The term addiction never invokes a positive feeling. Especially if it is related to substances which are created for artificial leisure. Obviously one of the substances is alcohol.

Alcohol addiction or alcoholism is a serious medical condition in which the abuser has no control and regulation over the amount of alcohol which he or she consumes.

Often seen in adults, this condition differs from individual to individual. It depends on the frequency and the amounts. Progressive and unchecked alcoholism can have adverse effects on one’s life and the people around them.

Signs of alcoholism

A condition of alcoholism can be characterized by a number of indicators.

Physical and visible signs of alcoholism that are noticed on an addict are –

• Uncontrolled and unregulated consumption of alcohol.
• Slurred speech. Choppy and incoherent way of talking.
• Clumsiness
• Poor posture
• Poor balance of the body.
• Sluggishness
• Delayed inhibitions
• Subdued reflexes
• Loss of consciousness
• Physical disturbances like abdomen ache, nausea, poor sight, etc
• Blacking out
• Frequent redness on the face and some people also experience Asian flush
• Poor memory. Inability to remember or recollect.
• Lack of attention at the workplace
• Increase in extreme emotions
• Volatile mood swings.
• Unprecedented behaviour

Side-Effects of Alcoholism

This addiction can take a heavy toll on one’s physiological as well as psychological well being.

The impacts of alcoholism can vary depending on the gravity of addiction, the amount of control and consumption.

In extreme cases, it can also lead to fatal repercussions like death by alcohol poisoning.

The side-effects which are primarily seen are –

• Physical Impacts

The gravest aftermath which alcoholism can cause is the irreversible damage to the prominent organs like liver, intestines, heart and nervous system. Apart from these, it also causes abnormal blood pressure, anxiety, sexual problems, cancer, etc.

• Social Impacts

Apart from physical consequences, alcoholism ruins a person’s lifestyle. It can hamper the person’s image at the workplace. It can lead to termination of his job.

It can disturb the family and everyone around that individual.

It can ruin the individual’s social image adversely too.

Rehabilitation and Recovery

The first step to battle the addiction is acknowledgement and acceptance.

To overcome the situation, it is necessary to acknowledge the fact that one is going through a disorder and that one needs external aid.

On achieving the above, the person positively embarks on the journey of recovery.

In the initial stages of withdrawing alcohol, the addict may experience various bodily changes like hallucinations, profuse sweating, anxiety, agitation, seizures, insomnia convulsions/tremors, etc.

They are known as withdrawal symptoms.

Top recovery tips which are given by experts to reduce alcohol dependency is an alteration in diets and cut down on sugar intakes. Alcohol and sugar have long lost enmity. They can trigger reverse addiction and thus, it I necessary to keep a check on sugar levels.

Apart from sugar food dense with other essential nutrients like proteins and carbohydrates must be consumed. They help in building the damaged tissue and cells of the body.

Are you looking to make some changes in your life as we move forward into 2017? This is the time of year when we all start reflecting on the last 365 days and how we feel about them, our general satisfaction with the direction of our lives, and considering where we might want to go next. A lot of us are deeply satisfied with our family lives, but somewhat less so with our careers – and we all know that it gets progressively more upsetting to go into a job you don’t like every day without feeling as though there’s much hope for things changing in the future! Luckily, many of us have a lot of other skills and hobbies that we’d like to explore further. Here are some tips on how you can make your crafting skills into a career in 2017…

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Get Professional

Even if you’re a stay at home mom who’s been out of the workplace for a few years, it’s important to maintain a high standard of professionalism as you embark on a new career. If you promise to do something, make sure that it gets done in a timely fashion, and keep your lines of communication open whenever you can. Be pleasant and professional at all times.

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Organise Yourself

If you’re running your own business, it’s absolutely vital that you organise yourself well. If you need to, you should hire an accountant to keep your records in order. If you decide to do it yourself, be absolutely scrupulous about your book keeping and keep careful records of your outgoings and incomings to prove that it’s a profitable business. This will also help you considerably when it comes to paying your taxes – you want to be sure that everything you’re doing is absolutely legal!

