nola family Parent Fearlessly
October 2020
HALLOWEEN
2020
OH WHAT A YEAR!
Trick-orTreating COVID-STYLE
P. 12
LOCAL PUMPKIN PATCHES P. 13
NOLA FALL BUCKET LIST P. 8
Self-care Tips forParents P. 17
& Presenting Sponsor
Visit our website or Facebook page to enter
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| october 2020
Submit a photo of your costumed child between Oct. 5 & Nov. 5, and get your friends and family to vote!
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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
First Place Prize: Family Photo Session With Twirl Photography ($250 value).
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
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nola family CONTENTS OCTOBER 2020
ON THE COVER (l–r) Zoe Niemann (10) “RBG,” Colton Lee Moore (10) “Tiger King,” Téa Denichou (7) “Zoom Call,” Karson Williams (9) “Healthcare Worker” Photo: Twirl Photography
A FEW WORDS
EDUCATION & GUIDANCE
IN EACH ISSUE
6 From the Editor
11 Open House Calendar When to visit schools
18 Dad About Town
17 Health Self-Care Tips for Parents
21 Spotlight
19 Financial Lessons Opening your child’s first
28 From the Bookshelf
FEATURES 8 Seasonal Bucket List Making family memories this fall
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| october 2020
12 Trick-or-Treating
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checking account
Ideas for Halloween fun during Covid
22 Vagina Whisperer Postpartum health and recovery
13 Pumpkin Patches 2020
24 Wiggle Room Movement, even in class,
Where to go for the best ‘picking’
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Social-Emotional Learning
Helping your child with their social and emotional needs
is key to learning
26 Parenting Corner Helping your child cope with fear
Big Chief Bo Dollis, Jr.
Our Voice Nuestra Voz
World War II perspectives
29 Gear to Get Halloween family fun
30 In the Know Classes and family support resources
31 Out & About What, Where, When: Virtual, on-going, and special happenings
publisher/editor ANN BOWER HERREN ann@nolafamily.com
Contr ibutors
managing editor TREVOR WISDOM
ROBERT BAER is a Vice President at Fidelity Bank. He
trevor@nolafamily.com
coordinates Fidelity’s Financial Literacy initiative.
office manager JENNY ZIGLIN jenny@nolafamily.com
advertising sales KRISTEN STONICHER kristen@nolafamily.com
KIMBERLY BRADLEY, a pediatric occupational therapist, writes the “Wiggle Room” column. She owns Kim4Kids in Metairie and can be reached at 504.517.5437; kim4kidsnola.com.
designer CAT LANDRUM 2ND STORY CREATIVE edit interns ARIANNA BLAKELY SOFIA RIVERA ad production SARA YOUNGBLOOD contributing photography TWIRL PHOTOGRAPHY
SCOTT CAMPBELL is publisher of Pelican Publishing, a nationally recognized, local publishing company established in 1926. He also is publisher & founder of River Road Press, a local boutique house of local and regional titles.
DR. SARA REARDON is a physical therapist and board-certified women’s health clinical specialist. She is the owner of NOLA Pelvic Health, a pelvic floor physical therapy clinic in New Orleans; thevagwhisperer.com.
For reprint information, contact
ann@nolafamily.com Business Office:
8131 Oak St., Ste. 500, New Orleans, LA 70118
504.866.0555
LISA PHILLIPS, a licensed social worker and parent educator at The Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital, is a contributor to the award-winning “Parenting Corner” column. She can be reached at 504.896.9591; chnola.org/ our-services/the-parenting-center.
ARIANNA BLAKELY & SOFIA RIVERA A publication of
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and/or contributors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine or its advertisers.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
september 2020 volume 14, issue 7
are our phenomenal editorial interns at Nola Family.
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FR OM THE ED ITO R
Looking at the pictures here got me to reminiscing about my childhood, Halloween, and fall in general. Fall is my favorite season. I’m a September baby, so there’s that. There’s something about the weather changing, the leaves starting to fall, and a different feel in the air that gives me a happy feeling. The photos here were taken of my childhood best friend, Margaret, and me at my grandparents house the year we were in kindergarten. The costumes came from the Woolworth’s on Magazine Street, now home to Peaches Records. Halloween was a minor kids’ celebration back then. Trick-or-treating was kept squarely to your own neighborhood (or your grandparents’, as in this case). The candy haul wasn’t that big. We were very happy to have our plastic pumpkins filled one-third of the way. And small parties with classmates, family or neighborhood kids was the norm. Decorations were a minimum. Funny how these years later - during our Coronavirus new normal - we’ve defaulted to the Halloween norms of my childhood. You’ll read in this issue our suggestions of how you and your family can celebrate Halloween (or “COVID-ween”) this October (“No Tricks, Just Treats!”). The ideas here are a compilation we got from our Facebook friends and they’re terrific! Small, safe groups and socially distanced trick-or-treating will be trending this year. But never fear: I know each of your celebrations will make lifelong memories for your child to cherish.
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And don’t miss our annual Halloween Costume Contest! Check out this year’s categories and start your costume planning early. We’ve got prizes!
www.nolafamily.com
Also in this issue are some fun annual features. First, there’s our rundown of local pumpkin patches. Some are rural and a quick drive, while others are annual fundraisers for local churches or schools. All provide family fun, photo ops, and a means of starting new family traditions. More festive October happenings can be found in our “Out & About” calendar of events. Make sure you look at these quickly, as tickets to many listed events will go quickly!
This just goes to show that your kids don’t need a big celebration; it’s the little things that count.
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Another childhood memory came to me while working on this month’s “Gear to Get.” I still remember my first plastic skull ring. It came from a gumball machine in 1968 and glowed in the dark. Wow! I loved it and wish I still had it. Funny what the mind so acutely remembers and the heart becomes fond of.
Have a safe, terrific Halloween.
Trevor Wisdom
ARDEN CAHILL ACADEMY EST. 1968
WELCOME BACK ACA WHALES! WHALES!
Now Registering
Babies Through High School Join us for a Virtual Tour!
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
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Make homemade cinnamon-spiced apple sauce
Take a walk by the Berger Family’s House on St. Charles & State for great skeleton decorations and photo ops
Pick the perfect pumpkin at Sugar Roots Farm in Lower Algiers
Have a family gumbo cookoff: Tomatoes or no? Okra or filé powder? Chicken or Shrimp?
Take a streetcar ride (When was the last time you did that!?)
Get beignets at Cafe du Monde in City Park or the French Quarter Light pumpkin spice scented candles
Have a fall movie night
Teach the kids how to make your grandmother’s apple pie recipe Visit The New Orleans Nightmare, one of the scariest haunted houses in the country
Make a Halloween wreath for the front door
Participate in the Big Easy Running Festival
Take a haunted walking tour through the French Quarter
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| october 2020
Make a list of things you are thankful for
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Enjoy the fall weather with a long walk in City Park
Visit the Gretna Farmers Market for music and good eats (Saturdays from 8:30 am-12:30 pm weekly, rain or shine!) Watch a Tulane or LSU football game
Work as a family to break out of the room at The Escape Game
Bake homemade pumpkin bread with the kids
Get your last sno-ball of the season at Sal’s Sno-balls on Metairie Road Teach the kids how to make pralines for special trick-or-treat goodies
Take a family bike ride around Audubon Park
Find the Roman Candy Man on St. Charles Avenue. Don’t forget to bring a carrot for his mule, Miss Mae!
