Rain or Shine Mamma

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes

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How to prevent ticks and not go crazy with worry

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Read my full disclosure policy here.
May 25, 2022 By Linda McGurk

The other day, our cat had just snuggled up on my daughter’s pillow in bed when she saw something making its way through his soft, white fur. She knew immediately that it was a tick. Spring, summer and fall are high season for these pesky little critters and where we live they are everywhere, just waiting to hitch a ride with us on the trail or sneak into our home by way of our pets. Over the years, I’ve plucked at least a dozen ticks off my kids and probably well over a hundred off our cats. I’ve found them crawling in my hair and burrowed in the crease behind my ear and in my armpit. Once, I even accidentally decapitated one while shaving my bikini line. I was not impressed, and neither was presumably the tick.

The bad news is that ticks can carry a host of diseases like Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and, in parts of Europe and Asia, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), which can cause serious adverse health effects in humans. The ticks’ range is also expanding due to global climate change, as they thrive in warmer temperatures. The good news is that we generally tend to overestimate the risk of getting sick from ticks, as only a fraction of the bites actually result in disease. So, before you let fear get the best of you and cancel summer, educate yourself on the risks and how to prevent ticks and tick bites.

Are you at risk?

Your risk of contracting Lyme disease, which is the most common tick-borne disease in North America and Europe, essentially comes down to three factors: the species of the tick, your location and how long the tick has been feeding. In the U.S., Lyme disease is only transmitted by blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks. Even if you’re bitten by a deer tick, the risk of infection is low if you’re not in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia or Wisconsin, as 95 percent of the cases occur in these 14 states. The risk decreases even further if you remove the tick promptly, as it takes an estimated 36-48 hours for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease to be transmitted. These rules don’t necessarily apply to more unusual tick-borne diseases, like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which makes it even more important to know how to prevent ticks from attaching in the first place.

Tick crawling across leaf.
Blacklegged tick, a.k.a deer tick.

6 tips for tick prevention

  1. Dress right. Long-sleeved, light-colored clothes make it easier to spot ticks before they have a chance to attach. Tuck your pants into your socks for extra protection, since ticks typically move from the bottom of your body and up. (Contrary to popular belief, they don’t jump down
    from trees.)
  2. Know the habitat. Ticks like tall grass and often lurk at the top of the straws, waiting for a potential host animal to walk by, so stay on the trail and avoid meadows and other grassy areas to minimize the risk of picking up hitchhikers. That said, ticks also thrive in shrubs, wood piles, stone walls, leaf piles and fallen branches. Avoiding their habitat altogether may be a tall order but by educating
    yourself about their whereabouts out you know when to be extra vigilant.
  3. Keep your lawn tidy. As many as 75 percent of Lyme disease cases are caused by tick bites in people’s own backyards. By mowing often, cleaning up brush regularly and keeping wood piles and other debris away from patios and play areas, you can make your backyard less hospitable to ticks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends creating a 3-foot wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between patios and woods to make it harder for the ticks to migrate.
  4. Consider using repellents. A repellent can help keep ticks and other insects at bay but don’t rely solely on a bug spray, since it may not be 100 percent effective. Repellents can be made of synthetic chemicals or plant-based materials and come in many different forms. Choose repellent wisely, since some of them contain harsh chemicals.
  5. Treat with heat. Once you go back inside, strip down and put your clothes straight in the dryer and run it on high heat for a minimum of six minutes. You could also wash the clothes, but the water must be hot (over 130F) to kill the ticks. Showering within two hours after you come inside can also help you get rid of ticks and reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease, studies show.
  6. Do a tick check. This is, in my opinion, by far the most important step to prevent infection from tick bites. Make a habit of doing a full-body check after you’ve been in tick-infested areas and teach your kids how to identify ticks and check themselves as well. Ticks are especially drawn to dark, moist areas on your body, such as:

  • Armpits
  • In and around ears
  • Belly button
  • Back of knees
  • In your hair
  • Between your legs
  • Around the waist

Using tick repellents

Conventional advice for how to prevent ticks and tick bites typically zero in on sprays containing chemicals like DEET, Permethrin and Picaridin. While all are deemed safe for use by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), I personally find using bug sprays problematic, since the long-term effects of applying harsh chemicals to your skin are not fully understood. For that reason, I try to stick with the safest and gentlest alternatives and only use bug sprays if I’m in an area with a high risk of tick-borne diseases.

