Mobile Bay Parents - Feb 2022 by KeepSharing

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Want to get your child vaccinated? USAHealthVaccines.com Children need protection from COVID-19 for both their health and the health of family and friends. New COVID-19 variants and more in-person activities mean the virus still is being transmitted, and kids still are getting sick.

Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is available to kids 5 years old and up, getting the vaccine is the best thing to do for your child’s health.

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February2022 26

Volume 11 Number 11

Columns

2 Publisher’s Note

Tweens, Teens & Screens

Help Your Child Enjoy Daycare or Preschool

Why boundaries are so important with your child’s devices.

A prescription for smooth days.

4 Kids Say the Wisest Things Beth Long, PhD, LPC, BCBA

8 Kids Health Watch sponsored by Children’s Medical Group

29 Tweens, Teens and Screens Kristi Bush, LSW

2022 Child Care Guide

Our detailed listing of daycares, preschools, and MMO programs.

Your Fitness Journey Success depends largely on following these three steps!

40 Dave Says Dave Ramsey

Departments On The Cover Ethan Simms (5), son of Ogan and Shauna-Gaye Simms and little brother to Nathan Simms (13). Ethan enjoys baseball and plays at Westside Park. He also likes battling his big brother in Beyblades, helping his mom cook and reading. His favorite part of every day is story time before bed. Ethan says he wants to be just like his big brother when he grows up.

6 Bits and Pieces 9 School Bits 36 Family Calendar

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Mobile Bay Mobile Bay’s Foremost Parenting Source

So, how are your New Year’s resolutions coming? To be honest with you, my resolution to get back into my fitness routine has been slow going. I have been really frustrated with myself these last few weeks. I just could not understand why I started and stuck to a fitness routine a few years ago, but was now finding it hard to get back in that groove. I mainly blame the disruption of 2020 for throwing me off my routine, but there is no excuse for not having gotten back to it at this point. So what was different in 2018 that provided me with more motivation and success? It was not until I read Pam Moore’s, Every Successful Fitness Journey Starts With These Three Steps, that I was able to reflect back and see exactly why I had success before. In my previous attempt, I had unconsciously implemented all three of Pam’s steps, but this time I had neglected one step due to a change in my morning routine. I won’t spoil the article by going into more detail, but I can speak from experience when I tell you that these steps worked for me. So, if you are struggling to get into your fitness groove, I highly encourage you to turn to page 34 and pay special attention to Step One. While my transition from couch potato to fitness fan may be a tough one, it won’t be nearly as tough as it was for me to transition from working woman to working MOM. Once I became a mom, the thought of handing my precious gift over to someone else for child care just seemed impossible. But, after much research, many visits, and lots of prayers, I found a setting that worked beautifully for our family. Placing your child into daycare, or even preschool, for the first time can be emotional for families. However, once everyone is settled into the new routine, it can be a very positive experience for both the parents and the children. For some encouraging news on the benefits of child care and tips to help your family transition through this change more smoothly, check out Sandra Gordon’s feature, Help Your Child Make the Most of Daycare and Preschool, on page 26. One of the first steps in choosing a center is to make a checklist of your must haves, hope to haves, and additional questions to ask when you visit for a tour. Once you have your checklist, you will want to flip over to page 30 where you will find a list of local centers in our Child Care Guide. This directory includes every daycare, preschool, and mom’s day out program that we could find in the area. As I say every year, child care is not a one size fits all. Make sure you do your research to find the best fit for you and your child. In keeping with the theme of transitions, it won’t be long until we will be transitioning from the cooler temps of winter to the warmer days of spring. With this welcomed change also comes our March SUMMER CAMP issue! So, if your business, organization, or school is planning to host a summer camp this year, please let us know by February 10. The March issue will be packed with awesome camp opportunities and you don’t want to miss having yours included! In the meantime, keep working on those 2022 goals and have a wonderful February!

Lynn

Publisher Lynn Knighton lynn@mobilebayparents.com Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@mobilebayparents.com Associate Editor Kelly Watson Research Editor Lucy Green

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Jennifer Adair, M.D. Kristi Bush, LSW Sandra Gordon Beth Long, PhD, LPC, BCBA Pam Moore Dave Ramsey

Cover Photography Hannah Stinson Photography www.HannahStinsonPhotography.com

63 President Jason Watson Advertising Sales Lynn Knighton ads@mobilebayparents.com (251) 304-1200 Ad Design Tim Welch

Mobile Bay Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: P.O. Box 81105, Mobile, Alabama, 36689. The phone number for voice and fax is (251) 304-1200. Mobile Bay Parents is copyrighted 2022 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Mobile Bay Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

Contributing Writers

Visit us at www.mobilebayparents.com

lynn@mobilebayparents.com

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

Mobile Bay Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. Mobile Bay Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

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Inspire. CREATE. PERFORM. Azalea City Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization with the mission to provide opportunities for children and adults to explore the world of artistic expression while strengthening academic skills and encouraging personal growth.

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Beginning and Advanced Acting Classes Musical Theater Dance Gymnastics Private Voice Lessons Group and Individual Music Lessons in Piano, Guitar, Violin, Drums and Woodwinds • Broadway Bound After Care

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Kindergarten through 5th Grade

*Field trip opportunities available for these shows

Our group and individual music lessons are ongoing! Visit us online at FullScaleSchool.com for more information. 3

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by Beth Long, PhD, LPC, BCBA

“Who Made Communication So Hard?” (Part 2: Ages 7-10) “Who made communication so hard?” Such a wise question from a child. I simply responded, “Everyone sweet girl, everyone.” Last month, I wrote about how to communicate effectively with children from birth through age 6. This month we will explore how to best communicate with children 7 through 10 years of age. If I could define this age in one word it would “explorers”. The ability to solve problems, comprehend cause and effect, and take responsibility for their actions emerge in this stage of life. These children are fully excited by the world around them and want to experience all of it. The primary role of parents in this stage is to “encourage”. It is vital for you to encourage (without judgement) their exploration of interests, friends, and extra-curricular activities. Sadly, the emotional immaturity and sensitivity at this age too often leave children feeling discouraged. I hope these four simple rules will help you as you navigate this tight rope.

First, watch your body language. Make sure you are affirming with your face, body, and words. When possible, look at your child when they are talking to you and give her all of your attention. Make sure you devote a portion of each day to this. Most parents do this at bedtime, but find what works best for you and your family. Second, show empathy. Empathy is when you put yourself in another person’s shoes. Remind yourself what it was like to be 8 years old. When your parents would not let play outside after dark or forced you to visit family instead of going to your best friend’s birthday party. You can empathize with your child’s frustration without giving into it. One of the best ways to empathize is to tell your child a story from your own childhood so they know they are not alone. Third, delay correction. Resist the urge to resolve the situation and let your child present possible solutions. You will be pleasantly surprised by some of his solutions. Also, you will be meeting your child right where he is developing new skills.

Fourth, avoid shaming language at all costs. When people feel shame, they believe they are inherently broken. Be careful to address your child’s behavior without attacking her as a person. Instead of, “You are so clumsy!” when your child spills her drink say, “You need to be more careful carrying your drink.” It is also essential for parents to not shame others. For example, if you see a man yelling at a cashier, talk to your children about how he is handling his anger inappropriately instead of simply saying, “He is a really mean man.” My favorite way to communicate challenging lessons effectively with children at this stage is through stories. Intentionally watch movies, read books, and discuss people who overcame difficult situations and failures. Especially if you can find a story that relates to specific areas where your child needs to grow as a person. Stories of other people allow children to learn while bypassing their emotional sensitivities and insecurities. The most important thing to remember is that you cannot stop being their biggest cheerleader when they become discouraged. You can always find something to brag about. If your child is the least athletic person on the field, brag about him being the nicest in the dugout. If your child falls at the dance recital, reward her for getting up and trying again. Do whatever you can to constantly encourage them to continue exploring. 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.

Shop our Pop-up Sales

for New, Nearly New & Vintage Fashions from your favorite brands and designers, All Sizes from Petite to Plus at Thrifty Prices! A Fashionable Fundraiser for Our Sisters' Closet.

To receive notifications register your email at www.OurSistersCloset.org Like Our Sisters Closet on Facebook, & for a text reminder: text the message CPC to phone #24251

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2022 Joe Cain Classic 5K Run, 1 Mile, and "Moonpie Dash"

The 31st Annual Joe Cain Classic 5K Run will be held Sunday, February 27, (Joe Cain Day) in downtown Mobile. at 8:00 a.m. beginning and ending at the corner of Broad and Canal Streets. Proceeds from the race consist of race entry fees and corporate sponsorship and are given to challenged athletes who deal with their handicaps through athletic endeavors.

Buds and Brews

2022 Mobile Diabetes Walk for Camp Seale Harris

The 9th Annual Buds and Brews is back at Cathedral Square - Saturday, March 12, from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. This laid back, one of a kind event features live entertainment, local beers, good food, and larger than life floral sculptures! The heart of Mobile's entertainment district will be transformed into an oasis highlighting our Gulf Coast gifts by land, air & sea. Proceeds will go towards helping our Health Care Heroes at Ascension Providence with the purchase of Advanced MRI Patient Care Monitors. Please visit festivalofflowers.com for tickets.

Join us at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park for the 2022 Mobile Walk for Camp Seale Harris on March 13. The walk for Camp Seale Harris is a family-friendly Walk/Run raising awareness of diabetes, and an opportunity for participant fundraising efforts to make it possible for kids to attend Camp Seale Harris for kids and families living with diabetes. You can register yourself, or a team, for the WALK, and invite friends, family, and co-workers to join your effort by donating to your WALK page. For more information on building a team, donating, or WALK sponsorships for your family, contact us at (205) 402-0415.

The Science of Archimedes Exhibit

The Exploreum Science Center is proud to announce its upcoming international exhibition, The Science of Archimedes, running February 1-May 14, 2022. Journey back in time more than 2,000 years to discover the incredible inventions of Archimedes, the father of modern science. Handcrafted by the Artisans of Florence, Archimedes contains more than 60 exhibits and inventions, many of which are hands-on, allowing visitors the opportunity to use them in an epic, interactive environment. Guests will be encouraged to explore the innovative machines that continue to influence the technologies of today (many of which are powered by sustainable energy sources).

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

Lip Sync Battle

Fuse Project is bringing the ultimate Lip Sync Battle to Downtown Mobile on Thursday, February 3. Select teams will compete before a panel of "celebrity" judges and peers for the chance to take home the trophy and earn bragging rights. Teams will be made up of community members, not professionals, who will be preparing their best moves and costumes in the weeks leading up to the competition. The best part is, there is no risk of revealing you are actually tone-deaf when every pitch is guaranteed to be perfect! There will be live entertainment and unique auction items up for grabs between performances. Fuse Project’s Lip Sync Battle brings the most fun and unforgettable fundraising experience to Alabama’s Gulf Coast! Please visit https://lipsync.fuseproject.org/ for more information. 6

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Saturdays at the Coop!

