Take a look at our February newsletter!
The Bledsoe Firm JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551 FEBRUARY | 2024
RISING STRONG THE POWER OF ALWAYS GETTING BACK UP
NAVIGATING LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH THE BLEDSOE FIRM At The Bledsoe Firm, we understand the intricate web
Life, with its twists and turns, doesn’t always follow the script we envision. It’s a journey marked by highs and lows, victories and setbacks. Feb. 2 is National Get Up Day, an important reminder of the resilience within us — the strength to rise after a fall. This reminder extends beyond physical resilience — it’s a powerful metaphor for overcoming life’s challenges, especially those arising from complex personal situations like divorce, custody battles, or relationship complications. THE JOURNEY AFTER A FALL Few experiences in life are as emotionally taxing as going through a divorce, grappling with a custody battle, or navigating troubles in a significant relationship. These challenges have the potential to shake the very foundation of our well-being, leaving us feeling disoriented and emotionally drained. In such moments, the path forward might seem uncertain, but it’s essential to recognize we have strength to rise again. What defines us is not the fall itself but our ability to rise, resilient and ready, to face what lies ahead. THE ROLE OF RESILIENCE IN PERSONAL GROWTH Resilience, the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, is a characteristic that often becomes our guiding light in challenging times. While the pain of a divorce or the complexities of a custody battle can feel overwhelming, they are also an opportunity for personal growth. It’s in the process of rising from these challenges that we discover our strength and capacity for adaptation.
of emotions and legal complexities accompanying family law matters. Our commitment goes beyond providing legal counsel — we strive to be a supportive ally on your journey to recovery. Our team recognizes that every client’s situation is unique, and we approach each case with empathy, expertise, and dedication to achieving the best possible outcome. ADVICE FOR RECOVERING AFTER SIGNIFICANT LIFE EVENTS • Acknowledge Your Emotions: Allowing yourself to feel the emotions that arise is crucial. Whether it’s grief, anger, or confusion, acknowledging these feelings is the first step towards healing. • Seek Support: Surround yourself with a support system — friends, family, or professionals who can offer understanding and guidance. The journey is often less daunting when shared. • Focus on Self-Care: Taking care of your physical and emotional well-being is paramount. Prioritize self-care activities that bring you joy, whether it’s exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones. • Set Realistic Goals: Recovery is a gradual process. Set realistic goals and celebrate small victories along the way. Each step forward, no matter how small, is a triumph. • Get Legal Guidance: In matters of divorce, custody battles, or complex relationships, seeking legal guidance is essential. The Bledsoe Firm provides expert legal counsel, ensuring you have the support and knowledge needed to navigate the legal aspects of your situation. Amid the complexities of life’s challenges, The Bledsoe Firm stands as your support team. We understand the emotional toll of divorce, custody battles, and relationship complications, and we are here to guide you through the legal nuances with empathy. National Get Up Day serves as a reminder that falling is a universal experience, but with the right support, recovery is not only possible but also an opportunity for personal growth and renewal. —John Bledsoe
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INJURY-FREE RUNNING THE POWER OF POWER NAPPING A 15-MINUTE NAP CAN BOOST YOUR MOOD, HAPPINESS, AND HEALTH
LOWER STRESS People get cranky when they’re tired. Less sleep causes aggression, emotional outbursts, and mood changes. Adequate sleep makes you feel a lot better — emotionally and physically. While power naps aren’t the solution to every problem, they can be a lifesaver in high-stress situations. Consider taking a cat nap if you’re under a tight deadline. Doing so can boost productivity and lower stress levels. LIVE LONGER Power naps help more than just the brain. They also benefit the cardiovascular system, as regular naps can lower blood pressure, which means you’re at a lower risk of a stroke or heart attack. People who don’t get enough sleep have more frequent headaches, immunological issues, and an increased appetite. Gaining weight then leads to many other health problems, so those who want to lose weight should also watch their sleep schedule.
