20 minute read
Finally Forever
Mentors create carefree and adventurous outlets for young people who want to experience the world around them and learn about themselves in the process. Instead of a week sleeping away at camp, a Big will come on weekends and shuttle a Little into a new formative learning experience.” Last summer, the agency had 2,800 active matches, with 107 new matches made between June and August. During the summer months, the agency helped Bigs and Littles remain in each other’s lives. That meant pivoting the usual in-person outings to virtual ones. BBBSEM continued to provide activities, resources and online engagement strategies so that the connections could continue, said McCarron.
“Our matches responded brilliantly, continuing to meet virtually and learning together by having cooking competitions, doing art projects, exploring their respective and collective identities and celebrating life’s little victories.”
Advertisement
The relationship rewards go both ways
Mentors say their involvement is enriching as well. Brian Pinch, a Charlestown resident who has been mentoring Jamar Bell for nearly a decade, initially got involved simply to give back. A colleague at work was a part of the program and he persuaded Pinch to attend an information session.
“It hit me that so many kids are on a waiting list waiting for mentors to enter the program,” said Pinch.
Soon after, Pinch signed up to help and was paired. Now that he and Bell have known each other for several years, the relationship has matured from simply mentor and mentee to friendship. “As he got older, I’d say ‘Let’s just meet up and hang out.’ It’s certainly been a rocky year with COVID. For the most part in the last year and has been mostly virtually. But we have an easy friendship and often just text each other to catch up.” Monik Mehta, a Weston resident, was originally first aware of the program as a financial supporter. But he wanted to do more.
“Giving a check is fine, but giving your time is priceless,” said Mehta. “I specifically wanted to help children. “
Mehta is Elias Bell’s mentor and says their relationship has evolved over years. Before COVID, they often spent time going to a mall or going to sporting events, but their time together has been mostly virtual over the last year. This summer the hope is to resume more in-person meet ups again and head to Mehta’s gym, where Elias enjoys playing basketball and lifting weights.
Hernandez says every moment for her boys is a gift.
“The mentors have embraced the boys as family members. Being able to have those man-to- man conversations I can’t have with them is so helpful. They have been able to show boys there is more than what they experience in their house.”
Monik Mehta
finally
forever
April’s Child: Meet Aylin
Hi, my name is Aylin and I have a contagious laugh!
Aylin is a 12-year-old girl of Hispanic descent with a great sense of humor who loves to draw. Those who meet Aylin immediately note her big smile, and it is clear that she takes pride in her appearance. Aylin enjoys working on craft projects, playing outside, riding her bike, and watching television. Aylin likes school and forms friendships well with additional support. She currently receives extra supports in class for social and emotional needs.
Legally freed for adoption, Aylin is very much looking forward to becoming part of a loving family. Her social worker feels that she will do best in a family with two mothers, a mother and a father, or a single mother. Aylin will do well as an only child or with siblings that are older than her. She should be the youngest in the home, if possible. A family for Aylin must support her relationship with her younger sister, as well as help her visit with her biological mother twice a year, as specified in an Open Adoption Agreement.
Can you provide the guidance, love and stability that a child needs? If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ singles and couples.
The process to adopt a child from foster care requires training, interviews, and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you, and if so, to help connect you with a child or sibling group that your family will be a good match for.
To learn more about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at (617) 964-6273 or visit www. mareinc.org.
BBBSEM is enrolling and matching Littles and Bigs virtually. For more information, to register a child, or to become a volunteer, visit: www.emass bigs.org.
This mom-tomom mentor network is transforming new parents’ lives
BY CHERYL MAGUIRE
Awoman peered into the double stroller and asked, “Are they twins?”
“Yes,” I responded.
“That must be difficult,” she said.
I heard this comment often when my twins were first born. It was difficult. Really difficult.
When I think back to that time period, two things helped me get through it: joining a group for moms of multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) and having a mentor.
A mom mentor is a parent to older children who gets matched with a first-time mom.
She provides support and feedback for the new mom. In my case, my mentor was assigned to me through a parenting group. She called me weekly in the beginning and then less often as I became adjusted to my new role as a parent of twins.
There are various types of mentor groups available. I spoke with the founder of two, one I participated in. Both mentor programs use peer volunteers who are matched up with a recent-mom mentee.
The group I belonged to is called Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles.
I spoke with Pam Pace, one of the founders, about the mentor program she created with co-founder Donna Baker.
The mentor program began after Donna and Pam met in the hospital in 1994. Donna gave birth to triplets while Pam was on bedrest, pregnant with triplets. Donna became a mentor to Pam when her triplets were born three months later.
