Archives for March 2019

5 Tips For Parents Of New Drivers

The moment that your child is ready to drive can be a challenging moment in parenting. Unlike riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, driving a car on the road is a much different story.

It’s normal to feel protective and anxious about ensuring their safety. However, kids have to grow up one day. Teaching your child to drive won’t just give them a greater sense of responsibility, but them being independently mobile can benefit your schedule as well.

Here are some of the best tips for parents of new teen drivers.

Ensure They’re Ready

Before you hand over the keys of the jeep, there are certain factors you should consider first. Ask yourself whether you really think they are ready. They should be mature enough to understand the dangers that come along with the road. If they’re overly eager, they could put themselves in danger, and risk getting into a serious car accident.

Have a conversation with them about how ready they feel about taking the wheel. If you hesitate even for a moment that they may be lacking the maturity, then you should wait until a later time.

Practice Makes Perfect

Passing your driving test is only the first step to becoming an experienced driver. It’s vital for you to get in as much practice as possible with them in the beginning stages.

If possible, take them driving in places where there is no one else around. Practicing off the road is an excellent chance for learning how to apply the brakes and manipulate the steering wheel.

Try to help them practice as much as you can before letting them drive in traffic.

Set Guidelines

It’s important for you to discuss what the rules are with your team driver. Go over what is and is not acceptable when driving the vehicle.

Set rules in place like curfews, who can go in the car, and what parts of the city they should stay away from.

By setting guidelines, you’ll avoid any gray areas. When the rules are firmly set in place, there is no excuse for straying from what they’ve been told

Ensure Your Car Is In Good Condition

Before allowing your teen to drive in your car, you should make sure that it’s in perfect working condition. Ensure that the brakes are tightened, the tires have plenty of air, and that the engine is in order.

The last thing you want to do is worry that your child may get into an accident due to lack of maintenance.

Be Encouraging

It’s easy to worry and criticize your child when they first learn to drive. However, learning to drive is no different from learning anything else. By being encouraging and positive, they’ll gain the confidence that it takes in order to succeed.

5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Elderly Parents

As your parents get older, it’s natural for them to lose the ability to keep up with all of the hustle and bustle of life. Even if your parents are graceful agers, the body eventually begins to break down as we get older.

If you’re beginning to see that your parents aren’t keeping up with things like usual, consider offering a helping hand. You may not be sure what to offer in the way of assistance, but you may want to think about these helpful suggestions for things you can do to help your aging parents.

Talk with other members of the family

Get the family together to have an honest conversation about what the future could hold. Explore who will take what role in the caretaking voyage. Explore what resources are available to assist your parents when the family is not able.

It’s important to pool your resources as a family, and take this time to give back to the people who took care of you. In a perfect world, everyone would pitch in to help make the remainder of your parents’ lives comfortable and happy.

Help your parents get their financial resources in order

Approaching the topic of financial resources with your parents may be a touchy subject, but it’s key that someone in the family be “in the know” about the proper management of your parents’ financial resources.

Make sure your parents are receiving the financial support they are due. If they are disabled, you make need to hire a lawyer who specializes in disability cases to help get your parents what they are owed.

Have a sit down with your parents

It’s important that you have a serious conversation with your parents while they are still in good health, so they have the ability to tell you their wishes.

There’s a lot to consider when someone is at the end of their life, and it’s important that the person has the chance to help make crucial decisions.

The conversation won’t be the easiest talk you’ve ever had with your parents, but it will be one of the most important chats you’ll ever have with your parents.

Consider whether senior care or housing is necessary

Depending on where your parents are in their lives, you may need to discuss whether or not senior care or housing could be helpful to the family. Sometimes your parents just need a little assistance, but they can do for themselves the majority of the time.

Consider whether you could be a caretaker

If you are willing to assume the role of caretaker for your parents, there are some critical things you need to explore. Do you have the time to care for your parents? Do you have the financial resources to take care of them properly?

A Guide To Travelling To London

If you’ve made the decision to plan a whirlwind trip of London, simply continue reading to discover a simple guide to travelling to London.

