ON THE COVER: Kayla Lupean and daughter Elsie, 5
BY KIM STAHNKE PHOTOGRAPHY
06
EDITOR’S NOTE
At the wheel of parenting a teen.
08
WORTH NOTING
Check in with kids dealing with back-to-school worries, a way families can give back and Reading Room.
10
AGES AND STAGES
Help your kids create a reading space with ideas for all space sizes and budgets.
SPECIAL NEEDS Events and sensory-fun for famililes.
FAMILY CALENDAR Find fun things to do this month including day and weekend events.
YOUR AGING PARENT Tips to help caregivers with stress management.
#CLEMAMA
Sara Carnes, mom
on
about
“Stop!” I yell to my 15 and a half -year-old, my oldest son, who just received his driving learning permit. My heart is racing. He wasn’t likely close to colliding in the grass near the trees in the parking lot, but it felt like it was close to me.
Yes, I know, I sound a little nutty, but until you drive with your child for the first time, you don’t realize a car really is a powerful machine your child is maneuvering.
Dr. Kenneth R. Ginsburg, author of “Congrats—You're Having a Teenager! Strengthen Your Family and Raise a Good Person” writes in an American Academy of Pediatrics article “Independence, One Step at a Time” that adolescence is naturally filled with opportunities for trial and error and ultimately success.
“Your challenge is to make sure your adolescent learns from day-to-day mistakes rather than views them as catastrophes,” he writes. “At the same time you need to be vigilant in helping your teen avoid those errors that could cause irreparable harm. Just as importantly, you want to ensure your child doesn’t miss out on the many possibilities for growth that are coming along.”
Those catastrophes to avoid include your teen getting a bad grade on a test, a relationship that goes wrong or not getting the job or making the team.
Between eating, sleeping, phone or computer time — you might not find out what happens until later. In fact, as a parent, you might be feeling more alone. Your child seems to live in their room, or they are doing an activity on their own — and they don’t need you right now.
But, what I found is they do need you, more than ever.
“The answer undeniably is that parents matter as much, if not more than ever, but unfortunately, parents get a lot of information that suggests you don’t,” Ginsburg say in an Oct. 18 Washington Post article “The dread of ‘the teen years’ is misplaced — and holding parents back” by Kristen Mei Chase. “Parents are the most important people in kids’ lives, and every piece of research says that adolescents care deeply about what their parents think.”
What can you do when they start to pull away (like, endless hours in their room)? Talk to them.
For my son, a way to open the door is food and drink. Everything’s better when Mom picks up his favorite iced tea and we chat about his day. Not really a truth serum, but it’s that small gesture that makes a difference.
While my days are numbered taking him to school, it's good to connect with him while I have him in the car. And I just don’t pepper him with questions, but he responds to me better when he feels like we are having an adult conversation.
While I do nag a bit, about grades and chores (or simple things like not leaving two pieces of cereal in the box and putting it back on the shelf, recently, four boxes were like that.) I feel that’s my job as a parent.
I also want to make sure he has all the opportunities and that means encouraging him to have a little independence — go to the Friday night game, join the school club or go to the dance — be a teen.
It’s funny, I told him, since this was our High School Education Guide issue, I was going to write a column about high school. He had some good ideas that I might do later, but we talked about all the woes of high school and pressures that may come as he ventures out on his own.
While I trust him as any parent can trust a teen, I still feel the need to get out the imaginary bubble wrap. Shield him from all the adulthood worries for a little while longer. For now, I will settle with trying to enjoy these last two years of high school with him.
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As students settle into the new school year, parents and caregivers can support their kids by checking in on their mental health. The school days can take a toll on some students’ emotional well-being.
According to Dr. Sarah Love, a pediatric psychologist at Akron Children’s Hospital, the beginning of the school year may come with added stress and anxiety, whether or not your child or teen has a diagnosable mental health disorder.
“There tends to be increased stress relat ed to the big change, balancing their sched ule, and balancing more demands than they had over the summer,” Love says.
While the first weeks of school are typically more laid back, Love says there’s often an in creased demand for mental health services around mid-September and October.
“Particularly as kids and teens are getting their first tests and exams coming up and their whole workload is increasing,” she says.
