Family Concerns

Once upon a time it was possible for women in a relationship to be concerned only with the full-time job requirements of running a home and raising children. Society and sometimes pure economics today play into this mix and dictate that most pregnant mums have to work. While most of the attention, quite rightly so, is on the pending arrival, you also need to be aware of your rights.

1. You have a maximum of 52 weeks of maternity leave available. This entitlement is yours regardless of how long you’ve worked for your employer or if you are full or part-time.

2. Your maternity leave is divided into two categories and the amount of money that you receive from your employer is calculated accordingly.

3. The standard maternity leave ordinarily lasts for 26 weeks. You will be entitled to receive all your contractual rights during this period of time and to retain any perks such as a company car and your paid holiday earning ability. Apart from the payment that you receive, you will be treated exactly as if you were still working.

4. After the first 26, the following 13 weeks are known as “additional maternity leave,” but your contractual rights only apply in certain areas. Specifically, the notice remains the same, redundancy pay availability is not changed and the standard grievance and disciplinary issues remain in force.

5. Statutory rights are effective throughout the entire period of maternity leave, including the potential for another 13 weeks of leave, which is unpaid. Fundamentally, you may not be passed over in favour of another employee and may not be discriminated against, even in the event of redundancy.

6. You will qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) if you have 26 weeks of continuous service at the end of the 15th week before the baby is expected. Statutory maternity pay is determined based upon a period of calculation - eight weeks up to and including the 15th week before baby is due. You must have earned at least £87 per week before tax during this period. If you do not so qualify, you may be entitled to receive Maternity Allowance.

7. The earliest you are able to start your maternity leave is 11 weeks before your baby is due, but it is up to you to decide and you can work right up until the birth. Both the period of your leave and your payment will commence on the day that you actually begin your maternity leave time.

8. You don’t have to let your employer know that you’re pregnant from a legal obligation, up until 15 weeks before the baby is actually expected.

9. As a pregnant mother, you are entitled to free National Health Service, dental treatment and prescriptions as well.

10. It may often be in your best interests to tell your employer you are pregnant as soon as possible, as you will then be entitled to a reasonable amount of time off with pay for doctor’s appointments. In these circumstances, you may not be expected to handle certain substances, or to be involved in some tasks such as heavy lifting, in order to protect the unborn child.

There are so many things to think about when preparing to live life as an expectant mother, and you should certainly consider professional coaching to help you prepare. Everyone knows that coaching for women is widely accepted and beneficial these days and online life coaching is available for every phase of your ever-changing lifestyle!

Please note - the above article is intended only as a guide for women planning maternity leave in the UK. You should check your rights as maternity legislation changes frequently. With the available information at the time, the author has written this article accordingly. It is not intended to replace your own research.

Amanda Alexander is Director of Coaching Mums and a highly acclaimed ICF-accredited coach who delivers professional coaching programmes to working mums who yearn for success, balance and fulfilment. Are you a juggling mom? Download our free eBook for working moms that will give you 5 simple and instant ways to balance your life right now!

Sometimes you feel that pure adrenaline alone is keeping you going and you wonder how you are able to survive, let alone function well at work and juggle all the other requirements of being a busy mum.

You know that if you could only work to a schedule, things would be more manageable, but the little one at home knows nothing of schedules! During these crucial formative years, the baby is entirely dependent on your response and it sometimes feels as if you are working a 9-to-5 shift in reverse at night, as you answer to your newborn baby’s requirements.

You are loving your new life as a devoted mother, but often feel as if you are at your wits’ end as you struggle to find that extra bit of energy to conquer seemingly mundane tasks. Isn’t in awful, when you can see the new work week approaching and not know how you’re going to cope?

While we have already determined that it is difficult to maintain a schedule and if someone mentions the phrase “time management” to you once more, you are going to scream, but it is nevertheless important for you to establish as close to a routine as you possibly can.

Without routines we find ourselves bouncing from pillar to post and it all leads up to an elevated level of stress, which negatively impacts every other area. Although you might not like to think that you have to do so, it’s important for you to get into a routine as soon as possible.

In the mornings, keep your procedures as simple as possible. Getting up can be a real wrench if your night-time rest has been disrupted by baby’s needs. Nevertheless, there is much to do and if you do these items in the same order each day, it will be easier.

Your top priority must be your exercise regime. Don’t be tempted to take an extra 15 minutes in bed. While you’re on the treadmill, the coffee can be brewing and the early morning headlines, traffic and weather ahead of you on the TV. When you are done, it’s time to get the children up and make sure they have their own chores to do to lighten your load.

