Soon it will be time to tuck away those books whether they are your own college books or your children’s school books, either ones it doesn’t matter, it’s time for a week of R&R, well the best kind a mom can get right?
Maybe you are now all saved up and ready to head somewhere fun with your family after sticking to a strict budget. But where do you go? Check out these top destinations now trending for spring break 2011. Maybe this will help you and your family decide where to take that much needed break all the while being very educational.
Top Educational Family Destinations
- Jamaica, Caribbean- Jamaica is known for its hiking, bicycling, Milk River spa, beaches, snorkeling and caves.
- Miami South Beach, Florida-. South Beach is known for the night life and dining though there are many educational spots for you and your family to enjoy which I will mention briefly later on in the post.
- Amelia Island, Florida- Amelia Island is known as the commercial resort area.
- Cancun, Mexico- Cancun is known as one of the largest tourist destinations.
- Mediterranean- The Mediterranean is known for its family cruises.
Out of these five top picks, which one would you consider taking with your family? Check out educational hot spots in each destination.
Educational hot spots of Jamaica
Kingston-Visit the Devon House Heritage which is always bustling with activities and events. Also visit the coffee plantation which is two centuries old. You can find more information on Kingston on Wikipedia.com
Negril Beach-This beach is as white as sugar and is 7 miles long. You can find more information on Negril Beach on About.com.
Dunn’s River Falls-Visit this 600 foot waterfall with an experienced guide. Sounds so beautiful and tranquil doesn’t it? You can find more information on Dunn’s River Falls on Dunnsriverja.com.
Montego Bay-Families from all around enjoy the Montego Bay Marine Park where you can enjoy beautiful marine life. You can find more information on Montego Bay on Wikipedia.com.
Ocho Rios-Take a bus tour of the villages. You can find more information on Ocho Rios on geographia.com.
Educational hot spots of South Beach Florida
- Scully’s Family Interactive Center- There are creative craft activities for kids to enjoy within this establishment.
- Captiva Cruises Family Excursions (North Pointe) – The cruise includes a Dolphin and wildlife adventure.
- Self-guided boat excursions (South Village) – Many families bring along picnic lunches on this excursion.
Educational hot spots of Amelia Island, Florida
- Shark tooth and Shell hunting
- Amelia Island is home to the historic Civil War Fort which is a wonderful place to explore with your family.
Educational hot spots of Cancun, Mexico
- Tours- From the Mayan Riviera to Reo Secreto you can expect to explore caverns and caves and underground lakes and rivers.
- Water Sports- You can go sport fishing, sailing or go on a sailboat tour.
Educational hot spots of the Mediterranean
- From sailing festivals to the Travel Market, there are an abundance of events and activities to participate in the Mediterranean.
- You can also expect to enjoy and explore castles, museums, vineyards and much more on your family visit to the Mediterranean.
All of these destinations may sound grand to you but it’s just something you cannot afford this year. If this is you and your family, try these educational spring break activities instead. These also work great especially if you do not get time off of work.
Local educational spring break activities as seen on Associated Content:
- Family picnic
- Nature hike
- Family road trip
- Family trip to the library
- Go to a sports game
- If you live near a beach in warm climates, consider a family beach day.
- Family trip to the zoo
These are just a few ideas of the many you can do as a family on your spring break off from school.
I would love to hear from you. What are your plans for spring break this year? Will you and your family be heading somewhere tropical or will you be doing something more local with your family?
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Whether you have been home raising your children for years, months, or weeks, the thought of returning to work is very disheartening since a strong bond was formed from the very beginning. Don’t fret, you are not alone. I have been in this boat three times and it was very difficult to go back every single time. The tears that were shed could probably flood a single room. It’s tough but you can do it.
Whether you are a teacher, a nurse, a pharmacist, etc., returning to work will not be easy but after a routine is established it will become more manageable. Here are some effective mom tips that I adopted on parent.com that really seemed to help me in resuming my career after starting a family:
Tips for Resuming your Career
Practice your new routine. It’s important to keep your routine balanced and organized for this to work for you. Consider a few practice runs and back up plans to keep everything running smoothly before you make your trip back to work. Here is a good article about returning to work on areturntowork.co.uk
Rest as much as possible. Being a working mom, (Whether at home or in the workplace), is so very exhausting and can take a lot out of you. Try to set a decent bed time to guarantee you at least a few good hours of sleep.
Make time for yourself. This was a hard one for me to learn and I think any mom currently in a career or at home can struggle with this one since we are always trying to please and take care of our family. Plan to still get together with your friends. Women, even moms need each other as support. Don’t lose those friendships.
Leave personal life at home. Don’t fall to pieces in the presence of your boss. You don’t want your boss to think you can’t handle your career anymore thus possibly losing your job. It’s just important to keep yourself together. Vent when you get home or to a friend.
