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After some time spent living in the same house, it’s only natural that you’ll be longing for a change. Still, the changes you’re so eager to make do not have to be as drastic as selling your home. You might be attached to your abode for many reasons, emotional or practical, and selling it really wouldn’t be an option you would want to consider. So why not renovate instead? You’ll be getting a completely new and refreshed look without having to give up your place of comfort. If your answer to the following questions is yes, you should definitely stay put and start looking at some renovation ideas.

Are you emotionally attached to your home?

Memories that bind you to a place are not easily left behind. If you’re living in a home which has been passed on through generations within your family and finally made its way to you, it definitely has great emotional as well historical value and is a classic worth the renovation. Despite the fact that nowadays you have modern smart homes following the latest architectural trends, the aesthetics of those quaint mansion-like houses still manage to dazzle with that cultural, artistic and historical glow. It’s no wonder you’re not ready to pass it down to a complete stranger, and you’re probably daydreaming about your children’s’ families being as happy there as you are now, thus continuing the family legacy.

Is your neighborhood something that you’re not ready to give up?

The neighborhood in which your home is situated plays a crucial role when it comes to major decisions such as whether to move or not. There are many things you won’t be ready to give up, since it is no mean feat to find an area which will suit most of your needs. If you’re not willing to leave, you undoubtedly have good reasons for it. A great neighborhood means that there are people you’re not ready to say goodbye to, nearby parks you feel comfortable letting your children play at, good connections, low crime rates. Perhaps you can’t live without the charming street lighting or that familiar café where everyone knows your name and how you take your coffee. All the more reason to alter your existing home and stay where you feel most content. 

Is there room for improvement in your current residence?

There’s much you can do with the space you have available. You can alter its functions and even add more room to it. Renovations allow you to make the changes within a familiar space. This means you’ll know exactly how they’ll fit in and function in order to suit your needs and desires. Buying a new home for new features you need might mean you’ll get just some of them, but not all. Furthermore, it makes finding a new residence more difficult and chances are you’ll have to invest in renovating that one as well. While giving your existing home a little facelift, you can pace yourself and carefully plan the design that will work best for you. 

Do the changes fit your budget?

Take great care when planning your budget. Being aware of the fact that you don’t have to remodel everything at once, and that the cost is significantly smaller than buying a new home, does not mean you should disregard the expenses in the long run. The good news is that this way you can remodel one room at a time, which means that you can adjust the changes according to your cash flow. And since you’re not in a hurry, you can explore various ways which will save you money and still give you a great end result.

Is that personal touch important to you?

Time spent in your home allows you to know exactly what you’d like to change and how. Actually, it’s the perfect combination – staying in the house you love so much while adding perks that will turn it into your dream home. You will just be adding personal touches to your residence instead of trying to transform a new one into something close to your heart. Try adding an en-suite bathroom to your bedroom or a walk-in closet for that matter. Extend your kitchen or create a family room. Don’t forget about the attic and basement space. Not only will you get the extra room by renovating it, but you can also finally have that entertainment area you’ve always dreamed about.

Now, we know that the whole point of remodeling is that you don’t have to move to a new home, but let’s not forget that the whole redesigning process adds to the home’s selling price. You might have the wish to pass it on to many generations to come, but just in case any of them wishes to sell it, you’ll be giving them much more than just an old house. They’ll be getting a traditional home with all the advantages fit for a modern lifestyle. 

About the Author

Bethany Seton is a real estate agent from Melbourne. For the last two years, she decided to leave her office job and follow her passion for writing and traveling. Currently, she travels with her laptop and writes for various blogs, hoping one day she will gather all the experience she gets in one book.

Social anxiety can be challenging at the best of times, and it’s especially rough during the fragile and tumultuous teen years. As a parent, it’s normal to be concerned and want to help your child feel better, and the good news is that there are plenty of small, positive ways you can be a part of that journey.

Talk with your child

Sometimes the most obvious solutions are also the most effective. Before you go searching for information on anxiety, it’s important to have a discussion with your son or daughter and gauge how they’re feeling. You might find that they’re taking steps to manage their feelings independently, or that they already sought help from a professional. Whatever the case, having open conversations with your child is a great way to strengthen your bond and make them feel more comfortable sharing difficult feelings with you. Just keep in mind that hovering or acting in an overbearing manner will likely have the opposite effect.

