complimentary
april/may 2015
Panther Dads Do Good Featuring Greg Olsen and Damione Lewis
Planning for
Private School
Molly Grantham
on being a working mom for local moms ... by local moms
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contents 6
features An Insider’s Guide to Private Schools........................................... 6 Choosing a school is a big decision, and this overview will provide plenty of options.
Learning at Any Cost.................. 14 By Marilee Haynes How to make private school work for your family.
Afterschool Enrichment.............. 22 Check these places out for ideas on where your child can continue to learn, play and grow.
Musings with Molly Grantham... 24 Interview by Renee Roberson The WBTV anchor shares her tips for surviving life as a working mom.
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone....26 By Molly of www.stilettosanddiapers.com Make a statement with this season’s fabulous footwear.
Grow Your Spaces....................... 28 By Renee Roberson Two interior designers share their tips for freshening up the rooms of your home.
A Foundation Full of Heart......... 34 Greg and Kara Olsen’s son T.J. inspires them to help other families.
departments Book Corner................................. 18 By Jesse Isley
Ask the Therapist......................... 20 By Leslie Petruk, MA, LPC, NCC, BCC How to find the right balance of afterschool activities for your child.
Fit Fun ........................................... 32 By Renee Roberson Local students participate in JDRF Kids Walk Program.
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Carolina Cuties............................ 46 Starring local little ones, as themselves . . .
A Family in Motion....................... 36 Former Panthers player Damione Lewis supports local causes
Focus on the Little Things............ 42 By Jonathan DeVore One dad shares how he gained a new appreciation for parenting.
Striving to Save............................ 46 By Sara Kendall Start planning now for your children’s education and your retirement. 2
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cover
Carolina Panthers player Greg and his wife Kara don’t take anything for granted after their son T.J., 2 1/2 years, was born with a congenital heart defect. The Olsens are pictured here with son Tate, 4 years, Talbot, also 2 1/2 years, and T.J. Photo by Photography By Chanda
Now accepting applications in select grades. www.charlotteprep.org
from
Vol: 10 • Issue #48
renee & kerrie Recently, I experienced what can only be called “mom burn-out.” It had been building up for awhile. I’m afraid I don’t always have a great attitude during the winter months when the sun sets around 5 p.m. and the temperatures make me want to stay inside as much as possible.
I started to get defensive over every little thing. If one of my kids complained about something I had packed in his or her lunchbox I would take it personally. (Sometimes, when one child prefers fruit cut up and the other one doesn’t, you accidentally switch the two. Oops.) If my husband happened to ask if I’d thrown a load of whites in the laundry that morning and I hadn’t I would sigh heavily. It was during one of our two-hour delays from school that I had a revelation. I stumbled downstairs, in search of my coffee, to find both kids lounging on the couch with their Kindles. One was dressed for the day, the other wasn’t. As I was standing there asking them what they wanted for breakfast so that I could take a quick shower, it hit me. They are now 9 and 11 years old. They know how to pour milk, put a waffle in the toaster, eat a piece of fruit, etc. I told them as much. They looked at me over the tops of their devices and said something along the lines of, “Oh yeah.” What resulted was that they came into the kitchen to make breakfast and my daughter even pulled out her lunchbox and started packing it for the day. Sometimes I think moms (and dads!) try to do too many things without asking for help. We don’t realize that if one of our kids loads the dishwasher, it might not be done the same way we would do it, but it’s one less chore on the list. But here’s the thing. Our children and our spouses won’t necessarily know we need help if we’re stomping around the house muttering under our breaths but not offering up a solution. I’m trying to be better now about telling the kids when I need them to help me with chores. I want them to know that part of our family’s arrangement is that we ALL pitch in, in some way or another. We often talk about advocating for our children, something I firmly believe in. But I’ve also learned that as parents, we need to advocate for ourselves from time to time, or we’ll just get so stressed out we make everyone in the house miserable. Since I started doing so (with a positive spin such as “Hey, how about you guys help me out and clear the breakfast dishes off the table”?) things have been much more harmonious. I encourage you to give it a try if you haven’t already.
e e n e R
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Editor Renee Roberson Creative Director & Co-Founder Kerrie Boys
Publisher Sharon Simpson
Sales Executive Beth Packard
Sales Executive Trisha Robinson
Sales Executive Taylor Buckley
Social Media Director Michele Chastain mac21268@yahoo.com Contributing Photographers Photography by Chanda Contributing Writers Jonathan DeVore Marilee Haynes Jesse Isley Sara Kendall Molly of www.stilettosanddiapers.com Leslie Petruk, MA, LPC, NCC, BCC Contact Us: p: 704.677.9159 | f: 1.888.887.1431 P.O. Box 1676 Cornelius, NC 28031 www.littleonesmagazine.com info@littleonesmagazine.com Copyright 2014 by MediaAdventure, LLC Little Ones Magazine is published six times per year. Little Ones Magazine cannot assume responsibility of statements made by advertisers. In addition, though editorial pieces are heavily researched, Little Ones Magazine cannot guarantee their accuracy. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission from the publisher.
DANCE ACADEMY
Summer Camp Registration is Now Open!
2015-16 Dance Season Registration Opens April 27th! Providence Studio 11532 Providence Rd., Ste. O Charlotte, NC 28277 (704) 889-TOES (8637) Baxter Studio 967 Market St., Ste. 100 Fort Mill, SC 29708 (803) 396-JAZZ (5299) Miller Street Dance Academy Millerstreet01 @Millerstreet01
Come Dance With Us! Register Online! www.millerstreetdanceacademy.com
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An Insider’s Guide to Area
Private Schools
i
n the year 2015, there are more educational choices than ever for our kids. Gone are the days when all the children attended the same neighborhood nursery school and elementary school down the block. Now, there are schools designed to assist with learning on all levels, with special emphasis on religious affiliations, STEM, the arts, and college preparation. In 2013-2014, more than 95,000 children attended private schools in the state of North Carolina—19, 495 of those students were in Mecklenburg County alone. Because private schools are so specialized, there are many questions you should answer when researching and touring your options, such as tuition, specifics of the school calendar, if before or aftercare is provided, testing standards, whether uniforms are required, etc. For more information on private schools in North Carolina, visit the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education at www.ncdnpe.org. If you feel that private school might be the best route for your children, Charlotte is home to numerous options. We’ve provided an overview of them in the following section.
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Cannon School
Established in 1969, Cannon School is a junior kindergarten through grade 12 independent college preparatory school that attracts students from Cabarrus County, Charlotte, Lake Norman and Davidson areas. More than 950 students and 100 full-time faculty members make up our learning community. At Cannon, you will hear our teachers, coaches, students, and parents talking about our educational philosophy – adaptive expertise. As a community, it is the way we teach and learn. Adaptive expertise combines habits of mind and habits of spirit to provide our students with a strategy to know themselves, seek truth, communicate, and relate with others. Just as adaptive expertise defines how we teach and learn, our core values of courage, teamwork, respect, integrity, passion, and kindness inform how we create a safe, supportive, and stimulating environment for students at every grade level. “Go Beyond,” our school motto, articulates our enduring pursuit of excellence and lifelong learning. The Cannon School community instills academic excellence and personal responsibility, inspires athletic and artistic accomplishment, and promotes a respect for diversity within a challenging and safe educational environment. The best way to learn more about Cannon is to visit our campus. Stop by any Wednesday between 9:00 a.m. and noon – no appointment needed. For more information, visit www.cannonschool.org or call 704-721-7199.
She goes beyond to discover who she is.
Join us for Walk-In Wednesdays JrK – Grade 12
Est. 1969
Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
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Charlotte Christian School
Established in 1950, Charlotte Christian School is a Christ-centered, college preparatory, independent, nondenominational school serving students in grades JK-12. Our vision for students includes the integration of a Biblical worldview into our curriculum where character, values, and essential life skills are emphasized and modeled by a professional and dedicated faculty. This Christian philosophy of education is at the core of all areas of study. A rigorous academic program is offered including strong co-curricular offerings with successful athletic and fine arts programs. As a Christ-centered school, students are taught how to integrate Biblical truth and learning into their daily lives to impact the culture for Christ. “At Charlotte Christian, we recognize that a parent’s decision for their child’s education is of paramount importance. Thus we earnestly seek to partner with parents to instill in our students the belief that ‘All truth is God’s truth’ which is foundational for a biblical worldview. Students at Charlotte Christian spend their academic, athletic, and fine arts time with committed, caring, and passionate faculty members and coaches. We offer a rigorous curriculum that integrates biblical truth and prepares students for institutions of higher learning and life beyond,” says Head of School Barry Giller. For more information, please visit www.charlottechristian. com or call the Charlotte Christian School admissions office at 704.366.5657, ext. 6503.