Just hang in there. I know, this is so cliché and it drove me nuts after hearing it day after day. But honestly, it does help to hear those words as moms definitely need to “hang in there.” It won’t always be this hard. In time, everything will just become second nature.
These tips may be helpful and something you can look forward to adopting but what about overcoming the constant guilt you may be battling due to having to return to work?
I dealt with guilt on a daily basis though I loved my career. According to working moms on About.com, if you are a mom returning to work after raising your family and you find that you are struggling with constant guilt you may need to sit down and make a list of reasons why you need to return to work. Here are a few examples:
* I love my career
*We need the money
* Could I possibly be a miserable stay-at-home mom causing my children unhappiness?
Whatever the reasons only you can decide what is best for you and your family. Writing down your own motivations may also help you reason with yourself what is needed as a family unit along with your career. When you need to, pull out the list to reassure yourself of those decisions.
Avoid contact with individuals that may make you feel guilty for choosing to return to your career. You don’t need someone pounding information in your head to cause you to feel guilty all over again.
If you need to, make it a short work week. I did this and it helped me tremendously. When deciding to return to work, choose the middle of the week or towards the end of the week so that you have the weekend, providing you do not work on weekends. If this is impossible, try taking a day off shortly after returning to work.
One thing that really helped me in returning to my career after being home with my family was realizing that all moms no matter what their situation have constant challenges. You are never alone on this journey. If you would like to connect with other working moms check out this community on workitmom.com.
Your career is obviously very important but being a mother is priceless. It’s hard to find a good balance sometimes with your career and with your family but when you get organized everything will just come together. Be encouraged.
How about you? Do you have any tips to share with moms getting ready to return to their career after starting a family? Maybe you are a mom needing that encouragement right now as you are about to take that giant leap back to work. Whatever your situation we would love to hear from you.
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A psychology degree is something moms should consider pursuing if they haven’t already. Why? I believe moms would make excellent psychologists because if you think about it that’s one of a mom’s job descriptions at home. How so? Well, who do your children come to when they need advice or help in life situations? That’s right, mom. So, if you already have a psychology degree you are very fortunate because now you can even exercise your mom-pertise and expertise and really make a difference in your family’s life.
How can you apply psychology at home? Say you possess a Child Psychology Degree or are currently taking classes towards this particular degree you know that you will be able to handle your child’s social and mental development on a deeper level. Though a Child Psychologist commonly holds a PhD, don’t let this discourage you from working toward your goals if you desire a Child Psychology degree.
Though Psychology concentrations are very broad, they are still beneficial not only with your career but in every walks of life. Let’s take a look at the different fields of psychology that you may be able to apply inside the home rather than just outside the home.
Fields of Psychology
Because Psychology is indeed very broad I will just list a few of them.
Abnormal Psychology- This is the study of abnormal behavior. It is the study of abnormal behavior patterns and their causes. (Buzzle)
Animal Psychology- According to Buzzle articles, “It is believed animals react to stimuli in a trial and error manner and their responses define their behavior.” “It is believed that animal behaviors are not intentional.” This is great knowledge to possess if you have any pets residing in your home. (Buzzle)
Clinical Psychology- “This is the analysis and treatment of health disorders related to psychology.” “It deals with the clinical management of individuals with respect to their neural and psychological funcitioning.” (Buzzle)
School Psychology- This is the combination of clinical and educational psychology. This field of study allows individuals identify and cure students with learning disabilities. If you are a mom of a child with a learning disability this degree is very beneficial to helping your own child in the home.
Counseling Psychology- This field of study is ideal for helping individuals in their personal life and professional life. Say your family has just experienced a tragic loss. Your children will need comfort and security through the loss. This field of study and degree can help you help your children.
For a complete list of Psychology fields go to Buzzle Articles.
If you are currently a mother contemplating and weighing your options of how to pursue a degree in psychology, here are some questions you need to ask yourself before getting started. (I asked these questions myself as I completed a semester towards a degree in psychology).
Self-Examination Questions
What field of psychology do I want to pursue?
Do I want to take my courses online or on campus?
Am I willing to stay committed to my goals working towards a psychology degree?
Am I afraid of hard work, discipline, and family time management?
If you were able to answer these questions honestly and openly to yourself with a ”yes” then you are on your way to bettering yourself as a person combined with helping others including your own family.
What are the best schools for pursuing a degree in psychology so that you may also apply one in the home? Here is a brief list of schools you may want to consider:
For a complete listing go to getdegrees.com
As you can see, most likely after obtaining your psychology degree, it can play a very important role inside the home. Sure you won’t get paid for using your degree at home but the rewards and responses of your family are far greater than any amount of money. Basically, it’s a priceless experience for everyone involved.
Do you currently possess a degree in psychology? If so, what field? Have you found it beneficial to your family with the knowledge you possess depending on your field of study?
Maybe you don’t have a psychology degree as of yet but are considering it or are currently enrolled in a program. Whatever category fits you we would love to hear from you.
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