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Gwinnett County Public Schools
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In and Around Gwinnett Summer Camp Guide Toddlers: How to Cook Dinner with a Clingy Toddler Water Safety Starts with Supervision Teen Talk: Dealing with Your Teenager’s Dating Life
College Bound: Choosing a College: Guidance for the High School Grad
26 30
Healthy Mom: Dealing with Stress The Hardest Thing in the World
34 38
Childhood Obesity: Ways your Family Can Fight it Together
42 44 47 50 52 54 56 58 62
Sports: Help Kids Gear Up for the Game
Dr. R. Morgan Davoudi - Helping Gwinnett Moms Reveal Their Beauty Within
Healthy & Wellness: How Far Out of Your Way are the Products you Need to Lose Weight
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Meet the Doctor: Dr. Alisa Burnett Family Travel: Treat Your Family to A Palace Resort Vacation Expecting Moms: When Your Baby Arrives Private Education Spotlight: Old Peachtree Montessori School Fatherhood: I Love You Dad Family Law Feature: Taste Buds: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Local Business Directory
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Parents G W I N N E T T
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Mailing Address 3651 Peachtree Pkwy. #325 Suwanee, GA 30024 T. 678.889.9552 F. 678.889.9553
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Writers Ethel Carter, Carlos Rodriquez, Mike Peterson, Roberto Ball, Yvonne boyd, Karen Card, Tammy Peterson, simon dainton, Bette Holtzman, Jim richards, regina moore, Gary Allison, Dee Shrock, Rachel Branston, Debra Dawkins, N. Carter, Mike Domitrz, Anita Saulter ____________________ All contents of this magazine are copyrighted by Gwinnett Parents Magazine and may not be reprinted, copied, reproduced, or used without written permission of the publisher.
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[ INSIDE GWINNETT SCHOOLS ] Gwinnett County Public Schools Receives Highest Bond Ratings (triple-A) from the Nation’s Two Leading Rating Agencies. Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS),Georgia’s largest school system, has received the highest possible bond ratings from the nation’s’ two leading rating agencies, evidence of the district’s stellar financial stewardship. Standard & Poor’s (S&P) raised its rating on GCPS’ general obligation debt from double- A-plus (AA+) to triple =A(AAA) with a stable outlook. In addition, Moody’s Investment Services reaffirmed the school system’s triple-A rating. Currently, there are 23 school
districts rated triple-A by Moody’s and 28 rated at the highest level by S&P. Gwinnett was the first system in Georgia to earn this financial distinction, and remains the only large system in the nation to have a triple-A rating. Additionally, it is one of only five districts nationwide to hold the triple-A rating from both Moody’s and S&P. “Earning the highest ratings from both agencies is an accomplishment of which our school system and our community can be quite proud. “ says CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks. “We have achieved somehting few school districts in the nation have been to do. The triple-A rating are strong statements of our Board of Education’s record of fiscal accountability, and provide a strong outlook for the school district’s financial future.” Chief Financial Officer Rick Cost
2008 Graduation Schedule School Berkmar Brookwood Central Gwinnett Collins Hill Dacula Duluth Grayson Meadowcreek Mill Creek Norcross North Gwinnett Parkview Peachtree Ridge Phoenix Shiloh South Gwinnett
Date Wed., May 21 Wed., May 21 Wed., May 21 Thurs., May 22 Sat., May 24 Fri., May 23 Thurs., May 22 Sat., May 24 Thurs., May 22 Wed., May 21 Sat., May 24 Wed., May 21 Fri., May 23 Tues., May 20 Thurs., May 22 Fri., May 23
Time 4 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 10 a.m. 7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 10 a.m. 7 p.m. 10 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
Gwinnett Community Parents Magazine
Location Gwinnett Arena Brookwood Central Gwinnett Gwinnett Arena Gwinnett Arena Gwinnett Arena Gwinnett Arena Gwinnett Arena Mill Creek Gwinnett Arena Gwinnett Arena Parkview Stadium Gwinnett Arena Gwinnett Arena Gwinnett Arena Gwinnett Arena
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further explains the importance of the upgraded ratings saying, “I could not be more pleased that our efforts to be the best stewards of public funds has been recognized nationally by Moody’s and now Standard & Poor’s .Taxpayers will benefit from the lowest interest rates possible on the sale of our bonds, which translated into a benefit for our students as more money will be available to build much-needed classrooms.” Gwinnett County Public School’s favorable bond ratings is based on the school district’s continued maintenance of a strong financial profile in spite of limited state aide growth. as well as the district’s ability to maintain a favorable debt profile throughout a period of rapid growth and substantial
capital needs.
BUDGET DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR Each year, the Gwinnett County School Board reserves key dates relating to the development of the next year’s budget. Budget dates for FY 2009 include: May 5-- First public hearing on budget May 8-- Second public hearing on budget, final adoption of budget, tentative millage rate set June 2-- First public hearing on tax millage rate June 9-- Second and third public hearing on tax millage rate and adoption of millage rate.
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[ IN AND AROUND GWINNETT ] The Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia, Inc. Recently Recognized Three Gwinnett Residents with High Girl Scout Volunteer Honors Trudy Rudert of Duluth received the Thanks Badge II at the council’s annual Pick of the Bunch awards presentation. The Thanks Badge II, the highest honor awarded to Girl Scout volunteers, is given to those who provide continuous outstanding service that benefits the entire council or the Girl Scout movement. The service provided goes above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held and contributes to the council’s goals and objectives. The Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia, Inc. recently recognized Anne De Franks of Duluth received the Helen Foster Award of Excellence at the council’s annual Pick of the Bunch awards presentation. The Helen Foster Award of Excellence is given to Girl Scout volunteers who provide superior service that calls attention to community needs. The service provided goes above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held and contributes to the council’s goals and objectives.
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Kathy Chaffin of Norcross received the Honor Pin at the council’s annual Pick of the Bunch awards presentation. The Honor Pin is given to Girl Scout volunteers who provide outstanding service to two or more counties within the council’s jurisdiction. The service provided goes above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held and contributes to the council’s goals and objectives.
Old Peachtree Montessori School A strong sense of responsibility to the earth is just one of the many lessons students learn at Old Peachtree Montessori School, conveniently located on 324 just over the Gwinnett County line in Barrow. Our upper elementary students have become increasingly aware and concerned about the growing litter problem in Barrow County and, upon doing some research, they discovered that the Barrow County police have not written any tickets for littering for at least two years. The students decided that they wanted to talk to the police officers, present the facts they uncovered, and open a discussion about what can be done to better enforce the litter laws. The students delivered a
Gwinnett Community Parents Magazine
PowerPoint presentation to several officers on March 19. Some of the officers were really surprised by the statistics that had been uncovered and offered some ideas to help our students spread the word about litter. Shannon Young, Director of Keep Barrow Beautiful, also attended the student’s presentation. After hearing the students suggestion of installing traffic-type cameras to monitor heavy litter areas, Ms. Young requested one of these cameras in her budget for the upcoming year. As a follow-up to their presentation, the students sent survey’s to Barrow County business owners to gauge their concern with the area’s litter problem. The results of these surveys are still being tallied, but it is clear that local business owners agree litter does have an affect on the economy. In order to address a more wide-spread audience on this issue, Old Peachtree Montessori students would like to get a spot on the local television channel to talk about the litter problem. This project was created and coordinated by Old Peachtree Montessori students in conjunction with Georgia’s Future Problem Solving and Community Problem Solving Programs. www.gwinnettparents.com
Recently, at the state bowl in Athens, the Old Peachtree students were presented with a first place trophy for their work with the litter law awareness and enforcement issues. Consequently, the students have been invited to attend the FPS International Conference at Michigan State University on May 29 - June 1 to join forces with over 2,000 students from all over the world and participate in various problem solving programs. Old Peachtree Montessori School is looking for donors who would like to support our cause. Travel and registration expenses are high, and we would like to be able to send as many of our 14 participants as possible to the International Conference. For more info on FPS and Community Problem Solving, visit http://www.fpspi.org. Old Peachtree Montessori School offers private education to all children 18 months through 12 years in a beautiful pastoral setting on their 7 acre campus. Now enrolling for our 08-09 school year, come and visit us and prepare to fall in love with Old Peachtree Montessori School! 770-963-3052 or www.opmontessori.com
The Little Gym Snellville & Lawrenceville www.gwinnettparents.com
Summer Camp With summer vacation just a few weeks away, parents have already begun to explore educational and entertaining activities for their children when school lets out. Fortunately for parents, The Little Gym’s Anytime Summertime Camps has the answer. The camps help children develop important motor skills and build confidence in an engaging, fun, clean atmosphere. The Little Gym of Lawrenceville & Snellville offers summer camps for children between the ages of 3 and 10 from May 27 through August 8. The theme-based camps have specially developed curriculums that combine physical fitness, gymnastics and play with arts, crafts, snacks and special events. For more information, or to register for The Little Gym of Snellville call (770) 9820901 and The Little Gym of Lawrenceville call (770) 236-9200.
Landmark Christian School Enrolling 6th Graders As Part of Expansion Into Middle School
mark Christian School of Peachtree Corners announced that the school will be expanding to offer middle school education, beginning with the addition of 6th grade for the upcoming 2008-2009 school year. “Parent encouragement to offer middle school was a key factor in our decision to expand,” said Chairman, Tom Sommer. “We have already built out space to accommodate the additional classroom.” Landmark Christian School of Peachtree Corners, founded in 1990 as a preschool adding the Elementary Department in 1997, now serves children ages 2-1/2 to 11. The school employs the award-winning A’Beka curriculum, and averages 8 students per main teacher in K-5 classrooms. For more information about the school, call 770-4419346, or visit their website at www.landmarkschoolofpc.org. Landmark Christian School of Peachtree Corners is located at 3737 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross, GA 30092.
