Saline Health System is proud to announce the opening of Central Arkansas Family Practice. Dr. Josiah Onyenekwe is board certified in Family Medicine and is now accepting new patients. Dr. Onyenekwe received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine and completed a family medicine residency at UAMS in Texarkana. Join us in welcoming Dr. Onyenekwe to Saline Health System!
NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
CALL (501) 574-7237 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
5 Medical Park Drive, Suite 102 | Benton, AR | (501) 574-7237
EDITOR’S LETTER
If one of the first minivans to roll off the assembly line were a person today, they would be in their mid-to-late 30’s. They might even be in the market for a minivan of their own in order to transport their kid’s teammates to soccer practice or take the family on a road trip to Branson. They might find themselves staring in the mirror, stressing over a receding hairline and asking serious life questions like “what am I doing with my life?” Of course this is just a funny word picture, but the fact is that first-generation minivans went into production in 1983, so it’s not hard to imagine them currently being in the middle of a midlife crisis. The basic concept behind the design of the minivan was to provide a vehicle that was sized to fit in a standard garage while still providing plenty of room for the family and their belongings. Minivans actually drove like a car while having the added benefit of tackling cargo like sports equipment, camping gear, and luggage like a pro. These vans were never intended to be “sexy”, but they also never pretended to be. When I was growing up my dad drove a 1987 Ford Aerostar, which was Ford’s first minivan. Even at my young age, I was still capable of being somewhat embarrassed by the oversized breadbox that he was driving. Now that I’m a dad, I realize that this purchase was more-or-less a practical necessity for our family dynamic. My dad coached my baseball and basketball teams from the time I was 4 until I was 12. In agreeing to coach, he was also agreeing to be the team’s taxi driver. More often than not, you would find him in the school pickup line loading his 5-speed minivan with as many kids as it could legally transport and driving us to the local field or gym. Now that I’m coaching my son’s first soccer team, I’m experiencing the joy of herding six, 4 to 5-year-olds around an open cow pasture! I’m doing my best to teach them to use their feet and not their hands, but I have quickly learned that this current stage is less about coaching and more about containment! You know what? I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve also come to understand that my dad was never as concerned about driving a stylish car as he was about having a vehicle that helped him best care for his kids! Let’s be honest, as a parent, what’s more important than that? You town. Your life. Your magazine.
2020 Volume 13, Issue 2
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Josh Elrod
jelrod@ignite-mediagroup.com
ART DIRECTOR Krystal Neuhofel krystal@salinecountylifestyles.com
CONTRIBUTORS Contributing Writers Dennia Beard Carolyn Buckner Ed Buckner Charles Crowson Clay Cunningham Brent Davis Justin Elrod Jillian Jacuzzi Ashley Leopoulos Marietta McClure Nate Olson Ahmad Yousaf Contributing Photographer Lela & Lyla Photography
IDEAS/COMMENTS If you have a story idea or comment, please email us at: feedback@salinecountylifestyles.com
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JOSH ELROD Publisher & Editor
If you are interested in advertising in Saline County Lifestyles please email us at: info@ignite-mediagroup.com Saline County Lifestyles is published by:
Ignite Media Group P.O. Box 861 Bryant, AR 72089 www.salinecountylifestyles.com Articles should not be considered specific advice as circumstances vary per individual. Advertised products and/or services are not necessarily endorsed by Ignite Media Group.
2 • Saline County Lifestyles
CONTENTS MAILING IN A MIRACLE
NOTES FROM DR SAM
WEATHER UPDATE
FITNESS TIPS
THE NINJA WARRIOR WAY
GROW UP SMILING
04 07 08 12
16 22 24 28 30 36 38 40 42
MILESTONES THAT MATTER
CARING FOR KIDS
COLOR ME EGG-SITED
HEALTH UPDATE
MyFarmers.Bank
INSURANCE INSIGHT
FAITH FOCUS
FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CHANGE
Saline County Lifestyles • 3
‘
Do you believe in miracles? If you don’t now, you might after reading Saline County resident Karl Seibert’s story. In 1999, twelve years into a successful career with the United States Postal Service, Karl’s world turned upside
down. On a return trip from Houston, Texas, Karl’s truck was hit head on at an impact speed of 140 mph. With his massive head injuries and lack of pulse, heartbeat and respiratory functions, the emergency responders declared him dead on arrival. One EMT, who was also a youth pastor, found Karl’s Bible with a picture of 4 • Saline County Lifestyles
his four daughters stuck between the pages and knew he had to keep trying. Karl grew up in Saltillo, Mexico, near a family-owned mine. His friends and neighbors were Latino, and as a child Karl spoke only Spanish. He was 13 when the mine failed
causing the Seiberts to relocate to New Jersey, near his grandparents. After high school Karl earned baccalaureates in biology, chemistry and physics at Rutgers University. Looking back, these great academic accomplishments paled in comparison to a life-changing moment at Shea
Stadium. “Living in Mexico, my father had developed some prejudices against Latino people that influenced our family. But when I got saved at the age of 16 at a Billy Graham crusade, God opened my eyes to the fact that all people are equal in His eyes. I understood that God’s Word is true, and this set the course for my life.” Although Karl had been an international resident, he moved to Saline County in 1977 with the intention of going to medical school. During that time, Karl worked odd jobs on his grandparents and uncles’ dairy farm and new housing development off Salem Road, the Helmich addition. This is when, through mutual acquaintances, Karl met his future wife, Mary Anne Pelton in December of 1978. The two were married on July 14, 1979. Starting in 1980, Karl shared his love of science through teaching biology at Benton High School to students who were having a difficult
time learning. “I loved the kids and took the responsibility of teaching kids who had been overlooked very seriously. I challenged them to do better and most of the time it changed their attitude about achieving goals. Also, I used every opportunity to tell the students about God and how He changed my life,” says Karl with a smile. During that time, Karl also worked two other jobs so Mary Anne could stay home with their growing family. Karl left teaching and took a position with the USPS in 1987 working a split shift 6 days a week. “My customers became my second family.” One “family member” on Karl’s route is Carolyn Erwin of Promotional Products and Apparel. “Karl’s work ethic and his concern for his customers has been exceptional for us. It’s never been just a job for him; he really cares for the people on his route,” Carolyn recalls fondly. Karl’s head-on collision was on June 22, 1999. When the EMTs arrived, his eyes were fixed and there were no signs of life, but thirty minutes into resuscitation a slight pulse was found. After seven weeks in a semicoma condition, with Mary Anne by his side, Karl began the slow process of rehabilitation to re-learn everything. Mary Anne left the hospital only once in those seven weeks. “A loving family and close friends got us through,” remembers Mary Anne. Initially, Karl thought his wife was his mom and his four daughters, Hannah, Emily, Melissa and Abigail, his sisters, but eventually he recognized his daughters, although all memories of their childhood were lost. For the Saline County Lifestyles • 5
