Coping with an Unplanned Pregnancy

 If you have found out that you are pregnant and it is not something you planned, you may be feeling a range of emotions. You may feel scared, confused, or alone. However, it is essential to remember that you are not alone. There are millions of women who have faced an unplanned pregnancy. This blog post will provide some tips on coping with this life-changing event.

Via Pexels

It Is Okay To Be In Shock

The first thing to do is give yourself time to process the news. It is common to feel in shock when you find out that you are pregnant, especially if it was not planned. This is a life-changing event, and it will take time to adjust. Next, give yourself time to grieve if you need to. It is okay to feel scared, sad, or angry. These are all normal emotions to feel.

Allow Yourself To Feel All The Emotions

You may feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster. You may be feeling happy and excited about the pregnancy, and the next minute, you may feel scared and alone. This is normal. It is essential to allow yourself to handle all of the emotions. Don’t try to bottle them up. Talk to your partner, a friend, or a counsellor if you need to.

Talk To Someone Who Has Been Through It

If you know someone who has been through an unplanned pregnancy, talk to them about it. They can provide you with support and understanding. In addition, it can be helpful to hear from someone who has been through a similar experience.

Get Information On Pregnancy And Parenting

If you feel scared or alone, it can be helpful to get information on pregnancy and parenting. There are many resources available online and at your local library. This can help you to feel more prepared for what is ahead.

Join A Support Group

There are many support groups available for women who have unplanned pregnancies. This can be a great way to meet other women going through the same thing. It can also be helpful to talk to someone who is impartial and can offer advice. For example, Embrace Grace is a great organization that provides support and resources for women who have unplanned pregnancies.

Talk To Your Partner

It is important to talk to them about your pregnancy if you have a partner. They may be feeling just as scared and alone as you are. It is essential to communicate openly with each other and support each other through this time.

Talk To Your Doctor

It is also important to talk to your doctor about your pregnancy. They can provide you with information on what to expect and how to care for yourself during pregnancy. They can also refer you to resources and support groups if you need them.

The Bottom Line

An unplanned pregnancy can be a scary and confusing time. However, you are not alone. There are many resources and support groups available to help you through this time. It is crucial to allow yourself to feel all emotions and communicate openly with your partner. If you need more information or support, talk to your doctor or join a support group.

Playing Online Games: What You Should Know As A Parent

 As a parent, you will have most likely seen or heard your child play a video game. This could even be a daily occurrence in some cases. You may have some concerns, or you simply may not know how to talk to them about them. This article will go over some general safety tips and talk about the different types of games out there, what you could play yourself, and even take a look at some of the benefits before looking to the future. Read on to get started.

Safety Tips

As a parent, you should have a rough idea of what device your child uses for gaming, as there will be safety features you should be aware of.

For example, if they play on a console, you may be able to enable some parental controls to help keep them safe online. Some devices, such as pcs and laptops, may be harder to control access and content. It’s a similar story with mobile phones. You should ensure that your children know how to use a phone, if they have one.

If they are playing a range of different games online, then you should try to talk to them more about what they’re up to. If you show enthusiasm for what they’re playing, you may be able to relate more to what they’re up to every day and provide more relevant safety advice. You should try to learn more about your children and their hobbies to know how to communicate with them in an effective way. 

Different Genres Of Games

What you should know about online games is that they come in a variety of different genres, available on multiple platforms. This usually means that there is something out there for everyone, so it’s worth looking into what games could suit your children, the family, or yourself. This can be anything from car games like Drift Hunters 2 to games like Call of Duty.It’s important to note that games aren’t just for children. You could find some games to play yourself that give you a much-needed break from your responsibilities and give you the time to relax and recharge.

If you’ve never done any online games before, you should think about what games you enjoyed when you were younger, as that could help define what sort of games you play now that you’re an adult. If you have a mobile phone, then it’s likely you can already get started with some online games, in a way that’s easier than you think. You could take a look at your app store, whether you’ve got an Android phone or Apple, or you could look at a range of browser-based games.

You may be able to find some online games that are similar games to what you know in the physical world. For example, you may be able to play board games online with people, or even play online casino games. There will be online casinos that are just for fun, with no stakes, and you will be able to win money from others. Take a look at Play Live Casino to find a range of slot games that could interest you online. You could play alone or with others to enhance your experience.

Educational Benefits For Games

It’s worth being aware that some games, especially online games, can give you more educational benefits. This could be for yourself, or it could be for your children. First and foremost, online games have the potential to improve your social skills, and even improve your communication skills at the same time.

With some other genres of games, you may also be able to learn more about history. For example, you could be playing a game set during a certain time period, which helps boost your knowledge of that part of history.

Some games will also help you improve your maths skills. They may not do this directly, they may just be something you have to figure out in order to complete another main part of the game. Many games also use logic puzzles, which can provoke you to think more and make you think more creatively about how to solve problems. 

The Future Of Online Games

The future of online gaming is yet to be known for sure. However, it is known that there is potential for the growth of online gaming across the world. It’s just going to be perhaps sooner than people expected.