In fact, since the pandemic, Love says there has been an increase in mental health concerns across the board — including mood disorders, depression, anxiety, obses sive-compulsive disorder, suicidal thoughts and self-harm.
“There’s ongoing concern for the COVID-19 pandemic and schools continuing to try to manage those outbreaks,” she says. “We see increasing concern amongst our students for school shootings. And there's a lot going on economically, for a lot of families.”
“One of the biggest things is to make sure that kids and teens know that you're here for them,” Love says. “You're here to listen. You're going to provide that listening ear, and you want to know how they're feeling and how things are going.”
Love adds that parents and caregivers can help by modeling healthy ways to man age stress and anxiety.
“If we're openly talking to kids about ways to manage stress or things that we ourselves are doing to manage stress, they are going to pick up on that,” she says.
It can also be helpful to sit down with your child and make a list of activities that they can do when they’re feeling stressed or anxious, something that Love recommends. “Maybe they really like going for a run or just having time to spend with their parents or spending time with friends.”
“Learning ways to relax their body is great for managing stress,” Love adds. “So teaching and learning skills like belly breath ing, yoga, guided meditation and muscle relaxation.”
If you’re wondering whether to seek help from a doctor or mental health professional, Love says to keep an eye out for big changes in your child’s mood, sleep, or eating habits.
“If you have a kid or teen that's really interested in school, and you're noticing a big shift in their grades or how they're doing in school, that would be another sign that maybe we want to talk to our pediatrician or talk to a mental health professional to get some more information on what might be going on,” she says.
Likewise, if they are withdrawing from activities they normally enjoy or their anxiety is interfering with their ability to do things, you may want to consider reaching out to their doctor.
“Seek out advice,” she says. “Talk to your pediatrician or talk to a mental health pro fessional, or even talk to the school counselor about those concerns that you have.”
By Jane Yolen and illustrated by Mark Teague
This playful Tyrannosaur dinosaur stomps and fusses and jumps before bedtime. Learn how he finally calmed down enough to get some shut-eye.
Angela Gartner, editor at Northeast Ohio Parent says it’s a fun read for both kids and parents.
“It kept my son’s attention with the illustrations and simple storylines,” she says. “I could easily make the dinosaur sounds. He related to the toys in the “dinosaur’s room” and I remember the ending, which he mimicked each night.”
By Emma Yarlett
Nibbles is on the loose, and he’s chomp ing through all of your favorite fairy tales! This laugh-out-loud funny and ferocious charmer’s unstoppable appetite for the printed page will nibble a hole right through your heart.
“My daughter loved spotting Nibbles, who is hiding throughout the book, and seeing if we could “catch” him once and for all at the end,” says Shana O’Malley-Smith, managing/digital editor at North east Ohio Parent.
Parents, have you ever heard yourself almost preaching the words “you should be more grateful” (or any semblance of that phrase) to your child who seems totally oblivious to how fortunate they are because of the comfort and conve niences you’ve provided? Well, I most certainly have and it’s a message that often seems to fall on deaf ears in my most passionate moments.
I’ve often asked myself, how do we teach children to be more selfless, empathetic and generous in a way that inspires them to one day embrace a lifestyle of giving? It can feel like a lofty task in today’s world, but it's achievable with the right amount of intention.
Family volunteerism is a great op portunity for kids and parents to learn more about the needs of others while embracing their power to give. Giving as
It's bedtime for Marco and his stuffed animals, but the animals have other ideas. When Marco tries to put them away, they fly, swim, and slither right out of their bins. Can Marco sort the animals so everyone is happy? A playful exploration of sorting and classifying that combines math with empathy.
A bedtime story where a little girl finds many distractions keeping her awake. She visits all of her animal friends as they say "good night" and "get some rest.”
a family not only transforms the lives of those receiving the gifts, but it can have significant impacts on those giving.
Kids4humankind is an organization with a mission to help restore kindness in the world while shining light on the beauty and goodness reflected in all of us.
Families can join us giving to chil dren currently in shelters and hospi tals throughout this holiday season. Kids4HumanKIND are partnering with Cre8Sparks, a DIY art studio in Beach wood to provide art boxes that will allow the children to fully immerse themselves in creativity taking them beyond their current situation. The boxes will support children at Family Promise of Greater Cleveland and the Ronald McDonald House.
