Family Planning Program Explained

family planningUnexpected pregnancies, teens having babies, and potential parents who want to take control of their life before they have kids; are all good reasons for clinics and doctors to provide advice on family planning to their patients. Doctors should all talk about the reasons that a woman, or a couple, may want to have more control and family planning provides the resources necessary to help.

What Is Family Planning?

family plansFamily planning is something that allows parents to make the choice of when they have a child. This enables a teen to make good choices if abstinence isn’t something that they want to practice and may prevent her from becoming a teen mom. It also allows young couples to put off having a child until they are financially stable and certain that they will make their relationship last. It can help a couple that has already had a child or two to ensure that they do not have another right away, which can add a financial burden to their life. There are many reasons that a person may not want to have a child right now and family planning allows them to make that decision. Then, when they are ready, they can “plan” to have a baby join their lives and family planning can also help a family start to grow. Family planning is also designed to help sexually active people remain free of STDs.

Family Planning Options

contraceptive choicesFamily planning is all about giving you options. Through the use of contraceptives (birth control pills, spermicide, condoms, and more) you can prevent pregnancy if you are not ready to have a little bundle join your family. These are non-permanent methods that you may stop at any time if you feel that you are ready to have a new addition. They simply put you in control until you are in control of your situation. There are also more permanent solutions for couples that have already had children and do not want more. Perhaps you are going through a troubling time and you are certain you do not want to have another child, but you do not want to sacrifice the intimate times with your partner. This could be because of an illness or you already feel financially stressed. It is better to prevent pregnancy than be faced with the tough choices of adoption or trying to raise the baby during troubled times.

Is Family Planning the Right Option?

You know your situation. You know the things that you are dealing with. No one can tell you what is right for you when it comes to a new life that you can create. However, for most women and men, there is a time that is always a little better. A time when they are more confident in their ability to take care of a baby the way that it deserves to be taken care of. A baby is a miracle, but it can be very difficult if you are not ready for it. This could lead to further struggles for you and may have a negative impact on you and your little bundle. Planning now can allow you the chance to make sure everything in your life is prepared for the joy that a new baby will bring to your home.

 

Preserving Family Memories in Art

memory jarsOne of the greatest joys in life is spending quality time with your family. Whether it is spending time with your children or your parents. Aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, and all other relatives can help you create the memories that you will always cherish. It may be a trip to a zoo, picnics in the park, nature hikes, or going to some special event together. The key is simply being with those you love for a special moment in time. We all keep little trinkets from these events. Whether its photographs or a collectible that we purchase. We also have the memories that we hold in our mind. What if you could do more with the things you collect? Many people have started preserving family memories in art. Would you be willing to give it a try?

The Memories That Matter Most

glass covered tableFamily holidays, a family vacation to the beach, and more. They are special days. At a beach, you may pick up shells or coral. When you walk on a nature trail, you may find acorns, leaves, or other tiny things. You can take pictures. You can put small items in a treasure box and keep it in a special place. You can display these items on shelves. When you look at them, you will remember what was so great about those items and that day you spent with loved ones. You may also worry that they will get damaged so you put them up, tucked away in a closet where your kids can one day search through the box. What if there was a way to display your treasures without ever risking damage to them?

Preserving Memoirs for a Lifetime

beach coffee tableRemember the days when you could take a leaf and close it up in a book to preserve it? How many books did you one day get rid of with a treasure hidden inside? It would have been preserved perfectly, but tucked away and forgotten about. Do you want that to happen to your memories? You can create a scrapbook and fill it with small tokens and photographs, fill a small shelf with them and use plexiglass to shield them, frame the small and flat items, or fill jars with shells and other things. The possibilities for creative ways to display items is endless. However, not all these things can preserve everything. This is why many people have started creating beautiful works of art using their memories and easy cast epoxy resin. With epoxy, you can encapsulate items of various sizes and protect them, while displaying them proudly on your coffee table, end tables, and more. It creates a keepsake that can be cherished forever and shown off to all who visit your home.

Make Some Memories

We all get one life to live with our loved ones. You should live it to the fullest. Your child will only be a child for a little while. Your parents and grandparents will disappear too soon. Your spouse and you will grow older and memories will ultimately disappear. It is a sad truth, but an undeniable one. Embrace the life you have, make your memories, and find a way to keep them close to you throughout the rest of your life. You will one day be happy that you did, and everyone you love will as well!