They continued to support one another and then founded the nonprofit group. Their sister-like bond became the inspiration for the support they hoped to provide others. I also spoke with Christine Sweeney, LICSW, who founded the Parent Connection in 1991. This program is based at Best Israel Hospital in Boston. It was created due to a need the OB-GYN nurses identified during followup calls from women who recently gave birth. Many of the new moms reported feeling overwhelmed or early symptoms of postpartum depression.
One of the greatest benefits that parents have gained from mentor programs is a support system.
When you first become a parent you may feel alone. If you don’t have family or friends nearby who understand your experience, it can be isolating. For many people, having a mentor provided a support system they were lacking. Even those who did have family or friends nearby said they didn’t always feel comfortable sharing the negative aspects of being a new parent with them.
Alexis Petru participated in the mentoring program Mentoring Mothers,
ALEXIS PETRU
located in San Francisco. According to Petru, “There’s still a stigma for women to talk about the ‘dark side of parenting.’ We’re still supposed to subscribe to that Hallmark-approved ‘enjoy every moment’ romanticized view of motherhood. During my mentoring group it was the first time I could really vent about my complicated feelings of motherhood … the anger, frustration, sadness and loneliness that goes along with the joy and wonder of raising children.”
Sweeney noticed a similar experience in her mentoring program: “Since there isn’t an agenda, expectations, or judgments, women feel safe discussing their struggles. Some women who had difficulty getting pregnant may think they can’t complain about how hard it is to be a new mom. A mentor gives the new mom a sense of relief and safety that they can talk about their feelings.”
Plus, women who are already moms can reassure new mothers, giving confidence and resources they can’t get elsewhere.
Being a new parent is overwhelming. A lot of new parents question if they are correctly taking care of their baby. “A lot of new moms have questions about breastfeeding. Their mentor can help them provide answers and give them a sense of what is normal,” said Sweeney. The mentor can answer their questions and let their mentee know they are making progress, which increases their confidence.
In addition to answering questions, a mentor can help their mentee when they might not know how to ask for help or realize they need it.
“Sometimes the new moms might have marital problems or financial issues, and the mentor will help them to get the resources they need,” says Pace. Sweeney also added that mentors are occasionally the ones to identify when a new mom is struggling with postpartum depression and will help the mentee receive the proper mental health services.
Ultimately, mentors can help new moms with their ultimate goal: being the best parent possible.
By having a support system and the proper resources, new parents are better able to care for their babies. Mentors help care for the new moms when they are focused on caring for their newborns. This enables the mentee to be a better mom to their newborn.
Where to find a new parent mentor program:
Check with your local parent groups or at the local hospital to find a mentor program for new parents. In Massachusetts, new parents can check out Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles or Parent Connection, but many other cities host parenting mentorship programs too.
If you don’t have a mentor program near you, ask a friend or family member if they can be your new parent mentor or if they could recommend someone to mentor you. A weekly check-in phone call offering support and advice is what most mentors provide. Who knows — you could end up starting a mentorship network of your own!
Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Parents Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Your Teen Magazine, and many other publications. You can find her at Twitter @ CherylMaguire05
Building the pride inside
SIGN UP ONLINE Full Day Gym & Swim Summer Camps
Celebrating Our 38th Year Teaching Safe & Fun gymnastics!
Gymnastics Learning Center 508-792-1551
Scan code to view our web site
God’s Little Children Preschool & Kindergarten 508-792-3535
Scan code to view our web site 574 Lake Street, Shrewsbury • www.gymnasticslearningcenter.org
WM-0000466713-01
Melissa Costa and Julia Walderzak, owners of Decanted and their new wine truck named Winona.
Local moms take wine on the go with Decanted
BY ISABEL SAMI
elissa Costa and Julia Walderzak are friends, mothers, entrepreneurs, and now, owners of Decanted wine truck, a mobile event catering service based around serving wine at private events.
Costa and Walderzak met when Costa, a hairdresser for 17 years, started doing Walderzak’s hair. The two local moms in Northboro and Hudson became fast friends, and bonded more when they both became pregnant at the same time two years ago.
Walderzak had a business idea: a mobile wine truck for event catering.
When she needed a partner for the project, she went to
Costa.
“During COVID, everyone’s businesses began to deteriorate, including both of ours,” Costa said. “It was a struggle.”
Before the pandemic, Walderzak owned H2K — Happy Healthy Kids Fitness — a non-competitive fitness program for kids and families, but when the pandemic began, the business was wiped out overnight, Walderzak said.
She started thinking about a new business venture through the lens of the pandemic, and decided to combine a mobile business with her love of wine.