In February, the Board of Directors for LandGwinnett Community Parents Magazine
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[ SUMMER CAMPS ] Emagination Computer Camps Ages 8 to 17, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, GA, 877.248.0206, camp@computercamps.com GameBreaker Lacrosse Camps Girls, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. (800) 944-7112, support@laxcamps.com Smokerise Summer Day Camp Ages 6-16, Smokerise Baptist Church, 5901 Hugh Howell Rd, Stone Mountain, 678-469-1377 Gwinnett Young Singers Music Camp Grades: 2nd - 5th; 6th-9th, Trinity Lutheran Church, 1826 Killian Hill, Lilburn, 770-9356657 Valley View Ranch Equestrian Camp Girls, Ages 8-17, 606 Valley View Ranch Road, Cloudland,706-862-2231 www.valleyviewranch.com Aurora Theatre Academy Grade 1-12. 128 Pike Street, Lawrenceville 678.226.6226 Language Discovery Academy Ages: 5-12, John’s Creek/Cumming area 770-205-8014 The Little Gym Ages 3-12, 4835 Sugarloaf Parkway, Ste. 500, Lawrenceville 770-236-9200 Wesleyan School Sports Camps Ages 6-18, 5405 Spalding Dr., Norcross, 770-448-7640 Breve Music Centre Ages 1 ½-16, 10360 Medlock Bridge Rd., Duluth, 404-474-1146 The Spanish Academy Ages 2-8, 5000 McGinnis Ferry Rd., Alpharetta 770-751-3646 Best Friend Park Gymnasium 6224 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross, 770.417.2212 12
Bethesda Park Aquatic Center 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville, 678.924.6334 Bogan Park Aquatic Center 2725 N. Bogan Road, Buford, 770.614.2063 Bogan Park Community Recreation Center 2723 N. Bogan Road, Buford 770.614.2060 - Community Center; 770.932.4421 -Gym Collins Hill Park Aquatic Center 2200 Collins Hill Road, Lawrenceville, 770.237.5647 George Pierce Community Center 55 Buford Hwy, Suwanee, 770.831.4173 Gwinnett Senior Center at Bethesda Park 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville, 770.564.4680 Gwinnett Historic Courthouse 185 Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, 770.822.5450 Hudlow Tennis Center at Best Friend Park 6224 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, 770.417.2210 Lawrenceville Female Seminary 455 South Perry St, Lawrenceville, 770.822.5178 Lenora Park Gymnasium 4515 Lenora Church Road, Snellville, 770.978.5271 Lucky Shoals Park Community Recreation 4651 Britt Road, Norcross, 770.822.8840 McDaniel Farm Park 3251 McDaniel Road, Duluth, 770.814.4920 Mountain Park Aquatic Center 1063 Rockbridge Rd, Stone Mountain, 770.564.4650 Pinckneyville Community Center 4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Nor-
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Tumbletots Preschool Ages 2-6, Peachtree Corners 770 7299660
Do Jo Karate Camp Ages 5-12, Duluth 770-623-4100, Dacula, 770-614-8788
Creative ClayHouse 593 Main St, Suwanee, 678-546-7806
Shoot for the Stars Ages 7-14, Norcross and Doraville, 404837-6719
Academic Plus Ages 4-12, 3320 Centerville Hwy. 125, Snellville, 678-344-0405
Art Room Ages 5 and up, 3402 Glen Devon Lane, Duluth, 770-849-0049
Emory University Debate Institute Ages 11-13, Emory University, Atlanta, 404-727-6189
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Atlanta Hawks Basketball Ages 8-17, 1 CNN Center, Atlanta, 404-
Atlanta Botanical Gardens Ages 4-12. 404-876-5859 ext. 2557
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Anita’s ArtsCool Ages 7 and up, 179 D Moreno Street, Buford, GA 30518, 678.230.4937 www. anitasartscool.com Georgia Gymnastics Academy Ages 4 and up, 145 Old Peachtree Rd, Suwanee 770-945-3424 Imagine That! Ages 3-14, Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Duluth, Norcross, Roswell. 770-392-1627 iD Tech Camps Ages 7-17, Emory University, Atlanta. 888709-8324 National Computer Camps Ages 8-18, Atlanta Christian College, 2605 Ben Hill Rd., Atlanta, 404-460-2450 Artrageous Potter Day Camp Ages 6+, Clay molding, sand glassing, pottery, movies. Duluth 770-418-0222,
Lawrenceville 678-847-6335 Red Clay Theatre Summer Drama Camps Ages 8-14, 3116 Main St., Duluth. 770622-1777 Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Preschool Ages 2-5, 3700 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth, 770-476-8716 McDaniel Farm Park Ages 6-11, 455 S. Perry St., Lawrenceville, 770-822-5178 Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders Ages 5-17, CW Davis Middle, Flowery Branch, 770-965-3115 Discovery Point Ages 4-12, 770-662-2112 Atlanta Thrashers Hockey School Ages 6-16, Duluth Ice Forum and Town Center 404-827-4480
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[ TODDLERS ]
How to Cook Dinner with a Clingy Toddler
M
y son has always been a delight in my life. Even when he was a clingy toddler and it was time to make dinner, and he really wanted Mommy’s attention... now! Not Daddy. Mommy. I always found that made it really hard for me to cook. It’s something many a parent has dealt with as children are raised. Trying to pass the kids off to the parent not in the kitchen (assuming you’re not home alone with the kids) can be a real challenge. Here’s how I sometimes coped. Get supplies out to make dinner. Pick son up and show him what was going to be made. Answer half-clear questions about whatever catches his interest. Try to put son down. Calm his tears as he insists he just wants Mommy. Try to disentangle his arms so that you can get cooking. Settle for him clinging to one leg as you prepare the food for cooking. Decide having a child clinging to your leg is not a good idea when you’re actually cooking the food. Try to distract him with a favorite toy. No go. Pull lettuce out of the fridge and announce that you’ll be having a salad with dinner. Set up a place for toddler to tear up lettuce and wash his hands. It doesn’t really matter that you’ll be eating a combination of almost whole leaves and microscopic lettuce particles, does it? Toddler tires of lettuce and wants to help you cook. Tries to open oven. Fortunately, you’re cooking on the stove top tonight. Remove him from the kitchen. Back he comes. Pry him off your leg again and set up a stool for him to watch from a safe distance. He’s not happy, but you can reach
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him and give a pat or a hug as needed. Give him the lettuce again and suggest that he could tear the leaves smaller. Watch as more microscopic portions are removed. He wants to help mooooore! Ideally by stirring that nice pot of boiling water you have there. Time to find another toddler-safe job! Have him watch you chop more vegetables for the salad, and let him throw those in. Just keep the knife well away from those eager little fingers! And don’t underestimate a toddler’s ability to stretch. Finish cooking dinner as fast as is reasonable. Hope he stays distracted long enough. Time to set the table. Another thing clingy toddlers love to help with. Thank goodness for forks, spoons and any toddlersafe dishes you may choose to use. Allow him to help and ignore the many fingerprints his previously clean hands leave all over the place. Dirt appears to be magnetically attracted to toddlers. Hope that the salad is reasonably sanitary. Call the rest of the family in for dinner. Hope that you get more than two bites in before your toddler demands that he be allowed to eat his dinner on your lap rather than in his chair. Be grateful that your toddler loves you so much, even as you look forward to a little break after the kids are in bed. www.gwinnettparents.com
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[ KIDS SAFETY ]
Water Safety Starts With Supervision!
