South Florida Family Life, March 2021

SURPRISES Spring

FAMILY-FUN EVENTS ARE HOPPING AGAIN

the RULES of PARENTHOOD

WHAT TO DO WHEN PARENTING STYLES CLASH

FACES COMMUNITY

BUSINESSES TACKLE TODAY'S CHALLENGES

Trusted Care from Day One

When Milan was born at Memorial Hospital Miramar Family Birthplace, she was having severe trouble breathing and was quickly transferred to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Wasie NICU in Hollywood.

Her care team determined Milan’s nasal passage was blocked. Surgery opened the airway, and Milan quickly took over breathing entirely on her own.

“I trust the care here,” says her mom, Dadrian. “She’s getting the best care possible.”

Mom Dadrian and Milan, who was born with severe breathing trouble

8 SPRING SURPRISES

Local events are beginning to blossom.

11

COMMUNITY FACES

Local businesses share insight on tackling today’s challenges.

18 THE RULES OF PARENTHOOD

Here’s how to navigate conflicting parenting styles.

6

SOUTH FLORIDA SPOTLIGHT

Staying in touch with the people, places and events in our community.

22 WORDS OF WISDOM

Life before and after March 2020.

Our mission is to enrich family life in South Florida by offering the highest quality publication and an unparalleled commitment to our readers and our community.

PUBLISHER

Lisa Goodlin

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Stacey Jacques

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Michelle Liem

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Shannon Pease-Severance

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Jennifer Jhon

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Suzy Miguelez • Sheila Ranson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Carrie B. Weeks

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS

Toni Kirkland • Linda Seavey

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Tom Gonzales

CONTACT US:

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South Florida Family Life is published twelve times per year by Family Life Media Group. It is distributed free of charge throughout South Florida. South Florida Family Life is not responsible for statements made by advertisers or writers. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of information we print, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. All photography and letters sent to South Florida Family Life will be treated unconditionally, assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is forbidden.

Copyright 2021 by Family Life Media Group. All rights reserved.

Adventure Awaits

AT LAST, DISNEY ON ICE SKATES INTO TOWN

The wait is over! Disney’s most beloved characters are lacing up their skates to present Disney on Ice – Dream Big, a live family experience, Thursday, March 25, through Sunday, March 28, at the BB&T Center in Sunrise.

Join the fun as Disney heroes and friends, including Mickey, Minnie, Miguel, Moana, Elsa, Belle and Genie, transport the audience through imagination, adventure and world-class figure skating to exciting worlds where dreams are fulfilled. The non-stop action unfolds as Moana heads off on a courageous voyage, Miguel displays the festivities of Día de los Muertos, Rapunzel sets off on a hair-raising quest and more.

Increased wellness enhancements have been established for guest safety, including a reduced-capacity pod seating structure for social distancing, contactless shopping and touch-free payment for souvenir purchases, and required face coverings for those ages 2 and older, except when eating or drinking.

Disney on Ice – Dream Big is scheduled for March 25 at 7 p.m.; March 26 at 10:30 a.m., 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.; March 27 at 11 a.m.,

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.disneyonice.com or www.thebbtcenter.com.

Meet Sunny, the solar tree

We all know what solar energy is, but do we know how it actually works?

Florida Power & Light is hoping Sunny, a “talking” solar tree installed outside of some local attractions, will enlighten the community as to how the sun’s rays are

Visitors use their cell phones to virtually activate Sunny, who uses augmented reality and 3D imagery to explain how solar panels work and their role in generating energy for homes, businesses and schools throughout the state.

“How solar technology works can be a little bit of a difficult concept

but having an animated solar tree teach it with augmented reality – cutting edge tech – is something that we hope kids will understand because it’s fun and easy,” stated Angela Cruz Ledford, spokesperson for FPL.