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Charlotte Preparatory School
Charlotte Preparatory School provides an extraordinary educational experience founded on academic excellence, character development, and leadership in a culturally diverse community. Charlotte Preparatory School is the only Pre-K-8 grade school in Charlotte that offers a Pre-K Montessori educational foundation that then transitions into a rigorous, yet nurturing, Lower and Middle School academic experience. Our values are grounded in our four character pillars: integrity, respect, perseverance and courage. We provide an exceptional education in an environment that is encouraging and designed to allow students to realize their interests, strengths and potential. Visit www.charlotteprep.org or call 704.366.5994 for more information.
Charlotte United Christian Academy
Charlotte United Christian is an educational facility that provides an environment where children ages 3 months through 12th grade feel loved, valued and connected while expanding their horizons. The preschool, lower school, middle and high school all boast small ratios led by qualified teachers who provide a rich spiritual inheritance along with a strong college preparatory program. Charlotte United Christian Academy also hosts an
Exceptional Student (ESE) Program for students on the autism spectrum. “In our efforts to “truly leave no child behind,” we have observed a growing need in our community (and our world) to serve children with special needs, by providing differentiated instruction in the regular education classroom. This instruction is supervised by a special education teacher in conjunction with the regular classroom teacher, and is supplemented with extra paraprofessional staff. This program is designed to create an atmosphere suitable for a wide range of learning styles, from IEP programs to honors level classes that will meet each student at his/her educational level. To find out more about Charlotte United Christian Academy or their ESE program visit www.cucawarriors.com or call 704.537.0331.
Countryside Montessori School
Countryside Montessori School is a premier Montessori school for over thirty years in the Charlotte University area. Countryside offers fully accredited programs for students 18 months to 12th Grade. Our curriculum embraces the Montessori philosophy which directs individuals toward learning not only academically, but socially prepares and guides students to their full potential. Credentialed Montessori teachers present the complete Montessori philosophy in multi-age, collaborative learning
environments. Our spacious environments lend themselves naturally to peer learning, collaboration, and leadership while honoring each stage of development. Countryside Montessori students are prepared for learning and life success and use the following skills on a daily basis: • • • • • • •
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Creativity and Curiosity Independence and Executive Function Collaboration Leadership Cross Cultural Competence Social Responsibility
These skills have been the mainstay of Montessori practice for over one hundred years. Countryside Montessori takes great pride in offering a Montessori curriculum that is true to its founding direction of the renowned Dr. Maria Montessori. Become a part of our community where we ‘follow the child’ to realize an infinite learning potential. Find out more about Countryside Montessori School by visiting www.countrysidemontessorischools.org or by calling 704.503.6000.
Davidson Day School
Davidson Day School was founded in 1999 as an independent school of excellence for Lake Norman area
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families. Conveniently located at Exit 30 off I-77, the school serves students from preschool through grade 12. Guided by our Mission Statement, DDS cultivates academic excellence through collaboration, creativity, and character development, preparing students for success throughout their entire lives, not just in college. Due to our small class size, average class size is 14.7 students. Throughout the school students and teachers know one another well and develop positive, lifelong relationships. The world-class education also includes championship sports teams, outstanding arts programs, clubs, service learning opportunities and a Belize archaeology research campus. Our Early Childhood program, which starts at age 2, offers both traditional and Montessori classrooms. In addition, all Early Childhood students take French, Spanish, art, music, technology and physical education classes weekly. Schedule your personal admission tour by calling 702.237.5229 or emailing admissions@davidsonday.org.
Davidson Green School Davidson Green School, ideally located in downtown Davidson, serves children 3 years old through 5th grade, and is expanding each year. DGS teaches through handson learning and project based curriculum, with particular emphasis on science, engineering, and sustainability. Beyond core academics, DGS fosters the skills to be an independent, creative, and responsible thinker, to care for the school, community and planet, to create and execute original plans, to lead with respect, to work collaboratively
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on a team, to problem solve with ingenuity and vision, and to promote a green future and economy. DGS caters to students who are focused learners, enjoy autonomy and independence, have a passion for solving problems, have an insatiable curiosity, and are highly creative. To learn more, visit www.davidsongreenschool.org or contact Jennifer Jakubecy, Head of School, at Jennifer@ davidsongreenschool.org.
Liberty Preparatory Christian Academy
Liberty Preparatory Christian Academy is a unique University-Model SchoolŽ which is designed to bring together the best attributes of traditional public and private schools as well as independent study, and integrate them into one model. By using a university-style course schedule, students will receive professional instruction by highly qualified and degreed instructors (M/T/TH), and then study for their classes independently under a parent’s guidance (W/F). The immediate goal is a quality, costeffective, college preparatory education, set in a Christian environment. The key is professional classroom instruction partnered with caring parenting at home. Our goal at Liberty Prep is not only to provide an academically challenging environment but to also develop responsible students of character. The classical Christian style of education teaches students to pursue wisdom, knowledge and understanding, instills in them a love of learning and encourages them to develop their God-given
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talents and abilities to their fullest potential. To find out more about Liberty Preparatory Christian Academy, visit www.libertyprepnc.com or call 704.660.3933
Inspired Learning ... Naturally
Northside Christian Academy
As one of the best-regarded Christian schools in the region, Northside Christian Academy is a private, Christian, collegepreparatory school that is well-known for solid academic instruction, strong athletic and fine arts traditions as well as holding claim to a rich spiritual heritage. Northside Christian Academy was founded in 1961 by Dr. W. Jack Hudson with the purpose of partnering with Christian families in providing a Biblically based education in pursuit of excellence. Northside is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)/AdvancEd. NCA graduates traditionally are received into top-notch institutions of higher learning; the class of 2014 earned over $8.5 million in scholarship offers, with 100 percent attaining college admission. Students regularly score above national averages on all standardized testing, including the SAT and ACT. An emphasis on science and technology, and having an average student to teacher ratio of 16:1, students receive a complete educational experience that’s tailored to their learning needs. To find out more about NCA, or to take a tour, contact Director of Admissions, Sharisse Stafford at 704.599.9015 and via email at sharisse.stafford@northsidecharlotte.com.
Serving 3 Years Old through 5th Grade Enrolling Now for:
Fall 2015 School Year & Summer Camp Preparing the next generation of leaders and citizens by developing 21st century skills in the context of science, engineering, and sustainability. 511 South Main Street • Davidson, NC 28036
704-892-0091
To learn more visit: www.davidsongreenschool.org
EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION. INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT. CHANGING OUR WORLD.
CHRISTIAN VALUES FOR TODAYS WORLD... WISDOM: Understanding that the comprehensive purpose of our program is to provide a Christian educational experience based on the authoritative Word of God. HONOR: Understanding that a school environment that is disciplined, respectful, productive, and safe is one that honors and brings us closer to developing Christ-like character. TRUTH: Understanding that God’s truth is woven into the fabric of every activity sponsored by the school, including curriculum and all extra-curricular activities, in order to develop in students a biblical worldview.
Infants - 4K & K5 - 12 Contact Admissions Director, Sharisse Stafford: sharisse.stafford@northsidecharlotte.com or 704.599.9015
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In 2013-2014, Charlotte and its surrounding area was home to approximately 100 private schools.