weeks and months to follow, Karl and Mary Anne spent hours watching home videos and scouring through pictures to build the part of his life that was gone. Mary Anne admits there were hard times during his recovery. “It was sad for the girls because their dad didn’t remember their childhood. The doctors told us he could go to Timber Ridge because I was going to have the hard work once he came home, but I never thought of doing that.” Following six months of sick leave, he was cleared to return to work to relearn his routes and reconnect with his customers, his second family. It took five more years to gain as much information as possible about those precious lost years and regain his physical strength. “The accident has taught me to appreciate life. If the weather is bad or something bad happens, I don’t get anxious or nervous anymore. I just don’t think about unimportant things, and allow God to conquer everything we may encounter,” says Karl. Now it’s time to begin a new chapter. Karl retired on Friday, February 28, after 32 years of service. He says he would love to have continued his career as a mail carrier because of his customers. “They have given me another family and an opportunity to share Christ every day!” Karl’s absence will have a profound effect on his customers as well. “He’s been an inspiration to us. He is a man of character and strong faith. Whenever I’m having a tough day, I think about all the obstacles he’s overcome in his life and it helps put things in perspective for me. He’s never lost his joy, always has a smile and brings a ray of sunshine with him,” shares Carolyn Erwin. Mary Anne and Karl believe that “from this point on, with God’s direction, our lives can be anything we make it.” One thing is for sure: the Seiberts intend to spend their retirement years continuing to share the news that “God is good and merciful in all things.” “I’m so thankful I went to that Billy Graham crusade. I know that God will answer your prayers if it fits into His plan. God allowed me to survive to be a witness for Him, and I always start a conversation about the Lord with, ‘Do you believe in miracles?’” Carolyn Buckner 6 • Saline County Lifestyles
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Good Day, I hope this note finds you well. Many of you know that I have spent much of my adult life enamored of an idyllic place called Gum Ridge, Arkansas. This wonderful little place is in East Arkansas and sits on the banks of the Green River. It is peopled with a wonderful group of delightful characters and just normal people caught in the act of being human. Now, in truth, I was raised in a small town in East Arkansas on the banks of the White River, called Augusta. As you might guess, the fabled Gum Ridge and the real Augusta are suspiciously similar. What most of you don’t know is that Gum Ridge is a real place, but it isn’t a town; it’s the farm where I was born and spent most of my youth. In the midst of the Depression, our branch of the Taggart family of Stuttgart packed up their bags and moved 90 miles north to the river bottomland between the White River and Cache River. At that point the Cache and White Rivers are only about eight miles apart and much of the land is low-lying ground that floods regularly. The topsoil is deep and rich, and just a few feet under the surface is a thick layer of gumbo mud; it is a perfect place to raise rice.
The farm was owned by the Conner company and is about two miles east of Augusta on Highway 64; it is about 2000 acres. The problem when the family arrived was that only about 200 acres were clear of timber and ready for farming. For the next 25 years, they spent their winters clearing land and preparing new ground. In the middle of this low-lying rice land was a sandy ridge that had been deposited in the distant past and on this ridge were several gum trees; that is where the farm got its name.
We had enough to eat and we stayed warm in the wintertime (except for the outhouse— that was very cold) Looking back through the lens of seventy-three years, it’s clear that we were poor. But we weren’t wedded to that poverty. We had enough to eat and we stayed warm in the wintertime (except for the outhouse—that was very cold). In many ways our life was idyllic. It revolved around the family. My grandmother and her two youngest
children, still at home when Grandpa died, lived just 50 yards to the east. My father’s closest brother and his family lived 50 yards to the west. I remember thinking as a child that I would probably end up rice farming like my father. But one day when I was a young teen, Dad and I were repairing a levee disrupted by a rainstorm. We took a break, put down our shovels, and Dad lit his ever-present cigar. Out of the blue he said to me, “Do you know what I want for you out of life?” “No,” I replied. “I hope you don’t spend the rest of your life pushing someone else’s mud around.” Have a good journey, Sam Dr. Sam Taggart is a retired doctor/ writer/ marathon runner in practice in Benton for the last 35 years. He recently published The Public’s Health: A narrative history of health and disease in Arkansas, published by the Arkansas Times. His two other books, With a Heavy Heart and We All Hear Voices are available at your local booksellers or online at Amazon.com.
Saline County Lifestyles • 7
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WEATHER WATCH Encouragement Through Adversity
By Ed Buckner, THV11 Chief Meteorologist
This is going to be a different “Weather Watch” than normal. As many of you may have heard, I am taking some time off from THV11 to focus on my health. In 2007, I shared with the state of Arkansas my story of living with Tourette Syndrome, and since then have had the opportunity to participate on a national and international stage. I shared my story through the Tourette’s Podcast, hosted by Ben Brown (Season 2, Episode 4 – Before That Red Light Comes On), an article in Tourette Association of America and an interview with Lead National Correspondent for CBS This Morning, David Begnaud, who also has Tourette Syndrome. David has reached out to me since my leave was announced and I am hopeful to again have the chance to encourage others to pursue their dreams despite any physical or mental limitations. I am so thankful God gave me courage to come forward in 2007, and the platform to help students and adults cope with not only TS, but also address bullying associated with all kinds of disabilities—or as I say, “this ability.” Through this step and the support of my wife, Carolyn, and of my friend and then co-worker David Craft, I have encouraged thousands of young people all over Arkansas to
use their situation or condition to make a difference in the lives of others. What a wonderful opportunity I’ve been given to encourage, support and love others who may have been struggling, and to share my faith as my source of hope and strength. Over the last few years, it has become increasingly difficult to manage the effects of TS on my body. Because of the frequency and extreme force of each neck, arm, or leg tic, my spine has paid the price. I am currently in physical therapy and have other procedures scheduled that will prayerfully restore my flexibility and relieve pain. For those who don’t exactly know what Tourette Syndrome is, or who have the idea that it always involves shouting obscenities, it is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by both motor tics (movement) and vocal tics. Mine include sniffing, hacking and even a squeak noise when I am excited. Carolyn likes this one; she calls it my “happy tic.” In any case, tics are frustrating because they are completely involuntary (uncontrollable) and exhausting. There is no definitive cause for Tourette Syndrome, although a combination of inherited and environmental factors likely play a role.
And unfortunately, there is no cure. I want to mention that I have a mild case of Tourette Syndrome. The daily struggles and long-term effects can be much more difficult for those with more severe cases who may find it impossible to eat, get dressed or perform other essential daily functions without assistance.
