Helping Children Cope with Separation/Divorce

Not everyone is blessed with a complete and happy family. It is quite acceptable to see broken families, children dealing with step mothers or step fathers, or children dealing with a single parent. Separation or divorce is acquired by most couples who cannot deal with their relationship anymore, or simply cannot work things out between them any longer. When this happens, their children are the ones who suffer the most. They now encounter a state of depression, wherein they tend to think about what they had before as a family, their connection, their close relationship between each other. This often links to even more decrease in their happiness, causing further psychological problems if not dealt with as soon as possible.

When dealing with separation/divorce, the couple themselves need to analyze and think of what is going to happen with regards to their shared finances, their house, and most especially the custody of their children. It is critical for each parent to know what their children are feeling, since this is a state of anxiety not just for them, but also for their kids. Of course, feelings of depression cannot be avoided by everyone, since their lives are about to change, hopefully for the better. But separated is a hard stage to manage because all family members involved have feelings of anxiety and sometimes depression, which could make things even worse to handle or accept.

Children with separated/divorced parents can truly be unpredictable. Some may show optimism by showing that they are independent and mature with regards to their parent's condition. This can be seen when children are of proper age, and can understand this kind of predicament. Others may react differently, showing no emotions whatsoever. This situation must be guarded accordingly, since the child may suffer from anxiety or depression but is not capable of letting it all out yet. In this case, it is wise to let the child into family counseling, a good way to communicate and interact with their thoughts and emotions. In this way, they may be able to express what they are truly feeling about the situation, and the respective counselor can assess the child's behavior and can give an appropriate evaluation of the child. This can really help in finding peace within the child himself, and can also make him easier to accept the unfavorable situation. Younger children require at least one from the couple to be with them during these kinds of situations since they cannot take care of themselves without having at least a parent nearby. It would be recommended to try and talk to the child in a nice and loving manner, simplifying the events that are taking place. The child needs to know why his parents are not together anymore, so that he may not fall into a state of depression.  Giving extra time and effort to the children can be of great help to their emotional healing.  Children should be given the attention they need. Being able to communicate well with your children, asking them about their everyday lives, and just to be a part of their life can have a huge impact on their upbringing. Parents should continue to see, talk, and love their children even when the only option to take is separated.

Celebrate Your Child’s Firsts with Abbott

A Major Step in Childhood Nutrition Supports Better Immunity and Faster Learning Abbott is the first in the world to introduce human milk oligosaccharides (HMO*) in children’s growing-up milk, with 2’-FL HMO - a special ingredient that supports the development of a strong immune system now available in Similac GainSchool New Similac GainSchool is backed by clinically proven EyeQ Plus Nutrition System including DHA, Lutein and Natural Vitamin E as essential brain nutrientsWhen young children spend time in pre-school, they may be exposed not only to the wondersof   the   world   around them but   also   to   various   illnesses   that   could   interfere   with   theirdevelopment. Abbott launched the new Similac GainSchool with 2’-FL HMO, for childrenabove   3   years   –   the   first   growing   up   milk   in   the   Philippines   to   contain   the   immune-nourishing ingredient 2’- fucosyllactose (2’FL) human milk oligosaccharides (HMO*).1-4With more than 15 years of pioneering research in HMO* and more than 20 clinical and pre-clinical studies, Abbott has shown that HMO* can play an important role in helping to build astrong immune system, reduce infections, and improve a child’s digestive health.1,2,4,5In one of the biggest breakthroughs in childhood nutrition in the last decade, Abbott is thefirst company in the world to include 2’-FL HMO in its growing-up milk, for children abovethree years. 

In addition to supporting immunity development, Similac Gain School is also the only  growing-up   milk   in   the   Philippines   with   the   clinically   proven   EyeQ   Plus   NutritionSystem, which contains 10 essential brain nutrients with DHA, Lutein and Natural Vitamin E(NVE) that help support the development of brain connections for faster learning. 

At the launch event themed ‘Celebrating Firsts with Abbott’, Danica Sotto-Pingris, actress, TV host and mother of two children said, “Like any other mom out there, being on top of my children’s nutritional needs and overall health is a must for me. I want to ensure the things they consume help support both their growth and immune development. If they are strong and   well-equipped   against   sickness,   I   am   confident   they   will   learn   faster,   reach   their milestones and have a strong start in life.” 

“That’s why I am excited Abbott has introduced a new growing-up milk with nutrients to help strengthen a child’s immune system and support their cognitive development,” added Danica as she shared her experience of raising her children. 

*Not derived from human breast milk—more—Two medical and nutritional experts at the event, Dr. Jose Rodolfo Dimaano Jr., medical director   of   Abbott’s   nutrition   business   in   the   Philippines   and   Dr.   Ria   de   Guzman,   a developmental   and   behavioral pediatrician,   spoke   on  the  importance of nutrition   in   the overall development and growth of a child, as well as the science-based nutrition behind the new Similac GainSchool.The informative sessions expounded on the two vital nutritional factors that are incorporated in the new Similac GainSchool— 2’-FL HMO* for the support of gut health and the immune system, and the EyeQ Plus Nutrition System, for the support of brain development.  Dr Jose  Rodolfo  Dimaano Jr. explained, “HMO helps  strengthen the immune system  by nourishing the good bacteria in the gut, where 70% of the immune system exists. Keeping your child’s digestive system healthy also means strengthening their immunity.” 

