Tag Archives: parenting

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

Building A Better Relationship With Your Parents As You All Get Older

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As you grow up and start a family of your own, you can find that your relationship with your own parents changes. You may find that you’re less reliant on them than you were when you were younger, and may even experience some challenges as you face your own parenting struggles.

But change doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and getting older gives you a great opportunity to get to know your parents differently, so you can enjoy more quality time together. Learn some of the ways you can build a better relationship with your parents as you get older to help bring a new dynamic to your relationship.

Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons

Resolve issues you’ve been experiencing

Families are complicated, and over time, things can build up between families. You may have even experienced some serious issues that have led to a lack of communication or poor relationships over the years. But if you want to enjoy a relationship with your parents going forward, you may need to take steps to resolve these issues and find a way to forgive and move on. It’s not always easy, but if there’s a chance to save your relationship, it could be worth a try.

Be there to provide help and support

As your parents get older, it’s them that may need taking care of. Being there to provide help and support is important, and whether that’s physical or emotional support, you should pay attention to your parents’ behaviors and ensure that they get the help they need. Now that you’re more self-aware, you may be able to recommend support for issues they might be experiencing such as depression, addiction, or PTSD treatment for veterans. Your parents may be reluctant at first, but you should persevere to help them get the help they need as they get older.

Plan quality time together

Once you have your own children, time spent with your family can often revolve around the kids and keeping them entertained. But if you can, try to spend some quality time with your parents where you can be adults together and make some wonderful memories. This one-on-one time can also help you notice any changes in their health and wellbeing that may need some support, that could go unnoticed in a big family setting.

Spend time enjoying some of their hobbies and interests 

Now that they’re no longer taking care of you, time with your parents can be spent enjoying some of their hobbies and interests. Take the time to find out the things that they’re interested in and plan some fun activities together that will help you create some special memories and learn more about your parents.
As we get older, our relationships evolve and change, especially the ones we have with our parents. You may need to learn how to communicate with elderly parents or take on caring responsibilities, but you will also find that your relationship changes in positive ways too as you get to know them in different ways. Focus on building a better relationship with your parents to help you enjoy your time with them, and who knows, they could still have a lot to teach you about your own parenting skills too!

Books, Going Strong, Lifestyle, Parenting

Raheem’s Adventures: Fun and Educational Children’s Books

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The following 3 books by the author, Jawad, have been written with a fun and educational spirit. Jawad was kind enough to share details on each of his books below, please read on to learn more about them.

Raheem and his Magic Shoes:

This Book shares two of my passions, which are basketball and a story that has a meaningful message. The book is aimed at children ages 3 to 8 and currently is on Amazon.ca’s top 100 basketball books for children. The book is available at locations for the Toronto public library, Milton public library, and Mississauga central library.

Book Blurb:

Dribble right then dribbles left. He dribbles past his opponents. He takes a jump shot and … swisssssh!  Raheem loves to play basketball and is eager to make the team, but he believes the only way he can make it is with his magical shoes. Will the shoes work? Raheem will try anything! “Raheem and his Magic shoes” is the inspiring story of Raheem and his quest to make the basketball team. This fully illustrated book tells the story of a young boy who believes he isn’t good enough without his special kicks to make the team.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/168902514X

Raheem the Superhero:

This fun read was inspired by my little nephew who loves superheroes and his willingness to help others in need.  

Book Blurb:

Incredible strength, lightning speed, x-ray vision, and the ability to fly are just some of Raheem’s favorite superhero abilities! Every superhero needs them, right? You can’t save the day without them? Right???? That’s what makes a SUPERHERO a superhero, rightttttt? Raheem seems to think so.

From the author of “Raheem and his Magic Shoes,” comes a story about Raheem’s wish for superhero powers so he can help save the day.  This book helps empower kids, with the understanding that they have their own special powers and shares a meaningful message, that parents and children will enjoy.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08CP92PPL

Raheem the Referee:

As a basketball referee, I wanted to share another side of the sport I enjoy very much.  This book is like a beginner’s guide to basketball officiating. 

https://a.co/d/8dw7cPD

Book Blurb:

Foul! On blue, I mean, yellow…wait, was it a foul?