• Drop-in Cre8Sparks Studios to create the donation boxes (Boxes are $25) any weekend during the month of November through December 17. 2101 Richmond Road, Beachwood.
• Open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 1-6 p.m. Can’t get to the studio, donate a box online. cre8sparks.com/products/cre8-donate
Creating a reading corner or book nook is a great way to encourage your little reader. We’ve asked experts to weigh in on how you can build a book nook for your child, no matter what kind of space or budget you’re working with. When it comes to which elements to include in a book nook, a lot will depend on your space, budget, and personal preferences. Still, there are some essentials any cozy reading space will need.
Sarah Taylor, an interior designer with Hall & Parlor in Chagrin Falls, says to make sure you include something cozy to sit on.
“Whether it’s a beanbag chair, some sort of chair, or a window seat cushion,” she says.
Since your child will be reading, you’ll of course need good lighting, too.
“Lighting is key,” Taylor says. She recom mends and often uses task lighting or string lights for this kind of space.
You’ll also want to make sure that your child’s books are easily accessible, whether that means including a bookshelf, display, or even something as simple as a basket or bin.
If your child is old enough, Karen Aroni an, educational design expert says to involve them in picking out books.
“Depending on the age of your child, you will want their input on what genres and au thors will be collected for the space,” she says.
Deciding where to set up your book nook can be a challenge for some parents. If you have the budget and space for it, Taylor says she has designed books nooks with built-in benches and bookshelves.
But for parents who have limited space to work with, she suggests looking for less ex pected spots that might work, like under a loft bed, under stairs, or even in part of a closet.
“You can always create a corner of a room if you need to with a little canopy,” Taylor says, adding you can use an area rug or peel-andstick wallpaper to help define the space.
Aronian offers some more ideas for parents to consider.
“A cleared and repurposed closet or attic can be a neat reading hideout,” she says. “A hallway landing can be a functional spot.”
Erin Beers, a seventh-grade English language arts teacher and blogger at mrsbeers. com, says that kids usually prefer cozy spaces.
“If your child can comfortably sit and stretch out then you have plenty of room to work with,” she says.
Beers suggests having a few different comfortable options around to make the space customizable, such as oversized pillows, foam chairs, and bean bag chairs.
“If you have hardwood floors then you definitely want an area rug,” she adds.
“You don’t have to solve it all at one time,” Beers says, noting to leave space for your child to add their own design and layout preferences. She says this will allow the space to grow with your child.
Designing a book nook for your child can be an inexpensive project if you know where to look.
“Facebook marketplace is a goldmine for gently used furniture,” says Beers. “Between Amazon and Ikea, you should find plenty of inexpensive options for area rugs, lamps, and bookshelves.”
Aronian adds that you can still in volve your kids in the process and save money.
“Take kids to a secondhand or child con signment store where they may see items they want,” she says, adding that stores like Target, Walmart, or HomeGoods are often bud get-friendly as well.
For books, used book stores and library book sales are both great options.
“These are exciting events to attend with kids where they can gather a wide book selection without pricey decision making,” Aronian says. In the end, as long as your book nook has a cozy place to sit, good lighting, and some of your child’s favorite books, that’s all you really need.
National Parenting Product Awards provides some books that will delight kids — and parents alike.
