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There is one thing that all parents are told about when their precious newborns are snuffling through the night feeds and keeping them up at night: just you wait until they’re teenagers. 

Firstly, I’m not a fan of that phrase because it’s peddled like a funny warning. As if a teenager being stressful and rebellious is a fun thing that parents should go through ‘just because we did’ – and it stinks. The older generations shouldn’t be laughing at the struggles of the younger ones as they navigate parenting. Every single one of us went through teenage years and puberty, so we should have some empathy for our children about to go through it, too. Supporting a teenager as they cope with hormonal changes, learn to understand who they are and navigate friendships and relationships isn’t easy, but as parents, it’s our job. 

It’s now up to you to help your teenager to find their way through to adulthood successfully with as few mental health and physical health issues as possible. There will be tears and tempers, confusion and fear, and you’re the adult who will help them through every single stage. You’ll go through the phase of your thirteen year old begging for helix earrings and a belly ring. You might go through the stage of your sixteen year old getting a tattoo by lying about her age. How you handle these things will either make your teenager shrink from you, or elevate you as being an epic parent. Teenagers carry around a lot of issues and it’s why there is a high rate of teenage suicide and panic among that age group. Below, we’ve put together a list of ways that you can deal with your stressed out teenager in a positive and gentle manner. 

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• Figuring the source. The first thing that you have to do together with your teenager is figure out the source of the stress. It’s not always easy to do that and there is every chance that your teenager won’t actually know what’s up in the first place. In this case, the chances are that their stress is triggered by the changes in hormones and they don’t actually know how to handle all these new feelings flooding in. The stress could also be exam related, friendship related, study pressure, romantic feelings that they just don’t get. There are a million and one things that can affect the way in which your teenager feels stressed, but if you can get to the bottom of it, you can untangle it all and feel better with them.
• ‘Do you need me to listen or problem solve?’. This is possibly the single most important sentence that you could utter to your teenager when you sit down to talk through their stress. Letting them talk it out is one thing but if they don’t want you to solve their problems, you just need to listen. Give your full attention and make them feel valid and supported in their worries. Don’t interrupt them and don’t offer solutions unless they ask for them. Ask them if they want to hear what you would do or not – otherwise it just looks like you’re telling them what to do.
• Don’t rush. There could well be more than one source of stress going on for your teenager right now, and there is no need to talk out or solve every problem at the same time. Take it one step at a time and make sure that they understand that you are a solid and a constant on which they can rely through their stress. No teenager wants to feel ignored; they want to feel seen. You can do that when you make sure that you’re not rushing them. 
• Plan together. Once you’ve heard their worries, heard their stresses, talk about pathways. Right now they see a brick wall ahead of them, but as the adult you will know there is a way around or over the brick wall. Work with them to create a plan that will put them over that wall with as little issue as possible. If you can help them to see the pathway they could take, they’ll be able to relax. A plan can help you to reduce their stress and anxiety. 
• Offer comfort. Much like when they were tiny babies, teenagers sensory seek. Offering physical comfort in the form of a hug, a pat on the back or a hand held tightly can help to ground them. Saying out loud that you can see them and you acknowledge them is so important, and you’re showing that you love and care for your teenager when you do. 

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• Help them to relax. Taking your teenage daughter to a spa day or for her first pedicure and making it a regular thing is going to really help you to bond together and help to keep their mind off of their schoolwork and issues with friendships. You can take your teenage son to blow off some steam at a golf range or an adventure trak, too, but don’t discount his need for pampering. He can still join in on a spa day, too!
• Applying grounding techniques. Did you know that you can help your teenager to ground themselves? If you work together on grounding techniques like these, you can help them to relax and unwind as much as possible at home. 
• Encourage better sleep. Teenagers – like babies – need a lot of sleep. They can feel less stressed and more awake on the day when they get a decent night of sleep. You don’t necessarily need to implement a bedtime, but make sure that bedrooms are mostly screen-free – no phone through the night, for example! 

Get some support. There is nothing shameful about seeking additional support for your teenager if you’re concerned about them and their mental and physical health. There is a whole world of support out there for you and your family and you just have to seek it.

Apart from the fun element associated with toys, they are developmental learning tools for kids. Any child with a new toy is usually over the moon, probably because of the prospects of what it can do. However, as a parent, you may want to consider some guidelines when buying toys for your children. Age-appropriate playthings have become quite a necessity, especially when parents want to keep an eye on what they expose their kids to. Moreover, considering that an American parent spends an average of $300 on toys, it makes sense to want your money’s worth. 

1. Decide for yourself if the toy is a developmental learning tool

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For marketing reasons, you may have noticed countless toys claiming to help boost your child’s cognition and motor skills. It would help if you made that conclusion yourself instead of relying solely on what the brand says. Keep in mind that their primary objective is to make as many sales as possible. Undoubtedly, there is a boom in the US educational toy industry. The Market Research website has indicated that it could hit US$ 6649.29 million by 2027. Whether these educational claims are accurate or not, please help your kids by reading online product reviews and asking parents you know who already purchased them.