Currently, Sunny can be found in Miami-Dade County at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and Zoo Miami, in Broward County at the Museum of Discovery of Science and in Palm Beach County at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. Sunny is also expected to rise up at additional locations throughout South Florida this year. The FPL SolarNow program has also installed solar canopies to provide shade and showcase working solar technology at locations throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties. For more information or a virtual visit, go to https://solarnow.fpl.com.

3 p.m. & 7 p.m.; and March 28 at noon & 4 p.m. at the BB&T Center, One Panther Parkway, Sunrise. Tickets start at $20.

Exhibit honors leaders for women’s history month

March is Women’s History Month, and History Fort Lauderdale and The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale are marking it with a special photography exhibition, “Women Trailblazers: Champions of Change — Broward County.”

The exhibit at The Galleria mall will showcase six prominent women of today who are proponents of change, along with historical women who helped pave the way.

The women of today celebrated in this 40-image exhibit include Kareen Boutros of Broward Workshop, Lori Chevy of Bank of America, Heather Havericak of Broward Health Medical Center, Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson of Broward Community Foundation, Stacy Ritter of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Burnadette Norris-Weeks of the Women of Color Empowerment Institute.

Women of the past who are featured include Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, Dr. Susie Holley, Edee Green, Ivy Cromartie Stranahan and Easter Lily Gates, among others.

The Galleria is presenting the exhibit in compliance with local and state health guidelines, which means patrons will be required to wear a mask and practice safe social distancing of six feet apart while viewing the photographs.

The Galleria is located in Fort Lauderdale at 2414 E. Sunrise Blvd. Learn more at www.galleriamall-fl.com.

Clockwise: Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, Eula Johnson, Katherine Rawls Casino Pool

Spring SURPRISES

BROWARD

Let the Good Times Rolle

Thursday-Sunday, March 4-7

Drive in to watch a live performance based on the life of Esther Rolle, best known for her role as the matriarch of the 1970s sitcom, Good Times. African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, www.broward.org/library

Movie in the Park

Friday, March 5

Reserve a socially distanced 10x10 space for your family to watch an outdoor screening of Dolittle. Free. Gates open at 6:30pm, movie begins at 7pm. Tamarac Sports Complex, 9901 NW 77 St., Tamarac, www.tamarac.org

Kids Adventures After Dark

Saturday, March 13

Drop the kiddoes off for an action-packed night of exhibit exploration, shows and activities. Ages 6-12. $35/member, $40/non-member. 5-9pm, Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale, 954-467-6637, www.mods.org

MCC Jr. Chef Challenge

Saturday, March 13

Kids ages 9-13 can put their cooking skills to the test as they create meals from scratch using mystery ingredients. $20. Miramar Cultural Center Banquet Hall, 2400 Civic Center Place, Miramar, www.miramarculturalcenter.org

Supercar Saturdays

Saturday, March 13

Swing by the Shops at Pembroke Gardens to see some super sleek cars the second Saturday of every month during this family and pet-friendly event. 9am-1pm, Shops at Pembroke Gardens, 527 SW 145 Terrace, Pembroke Pines, 954-450-1580 www.pembrokegardens.com

Fairy Doll

Saturday & Sunday, March 13 & 14

Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida presents a classical ballet about a mechanical doll that comes to life.

$40. Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-462-0222 www.browardcenter.org

St. Patty’s Pajama Party

Wednesday, March 17

Wear your best St. Patty’s pajamas for a celebration

that includes stories, games, dancing, music, treats and more. Ages 5-11. $15/resident, $20/nonresident. 5-7:30pm, Coconut Creek Community Center, 4455 Sol Press Blvd., Coconut Creek, www.coconutcreek.net

Steam Train Rides

Saturday, March 20

All aboard! Hop on a model steam train for a ride around the track. $1.50/ride. 10am-4pm, Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Rd., Coconut Creek, www.broward.org/parks

Free Arts Family Day

Sunday, March 21

Explore mixing, matching and watching the reactions of creative concoctions and more during this March Mad Scientist themed event.

