march 2021
READY FOR SPRING?
OUR FAVORITE KID-TESTED WALKS A YEAR OF COVID-19 (THE ANNIVERSARY NO ONE WANTED!)
PANDEMIC BABIES MEET TWO MOMS WHO GAVE BIRTH THIS YEAR VIRTUAL SCHOOLING HOW IT’S REALLY GOING MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
ONE DAD’S STORY: “A FOUND YEAR” montereybayparent.com
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MORE THAN JUST A GYM ...
WE ARE A CAUSE The Y is more than a gym—we are a cause. We stand for health. We stand for connection. We stand for our youth, families, and seniors. We stand for our community. The challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic are no different. In 2020, the Central Coast YMCA immediately pivoted to address the most pressing needs in our community, providing: • Childcare for children of essential workers • Wellness calls, essential deliveries, and meals for seniors • Outdoor and online fitness classes for adults, seniors, and families As we start the new year with uncertainty and turmoil, Central Coast YMCA remains steadfast in our purpose to foster the health and wellness of our community, providing a safe place to connect, grow, and rebuild.
Find out how to get involved, support your local branch and be a part of something bigger. www.centralcoastymca.org
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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
Thank you to all our dedicated employees at Community Hospital and Montage Health for your commitment to caring for our community during the pandemic. Many of you are also caring for loved ones at home, as moms and dads, grandparents, extended family, and more — with compassion and kindness. We appreciate you!
MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
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Contents march 2021
in each issue: 08 Father’s Day Local dad, Rob Weisskirch covers parenting topics from a dad’s point of view. 10 Dear Teacher Two long time teachers answer your questions about your child’s learning.
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Our Favorite Walks. With the first day of spring just around the corner and our activities limited, walking is the perfect family activity. We have ten great walks for you to try.
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Gardening Science. Try any of these inexpensive experiments for a fun project. by Tiffany Doerr Guerzon
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Fun Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Home. While parades and parties are canceled, you can still enjoy a fun St. Patrick’s Day. We’ve even included a recipe for Shamrock Slime! 22 Celebrate Women’s History Month. March has been designated National Women’s History Month. We have seven suggestions on how you can celebrate with the kids.
12 Grandma Says An experienced grandmother of two offers insight and advice. 20 Peninsula Kids Parents share photos of their kids and families.
on the cover
Archie is 2.5 years old and is the son of Danielle Jackson and Beau Jackson. Danielle is a Labor & Delivery RN in the CHOMP Family Birth Center and Beau is a stay-athome-dad and watercolor artist. Archie loves tide pooling and playing at the beach.
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365 Days of Virtual Learning. One of the most challenging changes for families coping with the pandemic has been how to navigate virtual schooling We checked in with three families to see how they have adjusted. by Michelle Marie Arean
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Baby Joy Mixed With COVID Anxiety. Pregnancy and childbirth during a pandemic is a very scary proposition. We talked to two local moms and an obstetrician about the experience. by Susan Meister
Photo by Tatiana Scher 831-566-7225 • www.tscher.com
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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
serious fun . It’s a girl thing
Summer at Santa Catalina
Monterey, CA • 831.655.9386 • santacatalina.org MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
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from the publisher…
Monterey Bay
The saying “the days are long, the years are short” could not be more apt. It’s exactly how I feel about the pandemic and the first anniversary of “sheltering in place.” Each day felt like a year, and yet the year passed by so quickly. In my wildest dreams, I didn’t think we would be in the place we are: 500,000 dead, over 27 million cases of Coronavirus, a year in lockdown, businesses closed, many laid off or working reduced hours, and most of our kids out of school since last March. It’s been a nightmare for so many. While there are promising signs with cases down in the last few weeks and vaccines ramping up, life as we knew it is decidedly different and will remain so for a very long time. I was hanging in there until a few weeks ago when I hit my wall. I was just done. After a few days of feeling sorry for myself, a phone call from a good friend followed by an outdoor socially distanced drink at sunset with another friend was enough to snap me (mostly) out of it. Sometimes, small actions like that aren’t enough to pull you out of a dark place. If you or a family member feels prolonged or severe anxiety or depression, PLEASE reach out and get help. Even the strongest among us has a breaking point. Don’t wait until you’ve reached yours to get help. Tricia Vlasak has some warning signs to watch out for in her article on pages 12-13. Yes, this year has been very tough. But there are bright spots, and life does go on. Humans are nothing if not resilient. During grief, fear, and so much change, bright spots appear. A baby is born, a father finds joy in spending precious time with his child, a grandparent finds happiness in being with her grandchildren. We’ve dedicated some of this issue to those stories. We also have suggestions on how you can celebrate something other than a pandemic: St. Patrick’s Day, Spring, Women’s History Month–safely. I hope you find something in these pages that helps bring a smile to your face or offers a little inspiration. Stay strong and stay healthy.
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P.O. Box 806 Pacific Grove, CA 93950 MontereyBayParent.com
831-582-1373 Publisher Andrea Breznay abreznay@montereybayparent.com 831-582-1373 Account Executive Cherilyn Miller cmiller@montereybayparent.com 831-582-1770 Cover Photographers Michelle Findlay Tatiana Scher Contributing Writers MICHELLE MARIE AREAN TIFFANT DOERR GUERZON SUSAN MEISTER tricia vlasak rob weisskirch Editorial Submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for return of any unsolicited materials. Articles and advertisements in Monterey Bay Parent do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher nor does the publisher assume responsibility for statements made by our advertisers or editorial contributors. Acceptance of advertising by Monterey Bay Parent does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Monterey Bay Parent is available free of charge at over 250 distribution points throughout Monterey and Santa Cruz counties as well as digitally at www.MontereyBayParent.com. Monterey Bay Parent is ©2021 by Monterey Bay Parent, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.
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EDUCATING CHILDREN IN MONTEREY COUNTY SINCE 1967 • WE MAKE LEARNING CHILD’S PLAY! • Offering Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten • Open to ages 2-5 • We work on developing reading readiness, introducing number concepts, and creating social adjustment using a theme-based curriculum • Science, language, social studies, and nature curriculum • Open 7:30 am to 6 pm • Call for rates
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Looking for summer camp information in a safe, socially distanced way?
EXPO TO G Saturday, April 10 10 am to 2 pm Del Monte Center, Monterey • Starting March 15 you can register at MontereyBayParent.com to get a FREE ticket.
