The Bledsoe Firm - May 2022

The Bledsoe Firm - May 2022

The Bledsoe Firm JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551 MAY | 2022

GETTING READY FOR SUMMER

ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH THE KIDS

We’re rapidly approaching the end of the school year, which can be a stressful time for many parents. Regardless of whether you work remotely or at an office, keeping your children occupied when they’re not in school is challenging. How do you keep them busy and entertained? Luckily, we live in one of the most exciting places in the country, so there’s always something going on. Even if you’re not checking out the seasonal events and activities, our area offers things to do all year round. If you’re at a loss about what to do with your kids when school lets out, we’ve got you covered. I’ve put together a list of things to keep the kids busy until they return to school in the fall.

and enjoy the tide pools. Your kids will be surprised by all of the creatures they can find during low tide.

Visit a Museum

Around Orange County, you can find exciting museums for the entire family to check out. One of my personal favorites is the Bowers Museum. This museum has been in business since 1936 and always has some extravagant exhibits to check out. They’ve hosted the Terra Cotta Warriors, mummies, and even provided guests with an inside look into the Walt Disney Archives. It’s a must-see museum for everyone who lives in the area. Additionally, you can check out the Lyon Air Museum, Orange County’s Discovery Cube, and the Ralph B. Clark Interpretive Center. If you have younger children, they’ll enjoy the Pretend City Children’s Museum with a rich hands-on learning environment. They’ll have fun learning fundamental science, math, and reading skills to augment what they’ve learned in school.

Experience Nature

Head to the Beach

Besides our fabulous beaches, we have some truly beautiful forests and parks perfect for hiking. You can head to the Carbon Canyon Regional Park where you and your kids can see some of the tallest trees in the world. For a little more adventure, head to the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park to hike an 11-mile trail that brings you by caverns, streams, and hills. The whole trail might not be for the faint of heart, but you can see many beautiful views without too much work. Take advantage of the fun and exciting activities right in our own area. Figure out the best options for your family, and we promise it will be a great bonding experience your kids will look back on fondly for years to come. —John Bledsoe

In California, we have an abundance of coastline and all the wonderful beaches that come with it. From Lake Forest, you can easily access Laguna, Huntington, and Newport beaches. Even though these are popular tourist destinations, they provide plenty of fun opportunities for us locals, too. Of course, you can spend some time just sitting in the sand and soaking up the sun or head into the water for a refreshing swim. Huntington Beach is a great place to learn how to surf or bodyboard. If you want to stay out of the water, head to Laguna Beach

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TURN YOUR RAINY DAY AROUND — WITH A FORT!

3 T ransformative B lanket F ort T ips April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, but when the rain keeps pouring, there’s only one thing for a family to do: Build a blanket fort! Blanket forts have been a low-cost, low-tech form of entertainment for centuries, and over that time, generations of enthusiasts have perfected them. Use these tips to transform your next rainy day into a family adventure: 1. Build heaviest to lightest. Once you’ve gathered your materials — including blankets, sheets, pillows, binder clips, and movable furniture — it’s time to build. Start “heavy” with the largest piece of furniture, like a couch or table. That will be the anchor of your fort. From there, arrange the other furniture in a circle around the anchor and drape it with blankets. Use heavier blankets for the walls and the lightest sheets for your roof to avoid a collapse. Use the binder clips to hold the sheets and blankets together! 2. Light it up. Light is crucial for you to do activities in your fort! Dig out your holiday string lights if you have them or bring a lamp or two into the space. You can also use flashlights and even glow sticks to make things especially fun! 3. Pick a theme — and a name . Is your fort in the jungle? On a beach? In the woods? Pick a theme and decorate accordingly! You can bring in beach towels and toys or cut leaves and trees out of construction paper. Don’t forget to name your fort, too. The more creative you get, the better.

So, now you have your fort — what should you do in it? We’re glad you asked! The answers are almost unlimited, but here are a few favorites:

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Drink hot chocolate Tell ghost stories

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Make a craft project

Have a family jam session (if you’re all musical)

Read (out loud or separately!)

Do a puzzle

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Eat your favorite snack

Play a board game/card game Pretend you’re on an adventure in another country

Snuggle

“Camp” overnight

Perform a shadow puppet show

HANDLING PROJECTION DURING A DIVORCE

T he N arcissist ’ s D eadly W eapon

Our firm specializes in divorce and family law cases that are complicated by narcissism and other personality disorders. If your ex is a narcissist, then you’ve probably experienced some of the toxic traits they bring to a relationship. One of the most prominent among all narcissists is projection. Psychology Today states that projection is the process of displacing one’s feelings onto a different person, animal, or object. The term is most commonly used to describe defensive projection — attributing one’s own unacceptable urges to another. For example, if someone continuously bullies and ridicules a peer about their insecurities, the bully might be projecting their own struggle with self-esteem onto the other person. By projecting faults onto others, the narcissist avoids self-examination and reflection. To give an example, think of a situation where a narcissistic man desperately craves extramarital attention from the opposite sex. Suddenly, he might start accusing his wife of “showing off” or dressing immodestly to try and get attention from other men. He

effectively avoids thinking about his own need for attention and feels self-righteous anger instead.

