INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Try not to worry too much about potential burglars because you’re probably safe. However, it’s helpful to practice how you’ll handle a burglary so you’re prepared. Make a plan with your family and practice it so you feel ready to carry it out. Here are some things to consider:  Plan an escape route from your bedroom and the common areas. Create a danger word that warns other household members of an intruder. Designate an area for all household members to meet up. Create a safe room by installing a heavy, locking door on one room. Don’t give a burglar easy access to your home. Close and secure all exterior doors and windows, even if you’re home. This prevents crimes of opportunity.  Check your doors and windows before you go to bed every night to make sure they’re locked. Add deadbolts to your exterior doors. Burglars are hoping for an easy score, so they’ll be tempted to grab things like bicycles or expensive tools. Keep these items in your garage when they’re not in use, and make sure you or your children don’t leave them laying in your yard. Burglars might see these items laying in your yard while they’re casing homes and come back later to steal them. You might think that shrubs and bushes hide your home, but they actually hide would-be intruders. Burglars can easily creep around your home if they’re shrouded in leafy vegetation. Eliminate these hiding spots by keeping your bushes, shrubs, and grass trimmed. If you have a multi-story home, trim any tree branches that would allow a burglar easy access to a window or balcony. Burglars want to stay hidden in the dark, so they might avoid your home if it’s well-lit. Put lights above your exterior doors and keep them on while it’s dark outside. Additionally, install motion-activated flood lights over your garage and the side of your home. Check around your home for areas that might need more lighting to be secure. While casing your home, would-be burglars will look through your windows to see if you have valuables. Make it harder for them to see inside by installing curtains or blinds over your windows. This makes it less tempting for a burglar to enter your home. It’s especially important to cover your windows at night. If you have a light on, the contents of your rooms will be very visible from outside. Burglars don’t want to get caught, so they might avoid your home if they see a visible camera. Plus, you’ll have evidence to give the police if they do break into your home. Put your camera above your door or above your garage to scare off potential burglars. A camera will be a better deterrent if it’s easily visible to intruders. Investing in a home alarm system may scare off any burglars who do try to enter your home. Plus, it’ll call the police on your behalf so help arrives faster. Research home alarm companies to find one that fits your needs and preferences. Then, get an alarm installed. Be sure to display you home alarm company’s sign outside your home so potential burglars know you’re protected.

SUMMARY: Practice your plan for a home invasion in advance. Keep your doors and windows locked at all times. Store expensive items in your garage out-of-sight. Trim the vegetation around your home so a burglar can’t sneak around. Install outdoor lighting so would-be burglars feel exposed. Use curtains to prevent potential burglars from spotting your goods. Install a security camera over your front door or garage as a deterrence. Get a home alarm to scare off burglars and call for help.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: No matter how upset you are, never involve your child in the animosity. Never assign fault to your ex for the separation. Speaking negatively about your ex will not only risk the child lashing out at them or you but will also cause the child serious tensions and a feeling of being torn between the two of you. If you learn that your ex is speaking negatively about you in front of the child, be the bigger person and don’t retaliate in kind. Explain to your child that your ex is under pressure from the separation and is doing their best to get through it. Almost as important as refraining from disparaging your ex is encouraging your child to see your ex in a positive light. Say nice things about your ex whenever possible to demonstrate to your child that the end of your romantic relationship has not ended your co-parenting relationship and respect for each other. Encourage your child to appreciate the skills and parenting effort of your ex by saying things like “Isn’t your father’s cooking great?” or “Your mother did a great job coaching your little league team.” It can be difficult to adjust to seeing your ex with a new relationship but you’ll have to accept that this person will be a significant part of your child’s life. Your child is likely to take cues from your perception so showing your animosity toward them could lead your child to disrespect and resent them. This will not only cause stress for your ex and their new relationship but also for your child.  Try to compliment the new relationship. Ask your child questions like “What is dad’s new girlfriend like?” and seem interested and impressed. Tell them explicitly that they need to respect the new relationship as an authority figure. Say something like “Remember, mom and her new husband are the adults of the house. Show them both the respect that you would show me.” If your child dislikes the new relationship, give them the chance to vent their frustration but encourage them to adapt to the new situation. Try to relate to them by saying something like “This is hard on me too.” Using them as a messenger will put your child in the middle of your conflict and force them to feel the tension of your relationship. Unfortunately, this is a common mistake for separated parents that don’t want to deal directly with each other, but you don't have to make it too.  Find more productive ways to communicate like email, phone, or even talking through lawyers.

SUMMARY:
Keep negative thought to yourself. Compliment your ex. Encourage your child to respect your new ex’s new relationship. Communicate directly with your ex.