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Facing the terminal illness of a loved one is one of the most challenging experiences a person can go through. The emotional weight of the situation can feel overwhelming, yet preparing for it is crucial for ensuring that both you and your loved one can find peace and comfort in such a difficult time. Below are key steps to help guide you through the process of preparing for a terminal illness.

Emotional Preparation

It’s natural to feel a whirlwind of emotions – fear, sadness, anger, and even denial. Accepting that these feelings are normal is the first step. Talking openly with your loved one about their condition, their fears, and what they want as the illness progresses can bring clarity and a sense of connection. Avoiding these conversations may make things harder in the long run, but engaging with them now allows you to honour their wishes.

Seeking professional support can also be beneficial. Counsellors or support groups provide a space to express emotions that might be difficult to share with family or friends.

Practical and Legal Considerations

While emotionally supporting your loved one is crucial, there are also practical steps to consider. Legal and medical preparations are essential for ensuring that their wishes are respected as they approach the end of life.

1. Medical Directives: Encourage your loved one to complete an advance directive or a living will. This document outlines their preferences for medical care, including the use of life-sustaining treatments. It also designates someone to make decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so.
2. Power of Attorney: A lasting power of attorney (LPA) for health and welfare is a legal document that appoints someone to make healthcare decisions. There is also a separate LPA for financial decisions. It’s important to have these documents in place before your loved one is no longer able to make decisions themselves.
3. Funeral Plans: Though difficult to discuss, having a conversation about the desired arrangements for after their passing can help prevent future confusion or stress. You might ask whether they have preferences for a burial, cremation, or any specific religious or cultural rites. The funeral services can be pre-planned, allowing family members to feel confident that the arrangements will meet their loved one’s wishes.

Providing Comfort

As the illness progresses, focus on making your loved one as comfortable as possible. Palliative care or hospice services are designed to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life, rather than focusing on curative treatments. These services not only manage physical discomfort but also address emotional, social, and spiritual needs.

Talk to your loved one about what comforts them most – whether it’s a specific type of music, being read to, or spending quiet time in nature. Small acts of kindness and personal care can make a big difference in their daily life.

It’s also important to consider the care environment. Many people prefer to be at home during their final months, surrounded by familiar faces and spaces. 

In Closing

Dealing with a terminal illness is never easy, but by approaching it with care, preparation, and love, you can help ease the burden on both yourself and your loved one. Emotional readiness, practical planning, and taking time to create meaningful moments will not only support your loved one but also help you navigate the challenging path ahead.

*Disclosure: THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE POST*

Your children spend the majority of their day at school so when they come home with work, it’s not surprising they might not want to do it. They could be the most academic-minded individual, but even those who are good at schoolwork can get fatigued and not fancy doing more work outside of school. As a parent or guardian, you’ll want to do what you can to help your child out with their homework, but also help equip them with the tools needed for them to succeed. Whether their homework is making inferences anchor charts, writing an assignment or creating a science project, it’s important to do what you can to support them. In this article we take a look at some top tips that can ensure they get their homework done effectively and efficiently without too much headache in between!

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Why is homework so important? 

While it might seem that homework is just extra work for your children to do after an already busy day, there are a myriad of proven benefits and reasons why it’s recommended for them to do it. This includes:

It reinforces what they’ve learnt in class

One of the most important things that homework does is allow students to practise and reinforce what they learnt in class. This can help them to get a better understanding of the topics and subjects they’re currently working on as well as explore topics more thoroughly than they might have had the chance to when they were in class. By developing their understanding, it helps them to solidify concepts and skills and enable them to apply this in future scenarios.

It helps them develop good work habits

Having positive work habits are vital for raising a well-rounded and intelligent child. By having them do homework it teaches them integral skills such as how to manage their time effectively, enabling them to balance their work with their other activities. It can also help them to develop a sense of responsibility and teach them the importance of taking charge of their assignments. Homework can also enable you to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential when you grow up and work in the real world. 

