Cayman Parent Summer 2016

Recovering After Labour + Communicating with Teens

parent Summer 2016

Cayman

The islands’ ultimate resource for families

www.caymanparent.com

Take me home!

Up close with Des Ebanks Co-Parenting After Divorce Managing the Empty Nest Facing your child’s separation anxiety

Free Copy

Meet the Andersons of Bodden Town Summer Reads Teens Who Make a Difference

Summer Survival Camps, activities, summer care, travel & more

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Your children are not themselve when they are...

How can coaching help me?

Address these needs and you w negative behaviours dec For more information about this tool or on how to enhance your parenting tool kit, contact the Family Resource Centre at 949-0006 or frc.gov.ky.

Become familiar with all the free services FRC provides!

The Department of Counselling Services C AY M A N I S L A N D S G O V E R N M E N T

Sixth Edition

Summer 2016 / Volume 2

Preparing for your new baby Learn more about having a baby, what to expect during your pregnancy, infant CPR and more in our free Parentcraft classes.

Publisher SeaGrape Media Ltd. publisher@caymanparent.com

Advertising & Marketing Heather Cassidy sales@caymanparent.com

These 8 week prenatal sessions are hosted by the Women’s Health Clinic every Monday from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. Contact 244-2649 or visit our Women’s Health Clinic for more information and class schedule.

Cayman Islands Health Services Authority 95 Hospital Road, Grand Cayman | Tel: (345) 949-8600 | Email: info@hsa.ky | www.hsa.ky

Let us take the hassle out of your insurance coverage options.

USING A BROKER IS BENEFICIAL! Saving you time, saving you money and choosing the best plan to meet your needs and manage your risk.

• Commercial Properties - Condos/Office • Private Home - Buildings & Content • Marine - Hull & Cargo

• Motor Vehicles - Private & Commercial • Burglary • Fire & Peril

Editorial & Layout Tamara McKee editor@caymanparent.com

Contributors Dr. Alison Duncan Elke (Feuer) O’Donnell Faith Gealey Georgina Loxton Jonathan Joyce Lindsay Thompson Lindsey Turnbull Miriam Foster Nasaria Budal Riette Vosloo Sheena Sigsworth Virginia Czarnocki

Front Cover Cover photo of Stella (age 7) and Ava (age 5) captured by Irene at Deep Blue Images.

Cayman Parent is published four times a year. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcomed for review by our Editor, editor@caymanparent.com.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

• Contractors - All Risk

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PROVIDING OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN INSURANCE EXPERTISE

Call: 949-0883 www.iib.com.ky

PROFESSIONALISM | INDEPENDENCE | EXCELLENCE | LOYALTY

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P.O. Box 31656 Grand Cayman KY1-1207 Cayman Islands e: publisher@caymanparent.com t: (345) 517-7093 w: www.caymanparent.com Facebook: /caymanparent Printed in Canada by Ironstone Media

Welcome

Temperatures are rising! Time for camp!

T

he temperature is rising, the kids are slowing down, if you’re anything like me, your packed lunch boxes are likely looking rather dull in comparison to the beginning of the school year. All signs say that summer is upon us once again and kids and teachers everywhere are counting down the days. I must admit, I rejoice in the first couple of weeks of summer when the pace is less frantic.

It’s the full eight weeks of it that is a tad daunting!

Thankfully, there are a slew of camps and activities on offer to keep our kids off the couch and their minds and bodies busy.

Check out our Summer Survival Section on pages 10-23. Here you’ll find our Summer Camp Listings along with great articles, such as: How to choose the right camp, sun safety advice, travel tips, must-ask questions from the Red Cross and more.

If you are in the mood for some inspirational reading, meet Des Ebanks on page 30. As a widower and father of two, he is a dad that has risen to the task, and is an example of courage in the face of the unexpected. Des, we thank you for sharing your story of hope with our readers!

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Page 37, introduces us to the Anderson family who faced uncertainty when they welcomed their 1lbs, 9oz son and brother into their lives last year. Thank you to mom, Teresa, for sharing your journey and surely touching those moms of other preemies on the island.

Kudos to the outstanding teens highlighted in our Excelling Teens Series on pages 33-34. We enjoy spotlighting your talents!

Speaking of teens, writer Lindsey Turnbull, tells us that it’s not too early to start the planning process when Navigating the University application process on pages 24-26.

Whether it be your physical health or the health of your finances, we’ve go that covered too! So many terrific reads in this edition. Thank you to all of our contributors!

Please enjoy!

Heather Cassidy, Publisher SeaGrape Media Ltd. e: publisher@caymanparent.com w: caymanparent.com

Top picks from our Summer Edition p16

p28

Preparing for the Sun

p30

p42

p37

Meet the Andersons

Character

Sit Down with Des Ebanks

Mid Week Meal Ideas

p47

Co-Parenting with Grace

Knowledge

Recovering After Labour

Service

Cayman International School Director: Dr. Jeremy Moore Tel: (345) 945-4664 | Fax: (345) 945-4650 Website: www.caymaninternationalschool.org Email: cis@cayintschool.ky www.caymanparent.com

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Summer Survival

Summer Fun Story By Elke O’Donnell

S

ummer is here! For you child, those words are musical, but for parent’s it’s a frantic dash to find camps and think up activities so their children aren’t glued to electronic devices all summer. Cayman is a treasure trove of fun, and unique activities for the entire family to enjoy. Here are a few ideas to keep them entertained.

CAYMAN TURTLE FARM

with stunning mosaic art along the staircase, wander the beautifully landscape pathways or gaze at the sunset while you enjoy a drink or relax in one of the gathering areas.

CAYMAN KAI/RUM POINT Located on the east side of the island, these two sites are wonderful options for appreciating another part of the island. Your children can play on the sandbar off the beach, snorkel, and explore the beaches for small sea creatures or collecting shells and other treasure that washed up on the beach. Feeling adventurous? Rent jet skis and take

The turtle farm offers terrific features like interacting with turtles, from new hatchlings to your children out for a spin. enormous old specimen, a giant waterslide every child will enjoy, a free flight aviary with local birds Story

by Nasaria Budal and butterflies. Children can peer into the predator reef for a glance at nurse sharks, barracudas and Give your child a glimpse of Cayman’s culture other sea creatures. and history with a visit to the Cayman Islands With the islands largest pool on site, the children National Museum. Their collections are catered to can splash around while you lounge in the sun everyone, including interactive exhibits for children. or they can stroll down Cayman Street and view Visit on a Saturday and interact with local artisans, historic architecture and gardens from Cayman’s and savor local food and beverages, and participate earlier, slower days. in hands-on activities.

For children interested in art, the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands is a must. They A favourite of most locals, Camana Bay holds house collections of art and exhibits from local and something for every member of your family. Their international artists. The also provide art workshops features include movie nights in one of their many for children of all ages on certain Saturdays open courtyards, water fountains for children of all ages, the Cinema with the latest movie releases, and a diverse selection of restaurants and eateries If money is tight, or your children are bored of to choose from. Your children can play while you the usual places, why not play tourist for the day enjoy the sunset, food, and a drink.

Let your child explore the observation tower and explore sites in Cayman you haven’t before.

MUSEUMS

CAMANA BAY

PLAY TOURIST

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Some places to consider are: • Blow holes – Stop by and take fun pictures of your children being splashed by massive waves shooting out of the iron rock, and sip on coconut water while you cool off from the heat of the day.

• Swimming/snorkeling at Smith Cove – There’s lot of underwater creatures for children to observe and enjoy or they can build sand castles in the sand or relax while they work on their tans.

• Eat at a local restaurant – Stop by a restaurant in east end or west bay known for tasty local food, or visit an old favourite.

• Hop on the Jolly Roger for a snorkeling trip or sunset cruise and pretend you’re a pirate for a few hours.

EXPLORE NATURE/ HISTORY The Botanic Park offers a diversity of beauty with trails to walk, local animals like the Blue Iguana to observe and stunning flowering plants, orchids, and trees found nowhere else in the world. They can explore an old Cayman home and enjoy bird watching by an enormous pond.

Bodden Town Caves is a fantastic site for children to sightsee and search for hidden treasure in the same places where pirates allegedly buried their own chests of gold while enjoying the stunning views inside and outside the cave which is under a lush garden.

Worth the drive to Northside, the island’s newest nature attraction, the Cayman Crystal Caves will surely delight those who seek to explore a different side of Cayman.

offers families Sleepless nights, endless dirty diapers,Cayman heaping piles of so much to see and do over the usual sunsets and beaches.and This adventure laundry a fussy baby can make it hard to find the time summer break. will teach children about the flora and fauna or energy of the area, complete with stranglerfor balsama date night as new parents. Having a bit trees, air plants, Cayman Parrots and bats. two cover girls, of couple time, however, allows moms andOur dads – firstThe three caves display unique beauty and Stella (age 7) and Ava (age 5), incredibletimers formations, formed andby single thedrops experienced – a momentsoak to reconnect and up the sun and surf! of water and the slow passage of time. All keep visitors receive guided the walking spark tours. Pleasealive. Here are a few date night ideas that Photo courtesy of note that tours must be pre-booked. are out-of-the-ordinary and can fit most schedules.

Cayman boasts many wonders to discover, Deep Blue Images.

Feeling more like Jurassic Park than the

and summer is the perfect time for your children to start an adventure and visit the many beautiful places the island offers.

CP www.caymanparent.com

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Inside Black Pearl Skate Park Story By Lindsay Thompson

they are extending an open invitation to all youth groups, organizations and churches to come and enjoy the park by making it their daily, weekly or monthly meeting place. In order to accommodate as many individuals and groups as possible, the hours of the park have been extended from Sunday to Thursday 3 p.m.-7 p.m. and Friday to Saturday 3 p.m.-9 p.m. A Skate Shop has also been set-up within the park where bikes, scooters, skateboards, helmets, elbow and knee pads are available for rent at a daily rate. The daily entry fee for park access is $5 per child and group rates and discount rates on equipment rental for clubs/youth groups and birthday parties are also available. The park is staffed by responsible individuals and children are fully supervised while within the park. The next phase of development will include a plexiglass observation area for parents who wish to come and watch their children in action.

The current transformations to the park as well as the availability of rental

I

f you have been up at Grand Harbour as of late, you may have noticed some exciting changes going on at the Mountain Dew Black Pearl Skate Park. In speaking with Michael Myles, the Chairperson of the Cayman Islands Skateboard Association, Cayman Parent has the inside scoop on the plans behind the recent enhancements going on within the park!

The skate park is being re-vamped in several phases, and phase one is almost complete with some very eye-catching paint and artwork. Thanks to some incredible community sponsors, lights as well as new basketball hoops have been installed. The intention behind these enhancements is to create a multipurpose community centre for all to make use of. The Cayman Islands Skateboard Association is focused on creating a positive community and safe place for kids to go, to be active and have fun. As a result,

BACK to SCHOOL Summer of Savings!

equipment could not have been made possible without the support and sponsorship of countless individuals and community organizations. Special recognition to Phoenix Construction for assisting in the painting of the park as well as to Mountain Dew for becoming the park’s corporate sponsor. If you are interested in being a corporate sponsor, or in donating your time by lending a hand with painting murals, volunteering to supervise, equipment donation or simply spending some time being a positive community role model at the park, please don’t hesitate to contact Mr. Myles at (345) 925-2012. CP

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Summer Survival

Picking the right

Summer Camp Story By Elke O’Donnell

W

hat camps will my children attend this year? Can I afford them and will they like it? These questions plague parents as summer fast approaches, but the shift into panic mode is easily avoided by taking a deep breath and using these tips when trolling through newspapers and websites for the perfect camps for your children.

IS YOUR CHILD READY? If you’re working parents, keeping your children at home all summer is not practical or an option for the entire summer, but while summer camps are convenient for

parents, not every child is ready. If children have spent previous summers with family members, going to camp for the first time might be scary, so speak with your child first.

While your children growing, exploring, and expanding their worlds is important, pushing them if they’re not ready, or prepared, will only cause them, and you, anxiety.

DOES THE CAMP FIT YOUR CHILD? Not every camp is for every child. If they’re interested in music, then a camp with activities they aren’t interested in, will make not only their days uncomfortable, but yours too from their daily pleading they don’t want to go. If your child has special needs-

diet, physical or emotional-do they provide support? These are important questions to ask even if the camp offered these services in the past.

WHAT ACTIVITIES DO THEY OFFER? Is the camp merely a baby-sitting service, or do they provide interactive activities for the children? Are the activities diverseeducational, physical, and creative-with a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities?

Does the camp offer field trips or do they stay in the same location the entire day or week? > see next page

e s Centr

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Ages: 5

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www.caymanparent.com

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come play today!

Not all camps are created equally, so make sure they offer activities to keep your child stimulated both physically and mentally while they attend.

Tips: Summer is hot, so if the camps include outside activities, confirm breaks from the sun are included. If field trips are included make sure to ask if there’s an additional cost. Some camps charge extra.

IS THE CAMP SUITABLE? While a camp might look amazing on paper, or on their website, getting feedback from other parents is crucial. Questions to consider are: the camp’s safety policies, staff are qualified to take care of children, a proper communication plan with parents for emergencies or accidents. Is there proper separation for age groups and their activities?

Teenagers and toddlers playing in the same space is a recipe for disaster.

Tip: While sending our children to every camp on our wish list is ideal, breaking the family budget or bank account isn’t. Know your budget before looking for camps so you and the children are prepared.

Café, Comfy Sofa’s, Free Coffee & Wifi for Parents!

Located above Little Darlings Bodden Place . Shedden Road . 949 2580

GIVE YOUR CHILDREN A CHOICE Involving your children is a good idea. The perks of them choosing a camp are endless.

Leaving the house in the mornings will be easier on you both, their friends are attending the same camp, and you’ll avoid dirty looks if the camp sucks, although there are no guarantees.

