it can feel as if there is precious little time to dedicate to yourself! Happily, there are some tactics you can use to carve more time for your own rest and recuperation during the day. Keep reading to find out what they are.

 

Plan your days

 

OK, so regimenting your days down to the last millisecond is not likely to help you rest or recuperate more during the day. In fact, it can just add another load to your already breaking back. Instead when I say schedule what I actually mean is have a plan for what you want to achieve each day, even on weekends.

 

Of course, it’s probably wise to accept that it’s unlikely that you will get every, single thing done. In fact, it can be particularly helpful to highlight the three most important things and focus on completing them. Then, even if you don’t cross every on your ‘to-do’ list off, you have still kept the family afloat, and achieved something each day. Something that can make it much easier to allow yourself to take some downtime when you are in need.  

Image here

 

Additionally, treating yourself to a cute planner, and keeping track of your goals, and appointments for the day can be a fantastic way of staying organized. In fact, you can use it as a place to plan out what you want to get done and to check in on your progress through the day as well. This being something that can make you feel much more organized and also help you to schedule in some downtime regularly as well as work tasks too.

 

Offload some tasks

 

Another smart way of making more time for momma each day is to identify some tasks that you can get someone else to do. Yes, I’m talking about offloading these jobs onto a professional, something that is not only legitimate if you are a busy mom but may also be a lot more reasonably priced than you think.

 

In fact, if you are super smart about it, you can offload the tasks that not only take up a lot of time but that you don’t particularly enjoy as well! Of course, cleaning the home, and doing the laundry tend to top this list, time after time. Happily, there are plenty of places like J & G Laundromat that will not only wash and fold your laundry for you but will pick it up and deliver it as well. Something that, for most busy moms will free up a vast swath of time in their week, if not every day!

Picture source

 

Don’t forget that you also have the opportunity to employ a professional company to come around and deal with the cleaning tasks in your home too. In fact, if you live in a sizeable property, you can save a considerable amount of time by doing this, especially if you ask them to do the more laborious and more time-consuming jobs such as washing and polishing floors.

 

Get the kids to chip in

 

Additionally, depending on the age of your kids, you may want to get them to chip in with the chores around the home as well. In fact, assigning chores to teenagers can be not only a great way of reclaiming a little more time for yourself but can also be a fantastic way of teaching them responsibility.

 

Of course, many parents also link their children’s’ allowance to the timely completion of their chores as well, which can provide the added bonus of helping them to understand the value of hard work. Something that makes this method a winner, all around in my opinion.

 

Prioritize social events (sensibly)

 

Time to be social with your SO and your friends is an essential part of taking care of your wellbeing as a mom. However, you must learn to schedule your social events sensibly, so you have enough time to recover and tend to your own needs in between. After all, if you spend all of your time looking after your kids, and then seeing friends, you will have none in which to rest and recuperate, something you will need to be effective and to enjoy the other two tasks.

Picture link

 

To that end, it’s very wise to not say yes to every single invitation you are given. Additionally, if you are feeling pressed for time and energy, you may wish to limit the social events you do attend to ones that truly matter to you, provide you with energy, or are associated with those to which you are closest. The reason being that while making new friends can be a lot of fun, if your life is already overflowing it may not be the best time for this.

 

Dial down the distractions

 

Finally, if you are a busy mom that is looking for more time to herself each day, it may be useful to dial back the distractions you currently use in your life. OK, so you won’t actually be freeing up any more time objectively, but what you will be doing is creating the illusion of more time, because you will have less sensory overload bombarding you.

Picture

 

Basically, this approach is a form of mindfulness that will allow you to better connect with what you’re doing in the present moment, as well as ‘hear yourself think’, so to speak. It’s not too difficult to achieve either. In fact, you can start right now, but turning off your TV, radio, or device as you do another task.

 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=v1EYTChKavg

Then, once you get used to that, why not switch off your social media and email notifications as well? Then you will have fewer things to pull on your attention and focus as you do the tasks you have deemed to be necessary. You may just be surprised at the expansive feeling of time, and often calm that this can help produce as you go about your momma duties.

 

3 Persistent Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

In order to keep yourself healthy all of the time, you need to be able to pay attention to what is going on in your own body as best as you can. This is something that some people find naturally easier than other people, but everyone can learn to do it as well as possible, and doing so is going to make a huge difference to your life and your health. There are specific symptoms which, if they present for an especially long time, you should make sure not to ignore too, and we are going to look at a few examples of these in this article today. If you find that you have any of these symptoms for an especially long time, then you will need to make sure that you are having something done about it.


