Momstanding

Thank you for checking out the fall issue of Momstanding, I am Wendy Benton, ,mom of 4 and your founder and designer of this magazine. We love helping share success stories about women around the world. Most advertisers in this magazine are home based entrepreneurs who have chosen to be home with their families rather than work corporate America. Please support our advertisers, and this magazine. Read it! Share it! And come back each issue for more.

If you would like to be featured in it. Please message us at Bentonspublishing@gmail.com God Bless

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Hey Everyone! My name is Krisgina, I am a single mother of 5 children from a VERY small town in Kansas and a Director of Nurses for a LTC facility. I became interested in home business when I realized it was a platform that I could connect and elevate the lives of those who I connect with.

After the passing of both of my parents not and taking care of myself. I am on a journey to increase the overall health and balance in my life, in all areas, including my finances. I feel there are many others looking to do the same. I am very passionate when I find something that can impact the health of everyone around me and I have found just that. I am partnered with a company that has the worlds first and ONLY patented Vegan Plant based all natural biotechnology-when mixed in water within 30 minutes supports the increase of stem cell growth and production in the body/brain and a second biotechnology that supports the decrease of inflammation and the release of excess weight in the body!!!

You don’t know how good you can feel until you know how good you should feel...Do you know how good you should

Packing and prepping wholesome lunches doesn’t have to be a chore. You can kick health into high gear this school year with new ideas to make creative, nutrient-rich meals.

Fit to satisfy various dietary restrictions, the Power Your Lunchbox program offers kid-friendly options and allergy-sensitive selections. The program, which is dedicated to helping families make healthier lunches during the school year, features more than 80 registered dietitian-approved,

family-tested meal ideas with produce as a focal point.

Consider skipping the typical sandwich, chips and apple. Instead, it only takes a few minutes to embark on a creative approach to lunch. Get the kids involved by having them use small cookie cutters to make fresh fruits and vegetables into fun shapes. Try complementing the produce with wraps or soups to add extra excitement to typical lunchbox fare.

Regardless if your child is a picky eater or is on the more adventurous side, bento box lunches such as Chinese Mandarin Pasta Salad Bento Box and Turkey Taco Salad Bento Box can prove to be satisfying, power-packed meals.

For more lunchbox inspiration, visit poweryourlunchbox.com.

Chinese Mandarin Pasta Salad Bento Box Prep time: 20 minutes Servings: 1 16 ounces rotini pasta 6 mini sweet peppers, sliced 3 mandarin oranges, peeled and segmented 3 green onions, sliced

2 1/2 1/2 1/4 1 1/2

cups baby spinach, chopped cup matchstick carrots cup sesame ginger dressing cup chow mein noodles kiwi, peeled and sliced cup steamed edamame

Turkey Taco Salad Bento Box Prep time: 10 minutes Servings: 1

1 cup chopped romaine lettuce 1/4 cup cooked turkey meat, seasoned with taco seasoning 2 tablespoons shredded cheese Cook pasta according to package direc4 cherry tomatoes, quartered tions. Drain and rinse with cool water.

2 tablespoons guacamole ounce tortilla chips In large bowl, mix pasta, peppers, oranges, 1 green onions, spinach, carrots and dressing.

Toss to coat well. Top with chow mein Assemble taco salad with lettuce, taco noodles. meat, cheese and tomatoes.

Place in lunchbox with kiwi and edamame. Place in lunchbox with guacamole and chips

students with bad home lives, and students with behavior challenges, hoping to find fulfillment and purpose. In addition to teaching Math, I encouraged students in homeroom to go after their dreams and not to let anyone or anything get in their way. I wanted to make an impact on these young students’ lives. However, I never felt complete and every Sunday I would tear up knowing another week lay ahead of tasks and checklists. Each Monday morning I knew it would be days before I would get to spend that desired time with my husband. Soon we both realized we were clocking in and clocking out, building someone else’s dream, trading time for money and not using our gifts and talents. We knew we were meant for so much more. I soon realized the advice I had given to my students about going after their dreams was exactly what I needed to hear. I needed to take my own advice.

M

y name is Sarah Ramos and I have found my purpose: inspiring others to live their best life. My best life includes being a wife to Victor Ramos and a mom to Indie Mae Ramos, a role I never imagined I could play. In the past, I thought that it wasn’t in the cards for us. It felt like we didn’t have the time or the finances to start a family. We were both working 70 hours a week between multiple jobs and only saw each other in passing. We were overwhelmed, overworked, unfulfilled and knew there had to be more out there for us. We decided to make a change for the better and we never looked back.

