The Shaker of Salt

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Stylish parents do exist – and no, they aren’t just super rich celebrities in magazines! Although it might take a little work initially for a parent to put a stylish wardrobe together and ensure all of their looks are great, they are out there.

If you want to remain stylish even though your main priority right now is your kids, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll talk about how you can be a more stylish parent and offer useful tips and advice. Enjoy!

Don’t Blindly Follow Trends

The worst thing you can do is blindly follow trends. This will steer you away from who you really are in terms of fashion. It isn’t law to wear things that are ‘in season’, so instead, work on figuring out who you are and what you like to wear rather than what you think you should wear.

Great style is unique and personal, and not something you’d always see stepping off a catwalk!  

Experiment and have fun with clothes you like the look of without worrying about whether they are fashionable or not. Pay close attention to the items that make you feel the most ‘you’ and items that you don’t wear or only wear once. When you assess your choices like this, you can learn a lot about yourself.

Experiment With Black

Black is boring to some, but it can actually be a very stylish color when styled correctly. By incorporating more texture with black pieces, you can ensure that your outfit doesn’t fall flat.

The great thing about black is that it suits everybody and it doesn’t show up stains so well – making it perfect for days out with your kids and other occasions. You don’t have to wear black if it’s not your thing, but it can be a foolproof way to look chic and stylish without looking like a typical messy parent.

Pay Attention To How You Feel

How you feel is far more important than how you look, so pay attention to this whenever you get dressed. You might think your outfit looks great, but if you don’t actually feel good in it, it’s time to head back to your wardrobe and find something else. You’ll just look uncomfortable all day.

Pay Attention To How You Feel

How you feel is far more important than how you look, so pay attention to this whenever you get dressed. You might think your outfit looks great, but if you don’t actually feel good in it, it’s time to head back to your wardrobe and find something else. You’ll just look uncomfortable all day.

There Are No Rules

There are literally no rules when it comes to style. You can wear whatever you want and have fun. So, throw on some sneakers with a suit. Wear sneakers with a skirt. Try on some underwear with trousers for a night out. Mix and match different pieces and different styles to create a look you love that suits your lifestyle. You want to look stylish, but don’t you want to be comfortable too? Wearing heels or fancy shoes with your fancy clothes isn’t always the right thing to do. You’d be surprised at what you can get away with these days. Plus, parents often feel like they can get more done in a good pair of sneakers!

Find Ways To Customize Your Own Clothes

Want to get creative? Find ways to customize your own clothes. This can take a little time, but you might just end up with some pieces that are perfect for you. Plus, you’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction when you wear them because you sort of created them yourself! A sewing machine can do wonderful things, and you can turn something old into something that looks brand new. Then there are things like heat transfer vinyl that you can use to add more interest to your pieces – and even your kid’s pieces, if you want to ‘twin’ with them. Customizing your own clothes is a lot of fun, so try it if you’re getting bored of your wardrobe.  

Find Your Signature Style

The most stylish people have “uniforms”, and it makes it so much easier for them to get dressed every day. So, see if you can find your signature style. This doesn’t mean you have to copy Steve Jobs and his black turtle neck or Mark Zuckerberg and his plain t-shirt and jeans. Your signature style could be a well fitting pair of jeans and a nice sweatshirt. It could vary, but perhaps you could always throw something on of the same color, like red, and make it your signature color. Or maybe you could have a signature piece, like a hat. You can have a lot of fun with figuring out what your signature style could be.

Spend A Little More On Certain Pieces

It’s all about quality, not quantity. Don’t contribute to fast fashion and all of those shoddy clothes that end up on landfills. Instead, vow to spend a little more on pieces that you actually need. This way, you end up with better quality pieces that really last and look great for longer. You might spend more initially, but in the long run, you’ll save money.

Find Your Wash And Wear Hair

You’ll need a wash and wear style that you can do quickly, even when you’re half asleep. Your hair can make a big difference as to how stylish you look. Use dry shampoo to avoid washing it too regularly and experiment with styles.