After a while, you will get this procedure down to a finite science, every single day. This can be the most stressful time of the day as you are trying to wake yourself up and focus on what you have to do. If your routine is clockwork and all the other members of the family understand this and also do their bit, you’ll be better prepared to get out of the door running.

Even though you may think you have no time for anything other than work and looking after the baby, you have to keep in touch with your social life and with “me” time as well. You will hopefully have a great understanding with a caregiver and understand just how important this person is within your whole picture.

At work, you will, also hopefully, have a very understanding boss. Never take advantage of the situation though and only call in any favours or use any delay allowances or personal days if absolutely necessary. The more that you play fair with your boss, the easier it will be to deal with emergencies, should they come along.

Try not to schedule anything that is too demanding, technically for you at work in the morning and at all times, do not overload your schedule unrealistically.

During your 9-to-5 routine at work, time management is very important, as you don’t want your work requirements to spill over into your personal time.

Use professional coaching to help you focus on key areas. Dedicated coaching for women is praised by many in your situation, who have turned to online life coaching to really help them get past “the wall.”

Amanda Alexander, Director of Coaching Mums, helps pressure-cooked, stressed working mums who long for more hours in the day. Through her coaching programmes and online life coaching courses, Amanda shows mums how to create fulfilling and successful lives. For your simple 5 step guide to balance as a working mum, download our free eBook today!

When you find out that a new arrival is on the way, there is little to match that feeling of ecstasy or exuberance that your whole family will share with you. You will be beside yourself with joy as an expectant mother and you can be sure that this will be one of the finest moments of your family’s life.

Friends and acquaintances will also be over the moon and will all look forward to the big day with much anticipation.

As your feelings of happiness know no bounds, you would be forgiven for thinking that all the World would be happy for you as well and while this is largely the case, certain elements of negativity may, however, still arise.

While your boss might be a relatively happy person normally, he or she may be particularly concerned about the business operation and may not be as enthusiastic as you might think. In fact, in this case the business may come squarely in first place and you may have to be particularly persuasive if you are considering flexible working hours for your busy times ahead.

If your boss is something of a dinosaur when it comes to flexibility in these situations, then you will have to be creative if not very persuasive.

If you have a friend and co-worker who has been in your position before, now is the time to have a down-to-earth chat and to see whether she was able to achieve any two-way communication with the boss and how she handled the situation. While you are at this research stage, talk to other friends in other industries or professions and see what solutions they were able to come up with.

Your creativity may well unveil to you the idea of working from home or telecommuting, especially if you are forward thinking. The good news is that this is becoming more and more of a trend as companies seek to save overheads. If the type of work that you do can be handled in this way, this may well be an option for you.

Above all else, you must first decide what would be the absolutely ideal situation for you. Be sure of what you are doing, as after all, remember that you must be careful what you wish for!

At the top of your list should be an ideal scenario, but you should also have options available in a less-than-perfect situation. Above all else, look at your home situation and understand what you will be able to accommodate before asking.

You should always be careful when you are discussing options with colleagues and you might have to exercise some strategy. In a situation where you collectively share the workload in your office, see how you could come up with a more flexible schedule by dividing up the work creatively. You must be willing to pull your weight in other areas and above all else make sure that you are confident it would be a win/win/win situation for the colleagues, the employer and yourself.

If your job essentially allows you to complete certain tasks regardless of time, or what used to be known as a “job and finish” situation, determine whether you would be able to do this during your personal time as part of a newly revised schedule.

If you look at your boss as a dinosaur, maybe you can cause him or her to stop chewing the vegetation for a moment and realise that you can be equally as productive, if not more so, by working this more flexible schedule.

In most situations, online life coaching can be another excellent source of research for you. Luckily, coaching for women can generally help by suggesting various options for a variety of situations. This is far from being the private domain of executives or sports players and you should turn to professional coaching, as well!

Amanda Alexander is Director of Coaching Mums and a highly acclaimed ICF-accredited coach who delivers professional coaching programmes to working mums who yearn for success, balance and fulfilment. Are you a juggling mom? Download our free eBook for working moms that will give you 5 simple and instant ways to balance your life right now!

The weight loss camps of today are quite different from the old fat camp. These are nothing to be afraid about and can actually do your child a whole lot of good. These weight loss camps are designed to educate overweight children so that they understand how to make their lives healthier. While they are not a ‘quick cure’ for weight issues, they are however a great long term solution for weight loss. Weight loss camps are a fantastic way of learning how to change your life for the better.

