Is Your Family Ready For A Puppy?

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During these coronavirus days, we can begin to reflect on what is truly important in life. For some, the annual summer vacation, having lots of money put aside for a rainy day, and achieving that promotion at work becomes a lot less crucial to our happiness. Instead, we care more about the health of our family, ensuring that we are able to manage our finances astutely, and having the job stability that everyone craves at the moment. 

When you consider your brood, you want them to be happy and fulfilled. The Covid-19 threat that is forever lingering in the air is forcing us to adjust to a new normal. This means homeschooling for many, working from home, and spending more time together as a family. As you are staying at home more, it makes sense that now is the right time to consider welcoming the patter of tiny canine paws into your home, doesn’t it? If you have the time and energy to dedicate to a puppy, this could be one of the most wonderful experiences you could offer your children. Dogs can be incredible companions, be playmates for the kids, and give your family something positive and innocent to focus upon. 

However, with a dog comes great responsibility. While you may assume that a pooch is ‘just’ a pet, you’d be mistaken. This creature will imprint on you, be endearing and capture your heart. A puppy isn’t like a kitten. Their eyes will draw you in and you will forge a tight and close bond. A puppy really is a new addition to your family. Take a look at whether your family is ready for a puppy.

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Time

Even though you are at home at the moment, there’s nothing to say that life will be this way forever. Welcoming a puppy into your home while you are working on your laptop at the dining room table seems ideal. But, what happens when you are having to do the usual nine to five in the office for five days a week? If your work doesn’t offer remote working as standard and you fear that your pup may be home alone, you need to consider whether this is fair. At the very least, you will need to think about those breeds that don’t suffer from as much separation anxiety. Breeds like miniature schnauzers make wonderful family pets, but they become such an integral part of your clan, they will be devastated to be left alone for hours at a time.

If you do have the time to dedicate to a puppy, think about the breed you would like. There are so many to choose from so thin about what you want from a dog. Does he need to be small? Does he need to not shed hair everywhere? Do you want a pooch that is easy to train? And don’t forget to consider suitability around kids. 

When considering the time that you need to dedicate to a puppy, think about him as a newborn baby. Yes, you really do need to be on hand twenty four hours a day. A puppy will need to go outside two or three times a night to do his business. He will need feeding small meals four or five times a day. He will need your constant love and attention. Play with him, hold him, and create that bond. The early weeks are important to foster positive behavior and that close bond that you yearn for.

Training

Some mutts are stubborn little things. They may be able to hear you calling them back when they are frolicking in the park, but if they are having too much fun, they will ignore you. This is why training is crucial. Don’t go it alone and head to a site like Puppy Trained Right to take a look at training videos and articles to help get your puppy on the right track. You need to think about dedicating enough time to training your pooch. Being young, they don’t have great attention spans. This is why it is important to do some training in ten or fifteen minute bursts.

To begin training, start with the basic commands of sit, down, stay and come. If you can hone all of these, you will have a well trained dog. Start early and make training sessions fun. Nearly every hound is food motivated so get tiny pieces of their favorite treat. This might be hotdog, chicken or cheese. Keep it to hand and let your pup know that it is there as a reward for excellent behavior. Your dog will be motivated to do well and please you in training sessions.

To make the sessions fun, play games. As your dog sits, give him some chicken. If you are looking for your dog to lie down, get him to follow you around the home before saying down. If you turn around and he is down waiting for the tiny piece of cheese in your pocket, reward him with it. 

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Commitment

A puppy requires commitment and dedication. However, he will help with your mental health, cheer you up when you are down, and make you laugh. This isn’t a pet that you can discard when times get tough. A puppy will challenge you as much as he pleases you. Sometimes, he may chew an expensive pair of shoes, he may pee on the new rug, or he might become poorly. You need to be there every step of the way. In the same way that all babies have different personalities, your puppy will also have his own sense of self. He might see himself as the leader of the pack, he might be super shy, or he may be fearful of traffic, other dogs or men with beards. There is no accounting for their quirks but they all have them!

Your puppy will grow into a dog that will be your faithful companion for the next ten to fifteen years. This is why you need to consider whether you can commit to that length of time. He will be by your side during family trips, vacations, and memorable events. It’s not unheard of for dogs to help walk people down the aisle, attend graduations, and be important members of a family.