Make DIY Halloween costumes (bonus points for NOLA-themed!) Visit Audubon Zoo (perfect weather for walking around the Zoo!)
Rent a paddleboat in City Park
Kayak on Bayou St. John
Drive thru the STPH Monster Mash.
Visit the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
Volunteer to help clean City Park (Super Saturdays) Plant a Fall garden. Refer to the LSU Ag Center’s Planting Guide to see what should be planted and when.
Set up an outdoor movie screen for you and your neighbors to enjoy an oldie but goodie Organize a canned food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
Start a “Friendsgiving” annual tradition (move the fun outside to maintain social distancing)
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www.nolafamily.com
| october 2020
In-Person Open House Dates
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October 15 • January 12 15 months–Eighth Grade All open houses start at 9:00 a.m.
Trinity Episcopal School is an ISAS member. We seek to enroll qualified students without regard to gender, race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, ethnic, or national origin.
nola family
SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER
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7 14 Christian Brothers School City Park Campus 6:30 PM
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Jewish Community Day School of Greater New Orleans Noon Virtual open house available.
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THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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Atonement Lutheran Church and School 5-7 PM
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John Curtis Christian School 5:30-7 PM
St. George’s Episcopal School Ages 1-2nd Grade 8:30-10 AM
Arden Cahill Academy 9 am-7:30 PM Private tours will be scheduled. Metairie Park Country Day Pre-K 6:30 PM
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Christian Brothers School Canal Street Campus 6:30 PM
NOVEMBER
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Mount Carmel Academy 2-7:30 PM
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11 St. Francis Xavier School 6:30-8 PM
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Ursuline Academy High School TBD
18 Metairie Park Country Day Grades 6-12 6:30 PM
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St. George’s Episcopal School All grades 8:30-10 AM
Archbishop Rummel High School 6:00 PM
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20 St. Edward the Confessor School 9 AM and 7 PM
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october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
Cabrini High School 3:30-6:30 pm Tenative in-person and virtual option available.
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No Tricks,
Just Treats! How to Celebrate Halloween in the New Normal When Halloween candy started showing up on retailer shelves this summer, we started wondering what we were in for this year. Would there be a Halloween? Would any candy be left!? The kids are back at school (at least in metro-New Orleans) and we’re still social distancing. What does this all mean for trick-or-treating? Can we have parties? Can kids go door-to-door? At Nola Family, we polled our friends on what they’re planning with their kids this COVID-Ween and how to keep them safe and happy.
Here are ideas for you and yours to consider for your own special celebration: Host a Small Party.
Go Fish!
Outside Movies.
Families that are in the same learning pods, playgroups, and extended families are planning get-togethers limited to ten kids and a few adults. Group activities will include costume contests and pumpkin carving, dancing, and ghost story telling. Don’t forget the Ouija board for a seance!
Social distance your candy using a fishing rod to cast goody bags to passerby children. Extra points for doing this from the bushes or balcony where you can’t be seen!
Keeping to Your block.
This concept has been done at local schools, like Holy Name Of Jesus, in their parking lots for years. Families decorate their respective cars in the driveway and costume thematically. Candy and other goodies for the kids go into the trunks. Children go from car-to-car, as they normally would house-to-house. Awards for the best decorated car and/or costumes. Added bonus: Hire a DJ for the night!
Think “drive-in” and you’ve got this idea. Do you have a large blank fence or back wall? Screen a scary movie double-feature for your group of costumed kids, socially distanced on their own blankets or in lawn chairs. Serve up tasty movie treats, from hotdogs to popcorn, and send them home with candy goody-bags.
Families with higher comfort levels (and/ or already in Phase 3) are planning for their kids to trick-or-treat in their own neighborhood, sticking to their immediate block or cul-de-sac. Costumes are definitely required!
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| october 2020
Garage or Driveway Trick-or-Treat.
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Jazz up your garage or driveway with spooky haunted house decorations like cauldrons with dry ice, blinking lights, “witch’s hair” in bushes, and skeletons or ghosts in trees. Get into a seriously scary costume and set up a table with individual candy bags for kids to take socially distanced. Don’t forget the scary ghost sounds CD or phone app for added scare factor!
“Trunk-or-Treat.”
Scavenger Hunt. Variation on an oldie but goodie theme and similar to an Easter Egg Hunt, have kids find their goodies hidden in the yard. Or you can make it a real scavenger hunt, with one or more hidden prize boxes found by following clues.
Costume Parade. Think of this as a socially distanced miniMardi Gras or fashion show, perfect for wee ones and younger goblins and witches to show off their costumes. Have the kids costume and either pull them in their wagons or let them parade up and down the block. Neighbors can watch and hand off goody bags for the kids to take home. Bonus points for dancing music on a boom box or phone app!
Halloween Eve Drive-In. The Jefferson Performing Arts Society has planned your Halloween Eve (Friday, October 30) for you! Start your weekend with a GhostBusters showing from your car in the Pontchartrain Center parking lot. Advance tickets highly suggested, see jpas. org. Lagniappe: Goody bags for the kiddies!
However you and yours choose to celebrate Halloween this year, make sure you add a mask to your costume and keep safe!
PU M PKIN PA TCHES 2020 Fall is almost here and you know what that means – PUMPKINS! We have compiled a list of local pumpkin patches that you will not want to miss this season.
BANTING'' S NURSERY BANTING 3425 River Road, Bridge City, 504.436.4343 Open year–round, pumpkins in October Monday–Saturday, 9 am–5 pm Sunday, 9 am–4 pm Select a pumpkin from the nursery’s harvest or in the market. Also choose from a wide variety of live plants, landscaping, and garden tools to make your house Halloween party perfect.
ST. ANDREW’ ANDREW ’ S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
ST. MARK’ MARK ’ S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1031 S. Carrollton Ave. 504.866.0123 Open through Oct. 31 Mondays–Fridays, 2:30–7 pm Saturdays and Sundays, 9 am–6 pm
3245 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, 504.366.0123 Open Oct. 12–31 Monday–Saturday, 10 am–6 pm Sunday, noon–6 pm
This year, not only will pumpkins be available but also a photo op area and games for the kids.
Pumpkins of all types available for sale throughout the week.
JIM ’ S TREES JIM’ PUMPKIN PATCH
ST. AUGUSTINE’ AUGUSTINE ’ S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
ST. PAUL’ PAUL ’ S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
2123 Florida St., Mandeville, 985.624.8971 Monday–Friday, 10 am–6 pm Saturday–Sunday, 9 am–6 pm
3412 Haring Road, Metairie, 504.887.4801 Open Oct. 1–31 Monday–Friday, noon–8 pm Saturday–Sunday, 9 am–8 pm
6249 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, 504.488.1319 Open Oct. 10–31 Monday–Thursday, 3:30 pm–6 pm Friday, 2:30 pm-6 pm Saturday, 10 am–6 pm Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are staged around the property to resemble a patch, with hay bales and other country photo ops.
MRS. HEATHER’ HEATHER ’ S PUMPKIN PATCH
Not only pumpkins here! Multiple photo ops, face painting, games, hay bale maze, and other fun activities are offered. School field trips with learning opportunities can be scheduled in advance.
