How Risky Is The Contraceptive Pill?

Health & Fitness

Millions of women around the use the contraceptive pill, quite probably because it is the most effective method of preventing pregnancy. Indeed, with a 99.9% effectiveness rate when taken correctly, pills can be classed as extremely reliable contraception. As with most medicines, however, some women do find that they have side-effects, or that there are drawbacks to taking the pill, so just what are the benefits and disadvantages of taking the pill?

In regards to the advantages, contraceptive pills, such as Gedarel are very reliable and will prevent unplanned pregnancies if taken as per the manufacturer’s directions. Pills are more convenient than many other forms of contraception, and they allow women to be in control of their fertility with no interference during sexual activity. Taking the pill can also help women who suffer from heavy bleeding during their period, as taking it usually makes periods shorter, lighter and more regular. Pills can also give women an element of control over their periods as it is possible to skip periods safely by continuing to take tablets during pill free weeks when taking the combined pill and often women taking the progesterone only pill don’t have periods at all.

Taking the pill can also help protect against certain types of cancer, such as ovarian or uterine cancer, although it is worth bearing in mind that sometimes pill usage is linked to an increased risk of other types of cancer. Acne sufferers can also often benefit from clearer skin through taking the pill, and users also report an easing of symptoms related to the menstrual cycle, so it’s often goodbye to headaches, bloating and stomach cramps.

The pill is perfectly safe to take, but there are some side-effects associated with its usage. These symptoms can include mood swings, breast tenderness, migraines, nausea or even changes in body weight. Often, these symptoms ease over time as users become accustomed to taking the pill, but if not changing the brand of pill can eliminate side-effects.

Taking the pill does put women at a slightly higher risk of developing certain conditions. The oestrogen hormone contained within combined contraceptive pills, for instance, can increase the risk of thrombosis. It is often recommended, therefore, that women who are considered to be at high risk of stroke or thrombosis do not take the pill and that smokers over 35 or overweight women take the progesterone-only pill.

It is also worth remembering that, although the pill is extremely effective at preventing pregnancy, it can only work so long as the user remembers to take it every day. If you have a busy life and think there is the potential that you could struggle to remember to take a tablet every day it might not be the contraceptive for you. Forgetting to take just one pill could lead to the onset of ovulation which could result in an unplanned pregnancy following unprotected sex. There are reminder apps that can be used, or alarms can be set up on phones, but women need to consider if they will be able to think about taking a pill every day before they decide to rely solely on this method of contraception.

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Dilemmas experienced when deciding a career

Careers

Many people have a different opinion on what factors make a job a good job for them. A job, usually, requires you to attend somewhere at least five times per week for around 8 hours per day, so it takes a big portion of your week up! Here are some of the things that people consider when deciding what career they are going to take and that if you are wanting to start a career, you should also consider:

Money

First and foremost the most important thing for a lot of people is how much money they will be earning. Deciding what college course you will take in order to graduate and move onto a career will be largely decided by how much earning potential the career has. Money varies from role to role but something that is not well known is that some roles pay more or less money in different cities or states depending on the demand for people in that role. It´s a great idea that if, for example, you are looking for a job in California, that you search specifically to find out the pay in different cities, such as looking at the San Diego job market to discover if your role pays more or less than other cities.

Job hours schedule

Many people believe in having set hours between nine to five in the day, while others don´t mind, and in some cases, prefer to work night shifts or late night shifts. Some careers are a mix of both, such as a bar manager who may work alternate shifts with the other bar manager and one week they are the bar manager in the day, and the next week they are the bar manager for the night. Remembering to ask about job hours is key before you accept a role as you don’t want to start and realise that you are doing nights!

Job commitment

Some jobs require more commitment than others, for example, if you are the personal assistant to a state senator then you will need to be available all the time and extremely flexible It may also require you to work more hours in one day than you normally would due to a campaign and you need to be prepared for that. Establishing what kind of commitment is needed is extremely necessary.

Ethical conflict

On some occasions people won´t work for a company due to the fact that they do not agree with the company’s policies, past behavior, what they stand for or what they sell. Doing research before even submitting an application is essential due to the fact that you could end up wasting your time. Some people have an ethical conflict with tobacco production and distribution companies. Someone may not even choose to go into politics and chooses a completely different field due to a hate of being involved in anything like that.

