Miscellaneous

4 Reasons To Ignore Hotels In Southeast Asia

No hotel? Where are you going to stay? It’s not a silly question because the vast majority of visitors to foreign countries only think about staying in traditional accommodation, and it doesn’t get more conventional than a hotel. Plus, there’s not much to dislike as the rooms are comfortable, they serve food, and have a pool to keep the family entertained. Pixabay – CC0 Licence   So, when it comes to Southeast Asia, a trip you’ve been planning for the past few months, you might be surprised to learn that hotels don’t present the best value for money. There’s no …

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Tips to Help Yourself as a New Parent

As a new parent, the experience can be pretty overwhelming. There’s so much to think about, and this new bundle in your life suddenly becomes your world. With that being said, here are a few ways that you can help yourself as a new parent. Image Source   Get All The Essentials Before The Arrival Essentials are important because there’s going to be a lot that you need and you may not have any experience with what baby essentials you need and should have ready. Moses baskets are important to get because otherwise, they won’t be able to go into …

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Teenage Kicks: How Gina Coped When Her Brother Died Suddenly in Their Teens

Death of a brother at 17

  “My brother died suddenly when I was 17”   Gina Lee Lyons had a perfectly normal childhood until her Dad left her Mum when she was 12. That started a chain of events including the family losing their home, and her older brother spending time in a category A prison. When she was 17, Gina’s brother was killed suddenly in a car accident.   How trauma shapes lives We talk about how Gina’s mum gradually became an alcoholic, and how Gina herself “got through” those years, without really dealing with her own despair, or processing any of the ordeals …

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The Best Times To Take a Family Trip To London

Some might say that there’s no bad time to organize a trip to London (when the world gets back to normal, anyway), and it’s hard to disagree with them. The bustling capital of the UK, one of the best cities in the world, has a lot to offer at any time of the year. However, if you’re planning a trip to the city once things calm down, then there are a few times that you want to go in particular. Here are a few examples of when London really shows its best self. Image – CC0 License   When the …

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Teenage Kicks: How Ryan Coped With Losing a Parent as a Teenager

Coping with the death of a parent as a teenager

Losing his Dad as a teenager was a shock for Ryan   Losing a parent as a child is always a difficult experience, but for Ryan Gallagher, a firefighter from Burlington in Canada, it was a huge shock. When he was just 16, Ryan’s father died as Ryan himself was performing CPR. Ryan talks to me about how he never really ‘coped’ with what happened, just getting on with his teenage life, doing his usual things.   Using unhealthy coping strategies As a teenager, grieving the loss of his father was just something Ryan compartmentalised so he could cope. It …

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Teenage Kicks: Coping With a Stammer in Your Teens

Growing up with a stammer

How Callum overcame teenage stammering At 18 I said my own name for the first time without stammering Callum Schofield said his own name for the first time at the age of 18 without stuttering. He spent his childhood and teenage years without a voice, and he says his teenage stammering had a massive impact on his mental health. Callum is now a podcast host, motivational speaker and stammering activist raising awareness of the needs of children (and adults) with a stammer. He also advocates for male mental health on his blog and YouTube channel. As a parent it was …

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Adding Extra Seating in the Teen Chillout Room With a Beanbag Armchair

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED When we moved into this house our priority was getting the kids bedrooms sorted, followed by the kitchen. We didn’t give a thought to the ‘dining room’ other than to gratefully claim it as a space to store the kids’ toys where we wouldn’t have to look at them as we tried to relax in the evenings. It gradually became the playroom, and we totally forgot about the ugly wallpaper and lack of curtains, closing the door on it every night so we didn’t have to tidy up Buzz Lightyear and 22,000 Lego bricks before dinner. The …

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