So you’d like to own a property overseas somewhere. Preferably somewhere exotic, perhaps, even near the beach so that you can have one of those early-morning swims just as the sun rises before mixing up a tropical smoothie.

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Or maybe you actually prefer the colder climates a bit more so that you can get all of that skiing done when the seasons are right? Preparing the fireplace after a long trip outside, enjoying the slight snowfall outside your window and watching your dog fall asleep on the carpet by your feet – the cold weather isn’t all that bad either, after all.

No matter where you’d like to own property in the world, it’s really not that hard to accomplish as long as you have a bit of money to invest and a slight idea of what you’re doing. If you do need help with investing your money so you can get to this stage of property investment, then you may want to look into helpful Stock signals alerts that can provide you with financial assistance if you decide to use the stock market to build on your portfolio. Here is a handful of clever tips so that you can reach your goal a bit faster and get started on preparing your skis, your diving skills, or whatever it is you have in mind.

It just makes it a bit easier to look even more forward to the future and all the things you get to experience.

Where should I buy property?

Before you start to look for a way to finance your dream, take a look at this Real estate investing guide to help you determine what is best for you. It’s also a good idea to figure out which countries you’d be better off investing in. You could focus on Spain, for example, as well as New Zealand and Panama.

Let’s start with the first one. A fantastic holiday city as well as a great place to invest in property; the Spanish bankers are trying hard to win over foreign investors. You can score a two-bedroom apartment in the middle of Barcelona for a lot less than here at home, and the wealthy tourists that the city keeps attracting as basically a guarantee for a good return on your investments.

Many of these European holiday cities will be an excellent choice to put your dollars in as the holiday season keeps attracting new tenants. Make use of it yourself when you need it, and rent it out for the rest of the year.

This country has ranked on the top lists for a few years now and for good reasons. The market is stable and, although the prices are not particularly low, the population is – so you can bask in an uncrowded market with a lot of room to grow. It is a beautiful country too which gives you great opportunities for holidays when you’re in need of a break.

Because the market is so stable, it’s a lot easier to get a mortgage from the bank as well since they’re able to see a proven property market and not one of those in development and with ‘potential’ for growth. New Zealand promises growth because the population is low and their economics are stable, and your investment should give a great return if you choose to sell in a few years.

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Unsurprisingly, Panama ranks as a great country for real estate investments with US dollars. It is the third largest economy in Central America, after all, and the country remains in a strong position with its dollarized economy and strategic ownership of the Panama Canal which has driven their real estate market to a true boom.

However much Panama has been in the newspapers the last couple of years, it still features a robust legal system and a healthy economy, and has averaged about 8 % annual GDP growth over the last five years.

This shows that not only is Panama is excellent choice for investing in property as you won’t spend as much as you would here at home, but you’re almost promised a high yield on the money you put in.

There are many other countries that are great investment opportunities, though, so don’t just consider the once mentioned here. Have a look at a property website, first of all, and consider the best options for you.

How do I buy property abroad?

Now that you know where to begin looking for your next dream house, it’s time to get down to business. How do we even start when we want to invest abroad and none of the guidelines we usually follow in our own countries apply anymore?

Luckily, it’s actually quite straightforward to buy property abroad as long as you have someone with you who knows the specific area you’re planning on investing in. We’re talking about a lawyer, of course, and preferably a real estate agent as well. A lawyer can be useful as they know all of the ins and outs of investing. Investing can be a tricky business, and there are lots of opportunities for it to go wrong. If you fall victim to investment fraud, for example, an investment fraud lawyer will help you to get out of whatever pickle you’re in. A local estate agent, meanwhile, knows all the best places in the area for you to invest in – they know the value of each property, and they know whether the value is going to go up or down over the next few years.

So between them, they’ll show you the ropes and make sure that you don’t sign anything that’s not to your benefit.