In this unique and charm ing picture book, classic cars express a range of feelings, from excited to angry, to help kids learn about emotions. Enjoy the photos of cool cars or dive deeper into the engine of emotional understanding. $16.99, ages 4-8, eileenkennedymoore.com
Celebrates barrier-breaking activists, artists, inventors and entrepreneurs under the age of 30 leading the next generation of girls to change the world. Includes a foreword by conserva tionist and book subject Bindi Irwin and features work by creators aged 11 to 30 including 13 contributing authors and origi nal illustrations from 84 artists from around the world. $35, ages 6-12, rebelgirls.com
Packed with hands-on activ ities and projects that bring you closer to wild animals — from feathery birds and furry mammals to slippery herps, crawly arthropods and other intriguing invertebrates. $17.95, ages 5-9, shambhala.com
A science-based alphabet book that features Milo, a real rescue dog. From A to Z, the illustra tors bring each letter to life, combining literacy science with Milo’s uplifting story. A portion of proceeds from each Rescue Series sale go to support rescue dog organizations. $1020, ages birth-5, twotailsbooks.com
The gnomes make a plan to visit homes in order to teach children and adults how to start a tradition of kindness. Includ ed with the book are 30 removable acts of kindness cards, which make it super easy for families to get started. $29.95, 3+, thegnomeinyourhome.com
A wordless picture book, where playing is guaran teed, and endless narrations are possible. Begin your silent journey through nature and different landscapes where anything is possible. $18.95, ages 4-8, cuentodeluz.com
The Highlights Book of How
An essential book of curiosity and wonder, integrating STEM content, experiments and activities. Provides dozens of ways for kids to explore and create while deepening their understanding of science. $29.99, ages 7+, shop.highlights.com
An inclusive book for all types of family constella tions. Created with care to contemplate the different families that exist in the world and designed to highlight the unconditional love and gratitude towards life. $16.95, ages 4 - 8, cuentodeluz.com
Colorful, fun, and engaging to make reading fun for little ones at home. Each page has engaging illustrations, delight ful music, and lyrics that help enhance language compre hension. $25, ages 3-10, calisbooks.com
This picture book is a warm-hearted tribute to siblings and their magical bond, with stunning art by award-winning illustrator Sonja Wimmer. $16.95, 4 - 8, cuentodeluz.com
Recordable Storybook Series
Combining the love of words and technology to allow children, parents and grand parents to record their voice reading classic fairytales. Create memories that will last a lifetime. $40, ages 3-10 years, calisbooks.com
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Tough Stuff
A book that shows girls how to get through tricky times—from bullying to body image issues, friendship stress to family struggles, and panic attacks to pandemic. $12.99, ages 10+, americangirl.com
Kai is a warrior, and this is the warrior’s code: to be peaceful, to be kind of heart, and to respect all living things. A book that teaches kids that bravery means treating others with kindness. $16.95, ages 4-8, shambhala.com
Mommy Goes to Work
Celebrates working moms and makes drop offs easi er, one story at a time. Help ease the transition back to work after maternity leave $19.99, entire family, Various retailers.
Take a road trip to the land of learning with the interactive book. Hear 100+ words about modes of transportation from dog sleds and dump trucks to skates and school buses. $14.99, ages 18 months+, store.leapfrog.com
A beautifully-illustrated board book encouraging kids to explore their feelings and the world around them. Offers a great mes sage that we can find the same brave, playful, colorful and crabby qualities found in animals and nature within ourselves. $8.95, ages 1-3, shambhala.com
A beautiful story rooted in the diversity of the forest biome and the joy of outdoor community. Features jaunty, lyrical text, harmonious and folky illustrations, and imaginative and com passionate suggestions on how to help the environment. $15, ages birth-8, beautiful worldbooks.com
Unfold the book, turn down the lights and switch on a flashlight to be transported into a world of imag ination. These magic books will inspire parents and kids to share nightly stories. $39.90, ages birth+, shadowplaystore.com
A beautiful explora tion of impermanence accompanied by vibrant illustrations that explore every corner of the world, from rolling fields in Tibet to the cozy, fireplace-lit living room of a family member’s home. $17.95, ages 3-7, shambhala.com
For more product reviews visit nappaawards.com
2900 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Cleveland, cbhs.net Nov. 13: 11 a.m.
13442 Lorain Ave., Cleveland 216-315-7942, gala-prek8.org Nov. 12, Dec. 17, Jan. 7, Feb. 4: 10-11:30 a.m. Nov. 15. Dec. 14, Jan. 10, Feb. 7: 5-6:30 p.m.
Lower & Middle Schools 5000 Clubside Road, Lyndhurst 440-423-4446, hawken.edu Nov. 20: 1 p.m.
Upper School 12465 County Line Road, Gates Mills 440-423-4446, hawken.edu Nov. 6: 1 p.m.
Birchwood School of Hawken 4400 W. 140th St., Cleveland 216-251-2321, birchwoodschool.org Jan. 23: 2 p.m.
Mastery School 11025 Magnolia Dr., Cleveland 440-423-4446, hawken.edu Nov. 13: 1 p.m.