With Costa on board, the friends got to work. They bought a vintage camper that they named Winona, and Costa’s husband gutted and renovated it, turning it into a mobile bar. Inside the van are two wine fridges, a mini-fridge for beer and cheese, a hand-washing sink, and a three bay sink. Two people can move around inside comfortably to serve wine, beer and cheese out of a side window, like an upscale, alcoholic food truck.
The duo has been working on the wine truck for nearly one year, and they are already completely booked for several weekends in May and June.
“A lot of people love outdoor events and festivals, but you’re in a crowd,” Costa said. “We’re able to come to you and give you that fun experience that people can’t get these days.”
Clients throwing an event can book the wine truck to serve an assortment of wine and bar snacks, selecting one of four packages: Uncork and Unwind; Pop, Fizz, Clink; the Winona Event Package; and the Winona Premium Event Package.
Walderzak described Uncork and Unwind as a package for groups of friends or a “mom’s night out” event, with budget-friendly, but high quality wines. Pop, Fizz, Clink is a celebratory package for bridal or baby showers, or appropriate for a classy Prosecco brunch.
The wine truck serves a 20 to 35 mile radius around Worcester, depending on the package selected.
Each package has its own wine list, which Walderzak and Costa curated with their wine distributor, and an assortment of bar snacks and cheese platters. Clients are able to pick three white wines and three reds for their event, with seven white and eight red wines to choose from in each package.
“You get to pick everything from Pinot Grigio to Chardonnay, and we have wines from around the world,” Walderzak said. “It’s really exciting. We put a lot of work in tweaking the selection to still be within our price points and be amazing for the customers. We want to give them a taste from around the world and help them try wines they’ve never tried before.”
Walderzak found her love of wine while working at Smith & Wollensky in New York City, and since then has traveled to Sonoma and Napa Valley to taste and collect wines.
“I knew that this was something that I wanted to dive more into, and even still, I’m learning from our wine distributor,” she said. “It’s been a really fun experience and I think we’ve done a good job of making a wine list that will make everyone happy and feel good.”
Walderzak and Costa plan to work every event for the next few months
Photos: Christine Peterson photos/Telegram & Gazette
as they get their business off the ground. Though they have only been taking bookings for two weeks, they say they have already received positive reactions from the community.
“This year people are obviously starting to feel a little more comfortable being in bigger groups, with vaccinations and masking and knowing more about COVID,” Costa said. “We’ve heard a lot of people say to us that it’s perfect timing and they would love to book us. There’s still a lot of people nervous about going inside even though they’re allowing it now, so i think that because we have the capability to serve you outside, just like you were at a bar, it’s very different for people.”
Between the two of them, Costa and Walderzak have seven kids, and currently none of them attend in-person school.
“We’re teachers, moms, wives and we had the crazy (idea) to start a business during a pandemic, and we are making it work,” Walderzak said with a laugh. “I think this has been a really messy year, and a really traumatic year for all ages, and I think out of trauma comes positivity and you grow from that, so that’s where we’re coming from as a business.
“I think events in general are going to be smaller for a long time, so this is something we can offer people that’s authentic and fun. We’re local moms so people feel very connected to us. I think that’s definitely something that has helped us with this business and the pandemic,” she said.
Costa said so far they have booked a 40th birthday party, corporate events and bridal showers. She said people have been supportive in “sharing the love.”
PREPARE TO WELCOME BACK KIDS THIS SUMMER
BY DANIELLE RAY
The sights and sounds of happy campers will be back this summer as several area camps are once again able to offer overnight options with the state’s reopening plan.
Last summer, overnight camps were closed as part of COVID-19 restrictions.
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) will be opening up camps in July. The longest continuously running Girl Scout camp in the country is in Western Massachusetts, Camp Bonnie Brae in East Otis, which was established in 1919. Overnight camp will be offered there this summer as well as at Camp Green Eyrie in Harvard, along with day camp at both Camp Laurel Wood in Spencer and Camp Lewis Perkins in South Hadley.
“Camping has always been a place for girls to discover their individuality, strength, intellect, and embrace those qualities in their friends,” said Sara Rowan Senior Director, Girl Experience, GSCWM. “Camping redefines what is possible for girls.”
Rowan said they are looking forward to overnight and day camps kicking off in July. The camps have been closed since last May when “in light of the uncertainty associated with COVID-19” they decided to guidelines.
Many standard protocols will be in place at the camps including frequent washing hands, maintaining physical distancing, wearing masks, and not sharing family-style meals.
“We are working to ensure we fully understand this year’s guidelines and are continually monitoring for any changes,” Rowan said, adding that they will also be following recommendations from the American Camping Association and the Massachusetts Camping Association.