It prepares them for future academic challenges

School is just the start of the academic life for your children and homework is ideal for preparing them for what’s to come further down the line. By doing homework they’ll be ready for things such as quizzes, tests and exams in further education and can help them know how to deal with it better. It can also help them to build the skills needed for higher education where things like independent study and self-discipline are crucial. By knowing how to deal with this ahead of time, they will do better once it comes. 

It enables parents to be involved in their kids education

When it comes to knowing what’s going on in your child’s education, homework provides you with the perfect opportunity to do this. It provides an opportunity for you to have a look at the topics they’re studying, find more about what they’re doing and how they are performing and see what sense of understanding they have of the work. It can enable you to offer support when it’s needed and make the most of the bridge between home and school. It could be you notice an area that needs improving and can speak to the teacher about it, or vice versa. Your child’s teacher could recommend an area that you should work on with your child more at home to help them perfect a skill or get over a challenge they might currently be experiencing with their schoolwork. 

It can encourage a love of learning

The more your child loves learning and has an interest in education, the better. Homework can help them to explore different topics and do research which in turn can spark their interest in a subject. This can help them to love learning and the array of topics there to be discovered, extending their knowledge base beyond the classroom. This love of learning can also assist with developing personal skills such as hard work, perseverance and researching, all of which can be important life skills that they can utilize in many areas in their lives.

How can you help your child with their homework:

There are a myriad of ways you can help your child with their homework. Whether they’re going through a reluctant phase or you just want to assist with their work and be kept in the loop with what they’re doing, there are many things you can do. Some of the best ways to help include:

Create a routine

Children thrive off of having a routine, so it’s a good idea to create one for their homework. Try and have it the same or similar every day, so they come in from school, get changed, have a snack and a drink then spend a certain amount of time on their work. The routine can change depending on your specific child and the best time they work, but make sure it’s established and consistent so your child knows when it’s time to knuckle down, focus and get the work done. Some people find it works best having their child do their work after dinner, while others prefer straight away as they get in from school. It’s down to you to find something that works for all of you as a household and where they are the most productive and get the most out of the time spent that they possibly can.

Have a dedicated study space

If your child is trying to do homework sitting on your dining table surrounded by family chaos such as dinner being cooked, siblings being loud and other distractions, it can make it near impossible for them to get anything done. If you can, carve out a dedicated study space where they know it is for them to work. This should be free from distractions and clutter, be well lit and have all the items needed for them to work hard. Ensure there are things like pens, paper, charging sockets and more so they can just put their head down and focus when the time is needed. 

Be involved

Being a parent, it’s your role to be involved with the work they bring home and check they’re on track. It’s a good idea to keep track of your child’s assignments and chase them up if they’re falling behind or slacking with what needs to be done. Some schools have online portals where you can monitor any work your child has that’s outstanding as well as any upcoming tests they might need to prepare for. Stay in touch with your child’s teachers and find out if they need any extra help in any areas or if there is anything you can do to help improve their learning experience. You should also always ask your child about their day, finding out about what they’ve learned, their homework and anything interesting that might have happened. 

Encourage them to be independent

While you want to help out as a parent, you also need to encourage them to be independent and know how to problem solve on their own. Instead of just giving the answers which would mean they don’t need to learn the theory or apply any knowledge, guide them with questions and encourage them to solve problems on their own. You can also help them to break down large assignments into manageable tasks and be sure to praise the good work they’re doing and how hard they’re working.

Foster a positive attitude for learning

As a parent, you want to foster a positive environment for your child to learn. Consider reading books with them from a young age so they learn a love for reading, discuss current events and hobbies together and encourage them to always ask questions. Always try and speak positively about school and education - if your child feels you value these in life, they’re more likely to as well. They can be greatly influenced by what you think and feel so being a positive role model can really help.

Celebrate their achievements

One of the most important things you can do as a parent is celebrate the achievements of your child, both big and small. It’s vital you let them know how proud of them you are and support what they’re doing. You should also acknowledge the time and effort they put in, even if they don’t necessarily get top grades.