To some, a nap is a vital part of a daily routine. To others, naps are accidents and should be avoided. Power naps — also known as “cat naps” — are short, usually around 15–20 minutes, and many believe such a tiny amount of sleep can’t be helpful. You can’t even get to the REM sleep stage. However, peer-reviewed studies show power naps can have many benefits for their minimal time investment. Here are three ways you benefit from adding a 15-minute sleep session to your daily routine. THINK CLEARER Napping is excellent for sharpening your cognitive powers. High sleep quality leads to better memory, fast response times, and mental clarity, so a power nap is perfect for fitting a little more into your schedule. But while a cat nap can sharpen your focus, a longer nap might hinder you. Long naps go through the entire sleep cycle and result in grogginess, impairing brain function for a short time.
In short, fit a power nap into your schedule regularly. Cultures around the world take midday naps for a reason. If power naps don’t help you feel better, consider visiting a doctor. Constant exhaustion — especially insomnia — can indicate other health problems lurking.
Co-Parenting During Spring Break
How to Keep Vacation Fun for Everyone
Spring break is on the horizon, and you may wonder how best to co-parent your child during this time. You need to consider many things before planning a big vacation with the kids, particularly as this is a shorter break that doesn’t include any holidays. Whether you’re new to co-parenting or have been doing this for a while, we have three tips that may help! BE PROACTIVE The best time to discuss concrete custody scheduling is during your initial custody negotiations in court, like which school vacations your child will spend with you. This often eliminates any doubt or unnecessary conflict. There are many options, such as splitting summer vacation, alternating spring break every year, or simply equalizing the amount of time spent with the other parent, no matter the vacation time. BE FLEXIBLE Considering everyone’s schedules is vital. Your work may not have a built-in spring break, while the co-parent does have the time off. In many cases, neither parent has the time off. This can lead to issues. Often, this break, in particular, can cause conflict as child care falls through.
Be sure to plan for it, and be sure to include your child’s plans; older children could have band camp, spring training, or jobs. Younger children may want to spend time with their friends rather than travel. It doesn’t hurt to sit down with the kids before planning big vacations to see what they think and write it down! HAVE FUN! These school vacations are precious moments for kids because they get a break from the pressure of schoolwork. Though figuring out scheduling may be somewhat stressful for you, they are looking forward to this break. You should try to have fun alongside them. Even if you may have work, doing small activities will make all the difference. Having a movie night with a film of their choice, preparing a special breakfast, or camping in the backyard can create a lifetime of memories. Before you know it, kids grow up, and all their school vacations will be behind them. We’re here to help you be proactive in your custody arrangements so you can focus on having fun, being flexible, and ultimately treasuring your child’s childhood.
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W ord S earch
HOW TO CONTINUE PAST THE RESOLUTION Spring-Cleaning Bad Fitness Habits As we settle into the new year, the packed crowds at the gyms are thinning out. It’s not due to weight loss, either. Many give up on those fitness resolutions when the New Year’s decorations are put away. Don’t be one of them; spring-clean those bad habits that make it difficult to continue your fitness routine. Here are just two tips to bulk up your training regimen!
AQUARIUS CANDY CUPID GROUNDHOG HEART LINCOLN CHOCOLATE PENNSYLVANIA PHIL
PRESIDENTS VALENTINE WINTER
EXPLORE ONLINE OPTIONS If the drive to the gym or the crowds have become arduous, instead,
attend a yoga class from your living room, bicycle in your neighborhood while listening to an instructor on a podcast, or even put on your preferred VR headset and join a cardio class while in your garage. These are easily accessible to anyone, with millions of hours of fitness content available at your fingertips.
