United States Archives - Persevering Momma

Let’s Talk About Car Seat Safety

September 22, 2016 by Ashley 1 Comment

Let’s pause for a moment and talk about car seat safety. It is child passenger week and I wanted to share some information with you all about carseat safety because it is ever changing and we can never be too safe with our children.

Storks know how to keep kids safe. Do you? Visit safercar.gov/therightseat to know for sure that your child is in the right seat for their age and size. #STORKS #TheRightSeat. During Child Passenger Safety Week, will you help us spread awareness about the importance of having “the right seat” and “the right fit”?

For most of us, grabbing our gear and running out the door and hoping in the car is an everyday occurrence. Maybe you are headed to work, a play date, or on vacation – but we spend a lot of times in our cars. When we have little ones, we put them in their car seat and buckle them up without a second thought to whether or not they are in the right seat. We trust that they are safe – and we go on our way.

Did you know that every 33 seconds a child under 13 is involved in a car crash in the United States?

Car seats, if used correctly, can dramatically reduce the risk of fatality or injury. But over half of car seats are misused in a way that could reduce their effectiveness and 1 in 3 children killed in car crashes are completely unrestrained at the time of the crash.

Can you imagine? Thinking that your child is in the right car seat, only to find out that they aren’t!

So what do you choose? Infant, convertible, or booster seat? Finding the right car seat and installing it correctly is no easy task. Then there’s the question of when to transition your child to another type of car seat.

Car Seat Safety Tips:

Find a car seat that fits your child. As children grow, how they sit in your car will change. Make sure the car seat you purchase is designed to fit your child’s current size and age.
Not all car seats fit in all vehicles so test the car seat you plan to buy to make sure it fits well in your vehicle.
Before putting your child in a car seat, read the manufacturer’s instructions so you know how your car seat works.
All-in-One car seats offer you the advantage of using the same seat for the following positions: rear-facing, forward-facing with harness, then booster. These seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
Remember, the best car seat is the one that fits your child properly, is easy to use, and fits in your vehicle correctly. The information here can help you choose the right seat for your child. Keep in mind that:

Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
Children ages 1-3 should be kept rear-facing as long as possible.
Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.
Be certain you’ve installed your car seat correctly by having it checked at an inspection station or by a certified child passenger safety technician. Bring the Car Seat Instructions AND the Vehicle Owner’s Manual with you to a seat check appointment!

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old. Many times deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts. By working with the Ad Council and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) we hope to get out a message that will educate parents and caregivers about the importance of selecting the right seat for their child’s age and size, and to remind them that car seats, booster seats and seat belts offer the best protection for children in crashes and help save lives.

Get this message out to your friends and family!

Twitter – Many parents do not realize their child is in the wrong car seat. Visit Safercar.gov/TheRightSeat and make sure your child is riding safely. #therightseat.
Facebook – Storks know how to keep kids safe. Do you? Visit safercar.gov/therightseat to know for sure that your child is in the right seat for their age and size. #STORKS #TheRightSeat

The Most Ridiculous Lawsuits Ever Filed

December 3, 2015 by Ashley Leave a Comment

I have been one to find it crazy how our law system has to put up some really absurd laws in order to avoid some of these ridiculous lawsuits. Some laws have been put in place to prevent some of these frivolous lawsuits, though you can still file lawsuits for some of these crazy reasons that I am going to share with you. Please let me know your reactions to these lawsuits after reading this because I am still shaking my head in shock for some things people in the United States are will to sue over.

My Favorite Ridiculous Lawsuits

My number one favorite absurd lawsuit is one where a burglar actually sued and won when he was injured while breaking into the man’s home. This happened back in 1997 and the man was sued for a total of $150,000 over the death of the burglar; thankfully; the amount was cut in half because they deemed the dead man as half responsible for his own death seeing as he was drunk and high at the time of his death. It baffles me that someone can sue for bodily injury or death while breaking into someone else’s home.

