The Curious Mom

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When your teenage son or daughter passes their driver’s test they’re often itching to get behind the wheel. For parents, however, the idea of buying your child’s first car can be a little scary, but it’s an important milestone in their lives. You want to give them some independence but also explain the responsibility and cost involved. It can also be difficult knowing which car to go for. Here are five tips for buying your kid’s first car.

Your kid has worked hard and set their mind on passing the test, so they deserve a reward. On the other hand, you don’t want to spoil them or go over your budget. It’s important to teach your child the value of money and get them to contribute to the new car, even if it’s just a little. They might have other ideas about which car to buy, but remind them that cars cost money to maintain. If they are shouldering the finances themselves, maybe they have a part-time job, then you have to stress to them how important it is for them to pay back the money on time. If they do not stick to that, they risk their car being repossessed. You can always consult with a Massachusetts Car Repossession Law firm (or one in your location) to see how you can deal with this if it ever happens, but teaching them the value of a personal possession is essential.

Your son or daughter will have been studying hard to pass their driver’s test. This includes both theoretical and practical road safety lessons. For your own peace of mind at least, go through a couple of refresher lessons with them before buying a car. Reiterate the potential hazards they could encounter while driving. Click Here for more information about road traffic laws, accidents, and consequences.

All drivers need to have a basic understanding of car maintenance. Before your kid gets on the road, it might be a good idea to go through a bit of maintenance 101. Make sure they know what to do if their car breaks down. Give them a quick refresher lesson on basic maintenance such as changing the oil and pumping gas. You could do a quick pop quiz at the end to test their knowledge of what’s under the hood. This will help give you peace of mind when they’re on the road.

Why not consider going used? Have a look online for the best used cars for teens. There are several advantages to opting for a used car. You’ll save money in the long run and many newer models have all the safety features of today’s standards. You can explain the benefits of used cars to your newly qualified kid. They’ll probably just be excited to be finally getting a car of their own.

It’s always a good idea to take a car for a test drive before you buy it. Take your son or daughter with you to test drive the car. It might be nice to surprise them with a car in a big bow outside the house, but it’s important to ensure they’re comfortable driving it. Test drive the car yourself as well and let them know how it feels from the point of view of a more experienced driver. Your child will appreciate your perspective and advice.

Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI) has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) for the first-ever National Alternative Learning System Teachers’ Achievement Recognition (NALSTAR) which honors and recognizes exemplary alternative learning system (ALS) teachers.

“The success of the ALS program can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of its educators, who give more than 100% of their efforts in moulding and educating our fellowmen, especially those belonging to the underprivileged sector. NALSTAR is our means to recognize their selfless commitment to teaching,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, PJLI president and CEO, as he expressed his support and appreciation for ALS teachers.

The top NALSTAR educator will be selected from among 17 finalists coming from DepEd regional offices nationwide. The winner will take home P125,000 cash, and another P125,000 will be earmarked as seed money for their own ALS school. The top four finalists will take home P20,000 each while the remaining nominees will receive P10,000 each.

Every parent knows that good dental habits are built at home, and at a very young age. In fact, when they are well into primary school at the age of eight to ten, your youngsters can already use their toothbrush independently, and by that time, they should know how long it takes to brush thoroughly, how much toothpaste to use, and how often they need to brush to keep their gums and teeth in excellent shape.

However, as soon as adolescence kicks in and your kids gain more independence, you need to continue building upon this existing foundation of health by teaching them other healthy habits and enforcing your own. Every little step forward is important, and your teenagers will be able to feel more confident and learn to appreciate their health with a pearly-white smile and a fresh breath!

There are a lot of motorcycle riders who become hurt after riding their motorcycle because they did not bother to stay safe. Some cannot even be asked to purchase cheap motorcycle jackets because they believe that they do not need it.

Motorcycle jackets are not only worn in order to look cool. Motorcycle riders wear it because they need to protect themselves from possible scratches and abrasions if in case they hit the pavement while riding. Some teenagers are close-minded about this. A lot of teenagers also feel that things like that will never happen to them.

If you ask your teenager whether they would like a birthday party this year, be prepared for a full-on eyeroll and the announcement that birthday parties are lame. Teenagers are generally ‘too cool’ for a party, but what you have to remember as a parent is that instead of just throwing them a party that YOU would like, you need their input. Things have changed since the pool parties that they had when they turned eight, and now it’s time for you to get them involved and even hand over most of the planning control.

Throwing the right kind of party is key for teens, as is getting the right gifts for them. This is going to take conversation and sitting down to discuss things. You need to know what it is that they would like so that you can plan properly. Checking out a Segway Minipro review is all well and good, but if your athletic teen is into ballet and not zooming around on two wheels, you need a rethink. This is why you need their help! You want to impress them, because parents aren’t impressive to a teenager. So, in the name of impressing your teenager so you become the coolest Mom on the block, check out these fab party ideas. They’ll be counting the days!

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Games Night. Okay, so we’re not talking Twister and ice cream for afterward, but hosting an Olympic-themed party for a teenager who is obsessed with sports could put you in the Mom hall of fame. Set up stations around the yard and in the house for various Olympic activity. You can get creative with Pinterest for snacks and décor, and get their input for the various sports that you lay on.

1. Brushing Teeth in the Morning and At Night

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As a mom, you kinda have to get used to wearing a bunch of different caps every single day because the role of ‘mom’ kind of transcends any one role. You’re a chef, a secretary, a taxi driver, appointment maker, cleaner, housemaid, alarm clock, homework helper, master of the iron, packed lunch connoisseur, a best friend and above all a teacher.

Yeah. That last point is definitely the most important.

We know that school is there for a reason - to educate your not-so-little one - but there is a ton of things they ignore in their curriculums, many of which are going to set your kid up for a successful entry into the world of adulthood and, as you know, this is not an easy feat.

Your twenties are an interesting transitional time in your life. Your well out of the teenage and adolescence years but early in the adulting phase of your life. In your twenties, your income certainly begins to increase but so do all of your expenses. As a young aspiring individual, monitoring and prioritizing your spending can often become a challenge. Here are my 6 essentials for spending (or splurging) in your 20’s:

We all remember our teenage years. Despite being at the peak of our youths, most of us would admit they were the worst times of our lives. Never before or after are we so uncertain about who we are. It’s a rollercoaster alright. And, when your kids reach those tempestuous years, it makes sense that you want to ease their burdens. You’ll want to do everything possible to stop them suffering the way you did. Yet, when you try to help you teen, they push you away and freeze you out. What’s a parent to do? It’s not easy, but we’re going to look at a few of the cans and can’ts of helping your teen navigate the nightmare. 

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What you can do

Let’s start on a positive note. While most parents of teens feel helpless a lot of the time, there are things you can do. Most importantly, you can provide a safe space for them to return to. When everything else is so uncertain, it’s crucial they have a stable home to feel safe in. Make sure, too, to provide them with a room they can call their own. Stock it with furniture, a comfortable bed like those mentioned at ChooseMattress, and a decoration style that suits your teen. Encouraging them to take part in the design of their room will ensure they think of it as their own. 

The truth is that a lot of parents often find it quite frightening when their teen child wants to host a party. This might especially be true when they want to host it in the parental home. For obvious reasons, you might be excused for worrying about such an occasion. However, it is in their interests if you are able to allow them the occasional party. Not only is it important for helping them to develop their social skills, but it also helps to encourage a healthier relationship between the two of you when you allow that kind of freedom from time to time. What’s more, it gives you a chance to get out of the house yourself - and we can all agree that that has its own benefits.