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• Bring your ticket to the Expo Booth on the day of the event to pick up your reusable shopping bag filled with summer camp info, little gifts, and more. Plus, there will be gift certificates for mall shops and other vendors in random bags! • Plus, pick up a fun take-home arts & crafts project from Del Monte Center merchants at the event. • Accepting vendor applications now! Call 831-582-1373 or email abreznay@montereybayparent.com for information. Sponsored by MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
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Thinking of this as a “found year”
W
hen I see news or social media posts about how coping with Covid-19 and dealing with remote learning has become a “lost year” for kids, it makes me cringe. Framing this past year in negative terms makes our children absorb that sentiment and feel as though they are deficient or something is missing from them because of these outside events. Instead, I think of this as a found year. When my daughter was an infant, I was fortunate enough to have an extended paternity leave period. I got to stay home and be the primary caregiver for her for several months. As her infant personality unfolded, I witnessed her tenacity and frustration as well as her sunny disposition. She played and cooed in front of me and drew people towards her when we went to do errands, as cute babies do. At the same time, staying home caring for an infant was also dull, isolating, and frustrating. There were times when, because of the day’s activities and my daughter’s routine, no one spoke to me until my wife came home. Also, when she was sick or fussy or wouldn’t nap, I felt frustrated trying to figure out how to make things better. Like most parents, I got to know her likes and dislikes and pushed through to make it work. CONCENTRATED TIME Now, under the pandemic, I have again had concentrated time at home with my daughter. However, this time she can interact and respond with words, and her strong personality is evident. She has taught me about herself and more about me. I have learned that she is an active participator in class. I knew she was a talker and enthusiastic about learning but had not realized how much she pursues attention by answering quickly, whether she is correct or not. This pattern has resulted in her teacher having to ask her to let others speak, mute her, and put her in the waiting room on a couple of occasions. These actions greatly annoyed her but were a good lesson in being part of a group and thinking about others (which we remind her). I have also learned that she is a “trash talker” when playing her online math game. In the game,
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you answer math questions to battle dragons, monsters, and other foes. As she approaches these computergenerated opponents, she will say to them things like, “Oh, you won’t get me!” “Ha, ha, I will melt you!” or “You will die and burn!” I knew there was a little competitiveness in her but had not realized how much. I have also seen her leadership emerge. When the connection is poor on the teacher’s side, she is willing to step in to lead the class in opening activities or helping direct a discussion of what the students want to do while they wait. THE THINGS KIDS SAY! I have seen how funny she can be. Early in the shutdown, my wife and I started tracking some of the funny things that she said to document the events of the pandemic. Here are some of the gems: “YouThe guys are notfollowing treats.” author his “Things taste better when they are own advice to sleep when your favorite color.” and where you “What if it’s something reallycan. interesting like an echidna penis.” [We had been watching a lot of zoo shows] “How can they not get my vision? It is so visionable.” “Get up! You can be my sidekick.” “You are not my lovely assistant. You’re my okay assistant.” “I do make good choices. You don’t see them.” “Daddy is trio awesome.”
Father’s day by Rob Weisskirch
LESSONS FOR DAD I have also learned more about myself. I have never liked working from home and still do not. Interrupting my work to help my daughter to log on, understand an assignment, or get attention frustrates me to no end. I am trying to quell my reactions and be more patient, but this is not my strong suit. At times, I have to stop my tasks to act as a classmate so that she has companionship while she completes her assignments. I have realized that sometimes I need to break away from the remote demands of work and go for a bike ride with my daughter. She then gets out some energy, and the bike ride gets me out of my frustrated state. Rather than push her out, I sometimes need to bring her closer. The protocols to keep us healthy are now continuing beyond a year. As a dad, I look at these temporary limitations as more found time to be together, learn about one another, and build our connection as a family. Robert (Rob) S. Weisskirch, MSW, Ph.D., CFLE is a Professor of Human Development at California State University, Monterey Bay and is a Certified Family Life Educator. He and his wife are parents to a chatty, elementary school aged daughter and reside in Marina.
MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
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Monterey Bay Parent Magazine
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UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF DIVISION IS IMPORTANT Question: My son is struggling with division. How can I help my child to understand the concept of division? – Concerned Answer: With the access of inexpensive calculators there is no need today for children to possess the skills to solve long division problems. However, it is very important for children to develop the concept of division and to understand the division algorithm. Here are some hands-on ways that will help your son understand division. Give Everyone the Same: Have your child count out 12 beans. Of these 12, have him count out 4 beans and place them in a tub. Have him count out 4 more beans and place them in another tub. Continue this process until all 12 beans have been placed in a tub. Ask your child, “How many tubs contain beans? In this case, 3 tubs contain beans. Once you have finished counting out the beans, it is time to show your child the mathematical relation between division and multiplication. Point out that the divisor (the number that divides another number), 4, and the quotient (the answer to a division problem), 3, are the factors in the multiplication problem. First, have him write out what he has done as a multiplication problem: (number of tubs of beans times number of beans per tub equals number of beans). He will write 3 x 4 = 12. Then he should write out the division problem which is number of beans divided by the number of beans per tub equals the number of tubs with beans. This time he will write 12 ÷ 4 = 3. Repeat this activity using 16, 24 and 36 beans. Everyone Shares Fairly: Expand your son’s knowledge of division by having him count out 12 beans again and divide them equally between 4 tubs. Ask him, how many beans are in each tub. Then have him write out what he has done as a multiplication
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dear teacher by Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts
and then a division problem. Repeat using 16, 24 and 36 beans and the 4 tubs. These activities use the partition model to develop the concept of division. It answers the question “If a number of things are to be shared equally among a number of sharers, how many things would each sharer get”.
Her teacher’s reaction is: “Some kids just won’t get phonics.” This remark bothered me. Is it important for my child to become more skilled with phonics? – Good Reader Answer: Children learn to read in different ways. Your daughter is a sight reader. This is the way children were taught to read years ago. It would be helpful if your daughter could use phonics to recognize the first sound in unknown words as it would make it easier for her to use context in recognizing them. While she may never be great at phonics, it is highly probable that she has some knowledge of phonics simply through her ability to read so well.
INCREASING VOCABULARY TRICKS Question: My son currently is in fourth grade. How can he increase his vocabulary? – Needs Words Answer: Children pick up new words and their meanings in two major ways, through listening and through reading. Starting in fourth grade, new and unfamiliar vocabulary is introduced in all subjects, especially science and social studies, building a foundation for future learning. Mastery of these words is absolutely essential to understanding the material. This task is much easier for the good listeners in every classroom. Children who don’t listen in class are always playing catch-up in learning vocabulary. Building children’s vocabulary does not just occur at school. The more you talk to your children, no matter what their age, the larger their vocabularies will be, because parents use far more challenging words than children’s peers. We doubt that we have to sell you on the advantages of having a good vocabulary, from higher grades and standardized test scores now, to future college admission tests. CHILD SIMPLY DOES NOT GET PHONICS Question: My second grader simply can’t sound out most new words; however, she is a very good reader. You can tell her what a word is, or she figures it out through context.