AS YOU MEET PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF YOUR DAY, BE KIND, BE CONSIDERATE, BE COMPASSIONATE. As you meet people throughout the course of your day, be kind, be considerate, be compassionate. This quote sums it up for me: “Be Kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about,” which I first read on stevepake.com. As we all know, Arkansas has some extreme weather that requires meteorologists to be on top of their game. That’s my goal. I want to come back renewed, refreshed and ready to keep you informed and safe through everything our crazy climate has to dish out. In the meantime, take care of yourself just as I am doing, so you can take care of those you love. Saline County Lifestyles • 9
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FITNESS TIPS The Weight Trap
By Marietta McClure, Head Trainer, McClure Fitness
Do you have an unhealthy relationship with the scale? Do you obsess over the numbers day-in and day-out? Do you give yourself a hard time when you’re busting your tail and the number isn’t budging?
your scale and rewire your brain to stop caring about that number. We live in a “diet” culture. Quick quiz: how many diets can you name off the top of your head right now? I’m guessing at least 5.
Our obsession with manipulating the numbers on this little hunk of plastic comes with consequences. Not only does it misrepresent actual progress, but it also messes with our mindset.
We have Paleo, Atkins, South Beach, Keto, Zone, Whole30, The Daniel Diet, Weight Watchers, and the list goes on. We’ve all been trained a bit by advertising to be hyper-focused on weight loss.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, NEVER LET A NUMBER DEFINE YOU. STAY CONSISTENT AND COMMITTED TO YOUR FITNESS JOURNEY, AND DON’T LET THAT SCALE DERAIL YOU! Fixating on how the scale went up 0.4 pounds today isn’t going to do you any good! Small fluctuations are truly irrelevant to your overall progress, and weight isn’t the only metric that measures your health. There are other ways to track your progress, and many are way more meaningful than your weight. Here’s how to break up with 12 • Saline County Lifestyles
I hate to be a downer, but do you want to know the real truth about our beloved diet culture? About 95% of people who lose weight by dieting gain it back in 1-5 years (Psychology Today). Many of us alter our fitness goals to comply with what we think we should weigh. If you have a number in mind—a weight you’ve set as your personal “weight loss goal”—have you stopped to think about why? Where did that number come from? Why is that number so important? The truth is that the number on the scale can be artificial—it doesn’t tell the whole story. If you’ve found yourself obsessed with that hunk of plastic in the bathroom, you’re in what we call “the weight trap.” It’s time to break free!
HOW THE SCALE WRECKS YOUR MINDSET We often start with good intentions. The goal to slim down and get back to our high school body can be a noble one, so we focus on weight loss as our ultimate measure of success. “If I can only get back down to 150 pounds!” we say. As time goes on, we start obsessing over only losing a pound in a week, or even worse—gasp!—gaining a pound. Now, our minds are completely fixated on how we can manipulate the scale. Before we know it, we’re using wrestling weigh-in hacks to drop a pound and get some satisfaction. Peter Weintraub, Permanent Weight Loss Specialist at Weight Loss by Pete, explains, “Weighing yourself daily literally makes you a SLAVE to the scale. I know this because that’s what I used to do during my two-year plateau. Imagine weighing in every day for 730 straight days, and not getting below a certain weight range.” It doesn’t take much to realize that the scale can completely wreck your mindset.
WHY CHASING SCALE GOALS IS A LOSING BATTLE Scale goals—or, ahem, #scalegoals—are a losing battle. While
diet and exercise are the foundation of fitness, there’s so much more at play here that affects our weight. First up is sleep. When you don’t get a great night’s sleep, your body is more likely to store fat and take in more calories. And when you’re tired? You’re more prone to reach for extra food or caffeine to keep you going. Hormones also have a massive effect on the scale. Ladies, you might notice your weight going a bit bonkers during the time of the month, and all of us can suffer from insulin resistance when our hormones are out of whack. Stress also contributes to the scale’s fluctuations. Cortisol, our stress hormone, increases when we’re stressed out, and that can decrease insulin sensitivity. The end result? You’re hungry more often, and your body can even start to store excess weight around the midsection. Ever heard of water weight? It’s a real thing, and can also cause the scale to go up and down artificially. Your body likes to retain water for a ton of different reasons, including:
track of my progress, you say? Here are 5 meaningful ways to monitor your health and fitness goals that have nothing to do with your weight. 1. Track your physical accomplishments like seeing your energy or strength levels increasing. 2. Notice how your clothes are fitting. Are they looser? Did you have to go down a size? 3. Pay attention to how you feel emotionally and mentally. Exercise is the body’s natural anti-depressant. 4. Take progress photos every 2-4 weeks to see how you’re getting smaller. 5. Record body measurements with a tape measure (waist, hips, legs).
NEVER LET A NUMBER DEFINE YOU While there is a time and place for a scale, we’ve established that there are some serious problems with hailing it as your ultimate
measure of fitness success. There’s always more to the story, especially when it comes to your scale. Did you eat a really salty meal last night? Is it a particularly stressful week at work? When was your last bowel movement? I mean, seriously, the scale isn’t everything. Focus on non-scale victories to track your success, including progress photos, body measurements, how you feel, physical accomplishments, and how your clothes are fitting. Finally, think about your longterm goals. Many report that weighing in once a week tells a better picture of their weight over time than worrying about the small day-to-day fluctuations. There’s no use in obsessing over that pound you gained today or the half-pound you lost yesterday. At the end of the day, never let a number define you. Stay consistent and committed to your fitness journey, and don’t let that scale derail you!
• When you eat a lot of salty foods • When you’re menstruating • During pregnancy • When you’re stressed • If you take birth control (lookin’ at you, hormones!) • When you travel • If you take certain medications • If you have poor circulation (typically comes with age) Weight is affected by all sorts of things, including salt intake, stress, and even the time of the month. That’s why obsessing over the scale isn’t always the way to measure your fitness success.
