Emery Law Office - August 2022

Emery Law Office - August 2022

AUGUST 2022

WILL THEY LIKE PRETZEL JELL-O SALAD? THE WONDERS AND WORRIES OF A GROWING FAMILY

This month, my parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. That means I’ll be jetting off to Sullivan, Missouri to toast the fact that they’ve stuck together so long! I can’t wait. Not only will I have the chance to see Mom and Dad, I’ll also get to snuggle my granddaughter, Hannah. I don’t get to squeeze her nearly enough. I didn’t think about this until recently, but August is a landmark month for anniversaries in our family. My parents have their 50th; my sister and her husband are celebrating their 20th this year; and my daughter, Katie, and her husband, David, will reach three years together. Dave and I are the exception. We got married in December. But 2022 is a milestone year for us, too — we’ll celebrate 10 years of marriage this winter. It’s funny that this marriage milestone is happening in the same year my business turned 5 years old. Looking around, I feel so blessed by all of the growth in my families at home and at work. In just the past two years, we’ve added baby Hannah and my son John’s new wife, Cassidy, to the Emery clan.

wedding! My stomach did the jitterbug with the same excitement, hope, and anxiety before each of my children got married.

Would their new spouse like pretzel Jell-O salad like the rest of us do? Would they be on board for smoked turkey on Thanksgiving or insist on fried or nothing? I had to wait to find out! In a lot of ways, it’s the same thing with a new hire. Of course, we get to interview our staff beforehand — I doubt my kids would stand for me grilling their future spouses quite so hard! — but it’s still impossible to know what it will be like having a new person in the office every day until it happens. Will they pick up on the unwritten rules and social norms of our little space? Will they laugh at the same jokes we do? Will they think Doughnut Day is cool? It’s exciting to find out. Fortunately, I’ve scored with everyone we’ve brought on this year. They’re ELO material through and through. I think the thing I love most about adding new people to both of my families is watching them grow. I was so proud when Ashley took on her first case for us, just like I celebrated with Katie when Hannah learned her colors

We also welcomed Cassidy’s parents into the fold. They only live 45 minutes away, and it has been wonderful getting to know them. We've

and started to squeal over dogs, birds, babies, and David's cat (Pickle). (Katie recently told me Hannah can also count to 2 … which only a mother would claim is a milestone!) When I get to my parents’ anniversary party, I’ll have to give them an extra hug as a thank-you for these two families I’ve built. After all, without them none of this would be possible! I owe those lovebirds big time.

had dinner together and even celebrated Christmas as a big family. It’s cool to have another couple to spend time with especially since the four of us have the best thing in common — our kids!

Here at the office, we’ve added three new team members in the last year: Donna, Jessica, and Ashley. Our family is getting bigger by the day. It’s so exciting every time we bring on a new hire. I swear, the two weeks of eager anticipation before they start their job almost feels like waiting for a

Cheers from my families to yours,

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SETTING BOUNDARIES FOR YOUR TEENS

As children grow older, some tend to engage in more risky behaviors. They like to test their parents’ patience and limits to see what they can actually get away with. But when you establish boundaries with your older children, it can set them up for success and teach them a thing or two about responsibility. Creating Boundaries That Reflect Your Values You cannot simply say the rules — your actions must reinforce them if you want them to be followed. They must also reflect the positive values that mean the most to you, as they will influence how your children see you. The clearer your values are, the easier it is to express and communicate them to your older kids, and the more likely they are to follow along with the boundaries that respect those values.

Here is a list of core family values to consider:

themselves in the right conditions, whereas enabling is stepping in and mitigating consequences that would otherwise be a result of a negative choice. Enabling is an undesirable behavior that can occur when parents give in to complaints or demands to avoid conflict. Instead of avoiding possible conflict, it’s best to support your older children while they navigate through your rules. Allow them to have questions or make mistakes. That way you can provide a framework where they have the ability to act and make decisions on their own. Setting rules or boundaries for your older kids is an essential tool that aids in their development. Over time, the process will help lay the foundations for them to become self-regulating adults.

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Positive relationships — whether that be with family members, friends, coworkers, or even strangers Priorities — define what matters to your family first Honesty — creating a judgment-free space to be open and speak freely Responsibility — taking accountability for one’s mistakes Respect — learning how to communicate boundaries effectively

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Be Supportive, Not Enabling Supporting someone is helping them do something they might not be able to do

GLOBE-TROTTING ATTORNEY FINDS A PLACE AT EMERY LAW WELCOME HOME, ASHLEY!

Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” When you visit other countries and explore new cultures, you come home a more compassionate person! That may be exactly what happened to our newest attorney, Ashley Gray-Ziba — or maybe she was just born as one of the kindest, most generous lawyers we’ve met. We hired Ashley this May and she has been a fantastic fit for our team. In her interviews, we were impressed by her background working with the Legal Aid

Ashley spoke Spanish and Urdu during her travels and still speaks fluent Spanish today. After moving back home to Kentucky in 2011 she put her language skills to work volunteering for the nonprofit Kentucky Refugee Ministries. She has even sat on the board there for the last seven years. “I have tried to advocate for refugees here locally in Louisville and services that they need. I like helping people who don't have connections and advantages,” Ashley says. That passion for helping others goes all the way back to her college days when she volunteered with local nonprofits and occasionally helped out at the Boone County Jail Immigration Detention Center. Eventually, her drive to give back led her to Emery Law Office. “Melissa really focuses on under-represented populations, so that’s what attracted me to specifically work at this office,” Ashley explains. “I love communicating with clients, getting to know them, and being able to settle their cases and put a check in their hands so they can move on with their lives.” Ashley and her husband, Lasso, are pillars of our local community — she gives back through her work, and he owns the local restaurant Ziba’s Bistro at Logan Street Market. We can’t wait to see how Ashley grows on our team!

