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The Bledsoe Firm JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551 APRIL | 2023
FROM SHY TO CONFIDENT
4 STRATEGIES TO BOOST YOUR CHILD’S SOCIAL SKILLS
Making friends is an essential part of a child’s growth and development. Friends provide a sense of belonging, help children develop social skills, and offer emotional support through challenging times. However, some children struggle with making friends, leaving them feeling lonely and isolated. Social skills don’t come naturally to them, and they have difficulty conversing with other children their age. As a parent, this can be incredibly frustrating. You want nothing more than for your child to make many friends so that they have a strong support system. There may be moments when you feel like there’s nothing you can do to help your child make friends, but thankfully, there are strategies available that will help.
them at home. Avoid the usual “How was your day at school?” and get into real topics of interest. Ask them about their hobbies, and have them tell you about the subjects that interest them most. Ask follow-up questions and make them feel proud for finding the courage to talk about their passions. This will help them gain confidence so they can speak with their classmates or teammates about their interests. Before long, conversing will come naturally to them.
Be a role model for them. Sometimes all our kids need is to see us perform an
action before they can do it themselves. Don’t shy away from conversations when you go out in public with your child. Skip the self-checkout and have your items rung up by a cashier so you can demonstrate small talk to your child. When your family is over, keep the TV off and focus more on conversating with one another. Invite your child to participate and listen closely to what they say to build their confidence. If your child can witness you speak with others regularly, they’ll feel more comfortable doing it themselves. Don’t ignore the problem. Many parents think this will just be a phase, and with time, their child will grow out of it and feel more comfortable talking to others. That’s not necessarily the case, though, especially in today’s technology-oriented society. If you don’t correct this behavior early, your child may never feel comfortable talking with others, leading them down an isolated path. Find solutions, and don’t give up. On a similar note, don’t compare them to yourself or one of their siblings. Every child is different, and hearing things like, “Well, I never had this problem with your brother,” will only hurt them in the long run. Devise solutions and get them the help they deserve. Your children mean the world to you, and you should do everything you can to set them up for success. If you’ve noticed that they’ve struggled to make friends, try utilizing some of the tactics above to see if it improves their social skills. —John Bledsoe
Here are four things you can do to improve your child’s social skills.
Observe your child’s interactions. Do you know what’s stopping your child from making friends? If not, you probably need to spend some time observing their interactions with other children. Watch them on the playground, or if they’re part of a sports team, see how they communicate with their teammates. You can even chaperone field trips or attend events at school. Your goal is to determine if they’re behaving differently than they do at home and determine the reasons why. Your child may be struggling with anxiety and is having difficulty starting conversations. They may not have the confidence to carry on a conversation. Once you pinpoint the issue, you can start developing a game plan to help your child. Role-play at home. Sometimes all your child needs is some practice. If they have trouble starting conversations or keeping up with their peers, try having conversations with
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ALL ABOARD THE EXTENDED VACATION TREND
Top 3 Vacation Destinations for a Longer Stay
The pandemic slowed us down. Over the past few years, we collectively took fewer vacations, boarded fewer cruise ships, and avoided airports. However, many studies and reports show that now, more than ever, Americans are taking longer vacations! Why might this be, and what are some of the greatest destinations for an extended stay? According to Amex Travel’s 2022 Global Travel Trend Report, 55% of vacationers are interested in taking longer trips because they can work remotely. The trend of swapping homes is also on the rise. HomeExchange’s website reports that home exchanges of two weeks or more increased by 13% in January-May last year. According to Travel Pulse, 26% of people opt to take a trip that exceeds 10 days.
remote, you lost out on travel time in 2020-2022, or you saved on gas money while working from home, here are some great destinations that support a longer stay. Visit the national parks. There is no better way to connect with nature than to tour the national parks. Several epic national park road trips could allow you to pack in a dozen or more of these natural gems in just a couple of weeks! Many national parks also accommodate RVs for comfort and convenience. Drive the California coast. A trip up and down the California coast never disappoints. With so many great places to stop and breathtaking views to absorb, you’ll need at least two weeks to experience them properly. You’ll want to explore the Redwood National Forest, the Lost Coast, Pebble Beach,
Monterey Bay, Half Moon Bay, Big Sur, Venice Beach, and many more!
Hop aboard a cruise. A cruise is one of the best ways to see many destinations in one trip. You could visit several countries in just two weeks, stopping in different ports to explore! On a cruise, you could see the Caribbean one day and wake up somewhere completely different the next day with a new adventure ahead!
If you are interested in taking a more extended vacation, whether it’s because your job went
AFRAID OF PARENTAL KIDNAPPING?
Here Are the Steps You Should Take
3. Notify Authorities: If you believe that your spouse is planning to kidnap your child, it’s essential to immediately notify the police and other relevant authorities, such as the FBI or Interpol. 4. Get Legal Representation: An experienced divorce attorney can help you navigate the legal process and protect your rights as a parent. They can also assist in obtaining a court order and notifying authorities if necessary. 5. International Treaties: In some cases, international treaties such as the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction can provide some protection for parents who fear the other parent may take their child to another country. Your divorce attorney can help you understand whether these treaties apply in your case. 6. Stay Vigilant: It’s important to prepare for the possibility of kidnapping. Keep a close eye on your child and be aware of any sudden changes in your spouse’s behavior or plans. If you fear that your spouse may try to kidnap your child and flee the country, you need to take immediate action to protect your child and your rights as a parent. Following these steps can increase your chances of a successful outcome and ensure your child’s safety. Give us a call today if you have any questions.
