DFWChild February/March 2022 by DFWChild

MEET THE FAMILY PLACE’S MIMI STERLING

F E B R U A R Y/M A R C H 2022

WAYS TO WELCOME SPRING

HOW TO RAISE A MONEYSMART KID

A LOOK AT LOCAL CHILD CARE COSTS

STATE OF ANXIETY:

OUR KIDS’ MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

T H E M A G A Z I N E PA R E N T S L I V E B Y I N D A L L A S -F O R T W O R T H

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION:

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FREE CHILD CARE for Service Industry Workers Service Industry Recovery Program

The Texas Workforce Commission has approved $500 million to support a new Service Industry Recovery (SIR) program to help low-wage workers in specific service-related industries. You may qualify for FREE CHILD CARE FOR ONE YEAR if you meet the income guidelines, and can provide proof of employment in an identified service industry and the citizenship/immigration status of the children needing care.

Accommodation & Food Service Examples of Industries: Hotels, Restaurants, Food Delivery

Arts, Entertainment & Recreation

Examples of Industries: Fitness Centers, Movie Theaters, Amusement Parks

Retail

Examples of Industries: Clothing Stores, Gas Stations, Grocery Stores

All families continue to have access to TWC’s regular low-income child care subsidy program. If you have questions or would like to speak with someone about eligibility requirements for the SIR program, please call (800) 234-9306 or send an email to childcareSIR@dfwjobs.com.

Apply Online: dfwjobs.com/free Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For the hearing impaired, call TDD 1-800-735-2989 or VOICE 1-800-735-2988. For more information, visit www.dfwjobs.com.

pages / F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H

2022

FEATURE 30 The Kids Are Not Alright

The pandemic has weighed heavily on everyone—and our children may be adults before we truly understand what the last two years have done to them

DEPARTMENTS NOTED 9 Right on the Money Give your child a head start on financial literacy 12 Cost of Care How much Dallas-Fort Worth moms and dads are paying for nannies, sitters and daycare

➽ ABOVE // Dallas mom Mimi Sterling doesn’t sugarcoat the nature of The Family Place’s work—assisting survivors of domestic violence—when talking to her children.

SPECIAL SECTIONS MOM APPROVED

23 We Laughed, We Cried, We Fell Asleep DFWChild staffers reflect on their experiences with pregnancy and child birth, and offer personal advice for moms-to-be 24 Mom-Approved OB-GYNs, Midwives and Fertility Specialists Women’s health providers who get local moms’ stamps of approval

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN HUNSINGER; ISTOCK

SUMMER CAMP 35 Happy Campers

Want to help your child grow stronger, smarter and more independent? Send them to summer camp (and now’s the time to plan)

ON THE COVER Cover Kid: 7-year-old Claire of Flower Mound Photography: Nick Prendergast Hair/Makeup: Lana Adams/Kim Dawson Agency

14 Ask the Experts / Sound Advice Does potty training go south when it comes to “number 2”? One of our Mom-Approved Pediatricians weighs in REAL MOMS 17 Mom Next Door / Mimi Sterling This Dallas mom left behind the corporate world to lead a nonprofit— and found a new level of meaning and inspiration 20 Briefs / Stopping Domestic Violence Learn about the signs of an abusive relationship, and find local resources for help and safety PLAYBOOK 41 Things To Do Family fun for February and March

COLUMNS 6 Hello / Life Goes On

Bringing peace, security and joy to your family, no matter what’s happening in the outside world words Alexis Patterson

54 Looking Back

Three decades later, a North Texas mother and daughter look back on their firsthand experiences with pediatric cancer

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

hello / E D I T O R ’ S

NOTE

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16150 Preston Rd Dallas, TX 75248 972.233.1026 fairhill.org fairhill@fairhill.org

LIFE GOES ON ABOVE // Alexis Patterson with her son Grayson at their home in Grapevine.

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NE AFTERNOON IN MARCH 2020, I walked out of my office at DFWChild, expecting to work remotely for a few weeks while this coronavirus situation cleared up. I never dreamed that my workfrom-home setup would become permanent or that two years later we’d still be dealing with COVID-19. Yet, here we are—my child’s school closed, again. More rampant infections. Lingering uncertainty. While we’re managing our own thoughts and stress about the pandemic, it’s important to know how our kids are feeling—even if (especially if) they’re not expressing a lot of obvious anxiety. When I read the feature article for this issue (“The Kids Are Not Alright,” Page 30), I was reminded that the signs of struggle can be subtle or completely silent. Things you’re brushing off as frustrating-but-normal kid behavior might signify a real problem. And while children are known for their resilience, the experts we interviewed indicated that the pandemic could cause long-term problems for their overall well-being. If this feels bleak, know that there are ways to overcome those challenges and foster peace, security and joy in your family—no matter what’s happening in the outside world. This issue offers strategies for recognizing and relieving anxiety in your child. We’ve compiled ways to get help for family violence, which has increased during the pandemic, as part of our interview with The Family Place’s Mimi Sterling (Page 17). If you just need more opportunities to bond with your child, check out our Playbook section (Page 41) for great family events. In this issue, you’ll also find our annual list of Mom-Approved OB-GYNs, Midwives and Fertility Specialists (Page 24), expert advice for a common potty-training issue (Page 14), a guide to teaching your child about money (Page 9) and more. We’re sharing a good mix of critical, pandemic-related information and resources for everyday parenting—because despite it all, life goes on.

Wishing you well,

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXIS PATTERSON

• Grades 1-12 (Fully Accredited) • Personalized Instructional Support • Low Student-Teacher Ratio • Dyslexia Intervention • Multi-sensory Instruction • Executive Functions Program • College Prep Curriculum Supported by Technology • Sports, Fine Arts & Leadership Options

PUBLISHER/ A D V E R T I S I N G D I R E C TO R Joylyn Niebes A S S O C I AT E PUBLISHER/ E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F Lauren Niebes E D I TO R I A L Managing Editor Alexis Patterson Contributing Writer Erin Hayes Burt Contributing Copy Editor Emily Laskowski D I G I TA L Web + Calendar Editor Elizabeth Smith Digital Manager/Publishing Coordinator Susan Horn ART Art Director Reneé Higgins ADVERTISING Account Executives Alison Davis Nancy McDaniel Advertising Coordinator Isabel Pisani A D M I N I S T R AT I O N Business Manager Leah Wagner Office Manager/Bookkeeper Ann Mathai HOW TO CONTACT US: Address: P.O. Box 2269 Addison, Texas 75001 Phone: 800/638-4461 or 972/447-9188 Fax: 972/447-0633 or 972/447-0425 Online: dfwchild.com DFWChild is published bimonthly by Lauren Publications, Inc. DFWChild is distributed free of charge, one copy per reader. Only authorized distributors may deliver or pick up the magazines. Additional or back copies are available for $2 per copy at the offices of Lauren Publications, Inc. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. DFWChild is ©2022 by Lauren Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission prohibited. DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

noted. RIGHT ON THE MONEY

Preparing young kids to understand spending and saving ISTOCK

WORDS

VICTORIA TONG + ALEXIS PATTERSON

T’S A PROBLEM VIRTUALLY EVERY PARENT ENCOUNTERS WHEN THEY RUN INTO A STORE. Your child spots something they

want. Let the pestering and begging begin, right? Most kids don’t really need another toy. But there’s something else that’s annoying about the “can-I-haves.” Kids often don’t really understand that toys cost money and that money isn’t unlimited. Spending even a little here and a little there adds up. Hey, that’s a lesson some adults struggle with too. While there’s not much you can do in the moment (insert in-store meltdown here), there is something you can do over time: teach them about spending and saving. There’s a lot to understand, but you’ll be doing your child a favor in the long run. In our next issue, we’ll cover everything from credit cards to cryptocurrency—here, we start with the basics. DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

Mommy & Me

noted / R I G H T

ON THE MONEY

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february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

The right age to begin introducing the concept of money may be younger than you think. “I suggest parents start as soon as their kids are asking for things and old enough to not put money in their mouth,” says Plano mom Keli Calderon, who founded The Smart Money Academy, a financial literacy program with online classes for kids (thesmartmoneyacademy.com). Numbers and counting are fundamental to money, so start there with your toddler. Count beads, Goldfish crackers, buttons, anything—then start counting coins. Go over the names of the coins and what they’re worth. To reinforce those concepts, MidCities Montessori preschool teacher Laura Lee uses coin games. “Parents can play the mystery money bag game, where you reach into a bag of coins and pull out one coin each and have the child determine what coin holds the largest value,” the Bedford teacher suggests. You can also hold out two coins and ask them to identify, say, the nickel. Kids can sort a pile of mixed coins to get used to the different sizes, colors and designs. As your child moves into addition, help them add a few coins and bills together.

SAVING FOR THE FUTURE

To introduce the idea of saving to your child, help them think of something they’d like to save for. Since kids are often visual learners, give them a clear jar for storing their money and a chart to color in their progress toward the item. Starting with a relatively small purchase is a good idea, so they can experience success quickly. Some kids will be natural savers; others will want to spend as soon as the money is in hand. To encourage saving, offer to match their savings for large purchases or provide opportunities for extra chores. But don’t force saving. Calderon says it’s a skill generally learned over time. “Saving out of obligation may ultimately lead to resentment and is a lost learning opportunity,” she shares. “Since my husband and I don’t pay for everything our kids want, they are self-motivated to save.”

“THEY UNDERSTAND AT AN EARLY AGE, ‘THIS IS MY JOB, AND THIS IS HOW I GET PAID.’”

EARNING DOLLARS AND MAKING SENSE

Counting money is important—but how do you help your child understand money’s value and meaning? Calderon says it’s important for kids to see bills and coins being exchanged for items at a store. Small children need to see and handle physical money; they’re not ready for abstract forms of money like a debit card, according to Calderon. Still, it’s not enough for kids to see that they can buy things with money. They need a sense of where money comes from. That’s why Calderon recommends that parents give their children simple chores for an earned allowance. With an earned allowance (as opposed to money given without responsibilities), kids make the connection between work and pay. Richardson ISD teacher Christina Etri has seen this play out in her classroom. She’s a junior high teacher now, but when Etri taught third graders, each of her students had an in-class job and got paid in classroom currency. “They understand at an early age, ‘This is my job, and this is how I get paid,’” Etri says. Her students could “buy” a pajama day or an item from the classroom store, or save their earnings for an end-of-the-year auction.

TRIAL AND ERROR

While you’ve probably seen ads for kids’ debit cards or similar products, stay with physical money until around age 9 or 10. “Studies have shown that spending cash actually triggers pain receptors in the brain. This doesn’t happen with debit and credit cards,” Calderon says. “The pain is an important part of teaching kids the value of money. If we move to virtual money too quickly with our kids, spending money becomes ‘painless’ to them.” Another pain they need to feel: money mistakes. “It’s fine to give [your child] advice about a purchase,” Calderon says, “but there are great lessons to be learned in mistakes, too.” Finally, talk to your kiddo about keeping money secure. “Role play different scenarios with your kids,” recommends Calderon. “What might happen if you brag about how much money you have? What might happen if you show it to people?” DON’T DELAY

For parents who aren’t particularly savvy when it comes to money, there might be some hesitancy to attempt to teach their kids. Calderon admits that her own finances were a mess when her sons were little, so she started them on money lessons later. If you’re in a similar position, she encourages you not to wait. “It is important to push through these feelings so that money issues do not become a generational legacy,” she urges, pointing out that parents don’t have to be stock market experts or real estate moguls. “Just learning and passing on the basics can make all the difference.”

ART Break!

Join us at the Modern for ART Break 2022! Take an ART Break during spring break, March 14–18. Even though you can’t touch the art (!), we have fun, hands-on, creative activities designed for the whole family to enjoy together - everyday 11 am–3 pm. Get your creative energy flowing as you work on your own projects while spending time with the Modern’s collection of paintings, photographs, sculpture, and video.

Free Spring Break Monday and Friday Monday, March 14 and Friday, March 18 its FREE for ALL at the Modern. Admission for kids under 18 is free every day.

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth 3200 Darnell Street Fort Worth, Texas 76107 817.738.9215

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

noted / C H I L D

CARE

plied to a membership if you join. 817/993-6288; trustingconnections.com

C E N T E R- BASE D CARE

The going rates for nannies, sitters and daycare WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON

DALLAS-FORT WORTH PARENTS HAVE AN ARRAY OF CHILD CARE OPTIONS. Whether you’re searching for occasional babysitting, a nanny who will chauffeur your kids and prep meals, or a center that will keep your littles occupied till the end of the workday, this sampling of services will give you a better idea of what child care costs where you live.