S
upervision is the number one thing we need to do as parents to help keep our children safe. They cannot be left in the kiddie pool the same way they might be placed in front of TV. Children playing near water require constant adult supervision (an 8-year-old sibling is not old enough as they can become distracted easily). Parents should exercise touch/reach supervision, which means they are always within an arm’s length of the child. Floaties and water wings are not an alternative to supervision, as they will not prevent a child from drowning. Remember, supervision is not a chore – it is quality time with your child! Practice water safety inside and out. 18
Children can drown in very little water, very quickly. While it may be more apparent to take safety precaution when at the pool or the beach, parents should practice safety near any place with water both inside and out: tub, toilet, fish pond, buckets of water, coolers, fountains, hot tubs, and even big puddles. Maintain a safe parent-to-child ratio. Our very young children are safest in the water when there is a one-toone parent-to-child interaction. That means the parent or caregiver is giving undivided attention – not on the phone, not reading a book, and not watching another child. Parents should never leave a child unattended in or near
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water to answer the telephone, door bell etc. They must pay close attention even if the child is in a kiddie pool, at the water’s edge or in the shallow end of a large pool. Older children need supervision too. Water safety is so important, but often parents take it for granted with their older children. Pay attention to the older children. They love to have mom and dad watch them do cool things in the water. Encourage physical activity, trying different things, and be sure to give lots of positive feedback. Enjoy watching them have a great time! Designate pool guards. There are only so many kids one adult can supervise in the water at any given moment. Invite other parents to help supervise at pool parties with several young children. If there will be children swimming at a big family party, be sure to designate pool guards who do not drink or socialize; perhaps two or three who can rotate. Teach kids ages 8-12 what do in case of emergency. Role play with them – what to do, when to do it, what their address and phone number are etc. Parents with children near water should also know CPR, especially when there is no trained lifeguard on duty. Remove all water temptation. Keep children away from water unless supervised. That means, emptying the kiddie pool and getting covers with locks for hot tubs and spas. Families with pools should follow their state or county guidelines to keep both their children and the community’s children safe. Be sure to also empty the cleaning bucket after mopping, shut the bathroom door, and use a mesh cover over a fish pond. Learn to swim together. It’s wonderful for parents and children to take swim lessons together – children often learn www.gwinnettparents.com
by example. Check with your pediatrician to see if your child is old enough to learn how to swim. A child’s muscles must be strong enough (usually by age 6 months) for them to hold their head up out of water so they aren’t swallowing it. Under the age of four, children are not developmentally able to swim properly and safely. There are lots of different programs that introduce smaller children to water play by acclimating them to the water. They start to teach basic water skills – blowing bubbles, kicking, moving arms, doggie paddling etc. The best programs involve a caregiver in the lesson in the water one-to-one with the child. As children get older they can take more advanced swim lessons. Parents need to recognize that swimming lessons do not protect kids from drowning – only constant supervision can. Make sure instructors are certified and they have proper experience. Teaching a child to swim is a gift parents can give their children to last a lifetime. Establish rules and be consistent. Create basic rules for all pools like “no running,” “no diving,” and “no swimming alone.” Buddy checks will play a major part – teaching children early on that nobody swims alone. Make it fun and even shout “Buddy check time!” before swimming. Do not leave toys near the pool, especially riding toys such as trucks, bikes and wagons. And do not leave toys floating in the pool. Most importantly, be consistent with enforcing the rules you create. Beach/lake experiences can be friendly. When at the beach or lake, the first thing parents should do is check to see if there is there a lifeguard on duty. If not, then the parent is the sole lifeguard. Go in the water with children who cannot swim on their own. Be sure to swim within the flags near the lifeguard if there is one. Sit with children who are Gwinnett Community Parents Magazine
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playing at the water’s edge. Teach older kids who can swim about tides and undertow at the beach. Look out for weeds and other growing things at the lake, as not all lakes have sandy bottoms. And also beware of debris in the water and stinging/biting things. Make time for the “lotion motion” – When playing with a child outdoors between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., be sure to lather on the sunscreen (minimum of 15 SPF with UVA and UVB protection). Waterproof sunscreen is best if the child will be playing in the water, don’t forget noses, cheeks and toes, and bring hats/ sunglasses. The key to sun safety, especially when a child is in and out of water, is reapplying sunscreen. Implement a fun sun care routine – “It’s time for the “lotion motion!” Keep a shirt
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on your child. Protective wetsuits are also great and there is even clothing out there with SPF. And mom and dad should set a good example and practice good sun care too! Water play time is quality time. While water safety is certainly a subject to be taken seriously, water play time presents a great opportunity to engage and interact with your child in a way that’s fun for both of you. Playing in water is a very natural experience for kids, they love it! You can even bring toys into the tub or swimming pool. The Goldberger Co.’s Waterwonders are perfect because they are soft toys that light up and promote gentle splashing. When fun and safety are balanced, water play time can be a terrific experience for both kids and parents.
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All Around Pictures
Dragging the kids kicking and screaming to the photo studio… A waste of gas.
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Trying to get all the kids to smile at the same time in a 15 minute window… A waste of energy. Getting too many portraits of the wrong size, with one kid smiling, one kid looking away and your hair out of place, but it was the best one… A waste of money. Your Location, Your Time, Your Poses and Your Customized Package… Priceless. A One Hour Photo Session starting at just $30! Also available: Birthday Parties, Sporting Events, Graduations and Weddings
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[ TEEN TALK ]
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hat parent doesn’t eventually hear their teenager say; “I’m going to be going on a date Friday evening.” At some point, everybody’s child grows old enough to start showing interest in the opposite sex, and that inevitably leads up to the first date. Plenty of parents see this as an exciting and happy moment, making sure to take plenty of pictures and shower their child in almost embarrassing excitement, but many others see this as a scary or worrisome experience. – Of course, the latter is sad, because the first date does not have to be a bad thing at all. So how far exactly do you get yourself involved into your teen’s dating life and what action do you take in regard to their first date? There are plenty of different opinion on this, but I think we can all agree that we should never hide our children away from living, and when the world of dating finally comes around to your child, we must to a certain extent, embrace it. A lot of parents out there seem very confused and torn when it comes to the exact role they should play in their teen’s dating life. Should they be worried and 22
Dealing With Your Teenager’s Dating Life
overprotective, or support it with open arms and a smile? As a parent, you honestly need to be a bit of both. – You need to walk the fine line between the two. A teenager is still very much a child in the sense that their minds have not completely developed yet, and they most definitely do not have all the reasoning capabilities or life experience of an adult. Consequently, teens are much more likely to screw up and make mistakes, and live very much in the “now” instead of thinking ahead. Despite all of this
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though, you have to understand that you cannot hide them away from the world. The fact is that all teenagers make mistakes. As a parent, you must allow your child to have enough room to learn on their own. You see, teenagers are at a time where they are learning about the world around them at an incredible rate. Some lessons, however, can only be learned by doing things wrong, and making mistakes is a very valuable way for teenagers to learn and grow up into more mature, welladapted adults. If you are over-protective of your child during these years, they will have a hard time coping once they leave your protection. They will
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have to make mistakes to learn, but won’t have your protection to make it easier. So you need to allow them to really live life while they are still under your guardianship, ensuring that the mistakes they do make, you will be able to control and steer back toward the right path. However, make sure that this chance at gaining valuable life experience comes with rules. As we have already noted, teenagers tend to think in the present with little regard to the future, and often aren’t great at practicing reason. If you leave the situation completely in their hands, you can bet money that they will eventually wind up over their heads. The important thing
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is that you find a balance. You must take an active stance in your child’s dating life without impeding it. Meet their prospective dates, and be sure to talk to your teen about them. When you show an interest in the people your teen is interested in, they are much more likely to include you, which is important because these people will have a powerful influence on them. The bottom line is that teenage dating years is a time that can be a great source of joy, but above all, is a crucial time for development that you must handle well. Make sure to enforce some rules that are meant for their protection, while at the same time taking an active interest in their dating life and allow them to pursue their own interests. Talk to them, ask questions. For them, this is a journey into the unknown, and they need you to be there every step of the way, but you have to make sure that you aren’t in the way. Achieving this balance is the best way to ensure that your child will grow up with the fondest of memories of their teenage years.
T: (678) 789-9240/50 • F: (404) 941-9668
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Capturing Your Memorable Moments through the Lens of a Camera prerequisite class in black & white film for another major. Within that short period she developed a love of telling stories through pictures and a desire to capture the excitement of her world around her. At first, photography was a casual hobby, but as her appreciation for the outdoors grew, so did the passion for capturing the beauty of memorable moments through the lens of her camera. Stephanie became enthusiastic about photography 6 years ago.
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hotography month is approaching and we talked with our photographer Stephanie Pulliam of All Around Pictures to discuss what inspires her as a photographer. As an appreciation of her and the work she does for us, we wanted to share her with you, our readers. Stephanie Pulliam’s love for photography came after just taking one
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Stephanie began by taking portraits of children in black & white film and has grown from there. She really enjoys photographing weddings and has been told that she tells a story with her portraits of the day’s events. From the intimate pictures of the bride and groom to the candids of the guests at the reception. A special feature that Stephanie offers is a laptop slideshow presentation at the reception. The slideshow consists of the engagement session portraits, prewedding pictures and ceremony portraits. Through this experience, Stephanie believes those moments are priceless when she sees the face of the bride and groom watching in awe of activities that have taken place without them knowing and enjoying them for the first time through the lens of her camera.
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[ COLLEGE BOUND ] One of most difficult decisions a student will face-Which college best suits me? Some teens may be lucky enough to reap advice from current college students or recent college grads. However many college-bound kids are left guidance-less. How does a student begin the choosing process? Students should consider a list of factors. Would a two- or a four-year college suit the student best? How far from home are they willing to move? The community and surroundings of the college (urban, rural or suburban) and its religious affiliation may also be important factors. Students should also consider college accreditation, but should be wary of focusing on only ivy league schools.
Choosing A College: Guidance For The High School Grad
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s the high school year comes to a close, many students may be turning their thoughts to summer jobs and vacations, but others look beyond such short term endeavors and on to the long term: college. 26
Students should also be conscious of what types of clubs and sports they
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wish their college to offer. Looking back on in which high school activities the student was involved can help identify which activities are important to be offered by the college. Also, the student should think about whether or not it is important to attend a school with some form of division I sports team or the chance to participate in intramural sports. It is important that the student also think about the academic options within the college. Student has a specific major in mind should only keep in mind colleges that offer that major. Other factors that play into college selection are the requirements for entry into that college. Average test scores, GPA and class rank should be reviewed to ensure the standards of the school are not too low but can by met by the student. Special application requirements such as participation in extracurricular activities should be looked at as well. After finding a small list of colleges that meet the student’s needs and preferences, the student and parents should look into how to pay for the college. The estimated cost of the school should be taken into consideration, including the cost of tuition, room, board and travel. Besides relying on funds from parents, the student should also look into the financial aid opportunities offered by the school and for what reasons (need, academic, athletic) such financial aid opportunities are offered. If a student is still finding it difficult to find a college that meets his or her needs, college search sites can be helpful in narrowing down the choices. www.gwinnettparents.com
Many sites have college search calculators that take into account the many factors listed above. From such searches a student can compile a list of colleges that meet requirements, look through the list, and pick a few colleges that are well-suited for him or her. Besides online searches, students should also pay attention to college mail they receive and respond to the colleges that spark their interests. If a college of interest does not send the student information then the student should contact the college and request information. Such contact information can be found on a college’s website. Another great way to become more familiar with a college is to virtually visit the college through the college’s website. Most sites provide areas for prospective students to attend virtual tours of campus. There may also be opportunities for the students to hear from students who attend the college. Students should also talk to friends and family members about their college experiences and keep in mind what made a different in each college graduate’s college education. After a list of between three and ten colleges has been compiled, the student should immediately begin applying or requesting information from the colleges depending on how soon the student will be attending college. It is important for the student to have at least three college choices, one being a “back up” college to which the student is sure they will be accepted. Once applications are sent, the student has only to wait, relax and enjoy the summer!
