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JULY 2023
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In the dead heat of summer, the air conditioning is so inviting, so it can be tough to get the kids outside — and while we are being honest, it can be tough to get ourselves outdoors, too! We all know how important it is for our youth to have less screen time and more outdoor time, but it’s easier said than done in today’s world of busy schedules and urban living. Here are some tips to get the whole family outside more this summer! KNOW BEFORE YOU GO. Before heading outside, do some research and planning! The goal is for everyone to enjoy their time outdoors together, and poor planning can sometimes lead to small disasters. Look up some nearby parks, hiking trails, biking areas, campgrounds, and sports complexes. If you live near a beach or lake, check out reviews on the area to help you pinpoint where to go, what time to visit, and what to prepare for. PREPARATION IS KEY. If you’re planning a trip to the zoo or park, ensure the entire family is dressed appropriately and comfortably. If the beach is your destination of choice, you won’t want to forget the sunscreen and towels. If you plan an afternoon at the batting cages, closed-toe shoes and a hat are necessary. No matter where you go, prepare carefully and bring some essential items, including snacks, water, hats, bug repellent, and proper footwear. PENCIL IT IN. This may sound funny, but it works! In today’s busy world, finding the time to get outside and relax, exercise, or play can be tricky. To reduce anxiety or scheduling conflicts, block out time on your calendar for “outdoor family time.” Both you and your family Get Everyone Outdoors for Family Bonding Time
will be glad you did! After all, we all know that sometimes, if it doesn’t make it on the calendar, it probably won’t happen! WATCH THE WEATHER. You don’t need to check the weather channel all hours of the day to keep an eye on the weather! Check the weather the day before your outdoor activity plans and once before heading out the door to make sure weather surprises aren’t heading your way to crash the party! The last thing you want is to get rained out during your picnic or hike! EMBRACE YOUR BACKYARD. Getting outdoors doesn’t have to mean an extravagant trip to the lake, park, zoo, ballfield, or farmers market. Likewise, you don’t have to lug a wagon to the beach or pack everyone in the car for an hourlong commute to the nearest trailhead. Your own backyard contains more than enough for the whole family to do and explore. Gardening, sports, picnics, and cloud- watching are just a few things your backyard can offer for fun activities to explore under the sun! Getting outdoors with your family promotes bonding, learning, and joy — it taps into discovery and imagination. This summer, take advantage of the beautiful weather and enjoy some vitamin D with those who matter most — you won’t regret it!
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WHAT YOUR SUMMER GARAGE SALE CAN TEACH YOUR KIDS
A summer garage sale is a tried and tested way to earn a little cash while eliminating things you no longer need. But it’s also the perfect opportunity for parents to teach their children a few life lessons. Making your garage sale a family project can teach kids about organization, money management, and the pride of a hard day’s work. The lessons start immediately as your family determines what they no longer need. Younger children, in particular, often struggle to part with their possessions. A garage sale is an opportunity to discuss what they use, what they don’t, and why we can’t keep every object we own forever. This process will teach kids organization as they create their “keep,” “sell,” and “toss” piles. On the big day, your children can also play a significant role in organizing and displaying your merchandise. Kids can help determine which items should share a table and what should be front and center to catch buyers’ eyes.
Math and money management also play a pivotal role in any successful garage sale. First, you must determine what the items you’re selling are worth. While letting your kids set prices is probably unwise, you can help them understand market value and what people will pay for used merchandise. Your children can take a more active role in the sale itself. Depending on their ages, they can gain valuable experience making change for customers or negotiating a deal on the items for sale. The best part of using your garage sale as a learning opportunity is that your children can personally experience the value of hard work. They’ll watch their old possessions disappear and the cash trickle in. More than anything, they’ll probably love adding up the day’s takings. Whether or not you give your kids a cut of the earnings is up to you. But even if they don’t end up with fatter pockets, your children will walk away from the family garage sale with lessons that will last longer than any extra cash could.
How Restraining Orders Work
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home. But sadly, domestic violence remains a persistent problem. Fortunately, victims have recourse to keep themselves safe through protection orders. Most people use the term “restraining order” loosely, but several types of protection orders are available in Washington. People who have been assaulted or threatened by a family or house member usually need a Domestic Violence Protection Order. While a criminal charge of domestic violence may help a person secure this type of protection order, prior police involvement is not necessary. Domestic violence situations are dangerous and volatile. So, while the accused has the right to due process, the court can impose an emergency or ex parte restraining order. The temporary order is usually good for up to 14 days or until the court can
hold a hearing. Victims must show evidence that the situation is urgent for the court to consider this step.