SITTERS $ LOCAL TEEN Hire a teenager in your neighborhood for a single job or regular care. Wage: $15 per hour is the average for up to three kids, according to local moms we surveyed. $$ CARE.COM Sitters are listed online with an hourly wage range, a short bio, photo, background check, designations and sometimes reviews. Caregivers are not employed by Care.com, but to be eligible for listing, they must pass an annual screening. Areas served: Varies by sitter Member fee: Basic family membership: free; premium membership (contact caregivers, access background checks and other services): $39 for one month, $78 for three months and $156 for one year Wage: The average for babysitters hired through Care.com in Dallas: $15 per hour; Frisco: $14.25 per hour; Fort Worth: $13.50 per hour. Other costs: None care.com $$$ MOM’S BEST FRIEND Mom’s Best Friend provides fully vetted sitters who watch kids for date nights, school holidays, hotel care and other needs. Sitters are 12

certified in first aid and CPR. Areas served: Dallas-Fort Worth Member fee: $150 annual fee Wage: $20 per hour Other costs: Service fee of $35– $40 per job, depending on the job’s duration; drug testing available 972/446-0500; momsbestfriend.com

NA N N Y SE RV IC E S $ ENANNYSOURCE.COM This online job board lists available nannies, their rates and experience. Parents can also post listings when looking to hire a nanny. Areas served: Varies by nanny Member fee: To contact nannies and access background checks: $49 for one month; $39 per month for three months; $25 per month for six months Wage: Varies. Most Texan nannies expect a gross wage of $17–$24 per hour, according to enannysource.com. Other costs: Background checks ($24–$94) and personality assessments ($39) for any nanny candidate, not only those found through the service 888/963-7561; enannysource.com $$ MOM’S BEST FRIEND This nanny agency creates custom job descriptions for member fami-

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

lies and recruits candidates; those who pass a 10-step screening, including criminal background check, are shared for parents to interview. Nannies are certified in first aid and CPR. Areas served: Dallas-Fort Worth Member fee: $300 annual membership and placement fee of 15% of the nanny’s gross annual income Wage: $23–$25 per hour; may be higher depending on number of children and nanny’s duties Other costs: Drug testing available 972/446-0500; momsbestfriend.com $$$ TRUSTING CONNECTIONS Trusting Connections gives member families access to a pool of nannies (for parents needing flexibility in care hours) or a single nanny (for those who have a set schedule). Nannies are vetted by a private detective, drug tested and have training in first aid and CPR. Areas served: Dallas-Fort Worth area. See trustingconnections.com/ dallas-fort-worth for a service map. Member fee: $120 for three months using the nanny team; up to $499 for a year with a consistent nanny Wage: $31–$35 per hour, depending on number of children and ages Other costs: $65 registration and consultation fee, which will be ap-

$$ KINDERCARE KinderCare centers provide fulltime daycare, part-time daycare, infant care, pre-K and more programs (offerings may vary by location). Ages served: 6 weeks–12 years Tuition: The average in Dallas-Fort Worth ranges from $800–$1,400 per month. Other costs: None 855/525-2780; kindercare.com $$$ PRIMROSE SCHOOLS Full-time daycare, part-time care, infant care, pre-K and other programs are available at DallasFort Worth’s 65 Primrose Schools (offerings may vary by location). Ages served: 6 weeks–6 years; afterschool care for kids through age 12 and summer programs for kids through fifth grade Tuition: Varies by location, age and number of days enrolled. The upper end at the jointly owned Preston Hollow and new White Rock locations in Dallas is $400 a week, or $1,730 a month, for infants. Additional costs: None for infants and toddlers primroseschools.com To learn about even more child care

➽ options, visit dfwchild.com.

ISTOCK

cost of care

$ LENA POPE EARLY LEARNING CENTERS Lena Pope provides full-time Monday–Friday care, with a primary focus on serving working families. Locations: Main campus, 3200 Sanguinet Street, Fort Worth; UNT Health Science Center, 3620 Modlin Ave., Fort Worth Ages served: 6 weeks–3 years for child care; pre-K also available Tuition: $300 per week for infants (up to 18 months); $275 per week for toddlers (18 months–3 years). Lena Pope accepts families with Tarrant County Child Care Management Services grant funding. Sliding-scale tuition is offered based on household income. Other costs: None Main campus, 817/255-2562; UNT Health Science Center, 817/569-6255; lenapope.org/early-learning-centers

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

noted / A S K

THE EXPERTS

SOUND ADVICE Your parenting questions and dilemmas, solved

POTTY PROBLEMS Dallas-Fort Worth’s #1 parenting resource for over 30 years THAT’S A LOT OF BIRTHDAYS! Our newsletters are full of the latest parenting trends, mom favorites, and DFW’s best family-friendly events. Join our family today and get all the sweet stuff delivered to your inbox.

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THE EXPERT: Norah Randles, M.D. Richardson Pediatric Associates DFWChild Mom-Approved Pediatrician

Q: “I have boy-girl twins who are 3 1/2 years old. They’ve both been ‘peetrained’ for a year (him) and a year and a half (her). Both wear diapers at night, and they hold their poop till then. Why is this happening, and how can I address it?” —Christina, Dallas A: I have daily conversations with parents over varying potty-training troubles. Stooling when placed back in the diaper is a common topic. Potty training is frustrating for many parents. You are ready to be done with diapers and move on to bathroom independence. Historically, potty training occurred around age 3, but I have noticed a trend of earlier ages being encouraged to use the potty. So the problem may be that your child is just not ready yet. Potty training is typically mastered in stages: daytime, naptime and then finally nighttime dryness. Stooling continence can occur at any time, or be the very last stage. Using a combination of diapers with big kid underwear is common due to the emerging stages of potty training and should not cause confusion for your child. There is some thought that it is all or nothing, but this is not practical for either parent or child. Some children can be motivated with the idea of “big kid underwear,” but many are not enticed to use the potty with this technique.

The parent will just be changing clothes frequently and doing more laundry. Stool holding and constipation are two common hurdles. Picky eating tends to cause a change in stool pattern. It can also cause constipation with large, hard and even painful stools. Painful stools are no fun and can trigger an association of pain with the potty. This leads to fear of using the toilet for “number 2” and then holding due to fear of pain. This cycle of withholding leads to even more constipation and pain for the toddler and anguish for their parents. Although it can feel like a step backward, I recommend talking to your child and letting them know that it is OK to still poop in their diaper. Ask them to tell you when they want the diaper, let them stool, clean them up and put them back in their underwear. If your child is not able to tell you when they need to stool, place them in a diaper after dinner or daycare pickup. Let them do their business and again clean up and place in underwear. During this time, monitor their stool consistency and work on trying to get it softer— healthy toddler stools are like soft-serve ice cream. Make sure they are drinking a lot of water, and eat (or sneak in) those veggies. This approach takes away any pressure your toddler feels to use the big potty and will lead to healthier daily habits. After time, ask your child if they are ready to try the potty for stool, and if they are, then go! The less stress that is placed on pooping in the potty, the easier it tends to be on everyone. Withholding stool is a common toddler behavior—but if you feel you have explored all options and are still unsuccessful at ditching the diapers, I would encourage you to speak with your pediatrician. Occasionally a medication or a referral to a gastrointestinal specialist may be warranted. If you have a parenting question that you’d like our experts to answer, message us on Instagram @dfwchildmag or email us at editorial@dfwchild.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHEL LEDBETTER PHOTOGRAPHY; ISTOCK

COMPILED BY ALEXIS PATTERSON

TCU Music Preparatory Division

SATURDAY

FEB. 19

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

LEVY EVENT PLAZA

501 E. Las Colinas Blvd.

WINTER FESTIVAL

From early childhood music to private lessons for all ages, TCU’s Music Preparatory Program offers a wide variety of instruction. Music Together for infants to age 8, private piano, voice, instrumental and string lessons for all levels. • Private Lessons, Piano & Instrumental (ages 6–adult): 817-257-7604

Snow Tubing Hills & Play Area Ice Carving  Face Painting Petting Zoo Animals  Crafts Train Rides  Photo Station

• Computer Lab for Theory Instruction: 817-257-5458 • Private Voice Lessons (ages 12–adult): 817-257-7604 • Private Lessons in Strings (ages 3–adult): 817-257-5505 • Music Together® (infant–age 4): 817-257-6134

FREE ADMISSION

$10 Parking Food will be available for purchase.

• Music Together® Rhythm Kids™ (ages 4–8): 817-257-6134 • Music Together® Generations (infant–age 4): 817-257-6134 For more information, visit

IrvingEvents.org

musicprep.tcu.edu

musicprep@tcu.edu

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

real moms. mom next door /

MIMI STERLING Finding home—and greater meaning—in Dallas

RÉSUMÉ CURRENT POSITION

CEO of The Family Place, a Dallasbased agency assisting survivors of domestic violence AGE 44 LIVES IN East Dallas’ Lakewood area HAILS FROM

Indianapolis ALMA MATER

Connecticut College, where she majored in French and Italian SIGNIFICANT OTHER

Husband Rich, a former chef who works in health insurance sales CHILDREN Daughters Veva, 10, and Poppy, 2; son Murphy, 9 WHERE TO CONNECT

MIMI'S HAIR/MAKEUP BY LAURA LEKA OF RYAN HENRY HAIR CO.

LinkedIn and Facebook @mimicrume

➽ ABOVE // Mimi Sterling's mom lives with the family. Sterling jokes, “I always describe her as my wife. She does all the meals and the laundry.”

INTERVIEW A L E X I S PAT T E R S O N PHOTOGRAPHY NATHAN HUNSINGER

IMI STERLING HAS SEEN THE WORLD. In college, she studied abroad

in North Africa and Europe. Her professional roles—in fashion, travel and publishing—have taken her to Italy, New York, France, Switzerland and the Caribbean. A corporate role with Neiman Marcus Group, where her responsibilities ranged from the store’s signature fantasy gifts to philanthropy and internal culture, brought her to Dallas. “My former boss said to me,

‘You’ve lived in Morocco. I’m sure you’d do fine in Texas,’” Sterling recalls. Dallas became more than a stop in a globetrotting career. This is home, and Sterling’s new job allows her to give back to her community like never before. She is CEO of The Family Place, a nonprofit that works to eliminate family violence and helps survivors through no-cost counseling, emergency shelter and transitional housing. It’s a weighty and heartbreaking subject, to be sure, but Sterling has never been more fulfilled. DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

real moms

/ MOM NEXT DOOR

DFWCHILD: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO LEAVE NEIMAN MARCUS FOR THE FAMILY PLACE? MIMI STERLING: Ultimately, the oppor-

tunity to have my work really have meaning was something I didn’t know I could have. I got a taste of that at Neiman, working on brave conversations, trust and being part of a diverse environment. Still, we would joke, “It’s not brain surgery. It’s not life or death.” And now it’s not a joke. I say in the office, “Someone could die. We have to fix that.” C: YOU TOOK OVER FROM PAIGE FLINK, WHO LED THE FAMILY PLACE FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES BEFORE RETIRING AS CEO LAST SEPTEMBER. THOSE ARE BIG SHOES TO FILL. MS: She is a big part of the reason why I’m

here. Paige deserves so much credit for building The Family Place into what it is today. She is a true advocate for our clients, and I really draw from her hard work and dedication.

Looking for fun things to do with your family? Check out the calendar on dfwchild.com to see what cool things are happening—festivals, events and family-friendly destinations. Get out and take advantage of all that Dallas–Fort Worth has to offer.

Visit our calendar: dfwchild.com/calendar

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february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

C: A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN’T IMAGINE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAPPENING TO THEM OR TO SOMEONE THEY KNOW. MS: One in three Texans—including

both men and women, but more often women—are victims of domestic violence. Every year there are approximately 15,000 family violence offenses in Dallas alone and more than 8,000 requests for protective orders from the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. The violence happens in every social class, every kind of family. And we’ve seen an increase since the pandemic began. People are stuck together, kids are doing remote school, people are suffering job loss and financial stress—those are pressures that fuel domestic violence. If it’s one in three experiencing violence, we all have sisters, daughters, mothers, friends who are going through it. There are people I know through everyday activities who are clients of The Family Place. I don’t want to say that’s surprising, because I know domestic violence is out there, but that really brings it home. Remember, domestic violence doesn’t mean only a push or shove or black eye. It means isolation. It means financial control. It means emotional traumatization and any type of physical or emotional abuse.

C: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A HEAVY TOPIC. HOW DOES BEING IN THAT WORLD ON A DAILY BASIS AFFECT YOU? MS: I have gone into my office and cried

a few times. It’s hard. I work in a building that is half shelter, and I see some of the same women, children and pets every day. I don’t always know the stories, but I see women doing everything they can for their children. It gives me so much humility. I have always been a grateful person, but this job has given me a huge amount of gratitude for the team we have in place and our ability to solve very

complex and serious challenges. I feel frustrated sometimes that I can’t solve problems fast enough. I can’t always fix their challenge. I can try and the work is helping, but it’s a long process. That's why community support and collaboration with our many partners in Dallas is so important.

C: WAS IT DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN THE FAMILY PLACE’S WORK TO YOUR CHILDREN? MS: We’re very direct as a family, and I talk

about things I see—a mom who has four kids and can’t afford car seats, and she has a black eye, or she has a gunshot wound. I tell them I saw a dad whose wife almost killed him. I probably should sugarcoat it, but I don’t. This work has given me a platform to reiterate to my kids that it’s so important to be kind and to contribute in a positive way. We talk about if you see somebody having a bad day, don’t just think they’re mean. There’s probably something going on.