Establish community connections

Tackling the problem head-on by helping your child forge connections with others, especially others with anxiety, kills several birds with one stone. Taking part in counseling groups is a great first step. Not only are you learning more about the condition by being around others in the same situation, but you’re also showing your support for your child as they take steps toward recovery.

If you’re particularly interested in understanding conditions like social anxiety and would like to broaden your horizons in this field, you also have the option of taking a course that deals with this subject matter. Whilst you might already be perfectly attuned to your child’s individual emotional wants and needs, knowing how to provide the correct (and objective) counsel in a given situation might not be immediately apparent to you. It is precisely this kind of assessment and guidance techniques that are disseminated in detail in the provided course curriculum and can be learned and then subsequently applied both in social encounters involving your child and those involving other people.

Learn relaxation techniques

One of the simplest ways you can help your teen manage their anxiety is to teach them a few practical techniques for managing and reducing stress. Sometimes achieving relaxation can be as simple as practicing deep breathing, counting, or even drawing. But for the moments when something more is needed, like meditation, visualization, or even attempting progressive muscle relaxation, you’ll be grateful for what you’ve learned.

Collaborate with school workers

Beyond family members, your teen will have more interaction with their school teachers than almost any other adult. That’s why it’s so important that their teachers are aware of their condition, including any triggers. The best way to approach that discussion might be different for each individual student, but in any case, you should make the effort to include your son or daughter in the conversation. Encourage them to speak with their teachers at school, or set up a meeting with the teachers they spend the most time with. Once their teachers are aware of the situation, they’ll be better able to make considerations and work with you as a teammate in your child’s recovery.

Face the fear head-on

Having a goal works as a great motivator in almost any facet of life, so it could be helpful to sit down with your teen and talk about small steps they could take towards overcoming their anxiety. The goal could be anything from visiting a neighbor to joining a sports team, as long as it creates an opportunity for social interaction. Like almost anything else in life, interacting with others is a skill which can be improved with practice, and the more you encourage that practice, the more confident your child will become.

Get professional help

Seeking a professional diagnosis might be your first or last step, depending on the severity of the problem and the progress made through other steps. For anyone suffering from a psychological condition like anxiety, it’s crucial that the chosen professional is trustworthy and likable so that the patient feels comfortable divulging any and all important information, no matter how uncomfortable it might seem. The right professional will also be able to advise on the best treatment for your child, whether that might be medication, regular counseling, or self-regulation. The bottom line is that if you feel that your child’s experience of anxiety is becoming debilitating, getting a professional opinion will give you clarity, peace of mind, and with any luck, a long-term solution.

Anxiety can be a challenging condition to overcome, and while you may be concerned about your child’s welfare, remember that any extra stress from your side will be unhelpful at best. Remind them that they are not alone in their experience and that they have plenty of pathways to recovery to choose from, with you by their side, every step of the way.

About the Author:

Bethany Seton is a recent economics graduate, working for the last two years as a community counselor. Before settling in an office again, she decided to follow her passion for writing and traveling. Currently, she travels with her laptop and writes for various blogs, hoping one day she will gather all the experience she gets in one book.

It’s the day of your child’s birthday and you’re so excited to finally make that cake for them that you’ve seen on Pinterest. You spend all morning in the kitchen baking away imagining how perfect the finished product is going to be and how much your child is going to love it. As you come close to finishing the cake you realize that your version definitely does not look anything like the version you saw on Pinterest. You probably cry and freak out not knowing what you’re going to do, as the rest of your family and friends are laughing at how ridiculous your cake looks. It may not be funny to you now, but in the weeks and years to come as you look back on the pictures, you’ll laugh as hard as everyone else. The good news is that you’re not alone when it comes to baking fails. Laugh with us as we look at these 10 kids birthday cakes that went horribly wrong.

Source: viralnova.com

1. To Infinity And Beyond…Horrible

Any child who receives this cake for their birthday will most likely have nightmares for days or even weeks to come. Just look at that evil smile and crazy eyes! I might even have nightmares now myself.

(For other great hilarious stories and pictures, head over to ViralNova).