8th Annual "Joy of Life" Mardi Gras Ball

The 8th Annual Wind Creek Hospitality "Joy of Life" Mardi Gras Ball benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will take place on Saturday, February 5. The 2022 gala will present St. Jude patients as King and Queen. The 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 Children's Research Hospital. Please visit https:// joyoflifegulfcoast.org/events/joy-of-life-mardigras-ball-2022/ for more information.

The Concert Series at Cooper Riverside Park is BACK! The City of Mobile Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with Visit Mobile, invites you to a series of FUN and FREE Events! One Saturday each month! Relax and enjoy evenings under the stars with: Live Musical Entertainment, Food Trucks, Local Vendors & more. January 15, 7-10pm: The Six Piece Suits February 12, 7-10pm: The Boukou Groove March 12, 7-10pm: Red and the Revelers *April 9, Battleship Park Location, 3-5pm: Kickstand Jenny (rock) May 14, 7-10pm: Brandon Blackburn June 11, 7-10pm: Everyday People July 9, Kids Day Event, 4-7pm: Andy Roo & The Andyrooniverse More dates in 2022 can be found online. Chairs and blankets encouraged!

Every year, Bellingrath Gardens and Home hosts special programs during the winter months. Each workshop covers a special feature of the Gardens or Home, tips for making your garden more spectacular, or guest lectures from renowned members of the horticultural and gardening world. January 12-February 23, the programs begin at 10:30 a.m. and usually last about one hour. The Winter Wednesday events are included in Gardens admission. Admission for members is free. Reservations are requested for each program. To make a reservation, please call 251-4598868 or email bellingrath@bellingrath.org. Please visit https://bellingrath.org/winterwednesdays/ for more information.

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KidsHealthWatch

Sponsored by Children’s Medical Group

What to Do When Confused About Your Health Our bodies are an amazing collection of cells and organs that miraculously work together to give us this life we enjoy. We are wonderfully made, and many times we take for granted our good health. So what do we do when our bodies aren’t allowing us to enjoy the things we normally love to do? What happens when we start to feel “off” or “out of it” either from being sick or mentally not being able to function as well? Hopefully, you have a trusted person in your life you can talk to. A mom, dad, grandparent, friend, or teacher can be a great confidant and someone to hear your concerns and offer a solution. I feel that with this age of social media, everyone wants to try and portray a perfect life. However, life is messy. For everyone. You may feel like no one would understand what you are feeling or what you are going through. However, there is probably someone else that has been through something similar and would be a good person to talk to.

Another person who wants to help you is your pediatrician. There are normal physical changes that occur as you age and there are normal mental changes that occur, too. As you get older, you have the opportunity to talk to your pediatrician alone if you want to and ask any questions or talk about any concerns that you have been afraid to ask anyone else. What many teens and preteens do not always know is that when you are talking to a doctor, what you tell them is just between you two. The only time they need to get another person involved is if you give them permission to or if you are planning on hurting yourself or someone else. So that is a lot of topics you can cover if you are too embarrassed to ask someone else! Lately, there have been so many people of all ages trying to work through their anxiety, sadness, figuring out what is normal with puberty, and trying to figure out causes of why they feel bad. Your parents, loved ones, and doctors are here to help you through this. Then

you eventually will have successfully navigated through the problem and can help a friend who is going through something similar after you! God has made us each with unique strengths and weaknesses and wants us to learn, grow and change during each stage of life! We are not meant to go through this life alone. We are all meant to learn and help each other. It can start with just one person like a parent or friend to confide in when you have questions. Everyone unfortunately does not have all the answers, but together we can help you and each other navigate and enjoy this life and enjoy all the small moments.

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Jennifer Adair, M.D., was born and raised in Mobile. She joined Children’s Medical Group in July 2013 and currently practices at their Airport office. Jennifer and her husband, Cory, reside in Mobile with their sons, Finn and James Albert, and their three dogs, Barkley, Fitz, and Roo.

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Autauga County Schools McGill-Toolen Little Flower 7th Grader Wins School Student Earns Spelling Highest Girl Bee Scouts Award Congratulations

to Little Flower Catholic School 7th Grader, Karrington George, for winning our school Spelling Bee! Karrington will go on to represent Little Flower at the Archdiocesan Spelling Bee for Catholic Schools in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. We are so proud of all our finalists for their preparation and hard work in preparing for the Bee. A special thank you to our Notre Dame ACE teacher, Ms. Mallory Hill, for organizing and leading the Bee.

McT Junior Grace Hosemann created a much needed library for The Learning Tree to earn the highest award in Girls Scouts - the Gold Award. She transformed a forgotten and cluttered storage room into an inviting and comfortable reading space with a fresh coat of paint, new window treatments, bean bag chairs, carpet squares, fairy lights, and over a thousand books donated by friends, family, and several area Catholic schools (St. Dominic, St. Mary, and Corpus Christi). To ensure The Learning Tree library continues to have new and engaging books for the students, the Catholic schools have each agreed to incorporate an annual book drive into their student service opportunities.

ASMS Launches Brand New Summer Camp to Support Job Growth in STEM

Conversations about employment in STEM are on the rise, and the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS) is taking action. This year, the school will be launching the inaugural Alabama STEM Leadership Academy summer camp for rising Alabama 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. Participants will stay on the ASMS campus and gain access to advanced courses, leadership training, and community building facilitated by expert faculty members. Campers will engage in unique STEM courses like 3D Printing • ACT Prep • Cyberpatriots Basic Cyber Program Underwater Robotics • Labs of Doom • Geology of Minecraft • Laser Cutting 3D Modeling • Using Java • Rocketry • And Many More! In addition to foundational knowledge in their subjects, students will also learn the leadership soft skills needed to gravitate to the top of their fields one day. The program is also designed with interactive activities to help young learners build friendships and gain a support network for pursuing their goals in STEM. This is a great opportunity for students to pursue a premier STEM curriculum amidst a fun and engaging summer experience! Session 1 is from June 6 to 10, 2022, and Session 2 is from June 13 to 17, 2022. Registration and more information are available at:https://www.asms.net/ outreach/alabama-stem-leadership-academy. Questions about the camp can be directed to asla@asms.net.

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Autauga County Schools Dunbar Magnet School Students Collect Items for Penelope House

The National Junior Honor Society at Dunbar Magnet School of Performing Arts collected items for Penelope House Inc. The ladies at the Penelope House were extremely grateful for the many items donated, such as, shoes, toiletry items, hand sanitizer, diapers, and bed sheets.

Council's Spelling Bee Winner

Congratulations to Raeed Hossain, Council's 2021-2022 Spelling Bee winner! Raeed is in 5th grade at Council and he received a perfect score in the spelling bee. We are confident that Raeed will do an excellent job at the next level.

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

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Clark-Shaw students had a chance to play Santa for the "Stuff the Bus" Toy Drive! In just a few days in early December, we collected over 200 toys for the MCPSS Magical Christmas Toy Drive. Members of the National Junior Honor Society helped organize the collection efforts, and National Junior Honor Society officers (pictured here) stuffed the bus on December 8th. This was part of a larger effort by the Mobile County Public School System which eventually collected over 7,000 toys county-wide. Pictured from left to right are Victoria Howell, Ava Grace Gibson, Madeline Borchert, Addison Everett, Olivia Watson, and Addison Jones.

Congratulations to Davidson’s NJROTC Operations Officer Lieutenant Junior Grade Blessings Kibet! She was selected as one of 25 NJROTC students nationwide for the summer 2022 Commander Naval Air Force Private Pilot Scholarship Flight Academy Program. The scholarship will pay for round-trip airfare, room and board, collegiate academics, and flight hours required to potentially earn a Private Pilot’s Certificate (PPC) through an in-residence collegiate program that is approximately eight weeks in length at Embry Riddle or Delaware State University.

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Clark-Shaw Stuffs the Bus with Toys at Christmas

Davidson HS NJROTC Student Receives Scholarship for Flight Academy Program

Davidson IB Students Enjoy Festive Holiday Party

Students in grades 9 through 12 who are part of DHS's International Baccalaureate (IB) program met in the gym for festive, fun fellowship in December! Activities included a hot chocolate bar and cookie decorating (courtesy of the DHS culinary department), basketball, volleyball, and giant Jenga. To show appreciation for their teachers, students wrote notes of gratitude and donated candy used to fill treat bags that were delivered to faculty before the holiday.

Old Shell Road Magnet School Student Wins Poster Contest

Congratulations to Marley Conner, winner of the 2022 Mobile County Film Festival poster contest. Marley is pictured here with her art teacher, Ms. Monica J. Beasley, and her award-winning poster.

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Sixth Annual SPOTLIGHT Talent Showcase

The Sixth Annual Gulf Coast Spotlight Talent Showcase, hosted by Distinguished Young Women, will return to an in-person showcase on Sunday, March 13! After two years of digital showcases, students have will perform at Murphy High School for a chance to earn funds for the arts programs at their schools. All applications and audition videos are due March 12, 2021. All applications are due by February 11. The program was launched in 2017 as an effort to shine a light on talented young performers in Mobile and Baldwin counties, encourage and reward their pursuits and give funds to local schools to support arts programs, thereby reaching more children in the Gulf Coast region. Local students in grades 1-12 will compete in four divisions. The winners in each division will be given a $500 gift made in their name to an arts program at their school. For more information on SPOTLIGHT, visit GulfCoastSpotlight.com or contact Tara Principe at Tara@DistinguishedYW.org.

St. Dominic Students Create Gingerbread Houses

St. Dominic Catholic School 6th grade art students had fun creating symmetrical gingerbread houses. Students created an oil pastel resist and completed the gingerbread house with puff paint for the “royal icing” made from equal parts of shaving cream and white school glue.

Computer Science at Heart of Mary

Classes are in full swing at Heart of Mary Catholic School to kickoff the new year, and Mr. West’s Computer Science elective is no exception! Our middle school students met with Mr. West in the Computer Lab, and each student had the opportunity to choose between game design, graphic design and website design. Pictured are 8th graders in their creative elements. 11

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Autauga County Schools Barton Academy Announces Teacher of the Year

Barton Academy is proud to announce that Mr. Will Edmonds is their inaugural teacher of the year! Mr. Edmonds exemplifies what it means to be an explorer. He was selected by his peers because they appreciate how helpful and generous he is as a coworker, how he goes above and beyond to create learning experiences that are engaging for his French students and the entire school as a teacher, and how positive and professional he is to work with as part of the Barton family. Congratulations! Merci, Monsieur Edmonds!