The summer of 2015 we decided the 2015-2016 school year would be my last year teaching. I knew people would think I was crazy, leaving my health insurance and my state retirement after only 9 years of teaching. That last school year was freeing and ended as the best school year I ever had. I walked out of that school in June of 2016 with my head held high and felt the stress float away. Only one problem: I didn’t know what I was going to do. I knew I had to follow my heart and find something that ignited my passion. I didn’t want another “job”; I wanted to find my purpose. More importantly, I wanted to pour back into my marriage and see what we could do when our visions were aligned. We shifted our energy and welcomed abundance into our life. This shift transformed our life forever.

I met my husband the summer before high school. Looking back, we were babies that didn’t know that we were developing a sense of love, trust and friendship that many people never find in life. We married in 2013 and continued to fall deeper in love. I was working as a 7th grade Math teacher during the day and Victor was in sales, always working jobs that were evening and weekend hours. Since he worked those hours, I decided to coach middle school sports in the evenings, cater weddings on Saturdays, and waitress on Sundays. I wanted to bring in extra money so we could escape and take vacations, savoring every moment together.

For nine long years, I did my best to feel fulfilled. I was excit- In June, I set out to find my purpose. I brainstormed various interests I had such as real estate or wedding ed to wake up in the morning and pursue my day. I worked with advanced students, at risk students, intervention classes,

coordinating. I liked that both contributed to people’s joy.

Yet, they both felt like another job that would require working long hours to merely pay the bills. I keep looking.

Thankfully, I had the whole summer to figure it out because my teaching salary would continue to pay until September.

Little did I know, the solution would present itself the next month and everything would change for the better.

said that he would support me on any path I chose. He knew in his gut that there was something special about this company. When I decide to go for something, I go all in. I don’t like to toe dip; rather, I cannonball in to see where it could go.

The next day I hopped onto the website and went for it. Hitting that submit button worried me but I knew I was ready for change and that was going to require taking a risk.

I messaged so many people a “run of the mill” copy and paste message and it wasn’t personable at all. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just wanted everyone to feel as good as I was feeling. Out of hundreds of messages a few people responded.

Doubt began to creep in. I started letting myself negative self -talk. I had done two network marketing companies and wasn’t successful. I had always noticed the potential with network marketing but I never thought that I could be extremely successful with it. I would go to events and see those people on stage collecting their checks, talking about time freedom, building their dream home and living life by design. I wanted that so badly. I wondered if this ketone business would end the same way my other network marketing ventures had ended. I convinced myself this would most likely not work but in reality, I was protecting my heart so if it failed then I could act like it was no big deal. I set super low expectations of During Fourth of July weekend in 2016, I was waitressing on things really working out.

Sunday like usual. One of my tables handed me a keto business card and said that I should look into ketones. I had never The next day I got on a ZOOM with a few women who heard of ketones, ketosis or the keto diet; however, I was open worked with the company so I could build relationships with to opportunity. I went home and read about all these new unpeople in the community. A woman from Missouri saw somefamiliar terms for hours. After learning about ketosis, I couldthing in me that I didn’t see in myself. She told the CEO that n’t believe that a product could get the body in the state of there was a girl from Idaho who was really going to do someketosis in under an hour. I seemed to good to be true so I thing big. The next day I got a phone call saying that they reached out to try the product After trying it for the first wanted to meet me. I about died. Was this real life? I had so time, I felt good but I always felt good. It was summer time, I many excuses that I could have used to say I could not go but had left my teaching job, I had full freedom, and so I was hesiI knew that change was scary and I had to take that risk. tant to believe that this could have worked. Something inside Within a week of getting handed that Keto card, I was on a pushed me to reach out again and ask about the keto kreme plane to meet the CEO and go to the corporate office. I was that they offered to make healthy coffee. As a teacher, I scared, nervous, and excited all at the same time. would have 2-3 cups of coffee a day. It always made me a little sick and dehydrated but I needed the energy to get through my day. When he handed me the coffee products, he I arrived in Kentucky and was taken to a beautiful bed and mentioned the opportunity to make an income by sharing this breakfast. Immediately, the CEO and his wife wanted to have product. A lightbulb went off in my head. If this product lunch with me. My first thought was that I just flew all the really did what it said it would do, then this could be huge. way across the United States,and was not up to meeting the The wheels started spinning.

