OCTOBER 2020
A U G U S TA
Teen
Issue
AUGUSTA FAMILY FAVORITES READJUSTING IN THE ATHLETIC RESTART augustafamily.com
C O R N E R S T O N E AC A D E M Y
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on the cover
OCTOB ER 2020
Kajel Wright (17), Timothy Bailey (17), Rashad Williams (17), and Rhys DeLoach (17) Photo by Randy Pace
w w w.a u g ust afa m i l y. co m
PUBLISHER
Ashlee Griggs Duren
EDITOR
Aimee Serafin
ART DIRECTOR
Michael Rushbrook
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Lisa Dorn
ADVERTISING SALES Doressa Hawes Mary Porter Vann
CIRCULATION/MARKETING Kimberly Stewart
PHOTOGRAPHY Randy Pace
CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Dana Harris Kim Beavers, MS, RD, CDE Paige Tucker Cammie Jones Meredith Flory Josh Heath Charmain Brackett Dr. Jennifer Drake A Publication of MCC Magazines, LLC A division of Morris Communications Company, LLC | 725 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901 Morris Communications Company, LLC William S. Morris III, Chairman Craig S. Mitchell, CEO MCC Magazines Tina Battock, Executive Director Scott Ferguson, Director – Finance & Operations Sherry Brown, Director of Manufacturing & Production Veronica Brooks, Accounting Manager Michelle Rowe, Circulation Business Manager
Augusta Family Magazine is published 9 times per year and distributed throughout the Augusta and Aiken area. Send press releases, story ideas or comments to the editor at aimee.serafin@ augustafamily.com or mail to 725 Broad Street, Augusta, Ga., 30901. For advertising information, call (706) 823-3702. For circulation/ distribution, call (706) 828-4391.
Is your child ready for their “close up?” If you think you’ve got a “cover kid,” submit their photo and information to aimee.serafin@augustamagazine. com, and they may grace the cover of Augusta Family Magazine.
4 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
Facebook.com/ augustafamilymagazine
@AUGFamilyMag
We look forward to hearing from you; visit our website www.augustafamily.com and on facebook and twitter.
Thank You!
To all our families for voting us your favorite pediatric dentist since 2011. We are honored and greatly appreciate your ongoing support.
Join Us www.facebook.com/drleebaker
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Mackenzie Craik to our team! He joined us in caring for our patients in November of 2019 and has over six years’ experience as a specially trained pediatric dentist. Dr. Craik and his family relocated from Washington State and are enjoying being part of the practice and the community. As a full time pediatric dentist with Center For Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Craik allows for additional patient hours to care for the children of the CSRA. Dr. Craik, his wife Emily and his five sons aged 13 to 5 are active in their church and enjoy spending time together as a family especially playing sports or being outdoors. We hope you will give our office a call if you are looking for a dental home for your children! Dr. Baker and Dr. Craik are both accepting new patients and participate with many insurance plans for your convenience!
New Patients Welcome! 1243 Augusta West Parkway | Augusta, Georgia | (706) 855-8989 | www.DrLeeBaker.com | Se Habla EspaĂąol Dr. Lee Baker is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and is active in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Georgia Dental Association
contents www.augustafamily.com
Overcoming Adversity in Adolescence —Dr. Dana Harris
26
Readjusting in the Athletic Restart
Ask the Doctor
—Charmain Z. Brackett
HPV Vaccine and the Elephant in the Room —Dr. Jennifer Drake, MD
29
16
6 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
Eating Well with Kim
Positive Body Image and Puberty —Kim Beavers, MS, RD, CDE
18
OCTOBER 2020
33 8
Editor’s Page
11
Mom to Mom
12
News & Notes
24
Teen Driver Agreement
44
Calendar
—Paige Tucker
Smart Mom’s Guide
Raising Readers
Inspiration Station
The Modern Perspective
—Cammie Jones
—Meredith Flory
—Josh Heath
—Aimee Serafin
Helping Teens Through a Breakup
20
Spooky Good Suggestions
22
A Sweet Deal
38
Saira Smith
46
AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 7
editor’s notes by Ai mee Seraf i n
C
rimson. Goldenrod. Burnt Orange. Chestnut Brown. The shades of fall are as identifiable as the harvest foods at this time of year. They are reminders that there comes with autumn a natural easing of the earth, yet, not without one latent explosion of color before the ground goes dormant for winter. If spring is a time of new beginnings, then fall echoes a season of letting go. Like the towering oak and pine tree that drop leaves and needles, we find ourselves in a similar season of shedding. We are giving up old systems and standards and searching for new ways of adjusting to our current circumstances. From school to athletics to work, we are leaning less on the previously established and familiar models. The articles for October’s teen issue of Augusta Family magazine reflect how life right now requires different lenses. In Readjusting in the Restart, Charmain Brackett describes what practice and competition look like for local student-athletes and coaches, including a side note on recruitment. Smart Mom’s Guide tackles the always relevant and mostly imminent teenage break-up with ways to guide students through this emotional challenge. Safe Kids shares tips on teen driving safety and the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety provided their teen-driver agreement as a tear-out resource for our readers. The sensitive topic of HPV vaccination is framed with objectivity, candor and data from Dr. Jennifer Drake, a mom and pediatrician, who understands the discomfort surrounding this “elephant in the room” conversation.
8 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
The teen years are a time of shedding, too. We, as parents, watch our young, innocent children grow into unique and beautiful adults. It is a season of letting go and letting them become individuals who add intrinsic value to their local community. Life will always bring change and challenges— but with them are opportunities for grace, patience and the anticipation of a new harvest.
Aimee Serafin aimee.serafin@augustafamily.com
mom to mom
Ka ren Gord on
Warm Water
Water Safety
Dolphin Team
Our recent gift of time has opened the door for learning new things, rediscovering old passions, and picking up old hobbies. This spring, Julia Reynolds took off for the first time on two-wheels on her beloved Frozen bike. (Look Mom, no training wheels!) This involved lots of practice between a couple of bouts of tears and some bumps and bruises. As a mom, it was so rewarding to watch and coach her through this learning process. She was totally fearless on her training wheels and would speed around on her bicycle wherever she wanted to go. She was ready for us to take them off, but naturally, fear crept in when that safety net was removed. My dad, her “ShaSha”, helped her get over the fear of falling with some fancy Frozen-themed safety gear. ShaSha showed up with elbow pads, knee pads and even some Elsa bike gloves. It was just the push Julia Reynolds needed to trust herself and take off pedaling without one of us running alongside her. What a great moment! I’ll remember it forever. It inspired me to get back on my own bike and join her for what I hope will be lots of bike rides together! Problem is, it was difficult to find a bike. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one with this idea. It’s been very interesting, not to mention a little inconvenient, to see what things have been in short supply during the COVID crisis. Toilet paper (?!?), trampolines, and bicycles! (I finally got one, and it’s been a lot of fun riding with my bike buddy!) Perhaps the shortage of certain simple things like bicycles is a good sign. So many families are outside, getting back to basics, doing ordinary things like bike riding together. With Julia Reynolds back in school– fingers crossed we stay in-person– we’re getting the tiniest taste of old routines. I am hopeful this “old but new, backto-basics” lifestyle remains. May some of the habits and lessons learned during quarantine stick with us long after the virus is a distant memory.
Small Class Size
Bike Buddies
After twelve years in local news, most recently as evening anchor of NBC 26, Paige Tucker is now a work-at-home mom and freelance journalist. She produces two series for NBC 26 TV, First Responders and 26 Women Today, and you can see those stories on Tuesday nights. Paige and her husband have one daughter, Julia Reynolds, who is six years old.
AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 11
news&notes OCTOBER 2020
12 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
news&notes
My Boast By Jordan Turner
Strongest welcomes, only daughter of the Thomas family. Biggest supporter to younger brother Gavin, stronger than anyone. The storm fighter of the saddest storm. Talented survivor, I shall show you my battles. The way to happiness. The way to love. The way to fulfillment. I began the climb of a mighty mountain not too long ago, starting from the base of sadness, the fog consuming my thoughts. After endless days of picking myself up over and over again, I fell back to the bottom. I had to find a better way. I learned to love my greatest temple, I would strengthen my marked mind. Not seeing the light or the greatness yet to come. I stumbled. I crawled. I got damaged. I fought the deepest downs, hiding the saddest smile, fighting my hated heart. I was blinded from the highest highs and the happiest heart. I was the note finder, I was the word chaser, I was the defibrillator. Some may down my greatest solo, but I know my talent and manipulation of music. Not as smart as the geniuses though time will tell the greatness of a strong liver. I stand today on top of my struggles with a glowing mind, heart of love, ready for any storm. Depression, anxiety, sleepless nights. The daily downs will never make me time lapse to the past. I breathe for one thing and one thing only, To fight the battles, and be a warrior.
A senior at Greenbrier High School, Jordan explains “This piece of poetry is about how I fight an everyday battle with mental health. It is also about how I use my talents, including writing and playing music, to strengthen my mind so I can continue fighting my battle.”
Local Eats
THE TOP OF JUICY SOUTHERN BY AIMEE SERAFIN How long did it take the chicken to cross the road? Well, for this chicken, it took way longer than it should have. I was late in visiting Frog Hollow’s most recent take on farm-fresh hospitality. Opened in 2019, Frog and the Hen is in Martinez located on Flowing Wells Road. When I finally got the chance to go there a few weeks ago, all my taste buds could say was, “Oh, my my!” This modern farm-style market and eatery H.I.T.S the spot! Seriously, ya’ll. It is GOOD, and it plants a flag at the top of juicy southern cuisine. The open dining room hosts spacious wooden tabletops, an airy wide-length bar and a corner “special selects” market including refrigerated takeout menu items, regional jams & jellies, coldpress juices, beer and wine. Boasting all-natural antibiotic and hormone-free chicken from Joyce Farms the restaurant serves savory dishes like chicken pot pie, chicken and waffles, chicken
biscuits, BBQ and fried chicken sandwiches and healthy salads. For appetizers, guests can relish the honey butter biscuits, pimento cheese samplers, fries and gravy and even country-crisp ham deviled eggs. Two of the best treats currently offered— especially for busy parents and office workers— are the Family Meal Deals and the Business Boxed Lunches. The ease of picking up a healthy, juicy dinner that feeds a family of four has its benefits: sanity for one, and ease for another in this season of life. The deal comes with one protein choice (whole chicken, 8-piece fried or Wildcard Wednesday pickings via Instagram @frogandthehen) and two family-sized sides. Biscuits and a gallon of tea are included. Office parties or groups can order boxed lunches from main menu selections, $12, delivered within 5 miles for free (orders of 5 or more). The dinner bell is ringing at Frog and the Hen, so, don’t be late to supper!
Open daily 11am – 9pm, closed Sundays and Mondays. 706.755.2767. www.frogandthehen.com. Outdoor seating available.
AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 13
news&notes
PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PLENTY OF FISH is a popular free dating app and website that encourages chatting with strangers. It allows users to browse profiles based on location.
HILY is a dating app where users can browse photos, engage in chats, send private videos and more. Based on the GPS location of a mobile device, strangers can arrange to meet up locally.
ZOOSK is a location-based dating app and website similar to many others. The app is available in 80 countries and utilizes a “carousel” feature which matches users with random strangers.
MOCOSPACE is a free social networking and dating app feared towards African American and Latino communities. Users can connect with strangers worldwide via text messages or voice calls.
BEST SECRET FOLDER is specifically meant to “hide photos and videos,” according to app store descriptions. It features password protection, decoy videos and alarm settings.
MONKEY is a live video chat app that connects users to random strangers worldwide, offering group chat and private message options. It claims to be rated for ages 12 and up but has “mild sexual content and nudity.”
MEETME is a dating social media app that allows users to connect with people based on geographic proximity. As the app’s name suggests, users are encouraged to meet each other in person.
GRINDR is a dating app geared towards gay, bi and transgender people. The app gives users options to chat, share photos and meet up based on a smart phone’s GPS location.
SKOUT is a location-based dating app and website. While users under 17 years old are unable to share private photos, kids can easily create an account using a different age.
WHATSAPP is a popular messaging app that allows users to send texts, photos, voicemails, make calls and video chats worldwide. WHATSAPP uses an Internet connection on smart phones and computers.
TIKTOK is a new mobile device app popular with kids used for creating and sharing short videos. With very limited privacy controls, users are vulnerable to cyber bullying and explicit content.
BADOO is a dating and social networking app where users can chat, share photos and videos and connect based on location. While the app is intended for adults only, teens are known to create profiles.
BUMBLE is similar to the popular app “Tinder”. However, it requires women to make the first contact. Kids have been known to use BUMBLE to create fake accounts and falsify their age.
SNAPCHAT is one of the most popular apps in recent years. While the app promises users can take a photo/video and it will disappear, new features including “stories” allows users to view content for up to 24 hours. Snapchat also allows users to see your location.
KIK allows anyone to contact and direct message your child. Kids can bypass traditional text messaging features. KIK gives users unlimited access to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
LIVE.ME is a live-streaming video app that uses geolocation to share videos so users can find out a broadcaster’s exact location. Users can earn “coins” as a way to “pay” minors for photos.
HOLLA is a self-proclaimed “addicting” video chat app that allows users to meet people all over the world in just seconds. Reviewers say they have been confronted with racial slurs, explicit content, and more.
WHISPER is an anonymous social network that promotes sharing secrets with strangers. It also reveals a user’s location so people can meet up.
ASK.FM is known for cyber bullying. The app encourages users to allow anonymous people to ask them questions.
CALCULATOR% is only one of SEVERAL secret apps used to hide photos, videos, files and browser history.
HOT OR NOT encourages users to rate your profile, check out people in their area, and chat with strangers. The goal of this app is to hook up.
14 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
news&notes SAFE KIDS FAST FACTS TEENS BEHIND THE WHEEL Teenage years are an exciting time for young students who have a new sense of independence after strapping in behind the wheel. Whether as a new driver or the passenger in a friend’s car, teens feel a long-awaited liberation while their parents simultaneously feel excitement and fear. Safe Kids research confirms that parents can make a difference by talking with their teens about expectations and setting good rules and safe boundaries. Teens agree that their parents are their greatest source for driver training and education. We encourage parents to spend time with new drivers to hone their skills. “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, ahead of all other types of injury, violence or disease. The good news is that crashes are preventable and teens with a formal driving agreement take fewer risks behind the wheel,” said Renée McCabe, RN, Safe Kids Greater Augusta Coordinator.
TOP TIPS 1.
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It is never too late to be a good role model. Your son or daughter has been observing you drive since they were young. They will model good and bad behavior based on what you do while driving. Even if you have made mistakes, start setting a good driving example today. Buckle up on every ride, every time, front seat and back. Make buckling up a habit starting when kids are young. Write a formal agreement with your teen driver, setting
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clear expectations about your family rules. Discuss different scenarios your new driver may encounter and what scares you about these situations. Define your zero-tolerance rules for driving, speeding, alcohol and texting. Tear out the teen-driver agreement for your use on page 24. Make sure your teen gets at least 50 hours of practice with an experienced driver in a variety of road conditions. Check your state law and graduated licensing to find out legal requirements, but do not stop there if your child needs more experience driving. Limit the number of passengers allowed in the car with your teen. The risk for fatalities increases with the number of passengers. Every child is different, =-so set rules based on your personal assessments of your child. Encourage your child to speak up if a driver of any age is not driving safely and makes them feel scared. Provide them with alternative plans to get home, just in case.
