i-am magazine May/June 2015 FAMILY & HOME by i•am magazine

BENEFITS of SOULFUL DIARIES for kids

PUTTING SCHOOLS TO THE TEST building confidence

TEACH HER TO LOVE HER REFLECTION IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS

with those you love

GROWING YOUR OWN

ORGANIC GARDEN

MAY~JUNE 2015 • FAMILY & HOME

— statistics indicate —

women control 85% of household spending. Who are you targeting? i•am magazine speaks directly to women who have an interest in better living for themselves and their families. To INCREASE YOUR PROFITS, you need to REACH these WOMEN. To SPEAK DIRECTLY to these women, you need to be WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING. CAPTURE THIS AUDIENCE with your ad space in i •am magazine.

LARGER REACH i •am magazine’s circulation is larger than most other local publications, mailing to over 45,000 homes within The Woodlands and over 500 area businesses with client waiting areas in addition to online exposure.

MORE CUSTOMERS i •am magazine focuses on women, who control most of the household spending, resulting in your ad reaching more potential customers.

QUALITY CONTENT i •am magazine offers quality articles on topics that matter to women. We are read and not tossed, resulting in greater visibility of your ad.

LONGER EXPOSURE i •am magazine is enjoyed for two months vs. one month with other publications.

For more information, contact us at adsales@i-ammagazine.com or 512-739-0596.

TABLE of CONTENTS | family & home 2015 • • •

What ’s Inside protect 10

24 16

A Real Foods Guide to Good Eating How to eat real food in a not-so-real food world.

12 The Dangerous Lunch Box What to look for to steer clear of toxic materials used in food containers, baggies and wrapping.

13 Keep Your Pearly Whites Healthy Tips for better oral care.

14 Speak Out Against Modern Day Slavery The human trafficking crisis going on around us.

inspire 15

Meet the Face of WoodlandsMommy.com Karen Logan started her business quite by accident. A peek into her inspiring world.

16 Building Confidence: Teach Her to Love Her Reflection Giving young girls the confidence needed for a more successful future.

27 19

achieve 19

Putting Schools to the Test Is our kids’ primary education making the grade?

24 Growing Your Own Organic Produce Grow healthy, delicious produce in your own yard or patio.

i•am 4 www.i-ammagazine.com

/iamWoodlands

27 12 Easy Tips to Organize Your Life Staying organized and clutter-free is easier than you might think.

connect 31

Soulful Diaries for Kids The benefits of incorporating a daily diary into your child’s routine.

want 34

Products We Love! Four products that will add a little fun, safety or ease to your family life.

business highlight 22

Elite Care for All Athletes Memorial Hermann’s IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute

33 Essential Habits of Strong Families Three simple tips to improve your family’s home life.

It’s Not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters. ~ J. M. Laurence

Welcome to i•am magazine

magazine Suzanne Hirayama Founder & Publisher Editor In Chief Creative Director Patricia Ostholm Dianne C. Witter Copy Editors Catherine Law New Business Development Ellie Gann Sales Executive CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dr. Angela Anton Catherine Law Amanda Hammock Dr. Angie Hayes Patricia Ostholm Courtney Pitcher Leslie Schilling Nishma Shaw Dr. Kate Walker Dianne C. Witter CONTACT

6700 Woodlands Pkwy., Ste. 230-281 The Woodlands, TX 77382

ur mission for i•am magazine is to enhance and celebrate the incredible lives of women through a beautiful “better living” publication that serves as a prominent source of advice, knowledge and inspiration.

Within each issue you will find numerous articles pertaining to health and wellness, fitness and activities, personal finances, travel, and more. Each of the 6 issues will be devoted to a theme. We began the year with WELLNESS (Jan/Feb), which was the perfect time to set your goals for the year and chart a course for a healthier and happier 2015. We then followed with the WOMEN’S issue in March/April, which coincided with National Women’s History Month, a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. This thought-provoking issue reflected on who we are and what we want as women. It aimed to inspire, motivate and educate on so many topics important to women. Our May/June issue is the ever-popular FAMILY & HOME issue. We highlight various topics including organizing your life spaces, healthy eating for all ages, enhancing family relationships, and more.

This exciting issue (July/Aug) is the DISTINCTIONS issue. It will feature unique or innovative products or services that can make your life easier or more enjoyable. We’ll also highlight fresh and creative ideas for the home and explore intriguing places to visit and interesting things to do for fun. CELEBRATIONS are the focus of our fifth issue (Sept/Oct), whether it’s a formal special occasion or a less formal social gathering. This issue will be loaded with helpful planning tips and recommendations to make your celebration a stress-free success – and to preserve memories of the big day. And last but not least, we close the year with our HOLIDAYS issue (Nov/Dec), where we’ll share creative ways to show your love or personalize your home for the holidays and show you how to make healthier holiday treats or find innovative gift ideas. We’ll also provide inspiration to honor family traditions or create new ones, advice in dealing with the loss of a loved one, and ideas to get into the spirit of the season. So get ready for an amazing year of better living with i•am! And remember, this magazine is for you – an intelligent, amazing, modern woman!

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

info@i-ammagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

adsales@i-ammagazine.com i•am magazine is a bi-monthly publication of Yama Media, LLC and is distributed, complimentarily, to residents within The Woodlands, TX. If you are not within our distribution area but would like to have i•am magazine delivered to you, subscriptions are available for $18.00 (six issues annually). To subscribe, send a money order for $18 payable to Yama Media, LLC, along with your full name and mailing address to Yama Media, LLC; 6700 Woodlands Pkwy., Ste. 230-281, The Woodlands, TX 77382. Please allow up to 8 weeks for delivery of first issue. Readership: 200,000+. ©2015 Yama Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the Publisher’s consent is strictly prohibited. The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the positions or views of the Publisher. The publication of any advertisement or advertorial in this issue does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s products or services by this publication.

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I AM.

Two of the most powerful words; for what you put after them shapes your reality. ~ Unknown

I A M T H E I N T E L L I G E N T, A M A Z I N G , M O D E R N W O M A N

magazine

from the publisher

| women 2015 • • •

i am

DEVOTED.

hether you are a mother, grandmother, sister (or all three), I’m sure you know what I mean when I say I am devoted to my family. Family always comes first – as it should – and that’s a good thing for them and our own well-being, too. And right after family comes a devotion to home, where we spend the most time with those we love. Family and home: two simple words wrapped up with so much meaning, so much emotion and so much impact on our lives!

having a place to go – is a home. having someone to love – is a family. having both – is a blessing. ~ Donna Hedges

So it made perfect sense to devote an issue of i am to these two very important facets in women’s lives. And with summer vacation right around the corner, now is a great time to focus on both family and home. Think about it: summer typically affords us a number of opportunities to spend more time with family and more time at home. In this issue we discuss ways to help your child grow and develop into their own unique person by giving them the self-confidence to love themselves for who they are (pg. 16). And we have an interesting article about the positive effects of incorporating soulful diaries into your child’s daily routine (pg. 31). We also provide advice for strengthening personal relationships with family members of all ages (pg. 33). With the onslaught of summertime indulgences, we’ll show you how to protect your family’s health through an informative piece on the deception of food halos and how to eat real food in a not-so-real food world

i•am 8 www.i-ammagazine.com

/iamWoodlands

(pg. 10) and we’ve outlined better oral health practices (pg. 13) for both you and the kids. On a more alarming note, we address the problem of educational shortfalls (pg. 19) and the devastating topic of human trafficking, which is happening all around us, including right here in the Houston area (pg. 14)! On the home front, we cover how to create a vegetable garden in your backyard for improved health benefits (pg. 24) and steps to take to organize your life spaces, to create living spaces that are more inviting as well as more functional (pg. 27). Last but not least, we highlight an amazing woman from The Woodlands (pg. 15) who has built a successful business while raising and home-schooling four children – now that’s devotion! We hope our Family and Home issue brings you valuable information and inspiration that will help you and your family kick-off a great summer. Wishing you the love of family and the comfort of home.

Suzanne Suzanne Hirayama Publisher

/iamWoodlands

Helping Families Make Sense of the Puzzle At The Shape of Behavior, we understand how much the little things matter. It is our mission to provide treatment based on empirically validated ABA principles and shape behavior by celebrating small, everyday successes. The Shape provides ABA Behavioral Therapy to children with autism and all other special needs. We work to help improve the quality of life for the children and the families we serve.

Proudly serving children and their families since 2000.

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832-358-2655

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protect

| guide to real food • • •

A Real Foods Guide to Good Eating How do you eat real food in a not-so-real food world?

story | Leslie Schilling

few years ago I worked with this amazing client, we’ll call her Liz. She was very motivated to improve her diet but felt confused by all of the media and health messages. Like many of my clients, she said “I’m a smart person, I don’t understand why I can’t get this food thing down.” The first time I met Liz she walked into my office holding a fast food soda cup and said that her goal was to go fully organic. This view, this all or nothing mentality around health, is so very common in our culture. It’s paralyzing and it baffled Liz. As we chatted, it was evident to us both that organic eating may not be the real issue here. Her picture of health was incredibly skewed. And, no wonder… Those who know me know my mantra is “Eat Real Food. Feel Real Good.” I realize that even though it sounds so simple, it isn’t. I believe that we are born to eat and to eat real food. Unfortunately, real food isn’t all that apparent. Daily, we’re bombarded with health messages, diet products, diet advice, and so-called health foods that scarcely resemble the whole food it once was. Why does this happen? In my opinion, it’s trust. We believe what we hear and read is usually true. Why would manufacturers, health professionals, television “experts,” and the media tell anything but the truth? The short answer is, to sell the product. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of caring, up-todate professionals, and plenty of quality products out there, but ultimately, what you chew is up to you. We get to decide what health will look like for our own lives but our information overload can muddy the waters and make the question, “So what the heck do I eat?” very hard to answer. Like I mentioned, I’m an “eat real food” kind of gal. There’s been quite a bit of feedback about using the phrase eat real food. Some say it’s full of judgement and if I really

think about it, it is a judgement. But let me be clear, it’s a judgement of food or substance, and by no means, people. No one eats perfectly, and that includes yours truly. But know this – just because you can chew something, doesn’t make it food. How do you eat real food in a not-so-real food world? Here are a few tips to get you started.