HOW TO REWIRE YOUR BRAIN Our challenge to you is to completely ignore the scale for a month. Yes, a month. How will I keep Saline County Lifestyles • 13
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Kids Fitness
Whether your child is just learning to walk or is ready for a physical fitness challenge, Empire Arkansas has classes for all skill levels. The gym, located in Benton, was first known for its cheerleading, gymnastics and tumbling programs but in recent years started offering parkour—movement that developed from military obstacle course training. Now, Empire offers ninja classes based on the popular television show American Ninja Warrior. Empire 16 • Saline County Lifestyles
even has a Ninja director, Josh Harris, who was highlighted in 2019 on Season 11 of the show. “We started off the program always with the idea of Ninja Warrior in the back of our head,” Empire program director Daniel Allen said. “But we called it parkour, because there was a craze awhile back where these European guys were jumping from building to building. “What we tried to do was take the things I learned from gymnastics and take the technical side of tumbling
B EG IN N E R N INJA A ND GYM NAST ICS CLAS SES FOCUS O N COOR D INATION AN D DEVE LOPM E NT AL M ILESTON ES.
manners and play well with others, they should also be able to stand on one leg and close their eyes,” Allen said. Empire has staff that specializes in early childhood development and understands those milestones. Allen said, for example, that many parents don’t know that children at 18 months should be able to walk in a straight line. “We have it broken down to what each kid should be doing at that age,” Allen said. “Some kids just genetically aren’t inclined to do those things. We offer classes for all of that.” One of those early childhood offerings is Ninja and Me where children under three exercise with their parents. Empire also offers pre-school gymnastics. After kids master the basics, they can advance in the new ninja
program headed by the energetic and knowledgeable Harris. Harris moved to Little Rock from South Carolina several years ago to further his non-profit, Fresh 2 You, a mobile produce stand bus which offers free, fresh produce for the needy around Little Rock. He competed in different obstacle races, and then became interested
out of it and just literally challenge them with their long jump, high jump and balance. Things called precision jumps—jumping from one object to another and being able to hold your stance at a certain spot. Like in gymnastics, it’s big to learn a skill and stick [the landing]. Without the gymnastics side, we were teaching them how to stick it. Our whole goal at the beginning was to create obstacles and teach life lessons at the same time. If you have an obstacle, how do you get over it? Do you go over it, around it or through it?” But before kids conquer the ninja obstacles or hit a home run or hit a three-pointer they must master the basics. That’s where the Empire staff can help. Beginner ninja and gymnastics classes focus on coordination and developmental milestones. “Not only should they be respectful and have good Saline County Lifestyles • 17
Kids Fitness
Josh Harris, Ninja DIrector at Empire Cheer was highlighted in 2019 on Season 11 of the show. gyms create what they call a ninja program, but it’s pretty rare that they have a coach or director who actually has experience doing that specifically,” Harris said. “As soon as I came in I said, ‘Oh, man we are going to build very specific ninja obstacles that no other gym in this area has, and it is going to take off with kids that need something different.’ We are going to have obstacles that are exciting to get on.” in American Ninja Warrior. He qualified for the city finals in Oklahoma City and his run was shown on the program and a feature on his non-profit work was showcased on ANW’s social media pages. Recently, Harris connected with Allen, and the two have worked together to implement the ninja program and add pieces of equipment to aid training. Harris, who competes in ninja leagues, has taken that experience along with discussions he’s had with other competitors who own and work in gyms around the region while developing the Empire program, which he said is like none other in the Little Rock area. He looks forward to imparting that knowledge on young ninjas as they grow and eventually compete in leagues around the country. “A lot of gymnastics and cheer 18 • Saline County Lifestyles
HARRIS COMPETED IN DIFFERENT OBSTACLE RACES, AND THEN BECAME INTERESTED IN AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR. Allen said two different groups of kids participate in ninja. Half of the kids participate in other sports and are interested in staying active and developing in the offseason. The other half are kids who may not enjoy mainstream sports who are ‘gamers’ and have been coaxed off the couch by their parents. Allen said he has seen several kids who have gotten into shape and have seen significant changes in their bodies and conditioning after enrolling in the program. “There’s a lot of body awareness in the training we do that will benefit any kid,” Harris said.
Allen said ninja has been very popular for kids who are developmentally disabled. While the classes are well structured, they are more free-flowing and require constant alertness in comparison to other mainstream sports. “We have so many parents whose kids have been diagnosed with ADHD, and they will say, ‘Thank you so much. My kid couldn’t sit still on second base, but with this environment they love it.’” Empire celebrated its sixth year in March and has grown “exponentially” since owner Brooke Plack began with one red mat in her garage. It offers a plethora of both competitive and non-competitive cheer and gymnastics programs. With the expansion of the Ninja program and the addition of Harris to the staff, Allen expects more and more Saline County kids will be visiting to enhance their coordination and compete in ninja activities. “From my experience in doing this 15 years, this is one of the fastestgrowing programs I have ever seen,” he said. “I work with the governing body of cheerleading, so we stay pretty in tune with these other gyms in what they are offering and how big they are growing. The growth side of things has been crazy.” Empire Arkansas is located at 3524 Alcoa Road in Benton. For more information visit www. empirecheerleading.com. Nate Olson
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Saline County Lifestyles • 19
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20 • Saline County Lifestyles
News & Community for Saline County Since 2007 Email with news or events or ask about advertising: info@mysaline.com Saline County Lifestyles • 21
Kids Dental
Early intervention is a phrase we often hear regarding many subjects, especially in matters of health. Dentistry, and especially children’s dentistry, is no different. Saline County Children’s Dentistry opened 13 years ago with Dr. Derek Marks’ desire to serve his surrounding hometown community and provide premium dental care to the youth of Saline County. His wife, Dr. Kathleen Marks, joined the practice in 2008,then Dr. Sarah Farmer in 2012. Two associates recently joined the team: Drs. Thomas Jenkins and Chelsea Brashears.
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Dr. Thomas Jen
“Our goal is to make dental visits fun and enjoyable for the kids whenever possible,” says Dr. Farmer. “We try and help them build good feelings toward dental visits that will stick for a lifetime.” Saline County Children’s Dentistry serves about 8,000 children, ages 1-18, per year, averaging 100 patients per day. The main issue affecting children’s
22 • Saline County Lifestyles
Kids Dental
oral health is diet, Dr. Farmer says. “Our kids snack on more carbs and sugar-filled foods than ever before.” In addition to sugarfilled foods, items such as juice and sugary beverages like sports drinks and sodas can be a challenge to maintaining a healthy mouth, she says. One way to combat this unhealthy trend is to encourage your child to eat or drink their snack in one sitting. “Snacking frequently or grazing on a few chips or crackers at a time over the course of a few hours is harder on your teeth than eating the same amount in one sitting,” she notes. “Drinking juice or sipping sugary drinks over longer periods is much worse.”