Little Flower Catholic School Enjoys Playground Fun

Students at Little Flower Catholic School took advantage of a perfect playground day to climb on their favorite climbing platform.

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St. Luke’s Hosts Wildcat Winter Extravaganza

St. Luke's fine and performing arts department hosted a Wildcat Winter Extravaganza featuring the Upper School Concert Band, drama program, choir, 6th grade band, string ensemble, and many guest performers! The event provided great music and a gallery showcasing St. Luke’s student art, as well as a viewing of the completed phase I of the auditorium lobby project.

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Phillips Prep School Band Winter Concert

Phillips Preparatory School's Beginners Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic band students, led by Ms. Galemore, dazzled the crowd during their Winter Concert performance at Davidson High.

Beloved Crossing Guard Retires from Corpus Christi Catholic

December 16th was "Ms. Voncile Day" at Corpus Christi Catholic School. Ms. Voncile Smith was the crossing guard at the school for 16 years. She kept students safe while also being a blessing to so many parents and commuters along Hillcrest Road with her contagious smile and positive attitude each and every day. She had announced her retirement at the start of the school year and December 17 was her last day as the crossing guard. Her retirement is well deserved but she will be greatly missed! The school held a parade in honor of Ms. Voncile and students had the opportunity to share cards and hugs with her. 8th-grader Cate Veasey is pictured giving Ms. Voncile a card.

2021 CHCA Pioneer Day

Eleventh grade students in Cottage Hill Christian Academy’s AP US History II partnered with our fourth grade students for our annual Pioneer Day. High school students planned skits, activities, and crafts to help our elementary students experience a taste of life as a pioneer. APUSHII students spent several weeks researching this period in history and creating ways to present information to the younger students. This is a favorite activity for both groups of students each year!

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Autauga County Schools St. Pius X Student Government St. Ignatius Christmas Program December holds our annual Christmas Program for Kindergarten-8th Organizes Collection Drive grade at St. Ignatius. Each grade level performs a special Christmas

song along with an entire play choreographed by beloved music teacher, Mrs. Bailey. Such is tradition at St. Ignatius that our Kindergarten students form the live nativity. Their nativity debuts at the Christmas program and has an encore at Christmas Eve Mass.

The Saint Pius X Student Government was featured on Fox 10 News for organizing a collection drive to keep folks warm this winter ~ collecting scarves, gloves, hats and blankets for those in need. We would like to especially thank all who donated!

St. Dominic Students Make Snow Globes

St. Dominic Catholic School Little Eagles made Winter Wonderland snow globes as part of their unit studying the Winter season. They also learned about many different Winter animals.

OUR SCHOOL IS Childcare & Preschool • Infant - 6 years old

Our Activities Exercises of Practical Life. Care of self & care of environment. Languages: spoken, reading & writing. Culture, geography & science. Colors, Numbers & counting concepts.

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Inspiring & encouraging children to reach for the stars. WEINACKERSMONTESSORI.COM Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

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UMS-Wright Students Participate in Project Engage 2022

Project Engage 2022: 47 teachers, 379 students, 16 mini buses, one shuttle bus, two vans, a driver's ed car, three charters, 3 buses, 2 airplanes, 38 internships, 17 classes, 18 cities = a once in a lifetime opportunity. UMS-Wright is always striving to provide unique opportunities to enhance the lives of our students, and Project Engage does just that. It offers a crosscurriculum, hands-on learning experience that allows students to delve deeply into an area of personal interest while developing deeper relationships with peers and faculty with similar academic curiosities! Project Engage 2022 kicked off on January 5 with a variety of adventures and experiences for our 9-12 grade students. Throughout this 10-day mini-term, students had learning experiences along the Gulf Coast, Boston, New York City, Disney World, New Orleans, and other exciting places! They participated in flight simulations, cooking classes, archaeology digs, museum tours, hunting excursions, camp outs, indoor skydiving and much more. The Project Engage 2022 courses offered were as follows: Physics Xtreme; Cooking & Culinary; Design | Build | Fly; Art & Architecture; Mission: Mobile; Forestry; Gulf Coast Heritage Tour; Habitat; Adventure Awaits in NYC & Boston; Take a Journey; Style Your Space; Sorting of the Sciences (Disney World); Exploring Recreational Sports; Criminal Justice; and Archaeology. The wheels are already turning for Project Engage 2023!

St. Mary Angel Tree Volunteers Bring Joy to those in Need

St. Mary Catholic School partnered with St. Mary Church and St Mary's St. Vincent de Paul Society to purchase Christmas gifts for children and seniors in our community in need through the annual Angel Tree Project. These groups also collected food items for the annual Christmas food baskets for families in need. Pictured are St. Mary Middle School students after loading the last car of perfectly wrapped gifts for delivery to Catholic Social Services.

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Autauga County Schools Polar Express at Little Flower Catholic

Little Flower Kindergarten students came to school in their pajamas, but not because they forgot to get dressed for school. They came in their pajamas because there was a Polar Express theme day in their class. For those unfamiliar, The Polar Express is a much-loved story about a boy who gets to ride the train to the North Pole while he is still in his pajamas. While the students didn't get to ride to the North Pole, they enjoyed the magic and mystery of hearing the story read to them by their teacher, Miss Lilly.

Corpus Christi Catholic School Celebrates Día de Velitas

Día de Velitas, or in English, Day of the Little Candles, is a tradition in Colombia. It is celebrated each year on the evening of December 7th, which is the day before the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. It is the official start of the Christmas season in Colombia. Mrs. Pettway, the Spanish teacher at Corpus Christi Catholic School, created the Day of Little Candles at the school. The students in grades 3 - 8th designed their own luminaires just like the towns and neighborhoods in Colombia design their unique luminaires. Throughout the day, classes visited the luminaires for quiet prayer time.

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Please email School News to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 10th of the month.

St. Mary 11th Annual Lighting Up Midtown Christmas Tree Through the generosity of many volunteers, the 11th annual Lighting Up Midtown event was a success! Pictured is St. Mary's tree lighting Angel, St. Mary's kindergarten teacher Ellen Marston, with Santa and members of the Lafayette and Crichton Fire Station Crews who brought in Santa and helped Ellen light the tree! All St. Mary students participated in the event including a special Christmas Pageant performance and creating handmade ornaments for St. Mary's tree.

St. Pius X Singalong

Saint Pius X Catholic School wrapped-up a great first-half of the school year with our annual “Singalong”! Each class has the opportunity to choose their song and costume, and they perform their selection for the entire school, family and friends. Each one did an amazing job!

St. Mary Catholic Christmas Pageant

St. Mary Catholic School first and second grade students performed the annual Christmas Pageant which debuted at the St. Mary Lighting Up Midtown Christmas Tree Lighting this past December. Under the direction of their teachers, Mandy Boyle, Anne Lyon, Bethany Brewer, and Amy Duncan, these students beautifully told the greatest story ever told, the birth of Baby Jesus. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

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McGill-Toolen Senior Named Top Three Running Back in State

McT Senior Braylon McReynolds (pictured with Coach Norman Joseph) attended the Alabama Sports Writers Association Players of the Year Banquet. He was named to the top 3 running backs in the state for 6A and was awarded the Edward Jones AL.com Coastal Region Football MVP!

Barton Academy Students Place in Local Art Contests

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Some Barton Academy students recently participated in two local art contests submitting some

very impressive artwork. The winning artwork was created by Bella Rippey, Jessica French, Madisyn Rylee, and Meagan Persinger. We are very proud of our artists, led by our amazing art teacher, Christy LeGros. 17

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St. Ignatius Flag Committee

Each year at St. Ignatius students volunteer to be on the flag committee. These dedicated volunteers learn about the sanctity of our American flag, its history, how to care for it and each day, raise and lower it with a smile on their face.

Autauga County Schools UMS-Wright Lower School Serves the Community in December

During the school year, UMS-Wright recognizes the importance of giving back to the community, which in turn helps "...to produce in each student character of the highest possible order." The month of December was no exception. Students in the Lower School, grades K3-4, served our community during the Holiday Season. K3 donated hygiene items to the Joseph Project, K4 fulfilled items on Wilmer Hall’s wish list, K5 supported our deployed troops through Dixie Rear Detachment, 1st grade collected pajamas for Penelope House, 2nd grade donated toys to USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, 3rd grade collected household items and gift cards for the Ronald McDonald House, and 4th grade donated household items to Dumas Wesley. Today, and every day, UMS-Wright continues to set the example in servant leadership!

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Basketball Season at Heart of Mary

It’s basketball season at Heart of Mary Catholic School! Our Lions kicked-off their season with an impressive showing and have continued to play with pride into the new year. We would like to give a very special thank you to our teachers and coaches for volunteering their time to lead our students.

Clark-Shaw Spelling Bee Winners

The annual Clark-Shaw Spelling Bee was held on December 6th. The competition included the winners from each language arts class from grades 6-8. The overall champion was Grant Langham, and the runner-up was Madeline Borchert. Both are members of the Clark-Shaw Scholars Bowl. Grant will represent Clark-Shaw at the county-level spelling bee.

CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC SCHOOL Building the Body of Christ, One Student at a Time.

Registration for the 2022 - 2023 school year is happening NOW. Established in 1958, Corpus Christi Catholic School provides students in K2 through eighth grade an outstanding education. The mission of Corpus Christi Catholic School is to nurture every child by providing opportunities to grow in faith, achieve academic success, and serve others as disciples of Jesus. 6300 McKenna Drive • Mobile, Alabama 36608 • school. corpuschristiparish.com

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Autauga County Schools Phillips Prep School Rusty Glover visits CHCA Rusty Glover Winter Chorus Concert recently visited

The melodious sounds of Phillips Preparatory School's Chorus students resonated throughout Murphy High School's auditorium this December as they presented their Winter Chorus Concert. Dr. Shearer, Phillips Preparatory School's Concert director and her students prepared for weeks for this stellar performance and it did not disappoint.

Cottage Hill Christian Academy to speak with seniors in their Government and Economics class. He spoke to them about government, the state legislative process, and current events. Mr. Glover has taught history at MGM, served one term in the Alabama House, three terms in the Senate, and is now running for State Auditor. Thank you to teacher Mike Smith for inviting Rusty Glover to speak to our students!

Please email School News to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com by the 7th of the month.

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St. Dominic Class Gets New Smart Board

PreK 4 loves their new classroom smart board! It sure makes circle time so much fun. Thank you to our St. Dominic families for your support of our annual fundraiser, the Eagle Extravaganza. This is just one of many technology "upgrades" made possible from that event.