Noon-4pm, Art and Culture Center/Hollywood, 1650 Harrison St., 954-921-3274

www.artandculturecenter.org

Spring Craft – Take and Make

Monday-Friday, March 22-26

Celebrate the arrival of spring with a creative craft kit to make at home. Available for pick-up during library operating hours. Weston Branch Library, 4205 Bonaventure Blvd., Weston, 954-357-5420 www.broward.org/library

Disney on Ice – Dream Big

Thursday-Saturday, March 25-27

Join Anna, Elsa, Moana, Maui, Miguel and other Disney characters as they take to the ice for a magical adventure. Thursday 7pm; Friday 10:30am, 3pm & 7pm; Saturday 11am. BB&T Center, One Panther Parkway, Sunrise, www.thebbtcenter.com

Movie in the Park

Friday & Saturday, March 26 & 27

Enjoy fresh air and fun with an outdoor viewing of Onward at Lakeside Park on Friday and George S. Gerber Memorial Park on Saturday. Free. Pre-registration required online. 8pm, Lakeside Park, 555 Regency Lakes Blvd., Coconut Creek; George S. Gerber Memorial Park, 4715 NW 30 St., Coconut Creek, www.coconutcreek.net

Tamarac Community Farmers Market

Sundays

Enjoy the open air while you shop for fresh produce, tea, honey and other local products every Sunday. 9am-2pm, Veteran’s Memorial Park, 7825 Southgate Blvd., Tamarac, www.tamarac.org

After a long hibernation, live events are beginning to blossom this spring. Here are some of our top picks for the month.

Don’t forget to double-check COVID-19 guidelines and other restrictions before setting out on your adventure.

MIAMIDADE

Gold Coast Free

First Saturday

Saturday, March 6

Explore the museum for free the first Saturday of every month. Gold Coast Railroad Museum, 12450 SW 152 St., Miami, 305-253-0063 www.goldcoastrailroadmuseum.org

Night Hike & Campfire

Wednesday, March 10

Explore the woods at night with a guided tour followed by a campfire. $15. Tickets sold online only. 7-9:30pm, Deering Estate, 16701 SW 72 Ave., Miami, 305-235-1668 www.deeringestate.org

Dinosaur Adventure

Select days, March 12-21

Pile in the car for a drive-thru, pre-historic journey that includes a 40-foot T-Rex, 30-foot Brachiosaurus and more. Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds, 10901 SW 24 St., Miami, www.dinosauradventure.com

Movies on the Lawn

Friday, March 12

Bring a blanket, and claim a socially distant circle on the lawn to enjoy an outdoor showing of Toy Story 4. $10/person. 7pm, Evelyn Greer Park, 8200 SW 124 St., Pinecrest, www.pinecrest-fl.gov

Mike Super Magic & Illusion 2.OH

Saturday, March 13

Be mystified by this captivating and entertaining magic and illusion show.

$25/student, $40-$45/general admission.

2pm & 7pm, Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188 St., Aventura, 305-466-8002 www.aventuracenter.org

Miami Beach Youth Music Festival

Saturday, March 13

Enjoy a hybrid in-person/virtual showcase featuring some of the city’s most talented young musicians. 4pm, North Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, www.rhythmfoundation.com

Early Morning Bird Walk

Saturdays, March 13, 20 & 27

Take a guided early-bird walk through the grounds of Fairchild to see what birds you can discover. $24.95. 7:30-9:30am, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables, www.fairchildgarden.org

Spring Clean-Up

Sunday, March 14

Help keep the park beautiful by volunteering with invasive species control, pollinator garden maintenance and more. 9am-noon, Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park, 1725 NE 135 St., North Miami, www.northmiamifl.gov

Movies Under the Gables Moonlight

Saturday, March 20

Bring lawn chairs or a blanket for an outdoor screening of the animated version of Beauty and the Beast. Coral Gables residents only. $10/family pod of up to four. 6-9pm, Phillips Park, 90 Menores Ave., Coral Gables, 305-446-6800 www.coralgables.com

