Showing posts sorted by relevance for query mom stress. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query mom stress. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query mom stress. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query mom stress. Sort by date Show all posts

Can the Stress of Being a Mom Cause Hair Loss?

How Mom Stress Can Cause Hair Loss


What can cause hair loss in women? With all of the traveling and adventuring, it is easy to become stressed from time to time, especially when you also take into account the challenges of everyday life and work. Although a little stress is normal when you have a family, if you are beginning to feel as if your stress is endless, you must find ways to manage it, as stress can lead to physical symptoms, including hair loss.


This post contains Amazon affiliate links.


How Mom Stress Can Cause Hair Loss


In the photo above, I have inexpensive hair extensions for a Halloween costume party. I thought it was obvious, but my friends actually thought I went to the salon and got real extensions. My actual hair is shoulder length. Pretty good color match, don't you think? Though, I don't have a problem with hair loss or thinning, I did notice a lot of hair extra hair in the shower drain after recovering from Covid 19.


What causes stress?

You may begin to experience stress due to changes coming up in your life, even if these changes are fun ones like going on vacation or moving into your dream house. You might also start to feel stressed if you feel pressured, whether this is to be a good mom or to meet all of your work deadlines. Some women feel stressed if they do not take enough time off work, or if they are worried about something, such as a new baby or their lack of finances. 


How does stress cause hair loss?

As well as having an emotional impact on you and causing mental health issues, stress can also create a physical reaction in your body. It should also be noted that hormonal changes such as perimenopause and menopause can cause hair thinning and loss in women. When you are stressed, your hair follicles might stay in the resting phase of their cycle rather than fluctuating between resting and growing. If this persists for too long, they might then begin to fall out regardless of what you do to your hair. This can make you even more stressed as you begin to feel self-conscious about your appearance.


Should you get a hair transplant?

Although your hair will usually start to regrow once your stress levels have lessened, if you do find that you are struggling with hair loss to a great extent, you should consider the benefits of a hair transplant from a hair clinic near me. They will be able to restore your hair to its prime and allow you to disguise any bald patches that have formed on your head. With a hair transplant, there;s need for Halloween hair extensions. This can help you to meet your hair goals and to feel like yourself again, boosting your confidence, and enabling you to focus on your family. Although there are many different treatments for hair loss, hair transplants are nearly permanent and can make a dramatic difference that will allow you to start living your life to the fullest instantly. You won't have to hide inside your house in fear that others will notice your hair loss.


How can you reduce stress?

If you want to reduce the stress that you've been experiencing, make sure that you exercise often and get out into nature to enjoy the benefits of sunshine, that you drink and eat enough healthy choices, and that you try to reduce the triggers of your stress.

Take some time off to recenter yourself and perform self-care activities during which you can focus on yourself rather than the rest of the family. If your stress has reached unmanageable levels, consider scheduling an appointment with a therapist, where you can talk through the problems you are facing and process the emotions that you are experiencing. Sometimes, it's as simple as throwing on some silly hair extensions and attending a costume party! Whatever you choose, be sure to keep your stress levels at a minimum. Seek help if the stress feels overwhelming.


Recommended:

Self-Care Tips

Ways to Reduce Stress




8 Party Planning Tips to Make your Next Kids' Birthday Celebration Stress Free

8 Tips and Tricks on Planning Parties for Kids

Nadia of Teach Me Mommy blog shares some tips and tricks to help you plan a stress free birthday party for kids. Enjoy!

Party Planning- it could get you all excited or just stressed out! I will share a few Tips and Tricks on how to plan a party: stress free (or almost)! I am no expert, but have done a few parties myself and found I just love it!

8 Party Planning Tips to Make your Next Kids' Birthday Celebration Stress Free
Stress Free Party Planning Tips.


Here are some things to think about:

1. Start early: the earlier you start planning, the more time you have to get everything together and you don't have to rush. (This year it was my baby boy's first party, and because his birthday is in the beginning of January, I, sort of, forgot about it! Realizing the 1st of January, it is January! Next year I will plan his party in November, that way, in spite of the Holidays and Christmas rush, this mom will be more prepared!)

2. Choose a theme. Older kids will probably tell you what theme they want for their parties, but for the younger ones, you have to choose something. For a 1st birthday, you can go with anything you'd like, but from the 2nd birthday, think what interests does your child have. I chose a Story Book Party Theme for my girls 2nd birthday, because at that stage(and still) she loved books and storytelling. Her 3rd birthday party was a Zoo theme, she just loves the zoo and the animals.

