MAY 2022
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World Games COMING THIS SUMMER TO THE MAGIC CITY 3,600 athletes from 100-plus countries competing in 34 sporting events PAGE 22
All About Mom PAGE 26 Biscuits with Sean of the South PAGE 18 Spring Cleaning with Peddling Post PAGE 12
Vineyard Family Services Feeding Kids in Need, Promoting Responsible Fatherhood, and Helping Families in Crisis Donations help us: Feed children in need and provide other essential items Deliver family emergency food boxes Aid fathers and mothers with parenting programs Support incarcerated families and children Provide at-risk teens important life skills
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2 Bham Family May 2022
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EDITOR’S NOTE It’s my favorite month! May feels so full of promise and celebration: the end of school, the unofficial start of summer, graduations, Cinco de Mayo (tacos!), Mother’s Day, honoring our fallen veterans on Memorial Day, outdoor concerts and festivals. Even my anniversary and my daughter’s half-birthday (any excuse for cupcakes in my house) are in May. With the weather still fairly mild and more blue skies than not, it’s a nearly perfect time of the year. Of course, the main holiday on my mind is Mother’s Day. My daughter is 5 years old, so the preschool crafts are abundant, and honestly those are my favorite gifts to receive. I love the “all about mom” lists, so I thought it would be fun to poll some local kiddos to see what makes their mamas so special. Turn to page 26 for a chuckle and a fun Mother’s Day craft to try with your children. You can find lots of ways to celebrate moms, stepmoms, grandmothers, and other special ladies in your family’s lives, including treats dads and kids can bake together (page 28) aand an essay from a local mom and preschool teacher about the bittersweet lasts of raising children (page 30). Birmingham blogger Heather Brown of My Life Well Loved (mylifewellloved.com) contributes her first piece for us, about motherhood and faith, on page 14. Outdoor events are in full swing,
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and one event that contributes to great community causes is AmFirst Foundation’s Charity Sporting Clays tournament at Selwood Farm on May 27. Check it out—there’s still time to enter—on page 20 to learn about the organizations proceeds will support. I also want to highlight the 2022 World Games (page 22), coming to Birmingham this July. This sporting event promises big family fun, and the Magic City has the distinct honor of hosting the first games in the U.S. since the first event was held in Santa Clara, California in 1981. I am also excited to feature two really cool women this month, as well. On page 12, find out how one mom is balancing the business of helping families clear out space with motherhood. On page 16, learn all about R.A Atherton’s quest to bring fun, educational books to children through her book club. We love hearing from you—in fact, several of the articles in this month’s issue were reader-generated—so please reach out if you know of a Birmingham business, event, or person we should feature. Happy May!
Stephanie Gibson Lepore, Content Director and Mom,
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ABOUT US
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
20
22
Just for Dads Ward Williams gives advice. p. 8 Holy Moly Motherhood Moments of unexpected joy. p. 10 Faith Lessons from Christian moms. p. 14
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FEATURE STORIES
Peddling Post One mom’s business encourages buying secondhand. p. 12 R.A Book Club
Sean of the South Beloved biscuits. p. 18
Local author’s passion for childhood literacy.
Active Living The 2022 World Games come to Birmingham. p. 22
Shooting Clays
p. 16
Food Easy treats kids can bake for mom. p. 28 Essay A Mama’s heart. p. 30
AmFirst Foundation benefits charities for children. p. 20 All About Moms From the mouths of babes, what makes mom the best. p. 26
ON THE COVER Cover photo courtesy of The World Games 2022 The World Games 2022 Experience Delivered by Shipt—a Mercedes Sprinter van that includes a rock-climbing wall, sumo wrestling, photos, and interactive trivia (including prizes!)—debuted in 2019 to drum up excitement about the games. Vulcan and Vesta, the official mascots of The World Games 2022, stand as symbols of the city’s iron and steel history. (Vesta is the Goddess of the Hearth and Home.) They are presented by O’Neal Steel in partnership with Vulcan Park and Museum. Bham Family May 2022 7
JUST FOR DADS Finding Nemo and Finding Dory were billiondollar box office hits beloved by many families. To me, one of the most memorable parts of Finding Nemo happens when Dory is consoling Marlin, who is distressed that Nemo is lost. Marlin makes the statement that, as Nemo’s father, he has always made sure that nothing ever happened to Nemo. Wise Dory responds simply: “Well, you can’t never let anything Ward happen to him. Then nothing Williams would ever happen to him.” In short, Dory was telling Marlin that his overprotectiveness is harming his child and, in essence, not protecting him at all. This message has stuck with me for 20 years, and it’s something I feel we need to reflect upon inside the culture of today’s family dynamics. There seems to be a strong disposition in moms to protect their kids from danger and to make sure nothing bad ever happens to them. Some of you need to listen to Dory and understand that you are only ensuring nothing happens to your children—including adventure, resiliency, and developing a strong imagination. I was at the zoo on a beautiful spring day, and I noticed how few parents were engaged with their young kids. Many were pushing their perfectly able kids in strollers while many of those same kids were looking at an electronic device. If parents cannot engage young children and stimulate their imaginations at the zoo on a beautiful day, then—holy moly—we are in deep trouble. I watched multiple parents, mainly moms, patrol inches away from their kids, climbing on the deeply cushioned playground, to save them from dropping inches if they fell. The biggest risk most of these kids encountered on the playground was a wedgie from moms clinging so tightly to the waists of their pants, jeans, and shorts. The Birmingham Zoo is full of adventure and opportunities—with an environment as diverse as the Australian Ocean—but, like Nemo’s father, the parents I saw at the zoo were not helping their kids experience it. Children have unlimited imaginations that, as parents, we must make sure are being protected and not destroyed. My favorite summers were the ones when I was working with 8- to 11-yearolds who were in charge of creating activities and games. We would rappel down cliffs, explore bat8 Bham Family May 2022
PHOTOGRAPH BY JEREMIAH LAWRENCE ON UNSPLASH
filled caves, spin around in circles until we threw up, and play on a slip-and-slide where we slid into Gravy Train dog food. Those activities created the best memories ever. We must introduce our children to as many opportunities to grow and find their purpose, even when it stretches us or we think that they won’t care for the experience. They need to know, meet, and stay connected to as many members of their families and extended family as possible. When appropriate, give them as many opportunities to explore and learn from things and people around them. This includes introducing our kids to activities that we might consider dangerous or even tacky, including guns, swords, archery, roughhousing, tractors, trucks, and other dangerous machinery. Sometimes the ocean is scary, but we need to remember Dory’s wise words: “Well, you can’t never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him.”