Once a Domestic Violence Protection Order is in place, the respondent is legally obligated to stay away from the petitioner. The order will typically bar all in-person contact, and the respondent will not be allowed to come within a certain distance of the petitioner’s home or employment. Other forms of contact, including phone, email, and communication through a third party, are also prohibited. Further, in cases of intimate partner violence, the respondent must surrender all firearms to the police. Any reported instance of the respondent disobeying the restraining order would result in automatic arrest — even if the petitioner consented to the contact. The respondent could be charged with several crimes, and a conviction could result in months to years in
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TAKE A BREAK
FATHERHOOD’S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What to Know About Establishing Paternity
The identity of a child’s mother is rarely questioned, but the rules of biology make paternity less clear-cut. Washington State automatically assigns paternity to the mother’s husband when a couple is married. But more unmarried couples are having children together — and sometimes, a man who assumes he is the father turns out not to be. Most unmarried fathers establish paternity of their own volition when both parents sign a voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage before a notary. But a paternity test is required when the parents disagree — or a man signs an Acknowledgment of Parentage but later changes his mind. The results will determine whether the courts issue an order legally declaring a man the father of a child. Crucially, paternity comes with responsibilities as well as rights. Many men wish to establish paternity to gain child custody or help make life decisions. But legal paternity also creates an obligation of financial support for the child. For this reason, either a mother or father may seek to establish paternity. It is usually the first step in any child custody or child support case where parentage is contested. Receiving the results of a paternity test is often an emotional experience, whether it produces relief or devastation. But while those results help shape the outcome of a case, they will not necessarily dictate it. The court will always rule in the best interests of the child’s future security and well-being. Most fathers with legal paternity will have a right to see their child, but biology is not a guarantee when contact would be harmful. Further, while a negative paternity test can clear a man of his obligation to support a child, it does not necessarily absolve all of his rights. A father who raised a child as his own and wants to maintain that relationship can petition to be named a de facto parent. Someone established as a de facto parent has a right to spend time with the child and help make decisions regarding their care. Whatever paternity matters you’re facing, the experienced team at Pacific Northwest Family Law can help fight for your rights. Call us at 564.212.2733 to book an appointment to discuss your case in detail.
SOLUTION:
jail and thousands of dollars in fines. These severe penalties are designed to dissuade the respondent from contact and keep domestic violence victims safe. Filing for a protective order is sometimes confusing, but a person’s safety can depend on completing it right the first time. If you have been assaulted or feel threatened by a partner, we recommend hiring a family law attorney who can help ensure you receive the best protection possible. Don’t wait to call Pacific Northwest Family Law at 564.212.2733 and get the process started.
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1359 Columbia Park Trail Richland, WA 99352 564.212.2733 pnwfamilylaw.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1 | Embrace the Sun and Get Outdoors!
2 | Help Kids Learn While They Earn
How Protection Orders Keep Victims Safe
3 | The Rights and
Responsibilities of Paternity
4 | The Swine That Dared to Defy
An Unconventional ‘Bacon’ of Hope The Story of the Danish Protest Pig
In the 19th century, Denmark and Prussia couldn’t agree on where to draw their border. Both countries refused to concede or couldn’t reach an agreement on which country would ultimately control Southern Jutland, which today is Germany’s northernmost state called Schleswig-Holstein. This refusal to compromise ultimately led to war, and in 1848, Denmark won control. However, their victory was short-lived, as roughly a decade later, the Second Schleswig War was underway. This time, though, Prussia was victorious. After their victory, the Prussian authorities slowly began to move into the peninsula, implementing new laws over the Danes living there. These new laws prohibited anything Danish, including all uses of the Danish flag. Needless to say, the Danes were not happy — especially the farmers. These Danish farmers knew they had to protest this oppressive Prussian government, but they couldn’t just publicly wave the Danish flag. So, they got crafty. Danish farmers began to crossbreed their pigs to create a new breed, one that had the
same markings as the Danish flag. These pigs were red in color, with one white vertical stripe and one white horizontal stripe. The farmers named their new pigs Protestschwein, or the Danish Protest Pig. This protest pig quickly became the mascot of Danish cultural independence, and their efforts didn’t go unnoticed by Prussian authorities. In 1881, a local Prussian police station sent communications back to the government in Berlin that farmers were breeding strange-looking pigs. However, while they could not prove that farmers were knowingly breeding the pigs to look like the Danish flag, “it was believed that the farmers were well aware of this and that this pig represented an affront to the Prussians,” according to records from the Red Holstein Breeders Association. Today, the Danish Protest Pig is recognized as its own breed but has a different name: the Husum Red Pied. And, the now- German state of Schleswig-Holstein supports the protection of this pig due to the cultural significance it offered its Danish ancestors so many years ago.
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