Should we get a dog for our family?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Dogs make great pets and can be a wonderful addition to a family. But pets come with a lot of responsibility so it’s important to be sure that you are making the right decision before bringing a dog into your home. So is getting a dog for your family a good idea?

 

Yes – Fiona

Getting a dog was one of the best decisions we every made as a family. It has brought us so much love and enjoyment. Since getting the dog, we are more active – we go for long walks together and spend a lot more time outside. Before we had a pet, the kids just wanted to watch TV or play computer games but now they are always asking if we can take the dog to the beach – it’ provided an easy way to ensure they get fresh air and exercise.

Having a dog brings emotional benefits too – it has allowed us to teach our children about responsibility. They know that the dog needs walking even if it is raining and they know that they have to get up in time to feed the dog before going to school each day. Getting a dog was a big decision but we gave it a lot of thought. We made sure we would have the time to look after a dog and the space for it to grow.

A dog is great for relaxing too – if I’m feeling stressed, I just have to stroke our dog and I feel much better. It’s wonderful to be able to give a loving home to an animal. I’m really pleased we got a dog – it’s brought so many benefits to our family.

 

 

No – Toni

A dog is a lot more work than most people think – they need walking every day and when families have busy lives it can be hard to find the time that a dog needs. Families often get a dog because the children have asked for one but children quickly lose interest in new things and it’s left to the parents to look after the dog and when they don’t, it’s the dog that suffers. It’s also important to remember that dogs can live for a long time – often up to 15 years or more. This means that if you buy a dog because your child wants one, the responsibility for looking after the dog will probably fall to you one day.

It’s important to remember that children can suffer from allergies that can be triggered by pet hair which can also cause asthma. Not all dogs get on with children and can become aggressive – it’s another thing to consider before getting a dog.

A dog can be a big expense too – food, vets bills, the cost of kennels, it all mounts up and often families forget about the costs when they are excited at the thought of getting a dog.

Few families have the space and time to look after a dog properly and so for most families I would say that getting a dog is not a good idea.

 

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Categories: Children, Families, Family, family nbsp, nbsp, time

Should we get a dog for our family?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Dogs make great pets and can be a wonderful addition to a family. But pets come with a lot of responsibility so it’s important to be sure that you are making the right decision before bringing a dog into your home. So is getting a dog for your family a good idea?

 

Yes – Fiona

Getting a dog was one of the best decisions we every made as a family. It has brought us so much love and enjoyment. Since getting the dog, we are more active – we go for long walks together and spend a lot more time outside. Before we had a pet, the kids just wanted to watch TV or play computer games but now they are always asking if we can take the dog to the beach – it’ provided an easy way to ensure they get fresh air and exercise.

Having a dog brings emotional benefits too – it has allowed us to teach our children about responsibility. They know that the dog needs walking even if it is raining and they know that they have to get up in time to feed the dog before going to school each day. Getting a dog was a big decision but we gave it a lot of thought. We made sure we would have the time to look after a dog and the space for it to grow.

A dog is great for relaxing too – if I’m feeling stressed, I just have to stroke our dog and I feel much better. It’s wonderful to be able to give a loving home to an animal. I’m really pleased we got a dog – it’s brought so many benefits to our family.

 

 

No – Toni

A dog is a lot more work than most people think – they need walking every day and when families have busy lives it can be hard to find the time that a dog needs. Families often get a dog because the children have asked for one but children quickly lose interest in new things and it’s left to the parents to look after the dog and when they don’t, it’s the dog that suffers. It’s also important to remember that dogs can live for a long time – often up to 15 years or more. This means that if you buy a dog because your child wants one, the responsibility for looking after the dog will probably fall to you one day.

It’s important to remember that children can suffer from allergies that can be triggered by pet hair which can also cause asthma. Not all dogs get on with children and can become aggressive – it’s another thing to consider before getting a dog.

A dog can be a big expense too – food, vets bills, the cost of kennels, it all mounts up and often families forget about the costs when they are excited at the thought of getting a dog.