Coral Gables Bike Day

Sunday, March 21

Cyclists and skaters of all ages can enjoy fun and fitness while coasting through Coral Gables. 10am-2pm, Merrick Park, 405 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables, 305-446-6800 www.coralgables.com

Egg Venture

Through April 4

Use your cell phone to solve clues and search for eggs at Zoo Miami with a spring-themed scavenger hunt. Included with paid admission. 10am-5pm, Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152 St., Miami, 305-251-0400 www.zoomiami.org

Nature’s Superheroes:

Life at the Limits

Through April 11

Learn about the diversity of the natural world, and discover nature’s most bizarre creatures through this interactive exhibit. Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-434-9600 www.frostscience.org

COMMUNITY FACES

A look at local businesses and what they’re doing to tackle today’s challenges

Q. What separates you and your business from others in your field?

A. Broadway Kids Studio offers the most wellrounded performing arts education available. We have everything from group classes and private lessons in singing, acting, dancing and instruments to an award-winning After-School

BROADWAY KIDS STUDIO

9042 West State Road 84, Davie, FL 33324 954-693-7500 • www.broadwaykidsstudio.com

to adjust how we provide services. We have limited capacity, virtual options, temperature checks, mask requirements, social-distancing guidelines and continuous sanitation procedures in place to ensure everyone is safe. We are looking forward to live, in-person camp and theater productions this summer.

Q. How does your business impact the community?

Program, Dance Competition Team and Summer Camps. We look forward to a return to theaters for summer camp productions this summer.

Q. How has your business model changed since the pandemic?

A. BKS, like all businesses, has needed

CHILDREN’S SERVICES COUNCIL OF BROWARD COUNTY

6600 W. Commercial Blvd., Lauderhill, FL 33319 954-377-1000 • www.cscbroward.org

Q. How does your business impact the community?

A. The CSC is the main funder of programs that serve children and families in Broward. We are leaders in training child-serving professionals and are the backbone of the Children’s Strategic Plan, a mechanism that ensures that funders, policymakers and stakeholders are aware of and can address needs and service gaps.

Q. How has your business model changed since the pandemic?

A. Although our building has been closed to the public, our work has not stopped. As funders, we have supported our agencies as they redesigned their programs for both physical and virtual services to continue serving Broward’s families. We also pivoted to providing training online and support food and PPE distributions.

Q. What motivates you to go to work every day?

A. Now in our 20th year, the work we do, the support we provide, and the advocacy we engage in makes a positive difference in the lives of tens of thousands of children and families in all zip codes of Broward County, and that provides great motivation for all CSC staff to go to work every day.

A. BKS provides opportunities for students in the arts where they otherwise may not have them. Schools have cut budgets and programs over the years, and we provide what is lacking. We also give our students a safe and positive environment to take risks, grow and feel free to be themselves.

NORTH BROWARD PREPARATORY SCHOOL

7600 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 33073 • 954-247-0011

www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/florida/north-broward-preparatory-school

Q. What separates you and your business from others in your field?

A. Since 1957, North Broward Preparatory School has been educating, empowering and inspiring students from early childhood through 12th grade. We’ve created a supportive environment to accelerate academic achievement and individual growth for each one of our students. We equip students with the tools they need to be successful in college and beyond. North Broward Prep also offers the International Baccalaureate Program.

Q. What do you see for your business in the future?

A. North Broward Prep will continue to be one of the best private schools in Florida by providing students with unique opportunities outside of the classroom, like our collaborations with MIT, Juilliard and UNICEF.

Q. What do you think your clients would say is the best part of visiting your business?

A. Our parents say that their students are happy at North Broward

Prep and that their children are encouraged to explore and investigate the world around them, to use technology to develop understanding and create new things, and to pursue their personal interests and passions.

