Check out our February newsletter!
DathanLHill.com 225-266-2948
February 2025
SMALL EFFORTS, HUGE IMPACT Kindness Matters More Than Ever
Send a Thoughtful Note: A quick text, email, or handwritten card can show someone you’re thinking of them.
Sometimes, life feels like a whirlwind of responsibilities and routines — it’s easy to forget how much power a small act of kindness can hold. That’s why Feb. 17, Random Acts of Kindness Day, is such a refreshing reminder to slow down and brighten someone’s day. As Morgan Freeman once said, “How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time.” Kindness is powerful. It can uplift others, strengthen communities, and even improve our own well-being. Studies show that being kind can reduce stress, increase happiness, and create a ripple effect of positivity. After all, when we choose kindness, we contribute to a world that feels warmer and more connected. Simple Ways to Spread Kindness You don’t need grand gestures to make a difference. You can spread compassion in ways that don’t cost a penny or require little effort. Here are eight easy and thoughtful ways to add some kindness into your everyday life: Compliment Someone: A sincere “I love your shoes!” or “You’re doing a great job!” can turn someone’s entire day around. Nothing feels better than a compliment.
Help a Neighbor: Offer to carry groceries, shovel snow, cook a meal, or water plants for a neighbor in need.
Be Extra Patient: Kindness can be as simple as being patient with a busy waiter or understanding with a stressed-out coworker. It’s important to remember that we are all human and have our days. Leave Positive Reviews: If you had a great experience at a restaurant or business, leave a glowing review online — it helps more than you know!
Donate or Volunteer: Give your time, money, or gently used items to a charity close to your heart. A little bit goes a long way!
Be Kind to Yourself: Remember that self-compassion counts, too. Treat yourself with the same kindness you show others. This can be through getting a massage, being more forgiving for mistakes you make, or eating healthier. Kindness goes a long way. One small act can inspire the recipient to pay it forward and create an endless chain of goodwill. You may never know how far your kindness travels — and that’s the beauty of it. So, this Feb. 17, let’s embrace Random Acts of Kindness Day by showing a little extra warmth to those around us. Whether it’s holding the door, sharing a smile, or offering a helping hand, remember: Kindness is contagious — and the world can always use more of it.
Pay It Forward: Buy a coffee for the person behind you in line or leave some quarters at a laundromat — this gesture can go a long way!
–Dathan Hill P.S. If you or a family member has been in an auto accident, we are here to help! Give us a call today at 225-266-2948 for a free initial consultation.
DathanLHill.com | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Bizarre Child Care Trends From the Past That Didn’t Age Well!
You’re Never Too Young for Tripe (1950s)
They say the truth is stranger than fiction, and that couldn’t be truer in the world of parenting. However, keep in mind that what’s strange to us now wasn’t odd back then. In fact, it was “the norm”! So, fasten your seatbelt and enjoy a journey back in time to look at the strange child care styles of yesteryear. Baby Travel Made Easy (1950s) A perk of traveling with a baby is that the baby stays in the parent’s lap the entire flight without paying for an extra seat, right? Well, in the 1950s, British Overseas Airways Corp felt that babies sitting in their mother’s laps the entire flight was a problem needing a solution: The Sky Cot. This travel contraption was fastened to the overhead luggage rack with a protective net to keep the baby secure during turbulence, giving a whole new meaning to “the sky is the limit.”
Parents now generally feed babies milk for at least the first six months of their lives before introducing them to solid food. However, in the 1950s, parents weaned babies off milk at four months and started them on solid foods — one of those foods being tripe, the stomach lining of cows, pigs, and other farm animals. Bon appétit! Baby Cages for Fresh Air (1930s) Back in the 1930s, when parents felt their babies needed fresh air, all they had to do was put them in a cage that hung outside their window. These terrifying baby porches were for children living in tall buildings in the city. At least they didn’t have to go down countless flights of stairs for fresh air.
No Country for ‘Lefties’ (1910s) Being born left-handed was once considered a characteristic of a defiant personality and something parents should train out of children. Treatment often included painful braces to restrain the use of the left hand, forcing children to make their right hand dominant. Parenting trends and child care standards have changed with every generation, but it’s safe to say certain child care techniques from previous generations are much better left in the past.
CAUGHT IN THE CLOUD
How One Thief’s Selfie Landed Him in Hot Water
(and comedy lovers everywhere), he uploaded this gem to the cloud.
not-so-well-intentioned young men with a half-baked plan.
In what could be a plot twist straight out of a sitcom, a brazen thief turned himself into an unwitting internet star after his phone-snatching heist went incredibly wrong. Picture this: A cool evening, a group of movie-goers casually strolling down their Houston neighborhood looking forward to a bucket of popcorn and a new blockbuster. Enter stage left: three
Thanks to his cloud-cast snafu, the authorities could get a full image of the newly minted most wanted. You could almost hear his fellow thieves’ facepalms as the video debuted on the victim’s account. The Houston Police promptly uploaded Mr. Selfie Bandit’s solo performance to their YouTube channel. Now, they’re hoping this unexpected audition tape will help put the fool of a thief behind bars. So, let this be a lesson to all would-be criminals: If you must commit a crime, maybe leave the selfies and social media out of it. We guess it’s true that not everyone is cut out for a life in front of the camera, especially when it leads straight to the slammer.