C: HOW DO YOU RAISE YOUR CHILDREN TO BE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTORS? MS: Our kids participate. They went

with us to The Family Place on Thanksgiving and served lunch. The kids saw families that weren’t at home and what that meant. My children have chores. And while we have a warm, safe house in a warm, safe neighborhood, we talk about how that’s a privilege. Not every kid has access to an iPad and vacations. It is such a joy when my children say, “Mom, is there anything I can help out with today?” I think a lot of that comes from my mom. She lives with us, and we call her Grammie Nanny. She’s our structure and keeps us running. She says to the kids, “You guys have to get to work. We’re going to take out the trash. We’re going to wash the windows.” C: YOUR OLDER TWO KIDS WERE BORN IN NEW YORK. WHAT WAS IT LIKE RAISING KIDS THERE VERSUS IN DALLAS? MS: One thing we love about New York

is the innate neighborhood diversity. Here, we all need to be more deliberate about fostering neighborhood inclusion and diversity. You’re exposed to different things by living in different places. New York is such a rich place with a lot of energy, but it’s also overwhelming and stressful. I love that our family has found Dallas. It has wonderful cultural institutions, great public schools, wonderful parks, nice people— really, really nice people. C: WHAT’S A TYPICAL WEEKEND LIKE FOR YOUR FAMILY? MS: Wake up, clean up the house. Run

out to lunch. Murphy does basketball and soccer. Errands. Birthday parties. We may go to the Dallas Museum of Art or the Kimbell. We love Klyde Warren Park and Dallas Children’s Aquarium. Hopefully we’d have dinner with a friend. Nothing crazy. Simple is good.

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

real moms /

STOPPING DOMESTIC V IOLENCE local resources for finding safety and supporting survivors WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON

FROM TH E FA M I LY PL AC E

ONE IN 3 TEXANS

10 WARNING SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

Gets too close, too fast. Pressures you into a serious relationship right away. Always has to know where you are. Calls constantly; visits without warning; checks the mileage on your car; tracks you with mobile devices. Controlling. Insists you ask permission to go anywhere or do anything. Isolates you. Stops you from seeing friends or family or from going to work, church or school functions. Blames you for his or her feelings. Says “You make me angry,” instead of “I am angry.” Cruel to animals. Violent toward pets or other animals; mistreats, abuses or kills them. Displays “playful” use of force. Throws or holds you down; forces you to be intimate and doesn’t accept no for an answer. Verbal or emotional assaults. Constantly says cruel, hurtful things; curses and calls you names; publicly humiliates you. Displays sudden mood swings. Quickly switches from sweet and loving to angry and violent. Hurts you financially. Makes demands about how you spend your money; monitors your spending through your receipts, bank account or checkbook.

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

EXPERIENCES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHICH INCLUDES PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND VERBAL ABUSE. IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ANY PROFESSION. WHETHER YOU’RE WEIGHING YOUR SAFETY OR THAT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, HERE’S WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND WAYS TO GIVE OR GET HELP ACROSS DALLAS-FORT WORTH. WH E R E TO G E T H E LP

FOR YOURSELF OR SOMEONE YOU’RE CONCERNED ABOUT

DENTON COUNTY FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY. Emergency shelter,

counseling, advocacy services for survivors, and transitional housing. Denton area, 940/382-7273 (24-hour hotline—call or text); dcfof.org. THE FAMILY PLACE. Emergency shelter (services for women, men and children) with medical and dental care, shelter for family pets, counseling, job and life skills training, K–2 school plus other education programs, transitional housing and other assistance. The Family Place can also check bed availability and refer victims to 15 other shelters in North Texas and beyond, with more partner shelters set to come online this year. Dallas, 214/9411991 (24-hour hotline); familyplace.org. GENESIS WOMEN’S SHELTER & SUPPORT. Emergency shelter, counseling, legal

services and transitional housing. Dallas, 214/946-4357 (24-hour hotline—call or text); genesisshelter.org.

HOPE’S DOOR NEW BEGINNING CENTER. Emergency shelter, counseling, case

management, legal advocacy, transitional housing. Garland and Plano, 214/276-0057 (24-hour hotline); hdnbc.org.

SAFEHAVEN OF TARRANT COUNTY.

Emergency shelter, transitional housing with subsidized rent assistance, counseling, case management and legal support. Arlington and Fort Worth, 877/701-7233 (24-hour hotline); safehaventc.org.

TEXAS MUSLIM WOMEN’S FOUNDATION. Emergency shelter, transitional hous-

ing and immediate permanent re-housing, counseling, legal support, financial literacy assistance and case management; other social services, such as refugee advocacy, also provided. Staff members speak more than 15 languages, and the organization is open to all families. Plano, 972/880-4192 (24-hour hotline); tmwf.org.

ISTOCK

BRIEFS

WH AT TO LO O K FO R

SIGNS A FRIEND MAY BE IN TROUBLE… • Unexplained injuries, or explanations that don’t really make sense. • Personality changes, such as low self-esteem in someone who was always confident. • Constantly checking in with their partner. • Never having money on hand. • Overly worried about pleasing their partner. • Skipping out on work, school or social outings for no clear reason.

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... AND WHAT TO SAY

Let them know you care. Ask direct questions gently, and give them time to talk. If necessary, ask again a few days later. Don’t rush to provide solutions (although if someone is in immediate danger, call 911). Listen without judging. Victims often feel ashamed and afraid of judgment. It’s important for your friend to hear “It’s not your fault!” Explain that there’s never an excuse for domestic violence—not alcohol, drugs, financial pressures, depression, jealousy or work stress. Tell your friend that help is available and to contact The Family Place or another shelter listed here. If the victim lives outside Dallas-Fort Worth, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800/799-7233. Encourage your friend to make a plan to leave and to have important papers ready. Shelter professionals can assist with plans for leaving. Tell your friend to document the abuse in medical records and talk to their doctor about the abuse. Remind your friend that domestic violence is a serious crime and that victims can call the police and get a protective order. If your friend remains in the relationship, continue to express your concern. It takes most victims several tries to leave.

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february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

it did. For someone who is Type A, that was a bit hard to do—but I am glad I did.” —Joy Niebes, publisher, mom of three THE REALITY OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

“Once when my daughter was a newborn and my son was 3, I couldn’t find my daughter anywhere in the house. I looked all over for her, pacing up and down the stairs, feeling very anxious and upset. I thought I had lost her and was calling her name over and over, when I realized I was holding her in my arms the whole time.” —Nancy McDaniel, advertising account executive, mom of two … AND THE HILARITY OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

We Laughed, We Cried, We Fell Asleep

“One night I was nursing my [first] baby in bed and fell asleep...I woke up thinking I lost the baby and woke my husband up to find him for me. My husband was so delirious, he was running around the room looking all over for our sweet boy. Ended up, he was right beside me! We were so sleep deprived and we couldn’t stop laughing.” —Alison Davis, advertising account executive, mom of three

MOM ADVICE AND ANECDOTES FROM DFWCHILD STAFF

ON MORAL SUPPORT

WORDS ELIZABETH SMITH

EVERY OB-GYN, MIDWIFE AND FERTILITY SPECIALIST LISTED on the following pages was recently nominated by

our readers, many of whom gushed over how these doctors made a positive difference in their lives and birthing experiences. (Read the full comments in our Mom Approved directory online at dfwchild. com/momapproved.) This made us nostalgic and reminisce about our personal histories with birth and babies, so we created our own version of What to Expect When You’re Expecting, according to us here at DFWChild. Read on to find out what we wish we knew, what we’d do differently and more stories we love to retell about the good, the bad and the giggle-worthy.

PACK YOUR BAGS

“Don’t delay getting a bag packed. I went into labor the day I hit 37 weeks, and I had to go to the hospital with nothing but my purse. I didn’t have any comfy clothes with me for my time in the hospital or for going home, and no clothes with me for the baby. No toiletries or toothbrush! Someone had to go to my house and guess what I wanted.” —Alexis Patterson, managing editor, mom of one

GO WITH YOUR GUT

“You’re not just choosing the doctor, you’re choosing the entire practice (including nurses), so be sure you like and trust the other doctors as well. You never know who will be on call when it’s time to deliver, or even do your embryo transfer (in my case). Visits to my first (highlyrecommended) fertility doctor felt like I needed to prepare for battle and advocate for myself at every turn. After my first treatment

cycle with them, I left and found a smaller, also highly regarded, practice with a doctor (and team of nurses!) who were a great fit for me and made me feel at ease throughout the entire process. And ultimately, I had a successful embryo transfer and pregnancy!” —Lauren Niebes, associate publisher, soon-to-be-mom of one MIDWIFE’S THE CHARM

“I’ve had three births and each of them was totally different from the others [C-section, VBAC and midwife]. [For my last delivery,] I was able to have a midwife for a hospital birth, and I also had a doula helping with the delivery and an OB there, in case anything would go wrong. That was my easiest birth. My son was born within an hour of getting to the hospital! When leaving the hospital, I was told by my doula to stay in bed and let people wait on me for as long as I could handle it and my recovery would go faster…and

“I was very sick all throughout my pregnancies because I had hyperemesis, or constant vomiting. (Kate Middleton had the same thing.) I couldn’t keep any food down, and there were periods when I was in and out of the hospital for two or three weeks at a time. And I can tell you that the most important thing for the physical health and emotional well-being of a mom is to have empathy and support from your spouse.” —Ann Mathai, office manager, mom of two LOVED BEING PREGNANT

“Not sure how to put it into words…I just felt happy all the time. I guess it was a feeling of not being alone. Although I’ve always been a pretty independent person, having him felt so right.” —Reneé Higgins, art director, mom of one WHAT DOES MOM APPROVED MEAN? READ ON TO FIND OUT. ➜

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

mom approved

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Method to our mad-ness The Methodology for our Mom Approved Surveys HERE IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH, WE’RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LOT OF CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE. So how do you find an OB-GYN, midwife or fertility specialist who’s perfect for you? You ask another mom for her recommendation—and that’s what we do every year with our readers. Below is our 2022 Mom Approved guide for women’s health. The providers don’t make it on our list by advertising, and they’re not voted on by their colleagues. These doctors and midwives are all nominated by local moms like you. Each provider was in good standing at press time. For all our Mom-Approved professionals, visit dfwchild.com/momapproved.

Mom Approved 2022

OB-GYNS, MIDWIVES & FERTILITY SPECIALISTS CO M P I L E D BY E L I Z A B E T H S M I T H A N D A L E X I S PAT T E R S O N

DALLAS

Escobar, Julian MD Conceive Fertility Center Jones, Tiffanny MD Conceive Fertility Center Marynick, Samuel MD Texas Center for Reproductive Health Mucowski, Sara MD Dallas IVF Saleh, Walid MD Center for Reproductive Endocrinology (CRE)

FORT WORTH

Kaufman, Robert MD, FACOG Fort Worth Fertility

FRISCO

Barnett, Brian MD Dallas IVF Jones, Tiffanny MD Conceive Fertility Center Ku, Lowell MD Dallas IVF 24

GRAPEVINE

Reed, Beverly MD IVFMD

IRVING

Escobar, Julian MD Conceive Fertility Center Le, Sy MD IVFMD

PLANO

Douglas, James MD IVF Plano

MIDWIVES ADDISON

Lively, Cori LM, CPM Barefoot Midwifery

ALLEN

Bhansali, Rebekah MSN, CNM Allen Midwifery & Family Wellness Giles, Amy DNP, CNM Allen Midwifery & Family Wellness

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

Michelac, Maisey MSN, CNM, FNP-C Allen Midwifery & Family Wellness Miller, Eva MSN, CNM Allen Midwifery & Family Wellness Olvera, Lauren DNP, CNM Allen Midwifery & Family Wellness Watson, Courtney MSN, CNM, WHNP-C Allen Midwifery & Family Wellness

ARGYLE

Grames, Kassidy LM, CPM All About Babies Argyle Birth Center, LLC

CROWLEY

Hinton, Jamie LM, CPM Ordinary Miracle Childbirth Services

DALLAS

Congleton, Johanna DNP, CNM Dallas Midwife Associates Dishman, Melissa MSN, CNM Dallas Midwife Associates Hines, Becky LM, CPM Dallas Birth

Hinrichs, Shanna LM, CPM Natural Born Midwifery Houser, Taylor DNP, CNM Dallas Midwife Associates Jones, Adrienne MSN, APRN, CNM Modern Midwifery Mathis, Erika MSN, CNM Dallas Midwife Associates Morrow, Carla DNP, CNM Dallas Midwife Associates Stricker, Bethany LM, CPM North Texas Midwifery Tate, Amy CPM, LM, CLC Swiss Avenue Birth & Wellness

FLOWER MOUND

Gross, Marsha APRN, CNM, MSN Flourish Birth & Wellness Center

Morrow, Carla DNP, CNM Fort Worth Birthing & Wellness Center Stanton, Ashley LM, CPM Fort Worth Midwifery

FRISCO

Mitchell, Teri APRN, CNM, IBCLC BundleBorn Midwifery Wallis, Margie LM, CPM Frisco Birth Center

GRAND PRAIRIE

Quigley, Karen LM, IBCLC, CPM Family Birth Services Thorp, Becky LM, CPM Family Birth Services Yankus, Lincey LM, CPM HeartStrings Midwifery

GRAPEVINE

Daly, Kim LM, CPM Grapevine Birthing Center

FORT WORTH

HURST

Ewell, Tara CNM Fort Worth Birthing & Wellness Center

Massey, Michele LM, CPM Gentle Beginnings Birth & Wellness Center

Diamond, Hannah CNM Texas Heath Nurse Midwife Care

Mago, Leighah LM, CPM Gentle Beginnings Birth & Wellness Center

ISTOCK

FERTILITY SPECIALISTS

Noorhasan, Dorette MD CCRM Fertility Dallas-Fort Worth

mom approved

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

IRVING

Santangelo, Traci APRN, MS, CNM BirthPointe Sartini, Anissa LM, CPM Metroplex Midwifery

KELLER

LeGrand, Justine LM, CPM Origins Birth & Wellness Collective Thompson, Rachel LM, CPM Origins Birth & Wellness Collective Thomson, Gina LM, CPM Origins Birth & Wellness Collective Wages, Kaitlyn LM, CPM Origins Birth & Wellness Collective

MCKINNEY

Costello, Holly CNM, FNP-BC Adriatica Women’s Health DeStefano, Robin LM, CPM Legacy Midwives Hinrichs, Shanna LM, CPM Natural Born Midwifery Mayorga, Kathleen APRN, CNM Bella Births Young, Krista LM, CPM Legacy Midwives

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS

OB-GYNS BEDFORD

Parikh, Manisha MD USMD OB-GYN Mid-Cities Clinic Wood, Beverly MD Generations OB-GYN Group, P.A.