A guide to travelling to London: 

How to choose a hotel:

It’s well worth opting to book accommodation at any of the centrally located hotels in london that are located within a stone’s throw of most of London’s most famous attractions such as The Tower of London and Buckingham Palace. Alternatively, you can’t go wrong booking a hotel that is located within a few minutes walk of one of the city’s underground train stops. As the best way to get around London is via the Tube.

If money is no object, you may want to consider staying at a luxury four or five star hotel, such as The Savoy, which is located next to Convent Garden and which boasts 267 opulently decorated suites. There are lots of options for places to stay and you can book hotels easily.

What to experience:

1. A double decker tour of the city

If you’ve never visited London before and want to quickly get orientated, do yourself a huge favor and book a double decker tour of the city, on your first full day in London. As you’ll be able to view many of London’s most famous landmarks from the top of an iconic red, double decker bus.

As an added benefit, your guide will narrate your journey with handy facts and fascinating stories about some of the buildings which your bus passes through.

2. The Tower of London

Make sure to book an escorted tour of the Tower of London, to get a chance to see the crown jewels up close and to learn about some of the famous names who were imprisioned in the Tower of London. Some examples of which include British royalty, many of which were executed in the tower’s grounds.

3. Book a ride on the London Eye

For incredible bird’s eye views of London, make sure to book a ride on the London Eye. Which was originally created to celebrate the new millennium.

4. Shop for souvenirs of your London trip at Harrods 

Harrods is a luxury historic department store which can be found in the suburb of Knightsbridge and which was founded over 170 years ago. Whilst spending time shopping in Harrods it’s all well worth grabbing a bite to eat at one of Harrods famous food halls or booking a high tea experience.

Even if you don’t see yourself dropping hundreds of even thousands of dollars on designer items which are sold at Harrods, there are plenty of Harrod branded souvenirs such as teddy bears, tote bags and pens to purchase as a memento of your first trip to Harrods.

5. Hyde Park 

Hyde Park is arguably the most iconic park in all of London and is comprised of four royal parks which are interconnected. If you feel like taking a stroll on a sunny day in London, it’s well worth heading straight to Hyde park.

6. Grab a bite to eat at London’s Hard Rock Cafe

London’s Hard Rock Cafe is located directly across the road from Hyde Park and is the perfect place to grab a bit of lunch.

So what are you waiting for? There’s no time like the present to visit London and to experience all that London has to offer!

To read more on topics like this, check out the travel category.

De-Facto Relationship Breakdowns – What You Need To Know

Too often you hear a couple in a long-term relationship reduce marriage to just a piece of paper. That part of the story lacks the realisation that they are, indeed in a de facto relationship that is in a lot of ways similar to marriage. The Family Law Act defines one such relationship as a couple that has lived together, on a mutual and genuine domestic basis. The only thing that exempts you from this definition is if you and your partner are legally married or related.

You can be in a de facto relationship even when you do not live together. There are other elements that are considered for a relationship to fall under this category. If such a relationship breaks down, you need to apply for financial orders within two years of the breakdown. So how then do you know that you are in one? Here are several things that are considered:

• Combined finances so that there is financial interdependence or dependence
• The commitment to the relationship and the different roles you both take
• Registration as a de facto relationship
• If you consider your relationship de facto
• You are living together and have a sexual relationship
• You support or have children together
• Your family considers the relationship de facto
• You own assets or property together

From these factors, you see that you can be in a de facto relationship even if you have been together for a short while, for example. A good rule of thumb is to always consult a lawyer if you are unsure. If such a relationship breaks down then, here are some things you need to keep in mind:

You are obligated to split assets

Family Court typically has a de facto rule for financial settlements. However, you need to consult a family lawyer to address your particular situation since each one is unique. Having an asset in one’s name does not guarantee that their claim is granted. Having an asset in one’s name does not guarantee that their claim is granted. If you had not made a formal financial settlement, your ex-partner can make claims on your assets. Note that assets are not necessarily split equally at the end of the relationship.

You may have to pay spousal maintenance

People often relegate spousal maintenance to the legally married but you may also be required to pay it after a de facto relationship ends. The financial contribution of each partner and their dependence on the relationship will form the basis for the split and maintenance. Like with marriage, spousal maintenance claims can be made after a breakup.

