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Prioritising Your Kids During a Breakup

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Breakups are never ideal. We’d all love to live fairytale lifestyles where we stay with our partners and raise our kids in domestic bliss until they are adults. But this isn’t always the best option. Sometimes, we find that we are simply not compatible with our partners, or that our lifestyles don’t gel. We might find that one person betrays another. We might find that other issues arise. This is common and, nowadays, separation is by now means rare. What’s important to remember is that kids can have just as good an upbringing between two separate parents and this is often much preferable to being in a household that is full of arguments, tension and other issues. It is, however, absolutely essential that you prioritise your kids and their needs during any breakup. It can be tempting to focus on how you feel or how your partner feels, what you want versus what your partner wants. But you need to take care of your kids first and foremost. Here are a few ways that you can achieve this!

Make Clear Child Custody Agreements

The first thing you need to do is to make your child custody agreement clear and official. It’s all good and well having a word of mouth agreement, but then people can fail to stick to their parts without any personal repercussions. Kids need routine and stability and a clear, officially agreed custody agreement can help with this. You may need to take some time to really help yourself with understanding child custody and it’s generally advised that you and your partner work with a specialist lawyer, like Love Family Lawyers, to determine what is best for the kids. This can fall down to various factors such as where each parent is living, where the kids go to school, what each parent’s working hours are and more.

Explaining the Situation

You need to make sure that you and your partner are definitely breaking up. You need to make serious decisions, because back and forth can really confuse kids and make things harder for them. Of course, there could always be a chance of reuniting down the line. But you do need to make sure that your kids aren’t stuck in a whirlwind of you and your partner being together and breaking up constantly. When you break up, you need to tell your kids in a mature way that doesn’t drag the other parent. You need to make sure that you do this in an age appropriate way too. Telling a five year old needs to be approached in a different way to telling a teenager.

Don’t Trash Talk the Other Parent

As we’ve briefly highlight above, you need to make sure that you’re not speaking badly of the other parent to your children. Sure, you may be hurt by them, upset by them and more, but you shouldn’t dump this on your children, who aren’t emotionally mature enough to process it properly. This shouldn’t turn into a game of who can turn the kids against the other.

Hopefully, the steps above should help you on your journey to overcoming your relationship and making sure that your kids are prioritised through the process too!

Why Parents Struggle to Communicate With Their Teens

It’s no secret that parenting teenagers can be difficult. In fact, a lot of parents find it downright challenging to communicate with their teens effectively. This is because the teenage years are a time of great change – physically, emotionally, and mentally. As your child enters this new stage of life, they will become more independent and want to assert their own independence. Unfortunately, this can lead to tension and conflict between parents and teens. In order to smooth over communications, it is important that both parties understand why these struggles occur and how they can work together to overcome them.

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One of the biggest reasons why parents struggle to communicate with their teens is because they are going through so many changes themselves. Just as your teen is trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in the world, you, as a parent, are also trying to adjust to this new stage in your child’s life. It can be difficult to find common ground when you are both going through such different changes. In addition, the teenage years can be a time of great stress for parents. You may be dealing with financial pressures, work-related stress, or family issues. All of this can make it hard to stay calm and patient when communicating with your teen.

It is also important to remember that during the teenage years, your child’s brain is still developing. This means that their decision-making skills are not yet fully developed. As a result, they may make impulsive decisions or take risks that you would never dream of taking. It can be frustrating as a parent to see your child making these kinds of decisions, but it’s important to remember that they are just trying to figure things out. In time, their brains will develop more and learn from their mistakes.

Finally, another big reason why parents struggle to communicate with their teens is that teenagers often push away the people who are closest to them. They may do this by arguing with them, withdrawing from family activities, or spending more time with friends than with family. While it can be hurtful, it’s important to remember that this is just a phase. In time, your teen will return and start communicating with you more effectively.

If you’re struggling to communicate with your teen, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Many parents go through this same challenge. You can try out some of the strategies listed below to improve communication:

1) Take some time for yourself: 

As a parent, it’s easy to get wrapped up in your child’s life and forget to take care of yourself. Make sure to schedule some time each week that is just for you. This can be used for hobbies, relaxation, or anything else that you enjoy.

2) Participate in wellness facility therapies:

Many wellness facility therapies can help both parents and teens that help recover from stress and provide useful treatments and tips. Second Nature Utah is an excellent example of a wellness facility that offers both parent and teen services. Read the following Second Nature Utah Reviews to see how other parents have benefited from their services. 

3) Keep the lines of communication open: 

Make sure to keep the lines of communication open with your teen. This means being willing to listen to them and having honest conversations. Setting aside some time each week to talk about what’s going on in your lives can be helpful.

Parents often struggle to communicate with their teens due to the many changes that both parties are going through. However, it’s important to remember that this is just a phase and that communication will improve over time. Try out some of the above strategies to help improve communication between you and your teen.

How to be a Great Role Model to Your Kids

As a father, you have a vital role to play in society. You are raising the next generation of humans, so you have a huge responsibility. One of the most efficient ways to ensure that your children, and all the children who you interact with, get the right idea about life, is to practice what you preach. You need to be a role model because children absorb everything they see, and that way you act is essential. You should look to be someone your children aspire to be. You’ll be happy to know that there are many ways you can do this. 

father holding baby

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Exercise

If you want your children to be fit and healthy, then you need to lead by example. Show them that you take fitness seriously. Get into your running gear and go for that run. Buy some home exercise equipment and use it. So, many children are currently obese, and this will affect them for the rest of their lives. To give your children the right idea, it is important that you take these crucial steps. Exercise not only shows them the right thing to do, but it also boosts your own mental health and gives you more energy. The fitter you are, the better you can take care of your children, and it helps you stay focused and make better decisions for all involved. 

Home Cooking

Home cooking is undeniably the healthiest way to eat. Constantly buying microwave or oven meals or just getting the odd takeaway three times a week is not how it should be. Takeaways should be treats, not a staple. So, ignite a passion for home cooking, and get the kids involved too. Why not try new recipes, and get the kids to choose one of those strange vegetables at the supermarket you never buy? Get experimental in the kitchen and enlist the children to chop up veg. If you find it difficult to home cook evet day, think about cooking in bulk and freezing it. Another thing you should do is encourage meals together around the table. This is a way for the family to bond, and it also helps create a sense of stability. 

The Basics

To ensure that your children take care of their health, you need to show them that you care about these basic things. If you need glasses or contact lenses, you need to wear them and ensure your children see you take care of these things. You should always see a doctor if you have any ailments, and if you have any special needs, ensure that you do this too. You will want your children to take care of their health in this way, and not fear it. It is far better to have professional advice than not when it comes to health issues. Take care of your teeth, too. If you need all on four jupiter dental health care, then do it. The last thing you want is for your child to neglect their teeth.