• DON’T FALL INTO “THE EVERY THING MUST BE HOMEMADE” TRAP. I love to cook but there are things I’m not going to make or bake, like salsa, breads, pie crust, or crackers. You can find quality products with quality ingredients at most grocery stores. If you make awesome bread at home, more power to you! (Feel free to ship some to me.)

• STOP LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT DIET OR PERFECT WAY OF EATING. You don’t have to grow it, kill it, process it, mix it and cook it all yourself. If I had to depend on my gardening or ranching skills to feed my family, we’d be in trouble. • AIM FOR AN 80/20 AP PROACH. With an 80/20 approach most of the time you fuel with high-quality low ingredient foods, while allowing for the occasional guilt-free cupcake or slice of pizza.

• WHEN POSSIBLE AVOID DIET, FIBERSPIKED, SUGAR-FREE, FAT-FREE TYPE OF PRODUCTS. I eat regular and full-fat foods because they’re less processed, they generally have fewer ingredients, and, in my opinion, they taste better (my lipid profile is fabulous, in case you’re wondering). In addition, “This all early reports for the new dietary or nothing guidelines suggest that we’ll see mentality less finger-pointing at dietary fat in the near future. around

health is so very common in our culture. It’s paralyzing.”

• SELECT FOODS THAT ARE WHOLE, SINGLE INGREDIENT FOODS AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN. A few examples are tomato: ingredient, tomato; steak: ingredient, beef; eggs: ingredient, eggs; or almonds: ingredient, almonds. You get the gist.

• SHOP THE PERIMETER OF THE GROCERY STORE FOR FRESH, WHOLE FOODS LIKE PRODUCE, MEAT, DAIRY ITEMS, NUTS, OATS, QUINOA, ETC. • BUY ITEMS YOU CAN’T OR DON’T MAKE WITH FEW INGREDIENTS. Newsflash—I don’t make butter but we eat a load of it. Yes, you read that right. Butter ingredients: cream and salt – I’m totally down with that. I’m saying a pat of butter, not a stick. Other low ingredient foods include block cheese, yogurt, and nut butters.

• PLAN YOUR MEALS AND SNACKS AHEAD OF TIME. Then go to the grocery store or farmer's market. Because, “if you fly by the seat of your pants, you're going to have trouble with pants.”

The bottom line is aim to eat real food, but don’t get crazy! If you find yourself digging through the trash at a party to inspect the ingredients on the cupcake mix at little Johnny’s birthday party – that’s what I mean by crazy. And one final tip. Beware of the “health halo” we tend to place over health food stores, thinking everything inside must be superior to our regular grocery store. Now, they have great products but so does your neighborhood grocery. And beware of marketing buzz words. Here are a few of the most common, and deceiving, buzz words: healthy, natural, wheat, low-fat, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, guilt-free, and thin. When in doubt, trust your real food tips and go with your gut.

•

Leslie Schilling, MA, RDN, CSSD, LDN, CSCS is a Memphis-based dietitian specializing in disordered eating, sports nutrition and wellness. She owns Schilling Nutrition Therapy, LLC, and YourSupperSolution.com and is the nutritionist for the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team. She uses social media and her speaking platforms to deliver science-based, non-diet lifestyle messages with a dash of humor. She has been featured in various publications, including “Women’s Health” magazine.

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— A 6 S ta r U n i w o r l d E x p e r i e n c e —

Venice & the Gems of Northern Italy Uniworld Luxury River Cruise • 8-day round trip from Venice, Italy July 26 – August 2, 2015 aboard the River Countess Cruising the Po River of Venice

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Uncover the very best of this region in unparalleled comfort and convenience aboard the six-star Uniworld luxury cruise ship. Ensconced in the luxury of your floating boutique hotel, you need only relax and let the finest sights in Northern Italy come to you. Enjoy Venice, soaking up the enchantment of the city, including an exclusive evening opening and lighting ceremony event at St. Mark’s Basilica. Explore Padua, one of the oldest cities in Italy; Bologna, Italy’s culinary capital; Verona, the famed city of Romeo and Juliette; and Ferrara, one of Italy’s best kept secrets. Packages starting at Each of these enchanting cities offers authentic insights into Northern Italian culture.

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You won’t want to miss this experience of a lifetime. TRaVEl EazE President, Charlsetta Gipson, will be on board to personally ensure her guests’ experiences are beyond expectations. Please call TRaVEl EazE at 901-685-3260 to reserve your suite. limited number of suites available. www.traveleaze.us

* Does not include airfare. Photos courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Calm your Chaos with Yoga

protect

| toxins • • •

The Dangerous Lunch Box

story | Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation

Stressed, exhausted and overwhelmed from all of your daily responsibilities?

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• Reduce stress and anxiety levels • Improve your energy and focusing abilities • Enhance your overall well-being Let us help you find your calm during the storm.

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www.TheWoodlandsYogaStudio.com • 936-271-1485 25126 Grogans Park Dr.,The Woodlands

e buy and prepare as much healthy food as possible for our children, pack it into a beloved character lunchbox, and send them off to school. But is the healthy food we’re sending with them encased in a potentially toxic vessel? Many lunchboxes and drink bottles are made with PVC (#7 plastic) and vinyl lining. These plastics can contain harmful chemicals such as lead, BPA, and phthalates, all of which are cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting chemicals. When these plastics are used to hold edibles, the chemicals are leached from them and potentially contaminate the food and drinks they’re supposed to protect. Some sandwich bags and plastic wrap also contain phthalates, a toxic chemical that has been proven to disrupt the endocrine system in children. For wrapping sandwiches and snacks, it is recommended to use BPA-free reusable containers, butcher paper, or if using baggies, choose a line such as GLAD that’s made with polyethylene (safe plastic). When making the switch, you want to look for “BPA-free” plastic or “lead-free” metal. And while you’re at it, you may also want to consider purchasing a stainless steel container for your child’s healthy beverage. (There is enough controversy to warrant its own article about juice boxes containing lead in the lining, not to mention that processed juices are NOT healthy to begin with). So filtered water in a stainless steel cup is the best way to go. If your child regularly takes lunch to school, we strongly urge you to ensure the one they have is safe; and if not, make a change. It’s scary to think that our children are eating out of a potentially toxic food container five days a week, but just think: you can change that as a parent in a single day. As per Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health, the following checklist should be followed when shopping for lunchboxes and food and drink containers: • Seek out lunchboxes labeled “lead safe” or “lead free,” “PVC-free” or “vinyl-free,” and plastic bottles labeled “BPA-free.” Plastics should be substituted as much as possible with glass or stainless steel or used in a safe manner where substitutes are unavailable. Safe Plastics: 1, 2, 4, 5 Plastics to Avoid: 3, 6, 7 • Because heat increases the release of phthalates from plastic, food or drink should never be warmed in a plastic container. • Look to recycling numbers for help in spotting the bad ones: PVC or vinyl is identifiable by the recycling #3 on the bottom of plastic containers; #6 used in Styrofoam cups and plates indicates the presence of polystyrene; and #7 usually indicates the presence of BPA (Some new bio-based plastics, which are safe, may be labeled 7, as well). • Finally, when purchasing any product either made of plastic or stored in plastic, remember to check the recycling number with the following rhyme: With your food and drink choose 4, 5, 1 and 2; all the rest aren’t good for you! If these numbers can’t be found, then you may want to take a precautionary approach and avoid using these products. Toxic Free Kids is a cancer prevention campaign launched by Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation. For more information on toxins visit www.toxicfreekidsblog.org. For more information about Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation visit www.ChildrensCancerRecovery.org.

•

• • • oral health care |

Keep Your Pearly Whites Healthy

protect

Dr. Angela Anton, DDS of Creekside Park Family & Cosmetic Dentistry gives tips for better oral care.

our smile says a lot about you. And taking care of your smile means taking care of your oral health.We sat down with Dr. Angela Anton of Creekside Park Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in The Woodlands to find out more about better prevention. Q: Is there a connection between foods/nutrition and good oral health? A: There is definitely a connection between foods and oral health. The biggest connection we as dentists are seeing lately is with a high consumption of carbonated beverages and increased decay. The combination of sugar and acid in sodas is particularly bad when consumed in high amounts. This combined with poor oral hygiene is a perfect set up for decay to take place. Q: What do you recommend for halitosis? A: Halitosis, or bad breath, can have many causes but is most commonly caused by bacteria in the mouth due to poor oral hygiene. Other causes may include dry mouth, tobacco, medical infections, diabetes, kidney failure or liver malfunction. Good oral hygiene is the key to keeping halitosis at bay – brushing and flossing twice a day will remove plaque, bacteria and food particles that can linger in the mouth and cause unpleasant odor. A tongue scraper, or plastic tool that scrapes away bacteria that can build up on the back side of your tongue can also be very effective at helping to eliminate odors in the mouth. Finally, visit your dentist regularly to ensure that your mouth is free of infection and to help remove plaque and bacteria build up that can contribute to halitosis. Q: At what age should I start taking my child to the dentist and why? A: The best time to start taking your child to the dentist is within six months of the eruption of the first teeth. This will allow your child to start to become comfortable with the entire dental experience and possibly even view it as something fun! You can help prepare your child by telling them about the dentist and letting them know that it is something to look forward to and not something scary. You may need to hold your child on your lap for the first few visits until they feel secure enough to sit in the chair on their own. The first visit may include an exam, gentle cleaning, polishing of the teeth, X-rays if possible, instructions on proper brushing and fluoride application.