Cool Comfortable Homes Make for A Happy Family

Comforts of HomeOur home is our special space. It is where we go to escape the hustle and bustle of our work lives and where our kids go to get away from school. We walk in the door and feel as though we can leave the stress outside. We can kick off our shoes and breathe. We have out big overstuffed chairs and relaxing bedrooms, dinner smells coming from the kitchen, and so much more. It is everything that a home should be unless it is too hot outside and it somehow manages to seep into a home. If this happens, the happy home can quickly become filled with stressed people and a desire to leave so that you are back in the busy world you should be leaving behind.

The Stress of Heat

hot houseIt is fine to sweat outside. It is something we expect. In our homes, though, there is something wrong if you walk into an oven. You can’t really cuddle on a couch with your child or your partner if it is too hot to sit near someone. You will not want to cook a good old-fashioned family dinner if it is too hot to enjoy eating it. When you are hot and sticky, you may walk around feeling unhappy and moody. All the things that we try to keep out of our homes will come creeping in. Toddlers get fussy, parents get grouchier, and everyone just becomes miserable. Is that how you want to live?

The Right Amount of Heat

cuddles on the couchIf you look around just a little, you will see that the average temperature for comfort is around 75 F during the day and 65 F at night.  However, every home is different, and some families prefer it warmer or cooler. It may change with the seasons. If you live in a warmer part of the U.S., you may enjoy it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. You may also consider keeping just one area of your home cooler using a Koldfront portable air conditioner. This will ensure that your power bill doesn’t climb, but you have plenty of cuddle time with those you love. Keeping fans on in your living space will also keep the air circulating so that you feel less sticky during the hottest months of the year.

What Is Your Ideal Temperature?

No one knows what your ideal temperature range may be, but you can figure it out. Turn down your thermostat to something you feel is reasonable. If everyone is cold, you can turn it up a little. If you have a pool outside and your family frequently comes in wet and wrapped in a towel, you may want to keep your home warmer. In the event that you find you set your air conditioner on 75 and at the end of a day the temperature soars to 90, you should look into the idea of adding a power saving portable unit. If it keeps your family happy, you will find the peace at home that you all deserve!

Halloween Ideas for The Whole Family

wizard of ozWe have all heard the term, “Ahhh to be young again.” Perhaps you sometimes feel that same way. You may long for the carefree side of life that only a child can have. You do not have to wish for one night out of the year. Halloween isn’t just a holiday for kids. It is a holiday for the entire family. For one magical night, you can show your kids that you have a little fun left in you using these Halloween ideas for the whole family.

Why Dress for Halloween?

incrediblesOne of the biggest reasons you should play a little dress-up and embrace your inner child, is to show your children that you can. Most kids, especially those who are very young, do not see you as someone who was once a child. They see you as mommy or daddy. They think about the fact that you go to work and clean house, give them rules to follow, and more. By dressing up and acting the character that you dress up as; you can show your kids that you do remember what it is like to be a child. It will also give you one day a year that you can be anything you want to be. Be a clown and have a little fun or dress up with you as the devil and your partner an angel, with your kid being half and half. The possibilities are endless when it comes to creative family costume ideas.

Creative Costumes for the Family

flinstonesOne very fun idea for the entire family would be to have a circus theme. Mom can become the tightrope walker, dad the clown, one child could be a lion tamer, and another child could be the ring leader. If that doesn’t work for your family, you could always have everyone go as a clown. A family that likes story time, may enjoy dressing up as Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Peter Pan, or some other fun story that you all know and love. Super heroes can also be fun, and you have a lot to choose from so that everyone can really pick their favorite. If you are still waiting for a child to be born, you can still go out and have fun on Halloween at parties and such. One idea for this is to dress up in a Jessica and Roger Rabbit costume.

It’s All About the Fun!

Whether you are a family of two or ten, there are a lot of great things you can dress as on All Hallows Eve. A lot of adults are already starting to play along with their kids and parties are always a big hit for adults who want to celebrate Halloween. Each year, more and more adults are taking their opportunity to dress up, be silly, and have a great time. Isn’t it time that you and your family attempt to do the same? It will be a Halloween that you will never forget.