Many parents that consider sending their kid off to weight loss camps for kids often struggle with the final decision. Admittedly, sending your child away to get help with their weight loss takes power away from the parents and is a way of them saying “I give up. I need help.” This is never easy to do, but is often the best choice to make. Certainly, parents are able to learn the things that they need to and eventually can help their children get on the right track, but that takes a lot of time that many parents simply don’t have. There is nothing wrong with leaving it to professionals who have years of experience working with kids just like yours.

While you’re doing some research online for the camp that best meets your needs, keep in mind some of the following things:

1. Check to see that their philosophy is one of healthy weight loss. This seems obvious, but make sure you’re not sending your child to an “old school” mentality “fat camp.” The camp should offer plenty of healthful food choices that won’t leave your child hungry. Get some samples of the a daily menu and make sure it includes plenty of vegetables and fruit, lean protein, non-fat dairy and whole grains.

2. Also make sure that the exercises the weight loss camps does are fun. Adults can force themselves to do things like go work out at a gym even if they do not enjoy doing so. Kids, on the other hand, need to have fun when exercising. In order to encourage them to lose weight they need to be doing something enjoyable. The more fun they find the exercises; the more likely they will be able to lose weight. They may even come home and give you some ideas for ways to make your exercise regimen more enjoyable.

3. As you evaluate weight loss camps, make sure that the camp you choose sets realistic goals for their campers. It is important to remember that children lose weight differently than adults and need to set goals with that in mind. A number of kids “grow in” to their healthy weights more than they shed pounds like adults do. Thus, if you find a camp that guarantees your child will lose a certain percentage of their body weight or will return home skinny, consider these things red flags.

4. Finally, look to see what kind of emotional support the camp provides. Being overweight or obese can be very tough on your child’s emotional well-being and you may not even be aware of some of the emotional scars that your child has. You want to find a weight loss camp where the counselors are encouraging as well as understanding. You want your child to lose weight, not self-esteem!

You have got your guest list and now itis time to start making out invitations. First, you may obtain them. You can purchase invitations online, make them, or buy them from a card shop or bargain store. Many sites allow you to make your own party invitation online free. Do a Web Google search for Free Printable Birthday invitations and youwill have masses of probabilities within easy reach. The brilliant thing about making your own is you can make the ideal party invitation to match the theme of the party.

If you have an peculiar or bizarre theme, it may be tough to buy one that’s fitting. Your invitation sets the mood for the party so try your best to reflect the theme in your invitation. Additionally, add any special requirements such like there is a dress code as far as the theme ( e.g. Sledding party you would desire everybody to have proper gear, roller skating, bring them if you have them, dress up parties and costume parties, pirates, e.t.c. )

Invitations should be despatched no later then two weeks prior to the grand event. The delivering of the party invitations can occasionally be a bit tricky especially if your youngster is hand delivering them at school. Those not invited may feel jilted and have injured feelings. One suggestion is that you ask the teacher to put the individual cards in the appropriate scholars book bag at the end of the day, or if your youngster is sufficiently old, ask that they discreetly hand them out and why. Mailing the invitations is another choice but if you don’t have all the guest home addresses, it may not be trustworthy.

Colleges don’t readily hand out other scholars home addresses without previous permission from the parent.

There is always the option of sending E-vites invitations via email but you can risk them not always always being picked up in time. Ensure to always include a RSVP in the invitation, the time the party starts and ends, if gifts aren’t needed, state that as well. A week before the party, call anyone that still has to RSVP. When dealing with children they can be renowned for misplacing things that are to be given to their parents.

A parent might have not answered because they weren’t even aware event. Roughly two or a few days before the party confirm the total headcount that may be attending. This will help you to understand if you could have to pick up 1 or 2 more items.

Learn the way to get Free Baby Diapers for a full year and other great parenting tips like Breastfeeding Tips
.

When it comes to your newborn, you need to educate yourself about baby car seat safety. It’s not about just connecting a baby car seat inside your vehicle, belting your child in, and driving off. There are several resources to investigate while seeing to it that you are using a safe and accessible method to secure your child. Another nice option is Graco Safeseat Infant Car Seat.

The NHTSA has tested nearly all of the known brands and models of baby car seats and provides us with a ratings guide that informs the consumer which car seats are effective for your car and your child. These findings are not only about how safely the baby car seat weathered a crash impact, but they’ve done research on ease of use as well.

Taking into account the world of information available for modern consumers, you ought to be able to establish which baby car seats are safest in a collision, and which baby car seats are intended to install properly in your car. Your ability to access the manufacturer’s installation instructions is very useful when determining the appropriate baby car seat. In case you experience any confusion at all concerning how to safely install your baby seat or change the belts for your child’s growing needs, there are many resources for help in this matter. Several service clubs, as well as Internet websites, will teach you the way to install your baby car seat safely and the process for safely adjusting the belts when needed. Most baby car seats are designed differently with the result that how one is installed could be totally different from a different brand of seat, and your seat belt configuration may be of consequence as well. Another great model to consider is Graco Safeseat Infant Car Seat.

