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How to Make Moving Easier

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*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*

There is a long debate about moving yourself versus hiring a company to assist you in the process. Moving companies can offer portable storage units and rental trucks as well as give you plenty of options and services to make the move run as smoothly as possible. If you want to move, then you are in charge of doing the majority of the work yourself including all of the heavy lifting. Decide how much you can afford for your move and how much work you actually are going to allow yourself to do. Choose the moving option that is going to work best for you and your family members. Perhaps the stress-free might not put you over your budget which could cause even more headaches than you planned. Before are a few tips to help you make this decision. 


Hiring A Professional:

If you think that hiring a professional moving company related to your move, including packing up the boxes, moving items from point A to point B, and unpacking everything in your new home, then this might be the best option. Of course, hiring someone like this can also cost you a lot of money but it also involves the least amount of stress and work for you to do yourself. If you are a full time working student or parent, this option seems extremely appealing to help save a bit of money, try and pack a few things yourself if you can. Offer help from friends, neighbors, and family members so the burden doesn’t fall all on yourself. A huge pro to hiring a professional moving company is they are the ones doing the heavy lifting. If you recently injured yourself, then you shouldn’t be doing any of this type of work to strain your injury as well as you don’t want to hurt yourself in the process too. If you are looking to hire a professional company, be sure to call Moving Solutions. They offer basic charges including your move items from your old home to your new home, insurance in case any items need replacing or lost. Some local moves are often charged per hour so be sure to check on what they’ll offer you. You can also purchase a full-value insurance from the company or an insurance company. This commercial moving company in Nashville TN is your one stop shop to help the headache and stress that comes with moving either across country or a few miles down the road. 

Moving Yourself:

If you decide that you want to move and then pack yourself, there are many pros and cons to this as well. You are in control of what you’ll pack, loading the items into a vehicle or friend’s van ( or perhaps rent a U-Haul to help you ) and then unload where your final destination is. The choice is a lot cheaper if you own or can borrow a truck and are not moving very far. Moving is very complicated if you do not have the benefit of help from friends or family or moving long distance. If you have a Type A personality, enjoy creating list and are very organized then moving yourself might be the best fit for you. It also costs a lot less then hiring a professional moving company to do it themselves which is a huge plus for anyone who is looking to cut costs. You also are able to dictate what can be done on your own timeline instead of going by someone else. 

Of course there are a few cons to moving all by yourself too. This create a lot of work on your part which can cause you to be extremely stressed out, short with family members and you could also hurt yourself in the process of moving and packing. It also can take you a lot longer then expected to pack, move and get to your location as well. If you don’t have a single thing such as boxes, tape or newspaper to help pack your valuables with, this can also cost you more money then you anticipated. If you are taking your own vehicle or a renting a truck, don’t forget to fact in the cost of fuel when making your budget. A truck rental can also be a small fee. Renting a small truck or an in town move is a lot cheaper then renting a large one for a cross country hike. The last time we moved was over 20 years ago and we had our friends help us and we paid them in pizza and beer.  We’re all too old for that now and don’t want to worry about someone throwing their back out.

Whether you hire or move yourself, make the best decision based on your current situation, your lifestyle, your needs and most of all, a budget. There is no right or wrong in this situation just that you get to your destination in a timely fashion before you start a new job and explore your new city. Remember, this is an exciting time in your life so do your best to remember it when things start to get tough when you’re in the moving process. 

 

Ways We Can Help Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences

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This post is made possible with support from the American Academy of Pediatrics through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All opinions are my own.

Last year I discussed how each of us can Be The Three for a child dealing with ACEs.  Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. Examples are abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual), neglect (physical or emotional), and household dysfunction (mental illness, domestic violence, divorce, incarcerated relative, substance abuse).   Exposure to ACEs can increase the risk later in life of alcoholism, smoking, drug abuse, depression, heart disease, liver disease, STIs, and teen pregnancy; plus suicide attempts or death by suicide.

Not only can there be psychological effects of ACEs on young minds, but children who have experienced ACEs can also have long-term health complications that can come from recurring exposure to ACEs. 

The major goal of last year’s post was making sure you “have your three”.  These are people that are there to help uplift you, encourage you, and be an additional support system. They create your safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments (SSNREs) that help you prevent or mitigate the effects of ACEs.

Today, I want to discuss how to ensure that your children and those in your life are supported if they experience ACEs.

2020 was an unprecedented year with a global pandemic that impacted millions around the world.  Many people think that only adults were affected, but there were just as many children affected.  Parents became unemployed and that stress ended up trickling down to children. Many weren’t able to get meals because they weren’t in school, signs of neglect and abuse weren’t being recognized due to everyone isolating from one another, and household stress increased at alarming rates.

