301.476.1020 • www.PEREZHALPERN.com
August 2018
SUMMERTIME IN PUERTO RICO When I was a kid growing up in Puerto Rico, we frequently had these traditional fruit popsicles called “limbers.” They come in a small plastic cup, probably 5–7 ounces, no stick in the middle, and they were always homemade. These frozen popsicles were sweet and delicious. The taste of the limbers is tied into my memories of summer and spending time with my grandparents. We spent a lot of time together when I was a kid. neighbor’s house to pick up a half dozen eggs, milk, and candy. It might sound unusual, but in Puerto Rico, it’s something you look forward to. Sweet Treats and Sunny Days
The owner of the market usually made different flavors of limbers — coconut, mango, lemon,
MELIHA WITH HER GRANDFATHER
–Meliha Perez Halp ern P.S. Look inside the newsletter for a great limber recipe! fruit punch — which were always fresh, homemade by the people who lived in our community, and never mass manufactured. Someone might spend the whole day selling limbers and eggs out of their garage. In addition to a market near my grandparents’ home, it was often someone by my elementary school who sold limbers from their garage. When it was pick-up time from school, I’d go with my mom, and we’d see if the person was home and had any limbers to sell. As a kid, the challenge was to see if you could melt enough ice to get the frozen treat out of the cup and flip it over to eat it upside down. Unlike shaved ice, it was a solid ice cube made of frozen juice. I remember balancing it out of the plastic cup, squeezing the frozen popsicle out of the cup, and flipping it over. I’d get a sweet mouthful of it, then after a minute or two, try and flip it over again. Sometimes, I wasn’t careful enough, and the frozen popsicle would pop out of the cup and onto the floor. Whether or not I got another one depended on whether I was with my grandparents or parents — my grandparents usually bought me another one. After all this talk about them, all I want to do is go eat a limber! I think I ought to try making them soon so Jacob can experience the Puerto Rican treat, too. I hope you enjoy your own summer treats before the season is over! What are your favorites?
MELIHA’S GRANDMOTHER WITH HER LEMON TREE
If I ever had a day off from school, I spent it with my grandparents. I loved to play in their backyard, where they had mango, avocado, and lemon trees, and my grandmother lovingly tended to her orchids. It was beautiful there. I’d water the trees — and often myself — and even as they got older, they still played games with me. Often, my grandma would cook something while I played. She always cooked a warm lunch. Unlike in the U.S., sandwiches are not a Puerto Rican lunch staple — cooking is an important part of the culture. You also find fresh fruit and foods on many blocks in Puerto Rico. To this day, you’ll find supermarkets that are part of someone’s house. Sometimes it’s the garage that’s turned into a market, and you just stop by your
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Is Your Child Being Bullied? WARNING SIGNS YOU CAN’T IGNORE
Somewhere along the line, our society accepted bullying as a social norm for children. “How can kids learn to cope with the real world if they can’t handle a bully?” is a common misguided justification. Kids who don’t meet the standards of what they are socially expected to be aren’t accepted among their peers. Rather, they are treated like emotional punching bags for anyone deemed more culturally acceptable. But the life of a child is truly a special force in this world, and just because someone differs from physical, social, or cultural normativity doesn’t give anyone the right to treat them poorly. Differences should be celebrated, and bullying needs to be eradicated. The best way we can start is by making an effort to notice bullying and put a stop to it. Here are three warning signs. HEADACHES AND STOMACH ACHES Anxiety is a complex emotion that tends to manifest itself in physical ways. If
you notice your child has stress-related symptoms like headaches, ask them about their emotional well-being. An open- ended question like, “I’ve noticed you haven’t been feeling well a lot lately — can you tell me more about that?” will help open lines of communication. CHANGE IN FRIENDS There are bound to be changes in friend groups throughout your child’s life, but that doesn’t mean parents shouldn’t take notice when this happens. When a child expresses disinterest in spending time with specific people, it could be a sign of bullying. Connecting with other parents who have children in the same circle could be a way to gauge the pulse of your child’s friend group. CONFIDENCE ISSUES Bullying has the potential to drop kids into a volatile cycle of confidence-killing self-talk. Bullying may produce external
damage, but what goes on internally can be catastrophic for children. The continually progressing, technology- based environment our children live in nearly outpaces their ability to adjust and cope. Children often internalize their emotions, and when they are being bullied by someone online, their distress can be even harder to detect. The best way to be aware of how your children are feeling is to talk to them openly about their social interactions both online and offline. Summer is the perfect opportunity to discuss these issues with your child because they likely will be relaxed, comfortable, and out of school, where bullying often occurs. Then they can approach the new school year with confidence and self-worth. What parent doesn’t want that?
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT US
One of our clients shared these kind words about their experience with attorney Meliha Pérez Halpern:
information you need to have. Do I need pictures of everything that happened at the site? What if I’m injured? Where can I turn?