These are just a few things you can do that can help your child with their homework. Whether they are someone that loves to work and just needs a bit of extra motivation or if they’re someone that struggles with working outside of a school environment, these tips should help. What are some top tips you have for helping your child with their homework? Let usk know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.

Loss is one of the most challenging experiences we face in life. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or even a significant life change, the pain can be overwhelming. While grief is a natural response to loss, it’s important to find healthy ways to cope and heal. Here’s how you can navigate through the grieving process in a way that honors your emotions and helps you move forward.

Allow Yourself to Grieve

The first step in dealing with loss is to allow yourself to grieve. Grief is a deeply personal experience, and there is no right or wrong way to go through it. It’s important to give yourself permission to feel whatever emotions come up, whether it’s sadness, anger, confusion, or even relief. Trying to suppress or ignore these feelings can prolong the healing process and lead to emotional difficulties later on. Instead, acknowledge your emotions and understand that they are a normal part of the grieving process.

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Seek Support from Others

Grieving can feel incredibly isolating, but it’s important to reach out to others for support. Friends, family members, or support groups can provide comfort and understanding during this difficult time. Talking about your loss with someone you trust can help you process your emotions and feel less alone. Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and feelings, even if they are difficult or painful. Sometimes, simply having someone listen can be incredibly healing. Additionally, Funeral Directors Near Me can offer guidance and support in planning a meaningful service that honors your loved one and provides closure for you and your family.

Take Care of Your Physical and Emotional Health

Grief can take a toll on both your physical and emotional well-being, so it’s important to prioritize self-care during this time. Ensure that you’re eating well, getting enough sleep, and engaging in regular physical activity, even if it’s just a short walk each day. Taking care of your body can help you cope better with the emotional challenges of grief. Additionally, consider incorporating relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or journaling to help manage stress and anxiety. Remember that it’s okay to take time for yourself and to do things that bring you comfort and peace.

Find Meaning and Purpose

One of the most difficult aspects of loss is finding a way to move forward without the person or thing you’ve lost. While it may take time, finding meaning and purpose can be a powerful way to cope with grief. This could involve engaging in activities that honor your loved one’s memory, such as volunteering, creating a memorial, or continuing a tradition they cherished. You might also find purpose in helping others who are going through similar experiences or in exploring new interests and passions that bring you joy. Finding ways to incorporate meaning into your life can help you heal and create a sense of hope for the future.

Be Patient with Yourself

Grief is not a linear process, and it doesn’t have a set timeline. Some days will be harder than others, and that’s okay. It’s important to be patient with yourself and to recognize that healing takes time. Allow yourself to grieve at your own pace, and don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. Over time, the pain of loss will become more manageable, and you’ll begin to find a new sense of normalcy.

Dealing with loss is never easy, but by allowing yourself to grieve, seeking support, taking care of your health, finding meaning, and being patient with yourself, you can navigate the grieving process in a healthy way. Remember, you don’t have to go through this alone. Whether it’s friends, family, or a funeral director, there are people who can help you through this difficult time, offering the support and guidance you need to heal and move forward.

*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post* 

Whether your old auto is starting to look a little past its sell-by date, and you think that now is the time to upgrade, or you want to be able to spend your free time on something other than staying at home, switching up to a new car can have a profound impact on the quality of your life. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time commuting to work or driving with the family. But what should you be considering when you’re making your next choice of car?

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Where you’re driving it

Some cars are simply much better suited to different environments than others. There’s nothing, exactly, to stop you from having a Range Rover in the city but you won’t be taking advantage of many of the features that you’re paying for, and you might well have trouble finding parking space. Size, terrain suitability, and the different fuel efficiencies of a car, based on whether you’re driving in the city or on the motorway, should factor into what environment a car is best suited to.

Does it fit your family?