Tip: Try coordinating with previous playdate families when considering camps. This presents opportunities for an easy transition for your children into new camps, and carpooling.

SLEEPOVERS

HAVE A BLAST WITH US:

Ages 2-6

ARTS AND CRAFTS • BAKING • SPORTS BEACH EXPLORATION AND MORE!

June 27th - July 29th

Half Day option 9am - 12pm Full Day option 9am - 3pm

CI$150 for half days | CI$250 for full days

Tel: (345) 947-0684 | Email: kourtni@mbts.ky

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While Cayman doesn’t have camps where children are away from home for days or weeks at a time, occasionally camps offer a one night or weekend sleepover. As with other camps, make sure you and your child are comfortable with this arrangement, especially if they’ve never slept away from home before.

Like any sleep over, ensure your children are aware of their personal boundaries and what to do if they’re faced with an inappropriate situation and the options to remove themselves.

Summer is an opportunity for fun, and for lasting memories for your children, and attending camp is a wonderful way to stay active and enjoy learning new things. While your child might grumble at first, once new friends are made, and school friends connected with, they’ll thank you. CP

CAMP DATES;

Week 1: July 5th - 8th: ‘Down On The Farm’

Week 2: July 11th – July 15th: ‘It’s A Small World’

Week 3: July 18th – 22nd: ‘Wide World Of Sports’ Week 4: July 25th – 29th: ‘Adventureland’

Week 5: August 1st – 5th: ‘Under The Stars’

CAMP

PUNCH

CARD

D NCH CAR U P Y A D 10 days we

any to be used r camp and me offer sum d with any are h s can be e family. h t child in 0.00 Card $40 0 Half Day .0 ard $800 Full Day C

Week 6: August 8th – 12th: ‘Imaginarium Week’

Week 7: August 15th – 19th: ‘S.T.E.M. & LEGO Themed Camp’ Week 8: August 22nd – 25th: ‘Under The Sea’

CAMP RATES: Full Day Rate (8am-3pm): $80 Half Day Week (8am-12pm): $175 Full Day Week (8am-3pm): $325 After Camp Care (3pm-5:30pm): Hourly Rates Visit our website, www.starfishvillage.com for full details.

Located at Camana Bay, next to Gelato & Co.

T: 345.640.7827 E. info@starfish.ky W: www.starfishvillage.com

Summer Survival

Travelling with kids

Preparing to travel with your family will ensure every has a blast.

Story by Nasaria Budal

S

ummer holidays should be filled with fun adventures, exploring new places and spaces and spending time with your family. If you’re scheduling some time abroad, here are a few ideas to get you organised and prepared for your holiday so you can plan confidently and enjoy the journey.

Check Your Travel Documents Before you’ve committed to travel dates and securing flights and accommodations, it’s a wise idea to

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check your family’s passports and travel documents, such as Visas, temporary Waivers and your ESTA status. Each country will have its own travel requirements and possibly differing Visas so it’s important to consider this if visiting several countries. The United States now requires that all passport holders need an electronic passport to enter the country; electronic passports will have a symbol on the cover consisting of two horizontal bars with a circle in the centre. You should contact the Passport Office or your country’s consulate office if you are unsure whether you have an electronic passport.

Once you have booked your holiday,

it’s always a good idea to print and bring a hard copy of your electronic boarding passes and confirmations for your car rental and accommodations in the event you are unable to access a mobile network while traveling. Bring your health insurance cards as well in case someone falls ill or is injured and needs medical attention.

Pack Smartly Because I’m super organised, I simply cannot pack for a holiday without making a list of what I will need. It makes packing an easier process and prevents the likelihood of forgetting something or, worse, over-packing. Your list should

separate your family’s clothing essentials from toiletries and other necessities. Spend some time thinking about what your day and night activities will entail so you can pack smartly and choose separates that will work together. Roll your clothing to avoid creasing fabrics and pop a dryer sheet in the suitcase to keep clothes fresh. If you’re traveling with toddlers you may even want to consider packing outfits in individual Ziploc bags for grab-and-go convenience during hectic mornings.

Your hand luggage will be your saving grace while traveling with children but you also won’t want to feel burdened with a heavy bag so carefully consider its contents. In addition to your travel documents, antibacterial wipes or hand sanitiser should be high on your list of priorities to ward off excessive germs in high traffic areas, as will a small First-Aid kit of Band-Aids, antibacterial ointment, alcohol swabs, antihistamine and a fever reducer/pain reliever. A small canister of bug repellent and sunscreen should also be considered depending on where your travels will take you. Add a few prepackaged bags of family friendly snacks to ward of the “hangries” – a state between hunger and anger – and don’t forget comfort items like socks, head pillows, earphones, reading materials and chewing gum to pop your ears mid-flight.

Consider Travel Games + Activities Keep your little ones busy during and between flights and while on long drives with a collection of travel-size board games, playing cards and reading books, or load a few new books and games on your electronic tablet or mobile device.

Colouring books travel well and crayons can be packed in a sandwich bag and shared among siblings easily. Consider printing in advance of your holiday trip math, grammar and spelling worksheets to keep their brain engaged as well.

There are also lots of easy and fun games to play while waiting in an airport or airplane that do not require any materials, like “I Spy”. The Number Plate Game – players take turns making a sentence using the letters of a license plate – works well if you find yourself stuck in rush hour traffic.

It may be cool to gift each of your children with a disposable camera to capture their memories of your holiday. A

small notebook acts well as a journal and encourages children to write about what they did each day that was especially cool and is a great way to practice penmanship, storytelling and spelling in a clever way.

Younger children can draw a picture.

Summer Swim & Beach Camp Ages 3-8

Before You Leave Home

Weekly, July 4 - August 26

Before you jet off, check that your alarm system or security cameras are all functional and windows and doors are secured. Notify your neighbours that you’ll be off-island; most people are generally happy to keep an eye on your home and look for suspicious activity. If you have hurricane shutters, locking them adds another layer of security to your home, particularly as you’re traveling during hurricane season. You may also want to think about stowing away any bulky items in your yard that could potentially become a hazard should an impending storm hit the island.

Your neighbour may also be willing to care for your family pets while you’re away or you can opt to place them in a boarding facility like Cayman Pet Paradise, The Veterinary Clinic, Must Love Dogs or Happy Paws. CP

Treasure Island Resort, SMB

Fun Weekly Themes!

30 minute Group Swimming Lesson Beach Games | Pool Games Water Relays | Themed Arts & Crafts, Sandcastle Building Scavenger Hunts | Story Time Half Days 8:30am - 12pm • Full Days 8:30am - 3pm

An awesome, SAFE place for kids of all ages and abilities

Did you know?

The Black Pearl is the second largest skatepark in the world!

D? OAR B ?

O N OTER O C NO S E? IK NO B RRIES! O NO W & Boards: CI$12 rs Scoote 13 I$ C : s I$2 Bike Pads: C & s t e Helm

ents ntry: n Resid Daily E nts | $10 No ide $5 Res Web: www.blackpearl.ky

Located at Grand Harbour, behind Hurleys Supermarket

www.caymanparent.com

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Summer Care

Prepare for the sun!

Not all sunscreens are created equally. Choose wisely.

Story By Dr. Alison Duncan

A

s the summer holidays approach and we look ahead to countless hours of fun spent at the beach and at other outdoor pursuits we must be mindful not to overdo our sun exposure, which can lead to sunburn, skin damage and increase our risk of skin cancer.

With so many options of sunscreen on the market parents are often confused about the best option for their families. The best type of sunscreen is the one that you will apply often and feel comfortable using. For our climate it is important to ensure that your sunscreen is broad-spectrum offering Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) protection, has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and is also water resistant.

The SPF rates how well a sunscreen protects against the UVB rays, which cause sun burning. UVA rays do not cause burning but penetrate deeper in the skin causing damage, which increases the cancer risk as well as causes skin aging. To ensure that your sunscreen has good UVA cover, look for the

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star rating on European products. On North American products where there is no rating system, look for those containing at least one of the following ingredients: Ecamsule, Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-4, Titanium dioxide or Zinc oxide.

An SPF 15 sunscreen blocks 93 perc ent of the sun’s UVB rays. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30, blocks 97 percent of the sun’s rays.

Higher-number SPFs block slightly more of the sun’s rays, but no sunscreen can block 100 percent of the sun’s rays. Currently, there is no evidence that indicates that using a sunscreen with an SPF higher than 50 can protect you better than a sunscreen with an SPF of 50. Additionally, there has been significant discussion about the toxicity of certain chemicals in sunscreen. A few of the chemicals in sunscreen listed above can cause allergies in people with sensitive skin, however, to date, scientific evidence supports the benefits of using sunscreen in the prevention of skin cancer and sunburn. This benefit currently outweighs any unproven claims of toxicity or human health hazard from ingredients in sunscreens.

In children over six months and in adults with sensitive skin it is best to choose fragrance-free and preservative-free sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to limit the development of allergic reactions. In babies less than six months the application of sunscreen is not advised and they should be kept in the shade and in UPF (Ultraviolet protection factor) clothing.

Sunscreens come in a variety of formulations that include lotions, creams, gels, ointments, wax sticks and sprays. Spray sunscreens should not be sprayed around or near the face. Care must be taken especially when applying spray sunscreens in children to prevent inhalation of the spray. It is best to apply adequate amounts of the spray sunscreen into your hands first and then to apply it with the fingers to the face.

Enjoy the sunshine but be sun smart! CP Dr. Alison Duncan is a Dermatologist at TrinCay Medical.

Summer Survival

SUMMER CAMPS EDUCATIONAL/ ARTS/CULTURE CAMPS ABC’s and 123’s Summer Learning and Fun - High Achievement Academy Ages: 5–10 years Synopsis: A programme with qualified teachers that includes a range of fun, but educational activities, with a focus on literacy and math skills: phonics, handwriting, spelling, comprehension, and numeracy.

Also included, sessions designed to prepare children moving from reception to year 1 (or for the older student help transitioning from primary to secondary school).

Dates: July 4 - August 26, 2016 (flexible - you choose week(s)) Cost: CI$300/week Hours: 9am-1pm (afternoon sessions possible) Address: 461 Walkers Road, Upstairs, #9/10 Windjammer Plaza, across from Home Gas on Walkers Road Tel: (345) 746-5555 Email: info@haacayman.com

Academic Morning Learning Camp Cayman Learning Centre Ages: 4–10 years Synopsis: (Read, Spell, Write and/or Math) The focus is on literacy or numeracy - it is an opportunity to review skills in a fun environment!

Dates: July and August Cost: CI$325 week Hours: 8.30am-11.30am Tel: (345) 943.7323 Email: info@caymanlearning.com

Ambassadors of the Environment The Ritz-Carlton Ages: 4–15 years Synopsis: Campers will enjoy snorkeling, digital photography, movie making, team building tasks, kayaking, science experiments, art projects, cultural activities and field trips to Starfish Cay Water Park. This camp can be combined with the

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Tennis and Golf Camps, so please ask for special pricing.

Dates: 21 June - 26 August Hours: 9am-1pm and 1pm-4:30pm; additional charge of CI$24 per child per hour for later pickup, available upon request Cost: CI$395 per week for half day (mornings) 9am-1pm (lunch included).

CI$350 for half day (afternoons) 1pm-4.30pm.

CI$695 per week for full days (9am4.30pm) or combined with tennis camp (lunch included). Special sibling and early registration prices available.

Tel: (345) 815-6120 Email: caymanambassadors@ ritzcarlton.com

Bright Start Summer Camp Ages: Up to 12 years Synopsis: Children are grouped by age and participate in learning activities, projects, fun indoor and outdoor playground exploration and games. Activities include story time, model building, space exploration, health & fitness, beach and underwater murals, arts and crafts and guest speakers as well as a Hawaiian beach luau party.

Dates: June - September Cost: CI$155-CI$225 per week Hours: 8am-1pm, 8am-5.30pm Tel: (345) 939.8355 or (345) 949.3017 Email: brightstartmail@gmail.com

Budding Chef Summer Classes - Bon Vivant Ages: 4–12 years Synopsis: Kids will make healthful and inspired foods at Bon Vivant.

The classes are hands on with older budding chefs assisting with advanced parts of food preparation.

Daily themes can include Sweet treats, Pizza Mania, Mexican Fiesta, Pasta Party, Breakfast Champions and Going Local. Each class includes a snack and a take home creation. Nuts will be used in class so if your child has any allergies, please advise Bon Vivant when

making your booking.

Dates: 11-15 July Hours: 12pm–1pm Cost: CI$35 per child per session, $170 for the week.

Tel: (345) 623.2665 Email: info@bonvivant.ky

Cayman Youth Summit - Church of God Chapel Frank Sound Ages: 13+ years Synopsis: Evening breakout sessions for youth and youth leaders, evening worship and panel discussion. Concert with guest and local artist.

Dates: 20-22 July (Concert on 23 July at 7pm) Hours: 7pm-10/10.30pm Cost: Early Registration $15 (free t-shirt with registration) Address: 1275 Frank Sound Road Tel: (345) 947 3691 Email: fusionyouthcayman@gmail.com Website: www.fusionyouth.ky

Culinary Camp ‘Baking 202’ - Youth Services Unit, Cayman Islands Government Ages: 11-17 years Synopsis: BAKING 202 theme will focus on sugar crafts and decorating cakes. Persons should have some experience in the kitchen and with baking. Space is limited (12-15 students) so persons should sign up quickly.

Dates: 5-8 July Cost: CI$40 Hours: 9am-2pm Address: John Gray High School Cooking Classrooms Tel: (345) 943 1127 Email: james.myles@gov.ky

GAME ON! Launch Pad Enrichment Center Ages: 4-12 years Synopsis: Soccer • Superhero showdown • Dance • Creative arts • Games of times past • Construction Kids Camp • Xtend the games!

Xtend the fun!