Don’t Be Afraid To Treat Yourself

The little details count. A nice color on your nails can really amp up your look. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself to that pedicure – you might think you can save money by doing it at home, when in actual fact, your kids will probably slow you down and want your attention as soon as you sit down.

Simplify Your Makeup Bag

Get used to using the basics, such as a light BB cream, brow mascara, and lip gloss. They’ll help you to look a little more alive if you like to wear makeup.

Don’t Use Traditional Diaper Bags

There are some super pretty diaper bags around, so don’t think you have to go for traditional bags that will cramp your style!

These tricks can help you to get out of that ‘yoga pants rut’ as many moms call it!  

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Being a parent for the first time – particularly being a Mom for the first time – is one of the best feelings ever. Not only have you created this amazing human being that will soon be lying in your arms, but you will also get to see them grow up, with your help and support, to be the greatest that they can be. There really is nothing so rewarding, but giving birth is that… well, pretty painful thing that you have to do in order to be a Mother. Getting into a good frame of mind is key, and here are a few ideas to do just that.

Remember that it’s worth it

The most important thing to bear in mind here is that giving birth is not the most comfortable of tasks, but it will certainly be worth it when you first lay eyes on your child, who you have nourished and protected for the last nine months. For a day of pain you will have a lifetime of love between you and your child, and it will totally change the way that your entire life pans out. You will laugh together, care for each other, and you will have memories together that last a lifetime. One day, you’ll look back on the birth with fondness (believe it or not).

Trust your doctors

If you’re going to get yourself into a good headspace, you need to understand that some things are just out of your hands. The birth is not something that you have control over (to an extent) and your doctors will be the ones to ensure that it is a success. You can only do what you can, but you need to hand over the responsibility, and put your total trust in the professionals. Even if, Lord forbid, there are difficulties, those like Gray and White Law can help you, and you’ll never be alone when it comes to your childbirth. Realize what you can and can’t do, and accept that some things are just out of your control.

Believe in your strength

When you are doubting yourself, and you have anxieties about how the birth is going to go, you need to remind yourself about the fact that your body has carried your baby for nine months, and it was strong enough to cope with all that this entailed. You were strong enough to cope with all that this entailed. You’ve been through all of these things, and you sure as hell are not going to struggle greatly with this, as you have shown a great deal of strength already. Believe in yourself and accept that your birth is completely unique, and as such it can’t be defined by the past experiences of others, either.
So, if you’re giving birth for the first time, there are many ways that you can mentally prepare yourself. Remember that this experience will be totally worth it, that you have been so strong up until now and will continue to be so, and that many things are in your doctor’s hands, not yours. Good luck, and enjoy being a Mother for the first time!

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Wouldn’t it be nice if life was trouble free? No one likes to think that the security they treasure – a good job, a loving family, their own and their loved ones health – is all just an Illusion, but the truth is that sometimes bad things do happen, life throws us a curve ball, and we end up in the middle of a crisis, be it our health, personal finances, career or relationships. It’s sink or swim – and what you do next will determine how well you come out of it. The steps you take immediately following an unexpected misfortune can completely turn the situation around. So, what can you do if a crisis hits you?

Don’t Procrastinate

One thing for certain is that problems are not things which improve with time. If something terrible and unexpected happens, it can be very tempting to bury your head in the sand and pretend it isn’t happening. But that is the single most counter-productive thing you can do. Bad situations have a way of escalating if you leave them too long. So take a deep breath, and use some mindfulness techniques to calm your fears down, and face up to the reality of the situation. Make that appointment to go and see a doctor. Find that firm of compassionate car accident lawyers. Sign that severance agreement. When you accept the truth of a bad situation, you begin to reclaim control of the narrative. Perhaps you didn’t choose for this to happen to you – but you can choose how you deal with it.