As a divorce attorney, I’ve seen my fair share of custody battles, and the fear of parental kidnapping is a common concern among my clients.
This fear grows significantly when one parent worries that the other parent may flee the country with their child. It’s vital for parents in this situation to take proactive steps to protect their child and their rights as a parent.
Here are some steps to take if you fear your spouse may try to kidnap your child and flee the country:
1. Gather Evidence: Start by gathering any evidence you have of your spouse’s plans to leave the country with your child. This can include emails, text messages, or even overheard conversations. This evidence can be used to support your case in court. 2. Obtain a Court Order: If you have evidence that your spouse may try to kidnap your child, it’s essential to obtain a court order that limits your spouse’s access to your child and specifies the conditions under which they can have contact. This court order can also include restrictions on international travel with the child.
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AVOID THE COMPLICATIONS OF CO-PARENTING
With a Parenting Plan
There are many complexities that can make co-parenting difficult. You need to navigate your children’s needs, the other parent’s schedule, and constant changes to both. Of course, these are just the most obvious potential problems of any co-parenting arrangement. Any two parents will have a range of considerations that may include personality, occupations, other partners, remarriage, and living arrangements.
TASTY SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP
Inspired by DinnerAtTheZoo.com
INGREDIENTS
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8 oz spinach leaves 8 oz cream cheese, softened 1 cup sour cream 3/4 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts 1 tsp minced garlic
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1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
If you’re worried about the challenges of co-parenting, a California parenting plan will help you prepare. Here are a few things to keep in mind about parenting plans.
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
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1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
A parenting plan is entirely optional. There are no strict rules or requirements for a California parenting plan, and the decision to create one is entirely at the option of the co-parents. As such, there aren’t any specific legal requirements for a parenting plan either. A functional parenting plan will include any compromises and terms agreed upon during divorce or other family law proceedings. A California parenting plan is a point of reference. A California parenting plan isn’t traditionally a legal contract, and it is difficult to incorporate provisions that create legally binding obligations. Therefore, the typical use of a parenting plan is to serve as a point of reference. A parenting plan gives you the parameters when it comes to bedtimes and sports schedules, appropriate allowances for chores, and allocating costs for medical care or activities. For co-parents who respect the terms of a parenting plan, this works really well and provides a great deal of consistency across two households. A parenting plan outlines who the decision-maker is. Raising children across different households and environments is difficult, but what’s often more prickly is determining who is the decision-maker when there is disagreement or change of circumstances for your children. For example, if a teacher proposes that your child move into more advanced classes at school or skip a grade, which parent is ultimately responsible for making that decision? A California parenting plan can outline the decision-maker for different areas of a child’s life. No matter how you feel about a former partner or spouse during your split, you should account for contentious situations and complexities down the road. A parenting plan helps you do that, and our team at the Bledsoe Firm can assist.
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Sliced bread, crackers, or tortilla chips for serving
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a small baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a medium pan, steam or sauté spinach until wilted. When spinach cools, wring out excess water, then chop coarsely. 3. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. 4. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. 5. Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly. Turn the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2–3 minutes so the cheese will begin to brown. 6. Immediately serve with bread, crackers, or tortilla chips.
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Inside
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How to Help Your Child Make More Friends
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Top 3 Extended Stay Destinations 6 Proactive Ways to Prevent Parental Kidnapping
Important Information About Parenting Plans Tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip
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The Latest Way to Lengthen Your Lifespan
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INCREASE YOUR LIFESPAN WITH THE VILPA METHOD IT ONLY TAKES 6 MINUTES EACH DAY!
What is VILPA? VILPA stands for “vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity.” In other words: exercise. Specifically, VILPA involves doing short, intense bursts of challenging exercises like climbing stairs or jogging down a hallway — anything that gets your heart pumping. According to the study, you only need to practice VILPA for 1–2 minutes three or more times per day to get the protective effects! Do you need to be in shape to try VILPA? Nope! The VILPA study JAMA reported involved more than 25,000 people ages 40–69 who identified as “non-exercisers.” They never hit the gym; the most strenuous exercise routine they reported was a leisurely walk once a week. How should you start? It’s easy to try out the VILPA method: Simply take the stairs instead of the elevator and carry your groceries to the car instead of pushing them in the shopping cart. That said, we recommend visiting a physical therapist before you jump in. Many PTs offer free or low-cost health screenings that can identify problem spots and weak areas of your body. Scheduling a screening before you push yourself with VILPA can save you from injuries down the road.
Picture this: You’re sitting in your doctor’s office at the end of a checkup, waiting for her final words of wisdom on your health.
“Things are looking good,” she says, nodding thoughtfully. “But you could do better. I know a way to increase your lifespan by doing a simple task for just six minutes each day. Do you want to try it?” That scenario might sound like science fiction — after all, we don’t have a pill for longevity yet — but according to the latest research, it could very well happen on your next doctor’s visit!
This January, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that by practicing a method called VILPA, it might be possible to lower your risk of death from any cause, including cancer, by 38%–40%. The method may also decrease your risk of death from heart disease specifically by 48%-49%. Both of these effects essentially increase your lifespan!
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