7 Steps to Embracing Your New Neighborhood Like a Local

Congratulations! You’ve successfully made a move thanks to the help of reliable movers, such as these San Diego movers, and are now in your new home. But after settling in, you might still feel like a stranger in your own neighborhood. Here are seven steps to becoming a part of your new neighborhood.

Step 1:  Meet Your Neighbors

The first step to fitting in your new neighborhood is getting to know the people who live around you. Once you’ve unpacked and settled in, make the first move to greet your new neighbors. A simple knock on their door or a friendly wave can break the ice and pave the way for future conversations.

Step 2: Explore the Neighborhood

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in your new surroundings is to explore every nook and cranny of your neighborhood. Take long walks or bike rides around the area to find hidden gems like that cute coffee shop tucked away on a side street or where you can get men’s haircuts near me.

Don’t be shy about asking others for recommendations, too. Local pride runs deep, and people love sharing their favorite spots with newcomers! Exploring will make you feel more comfortable navigating the area and help give you conversation starters when meeting new people.

Step 3: Learn About the Community

Every community has a unique history and culture that may have drawn you here in the first place, so dive in headfirst and learn more about it! Visit historical sites or museums highlighting local history, attend cultural festivals or events, and take pride in what makes your neighborhood distinct.

In addition, following local news sources can provide valuable insights into what’s happening around town. Getting involved with social media groups can help you stay in the loop on community happenings and make new connections.

Step 4: Volunteer in the Community

The quickest way to find your place within a neighborhood is by giving back through volunteering. Locate nonprofits or community centers in your area and offer your skills and talents to make a difference. 

Step 5: Support Local Business

Supporting local businesses is one way to truly get involved in your community. These establishments typically offer unique products or services you won’t find elsewhere. Aside from providing convenience and personalized services, supporting local businesses also contributes to the area’s economy and growth.

Whenever you need to purchase any items or require specific services, consider choosing from nearby stores or vendors before opting for larger chains or online shopping. For example, if you’re thinking of getting into medical aesthetics treatments, you can learn more about medical aesthetics equipment at this website.

Step 6: Participate in Festivals and Celebrations

Neighborhoods often have unique festivals and celebrations to showcase their culture and heritage through art, music, food, and various activities. Participating in these events will provide an enjoyable experience and help you get a glimpse of the area’s rich history and traditions.

By joining these festivities, you’ll have more opportunities to meet neighbors with similar interests and create lasting friendships. It is also a great way to support community programs financially while enjoying all the fun activities organized during these events.

Step 7: Be Patient and Embrace the Changes

It’s important to remember that adapting takes time. Rejecting change out of fear accomplishes little. Try to embrace the unknown and see the positive side of the uncertainty of living in a new environment.

Be observant, ask questions, and listen to your neighbors’ stories about their experiences in the area. By doing so, you will begin to understand and appreciate the peculiarities of your new neighborhood. This information will be helpful as you acclimatize and construct a new identity in your surroundings.

Embracing a new neighborhood as though it’s home takes time and effort. However, following these seven steps will make you feel like a genuine local in no time.

3 Things To Teach Your Kids About Being Safe Around Water This Summer

When the temperature gets hot, families all over the world flock to any kind of water they have available in their area. From pools or lakes and even splash pads and backyard ponds, having water to cool off in can make warm weather much easier to endure. However, being around water can also pose some potentially deadly hazards to you and your kids.

So to help ensure that everyone in your family safely makes it through the summer, here are three things to teach your kids about being safe around water this summer. 

Help Your Kids Learn To Respect Water

The first thing you need to instill in your children is to have a respect for any water that they’re going to be around.

Small children can drown in even just a few inches of water. In addition to this, natural water can have currents that may not look strong but can be very hard to maneuver in. If your kids don’t know or understand these things, they might take on unnecessary risks that could put them in a lot of danger. So in addition to teaching your kids about how to swim, also teach them just what you’re nervous about when they are near water. 

Teach Kids To Always Ask For Permission

While water can be incredibly enticing to kids when they’re hot and wanting to cool off, you should inform your kids that they are always to ask you for permission before they get into any kind of body of water. 

Not only does asking for permission help you to know where your kids will be and what kind of water they’re going to be playing in, but it can also give you a chance to ask additional questions about who will be there, what adult is going to be supervising, and if they’re prepared with things like sunscreen and flotation devices. 

Be Safe Around Water As Well

It’s not only when your kids are going to be submerged in water that you need to be concerned about their safety. There are ways your kids can get hurt around water when they aren’t even completely in it.

For example, if your kids are going to be at the beach, teach them about any animals they should avoid and how to keep themselves from getting sunburned. Additionally, if your kids will be around a pool, they should know not to try to reach anything that’s fallen into the pool and to always walk when they are on wet surfaces

To help you and your family stay safe whenever you’re near water this summer, consider implementing some of the tips mentioned above this summer season.

