Serendipity Mommy

For happy, healthy, thriving moms

3 Great Ways to Relax as a Parent

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Parenting is a rewarding a beautiful thing. It’s also hard work, time consuming and at times, very stressful. Caring for another human being who is completely dependent on you for their needs, development, and for love is a very difficult thing to do. You aren’t taught how to take care of children. You aren’t taught what to expect. You aren’t taught anything, but you learn from your parents and community, and make it up as you go along. In order to be the best parent you can be, however, you need to unwind and relax (without the kids present). Here are 5 great ideas on how to take a break from your kids:


  1. Have an Oasis

It is so important to have an oasis for yourself. This could be a small office in your home that children are not allowed to go in to, or it could be your favorite café downtown. Wherever your oasis is, make sure your children are not present. Taking a break from your kids is not cruel or mean: it’s simply taking some time to yourself. Everyone would agree that having some alone time, and saying yes once in a while to going out with friends is a good thing. If your children are taken care of, you are more than allowed to steal away for an hour or two. Your child doesn’t want you hovering over them all day, anyway.


  1. Make Unhealthy Habits, Healthier

A lot of adults smoke. It’s a relaxing pastime that works wonders for stress, but by making your unhealthy habits healthier, it is a great way to enjoy your guilty pleasure while reducing the impact on your kids. E-cigarettes produce pleasant-smelling vapor that dissipates quickly and leaves no trace in the air. You can enjoy a cheap vape with many flavors to choose from outside without having to worry about your children.


  1. Have a Life Outside of Your Children

Just because you are a parent doesn’t mean you aren’t still an individual. You were someone else before you were “Mom” or “Dad”. Make time to hang out with your friends, get out of the house, and do something new. There are so many ways that you can enjoy life while still being a great parent. The key to having a functional balance is to have a routine. Meet up with your friends at the same time each week. Take a weekly class. Spend an hour every morning jogging – whatever you do, the more scheduled, the better. Young children especially can learn and understand that you won’t be around every Friday at a set time, because they are used to it.

It’s easy to get caught up in your child’s life. The problem with this, however, is that one day they will grow up and move out. You need to keep your own life active and fulfilling outside of your children to relax, be happier, and nurture every relationship in your life.

What Every Nursing Mother Needs- Simple Wishes Hands-Free Breastpump Bra

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When looking after a nursing baby any bit of assistance is valued. There can be dishes piling up, clothes to wash, or any other form of work to be done, but when a baby wants feeding, all that has to come to a standstill till their fed. Some may not want to give up the breastfeeding experience and prefer to battle through, but desire some respite. One way to stop the headache of a howling hungry baby is by investing in a breastpump, and what better than a breastpump bra that leaves your hands free. Simple Wishes hands-free breastpump bra is a great choice and here’s 3 reasons why.

Impeccable Design

You see and hear of all these women who are fed up of sitting around waiting for bottles to be filled, either by a handheld pump that leaves their hands sore, or an electric pump that takes its precious little time. This breastpump bra gets the job done without consuming time. It has a tight seal of breast shields and flanges, from the four-way layer support system, which means no leakages and no wear and tear. The material is also machine washable, great for reuse, and means you get value for your money. It also conveniently works with all major brands, which means you don’t have to change the bottle you’ve purchased to use the pump.

Maximum Comfort

With going from being pregnant, to nursing a baby, your body is most certainly going to experience some vast changes. This breastpump offers a 10” adjustable velcro back panel that will offer you much comfort, as you are able to fit it perfectly through every stage of change that your body goes through. With the zip in centre located at the front of the bra, it also allows 1” of movement insuring that the pumps are properly positioned.

Freedom

No longer are your hands tied down to machinery, this breastpump requires no excursion. Simply get on with whatever else you have to do. Simple Wishes makes it possible for you to do two things at once, get ready for a day’s work while you pump, or put your feet up and get engrossed in one of your favourite magazines while you pump, or do your make up to a ‘t’ for a night out while you pump. Multi-tasking is a mother’s job, and this breastpump frees you up a bit to do that task well.

Helping Your Daughter Get Celebrity-Ready For Homecoming

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With homecoming just around the corner, chances are you’re already helping your daughter get into preparation mode. But, what does it really take to get ready for such a big occasion and how can you make sure your daughter will look like a top celebrity on her special night? Check out these tips that are sure to work their magic.