Kids will take part in weekly theme activities from 9am - 12pm 3 days per week with Outdoor Explorers field trips off campus the other 2 days. The Limitless Lego Lab will be open in the afternoons to top off each day’s activities. On Friday afternoons, the camp will offer Fabulous Fashionistas for our girlie campers, whether it’s creating a beaded jewelry set, decorating a hat or creating perfumes from flowers, the girlie-girls out there will be sure to enjoy this chance to create their own Fabulousness!

Dates: 4 July– 19 August Hours: 7:30am–5:30pm Cost: CI$150/week for Full-Day. $100/week for Half-Days. $125/ week for 4+ weeks Full-Day. Transportation: Bus transportation available from Camana Bay and Elgin Avenue for $25/week.

Tel: (345) 945.1866 Email: launchpadcayman@gmail.com

Intensive Read & Write Programme Cayman Learning Centre Ages: 6+ years Synopsis: Intensive Read and Spell Choose from 1, 2 or 3 hours every day, 9- 4pm. If your child struggles to read, this is the programme for you - We can help!

Dates: July and August 2016 Cost: Depends on the number of hours over the summer. The more hours a child/student attends, the more you save!

Tel: (345) 943.7323 Email: info@caymanlearning.com

Kid’s Summer Art Camp Young@Art and Kara Julian Ages: 5–15 years Synopsis: Young@Art along with Kara Julian will team up for another spectacular art and creativity boosting summer camp. All children have fun and success with their ‘see-touch-do’ method, regardless of their age or stage of creativity.

Each week is a different theme with art projects, games and dance that

all relate. Lunch will be an additional $8 which will be catered by Treats Restaurant. Alternately you may send your own lunch with your child. We are a Nut-Free Camp.

Dates: 5 July–12 August Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am12:30pm (1/2 Day) or 8:30am2:30pm (Full Day) Cost: Half Day (8:30am - 12:30pm) = CI$180 for the first week only (due to public holiday) & CI$225 p/wk for all remaining weeks.

Full Day (8:30am - 2:30pm) = CI$220 for the first week only (due to public holiday) & CI$275 p/wk for all remaining weeks.

Sibling Discount and Multi-week discount available.

Tel: Monica (345) 928.0284 or Kara (345) 925.6840 Email: youngatartcayman@yahoo. com or karajulianart@gmail.com

Learning Camp Claude Bailey Ages: 8–17 years Synopsis: An enrichment programme for math skills.

Dates: July-August 2016 Address: The Family Life Centre, Walkers Rd. & Academy Ln. Tel: (345) 926.3812

Music Camp Cayman Music School Ages: 5-14 years Synopsis: : Activities include field trips, ear training, band jamming, instrument mastery, music lessons, studio time, drum circle, karaoke and World Music.

Dates: Every week in July Cost: CI$50 per day or $200 per week (5 days).

Hours: Kids - 8am-2.30pm, Teens - 3.30pm - 9.30pm Tel: (345) 938.3838 Email: info@caymanmusicschool.com

Music Camp Musicians Ltd. Ages: 5–16 years Synopsis: Intensive performing arts camps, band camps and world music camps all including music, dance and drama.

5-8 July “Performing Arts Camp” Cost CI$240 11-15 July “Musicians Ltd. Annual Band Camp” Cost CI$300 18-22 July “Around the World in Music and Culture” Cost CI$275 Dates: 5-22 July 2016 Hours: 8:30am–2:30pm

Cost: CI$240–CI$300 Tel: (345) 525.6787 Email: janine@musicians.ky

Shutterbugs Summer Camp Picture This Studios Ages: 8–16 Synopsis: Shutterbugs will embark on a photographic tour around the amazing grounds at Camana Bay. The Bugs will learn how to take care of their camera and explore the secrets of taking great photos.

Kids must have their own camera, charged battery and memory card.

Dates: Ages 8-11 years: Mondays 11, 18, 25 July and 1, 8, 15 August Ages 11-16 years: Fridays 15, 22, 29 July and 5, 12, 19 August Hours: 9am–12pm Cost: CI$35 Tel: (345) 943.3686 Email: admin@picturethis.ky

Summer Arts Camp Cayman National Cultural Foundation Ages: 7-16 years Synopsis: Campers are involved in a variety of artistic and cultural activities including drama, storytelling, folk music, dance, thatch plaiting and traditional craft projects. Daily snacks will be provided and a field trip highlighting Caymanian cultural heritage is also scheduled. Kids present a work show at the end of the camp.

Dates: 11–19 August Hours: 9am–3pm early drop off from 8am Address: Harquail Theatre, Cost: CI$150 Tel: (345) 949.5477 Email: cncf@artscayman.org

Summer Camp at Starfish Village Ages: 3–6 years Purple Starfish; 7-9 Aqua Starfish; 10-12 Orange Starfish Synopsis: Starfish Village Camp will encompass different exciting weekly themes to keep our campers entertained and to have fun whilst learning.

Week 1, 5-8 July: Down on the Farm Week 2, 11-15 July: It’s a Small World Week 3, 18-22 July: Wide World of Sports Week 4, 25-29 July: Adventureland Weeks 5, 1-5 August:

Under the Stars Week 6, 8-12 August: Imaginarium Week Week 7, 15-19 August: STEM and Lego Week 8, 22-26 August: Under the Sea Hours: 8am–3pm Cost: CI$175 (half day) 8am-12pm | CI$325 (full day) 8am-3pm | Daily rate: CI$40 (half day) and CI$80 (full day) Tel: (345) 640.7827 Email: info@starfish.ky

Summer Handwriting Remediation - KidsAbility Ages: 4 - 14 Synopsis: Join Kids Ability in this handwriting remediation course, designed to work on pencil grip and letter formation.

Dates: June 20-24, June 27-July 1, July 5-8, July 11-15 Cost: CI$150 per week (for a 30 minute session once a day five times a week) Hours: 30 minute sessions, Monday-Friday (call for more details) Address: KidsAbility Clinic, 4 Smith Road Centre Tel: (345) 916 6336 Email: info@kidsability.ky

Summer Touch Typing Lessons - KidsAbility Ages: 6 - 14 Synopsis: Join Kids Ability in this touch typing lessons, designed to work on developing proper hand placement for touch typing and working towards a touch typing speed of 15-30wpm depending on the child.

Dates: June 20-24, June 27-July 1, July 5-8, July 11-15 Cost: CI$150 per week (for a 30 minute session once a day five times a week) Hours: 30 minute sessions, Monday-Friday (call for more details) Address: KidsAbility Clinic, 4 Smith Road Centre Tel: (345) 916 6336 Email: info@kidsability.ky

Summer Programming for Kids and Families National Gallery of the Cayman Islands Synopsis: • Scavenger Hunts based on the NGCI Permanent Collection are available at reception. Free.

• Dart Minds Inspired Active Learning Sessions based on the NGCI Permanent Collection will be

available at reception. Free.

• Family Activity Sheets based on the temporary exhibition A Legacy of Light: Early watercolours from the National Collection are available at reception.

• Watercolour Club takes place each Saturday in the Susan A. Olde Art Studio throughout July and August.

These drop in sessions are free and open to all ages. Self-guided activities will be based on the temporary exhibition A Legacy of Light: Early watercolours from the National Collection and families can drop in anytime between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. • Guided tours for families. Guided tours are free throughout the summer months at the National Gallery.

Tel: (345) 945 8111 Email: info@nationalgallery.org.ky Website: www.nationalgallery.org.ky

Teen Summit ‘16 Youth Services Unit Ages: 13–17 years Synopsis: The goal of Teen Summit is to provide youth an environment within they can enhance their communication, interpersonal skills and acquire further knowledge in the areas of physical and emotional wellness such that they are more empowered on their personal journey to adulthood. This program will cover males and females whom are interested in improving their life skills and gaining a better understanding of the core issues that affect their daily lives. The YSU creates a safe structured learning environment wherein they can enhance these skills and acquire further knowledge in areas of: financial literacy, physical and emotional wellness, citizenship and empowerment.

Dates: 11-15 July Hours: 9am-2pm Cost: CI$50 per person (40 person capacity) Location: University College of the Cayman Islands, Cascade Room Tel: (345) 943.1127 Email: victor.crumbley@gov.ky

Tiny Tots Academy Summer Camp Ages: 5-12 years Synopsis: Combines songs, stories, exploration, physical activities, learning adventures and fieldtrips to prepare your child for school www.caymanparent.com

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and create fun summer memories.

Themes include: Trees & Birds; Junior Inventors; When I grow up... I will be Cayman Kind; Insects & Arachnids; Make a Splash; Hollywood Week; Spy School and Life in the Reef.

Dates: 4 July-26 August 2016 Cost: CI$175 per week (regular school fees for Tiny Tots students) Hours: 7am-6pm Address: 119 Hinds Way, George Town Tel: (345) 623 8687 Email: tinytotsacademy.ky@gmail.com

Vacation Bible School & Kid’s Camp - Cayman Islands Baptist Church Ages: Kids must have completed Year 1, up to those who have completed Year 6.

Synopsis: Games, crafts, music, lessons and more!

Dates: 11-15 July 2016 Registration Open from 29 May-26 June Hours: 8:15am–12.15pm (Vacation Bible School) | 8:15am-5.30pm (Vacation Bible School + Kids’ Camp) Cost: Vacation Bible School (mornings) is FREE. Kids’ Camp is CI$75 (afternoons) for a week (t-shirt and lunch included).

Tel: (345) 946-2422 Email: carla@cibaptist.ky

Summer Camp at Montessori School of Cayman Ages: 2.5-5 years Synopsis: Week 1: Paw Patrol Week 2: Kung Fu Panda Week 3: Jake & the Neverland Pirates Week 4: Sheriff Calli Week 5: Bubble Guppies Dates: Weekly, 5 July - 5 August Hours: 8am-12:30pm (half day) 8am-3pm (full day) Cost: $250 (half day) $275 (full day) Tel: (345) 949.0202 Email: montessorischoolofcayman@ gmail.com

the emotional, physical, creative and social life of each camper in a fun and welcoming environment consistent with Montessori principles. Our content rich camps will ensure a journey of discovery and exploration in an engaging and caring environment. Children can join us for one week or all summer long, providing families with the flexibility to design their own summer schedules. Dynamic, caring staff are at the heart of our SummerScape Programs! Our experienced, well-trained staff have diverse backgrounds working with children. They bring their talents and enthusiasm to connect with each child’s unique personality and interests.

Dates: 27 June–29 July Hours: Morning Adventures: 9am-12pm | All Day Adventures: 9am-3pm Cost: CI$175–300 Tel: (345) 947.0684 Email: kourtni@mbts.ky

Summer Tutoring Math, Reading Fluency, or Comprehension Cayman Learning Centre Ages: 4+ years Synopsis: 50 minute Tutorials All Ages! Choose an hour from 1pm–3pm. The focus is on literacy or numeracy. We can assess and create a programme that is individualised to your child’s needs.

Dates: July and August Cost: CI$40 per session Tel: (345) 943-7323 Email: info@caymanlearning.com

Summer Tutoring - High Achievement Academy Ages: 5 - Adult Synopsis: Traditional tutoring all summer for all ages. Call to set up a free consultation and we will prepare courses that are individualized to meet your student’s needs.

Dates: All Summer Cost: Small group ($30/hour) or Individual sessions ($50/hour).

Hours: 8am - 7pm Address: 461 Walkers Road, Upstairs, #9/10 Windjammer Plaza, across from Home Gas on Walkers Road

SummerScape Montessori By The Sea

Tel: (345) 746-5555 Email: info@haacayman.com

Ages: *2-6 years *One of the few camps that accepts 2 year olds.

They do not need to be potty trained.

Synopsis: Our mission for our SummerScape Program is to enrich

Working Memory for Better Focus and Attention Cayman Learning Centre

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Ages: 5+ years

Synopsis: A one hour computer based programme that runs Monday through Friday for five weeks aimed at developing focus and attention to learn more efficiently.

Dates: July and August Cost: CI$650 for the five week programme includes the post assessment fee Tel: (345) 943.7323 Email: info@caymanlearning.com

YMCA “Press Play” Summer Day Camp Ages: 5-12 years for Day Camp 13-17 for C.I.T.’s “Counselors in Training” Synopsis: Let the adventure begin!

The YMCA offers a safe, great place for your child to stay active, make new friends and have fun!

Swimming, sports, camp songs, outdoor games and field trips are just some of the activities that will create a summer to remember. Like everything they do, the Y focuses on developing youth through their Character Development Programme, which integrates the values of honesty, caring, respect, responsibility and faith into all they do.

Dates: Weekly, 5 July – 26 August (Dates vary depending on location) Locations: (3 locations) • Field of Dreams • The Camana Bay Sports Complex • The Youth Centre at Cayman Islands Baptist Church (CIBC) in Savannah Cost: CI$140 per week Hours: 8:30am–4:30pm (pre and post camp available from 7:45am– 5:15pm) Tel: (345) 926.9622 Email: Ysummercamp@ymcacayman.ky Website: www.ymcacayman.ky

SPORTS/ ADVENTURE CAMPS Adventure Camp Cayman Surf and Adventure Tours Ltd. Ages: 8–16 years Synopsis: Surfing, snorkeling, outdoor games, adventures and an overall active fun time. Lunch will be provided.

Location: Drop off: Snug Harbour Park. Pick up: South Sound Surf Spot.

Dates: June 20 - August 19 Hours: 9am-1pm Cost: Weekly CI$400.

Single Day $90 Tel: (345) 927.8690 or (345) 525.9777 Email: micabeach@gmail.com or jjcrossan@hotmail.com

Art of Fun Summer Camp King’s Sports Centre Ages: 5–10 years Synopsis: King’s Sports Centre Camp is designed to help kids gain self-confidence, social skills, independence, creativity, physical skills, and leadership while having fun in a safe and secure environment. Activities include: bowling, basketball, football, squash, dodge ball, netball, arts and crafts, debating, rock climbing, drama, singing, dancing, poetry, story writing and telling, guest speakers, kid aerobics, skating, movie time, talent and sports competitions, as well as coordination (for younger kids). Please note that all their activities are geared towards encouraging healthy and active lifestyles.