My first choice is:

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), a repellent based on extracts from the leaves of the lemon eucalyptus tree that have been enriched to increase the concentration of the active ingredient PMD and should not be confused with natural lemon eucalyptus essential oil. OLE can also be made synthetically in a lab. It’s the only plant-based tick repellent that is recommended by the CDC and has even been found to be more effective than DEET in one test, providing up to six hours of protection against ticks in concentrations of 30 percent. OLE should not be used on children under 3, since it can cause skin irritation.

 

Here’s a quick run-down of some other common options:

DEET is a very potent chemical that is known to damage gear and may even impair the nervous system in high doses. If you do use it, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends choosing products with a 30 percent concentration or lower and notes that there are conflicting reports on which DEET concentration is deemed safe for children.

Picaridin is considered equally effective as DEET, if not more, and is less toxic. Although it hasn’t been tested as thoroughly, the EWG considers it a good alternative to DEET. A 5-10 percent concentration of Picaridin can protect against ticks for up to twelve hours and in concentrations of 20 percent it provides all-day protection.


Permethrin is a synthetic chemical that is commonly used to treat clothes, shoes and camping gear, like tents. You can also buy clothes that are pre-treated with Permethrin, primarily socks. According to the EPA, Permethrin-treated clothing is considered safe to wear, but the chemical is highly toxic to fish, bees and other beneficial insects.

 

Essential oils haven’t been thoroughly tested against ticks and the homemade formulas that I’ve tried haven’t been effective but a lot of people swear by them. My two cents are that essential oils and other all-natural formulas could be worth a try, as long as you dilute them enough to prevent them from irritating your skin and remember to reapply them often, since they’re not as potent as chemicals.

 

How to remove a tick

Should you get a tick bite despite taking precautions, be sure to remove it promptly, using regular tweezers or a specially designed tool for tick removal. I highly recommend this crowbar-shaped tick removal tool, which I’ve used successfully for many years.

 

I’ve also seen a similar version that has a hole, so that it can go on your key ring, and some that are attached to a carabiner. I personally haven’t tried them but I think both are a great idea if you’re planning for an extended stay in tick-infested areas, for example while camping.


Once you’ve removed the tick, experts recommend putting it in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer,
especially if you’re in an area with high rates of tick-borne illnesses. Preserving the tick will help your healthcare provider give you a correct diagnosis in case you were to get sick.

Do you have anything to add to these tips on how to prevent ticks? If so, please let me know in the
comments.

 

6 tips to prevent ticks and tick-borne disease
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📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚A few years ago, I did a poll in my social media channels to see what topic you’d like me to explore in my next book. One of them won by an overwhelming margin: the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv. Well, I heeded your call. I’m pleased to share that it’s now possible to pre-order The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day from just about any place that sells books! The Open-Air Life is for anybody who is longing to lead a simpler, happier and less hurried life. It shows you how to channel the power of nature connection to improve your physical and mental health, as well as your relationship with both other people and Mother Nature. Plus, you’ll learn a few party tricks, like lighting a campfire without matches and cleaning water on the go. At a time when more and more people are starting to appreciate why they should spend more time outside, this book will show you how, with a decidedly Nordic twist.I must say that I LOVE this dreamy cover that the designers at @penguinrandomhouse created. What do you think? Pre-order The Open-Air Life here to support local book stores: bookshop.org/a/79880/9780593420942 ... See MoreSee Less
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It’s TICK season…🕷 (I know that’s a spider emoji, but you get the idea😅)A lot of people freak out at the sight of these blood suckers and understandably so, considering the diseases they can harbor. But they too are a part of nature and if we want to keep venturing outside during the warmer months (I definitely do and I suspect you do too) we must come to terms with them.If you want to know more about tick prevention, I just wrote a pretty detailed post about it on my blog. Head over to rainorshinemamma.com to learn more and share this post with others who worry about ticks!👌🏻________________________#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #ticks #tickprevention ... See MoreSee Less
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I missed a meeting Sunday night😬 An informal meeting, yes, but still…I take pride in being dependable and prompt, and I hate to be flakey. I’d like to think that it was because I got distracted when my daughter called from my mom’s house and said she was running a fever, but in reality I got sidetracked well before that. Weekends are my time to zone out from schedules, emails and social media, and spend more time outside, especially this time of the year. So I missed a meeting. But I gained a quiet paddle through pastel waters as the sun slowly descended below the spruces on the horizon. __________________________#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #sup #standuppaddle #sweden #sweden_photolovers #sweden_images ... See MoreSee Less
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Linda Åkeson McGurk
There are a lot of good things about tech, but exc There are a lot of good things about tech, but excessive screen time is taking a toll on children’s physical and mental health today. Many apps and games have built-in mechanisms designed to make them highly addictive and children are even more susceptible to them than adults, since their brains are not fully developed🧠Screens are so ubiquitous in our lives today that it takes conscious effort to balance them with experiences IRL. 