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

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St. Luke’s Hosts Annual Biomedical Sciences Trauma Week

St. Luke’s Biomedical Science Students benefited from a week of real life hands-on learning as they followed each step of the scenario of a near-drowning that occurred when the patient (mannikin) had a seizure, lost consciousness, and sank to the bottom of the pool which resulted in cardiac arrest. DAY 1: RESCUE AND EMS - The students observed the USA Main Campus Rec Center lifeguards rescue the victim from the bottom of the pool by responding quickly, calling 911, and bringing the victim to the surface onto the pool deck. CPR was initiated, the AED indicated an irregular rhythm, and shock was administered. EMS arrived on the scene, applied a LUCAS (mechanical CPR machine) to perform compressions, the patient was packaged and then transported to the ER by Mobile Fire-Rescue. DAY 2: ER - The patient arrived at the emergency department and was cared for by a trauma nurse and doctor from University Hospital. They discussed the assessment, diagnostics, and treatment they would do for a drowning victim. The students observed use of a video laryngoscope to see the anatomical structures they would look for if they were performing an intubation and also practiced starting a tibial intraosseous IV (in the bone). DAY 3 : PICU - A physician assistant from the pediatric intensive care unit at USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital explained how she would treat our teen submersion patient. She discussed possible neurological concerns and pulmonary issues that the patient would be experiencing. Day 4: RESCUE AND RECOVERY - Volunteers from the Mobile County Sheriff's Flotilla talked to the students about their jobs rescuing and recovering drowning victims. They discussed the many bodies of water around Mobile including ponds, lakes, rivers, tributaries, delta, bay, and the gulf, and explained the role that tides and currents play in moving a body from the original location and how they often can predict where it will surface and when. DAY 5: US COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - Students learned how to avoid the injuries and situations discussed earlier in the week from a US Coast Guard Auxiliary. He taught a mini version of their 8-hour boating safety class and demonstrated boat inspection.

The path to

MENDING HER

HEART

was actually through her leg. Olivia was born with a congenital heart defect requiring open heart surgery at 3 months old. She also required a second surgery as a teen to replace her pulmonary valve – but this time they went through a vein in her leg to insert the Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve in her heart. This less-invasive path to replacement shortened her recovery time, and she went home the next day. Olivia was the first pediatric patient in the southeast to receive the Harmony valve, and it was here at Children’s of Alabama.

Olivia

To learn more visit ChildrensAL.org/heart

Tetralogy of Fallot Patient

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Autauga County Schools

Clark-Shaw Bands Present Winter Concert

For the first time in over a year, Clark-Shaw bands were able to showcase their talents in live performances! On December 14, the Winter Concert was held in the school gym, which featured the strings group, jazz band, beginning band (6th grade), intermediate band (7th grade), advanced band (8th grade), and a performance by the dance team. On December 16, the Jazz Band (shown here) performed at Bellingrath Gardens as part of their Magical Christmas in Lights program. We commend the students and their band director, Ms. Crystal Reynolds, on their performances.

Please email School News and Photos to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com.

Phillips Prep School Drama Performance

Phillips Preparatory School's Drama students, led by Mrs. Vickers and Ms. Walton, performed the stage play "Stocking Stuffers," and had the audience in awe of their showstopper performance.

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Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

• Beach Volleyball • Tennis • Canoeing • Golf • Archery • Gymnastics • Cheerleading • Dance • Chorus • Drama • Arts & Crafts

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St. Luke’s 3rd Grade Brings History to Life

St. Luke’s 3rd grade brought history to life by spending the day learning about the holiday traditions of the Colonial Era. The students learned about the similarities and differences between a Colonial Christmas celebration and our own modern version. The day consisted of carols, dancing, games, food and making homemade gifts and decorations.

St. Pius X Spelling Bee Winners

Congratulations to the Saint Pius X 4th -8th grade classroom Spelling Bee winners! Pictured from left to right: Colt Benson, Malcom Howard, EveMarie Gaudet, Joseph Pham and Preston Blanchard. A special congratulations goes to our overall winner, 5th grader, EveMarie Gaudet! We are so proud of all of our spellers; it takes a lot of preparation and courage to spell in front of an audience. Thanks to it being “Polar Express Day”, students were able to spell and spectate in their comfiest clothes!

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Christmas Party at Cottage Hill Christian

The Big and Little Buddies at CHCA were able to share the joy of Christmas with one another before the holiday break. Nothing says fun like yummy snacks, presents, and a joint craft. Every face held a smile during this fun Christmas party!

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Autauga County Schools

CHCA Elementary Students Share Christmas Cheer

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Cottage Hill Christian Academy elementary students performed at the annual “Smoky Mountain Christmas” luncheon. The senior adults loved to hear the children perform their favorite Christmas songs. We are thankful for a wonderful partnership with Cottage Hill Baptist Church.

Please email School News and Photos to Lynn@mobilebayparents.com.

Drexel Society Makes Donation to Heart of Mary Catholic School

Heart of Mary Catholic School was blessed once again by a generous donation from the Drexel Society, Mobile Chapter! The ladies brought gift bags containing a hat, pair of gloves and candy canes for every student. Mrs. Johnson was grateful for the opportunity to accept these gifts on the student’s behalf. A special thank you to the Mobile Chapter of the Drexel Society for always giving back to our beloved school.

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St. Mary Catholic Celebrates the Feast of St. Nick!

St. Mary Catholic eighth graders who have attended St. Mary since kindergarten participated in the annual Feast of St. Nicholas Christmas treats delivery to all the students, faculty, and staff of their school. Dawning Santa hats and good cheer, the students brought joy to their entire school.

Davidson HS Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Michelle Cowan, Davidson High School's Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Cowan has taught in Mobile County Public Schools for the past 22 years, and she's been a Warrior for the past 11 years. She currently teaches Honors English 9 and a Shakespeare elective; she's also taught mythology, newspaper, Dual Enrollment English 12, Advanced Placement Literature and Composition, Honors English 12, and Theater I and II. She currently serves as the Davidson sponsor for the Azalea Trail Maids and as the Band Booster Secretary.

Way to go Council Archery Team Aim, draw, RELEASE! Council's archery team hit the mark at the Bright Beginnings Tournament. Way to go Council Comets!"

Phillips Prep School’s Spelling Bee Winner

Congratulations to Phillips Preparatory School’s Spelling Bee winner, Sariah Hossain and alternate Daniel Neese. The Pirates can’t wait to cheer for their champion at the district contest! Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

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St. Dominic Students Make Ice Cream St. Dominic Catholic School 8th grade students participated in a science experiment to investigate the effects of solutes on freezing points by making ice cream. Students had a blast shaking their ice bags to ensure the best ice cream. Of course, they enjoyed the sweet reward at the end of class!

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CHCA Student Wins Poetry Competition

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Congratulations to Isabel Oldshue for winning first place in the regional Poetry Out Loud Anthology Poem Competition. She will now qualify for the state competition in February. Isabel competed by memorizing, reciting, and acting out two poems - “Catch a Little Rhyme” by Eve Merriam and “A Poison Tree” by William Blake.

St. Luke’s Students Learn about Sugar

St. Luke's Lower Campus Biomedical Science Lab is a SWEET place to raise awareness about the amount of sugar in every-day common food and drinks. Students were taught how to read and compare the sugar content in different products and were very surprised to actually “see” how much sugar is consumed in juices, sodas, and candy. They were given information on sugar and advice on how to choose healthier, low-sugar options as well as bringing awareness to the potential consequences of over consumption.

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Besides helping you get work done or caught up on some errands, daycare and preschool present enormous benefits for your child. Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

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“Both offer kids experiences they might not get at home, such as exposure to a larger social environment that can help them learn how to get along well with others,” says Cathy Keller, the director of preschool and infant care center. Who knew that 18-month-olds could have friends? When kids go to daycare and preschool, their schedule tends to fill up with play dates and birthday parties. Developmentally, kids who’ve done at least a year of preschool are more ready to jump into the learning environment of kindergarten, too. “Preschool is an environment in which kids have the opportunity to use language in many different ways with others who are at the same developmental age,” says Jennifer Kurumada Chuang, the owner of a multi-grade child care center and preschool that serves 225 children and their families. But, overall, preschool helps young naturally-egocentric kids learn how to exist with others in a classroom. “Preschoolers learn how take turns, follow directions, pick up after themselves, stand in line, sit in a circle, raise their hand, use their words to express themselves instead of physically acting out and talk when it’s appropriate,” Kurumada Chuang says. “If they master those social skills in preschool, they’re ready to learn in kindergarten.” All told, your child’s early learning experiences can set the tone for years to come. To help your child prepare for daycare and preschool and reinforce the lessons he learns there, here’s the homework you can do that can make all the difference.

Ace the Drop-Off Pick the right daycare or preschool. “Separating from mom and dad can be tough for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, though some kids display it more aggressively than others,” says Keller. To make drop-off easier, choose a daycare or preschool you feel good about. “Parents telegraph their comfort and confidence about the school in so many ways to their kids,” says Keller. If you’re happy with your choice of school and know that your child is in a good learning situation, your child will pick up on your confidence and be okay with it, too, even if he initially doesn’t seem to like going there. And keep in mind that separation anxiety is often more painful for you than your child. “Children are amazingly adaptable,” Keller says.

Manage morning madness. To help make drop-off at daycare or preschool smoother, take the hassle out of your AM. Try doing what you can the night before, when you have more time to think the next day through. For example, fill out permission slips, write any notes to the teacher and checks for daycare or preschool field trips and put them in your child’s backpack or lunchbox. Have your child take her bath or shower too. You can even set the table for breakfast and take out the breakfast cereal, if you want to. You could also check the weather forecast and let your preschooler set out the next day’s outfit. Stick to a routine. Whether your child is in daycare or preschool, establish a morning routine and stick to it. It might be: wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, has a short playtime together, double check the backpack or lunchbox, and leave the house. Structured routines give children a sense of control. “When they know what’s coming next, they’re less likely to procrastinate or become anxious about going to daycare or preschool,” Keller says. Make a morning-routine poster for your family and put it in a common area, such as on your fridge. The poster should outline the order of tasks such as dressing, eating breakfast, putting on shoes and socks and brushing hair and teeth. Use pictures to convey the message. If your child dawdles even with a set routine, move up his bedtime and his wake-up by 15 minutes instead of trying to get him to conform to your schedule. Also, make sure he gets to bed early enough so he’s more apt to be up-and-at-‘em in the morning. Keep in mind that infants 3 to 11 months need 9 to 12 hours of sleep at night and a 30 minute to 4 hour nap one to three times a day. Toddlers need 12 to 14 hours of sleep in 24 hours and preschoolers need 11 to 13 hours of shut eye at night. Don’t linger. At daycare or preschool, say goodbye to your child calmly, 27

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give your child a kiss and hug and tell him when you’ll be back to pick him up (such as after lunch or his nap). Then walk out the door and let the teacher give your child some lovies so you can make a quick exit. At the end of the day, make sure you’re there to collect your child when you say you will be. “Kids that young can’t tell time, but they will know that if you always pick up after their nap and you’re not there until 5 PM, that’s a big difference,” Keller says. Try to pick up at the same every day, if possible.

