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CaseBarnettLaw.com
949-565-2993
NOVEMBER 2022
GRATEFUL AND BLESSED
EMBRACING GRATITUDE THIS HOLIDAY
Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, and I could not be more excited! It's one of my favorite holidays and one of the few times of year where it’s acceptable to go back for seconds (and sometimes thirds) and indulge in desserts too! It’s a fabulous time to embrace the love of your family and friends and to focus on all the blessings in your life for which you are grateful. It’s a time to celebrate, relax, and be merry while partaking in traditions and holiday activities. Watching football on Thanksgiving was a tradition in our household when I was growing up — and it still is in my parents’ home! We would spend the whole day embracing each other’s company, watching the greatest sport ever, feasting on delicious foods and sweets, and sharing happiness and laughter. My mom would always decorate the home to the nines, making the season magical. Now, I’m the only one in our family who enjoys sports, so we’ve adopted some other traditions of togetherness, warmth, and happiness and developed our version of a Barnett Thanksgiving. Quality time is key, and together, we embrace the spirit of the holiday. Nicole does a fantastic job creating a festive, warm, and cozy environment with such an inviting aroma and feel. She puts the idea of “home for the holidays” to shame — nothing compares to the warmth she creates for our family. We make the bird the centerpiece of the day. While the kids don’t enjoy eating turkey (Nicole and I end up with leftovers galore), they love cooking it together as a family. Each year, we try different combinations of seasonings — for Finn and Harlow, it’s like a giant science experiment — and we compare it to the years prior. They love mixing flavors as we focus on different smells flowing through the home. They’re simply magical.
This time of year, I always find myself focusing a little extra on gratitude and all that I’m grateful for. This year, I’m most thankful for my wife, Nicole. Over the years, she has truly helped me grow as an individual, both personally and professionally, and has taught me love, compassion, dedication, hard work, grit, and success. She’s shown me the value of growth and companionship. It may sound cliché, but it’s absolutely insane to think about where and who I would be today if I had never been blessed with that second date with Nicole. Because of her, I value so much in life, I’ve found beauty in more places than I can count, and I’ve grown in more ways than I could have ever imagined. This Thanksgiving, I’m most appreciative of her and the two wonderful children with whom she has blessed me!
From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
–Case Barnett
CaseBarnettLaw.com
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949-565-2993
Most parents want their kids to view Thanksgiving as a meaningful event — not just an opportunity to indulge in turkey and mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, most kids’ eyes will glaze over when their parents launch into a lecture about thankfulness. You will likely find better success by emphasizing the value of gratitude all year long. A DAILY DOSE OF GRATITUDE RAISING THANKFUL CHILDREN “What do you say?” It’s a question we all ask our young children after someone does something nice for them. This practice instills good manners, but it shouldn’t be confused with teaching gratitude. Imparting the meaning behind the words “thank you” takes something more. If you want grateful children, you need to be grateful parents. Consider how you can incorporate gratitude more into your everyday life. Are you as thankful as you should be? Do you repay favors and write thank-you notes? Do you regularly talk about why you’re so fortunate or what you’re thankful for? Cultivating gratitude in your life sets a good example, and many studies show it benefits your mental health as well. Next, consider how you can encourage your child to reflect on who they’re grateful for. Acts of kindness and returning the favor to those who have been good to us can inspire kids to put their
gratitude into action. Doing some yardwork, sharing a toy, or making a painting as a gift can help children understand how powerful it can be to outwardly show our gratitude for the people who are in our lives. Consistency is the most crucial factor, so try to find ways you can incorporate gratitude into your everyday routine. Children of any age can keep a gratitude journal with their parents’ help. Some families also use a gratitude jar where each family member can write what they’re grateful for on a slip of paper and add something different to the jar each week. It’s the perfect way to keep gratitude front and center. These lessons may not sink in immediately, but by cultivating these positive habits in our everyday lives, you will see a big difference in the long run.
OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST "Case Barnett Law is an outstanding law firm that helped me through a lawsuit involving a traumatic brain injury. They have a wonderful team. Their paralegal Paige Smoot was always prompt in keeping me updated on my case. Conor Mulvaney, my attorney, was especially helpful. He took the time to explain each step in the legal process and made me feel like I had someone in my corner. More
than any of that, Conor went the extra mile to get to know me and the pain I went through. It really made me feel like he and the law firm had my best interests in mind. I am very grateful to have had Conor Mulvaney and Case Barnett Law represent me and would recommend their services to anyone and everyone."
-Gregory W.
This publication is intended to educate the general public about personal injury and elder abuse. It is not intended to be legal advice. Every case is different.
CaseBarnettLaw.com ENSURING YOUR VOICE IS HEARD Effecting Change Within Your Child’s School 949-565-2993 Kids have been back in school for a few months now — gosh, how time flies! As parents, we want our kids to have positive school experiences, make friends, and learn a lot while achieving good grades. However, most importantly, we want our children to feel and be safe. But what can you do if your child doesn’t feel safe, and how can you ensure that positive change takes place in the school? Parents are sometimes left feeling like they don’t have much of a say in what goes on within the walls of their child’s school, but that does not need to be the case. When situations like this arise, as cheesy as it may sound, it’s important to be the squeaky wheel. If something takes place that concerns either you or your child, use your voice and document all of the details surrounding the problem with written letters to both the school and the school district. This creates a notice to the school. The reality is that while a lot of conduct is not civilly actionable, future behavior could be if the school is notified. The best way to get your child’s school to take measures and steps toward correcting a situation is via the thread of the civil justice system. When it comes down to it, you, as a parent, can really make the largest impact if the school district fears they may be sued for not taking action. While your goal is simply to protect your child and help anyone injured or damaged to feel whole again, it’s also about curbing future wrongful conduct. Creating fear in the school and school district forces the hand for positive change!
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APPLE CRANBERRY CRISP
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
If you’re feeling old-fashioned, treat yourself to this warm and bubbly dish. Nothing says Thanksgiving quite like a classic apple recipe.
Ingredients
• 3 cups peeled and chopped tart apples • 1 1/2 cups cranberries • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, divided • 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup butter, cold • Vanilla ice cream (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large bowl, combine apples, cranberries, 1/4 cup brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. 3. Grease an 8-inch baking dish and pour the mixture into it. 4. In a small bowl, mix flour and the remaining brown sugar. Cut in cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle this over the fruit. 5. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If desired, serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!
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949-565-2993
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Page 1 Happy Thanksgiving
Page 2 A Daily Dose of Gratitude
Our Clients Say It Best
Page 3 Effecting Change Within Your Child’s School
Apple Cranberry Crisp
Page 4 A Healthy Way to Manage Intrusive Thoughts
WHY DO I CONSTANTLY THINK ABOUT THIS? HOW TO MANAGE INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS
What are intrusive thoughts? Intrusive thoughts are unwanted ideas that occur without warning at any time, often triggered by stress or anxiety, or even short-term biological factors, like hormone shifts. They can come in many forms, and people often worry about what they mean, so naturally, they try to control or stop the ideas altogether. But trying to prohibit these thoughts can make them more persistent. What can you do? Instead of pushing these thoughts out of your mind, acknowledge that they are intrusive concepts and allow them to linger. Understand they will pass, but prepare yourself for other unwanted thoughts. Most importantly, push through and continue to complete your tasks and errands when the thoughts occur.
If you try to control, suppress, question, act, or engage with intrusive thoughts, you’ll likely be even more fixated on them. You’ll feel more in control if you allow them to pass through your brain instead of trying to avoid and ignore them. Intrusive thoughts can feel distressing, but allowing them to freely enter and exit your mind will provide you with ease — even if it doesn’t seem that way. However, if intrusive ideas persist and continually impair your ability to work or do things you enjoy, seek information from a mental health professional. You’re never alone in your struggles, so don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.
Many people deal with unwelcome, intrusive thoughts every day. We’ve all experienced unwanted images or notions racing through our minds, and it can be difficult to concentrate on what we need to be doing. These thoughts can also trigger feelings of anxiety, worry, and shame. But know you’re not alone — some estimate that 6 million Americans are affected, so many can empathize with what you’re going through. Here is some good advice about intrusive thoughts and how to manage them in a healthy way.
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