Planning ahead: Summer camp essentials

In just a few months, many parents I know will be sending their children to summer camp. This is an experience I, Alpman Ilker, cherish because I know how beneficial summer camp can be for my kids. They always come back from it different and better people, filled to the brim with knowledge and great memories.

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However, I noticed how many parents wait until the last minute to get stuff ready for their children. That’s probably fine if you’re an incredibly busy person, but you should also remember that rushing with the preparations is makes a person prone to forgetting some stuff.

Now, whether you’re a someone who plans ahead of time or if you’re the type to wait, I’m sharing with you this short checklist of all the stuff you need to prep for your kids before sending them off to camp. I hope this helps.

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Sleeping bags

Clothes (not so much that there’s no space left in the bag)
Shirts, shorts, swimwear (trunks and rash guards), underwear (pack a week’s more that needed), pajamas, a jacket (or a rain coat), and a sweater

Flip-flops
Hat or a cap
Sunglasses
Sunblock
Insect repellant (spray or lotion)
Water jug
Towel (at least two)
Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, tissue paper
Hair brush
Laundry bag
Emergency cash

Hi there, my name is Alpman Ilker and I am a family man from Denver, Colorado. I make sure that I get to spend time with my two children Sarah and Tom, and my loving wife, Susan. I prioritize my family more than my work or my hobby. For more on what I do, visit this website.

Four reasons to teach kids about the importance of family

Support from the family is important regardless of one’s age. A family provides for the needs of one another, be it physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual. Without their parents or guardians to look after them, children will be unable to survive and become the best version themselves.

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Children must be taught the value of belonging in the family in ways they can understand. Parents should let them feel confident and unafraid to talk about their feelings and ideas, and they must never be shut down. Letting them know that they are important in building their confidence in their family. Alpman Ilker believes that kids must learn the value of family because family is everything. Through ups and downs, one’s family will always be there support and guide.

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The right kind of support and guidance come from being in a family. While parents are not perfect, they are parents for a reason. They know how to care for and unconditionally love their children. It . Having a sense of family growing up can help a child build relationships with friends that can stand the test of time and sometimes distance.

Alpman Ilker, a father of two, knows that teaching kids about the importance of family gives way to the development of important qualities such as loyalty, honesty, responsibility, and accountability. Children will know that they will be held accountable for their actions and that their loyalty and honesty would only strengthen the relationships they have with their family and friends.

Hi there! My name is Alpman Ilker, and I’m a family man from Denver, Colorado. I make sure that I get to spend time with my two children, Sarah and Tom, and my loving wife Susan. I prioritize my family more than my work or my hobby. Head over to this blog for more updates.

Reflections: Getting the most out of family time

I’m Alpman Ilker, and if there’s one thing I love more than my muscle cars, it’s my family. I’ve been reflecting about it these past weeks, ever since I met up with old friends. They told me that even if they worked from home and spent a lot of time with their families, it just didn’t seem enough, quality-wise.

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 That’s when I got to thinking that more time spent with family doesn’t necessarily equate to having more quality time. There are parents out there who do get to spend a lot of time with their kids but are often distracted by business calls or work they have to do. I realized that spending quality time with people means devoting all your attention to them.

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Take for instance family dinners. Today, family dinners are no longer the experience they were before technology took over everyone’s lives. Nowadays, everyone has their gadgets out at all times, even during meals. Getting the most out of family time means having to set aside these distractions and actually get to talk to family members about their day. It also means allowing everyone to take turns in sharing about their experiences and concerns.

By no means am I Alpman Ilker, Father of the Year, but I try to be. I try my best to teach my kids how to survive on their own by doing basic chores around the house. I also feel like it’s key to quality time to have these meaningful routines wherein all of you work together to keep the house intact.
Do you have any suggestions for quality family time? Feel free to share them with us in the comments section below.

Alpman Ilker is a true-blue family man from Denver, Colorado. He is also a general contractor for a construction company. More reads like this here.

Wheel talk: Advantages of owning a classic car

Not everyone appreciates and understands the value of owning a classic car. Some family members might think that it’s a waste of time to have a classic convertible Chevy in your garage which you bring out just a few times a year. Obviously, car enthusiasts would disagree. This is because owning a classic car has its own set of advantages. Here are a few examples of those advantages.

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Values just go up: Unless you’re treating your classic car like a rundown toaster you can’t seem to dispose of, the value of your classic car will keep appreciating over time. Since manufacturers no longer create certain models, the number of remaining models gets fewer and fewer. This is why collectors pay such a high price for rare cars. If you own a particularly rare classic car, potentially selling it for more than its worth is certainly a possibility.