BURLESON

Chellappan, Chandra MD, FACOG Miracle OB-GYN See ad on Page 28 Ondrizek, Richard MD Richard R. Ondrizek, MD Roberts, Zoey MD Women’s Health Medical Group

CEDAR HILL

Woodus, Tiffany MD, FACOG Woodus Obstetrics & Gynecology

DALLAS

Blewett, Kavitha MD, FACOG Women’s Health Specialists of Dallas See ad on Page 27 Caram, Bianca MD, FACOG Legacy Women’s Health

Hinton, Jamie LM, CPM Ordinary Miracle Childbirth Services

Crable, Quanita MD Dr. Crable OB-GYN

PLANO

Gaitonde, Ashwin MD Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates of Dallas

Tate, Jeannine MSN, APRN, CNM Plano Birthplace

RICHARDSON

Brown, Krystal CNM Lovers Lane Birth Center See ad on Page 28

ROWLETT

Conger, Kasie LM, CPM The Bump Birthing Center Zmolik, Jordyn LM, CPM Violet Midwifery Services at The Bump Birthing Center

WYLIE

Hammack, Kristy LM, CPM The Birth House

VIEW VED APPRO E M O M H C AR H E A LT AC R O S S DERS P ROV I E G O R I E S @ T A L L C A I L D. CO M / H C W F D ED P P R OV A MOM

Gray, DeShawndranique MD Office of DeShawndranique Gray MD Griffith, Clark MD Health Central Women’s Care Ebrahim, Marianne MD, FACOG Women’s Health Specialists of Dallas See ad on Page 27 Haddock, LeAnn MD Magnolia Obstetrics & Gynecology Hechanova, Martin MD, MPH UT Southwestern OB-GYN & Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic Light, Natalie MD Health Central Women’s Care Martin, Amy MD Carter, Hays, Martin & Associates McClintock, Jean MD, FACOG Northlake Obstetrics & Gynecology

Napier, Amie MD Advanced Women’s Healthcare Newman, Erin MD Magnolia Obstetrics & Gynecology Oliveira, Marcia MD Marcia J. Oliveira MD, PA Ripp, Zachary MD Women’s First Lakewood OB-GYN Clinic Ruk, Todd MD, FACOG Northlake Obstetrics & Gynecology Shimer, Tricia MD, PA, FACOG Tricia Shimer, M.D., P.A. Silver, Kyler Elwell MD UT Southwestern OB-GYN, Park Cities Singer, Alejandro MD Dallas Women’s Healthcare Specialists PLLC Speight, Tracy MD Health Central Women’s Care Stevenson-Gargiulo, Elizabeth DO Baylor Scott & White Park Lane OB-GYN Associates Tillman, Felicia MD Health Central Women’s Care Waldrep, Kathryn MD Vernon & Waldrep OB-GYN Associates See ad on Page 29

FORT WORTH

Atkins, Lori MD, FACOG Fenom Women’s Care See ad on Page 26 Bevan, Catherine MD, FACOG Fenom Women’s Care See ad on Page 26 Breedlove, Lindsay MD Vivi Women’s Health Burkett, Danielle DO Vivi Women’s Health Cammack, Kathleen MD Vivi Women’s Health English, Cynthia DO Fort Worth Obstetrics & Gynecology Erwin, Jamie MD Vivi Women’s Health Firouzbakht, Noushin MD Noushin Firouzbakht, MD, PA Glenn, Sunny MD, FACOG Fenom Women’s Care See ad on Page 26 Herd, James MD, FACOG Texas Health Care Obstetrics & Gynecology

King, Kristi MD WholeLife Authentic Care Kohlmorgen, Ingrid MD MY Texas Health Care OB-GYN See ad on Page 28 Larsen, Alicia MD, FACOG Fenom Women’s Care See ad on Page 26 McLeland, Jennifer MD Vivi Women’s Health Moore, Demequa MD, FACOG JPS Northwest Health Center for Women & Children

Petrovski, Pauline MD Frisco Obstetrics & Gynecology, PA Ricks, Jon T. MD Jon T. Ricks, M.D. Vu, Julie MD, FACOG Ovation Obstetrics & Gynecology

GRAPEVINE

Berzinskas, Egle MD Baylor Scott & White Riverside Obstetrics & Gynecology – Grapevine Marshall, Kimberly MD Grapevine OB-GYN

Moyers, Carolyn DO, FACOG, NCMP Sky Women’s Health

New, Jr., Troy MD Grapevine OB-GYN

Neville, Heather MD Eighth Avenue Obstetrics & Gynecology See ad on Page 28

Rainer, Drew MD Women’s Health Medical Group

Palmer, Andrea MD, FACOG Fenom Women’s Care See ad on Page 26 Rainer, Drew MD Women’s Health Medical Group Robbins, Cynthia MD, PA Eighth Avenue Obstetrics & Gynecology See ad on Page 28 Roberts, Zoey MD Women’s Health Medical Group Rogers, Rebecca MD Vivi Women’s Health Snead, Jonathan MD, FACOG Alliance Women’s Health See ad on Page 29 Snell-Hargrove, Dana DO My OB-GYN Tabor, Lauren MD Fenom Women’s Care See ad on Page 26 Tse, Gladys MD USMD Medical Clinic of North Texas - Alliance Fort Worth Wood, Rita DO, PA Eighth Avenue Obstetrics & Gynecology See ad on Page 28

LAKE WORTH

LEWISVILLE

Bell, Krystal DO Caring for Women

MCKINNEY

Luciani, Gerald MD, FACOG Comprehensive OB-GYN

MESQUITE

Constantine, Sami MD Texas Regional Women’s Health Center

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS Kohlmorgen, Ingrid MD MY Texas Health Care See ad on Page 28

PLANO

Baghdassarian, David MD, FACOG Women’s Specialists of Plano Evans, Aungel MD Associated Women’s Healthcare Grisham, Charles Keith MD Northwest Plano OB-GYN Leveno, Joseph MD Joseph K. Leveno, MD, PA Obstetrics & Gynecology Robins, Darrell MD, FACOG OB-GYN North Dallas Taylor, Marcia MD, FACOG OB-GYN North Dallas

ROCKWALL

FRISCO

Do, Linda MD, FACOG Baylor Scott & White Obstetrics & Gynecology – Rockwall See ad on Page 29

Dobi, Brittany MD, FACOG Northlake Obstetrics & Gynecology

Ward, Jenaya MD, FACOG Baylor Scott & White Obstetrics & Gynecology – Rockwall See ad on Page 29

Bailey, Jennifer MD, FACOG Frisco Obstetrics & Gynecology, PA

Mitchell, Jordan MD Jordan Mitchell M.D. Ortiz, Christopher DO Frisco Women’s Health

WILLOW PARK

Herd, James MD, FACOG Texas Health Care Obstetrics & Gynecology

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

mom approved

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Lori Atkins, MD, FACOG Catherine Bevan, MD, FACOG Sunny Glenn, MD, FACOG Alicia Larsen, MD, FACOG Andrea Palmer, MD, FACOG Lauren Tabor, MD, FACOG Obstetrics & Gynecology 8x Mom Approved FENOM Women’s Care is not just a practice in medicine, it is a practice in humanity. We combine the finest general obstetrics and gynecology with care that extends beyond check-ups and physical wellness. Our all-female physician team offers real insight in order to create a true continuum of health throughout the lives of our patients. The OBGYNs of FENOM are so proud to have been recognized as “Mom Approved.” You Moms, you FENOMenal humans—YOU are the reason why we do what we do. Our mission at FENOM is to take care of you throughout your lifespan, meeting you where you are every step of the way. We are committed to empowering you to take charge of your health through personalized care, insightful education and expert service. We are passionate about our patients and strive as a team to be there for you in every capacity. From the nervous time of preconception, to possible struggles with infertility, the uncertainty of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and tumultuous postpartum period—we are here for you through each step. As a physician team, our commitment to those we serve allows for the added benefit of consistency of care between physicians. Whenever a health need arises, we will be here for you. This includes our amazing clinic staff, a vital part of FENOM, and we thank them for taking such great care of our patients (and of us!). Together, we form a community that is FENOMenal. Recognition from our patients means the world to us. It lets us know you see us like we see you. Thank you for being part of our FENOMenal family. #weareFENOM

Fenom Women’s Care 1250 8th Ave. Ste. 320, 322, Fort Worth, TX 76104 817-924-2111

Willow Park 134 El Chico Trail, Ste. 103, Willow Park, TX 76087 817-441-1644

Girls To Women 4200 S. Hulen St., Ste. 450, Fort Worth, TX 76109 817-524-1811 fenomhealth.com 26

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

mom approved

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Kavitha Blewett, MD Marianne Ebrahim, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology 7x Mom Approved Women’s Health Specialists of Dallas is a seasoned Obstetrics & Gynecology group proudly serving women of all ages. Our team of board-certified OB/GYN physicians offer a wide range of services to help women through their pregnancies and maintain optimal health, from puberty through menopause. We strive to provide a personal, trustworthy, and superior experience for all our patients. As a comprehensive stop for women’s care, and with convenient locations in Dallas and Rockwall, the practice offers the best technology, treatment methods, and medical knowledge women need to navigate almost any female medical concern and remain healthy for years to come. All of our physicians specialize in highrisk obstetrics, minimally invasive surgery, infertility evaluation, and full spectrum gynecological care. Dr. Blewett has consistently been recognized for her exceptional patient care Top 1% in the nation for patient satisfaction and a DFWChild Mom Approved doctor since 2015. Dr. Blewett, originally from New York, moved to Plano where her family now resides. She enjoys a very active lifestyle with her husband and two daughters.

KAVITHA BLEWETT, MD

MARIANNE EBRAHIM, MD

JONATHAN BROUGH, MD

ANGELA ANGEL, MD

Dr. Ebrahim, who started her practice in Beverly Hills is now thrilled to serve the Dallas community that she grew up in. She has been recognized as a DFWChild Mom Approved physician since she started her practice in Dallas. She is conversational in Spanish and fluent in Arabic. She enjoys volunteering as a women’s health advocate in her community and traveling with her husband and two children. Dr. Brough was recognized as a Physician All-Star by the medical staff at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital for his expertise in OB/GYN, and his track record of public service. He lives on a small ranch in East Texas and he is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Dr. Angel earned Living Magazine’s Best of Readers’ Choice award for her work as an OB/GYN in Dallas and Rockwall, Texas. She lives in Rockwall with her four children and is a leader in community service in her hometown. Women’s Health Specialists of Dallas strives to provide trustworthy, superior healthcare for all of your female-specific medical needs through all your stages in life. We are accepting new patients at both the Dallas and Rockwall locations and look forward to serving you!

