Joint Custody Support

Author Archive

 If you are reading this, I will assume you either have or will have a teen driver in your household. Having been through this myself, I graciously offer you “the parent/s” my personal feelings and research on the subject.

As a single father of two children, I was terrified when they became old enough to drive. Not because   of trust, or I thought they were bad drivers, far from it. It was the mere fact that the world has changed greatly, and not for the better. My children mean everything to me, and having been an owner of a Towing & Recovery business for 25 years, I have seen more than my share of fatalities involving teens. Many would have survived if only they could have received help sooner.

When I first started too drive, my father handed me the keys to the old Chevy and off we went. Mostly on dirt roads, but I loved it. I listened to every word of caution and instruction my father had to offer. However, like I said, things have changed, teens are more independent now and while they will listen for the most part. You will need to offer a little more latitude than when you were that age. Still, when it was time to drive I have to admit I was scared to death, let me reiterate, it was not a trust issue. Simply put, “we” as teenagers did not have to contend with carjacking, theft, massive traffic or road rage. Moreover, I believe that many teens succumb to peer-pressure more so in today’s society.

Therefore, after several gray hairs, and before my second child’s turn too drive. I decided to find a solution that could give me peace of mind, while protecting my children. However, I did not want to interfere with their privacy or sense of freedom. I felt with the advancements we have in technology, there must be a product that would fulfill my requirements. These were simple,

1. A panic button they could push if phone use was not possible/practical, that would instantly notify me of an emergency i.e. injury, carjacking ect…
2. Ways to locate and track the vehicle if such an emergency arose. This would facilitate a quicker response time by medical or law enforcement by providing an exact location.
3. Instant notification should the vehicle be evolved in an accident or stolen.
4. A way to recover the vehicle if it was stolen.
5. And most important, give my children and I a greater level of safety and security.

While some new vehicles offer systems that have a couple of these features, they require third parties to relay information. This in-turn slows response time and it would not notify me directly. In addition, they simply do not offer all of my requirements. Moreover, buying a new vehicle for $30,000 or $40,000 is not prudent for a first car. I believe a parent should help, but the teenager should be required to pay for at least part of the vehicle. This teaches them they half to work for what they want, and a greater sense of pride when it is achieved. In addition, I wanted a system that could be easily installed or removed in any vehicle and at a reasonable price.

After several months of research, I found the Millennium Plus. It easily provided for my requirements, and a multitude of other features that could be used or not at my choice i.e. remotely lock/unlock door or disable vehicle and much more. It was also very affordable costing no more than a good stereo.

I purchased one for each of our vehicles, and after installing it, I do feel much more relaxed. The kids love it too, maybe because it is a new toy or the fact they can remotely control the car. I personally think every parent should install this system for peace of mind. You can find it at www.findvehicle.net 

Larry Kilburn
http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/parents-teen-driver-safety-678792.html

Related Blogs

• Related Blogs on Parents & Teen Driver Safety

“For more information on how to grow you business with the help of new web tools, applications and software
Go To
http://www.trygoldmail.com
http://www.testgoldmail.com
http://www.goldmailclub.com”

Duration : 0:1:22

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: and, barriers, business, communication, communications, corporate, effective, human, integrated, management, marketing, organizational, point, power, presentation, presentations, sales, software, team, technology, tips, to, training

Personally I have 7 children 6 boys 1 girl, ranging from 9 to 25 and most of them are in their teens, we own every Nintendo system and nothing but. It’s hard to afford even the WII, let alone find one, so we thought waiting for a year.

We could get one for them next year, so we will wait to read the gossip reviews and facts going around.

We have also loved and recommend the type of games SONY has put out for years and years, they produce a good variety. These are the sort of kid games the kids really want. Having said that, it is true that Nintendo does have fabulous games. I’ll go even further Nintendo has games that we almost cannot live with out!

The classics are Zelda, Mario and the like, Shooters, and sports, and SONY undeniably has the top Kid games, of role playing, great shooters, etc. I could go on and on.

I enjoyed some unusual board games or vintage kid games which we played as a kid, but, in my opinion, none can match the shear power of enjoyment kids get now from the top computer game creators.

There is more and more use of games to put across important messages to kids. Some “keep them safe” type kid games are available that have been designed for tweens and teens. They are full blown actual computer games that take kids through the experience of being hood-winked by internet predators.

The reason that such a large investment has been put inot such games is so that kids can learn to recognize the signs and avoid the real thing.

The many kid games we have bought in our family can be categorized under various groups such as representations of indoor games, outdoor games, card games, board games, and even turing full circle some even imitate role playing in computer games, etc.

The outdoor kid games programs tend to include hyper-physical activities such as running, swimming, jumping , etc. All the kid games we like are set up to be user-friendly so that children can earn lots of little rewards.

Now turning away from computer kid games lets talk of some games which we play for real!

Choose two teams with an even number of kids on each team, line up half of them from each team at each end. Designate a starting line and a finish line about 10 feet away. Give each team a straw and a ping-pong ball. The winning team must work in relay to blow the ball back and forth, until there are no more relay members left. The first to finish is the winning team.

Children want to be entertained, not patronized by their kid games. And, going back to computer games, from a character design standpoint, at least Sonic was blue.

Children are not children for very long and the game company that ignores their future spending power does so at it’s own peril. The problem I detect is that the games companies are focusing to much on the biggest market, and on older geek players. Why can’t a gaming console cater better for the development of our children, teens and adults. Big games creating companies should do better. Not just line up all their output for high spending sad, spotty geeks who have nothing else to do.