3 Tips For Bouncing Back After a Divorce

According to the latest polls in the United States, nearly 50% of all married couples will end up divorcing eventually. Yet even though divorce is so common, many people find themselves devastated and alone following a divorce. When you make the commitment to stay with someone forever, only to find yourself alone again, it can be jolting to the system. 

It can be especially difficult if you’re divorcing with kids. Not only do you have to navigate who will get custody, and determine child support agreements, but you also have to deal with this person as a co-parent. For this reason, many people find themselves struggling to handle a divorce gracefully. It can bring out all sorts of raw emotions, and affect every area of our life. So, if you’ve recently gotten divorced, take a look at some of the best tips for bouncing back and finding joy in life again.

Create a Support System

Whether it’s a divorce or the death of a loved one, human beings need support to get through difficult times. If you don’t already have a support system, then start creating one for yourself. Whether it’s a group of family members, or work colleagues, create a network of people that you can count on to support you at this time. 

Therapy can be a great tool as well, so consider talking to a professional in addition to your friend circle. The most important thing is that you have someone to talk to and share your emotions with.

Avoid Vengeful Behavior

It’s easy to find yourself wanting to get revenge on the other partner if you’re feeling angry. However, according to experienced divorce attorneys, vengeful behavior only hurts you in the long run. Not only can it affect your divorce in court, by giving the other party incriminating evidence against you, but it can make you feel worse. If you start feeling yourself seeking out hurting someone else as a result of the way you’re feeling, then it’s time to reassess your tactics. Hateful and angry behavior is never constructive.

Look at the Bright Side
Even though it may seem difficult right now, there’s always a bright side and a silver lining. Rather than only wallowing in sadness, start looking at the positive aspects of the situation. If you look hard enough, you can certainly find them. Perhaps your partner took up the bed at night period now you have the entire bed to yourself! Maybe your partner didn’t support your creative pursuits and hobbies  Now you can watch whatever show you want without criticism. Instead of looking at all the things you’ve lost, start considering all the things you’ve gained. A fresh perspective can be incredibly transformative!

3 Tips For Remaining Mentally And Emotionally Strong During Divorce Proceedings

One of the most traumatic events that can take place in your life is the dissolution of a marriage. From being in a vulnerable state with another person to ending the relationship, especially if that relationship has been broken or betrayed in one way or another, can cause a lot of mental and emotional pain. 

But when you’re trying to untangle yourself from this situation, you need to try to be in as right of a state of mind as possible. So to help ensure that you’re ready for this, here are three tips for remaining mentally and emotionally strong during divorce proceedings. 

Tap Into Your Support System

Having support from people that love and care for you is going to be invaluable during this time. Even more so if you have kids that you’re dealing with custody battles with, you’ll need to have someone that you can talk to about what you’re going through and will be able to support you through this challenge.

If you know someone who’s been through a divorce themselves, you might want to reach out to them to see how they dealt with their divorce and what advice or guidance they may be able to offer you. Or, if you don’t personally know anyone that you feel comfortable talking with about your divorce, you could also look to join a support group for people currently going through the same situation as you are. 

Create A Habit Around Feeling Gratitude

When you’re dealing with a big life change such as a divorce, it can be hard to pull yourself out of the sad or depressed feelings that you’re forced to deal with on a daily basis. But to try to give yourself a break from this, you may want to try creating some habits around feelings of gratitude that you may have in the small moments. 

To do this, try to wake up each morning thinking about the things you’re grateful for. This might be your job, your family, your friends, your pets, and more. Then, as you go throughout your day, try to focus on those things that you love and are grateful for when you start to feel overwhelmed about the things that are currently going wrong in your life. 

Lower Your Expectations For Yourself

For people going through a traumatic experience like a divorce, you really can’t expect to just carry on like business as usual. There are going to be things that you just can’t get yourself to do ro care about during this time. And that’s totally fine. But what you might need to mentally do is give yourself permission to lower your expectations a bit. While this doesn’t mean to stop trying with everything, allowing yourself to give up on ideas of perfection for now can be extremely helpful. 

If you’re really struggling mentally and emotionally while going through a divorce, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you regain some of this balance. 

5 Things No One Warns You About When You Have Kids

Having children is a unique challenge in life that can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and lonely at times. There are thousands of blogs, vlogs, and advice columns online for new parents, and when you’re expecting your first you are definitely going to receive a ton of unsolicited advice from friends and family. But even still, there is plenty that no one warns you about when you have kids— here are some of the most important ones to keep in mind.