If you have a family, then this should be one of the very first things that you think of. Family-friendly cars tend to be all about how much space they can afford, both in the seating options they come with as well as the boot space they have for storage. You may want to make sure that the whole family can fit safely and comfortably into your car, and that it has space for any baby seats, schoolbags, instrument cases, or whatever else you might have to bring around when you’re running your family.

Its reliability and safety

Although it’s up to you how much of a priority it should be, reliability should at least be something that you think about. Cars that are renowned for being well-engineered and with high reliability, such as a Volkswagen, are a lot more likely to last you longer, give you less trouble on the road, and better maintain their value as a result. You should consider what safety features the vehicle has, as well, as good reliability can be undermined if the car gets into a collision.

How it factors into your budget

• Even if you’re able to take the initial buying price of the car with no issue, that’s not the only way that your choice of car can affect your budget. For one, deciding whether to buy a new car or a used car can affect its affordability greatly. Different cars have different insurance costs, for one, and you have to consider their fuel efficiency, as well, which again factors into the question of where and how you drive it. Try to get an idea of the running costs of a car before you make your final decision.

The elements of a car that factor most in your decision are likely to change from person to person, but it’s important to at least think about those above so that you’re able to consider a car in its totality before making a decision.

*Disclosure* This is a collaborative post.

London, whilst quite a small city if you’re coming from anywhere in the Americas, is incredibly dense and filled to the brim with things to do. And you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money to do these things either; there are so many free London attractions that can take hours to go round! That means spending 2 weeks in the heart of England’s capital can be great fun, and perfect for a family holiday too. 

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Get a Self Catering Apartment

London can be expensive at the best of times, but if you’re travelling and looking to spend around 14 days in the center of the city, it’s best to get a self catering apartment. In doing so you won’t pay premium hotel fees, you won’t need to dine out in restaurants every night, and you can spend as much time as possible in bed instead of dealing with an early morning checkout. 

TVs in something like an AirBnB are also a lot more traveller friendly; if you want to know how to get f1 tv pro in uk and then stream it right to the screen, you won’t need to deal with a hotel’s input locks either. That makes enjoying your favorite events a lot easier, especially if you’re traveling in the middle of the sporting season! 

Day Trip on the Regular

London is very well connected in terms of public transport. As such, if you ever get bored in the big city, you can day trip out and come back all within a few hours. Head to one of the numerous stations, hop on a train, and have fun exploring a new town, city, or village. 

You could head to places like Cambridge, Brighton, Winchester, and the Cotswolds, or you could even head to them all! However, make sure you pack either a lunch each or one big picnic to take with you. Even though you’re out of London, costs can still be high - especially if you’ve headed off to a popular tourist spot. 

Don’t Do the Free Stuff All at Once!

Yes, London has a lot of free attractions going, but you shouldn’t blow them all in the first couple of days you spend there. You’re going to need to stagger them to try and save some money over the course of your 2 week trip. 

Otherwise you’re going to be saving money in the first week and spending it all (and more) in the second! You can do a free attraction and then a paid one, and go back and forth across the days in this manner. Be sure to schedule sit-down time too! 

If you’re about to spend 2 weeks in London, plan it out accordingly. A good London trip makes sure you see the best the city has to offer and you’re never going to be bored. We’d hate for you to visit the UK and think the most populous city in the landscape has nothing to offer! 

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Are you wishing for a baby in the near future? If you can’t wait for that feeling of getting ready for a new baby and need some advice for conceiving, you’ve come to the right place. 

Got a special occasion just around the corner? Need to wrap some presents? Simply Gift Wrap Have you covered, The service offers personalized gift wrap for any occasion such as birthdays, Valentine's, or even anniversaries. 

Everything you need to know about hiring someone to keep you company.

If you are a woman looking for a few hours of company, the largest and most respected straight male escort agency in the UK will have you covered.