Your Greatest Comeback Starts Here Out Drive Sports Injuries When you feel a snap, crackle and pop in your bones during your next game, it may be time to address the cause. Don’t let joint pain force you to take a timeout in life.
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Bham Family May 2022 9
HOLY MOLY MOTHERHOOD
DEAR SIR
A letter to the kind man in the grocery store.
When your wife saw me in the produce aisle, I was juggling both of my boys. My toddler, in the top of the cart, was yelling at my oldest, and we were a noisy bunch. Your wife brought her hand to her mouth and giggled, like she could feel my struggle with two young kiddos. I gave her that exasperated look that we moms give out in public, the one that says, “There’s no controlling this, sorry!” And I went down the next aisle headed for the oranges. And your wife followed. I noticed she was pretty close to my children, and I looked up, thinking she had something to say to them. But she looked at me and said, “That was a bad joke!” She shook her head in comical apology. I thought I must have missed something, with my loud crew, Alana and I smiled in agreement and figured that would be the end of Smith our exchange. But she stood close, lost in her mind somewhere. And then you came to her aid. “Honey, you’re with me.” And it hit me. You looked at me with an apologetic “Sorry to bother you!” look. And you guided her down the juice aisle. And I’ve thought about that moment since she left my side. Why didn’t I ask how she was? Why didn’t I tell you that you were doing amazing work? That she was no bother to me at all. That my own mother is no longer herself anymore and needs guidance as well. Why didn’t I tell you that I see you, and you are her hero? Because I was busy. I was so focused on my own tasks at hand that I didn’t even notice. She probably saw me, with my two small children, and she saw herself, many years ago. When she was able to go and do, and she was free. When she was the one in charge. When she was not held back by this thief that is dementia or brain disease. Multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s. She probably gravitated to me because she once was me. She was lost in memory, and like a dream that we’ve been awakened from too soon, she was trying to will it back. So, to the kind man in the grocery store, I see you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you then. I hope my rambunctious boys, crowding the produce aisle, gave your wife a moment of joy. I pray for peace for you, and health for your wife. And I hope this letter finds you. Alana Smith is a boy mom (ages 7 and 2), nurse anesthetist, and writer in Birmingham. She shares her writing at Holy Moly Motherhood (on Facebook and Instagram), where she tackles all things motherhood and marriage.
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FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF RASHEL POST
Peddling Post utilizes a storage facility to run the business. They mail packages from their shipping unit weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Consign Your Collectibles Overwhelmed with where to sell your good stuff? Peddling Post can help! BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE Vestavia mom Rashel Post is passionate in her belief that buying secondhand is superior. “It’s better for many reasons— better for the environment, for our pocketbooks, and in helping to rid our homes of valuable items that are no longer needed,” she says. But Rashel found services to help individuals sell their valuable items to be lacking. Around the same time she made this realization, Rashel was also ready to dip her toes back into the workforce after CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
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spending some time at home with her twin sons, now seven years old. “I have been a mom for 22 years. I put my career on hold when I was at the end of my pregnancy with the twins, because I knew I would have my hands full once they arrived,” says Rashel. “And I also knew I wanted to give the littles my full attention for at least a year. But as their first birthday approached, I sensed that they were not developing neurotypically, so my world began to be about their needs and diagnoses, and I found myself diving into the special needs world. I am and always have been an entrepreneur at heart, so my dreams permeated for several years.” Then, as her youngest boys set off to start kindergarten, she began to put together a business plan. “I laid the groundwork in 2018 with the LLC and branding,” she explains. “We went live in 2019.” The support of Mr. Post gave her motivation and the moniker that cleverly became her business name, and Peddling Post was born. Word of mouth by way of friends, referrals, and social media helped Rashel to spread the news. Processes have evolved through trial and error and as necessary due to business growth, and today Peddling Post operates on a twopart system. “The events portion hosts sells for situations like estates, business liquidations, moving, downsizing, and the like,” says Rashel. “The other side of our business helps clients sell collections, luxury items, home decor, and furniture.” Rashel and her team use selling spaces such as eBay, Etsy, Poshmark, and the company’s Facebook and Instagram pages. For an additional fee, they can also sort your inventory, donating anything that can’t be sold. Because Rashel sees Peddling Post’s job as a service provider as knowing how best to sell what items and where, “there are very few things we can’t sell.” Her success rate may have a bit to do with her love of the job. “The number one thing I have learned as a small business owner is that I truly enjoy serving people,” she says. “It motivates and inspires me when I have the honor of assisting a family through an estate sale or in selling a collection that no longer serves them. I take it seriously because it’s a privilege to be invited into my clients’ lives.” That does not mean, however, that Rashel and her team don’t have fun, too. “During events like estate and moving sales or business liquidations,
Rashel Post says her business stays busy throughout the year.