Women’s Health Specialists of Dallas, PA Board Certified Obstetrics & Gynecology 8160 Walnut Hill Ln., Ste. 200, Dallas, TX 75231 1020 W. Ralph Hall Pkwy Suite 101, Rockwall TX 75032 214-363-4421 whsdallas.com

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

mom approved

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Ingrid Kohlmorgen, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology 6x Mom Approved

Dr. Kohlmorgen would like to express her sincere gratitude to her patients for the nomination of “Mom Approved” doctor for the 6th year. She is so thankful for those who entrust her with their care, especially during these difficult and uncertain times. She works hard to provide individualized care in a collaborative and supportive environment. Dr. Kohlmorgen is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is looking forward to her continued work in caring for the women of Tarrant County. Texas Health Care

1250 8th Ave., Suite 445, Fort Worth, TX 76104 (Tues) • 817-923-0022 1250 8th Ave., Suite 435, Fort Worth, TX 76104 (Thurs) • 817-923-0088 4300 City Point Dr., Suite 202, North Richland Hills, TX 76180 (M, W, F) • 817-284-1152 • mytexashealthcareobgyn.com

Krystal Brown, CNM Midwifery

PHOTO: LAWRENCE JENKINS PICTURES

Krystal Brown is a Certified Nurse Midwife and the owner of Lovers Lane Birth Center in Richardson, TX. Lovers Lane Birth Center, the only black-owned birth center in the DFW metroplex, serves women and families who are seeking a natural birth at the birth center or in their home. As a wife, mother, and natural VBAC herself, Krystal is dedicated to each woman she serves. She is passionate about working collaboratively with mothers in making decisions about their own unique needs and desires. Krystal provides loving, personalized care throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. Lovers Lane Birth Center 304 S. Cottonwood Dr, Ste. A Richardson, TX 75080 214-366-3579 • dallasmidwife.com

Heather Neville, MD; Cynthia Robbins, MD; & Rita Wood, DO Obstetrics & Gynecology

LAURA BRADFORD MD

PATTYANN HARDT MD

HEATHER NEVILLE MD

CYNTHIA ROBBINS MD

9x Mom Approved Eighth Avenue Obstetrics and Gynecology is a collection of experienced and trusted womens’ health physicians with two convenient locations in the heart of the medical district in Fort Worth, Texas. Eighth Avenue Obstetrics and Gynecology offers full pregnancy and gynecological care, including wellness exams, preconception counseling, birth control options, STD screening, diagnostic testing and surgery. The facility also provides access to on-site ultrasound and lab services for patient convenience. Our office is currently accepting new patients and welcomes you to learn more about our facility by visiting our website at obgynson8th.com or calling our office at 817-926-4118. Eighth Avenue Obstetrics and Gynecology Drs. Robbins, Bradford, Hardt and Wood:

1425 8th Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76104 RUTH WILEY DO

RITA WOOD DO

Drs. Wiley, Neville and Hughes:

NATALIE HUGHES DO

1307 8th Ave., Suite 602, Fort Worth, TX 76104 817-926-4118 • obgynson8th.com

Chandra Chellappan, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology

8x Mom Approved Dr. Chandra Chellappan is a board-certified and award-winning obstetrician/gynecologist known for her thoughtful care. After earning a medical degree at Texas A&M University, she completed residency at John Peter Smith Hospital with special training in minimally invasive surgery. As a physician, she offers the full spectrum of women’s health and shows compassion to all her patients. This past year also included the addition of Marci Anthony, NP, whose presence allows us to better serve our community. Part of Texas Health Medical Associates

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

11803 S. Fwy., Ste. 208, Burleson, TX 76028 817-551-9339 TexasHealth.org/THMA

mom approved

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Jonathan Snead, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology 8x Mom Approved Jonathan Snead, MD, and Angela George, WHNP-BC, of Alliance Women’s Healthcare are accepting new patients. Alliance Women’s Healthcare has been serving the north Fort Worth area for over sixteen years. Dr. Snead won Physician of the Year for Texas Health Resources Hospital at Alliance (2015), Keller Best of the Best OBGYN (2012–21), Living Magazine Best of the Best OBGYN (2014–21) and is a DFWChild magazine Mom Approved Doctor (2015–22). Come see why so many patients and physicians alike trust us and recommend our practice! Dr. Snead has hospital privileges at Texas Health Resources Hospital at Alliance. Alliance Women’s Healthcare 10600 N. Riverside Dr., Ste. 100 Fort Worth, TX 76244 817-741-9663 • alliancewomenshealthcare.com

Kathryn Waldrep, MD, FACOG Obstetrics & Gynecology 4x Mom Approved Combining advanced treatment plans and compassionate care is why women of all ages, in all life stages, trust Dr. Waldrep. Known for the care of high-risk obstetric patients, her practice also serves those seeking hormone therapy treatment and for the treatment of sexual dysfunction and pelvic pain. Dr. Waldrep was selected as an SMU Distinguished Alumni in 2020 and currently serves on the board of directors for North Texas Young Life and the advisory board for Council for Life. She is honored to be recognized MOM APPROVED by DFWChild magazine readers. Vernon & Waldrep OB-GYN Associates 7777 Forest Lane, Suite D-570 Dallas, TX 75230 972-566-4660 • Vernon&Waldprep.com

Jenaya Ward, MD & Linda Do, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology 6x Mom Approved Quality obstetrics and gynecology care in the heart of the Rockwall Community. Jenaya Ward, MD and Linda Do, MD of Baylor Scott & White Obstetrics & Gynecology—Rockwall are committed to women’s health and provide obstetrics and gynecologic care for women through all stages of life. Our team is devoted to medical specialties of obstetrics, childbirth, and gynecology. • Birth Control and Family Planning • Prenatal care and education

• Screening and treatments of STD’s • Minimally invasive surgeries

• Well women exams • Menopause care

We are honored to have Dr. Ward and Dr. Do nominated by the readers of DFWChild as Mom-Approved Doctors. Baylor Scott & White Obstetrics & Gynecology—Rockwall 1005 W. Ralph Hall Pkwy. Suite 115, Rockwall, TX 75032 469-800-3030 • BSWHealth.com/OBGYNRockwall Physicians are employees of HealthTexas Provider Network, a member of Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2022 Baylor Scott & White Health.

Want more resources for health care? Visit our directory:

dfwchild.com/healthcare PEDIATRICIANS // COUNSELORS // THERAPISTS // WOMEN’S HEALTH DENTISTS // ORTHODONTISTS // WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

THE KIDS ARE NOT ALRIGHT. Two years into the pandemic, how is your child doing, really? Perhaps not as well as you think. The signs of anxiety and emotional turmoil may be different than you would expect—and we may not know the true impact on kids for decades.

WORDS ERIN HAYES BURT

ISTOCK

HEN YOU THINK OF THE PERFECT STUDENT, you might think of a quiet child who doesn’t cut up in class, talk out of turn, act out or mess around. They may read at lunch while others get a bit boisterous. At home, they might keep their nose in a book or play video games. They’re out of your hair as you get dinner started or wrap up some work tasks. You could be describing the perfect student, or you could be describing a kid with crippling anxiety. “They could be sitting out at recess under a tree reading, and we go, ‘Oh, they

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

just enjoy being by themselves,’” says Jay Campbell, principal at Great Lakes Academy in Plano, a school that specializes in helping kids with learning differences, including anxiety. “No, they’re wrapped in seven different layers of anxiety. They’re over there, tormented, and nobody knows because no one has a relationship with them.” Medical professionals just issued a warning about a mental health crisis in students as the pandemic stretches into a third year. “The pandemic era’s unfathomable number of deaths, pervasive sense of fear, economic instability, and forced physical distancing from loved ones, friends, and communities have exacerbated the unprecedented stresses young people already faced,” warned U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy in a 2021 report. The disruptions to routine and uncertainty, combined with the bombardment of distressing media reports, have created an extended state of emergency that kids just aren’t equipped to cope with or even articulate. And the adults, says Campbell, aren’t listening. “A lot of educators don’t identify anxiety as being a real obstacle. They see it as being an excuse or a way around doing your work because kids tend to not be great communicators … Imagine that.”

behavior is a response to anxiety called avoidance. When a child has anxiety about a situation, like being without their parents, they want to avoid it. That’s why they fight to stay with you. As kids get older, avoidance is still a go-to strategy; it just looks different. It’s hard for parents to identify avoidance in older children, though, because it can be seen as growing up and wanting alone time, being difficult, or disobedience: not doing homework, missing class, skipping practice, hanging out in their room all the time. The child may insist they are sick, hurt, that they don’t want to do an activity they used to love, or don’t enjoy kids they used to be close to. It’s easy to focus on the symptom rather than the cause, because the solution looks easy: Just do what you’re supposed to do! But what parents don’t see is what’s between the child and the goal: the giant brick wall that is anxiety. What’s different about this moment is that we are all in a situation no one can avoid—COVID-19. Whatever your thoughts are about the pandemic, the response, vaccinations or herd immunity, there’s no denying that right now is a stressful time, and a recent report by Children’s Health in Dallas bears that out. The annual report, Beyond ABC: Assessing the Well-Being of

“A lot of educators don’t identify anxiety as being a real obstacle. They see it as being an excuse or a way around doing your work.” THIS IS AVOIDANCE

Most parents are familiar with signs of anxiety in toddlers. It usually comes out as a tantrum when Mom or Dad tries to leave them somewhere: school, church, with a babysitter. No one ever names it for us, and we fully expect them to grow out of it. That 32

Children in North Texas, is startling in terms of the measurable impact of the pandemic on students. Emergency rooms saw a 24% increase in mental health-related visits for children ages 5–11 and a 31%

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

increase for older children. Food insecurity has tripled. Texas students ages 11–21 were more than twice as likely to think about or attempt suicide in the early days of the pandemic than one year earlier. More than 38% of Texas high school students felt hopeless or sad every day for two or more weeks at a time. It can be a snowball effect: A child zones out in class because they are stressed and don’t know how to handle it, then they don’t understand the assignment, so they avoid starting the homework, and all of a sudden they are failing a subject or grade. Then they avoid their parents because of their grades. The original stress is still there, but now it’s compounded with missing assignments, failing grades and beating themselves up over letting it get this way. SEEING THE SIGNS

Since Campbell’s school specializes in students with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and anxiety, he’s uniquely equipped to note the difference the pandemic has made in the way students move through the world and learn in it. “The rapid willingness of children to detach from their support networks and retreat to social media and online gaming is a sign that children are having a difficult time managing anxiety and depression. The balance between physical friendships, sports, clubs, afterschool activities, and online gaming [and] social media, is broken. The pandemic broke it, and the anxiety mitigation and ‘self-medication,’ so to speak— kids using social media and gaming to respond to their needs—they just couldn’t put it down when they had too much.” Campbell also points to what kids aren’t saying. “Another sign of distress we have seen is a general lack of communication with parents and friends about meaningful things and a reluctance to really speak about substantive things with their counselors. It translates into a disconnected student in a classroom who may not see the purpose of the content, the connections between peers and with the teacher, and with all of the

academic and social-emotional skills we are trying to give them.” Eleven-year-old Isabella Salas, who lives in Wylie with her family, has struggled with anxiety since she was 2. The pandemic has been especially hard on children like her. “Before the pandemic, she did taekwondo to help with performance anxiety, social skills and to give her experience with losing in a supported environment,” says Isabella’s mother, Karin Leiva. “She was in chess, Fortnite and Pokémon Go clubs at school, and those were helpful for her because they were small groups where the kids had this one thing in common. Those all went away when everything went online, and we lost all the progress we had made.” Leiva says she realizes that there wasn’t necessarily a better way to handle any of this—but for kids like Isabella, big transitions are traumatic. “At first, I thought being online would help us avoid certain triggers, but the transition back seemed to reset everything,” Leiva shares. “She just stopped working. There was nothing. She just froze.” This response may sound familiar to many parents. Kids who were once straight-A students are now drowning under piles of missing assignments. It can feel like kids are taking advantage of being online and having a reduced sense of accountability, when really it could be this avoidance-freeze response. “When you’re at a point where you should be hitting developmental milestones, and some of those may have been skipped, that creates a level of anxiety,” explains Gregory Southworth, clinical director for the Dallas region’s Communities in Schools, a dropout prevention program that works to create a connection with schools and families. Part of the concern for this generation of students is that the pandemic has led to an increase in what’s known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)— potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. This could be exposure to a harmful environment, experiencing or witnessing violence and abuse, or the death of or separation from a parent or other close family member. “If a child’s environment is impacted in this way as a result

CREATING CONNECTION

SIGNS AND SOLUTIONS How anxiety or depression may manifest in children • Avoidance. This could look like not doing homework, reading constantly (even at mealtimes), playing video games alone or scrolling on social media. • Dreading activities they used to enjoy. A child may back out of commitments or ask to leave early. • Losing friends. Are they not hanging out with their usual circle? Do they suddenly not feel good before a gathering? • Persistent worried mood or irritability. Your child may act scared, upset or constantly annoyed. • Sleeping issues. This might be trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or sleeping too much.

Ways parents can help • Establish and reinforce trust. Eat dinner together, chat before bed, or talk one-on-one in the car. • Have a schedule and stick to it as much as possible. Post schedules where kids can see them. Use clear communication to eliminate unknowns when possible. • Help children and teens describe their moods with precise words. Are they anxious, excited, stressed, nervous or scared? Have your child draw a “feeling thermometer” and identify how their body responds as their tension increases. “It provides insight into the mood-body connection and a guide on when to implement a cooldown coping strategy,” explains Roshini Kumar of Children’s Health. “Identify three coping strategies to practice when experiencing a climb on the feeling thermometer.” You can also go around the dinner table and ask everyone to share a “rose” (the high point of their day) and a “thorn” (something that was upsetting or frustrating). • Teach your child coping strategies. This could be box breathing (four counts breathing in, four counts holding breath, four counts exhaling, four counts holding breath), body awareness, journaling, drawing, meditation or yoga. • Find a counselor for your child. You may know your child best, but a professional brings an important perspective.

of the pandemic, they could be at risk for an ACE,” says Roshini Kumar, licensed professional counselor and outpatient psychology clinical manager at Children’s Health in Dallas. According to the Centers for Disease Control, ACEs are known to have longterm negative impacts on physical

health, mental health, substance use, education, job opportunities and even earning potential. What this means is that we don’t know right now, and may not know until this generation becomes adults, how the stress has impacted health and well-being across an entire generation.

“Isabella would get stressed over the cafeteria menu, everything. Simple things get her into a state of being frozen, and it goes from being frozen to outbursts,” says Leiva. “I am immunosuppressed, so she’s worried about my health, too.” When a child or student regresses in this way, it can feel fake. But that’s not the case, says Campbell. “What a kid is doing at that moment is [communicating that] they want us to be there for them and be a net underneath them. They are afraid that if they tell us they’re OK, we’ll move on to something else and they’ll be left to deal with the world by themselves. So what I tell parents when that starts to happen, let your child know, ‘No matter what happens, I’m here. I’m your net. I’m never leaving. I’ve always got you. I’m never going to let you fall.’” Connection with teachers can work much the same way to reduce anxiety. The classes where Isabella excels are also the classes where she has the most trust with the teacher. “Her math teacher has really fostered a relationship with her so that she doesn’t feel embarrassed to reach out,” says Leiva. “She feels safe in those environments.” WHAT PARENTS CAN DO

Parents and teachers can help kids cope right now by creating as much certainty as possible. Consistent bedtimes, wake times and mealtimes help. So does posting schedules for afterschool activities and giving as much notice as possible about changes in routine. Create as little uncertainty as possible, because the world is dishing it out as fast as we are adjusting. Keep in mind that students who are doing well on paper may be fighting anxiety, too. Kids can be high-functioning or low-functioning in this area, says Southworth. “What schools often have to do is deal with the students who are [noticeably] struggling the most in the moment. There may be a lot of students who are suffering out there, but suffering in silence.”