ST. MARTIN’ MARTIN ’ S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2216 Metairie Road, Metairie, 504.835.7357 Open Sept. 22–Oct. 31 Monday–Friday, 3–6:30 pm Saturday and Sunday, 10 am–6;30 pm Children of all ages can pick out the perfect pumpkin from the thousands of pumpkins ranging from minis to jumbos, and specialty gourds. Have fun taking your child’s photo surrounded by pumpkins.
Select a plump pumpkin in Lakeview’s premier pumpkin patch. There will be a host of fall photo opportunities for the kids. Wide selection of pumpkins available.
SUGAR ROOTS FARM PUMPKIN PATCH 10701 Willow Drive, Lower Coast Algiers, 504.766.7780 Open Oct. 3, 10, 19, 17, 24, and 31 Saturday, 9 am-5 pm Safe distancing pumpkin patch at this nonprofit teaching farm in 2-hour increments by advance reservation only. Information at sugarrootsfarm.org. Fee includes personal pumpkin, entertainment, activities, food vendors, and photo ops.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
11215 Lee’s Lane, Hammond, 225.567.3493 Open Sept. 23–Nov. 8 Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm Saturday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm Admission $7/child, adults are free
A wide variety of pumpkins of many colors, shapes, and sizes will be sold, as well as baked goods, jewelry, and Halloween masks for this annual fundraiser.
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Middle School social-emotional learning
The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning
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| october 2020
Dealing with COVID-19 fall-out: Recognizing your child’s socialemotional needs and how to partner with their school for best results.
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With the routines and friendships of daily school disrupted this past spring by the COVID-19 pandemic, children of all ages have experienced high stress levels and emotional trauma. From March through September, kids missed being together and were disconnected -- from their friends and teachers, summer camp buddies, and extended families. Children’s feelings of loss are still very acute and in some cases are heightened by the death of a loved one. As a result, social-emotional learning (SEL) is front and center this new school year. In a nutshell, SEL is the process by which we all come to understand and manage our emotions, feel empathy, establish and achieve meaningful goals, and develop and maintain productive relationships. And while SEL concepts may be new to some parents, aware and proactive educators, like those at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, have recognized for decades the importance of SEL in the daily life of their students.
Led by Sacred Heart’s counseling team, teachers take an active role with parents in developing the whole child as an aware and emotionally secure person. This proactive, supportive approach became more pronounced with the long distance learning started in mid-March, as a means of stemming emotional fallout. We asked the Sacred Heart counseling team for advice to parents on how to meet their child’s social-emotional needs and how schools can support families. The team interviewed were Janice Foulks, Director of Counseling Department and Counselor for Little Hearts, Pre- and Lower-School; Tricia Newton, Middle School Counselor; and, Katye Irwin, Upper School Counselor.
3 Things to Look For: Recognizing Your Child’s SEL Needs actively. Ask open-ended questions and listen to 1. Listen, what your child chooses to share about their day, how they characterize people and activities, and how they describe their feelings. Although you may be tempted to interrupt with comments or advice, let them lead the conversation without feeling judged. out-of-the-norm behavior. Depending upon your child’s 2. Note age, it can be difficult to identify what is a cause for concern or just a phase of adjustment. “Make note of the duration, intensity, and frequency of any major behavioral changes,” advises Tricia Newton. “These factors will help you and your child’s teachers and school counselor understand whether this is a blip on the radar or a pattern that may warrant a deeper discussion.” a pattern of making excuses. “If you start to notice 3. Recognize a pattern of your child not wanting to hang out with their friends or attend social outings they once enjoyed, it is worth a discussion,” says Katye Irwin. “Adolescents are not always known for in-depth conversations with parents. That is why it is so important to be tuned into their normal schedules and social circles. Yet, everyone needs downtime. If your child wants to stay in for a weekend to binge watch, it doesn’t mean something is wrong.”
Katye Irwin, Upper School counselor, leads a discussion in a regularly scheduled group meeting.
3 Ways to Best Partner with Your Child’s School
1. 3 Ways Schools Can Nurture Students’ SEL
1.
2.
Being “present” for students and families. Having visibility with students throughout the day, saying “Hello, I am just checking on things” builds a sense of community and security. With parental school entrance limited now, alternative communications with families are paramount. Our team “meets and greets” at carpool, and we include information in school newsletters and post resources on the school website. All of these strategies say “we are here for you and your family!” Build the SEL foundation early. At Sacred Heart, the faculty and staff build an SEL foundation from an early age and scaffold that with techniques, including prayer, within a supportive environment. Each student is empowered to find her passion and use her voice with confidence.
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Reinforcing the foundation. In the middle and upper divisions, students participate in service learning projects, combining a classroom learning objective with a service opportunity. These projects share a foundation in “design thinking” and require a high degree of social-emotional competencies. Students must be engaged with and sensitive to the situation and needs of others when designing their project.
3.
Inform the school of any major changes at home. “Your child spends most of her waking hours at school,” said Janice Foulks, “and we want to be prepared to help her. By knowing these variables that may affect her social emotional well-being and behavior, we will be better prepared to care for your child.” Look for ways to continue relationships. Whether your child is attending physically or virtually, there are multiple new variables that everyone is adjusting to in different ways. Find safe and appropriate ways to help them extend relationships outside of school. This can be FaceTiming with friends, writing letters, or socially distant tailgating. Your child may already enjoy interactive video games to connect with friends; set limits ahead of time and ensure you know the other players.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
For instance, the school’s 4th grade “Smock Patrol” offers a leadership opportunity for older students in Lower School to build community with the youngest students. Every week, a 4th grade group is designated to greet preschoolers as they enter the campus gate and escort them to the building entrance. Every 4th grader takes a turn being a leader and a friend, and the younger students look forward to the opportunity.
2.
Identify allies at school for your child. Even if there is not an issue, have a conversation early in the school year about the adults at school who can help them if needed. This can be the school counselor, a favorite teacher, the dean of students, coach or band leader. The goal is to ensure that your child has a healthy adult support system who knows your child, makes them feel safe, and can help them through any issue.
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3 SEL-Building Exercises for Families at Home about your feelings to build empathy. “Demonstrate the use of 1. Talk ‘I’ statements to help your child practice identifying what they are feeling and understand how others are feeling.” One way to do this is for everyone in your family to share their highs and lows of the day and name their feelings as they describe the high and low. control. In this COVID era, children have little control over so 2. Share many things. Give your child control over parts of their day and build their sense of decision making by giving choices when possible. Let them select lunchbox items, the movie for family movie night, or a weekend activity. responsibility for personal problem solving. “Give your child the 3. Give tools to assess and address school issues,” offers Janice Foulks. “One of the things we advise parents to say when a child has a school issue is, ‘I’m so glad you’re telling me this, but I don’t go to your school. Let’s talk about how to get this information to the right person at school so you can get the help that you need.’ Work with your child through this process and give them the responsibility of doing so. Teach them that they are active participants in solving their own problems.”
Parents, Stay Connected!
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| october 2020
In all, parents should integrate SEL exercises at home, and ensure that your child is connected to their peers and they have strong supportive relationships with their teachers and school counselors. By being attentive to your child’s behaviors and partnering with their school, you can help them best navigate the challenges of this new normal and nurture their social-emotional and mental wellbeing.