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Woodlawn School
At the heart of everything Woodlawn School has to offer is its mission statement: To produce independent lifelong learners who are responsible, contributing members of a diverse global society. Located one mile north of Davidson College, Woodlawn is an independent, non-profit school serving students in grades K-12. Woodlawn offers a unique, challenging, integrated academic experience. Students are engaged in a project-based curriculum where content from different subject areas is often linked around common themes. This type of learning environment better simulates our integrated world as students make connections among disciplines and gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter by using it in real world contexts. Students are encouraged to experiment, take intellectual risks, and explore topics and ideas in depth. After being engaged in this integrated style of learning, Woodlawn graduates emerge well prepared for some of the most selective colleges in the nation. Woodlawn alumni currently attend schools such as Princeton, Davidson, Penn, Rhode Island School of Design, NYU, Occidental and Bryn Mawr. Come explore our beautiful 60-acre campus and visit www.woodlawnschool.org for more information. cuca #48.qxp_littleones 1/4 page ad temp 3/23/15 10:35 AM Page 1
Now Enrolling for 2015-2016
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$
learning at
any cost
How to make private school work for your family By Marilee Haynes
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hoosing a school for one’s child seems a lot more complicated in today’s world than it did when I was growing up in Michigan in the 1980s. Back then, the kids in my neighborhood attended either the public school to which our neighborhood was assigned or, like my brother and me, the nearest Catholic grade school. That was it. You either went to Indian Hill Elementary or Holy Family. So you can imagine my surprise when we started our family here in Charlotte. Suffice it to say there are a LOT more than two choices when it comes to schools for our three kids. In addition to neighborhood schools, there are charter schools and magnet schools focusing on everything from STEM to the visual and performance arts, language immersion to talent development. The choices can be overwhelming, confusing and downright dizzying to wade through and consider. And for some of these options, getting into what may be the school of your choice is literally a matter of winning the lottery. In addition to public, magnet and charter schools, Mecklenburg County is also home to nearly 100 private schools servicing more than 20,000 students.
More than half of these schools have some type of religious affiliation, mostly Christian or Catholic. Why Families Choose Private School Reasons families choose a private education for their children are as many and as varied as the schools themselves. Some families choose a school that closely reflects their faith and values. Others seek out a particular learning philosophy or are seeking to meet the needs of a child who requires additional support and instruction. Still others are attracted to schools that offer smaller class sizes. Cannon School in Concord is the home to approximately 900 students from junior kindergarten through grade 12. Head of School, Matt Gossage, shared with me why he feels families choose Cannon School for their children. “I believe families choose Cannon because they sense the community is welcoming, because they see in our classrooms the power of relational teaching, and because they are drawn to a vision of preparing students for an unpredictable world.” My own children attend St. Mark Catholic School in Huntersville, part of
the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools. My husband and I chose to send our kids to a Catholic school for a number of reasons. First, it was important to us to have our kids educated in an environment that supports the faith in which we are raising them. They have religion class daily, attend All School Mass regularly and pray together as a school community. Given that our faith is a top priority in our family, making the decision to educate our children in a faith-based school was a simple one. A decision being simple, however, does not mean it is also easy. Making the commitment to provide children with a private school education means a lot of things. It means making a car last a little longer. Taking more modest vacations. Choosing a home that meets, but may not exceed a family’s needs. Many times it also means giving up conveniences like school buses. It typically means a larger time commitment with a greater emphasis being placed on parent involvement at every level including time spent in the school volunteering. And then there is the tuition. Private school education comes at a cost. And in the Charlotte area, that cost ranges from right around $5,000 to more than $20,000 per student per school year.
How Do We Grow Our Patriots? We are cultivating engaged students who take intellectual risks. Top 10% of the Class of 2017 Spent last summer on a mission trip to the Bahamas helping to run a camp for underprivileged children Currently taking AP Physics, Honors Chemistry, English II Honors, World History Honors, Spanish II, and Algebra II/Trig Honors Member of state runner-up varsity basketball team, varsity volleyball team, a 3-time All-Conference selection “She’s a delightful student who not only completes her assignments, but also prepares for class the following daywith questions. She’s ready to learn and doesn’t make excuses,” says Mr. Brad Laatsch, Honors Chemistry teacher.
Call for a TOUR today! www.davidsonday.org 704-237-5224
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Explore Your Options Cost is the main reason many families don’t even consider private education as an option. But there are ways to make private education a possibility for your family. It takes some legwork and creativity, but there are resources available. A good place to start is with the Financial Aid department of the school in which you are interested. Most private schools sincerely want to help families find a solution to the cost of tuition. It is important to investigate these options early in the process as funds are limited and deadlines apply. Gossage highlights this commitment. “Yes, the affordability issue is a critical one for many families,”he says. “I have found over and over again that there are lots of possible answers when the family places a high 16
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value on education and the school makes a strong commitment to needbased financial aid. Schools cannot make affluence the only admission standard, and families need to take the time to explore what financial aid means and how it works.” One of the newer private schools in the Charlotte area, Mountain Island Day School, offers two different scholarship programs to incoming students who qualify in the area of scholastic achievement and athletics. Another source of scholarships for families who demonstrate financial need is the Children’s Scholarship Fund - Charlotte www.csfcharlotte. org. For our family, the benefits of a private school education for our children outweigh the challenges. Our school community is our tribe.
“Our school community is our tribe. We’ve made friends in the truest sense of the word.”
We’ve made friends in the truest sense of the word. People who care about us and our children. People who are in it with us, making the same sacrifices. And a private school education means uniforms, which can be a benefit for many families. Uniforms mean no discussions, arguments or negotiations about what is being worn to school, saving both money and aggravation! Marilee Haynes of Huntersville is the full-time mom of three mostly adorable and sometimes angelic children, married to a thoroughly terrific if completely leftbrain guy. In her (not so) spare time, she writes middle grade novels. Marilee is the award-winning author of a.k.a. Genius and Genius Under Construction. More information about Marilee, her books and school visits can be found at www.marileehaynes.com. www.littleonesmagazine.com | for local moms ... by local moms
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book corner
nurture the love
of science with the library!
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By Jesse Isley, Children’s Manager at the University City Regional branch of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
pril is a great month to spend at the Library! Join us as we welcome a new season with fresh books and great programs. This spring, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is offering a wide variety of sciencebased programs as part of the North Carolina Science Festival (www.ncsciencefestival.org), a multi-day celebration showcasing science and technology. Between April 10 and 26, check out the science programs at many of our library locations. To find them, visit www. cmlibrary.org/children. You’ll find everything from experiments with kitchen science, programs about space science, resources to help with your science homework, and more!
We’re also very excited to celebrate El día de los niños/ El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) on the last Saturday in April. This is a yearly celebration that honors children, books, and cultures. This free program brings early literacy to life with hands-on activities including storytelling, music, books, and special guests. This year’s literacy celebration will take place on April 25, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at ImaginOn. Enjoy activities with Discovery Place, Community School of the Arts, and Casey’s Laugh and Learn. Meet the author of 115 books, Mr. Laurence Pringle. We will celebrate and honor culture by exploring hats from around the globe. The best hat wearer in the world, The Cat in the Hat, will be there too! If you plan to join us, come early because space fills up quickly! For more information on our Día celebration visit www.cmlibrary.org/children. The following are some great, new books about hats available in Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for children from birth to age 5. Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won (2014) Elephant wakes up feeling grumpy, but a surprise gift (a very elaborate hat!) makes him feel better. And when he visits each of his friends in turn, he realizes he can share parts of his fancy hat with each of them—making Zebra, Turtle, and everyone else feel better, too! And in the end, all of the friends work together to share a beautiful gift with their friend Giraffe. Hooray for hat! Hooray for friends! Whose Hat is That? by Anita Bijsterbosch (2014) The wind carries a red-checkered hat away to many different animal friends. Can you identify them all? This is a great book to share with toddlers and preschoolers because they can point out the animals and make animal noises, too. Will this hat end up with its rightful owner? Read the story to find out! Olive and the Embarrassing Gift by Tor Freeman (2014) This story is perfect for children who are beginning to navigate the world of friendships at school. When Olive’s best friend gives her a hat, some of their other friends begin to make fun of it. And Olive feels embarrassed—so much that she tries to throw her hat away. When she realizes how hurtful she has been to one of the most important people in her life, she decides to make it up to him with a homemade gift of her own. This story shows the beauty of friendship (and unique hats!). I Love My Hat by Douglas Florian (2014) All of the farm animals join Farmer Brown on his way into town. Along the way, they sing songs about their favorite item of clothing (hats, socks, coats, and more). And by the end of the trip, Farmer Brown realizes he needs a new outfit of his own! This rhyming story will have you chanting or singing along, and kids will enjoy seeing both familiar and unique farm animals.