After this, you need to get started on finding financing for your new summer house, winter cottage, dream house or whatever it is you’ve been searching for abroad. This is usually the trickiest part for foreign investors as the banks at home can be reluctant to financing property overseas while those abroad might not want to take on a foreign investor.

Luckily, you will be able to find banks that don’t mind this all too much so don’t give up the search before you find one. If you already own a home, you might want to take out a second mortgage on this or perhaps even finance it yourself if you’re able to.

The latter would, of course, be the best option as you’ll have no debt on your new property and nothing holding you back, in general, so go all out if you’re able to.

After a few years or maybe even just a few months, you should have a solid property portfolio to call your own. Ideally, you’ll be making lots of profit, so you may need a wealth manager to keep on top of things for you. This will save you the hassle of sorting your own finances and will free up time for you to search for new properties far and wide. The more properties you can acquire, the stronger your portfolio, so don’t stop at just one or two, keep going!

Now all you need to do is sit back and research the area of your dreams. Keep in mind, however, that some areas in certain countries are more up-and-coming than the rest so don’t just gamble on an area because you’ve heard that the country is a safe bet.

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It is a well-established fact that raising a child is expensive, so it makes sense that most parents tend to focus their financial thoughts on the here-and-now when they first choose to have children. However, over time, many parents begin to think about their future finances too, with concerns over the need to fund college courses and property down payments in future slowly becoming all the more pressing while also trying to set up their retirement.

If you have previously been focusing on present-day financial matters, turning your thoughts to the future can initially seem overwhelming, especially given the massive variety of available investment opportunities. This is why many couples go to financial advisers middlesbrough so they have help on planning their investments and savings. They know their money is safer if they get advice from a professional rather than trying to do it themselves. In an effort to provide a little clarity, below, we have detailed the types of investments that you may wish to consider…

Peer-to-peer lending

Peer-to-peer lending is a relatively new innovation, but one that has enjoyed increasing popularity over recent years. The idea is simple: you, via an intermediary, lend money to another person; hence “peer”. The person you lend to will then pay back that loan, along with interest; the rate of which is usually higher than that offered by standard savings accounts. The idea is that everyone benefits: applicants can access the funds they require far more quickly than they can through conventional lending methods, and you – as a lender – receive a good return on your investment.

When all goes smoothly, peer-to-peer lending works exactly as described, and both you and the person you loan to can enjoy the benefits of this innovative practice. However, the downside is that the process doesn’t always go smoothly, which can mean that your funds are never returned – the platforms that facilitate peer-to-peer lending do not usually take responsibility if your funds are not repaid, nor are there any government protections in place. Due to this risk, it’s usually best to only turn to this form of lending for relatively small amounts, to thoroughly research peer-to-peer companies and only opt to use platforms that do all they can to ensure their applicants are able to repay.

Stocks

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When people hear the word “investment”, nine times out of ten they will immediately imagine the stock market – and then immediately cringe. Most of us know that the stock market is inherently volatile, and there’s every chance that you might lose a significant amount of money, so why would we even suggest it?

Quite simply, because it works, and the returns can be far higher than you would see with a conventional savings account. While the stock market can crash, and substantial sums can be lost, there are ways and means of preventing your entire savings going up in smoke – primarily through diversification. When you are looking to safeguard your portfolio try investing in the best dividend stocks. It is a combination of the fruits of capital gains and regular income payments.

However, it’s important to note that investing in stocks is every bit as tricky as you have heard, so you will likely need the assistance of an experienced expert in order to protect your investment and see good returns. While it is possible to take a DIY route, this adds extra volatility and risk to an already-risky proposition, so it’s best to play it safe and seek the advice of the experts (click here for more information).