our team members each pick the most unlikely to sell item, and whoever’s item sells first gets a prize! We are never short on interesting items, and we have a lot of fun as a team.” Rashel’s team includes other moms like her. “Because most of my staff is moms, in the summer we really rely on college students to help us keep the wheels turning while we’re tending to our children,” she says. “We stay busy throughout the year. Because of the magnitude of time some of our events take, we limit our schedules to one major event per month, which makes us more of a boutique experience. We ensure we’re a good match for clients as much as they make sure we’re a good match for them.” “Ultimately, I hope my kids see and understand that our family comes first and I am a business woman. Those two things can coexist,” says Rashel. “Balance is not easy, but I do my best— and it also helps that my husband is a supportive partner, too.” Keep up with Peddling Post on social media (Facebook and Instagram: @PeddlingPost). To utilize their services, visit peddlingpost.com and complete the online form to get started. Bham Family May 2022 13
FAITH
PHOTOGRAPH BY PRISCILLA DU PREEZ ON UNSPLASH
Mentors for Moms This month is the perfect time to count the blessings of women who share their wisdom BY HEATHER BROWN Mother’s Day is a special time to honor not only your mom, but also the other women who influence your life. I want to take a moment to honor the women in my life who have taught me lessons I strive to bring into my boys’ lives. Below are four pillars of Christian womanhood I’d love to emulate in my life. Mama: Obviously my mom, who taught me that CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
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PORTRAIT COURTESY OF HEATHER BROWN
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inner beauty is to be admired more than external, and who loves very deeply and is so good at showing her love tangibly every day. She is always there to listen and someone you want to have in your corner to call with all domestic questions! Nanna: My grandmother kept me as a kid while my mom was at work and still spoiled me through college with treats before trips, along with my grandfather who instilled the importance of education in me. I miss them both dearly! Sue: My mother-in-law has created quite the legacy with her kindred spirit personality—a woman who has always been characterized by doing and conquering it all while having a lot of fun. She deserves a medal just for raising triplets! My work mamas from my past life at eMeals: I met “Janey DeLaney” and Brown Langner about nine years ago through work, and they became an invaluable part of my life. They were mentors, spiritual accountability partners, and advocates for me and my marriage as I was preparing for pregnancy and motherhood. Both of these women put their kids and husbands
before anything else and made me proud to call them friends. These are all women I truly hope to emulate in some way shape or form as a mom myself, and I am so lucky to have them with me on this motherhood journey. I encourage you to think about who these women in your life are, and then take the time to show them how much you care this year. We women can add so much to each other’s lives and should always focus on building each other up, especially on and around Mother’s Day! What better time to begin? If you’d like to access some free gifts and encouraging resources for the mommies in your life (including yourself!) visit my website, mylifewellloved.com, for many fun printables and other helpful downloads—completely free! Heather Brown lives in Birmingham with her husband, Eric, and two young boys. She is a blogger, speaker, content creator, work-from-home mom, and fitness enthusiast who has become a valued positive voice to the women in her My Life Well Loved community (mylifewellloved.com). She loves investing in people, getting her sweat on, and enjoying the little things in life!
Daily Devotionals for Moms I’ve rounded up a few great options below. Don’t forget to set aside time to have your own devotional, mama, even if it’s only 10 minutes—it will be time well spent. When I’m able to, I always try to spend time in the Word each morning. It truly gets my day starting off on the right foot and helps me have a better attitude throughout the day. Right now, I’m loving the First Five app, The Bible Recap podcast (along with reading the Bible in a year), New Morning Mercies, and Embraced. Next up on my list: Risen Motherhood. •
Embraced by Lysa TerKeurst
•
100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs
•
Strong by Lisa Bevere
•
New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp
•
Be Still: 90 Devotions for the Hopeful Heart by Cleere Cherry
•
One Step Closer Bible by Candace Cameron Bure
•
She Smiles Without Fear by Katy McCown
•
Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler
Find more at mylifewellloved.com/daily-devotionals-for-moms. Bham Family May 2022 15
FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF R.A ATHERTON
Page-Turning Power The R.A Book Club encourages childhood literacy through imaginative titles BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE Like so many educators, R.A Atherton was inspired by one of her elementary school teachers, Mrs. Long at Granbery Elementary outside of Nashville. “She is why I got into working with children,” says R.A. “And my seventh-grade English teacher, Mrs. Connelly from Oliver Middle, made such a positive impact on my life. I attribute some of my passion for writing to her.” After high school, R.A stayed closed to home at Middle Tennessee State University, where she majored in Sociology and Early Childhood Education. “It was during my time at MTSU that I accepted my first position as an ECE teacher and continued working within the field, until I eventually became an assistant director at a private early-learning center in Nashville,” she says. A job opportunity for her husband moved them to Birmingham—his hometown—which 16 Bham Family May 2022
gave R.A the chance to focus on writing while also acclimating to her new community. Much like her transition from Tennessee to Alabama, R.A says going from working with children—and reading to them—to writing books for them was pretty organic. “I was always reading to young children, and after 10 years of fun titles written by other children’s book authors, I felt inspired to write one myself. The writing process was so easy, because I feel truly passionate about early literacy, and the ideas for different books just started flooding in. Some of my stories were inspired by the kids at school!” R.A’s first book, Ostriches Can’t Fly—about a can-do, rather than cannot, attitude—garnered positive feedback from her very young (“and honest!”) audience. “From there, I kept the momentum going and wrote three more,” she says of the trio that followed: CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
