3 Kids and Us

What Should you Know Before Hiring a Bobcat Service?

January 18, 2017 by admin

A Bobcat is an extremely versatile piece of machinery and is an invaluable addition to any construction project, especially in the initial stages. If a project involves removing an existing structure, often a Bobcat and a tipper truck is the quickest and easiest way to remove the old building. Bobcats are specialised machines and usually one would hire from a company that would also provide a skilled operator.

The Operator

Operating a Bobcat is a skilled profession, so having a good driver is paramount, as he or she would have experience and would be able to make decisions there and then, and with their expertise, a lot of time, and therefore money, can be saved. If the truth be known, the operator is probably more important than the bobcat, as it is the operator’s skills that enable a satisfactory outcome. The operator should be approachable and always ready to offer advice, and should be customer focused and be prepared to go that extra mile to see the job is well done and on schedule. If you are in the Perth area, and are planning a construction project, or just need to clear some land, try Bobcat hire in Perth from RME, who also provide other earthmoving equipment to suit the job at hand.

Professional Advice

The ideal thing to do is call in a Bobcat hire company, and they will send someone to look at the project. With their wealth of experience in all things construction, they will be able to recommend the right machine, and with their skilled operator at the controls, the job will be completed on schedule. If there is excavating to be carried out, you cannot just dig and wait to see what you find. You first need to check if there are any power lines, water, or drainage pipes under that area. Chopping through a mains cable or smashing a main water pipe could have disastrous results, so it is essential to source the utilities first. There are non-destructive tests that can soon locate these, with no need for exploration digging, which is both time consuming and expensive.

Reliability

This is paramount, as the entire project is choreographed and if the Bobcat isn’t ready when it should be, everything is held up. So, it is essential that the machine and operator are ready and waiting on site at the agreed time.

The Scope of Work

A Bobcat can be used for many jobs, including:

Pool excavation
Backfilling
Ground clearance
Site cleaning
Rubbish removal

The machine itself is quite narrow, which allows the operator to access tight spaces, and with a range of attachments, it can be used to grade or landscape areas. By attaching a special set of forks, a Bobcat can become a fork lift truck, ideal when the building supplies arrive loaded on pallets.

If you think a Bobcat would be useful for your project, talk to a hirer who can confirm whether in fact, a Bobcat is the right piece of equipment, and they can also provide a skilled operator who will ensure the job gets done on time.

How busy moms can get the perfect workout plan

January 16, 2017 by admin

Have you ever heard older mothers say that they’ve put on a bit of weight since they had kids, but that’s just what happens? Have you watched friends who used to be in great shape turn into women who never go anywhere without their car and rely on men for every strength-based household task? Life doesn’t need to be like that. You may have gained a few pounds during pregnancy; you may have struggled to fit in exercise during those first exhausting months with each kid; but you can get back in shape, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be fit and healthy at 40 just as you were at 20. What you need to do is establish a workout plan that fits in with your life.

Structuring a workout

What do you actually need from a good basic workout? There are three things that you should be focusing on here: strength, stamina, and agility. To maintain good muscle tone, you should do strength-based exercise – anything from push-ups to lifting weights – for 30 minutes, three times a week. To build up your muscles, double the length of each session, and remember to work separately on each muscle group that you want to improve. For stamina, you should do exercise that raises your heart rate over 120bpm for 45 to 60 minutes, twice a week. For flexibility, you should stretch off your muscles before and after each workout, and at the start and end of each day. You can gradually scale up each part of this in order to keep your workout challenging, and you can also push yourself by switching to heavier weights or running uphill instead of on level ground.

What you need

Working out doesn’t have to involve a lot of equipment, but there are some things that are well worth investing in. A wristband that can monitor your pulse is useful for keeping an eye on both your progress and your health during every kind of workout. Good shoes, T-shirts, and shorts should be a part of any workout plan, and it’s worth investing in good gear generally, from compression shorts to sports bras, if you’re going to get the most out of what you do. A simple soccer ball, exercise ball, and skipping rope will give you all that you need for lots of independent exercise at a very low cost.

Working out at home

It’s quite possible to fit in all the elements of a healthy workout without leaving your home. Exercising when your children are present can be a great way to show them that it’s fun, and can get them to take an interest in healthy living. Simple, low-cost additions to your home, such as a pull-up bar fitted in a doorway, can help with your workout. While you might choose to purchase a treadmill, old-fashioned alternatives such as running on the spot, skipping, or dancing can be just as effective at building up your fitness.