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You can teach kids the value of responsibility: Taking care of a classic car is a good example for teaching kids how to be responsible. Of course, you won’t delegate the task to them. You lead by example. Teach your kids the intricacies of maintaining a classic car and the reasons why you do so. Besides responsibility, they can learn how to appreciate valuables better, the importance of looking ahead, and persistence.

They just ooze with style: They don’t make cars the way they used to. Bringing out your classic car for a spin will surely turn heads as youngsters, as well as car enthusiasts, would marvel at the sight of a classic.

Hi there, my name is Alpman Ilker and I am a family man from Denver, Colorado. I make sure that I get to spend time with my two children Sarah and Tom, and my loving wife, Susan. I prioritize my family more than my work or my hobby. For more on what I do, visit this website.

The importance of books in the lives of children

One of the most fruitful habits children can pick up early on is reading, where they can open doors to new worlds. It’s important that parents know just how beneficial it can be to get their kids to enjoy reading books.

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Let’s face it, parents don’t know everything there is to know about the world. In fact, most of what children will learn, they will learn independently, depending on the medium to which they’re exposed. Having a substantial library of good, updated, and informative books will give kids the foundation of knowledge and wisdom, which they can rely on to move forward in life later on.

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Reading books also helps boost the vocabulary of children and teaches them to relate words to everything around them. It also helps them communicate more effectively.

But the trick is to get them to start loving books. This can be done early on, when a parent reads a bedtime story to their kids. As time goes on, these children will be curious enough to try and read the stories by themselves.

Books as gifts can also ease children into the new hobby, which is a lot better than say, being hypnotized watching other kids unwrap presents on YouTube.



Hi there! My name is Alpman Ilker. I work as a general contractor from Denver, CO, but my main responsibility is my family. My passion lies in classic cars. To know more about what I do, visit this blog.

Beauty or a bad decision: The pros and cons of owning a classic car

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A lot of people have mixed feelings when it comes to owning a classic car.  Some think that it’s a great investment or a worthwhile pursuit while other people think that it’s not worth all the trouble keeping and maintaining outdated models.  While both arguments are solid, it is important for us to know other reasons why people choose or reject owning a classic car.

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Let’s begin with the negative aspect of owning a classic car.  Maintaining it can be difficult and costly as authentic parts are rare and expensive.  If you are regularly using your classic car, all the money you spend on repairs and restoration could as well buy you a second-hand car.

There’s also the question of performance and reliability.  Classic cars may not perform as well as regular cars today.  You’d have to adjust to the steering and the cruising speed as not to wear down your vehicle.

Now, there are a lot of reasons why people choose to buy or restore classic cars.  One of the biggest reasons is that classic cars have character and style, something that very few modern cars can match.  Not only this but driving a classic car is a unique experience altogether.

Financially, there are benefits of having a classic car as well.  For instance, cars built before 1974 are now eligible for a zero-rated tax disc.  Another financial benefit for owners is that the value of classic cars doesn’t depreciate as fast as regular vehicles today.  If you have a rare model, you may even sell it for a higher price. 

Hi! I’m Alpman Ilker, a general contractor from Denver, Colorado. I oversee construction sites, where I delegate tasks and coordinate with all manpower and stakeholders. I also manage the supplies. My real passion, however, lies in classic cars. For more reads on my love affair with vintage rides, visit this blog. 

Restoration: The next step in your classic car journey

So, you love classic cars.  You own one.  You meet up with a classic car group in town on a regular basis.  You join conventions twice or thrice a year.  Your favorite TV shows feature classic cars.  Your favorite movies feature classic vehicles.  Basically, your life revolves around classic cars.  And though you may think you may have it all when it comes to classic cars, there’s still a long way to go on your classic car journey.  

It's now time to learn all about restoration.  That’s right son, a true classic car lover knows his cars from the inside out, and we’re guessing you do, too, which is good, because you’re already halfway to restoration heaven.

More and more people have been learning and dabbling in classic car restoration.  If you’re truly passionate about classic cars, you should try it, too.  Not only will it keep you close to the machines you adore, but you can also even earn a pretty from it.  Seriously.

The fact that you have a fire burning inside you means that you are willing to commit yourself to restoring a classic car.  While it may be quite of an investment since you’ll need to shell out a bit of cash to acquire the old body, parts, and paint, and so on, the end product will blow you away, mind and soul.  And if you’re restoring classic cars for interested buyers, you’ll get your investment back, with interest.

So, what are you waiting for? Hi there! My name is Alpman Ilker. I work as a general contractor from Denver, CO, but my main responsibility is my family. My passion lies in classic cars. To know more about what I do, visit this blog.