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Momma Meerkat, Hip Hip Hooray!, and Very Merry Penguin. While that positive feedback is encouraging, R.A says her only mission is “to put good books in little hands to promote imaginative thinking and creativity.” Motivating minds is the ultimate goal. “If I can get a child to ask “Why?” or think outside of the box, then I have accomplished my objective,” she says. “One example is how I use a few higher-level vocabulary words, hoping a child will ask,“What does that word mean?’ ” Additionally—and equally as important—is the message she wants to convey. “Ostriches Can’t Fly was written to teach children that in a world full of “can’t,” you can! Recently, I have been thinking a lot about what my next concept will be. Without giving away too many details, readers can expect a new series from me in early 2023. The message for the whole series is that you can always do aboveaverage, amazing things: help a friend, be brave, step out of your comfort zone,” she explains. “The titles will revolve around the same character, who feels as if he is too average. And I think this is something even adults can relate to. Far too often, I found myself thinking I wasn’t good enough or that I was too “average” to accomplish these big goals. This series may be my favorite project yet!” On top of new titles, a coloring book is releasing this month that includes illustrations from her current books. “This has been a fun side project that will continue to promote the imaginative thinking and creativity I strive for.” Perhaps the R.A relatability comes from her everyday, yet passionate, source of inspiration: “My books come from a desire to empower children. I think about the message and how it would impact a child,” she says. “Additionally, introducing literacy at an early age is so important for healthy brain growth and development. With so much rapid brain development happening before the age of 5, literacy plays such an impactful role for speech development, memory retention, and future success in school.” For R.A, there’s magic watching a child’s face light up at illustrations or reciting a book along with you because they’ve heard it so many times. She has no plans to slow down the magic-making. “Gosh, the sky is the limit, right? Short-term, I am going to keep writing. Long-term—and scary to say out loud—is an adaptation for TV,” she shares. “But I don’t think I would ever stop writing books—it’s just too fun!”
FUN FACTS AND FAVORITES WITH R.A. Favorite author? This one is tough. As a young girl, I loved reading books by Robert Munsch. I also had all of his books on tape. This actually inspired me to create audio books for all of my titles! As I got older, I got into the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park—I still have the full collection! As an adult, I love finding books by different authors to discover different writing styles. Favorite children’s book? Also really tough! From my generation, Love You Forever, The Big Green Pocketbook, and The Rainbow Fish are all-time favorites. These days, I really love the Llama Llama books. Favorite book that’s inspired you? The Rainbow Fish, hands-down. This was the first book that I felt really attached to. In terms of children’s books, this one fires on all cylinders for me, from the interactive components and beautiful illustrations to the message and storyline, it’s a book every child should read. Favorite place to read a good book? Fewer things make me happier than reading a book under an umbrella on the beach. Unfortunately, I do not live at the beach. So, on a typical day, I am usually sitting on my screened-in deck—rain or shine—diving into a good book. Paper or electronic? Nothing beats holding a book in my hands and flipping through the pages! One book everyone should read? Mine! I hear they’re really great. Jokes aside, there are so many amazing classics to choose from, but I remember feeling particularly moved by The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom when I first read it as a teenager. Bookmark or dog ear? Dog ear. It’s proof someone was there. For me, it also signifies really amazing parts of a book—the bigger the gap between one dog ear and the next, the better the content. Best book-reading snack? Book snacks are an important part of the experience for me—mostly because I love to snack! It really depends on the time of year. If it’s winter, I always have a hot chocolate in hand. If it’s summer, I typically munch on an apple with peanut butter. Bham Family May 2022 17
SEAN OF THE SOUTH
PHOTOGRAPH BY ROJAN MAHARJAN ON UNSPLASH
BY SEAN DIETRICH
Biscuit Man
Fourteen-year-old Hayden from Maryland sent me a letter asking what my favorite food is. Hayden says that her personal favorite food is apple pie with melted cheese on top. All I can say is: Hayden, you can enjoy that pie all by yourself. Because I’d rather lick a mule between the ears than put cheese on apple pie. But then, who am I to judge? Someone wise once said: “Just because we can’t agree doesn’t mean that you’re not a complete wacko.” Anyway, to answer your question, Hayden, my all-time favorite foods have changed over the years. When I was a baby, my mother said that I would eat entire blocks of cheddar while in my high chair. My mother, who thought it was adorable to see a child gnawing on a brick of cheese, would take photographs of me, thereby documenting the origins of my longtime childhood weight problem. But I eventually grew out of the cheese fascination, and I moved on to: mashed potatoes. The women in my family make delicious mashed potatoes using an ancient family recipe: 1 potato 80 sticks of butter Accidental bits of cigarette ash 18 Bham Family May 2022
Also, my mother did not whip her potatoes with an electric mixer like the pagans. She had an actual hand masher, covered in rust so that it looked like a tiny tetanus-covered farm implement. I would always lick the masher when she finished. This explains a lot of my developmental problems. Also, I love collards. And the only way to cook greens is with the ugliest, most deformed ham hock knuckle you can find. And, bacon. I do not believe that all bacon is created equal. The bacon I like is the hand-cut kind your granddaddy would spend his hard-earned money on. Let the record show that I also love fried chicken. Throughout certain periods of my life, this food was the only reason I remained a member of the Baptist church. I love fresh-caught redfish, speckled trout, red snapper, grouper cheeks, fresh shrimp, and raw oysters. A lot of people cringe when I talk about oysters, as though I’m talking about wolf snot on the half shell. But in my family, oysters are a big deal. My granny made oyster dressing every holiday season. My father-in-law made a great oyster stew. We received oysters for presents each Christmas. (“Oh, look what CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