LOWERING STRESS AT SCHOOL Question: My second-grade daughter is anxious and stressed every day in school. I feel that this is affecting her academic growth. How can I help her to relax in the school environment? – Scared Answer: You definitely, want your daughter to have a more positive learning experience. It is time to get an appointment with her teacher and school counselor who should have some solid ideas about how to turn this situation around before third grade. An investigation should tell everyone what is causing the anxiety and stress. Could it be the schoolwork or related to her classmates? The answer could be as simple as getting as getting her some tools like a stress ball, having her chew gum, or sit on an exercise ball – ways that she could use to calm herself and get her mind in a different place.
Authors Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts have master’s degrees in education and specialist degrees (Ed.S.) in reading. In addition, Peggy has a doctorate in special education and educational leadership.
MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
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grandma says by Tricia Vlasak
This Isn’t Easy.
Coping With Pandemic Anxiety, Depression, and Sadness We’ve reached the one-year mark of life since we hit “pandemic mode.” Most of us believed the lockdown was only going to be for a few months, at the most. Depending on where you live, that lockdown has been in effect in varying degrees for 12 months now. Many people have lost jobs, homes, and – most tragically – family members. One year feels almost too soon to look back and reflect. We’re not yet through it, and folks are still struggling. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Vaccines are being dispersed at an increasing rate every day. Doctors are learning more about the virus and how to treat it. And we are all becoming experts at keeping our hands and the surfaces we touch spotless! I have been fortunate. No one in my family has gotten sick. I work for the government, so my job has continued. We’ve had to modify how we do business, but I’ve never been
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out of work, and I’ve been able to pay my bills. I don’t have young children, so I haven’t had to juggle remote learning with working at home. I am grateful for these things. But I do see how hard this is for young families and younger people in general. A recent study from Psychiatry Research notes high levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms in young adults. Some psychologists are quick to note that this age group (18-30) had a higher incidence of mental health issues even before the pandemic, but they admit the pandemic has exacerbated them. The Psychiatry Research study participants noted higher levels of loneliness and “COVID-19-specific worry,” as well as a “low tolerance for distress.” Children and teens are experiencing their share of problems, too. The pandemic has necessitated sweeping changes to the way kids
learn, play, and socialize. The closure of schools and the cessation of extracurricular activities means that kids no longer have the same access. Their worlds have been turned upside down, and, for some, it has been devastating. There is an increased risk of depression when teens experience tumultuous emotions, even during “normal” times. During the teen years, peers are what keep most kids grounded. We’re all social beings but, for teens, that is even truer. And less access to their friends can have overwhelming consequences. Substance abuse among teens is, once again, on the rise. Depression and anxiety are often cited as the impetus for drug and alcohol use. My daughter has managed to keep life reasonably regular for my grandkids. But, as she has pointed out, my grandson (who will be two in April) won’t remember a time before COVID-19. And my granddaughter,
MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
although a happy and well-adjusted kid, has moments of melancholy. My daughter and her husband were in the middle of buying a new house when the lockdown went into effect. They moved on April 1 of last year. Their new home is gorgeous, with a beautiful yard complete with a swimming pool, rock waterfall, and slide. Most kids would love to live there. But my granddaughter recently said to her mom that she missed their old house. After some digging, my daughter realized that my granddaughter associated the old house with more happiness. She didn’t understand that the pandemic changed everything. She just knew that, after they moved, school closed, mom was working from home full time, everyone was more stressed out, and she didn’t get to play with her friends. There are ways we can deal with minor mood changes: • Limit your exposure to news • Take a break from social media
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when possible Stay connected with friends and loved ones, even if it’s just with a quick text every few days Eat well, drink water, get some sleep, and get outside and move.
But how do we know when our children (or us) may need to see a mental health professional? Here are a few situations that may warrant a call for help: • If fears, worries, and anxieties seem excessive. • If there has been social withdrawal. • If there are drastic (unintentional) changes in eating and sleeping. • If there are frequent feelings of anger. • If there is a growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities. • If there is evidence of substance abuse. • In children, if there is hyperactivity, that is not normal for that child.
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Persistent nightmares or unsettling dreams. • Unusual aggression. These signs are a few indicators that professional help may be beneficial. If you don’t know who to call, a quick google search for “where can I find mental health help in my area” will give you useful starting points. If there is any indication of suicidal ideation, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). I’ll leave you with something I read online and now think about when I’m having a dark day: “On particularly rough days when I’m sure I can’t possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100%...and that’s pretty good.” tricia vlasAK is a mother, grandparent, and wife. She works in law enforcement when she isn’t writing about parenting, hiking with her dogs, or going on adventures.
If you or someone close to you is in a mental health crisis, call 911 or Natividad Crisis Line at 831-755-4111
y mily am F Fa
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PEBBLE BEACH GRADES 9–12 DAY & B OA R D I N G
A SELECTIVE SCHOOL FOR COLLEGE-BOUND B O A R D I N G A N D D AY S T U D E N T S
CARMEL G R A D E S P R E -K – 8
W W W. S T E V E N S O N S C H O O L . O R G
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With the first day of spring just around the corner (March 20) and families spending lots of time outdoors as a result of the pandemic, walking is the perfect activity.
Our Favorite Although some of our destinations have made modifications to their hours and canceled guided walks and classes, trails and paths are generally open. Remember to wear masks whenever you can’t be six feet away from others. Also, be sure to check online for opening hours and any last-minute cancellations before you set out. Here are nine local destinations where your family can enjoy some outdoor time and a great walk! 1. Frog Pond Wetland Preserve Enjoy a short (¾ mile) loop around a beautiful pond while listening for the calls of ducks, frogs, and a variety of birds. Children will love exploring under the overgrown trees and bushes, which almost feel like a natural
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Walks
labyrinth. Don´t forget to bring your binoculars and a light lunch. Address: 698 Canyon Del Rey Blvd. Del Rey Oaks, 93940 Parking: Free, located off of the shoulder of Canyon Del Rey Blvd.
2. Fort Ord Dunes State Park At Fort Ord Dunes you will find over five miles of paved trails that are all access friendly. If you´re feeling adventurous, explore sand trails that branch off toward the dunes and beach. Only have a short break? Skip the walk and head down to the first beach access trail by the main parking lot entrance. Enjoy breathtaking views while the children climb the dunes. Address: Stillwell Hall Marina, 93933 Parking: Free, open from sunrise to sunset. Parking: Free, but limited. 3. Jack’s Peak Park Nestled comfortably in the hills of Monterey, Jack´s Peak Park offers a great workout within its eight miles of
trails. Children will love its storybook location complete with lush pine trees. The whole family can experience the thrill of hiking up to the highest point in the Monterey Peninsula, rising 1,068 feet above the valley! The views of the ocean, city, and bay below will quickly become a family favorite. Picnic areas are available next to the parking lots. Parking: $5 per vehicle. Address: 25020 Jack´s Peak Park Rd, Monterey, 93940. 4. Salinas River State Beach Located in the heart of Moss Landing, this trail is accessible through Potrero and Sandholt Roads off of HWY 1. The whole family will enjoy exploring trails and passing the slough, boats, and beach that connect the two entrances. Parking: Free. Address: Potrero Road access: 10933 Potrero Road Moss Landing, 95039 Moss Landing Road access: 7866 Sandholdt Road Moss Landing, 95039
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5. Laguna Grande Regional Park Laguna Grande Regional Park is located in the cities of Seaside and Monterey, and is managed separately by their respective owners and operators, Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD), City of Seaside, and City of Monterey. Take the family out for a walk around this gorgeous lake while exploring the three surrounding playgrounds. The complete loop is about a mile and you´ll enjoy tracking your distance or simply enjoying the sights of the ducks and birds. Picnic tables are also available. Parking: Free. Address: 1350 Del Monte Boulevard Seaside, 93955.
