Why Children Should See Other Countries

Ever since I saw a show about a family that took their kids on a trip around the world, I realized how much I wanted to be able to give my children that experience one day. I was lucky enough to be able to take all my children on a trip to Bulgaria in 2019, and those are some of my favorite memories with them, and theirs as well. Taking my children abroad allowed my children to experience the world in a way drastically different than how we live and it helped broaden their perspective on the world. Here are some other reasons why, if you can afford it, taking children to other countries is a good idea.

Have you ever considered taking a family vacation to another country with your kids? Perhaps you haven't, but the problem is that far too few children get to go on family vacations outside of their own countries. Sometimes it's an issue of money, and other times parents don't realize how vital it is to expose their children to the world around them. In the planning stages of next year's holiday, consider taking a family vacation to a foreign country. If you're still not persuaded that taking your children on vacation overseas is an essential part of exposing them to the wider world, think about the following compelling arguments – you might change your mind.

4 Tips to Get Rid of Household Pests

Ugh, don't get me started on pests. I'm dealing with a pest issue here and nothing seems to be working. Here are some tips so that hopefully you won't need to deal with them.

There are few things more annoying than household pests. You work hard to keep your house in good condition, only for insects and rodents to come in and ruin it. They are a real nuisance and frustratingly difficult to get rid of.

If you have pests in your home that you want gone, you can of course buy pesticides and poisons to eliminate them. But these harsh chemicals are not only cruel, they are also dangerous to have around the house, especially if you have young children around. Instead, here are some alternative remedies for keeping pests outdoors.

Tips and Tricks for Managing My ADHD Life Without Medication

I think it is quite hilarious that I'm writing this when specifically my ADHD made me stop and start and procrastinate and I didn't get it written until now... And I also got up a few times while writing this.... But that aside....

I've known I had ADHD since I was a kid. Everyone in my family has ADHD, so it was always a part of me and my life. My siblings were on medication for their ADHD but I functioned well enough in school without it that my parents never attempted to put me on medication. 

When I was an adult, I went to a psychiatrist for the first time when my anxiety and depression got to such a point that I was no longer functional, and I realized that therapy wasn't enough and I needed medication in order to function. While at the psychiatrist the doctor said to me that it was very clear to him that I had ADHD (ya think?) but that if any psychiatrist would put me on ADHD medication it would be malpractice. The reason he said so is that however bad my ADHD is, my anxiety is so much worse, through the roof, and ADHD medication makes anxiety worse. Not only was I told absolutely no way, no how to ADHD medication, but I was also told that I need to avoid stimulants like caffeine, because that also worsens ADHD.

Tips and Tricks for Managing My ADHD Life Without Medication

Why Car Insurance Is Important For Every Mom

I've been renting a car lately on an hourly basis, and you can pay extra for insurance, and I always do, because without insurance, if you need to pay for repairs, it can be prohibitively expensive. Here is why car insurance is really important, especially if you're a mom.

If you’ve ever seen a mom at work and witnessed her hard work and dedication to her family, then you may have wondered if she’s secretly a superhero. Mothers are an indispensable part of every family. As a mom, you have a lot on your plate and it can be hard to balance it all. Moms are the nurturing figure in their children’s lives and are often responsible for taking care of the family, making sure the bills are paid, and ensuring that everyone is safe, fed and happy. Not to mention all the millions of details that they keep in line that are overlooked and underappreciated.

One thing that moms often overlook is car insurance. Many moms believe that they don't need great coverage because they don't drive very often or they only drive within their neighborhood. However, car insurance is important for every mom - even if you don't drive very much. Every mom needs superhero car insurance to go along with heroine acts of courage.

Here are four reasons why every mom should have car insurance:

Top Tips for Stressed Parents

Are you a stressed out parent? I know I definitely am a stressed out Mommy, and stressed out Mommy doesn't always have the patience that mommies need to be able to take care of their kids ideally, so I do my best to try to lower my stress levels so I can be a better parent. Here are some tips if you can relate- and which parent doesn't?

While children are the pride and joy of your life, all parents will get stressed and feel ready to snap. This is completely normal. As a parent who looks after their children, runs the household, and has to keep on top of everything, there’s no wonder you feel like you’re on the edge. Stress can become a vicious cycle when you are a parent because you don’t want to feel stressed with your family. But it doesn’t always have to be that way. It can be a good idea to learn about stress and how you can combat it. This will make you feel better, as well as provide you with stronger relationships and quality family time.

Here are some top tips to help you get started with dealing with stress as a parent and take the pressure off.

My Laundry Rant and Potential Plans

I hate laundry. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. And as a mom, laundry is one of those absolutely never ending things, along with dishes and making dinner. But laundry is one of those things I hate most. And it doesn't help that laundry is always a saga in my house.