Safe Kids Greater Augusta, led by the Children’s Hospital of Georgia, works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children ages 1 to 19. Safe Kids Greater Augusta is a member of the Safe Kids Worldwide network. To find out more about the local Safe Kids program call 706-7217606, or visit augustahealth.org/safekids. Check out more safety tips, The Ultimate Car Seat Guide and “Parent Pep Talk” at SafeKids.org.
A U G U S TA
AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 15
ask the doctor Dr. Je n n i fer Dra ke , M D
16 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
HPV Vaccine and the Elephant in the Room
A
large part of my job as a pediatrician is preventive care or the business of keeping healthy children healthy. I see well babies in the nursery. I talk about normal development so parents know what to expect. I discuss feedings and nutrition to help children grow and behavioral issues to help them thrive. And I recommend vaccines. Vaccines are one of the most successful developments of modern medicine and most parents agree they are an appropriate part of childhood preventive health. For many, this also includes the HPV vaccine. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a virus that causes genital warts and several types of cancers. It is a very common infection, affecting about 14 million Americans each year. According to the CDC, there are 11,000 cases of cervical cancer caused by HPV and 4,000 women die from this disease every year. In addition to cervical cancer, HPV can cause cancers of the vagina, vulva, rectum, penis and oropharynx. Annually, females develop over 20,000 HPV-related cancers and males are affected at a rate of 14,000 cancer cases. The HPV vaccine can prevent over 90% of these cancers. However, I see more hesitation to this vaccine than to most others. Enter the three-letter elephant in the room: SEX. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus. What parent wants to think about their child contracting a sexually transmitted virus that could lead to cancer? Most parents do not want to think about the fact that their child could be, currently or in the future, sexually active. Therefore, they may not think this vaccine is necessary, as their son or daughter is not in the high-risk category. The HPV vaccine is routinely recommended for the 11 to 12-year-old visit. This does, of course, seem young to be crossing into these conversations for most children. I get it. As a mom, I understand not wanting to think about my own children being at risk for this. My personal reasoning for recommending this vaccine at this age,
and for giving it to my own children as soon as they were able to receive it, is that the nature of vaccines is to work through prevention before the exposure is imminent. In my opinion, the best safeguard against HPV is to drastically reduce the risk of the threat through the vaccine. As a parent, I hope to raise children who make wise decisions, ones that will keep them away from the risk of HPV and many other diseases. But, if they decide otherwise, or become the victim of an unfortunate assault, or even marry someone who is wonderful but has a past, they could still be at risk for contracting HPV and resulting cancers. Should there arise a situation outside of my choosing, we will have emotional, spiritual and medical issues to navigate— but the added worry of future cancer will not be among those challenges. For me, vaccinating my child against HPV could be a life-saving decision. Parents struggle with the topic of adolescent sex and have an even harder time discussing a cancerous disease caused by it. Explaining a flu vaccine to your child is easy. But explaining an HPV vaccine means you are planning to have, or hopefully have already had, discussions about sex with your teens. Navigating the awkward “elephant in the room” discussions can be difficult for both parent and child. However, it may also create meaningful moments between the two of you and a deeper trust as a result. I can promise your child is hearing information— often incorrect or confusing— from their peers. To hear it from you, their parent, whom they trust and love, will make a big impression on them and what they think and believe about their own sexuality. So, talk about it, protect your child from disease and cancer, and tame that elephant. Jennifer Drake, MD, has been in practice with Augusta Pediatric Associates for nearly 18 years. Dr. Drake attended Georgia Tech in undergraduate studies, the Medical College of Georgia for her MD and trained at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for her pediatric residency. She is a mom to five beautiful children here in Augusta’s Garden City.
AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 17
eating well with kim
Photo by Rahul Upadhyay on Unsplash
K i m Be avers
18 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
Positive Body Image and Puberty
P
uberty is a loaded word. Long-standing humor about how we parents make our teens mad by simply breathing hits close to home. So, how in the world is a well-meaning, breathing, anger-inspiring parent supposed to help a child gain a positive body image through puberty? Well, as the mother of a teenager, I cannot say I know for sure, but what I can say is that looking to the experts for guidance is a good start.
What is body image? According to the National Eating Disorders Association, body image is how you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in your mind. It encompasses: ● What you believe about your appearance ● How you feel about your body (height, shape, and weight) ● How you feel in your body How do we set the stage for our children (both male and female) to have a positive body image? Here is some important information, and a few resources, to help jumpstart some healthy conversations. Teaching and modeling Teaching children to respect and embrace diversity, including body diversity, sets the foundation for body appreciation. Modeling this desired behavior is even more important than teaching it. Begin by appreciating your own body— even the undesirable or “needing improvement” parts. This can be hard, right? Your body is strong, it is resilient, it is worth caring for and taking care of. Do you give your body rest? Is there time scheduled into your day for adequate sleep? Do you honor your body with activity, and fuel it when needed? Are you practicing self-care? Setting the example of body care and kindness in your home will help start your children in the right direction. Family Mealtime Make family mealtime positive. Celebrate food as nourishment (not good or bad). Prioritize the importance of being together as a family, not portion sizes or weight. Engage in conversation and unity as a family, and keep in mind, elaborate meals are not required. Teens can be pulled in other directions around dinner time so remember to make this category creative— mealtimes can include breakfast or snack. The Mexican Pita Pizza recipe included is simple enough for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack. It’s a sure food to bring the family together! Kim Beavers is a Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator for University Health Care System. She is the co-host of the culinary nutrition segment Eating Well with Kim, which airs at noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday on WRDW. To be notified of new recipes join Kim’s facebook fan page at www.facebook. com/eatingwellwithkim.
Be the Resource Talk openly about puberty changes and monitor media messages. Be your child’s resource. Make efforts to foster an open, honest relationship so that he or she can come to you for answers to questions regarding body concerns. Resources for more information: • “Body Kindness” by Rebecca Scritchfield; www.bodykindnessbook.com. • “My Body’s Superpower: The Girls Guide to Growing Up Healthy During Puberty” by Maryann Jacobsen; www.maryannjacobsen.com. • Podcast TNC 103: “Puberty, Body Dissatisfaction and Girls”; www.jillcastle.com.