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Janice Foulks, Director of the Counseling Department and counselor for Little Hearts through Lower School, greets parents and students as they arrive to school.
Trevor Wisdom is a New Orleanian and Managing Editor of Nola Family magazine.
Self-Care
Tips forParents DAILY STEPS CAN REDUCE STRESS AND HELP YOU PARENT BETTER
No surprise on #1:
Breathe!
Stand up right now, put your arms over your head, and take three deep breaths through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Now, set your smart watch or cell phone timer to go off every hour on the hour in the daytime to do this.
2. Stretch.
Stretch and walk around the house, your office, or backyard for two to five minutes. This will not only get your blood circulating, but also will get blood to your brain for better project focus and improved mood.
3. Yoga.
Take the next step and download a yoga app. Hatha incorporates easier movements and its slower paced style is ideal for beginners. Start with one pose a week and build your core strength from there.
4. Take a walk.
You can do this any time! Divide your thirty minutes daily goal into 10- or 15-minute increments. Take the kids or your partner, or relax on your own. Bonus points for no phone and observing nature!
5. Light a candle.
Looking at a candle flame can be very calming. And certain scents have been proven to reduce anxiety and help you relax, lavender especially. Stay safe and keep the flame one-foot away from anything flammable.
For a mini-vacation, lock the door, turn on some favorite music, light a candle, and declare yourself off limits to kid intrusions.
7. Garden.
With winter approaching, bring gardening inside. Small pots of assorted herbs and flowering plants will thrive in a south-facing window or next to a French door. In all, don’t forget that you’re the linchpin in your family’s life. By incorporating regular self-care into your routine, you’ll be better able to deal with daily stress and stay positive.
We polled our Nola Family network for ideas of how they’re tamping down life’s stressors and taking care of themselves.
8. Journal.
Get in the habit of writing a quick daily page of what’s bothering you as a means of resolving any negativity or fears. By the same token, write one sentence daily on a goal or inspiration to spur positivity.
9. Read a Book.
Books are escapism at its finest. Crawl into bed early with a good book instead of binge watching a Netflix series. Really!
10. Listen to a Book.
If you spend 30 minutes or more in the car daily, download a book for listening. New Orleans Public Library has free e-books and audiobooks. Or tune into a good podcast that makes you laugh.
11. Bake.
Simply put, baking is therapeutic. It takes you out of the moment and instantly places you in a creative mindset. And let’s not forget those amazing, mouth watering aromas! Let the kids join in.
12. Herbal Tea.
Brew a cup of herbal tea and sit down then and there to drink it while it’s still hot. Close your eyes and relax. Not sleeping well at night? Then brew a cup of camomile tea 30 minutes before bedtime for restful sleep.
13. Self-health.
Schedule your annual physical and any tests you may have missed this year. Recognize that your well-being is as important as everyone else’s.
14. Mental health.
Last, but certainly not least: get help if you need it. Everyone goes through rough patches from time to time. Professional resources are available and ready to address your concerns, including calling 211 for emergency crises.
Trevor Wisdom is managing editor of Nola Family and native New Orleanian, who raised her daughter as a single mom.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
6. Hot bath.
In the best of times, we parents tend to forget about our own needs and taking good care of ourselves. In these Coronavirus times of high anxiety -- saddled with the stresses of homeschooling, keeping our families well, social distancing, working from home, and more -- self-care has truly fallen by the wayside.
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5 Bo Dollis, Jr. DAD ABOUT TOWN
THINGS
I’M LOVING RIGHT NOW
Movie night is big at our house - no phones allowed! We choose a kid or scary movie for everyone to watch together. It takes about an hour to get ready. We cook hotdogs and I pop popcorn the old-fashioned way, in a big pot on the stovetop with oil and corn kernels.
MASK
My 2 girls and two oldest boys have all masked. And our youngest son Elbert will mask for the first year, while Alvon is sitting out this year. They don’t all sew, but everybody helps out.
GYM
HOME
Bo Dollis, Jr.’s entire life has been shaped by Mardi Gras Indian Culture. New Orleanians know Bo as Big Chief of the Wild Magnolias, the masking tribe that are in-demand musical performers across the city. He also can be found at his popular barber shop at Louisiana Avenue and Baronne Street. Bo and his wife Angelle have five children: their daughter Lorey Dollis (2) and his daughter Acerria Dollis (7), and he is stepfather to Angelle’s three sons Alvin (18) and Alvon Smith (17), and Elbert Chinn (12). And this is a family that loves to do everything together.
www.nolafamily.com
| october 2020
BEADS
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I get most of my suit beads from The Bead Shop, where they work with me to get the best beads. They have certain colors and items you don’t see anywhere else. I’ll bead real rocks and small stones to make my suits’ artwork really realistic looking. The Bead Shop, 4612 Magazine St.
Since COVID, we started going to the gym to exercise together. Alvon wants to do MMA, Alvin weightlifts, the girls do the treadmill or elliptical. Angelle does cardio and the trainer has me doing sit-ups and weights. Motivation Team Athletic Academy 3445 Toledano St.
SWEETS
For special treats, we like Pinkberry. Everybody has a favorite flavor and loves to go here! Pinkberry 5601 Magazine St.
DEVELOPING FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
FINANCIAL LESSONS
When is the right time to open your child’s checking account?
Opening a savings account for your child is a pretty easy decision. You want them to start saving, understanding the difference between needs and wants, and maybe even initiating plans for future purchases. The tougher decision is determining when your child should open a checking account. A checking account enables you and your child to enter the world of writing checks, using a debit card, balancing the account on a monthly basis, and online banking. You get the idea. And don’t worry too much – you’ll be able to monitor the account if your child is a minor and you’ll also have to be a signer on the account. For me, the decision became a simple one when my son went to dinner with his friends and their dates, before a high school dance. He ended up helping several of his friends pay for their meals by splitting the bill. We opened a minor checking account the next week, he got a debit card, online banking login, and his journey to financial independence began. He never split the bill after that. For my son’s routine school purchases, weekend lunches, and any needs, I transferred money from my account to his using online banking. (In today’s world we’d use Venmo or PayPal.) He had a level of independence his friends didn’t have, and I knew exactly what he was spending his money on. This continued through college and up until he and his wife opened their own joint account. It also gave me an opportunity to talk with him about how he was managing his money.
• When they get their first job. • This step presents the opportunity to discuss taxes, direct deposit, and budgeting.
• When they start attending events independently. • Do you really want to go to the mall with them every time? • This stage also covers going to restaurants and festivals with their friends.
• School-related expenditures. • This includes when they want to go to book day at school on their own and field trips.
In each of these cases, a debit card is a much safer way for them to pay than having them carry a significant amount of cash. Monitoring your child’s checking account is easy. Since you’re a co-owner of the account, you can access it through online banking and the bank’s mobile app. You can keep tabs on account balances, transaction histories, ATM withdrawals, and – more importantly – transfer money to them in an emergency. Opening a checking account with your child is another step towards their financial independence. It also provides you with first-hand knowledge of how they will manage their finances when they go to college. The financial habits they form under your tutelage will be the financial habits they use for the rest of their lives. Just make sure they are good ones. For more information, some courseware and workbooks, visit www.bankwithfidelity.com/finlit.