Dates: July 5 - August 5 Cost: CI$230 per week per child.

Hours: 8.30am-5pm (drop off from 7.30am) Tel: (345) 946.5464 Email: kings.brebanks@gmail.com

Aqua Rangers Summer Camp - Red Sail Sports Ages: 7–12 years Synopsis: Campers enjoy exciting and educational activities, including stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, fish ID lessons, snorkeling, sailing, knee-boarding, kayaking wakeboarding and whole lot more!

Dates: 4 July - 15 August 2016 Hours: 8.30am–12.30pm Cost: CI$250 per week. Includes Red Sail Sports water bottle, all equipment and materials and juice/ water. Campers are encouraged to bring their own snacks.

Tel: (345) 623.5965 Email: kidscamp@redsailcayman.com Website: www.redsailcayman. com/kidscamp16

Camana Bay 6th Annual Multi-Sport Camp Ages: 6-14 years Synopsis: This camp is a great way for young athletes of all levels to get active and improve their skills all while having a blast. Our campers will be exposed to a variety of sports (such as Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis, Swimming, Football, Cricket, etc.) and improve their conditioning

all while enhancing their overall athletic ability. Campers will have an opportunity to excel in their favourite sports and gain exposure to new ones.

Dates: Week 1: 5 - 8 July Week 2: 11 - 15 July Week 3: 25 - 29 July Hours: 8am–12pm (Drop Off from 7.30am) Cost: Week 1: CI$125, Week 2 & 3: CI$150.00 Tel: (345) 640.2878 Email: cbsc@camanabay.com Website: www.camanabay.com

Camana Bay 8th Annual Basketball Camp Ages: 7-17 years Synopsis: The Camana Bay Basketball Camp is where aspiring hoop stars will receive authentic NBA instruction and improve on their skills through stations, drills, skills contests and live games.

Campers are also given a unique opportunity to meet and train with a special guest from the NBA. Dates: Week 1: 5-8 July Week 2: 11-15 July Week 3: 25-29 July Hours: 8.30am – 12pm for ages 7-12; 12.30-pm for ages 12-17 years.

(12 year old registrants can opt for the morning or afternoon session based on their confidence level and overall skill.)

Cost: CI$150 Tel: (345) 640.2878 Email: cbsc@camanabay.com Website: www.camanabay.com

Caribbean Marine Ecology Sea Camp - Central Caribbean Marine Institute Ages: 14–18 years Synopsis: This year’s Caribbean Marine Ecology Camp (CMEC) promises to be the most exciting to date and will be hosted at their brand new site called Sunset Cove with incredible views across to Owen’s Island. Students will explore Little Cayman’s pristine reefs on SCUBA or by snorkeling, dissect lionfish, collect and analyse plankton samples, learn how to ID coral and fish, kayak through mangroves, observe bioluminescence on a night snorkel, explore the Island on a scavenger hunt, BBQ’s, bonfires on the beach and so much more.

Dates: 2-8 July & 23-29 July Cost: US$1999 (Scholarships available for Caymanains on successful application) Tel: (345) 948.1094 Email:

ccmiapplications@reefresearch.org Website: http://reefresearch.org

Clever Fish & Cayman Sea Elements: Enrichment Activities Camp Ages: 8-13 years Synopsis: Full day camps designed to offer a variety of indoor and outdoor STEM enrichment activities such as; kayaking through the mangroves, developing underwater photography skills whilst snorkelling, becoming a Stingray specialist and more. Back at ‘The Fish Tank’ campers can; develop engineering skills through Lego Robotics or SeaPerch, enjoy arts and crafts, games, quizzes, movies and more.

Camps are run by a British trained and experienced middle years teacher.

Dates: 18 July - 31 August Cost: CI$375 per week Hours: 8.30am-5.30pm Tel: (345) 516 4623 Email: nic@cleverfishcayman.com

Fitness Connection’s Summer Camp Ages: 4-12 years (age 3 considered - enquire directly) Weekly themes: Week 1, 5-8 July: Snorkel & Swim Week 2, 11-15 July: Around the World Week 3, 18-22 July: Pirates Week Week 4, 25-29 July: Discover Cayman Week 5, 1- 5 August: Ocean Odyssey Week 6, 8-12 August: Eco Adventure Week Week 7, 15-19 August: Kitchen Party Food Fight Week 8, 22- 26 August: Summer Olympics Dates: 5 July–26 August Hours: 8am–5pm Cost: CI$375 per five day week (includes all activities), book 3-4 weeks get 5% discount or 5-8 weeks get 10% discount!

Islands Golf Association Ages: 6-12 years Synopsis: Includes use of driving range and putting greens. All participants will be instructed in the fundamentals of golf by professional instructors and volunteers including grip, swing, alignment, rules, etiquette, iron/wood play, putting and chipping and FUN! Dates: 12-15 July, 2-5 Aug, 16-19 Aug Cost: CI$150 (includes snacks and prizes) Hours: 9am-11am Tel: (345) 947 4653 Email: brad.deschiffert@ northsoundclub.com

Gymnastics Camp at Motions Unlimited Studio Ages: 3-10 years (Half Day) 5-10 years (Full Day) Synopsis: Different themes weekly.

Obstacle courses, basic gymnastics skills and arts & crafts.

Weekly Themes: August 1-5: Circus Week August 8-12: Dinosaur Week August 15-19: Pirates & Fairytales August 22-26: Under the Sea Week Dates: August 1-26 Hours: Half Day (ages 3-10) 8.45am-11.45am; Full Day (ages 5-10) 8.45am-3pm Cost: Half days CI$150 per week CI$100 for 3 days CI$40 per day for a drop-in.

Full Days CI$220 Mon-Wed CI$60 Thurs-Fri CI$75 per day for a drop-in Tel: (345) 749.8365 Email: info@motionsunlimited.com

Horse Camp Cowboy Town Stables

Email: academysportsclub@ hotmail.com Web: www.academysportsclub.ky

Ages: 5+ (all levels) Synopsis: This summer have fun learning to ride, take care of, and be safe around horses. Create cowboy crafts, play games, and maybe even paint a horse! *This camp is specifically designed to be authentically inclusive and is for children of all abilities and includes children with special needs.

Dates: 18-22 July and 15-19 August Hours: 8.30am–11.30am Cost: CI$55 per day or CI$250 per week (Deposit needed to reserve your space).

Golf Camp - North Sound Golf Club & Cayman

Tel: (345) 916.8571 Email: shanna@ cowboytownstables.com

Tel: (345) 949.8485 Email: fitness@fitness.ky

Football Summer Camp The Academy Sports Camp Synopsis: Learn to play The Academy way!

Details: To be confirmed for 2016

Junior Lifeguard Camp Ministry of Sports Ages: 9-14 years Synopsis: This is an intensive week of swim training (campers must be able to complete a 50 meter swim without stopping) and lifeguard training. Every Friday is a fun beach day! (Campers do not have to participate in all weeks) Dates: July 5-8 | July 11-15 | July 18-22 | July 25-29 Cost: CI$25 per week (includes a CI Junior Lifeguard Tank Top). Bring healthy snacks.

Hours: 8.30am-12pm Address: Lions Pool Email: ryan@departmentofsports.com or sports@gov.ky

Sports Camps Ministry of Sports Ages: 7-16 years Synopsis: The Ministry of Sports sponsors free camps over the school holidays in netball, cricket, basketball and football. Camps vary in age groups and times and are held in different locations so that children in each district have a chance to participate. Visit the Ministry’s website for full details and to register online.

Dates: July and August Cost: Free Hours: 8.30am-12pm Tel: (345) 949 7082 Email: cherry.whittaker@gov.ky

Horse Riding Camp Cayman Riding School Ages: 5+ years (all levels) Synopsis: Run by British Horse Society/FEI Instructors. Daily riding lessons, trail rides and stable management are available. This is a fun and educational camp. Children ride in small, age specific groups.

Riding helmets are provided free of charge.

Dates: 4 - 8 July; 11 - 15 July; 18 - 22 July; 22 - 26 August; 29 - 31 August Hours: 8.30am–12.30pm Cost: CI$50 per day Tel: (345) 926.7669 Email: caymancarriages@candw.ky

Horse Riding Camp The Equestrian Centre Ages: 5+ years Synopsis: Experience daily riding and caring for a pony, beach adventures with ponies and lots of barnyard games! This camp has an amazing line-up of FEI qualified www.caymanparent.com

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riding instructors, camp counselors, crafts, activities and animals to keep your child entertained all summer.

Small groups with personalized attention from internationally qualified riding instructors, quality ponies and an air conditioned activity/class room.

Dates: 27 June–29 August Hours: 8am–12pm Cost: CI$65 per day or CI$300 per week.

Tel: (345) 516.1751 Email: equestriancentercayman@ gmail.com

Karate Camp Purple Dragon Ages: 4–12 years Synopsis: Focus on having fun while building coordination, balance, attentiveness and cultivating discipline. Training sessions are mixed with other activities such as field trips, arts & crafts, educational lectures, island explorations and more!

Dates: 5 July - 19 August Hours: 8:30am–5:30pm Cost: CI$300 per week (Discounts for multiple weeks) Daily and half day rates available.

Tel: (345) 946.1241 Email: purple@candw.ky

National Trust Summer Camp - National Trust for the Cayman Islands Ages: 6–12 years Synopsis: Daily field Trips, Heritage Hunts, Nature Trails, Coastal Explorations, along with exciting eco-projects and crafts, Dates: July 18-22 and 25-29 Hours: 8:45am-3pm Cost: $250/week for members.

Includes lunch.

Note: they are running a membership special for campers!

Get a family membership, at an individual membership rate (savings of $15).

Tel: (345) 749.1121 Email: education@nationaltrust.org.ky

Sailing Camp - Cayman Islands Sailing Club Ages: 6-16 years Synopsis: Camp includes a range of activities on and off the water. In addition to sailing instruction they will be offering model boat building, motor boat rides, windsurfing, paddleboarding, cruises to Rum Point and Stingray City on their 22-

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foot sailboats and other organized sports and land based games.

There will also be sail away days to Camana Bay, Kaibo and Rum Point as well as the Friday Pizza day at Grand Harbour. All safety equipment is provided.

Dates: CIS Camp: 20 June - 1 July; Camp 1: 4 - 15 July Camp 2: 18 - 29 July Camp 3: 8 - 19 August Camp 4: 22 August - 2 September Cost for two weeks: CI$550 for members CI$650 for non-members Tel: (345) 947-7913 or (345) 926.7914 Email: admin@sailing.ky, sailingcentre@sailing.ky or coach@sailing.ky

Date: 18 - 29 July 2016 Cost: CI$250 per child Beginners Class: 10am -12pm Intermediate Class: 12.30pm - 3pm Adult Class (Tuesday & Thursdays only): 6.15pm - 8pm Tel: (345) 949 7296 Email: petique@candw.ky

Summer Development Football Camps - Excel Sports Management Ages: 6-12 years Synopsis: Get your game on and develop your football skills.

Dates: TBC (check Facebook page) Times: 8.30am-12/12.30 Cost: CI$150 Address: Academy Field, Outpost Road, GT

July | 25-29 July | 1-5 August | 8-12 August | 15-19 August | 22-26 August Location: Paul Howard Community Courts on West Bay Road.

Hours: 8:30am–12:30pm Drop off from 8:15am Cost: CI$375 Tel: (345) 547-6257 Email: caymantennisacademy@ gmail.com

Tennis Camp CI Tennis Club Ages: 5-16 years Synopsis: Learning strokes, match play and other basic skills of tennis.

Dates: Weekly from 5 July - 19 August Hours: 8:30am–11am Cost: CI$160 per week (members), CI$190 (non-members)

Squash Camp - South Sound Squash Club

Email: info@esmcayman.ky

Ages: 8-15 years Synopsis: Squash fundamentals, fun and games.

Dates: TBC Times: 9:30am-12:30am Cost: CI$50 per day or CI$200 for the 5 day week

Swim & Safety Summer Camp - iSwim Cayman & Safety School

Tel: (345) 949-9464 Email: citennis@candw.ky

Ages: 3-8 years Synopsis: Campers participate in a 30 minute group swimming lesson, and later play beach and pool games and compete in water relays.

Children also engage in other fun activities such as themed arts and crafts making, sandcastle building, scavenger hunts and story time Dates: Week 1, Fun in the Sun: 4-8 July Week 2, Pirates!: 11-22 July Week 3, Christmas in July: 18-22 July Week 4, Under the Sea: 25-29 July Week 5, Adventures: 1-5 August Week 6, Summer Olympic Games: 8-12 August Week 7, (Theme TBA): 15-19 August Week 8, (Theme TBA): 22-26 August Cost: CI$200 per week (half day 8.30 - 12pm) CI$325 per week (full day 8.30am-3pm). Full days are only available from Week 1 to Week 6.

Sibling Discounts Available Hours: 8.30am-3pm Address: Treasure Island Resort

Tennis Camp The Courts by Bollettieri The Ritz-Carlton

Tel: (345) 949 9469 Email: clubmanager@squash.ky

Summer at the Barn at Cowboy Town Stables Ages: 12 years+ Synopsis: All-Day Camp for Tweens and Teens! Enjoy a fun summer at the barn! Kids will build a solid foundation in horse care, handling, riding and how to run a barn.

Dates: 4 July - 26 August Hours: 8.30am-5pm Cost: CI$75 per day or CI$300 per week (Discount for 4 weeks or more. Deposit needed to reserve your space.)

