Trends

Keeping Traditions Alive in Immigrant Families

Immigrants to America bring their traditions with them from the old country, whether it be religious or a certain way of living life. The first generations born on US soil tend to be eager to shed their parents traditions, feeling that it is out of date or too foreign. And that is a crying shame, as traditions are what keep families close through the years.

There are so many wonderful traditions that come to the US from other lands, ones that should not be lost simply because of a sense of embarrassment. Poles treat their Christmas Eve like Americans treat Christmas day. It is a time for church, then good food and presents. Why should subsequent generations shed the Christmas Eve traditions for Christmas day? Celebrate both instead. There is nothing shameful in doing so.

Traditions are also a form of heritage and celebrating it. Even the Amish, a religious sect, have traditions that have nothing to do with their choice of religion and everything to do with their Dutch-German heritage. Again, each generation should hold onto the previous one’s traditions and keep them alive, or lose them forever to memory. Letting a tradition fade away takes away what is special and unique about one’s heritage, turning that generation into people just like everyone else. Boring.

The sense of community and family that is created by keeping old traditions alive is priceless. There is a common bond between people that is never lost. And memories are created for the passing down to subsequent generations in the hope of keeping the flame alive down the years.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Christmas, Tradition, United States

The Eternal War Between Parents and Teenagers

Ah, the teenage years. There is nothing quite like the heady mix of hormones and youth. Almost overnight it seems like the sweet, loving child has morphed into a smart mouthed brat. The determination to overcome the will of the parents is steely like, stressing the loving bonds. Most parents will say that they would love to give up at this point and throw the kid out, even though it is obviously not the right thing to do. But teens tend to drive adults to distraction with their moodiness and rebellions.

Just about everyone survives this phase, teenagers and parents alike. Certainly it is a war zone until the teen turns 18 and the hormones settle down. And this is also the point when the parent realizes that their child is now an adult. The misery of the teen years turns into satisfaction by sending a well adjusted person out into the world. But it is a matter of hanging tough and tough love until that magical day.

A large part of being a teen is testing the boundaries of the body and the mind. Experimentation into new venues, not necessarily drugs or sex, but listening to music they never heard before, picking up books they may have heard about but never understood, all this and more become interesting. And sometimes a parent may not appreciate the fact that they are getting into these things, even though they are harmless. Drugs and sex are another thing entirely. Most definitely sex will happen at some point, but drugs can be avoided with proper guidance. It is a parent’s job to steer their teen in the right direction while taking a deep breath every once in a while.

So relax mom and dad. You were once a teen too, driving your parents nuts.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Adolescence, Family, Parent

On What Grounds Can You File for Divorce in Mississippi?

You can file for divorce for at least 11 separate grounds in Mississippi; however, all but one is considered “fault” grounds. In other words, when the person seeking a divorce in Mississippi lists one of the 10 “fault” grounds as reason for the divorce, that person is saying that the other person is directly responsible for causing the divorce.

The only grounds for divorce recognized by Mississippi divorce law that is not considered a “fault” ground is irreconcilable differences. Many other states may also recognize this as a “no-fault” ground, while some states may actually be “no-fault” divorce states, period.

If you are curious as to which grounds are listed in Mississippi divorce law as being considered “fault” grounds, they include the following:

Impotence
Adultery
A spouse having been sentenced to jail or prison time
A spouse who is abusing alcohol or drugs
A spouse who has displayed signs of or been declared insane for up to three years
A wife who has become pregnant by another man without her spouse’s knowledge
A spouse having deserted another, and the period of desertion has lasted for at least one year
Treatment by either spouse that is considered cruel and humane
The inability of one spouse to be able to consent to a divorce
Incest

So, as you can see, some aspects of Mississippi divorce law are very specific. For those that aren’t, or for help in compiling the evidence that you have gathered to support your “fault” grounds, you can engage the help of an attorney who is knowledgeable of all facets of the law.

It may be necessary to show proof that one or more of the “fault” grounds actually exist or occurred. Your Mississippi lawyer can tell you exactly what you need to present so that your case can be proven.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Divorce, Law, Mississippi

What to Talk To Your Partner About During Your Pregnancy

Finding out you’re pregnant is an exciting and scary time for any soon-to-be parents, especially those who will be first-time parents. You are going to be showered with gifts and attention. It’s also good for any expecting parents to know that there’s going to be quite a few changes that are not always anticipated or expected.