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It should go without saying that every parent wants to provide a healthy, happy, safe and stable environment for their children. This will give them the chance to grow up well-adjusted and confident, but it can sometimes feel like you’re not doing as much as you can, or you might not be sure how to provide the stability and safety that’s essential for kids of all ages. If you want some clarity over how to achieve this stability, here are four ideas to consider. 

Promote A Routine 

The easiest way of providing stability is to promote a routine that your kids can follow. This means you should establish mealtimes, study times, and bedtimes that they stick to. 

Working with your kids to create a routine will bring some order to their day. It will help them manage their time better and not spend too much time rushing or stressing to get things done. A routine brings comfort and normality to their life, which gives them something to look forward to and arrange other activities, such as seeing friends or exercising, around the fundamental pieces. Schools work in routines and children thrive in these areas, promoting a good routine before and after school can help children be less stressed or even anxious of what's next in the day.

Encourage Education 

Many kids will groan when faced with going to school even if they love it deep down (although they might not show it). However, encouraging education will give your child plenty of options in life, which sets them up for something great. 

Parents can help encourage a love for education if they make learning fun. Some concepts can be dull and tricky to understand, so try conceptualising these subjects with things your kids know and recognise. 

Keep Them Healthy 

Keeping your kids healthy by modelling an exercise routine or eating healthy foods is a fantastic way of passing on good habits. The sooner your kids embrace the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, the better off they will be while growing up and in their adult life. 

You can help them find sports clubs or introduce them to activities that they like. Again, this combines with a routine, as it will help them keep busy on some evenings and weekends, and gives them something to look forward to. 

Give Them Support 

Home stability is not possible without parental support. You and your partner must be there for your children and help them overcome all the difficulties they face. 

However, not everyone has the privilege of a supposed ‘traditional’ family setup. This isn’t to say single parents are less capable of offering support. But having a spouse or partner who is there permanently, whether because they are citizens or through a spouse visa extension for couples from different countries, will ensure your child (and you) get the full spectrum of support to guarantee a stable and happy household. 

Safe and Stable 

A safe and stable home is crucial for a child’s development. They will learn how to deal with issues in their life and obtain crucial skills that can help them succeed at school, work, and in their personal lives. All of this comes from their home, so you should do all you can to provide as much stability as possible.

* THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE POST *

 

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Are you currently using medication for a health concern? If so, you need to be aware that certain medications can pose certain health risks. Although medication is there to help your health, you need to be careful about interactions they might cause.

Using this guide, you can understand what you need to be careful about while taking certain medications.

Be careful about driving

There are various medications and ingredients that can affect you while driving. For instance, you might choose to use medical cannabis to manage pain. 

Using cannabis and then driving is illegal. You can’t do this and should never do it. If you are using medical cannabis to treat insomnia or anxiety, be careful not to drive for a while after. 

It can be difficult to know exactly how long cannabis stays in your system after use. If you use it often, it will stay longer. It also stays much longer in your blood and urine than it does in your saliva. Your saliva is what they can detect if you are driving.

You will want to know how long cannabis in your system if you use it on the odd occasion. You might not realize that it will be detectable if you get pulled over while driving. It can stay in your system for anywhere between 12 hours and 3 days, so be careful if you use it for sleep and need to drive the following day. It is best to use other methods for sleeping if you know you need to drive. You don’t want to risk getting pulled over and fined.

Protect your hormones ladies

Certain medications can play a part in women’s hormones. Certain ingredients can boost hormones while others can suppress them. 

For example, using daily aspirin can affect a woman’s hormonal cycle. Hence, you might wish to speak with your doctor for an alternative so that you don’t impact your hormones and make sure you maintain regular periods. Regular periods might be better for your health than the medication you are using to manage an ailment. Hence, you can find alternatives to make sure you can protect your female health and stay calm.

Weight loss might not be what you’re looking for

Although certain medications and ingredients can be used for weight loss, you might not be aware that a medication you are using can cause weight loss. If this isn’t what you are looking for or need, it can be dangerous. 