Free. 1700 Elkhorn Rd, Watsonville, 95012. Parking:
Address:
8. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve Experience the sensation of wanderlust as this park offers beautiful scenery at every turn. With over 10 miles looping through the shore and forest, Point Lobos provides hours of endless space to explore. The forest will pull you in with its ocean vistas, the calls of sea lions, cliff viewpoints, tide pools, diving areas, and beaches all along the south shore. Parking: $10 per vehicle (limited availability) Address: 62 California 1 Carmel, 93923.
6. Fort Ord National Monument This secluded location boasts over 86 miles of undeveloped wildland terrain. Flora and fauna lovers will enjoy identifying over 35 rare species of plant with scenic views of the valleys. This location is known for its inclines, so bring your mountain bikes and good hiking shoes. Parking: Free. Address: Creekside Terrace, Salinas, 93908. 7. Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Elkhorn Slough is more than just a research facility. Dress in layers and take along a lunch, as you hike through marshes, woodlands, and creeks. The area is well known for its variety of birds. There are kayak companies in Moss Landing that rent kayaks, stand up paddle boards and other boats for use in the Slough. The Reserve is open Wednesday thru Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
wind through streams with visibility of Carmel Beach. A well-preserved secret, Mission Trail Park offers views of Point Lobos, the Carmel Mission Basilica and an abandoned mansion. Parking: Free. Address: 25800 Hatton Rd, Carmel, 93923. 10. Asilomar Boardwalk and Beach A ¼ mile boardwalk meanders through 25 acres of restored sand dune ecosystem. More than 450,000 plants, representing 25 species, have been grown and planted in the effort to preserve the dunes and coastal bluffs. This easy walk is wheelchair and stroller friendly and offers great sunset views. You can also cross Sunset Drive and walk along the beach or the onemile Asilomar Coast Trail. Parking: Free parking along the coastal road of Sunset Drive or in the limited visitor spots at Asilomar Conference grounds. Address: 800 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove, 93950
Pt. Lobos State Natural Reserve
9. Mission Trail Park A former estate that has now been converted into a 33 acre preserve, it houses a network of five miles of trails that the whole family will enjoy. The trails are mostly flat and are surrounded by tall pine, redwoods, and a wide variety of flora. The trails
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Asilomar Boardwalk and Beach
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Gardening Science
Try any of these inexpensive garden experiments for a fun project. Spring is the perfect time to teach kids about growing things. Even if the ground outside is still hard, there are fun things you can grow inside. Try one or more of these fun plant experiments for fun and learning! Beans in CD cases Recycle a clear CD jewel case to grow beans and teach kids about the parts of the plant. With the empty case hinge side up, add some potting soil, filling about one-third of the case. “Plant” a bean concave side down (like the letter “n”) on top of the soil and let the kids water with a dropper by adding drops of water into the hole at the top of the CD case. Stand the “planter” upright in a sunny window and kids will be able to clearly see the roots reaching down into the soil as the plant grows out of the bean. Colored Carnations or Celery Fill a vase or glass with water and tint the water with food color. Place a white carnation or celery stalk inside and watch the plant become colorful as it “drinks” the tinted water. This is a great, short experiment to show how plants take in water. Flower bulbs Paper whites and daffodils are favorite early spring plants, and growing flowers from bulbs is a great science experiment. Use any see-through
container as a vessel, from plastic cup to a clear glass or vase. Add rocks or marbles to the bottom of your container and place the bulb on top, root side down. Fill with just enough water to cover the bottom of the bulb. Observe the bulb as it grows roots and eventually a flower! Bonus lesson: Cut open an extra bulb so that kids can see the inside of this plant powerhouse. Root Vegetables Ever wonder how root veggies form under the ground? You can see for yourself–and show the kids–by planting root vegetables in a clear container. Clear Mason jars are perfect for this, but a clear vase or other container works just as well. First, fill the bottom of your container with pebbles, marbles or gravel to allow for drainage. Then, add potting soil. Plant any root vegetable seeds, several per jar. Try carrots, onions, radishes or turnips. Keep the soil moist and enjoy watching the root form. Best of all, when the vegetable is done growing, you can eat it! Grow a Carrot Top This is a fun way to see a plant grow, but it will not produce an edible carrot. You can use an end of a carrot from your veggie scraps, or buy a whole carrot with the green fronds still attached for this experiment. Cut off the carrot near the plant end, leaving
Growing plants is a great way to sneak some learning– and a little sunshine–into your daily routine. 16
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an inch or two of root. (Remember, the root is the edible part of the carrot, so you’ll want to cut your carrot near the wide end, leaving the part where the green leaves attach for growing.) Place several cotton balls on a plate or shallow dish and add water until the cotton is moist. Place the carrot top on the wet cotton, orange side down. Help the kids check and add water as needed. The green plant will sprout within a few days. Sunflowers Sunflower seeds sprout and grow quickly, making this the perfect flower for impatient children. These seeds can be started just about anywhere, even in a disposable coffee cup. Kids love seeing the plant push its way out of the soil, wearing the seed husk like a hat! Transplant your plant to a flower pot after sprouting to observe the flower as it forms. Grass basket Grass is another seed that grows quickly. Make a living basket by lining a basket in plastic and filling with potting soil. Scatter grass seed on top and lightly mist with water daily. The kids will love using a spray bottle! This makes a perfect Easter table centerpiece filled with green, living grass and a couple of dyed eggs added for color! Tiffany Doerr Guerzon is the mom of three creative and messy children. For additional information check www.TDGuerzon.com
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No St. Patrick’s Day Parade or Party?
Fun Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Home
St. Patrick’s Day started as a religious celebration in the 17th century to commemorate Saint Patrick’s life and Christianity’s arrival to Ireland. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against consuming meat were waived, and people would dance, drink and eat a traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage. In the early 18th century, Irish immigrants brought the tradition over to the American colonies. As more Irish came across the Atlantic, the celebration slowly grew and morphed from a religious celebration to a secular one. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston in 1737, and the celebration has only grown larger since that first parade.
