nola family Parent Fearlessly
May 2022
School’s Out, Summer Camp’s In Are Babies Getting Proper Sleep? Treating Torticollis
ADVERTORIAL
NOLAFAMILY.COM | MAY 2022
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nola family CONTENTS
Founder ANN BOWER HERREN Publisher BRANDON FOREMAN Associate Publisher AMY L. FOREMAN
M AY 2 0 2 2
Business Operations LAURIE ACOSTA Director of Operations
SARAH MILLER
Administrative Coordinator
Editorial AMANDA MILLER Managing Editor
EMILY DREZ Assistant Editor
SARAH BATROUS ANTHONY BUI
ON THE COVER
Editorial Assistants
Brantley O. is nine years old and a fourth grader at St. Christopher School.
Art/Production MELODY TAUZIN Senior Graphic Designer
ALEX HERRING SAMANTHA LITTEN
Photo by Twirl Photography
Graphic Designers
TWIRL PHOTOGRAPHY Cover Photography
Advertising PATRICK PACHECO
Director of Business Development
A FEW WORDS
EDUCATION & GUIDANCE
IN EACH ISSUE
6 From the
9 Parenting
8 From the
Publisher
Corner
FEATURES
10 Dear Frankie
12 Wiggle Room
16 Treating
Torticollis
17 Healthy Baby
Sleep
Bookshelf
18 Spotlight
CRYSTAL BARRETT JENNIFER HOFFMANN CAMILLE MILLER KRISTEN RENFROW JASON WALL RYN WHITESIDE Account Executives
Marketing EMILY MANCUSO Director of Marketing
MAGGIE SHARP
19 Mom About
Marketing Assistant
20 Gear to Get
Director of Community Partnerships
Town
21 Out & About
Community Development TERI HODGES
ROXANE VOORHIES Community Outreach
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( 504 ) 866 - 0555 A publication of
NOLA FAMILY is published monthly by FAMILY RESOURCE GROUP INC. and distributed free of charge. Subscriptions accepted. Only authorized distributors may deliver and pick up the magazine. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or comment editorially on all materials contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. NOLA FAMILY Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission prohibited.
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May 2022 Issue 132
NOLAFAMILY.COM | MAY 2022
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from the publisher
#BoyMom You know when you are younger, you often picture yourself many years down the road, married and with a family. Usually, you imagine a particular order you want your children born in. I, of course, wanted my son first, then a daughter. I never saw a third child in my future, and that was okay, as long as I had one of each. My son would be older to protect my daughter, and the world would be happy. Fast forward many years down the road, my daughter came first. Then, I got pregnant and lost my baby boy at 16 weeks. I started to feel like maybe a boy was not in my future, but boy, was I wrong. Five months later, I was pregnant again, and with the previous loss, my doctor wanted to watch me closely. I still remember looking at the ultrasound screen, asking, “what is that over there?” The tech replied, “I will get to that one in a minute.” That one? Seriously?! The doctor confirmed after they sent me upstairs: they’re twins! Twin boys at that. God knew what my heart needed. I love my dancing queen daughter, but being a #boymom is different. The boys still like to snuggle with me, want me to sit with them, look for me first when they score a goal at a soccer game, and they still want me to tuck them into bed at night. We have our own special bond. I believe 100 percent what Denzel said when he said: “A mother is a son’s first true love. A son, especially their first son, is a mother’s last true love.” Being a #boymom is very rewarding. They can certainly be a handful, but I wouldn’t change it for a second. The best way I can describe being a #boymom is by this quote I found from Katie Bingham Smith: “Little boys can test your patience, run you ragged, and make you want to pull your hair out. But they will also melt your heart with just one look, and make you wonder how you ever existed before them.” To my fellow #boymoms, and all moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day! Love,
Associate Publisher 6
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NOLAFAMILY.COM | MAY 2022
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from the bookshelf
PREPARING FOR BABY
New babies can come with a whirlwind of emotions, including joy, elation, and even maybe even a little exhaustion. Adding a member to the family often includes a learning process for everyone, and the following recommendations can help folks of all ages prepare. When Aidan Became a Brother, written by Kyle Lukoff and illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, follows a young boy as he prepares for the arrival of a new sibling. As a trans kid, Aidan knows how important it is to create a situation in which his new sibling can grow and thrive into whomever they are meant to be. For Aidan, this means doing things like picking a gender-neutral name and decorating a room that can reflect the baby as they grow up. Despite his worries that everything needs to be perfect, Aidan’s mom reminds him of how much he taught his parents from a young age, and that listening and love are some of the most important ingredients. For older kids, new babies may bring up questions about bodies and their mechanics. Sex is A Funny Word: A Book About Bodies, Feelings, and You by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth offers an informative look at gender, sexuality, and bodies. This reader-friendly comic encourages inquisitive conversation in a joyful celebration of bodies, boundaries, and relationships. For young adult readers, Mari Costa’s Life of Melody explores co-parenting dynamics between a fairy godfather and a beast-man who find an abandoned human child in the woods and decide to raise her together in the human world.