1. Prepping Two Weeks Before the Event

While you may think it’s a good idea to colour your daughter’s hair just before the big night, be sure to do it a couple of weeks beforehand so that there’s time to change or fix any mishaps. This is also a good time to schedule any hair treatments your daughter may need to ensure that her hair is shining on the night. This is also a good time to step up her exfoliation routine. Start with two or three times a week.

2. Three or Four Days Before Homecoming

By now, you may already have your daughter’s dress from https://www.promdressshop.com/ or similar online retailers and you’ve had loads of time for any alterations. So, now is the time to pamper her skin so that she will look fresh and glowing on homecoming night. Book a hydrating and soothing facial and try to avoid chemical peels or extractions that could leave her looking rather blotchy. Make sure she is drinking plenty of water, too, since glowing and hydrated skin is the best red-carpet accessory.

3. The Day Before

If she has been looking after her skin and hair, there shouldn’t be too much to do the day before the big event, and there should be no reason to stress at the very last minute. So, take it easy, and even treat your daughter to a manicure and pedicure. Gel polish is great to avoid cracks and chips. If you forgot to book a facial or just don’t have the time for one, get your daughter a gentle hydrating mask to boost plump skin and brightness. Also, don’t forget to treat dry patches of skin if your daughter is going to be wearing a sleeveless blouse or dress. She must treat her ultra-dry spots like the elbows and heels with a body scrub at shower time. Then, follow with a moisturizer that has shea butter in it while her skin is still damp. Finally, cover the spots up with a cotton sock or glove overnight.

The next important thing is not to skimp on sleep the night before. Even if she is nervous, she needs to try and get her full eight hours if she wants to look celebrity-ready and rested. Also, avoid sugar and salty foods, and drink loads of water so she is not bloated.

Finally, we all know zits can pop up when we’re stressed – even for celebrities. But, if she gets a last-minute spot or two, try not to squeeze it. Instead, reduce inflammation by using a cold compress. You can wrap ice cubes in a paper towel and hold it onto the blemish for about five minutes, and then use an over-the-counter acne product with salicylic acid and sulphur to treat the area.

Follow this advice, and you’re sure to help your daughter be celebrity-ready for her big night!

Ten Ways The Busy Mom Can Save Herself Time and Stress

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You are a super Mom, with so many things to do; therefore, you often forget to book a hair appointment for yourself let alone find new ways to relieve a bit of that pressure. When you are looking after children, trying to run a household, potentially have a career and also maintain close friendships, it can feel like you are up against a whole load of tasks that are gradually falling from their enormous pile and crushing you. Being able to step back and catch a breather is not easy, especially if you are constantly reacting to new problems and dilemmas. Follow these simple tips and see if you can release some of that pressure.

Get Organized

If you haven’t already, get a physical family calendar and put it in a place everybody can see. Use a color key so everyone can see what activities they are doing on any day easily and without too much thought. A calendar means everyone knows what everyone else is doing too, a great way to stop arguments. If you want to take it one step further, use Google to put your important dates online and make sure everybody has access to the family calendar.

Start a Family WhatsApp Group

A simple tip but a good one, a family WhatsApp group can be the difference between everybody turning up on time and half of the family claiming that they forgot. If your children don’t have smart phones yet, and you are nervous about getting them one, think about getting one only for when they go out of the house. It’s good to be able to get in touch with them directly wherever they are.

Get Used to Saying ‘No’

If you are finding yourself too stretched for time, and not able to juggle all of the responsibilities you do have, start getting better at saying a flat no. Whether it’s to another parent who wants their kid to come round to your house or to your boss who keeps stacking too much on you, saying ‘no’ can relieve you of your stress. Assert yourself, establish firm boundaries. You might find it saves you a whole lot of time and hassle.

Encourage Kids to Take Some Responsibility

As our children grow and develop, it is easy to overprotect them from the adult world of responsibility. Obviously, you’re probably not going to get them paying utility bills, but you can get them to look after the things that they do have. Maybe they are always losing or breaking their cell phone? Allow them to get a new case for it from Custom Envy, by allowing them to design it themselves they might be inspired to use it more. If they are still damaging their phone, get them to work off the money it cost to replace it. Teach them about the value of items with work, and ease yourself a little stress and heartache.