1. Check for recalls

Indeed, when toys are recalled, it is for a good reason. These recalls indicate the detection of potential hazards and, by extension, to avoid widespread legal suits from the public. As a parent, it is helpful when you keep an eye out for these checks. All it takes is to do a quick internet search of the toy you wish to buy for your young ones. As long as you have the brand name and perhaps, item serial number, these checks are quick and convenient. Better yet, you can also use the CPSC website because all recalls are published there.

Exercising diligence to purchase the best safe toys is akin to screening new TV shows before allowing your kids to watch them. Fortunately, specific brands and toys like collectible Barbie dolls have played it well and are loved by kids of all ages. According to the Los Angeles Times, even though Barbie dolls used to target 12-year-olds, today, the age range moved down to three to five-year-olds.

1. Be cautious of toys with tiny magnets for younger kids

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According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), parents would be helping their kids if they exercised caution with tiny magnets fixed to toys. The commission further recommends that parents of kids under 14 years may want to reconsider purchasing toys with these home hazards for safety reasons. The reason for this caution is to prevent the dangers that come with the accidental swallowing of these tiny magnets.

Unfortunately, medical research has proven that two small magnets can still be attracted to each other in the digestive system. Subsequently, it could lead to intestinal twisting that could require emergency surgery. This sounds pretty scary and is every parent’s worst nightmare. Therefore, it will be in everybody’s interest to avoid it from occurring if you get something safer.

Indeed, there is more to purchasing toys for your children than simply taking them off store shelves or ordering online. You can try several other ways to find the best age-appropriate toys for your kids.

It sounds a little extreme, doesn’t it? How can a car change your life? Well, when you have a car of your own, there’s a lot of opportunities available to you that weren’t previously there. You’re free to do a lot more things independently, and that alone can make a huge difference in your life. Of course, there will be downsides too – it’s not just some miracle that everyone should be doing. It all comes down to circumstance, but if you’re in a position where you could potentially buy a car; here’s why you should consider it!

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No more borders

The first great thing about owning a car that applies to everyone is that you have a lot more freedom when it comes to moving around. You don’t have to walk everywhere, you don’t have to pay for the bus or wait at the bus stop, and you don’t have to ask others to drive you around. It’s a simple freedom that you can afford, and not something you should disregard easily. You have to consider that there’s a lot more you could do with your time when you have much more freedom over how you travel.

Job opportunities

If you’re looking for a way to make some money on the side of your current job, then here’s some good news. Your car can be more than just something for transportation – it can be a tool to earn money with. If you worked as a delivery driver, you could make some extra cash in your free time when you’re not working or doing anything. It gives you the opportunity and excuse to get more out of your car, and not something you should skip over!

Your new passion

If you’ve never driven a car before or never driven more than one car, you should know that every car is going to offer a different experience. Different cars feel different to drive, and will offer different features. In newer cars, you might experience a well connected and wireless driving experience. In older cars, you might experience niches in the design that aren’t so commonly seen with current-day cars. Learning all about these differences can be exciting, and can allow you to appreciate cars a lot more than you already do.

A sense of purpose

Owning a car can be expensive, and there’s also the fact that you’re going to have to make sure you maintain it. Not only that but there are plenty of things you can do with your car. They’re highly personalizable and it’s not difficult to learn about the things you can do to them. If you wanted your car to perform better, there’s plenty of mechanical changes to be made. If you wanted your car to be safer, there are features you can invest in that will help you avoid potential accidents. If you’re passionate about your car, it can be something you can enjoy working on over time. It’s not for everyone, but there are plenty of people who enjoy it, and for good reason!

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Humans are social animals, and as such, we interact with people daily. Therefore the potential for embarrassment always looms. Yet the things we get embarrassed about the most are the things we cannot help, most of the time. Embarrassing things that almost everyone does, such as burping out loud, happen every day. Yet, the level of embarrassment depends on where and when such events occur. At home, who cares? The elevator at work. Good Lord.

An Impromptu Tattoo

You’ve seen the TV shows where people get a silly tattoo while on holiday. Many people who get a tattoo end up regretting it, yet some generations enjoy theirs more. Millennials, for example, are the current record holders. Over 40% of Millennials have a tattoo. Probably due to the Hipster Apocalypse and celebrity influence. Tattoos themselves aren’t a bad thing, but there are bad tattoo artists. And the world is full of botched jobs.

Tattoos are meant to be permanent. But you can have them removed if you wish. It is a commonly held belief that lasers are required, but you can undergo a no laser tattoo removal process. There are various methods in addition to lasers, including surgery, dermabrasion, and salabrasion. You can also try natural approaches like honey, aloe vera, and lemon solutions.

The Nip Slip

A pulp celebrity magazine favorite, the nip slip paparazzi photo goes back a long way. A socialite drunk stumbling from a limo. A tennis player is slamming one home. Or a pop star is performing at the Superbowl. Sometimes, a boob just pops out. Although the validity of Janet Jackson’s incident is still fiercely debated.

This might have happened to you. The embarrassment can be mortifying depending on where and when it happened. At the office, oh dear God, no. But at the swimming pool, it’s to be expected. Yet, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Is there anyone alive with the ability to defy gravity? Of course not. If you are genuinely terrified of this happening, wear sports or a tight bra and layer up.