Create a Plan B

When a problem crops up, you may feel like you have no idea how to handle it. It could well be the first time you’ve faced any real adversity and you just don’t know what to do. You need to think through alternatives and come up with a new plan. Learning to think logically in a crisis is a definite life skill. Look a few moves ahead and plan out a few different scenarios in your mind. If x happens, what will you do? How about y? Talking through your options with a trusted friend or even a professional counselor can be really helpful. Hope for the best but plan for the worst is a smart way to live.

Cultivate Your Emotional Resilience

We all need stores of strength, courage and self-discipline to make it through hard times and those are the qualities you should seek to develop when terrible situations occur. You need to have faith that every situation in life is temporary and that prospects will improve soon. Despair can be a downward cycle that can destroy your mental and physical health, so don’t give into it. Develop your powers of mental control by accepting that setbacks are a part of normal life, and often have far more to teach us than good fortune ever can.

Take Inspiration
When things seem pretty bad, sometimes looking to others and their struggles can be highly inspirational. Just taking a positive action to connect with others going through the same circumstances can be therapeutic. Who knows what joining that cancer survivors group or debt recovery support organization will do for you?

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The last thing you want going around on social media is news of your dinner party going awry. When your disgruntled guests get the word out, people are never going to want to attend one of your events ever again! However, it doesn’t have to be that way. In this article, we are going to list those things that are guaranteed to ruin your next dinner party, so if you want to throw the perfect dinner party and not the worst social event of the year, ensure you take heed of what we have to say.

Hungry guests

Don’t let your guests go hungry! Once their bellies start to grumble, their mouths are sure to follow. Ensure you start your preparation for the meal early in the day, and perhaps put the food in a slow cooker so it’s ready on time. And ensure you have plenty of nibbles to go around beforehand, so if your guests do get hungry, they will have something to fill their mouths before they start complaining!

Poor Drink Choices

That knocked over glass of wine may have been deliberate! Sure, you may be on a budget, but if you opt for something dirt cheap, your guests are not going to want to drink it. Instead, encourage your guests to bring a bottle themselves or order online from Wine on Sale, where you can get quality wine at discounted prices. Then remember to mix things up a little. Think about those guests who would prefer to drink something other than wine. An assortment of drinks wouldn’t go amiss, and neither would a few homemade cocktails to really tempt their palates. And remember those guests who are driving, or who are not partial to alcohol at all. Provide a variety of options, including these non-alcoholic party drinks that are sure to go down a storm with everybody.

Upset Stomachs

If there’s one thing worse than upset guests, it’s upset stomachs! We Know you are unlikely to poison your guests intentionally, even if they do complain on occasion. However, if you fail to take into account food allergies, then your guests may actually require medical attention! Even if they don’t, your carpets may need some special attention if those upset stomachs explode! So, ensure you check with your guests before arrival about any food allergies, and then take note of this article, which is designed to help you prepare something that nobody will be allergic to!

No entertainment

Those awkward silences can last forever! When conversation dries up, it can get painfully embarrassing if you don’t have anything prepared to fill the quietness. And if your guests get bored as the evening progresses, you can guarantee the excuses will start – “We need to get home to relieve the childminder,” or ” I think I left the oven on” – rather than the honest response of “Your party is dullsville!” So, to reduce the chances of bored and fleeing guests, have some entertainment up your sleeve, perhaps with a special guest, such as a musician or a magician, or plan some dinner party games to heighten the fun factor.

Finally

By adhering to the above, your dinner party should be a success. And once word gets around in the neighborhood and on social media about how wonderful it was, your next party may well become the social event of the season! Just don’t forget to send me an invite!!

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After a lay off from work, you had a lot of time to spend away from the office and a lot to spend around the house. Whether it’s because of little ones coming into your life, or whether you just felt you needed a break – or perhaps other reasons that enter your life. It’s not easy to get the wheels spinning again, so here are a few things to think about when returning to work life.  

Research

Before you make the moves, it might be wise to familiarize yourself with it all again. Look into what’s out there for you. You can find all sorts of offers and opportunities online. The internet is vast, but there’s also good old word of mouth – asking around for things hasn’t gone away just yet.