The mix of fantasy and comedy will draw teens into this magical tale of affection, parenthood, and maybe even romance. Once babies make their way into the physical universe, they are ready to explore the wondrous world of literature alongside us. Hey You! A Baby’s Day in Doodles by Andrea Pippins is perfect for the developing eyesight of infants with its contrasting colors and bold patterns. Reading aloud to babies from an early age helps with language acquisition, especially books that focus on daily activities infants experience. Since this board book also combines colorful photographs of babies throughout their day, the book grows with baby as they begin to explore their world around them–and, everyone knows that babies love looking at other babies. Reading together–no matter the age of your family members–is a bonding experience that creates joyful memories and positive associations. If picking the right book feels overwhelming, the children’s librarians at any New Orleans Public Library location are excellent resources to help you choose stimulating, developmentallyappropriate books for children at all stages of their growth.
Happy reading! Hayley Morgenstern has worked for the New Orleans Public Library for three years as a children’s librarian. They currently work at Norman Mayer Library and have a specialty in queer and feminist children’s books.
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parenting corner
Making Sensory Exploration Easy Our senses are an important part of our lives because they alert the body and brain to important cues, protect the body and brain from becoming overwhelmed, select what we need to pay attention to, and organize the brain automatically. Essentially, they help us to understand the world. From the day babies are born, they start to have sensory experiences.
eyes. Sensory seeking behaviors are when they actively try to engage a specific sense. For instance, if your baby begins crying when you stop patting their back and immediately stop crying when you start patting them again. Knowing what your child likes and does not like can help you determine what sense to focus on and how to do it.
For instance, when babies are swaddled, they experience the sense of touch and proprioception (pressure when touched). When you gaze at your baby, you are engaging their sense of sight. When you rock them, you engage their vestibular sense (change in the inner ear fluid). Over time, sensory experiences help to create brain pathways important for language, cognitive, and physical development. These and other benefits of sensory engagement have led many parents to ask, “What can I do to engage my baby’s senses?” This can seem like an overwhelming task because of the many activity options out there, but it is quite simple.
Second, keep the activity simple. Many sensory activities can engage more than one sense, but focusing on one can help organize things for your baby. Take a water activity, for example, which can focus on touch, taste, sight, or hearing. Just focusing on the sense of touch can help your baby make connections about what water feels like. As babies get older, you will have the opportunity to focus on more than one sense.
There are just three things to keep in mind when developing sensory activities. First, you want to be mindful of your baby’s responses to sensory input. Are there things that they avoid? Are there things they seem to enjoy? Babies display sensory defensive and sensory seeking behaviors. Defensive behaviors are things they do to reduce or avoid sensory input such as when there is too much visual stimulation, they close their
Finally, just have fun. Babies mirror their parents’ internal states, including brain chemicals. So, if you are anxious or stressed during a sensory activity, your baby will be, too. You do not want to strengthen those brain pathways. Finding activities that are enjoyable for you will make it enjoyable for your baby. Sensory activities are so beneficial for babies to learn about the world but can be overwhelming for parents when considering all the ideas that are out there. Being mindful of how your child responds to different sensory input, keeping the activity simple by focusing on one sense at a time, and having fun can help make creating and engaging in a sensory activity at home more enjoyable for you and your baby. Monet Somerville is a Parent Educator at The Parenting Center. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Developmental Psychology with a Concentration in Child and Adolescent Development. She is also a licensed Trust Based Relational Intervention Practitioner. NOLAFAMILY.COM | MAY 2022
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dear frankie
A New Addition to the Family Dear Frankie,
When my mom told me she was pregnant, I was so relieved. I had been worrying for months that something was wrong with her because her stomach kept getting bigger and bigger. The months before Sebastian arrived, all my parents talked about was how they couldn’t wait to see him. After he came, I honestly couldn’t imagine what they were thinking. Within weeks, my parents were sleep-deprived and dragging around the house like zombies. Night after night, they took turns walking the floors with Sebastian to get him to stop crying and go to sleep. To make matters worse, he often stunk because he wasn’t housebroken or had thrown up on his pjs. Those first months were brutal. Things started to take a turn for the better when Sebastian could sleep through the night, drink a bottle on his own, and use his binky to calm down. It was around this time that he and I became pals. When he was lying on his blanket on the floor, we liked nothing better than to cuddle, play tug of war, and sleep hand on paw. You can’t believe how thrilled I was when he started using a highchair and dropped or threw food onto the floor for me to eat. These days, I can only imagine how dull and unfulfilled my life would be without Sebastian. Now I’m the one who can’t wait to see him after he has been at daycare all day. I know my letter isn’t typical of the ones you get asking for your advice Frankie, but I thought I would send it anyway in hopes you would be willing to print it. Adjusting to a new addition to the family who is a newborn is an issue that impacts the lives of many dogs. I thought they would be interested in hearing from someone who has been there and who can assure them that living with a baby gets better after the first few months. They should also know that babies can become a dog’s best friend and even their protector over time.
Dana
P.S. If you decide not to print my letter that’s OK. It won’t go to waste. I plan to tuck it into the card I’m making for Sebastian’s upcoming birthday.
