Category: Family & Relationships

All You Need To Know About Choosing A Funeral Headstone Or Monument

Funeral directors provide a range of services and products for bereaved families, and one which does need considerable thought by those purchasing it is the headstone or monument that will be placed at the grave of the departed. We are writing this with advice from funeral directors at silkwoodfunerals.com.au, not just for those who have lost a loved one but also those who plan to have every aspect of your funeral pre-arranged and possibly paid for.

We do so due to the increasing number of people who wish to have peace of mind, not just for themselves, but more especially for their family, so that, when they pass, their loved ones do not have the added stress of making decisions, including the location, invitations, and of course, the headstone or monument.

Terminology – Headstone vs. Monument

One of the first things people become confused with is the terminology, and they often think that a headstone is the same as a monument. What confuses them further is that other terms are used to describe headstones, such as tombstones and gravestones.

For this article, we will continue to use ‘headstone’ and explain that its definition is a marker placed at the head of or over a grave, and in most instances, they and any base they sit on are made of stone.

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How Speech Pathologists Work With Children Who Have Selective Mutism

How Speech Pathologists Work With Children Who Have Selective Mutism

Unless you know a child who has suffered from it, whenever you first hear the term “selective mutism” you can be forgiven for not being sure what it is, but if you ask speech pathologists, they will tell you it is a complex condition that is not always recognised easily.

Often, when the parents of a child who has selective mutism notice their child not speaking in certain situations they think it is because they are “shy”, or “the quiet type”. Indeed many children without selective mutism show those traits, but, as the child grows and their reluctance to speak becomes more apparent, it may be time to seek the advice of a speech pathologist.

For those reading this who wish to learn a little more about selective mutism in children, read on and we will explain what it is, what its symptoms are, and how speech pathologists treat it.

What Is Selective Mutism?

Have you ever been confronted with something that scared you so much that you were frozen with fear and rendered speechless? A large spider, a snake, or a mugger brandishing a knife, perhaps? All very unpleasant scenarios and enough to cause a flurry of psychological and physiological responses, including choosing to remain completely silent.

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All You Need To Know About Grooming Your Puppy

All You Need To Know About Grooming Your Puppy

There is a type of dog which has more dog grooming questions asked about it and where more angst is created amongst their owners about how to care for their coats, than any other. Do you which type of dog are referring to? Well done if you answered puppies. Just as parents of babies have a million and one questions about caring for them, likewise most owners of new puppies have a whole list of questions too.

As we mentioned, many of those questions are about how to care for the puppy’s coat, and whether or not they require any proper grooming other than an occasional brush. The simple truth is that puppies should indeed be groomed and initially, much of that will take place at home until they have had their vaccinations to allow them to then safely be able to visit a professional dog grooming service.

That brings us to owners wondering what sort of grooming is suitable and safe for their puppy. If you are also unsure, then please keep reading as we are going to explain all you need to know about grooming your puppy which hopefully will make them even more cute, cuddly, and adorable than they already are.

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A Man’s Guide To What To Wear With Western Boots

A Man’s Guide To What To Wear With Western Boots

There can be many reasons why a man would choose to wear western boots, also known as cowboy boots. He might find them the most comfortable footwear, he may like the styles and designs, he may love the fact that they are so hard-wearing, or it could simply be that he is a huge fan of all things associated with cowboys and/or old westerns.

No matter what reasons men are wearing western boots for, what many men might not be so certain about is what they should wear with their western boots. Now, we are sure many men wear western boots for practical reasons rather than trying to be stylish, and for them, they could not care less about how they look when wearing them.

However, there are certain to be men who wear western boots who also want to dress, not just for practical reasons, but also for how it makes them look and feel. So, in this article, we are going to provide some advice as to what men should wear with western boots, both for practical reasons, and also so that they look great too.

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7 Tips For Introducing A New Puppy To Your Family Dog

7 Tips For Introducing A New Puppy To Your Family Dog

When a family that already has a dog decides to get a puppy, there will be a list of things they must arrange such as vaccinations, house training, dog daycare enrolment, etc. However, the one task that needs more thought than any other is introducing that puppy to its big brother or sister aka the existing family dog.

In the vast majority of cases, an older dog will accept a new puppy into the home, but this process must be done correctly. For example, simply turning up one day with a little puppy and expecting your existing family dog to welcome it with open paws, is usually asking too much of that dog, even if they have been well trained.

Remember, dogs are not people and their instincts and personality follow well-established traits. One of those is a dog’s sense of its territory and sense of protection towards its family. Although a little puppy carries no threat, it does not mean that your existing dog’s instincts are not triggered, and it sees it as such.

This can lead to aggression towards the puppy in the worst case, but more commonly it can also mean the dog rejects the puppy, starts behaving erratically, or it may show signs of emotional distress such as becoming withdrawn.

Thankfully, all of those unwanted scenarios can be avoided by following recommended actions for introducing a puppy to an older dog. Read on for seven tips which include actions and advice for the successful introduction of your newest four-legged family member to your existing dog.

