How Moms Can Motivate Themselves to Exercise

It is a given that moms have a lot of responsibilities to take care of at work and at home. These responsibilities often become the roadblocks that stop them from sticking to a fitness routine. In this post, I will share with you some tips on tearing these barriers down so that you can be the healthy and fit mom you've always wanted to be.

Get started. Fitness doesn't have to be complicated. You can start with it by doing the simplest physical activities your energy and time allows. Begin by exercising for a few minutes whenever you can --- before going to work or during breaks. Execute basic exercising movements and optimize later.

Inject fun in your fitness routine. Do physical activities which you really enjoy. This will prevent boredom from creeping into your quest to be physically fit. Instead of listing up for calisthenics, join a group where you can learn to dance. You might also want to consider signing up for sports program.

Build positive habits. Don't be easily dismayed when you fail to hit your fitness goals on time. Stop being hard on your self and try your best to think and act positively in all circumstances. Focus on enjoying healthy years with your children instead of counting calories, routine repetitions and missed steps. Focusing on the bigger picture will motivate you to get up and do your best each day.

You might find this video helpful if you're getting back from a long period of time with no exercise.

(Note: All credit to the owner/publisher)

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Steps to Overcoming the Pain of Divorce

Many say that going through divorce is much more painful than enduring the death of a loved one. Feelings of fear, guilt and shame experienced by the divorcees and their children make the event even more painful. Do you find yourself in similar situation? Here are some tips that will help you survive the pains of divorce.

Avoid denial. Accept the loss. Face the reality of it and painful feelings that come with it. Pain is a natural phenomenon by which we know that's something is broken and that it needs to be fixed. Understand that experiencing pain is normal.

Realize that the pain is temporary. You must believe that this stage  will pass and that you will get free from the pain through a step-by-step process. If you're able to get over the pain in a healthy manner, a mature version of yourself will be born soon after.

Invest your pain wisely. Use the pain you feel to grow in different areas of your life. In fact, you can support and help other divorcees or their children to become better people while you're in the process of mending your broken heart.

Give yourself enough time to heal. Total healing from pain may take years but it will not take forever. Some divorcees recover sooner compared to others because they're more intentional in searching for ways by which they can improve their situation.

Forgive and let go of the past. Unforgiveness will keep you tied with the past. Decide to forgive your ex-partner and other people who have hurt you during the divorce process even though they didn't ask to be forgiven. Pick up the lessons the past taught you and forget about the pains that resulted from it. Keep your eyes fixed on the good things that will happen in the future.

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How Cellphones Can Badly Affect Your Health

While cellphones provide an efficient way of communication, no one can deny the fact that it's harmful to our health as well. According to the World Health Organization, cellphones use transmission radio waves through a series of base stations. These stations hold radio frequency waves which cause ionization in the human body. There are other health risks which are caused by use of cellphones. They are the following.

1) Cellphones cause negative emotions. This is specifically true for those who are trapped in between two strangers who are talking loudly in their cellphones. This scenario usually happens in public places and public modes of transportation like trains. The victims feel disgust and show annoyance towards the talking strangers. Such ill feelings can affect how the victims are going to spend the rest of their days at work or somewhere.

2) Cellphone use causes increased stress levels. According to a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden cellphone owners are pushed towards the edge when they hear constant ringing, vibrating alerts, and other sound notifications for reminders. Women experience sleep disturbances while men experience stress.

3) Cellphone use weakens the immune system. Germs are collected in your handset as you use it constantly. Some studies showed that a certain percentage of E.coli, a bacteria found in fecal matter, are present in cellphones and that this bacteria can be easily transferred when one person borrows another person's cellphone.

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How to Build Positive Relationships with the People Around You

No man is an island. Whether you like it or not, you will be connected with other people in one way or the other. Here are some tips on how to have good relationship with others.

1)  Be understanding. Instead of talking immediately, try your best to lend a listening ear first. Everybody wants to share something and to be heard. Let  the other person to talk first and under where he's coming from. Use polite words when you're talking. Make it your goal to always come to agreement with the person you're speaking with.