Dear Dana,
I will print your letter. I think readers always appreciate advice from someone who has had first paw experience with an issue and can provide hopeful and sound advice. Best,
Frankie
P.S. It was nice to have someone else do the heavy lifting on writing the column this week.
Frankie is a rescue and a service dog for Geneva Woodruff. Together, they have traveled far and wide. Along the way, Frankie befriended dogs from all walks of life. She thought it would be remiss not to share the many lessons of life she learned from them.
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NOLAFAMILY.COM | MAY 2022
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wiggle room
Developmental Milestones and How They Affect Early Intervention In February 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated developmental milestones for infants and toddlers. With this update, there were some positive changes but also some changes that raise concern from some medical professionals. The last time the milestones were updated was more than 20 years ago. The positive changes in the updated milestones include: -Medical jargon has been removed and more family-friendly language is used. -Checklist has been added for 15 months old and 30 months old. With 15 and 30 months added, there is now a developmental checklist for every well visit at the pediatrician’s office. -Additional social and emotional items have been added to aid in early detection of autism. -Duplicate items and vague wording have been removed. -Open-ended questions are provided to aid medical professionals to facilitate open discussions with families about their child’s development. -Expanded and revised suggestions to promote developmental milestones. There are also fewer milestones. Prior to the update, there were 216 milestones across 10 checklists for ages. Adding 15 and 30 months created 12 checklists, but now there are only 159 milestones. Previously, milestones achievements were based on the 50th percentile of children (average) at the particular age listed. With the 2022 update, the mastery of milestones is now based on 75 percent of the population. This was changed to encompass a wider range of “typical” ages of development to ease parents’ concerns; however, medical professionals are concerned that only the low end (25th percentile) of children will be identified. A majority of the children in the 25th-45th percentile range, who would likely benefit from early intervention, will potentially be overlooked. One negative impact of the milestones being moved to the 75th percentile may tend to lead parents and pediatricians to take a “wait-and-see” approach. This could in turn cause parents to prolong pursuing early intervention. One of the ongoing concerns that early interventionists have faced is that many
pediatricians have a wait-and-see approach. Lowering standards will likely cause an increase in wait-and-see approaches from pediatricians as well as parents. For infants and toddlers, early intervention is one of the most important services for young children due to the neuroplasticity in the young child’s brain. Neuroplasticity, which is at its greatest prior to age five, allows brain pathways to change, learn, and adapt, and creates new pathways that strengthen neural connections. This means that early intervention can aid a child in achieving and learning new developmental skills that will directly become permanent changes in the brain and further the child’s development. This is one of the main reasons why a wait-and-see approach can cause crucial time to be lost and negatively impact a child’s development. Two of the biggest disagreements that early intervention therapists have with the CDC and AAP changes are crawling being removed as a developmental milestone and speech and language milestones being pushed back to later ages. OTs and PTs consider crawling a critical skill for building strength in the core, upper, and lower body; integrating primitive reflexes; developing palmar arches in the hand; exploring the environment; and developing motor planning skills. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are concerned with the number of words that a child is expected to have. Previously, a 24-month old should have 50 words in his/her repertoire; however, the new milestone is 30 months. SLPs are concerned that this will cause a delay in identifying children with early intervention needs. With the CDC and AAP updated developmental milestones, there are a few positive outcomes; however, from an early intervention perspective, it is concerning that a greater number of children will not be identified and potentially miss the opportunity for early intervention, when neuroplasticity is at its greatest. Parents should be aware that milestones occur in ranges, and not all children will master them at the same time. Pathways.org is a useful tool that provides age ranges of milestones, is family friendly, and very thorough. Parents should always monitor their child’s progress, and if they are concerned with development, seek out a screening or evaluation with an OT, PT, or SLP early interventionist.
Kimberly Bradley, MS, LOTR, a pediatric occupational therapist, writes the “Wiggle Room” column. She owns Kim4Kids in Metairie and can be reached at kim4kidsnola.com.
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NOLAFAMILY.COM | MAY 2022
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Summer Camps You Can’t Miss Still on the hunt for the perfect summer camp for your kiddos to attend? Check out these great options around town.
Arden Cahill Academy’s Camp Corral 3101 Wall Blvd., Gretna ardencahillacademy.com (504) 392-0902
There’s still time to join in Camp Corral’s 10-themed weeks of activities, including horseback riding, swimming, archery, STEM lab, and more on their beautiful 12-acre country campus on the Westbank in Gretna. Adventure week is always a hit, while events like blue & white days, rodeos, theatre productions, and the overnight camp”in” are not to be missed!
Every Day Away 7100 St Charles Ave., New Orleans everydayaway.camp 877-4KIDCAM (454-3226)
Every Day Away is a summer day camp concept, brought to you by 50year summer camp experts, Kidcam Camps. Campers aged 8-14 don’t stay put, but get off campus every day as they enjoy new destinations and surprising excursions, such as horseback riding, White Sands Lake, and science or cultural adventures. We don’t just hit the road - we get out of town!
