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J uly 2023
The Heart of Purposeful Parenting A M atter of T ime For example, my oldest had homework for the first time last school year. I sat down with him every weekday to work on it. He usually completed the work independently; he only occasionally asked me for help. But just being there with him instead of doing chores or answering work emails on my phone made a difference. I also try to make Tuesday night special. My wife stays home with the kids these days but teaches yoga once a week. Tuesdays are my night alone with the kids, and I’ve consciously decided over the past few months to use the time wisely. Instead of letting myself be distracted by work as the kids sit in front of the TV, I try to find things the four of us can do together. We might go on a bike ride or visit the beach or park. The point is to put aside our distractions and focus on one another. My parents were an instructional example. They told me “no” to many material wants at the time. I thought I needed Michael Jordan sneakers, but of course, I didn’t. Instead, they took us on trips, paid for my college education, and ensured they could enjoy their own retirement. They were purposeful in their choices about spending time and money and tried to give us as many experiences as possible. One of my favorite childhood memories involves a road trip from Georgia to Mount Saint Helens in Washington. We spent about three weeks traveling around various state parks in our popup camper. We had so many incredible times together on that vacation. The western portion of the U.S. is still one of my favorite places in the world, and I believe it’s because of those memories. My family is taking a similar trip this summer. We’re flying to Seattle and driving to San Diego down the Pacific Coast Highway. I hope my kids will look back on it someday with similar fondness. Most of our clients at The Manely Firm are going through a divorce, and custody is often an issue. I urge people to think about how they can spend quality time together rather than the child’s location. The term “primary parent” is less important than how you use the time you have. I don’t only mean vacations or trips to the park — even making dinner and driving to school can be meaningful if we’re purposeful, present, and engaged. I recently heard someone explain their outlook on life. “If I took a picture of this moment right now,” they said, “what would I think of it in 20 years?” We should consider what we’ll see when we all look back at that mental photograph of our families at dinner tonight. Hopefully, it will be a family looking at each other instead of their phones.
I had children older than most of my peers. A few of my high school and college friends are grandparents or expecting to become one soon. Meanwhile, my children are aged 7, 5, and 2. Seeing that dichotomy has given me a unique appreciation of how quickly time passes. In the blink of an eye, your kids grow up and move on. It has inspired me to cherish every moment I can with my children. If the years don’t last long, I want to make the most of them. So, when I learned that July is Purposeful Parenting Month, the idea resonated with me. We all get stuck in routines and go through the motions of life. But as we do, we let precious time pass us by. When we take the time to be present in each moment, we can get so much more out of our lives and relationships with our children. I’m no different than most people. Weekdays are hectic. It is complicated to get everyone out the door in the morning, help them complete homework in the evening, and ensure everyone is bathed, fed, and in bed on time. But I try to slow down and spend as much quality time as I can with the kids despite how busy I am.
–David Purvis
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P ack Y our L uggage W ith E ase SUITCASE HACKS YOU NEED
Sneak more clothes in a pillowcase. Play it cool when you pass TSA with a pillowcase stuffed with extra clothes! Don’t worry, this hack is entirely legal and perfect for those who like to shop when they travel. Be sure to pack a zipped pillowcase in your luggage so that if you have too many clothes on your return trip, you can stuff them into the pillowcase Even if you are traveling in winter, always make sure to bring a pair of sunglasses — not for the shades themselves, but for the compact case! You can use this sturdy case to store jewelry, electrical cords, or delicate souvenirs. While traveling can be a dream come true, cluttered or overstuffed luggage can be a nightmare brought to life. On your upcoming summer vacation, ensure you’re using your space efficiently and keeping your sanity with these hacks! and bring it with you on your flight. Utilize your sunglasses case.
Whether you’re a packing perfectionist or a last-minute folder, learning a few more special tricks for stuffing your suitcase with your travel essentials can’t hurt! You’ve probably already heard about rolling up your clothes into cylinders or buying packing cubes, so here are four other game-changing packing hacks. Stuff your shoes! If you’ve ever had to sit on your suitcase just to zip it shut, this tip is for you. Shoes can take up a serious amount of space in luggage. That’s why you should try stuffing whatever you can in your shoes to ensure you pack everything you need. Socks and smaller garments are perfect for rolling up and putting in your shoes. If you’re bringing boots, that means more space for your belongings! Use solids and cling wrap to avoid spills. There’s nothing worse than opening your luggage in your hotel to find that your shampoos and other liquids have burst and stained half of your wardrobe. Surprisingly, countless brands offer solid shampoos
and conditioners. Instead of large bottles of liquid, these necessities are made into compact, solid bars. If you do have fluids you need to pack, try covering them with cling wrap or putting them in zip-lock bags to ensure nothing spills on on your other things.