2) Be honest. Don't say one thing when you mean the other. Express your thoughts and wants with all honesty. This will keep you from having unmet expectations or unwanted disappointments. By being honest, you're protecting yourself from getting hurt. This prevents you from hurting others as well.

3) Be a giver. Giving is better than receiving. Giving is not all about material things or money. You can be generous with your affection, compassion, praise, time, trust or what have you. Most of us, engage with others with the intentions of acquiring something that will be beneficial to them. Such attitude will keep you from having good and lasting relationship with others. Try your best initiate generosity and you will be surprised with the good thins that will follow.

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Negative Statements That Hurt Your Child's Feelings

Children feel loved and respected through the words we speak to them. We can hurt their feelings even though it is not our intention. According to child psychologists, there are negative phrases which parents are guilty of saying. Such phrases can affect the way children see themselves and the way they relate with other children or adults.

"Be like your brother or sister." Comparison is a big no in parenting. As a parent, you must understand that children are never born equal or the same. If you're trying to correct a negative behavior in your child, don't compare her to her other siblings. Show her how to behave appropriately by using herself and her present situation as the only point of reference for the correction.

"What's your problem." This statement is a aggressive in nature. When said in a demeaning manner, your child will think right away that she is a trouble maker and nothing good comes out of her. This statement also breeds miscommunication and ill feelings that make children clam up. Instead of saying this, "Is something  bothering you? Tell me. So, I can help you."

"How many times do I have to tell you to this and not to do that." This statement makes a child believe immediately that she's incapable because she needs to be told the same thing over and over. Before getting frustrated and angry, take a deep breath and have a discussion with your child again. Then, tell her to remember everything you've said. This is a good way to put on her shoulders the responsibility to remember your agreements.

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Ladies Bike Types - Know Which Suits You

Women’s bicycles are one of the all time favorites of ladies across countries. Many reasons come with this fact. Primarily, riding a bike is capable of bringing back the carefree days we all enjoy as little children. This is an enjoyable way to distress and treasure life.

There are many kinds of women’s bicycles you can choose from depending on your riding style and location. Below is a list which you can consult when purchasing the right bike for your needs.

Do you always run errands or go to the nearest store to purchase groceries you lack at home? If yes, consider the most common type you will see on the streets – a three speed bike. Its main features include big and comfortable seats and tall handlebars. All these contribute to an easy cycling downtown. Should you find yourself in a location with moderate hills, you can use its three gears to maneuver safely. The great thing about this bike is its provision for big baskets on the front and saddle bags on the rear.

Perhaps, you want something to use for your recreational or sports. You can have your pick from different styles of ladies mountain bikes. In comparison to other bicycles, these are manufactured with bigger and wider tires. In addition to that, they have excellent traction, suspension and multiple gears. The more versatile and cheaper kind of mountain bikes is called hardtail. Full-suspension bikes, on the other hand, are more costly but you can count on the overall shock absorption it can provide especially when you are traversing back country trails or steep and bumpy single tracks.

Next in line is the hybrid. It is a combination of a mountain bike and a road bike. Just like mountain bikes, hybrids are sturdy and are fit for riding on cemented streets or unpaved paths. A hybrid can also give you the speed you need as you drive it comfortably.

Foldable bikes represent another kind that gains the interest of most lady riders. Since they are foldable they can be placed inside a bag and carried along as you travel. Most lady commuters store them in their homes or offices when not in use. These foldables are light-weight and sturdy at the same time.

The last of the women’s bicycles that are gaining popularity these days are those powered by electricity. The best thing about these bikes is that they allow application of less pressure on the pedals since electricity runs them. No need to worry about getting tired driving long distances or traversing uneven and inclined locations. You just have to do half the effort with these bikes.

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How Moms Can Benefit from Fitness Boxing

Boxing has become a very popular sport for many moms. Fitness boxing not only helps to build and tone your muscular stature, but also helps you to gain mental strength. It is a great workout that stimulates the mind, body and soul of busy moms. Here are the other benefits this sport provides to moms.

Development of self-defense skills - Boxing can teach you countless combinations of kicks and punches. This can be used as self-defense if you ever end up in a dangerous situation.