There are important issues that couples should talk about during the pregnancy week by week before the new little bundle of joy is born.

Will you be a stay at home mom or will you return to work? This is one of the biggest decisions mothers will face and it’s important to discuss it as family. If you’re going from two incomes to one, this will affect your partner as well. If not, you need to discuss who will care for your baby.

If you’ve found out the sex of the baby it’s good to pick a name before your child is born. Think about your top five names and choose from there. It’s always good to decide on a name as a couple and be 100 percent happy with the name choice.

There are a ton of responsibilities that will go into raising a newborn baby. There’s a lot more responsibility than one person can handle. Parents should get involved and as a team to figure out which parent will handle which responsibilities. For instance, decide who will do the grocery shopping, clean the house, pay the bills, etc. Discuss the nursery and how you want it decorated. Couples have different opinions when it comes to the nursery. Do you want new furniture? What colors do you want on the wall? Talking about this in advance could avoid bad surprises. It’s recommended to have the nursery done by week 36.

Having this all planned out could make things a little bit easier since the first few months are so hectic.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Home, Infant, Pregnancy

Giving The Power of Capital to the Middle Class

Although the middle class sector of the United States is turning more and more to credit and financial services, that was not always the case. The middle class sector has always been a group of hardworking individuals with many who end up living paycheck to paycheck. This made it difficult for people who faced emergency situations like home or car repairs, unexpected medical bills and even the need to make an unplanned large purchase like a refrigerator or a computer. The only available option to these people was to turn to a bank in order to get a loan.

The problem with the bank and loan process was that it was an extremely long and drawn out process. There were many documents and papers that needed to be filled out as well as background and credit checks. This long process made it difficult for people who needed to get money quickly as the process for a bank loan could take weeks or longer to go through.

In recent years, banks and financial institutes like GreatPlainsLending have made it easier on the middle class. They have started to create lending vehicles known as a short term loans. These loans work in similar ways to the larger loans but the process is a lot quicker. Examples of short term loans include payday advances, short term loans and even cash advances. Short term loans can be approved anywhere from a matter of hours to a few days later. This gets the middle class the money that they need quickly.

Since the invention of these short term loans the middle class has started to pick up their spending habits. These loans have allowed the middle class to have the power of capital in their hands and with that capital they are able to make large purchases, pay unexpected bills and even help friends out without having to wait months to hear back about a loan.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Financial services, Loan, Middle class

Traditions Tie Multiple Generations Together

Families across the globe enjoy gathering for celebrating traditions. The most popular customs and practices are centered around holidays. These activities range from decorating a Christmas tree or wreath to elaborate celebrations for holidays like July fourth. Other family customs may center on birthdays or events like celebrations for a newborn child in the family. Some families use holidays and gatherings as the most valid reason to gather. When these customs are formed and upheld annually, it almost guarantees that multiple generations will bond together as they perform their rituals. The benefit of gathering like this can be priceless.

These customs are generally passed on from one generation to the next. Some of these family customs have been practiced for so long that current participants don’t even know which ancestor is responsible for starting the ritual. The practice of these conventions allows multiple generations of single family to participate in projects. Roles are often chosen and maintained as long as that member is physically able. This can allow a youngster to spend time and work with a great grandmother or other relative from several generations in the past. This bonding allows the younger family members to gain wisdom from their elders. The elders benefit also by sharing their knowledge and increasing their feelings of self-worth.

Traditions can serve as a driver for families to gather in a social setting. This time, spent together, can be very valuable and great fun for all those involved. Young people can benefit from learning and participating in new activities while more mature family members can socialize and enjoy the event.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Christmas tree, Ritual, Yule

Proposing

Okay, so you’re in love — L’amour. You’ve found the greatest girl in the world; it’s a sure thing. Birds came out of the trees and sang to you, perched on your shoulder. Fountains explode into dazzling displays as you walk by. But there’s a few things to keep in mind.

Psst. You need a ring. Tradition dictates that you offer her a ring as a symbol of your love and commitment. So, go find a ring—try a great fine jewelry website like engagement.jrdunn.com–that says exactly what you want her to hear.