Sponsored by Robert Baer is a Vice President at Fidelity Bank. He coordinates Fidelity’s Financial Literacy initiative.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
There isn’t a magic age when your child should open a checking account. Rather, the decision should be based on their need for one and their ability to manage the account properly. I will say that you should open the account while your child is in high school to prevent surprises when they go to college.
Key milestones to prompt opening their checking account include:
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| october 2020
You r Holiday Camp Headquarter s
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Don’t let those awkward school holiday breaks catch you unprepared Whether you get our newsletter, follow us on facebook or visit our website - no worries - you’ll be in the know with our up-to-the-minute listings of holiday camps.
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SPOT LIGHT
CO-FOUNDER MARY MORAN DISCUSSES ISSUES ORGANIZING IN NEW ORLEANS Since March, parents have been navigating the Coronavirus new normal difficulties as best they can, and everyone agrees that it’s been tough going. Yet one thing that’s made this time a little easier is solidarity: parents everywhere are trading pandemic stories, learning tips, and other life hacks with one another. In New Orleans, one parental group helping others is Our Voice Nuestra Voz (OVNV), a non-profit organization united in lobbying for safe, equitable public education, among other key local issues. The organization was instrumental in postponing in-person learning for Orleans Parish public school students this fall. However, that wasn’t the first time the group has made headlines. OVNV has been organizing successful policy campaigns for parents in New Orleans’ Black and Latino communities since 2015. Executive director Mary Moran co-founded the organization to amplify the voices and concerns within her Black and Brown community (hence the combination of “Our Voice” and “Nuestra Voz,” its Spanish translation). Over the past five years, the organization’s efforts have focused on immigration and justice advocacy issues as well as education.
Currently the organization is developing a campaign that encourages better communication between school administrators and parents. As Moran points out, “engagement is critical in the [COVID-19] environment.” Moran believes the NOLA Public Schools board needs more avenues to hear parental concerns, especially those in the Black and Latino communities regarding
their traditions and habits that the school board may not consider when drafting plans. For instance, Moran tells of the Latino tendency for grandparents to pick up their grandchildren from school and care for them while the parents are at work. In a global pandemic, where the risk of severe illness increases with age and young children are potential “super spreaders,” in-person classes could disproportionately affect older adults in the Latino community. OVNV was instrumental in the school board’s decision to start Orleans Parish’s public school year online. And yet, the organization is still fighting for virtual learning equity, including internet and computer access for all. In the future, Moran hopes the organization will provide more opportunities for conversation across cultures, as understanding different cultures is crucial to systemic change. “The world and young people are calling on us to find ways to both learn and unlearn some of the racism and injustice that impacts our day-today living,” she says. When asked what advice she would give parents seeking change in their own communities, Moran recommends they ask for support and stresses the importance of engaging. OVNV, she explains, is “really working on creating and working with parents to develop [their] leadership and [their] selective capacity to create a more just and equitable city.” And despite the tumultuous times we are living in, Mary Moran reminds us to “be gentle with ourselves.” To find out more about Mary Moran and the work her team is doing, visit Our Voice Nuestra Voz on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, or check out their website: ovnv.org.
Sofia Rivera is a native New Orleanian, sophomore at Columbia University, and Nola Family editorial intern.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
When asked how they develop initiatives, Mary Moran emphasized the importance of listening as the key to the organization’s many successes. “We started talking to parents to find out where they needed support and where the problems were in the system,” she explains. A few years ago, for example, several parents came to Moran concerned about the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s discriminatory policy prohibiting undocumented students from participating in high school sports. OVNV promptly created the Campaign to Stop LHSAA Discrimination, obtaining over 2,000 signatures and attracting national attention that resulted in the policy’s amendment.
Executive director & co-founder Mary Moran, photo by Rhino
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THE VAGINA WHISPERER
Postpartum Recovery: The Fourth Trimester WHAT’S “NORMAL” THE FIRST THREE MONTHS AFTER BIRTH Yes, there’s one more trimester that’s not often talked about. It’s the first three months of a baby’s life and the first three months of a mother’s recovery after pregnancy and birth.
www.nolafamily.com
| october 2020
Life as a new mom can be many things: exciting, stressful, and overwhelming. In those first few months as you try to settle into an “eat, play, sleep” routine with your newborn, how you are recovering as a mom can be an afterthought. There are many symptoms you may experience that you’re either too tired or embarrassed to discuss. What’s normal? Not just for your baby, but for yourself?
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During pregnancy, a woman’s pelvis goes through a lot of changes: ligaments soften, muscles stretch, and posture changes. The act of childbirth can mean surgery or perineal tearing, adding another layer of physical changes. Complications can unexpectedly lead to pelvic floor problems that often go unaddressed, like urinary leakage, painful intercourse, or back pain.
“When can I return to exercise and sex?” This is one of the most common questions asked by new moms. Most medical providers will okay the return to pre-pregnancy exercise and activity at the six-week mark. But that doesn’t mean you should!
One in five women can experience pain with sex at some point in their lifetime. Physical pain can be due to infection, hormonal imbalance, nerve entrapment, scar tissue, or tense pelvic floor muscles. If postpartum sex is painful, it’s best to seek treatment with a pelvic floor physical therapist who can address issues and create a tailored plan to guide you to pain-free sex. The same goes for exercise! If you experience any pain or urinary leakage, you’ll want to scale back, modify your exercise, and work with a specialist to rehab your pelvic floor muscles. Urinary leakage is common but not normal and a sign your muscles need some help!
Diastasis recti or abdominal separation Another common ailment is the separation of the large abdominal muscles, “rectus abdominis” (aka “6-pack abs”), that run from the sternum to the pubic bone. The separation can occur anywhere along the midline tissue linea alba that can soften and stretch due to hormonal changes and increased abdominal pressure from the developing fetus. They also become prone to injury. Check in with a pelvic health physical therapist if you experience diastasis recti or abdominal wall coning or doming. You will learn how to use a slow controlled exhale with lifting to reduce pressure in your abdomen, modify activities that cause doming, and return to your activities without worsening the separation.
Perineal Tear Pain Perineal tearing during vaginal birth is common. While most tearing heals on its own, the body can over heal and develop excess granulation tissue. Unlike healthy vaginal tissue, this is often fibrotic and can cause local pain, inflammation, and bleeding. This can be difficult to diagnose, as perineal tissue is commonly very tender during the postpartum recovery phase. If the tissue continues to feel raw, appear inflamed, and there is prolonged bleeding, see your medical provider.
Mental Health The fourth trimester can hit hard and mental health can suffer greatly. Postpartum anxiety and depression is very common and should be addressed quickly. These feelings may also occur months after you’ve given birth or stopped breastfeeding or lactating. Treatment forms include therapy, medication, support groups, or a combination. The fourth trimester is a time of recovery and mixed emotions as you welcome your new baby. Check in on yourself or your fellow mom-friend; support is available for physical and mental healing. Knowing what to expect and having resources can help that wonderful time be a little bit more special.
Sara Reardon PT, DPT, WCS, is a board-certified Pelvic Health Physical Therapist and owner of NOLA Pelvic Health.