age. It also allows us to start working early with the kids so they become more comfortable over time and the new things associated with dental visits like X-rays, cleanings and a new environment can be more easily tolerated.” Another positive change is a shift toward more parental involvement. One parent can accompany each child through their dental visit at Saline County Children’s Dentistry, Dr. Farmer says. The evolution of dentistry tools also helps improve how the clinic
is best able to treat children. “Silver diamine fluoride is a new liquid that can be placed on a cavity to help slow the growth of a cavity,” Dr. Farmer says. “We also offer sedation and even general anesthesia in certain cases to help kids who are very anxious and have more extensive dental needs. Certainly, there are many factors that come into play when making these decisions and Mom or Dad are part of that discussion.” Just like with most things, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach in dentistry. Dr. Farmer points out that every child is different and it’s important to keep an open mind and consider trying new things when helping your child
The silver lining is the positive changes that have been made to dietary recommendations, Dr. Farmer says. “Most recently, the juice recommendation has changed to be limited to, at most, four ounces per day with a meal or snack for toddlers ages 1-3.” She adds, “One big change we have seen over the past few years is the push for early visits for children under 1. Previously, the recommendation was at 3, but it was realized that many children had lots of cavities by that time.” Children are now recommended to see the dentist by the age of 1 or the appearance of their first tooth. “This can accomplish a few things,” Dr. Farmer says, “but most importantly, it allows us to help provide information and early intervention regarding habits that can cause decay at a young Saline County Lifestyles • 23
Kids Dental
stay on top of their dental hygiene. “Making dental hygiene fun is always a good approach,” she says. “We have seen people have success with sticker charts and even new apps that turn brushing teeth into a game.” Whatever you do, staying consistent is key. “We always recommend brushing twice daily and flossing at night,” Dr. Farmer says, adding, it’s helpful for parents of smaller children to follow close behind and assist to ensure no areas are missed. “This might be a good idea for older kids, too.” One other tip the dentistry crew always reiterates, Dr. Farmer says, is to cut off snacks and certain drinks at night after children complete their teeth-brushing routine. “Having snacks, sugary drinks or milk after nighttime brushing can be a big cause of cavities for some people and avoiding this habit is very helpful for preventing early decay.” Decay can happen at an early age and lead to infection, abscess and pain. Dr. Farmer says the clinic tries to save decaying baby teeth when possible as early tooth loss can lead to spacing problems later. Children eventually lose their baby teeth naturally, but starting healthy oral hygiene habits as early as possible is vital to ensuring a child has the best oral health possible. Saline County Children’s Dentistry strives to bring that point home and set children up for a lifetime of healthy oral hygiene practices. Jillian Jacuzzi 24 • Saline County Lifestyles
Saline County Lifestyles • 25
Kids Education
Childhood is a time of wonder. During early childhood, children begin to discover and learn about the world around them in a variety of ways. Whether it’s dressing themselves, learning to communicate using a few sentences at a time, or peddling a tricycle down the driveway, it’s important to note that every child’s developmental journey is unique.
Developmental milestones are important guidelines for how your child grows into the next stage of life. Developmental milestones are important guidelines for how your child grows into the next stage of life. Every child achieves these milestones at a different rate, but if you are concerned that your child may be behind, there are many resources available for parents. Tara Armstrong is the Early Childhood & Assistant Special Education Director for Bryant Public Schools. She oversees the more than 300 children aged 3-5 years old in the Bryant Pre-K education 26 • Saline County Lifestyles
program. Her team aims to maximize every resource available for the best quality of life while preparing children for a typical classroom. After serving five years as an elementary school principal, Tara received her Early Childhood Education certification and began working with children with disabilities. “Coming to this position has reinforced my belief that early intervention is important,” explains Tara. “Therapy and early interventions make a big difference. Everyone grows at a different rate. Parents will
contact us if they have a concern: for instance, if their child is not using words or sentences by age 3, if they are struggling to communicate.” Providing a Better Future for All Children Every public school in Arkansas must abide by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA. According the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, IDEA is a national special education law, which “ensures that all children with disabilities (ages 3 to 21) in Arkansas receive a Free
Kids Education environment; be the sportscaster of their world by narrating for your child. “I see a house, do you see a house, we are at the park.” By narrating, children “will build their own vocabulary,” says Tara.
Appropriate Public Education.” The Bryant School District provides special education and related services in public school at no cost to parents. The Early Childhood Special Education program provides occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and developmental instruction to medically fragile children ages 3 to 5. The program has three speech pathologists, three special education teachers, two paraprofessionals that support the special ed teachers, two occupational therapists, and a physical therapist. Tara and her team ensure that every child needing early intervention or special education receives care. “If we have a child with an address in the Bryant School District ages 3-kindergarten, we will provide an in-home or an office visit. We test for cognitive ability, gross and fine motor skills and speech language. If tests indicate the need for further evaluation, we will provide it.” IDEA also ensures inclusivity inside the classroom by allowing children of all abilities to learn together with their peer group. “Inclusion is the best option—in our preschool you’ll see all of our students together,” explains Tara. “They will learn alongside their peers and receive inclusion therapy for the classroom. Sometimes children
Here are some examples of skills parents can foster in their children before beginning kindergarten: • Listening to the teacher • Understanding and following directions • Standing in line • Holding a writing utensil such as crayons, etc. may leave the class for therapy, but they are able to be a part of the same pre-k class as typical kids.” Kindergarten Readiness While kindergarten-readiness skills are accomplished at different ages, working with your child on social, academic, fine and gross motor skills will help your child be prepared. Play is a major part of learning. With supervision, allow your child to use items like crayons, paints and Play-doh. These activities “build muscles and sensory input,” says Tara. “Through play, children develop so many skills." Limit tablet time. It’s easy to give them the phone. But set boundaries on the amount of screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time to an hour per day of programming for children ages 2-5 years old.