Upper SchoolHuntsburg Campus 11530 Madison Road, Huntsburg Twp. 440-636-6290, hershey-montessori.org Nov. 14, Dec. 12, Feb. 13: 9-11 a.m. (Visitors’ Day) Nov. 16: 7-8 p.m. (Virtual Info Session)
Lower SchoolConcord Campus 10229 Prouty Road, Concord Twp. 440-357-0918, hershey-montessori.org Nov. 9, Feb. 8: 9-11 a.m. (Open House)
Akron 380 Mineola Ave., Akron 330-333-5280, juliebilliartschool.org Nov. 10: 9 a.m.
Lyndhurst 4982 Clubside Road, Lyndhurst 216-381-1191, juliebilliartschool.org Dec. 12: 6 p.m.
Westlake Campus 3600 Crocker Road, Westlake 440-471-4150, juliebilliartschool.org Nov. 8: 6 p.m.
THE MUSIC SETTLEMENT'S CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD
University Circle Campus 11125 Magnolia Dr., Cleveland 216-421-5806, themusicsettlement.org
Nov. 17: 5:30-7pm (Early Childhood)
Jan. 22: 1-2:30pm Ohio City Campus 2610 Detroit Ave., Cleveland 216-377-1410, themusicsettlement.org
Nov. 17: 5:30-7pm (Early Childhood)
Jan. 22: 1-2:30pm
RUFFING MONTESSORI SCHOOL 3380 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights 216-321-7571, ruffingmontessori.net
Nov. 12 & Jan. 21: Noon- 2 p.m. (Open House)
Jan. 9: 1 p.m. (Toddler Parent Preview)
SAINT AMBROSE SCHOOL 923 Pearl Road, Brunswick 330-460-7301, saintambroseschool.us Nov. 6: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Preschool-8th Grade)
SAINT PASCHAL BAYLON CATHOLIC SCHOOL 5360 Wilson Mills Road, Highland Heights 440-442-6766, saintpaschal.com Nov. 17: 6-7:30 p.m. (K-8)
SETON CATHOLIC SCHOOL 6923 Stow Road, Hudson 330-342-4200, setoncatholicschool.org Nov. 13 & Jan. 29: 2-4 p.m.
ST. HILARY SCHOOL 645 Moorfield Road, Fairlawn 330-867-8720, st-hilaryschool.org Jan. 29: Noon-2 p.m. Jan 12: 9-11 a.m. (Kindergarten Kaleidoscope) RSVP by 12/29 330-867-8720, ext. 343
ST. MICHAEL PRESCHOOL
St. Basil Campus 8700 Brecksville Road, Brecksville 440-717-0398, stmichaelschoolinfo.com/st-basil-campus Nov. 13: after 11 a.m. Mass until 2 p.m.
ST. SEBASTIAN PARISH SCHOOL Day School (K-8) 500 Mull Ave., West Akron 330-836-9107, stsebastian.org/school Nov. 18: 8:15-10 a.m. (Kindergarten Explorer Day) Jan. 29: 10 a.m.-Noon. (Kindergarten-8th Grade)
St. Sebastian Center for Early Learning 500 Mull Avenue, West Akron 330-836-9107, stsebastian.org/school Jan. 29: 10 a.m.-Noon
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
Hunting Valley Campus (Grades 9-12)
2785 SOM Center Road, Hunting Valley 216-831-2200, us.edu Nov. 6: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 1: 8:30-11 a.m.
Shaker Heights Campus (Junior Kindergarten-Grade 8) 20701 Brantley Road, Shaker Heights 216-321-8260, us.edu Nov. 6: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
VILLA ANGELAST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL 18491 Lakeshore Blvd., Cleveland 216-481-8414, vasj.com Nov. 3
WESTSIDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 23096 Center Ridge Road, Westlake 440-331-1300, westsideacademy.org Feb. 4: 1-3:30 p.m.