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WIGGLE ROOM
Learning in Place THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSITIONAL MOVEMENTS TO LEARNING
www.nolafamily.com
| october 2020
Another work day filled with back to back Zoom meetings, staring at the computer screen, and sitting at the home office desk that was previously known as the dining room table. Sound familiar? Yes, of course, it does! As the new normal, COVID work-fromhome continues, it’s all too familiar. Unfortunately, the convenience of virtual meetings from home means that the number of transitions and movements we used to experience has now decreased dramatically. Long gone are the days of visiting coworkers down the hall, rushing to the conference room for a meeting, and getting up and going out for lunch.
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As some students return to inperson learning, sitting and staring at a computer screen all day is no longer an issue. However, the new COVID academic environment that schools are implementing also has its drawbacks. With students catapulted into social distance learning in the classroom and around campus, many are struggling, especially after not having attended an in-person class in six months. New COVID policies and procedures have most students receiving all instruction in the classroom and also eating lunch at their desks.
For most students, core classes and extracurricular classes all are taking place in their main classroom, at desks spaced for social distance. Students also have water bottles at their desks to prevent potential virus transmission at water fountains. Granted, these policies and procedures are required for safe learning environments. However, like adults working from home and not moving from one place to place, children have lost transitional movement. The difference is, adults have figured out how to manage this loss and accommodate for it. Adults have the ability to get up and move - like walk to the bathroom, make a cup of coffee or let the dog out. These spurts of movement may not be enough of what the body needs or seem like much when compared to pre-COVID, however it can be enough. For children, remaining in one area for the majority of the day poses challenges. Movement is crucial for the body to sustain attention and for the brain to attend to and get ready for learning. Movement also fuels oxygen in the blood throughout the body, and more importantly, for the brain to be alert and attend, a critical precursor for learning. There are several strategies that a student can learn to utilize in order to incorporate movement throughout the day.
These strategies to increase student movement can be requested by parents and implemented by teachers with school approval.
• Request flexible seating options, such as a wobble stool, wiggle cushion, or rocking desk chair.
• Request a safe space square be marked off with masking tape to stand and move around the desk area.
• Encourage outdoor learning for a safe learning space and extra movement opportunities.
• Off-campus walks in the school neighborhood instead of recess on campus.
• Provide a personal fidget tool bag to keep in your child’s desk. Be sure all items are labeled.
• Create directional obstacle courses for walking patterns in hallways or outside.
• Minimize teacher-only space, and maximize student spaces.
• Cozy corners can be transformed with surfaces that are easily disinfected. Systematic processes can be established by the teacher to designate student use and needed disinfection. Much emphasis has been placed on guidelines and procedures for schools to create safe, in-person learning environments for students and teachers. Although important, the loss of movement and transitions because of these changes must be addressed in order for students to achieve success and learn in their COVID school environment.
Kimberly Bradley, MS, LOTR is a pediatric occupational therapist and owner of Kim4Kids in Metairie.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
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PARENTING CORNER
CHILDHOOD FEARS ARE NORMAL HELPING YOUR YOUNGER CHILD EXPRESS AND COPE WITH THEIR FEARS.
Along with temperatures below 90 degrees, the month of October brings the fun and excitement of Halloween. While 2020 festivities may be more limited than in years past, for many young children Halloween decorations and costumes can be alarming as well as thrilling. Halloween aside, for the first time, a parent may notice a young child verbalizing fears about specific things. Common toddler and preschooler fears include animals, dark rooms, imaginary creatures, and being separated from their parents. Certain fears appear to be innate, such as a fear of falling; others result from a specific experience, such as slipping in the bathtub and sliding under water. Sometimes adults unwittingly pass on a fear by having a strong emotional reaction in front of the child (screaming at the sight of a mouse, for example).
www.nolafamily.com
| october 2020
Fears are a normal part of childhood. Here are ways to help young children cope:
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Reassure your child and allow them to express their fears.
Help children devise their own coping strategies.
Providing comfort and reassurance is important since a distressed child cannot immediately respond to reasoning. Ask a child (if they are verbal) what is making them feel afraid and help them understand they are safe. If a child is too young to say what they are feeling, simply describe their reaction: “You heard a loud sound when that balloon popped and it scared you.” Be calm and matter of fact. Do not laugh at or be dismissive of their feelings by telling them “big girls/boys” aren’t afraid.
Instead of shielding them from a situation (or forcing them into it), allow your child to take some control. This gives them a sense of confidence, and small steps may be effective to mastery. Try role play like playing with a doctor’s kit and giving “shots” to Mom or Dad to help manage the anxiety of a doctor’s visit. Engaging in problem-solving together shows a child that a parent takes their concerns seriously without “rescuing” them and inadvertently creating more fear.
Avoid unnecessary exposure to disturbing events and images.
Talk about their concern before it arises.
Monitor media entertainment and make sure it is age-appropriate, especially if there are older children in the home. Limit news coverage, even if you think it goes over their head. Graphic images can be deeply unsettling and confusing to children.
Let children deal with their fears at their own pace. Encourage attempts to cope without pushing too hard or being overprotective. For example, a child who is afraid of dogs shouldn’t be forced to pet a dog. Instead, a parent could pet the dog and talk to the child in a calm voice while they are standing nearby.
Establish routines to quell fears. Having a routine is helpful to your child learning that pleasure outweighs a fear. For instance, if your child is fearful of falling asleep, having a pleasant bedtime regimen can help them relax. The goal is for your child to manage a fear with your support.
By broaching a feared scenario before it occurs, you engage your child’s thinking brain while they are in a calm state. This allows them to ideally come up with ideas of their own to curb their fears. Ask questions such as: “What could you do if you heard a scary noise,” or “what could you do if you got separated from me at the store?” This practice will help them identify strategies and learn that there are manageable ways to handle the unexpected when they have a trusted adult on their side.
Lisa Phillips, MSW, LMSW, has been a parent educator at The Parenting Center at Children’s Hopsital since 2001, and is a contributor to the awardwinning “Parenting Corner” column. She can be reached at 504.896.9591; chnola.org/parentingcenter.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
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FROM THE nola family BOOKSHELF PREPARING YOUR FAMILY’S VISIT TO THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM WITH BOOKS As New Orleans struggles to get back to normal, people are looking for places to go and things to do. With limited options available, I suggest being a tourist in your own hometown and planning a visit to the National World War II Museum. I have two perfect books that will make your visit to the museum more meaningful and more fun. The first is a children’s picture book, Andrew Higgins and the Boats That Landed Victory in World War II, by authors Nancy Rust and Carol Stubbs. Brock Nicol illustrated this wonderful story of the Nebraska-born boatbuilder that Dwight D. Eisenhower called ”the man who won the war for us.” This book takes kids from Higgins’ childhood (at age twelve he salvaged an old boat out of a lake and rebuilt it), to designing and building the Eureka Boat that operated in the shallow Louisiana swamps, to then creating the legendary Higgins boat. The Higgins boat delivered the Allied forces to the beaches in Normandy, and marked a turning point in the war. After reading this book, head down to the National WWII Museum to see the Higgins boat close up and learn more about this amazing man. As you approach the museum on Howard Avenue don’t forget to look up because the street name changes for a seven-block section in the Warehouse District, leading from the National World War II Museum to Andrew Higgins Street. It’s a fitting tribute to a great patriot and a great New Orleanian.
www.nolafamily.com
| october 2020
My second book recommendation is Predicting Pearl Harbor, Billy Mitchell and the Path to War, by Ronald J. Drez. This will give the reader a solid background before visiting the National WWII Museum’s Road to Tokyo: Pacific Theater Galleries. While it’s common to say that the most predictable thing about the next war is its unpredictability, that wasn’t the case in the run-up to war with Japan. From Commodore Matthew Perry’s voyage into Japanese waters in 1853 to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States and Japan were on a collision course.