Q. How has your business model changed since the pandemic?

A. North Broward Prep has continued to provide excellence in education, whether a student chooses our 5-day, on-campus learning; hybrid model where students alternate days on-campus and virtual learning; or our full virtual model.

Q. How does your business impact the community?

A. Through community service and leadership opportunities, students at North Broward Prep become socially responsible and culturally aware of the global community. They are committed to making a positive impact on our campus, the local community and the world.

EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF BROWARD COUNTY

1475

Q. What do you think your clients would say is the best part of visiting your business?

A. With our commitment to help families attain the highest-quality early learning experience, we offer School Readiness, a financial assistance program that helps low-income eligible families obtain affordable, high-quality child care in Broward County. This program allows parents to work or go to training/school while their young child is learning and thriving in a safe environment. In addition, our Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program is a free educational program that prepares 4-year-olds for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Q. How has your business model changed since the pandemic?

A. Since the pandemic, our ELC Broward office went completely virtual. We continue to provide services to all families and childcare providers throughout the county. Our ELC staff can be reached via phone, email, or online chat through our www.elcbroward.org website. We are happy and eager to help families with enrolling their child into our School Readiness or VPK programs.

Q. How does your business impact the community?

A. Since 2000, we’ve been responsible for quality early care and education services for families and children in Broward County.

We provide early learning opportunities via the School Readiness (SR) child-care subsidy assistance program to 17,760 children of low-income families and free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) to 16,641 4-year-old children across 740 centers throughout the county. We are currently enrolling for both the SR and VPK programs. Parents can apply through our website, www.elcbroward.org.

Q. What motivates you to go to work every day?

A. Our families and child-care providers are our greatest motivators. As an organization, we believe in early childhood education from birth to kindergarten as the foundation for success in school and throughout the entirety of life. In our eyes, early learning is one of the greatest investments we can make in our children. Strong learners grow up into strong adults who contribute to our future. And that’s important to all of us.

Q. What do you find most rewarding about your business?

A. The most rewarding part about our business is building and supporting the most effective early learning community possible, helping our children, parents and child care providers. This requires a lot of collaborating, educating, listening and learning on our end. With so much at stake, we strive to provide as much support and opportunities as we can to our early learners, parents and child care providers.

NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY PROGRAM

3100 SW 62 Avenue, Miami, FL 33155

305-662-8366 • www.nicklauschildrens.org/Ortho

Q. What separates you and your business from others in your field?

A. The care needs of children are very different from those of adults, especially when it comes to specialized orthopedic care. The Orthopedic Surgery Program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is committed to providing compassionate, highly skilled care to children and adolescents with orthopedic needs. Our sports health program is committed to ensuring that children of all ages can participate in life and sports with minimum risk and maximum performance and enjoyment.

Q. What is something readers may not know about your business?

A. Our orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating children and adolescents who are still growing, with both surgical and non-surgical treatments. Our team is specially trained to evaluate young athletes, assessing growth plates when needed, to offer the best possible outcomes. We care for athletes up to the age of 20.

Q. What do you think your patients would say is the best part of visiting your business?

A. Whether you live in Miami-Dade or Broward, appointments with our pediatric sports medicine specialists are available at locations throughout both counties. A child or young adult with a sports injury can see one of our pediatric orthopedic specialists at the location closest to his or her home. Our newest sports medicine location is in Miramar. For information and a complete list of locations, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org/SportsHealth

Q. How has your business model changed since the pandemic?

A. We have enhanced our safety practices by limiting our visitation policies. Appointments with specialists are spaced apart, and we have implemented social distancing precautions. Surgical patients undergo a COVID-19 test prior to surgery. Many of our doctors and staff members have received the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, we have a telehealth program that allows us to see patients virtually. For information on our virtual appointments, visit www.nicklauschildrensvirtualcare.org

Q. How does your business impact the community?

A. As champions for children, all of us at Nicklaus Children’s are committed to ensuring that our patients have the best possible care outcomes to support long and healthy lives. Within the sports medicine program, we focus on injury prevention, performance optimization and individualized injury management. Whether the child is competing as an elite athlete at a national level or is a beginner, our holistic, specialized program will help him or her to achieve personal health and fitness goals.