The number 1 children’s library in the U.S.
Going beyond the familiar children’s library, ImaginOn aims to “bring stories to life.” This collaborative venture between the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is a 102,000-square-foot facility in uptown Charlotte ranked by Livability.com as the No. 1 children’s library in the United States.
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ask the therapist
easing into
extracurricular By Leslie Petruk, MA, LPN, NCC, BCC
aising a well-rounded child is every parent’s goal. School should never be the only focus in a child’s world. They need extracurricular activities for a wide variety of reasons including social, emotional, learning and development purposes. Research supports the benefits of enrichment activities. There is also plenty of research that shows that children need play time and that it actually improves and supports their learning and brain development. Play is good for the brain. There are some important things to consider when deciding what and how many activities to get your child involved in. Finding the right activities for your child is just as important as discerning how many activities to schedule for your child. It’s easy to fall into the trap of signing your child up for the activities you did as a child, wish you did, that you were good at, or want your child to be good at. I was a swimmer as a child and have many fond memories of going to weekend meets and the friends I made on the team. I found myself strongly encouraging my daughter’s to follow suit (pun intended!). They enjoyed summer swim team but had little interest in doing year round swim team despite my attempt to persuade them. When I was able to put aside my own agenda and talk with them about finding their passions, they were able to find other sports (tennis and gymnastics) that that interested them. It’s important to have a conversation with your children to find out what their interests are and what they are excited about. Extracurricular activities should be about supporting your children in finding their natural gifts, talents, and 20
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activities that they enjoy. If you listen to your children and inquire (without an agenda) they will tell you. Sometimes it’s hard as parents to let go of our own desires for our children, but making it about us is unfair to them. Some children aren’t sure what their interests are and it is found through trial and error—they may take a basketball clinic and learn that basketball isn’t for them. That’s great information. Trying new and different activities is part of the fun and will help your children learn what they do and don’t enjoy. It’s also easy to fall into the trap of overscheduling our children because there are so many activities to choose from and the next-door neighbor’s children are in activities every day after school, so your children should too, right? Wrong! Deciding how many activities to sign your child up for should be based on many factors. Your child, her temperament, and what activities she is interested in. While they should be part of this discussion, your children should not, however, dictate this decision. Children don’t always make the wisest decisions for themselves and you ultimately know what is best for your child. Highly motivated and achievement oriented children will overschedule themselves to their own detriment. Children with less motivation or confidence will do the opposite and may push back about doing one activity. The impact on your entire family and the logistics of getting children to and from their activities is an important consideration. If one child is involved in four activities and the other only one, is that what’s in everyone’s best interest? Factoring in the impact on everyone is important. As a parent, you have to consider your ability to get them to and from activities, practices, performances, games, etc. An overscheduled parent makes for a stressed-out parent, which
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can ultimately lead to more stress for the entire family and defeat the purpose of these activities. In deciding how many and what enrichment activities your child will participate in, it is also important to consider what messages you are teaching your child through the process. In a world where the pace seems to get faster and faster, children are being forced to run from one activity to the next with little to no down time. This can lead to a highly anxious child and as a result becomes counterproductive. Children who are compliant and self driven may not voice their distress but may begin manifesting signs of stress that aren’t easily connected to being overscheduled. For example, they may experience signs of anxiety such as sleep disturbance, defiant behavior, irritability, arguing with siblings, parents and/ or friends, grades dropping, overall sadness and/or anxiety, stomach aches, fear of the dark or a particular thing (i.e. animals, thunder storms). These can all be symptoms of a child who is anxious and feeling overly stressed—but it might not necessarily be an obvious connection to the amount of activities they are engaged in. Monitoring their involvement and excitement (or lack thereof) around the activities they are in is also critical. I have worked with many children and families over the years where their child’s self-esteem took an unexpected and extreme downturn along with their school grades. In many of these cases, what we discovered after some time in therapy was that they were being emotionally abused by their coach, their coach was putting too much pressure on them (or comparing them to their peers), had unrealistic expectations or they just weren’t enjoying the activity anymore and were afraid to tell their parents in fear of disappointing them. Paying attention to their enjoyment level is a good way to keep a pulse on this. If your child begins resisting attending an activity, take the time to find out what his resistance is about before lecturing him on staying committed or not letting the team down. Sometimes you will find that there is a bigger underlying issue that needs to be addressed. As with most things, moderation tends to be the most beneficial for everyone involved. Allowing your child to have down time where he can play and doesn’t have to meet others demands, follow rules, perform or compete is also an important part of childhood. Free time allows for imagination and creativity to be engaged which has many benefits for children, just as participating in extracurricular activities, sports and enrichment programs has many social and emotional advantages that can’t be denied. Listen to your own instincts and consider your child’s input and you will find the balance that works for your child and your family. C
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Leslie Petruk, MA, LPN, NCC, BCC is the Director of The Stone Center for Counseling & Leadership which serves children, couples and families. You can get more information on her and her practice at www.thestonecenternc.com. www.littleonesmagazine.com | for local moms ... by local moms
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afterschool enrichment
can be ANY activity
From volunteering to violin, there are so many opportunities for your children to stay engaged. The Goddard School got on board the enrichment train with a book drive for one of our favorite charities!
Preschoolers Share a Love of Reading Photos courtesy of The Goddard School
reschoolers at ten local Goddard Schools recently had a lesson in the importance of charity, cooperation, and creativity as they collected more than 1,250 new books for the Charlotte-based nonprofit, Bright Blessings. As part of its curriculum, The Goddard School aims to teach children the importance of giving back to their community while emphasizing the importance of literacy. The school originally had a goal of collecting 1,000 books, which they exceeded with the cooperation of parents and students. These books will help 600 homeless babies from infancy to 18 months of age. In addition, the schools collected more than $1,000, and created 200 bookmarks to also be donated. The ten participating schools included: Concord, Cornelius, Fort Mill, Huntersville, Indian Trail, Matthews, Mooresville, Rock Hill, and Waxhaw. Bright Blessings is a volunteer-led 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves the greater Charlotte community. The goal of Bright Blessings is to bring joy, recognition and support to homeless children and families during difficult times in their lives. To learn more, visit www.goddardschool.com and www.brightblessingsusa.org.
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Learn, Play, Grow! Learning can continue outside the average school day, and there’s no rule that says it can’t be fun, too! Below are just a few places your children can spread their wings.
Struggling kids get real help at Brain Balance.
“
The program changed everything. Jake’s improvement is undeniable.
”
- ALISON B., BRAIN BALANCE PARENT
How it works: The program balances and synchronizes left brain/right brain interaction. The newly strengthened connections improve behavior, social and academic performance.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library www.cmlibrary.org
Brain Balance addresses:
• Lack of Focus • Impulsivity • Tantrums • Trouble Making Friends
All branch libraries offer a wide range of classes for children of all ages throughout the day, after school, and on weekends. Children can learn how to make recycled art, participate in book clubs, theatre workshops, science workshops, and so much more. Charlotte Aquatics 7835 Little Avenue www.charlotteaquatics.com The goal of Charlotte Aquatics is to make children safer, healthier, and smarter through swim lessons. Children can work toward this goal through private, competitive, parent-led or independent classes. Carolina Flipz 11812 Carolina Place Parkway, Suite B, Pineville www.carolinaflipz.com
• Family Relationships/ Social Skills . • Academic, Social or Behavioral Issues
FREE CONSULTATION:
Charlotte: 704-540-6363 Cornelius: 704 655-1334 brainbalancecarolinas.com
Come Flip With Us!
Carolina Flipz offers year-round gymnastics instruction through fun, flips, and focused attention to students ranging from 6 months to18 years within recreational instruction, AAU competition and competitive cheer. Discovery Place Kids 105 Gilead Road, Huntersville www.discoveryplacekids.org Discovery Place Kids offers a number of classes during the school day for children ages Pre-K through 2nd grade. Students can explore the world at the new Discovery Place KIDS and discover how to get along with others, test their skills and muscles, try out new ideas, and feel competent enough to try different activities. Miller Street Dance Academy 11532 Providence Road, Suite O, Charlotte 967 Market Street, Suite 100, Ft. Mill www.millerstreetdanceacademy.com Beginning at age 2 ½ years of age, children can immerse themselves in the world of dance with technique classes in tumbling, ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, point, acro, cheer dance and hip hop.
Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Tumbling and Camps! Boys & Girls 6 months -17yrs. 704-544-4511 www.CarolinaFlipz.com 11812 Carolina Place Pkwy, Suite B Pineville, NC 28134
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Photo cou
olly Gra rtesy of M
ntham
Photo courtesy of WBTV
Catching Up with WBTV Anchor Molly Grantham
motherhood
musings
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f you follow WBTV evening news anchor Molly Grantham on social media you probably know that she’s always ready to support local causes, follows both her heart and the facts when selecting stories to cover, and has a creative outlet that involves recycled wine bottle corks. Oh, and she might have a slight addiction to Pretzel M&M’s. We caught up with Molly to get an honest glimpse of what working-mom life in Charlotte is really like.
Little Ones: Your two children, Parker and Hutch, are adorable! How old are they? Molly: Parker will be four in April. Hutch is almost 6 months old. Little Ones: You anchor the evening news at WBTV, stay active on social media, and work on in-depth news investigations as part of your job. When it comes to juggling your household, work responsibilities, and spending quality time with family, do you have any tips for other working moms? Molly: Try to not be everything to everyone. I’ll never be the mom who organizes the class snack, teacher gift or Easter party treats. If someone tells me what to bring I’ll have it there on time, but I don’t have the bandwidth to be the mom responsible in that arena. On the
Photos courtesy of Molly Grantham
“ ... it’s really an outta-control hobby that provides a needed and fun creative outlet.”
flip side with work, I can write lots of features on amazing people in our community for social media (and totally dig doing it), but there will always be more people and more requests and more emails than I can address. When you’re juggling lots—no matter what it is you’re juggling—time is your most precious commodity. I’m still learning the (hard) lesson of not giving minutes away to every single person that asks for some. Little Ones: You recently picked up an Emmy for your work on CBD [cannabis] oils in North Carolina. How do you decide on the stories you investigate in depth? Are there certain subject areas you’re drawn to? Molly: Facebook messages, tweets, emails and calls are like having thousands of eyes and ears. I love the notes and generally decide my stories based on tips from people who reach out in those ways. I think it’s important to try and write everyone back who writes with a legitimate concern or question, but I don’t start research-
ing and digging into a subject unless their note A) gets my interest or B) has some facts. I don’t know how to classify what subject areas those stories fall into—I like covering gang trials and telling a story about children battling cancer. I can only say I’m curious, have heart and don’t tolerate fools well. That mixture takes me into many areas. Little Ones: In addition to working full time, you express yourself creatively through your side business, CorkDork! Gifts. How did you get the idea to start making creations from wine corks? Molly: I’ve been making CorkDork! boards for YEARS. Started when I was a cocktail waitress right out of college; I kept the corks the restaurant was going to throw away. Got a big piece of plywood at Home Depot one day and started gluing them down. The result was a huge, super heavy board that still hangs in my kitchen today. After that I made smaller ones to give friends. That went on for about 15 years. In 2012 the ladies who run
“The Boulevard at South End” on Tryon Street saw a picture of a board and said they’d like to sell them. It has gone from there. I donate some to charities around town—but it’s really an outta-control hobby that provides a needed and fun creative outlet. LOM: A very special day for moms is right around the corner. What is your idea of the perfect Mother’s Day? Molly: Time alone with nothing planned. LOM: What are some of your favorite family-friendly activities in Charlotte? Molly: Going to the various parks— funny enough, Parker loves Romare Bearden in Uptown. (She likes the steps and seeing all the tall buildings around her.) I’m big into spending time outdoors. Find Molly Grantham on social media at: www.facebook.com/ WBTVMollyGrantham @MollyGrantham on Twitter.
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top of the trends
step out of your
comfort zone Make a statement with these splashy shoe trends
By Molly of www.stilettosanddiapers.com t’s starting to warm up and I think we’re all about ready to lose the socks and boots for something a little lighter. So what’s in trend this spring? The biggest thing I’ve seen, is color. Out with the boring, in with the fun! Florals You can find fun florals in heels, wedges, sandals or even slip ons. If you’re not ready for an all over floral, try a solid pair that just has a little inset of floral pattern. Wedges I think a wedge is a mom’s best friend and I’m so happy to see them this spring. They give you height and lengthen those legs, but are sturdy enough for an outing with the little ones. A classic pair of nude or brown wedges is very versatile, but adding in mint or pink is really fun for spring. Jeweled Sandals Don’t think you need to wear your 5-year-olds sandals for this. Just a hint of sparkle will make a simple pair of flat sandals more exciting. Look for some bling across the toe strap, or a jewel on the buckle. A little goes a long way.
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Color The best part of spring fashion is the beautiful colors that come along with it. Introducing those colors into your shoe wardrobe can make your basic jeans and white tee, a season appropriate look. Don’t forget to add some of that color to your toes. There’s a whole host of fantastic colors out right now. Light pink and light blue are some popular ones. Boat Shoes These are everywhere right now, from the beach, to the grocery store. They can go with all your shorts, or even a simple cotton dress. Better yet, they come in basically every color and pattern you can imagine. A basic khaki pair will be very versatile, but a tropical pattern will make a statement. As always, you don’t have to spend a fortune on these shoes! Target has great options for sandals at reasonable prices. Discount stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx often have big selections of fashionable pairs and Rack Room Shoes has BOGO 50 percent off sales very regularly. Hopefully you can step out of your comfort zone and wear some of this spring’s fabulous shoe trends! Molly is a wife and boy mom, just trying to be a June Cleaver. A southerner, who after living in New York, California and DC, is back to her roots, now living in Lake Norman. She writes at www.stilettosanddiapers.com about fashion, motherhood, and her attempts at mixing the two.
SWING
by the Zoo for the coolest warm weather styles!
The latest styles for boys & girls... shoes, socks, accessories, gift items and more! 610 Jetton St., Suite 140 • Davidson, NC 28036 704-895-7989 • Like us on Facebook
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e t a r o c e D
your space
By Renee Roberson • Photos by Amanda James Photography
Looking to give your home a facelift? Two designers share their tips.
S
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pringtime is a great time to freshen up the look of your home with new paint colors, bright throw pillows, new bedding, etc. Or, if you’re ambitious, you can tackle an entire room or wall in your house!
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Make Your Spaces Come to Life Jacy Painter Kelly, of Jacy Painter Kelly Interiors, recently helped breathe new life into a playroom in Ft. Mill by using existing pieces to give the space a wow factor. When thinking about playroom designs, Kelly advises parents to keep in mind that kids grow up quickly. Give them a space to grow into, and one that will not be outgrown within a year. “Kids change their minds a lot so I lean more toward bold pops of color, rather than themes,” says Kelly. “Things like movies and characters tend to become outdated and outgrown quickly.” www.littleonesmagazine.com | for local moms ... by local moms
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“I love a good white,” she says. “Colors pop well on it and everything goes with it.”
For this particular space, Kelly took advantage of what was already in the room. The built-ins were existing, and she had them painted a bright aqua and added in some galvanized buckets for toy storage. As for wall color, Kelly says she prefers to start out neutral. “I love a good white,” she says. “Colors pop well on it and everything goes with it. The playroom is also a great place to be more adventurous with color than you might in the rest of your home so toss in some bold colors, maybe an accent wall or some fun wallpaper.” Create a Memorable Family Photo Wall Incorporating your own photos into home décor adds a personal touch to any space. Sharon Mesiti, of Sharon Mesiti Interiors, suggests using photos to “tell a story.” You can use a large space to put together a family tree, grouping photos according to the families of the mother and father’s side. “A balanced display doesn’t require photos to be the same size and style 30
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Photo By Kerrie Boys
if they’re connected through color, tone, or texture,” says Mesiti. “A consistently popular photo gallery choice is using black and white pictures. Not only does a black and white finish make the images seem timeless, it unifies the photos, creating a clean, classic look.” Mesiti offers up the following suggestions to make your photo display more appealing: • Avoid posed shots and instead aim for candid photos that display each family member’s personality. • Get creative with cropping and choose a photo that is a little off center or crop it to give a different perspective. • Use close-ups of little hands or feet for an artistic feel. To view more of the work of the designers mentioned here, visit: Jacy Painter Kelly www.jacypainterkelly.com www.431designs.com Sharon Mesiti Interiors www.sharonmesitiinteriors.com
Sign up for a playful adventure at Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville Summer Camps for ages 18 months - 8 years. With a new theme each week from art to animals, your child CAN have fun, be creative, experiment and make new friends.
