How to Protect Pictures and Video of your Family

Digital cameras continue to grow in popularity.  It is becoming the norm for precious memories to exist exclusively in a digital format.  The average person copies photos to their computer and saves them, but how many of those pictures are ever printed on photo paper? What happens when that computer eventually crashes?

One method for sharing, organizing, and storing photos, which is becoming very popular are the online photo sites.  They allow members to upload, organize, share, edit, and print pictures.  The problem with these sites is that once the photograph is uploaded to them, the member will eventually have to pay that company each time photo prints are needed.  That’s fine as long as the company stays in business, as long as their quality remains intact, and as long as the member doesn’t need pictures in an hour.  These are several things to consider and should encourage everyone to at least keep backup copies of photos whether the online photo websites are used or not.

Saving pictures exclusively to the family computer that everyone uses is not very secure or reliable either.  A computer that is used daily to connect to the Internet is exposed to many dangerous threats that can corrupt data and ultimately destroy, not only pictures and precious memories, but any hard work which is stored there.  It’s alright to save files and pictures to that computer, but precautions should be taken immediately to protect them.

Use a hardware firewall to protect that computer from the Internet.  Firewalls are available at all electronic retail stores that sell computers and are easy to install and configure.  Use a trusted antivirus program to monitor the computer for harmful viruses, Trojans, and worms.  Install a spare hard disk drive into the computer and either manually copy important files to it or use a software backup utility to do it automatically.

An even better idea is to build a stand alone computer that is used exclusively for storing pictures, important file, and videos.  Do not connect this computer to the Internet and be sure it is password-protected and logged-out when not in use.  Install a DVD writer in this computer and make DVD backup copies of all important files and keep the DVD’s stored in a locked box or filing cabinet in a temperature-controlled room.  If this computer needs to be networked to the computer that uses the Internet, then it is possible to block Internet usage on the backup computer and still send files back and forth between the two.

Announcing a Pregnancy to Family and Friends

So you just found out that you are going to be a parent. How exciting! How should you inform your family and friends? Here are some suggestions.
 

Many young, expecting couples decide to announce a pregnancy via a huge gathering of family and friends so they can tell everybody the great news at once.  This type of gathering is fun and allows everyone to hear the good news at one time.  The problem with this plan, however, is that the future parents don't get to see everyone's initial reaction to the news. If this is a concern, a more personal visit with each person may be the better choice.  One-on-one visits allow intimate conversations with each other and the satisfaction of seeing the joy on peoples’ faces when they hear the good news. Save the big parties for the baby showers or just have a huge gathering after everybody knows.

On a piece of paper, write a complete list of family and friends. Arrange these names in order by when each person or group will receive the good news. The parents of the expecting mother and father, if they are still living, should be the first ones to know the good news, since they will be the child's grandparents.

Decide who lives close enough to visit and who will receive a friendly call instead. Plan this carefully because good news travels fast. You don't want someone special to receive a phone call from another friend or family member before you are able to tell them. Plan the visits so that phone calls can be made to the out-of-town friends and family while you are on the road from one in-person visit to the other. This is the most efficient way of reaching more people in a shorter amount of time.

For parents and grandparents of the expecting parents, it is a good idea to present them with a gift; something with a significant reference to grandkids or great-grandkids. This gives an element of surprise so that you can watch the look on their face change as they realize what they are hearing. It is very exciting for everyone involved. A book about how to spoil grandkids or a picture frame or flip book with "grandkids" engraved on it are some suggestions.

Take pictures and video while visiting with friends and family and then write about the experience, including the date and time that each were told. These will make interesting entries into the baby's memory book or even a personal blog and you'll be glad that you took the time to do it when they read it years from now.  Don’t procrastinate and allow precious memories of this joyous occasion to fade into obscurity.

Diffusing a Family Argument

It’s not uncommon for family members to eventually get on each others nerves.  Something as simple as a misunderstanding can erupt into a major fight.  How can you calm everyone down and get things back to normal?

The first thing to do is separate the people who are fighting.  If things escalate too far, you may not be able to stop the fight and people could be hurt emotionally or worse, physically.

Talk to both people separately and find out exactly why they are angry.  If a misunderstanding has occurred, this will bring things to light.  If both parties have a legitimate gripe, then it’s going to take more work to find a solution.

Try to remain objective and don’t take sides.  If other people try to intervene, decide whether they are helping or hurting the situation and if they are making things worse, encourage them to stand down.

Speak to each person and remind them that you love them and that they are family.  Get everyone calmed down enough to talk.  If it looks like that will not happen, encourage everyone to separate and spend some time cooling down.

If everyone goes their separate ways for the time being, ask that they immediately write down as many of the details about the situation as they possibly can.  They should also write down as many ideas as they can for resolving the situation.

Sometimes, it just takes time to heal the wounds caused by a major argument.  If this is the only option, then just wait it out.  Remind everyone how important family is and stay in touch with both sides.

How to Travel with Young Children

If a road trip is in your future and you have young children, it is imperative that you are prepared.

Plan your route carefully.  Know where you are going and how long it will take you to get there.  Now add time for rest stops and eating.  Pack plenty of snacks and games to keep the children satisfied.  Learn how to play several games that may be played on-the-fly.