While the ongoing pandemic is responsible for the cancellation of parades and other group celebrations, there are ways to celebrate at home that the entire family will enjoy. Whether you cook traditional Irish specialties, research Irish history or get crafty, you can still have lots of Irish-themed fun this March 17! IN THE KITCHEN Cook an authentic Irish recipe. While it’s traditional to eat Corned Beef and Cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day in the United States, it is not an authentic Irish food. Instead of corned beef and cabbage, the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal eaten in Ireland contains lamb or bacon. Another authentic Irish food you may want to make with the kids is Soda Bread. No matter what recipe you choose, the best way to enjoy it is sliced warm and spread liberally with butter. Another baked treat the kids may enjoy is Barmbrack. This fruity tea loaf is traditionally served smothered in butter with a cup of tea in the afternoon. You can find our favorite recipes for corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, and Barnbrack at MontereyBayParent.com. Eat green foods all day. Instead of going traditional, get creative and serve only green foods for each meal. For breakfast, serve green pancakes washed down with green milk. For lunch, how about an assortment of green vegetables with spinach dip or Ranch dressing dyed green? Dinner can be green pasta. Add a green smoothie for a snack, and your green day will be complete. GET CRAFTY Leprechaun pranks. According to Irish legend, these magical elves spend their time mending shoes and making practical jokes and have a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. They are notorious for causing mischief the night before St. Patrick’s Day. Parents can have some fun of their own by setting up a few leprechaun pranks. Easy pranks include: turning the milk green, leaving green footprints, and turning the toilet water green. You can mix up the children’s shoes or put the toothpaste in the fridge. The kids will have fun discovering where the leprechauns have left signs of their mischief. For every mischievous act, the leprechaun could leave behind a Shamrock sticker to tell the kids who is responsible.
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Create a Leprechaun Trap. If your family has enjoyed leprechaun pranks in the past, this year may be the time for a leprechaun trap. The traps are set up the night before St. Patrick’s Day, and children awaken to discover signs that leprechauns have visited the trap. Depending on the ages of your children, your trap can be a simple box or ornate structure. The traps are typically green and gold and feature the stereotypical leprechaun items: gold coins, rainbows, top hats, and four-leaf clover. Once you build your trap, don’t forget to add bait to help lure in the leprechaun. A note to parents: A leprechaun may leave a trail of gold and/or green glitter, so remind the kids to watch for it. You can find lots of plans for leprechaun traps on Pinterest to get your creative juices going. Be sure to get your traps done ahead of time so you can set them up the night before St. Patrick’s Day. Shamrock painted rocks and gold nuggets. This easy craft is perfect for a rainy afternoon. For little ones, Mom and Dad can make the rocks and the gold nuggest ahead of time. You can find complete instructions on MontereyBayParent.com, but honestly, they’re easy enough to make without instructions–paint simple green shamrocks on small rocks, allow to dry, and then spray with a sealer. The gold nuggets are smaller pebbles sprayed with gold paint. Once you have a bunch, take the kids on a walk to drop them conspicuous spots for neighbors to find. Or, add them to treat baskets (perhaps a loaf of soda bread?) you deliver to family and friends.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW Explore Irish culture. Use the week before St. Patrick’s Day to read books about Ireland and research IrishAmericans who have made significant contributions. Here are some beautifully illustrated books about Ireland perfect for storytime: • This is Ireland by Miroslav Sasek. First published in 1964, This is Ireland brings the Emerald Isle to life, where the shamrock grows and a leprechaun stands at the end of every rainbow. • Tales of Old Ireland by Malachy Doyle. This collection of seven spellbinding Irish folk tales offers larger-than-life characters, dramatic plot twists and a healthy dose of enchantment. Includes glossary and pronunciation key for Irish terms. • Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman. The luck of the Irish has waned after the greedy Leprechaun King has taken all the good fortune in Ireland and locked it away. It is up to one cunning girl, Fiona to come up with a plan to help the people of Ireland. • Let’s See Ireland! written and illustrated by by Sarah Bowie is a delightful picture book featuring some of the famous sights in Ireland. Molly, her parents, and her cat Mipsy tour the country, visiting the Dublin Zoo, Cork City and many others.
CRAFT FUN
Shamrock Slime If your kids are slime fans, mix up a batch of Shamrock Slime for green-themed fun. Ingredients: • Green glitter glue or white school glue • Food coloring (if using white glue) • Water – 1 cup + 1 tsp. • Borax – 1 tsp. Instructions: 1. In a large bowl, mix together the bottle of glue + 1 tsp. of water. 2. Dissolve 1 tsp. of Borax into 1 cup of water. 3. Stir the Borax mixture into the glue mixture. The glue mixture will immediately begin to get thick and clumpy. Continue to stir for about 20-30 seconds. 4. As soon as the glue mixture has thickened and formed one large mass, drain off the excess liquid. 5. Knead the slime – it’ll be sticky at first, but it will firm up as you work it. 6. When the slime is ready, it will be soft and smooth.
• The Irelandopedia Quiz Book by Shauna Burke is just as the title suggests, it’s a book filled with facts and trivia about Ireland. The book is best suited for children ages 10 & up.
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Peninsula Kids
We’re celebrating lock-down resilience this month by showing off these courageous Peninsula kids and families. Here are some of our favorite photos.
Sergen: A message to Robert Down Elementary classmates
Krystal, Greg, and Hendrix : Mom and toddler as barber
Beau: cleaning up used masks
Victoria: born ready for 2020
Kaitlyn: first day of Kindergarten
Vaitea: For her family, the pandemic means staying in a bubble
Arthur: playing in the rain all masked up
Want to see your cute kids on this page? 20
Lana Susana: born in Sept.
Next month, we’re celebrating spring. Email your favorite photo of your kids or family that illustrates something wonderful about spring! Submit it with the first names of those in the photo to: abreznay@montereybayparent.com.
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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
Nate: Dressed for sport theme day.