Upturn Arts
upturnarts.org/summer-2022-camps (504) 390-8399
Do you like the arts? Are you creative, curious, and a fan of Field Trip Fridays? If so, you will LOVE our summer lineup of dance, music, theater, and visual art every day as part of our quest to become true ART-adVenturers! 12 themed sessions are available for ages 4-15 on a sliding scale. Tuition includes breakfast, lunch, performances, and field trips.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Gates Preschool Summer Camp 4000 W. Esplanade Ave. S, Metairie gatesofprayer.org (504) 885-4339
We’re looking forward to a fantastic summer at Gates Preschool Summer Camp! Campers will enjoy water days, weekly themes, costume days, yoga, mad science, gymnastics, music, special events and more! Check out our fun-filled Camp Calendar and download the registration form at gatesofprayer.org.
Lolo’s Mind + Body Boot Camp
6117 Magazine Street lolosstudio.com (415) 786-3317 This summer, let your kids celebrate their personal star power at Lolo’s, New Orleans’ youth-centered studio for fun, fitness, yoga, and art. Discover how they combine to build a strong body, a focused mind, and a calm flexible outlook. Kids will have a blast while increasing physical strength and flexibility, building their mind-body connection, and creating fun art.
Kidcam Camps
Multiple locations kidcamcamp.com Kidcam Camp offers 10 weeks of summer day camp, action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship, and creativity. This year, campers will RE-discover the Spirit of Summer with a different theme each week, while incorporating sports, creative arts, STEM, movement, specialty programs by camp, swimming and water play, and 50 years of memorable Kidcam traditions! Locations throughout greater New Orleans and Northshore.
MOVE! New Orleans’ Best Summer Camp 4716 Paris Ave., New Orleans neworleansbestsummercamp.com (504) 376-7009
MOVE! is the new name of our great summer camp program that’s a full day of activities for kids entering kindergarten through 6th. We offer classes in martial arts, parkour, dance, tumbling, and kickboxing as well as lots of sports, games, crafts, “Brain Games”, and our new “Kid Cave.” Free early drop-off and late pick-up included!
NOLAFAMILY.COM | APRIL 2022
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Treating Torticollis
Signs, Symptoms, and When to Seek Help By Emily Drez
D
id you know about 3 in every 100 babies are born with–or eventually develop–a condition that causes their necks to become stiff on one side? This condition is called torticollis, and it can happen easily if your baby is not moving his or her head enough. While it sounds scary, torticollis can be resolved with physical therapy as long as you address it quickly. That’s why pediatric physical therapists like Rebecca Rudisill, PT, DPT, are here to help if you suspect your baby may have torticollis.
So, what is torticollis?
Torticollis is a common condition characterized by tightness in the muscles on one side of a baby’s neck along with weakness on the other side. This causes the baby’s head to tilt to one side while the other side becomes overstretched. The primary muscle involved is the sternocleidomastoid, which is a muscle that runs from behind the ear all the way to the breast and collar bone. We have one of these muscles on each side of our necks, and these muscles work together to help rotate our heads. When a baby has torticollis, his or her neck does not have full range of motion. “However, it doesn’t just stop at the neck,” says Rebecca Rudisill, a pediatric physical therapist at Woman’s Hospital. “There can also be a tightness running down the baby’s entire body, which makes their arm, leg, and trunk stiff as well.”
How do I know if my baby has torticollis?
“Look at pictures of your baby. If their head is tilted the same way in every picture, then that’s your clue that something isn’t right,” Dr. Rudisill says. “Another sign to look for is if your baby is only looking to the right instead of the left, or vice versa. And, since their head is stuck in one position, they could also develop a flat spot on their head, which is another condition called plagiocephaly. If your baby
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has either torticollis or plagiocephaly, you definitely need to get that checked out to make sure they don’t have the other condition as well.”
Can torticollis be prevented?
Yes, but not in all cases. Sometimes torticollis is a result of the baby’s positioning in utero, like if he or she does not have enough room or is crammed into the mother’s ribs and hips. If the child is not born with torticollis, there are several preventative measures you can take. “Make sure your baby has plenty of tummy time and that they don’t spend too much time in swings and bouncers. You also need to make sure you are engaging with your baby by helping them follow your face, side to side, and having them look around,” advises Dr. Rudisill.
I think my baby has torticollis. What should I do?
“Run, don’t walk, to physical therapy,” Dr. Rudisill says. “The wait-andsee method is outdated, and we have scientific evidence for that. The earlier you start treatment, the earlier we can resolve the condition.” In fact, if your baby is born with torticollis, there is a 98 percent chance the torticollis will be resolved if you address it before they turn a month old. If your baby develops torticollis after he or she is born, seek help from a physical therapist as soon as possible. Your baby’s physical therapy will include lots of stretching of the tight muscles and strengthening of the weak muscles, along with developmental treatment such as tummy time, rolling, and sitting, depending on the age of the child. Older children may opt for aquatic therapy, which utilizes the same therapeutic measures to treat torticollis, just in a different environment. Your therapist may also give you a list of stretches and exercises to do with your child at home, which will be crucial for facilitating the process of treating the torticollis.