Weight loss and weight management - Boxing can burn as high as 500-1000 calories in a single hour work out depending on the intensity. Hence, boxing can greatly assist with your weight loss efforts.

Stronger heart - Regular boxing sessions help to maintain a balanced heart rate. It also helps to improve the strength of heart muscles, building a stronger heart.

Strong bones and muscles - Boxing improves the strength and flexibility of all muscle groups in the body. It also helps to develop joints and overall skeletal system.

Body strength - Because boxing involves sparring, bouncing, ducking, pivoting, punching (and even kicking), it requires repetitive motions of your entire body. These repeated movements provide strength and power especially to your arms, legs and core area.

Stress relief - Boxing helps to relieve physical and mental stress. Research shows that people who box regularly are more cheerful, getting rid of stress and tension with every punch!

Anger release - Boxing provides a good opportunity to release pent up anger. When you kick and punch during boxing, you can let go of anger without blowing up at someone. This can help you relax.

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Catering Business for Moms: Preparation Tips to Know

To  earn additional monthly income, some moms venture in a food catering business. Although this sounds like an easy idea, it requires utmost preparation on your end. Have you already envisioned how big your catering operations would be? The budget you ought to prepare depends on your answer to this question.

When it comes to the scope of your operation, the total number of guests to feed is your utmost consideration. This is because the number of guests dictates the number of wares needed. Let us say a company event with 500 attendees is lined up for your food catering service. That would mean 500 pieces of plates, saucers, glasses, pairs of utensils and other serving tools. In fact, you must have additional pieces for reserve. You can choose to buy as much wares or rent them from another provider.

On-premise catering requires different tools from off-premise catering. The former requires less equipment for you to purchase than the latter. Serving food outside your restaurant requires use of equipment capable of keeping all your food supplies fresh, your dishes warm and your beverages cool all the time. There is no other choice for you than to invest on these specialized food carriers.

In connection to the above-mentioned, here are a few steps you can observe. Make a list of all the kinds of tools you might need. When doing this, think of all the events you plan to cater and the frequency of such events. These will be your basis for renting or buying the apparatus in your list. If you decide to purchase and you do not have big budget at hand, rooting for all kinds of used catering equipment may be the best option for you. There are many sellers which you can contact regarding this. A simple search online can lead you to the whereabouts of the local sellers near to your place. As soon as you spot their websites, read the feedback from their past and current customers. Moreover, search for related reviews featuring them. Quality is crucial when searching for second hand tools. Some of them may be offered at much cheaper prices. It is better to purchase ones that are a bit costly and can serve their purpose for a longer time.

Moving forward, your means of transporting these pieces of equipment is important too. They must be carried safely to the location of your venue. Keep in mind that a huge piece of equipment may already need an entire truck for its transportation. That leaves the smaller serving tools, all the food and the staff in consideration. Again, this is part and parcel of food catering service which you must be prepared for financially. There is an option though for you to use your personal vehicle for smaller events. But in the case of more demanding events, you can buy or rent a larger vehicle.

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Dental Health for Kids - Important Facts Moms Should Know

Dental health for kids can start during the nursing years. This entails the cleaning of the babies’ mouths once they have been bottle fed. With the of clean cotton or cloth dabbed in water, parents and primary care givers can wipe the sugar particles off the babies’ gums and tongues. Other procedures that can be observed include use of pacifiers when calming babies or putting them to sleep. This is in replacement of bottle feeding them for such purposes. As babies add another month to their ages, teach them to drink from cups with straws so as to prevent their developing teeth from getting damaged prematurely.

Next to tooth decay is teeth loss. This is commonly experienced by toddlers who have recently become preschoolers. Once they get to walk, run and play on their own, preschoolers move around with no control. Thus, they get into small accidents like loosing one or a couple of their teeth. The bad thing about this and tooth decay is that the growth of permanent teeth can come unevenly. Moreover, distorted teeth positions can lead to temporomandibular joint problems.

Dental health is really important. Parents and primary care givers are responsible for making children know this by heart. They must assist the children in practicing routines that lead to healthier teeth and gums. Firstly, children must be guided in eating calcium rich foods. Secondly, they must eat regular meals with no snacks in between. Thirdly, children must be disciplined to brush their teeth after each meal using toothpaste with flouride.