Distance from home to work

Something that many people consider when deciding on a role or job opportunity is the distance that they will have to travel each day to get to work. If you are going to study to be a telecoms engineer, there is a great chance that your job will involve travel, so thinking of what a career entails before deciding to pursue it is important.

There are other dilemmas that you will experience when choosing what career to go into, but the most important thing is to assess everything beforehand, and make an intelligent and well thought decision.

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Turning the Tables: How to Evaluate Sales Prospects

Business

Knowing How to Evaluate Sales Prospects can make a big difference in your business

(Image Credit: 123RF / liravega258)

Salespeople are accustomed to prospects evaluating them and may assume that is the sole purpose of their meeting. However, sales professionals should get into the habit of evaluating their prospects as well. This helps them determine the worthiness of each one based on how much time, resources, and attention he or she will require throughout the sales process. After weighing this against the potential return, the sales representative should have a better idea of which leads to pursue and which ones to thank for their time and move on.

Questions to Help Determine the Most Valuable Prospects

Both parties should ask questions of each other during the initial meeting. This is the only way they will know whether it’s a good fit. It can be more challenging for sales representatives to know what to ask since they’re usually the one answering the questions. Here are three questions to help them get into the right frame of mind for every meeting:

  1. What problem are you trying to resolve with the product or service my company has available? Most company leaders don’t even consider spending money until a problem becomes too significant to ignore. The salesperson should sense at least a little bit of desperation for a solution during the initial meeting. Without a significant problem to resolve, the sales prospect could be doing little more than window shopping. Unfortunately, this isn’t a good use of the salesperson’s time or resources.
  2. How have you tried to resolve this problem in the past? If the prospects answers that he or she hasn’t done anything about it until now, the salesperson may need to work a bit harder to find the ideal solution. By probing what hasn’t worked as an effective solution, he or she can steer clear of the same mistake and present a more targeted resolution. The sales professional should also ask the prospect to envision what would happen if he or she did nothing about the problem.
  3. Have you prepared a budget for this project or do you expect to soon? It’s a big waste of time to go through the qualification process only to learn that the prospect hasn’t been authorized to spend the required amount on the product or service. There’s nothing wrong with asking whether a budget has been approved or when the prospect expects to receive approval for the expense.

Create a Winning Pricing Strategy

All customers want to receive the best value for the lowest price. It’s the salesperson’s job to convince his or her prospect of the value in the product or service and minimize the focus on cost. A business that continually sells at the lowest price in the industry may not remain profitable for long. When considering selling price, company leadership needs to consider whether it encourages structures that ultimately prove unprofitable.

For example, selling at a volume discount brings in customers but not necessarily as much profit as the company would like. What sales managers can do instead is create incentives that align with pricing realities. Taking control through customer value-based pricing means looking at ways to reduce the cost to serve customers while still exceeding their expectations. Customers who don’t feel like they are getting their money’s worth may not say anything, but they will send a loud message by taking their business elsewhere.

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Reasons Why You May One Day Need a Lawyer

Legal

I have always been of the opinion that it makes sense to be prepared for just about anything and that is that way that I have always lived my life. Whether this be buying insurance to protect my assets, planning months ahead of certain events, or filling my contact list with people who I may need in the future, I have always been a planner. One area that I am always prepared for, are any legal issues which may come my way in my personal or my business life.

In my first year in business I faced some legal issues and I used the fantastic legal professionals at www.grothlaw.com to help me out of my jam. Ever since that unfortunate experience, I have always been prepared with a selection of specialist lawyers who could help me out should I ever need it. If you are in any doubt as to why this is a good idea, here are just some situations which could see you in need of legal representation.

Divorce

Divorce rates in the USA sit at around 40-50%, a worrying number and one which must be taken seriously. Regardless of how happy your marriage may be, the possibility of divorce is something that will always exist and whilst nobody wants to think about the prospect of going through a divorce, it makes sense to have someone on hand who could help you out. Children in particular suffer greatly from a divorce and if you are able to find a lawyer who has both your’s and your kids’ interests at heart, then you can make this process run as smoothly as it possibly can.