For example, one of the latest trends coming towards gaming, seems to be virtual reality. This is not the first time virtual reality has tried to be successful in the online gaming world. Sony and Microsoft have tried to promote virtual reality with their gaming consoles a few generations ago. However, it could be argued that the market, and indeed the world, was not quite ready for them.

Now, we have companies such as Facebook, or Meta, trying to bring this back. You will most likely have heard about the metaverse, which is a way of blending reality into the virtual world, with gaming leading the way. Keep an eye on this industry, and as a parent, ensure you know what your children are doing in games, and cast a careful eye over their activities.

4 Reasons to Be More Tech Literate If You Work From Home

 

https://unsplash.com/photos/4IxPVkFGJGI 

As fun and refreshing as working remotely can be, it can also come with its share of issues. You don’t get the same camaraderie with your houseplants as you do with your coworkers, at least most of the time, anyway. But another significant issue is tech issues. No matter who you are, tech issues can occur at any time, and it’s usually when you want them to happen the least. As you don’t have tech support on hand, it benefits you to be as tech literate as possible. 

It Will Save You Money 

Tech repair companies have a wealth of specialist knowledge that drives people to run to them whenever they have a computer problem. However, these can sometimes be costly, especially if you factor in parts and labor after the initial consultation. 

Knowing what to do if your startup disk is damaged or if your battery capacity has dropped significantly can save you a lot of money. You can repair and replace these issues by yourself by following helpful videos online. 

It Will Save You Frustration

A damaged device is bound to cause frustration. It could be too slow or it may struggle to stay connected to your wifi. Rather than consider whether it’s worth throwing your laptop out of the window (it isn’t) you should learn how to diagnose and fix these common problems to ensure you can avoid any downtime. 

There may be some issues that are entirely out of your control, but if you know you can do everything possible to avoid common problems, you won’t have as much to worry about. 

It Keeps Your Information Safe 

Everyone thinks they are smart enough to spot a scam when they see it, but the reality is far different. Many people still fall victim to common online scams or tricks, so knowing how to recognize phishing emails among other threats is crucial. 

The more you know about what type of scams to look out for, the less likely you are to fall for one. It only takes one careless mistake to put all of your personal (as well as family and client) information at risk, so make sure you are careful. 

You Can Help Your Kids 

It isn’t just you that will benefit from being more tech literate. Learning about computers can also help your kids once they are old enough for you to feel comfortable about encouraging them to use technology for almost anything in their lives. 

By teaching your kids the basics of computer maintenance and repair, you ensure they are more prepared than you were at their age. This could even spark a passion for computers that directs them into a career where they will thrive. 

Tech Smart 

You don’t need to know how to take your computer apart and put it back together, but knowing a little more than the average person will save you time, money, and frustration and even give you the chance to pass your knowledge on to your kids. By getting to know your devices, you will be more confident and comfortable and never need to worry about downtime again. 

What Are Food Processors and How They Work

 Food processors are designed to save time, save money, and make food prep and cooking more fun. When it was first invented as “the Starmix” by German company Electrostar in 1946, the machine looked more like a blender, but already came with add-on attachments for slicing bread and milk centrifuges. 

The company behind Starmix focused on vacuum cleaners, so French catering company salesman Pierre Verdon had the market to himself. He already had Robot-Coupe (restaurant-level, commercial scale food processor) when he released the compact for home-use Le Magi-Mix in Paris in 1971. In the U.S., American engineer and inventor Carl Sontheimer refined Verdon's machines to produce the Cuisinart… and the rest was history.

How do Food Processors Work?

Food processors are equipped with a motor, a plastic bowl, and cutting blades attached to the shaft (near the bottom of the bowl). These blades/disks, which are replaceable, can shred, slice, cut or do any task the disk is designed for with every spin of the processor. 

The food processor is closed with a lid (usually with an open feeding tube where you’ll drop ingredients gradually). Most come with a pusher, so you could assist the food processor to shred or slice the ingredient. 

Food processors are super user-friendly and safe to use. All of them have safety features that prevent the motor from operating if the bowl isn’t properly attached, or if the lid isn’t closed shut. 

Many Ways to Use Food Processors

Now that you have a bit of background about the food processor’s origin and design, let me introduce to you the many ways you can use this kitchen appliance to your advantage. 

• Sauce and condiments. People who use food processors regularly almost always can do many condiment staples from scratch. You can make your own hummus, pesto, salad dressings (like vinaigrette and Caesar’s dressing), as well as mayonnaise, salsa, and all types of dips your heart desires. 

• Homemade baby food. If you can’t find baby food with a list of ingredients that fits your requirements, the food processor can be the best tool for making any pureed food for your baby. From veggies to fruits, soups, and all other “first food” to give your baby, you’ll find that most homemade recipes use a food processor to turn regular food into baby food. 

• Big-batch cooking. Whether you have a large household and feed a lot of people on the daily, or you have a catering business on the side, cooking for big batches can get tiring real quick especially if you’re cooking recipes with a lot of ingredients. If you need to slice or grate kilos of cabbage, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, beets, cucumbers, brussel sprouts, yams, potatoes, and other veggies, it would be dramatically quicker to do it on a food processor.