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5 Ways Your Child’s Siblings Can Help With Their Speech Therapy

5 Ways Your Child’s Siblings Can Help With Their Speech Therapy

If you have a child that requires a speech therapist, you will doubtless look for as many experts and resources that you can find to support your child’s communication development. These could include your family doctor, speech pathologists, speech therapy sessions, support groups and online resources. These are all excellent options, but there is one source of help that could be much closer to home, and that is your other children.

Anyone who grew up with one or more brothers or sisters may recall those times as ones where you and your siblings seemed constantly at loggerheads, always seeking to blame the other, and all wishing we were an only child. These are all part of growing up and hopefully, now that you and your siblings are adults your relationship has matured and is now one of compassion and mutual respect.

Going back to childhood siblings, the evidence shows that a child’s brothers or sisters can be an enormous help to them if they are struggling with speech and language. Such is the positive influence that a sibling can have on a child’s communication development that many speech pathologists include the role of the sibling as part of their plan to achieve speech therapy goals.

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How Can Family Violence Affect Property Orders

How Can Family Violence Affect Property Orders?

In Australia, and internationally, domestic abuse is sadly an ever-growing concern. As well as the criminal consequences which follow, family lawyers will tell you that family violence can also have implications for property settlements following a divorce.

Property settlements are determined under the Family Law Act depending on how much each side, in both financial and non-financial respects, has participated in the partnership. Previously, the actions of partners throughout a marriage were not a significant consideration, however that has changed, and one case in particular has influenced that.

The Kennon Marriage Case is one of the pioneering judgments where domestic abuse was a central factor in deciding the right of a claimant to the marital property. Kennon’s 1997 Family Court of Australia decision examined whether domestic abuse could change the result of a settlement of the property.

The husband had a considerably higher salary than his wife and had added far more money and assets to the marriage by the time they came to divorce. The wife claimed a number of abusive actions against her had occurred, comprised of seven separate charges of physical abuse, and believed that a property change in her interest should result from these actions.

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All You Need To Know About Decorations For Your Wedding Car

The church is booked, the cake design agreed with the bakers, the invitations have gone out, the reception venue has been hired, the wedding cars have been arranged, and the bride’s dress is being made as we speak. As much as that might seem quite a list of tasks, believe it or not, there are still dozens of other matters to be taken care of by anyone planning a wedding.

One of those which is often overlooked, but which can make a huge difference to the visual spectacle of a wedding, is the wedding car decorations. Many couples do not bother, but it is always eye-catching when the wedding cars, especially the one the bride is riding in, have some decorations to mark the occasion.

Given that weddings are not an everyday occurrence for most people, having to choose the decorations for a wedding is an even rarer event. As such, and if you are planning your wedding and unsure how your wedding car should be decorated, here are some ideas.

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How To Prevent Pet Urine Damaging Your Carpets

How To Prevent Pet Urine Damaging Your Carpets

Along with the rise of modern office culture, diversity and gender acceptability a new phenomenon has emerged in the form of office pets. Lots of offices theses days are even adding their pets to their team pages or describing them as their team mascots. While this can be good for team morale, it can also keep the commercial cleaning team from gleamcleanwa.com.au busy if the dogs aren’t proficiently toilet trained.

Your carpets can take more than their fair share of abuse in the form of mud, dirt, grime, and staining such that carpet cleaning is needed to get them back looking as they should, and to prevent further damage to them and reducing their lifetime.

One type of stain found in many homes and (now some offices), given our love of pets, is staining from pet urine. Most pets are lovable creatures ranging from tiny kittens all the way up to full-grown giant dogs like Dobermans, and whilst they may all differ in size, they all share one natural function, and that is the need to pee.

Of course, many adult pets will have complete control over their bladder, and the likelihood of their urine ending up on your carpets is negligible. However, even these pets may occasionally have an accident through illness or simply through getting over excited. Obviously, with pups and kittens still learning that the place to urinate is outside or in a litter tray,  the risk of urine on carpets is much greater.

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Bridesmaid Traditions Best Left Forgotten

Bridesmaid Traditions Best Left Forgotten

When looking online for appropriate bridesmaid gifts, such as bridesmaid robes and matching sashes, you may come across some crazy traditions and roles bridesmaids used to play. While you might think you’re asking too much of your bridesmaids for your upcoming nuptials, spare a thought for those, who followed these traditions below.

The Double Act

These days, it’s considered bad taste to dress in a similar dress to the bride. In fact, doing so has broken up families and friendships. However, wearing the same outfit as the bride was encouraged in Victorian times. To confuse evil spirits who wanted to ruin the bride’s day, the bridesmaids had to dress the same or similar to the bride to confuse the evil spirits and drive them away. However, the bridesmaids possibly thought they were at risk by doing so. Therefore, you’d have to hope the bride and groom put up some generous bridesmaids’ gifts.

Garlic Not Geraniums

If similar dresses to the bride weren’t enough to confuse and drive evil spirits away, then maybe the assortment of posies would be. Bridesmaids used to have to carry bouquets of herbs and grains down the aisle, as opposed to the bright and beautiful flowers they get to take now. Garlic was a firm favourite and worked not only as a deterrent to evil spirits but also to mask poor hygiene. Showers were a rarity in Victorian times.

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