That lawsuit is pretty ridiculous, but so is this one. In 2000, a woman visited the Universal Halloween Horror Nights Haunted House, but found it to be too much for her. She sued Universal Studios claiming that she suffered emotional distress, mental anguish, and you guessed it extreme fear. So, this woman paid and put herself into a situation where she would be frightened and decided it was just too much for her. She won the case and was awarded $15,000. I personally do not go to Haunted Houses because I know that they are too much for me. I have to concentrate on walking in the dark and cannot stand that kind of fear I feel in Haunted Houses. I know this and because of that I would never go to a Haunted House. I would have guessed that people have enough sense to know their limits, but obviously I was wrong.

If you think these examples are crazy then you should check out these other absurd lawsuits!

I Am Stronger Than My Abuser Ever Thought: My Experience With Domestic Violence

December 8, 2014 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Abuse. What is abuse in a relationship? Honestly, I hate the word abuse; probably because I am still in denial, but that is not the point. Abuse can be so many things and it can mean so many different things to different people. The definition of abuse according to Google is

1. use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse. 2. treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly. 3. speak in an insulting and offensive way to or about (someone).

According to this definition most people have probably gone through some sort of abuse in their lives. To know if you are/were going through physical, emotional, or verbal abuse in a relationship can be a little tough to know. If you are someone like me who over analyzes everything you might feel like you talk yourself in circles about this with your significant other or family member. If that is the case then, just maybe you will want to think long and hard about everything because you might be suffering from a form of abuse.

Why am I writing today?

Here is the thing. It took me a long time to realize it, but in my previous relationship I was dealing with abuse on some level on a daily basis. I rationalized the abuse each and every time. It was a hard decision to walk away, but I know that I did the right thing. Writing all of this down is hard for me, just as was writing down my story about choosing adoption for my daughter. (To read more on that Go Here.)

So here I go.

Know that it is unacceptable for someone to violate your body, mind, or spirit. Be a survivor. Please. -Deciphering Morgan

My Experience With Domestic Violence (Abuse)

I was in a pretty serious relationship with my ex-significant other for seven years. In that seven years we lived together for six years, during which time we battled through living off of very little money and giving up a daughter for adoption. Things never came especially easy for us and 90% of the relationship only one of us would have a steady job at a time. It was very short-lived when we both had jobs and only had one car. I would love to be able to tell you that things were pretty perfect at the beginning, but that is not the truth and I am not going to sugar coat anything here today.

No, today is a day for truth, and honesty because I want to be able to help some other woman or man realize that they are not alone and that they are not the only ones out there rationalizing their relationship.

From the beginning there was a decent amount of fighting between the two of us. Our fights were loud and angry. There was a lot of shouting and occasionally hands would be put on each other. I am admitting that not only did he put his hands on me, but that I also put my hands on him. I never really had a chance against him, but some of the things he would say would really make my blood boil.

…he made me feel worthless and for the longest time I really believed that I deserved everything he said and did to me.

I always hated and dreaded these “arguments” that we would have. They would begin with him being angry about something I did or something I did not do. He would snap at me and raise his voice. When he would do this I would curl up, cower, and not speak. I did not know what else to do. I hate fighting. I hate confrontation. And I have always dealt with arguments poorly (just ask my parents). My reaction to him raising his voice always made him even more angry.

I could never find the right words to express what I was thinking or feeling at the time; that there caused fights on top of fights. It was those moments when he would move closer. He would get in my face. It has been almost a year now and I can still feel his hot breath against my skin, hear his heated words ring in my ears, and feel his strong hands on my body. I know it is all over now, but those things never leave. They will forever scar my memory.

I am stronger now knowing that I am not alone. I know that I left him and I am a stronger person because of it. I came here today planning on telling you more intimate details about my story, but now I realize I have said all of the important details. You do not need to hear about the times I was hurt, or the specific fights that are crystal clear in my memory.

You are NOT alone. You are NOT trash.

Your abuser might tell you any such things, but know that they are not true. I went far too long believing his lies, trusting him unconditionally and blindly because I felt like I had no other option. I was weak, but I am NOT weak any longer. I am strong and I will persevere despite any road blocks that are thrown into my path.

If you feel like you have no way out, or no one who can help you then you should reach out to the Domestic Violence Hotline. I found a way out on my own, but it was not easy. People are out there who will help you. Take advantage of what they can offer for you. Feel free to reach out to me if you just need an ear or if you would like to share your story. I am here for you because I know what it is like to feel completely alone.