DUI

A friend of mine was charged with a DUI last month after driving on the morning after a party, he is usually a law-abiding citizen yet he made an error of judgement and was rightfully forced to pay. This could happen to anyone and I put myself in this category too, which is why I have a contact for someone who could help me should I even find myself in that situation. After being charged with a DUI you will not have time to search for hours and hours to find the best attorney and so having one in hand before the event makes a great deal of sense.

Workplace Issues

Whether you are an employee or employer, workplace issues could happen at any time and when they do, it makes sense to have a professional looking out for your best interests. There are many legal problems which you could run into in your place of work from bullying to wrongful dismissal, violence or contract issues and if you want to give yourself the best protection against this, you should ensure that you have a specialist attorney onside who can help you out.

There are many legal problems that you could run into during your lifetime and if you want to be like me, a planner, then you need to fill your contact book with some specialists who can help you out.

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Going Abroad for an Occasion

Travel

If you’re about to celebrate something really big, what better way to celebrate it than going to an entirely different country altogether? As well as celebrating the occasion, such as a big birthday, anniversary or recent wedding, you will also get the chance to see new sights, meet new people, eat new food and experience totally new things. Here are some of the things you should consider when planning your celebrations abroad.

Look up the best places to eat

You might want to spend just one evening of your trip not worrying about the cost of anything and going all out on the meal. Go to the finest restaurant you can find, or a destination, which is utterly unique and beautiful. This might be eating in a tree house restaurant, dining in a hot air balloon, or visiting one of the world’s top 10 restaurants. Rather than worrying about the cost of things, save up so that you can enjoy every single moment of your experience in a great place.

Join other partygoers

Certain destinations will have plenty of opportunities to party, whether it’s in bars and clubs or out in the streets. You can find boats similar to the Mercedez-Benz fashion week Australia 2017 if you’re interested in going wild on a swanky vessel with plenty of opportunities to drink delicious cocktails and meet new people from all over the world. If you’re in Australia, you can visit various cities, which are full of people who love partying until all hours of the night. If you’re staying there during a weekend, you’ll meet the locals as well as people from abroad too.

Make sure you have enough money

You should plan and budget accordingly well in advance if you want everything to run smoothly. Once you’ve booked flights, accommodation, insurance and any other necessary transport for getting around the country, you need to think about the extras you’ll need to pay for. This should include food and drinks for the length of time you’re staying there, money for souvenirs and other items you might want to bring back home with you, sightseeing experiences and unplanned activities as well as a little extra cash for emergencies or unexpected costs. Without enough money, going on a trip to celebrate an occasion can become a stressful time that everybody can do without.

Decide whom you want to invite

If you’re celebrating something like an anniversary or an engagement, it doesn’t make sense to invite anybody else other than your partner. However, for bachelorette parties, birthdays and other occasions, you can invite as many people as you like. Just give everybody plenty of notice and create some way of communicating with each other, such as a group chat via text or social media. This will allow everybody to stay in touch throughout the planning period, and you can make sure that everyone has the necessary documents and plans, such as visas, flight tickets, accommodation and transport. It is often cheaper to book things as a group, so this is something you can look into to keep the costs down.

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How To Make Sure You Ace The Dmv Written Exam

Auto

If you are learning to drive then you will no doubt want to ace your DMV written exam so that you can get behind the wheel as soon as possible. With this being said, you will not pass the exam if you don’t prepare in the right way and as many as 4 in 10 actually fail this test the first time around. In order to pass the test first time it is important that you prepare in the right way so that you can give yourself the best possible opportunity of acing it.

We have looked at some of the most common mistakes that people make when preparing for this test in order to let you know exactly how you should be getting ready for this exam when the time comes.

Planning Ahead

From the moment that you find out when your exam will be, it is time to start getting into study mode. Many people make the mistake of studying too late in the day which means that they are putting themselves in a position whereby they will not have sufficient time to work through all that they need to study. In order to avoid rushing your studies as the exam date approaches, make sure that you are on the front foot in terms of getting started on studying for the exam.