Q: Are the new digital X-rays considered safe in terms of radiation exposure? A: Yes, current digital X-rays are considered very safe. In fact, they emit considerably less radiation than traditional X-rays, exposing patients to less radiation than they receive from the sun or a microwave. Q: I’ve heard about oil pulling. Is this beneficial to oral health? A: Many current social media sites have reported the benefits of oil pulling on improved oral health, including whiter teeth. This ancient Accordi Ayurvedic practice involves holding certain oils in the mouth to kill harmful bacteria. Its place in modern medicine is controversial. According to the American Dental Association, “based on the lack of currently available evidence oil pulling is not recommended as a supplementary oral hygiene practice, and certainly not as a replacement for standard, timetested oral health behaviors and modalities.” Along with the ADA, I still recommend brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste as well as flossing at least once a day to prevent cavities from occurring between the teeth. Q: Is there a link between oral health and overall health? A: Absolutely! The health of your mouth is an indicator of the health of your entire body in many ways. When your visit your dentist, we not only check for cavities and periodontal disease, we also check for signs of oral cancer, as well as any other changes in and around the mouth and head and neck area that would indicate any sign of disease. Many diseases such as diabetes and cancer can present themselves with oral symptoms first and therefore may be detected first by your dentist due to changes seen in your mouth. Q: What are the signs and risks of oral cancer? What do I need to know to lower my risk? A: According to the Academy of General Dentistry, the warning signs of oral cancer are represented by red, white or discolored lesions

and patches or lumps in or around the mouth and is typically painless in the early stages. As with all cancers, scientists are not sure of the exact cause but carcinogens in tobacco products and alcohol, as well as excessive exposure to the sun have been found to increase the risk of developing oral cancer. You can help prevent oral cancer by abstaining from all forms of tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption as well as seeing your dentist for an oral cancer screening at regular check ups every six months. Q: Can medications affect the health of my mouth? If so, which ones and why? A: Many medications can affect the health of your mouth. The most common side effect from medication is dry mouth or xerostomia, which can create a higher risk for cavities since there is less saliva to rinse away plaque and bacteria. Almost all prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause dry mouth. The best way to deal with this is to drink more water while you are on your medication. Inhalers for asthma can also affect the mouth by causing oral candidiasis (thrush) which is a fungal infection. Rinsing after using an inhaler can help prevent this.

•

Angela Anton, DDS earned her dental degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – Dental Branch in 2000. Dr. Anton then completed a one-year General Practice Residency in Houston in 2001, which was affiliated with both Hermann Hospital and TIRR. In addition to her active membership in the ADA, TDA, and Greater Houston Dental Society, Dr. Anton also earned her Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in 2007. Dr. Anton, along with her husband Dr. Christopher Anton, see patients at their private practice, Creekside Park Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, in The Woodlands, TX.

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i•am

protect

| human trafficking • • •

Speak Out Against Modern Day Slavery Human trafficking is going on right here in Houston. It’s time to take a stand against it! story | Catherine Law

odern day slavery is alive and well in the form of human trafficking. It’s a shocking truth, and here’s an even more shocking one: The majority of victims in the U.S. are “shipped” through Houston. It’s right here in our backyard. The Sunday our pastor at WoodsEdge Community Church spoke about human trafficking, I wasn’t prepared to hear these things; it is a topic I never wanted to dwell on or understand because I was afraid of what I was going to hear or find out. I wanted to hold onto the feeling that here in our community, at least, we are safe and our children are not in danger. God had other plans and guided me to learn about this threat and write about it. In doing so, I learned no one is immune to this. We need to stand up and stop this! Here are some facts about local trafficking. It is estimated that there are more than 700,000 victims of human trafficking in the United States alone, the majority of these victims are “shipped” through Houston. (source: WoodsEdge ministries) Houston is thought to lead the country in the number of trafficking victims, and many are Americans. WHAT EXACTLY IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING? Anytime a person is held in a forced labor situation, regardless of the reason, it is defined as human trafficking. If the labor is of a sexual nature, it is considered sex trafficking. The United Nation’s definition of human trafficking is “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.” Exploitation can include prostitution or sexual exploitation of others, forced labor or services, slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. Experts have noted that human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal activity in the world and one of the most lucrative. Overall, the International Labour Organization estimated the human trafficking industry at over $31 billion per year in 2005. Some estimate that as many as 29 million people exist in slavery worldwide today, more than twice the

i•am 14 www.i-ammagazine.com

“The average trafficking victim is 12 years old.”

number of slaves transported during the entire Trans-Atlantic slave trade. According to the antitrafficking organization A21, someone becomes a victim of human trafficking every 30 seconds. The average trafficking victim is 12 years old. The problem is no longer just in other countries or poor countries as I thought it would be but clearly here in our backyard! Why is this happening here? I met with one of the volunteers of Redeemed Ministries who gave me an amazing view point that really opened my eyes. “Law enforcement can’t just go and shut down the brothels even though they know the activities that go on,” said Kaylen Runyan, a volunteer for Redeemed Ministries. “They need to have evidence and the victims need to reach out and tell them they are being held against their will. We can’t help unless they ask for it and most victims are too scared to speak up, as their own lives, their children and their families are being held captive or have been threatened.” SPEAKING UP FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T As always in times like this, I look to my faith to guide me toward what I can do to help in a situation I find so wrong. I think Proverbs 31:8-9 is especially relevant here: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

How can we help and who am I to make a difference? We have to remember, each of us can do something; if we believe in God to help us fight this battle, then who can stand against us? There are simple but effective ways to do this. First. we must pray for those in bondage, the victims of modern slavery. Don’t underestimate the power of prayer! Pray with your whole heart and believe in God’s power to eliminate and stop this horrible crime. Secondly, we must speak out on behalf of those in need as the verse from Proverbs says. Human trafficking is a largely invisible crime and many people are unaware of how prevalent it is so close to home. We need to educate others in our community, schools, businesses, and churches about the extent of the problem and how to help. Thirdly, we must act to help those in bondage. This can mean donating to or volunteering with an anti-trafficking organization, or it could mean teaching about the topic where you live. A number of both secular and church-affiliated organizations have appeared in recent years that provide opportunities for each and everyone of us to help, such as A21. org. Another great organization is International Justice Mission (www.ijm.org), which provides many international volunteer opportunities, while others, such at Mercy Movement (www. mercymovement.com) concentrate on addressing the issue in the United States. In addition, you can make a difference through simple practices like purchasing fair trade and survivor-made products. Fair trade products include items sold by those who adhere to practices that remove any unfair labor practices, especially slavery. Coffee, teas, chocolate, and fresh flowers are common products that offer fair trade alternatives to help keep slavery out of the supply chain. In summary, human trafficking affects all of us and even though it may not be a direct effect, we do not want our children or people we love to live in a world where there is slavery going on in our own communities. God created us to have a voice, to do what is right for our brothers and sisters and our children. Stand up! We have a responsibility to pray, to speak out against human trafficking and modern slavery, and to live in ways that help create change in the lives of those impacted by these horrible crimes.

•

Catherine Law lives in The Woodlands, Texas, with her husband of nine years, two children and their dogs. Her hobbies include singing and writing Christian songs, playing the piano, and traveling with family.