Seeking Services If you are interested in pre-K enrollment or special education support for your child, contact your local school district to learn more. “I think we are making a difference," says Tara. "There is research out there that suggests if you can give kids early intervention it will make a positive impact on their education and cost less on families.” If you would like to know more about the Bryant Early Childhood Pre-K and Special Education Program, email Tara Armstrong at earlychildhood@ bryantschools.org. Ashley Leopoulos
Be a sportscaster. Kids learn from their
Saline County Lifestyles • 27
Kids Health
Knowing what to do when your child is sick is one of the biggest concerns for any parent. Luckily, a clinic established to specifically focus on the welfare and health of children, adolescent and teen-aged patients is close by and eager to help. Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic, located at 2301 Springhill Road, first opened more than 30 years ago on the campus of the former Southwest Hospital in Little Rock. Dr. Allan Stanford started the clinic with minimal staff. Lori Mercer, one of his earliest employees, continues to work for CAPC today. Since then, the clinic has grown from one physician to eight and four Advance Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). There are currently thirty-one full-time and sixpart-time support staff for CAPC. More than 58,000 visits occurred last year with patients ranging in age from newborn to 19. Cheryl Arnold is the clinic’s administrator. She has seen a shift in recent years. “In addition to dramatic growth, the scope of the practice has changed to meet the changing needs of a pediatric population. More of our time is spent on ‘nonsick visits’ than in the past. Our in-house Asthma Care Clinic, Weight 28 • Saline County Lifestyles
Management Clinic, Headache Clinic and ADHD clinic provide support for chronic diagnoses that are common in the pediatric population. These clinics support the acute care services and well-child care that are the core services of CAPC. In 2019, the addition of morning and afternoon walk-in clinic options became popular with parents quickly.” Meghan Repp, M.D., has been with CAPC since 2013. “One of my favorite parts about CAPC is that it’s
hours in the mornings and afternoons, Saturday morning clinic hours, and the ability to contact a nurse if needed for triage after-hours, on weekends and holidays. When you’re a parent who is worried about your child’s health, it’s nice to know we’ve got many ways we can help you!” Misty Nolen, M.D., joined the clinic in mid-2005 and is excited about the clinic’s ability to grow and adapt for the benefit of their patients. “We have expanded clinic
not just the physicians and APRNs who are ‘all in’ for our patients, but our amazing staff as well. We strive for the best patient experience possible, from our front office staff to our experienced nurses. Everyone is focused on giving the best care possible. Our patients’ parents also love CAPC for the many resources we provide, including our walk-in clinic
space and offer a well-child area on a separate floor that is unique to pediatric clinics. This allows us to keep our younger well-child kids separate from the sick kids when they are here for a check-up. As Saline County has grown, we brainstorm constantly on ways to be able to see as many sick children during busy winter months by offering call backs if we get
Kids Health
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THESE CLINICS SUPPORT THE ACUTE CARE SERVICES AND WELL-CHILD CARE THAT ARE THE CORE SERVICES OF CAPC. cancellations, and recently adding walk-in hours in the morning and the afternoon. In the summer of 2019, we implemented Saturday back-toschool check-ups. The favorite part of my job has always been being able to interact with my families from the newborn visit to now entering high school and graduating soon.” Jessica Fox, M.D., has high praise for the staff and the focus of the clinic. “Central AR Pediatric Clinic has been home to me ever since I started in 2008. My colleagues and the employees I get to work with everyday are some of the best people I have had the chance to meet. I have also gotten to be involved in the care of so many patients that I have grown to love. Being entrusted by my patients’ families is such a privilege. It is a joy to see them grow into such wonderful young adults.” David Weed, M.D., is a product of Saline County. “It is a pleasure to see the diverse group of patients that we have at CAPC. Any given day, we might see children from Benton, Malvern, Bryant, Sheridan, Little Rock, as well as many other places. Being from Saline County myself, I particularly enjoy seeing patients from families that I have known since childhood.”
Amanda Merrick, M.D., attributes the success of the clinic to its continuing commitment to the patient. “I love that I can start caring for an infant right after birth and get to know the child and their family
as the child grows and develops. This is the community in which I have chosen to raise my own child, and it is my goal to provide the best medical care for our patients throughout their childhood.”
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS 501.847.2500
Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:30pm Saturday 8:00am – 12:00pm Walk-in Hours Morning & Afternoon
2301 SPRINGHILL RD BENTON, ARKANSAS
[Front Row L-R] Rebecca White, APRN; Jessica Fox, MD; Misty Nolen, MD; Bricin Martin, APRN; Robbie Rhodes, MD [Back Row L-R] Amber McGuire, APRN; R. Allan Stanford, MD; Meghan Repp, MD; Nancy Thomas, APRN; Mindy Pomtree, MD; David Weed, MD; Amanda Merrick, MD
CentralArkPediatric.com
@CENTRALARKPEDIATRIC
Saline County Lifestyles • 29
Kids Health
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As far as keeping children healthy, all the doctors have the same advice. “We always recommend to parents that they keep up with their children’s yearly wellness visits (yearly physicals) in clinic as their children grow up. Pediatrician visits are necessary when illness occurs, but also important when your child is healthy! Yearly physicals help prevent illnesses by updating all necessary vaccines, help to track growth and development, and address any concerns a parent may have about his or her child. As a team, the parent, patient, and pediatrician can promote the physical, mental, and social health of the child.” The clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. The main office number is 501-8472500. Brent Davis
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Saline County Lifestyles • 31
ACTIVE Lifestyles
So we’re a little more than two months into 2020. How are those New Year’s resolutions going? Maybe your goal was to be more organized and keep the house a bit tidier, but the kids’ schedules are keeping you on the run and the laundry and dishes are piling up. Maybe it was to eat healthier, but you just couldn’t resist the temptation of McDonalds or Taco Bell. Maybe—and this is the big one—it was to start exercising and stick to it. Unfortunately, that went out the window when you found that gyms were too crowded, or the routine conflicted with the rest of your busy life, or frankly, being sore sucked. No need to worry or beat yourself up! If your New Year’s resolution is shot, you have an opportunity to let another upcoming holiday get you back on track! In fact, you have a chance to
32 • Saline County Lifestyles
ACTIVE Lifestyles
hit the reset button on that promise to yourself, and Orangetheory Fitness of Saline County is here to help. Studio Manager Heidi Glover says the company is launching a fun, unique campaign designed to keep you looking out around town for some common items while also refocused on building a better you. Think of it as a Saline County Easter Egg Hunt for fitness. “We’ve taken three bicycles and painted them orange just like the colors of Orangetheory,” she said. “We’re going to take them throughout the area, lock them up and leave them there for 30 days.” From there, Glover says it’s up to you to let her and her fellow trainers know you’ve found them. “The goal is to find all three bikes, take your picture with them and post them to social media, tagging us,” she said. “At the end of the 30 days, if we have multiple people who submitted the photographs, we’ll hold a drawing where the winner will
receive an orange beach cruiser bike.” a group setting. Exercises focus on the full body and keep track of participants’ Who doesn’t love the thrill of hunting progress through heart monitors, for that golden egg mixed in with a little but Glover says they shouldn’t feel competition? But Glover says the idea insecure or intimidated by the is to get the participants thinking experience, as she says, “It’s about something more: their not what you think.” health. “We want to raise awareness about physical “We want everyone who “Easter bik and mental fitness, yes. e exercises with us to do so hunt” will This is a unique way at their own pace,” she run of doing that, and said. “We do everything April 1-30th we hope people from power walking to will accept the to coincid jogging and running, e challenge while but it’s all at your pace, with the also considering your comfort level.” whether they month’s E Unlike preconceived aster could do more ideas from the past, celebratio to have a better ns. Glover says fitness quality of life. doesn’t have to be cold, “Now is a impersonal or an isolated good time to start. activity anymore. You’re no longer Anytime is a good time to start,” required to work out on your own, she added. “Don’t you want to be able pushing yourself through weight to run around with your grandkids, feel training or cardio. Instead, businesses better as you age, or just be healthy?” like Orangetheory Fitness offer their classes in a group training format. Orangetheory Fitness offers one“The idea is to promote camaraderie, hour classes where members work in
Saline County Lifestyles • 33
ACTIVE Lifestyles