In the Philippines, the most common cause of infections in young children is related to upper respiratory tract infections. 

HMO is associated with the reduction of up to 66% of these infections.

“Good nutrition provides a strong foundation for a child to grow and thrive. With Abbott’s breakthrough   science,   adding  nutrients such  as   2’-FL   HMO   and nucleotides   in the   new S imilac GainSchool growing up milk means a child now has more protection for stronger immunity," Dr Dimaano added. Similac GainSchool also contains nutrients that are essential in nourishing strong cognitive development. As per Dr. Ria de Guzman said, “One of the main pillars of pediatric health is cognition,   which   consists   of   learning,  acquiring   knowledge,   and   performing   executive functions. 

What I found interesting in Similac GainSchool with HMO is that it contains DHA,Lutein and Natural Vitamin E, all of which help support a child’s nutritional needs and can enable faster brain connections, for faster learning,” she said. 

About Abbott:

At Abbott, we're committed to helping people live their best possible life through the power of health. For more than 125 years, we've brought new products and technologies to the world –in nutrition, diagnostics, medical devices and branded generic pharmaceuticals – that create more possibilities for more people at all stages of life. Today, 99,000 of us are working to help people live not just longer, but better, in the more than 150 countries we serve.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal. 

Abbott Media:

For the Philippines: 

Foo Wen Dee, (65) 6914 8538 wendee.foo@abbott.com  

Patricia Malay, 0917 113 6974 Patricia.Malay@fleishman.com 

Soh Rosario, 0917 702 8402 Soichiro.rosario@fleishman.com  

On Choosing Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury attorney advertising is rising rapidly. Every time you turn on your TV or radio there are more personal injury attorney advertisements. Ironically, most personal injury attorneys and, in my opinion, most of the better personal injury attorneys, did not want to advertise and resisted for a long time.  

That is quickly changing. Many of the better personal injury attorneys are now advertising because like it or not, they realize that advertising is not going away. So how does a seriously injured person determine whether a given advertising attorney is one of the better attorneys? 

First, the problem: anyone can advertise. Legal experience, skill or expertise in a particular legal specialty is not required to advertise. Attorneys with little or no experience, skill or expertise can advertise heavily in local phone books, billboards, television and radio advertising. 

These attorneys can claim huge verdicts where you to live to entice you to call quickly. Unfortunately, such claims may be very misleading. There are too many examples of attorneys with limited or no experience trying cases locally or anywhere else advertising heavily and making such claims. Historically, some of the biggest advertisers did not try cases at all and simply farmed them out to other attorneys in exchange for generous referral fees.

So how do you get beyond the advertisements to find a highly experienced attorney with expertise in your type of case? Think about what you would do before hiring any professional to help you with a very serious matter affecting your life. You would not just respond to the first TV commercial or call the person with the most billboards. You would do some research. 

Fortunately there are several easily accessible research tools. You can check the attorneys’ credentials by visiting these personal injury attorney.

“The Best Lawyers in America” is a national organization that lists by specialty the attorneys [and firms] in each geographical who other attorneys rate among the best in their specialty. As you would expect these attorneys are highly experienced in their fields. Look for firms who have several attorneys listed in the personal injury section – attracting such attorneys says a lot about the quality of the firm.

The American Board of Trial Advocates is another excellent resource because it has rigorous admissions standards and only admits highly experienced trial attorneys. This is very important because the better personal injury attorneys are all highly experienced trial attorneys

In serious matters affecting your life you want to know if in addition to superior experience and legal skills, the attorneys and firms also practice at the highest ethical standards. “Martindale-Hubbell” is a highly respected national publication that uses peer reviews to rate attorneys and firms on both the quality of their legal work and their ethical standards. Look for attorneys and firms that receive both an “A,” their highest legal quality grade and a “V” their highest ethical grade. 

Additional potential sources are other attorneys or friends and family who are familiar with the legal community. This can be especially helpful if they have had a positive experience with the attorney or firm they are recommending. 

After you narrow your search through such inquires and the web sites suggested above, go to the firm's website to learn more about their experience in the specialty that you need. Then meet with the attorney. Ask whether they have taught Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses. Attorneys who teach these courses are teaching other attorneys and are usually the most experienced and highly respected in their field.

Also ask who will be in charge of your case and who will try it. While it is common for less experienced attorneys to work on your claim, a senior attorney should be involved from start to finish. Your relationship and comfort level with the attorney is important. Look for an attorney that is courteous and is considerate of your time and who is responsive to your calls and questions. Don’t ever feel pressured to make a decision on the spot.

Following the suggestions above should quickly and easily help you get beyond the advertisements and get to a highly experienced attorney with expertise in your type of case.