Overseas real estate investment

Overseas real estate investment enjoys similar benefits to domestic property investments, such as good rates of return and a relatively low risk profile, but a few added bonuses. For one thing, local property tends to be expensive; in contrast, overseas properties can be far more reasonable, which helps to ensure you get the most bang for your buck, so to speak. Secondly, any property you buy overseas can also function as a vacation home for your family for a few weeks each year, which could save you a small fortune on holiday costs. Last but not least, when you’re not staying, you can let the property to other travelers – a choice that can often be far easier to manage, and cause less stress, than earning an income from long-term tenants. If you’re looking to invest in real estate investment in Australia (for example, Warrnambool), you could invest in apartments or hotels warrnambool so that you could enjoy your vacation and also, get revenue out of it when you’re not in the city.

Most first-time overseas investors will find the process simpler if they choose an English-speaking country; so Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are worth considering, with the opportunities available in Singapore via a resale HDB portal also potentially lucrative. It’s worth noting that the UK would once have been on the list of countries you could potentially invest in, but unfortunately, the uncertainty of Brexit makes it less favorable, so it’s best to focus on the English-speaking countries who are enjoying more settled times.

Passive income investments

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In their simplest form, investing involves using a sum of money in order to achieve a financial return. As a result, investing does not necessarily mean putting money into something separate and external; it can mean investing in your own small business. The result of doing so will largely be the same: you pay a certain amount of money and receive profits in return.

If you’re not looking to actively start a business, then investing in the establishment of a passive income stream is likely to be the best choice. The idea of a passive income is relatively straightforward: an income that you receive with little to no regular effort. Check out click bank affiliate marketing as a form of income. While you may have to create the source of the income, when it’s set up and in place you should be able to look forward to a continual rate of returns – which makes investing in establishing a passive income form an unusual, but viable, type of investment.

There are a number of different types of passive income to choose from, with affiliate marketing perhaps the most common choice. You’ll then need to spend some time getting your chosen passive income stream up and running, which can be time-consuming, but most investments require some form of time dedication either in terms of research or searching for the right opportunity. After this initial setup period, however, you should be able to look forward to a continual income with minimal extra effort required on your part. An unconventional form of investment, but one that could well work for you.

Money market or investment accounts

Money market and investment accounts have enjoyed continued popularity and, upon inspection, it’s easy to see why. This type of account tends to earn higher interest than a standard savings account, are easy to access, and most accounts are FDIC-insured. There are many banks providing different kinds of accounts for investment purposes, with some you can even choose where the investment goes. For example, if you are interested in the environment you could Make sure your money is invested in sustainable businesses with Atmos Financial.

The one issue with money market accounts is that you’ll usually need a decent amount of money to invest if you wish to use one. You’ll also be somewhat limited in terms of the number of withdrawals you’re allowed to make, with up to six per month permitted – more than enough for most people, but still worth noting.

While you wouldn’t want a money market account to be your only form of investment, the fact that funds are relatively easy to access is undeniably beneficial if you’re just getting started with investments.

Gold

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Investing in gold is one of the oldest forms of investment in the world, but its continued popularity is a testament to how reliable it is believed to be.

The process of investing in gold is incredibly simple; you buy gold, keep it, and then sell it as you see fit – most commonly as a result of a market rise. People tend to be drawn to gold investments because they are tangible rather than just numbers on a screen and because the market is relatively stable. However, buying gold should be after proper research on the value and specifics like how much is a gold bar worth. If your goal is an investment, see which is the more viable option, a gold bar or jewelry.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed, and there may well be a future in which gold is no longer in demand, and thus you’re left with a lump of metal. However, such a scenario seems unlikely, and if you buy gold at a good price, then there is a strong chance you’ll be able to generate a good return on your investment.

In conclusion

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It’s important to note that the investment ideas listed above can work in concert with one another. There’s no need to choose just one approach; in fact, it’s actually preferable to spread your investments across a few different channels in the name of diversification. It’s therefore best to pick a couple of ideas from the options above to explore further, which should then allow you to embrace a secure financial future for you and your family.