Society and overseas as a foreign service officer. She spent seven years at U.S. embassies in Ghana, Mexico, and Pakistan providing legal services in civil cases to clients who couldn't afford an attorney. “I was mainly working on issues affecting Americans living overseas in that country,” she explains. “That could be anything — maybe they had a baby, needed help renewing their passport, or were a victim of crime. I was there to assist them.”

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HAVE A LAUGH!

BARKS FROM BELLA

Snuggles Keep the Storm Scares Away

Hey, friend! I hope you’re okay, because the strangest, scariest thing happened. I was at home playing with my rope toys when it started. The moon disappeared behind big storm clouds, and the wind started screaming through the trees. I just knew it was a thunderstorm, and I hate thunderstorms! The booms and flashes in the sky are SO scary. I was about to jump in Mom and Dad’s bed when I heard a strange sound. Something thumped onto the roof, hard! Then it happened again and again! It sounded like rain, but much, much louder. I was shaking like a scared puppy, but I tried to be as brave as I could. I peeked out of the back door and saw it; ice cubes were raining down out of the sky! I couldn’t believe it. Usually I only see ice cubes in my water bowl, but that day they were coming from heaven. Then, a big BOOM happened in the clouds, and I couldn’t watch any more. I raced into Mom and Dad’s room, jumped onto their bed, and wiggled into my favorite spot right between them. I was so scared I couldn’t breathe! But Mom and Dad gave me plenty of snuggles, and eventually I fell asleep listening to their heartbeats like I always do when it storms. The next morning the clouds were gone and I felt better, but I knew something bad had happened. The second Dad walked outside he got very, very upset about his truck! It looked like it had been through a bad dog fight. Mom said it was okay though, because they have something called “comprehensive coverage” on his truck.

d

Inspired by TasteOfHome.com

INGREDIENTS

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7 oz frozen, fully cooked breakfast sausage links, thawed 20 oz pineapple chunks, drained 10 medium-size, fresh mushrooms

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2 tbsp butter, melted Maple syrup, to taste

Equipment •

5 metal or soaked wooden kebab skewers

DIRECTIONS

WE WANT YOU TO THINK OF US AS YOUR LAW FIRM. If you have a legal matter that needs attention, let us know. If we can’t handle the matter, we will refer you to a firm that can. Please feel free to refer us to your friends and family for their legal needs. We welcome the opportunity to help. 1. Cut sausages in half. Thread alternating sausage halves, pineapple chunks, and mushrooms onto kebab skewers. Brush with butter and syrup. 2. Grill over medium heat, regularly turning and basting with syrup, until sausages are lightly browned, about 8 minutes.

“Don’t worry, Dave,” she said. “The insurance company will pay for the hail damage!”

I’m not sure who will pay me for my experience living through that scary ice cube storm, but I’d accept treats for my trouble! If you get scary storms too, you might want to buy some of that “comprehensive coverage” Mom was talking about. I know it calmed Dad down a lot, just like snuggles do for me. So it must be worth it!

call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)

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6100 DUTCHMANS LN. STE. 601 LOUISVILLE, KY 40205

INSIDE

MELISSA IS OFF TO MISSOURI! 1

HOW ESTABLISHED RULES SET TEENS UP FOR SUCCESS

MEET OUR NEW GLOBE-TROTTING ATTORNEY 2

BELLA’S FIRST HAIL STORM

GOOD MORNING BREAKFAST KEBABS 3

HOW TO PREVENT BAD BREATH 4

NATIONAL FRESH BREATH DAY IS HERE 4 WAYS TO STOP BAD BREATH

Floss and use mouthwash. Another important habit you need to incorporate is flossing. Flossing helps remove food debris from spots your toothbrush can’t reach, which helps to remove odor-causing bacteria. Additionally, mouth rinse really only masks bad breath for a while. Instead, did you know that rinsing with green or black tea can suppress the growth of bacteria that causes bad breath? Give it a try. Visit your dentist. It can be difficult to figure out where your bad breath comes from, especially if it’s chronic. If you notice your breath worsening, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist so they can evaluate your symptoms. You may have an underlying condition causing your bad breath.

Use sugar-free gum or mints. Many people turn to gum or mints when they need a quick solution for bad breath, but choosing the wrong product can lead to worsening effects over time. If you use gum or mints, choose a sugar-free option. They will help stimulate your saliva, which will help wash away food debris.

Nobody wants to have bad breath, but reports say that over 80 million people suffer from chronic bad breath. If you struggle with bad breath or worry about developing it at some point in your life, you can do a few simple things to prevent and fix bad breath. And what better time to kick bad breath to the curb than on National Fresh Breath Day, Aug. 6. You can get started with these four tips. Brush your teeth and tongue. It’s no secret that brushing your teeth is an important part of dental hygiene, but it also helps prevent bad breath. Brushing at least two times a day will help remove plaque and food debris from your teeth. Don’t forget about your tongue, either! Bacteria can build up on the rough surface of your tongue, so the entire surface needs to be brushed to improve breath.

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