Meeting Kids Where They Are

1. Move at their pace. My husband

by Beth Long, PhD, LPC, BCBA

Appreciating the Differences

One of the reasons I am so passionate about my job is that I want to help other parents not make all the mistakes I made. Unfortunately, one of my greatest blunders is that I did not embrace and appreciate the differences between my oldest child and me.

I am an extreme extrovert. I love being around people, listening to people, and watching people. I enjoy humans so much that I built a career around them. I have been genuinely interested in others for as long as I can remember. I have never been afraid of strangers. My parents never had to pay for Girl Scout Camp because I always sold more than enough cookies to go for free.

My oldest child is an extreme introvert. People and social gatherings have always exhausted him. When he was a toddler, he played for hours on his own. He never wastes time on small talk. He is now 21 and has had the same best friend since he was 8 (even though we moved 15 hours away when he was 11).

Because I value people and relationships so much, I viewed his introversion and quietness as a problem. I feared he would never be successful because he would not be able to connect with others. I started to make expectations on the number of people he spoke with at church and school. I required him to schedule social outings with friends. I have no regrets about pushing him in areas that were uncomfortable for him, and he is very thankful that I did. What I do regret is not appreciating our differences and respecting him more.

As he matured into an adult, he recognized that he needed to learn to be comfortable around others. He became a barista, a tutor, and a leader in clubs at his college, and he forced himself into situations that helped him grow in areas that he began to recognize as shortcomings. My oldest was the first person to teach me that we grow and learn when we feel supported, not when we are forced to do so. He also taught me that we all develop in our own time. What do I know now that I wish I had known then?

made our children shake hands with and thank every service member or police officer we saw in public. He modeled this for them, practiced this with them at home, and then always did it first to break the ice. It was very uncomfortable for our children, but they always followed his lead because he moved at their speed and skill level. Over their time in our home, they learned how to do this confidently, and by the time they were teenagers, they could shake hands with and talk to anyone.

2. Recognize the difference between a lack of skill and a personality

preference. We all need to know how to talk to people, but we do not all need to talk to everyone everywhere.

Your number one goal as a parent should be to meet your children where they are and encourage necessary growth. All of us have unique gifts, talents, and purposes. When you are blind to those in your own children because of your biases, you limit their potential and harm your relationship.

Dr. Beth Long received her education in Counseling Psychology from Chapman University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Beth has worked in six unique clinical environments across the country and currently owns Works of Wonder Therapy in Montgomery. Beth utilizes the knowledge from a variety of different disciplines to give her patients the best care possible. To learn more visit www.worksofwondertherapy.com.

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Annual Eastern Shore Medical Alliance King Cake Sale

Fairhope, AlabamaKing Cakes are a unique part of the Mardi Gras season and The Eastern Shore Medical Alliance (ESMA) is helping to keep the good times rolling with their annual king cake sales. ESMA MEMBERS are

selling king cakes through January 24th. These aren’t

just any king cakes but delicious, fresh, cream cheese

filled DELICACIES from New Orleans. Individuals or

companies can purchase their king cake(s) from an

ESMA member or email esmakingcakes@gmail.com. You may also check out their Facebook page at ESMA King Cakes for more information. The cakes are $32 AND must be pre-ordered. They will be available for pick up February 6th and 7th.

ESMA has been selling king cakes for over twenty years to benefit local charities in our area. This year proceeds will benefit Alabama Free Clinic, Under His

Wing, and a brand new facility called the Baldwin

Family Village. The Eastern Shore Medical Alliance is an organization that brings together physicians and their spouses to support the local needs of the Baldwin County community.

Submissions for Young Author’s Anthology Now Being Accepted

Ignite a love for literacy through the power of publishing! The

Metro-Mobile

Literacy Council is now accepting submissions to our 2023 Young Authors’ Anthology (grades 3-5) & Both Sides of the Bay Literary Teen

Magazine (grades 6-12). This is not a contest, but a chance for students to showcase their work. Entries can be poems, short stories,

fiction or non-fiction. The deadline to submit writing

is February 28, 2023. Visit our website at http:// metromobilelit.weebly.com for more information.

Public, private, and homeschool students are encouraged to participate.