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Uncle John got you, Sean! A dozen raw!”) I love pound cake. Banana pudding. Chess pie. Lemon icebox pie. And, of course, Conecuh sausage. Today, this brand of sausage—which is manufactured in Evergreen, Alabama—has become hugely popular. It even recently became the official sausage of the Atlanta Braves baseball team—which I think is great. I personally love that professional baseball franchises have their own official sausages nowadays. MICKEY MANTLE: Hey Roger, what’s our official team sausage again? ROGER MARIS: I dunno, Mick, is it Jimmy Dean Heat ’n Serve? But I remember when you couldn’t find Conecuh sausage anywhere but rural convenience stores, or the IGA in Brewton, Alabama. When I used to go fishing with my buddies, it was a special treat to have this sausage. We would cook up a few packages and eat it all day long until our cardiologists disowned us. In fact, for entire periods of my adult life, I survived on two things. Conecuh sausage and: Biscuits. Ah, biscuits. Long ago, a friend wrote a short biography for one of my magazine articles. In the bio, my friend referred to me as a “biscuit connoisseur,”
and the title stuck. Pretty soon, people started calling me this. And whenever I would deliver a speech at, say, a Rotary Club bingo night at Craters of the Moon, Georgia, they would introduce me as “Sean Dietrich, biscuit connoisseur.” I have eaten biscuits in 34 states. And here’s what I have learned in my travels. Mississippi has light, fluffy ones that remind you of heaven. The Florida Panhandle has big, fat ones that stick to your ribs. Georgia and Alabama make biscuits that will make you believe in the power of lard. West Virginians eat biscuits with two hands. Tennesseans eat them with three. Canadians eat croissants. They even eat biscuits in New York City. A lot of trendy restaurants are now serving what they call “upscale Southern-style cuisine.” I have been to these restaurants and tried the aberrations they tried to pass off as biscuits. And my reaction is: Metropolitan New Yorkers wouldn’t know a real biscuit from their own astrological sign. I would list all the other foods I love, Hayden, but I’m out of room. And there are way too many foods to name. Besides, I have to go to the kitchen to lick the potato masher. Remember: Friends don’t let friends put cheese on apple pie.
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Bham Family May 2022 19
FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPH BY MONICA VOLPIN ON PIXABAY
Aiming to Help AmFirst Foundation’s annual sporting clays tournament benefits local family charities.
America’s First Federal Credit Union was formed in 1936 during the Great Depression by 19 male employees of the United States Steel Corporation. The first funds—$1,500— were secured in a cigar box, and the new credit union—The Iron and Steel Workers Credit Union—offered a share account, where members could obtain loans co-signed by their co-workers. Its purpose was to help establish a financial foundation for members that would lead to a more comfortable lifestyle and restore prosperity to the community. It was open just three days a week and operated out of the Ensley Works of United States Steel. As the new credit union continued to grow steadily through the decades, so did its membership. A July 1985 name change to America’s First Credit Union reflected a larger, more diverse membership no longer restricted to steel-related industries. That same year, the credit union reached $200 million in assets. Nine years later, the board and membership approved a move to become a federally chartered credit union, along with another name change to America’s First Federal Credit Union. Holding to its everydecade-tradition, more change came in 2005, when the institution became a communityCONTINUED ON PAGE 21
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chartered credit union. No longer restricted to select employer groups, eligible members included individuals and businesses that live, work, worship, or attend school in Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, and Walker counties along with underserved areas of Calhoun, Talladega, and Mobile Counties. Today, the credit union’s assets total more than $2 billion, with more than 180,000 members and 21 branches. Part of the credit union’s mission of improving members’ lives and the community is giving back through The AmFirst Foundation. One of their largest fundraisers is the Sporting Clays Charity Tournament, held this year on May 27. Last year, the event garnered $120,000. All proceeds from this year’s tournament will benefit three important local charities, which in turn support families in the Birmingham community. YouthServe (youthservebham.org) is the combination of two organizations from the 1990s, First Look and Birmingham Youth Service Corps, who merged in 2004 to become YouthServe. Now, its diverse groups of youth engage in civic activities together and hone their community leadership skills. Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank (bundlesdiaperbank.org) provides a reliable diaper supply to families experiencing financial hardship, while also participating in the community and raising awareness for diaper need. Diapers are an expensive necessity for anyone with an infant or toddler, but they are not covered by government programs such as SNAP or WIC. The local need is great, as a lack of diapers can also affect childcare options. (Many childcare facilities will not allow children to be dropped off without adequate disposable diapers for the day.) The Literacy Council of Central Alabama (literacy-council.org) helps to improve the lives of adults and their families through education that teaches them to read, write, and speak English. Literacy makes it possible for people to: maintain sobriety, help a child with homework, become a supervisor at work, stay employed, attain certification and professional license, learn to use a smartphone, obtain a driver’s license, read a bank statement, become a church deacon, fill out a form at the doctor’s office, read a nutrition label, and learn to use a computer. Though most sponsorship opportunities are filled, you can still register to participate as an individual ($150) or a team of four ($600). The event will be held at Selwood Farm in Alpine, Alabama (selwoodfarm.com). Registration and warmups begin at 7:30 a.m., breakfast is at 8 a.m., and the tournament starts at 9 a.m., with lunch provided
2022 AMFIRST FOUNDATION SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT Pricing Team (4 shooters) – $600 Deal pack for team (includes all games and warmups) – $200 Individual – $150 Deal pack for one (includes all games and warmups) – $50 6-target warmup and individual games (3) – $20 each Games Cotton Drop: All about strategy and accuracy. Participants will shoot targets containing cotton balls, and the aim is to have the cotton ball drop into a circle on the ground. Eligible shooters will be entered into a drawing to win a half-day quail hunt for one. Make It Easy: Regular shooting station is 40 yards out; in this game, you can move 20 yards closer to the target. Tower: Difficult-to-hit targets are tossed from Selwood Farm’s 75-foot tower. Find more information and register online at amfirst.org/ sportingclays. Bham Family May 2022 21
ACTIVE LIVING
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF THE WORLD GAMES
2022 World Games in the Magic City Coming in July, the IOC-recognized sports competition will bring thousands to the area.
BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE The World Games 2022 Birmingham—to be held July 7–17—is an incredible Olympic-style sports competition for athletes from around the world. These elites compete for medals in 34 distinctive, multidisciplinary sports. The chosen sports are ones not contested in the Olympic Games. The World Games are held every four years during the summer following the Olympics, and Birmingham was chosen as the host city by the International World Games Association in January 2015, after bids from three cities, including Lima, Peru, and Ufa, Russia, were considered. CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
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11 200+ 100+ 34 25+
days
medals
$256M
projected economic impact
sports
countries
36K
top international athletes
venues
1K+
credentialed media
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Announced to the public in 2014, Birmingham’s bid was presented by Edgar Welden, Scott Myers, and David Benck. The Magic City was the only U.S. city authorized to make a bid for these games. All three cities (Birmingham, Lima, and Ufa) paid a $125,000 application fee and submitted information regarding venues, infrastructure, volunteers, budget, transportation, and other specifics. Myers, the executive director of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, said the bid was “a dream, but it’s not a pipe dream. It’s attainable.” Organizers projected a $75 million budget, and the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau expects more than $225 million from visitors to the city. The final decision, announced January 22, 2015, in Lausanne, awarded The World Games 2022 to Birmingham. Due to the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to summer 2021, The World Games were moved from 2021 to 2022. This year’s games will be the eleventh such and will mark the first time the Games are back in the United States since the first World Games were held in Santa Clara, California, in 1981. The Opening Ceremony on July 7, the official intro to The World Games 2022 and Birmingham, presented by Alabama Power, will incude live entertainment, special effects, honorable dignitaries, and a parade of athletes representing more than 100 countries. It will take place at Protective Stadium. On July 17, the Closing Ceremony, presented by CocaCola Bottling Company UNITED, will include the passing of The World Games flag to representatives from the next host city, Chengdu, China 2025.
BEST OF BIRMINGHAM
On the heels of Birmingham being chosen to host The World Games, the city has recently been named one of the “The 22 Best Places to Go in 2022” by Condé Naste Traveler.
Sumo Wrestling Birmingham is “the first American host for The World Games, an 11-day, 34-sport event (including tug of war and wheelchair rugby) expected to draw 500,000 spectators,” writes editors of the magazine. “To have this prestigious, world-renowned magazine rank Birmingham as one of the best places in the entire world to visit is a testament to the years of hard work by so many in our great city,” says Nick Sellers, the CEO of The World Games 2022. “Birmingham is coming of age and has so much to offer in terms of entertainment, history, sports, and more. And when we welcome thousands of fans from around the world in July, they will see a community of incredible people that, like a champion athlete, has a story of triumph over tragedy. We are committed to making our city a special place to live, work, and play. We can’t wait for our moment to arrive and are grateful for this recognition.”
FIERCE COMPETITION
The 2022 Games includes 34official sports that encompass 54 disciplines and 206 events. CBS Sports Network will air one-hour highlights of the games, to be held at local venues including Avondale Park, Barber Motorsports Park, Bessie Estell Park, Birmingham Crossplex, Bill Harris Arena, BJCC, UAB, Railroad Park, Birmingham-Southern College, CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
Bham Family May 2022 23
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Legion Field, Oak Mountain State Park, Protective Stadium, and Boutwell Auditorium, among others. For the first time, drone racing, canoe marathon, breaking, women’s fistball, kickboxing, and parkour are included as official sports, and both softball and racquetball are returning. Invitational sports are duathlon, flag football, wheelchair rugby, wushu, and men’s lacrosse. The other events include: • Acrobatic gymnastics • Aerobic gymnastics • Air sports • Archery • Artistic roller skating • Beach handball • Billiards sports • Boules sports • Bowling • Canoe polo • Dancesport • Finswimming • Fistball • Floorball • Flying disc • Inline hockey • Ju-jitsu • Karate • Korfball • Lacrosse • Lifesaving • Muay Thai • Orienteering • Powerlifting • Rhythmic gymnastics • Road speed skating • Sport climbing • Squash • Sumo • Track speed skating • Trampoline gymnastics • Tug of war • Waterskiing Want to take your family to an event? Visit twg2022.com/tickets to purchase tickets!
SWEET HOME SONG
The Music of The World Games shares a theme song to bridge the coming together of athletes, teams, coaches, entertainers, and fans from all over the world. “Hope of Alabama” will be performed during the Opening (July 7) and Closing Ceremonies (July 17) at Protective Stadium. The song, a collaboration across generations and genres from iconic Alabama music stars, will serve as the official theme song of The World Games 2022. Performers include Randy Owen of Alabama, Yung Bleu, Sara Evans, Jamey Johnson, 24 Bham Family May 2022
Archery Pastor Mike Jr., “The Voice” contestants Worth the Wait, Rolling Stones’ keyboardist Chuck Leavell, Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice, Martha Reeves, and the Blind Boys of Alabama, along with the youth and adult choirs of The World Games 2022.