Tel: (345) 916.8571 Email: shanna@ cowboytownstables.com

Summer Dance Experience - Miss Jackie’s School of Dance Ages: 7-15 years Synopsis: New York trained dance instructors, sisters Elizabeth and Katie Guilmette, will lead students in a “Summer Dance Experience” where young dancers will learn tap, ballet, jazz and contemporary dance both at the beginner and intermediate levels. (All proceeds will go towards constructing a new dance floor at Miss Jackie’s School of Dance.)

Tel: (345) 925.0895 Email: info@iswimcayman.com www.iswimcayman.com

Tennis Camp Cayman Tennis Academy Ages: 3-12 years Synopsis: After a morning of tennis, children will be taken to Seven Mile Beach to enjoy various activities including soccer, volleyball, frisbee, beach fun and lunch at Tiki Beach!

Dates: 20-24 June | 27 June-1 July | 4-8 July | 11-15 July | 18-22

Ages: 4-15 years Synopsis: Two hours of tennis instruction followed by a visit to the Waterpark, swimming, soccer, fitness classes, pizza and pasta making, kid’s yoga etc. Every day dinner is from 5pm-6pm at the Ritz-Carlton.

Cost: CI$ 345 per week. Can be combined with Ambassadors of the Environment to become a full day camp experience. Please ask for pricing. Other activities include playing in the Waterpark, swimming in the pool, baking and cooking in the Blue kitchen, exploring nature with Ambassadors of the Environment and fitness/ yoga classes in the Spa. Dinner at Andiamo or Bar Jack. Sibling and early booking discounts available.

Dates: June & July camps will be held on Monday thru Friday; August camp will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday Hours: 2pm-6pm Cost: CI$345 per week Tel: (345) 323 0049 Email: grandcaymantennis@ ritzcarlton.com or uli.hoppe@ ritzcarlton.com

Visit our website caymanparent.com for the most current camp listings!

ATTENTION PARENTS!

There are no national standards for youth serving organisations in the Cayman Islands.

Here are six questions to ask when choosing an activity or summer camp for your child: What is your organization’s hiring practice?

Proactive or reactive - what kind of organization is this? Key things to look for are: background checks or criminal history records (police clearance records are *not* sufficient), interview questions that present potential hires with scenarios that require them to “think on their feet”, and reference checks and calls to previous employers where the referees are made aware that this new recruit will be working with children.

What sort of training and qualifications are required of staff and volunteers prior to the start of the camp/programme?

Training raises awareness, helps to develop capacity, and in the case of child sexual abuse also deters potential perpetrators from joining an organization. Darkness to Light’s “Stewards of Children: 5 Steps to Protecting our Children” is a great, concise training programme that parents should inquire about specifically as a starting point.

Does your organization recruit volunteers? What does that recruitment process entail?

The same type of checks should exist for volunteers as they do for staff. While volunteers are not salaried, they will still have access to the children in their care.

It is important to remember that teenagers also need to be scrutinized as they too can perpetrate sexual abuse on younger, less powerful children.

Will all the adults who will have access to my child be vetted?

While camp counselors and leaders may be the ones who interact the most with the children, parents should also ask about other adults such as administrators, janitorial staff, and speakers/lecturers who may have access to the children.

What will be the ratio of adults per child/group for the duration of this camp session/programme?

The risk for child sexual abuse multiplies exponentially in organizations that allow or fail to expressly prohibit isolated, one-onone interactions between adults and children. Interactions should be observable and interruptible, the ratio should require at least two adults present at all times, there should be plans for special circumstances and emergency situations, and a code of conduct for all staff and volunteers.

What is the policy and the process for reporting suspicion of child abuse?

While recent changes in the law have designated key persons “mandated reporters”, it is important to ensure that the organization which you have chosen not only understands this, but has also clearly disseminated this responsibility to its staff.

At a minimum policies and procedures should be in place, but also inquire about ongoing staff training and communication around this specifically.

in partnership with

Interested in learning more about child sexual abuse in the Cayman Islands and how to prevent it?

Help us make Cayman safer for all youth- ask your youth service provider about the Seal of Protection.

For more information on the Seal of Protection, or to learn more about child sexual abuse prevention, CONTACT: DEPUTY@REDCROSS.ORG.KY

Teens

Wading through your options Story By Lindsey Turnbull

F

urther education is pretty much a pre-requisite these days for any career path, and it is important that parents begin an early dialogue with their children, to help get them thinking about what they’d like to do when they leave school. It might seem like a long way off to a young teen, but university or college comes about very quickly, so the more you can do to prepare your child the better off they will be, when it comes to choosing that all-important further education.

Living in the Cayman Islands, students here have unique issues when it comes to looking at where to undertake their further study, with most students choosing further education deciding to undertake that education abroad.

Arthurlyn Pedley, Careers Advisor and Community Service Coordinator with Cayman Prep & High School says that there are formal and informal ages at which a student can begin to think about university/ college.

“Informally, parents should be encouraging their children to recognise and explore their natural aptitudes, gifts and interests from

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primary years but they should definitely be thinking about university by middle school (year 7-9),” she advises. “Formally, in year 9, students have to choose their options for years 10 and 11. School provides the necessary core subjects, but if a student wishes to pursue a career in the sciences / medical related fields, the arts, and even business (especially if they hope to study in Canada) they need to be aware of the pre-requisites they’ll need for study in these areas.”

Brendan Touhey, Head of Sixth Form at Cayman Prep and High School details the motivating factors a student should consider when choosing a university.

“There are numerous factors, including location, size of institution, courses available, cost, accommodation, facilities, extracurricular provisions, and so on, but the most common factor is the location and course availability. We place a lot of emphasis on rankings of universities for chosen courses as well. Unfortunately getting a degree is no longer the exception to the norm; access to universities and colleges has opened up massively in the last 20 years, so it is important to get a ‘good’ degree from a highly recognised university,” he explains.

Ms Pedley adds: “The most important

factor should be the ‘best fit’ for each student’s personality. A school where the child will get a quality education while being happy and able to excel.”

When helping your child decide what they might like to study after leaving school, Ms Pedley says that they ought to have a keen interest in the field of study.

“Students should chose to study something they love and think about if they were to work in that field, each day would be truly satisfying,” she says.

Mr. Touhey agrees and says: “There has to be a clear passion and interest in the course.

It does not have to be a career pathway decision, but the course should jump out at a student as something they really want to do. It’s important that students familiarise themselves with the course content as it varies widely from one university to another.”

Making the right choices when it comes to GCSE and A-levels is crucial in the further education decision making process.

“Courses such as Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, etc. will have specific subject requirements,” Mr. Touhey says. “For example, Engineering will require Physics/ Maths. With the new linear A levels coming into effect, GCSE grades will be more important for applicants as an indicator

There has to be a clear passion and interest in the course. It does not have to be a career pathway decision, but the course should jump out at a student as something they really want to do. of success. As a result, students need to remember that they must achieve the A and A* grades in their GCSE courses. Again, it’s about researching the entry requirements for each course carefully.”

Parental guidance can make a tremendous difference to how successful a young person is at making sound choices for further education.

“Parents who want their child to attend university should encourage attainment of the best grades possible throughout school. Grades matter and are no doubt the most important factor for acceptance into university,” Ms Pedley states.

At the same time, parents should be realistic about a child’s ability and help the child to consider meaningful careers that tie in with their interests and natural gifts.

“Encourage ongoing learning about careers (talk to them about what you do and help them learn to ask family members and friends about the jobs they do). Also help them build up a range of in and out of school interests. It’s very important to have a well-rounded portfolio of personal achievements over several years to include in your application. It never looks good when everything is crammed into the last two years of high school. Most importantly,

start saving for college or university!” Ms Pedley says.

Mr. Touhey adds that obviously parents should have an input into the logistics of a university choice, but ultimately students need to make the choices after research.

“It should be a shared decision really,” he confirms. “University life has changed dramatically since parents went to university, so assumptions and nostalgia shouldn’t influence a choice. The key is lots of research.”

Online research is invaluable for Cayman students who might not have the financial means to physically visit their chosen university.

“University websites are excellent, as is the Unistats website and social media. It is expensive to visit numerous universities, so the websites are an excellent resource,” Mr. Touhey states. “We also have hundreds of exstudents at different universities, and they are a great resource too.”

“Virtual tours are very popular with our students and have proven very helpful,” Ms Pedley adds. “Many students are now using social media to make friends before they even head off to university and this is helping to make the transition easier.”

Although it is not essential that a young

person has a specific career in mind, even once they begin their university course, it is helpful.

“It depends on the field they aim to study as to whether they need to have a definitive career in mind,” Ms Pedley says. “This is true for medicine and other technical/vocational courses such as teaching, nursing etc. but not so important for general courses of study such as history, philosophy etc.”

“There’s no need for a clear career plan at all. A lot of students have no idea what they would like to do,” Mr. Touhey confirms. “As long as they are pursuing their interest and passion they will eventually find their way.

If you speak to most people in their careers now, they will likely explain that what they are doing now is not what they expected to be doing when they were 17 or 18. There are exceptions to this, but on the whole anyone who is doing something they enjoy and have a keen interest in, will end up in a career where their skills and knowledge are pertinent.”

It is vital that students begin the application process promptly.

“One of the biggest pitfalls is that students wait too long to start,” Ms Pedley says. > see next page

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25

“They rely too heavily on parents to ‘do it for them’ and don’t claim responsibility for the process. This can be extremely debilitating for students; if they’re afraid to set up an appointment to chat to their high school counsellor, then they’ll most likely be too shy to consult with a college/university counsellor and this is probably be the most important thing they’ll need to do once they get to college. They need to be able to turn to the right source when on their own to get help when necessary.”

Ms Pedley suggests parents and students should chat about all the tasks that have to be done to successfully navigate the application process and decide who is responsible for what.

“A simple breakdown might be for students to take responsibility for requesting their own transcripts, references and completing the application forms. Parents may take

Arthurlyn Pedley, Careers Advisor & Community Service Coordinator with Cayman Prep & High School helps sixth form student Beth with her university choices.

responsibility for ensuring that all the official documents that will be required for things such as visas (passports, naturalisation and status applications) and scholarship applications are in place and up to date,” she explains. “This can take a long time and parents need to be planning for this from year 10. Most importantly parents need to know how much it will cost for their child

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secure the necessary funding.”

Mr. Touhey agrees and adds that another common pitfall is not keeping track of everything that they have done in and out of school which they may need to

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All in all, this is a really exciting time for students and parents and, if handled well, can be super empowering for both, Ms Pedley says. CP

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Reader’s Corner

Finding Jake A psychological thriller by Bryan Reardon Review by Elke (Feuer) O’Donnell A compelling psychological suspense and a journey into the depths of a parent’s worst nightmare.

Simon is a writer and stay-at-home dad, while his wife Rachel — a successful lawyer —works. Like every parent, he worries about his kids and questions his parenting skills, especially with his son, Jake, who struggles to fit in, unlike his younger sister.

Simon and Rachel face unimaginable fear when they receive a call from the school about a shooting on site. When his son Jake turns up missing, and is suspected of being an accomplice, the door opens to a world leading them on a nerve wracking roller coaster ride of

emotions with the prying, and angry eyes of the police, media, and their neighbors watching. As they struggle to find Jake, they’re forced to peel back the layers of their son’s life and personality, and question their roles as parents.

Could their son have committed such a heinous crime? Did they miss the signs that could’ve prevented the tragedy?

Finding Jake covers the sensitive, and wildly public topic of bullying, and how it can go wrong-fast, but from the unique perspective of the parents and their own struggles. How they deal-and don’t-deal with issues their kids face.

Gut-wrenching, surprising, devastating, and hopeful...Finding Jake is a book you’ll think about long after you’ve read it. CP

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27

Mid-Week Meals

These meals will fill up your family and save you time!

THE EMERGENCY QUESADILLA

FRIDAY NIGHT PORK RIBS

Courtesy of Moozlers.com

Courtesy of Moozlers.com

Ingredients

Ingredients

(makes 8 wedges) 2 tortillas 4oz of grated cheese (try mixing cheddar, Gruyere and mozzarella) 1 trimmed and sliced spring onion (scallion)

Quantity of baby back ribs to suit BBQ sauce 1 1/2 cups of ketchup (quality ketchup with no additives or high-fructose corn syrup) 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar 4 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce 4 cloves of garlic (crushed) 1 cup of water Black pepper 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika 1/4 teaspoon of ground cumin

Optional extras: cooked chicken, ham, olives, spinach, chopped peppers.

Method • Heat a frying pan and rub over some melted butter.

• Place one tortilla in the pan and add all ingredients.

• Cover with the other tortilla and press down with a spatula.

• Cook for a few minutes and turn over and cook on the other side.

• Transfer to a board and cut into wedges. Serve with guacamole and salsa.

These recipes are a sampling from the upcoming cookbook ‘Mrs. Moozler’s Midweek Meals’. A collection of healthy, quick and easy evening meals, with paleo/gluten free options.

Method • Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

• Wrap the ribs tightly in foil and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

• After you put the ribs in the oven, combine all of the sauce ingredients in a pot and stir well. Simmer until the sauce is thick. It will take around 35 to 40 minutes.

• Remove the ribs from the oven and coat with 3/4 of the sauce.

• Increase the oven heat to 450 and return the ribs to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes (with the foil open) until the sauce has crisped around the ribs. I usually turn them once half way through.

• When they’re ready, coat with the remaining sauce and enjoy.

• You can do the last stage on the grill too.

• Serve with homemade broccoli slaw and baked sweet potato.

FISH DISH TUNA BURGER Courtesy of Moozlers.com Ingredients (serves 4) 350g of fresh tuna 1 tablespoon of soy sauce Thumb sized piece of grated ginger A small handful of cilantro, finely chopped Pinch of chili flakes Salt and pepper to taste

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Method • Add everything to a blender other than the cilantro and pulse until combined.

It should be a thick, lumpy paste.

• Mix in the cilantro with your hands.

Chill for 30 minutes and then make into 4 or 5 burgers and cook as you would a normal burger.