3) Invites: Get the invites out early,but not too early so people will forget about it! 2/3 weeks before the RSVP date (this date should be no closer than 1 week until the party,so you can plan accordingly). Evites are so much easier to send these days, and you could still print one for yourself as a keepsake.

4) Keep the weather in mind: For us,my daughter was a winter baby,so we rather plan everything inside. My son was a summer baby,but it is also raining season. I plan everything for outside, but have a back up plan inside. You don't want to have to jump around when the rain starts with an audience; )

5) Delegate: this is very important (note to self)! You can't do everything well yourself,sometimes you need help! If help is offered, take it. The trick here is: Make an example of how you want something done,that way it will still be just the way you imagined.

6) Activities: think of activities for all ages. Make it interesting for the kids,this helps that they will not cling to their parents when dropped off, or if the parents stay,they can too enjoy the party. I like to plan the activities so it will fit into the overall theme, for example: with the Zoo theme the kids made masks of zoo animals.

7) Eats: it is up to you whether you want to go with a sweets only party,or want to include food too. A good cue is the time of the party: if it falls on lunch/supper time, you will need to offer some kind of filling snack. Do keep in mind the age of the kids attending too. If it is a party where the parents stay,you could have finger food for them,and drinks. But this is up to you. Leave all the "fresh" preparations for the day of the party, but try and do all other preparations that can be done a day or two beforehand, in advance. This will avoid a rush on the party day.

8) Party Favours: this is totally optional. Again, I like to include favours that fit with the overall theme. These need not be expensive, you can give something small or homemade, it is the idea that counts. I always send the extra sweets home with them too, that way you won't have too many temptations left over;)

I hope you find these few tips helpful and that the next party you plan will be less stressful!

Recommended Reading:

Birthday Party Tips*

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss Book*







ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)


6 Ways to Help Teens Lead Healthy Lives

Are you Ready to Show your Teenagers Healthy Habits?


If you’ve got a teen in the family, it can be challenging to get them to do anything. Encouraging them to lead a healthy lifestyle is an important foundation for their future adult years. Habits teens develop when they’re young can be beneficial to your teen for a lifetime. One of the best ways to influence your teen is to lead by example. Teens don’t usually take being told what to do very well. So what lifestyle choices can YOU adopt in the hope that they rub off on your teenage children?




6 Ways to Help Teens Lead Healthy Lives


  • Eat Less Meat and More Fruit and Vegetables

The recommendation is that you eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables every day. For many teens, this can be a difficult goal to achieve. You can help by leaving processed foods and snacks off your grocery list and making more meals and snacks at home. It also helps to set regular mealtimes and eat meals together as a family. We've been doing this the last year or so. Now, my kids prefer oranges to donuts!

  • Exercise More

There are many benefits to regular exercise, not just the burning of calories. Physical activity also helps to keep the heart and lungs strong and produces endorphins. These are the chemicals that improve mood, which is always going to be good for a moody teen. Ideally, exercise should include a good balance of aerobic, strength and flexibility training. 60 minutes of vigorous exercise every day should be the goal for your teen to get them on track to lead a healthy lifestyle in the future.

  • Moderate Your Drinking Habits

It’s important for teens to stay hydrated, especially if they participate in sports. Ideally, aim for six to eight glasses of water per day. Fruit juice is good along with low-fat milk. However, you should limit your teenager's intake of  sugary and caffeinated drinks as they have little nutritional value and just provide excess sugar and empty calories. Don't forget to limit your intake too!

  • Introduce a Ditch the Gadgets Day

Is your teen glued to their smartphone most of the day? Did you know there is a condition known as social media addiction? You could introduce a ditch the gadgets day in your family and see how that goes. Alternatively, if you’re worried about your teen's social media obsession, there is professional treatment for teen social media addiction that can help. if you want to know more, please visit igniteteentreatment.com 

  • Set a Regular Sleep Schedule

Eight to ten hours sleep is the optimum amount of sleep for a teen, for teens to function at their best during the day. It sounds like an achievable goal but when you factor in homework and other activities, together with the early morning school start, getting enough sleep can be challenging. Set a regular schedule and encourage your teens to have at least an hour of quiet time before going to bed. It also helps if electronic gadgets are switched off for the night. You too, Mom.

  • Help Them Manage Stress

Being a teen can be very stressful, and teens don’t always know how to deal with their stressful lifestyles. The tips mentioned above are very beneficial, together with distractions, relaxation exercises, and talking. Being a positive role mode for your teen l is another way to teach teens stress management techniques.

Being a teen isn’t always easy, but with love and support from their family, teens can lead a healthy lifestyle and have a brighter future.  So can you! Are you ready to lead by example?