For the past few years, our family has experimented with screen free or screen reduced Sundays. I’m not going to pretend that it’s easy. But if the goal is to increase quality family time outdoors and encourage the kind of creativity that arises from a healthy dose of boredom, it does work🌳

Some other tips to foster a healthy screen time culture in your family are:

✅ Learn how to use the parent controls on your kids’ devices and set age-appropriate limits.

✅ Have certain times or spaces that are always screen free, for example around the dinner table, in the bedrooms and so on, and be sure to be consistent. 

✅ Create a buy-in for the kids by letting them help plan screen free activities for the whole family.

What’s your biggest obstacle when it comes to keeping screen time under control?
________________________
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That about sums it up, doesn’t it?☺️ This qu That about sums it up, doesn’t it?☺️ This quote is from Meet the Wild, a new picture book by Lindsay Kellar-Madsen of @the.madsen.littles. Inspired by the outdoor learning and play culture in Scandinavia, Lindsay wrote the book to invite children to explore nature all year round, regardless of the weather. 
I personally love the message and sweet illustrations in this book❤️ If you have a little one in your life, you can buy the book by backing Lindsay’s Kickstarter campaign. Check out her Instagram for details!
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📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚 A few y 📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚

A few years ago, I did a poll in my social media channels to see what topic you’d like me to explore in my next book. One of them won by an overwhelming margin: the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv. Well, I heeded your call. I’m pleased to share that it’s now possible to pre-order The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day from just about any place that sells books! (Link in bio)

The Open-Air Life is for anybody who is longing to lead a simpler, happier and less hurried life. It shows you how to channel the power of nature connection to improve your physical and mental health, as well as your relationships with both other people and Mother Nature. Plus, you’ll learn a few party tricks, like lighting a campfire without matches and cleaning water on the go. At a time when more and more people are starting to appreciate why they should spend more time outside, this book will show you how, with a decidedly Nordic twist.

I must say that I LOVE this dreamy cover that the designers at @penguinrandomhouse created. What do you think? 

@tarcherperigee @penguinrandomhouse

#theopenairlife #rainorshinemamma #coverreveal #bookcover #friluftsliv #friluftslivbook
I took my kids on an overnight paddling trip last I took my kids on an overnight paddling trip last weekend and it started out with sunshine and rainbows☀️🌈 Swipe to the last video to see how it ended➡️ 

We had set out to explore the northernmost island in our local lake and while we cruised up there with decent tailwinds, the wind picked up overnight. Going back the next day, we faced strong headwinds the entire time🌊 

For nearly three hours, we paddled in choppy waters, with waves sometimes so high that they splashed into the canoe. We had no choice but to paddle nonstop - if we stopped, we immediately started drifting backwards😩

The thing about being outdoors is that you’re never fully in control of all parameters - trips like these always involve a certain amount of risk. The weather can change quickly, and not always according to the forecast. What we can control is our reaction to the challenge, how we act on it and what we learn from it.

While none of us was happy about the situation, the girls did pull together and did an amazing job paddling💪🏻 And while they both vowed to never go paddling again, I told them that this will make a funny story later in life. They weren’t convinced at the time but I think they’ll come around eventually😅 

Do you have any stories of getting in over your head to share?😃
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #openairlife #paddling #paddlingwithkids
Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know tha Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know that’s a spider emoji, but you get the idea😅) 

A lot of people freak out at the sight of these blood suckers and understandably so, considering the diseases they can harbor. But they too are a part of nature and if we want to keep venturing outside during the warmer months (I definitely do and I suspect you do too) we must come to terms with them.