Communicate with your student about how they are feeling daily, using descriptive words, emojis or a “feeling thermometer,” suggests Kumar. “Children often lack the vocabulary or a safe setting to share their feelings. Parents can teach a ‘feelings vocabulary’ by posting emoji feeling faces paired with feeling words on the refrigerator, and create a time to review these feelings, such as around the table at dinner, reviewing a high of the day and low of the day.” A similar idea is the check-in exercise “Roses and Thorns.” (See sidebar.) Talking about feelings and naming them is helpful for students of all ages, as is talking about signs we are experiencing stress and how to mitigate it. Leiva and Isabella work on this together constantly. “When Isabella’s anxiety is ramping up, going quiet and shallow breathing are our cues that she needs to pause, let herself experience the feeling, and then we talk about how we are going to get through it. Slowly, that’s translating to positive self-talk that she uses on her own.” In some places, life does seem to go on as if there is no longer a pandemic. But it’s important to remember that for students, life is not normal. Every day, they go to school and try to catch up on all the subjects, social skills and milestones they have missed over the past two years. They wonder if school will be canceled again; if sports and clubs and their favorite activities will continue. They wonder if their friends and family will be OK. They feel pressure that they will miss out if they aren’t on social media or online games, and yet those things can make them feel as left behind and alone as ever. The good news is that parents, teachers and mentors have powerful tools to support students: time, connection and trust. These tools work if we use them. Talk to the kids in your life. Even if they don’t answer, ask them daily how they are doing and how you can help. Trust is built slowly, but you can build it, one question at a time.

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

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SummerYou is an eight-week summer program facilitated by, and on the campus of, All Saints’ Episcopal School. Our 147-acre campus in west Fort Worth is the perfect habitat for exploration, adventure, and curiosity. With more than 200 camps to choose from, your child won’t be riding the boredom train. From building robots to throwing water balloons, starting a business to playing baseball, SummerYou has it all! With full-day options and affordable weekly camps for Ages 3–Grade 12 all on one world-class campus, parents can rest easy knowing the logistics, and their kids, are well taken care of. Bee active, Bee silly, Bee YOU! Registration for summer 2022 is open! Explore featured camps and dive into details at summeryou.org/fwcmag.

9700 Saints Circle, Fort Worth, TX 76108 817-560-5700, ext. 416 summeryou.org/fwcmag

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

At the Y, kids experience new adventures, learn to swim, make new friends, and shape memories that last a lifetime! Join us for overnight camps and day camps, offering fun, new adventures for your kids like horseback riding, climbing wall, alpine tower, zip lining, swim lessons, canoeing, water skiing, sailing, fishing, and so much more. YMCA Summer Camps are located throughout North Texas, and our Camp Grady Spruce is located on Possum Kingdom Lake. We hope your children, ages 5–16, will spend their summer with the Y! • Day Camp • Resident Camp • Ages 5–16 years—vary by camp • Camp fun and amenities—vary by camp ° Horseback Riding ° Archery ° Climbing Wall ° Alpine Tower ° Swim Lessons ° Canoeing ° Water Skiing ° Sailing ° Fishing • Many camp options ° Camp Grady Spruce: Resident camp located on Possum Kingdom Lake ° Collin County Adventure Camp: Day camp and resident camp options located in Anna, Texas ° Camp on the Lake – Day camp located on Lake Lewisville ° YMCA Day Camps – 20+ locations throughout North Texas ymcadallas.org/camps

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WORDS

AMP—THAT RITE OF PASSAGE THAT FILLED YOUR SUMMER DAYS

way back when and fills your memories today. And now you have your own camp-age kiddo at home. Yes, it’s a different world. Your child could spend their summer on the couch with their device in hand. But camp is an experience not to be missed. It can shape your child’s lifelong interests and be a source of lifelong friendships. Overnight camps, day camps, outdoors, indoors, science camps, art camps, computer camps, nature camps, activity camps—while the options are as different as every child’s personality, the benefits remain constant. CAMPS BUILD INDEPENDENCE AND FOSTER RESPONSIBILITY.

Does your child count on you for just about everything, even those tasks they should be handling on their own? Camp is a great way to make them more self-reliant. “Being away from home, becoming responsible for behavior, being accountable in shared living spaces, and discovering the ability to make meaningful

ALEXIS PATTERSON

decisions are all lasting skills,” shares Tom Rosenberg, president and CEO of the American Camp Association. No, your child won’t do everything right when they’re not under your watchful eye. But mistakes are a powerful learning experience. YOUR CAMPER WILL DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS AND CREATE NEW BONDS.

We know, kids do this at school. Camp, though, comes with a completely different energy. Kids are bonding over shared interests in a unique way. And if they struggle to find their place in school, camp might give them a much-needed boost of confidence. That’s because children can reinvent themselves within a new circle of peers. YOUR CHILD WILL DISCOVER AND ENHANCE THEIR INTERESTS.

Say you have a dedicated theater kid. They’ll love theater camp, no doubt, and grow their acting skills. Maybe they’ll also discover they love costuming just as much as acting. Or perhaps your child hasn’t fallen in love with a specific

hobby or field of study. They just might come home from camp with a passion. “Camps provide children and youth with a safe space for taking risks, trying new activities and learning without fear of failure,” Rosenberg explains. It’s true experiential education. CAMP WILL GET YOUR CHILD AWAY FROM (MINDLESS) TECHNOLOGY.

Unless you’re sending your kiddo to a video game design or computer programming camp, they probably won’t have a lot of screen time. Camp is a place where kids can be kids, in the old-fashioned sense. (Did we just call ourselves old?) “Campers spend more time in nature, participate in arts, enjoy physical activity and develop critical social-emotional skills,” says Rosenberg. “They build respect for the planet and the people around them, cultivate creativity and imagination, and understand the value of service and leadership.” Even schools have a healthy dose of screen time, so camp will be a perfect opportunity for your child to learn to converse and play without technological distractions. And any screen time they do have is likely to be purposeful

and directly related to the skills they are learning. YOUR CAMPER WILL CONNECT WITH POSITIVE ROLE MODELS.

If your child is a cheer fanatic, why not send them to camp with real-life cheerleaders? Do they love to draw and paint? Camp can introduce them to individuals who have made a career out of visual arts. And if they just need to be surrounded by happy, motivated people, camp can provide that too. “Trained, caring adult role models help children feel loved, capable and included,” Rosenberg notes. “Camp professionals have enormous power in simple, teachable moments.” Explore a wide range of camps for your child in the pages ahead; the time to research and enroll in summer camp is already here. Fingers crossed that COVID-19 disappears soon, but check with camps about their health and safety measures. Whatever camp you choose, you can be sure your child will come back different. Some benefits are immediately visible. Others may take time to appear or are experienced by your camper alone. Either way, the value is lasting.

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Camp El Tesoro overnight camp is READY to welcome campers ages six–16 to achieve whatever they set their minds to this summer. Archery, canoeing, horseback riding, nature studies, dance and more! Kids go to camp because it’s fun, but what they find are friendships and magic in themselves. See for yourself what makes El Tesoro a special place! Come to a FREE Camp Preview. Details online.

Play the Cooper Way! Keep your kids and teens active while having fun at Cooper Fitness Center. Ages: 5–16 • • • • •

Summer Camp (early bird registration pricing by March 1) Junior Tennis Clinics Swim Lessons Kids in the Kitchen Triathlon Training

Connect in person: Socialize and interact in a secure setting Play safely: Indoor and outdoor physical activity without screen time Have fun: Enjoy interactive activities led by trained professionals Register today at cooperyouth.com/Dallas

Cooper Fitness Center 12100 Preston Road Dallas, TX 75230 972.233.4382 cooperyouth.com/Dallas

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

Xplore Summer at Trinity Valley School (TVS) provides a season of safe, unique, and fun learning experiences. We welcome students, ages 3–18, from the Fort Worth area and beyond.

7710 Fall Creek Highway Granbury, TX 76049 817-831-2111 • CampFireFW.org

Xplore camps and classes focus on growing active, confident, and creative humans. Over 130 camps present participants with opportunities to try something new or take a deep dive into existing interests. Camp and class topics include yoga, rocketry, painting, American Girl, soccer, coding, mosaics, babysitting, climbing & the challenge course, Spanish, science, drumming, theater, field hockey, bike club, storybook adventure, STEM, football, and much more! The 2022 season will run from May 31 to July 29 and will offer participants morning, afternoon, and full-day experiences. Xplore programs take place on the TVS campus in southwest Fort Worth. Programs are led by caring and knowledgeable educators who teach at Trinity Valley or in the community. Trinity Valley School 7500 Dutch Branch Road Fort Worth, TX 76132 817-321-0100 tvs.org/summer

The DIS Summer Enrichment Camp is a 6-week program open to ages 3 to 16 and designed to offer campers the opportunity to explore a wide range of activities in a safe and caring environment. Campers may enroll in a full or 1/2-day program in any combination of activities. Groups are set up based on age and skills level. 6039 Churchill Way, Dallas, TX 75230 972-991-6379 camps@dallasinternationalschool.org dallasinternationalschool.org

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Ann & Nate Levine Academy Summer Camps offer fun-filled learning opportunities for children ages infant to 12 years old! Campers may enroll in one or more weekly sessions, facilitated by professional staff. Themes vary weekly throughout the summer and are open to the community. Camp Shemesh Ages infant-care through rising Kindergarten. Early care/aftercare available from 7:45am–6pm (5pm on Fridays) Summer@Levine Ages 6–12. Weekly camps embrace arts, sports, STEM, and much more! 18011 Hillcrest Rd., Dallas, TX 75252 972-248-3032 levineacademy.org/camp

Expore more camp options on our website

dfwchild.com/camps

Creek Camp and Pioneer Camp at the Heritage Farmstead Museum Weekly Camps June 6 thru July 29 9am–1pm, Monday thru Friday 6 week-long sessions $225/camper, t-shirt included. Sorry, no after-care available. Visit our Summer Camp page at Heritage Farmstead.org/summer-camps and click on “Register” to begin the registration process. 1900 West 15th St., Plano, TX 75075 972-881-0140 heritagefarmstead.org/summer-camps

For 28 years, families have made Kidventure the summer day camp of choice for their children. Kidventure is more than just a summer of fun, it’s a summer of opportunity. That opportunity is one to grow in confidence, create friendships and be a part of something special. And now, that’s needed more than ever. With several locations to choose from and ages 3–12 yrs. old, there is not a more memorable, rewarding, and convenient camp option anywhere. Kidventure provides summer day camp programs at a number of outstanding locations including Kessler, Preston Hollow, Lake Highlands, Little Elm, Plano! 214-303-9789 kidventure.com/dallas-summer-camp

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

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Ballet Basics introduces young dancers, ages 3 to 6, to the fundamentals of ballet in a fun, encouraging environment. The camp experience also includes crafts, story time and choreography correlating with the theme of the week. The Junior Intensive is designed for dancers ages 7–14 and broadens their perspectives with a variety of classes including ballet, modern, jazz and musical theater. Dancers will focus on improving artistry and technique with instruction from supportive faculty. All programs are available at both our Fort Worth and Richardson campuses. For more information, visit our website or contact the campus closest to you at fwschool@texasballet.org or dallasschool@texasballet.org. 300 N. Coit Rd. Suite 231, Richardson, 75080 • 214-377-8576 1540 Mall Circle, Fort Worth 76116 • 817-763-0207 texasballettheater.org/summer-programs

Ready for a fun one-of-a-kind summer experience? Girls and boys entering first grade and up are invited to Ursuline Academy of Dallas Summer Camps, June 6–July 28, for creativity, innovation, collaboration, and FUN! Adventure Camps let you explore new interests, experiences, and skills all summer long! Come try rocketry, poetry, programming, and more! Led by faculty and guests, some camps are open to all, and others are just for girls. Athletic Camps let you have fun and build skills to be a more consistent and effective athlete. Led by our professional Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Soccer, and Rowing coaches, just for girls. 4900 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229 469-232-1800 • www.ursulinedallas.org/summerprograms

Learn to speak German at The German School of Dallas

For 23 summers, Destination Science has proudly focused on STEM learning through FUN science-based activities to encourage year-round learning! 3 hands-on-science stations/day, plus games, spirit days, friendships, rallies and all the fun of camp! Campers take home many projects, gizmos and gadgets. Our staff are enthusiastic education professionals who love kids, love science, and love camp. Early Bird Savings!

Registration for spring classes is now open. Sign up today!

Dallas, Plano, Prosper, Frisco 888-909-2822 • info@destinationscience.org destinationscience.org

5231 Meadowcreek Dr., Dallas, TX 75248 972-400-1135 • info@germanschooldallas.com germanschooldallas.com

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

Offering German language classes for children, teenagers, and adults at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Our teachers are all native German speakers and we offer official German Language Diploma certifications.