Stress is normal and actually can be a good part of helping children learn to cope with things that come up in their lives. But our bodies are only able to deal with so much stress at a time. When a child is dealing with stress for extended periods of time, this stress can become “toxic” and can impact and shape their lives into adulthood.

During this past year, I’ve been discussing with my daughters the importance of having their own “three.” My oldest daughter is turning 19 this year and my youngest daughter is in middle school.  These are both pivotal times in their lives where they have so many things going on and changes that will develop them as they become adults. They need all the support they can get.

I’ve had the chance to be there for one of my daughter’s friends when she was dealing with some tough situations and wasn’t sure how to discuss it with her parents.  With her permission, I was able to speak up for her, and her parents swiftly took action and she’s getting the help she needs now.  That one conversation may help her not have to deal with lasting effects that could have carried on for the rest of her life, and I was happy that she was comfortable coming to talk with me.

That’s just one example. We all have a role to play in providing better futures for children. No matter where you live or who you are, you can play a role in building better outcomes. To learn more visit here.

 

 

Be the Three This Holiday Season

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This post is made possible with support from the American Academy of Pediatrics through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All opinions are my own.

In 2020, no one would have expected that we would be experiencing a global pandemic. This last year has been extremely hard for so many. Over a million people have died from COVID-19, and the numbers continue to rise daily.

Families may have already been dealing with a lot of personal stress. Add COVID-19 to that stress, and it can cause a more toxic environment where children and their mental health are sometimes overlooked.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are events that happen that can affect how a child feels and behaves. Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. The 10 ACEs fall into 3 categories: 1) Abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual); 2) Neglect (physical or emotional); and 3) Household dysfunction (mental illness, domestic violence, divorce, incarcerated relative, substance abuse). ACEs can be prevented or mitigated when adults and children have strong support systems through individuals or organizations. For so many children, going to school and seeing their friends was an escape from a home that might not have let them feel safe and secure.

For the last 3 years, I’ve worked as a Crisis Counselor and have talked with hundreds of people that have been dealing with the effects caused by trauma from their own childhood. Dealing with adversity if it happens is an important part of a healthy childhood, but when healthy relationships are not available for the child, these stressful experiences can have lifelong consequences. It’s so important for parents and caregivers to provide healthy and supportive environments for children.

That starts with spending quality time with children, which is often overlooked as well. Quality time doesn’t have to cost anything. Having meals together, reading a book together, and playing card games can be great experiences for children and create positive childhood experiences.

With my work, I have boundaries that I adhere to but with those that are close to me, I plan to “Be One of The Three”—three people or organizations that serve as a foundation for a person’s support system—for those that need that support the most. It doesn’t take much or have to cost a lot to be there for someone you know who is struggling right now. The “three” can range from having support from a community agency to your next-door neighbor or best friend. 

It is so important to have your three sources of support during a difficult time. I’m a huge proponent of taking care of your mental health, so I always remind my friends that I will be their support system no matter what they’re going through and without judgment. Women, especially moms, feel that their children come first and they come last. You can’t take care of someone else if you’re not taking care of yourself. Remember you’re not being selfish, and it’s ok to ask for help. 

I deal with stress with humor, which sometimes a good laugh is just what you need. I recently got a Silhouette Cameo 4 and have been enjoying making things for people and sending them things. For the friend that loves plants, I have been sending vinyl decals with funny sayings to put on her pots and also shirts. I also attach a note saying to call or text me any time, and I’m “your person” and don’t ever feel like you’re alone or bothering me.

How will you “be the three” this holiday season and help build safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments? Share what you have in mind and remember just a simple call or letter is all it takes sometimes. 

When Was The Last Time Someone Asked “Are you ok?”

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One of my friends shared this interview on her instagram account and it truly struck a nerve.  Here’s a woman, a Duchess, that from the outside you would think that life has got to be pretty good for her.  I mean she’s the Duchess of Sussex!  But then I realize that she’s still a woman and new mother.  So many of us have been right where she is but luckily for us we weren’t under the scrutiny of media and an entire country watching our every move.

Last week, ITV news released a clip of an upcoming documentary Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and after such a simple question of “are you doing ok” you could see in her eyes that she was not.  She even answered the interviewer by saying “not many people have asked if I’m ok”.  Wow! 

Our society always put so much emphasis on woman looking and acting a certain way even during pregnancy.  People go out of there way to point out when celebrities aren’t looking their best, have put on too much weight or have expressed how being pregnant was one of the most stressful experiences.  And then once you’ve become a new mom everything is so focused on the snapback and how quickly you lost the baby weight. [Read more…]

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