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This saga is brought to vivid life using primary-source documents, memoirs, and first-hand testimonies of those who lived during that era. It was Gen. Billy Mitchell who recognized the signs and foresaw the eventual showdown between the two nations twenty-eight years before the tragedy of Pearl Harbor. At the time his spot-on predictions were dismissed out of hand. Discover one of the most exciting periods in American history through General Mitchell’s prescient reports, providing new insight into an ages-old conflict. Author, lecturer, and historian Ronald J. Drez is an alumnus of both Tulane University and the University of New Orleans. He is a decorated Vietnam veteran, having received two Bronze Stars for his service in the United States Marine Corps. Ron is also a contributor to several historical and military publications and the author of multiple books.
Scott Campbell is publisher of Pelican Publishing, a nationally recognized, local publishing company established in 1926. He also is publisher & founder of River Road Press, a local boutique house of local and regional titles.
GEAR TO GET
SCOOBY-DOO ADVENTURE IN THE WITCH'S CAULDRON
SPOOKY BALLS A 4-inch bouncy ball filled with creepy crawlers. As the ball bounces, the spiders crawl inside for a fun play pattern - great for Halloween goody bags!
Embark on an adventure with ScoobyDoo™ and Velma™ as they try to escape the spelling-casting witch. Playset includes Scooby-Doo, Velma, the Zeb Witch, cauldron, collectible ghost card, and other accessories.
Ages 6+, $5.99, at Walmart
Ages 5+, $19.99, Playmobil.us
STICKY THE BOO Scare up some sticky, spooky, and mess-free Halloween fun! Ghostly Sticky the Boo features a sticky outer surface and a mold-able middle so you can grip, squish, shape and throw! Watch it splat and stick to any flat surface... it even glows in the dark!
CHALK OF THE TOWN HALLOWEEN T-SHIRT Design your own wearable fashion with totes, t-shirts and patches using chalkboard markers. But the best part is, they’re both erasable and reusable so you can design again and again! Sizes youth through adult. $9.95-$31.95, Amazon.com
Ages 4+, $9.99, Amazon.com
This game literally flips your world upside down! Players wear goggles that flip their vision — and then attempt to complete seemingly easy challenges like writing your name and connecting dots. Sounds easy, but it’s a challenge! There’s also a Halloween expansion pack on the website. Ages 8 +, $19.99, at Target
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
THE #UPSIDEDOWNCHALLENGE GAME
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In The Know
We have complete listings on our dedicated ‘classes’ calendar just go to nolafamily.com and click on ‘Calendars.’
Child Safety Seat Inspection Station Louisiana State Police – Troop B 2101 I-10 Service Rd., Kenner. Wednesdays, 1–4 pm. Walk-in or call 504.471.2780 for an appointment. Free. Louisiana State Police – Troop L 2600 N. Causeway, Mandeville. Tuesdays, 3–6 pm. Walk-in or call 504.893.6250 for an appointment. Free.
Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital To register, call 504.896.9591 or email chparenting@lcmchealth.org for the meeting link.
Car Seat Fitting Station Installation by a nationally certified technician. Outside of The Parenting Center, 938 Calhoun: Tuesday, Oct. 20, between 9 and 11 am. Free, drop-ins welcome, appointments preferred.
www.nolafamily.com
| october 2020
Snuggles & Struggles New Parent Group (Virtual) For parents of children 0–12 months. This weekly group provides learning opportunities and socialization for new parents and babies. A staff member facilitates the group. Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 am. Free and open to the public.
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Parents’ Hour (Virtual) Talk with other parents about what is going well – and not so well. Share ideas about parenting during the pandemic. A staff member facilitates the group. Wednesdays, mornings and evenings alternate: Oct. 14, 28, 10-11 am; Oct. 7, 21, 8-9 pm. Free and open to the public. Breast & Bottle: An Infant Feeding Clinic (Virtual) Discuss everything from breastfeeding latch and positioning to returning to work and safe bottle feeding. Certified lactation counselor from the New Orleans Breastfeeding Center facilitates. Individual consultations, peer support group meets virtually. Fridays, 9 am-noon. Free and open to the public.
Sprout Pediatrics To register, call 504.264.1070 or visit bewellnola.com/yoga-at-sprout-pediatrics.
Yoga For Children Take an imaginary camping trip while nurturing your mind and body in this camping trip themed yoga class. Oct. 10, 8-8:40 am. $15/child.
Touro Family Birthing Center For information or to register, call 504.897.7319 or visit touro.com/events.
Happiest Baby on The Block (Prenatal-4 months) (Virtual) Learn techniques proven to quickly calm crying and boost infant sleep based on the ideas in the popular book by Dr. Harvey Karp. Oct. 10, 10-11 am and Oct. 12, 6-7 pm. Free, pre-registration required. Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby Join Touro dietitian Julie Fortenberry for an informative class on nutrition and wellness for expectant and new mothers. Oct. 14, 6-8 pm. Free. Grandparenting 101 (Virtual) Learn the basics to best support your children as parents. Oct. 28, 6-7 pm. Free, pre-registration required. Baby Food Making An interactive baby food making class. Oct. 19, 6–7 pm. Free.
West Jefferson Medical Center For additional information, please call 504.349.6200. Pre-registration is required.
Caring for Your Newborn Registered nurse discusses newborn behavior and care. Oct. 31, 1-4:30 pm. Free. Mother-Daughter Rap Breakfast discussion for mothers and preteen girls. Oct. 31, 9-11 am. $25/couple.
KIDS & TWEENS Ochsner Baptist calendar.ochsner.org/cal/event/138/
Sibling Class This class is geared towards children ages 3 to 10, and is split into two classes (ages 3-5 and 6-10). It includes activities preparing the sibling(s) for their new brother or sister. Oct. 5 (ages 3-5), Oct. 19 (ages 6-10), 5:30-6:30 pm. Free.
Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital See listing above for registration information.
Growing Up for Boys (10-13 years) (Virtual) Practical information for boys and their fathers including male and female anatomy, physical and emotional changes during puberty, and hygiene issues. Boys participate with their father or caregiver. Oct. 6, 6:30-8 pm. $20/child. Growing Up for Girls (9-12 years) (Virtual) Practical information about female anatomy, what happens during puberty, body image, menstruation and hygiene is presented in an informal, fun and hands-on manner. Girls participate with their mother or caregiver. Oct. 13, 6:30-8 pm. $20/child. Positive Discipline (3-5 years) (Virtual) Understanding development, encouraging cooperation, and redirecting the behavior of preschoolers. Oct. 20, 27, and Nov. 3, 8-9 pm. $15.
West Jefferson Medical Center See listing above for registration information.
Sibling T.L.C. Prepares children ages 3+ for the arrival of the new baby. Oct. 10, 2:30–4 pm. Free.