The Best Vegan Loaded Baked Potatoes
These sorts of videos exploded on the scene thanks to pandemic lockdowns, but they are still available along with the older formats. Those VHS copies of Julia
Inspired by ACoupleCooks.com
INGREDIENTS
Michaels were another way to skip the gym without missing the workout. Whether it’s a VHS cassette or a VR headset, try all your options when heading to the gym isn’t going to happen. REMEMBER TO REST Though continuing to your fitness goals is good, wearing yourself ragged is counterproductive. Implementing rest days will ensure your body is ready for your following workout routine. You shouldn’t just lie around, though. Thankfully, other options are probably more fun: Spend a day at the sauna or spa to get a massage to relax your mind and body. If you’d rather rest at home, try a massage gun. They are becoming more and more affordable for everyday folks. You can also find a variety of massage rollers at your local sports store. You can also implement these tools as warm-ups or cool-downs in your regular workout routine. Ultimately, these methods bring balance to your routine so it doesn’t feel like endless, joyless work. Rest days are also critical, even though you may be itching to increase your weight count or lower your mile run time. Spring-cleaning doesn’t have to be for just your home; it can encourage you to stick to your resolution(s) by adjusting your methods and getting rid of what doesn’t work.
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4 russet potatoes 1 tbsp olive oil 1 15-oz can black beans 1/4 tsp kosher salt 1 1/2 cups pico de gallo, store-bought
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1 cup corn
1 cup guacamole, store-bought Shredded vegan cheese
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Fresh chopped cilantro Dairy-free sour cream
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. 2. Wash potatoes and use a fork to pierce them all over. Next, rub olive oil on potatoes and place them directly on the oven rack. Bake for 20 minutes, turn each potato, and bake for another 25 minutes or until tender. 3. Drain and rinse the black beans, then add kosher salt. When the potatoes are done, open the tops with a fork and top with the pico de gallo, seasoned black beans, corn, guacamole, cheddar cheese, cilantro, and sour cream.
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Inside
Empowering Recovery in Life’s Toughest Battles
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3 Reasons to Take a Cat Nap
3 Tips to Help Co-Parents Plan for Spring Break
2 Ways to Improve Your Fitness Regimen
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The Best Vegan Loaded Baked Potatoes
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Family Fun With DIY Boxes
How DIY Boxes Are Reinventing Family Time CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
CIRCUITMESS WACKY ROBOTS: INTRODUCING ENGINEERING TO YOUNG MINDS For the younger demographic (ages 9 and older), Wacky Robots is an excellent initiation into the world of robotics. Designed for simplicity, it allows younger children to participate. Vladimir from Croatia shares, “Assembling the robots with my daughter was a joy; it sparked her curiosity in ways I hadn’t seen before.” This box simplifies the complex world of robotics into a playful and accessible format, perfectly suited for parents and children to explore together. Ultimately, what distinguishes these subscription boxes is their ability to transform an ordinary evening into an adventure of cooperation and discovery. Working together on a project, whether it’s building a robot or solving a technological puzzle, forges a unique bond. This shared journey through challenges and triumphs cultivates technical skills and deepens emotional connections. DIY subscription boxes like CircuitMess STEM Box and Wacky Robots can serve as portals to new realms of knowledge and collaborative experiences, turning parents into co-adventurers in their kids’ world of discovery. Families don’t just create projects; they craft lasting memories and strengthen relationships.
In an era increasingly dominated by digital screens, DIY subscription boxes have emerged as a refreshing medium for family bonding,
offering more than just educational content but fostering memorable, shared experiences between parents and kids. Here are a few to consider!
CIRCUITMESS STEM BOX: A TECHNOLOGICAL BONDING EXPERIENCE
At the forefront of this trend is the CircuitMess STEM Box, an excellent choice for kids ages 11 and older. This box includes projects like assembling a “Clockstar” smartwatch or crafting a “Wheelson” self-driving car. It’s a gateway to the complex world of AI and machine learning and a platform for parents to engage in these emerging technologies alongside their children. Petros, a father from the U.S., reports: “Building the Ringo kit was an enriching experience, providing quality time and valuable learning for my son.” Such activities emphasize the role of parents as partners in learning, jointly navigating the exhilarating path of technological discovery.
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