Preparation for Expecting Families

pregnancyWhen preparing for a little one to be born, the entire family waits excitedly for that phone call saying, “its time”. It is a busy time with new emotions and experiences. There are names to be picked and doctor appointments to attend. The list goes on and on. It is exciting in every way, whether you are a first-time parent or one who has done it before. Either way, there is also a lot of preparation for expecting families that must also be dealt with amid the morning sickness and swollen ankles.

Getting Prepared

A lot of getting prepared is going to revolve around the nursery, but not all of it. The truth is, you have to start preparing months before a baby arrives, so it often starts the moment you feel certain you are expecting. You have to prepare yourself mentally for the challenges ahead; sleeping less, being responsible for their needs, and more. Some new parents have spent time trying to have a baby and others are very surprised with the news. Your mental readiness will probably be affected by whether it is unplanned or planned.

Setting Up the Home

babyAs your due date approaches, you will want to start setting up the nursery and baby proofing the home. You want to do it before the baby arrives because once they are here, you may not feel up to doing much and within on a few months, your little one will be very active. Household cleaners should be locked away or put up high long before the baby comes home from the hospital. All newborns need a safe place to sleep. Even if you are going to let them sleep with you until they are able to sleep through the night, its still good to set up a space for them for nap time. There are a lot of fun nursery accessories available to help you set up a nursery. In your room, you may want to simply find the best mini crib mattress to save space and know that it is firm enough to keep them safe at night.

The Mommy Do’s

nursery decorAs a mommy to be, you will also want to start picking out clothes for your little one and focusing your time on “nesting”. Sometimes it starts with finding out whether you are expecting a boy or a girl, and other times it may start before even then. You will need to decide if you will be a breastfeeding mom or if you prefer bottles. Get the items that you need to make those things possible; nursing pads and bras or bottles. Stock up on sleepers, diapers, wipes, and of course a few “cute” outfits as you are able. If your family is planning a baby shower, you can worry a little less about these items, but it is still good to purchase what you can before the baby arrives. You can never have too many clothes or diapers and wipes. They will be used, especially if you purchase a size up from newborn.

Health Choices for Improved Family Heath

protein for breakfastWhen you really think about it, there are a very few things we eat on a day to day basis that are good for us. We live in a world where healthy eating seems to be a thing of the past, as are some of the things that we do beyond eating. We eat quick meals as we run out the door on the way to work, school, or errands. We often eat a quick lunch, and then maybe for dinner we will eat the right way. If you look at the habits we have, things become even worse. If you are concerned about what your family may be doing right or wrong, you should consider trying to encourage some of the health choices for improved family health.

Unhealthy Lifestyles

drinking heavyEveryone has a few bad habits that could be lowering their life expectancy, even if you do not realize that you are doing it. For instance, everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health, but still we do it. There are also some drinkers among us, who are doing more damage than good. The truth is, if you drink more than eight adult beverages in a week, you could likely be overweight because of it and have a few other unsavory health issues to deal with including injuries from a fall. We often come home from work at a desk job and sit on the couch watching television when we are not at work. This is also very bad for your overall health because we all need some type of physical activity, even if it is just choosing to walk up the stairs at work instead of taking the elevator. We stress over things that we cannot change, and this encourages us to continue with our bad habits, which hurts us each day. To get beyond it, you have to recognize the habit as a bad thing and then work to let it go.

Simple Changes to Improve Health

chewing gumOne great example of a simple change that you can make is to watch what you chew on. For instance, let’s say you choose to chew on ice. Chewing on ice is bad for your teeth and it could indicate that you have an iron deficiency. It is fine to chew on ice chunks occasionally, but if it is something you feel compelled to do constantly, you should talk to someone about it. If it is simply something you enjoy doing, you may want to consider switching from ice to gum that is sugar free. Switching to something like Ice Breakers Ice Cubes xylitol will give you the satisfaction of chewing, but can also help with bad breath, cleaning teeth on the run and more. Also, you should keep in mind that breakfast is the most important part of the day. Eat a little protein before you head out the door and you will feel better throughout the entire day.

Live Each Day

We all have bad habits that we deal with, but your bad habits are not allowing you to live the life you should be living. Stop stressing, stop worrying. Simply live each day and forget about complaining. If you can do this, you will be making a major step toward improving your overall health and the rest will simply start to fall into place for you.