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[ HEALTHY MOM ]
Dealing With Stress - The Hardest Thing in the World?
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hen you are stressed, the hardest thing in the world is dealing with stress. After all, it’s already there and stress is not the sort of thing that is dealt with very easily. It tends to consume the mind, cause fatigue, prevent concentration, and can even cause memory problems. It is as though the brain is so wrapped up in its stress that it does not have room for anything else. Thus, in order to stay alert, aware and clear-headed, it is necessary to have a strategy for dealing with stress. The best method for dealing with stress is, of course, to prevent it in the first place. This 28
is best done by staying focused on what you are doing rather than worrying about everything that needs to be done. By concentrating on, let’s say, the work you are doing, you can avoid work stress. It is a simple matter of focus. By simply staying in the moment and letting each moment move you forward, your stress levels will stay low. However, when you
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step back and look at the big picture and think to yourself, “How the heck am I going to get all this done?” you will not be helping yourself. Instead of working to get things done, you will instead be thinking about how you will never get it done and you will create your own, self-fulfilling prophecy! This, needless to say, is bad. Concentrate on what you are doing and www.gwinnettparents.com
the work will take care of itself. However, supposing that you are already wrapped up in stress, it is already too late to try to keep it away. Thus, you need to get relief. The best thing you can do in this situation is to walk away. That’s right, get up, go someplace else and let everything sit for a bit. Think about something else, worry about how to make a decent sandwich, pour yourself a nice cup of coffee and watch the fluid fill the cup. Take a look out the window and watch the people, cars or ducks go by. Just notice something else and concentrate on that. By doing this, you will be able to clear your mind of stress and worry instead about something entirely mundane that is not a source of stress at all. And wouldn’t that be a nice change of pace? Another method of dealing with stress is through a quick round of meditation. This is easily done by simply sitting down, closing your eyes, and concentrating on your breathing. Take a deep breath and notice the air coming into your lungs. Then push all that air out and feel it wafting www.gwinnettparents.com
through your nose or mouth. With a few of these deep breaths, you can quickly clear your mind of its concerns and start with a clean slate. Then, once you open your eyes, you will feel very refreshed. If this didn’t work at first, then do it again and see if it makes a difference. Obviously, it takes some practice to master this quick method of meditation, but many people find quick relief from stress by performing this simple breathing exercise. Just keep trying it and, eventually, you will master this technique of dealing with stress. Another great method for dealing with stress is through exercise. Keeping in shape has excellent benefits for the body and mind, as exercise fills your body with the hormones that it needs to relax. Fortunately, these hormones stay in your body even after you are done with your workout and they will help you to stave off stress. And the more you exercise, the fitter you will be and the better you will feel every day. One vital method of dealing with stress is to get plenty of sleep every night. Most people do
not get enough sleep and, as a result, they feel fatigued during the day. Unfortunately, fatigue tends to cloud the mind and it makes people anxious, nervous, and unable to concentrate. Thus, the mind is not able to cope with stress and, when it arrives, it tends to stay in the mind. Thus, dealing with stress properly requires a solid eight hours of rest every night. So avoid caffeine and alcohol before you go bed, and you will feel much better the following morning. Dealing with stress is not difficult, but it does take practice. No one has ever mastered any skill in a short period of time and dealing with stress is no different. Just be sure to exercise, get plenty of sleep, learn to concentrate and, if need be, meditate so that you can either keep stress away or deal with it when it arrives. Then, once you have mastered these methods and techniques of dealing with stress, you will feel better, be more effective and you will be much happier every day.
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[ PROFILES ]
Dr. R. Morgan Davoudi, F.A.C.S
Helping Gwinnett Moms Reveal Their Beauty Within Written by: Elizabeth Cauley
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he youngest of nine children. A runner of sixteen marathons. A
Brilliant and Trustworthy Plastic Surgeon. All of these words describe Dr. R. Morgan Davoudi, a member of the Gwinnett community since 2004. Hard work is a virtue that is important to Dr. Davoudi. He was sixteen years old when he decided that he wanted to become a doctor. Raised in Portland, Oregon he began living on his own at a young age and worked many menial jobs, but always kept his education a priority. Dr. Davoudi realized that he had the opportunity to go to college and he did not take this opportunity lightly. He attended Oregon State University, and completed his Bachelor of Science Degree. Upon completion of his undergraduate degrees Dr. Davoudi, then applied and was accepted as one of only six students from out of state, to attend the Medical College of Georgia where he received his Doctorate of Medicine degree. He also completed, his General Surgery training in Augusta. He was then accepted into the prestigious plastic surgery training program at the University of Tennessee, where after completing his plastic surgery training he was asked to join the staff as an Assistant Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Davoudi is board certified in both General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. He was awarded the Physician’s Recognition Award for 2005 - 2011 by the American Medical Association and was honored by a local magazine as one of Gwinnett’s Best Doctors. In 2007 and 2008 he was also named America’s Top Plastic Surgeon by the Consumers Research Council of America. Why plastic surgery? Dr. Davoudi enjoys the fact that the field is diverse and allows for the doctors to make an impact on a patient’s life, and he loves helping people. He is paswww.gwinnettparents.com
sionate about what he does and his passion is evident in the quality of service he provides, and in the many satisfied patients who repeatedly return to see him and also send their friends and family. Dr. Davoudi specializes in Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Breast Augmentation, Liposuction, and Body Contouring. Patients often comment on his thoughtful and friendly manner and the ease in which he guides them through their surgical procedures. Not only does he have a passion for his profession and a love for his patients, but he is also a family man. Dr. Davoudi and his wife were married at the Gwinnett Art Center five years ago and they have two children, a daughter who is three and a half and a son who is four months old. As his children age, he vows to know his children’s friends and their families, he feels that a great parent is one who not only knows their
children and their interest but also know the company they keep. Dr. Davoudi has already lived a life full of perseverance and hard work. He is a man who takes the time to make a relationship with patients. Many of these qualities he also feels he has learned from being a parent: “be patient and give the utmost respect.” These values are what set him apart in his home life, in the community and as a plastic surgeon who truly respects and admires his patients. Atlantic Center for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery 3855 Pleasant Hill Rd Suite 460 Duluth, Georgia 30096 Phone: (770) 418-1234 Fax: (770) 817-1110 www.myatlantaplasticsurgeon.com
You give them the very best. You’re a Hero! All the hard work will pay off big when they’re grown. For this, you deserve the finest care. Anazao means to “live “li again” and that's just what you need. We are a full service salon with expertly trained staff just waiting to serve you. Treat yourself to the gift of beauty. beau Snellville
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Samuel S. Kwon, DMD
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[ FITNESS & EXERCISE ]
Childhood Obesity: ways your family can fight it together
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ou want your kids to be healthy and happy. What parent doesn’t? But with America’s childhood obesity epidemic growing worse every year—and with fast food meals and sedentary TV-and-computer pastimes the societal norm—you worry about their future. In a world set up to make it easy for kids to become obese, how can you make sure yours aren’t? The solution is simple, says Tom Gilliam, Ph.D. Don’t preach to your kids from the “parent pulpit” and impose a bunch of arbitrary diet and exercise rules. Instead, live a healthy body weight message, every day, and your kids will naturally come along for the ride. Gilliam offers a whole slew of fun and simple suggestions for 34
making fitness a family affair: Teach kids that good health is their responsibility. Explain that their body weight is connected to their overall health, and that their health is the most precious asset they’ll ever possess. Tell them that the habits they learn now will lay the groundwork for a lifetime of good health. It is their responsibility and no one else’s. “Tell your children that you won’t always be there to police what they eat and whether they exercise,” says Gilliam. “When they get into the right kind of habits today, they’ll remember them tomorrow.” Talk to kids about what it really means to
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be healthy. “Many kids, especially girls, who tend to be more body conscious, may assume that ‘healthy’ is synonymous with ‘skinny,’” says Gilliam. “In fact, many adults believe this! Explain to kids that achieving a healthy body weight is about feeling good, not looking good. Talk about how they will feel better if they are healthy and be able to take part in sports and other fun activities.” Use hard numbers to measure body weight. For instance, teach older kids what their “BMI” means. Kids don’t respond well to vague terminology like “healthy” or “fit” (or worse, “skinny”). They like concepts that are straightforward and easy to grasp. For kids 10 and older, you might use Body Mass Index (BMI) as your measuring stick for fitness. (Gilliam explains that for kids under 10, experts typically use height-weight data to determine obesity; if a child is between the 85th and 95th percentile, he is considered overweight, and if he’s in the 95th percentile or higher, he’s considered obese.)