Apart from the parents and primary care givers, there are specialists in the field who can help children to better understand the importance of caring for their gums and teeth. Frequent visits to the dentist can unlock more techniques entailed in effective dental health for kids. Also, dentists can explain the value of certain dental procedures which clean and toughen young teeth and gums from the painful wreck of tooth decay.

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Quick Insights on Choosing Marble Sculptures for Your Home

Presently, affluent and cultured families across countries not only spend their wealth in educating themselves but also in erecting manors that will stand the test of time for their expected heirs. Over and above the materials that will be used in these edifices, they want to acquire the romantic air in their dwellings. Achieving such an ambiance would be uncomplicated if the house’s designer knows which pieces of art will complement the place. Evidently, here is where the impression of marble sculptures sets in. Forms of marble sculpture resemble a simple bust, carvings on walls and or floors made of the stone, ornaments, statue and statuettes which are usually set up in water fountains.

There were simple reasons why marble was favored over other stones:

• Marble has different types. Each type fits the image that a sculptor would want to work on.
• Marble has a lucid quality that is comparable to human skin. It makes the figurative subject carved out of it look very realistic.
• A newly extracted marble is soft and easy to etch. It becomes sturdy as it ages though.

A marble sculpture, on the other hand, is never spared from the threats of discoloration. The latter could be either caused by handling or the effects of acid rain which is inevitable these days especially when the marble sculpture is positioned out doors.

The subject of marble sculpture portrays the various life forms in our natural world. Marble sculptures may be figures of men; figure of animals; statues of saints, heroes and other important people which can be carved individually or as a group.

Man’s preference about marble sculpture has evolved down the time line. From realism, a marble sculpture, nowadays exist as subject matter of abstract art. Artists, who are captivated by the modishness of the stone, exhibit their marble sculpture skills in creating ornaments for personal and home use.

A marble sculpture has an expensive appeal. People who wish to own one should consider the best marble sculpture for them before buying one. A simple touch on it may cause discoloration, so the owner should always handle it with care.

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Large Mortar and Pestle: How It Can Add Wonders to Your Cooking

Do you have a mortar and pestle in your kitchen? If you don't, now is the time for you to get one. It is important when it comes to food preparation.

The amount of cooking that will be done defines the size and weight of mortar and pestle you will need. A day to day cooking job may require small grinding of garlic, chilies and a small handful of herbs. The small version would come in handy in this matter. It is easier to deal with and clean. A large mortar and pestle on the other hand, serves its purpose well in making sauces, pesto, pastes and or any mixture in large quantities.

Through out history, culinary arts would imperfect with out the presence of a large mortar and pestle. The latter is popular among Asian and Mexican cooking pieces of equipment.

Early Types:

• 'Molcajete’ is an extra large mortar and pestle used by Spanish cooks who prepare great amounts of ‘salsa’, ‘moles’ and ‘guacamoles’. 
• A large mortar and pestle made of granite was utilized by Thais to produce their savory curry paste.
• The Chinese manipulated the large mortar and pestles made of porcelain to its best in pulverizing Chinese herbs for medicinal use. 

Chefs around the world recommend to their students and to the devotees of their cooking shows to get a large mortar and pestle before starting any cooking task. Here are some of its benefits over a small-sized one.

• A large mortar and pestle gives you some ‘elbow room’ while manipulating it. 
• Using a large mortar and pestle could also give you some work out.
• A large mortar pestle can easily crush which ever ingredient with ease. People in the Middle East for one, use a large mortar and pestle in grinding meat.

A large mortar and pestle is weighty, thus, it will serve its purpose well. Any chef will tell you that the heavier the pestle the easier it is to use.

Selecting the right size of mortar and pestle really depends on the type of food that a person loves to prepare. In times of parties or just having a large family, owning an extra large one would be the smartest thing to do.

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Best Tips on Gaining Control Over Your Life

Moms face a lot of happenings in their lives everyday. Consequently, they fail to prioritize the important things that require their attention, effort and time and endure unruly lives in the long run. If you find yourself in a similar situation, you must know that it's not yet too late to put your life in order. Read the following insights and take a step forward to changing your life today.