Mexican Pita Pizza This is a great alternative to nachos— the whole wheat pita is higher in fiber than chips! You can customize the flavor by using mild, medium or hot salsa. Top with chicken or shrimp for extra protein. Vegetable oil cooking spray 1 teaspoon organic canola oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 garlic clove, minced 1 can lower-sodium black beans, drained and rinsed ¾ cup prepared salsa of choice ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 ½ cup reduced-fat Mexican cheese 6 whole wheat pita rounds Preheat oven to 400°. Place pitas on a baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes flipping after about 4 minutes. For the topping, spray a non-stick pan with vegetable oil. Add Canola oil over medium heat. Once hot, sauté onions and garlic for 3 minutes. Add beans and salsa, stirring to combine. Heat for an additional 3 minutes before removing from heat and stirring in the cilantro. Top each pita with 1/3 cup bean mixture and top with ¼ cup cheese. Place pitas back in the oven for 4 minutes to melt the cheese. Serve warm. Yield: 6 servings Nutrition Breakdown: Calories 260, Fat 5g (3g saturated), Cholesterol 15mg, Sodium 830mg, Carbohydrate 41g, Fiber 8g, Protein 15g Diabetes Plate Plan: 2 Starches, 1 Lean meat, 1 Vegetable
AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 19
smart mom’s guide
Photo by burak kostak from Pexels
C a m m i e Jon es
20 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
Helping Teens Through a Breakup
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hh… young love. It is that magical thing we all relate to: stomach butterflies, permanent grins and the awkward sentiment of adoration for another. The feelings of adolescent romance are the best of highs and the sadness of the first breakup is the lowest of lows. Both usually come without warning. So, how do you keep teens moving forward after they experience that unpleasant first-time breakup? WIDE SPACES When I asked my daughter what advice she would give to a parent whose child had just gone through a breakup with a boyfriend, she said, “Leave them alone.” All teens deal differently with their problems, but that advice may be crucial and reliable. As parental fixers, we want to help our teen get over a breakup and move past the sadness. However, sometimes leaving your child alone to cry or brood will allow a release of pent-up feelings. Then, when ready, your teen will come to you for advice or support. VERBAL VALIDATION Even if the relationship lasted only a few months (or weeks), it is good to avoid belittling your child for his or her feelings. For most teens, young love and the first breakup are major life experiences. “You can say, ‘I know this is hard’ or ‘I know it’s sad when a relationship comes to an end.’ Try to avoid saying things like, ‘This isn’t really a big deal’ or ‘High school relationships don’t usually work out anyway.’ These types of comments, which are meant to minimize grief or rationalize away pain, may make your teen feel alone, trivialized, and misunderstood,” according to Aimee Morin, LCSW, 10 Ways to Help Your Teen Deal with a Breakup, verywellfamily.com. Remember how difficult life was trying to navigate these kinds of relationships in high school? Do your best to sympathize with your child while going through what is, hopefully, a short period of mourning. TIMELY DISTRACTIONS Have you been waiting to visit that new restaurant or check out the new dress shop? Now is the time to go. Try to distract your child by keeping busy. Invent distractions to create anticipation for something new. Encourage exercise or hanging out with other friends. It would be so easy to sit around and mull over a broken heart, but sometimes the best medicine is keeping busy. “Think about your teen’s favorite activities and then schedule them throughout the day,” adds Morin. All this
will help remind your child that life can still be fun and full of activities with or without a significant other. ROUTINE STABILIZERS Although your teen has just gone through a major emotional event, this is not the time to ditch school or call in sick to a part-time job. Keeping the same or similar routine will help pass the day and allow your teen to move forward in the motions. Although your child may not be in a good place emotionally, doing this will help anchor familiarity and order in daily life. You can allow leeway for moments of sadness, but drastically rearranging life by over-focusing on the breakup will make it more difficult to get back to normal. Eventually, time heals, so remind your teen that these tough feelings will not last forever. LISTEN WELL, REALLY WELL Close your mouth and open your ears. “Even better than saying anything is letting your teen talk without injecting your opinions or analysis,” says Morin. “They need a safe space to vent their frustration, confusion, hurt and any other emotions they experience without having anyone clouding or second-guessing their thoughts.” Make sure your teen knows you are there and encourage their timing on when to come to you for support. It is normal for teens to not share every thought or detail of their breakup but reaching out to trusted friends is one way to vent. (Just caution them to choose trusted and loyal friends so their emotional status does not end up the social daily news.) Let your teen know that you are always available, without judgment or opinions, unless granted. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HELP Your teen is going to be sad. She may be mad. He may feel down in the dumps. These examples are normal behaviors after a breakup. It is important that, as a parent, you observe these feelings and keep abreast of the situation. “If you notice signs of depression, eating problems, or sleeping too much or too little, it might be time to seek additional help,” advises Morin. This is the time to call your teen’s doctor to get a referral with a health professional who deals with adolescent therapy. Most likely, after a few weeks, your teen will be over the “ex” and ready to move on. Once your child is okay and not brooding over the breakup anymore, neither should you. Time to put that experience on a shelf and leave those memories behind! Cammie Jones is an Augusta freelance writer and mother of three.
AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 21
raising readers Me re di t h Fl ory
Spooky Good Suggestions
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s a child, I loved scary stories. I would stay up way past my bedtime with a flashlight reading Goosebumps. I also know my limits to enjoying the genre. I left a sleepover once in the middle of the night because the parents allowed us to watch horror movies and the first one terrified me. Haunted houses are hit or miss for me, and I like supernatural thrillers over gore or crime. For some adults, the idea of children enjoying scary stories is confusing. Perhaps they are easily scared or may become nervous regarding any conversations unfolding from these stories. So, why do children enjoy scary stories? Is there a positive reason for children to explore horror written for their age level?
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We often explore difficult or terrifying concepts in a safe space when reading these kinds of stories. Thinking about what happens when we die, the absence of a loved one, how we would react in a crime or emergency, or a sense of not being believed are all explored through scary stories. Yet, we know we are in a safe space with the possibility to remove ourselves if needed. We can identify and deal with our fears without having to experience real horror. Families must make personal choices on what to read or what media to consume based on their values and the personalities of their children. I have one child that scares much more easily than the other, but he is also more likely to remove himself from something that is too much for him. The more adventurous one wants
to prove her bravery, so I know to check in frequently to remind her that it’s okay if she is not ready for a certain story. Keeping these things in mind, read on for my ageappropriate list of spooky stories for October! Spooky Stories for Little Ones Some picture books use dark humor or common fears, such as a monster under the bed, to tell stories appropriate for younger children about fears or experiences they already know to exist. One of these situations is the death of a pet, and I love Eric Rohman’s Bone Dog which is perfect for Halloween. I watched the original live action and new cartoon Frakenweenie movies by Tim Burton with my kids, which are available on Disney+ along with several others. Written in the 1980s, Alvin Schwartz collections of folklore, urban legends and ghost stories for children stand the test of time in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark or the easy reader In a Dark, Dark Room. Mother to five and educator Juli Anna Vonderharr suggests The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, a story she used when teaching preschool due to its interactive nature and how, “it shows bravery, being afraid then facing your fears head on and accepting others as they are.” In addition to beginning difficult conversations, El Paso school librarian Beth Jones points out, “scary stories are a great tool to demonstrate the importance of character and setting development of a story.” Two of her favorites to use with her students for teaching story structure are Ghost Fever by Joe Hayes and The Widow’s Broom by Chris Van Alsburg. Most of Lemony Snickett’s tales are mysterious chapter books for independent readers where the narrator warns readers of the sadness and terror at every turn, but his picture book, The Dark, is an interesting tale for younger readers. Dark Tales for Middle Grades Neil Gaiman has excellent books for every level of reader. He also collaborated with creative illustrators for some fantastical picture books. He wrote one of my favorite scary chapter books, Coraline, which has an excellent film adaptation. Two more classic series for upper elementary are the Bunnicula books and anything by Mary Downing Hahn. I spoke with Kristin Thorsness, a mother, former teacher and author of The Wicked Tree. I asked her why she chose to write a scary tale and she shared about her anxieties as a child, “I slept with a nightlight until
middle school and spent a lot of my waking time worried about all kinds of terrible things that might happen.” She elaborated on the kinds of scenarios she would imagine, like being “lost in the woods.” Each felt “real and terrifying,” and yet her favorite books were scary stories because she could, “watch from the safety of my bedroom, as characters defeated a ghost.... In a small way, I really felt that I shared their triumph— that I was also being courageous.” These experiences led her to write scary stories for middle-grade readers. She explained, “They are in a phase where they’re becoming aware that the world is a scary place. They’re not yet ready to take on adult problems, but as they watch characters they can relate to faceing down monsters, taking great risks and coming out victorious; it teaches them that they can face the things they are afraid of, too. Scary stories empower kids by showing them that no matter how bad things get if you stand up for what you believe in and know is right, things will ultimately work out in the end.” Terrifying Tales for Teens Young Adult fiction and media encompasses a large range of maturity level and reading skill. Some teens may already be watching horror movies and finding adult fiction on the shelf, while others are dipping their toes into milder storytelling. Fortunately, the teen section of your library or bookstore is home to some of the best supernatural thrillers. Some readers may be ready for foundational texts that developed the genre, such as Frankenstein and Dracula. Graphic novels may be a source of excellent horror storytelling that is of interest to teens. I recently read Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall, and it kept me up later than any book had in a long time. The story includes text messages, interviews and video transcripts. The twists will have you flipping back to previous pages to find things you missed. It is a lovingly diverse modern portrayal of teens, with LGBT and disability representation, that explores friendship and sibling relationships. Kadee Whaley, a Ph.D. candidate and cofounder of the non-profit Read With Pride suggests Ghost Girl, and the Nightmare-verse series by L.L. McKinney. McKinney’s third book in the series will be out in 2021. Meredith Flory is a freelance writer, military spouse and mother of two. She has a master’s degree in Children’s Literature from Kansas State University and has taught high school and college English.
