Support Kids

Seven Year Olds

Seven year olds are amazing children. They are right at the age where they are starting to be independent and able to do some things by themselves, but they have not lost the wonder of childhood yet.

A seven year old is normally going to be in first or second grade. This is a very neat age for school as well. The kids are now able to do some reading and are starting in with more complex math. These children are eager learners and a lot of fun to be around.

Some of the problems that seven year olds face include teasing and friend issues. This is an age where children start noticing differences in each other, and at times these differences get pointed out. Children who are somewhat different than their peers are ripe to be teased.

If you see this going on with your child, whether he is the teaser or the one being teased, you need to step in and see what you can do to nip this in the bud. Many parents hesitate to get involved in situations like this because they do not want their child to seem like a baby. However, in today’s society teasing can turn to bullying and that is when things get messy.

Hopefully these issues don’t affect your children too badly, and if they do maybe you are able to easily solve the problems. But, if they continue you may want to consider getting a therapist or psychologist involved to help your child deal with these issues. A few actions to help end these problems when they are small will help keep them from turning into something major later on down the road when there aren’t simple solutions.

How Parents Can Get Ahead

Saving money is usually a difficult enough prospect for most of us. Of course, when you are always on the verge of losing your job, and reading your bills feels like running some kind of gauntlet, saving often becomes less of a game and more of a blood sport for the unfortunate parents who then have to explain to their kids that they can’t do all of the things that they want to do because you simply cannot afford to. This is not only humiliating, but it can hurt your kids for years to come in a lot of different ways. But take heart, because hope springs eternal when you’re willing to do whatever it takes. Are you willing to put in the effort?

For one thing, you can negotiate your auto loan to make your payments lower than they otherwise would be. While auto refinance loans may not work for everybody (because they do require pretty good credit in order to work), they are certainly worth the effort to make happen. In a surprisingly large number of cases, as a person’s credit history grows over time, they can move into getting lower payments than they had to start with. If you have been able to keep up your payments for a few years, this just might be worth the effort to push forward on.

Another way that you can save some money (and as a bonus, save your home if you are in danger of losing it) is to refinance your mortgage, or at least to attempt to negotiate a lower payment than the one that you have right now. While a lot of people think that you have to refinance (and it is pretty cheap to do so right now, if your credit can handle it), you can actually get a lower rate sometimes if you go in with the solid intention of doing so. Just believe in yourself.

Being a Mom

Being a mom is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. However, no one ever warns you how much work it will be.

As a mom you have so many responsibilities, your day will be filled with many little chores and jobs. However, you will likely enjoy each and every moment of motherhood, even those which create a little extra work and stress on you.

As a mom, you will have to drive your child to all ends of the earth it seems. Doctors appointments, piano lessons, soccer practice, birthday parties and more will fill your afternoons and weekends. But as a mother you will probably not mind too much.

Everything becomes worth it when your child comes to you and wants to give you a hug, or perhaps tells you they love you. Being a mom is unimaginably wonderful during these times.

While you can never fully turn off being a mom, it is important for every mom to take some time off and be able to relax without having to give their full attention to their family.

If you do not have any “me time” set aside for yourself each week, you owe it to yourself to figure out a way to work this into your life. You may want to join a class, play a sport or just have a girl’s night out with your friends. No matter what it is, it’s important that it is something that makes you happy and able to relax.

Before you know it, your children will grow up before your eyes. Take plenty of time to enjoy every moment you can with your children, and make yourself the best mom that you can be. Your family will thank you and you will be a part of every memory your children and family make. Being a mom is fulfilling and an amazing way to spend your life.

Being Supportive as a Mother

As a mother, it can become difficult to manage all of the things in your life. From your children to the family as a whole and all of the responsibilities that come with it, it can all seem too much sometimes. Yet in the struggles as life it is important to remain supportive for those around us. Parenting itself is extremely difficult. Sometimes children are unable to be as supportive as you are to them, and likewise they experience struggles that you may not be able to completely understand. Ultimately these struggles can bring a family together if hearts are in the right place.

When individuals go through something serious, which can be anything from losing someone close to the normal struggles in life, being supportive becomes extremely important. Indeed we have all felt what sincere and true support can do in even the direst of situations and circumstances.

