Self-Care Tips for Moms and Caretakers

(StatePoint) Carving out some “me time” is not just good for your mental health, physical wellness and confidence, as many moms know, it can actually make you a better parent. According to a survey of moms conducted by Hutchinson and Cassidy, those who had higher self-esteem had higher levels of perceived parenting confidence.

Here are three ways to practice self-care:

1. Get some rest: We live in a goal-oriented society where the value of rest and relaxation is not always emphasized. Whether it’s a spa day with your best friend or curling up with a good book at home, be sure your schedule includes adequate time to recharge your batteries.

2. Take care of your smile: One of the best ways to foster self-confidence is with a clean, healthy smile. In fact, a 2020 Cigna Dental Report found that smile satisfaction is one of the

CAREGIVING........

from page 1 givers about available services.

• Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to services.

• Individual counseling, the organization of support groups, caregiver training to assist the caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles.

• Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from caregiving responsibilities.

• Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers.

Call the Mississippi Access to to Care Center at 844-822-4622 or visit its website at www.mississippiaccesstocare.com to get access to support programs for caregivers.

One of the best ways to foster self-confidence is with a clean, healthy smile.

SHINAULT....from said it was one of the proudest moments in her life.

"My sons taught me how to mow and I taught them how to cook and clean. I promised my grandad I would make sure they knew how to take care of themselves and teach them everything I knew," Chyritha said.

In the midst of it all, she moved into a position to take care of her grandmother after she suffered a series of ministrokes. She said she knew her grandmother wanted to remain at home and her dad felt the same. Chyritha spent her adult life taking care of people in nursing homes, so she didn't hesitate to help her dad and grandmother so she could remain at home. Her grandmother left her Earthly body in 2018.

Chyritha decided, once again, to go back to school to try to work towards her LPN license.

She took the ACTtest three times and scored an 18. Finally, she scored a 19 on the test and enrolled in classes at ICC. top three drivers of self confidence among U.S. adults. Give yourself the gift of innovative brushing technology. The iO Series 5 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush from Oral-B, for example, allows you to personalize your brushing experience with its five smart modes: daily clean, intense, whitening, sensitive and super sensitive. No ordinary toothbrush, this one is designed to help you brush smarter and more safely. To help protect gums, a smart pressure sensor displays a red light when you’re brushing too hard and a green light when you’re brushing just right, and its dentist-inspired round brush head cleans with micro-vibrations and oscillating action. Plus, a connected app tracks brushing behavior to ensure you’re targeting all six zones of your mouth, and a vibrating timer lets you know when you’ve brushed for the dentist-recommended 2 minutes. three sons, she would budget her income tax return each year to include money for summer sports camps and school supplies. Chyritha taught her children how to play sports and used to run track in her youth. Although she faced financial setbacks along the way, she said she doesn't regret how she raised her children.

"The way you have to study for nursing tests is very different from any other test. You have to be on top of it. You have to apply this as if it was a real situation. You have someone's life in your hands as a nurse," Chyritha said.

After all of the knockdowns and starting over, Chyritha overcame every obstacle and barrier and is now a certified Licensed Practical Nurse. This was another moment of pride in her life. And although she doesn't have to work two or three jobs to keep a roof over her head, Chyritha jokes that her grandchildren will tell people she works two jobs to pay her bills and buy them things.

She has a job at a doctor's clinic and maintains her CNA certification at the nursing home she has been with for quite some time. She fills the role of nurse and aide and everything in between at the nursing home. She'll say that is where heart is, with her elderly people.

3. Take care of your mind: So much of motherhood is ensuring everyone has what they need, and often, your own needs can fall by the wayside. There are many ways to take time to check in with yourself though. You could buy yourself a beautiful journal and jot thoughts down for a few minutes each evening or check out apps like Headspace, which can help get you started on a meditation practice. Even a 10 or 15 minute walk at lunchtime can be a powerful mood-booster and an opportunity to reflect. You might also consider taking up a hobby that offers the chance for self-expression, such as painting, poetry, music or crafting.

When it comes to parents and caretakers, the importance of self-care can’t be overstated. Kick-off new routines that boost your self-confidence and your well-being.

"I love my elderly. I get life lessons, history and it's never boring. I love geriatrics and I'm not too proud for any of the work there," she shared.