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O V E R C OM I N G
ADVERSITY IN ADOLESCENCE By Dr. Dana Harris very generation is shaped by the social, political, and economic events of the day. Today’s teen generation is no different. Their lives are saturated by mobile technology, social media, and the desire for positive peer relationships. Although today’s teens experience different struggles than previous generations, they are growing up in vastly diverse worlds while facing unique problems. Adolescence is a critical time of growth and learning, and teens have the right to get it wrong. It’s not easy becoming a young adult in a world that so often seems out of control and presents serious threats. Teens may rebel and take calculated risks while forming judgments about the world and everyone around them. They identify with the internet, Facebook, and television, where increasingly less emphasis is placed on moral value, integrity, or personal accomplishment. Honestly, the world of today is in a difficult state of uncertainty. We cannot envision the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, its full economic impact, or if “normal” life will resume. No matter how much we strive to protect our teens from bad things, it is inevitable that they will face some sort of adversity into adulthood. However, we can help them navigate these challenges through teachable moments and
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offer support to develop character and connections in the real world. We hope by shouldering some of the burdens they will learn true happiness. The rewarding task of parenting often involves swimming against the tide. We might question when to hold tighter or simply stand back. The answer is a balance of doing both. We are parents. We are human. It is what parenting is all about. The tension stirs fear and anxiety in us like nothing else, but it also provides the strength and courage to do things we never thought we could— like allowing our children to fall so they can eventually succeed while we remain their close advisors. Preparing the next generation for the real world is a necessary part of parenting. Adversity comes with life, and overcoming it is one of the biggest hurdles we face. Tough as it is, overcoming is an emotional muscle developed through practice. It is a prerequisite for growth, and it is vital to our humanity. Overcoming adversity builds deep character and enables teens to hang in there when the going gets tough. We recognize it as determination, grit, and perseverance when tackling the emotional challenges of school and life. When teens experience personal satisfaction from doing something that makes a difference in the world, they develop personal beliefs and values. Young people want to matter. They want to
have a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. Finding purpose in life is not a single event, it is a process that has a personalized pace. Be patient if your child becomes stuck. Your teen will come up against failure or setbacks sooner or later. Explain that refraining from negative self-talk is a way to gain a happier and healthier sense of self-worth. Life is an ongoing process of change. Show your teen that you are there to support them no matter what. Every child needs to know that someone is in their corner, rooting for them, teaching them to handle adversity, difficult situations and struggles, and how to manage their emotions. Our teens need to understand how much others care for them and how they can affect our world for the better. With the confidence that comes from knowing they have the power to make a difference, teens can visualize their purpose in life even if they do not have all the answers. This knowledge is a secure launching pad towards a hopeful future. One of the most important tasks facing teens is finding their rightful place in society while being recognized by their peers and accepted for who they are. The pressure to be the best in life is imprtined on our teens from a young age as our culture strives to avoid failure at all costs. There is no doubt that our fast-paced society values personal success. But we must be sure that our teens also value kindness, cooperation, sharing and compassion for others. In a society that fosters the importance of winning, one must reinforce that it is how we play the game that defines us! The most striking conclusion arising from all the research on adversity and resilience in the development of children is that it does not come from rare or special qualities, but the everyday magic of ordinary human resources. I believe that one of the best things we can do for our teen is to offer encouragement, face difficult times together, help them to believe in themselves, practice forgiveness, remain steady and keep the communication channels open. If you are willing to embrace the challenges,
empathize now and then and prepare to be patient and discreet, your job is half done. We all strive to be the best parent for our kids. Therefore, it is essential during the teen years that parents remain their children’s emotional and moral compass. Provided below are a few helpful resources that serve as a roadmap through these challenging years.
Center for Parent & Teen Communication; Resilience/ September 4, 2018; Building Character in Teens.
Resilience: How Families Grow from Adversity; Marilyn Price-Mitchell Ph.D. www.rootsofaction.com/ resilience-adversity.
Difference Maker: Overcoming Adversity and Turning Pain into Purpose, Every Day, Teen Edition; Gary Roe.
Teen Challenges– Stages of Life; www.stageoflife. com/Teen_Challenges.aspx.
Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings; Kenneth R. Ginsburg, M.D.
Supporting Teens Through Adversity; www.kidsclub. org/post/supporting-teens-through-adversity.
Active Parenting of Teens, A Parent’s Guide, Third Edition; Michael H Popkin, Ph.D.
Helping Teens Bounce Back from Adversity; www. connectionnewspapers.com/news/2013/jul/17/ helping-teens-bounce-back-adversity.
Parenting Today’s Teens with Mark Gregston; parentingtodaysteens.org.
Resilience: Hard-Won Wisdom for Living a Better Life; Eric Greitens.
Coping with Adversity in the Lives of Children in Foster Care; www.bettercarenetwork.org/library/ the-continuum-of-care/foster-care/coping-withadversity-in-the-lives-of-children-in-foster-care.
Pitiful to Powerful: How to Overcome Adversity and Unlock Your Greatness; Maurice Latham.
Beating the Odds: A Teen Guide to 75 Superstars Who Overcame Adversity; Mary Ellen Snodgras.
Renewing Hearts Marriage and Family Sercvices, an agency offering individual and family counseling for teens and their families. Trisha Well BS, BCBC: Life Coach/Biblical Counseling; trisha.wells. renewinghearts@gmail.com, (706) 829-8205.
The Struggle to Be Strong: True Stories by Teens About Overcoming Tough Times; Al Desetta and Sybil Wolin.
Stand in My Shoes: Kids Learning About Empathy; Bob Sornson, Ph.D.
Dr. Dana Harris is a former Richmond County public school educator, elementary school teacher, professional staff development consultant & principal. She is a public speaker & freelance writer with more than 37 professional years in the educational arena. She is currently retired, a wife of 41 years, a mother and grandmother of two beautiful grandkids, London & Bryce.
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E H T N I G N I READJUST
T T R R A A T T S S E E R R C I C I T T E E L L H H T T A A By Charmain Z. Brackett Photography by Randy Pace | Photo direction by Anslie Thorp
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It’s the fourth quarter with seconds left on the clock and the home team behind by only two points. All the team needs is 20 more yards to be in field goal range. The kicker anxiously waits on the sidelines, jumping and trying to warm up his muscles in hopes of a chance to be the hero. The quarterback heads to the line of scrimmage and surveys the players on the defense. They know what’s coming. He barks out signals, but it’s not the play they talked about in the huddle. The center snaps the ball. The quarterback fades back to pass, but there’s no receiver in sight. He scrambles, mindful of the clock and the linebacker bearing down on him. There’s nowhere for him to go, and he’s tackled behind the line of scrimmage, losing yards on the play. There’s still time on the clock, and he rallies the offense without a huddle. Once again, he calls out to his teammates. At the snap, he fades back, hoping to find a fleet-footed wide receiver. Again, no one open. He risks it and runs straight ahead, sprinting past the defense all the way to the endzone, scoring the winning touchdown. Just like the quarterback, area high school athletes have had to improvise and adjust to the multiple challenges thrown their way. There have been setbacks such as the spring season being abruptly halted, but things are looking up as the fall season is making its comeback with a few changes.