I tried liking laundry. Years ago, in our first apartment, we had a washing machine and dryer and all was good. Then the second apartment that we were in for a bunch of years had no space next to the washer for a dryer, so the dryer ended up in my bedroom in a very uncomfortable to reach place (and made me hate my bedroom, among other things) needing to vent out the window, so I rarely used the dryer and line dried everything. But line drying meant getting dressed to go outside, so often my laundry sat too long on the line outside and got sun bleached, or it sat too long in my washing machine and started stinking so I needed to wash it again. My kids helped me with hanging the laundry, but they couldn't possibly do it all, so it was still a lot of work for me. (And it didn't help that if things weren't pegged properly it would fall into the yard below and we'd need to go down to get the items.) It also entailed needing to watch the weather so I'd catch the laundry before it would get rained on.

So once we moved to this apartment with a space for a dryer above the washing machine, we got a condenser dryer, and I basically vowed never to line dry again. Because for all that it is better for the environment, washing loads of laundry twice, or ruining clothes and needing to buy more isn't good for the environment, and mom's sanity is important for the home environment, also an important environment.

Benefits of Vitamin D for Babies

One of the things that always shows up badly on my blood work is my vitamin D levels. It feels like whatever I do I can't get it high enough. Fortunately, my last blood test showed that I went from severely deficient to low average. Here is why vitamin D is important, especially for developing babies.

The knowledge of vitamin D has been known to the medical world since the beginning of the last century, when German scientist Adolf Windaus described its structure in 1922, receiving a Nobel Prize for this work. However, its prescription for non-skeletal manifestations was very limited for a long time.

For a long time, vitamin D deficiency was associated by pediatricians only with classic childhood rickets and by internists with osteoporosis. Now, on the contrary, it is part of the therapy for many pathologies.

Moving on a Budget: Things You Need to Consider

Moving is one of those things where unexpected costs seem to just add up. Here are some things to consider when trying to move on a budget.

There may be a number of reasons why you want a new home for yourself and your family. Having children may mean that more room is required. Alternatively, you may want space to be able to live off the land, cutting down costs in the long run. No matter your reason, you may not want to spend too much money on the move itself. Therefore, you might need to seriously think before moving forward, so that you are able to reduce the amount you pay as much as possible.

How My Frugality and Cooking Changed Because of Picky Kids with Sensory Issues

My, how times change. You never know what curveballs life will throw at you. My life now and how I live frugally is drastically different from how I did in the past.

I remember when I lived an extremely frugal life by necessity, and I tried to find out what the absolute cheapest foods were, and tried to eat them, because we were barely scraping by (if even) despite living frugally and even more extremely frugal. I did all sorts of calculations to find out the true cost of food, once you include final amounts vs what you start off with, and therefore what foods (and in what form) are cheapest to make, like which starches are cheapest to make, which types of beans are cheapest, and what type of meat is cheapest. I still use the meat calculator, or rather what I found out from it, that chicken breast and wings are generally the cheapest types of meat, that whole chickens aren't as good of a deal, and that thighs and drumsticks aren't worth my time at all because you lose half to bone but they are much more expensive than wings. But it was my looking for what is the cheapest things I can feed my family, and then working from there.

I was talking to my friend Daniel the other day, after he posted how much he loves ful medames, an Egyptian broad bean dip, and he was essentially calling it a wonder food and recommended it to other people, because of how wonderful broad beans are. It brought back memories of when I tried to find ways that I could find broad beans palatable. Because I knew beans and rice were some of the cheapest dishes, I tried to serve them, but just beans and rice wasn't cheap enough- I wanted to make the cheapest types of beans to make the absolutely lowest cost meal. And so I tried to force myself to eat broad beans, even though I hated the flavor. I did find 2 recipes where I could eat them- Sicilian broad bean soup which I actually enjoyed, and ful medames that I could tolerate with enough garlic and lemon juice to drown out what I thought was the gross taste of the broad beans. 

What To Expect When Filing For Divorce

Other than getting married and having kids, getting divorced is basically one of the biggest and most drastic changes in people's lives, and it can be completely overwhelming. One of the ways to reduce the stress and worry is to be more prepared. Hopefully, this post will help reassure you so you know what you can expect when filing for divorce.

Separation is not a decision made on a whim, with many factors to consider. Divorce is a lengthy process that can take up to a year to be finalized.

A trial separation is usually recommended for couples considering divorce. This is a great way to sort through negative emotions before deciding divorce is the only option. You and your partner can look at your relationship differently; once your anger is removed, you can think clearly.

Assuming you have decided to file for divorce, here's what you can expect in the near future.