Next up, you’ve got to plan the proposal. Think of it the same way you planned that first date. Where are you going to do it? What time of day? On a special day? Will there be music? Fireworks? Just kidding, don’t go overboard here. Its easy to go rushing in on a big thing. Keep your cool, think things out, and don’t overstress. Just make sure its perfect and all will be well. Easy, right?

Pick a spot that means something to the two of you. Is it a park where you sat on the swings and talked? Is it the bridge where you had your first kiss? There’s only a few big memories that you’ll get the joy of planning like a proposal. The both of you will remember this for the rest of your lives. Your kids are going to want to hear the story, your families will tell it and share it (no pressure).

Keep it under your hat for now. Proposal news travels fast. If you tell your roommate, he’s going to tell his girlfriend, who’ll tell her stylist who does yoga with your girlfriend. Just don’t say anything. Surprise her. Even if you’ve talked about marriage (and you better have!) women want to have the actual question popped by surprise. Get the ring, set the mood, and sweep her off her feet.

Good luck, bro.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Carey Hart, Engagement ring, Men's Health

Traditional Universities: Will They Die?

The word is this: they might. With the onset of the spectacular ‘online university’ taking the educational arena by storm, online universities might be the popular go-ahead for any high school graduate in the average American Middle Class family. Why is that?

Because they’re convenient–in many different ways.

This is the digital age, folks. It’s about efficiency, convenience, computer technology, smartphone technology, tablet technology. The era of textbooks, lecture halls, and dorm rooms might very well end, especially with how the economy has been going. The fact is all those expenses typical of your traditional university–supplies, room and board, tuition, entertainment, transportation–can add up to squash the wallet of any well-meaning Middle Class individual. But thanks to the prospect of online degrees available to anyone seeking the education necessary to acquire stable income.

The jobs in today’s market just don’t cut it. The way to begin is education; and online universities and degrees make that happen. Know that once you have enough qualified, quality individuals out there, businesses thrive. When businesses thrive, more top-notch jobs are created. And when more of those jobs are created, guess what, the economy gets better. There’s no way around it.

Some of the best things about obtaining an online degree is most programs offer an accelerated track, getting you your certificate of completion a lot earlier than with a traditional university. Moreover, you don’t need to worry about attending on time every lecture or class. Do the work on your own time, in your own pajamas if you want! You don’t have to sit face to face with a professor droning on and on about this and that. Get online, let it ride, do the work as fast or as slow as you like, and watch the time roll.

This is the age of the future: online universities, online degrees. Most definitely, it is a possibility: your traditional schools might die out.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: American Middle Class, Education, Online degrees

Eat Together-Family Time

Needing to spend more time with your family? Feeling like you have lost touch with your teen-ager? Possiblity is that in the midst of your busy schedule you have let family time around the table fall to the way-side.

Eating together should be the norm, not the occasional thing to do. Kids should question “WHY” we are not eating together. Time around the table builds strong family ties and encourages strong emotional health.

Make this time around the table a priority. Here a few tips to help you get started:

*Sit around an actual table, together.

*Try and make it the same time every day. This way the family knows exactly when to be there, no excuses.

*No TV allowed. This is time to spend with each other and catch up, TV will distract from this.

*No cell-phones. Again, this will be a distraction from the time together.

*DO NOT answer the phone, let the machine get it. Focus on the family, let them know they are important.

*Keep talk positive, that means no arguing. Allow a chance for everyone to take part in conversation.

Eating together will also allow your child to form better eating habits. Make one healthy meal with something that everyone will eat. Fast food should be saved for special occasions (maybe once a month). This is not unrealistic, it is something that you can do and will lead to a healthier child.

Use this time around the table to catch up with your kids. Find out what they are up to. Who are their friends? Let them know what is going on in your life too. Reconnect-find things that you all enjoy to talk about.

Another benefit to eating together is the opportunity to teach your kids table manners. If you haven’t noticed, table manners seem to be disappearing in society today. Take the time to teach your children what is and is not good manners. Borrow a book from the library if you are unsure of things yourself.

Overall, make this time a positive time. Get to know your family again, build strong family ties.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Family, Mobile phone, Television