Recommended:




More Articles on Teens from Kids Creative Chaos



This post contains Amazon affiliate links. 

Feeling Disrespected by Family

Do you often feel cast aside and disrespected by family members?

Are you feeling disrespected in your relationships? Most of us feel disrespected at times, even when no one really means to show us disrespect. Parenting is hard, but being the mom is harder. Society puts pressure on moms to always do the right thing, to put on a happy face, and never to let the family see that you’re human too. How do you know when you’re just feeling emotional versus when the disrespect is out of control? Feeling disrespected by family stifles good vibes, what can you do?

Damned if you do quote
You're damned if you do and damned if you don't quote.

 This sponsored post contains Amazon affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

 

Kids will be kids. But when teenagers behave like teenagers, family relationships can get difficult. When do you choose your battle, when do you ignore the emotional roller coaster, and when do you jump on the parenting train to try to fix it? Is it just a phase or are they modeling the behavior of another family member? If your partner is disrespectful, chances are your kids will be too. Not sure if your partner has crossed the line? ReGain has a very eye-opening article that can help you decide.


Get my Debut Novel: Allegedly Mystic


If your kids are suffering from the effects of your relationship, they may act out or become depressed. Children, especially teens, get frustrated by their lack of control over their life situations. Sometimes they feel like the situation is hopeless- no matter how hard you try to work with them. I’ve been down this road more than once. It doesn’t get any easier with practice. All you can do is learn from your mistakes and be prepared to be the bad guy no matter what you say. The old adage, “You’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t,” starts to feel like the title of your life.

When I split with my partner of fifteen years, we all suffered with depression and the fear of the unknown. As a parent, watching your children suffer is painful. No matter how much you want to help, your help may not be the answer. Public school counselors can often help zero in on issues like adhd, autism, depression, suicidal tendencies, or other emotional issues. If you’re a homeschooler, finding an affordable counselor isn’t as easy. There are many online resources. This article might help a teen who is fighting to hold back tears when they’re feeling frustrated or angry: Why do I cry when I’m Mad?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, this article from GoodTherapy shares a list of teen help hotlines and other free mental health resources. Your pediatrician can also do a depression evaluation survey, and based on the results, refer you to a family counselor. Many family therapists operate on a sliding scale. 


Articles on Autism


After the upheaval in our family, the kids and I moved to our happy place. A little cottage on a quiet lake, where we could swim, kayak, and birdwatch to our heart’s content. The first few weeks we kept our minds busy by remodeling the house, but after a while reality set in, and we decided to try family counseling. No one really enjoyed it, we had to make some sacrifices to find an affordable therapist which ended up being an hour from home. By the time we got off the waiting list, much of the family dynamic had changed and the diagnosis was changed from severe depression to adhd. The counselor had to have a diagnosis for our insurance to continue to pay, but it didn’t really seem to fit our circumstances.

With other members of the family with adhd, we had some prior experience dealing with the ups and downs, and this really wasn’t the same thing. It was nice to have a neutral party listen to our problems, but it wasn’t really worth the trouble. It caused more stress on an already stressed relationship, because the kids didn’t want to go and the family dynamic continued to play out. I know that sounds counterintuitive. I know that I’m the parent and I shouldn’t let the kids overrule me, but believe me, this wasn’t good for any of us. At the time, an online therapy option would’ve been ideal. 

Finally, the best solution for our family came through the advice of our pediatrician, the kids needed their own life. They needed more activities that they enjoyed. Sure, we did homeschool groups, 4-H, and summer camps, but it wasn’t enough. My kids were at a place in their lives where they needed more, even if they didn’t want more. They also needed less. Less time with mom, less time with each other. We all needed some space to help distance ourselves from the previous situation.

The biggest battle we faced was a lack of real relationships. There were no close relationships so that the kids could see healthy family behaviors modeled. We lived over an hour away from any relatives, so extended family time was few and far between. It was definitely time for a major change. After some heartfelt conversations with the pediatrician, relatives, and close friends, we decided our life needed an overhaul. The biggest piece of the puzzle that we all longed for was a sense of belonging. So we packed our bags and moved back to my hometown where we could be closer to family that would provide a support network as we all stepped out into the real world for the first time in years. I took a part-time job as an activity assistant at a retirement home and the kids both enrolled in public school. Talk about change! Change is scary, but sometimes we need a catalyst to set our lives in the right direction. All of these changes have led me to a wonderful opportunity with our local Habitat for Humanity. Look for more updates in coming posts.