If you want to know more about tick prevention, I just wrote a pretty detailed post about it on my blog. Head over to rainorshinemamma.com to learn and share this post with others who worry about ticks!👌🏻
________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #ticks #tickprevention
I missed a meeting Sunday night😬 An informal me I missed a meeting Sunday night😬 An informal meeting, yes, but still…I take pride in being dependable and prompt, and I hate to be flakey. 

I’d like to think that it was because I got distracted when my daughter called from my mom’s house and said she was running a fever, but in reality I got sidetracked well before that. Weekends are my time to zone out from schedules, emails and social media, and spend more time outside, especially this time of the year. 

So I missed a meeting. But I gained a quiet paddle through pastel waters as the sun slowly descended below the spruces on the horizon. An hour to myself to just be one with the lake, the light and the promise of the summer that still lies ahead☀️
__________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #sup #standuppaddle #sweden #sweden_photolovers #sweden_images
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations @wiet This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations @wietinghannah, you’re our winner!🎊

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Have you heard the term "ecohappiness"? If not, this is your chance to learn more! 

Author Sandi Schwartz and I have teamed up to give away a copy of her book "Finding Ecohappiness," an inspirational manifesto and practical guidebook for families to get outside and enjoy nature together. Packed with ideas for outdoor activities like animal yoga, forest bathing, sit spotting, float therapy and nature art, this book is definitely one to add to your collection📕 

How to enter👇🏼
✅ Like and save this post
✅ Follow @rainorshinemamma and @getecohappiness 
✅ Comment by completing this sentence: "To me, being in nature is..."

This giveaway closes on June 4 and a winner will be selected shortly after that. You must be 18 and live in the US or Canada to enter. This giveaway is not associated with or sponsored by Instagram. 

Good luck!🙌🏽

#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #ecohappiness #findingecohappiness #naturebooks #goodreads #naturelovers #ecotherapy #getkidsoutside
Having scientific reasons and explanations for doi Having scientific reasons and explanations for doing things is good and there are any number of ways free climbing benefits our physical and mental health. But sometimes you’ve just got to trust your guts, feel all the feelings and enjoy the joyride🙌🏻🌳

What makes you feel joy in nature?
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I’m not going to lie - there are times when my c I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌

As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.

As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻
_____________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #1000hoursoutside #quote
Did you know that camping for as little as two nig Did you know that camping for as little as two nights straight can help you reset your circadian rhythms and improve your sleep for several weeks afterwards? That's because the natural light helps the body regulate melatonin, a hormone that tells the body when it's time to get up and go, and when it's time to rest and recuperate🌗 

My melatonin levels weren't top of mind when @jeanetteosterman and I started our challenge to sleep outside at least once a month for a year. But I must say, I rarely sleep as soundly and feel as energetic as I do when I sleep under the skies.

Have you ever tried sleeping in a camping hammock? I bought my first one a few years ago and I ❤️ it!
_________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #openairlife #sleepingoutside #camping #campinglife #hammock #sleepingoutsidechallenge #freshaireveryday
Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and fe Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and feel like you're constantly negotiating/fighting/fretting over your child's screen time👋🏼 

Well, you're not alone😰 

Since 2011, when mobile internet had its breakthrough, teens' and tweens' screen time has increased dramatically. At the same time, physical activity has decreased significantly. The WHO recommends that teenagers get at least one hour of physical activity every day, but in reality 85% of the girls and 78% of the boys globally don't meet the target.

Making outdoor activity a normal part of your daily routine can help  your tween or teen get the exercise and fresh air they need  and lay the foundation for lifelong healthy habits. I'm the first to admit that it isn't easy, but then again, nobody said parenting would be a cakewalk🤪

Hang in there and check out a few of the strategies that help me balance screen time with 'green time'. Do you have any tips to share?
______________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #parenting #parentingteens #parentingtweens #getoutside
“I’m not thrilled about looking older. But wha “I’m not thrilled about looking older. But what unsettles me the most about the 40s is the implication that I’m now a grown-up myself.”
- Pamela Druckerman

Forty-four laps around the sun today and I still find that the passing of time is one of life’s greatest mysteries.
_______________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #aging #44 
@pameladruck
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