Work On Your Resume

While the skills on your resume would most likely stay, you may have picked up some more abilities during your time off. They could be people skills as you’ve spent more time around others, or maybe skills in care if you’ve become a parent.   

Get A Nanny?

If you’ve got toddlers and alike that are constantly parading around the house and needing perennial guardianship, you may want to look into hiring someone who can take that small burden off your hands for a short while. It can be a genuine professional or maybe somebody you know. As long as they’re wonderful at childcare and can put your mind at ease as you set sail into work!   

Are They At School?

Similarly to before, if you have youngsters that are running wild, perhaps it’s time to think about enrolling them into a class. Maybe getting them into a preschool or nursery can settle them as well as keeping you on track in the potential new job. You get what you want, and they can learn, meet new little friends and have a lot of fun!

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Work From Home

There are a lot of opportunities around nowadays that allow people to work from the comfort of their own home. So whether you have commitments at home or whether you’re struggling to get out, there could be a job for you here.

Part Time Work

It’s difficult to find what you’re looking for, and, after somewhat of a lay-off, it can also be a struggle to get that job if you’re in the running with others who have been consistently working while you’ve been away from it all. Part-time positions may feel less fulfilling, but there’s certainly no shame in them, and they would definitely propel you into further work!   

Get Into A Working Routine

Whatever option you choose to take on, it’s best to stick to get in a scheduled and patterned routine that can help you and everyone around you out to the fullest. After all, though getting back into the grind will do you a world of good, working life isn’t all sunshine and roses; you’ll need to be a grown-up!

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Arguably the best thing about building a home from scratch is that you get to create something that’s truly yours. It’s unique in the sense that you can make it look however you want, and it’s all focused on what you love and desire.

Sometimes, it can also work out a lot cheaper than buying a home – especially when you factor in that you won’t need to pay for any improvements when you move in. Plus, there are things you can do to save as much money as possible during the whole process!

Let your DIY skills run free

I was speaking to a family friend once that told me how much it cost to build their home. I was absolutely stunned because it was about ten times less than what most houses are up for on the market. How did they manage to build it so cheaply? Well, they did a lot of the basic work themselves. They laid down bricks to form a patio, painted the house from inside to out, wired the place, and even did some of the plumbing. All they paid for was the original design services and the actual construction of the property. Everything else they did themselves and save an absolute fortune. So, you can save money by doing some jobs yourself. You don’t have to do loads, just a few things here and there to avoid hiring anyone else.

Get value for money when hiring an architect

You’ll need an architect to help design your home and ensure it’s structurally sound. The secret to saving money here isn’t finding the ‘cheapest’ option. Often, cheap architects don’t offer that great of a service and they only really draw up designs. The best architectural practices offer amazing value with a high-end service and access to extra things like discounts on contractors, etc. It makes more sense to pay a bit extra for a company that can show you your new home design in 3D crystal clear technology because it lets you see if you like it or not. Some companies cut costs here and don’t use this level of technology, so you don’t get an accurate look. Compare different offerings and find someone who offers a great value package that means you don’t have to spend more money later on down the line.

Make Use Of Your Contacts

We all know someone who knows someone – so make use of this! There’s every chance you know a person who might be an architect or contractor. Or, they could have a family member that provides these services, etc. My point is, you should ask around as it might help you get some services for much cheaper than you expected. A cheeky little family & friends discount isn’t shown on websites, but you could easily get one if you know the right people. So, make use of your contacts and ask around to see if you can get special deals to ease the burden on your finances.

Try these three ideas, and you’ll definitely save a lot of money when building your home from scratch. Now, you have a stunning new house that’s built to your desires – and it didn’t cost you an arm and a leg!

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Money can be a very frustrating thing. Even when you work hard each day to have enough of the stuff, there will always be something to take it all away from you. Whether this is down to an issue you’ve caused or it is the result of something you can’t control, there are often plenty of tools at your disposal which can make it far easier to overcome this challenge. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the most common financial frustrations, along with the tools which can be used to make them less of a factor in your life.