Transitioning To A Crib

If you sleep with your newborn in your bed, eventually there will come a time to transition to a crib. One thing you probably haven’t been warned about though is what a nightmare this can be! Transitioning to a crib is stressful for both the parents and the baby, and can take much longer than you expect. Be patient and let the baby cry it out as much as possible, but be warned that this will break your heart a little bit. 

Sleep Deprivation

Sure, you’ve heard that you’ll lose a lot of sleep with a new baby in the house. But the level of exhaustion you will experience is truly unlike anything you’ve felt before in your life. And this extends well beyond the newborn phase and into toddlerhood and childhood. Make sure to get sleep whenever and wherever you can, and don’t be afraid to hire a babysitter every so often to get some extra shuteye. 

You Become A Different Person

When you have children, one of the things that may surprise you is that you might become a totally different person than you were previously, to the point you’ll barely recognize yourself. You will become so nurturing and protective and will feel emotions you have never felt before. This is all normal! Just make sure you give yourself time to adjust and practice self care whenever you can. 

Picky Eaters

Some kids are just picky eaters no matter how adventurous you try to get them to be. Try not to blame yourself, and don’t be too hard on them or punish them by withholding food. Instead, you can offer small rewards like dessert or a small toy in exchange for them trying new foods. 

Costs

Most people know going into parenthood that having children is going to cost a lot of money, but are still surprised by how much it actually does cost. Food, diapers, furniture, clothes, and school are all things that add up. Not to mention you might have to move to a larger home or more safe neighborhood. Not to say these costs aren’t worth it – they definitely are – but being prepared for them will definitely help you in the long run. 

Just because no one warned you about some of the challenges of parenthood doesn’t mean you have to be unprepared for them! Consider these 5 things and you’ll be ready for anything your children throw your way.

Interesting statistics on marriage and cohabitation in the US

At some point in their younger years, nearly everyone imagines themselves in a happy marriage with children. Maybe they want to model their parents, maybe they want to model other families they see. However, those attitudes often change on the way to adulthood and for some time after. 

It’s becoming increasingly common and accepted for non-married couples to live together. Some cohabitating partners even decide that marriage isn’t necessary in a loving relationship. As the idea of the nuclear family continues to crumble, here are some interesting statistics on marriage and cohabitation in the U.S. 

More Adults are Cohabiting 

Of those ranging in age from 18 to 44, 59% have lived unmarried with a partner at some point in their lives while half of them have never been married. Another 38% of that 59% have lived with various partners. 

Compared to the previous census, those who have been married at some point are on the decline. It’s more common now for couples to skip the wedding bells and simply enjoy cohabitation. That doesn’t mean marriages are ending, but attitudes towards it are changing. 

Cohabitation Acceptance

As attitudes towards marriage change, so do opinions on cohabitation. Only 14% of Americans think cohabitation before marriage is unacceptable, compared to 69% who think it’s perfectly okay. Another 16% are fine with it so long as the couple plans to marry. 

Younger adults are more likely to have a positive opinion on cohabitation. Roughly 78% of those under 30 think it’s fine, while only 63% of those 65 and older are on board. Overall attitudes still support marriage, however, with 53% of Americans seeing benefits in long-term couples who eventually tie the knot. 

There’s More Trust in Marriage

It isn’t uncommon for relationships that come to a grinding halt to experience legal trouble, like relying on this Stange Law Firm child custody attorney in Bloomington. Trust is often at the crux of a relationship on the rails. So, who is better off in the long run?

As it turns out, Americans are more trusting when they’re in a marriage instead of cohabitating. The numbers are 53% to 41%, which isn’t an incredibly large gap. Satisfaction and communication skills, on average, are also higher for those with wedding bands. 

The Money Factor

For many cohabitating couples, especially in a down economy, living together simply makes the most financial sense. Roughly four-in-ten adults admit to this, with 38% citing finances and another 37% citing convenience as the primary reason behind their cohabitation. 

Most cohabitators who are not engaged also cited money as the reason behind delaying marriage or removing it from the table altogether. Either money is tight, they are unsure if their partner is financially ready, or they don’t believe they are financially ready themselves. 

Legal Rights

Roughly 65% of adults think cohabitators should be able to enter legal agreements that give them the same rights as married couples. Conservatives are nearly evenly split on the debate, while 77% of liberal-minded voters are in favor. 

Should this agreement ever come to pass, it has the potential to greatly add couples financially. There would also be more rights in court, especially when dealing with a family lawyer in OC over custody. As of now, there are no motions or bills in the works. 

Love Rules All

Love and companionship remain the primary motivators behind any partnership. Of the married, 90% said love was the primary factor while 66% said companionship. For those cohabitating, the numbers were 73% and 61%. 