Healthy Baby Sleep Are Babies Getting Proper Sleep? By Sarah Batrous
W
hen you have a baby, whether it’s your firstborn or lastborn, the biggest problem when you get home is how to get proper shuteye. Unlike us adults, your newborn doesn’t have that beautifully well-adjusted circadian rhythm that tells us that when the sun goes down, it’s time to sleep. Dr. Nilong Vyas, a pediatrician and founder of Sleepless in NOLA, a sleep consulting program that teaches families how to get their children sleeping through the night, weighs in on proper sleep habits in babies.
What does a good bedtime routine look like?
Your baby’s bedtime routine should look a lot like your own. Your bedtime routine is a ritual that you perform around the same time each night and is what signals to your body that it’s time to sleep. Your baby’s need for a routine is no different. “It helps to establish a consistent pattern that the child can recall and allows them to associate that with sleep,” shares Dr. Vyas. “The routine can include things such as getting on jammies, reading books, turning off lights, singing a song, and then going to sleep. It is very important to create and maintain a bedtime routine for all children, at any age.”
How many hours should a baby be sleeping at night?
This could depend on your baby as even adults require different amounts of sleep from person to person. You might need a full eight hours but maybe your sister works perfectly fine on six hours of sleep. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, newborns require 14-17 hours of sleep including naps, and infants aged 4-12 months need 12-16 hours of sleep, also including naps. Once your child is one or two years old, they can work off 11-14 hours of sleep divided between bedtime and naptime. However, don’t panic about making these exact hours! Babies will naturally wake up during the night, and maybe they aren’t so enthused about naptime, either. Everything will smooth out with time and patience. “Most babies begin to approximate a more ‘adult’ sleep schedule between three months and one year of age. During this time of life, babies begin to sleep for longer periods during the night and shorter periods during the daytime,” offers Dr. Vyas.
We’re struggling to get the baby to sleep. What do we do?
Nothing can make you feel more like you’re not fit to be a parent than a baby that’s fussy all night, but don’t be hard on yourself. If you’re trying to get your baby to sleep independently right now, you’re probably not sleeping well either. Don’t fret, there are plenty of resources at your disposal. Consulting a pediatric sleep specialist like Dr. Vyas, or bringing up your concerns to your pediatrician, can get you on track for a restful night’s sleep. “If you feel as though you are stuck and the information online is too confusing or contradictory, using the help of a pediatric sleep coach can be tremendously useful and life-changing for you and your child,” advises Dr. Vyas.
When should we seek out help?
Reach out as soon as possible if you and your family are suffering from poor quality sleep. You can’t function properly as a parent off little to no sleep, and your baby won’t be doing so hot either. Nobody’s having a good time when that first tooth is coming in. “In my experience, many parents wait too long. They assume the problem will eventually go away on its own or the child will grow out of it. But it ends up leading to poor sleep and bad moods for the whole family,” notes Dr. Vyas. “If there is a sleep regression because of a developmental milestone, that regression should last as little as three days and up to two weeks. If it is lasting longer, it is better to reach out for help rather than wait and have the problem escalate.”
Any other advice?
Honestly, being a parent is tough. Every year it seems like the guidelines change or maybe your grandma’s, mama’s, or aunt’s advice doesn’t feel right to you. There is no shame in feeling lost as a parent. Whether it’s your first baby or your third, there are things you won’t be prepared for. Reaching out will give you some peace of mind. “Parenting is the hardest job in the world, and if your child is not sleeping well, it becomes even harder. There is no need to suffer and feel as though you are a failure if you have to ask for help. It doesn’t matter where you get help from, as long as you get help. Ideally, that help is from a trusted source with research and experience that backs them up, so you are not left in a position where the problem is worsened,” concludes Dr. Vyas. NOLAFAMILY.COM | MAY 2022
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spotlight
Delivering Hope NOLA By Sarah Batrous Parents whose babies stayed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) understand that there is nothing more devastating than going home without your baby. Visiting these fragile newborns entails hands constantly wet and sticky with sanitizer, difficult questions from worried siblings, and the fear of the unknown. Much of the time, having a baby in the NICU is unexpected and parents are not prepared. This is why Delivering Hope NOLA was formed by a group of six NICU moms who wanted to support others who are in the same situation they once were. Erin DeZinno, a teacher at St. Mary Magdalene and a mother of three boys who were all in the NICU, is one member of Delivering Hope NOLA who has seen the organization step up to support families of NICU babies during their darkest days. Their mission is “to provide hope and encouragement to the families of infants and children receiving critical care through a variety of supportive services.” “We started by delivering one care package to East Jefferson Hospital’s NICU during Christmas time. The next year, we decided we were going to do it during Parents of Preemies Month in May. By then, we had all become very good friends and we decided that we needed to do more for all the other hospitals,” explains DeZinno. Today, they spread hope from the Northshore to the East Bank, delivering over 200 care packages to every New Orleans hospital possible. Today, the organization hopes that they will grow to a point where families will hear about them and be able to request supplies as soon as they are admitted. Some babies are only in the NICU for a short while, but others can be in the unit’s care for months on end, which is why care packages are so important. They include items that aid in bonding and care for the parents and siblings like snacks, pens and notebooks to take notes, crossword books, comfy socks and blankets, and preemie-sized clothes. One of the most important items in the care package are children’s books.