‘O ne - on -O ne C onnection I s E ssential ’ Meet Maria Sanjurjo Maria Sanjurjo joined The Manely Firm as a Client Care Coordinator in 2019, wondering where life would take her next after leaving a job in sales. But she was a natural at connecting with potential clients who call the office. For the past year, she has worked as the firm’s Client Care Coordinator Manager, overseeing the team that acts as each client’s first point of contact with our office. The Client Care Coordinator position is about “helping potential clients figure out their priorities and what they want out of life,” Maria says. “We want to know what their best-case scenario would be.” Though she is now in a supervisory role, Maria still talks to potential clients as much as possible. “Having that one-on-one connection is essential,” she says. “You lose sight of what they’re feeling if your focus is solely on numbers.” Maria is a first-generation immigrant with Panamanian and Puerto Rican parents. “My parents instilled their work ethic, culture, and language in me,” she says. Her Spanish fluency is also extremely useful in her work. “We have a lot of clients from Latin America,” Maria explains. “They’re already so stressed, and it’s helpful to speak their native language and not have to worry about a miscommunication that might happen in English.” Spanish is also a priority for Maria and her husband, Dario, who is from Uruguay. It’s the only language they speak at home, so their daughter Celia, who Maria says is “7 going on 15,” will be bilingual. Outside of work, Maria loves salsa music and watching fútbol — or soccer, as Americans call it. She roots for her husband’s home country. “This past summer during the World Cup, I sent Dario updates on what was happening,” she says. “We were bitterly disappointed when Uruguay was eliminated.” Maria reports that one of her favorite things about The Manely Firm is the staff’s closeness. “The people here are genuinely nice,” she says, “and you don’t find that everywhere.” She also notes that concern for others shows in the firm’s work. “The Manely Firm is focused on helping families make sure they’re in a position to start their next life phase in a good frame of mind,” Maria says. “Things may not have worked out how you wanted them to, but we can help you get through it and move on with your life to something better.”
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W hat A ctions A re Y ou T aking ?
“People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” –R ob S iltanen
Start With Baby Steps
Someone has wronged us all, but we can choose how to respond. David Emerald’s book “The Power of TED* (The Empowerment Dynamic)” has taught The Manely Firm that how we see ourselves matters. Instead of viewing ourselves as “victims” who have no control over a situation, we can choose to become “creators” who take charge and determine what to do next. Once you think of yourself differently, you begin acting differently with others. As a creator, you have higher self-esteem and begin to see challenging circumstances as an
M atcha -C overed S trawberries
Inspired by TeakAndThyme.com
opportunity to make something new. But the hard work can go to waste if we’re not purposeful and ready to create a plan. That’s why one of Emerald’s “3 vital questions” is, “What action are you taking?” We’ve all heard the phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” It gets to the heart of what it means to take action toward your goals. Instead of dwelling on the unwanted lemons, we can decide to create something that lets them serve us. Of course, it’s challenging to be your best self when you’re under enormous stress. But we can also use stress to motivate us. Emerald calls this “harnessing dynamic tension.” In other words, instead of ignoring or suppressing our anxiety, we can let it help us move toward our desired outcome. Let difficult times move you forward instead of holding you back. The Manely Firm strives to apply these lessons to our work. In our pursuit of justice, we aim to see roadblocks as opportunities. When addressing a challenge, we ask how we can respond in a way that moves us closer to the client’s hopes, dreams, and aspirations. That framing guides us as collaborators as we help clients create the lives they want. We never pursue legal strategies that conflict with clients’ goals and priorities. We also want to model that behavior for our clients and encourage them to do the same as they face continued challenges and family conflict. Keeping your eye on the desired outcome will help you conduct yourself better and keep moving in the right direction. Let the result you want and a new empowering sense of self guide your actions toward a better future.
I ngredients
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1 1/4 cups chopped white chocolate 1 tsp matcha powder, ceremonial grade
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14 fresh strawberries, rinsed and patted dry
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D irections 1.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave the white chocolate in 15–20-second intervals, stirring in between until it’s completely melted. 3. Add matcha powder to the melted white chocolate and stir until thoroughly mixed. Hold a strawberry by its leaves and dip it into the matcha chocolate mixture until it’s almost entirely covered. Shake off any excess chocolate, then place the matcha-covered strawberry on a baking sheet and let it harden. Repeat with remaining strawberries. 4. Fill a piping bag with leftover chocolate and drizzle strawberries with the chocolate. Let chocolate-covered strawberries completely harden at room temperature before gently peeling them off the parchment paper.
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211 Roswell St. NE Marietta, GA 30060 (866) 687-8561 www.allfamilylaw.com
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How David Strives to Purposefully Parent
The (New) Art of Summer Packing Meet Client Care Coordinator Manager Maria Take Baby Steps Toward Who You Want to Be Matcha-Covered Strawberries
The Swine That Dared to Defy
A n U nconventional ‘B acon ’ of H ope
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.
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
After their victory, the Prussian authorities slowly began to move into the peninsula, implementing
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.
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,
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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