Guides
New Parents Struggle: 4 Ways to Provide Your Support

Do you have any new parents in your life? Perhaps you have friends who just had a baby, or perhaps a family member or coworker recently became a parent?
If someone in your life is just starting their journey of parenthood, they’re going to need more support than they might feel comfortable asking for. If you want to help them, but don’t know how, here are some of the biggest struggles they’ll face and ways you can provide your support.
They’ll have low energy for basic tasks
New parents will naturally be low on energy, whether it’s from staying up all night soothing a crying baby, feeding every few hours, or stress. This lack of energy will make it hard for them to accomplish even the most basic tasks like doing the dishes and scheduling appointments.
One of the best ways to help a new parent is to manage the tasks they don’t have the energy for. Granted, this is easier to do when you live with them or if they’re a family member you see often.
The most important task you can take on is handling their appointments. Find out their schedule of availability and once you know their schedule, you can make all of their appointments for them. For instance, if they need lactation support from a professional breastfeeding consultant, schedule their consultation with an IBCLC so they don’t need to make the phone call or deal with the logistics.
In addition to managing their appointments, consider doing household chores like laundry and dishes. You’d be surprised to learn how the smallest tasks can help the most. Here are some more ideas for small tasks you can take on to help:
- Basic yard work
- Making school lunches for their older kids
- Picking up and dropping off older kids for school, sports, and appointments
- Coming over for dinner and cooking for the whole family
- Grocery shopping
- Run random errands like going to the hardware store
- Anything else that would alleviate stress and/or save time
They might be exhausted from breastfeeding
Many new mothers face unexpected challenges with breastfeeding. Sometimes they don’t have the energy to breastfeed throughout the day, but don’t want to depend on formula when it’s not necessary. In this case, you might be able to help make breastfeeding less exhausting.
One thing new parents can do is pump ahead of time to make sure they always have enough milk on hand for the baby. You can help with this process by feeding the baby for them and offering to clean the pump and bottles so they don’t have to work so hard.
They might need emotional support
Chances are, the new parent in your life will need your emotional support. The stress of being a parent can be extremely taxing and a little emotional support can go a long way.
You can spend time with them, share meals with them, or just make them a cup of coffee and talk. It also helps to simply be an ear or a shoulder. It never hurts to ask your friend or family member exactly how you can support them. If they know what they need, they’ll tell you.
Supporting a new parent emotionally is sometimes even more important than supporting them with money or taking over their household duties. New parents are going to be exhausted, and emotional support can sometimes be the magic pill needed to reduce stress and help them feel more rested and relaxed.
Ask what you can do for them
The number one way to support anyone is to ask what you can do for them. Most people know what they need and will tell you if you ask, even if they wouldn’t normally offer the information.
Ask the new parent in your life what you can do to help them while they figure out their new routines and get settled into parenthood. Let them know that no request is too small and if they don’t have any ideas in the moment, make sure they know they can reach out to you at any time.
Every ounce of support makes a difference
It doesn’t matter how much or how little you can offer the new parents in your life. Being a new parent is challenging, and every ounce of support will be appreciated.
Guides
Travel for Germaphobes
If you are terrified of germs and getting sick from contacting foreign surfaces, travel doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Here are some awesome things to pack that will help you feel cleaner while you travel the globe and expand your worldview.

Where are all my Germaphobes? I won’t ask you to raise you hand because you might touch something gross. It is not easy to travel as a germaphobe. There are so many gross things out in the world and leaving our comfort zones is hard enough. Even if you are terrified of germs and getting sick from contacting foreign surfaces, travel doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Here are some awesome things to pack that will help you feel cleaner while you travel the globe and expand your worldview.
Travel with sheets
If the idea of sleeping in a hotel room creeps you out then we have the perfect solution. Pack your own sheets and you won’t have to worry about sleeping in filth. Hotels rarely wash the comforters and duvet covers so I generally toss those into the corner and keep my vacation moving. I tend to keep an extra set of sheets in my car so why not pack them on trips as well. There is nothing grosser to germaphobes than sleeping in a dirty bed.
Hotels around the world treat cleanliness a little different than we do in the states. Their standards of cleaning can be below our standards, but that all depends on your destination. If you are going to London, their hotels are generally cleaner than say Bulgaria, so you may want to pick your destination carefully.
Simply pack a set of sheets in your luggage that you don’t mind losing or throwing away. Use them on your vacation and if repacking them grosses you out, toss or donate them. Some orphanage would love some slightly used sheets, I’m sure.
Surgical Masks
If you are a real germaphobe, chances are you already own a few surgical masks. You see surgical masks all over Asia where the general populations are overcrowded, so why not travel with one? They are cheap, usually a few cents and for germaphobes they are lifesavers. Wear them when you are on crowded subways or airplanes and you can rest easy knowing you won’t catch anything that’s airborne.
Pack Medicine
If the congested airplanes or groups of people gross you out then make sure you prepare by packing some emergency and airborne with you. These medicines will boost your immune system and ease your worries of contracting some crazy foreign illness. I get it, people are dirty and gross and being jammed packed with them on a plane tends to gross me out as well. I never travel without these two over-the-counter drugs.
Sanitize
Hand sanitizer should be on you at all times if you are a germaphobe. These convenient pocket sized sanitizers are awesome and keep germs at bay while you can explore foreign cities. Buy them anywhere and travel with some extras just incase you lose one. Shoot, I should invest in one of the companies, since I use them so often.
Water Filters
Germaphobes really hate drinking dirty water and I understand that. Water around the globe is not as clean as our water, unless you are from Flint Michigan. If you’re from Flint, drinking motor oil is probably better than drinking your city water, but I digress. When I travel I always pack my own water bottle with a filter on it. Its great, I can take river water and drink it without worrying about getting Giardia or any other water born illness. A great brand is Potable Aqua with PA+Plus. These are germicidal tablets that you can place in water and it cleans it without any weird aftertaste.
Destinations
Best U.S. Casinos Not in Las Vegas
There are awesome casinos all around the US that offer the same experiences as Vegas without a lot of the hassles. Check out this list of the best casinos not in Las Vegas that won’t need your passport to visit.