Rescue

Remember, a pedigree puppy is only one route to securing a new member of your brood. You might wish to look into the rescue pups that are abandoned, placed into kennels, or rescued from puppy farms every year. Thousands of puppies are eager to look for new homes. If you can offer this sort of mutt a home, look in your local area and enquire.

Rescue puppies may be slightly older, but they can offer your family something unique. They may be more fearful of human contact and could require extra time and love to help them come out of their shell and become confident again. They don’t have the same price tag as a pedigree hound and can give back so much. If you aren’t fussy about the breed and it is the initial contact that is important, go rescue! If this is something that you could commit to, your whole existence could become more worthwhile and positive.

A puppy will bring love, warmth, happiness and contentment into your life. Your family will have a new member and you will be embarking on brand new adventures. However, a dog requires a wealth of commitment from you. If you feel like you can dedicate time, effort, energy, love and positivity to your mutt, you can enjoy the company of a faithful companion for years to come.

Supporting Your Child Through Life Changing Events

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When it comes to childhood, we like to think of it being a time of fun and carefree days and nothing untoward that will ruin that. As magical as we want childhood to be for our children, things don't always pan out the way we want them to. It is a sad reality that at some point children may experience the kind of issues that even adults struggle to process and deal with effectively.

Fun Ways to Strengthen Family Bonds

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When you’re a parent, one of the most important things you can do is build a strong bond with your children and ensure that they have strong bonds with all of their family - the more loving people a child has around them the better! 

For most people, bonding comes pretty naturally, but it is still a good idea to take the time to strengthen and solidify those bonds on a regular basis. Here are a few ways you can do that:

Tell personal stories

Kids love hearing personal stories about their parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles from the past. They enjoy hearing what their adult family members did when they too were young and care-free, and it’s a great way to show them that as well as being mom or dad you are a person in your own right. Sharing your past ‘secrets’ with them can also make them feel special and help to build a stronger connection between you. Just make sure your stories are appropriate!

Book a family photo session

What could be more fun than gathering everyone together for a family photo session? A good family photographer will know how to make the process lots of fun with jokes and a few well-placed props and you’ll get to show just how much you love each other not only in the moment but captured forever in the images your photographer snaps.

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Have a movie night

Something as simple as snuggling up together on the couch watching a favorite movie can be so special to a child. They’ll feel safe, secure, and loved and you won’t even have to leave the house or go to any special effort other than perhaps buying some of their favorite candy to chew on while the movie’s in progress so it’s perfect for those busy weeks when you just want to relax in your downtime.

Ask them about their life

One of the best ways to build a strong bond with children is by taking them more seriously and listening to them when they speak. Every day, you should make a point of asking your children not only about their day but at least one question about their personality such as their favorite book or what they love most about nature. They’ll feel more appreciated as a person and they’ll be more likely to open up to you in future if they know that you will listen, and more importantly, that you really care about what they think and feel.

Cook together

Cooking with children is a great way to get them interested in food and healthy eating, It’s also a great way to spend some quality time with them, especially if you sit down to eat whatever you’ve created together afterward. 

Go on vacation

Taking a family vacation where you can dedicate all of your time to each other is ideal for family bonding. You’ll build up more shared experiences and have unique adventures that you’ll all remember forever.

How do you strengthen the bonds with your children?

What Makes A Children's Party Great?

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If you are thinking about throwing a party for your child, then you are obviously going to want to ensure that it goes as well as possible. You want them to have the best time possible, whether you are throwing them a party for their birthday or any other occasion. There are a lot of things that you are going to need to be aware of, and there is a lot of work involved too. In this article, we are going to take a look at just what makes a children’s party great, and how you can make sure that you are throwing the best possible party for your child.

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Lots Of Invites

In general, you will want such a party to be as busy as possible, so that it feels much more like an event. Your child is bound to be excited if there are plenty of people in attendance, and it’s one of the hallmarks of a good party of any kind. So that means that you need to think about sending out a lot of invites as early as you possibly can, once you know what date you are thinking about having it on. You can even ask around first to see whether there is a date which seems best for most of the parents you know, so that you can increase the chances of there being good numbers. The more invites you are able to send out and get RSVPs for, the better.