Chyritha spends her free time with her six granddaughters and seven grandsons, who range in age from 15 years to one month old. In addition to her three sons, she had two bonus sons she poured love into through the years. When one of her grandchildren was born with a cleft lip and no palette, she was able to help. She said now she can breathe easier financially and spoil her grandkids, something she really enjoys.

When she was raising her

"I kept going. I accomplished one of my dreams. I let God lead the way in my life. You have got to put the work in though; it doesn't just come to you. I've lived and I've learned. You have to change yourself to make things around you better. If it wasn't for God, I wouldn't be me. And if it wasn't for my boys, I wouldn't have gotten through it," Chyritha shared.

She praised her "village," family members in her life who helped her with taking care of her children and pushing her to not give up.

"Family is everything," she added.

Don’t Rush to Claim Social Security

If you take your Social Security benefits early, you’ll be reducing by a significant margin the total amount you could receive.

The BMO Retirement Institute has produced a report, “Retirees Not Maximizing Social Security Retirement Benefits,” that outlines some of the facts:

• For 60 percent of seniors, Social Security will provide the majority of income they’ll have during retirement.

• If you take your benefits early, you’ll receive a reduced amount each month. For example, if you claim at age 62, you might receive $1,500. Wait until age 66 and that amount becomes $2,000. At age 70, it would calculate as $2,640.

• If you claim early, that lesser amount stays with you for the rest of your life. (There is a 12-month period when you can pay back all the money you’ve received and start collecting again later, at a higher rate. But if you don’t act within that window of time, you can’t change your mind.)

• If you’re married and die first, your spouse will receive a lesser amount each month if you’ve claimed early. While you’re living, your spouse will receive up to 50 percent of the benefit, which will be smaller because you’ve claimed early.

• When it comes to asking for advice before collecting Social Security, 62 percent of seniors haven’t done that.

• While it’s possible to receive Social Security at age 62, the qualifying age for Medicare is still age 65. You could be stuck trying to pay for expensive health insurance with a reduced Social Security check.

Before you apply for Social Security, get advice. Call and ask that the numbers be run for you showing how much you’ll receive at age 62 as opposed to later. You’ll be surprised at the difference.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible.

Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send email to columnreply@gmail.com.

More and More Children Getting Kidney Stones

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My very healthy, active, 6-year-old grandson was just diagnosed as having kidney stones. His pediatrician said it is mostly genetic, but no one else in the family has had kidney stones. A friend told us she heard that stones could be caused by drinking Gatorade. My grandson has drunk a lot of Gatorade. He does not eat processed meat, nor does he have much salt in his diet. From the Internet, I came up with the enclosed article, which linked Gatorade to kidney stones. I feel that someone needs to inform parents that too much Gatorade in children can adversely affect health. — G.S.

ANSWER: An increase in children having kidney stones has been noticed. Some authorities have speculated that the increase in stones might be linked to children’s greater intake of salty foods like potato chips, french fries and other heavily salted snacks. The sodium in salt leads to a rise in the amount of calcium lost in the urine, and, therefore, an increase in kidneystone production.

Eight ounces of Gatorade has 110 mg of sodium. New guidelines for daily sodium intake is 1,500 mg. To reach that limit by drinking Gatorade, one would have to drink 13 8-ounce cans or 9 12-ounce cans. Blaming the surge in the number of children on Gatorade seems iffy to me.

Your grandson would be better off substituting some of his consumption of Gatorade with water. He needs to cut back on his consumption of salt from other foods too. Gatorade keeps him hydrated, but he can stay hydrated with water. Dehydration is a proven cause of kidney stones.

I welcome other readers’ opinions on this issue.

The booklet on sodium, potassium and chloride — electrolytes — explains the role of these minerals on health. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 202W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Does it hurt you to exercise if you have a cold? I do it all the time, and I can’t see that it makes anything worse. I’ve been told not to do so. — B.R.

ANSWER: If you’re coughing, sneezing or have a dripping nose, others are not going to appreciate exercising along with you.

A general rule says if your symptoms are above the neck, it’s OK to exercise. Such symptoms would be a stuffy or runny nose, a scratchy throat and an occasional sneeze.

If you have an elevated temperature, achy muscles or a persistent cough, don’t exercise. ***

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Since I was a young child, I was told not to use public restrooms because I could catch something. What are the chances of catching a disease from them? — F.N.

ANSWER: Yours is a fear shared by many. If public restrooms were a source of infections, they would be closed. They’re not. As far as sexually transmitted diseases go, I have never seen any information that implicates them in passing such infections to others. ***

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.