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Overdue Bills

Having overdue bills looming over you is never a pleasant thing to experience. The companies which you owe money to will be full of threats, and the amount you need to pay them will only go up, eventually becoming unplayable without some major changes in your life. Most businesses would far rather pay on time than have to go through this process, though. As a result of this, they will often be willing to come to a new arrangement with your debt, giving you the chance to clear it without having to hurt the rest of your personal life. Even if the company themselves won’t help, you should be able to find one which will.

Poor Income

Trying to live a comfortable life when you don’t have very much money coming in can be a challenge. Most people don’t know how to improve their income, though, leaving them to simply cut down on what they spend. In the modern world, there are loads of options available when it comes to generating side cash, ranging from running your own online store to getting big on social media. This will eat into your free time, but will be worth it once you’re able to enjoy a little bit more coming into the pot each month. Of course, though, this isn’t the only way to go about improving your income, and you may prefer a traditional route.

Working towards improving your current job can be a great alternative to running a side hustle. To achieve a goal like this, you will often have to either prove that you are capable of performing a more complex role, or work to get a better education. The latter of the two options is the easiest, but will cost money at the same time. This makes working hard and pushing yourself at each day of work very important. If you’re able to improve your income by simply impressing your bosses, you will achieve much better results than if you spend a small fortune on going to school for a course.

Bad Credit

Credit systems have long been the leading tool used by financial companies to make sure that their customers can afford their services. In some places, there are even laws in place which make businesses go down this route, making it hard for customers who have had a rocky history with their finances. Options like One Main financial, though, have a long history of taking a more trusting approach with their lending. While this means that rates might be higher, it will give you the chance to get the finance you need, without having to spend a long time working towards improving your rating.

Of course, this is a short-term solution to a problem like this, and finding a way to improve your overall credit will be a good ultimate goal. The first step towards achieving this goal will involve paying off the debt you have when you’ve agreed to. This may mean having to skip out on things you enjoy to be able to afford your commitments, but this will be well worth it. Along with this, signing up to a website like Experian can be very helpful when working on your credit. Not only can they show you a current view of your score, but they can also give you advice to help you to improve your money.

Closing Bank Accounts

As more and more of the world’s businesses move their focus online, a lot of stores are starting to close. Unfortunately, this hasn’t skipped the banks, and this is leaving a lot of towns without any dedicated financial establishments. If you don’t drive, having to travel to your nearest city can be a big pain. The simple solution to this would be to use online banking, but this won’t work for everyone, especially in areas where internet connectivity isn’t very good. To overcome this issue, you may have to look for a bank which can offer the closest branch. In some cases, this could save you from having to drive miles, especially if you live in a rural area.

Simple Understanding

Finally, as the last area to consider, it’s time to think about the way that banks and other financial companies sell their products. Using industry terms, complex conditions, and mind-boggling documents, these businesses are able to confuse a lot of their customers. It can be very frustrating to have to learn about something like interest rates when you simply want to save some money. Of course, though, this sort of work is essential if you want to improve your chances of overcoming your financial frustrations. Blogs are the best place to learn about something like this, though there are loads of other sites around the web which can also prove to be very helpful.

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With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of overcoming all of the financial challenges you face. Most people have at least one or two issues to sort out in this area, and it can get very frustrating when things don’t go your way. Of course, though, there are almost always tools out there which can help you. The very worst thing to do when you have a money problem is ignore it. Even when something is hard, it’s worth taking it by the horns, as this will be the only way to solve it.

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Now that the holiday season has gone it is time for a fresh new start for 2019 and this can mean we often look at things to change around the house. Having fun with design and color can be a great way to fend off those January blues and bringing some fresh new looks into the home can bring it back to life after the decorations go away.

Today we are going to have a little look at some of the things you can do in the kitchen to make it feel fresh and new and more fun for 2019.