The trio of misguided musketeers approached the unsuspecting group with violent bravado. Brandishing a handgun, one of the alleged culprits demanded the victims’ phones and their respective passcodes. They even escalated the drama by pressing the gun to one victim’s head, threatening a finale no one wanted to see. Then, the robbers fled in their four-door white sedan, stolen wallets and phones in tow. But here comes the comic relief! In a blunder no one saw coming, one of the criminal “masterminds” decided it was his time to shine. He recorded a video of himself tossing gang signs and flaunting his newly stolen phone. Unfortunately for him, but luckily for law enforcement
2 | 225-266-2948
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
TAKE A BREAK
Chore-Time Reinvented
Turn Daily Chores Into Lessons in Responsibility and Teamwork
Chores can be an incredible tool for teaching children structure, discipline, and responsibility, all while keeping the home tidy and organized. The real challenge is getting your kids to actually do them. Here’s how to make chore time a positive, structured part of your family’s daily routine. Set the tone with timed tasks. Kick off chore time with a family-wide alarm each evening. This simple signal is a fun reminder that it’s time to tidy up together. This method helps eliminate having to nag and transforms chore time into a routine team effort, reinforcing the value of responsibility and teamwork. Assign age-appropriate chores. Providing children with tasks that match their developmental stage is crucial in promoting independence. Here are some suggestions on how to align chores with age: • Toddlers (ages 2–3) can help with simple tasks like putting toys away and filling the pet’s food dish, which is great for developing early motor skills. • Preschoolers (ages 4–5) can handle slightly more complex jobs, such as making their bed and helping clear the dinner table, which teaches them about daily routines and basic organizational skills. • Elementary kids (ages 6–7) can start taking on responsibilities that affect the whole family, such as setting the table and sorting laundry, helping them understand teamwork and household dynamics. • Older children (ages 8–9) are ready to contribute more significantly by loading the dishwasher and helping prepare simple meals, skills that teach planning and basic cooking. • Pre-teens and teens (ages 10 and older) can manage most household chores, including laundry and babysitting younger siblings, preparing them for future independence. Track chores creatively. Use chore charts, jars, or wheels to track tasks visually, helping kids stay organized. These tools make it easy to see what they’ve accomplished and what they still need to do, adding a layer of accountability and accomplishment to daily chores. Search online for templates and examples to spark your creativity! Consistency is key. Make chores a non-negotiable part of the day to solidify the routine. Even when enthusiasm wanes, maintaining consistency ensures children understand the importance of daily contributions to family life. Regularly review and adjust chores to keep them age-appropriate and engaging. Integrating fun, structure, and discipline through chores helps keep your home orderly and instills lifelong values in your children, setting the foundation for responsible, well-rounded individuals.
Skillet Chicken in Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
Inspired by LeCremeDeLaCrumb.com
• 2 tbsp butter • 5 boneless, Ingredients
• 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese,
plus more for serving
skinless chicken thighs • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 2 tbsp herbes de Provence • 3/4 cup canned sun-dried
• 2 tbsp lemon juice • 1/4 cup pine nuts • 1 cup spinach
tomatoes, drained and julienned
• Fresh thyme, for topping • Salt and pepper to taste • Cooked rice or linguine, for serving
• 1 cup chicken broth • 1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions 1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 7–8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside. 2. In the same pan, add garlic, herbes de Provence, tomatoes, chicken broth, cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, pine nuts, and spinach and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, and stir periodically until thickened and spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes. 3. Return chicken to the pan and top with salt, pepper, more Parmesan cheese, and thyme, and serve over rice or linguine.
DathanLHill.com | 3
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
225-266-2948 www.DathanLHill.com 637 Saint Ferdinand Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
Small Acts, Big Impact
Parenting Styles Through the Years
Thief’s Selfie Mistake Turns Into Viral Sensation
3
Skillet Chicken in Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
Master the Art of Chore Scheduling for Kids at Every Age
4
Marilyn Manson’s Explosive Plea Deal
BODILY FLUIDS AND BAD BEHAVIOR What Happened at Marilyn Manson’s Gilford Concert?
proceeded to kneel toward her, covered one nostril, and blew his open nostril on her arms and hands. According to a police sergeant who viewed the concert video footage, “Manson blows a significant amount of mucus at Fountain,” he said — the camera view then changed and showed Manson pointing and laughing at Fountain before she walked away. His attorney, Kent Barker, wrote that Manson’s performances over the past two decades have been known to include evocative and shocking stunts like his actions at the New Hampshire concert. Barker further explained that since the victim knew about Manson’s unorthodox performances, she ultimately consented to exposing herself to such bodily fluids.
Marilyn Manson, gothic rock’s favorite artist, sent shockwaves through the media again, but not for his usual controversial stage presence and music lyrics. This time, he found himself facing two misdemeanor counts of simple assault. The origins of the encounter stemmed from a concert at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford on Aug. 19, 2019. Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, pleaded no contest to blowing his nose on videographer Susan Fountain, who also alleged that he spit on her. Prosecutors ultimately dismissed that charge. The police affidavit stated that Manson approached the videographer in the venue’s stage pit area, leaned in close to her camera, and then spit a “big lougee” at her. Saliva landed on both her hands. Later, he approached her again and
Photo: Livioandronico2013
Fountain didn’t attend the trial but submitted a statement outlining that
Manson’s actions toward her were “the most disgusting thing a human has ever done.”
The judge in the case called Manson’s acts “egregious.” As part of his plea deal, Manson was fined $1,200. As a further stipulation, the rock star needed to notify local police of any performances in New Hampshire in the next two years and be free from any more arrests. This case is undoubtedly one for the books. Manson returned to the stage in 2024 for a short tour — though he held no concerts in New Hampshire.
4 | 225-266-2948
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator