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Why are you being so rude to me…I dont know?

04/11/2015 by DO Leave a Comment

I’m learning very quickly about moody teenagers and trying to be tolerant, but I want to jump in a time machine and go forward 10 years because this is hell!
It seems like I cannot do or say anything that is right and any advise or solutions given feels like a lecture to them.

I understand that there are lots of hormones going on, our school had a night for year 7 parents and covered off areas around dealing with this change.

How to cope with teenage children:

Don’t buy into schoolyard arguments, the kids will work it out
Be a listener and be there but don’t try and solve their problems
Be encouraging and be there but let them work things out in there own time

Adults brains apparently have a hormone called THP which has a calming influence, In our teenagers this same THP heightens anxiety – of course it does 🙂 . I keep reminding myself they are going through many new experiences and having to cope with new challenges like: hormonal change, body changes, developing identity, pressure from friends, and a developing sense of independence.

I am sure they don’t like the moods either. I asked her once..

Why are you being so rude to me? She replied “I dont know”?

So I just left it and I understood she wasn’t meaning to be rude and she didn’t like it either. I could tell she knew it was wrong.

These reminders are my savior, Thank God there are times where she is calm, happy, respectful and loving otherwise I would go completely out of my mind! So I am just trying to roll with it, provide support and stability. Still setting ground rules for respect as I expect her to be respectful to all people. I pick my battles, remain calm and try to redirect the negative behaviour.

A couple of tips in this areas could be:

Pick your battles. If your teenager is basically behaving, ignore minor annoyances such as shrugs, raised eyebrows, or bored looks.
Sometimes, teens may be inadvertently disrespectful. (Again, their brains are developing.) Calmly ask about their intention — for example, “That comment came out sounding pretty offensive. Did you mean to behave rudely?

I know its a stage that lots of kids go through, she is a beautiful girl and has a kind warm heart. If she is rude and I do discuss it, I make sure I talk about the behaviour not the person. I’m always trying to affirm her worth as a person even as I explain why her behavior was unacceptable.

Through the next few years (OMG), I’ll always be involved and interested in her everyday life and be interested in her sport and activities. Even during the times when she is unlovable, I will still give hugs, words of praise, little note in her lunch box with words of love often, because they need it and want unconditional love to help them get through it.

I came across this YouTube video and it reminds me that sometimes they DON’T KNOW why they are being rude and we shouldn’t get upset or take it personally.

Filed Under: Children, Dads Health, Daughters, Kids Health, Parenting, Relationships, Sons

Missing childhood events can impact adult relations

01/10/2015 by DO 6 Comments

For many years my eldest daughter has not spoken to me and I don’t really know why? You do a lot of soul searching and try to piece events together to get some sense of her saying that she “wants to distance herself from you”

She has married and you guessed it, I was not invited to the wedding! No walking her down the isle, no spending time with her prior to the wedding reminiscing about life and the wonderful possibilities that lay ahead. No meeting her future husband or her new extended family, just shut out. I did not do anything that deserves this punishment.

My relationship with her I believe was loving but less than satisfactory due to the restraints that were put upon us. When she was only a little child of 2 years, the family court said I could only see her on every second weekend. Making the most of it, we were Melbourne’s biggest tourists. I kept myself available for that weekend. I didn’t seek out career opportunities because it may have had me working away from home, I didn’t take on a girlfriend because I wanted to be completely available to her. Those weekends seemed to come around quickly, it was 52 days out of 365 a year and I cherished every one of them.

I sought counselling in the early days to deal with the grief of missing her and coping with a non supportive mother. They told me “maintain your commitment and don’t argue, just be her knight and shining armour and she will realise you are a good dad and a committed one when she is older”. In the weeks between, I would send her a card or a CD single of what ever was a popular song for that fortnight, there must have been shoe boxes of them if they were kept? but I think the forces were against me from the start!

She very quickly had a step-father and two step sisters, an instant family versus a single dad every second weekend.

Looking back I liken it to getting in the ring with Danny Green, it was never going to go my way.

Separation from your child causes sadness, heartache, regret and shame, not to mention the belief that you’ve failed at one of life’s most important tasks. Never for one moment would I have believed that I would be rejected for no apparent reason or no explanation?

Confused and at a loss to understand why I have been cut out of her life, I went searching online for answers. It seems that instances like this are often rooted in issues that go back to childhood. Issues and feelings that were never dealt with during childhood such as a conflicted divorce which can cause pain and anger that can fester. Then a “triggering incident” occurs later in life, often leading to an argument, and then the child cuts the parent off.

The arguments that can trigger these events can be a little as where to have Christmas dinner? In my case it was over her inability to attend the theater which opened up a can of worms that I was never expecting.

It has been very hard for me to comprehend what I did to push her away, in my mind I chased her and Ive been available all her growing years (every second weekend) until late teens. However there are some critical moments that play a huge role in the ability to connect in the early years that may result in suppressed anger and disappointment.

Answers I have uncovered recently that I wish I had of known earlier. Questions like:

Were you there for their school plays?
Did you attend parent teacher interviews,
Did you help them with their homework?
Did you go to their birthday parties?
Did you take care of them when they were sick?

Knowing the answers to these questions gives me insight into how my absence could have contributed in her ability to walk away.

I was never avoiding my daughter it was the set of circumstances we were in, I regretted every day that we were apart.

My ex wife and I did not have a co-parenting relationship, I had to constantly fight for fair access even though there was a court order in place. At one point I was denied my agreed access so I headed immediately back to court and had it reinstated. This went on during the early years which killed any future healthy communication between her mother and I. Attending any joint events I felt like I was not welcome and I didn’t want my daughter to see that.

Regrettably I couldn’t attend her 21st, I was completely torn between going and not going. The anxiety I felt was overwhelming. Lots of old “so called” friends that deserted me like rats leaving a sinking ship were going to be at the party. I had become very distant and removed from that circle of friends due to our divorce. Even my best friend of 25 years sided with his fiance at the time and chose to distance himself from me. To attend what I perceived to be the “lions den” caused over whelming anxiety, I just couldn’t do it! .

I discuss my feelings in depth with my daughter and I thought she understood my position, maybe not… I cant help but think what is happening now could be part of that unresolved festering anger ?

I know that an apology may not heal all wounds, I did wish back then I had the chance. She refuses to communicate and didn’t return calls or messages after repeated attempts on my part, so I have pulled back. You can’t force someone to love you, at some point you need to come to peace with the fact that you did everything you could to be the best dad that you were allowed to be.

I will be the only father she will ever have. She has now had 2 children of her own, hopefully she will understand the undying bond between a parent and a child has and imagines what I went through as a separated dad seeing her sadly only 52 days a year.

Some of my reference material from my online sole searching has been from: The secret side of anger , Why adolescence don’t appreciate their parents , How to heal a rift with your adult children

Filed Under: Children, Dads Health, Daughters, Fathering, Relationships, Separation, Sons

Great Father’s Day gifts that he’ll be sure to love

25/07/2015 by DO Leave a Comment

Father’s Day is one of those days that just always seems to sneak up on you, but you can be prepared this time around by planning in advance. This is especially pertinent if you want to buy something online, as shipping times can vary from store to store. If you have been looking but you’re still stumped for ideas, you might just find some inspiration here. Take a look some of these great Father’s Day gifts!

An Experience

This Father’s Day, give dad an experience he will never forget. Many different places have a variety of experiences on offer, and range from bungee jumping to white water rafting and maybe even paintball. Tailor your gift to your father’s taste! If you can’t decide, most places do offer vouchers as well, so your dad can choose for himself.

Speaker System

A speaker system is quite versatile – it can be used both indoors and outdoors, and some are even portable so you can take it out for adventures as well. This versatility is part of what makes speaker systems perfect for any type of Dad. These systems also come in many different shapes, sizes and colours, so you can choose the perfect one for your dad.

Barbeque

Barbeques are great additions to the home, especially if your dad loves having friends over. Like speaker systems, barbeques now come in a range of sizes and shapes, so making a choice may be a little overwhelming. If this sounds familiar, or if you’re on the hunt for a specific type of barbeque, specialists such as Barbeques Galore can help you find what you’re looking for.

Multipurpose Tool

Your Dad probably already owns a Swiss army knife, but multipurpose pieces have since progressed, so you can now even get multipurpose tools that include a hammer, a saw, and a screwdriver all in one. These tools can fit snugly into your father’s pocket, meaning he will be well armed for any situation that arises.

Something Handmade

Handmade gifts are personal, and allow you to show your care and appreciation for the recipient of your gift. If you’re creatively inclined, this might be in the form of a painting or a story. For those of you who are more practical, you may want to build something that you know your Dad needs. Sometimes, even a handmade card can make all the difference.

A great Father’s Day gift means something different to every Dad, so this Father’s Day, don’t go with a generic gift. Try and find something that you know your father will love. Remember, if you can’t find something in store, you will probably be able to find it online, so just keep looking. Good luck and happy shopping!

What Father’s Day gifts have you found to be well received in the past? Do you have some gift suggestions of your own? If you are a Dad, would you like to give everyone out there some hints for what you would like? Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the section below.

Filed Under: Celebrations, Lifestyle

STRIKE at anytime

22/06/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

Strike bowling friendly staff member

Whether its school holidays or you’re just looking for something to do with the kids, don’t look past Strike Bowling. Recently I visited Strike with my daughter and a couple of her friends.

We played a game of bowls, had lunch and then played Laser skirmish… they had so much fun 🙂 and the girls won both bowling and skirmish.

The minute we arrived we were greeted by a friendly staff member (that’s him in the photo) that didn’t seem to be annoyed by the girls not knowing there shoe size and he having to get a few different sizes to make a fit 🙂

We booked online as it gets pretty busy! and we didn’t need to wait to long because the booking was in the system and all paid for, here is the link to the booking page, you just need to click on the suburb you want to play and then click on “book a game” don’t to forget to check out there special offers in case its a better offer than just buying a straight game.

strike bowling lane We played 1 game, had gourmet pizza and soft drink for lunch, they had a bit to choose from the menu but the girls chose pizza as they don’t eat it much. The girls chose to have the automatic pop-up lane rails come up when it was there turn so that it helped guide the bowl down the bowling lane.

It’s so exciting playing at a Strike venue, the lighting is awesome, they play great music and it just makes everyone feel happy.
Strike Bowling lounge area We had lunch in the lounge area, there was plenty of room to sit and relax and congratulate the winners. The pizza were really good, better than what we thought they would be. The staff members said they make them fresh out in the kitchen.

We had our names down for 1 game of Laser Skirmish too. A little scary, exciting and fun all wrapped up into one. The main question from the girls was “If we need to get out in a hurry, which exit we we go to?”
Strike Laser Skirmish

Laser Skirmish is a maze of corridors and rooms, its dark and you are either on the blue team or the green team (it was them against me of course) there is a pre-game briefing whereby the staff showed us exactly what to do and how to play. Skirmish was easy and very safe, you do get warmed up from running around. We ran around like crazy people laughing and screaming. It didn’t feel like we were playing a war game, it was more about tagging your opponent – when you hit them with your laser beam, there lights go out and you have to wait 6 seconds before you can play again, a little like “hide and seek”.
You are guaranteed to have a good time together 🙂

I highly recommend Strike Bowling as a place that will tick all your boxes.
Check out Strike Bowling for a location near you.

Filed Under: Activities, Brisbane, Kids Activities, Kids Activities, Melbourne, Sydney

Watching The Footy: What to do when the boys come around

15/06/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

boys watching the footy The boys are coming over. What results is a football frenzy that may, or may not involve drinking, eating and possibly a little bit of raucous behaviour. When your team loses it could spoil the day but if you follow these tips, regardless of the results, you’ll always be a winner.

Food

You want something that’s easy to prepare so you’re not distracted from the business of watching the game. Rev up the BBQ and you can knock out some delicious and easily prepared food that will satisfy everyone. If you’re going for steaks and chops, make sure they’re in the marinade on the morning of the game. Overnight is even better. Throw them on the BBQ and away you go.

Snacks

Chips (hot and cold), dips, something healthy and something not so healthy. Know your friends and their dietary choices – you don’t want to exclude Keith the Vegan by laying on a meat-feast and forgetting to include some vegetables. Cover all your bases by supplying a wide range of snacks but remember that it might be a good idea to stagger the snack distribution; you don’t want everyone filling up before those chops and steaks come off the barbeque.

Drinks

Yes, beer and footy-watching go together like steak and chips but it may be the case that not all of your friends want to throw down booze and shout at the television. Maybe they’d like to shout at the television while drinking an orange juice or a non-alcoholic cocktail? Never pressure anyone to drink and always respect their choices. But for those who do want a beer, wine or rum and coke, be sure to keep the esky filled with ice and selections. Maybe suggest a pre-match kitty so everyone contributes?

Location of the TV

It’s no good having the barbeque outside and the television inside. How will you catch all the action if there’s a wall between you and the game? Hearing your mates screaming in excitement is no match for actually seeing what’s going on, so either move the TV to a spot that’s visible from the barbeque or move the barbeque to a spot where you can see the TV – even if it means bringing the barbeque inside the house. That’s a joke. Don’t do it.

Sore losers and bad winners

Everyone knows the terrible pain of watching a favourite team lose and most people know the exhilarating joy of watching their team come out victorious. No one likes a sore loser and no one likes a graceless winner. Rubbing your team’s victory in the face of a loser is not good form and will often result in the breaking down of a friendship. As winner, offer condolences such as Well played, old chap. Better luck next time. And extend your hand in a gesture of solidarity and love of the game. Or just yell Sucker and run away.

What pre-footy rituals do you have? How do you like to watch the action? Share your answers in the comment box below.

Filed Under: Activities, Adelaide, Brisbane, Celebrations, Dads Health, DIY, Hobart, Melbourne, Parties, Perth, Sons

How to entertain the kids (cheaply) during the winter school holidays

31/05/2014 by DO 1 Comment

top twelve tips from the nannies
School holidays often provide an excellent opportunity for dads to spend quality time with their children… nevertheless everyone can also go a little stir-crazy!

With their years of experience in entertaining children all day, the nannies (in-home childcarers) at Government-approved agency Placement Solutions have put together their top twelve tips to make the most of school holidays in Melbourne, without going broke.

ArtPlay
All at free or affordable prices, the kids can explore their creative side at ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr (behind Federation Square). Funded by the City of Melbourne and other partners, the centre runs more than 300 workshops, events and performances each year with children working with professional artists. Ensure you book ahead for special programs or alternatively check out the ‘free stuff to explore’ such at the ArtPlay Backyard. The Centre caters for babies through to children aged up to 12 years of age; Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/artplay

Library at the Dock
This new Library in Docklands only opened on 31 May 14 and as part of the Melbourne Library Service, it supports gaming culture. Library at the Dock offers the latest games and consoles free to the public to experience and learn about the many aspects of gaming. From 13 June to 8 July on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11am to 1pm, the venue is hosting the 2014 Soccer World Cup Competition on PS4. Open to all ages, kids can get a team together, select their country and take part in this gaming challenge (and potentially win some prizes). Register online.
www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

Your local library
Check out your library for its calendar of events – which are usually free – such as storytelling, book discussions, and even children’s theatre. In the city, State Library of Victoria is holding the free exhibition ‘Once upon a time: a world of children’s picture book art’ until 31 August 2014. See classic characters like Blinky Bill and the Magic Pudding, as well as fun favourites such as Miffy. The kids can view original drawings, dummy books and videos about the artworks to discover the magic behind creating illustrated stories then create their own story with a free activity booklet.
www.slv.vic.gov.au

Belly Dancing at Fed Square
The whole family can shake their groove thing at The Atrium at Fed Square on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 12.30 to 1pm. The free belly dancing lessons are led by professional instructor Trisnasari, no bookings are required and all ages are welcome.
www.fedsquare.com

Friday Night Fireworks at Docklands
Enjoy free music, entertainers and an incredible fireworks display at the Piazza at Docklands on 4 and 11 July. Festivities kick off at 6pm and the fireworks are at the family-friendly time of 7pm.
www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

Child-friendly cafés
For the price of a coffee, enjoy some priceless relaxation at one of the many child-friendly cafés around Melbourne. Some of our nannies’ favourites include: Miss Marmalade, Brunswick – as well as amazing food and beverages, Miss Marmalade has a kids’ menu, small play area and baby change facilities; Little Tommy Tucker, Bentleigh – with a shelf full of toys and a kids’ menu, this is a popular spot for locals; Birdy Num Nums, Carlton North – the large, covered courtyard at the rear features a sandpit and a variety of toys; Lulabelle’s, Camberwell – this gorgeous pastry shop and café features giftwares, babywares, toys to entertain the kids, and change facilities.

Victorian Farmers’ Markets
Enjoy the fresh air and ambience at one of many Victorian Farmers’ Markets held each weekend at different locations around Melbourne. Usually requiring a gold coin donation, the markets are a great opportunity to buy fresh produce and often provide a free petting farm as well as other attractions for children.
www.vicfarmersmarkets.org.au

MSO Family Jams
Anyone six years and over can jam with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) for free on 28 June at Federation Square. Bring your own instrument (or borrow one of MSO’s) and work together during the fun hour to develop an original piece of music. Each workshop culminates in a performance open to the general public. Bookings are necessary.
www.mso.com.au

City Circle Tram
For a free tour of Melbourne city, the City Circle Tram is a convenient way to see the sights of central Melbourne and Docklands while experiencing a ride on the charming, heritage trams. An audio commentary provides details of city landmarks and major attractions and you can hop on and off as you like. Trams operate between 10am and 6pm from Sunday to Wednesday and between 10am and 9pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. No bookings are required.
www.yarratrams.com.au

Port of Melbourne Boat Tours
A free boat tour of the Port of Melbourne will exhilarate the kids as they see massive ships and cranes up close, and the port’s most historic facilities. The tours usually run on the last Sunday of each month so spaces are limited and bookings are required. Round-trip tours leave from Gem Pier in Williamstown and Victoria Harbour in Docklands and last from 60 to 90 minutes.
www.portofmelbourne.com

Collingwood Children’s Farm
Open every day, this is your child’s perfect opportunity to get up, close, and personal with a range of fuzzy, feathery and furry creatures. Just $16 for the entire family (two adults and up to four children), the kids can also see cows being milked and enjoy a picturesque setting at the Collingwood Children’s Farm in Abbotsford.
www.farm.org.au

Heide Kitchen Gardens
The fifteen acres of spectacular gardens at Heide in Bulleen will give the kids plenty of space to run free and also learn about fresh produce through the amazing kitchen garden adjacent to the original farmhouse. The Gardens & Sculpture Park are open to the public and the kids can enjoy a range of free activities during the school holidays such as ‘Architecture Detective’ and ‘Art Detective’. Museum admission is free for children under 12; Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
www.heide.com.au

Placement Solutions is a Melbourne-based niche recruitment firm specialising in in-home childcare, also known as nannies and household management. The government-approved agency has been operating for 25 years and is a member of the International Nanny Association and the National In-home Childcare Association. www.placementsolutions.com.au

Filed Under: Children, Kids Activities, Kids Activities, Melbourne, Some Fun

Simple DIY tasks to keep your bike on the road

04/02/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

bicycle rides Let’s be real; maintenance is such an ugly word. Whether it be the lawnmower, gutters, chainsaw or pool, each weekend is consumed by something that needs to be maintained. While there are no shortcuts if you want things to be in perfect working order, there are simpler ways of making sure you don’t spend your leisurely weekend couped up in the shed. One apparatus you can apply these tips to is your trusty bicycle. Contrary to popular belief, you’re bike doesn’t demand hours of tinkering nor an expensive trip to the specialist every other week. By giving your two-wheeler a measly ten minutes of TLC every week, you’ll be saving yourself from trying to find a few hours (let’s face it: half a day) every couple of months. Assuming you are a regular rider, this simple DIY guide will encourage a long-lasting bicycle without extended downtime at the shop.

Washing Your Bike

You’re car gets the special treatment every month, clearing it of leaves, bird droppings and that coffee you accidently left on the roof. So why wouldn’t you do the same for your bike? Unlike a car, cleaning your bike doesn’t take nearly as long, and with the right tools, you can head back to that midday lifetime repeat in no time. While you can invest in a bike cleaning brush and a chain scrubber, a toothbrush works just as well to get into those hard-to-reach places. Strapped with a bottle of degreasing solvent, a hose and a rag, your bike should be as good as new in only a few minutes.

Lubricating Your Bike

In the world of bicycle maintenance, lubricant is your best friend. If you’re unsure of which sections need attention, a good rule of thumb is: If it moves, you need to lube it. Lubricant is a magical sticky potion that prevents your two-wheeler from becoming a victim of excessive wear, stiffening and rust. While lube is great, overdoing it will do as much damage as leaving it alone. If you’ve gotten too enthusiastic with the lubricant, wipe it away before it dries.

Assessing Your Tyres

Checking your tyres before you hit the road while decrease the likelihood of being stuck walking your bike roadside while a million cars zoom past. Before you jump on the seat and take off into the sunset check the surface tread and sidewall of the tyre ensuring there are no cuts, bulges or debris lodged in the rubber. If you do find any glass or nails piercing the rubber, you will need to replace the tube. Any specialty parts can be found at places like 99 Bikes, click here to view their range.

Evaluating Your Brakes

Newsflash: it’s not a good thing if you are dragging your feet along the ground to stop your bike. It’s an issue commonly ignored by the average rider that can be easily assessed and fixed. To do this, simply hop on your bike and give the levers a good squeeze to ensure it comes to a halt with stretching or fraying the brake cables. Then take a look at the brake pads. Are they hitting the rims evenly? Any unevenness means you will need to replace them.

Avid riders, do you have any simple maintenance tips? Let us know in the comments below.

Filed Under: Activities, Adelaide, Brisbane, Children, DIY, Hobart, Kids Activities, Kids Activities, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

How to set up the perfect play room for your kids

03/02/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

a perfect playroom Kids love to play, and building and decorating your children’s playroom can be just as exciting for you as it is for your children. Regardless of the size of the room you’re building, you should zone the room off for certain activities. Creating a room that’s functional and fun is also exciting and fulfilling; involve the little ones in big decision, small decision and decoration, from the frustrating world of kids furniture to swirling, bright colour charts.

Cultivate Creativity
A child’s playroom is meant to inspire creativity and learning. As such, this should be the room where your children feel the most inspired. Include a creativity corner, so that your children can grab some crayons and markers, a notepad or crafts. To add a little flare, you can display creative scraps and classroom art masterminded by your children, as well as family pictures and inspirational quotes with a special meaning to your family.

Create Floor Space for Play
Kids need room to play, so floor space has to be a consideration in your plans. If you’re having an issue with floor space, use the walls for storage. Shelving can easily store books, small toys and other miscellaneous items from the playroom.

Incorporate a Learning Zone
The learning zone is one of the most important areas of a playroom. One of the most effective set-ups for the learning zone is chairs, a table and a chalk board. This set-up affords your children the ability to learn and role play as teachers and students. You can add books, notepads and other items as you see fit.

Include a Reading Nook
Although you are creating a playroom, a reading nook will enhance your children’s experience as well. It’s alright to allow a little TV, but reading should be the cornerstone of your child’s development.

Storage Unit
There is bound to be lots of toys and miscellaneous items in you children’s playroom. Since toys come in many shapes and sizes, you can store the majority of the toys in the room by using benches with buckets inside of them. If you have enough room, you can use an entertainment center for storage.

A Cosy Place to Sit
While it’s alright to have one big couch, try to include some small chairs and floor poofs. They make great mobile seats and allow your kids to explore the room in comfort.