A splash of color

The first and most obvious thing we can do when looking at our kitchen is to add some bold colors to give the space some personality and life. One of the best ways to bring color into a kitchen setting is to install a back-splash behind the cooker, and if you use acrylic you can get some of the most stunning colors imaginable. Bright red, yellow, blue… you name it. All of these can breathe some real life and fun into the kitchen.

Match your appliances

One of the other ways you can add a sprinkle of color to the kitchen without being too over the top is to match the colors of your appliances. Small appliances such as the kettle, toaster and coffee maker can be all bought in the same color to bring your kitchen design together. It will make the room feel like a more rounded design and you can make this touch as subtle with silver and rose gold, or as bold with red or blue, as you like.

Add punny art

Artwork is always a great way to bring an element of character and personality to your home, and the kitchen is the perfect place to do this since it is often a place where we host guests and have parties. You can go classic with your art on the wall and choose a lovely painting or photograph, but why not have some fun? You can find fruit and vegetable pun art all over the place online and this can bring a sense of humor and fun to the space.

Hang your herbs

If you are looking to make your kitchen feel more luxurious and gourmet, a simple way to do this would be to have fresh herbs on hand whenever you were looking to create a meal. A kitchen Hehe garden can be a wonderful thing for your cooking and for the decor of the room, and you can think about hanging them in baskets or wall mounted plant pots for a touch of class.

Display your spices

For those of us who seem to have a never ending supply of spice jars in the cupboard, this next idea can bring them out on display for the whole world to see. To display your spices on the wall or the counter you can buy a spice rack online or make your own spice rack at home. Bringing spices out of the cupboards will not only free up space but it will be a nice feature for the room as well as encouraging you to use more spices in your cooking.

Add an AGA Cooker

One of the things which is always fun for you to do in the home is play around and add in some luxury features. For those of you who are not sure what this is The AGA cooker is a source of heat and an oven all in one. These are made of heavy cast iron and used to heat the room while and also provide the perfect cook space. For a kitchen there can be nothing more luxurious than an AGA oven, and this will not only transform your cooking style but the whole room itself. An AGA is a stunning feature to bring into your home and it really will bring a whole wave of life and fun to the room.

Flowers

Sick of having no scent or color in the kitchen? The easiest way you can remedy this is to bring a few flowers into the space and brighten up your table. For example, A fresh bunch of Lillies can give off a lovely scent throughout the day and they are beautiful flowers, making them ideal for the home.

Install table tennis

Now that the serious stuff is done, why not add a few fun touches for the family? For example there’s nothing stopping you from having a table tennis set to use on the kitchen table when guests come over. Perhaps you could bring a dartboard onto the wall for people to play with during a party. You can Click here for more interesting kitchen item ideas and really let your imagination loose on things to bring into the space.

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Watching your kids grow is a wonderful thing. When they are little, the milestones come thick and fast. We wonder at their first words and cheer along as they take their first steps. Even less glamorous milestones like using the toilet for the first time or sleeping without a nappy on are a cause for celebration. Then, as they get older, the milestones start to come less frequently, and our excitement and pride when they do arrive are mixed with a touch of sadness.

We’re proud on our child’s first day at school, but we’re sad that we’ll no longer have all of that quality time with them. We’re pleased when they start spending more time playing in their rooms, but we miss their chatter. We’re happy for them when they make firm friends and want to start going for sleepovers, but we’re worried that our time with our children is running out. With every development, they are a step closer to adulthood, and their time as a child is running down.

It can be all too tempting to try to delay the inevitable. To keep them young for as long as we can. Many parents are tempted to deny their children mobile phones and tablets because that’s a step on the road to the end of play. They know that Family Orbit offers best parental control app and that they’ll be able to keep their child safe, but they use safety as an excuse to hold them back. They try to keep their kids at home, limiting play dates and time with friends, for selfish reasons.