Take responsibility.  This is more than just telling everyone that you are responsible for everything. This involves not complaining about everything that comes your way. As the officer-in-charge in your life, you have the courage to take the correct choices in life and endure the consequences of your wrong decisions in the past.

Control your mind. How are your daily thoughts like? What are the things that you believe in? All these influence your identity and capabilities. Feed your mind with positive thoughts and you will be set to success in life. Your lifestyle will only improve when you're able to fix your thought life.

Respect yourself. Don't look down on yourself. Believe that you can achieve anything. Drop your judgments and support your own decisions. It will be easier for you to take actions if you think this way. Respecting yourself also includes presenting yourself to other people in a respectable manner. Don't give other people a valid reason to disrespect you. Act, communicate and dress yourself up in a respectable manner.

Make deliberate choices. What kind of person do you want to be next year? in five years? in ten years? The image of your future self in your mind is a product of your daily choices from this moment on. If you want control and power in your life, choose to do the right things today even though they could be very hard.

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How to Bring Out the Best in Your Children

All moms want to bring out the best in their children. This may seem like a difficult goal to achieve but in reality it's not. You simply need determination and motivation to be focused on your goal on a daily basis.

1. Support and celebrate the success of  your children. Children can succeed in their own little ways. It could be getting the highest quiz score in class or overcoming the fear of riding a bicycle. Children like to be acknowledged. They tend to work harder when they're praised.

2. Focus on your children's strengths. Children have individual strengths. Therefore, you must not compare them with each other. Point out their strengths and give them duties that will enhance those strengths. Sometimes, people don't see their own strengths. This will keep them from thinking negatively about themselves.

3. Listen to your children. Children always look for someone to listen to their stories and to their thoughts. It is best for the listener to be you instead of another person or a stranger for that matter. If you know their thoughts, you can correct any wrong notion which they might have acquired on their own. You will have the opportunity to re-align their minds towards positivity and  reaching their goals.

4. Provide support and encouragement. Do your children enjoy sports or playing musical instrument? If you can't enroll them to sports clinics or music classes, simply support them when they perform during community or school events. Encourage them to practice daily and to their best every time they perform.

5. Teach your children to maximize their potential. Children are much more creative, powerful, and talented than they think. They just need someone to tell them that and teach them how to take chances. As their parent, be their first supporter and adviser towards success. Share to them the things you did on your own in order to succeed when you were younger.

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Forgiveness 101: Things to Do and Not to Do

Forgiveness or to forgive is never easy. No matter how light the offense is, pain and bitterness are inevitable. This is why most people find it hard to forgive.

Forgiveness Do's

Resolve bitterness. Bitterness veils the complete perspective of truth. Bitterness in our hearts makes us see only the truth according to us. Thus, we fail to see the things we can do and the things that we should be accountable for. If we can't resolve bitterness, we'll count forgiveness as impossible.

Be honest. We must be honest with ourselves that we will need another person to speak to us the truth. This requires humility too.

Keep your mouth shut. In sharing your feelings and hurtful experience, you must be careful not to share them to just anyone. Choose a trustworthy loved one who could be your confidant.

Forgiveness Dont's

Don't force transformations. Although forgiveness is a matter of decision, we must not force our hearts to do so. Sometimes, we need more time in order to be less sensitive to the consequences that can transpire once we decide to forgive. The bitterness in our hearts will just grow deeper if we get hurt again.

Don't make important decisions in the heat of the circumstances. Do significant things when you're emotions are already stable. This will keep you from having regrets.

Don't burden anyone with your ill feelings. When we're hurt, we tend to look for someone who can serve as a sounding board. Not all people want to be a sounding board. Look for other ways to vent out your feelings and thoughts. Refrain from  putting burden on other people's shoulders as they also have own problems to mind.

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What You Need to Know About Your Favorite Flatties

More and more women are wearing flat shoes today because of the comfort they provide. In fact, many mothers consider them much safer to wear than high heeled shoes. Why? It's because you can run after your kids in flats without worrying about losing balance or toppling down. Aside from the comfort they bring, flats are also one of the hottest items in fashion today. Fashion magazines show images of Hollywood celebrities wearing flats in different styles.