Allotting Your Time

As with anything that you study for, it is important that you allot your time correctly when it comes to studying for this test. The best way to do this is to flick through the DMV handbook and break it down into sections. Create a time window in which to study each of these sections and then at the end of each week, do a quick recap on what you have studied to make sure that you have remembered it.

Don’t Just Read

You could sit and read the handbook until you are blue in the face and the information will not simply fall into your brain. Instead of just reading you need to be doing so in a way that highlights all of the key points that you are learning about. So, when you read through the book for the first time, you need to be underlining, making notes and highlighting the important points that you see in the handbook. Not only does this help the knowledge stay in your head, it makes it much easier to study when you read through the book again.

Practice Tests

It is important that you aren’t surprised by anything that happens when you go in to take the exam and in order to avoid this you should be doing as many practice tests as you possibly can. There are some great websites which can help you to pass your test through giving you test questions and mock exams, a great way to get some experience under your belt. Once you have been through a couple of  practice exams, you will be able to see just where you are going wrong, what form the questions take and what is expected of you during the exam itself. Once you have finished studying through the guide book and think that you are ready, head online for a practice test to see if you are up to the required standard.

If you do happen to fail your exam then you can always study some more and try again but this will prolong the wait to get behind the wheel and hit the road. In order to get driving as soon as possible, make sure that you prepare well and ace the DMV written exam straight away.

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The Tools for Healthy Living

Health & Fitness Shopping

Eating healthy food doesn’t have to be a chore and can make a real difference to your life. Sure, everyone from time to time slips into a bad habit or two, such as overdoing the burger and fries or having too much soda or even a little too much alcohol. However, as long as those don’t turn into permanent habits where you are damaging your health because of what you put into your body, you can use lots of ways to prepare and eat healthily and enjoyably.

Take the time for preparation

It is, unfortunately, so easy to slip into resorting to pre-packed foods or takeouts when you’ve had a hard day at work and you’re tired. However, if you’re prepared with the right tools that can make things really easy for cooking or making a delicious salad, then you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to whip up a tasty meal. Once you’ve got into the swing of it, you’ll wonder why you’d never done it before.

Here are some ideas for some great tools to help make your food preparation so much easier and give you all the nutrition that you need.

Getting the right pans

Pan-cooked food can often be tarnished because of the fats that you use in the pan. Now and again that can be fine, but if you want to eat healthier, you need to look for a pan that will let you cook without those additional fats. You can, of course, use a variety of oils for pan cooking, including olive, corn, and vegetable, as well as butter.

One of the healthiest ways to prepare your pan-cooked food is by using a Gotham Steel pan, allowing you to sear steaks and retain their delicious juices, broil fish just enough so that the flesh doesn’t get tough, and simmer a whole range of sauces. You can also sauté vegetables, such as potatoes and mushrooms, without the need for added fat – the perfect way to enjoy some really healthy meals.

For boiling vegetables, make sure that you have some sturdy copper-bottomed pans so that the heat is quickly transferred to the water and results in less electricity or gas used when cooking.

A quality blender

Fruit and vegetables are an essential part of having a healthy diet, and when you have the time, especially in the morning, it’s ideal to sit down with a grapefruit or some oranges to get plenty of vitamin C and fiber into your body.

If you’re in a rush in the morning, you can easily grab some fruit and put it into a quality blender to give yourself the perfect smoothie or shake. You need a blender that will take out any lumps to give you that professional smoothie texture, and you can experiment with all sorts of fruits and vegetables – try mixing them up – to achieve your favorite flavor. You can also prep these at night, quickly and simply, so that they’re ready for you in the morning.

Salad chopping

Sometimes, it seems as though preparing a salad can be hard work, chopping away with a sharp knife; however, actually, it is worth it as salad is one of the healthiest types of meals that you could have. Raw salad means that you get the benefit of all the nutrients without any of them being taken out by cooking. The crunch of a fresh salad, with lettuce, radishes, cucumber, young tomatoes, and any number of other ingredients, sends a signal to your body that it is going to like very much.

Invest in a salad chopper, throw your ingredients into a bowl, and chop away until you have things exactly how you want them. It’ll save you a lot of time, and you can prepare exactly as much as you want so that there is no wastage.