like one serving is actually 2.5 servings—so they’re getting more than twice the sugar than they may think at first glance!” Chart their progress. It’s always helpful for kids to see, in black & white terms, what they’ve achieved. While you’re teaching kids about good nutritional choices, for instance, have them write down how many calories they took in each day. Also, get a calendar and have them record their fitness activities for the day: “Walked the dog for 30 minutes” and “Went hiking with Girl Scout troop.” Finally, don’t hesitate to use the age-old bribery technique in conjunction with the calendar. If your child meets your predetermined goal—say, 45 minutes five days a week for a month—she gets the new outfit she’s been wanting, a trip to the local water park, or tickets to the Hannah Montana
Educate older kids on how to read food labels. You may need a crash course yourself, first, and that’s okay. Gilliam’s book, Move It. Lose It. Live Healthy.: The Simple Truth About Achieving & Maintaining a Healthy Body Weight, is a good starting point. “When kids learn to read food labels, they’ll be able to see that sodas, for instance, are prohibitively high in sugar,” he says. “And they’ll learn that the bottle that looks www.gwinnettparents.com
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concert she’s dying to attend. “Yes, you want your children to view fitness as its own reward, but sometimes they need a little extra push,” says Gilliam. “Don’t worry. You’re getting them into the habit of exercise and that’s what’s important.” Find fun activities you can do as a group. However much you may wish your kids would do daily calisthenics while you supervise and sip a cool drink (kidding!), parents need to be part of the action too! Take regular hikes in the woods. Go inline skating at the park. On a sunny day, create a crazy obstacle course using jump ropes, pogo sticks, large bouncy balls, and maybe even a slip-n-slide. When it rains, stick in a yoga tape and have fun bending and stretching as a family. “Yes, you want to show your kids that fitness is fun, but you also want to show them that it’s ‘normal,’” says Gilliam. “Think about it: If you sit in front of the TV every day after work, that will come to seem like the normal way to spend time. We learn what we live.” Model good eating habits for your kids. When they see you reach for an orange when you’re hungry instead of a bag of chips, they’ll go for the good stuff too. But don’t rely on pure willpower. If there is junk food in the house, someone under your roof (regardless of age) will devour it! Once those cookies or chips are in the cupboard, it’s too late. Help kids avoid temptation by bringing home only healthful and delicious snack foods like yogurt, fresh fruit, raisins, and natural peanut butter. Make a game out of shopping for and serving healthful foods. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with the same old expected “good-for-you foods” like corn, green beans, or apples. Gilliam 36
suggests having some fun with the shopping/cooking process as a way to alleviate boredom for you and your kids. “Maybe you can introduce an unusual fruit or vegetable every week—star fruit or guava or artichokes,” he says. “Both you and your kids will enjoy trying out new flavors. Or designate a week as ‘Red Foods Week’ and let your kids select every healthful red food they can think of: tomatoes, strawberries, beets, apples, watermelon, and so on. Then, work a red food into every meal.” Pair your child with a buddy for exercise. If your daughter’s friend is into horseback riding or ballet, encourage your daughter to get involved, too. If the kid next door swims at the local YMCA, get your son a membership too and suggest that they carpool. Here’s one area where peer pressure can be positive! Challenge kids to help you find ways to “sneak in” exercise. For example, too many of us obsessively look for the closest parking spot to our destination. Reverse this trend! Ask kids to help you find the space that’s farthest away from the grocery store or mall. “Make a ‘no escalators’ rule and ask kids to help enforce it,” suggests Gilliam. “By always seeking out stairs when you’re at the mall, you teach kids to build exercise into their day.” Connect exercise with activities kids already like to do. For example, if your kids love video games, the Wii can be a great form of exercise. If they’re interested in science, take them on weekly nature walks where they can identify trees, plants, and bugs to their heart’s content. But what if all they want to do is watch TV? Fine, says
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Gilliam—just tell them they can watch their favorite show only if they exercise while it’s on. They might walk on the treadmill, walk or run in place, stretch, or lift hand weights. Let your child wear a pedometer every day. Kids who love gadgets (and isn’t that all kids?) will enjoy measuring their steps. Remind them that 10,000 is the number of steps to aim for each day. Rather than seeming like a dreaded chore, that daily walk will become a fun challenge! What you’re really doing when you model healthy behaviors for your kids day in and day out—and incorporate those behaviors into family life—is teaching them by example to assume personal responsibility for their health,
says Gilliam. “No employer, no insurance company, no doctor can ever give you the gift of fitness,” he says. “Only you can decide to be fit. It’s something you do for yourself because good health is worth the trade-offs. And when you learn that lesson as a child, it stays with you for a lifetime. “It’s all about the decisions we make every day,” adds Gilliam. “Every time you serve broccoli instead of fries, every time you hand out water bottles instead of soda cans, every time you turn off the TV and go for a family bike ride, you’re helping your kids learn that lesson in the most powerful possible way—by living it. There’s no better gift you can give them.”
J Will
Photography
Specializing in • commercial • family portraits • landscapes • model portfolios Will J brings a relaxed, spontaneous, fun atmosphere to each and every shoot. A mix of technical expertise with a “good eye,” imagination, and creativity helps bring every image to life. Photographing professionally for over five years. On Location (Studio available upon request). www.willjphotography.com
(888) 630.4431 www.gwinnettparents.com
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[ HEALTH & WELLNESS ]
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ne myth about weight loss is that the ingredients of our diet are in some specialty store or available through a mail-order catalog. The reality is quite different. We don’t need to go out of our way, because the neighborhood grocery store and the farmer’s market carry most of what we need for a healthy diet. The secret is to understand the nature of the food we consume so we can make health-wise decisions when shopping for groceries or selecting an item from the restaurant menu. Weight-loss diets come by the thousands, many of them claiming to have either the magic bullet or the ultimate recipe that will bring down your body weight in record time. These diets come, yes, but also fade away because there’s much more to losing weight than just setting a pound-shedding record. Beverly Hills Weight Loss and Wellness of Suwanee subscribe to the above-mentioned principles and incorporate other key elements. Their approach doesn’t preclude the consumption of the latest products nutritionists have developed, such as vitamins, protein bars, and healthy beverages. Their programs, however, aim to turning the weight-loss diet into a behavior, and hopefully, into a lifestyle. The counselors at Beverly Hills Weight Loss and Wellness of Suwanee are trained to delve into the participants’ motivations so their diets can be adjusted to their individual goals. And these professionals work with an important issue in mind: keep-
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How Far Out of Your Wa Proucts You Need to Los Written by Roberto Ball ing the extra pounds off is as important as losing them. Beverly Hills Weight Loss and Wellness of Suwanee have designed programs to fit the clients’ specific
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ay are the se Weight? needs. These programs are based on simple common sense premises and are in full compliance with FDA requirements. There are programs designed for children, teenagers, and adults. The particular health condition of each participant www.gwinnettparents.com
is taken into account and its dietary effects monitored throughout. Special diets for diabetics are available; it has been known to help clients reduce their medication and the program even help some clients eliminate their medication altogether.
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received numerous letters of gratitude. Owners, Lavinia & Jorge Zapata are hands on with their clients; as counselors, they play very important roles to seeing that their client’s needs are met. They invite everyone to come and learn more about their center and the programs they have to offer with their no-commitment consultation. Beverly Hills Weight Loss and Wellness of Suwanee is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 7 pm (Saturdays by appointment only).
Beverly Hills Weight Loss and Wellness Center of Suwanee opened its doors September 2007. This family owned and operated business has already
Even closer than your neighborhood grocery store is the Beverly Hills Weight Loss and Wellness website. Check it out at www.beverlyhillsga.com.
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• Pain Keeping You Awake At Night? • Can’t Do The Things You Love? • Numbness And Tingling?
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Dr. Erika L. Ratcliffe D.C. Institute For Spinal Health 910 Athens Hwy., Ste. J-10 Loganville, GA
Not everyone qualifies for care. To find out if your condition is one that can be helped, call our office today.
770-554-5400 www.InstituteforSpinalHealth.com
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[ SPORTS ]
Help Kids Gear Up for the Game
E
ye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in children in the United States, and many of these injuries are sports-related. Ninety percent of sports-related eye injuries in children can be prevented with the use of protective eyewear. Making sure your young athlete gears up with the right protective eyewear may save your child’s sight.
protective eyewear, saying that it isn’t cool. But this doesn’t have to be the case—protective eyewear now comes in a variety of styles and colors that can even match team uniforms. Don’t let your child step onto the field or court unless he or she is wearing the proper safety gear from head to toe, including protective eyewear.
Protective eyewear includes safety Game Time glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide While the use of protective eyewear is the correct protection for a certain activimportant for all activities, some sports ity. Most protective eyewear lenses are carry a greater risk than others. For made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times example, baseball is the leading cause stronger than other plastics. Many eye of sports-related eye injury in children 14 care providers sell protective eyewear, as and under and is considered a high-risk do sporting goods stores. Safety goggles sport. Football carries a moderate risk. that can be worn over prescription Keep Your Child Safe glasses may be purchased for High Risk Moderate Risk Low Risk less than $10. Baseball Football Bicycling Basketball Golf Diving Talk to your eye Boxing Badminton Skiing care provider Hockey Soccer Swimming about protective Paintball Tennis Wrestling eyewear for your Racquetball Fishing child. Your eye Softball care provider can Squash provide protective eyewear that fits your child’s prescription. He or she can Check the table for the risk categories of help you select a correct fit and style for eye injury for various sports. any sport. For more information about protective “Children should use protective eyewear eyewear for specific sports, visit the Naduring sporting activities to avoid untional Eye Institute Website at http://isee. necessary eye injuries that can possibly nei.nih.gov/sports. result in permanent vision loss,” said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Protect your child’s eyes. Help them gear National Eye Institute, one of the National up for the game with protective eyewear. Institutes of Health. At first, your child may resist wearing 42
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We Can Help You at
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Call or Visit Today! First 50 members who sign up will receive an Exercise Pack, which includes a workout guide, t-shirt, water bottle and workout towel.