Baby dry skin rash is a common skin condition that typically affects newborn babies but can be experienced by children of all ages. Although most skin irritations are harmless and easy to treat, the discomfort, pain, and fever that accompany a baby dry skin rash can cause distress to both children and parents. If not treated immediately, a diaper rash can result in fungal infection, bacterial infection or more serious medical issues. In rare cases, babies and toddlers can die from severe diaper rashes that escalate to untreatable infections [1].

Instead of fretting over every red spot, parents should familiarize themselves with common types of rashes and simple home remedies.

Types of Baby Rashes

Diaper Rash

Diaper rash, also called nappy rash, is a skin inflammation that generally occurs in babies’ diaper areas. However, it can travel up the torso. Its symptoms include swollen or raised red bumps that sometimes include skin breaks or ulcers. The more severe the rash, the redder in color. Moderate or severe diaper rash can cause discomfort.

Cause

Nappy rashes have many causes. However, one of the main culprits is the prolonged wearing of a wet or soiled diaper. The combination of the friction of the diaper, irritants in the urine (ammonia) and feces (bacteria) causes redness and irritation. Sometimes, the skin irritation can also cause small openings in the skin’s surface that allow bacteria and fungi to generate a secondary infection.

An allergic reaction to the diaper material or diaper wipes may also result in a diaper rash.

Remedy

The best way to avoid a diaper rash is to keep a baby’s diaper area clean and dry. Choose baby-friendly diapers that do not include harmful chemicals that further irritate the skin’s surface. Also, avoid using soaps and detergents with harsh chemicals that aggravate itchy skin. Finally, do not use wipes that are made with harsh chemicals that can be absorbed into a baby’s sensitive skin [2].

If a baby has a persistent diaper rash, schedule a visit to the pediatrician. Some rashes are caused by fungal infections. These must be treated by specific anti-fungal creams and may require prescriptions.

Prickly Heat

Prickly heat or heat rash appears as small, red blisters on a baby’s skin. It can cause extreme itching and spread around the head, shoulders, neck and the folds of the skin [3].

Cause

Prickly heat is caused by a high humidity level. When a baby’s sweat glands are blocked, sweat is trapped under the skin. This irritates the surrounding areas and results in a rash.

Remedy

The best treatment for prickly heat is prevention. Dress babies in lighter clothing that is preferably cotton. In warmer climates, keep babies cool by turning on the air-conditioning or a fan. To eliminate sweat, use only fragrance-free skin care products specially formulated for babies.

Impetigo

Impetigo is highly contagious. Symptoms of this skin infection include red, itchy, raised and pus-filled sores or blisters. These sores develop for a couple of days before erupting, then they turn into honey-colored scabs. Scratching the sores and touching other parts of the skin can spread the infection to other parts of the body. Pain and discomfort due to impetigo range from mild to severe [4].

Cause

Impetigo is ordinary and harmless in children aged two to six, but it can be fatal for newborn babies. Impetigo is a superficial infection caused by Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria. It can develop from any break in the skin including a cut, rash, insect bite or scratch. The infected wound becomes moist and red, then it develops pus. After four to six days, yellowish scabs form.

Remedy

The best treatment for impetigo is prevention through proper hand-washing. Since this skin condition is contagious and caused by a bacterial infection, affected children should use their own drying cloths or towels. Consult a pediatrician as some doctors prescribe an antibiotic tablet, cream or ointment.

Baby Acne

Baby acne is normal among children, especially in newborn infants. Newborn baby acne, also known as neonatal acne, is similar in appearance to teenage acne. Symptoms include rough, bumpy rashes that exhibit anywhere on the face and can also affect that mouth and back [5].

Cause

Baby acne is thought to develop during pregnancy. Mothers can pass acne-causing hormones to their babies while they are still in the womb. These hormones can also cause acne in mothers during pregnancy and after birth. Milk, spit, harsh soaps and rough fabrics that come into contact with a baby’s skin can also cause skin reactions that further aggravate baby acne.

Remedy

Neonatal acne is harmless and usually clears up in a few weeks or months without applying any cream or treatment. Only use gentle baby skin care products during bath time.