• • • an i•am woman |

inspire

Meet the Face of WoodlandsMommy.com Karen Logan started her business quite by accident. story | Suzanne Hirayama photography | Laura Demko

ehind the facade of every woman often lies a very complex individual with many talents, experiences and responsibilities. The very depths within each woman are not always outwardly apparent. This woman is no exception. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Karen Logan, founder of WoodlandsMommy. com, and was impressed by what I learned about her and her life. She is an amazing woman who juggles so many responsibilities and is a true inspiration to me. In addition to becoming an entrepreneur and the founder of WoodlandsMommy.com, which in itself keeps her very busy, she is a wife and mother to four children, between the ages of one and nine, whom she homeschools. Her journey is an amazing story. Eight years ago Karen made the decision to leave corporate America when her eldest was just one year old. In her effort to find information on local events and entertainment for her and her daughter, she found herself frustrated at the lack of information and resources out there. She couldn’t find a single good resource to help her navigate the stay-athome-mom journey in The Woodlands, so she decided to create her own. It started off as a very basic website that highlighted library story times and a few major community events, and every now and then she wrote articles about motherhood. She researched this information for her own benefit but felt it would be nice to share with other local women as well. She never had any intention of developing this website into a business. Sometime during that first year, she received an email from a small local business inquiring about advertising rates. After picking herself up off the floor (“I can make money doing this? Really??” she thought) she quickly put together a rate sheet, and the rest is history. We asked Karen a bit about herself, her business, her life, and how she manages it all. Q: What hurdles did you have to overcome in developing your business? A: I didn’t know ANYBODY in the area. And I wasn’t a natural salesperson. So I had to overcome my fear of speaking to people, moms in particular, to tell them about WoodlandsMommy.com in hopes that they’d visit the site. I don’t like telling

people what to do with their time, so asking them to check out the website was a big deal to me. Q: How has running your own business changed your personal life? A: I am a lot more confident now, and I have a social life! In college I was the quiet, reserved young woman who had a tough time making friends. Because of my business, I’ve had to crawl out of my shell. I can talk to anyone now, I know many people, and I have a knack for social interaction. My family has benefitted from participating in exclusive opportunities that might not have otherwise come our way. Surely, some of this change is just the natural progression and development of womanhood, but I definitely attribute much of it to the fact that I stepped out of my comfort zone for the benefit of the business. Q: How do you balance work and life? When is your “me” time and what do you do to “fill up your cup”? A: I’m actually still trying to find my balance. I’m a homeschool mom, so lately it’s been especially tough to keep all my balls in the air. I might take care of a few items of business throughout the day, but usually my workday begins around 10pm when the kids are all in bed. I’m up for at least 2 hours most nights, just getting work done. Last year, I began taking Tuesday evenings as my personal day, and that has been my saving grace. My husband suggested it a while before, but I’d been reluctant to take time off from my family. At my wit’s end, I finally decided it wasn’t such a bad idea. Although I admit that some Tuesday evenings are spent just catching up on work, oftentimes I find myself having dinner or coffee with a friend, working on sewing projects, or just shopping. The thing is, even if I decide to stay home on my personal day, my husband is still in charge of dinner, bedtime, and activities for the girls, and I spend my evening camped out in the guest room. The kids are forbidden to bother me! Q: What advice would you give another woman who wanted to start her own business? A: There’s so much advice I would give, but

mainly I would say, “Don’t let your fear of not knowing what to do keep you from getting started. Let God direct your steps. You don’t need to have all the answers right away. It’s okay to learn as you go.” Q: What are your passions, both personally and professionally? A: I’m passionate about keeping traditional family values, especially when the kids are very young – dinners together as a family, bedtime stories, G-rated movies (and an occasional one that’s PG-rated), learning skills like gardening and sewing and teaching those to the kids, going to church together, and eating midnight snacks. All those things make the world beautiful and extend the innocence of youth. Q: What is your greatest satisfaction in running WoodlandsMommy.com? What is your emotional return on your investment (ROI) from taking this leap of faith to launch your own business? A: My greatest satisfaction is knowing that I’m fulfilling my mission of enriching the lives of local moms. I often hear nice things about WoodlandsMommy.com from friends and family, but I get so much emotional ROI from overhearing someone who doesn’t know me sharing the website with someone else. Once, I met a lady who had so many great compliments about WoodlandsMommy.com. She insisted that I check it out right away! I was too embarrassed to tell her I was the publisher. If you’re a Woodlands parent looking for fun family activities, check out www. WoodlandsMommy.com!

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BUILDING CONFIDENCE

Teach Her to Love Her Reflection

over 80% of 10-year-old girls are afraid of being fat. 1 a girls’ self-esteem plummets at age 12 and doesn’t improve until 20. 2

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• • • building confidence | story | Angie Hays, PhD

mom stands in her bathroom, looking into a full-length mirror face-on. She turns to her side, sighs, and cocks her head to one side, critically appraising her appearance. Later that evening as she draws her 4-year-old daughter’s bathwater, she notices her daughter looking in the mirror, turning from side to side, cocking her head and sighing. Slowly the mother realizes her daughter is mimicking her perfectly; that without thinking about it, she is teaching her 4-year-old to be critical of her appearance. A GIRL’S SELF-WORTH BEGINS AT HOME For most of us, self-image insecurities are always looming in the back of our minds, peeking a head out every time we see a mirror or think “I wish I had her legs.” (Or cheekbones, hair type, cup size or waistline.) It’s an unfortunate truth of today’s women: We never stop wishing or working toward achieving an idealized vision of ourselves. But it’s a truth worth confronting and giving some push back to, if not for ourselves, at least for our daughters’ sakes. Calling all moms of young girls: Never forget they’re watching us and learning. Let’s make that fact an opportunity to set them up for success – and possibly quell some of our own negative voices in the process.

according to the Dove global report, more than 90% of girls, age 15-17, want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance, with body weight ranking the highest. MOMS WALK A FINE LINE Trying to raise a daughter who is healthy and fit and who feels good about herself and her body is a difficult, double-edged sword. On one hand, there are some very positive trends right now, such as the campaign against pediatric obesity, the First Lady’s efforts to promote healthy eating and exercise for kids, and awareness about the excessive amounts of

sugar in our diets. At the same time, we worry that focusing too heavily on all this might tip our daughter in the direction of an eating disorder. What’s a mom to do?! Dr. Alisha Totina, a pediatrician at Bayou Pediatrics in Houma, Louisiana, says the single most important thing is to first sit down and listen to your daughter’s thoughts on the topic rather than superimposing your own. “It’s very important to see where they stand with regard to their own body or about what they see in the media.” The key is stepping back and accepting her perception of herself and not letting your own history affect it. At the same time, do model good body acceptance. Strike this phrase (and similar ones) from your vocabulary: “Does this outfit make me look fat?” Comments like that lay the seeds for your daughter’s own future dissatisfaction. There’s no harm in complimenting her appearance, but be sure to offset it by complimenting her on other things as well. Even children as young as four can and will have an opinion on what they see at home and in the world. Children are sponges, and our culture provides them with plenty of images to soak up, from Toddlers in Tiaras to overtly sexy dolls to the deluge of beauty products advertised on TV. But these are all teachable moments, opportunities to talk about your own values and your hopes for her. Help your daughter – at any age – develop a critical eye toward messages from the media rather than just accepting them. Also be conscious of how you frame the way you talk about diet and weight issues around your daughter. Say you eat a slice of pizza when you’ve been trying to diet. If you complain about splurging or say you were “bad” today, she’ll process that what she just ate is in some way forbidden or bad. Try instead to convey an understanding that eating is about moderation and healthy choices, perhaps: “That pizza was yummy, but can you help me to remember to work in more vegetables tomorrow?” GROUNDED IN STRENGTH There is much we can do to bolster girls beyond the messages we model. High on the list is encouraging our daughters to get and stay involved in activities that tap into or develop new skills unrelated to appearance – sports, music, theater, volunteering. Probably one of the best outlets is recreational sports and physical activity. Anea Bogue, MA, author of 9 Ways We Are Screwing Up Our Girls and How We Can Stop, notes that research shows that girls who participate in team sports have higher levels

nurture

of self-esteem. Sports that require movement and physical interactions with same aged peers offer multiple benefits – the confidence and agility born of physically improving at a sport, the endorphins a good workout can release, the overall health physical activity promotes, and the bonding and camaraderie among teammates that elevate mood.

Few girls feel bad about themselves when they’re busy high-fiving teammates over a game well played and heading off to a celebration filled with laughter and friends. Raising a daughter with strength of character also means encouraging her to speak up for herself and feel confident in her opinion and her leadership skills rather than molding her to be a “people pleaser.” “Create opportunities for her to use her voice,” Bogue advises. “Let her make a choice and then honor that choice.” Bogue also has some specific advice for dads. It can be tempting to treat your princess as just that – but don’t. “Instead, give her the opportunity and the tools to change her own tire, to speak up for herself, to play sports, to be able to brush herself off and get back up.” When you think about it, these tips stem from a fairly simple rule of thumb. Perhaps the greatest gift we can give our daughters is to focus their energy and attention on all that’s positive and good, leaving little time, energy or interest for negative self reflection. After all, few girls feel bad about themselves when they’re high-fiving teammates over a game well played and heading off to a celebration filled with laughter and friends!

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Some of the ideas noted here, and more, can be found at www.childmind.org under “13 Ways to Boost Your Daughter’s Self Esteem.” 1 Andrist, Linda C. “Media Images, Body Dissatisfaction, and Disordered Eating in Adolescent Women.” MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing 28.2 (2003) 2 Hoffman, J.P., and S.A. Baldwin. “The Dynamics of SelfEsteem: A Growth-Curve Analysis.” Journal of Youth and Adolescence (2002)

Angie P. Hays, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with her own private practice, serving Harris and Montgomery counties. Her professional expertise includes the evaluation and treatment of ADHD, learning disorders, and autism spectrum disorders, as well as problems related to anxiety, depression, and overall adjustment. She lives in The Woodlands with her husband and daughter.