SPECIAL MEMBER DISCOUNTS
discoveryplaceKIDS.org 105 Gilead Rd l Huntersville NC 28078 l 704.372.6261
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Photo courtesy of JDRF
fit fun
Kids Helping Kids
Children at More Than 30 Area Schools By Renee Roberson Participate in JDRF Kids Walk harlotte area students in more than 30 schools have had the unique opportunity to help other children as part of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Kids Walk. JDRF’s goal is to raise over $200,000 this year for type one diabetes research and with the help of several schools already, they are well on their way. “Individuals living with T1D have to think about blood sugars every hour of every day,” says Heather Teague, mother to Hannah and active JDRF volunteer. “Managing T1D requires a tremendous amount of physical and emotional energy. In the five years since her diagnosis, Hannah has pricked her finger more than 21,000 times. JDRF is bringing us closer every day to new technologies that lessen the daily burden of managing T1D, and scientists predict that a cure is possible in Hannah’s lifetime.”
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What it Is The JDRF Kids Walk program is an educational, in-school fundraising program with two goals: to educate students about type 1 and type 2 diabetes and the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and to provide them with an opportunity to make a difference by raising money for type 1 diabetes (T1D). T1D is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone people need to get energy from food. It strikes both children and adults and has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. “This is our school’s third year participating in the Kids Walk and all of us at Elizabeth Lane love the program,” says Crystal Lail, CMS Principal at Elizabeth Lane Elementary (ELE). “Not only does it teach our students about what type 1 is, and the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, it also builds their confidence. JDRF provides our students with easy
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to use tools to talk on their own with their friends, family and neighbors in a simple way about type 1 diabetes and how the dollars they raise individually, will help fund research. At the same time, the Walk is helping our own school. It’s a win win for everyone.” ELE has raised more than $48,000 to support JDRF in just two years. “Cannon School is thrilled to bring the JDRF Kids Walk to our campus for the first time,” says Brenda Newman, School Health Nurse at Cannon School. “I work each day with kids who are affected with T1D. I love each child at Cannon School and although I always love seeing their smiling faces, I hope that at some point, the kids with T1D no longer have to deal with this disease. I wanted to bring this Walk to Cannon to advocate on their behalf.” How it Works School personnel choose dates about two weeks apart at any time during
Jump!
the school year. On the first date, a member of JDRF educates the students on the differences between type 1 and 2 diabetes, living a healthy lifestyle, and safe and effective fundraising strategies in a special kick-off, and on the second date, students submit the funds they’ve raised with a celebratory walk or activity on the school’s campus.
Photo courtesy of Jill Smith
Wear those kiddos out!
Ultimate Ninja Course Open Jump KidJump Family Night Special Needs Night GravityFit The Ultimate Birthday Party
Larry Sprinkle with WCNC TV, Carolina Panthers mascot Sir Purr and Charlotte Checkers mascot Chubby helped children at St. Mark’s Catholic School celebrate their JDRF Kids Walk kick-off.
The walks can also benefit participating schools—as 10 percent of the total amount of money raised at the school’s discretion can be awarded back to the school to use on field trips, books, equipment, or other items.
8116 University City Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28213 704-817-4660 charlotte@defygravity.us
More than 30 area schools have participated in the JDRF Kids Walk program, including: Bain Elementary
Highland Creek Elementary
Blackburn Elementary
Idlewild Elementary
Boger Elementary
McAllister Elementary
Cannon
Morehead STEM Academy
Carl Furr Elementary
Mountain Island Charter
Catawba Elementary
Mountain View Elementary
Chantilly Montessori
Porter Ridge Middle
Concord Middle
Quail Hollow Middle
Crestdale Middle
Ray Childers
Crown Point Elementary
River Bend Middle
Davidson Elementary
River Gate Elementary
Doby’s Bridge Elementary Shepherd Elementary Ebenezer Ave. Elementary Springfield Middle Elizabeth Lane Elementary St. Mark Catholic Fort Mill Elementary
Winecoff Elementary
Gaston Christian
York Prep
Gaston Day
For more information on how your school can get involved, visit www.gwc.jdrf.org or contact Jennifer Hall at jhall.jdrf. org or 704-561-0828.
Like Us!
Spring Break & After School Sitters Available! Call Today!
704-335-0501 www.charlottecareservices.com
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dads doing good
a family in motion Former Panthers Player Damione Lewis Supports Local Causes By Renee Roberson Photos By Photography by Chanda n March 7, Corvian Community School held its annual Corvian Green on the Green 5K race, and one runner who came out to support the cause may have seemed more than a little familiar to the other runners and walkers. Former Carolina Panthers Defensive End Damione Lewis donned the official green race t-shirt, delivered a motivating speech to the crowd of more than 600 participants at the starting line, and also ran the race with his own 9-year-old daughter Soraya.
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Photo Courtesy Damione Lewis
Modeling Fitness for Kids Lewis, who lives in Charlotte with his wife Silvana and their two children, Soraya and son Manny, understands the importance of staying active as a family. “A lot of times you get home from a long day at work and it’s hard to get back up and go,” he says. “But if you have little ones, they see you sitting down and not really engaging in any physical activity.” Lewis and his wife are both active in CrossFit, and their kids are also involved in recreational sports. He says they try to find ways to stay active with their kids, even if it’s only once or twice a week. “We like to go up to Crowder’s Mountain every now and again,” he says. “And we like to ride bikes around the neighborhood.” They are also passionate about supporting various charities through 5Ks and triathlons.
A Cause Close to His Heart Lewis, who lost his own mother and several close friends to cancer, is also now a candidate for the North Carolina Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society 2015 Man of the Year. Beginning this month, Lewis is working to raise as much money possible in a 10-week period. Each dollar he raises counts toward one vote for the title. “As you know, everyone wins when cancer loses, and thanks to your support, my efforts will help fund the therapies and treatments that save lives, not someday but today, Lewis writes on his LLS fundraising page. For more information, visit http:// www.mwoy.org/pages/nc/clt15/dlewis. www.littleonesmagazine.com | for local moms ... by local moms
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dads doing good
A Foundation
Full of Heart
Greg and Kara Olsen’s son T.J. inspires them to help other families By Renee Roberson Photo By Photography by Chanda 36
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ooking at the three beautiful and energetic young children of Carolina Panthers player Greg Olsen and his wife Kara, you might never know the hardships son T.J. has faced since before he was even born. Greg and Kara Olsen are the parents of Tate, almost 4 years old, and twins Talbot and T.J., who are 2 ½. In early 2013, Greg and Kara, who was then expecting twins, went in for an 18-week scan. There, doctors determined the male twin, T.J., had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a severe congenital heart defect.
In babies with HLHS, the left side of the heart cannot pump oxygen-rich blood to the body properly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a baby with hypoplastic left heart syndrome must have multiple surgeries done in a particular order (starting immediately after birth) in order to increase blood flow to the body and bypass the poorly functioning left side of the heart. The right ventricle becomes the main pumping chamber to the body.