If you’re dealing with narcissistic projections from an ex or significant other, confronting them is likely useless. You should expect resistance in the form of denial or anger. In many situations, the narcissist’s behavior stems from their subconscious so they aren’t actively aware of it. If you’re dealing with narcissistic projections during a divorce, you can do a few things to make the situation easier on yourself. First, let go of the need to convince the narcissist of their projections. You can’t force them to self-inspect. Make sure you keep any evidence of their behaviors close at hand and hire a specialist who can rightfully handle your case. Therapy is another useful tool if the narcissist’s projections have made you feel insecure.

If you’re going through a divorce or family law matter complicated by narcissism, bipolar disorder, or other mental illnesses, give our office a call.

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W ord S earch Cinco Fourth

Freedom Graduate Hawthorn Lemonade Library Maypole Memorial Nurses Prom Taurus

THINGS NOT TO DO IN A CHILD CUSTODY BATTLE

If you’re involved in a custody battle, it can be incredibly stressful. You may be wondering what you should and should not do in this situation. People in Southern California custody battles make unfortunate choices every day that unwittingly determine the outcome of their case. That’s why we put together some of the most common mistakes parents make during a custody battle. First and foremost, ensure you have the right legal representation. This is a custody battle we’re talking about, so you don’t simply want good enough; you want the best. Avoid hiring an inexperienced attorney, and under no circumstances should you represent yourself in this matter. You should hire an expert lawyer who is a certified family law specialist. You also need to be present in your children’s lives. You can’t afford to have a pattern of absences during this situation. Make sure you’re attending their parent-teacher conferences, sporting events, performances, and other important events in their lives. While you’re at these events, make connections with the other adults who matter in your children’s lives. Make a good impression with their teachers, coaches, friends’ parents, and even their doctors. Additionally, if you’re going out for the night and need to hire a babysitter, hire a caring babysitter. Don’t make a habit of going out, because your children spending excess time with babysitters while in your care will be used against you. As a final note, don’t engage in behavior that could be considered parental alienation. If your ex-spouse is actually a bad or dangerous parent, you won’t have to manipulate the situation to prove it to the court. If you notice your ex-spouse behaving in an irresponsible manner, make note of it in a journal. Document everything that could help support your case.

ONE-PAN BAKED SALMON AND VEGGIES

Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com

INGREDIENTS

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1 lb spring potatoes, halved

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2 handfuls cherry tomatoes

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1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

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2 tbsp olive oil (divided)

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2 5-oz salmon fillets

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8 asparagus spears, trimmed and halved

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1 handful fresh basil

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. 2. In an oven-proof dish, combine the potatoes and 1 tbsp olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes. 3. Remove the dish from the oven and add the asparagus. Toss, and bake for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the dish from the oven and add the cherry tomatoes. Toss. Drizzle with balsamic, then nestle the salmon fillets into the vegetables. Drizzle with the remaining oil, and bake for 10–15 minutes. 5. Remove the dish from the oven, garnish with basil leaves, and serve!

If you’re going through a divorce or child custody battle and are in need of representation, give our office a call.

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23101 Lake Center Drive • Suite 310 Lake Forest, CA 92630

Inside

Kid-Friendly Things to Do Around Orange County

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Turn Your Home Into the Ultimate Playhouse

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How to Handle Projection From an Ex

Things NOT to Do in a Child Custody Battle

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One-Pan Baked Salmon and Veggies

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Strengthen Your Entire Body!

PADDLE YOUR WAY TO BETTER HEALTH

BIG BENEFITS OF CANOEING AND KAYAKING

Mental Benefits •

The weather is getting warmer, which means you can do more activities in the water. Canoeing or kayaking is an excellent way to get outdoors and be active. Besides looking at the beautiful scenery around you, taking to the water confers several physical and mental health benefits.

While canoeing or kayaking, your body releases serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins from neurotransmitters. This will help boost your mood and self-confidence and improve your focus. • These activities can enhance your memory and learning ability. This is because it exercises your hippocampus, one of the largest portions of your brain that is responsible for verbal memory and learning. • If you have trouble sleeping, this activity can improve your sleep . Exercising during the day can make you naturally tired, which helps you fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. • Since you’ll be in the sun, your body can produce more vitamin D . This vitamin is essential for strong bones and an effective immune system. Canoeing and kayaking are great outdoor activities to help you get your daily dose of physical activity and a mental health boost. So, enjoy the warm weather and be one with nature — this may be your new favorite summer hobby this year!

Physical Benefits •

Paddling can help improve your upper-body strength and muscle tone — because you’re using your arms to guide yourself through the water with the paddle. Paddling helps strengthen your arms, shoulders, chest, and back. • You use your legs to balance, maneuver, and change directions in the vessel. In turn, this movement helps strengthen your lower-body muscles. • While trying to stay centered and balanced on the water, you will develop more core strength . Paddling helps work your lower back, abs, and oblique muscles. • It’s a form of cardiac exercise that will help your heart circulate more blood throughout your body. It will also improve your endurance , enabling you to go longer distances faster.

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JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551