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• • • a hard look at education |

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PUTTING SCHOOLS TO THE TEST Many parents and educators feel our kids’ primary education just isn’t making the grade. story | Dianne C. Witter

hen my son entered first grade, I got a phone call or a note almost every day from his teacher saying, “Taylor won’t sit in his chair.” I was new to how seriously conformity is taken in school and as yet unaware of his ADHD, but I did what I could to try to make a verb sit in a chair. I wasn’t successful. It felt like he and I were both failing first grade after just a few weeks. Eventually, I realized the calls and notes had dramatically slowed down. I asked him if he was sitting at his desk more. “I guess,” he said, while hopping from foot to foot, crafting a Lego masterpiece and watching TV. “Did you know George Washington had wooden teeth?” On Parent’s Night, I approached his

teacher and asked if Taylor’s sitting skills had improved. “Not so much,” said this brilliant woman. “But his desk has improved.” She pointed to a desk whose most striking feature was the absence of a chair. “He can’t stay seated, so I just have him work standing up and he’s doing much better.” This! Yes! Simple, innovative and effective. Beautifully Zen in its approach. I wish I could say that the rest of Taylor’s trip through primary education was lined with such innovative educators and positive experiences, but it usually wasn’t. His successes and failures seemed to come down in large part to two things: The flexibility and innovativeness of individual teachers, and the degree of effort he was willing to put in at any given time. Not

surprisingly, his enthusiasm and effort seemed to correlate directly with the flexibility he was met with from his teachers. Meds helped, too, but they’re no cure all. While ADHD kids tend to be the lightening rods who stand out in classrooms, in truth, all young kids are “wiggly” and “hands on” oriented, and a fair amount of research supports the idea that children – especially young ones – do better academically when movement is incorporated into learning. Recent years have seen an increase in child friendly classrooms for the K-3 set, with computers and iPads and activity at a variety of workstations. But in higher grades, it’s back to sitting and absorbing – while recess is becoming extinct as well. “YOU GET WHAT YOU GET AND YOU DON’T GET UPSET.” As soon as we learn we’re expecting our first baby, most of us scour books and magazines and websites for every piece of information we can glean to make sure we provide our child with the best – the best fetal care, the best delivery, the best development, the best nutrition. We double down on our vigilance when it comes to entrusting our child’s development to outside caregivers or daycares. From this cocoon, the K-12 years come as quite a shock for many of us. Once kids enter the school system, a parent’s influence in the child’s day-to-day learning experiences is limited. Children are suddenly

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| a hard look at education • • •

expected to adapt and succeed within the system, instead of the other way around. To a point, that’s good; it’s a necessary life skill. But who is thinking through how the system works and what its criteria for success are? Why do so many of us have this free-floating suspicion that we’re forcing our children to conform to a system that overall just isn’t working in their best interests? And closer to home, why is there so much dissatisfaction with Texas school systems? Kindergarteners learn a helpful rhyme: “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.” Unfortunately, that rhyme can apply to your child’s entire school experience as well. Parents of kids with any type of special needs feel this even more acutely – and that includes kids with ADHD and those on the gifted and talented end of the spectrum. Often kids who don’t fit the “norm” for whatever reason are at risk of falling by the wayside in a classroom that emphasizes sitting still, being quiet and attentively focusing to absorb and memorize data. It’s not that there aren’t different types of education systems to choose amongst – public schools, charter schools, private schools with different teaching styles, parochial schools, home schools, even online schools. But where are the guidelines on what is the best type of school system for your child? At a very definitive juncture for our children, we’re forced to make a “best guess” leap. And there really are no perfect answers. RIPE FOR REFORM The American education system is in a state of flux. We know reform is needed – in the way we teach, in the way we assess student progress, in the way we assess success all around, teachers, students and schools, but no one quite agrees on how to best accomplish that. How do we best prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow? How can we harness the best practices of individual teachers and progressive school systems to give our kids the best possible chance of success? There’s no clear-cut answer, but Finnish schools may offer important clues. That’s because Finland’s education system uses a dramatically different model, and it has shown great outcomes. In contrast to the U.S.’s reliance on test scores to judge teachers and schools, or some school’s “no-excuses” discipline mentality to improve academics, Finnish schools are more permissive and not as strictly focused on academics. Children get a total of more than an hour of recess a day, and standardized testing doesn’t even begin until high school. In the U.S., that sounds like a recipe for disaster, but these kids actually score among the highest in the developed world when they get to high school. According to a Washington Post article last year, Finnish schools have now taken an even more radical approach by teaching interdisciplinary units of instruction. Students are involved in choosing topics, which they study i•am 20 www.i-ammagazine.com

“Everybody is a genius. but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” ~ Albert Einstein

from several different angles. For instance, when planting a garden, students would be learning simultaneously about math, chemistry and botony. Finnish educators consider it a more real-world approach to learning. Why the disparity between the countries? A number of factors are at play. Finnish teachers are paid more, on average, than American teachers (no surprise there), and a much higher percentage of American schoolchildren are financially disadvantaged – almost 30 percent here, versus 9 percent in Finland. The increased stress of poverty on the children by necessity affects the school environment and the teachers, making comparisons uneven in the best of situations. In recent years, the U.S. has made efforts toward reforming the educational system, but many are controversial, such as the Common Core program to standardize curriculums between states. Texas does not participate in Common Core, but there are other efforts underway. In response to lagging test scores, a bi-partisan organization called Texans for Education Reform is working to identify solutions to make our kids more competitive in a technology-driven world. With representatives from business, education and the legislature, the group is looking into such initiatives as establishing more high-performing charter schools, giving parents real power to effect change at poorly performing schools, linking teacher evaluations to student achievements, and allowing students to attend the public school of their choice, among others. Since taking office, Governor Greg Abbott has emphasized education as a top priority, citing, for instance, the need to provide multiple career and higher education pathways to high school students. “We must give teachers support so that they can truly educate rather than forcing them to teach to so many tests,” he was quoted in the Texas Tribune as saying during his run for election.

Educators, however, have some serious concerns with the tangible results of this rhetoric so far. BRIGHT VOICES OF REASON Though there are currently few concrete answers on the future of education in the country, there are some bright voices of reason helping guide that change. Education reporter for The Washington Post, Valerie Strauss, is one of those. Strauss is an advocate for, as she says, “re-purposing schools—turning them into living laboratories that capitalize on the teaching and learning potential of immediate, here-and-now, firsthand experience.” In her recent article, “Why the Conventional Wisdom on Schooling is All Wrong,” she noted that the “information delivery” model of education is outmoded and needs to be replaced with teaching that improves students’ ability to think for themselves. “Kids are drowning in information, and oceans more of it is at their fingertips ready to be downloaded,” she said. “What they need that traditional schooling has never given them… [is] information processing skills. They need to know how to think—how to select, sort, organize, evaluate, relate, and integrate information to turn it into knowledge, and knowledge into wisdom.” She makes some compelling points. None of which seem to involve an extreme focus on sitting down and shutting up. MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF TOMORROW As for Taylor, he was eventually able to sit down long enough to absorb what he needed to know, although he could have achieved so much more had the education system come to him rather than the other way around. A college senior, he now “wiggles” by tapping a table, jiggling a foot, and playing music while he works. By necessity, he has adapted in myriad ways to a system not designed with him, and many others like him, in mind. And here’s the rub: He’s ready to launch a career doing public relations for outdoor recreation programs. He can sit – but why sit when you can paddle, bike, run, and surf (the Internet)? He’s a whiz with social media, an outof-the-box thinker, and great at expressing ideas and working with people. He’ll use all these skills in his chosen career, so for him, the indoctrination of “Sit still and be quiet,” was not only impossible but ultimately pretty irrelevant – as it is for so many school kids today. Imagine what they could be learning in the time we spend insisting they conform themselves into an already busted mold. Maybe it’s time we accept that the wigglers and the foot tappers of today are the movers and shakers of tomorrow – and educate them accordingly.

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Dianne Witter is a freelance writer and empty nest mom who does not miss fielding exasperated calls from teachers.

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UPCOMING EVENTS Children’s Memorial Hermann IRONKIDS Texas Fun Run Saturday, May 9, 2015 • 9 a.m. Town Green Park 2099 Lake Robbins Drive Ages: 3 to 15 Race Options: ¼ mile; 1 mile Cost: $15 per person

Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas

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Saturday, May 16, 2015 Daylong triathlon throughout The Woodlands and surrounding communities. 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run. Total of 75 qualifying slots up for grabs for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Learn more at ironman.com

Elite Care for All Athletes SPECIAL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT

mproving athletic performance, preventing injuries and getting back in the game quickly and safely, if injured, are goals of every athlete. They’re also the goals of the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute, which has a 22,000-square-foot facility on Pinecroft Drive in The Woodlands. Like the Institute’s Texas Medical Center and Memorial City sites, The Woodlands location offers elite, sport-specific care to athletes of all ability levels, genders and ages, from teens to active seniors. The Institute is staffed by highly-experienced, affiliated, sportsmedicine-trained physicians and orthopedic surgeons who specialize in treating sportsrelated injuries. Most serve on the faculty of

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UTHealth Medical School. Along with these expert physicians, area athletes have access to accomplished physical therapists, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, biomechanists, strength and conditioning coaches, and athletic trainers. “What makes the Institute unique is that we are a team that encompasses every aspect of sports medicine: orthopedics, rehabilitation, research, physical therapy and human performance,” said orthopedic surgeon A. Brant Lipscomb, M.D., CAQSM, medical director of Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute–The Woodlands. “We collaborate and communicate to provide comprehensive, high-level care to our patients.”

INSTITUTE-AFFILIATED PHYSICIANS IN THE WOODLANDS ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY Kelly Blevins, M.D. Carl Cannon, M.D. Brian Chimenti, M.D. Kevin Coupe, M.D. A. Brant Lipscomb, M.D. Jason Piefer, M.D. SPORTS MEDICINE & FAMILY MEDICINE Alysia Robichau, M.D. Call 713.222.CARE (2273) for a free physician referral.