“Prior to the early 1980s, for any child born with this, it was fatal,” says Kara. She is now happy to report that T.J. continues to grow, eat well, and remains motivated to keep up with his brother and sister. T.J. and his twin sister Talbot were born at 37 weeks, each weighing more than seven pounds. Two days later, T.J. had his first open-heart surgery. During the following months, Greg and Kara started to realize that while medical insurance can cover hospital stays and surgeries, more often than not they do not assist with the costs associated with additional therapies and private nursing care. For example, some of the babies with congenital heart defects have difficulty with feeding and need assistance from Gastrotomy, or G-Tubes. They may also need occupational and physical therapies, or like Kara and Greg, a night nurse to help with care in between T.J.’s surgeries. To date, he has had three, including one to put in a pacemaker. The Olsens felt compelled to help other families in similar situations. Back in 2009, inspired by Greg’s mother, a breast cancer survivor, The Olsen family had already founded Receptions for Research, a foundation designed to provide hospitals, doctors, and scholars the resources necessary to enhance the lives of those affected by various forms of cancer. Two months after T.J.’s first surgery, Greg met with T.J.’s surgeon to ask about forming a partnership with Levine Children’s Hospital to assist families of children with congenital heart defects. That initiative, called The HEARTest Yard, assists these families by giving them a predetermined amount of financial assistance to help with a multitude of services, including inhome private nursing care, physical therapy, speech therapy, etc. The services are offered to the families at no cost and no additional expense to the hospital. The Olsen’s hope for The HEARTest Yard is to improve the mortality rate that can occur in these babies between surgeries, and increase their life-expectancy and prognosis. “Prior to the early 1980s, for any child born with this, it was fatal,” says Kara. She is now happy to report that T.J. continues to grow, eat well, and remains motivated to keep up with his brother and sister. “I have to give a lot of credit to the team of Levine,” she says. “And Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute at CMC.”
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37
out and about
Seek out these local events and enjoy the
sprisnug
nshine!
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APRIL Easter Bunny Express Easter Egg Hunt What: An egg hunt will be held in conjunction with the Easter Bunny Express on this one day only. When: April 4 Where: North Carolina Transportation Museum www.nctrans.org 6th Annual Rural Hill Egg Hunt What: Bring the Easter baskets, family, and friends to this fun-filled egg hunt at Rural Hill. Explore Rural Hill’s 250-year-old property, gardens, and farmland as the kids hunt for eggs and compete in spoon races, balloon tosses, and more. The event is free but registration is required. There will be two different hunts; one at 11 a.m. for children ages 4 and younger, and one at 11:30 a.m. for children over 5 years of age. Food vendors will also be on hand. When: April 4 Where: Rural Hill www.ruralhill.net Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” What: Everyone’s favorite feline in the red-and-white hat brings his mischief and wacky adventures to the stage in this Dr. Seuss classic. Speaking only in rhyme, the Cat in the Hat shows Sally and her brother that “it’s fun to have fun, but you have to know how,” despite the misgivings of their well-mannered Fish. All your favorite Seuss moments come to life in this crazy, colorful romp for the whole family! Appropriate for all ages. When: April 10 – May 3 Where: McColl Family Theatre www.ctcharlotte.org
“Alice in Wonderland” What: Don’t be late! Don’t be late! For a very important date! The Queen of Hearts requests your presence down the rabbit hole. Follow Alice on her thrilling adventure as she meets all the nonsensical characters of Wonderland. Have tea with the mad hatter, paint the roses red with the cards, and play croquet with the Queen of Hearts. Wear your wonderland best and prepare to go mad! When: April 17 - 26 Where: Armour Street Theatre www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org Earth Day Play Date What: Celebrate Earth Day at Charlotte Nature Museum by getting your kids outside to connect with nature in Fort Wild! Observe demonstrations on backyard gardening for kids, creating backyard wildlife habitats or just enjoy mucking in the mud in the mud café. When: April 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Charlotte Nature Museum www.charlottenaturemuseum.org Sunday Fun Day at Mint Museum Uptown What: Investigate cool connections between art and the world of STEM through creative, educational and fun
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out and about
experiences that will really get you thinking! Enjoy a performance, scavenger hunt, and workshops with Kinectic Works dancers! Family programming is supported by the Mint Museum Auxiliary. When: April 19 from 1 – 4 p.m. Where: Mint Museum Uptown www.mintmuseum.org Artbots in the Library What: How much do your kids know about robots? Join in for a robot trivia contest and find out! Participants will also build and decorate their own amazing Artbot that can draw pictures. When: April 23 at 4 p.m. Where: Mountain Island Library www.cmlibrary.org 2015 Bark in the Park Top Dog Festival What: Bring your pooch and enjoy a fun-filled day of contests, vendors, food and much more! When: April 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Historic Rural Hill www.parkandrec.com YMCA Healthy Kid’s Day What: Join the library at the University City YMCA’s second annual Healthy Kid’s Day! This free community event for the whole family will focus on health and wellbeing, with activities, food, and fun! Be sure to stop by the library booth. When: April 25 at 10 a.m. Where: University City Regional Library www.cmlibrary.org
MAY Party in the Park What: Beginning on May 6, Party in the Park will offer free weekly music concerts. Guests are invited to bring a picnic and lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the music and ambience of the park. When: May 6 – Aug. 26 Where: Romare Bearden Park www.parkandrec.com BeachFest Matthews What: What better way to celebrate the warmer weather than at BeachFest Matthews? This highlyanticipated annual event includes carnival ride, live music, a kids’ inflatable village, a car show, boardwalkstyle food vendors, and much more. When: May 8 and 9 Where: Historic Downtown Matthews & Stumptown Park. www.beachfestmatthews.com G.O. Play Festival What: Nature makes the best playground! After all, where else can you catch a fish, bake a mud pie, and build an awesome stick fort? Families and kids of all ages 40
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minthillmadnessfestival.org
will have a blast at this annual festival that’s all about getting outside, being active, and having fun in nature. Activities will include canoeing, hunting for bugs, building sand castles, making mud art, and much more messy fun. Be sure to dress for mess for a day of play. No registration required. When: May 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Latta Plantation Nature Preserve www.parkandrec.com
Mint Hill Madness What: Mint Hill Madness has something for everyone in the family; delicious food; great music ranging from country to rock; a fantastic family carnival; an arts/crafts fair; an allAmerican parade; and of course, a spectacular firework show to celebrate the town’s founding. When: May 22 - 24 Where: Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park www.minthillmadnessfestival.org Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend What: No matter where you’re from or where you’ve been, everyone is special—so join in! Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby, and their Sesame Street friends welcome Chamki, Grover’s friend from India, to Sesame Street. Together, they explore the universal fun of friendship and celebrate cultural similarities, from singing and dancing, to sharing cookies! Join the fun and make a memory with your friends and family! When: May 22 – 24 Where: Bojangles Coliseum www.bojanglescoliseum.com Animal Encounter Show What: Did you know a soft-shell turtle’s neck is as long as its body? Or that king snakes like to eat other snakes? Learn these and other surprising facts about the animals in your backyard! When: May 24 from 3 – 3:45 p.m. Where: McDowell Nature Preserve www.parkandrec.com
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When you can’t do what you want . . . focus on what you have By Jonathan DeVore
ike any parent, sometimes I think children are pretty annoying. The noises they make are, at times, unbearable—the interruptions, the random yelling, the songs that make no sense. And the messes they create are like a bad joke – not funny the first time, and definitely not funny the 100th time. But perhaps the most frustrating aspect of raising children is not being able to do what I want to do, whenever I want to do it. The tree limbs are still sitting in my backyard because I had to run my daughter to a birthday party. The siding still needs power washing because somebody wasn’t feeling well and wanted me to hold them. I didn’t get to watch the movie I’d planned to all week, couldn’t talk to a neighbor who was walking by, or… well, the list could go on forever. In the end, a lot doesn’t get done that I really want to do. But instead of focusing on all of the things my kids prevent me from doing (which would probably make me angry and bitter), I prefer to think of all the little things they give me. For example, last night, my 2-year old daughter didn’t want to go to