Overall, think about the functionality of the space; what could it be with a little TLC and a liberal injection of imagination? As a safety aside, be sure to pick a flooring option that’s safe for kids and that can be easily cleaned. You can get away with absolutely anything (as long as it reflect the personality or personalities of your children), think about small details, subtle flourishes and space saving solutions to get the most out of your playroom investment. Do you have any ideas you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Filed Under: Children, DIY

Tips for working more effectively at home

30/01/2014 by DO Leave a Comment

dadsonline self storage Working from home has its ups and downs like any other job. In some ways it can appear leisurely and luxurious. Those working nine until five office jobs crave the informality of working from home. And in many ways it is all they think it is. But there are downsides to working from home as well. It can be hard to motivate yourself to work, or to get work done as effectively as you would if you were in an office. Here are five tips for working more effectively from home.

Set a Schedule

It seems so simple and bland, but it truly does work. If you don’t have a schedule, the chances are that you will waste more time than you spend working. He trick is to treat it like any other job. Sit down at your desk at nine and work until you deserve a break. Don’t mess around just because there’s nobody there to supervise you. It will only end up meaning more work for you in the long run.

Set Goals

If you’re jittery or have a low attention span, it’s a good idea to set yourself goals to motivate you to get things done. Tell yourself that you won’t have another coffee until you finish writing up that report, or that you won’t have break until a certain amount of work has been completed. Once you get into the habit of setting your own goals and meeting them, working effectively will come easier.

Listen to Music

The right music can make a huge difference to your motivation. Try listening to some of your favourite tunes while you work. But make sure that you choose the right music. Different styles will be more effective for different kinds of work.

Use Diaries and Calendars

One of the best ways to keep track of your work and making sure that you are getting things done is to keep a calendar or diary. Write down everything that needs to be done, and when it needs to be done by. A good technique is to write it into your diary a week earlier than it needs to be done. This may help you to get things done quicker and more effectively.

Don’t get Distracted

Becoming distracted is one of the hardest things about working from home. It’s so easy to quickly check your emails or social media accounts and get carried away for hours on end. A good idea is to make sure you don’t have anything running in the background. Log out of Facebook until your work is well and truly done.

It’s important to treat working from home the same way you would any other job. If you take it lightly and don’t put in the effort, the chances are that you won’t get the results you could have. Be harsh and disciplined on yourself. Set goals and keep them.

Filed Under: DIY

Useful car apps for family car trips

06/01/2014 by DO 1 Comment

Summertime in Australia means a few things: Sun, surf, fresh seafood, oh and the great Aussie road trip.

Nothing screams summer vacation like packing your entire family, the dog and virtually everything but the kitchen sink into the back of your family car (which you wish was a Jaguar F-Type Coupe ) to escape the inner city smog and take on the open road. Unfortunately out of all the possible family vacations, the euphoria of a road trip (especially with kids) wears off within an hour. Before all the high-tech gadgets became available, we just used to hope that the little ones would fall asleep in between games of I Spy, but now there are a plethora of games, portable DVD players, tablets and toys to keep them entertained as you make your way through the countryside. One of the great innovations that’s become a traveller’s best friend is apps. There’s an app for everything, and if you are road-tripping this summer, here are a few tried and tested apps to make your journey seamless.

Australian Road Trip

Hidden gems are only ever whispered around the local campfire and are often hard to discover unless you know a guy who knows a guy. The Australian Road Trip aims to uncover these roadside treasures through forty detailed itineraries from family drives along the coastline to epic 4WD adventures. Each classic road trip provided by this app gives a detailed descriptions and recommendations of the best places to eat, where to sleep, what to see and do and where to camp. Of course you don’t need to follow the itinerary this app sets out, you can also create your own road trip with the information on perfect picnic spots, rugged walking treks and national parks, best museums, vineyards, local shops, historic sites and activities for the whole family all at the touch of a button.

Road Trip Bingo

There’s only so many times a parent can stand the age old whine – are we there yet? Save your sanity with an app that gives a new twist on an old classic. Road Trip Bingo will cure any kind of back-seat blues with a range of games to keep then entertained for hours or at least give you a few minutes of peace. This game is ideal if you have two kids who can compete against each other; they’ll egg each other on as the scour the landscape for everything from white cars to slippery road signs, to animals and planes.