GETTING BACK IN THE GAME After an injury or corrective surgery, the Institute’s sports physical therapists and kinesiologists develop individualized recovery programs that promote healing, range of motion and increased endurance. A complete range of rehabilitation services is available with a strong emphasis on orthopedics. IMPROVING PERFORMANCE Athletes who seek a competitive advantage find the Institute’s human performance testing and customized strength and conditioning and nutritional programs extremely beneficial. Many assessments are sport-specific and packages are available. A basic biomechanical test captures imbalances in walking, jumping, running, throwing and swinging patterns. Video of an athlete’s movements, viewed from all sides, is analyzed frame-by-frame. Biomechanist and exercise physiologist Alyson Ruggiero, M.S. said, “Every athlete can benefit from this test because it can find muscle weakness and structural issues that might lead to injury.” “We see a lot of hip drop from the breakdown of the gluteal muscles, particularly with runners,” explained Ruggiero. “This can lead to knee, ankle and low back problems.” For athletes requiring more endurance, the VO2 max test measures peak oxygen usage at maximum exercise levels, while a lactate threshold profile (LTP) determines the point at which lactate production overtakes removal, thereby limiting performance, during intense exercise. These tests help athletes and their coaches plan the work intensities needed to go longer distances. Other tests can pinpoint weaknesses in fundamental movement patterns, such as hip and thoracic spine mobility. They also measure flexibility and range of joint motion. Assessments like these help certified strength and conditioning specialists develop customized training and exercise programs. A variety of tools are available to increase strength and conditioning, including traditional weightlifting, tubing, foam rollers, soft plyo boxes and TRX suspension training, which is also used in the military and in professional sports. The Institute also offers simple tests to help shape nutritional plans, including resting metabolic rate (RMR), calories per hour (Kcal/ hour) expended while running or cycling and body composition testing performed in a hightech Bod Pod®. A single meeting with the Institute’s sports dietitian, Brett Singer, RD, LD, can often provide athletes, particularly marathoners and triathletes, with personal nutrition requirements to reach peak performance. “Athletes need help with adequate hydration and fueling, especially endurance athletes,” he said. Singer also speaks about hydration along with daily fueling and recovery fueling, which are gender and sport specific. “Frequently, athletes feel better and even notice an improvement in their performance when they eat properly,” he said.

DEDICATED TO AREA ATHLETES Every Monday, beginning at 4 p.m., the Institute offers a Sports Injury Clinic where licensed athletic trainers provide complimentary assessments of all sports injuries. Full diagnosis and treatment is available and billed to insurance. Walk-ins are welcome, but to confirm scheduling, call ahead to 713.897.7930 and select the physical therapy (PT) option from the menu. Additionally, collaborative relationships with local public and private schools and youth sports leagues and clubs provide area athletes with game-day medical support and priority access to Memorial Hermann-affiliated physicians. When you’re ready to compete at your highest level, add the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute to your team. To learn more about the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute in The Woodlands, call 713.897.7810 or visit ironman.memorialhermann.org.

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| grow your own • • •

Don’t Want to Grow Your Own? Don’t feel like growing it yourself? Here are a few local farmer’s markets worth a visit: • GROGAN’S MILL FARMER’S MARKET Every Saturday, 8am – noon Offering gourmet coffees, fresh goat milk products, baked goods, pastured chicken, cheese, produce and more. 7 Switchbud Place, The Woodlands www.grogansmillvillage.com • NEAL’S BERRY FARM Pick your own blackberries and strawberries! The kids get a kick out of this. Also offering scratch baked goods, free-range pork, fresh & dried vegetables, nuts and more. 24527 Gosling Rd., Spring www.nealsberryfarm.com • FRESH PICKING FARM & GARDEN Offering fresh fruits and vegetables. 19243 FM 2920, Tomball • THEISS FARM MARKET Open May – October Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6:30pm; Sunday, 11am – 5pm Offering fresh produce, jams and jellies, and pastured beef. 2008 Rayford Rd., Spring http://theissfarmsmarket.com • TOMBALL FARMER’S MARKET Last Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm Offering fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs and prepared food. Corner of Cherry St. and FM 2920, Tomball • MAGNOLIA FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET Every first and third Sunday, 11am – 3pm Offering free-range brown eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, raw honey, fresh meats, breads and more. At the intersection of FM 1488 and FM 1774, Magnolia www.sweetmagnoliapickins.net

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• • • grow your own |

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Growing Your Own Organic Produce You can grow healthy, delicious produce in your own yard or patio. story | Amanda Hammack

pring is upon us, which is time for new growth, ideas, ambitions and hobbies. I believe there is no better experience than planning, watching, growing, and then eating fruits and veggies from your very own organic garden. Gardening is an excellent way to connect with and teach your children, connect with nature, and get some good exercise and sunshine as well. Whether you have abundant space or simply a patio, you can create a bountiful garden full of flavorful eats for you and your family. In this article, you’ll learn some of the best reasons to grow your own produce, along with an easy guide on how to start your very own fruit and vegetable garden. THE FIVE BEST REASONS TO START YOUR OWN PRODUCE GARDEN: 1. YOU WILL ALWAYS KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR PRODUCE. We often see articles about issues with commercially grown produce, such as the use of pesticides or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). With careful seed or plant selection, you have the control of knowing exactly what you are eating! 2. YOU SAVE MONEY. One of the top complaints from people is that it’s so expensive to buy organic produce. Growing your own garden allows you to save on your grocery bill and bring in a harvest that you most likely can even share with family, friends, or neighbors. 3. YOU WILL BE HEALTHIER, not only from the exercise you’ll get while gardening but again our power statement from #1 - “You will know what’s in your produce.” Your bounty won’t be laden with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, GMO seeds, petroleum wax, carcinogens, and other additives. 4. GROWING YOUR OWN TASTES BETTER. It’s a proven fact that, once harvested, food starts to lose its nutrients and starts deteriorating, so by the time it reaches stores and your home, the loss may be substantial. Studies have also shown that locally grown organic produce has much higher levels of vitamins and minerals.

5. BACKYARD GARDENS AND LO CALLY GROWN PRODUCE MAKE FOR A BETTER WORLD AND CITY. Commercial, remotely grown agriculture is destructive to the environment, causing soil and aquifer imbalance, wildlife disruption, and unnecessary energy use. Over the last 30 years the decline in local farms has taken its toll on local economies. Where once the money and food was distributed right in our own city, we now rely heavily on imported food. Our soil and aquifers have had extensive damage as well. Farm irrigation is one of the main factors causing farm lands to become too salty for produce to even grow.

few, I highly recommend using raised garden beds filled with high quality gardening soil. Raised beds are also easier to reach and ergonomically kinder to your back! Raised beds are also perfect for the square foot gardening method, small but varied gardens that are well suited for beginners. There are several raised beds you can buy. I highly recommend making sure the bed is at least is 6” or more in height and that the wood is not chemically treated. Don’t use railroad ties, telephone poles, or old tires,

STARTING YOUR OWN GARDEN Start small and devise a plan: Planning will save you tons of time and energy, starting small will keep you from being overwhelmed and wanting to give up before you even get started. This will also allow you to plan for what you want your garden to grow into in the near future. Check in with your local Ag extension office for a planting guide so you know the best time of year for planting different crops. These guides are more in-depth and useful than the information on the back of seed packets. PLAN YOUR LOCATION: Take into account where your water drains, how hard wind blows, light in both summer and winter, space for expanding your garden, tool shed location, composting, sitting area, and other factors. Make sure the space you designate gets adequate sun preferably half a day but at minimum 4 hours. With our Texas heat, it’s best if that sun is in the earlier part of the day. HANDY TOOLS: Arm yourself with key tools of the trade, such as a good quality spade, shovel, weeding hoe, digging knife, trowel, mulching fork, pruning shears, wheelbarrow, 100 percent premium light grey rubber hose, and trellis or metal rebar to keep plants growing vertical. BUILDING THE GARDEN BED: Test your soil to determine its exact make up. Because our area is known for hard to deal with soils containing clay, iron, ore and sand, to name a

either, because they can leach into your garden soil and contaminate your produce. I recommend small beds no wider than 3’ to 4’ across; this way you are able to reach from both sides for easier harvesting and weeding, and less soil compaction. Length is up to you. Once you choose your preferred method of raised bed, you can dig out your garden area, then lay news print paper (not the shiny ads) about 15 sheets thick (note: use rocks or tools to hold down while piling in soil). The news print will help to suppress left over grass and weeds. RELIABLE SOIL: The soil you start with is the foundation for your whole garden. This is not the place to skimp – invest in great soil to give your garden the nutrient-rich start it needs. Unless you have your own compost to stimulate the soil, I suggest you get your garden soil mixed with compost from a reliable local dealer such as Nature’s Way Resource. These www.i-ammagazine.com