For example, antidepressants can cause weight loss. Although you might need them to help your mental health, it can be good to find medications without certain ingredients so you can maintain good health and weight.

Although you can use many medications without harm, you need to look out for interactions so that you can protect your health. It might be worth speaking with a doctor before using medications so you can protect your current health. You need to only use ingredients that will benefit you.

Using this guide, you can find the best tips to make sure you are protecting your health wihle using medications. 

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

After the loss of a loved one the pain is unreal, me and my husband broke up in November of 2019 and I felt like my world had ended, he stayed with us til the January of 2020, we had Christmas together and new years but it wasn't right. We loved eachother but too much had happened between us that it just couldn't work.

April of 2020 just before lockdown I met someone..Damo, I was expecting a fling, or friends with benefits at the least and I got way more than I bargained for. Happy to say the least I wasn't in it 100% and shortly after it ended. In the June I moved into a new place, a fresh start for me and my kids but I never quite got over not being with my husband, we slept together often, even with him sleeping about too he was my invisible tether and I was drawn to him.

In the October of 2020 the guy I met was back on the scene, not that he ever left as we were friends but we were more romantically involved, we spent my birthday together then Christmas and New year but again shortly after it was over because I was drawn back to my husband.

2021 came and I asked my husband for another baby, he agreed and we started trying, soon after (May) I fell pregnant with my third child. There was a lot of controversy that year about who's baby it was, although I knew deep down it was my husband's and all the scans looked exactly like him. We had Christmas just me and the kids that year and boxing day with my husband and his other two children. The day after we all found out we had COVID and I was booked into hospital to be induced 4 days after I was due. On the 30th December Felicity was born and although I couldn't have my husband with me because we had COVID I had support from my mum.

2022 soon came and we had a weird year, lots of arguing and difficult times came but still lots of being drawn to each other, we spent Christmas together that year and had a beautiful family Christmas together. We had Felicity's first birthday and then new years eve. And although we still argued we told eachother how we felt and that was it.

January 2023 came with the shittiest entrance ever, Felicity was in hospital for an accident a few days later I was at A&E for a headphone bud stuck in my ear and then a few days later my husband got rushed in for a heart attack, I got a call that night to come to the hospital because he might not make it. My heart was in full panic mode. I arrived at 11.10 and they put me in a room with a few chairs, I knew that this was it, he wasn't coming back, then I was told he had died at 11.02. My whole world came crumbling down and thankfully I had my mum there with me cause I just broke.

I saw him on the ER table and although he still felt a bit warm I knew he had gone. The next few weeks/months were a big blur, I was hurting, I had to tell his family, my kids, his kids, plan a funeral and a wake and sort out his flat. Everything set me off and hurt like hell, I'd find myself talking to him because we spoke all the time before and it just killed me, I was so low and then someone came to save me.

Damo was always there in the background, he knew what had happened and obviously gave me time but also was there when I needed him, he didn't mind the crying or the silent cuddles and has always been so good with my babies. The pain was still there but he made it bearable and got me out of that hole I was getting myself into. Soon after we decided that we wanted to try again, it was soon but felt right. He didn't take advantage or expect anything more and the love he gives me is just beautiful and I'm so thankful for that.

Last night we watched a show on TV, one of the characters mum was dying in hospital and when she got there they were lead to a room with sofas and a box of tissues. The raw emotion I got from this scene was immense, it was dark and upsetting for me, reminding me that I lost him and he's gone. Reminding me of that moment I knew in my heart that he was taken from me and our babies. 

Thankfully in that moment I had my safety person, that just held me in that moment validated my emotion and knew that I just needed silence and to be held. And although it's probably weird as hell for him and abit shit, he knew deep down how I felt and accepted that it's just a part of me now.

Grief is shit, there's no other way of describing it, it's raw pain and emotion and happy memories and a reminder that they were here and a huge part of our lives. 

But I'm glad, I've found my person, someone who maybe doesn't get it but is present regardless. And for that I am thankful.