Working out in the gym

Getting out to the gym can be difficult if you’re juggling kids and other responsibilities, but there are ways to do it. Find a gym that’s close to your kids’ school or kindergarten so that you can pop in for a short workout after dropping them off, helping you to feel refreshed in the morning. If you’re working, try to find a gym close by so that you can work out during your lunch hour – many people say that this makes them feel much more alert in the afternoon – and have mini meals in your morning and afternoon breaks, which will better supply you with energy over the course of the day.

Working out as you go

If scheduling workouts simply proves impossible, there are still things that you can do by building the elements of a workout into your day-to-day routine. Walk instead of driving whenever possible, and run if you can. Scrub floors, walls, and windows the traditional way, using muscle power rather than letting synthetic chemicals do the work for you. Do Pilates exercises while sitting at your desk. Work on your yard – something children love to help with – and discover how digging can toughen you up. There’s a reason why our grandparents’ generation was leaner than we are today, and it wasn’t all about diet.

Few things in life are perfect when you’re a busy mom, but your workout is something that you can still keep up, and you’ll really feel the benefit. Even if it seems exhausting to begin with, you’ll soon find that you’re more energetic and better able to do all the things that you want to do.

Tips for Eating Out with the Kids

January 3, 2017 by admin

Most people enjoy the experience of dining out and leaving the cooking and clean-up to someone else. This includes parents of young children. Since their behavior can be unpredictable, some parents feel like they have no choice but to stay home until they know how their children will behave at a restaurant. However, preparing in advance and keeping realistic expectations can make it an enjoyable experience for everyone. This includes other diners at the restaurant.

Prepare Kids for the Experience by Practicing at Home

A few days before eating out with their children, parents can role-play the experience at home so little ones know what to expect. It’s important to model behavior such as sitting still, waiting patiently to get served, using silverware properly, and asking tablemates to pass items like salt and pepper. Children who regularly sit down to dinner with their families and know what parents expect of them at home tend to do better making the transition to dining in a restaurant.

Kids should also understand the consequences for poor behavior when eating away from home. This may include asking for the food to go and leaving the restaurant if they don’t change their behavior after a request from a parent. Pre-verbal children may not understand the words but will eventually learn to associate the cause and effect of not being allowed to stay to finish a meal.

Make Sure the Restaurant Welcomes Children

It can be awkward to show up at a restaurant with a toddler and preschooler in tow only to discover it’s not exactly kid-friendly. While it might not post a sign saying children aren’t welcome, the menu selections and ambience could send that message. If parents aren’t certain, it’s a good idea to call the restaurant and ask. This is also a good time to inquire about whether the restaurant has a separate children’s menu or if the cooks can tailor adult dishes to a child’s palate.

Start Slow

It’s unfortunate that more restaurants have become unwelcome to children because they need the opportunity to learn how to behave in public. The first time parents take young children to a sit-down restaurant, they should stick to the main course only. It should be a nice restaurant that caters to families, but not something overly fancy. When it’s clear the kids understand how dining out works, parents can consider adding an appetizer or desert or upping the stakes to a more upscale eatery.

How to Make the Waiting Time Easier for Little Ones

To a kid, a 15-minute wait for the server to bring the food can seem like an eternity. Children tend to act up when they get bored and fidgety, which often happens when adults are talking to each other and not engaging them. Coloring on the placemats, telling stories, or even playing with chopsticks can all help distract kids while they wait. It should be a quiet toy so as not to disturb other diners. If all else fails, one adult can get up to walk around with the kids while the other stays at the table.

How the loss of a pet can affect your children

December 29, 2016 by admin

As a pet owner, you’ll know how quickly animals become treasured members of the family; whether you’ve got a cat, dog, bird, or fish, there’s a good chance that you’re incredibly attached to that pet and dread the day something happens to them. Imagine, then, that you’re a child attempting to come to terms with such a loss. Your family’s pets are likely to be the very first confidants, best friends, and co-conspirators that your child ever has, and the animal’s passing is likely to be their very first experience of death and grief. Would you know what to say, or how to prepare your child for the emotions that they’re likely to face?

Preparing for loss

First and foremost, you need to know that there’s nothing wrong with discussing death with your children, particularly if your pet is getting old or has been ill. Your child is developing and maturing every day, as is their ability to understand complex emotions and circumstances. Be sure to be the one to guide your child through the events that will follow. It can be tempting to allow a teacher, family member, or siblings to have such talks with them, but the environment of comfort and trust must be established from the beginning. Find a quiet moment when your child is showing an interest in engaging you in conversation and discuss the fact that your pet cannot be with you forever, and that there will come a time when the family has to say goodbye. Speak honestly and encourage your child to ask questions; they will find such openness a huge help once your pet has passed.

