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The Bledsoe Firm JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551 APRIL | 2022
3 WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN EXCEL IN SCHOOL
THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT!
As parents, we want nothing more than success for our children. We want them to be successful in all aspects of their lives from sports and physical activities to school and academics. Support from parents is one of the most influential aspects when it comes to our children’s success in the classroom. Many people might see this and worry because they might not have been academically gifted when they were in school or maybe they aren’t familiar with the topics being taught today. There is no reason to worry about these factors though. You can offer support to your child in a variety of other ways that will still encourage them to reach for their academic goals. If you’re worried about your child’s grades or don’t want them to fall behind in their schoolwork, give some of these methods a try and see if their academic prowess improves or if they feel more comfortable and confident about school. Get Involved If you want your child to be successful in school, you aren’t going to be able to take a backseat and hope for the best. You need to get involved as often as possible. You can start this at the beginning of the year by attending back-to-school night or orientation night at your child’s school. Here, you will learn everything you need to know about grading, homework, the curriculum, your children’s teachers, and school policies. This will help keep you in the know and make connections at the school in case you ever need to verify, or get more information about, something. It can also help to visit the school’s website to get the calendar and stay up to date on the latest information.
Additionally, you should also look into volunteering at school or school events. You can become a classroom helper, chaperone field trips, attend class parties,
or simply read a story to your child’s class. Most kids like seeing their parents involved at their school, but pay attention to how they respond to your presence. You don’t want to make them uncomfortable or feel as if they’re being spied on. If this is the case, simply explain that you aren’t spying and just want to help out in whatever manner you can. Set and Maintain Homework Expectations Possibly the largest portion of your child’s grading scale comes from homework. Homework is great for helping students learn study skills, enhancing their knowledge, and developing a sense of responsibility and work ethic that they will retain for the rest of their lives. Help your child do their homework by creating the perfect study area. Create a comfortable, well-lit environment that is free of any distractions. You should also try to be available in case your child has any questions about their homework. It’s important that you work with them and encourage them toward the correct answer rather than simply giving them the answers. Then they can learn how to actually solve the problems. This is a great way to teach your child proper study habits while also creating time to bond with them over schoolwork. Teach Organizational Skills Strong organizational skills are important for your child to develop because they will help them stay on top of their tasks, homework, and studies. Most kids will have a planner or an assignment book that they use to keep track of their work. Make sure they are taking advantage of their planner. Have them clean up their workspace at home so they have a tidy area to do their work. Organizational skills are necessary for academic success and incredibly important for everyday life as your child grows. Give them a head start by teaching these skills early. We have the ability to influence many of the decisions that our children make when they are still in elementary school. As parents, we can put our kids on the path to success by teaching them some important skills and supporting them as they grow. Get involved in your children’s learning process and teach them the skills they need to succeed. They’ll be thanking you for your efforts when they achieve their academic dreams. —John Bledsoe
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JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551
EGG-SPLORE DIFFERENT WAYS TO CELEBRATE EASTER
F un H oliday A ctivities the W hole F amily W ill E njoy
Easter is approaching, and there are tons of activities you and your family can do to celebrate the holiday. These activities will let your children or grandchildren unlock their imaginations, all from the comfort of your own home.
Some of these eggs are filled with water, which are the eggs you don’t want. Try your luck with this fun-filled game.
Easter Cookie Kit Cost: $29.99 ThePopcornFactory.com
KiwiCo Eggsperiments Cost: $26.95 KiwiCo.com
Did somebody say cookies? Yes, we did! With this cookie kit, you and your kids will be creating edible bunnies, flowers, and eggs! The kit provides all the ingredients you need to bake delicious cookies, which is a perfect time to teach your child about the fundamentals of baking while having fun at the same time. This activity satisfies your creative needs and your cravings for a sweet treat. The traditional activities around Easter are fun, and now you have even more options to choose from — but these items will go fast so pick one up ASAP. These activities are enjoyable for the entire family, and you can create memories that will last a lifetime. Happy Easter!
These experiments bundle creativity, science, and education in one fun, family-friendly package! Instead of having your kids decorate eggs with paint, you can use this kit to conduct scientific experiments. Your child will be able to color eggs and create crystalized shells by using chemistry, physics, and biology.
Egged On Cost: $24.50 Amazon.com
You’ve heard of casino roulette, but have you heard of egg roulette? Well, now you have with Egged On, a Hasbro board game that will have
you and your children laughing in no time. You first spin the wheel to see how many eggs you will crack over your head or someone else’s.
3 MORE SUBTLE ALIENATION TACTICS USED BY NARCISSISTS
In last month’s newsletter, we discussed three common ways that parents try to alienate their children from the other parent. Parental alienation is when one parent attempts to sabotage their child’s relationship with their other parent. They do this by having the child “accidentally” overhear derogatory information or ask the child to keep a secret from the other parent. This may seem relatively harmless, but parental alienation is a form of child abuse and can cause irreparable damage to the relationship between the child and their parent. There are many alienation tactics used by narcissistic or otherwise unstable parents that might not receive a second glance. They use subtlety to ensure their methods go under the radar. They can be hard to spot, which is why we’ve gathered another three subtle alienation tactics used by narcissists. Encourage the Child to Break the Other Parent’s Rules It’s a classic sitcom scenario. The child asks one parent if they can do something, and they respond with a resounding “no.” The child then goes and asks the other parent the same thing hoping to get a “yes.” Sometimes this goes a step too far and the other parent grants permission just to
overthrow the other parent’s opinion. They may frame their response in a way that makes it seem like they are on the child’s team while the other parent is not. Spying and Data Mining A narcissistic parent might use their child to spy on the other parent. They’ll have the child ask the right questions so they can get valuable personal information from the other parent. They may use that information to increase their parental alienation efforts or even blackmail the other parent.