One of the most dangerous behaviors that can form in these times is one surrounding addiction. It can be difficult to notice in certain circumstances, but as a mother, noticing these behaviors can truly help the person affected. You may even notice this in yourself.

Addictions can come in any form. In order to cope with a situation, individuals can find something to hold onto in these tough times. Indeed many of us are aware of the possibilities surrounding alcohol and other drugs, as these can become dangerous. However there are plenty of things that can extend into addictive behavior, as a person can hold onto some activity or object to the extreme.

It may be difficult to take the next step, but if you notice something you should seek help. A mental health professional can guide you to the right steps, such as consulting with MichaelsHouse.com for a drug-related addiction. Do your best to support and help the person with the habit, even if it is you.

Finding a Support Group

If you are a parent, you are likely facing some sort of issue with your children that you could use extra advice and support with. Whatever issue you are facing, more than likely you are able to find a support group to help you through the trying times. There are support groups available for almost every topic or issue you can imagine.

One way to find a support group is by searching on the internet. Check around on message boards related to whatever issue you are facing and you may find a great way to connect with people. Some of the support groups are only online, while others will meet in person.

You may like meeting with a real group in person because you can make friends that will be with you throughout your life this way. There may also be playgroup options for your children if you have a support group that meets in person.

However, groups that meet on the internet have their benefits too. They are preferable for many because they have a support system available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also, when you look on the internet, you have more opportunities to socialize with people facing your specific problem than being locked into finding someone locally.

If you can’t find a support group out there that meets your needs, you may consider creating one yourself. This can be a great way to network and meet others who are going through what you are. You may be able to reach out and help other parents who don’t even realize that there are others who are in the same position they are.

Support groups are a great thing for everyone involved. If you have not found what you are looking for yet, take the time to check around soon. Your children will benefit greatly by you making connections with other parents of children like themselves.

Picky Stages

Children are naturally going to go through picky stages throughout the years. They will want to experiment with their ability to control certain aspects of their life, and what they eat seems to be a good place for them to start. It can be frustrating as a parent, but getting through these stages is easily done with some patience and a few tricks.

One thing to remember is that children are not going to starve themselves. So do not feel bad if you are feeding them good, well balanced meals and they only seem to pick at them. During certain points when they aren’t going through a growth spurt, children really may not need as much food as you think, and they are likely eating a big meal at school.

If your child is excluding an entire food group, you may consider supplementing their meals with a vitamin supplement. There are many great products that are developed for children. These come in fruit flavors so they will enjoy them, but have all the nutrients they need for healthy growing.

If you and the rest of your family are picky eaters, then it is likely your children will be picky too. Make sure your children see you eating a variety of food and not referring to certain foods as gross. Trying new foods out can be a great family activity. If you study and learn about the foods you eat it can be educational as well as enriching to their diets.

If you have concerns about your child’s diet, don’t be afraid to talk to their doctor about them. They will be more than willing to help you with getting your child eating a well-balanced diet, and may be able to set your mind at ease if you are having ongoing concerns. In most cases, these picky stages will pass and your child will be back to eating a well-balanced diet soon.

Preparing Your Child for Divorce

Divorce is painful for all involved, but for a child who simply does not understand why things within the marriage cannot be fixed, it can be devastating. Parents can take steps to make the process go smoothly. Parents need to teach children about divorce. The biggest factor to focus on is how the divorce will affect the child. The task is not easy, but it is necessary to help ensure the emotional well being of the child.

Work to Explain

The first thing parents need to do is to explain what is happening. The likely first question will be, “why?” It is essential to explain to the child that he or she did nothing to cause the divorce to occur. Explain that sometimes parents cannot make decisions together and do not agree on things.

In addition to this, parents need to keep the child busy. Keep the child enrolled at the same school, if possible. Encourage the child to be a part of sports or other activities. Keep life as normal as possible for the child to ensure he is able to maintain some normalcy in his life. This will help the child to overcome some of the difficulties.

Get Help

Managing divorce with your child can be challenging, but help is available. Discuss options with a divorce lawyer. Some divorce lawyers have the ability to provide information to the child and to you for the child. The divorce attorney has experience handling this type of scenario and can help you. Some even specialize in providing aid to children of divorce.

Divorce is difficult, but children can overcome it. Ensure both parents provide the child with the same information. Assure the child he will still have time with both parents, but be realistic. Do not promise more than you can provide. Divorce attorneys can help ensure the child’s well being is a main part of the divorce. The child’s well being focuses on you, too.

Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?

One of the stages that many kids go through is a “not wanting to sleep stage.” This can occur at many different ages, but is very common among children ages 7 to 10. At this age they are starting to really test the boundaries set by their parents and one way they feel they may be able to have control is over their sleep schedule.

This can be a very trying time for parents and children alike, but there are some easy ways to help get your family through this stage. The most important thing to keep in mind is that it is not as bad as it may seem, and if your child has a few days with less than ideal sleep, they will recover.

The main thing is keeping this from becoming a long lasting problem. You can do this often by not making a big deal out of it. If your child is rebelling and won’t go to sleep, let them stay up. However, don’t let them have fun. The rule in our house is when it’s bedtime you can do whatever you want, but you have to stay in your bed, so no computer, no television, etcetera.

Something to look into also is to see if maybe your child doesn’t need as much sleep as you expect. If this is the case, maybe a later bedtime is in order. Different children have different needs as far as how much sleep they require, so if your child can’t fall asleep at night, but seems to be well rested throughout the day maybe it’s time to push that bedtime back.

No matter what you decide, just remember that this is likely a phase and one that you will get past one way or another. No child will keep themselves from getting enough sleep on an ongoing basis, their bodies will eventually rebel and they will fall into a better sleep pattern.

Grief Versus Depression in Children

Although many of the symptoms are the same, grief and depression in children do have some distinguishing differences. If you are unsure of your child’s mental health status, here are a few guidelines to help you determine grief versus depression in children.

Grief
Grief is usually short term in children. Depending on the age of the child, the normal grief process may take a few months to a year for the kid to work through. There will be some stages that are the same as those seen in depression, but they won’t last as long. Children who grieve the loss of a loved one will feel anger, denial, depression, acceptance and a need to bargain to make themselves feel better. They may also revert back to earlier behaviors. Whatever the symptom, it shouldn’t last more than two weeks. Older children should be able to identify the feelings with the death.

Depression
Depression exhibits many of the same symptoms as grief, but they tend to stick around longer. Anger may be a constant, or there may be continual feelings of hopelessness and sadness. The child may withdraw socially for an extended period of time. Nothing may seem to distract or cheer him up. Appetite and sleep patterns can also change. One distinguishing pattern with eating is that grief stricken people tend to lose their appetite, where depressed people may actually resort to over eating.

Dangers of Depression
For the child who is truly suffering from depression, grief may trigger a major episode. In older kids watch out for drug and alcohol abuse and suicidal behavior. If suicide is a concern, watch for withdrawal, flat emotions, increased acting out behavior or sexual behavior, and morbid themes. If there is any suspicion that your child suffers from depression, seek medical help as soon as possible.

Grief and Bipolar Disorder

To suffer from bipolar disorder can be one of the most difficult situations for the patient and the family. The mood swings, damaged relationships and unexpected disappointments can mount up in a way that causes the person suffering from the disease to be marginalized. When a death occurs, the bipolar individual may have a hard time distinguishing grief from the disease. Maybe there is no distinction, but in young people, grief and bipolar disorder can be disastrous without proper support.

Bipolar disorder will likely not be diagnosed until a child is in the late teenage years. Until that point, behavior problems may have been a frustrating mystery. They may have caused such strife for parents that divorce was the outcome. These kids may feel deeply responsible for the problems in the family. They are self-focused, so even though it isn’t their intention, they may seem ungrateful or selfish. When a death occurs and the bipolar teen is hit with a load of grief, symptoms will escalate to a crisis level.

Make sure that a kid experiencing grief and bipolar disorder is taking his medications regularly. In fact, be the one to administer the medicines to guarantee it’s happening. Keep the child away from drugs and alcohol as much as possible. You can’t be the 24 hour keeper, but you can tighten the boundaries for awhile until things stabilize. Make time to talk with this child, no matter how dramatic, abusive and difficult he may be. Remember that he doesn’t have the same control over his emotions as a normal person.

Never be afraid to seek psychiatric help if the grief and bi polar disorder seem too profound for you to deal with on your own. Whether it’s a psychologist or whether you feel your child would be safest if he was hospitalized, the goal is to keep him safe and healthy while helping him deal with the normal feelings of grief in an abnormal situation.