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“Doctors say one of the easiest ways to connect with your baby and let them know you’re there is to talk with them. It’s hard to start a conversation as a mom who’s looking at her baby and can’t touch them. They’ve got all these wires on them and the last thing you want to do is hurt them. So we give them a children’s book so they can sit and read to them. Just having that dialogue helps start that bond that’s severed during the rush of going into the NICU,” explains DeZinno. Along with care packages, having someone to talk to is equally as important. Oftentimes, infants and children in the NICU will need certain procedures done immediately with no forewarning. This can be scary to parents just entering the NICU who maybe don’t know anyone else who has experienced this. Delivering Hope NOLA wants these moms and dads to be able to find and talk with others who have had the same procedures done. Of course, everything grinded to a halt during the pandemic due to the nature of the NICU. Wary of harming some of the most vulnerable patients of these hospitals, Delivering Hope NOLA only just got back into the swing of things late last year. “We just got back to our regular deliveries in December. We had everyone all masked up, gloved, and doing our packages. This month, we’re going to do another full care package for our 200 deliveries. A big thing that’s changed recently is that we haven’t gotten any individual calls for packages,” shares DeZinno. Delivering Hope NOLA has made a sizable impact on the lives of those who feel powerless to help their baby and themselves. There are plenty of ways for you to support this nonprofit as they get back to their full-scale operations. Since gathering up supplies for those care packages is difficult and expensive, your donations of care package items are always deeply appreciated. Stay in touch on their social media, or tune in to the website for future ways to be a shining light in your community by helping families in need.
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THINGS
mom about town
I’M LOVING RIGHT NOW
KRISTEN MCCARTY
After spending many years in medical device sales, Kristen McCarty decided to take a break from working outside of the home and focus on her four kiddos and their new home. McCarty is a mom of four: Kaleb, 19; Carson, 14; Ella, almost 8; and Patrick, 7. However, when her children got older, she was ready to dive into a new career. She had flipped and renovated houses in the past and discovered a love for the process and the end result. Today, she manages the family’s rental properties and is working on various projects that include renovations, additions, and rehabilitations.
WORK
DATE
Almost every morning, we work out together before my husband goes to work. Because of his work schedule, we must be creative with our dates together. Some of our favorite times together are weekday lunches. The kids are in school a lot, so that often is better than getting someone to entertain the little ones.
I love seeing progress and enjoy the flexibility that it allows me with the kids. In addition to being able to be at school for functions and games in the evenings, we get to travel frequently. I thrive on work / life balance.
GETAWAY
My husband and I travel a good bit together in groups and with our family many times a year, but our favorite trips are when it is just us, usually when we’re at the beach or a trip to Steamboat Springs in the winter to snow ski. It takes a village, and fortunately for us, we have that.
TRAVEL DESTINATION
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
We have had the kids on the boats since they were infants, so it’s only natural that they developed a love for fishing, too. Offshore is our favorite. Long days with little to no cell phone service so we can just enjoy the weather, the fishing, music, and our company that’s with us.
If it is summertime, we are somewhere where we can bring the boat. Most recently, we trailered the boat to Miami and took it down to the Exuma Islands, Staniel Cay more specifically. The whole family came. We spent the whole week snorkeling, swimming with pigs and sea turtles, and cave diving.
NOLAFAMILY.COM | MAY 2022
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out & about
1 Sunday BARATARIA PRESERVE WETLANDS WALK
May
The Broadside at 3 p.m. nolacrawfishfe.wpengine.com
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Reserve Visitor Center at 10 a.m. Join a ranger for a guided walk on a boardwalk trail through the Louisiana swamps and marshes of the Barataria Preserve. nps.gov
PARENTS DAY OUT
EXPLORE CITY PARK
TRIBES
New Orleans City Park at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Grab your troop or family for a day full of fun and exploration. gsle.org
LITTLE LEAGUE OF NEW ORLEANS
Ursuline Academy at 8 a.m. through May 21. LLONO offers a program of both recreational and competitive teams for children ages 4-12. 504llono.org/llono
LOVE, HUG AND GROOM