So in advance of choosing that new baby car seat, take time to understand the manufacturer’s directions. You can take a look at the manufacturers websites, you could also read a few consumer product testing sites, or you might consider utilizing some local resources, to include civic groups or even your local clinic. Your child cannot be protected when your baby seat is installed the wrong way or if the harness is fitted improperly. In order for a baby car seat to perform properly, the seat itself should be strong, and it also needs to be installed safely and the harness needs to hold your child safely. When shopping for a baby car seat, you may want to keep each one of these issues in mind.

When it comes to your baby car seat, safety should be your biggest concern. As you now know, it’s not just about how tough the seat is; it’s also about how you use your child restraint system. Take time to establish that you totally understand the way to install your baby car seat, and the way to adjust the harness properly to secure your child as much as possible. Baby car seat safety materials could be acquired from a variety of resources; use your community groups, your hospital, the manufacturers websites, and don’t forget consumer advocacy groups and the NHTSA. When the research is done, purchase a baby car seat that is appropriate for your car and your child, and also has a good safety rating. Another good item to look into is the Graco Safeseat Infant Car Seat.

You could find many different ways to get educated on how to purchase a baby car seats for your children. The most important thing you should make sure of is that it’s going to do it’s job during an accident. Also, you ought to totally understand the proper way to fasten your child in the car seat, infant car seat or booster seat. Most states currently have laws which say that your child needs to be in some form of child seat until they weigh a minimum of 80 pounds. Most states have slightly different laws, but the laws all take into account that an adult seat belt will really injure a child in the event of a accident. Another nice option is Graco Snugride Infant Car Seat.

It’s vital that you know that a regular seat belt is not going to fit a small child or an infant. You are very likely to know your child needs to be in a restraint system, but relying on the correct restraint system for your baby and using it correctly are just as important.

A restraint system is meant to keep your baby’s head from violent jolts, and at the same time secure your baby inthe safe confines of the seat itself during an accident or collision. You should additionally make sure that you properly realize how to secure the baby car seat in your automoblie. All cars are somewhat different and therefore you’ll need to seek out the manufacturer’s instructions as well as your vehicle instructions regarding how to anchor the baby seat safely. Another great model to consider is Graco Snugride Infant Car Seat.

So if you happen to have a newborn who requires a rear facing infant car seat, or if you might be shopping for a convertible seat, take time to research the safety ratings and learn if it is the correct seat to anchor to your vehicle. Baby car seats come in many different of types and designs and all of them could anchor your child differently. Also you will ought to educate yourself on how to adapt the seat while your child develops. A child younger than three months must be in a rear facing car seat with lots of head support, while your toddler requires a different seat and one that will adapt to their growing needs.

It may appear rather overwhelming initially as to how to pick out the right baby car seat. Just be certain you are looking at not just the crash test results but also, how to anchor your baby’s child safety seat properly. There are many websites as well as national organizations which classify baby car seats and test the safety as well as ease of use. You may also look to your pediatrician, since often they are able to provide information concerning child safety seats. A baby car seat is possibly the most significant piece of equipment you will use. In fact, you can’t even bring your child away from the hospital if you don’t have the proper baby car seat secured safely in your vehicle. Another good item to look into is the Graco Snugride Infant Car Seat.

All parents should learn about baby car seats before purchasing one. Graco baby car seats, Britax baby car seats in addition to quite a few other styles were examined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association to establish crash test ratings, and also for how simple the seats are for consumers to use. Another great model to consider is Graco Nautilus Car Seat.

Your baby is the most important piece of your world. Consequently, just as you think long and hard about what car you choose, what house you decide to purchase, and other aspects of your life, you need to research the proper car seat for your child. Child car seats are continually being crash rated and are also required by law. As a matter of fact, in this country you must keep your child in a car seat until the child weighs at least 80 pounds, and most states have other rules concerning child car seats too. As a result, a car seat will save your child’s life in addition to keeping you on the right side of the law.

Forty or fifty years ago, no research was done on how accidents were caused, never mind how injuries were caused. Children were allowed to sit on mom’s and dad’s laps, stand up inside the car, and consequently, entirely too many children were injured in car accidents because they crashed into something or someone during a collision.