Disrupting Planned Bonding Experiences or Quality Experiences
This is a very common method used by narcissistic parents. When it’s your opportunity to spend time with your child through a planned excursion, the other parent may get suddenly sick or their cellphone remains on silent. They will find an excuse to ensure that the child cannot spend any extra time with their other parent.
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W ord S earch Bloom Cleaning
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR SPOUSE DIES DURING A DIVORCE
Earth Easter Flowers Fool Prank Ramadan Recycle Spring Teacher Venus
Divorce is a difficult situation for any individual to navigate but it can become even more difficult if the person they are divorcing passes away. To put it simply, you can’t divorce someone who is dead, which means that the divorce case will cease immediately. Instead, a probate case will begin. Dying intestate is when someone dies without a will in place. According to California intestate law, a deceased person’s community property is all passed to the surviving spouse. Separate property can go either to the surviving spouse or the living heirs of the deceased. If there are heirs, half the separate property goes to the spouse. If the deceased spouse does have a will, it will take precedent. Additionally, it’s possible that a bifurcation agreement is in place. This agreement legally dissolves a marriage without first deciding the major issues of the marriage. If a bifurcation agreement is in place, the representative handling the estate steps in for the deceased. The divorce court will then issue orders related to any unresolved issues, which can include child support payments and custody. If you have children from a prior marriage, it’s vital to get a will in place the moment you know that you’re getting a divorce. If you don’t, intestate laws could kick in if you pass away and your children could be left with nothing. If you only have community property, you need to be especially vigilant to ensure your children receive something. The deceased spouse may have changed the beneficiary on their life insurance policy from the ex to another party, but that doesn’t mean the surviving spouse can’t claim any of that life insurance money. If community property was used to set up the life insurance policy, the surviving spouse might have a claim. We know how stressful and complicated divorce cases can be and want to do whatever we can to ensure the situation is as easy as possible for you and your loved ones. If you’re going through a divorce, reach out to our office today.
ONE-PAN CHICKEN TACOS
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
INGREDIENTS
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1 lb chicken breasts, sliced into 1-inch pieces
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Canola oil (for frying)
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Corn tortillas
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2 tbsp garlic powder
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Grated cheddar cheese
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2 tbsp cumin
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Pico de gallo and guacamole salsa (to taste)
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2 tbsp chipotle powder
DIRECTIONS
1. In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken pieces, garlic powder, cumin, and chipotle powder. Mix until the chicken is coated. 2. In a frying pan, heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the chicken mixture. Cook on medium heat for 5–8 minutes. 3. Remove the chicken from the pan, and add the corn tortillas (avoid overlapping) so they soak up the juices. Flip the tortillas and repeat. Then, add chicken and grated cheddar to each tortilla and fold it over the filling — in the pan. 4. Cook the tacos for 3 minutes per side until the tortillas are crispy and the cheese is melted. 5. Top with pico and guacamole salsa, and serve!
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551
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Inside
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Help Your Children Excel In School
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Try Your Luck With This Eggtastic Game!
Subtle Alienation Tactics To Watch For
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What Happens If Your Spouse Dies During a Divorce
One-Pan Chicken Tacos
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How to Drink More Water!
RAISE A GLASS — OR SEVERAL 6 WAYS TO DRINK MORE WATER WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT
Carry around a large water bottle. Taking your water with you in a large bottle reminds you to keep sipping wherever you go. Every chance you get, fill it up. The bottomless water bottle is a perfect way to
Staying hydrated is one of the pillars of healthy living. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, women should drink 11.5 cups (92 ounces) of water a day, and men should drink 15.5 cups (124 ounces) a day. But, if we’re being honest, water can be pretty boring to drink — there are things we’d rather be drinking, and busy schedules make it difficult. Here are some ways to work more water into your daily routine to promote optimal health. Begin and end your day with water. Make it a routine to drink a large glass of water upon waking up and before going to bed. “Bookending” your day like this ensures that your body is hydrated for both the day and night ahead.
cup of coffee throughout the day. If you drink a glass of water with each cup of coffee, you’re sure to stay hydrated. Keep in mind that while coffee is a liquid and contains water, it's not very thirst-quenching.
work more water into your day. As a bonus, you can use a measured bottle to see how much you’ve actually drank throughout the day! Infuse your water. Try giving your H2O an extra kick. Add berries, lemon, lime, or mint to your water to give it some flavor and help make it more enticing to drink!
Ice is your friend. Each time you pour a drink or make a smoothie, use lots of ice! Your taste buds will hardly notice the difference, and you’ll still have lots of flavor while boosting your hydration. Drink a full glass with medicines. Many of us get in the habit of only taking a large sip of water with pills. However, whether you take a supplement, medication, or vitamin, wash it down with a full glass of water.
Water is important for a healthy body and mind, so follow these tips and stay hydrated!
Drink a cup of water with each cup of coffee. Many of us are used to drinking more than one
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