Preserving leftovers

Food wastage is a huge problem, especially in the Western world, so rather than throw things out, you can get jars that have airtight seals that will help preserve many different foods. You want to preserve freshness, so using these can help with foods such as lemons, avocados, and zucchini so that they don’t spoil or dehydrate. Plan your menus ahead, and you can use everything that you buy over a number of days and save yourself money.

Eating well

It doesn’t have to be a hassle to eat well. Healthy food is easy to prepare, and if you put the time aside, you’ll soon find that there is a real difference in how you eat and the health benefits that follow after.

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Make Safety Your Driving Focus

Auto

Each time you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, are you the safest you can be?

In answering that question, stop to think about all the factors in play each time you are driving. Not only do you have to be cognizant of operating your car or truck, but there is also all that is going on around you. There is more to driving than getting in the vehicle, turning on the ignition, and then driving off.

With that being the case, what are you doing to make all your times in a car or truck as safe as they can be?

Is Technology Playing a Role?

In your quest to make each trip in a vehicle a safe one, keep a few pointers in mind:

1. Vehicle technology

What kind of technology does your vehicle offer you?

For many of the more recent cars and trucks to hit the road, they come equipped with some tech advances.

One such tech item is the backup camera system.

Such systems allow drivers to have a good view of what is behind them before going in reverse. Such cameras are also an option for those consumers with recreational vehicles.

By searching for a license plate backup camera, you can better keep you and others in your car or truck safe. You also protect others around you such as other drivers and even pedestrians. Knowing what is behind you when you go to backup is a necessity, not a choice.

2. Vehicle maintenance

Even with the proper technology, you must maintain your vehicle on regular intervals.

As an example, how often do take your vehicle in for service? By doing regular maintenance, you lessen the odds vehicle will put your life and the lives of others at risk.

From keeping tires from getting worn to making sure the brakes work, don’t slip on maintenance. If you do, you put yourself and others in harm’s way.

3. Driver focus

Last, as important as having a sound vehicle is, make sure your focus is there too.

This means not allowing distractions to creep into your daily driving habits.

Among some of the worst ones can be:

· Drinking and driving

· Drowsiness

· Using a cell phone or other such device while driving

· Trying to read material (newspapers, maps etc.) while operating the vehicle

· Being preoccupied with talking to passengers

· Allowing other drivers to get to you aka road rage

While there is nothing wrong with having some fun while behind the feel, take it as the serious manner it is.

The last thing you want to have happen is a life-changing accident. Remember, that accident may not only change your life, but lives around you and away from you.

If you had to rate yourself as a driver, what kind of grade would you offer?

Last, if you have children who may be driving soon, will you give them the right advice when it comes to safety?

Given kids often follow their parents; make sure you set a good example each time you get in your vehicle.

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DIY tips for a new home

DIY / Home Improvement

The DIY tips for a new home in this article will have your home looking its best

The great benefit of homeownership is the potential the place has for improvement. Standing in the back or front yard, owners can envision creating a simple lawn that can be a retreat during the lazy summer months, or designing a garden wonderland for year-round enjoyment. However, do not forget the inside, where opportunities abound to use the space in creative ways. While the vision of the home materializes, the actual task of completing these tasks might seem daunting. Surprisingly, though, simple DIY projects can really transform the look of the place.

One major change that can transform the look of home is the paint. Whether painting the interior or the exterior, repainting can freshen up outdated, dull or cracked paint. Before completely changing the color of walls inside or outside the home, paint a test area to make sure the color and the effect is what you desire. When purchasing paint, make sure to purchase a small can of white primer, which can be tinted the same color to help blend in the outer coat. Another task to complete just before painting is washing the walls to remove debris. Owners have flexibility in color choices as well.

  • As for painting indoors, consider the type of lighting the room/s gets during the day. If the room is heavily shaded, bright, cheery colors (pastel colors) might be more appropriate because these colors will make the room appear larger. Conversely, if the room gets a lot of light, darker colors would work to lessen the impact of the light in the room. Homeowners can also play around with the trim by painting it a lighter or darker shade than the colors on the walls.
  • For outside color schemes, homeowners should look at the colors on the homes in the neighborhood and then choose a color in that spectrum, so the exterior paint does not clash with other homes in the neighborhood. Also, look at the environment for cues in choosing color. A shade of green might work on a home in a heavily shaded area with a lot of flowers as opposed to a home on the beach.

