Problem: Article: Part of the fun of having a pet is handling it and enjoying its company. Handling your water dragon can be fun for both you and your pet, if done properly. As always, be gentle whenever handling your dragon, in addition to these other steps: Handle your dragon at a young age to ensure that it's accepting of being handled as an adult. Work slowly when trying to handle your water dragon at first. It will need to get used to your presence before trusting you. Don't force any interaction with your water dragon. Doing so will only cause your water dragon to distrust you. Try hand feeding your dragon first, inside the cage. Once it accepts food from your hand, you can try to remove it from its container. Never pick up a water dragon by its tail. Your water dragon will need a diet that suits its nutritional needs and matches what it would eat in the wild. The diet will consist mainly of insects, of various types, and some vegetables and fruit. This diet will help keep it healthy, strong, and happy. The main elements of the diet include crickets and mealworms. However, these tend to be low in calcium in captivity and need to be dusted with calcium powder immediately prior to feeding to the water dragon, to ensure that the dragon gets enough calcium in the diet for healthy bones. Waxworms are also an option, however, they are high in fat and should be offered sparsely. Dark green vegetables, such as kale, collard, mustard, and dandelion leaves can be a great addition to your dragon's diet. Some fruits can be included as well. Try feeding your water dragon bananas, cantaloupe, or strawberries. Large adult water dragons can eat earthworms, pinkie mice, or small feeder fish. Young dragons should be fed daily. Adult water dragons should be fed once every three days. Your water dragon won't require much grooming, however, there are some things you can do to keep your water dragon clean and happy. The two main areas of grooming that you will focus on involve the nails and bathing of your dragon. Keep an eye on your water dragons nails. If you notice the nails getting long, they can be trimmed. Keeping them short will make handling the dragon more comfortable. Find someone who can show you how to trim your dragons nails in person, as it is difficult for a beginner to do without seriously harming the water dragon. Allow your water dragon to soak in water regularly. This can help prevent constipation as well as keep it clean. As with all pets, scheduling a regular exam with your veterinarian is a critical part of maintaining that pet's health. Find a local veterinarian that works with reptiles and ask them about setting up appointments to examine your Chinese water dragon. Young dragons, under the age of four, should be checked at least once annually. Older water dragons, over four years, should be examined twice yearly.
Summary: Learn how to handle your water dragon. Provide a proper diet. Groom your water dragon. Schedule regular exams with a veterinarian.

Problem: Article: Put your body between passes that you receive and any defenders around you. Turn your hip or you back to the defense and try as much as you can to shield the ball from them. Messi will often already have his eyes up and looking over his shoulder at an opponent as soon as he traps the ball. When you trap a pass, try to do it by controlling it with the foot farthest away from the opponent. Though Messi often gets close enough to touch the defense, he's always got the ball closer to him and his center of gravity than his opponents. To start off on the right foot (ha!), accept the pass and trap it to create space in which to work. Keeping your eyes up, decide which direction is more likely to allow you enough space to maneuver around the defender. His hips won't lie: Look closely at the defender's hips to see which direction they're turned and what he seems to be anticipating you'll do. If you're right-footed, most defenders will instinctively guess that you'll go right, which might be your natural tendency anyway. Use that misconception to your advantage. Control the ball with the foot that matches the direction you're eventually going to go and take a step with the other foot. Messi's signature move happens so quick it's easy to miss, which is why it's so effective against defenders. Basically, to juke out a defender, Messi takes one stutter-step in the fake direction, feints, and then dribbles in the opposite with the outside of his foot. Messi brings the defender in and forces him to reveal his hand and make a mistake before blowing past them finding space. Messi isn't a flashy dribbler like Ronaldhino or a master of the step-over like Cristiano Ronaldo, he just uses simple changes of direction and ball control to do inhuman looking things. Drop it into high gear when you decide to switch direction. Blow past your opponent by flicking the ball in the direction you want to go and moving into your quick-dribble that you've been practicing so aggressively. You don't have to go super-fast to find space, you just need to make the smart dribble and catch the defender flat-footed and out of position. He won't be able to touch you.
Summary: Shield the ball with your body. Accept passes with the foot farthest from your opponent. Locate the space. Bring the defense in by stepping in the opposite direction you want to go. Approach the defender slowly. Explode.

Problem: Article: In the beginning of your relationship with him, your boyfriend may opt not to introduce you to his children. Your boyfriend may want to wait to introduce you until your relationship is serious. The kids have already been through a lot with the divorce, so there isn't any sense in letting them get to know a woman who may not be a permanent fixture. Do not compete for his time, especially if he occasionally needs to spend time with his kids. Even after you've been integrated into the family, your boyfriend may still need alone time with his kids. Try to be understanding of this fact. Remember, they will always be the priority. Children may be distrustful or hostile to a new romantic partner for their parent. They probably have loyalty to your partner's ex. Understand this going in, and strive to keep interactions positive even if there is tension. Plan to meet in a neutral, public setting at first. Try to plan something fun, and appropriate for the children's ages. You can plan to meet at a kid-friendly restaurant or plan a trip to somewhere like the zoo. Ask about the kids. Ask about their hobbies, interests, favorite movies, favorite TV shows, and so on. You want to show your boyfriend, and his kids, you're making an honest effort to get to know them. When appropriate, share a little about yourself. This can help the kids get to know you better. For example, you can interject something like, "Oh, I loved that movie when I was your age too." You will probably not be accepted by the family right away. This is especially true with children. If your boyfriend has gone through a divorce, there may be a lot of skepticism of a new partner. Going into social interactions, keep this is in mind. Remind yourself it's normal not to be best friends with everyone right away. Try to put yourself in your boyfriend's family's shoes. It's understandable they'll have reservations about a new partner, especially if your boyfriend's divorce was difficult or unexpected. Never push your boyfriend to introduce you to his family before he is ready, especially his children. There are many reasons your boyfriend may want to hold off on the introductions, and they are usually not personal. Allow him to go at his own pace and be respectful of when and how he chooses to make introductions.
Summary:
Support him when he wants to spend time with his children. Strive for positive interactions with your boyfriend's children. Understand there may be hostility. Allow your boyfriend to decide when to introduce you.