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Get Online

If you’re not particularly good with computers, now is the time to learn. One way to make money from your crafting business is to make yourself a name on the internet. Set up an Etsy store so you can sell your wares online and look into setting up a blog as well with your own domain name so it’s easy for people to find. Make sure that you use social media, and announce your new products or when you’re restocking your store on Facebook and Twitter. You could also set up a Youtube channel with tutorials on it – use a Youtube channel art maker to ensure that your videos look professional. Interact with other craftspeople so you can work together to promote each other’s products.

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Promote Yourself

Don’t be afraid of a little self promotion. If you’re setting up a stall at a local craft fair, advertise online and to your friends, and get professional posters printed up to entice people over to your table. If your wares come in boxes, get labels with your own logo printed up, along with business cards. Although you shouldn’t work for free, offer discounted prices to companies who want to employ you for longer contracts, and talk to local charity event organisers about working together and getting your product inside their gift bags.

Keeping the financial situation under control can be a challenge, especially for a family. Many people have a goal to spend less in order to create an emergency fund, save for a vacation, or fund a retirement account. However, many suggestions for keeping the family budget under control involve cutting out all discretionary spending. Some people have the self-control to follow this plan, but most people need suggestions that aren’t so drastic.

If you want to save more money, there are some things you can do that don’t involve cutting out all “fun” spending from your life. Here are some suggestions that can help you stick to your budget while still enjoying the occasional splurge.

1. Clip Coupons

Coupons aren’t just for groceries anymore. You can find discount coupons for local entertainment areas, restaurants, and services such as oil changes. You don’t have to spend hours clipping physical coupons from the flyers in the paper. There are numerous online coupon sources for a variety of items including groceries, technology, clothing, and activities. Some stores even allow you to use apps so you don’t have to print and carry physical coupons.

2. Vacation in the Off Season

If a family vacation is one of your goals, consider traveling somewhere in the off-season. For example, take a trip to a ski resort in the summer, or head to a theme park during the school year. Not only will you avoid the typical vacation crowds, but you’ll likely pay far less for accommodations and activities than during the high season.

3. Take Advantage of Rewards Programs and Special Pricing

Nearly every place has a rewards program nowadays. Movie theaters, coffee shops, credit cards, and clothing stores are just some examples of places that reward customer loyalty with free items, cash back, or reduced prices. Think about any places you frequently attend and sign up for the available rewards programs.

4. Shop in Bulk

If you think buying in bulk means you have to commit to a two-gallon tub of olives, you’ll be happy to know there are many other options. While bulk grocery shopping can be helpful if you have a large family, there are other warehouse shopping choices as well. You can find online warehouse retailers that sell overstocks of furniture, clothing, technological devices, and household goods. You can also use a subscription program to save on recurring purchases such as pet food, paper goods, and cleaning supplies.

5. Renegotiate Your Bills

One money-saving strategy that many people overlook is trying to save money on recurring bills. While you might not be able to change your rent or electrical bill, you may be able to negotiate a better deal on your cell phone rate, cable bill, or your car insurance. The best way to enter a negotiation is to do your research and then contact your cable provider or a local insurance agent. Lay out your situation and see what options are available.
If you are looking for a way to save a little money on the family budget without cutting out all fun spending, there are several options. Coupons, off-season vacations, and rewards programs have many benefits and you may also be able to find a better deal on insurance or cell phone service.

Hobbies are important for children. They give them something to aim towards and something to get passionate about. They could also form the basis of any future careers your kid picks. It makes sense, then, that you should do everything possible to nurture your child’s hobbies. This is something well worth investing in. Above everything else, a hobby can make your child happy. That’s what all parents want, isn’t it? There’s nothing better than seeing your child get excited about something. Here are a few ways you can help your child in their hobby quest.

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LET THEM PICK THEIR OWN HOBBY

The first thing you can do is let them pick their hobby. Trying to sway them towards certain options will end in their taking up the hobby you want them to do. That’s not going to work. Let them realize their passions, and hobbies will form naturally. A lot of the time, they’ll take on the same hobbies as their friends, and that’s fine. Bear in mind, though, that friendship hobbies are fickle and unlikely to last. You’ll be able to tell when your child is passionate, and when they’re just following the crowd. If they do get excited about something, get excited with them. Ask them questions about their hobby and listen to them when they tell you about it!