CEO. In my other companies I was taught that it was all about first impressions in case we got the chance to meet someone big we should be dressed our best. I felt unprepared I went home and told my husband that I was going to sign up but knew I could not pass this up. The CEO and his wife for something called ketones. He said, ‘Is it one of those walked into the restaurant in workout clothes. I love that things again?” I said “Yes, and I’m super excited about it.” He they just came

as is and didn’t have to dress to impress. They sat down and started asking me about my goals and dreams. I couldn’t believe that they wanted to know so much about me. They cast a vision of who the company is and where it was going. They wanted to create a massive movement of helping people and wanted to create a community where there was no line in corporate, top earners and the people just getting started. Everyone had the same opportunity and could collaborate as a whole. I soon saw their hearts of gold and wanted to go where they were going.

For the next two days I sat at the corporate office and listened to calls with doctors, scientists, and people from “The Biggest Loser”. I thought to myself that if this product could do a fraction of what they were saying then I had to be a part of this. This was my vehicle to help people at a high level and was the solution I had been searching for. All the things that I thought were fails in my past were stepping stones and chapters to get me to that moment in my life where I had clarity that this is what I was meant to do.

I started reaching out to people from the heart and they could hear the excitement in my voice. Within 5 days I had blown my monthly teaching salary out of the water. I didn’t know how it was working but I knew that if I continued to inspire others, then they would want to experience better in their life and better is exactly what ketones brought to people's lives.

That week my husband noticed that I had this bright light about me. I was in a great mood, had shed some pounds, and was happy and excited about life. He saw the magic working in me before I saw the physical results. He started drinking them and soon after, he had his whole work drinking them.

After about 6 months, we earned a free car. A few months later, we got a second Jeep with a bonus and then soon after my husband retired from his job to go full-time with me. The pursuit was not the desire for material things. Things didn’t matter to us. We always lived a simple life and money was nothing to us; however, money buys times and that was always missing from our life. We now had time to be together.

Soon, stories of the lives forever changed because of ketones and our community flooded our text messages. We couldn’t believe that a powder could do so many positive things for so many people. I would tell my husband that I didn’t know a

happiness and a fulfilment like this existed.

We decided to really be a product of the product by taking control of our health and it shined from the inside out. I couldn’t believe the changes we experienced physically and mentally. When we started working on our mindset and personal development, our business soared even more. You have to help yourself before you can go out there and inspire others.

Doors started opening up and we started saying yes to more things.

Every morning we would express our gratitude, get grounded and then good things would come our way, One morning I woke up to a text message asking if I could be in NYC that day.

Again, I had every reason to say no but I said yes and figured things out along the way.

We started discovering gifts that we didn’t know that we had.

I’ve always hated public speaking, refusing to speak in front of people due to fear. I had to change my mindset and know that the things that we are most afraid to do are the things that we should be doing. After repeatedly being thrown on stage in front of thousands of people, I discovered that when you share your story you are sharing a part of someone else’s story which gives them a glimmer of hope that they can change for the better. They relate to your story and it fills them with inspiration to take action.

After traveling all over the world working our business, we decided that it would be unfortunate if we didn’t see if we could start a family. We got pregnant in the fall of 2018. I took my ketones into my doctor and asked if I could continue taking them. He told me that I was one of the healthiest women that had walked through his door and I could continue to drink them. I went on to have a beautiful pregnancy with no nausea, no caffeine and no afternoon naps. It was such a positive experience.

I didn’t even feel pregnant until I looked down and saw that cute little baby bump.

go after what you want in life. Don’t ever let anyone or anything get in your way. Be positive and confident in all you do.

If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. In the past when I saw those women on stage describing their life I envisioned myself setting out to find my purpose in life and here I am on my destined path in life.

What I’m most passionate about is inspiring others to get unstuck in life. So many people settle for mediocrity because they get comfortable in life. We all have greatness inside to do big things and have unbelievable gifts; however, most people don’t unwrap those gifts and do what they were put on this Earth to do. You can’t keep doing the same things and expect to get different results. If you keep doing what you are doing then you will always have what you have. You have to take chances, get uncomfortable, see the opportunities in front of you, pursue your passion, and take the steps to make a change for the better.

I can confidently say that I wake up in the morning and can’t wait to start my day. I love what we get to do with our time and are truly living out our purpose. I hope my story inspires you to find your better in life whatever that looks like to you and pursue it with inspiration action on a daily basis. I would love to connect and hear your story. It deserves to be heard.