Q. Describe a memorable patient story.

A. We had an 11-year-old elite motocross racer who injured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). He was devastated and thought he would never be able to return to racing. At that time, he was a fully sponsored rider, ranked No. 1 in the country in his age group. He underwent a growth-sparing ACL reconstruction at Nicklaus Children’s. This reconstruction surgery is different for children than adults because of the amount of growth a child still typically needs to undergo. This patient has been doing great since the surgery and returned to racing.

Craig Spurdle, MD Chief, Orthopedic Surgery

Q. What separates you and your business from others in your field?

A. During this unsettled time, one thing remains the same: Our children are still learning, growing and developing. Children learn about the world through exploration and discovery.

GOLISANO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NAPLES

15080 Livingston Rd., Naples, FL 34109 239-514-0084 • www.cmon.org

Q. How has your business model changed since the pandemic?

A. Our #1 priority is the health and safety of our staff and our guests. Due to the coronavirus and our staff and visitors’ safety, our Museum follows the most recent safety protocols as recommended by the CDC.

Q. How does your business impact the community?

Encouraging play helps children develop their problem-solving skills, social skills and physical development. C’mon offers resources to develop school-readiness and important life lessons.

A. C’mon is a safe space that encourages children to play, learn and dream. With over 30,000 square feet of interactive, hands-on exhibits, C’mon is dedicated to transforming communities through innovative, child-centered learning with a vision to spark a passion for lifelong learning.

DAVID POSNACK JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Q. What separates you and your business from others in your field?

A. Our award-winning Camp Kadima is actually several camps within one. We offer theater, basketball, sports, adventure, preschool, STEM, special needs and a girls camp. A camper can chose a different camp (based on age and/or interest) each week if he/she wants. Each morning starts with flagpole with music, cheering, singing and dancing. Flagpole gets everyone in the camp spirit and energized for the day ahead. Summer has never been so exciting!

Q. What do you see for your business in the future?

A. We continue to look for new camps to offer and provide new experiences within the camp. The camp directors work to stay on top of our game, looking for ways to keep it fun and fresh for the kids. Maybe we will be able to expand beyond our campus in the future to offer our outstanding programs to even more kids.

Q. What do you think your clients would say is the best part of visiting your business?

A. The David Posnack JCC has just about everything: indoor gymnasiums, pools, splash pad, auditoriums, tennis courts, turf fields and a group of camp counselors and directors that have been with us for years and

provide a caring, secure and fun environment for the campers. The South Florida summers can be brutally hot. Camp Kadima has lots of indoor space for kids to keep cool, play and socialize.

Q. How has your business model changed since the pandemic?

A. We have reduced the group size and schedule movement throughout the JCC to allow for social distancing. With the current situation, campers and staff will still be required to wear masks. Some of the family activities, like Family Color War, will have to be redesigned, and Zoom meetings and drive-by pick-ups will be the norm.

Q. What do you find most rewarding about your business?

A. The joy on our campers’ faces, from the time they leave flagpole until carpool. The singing and chanting in the hallways fills the JCC with such life. Throughout the summer, our special events, Color War and Zimriah, bring a special energy. The camaraderie and competition are palpable. Sometimes, I’m not sure who is having more fun, the campers or the staff. That makes all the planning for Camp Kadima rewarding.

The rules OF parenthood

WHAT TO DO WHEN PARENTING STYLES CLASH

BY CHRISTA MELNYK HINES

e all come to parenthood with a certain set of expectations and assumptions about raising kids. Naturally, we assume our partner will share our healthy outlook. That is, until we find ourselves butting heads in the midst of a heated child-rearing dilemma.

