Hegwood Law - May 2021

Hegwood Law - May 2021

HEADLINES HEGWOOD

HEGWOODLAW.COM • 281.218.0880

MAY 2021

THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON MY MOM TAUGHT ME

As a mother, one of the hardest lessons to teach your kids is how to work hard. Mothers are so accustomed to juggling many different responsibilities all at once that it is only natural to do things for your kids past the age they should do it themselves. I am pretty sure I spoiled my kids! But, looking back, my mom did a pretty great job with me.

One lesson in hard work my mom taught me has always stuck — she would say, “You can get anything you want if you want it bad enough.”

People do not work hard for no reason. But, unfortunately, people can get stuck in a “give it to me” mindset and expect rewards without any effort. This mindset automatically undermines any reason to work hard and risks all their dreams. So, what do we do when we do not get things for free? We have to want it, and then want it some more. When we desire a goal, reward, or achievement more than anyone else, we are not content to wait. We work harder to get it. Whenever I would hit my proverbial brick wall, I had to tell myself that a lot. My ex-husband and I separated during law school, and at the time, we had three kids, ages 3, 5, and 7. That was really tough for me. My mom’s friend used to tell me that, after having kids, I would not be able to make it through law school. I realized later in life that her telling me I couldn't do something made me more determined to prove her wrong!

As it turns out, the ability to work hard has a name: grit. Mothers often teach this quality to their children by example, but there are proven ways to encourage this essential quality of character in your kids and grandkids as well. Angela Duckworth, one of the leading researchers on grit in the U.S., says that one of the best ways to encourage grit in children is to embody a “growth mindset.” Say your child loves music, and they decide to commit to piano lessons. Even though it is something they love, they might not love it at first. They might experience frustration, confusion, and setbacks, but you encourage and teach them that all are part of the process. Even if they do not understand something today, they will learn over time. Their mistakes are not setbacks — they are signs of growth.

This helps children overcome obstacles on their own, because they do not see difficulties as failure but, instead, as part of the process.

But I also kept hearing my mom’s voice: “How bad do you want it?” I decided I wanted my law degree bad enough to make it work.

What is the best lesson your parent taught you? I would love to hear about it. Thanks so much for reading, friends. Talk to you next month.

If you need an appointment, go to Calendly.com/hegwoodlaw and schedule your appointment online!

-Kim Hegwood

1

281.218.0880

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

THE 3 STRANGEST CELEBRITY LAWSUITS

Stories about celebrities can be enjoyable or awkward, but no matter what happens, they usually create great material for Buzzfeed or Reddit users. This also includes celebrity stories involving the law, which bring on a lot of head-scratching and legal action — like these three strange cases.

Ivy, in 2012. Internet trolls who saw her pregnant belly roll as she sat down for an interview fanned the flames of this theory, and soon, a lawsuit emerged. A woman claimed she was the true biological mother of Blue Ivy, and she asked for compensation and DNA testing to prove it. Previously, the same woman claimed to be the birth mother of North West, the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, but the court threw out the case.

Simon Cowell pays for a chef’s disappearing shoes.

Mila Kunis ruffles some feathers.

Known for his unrelenting critiques and setting the stage for some of the world’s biggest names in show business, Simon Cowell has amassed enough wealth to afford a private chef. When one such chef came by his house for a job interview, she was asked to remove her shoes, but according to court documents, she never received her shoes back. The chef claims to have tried multiple times to retrieve the shoes — which were outfitted with $500 orthopedic insoles — but never succeeded. She sued Cowell for the shoes and gas money, and the “America’s Got Talent” star shelled out.

Actress Mila Kunis was sued for $5,000 by her childhood friend, Kristina Karo, in 2015 because Kunis allegedly stole a chicken from Karo when they were still children in Ukraine. Karo, an aspiring singer, claimed the theft resulted

in extreme emotional distress and prevented her from pursuing the American dream. According to Kunis, the theft occurred when she was 7 years old and Karo was just 1 month old. Kunis and her husband, actor Ashton Kutcher, speculated that the case was all a publicity stunt to promote Karo’s upcoming music video, and the case was eventually dropped.

Internet conspiracy theory results in a court case against Beyoncé.

The internet is a wild place, and conspiracy theories are often born on its digital channels. One such theory was that Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, hired a surrogate to give birth to their daughter, Blue

THE LEGACY OF NATIONAL NURSES WEEK

Our calendar has a week with a special holiday you might not have noticed before: National Nurses Week. In 2021 , this year ’s celebration is more important than ever. The celebration was first proposed in 1953. Dorothy Sutherland from the U.S. Department of

Nightingale was an apt figure to promote, as she represents what many nurses today strive to achieve in their communities. However, this unofficial recognition did not become an annual celebration until 1974. In 1974, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) chose May 12, the birthday of Nightingale, to serve as International Nurse Day. The U.S. government started getting on board soon after. President Nixon declared that a week in February would be celebrated as National Nurse Week. Then in 1982, after many efforts by local governors and the American Nurses Association (ANA), President Reagan declared May 6 to be the official national Recognition Day for Nurses. By 1991, the celebration grew to a week again — and now, each day of the week has specific celebrations: May 6 is National School Nurse Day, May 8 is National Student Nurses Day, and May 12 is International Nurses Day! But no matter what type of nurse they are, nurses need to be recognized for their personal sacrifices during COVID-19, when they were often separated from their own households for weeks and months at a time. For all the nurses in your life and community, try to do a little something extra or express a note of thanks for their work. During a still uncertain pandemic situation, you may be surprised how much your words may mean to them.