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GET THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

If you’re sure the hobby is more than a passing whim, it’s worth stocking up on some gear for your child. The price is going to vary, depending on which hobby they’ve chosen. To start with, opt for cheaper equipment. The expensive stuff can come further down the line. If they’ve chosen photography, get your child their first camera. If they’ve chosen an instrument, get them a starter kit. These days, Parents Prefer Sustainable Products, so keep this in mind if you want to do your bit for the environment. Shopping around will show you the cheapest options. Most hobbies come with starter kits for children. If the hobby is a long standing one and the equipment gets a lot of use, look into more expensive options.

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CAMPS AND CLUBS

Your child might want to join clubs or go to a camp to develop their hobby. Take a look at organizations in your local area, and get them signed up. Do a little research about the camp options for their chosen hobby. You can find out by word of mouth, or visit website options to find out a little more. Again, this may cost you a fair bit, so make sure they’re passionate before you send them. Get them taking classes first, and see how they get along there.

ENCOURAGE THEM

Encouraging your child is the best way to ensure they stick with a hobby. Children can be sensitive. Receiving bad feedback or disinterest in the early days could put them off. Always be encouraging. Ask about their progress often, and compliment anything they show you. Even if you don’t understand, it’s important not to knock their progress. If you’re confused about what something is, ask. As mentioned above, it’s important they talk about their passion!

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As a parent, it can be difficult to let go. The protective instinct is quite literally bred into us; it’s part of the fabric of our DNA. We hear our child has had an argument with someone and we’re ready to go to battle to settle the injustice. We want to drive them everywhere rather than run the risks of them walking. We want to provide safe, warm cocoons for them to live their lives in – the mere idea of them being hurt or upset harms us ten times worse than it does them.

There is nothing wrong with being a protective parent. Even if you stray into helicopter parent tendencies, there’s nothing wrong with that either. Every fiber of your being tells you to protect your kids – it’s not your fault, and you shouldn’t be critiqued for it.

Alongside this universal truism though is that other side of parenting. The side that says you have done your job as a parent when they no longer need you. It sounds harsh, but it’s also a reality ingrained in us – to break free of our parents. If you equip your kids with the ability to do that, then you have done a wonderful job.

The problems come when you try to marry these two sides of yourself together. They seem incompatible; the side that tells you to protect at all costs and the other that wants to push them out into the world. How can we meet our own need to keep them safe with their desire to explore for themselves?

There Are Limits

The most important thing to understand is that there is a big difference between letting your child find their own way and abandoning them to the task. For example, letting them go and sleep in the woods late at night with no supervision – reckless and abandonment. Letting them play on a trampoline even though all you think of is the idea of them hurting themselves – acceptable. In the first, their lives are at stake. In the second, they’re going to have a heck of a lot of fun.

That’s an extreme example to make the point, but the key principle is sound. Occasionally, you are going to need to step back and agree to something that you hate the idea of – but that doesn’t mean you have to abdicate your role as a parent.

You can satisfy the urge to protect by making any activity as safe as possible. Don’t like the idea of a trampoline in essence? Well, make it safer with springfree trampolines and safety nets. There’s no viable way to make a trip into the woods safer without direct supervision, so that’s how you know it’s okay to be concerned about.

Letting Go Is Not Forever

As your children grow, they will want to do more and more things separate from you. This can feel like a loss, but it’s actually a gain – where they become less of your child and more of a friend. You don’t lose anything by protecting them less; you’re giving them the world and watching as they explore it.

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When you throw a party for your kids, it seems easy to get it right. Most of us probably grew up both hosting and attending parties, and by and large, they’re fond memories. A little food, some silly games, and everyone went home with a gift bag at the end of it. So as a parent you’re left thinking: what’s so hard?

To an extent – nothing. The same rules apply, but we have somehow managed to add a few more that make things more complicated. We live in the digital age, and that means people are more able to vent about bad parties or make complaints about their hosts. This is an aspect that our parents didn’t have to deal with – and it can make for some tricky situations. There’s a whole parenting etiquette that we now have to follow – and if we don’t, we’ll be on the receiving end of a social media shaming.