How do we navigate a parenting style conflict without confusing our kids and harming our relationship with our partner?

DISCUSS YOUR UPBRINGING WITH YOUR PARTNER. “In a perfect world, we would have these conversations when we are dating,” says adolescent and family therapist Melissa Perry.

How we raise our kids is often dictated by how our parents raised us — or how we wish we’d been raised. As a couple, discuss each other’s childhoods. For example, what was your parents’ disciplinary style? How did they interact with you?

Listen to, understand and empathize with each other’s experiences.

“Most people know that it doesn’t feel good to scream at their kids. Most people know it doesn’t feel good to hit them, but they do it because they say ‘I turned out OK,’” says Cati Winkel, a wellness coach, who works with individuals and families.

“Once we start figuring out what that’s created in their lives, how they interact and how they have relationships with people, they start to recognize ‘Oh, maybe things could have been a little bit different,’” Winkel says.

PARENT AS A TEAM. Even if you are divorced or separated, focus on presenting a united front when it comes to parenting.

“It’s fine for parents to each have their own way of interacting with their children. As a matter of fact, it’s healthy because it teaches children to be more flexible and to adapt better in different environments,” says Colleen Huff, a certified parent educator.

Discuss the ideal home environment you want to create, the types of family rules that are important to each of you, and zero in on common goals.

COME UP WITH A PLAN. Agree on ageappropriate rules and consequences in your home. For a toddler or preschooler, you might have two or three rules like “no hitting or throwing toys,” while a 5-year-old might have up to five rules.

“If kids know the expected behavior, then they’re free to do something else, which is going to be exploring and learning, playing and engaging and feeling self-confident vs. feeling timid, inward and insecure,” Huff says.

Establish reasonable consequences for unacceptable behavior, but be flexible. For example, you might use the corner for a timeout for your child, while your partner may prefer that your child sits in a time-out chair.

By agreeing on a plan of action for common scenarios and remaining consistent with

consequences, you can avoid reactive parenting. MANAGE CONFLICT. Vastly different approaches to parenting can send mixed messages to your child.

“Your child might start to identify one parent as the parent to avoid and the other parent as the parent to get what they want out of them, or use parents against each other,” Perry says. “If your goal is to both love your child and both parent them, then you can probably come to some sort of compromise.”

Suppose you want your child to do homework right away after school to free up the evening for other interests. Then, your partner comes home, dismisses this rule and lets your child play before homework. A good way to address the situation might be for you to say: “I’ve noticed that Johnny struggles to complete his homework if he puts it off until later in the day. This structure in our afternoons seems to help. I could really use your support on this.”

Then, give your partner an opportunity to respond without interrupting them.

“Focus on the problem, not the person, and focus on the actual issue at hand in the moment, not what the parent or child did or didn’t do in the last week or week before, “ Perry advises. Also, use reflective listening to validate what your partner says, which shows that you care about their perception or opinion. In reflective listening, you restate in a non-condescending way what you think you heard: “I think I’m hearing you say______. Is this what you mean?”

“Oftentimes we misunderstand, and we base our next answer on an assumption of understanding,” Perry says.

IS IT OK TO FIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR CHILD?

If you can remain calm, it’s healthy for kids to see their parents work out a conflict and come to a resolution.

“If we teach children from a young age how to properly deal with conflict, that’s only going to set them up for success,” Winkel says.

But if you are too angry to discuss the situation immediately, give yourselves permission to cool off before working through the issue.

“Agree to walk away, but have a set, specific time that you are going to come back and talk about it again,” Perry says. “A lot of times people fight, then they cool down, but they don’t ever come back and resolve what was said in the heat of the moment.”

Without coming to resolutions for problems that come up in our relationships, resentment and disengagement from each other can set in, potentially harming your partnership.