On May 9th, 2019, our baby girl, Indie Mae Ramos, was born at 9:03 a.m., weighing in at 6 lbs 14.5 ounces and 20 inches long. She was the perfect little healthy keto baby with a full head of hair. Victor and I cried tears of joy as they placed her on my chest for the first time. I can't believe that we almost decided not to have a family. Watching Victor with Indie made me fall even deeper in love with him. Our family was complete and our hearts doubled in size.

Being able to stay home full-time with our daughter is indescribable. We get to watch all of her firsts together and work anywhere that has wifi. I never in a million years would have thought that trying this silly white powder back in 2016 would lead to us living life by design, finding our purpose, becoming the best versions of ourselves and starting a family. I love our life and truly believe that the best is yet to come.

I never thought that I would be a mom and now I can’t imagine not being a mom. My daughter, Indie, is my WHY. Whenever I feel like giving up or not following through, I think of her and know that I’m setting an example of how to

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with my Primary Care doctor’s office, blood test and CT scan showed that I had ello, I am Andrea multiple blood clots in my Brannon from Bossier City, Louisiana. I right lung, I was admitted am blissfully married to a brilliant man to the hospital immediately. with two remarkable grown boys and a While hospitalized, my Hemischievous grandson...my family is my matologist said to me, reason for everything that I do.

“Mrs. Brannon, I don’t see an angel sitting on your shoulder but, you are one lucky lady. God has big plans for you”! I’m turning Throughout my entire life, I’ve always had the those big PLANS into reality. After successful desire to help people, in any (and every) way that I treatment and rehabilitation, it enhanced my drive possibly could. This to reach more people in my quest to help others. It still stands true to date. took me almost dying to realize that I had to The desire includes try- change my perspective of how I could help others. ing to help others through entrepreneurial endeavors however, I never quite accomplished the satisfaction of reaching the vast number of individuals that I knew that I could.

While traveling through my journey of helping people via entrepreneurship, little did I know that I would need help myself. My husband and I were out of town at an event designed to help many individuals when suddenly, I was struck with a debilitating pain in the right side of my back. I asked my husband to drive me back home as I knew that no human being could be in this much pain and survive, I wanted to be home where my boys are. My husband put me in the car and in the snow and sleet, he drove me two hours to the Emergency Room in our home town. Following up

thing chan on.

This ined most able having to think . . “ Beaver” family … doing well. But be- this, but we may n hind the scenes, the picture was far I simply wanted to from perfect. Stress had become terms than have “ our constant companion . . . and nopath. I wanted en body knew! savings every mon vacation without i Because we were living on one inpay it off! I wante come, we found ourselves living and when they ne paycheck to paycheck. Anything extra went on a credit card so as the years My name is Susan Saling. My husband Then someone int passed, our credit card debt inBill and I live in Carthage, Missouri. Bill dustry. To be hone creased. We had minimal savings. There was a High School Principal before he remuch “fear or skep were few extras . . . no family vacations tired and I was a stay at home Mom. tion that we had N to speak of. And the most frightening we saw it as our lif part of it all is that we knew that when were introduced to To the outside world, I'm sure we apBill retired, it would be on 2/3 the salary we can do this”!! peared to be the perfect “Leave it to that we were barely scraping by on.

Because the startu We were in something even w survival mode, cause we were alr simply trying our health, the com to keep our products and mark heads above for us. water. And We loved the cultu when you are people. There is n surviving, you people to “lock arm aren't dreamfound that strange ing! I had no friends, and then t hope that any-

g could be done to nge the path we were

wasn't how I had imagmy life! I wanted what t people want . . . to be to do the extras with “well maybe we can do need to give this up”.

o live more on my own “life” delegate my nough money to put in nth; I wanted to take a it taking me 2 years to ed to help my family if eeded it.

troduces us to this inest, there was never to pticism”! It was an opNEVER seen before and feboat! When we o Limu, we said: “yes, Why? up cost was minimal . . . we could swing! Beready proactive with mbination of Limu's keting plan was perfect

ure of people helping never a shortage of ms with”. In Limu we ers quickly became those friends became

family.

And to our relief, there was a well laid out plan that showed us the way forward.

So we took a leap of faith and by doing so . . .

their eyes to options they didn't know We quickly regained “hope” and the abil- existed. ity to “dream” again!

For me, the best is yet to come!

It gave us an avenue to pay off our debt.

Enabled Bill to retire 6 years early from a high-stress job!!