Cutting the Cheese

The world seems to have a big problem with one of the most fundamental biological processes that we have no control over. When you eat food, gases build in the stomach, and this needs to be released. Yes, you fart. So what? What’s the big deal? It’s not polite to do it deliberately at work or in someone’s home. But there’s nothing you can do about it, really.

Medically, it is not recommended to hold it in. Obviously, an office meeting isn’t the best time,  and you can hold it for a while. But if you don’t eventually release, you are susceptible to severe conditions. These include:

• Colon irritation
• Stomach pains
• Bowel discomfort
• Stomach bloating
• Indigestion
• Heartburn and acid
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation and diarrhea

Yet you can reduce the chances of excessive gas with some simple changes. First, you can reduce fats, proteins, lactose, and fiber. You can also eat slower, quit smoking, and exercise more frequently.

Accidental Crotch Grab

Remember that hilarious scene from the classic sitcom Friends? The one where Rachel goes for a handshake and grabs something else, following landing a new job. Well, it’s actually pretty common to accidentally touch someone in a private area. A mistimed handshake will land at the crotch, and you can never tell when boobs are going to get in the way.

This can be highly embarrassing for both parties involved, and a good man will be left mortified if he accidentally touches a woman inappropriately. The best course of action is to apologize,  laugh it out and never speak of it again. But, of course, if inappropriate touching frequently occurs in a grabbing manner, there could be more to it, and it might be best to inform someone.

Paste Face

There are those among us who love nothing more than cheerily jumping out of bed, ready to start the day afresh. And some take several hours to wake up, during which time they slowly come to life like an evolving early human. But whichever you are, it’s almost guaranteed you have pasted your face before leaving for work in the morning.

No one knows why this happens. It just does. It’s as mysterious as the forming of a black hole. But the hilarious thing about accidentally getting toothpaste on your face is that no one ever tells you it’s there! So you can go about your day, from the minute you leave home to the time you get back, and it will still be there. Socially acceptable sadism at its best.

Asking the Due Date

Perhaps a touchy subject and one that women are all too familiar with. Maybe you’ve been enjoying larger than usual lunches. Maybe you have put on a few pounds over the holidays, or perhaps you just have a cute little pot belly. There’s no shame in any of these. But how infuriating it is when someone asks when your baby is due. The cheek of it. 

However, this sort of question shouldn’t even be socially acceptable. Even if someone is pregnant, asking for a due date is considered impolite. Furthermore, anything concerning pregnancy is highly personal to a woman. So, unless you are a very close friend or family member, it’s probably best not to ask this question.  And it could be considered not safe for work.

Self Aggrandizing

Once considered the domain of the narcissist, self-aggrandizing is a tricky social game to play. Unless you are very good at lying, which most people are not, you should try your best not to do this. If you aren’t sure what this is, it simply makes you appear more important than you are. The dinner party is a prime example of a setting where self-aggrandizing takes place.Yet, the way the world has changed since the invention of social media means this practice is expected. There is a considerable amount of pressure in the modern world. This pressure almost implores us to self-aggrandize a little bit when meeting new people. So it’s common when attending a gathering or being asked about what we do for a living. Just don’t do it too much as people will see through it.

Hosting a client dinner can be a nervous experience but it can also be one of great opportunity. This is the perfect chance for you to wow your clients so that you can secure future deals. If you are planning a client dinner or you do not have a lot of experience in this area, don’t panic. We have put together a collection of tips to help you hold the perfect client dinner. 

Choose a venue with care

There is only one palace to begin, and this is by choosing a venue with care. You need somewhere that has a good reputation. The venue must look sophisticated and the food must taste good. You also need to think about the type of clientele that typically visits the venue as well, as no one wants lots of crying kids providing the background noise to their important client dinner. Barrio Queen is a Perfect Fit for Corporate Dinners
if you are looking for a good example.

Be on your best behavior when it comes to table manners

Some people aren’t the most polished when it comes to their dining etiquette. If you are one of those people, it makes sense to be on your best behavior when it comes to your table manners. Be cautious about the way you eat. Don’t talk with your mouth full. Use your knife and fork. Now is not the time to use your hands to eat!

Pay the bill out of sight of the client

There are a lot of people who like to make a big song and dance of paying the bill. They want to let the client know that they have paid for everything. However, this can end up making them feel awkward. Instead, it is best to pay the bill out of the client’s sight. This is something you can arrange with the restaurant prior to your arrival or you can pay the bill while heading to the toilet at the end of the meal. 

Break the ice with some small talk

Last but not least, we certainly do not recommend that you dive right in with business talk. Client meetings can always be a little bit awkward at first, especially if you are grabbing a bite to eat together. A lot of people feel nervous about eating in front of others, and diving right into business talk without any sort of pleasantries is hardly going to make the situation any better, is it? This is why it is important to make sure you use some small talk to break the ice. 

Final words on how to host the perfect client dinner 

So there you have it: an insight into some of the things that you can do in order to host the perfect client dinner. We hope that the tips and advice that we have provided above will help you to feel more confident about your next client dinner so that you can get them on board.