• Serve on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato and ketchup or skip the bun and enjoy some avocado and mango salsa.

MEATLESS MONDAY MAC AND CHEESE Courtesy of Moozlers.com

This “cheesy pasta” is a real winner.

Ingredients (serves 4) 250g of short cut macaroni 900ml of milk 75g of butter 75g of plain/all-purpose flour 250g of grated mature cheddar 1 teaspoon of grainy mustard (optional) 50g of grated Parmesan (optional) Chopped chives to garnish

Method • Boil a large pan of salted water and cook the macaroni until al dents. Drain and stir through a tablespoon of olive oil to stop it sticking together.

• Add the flour, butter and milk to a blender and blitz and then add to a pan and bring to a boil stirring all the time to avoid lumps.

• As the sauce thickens, turn down

the heat to very low and then stir in the cheese until it has melted.

• Remove from the heat and stir in the mustard. Pour the sauce over the macaroni and serve.

• Option. Top the mac and cheese with breadcrumbs and extra Parmesan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees until the top has browned and is crunchy.

BAKED CHICKEN & THYME

Courtesy of Moozlers.com Ingredients (serves 4 to 6) 8 to 10 mixed chicken pieces with the skin on (you can cut up a whole chicken) 8 cloves of garlic (peeled) 12 to 14 sprigs of thyme 2 to 3 big handfuls of baby tomatoes Salt and pepper to season 4 tablespoons of olive oil

Method • Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

• Add the chicken pieces to a large bowl and coat with the oil, salt and pepper.

• Prick a hole in each tomato with a toothpick or a fork (if you put them in a sandwich bag, you can enjoy stabbing the tomatoes without them bouncing all over the kitchen floor.

• Add the chicken to a deep baking dish and then add the tomatoes, garlic and thyme.

• Use your hands to distribute the tomatoes, garlic and thyme through the chicken pieces.

• Place the dish of chicken in the oven and bake (this takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on the size of your chicken pieces and longer if you like it crisp. Don’t worry about it drying out. There is a lot of moisture in this dish).

• Serve with a spinach salad and a little balsamic.

GRILLED SOY GINGER SHRIMP

Courtesy of Chef Tanya Foster of Foster’s Food Fair - IGA Ingredients 20 Pink Shrimp (peeled and deveined) 4 tbsp. Olive Oil 4 tbsp. Soy Sauce 2 tbsp. Honey 1 tsp. Garlic 2 tsp. Ginger 1/2 bunch Parsley Pinch of Black Pepper 4 Bamboo Skewers

Method • Peel and devein shrimp. Run under cold water and dry well.

• Soak bamboo skewers in cold water for about 5 minutes.

• In a bowl mix olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, parsley, and black pepper.

• Pour the marinade over the shrimp and allow to marinate.

• Place 5 shrimp on each bamboo skewer • On a pre-heated grill or pan, place the shrimp and allow to cook for about 4 minutes on each side • Serve on a bed of baby greens or your favourite side dish.

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Parent Profile

Des Ebanks

He never imagined raising his children, Giselle and Kiefer, on his own, but life had other plans for Des Ebanks. Here, they stand beside the mango tree planted in Novelette’s memory.

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After losing his wife in 2013, Des Ebanks demonstrates love, courage, loss and faith Story & Photos By Sheena Sigsworth

Cayman Parent recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Des Ebanks, a West Ham football fan and father to Giselle and Kiefer. His story was interesting, heartbreaking, funny and, mostly, wrapped in inspiration and courage.

At the time of the interview, Des was two weeks postknee surgery, which he says adds to the challenges of parenting, since he cannot be behind the wheel for two months.

D

es Ebanks met Novelette Gordon at a squash club party about 20 years ago. He recalls approaching her and that she gave him a rain check which, he thinks, might have had to do with the fact that he had arrived at the party with his mother. At some stage soon after, Novelette approached him and so began their love affair. They dated for two years and married in January 1998, two days before Novelette’s birthday. Their family expanded with the birth of their first child, Giselle, in 2001 and grew to a tribe of four in 2004 when their son, Kiefer, was born.

Although Novelette had a demanding career as a partner in an accounting firm, they shared in the responsibility of raising the children. Des describes their family unit as ‘organised and purposeful’ - ‘plain Jane lives’, as Novelette referred to it. Giselle, 14, and Kiefer, 12, had a special bond with their mother, something Des treasures. He tells me that Giselle looks more like him while Kiefer is his mother’s child. He joked that someone once said ‘she carve you out, man’, referring to Giselle’s resemblance to him.

In 2009, Novelette developed a cough, one that would persist and was later determined to be a symptom of a serious problem. Around the same time, she decided to retire which she did, in 2010. Soon after, the whole family headed to South Africa to watch the World Cup, a trip that would leave them with very fond memories. Only a few months before her passing, Novelette was diagnosed with Mycobacterium Avium Intracellular Syndrome (MAI) a lung condition. While on a family holiday in Dallas in 2013, Novelette’s left lung collapsed and, after two weeks, their life was turned upside down. Kiefer and Giselle lost their precious mother and Des had lost his partner in life.

Your wife passed away suddenly. What was that like, initially?

I was blindsided. I did not see it coming. When I was with her in the hospital, I was focusing on goals, like having her tube removed and getting home. It was huge to be reassured by Giselle, which made me believe I would be able to handle it.

Friends and family inundated me with offers of help and I kept a list of people I could call on if I needed them, but I really enjoyed doing the errands and taking the children where they needed to go. I did ask for help when I needed it and I still have that list of helpers - they are still in the scope for a long time. We are doing well although I continue to ask for patience and the children see me as the grumpy old guy.

Do you ever need advice from a woman, specifically?

Yes, often, on a range of topics, concerning the move to adulthood, and education. Most of my advisors are women.

How do you handle dinnertime?

I cook sometimes. There are a couple of dishes that the children like but they are getting tired of those. The helper usually cooks but I can’t get the food I grew up eating. Often on Sundays, I make a roast dinner.

What do you and Kiefer do for fun?

Football! He loves football. Sometimes we go fishing but football is definitely his passion.

What is it like dealing with a teenage girl?

It’s awesome - she is awesome. I try to remind her to make her mother proud and to stay away from some of the usual teenage girl stuff. She just has a desire to do well in school and has worked so hard. I try to let her know she can talk to me about anything. She has taken over some of her mother’s clothes and high heels which I > see next page www.caymanparent.com

31

“They know I will be there for them and they appreciate that I have a life too.” am sure she enjoys.

you’ve learned from your children?

What is the hardest part of raising the children on your own?

I never thought it would be difficult to raise them and I still don’t. I am not the best at getting co-operation, especially from Kiefer, so that is a challenge. He is a sharp kid. Nov would know what to do - I have to pick my battles!

What is the best part?

The responsibility. They know I will be there for them and they appreciate that I have a life too. Being involved in sports is a big part of my life and they are okay with me participating in sport four times each week.

What is the most valuable lesson

To listen. Not to assume they don’t know.

We often hear about mothers who do it all and their arsenal of time savers and organisers. What’s your secret to doing it all?

I am organised. I have always been that way. Even when Nov was around, I would always get up early enough to accommodate their wishes and give them what they want for breakfast then take them to school. Nov would make sure she saw them before they left for school and would pick them up from school.

This has happened to all of us at some point so, tell me, have you ever forgotten to do school pick-up?

Yes, twice! Just this week I got the time wrong but I had made arrangements with Grandma to pick them up. Sometimes I just get my head down and don’t realise the time, but on the whole I have it under control.

What’s next for you and the children?

We’re going places now. Giselle is doing work experience and has some important exams. She has consistently been stepping up at events and this is all really good for her. Their mother was a phenomenal role model, and the reason both of the children are aiming high towards the very best universities. I am about to embark upon a twelve-year ambition which involves the purchase of a local business, after doing a great deal of homework on this project. And there are other significant changes in the pipeline!

As we wrapped up our conversation, he told me about a woman who he learned, recently wrote a book, and dedicated his wife as one of the two most influential people in her life. With a glimmer of pride in his eyes, he told me how happy he is to share his wife’s memory and continues to learn about the impact she has had on other people. CP

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Feature Series

Excelling Teens Multi-talented Chauntol Hylton has recently taken up the violin again

John Gray High School youngsters set on exciting career paths Story By Lindsey Turnbull

C

ayman Parent is on a mission to find the best and the brightest young people in the Cayman Islands, all with a great positive outlook on life, a determination and drive to succeed in their chosen career and the ability to see that drive through. This edition we meet two more students from John Gray High School who are currently not only excelling in everything they do, but also encouraging others by example.

Chauntol Hylton, 16, is Head Girl at John Gray High School and already has an impressive resumé of exceptional community and scholastic activity, an indicator that this young lady will certainly go far in life.

With eight external examination passes including an A-level in Communication Studies under her belt already, Chauntol is currently studying for her CXC qualifications in Triple Science, Spanish and extra PE. She is VP of the Youth Assembly, which sees young people from schools in the country get together to discuss topical issues. She is a recipient of the Proud of Them award, given out by the Government to particularly industrious young people and is a member of her student council. Chauntol is also a Tourism Ambassador for the Cayman Islands. She has also recently taken up playing the violin again.

Chauntol is particularly involved in public speaking, not an easy subject for anyone, let alone a 16 year old teen.

“I enjoy competing in debating competitions,” she advises.

“I recently participated in the Fred Speirs Inter-School Debate Competition with two others and last year I won the National Optimism Club award for my presentation on how my optimism has helped me. I then went on the present this at the regional level in Jamaica and I came third in the regional competition.”

Chauntol says the best thing about this particular event was that she felt she had really reached out and touched her audience with her presentation: “A member of the audience came up to me after my presentation and said that they had generally been a pessimistic person but I had helped them change their view, which really pleased me,” she said.

For students, Chauntol says that it is not always easy to be optimistic but, with a positive outlook, students can choose to bypass any hindrances to their success that they may feel are in their way.

Chauntol plans to undertake her IB in Jamaica upon completing high school and then she hopes to study pharmaceutical engineering at university, because she is fascinated my medicine and how it works, she says.

She credits her mother as her biggest influence in her life.

“I have never met anyone more supportive than her,” she advises. “She always tells me to reach for my dreams.”

Stephen Thane, 17, is another motivated individual who has already passed four CXC subjects (Electronic Document > see next page

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“They (my siblings) and my parents are with me every step of the way. They are the ones who will light a fire under me to keep me going!”

Stephen Thane, 17, says his family gives him the motivation to succeed.

Preparation and Management – EDPM, Integrated Science, English and Maths) and is currently studying for Triple Science, Spanish, IT and Pure Maths.

Stephen is a Prefect at John Gray High School and is also the treasurer for the Key Clubs, managing the Clubs’ financing and budgets.

Stephen is a keen martial arts practitioner, devoting his spare time to the practice of Krav Maga, a self-defence system using techniques from kick boxing, aikido, judo, boxing and wrestling, along with realistic fight training. He is also a qualified diver.

“We focus on real-life situations and how best to protect yourself,” he advises. “In the five months that I have been doing Krav Maga it has really helped me to become stronger physically and to be far more

aware of my surroundings,” Stephen says.

Stephen is a hard-working and focused young man who intends to study in the field of engineering at UCCI once he graduates high school. He also hopes to combine A-levels as well. It is his ultimate intention to study engineering at university.

Crediting his family, which includes three older brothers, with giving him the motivation to succeed in life, Stephen says: “I have one brother who is about to attend medical school, one who is studying psychology and one studying kinesiology.

They and my parents are with me every step of the way. They are the ones who will light a fire under me to keep me going!” he says. CP

Smile!

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Parenting

Counting L down the days Managing when your teen leaves the nest

Story By Miriam Foster

eaving the nest can be a bittersweet moment for both parties. One of the hardest pieces to digest, is that “leaving the nest” for individuals in the Cayman Islands, often means leaving the country. It can be quite overwhelming to think that a child that currently sleeps down the hall, will now be sleeping thousands of miles away. It is easy to become worried about all the different pieces that need to be arranged and how to optimize a child’s chance of success.

Often the stress of this time can cause much friction between the parents and the child, causing the last moments together to be riddled with conflict.

Having a plan and breaking things down can be beneficial.

However, prior to any of this, it is important to assess the current state of the parent-child relationship. If that is not where the parent-child would like it to be, then that is the first challenge! If the relationship is not strong now, it is likely to weaken further and also make a child more vulnerable to peer pressure, while away. A child that has a strong sense of belonging is less likely to engage in risky behaviours for fear of disappointing his or her parents. A child lacking that sense of belonging, may adopt a laissez faire attitude toward school or not care about succumbing to peer pressure.

Children’s sense of self-worth is intricately linked with what they think are the feelings parents have of them. If a teen is often hearing words like lazy, irresponsible, useless than his self-concept is not likely a high one. Use the time prior, to engage with your teen and create positive memories. Having a strong bond will help your teen succeed overseas.

As a parent, safety is often at the top of the list of priorities. > see next page

www.caymanparent.com

35

Cooking in Trans Fat Free Oil in all our kitchens However, there are multiple dimensions of It is important safety that need to be considered: Marinating and preparing “real” to assess the Physical Safety • Find out about insurance coverage.

100% chicken, not mystery “nuggets” Determine if an overseas policy may be current state of necessary.

Talk about ways to stay safe on campus.

Having trained cooks inLock•every kitchen the parent-child doors. You’re not in Cayman anymore!

• Research what items are really needed to purchase and see if roommate can split bigger items.

• Decide on meal plan to ensure a food budget.

relationship. and cooking chicken Hand-breading throughout the day If that is not

Financial Safety where the they The Colonel's secret Original Recipe • Establish a budget and stick to it! Apps can useful. blendlike of it 11 herbsbe& spices would • Beware of credit cards and scams.

• Find a work-study programme that can earn some extra funds.