Eczema

Eczema is a skin condition that causes inflammation, dryness, redness, itching and scaling on the neck, hands, mouth and folds of the skin. There are three known types of eczema. The first is atopic dermatitis which causes itchy patches and is common in babies with food allergies in their families. The second type is seborrheic dermatitis. Unlike atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis does not itch, but it can cause scabbing on the scalp called cradle cap. Contact dermatitis, the third type, is similar to hives but with symptoms such as moist blisters [6].

Cause

The exact origin of eczema is unknown. It is believed that baby eczema results due to many factors. The most popular belief is that eczema is hereditary. If either parent has recurring eczema, chances are the baby will likely develop the same skin problem. Atopic dermatitis and cradle cap can also be triggered by allergens such as dust, mites, pollen, detergent, foods and itchy fabrics.

Remedy

Since eczema in babies tends to create cracked skin, apply anti-inflammation barrier cream or skin care products that have moisturizing ingredients such as coconut oil. A moisturizer for babies can be used after every bath or two to three times a day if the child has an ongoing eczema episode. For persistent eczema, consider talking to a doctor about other healing creams or treatments.

Drool Rash

Drool rash is typically found around a baby’s cheeks, mouth, neck and chest. This commonly appears as flat or slightly raised red bumps on the skin. Sometimes the rash may appear as chapped and flaky skin. A drool rash is not contagious [7].

Cause

The number one cause of drool rash is saliva. Too much saliva left on the skin for a prolonged period of time creates the perfect condition for drool rash. Teething or fevers are possible causes for outbreaks since these both increase the amount of drool created.

Remedy

The best remedy and prevention for drool rash is to secure a soft cloth for burping, and promptly wipe saliva whenever it is present. If a baby develops the rash, wash the affected area with gentle skin products to avoid any further irritation. A doctor will also recommend healing creams or moisturizers that act as barriers and treatments for the baby’s skin.

References

1. Common Skin Rashes in Children. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26280141
2. Skin care for your baby. U.S. National Library of Medicine;  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528704/
3. Babies and heat rashes. U.S. National Library of Medicine: Medline Plus; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001966.htm
4. Impetigo: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment. The Nemours Foundation; https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/impetigo.html
5. Is that acne on my baby’s face? American Academy of Dermatology; https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne-and-rosacea/newborn-acne
6. Infant Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis). https://www.skinsight.com/skin-conditions/infant/atopic-dermatitis-eczema?Imiw9cApl
7. How Best to Treat and Prevent a Drool Rash. Jessica Timmons; Karen Gill, MD. (2017, August 7). Retrieved from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/drool-rash#treatment

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As a mother, you have a duty to your children, but you also have a duty to yourself. This is something that many moms forget. In this article, we’ll talk about ways in which you can start being a fulfilled mother in today’s world.

Find job satisfaction.

You can start to become a fulfilled mother in today’s world by finding job satisfaction. As we’ll discuss in the next point, plenty of mothers forego their personal happiness and health because they focus on their children, but you can be a much better mother when you take care of yourself too. Don’t dismiss the importance of your personal fulfillment. That’s the whole point being made in this article. You need to find a career that suits both your personality and academic sensibilities. If you’re a caring individual then you could go into teaching. Perhaps you could even look at healthcare roles. You might want to study for a nurse practitioner program online. That would give you the qualifications necessary to pursue a career in healthcare.

Take care of your health.

Whether you have a newborn baby or your children are close to leaving home, it’s so important to take care of your health. Many mothers neglect their personal well-being for the sake of looking after their families, but this is counterintuitive. If you want to be the best possible mother to your kids then you need to be happy and healthy; you need to be in a fit state to care for them. That should be your incentive to take care of your health if you struggle to prioritize your well-being. You need to watch your dietary habits, for starters. That doesn’t mean you should switch from overeating to undereating; it means you need to eat more of the right food. Opt for an organic diet that’s full of nutritious whole foods. Consider supplementing with some of the top rated cannabidiol oils for weight loss, as outlined in this HMHB.org post. Finding these oils near me was made easy thanks to the local store guides also on HMHB. You can also find other CBD oil for sale.