Fairhope Elementary Pirate Dash 2023

Register today for the 2023 Pirate Dash 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run to benefit Fairhope

East Elementary, Fairhope West Elementary and J. Larry Newton Elementary School. This beloved community event is set for February 4th at Knoll Park. In its 8th year, the 5K route takes participants through the Fruit & Nut

District of downtown Fairhope and finishes

along beautiful Mobile Bay. The 1-Mile Fun Run is an out and back route along Bayview Avenue. Visit runsignup.com and search Pirate Dash 5K to register by February 1st. For more

information find us on Facebook, Instagram or contact us at thepiratedash@

gmail.com or call 251-648-2122.

Girl Scout Cookie Time!

Stock up on all of your favorite Girl Scout cookies and power unique and amazing experiences for girls with every purchase. This year iconic favorites such as Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagolongs, Doi-dos, Adventurefuls, and Trefoils will be back as well as the newest addition to the Girl Scout cookie line-up, the Raspberry Rally! Also new to customers in Southern

Alabama this year: Lemon-Ups, Girl Scout S’mores and gluten-free Toffee-tastics!

Talk about delicious! Girl Scouts will sell cookies, door-to-door,

at cookie booths and online. On January 6, 2023, Girl Scouts will begin selling door-to-door during the annual Cookie Walkabout Weekend. On January 13,

2023, Girl Scouts will begin selling cookies at cookie booths in their area. Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama will also be hosting cookie drive-thrus on January

13, 2022 at their Montgomery and Mobile offices. The Raspberry Rally will be

sold exclusively online, starting February 27th. The 2022 Girl Scout Cookie Program will end on March 5, so make sure to stock up! The more cookies girls sell, the more earnings they have to power impactful community projects and personal enrichment experiences, such as STEM activities and traveling. Every purchase of Girl Scout Cookies is an investment in girls both now and in the future and their leadership capabilities, with 100 percent of the net revenue

staying local. To learn more about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, and to find out

when Girl Scouts will be selling near you, visit girlscoutssa.org.

Fairhope Girls Softball Registration

Fairhope Girls Softball will be registering for the new season in January. Registration is open to girls 3 - 18. For more information or to register visit www.fairhopegirlssoftball. com Also, “Like” the on Facebook for updates: www.Facebook.com/ fairhopegirlssoftball.

The Senior Bowl is excited to announce its public events for Senior Bowl Week 2023. Join us Thursday, February 2nd for a Stage Divided: A night with the Tide and Tigers, held at the Saengar Theatre at 6:00 p.m. Friday, February

3rd starting at 6:30 p.m., kickoff Mardi Gras season by

joining us on the parade route from the Renaissance Hotel on Royal Street and then west on St. Francis Street past Bienville Square for our annual Mardi Gras player parade. After the parade, please join us for our FREE downtown concert, located at Cathedral Square beginning at 8 p.m. featuring NELLY! Saturday, February 4th, join us on-campus

for game day. Enjoy tailgating, Senior Bowl Fan Fest, Southern University’s “Human Jukebox,” Senior Bowl Team Walk, and the 74th annual Senior Bowl kicking off at 1:30

p.m. Purchase your tickets now at www.seniorbowl.com/tickets.

OWA’s 3rd Annual Arts & Crafts Festival

The 3rd annual OWA Arts & Crafts Festival is scheduled for January 28, from 12-6pm in the beautiful entertainment district of Downtown OWA.

This pedestrian-friendly walking area features an abundance of shops, dining, and entertainment, and will be home to a festival showcasing vendors, live music, kids’ activities and more. Live entertainment will begin at noon featuring dancing by the Poarch

Creek Band of Indian Dancers on the Island Stage. Fun activities for the kids will take place from 12-4pm and beginning at 1:30pm enjoy live music. Guests can expect to be immersed in the sights and sounds of local art, music, and handcrafted goods. This familyfriendly event is completely free to attend and enjoy. Visit www.visitowa.com.

9th Annual Joy of Life Mardi Gras Ball

The 9th Annual

Wind Creek Hospitality “Joy of Life” Mardi Gras Ball benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research

Hospital will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at the Daphne Civic Center. The 2023 gala will present St. Jude patients as King and Queen. The “Joy of Life”

Mardi Gras Ball will showcase the culinary skills of Mobile’s most amazing chefs and restaurants, a live and silent auction, as well as great musical entertainment all while raising funds for the St. Jude’s.

There are many patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN from the Mobile and Baldwin County area receiving treatment for cancer and other life threatening diseases. St. Jude Children’s

Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other deadly diseases. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for the care their child receives. Visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ joy-of-life-ball-2022/ for more information.

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