• Research scholarships and beware of student loans.

to be,fresh, thenhot & juicy. Our passion Always for is that that thegreat first craveable taste.

Emotional Safety

• Reach out to roommates before arrival, challenge to sharing a space is not easy.

We still make it like the • Prepared teen for new experiences, new overcome! people and new relationships. It’s a good thing!

Colonel did... real meals made • Things may be different and feel the hard way.

overwhelming. Encourage teen to access counselling on campus.

• Talk about substance abuse /misuse and avoid its use to cope with problems.

• Encourage teens to be assertive and communicate their needs to the appropriate parties.

Social Safety • Talk about dangers with social media and the importance of posting responsibly.

• Talk about the values of your family and its use in decision-making.

• Talk about being responsible at social gatherings, such as having a designated driver.

• Talk about the importance of having fun, but also being responsible and attending class.

Sexual Safety • Talk about the importance of protection always.

• Talk about the prevalence of rape culture and what men and women should do if they are concerned.

• Talk about how alcohol increases risk of regrettable behaviour.

• Talk about qualities of healthy and unhealthy relationships.

Leaving the nest is not easy for anyone. . However, these important discussions and decisions can decrease the failure to launch. CP

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‘A Day in the Life’ Meet the Andersons of Bodden Town.

Story By Faith Gealey Photos courtesy of Amy Strzalko

I

n this edition, Cayman Parent took some time to talk with Teresa Edie-Anderson. Teresa welcomed Cayman Parent into her cozy, child-friendly home to talk about her experiences as a mother in a blended family, and in particular her experiences as the mother of a micro-premature baby.

Many people in the community know Teresa as one of the smiling faces of Edie’s Décor, a locally owned home design store. She describes herself a busy mom of three, who balances managing a family business and managing her household.

Whenever she has a free moment, she writes and listens to jazz music, which is no surprise when your siblings are Devon Edie and KK Alese; both amazing local jazz musicians.

Teresa, and her husband, Celester Anderson of Bodden Town have three children; Lindsey (18), Zoe (3) and Christian (10 months). From the outside, they look like any other typical Caymanian family, however, when Christian made his appearance into the family three months earlier than expected, it opened an entire new world for the blended Anderson family.

What was it like to become a stepmom?

Teresa: It was a challenge because it was something that I had no prior experience with. I had no one to really bounce ideas off of, but I was so fortunate with Lindsey, because she is a really sweet girl. She and I bonded immediately, even before Celester and I got married. Her mom > see next page

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Baby Christian arrived early and wasn’t able to be held by his mother until he was a full eight weeks old. He weighed just under two pounds at birth. and my husband have a really good co-parenting relationship. I met Lindsey’s mother prior to our wedding and she accepted me in Lindsey’s life, as an adult who would have influence over her. It was a seamless process. Most of the concerns that I had initially were unwarranted once Lindsey and I got to know each other.

CP: What advice or guidance would you give to other parents out there, in terms of entering into a stepparent relationship with an older child?

TA: Let the child know through your actions (and depending on the age of the child, directly) that you are not trying to replace their parent. Let them know that you are there to support your spouse to help them and of course support them.

I think it’s important for the child to know that you will assume the role of a parent, and you will have to be responsible for them. You will make decisions for them while they are in your care and they will have to respect those decisions. I think having that initial understanding of “I am another responsible adult in your life, who cares deeply for you” is really important in any stepparent relationship.

CP: When you had your daughter Zoe, did the dynamic with your family change at all?

TA: Lindsey was so excited to be an older sibling. She was 14 years old when Zoe first came, so she was just over the moon about it. I think with her being 14, she already had an understanding that babies require a lot of time and attention.

She was able to understand that her dad needed that extra time with Zoe. It was not a difficult transition. I lucked out with Lindsey! Even with her youngest baby

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brother, she was so helpful. Having an older child who is as mature as Lindsey is an advantage.

CP: After having Zoe, the expectation with your youngest must have been that it would be a breeze. However, that pregnancy brought significant challenges.

Tell us about your youngest child, Christian and his birth story.

TA: Christian came while I was on a “babymoon” in the Bahamas. I was 26 weeks pregnant. We arrived in the Bahamas on Thursday and by Friday evening I started feeling contractions. I was so scared! We called our doctor who advised us to go to a hospital immediately.

When I arrived at the hospital, they ran so many tests on me and they tried what they could do to delay labour. They continued to monitor me throughout the night, however, the doctor came in and let us know that there was a strong possibility that our baby would be born in the Bahamas. When she told me that, I

broke down. I’m not sure if I was in shock, or just being optimistic prior to that point.

I was immediately transferred to Princess Margaret hospital which has a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). They explained that Christian was going to be tiny, frail and in need of a lot of medical attention.

By the following morning, the decision was to deliver Christian via emergency caesarian section with general anesthesia.

I had a similar experience with Zoe who was born full term, and to have to go through this again was extremely difficult for both me and my husband. Christian was born weighing 1 lbs, 9 oz. He had everything you expect a baby to have, except he was so tiny. The director of the NICU explained to us that the major concern was his respiratory status, and he had some bleeding on the brain. Christian was a “micro-preemie”, which is a baby born less than 3 lbs. This brought a lot of additional medical challenges. My husband asked lots of questions, while I took it all in.

I knew then that we needed to get down to business to figure out what we’re going to do.

CP: What immediate decisions did you have to make in regards to his care?

TA: We both had work and of course, Zoe. We were torn about keeping him in the Bahamas or transferring him to Miami Children’s Hospital and we decided that the transfer to Miami Children’s was the best option for our family. Within five days, an air ambulance transported us to Miami. The air ambulance was such an ordeal for me.

My husband went ahead to Miami to make sure we were set up with a hotel room, rental car et cetera and I stayed behind to travel with Christian. We were on a tiny Cessna airplane, and I was looking at my tiny baby in this small box and it hit me that this was going to be a long haul.

I used that time to pray and recite scripture and by the time I landed in Miami, I had a sense of peace that we were going to get through this successfully. We met the NICU staff there at Miami Children’s on arrival. They were so welcoming.

CP: How old was Christian when you first got to hold him?

TA: He was 8 weeks old. He was so

tiny but it felt amazing. Being a mom the second time around, I remember what it was like when I first held Zoe. For 8 weeks, I longed for that experience with my son.

He just laid his head there, and I kept thinking how small he was. I had no one around me; it was just me and him. It was a beautiful moment for me.

CP: What was the most comforting for you while you were in Miami with Christian?

TA: I know it’s not going to be the same for everyone, but for me, what kept me grounded was my faith. It’s not that all of a sudden I was praying to God and relying on Him. I’ve always had a very strong faith and I felt that it prepared me for this experience. I wrote a journal, prayed and listened to a lot of Christian music. That really sustained me. During that experience, I had a lot of acquaintances that became friends during this experience because they would text me to see how I was doing.

They offered help not just to me but to husband and daughter in Cayman. That made my being away from home easier as well, knowing that my family at home was

also being supported.

CP: What kinds of resources have you had to tap in to, to make sure that Christian is staying on track with his development?

TA: From the time I was in Miami, I was in communication with his paediatrician, Dr. Roberson from TrinCay Medical, who put me in touch with a number of different specialists. Christian needed to have his eyes and ears checked, he needed to have his heart and brain checked and he also needed occupational therapy and physical therapy.

It’s a work in progress, and his paediatrician has been great about helping us get the referrals we need for him.

CP: Was did you find difficult when you returned home?

TA: Since having Christian, I’ve learned that there are so many other mothers of premature babies on island. I wish that there was something available for these mothers to get together and share their experiences.

I am thinking about starting something myself because it is something that I have become quite passionate about.CP

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39

Wishing all of these smiling faces a very Happy Birthday!

Email your photo and details to photos@caymanparent.com

Asha Comins June 9th

Josani Burke

Happy 3rd Birthday!

We love you lots and lots Asha bear!

July 26th Happy 10th Birthday!

Love from your family

Joshua Burke Jr. August 6th

Reef Harvey

Happy 6th Birthday!

Love from your family

August 25th Happy 2nd Birthday Love Mom, Dad and Kai

Saige Smith August 8th Happy 7th Birthday Sunshine!

Love you forever‌. promise!!

Theo Watson

Daniella Watson

August 3rd

June 23rd

Happy 7th Birthday!

Happy 10th Birthday!

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Anaiah August 29th Happy 7th Birthday to this amazingly cheerful princess!

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Stay forever young and sweet.

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Happiest 10th birthday!

We love you to the moon and back, always xoxo

Toriann Smith

Mikko Moxam-Watson

June 18th

June 24th

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Tobey Arthur Goelo Stewart

August 21st

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Relationships

CoParenting after separation or divorce Story by Nasaria Budal

M

aking joint custody work after a separation or divorce can be fraught with rage, bitterness and unrealistic demands. Moving beyond the underlying emotions surrounding the relationship you once had with your ex and parent of your child is essential to providing a stable and loving family home. It’s rarely easy but there are a few key parameters that can help you create a cordial co-parenting relationship.

Start with Yourself Dr. Catherine Day, Clinical Psychologist at The Wellness Centre, recommends taking time to reclaim your own personal identity, deal with changes in other relationships with family and friends affected by the separation and sort out your finances. “Regain confidence in yourself, set goals for your future and take stock of your life.”

Check-in with yourself often, especially after a conflict, to ensure you responded in a way that was both mature and respectful of your ex. And use your time alone to reflect and consider how your decisions and behaviour may affect your child. Consider seeing a family therapist or pastor for objective advice and guidance, and seek an outlet to release tension like exercising, meditating or praying.

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Regardless of the reason why the relationship with your ex has ended, it’s important to create an environment of mutual respect.

Establish a New Family Structure While your relationship may be over, your family is not; you and your ex still need to work closely together to foster an environment that makes your child feel loved and appreciated. Work with your ex to agree on a visitation schedule that suits both schedules and allows the child to spend adequate time with both parents. You will also need to exercise flexibility as situations will arise such as work demands, travel plans and special events.

Spend time in advance outlining the framework for big decisions like finances, education, healthcare, holidays and birthdays to avoid confusion and conflicts later.

Keep your Emotions in Check The most challenging factor with co-parenting is perhaps emotional obstacles. Think of this as a new relationship with your ex, one that focuses on

your child, not each other. “You need to separate the parenting relationship from the personal relationship,” said Dr. Day. It is okay to feel hurt and angry about the loss of your relationship, but don’t let it cloud your judgement and control you.

Feeling the need to control everything will only create unnecessary stress and anxiety so don’t sweat the small stuff.

Be Mindful of your Child According to Dr. Day, children also grieve the loss of the relationship after a separation and go through several stages of grief, including denial, anger, bargaining and depression before acceptance.

Children have a way of recognising something is changing within their home even when you think they don’t. “Children often are not given a proper explanation for the separation,” says Dr. Day, so you will want to consider their feelings and behaviour and carve out time to speak with your child regardless of their age.

Also, avoid arguing with your ex of speaking ill of him or her in your child’s presence or using your child as

a go-between as it can create anxiety, especially in high-conflict situations.

Work toward Mutual Respect Regardless of the reason the relationship with your ex has ended, it’s important to create an environment of mutual respect. Accept that you will not change your ex – he or she will likely be exactly the same person and parent they were when you were together – so set realistic expectations. Play to your ex’s strengths, rather than focusing of his or her faults, and don’t push buttons you know will create a conflict. Model the behaviour you want to see of your ex and hope they follow suit. And if you’re in the wrong, be the mature person and apologise. It will go a long way towards creating a civil relationship.

Communication Goes Three Ways Your ex has just as much say in how your child in raised as you do so listen to his or her concerns and opinions. You should also listen to your child and what

he or she wants from your new family structure. You will not always get your way but co-parenting is about your child, not you, so compromise when possible.

Learn to make requests of your ex rather than demands, adopting a “we” approach rather than an “I” methodology.

With the many extracurricular activities, school plays, field trips, dental appointments and the like, it will be important to communicate often with your ex, but limit conversation to matters relating to your child only. Try using an App like Our Family Wizard to track of all of your child’s activities as well as medical history, shoes size and allergies in one place so both parents have all the information at their fingertip.

Be Patient Each co-parenting situation is different and it will take time to figure out what works and what doesn’t so be patient with yourself and with your ex as you manoeuvre your way through this new journey. CP

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Parenthood

Separation Anxiety Column By Jonathan Joyce

D

on’t say anything. Don’t say ANYTHING!” my daughter screamed at me. “I don’t want you to leave!” My wife and I desperately tried to soothe our three-year old girl. Distract her.

Make her laugh. Anything that might successfully press the reset button in her little head. Nothing was working.

I had a trip coming up and had made the mistake of making a big deal of it well in advance. I was going to Jamaica to play in the Caribbean Classic Championship golf tournament and talked about it incessantly. Zoë’s grasp of time extends about a week and she assumed I was about to abandon her. Her Grandma had just finished a visit and flown home earlier that week. Now I was leaving her.

When Zoë was born, my wife and I made a decision to move back to Cayman and share in raising our then one-year-old daughter. We made some careerchanging decisions that would keep both of us home as much as possible. An unforeseen consequence of our child-rearing strategy is that Zoë seems to have more separation anxiety than normal for a child her age.

Zoë has gone through phases where she struggles to sleep and pretends to be sick to avoid school. Until recently, dropping her off at school was a tear-filled ordeal for all involved. She has little experience with either of us being away from home. I have been gone a few times, but never for as long as my upcoming trip.

Part of our challenge is that almost all of our extended family lives overseas. On Island, it is Zoë, Katherine and I, and Auntie Anna. With only four of us, there is a big void in Zoë’s life when one of us leaves.

We looked into some coping strategies to help children deal with separation anxiety. The first thing I did was tone down my excitement about the trip for a couple weeks. We got back into our usual routine and

kept things predictable.