10 Tips To Help You Practice Safe Driving With Hyperactive Kids

I love driving. It is so convenient and useful... but when kids are in the picture it can turn from fun to scary, especially if the kids are fighting or refuse to sit still in the car. Here are some tips to help keep your drive safer when transporting hyperactive kids.

As a parent, you know that hyperactive kids can be a handful. But did you know that they can also be a danger on the road? 

That's right - if your child is prone to ADHD or other hyperactivity disorders, it's important to take extra precautions when driving.

Here Are Some Tips To Help You Practice Safe Driving With Hyperactive Kids:

Keep your eyes on the road at all times.

It can be tempting to try and keep an eye on your child in the backseat, but it's important to focus on the road ahead. If you need to check on your child, pull over in a safe location first.

Avoid distractions.

The consequences of distracted driving can be great. Therefore it is vital to avoid distractions at all times. This means no cell phones, no eating, and no fiddling with the radio. If your child is being particularly rowdy in the backseat, pull over and deal with the situation before continuing to drive.

Don't be afraid to discipline your child while driving.

If your child is acting up, don't hesitate to sternly tell them to settle down. It's important that they know that misbehaving in the car is not acceptable.

Be prepared for anything.

Hyperactive kids can be unpredictable, so it's important to be prepared for anything. This means having a first-aid kit on hand, as well as knowing what to do in an emergency situation.

Have patience.

Driving with hyperactive kids can be challenging, but it's important to remain patient. If you find yourself getting frustrated, take a deep breath and remember that this is temporary.

Talk to your child about safe driving.

Before you even get in the car, sit down with your child and talk to them about the importance of safe driving. Explain that they need to be on their best behavior when in the car and make sure they understand the consequences of misbehaving.

Model good behavior.

As the driver, it's important to set a good example for your child. This means obeying all traffic laws, using your turn signal, and refraining from road rage. If you want your child to behave, you need to lead by example.

Be aware of your surroundings.

When driving with hyperactive kids, it's important to be extra aware of your surroundings. This means keeping an eye out for pedestrians, cyclists, and other potential hazards.

Take breaks as needed.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, pull over in a safe location and take a break. This will help you clear your head and refocus on the task at hand. Seek professional help if needed.

If you're struggling to deal with your child's hyperactivity, don't hesitate to seek professional help. There are many resources available to parents of hyperactive kids, so don't be afraid to reach out for assistance.

In Conclusion

Practicing safe driving with hyperactive kids takes patience and perseverance. But it's worth it when you know your child is safer on the road. By following these tips, you can help to keep your hyperactive child safe on the road. Safe driving is a responsibility that everyone shares- so make sure our kids are ready for it!

Gluten Free Vegan Banana Bread Recipe -- Allergy Friendly and Frugal

When I have overripe bananas I usually make smoothies and don't have any left for banana bread, but recently I had a lot of bananas overripe at once and therefore had enough to use for baking without affecting our smoothie making capabilities. My problem with most banana bread recipes is they call for a specific amount of bananas and mine often is just a total mush in the freezer, or they are incomplete bananas because I had to remove yucky parts. So I looked for a recipe for banana bread that I could convert to suit my diet that included cups of bananas in the recipe and not just amounts of bananas, and I found this one. 

In addition to making my version gluten free and dairy free, I doubled my recipe. However, I realized only after it was in the oven that I forgot to put in twice the amount of baking soda and baking powder, and worried that it would fail. It did not. It worked perfectly. So I put the range in the ingredient list, both how much I should have put in, and the amount I actually put in, so you can decide which you want to do.

This was a pretty easy recipe just using things I have in the house and cheap ingredients (flax seeds and gluten free flours are normal ingredients in my house), including oil instead of the butter I saw in many recipes, and it tasted great. I will note that this recipe is sweeter than the standard banana bread recipe, that I'd debated calling it banana cake instead of bread, but I decided to leave it as that, I'm just noting this for you to be aware of.

This recipe is allergy friendly and vegan and it was devoured by my family.

I will accept no criticism for my using a disposable pan- I deal with disabilities and this is what I can manage.

Gluten Free Vegan Banana Bread Recipe -- Allergy Friendly and Frugal

Giving Your Pet the Best Quality of Life When Finances Are Scarce

I've had my dog for about 4 years now, and getting her was one of the best decisions of my life. We got her at a time when finances were more challenging than they are now, and I was concerned that she would cost us a lot of money, but 4 years later we are finding that the biggest expense really is medical care, and because she is still young those fees aren't yet high, but as she grows older they will be greater. If you are tight on money but have a pet, here's how to give them a good life while not going broke.

One of the hardest things that we can all experience as a family is a lack of proper finances. We all want to give our children the best lives and, of course, this means our pets too. But pets can get short shrift, especially when we are struggling with our finances. This is why we've got to focus on the quality of life for our pets. So what are the things we need to ensure are in place?