We were able to work together (on our own time frame), travel more, earn a BMW and experience better health Now, Limu allows us to “pay it forward” by sharing with others and opening

Young Athlete Recovery How chocolate milk can aid in replenishing nutri- program than at the beginning, whereas teens who ents for teen athletes recovered with sports drinks actually decreased their bench-press weight by close to the same (Family Features) Between sports practices, train- amount, around 3.2%. Additionally, those who ing, games and tournaments, teen athletes endure recovered with chocolate milk improved in squat a lot of stress on their bodies. While some parents strength by nearly twice as much as those who know real dairy milk is a nutritious option for consumed sports drinks for post-workout recovgrowing kids, many don’t realize that chocolate ery, lifting an average of 15% more weight milk has nutritional benefits, too – especially (compared to about 8% more weight) by the prowhen it comes to exercise recovery. gram’s end.

According to a first-of-its-kind study from the University of Texas at Austin, recovering with low-fat chocolate milk as part of a tough training routine could help teen athletes get stronger. The study included more than 100 high school athletes entering grades 9-12 who were enrolled in a fiveweek training program involving training four days a week. Some students recovered with chocolate milk and others recovered with a sports drink with the same amount of carbohydrates but no protein.

On top of high-quality protein to help build muscle, each 8-ounce glass of chocolate milk has carbohydrates to help bodies refuel; fluids and electrolytes to help rehydrate; calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus to build and maintain strong bones; vitamin A to support a healthy immune system and B vitamins to help bodies convert food into energy.

Top all that off with the taste kids love, and chocolate milk is an easy way for teens to get the nutrition they need to be their best, in athletics and beyond.

Researchers found that students who recovered with chocolate milk had greater strength gains compared to those who recovered with sports To learn more about the science supporting the drinks. In fact, the chocolate milk group benchbenefits of chocolate milk for recovery, visit pressed an average of 3.5% more at the end of the BuiltWithChocolateMilk.com.

Voluntary benefits, policies and details vary, so it’s essential to review your options and discuss with your family before your benefits enrollment begins.

“Investing a little additional time on the front end can help reduce your family’s financial risk down the road,” Adams said.

For more information about employee benefits, visit Unum.com/benefits.

(Family Features) Every year, millions of American workers enroll in employee benefits through their workplaces during a period known as annual enrollment. It’s usually a short window of time, but employees make crucial financial decisions for their families for the coming year.

like disability, accident and hospital insurance to further financially protect your family.”

If an accident, illness or injury prevents you from working, disability insurance replaces a portion of your income. While it may seem unlikely to many they would ever experience a disability, it’s more common than some realize.

Based on 2019 information from the Social Security Administration, more than 1 in 4 of today’s 20-year-olds will become disabled before reaching age 67.

In addition to medical insurance, many employers offer a range of voluntary benefits – those you select and pay for yourself, often by having the cost deducted directly from your paycheck.

These voluntary benefits can help bridge the gap between what health insurance covers and what you’re financially responsible for, especially as Accident and hospital insurance can pay a lump more employees opt for high-deductible health sum directly to you to offset out-of-pocket costs associated with medical care often not covered insurance plans. by health insurance.

In fact, according to a poll of 1,512 full-time U.S. workers conducted by employee benefits company Unum, 49% of working adults plan on enrolling in a high-deductible health plan for the coming benefit year, with Millennials (58%) and Gen Z’ers (54%) at even higher rates.

“While high-deductible health plans offer lower monthly payments, that can mean more financial responsibility for policyholders when they need to use the benefit,” said personal finance expert Laura Adams. “Combining a highdeductible health plan with a health savings account can offset out-of-pocket costs, but it’s also a good idea to consider voluntary benefits

Accident insurance can provide financial benefits for urgent care and emergency room visits, ambulance and other transportation to the hospital, initial care and surgery, hospital stays and lodging expenses related to an accident and even follow-up care such as doctor’s visits and physical therapy.

Hospital insurance can pay a benefit directly to you when you are admitted to the hospital. This could include immediate medical costs and travel expenses or to help cover other bills.

Families that travel with kids typically know tablets and other gadgets and activities can make the journey easier, and vacation rentals can make the stay more relaxing and affordable.

These tips from the experts at Vrbo can help make it easier to hit the road with kids, whether it’s exploring exciting new places, visiting relatives or relaxing during an annual trip to the beach.

Start packing early. Begin a week or two before the trip by helping kids write a list of what to take. It can help build excitement and avoid last-minute fusses over how many toys and favorite pajamas go in the suitcase. If there’s a long journey ahead, consider temporarily lifting limits on tablet screen time and bring along a couple travel surprises like coloring books.