While traveling, if you approach a rest area, be sure to ask your spouse and kids if they need to stop.  You will be sorry if you pass up a rest stop and then find out that your children need to use the restroom when you are in the middle of nowhere.

Keep plenty of refreshments on-hand and make sure they are easily accessible without having to pull over.  One good idea is to fill several plastic bags with their favorite cereal.  Be sure all drinks are served in containers with resealable tops.

Teach your children to play some games before the trip.  Take some crossword puzzles or word find puzzles along as well as some of your children’s favorite toys.  Play the “alphabet game”, which involves spotting and calling out letters of the alphabet as they appear on billboards.

Stop often for stretch breaks so that everyone stays as comfortable as possible.  Enjoy traveling with your children and make every trip an adventure.

How to Talk to Your Husband about Problems without Fighting

It seems so cliché to say that men and women do not think alike, but many couples would benefit from acknowledging these differences.  Knowing what to say and how to say it can mean the difference in an amicable resolution and a terrible fight.

It is important for a husband to comprehend, not only his wife’s most pressing concerns, but to dig deeper and find out how these problems affect her emotionally.  Men tend to approach solving problems in the same way that they tackle challenges at work; identify the problem, brainstorm solutions, and fix it.  This works very well for handling many of life’s challenges, but certainly not all of them.  A woman expects her man to automatically adapt to each problem, consider how it affects her on a personal level, and handle it carefully and appropriately.  A man would rather solve a problem quickly, get it behind him, and move on to happier things.  This is where things get a little tricky.

In order to communicate effectively, both men and women have to compromise to some extent.  Husbands need to spend more time learning what makes their wife tick and be able to identify which things are most important to her so that he can carefully match them with any corresponding problems as they arise.  Women need to be patient and realize that not every problem will receive a perfect and timely solution.  Sometimes, it’s acceptable to leave a few things broken in order to address larger problems.

Both a husband and a wife need to use appropriate dialog when speaking to each other.  For example, “Would you mind cleaning up the living room?” is perfectly acceptable.  “You never pick up anything in here!  Look at this mess!  I always have to do everything and all you do is walk in and throw your junk on the floor and leave it for me to clean up!” is a little harsh.  While both phrases will probably get the job done, the latter will lead to aggravation and probably an exchange of vicious words.  Don’t speak in generalities.  Just because your husband overlooks something, don’t berate him and tell him that he doesn’t care.  Avoid using the words “always” and “never.”  Do they really apply?  Speak in a thoughtful manner and if you are addressing a specific concern with your husband, make the conversation about that and don’t jump around and try to include everything that he’s ever done to irritate you.  This will confuse and aggravate him every time because he won’t know for certain which problem is bothering you the most.  Rather than try to fix everything at one time, it is easier for him to retreat.

No matter what problems occur or what difficulties a couple faces, they should commit to several important things to get through to the other side.  Don’t let the sun go down on your problems.  Make the start of each day a good one.  If something is bothering you in the evening, don’t go to bed angry.  At least try to resolve it before you sleep and if you can’t, then declare a truce and resume the argument later.  Don’t leave the house in a fit of rage.  Many people get into fights and one person jumps in the car and screeches off.  It is not safe to drive when you are in a heightened emotional state.  If you need a break from each other, go to separate ends of the house or go outside and get some fresh air, but don’t drive away.  Don’t use cheap insults when speaking to each other and try not to say things you don’t mean just to hurt each other’s feelings.  When the smoke clears and you settle down, things like that tend to leave uncertainty and weird vibes between people.

Speak to each other the way that you would like to be spoken to.  Don’t be condescending or mean.  If you find that it is impossible to have civilized conversations with your spouse, you should seriously question whether your relationship is meant to last.  If you are at this point, seek professional help from a licensed family counselor.

How to Search for Your Ancestors

Discover the rich history of your family through patience and diligent research and illuminate your past!  You may be a descendant of royalty or perhaps a famous historical character and not even know it.

The quest to enrich your knowledge of family history begins at home with your closest living relatives.  Parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and even great-grandparents are the most reliable resources available to you to acquire family stories and secrets that nobody else could possibly know.  Don’t let the precious time you have with them slip away.  Take advantage of each opportunity to reminisce about the past and learn more and more about your family.  Record everything in the form of notes, audio recordings, and video.  One day, you’ll be glad you did.

Look through the family Bible if your family has one.  It used to be tradition in many families to record births, deaths, and other significant events in the family Bible.  To dig even further into the past, join one of the many online resources for genealogy research.  Why do all the footwork when someone out there may have already filled in many portions of your pedigree?  You can also use the library as a research tool by looking through old newspaper clippings and history books.

If you can determine the location where your ancestors lived the majority of their lives and the church they attended, you may be able to locate their name in the church’s records.  If you’re lucky, you may also discover their grave marker.  If you do, be sure to clear away any debris from the marker, take a digital picture, and include it into your online family tree.  Leave some flowers as a show of respect.  There are also free websites dedicated to listing grave marker information and pictures to which you can contribute.

Travel to the countries, the cities, the small towns, or the villages where your ancestors lived.  Sometimes, the locals have stories to tell or your family may have left a unique impression.  Above all, be sure to record anything of interest.  Sometimes pieces of the puzzle don’t make sense until they are matched with others.  Be sure your story is told as well.  Keep a journal or even a blog so that in the future, your descendants can learn more about your life experiences.