Need help strengthening your communication skills with your partner or ex to resolve parenting differences? Consult with a licensed family therapist for helpful support and strategies.

Types of parenting Styles

Authoritative

• Provides structure to a child’s daily routine, including regular bedtime

• Establishes clear household rules and reasonable consequences

• Healthy, open line of communication between parent and child

Considered most effective and beneficial parenting style for the average child.

Neglectful

• Doesn’t support child’s emotional and/or physical needs

• Unaware of what is happening in child’s life

• Leaves child alone for long periods of time

• Uninvolved with child’s life outside of home

One of the most harmful parenting styles. Kids have trouble forming relationships with others.

Permissive

• Loving and nurturing, but not demanding

• Lenient to avoid confrontation with child

• Lack structure, unclear rules, consequences

• May bribe kids to do things with large rewards

Kids more likely to exhibit insecurity, poor social skills, self-centeredness, lack of motivation and disregard for authority.

Authoritarian

• Demanding, strict and inflexible

• Lack of healthy dialogue between parent and child

• Limits child’s ability to make decisions or choices

• Uses punishment instead of positive reinforcement

Kids may exhibit low self-esteem, associate obedience with love, struggle in social situations, and may rebel when outside of parental control.

Source: Developmental Psychology, Vanderbilt University

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Forever changed

A LOOK AT LIFE, ONE YEAR LATER

BY JENNIFER JHON

Remember in the good old days, aka early 2020, when we were blissfully unaware of the coming quarantine?

I had planned a trip with the kids to Disney World for Spring Break, splurging to stay on property and snagging FastPasses to the most popular rides. We were finally going to Join the Resistance at the new Star Wars-themed land. My 19-year-old nephew, a huge Star Wars fan, even planned to fly in from New Mexico to join us.

He arrived March 13 — the same day Broward Schools announced they were closing because of COVID. That day is forever seared in my memory — life before March 13, 2020, and life after.

In those first few days, we were glued to the television as everything closed. (Disney shut its doors several days later, on March 16, and refunded me for the vacation that never happened.) It almost felt like preparing for a hurricane.

At the time, although the virus was scary, it was fun to stay home with the family. We didn’t even have school the first two weeks, so we played a lot of games and rode our bikes and remained innocent of the struggle ahead: online schooling.

We naively thought quarantine was temporary. We wondered if summer camps would open. We looked forward to the fall when school would resume and we’d get our lives back.

But we were so wrong.

Now a year later, my life is forever changed. I still shop alone, masked and 6 feet distant, getting in and out of the store with my list and maybe a few extra cookies on the way out the door.

My son’s city-league soccer season was canceled, crushing his hopes of returning to Coach Mike and his undefeated team, and wiping out a Saturday morning family tradition that had been going strong for four years.

We all miss our friends. Although some families are getting out more, many others are “staying home and staying safe,” especially with the virus variants showing up in South Florida. So play dates are still far and few between, and usually outdoors, which is going to be less enjoyable as we move into the heat of summer.

My work-life balance is a thing of the past. As I sit in front of the computer far past 5 p.m., making up time at work that I spent shepherding the kids through their online classes, the kids are playing too many video games and sneaking too many fruit cups out of the pantry. And after they go to bed, it’s time to dive into the freelance work I’ve taken on to fill the financial gap created by reduced hours at my job.

But all is not lost. We still hold out hope that if the vaccine is distributed widely enough by May — and we can secure the shots for my 78-year-old mother, who lives with us — summer camp might be an option this year.

We’re considering another attempt at a theme park vacation in Orlando, or a camping trip to the springs in the center of the state.

And maybe by the fall, the kids will be able to resume a normal school year, complete with clubs and school dances and graduations.

I don’t believe we’ll ever return to the life we had pre-COVID. Not only has society changed from the pandemic, but we have, too.

Jennifer Jhon is South Florida Family Life’s digital and social media editor. She is planning to catch up on sleep once summer starts.