Don’t overpack. Since many vacation rentals come with washers and dryers there’s no need to pack two outfits per day per child plus backups in case of spills. If the place your group is staying has a laundry room, pack enough

clothing for half the trip then throw a load in the wash after a few days. Pack some detergent pods in a plastic bag in case it’s not provided.

Pack snacks. Travel often messes with mealtimes, but you can keep hunger (and the crankiness that comes with it) at bay with portable snacks. Pack a selection of treats to tide over hungry bellies until you’re able to stop for a complete meal. Include a few items typically reserved for special occasions so you have the added benefit of excitement to distract from an unfamiliar eating schedule.

Bring favorite toys. A sentimental and familiar item from home can help a child feel more secure in new surroundings. In fact, a survey from Vrbo revealed just how popular teddy travel is, with more than half of those surveyed (55%) citing stuffed animals as the most important thing their child brings on vacation.

However, 69% of those surveyed said their child has left a toy or stuffed animal behind while away from home. In the event a toy does get left behind, look into resources like Vrbo’s Teddy Bear Service. Any traveler staying in one of the company’s vacation rental homes can call 1-774-VRBOTDY or email TeddyBearHotline@vrbo.com to report a lost teddy bear or other item of sentimental value, and the company will help track it down and expedite its return home.

Plan for nap time. Whether you’re racing to put miles behind you or scurrying to catch a connecting flight, it’s easy to get off track and miss nap time completely. If you’re likely to miss a nap, try to at least plan for some quiet time to let kids rest and rejuvenate. Also remember that travel can be tiring for kids who have outgrown naps on a regular basis and encourage them to grab some shut-eye before signs of exhaustion emerge.

Find more traveling tips and information at vrbo.com.

lies; and increasing investments in programs that support babies’ ) More than 10,000 babies are born each day in the United States.

Where they are born and where they live during the first years of their healthy development, such as Early Head Start, and infant and early childhood mental health. lives can make a difference in their chances for strong starts.

Science shows that human brains grow faster between the ages of 0-3 than at any later point in people’s lives, forming more than one million neural connections every second. Nurturing relationships, early learning experiences and good health and nutrition influence all areas of a child’s development, setting a strong foundation for the rest of his or her life.

According to the “State of Babies Yearbook: 2019,” published by Zero To Three, an early childhood development nonprofit organization, babies in many states face persistent hardships that undermine their ability to grow and thrive, such as staggering child care costs and lack of comprehensive paid family and medical leave.

“Families are struggling every day, in every state, and we are urging our leaders to act,” said Myra Jones-Taylor, chief policy officer of Zero To Three. “Most of our investments in early childhood start too late, at age 4 or older. By that time, some of the most important years of brain development have passed. Today’s babies become tomorrow’s workers, parents and leaders.

Now is the time for policymakers on both sides of the aisle to make every baby a priority through policies built on the science of brain development and budgets that put babies and families first.”

To help ensure a brighter future for all babies, the organization is working with Congress through events like “Strolling Thunder” to help drive support for policies and programs that prioritize the needs of babies, toddlers and their families. Its policy agenda includes establishing a comprehensive national paid leave program that provides adequate time off to care for newborns or newly adopted children, and allows families to take leave if their child or another family member is experiencing a serious illness; expanding access to quality, affordable child care by increasing investments in the child care system while also working toward a comprehensive, longterm solution for working fami-

“As a director of an early childhood education program, I can speak firsthand to the struggle associated with providing high-quality care and education programs for young children while balancing that against what parents can reasonably afford to pay for child care,” said Jessica Carter, a “Strolling Thunder” parent from North Carolina. “As a mother of two, I can also speak firsthand to the fact that if I did not receive discounted tuition at my center, I would not be able to afford child care costs and would be forced to stay at home with my children. As a result, our family would not have affordable access to health care. Further, our children would not benefit from the social and educational benefits they receive in a group care setting.”

In order to help make babies a national priority, consider letting your policymakers know you care about the policies and programs babies need for strong starts to their lives, and join the team that’s fighting for their futures at thinkbabies.org/strollingthunder.

5 family staycation ideas that won’t break your budget (eLivingtoday.com)

Family vacations are a great way to bond and take a step back from the hectic schedules that accompany everyday life, but sometimes time or money (or both) make planning an elaborate trip a non-starter.

However, a staycation – a vacation you take right in your hometown (or nearby) – can be much less expensive and fit into nearly any amount of available time with the added bonus of skipping out on potentially stressful travel.