Cedric, Asher, and Matthias: working from home
Taylor: Virtual holiday singalong
Zoe: Masked up for gymnastics
MVC Experiences • February 5 • February 19 Angelina : Getting fresh air while also staying safe. MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
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W
omen’s History Month is held each March to reflect on the contributions of women to United States history. What you may not know is that Women’s History Month grew out of a week-long celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. The local Women’s History Week activities met with enthusiastic response, and dozens of schools planned special programs for Women’s History Week. A parade was even held in downtown Santa Rosa. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later Congress expanded the event to the entire month of March. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women. Women’s History Month is observed in the US, UK and Australia in March, and in October in Canada. Here are seven ways you can celebrate Women’s History Month with your kids. 1. Read your children a book or three. Here is a list of book recommendations for children that show girls as creative, confident leaders. • Rosie Revere Engineer
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• •
•
By Andrea Beaty The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett & Gary Rubinstein Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries Who Shaped Our History...And Our Future! by Kate Schatz Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel
2. Make a “Women Power” playlist and listen to it often during March. Here are a few songs to get you started: • Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys • Rise Up by Andra Day • Video by India Arie • Firework by Katy Perry • Brave by Sara Barielles • Fight Song by Rachel Platten 3. Donate your time, talent or money to an organization that supports girls. Here are a few suggestions: • Girls Who Code • The Malala Fund • Girls for a Change • Equality Now • Global Fund for Women • Girls Write Now • Girls On The Run • She Should Run Google any of the listed organizations to get additional information on how you can support the group. 4. Attend a virtual museum exhibition. The National Women’s History Museum offers a variety of free online exhibitions. Featured exhibitions
include: • Breaking In: Women In Stem • Timeline: Women’s Suffrage • Inventive Women • Parading for Progress • Standing Up for Change Log onto www.womenshistory.org/ womens-history/online-exhibits to view the exhibits. 5. Get a subscription to Kazoo Magazine for your daughters. Kazoo is a quarterly magazine for girls ages 5 to 12 that helps them learn how to celebrate themselves. It’s topics include art, nature, science, tinkering and tech, cooking, travel, sports, emotions, writing, citizenship and critical thinking. Subscriptions are $39.99 per year. Get more information at: kazoomagazine.com. 6. Thank an influential woman. Nothing beats a good old written thank you note. Pick out an influential woman in your life and write them a heartfelt note thanking them for their inspiration. You don’t need to mail the letter and it could be to a historical figure. This is a great exercise for both kids and parents. 7. Get coloring. Download a few coloring sheets from the Classroom Doodles website and give your kids a short history lesson while they color the pages. You’ll find Rosa Parks, Dorothea Dix, Harriet Tubman and more. While they are coloring read a few exceprts from Remember the Ladies: 100 Great American Women by Cheryl Harness.
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THE PANDEMIC: ONE YEAR IN
by Michelle Marie Arean
365 Days of Virtual Learning
One of the most challenging changes for families coping with the pandemic has been how to navigate virtual school. We checked in with 3 local families to see how they’re adjusting to learning at home.
It’s been a year since the world changed. A year when we’ve had to change the way we work, spend time with loved ones, work out, and even the way our children learn. One of the most challenging changes for parents and students has been navigating virtual school. Though there’s been a learning curve most families are still figuring out how to navigate virtual learning. Masha Serttunc, 44, of Pacific Grove, has a child in the sixth grade. Serttunc says, “School only lasts two hours… both adults in our household work full time, with no flexible schedules, so our son was left to his own devices most of the time.” She adds: “My husband shifted his workday a couple of hours to create time to hang out with our son; I tried to schedule my classes around his breaks,” she added. “It’s been a blessing and a curse. Not all teachers are willing to adjust their ways to make virtual learning not only engaging but also effective.” She adds that some teachers are “actually doing a great job keeping kids engaged, while others are still struggling with technology.”
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The logistics aren’t the only challenging aspects of learning at home. Serttunc adds that although her son is getting As, “he is very miserable and bored. They are not covering enough; he is not challenged enough.” Mandy Martini, 41, from Marina, who has a first grader and a preschooler, says, “It took a few months for my son to get the hang of the routine. We go through cycles where he wants to participate more, wants more of my help, dad’s help, or no help at all. We feel he’s doing pretty well academically, though I think peers’ influence would be more beneficial. With him in Kinder in the Spring and the lessons being asynchronous, it was tough to motivate him to do any work. His brother was also home making distractions even more of an issue.” In the beginning, Martini’s son hated virtual learning. “He didn’t want to do the work or have us telling him to do the work. He just wanted to play with his brother or watch TV. He was still reluctant to participate when school started in the Fall and was intimidated by the big Meets, but pretty quickly developed a good relationship
with his teachers, especially in smaller groups.” Now, she says, her son is confident in doing it, participates in class, and is very independent with his asynchronous afternoon work. To make things work, the Martini family has both mom and dad working remotely from home. “[My work] was less demanding at the time,” she adds, “I provided childcare primarily. We eventually got into a groove with lots of time in our yard playing, doing hands-on learning, cooking and gardening, and integrating schoolwork throughout the day.”
A Different Way of Learning at Home
Nichole Lamb, 46, of Salinas, the mother of a Kindergartener, has taken a different approach to virtual learning. Though her child finished pre-school virtually in the spring, she started the homeschool journey for this school year. “The homeschool curriculum doesn’t include any virtual learning but does include suggestions for supplementing learning with videos, field guides, and Internet searches.
MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
As a single mom, it was hard for Lamb to balance owning a business, serving on the board of a non-profit, and homeschooling. “The next big challenge,” she says, “was trying to figure out how to give her a Kindergarten experience at home.” To accomplish that, Lamb turned her living room into a classroom. To keep her business running, Lamb has amped up her business’ Facebook marketing, stays up late in the evenings working, and communicates with her clients via e-mail while her daughter is completing schoolwork. She adds that many of her clients are also struggling, so “there’s a sense of us all being in this together.”
Challenging Moments and Glimmers of Hope
The road to virtual learning has not been an easy one. Some of the tough moments Serttunc says have been the “overwhelming loneliness. My child is an only child and he was very sad and depressed. I bought him a phone, and he connected to some of his peers. It was tough.” Serttunc tried to get her son to do activities such as hiking, swimming, and playing after her workday, but says “compared to the greater part of the day, it was very little.” Martini says that for her your son, he “wasn’t very computer literate and hated the once-a-week Google Meets his teacher would hold. He’d cry if we made him participate.” She adds that it hasn’t been easy, but she’s “trying to have the patience for the days when he’s not feeling distance learning, but we still have our jobs to do and a household to keep running. We’ve all had moments of yelling and anger, but luckily those have decreased significantly as we’ve gotten into the groove.” For Lamb, the toughest moments have been when she finds herself critical of her daughter and expecting too much. “We’ve had some pretty raw moments, but we work through them, starting with me apologizing and then giving her space to tell me what she’s feeling.” Serttunc, a teacher teaching older students, says she wasn’t given enough time to figure it all out. “I was given exactly two days to figure out virtual learning: no adjusted schedules, no cute activities. We just went straight back to class, except now, instead of living students, we had their faces. We had to create everything on the fly, with the same teaching schedules, same materials, same expectations. No one cut us any slack, and we did it; even 70-year-old teachers figured it out.” Eight-hour workdays turned into 10hour workdays. “Slowly we learned, we adjusted the ways we do things to be more efficient. I learned fun and effective tools from my son’s fifth-grade teacher.” “We have learned just how much effort the teachers are putting into these lessons and crafting their learning days,” says Martini. “My son’s second-grade teacher is very passionate and caring…she seems to work 24/7 to keep things going. We’ve also been able to participate more in his learning.” The biggest perk for Lamb homeschooling has been the ability to adjust their schedule. “I can let her paint for as long as she wants during her artistic expression lessons or let her work on word building several days in a row if she wants.”