East Jefferson YMCA from 8 a.m.- noon. The Y offers Parent’s Day Out for members and non-members for ages six weeks to four years. ymcaneworleans.org Le Petit Theatre at 7:30 p.m., and at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for matinees. lepetittheatre.com
3 Tuesday
FRENCH QUARTER HISTORY TALK
French Quarter Visitor Center of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve at 9:30 a.m. nps.gov
GIVE NOLA DAY
Camp Marydale at 3 p.m. In this session, you will have the opportunity to interact with the Camp Marydale Wranglers and learn about the horses in their herd. gsle.org
New Orleans Art Museum. Give NOLA Day is a 24hour event in support of regional nonprofits. noma.org
HG BRELAND
Online with Nola Family Magazine at 3 p.m. Free virtual ParentEd Talk with renowned author Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D. Learn what it means to cultivate a “Yes Brain.” eventbrite.com
Pour House Saloon at 5 p.m. A night of Americana music. pourhousesaloon.com
NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The Who, Stevie Nicks, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers will be there. nojazzfest.com
SUNDAY MAKEBREAK: MINI CANVAS GIFT CARD HOLDER
Michaels at 2 p.m. Make a free mini canvas gift card holder just in time for Mother’s Day. michaels.com
WESTWEGO FEST
4th Street and Sala Avenue at noon. Spring celebration with music, food trucks, carnival games, petting zoo, and crafts. visitwestwego.com
2 Monday
CHALMETTE BATTLEFIELD: BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS TALK
Chalmette Battlefield at 2:45 p.m. Learn about the Battle of New Orleans at the place where it happened. nps.gov
HANDS-ON CREOLE NEW ORLEANS COOKING CLASS
Southern Food & Beverage Museum at 11 a.m. The Creole Cooking Class explores the iconic dishes of New Orleans. southernfood.org
NOLA CRAWFISH FESTIVAL 20
MAY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
THE “YES BRAIN:” COACHING OUR KIDS FROM REACTIVITY TO RECEPTIVITY
TULANE BASEBALL VS NEW ORLEANS
Longue Vue at 5 p.m. longuevue.com
YLC WEDNESDAY AT THE SQUARE
Lafayette Square at 5 p.m. YLC Wednesday at the Square is a free, 10-concert music series in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District. ylcnola.org
YOM HA’ZIKARON & YOM HA’ATZMAUT
New Orleans JCC Uptown at 5:30 p.m. Celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut with the flavors of Israel and a live concert by Gilad Paz and his TLV band. nojcc.org
5 Thursday
YALA BABY ARTSPLAY!
Ogden Museum at 9:30 a.m. The 30-minute workshops provide engaging arts-based activities designed to instruct caregivers on how to use the arts at home to promote early learning. ogdenmuseum.org
6 Friday
FIRST FRIDAYS AT NOMA: JAZZY FETE
New Orleans Art Museum at 6 p.m. The museum is open late night for an evening packed with musical performances, gallery tours, and special pop-ups. noma.org
MATILDA
Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. experienceneworleans.com
PRESERVATION HALL: 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Greer Field at Turchin Stadium at 6:30 p.m. tulanegreenwave.com
Orpheum Theater at 9 p.m. orpheumnola.com
ART & ZEN ONLINE MEDITATION SERIES
Stallings St. Claude Rec Center at 6 p.m. nordc.org
LAFRENIERE PARK FARMERS MARKET
Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. Times vary through May 8. tulanegreenwave.com
4 Wednesday
Online at noon. Live seated mindfulness meditation inspired by a work of Southern art. Registration required. ogdenmuseum.org Lafreniere Park at 2 p.m. Buy local. facebook.com/ lafreniere-park-farmers-arts-market
MASTER OF THE AIR
National World War 2 Museum. Masters of the Air is a story of life in wartime England, in bombedout London, and in the tiny hamlets these brash young Americans completely transformed. nationalww2museum.org
NEEDTOBREATHE
Saenger Theatre at 8 p.m. saengernola.com
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG TULANE BASEBALL AT UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
WETLANDS ACADIAN CULTURAL CENTER BOAT TOUR
Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center at 10 a.m. Cruise into Louisiana’s past on a boat tour of Bayou Lafourche with a National Park Service ranger. nps.gov
7 Saturday
13 ANNUAL ST. PHILLP NERI CRAWFISH COOKOFF
Orpheum Theatre at 7:30 p.m. orpheumnola.com
St. Phillip Neri at 3 p.m. Sample the unique crawfish boils from teams competing to be crowned best boil. facebook.com/spncrawfishcookoff
TWILIGHT AT LONGUE VUE: SEAN HOBBES + THE HI RES
Acadian Cultural Center at 10 a.m. Join the Cajun
SEASON FINALE FEATURING LPO MUSICIANS
ACADIAN CULTURAL CENTER DULCIMER JAM
Dulcimer Society and its core group, the Lagniappe Dulcimer Society from Baton Rouge, for dulcimer music. nps.gov
GARDEN THERAPY SERIES: PARENT’S DAY FLOWER CROWN WORKSHOP
Longue Vue at 1 p.m. Celebrate family at this adorable Parent’s Day Flower Crown Workshop. longuevue.com
GRETNA FARMERS MARKET
Historic downtown Gretna from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. gretnala.com
THE LAST WALTZ
Saenger Theatre at 9 p.m. saengernola.com
8 Sunday
SUNDAY MAKEBREAK: MOTHER’S DAY WOODEN FRAME
Michaels at 2 p.m. Make a free painted wooden frame, just in time for Mother’s Day. michaels.com
10 Tuesday
ARTFUL PALATE WITH CAFÉ NOMA
New Orleans Art Museum at 6 p.m. noma.org
BOOK TALK: SAMURAI RABBI WITH RABBI DAVID GOLDSTEIN
New Orleans JCC Uptown at 7 p.m. Samurai Rabbi offers a unique, playful and moving look at the life of one young rabbi and the people around him at a pivotal moment in his life and in world history. nojcc.org
13 Friday
A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN
Le Petit Theatre at 7:30 p.m., and at 3 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday for matinees. lepetittheatre.com
HANK WILLIAMS: THE LONESOME TOUR
BB’s Stage Door Canteen at 7 p.m. nationalww2museum.org
SWAN LAKE
Orpheum Theater at 7 p.m. New Orleans Ballet Theatre presents Swan Lake. orpheumnola.com
14 Saturday
2022 ROBOTIC CHALLENGE
MUSICAL STORYTIME: WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
21 Saturday
Popp Bandstand in NOLA City Park at 10:30 a.m. lpomusic.com
HARLEM STRING QUARTET
WARTIME PIANO HAPPY HOUR
WILLIAMS LECTURE SERIES: SOMETHING WILD IN THE COUNTRY: THE FUGITIVE LIFE OF TENNESSEE WILLIAMS
The Higgins Hotel at 5 p.m. nationalww2museum.org
15 Sunday
SUNDAY MAKEBREAK: SUMMER RESIN RINGS
Michaels at 2 p.m. Learn to make a UV resin ring. michaels.com
17 Tuesday
Longue Vue at 5:30 p.m. longuevue.com
Online via Zoom at 11 a.m. my.hnoc.org
22 Sunday
CRAFT FAIR/FARMERS MARKET
Westwego Farmers & Fisheries Market at 10 a.m. visitwestwego.com
FAMILY FESTIVAL: THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI
BLIPPI THE MUSICAL
Mahalia Jackson Theatre at 6 p.m. saengernola.com
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at 10 a.m. noma.org
CAR SEAT FITTING STATION
PASSING OF THE GAVEL
Children’s Hospital Parking Garage at 9 a.m. Free. chnola.org
HOW TO STOP FIGHTING AND START WINNING TOGETHER IN PARENTING AND MARRIAGE
Online with Nola Family Magazine at 9 p.m. Learn techniques that will restructure your marriage around shared success with authors Nate Klemp, Ph.D. and Kaley Klemp. eventbrite.com
MEAN GIRLS
Saenger Theatre at 7:30 p.m. saengernola.com
18 Wednesday
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, SALT-N-PEPA, RICK ASTLEY AND EN VOGUE Smoothie King Center at 7:30 p.m. smoothiekingcenter.com
19 Thursday
INFANT AND CHILD CPR
Children’s Hospital Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. American Heart Association’s “Family and Friends” non-certification class is back in person. chnola.org
20 Friday
THE COMEDY ZONE
Jefferson Performing Arts Society at 7:30 p.m. jpas.org
Longue Vue House and Gardens at noon. JLNO has trained women leaders to understand the community’s needs, envision ways to better others’ lives, and bring forth lasting change. jlno.org
SUMMER MAKEBREAK: TIE DYE ROCKS
Michaels at 2 p.m. At this free event, they will show you how to make a cute tie dye pattern on rock. michaels.com
24 Tuesday
HEALTHY HAPPY HOUR FITNESS CLASS
The Roosevelt New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. footprintstofitness.com
26 Thursday
BERYL KOROT: LINES, THE LOOM & TOWER OF BABEL VIRTUAL ARTIST TALK
Online at 6 p.m. newcombartmuseum.tulane.edu
TOP TACO PRESENTS FOOD FIGHT!
Mandeville Shed & Ellipse Lawn at Crescent Park in the French Market District at 6 p.m. foodfightnola.com.
29 Sunday
SUMMER MAKEBREAK: OUR HERO SCRAPBOOK PAGE
Michaels at 2 p.m. This memorial day, honor the hero in your life with this free craft. michaels.com
National World War 2 Museum at 8 a.m. nationalww2museum.org
ARTS MARKET
Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn of City Park at 10 a.m. artsneworleans.org
CRAWFISH COOK-OFF
Westwego Farmers & Fisheries Market at 11 a.m. visitwestwego.com
DON QUIXOTE
Mahalia Jackson Theatre at 7:30 p.m. New Orleans Ballet Association presents. saengernola.com
KIDS’ NIGHT OUT
New Orleans JCC Uptown at 6 p.m. Have fun with friends and burn some energy while your parents have a night on the town. nojcc.org NOLAFAMILY.COM | MAY 2022
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gear to get
Soarin’ to Summer
1
2
1 A Dozen Reasons
Shake things up for some mom points with this handcrafted, customizable collection of reasons why you love her. uncommongoods.com, $40
2 SPOTMYUV UV Stickers
3
4
The world’s first clinically proven UV Detection Stickers give you a reminder of when it’s time to reapply your sunscreen. amazon.com, $14.99
3 The Chic InstaShade
Transform from blue-light to polarized sunglasses by attaching the magnetic frames to the front of the glasses. priverevaux.com, $60
4 Rain Showers Splash Pond
5
Create a mini water park in your backyard. Pour water into the top tray, and watch as the rainfall effect is activated. amazon.com, $85.99
5 LED Light Airplanes
These hand-throwing foam airplanes feature LED flashlights to make the journey beautiful. amazon.com, $17.99
22
MAY 2022 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