In his television show, Dr. Oz said that flat shoes are one of the worst shoes for women's feet. He explained they can pose bad effects on your foot health. Regular use of flat shoes result to fallen arches. Feet with fallen arches are characterized by the extreme flattening of the sole. Extreme pain felt in the sole  is the chief symptom of fallen arches. Such pain can result to an inflammatory condition called plantar fascistic. It is caused by the prolonged wearing of flat shoes. It can be cured through continuous medication and surgery. Another foot health risk women can get from wearing flat shoes is stubbing. Stubbing can lead to swollen toes and infection afterwards.

You need not despair if you can't give up your flat shoes. Learn to wear them with caution. For example, don't wear them if you will be visiting a construction site or a camping site. Flats are best worn when you're working on flat and even surfaces. It is comfortable and safe to wear them when you're strolling with the kids in a mall. There are flats which are designed with metal toe caps. If it won't hurt your fashion taste, choose them over flats withe no caps because they can protect your toes from stubble.

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Raising Responsible Children - Best Insights to Know

Raising responsible children can be very challenging but it is very much achievable. You can start by letting your children understand that you are a team. Tell them that you are all responsible to the team's success. In connection to that, there are a lot of things that they should be responsible about.

1) Create a routine for mornings and evenings. Stick to it. Believe it or not, kids are comforted by routines. It is easier for them to follow an order everyday - from waking up, getting dressed, eating, going to school, playing up to bedtime.

2) Instruct your kids that they need to take care of their belongings. Their clothes and books must be kept in their closets and shelves respectively after each use. They must put away their toys after playing with them.

3) Assign chores to your kids. Make sure that each of your kids gets age-appropriate chores. Also, make sure that they have equal number of tasks to avoid jealousy among them.

4) Schedule family clean ups. Nothing beats the joy of cleaning up the house together. Moreover, you're able to clean more areas of the house when you work together. You can do this every weekend. Before your kids plan to go somewhere else with their friends, oblige them to help you clean the house first. It can last from 30 minutes to an hour.  To make clean ups enjoyable, play some lively music that your kids love.

5) Create a vacation activity list. Sit down with your kids at the start of summer vacation or Christmas vacation. Make a list of the tasks which you want them to achieve during the vacation. Provide instructions on how they must be done. Provide a time frame as well.

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Let Love Be Your Guide in Correcting Your Child's Behaviour

Do you feel like your child's behaviour is uncontrollable? If you do, fret not. Most single parents feel that way. Such feeling springs from the fact that single parent families are much harder to manage than dual parent families. Needless to say, it can be addressed as soon as you come ways to correct your child's behavior. And in doing so, disciplining your child with love and logic is what will work best. Read the following insights that can help you get started on this.

#1 Value your child. An effective mother always treats  her child as a valued and worthwhile person. Always have the intention to build your child's self-esteem through honest praise for doing a job well done. Correct him lovingly and sparingly. Let him learn from his own mistakes instead of instructing him what to do all the time.  Give your child age-appropriate activities that can help him  to be independent.
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#2 Nurture your child. Display your love to your child constantly and consistently. You can do this through positive touch therapy - hugs, kisses, tapping and holding him close. Train him to be a good child by supporting him in everything he does and providing words of encouragement all the time.

#3 Teach your child. Challenge him to grow cognitively, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. Be flexible in teaching important academic, scientific and life lessons. Children pick up what their parents do more than what their parents say. Therefore, you must lead a positive life in front of your child's eyes.

#4 Discipline your child. Practice a compassionate, consistent and an honest discipline for your child's well-being. Avoid being quick-tempered, holding grudges or keeping records of wrong. Create rules that are clear and easy for your child to follow. Be gentle and patient in discipline your child and don't forget to provide him moral reasoning.

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Six Top Tips for First-Time Horse Owners

Horse ownership can be a frustrating experience for both owner and horse if you don’t think carefully about it beforehand. It is a huge responsibility in terms of the time and money needed. Taking good care of your equine companion will include, among other things, yearly immunizations, regular dental care, hoof care and parasite control.