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“It’s different, but I’m used to adjusting,” said Miles Heslen, a Lakeside High School senior who missed out on half of his spring lacrosse season but was glad to be back in uniform for football in September. “Things have changed week by week.” On both sides of the Savannah River, high school officials have scrambled to enact protocols to help coaches get their players field-ready safely. In Georgia and South Carolina, the startup went through different phases. Early practices of sports such as football and volleyball didn’t allow participants to have equipment. Football practices were contactless and the number of players who could gather was limited. In South Carolina, there could only be one coach for nine players, said De’Angelo Bryant, Silver Bluff High School’s head football coach and assistant athletic director. Athletes trained in shifts. The number of athletes in a weight room at one time was capped, forcing coaches to use the school’s gymnasium as an extension of the weight room to enable social distancing. The equipment has undergone stringent disinfection protocols; players need to have their own water bottles, and when games finally were underway several weeks after their usual start dates, crowds were limited in the stands. In sports such as girls’ softball, umpires aren’t allowed to touch the softball.
THE
Jackson Eller, a wrestler and senior at Evans High School, didn’t have guidance over the summer for his fall wrestling season, so he took it upon himself to keep lifting weights to maintain good physical condition. Wrestling presents its unique challenges. “The issue is that you’re face-toface the whole time,” he said. Since the summer, changes in guidelines have come from the state officials regularly, according to Kevin Hunt, a football coach and head baseball coach at Lincoln County High School. “Changes have come at least weekly” sometimes more often, said Hunt. For Bryant, the hardest part of it all has not been the many changes, the disinfecting equipment, the daily health screenings or not being able to practice without touching a football. “The biggest thing for us was time,” he said. With smaller groups, they could only allot so much time before another group had to switch out and the process started over. During a typical summer schedule, athletes would spend two to four hours in practice, but that couldn’t happen this year, he said. The adjustments have been difficult at times for not only the coaches, but the athletes and their families. Despite that, coaches said morale remains high, and they have seen good things come from the situation. “It has affected kids to a degree, but kids are resilient. Our kids are just excited about being able to play this fall,” he said. Bryant concurred. While it has been difficult working around constraints, he thinks his team is stronger because of it. “A lot of positives came out of this. I like working in the small groups,” he said. “It’s a lot different working in small groups, but we’re getting to know them on a personal level.” Having personal connections and being able to talk with someone is an important key for teens in developing resiliency and dealing with the stress 2020 has brought, according to Dr. Gregory Smith, medical director for the Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center. “These kids are tech-savvy and communicating all the time. We assume they are connected, but the paradox is older kids and teens need more support,” he said, pointing to incidents of teenage social media influencers who have millions of followers, but few real friends, and end up taking their own lives. Area teens might have connections on social media, but they need real interpersonal relationships with people who care about them, he said. They also need adults who can see the bigger picture. “Teenagers think they know everything, but they don’t have the knowledge of perspective. Adults know that bad things happen, but they will end. We will go on. When a kid is 15, 16, 17, one year is a 15th of their life. They don’t have a long-term perspective. They tend to catastrophize everything. How can you be 15 and plan for 2021?” Some coaches are already planning for 2021. While there’s no way of knowing if this year’s safety procedures will need to be followed next fall, Bryant said he may implement some of the strategies he’s adopted into next year’s football season including working with smaller groups of athletes. “We probably wouldn’t do the groups of nine; that stretches us as coaches, but smaller groups then progress to larger groups. I like that it gives coaches great relationships with athletes.”
RECRUITMENT OUTLOOK
Jackson Eller spent most of his summer wondering if he would have the opportunity to wrestle during his senior year at Evans High School. The usual summer opportunities of clinics and tournaments were scarce this year, which left Eller to do a lot of the training on his own. “I’ve been going to the gym. I need to be in the best shape I can,” said Eller, who won the 6A state wrestling title his sophomore year and was state runner-up his junior year. While he’d like to have another state championship under his belt this year, Eller doesn’t need that to wow college recruiters. He has already given a verbal commitment to Lander University in Greenwood, S.C. Eller started thinking about scholarships early in high school, sharpening his athletic skills and hitting the books. Starting the process early is advice that all high school students should follow, according to De’Angelo Bryant, head football coach and assistant athletic director at Silver Bluff High School. “This year is a prime example of why you don’t wait until your senior year,” he said. “You need coaches looking at you early.” Not all players get field or court time during their freshman and sophomore years though, so it is important to look for other ways to get in front of recruiters. Playing on teams and in leagues outside of school can be beneficial. Bryant suggests reaching out to coaches and putting together a highlight video to show what the athlete can do. He also said to pay close attention to grades this year and make sure the academics are in order. There are challenges for college coaches this year as well, he said. They are used to meeting with high school coaches in the spring and eyeballing athletes they want to watch for. Bryant said not to worry too much. “There are walk-on opportunities,” he said.
Charmain Zimmerman Brackett has written for newspapers and magazines in the Augusta area for three decades. The mom of three and grandmother of one, she has two fur babies, Danni and Duckie, and writes murder mysteries based in Augusta.
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Family Favorites
VOTED BEST SALAD IN AUGUSTA!
1008 Broad St, Augusta GA | www.TheSouthernSalad.com
WHAT ARE YOUR FAMILY FAVORITES IN AUGUSTA’S RIVER REGION? We polled readers, tallied the votes and have come up with a list of favorite restaurants, medical professionals, retailers and more. So, without further adieu, here are our 2020 winners…
ICE CREAM
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRUSTER’S ICE CREAM
Bruster’s Ice Cream takes first place for America’s most loved creamy dessert. Fall flavors include caramel apple crunch and cinnamon bun.
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ARTS/MUSIC/DANCING Jazz/Hip Hop 1. Pulse Dance Center 2. Augusta West Dance 3. Kane & Co.
PIZZA With it’s authentic, high-quality pizza, Mellow Mushroom is the easy choice for pizza that’s out of this world.
Ballet Classes 1. Columbia County Ballet 2. Colton Ballet School of Augusta 3. Pulse Dance Center Music Lessons 1. Portman’s Music 2. Tara Scheyer 3. Musical Express Performing Arts Group 1. Augusta Players 2. Storyland Theatre 3. Pulse Dance Tap Dance Lessons 1. Pulse Dance Center 2. Augusta West Dance 3. Stephanie’s Dancers FAMILY FUN Annual Family Event 1. Arts in the Heart 2. Border Bash 3. Banjo-B-Que Day Trip 1. Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia 2. Clarks Hill/Strom Thurmond Lake 3. City of Aiken Family Photographer 1. Katy D. Sullivan 2. Amy J Owen 3. Natalie Thompson Indoor Playground 1. The Playhouse 2. Defy Augusta 3. Chick-fil-A
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MELLOW MUSHROOM
Outdoor Playground 1. Evans Towne Center Park 2. Covenant Presbyterian 3. Columbia County Library Museum 1. Morris Museum 2. Augusta History Museum 3. Edventure Museum Rainy Day Outing 1. The movies 2. Augusta Museum of History 3. Defy Augusta
MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM Seigler’s Karate Center Facebook Reviews: “excellent instructors” and “best place for kids to learn respect, self-
PHOTO COURTESY OF SEIGLER’S KARATE CENTER
control and hard work”
FOOD Breakfast Spot 1. Sunrise Grill 2. Waffle House 3. Metro Diner Burgers 1. Farmhaus 2. Five Guys 3. Gary’s Desserts 1. Boll Weevil 2. Manuel’s Bread Café 3. Sugar Booger Date Night Restaurant 1. Frog Hollow 2. Beck’s 3. French Market Grille Restaurant Chain 1. Chick-fil-A 2. Bonefish Grill 3. Outback Steakhouse Restaurant, Locally Owned 1. Farmhaus 2. WifeSaver 3. Frog Hollow Fries 1. McDonald’s 2. Farmhaus 3. Chick-fil-A
Pizza 1. Mellow Mushroom 2. Pizza Joint 3. Marco’s Pizza
Bank/Credit Union 1. SRP Federal Credit Union 2. South State Bank 3. Queensborough National Bank & Trust
Chicken Fingers 1. Zaxby’s 2. WifeSaver 3. Chicken Fingers Restaurant
Computer Repair 1. Computer Exchange 2. Geek Squad @ Best Buy 3. Apple
Mac & Cheese 1. WifeSaver 2. Frog Hollow 3. Chick-fil-A
Veterinarian 1. Acute Care Veterinary Clinic 2. Hill Top Animal Hospital 3. Tie: Care More Animal Hospital & Highland Animal Hospital
Healthy Menu 1. Southern Salad 2. Humanitree 3. SolFood Kitchen Ice Cream Spot 1. Bruster’s 2. Cold Stone Creamery 3. Pink Dipper Kids Menu 1. Chick-fil-A 2. Red Robin 3. Giuseppe’s LIFESTYLE/MEDICAL Auto Service 1. Smith’s Chevron 2. C&C Automotive 3. Butler Automotive
Pediatrician 1. Augusta Pediatrics Associates 2. Pediatric Partners 3. Dr. Margaret Renew Pediatric Dentist 1. Dr. Lee Baker (Center for Pediatric Dentistry) 2. Dr. Spratling (Pediatric Dental Specialists) 3. Southern Smiles OB/GYN 1. Dr. Allan Joseph 2. Dr. Michel McDonough 3. Dr. Jennifer Morgan Orthodontist 1. Rogers & Andrews 2. Trotter Orthodontics 3. Dr. Stephen Powell (Powell Orthodontics) AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 35
BIRTHDAY CAKES
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIECE OF CAKE
Piece of Cake takes the cake as the favorite for birthday cakes.