Red Flags of a Loveless Marriage, According to the Relationship Experts at Relish

All relationships experience rough patches that can stretch months and years. If you are in the middle of a rough patch, it can feel like there is no end in sight, so this is an excellent opportunity to evaluate your needs within the marriage. In many instances, more than a perspective is required so it is important to look for red flags. The following is a list of several important red flags to look for in a loveless marriage. When reviewing each of these points, do so with an objective and honest lens. This will be a difficult task, but it is easier than staying in a relationship in which neither of you is happy.

Cannot Remember the Last Date Night

Dry spells of a month occur because you are on a tight budget, cannot find a babysitter, have a packed calendar, are exhausted, or are going through a home renovation, to name a few. However, simultaneous dry spells are beyond what is acceptable.

Constantly Criticizing

Nagging your partner to fold the laundry or get a haircut is one thing but attacking their sense of self is another. If nitpicking has become involuntary, you must distance because you are criticizing too much.

Have Sex Less than Once Per Month

While you will not experience the same sex as the beginning of the relationship, abstaining completely brings the relationship to a halt. Sex is a physical expression of love so if it has moved to the back burner for too long, you must reprioritize intimacy.

Preoccupied with Other’s Issues

A great replacement for your issues is reviewing and criticizing the problems of others.

Pulling Away from Friends and Family

If you have canceled more than a single dinner last-minute because you do not want to face them then this is a red flag. If you are afraid of not liking the person in the mirror, then this a problem that cannot be ignored.

Unable to Fill the Silence

If you realize that together time passes in silence and nobody attempts to fill the conversation, there is a problem. A flowing dialogue will not occur every time you are together, but the opposite is unhealthy.

What is Relish?

Relish is the leading relationship training app that thousands of individuals and couples have joined to experience more affection, an improved connection, and more intimacy with their partner. The app features unlimited 1-on-1 coaching with a qualified coach, customized lesson plans, interactive quizzes, and tailored activities for couples and individuals. Relish is highly recommended by marriage therapists and relationship counselors and can be used as a maintenance tool or as a complement to therapy. Each week, you received a new lesson plan related to the topics you need to focus on.

5 Things You Should Know About Filing for Divorce in Ohio

No matter how far along you are into your marriage, the process of divorce will be characterized by stress, unfamiliarity, and uncertainty. Even if this is the most appropriate decision at the time, it is still an extremely hard one to make.

Before filing for a divorce in Ohio, it is important to set realistic notions that will satisfy both parties. The only way to do this is through adequate planning and proper understanding. However, this might seem impossible in a divorce. How can this be achieved?

In Ohio, there are basic laws on divorce that you have to consider. It is important to note that these laws and their interpretation may differ from one state to another. If both you and your spouse can reach a conclusive agreement, the process will be quite simple.

But if there are a lot more details than you can handle, you should both consider getting legal help. Enlisting the services of divorce lawyers Dayton Ohio could be the key to helping you come to an amicable settlement. Before starting the process, here are 5 things you should know about filing for divorce in Ohio:

  1. Dissolution and Divorce are Different

Marriage dissolution occurs when both parties are able to collaborate and agree on a legal structure of separation. This means that both parties have agreed to a settlement and legal separation.

On the other hand, a divorce occurs when the two parties cannot agree to the terms of separation. As a result, the matter can only be settled in a court of law. In Ohio, divorce is supported in case of adultery, bigamy, extreme cruelty, negligence,  and imprisonment among others. However, it is important to note that their outcomes are similar.

  1. Child Custody

The legal system in Ohio believes that both parents should have access to their children. This means that it allows joint custody. It also follows less stringent statutory laws concerning child support and spousal alimony. The system requires both parents to support their children.

It’s also important to note that the court may ask your child about their desired parental rights allocation and responsibilities. The ultimate goal is to protect your child’s best interests.

  1. Know Where You Will Live

When two people are going through the process of divorce, Ohio law courts do not allow you to stay under the same roof. So you will have to consider where your children will stay during this period. Your first step should be to come up with a plan of action that will guide you in terms of accommodation, employment, and any other support required.

  1. Division Of Property

Division of property heavily depends on knowing whether to classify it as marital or separate property. Marital property is described as that property acquired together within the period of marriage. In Ohio, such property is distributed equitably among the divorced partners.

Separate property is that which is acquired before or during the marriage, but ownership is attributed to only one spouse. According to Ohio law, it is not subject to equitable division. Assets are considered as separate property if a prenuptial agreement was signed.

  1. Your Actions can Influence the Outcome of Your Divorce

When going through a divorce, there are a lot of things to keep in mind if you want to achieve positive results. This means that your plan of action should include a comprehensive list of the steps you need to take, as well as the mistakes to avoid. For example, if your spouse finds out that you are hiding assets, this may negatively affect your divorce. Therefore, it is important to consider all your currents actions to ensure a favorable outcome.