Good Shepherd Episcopal School’s Summer Program provides students the opportunity to take risks and try unique and fun activities in a safe and nurturing environment! We are excited to bring a unique blend of dynamic and academicallyrich classes, designed specifically for ages 12 months through 8th Grade. The program runs from 5/31 to 7/29. 11110 Midway Road, Dallas, TX 75229 gsesdallas.org/summer summer@gsesdallas.org • 214-357-1610

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SUMMER ART J’S ART Paint, Draw, Sculp All Summer Long! Kid Camps Ages 5–13 Weekly themes. Morning 9am–12pm and afternoon 1–4pm camps. Art Skills Camps ages 10+ Introduction to different art media Afternoons 1–4pm Sewing, Teen and Adult Classes too! Camp schedule and details online. 17630 Davenport Rd., Ste. 102, Dallas, TX 75252 972-931-1933 jsartstudio.com

Summer, the Shelton Way, offers academic and enrichment programs, the Scholars program, Speech, and sports camps for students in early childhood through 12th grades. Programs feature Shelton’s multisensory and discovery learning methods. It is open to Shelton and non-Shelton students. Registration opens Feb. 16. • • • •

Summer Classes EC–12: June 13–July 1 Scholars: June 13–July 8 Speech/Language/Hearing Program: June–July Sports Programs: June–August shelton.org/summerschool

From our Mini-Camp for the younger crowd to the flexible scheduling in our June Performing Arts Camp to our International July Camp— there is something for everyone— whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned performer! KWC offers high-caliber theater training, tech design, production, leadership, and performance opportunities for ages 4–18 in the Fort Worth Cultural District! KWC Performing Arts 1300 Gendy St., Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-737-5437 kidswhocare.org

Texas Discovery Gardens hosts exciting, nature themed weeklong and day camps for ages 4–12 during several summer weeks. We incorporate STEAM and Social Emotional Learning topics in our daily activities and crafts. Most camp time will take place outside in our 7.5 acres of organic gardens with daily trips to our tropical butterfly house. Come explore with us! 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Dallas, TX 75210 214-428-7476 x270 txdg.org/summer-camps-2022

Explore literature in a fun and creative way! At NTPA, kids transform into their favorite storybook characters as they bring popular stories to life on stage. Popular themes like Descendants, Harry Potter, Little Mermaid, High School Musical and more! Taught by professional directors, actors, and singers who have worked everywhere from Broadway to L.A. Ages 5–18. New students get 50% off! Locations in Plano, Fairview, Frisco and Dallas 972-422-2575 NTPA.org/camps

Your Summer To Shine welcomes Preschoolers (age 3) through rising 6th graders! From world travels & galaxies far away to brick building & constructing cities out of cardboard boxes, we’ve got it all including the MOST FUN camp around…MESSY CAMP! Pizza & Water Slides every Friday! Extended Day & PreK Part Time Options available. Register by May 1 for $50 Early Bird Discount! The Westwood School 14340 Proton Rd., Dallas, TX 75244 972-239-8598 • westwoodschool.org/summer

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

EN TS

W C H I L D .C

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playbook M

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WORDS ELIZABETH SMITH

DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE March 4–5

F E B R UA RY & M A R C H

➽ F A M I LY F U N E V E N T S W E ’ R E M O S T L O O K I N G F O R W A R D T O T H I S S E A S O N DRAGONS LOVE TACOS

Through February 20

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT DAY

DALL AS CHILDREN’S THEATER

It’s a likely story: A boy and his dog throw a taco party for a flock of dragons, but the party takes a fiery turn when the dragons accidentally eat spicy jalapeño pepper salsa. This silly story from the children’s book by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri continues on weekends at DCT. Recommended for 4 and older. Tickets from $15. 214/740-0051; dct.org

February 3–April 17

adults; from $29.99 for children; 5 and under free. immersive-frida.com/dallas

LIGHTHOUSE ARTSPACE, DALL AS

MATILDA

FRIDA: IMMERSIVE DREAM

A new digital art installation much like the Immersive Van Gogh of the past many months turns its focus to the 20th-century Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. See many of her most famous surrealist self-portraits— like The Two Fridas, The Wounded Deer, and Diego and I—splashed across the walls and set to music. Tickets from $39.99 for

February 4–13

CASA MAÑANA, FORT WORTH

The clever girl with psychokinetic powers outsmarts her cruel parents and school headmistress Miss Trunchbull. With inspiration from Miss Honey, Matilda becomes her own hero in this new production based on Roald Dahl’s original story. Tickets from $19. 817/3322272; casamanana.org

THE DALLAS OPERA’S FAMILY SHOWS

shows. 214/443-1000; dallasopera.org/family

WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE, DALL AS

A TCHAIKOVSKY EVENING

February 6–April 9

How do you raise a kid to love opera? By taking advantage of these spring productions made specially for them: Jack and the Beanstalk on February 6 and April 3 and Elixir of Love on March 20 and April 9. All shows are sung in English with supertitles so you can keep up. $5 per ticket, or $4 when you book your seats for both

February 11–20

WYLY THEATRE, DALL AS BASS PERFORMANCE HALL, FORT WORTH

Get to know Tchaikovsky’s music beyond The Nutcracker when Texas Ballet Theater stages a mixed repertoire of three ballets each set to his scores: Tim O’Keefe’s Violin Concerto in D, Ben Stevenson, O.B.E.’s Star

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

TO DO

from home. Proceeds benefit the show’s nonprofit arm, Rock Cats Rescue. 214/948-1546; 817/7849378; rockcatsrescue.org

MONSTER JAM

February 19

AT&T STADIUM, ARLINGTON

➽ FRIDA: IMMERSIVE DREAM

“It’s your kids, Marty. Something has got to be done about your kids!” If you don’t remember that famous line, it’s time for a rewatch. Better yet, you can relive the first installment of Back to the Future on a high-definition big screen with live musical accompaniment from the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Tickets from $35. (And remember, it came out in 1985, so some parental discretion is advised.) 817/665-6000; fwsymphony.org

THE WIZARD OF OZ

February 11–March 19

ARTISAN CENTER THEATER, HURST

Aside from that quick nap in the poppy fields, we will never tire of this oldie/ goodie musical starring the incomparable Judy Garland. Catch this iteration of Dorothy Gale and her wandering companions when they return for a fullfledged production on the Artisan’s Main Stage. $30 adults; $15 children. The theater is arena-style, too, so the view is great from every angle. 817/284-1200; artisanct.com 42

The mythical land of Ovo teems with insects—specifically acrobatic crickets, juggling ants and seriously flexible dragonflies—plus one mysterious egg they’re all after. Cirque du Soleil is touring in only a few cities right now, so don’t miss your chance to witness the costumes and jaw-dropping stagecraft. Tickets from $49 for adults and from $39 for children. 214/387-5600; cirquedusoleil.com/ovo

➽ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S OVO

THE AMAZING ACRO-CATS

February 16–17

FROST FEST

THE TEXAS THEATRE, DALL AS

February 19

February 23–25

The next snowfall in North Texas is guaranteed at this free winter festival featuring a play area with fresh falling snow. Bundle up the kids for making snow angels, sliding down the snow-tubing hill (riders must be 42 inches tall) and watching the pros make icecarving magic. Here’s hoping it’s a cold day so the ice sculptures won’t melt immediately! FREE 972/721-2501; cityofirving.org

STAGE WEST THEATRE, FORT WORTH

This troupe of 20 trained rescue cats and kittens jump through hoops, ride skateboards and play in a kittyS AT sized rock -C O band called Tuna and the Rock Cats. How? With the magic of clicker training and lots of treats from trainer Samantha Martin. Check them out in Netflix’s Cat People docuseries and reserve your tickets from $25; VICP (Very Important Cat People) seats from $45. $15 to livestream the show

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

BASS PERFORMANCE HALL, FORT WORTH

COMERICA CENTER, FRISCO

E AMAZING A

February 11–13

February 16–20

BACK TO THE FUTURE MOVIE IN CONCERT

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S OVO

➽

Crossed (a new take on Romeo and Juliet) and George Balanchine’s Serenade (always in the pale blue, calf-length skirts). Tickets from $20. 877/828-9200; texasballettheater.org

Champion driver Cynthia Gauthier (whom we interviewed last fall) debuts her brand-new-from-theground-up Monster truck: the Lucas Stabilizer, which looks a little like a semi-truck without the trailer. Can you picture it? Meet her and the rest of the monster truck stunt drivers on the dirt arena before the show during the pit party for $20. Show seating from $25. And be sure to come with ear plugs in tow. Those diesel engines are loud. 817/8925000; monsterjam.com

LEVY EVENT PL AZA, IRVING

DALLAS BLOOMS: BIRDS IN PARADISE

February 19–April 10

DALL AS ARBORETUM

Fun fact: “Birds of paradise” is a gorgeous tropical

flower, also known as the crane flower. Even more fun: You can see real-life parrots and other wild birds from Dallas Zoo during the Birds in Paradise exhibit’s opening day and on other dates throughout the spring as part of the gaggle of seasonal entertainment. The Arboretum’s exhibit features larger-than-life peacock topiaries and half a million flowers, like tulips and cherry blossom trees. Free with regular admission: $20 adults; $16 seniors 65 and older; $12 children; under 2 free. 214/515-6615; dallasarboretum.org

BUTTERFLIES IN THE GARDEN

February 25–April 10 FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN’S RAINFOREST CONSERVATORY

With names like the glass wing, the starry night and the mosaic, it’s easy to imagine the beauty of these exotic butterflies native to lands across the globe. But that’s nothing compared to seeing them glide through the air before your own eyes. Garden and exhibit combo admission: $18 adults; $10 children; under 5 free. 817/463-4160; brit.org

MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS

February 26

AT&T STADIUM, ARLINGTON

We guarantee you’ve never seen a wild ride like this one where competitors race fast and fly up to 30 feet in the air on every jump over the steep and gnarly track. Take your young motorsports fans to meet the dirt bikers during the FanFest before the race. Tickets from $40; $15 each for FanFest admission. 800/844-3545; supercrosslive.com

EPIC PLUNGE

February 27

EPIC WATERS, GRAND PRAIRIE

This indoor waterpark is known for its massive, retractable rooftop and controlled temps that make year-round water play possible, but this annual polar plunge takes the party outside. Come brave the cold and take a quick dip in the outdoor wave pool. You can up the “Are you crazy?!” factor by wearing a fun

costume over your swimsuit. The $40 admission gets you an event t-shirt, hot chocolate, all-day admission and the knowledge that you’re helping fund the city’s all-abilities playground. 972/337-3131; epicwatersgp.com

KREWE OF BARKUS

February 27

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN MCKINNEY

Let the puppy times roll through McKinney during this 20th annual Mardi Gras parade and festival that’s all about the dogs. Dog lovers can dress up their pups in costume (whatever theme you want, up to you) and take to the streets for a walkingrolling parade starting at 2pm. Registration fee is $5 per dog or float; free for spectators. 972/547-2660; mckinneytexas.org

DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE

March 4–5

DOWNTOWN COWTOWN AT THE ISIS, FORT WORTH

The historic theater—newly renovated and reopened after decades out of commission—is hosting a not-atall extinct group of dinosaur puppets. Bring the kids to see the life-like dinos such as the T. rex, triceratops and the Giraffatitan. (Google that name, if you like, but whatever you’re imagining right now is correct.) All seats are $35 and include a post-show meet and greet with the dino and their puppet handlers. 817/8086390; dinosaurworldlive.com

PBR GLOBAL CUP & THE AMERICAN RODEO

March 5–6

AT&T STADIUM, ARLINGTON

Even in a region known for its year-round rodeos, this weekend of competitions is cause for excitement because they’re pulling out the big guns. World champion bull rider and Dallas resident Cooper Davis leads the pack on Saturday, and before the final round of rodeo action on Sunday, country stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill sing live from the arena. Tickets from $20 per day, concert included. 817/892-5000; attstadium.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHAEL BROSILOW; CIRQUE DU SOLEIL; KATIE DAY

playbook / T H I N G S

Providing Lifelong Learning through Community Experiences Serves all people with different abilities from ages three through adulthood. We strive to support all families through connections to resources as well as facilitating lifelong learning and long term successes. We accomplish these goals by teaching the skills that are necessary for all individuals to become contributing members of society.

H.E.R.O.E.S. Academy

H.E.R.O.E.S. Academy is a community-based, year-round day program for adults who have aged out of the school system. H.E.R.O.E.S. Academy provides the muchneeded opportunity for individuals to become active and contributing members of the community. The focus for our young adults is to embed ourselves into the community working on job training opportunities, volunteering, shopping and recreational activities. During their time on campus they will be cooking, and learning life skills such as money management, social skills and more.