Another DIY idea to makeover a home would be to maximize space in the home. Look at areas underneath the stairs, in the living room itself, and in other storage areas as opportunities to create needed space.

  • The space underneath the stairs can be converted into a wine cellar, a reading nook, a small library or even place to store shoes, coats and other items that usually sit in front of the door.
  • Space in the living room can be maximized by converting a plain door into shelving that opens up into a hidden room. Recapture that love of superhero adventure by converting plain doors into bookshelves or even artwork that accesses a hidden room.
  • Maximize attic space by converting the room into a bedroom, study or something purposeful.

Any of of these ideas to maximize space in a home are DIY projects that can be undertaken with a little planning.

Making over the appearance does not necessarily require changing everything in a home, as even small changes in the home can drastically change the appearance.

  • Simply changing out window coverings such as blinds or curtains and installing DIY shutters can drastically transform the appearance of a room.
  • Also, installing light fixtures such as colorful chandeliers, faucets, door handles or cabinet ware can dress up a space. In the kitchen, refresh the look of wooden cabinets by either refinishing them in a different shade or painting them a different color.
  • Use potted flowers and plants to add a dash of flair to living room and bedroom space.
  • Get creative in the living room by purchasing furniture that is textured or that adds a pop of color to the space. For example, in a living room that has muted blue or green color furniture, a glass coffee table or china cabinet, both with bright red or pink metal framing, will accentuate and give style to the space.
  • On the patio and in outside walkways, placing potted plants and flowers on the porch can give the home a more comfy, cozy appearance.

Homeownership has major advantages, and one of these advantages is being able to decorate or

makeover the home. Homeowners who want to update the look of their home but are unsure of how to approach the project can make small changes that make a big difference. At some point, the home they envision will match the reality that is before them.

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How to Help Your Child Through Divorce Proceedings

DIY / Home Improvement

Divorce is an unfortunate fact of life which takes place on a daily basis and it can be a very upsetting and emotional time for everyone involved. Most at risk throughout these proceedings are children and the separation of their parents can leave scars which can stay with children forever. The damage of a divorce on children can manifest itself in many different ways and it can very easily alter the course of your child’s life, if not managed in the right way.

If you are going through a divorce at the moment, here is how you can best help your child to come out of the process as unscathed as possible.

Everyone on Board

In order to manage your child’s emotions in the best possible way, you must ensure that everyone who is involved in these proceedings, has the child’s interests at heart. Regardless of what your relationship is with your partner, or soon to be ex partner, you must make sure that you are both on the same page regarding your child’s wellbeing. You may both agree to have your real-estate property named after your children as new owners through a quitclaim deed form. Doing this will not only lessen hassle of dividing assets during divorce but will give benefit to your heirs as well. It is also important that you hire excellent family lawyers who have a wealth of experience in divorces and can offer you excellent advice and support throughout the process.

 

Create an Open Environment

Children are not stupid and you should never treat them as such, they will know that something is going on and you should not hide the facts from them. This is not to say that you should expose your child to all that is going on but they should be aware of the reality of the situation. It is your responsibility as a parent that you create an open environment with your child that will make them feel comfortable asking the questions which they have in their heads. If a child feels as though they cannot talk about what is going on, they will have many unanswered questions, draw conclusions which may not be true and they could even push emotions down, something which will not be helpful for them.

Maintain Normality

Whilst a divorce is a completely abnormal situation, you need to do your best that your child is living as normal a life as you possibly can. Make sure that the school run remains the same, they still do the things that they normally would and general create as little upheaval as you can when it comes to your child’s home life. This is not always easy but if you want to best protect your child, you must try to aim for the most normal life for them as possible.

Don’t Air Your Laundry

Whether your relationship with your child’s other parent is amicable or aggressive, you must never speak badly about them in front of your child. Doing this not only sets a bad example but it also puts your child in the middle of both parents, something which can never end well. If you have ill-feelings towards your ex-partner then either keep it to yourself, or make sure that your child is not around when you are discussing it.

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