After-Hours Medical Care 1. MedNow Urgent Care 2. Perfect Health Urgent Care 3. University Prompt Care
2. Artsy Me 3. Putt Putt EDUCATION/CHILD CARE
Girl’s Clothes 1. Posh Tots 2. Kid to Kid 3. Target
Family Vision Care 1. Broome Family Eye Care 2. Costco 3. Eye Care One
Daycare 1. Cornerstone Academy 2. The Bradley Schools 3. First Baptist Church of Augusta
Grocery Store 1. Publix Super Markets 2. Kroger 3. Sprouts
MEDIA
Elementary School 1. Westminster Schools of Augusta 2. Augusta Christian School 3. Episcopal Day School
SPORTS
Radio Station 1. 88.3 WAFJ 2. Kicks 99 3. 104.3 WBBQ Television Station 1. WJBF NewsChannel 6 2. WRDW 3. Fox 54 Local Website 1. AugustaChronicle.com 2. AugustaFamily.com 3. CSRAKids.com Favorite Part of Augusta Family magazine 1. Calendar 2. Editor’s Notes 3. Recipes PARTIES Birthday Cakes 1. A Piece of Cake 2. Publix Super Markets 3. Nothing Bundt Cake Boys’ Parties 1. Defy Augusta 2. Gymnastics Gold 3. Stars & Strikes Girls’ Parties 1. Gymnastics Gold 36 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
Middle School 1. Westminster Schools of Augusta 2. Lakeside Middle School 3. Augusta Christian School High School 1. Westminster Schools of Augusta 2. Lakeside High School 3. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Tutoring Service 1. Mathnasium 2. Partners in Achievement 3. Sylvan Learning Center
Children/Teen Sports Program 1. Family Y 2. Gymnastics Gold 3. Arsenal Soccer Family Sporting Event 1. Greenjackets’ Baseball 2. University of Georgia Football Gymnastics/Cheer Instruction 1. Gymnastics Gold 2. Hayden’s Gymnastics & Cheer Academy 3. Augusta Cheer Academy
SHOPPING
Martial Arts Program 1. Seigler’s Karate Center 2. Premier Martial Arts 3. Universal Martial Arts Dojo
Car Dealer 1. Gerald Jones Auto Group 2. Milton Ruben 3. Master GMC
Swimming Lessons 1. Dolphin Academy 2. Family Y 3. Kroc Center
Baby Clothes 1. Posh Tots 2. Kid to Kid 3. Carter’s/Osh Kosh B’Gosh
Tennis Program 1. Newman Tennis Center 2. Petersburg Racquet Club 3. Westminster Schools of Augusta
Boy’s Clothes 1. Kid to Kid 2. Posh Tots 3. Kohl’s
Family Fitness Center 1. Family Y 2. Kroc Center 3. Evans Fitness Center
Family Favorites A Real Nice Place for Breakfast and Lunch SERVING 6AM-2PM • 7 DAYS A WEEK
Westown Market Square 3830 Washington Rd., Suite 10 Martinez, GA 30907 706-228-4883
Crossroads Market 404 East Martintown Rd., Suite 4 North Augusta, SC 29841 803-202-9898
AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 37
inspiration station Jo sh Heat h
38 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
A Sweet Deal
W
hile many middle schoolers are content to play video games or hang out with friends, Madi Graham, who turns 13 on October 27, is already a budding entrepreneur. Graham works as a Neighborhood Partner for King of Pops, an Atlanta-based popsicle company. Specifically, she sells the frozen treats at various locations in Augusta, Martinez, Evans and Appling, including car dealerships, churches and even her own driveway. Graham just started her job in July and typically works about nine hours a week, mostly on weekends. She says Fridays and Saturdays are her busiest days because she sets up her cart at local events, such as the Bookbag Giveaway at Miracle Nissan of Augusta and movie nights at Recteq Grills in Evans. The popsicles come in a variety of creative flavor combinations, including Cookies n’ Cream (Graham’s favorite), Chocolate Sea Salt and Strawberry Lemonade, and normally sell for $4 each. The best-sellers change each week, but the Passion Fruit Raspberry Swirl and Blueberry Lemonade varieties have recently been a hit with her customers, she says. Graham says she feels good about selling them because they are made with natural ingredients. “I like the expressions people make when they try a popsicle for the first time,” she says. Graham, who enjoys playing tennis, is a seventh grader at Episcopal Day School and currently enrolled in distance learning classes. She manages her busy schedule by prioritizing her activities. “School comes first, then tennis practice and then my job,” Graham says. With her busy weeks, she takes advantage of any rare downtime by reading, playing the Animal Crossing video game or spending time with her friends. “I have a new appreciation for being bored because it means I don’t have anything to do,” Graham says. King of Pops was founded by two brothers, Steven and Nick Carse, in 2010. She first tried the popsicles in Atlanta when she was three years old and has been enjoying them ever since. For many years, Graham only ate the Cookies n’ Cream popsicles, but once she started working for the company, she’s sampled a variety of flavors. Graham says people in Augusta might not be familiar with the brand name. The only local grocery store she found that sold the popsicles was Whole Foods Market, which closed its Augusta store in 2017.
King of Pops usually sells popsicles at outdoor festivals, but many have been canceled this year due to COVID-19 concerns. That is why the company shifted its focus to hiring Neighborhood Partners. Her mother, Kendrall, who works as a speech therapist for the Richmond County School System, saw an online job advertisement and Graham was excited about the opportunity because she wanted her own popsicle cart for many years. Since Graham is under the age of 18, her mother had to sign the paperwork with the company to start the business. The hiring process involved submitting an application and participating in virtual interviews with the company’s CEO and Sales Manager. Managing the business has been a learning experience for both Graham and her mother. For example, she says they had a very hectic first week because they didn’t know how to take inventory. Graham has also learned valuable lessons that adults already know: Making money is hard and a dollar does not go very far, she says. Of course, a good portion of Graham’s sales proceeds must be spent on buying more popsicles. She’s also learned that making sales involves more than the exchange of money and products. “Connecting with customers is really important to me,” Graham says. She wants to know how her customers have been doing, and the flavors they enjoy. For other teens who may be interested in starting a business, Graham offers this advice: “Don’t expect everything to be easy.” The opportunity to make money is alluring, but it takes a great deal of hard work in creating and maintaining a successful business. Graham says young entrepreneurs can’t expect money to be handed to them without working for it. Despite the work involved, she is having fun selling popsicles. As young people often do, Graham has changed her mind a few times when it comes to what she would like to do when she grows up. Her favorite subject is English. She has considered pursuing a career as an artist or an author, but for now, Graham likes sharing the popsicles she loves with the people of Augusta’s River Region. Josh Heath is a freelance writer and contributor of Augusta Family Magazine.
AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 39
2020 Physicians’ Directory Available Free for iPhone® and AndroidTM.
Download the Physicians’ Directory app for free and have contact information at your fingertips for Augusta and Aiken area physicians and dentists. Database is searchable by both specialty and by name. Brought to you by Augusta Magazine.
Visit us at AUGUSTAMAGAZINE.COM
Urgent Care + Primary Care MedNow Urgent Care has 8 convenient urgent care facilities across the CSRA, making us easily accessible for patients from Augusta, Evans, Grovetown, Martinez, South Augusta and Thomson.
WASHINGTON RD LOCATION IS OPENED 7 DAYS A WEEK UNTIL 10:00PM 1113 Washington Road Thomson, GA 30824 706-595-7825
2851 Washington Road Augusta, GA 30909 706-922-6578
Lewiston Road Grovetown, GA 30813 706-941-3333
3044 Peach Orchard Rd Augusta Ga 30906 706-798-4673
104 N Belair Rd Evans, Georgia 30809 706-922-3NOW
2030 Walton Way Augusta, GA 30904 706-955-7527
3686 Wheeler Road Augusta, GA 30909 706-922-6300
123 Gordon Street Washington, GA 30909 706-678-1633
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calendar OCTOBER 2020
REMAIN SANE AND STAY IN THE GAME CALENDAR Since many local events are still up in the air, we created a “remain sane and stay in the game” calendar with the past few issues of Augusta Family magazine. We will include on-ground or virtual events as announced and add fun suggestions for family activities in the upcoming months. Tear out the calendar, toss it in your car or let the kids hang it up in their rooms— these weekly ideas for getting together as a family will keep everyone engaged and in the game!
ONE-TANK ROAD TRIPS
South Carolina
GREENVILLE Located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville, SC, puts on a stunning show for foliage seekers from mid-October through mid-November. Ride on a 22+ mile novicefriendly bike trail to nearby State Parks and hiking trails and see the foliage from the treetops on zipline tours. Hike to Caesar’s Head State Park for stunning views of South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia or plan for a breathtaking sunrise at the Fred W. Symmes Chapel, the “Pretty Place” whose spectacular views are experienced from an open-air chapel. Downtown Greenville offers plenty of boutique shopping and fine restaurants.
Photo by TimothyJ on Flickr
Photo by John Flannery on Flickr
DAUFUSKIE ISLAND With a population of under 400, no hotel, and no way of getting there other than by boat, Daufuskie Island in South Carolina is an oceanfront oasis. Visitors will love the nature and wildlife experiences of bottlenose dolphins leaping out of the water on the shoreline, loggerhead turtles nesting each spring and the trotting sound of Marsh Tacky horses that date back more than 500 years to the area. Though the island is quiet, visitors can engage in some uniquely Daufuskie experiences— from waterfront horseback riding to a 20-hole Rees Jones signature golf course with 7 waterfront tee boxes or greens.
Source: TK PR. 44 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
OCTOBER SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1
FRIDAY
2
SATURDAY
3 POP VIRTUAL
PARKINSON’S WALK*
4
5
6
7
NATIONAL GOLF DAY *
8
9
10 GRAB DINNER FROM
NATIONAL TACO DAY *
FROG AND THE HEN (P. 13)
11
13
14
FREE SUNDAYS AT THE
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY
NATIONAL STOP BULLYING DAY*
20
21
MORRIS MUSEUM , 12 – 5PM
18
19
ONE-TANK TRIP GETAWAY— VIEW
TEEN TALKS
FALL LEAVES IN GREENVILLE, SC (P. 44)
25
16
27
AIKEN COUNT Y
28
17 UNIVERSIT Y HEALTH
MIRACLE MILE DRIVE*
22
23
OPENING NIGHT FOR
DRIVER SAFET Y AND CONTRACT (P. 24)
26
15
24 PACELINE RIDE VIRTUAL EVENT, AUGUSTA
COLUMBIA COUNTY FAIR*
UNIVERSIT Y, 7AM*
29
31 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
FARMERS MARKET
AIKEN’S BOO BASH DRIVE-THRU*
7:30 – 11:30AM
CALENDAR GUIDE 10/03 POP (People of Parkinson’s) Virtual Walk via ZOOM and Facebook. Register at popwalk.org.
10/04 Moe’s Southwest Grill celebrates Thursday – Sunday with program member’s rewards, one free taco with the purchase of two. Download app: www. moes.com/rewards.
10/07 Top Golf Augusta and Putt-Putt are open daily. www.topgolf.com/us/augusta or www.puttputt. com/augusta.
10/14 Visit www.stompoutbullying.org/nationalbullying-preventionawareness-month for ways to prevent bullying all month long!
10/17 The Miracle Mile Drive Through Donation Drop Off is 8 – 11am. Raffle at 11am.
10/22
All events will be held outside with no seated events at this year’s fair. COVID-19 guidelines and recommendations followed. Fair is open until November 1, 2020. www. columbiacountyfair.net.
10/31
Aiken’s Boo Bash Drive-Thru, 4:30 – 6pm. Four locations: Odell Weeks Activities Center, Smith-Hazel Rec Center, Lessie B. Price Center and Aiken Visitor Center. Children 12 and under. Treat bags. FREE. www.cityofaikensc. gov/25138-2/.
AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020 • 45
T H E
MODERN P E R S P E C T I V E
When did your interest in music start? I have always liked music. As a young kid, I would create my own music after listening to songs by The Beatles. Today, I do the same thing when I listen to modern music. Listening to music when I was younger gave me a way to express myself creatively, so it stuck with me as I got older.
What do you enjoy most about playing the flute? What I love about the flute is how beautiful and calming it sounds. I especially love how I connect with other people who come to watch me perform. Playing the flute has allowed me rare opportunities like playing with the best student musicians in the All County Band and a chance to play with a well-known marching band known as Famu. My most favorite thing about it is that it led me to meet my closest friends.
How do you envision your future in music? I would like to use music to help others with disabilities and mental conditions. Music has helped me get through many personal difficulties and challenges. I feel I can relate to others who may find music helpful in the same way. That is why I am interested in Musical Therapy. I like helping others. So, I want to use the two things I enjoy most to help me accomplish my goals.
How do you think music could help the world?
Saira Smith is 16 and a junior at Cross Creek High School. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family. Along with her affections for her two younger brothers, Saira loves music of all genres, and art. She enjoys being creative in all forms of art. Participating in band class with friends has helped her form a personal appreciation and love for the art of music.
46 • AUGUSTA FAMILY | OCTOBER 2020
I feel that music can bring people together. Music is an escape for many people. It also has no race or gender boundary lines. It is something that everyone can relate to. It’s one of the few things in the world that is timeless, and it has the power to bring us together by enjoying it.
What is challenging about learning to play an instrument? One of the challenges that I have with learning is that it takes a unique focus and lots of practice. When I started learning, I was struggling with timing and execution of my breathing and hitting the correct key notes. With practice, I’ve gotten a lot better! The other challenge is that I have a bad habit of comparing myself to others and feel that I will never be as good. Now, instead, I try to focus on my personal growth from day to day, which has helped me along the way.
IMAGINE A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY CHILD enters school ready to learn, every young adult obtains family-sustaining employment, and every family has access to resources that help facilitate their education, financial, and health goals. We believe in fighting for equity, and strive to create a community where every child, young adult, and family has the resources, opportunities, and support they need to thrive no matter what zip code they live in.
Many of our neighbors faced hurdles before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, these issues are amplified. Many families now face food and housing insecurity, and desperately need medical, mental health, child care services, and much more FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
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