You have legal rights like in marriage

You may not have dressed in white and walked down the aisle but your relationship may dictate that the breakup is treated as a marriage. This means that things like superannuation and the division of property will be the same. Even the differences when it comes to parenting arrangements are limited.

You can protect yourself

If you do not know whether your relationship will last, you can make sure that some of your assets are protected. You can have an arrangement with your partner to dictate how property is divided in future. This is an especially important step if there are children involved even from an earlier relationship. It also helps to protect you if there is a significant difference between your financial positions.

Same-sex couples are recognized in family law

Even though in some places same-sex marriage is illegal, you do qualify as a de-facto relationship as long as you meet some of the requirements in Family Law. Consequently, you have similar rights as any married couple. Note that, like is the case for other relationships, verbal agreements between partners do not apply when the relationship ends.

Whatever the case, work with independent lawyers so that each of them looks out for your best interests. Once you realise that a breakup is inevitable, find your legal counsel. A breakup is very emotional and you need someone who can see matters objectively.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

What Should A Manager Do After A Crisis Happened?

There are sometimes situations in which a crisis happens and the aftermath creates more damage for the business than what actually took place. This includes both crisis events that directly impacted the organization and those that did not, like a terrorist attack that took place in the city of operation. German Trujillo Manrique discusses the most important steps that have to be done after a crisis happened in order to be sure that everything is properly being taken care of.

Acknowledge The Crisis

It is really important to discuss a crisis with the entire team. You never know how someone was affected and you need to see if you can help. Even if the crisis was quickly managed and you think there are many employees that were not affected, you cannot be sure until you ask. At the same time, it is really important that you acknowledge the crisis since this is a sign that you are interested in taking responsibility whenever this is the necessity.

Take Action

Just take some time to do something in order to show that you are aware of what happened and the effect that the crisis caused. For instance, if we talk about the terrorist act example, you may want to schedule a minute of silence and encourage staff members to respond how they see fit. It is even possible to organize some sort of fund-raising activity that can support victims. When the business was affected and employees have to be laid off, you should discuss with those that remain since some of those laid off were most likely friends.

Be Accessible And Responsive

One of the worst things that you can do after a crisis happened is to never be around and not respond to what employees need from you. Every single person will respond in a different way. It is possible that some may need some time off and will want to ask if it is ok. Clear the calendar as much as possible and be sure that you are available following the crisis for at least a week. Encourage staff members to share thoughts and be open about the situation. Obviously, this only works if you are completely nonjudgmental.

Monitor The Media

Although the crisis is over, no matter what it is, you still need to see if the topic is covered in the media. This is true even if it was an internal event and you think nobody heard about it. Never underestimate the industry’s desire to create viewership. In the event that you notice something bad was said, you want to respond. This shows that you are on top of the situation even after the crisis.

Arrange Meetings With Team Leaders

Nobody expects you to be able to deal with every single individual in the event there are many employees that are supervised. This is why you need to arrange a meeting with team leaders so that you can discuss the situation and figure out a really good approach. At the same time, you have to make it clear what should be done in specific scenarios.

6. Meet with your team leaders to ensure that communication channels are open at every level within your organization, and people are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings about the crisis situation. Reinforce the value of listening with compassion and the intent to understand. This is a time when visibility is critical, so encourage all supervisors and team leaders to spend time in the work areas, walking around and talking with their employees.

7. Be on the lookout for emotional aftershock. Sometimes this shows up weeks later, and can exhibit as unusual health-related challenges (headaches, twitches, breathing difficulties, etc.); increased emotional outbursts (anger, fear, guilt, depression, crying, etc.); or out-of-the-ordinary behavioral issues (suspicion, withdrawal, excessive movement, increased smoking, drinking, or other habitual behaviors, etc.). As you notice any symptoms, talk with the employee and, as appropriate, make them aware of any employee counseling assistance that is available.

By quickly and sincerely connecting with your people about the crisis situation, you not only help each person deal more effectively with their own reactions; you model the humanness of connectivity and bring your team together in a special way. In the end, the time you invest in supporting people through the crisis will reap huge benefits in terms of engagement, commitment, and productivity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7642630

For more tips like this from Zoo Too, check out our Business Category.