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Help your child learn to follow directions. Practice at home by giving simple commands, such as “Please help me pick up your toys and put them in the toy box.” Then, encourage your child to follow through by offering an incentive to do whatever it is you’re asking. Tell your child that he can play outside once he’s finished putting his toys away. An incentive helps him understand that following directions makes other fun activities possible. If he doesn’t follow your directions and, for example, put his toys away, calmly explain that he won’t be able to play with those toys for the rest of the day or go to the park. Keep it positive by focusing on how clean the playroom will look when you’re done. Then praise him when he’s successful. Help your child master sharing and turn taking. From age 3 to 5, children tend to hoard coveted toys and objects. They’re not really ready to grasp the concept of sharing yet. But you can help your youngster practice by having him “take turns” with toys and catching him when he shares on his own. To help him develop the empathy that true sharing requires, state what he did and how it makes others feel, such as: “Thank you for sharing. It makes your sister feel good when you share the ball.” Your child should be able to “own” special or new toys, though, so keep them out of sight on play dates or in his room away from siblings.

Be There at Pick-up Focus on your child. When it’s time to collect your time, be really glad to see her. Make sure you’re not on your cellphone or otherwise distracted. “Pick-up should be all about your child,” Keller says. “Your child wants to know you’re super glad to see her and that you’ve been looking forward to it all day.” MBP Sandra Gordon is a contributing writer.

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Why Boundaries Are So Important with Devices As I travel across the country speaking, I have the wonderful pleasure of getting to know many parents and teachers. One of the things I have always found so interesting is a teacher’s use of boundaries in the classroom. Although it varies from teacher to teacher, most every teacher will tell you that, if you do not establish firm boundaries the first week of school, students will be inclined to take advantage of looser guidance. Sometimes this can result in a bit of chaos. The same principal applies in the home. Children tend to thrive in environments where there are clear, concise boundaries. And while it is THEIR job to test our boundaries, it is OUR job to maintain them. With today’s access to devices and social media, boundaries are more important than ever. So what might this look like in your home when it comes to setting boundaries around social media? Here are a few tips I have recommended to parents over the years.

1) Maintain empathy for your teen.

As a general rule, the current parent generation did not grow up with the outstanding amount of social media peer pressure our children are facing today. Having empathy for your child in this space will help show them that, while you will maintain boundaries to keep them safe, you empathize with what they are experiencing. Sometimes just admitting you will never know how they feel, that it must be incredibly hard to maintain the balance between social media and friends, helps them to feel seen and heard.

2) Allow for natural consequences.

This is hard. We never want to see our children fail, but failure is an incredibly important component to growth. While we want boundaries that will protect them from serious harm, we also do not want to lock them down so much that they never learn how to recover from failure. This may look like extra device time, or an app that you have approved. If they do not operate within the boundaries that you set for the device time or app, then a natural consequence could be to have the time decrease or the app removed.

3) Keep the bigger picture in mind. In

our home, if my sons are listening to music on an approved app that has some explicit language, I am okay with that. That is not a hard boundary in our home. I have also found that allowing this liberty has given my sons the freedom to want to listen to their music while in the car with me. This has created many, many opportunities for us to have open conversations about what they are listening to. Hard boundaries in our home lie more in what they are posting and saying online. Our boundaries/rules are: Do not post anything unkind, rude, or inappropriate. And they know what each of these are defined by. So for us, the big picture isn’t so much the music they are listening to but how they are treating others online. Our “give” in the music area helps them feel they are not incredibly locked down and that they have a small win. This is just an example, and all parents have to decide what works best for their family.

4) Always be firm and consistent.

Children are built to test our patience. It is that resilience that will serve them through 29

much harder times in life. But as parents, it is also that constant resistance we get from them that makes us…well…tired. And more prone to give in. This leads to confusion and even more push back from your child. Having clear, concise, set boundaries with consequences will give you peace…and your child guidance on what they can and cannot do.

5) Last, and so important... Respect THEIR boundaries. During

conferences, I ask kids to name the number one thing they would ask their parents to stop doing online. Without fail they always say: STOP posting pictures of them without their permission. Ask your child before you post something with their image. This shows that you respect their boundaries, and will lead to a more trusting relationship. Further, if you allow your child to have social media, please do not “comment” under their posts. This embarrasses them and, honestly, drives them crazy. We should definitely MONITOR what they are doing, but comments need to be left to private and in person. Like I tell parents all the time, kids have their own social media lane…Facebook is our old person lane. And that is okay! We should all stay in our lanes. It sure does make for healthier, happier boundaries. As always, if you need support or have questions, I am here!

Kristi Bush serves as a national education consultant and social media safety advocate. She is a licensed social worker with greater than 15 years of clinical practice and health care experience. She attended Troy and Auburn University where she studied social work and counseling. Kristi travels nationally and has spoken with thousands of children, parents, professionals and organizations about the benefits and threats associated with social media. You may reach Kristi through her website at www.knbcommunications.com.

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36604 Legacy Child Life Learning & Development Center ad on page 37

1060 Government Street, Mobile 36604 Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30 am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 5 years (251) 441-1901 www.lwccim.com/legacy-childlife-learning-development-center

St. Mary Catholic Early Child Development Center ad on page 23

1413 Old Shell Road, Mobile 36604 Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-12pm and 12pm4pm. Early Care Option runs from 7:15 am-8:00 am each morning. Extended Care Option is from 4pm-5:30pm each afternoon. Ages: 6 weeks - 36 months (251) 432-8678 astroecker@stmarymobile.org www.stmarymobile.org

St. Mary Catholic School Preschool Program ad on page 23

107 N. Lafayette Street, Mobile 36604 Hours: Monday-Friday, Half and full day options: 8:00am-12:00pm and 8:00am-3:00pm. After School Care is also available. Ages: 3 - 4 years (251) 433-9904 dollis@stmarymobile.org www.stmarymobile.org

36606 Little Flower Catholic School

St. Luke’s Episcopal School Ages: 3 months - 4 years (251) 471-9995 westminsterpreschoolmobile@ outlook.com www.facebook.com/westminster prespreschool

36608 Corpus Christi Catholic School Preschool ad on page 19

6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile 36608 Hours: Monday-Friday, Full day hours are 7:55am-3:00pm, and half day hours are 7:55am11:55am, Extended care before and after school is available. Ages: 2 years - K4 (251) 342-5474 school@CCSCatholic.com school.corpuschristiparish.com

Weinacker’s Montessori School ad on page 14

227 Hillcrest Road, Mobile 36608 Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: Infant-6 years old (251) 344-8755 www.weinackersmontessori.com

36609 Learn, Play, Grow Childcare ad on page 18

513 Georgian Dr, Mobile 36609 Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: Infant-6 years old (251) 342-5399 www.weinackersmontessori.com

ad on page 24

2103 Government Street, Mobile 36606 Ages: K3 - K4 (251) 479-5761 aweiskopf@littleflowerschool.cc littleflowerschool.cc

Trinity Kids Learning Center ad on page 7

309 Pinehill Drive, Mobile 36606 Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-5:30pm Ages: 8 weeks - 12 years (251) 476-1844 www.tklclearning.com

Westminster Presbyterian Kids - Preschool and Mom’s Day Out ad on page 11

2921 Airport Boulevard, Mobile 36606 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-1:00pm Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

Mobile Christian School ad on page 13

5900 Cottage Hill Road, Mobile 36609 Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:55am-2:50pm, Before and After School Care Available Ages: PK3 - PK5 (251) 661-1613 info@mobilechristian.org www.mobilechristian.org

36693 St. Dominic Catholic School ad on page 9

4160 Burma Drive, Mobile 36693 Hours: Monday - Friday, PK2 and PK3 3-day or 5-day option with Full day (7:00am - 2:30pm) or Half day (7:00am - 12:00pm) option available, PK4 option 5 Full day or Half day, After school care available until 5:30pm. Ages: 2 years - 4 years (251) 661-5226 www.stdominicmobile.org

ad on page 40

3975 Japonica Lane, Mobile 36693 Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-3:30pm Ages: K2 - K5 (251) 666-2991 hdearmon@stlukesmobile.com www.stlukesmobile.com

36541

Lighthouse Child Development Center 9930 Cody Driskell Road, Grand Bay 36541 Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30am-5:00pm Ages: infant - PK (251) 957-2500 Find us on Facebook

36571

Fountain of Life Daycare at Evangel Christian

1277 Jubilee Drive, Saraland 36571 Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 3 years (251) 679-0975 marla@folc.tv https://folc.tv/fol-daycare/

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Saraland United Methodist Church Early Learning Center

415 McKeough Avenue, Saraland Hours: Monday-Friday, Options for times are 7:00am – 2:00pm, 7:00 am – 5:30pm, 8:00am – 2:00 pm or 8:00am – 5:30pm Ages: Monday-Friday, 6 weeks-K4 (251) 675-2904 Eliese@saralandumc.org www.saralandumc.org/early-learning-center

Shiloh Christian Day Care

723 Cleveland Road, Saraland Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am - 6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 4 years (251) 675-2099 www.shilohsaraland.com/ daycare

36572

First Baptist Church Satsuma Mother’s Day Out Program

5600 Old Highway 43, Satsuma 36572 Hours: Mother’s Day Out hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30am-2:00pm Ages: infants - 3 years (251) 380-7357 Find us on Facebook

Satsuma Christian School, Satsuma Christian Daycare

5600 Old Highway 43, Satsuma Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-3:00pm, extended care available; Daycare 6:30am-6:00pm Ages: K3-K5; daycare 6 weeks-3 years (251) 675-1295; (251) 679-9000 satsumachristianschool.com

www.mobilebayparents.com

36575

ABC Kindergarten

3618 Oak Tree Drive, Semmes 36575 Hours: Monday-Friday from 8:30am12:30pm Ages: 3 - 5 years (251) 649-4844 or (251) 591-6177

Azalea City Christian School & Child Development

3550 Schillinger Road North, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - K4 (251) 649-5437 Azaleacitychristian.org

Grace Baptist Academy

8780 Howells Ferry Road, Semmes Ages: PK3 - 12th grade (251) 649-7398 www.gbcacademy.com

Kimz Kidz Child Care Center

1650 Schillinger Road North, Semmes Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: Infant - Preschool (251) 645-6451

Semmes First Baptist Child Dev. Center

4070 Wulff Rd E, Semmes Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-5:30pm, Full Time, Part time, and Half Day programs Ages: 6 weeks - 4K (251) 649-2712 www.semmesfirstbaptistcdc.com