VISIT N OLAFA OR FAC EBOOK MILY.COM FOR D ETAILS
Out & About OCTOBER
2 FRI
Dr ive-in Deja Vu : 42nd Street Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center, Kenner. Drive in to enjoy the vintage musical screening of 42nd Street. Visit jpas. org/drivein for more information. Tickets start at $50/car. 8 pm.
Tale as Old as Time Themed Brunch The Court of Two Sisters, 613 Royal St. Costume character 3-course brunch. For reservations, call (504) 522-7261 ext. 24. $30 ages 2-12. $45 ages 13+. 10 am and 1 pm.
Magazine St. Celebrate art all week and support local businesses up and down Magazine. See magazinestreet.com for details. Continues through October 10.
Chair ish the Children Support the Louisiana Children’s Museum with this year’s virtual Chairish event. Registration for the online auction and more on lcm.org.
4 SUN
Kid's Table Cooking Ser ies 15 Henry Thomas Dr., City Park. At Acorn, Kids learn how to make their own poptart and enjoy a tasty breakfast while it’s
baking. Must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets at acornnola.com. $15 includes class and breakfast. 9:30-10:30 am.
5 MON
Restau rant Week New Orleans This October 5-11, try something new or indulge in your favorite foods at restaurants throughout the city. See restaurantweekneworleans.com.
''Men Who Cook'' Challenge On the North Shore, help aid the Hope House and its fight against child sexual abuse. Ten local restaurants and celebrities have been paired for special dinners through Nov. 8. Times and prices vary by location. See cachopehouse.org for details.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
3 SAT
Art for Art's Sake ''Week''
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7 WED
Live Kids Cooking Classes w ith SoFAB Kids Whether you are a child or an adult, cook alongside Jennie on Zoom and Facebook Live every other Wednesday in October. Visit the SoFAB Facebook page to join. 4 pm.
8 THUR
Kid's Table Cooking Ser ies 15 Henry Thomas Dr., City Park. At Acorn, your child will learn to make a personal pizza. And while the pizza is baking, there’ll be ice cream to enjoy! Must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets at acornnola.com. 5-6 pm.
16 FRI
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest: Festing in Place October 16-18. Celebrate the fest virtually this year with new performances and past favorites on WWOZ 90.7 FM, and food and crafts. All proceeds benefit the Jazz & Heritage Music Relief Fund. See jazzandheritage.org/blues-fest for streaming and other info.
Dr ive-in Deja Vu : Arsenic and Old Lace Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center. Come and watch Cary Grant in the classic comedy film Arsenic and Old Lace this week! Visit jpas.org/drivein for more information. Tickets start at $50/car. 8 pm.
9 FRI
Drive-in Deja Vu : The 39 Steps Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center. Immerse yourself in the life of a spy at this week’s showing of The 39 Steps. Visit jpas. org/drivein for more information. Tickets start at $50/car. 8 pm.
10 SAT
www.nolafamily.com
| october 2020
Fall Garden Festival
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City Park Botanical Garden. Peruse the different exhibits, enjoy live music, and let your kids play in the Children’s Fun Fest activities area. $10/adult, $5/child ages 5-12. Continues thru Sunday, October 11. Saturday, 10 am-5 pm. Sunday, 10 am-4 pm.
11 SUN
Kid's Table Cooking Ser ies 15 Henry Thomas Dr., City Park. At Acorn, your child will learn how to make a fromscratch pop-tart and enjoy a tasty breakfast. Must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets at acornnola.com. $15. 10 am-11 am.
17 SAT
Virtual Studio KIDS! Bring the New Orleans Museum of Art into your home and get creative together with this family art-making workshop. See noma.org/learn to register. Free via live Zoom. Ages 5-10. 10 -11 am.
Villains Brunch The Court of Two Sisters, 613 Royal St. Costume character themed 3-course brunch. For reservations, call (504) 522-7261 ext. 24. $30 ages 2-12. $45 ages 13+. 10 am and 1 pm.
21 WED
23 FRI
Dr ive-in Deja Vu : An Amer ican in Par is Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center. For this week’s film, enjoy the Academy award-winning musical comedy An American in Paris from the comfort of your car. Visit jpas.org/drivein for more information. Tickets start at $50/car. 8 pm.
24 SAT
Ghosts in the Oaks: A Haunting at Home Friends of City Park’s annual event is virtual this year! The Party Pack experience is complete with activities, playlist, games, sweet treats, party tip tutorials, and fun surprises. Each pack’s activities are for up to four people. Info and tickets at friendsofcitypark.com/event/ghosts-in-theoaks-2020. Package pick-up on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25 by advance sale.
30 FRI
Dr ive-in Deja Vu : Ghostbusters Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center. Watch a team of professors capture ghosts taking over New York City at the screening of Ghostbusters from JPAS. Visit jpas.org/ drivein for more information. Tickets start at $50/car. 8 pm.
31 SAT
Art & Zen Online Meditation Ser ies This Wednesday and every Wednesday, take 30 minutes to join yoga instructor and Ogden Museum educator Mikhayla Harrell for a quick meditation session. Visit ogdenmuseum.org for more information. 12 pm-12:30 pm.
HALLOWEEN
Ongoing The Berger Residence aka Skeleton House
New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)
St. Charles Ave. at State St. Stop and take fun photos of the family at the Skeleton House, an annual New Orleans Halloween favorite.
New Orleans Museum of Art. Stop by and browse NOMA’s 40,000 object collection. Admission to the New Orleans Museum of Art is free every Wednesday. noma.org. 10 am-5 pm.
Bucktown Dr ive-Thru Market (Wednesdays) Crescent City Farmers Market: Wednesday pick-up with online pre-order Saturdays through Mondays. Drive-thru at Bucktown Harbor (325 Hammond Hwy on Lake Pontchartrain), 8 am-12 pm.
Gretna Farmers Market (Saturdays) 739 Third St., Gretna. Support small businesses at the Gretna Farmers Market every Saturday. Visit the Gretna Farmers Market Facebook page for information. 8:30 am-12:30 pm.
New Orleans Jazz Museum
319 Butterworth St., Jefferson, LA. Take a trip to one of the scariest haunted houses in the country, the New Orleans Nightmare! Tickets at neworleansnightmare.com. Prices vary.
Fall Festival at Sugar Roots Farm 10701 Willow Dr. Every Saturday in October, enjoy this socially distant festival with pumpkin patch, food vendors, live music, and more! Visit the Sugar Roots Farm Facebook page for advance tickets. All ages. Times vary.
The Mortuary 4800 Canal St. Take a spooky visit to The Mortuary, one of New Orleans’ oldest mansions and haunted houses! Hours extended for 2020. Go to themortuary.net for tickets. Prices may vary.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
(Fridays) The New Orleans Jazz Museum hosts virtual concerts with an exciting mix of talented musicians performing from their homes. This free online series highlights New Orleans’ rich culture. Watch on Facebook live. Every Friday, 2 pm
New Orleans Nightmare
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www.nolafamily.com
| october 2020
A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
GET READY FOR CAT-TASTIC SURPRISES!
YOU CAN CHECK OUT GABBY'S DOLLHOUSE ON YOUTUBE! DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse © 2020 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All rights reserved.
october 2020 | www.nolafamily.com
COMING SOON
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