Other programs offered: • • • •

www.heroesdfw.org

Fun activities for siblings of brothers and sisters with disabilities

Weekend retreats and sleepovers Parent and family support Continuing Ed courses Seasonal day camps: Summer, Spring Break, Winter

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

OUTDOOR MOVIE AT SUNSET

March 12

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN CARROLLTON

In case the kids aren’t already watching Raya and the Last Dragon on repeat (well, it does have a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, y’all), take them to watch the hit Disney film outdoors at the gazebo for Carrollton’s first Saturdays on the Square event of the year. Blankets, pillows, beanbags, lawn chairs—whatever you want to get comfy—are welcome. FREE 972/4669135; cityofcarrollton.com/ downtown

SPIRIT LODGE: MISSISSIPPIAN ART FROM SPIRO

Opens March 13

DALL AS MUSEUM OF ART

Learn about the history of the Spiro Mounds, located in Oklahoma, and see for yourself the nearly 200 ancient artifacts and contemporary works assembled in this first

SPIR

NA RT F

OK, silly question: Are dinosaurs really gone or did they just evolve into musical instruments like the Basstadon? (Think brontosaurus meets upright bass.) Let your imagination run wild at the Fort Worth Symphony’s story-andmusic concert designed to get your kids pumped about the orchestra. Don’t miss the crafts and activities in the lobby before the show. Tickets from $12. 817/6656000; fwsymphony.org

DISNEY ON ICE: LET’S CELEBRATE

LODGE: MIS IRIT SISSIPPIA

BASS PERFORMANCE HALL, FORT WORTH

March 17–20

March 5

major exhibition dedicated to the art and culture of Mississippian peoples, an indigenous culture that historians say has been significantly underR represented. DMA members get a preview March 11–12. FREE 214/922-1200; dma.org

➽

WHEN INSTRUMENTS ROAMED THE EARTH

TO DO

AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, DALL AS

No worries if you missed this ice-skating showstopper last fall. The party keeps going with more shows in Dallas in March (perfect timing for spring break) and then over to Fort Worth in April. Come wave hello in person to Mickey and Minnie and the rest of the adventurous characters in this 2-hour show. Tickets from $15. 800/844-3545; disneyonice.com

SHREK THE MUSICAL

March 18–April 3

CASA MAÑANA, FORT WORTH

Can you believe the first Shrek movie hit theaters 20 years ago? Don’t answer that, but do take your kids to see this live musical and giggle together at all the original jokes from the wisecracking Donkey and the rest of the twisted fairy tale characters. Tickets from $19. 817/332-2272; casamanana.org

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

March 25–April 24

WYLY THEATRE, DALL AS

This original musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein will forever be one of

➽ DISNEY ON ICE: LET’S CELEBRATE

our favorite things. Hear the songs once again in Dallas Theater Center’s new production loosely inspired by the true story of the Von Trapp family singers. Seats from $17.50; $20 digital tickets to watch the recording from home. 214/5228499; dallastheatercenter.org

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

March 27

AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, DALL AS

April 3

DICKIES ARENA, FORT WORTH

You’ll get great pointers of how to practice slam dunks and spin a basketball on your finger when the famed exhibition team returns for the Spread Game Tour. Seats from $23. An additional $30 for the pre-game Magic Pass gets you on the court—with players like Hot Shot Swanson and Torch George—where you’ll learn first-hand how they earned their rad nicknames. 214/665-4797; 817/402-9000; harlemglobetrotters.com

TOWERS OF TOMORROW WITH LEGO BRICKS

Through April 24

PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE, DALL AS

Certified LEGO professional Ryan McNaught constructed 20 iconic skyscrapers from half a million blocks for the Perot’s recently opened exhibit. Crane your neck upward to take it all in, and let the kids summon their own engineering skills by building towers with colored LEGO bricks in the construction area. $28 adults; $19 children; under 2 free. 214/4285555; perotmuseum.org

➽ TEXFEST

SAINTLY ACTIVITY This season we honor three cherished

saints: St. Valentine, St. Patrick and Sam Houston. OK, just kidding about that last one, but Texas Independence Day is practically a sacred holiday to many who call the Lone Star State home. Here’s where to go to have a bit o’ fun with the ones you love. CUPID’S CHASE 5K

February 12

RONALD KIRK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, DALL AS

We think showing love means showing up for those who need support, and Cupid is pointing his arrow at Community Options, a national nonprofit that supports people with disabilities in finding housing and employment. On the same day, people in cities across 10 states are lacing up for this race series, so join the cause by walking the stroller- and wheelchair-friendly route around Trinity Groves. (And, as a reward, stop into the nearby Kate Weiser Chocolate shop for a few truffles and hot cocoa.) $35 registration; fundraising encouraged. 972/503-3901; comop.org/cupidschase

NORTH TEXAS IRISH FESTIVAL

March 4–6

FAIR PARK, DALL AS

Experience the Celtic storytelling, the bagpipers, the Irish step dancing and all that makes the Emerald Isle like none other. You’ll also see an unusually large number of leprechauns. That’s because anyone who dresses up as such and carries in a pot of “gold” gets free admission. For festival-goers not quite willing to go to such great lengths, tickets from $10; under 11 free. 214/821-4173; ntif.org

TEXFest

March 5

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN CARROLLTON

You know you’re a true Texan when making an armadillo craft at the kids table, taking a photo op with a live longhorn or riding a mechanical bull (open to everyone 5 and up) all sound like a swell time. Celebrate our state’s Independence Day at this family festival featuring Texas barbecue, live music by headliner Big City Outlaws and (for adults) a beer garden with yard games, Texas trivia and craft beer stocked by local breweries. FREE 972/466-9808; cityofcarrollton.com/texfest

F O R M O R E K I D - F R I E N D LY E N T E R T A I N M E N T E V E R Y D AY O F T H E W E E K , V I S I T O U R O N L I N E C A L E N D A R A T DFWCHILD.COM/CALENDAR. 44

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FELD ENTERTAINMENT; CITY OF CARROLLTON; CHASE KAHWINHUT EARLES, CADDO, HORSE TRIPOD VESSEL (DEÉTUMBAH KAH’-WIS), 2015, CERAMIC, NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, 2018.12

playbook / T H I N G S

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL G U I D E

Dallas-Fort Worth parents have an array of options when it comes to child care and preschool. But how do you decide? This guide compiles a variety of schools and centers across the area to help you find your family’s perfect match.

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Unmatched Academic Results! Tour a campus at Open Houses this month! Visit ChallengerSchool.com for details.

Challenger School offers uniquely fun and academic classes for preschool to eighth grade students. Our students learn to think for themselves and to value independence. Legacy (PS–K) (469) 573-0077 6700 Communications Parkway, Plano Independence (PS–1) (469) 642-2000 10145 Independence Parkway, Plano

Open Enrollment has begun!

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Growing saints from the ground up! Our Faith

• Daily Mass • Sacraments • Eucharistic Chapel

Classical

• Grades 1–8 • Rigorous academics • Enrichment in History

Montessori

• PK through Kindergarten • 12:1 student-teacher ratio • Love for learning

Outdoor Curriculum

• Outdoor classrooms • Amphitheater • Animal care and gardening

Join us for a personalized Campus Tour! Judy Saldaña at 214-337-0244 or info@msmcatholic.org

NEW

Toddlers

Mount St. Michael Catholic School • 18 months to 35 months • 6:1 student-teacher ratio

4500 West Davis, Dallas, Texas 75211 Southwest corner of Davis and Cockrell Hill

www.msmcatholic.org 214-337-0244

Possibilities Await You at Parish Episcopal School. Visit us online at parish.org or contact our Admission office at 972.852.8737

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

• • • • • COMING AUGUST 2022 • • • • •

Exciting new outdoor education program for PK-3 and PK-4

Mustangs in the Meadow Growing Kids... From the Ground Up! Our innovative outdoor classroom provides a rich curriculum, inspiring your child’s curiosity as they grow healthy minds, bodies, and hearts. The program combines traditional learning with outdoor experiences as your mini-Mustang explores and discovers the wonders revealed through God’s creation. Inquire today! Spaces are limited.

fellowship-academy.org admissions@fellowship-academy.org 817-483-2400 1021 N. Bowman Springs Rd. Kennedale, TX

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Years of Se

r v ic e

nta l developme preschool

Collaboration with Therapy Services Full-Day Program 7:00 am - 6:00 pm Breakfast, Lunch & Snack Provided Full-Time Nurse on Staff 6025 Sports Village Rd | Frisco, TX 75033 214.687.9374 | PediatricsPlus.com

RIVER LEGACY LIVING SCIENCE CENTER

THE BEST CLASSROOM ON EARTH:

NATURE! Nature School, Summer Camps, After School Clubs, Homeschool Clubs ... and more!

Ages 6 weeks through PK

Faith-based child care for over 55 years

LEARN MORE AT

riverlegacy.org 817.860.6752

703 NW Green Oaks Boulevard, Arlington, TX 76006 (@ intersection of Cooper St. & NW Green Oaks Blvd.)

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

3621 Tulsa Way, Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-732-8522

tlcfw.org

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Family Fun DIRECTORY

12 FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH

Altitude Trampoline Park altitudetrampolinepark.com

Altitude Trampoline Park is the destination for active family fun! Featuring thousands of square feet of indoor trampolines and exciting attractions, it’s always a great time to jump in. Six locations in DFW.

Amon Carter Museum of American Art bit.ly/3Le0cYv 817/738-1933

Spend your spring break with us at the Carter for free! Join us for games, artmaking activities, stories, and more during Spring Break at the Carter. All ages are welcome to attend. See ad on Page 4.

Arkansas State Parks arkansasstateparks.com 501/682-1191

Looking for new adventures for your family and friends? Come together at Arkansas’ 52 state parks and experience endless possibilities. Plan your adventure today! See ad on Page 13.

City of Irving irvingevents.org 972/721-2501

Cold weather fun comes to Irving at Frost Fest, a free winter festival, featuring rarely seen fluffy snow and fun activities at the Levy Event Plaza from 10am to 1pm on February 19. See ad on Page 15.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden dallasarboretum.org 214/515-6615

Mommy and Me Mondays & Tiny Tot Tuesdays: February 21–April 5. Ten adorable chickens and ducks; the new story time (10am and 10:30am), face painting and Kindermusik at 12pm.

Dallas Opera dallasopera.org/seasons/familyperformances 214/443-1000

Stories with music—that’s what opera’s all about! Introduce the children in your life to the wonderful world of opera with a classic fairy tale set to music and a Texas-themed story. See ad on Page 7.

Irving Archives and Museum irvingarchivesandmuseum.com 972/721-3700

Irving Archives and Museum is a 22,000-square-foot museum packed with fun for the whole family! Experience community history, traveling exhibitions, and a Smithsonian Spark!Lab where young visitors will explore the process of invention! See ad on Page 21.

Kimbell Art Museum kimbellart.org 817/332-8451

Discover new horizons at the Kimbell Art Museum! Drop by the Kimbell on selected Saturdays in February to pick up art-making kits and gallery guides inspired by African sculptures in the permanent collection. See ad on Page 22.

Lakefront Little Elm lakefrontlittleelm.com

The Lakefront Little Elm is your family dun destination all year-round! See ad on Page 43.

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth themodern.org 817/738-9215

Take an ART Break during spring break, March 14–18. We have hands-on, gallery stations designed to enjoy together, 11am–3pm. Get creative energy flowing while spending time with the Modern's art collection. See ad on Page 11.

River Legacy Living Science Center riverlegacy.org 817/860-6752

Join River Legacy for the 25th anniversary of the global Great Backyard Bird Count on February 19! Have fun bird watching and learning all about them at designated spots and on naturalist-led hikes. Free. See ad on Page 52.

Vetro Glassblowing Studio & Fine Art Gallery vetroartglass.com 817/251-1668

Join Vetro for the unique chance to form your own work of art from molten glass. This February help create Valentine's Day hearts and flowers, in March help create glasses and paperweights. Online registration required. See ad on Page 7.

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

past + present

Looking back RIGHT // Jennifer Hardy and husband Ben

february/march 2022 | DFWCHILD

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER HARDY

BRAVE HEARTS: In October 1991, our DallasChild cover featured Mary Ann Hardy and her daughter Jennifer, already a cancer survivor at age 6. The mother and daughter from The Colony shared their family’s experiences after Jennifer was diagnosed with kidney cancer at age 2. Doctors removed Jennifer’s right kidney, and she underwent 18 months of chemotherapy. “I don’t think it’s possible to understand at that age,” reflects Jennifer, now 38, of her time on the cover. “The gravity of having cancer did not hit me until much later.” For Hardy, the memories remain fresh, and she compares the experience to being caught in a tidal wave. “We are so blessed to have Jennifer with us, but we also share in the sorrow of the many children and families that have lost the fight,” Hardy says. The illness shaped Jennifer’s outlook through other health issues, including epilepsy and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, which came with temporary blindness and lesions on the brain. “Cancer was just the beginning of a long journey,” Jennifer says, “but it gave me the mindset necessary to survive the other challenges that came my way.” Today, Jennifer is thriving. She earned a master’s degree in international business from Georgetown University and now lives in Mexico City where she is chief operating officer and partner of Needed Education, which provides personalized digital transformation training and consulting services to large companies throughout Latin America. Jennifer married husband Ben Cooper in 2016, and they are expecting their first child this summer. Fortunately, she says a recent test showed her brain is normal, and her epilepsy is inactive. —Alexis Patterson

Camp Directory Summer planning starts here Day Camps Overnight Camps Family Camps Special Needs Camps

dfwchild.com/camps

DFWCHILD | february/march 2022

QUESTION: HOW SAFE IS THE COVID-19 VACCINE FOR MY CHILD? Answer: Very safe. They have the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. Know the facts. Get your kids vaxxed. Learn more at childrens.com/vaccine

DFWChild February/March 2022

Articles inside

Happy Campers

Cost of Care

Looking Back

Right on the Money

The Kids Are Not Alright

We Laughed, We Cried We Fell Asleep

Hello / Life Goes On