Snow Road FBC – Child Dev. Center

2370 Snow Rd N, Semmes Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am - 5:30pm Ages: 6 weeks - K4, Before and After School

Care for Allentown and Semmes Elementary (251) 649-6096 www.srfbc.com/srfbc-ministries/ child-development-center

36582

Sunni Land Child Care Center

6905 Nan Gray David Road, Theodore 36582 Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: Ages 6 weeks - 2+ (251) 653-6542 Esther.shaffer@lbatheodore.com www.lbatheodore.com

2901 Schillinger Road North, Semmes Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am - 10:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years (251) 645-3664 www.sunniland.wixsite.com/slcc

Spectacular Waterfront Venue

Protect your family. Prepare for their future. Allison Horner, Agent 6353 Cottage Hill Rd Mobile, AL 36609 Bus: 251-666-1616 allison.horner.p8hw@statefarm.com

Mardi Gras Rehearsal Dinners Corporate Meetings Holiday Parties Reunions Graduations

I can help with both. Stop by for your free State Farm Insurance and Financial Review . Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. CALL ME TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION. ®

Mobile Causeway

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Lighthouse Child Development Center

Panoramic View

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of Mobile Delta

originaloysterhouse.com/banquet | 251-753-5813

State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL

www.facebook.com/mobilebayparentsmagazine

36602

First Baptist Mobile Child Dev. Center 806 Government Street, Mobile 36602 Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30am -5:30pm Ages: 8 weeks - 4 years (251) 432-6513 www.fbcmobile.com

Nina Nicks Joseph Child Dev. Center 209 South Washington Avenue, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am to 5:30pm Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years (251) 433-1310 ninaskids.org www.childdaycare.org

36603

Dearborn YMCA Child Dev. Center 321 North Warren Street, Mobile 36603 Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-5:30pm Ages: 6 weeks - 4 years (251) 432-4768 www.dearbornymca.org

36604

Azalea City Montessori Co-op

1260 Dauphin Street, Mobile 36604 Hours: Monday - Friday; 7:40am-3:15pm, extended care from 3:15pm to 5:30pm Ages: 3 years - 12 years 251-202-5295 admin@azaleacitymontessori.org www.azaleacitymontessori.org

Dauphin Way United Methodist Church Child Development Center 1507 Dauphin Street, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am- 6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 4 years (251) 473-1861 www.dauphinwayumc.org

36606

Revelation Christian Academy

Rev. Leon Taylor, Sr. Campus - 1805 Duval Street, Mobile 36606 Hours: Monday - Friday, 6:00am - 6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years (251) 476-0677 pcasher@revelationchristian.org www.revelationchristian.org

St. Pius X

217 South Sage Avenue, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-3:00pm Ages: K3 - K4 (251) 473-5004 spx@stpiustenth.com www.stpiustenth.com

36607

Ashland Place Preschool and Mother’s Day Out

15 Wisteria Avenue, Mobile 36607 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-1:00pm, extended care available Ages: 3 months - 4 years (251) 478-6360 www.ashlandplacepreschool.com

UMS-Wright

65 Mobile Street, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:20am-2:45pm with extended care available Ages: 3 - 4 years (251) 479-6551 astabler@ums-wright.org www. ums-wright.org

36608

Bright Beginnings Learning Center at Providence LLC 6803 Airport Boulevard, Mobile 36608 Hours: Monday-Friday 6:00am-6:00pm

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

Ages: 6 weeks-12 years (251) 776-5540 bright-beginnings-learning-centerat-providence-llc.business.site/

Dauphin Way Baptist Child Dev. Center 3661 Dauphin Street, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30am to 6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - K4 (251) 344-0909 Find us on Facebook

Faith Academy Preschool

36609

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Cottage Hill Christian Academy Early Education Center and Preschool

4255 Cottage Hill Road, Mobile 36609 Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 5 years (251) 338-1820; (251) 660-2427 hykej@chbss.org winterm@chbss.org www.chcacademy.org

Cottage Hill Presbyterian Preschool

8650 Tanner Williams Rd, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30-3:05 Ages: K3 - K4 (251) 633-7267 Info@faithacademy.us www.faithacademy.us

4201 Cottage Hill Road, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30-12:30 Ages: 6 months - K4 (251) 666-0983 chpps@yahoo.com www.chpcmobile.org/PRESCHOOL.html

Goodwill of the Gulf Coast – Child Development Center

Kidz Crossing A Ministry of Christ UMC

10 Westminster Way, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-5:30pm Ages: 2.5 - 5 years. School age care up to 14 available during school closures/Holiday breaks and summer. *spots limited (251) 342-3122 ccabbagestalk@goodwillgc.org www.goodwillgc.org

Kids Stuff Preschool

320 Hillcrest Road, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 5 years (251) 343-6611 www.kidsstuffpreschool.com

Life Church Child Development Center 8701 Zeigler Boulevard, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 3.5 years (251) 633-2679 www.lifechurchcdc.com

Spring Hill Mother’s Day Out and Week Day School

10 Westminster Way, Mobile Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 1:00pm with options for early drop off and after school activities. Ages: 2 months - 4 years (251) 344-2070 www.shpc.us/visitors/preschoolprograms/

Springhill Baptist Child Dev. Center

2 S McGregor Ave, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-5:30pm Ages: Infant - 4K (251) 342-6044 shbc.cc/ministries/day-school/

St. Ignatius Catholic School Early Learning Center

3650 Spring Hill Avenue, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:15am-6:00pm Ages: 4 months-4 years (251) 342-5442 www.stignatiusmobile.org

The Early Education Center of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (“EEC”) 4051 Old Shell Road, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:15am-5:30pm Ages: K2 - K3 (251) 725-0048 www.stpaulsearlyedcenter.com

West Mobile Baptist Child Development Center

7501 Airport Boulevard, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - K5, before & after school care, and a summer camp program (251) 639-6868 www.wemochurch.org

6101 Grelot Road, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-5:30pm for extended day children, Mom’s Day out, 3K and 4K Hours: 8:45am - 1:00pm. Ages: 8 weeks - 4K (251) 372-7215 christie.ford@christunited.com christunited.com/kidzcrossing

Nazarene Day Care & Learning Center 669 Azalea Road, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 4K (251) 666-0044 nazarenelc@gmail.com www.nazarenelearningcenter.com

St. Mark Early Learning Center

439 Azalea Road, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, part time (8:15-2:15) or full time (7:00-5:45) 2, 3, or 5 days a week. Ages: 8 weeks - 4K (251) 232-2106 stmarkmobileelc@gmail.com www.stmarkmobile.com/elc

36617

Mount Hebron Christian Child Development Center

2531 Berkley Avenue, Mobile 36617 Hours: Monday-Friday Ages: 2 months-12 years (251) 456-8700 www.mthebroncm.org/ Daycare-Ministries

Trinity Lutheran Child Dev. Center

2668 Berkley Avenue, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-5:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 4 years (251) 456-7960 www.trinitylutheransite.org/ education/

36618

Moffett Road Baptist Child Dev. Center 5555 Moffett Road, Mobile 36618 Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 5 years (251) 343-1568 www.mrbcdc.org

Refuge Child Development Center 6159 Moffett Road, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-5:30pm Ages: 6 weeks - K4 (251) 645-7507

36619

Creative Learning Center

5880 Three Notch Road, Mobile 36619 Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years (251) 661-2992

www.mobilebayparents.com

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Jubilee Child Care Center & Preschool

4612 Bush Lane, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 5th grade (251) 661-3280

6631 Wall Street, Mobile Hours: Monday - Friday, Mobile: 6:45am-5:45pm; Mobile Nursery: 6:45am – 5:30pm Ages: 3 months - 5 years (251) 776-7022 (Pre-School); (251) 633-0018 (Infant) www.jubileechildcare.com

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Daycare 4980 St. Vincent Drive, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks - 4 Years (251) 666-4066 svdpmobile.com/daycare

36693

Becks Daycare Center 1248 Anchor Drive, Mobile 36693 Hours: Monday - Friday; 6:00am - 6:00pm Ages: 6 weeks – 11 years (251) 661-4254 Find us on Facebook

Government Street Baptist Child Development Center

3401 Government Boulevard, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30am – 5:30pm Ages: 6 weeks - 3K (251) 660-7444 deboraheddie@gsbc.onmicrosoft.com www.governmentstreetcdc.org

36695

Covenant Christian School

7150 Hitt Road, Mobile 36695 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 3:00pm, after care available Ages: K3-8th (251) 633-8055 info@covenantschool.com https://covenantschool.com/

La Petite Academy 955 Hillcrest Road, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00am-6:30pm Ages: 6 weeks - K5, after school care (251) 639-9201; (888) 330-3479 www.lapetite.com

2900 Dawes Road, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30am-5:30pm Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years (251) 633-6533

Auburn Early Head Start- Family Child Care Partnerships

1900 Cody Road South, Mobile Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:00am - 3:00pm and 8:00am - 2:00pm on Friday. Ages: PK4 - 8 (251) 633-8638 mobilejunioracademy.com

Montessori World Preschool & Kindergarten 2061 Leroy Stevens Road, Mobile Hours: Monday-Friday, Half-day (8:30-11:30), full-day (8:30-2:30) and extended-day (7:00-6:00). Open during the academic year. Ages: 2.5 - 6 years (251) 634-8211 info@montessori-world.org www.montessori-world.org

6417 Hillcrest Road, Mobile Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am-12:30pm, 2, 3, or 5-day options, extended care available

World of Friends Daycare

Other

Mobile Junior Academy

Watermelon Patch Preschool

Ages: 1 year - 4 years (251) 633-3288 watermelonpatchkids@gmail.com www.watermelonpatchkids.com

Ten locations throughout the Mobile area Ages: 0 - 3 years (251) 423-2052

Divine Adventures Academy (Virtual) Ages: 3 years - 8 years (251) 244-4067 divineadventuresacademy@ gmail.com divineadventuresacademy.com

Early Head Start Community Partnership Child Care Centers Ages: Infants - 3 years (251) 473-1060 www.grecs.org/early-head-start/ about-early-head-start

Head Start Ages: 3 years - 5 years (251) 457-5700 www.mcamobile.org/ departments/head-start MBP

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Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

www.mobilebayparents.com

If you’re like most people, January found you energized and ready to do anything necessary to start a new fitness routine in the new year. And if you’re like most people, by February, your motivation vanishes along with the cookies you swore you wouldn’t eat. Studies show only four percent of people who join a gym in January step foot in that gym in February. If you are one of the many who wanted this year to be different, there’s no way around it. You’re going to have to work for it. But there are three things you can do before you even lace up your sneakers to lay a foundation for success.