Pic Source

Headache

Everyone gets headaches, but a headache that you have had for a long time can be a sign of something much more sinister indeed, and it should not be ignored if you can help it. Chances are, you will find it hard to ignore such a problem, as headaches do tend to be particularly unavoidable when they are happening. If you had had a headache for a couple of weeks or more, then make sure that you go to see the doctor about it. While going to your regular physician might be enough, in some cases, they may refer you to an experienced neurosurgeon such as dr timothy steel. There is no reason to panic, though. Your health is of utmost importance, and you should do what needs to be done to take care of it. In the worst case scenario, it could be a symptom of something like a brain tumour or some kind of traumatic brain injury – in particular, if you know that you have hurt your head recently, make sure that you go to the hospital to have it checked out. You might need medical attention say the health experts at CAHI, along with the help of a law firm if you feel that that is relevant in your case.


Pic Source

Cough

Again, when it happens occasionally and for a short time, a cough is nothing much to worry about. The vast majority of coughs are the result of a cold virus, and will clear up on their own within a week or two. But if you have a cough which persists beyond three weeks or more, you probably want to get it checked out. In the worst case, it could be that you have lung cancer or emphysema or a related problem. In particular, if you have smoked a lot in your life, you will find that you definitely want to get a cough looked at, just in case it is something severe which needs immediate treatment.

Shortness Of Breath

Sometimes your breath will become short if you are anxious, or if you are not getting enough sleep. If you have it for a long time, it can be a symptom of something wrong with the lungs, or even of a bad heart. In fact, it is one of the symptoms of heart attacks, although not if you don’t have any other symptoms at the same time. Nonetheless, it shouldn’t be ignored, especially if you have shortness of breath for a long time.

Navigating Life as a Parent of a Teen With Minimal Conflict

 

Image credit Pixabay

 

There’s no doubt about it; parenting is tough most of us are simply making it up as we go along and trying our hardest to bring our kids up as best we can.

 

When those demanding toddler years ended you probably breathed a sigh of relief and relished in the happy, kind, and caring child you were raising; then it happened – your baby turned into a teenager. Whereas once you were woken up bright and early by your child bouncing into your room, full of infectious enthusiasm for the day ahead, now you probably struggle to even get them out of bed to go off to school each morning.

 

The teenage years certainly aren’t the easiest of times as a parent, and while it is incredible to see your child grow into a young adult, and gaining their independence, it can also be a challenge to parent them. Although your teenager may look grown up, and act grown up a lot of the time, the truth is that underneath it all, they are still a child and you are still responsible for them.

 

Be a Good Role Model

 

No one likes a hypocrite, and there’s no easier way to wind up an angst-filled teen, than by adopting a ‘do as I say, not as I do attitude’ toward their behavior.

 

Instilling your child with values, and being clear on your expectations gives them boundaries to work within. However, if you are not modeling this behavior in the way you live your own life, you can’t then expect your teenager to take notice of your expectations.

 

Of course, no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, but by doing your best to set an example of behaving with compassion, understanding, and fairness you will be parenting by example, and this should filter down to your children.

 

Pick Your Battles

 

There are likely going to be lots of things about your teenager that you disprove of, including both things that they do and things that they say. While of course, you don’t want to enable them to act as they wish all the time with no consequences, it is also essential to pick your battles.

 

By criticizing everything that they do, that you disapprove of you will escalate situations, and turn them into much more than they need to be. Calling out your child on absolutely everything is likely to leave them feeling alienated from you, and like you don’t understand them. Constantly battling with your teenager will also leave you feeling incredibly stressed and probably resentful of the amount of time that you spend shouting at them.

 

Freedom

 

Deciding when to let your kids out and about on their own is, of course, a completely individual one, and is often down to how mature the child is, and how comfortable you feel about the situation.

 

When your kids are going out without you, it is only natural to feel a little concerned and worried about where they are and what they are doing. As much as you may have tried to instill good values in them throughout their childhood, as well as trying to make them as street smart as possible, the worry can remain. One way to get around this is to have a cell phone tracking app added to their phone. The app will enable you to see where they are and where they have been. Having this kind of information will help to prevent arguments even starting when your teen arrives home, as you will already know where they were. It is a good idea to be open with your teenager about the app; that way, everyone is being honest and showing that no secrets are being kept.

 

Build Their Confidence

 

Self-confidence is something that everyone needs and is an essential part of being an adult that knows their mind, and feels comfortable in their skin. Building your child’s self-confidence doesn’t mean making them precocious, but it does mean that they are less likely to follow the crowd and do whatever their friends tell them to do, which could result in them getting into trouble. Having a teenager that is easily led by friends can often cause conflict at home, as you may not approve of their behavior. Having a child that is self-confident and resilient should help them to avoid being pressurized into doing things that they don’t want to do by friends, and be guided by their values and beliefs rather than succumbing to peer pressure.