These responsibilities notwithstanding, horse ownership is a most rewarding experience. But the right horse must be matched to the right owner. For the match to be successful, the owner’s goals and equestrian ability must be taken into account.

Are you currently thinking about choosing a suitable horse for your family? Here are a few tips that will help you find just the right horse for you.

1. Learn horse riding – Do you know the right way to ride a horse? This is different from sitting on a horse while someone leads it around. Invest in some riding lessons so you and your horse can be safe and comfortable.

2. Consider all possible expenses – Horses are expensive pets. Apart from the high cost of buying one in the first place, their maintenance demands a big budget. Think about the money you will need to spend on feed, bedding, vet check-ups, stabling, horseshoe maintenance and the other supplies which every horse needs.

3. Take a professional with you – Once you have decided to buy a horse, take an equine trainer with you to see him. He can check whether your prospective horse is healthy and whether it rides well.

4. Know the horse’s history – Ask the seller about the horse’s previous owner and the reason he is being sold. You can also ask for the horse’s registration papers. If possible, ask the seller for the contact numbers of the horse’s farrier and veterinarian. This will help you find out about any health issues the seller might be keeping from you.

5. Handle the horse yourself – Instead of riding the horse right away, lead him around as he leaves the stall. Watch how the seller or owner groom or tack him up so you can spot any behavioral issues.

6. Ask the seller to ride the horse before you do – The seller will be happy to ride the horse if it has no problems. Observe how the horse moves and behaves while being ridden.

When all these things check out, you have probably found yourself a great horse. Make sure you continue to treat him well, providing all his needs and giving him plenty of love and attention. You will have then have a companion you and your family can enjoy for a very long time.

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Anger 101: Solving Your Children's Heart Issues

Anger is one of the heart issues which children face as they grow up. Anger is a normal emotion that can help children see what is fair and what is not. However, it becomes a destructive emotion when it causes children to act aggressively and uncontrollably. 

Children need the help of their parents and other adults in order to deal with anger in a healthy manner. Anger management can bring many benefits to children and their families. Keen to know how this can be done? Check out the following tips.

Respond to anger correctly – Children simply copy what their parents do. If you respond to anger calmly, your children are most likely to do the same. Talk about your children's anger in a creative way. Use symbolism – an exploding volcano or a dragon breathing fire will do. Also, don't judge your children because of their anger. Explain to them that their anger is what you hate and not them.



Find the causes of children’s anger – Observe how your children react in certain situations.Take note of the things that trigger them to get mad. Give them a gentle pat on their backs as soon as you see signs of anger. The common signs of anger among children include clenched fists, tightness in their bodies, verbal outbursts and hitting out.
 
Encourage them to work on a goal – Make it their goal to avoid being angry. You must explain to them that they can be angry but only at a certain extent. Have a chart on the that gauges the level of anger they feel. Praise them whenever they are able to keep their anger at an acceptable level. Positive words help children deal with anger better.

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Best Ways to Start Your New Year Right

With every turn of the year, each of us is given the opportunity to make things right in our lives. This opportunity is best realized by changing the things that affect your life's quality instead of creating resolutions which can add more stress in your life. Are you clueless of these changes? The following tips can help you get started with them.



Keep in touch with your spiritual side – Say a little prayer when you rise up in the morning and before you retire at night. Commune with nature and appreciate its beauty. Be thankful of all the things you have and don’t have at the moment.

Speak sweeter – Make your relationships with family and friends better. Try your best to get along with them despite your differences. Tell them that you love and care for them. Be honest with your comments and responses to them.

Do a media fast – Convert the hours you spend surfing the net and watching TV to craft, reading or writing time. Involve your family and friends in it. This will increase your creativity level and strengthen the bond between you and your loved ones.

Clear your environment – How is your physical environment going? Is it disorganized? Declutter your space. Organize your files. Straighten up your bills and other accountabilities. Before starting with your work, take at least ten minutes to put everything around you in order.

Buy a pet or a plant – Caring for a pet or a plant can help you to be emotionally well. This is especially true when depressing things have occurred to you in the past year. A pet or plant can turn your hurts and pains into joy.

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