Make a Strict Budget

Even if you are lucky enough to have a large amount of disposable income, knowing how much you have coming in and out and when it does so is hugely important to staying on top of things. In a budget template, put all of the information about what bills you pay and when and make sure you stick to it. Late payment fees are not very fun and could have a negative impact on your credit score. Keep all of your financial information stored in one, handy place and make sure you know where the important things are at all times.

Form Good Relationships with Other Mom’s

This really is key, as putting effort into making relationships with other parents at your child’s school will help you in the long run. If you have the attitude that you already have enough friends, consider that an ally at the gates could offer more than just emotional support. It might transpire that you could share lifts, for example, which would be really great.

Make Space For One on One Time

To get the most out of your relationships with each family member, whether it is a spouse or your child, you must invest the time to spend together alone. It’s easy to think we are too busy for this kind of thing, but allowing a gulf between you to grow is only going to cause more heartache in the long run and ultimately, cause you more stress. There’s no point in putting your all into being a Mom if you can’t enjoy each other’s company.

Get a Good Sitter

A great sitter that you can trust and rely upon is hard to come by, but put the effort in right now, and you will reap the rewards in a few months when you need a night out, and there’s nobody to help. Don’t rely overly on family members for childcare support, it can cause tension and they might be outdated in their parenting skills. If you can’t find anyone that you like, don’t worry the right person will inevitably come along soon. Talk to your friends and see who they use, you might be able to share.

Have Something That’s ‘Mine’

A hobby or a pastime that is only yours is a great way to get space from your family and reinforce your identity beyond the role of Mom. Whether it is starting a new yoga class, learning a language, or just going for a run alone in the morning, a bit of space from your wonderful bunch is important to appreciate them as much as possible. One of the main problems of being a Mom is that your whole life becomes taken over by the wants and needs of your children and other half; therefore, to make sure resentments don’t start to build, get that time away right now.

Blow Off Steam

Unlike me time, blowing off steam can involve your whole family. Whether it’s going out to the Superbowl or a soccer game, or having a big meal at the local Italian, having fun together will make you closer in the long run and save you having to pick up the pieces. You will release a bit of your own stress, and seeing the family enjoying themselves is sure to make you feel rewarded, and like all your hard work has somehow paid off.

Insurance tips for mothers

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Having children will most likely well acquaint you with doctors, dentists, optometrists and the odd hospital visit. Given the lifestyles that children lead, it makes sense to investigate how private health insurance can work for you and your family. As a mother and/or the primary caregiver, you’ll attend the bulk of these appointments so it makes sense that you should be informed about how health funds can meet your needs.

Firstly, because not all households are the same, there are various types of private health memberships to suit families. These range from coverage for two adult households with children, to single parents with children, to dependants (children) only policies. Best value is to select a fund that considers your child a dependant until they are 24 years old, provided they are a student.

Another cost saving tip for families and individuals alike is to check your eligibility for a restricted membership organisation as certain professions, associations or unions may make you eligible for them. They often offer more competitive premiums as do the not-for-profit funds that most of the general public can access. Furthermore, if you’re budget conscious and are looking for private health cover in the longer term, take it put before you are 30 years old. If you don’t, there’ll be an additional 2% that you’ll have to pay (capped at 70%) for every year after the 1st July following your 31st birthday. Loading can be removed, but only after 10 years of continuous cover. At a minimum therefore, ensure your policy includes private hospital cover in order to avoid lifetime health cover loading.

Another feature for families to seek out, is health funds that charge no excess for children’s hospital admissions. Therefore, you can set a higher excess if you wish in order to reduce your monthly premiums, but will only pay it if you or your partner is admitted to hospital as a private patient. This is great for common childhood procedures such as tonsillectomies and tympanostomies (grommet insertions) and you can reduce costs further by attending hospitals that your fund has agreements with.

Even if you select a high level of hospital cover, note that elective cosmetic surgery like a liposuction procedure, is unlikely to be covered.  If you do have a medical condition that necessitates reconstructive plastic surgery, some services may be covered, while others will only be to a certain extent. Other funds have rules for cosmetic surgeries such as only providing a rebate for procedures that Medicare also pays a benefit. For children, in instances of congenital abnormalities and injuries such as burns, there are some funds that will provide cover for reconstructive plastic surgery, but make sure to read the fine print to see what will be covered under each individual policy.

Once you have shopped around for an adequate level of cover, don’t forget that as a family you have a higher income threshold for the Medicare Levy; it could be reduced or removed for your family subject to eligibility.

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