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[ PROFILES ]
Meet The Doctor
- Dr. Alisa Burnett
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D
r. Alisa Burnett has always taken pride in seeing beyond her profession to the heart of her
people. As an optometrist at The Optical Center, Dr. Burnett hopes not to just be a doctor, but to truly help her patients. She hopes all her new customers will “improve their view of the world”. Dr. Burnett has been an optometrist for twelve years. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Missouri. One day while attending a career seminar for women, she became interested in optometry. She then continues her studies at Indiana University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Optometry and in 1996, her Doctor of Optometry. Dr. Burnett is a member of Atlanta Optometric Association, the Georgia Optometric Association, the Greater Atlanta Optometric Association and the National Optometric Association. Besides being an optometrist, Dr. Burnett also is focused on her family. She has been married to her husband of ten years Jeff Burnett, a Dispensing Optician and frame and lens specialist at The Optical Center. To Alisa, family has always come first. She says that if she wasn’t a doctor, she would be a stay at home mother to her two sons: Jay, seven years old, and Justin, five years old. Even with her busy life, she has learned some great lessons from her two boys. She has learned that patience is a virtue and that you must stop and treasure every moment as your Gwinnett Community Parents Magazine
“Evaluate the person— not just the eyes.”
children grows.
Dr. Burnett is focused on her patients. She takes satisfaction in giving her
Dr. Burnett moved her practice to
patients professionalism, personal ser-
Gwinnett County because she feels
vice and care. Dr. Burnett feels that the
that it is the “land of opportunity”.
most important aspect of The Optical
What Dr. Burnett most enjoys about
Center is to establish the relationship
her practice is being able to “person-
with the patient and look at them as a
ally relate to each patient and find-
person and truly personalize their care.
ing unique solutions to match their needs”. Currently, The Optical Center specializes in contact lenses, disease management and low vision. They set themselves apart with their devotion to their patients’ needs. The Optical Center is in business to help the people of Gwinnett County.
46
The Optical center 367 Athens Highway, Ste. 2300 Loganville, GA 30052 Phone: (678) 671-2005 Fax: (678) 609-1688 www.TheOptical-Center.com
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[ FAMILY TRAVEL ]
Treat Your Family to A Palace Resort Vacation
A
fter a long dreary winter, nothing says summer like peeling off those heavy layers and thinking about your next warm weather vacation! This year, couples and families looking to get away should consider a vacation at the Palace Resorts line of luxury all-inclusive properties that are located throughout Mexico. With ten top-of-the-line resorts to choose from, each with its own signature vacation, Palace Resorts is ready to tempt guests with Mexican retreats that can’t
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be missed. “The Palace Resorts’ line of all-inclusive properties has a resort for every type of traveler,” said Maira Briceno, Director of Marketing for Palace Resorts. “From active families to couples looking to get away, there is something here for everyone. With our first-class resorts, state-of-the-art spas and numerous excursions, we’re confident that your next trip to a Palace Resort will be truly a vacation to remember.”
Not sure which property to visit? Well, the decision is easy with the following promotions: Kids Stay “FREE”: Palace Resorts is the place for families and with this incredible promotion there’s never been a better time for an affordable family escape. Valid from June 1st through August 31st, 2008, the Palace Resorts’ Summer Kids’ Promotion welcomes children ages 12 and under to eat, play and stay for FREE when sharing a room with an
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AWESOME DEAL IN DAWSONVILLE!!! “THE BEACH” 4BR/3BA LAKE HOME
Location:
Dawsonville, Lake Lanier, Northeast Mountains, Georgia, USA (Lake Lanier, 50 Minutes from Downtown)
Accommodations:
Home - 4 Bedrooms - 3 Baths (Sleeps 13) Come and enjoy this home conveniently located on Lake Lanier. This spacious home features four bedrooms and three full baths, a deep-water private dock with boat Spectacular View On lift and party deck up top. Located only four Secluded Cove - Lake Lanier, miles from Georgia 400, restaurants, and retail shops, including the North Georgia Premium Outlet Mall. This home also offers a family room full of activities to please all ages, 52” Widescreen Entertainment System, Private Hot Tub, wonderful stone fireplace, wet bar, foosball table, dart board, games, and puzzles galore, also enjoy the swings overlooking the lake. You can just sit back and relax on our fully covered porch and enjoy spectacular sunset views of the lake. Public access boat ramp less than five miles away. Easy access to Dahlonega, Cumming, Gainesville, and Helen where there are additional activities for your pleasure; shopping, antiques, lots of waterfalls, museums, BabyLand General, The Holley Theatre, not to mention good eats. So Much to Offer: Four Bedrooms and Three Full Baths with Views of the Lake from every room.
May-Sep $1575/wk $275/night Oct-Apr $ 950/wk $195/night Holidays $1625/wk $295/night
Beautiful Sunset View From House - Lake Lanier, Georgia Vacation Home
Cleaning Fee of $150 • Refundable Deposit of $300 • 7% added for Taxes
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adult. This offer is valid for stays at the Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, Cancun Palace, Beach Palace, Xpu-Ha Palace, Playacar Palace, Cozumel Palace and the new Isla Mujeres Palace under the all-inclusive program. This program includes luxurious accommodations, all meals and snacks, 24-hour room service, beverages, taxes, gratuities, non-motorized water sports, and sensational entertainment. Rates are $156 - $199 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Limit two (2) children per room, children 13 – 17 years of age pay the child rate. Romantic Rendezvous: For couples looking for a romantic getaway to reconnect and recharge, Palace Resorts special Romance Package is just what the doctor ordered. Guests of this promotion, who book by April 30, 2008, will receive two 25-minute massages at the respective properties state-of-the-art spa, special petit-fours delivered to the room daily, and two commemorative Palace Resorts t-shirts. The offer is valid on stays of five-nights or longer from May 1st – August 31st, 2008 as part of the all-inclusive program at the adults only Aventura Spa Palace and the couples only Sun Palace. Massages are nontransferable and cannot be redeemed for cash if unused. Rates range between $180 - $188 per person, per night, based on double www.gwinnettparents.com
occupancy. Maximum two (2) people per room. Swim with the Dolphins Buy-One-Get-One-Free: Imagine swimming side-byside with one of the most intelligent creatures in the sea. For guests that book for three-nights or longer at any Palace Resorts property from February 1st through December 15th and stay from February 1st through December 23rd now is your chance! Swim with the Dolphins is FREE for one person with the purchase of one “Ultimate Dolphin Swim Experience tour,” (limit one per room, per stay) and is valid at any Palace Resorts property under the all-inclusive program. This program includes luxurious accommodations, all meals and snacks, 24-hour room service, beverages, taxes, gratuities, non-motorized water sports, and sensational entertainment. Rates are $156 - $199 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Transportation will be provided to the marina. This offer is non-transferable. Summer Early Booking Bonus: At Palace Resorts, “The early bird gets the… BONUS.” Guests that book their summer vacation at any of the participating Palace Resorts by April 18, 2008 are rewarded with a $5.00 discount off the 2008 rate per adult, per night. The offer is valid on stays of three-nights or longer
from May 1st - August 31st, 2008 as part of the all-inclusive program. Rates range between $156 - $199 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, children 4-17 years of age pay the child rate. All the promotions are subject to change without prior notice and are not extended to reservations with reduced rates, travel agent rates, FAMS, complimentary or compensatory stays. For more information on the vacation options available at Palace Resorts, guests can visit either http://www. palaceresorts.com, or call (800) 635-1836. Palace Resorts, the company that set the standard in five-star, all-inclusive resort accommodations, offers ten all-inclusive properties throughout Cancún, the Riviera Maya, Isla Mujeres, Nuevo Vallarta and Cozumel and soon Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. At each of the Palace Resorts, guests are provided with luxurious, yet affordable, accommodations, fine cuisine, 24-hour room service, top shelf drinks, sensational entertainment, wireless Internet, non-motorized water sports and unlimited select tours. Palace Resorts’ unparalleled level of service and comfort found at each property makes them a leader in providing world-class resort vacations in Mexico.
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[ EXPECTING MOMS ]
When Your Baby Arrives from the hospital to your home. Relatives and friends come over to adore your newborn. What an exciting time! Soon the initial excitement subsides and reality strikes! It’s time to think about providing the best baby care you can for your newborn. There are so many things that need to be done. And, especially if you’re a first-time parent, there are so many things you wish you knew on how to provide the best baby care possible for your infant. You and your family will have a lot of adjusting to do especially during the first few days after your baby have come home. All of a sudden, there is a new member in the family. Daily routines will be affected. Life will not be the same again.