Stress Relief With Pinch Me Therapy Dough a Review

October 25, 2014 by Ashley 1 Comment

Disclosure: I received a free product from Pinch Me and Mom Buzz Media in return of an honest review of the product.

This past year has been pretty hard on me. I have moved around half a dozen times in these past 10 months since I left Michigan and moved out to Indiana alone. It has been tough especially since up until a few weeks ago I was unemployed and was finding it hard to make ends meet for myself and my adorable puppy. There have been days when I felt like everything was collapsing around me.

I was thankful for this opportunity to review Pinch Me Therapy Dough because I have felt that I have needed to find a way to help relieve stress and unwind when I feel like the whole world is crashing around me. In my own head I know that things are not as bad as they may seem in the moment, but my psychological anxiety and depression illnesses do not always like to stay in control.

My hopes were to get this therapy dough and find a way to control and curb my anxiety issues while I am at work and in public. This was successful. I was crazy excited when I got my Pinch Me Therapy Dough in the mail. They all come in a variety of colors and scents all of which serve different purposes. I chose Earth because I wanted something that would help ground me and keep me centered. This scent did just that.

I love the reddish-brown color of the therapy dough as well as the scent. It is hard for me to describe, but it is a very earthy and musky scent that helps me to just calm down and breathe slowly. I was also unsure of what the texture of the therapy dough would be like. I will be honest and admit that I was nervous about the texture because I can be pretty sensitive to textures of foods and puttys.

This therapy dough however is the softest dough substance that I have ever come across. I am not sure what they make it out of, but it feels smooth, cool, and soft to the touch. In addition to that it leaves my hands feeling soft and smelling wonderfully earthy.

If you are like me and need an easy way for quick stress relief this is definitely something that I would suggest you invest in. The container of therapy dough is large so it can easily be slipped inside of your purse. I also love how every container you purchase will pay for a soldier’s half day stress management training with BootStrapUSA.com

Why do you need stress relief with Pinch Me therapy dough?

True or False: Is Stress Giving You Gray Hair?

October 24, 2014 by Ashley 1 Comment

(Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links)

My mother used to point to her graying head of hair, and say to me and my two sisters we were responsible for it. I never felt the guilty party, but what was impressed on my sullen teenage brain was the link between stress and gray hair. The memory haunted me when I discovered a rogue clump of white hair around my forehead, that seemingly appeared overnight. I recalled my looming deadlines, late nights, and run-ins with a few strong personalities. Was stress making me turn gray?

I reminded myself to stay calm, and did what everyone in our modern age does, I went straight to the Internet for answers and found more anecdotal evidence. Witness how President Obama and President Bush turned gray as their terms progressed. Heavy (and silver) is the head who wears the crown. Legend has it, Marie Antoinette’s locks turned gray the night before her date with the guillotine.

Yet, when scientists and doctors are asked whether stress causes the acceleration of gray hair, you won’t get a definitive answer. Most experts say the connection between stress and graying is a myth, though extreme stress may cause a hair loss event (the condition is known as telogen effluvium, but that is a different area of investigation).

One of the reasons aging, not stress, has been attributed to graying is because the rate in which we lose pigments is slow and steady. Hair grows about half an inch per month and the lifespan of a strand is about two to three years. This cycle may get disrupted during physiological stress, such as illness, drastic weight loss, or childbirth, but psychologically-derived stress is too temporary to change hair color.

If not stress, what causes hair to go gray? This much we know, hair color is produced by melanin, and as we age, we produce less of it. The rate of our melanin production is determined by genetics. Blaming your parents, in this context, would not only be scientifically accurate, but also productive. You can gauge when you’ll begin to gray by finding out what age it happened to your parents.

The good news: concern for your children, your high-pressure career, and other anxiety triggers are not causing or accelerating your change in color. Stress still is linked to wrinkles and hair loss (plus it’s unhealthy), but in the area of hair color, the bottom line is, it’s not a factor.

Another upside, if you’re reading this blog, you can cover grays quite easily and painlessly with Madison Reed. Now is the perfect time to try Madison Reed’s healthier for you color! Happy October! Take $10 off your first purchase of Madison Reed hair color – just use the offer code OCTOBERLOVE at checkout.