Here Are Some Helpful Ideas If You Or Your Elderly Parents Are Moving From a Home to an Apartment

If you or your elderly parents have decided to downsize your living space to an apartment from a home you will usually find that you can't take everything with you. It all just won't fit in the smaller space.

You will have to spend some time deciding which items are the most precious to you and then decide what you are going to do with everything else.

Having moved to a smaller space myself I realize that there are just some things that I had, and moved, that have made my new space seem like I have always lived here.

But, then there was a ton of stuff that I either gave away to someone I knew, gave to a charitable organization or just put to the trash. I had lived there for over 40 years and had accumulated a bunch of stuff.

You might even consider making a little money by having a yard sale of some of the items you can't take with you.

When selecting your apartment you can try for one with a lot of space but you or your parents may not be able to maintain a larger space. Plus, if there are limited funds you may not be able to afford a larger space.

Something to look for in selecting your new apartment other than space is the bathroom. If you are choosing an apartment for your elderly parents then you might want to look to see if the bathroom is equipped with handicap bars by the commode and in the tub/shower area.

Another thing to check out is the closet space. Many older apartment building have very small closets. You will not only need closet space for clothes, but you still need a place to put the broom, mop, vacuum, etc.

Take measurements of the furniture items that you plan to keep with you when you go apartment hunting. That bedroom just might not accommodate that king sized bed that you plan to keep sleeping in. On all items in question measure the length, width and height. Some apartments have low ceilings and tall items may not fit either.

Plan to move some things around in your new space. Pictures, lamps and small tables may fit better in a different room. Remember that colors on the walls will be different and you may have to move something to a different room just because it matches better.

It can be kind of fun to look around and try to figure out where things fit best in the new space.

Give yourself plenty of time to move. It always takes longer than you think. Large items will need to be moved by movers. Go to the apartment and plan where these items will go so that the movers can place them for you while they are there.

You will probably move small breakable things yourself. Try to plan to place everything where it is going when you get it there. So plan time for this. It can become overwhelming to move in with a bunch of boxes still left to unpack. Often times they will sit in a corner for months before they get unpacked.

Don't try to move in one weekend. Once you find your new apartment, try to give yourself a complete month to move. Especially if you are moving your parents and they have lived in their current home for many years. It will take them longer to adjust to moving than you may think.

One more thing to look for while apartment shopping is what the washer and dryer arrangements are. Many apartments have a common laundry area on one of the lower floors that are shared by everyone in the complex.

If you find there are no traditional washer and dryer hookups in the apartment you choose then you may want to consider a portable laundry washer and dryer or one of the mini portable washers that you could use to reduce your trips to the Laundromat area. This can be really important for the elderly who have a hard time lifting heavy loads.

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Expecting Parents Research Meaning of Names - Selecting the Best Children's Name Meanings

Origins and meaning of names on name meanings websites offer valuable insights to anyone who ever wondered "what does my name mean?"

It seems like you can find just about anything on the internet these days. Unfortunately, much of what you find is inaccurate or irrelevant. The endless sea of data can become overwhelming at times, and some people are becoming disenchanted with the internet's tendency to provide trillions of bits of information, with little real knowledge or insight. And yet, online searches can certainly provide some useful information, if you know what to look for. One of the useful, practical, and entertaining types of information I have found recently applies to names. People all over the globe have wondered, "What does my name mean?" This is a legitimate question, but in some societies it is a difficult one to answer. Most societies, if not all, have a tradition of very specific naming practices for children, and they focus very heavily on the meaning of names. In fact, it is not uncommon for a child's naming ceremony to take place after he or she has been alive for several years. In some cultures, kids received a kind of temporary name, signifying their place in the family structure, at birth, and then they were given a personal name after they had developed a personality that was identifiable by the community. In other traditions, children were named at or shortly after birth, but their names still had meaning - usually reflecting the traits that the parents hoped the child would develop. Whatever the case, the practice of naming children based largely on the sound of the name, and perhaps some cursory homage to a dead relative, is a newer phenomenon in history.

Although it is not so common any more to put a lot of thought into the meaning of a child's name, it's a practice that deserves some consideration. For one thing, knowing the meaning of names can settle a lot of disputes about names. If parents are debating two different names that both sound pretty good, they may want to know if one name means "patience" and the other means "turnip." Nothing against turnips, but this is the kind of thing that a parent should probably know. Name origins can be just as enlightening as name meanings when it comes to choosing baby names. Parents may want to choose names that come from their own family origins.

Now, with the magic of the internet, people can easily look up name meanings and origins online, on very extensive but user-friendly databases. These websites are great, and they provide hundreds of names, their meanings, their cultural roots, and geographical origins, and more. Sometimes people are just curious about the meanings of their own names, and these sites are great for them too. In fact, anyone who needs to come up with names for any reason is bound to appreciate a website like this - parents, pet owners, playwrights, novelists, role playing gamers, cartoonists, etc. It's a rare and beautiful thing to be pleasantly surprised by the internet, and finding a name database was one experience that made me pretty happy.

The author has studied name meanings from around the world, helping people answer the question, " what does my name mean? " He has written several articles about the origin and meaning of names, and the benefits researching this information.

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When Should Parents Enroll Their Kids Into Sports, Music, the Arts, or Other Activities

This is one area that parents have complete control.

Your child is your finest treasure and prized piece of art.

I have a six year old and I have an eight year old. I have placed them in whatever hits their fancy or interest. I go where the fun is rather than the talent at this time. The moment I notice loads of talent in anyone area that is where I will place my funds and attention.

If I notice that they have raw and specialized talent like playing the piano at an early age, I would start bribing them the very best that I can. I am totally into bribing and getting them to do what I believe is right. I must remember that they are kids and will challenge me along the way, but as the parent with funds and time, I will give them my very best efforts.

Parents should always look at the safety issue and what the family can handle financially and time. The hardest feelings will be the ones when you wish you had done a whole lot more at a later age. No one wants to say that.

Parents should enroll their kids in any and all programs that they can afford in bucks and in time immediately. They must sign their kids up when they notice something wonderful and exciting in their child. Even if the child is not that talented, you must give them the opportunity to try out. Along the way, show them techniques and approaches to lead them in the right direction. You give them extra talented coaches. Give them good reading material. You help them by mentally telling them constantly how much you love them and care what they do.

It is important that you talk to them while they are sleeping soundly at night. Do not disturb their rest. Say the following words and monitor what happens for the next 30 days. Say to them as they are sleeping, I love you and thank you. That is all. Please do not try to add major statements or anything else. I love you and thank you, are two statements that will be enough.

There is no right age to enter any event. As soon as the interest makes itself known you have to nourish it and soothe it. Get the necessary movies, books and magazines and other materials to enhance and create a great interest. Get stuffed animals and t-shirts and anything else that will bolster up that interest. Have fun thinking up new ideas and ways to keep that interest alive. Try to mesh whatever activity with their regular school work will be a treasure. Start now and do whatever it takes to keep that interest alive. There should be loads of games and programs that will peak your child's interest. As the parent you must judge what is right and harmful for your child.

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