family happiness Archives - Mother 2 Mother Blog

How to Adopt Children Facts and Tips

February 14, 2021 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

Adopting children is a wonderful way of creating a family. So, today I’m sharing parenting tips on how to adopt children. There are over 400,000 children in foster care so you will be giving a child a loving home. There are some things you need to know before you make the very important decision to adopt a child. First, the adoption process is long and it can get complicated. Second, it will play with your emotions.

Furthermore, the process can be costly too. However, becoming a parent is a wonderful thing. There are several ways to go through the adoption process. So, you can work with an adoption agency that will take you through the foster care system or you can opt for adoption through an attorney. Going through an attorney you have two choices, either through the foster care system or you can adopt internationally. Before deciding on which option to choose let’s go through what you need to know before deciding to adopt.

How to Adopt Children:

Understand Why You Are Adopting

Choosing to adopt a child is a decision that will steer the rest of your life. It is an important decision and one that should be thought through in detail. Being honest about your reasons, the impact a child will have on you and your current family should be discussed. Things to consider also include whether you wish to adopt a new-born or whether you are open to adopting an older child. What about a sibling group? What changes do you need to consider for your home or your career? Knowing the reasons for adopting and working through these questions will help you come to a decision. At the end of the day you want to be happy and you want to be able to raise happy kids.

Preparation

Each respective adoptive parent will be required to complete what is known as a home study. This means a caseworker will visit, and decide whether you will be suitable for adopting a child. Your caseworker will go over the process in detail and discuss how it works. This can be lengthy, and take up to six months to complete. Also, they will want to check out your medical records, your income, and whether you have a criminal record.

Costs

Research the costs involved in adoption. While adopting through the foster care system is free, there are associated costs. Using an attorney if you are considering adopting internationally would more than likely be the most expensive option. It is best to find inquire about costs for all avenues so you can plan what you can afford and what route you wish to go down.

Open or Closed Adoption

The decision on whether to have contact with the birth family is a matter you also consider. The adoption can be closed where there is no contact or open where there is contact with the birth family. This can be a negotiation if this is the way you wish to go. It can also be anything from exchanging letters a few times a year or just receiving a birthday card. Knowing you have different options will be helpful as you go through the adoption process.

Filed Under: Adoption, Parenting Tips Tagged With: adoption advice, adoption tips, family happiness, parenting tips

Tips for Getting Over Christmas Blues

January 8, 2021 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on getting over Christmas Blues after the holidays. Those post Christmas blues can be a nasty. It seems that there is nothing major to look forward to now. Sadly, the world can be pretty bleak at Christmas. The Coronavirus is still taking its toll, even though vaccines have started to roll out across the world.

But, there are ways you can keep you and your family happy. Winter can be a wonderful season. It’s the perfect time to work on goals, get caught up on reading, pull out those crafts you’ve been wanting to work on and more. Nothing sounds exciting, check out these suggestions.

Getting Over Christmas Blues Tips:

Try A New Health Kick

Getting into a new health regime or trying out a new diet can be a chore. But, if you make it fun everyone can enjoy it. Think about taking bike rides with the family. Indulge in less fast food , and use new recipes that can be cooked at home.

It’s a great way to get everyone in the family healthy. If a child’s diet has been poor over an extended period of time, they may end up having to see pediatricians. So, make it a family affair. There are loads of workout videos on YouTube. If your family room is large enough, gather once a day to do a workout as a family. It could be difficult getting the family motivated initially, but once your family gets over the hump they’ll thank you.

Focus On A Side Hustle

Next, get a side hustle. A little extra money can go a long way. But, where do you start? There’s so many things you can do to earn a little side cash. You can sell products on Amazon, or think about offering your intellect as a tutor for children. If you like crafts, think about monetizing them and sell them on sites like Etsy. Speak two languages? Maybe you can offer translation or transcription services. You might be sat there, thinking that you have nothing to offer, but odds on your do! You just have to take the time and really think about it. The money you make can be used to make this bleak part of the year a little better and happier for your family and yourself.

Consider A New Purchase

People don’t usually go out and splurge in January because most people don’t have much cash after Christmas. But, the recently launched and hugely successful PS5 would be a great choice for the family. Especially. if you weren’t lucky enough to get one for Christmas. The kids will be happy and it will make this year a bit more bearable. They’re hard to find, so a Nintendo Switch or Xbox series might be just as great. Your new purchase doesn’t have to be a games console either. Think about new bikes for the family. They can be ties into your New Year health kick.

Try To Do More Together

Last, Christmas is all about family. So, try to extend those vibes into the winter months. You can have family movie night once or twice a week. Or, play board games as a family. A brisk walk around the neighbor to explore new places and see new sights can make new adventures exciting.

Finally, the goal is simply to keep the happiness level up in your home. Get creative, and make sure it’s activities everyone can participate in.

Filed Under: Family Time Tagged With: family activities, family happiness, healthy living tips

Steps for Creating a Happy Family

November 22, 2020 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on creating a happy family. Parenting can be an uphill task at times. Everybody seems to be consumed by technology, specifically social media. Sadly, they fail to find time for their loved ones. Additionally, many adults and children are more depressed than ever. However, you can still create a happy family in the modern world using these simple tips.

Creating a Happy Family:

Live, laugh, love

The best way to create a happy family is to find ways to reconnect with each other. Unfortunately, we forget to share love with people we call family. We don’t have fun times together. But, there’s a remedy. For example, take a family vacation to enjoy. It is essential to create memories, share some family history and have a good time with each other.

Communicate

Communication is very crucial during both good and challenging times. Many people, especially children, find it hard to express their feelings. Show your children that you are willing to listen. It will impact their happiness tremendously. Additionally, good communication will help family members see value in the family unit.

Try to understand each other

In any family, mutual understanding is a key component of happiness. Children are likely to learn from adults. Be an example. If your children see that you are positive and happy, they will take cues from you. As a result, your family will grow, practice positivity, good behavior, and spread happiness wherever they go.

Contribute to the community together

Teamwork is essential if you are trying to reconnect and create a happy family. Consider sharing Bible study resources and volunteering for community work as a family. These two steps will reinforce family solidarity.

Pray as a family

As far as the vital doctrines of religion go, the family is often the highest unit. Participating in family prayer solidifies that your faith in important. Also, remember to pray for each other’s happiness and fulfillment of their needs.

Forgive each other

Everyone makes mistakes in life. Some of this can create some rifts in the family. However, you should never let mistakes break the family unit. First, try to acknowledge that mistakes happen and forgive each other. If the mistake happens over and over again, try to get help from a counselor. Building confidence and trust between family members and forgiving small faults has a significant impact on family happiness. Teach your children about forgiveness and other important traits. Your children will learn valuable life lessons and will love and respect your generosity. Most importantly, they will carry that foundation into adulthood.

Develop family traditions

Family traditions are among the things that keep you united and happy as a family. Traditions should not be reserved for holidays only. Instead, create daily or weekly habits such as family dinners or dining out.

So, you can make Saturdays your family game night. Creating family traditions helps to connect you with your family and makes everyone happy.

Final thoughts

Staying positive is the best way to stay happy. When it comes to a family setting, making everyone happy depends on how you connect with each other. Make sure that your children understand essential life and family values. And, give your children a religious foundation. It will help reconnect them with God and other people as well.