• Sausages, burger patties and other ground meat products. Although food processors technically cannot “grind” meat, they do mince ingredients absolutely well thanks to their sharp blades. Except for those with bones in them, food processors can cut through almost any kind of meat from beef to pork, veal to chicken, and even salmon and other types of fish. 

• Low carb or KETO recipes. If you’re trying to get healthy, getting a food processor will help you make cauliflower or broccoli rice in a flash. Turn nuts and oats into your own homemade flour that you can use to make all kinds of gluten-free recipes. You can even grind nuts and oats then mix them with honey or coconut flakes for your own energy bars with zero sugar.

• Homemade breadcrumbs. You can make your own crumbs with added herbs and spices only when you need them, so the breadcrumbs are fresh and tasty without any preservatives.

• Nut butters. If your household empties jars and jars of peanut butter and almond butter, you can save a ton of money if you use your food processor to make them yourself. You just need the butter, your choice of sweetener, and a bit of oil or water to blend with your mashed nut. 

• Any baked good that requires kneading. Most food processors come with a kneading accessory, which allows you to use the kitchen appliance as a stand mixer. Meaning, you can easily create pasta dough, pizza dough, or any kind of bread is possible without manually kneading the dough. That’s a lot of effort and muscle power saved with every recipe you try.

If you only have a budget for one countertop kitchen appliance, make it the food processor since it could definitely make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. It’s ideal for people  on-the-go who loves to do makeahead meals, eat healthier, save money on groceries, and just about anyone who is trying to try out new recipes. 

What to Do When a Loved One is Struggling With Depression

 When faced with a friend or family member who you suspect or know is struggling with depression, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless. Depression is a serious mental health problem that affects every aspect of someone’s life, and if someone you love is struggling it can feel like you don’t have any way to help them. Common signs of depression include losing interest in formerly loved activities and withdrawing from loved ones, so it’s likely that your friend or family member won’t make it easy for you to help them. Fortunately, there are ways that you can help. Here are some of the things you can do when a loved one is struggling with depression.

1: Talk About Your Concerns With Your Loved One

If you’ve noticed that your friend or family member has been withdrawing from friends or activities or showing other signs of depression, the first step in helping them is to calmly and non judgmentally share your concerns with them. By sharing the changes you’ve seen in them and your concerns, you will create an opening for them to share what they’re feeling. 

Be careful to avoid well-meaning platitudes - not mentioning how many good things they have in their life or how worse others have it is important. Many people with depression already feel as though their mental health struggles are a failing or a sign of weakness, and reinforcing those thoughts can stand in the way of effective treatment.

2: Help Organize Professional Treatment

When your loved one is struggling with depression, they may need help and encouragement when it comes to getting professional help. They may need your support because they feel shame at needing to seek treatment or because their depression gets in the way of everyday tasks such as scheduling an appointment. Offer your support in whatever capacity they need it - whether that be in sending them a text to remind them of when their appointment is scheduled or accompanying them to the appointment to support them in the waiting room. 

If they’re hesitant about seeking professional help from a psychologist or psychiatrist, encourage them to see their primary care doctor instead - while a general physician won’t have the precise expertise necessary to help them, if they’re already comfortable with their doctor they will likely be more willing to listen to them and trust their recommendations.

3: Keep an Eye Out for Signs of Substance Abuse

Depression and substance abuse often go hand in hand. People struggling with depression will often turn to various substances, such as alcohol or marijuana, in order to cope with day-to-day life when it comes to living with depression. But these substances, when abused, will make their depression worse, leading to mental health spirals that cause them to reach for the substance more and more. Keeping an eye out for common signs of substance abuse, such as changes to their regular drinking habits or sudden mood swings, will allow you to better support your friend or family member who is struggling with depression.

4: Support Their Day-to-Day Routine

While treatment goes a long way to helping someone who is struggling with depression, it isn’t an instant fix, and your loved one will need care and support in the meantime. The casual offer to help in aspects of their day-to-day routine will go a long way - you will show your support, remind them that they’re not alone as they begin treatment for depression, and allow them to concentrate on effective treatment. 

This can range from offering to do tasks that they may find overwhelming, such as grocery shopping or laundry, to extending invitations to activities (especially in a smaller group setting). While it’s important not to become overbearing or condescending, the occasional invitation to work out together or meet up with a few friends for a cup of coffee can go a long way.

5: Be Prepared for the Long Haul

Depression isn’t something that can be fixed or made to go away. It’s a chronic illness, with symptoms that will flare up periodically and peaks and valleys. Some people with depression are able to reach an equilibrium, but many will struggle with this disease for the rest of their lives. Relapses and cycles of “good days” and “bad days” are common, especially when your loved one has only just begun treatment. Understanding the nature of depression and being prepared for the nature of it is important. If you’re struggling to support a loved one with depression, seeking out personal therapy is important so that you can take care of yourself and those around you.