When you think of casinos in the United States, you automatically think Las Vegas, well, that’s your first mistake. Sure Las Vegas is great but it’s not the end-all be-all for casinos in the US. There are awesome casinos all around the US that offer the same experiences as Vegas without a lot of the hassles. Check out this list of the best casinos not in Las Vegas that won’t need your passport to visit.
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Biloxi
If you are in the south, why waste money on airfare and save that to waste at the tables instead. Don’t visit Vegas for your gambling needs, just head to Biloxi and have the same experience, without hopping on a plane. The Hard Rock in Biloxi is a rock n roll themed casino, just like any other Hard Rock, but this one is massive. Covering over 50,000 sq ft and with outstanding views of the Gulf of Mexico.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Nevada
Tahoe is such a special place that you should visit with or without going to the casino. How many casinos have a private beach? Not many, but the Hyatt Regency in Tahoe certainly does. Not only can you gamble away your life savings here, but you can also enjoy water sports and fishing, take that Vegas.
Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Niagara Falls
How many casinos are located next to incredible water falls? One that I know of, the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. Take in the falls by day and play in a huge casino with over 100 gaming tables by night. You get a Vegas style experience with none of the desert heat.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City
Surprisingly Atlantic City is still hanging on. Many resorts here have closed down but the Borgata stands strong. The elite Atlantic City resort, the Borgata has all you could ever want from a Vegas style resort without leaving the East Coast.
An easy drive form many huge metropolitan cities, The Borgata should be a top choice.
Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Reno
Reno is the little sister to Las Vegas with it’s own feel and identity. Much cheaper than an average Las Vegas vacation, Reno offers a slower pace and chiller vibe. If the all night parties aren’t for you, maybe check out the Peppermill. The Tuscany styled resort will make you relax while losing all your money.
Talking Stick Resort, Arizona
Talking Stick is a killer Indian Casino with tons of fun activities to keep you entertained while not spending money at the tables. Table in a round of golf or hit up the award-winning spa.
Foxwoods resort and Casino, Connecticut
New Yorkers already know just how awesome Foxwoods truly is. Foxwoods actually offers six different casinos in its little empire in Connecticut. There are two golf courses, two arcades for the kids and tons of live entertainment options. A short drive from New York City makes Foxwoods an easy winner as the best US casino, not in Las Vegas.
Destinations
Hawaii Vacations Easier Now for Visitors

Hawaii opens its doors to vacationers. However, there are still several protocols that tourists need to follow.
On 15 October, Hawaii started providing visitors an easier alternative. Instead of requiring tourists to undergo a 14-day quarantine, would-be visitors must undergo testing, at least 72 hours before mainland departure, proving that they are free from the COVID-19 virus. Although this new Safe Travels protocol was supposed to start on the first day of September, the State of Hawaii had to suspend the program due to the sudden spike in cases. Yet, does Hawaii really want visitors now?

“I want people to come if they are fully prepared to test, know that they are healthy and are prepared to wear a mask,” mentions Lt Gov Josh Green, one of the leaders of the program. “If they do all those things, we are excited to resume our relationship with old friends,” he continues. He adds, however, that “…we are very mindful of risk, and we’re just trying to begin the process of a healthy restoration of our economy. We are not pushing for any large numbers. We just want to begin to kind of shake off the rust.”
To participate in the program—and to be given the chance to enter the state, all would-be visitors are required to undergo testing. This is a mandatory protocol that includes testing children who are aged 5 and above. Aside from the tests being done at least 72 hours before leaving the mainland, they should also be undertaken by accredited testing centers or health care agencies.
Green advises travelers to consult their chosen accredited testers regarding their own testing protocols. He mentions that some of these testing centers do not provide testing for children. Some merely offer COVID-19 tests to children who are 12 years old and above.

Nevertheless, the COVID-19 home testing kits from Hawaiian Airlines can also be used for testing purposes. Vault Health mentions that children can do their saliva-based COVID-19 test, as well. Big airline companies that provide Hawaii flights also offer travelers the option to take the test at the accredited clinics or have them done at the airports. They can also opt to do the home tests, as well.
A few of these airlines provide faster test results, too. For a fee of $250, United Airlines offers rapid testing at the San Francisco International Airport. For this kind of test, results are provided in a few minutes. Travelers can also obtain the tests from Walgreens and CVS.
However, the tests may only allow travelers to enter Hawaii. Traveling between islands may require vacationers to undergo additional COVID-19 tests, though. This is a protocol that applies not only to tourists but to Hawaiians, as well. They will also need to do the necessary 14-day quarantine each time they reach a new island.

Additionally, a second COVID-19 test may be requested from visitors, four days after arriving in Hawaii. This allows the government to make sure that visitors are, indeed, negative from the virus. Records suggest that 1 out of 1000 visitors are known to have come up positive during the retesting.
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