It wasn’t that long ago that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began testing passenger cars and car seats to find out how safe the passengers were. Advancements over the years in vehicles as well as in child safety seats have enabled many children to survive collisions The NHTSA tell us that 80% of parents are unsure of the correct way to place the children in their car seats properly or install the seats in their car securely. So it follows that when when you purchase a car seat, regardless of whether you purchase a well-known company like Graco or another, you need to understand how to install it properly so your child will be safe . Another nice option is the Graco Nautilus Car Seat.

You can get more information on Graco baby car seats and other brands on your internet connection. Be sure to consider how easy the seats are to install as well as the safety ratings as you choose one. Don’t go on price, since several baby seats that are not so expensive are often as safe as the more costly ones.

You should also check out reader’s forums and consumer reviews to determine what brand of child seat ought to meet your needs. You will see readers reviews on the Graco baby car seat sites as well as customer review sites. This is where car seat owners are allowed to rate how the seat performs in a crash, if the seat is complicated to install, and how easy it is to secure their child properly inside the seat itself. Remember; you can use the safest baby seat in the world, but if you don’t install it correctly, it won’t protect your child properly. Another good item to look into is the Graco Nautilus Car Seat.

When a new parent is deciding on a type of child seat, many of the best baby car seat brands have authoritative safety ratings done by product testing organizations as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This means that consumers could learn whether the brand of child seat which you are thinking about is right for your car and child, and if it’s going to do the job during an accident. Another great model to consider is Graco Comfortsport Convertible Car Seat.

Your most important task after you discover a baby seat you are interested in is to check out the NHTSA website. That is where they offer ratings concerning how the seat did it’s job in crash tests. The NHTSA has rated the baby seats according to their ease of use. The NHTSA has established that just about 80% of parents install their child’s car seat, or use the baby’s safety straps improperly. Even if you initially know how to install and use your baby seat, some of these baby seats may become extremely complicated to adjust correctly when your baby gets bigger, as a result, ease of use can be nearly as significant as the actual crash test rating of the baby car seat. So, while you are considering some of the best brands of baby car seats, remember to check out the ease of use findings as well.

The second place a person should look at regarding the best brands in baby car seats is going to be consumer information sites. There are a few different consumer sites on the web including consumer affairs, consumer reports, and others. You may want to then look at the dependable reader’s forums which feature baby gear so you can learn how customers rated the product. Parents who are actually using the equipment can normally give you a better clue concerning how it performs, than a larger institution or government run organization. After all, these parents are using this equipment every day, and may help you find the best baby car seat available. Another nice option is the Graco Comfortsport Convertible Car Seat.

You may also check with your local parent resources for help with finding the best baby car seats to use. Quite a few state and county associations will help show parents how to install baby car seats, and one or two actually offer free baby seats if you cannot purchase them. So check out your community charitable resource centers, and see whether you are eligible to get one of the best baby seats for your child, particularly if you think you can’t afford it. They’ll additionally show you the right method to install it in your back seat appropriately, and how to change the harness when your baby grows.

Shopping for the best baby car seat brands is not necessarily difficult, although you should spend some time comparing each one to help yourself discover one that will fit with your child and your lifestyle.

For those parents seeking information on autism therapy, autism education, diagnostic and therapeutic tools and the latest autism “cures” – there is an overabundance. For many, however, real stories from other parents presented through a lens not of diagnosis or crisis, but of gratitude and perspective can offer just as many rewards. Such is the pilot project and mission of The Comfortable Chaos Project, an initiative begun by Melissa Ferguson and Brienne Hooker.

Ferguson is the mother of two; her five year old daughter, Zoe, has autism and began speaking only six months ago.

Ferguson admittedly has at least one breakdown a day herself. Her life is “highly stressful, unpredictable stinky and sticky.” Hers, like many parents with children on the autism spectrum, is a life filled with insurance forms, therapies, run-arounds, judgmental glares and advice — both solicited and unsolicited – from every corner of her life. Despite all of this, she loves her life and describes it as one characterized by “comfortable chaos.”

Ferguson has started The Comfortable Chaos Project, an effort to put faces to autism – to show that even though those with autism may see the world differently, they nonetheless have feelings, a need to be loved, and have as much worth and value as any human on the planet. She is in the process of collecting stories and interviews from families around the globe with a family member with autism . She recalls that when she initially received Zoe’s diagnosis, she was missing that “family perspective” and wants to share the everyday life stories – the happy, raw, the untold. Says Ferguson, “I simply want to give hope and inspiration (that I so desperately needed) to families living with autism.”

If you wish to participate in Ferguson’s Comfortable Chaos Project you may so do at:

Melissa Ferguson
Comfortable Chaos Project
P.O. Box 246
DeMotte, IN 45310
(219) 798-6459
Or via email at: comfortablechaos@hotmail.com