W
elcoming a newborn baby into the family is always a joyful occasion especially for first-time parents. The nine months of waiting has finally come to an end. How heart-warming it is to hear that first cry. Your baby has arrived! When it’s time to bring your newborn baby home, the excitement continues 50
If you have other children at home, you may have to deal with sibling jealousy as your newborn seems to have robbed them of all the attention they used to get. The best way to handle that is to get your children involved with baby care. Depending on their ages and abilities, you may want to get them to help out with diaper changing, feeding, holding the baby, and other
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appropriate activities. Once they realized that their contributions are valued, their feelings of jealousy will disappear. As a new mother, you may have to deal with ‘baby blues’. Your body is undergoing major physical changes after the birth of your baby. This may cause you to feel sad and depressed. These feelings are perfectly normal and should go away after several weeks. However, if you find that these feelings are getting more and more intense and are affecting your ability to care for yourself and your family, you should consult your doctor. You may be suffering from a condition of postpartum depression. Parenting has its ups and downs, challenges and rewards. It’s a long road ahead raising a new baby up to its adulthood. It’ll be wise to learn as much as possible on how to raise healthy and happy kids. The more knowledge and skills you have, the better parent you’ll become. It is an investment in their lives and yours.
Birthday Parties Team Celebrations Youth Groups Field Trips Corporate Events Everyone Will Have Fun!
Now Open 860 Duluth Hwy., Ste. 260 • Lawrenceville
(770) 339-4joy (4569) www.jump4joygym.com
www.gwinnettparents.com
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[ PRIVATE EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT ]
Old Peachtree Montessori School
F
ounded in 1993, Old Peachtree Montessori School is a family owned and operated private school, proudly providing a unique educational experience for children ages 18 months through 12 years. Old Peachtree Montessori School is accredited through the Association Montessori Internationale and affiliated with American Montessori Society. Their 7 acre campus is conveniently located just 3 miles from the Hamilton Mill area of Buford. Students come from many locations including Dacula, Auburn, Lawrenceville, Winder, and Hamilton Mill. Old Peachtree Montessori’s comprehensive curriculum exceeds state academicstandards and is internationally recognized. Students are able and encouraged to learn at their own pace and excel to the best of their 52
own ability, often working one on one with the teacher using a hands-on approach. Students gain a greaterunderstanding of many advanced concepts that typically are not taught until a much later grade in more traditional schools. Classes include multiaged groups of children working together in language, math, sensorial, practical life skills, art, music, geography, science, cooking, gardening and physical education. Extra curricular activities are offered which include tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, piano & violin. They also offer a wide variety of summer enrichment programs. Katherine Thilo, Director of OPMS, holds a BA in Child Psychology and an Associate Montessori International Diploma. She has twenty years of dedicated experience working with children; fourteen of which have been with
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Old Peachtree Montessori School. Janet Westervelt, Assistant Director, has been working with children for over twenty five years. Teachers at both the primary and elementary levels have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in conjunction with an International Montessori Degree and they are well prepared to nurture your child’s educational, physical, and emotional needs. In addition to educational training, Old Peachtree Montessori’s staff recognizes that your child’s safety is a priority and are all first-aid and CPR trained. Old Peachtree Montessori School works closely with education-based government programs and exceeds all standards. The school has received several accolades including being recognized by The National Wildlife Federation for providing habitats in which many species thrive. Nature trails, butterfly gardens, and rare plants are an integral part of the 7 acre campus. In addition, Old Peachtree’s elementary students recently won 1st place in Georgia’s Future Problem Solving state bowl for their work in litter law enforcement in Barrow County. Old Peachtree offers a unique variety of non-traditional outdoor activities such as mural painting, butterfly research in the gazebo, care of their macaws, parrots, sheep, and rabbits, daily collection of eggs from their chickens, drama on their outdoor stage, and gardening. There are also many traditional activities with a large playground, covered sandbox, and sports field. In addition to creating an enriched educational atmosphere, Old Peachtree also strives to accommodate the challenging schedule of working parents. The school is open from 7am-6pm and offers a Breakfast Club and aftercare options. In an atmosphere where freedom, responsibility, and social and intellectual development flourish, it’s easy to see why so many local parents choose to send their children to Old Peachtree Montessori School. Call Katherine at 770.963.3052 to schedule a visit and prepare to fall in love with Old Peachtree! Visit them on the web at www.opmontessori.com. www.gwinnettparents.com
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[ FATHERHOOD ]
I Love You Dad
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G
ood fathers are special breeds. Great fathers are one-of-a-kind. What separates the two are very subtle differences that come from within the man himself. No two “great fathers” are exactly alike, but they all go above and beyond to help make sure their children from infants to adults are nourished, sheltered, educated, guided and most importantly cherished and loved. How can one not marvel at all the sacrifices and hard work a good Father does for his family. He assumes financial responsibility for the household, coaches for his sons, protects his daughters, pampers his wife and even gets the chore of walking the dog or giving the cat a bath. That is why one day a year is not nearly enough to honor Fathers. As Father’s Day makes its approach, the features that turn a good father into a great one deserve some recognition and applause. While great dads tend to shy away from praise, they’ve earned it! Great fathers: Love and cherish their families above all else. Work hard to help ensure a loving, healthy home for their children to thrive in. Aren’t afraid to hurt a few feelings when one of life’s lessons must be taught. Guide with a firm hand and a loving heart. Are almost never too busy to answer the questions of the young and inquisitive.
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Take time out to play, smile and give well-earned praise. Know when to stand back and let their precious little one’s do it on their own. Appreciate that every mistake is a lesson waiting to be learned. Teach respect by giving it and earning it. Share values, philosophies and a sense of wonder about the world. Aren’t perfect, but they always strive to provide their families with a better life than he had. Believe in their children and empower them to do so, as well. If you’re lucky enough to have a dad that falls into the “great category,” finding the right way to show him just how special he is on Father’s Day won’t be easy. It can be nearly impossible to find a single gift that says it all. But there are ways to show him how much he means to you. The best gift for a great father is one that comes with a few simple words attached. Gift baskets, golf equipment, barbecue gear and more can all be the starting point for an ideal Father’s Day present. No gift is perfect, however, unless it comes with a heartfelt “I love you Dad” included. These four little words aren’t spoken nearly enough. For all of those who count themselves lucky enough to have great dads, tell them so this Father’s Day. Any gift will be the best one ever if it helps convey this sentiment.
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[ THE FAMILY LAWYER ]
Scott R. Hoopes, Esq. Mills & Moss, LLC | T: 770-513-8111 | W: www.millsmosslaw.com
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Where were you born and raised? I was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, but was primarily raised in Leawood, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. Are you married? If so, how long and what is your spouse’s name? I will be married 10 years this September to my beautiful wife, Natalie. Do you have children and/or grandchildren? If so what are there first names, ages, schools and grade levels? I have three children. Ryan is the oldest and is about to turn 8. He is in the 2nd grade at Level Creek Elementary and has the best teacher in Gwinnett, Mrs. Angela Dennis. Brooklynn is the middle child and she turns 6 this year. She is in Pre-K. And last (but certainly not least), Katelynn will be three this year. What advice can you give on balancing family and business? It is all about prioritizing. I made a promise to myself when I graduated from law school that I would never bring work home and that I would never turn on the T.V. or read the paper until I had spent time with my children. From the minute I come home from work until after the kids go to sleep, my full attention is on my family. The time that I spend with my family is precious, and I make sure that nothing gets in the way of that. What have you learned most from your children? Humility. It is a very humbling experience to raise three children. They teach me so much on a daily basis and keep me laughing when the stresses of work seem to be crashing down. I have also learned gratitude and appreciation for everything that my parents did for me and sacrificed for me. What is the best parenting advice you can give to our readers? Spend as much time as you can with your children, even
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“When the economy turns, foreclosures rise, bankruptcy increases and, unfortunately, divorces rise.” if that means sacrificing a round of golf or a weekend trip with the guys. Growing up, my father never missed a single activity or sporting event. I always knew that he would be at every game. It meant a lot to me. And now, as I am a father, I have never missed any of my children’s events, and will always strive to be there for them. It really makes a difference. What made you choose your profession? I was born to be a lawyer. I love being able to use my knowledge and skills to help others. I enjoy the challenge of intellectually competing against other attorneys and have a strong passion for doing everything that I can to effectively and competently represent my clients. What are some of the major changes you have seen in your industry over the last 5 years? The practice of law is cyclical. When the economy is doing well, for the most part, people are buying homes, the rate of divorce is low, and employment is steady. When the economy turns, foreclosures rise, bankruptcy increases and, unfortunately, divorces rise. What area of your profession do you specialize in? I do a substantial amount of family law, as well as business litigation and civil litigation. I like to be in the courtroom. Too many attorneys try to avoid the courtroom. If a settlement can be reached, I try my best to work toward amicable solutions that are acceptable to my clients. However, if a settlement cannot be reached, I am ready for trial.
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[ TASTE BUDS ]
will be transformed into an authentic fiesta. One word of caution: Serving these delicious recipes can only mean one thing — friends and family will demand a repeat celebration!