Experiencing a sudden loss

Sometimes the loss of a pet, and our ability to prepare our children, is taken out of our control; accidents and sudden illnesses can and do strike, and it’s important to know how to handle such a loss – particularly when it comes to explaining events to a child. At times like this, your child will be hit by grief they don’t understand, and it may be very difficult at first to explain what has happened and why. Be prepared for questions, for accusations of blame, or feelings of guilt, and a period when nothing you can say will make it all better, before your child is able to talk to you about what they’re feeling. The chances are your family will be in shock; encourage each member of your family to share memories, stories, and pictures that will dull the blow you’ve been dealt.

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet

You may be worried that asking your child to say goodbye to a beloved pet will cause distress, but that final declaration of love, and recognition of loss, will be absolutely vital for their healing. Allowing your child to play an active role in saying goodbye will not only allow them to understand what has happened, but also create a healthy attitude towards future losses that they will no doubt encounter. A funeral or pet cremation service is a lovely way to provide closure for your child, as well as enabling your family to come together to celebrate the life of your pet and remember the memories that you’ve made together. Ask your child to write a letter, sing a song, or paint a picture of their pet for a memorial, and consult them when it comes to choosing an area in which to scatter ashes or bury your pet; not only will your child feel a part of the service, but they will also be able to associate their feelings with what’s happening far better than if they’re protected to the point of being left in the dark. Finally, don’t be tempted to underestimate your child, or their capacity to understand what’s going on. Using simple language, including words such as “dead”, “death”, and “dying”, will be far less confusing than euphemisms such as “sleeping”, and will allow your child to come to terms with their loss in a less trivial way.

Choosing a new pet

When is the right time to choose a new pet? While it can be tempting to rush out and rehome a new animal so that a sudden loss is felt less harshly, it’s essential to remember that grief is an important part of growing up; you won’t want your child to be sad, but taking away their right to say goodbye, and their ability to process their emotions and understand what’s happened, will cause more harm than good. It’s completely healthy for your child to explore the way they’re feeling in such a way, and while a new pet can aid the healing process, you must wait until everyone, including your child, is ready to welcome a new family member.

While it’s always a good idea to encourage your child to focus on other things, including hobbies, heading out and about together, and quality family time, it’s also wise to listen; don’t be tempted to dissuade your child from talking about their pet and the emotions they’re experiencing as this may discourage them from expressing themselves later in life. Above all, be guided by your child, and talk about grief and the healing process at a time and pace that suits them. Your child may need time before they’re ready to discuss what’s happened, or they may have questions right away; there is no right or wrong way to handle the loss of a pet, as long as your child’s interests are taken into consideration.

HOW NOT TO FEEL EXAUSTED AS A MOTHER?

December 22, 2016 by admin

Being mum to younger children are more than having a hectic and stressful life. With the kids getting older, some of the stresses and strains of parenthood resolve themselves, making life a little easier. Obviously, there will be the stresses and worries with the kids growing up, but unlike when they’re little they no longer require constant care.

If you want to be at your best as a mummy, you really need to handle your stress very wisely.You need to de-stress and unwind instead of exhausting yourself over issues—big or small. When it comes to taking some time out for ourselves, a lot of us are hesitant to do so. However, it really is important to give your mind and body some time to relax.

If you are wondering what the best methods of relaxation for busy mums. Below is a list of tips and ideas for relaxing and unwinding, give these a try, and I promise that you’ll feel calmer and more in control.

Start your day with yoga:

A great way to a calm start is to wake up and spend 20-minutes practicing yoga or some stretches. This should help you to let go of any stress and should relax your mind and body so that you’re able to drift off to sleep more easily.

Get yourself a relaxing bubble bath:

Fill the tub with water, add some bubble bath or a few drops of lavender oil – lavender helps the body to relax and unwind. You could also dot some candles or flameless candles about, to help set the mood and make the room feel more relaxing.

Use nap time to rest and refuel:

Take some time out to take out in the hours to the day to take a few mini naps. Aim to take at least 15-minutes out at nap time to sit down with a cup of warm tea and play along a few online games such poker or bingo games. Even a few minutes of alone time should make you feel calmer and more relaxed.

Spend time with your Child:

Take a break from parenting and spend some real time with your child. Abandon yourself completely to the play with them without a deadline or time line or goal.

Life as a mum, is always but a roller coaster ride when you have so much of responsibilities to carry but following on a daily routine that is a perfect blend of both work and fun is certainly something to look forward to, in your lives!