Consider these staycation ideas to take advantage of your local area’s attractions and prove you don’t have to go far to spend quality time together.

Visit local landmarks. Just because it’s not a traditional vacation doesn’t mean you can’t pretend to be tourists. Start by visiting the places you recommend to friends and family from out of town or pick up a city guidebook to uncover hidden spots you may not even know exist. Make a plan to seek out historic sites, visit local landmarks like museums or try an out-of-the-way restaurant (or two) you’ve never eaten at before.

Camp out in the backyard. Camping doesn’t have to be done far from home. In fact, it can be done right in your own backyard. Pitch a tent to sleep under the stars and plan a night full of traditional camping activities like roasting s’mores, telling spooky stories by flashlight and trying to identify stars and constellations.

Set up a picnic in the park. Pack a basket with sandwiches, fruit and other treats and head to the park. You can enjoy a casual meal then take advantage of the open space for a family walk or game of tag before retreating to the playground to let the little ones expel any leftover energy.

Have a home spa day. If you’re looking for some relaxation but don’t want to splurge on the full spa treatment, plan an at-home oasis instead. Light some candles, run a bubble bath and break out the facial masks and fingernail polish.

Visit an amusement park. No matter where you live, there’s probably an amusement or water park within driving distance. A quick online search before you arrive can help prepare a strategy for hitting the most popular thrill rides and waterslides while skipping those that may not provide quite the same entertainment value.

Find more tips and tricks for enjoying family time together at eLivingtoday.com.

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Introducing a new dog to the family can bring plenty of excitement, sweet snuggles and puppy kisses. However, there are also plenty of practical steps to consider to successfully transition a pup into its new environment.

Whether you’re a seasoned pet owner or a first-time puppy parent, these tips can help your newest family member feel right at home: Purchase the necessities ahead of time. Similar to newborns, new pets require products that fit their size, age and life stage to ensure their safety and good health. This includes chewproof food and water bowls, an ID tag with name and contact information and a sturdy leash for both walks and training. Many experts discourage retractable leashes because they offer little control. For puppies specifically, some veterinarians recommend harnesses to attach a leash to because their necks are too fragile to attach a leash to a collar. Remember, puppies are going to grow, and items like beds, crates and collars will need to grow as they do, so you may want to hold off on investing in pricier options until they’ve matured.

Offer high-quality food that provides balanced nutrition. Feed new pets the best quality food possible because an investment in your pet’s food is an investment in its health and longevity.

interactive, which can give dogs mental stimulation and help keep them out of mischief.

Pet-proof the house. Dogs are naturally curious and spend time exploring their homes, especially pets eager to get to know their new environment.

“Quality is a top priority when new Items on counters and shelves that pet parents are selecting food, so could be dangerous to a small child reading ingredient labels and underare also dangerous for dogs, including standing what nutrients are important wires, sharp or small objects and fragfor your pet at his or her life stage is ile items. Store them up and away key,” said Dr. Jennifer Adolphe, from your dog or in locked cabinets Ph.D., R.D., nutrition manager at Pet- for safekeeping. curean. “Better quality food will usually equate to fewer vet visits overall.

Provide a safe spot to retreat. MovThe same goes for treats.” ing in to a new home can cause a pet to feel a little disoriented and overAn option like Petcurean's Now Fresh whelmed. Providing a safe place for wet food features novel textures like the dog to retreat from enthusiastic shredded, stews and pates and is made kids, other pets and general household with 100 percent fresh meats and commotion can help the pup feel bone broth gravy, which adds a meaty calmer. A crate or kennel lined with a flavor. All recipes are 100 percent soft pad or blanket in a quiet area of grain- and gluten-free and non-GMO, your home is typically a good choice making for a perfect treat, topper or – it’s a confined space and can also complete and balanced meal. serve a dual-purpose with housetraining, if needed.

Have enough playthings around the Find more tips for proper pet care at house. Keep dogs from destroying furniture, shoes and household items petcurean.com by providing them with fun, safe and entertaining toys. Chew toys and puzzles that combine play and treats are

Workplace Tips and Strategies for New Parents (Family Features) While having or adopting a child can be a rewarding and exciting time for new parents, many working moms and dads will tell you navigating the complex maze of employee benefits can be confusing. Between shortterm disability insurance, Family Medical Leave, vacation, paid time off and state and municipal paid leave laws, the process can be anxiety-inducing.

To help alleviate stress, employee benefits company Unum recently conducted research among new parents who had a child or adopted in the previous five years. The findings pointed to a need for more communication between the new parents and their workplace human resources and management teams, both before and after leave.