1| Find Your Why

You’d be surprised how easy it is to figure out how you’re going to commit to your fitness journey when you know why you embarked on the mission in the first place. Ask yourself why you want to get in shape. Then ask again. And again… Maybe even once again. You’ll know when you’re done. Once you get over the awkwardness of having a conversation with yourself, you might be surprised how powerful your “why” is. The conversation might go something like this: Why do you want to get fit? Because I want my jeans to fit better. Why do you want your jeans to fit better? So I can feel good about myself. Why do you want to feel good about yourself? Because I want to be confident. Why do you want to be confident? I want to be a role model for my daughters. Or maybe it will go something like this: Why do you want to get fit? Because my doctor said I’m pre-diabetic and I want to live a long, healthy life Why do you want to live a long, healthy life? Because I want to see my kids grow up. Why do you want to see your kids grow up? Because I love them and I want to share in their joys, sorrows, and adventures. Or maybe it will sound more like this: Why do you want to be fit? Because I want to try my first triathlon Why do you want to do a triathlon? To see if I have the strength and endurance to do it.

Why do you want to see if you have the strength and endurance to do it? Because if I can finish a triathlon, I can do anything I set my mind to. It may not be easy to keep peeling back the layers on your “why.” But the cliché is true— nothing worthwhile is easy. Once you’re crystal clear about the source of your desire, it becomes a million times easier to say no to the snooze button or girls night, and say yes to your workout— and yourself— instead.

2| Have a Measurable Goal

I love fitness. As an Ironman triathlete, an avid runner, a running coach, a spin instructor and an all-around fitness geek, it’s fair to say I am obsessed with fitness. But I can’t support a goal of simply “getting fit.” The same goes for “getting in shape” or “toning up.” Fitness goals must be objective and measurable. In other words, you should be able to attach numbers and dates to them. If you have a weight loss goal, make sure it includes a number of pounds and a date. “Lose weight” becomes a long-term goal of “Lose twenty pounds by December 31st.” Once you have a long-term goal, add a few short-term goals to keep you motivated and to provide benchmarks of your progress.

timers in the palms of our hands. As all successful people know, what gets on the calendar gets accomplished. Treat your workout time as you would any other appointment. Create an event on your Outlook or Google calendar, pencil it into your planner, or create an alert on your phone 20 minutes in advance. Do whatever works for you to carve out the time. If you’re having trouble keeping your workout appointments, try a different approach. In her book, Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives, author and happiness expert Gretchen Rubin classifies most people as what she calls “obligers.” Obligers find it much easier to follow through on a commitment to a friend, than to themselves. While most of us would easily hit snooze and skip the 7 am spin class, we’d never stand up the friend we promised to meet at the gym. There’s no shame relying on external accountability to help establish a new habit. You could start by:

Short-term goals might be: • Lose two pounds by March first. • Lose ten pounds by July first. Say your goal is to complete an event, such as your first triathlon. “I will finish a triathlon” is a measurable, objective goal, for sure. But making it as specific as possible optimizes your chance for success. Choose a specific race, put it in on your calendar, and “finish a triathlon” becomes a long-term goal of “complete the local sprint triathlon, which requires a 300-yard pool swim, a 10-mile bike ride, and a 5k run, on August 14th.” Short-term goals might be: • Swim 50 yards without stopping by March first. • Bike eight miles and run one mile immediately after without stopping by July first. Thinking of your fitness goal in measurable terms lets you determine where you need to be each month, each week, and each day to achieve it.

3| Schedule Your Workouts

“A failure to plan is a plan to fail.” Benjamin Franklin knew this was true way before we dreamed of holding tiny computers with calendars, alarm clocks, and 35

• Finding a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to work out with. • Attending classes at a group fitness studio with a strict cancellation policy. It’s hard to skip a workout you’ve already paid for • Joining a group fitness studio, running club, cycling club, masters swim team or hiking group for the community aspect. You won’t want to deal with the FOMO when you skip a workout. • Becoming a member of an online accountability group. Or, gather your like-minded friends and create one yourself. • Hiring a personal trainer. Before you give up on fitness—or better yet, before you buy that fancy workout tracker and the pricey yoga pants—ask yourself the hard questions. Being honest with yourself about your fitness goals will pay dividends over the long haul as far as keeping you on your fitness path. Because once you know your Why, your What, and your When, the question of How becomes a whole lot easier to answer. MBP Pam Moore is an author, occupational therapist, and certified personal trainer who helps women push through fear to become their best selves.

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FamilyCalendar Tuesday February 1

USA Faculty Piano Recital 7:30 PM Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, 5751 USA South Drive Mobile, AL, 36608 www.southalabama.edu/colleges/music/upcomingevents.html

Wednesday February 2

Winter Wednesdays 10:30 AM Bellingrath Gardens and Home, 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road Theodore , AL, 36582 Even during the cold season, Bellingrath Gardens is filled with blooms and beauty. Gulf Coast residents and visitors are invited to join us at our Winter Wednesdays series in January and February for sessions on gardening, history and more. Environmental filmmaker Ben Raines – The award-winning director and environmental writer will give an update on his latest adventures, including the discovery of the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive in the United States. 251-973-2217 www.bellingrath.org Michael Morton, Guest Artist Flute Recital 7:30 PM Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, 5751 USA South Drive Mobile, AL, 36608 Michael Morton, Guest Artist Flute Recital www.southalabama.edu/colleges/music/upcomingevents.html

Thursday February 3

Lip Sync Battle Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL, 36602 Fuse Project’s Lip Sync Battle brings the most fun and unforgettable fundraising experience to Alabama’s Gulf Coast! Help Fuse Project impact more local children by joining our fundraising campaign and attending the event lipsync.fuseproject.org

Friday February 4

Vintage Market Days of Mobile 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, The Grounds, 1035 Cody Road N Mobile, AL, 36608 Vintage Market Days of Mobile is a 3 day vintage shopping event you do NOT want to miss! vintagemarketdays.com/market/mobile/tickets.php Dauphin Island People’s Parade 1:00 PM Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528 Experience the true culture of Dauphin Island through this unique parade which consists solely of locals who decorate their boats and pack their trailers full of moon pies and beads in order to celebrate the Mardi Gras festivities. Senior Bowl 2022 1:30 PM Hancock Whitney Stadium, 500 Stadium Dr, Mobile, AL, 36608 (251) 461-1872 www.seniorbowl.com Joy of Life Mardi Gras Ball 7:00 PM Daphne Civic Center, 2603 US-98 Daphne, AL, 36526 The 2022 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 Children’s Research Hospital. joyoflifegulfcoast.org An Evening with Drew and Ellie Holcomb 8:00 PM Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim Street Mobile, AL, 36602 www.asmglobalmobile.com/ Mobile Opera presents “La Canterina” Murphy High School Auditorium, 100 S Carlen St Mobile, AL, 36606 Mobile Opera presents “La Canterina” www.mobileopera.org

Sunday February 6

Wednesday February 9

The King Cake-Off 11:30 AM - 4:30 PM, The Temple Downtown, 351 St Francis St Mobile, AL, 36602 The Mobile King Cake-off is a family friendly event open to the public. Enjoy King Cake tastings, kids activities, live music, a silent auction and more. www.kingcakeoff.com

38 Special Concert 7:30 PM Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim Street Mobile, AL, 36602 38 Special Concert www.asmglobalmobile.com/

Winter Wednesdays Details February 2.

Thursday February 10

Friday February 11

Sr Bowl Parade and Street Party 6:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL, 36602 Join in on all the fun for the annual Senior Bowl Mardi Gras Player Parade from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Conde Cavalier (Mobile Route A) (Free) 6:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL, 36602

Saturday February 5

Battlefield Blitz 5K Race and 1 Mile 8:00 AM Historic Blakeley State Park, 34745 State Hwy 225 Spanish Fort, AL, 36527 Race to benefit the programs and grounds of Historic Blakeley State Park www.eventbrite.com 28th Annual Women’s Conference “Girl You Got This!” ($30) 9:00 AM Christ United Methodist Gym, 6101 Grelot Road Mobile, AL, 36609 Christ United’s Womens’ Ministry Presents 28th Annual Women’s Conference “Girl You Got This!” 251-599-3902 christunited.com

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Saturday February 12

Mystic Krewe of Salty Paws Pet Parade 10:00 AM Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528 The Mystic Krewe of Salty Paws hold its 3rd annual parade starting at the Water Tower on Saturday, February 12, 2022! The theme this year will be “The Wonderful World of Disney”. Prizes will be awarded for Best Group, Most Creative, and Best Theme Representation. http://www.animalrescuemobile.org/

Saturdays at the Coop 7:00 PM Cooper Riverside Park, Mobile, AL, 36602 One Saturday each month! Relax and enjoy evenings under the stars with: Live Musical Entertainment, Food Trucks, Local Vendors & more. https://www.cityofmobile.org/parks-rec/events/ saturdays-at-the-coop-2022 Black Jacket Symphony Presents The Beatles’ “The White Album” 7:30 PM Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim Street Mobile, AL, 36602 www.asmglobalmobile.com/ Bayport Parading Society, Pharaohs’ Mystic Society Parade, Conde Explorers Parade (Free) Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Route A - 2:00 PM Bayport Parading Society Parade, 6:30 PM Pharaohs’ Mystic Society Parade, 7:00 PM Conde Explorers Parade www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Tuesday February 15

USA Faculty Brass Recital 7:30 PM 5751 USA South Drive Mobile, AL, 36608 www.southalabama.edu/colleges/music/ upcomingevents.html

Wednesday February 16 Winter Wednesdays Details February 2.

Thursday February 17

Order of Polka Dots (Free) 6:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com Alabama School of the Arts presents “Bright Star” 7:00 PM University of Mobile , 5735 College Pkwy Mobile, AL, 36613 https://asota.umobile.edu/performing-art-series/ Walker Hayes 7:00 PM Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim Street Mobile, AL, 36602 Walker Hayes “Fancy Like Tour” www.asmglobalmobile.com/

Friday February 18

Order of Inca Parade (Free) 6:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com Alabama School of the Arts presents “Bright Star” 7:00 PM University of Mobile , 5735 College Pkwy Mobile, AL, 36613 https://asota.umobile.edu/performing-art-series/

Saturday February 19

2022 Gator Chase 5K 8am & 1 Mile Fun Run 9am on the Causeway 8:00 AM Spanish Fort, AL, 36527 Benefits Spanish Fort Education Enrichment Foundation (SFEEF) in providing educational enrichment opportunities for students who attend Spanish Fort schools. www.eventbrite.com Mobile Mystics, Mobile Mystical Revelers (Free) 2:00 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Parade A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

www.mobilebayparents.com

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FamilyCalendar Maids of Mirth, Butterfly Maidens, Krewe of Marry Mates (Free) 6:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Maids of Mirth (Mobile, Route G), Order of Butterfly Maidens, Krewe of Marry Mates, Order of Hebe (Mobile, Route A) www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Monday February 21

Alabama School of the Arts presents “Bright Star” 7:00 PM University of Mobile , 5735 College Pkwy Mobile, AL, 36613 Alabama School of the Arts presents “Bright Star” https://asota.umobile.edu/performing-art-series/

Tuesday February 22

2022 Living History Crew USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park , 2703 Battleship Parkway Mobile, AL, 36602 World War II comes to life every other month aboard the BB-60 with the Living History Crew. These historical reenactors, dressed in WWII period Navy uniforms, demonstrate what life aboard ship was like during wartime. www.ussalabama.com

Wednesday February 23

Sunday February 20

Saturday February 26

Floral Parade, Knights of Mobile, Mobile Mystical Ladies, Order of Angels (Free) 12:00 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Order of LaShe’s Parade (Free) 6:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Krewe of Sparta 12:00 PM Saraland, Saraland, AL Krewe of Sparta - Saraland Parade Mystics of Time Parade (Free) 6:00 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route H www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Winter Wednesdays Details February 2.