Health, Education, and Welfare sent a letter to President Eisenhower, asking for a “Nurse Day” annually in October. Unfortunately, President Eisenhower never made a proclamation for it. So, as Americans do, we took matters into our own hands. In 1954, the first Nurses Week took place from Oct. 11–16, marking the 100-year anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s work in the Crimean War. She was an English social reformer, statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. As a prodigious and versatile writer, she wrote many books that helped spread medical knowledge to the public.

2 HEGWOOD LAW GROUP

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

HOW TO LIVE TO 99 Betty White’s Secrets of Longevity Beloved “Golden Girls” actress Betty White is still enjoying her golden years. The famed actress celebrated her 99th birthday this January. While she told People magazine that she is “blessed with good health, so turning 99 is no different than turning 98,” she also had a few tips for folks looking to make it to their centennial birthday. Keep Laughing “Don’t take yourself too seriously,” White says. “You can lie to others — not that I would — but you cannot lie to yourself.” White has undoubtedly provided many laughs to viewers over the years, but she is not just playing it up for the camera. Laughter is part of what keeps her young. Be Optimistic White says a good sense of humor also helps her keep a good attitude and look for the positive rather than “dwelling on the downside.” Avoiding negativity also gives her energy. “It takes up too much energy being negative,” she told People magazine. Stay Busy With nearly eight decades of acting under her belt, six Emmys on her shelf, and over 120 screen credits to her name, White is no stranger to hard work. As she told Parade in 2018, “I just love to work, so I’ll keep working until they stop asking.” Exercise Your Mind In addition to her busy work schedule, what keeps Betty White sharp? Crossword puzzles! She told Katie Couric in an interview, “I’m addicted. An admitted addict. I just can’t put ’em down.”

Find a Cause White is a lifelong animal lover. She calls her golden retriever, Pontiac, “the star of the house.” While pet ownership itself comes with proven health benefits, White has channeled her love for animals in bigger causes. She has been a trustee and board member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for over 40 years and has done work to help protect endangered species in the wild. Funds raised fromWhite’s official fan club, Bet’s Pets, all go to support animal charities. Embrace Your Vices White told Parade she loves vodka and hot dogs “probably in that order,” which just goes to show that you do not have to forgo your treats to live to 99.

HOT FUDGE ICE CREAM BAR DESSERT

WORD SEARCH

This is an incredibly easy, rich, and satisfying ice cream dessert made with ice cream sandwiches and fudge sauce. This keeps in the freezer very well and can be eaten straight from the freezer.

Ingredients

• 1 16-oz can chocolate syrup • 3/4 cup peanut butter • 19 ice cream sandwiches

• 1 12-oz container frozen whipped topping, thawed • 1 cup salted peanuts

directions

1. Into a medium microwave-safe bowl, pour the chocolate syrup and microwave until hot, about 2 minutes on high, stopping every 30 seconds to stir. Do not allow to boil. Stir peanut butter into hot chocolate until smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature.

2. Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch dish with a layer of ice cream sandwiches. Spread half the whipped topping over the sandwiches. Spoon half the chocolate mixture over that. Top with half the peanuts. Repeat layers. 3. Freeze until firm, at least 1 hour. Cut into squares to serve.

BLOOM CINCO COMIC DERBY EMERALD GEMINI

GRADUATION LILY MEMORIAL MOTHER PARANORMAL VETERANS

Source: AllRecipes.com

3

281.218.0880

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

HEGWOOD LAWGROUP Trusts | Estates | Probate | Elder Law | Family

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

950 Gemini Street, Suite 6 | Houston, TX | 77058

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 The Most Important Lesson My Mom Taught Me 2 Mila Kunis Got Sued for That!? (And 2 Other Weird Celebrity Legal Cases) The Legacy of National Nurses Week 3 99-Year-Old Betty White’s Secrets of Longevity Hot Fudge Ice Cream Bar Dessert

4 Look Out for Your Veterans This Month

LOOK OUT FOR YOUR VETERANS THIS MONTH

My grandfather was a veteran, but nobody ever talked about it — until late in his life. After my grandmother passed, we sat on his porch. I said to him, “I know you did something in the military, but what was it? Nobody talks about it.”

According to the Wounded Wa r r i or Proj ect , 82 .8% of veterans struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder. This year, nearly half, 48.9%, say their physical health has worsened, whi le 51.9% say their mental

“I worked for the Secret Service,” my grandfather said.

I asked, “Aren’t those the people who protect the president?”

“Not back then,” he explained. During World War II, the Secret Service was the Office of Strategic Services, a predecessor to the Department of State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) and the independent Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Invested in espionage, my grandfather used to translate enemy transmissions that were in Czech. My mind was completely blown by that — and the fact he never talked about such a fascinating role! Similarly, many of our veterans today have played crucial roles in our country’s ability to fortify itself and others to sustain our values of democracy and freedom. Yet, many do not complain about being mostly forgotten or ignored by today’s society — especially during COVID-19.

health has worsened during the pandemic. More than 60% feel more disconnected from family, friends, and their community during COVID-19 as well. To celebrate veterans and their contributions to our families and communities, please consider contributing to the Wounded Warrior Project. They can help these veterans find the resources and support they need when they need it most so their invisible struggles can be a little easier to reach and mend. Thanks for reading my additional note here, and I will see you next month.

-Kim Hegwood

4

HEGWOOD LAW GROUP

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com