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Serttunc’s son’s school has implemented lunch clubs for the kids to interact. She says that the kids also play video games together and had gone on bike rides and walks but have MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
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settled into a “lazy” attitude. “We do have regular face-toface get-togethers because the students need to see each other and their teachers; also, virtual learning is damaging for kinesthetic learners who need to move to learn. Our events are all masked; at first, it was odd. But now we are used to it, and both teachers and students are looking forward to those times when we are on campus.” Martini says her family isn’t keeping in touch with classmates. “We’re strict with limiting exposure.” I’m sad that we’re missing on that part of his development, but I’m confident it will all come with time when this is done.”
Tips for Families in Virtual School
“The most important thing for your kid is that they know you are there for them. All the academic stuff will come with time,” says Martini. Many parents believe in scheduling time off-screen throughout the day. “Find a way to stay active. Find ways to socialize with other families (masked and outdoors),” says Serttunc. She also suggests buying a big screen monitor, Bluelight glasses, and creating a color-coded schedule—try to make a school environment to the best of what you can do. If your child is struggling, talk to their teacher and try to find the root of the problem and not just say, “my child is struggling.” “Sometimes it’s a simple fix such as asking for paper books to use,” she adds. Martini says, “Share the duties as much as possible— virtual learning and household duties. It’s too much to carry all that load alone, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.” She adds, “My husband has gotten much better about knowing when he needs to take them and give me a break. I’m trying to be better about asking for those breaks. Trying to read more books, which is an escape for me, getting involved in my community and social justice issues, which help me feel more like my old self.” For Lamb, it’s all routine and prep work. “I work on the week’s lessons on Saturday or Sunday and collect the materials needed.”
Motivation & Self Care
“At first [what kept me motivated was] the thought that it will end soon. Then there was hope that the school would set up and create a good learning program,” says Serttunc. “This got old because they are not serving the diverse population. I lost my motivation. I am severely depressed, and what makes things even worse is that I know I can be a better teacher to my kid and his friends as I taught middle school before, but I have no energy after my workday.” Parents need to remember to take moments for themselves during this hectic time, too, even if they’re small moments. “A fun meal together, finding a movie we all like, keeping a running joke going—those little glimmers through the day add up,” says Martini. “Just seeing how our communities have come together to help each other has helped keep me motivated.” Michelle Marie Arean, is the voice behind Bella Vida Styles, a women’s lifestyle online magazine/blog. Arean has 20 years’ experience in various aspects of the media industry. Although Arean does not have children of her own, she is a very involved auntie to a second grader and a pre-schooler.
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The Status of Private Schools While students in local public school districts have been almost universally working virtually, students in the lower grades of private schools were able to go back to in-person school by obtaining waivers. Upper grades are still in distance learning. We checked in with a few of the private school reps to hear about their current and future plans. All Saints’ School All Saints has been offering in-person learning five days a week since September, closely following the California Department of Public Health and the CDC’s guidance. The faculty team was increased, classes split in half, and spread out into ancillary classroom space to make face-to-face learning a reality. Distance learning is also offered to families who have chosen to learn from home and families who follow quarantine recommendations after travel. Also, tech infrastructure 11 DTEN D7 Zoom boards were added to classrooms. Chartwell School Chartwell instituted class sizes of no more than ten students when they reopened for students in lower grades in the fall. Air purification units have been installed in each room, and the school instituted strict social distancing procedures. Families can choose between on-campus learning and online learning. Monte Vista Christian Monte Vista Christian School has been offering a hybrid approach to learning since the beginning of this school year. As a result, MVC learners have enjoyed some sense of normalcy while maintaining the highest standards of health safety protocols. Monte Vista Christian offers its families their choice of fullyremote or hybrid learning. Santa Catalina With guidance from a COVID-19 advisory board, the school, created a “Return to Campus” plan in June 2020. The school year started with Pre-K students on campus. Soon after they were granted the waiver, students in Kindergarten through grade 5 were back on campus for in-person learning. Currently, 90% of students in Kindergarten through grade 5 are on campus. Small cohorts for students in grades 6 and 7 offer targeted support. Santa Catalina’s all-girls upper school also started offering additional support for girls’ small cohorts in grade 9 in January. York School During this past year, York School has been committed to offering a robust academic program while also nurturing students’ social-emotional well-being. York was the first high school to provide after-school, inperson cohorts daily to enhance the student experience. The school has implemented numerous safety measures and campus modifications to allow for a safe return to in-person learning. When high school students are permitted back on campus, York is fully prepared to shift from distance learning to in-person instruction.
MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
The Salvation Army Monterey’s Transitional Housing Program Transitional Programs: The Casa de Las Palmas and Phase II program offer residential care for a time period not to exceed 24 months to families working toward a goal of self-sufficiency. Our goal is for families to secure permanent housing and to become independent and self-sufficient. 90-Day Program: The Frederiksen House program provides shelter for homeless families for up to 90 days in the program facility. The goal of this program is to provide stability to the family while giving them the opportunity to secure employment and savings that will assist in establishing permanent housing.