teamwork and encouragement for those in class to improve. Also, we plan our workouts ahead of time and keep an eye on students to make sure they aren’t underperforming or pushing themselves too hard where they could be injured.” When it comes to staying fit, Glover says she’s been active almost all her life. “My father was always very active, always playing sports,” she said. “So, when I graduated high school I just began working in group fitness settings and that led me to Orangetheory.” But what about those men and
Adults will have the opportunity to relive the days of their childhood Easter egg hunts. women who haven’t been active throughout their lives? What about those who’ve turned to exercise more by necessity than by choice? “It doesn’t matter your fitness background or where you come from,” Glover said. “If you have never even worked out a day in your life, you can come in and begin working and doing the same exercises as more experienced people. You can do it at your pace and improve as you go.” Adults will have the opportunity to relive the days of their childhood Easter egg hunts. Glover says the “Easter bike hunt” will run April 1-30 to coincide with the month’s Easter celebrations. Participants are asked to post their photos of the orange bikes to @otfbryantar on Instagram. For more information, go to bryant.orangetheoryfitness. com. Charles Crowson 34 • Saline County Lifestyles
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Saline County Lifestyles • 35
HEALTHY
Lifestyle
HEALTH UPDATE
CORONAVIRUS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR CHILDREN
By Dr. Ahmad Yousaf, MD Saline Memorial Hospital
As of March 2nd, 2020, there have been 91 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States of America. Two people have died from the disease or of complications related to the disease. As the news floods social media, local news, and newspapers, finding reliable information that you can act upon is going to become more and more important. The Coronavirus (COVID–19) comes from a family of viruses that typically cause symptoms like the common cold. Occasionally, as with the SARS virus previously, the coronavirus can gain mutations making it uniquely virulent or more damaging than other viruses in this family. When scientists and
doctors begin to see an animal virus transmit to humans, the scientific community becomes more concerned that the virus has the capacity to gain mutations that make it more dangerous at a population health level. The term pandemic has been thrown around and it is important to understand what this could mean for you and your family. This virus seems to have started infecting humans in Wuhan, China, the capital of the Hubei Providence. It seems to have spread quite rapidly for months causing a large response from the Chinese government. Because of China’s unique geopolitical status, getting reliable information about the outbreak has been quite difficult for the international community.
It appears from what we understand at this point, the mortality rate associated with this infection is around 2%. Most people who are infected have symptoms like the flu. However, in certain populations the infection is more severe, causing worsening respiratory symptoms and difficulty breathing. This can result in things like acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is worsening edema within the lung tissue causing respiratory failure and possibly death. 2% may not seem like a large number. However, when speaking about population health and the rapid spread of this disease, we are speaking about tens of thousands of lives at risk or lost in association with this outbreak already. Here are the things we know for sure when it comes to the risk for children: • It appears that most children who have been affected have relatively mild to moderate symptoms with some requiring hospitalization. There have been no reported deaths among children at this point, but again, information from China has been limited. • The countries with the most widespread and sustained transmission and restrictions on entry to United States include China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan. Current recommendations
36 • Saline County Lifestyles
HEALTHY
THE TERM PANDEMIC HAS BEEN THROWN AROUND AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS COULD MEAN FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. essentially entail not traveling at all to these countries at this point given the risk of becoming infected and spreading disease.
Lifestyles
HOSPITALIST GROUP Get to know your doctors at Saline Health System. It’s a team of many experts with one focus: caring for you.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended to keep children out of the healthcare system unless necessary. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth. Stay at home when you are sick. Cover kids’ coughs or sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequentlytouched objects and surfaces with household cleaning sprays or wipes. Finally, wash kids’ hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important before eating and after blowing the nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. As a healthcare provider, I often update myself on the newest information via the CDC website, and more specifically for pediatrics via the AAP website, which provides confirmed data and recommendations from the healthcare community. The United States of America has declared this a healthcare emergency and we must balance being careful, safe and informed, while also understanding there has been no evidence that this infection is not controllable. At this point in time, we do not yet have a vaccine, though major research facilities are working on this now. Treatment for the disease is simply supportive care similar to that for a bad cold or the flu. Ensure you remain up to date on the most current medical recommendations and try your best to validate any information that seems to stoke fear rather than provide facts.
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Saline County Lifestyles • 37
FAMILY
Lifestyle
INSURANCE INSIGHT Work/Life Balance Putting You Off-Balance? By Dennia Beard, State Farm Insurance
Work/Life balance is something everyone’s trying to understand and achieve. Browse through any careerrelated magazine and you’ll find it plastered all over the pages. In today’s fast-paced workplace, most of us are urged to do more, faster and with even fewer resources. There seems to be more pressure to be successful than ever before. At work, we are celebrated for doing the job of two or even three people. As parents, we are expected to be near perfect, all the while maintaining incredible bodies, spirits and minds. The responsibilities to our families, our
careers, our children’s activities and our community are all competing for the same valuable attention. DO YOU HAVE BALANCE? Is your “to do” list the size of the Empire State Building? Do you feel you are very busy, but not sure you are accomplishing anything? Are you burnt out? Do you feel like you have lost your direction? Friend, I get you. I am not some guru that has figured it out, but I have learned a lot in the last 20 years
of owning my own business, (with two locations 62 miles apart) being a mom to two crazy-busy girls, a wife, a leader to 8 incredible risk advisors, a bible class teacher, a friend, and a community servant. I try to drink enough water, get enough exercise, read enough books…all the things I am “supposed” to do. The list seems to go on and on and it makes my hair hurt to think about it all. Here’s the bottom line: we all have the same 24 hours. Let’s accept responsibility that we all have a say in our balance to live a well-rounded life. Let’s renew and refresh our creative energies on a regular basis so that we can all achieve our highest potential. Here are some of my favorite tips (in order of importance!) 1. Be gentle with yourself. If you start a new habit that soon gets pushed to the side in the chaos of regular life, understand that it’s completely normal. You haven’t failed; you’re just experiencing the same bumps everyone goes through. If the habit is worthwhile, work it back into your schedule. If it isn’t, scratch it. There isn’t enough time for that. 2. Manage yourself, not your time. There is really no such thing as “time management,” but we can manage our activities. Be proactive and realize the
38 • Saline County Lifestyles
FAMILY
Lifestyles
LET’S ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE ALL HAVE A SAY IN OUR BALANCE TO LIVE A WELL-ROUNDED LIFE. power of choice and recognize what you can control. What pressuring task are you willing to give up, or subtract, in order to have or achieve something more important in a different area? 3. Just say “No.” What do you think will happen if you say no? Sometimes we say yes to things because we feel pressure to give an immediate answer. Remember you have the right to take some time to think about it before responding. “I just need a small favor…” can totally derail your day, week or even month. 4. Schedule time for yourself. If you don’t take care of yourself, who will? Be intentional in resting, in playing, in growing. Take at least 30 minutes a day to read, to walk or to rest. You have a busy schedule. Make sure you are mentally and physically ready to tackle it. 5. Schedule time to sit down with your risk manager. Okay, so you had to know I would go here, but seriously…you want to have a working relationship with your insurance agent that goes beyond numbers and conversations on the phone. Instead of worrying about what’s at stake and if you’ve secured the best rates, you can be sure. You’re likely to come out of that meeting with peace of mind, a smile on your face and a little money saved. The quote, “Life is a journey, not a destination,” has much value in terms of reminding us about the value of maintaining a balanced life. The great thing is that we have a choice about how we live our lives, what activities we are involved in and with what people we surround ourselves.