USA Symphony Band Winter Concert 7:30 PM Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, 5751 USA South Drive Mobile, AL, 36608 www.southalabama.edu/colleges/music/upcomingevents.html

Alabama Authors Day and Delta Discovery Cruises 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Historic Blakeley State Park, 34745 AL-225 Spanish Fort, AL, 36527 On February 20th Historic Blakeley State Park invites all those interested in the literary arts to join us at Five Rivers Delta Resource Center for our annual Alabama Authors Day. This special celebration showcases the work of accomplished writers throughout the state, with an emphasis on Gulf Coast authors and those who explore topics associated with regional history and natural heritage. www.blakeleypark.com

Thursday February 24

Alabama School of the Arts presents “Bright Star” 3:00 PM University of Mobile , 5735 College Pkwy Mobile, AL, 36613” https://asota.umobile.edu/performing-art-series/

Crewe of Columbus Parade (Free) 6:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Neptune’s Daughters, OOI Parade (Free) 6:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

The Microscopic World of Plankton – 1:00 – 3:00 pm and Wetland Ecology: The Salt Marsh – 3:00-5:00 https://www.disl.edu/

USA Wind Ensemble Winter Concert 7:30 PM Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, 5751 USA South Drive Mobile, AL, 36608 www.southalabama.edu/colleges/music/upcomingevents.html

Sunday February 27

Joe Cain Classic 5K Run, 1 Mile, and “Moonpie Dash” 8:00 AM Broad Street and Canal Street, Mobile, AL, 36604 2022 Proceeds to benefit challenged athletes. https://events.com/

Mystic Stripers Society Parade (Free) 6:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

King Elexis I Motorcade Parade (Free) 2:00 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route E www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

USA Concert Choir and University Chorale 7:30 PM Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, 5751 USA South Drive Mobile, AL, 36608 www.southalabama.edu/colleges/music/ upcomingevents.html

Joe Cain Parade (Free) 2:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Friday February 25

Le Krewe de Bienville (Free) 5:00 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Sea Lab Science Fridays: Ocean Animal Biology Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, AL, 36528 Sea Lab Science Fridays: Ocean Animal Biology, Please register at bit.ly/SeaLabScienceFridays. Gulf Coast Marine Animals – 9:30-11:30 am,

Monday February 28

King Felix III, Floral parade (Free) 12:00 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

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FamilyCalendar MLK Business and Civic Organization, MLK Monday Mystics, Northside Merchants Parade (Free) 3:00 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route D www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com Infant Mystics, Order of Doves Parade (Free) 7:00 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route F www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Tuesday March 1

Order of Athena Parade (Free) 10:30 AM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com Knights of Revelry, King Felix III, Comic Cowboys Parade (Free) 12:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route A www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association Parade Parade (Free) 2:00 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route B www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com Order of Myths Parade (Free) 6:00 PM Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL Mobile Parade Route C www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

Friday March 4

MercyMe 7:00 PM Mobile Civic Center, 401 Civic Center Dr Mobile, AL, 36602 MercyMe concert. www.asmglobalmobile.com/

the best chili in the community with chances to win fabulous prizes. https://mobileacschilicookoff.com/ Mobile Boat Show 2022

(Adults $10, Children 15 and under FREE)

Saturday March 5

Battle of Mobile Bay 5K Run/Walk 8:10 AM Historic Fort Gaines, 51 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, AL, 36528 Battle of Mobile Bay 5K Run/Walk https://portcitypacers.com/ Satsuma Swamp Fest 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Satsuma High School, 1 Gator Circle Satsuma, AL, 36572 The event is sponsored by Friends for Satsuma Schools. And it’s day of music, good food, arts and crafts, silent auction, antique cars--and fun. 251-675-0421 An Acoustic Evening with Sammy Kershaw and Collin Raye 8:00 PM Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim St Mobile, AL, 36602 An Acoustic Evening with Sammy Kershaw and Collin Raye www.asmglobalmobile.com/

Friday March 11

American Cancer Society Chili Cook-off 11:00 AM Canal Street (between Washington Ave. and Broad Street), Mobile, AL, 36602 It is a four-hour fun-filled day of great food and live entertainment where teams compete to find out who can cook-up

12:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Mobile Convention Center, 1 S Water St Mobile, AL, 36602 The 2022 show will feature a great selection of boats, motors, personal watercraft, and marine accessories. This show is always the best place to see all of the new models in one place for easy comparison shopping. The Mobile Boat Show is THE place to take advantage of “special show pricing” that is only offered at the show. In addition to a huge selection of boats, there are great special events for the whole family to enjoy! https://gulfcoastshows.com/mobile-boat-show/

Saturday March 26

Mobile Ballet presents “Peter Pan” Mobile Civic Center Theater, 401 Civic Center Dr Mobile, AL, 36602 Peter Pan will take audiences to the magical island of Neverland in a delightful fantasy adventure! Featuring choreography by Katia Garza and an original score by composer David Ott, this production captures the imagination of both children and adults. Performances: 2:30pm, 7:30pm. 251-342-2241 https://mobileballet.org/

www.mobilebayparents.com

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Chess Club 4:00 PM West Regional Public Library, 5555 Grelot Rd Mobile, AL, 36609 Join us every Monday to learn the game or improve your skill at the game of chess! Playing chess improves concentration and problemsolving skills. This program is designed or for children and teens ages 12-18, but children of all ages are welcome. (251) 340-1588 www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Tuesdays

Read and Play Storytime 10:00 AM Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St Mobile, AL, 36602 Join us in Bernheim Hall for a socially distant storytime event. Masks are required. Children enjoy 20 minutes of books, songs, manipulatives, and rhymes, with an emphasis on repetition for their developing minds. Story and book time is followed by a time of free play with a sensory activity. www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Wednesdays

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM, Theodore Oaks, 5808 US-90 West E Theodore, AL, 36582 Join us for stories and songs and lots of fun! www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

Second Wednesdays

Learning Lunch (Free) 12:00 PM History Museum of Mobile, 111 S Royal Street Mobile, AL, 36602 This series allows guests to enjoy free presentations on a wide range of historical

crafters, growers, and makers and shop the Cypress Gift Shop at 5 Rivers for unique outdoor-themed items and gifts. www.outdooralabama.com/activities/5-rivers-alabama-delta-resource-center

and cultural topics. Admission to Learning Lunch is free. Bring your lunch and enjoy complimentary beverages. 251-208-7569 www.historymuseumofmobile.com

Second Saturdays

First and third Sunday

LoDA Artwalk 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Downtown Mobile, Mobile, AL, 36602 Celebrating the arts in downtown Mobile! Explore this free monthly showcase of visual and performing arts. mobilearts.org/art-walk/

First Sunday of every month

Free First Sunday History Museum of Mobile (Free) 1:00 PM History Museum of Mobile, 111 S Royal Street Mobile, AL, 36602 Free admission for all visitors sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality every first Sunday of the month! 251-208-7569 www.historymuseumofmobile.com

Animal Ambassadors 2:00 PM Five Rivers Delta Center, 30945 Five Rivers Boulevard Spanish Fort, AL, 36527 Join us at 2 PM as we present one or more of our live educational animals. Free, family friendly, no registration required. www.outdooralabama.com/activities/5-rivers-alabama-delta-resource-center

Saturdays

Saturday Crafternoon 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Theodore Oaks, 5808 US-90 West E Theodore, AL, 36582 Join us in the lobby every Saturday to get creative and make a fun craft! Space is limited to accommodate social distancing, and masks are preferred. If you need additional information, please email the Theodore Oaks Branch Circulation desk at theocir@mplonline.org or call (251) 662-9676. www.mobilepubliclibrary.org

First Sunday of every month

First Sunday Outdoor Market at 5 Rivers 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Five Rivers Delta Center, 30945 Five Rivers Boulevard Spanish Fort, AL, 36527 The First Sunday Outdoor Market at 5 Rivers is an opportunity to shop outdoors and support local artisans,

Because of ever-changing circumstances due to Covid-19 , please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.

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ONE PRICE!

111 S. Royal Street Mobile, AL 36602 (251) 208-7569 HISTORYMUSEUMOFMOBILE.COM

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A Sacrifice Will Be Required

Q. I bring home about $2,800 a month, and our mortgage payment is $1,100. We have been forced to take money out of our savings account occasionally over the last year or so to help pay the bills. My wife loves being a stay-athome mom with our two preschool kids, but even she is talking about finding a daycare for the kids so she can go back to work and help out financially. How do you feel about this idea and our situation? A. I can’t blame your wife for loving the idea of staying home with your kids when they’re so young. Being a stayat-home mom is a great thing if you can make the numbers work. Still, I’m sure it’s no picnic trying to live on $1,700 a month with two little ones in the mix. Let’s look at it like a math problem with three components — house

Mobile Bay Parents I February 2022

payment, income and lifestyle. Forty percent of your pay is going toward your home. That’s way too much. Your mortgage payment or rent should never be more than 25 percent of your take home pay. I suppose you could look into the possibility of refinancing your home, but that’s not going to solve all your problems. One option would be finding a way to generate some extra income, whether that means a part-time job nights or weekends, or pursuing additional education or certifications to get your

income level up at work. Another is to sell the house and find a less expensive alternative, but I’m never a big fan of that idea — especially in a family situation — unless there’s absolutely no other way to avoid bankruptcy or foreclosure. I think you and your wife need to sit down, and spend some serious heartto-heart time talking things over, crunching the numbers and creating a plan. There’s going to be some sacrifice involved for everyone, and only you two can decide what’s worth it and what isn’t — for you two and your kids.

www.mobilebayparents.com

FLU & PNEUMONIA

FACTS

Flu & Pneumonia Vaccines Reduce Illnesses, Doctor Visits, Hospitalizations, Missed Work & School.

U L F T H G FI A I N O M U & PNE

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