Cinco de Mayo — a day for family and fiestas — will color cities across the country soon enough. So, why not join the party and throw your own celebration? Savvy party planners Carolina Buia and Isabel Gonzalez, authors of “Latin Chic: Entertaining with Style and Sass,” know firsthand how to throw a not-to-be-missed fiesta. After all, they’ve hosted hundreds, and according to them, nothing is more important than the food — it’s the centerpiece! Their simple recipes for robust pork dishes, along with other inspired entertaining tips, will ensure your home 58
• Celebrate simply. No need to choose an elaborate menu for your gathering. “Design your menu around pork, a mainstay in traditional Hispanic cooking,” says Buia. “Few things are as versatile and easy to work with — you will impress your guests and make the most of your time in the kitchen!” • Side dishes that stand out. The beauty of working with pork is that it’s so versatile, so don’t be afraid to get creative with your side dishes! We suggest grilled corn on the cob served with chipotle butter or black beans garnished with cilantro. • Presentation is everything. A beautiful and lively presentation will set the mood for the evening. Decorate the
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patio with strings of brightly colored lights or brighten up the table with jewel-toned flowers and candles. • Artsy dipping. For festive guacamole and salsa bowls, make your own with dried corn husks! Soak husk in warm water until pliable, bend into shape of bowl, tie off corners with strips of another husk, place small bowl in middle and let dry. When dry, remove bowl and the husk will maintain its shape. • Sweet drink. Impress guests with this refreshing treat — Watermelon Cava Spritzer. If you can’t find watermelon juice at the grocery store, you can easily make it: Take 6 cups of seedless watermelon pulp (about a quarter of a medium watermelon) and liquefy in a blender. Then run the puree through a cheesecloth or clean tea towel (yields about 4 cups of juice). Divide into champagne glasses and top with champagne! For a non-alcoholic version, use sparkling water. You don’t need to get on a plane to celebrate the colorful culture and rich culinary offerings of Latin culture. Buen Provecho! These tips and recipes are great for Cinco de Mayo, but they can also be used for other occasions throughout the year, such as Mexican Independence Day or to give Latin flair to a weekend gathering. To view more timesaving recipes with Latin flair, visit www.TheOtherWhiteMeat. com.
Pork Medallions with Mirasol and Cherry Cream Sauce
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2 1/2 1 1 4 1 2 1/2 1 3/4 2 1
16-ounce pork tenderloins Olive or vegetable oil large red onion, finely chopped small carrot, finely chopped small celery stalk, finely chopped garlic cloves, finely chopped cup white wine teaspoons or more of Peru vian mirasol pepper paste (also known as aji Amarillo*) cup dried sour cherries teaspoon sugar cup heavy cream tablespoons of loosely packed, finely chopped flat parsley tablespoon celery leaves, finely chopped Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pat dry and season the pork tenderloins. Coat a large, ovenproof skillet with oil and heat. Add the tenderloins to the skillet and over Gwinnett Community Parents Magazine
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Clarence ClarenceC. C.Kegler KeglerII,II,DDS DDS 3772 SatelliteBlvd., Blvd., Suite 772 Satellite Suite 103103 Duluth, GA 30096 30096 Duluth, GA
770.476.9511 770.476.9511
www.artisticsmilesofga.com www.artisticsmilesofga.com
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moderate heat, brown all sides of the pork. Place the tenderloins on a plate. Meanwhile, add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic to the skillet and cook over moderate heat until the onions are soft and the garlic is just starting to brown. Lower the heat and add the wine. Simmer for a couple of minutes. Return the pork to the skillet, add 1/2 cup of water, and place the skillet in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees F. Remove pork onto a plate and tent with a large piece of aluminum foil. Return skillet to the stovetop and over low to moderate heat, stir in the mirasol pepper paste, cherries, sugar, and heavy cream. Simmer until the sauce thickens and lightly coats a wooden spoon. Fold in the chopped parsley and celery leaves and adjust the seasonings to taste. Add the pork back into the skillet, coating. Cut the pork into medallions and serve over quinoa or a side of white beans. Makes 6 servings *If you are unable to find mirasol pepper, you may use 2 teaspoons of hot pepper sauce (like Tabasco) as a substitute.
Velveted Pork Tacos
Velveted Pork Tacos are inspired by Mexican street-food fare which is always delicious and very easy to prepare. 2 1/3 1/3 1 1/2 1 1 1 1 1
pounds boneless pork chops cup corn starch cup olive oil tablespoons ground cumin package of 12 flour tortillas (smaller size tortillas) small can of corn niblets jar tomato salsa small container sour cream (regular or non-fat) 8 oz. package shredded cheese Salt and pepper
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Cilantro Red Onion Salad 1 bunch fresh cilantro 1 red onion Dash black pepper 1 tablespoon white vinegar 1 tablespoon olive oil Cut pork chops into small, bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, mix together corn starch, oil, cumin and 1 teaspoon black pepper until smooth, like a runny paste. Add pork to mixture and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes. While pork marinates, wash cilantro and pluck whole leaves from stems, about 3/4 cup worth. Place whole cilantro leaves in a bowl. Thinly slice red onion and add to cilantro, creating a salad. (You can adjust cilantro/red onion ratio to taste.) Add a dash of black pepper, white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of olive oil, toss to coat and set aside. Cook marinated pork in batches. Add a teaspoon of olive oil to a non-stick sautÊ pan and place over medium-high heat. When oil comes to temperature, cook half the pork pieces (without removing the marinade). Cook until the outside of the pork pieces are brown and a crust has formed and the inside is cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. If needed, add more oil to the pan, and then cook the second half of the marinated pork. Once finished, sprinkle cooked pork with salt to taste. To assemble tacos, warm tortillas according to directions on the package. Take one tortilla and smear a teaspoon of sour cream down the middle. Top with 7–8 chunks of pork. Atop pork, place a spoonful of salsa, then top with cilantro red onion salad, a teaspoon of corn kernels and pinch of cheese. Fold over to enjoy! Makes 6 servings (12 tacos) *For a tapas version of this recipe, make the tacos smaller and seal with bamboo toothpicks. Gwinnett Community Parents Magazine
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Visit our advertisers website for more information on their products and services. COMPANY NAME Adidas Tennis Camps All Around Pictures All-Pro Chiropractic (Dr. Loop) Ameriprise Financial (Chris Reynolds) Anazao Salon Anytime Fitness Artistic Smiles Atlantaic Center for Plastic & Surgery Aurora Theatre Beverly Hills Weight Loss & Wellness Carter Rockbridge Dentistry, P.C. Chris Beach Lake House Cyril F. Halbert, MD Divine Team, Inc. Edward Jones (Amy Greenway) Edward Jones (Derek Lawson) Elegant Concrete Engraving Emagination Computer Camps Estate Planning & Wealth Preservation Family Healthcare Clinic GameBreaker Lacrosse Camp Gwinnett Young Singers Huntington Learning Center Hyatt Holistic Health I9 Sports Institute for Spinal Health Jump 4 Joy Just Kids Dentistry Lake Kids Consignment Boutique Lanier Chiropractic Chiropractor Live & Learn Academy Old Peachtree Montessori School Pediatric Dentistry of Hamilton Mill Smokerise Summer Camp Sol Sanctuary Sugarloaf Childrens Dentistry The Little Gym of Lawrenceville The Carpet Link The Optical Center The Woodhouse Day Spa Travelphish Tutoring Club of Duluth Valley View Ranch Will J Photography 62
DESCRIPTION WEBSITE ADDRESS Summer Camp www.tenniscamper.com Photographer www.allaroundpictures.com Chiropractor www.georgiawellness.com Financial Advisor www.ameripriseadvisors.com Beauty Salon www.anazaosalon.com Health Club www.anytimefitness.com Dentist www.artisticsmilesofga.com Plastic Surgeon www.myatlantaplasticsurgeon.com Summer Camp www.auroratheatre.com Weight Loss Center www.beverlyhillsga.com Dentist www.carter-rockbridgedentistry.com Vacation Rental www.vrbo.com/81087 Plastic Surgeon n/a Pest Control www.divineteampest.com Financial Advisor www.edwardjones.com Financial Advisor www.edwardjones.com Home Improvement www.concreteremodeling.com Summer Camp www.computercamps.com Financial Advisor www.epwpinc.com Chiropractor www.drdeborahbrown.com Summer Camp www.laxcamps.com Summer Camp www.gwinnettyoungsingers.com Tutoring www.huntingtonlearning.com Chiropractor www.healthybacks.com Sports www.i9sports.com Chiropractor www.instituteforspinalhealth.com Party Service www.jump4joygym.com Dentist n/a Children Clothing www.lakekidsconsignment.com www.lanierchiro-rehab.com Childcare Center www.liveandlearnacademy.com Private Education www.opmontessori.com Pediatric Dentist www.smilesathamiltonmill.com Summer Camp www.smokeriseministries.org/camp Weight Loss Center www.solsanctuarydetox.com Dentist www.sugarloafchildrensdentistry.com Children Gymnastic www.tlglawrencevillega.com Cleaning Service n/a Optometrist www.theoptical-center.com Day Spa www.woodhousespas.com Travel Agent www.travelphish.com Tutoring www.tutoringclub.com Summer Camp www.valleyviewranch.com Photographer www.willjphotography.com
Gwinnett Community Parents Magazine
www.gwinnettparents.com
Quality Legal Service The law firm of Mills & Moss, LLC provides quality legal services to people and businesses in Gwinnett. The firm has experienced attorneys who counsel clients in all areas of Litigation, Business and Corporate Law, Divorce/Family Law, Contracts and Leases, Criminal Law, Business Closings and Transactions, Construction Matters, Business and Corporation Formation, Real Estate Law, Environmental Law, Franchise Law, Immigration Law, Landlord/Tenant Law, Wills & Trusts, Traffic Offenses and Personal Injury/Auto Accidents.
Mills & Moss, LLC 1550 North Brown Road, Suite 130 / Lawrenceville, GA 30043 Fax: 770-513-8150 Email: steve@millsmosslaw.com www.gwinnettparents.com
770-513-8111 Gwinnett Community Parents Magazine
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