If you’re thinking of planning your next party and thinking it’s all just about party hats, ice cream and a bouncy castle from the likes of Jolly Jumps – then think again. Here are the things you need to get right to ensure the kids have a good time – and your part is as hassle-free as possible.

1. Be Wary of Allergy Requirements

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Allergies are being diagnosed at an all-time high rate. Some are minor, causing relatively mild reactions such as rashes and swollen lips. Other – such as peanut allergies – are potentially fatal.

It is now expected rather than hoped for that a party will cater to the allergy requirements of all guests. To get things off on the right foot, you need to know the allergy requirements. Make sure you put it a request for such information on the invitation; or a generalized request for information on Facebook will suffice.

Also, bear in mind different dietary requirements. They’re not necessarily allergic but, again, people now expect them to be catered to. Gluten-free (without the presence of Celiac Disease), dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan are all options you may need to consider.

2. Talking of Gluten-Free…

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune condition that means the body systems attack themselves in the presence of gluten. For sufferers, not only do they need to avoid all forms of gluten (and it can be found in the most unexpected of items) – preparation is an issue, too. Due to contamination, they can’t eat anything prepared in the same kitchen area, using the same tools, as gluten-contaminated equipment.

As a host, this presents a minefield. It’s important first to establish why someone is requesting gluten-free; is it Celiac (and thus essential) or more of a choice? If it’s a lifestyle choice, then don’t be concerned about contamination.

If it’s Celiac at the cause, then talk with the parent about measures you need to take. It might be best for all involved for the child to come with their own food, and you can buy in gluten-free cookies that won’t risk contamination.

3. Gifts – What To Do and What Not To Do

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Most parents will recognize the feeling of their child being showered with gifts – and then realizing they’re the same gift. You find yourself with duplicates of the latest must-have toy and no idea what to do with them. It seems eminently sensible to instead create a gift registry, so the chances of a duplicate are greatly limited.

And it is eminently sensible – a gift registry for a child’s birthday is a great idea. It gives you a chance to stock up on things you need or those gifts you know your child wants – but it’s also a potential source of tension.

Walking this fine line is all in how you announce the existence of the registry. Here’s what not to do:

Tacked onto an invitation –

Little Timmy’s gift registry is at www.littletimmysgiftregistry.com

If that’s all you say, then the expectation is too high. It basically states: “if you’re coming to the party, make sure you get a gift!” A better alternative would be:

For those of you who may wish to get Little Timmy a gift, we created a registry at www.littletimmysgiftregistry.com – feel free to use it if it helps you out!

It’s a little more friendly and places the onus on them for the decision. However, there is still a little expectation – and that might be okay. You know the people you’re sending invites to, so you know how they may respond to that.

In most cases, the safest bet is to create a registry and only give the details if someone explicitly requests it. You can tack this possibility onto the invite with a simple:

If you have any further questions or want information for a gift registry, do get in touch at my email: party@littletimmysparents.com

So long as it doesn’t sound like an outright demand for gifts, then you should be okay.

A further note on the registry itself: try and incorporate all price points. Keep all prices reasonable and some outright cheap – better that than people feeling compelled to spend more. They will only resent you for asking. If your closest friends and family might want to spend a little more, than create a separate registry for them. People you only know as “Amelia’s Mum” shouldn’t be seeing three-figure items on any registry they encounter.

4. Walking The Fine Line of Political Correctness

Whatever your stance on politically-correct culture with childrens’ toys, a kids party is not the time to be getting into the debate.

Making requests such as: “please don’t buy my daughter traditionally ‘girlie’ gifts” don’t really have a place for relative strangers. Sure, it’s something you can request of your nearest and dearest, but not of those you don’t know well. Just smile, write the thank you note and move on – you can always donate any unwanted gifts if they don’t pass your test.

Yes, to an extent, this is compromising your principles in the name of an easy time – but the party isn’t about principles. It’s about your child having fun, so stick to that, and you can’t go far wrong.