Keep building your relationship with your children.

No matter the age of your children, it takes work to maintain a good relationship with them. Love is always unconditional in any family, but friendships aren’t always guaranteed. Obviously, as young children, your kids need to view you as a responsible and authoritative figure rather than a friend, but this can change once they gain their own independence in later life. During their formative years, however, the important thing to remember is to get the balance right in terms of disciplining your children whilst maintaining a loving and caring relationship with them.

Remember that you have to prepare your children for the world. You might like the feeling of them depending on you in terms of your personal relationship, but it is your responsibility to think about their future. If you want your kids to be able to adapt to the adult world then you need to give them the tools to do so. It’ll benefit your relationship in the long run. It doesn’t make you redundant as a mother to teach your kids how to look after themselves. It’ll make them well-rounded and happy individuals, and that will benefit your relationship with them both in the present and the future.

If you know that your kids aren’t too active, then as a parent it is understandable that you would want to do something about this. If you want to get some help with that then you can take a look below.

Give them Control

It’s important that you don’t push your child towards a specific activity. You need to let them find something that they are going to love, and you also need to encourage them to try a lot of different things too. They may opt for an activity that you don’t know much about, and that’s okay. As long as you support them, there is no reason why they won’t end up sticking it out.

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Promote Teamwork

When your child joins a team, you need to encourage them to become friends with their teammates. You also need to encourage them to join in with celebrations as well. The more you do this, the easier they will find the sport and the more they will relate to the people who they are playing with. Team sports are ideal for boosting your child’s psychological health and they can also help them to interact more. Trust and conversation is also boosted when your child partakes in team sports, so there really are endless benefits.

Encourage

You need to let your child develop at their own pace. Sure, they may not be as good as their teammates and they may make a mistake from time to time as well. This is completely understandable, but if you want to help them the most then you need to encourage them regardless. Show them that you care about them, and never criticize.

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Equipment

If your child finds a sport that they absolutely love, then you need to be willing to invest in it. Don’t delay buying them the equipment they need just because you are worried that it “won’t last”. The main reason for this is because your child will pick up on these emotions and it will demotivate them. Show them that you have faith in them by paying the enrollment fee for the team, and also find out what equipment they need. When you do this, you can help them to feel as though they are part of the group and that they are not being left behind. If your child is taking part in a high contact sport then it helps to have the number of CHIP doctors as they can work with you to make sure that every bump they take does not turn into something more

serious.

Set an Example

If you want to help your child be more active, then it is so important that you set a good example. You need to show them that you are willing to push yourself too.  One way for you to do this would be for you to go out on walks with them, or get both of you a pair of roller hockey skates and go skating together, you could also take part in team sports yourself. The more you do this, the more you show your child that being active is always a good thing.

There are only a handful of life experiences that really stand out, that you know are life-changing. Most of what passes in life is just a stepping stone — it’s one small step. Being pregnant is not one of these things. This is a giant leap, an all-encompassing, transformative experience that is without comparison. Of course, it’s not easy — oh no, it is not easy. But despite the discomfort, the worries, the everything, there is space to enjoy the experience. This is a moment that’ll be over before you know it — make the most of it! Below, we take a look at some tried and tested ways to make being pregnant even more magical and fun.

Source: Pexels.com

Accept the Attention

You’re going to receive plenty of attention when you’ve got a bun in the oven! If you’re one of those people who typically shy away from the attention of others, then this might be a little comfortable — but there’s something to be said for learning how to enjoy the well-wishes and interest of others. Of course, we’re not talking about the attention and compliments of strangers. If you don’t feel not comfortable with that, then don’t entertain it. But your friends and family? Let them make a fuss. It’s going to happen anyway, and you’ll be able to relax if you accept that fact! Plus, it’ll ease you into letting other people help you. You don’t need to feel guilty for accepting a cup of tea made by a family member.