I was totally satisfied with her handling of my two auto injury cases. She communicated clearly and followed up with matching written correspondence to reiterate each step of her actions and my decisions. She provided her valuable case history knowledge on similar cases, which allowed me to make better informed decisions and feel confident. She was always prompt, respectful, and consistent in handling my advocacy to my satisfaction in resolution of both cases. She was thorough in reviewing and confirming financial data from related parties. She was convenient to access and employed the latest technology and resources in her practice. Auto accidents can be complicated. Add in the legal jargon that insurance companies and some attorneys will throw at you, and you can feel like you’re in over your head. There might be more to take care of than you expect, and it’s challenging to know what
Turn to Pérez Halpern, LLC. Attorney Meliha Pérez Halpern has a wealth of knowledge to bring to your case and will distill the legal jargon so that you don’t have to. She and her team will guide and support you each step of the way. Their prompt communication and focus on your case is a trademark of their small firm. Call Pérez Halpern, LLC today.
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What to Do in the Aftermath of a Car Accident
license, license plate number, and car registration and car insurance card. The more information you have, the better prepared you will be if you need to take a claim to court. See a doctor. Even if you don’t notice any injuries right away, symptoms can show up days after your accident. Typically people go to the doctor in the first 48 hours, otherwise it can be more difficult to prove that your condition is related to the accident. Going to the doctor immediately can help you get the right treatment and reduce complications later. DAYS Don’t admit fault. You may be contacted by an insurance agent and asked to make a statement about the accident. It’s tempting to apologize for what happened or to take blame, but these types of statements can put your claim at risk. Avoid giving any statements that could be taken as admitting fault, including to other people
involved with the accident, witnesses, and insurance agents. WEEKS Organize and file receipts and documents related to your accident. Keep any receipts from seeing doctors, chiropractors, or other professionals for treatment related to your accident. Track your medical travel expenses and keep detailed notes of issues related to the accident. These documents can help establish what you may be owed. Contact a personal injury attorney. Even if it’s only to get a consultation and find out if you have a case, getting legal advice can help you find out the next steps after you’ve done everything you can to make sure you’re okay. If you’ve been in an accident and are wondering where to go next, contact the office of Pérez Halpern, LLC. We can help guide and support you through the process of filing a personal injury claim and how to get the compensation you deserve.
In the aftermath of an accident, there are several steps you should take immediately and in the days and weeks following. In the event that you have to make a legal claim, these steps may also help strengthen your personal injury case. Here are some steps to follow in the hours, days, and weeks after an accident. HOURS Document the accident. Have a friend help you take pictures of your injuries and the scene of the accident, including of your vehicle and the other person’s vehicle. Exchange information with the other driver. The easiest way to do this is by taking photos of the driver’s
sudoku
Limber de Coco
Ingredients • 1 can (12 oz or 360 ml) evaporated milk • 1 can (13.5 oz or 400 ml) coconut milk • 1 can (15 oz or 450 ml) coconut cream • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup water • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional) • 1/4 cup sugar, or to taste (optional)
Directions 1. Mix all the ingredients in a big bowl. Pour the mixture into ice pop molds or disposable cups and place in a freezer. Let sit for at least 6 hours or overnight. Enjoy!
cookingtheglobe.com/how-to-make-limber-de-coco
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3 Ways to Mentally Prepare Your Kids for the School Year
It may not feel like it yet, but summer is coming to a close, and summer break is ending along with it. Soon, the kids will be back to early-morning breakfasts before the school bus arrives and late-night study sessions. Thankfully, there are some steps your family can take during these closing weeks of summer to ensure your kids hit the ground running this school year.
to worry about yet, can be a great opportunity to help them prepare a study schedule. Ask the following questions to help them get started: “Do you want to dive right into homework when you get home? Do you need to accommodate for a sport or extracurricular activity? Do you work best when doing your assignments in one large chunk, or would you prefer taking breaks in between assignments?”
SET AN EARLY BEDTIME For many kids, summer schedules are flexible. They may have become accustomed to sleeping in and staying up late without any obligations. Getting back into the rhythm of the school year can take some getting used to. In fact,
Your kids may find that last year’s schedule doesn’t work for them this year. Emphasize that this is okay; part of growing up is learning how and when you work most effectively. Don’t be afraid to help them switch things up as the school year progresses.
ASK YOUR KIDS HOW THEY FEEL Maybe your kids are excited about the school year. Maybe they are anxious, or perhaps they’re just disappointed to see summer vacation come to an
according to psychologist Cherie Valeithian, it can take upward of two weeks to properly adjust to a new sleep-wake cycle. So why not give your kids a head start and ensure they begin the school year bright-eyed and bushy-tailed?
end. Starting a dialogue about the aspects of school your kids are looking forward to and those they’re dreading can help you dispel myths and identify problem areas. More than anything else, this can help your kids feel at ease about the coming year.
OUTLINE A HOMEWORK SCHEDULE Resuming a homework regimen can be a difficult transition for some kids. Late summer, when they don’t have assignments
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