Great Food

It’s not a party without food, and it is likely that this is one part of the day that you are going to spend a lot of time and money on. You need to make sure that the kids are going to love the food, and that part is easy enough. But you also need to consider the possibility that there will be kids who have particular dietary requirements. Make sure that their parents are including that information on the RSVP, so that you can prepare for it as well as possible. Beyond that, consider whether you want to get hold of a caterer to help you out with the food, or whether you are going to do it yourself - perhaps with the help of another adult who might be assisting you in planning the day.

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Entertainment

You also need to think about what kind of entertainment you are going to provide for the children. Many of the classic types of children’s entertainment are still going to work here, and you should think about whether or not you are going to want to include all or some of these at least. That could include looking out for a jumping castle rental, or getting a children’s entertainer or magician to come and do a show. You might also want to consider having pass the parcel and other classic games like that. The more entertainment there is, the better. You could even go down the pinata route if you want something a little different, and the child is not too young.

Decorations

You will probably find that you spend a lot of time decorating the party venue too. That is something that you need to think about in advance. Is there any particular theme that is likely to go down well? You could simply ask your child what they want - there is a chance they will have a clear idea, after all - or you could try to work it out with them if they are not quite sure. Then you can start to think about decorating the venue according to that theme, and in so doing you should be able to make the day much more memorable indeed. This is one part of the process that you might find you want some help with, as there can be a lot involved to get it right.

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Venue

Speaking of which, you will also need to make sure that you are clear on which venue itself you might want to use. There are many options that you can consider here, and it all depends on the nature of the party and how much of an event it is going to be, including how many likely respondents you will get to your invitations. But make sure that it’s somewhere people can get to easily, and which is going to have enough space for all to enjoy themselves. If you can do that, you are going to find that the day is much more of a success.

Having a Baby? Here are 3 Top Tips to Ensure You’re Prepared

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Finding out that you’re pregnant is one of the most exciting experiences in your life. However, it’s also one of the most daunting. Although no one can be fully prepared for what comes your way, it’s good to do your research so that you’re as prepared as possible. Motherhood and fatherhood is a journey unlike any other, and without this preparation, it might come to the due date and you’re not ready for the changes.

Gifts to Give a Pragmatic Parent

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Do you dread getting your parents gifts whether if it's for Christmas, birthdays or holidays? It's not because you don't love them, quite the opposite actually. 

Supporting Your Parents In Old Age

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It can be a difficult thing to face up to, but it is a fact of life: we all get old. As children and younger adults, we look at our parents, and they can seem almost immortal. It isn't until we begin to get older ourselves that we notice the signs of aging - the grey hairs increasing, the skin getting more and more linked, the creak of the hips and knees, and perhaps the odd moment of forgetfulness. At some point, we have to accept that they may need a little extra support to help them live out the later years of their life in comfort.

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Here, we look at a few of the ways that you can support your parents in their old age.

Assess their needs

Organizing additional care and support for a parent can seem daunting because you are not sure exactly what needs to be done. What you need to do is to take a step back and think about how much help they need with various aspects of their everyday life.

Some of the things to consider include:

• Staying safe in the home
• Personal hygiene
• Cooking and eating
• Cleaning
• Mental health
• Shopping
• Social interaction 
• Mobility
• Medical needs

How much support do they get for each thing, and how much help do they actually need to stay safe and healthy? By looking at each situation individually, it allows you to see where the support is necessary so that you can plan it accordingly. This may be in the form of help in the community, or it may be that they are better suited to a care home. Make sure you do your research to find reputable support, and if you come across one that doesn't treat their residents with the utmost care and respect, Chony can help.

Consider your own needs and abilities

You are allowed to be a little bit selfish. You don't have to take on the full responsibility for caring for elderly parents, and it is okay to say, ''I can't do that''. Even if you want to, can you?

• Does your own health allow you to care for someone physically?
• Do you live close enough to visit when needed and be there at short notice?
• If you work, can you have time off to deal with issues?
• Do you have the relationship that allows you to care for them without any hostility or negativity?

Your main aim is for your parents to be healthy and safe. It isn't selfish or heartless if you are not the best person to take on the job of all-round care.

By looking out for their health and safety and getting the assistance they need, you're still a loving and supportive child.