Now accepting applications for Transitional Housing & 90-Day. Apply today at montereypeninsula.salvationarmy.org
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Baby Joy Mixed With COVID Anxiety Pregnancy and Childbirth During a Pandemic
F
Melissa Longueria and Giovannina
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or so many women hoping to start or expand a family, the words, “Congratulations, you’re pregnant!” are the happiest of news. The busy process of making preparations, such as scheduling medical visits, enlisting help for when the day arrives, and planning for celebrations with friends and family then begins. It can be a thrilling time. But wait! For the past year, we have been dealing with a pandemic that by now has killed nearly 500,000 people in the U.S., has had an extraordinarily negative impact on our state and our county, and may continue to threaten us in multiple ways with no end in sight. How do you even begin to think about having a baby when you realize that for the next many months, you will need close medical monitoring -- even if you are at low risk of complications-- and require intimate contact with healthcare professionals who may work in places where they could be exposed to a deadly virus? We interviewed two new mothers who recently confronted this very situation. One of them, Kendal Lardie, learned she was expecting just after the March 2020 lockdown, and while her immediate reaction to the news was delight, she says she was also scared. “Scared, but positive,” is how she put it. She hoped that the virus would be over by the time she was due to deliver, but she knew that was not to be as time went on. Her entire pregnancy was spent dealing with the conditions we all experienced–uncertainty at the outset about how the virus was transmitted, what protective measures we needed to take, and the potential risk that she and her baby were subject to. “I knew that pregnant women are more at risk for catching the virus, and if I did get sick, I would be unlikely to receive the drugs to treat it because of the baby I was carrying.” She had a saving grace: she worked from home so that she could isolate. Her husband was also home, so they were largely protected from exposure, but there were still troubling concerns. Apart from exposure during pregnancy, her other issue was whether her husband would be allowed to be with her while she was giving birth. When she found out that he would, her anxiety was considerably relieved. “I had my baby at CHOMP, and they allowed one support person to be MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
in the room, although it had to be the same person. A week before delivery, my husband had a health issue, which was concerning, but that resolved, and he was able to be with me. “ Kendal also got what she describes as great support from her physician, Obstetrician-Gynecologist Dr. Jennifer Zeidberg, who acted not only as her obstetrician but also as a counselor. “She made sure I was not overanalyzing the dangers of being pregnant during Covid, and she was a great sounding board whenever I became anxious. She also let me know that the birth center at CHOMP is in a completely different part of the hospital from where Covid cases are treated, so I was comforted by that. Only the people associated with the Birth Center can go in and out.” What about visits to her physician’s office? “For the first few months, they did not allow anyone else to come with me, but starting in the last trimester; my husband was able to come with me for my visits, until November when things got really bad. Then no one else could come with me.” Dr. Zeidberg, aware that pregnancy is a risk factor for Covid and that the disease could be more serious if contracted during pregnancy, had to substantially adjust her practice protocols. “We never closed down, that was the commitment we made to our patients, but of course, we took every precaution necessary to ensure that our patients and we were safe.” Now home with her healthy baby, Kendal has admitted a few more people to her pod, but she says she and her husband are “very social,” so they are missing life as they knew it before the pandemic. Would she have chosen to get pregnant during a pandemic? “Probably not,” she says, “and that would have been the wrong decision. If you have a plan, and especially if you can work from home, there are so many hidden blessings to this situation–mainly, being able to spend time with your baby without the pressure of having to be out in circulation, exposing yourself to the virus. But that, of course, means that you’re lucky enough to be able to work from home.” Melissa Longueria’s experience was not too different. “I found it very scary to be pregnant during a pandemic, especially since not much
was known about it at first.” She was working in a restaurant at the time, where she had contact with many people. She left that job in March when everything closed down. But then she got sick at a point when regular testing for Covid was not being done, and there were only a few symptoms that had been identified as indicators of possible infection. “I was sick; in fact, I had to go to the ER. But It was before they started screening people. They said I had what they thought was bronchitis. It lasted for about three weeks. I’m still not sure if I had Covid or not.” Melissa chose to give birth at the Monterey Birth and Wellness Center. Co-owner Caroline Cusenza says their Covid protocols evolved as more became known about transmission. Changes were also made to their office, where the community space was transformed into office space to reduce traffic coming through the Center. “We do a fair number of Zoom appointments,” she said, “ but in the
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last trimester, all appointments are in person. Also, we allow partners in the birthing room as well as one professional, usually a doula.” This gave Melissa a sense of security in going to the Center for her care, where she felt one hundred percent safe. “Because they don’t have a lot of people coming through, my fiance was able to come to all of my appointments. If it wasn’t necessary to be there in person, we had our appointments over the phone.” Caroline Cusenza points out that some people choose a birthing center because they are worried about going to a hospital and being exposed to the virus. Still, mostly they come because they want to do “something different.” She does not know any Covid cases in our area, either at a birthing center or in a hospital. “Our protocols are pretty strict, and we have a lot of discussions when our patients express anxiety. We tell them that it is important for them to try to reduce stress because it does terrible things to the body.”
“… If you have a plan, and especially if you can work from home, there are so many hidden blessings to this situation …”
Kendal Lardie and Finn Sonne montereybayparent.com
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The Monterey Birth & Wellness Center is the county’s first and only freestanding birth center providing evidence based midwifery care in a beautiful, spa-like environment. Families will find comfort in a model of care that values our body’s normal physiologic processes, while combining safety and technology with respect and compassion. Our midwives and facility are in-network for Anthem, Aetna, Cigna and MultiPlan. We also offer annual exams, wellness services, nutritional supplements, lactation support and supplies.
Please visit our website for more information or to purchase supplies online for curbside pickup.
www.montereybirthcenter.com 4 Harris Court, Ste A, Monterey, CA 93940 831.717.4723 30
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Still, Melissa had a lot of anxiety. She was not going out or seeing friends, so she became very isolated. “That was hard, but it was also a blessing to be able to stay home, especially in the early weeks when I had prolonged morning sickness.” Now that she is home with her healthy baby, her anxiety has “melted away.” Now there is the question of whether pregnant women should be vaccinated. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease expert, roughly 20,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated in the U.S. so far, and no complications have been seen. Still, neither the CDC nor the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists provides definitive advice about whether pregnant women should receive the vaccine, given that there have been no human studies done as yet on this population. Dr. Zeidberg is firmly on the side of getting the vaccine. “Everyone in our field has agreed that the risk of the vaccine for both preterm labor and viral influence on the body is minimal. It is a very targeted vaccine; it does not alter DNA, so as a professional group, we feel it is safe for those who want to become pregnant, those who are pregnant, and even those who are breastfeeding. In any case, Dr, Zeidberg says that “Receiving the vaccine presents far less of a risk than contracting the virus.” Now comes the question: knowing all this, would it be safer to postpone pregnancy? Dr. Zeidberg responds, “Sadly, we think that Covid might always be with us. The more people get vaccinated, the more the risk to the community decreases. I don’t think there will be a time when we won’t have to wear masks. But the good thing is, we know how to deal with infections, all of our hospitals and birthing centers are doing everything they can to minimize risk. Society needs to move forward. Don’t change your plans out of fear.” The issue of anxiety in patients who know they are at greater risk for catching the virus is substantial. Dr. Zeidberg points out that “The mental health support in this county is scarce for people who do not have insurance. Then there is the problem for people who have children at home who will need care while delivering their babies, especially military families who often don’t have local friends or family available to take care of those children. They are worried about the safety of outside caregivers. I try to make sure there is a safety plan in place to alleviate this worry.” There are two additional messages that Melissa Longueria and Dr. Zeidberg want to communicate. Melissa said, “It was hard not being able to go out and do the special things with my four-year-old daughter that we used to do together, and I felt a lot of anger towards people who did not take the virus seriously or who were extremely careless in their interactions. I was someone at high risk at the time and then having a newborn, I could not help but take their careless behavior personally.” And Dr. Zeidberg says: “What my worst fear has been, not that I would get Covid, but that I might give it to someone else. I truly see vaccination as a responsibility that no one can refuse.” Susan Meister is a journalist, columnist, and community activist living in Pebble Beach. Susan’s writing was recognized with the 2020 Bronze Award for service writing from the Parenting Media Association.
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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
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Because not all great minds think alike. Learn more about Chartwell School and how we transform the lives of children who think and learn differently.
Lower and Middle School Virtual Admissions Night March 23, 2021 / 5:30 p.m.
High School Virtual Admissions Night March 30, 2021 / 5:30 p.m.
REGISTER at chartwell.org/admissions or call 831-394-3468
REGISTRATION OPEN! Chartwell’s Extended School Year Summer Program June 18 - July 16, 2021 Online and On Campus Options; Morning and Afternoon Activities Literacy, Math, and STEAM/Hiking, Art, Cooking, and More 32
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www.chartwell.org/summer MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