Few families have the space and time to look after a dog properly and so for most families I would say that getting a dog is not a good idea.

 

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Categories: Children, Families, Family, family nbsp, nbsp, time

Should we get a dog for our family?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Dogs make great pets and can be a wonderful addition to a family. But pets come with a lot of responsibility so it’s important to be sure that you are making the right decision before bringing a dog into your home. So is getting a dog for your family a good idea?

 

Yes – Fiona

Getting a dog was one of the best decisions we every made as a family. It has brought us so much love and enjoyment. Since getting the dog, we are more active – we go for long walks together and spend a lot more time outside. Before we had a pet, the kids just wanted to watch TV or play computer games but now they are always asking if we can take the dog to the beach – it’ provided an easy way to ensure they get fresh air and exercise.

Having a dog brings emotional benefits too – it has allowed us to teach our children about responsibility. They know that the dog needs walking even if it is raining and they know that they have to get up in time to feed the dog before going to school each day. Getting a dog was a big decision but we gave it a lot of thought. We made sure we would have the time to look after a dog and the space for it to grow.

A dog is great for relaxing too – if I’m feeling stressed, I just have to stroke our dog and I feel much better. It’s wonderful to be able to give a loving home to an animal. I’m really pleased we got a dog – it’s brought so many benefits to our family.

 

 

No – Toni

A dog is a lot more work than most people think – they need walking every day and when families have busy lives it can be hard to find the time that a dog needs. Families often get a dog because the children have asked for one but children quickly lose interest in new things and it’s left to the parents to look after the dog and when they don’t, it’s the dog that suffers. It’s also important to remember that dogs can live for a long time – often up to 15 years or more. This means that if you buy a dog because your child wants one, the responsibility for looking after the dog will probably fall to you one day.

It’s important to remember that children can suffer from allergies that can be triggered by pet hair which can also cause asthma. Not all dogs get on with children and can become aggressive – it’s another thing to consider before getting a dog.

A dog can be a big expense too – food, vets bills, the cost of kennels, it all mounts up and often families forget about the costs when they are excited at the thought of getting a dog.

Few families have the space and time to look after a dog properly and so for most families I would say that getting a dog is not a good idea.

 

The post Should we get a dog for our family? appeared first on .

Categories: Children, Families, Family, family nbsp, nbsp, time

Should we get a dog for our family?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Dogs make great pets and can be a wonderful addition to a family. But pets come with a lot of responsibility so it’s important to be sure that you are making the right decision before bringing a dog into your home. So is getting a dog for your family a good idea?

 

Yes – Fiona

Getting a dog was one of the best decisions we every made as a family. It has brought us so much love and enjoyment. Since getting the dog, we are more active – we go for long walks together and spend a lot more time outside. Before we had a pet, the kids just wanted to watch TV or play computer games but now they are always asking if we can take the dog to the beach – it’ provided an easy way to ensure they get fresh air and exercise.

Having a dog brings emotional benefits too – it has allowed us to teach our children about responsibility. They know that the dog needs walking even if it is raining and they know that they have to get up in time to feed the dog before going to school each day. Getting a dog was a big decision but we gave it a lot of thought. We made sure we would have the time to look after a dog and the space for it to grow.

A dog is great for relaxing too – if I’m feeling stressed, I just have to stroke our dog and I feel much better. It’s wonderful to be able to give a loving home to an animal. I’m really pleased we got a dog – it’s brought so many benefits to our family.

 

 

No – Toni

A dog is a lot more work than most people think – they need walking every day and when families have busy lives it can be hard to find the time that a dog needs. Families often get a dog because the children have asked for one but children quickly lose interest in new things and it’s left to the parents to look after the dog and when they don’t, it’s the dog that suffers. It’s also important to remember that dogs can live for a long time – often up to 15 years or more. This means that if you buy a dog because your child wants one, the responsibility for looking after the dog will probably fall to you one day.