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people know dirt and are a fountain of knowledge for new or experienced gardeners. FERTILIZER: Once you get your soil into the bed you will want to scratch in a handful of fertilizer per each square foot. My recommendation for organic fertilizer is either Lady Bug or Micro Life. I like to add green sand (which has trace minerals) along with the fertilizer because it really seems to make a significant difference. MULCH: I recommend a fine to medium screened native mulch to help retain moisture during our hottest days. Please be careful when choosing your mulch because so many varieties nowadays are dyed with harmful chemicals to make appearance more appealing but are very toxic to plants and you. Again, Nature’s Way Resource is an excellent local company for this as well. IRRIGATION: I never recommended using an over spray system with vegetable gardens. Not only do you lose a tremendous amount of water to the air, but with our humid climate, it promotes fungus and disease in your plants. I use a water wand to get to the bottoms of the plants or a drip hose that is put on a timer that can be covered by mulch to ensure proper moisture. NOW FOR THE FUN - PLANTING! I always recommend organic, heirloom seeds (or seedling plants if you are running behind in the planting schedule). I like seeds from Bakers Creek Heirloom Seeds, Shumway’s, and Seed of Change. There are many more reputable resources for organic seeds, you just have to do some research. As for seedling plants, I would recommend locally Nature’s Way Resource, Arbor Gate, or the Ag Extension plant sale. Once you have obtained your seeds or plants, follow directions on packets. If using the

square foot planting method I highly recommend Year Round Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers for Metro Houston by Dr. Bob Randall. A couple helpful hints – always soak seeds for beets, chard, peas, and beans overnight before planting to help speed germination. As for tomatoes, peppers and squash, add some soft phosphate to their hole and make sure they have a sturdy trellis to climb on to promote growth. When everything is planted, thoroughly water all seeds and plants to give them a great start. After plants have been planted for a couple of days, I come back with an organic fertilizer made of fish and seaweed emulsion and then repeat a week later. As for seedlings, you don’t start this until the first sets of true leaves has sprouted. Once you start seeing flowers and fruit start to set, you want to give another round of ground fertilizer to help to promote your harvest and encourage a good fruit set. Make sure plants are receiving consistent and adequate water to prevent disease and fruit splitting. At this point give a monthly feeding of seaweed or fish emulsion watering, and every six weeks sprinkle a handful of ground fertilizer and scratch it in to the surface. The great thing about organic is you can almost never burn your plants with too

much fertilizer. At this point your main job is to water, watch, and do pest control if needed. Continue to help your plants grow up on vertical trellises for stronger, healthier production and growth. My preferred pest control method is to plant lots of flowering plants that will bring in beneficial insects to build a sustainable food/ soil cycle. But the first couple of years, I use a more hands-on approach for keeping the nuisance bug population down. I prefer not to spray any pest control unless absolutely necessary; when I must it is something organic like horticultural oil or neem oil. For snails and slugs I lay out beer traps or pick them up in the evenings or early mornings and put them in soapy water. For stink bugs – pick them off, stomp them on the ground, or throw them into soapy water. As for ants, I like to pour boiling hot water on the mound. AND FINALLY, HARVEST! Just a couple of suggestions as you gather the fruits of your labor. Always have clean tools, and clean them in between plants so as not to spread disease. I use a mild bleach solution of 1cup per gallon of bleach. Wait until your plants are dry from morning dew before picking them. You can pick tomatoes when they are just starting to turn color, but if possible, leave them on the vine till fully ripe for best taste and color. And finally, make sure to continually pick your harvest as it ripens, otherwise you are signaling the plant to go to seed and die.

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Amanda Hammack has had a life-long passion for gardening. She studied landscape architecture at Texas Tech and continues to study organic gardening practices. She, alongside her husband, founded Hammack’s Organics, a local-only produce distribution company, featuring a Farm-To-School and Chef Program. Hammack’s Organics is commited to solving market accessibility for small local farmers and has launched an effort to help alleviate hunger in the United States by partnering with the humanitarian organization Operation Blessing. Visit www.hammacksorganics.com for more information on how they can bring local produce to you!

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• • • organization |

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Home office meets craft room, featuring simple white elfa shelves combined with colorful storage boxes and accessories.

12 Easy Tips to Organize Your Life story | Courtney Pitcher

hen I tell someone that I am a professional organizer, they always ask me if my house is clean and organized. As a working mother of two young girls, my daily duties include, in no particular order, chauffeur, chef, tutor, sibling referee, dog walker, wife, professional organizer and interior designer. In order to maintain a happy, healthy and well-balanced life, I apply the same strategies in my home life

that I do in helping my customers get organized. I have a motto that “time is money.” How much time have you spent by spinning your wheels endlessly trying to find your phone, the permission slip that was due yesterday, your daughter’s most coveted pair of yoga pants or your son’s prized ball cap? Just think of all the other profitable things you could have achieved by taking back all that wasted time.

Being organized is the key, and it’s easier than it seems. Create a plan. Whether you’re trying to organize your daily family routine, a drawer, kitchen, closet, garage or office, you have to have a plan in place. For instance, each Sunday, my family takes the time to create a weekly menu, sort out carpool duties, divvy up chores, and get a snapshot of any extra events, such as birthday parties. Don’t get me wrong, we certainly stray from the plan a little www.i-ammagazine.com

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here and a little there, but without it, we would end up eating fast food every night, no time for homework, no clean uniforms for soccer, and one frustrated mom. However, most people have trouble with coming up with the plan. It’s in our multitasking mindset to tackle more than we can handle in one day. I’ve learned through experience how to simplify my approach. Before I launched my professional organization company, Pitcher Design Group, I worked at The Container Store. During those ten years, I learned how to declutter and hone my interior design skills through their “wholebrained” approach to training and excellent customer services. I’ve taken what I’ve learned from them and apply it to every project. Here are some steps that I learned from my time with The Container Store. It’s their Top 12 Organizing Tips to create a well-organized, efficient space in any area of the home. I practice them on every project, no matter what area I’m organizing or how much space is available: 1. START IN ONE PLACE If you have several areas in your home you want to get under control, start with just one. You decide which one to start with – is it the area that gives you the biggest headache, or the area that guests can most easily see? Whatever your priorities, select one area and stick to it. Many attempts at organization fail when the task of cleaning up the entire house seems daunting and folks give up. When you complete one area, celebrate and then move on to the next. 2. ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME Don’t expect organization to happen overnight. Depending on the area to be organized, schedule a couple of hours each day to work on getting the area organized. Getting a garage whipped into shape will take more time than it takes to organize a linen closet. 3. CLEAN HOUSE Once you’ve selected an area, go through the contents. Donate or hold a garage sale for anything you don’t or can’t wear or use any more. Use the two year rule of thumb – if you haven’t worn it in two years, it’s time to say goodbye to it. These items take up valuable space and probably won’t be missed. 4. TAKE INVENTORY After you’ve removed extraneous items, take a look at what remains. Does it belong here? Does it make sense to keep it here? Is there another place where you’ve got more room to keep it, or another area where it would be more easily accessible for its purpose? For example, take that professionalgrade mixer that you’ve been keeping in the back of your closet and i•am 28 www.i-ammagazine.com

move it to the kitchen. When it’s time to tackle that area of the home, you can incorporate the mixer into the new storage plan for the kitchen. 5. LOOK FOR WASTED SPACE If you’re in need of more storage space, think creatively about additional areas that you can put to work. Prime examples include over doors and underneath beds. These areas are valuable real estate in your home and are often overlooked. 6. MAXIMIZE VERTICAL SPACE If you don’t have a lot of room to work with, a surefire way to instantly create more space is to go “up.” Instead of only having a couple of shelves to house your kitchen items, take them up to the ceiling to really maximize the vertical space – you’ll store the things you need less frequently on the higher shelves. 7. DIVIDE THE SPACE By adding additional shelves to a single shelf, or by using containers that stack atop one another, you can divide the vertical space and make efficient use of the area you have to work with. By dividing the space, you eliminate the possibility of stacking tall piles of clothing, papers or other items that are destined to topple over.

8. KEEP IT MOVING Consider storage options on wheels: to allow for greater flexibility and to help keep the clutter under control. Carts can hold an assortment of accessories in a small amount of space, and can be wheeled back into a closet or storage area when not in use. 9. ORGANIZE WITH COLOR Whether you’re working to organize the family room or striving to get your home office under control, use color to enhance your efforts. Assign each child a different colored container to keep his or her belongings in and keep them responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Organize projects, bills and other important papers by function and color in your home office. 10. VISIBILITY The three rules to organization are visibility, accessibility and flexibility. Choose containers that are either transparent or that you can easily label to help immediately identify the contents and save valuable time. 11. ACCESSIBILITY Make sure that the items you need most often are the easiest to access. Likewise, place the items you don’t need to get to as often on a higher shelf or in another area.

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12. FLEXIBILITY Select a storage system that can adapt to your changing needs. That way, you can reconfigure and reuse solutions to solve a variety of storage and organization problems. So, what do you do once you have an organized solution? Commit to maintaining it. Remember that everything has a place. It’s up to you to make a conscious decision on whether to just drop your purse on the counter or take the one extra step to hanging it on the hook. That one extra step might give you back that one extra minute to smile, breathe and enjoy your family at the end of the day.

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AT LEFT: Functional laundry solution that utilizes vertical space for hampers, hang-dry space, as well as household cleaning agents and supplies. ABOVE: New TCS Closet system that is custom built to fit your space and showcase your wardrobe. AT RIGHT: White elfa decor closet styled with matching hangers and storage boxes.

Courtney Pitcher is a professional organizer and interior designer. She partnered with The Container Store to launch her company, Pitcher Design Group, and become one of their Contained Home organizers in the Houston market. Courtney’s expertise in both fields allow her to design and organize beautiful solutions that are customized to her clients’ lifestyle. No space is too small or large. Courtney can be reached at 832-819-0024 or pitcherdesigngroup@gmail.com.