Being a basketball referee isn’t quite as easy as it looks. You have to make quick decisions that require swift action. Why would anyone want to be a referee? Raheem does, and he wants you to join him!

Breaking the rules is not RIGHT and Raheem wants everyone to play fair. So come along and let’s learn how referees enforce the rules of the game.

BIO:

Jawad is a husband, father, basketball coach, and referee. When he isn’t balling, he is a techie and children’s author. His other works include ‘Raheem and his Magic Shoes’. A tale that has captured the hearts of many young children across the globe. Also, “Raheem the Superhero,” is a story that shows we don’t need superpowers to be real heroes. Once, in his past life, he wrote for a men’s fashion blog.

As a son of immigrant parents, Jawad was taught to appreciate literature and value family at a young age. He draws inspiration from his love for his family, his imaginative mind, and his love for storytelling.

Jawad Tariq currently lives in Oakville, Ontario.

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Parenting, Tips

How to Get Your Kids to Feel Safe at the Dentist

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We all need to visit the dentist at least twice a year to have healthy teeth and healthy gums. Generally, children can be easily molded when it comes to going to the dentist because they see what their parents do and they will copy. Additionally, as you will find at a Dentist in Phoenix, AZ, you want an office with a happy, knowledgeable staff that’s passionate about their work.

If your children see you feeling at ease and happy about going to see your dentist regularly, they will model after mom and dad and do the same thing. The thing is, trying to convince your children to allow a stranger to put their hands in the mouth is never easy. The dentist is not a fun experience even for grownups, so while it’s nice to be able to teach your children that they should go to the dentist, you have to be OK with it first. If you want to make visiting the dentist easy and fun for children, read on to learn how you can do it.

little girl playing doctor with mom, oral health, hygiene, teeth, brushing, floss, dentist

 Image source: Pexels

  • Don’t wait. It may feel like an easy thing to do, to wait until your children are old enough to understand what the dentist is and what they’re going to do, but it’s actually not going to help. If you want your children to get routine checkups and be OK walking in and sitting in that chair, it has to start as early as possible so that it feels like a normal part of their lives. Going to the dentist office early teaches your children how they can brush their teeth, how to look after their teeth, and what they should do if their teeth are aching. Even toddlers can get used to going to the dentist.
  • Make it fun. Getting a PlayDoh dentist factory is one of the best ways to help your children feel like the dentist is going to be a fun experience. You should never wait for your child to complain of pain before you go for an appointment, so you need to get them feeling excited about visiting. Teach your little ones some fun and exciting facts about their teeth, and you could play dentist at home, although please don’t use any tools or drills.
  • Lean on positive reinforcement. You don’t have to bribe or butter up the children, but keep a very positive attitude. Of course, it can be tricky, and while you shouldn’t lie to your children, you can help them to have a positive experience. Let them bring along their favorite stuffed animal, portable game, or picture book to help to distract them during the appointment. You could give a reward, but you might be feeding into the idea that the dentist is a negative place to be and that they need to have a present to be able to attend. You should also try to avoid giving lollipops or sugary sweets afterwards, because the idea here is to help them look after their teeth.
  • Give your child some control. Letting your children have some control can really help when they feel anxious. It can be terrifying for a child on the whole to sit through a dental process, but hearing sit still and stay still and open wide can be stressful. You can give your child some control in some simple ways, such as letting them lead you to the appointment room, or encouraging them to shake hands with the dentist. you could also get them a pretend dentist kit so that they have hold their own tools while their teeth are being worked on.
  • Keep an open conversation about healthy teeth. This is one of the most important things to remember when it comes to dentistry. Teaching your children that going to the dentist is a must and not a choice is important, but that they have some control over the situation will help. Talk about cavities and teeth falling out and blossoming into adult teeth. You should also brush your teeth together, encourage flossing and mouthwash, and talk about the importance of ensuring that they are not partaking in activities that could knock their teeth out. Children should feel like dentistry is not a secret or something to be ashamed of.

It’s never really going to be a fun experience for you as a parent to see your children at the dentist, but you can do everything possible to make sure that they feel comfortable and happy with the situation. Now that you know how to get things going, start that conversation now with your children so that you understand that they feel comfortable with the idea of seeing a dentist and having their teeth looked after.