It’s important to remember that children can suffer from allergies that can be triggered by pet hair which can also cause asthma. Not all dogs get on with children and can become aggressive – it’s another thing to consider before getting a dog.

A dog can be a big expense too – food, vets bills, the cost of kennels, it all mounts up and often families forget about the costs when they are excited at the thought of getting a dog.

Few families have the space and time to look after a dog properly and so for most families I would say that getting a dog is not a good idea.

 

Categories: Children, Dogs, Families, Family, family nbsp, nbsp, time

Rising Healthcare Costs Puts Spotlight on Herbal Cures

With the rising costs of healthcare, people are being forced to turn away from traditional medicine and look towards vitamins, minerals and supplements to treat conditions that are affecting their wellness and wellbeing.

 

In the States, a trip to the doctor for something as minor as the common cold can cost you an average of $740, before you take into account insurance deductions. Analysts predict that the costs of health care will continue to rise and that the Affordable Care Act reforms could actually mean that an increase in health costs of around 32 percent for all families.

 

In order to help cut costs, families are turning their attentions to natural remedies, and this is proving to be a huge boost for the alternative medicine sector.

 

Maria Grovers is a Clinical Herbalist who lives in Allenstown N.H. and she now teaches families how they can use home grown herbs to help improve their day to day wellness. She says that more people than ever before are interested in how they can use herbs to sort out their daily problems.

 

The idea of families taking their own ability to cure themselves of minor ailments is an important one, as it helps them to take care of their families in the long term without incurring insurmountable costs. Herbs have a long history of being used to cure these types of minor illnesses.

 

Some even believe that herbs are more effective than any over the counter remedies, as the over the counter remedies tend to focus on masking symptoms and can actually contribute to supressing the immune system, so whilst they make you feel better in the short run, in the long run they can actually make things worse. Herbs on the other hand are both safe and effective, and can be used on adults and children, as well as more elderly members of the family.

Categories: Costs, counter remedies, Families, herbs, long, minor, nbsp, remedies

Living Hell: How Does Your Gambling Affect Your Family?

A study has found that living with a gambling addict can be a daily hell, as not only do family members face being wiped out financially by the gambler’s debts, but also live in a state of ‘persistent fear’ and could be ostracised by the community. According to Institute of Policy Studies research fellow Mathew Mathews, this study is Singapore’s first to examine the impact of gambling addiction on families.

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, commissioned Dr Mathews study in 2010. The results of the research, which was a qualitative study of 50 relatives of gamblers – including spouses, adult children, parents and siblings, were made public at a conference organised by the National Council on Problem Gambling. It is obviously known that compulsive gambling tears families apart, but Dr Mathews’ research showed just how bad it can get. He said, ‘Everyone in the family feels the burden of the addiction. The closer you are to the gambler, the worse the impact.’

The study showed that gambling debts, which ranged from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, plunged formerly middle class families into poverty. Roughly 25% of those who were interviewed had to sell their houses in order to pay loan sharks and other creditors, with some of them having to live like nomads and shuttle between relatives who would put them up. Some spouses had to take up extra jobs, and children too were reported to earn their keep by working after school or during the school holidays.

The study also revealed that gamblers who beg others repeatedly for loans don’t only cause themselves to be shunned by relatives, but also immediate family members can be ostracised from the wider family. This means that it can be hard for families to share their woes with their friends for fear of being shunned again, and so they live in a state of ‘persistent fear’ as well as anger, helplessness and other painful emotions.

Dr Mathews commented, ‘The threats never end and the problems never stop. It could be threats from loan sharks or the gambler threatening suicide. And you will never know how much more the gambler will borrow from loan sharks.’  He added, ‘What is not helpful is continuing to give in to the gambler’s demands for money as he will just continue to gamble. These demands never end. My advice to families is: get help.’

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Living Hell: How Does Your Gambling Affect Your Family?

Categories: Families, Gambling, Living Hell

What Help is Available for Families of Problem Gamblers?