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• • • kids’ diaries |

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Soulful Diaries for Kids story | Nishma Shah

have kept a diary for most of my adult life. About 10 years ago, I added gratitude and desired feelings on how I wanted my day to go. This simple exercise has been powerful, and I have managed to achieve most of my dreams. Being grateful for what I have and having a strong vision of my future has given me what I want. My children have been keeping a diary for about a year, and it has been a positive addition to their day. It took a few weeks to implement the diary writing into their routine but both children have experienced a positive outcome. We have even began to notice a difference between the days they fill out their diary compared to the days they missed out on it. Your child may find it difficult expressing themselves, or they may be happy to share everything going on in their life; either way I believe starting a practice of keeping a soulful diary will empower them in so many ways. Some children find it difficult to express their feelings. If you watch a small child they often get frustrated as they struggle to find the right words needed to communicate how they feel. This frustration can result in tears, stomping their feet, or even acting out in rebellious ways. As children get older and as they learn new words, they want to talk more and more about every little thing that comes to mind, or whatever goes on in their little lives. Sometimes, their little chats may not be at the most convenient time for their parents. The child may feel ignored and subsequently if this continues over and over again, the child may begin to suppress their feelings and stop sharing their feelings altogether. I know a few adults that have experienced the feeling of being ignored when they were a child, and they also felt they were not given the space to express themselves freely. This may be the reason why they find it difficult communicating to friends and family members even now as an adult. On the other hand, some children are eager to share everything and will not stop until someone has listened to what they have

to say. They are enthusiastically excited, and at times, however, it may be difficult for others to keep up with their continuous flow of chatter as they pause to find the right words, and pick right up again. Not paying attention to them or not responding positively can cause disappointment and hurt feelings. The soulful diary is a great tool to encourage children to communicate their feelings positively in a confident, compassionate way. It will help children identify and understand why and when they feel a certain way. Children will begin to take responsibility for their feelings and will have a safe place to express themselves freely. Children can often go through a day of mixed emotions. Keeping a diary will help them decode their feelings, and constructively learn from all their experiences, the good and the bad. Adding gratitude to the diary helps maintain a positive approach to life, and helps children appreciate even the smallest of things and the role that others play in their lives. In the 21st century, the millennial children have far more possessions which go beyond their actual needs, such as expensive high-tech gadgets that even some adults do not possess. While technology is a must for our generation of children, they have lost the art of appreciation as they are given more things than they can use. If taught properly, the gratitude diary will help your child be mindful of all the positivity in their lives, and they will have the opportunity to fully engage in and be grateful for anything they have been given. Adding gratitude is the best gift you can give your child. It’s important to pay attention to both the emotional and physical well-being of your child. Finally, positive affirmations are used to help children feel better, create positive attitudes, and achieve desired goals. These affirmations work better when positive emotions are internalized. When you affirm what you want, you mentally and emotionally make it true. I firmly believe in the concept of what we think we create. Even one simple affirmation like “happiness surrounds me” has such a strong vibration. We have gone one step further and write the affirmations on our children’s bedroom mirror.

These affirmations can change as often as your child wants. I am very passionate about this process, and I truly believe that incorporating the daily diary writing into your child’s life is one of the greatest gifts you can bestow upon them. For examples of soulful diaries, email Nishma at essentialharmonynet@gmail.com.

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This article is an excerpt from Shah’s book Optimize Your Child’s Mind, Body and Soul. The book is a practical guide that will help you understand how different food groups influence your child’s mind, body and soul; show you how simple changes in gut health can strengthen the immune system and optimize brain power; introduce yoga and meditation to your child to help keep them calm and centered; bring a number of new healthy recipes for your family to enjoy; and much more! Available for purchase through amazon.com.

Nisham Shah is a health coach, specializing in children’s health and mother’s well-being through her business, Essential Harmony. She has studied reiki, reflexology, nutrition, yoga and meditation and has combined her wealth of knowledge into a book, titled Optimize Your Child’s Mind, Body and Soul, that will help nourish your children, not only in their bodies, but their mind and soul as well. Visit www.essentialharmony.net for more information about her book or her health coaching business, Essential Harmony.

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Founded by 3 5 + y e a r H o l l y w o o d Ve t e r a n Deke Anderson

The Woodlands & Houston

Oh, The Life of a Woman!

One afternoon a man came home from work to find total mayhem in his house. His three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife’s car was open, as was the front door to the house. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

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He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she may be ill, or that something serious had happened. He found her lounging in the bedroom, still curled up in bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, “What happened here today?” She again smiled and answered, “You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world did I do today?” “Yes” was his incredulous reply. She answered, “Well, today I didn’t do it.” — Author unknown

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Read, play games & conduct cool science experiments.

and the winner is...

Vallerie P. was selected as our winner of our Selfie Contest featured in last month’s issue. Vallerie enjoyed her copy of i•am magazine while at Amines Coiffures Hair Salon. She has won a $25 gift certificate to her favorite restaurant, Russo’s New York Pizzeria. Congratulations and enjoy!

• • • improving relationships |

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Essential Habits of Strong Families Try these three simple tips to improve your family’s home life.

story | Kate Walker, PhD

orman Rockwell made some beautiful paintings but he really missed the mark when it came to depicting the different colors, shapes, and sizes of real American families. So, just like there are no Norman Rockwell families, there will never be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ recipe for optimum family function. As a marriage and family therapist I have been privileged to sit across from some very strong, well-functioning families and they have taught me many things. What are some habits these strong healthy families are utilizing really, really well? First, they have stopped trying to control their kids. Instead they have become masters at discussing expectations and enforcing consequences. “In our family we…” is the language that begins most of their corrective interactions and couples are on the same page (or at least the same book) long before little Suzy gets in trouble. Strong parents have resolved to give up lecturing, reminding, and nagging in exchange for minimal words, consistent responses, and predictable consequences. As a result they create this amazing space for nurturing activities. These activities may be focused on the child, the couple, or if a parent has really gotten creative, she may have even learned to nurture herself. Second, strong families know the habit of nurturing is not just fluff; it’s important for survival. Kid-centric homes contain parents who feel that if they aren’t exhausted they’re doing it wrong. Exhausted parents neglect the marriage, they neglect the kids who are behaving, and they neglect themselves. Studies show that any type of neglect is a breeding ground for resentment, and resentment can lead to symptomatic behaviors. Conditions like depression and anxiety in individuals, as well as conduct and relationship problems in families, can all have roots in resentment and a lack of nurturing activities. Nurturing doesn’t have to be a spa day. Strong families are experts at unleashing their creativ-

ity in order to make nurturing a daily priority. A few examples families have taught me are: family meetings where beliefs, good books, and funny things about the day are shared; a parent spending thirty minutes of alone time in the garage with a glass of wine; mom reading a book while her partner or a babysitter gets the kids ready for bed; dad taking time to decompress after a long commute in heavy traffic before he dives into the family. Whether a family has one parent or two, the rule of thumb of nurturing is to prioritize the grownups over the kids.

“strong parents have resolved to give up lecturing, reminding, and nagging in exchange for minimal words, consistent responses, and predictable consequences.” A third habit I see in strong families is their use of a functional family manifesto. Every family has a manifesto whether they know it or not. These rules and roles follow us from generation to generation and they become traditions we follow without thinking. One example is, when dinner is over dad watches TV and mom and daughter clean up. Another example might be, Saturday morning dad gets up and gets doughnuts while the family sleeps in. While on the surface these traditions may seem harmless, sometimes they can become unhealthy and breed resentment.

Strong, healthy families get intentional about creating a written manifesto that, like nurturing, works from the top down. Parents start the process by defining things like ‘kindness,’ ‘fairness,’ ‘boundaries,’ ‘respect,’ ‘service to others,’ and ‘humility.’ When they agree on the definitions, they clearly communicate them to the kids. Next, parents devise expectations and age appropriate consequences with one guiding tenet: If you can’t or won’t enforce it, then don’t write it down. Kids can offer input into the rules but parents retain the final say on consequences. Finally, chores are handed out and everyone in the house is in charge of something that keeps the family going. Giving up control, top-down nurturing, and a family manifesto are great habits to start using in your family right now. Any time you initiate change in an established system, however, you’ll meet some resistance along the way. What may surprise you is the resistance you encounter may be your own. Giving up control and divvying up chores sounds great, but you may have difficulty walking past a dishwasher loaded backwards. Nurturing yourself while your nine-year-old does her own laundry sounds great, too, until you open her chest of drawers stuffed with clothes. In response you may decide it’s easier, faster, and prettier, if you just do it yourself. Strong families are aware of this too; they just know the price they will pay is way too high.

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Kate Walker, PhD, is a marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor in The Woodlands, Texas. In her practice, Achievebalance.org, she specializes in couples and families struggling with difficult issues. She is also president of the Texas Association of Counselor Education and Supervision and teaches the next generation of family therapists as Clinical Director of Field Experience at U of H Victoria, as an adjunct professor at SHSU, and as the owner of Ann’s Place, a non-profit counseling practice and training center.

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TRUSTED, COMPREHENSIVE CARE

FOR 30 YEARS.

At Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital, we are grateful to have had the opportunity to provide life-saving care for our community for three decades. We have grown with the area, and are committed to continuing to meet and exceed your healthcare needs. We have accomplished a lot over the course of 30 years. • We have welcomed nearly 70,000 babies into this world. • Our experts have performed over 200,000 surgeries. • You have trusted us with over 750,000 medical emergencies and 1.3 million outpatient visits. • We are Montgomery County’s largest healthcare employer with a staff of over 1,900. Call 713.222.CARE for a physician referral or visit memorialhermann.org