Have lunch with them.  If you can, leave the house to join your kids for a quick lunch at school, or meet up with your hubby at a restaurant to grab a bite.  Even thirty minutes makes a huge difference.  Wherever you are, you all have to eat lunch, don’t you?

At the strike of 5pm, be more open to your family.  Although you don’t have set work hours, it will help if you ease up on the workload once family members start coming home from school or the office.

Set aside one day a week for family time.  Manage your time throughout the week, so you can manage to free up a day.  You can devote this time to movie-watching, playing board games or going out on a date with your hubby.

Try to make your home office more family-friendly.   More often than not, your kids would just want to be near you, even if you’ve got your head buried in your computer.  Throw some bean bags next to your worktable, so your kids can read a book near you as you work.  Or have some crayons or paint on hand, so your little one can doodle away beside you.

It’s not easy being a work-at-home mom, but with a little creativity, you can devise ways to balance work with family time.

At times when blessings abound, the best way to celebrate a birthday is to share these blessings with those who are underprivileged. Call it a Birthday Charity if you want. It can be as grand as organizing a charity ball for your chosen institution, a simple party with the elderly, orphans or disabled, or holding a one day soup kitchen for the street children or homeless.

If you don’t have time to organize an event or activity, you can simply choose to support a cause, sponsor a scholar or buy a tree in an environmental conservation effort. You can ask your kids and other family members to help you choose your beneficiary. Through these events our little ones will learn about the value of gratitude for whatever life brings us and sharing whatever little we have to those who need it most.

There are several things you as a parent can do to help your child get the good night’s sleep they need in order to feel good. There is no need to be rigid or stressed about bedtime, for with just a few basic ideas, you can facilitate a good night’s sleep for your child. From blackout curtains to the bedtime routine, here are some tips to help you help your child:

Light

When considering how to help your child get a good night’s sleep, think about the lighting where your child sleeps. Bright lights will disturb sleep, even if it seems they do not. Electronics and other artificial lights keep a part of your child’s brain active and prevent a good night’s sleep. Remove or ensure all of these things are completely dark when it is time to sleep. Place blackout curtains or dark blinds on the windows to be closed at bedtime and opened when it is time to wake. Controlling your child’s light environment when it is time to sleep will help ensure a good night’s rest.

Routine

Whilst it is not necessary to be rigid about a bedtime routine for your child, it is a good idea to have a loose and relaxing routine to ease into sleep. Ensure that your child has time to relax and wind down before bed. This means not having a schedule so packed and busy that you are rushing home late and trying to get everyone to bed quickly. A rushed and busy evening followed by a rushed bedtime is not conducive to a good night’s sleep for your child—for anyone of any age, really.

Atmosphere

Comfort at bedtime is a must for your child. The temperature in the room should be cool but not cold. If your child is a snuggler who enjoys curling up with blankets, keep the room cool enough to facilitate comfort. If you have a child that does not like coverings, pyjamas that keep them warm enough yet not hot are ideal. For a young child, footed and zippered sleeping clothes can do the trick. An older child can decide if long pants and socks are comfortable. A cool temperature is optimal for a good night’s sleep for all concerned.

Helping your child get a good night’s sleep is part of helping him or her with overall good health. Lack of sleep contributes to and even causes many health and behaviour issues among children. Do what it takes to help your child get the sleep they need, whether it is blackout curtains to keep out the light or soft music to drown out any noises.

Whether you have lived through this moment in the past, or simply live in dread of it – there is only one option to ensure that it doesn’t materialise when your next anniversary rolls around, and that is to ensure that you plan the perfect anniversary celebration. Below we have put together a checklist of the areas to cover if you want to make sure your special day goes smoothly.

Get in Early

You need to acknowledge an anniversary as soon as your partner wakes – even if the day is to en with a surprise party or outing, no one is ever amused by the “pretending to have forgotten” ruse – if you try this your partner will spend most of he day being angry at you and calling to mind all the times you may have let them down in the past, which can create a lingering feeling of anger even once all is revealed. Instead, you need to ensure that your partner is greeted with an awakening that befits the occasion. Consider breakfast in bed complete with fresh flowers to start the day out on the right note.

Anniversary Giving

Most couples will celebrate their anniversary by exchanging cards and gifts. Don’t just pick up the first thing you see in the shops, and don’t ever leave gift buying to the last minute. Listen to your partner in the run up to the big day and get an idea of what it is that they would really appreciate from you. Ask their friends and family if you are short of ideas, and steer clear of practical gifts – this is about making them feel special and appreciated, so opt for a little luxury.

If your partner is a traditionalist, you may wish to consider buying a gift that is in keeping with traditional anniversary presents, such as paper for a first anniversary, silver for a 25^th and gold for a 50^th.

In terms of anniversary cards, steer clear of novelty/funny cards and opt for something romantic. If you want to show how much you care, consider making or personalising a card yourself – but whatever option you plump for remember that it is the sentiment contained in the card that counts, so ensure you write a personal message rather than just signing your name.

Celebratory Treats

Anniversaries are about celebrating your life as a couple so there is no better time to create a new memory to share, while some people may like to celebrate anniversaries amongst families and friends, shared activities or getaways are a great way to use an anniversary as an opportunity to rekindle romance and enjoy each other’s company. Some celebrations to consider include:

• A city break or holiday
• An out of the ordinary experience such as racing car driving or bungee jumping
• A magical mystery tour of places that are significant to your relationship

Security. Check if there are security guards or personnel in the area, especially for outdoor playgrounds, who can address any security concern that may arise.

Adult Supervision. Children should be supervised by an adult while at play to help prevent injuries. Adults should be able to monitor the children, to make sure that play equipment are used properly, and to check unsafe behaviors.

Safety Surfacing. Playground surfaces are important in minimizing the extent of possible injuries in the playground. Check if the surface under the play equipment is soft and thick like rubber mats for indoor areas and soft soil or sand for outdoor playgrounds. It should also be free of debris and dangerous materials.

Play Area and Safety Rules. All users of the play area should be properly informed about safe play rules and made to comply with it to ensure everyone’s safety.

Cleanliness. Play areas can be breeding places for bacteria and germs, make sure that the playground or play area is well maintained, clean and undergoes health inspection regularly.

Ensuring all those safety concerns are in place will give you less to worry about.