Rowan said they hire 60 to 80 people each summer to staff the four camps where between 800 to 1,000 girls attend camp each summer, many for multiple week-long sessions.
“Outdoor programming is a pillar of the Girl Scouts program that offers progressive learning experiences,” she said. “Many day campers look forward to taking the step to a week of overnight camping.”
Rowan said the reaction from campers and their families to overnight camp resuming has been positive, and that parents and Girl Scouts alike are “thrilled” the camps will be open again.
“This year in particular has been one in which girls have had to stay indoors, have missed many of their typical activities, and have spent more hours than usual
cancel all day and overnight camps.
“This year, federal, state, and local officials have provided guidance to support a healthy opening for both day and overnight camps,” Rowan said. “We only own, maintain, and improve camp properties for girls and, if we can safely do so, we will try to provide them the life-changing experience of overnight camping.”
Rowan said they have elected to have all four GSCWM camps open this summer based on Governor Charlie Baker’s camp reopening plan as well as Massachusetts Department of Public Health, local boards of health, and Centers for Disease Control
Sheryl Moore, Executive Director, Camp Marshall
on screens,” Rowan said. “Girl Scout camps give girls the opportunity to be outside enjoying nature, making new friends, and challenging themselves with new activities and adventures.”
Camp Avoda, a Jewish summer camp for boys located on Lake Tispaquin in Middleboro that has been around for over 90 years, is also planning to open for overnight summer camps this year.
“We are working to make it a great summer,” says a statement posted to the Camp Avoda website. “We all want camp more than ever and boys need social interaction, outdoor experiences, and less screen time.
“With guidance from the Center for Disease Control, the American Camp Association, and the State of Massachusetts, we will make sure that we have safety protocols in place. We are also gathering information and best practices from summer camps who were allowed to open this past summer. Their incident rates were extremely low and we anticipate a safe, successful summer.”
Camp Marshall in Spencer offers traditional and equestrian day or overnight summer camp sessions as well as year-round programs, riding lessons, facility rentals and more. The property was originally opened as a Civilian Conservation Corps. Camp in the 1930s and was repurposed as a summer camp in the 1950s in cooperation with 4-H.
Sheryl Moore has been the Executive Director at Camp Marshall since March of last year. She said they will be offering overnight camps this year after offering only day camps last summer.
“We operated with only day programming last summer as the state did not allow residential camp programming,” she said, adding that they had zero cases of COVID-19 within Camp Marshall programming last year. “We were very proud of our successes in operating last summer and were really inspired to operate last year out of a compelling desire to provide some sense of normalcy for the children of our community in a time when we felt that it was very needed.”
As a year-round operation, Moore said they function with six employees but in the summer their staff can grow to as large as 60 members. She said they will also be following state and local guidelines and recommendations when it comes to keeping staff and campers safe.
“We will be utilizing the same protocols that we had in place last year with an additional testing component for our residential campers added for this year,” she said. “Protocols from last year included things like social distancing, face coverings, modified meal services, and added sanitizing and cleaning procedures as well as health screenings.”
Moore said the response from campers and their families to the news of overnight camps being offered again has been “amazing.”
“Many of our programs are nearing registration capacity and some have already waitlisted,” she said. “So many families are looking forward to a return to some semblance of a more normal summer and with our success from last year’s day programming, they are feeling confident in our abilities to apply the protocols in our programing necessary to keep their campers safe and healthy.”
Moore said they are glad to have the opportunity to offer campers “a needed outlet”, some normalcy for children who have not had that in their lives over the last year.
“The ability to go to summer camp will have such a positive impact on campers mental health after a very stressful time in their lives,” she said. “Many kids missed out on so many things over the past year like the ability to socialize, having opportunity for physical activity, access to outdoor space, and so much more. We are excited to be able to provide these opportunities for our campers.”
GETYOURSMILEBACK!DON’TSUFFER FROMBROKEN-DOWNORMISSINGTEETH!
DENTAL IMPLANT SPECIAL*
INCLUDES CT SCAN,TITANIUMIMPLANT, CUSTOMABUTMENTAND PORCELAINCROWN
BESTDENTIST $2,99999 FREE
*ExclusionsApply DENTAL
IMPLANT CONSULT
($200 VALUE)
Dr.SalmanKhanani 1084MainSt.,Holden |khananidental.com | @khananidental
*Some exclusionsmayapply:patientmustbe acandidatefordentalimplantsandsomepatientsmay requirecomprehensivetreatmentplanstomeet theirindividualneeds.Specialdoesnotincludethefeefor extractions,bonegrafts,sinusaugmentationortheneedfor asurgicalguide Call508-829-4575tobookyourappointmenttoday!