FOUNDATION PARTNERS • • • • • • • • • • • •
Alabama Power UAB UAB Medical Regions Protective BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama Shipt Coca-Cola Altec Medical Properties Trust Tissot Microsoft
KID-FRIENDLY FUN
The Regions World Games Plaza is a free, familyfriendly experience that is open daily to the public, athletes, and members of the media. Swing by for live entertainment, food, sports demonstrations, and sports competition coverage. “The World Games provides a unique opportunity to showcase Greater Birmingham on the international stage as we host athletes and their families, spectators and the many organizations needed to make this event successful,” said John Turner, Regions President and CEO. “Regions is excited to partner with the City of Birmingham and the local business community to support The World Games through a sustained investment that will produce a positive economic impact in the community we call home.” In addition, The World Games 2022 Experience Delivered by Shipt—a Mercedes Sprinter van that includes a rock-climbing wall, sumo wrestling, photos, and interactive trivia (including prizes!)—debuted in 2019 to drum up excitement about the games, and it will continue to make its way around the city up to the start of the World Games.
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FEATURE
PHOTOGRAPH BY PAIGE CODY ON UNSPLASH
Why Moms Are the Best!
To know her is to love her—straight from the mouths of babes I love my mom because she’s my family and she does stuff for me! Hudson, age 6 She always helps me when I need help. Parker, age 12 She is my best friend! Frankie, age 8 Everything! Piper, age 8 She always takes a bath with me. Grace, age 3 She helps me with my homework. Connor, age 9 She always goes to the pool with me and spends time with me. Blakely, age 6
She loves me and always plays games with me. Hayes, age 5 She plays with me every day. Blakely, age 3 Playing games with her! Emmie, age 4 Mine is playing games with her, too! Maddie, age 4, Emmie’s twin I love when we cook together. Maya, age 4 I love that you take care of me when I’m sick. Layth, age 6 She does things I can’t do! Davis, age 5
She plays puzzles with me. Lawson, age 3
I love her singing to me in the nighttime. I love her because she swings me. She takes me to the nail salon. Celia, age 4
She lets me eat her food. Landon, age 3
She loves our entire family, no matter what we do. Haynes, age 12
I like playing games with my mom and I love her hugs. Hazel Elizabeth, age 5
You always take care of me, and you love rainbows just like me! Logan, age 5
I love time in the car with you while sissy dances. And I like when you play games with us. Sullivan, age 5 26 Bham Family May 2022
She is always there for me. Collin, age 10
A KID CRAFT TO GIVE AND KEEP HANDPRINT TULIP TEA TOWELS
There isn’t a mama around who doesn’t love a handprint craft, and these keepsakes are super easy to make. Fabric paint works well for these, because you can wash them as needed and the paint will hold up.
MATERIALS
White dish towels (Walmart has a bundle for around $5) Cardboard Painter’s tape Fabric paint Foam paintbrushes Toilet paper tube Black marker Permanent markers White paper Tip: Keep wipes handy for cleaning paint off hands and craft area. Step 1: Wrap the dish towel around a piece of cardboard (a cereal box or extra Amazon box works well!), and tape it to your work surface with painter’s tape. Step 2: Have your child choose what color flower they want to make. Squirt paint right onto their palm and use a foam brush to “paint” their hand with a thick layer of fabric paint. Stamp their hand onto the towel, leaving room on the edge of the towel for a stem and leaves. Repeat with the other hand, using a different color paint, if desired.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JENNIFER DAVIS, MEMORYMAKINMOMMA.COM
Step 3: Flatten out an empty toilet paper tube, so it makes an oval with slightly pointed ends. Either dip the end in green fabric paint or paint the bottom edges with paint. Stamp leaves close together a few inches below the handprints. (Your child can paint the leaves with a paintbrush.) Step 4: Using the end of a thin paintbrush, add a stem to each of the handprint tulips. Step 5: Finally, have your child write their name and age in black marker on a piece of paper. Place the paper under the dishtowel and use a permanent marker to trace over the writing. We suggest making at least two towels—one to keep and one to gift to a grandmother or aunt! Bham Family May 2022 27
FOOD
Bake a Sweet Treat for Mom Indulge your sweet tooth with one of these easy and delicious Mother’s Day desserts.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF BY HOLLEY GRAINGER, MS, RD
BY HOLLEY GRAINGER, MS, RD
¾ cup plain Greek yogurt 3 oz light cream cheese 2 tbsp sweetener of choice (maple syrup, honey, very ripe banana, etc.) ½ banana 1 kiwi, sliced 1 peach, sliced 1 pint strawberries, sliced 1 pint blueberries 1 pint raspberries
Skip the bakery or the ice-cream shop, and invite mom to kick up her feet while the kids (with maybe a little help from dad or another grownup!) make one of these dietician-approved desserts. (Each treat includes a clever swap-out of a few not-so-great ingredients, replaced with something just a little bit better.) These recipes cook quickly, have a nutritious twist, and are ideal for beginner cooks. HEALTHY FRUIT PIZZA 1 cup whole wheat flour ¾ cup old-fashioned oats ½ tsp cinnamon 1 tsp baking powder 1 large egg 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1/3 cup vegetable oil
1. 2.
3.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a round pizza pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, cinnamon, and baking powder. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and oil. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and stir until ingredients are combined. Pour batter onto pizza pan lined with parchment paper, gently spreading into a CONTINUED ON PAGE 29
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frozen pop top into vanilla Greek yogurt. (You may need to spread with a spoon or knife to distribute evenly.) Sprinkle vanilla yogurtcovered tops with ½ to 1 tablespoon each of graham cracker crumbs. Serve immediately.
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4. 5.
circle. The dough may be too small for the size of your pan. If so, just form the dough into a round shape. Bake for 10 minutes or until the “crust” is golden brown. While the crust is baking, combine Greek yogurt, cream cheese, and sweetener of choice in a small bowl. Allow crust to cool, then spread yogurt mixture on top of crust and layer with fruit.