Wotif

So the hotel you were supposed to be staying at is littered with bed bugs and the neighbours are partial to the odd domestic. It’s not the picture perfect location you had originally hoped for so the only logical solution is to salvage the rest of your holiday and look for another hotel. Luckily for you, the Wotif app will be able to give you discounted deals, recommendations and reviews on all participating hotels in the area.

Got a travel app you swear by? Let us know in the comments below.

Filed Under: Travel

Design ideas for your child’s bedroom

09/12/2013 by DO 1 Comment

amart kids bedroom Children only have one or two main concerns: how to mess up their room and how to build a fort out of their bedding. Most parents have general ideas on how they want to decorate their children’s rooms, however they don’t often think of the impracticality of their designs.

Add A Splash Of Colour

Children love colourful rooms, as it can help settle their moods and inspire creativity. By painting the walls a nice bright colour, or even just a soothing pale yellow or lavender feature wall, you can make your child’s room more relaxing and inviting. You may consider creating a wallpaper pattern for a feature wall, which can be easily applied without any trouble.

Install Kid-Friendly Carpet

Even though you may worry that carpet stains while vinyl doesn’t, a soft, comfy floor is a perfect way to get your kids lazing about for hours reading or playing games. There are all sorts of carpet cleaner you can buy that will easily remove stains without any problems, and there are many stain protectors that will never wear off. If your child has a vinyl floorboard, soft rugs are a great way to create a comfy play area.

Hang Your Child’s Paintings

Paintings are a great way to add some colour and creativity to your child’s bedroom walls. Simply fill some photo frames with your child’s own drawings, or look for some paintings of animals, or mythological creatures that your children like. You can also string a wire across the wall and hang your child’s painting or sketch like clothes on a washing line, making it easier to chop and change each time your child draws something new.

Accessorise

A great idea is to accessorise your child’s room like you would an outfit. Just like a sparkly new dress needs a dazzling handbag, a newly painted child’s room needs a beaded door hanging, new fringe lampshades, or even a few posters from the ABC shop. Accessorising your child’s room is an easy way to reflect their personality, and the best part is that you can constantly change it as your child grows older.

Create Storage Cabinets

Most children have untidy rooms because they have too many toys and not enough storage space. To maximise ample space in your child’s bedroom, why not buy a toy box, a wall storage cabinet, or even place the toys in a plastic container that can easily slide under the bed. This way you can create more space in the room and stow away the toys in an easy and practical manner.

Designing your child’s room can be a fun experience that will open up an exciting, clean play area for your children. Give your child a treat, redesign your child’s bedroom into a colourful den of fun today!

Filed Under: Children, DIY

Making a Home Sweet Home

06/10/2013 by DO 1 Comment

One of the down sides of separation is that children often think their real home is at there mothers and the dads home is a place they just visit. This does not have to be reality, in fact it is not hard to make your home a “home sweet home”. I didn’t want my child to feel that so I made sure they had their own bedroom and personal items and attempted to make there life as normal as it possibly could be.

Even if the bedroom is vacant 80% of the time, it is still important to set up a home that they feel is theirs when they are with you.

It is critical that they feel they have another home they can relate to and it’s equally comfortable, homely and catered for as their mothers.

Ways this can be done…

Making a project of decorating the bedroom together can be fun and will create a sense of ownership. When setting up your home, have pictures of them, school certificates and proud drawings on the fridge or around the house. My daughter keeps a photo of her mum in a frame on her chest of drawers. She often sleeps with it under her pillow. If that makes her feel more comfortable, then I am all for it.

pantry for kids The pantry should be stocked with their favourite foods for snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner. The bathroom should have their favourite shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, body wash, brushes and combs. The bedroom should have items that are important to them like sporting equipment i.e. basketball.
dreamboard project A dream-board is also a good idea to hang on the bedroom wall and pin photos, posters and memories to it. I made one from material I purchased from Bunnings, I used a chipboard backing and cork floor tiles. It was approx 1m x 1m and the cost was about $50 all up.