If you take on too much responsibility and can't manage either physically or emotionally, you're not going to be able to support your parent or yourself, and that is not going to help anyone.

Accepting old age can be difficult, but it is inevitable. By considering the points above you can make sure that the process for everyone involved is calm, safe, and above all, happy. 

Tackling Problems at Work

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We spend a large proportion of our lives at work. While many of us spend a lot of time deciding what we want to do, what company we want to work for - and will work hard getting ourselves there - there’s one thing you can’t guarantee when starting any job. This is that you will get on with your colleagues. The people you work with can make or break a job. While they may be competent in their roles, some people can be problematic on a personal level. They might be rude. They might be brash. They might simply have personalities that just don’t gel too well with your own. So, what should you do if you start to experience problems in the workplace?

First, you need to determine how serious the issues between you and your colleague are. There are some serious issues out there, including racism, sexism, homophobia, or other forms of prejudice or discrimination. These should be brought up to HR immediately. Issues such as sexual harassment and bullying are also major. However, some issues, such as someone being a little blunt, or someone simply irritating you, can often be easily overcome with the right intervention techniques. The infographic below will help you to see some common problems in the workplace between employees and will give you a good idea of how you should deal with them for effective and positive results. Take a read through to clear up any issues you might have!

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The Ultimate Coparenting Guide (How To Keep Things Right For Your Kid, Even When Your Relationship Goes Wrong)

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When a valued relationship like a marriage or civil partnership breaks down, it can be devastating, even if there is no one else involved. Of course, add a child or children to the mix, and things can get complicated very quickly. Especially if both parties still want to play an active role in their children's lives. That is not to say that co-parenting cannot be successful, however. In fact, you absolutely do not need to be in a relationship with the other person to do what is best for your child. The same being true for bringing them up to be a happy and well-adjusted individual. A topic that you can get the lowdown on in the post below. 

Adapting To Life As A Single Parent

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Breakups are difficult at any stage of life, but are particularly tough when splitting from your child’s other parent. In addition to supporting your son or daughter through the transitional phases, you must pay attention to your need.

There is a long journey ahead, but the following steps will lead you to success.

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#1. Attend To The Emotional Scars

Some relationships just fizzle out. However, many come as the result of a serious problem. It’s important that you treat those issues ASAP. Whether it’s attending a narcissistic abuse recovery program or understanding why your spouse cheated doesn’t matter. You need a chance to rediscover yourself. A sense of closure, and the opportunity to close the chapter and start the next one on a positive platform is key. Until then, you’ll never be truly happy – single or with a new partner.

#2. Be The Best Possible Parent

Regardless of relationship status, being a great parent is your number one goal in life. Shielding them from the relationship problems and fighting is important. When it comes to separation, it is better to stay united and offer reassurances at all times. Depending on the reason for the breakup, this might not be possible. Ultimately, you have to weigh up the options before finding what works best in your personal situation. Either way, maintaining stability in their daily lives should be top of the agenda. After all, it’s better to have two happy homes than one unhappy one.

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#3. Be Happy In Your Skin

It’s easy to let our looks and health slide when we’re in relationships. Therefore, taking some time to invest in your health and rebuild a sense of self-confidence is vital. Seeking enjoyment from healthy eating and regular exercise will also keep your emotional health in a far better place. If nothing else, the distractions allow you to stop dwelling on negative thoughts and focus on the positive steps that are being made in your life. This will make the transitional phase far easier.

#4. Make Time For Friends & Family

A little adult conversation goes a long way when you’re getting over a breakup as a parent. Without it, the cycle of being stuck with your thoughts and child-friendly chat will get to you. Visits to or from your family and friends are essential. It’s OK to let your hair down on the nights when your son or daughter is with your ex spouse too. As long as it doesn’t impact your capabilities as a parent, the emotional benefits of creating balance in your life are huge. If you’re not careful, the loneliness can seriously harm your enthusiasm.

#5. Think About Finances

Adapting to the new lifestyle is very stressful, and financial problems are at the heart of it. Reducing your bills without compromising life quality is essential. Meanwhile, you can speak to experts about the financial support that may be available. Obtaining your financial entitlements will make the road ahead far easier. Aside from anything else, it’s one less distraction to worry about. In turn, you can focus on doing the best for yourself and your children. What more could you want?