You are being lavished with attention because you most likely require it. Moreover, while pregnant, everything may appear complicated, but your family and friends may be able to support you much better. A loved one is likely to do anything for you, whether that means taking you for regular check-ups, getting a high quality ultrasound appointment, taking you out for a ride, talking to you when you’re feeling down, or whatever it is that you require at that moment. That kind of attention and care can help you overcome the negative thoughts and anxiety that are common during pregnancy.

Talk It Through

This is a special period in not just your life, but also the life of other people around you. Especially your parents. They’ll be thrilled that they’re to have a grandchild, even more so because they’re not the ones with all the responsibility for making sure the child is well-fed, educated, and all-around a decent human being. Why not use your experience to connect with your parents on a level that you probably haven’t connected with them before? Take a stroll down memory lane with them, and talk about their pregnancy experiences. Were they scared? What were they in their lives? What do they wish they’d done differently? These types of conversations have multiple purposes. For starters, it’s always fun to get a glimpse into another side of your parents. Second, you’ll come to understand that they were just as clueless about becoming parents as you are, and they turned out OK!

Meet New Friends

You’re not the first person to have a child, and you won’t be the last. You’re not the only person who’s currently pregnant, either. There’s a whole world of other expectant mothers out there! Why not look into getting together with them, and enjoying the ride together? By being around, talking, and simply observing other mothers, you’ll be able to learn something about yourself. You’ll be able to do something that you otherwise couldn’t — you can see what you must look like from the outside. A pregnant woman is a sight to behold — seeing the joy, concern, and glow of others will be a small window into how others see you.

Throw a Party

Now, you don’t need an excuse to throw a party at any period. But when you do have an opportunity, make sure you’re making the most of it! A baby shower is a great way to celebrate your pregnancy, and also receive some much-needed baby related gifts from your friends and family. But of course, it’s not enough just to gather your loved ones, and hope the magic happens. It needs a little bit of planning! Make the space look the part — if you’re holding it in your house, make sure you’re decorating the room, for instance. You’ll also want to make it fun; take a read of 30 fun baby shower games so that everyone loosens up and has an enjoyable day. Since it’ll be an alcohol-free affair, you’ll want to put the emphasis on the food. Make sure you’re serving some delicious appetizers!

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Partner Connections

You have to focus most of your energy on yourself, but it’s important to remember that there is another player involved in this process too — your partner. They’ve got just as much invested in this as you have! And throughout all your time together, it’s highly unlikely that you’re going to go through anything quite as intense as having a child together. Make sure you’re setting some time aside to enjoy other’s company, and to appreciate the moment that you’re living in. Life’s going to be pretty busy after it’s all over. Spend some time as a couple talking about where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going.

Get Dressed Up

Everyone talks about the glow of a pregnant woman. It’s pretty darn radiant! So don’t just keep that energy all to yourself. Get yourself dressed up, and head out. No-one says a pregnant person has to stay curled up on the couch for nine months. Put on your best dress, and head out a restaurant. You’ll never feel so empowered.

And Get Dressed Down!

But of course, you’ll want to spend as much time as possible unwinding and relaxing. Enjoy the freedom you have to do nothing but eat what you please and binge watch television shows. Comfortable clothing, a couch, living the good life. You don’t get too many opportunities to live this way — enjoy it.

Know That It’s Temporary

Ultimately, you’ll want to keep in mind one important fact: that this is temporary. It’s not going to last forever. There’ll be a point, many years down the line, when you’re telling your son or daughter the story of their birth. By that time, all the worries and small problems you navigated along the way will have faded into the background. You’ll remember the good parts. So make sure you’re enjoying them not only when you’re looking back in the future, but when you’re actively living it. It’s intense, sure, but there’s a lot of magic in there!