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sleep—which meant her teeth while I couldn’t go to blissfully ignoring When a piece sleep. I wasn’t happy the juice running about this, just down her arm all the of cheese like I wasn’t happy way to her elbow. about her making When she grew tired landed on her me carry her all over of the oranges, she neck, she would the house yesterday, wanted a bowl of or refusing to wear shredded cheese. stop, look at pajamas (she’s slept As she threw me, and then in a ballerina leotard handfuls of shredded and skirt). I angrily cheese in her mouth, prop open her stuck her in the I enjoyed watching leotard to see crib and she began the two or three wailing. I walked out pieces that didn’t whether any for a few minutes make it in. A few fell hoping she’d calm on the rhinestone made it in. down and go to heart in the middle sleep, but it wasn’t of her leotard while going to be one of others actually made those nights. it down her leotard. When a piece of Those nights provide some relief cheese landed on her neck, she would and allow me to be productive early in stop, look at me, and then prop open her the evening. But tonight, I had to work leotard to see whether any made it in. with a disagreeable toddler who had no I saw the moment she realized they intention of going down easy. had made their way to her diaper, and I At the suggestion of my wife, I took laughed when she tried to adjust herself her downstairs to get some food. When and attempt an extraction. we arrived in the kitchen, my daughter When she returned to eating cheese, immediately stopped crying and said, her little eyes shifted over and noticed “Orange!” while pointing her little me watching. At that moment, she finger toward a bowl of Clementines. opened her mouth and showed me I love the way she says “Orange.” the cheese that could fit in her mouth. (I also love the way she says, “Booble When she bit down, I noticed her two bath” when she means to say “Bubble front teeth overlap her bottom lip to bath.”) form a goofy smile. This was quickly I peeled the orange and started followed by a flat grin that hid all her walking back to her room. She stopped teeth and made her cheeks puff out. me and pointed to the chair while When she was done eating, her bad saying, “No—chair!” in her sweet little mood had washed away, and so had voice. I love it when she tenderly offers mine. I forgot about all of the things that a suggestion. I wasn’t able to do that night—catching We sat down and I watched her up on the news, watching sports little fingernails (caked with dirt on highlights, reading a book. Instead, I the underside) begin peeling away the focused on the beauty of the 100 tiny white stringy things on the orange. things she did. The discoveries she After removing one, she would try and was making, the effort she was putting shake it off – each time she flung her in, and the failures/successes she was hand, she would check to verify it experiencing. was gone. If it wasn’t, she would I realized that for every thing my wipe it on the table and return children take away, they replace it with to peel off more. 100 gifts that are infinitely better. I looked at her hands Jonathan DeVore is 31 and lives in and noticed the tiny Huntersville with his wife, two daughters, wrinkles on her and infant son. He was a CPA before knuckles. I watched joining his brothers’ startup software as she focused on business, and now does their sales pulling apart the and marketing. He blogs early in the orange slices, morning at www.charlottedad.com about clamping fatherhood with a focus on teaching down on children how to be great. them with
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Striving to save By Sara Kendall
common worry for many parents is their children’s future, especially the high price tag of a college education. There are many ways to give your children a head start by saving and investing for the cost of their higher education. Charlottebased Ann Gugle, Principal, Alpha Financial Advisors, provides important advice for parents in preparing for their children’s college education and ways to protect their own future as well.
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Start planning now for your children’s education and your retirement
“I have found many younger parents can’t envision their retirement ...”
Retirement No one is going to fund your retirement, so it is important to save for your golden years. “We recommend you save for your retirement first, especially if there is an employer’s match involved,” says Gugle.“If you don’t do this, you are leaving money on the table.” It’s a must to remember yourself and your spouse’s future along with your children’s education. Budget “After a review of your retirement, we look at budget and what you are spending,” says Gugle. “What we call after tax savings potential is where we look for ways parents can save their children’s college expenses.” Once all the bills have been paid, the leftover money needs to be saved and invested for the future. The 529 Option A 529 plan is an investment account that allows you to set aside money for your child’s higher education and let it grow tax-free. “529 Plans are excellent savings tools and should be utilized,” recommends Gugle. 529 Plans are not always easy to understand, so it’s smart to consider having a financial advisor
with expertise in these to help you better understand them. You don’t necessarily need to go with your state’s plan, you can choose any state plan. “We like Utah’s for their savings plan, great funds, and low expense funds and Virginia’s, which offers good fund options and low cost funds through American Funds,” suggests Gugle. With most 529 Plans, you can tailor how your money is invested with a menu of investment o ptions. It’s hard to foresee the exact amount a child might need for college expenses. Penalties are 10% of the gross growth or the appreciation of the asset when you withdraw for purposes other than higher education. “You could use your 529 Plan as an estate-planning tool. You can leave to anyone like a niece, nephew or grandchild if your children don’t use it all,” recommends Gugle.
She likes how the 529 plans grow taxfree and she will not have to pay taxes on the gains. “It’s easy to save since I have set up an auto-contribution right out of my checking account each month. I plan to pay some of my kids’ college education from my own income and regular savings” says Martella who is also the Director of Financial Planning at Keatley Wealth Management.
Lifestyle Choices “Keep an eye on budget. When income rises, often so do expenses. It’s important not to change your lifestyle when you get a raise. Make it an opportunity to save and invest,” advises Gugle. “I have found many younger parents can’t envision their retirement, so they tend to spend rather than save. Increasing your savings when your income rises will give you options down the road.” It’s clear you will need to start early, Real Mom Thoughts invest consistently, and take advantage of Overfunding of 529 plans is a concern tax savings, then everyone in your family for parents, because it is hard to know can look to the future with a little more what your child’s future holds. “With not ease. knowing whether my children will attend Sara Kendall is a a freelance writer a state school, private institution or go the vocational route, I am a partial user and mom of two daughters, who lives of the 529 plans,” says Jenny Martella, in Charlotte. Visit her website at www. kendallwritings.com. mother of 10 and 14-year-old children. www.littleonesmagazine.com | for local moms ... by local moms
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cuties
carolina
I. Justin and Jason Gomez Photo By The Picture People Sofia Ogrim Photo by Angela Ogrim
Gabriel Tabor Photo by Taryn Bell
Luke and Lily Stroud Photo by Alisha Rudd Photography
Londyn Brey’Lee Huggins Photo by De’Angelia N. Huggins 46
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Kingston Huberman Photo by Beth Wade Photography
Noah Tabor Photo by Taryn Bell
Do you have a LOCAL cutie you’d like to submit? Send your digital photo to cuties@littleonesmagazine.com with the child’s name, guardian’s name, and photographer credit. Photo must be high resolution or it will not be considered.
Jackson Shaw Photo by Beulah Shaw Rivers Photo by Tracey Bross
Vivian Rose Nagy Photo by Monika Nagy
Reagan Mathews Photo by J. Chunn Photography Elijah Ray Photo by Picture People
Payten, Aydenn, Kaylee Photo by Photo by Portrait Innovations
Everett Andrew Wheeler Photo by Heather Gaydeski Photography
Michael Julian Nagy Photo by Monika Nagy www.littleonesmagazine.com | for local moms ... by local moms
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This Mother’s Day . . . Celebrate with a Memorable Meal Out f you’re like most moms, you’ve already been dreaming of how to spend this Mother’s Day. Breakfast in bed, quality time with your little ones, or maybe a day at the spa. This year, May 10 can also mean a day of letting someone else provide the food! Check out these local places . . .
Blue Restaurant and Bar 206 N. College Street www.bluecharlotte.com Known for its beautifully-prepared brunch fare, you’ll want to make your reservations early for this one. Buca di Beppo 10915 Carolina Place Parkway Pineville www.bucadibeppo.com Choose from lunch or dinner at Buca di Beppo, where the atmosphere is always fun and festive and the authentic Italian dishes are served family style. The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar 4310 Sharon Road www.thecowfish.com The foodie in you can kick back with a salad, gourmet burger, sushi, or whatever else your heart desires in this trendy restaurant that continues to attract national media coverage. 131 Main 17830 N. Statesville Road, Cornelius 1315 East Boulevard 9886 Rea Road www.131-main.com Serving up lunch and dinner at three Charlottearea locations, enjoy creative menu items such as Southern Shrimp and Grits or Ahi Tuna in a casual but welcoming setting. 48
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ready for
summer? Here at Little Ones Magazine we are preparing for the arrival of warmer weather. Take a look at a sneak peek of what we have in store for you!
Pitch a Tent
A Look at Local Campgrounds
Artistic Endeavors Theatrical Kids Shine
All Around the Town Summer Fun and Activity Guide
If your future plans include a flexible and exciting career in sales OR you would like to reach area moms through advertising, call today. 704.677.9159 info@littleonesmagazine.com www.littleonesmagazine.com