TWO-INGREDIENT APPLESAUCE MUFFINS MUFFINS 1 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 (14-oz) box vanilla cake mix
KEY LIME PIE MOJITO POPS 2 cups Key Lime Greek Yogurt (4 5.3-oz containers) ½ cup 1% milk 2 key limes 2 tsp finely chopped mint ¼ cup vanilla Greek yogurt ¼ cup fine graham cracker crumbs (about 1 sheet) 1.
2. 3.
Combine yogurt and milk in a large bowl, whisking until smooth. Zest 2 key limes using a microplane grater and add to yogurt mixture. (This should yield about 2 teaspoons of zest.) Slice each zested key lime in half and squeeze juice into yogurt, making sure to remove and discard any seeds. (This should yield about 4 teaspoons of juice.) Add mint to yogurt mixture and whisk until smooth. Evenly divide yogurt mixture into frozen pops molds. Add tops and freeze at least 2 to 4 hours or until frozen. When ready to serve, remove pops from containers and dip about 1-2 inches of each
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS Peanut or almond butter Chocolate-hazelnut spread Vanilla or chocolate icing Grape jelly Dye-free sprinkles Mini chocolate chips Coconut Toasted chopped nuts Whole nuts Fresh apple slices 1.
2.
Stir together applesauce and cake mix in a large bowl until combined. Spray muffin cups with cooking spray then add batter evenly, filling each cup two-thirds full. Bake at 350°F 16–17 minutes or until they’re golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool muffins on a baking rack. Once cool, decorate with toppings to taste. Store in an airtight container up to 3 days.
For more Mother’s Day desserts, visit holleygrainger. com/45-last-minute-mothers-day-desserts. Happy Baking! Bham Family May 2022 29
ESSAY
A Mama’s Heart Babies—and kids—don’t keep. Sometimes, it’s okay to hang on a little bit longer.
BY DANIELLE GAMBINO Teach him how to tie his shoes. I heard it from my husband. My mother. My friends when I would interrupt a conversation to run across the playground and save him from tripping over the laces. He is old enough to tie his own shoes. He’s 8, it’s time. He’s long overdue. What are you waiting for? I heard it over and over again. Perhaps the most was when I had to run out onto the basketball court mid-game. And each time I heard it, I would reply, “I know, I know. We will work on it.” But we didn’t. I would pass over that task on my weekend to-do list and, come Monday morning, would call for him to get his sneakers and sit at the table. So I could tie them, of course. It’s not that I didn’t think he could do it. It’s not that he didn’t want to learn. He is smart. Able. I knew he would figure it out in a matter of minutes. That it would click. And that he wouldn’t need me anymore. Let me say that part again. He wouldn’t need me anymore. You see, there was a time not so long ago that I helped him through every task. Brushing his teeth. Packing his backpack. Watching his little feet step into each hole of his pants and his head pop out of the top of his shirt as I dressed him each morning. 30 Bham Family May 2022
And, one by one, he figured out how to do each thing on his own. So, each time someone told me that he needed to know how to tie his shoes, I would blow it off, because I knew it was just a matter of time before he wouldn’t need me for that either. Everyone celebrates the firsts. The first few years of your child’s life are full of celebration. First tooth, first steps, first bites of real food. They don’t warn you that for every first to celebrate, there will be a last to mourn. And the lasts aren’t as obvious, you know. It took me a few weeks to notice that I wasn’t being called into the bathroom to help scrub his hair. Suddenly he started brushing his teeth without needing me to stand next to him and put toothpaste on the toothbrush. Maybe no one tells you because, unlike the first celebrations, the last ones—well, they hurt. Like a punch to the gut that takes your breath away. Leaves you gripping the kitchen counter wishing for those days, hours, and minutes to return. Because you know. You know that once they’re gone, you don’t get them back. So, the next time you hear a little voice asking for help, take a minute to enjoy the moment. Take just a second to breathe it all in. How their hair looked all tousled. Little toes dangling off the edge of the stool. Treat each moment like the last, because one day, it will be. Danielle Gambino is a preschool director, science teacher, wife, and mom of three. Follow her on Instagram @growingupgambino.
Olivia Olivia Tetralogy of Fallot Patient Tetralogy of Fallot Patient
The The path path to to
MENDING MENDING HER HER
HEART was actually through her leg. was actually through her leg.
Olivia was born with a congenital heart defect requiring open Olivia was born with a congenital heart defect requiring open heart surgery at 3 months old. She also required a second heart surgery at 3 months old. She also required a second surgery as a teen to replace her pulmonary valve – but this time surgery as a teen to replace her pulmonary valve – but this time they went through a vein in her leg to insert the Harmony they went through a vein in her leg to insert the Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve in her heart. This less-invasive Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve in her heart. This less-invasive path to replacement shortened her recovery time, and she went path to replacement shortened her recovery time, and she went home the next day. Olivia was the first pediatric patient in the home the next day. Olivia was the first pediatric patient in the southeast to receive the Harmony valve, and it was here at southeast to receive the Harmony valve, and it was here at Children’s of Alabama. Children’s of Alabama.
To learn more visit To learn more visit ChildrensAL.org/heart ChildrensAL.org/heart 31 Bham Family May 2022
TEEN TALK LINE (205) 605-1830
PARENT TALK LINE compact2020.com (205) 605-1827
TEENS — Have questions? Concerned about things? Just need someone to listen? Talking helps. Whether you are having a great day or a tough day, give us a call. We are here to listen. PARENTS — Think your teen might be involved with substance abuse? Have questions? Concerned about your teen? Wondering how to handle your teen’s choices? Just need someone to listen to you? Talking helps.
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