Military Officer - November 2007 - (Page 48)

askthedoctor No-Stress Holidays Don’t let the hassles of winter visits overwhelm your holiday spirit. Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, D.O., helps you safely relax and enjoy your time with family and friends. T Relax and Enjoy the Holiday Season ■ The most fun and memorable holidays are often the most relaxed. Instead of stressing out in an effort to make a holiday celebration “perfect,” take time to enjoy the spirit of the season. hanksgiving and other winter holidays are times for families to get together — which can mean long-distance travel and houseguests. Remember these tips for safe holidays: ■ Even if you only anticipate a day trip, it’s a good idea to bring along essential items in case weather or other factors turn it into an overnight visit. Items like medications; extra contact lenses, solutions, and glasses; and special foods for infants or pets can be packed in a single small bag for the entire family. For long-distance drives in cold weather, bring a couple extra blankets, water and a snack, sand, and a shovel. ■ Holiday guests might ﬁnd it easier to relax if your pet is safely and comfortably kept behind closed doors. Pets can be overwhelmed by unaccustomed noise levels and an unfamiliar mix of people, especially children, resulting in unpredictable behavior. Dogs that are ordinarily relaxed and calm might even nip someone if they feel threatened by the environment. Sometimes guests will ask if they can bring their own pet — often a dog that cannot stay home alone for many hours. Don’t be afraid to explain that it’s not convenient. If you do invite a pet, ask its owner to bring a crate. A crate can help a pet feel more secure — and reassure guests who prefer to keep their distance from a pet because of allergies or anxieties. ■ When you travel with children, talk with them about where they are going and what they can expect. If you are visiting elderly grandparents, explain their special needs to your children. For example, let them know that Grandpa has a difﬁcult time hearing and needs people to speak slowly, loudly, and one at a time. Hosts who don’t have children at home might have different expectations for inside play. Their house might not be childproofed, and children climbing or jumping or eating away from the table might not be welcome on silk rugs or antique furniture. If you are visiting for several days, don’t expect children to stay inside the entire time. And don’t expect children playing outdoors to have the situational awareness of an adult — they might not consider that balls can ﬂy through windows or roll into busy streets and ﬂower beds can be trampled. When visiting others, it is often advisable for an adult to keep a close eye on children playing outside. ■ Have realistic expectations for how long it will take to reach your destination, and be prepared for delays. Airplane ﬂights and other modes of transportation are more crowded and often move more slowly during the holidays. Driving during the winter holidays also can be slow due to greater trafﬁc volume and poor weather. Rushed or tired drivers can make poor decisions leading to accidents, serious injury, and even death. MO — Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, USPHS-Ret., D.O., M.A., is vice president, Health Sciences, Battelle Memorial Institute, Arlington, Va. Find more health and wellness resources at www .moaa.org/wellness. For submission information, see page 18. PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT 48 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2007 http://www.moaa.org/wellness http://www.moaa.org/wellness

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - November 2007

Military Officer - November 2007 Contents From the Editor President’s Page Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Chapters in Action Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Cover Story: Commanding the Corps With Love, From Home Financial Guidebook Financial Tuneups Banking on Your Time Pages of History MOAA Scholarship Recipients Faces of MOAA MOAA Scholarship Donors Member Books Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services Encore

Military Officer - November 2007

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