Communicate early and develop a leave plan Nearly half (49%) of new moms and more than a third (36%) of new dads surveyed did not meet with their manager or human resources department to discuss their leave benefits. Of those who did, 40% spent 30 minutes or less doing so.

“Most employers offer standard benefits for new parents including disability insurance (for birth moms) and Family Medical Leave, and we’re finding more companies are adding additional perks like company-paid leave, flexible schedules and college savings accounts,” said Angel Bennett, a director in the Leave Management Center at Unum.

“It’s important for expectant parents to meet with their managers and human resources to inform them, discuss available benefits and develop their leave plans well before the baby’s arrival.”

Nearly half (47%) of new birth moms said breastfeeding is one of their biggest challenges upon returning to the workplace. Mothers who plan on breastfeeding should discuss their options with human resources. Some companies offer lactation rooms, milk storage options and breast milk shipping services.

Things to discuss and consider after the baby arrives Perhaps unsurprisingly, 48% of new parents are more tired, 35% are more stressed and 30% are more stressed about finances. However, some employers offer benefits that can help.

According to the Unum research, 60% of new mothers and 40% of new fathers struggled with depression or anxiety following the birth or adoption of their children. Many companies offer an employee assistance program, which can include a fixed number of counseling sessions or tele-behavioral health options, to help with life challenges.

Personal finance expert Laura Adams also suggests an open dialogue with your employer about financial protection benefits to help reduce anxiety during this potentially challenging time.

“Ensure your income is protected by reviewing your long-term disability insurance policy and that your family is taken care of with a life insurance policy,” Adams said. “Also be sure to add the new child to your health care policy and, if available, consider signing up or increasing the amount you put into a flexible spending account.”

To help new parents navigate these processes, “Bringing Up Baby: A Guide to Workplace Parental Leave Resources” contains basic tips, timing and conversation starters to engage with managers and human resources representatives.

This guide, along with other employee and employer resources including a mental health report and caregiving report, can be found at unum.com/workwell.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

5 Time-Saving Laundry Tips (Family Features) Between sorting, washing, pouring, transferring, drying and folding, laundry can often feel like a daunting chore.

While you can’t skip laundry completely, you can stop those baskets from overflowing with these time-saving tips from the laundry experts at Whirlpool.

Sort clothes ahead of time. One way to make laundry more manageable is to sort as you go. Instead of tossing dirty clothes into a hamper, distribute items into separate bins. While the exact division depends on your wardrobe, you’ll want to separate dark and light colors, as well as clothing that needs special care.

Pretreat stains. Once a stained garment makes its way through the dryer, chances are the stain is set for life. Protect your clothes by pretreating stains as soon as possible to help keep even the toughest stains from setting in. If you’re unsure of how to treat a particular stain, such as spaghetti sauce or grass, Whirlpool offers a Stain Guide within its laundry app that provides helpful, step-by-step instructions*.

Keep your space organized. Just like it’s hard to cook in a messy kitchen or work at a cluttered desk, you’re less likely to be productive in a sloppy laundry room. Clean and organize your laundry area periodically so you have easy access to the supplies you need and a clean surface for folding fresh laundry or switching loads.

Take advantage of technology. New smart home technology is making laundry faster and easier, such as Whirlpool’s Smart Front Load Laundry Pair with the Load & Go™ dispenser. This innovative feature allows you to skip a step in your laundry routine by eliminating the need to measure out and add detergent every time you start a load for up to 40 loads**.

Whether you are on the run or across the room, you can control your washer and dryer using an app on your smartphone or a compatible voice-enabled device for hands-free assistance. You can track how much time is left on your load while cooking dinner, assign washing settings while enjoying family movie night or begin a cycle when running errands. Touch-screen technology also guides you to the correct washer or dryer presets, or you can pre-program cycles of your own to tackle specific care settings for items like baby clothing or bulky comforters.

Finish with ease. For some, it’s not the washing that makes laundry a drag, it’s the folding. Hitting the tumble button to shake out wrinkles is one solution, but there are alternatives. Use your dryer’s end-of-cycle buzzer as an easy way to keep track of when a load needs your attention or make folding a fun game with your family.

Find more information at whirlpool.com. *Wi-Fi and app required. Features subject to change. Appliance must be set to Remote Enable for remote control capabilities. Details and privacy info at whirlpool.com/connect. **Model WFW9620H. Based on an 8-pound load of laundry. The Load & Go™ dispenser capacity varies by model.

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