Source: buzzfeed.com

2. Hannah Montana As A Demon?

Hannah Montana is known for impersonating many people, but who knew Hannah Montana could dress up as a demon, too. Talk about a terrifying cake for a 6 year old.

(For other funny stories, celebrity gossip, and breaking news, check out BuzzFeed).

Source: parentsociety.com

3. Ariel, Is That You?

All I can think of to say for this cake is “Wow.” It may be the worst cake recreation ever. There is no way anyone would know what that is supposed to be without a picture of Ariel next to it.

(For marriage and parenting tips, healthy recipes, beauty ideas and more, head over to Parents Society).

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Before you have kids, or yours have been out of the nest for quite some time, it can be frustrating to connect with a mother over the phone. You may call, leave voicemails and text but you may not get a response in a timely manner. Or one at all. If you’re the mom, then you know first hand that answering the phone just isn’t always possible. If you do answer, you run the risk of not hearing anything going on on the other end because your child immediately starts screaming the moment you pick up the phone. So sometimes, it’s just not worth it. If you’ve ever wondered why your mom friends don’t answer when you call, then check out this hilarious list of some possible reasons why!

Source: ForEveryMom.com

 If you love this, then check out ForEveryMom.com, an amazing site for moms. They cover hilarious topics and videos on faith, relationships and parenting.

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Karly Wood

Editor at Red Tricycle

I'm a born and bred Southern California native and currently the managing editor at Red Tri. I get to share my life with my husband of 13 years and our beautiful, 5-year old daughter. In my free time you'll catch me cheering for the Dodgers, cooking, baking, reading, crafting and probably watching a little HGTV!

Latest posts by Karly Wood (see all)

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Like children, tattoos last a lifetime. Once we become moms we will never stop loving our children, like permanent ink etched into our hearts. To commemorate our children, some moms choose to express their love in the form of forever ink displayed proudly in a particular spot on their body. We’ve come up with a fun gallery of some of the best, and if you’d like to share yours please feel free to leave us a comment! We are all proud moms, and would love to admire each other for doing what we do best: being devoted to our little ones, no matter what age they are!

(#5 is the one I have for each of my 3 kiddos)

1.

A photo posted by

2.

A photo posted by Cookiee Sivad (@cookiee_sivad) on Mar 12, 2015 at 1:21am PDT

3.

A photo posted by Sharon Kissel (@sharonkissel) on Jan 20, 2015 at 10:17am PST

4.

A photo posted by Christattoos (@chris82tattoos) on Jan 18, 2015 at 4:00pm PST

5.

A photo posted by Modi Ramos (@modiramos) on Apr 25, 2015 at 7:03am PDT

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While kids can say some pretty off the wall things, they are also prone to scribbling down these random thoughts, too. Kids offer a level of bluntness that usually fades away with age, once they grow to realize that sometimes it’s not the best idea to actually say everything it is that you are thinking. When it comes to kids and handling their tiny emotions, especially towards their parents, sometimes they might think leaving a note is more powerful than the spoken word. And it is, because these 15 hilarious notes from kids to their parents will have you cracking up. Enjoy!

1. Looks like Mom won’t be buying this one again:

Leslie Muhr-clay via Pinterest

2. Luckily this kid wasn’t going to let a little anger come between his true feelings:

Kayla Lacoste via Pinterest

3. Well he sure showed them:

Chestena Whittington via Pinterest

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When you’re a mother, you learn rather quickly that the way you pictured things to be in your mind is not always how things turn out to be. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but as you are deep in the trenches of motherhood you will learn that there are certain things that only a seasoned mother would understand. Raising kids is hard work, and it doesn’t take a “village” or however that silly saying suggests, it takes one super awesome woman who knows exactly what she’s talking about. Here is a list of 7 things only veteran moms will understand, thanks to years of child rearing and practice:

1. Siblings Will Fight Sometimes, It Just Happens

While I never in a million years would encourage this type of behavior, regardless of what you do there will be times when your kid will disagree and get a little physical with their siblings. Real life is not a Disney fairytale of brothers and sisters skipping off merrily into the sunset hand in hand. The upside to this? When your kids are older they can look back on these memories and have a good laugh. Especially when they went to blows over something as trivial as a Little Mermaid t-shirt that they both probably couldn’t even fit into anymore.

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