If you have a gambling problem, not only does it take its toll on your mental wellness, but it affects the emotional and financial wellness of your family. Now, Singapore’s National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has launched a one-year pilot to provide legal and financial advice for gambling addicts’ family members, a group that’s often overlooked.

However, if this group has been waiting a long time for help, then two proverbial buses have shown up at once! The National Addictions Management Service (Nams) at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) has also introduced a programme for the family members of problem gamblers. According to Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Chan Chun Sing, ‘Often, we may not be aware, or may forget, that it is usually the families who suffer the effects of an addict’s excessive habits.’

The Ministry commissioned a study to look into how gambling affects the wellbeing of family members, and found that, unsurprisingly, financial security and legal woes are some key concerns they face. For example, Mr Chan pointed out, families often owe money to banks or licensed money lenders, and ‘many of them find it difficult to understand the contractual terms related to their loans. They fear the loss of their homes, their cars and the possibility of facing bankruptcy.’

Therefore, the NCPG started a pilot in May offering free legal and financial advisory services to address the needs of affected family members. Family members can attend sessions conducted by social workers, who use toolkits to help them manage their problems. One of these toolkits is a financial one, which offers advice on prioritising spending, budgeting and keeping up with repayment. The Law Society’s Pro Bono Services Office developed the legal toolkit, which deals with bankruptcy, protection of assets, and dealing with divorce and family violence.

The Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre, Hougang Sheng Hong Family Service Centre and Thye Hua Kwan Problem Gambling Recovery Centre all offer the programme, which 12 families have gone through so far. NCPG chairman Lim Hock San explained, ‘We recognise that the impact of problem gambling goes beyond the individual problem gambler.’

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What Help is Available for Families of Problem Gamblers?

Categories: Advice, Families, Gambling Addicts

The Recipe for Wellness Success for Busy Families

You want to ensure your child’s wellbeing by making sure they have the healthiest diet possible, but for busy parents this can be a challenge. However, family mealtimes are still important for the wellness of everyone, even if you’re all on the go. Family meals set the stage for healthy eating, as well as allowing you all to connect and to teach your children good table manners and conversational skills, so how do you make time for family meals as well as work?

 

According to dietician Janice Bissex, ‘Research shows that kids who eat breakfast on a regular basis take in more nutrients overall, including fibre, are less overweight and fare better on academic tests than children who miss the morning meal’. Bissex recommends that ‘Complex carbohydrates are the cornerstone of the most beneficial breakfasts because they produce a long-lasting supply of glucose for the brain and body’ and you all need protein, fibre and fat as part of breakfast to feel fuller longer.

 

Therefore, top fortified multi-grain breakfast cereals with fresh, dried or frozen fruit, or melt reduced-fat Cheddar cheese on granary toast. Give everyone half a wholemeal bagel with salmon and low-fat cream cheese or half a wholemeal breakfast muffin with peanut butter and a banana on the side.

 

Further, if you’re busy don’t underestimate the power of planning. According to Janet Helm, a registered dietician and working mother of twins, ‘You can’t make nutritious foods without a well-stocked pantry, refrigerator and freezer’ as knowing ‘what you have on hand and where it is streamlines meal preparation.’ You don’t need to make every meal from scratch, and Helm never goes without frozen seafood, shop-bought roasted chicken and pre-cut and frozen fruits and vegetables on her shopping list because they are good for you and easy to use. Also, stock up on eggs, canned tuna or salmon, granary breads, grated hard cheese, such as Cheddar and frozen boneless, skinless chicken breast, as well as liquid essentials such as balsamic vinegar, milk, and olive oil and pasta sauce.

 

Even prepared foods and takeaways can be made into healthy options when you include the right side dishes. A thin-based pizza with a large green or fruit salad will be a nourishing favourite with your kids and your local supermarket provides a roasted chicken and pre-washed mixed greens for a quick and healthy meal that’s hard to beat. It’s always better to plan and prepare in advance, but there’s no reason you can eat a healthy balanced meal with your family all the time.

The Recipe for Wellness Success for Busy Families

Categories: Advice, Busy, Families