As we got closer to the trip, I explained to Zoë where I was going and why. I then got her involved in my preparations. She helped with decorating my golf balls; a few days before I left, the team clothing arrived. We held a fashion show so she could applaud and critique my outfits. I have no idea how models manage to change so quickly during a runway show!

There were loads of laughs for everyone.

The day before I left, Zoë helped me pack my suitcase. I again explained where I was going and when I would be home. I asked her a huge favour.

Would she use my camera to take pictures so I could see what she did while I was gone? She giggled and quickly agreed. There was well over a hundred photos awaiting my return.

I said my final goodbyes the night before and managed to get out of the house without incident the following morning. While I was away, we took advantage of technology to keep in touch. We videochatted daily. Zoë got a tour of the resort, the pool and my view of the sea. More importantly to her, she got a tour of my hotel room. She wanted to see my bed and the candies the cleaning staff had left on my pillow. She was also insistent on seeing the bathroom and hearing the toilet flush. I am not sure one can be an aficionado of toilet flushes, but Zoë always makes she we check out the bathroom and flush the toilet whenever we are out.

Five days later I was home. There was great happiness and some tears as she got reacquainted with my being around. Talking to her about the trip and keeping in close contact while I was away really seemed to help reduce her anxiety. She has taken a keen interest in my golf, asking each day, “Is Daddy going golfing today?” The answer is usually no, but when it is yes she is quick to say, “Again?” I’m not sure if Katherine is putting her up to that, but I am trying to cut back. CP

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Advice for parents

‘Ask Miss V’

Dear Miss V, My once chatty teen just isn’t chatting any more. In fact, he ignores me most of the time and any response I do get is a grunt or a roll of the eyes.

I have tried addressing this with him but it just meets with an argument. What do I do? I feel like I am losing my son?

Yours, Frustrated mum Dear Frustrated mum No parents enjoy getting the silent treatment from their “kid”, especially when you feel like you’ve always enjoyed a good relationship with them and nothing has changed.

The first thing to do is to take a deep breath and understand that this is pretty normal as kids grow up. It happens with boys and girls. Our teenagers are pushing to become independent adults and we are pulling to keep them safe under our wings.

Here are 5 easy tips to help:

Start communicating and stop lecturing Remember that your kid is transitioning into adulthood. You have to move away from the “Don’t stick your finger in the socket” type of conversations you had with them when they were little. Teenagers find it really annoying when they begin a conversation with their parent who immediately jumps in with some advice.

46

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You need to bite your tongue and resist the urge to lecture and absolutely avoid pulling the guilt card and telling them how hurt you are that they are ignoring you. If you can avoid lecturing, he won’t need to push you away.

It’s helpful to get to know the parents of other children your child goes to school with. Have a chat about looking out for one another.

Let the small stuff go and focus on the bigger picture. One of the worst things you can do is start nagging them about little things like leaving a drawer open or wearing the same shirt over and over. Of course, do set rules and expect them to abide by those rules; just don’t go on and on about the same little things. If you want any chance of hearing about the big stuff, avoid the small stuff. Yes, you might have to compromise yourself a little here!

Treat them as equals Have matter of fact conversations.

Tell them about the things you’re doing.

Tell them about your life, your job, your hobbies, problems you had when you were growing up. Share some anecdotes from your life. Turn the tables on them and ask them for their opinion on something you’ve been considering or even ask for their advice. It’s amazing how this simple trick can enhance your relationship. Your son just might know of an app that solves a problem you have in your business or at work. You no longer have to put up the pretence of being some super-human.

You can let them know that life is just as much of a journey for you as it is for them.

Assure them that you don’t get it right all the time and teach the basic principle, “a problem shared is a problem halved”.

Identify an opening to chat Identify when your teen is most likely to chat with you; not deep conversations but general chit chat. Hint! It probably isn’t first thing in the morning and it’s unlikely to be in the evening either. Engage him in activities you’ve enjoyed doing together and use that time to talk. Try using time in the car too. Sit down to meals together.

The key is to identify those more open times and to try to increase their frequency.

These times are the opportunities to increase the conversation between the two of you and to build your relationship.

Don’t be a push-over to win communication Don’t be a soft touch to win communication. This won’t earn you respect. Set appropriate limits, but focus on strengthening your relationship, at the same time. Insisting on politeness will help you feel less resentful.

The big caveat Notice if your child speaks to no one or spends all his time in his room with the door closed and/or is becoming isolated from people other than just you. Is your child being bullied or suffering some other trauma? If you try the tips above and still have concerns, seek professional help.

Begin by calling your child’s doctor and describing his behavior in detail. Check in with school to see whether there are any issues.

Good luck and remember, you’re not in this alone. CP If you have questions you’d like to ask anonymously, send your questions to “Miss V” at advice@caymanparent.com

Mother’s Health

‘Labour Day’ Recovery

Story By Riette Vosloo

M

ost parents are well prepared for labour day and the months or weeks leading up the big event thanks to Google, Parent Craft Courses and ‘Mother and Baby’ magazines.

However, few moms are truly prepared for the physical changes and emotional challenges they face in the days after baby’s arrival.

Let’s be honest, having a baby is not all sunshine and roses. Even when things go well and according to plan, pregnancy and childbirth brings physical, emotional and relationship challenges that can be tough on any new parent and even more so a new mom who is recovering for a major life event!

Routine ‘mommy’ check-up…

Many of the physical challenges new moms have to deal after having had a baby relates to the aftermath of significant pregnancy induced changes to the body rather than the mode of delivery itself.

Having a caesarean section is therefor not necessarily ‘protective’ of common postpartum issues, and the misconception that it is ‘an easy way out for those too posh to push’ could not be further from the truth…

Some common problems in the early postpartum period is discussed below.

Abdominal separation, also called ‘diastasis recti’, affects up to 62 per cent of women in their third trimester. The connective tissue between the left and right abdominal muscles soften and stretch to allow > see next page

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KEY POINTS Do not ‘accept’ common postpartum complaints or problems as ‘normal’.

Mention to your doctor and address the issues early on.

If you have recently had a baby, book an appointment with your local Women’s Health Physiotherapist for a routine ‘Mommy Check-up’ .

This will include: n Assessment and correction of your posture and alignment n Assessment for abdominal separation and early intervention n Assessment of your pelvic floor function and formulating a personalised pelvic floor exercise regime n Assessment and training of our core muscle system n Screening for bladder or bowel problems n Guidance and support for safe return to fitness activities

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the muscle to move sideways and is the body’s natural way to make space for the growing baby and expanding uterus.

However for many new moms the gap between the abdominal muscles remain abnormally wide at 8 weeks after delivery and can have a significant impact on the mother’s health and wellbeing. It could lead to back pain, incontinence and the physical appearance of a ‘mummy tummy’. Early detection and intervention is key to ensure optimum recovery and safe return to keep fit training.

Changes to the pelvic floor muscles, connective tissue and nerve supply is inevitable when carrying a growing baby for 9 months. Add to that the labour and trauma of childbirth, or the disruption of the core muscles system through a caesarean section, it is no surprise that things don’t always work so well in the early days postpartum. Incontinence (the inability to control your bladder or bowel functions), loss of sensation of bladder fullness or need to go, a feeling of dragging discomfort ‘down below’ or weak pelvic floor muscles may be common problems that many women encounter postpartum, but are never normal. These problems are worth reporting during your routine postnatal check-up, and should be addressed to prevent future problems.

Breastfeeding The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby are well published and advocated, however, the impact on mom’s body is not so well ‘advertised’. Although there are many great advantages of breastfeeding for mom (such as stimulation of uterine contractions and weight loss) it is important to recognise that the hormonal influences sustaining breastfeeding also sustains a vulnerability in mom’s body.

Absence of periods during breastfeeding is obvious evidence of the influence of ongoing hormonal changes on mom’s body and recovery postpartum.

Oestrogen is an important female hormone and responsible for over 400 functions in the body. During breastfeeding circulating oestrogen levels are low and commonly results in thinning of the pelvic and surrounding tissues, including the lining of the bladder, vagina and even the pelvic floor

muscles. This may lead to complaints of painful intercourse, frequency and urgency to pass urine, an increased tendency to thrush and even recurrent bladder infections. Much of this will spontaneously resolve once you stop breastfeeding, however it can cause great discomfort and inconvenience for a new mom. Sadly women often ‘suffer in silence’, accepting it as ‘normal after having had a baby’ and rarely complain about this to their doctor. The good news is that treatment is available if you can pluck up the courage to mention it to your GP or OB GYN.

Too much too soon Due to its position, the pelvic floor is subject to significant changes through pregnancy, labour and delivery.

Hormonally induced changes in the pelvic floor structure are evident as early as the first trimester of pregnancy, and ongoing hormonal influences while breastfeeding sustain this vulnerability that increases the risk of strain or injury to the pelvic floor with exercise postpartum.

The general recommendation is to refrain from strenuous or high impact training until at least 3 months after you stopped breastfeeding. You may be ready to resume hard core training, but your pelvic floor is not. With many moms choosing to breastfeed for six months or more, this is quite a significant time to remain cautious. However, low impact and functional exercises such as walking, swimming, cycling, postpartum pilates, and light weight circuit training are encourage and are generally safe to resume after 8-12 weeks. More often than not resting is what your body needs in those early weeks to support optimum spontaneous recovery. CP For guidance and free leaflets on exercises that are pelvic-floor safe, visit http://www.pelvicfloorfirst.org.au/ Riette Vosloo BScPhysio HPC MCSP is a women’s health physiotherapist.

If you have any questions from the article, you can contact her on 923-7643 or visit her website: www.physio4women.com.

Money

Money Talk A financial advisor can lead you to a better future Column by Georgina Loxton

E

veryday I talk to people about money.

Except we don’t really just talk about your money. We talk about your life.

We talk about your purpose. We talk about where you have come from and where you want to go. We talk about dreams and aspirations. We talk about fears and worries, uncertainties and things that keep you up at night. That’s a lot of stuff.

The process goes something like this: First, I help people figure out the general direction in which they are headed; their goals. Then I assess their resources, what they have available now and what they will need in the future to get them there. Then, we determine the route and the actual investments that will give them the highest

historical probability of getting where they want to go. There is a process but it is fluid and continuous. At the start it might sound simple. But it is anything but simple. Very few people are able to successfully do this alone.

For women, understanding the true power of great financial advice is especially important. Lower lifetime earnings coupled with longer lives make the stakes higher for us. Here are three reasons why you need a great advisor in your life:

1

Money is emotional and often we

get emotional about money without really realising it. Human emotions are the enemy of good investment decisions. A great advisor will help you understand the emotions and will remove them from the

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decision-making process.

Recent studies have shown that the main determinant of long-term, real life investment returns is behaviour. That is, most people don’t achieve anywhere near market returns because they act on fear, greed, euphoria and panic along the way.

If you think that the stock market is one big casino, my guess would be that you have made bad investment decisions in the past which were almost certainly a result of your emotions. The stock market isn’t rigged, it is our emotions that are rigged against us. Some of what I do is about numbers (I love numbers) but most of it is about managing human behaviour.

A great advisor will help you navigate through the ups and downs and step in with the words ‘you mustn’t do that’ when emotions get the better of you (it always happens).

2

Improved quality of life Running

out of money in the future is up there are one of the main things that keep people up at night. Don’t we have enough to worry about? Wouldn’t it be nice to take it off your ‘worry list’? Studies have shown that 61% of those paying

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for financial advice have “peace of mind” compared to only 36 per cent of their “no plan” peers. Without a long-term financial plan you are sitting at the helm of a rudderless vessel, drifting. A competent, trustworthy and empathetic advisor can help you build a plan and then ensure not only that you stick to it, but that you sleep well at night.

3

Are women risk-averse?

For women, one of the biggest objections to investing is ‘but isn’t it risky?’ (we have been shown to be more risk adverse than men). The most important thing for you to understand it that your biggest risk is NOT investing. Yes, stock markets go up and down, but guess what? 75% of the time they go up. Most of you reading this will have a time-frame of at least 30 years, given that the average retirement length is now that long. If you have 10 more years of working, your time-frame is 40 years. That is a really long-time. There has never been a 30year period over which US stocks have fallen. One of the reasons that stocks are able to earn higher returns for investors than the other asset classes (bonds and

cash) is that there are periods where stocks ‘go on sale’. Think about falls as ‘sales’. During these periods you are able to buy at much lower levels and boost your long-term, real life performance.

There are lots of things we cannot control in life and worrying about those things is stress we don’t need. However, you do have control over how much you save and perhaps more importantly, what happens to your savings. In the absence of a crystal ball, there can never be a better time to start your investing journey than today. CP Georgina Loxton joined IFP in 2014 after working for seven years at Overseas Asset Management in Cayman where she was responsible for the co-management of a European equities fund. Prior to that she spent three years at Rathbone Brothers Plc in London. She is a CFA Charterholder and has a first class degree from Oxford University. She has acted as a CFA industry mentor for students in Cayman completing the CFA Research Challenge.

If someone told you that you could be a hero and save someone’s life; would you do it?

A SPECIAL CALL OUT TO THE AFRO-CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY

Do you know?

People of mixed ethnicity are drastically under represented in the bone marrow registry.

Most often, bone marrow transplant patients need a donor who is of the same ethnic or racial background. BUT, people of mixed ethnicity are drastically underrepresented in the bone marrow registry. Tragically, most adults and children from diverse backgrounds cannot get the life-saving bone marrow transplant they need because there is no match for them in the registry. More donors from diverse backgrounds are desperately needed.

WE MUST CHANGE THE ODDS!

You can also help by making a financial donation in memory of one of Cayman’s great philanthropists...

Contact the Cancer Society to host or attend a FREE donor drive.

Eve Flowers

BONE MARROW DONOR REGISTRY FUND Fidelity KYD Account: 20160768 Fidelity USD Account: 20160776

Call 949-7618 Email: info@cics.ky

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