Child play games, if they are to be successful in allowing your inner child to become visible to you and others, often need to be simple, silly, frivolous, childish, light and airy. The reduction of stress and anxiety in our lives requires that we relax, lighten up and become less serious and intense.

Nintendo is for children. The children are the future. OK. Nintendo is a business, and it needs to make a profit, fine. But while selling better games fo well balanced and intelligent children they do not need to completely abandon every single hardcore gamer.

I have seen Nintendo’s business development and products over the years. They must have made very many blunders in the past years including now bringing out a even smaller Gameboy advance, yet they have the Gameboy SP and a Gameboy DS out as well. Also, just because Nintendo says that you can download games from every one of 20 years from its library, this doesn’t mean that they will be all be good games.

Lucky for us their all time greatest titles are all available for the Game Boy Advance!

Steve Evans
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/kid-games-a-parents-view-698299.html

Related Blogs

• Related Blogs on Kid Games a Parents View

The problem with recently divorced single parents is that are waiting too long to start dating again, complaining they are oh, so busy. The real reason is their fears, because their previous situation was usually so ugly, they don’t have a strong enough ego to let rejections roll off their back.

Even if they are starting to date, in most cases are doing this for the wrong reasons. Some single parents think they are in competition with their ex, particularly if they were left for a younger partner. They also might be playing a game to prove to the ex that they are desirable by dating as many people as possible. In a nutshell, don’t date for emotional revenge, to allay feelings of loneliness or to prove your desirability to others.

After a divorce, both parties are tented to change partners almost every week or month and are not in the mood to compromise with somebody.

But after a while especially single fathers are feeling the need to have a life partner and a mother for their children.

If you are a single father and you are determined to find someone for a long time relationship you have to be sure that you are making the best choice because now you are not alone, you are making the choice not only for you but for your children too.

There are some gold rules to consider that can help you to find the best mom for your children and the best lover for you:

1. As there is no surer turn-off for a potential lover than a person who insists on living in the past, make a rule for yourself that you are going to do your absolute best not to drag the past into new relationships.

2. Your kids are the priority of your life; keep them there no matter what!

3. You have been careful to prepare your kids for the fact that you will have a life other than the one with them. But don’t forget to make them understand that they will not lose your love, just some of your time together.

4. Chose to date only women that have at least one kid already. A woman without children will not understand you and your children needs and will not have too much patience. Don’t forget that children are the best when it is about to exasperate somebody, and in the first stage your new date will be like a target for your kids jest.

5. Don’t leave your partner to baby-sit. In order to keep children safe, it is necessary to be able to discipline them. It is too soon for your partner to discipline your children.

6. In conflict situation try to put yourself in your partner place, be diplomatic with your child and try to be impartial. Find the golden mean to resolve the problems between them.

7. Never chose your mate only because she is getting on well with your child. You have to find someone FOR YOU and YOUR CHILD. Remember that the best for your children is and will ever be their natural mum, the women you just have divorced (for some good reasons I believe). So find a woman that you are attracted to, a woman you find interesting AND that is willing to accept your children too.

8. Pay attention to her children too, and never forget that they are the priority of her life.

Ovi Dogar
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/8-dating-rules-for-single-dads-73276.html

Creating a healthy balance between work and home is no simple task, especially in today’s fast paced work environment. With the work life and home life out of balance, stress is running high in most families. If you spend more time at work, you lose out on your family and personal life. Alternately, if you spend more time facing the challenges of your personal life, such as coping with marital problems, or caring for your aging parents – on top of financial problems, you are unable to concentrate on the job. There is a great need to reclaim control over your life.

Whether you focus too much on your personal life, or your work life, the outcome is the same – STRESS.

Striking Work-Life Balance
The world has changed, the boundaries have blurred, and work has invaded your personal life. Advancement in communication technology has made people work from anywhere and at any time. This makes you on call 24/7 for trouble shooting or consulting, especially if you are working for an international company.

In the hope of moving up the career ladder in the man-eat-man corporate world, you are working longer hours than is healthy for you. This makes it difficult for you to juggle the demands of your work and family life. A look at how you can face the ongoing challenges to reduce stress, and maintain harmony in work and personal areas of your life:

• Track Your Activities – Keep a log of all your activities, and delegate the ones you do not enjoy, or do not have the time for.
• Check For Flexibility – Find out if your employer offers flexible hours for work – to enable you to cope with your personal and domestic problems. Is telecommuting an option on offer too?
• Time Management – Time management is not only for office work. Manage your time at home also. Organize to do laundry in batches instead of doing it wholesale on your day off. Keep a weekly calendar of family to-do lists. Try to involve your spouse and kids in some daily chores.
• Find Ways To De-stress – Take out time to do things that you enjoy doing, such as going for walks, listening to music, practicing yoga, reading, etc. Set aside one night a week exclusively for your spouse and family. Put the phone off the hook, switch off the TV, and let your collective hair down. Find activities that will rejuvenate you and your family.
• Ensure Enough Sleep – There is nothing more stressful as when you are sleep deprived. This will not only affect your productivity, but can also cause you to commit potentially dangerous and costly mistakes.
• Seek Help – At times of stress, seek help from professionals or from your personal support systems. Talk to your spouse and friends. Every one needs help from time to time and you are no different. Seek help if you find your life too chaotic to manage.

In the end, you need to set your priorities right. What is more important for you – your work or your family? At the crossroads you need to decide what is more important in your life – spending time with your spouse, kids, and extended family, or concentrating just on your work life?

Terence Young
http://www.articlesbase.com/stress-management-articles/how-to-create-a-healthy-balance-between-work-and-home-42993.html

Related Blogs

• Related Blogs on How To Create A Healthy Balance Between Work And Home