Insparenting

You’re a nice person. That might be the reason why he chose you to be his wife, to be the mother of his children.

But, hey…these kids had watched Cinderella and Snow White before you came into their life.

Then, what can you do about it?

• Build a relationship before you finally say “Yes, I do.” Let them know you, vice versa. Don’t just jump into the house you know nothing about.
• If possible, get to know their mother–if she happens to be alive and had a smooth divorce, no hatred whatsoever. Let her give you tips. It will ease your role as a stepmother.
• Don’t expect love at first sight. Frankly speaking, they are not your own children, so it is normal if either you or the kids need time to get to like each other.
• Put your marriage as the highest priority. If the marriage works, it will be easier for you to play the role as a happy, nice, cheerful step mom.
• Show the kids that you are not trying to steal their father. And, make sure that your husband show that as well.
• Listen to your heart. Well, they are not your own children, it’s true. But, aren’t they cute?

These work with my bestfriend, Jane. So, it might work with you.

Merry Christmas!

• Indoor Playground. Go visit the indoor playground with your toddler. Let him enjoy the the running, climbing, jumping and crawling there.
• The Library. Take your ‘lil one to the library for some story tellings or some other activities. It is warm and fun. Get some books home for you to read them to the kid.
• Crayons and Clay. Let them explore their artistic side using these interesting stuff. Moms might also like to help. And, it is better to make him play in the high chair for an easier clean-up.
• The Museums. Just like the library, some Museums serve activities for toddlers. Take him there and let him have fun and learn something.
• Just Walking. Yeah, take a walk with him in your neighborhood when the weather is friendly. Make sure to bundle your toddler up with layers or a snow suit, a hat, and mittens or gloves. Don’t forget to bring the stroller along in case he gets tired.

Happy Holiday!

It’s been almost six month since my brother in law got married. He and his wife are longing for a positive sign on the pregnancy test. Yet, it’s always been negative.

Last week they came for a dinner at our place. The wife asked me, “Any tips on how to get pregnant fast?”

“Fast? Well, it depends. Yet, there are some tips I have on finding out when you’re most fertile…”

Here they are:

• Checking out the basal body temperature (temperature at rest as soon as you awake in the morning, before getting out of bed) using a basal body thermometer. Make a chart of your basal temperature starting on your first day of period. You’ll be most fertile during the two to three days before the temperature rises. When the slightly higher temperature remains steady for three days or more, there is a chance that an ovulation has occurred.
• Be aware of the changes in your cervical mucus throughout the month. Check it out with a toilet paper and make a record. You can label the days, “Sticky,” “Dry,” or “Wet.” You are most fertile at the first sign of wetness after your period or a day or two before the wetness starts.
• Mark the day when your period begins each month using a calendar. Also track the number of days each period lasts. If you have a consistent 28-day cycle, ovulation is likely to begin about 14 days after the day your last period began. If your cycles are a bit irregular, subtract 18 from the number of days in your shortest cycle. When your next period begins, count ahead this many days. The next week is a reasonable guess for your most fertile days.

Hopefully, she will get pregnant soon…

However, I have some more tips. I think I’ll share it anytime soon!

Being self-employed father doesn’t mean that you do not have insurance coverage for health. It is even more important than ever, since you are not covered by your employer’s healthcare insurance. You should find health policy that will provide you with the proper coverage that suits your family situation. Here are some tips.

If you have small business, you can get small business health coverage benefits. How? You might be able to reduce the cost of your healthcare by offering group health benefits to your employees. By covering several people as a group under the same policy, you will get special discounted rates.

Another option is to open a health saving account coupled with high deductible insurance options. With this option, you can save money on a tax free basis with your medical saving account, also known as an MSA, while also ensuring that you are protected when it comes to paying for medical care. The money you do not spend on medical expenses can then be used for your retirement.

Before you make any decisions, compare the medical insurance quotes from several insurance companies. Be sure to compare more then just the premium cost. You have to also consider the reputation of the insurance company as well as the best coverage that suits you.

Thoughtful gifts can strengthen family ties

This week we’ll suggest a few twists on holiday gift ideas. I’ll begin with a list of ideas for teens on what to get their parents. Because Christmas is not about cash, I’ve included ideas for any budget. These are light-hearted but practical gifts, in keeping with the spirit of a happy family holiday.

Kids help needy families through Christmas Store

South Jordan Elementary first-graders drummed up 559 new hats, gloves and socks to donate to the Christmas Store, set up in Midvale Middle School to help Jordan District families in need provide Christmas for their children.

Buying gifts for teenagers a challenge for parents

While the Christmas season is a time of giving, the high cost of the preferred gifts of teenagers and the pressure to supply those gifts can make the holiday season one of stress and over-spending for some parents.

No one would want to think about their death, especially in the near future. However, if we have a family, especially if the children are still young, we need to prepare for the worse. If something happens, then we want them to be well provided. Thus, it comes to the important of coverage for insurance.

However, it is not easy to choose which insurance is the best, and how to save on insurance premium with coverage that matches our family situation. First of all we have to select reputable companies, and then ask for their quotes online through insurance quoting services. We cannot just look for insurance cheapest premium companies without knowing the companies’ profiles. The next step is to choose the best coverage options. The coverage must be suitable for our family condition. Once you have settled on coverage and type of policy, then find one with the best price and the cheapest rate.

Above all of those, you need to take care of yourself. Owning a life insurance policy does not mean that you can be reckless with your health. Your family needs you more alive.