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Remember that work/life balance is a worthy pursuit meant to reduce your stress, not add to it. Stop the madness. Let go of perfectionism, start small and find the right balance for you. Saline County Lifestyles • 39
FAMILY
Lifestyle
Addicted to Speed By Clay Cunningham, Generation Pastor at First Baptist Benton
Spring is in the air! More sunshine, longer days, beautiful outside weather and no more long, cold nights. Spring also brings various demands to our schedules: baseball tournaments, dance recitals, award ceremonies, cheer competitions, softball games and the like. It is my favorite time of the year, but it can also turn into one of the most stressful times of the year as we find ourselves rapidly going from here to there and everywhere with our many commitments. It’s almost as if we have become addicted to speed.
I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH FOR OVER HALF OF MY LIFE. In his book, The Hurried Child, David Elkind states that “Today’s child has become the unwilling, unintended victim of overwhelming stress—the stress borne of rapid, bewildering social change and constantly rising expectations.” One of the themes of his book is that we are living in a culture that is changing so quickly that our children are being forced to wrestle with issues and stressors at an earlier age than ever before. One 40 • Saline County Lifestyles
of those issues is that of busyness. I have been given the privilege of working with students and their parents in the local church for over half of my life. A common question that I ask both of those groups is “How are you doing?” Simple question…common question…and the answer is similar in both groups: “I’m good, but I am so busy!” To be honest, that is a response I find myself using quite often as well. Is being busy bad? Not necessarily. There are always tasks that need accomplishing, responsibilities that need fulfilling and things that need doing. However, I wonder if sometimes we almost take pride in how busy we are. Could it be that we receive some type of satisfaction as we silently compare how much ink is on our calendar when compared to someone else’s calendar? (Yes, I still use a paper calendar!) So, what are we to do? Do we just quit all sports and activities? I don’t think that’s a great answer. Do we stop doing homework, writing essays and studying for tests? Bad idea. I believe that a better option for us is to think about how we can lessen our addiction to speed and busyness and increase our addiction to quality time with our kids. Maybe that does mean
some big changes in your calendar, but perhaps it means some small changes that could yield big dividends in your relationship with your kid. Quality time enables us to connect, understand, encourage and teach in ways that we are not currently experiencing. Here are some ideas: 1. Go on a date with your child at their favorite ice cream place. 2. Explore a playground or a park that you have never visited before. 3. Cook a meal with your child. 4. Take your child to dinner and a movie of their choice. 5. Let your child pick out a new board game for your family to play together. 6. Plan a backyard camp out. Get the point? I’ve heard it said that sometimes we have to say “no” to good things so that we can say “yes” to greater things. So, in this season of fast-paced schedules, multiple commitments, and extremely busy days, feel the freedom to say no every once in a while. The world will continue to carry on without your doing everything. Disconnect from your phone and connect with your child instead. Your kids will remember these moments. They truly are the greater things!
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Saline County Lifestyles • 41
FAMILY
Lifestyle
TWO DECISIONS EVERY PARENT MUST MAKE By: Justin S. Elrod, Certified Elder Law Attorney, The Elrod Firm Welcoming a new child into the family is one of the most exciting things a person can experience. It can also be terrifying, and it comes with a long to-do list to make sure everything is in order for the new addition. You’ll probably have the nursery ready long before the baby comes, and the diapers will be stocked up. You have to make sure you know how to install the car seat, and you’ll want to sanitize plenty of bottles. After the arrival, on the business side of things, you can’t forget to apply for a birth certificate and contact your health insurance company. Less exciting and eminently more important is the need to revise (or create for the first time) an estate plan. Although you obviously hope you’ll always be around to care for your children, you need to plan for the possibility that something may happen one day so that you can’t. It’s hard thinking about someone else caring for your kids, but failing to do so can devastate your family. Any estate plan, for the parents of young children, must include two separate but related decisions. 42 • Saline County Lifestyles
When considering how to protect your children you need to decide: 1) who will care for them on a dayto-day basis, and 2) who will look out for their financial needs. These are two different roles that can be filled by two different people.
or children. Although a three-year old can’t own a home or accept life insurance proceeds, a trust can on their behalf. This avoids probate court when you die, and it also ensures that the right person has control and authority over the assets you leave behind.
As to the physical care of your children on a day-to-day basis, you should designate who you would like to serve as their guardian. This designation is usually made in your Last Will and Testament. Whoever you designate will still have to go to a judge to obtain the legal authority needed to serve as guardian, but the court will go with the person you name in your will unless there is a pretty strong argument against it. This mandatory court involvement means there will always be oversight to ensure your children are being properly taken care of by the individual or individuals you nominated.
In a trust you can also set restrictions for how you want your children to receive their inheritance as they grow up. You can give guidance to your trustee for how you would like the funds to be used while they are young and distributed when they get older. For example, you can specify that the funds may always be used for their health, education, and support.
For the management of your children’s finances, you should set up a trust that names your children as the beneficiaries but appoints someone you trust (pun intended) as the trustee to manage the assets being held in the trust for the benefit of the child
You can also state the ages at which your children can gain direct access to their inheritance. You may think that 18 is too young to receive a lump sum of money (I would agree), but that your children could handle a third of it when they’re 25, another third when they’re 30, and the remainder when they’re 35, for example. Some people think a safe alternative to a trust is to transfer ownership of their estate to a third party with an “understanding” that the third party
FAMILY
Lifestyles
knows Planning ahead what gives you the
peace of mind your children will be taken care of. they’d want done with the money. This is a terrible idea. Aside from the obvious problem that they might not choose to do what you think they’d do, this approach also opens up the entire estate to any legal or financial problems the recipient might have, which would jeopardize your children’s inheritance. The inheritance should be held in trust, separate from the personal assets of the trustee you choose, and be accessible solely for your children’s benefit. This keeps it out of the reach of creditors, divorce court, and other legal problems, both of the trustee and of your children. Planning ahead gives you the peace of mind of knowing that even if something should happen to you, your children will be taken care of both in their day-to-day needs and in their long-term financial needs. Saline County Lifestyles • 43
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