 

Recommended:


If Mama Ain't Happy Article from Adventures of Kids Creative Chaos

Signs of Trouble? Article from Adventures of Kids Creative Chaos




Family Movie Night Ideas

School's Out! Celebrate with a Family Movie Nigh in the Backyard


This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DataAndAMovie #CollectiveBias

Do you still have a landline? We don't. Teens have a phone, but what about tweens? I'm just not ready to let my tweens have their own phone. Since we homeschool, they aren't influenced by other kids with phones. Neither of them want one. They have tablets. I figure they can "call me" in an emergency via G+, but now that they are getting older, it would be plausible to leave at least one of them home while I run errands or go to the dreaded grocery. Remember those days? The days when your kids fit in the cart and you were embarrassed by their squeals and crying fits, but they were stored neatly in the cart? Ahh... perspective, but what does that have to do with family movie night? I'll tell you...



Family Movie Night Ideas
Family Movie Night Ideas.

Anyway, 911 doesn't have a Gmail account. So, I decided to get a "house phone." To celebrate the last day of school, and the purchase of our new Walmart Family Mobile PLUS plan, we decided to have a friends and family movie night. Check out our family movie night ideas below. Enjoy!

Your phone is capable of so many things, but did you know it can project movies onto a big screen? I don't mean with an app. Learn how to make your phone into a movie projector, so you can watch movies in the backyard... on a sheet! Now, that is fun! Get the details here: Turn your phone into a movie projector. This is a fun homeschool science project. Translation: have the kids build it for you!

So, I was lazy. Sure, I could have poked holes in the corners of my sheet, looped a rope through, and then strung it from two trees in the backyard. That would have been beautiful. But, all of my trees were too far apart, and I didn't have any rope. A backyard swing made the perfect "stand" for my outdoor movie screen. Think outside the box. You could even drape it over a privacy fence. Whatever works, right?



Family Movie Night Ideas
Family movie night ideas: make an outdoor movie theater with an old sheet and a mobile phone!



Before you invite your guests, you'll need to decide on a movie to stream. Whether you stream inside on a large screen television or outside, Walmart Family Mobile Plus is here for you. The plan features Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data which includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE data PLUS a free movie on VUDU (new release rental $7 value) every month per line for $49.88. Translation: Every month you can stream a movie on the television with your family! This makes family time a no-brainer. With VUDU movies, you can stream on your television with your Roku or even an old sheet in the backyard!


Watch a free, family movie every month with VUDU
Watch a free, family movie on your tv every month with VUDU and Walmart Family Mobile.

Movie and snacks. Movie and outdoors on the big screen. Movie and indoors on the television. All for a less than $50 bucks a month. With the extra data from the PLUS plan, you can do more with your phone. Watch your free movie from VUDU and then stream as much of YOUTUBE as you want, play mindless games to de-stress, text your Mom. Text your Dad. Text Santa Claus. You can do it because you have plenty of data.

My favorite thing about VUDU? They also offer some movies prior or in conjunction with the theatrical release. That's right, you can watch a box office hit from the comfort of home.


Walmart Family Mobile Starter Kit is on rollback!



I've got more good news, the Starter Kit is on rollback! Get started for only $19.88 and since Family Mobile bills you later, you only have  to pay the $19.88 when you sign up. That's right, the $49.88 is build at the END of the month not the beginning. Woo hoo!


Walmart Family Mobile Reviews
Walmart Family Mobile pricing options.

So, we researched all of the Family Mobile compatible phones. Based on the reviews, our top three choices were the LG G Stylo - $179.00 (Rollback from $199.00)Samsung Galaxy Core Prime - $79.92 (Rollback from $99.92), and the Cool Pad Rogue- $19.88 (Rollback from $39.83). Something for every price point. The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime -$129 (Rollback from $149.00) is good too. Based on the price points and the reviews, we decided to go with the middle range Samsung Galaxy Core Prime.



Walmart Family Mobile phones.

Walmart Family Mobile Samsung Galaxy Core Prime phone.

What will you choose? Since we are celebrating the last day of "school" with our homeschool friends, we decided to kick off the summer with a fun, educational movie. Well, sort of, we chose, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy from 2005. Based on the best-selling book of the same name. The book is on many high school's reading lists.


For out next indoor family movie nights, we have plans to watch, Norm of the North, Ninja Turtles, and all of the Kung Fu Panda movies on our big screen tv. What about you? What fun ideas do you have for family movie night?  Now that we have all of these movies at our fingertips, we need movie ideas! In the comments, tell us your family movie night picks.




VUDU movies


Recommended:

Sleepover Games




Disclaimer: All prices for phones and Walmart Family Mobile plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/3edbv or your local Walmart for current pricing.


ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.  *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! 

Homeschooling During the Coronavirus?

School Closure Home Learning


Have you unexpectedly been tossed into the throes of homeschooling since the Corona virus pandemic? If you've suddenly had to to become the school teacher, cafeteria lady, and janitor during these school closures, you're well aware that home learning is more difficult than it looks. So, how do you do homeschooling during the coronavirus pandemic? As seasoned homeschoolers, we're here to help. Below is a list of our favorite homeschool resources and some articles specifically addressing these troubled times and how to help your kids cope. What a life lesson this is, right?

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

For more on our personal journey scroll to the end.


Homeschooling During the Coronavirus?



Worried how school closure and remote learning will affect your child? Love them, support them, build them up, and they'll be fine. Think homeschoolers are weird? Maybe, depends on your perspective, but we're more normal than you think. We only had 7 months of brick and mortar school, but our previously homeschooled kids made the best of their first year of brick and mortar school. They miss school so much. When this is all over your kids will look forward to going to school too! I've added a photo album for our long time readers and fans. Enjoy!


homeschool success stories
I love this post! We have a similar experience.
Keep scrolling to see our homeschoolers' success in public school!

Tips for Home Learning and Coping during School Closures and Covid19 




Coronavirus Memes Covid18 Memes Apocalypse
These are scary times, so here's a Coronavirus meme to lighten the mood.

Educational Resources for Homeschooling during the Coronavirus

  • Many of our older homeschool resources that target elementary students are listed in the homeschool tab on this site: Homeschool Learning Lessons for Elementary Age You can also do a search on our site for specific types of lessons like, grammar, math, and science.

  • BrainPop has the most fun videos; I love them as much as my kids do. BrainPopJr. is great for the younger set. They are a paid service, but offer a free movie of the week and other free lessons.


  • Mobymax has free options for remote learning and homeschoolers. The great thing about this website is they find and fix learning gaps. Kids can take assessments to see where they fall and then do educational activities based on their grade level in different subjects. It's a great way to see if your child has been falling through the cracks in public school.



  • Khan Academy is not for the faint of heart. If you're all in to the homeschooling thing, give it a try. We used it for several years. It's a free learning resource originally targeted toward middle schoolers and high schoolers, but now offers lessons for elementary too. It feels a lot more like "real school" than some of the other online options and keeps track of your progress and grade level.

  • Why not give this difficult time a fun spin? Our Summer Camp Handbook is edutainment at its best! Enjoy science experiments, PE Activities, and more disguised as fun! 

  • We also love CrashCourse with John and Hank Green. (Yes, that John Green!) You'll even find some of their lessons on Khan Academy. These are super fun, especially for older students.

Best Homeschool Blogs











First day of public school 2019.

We hope these resources help ease your mind and put you on the right track for remote home learning during the Coronavirus pandemic situation. Remember, homeschooling isn't easy and not all parents nor all kids are cut out for it. 



Bowling allows for socialization and physical activity. During the quarantine,
bowl with your game console or set up milk jugs to knock down with a basketball.

Do the best you can. Don't overdo it! If you take it too seriously, your kids won't enjoy it and neither will you. Make learning fun, make it light, and focus on those skills that are best learned at home: writing letters, sending emails, tying shoes, telling time, how to follow a recipe, chores (consider doing laundry a PE activity,) working on cars, putting together puzzles, dice games, Minecraft Uno or any Uno game, and anything that brings your family closer together.



Dress up day.

Note:
This past year, my kids decided to go back to public school. My 15 year-old was placed as a high learning junior taking all senior and college level courses, my 13 year-old is a well-rounded, straight A, school loving eighth grader. 

In previous years, we spent a maximum of 2 hours a day on book learning. The rest  of our day was focused on healthy outdoor activities, field trips to museums, special events at the library, and a local homeschool group for "socialization." Turns out, it was more than enough. 

Take it easy, don't stress out, and remember that YOU CAN DO IT!









Made the grade, first semester honor roll.


Never played football in his life. Made the team!


Loving the school band.

My son was looking forward to performing in the high school play, finishing building a home for Habitat for Humanity, trying out different sports and clubs, and now, that will have to wait until next year. My daughter was on an academic team, loving art club, playing in the school band, and appreciating school for its many wonderful opportunities. I took great pride and joy watching them try new things. My heart aches for their loss and for the loss of those long time public school seniors who are missing out on their last school dance, possibly graduation, and all the joys of being a high school senior. If nothing else, this experience will teach us not to take life for granted. 

Never forget, no matter how stressful it gets, getting to stay home with your kids is a gift.

Good Luck, go hug your kids!