But doing this is delaying your child’s emotional and social growth. It’s holding them back, denying them the chance to make friends and form important relationships. Their childhood is a beautiful thing, but you shouldn’t try to extend it to avoid mourning it. Instead, you need to find ways to cope with them growing up, and prepare yourself for the future.

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Find Things You’ve Got in Common

Your child growing up isn’t the end of your relationship. It’s just evolving and changing all of the time. When your kids have families and children on their own, you can still have excellent relationships with them, and there is always more to come.

Older children won’t want you to baby them anymore, and it’s fine to miss that phase, but now you can have something better. You can have genuine shared interests and passions. Try new hobbies together, visit places, talk about your interests and find things that you enjoy doing together.

Let Them Teach You Things

As your kids get older, their interests change. Some of the things that they love, you’ll know absolutely nothing about. So, let them teach you. Enjoy their passion and their enthusiasm, and let them relish swapping roles for a while.

Make Plans for the Future

It’s entirely normal to feel sad when you look back at the past. It’s okay to look at old photos and miss your baby. So, don’t do it too much. Instead, look to the future. Make firm plans with your child, for things that you can do together now, and things that you can do when they are even older. Just try to keep an open mind, they might not be exactly who you expect them to be in the years to come.

Be Proud

You are probably already enormously proud of the person that your child is becoming. But, are you proud of your own role in their successes? When they pass a milestone, your role in huge. Even as they get older and start taking on more responsibility, you have a role. Don’t be sad that they are moving on in their lives, be proud of them, and of yourself for raising them and always being there for them.

Keep Communicating

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When we have children, most of us assume that we will always be close. But, for many people, this isn’t the case. The teenage years can be tough, and many adult children have distant relationships with their parents. The key to maintaining a close relationship as your child gets older is communication. Keep talking, try not to be critical, and remember what it was like to be young.

Start a Project

If you are really struggling with your children growing up, find something to take your mind off it. Find a project — something that you can do now that you’ve got a little more freedom. It’s not just your kids that now have more independence. You also get more time to yourself as they get older.

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The best thing about owning your property is that you can make any changes you like. You can really adjust your home to fit your lifestyle, instead of having to fit your lifestyle to your home. And better still, any upgrades and changes you make in the here and now which benefit your family can add value, meaning you’ll get the money back (often plus more!) when you sell later on. But some home upgrades are more valuable than others, and if you do plan on moving- even if it’s not for a number of years- here are a few things to bear in mind.

Get a valuation and check ceiling prices

First things first, you’ll want to know what your home is currently worth. Estate agent websites like William Pitt usually have valuation tools that can give you a good idea of what you’d be likely to achieve. From there, you’ll need to know if there are any ceiling prices in your area. A ceiling price is a maximum price that your home likely to achieve, regardless of how much work or money is put into it. This means you’re not spending thousands in the hopes of getting it back, just to later find out that your profits are capped.

Consider upgrading the bathroom and kitchen

Having a practical and well thought out kitchen and bathroom is essential for any home. However, these will also be the rooms that buyers will be looking at most if you sell later down the line so it’s worth getting them right. If you choose a style that’s fairly neutral it will look great now and later on, and will appeal to most people. You can always add your own personality and style by incorporating colourful accessories, plants and other bits and pieces which can be removed when you move home.

Have the plumbing and electrics checked regularly

Well maintained plumbing and electrics can really go in your favor when you’re selling your home- be sure to keep all receipts of work done for proof. If for example you’ve had a full house rewire this will be looked on favorably by buyers. Not to mention it will improve the safety and performance for you and your family in the here and now.

Landscape the outside space

As well as the house itself, buyers will also be looking at the outside spaces. Have your garden designed by a professional, it will be a stunning space for you to throw garden parties and barbecues in but will also add tons of value. Think about the curb appeal too. There’s nothing nicer than pulling up in the car after a long day, and taking in a home that looks beautiful. You could have the outside painted or have the brickwork cleaned up. You could have new rendering or panels applied, and have the windows and guttering cleaned. Even adding hanging baskets either side of the door and a new porch light can make your home look welcoming.