Funday Club. Ages 8-11 focus on conversational skills and learning to create friendships. 6325 Cochran Road, Solon, center4lifeskills.com
Swimming with Autism. Water safety program. 6-8 p.m. Through 11/17. Kohl Family YMCA, 477 E. Market St., Akron, autismakron.org
Friendship Fridays. Ages 3-8 learn to play and make friends. 9-11 a.m. Above All Therapy, 5425 Warner Road, Suite 3A, Valley View, abovealltherapy.com
Charting the Lifecourse. Fam ilies who experience disability learn how to use resources across a lifespan via Zoom. 4-5:30 p.m. mcbdd.org
Music Therapy & More. For families and their children (ages 0-6) who are struggling in an area of development. 9:30-10 a.m. Westlake Porter Public Li brary, 27333 Center Ridge Road, westlakelibrary.org
Respite Weekend at Camp Cheerful. Overnight weekend camp for children and adults with disabilities.15000 Cheerful Lane, Strongsville, campcheerful. achievementcenters.org
Sensory Friendly Movie and Talk. Adapted for those with disabilities.11 a.m.-1 p.m. Par ma-Snow Branch Library, 2121 Snow Road, cuyahogalibrary.org
Guiding Parents & Guardians. Gain an understanding of a healthy relationship with technology, impacts on mental health and benefits of assistive technology. 6:30-8 p.m. Julie Bil liart Schools, 3600 Crocker Road, Westlake, summitdd.org
Sensory Friendly Holiday Craft Festival. Sensory-friendly are to make ornaments for your tree. 6-6:30 p.m. Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Road, rrpl.org
Babes in Toyland. Sensory friendly performances at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lake wood, beckcenter.org
By: Shana O’Malley-Smith
When thoughts of adopting a child started popping into Kayla Lupean’s mind in 2017, it was something she knew she needed to explore.
She had been single for a few years fol lowing a divorce in 2013 and was starting to think about the next chapter of her life.
“I dated for a few years and just was not meeting anybody that I could see a real future
with,” she says. “I turned 30 and I really start ed thinking about, what does the future look like for me if that doesn't include a partner. I knew that motherhood was something that I definitely wanted to experience. So, very quietly, adoption sat in the back of my mind. I would be running errands or working and out of nowhere, the thoughts of adoption kept popping up.”
Lupean decided to talk to her mom, who was a nurse at an OB-GYN clinic, about her feelings.
“I said, ‘you know, for some reason, I keep thinking about adoption. Does anyone ever come into your office looking to place for adoption,’” Lupean says.
Her mom said that she didn't think so, but she would check with the doctor that ran the
practice. “So, she asked the doctor and he said that it hadn't happened in the 25 years he had been with the practice. The very next day, my daughter's birth parents came in and asked the same doctor if he knew anyone looking to adopt.”
They agreed to share contact information and began talking with Lupean.
“It definitely felt like a very meant to be situation,” she says. "I mean what are the chances of all of these things colliding at one time.”
The birth mother was about eight weeks away from delivering Lupean’s now 5-yearold daughter, Elsie, so there was a lot of work that needed to be done quickly before her arrival.
“In those eight weeks, I had to do a home study, hire an attorney and find someone to do a birth mother assessment which ensures that she had a clear understanding about the adoption and all that it entails," Lupean says. “It was technically considered a private adoption, but because it wasn't a placement/ match through an agency, I had to figure out all of these moving pieces and hire them individually.”
During that time, she continued to communicate with the birth parents and also came up with a hospital plan with the birth mother to make the experience as comfort able as possible.
“I found a checklist for birth mothers to really go through and ask all of the questions of what they wanted in the hospital,” she says. “I had her birth mom complete that form and I was ecstatic when she said she wanted me to be in the delivery room.”
The weeks before Elsie’s birth were full of excitement, anticipation and lots of uncer tainty.
“I would not let anybody throw me a shower,” she explains. "I knew that there was a real possibility that they could change their mind at any moment and I didn't want to have all of the gifts and celebration if it didn’t work out. And now with the perspective I have, I'm still grateful that I chose not to do the shower. I was able to pick out the necessi ties myself and not add to the overwhelming uncertainty of it all during such a chaotic time. Plus, all of my friends and family visited once we were home and showered us in gifts and love.”
Elsie was born in October and everything went, for the most part, as planned.
“When my daughter was born her birth mom held her for a few minutes, and then handed her straight to me — it was the most surreal experience,” Lupean recalls. “She ended up having to stay in the hospital for about a week and then after that week, we went to court, and we had to do a hearing where they signed away their rights so that I was able to leave town with her and go back to Cleveland.”
Anyone who has had the joy of bringing home a newborn knows how trying those first few weeks can be. Doing it solo, with only about eight weeks to prepare, took a lot of strength and a lot of learning as you go, for Lupean.
“I'd say the first six weeks of her life were way more of a struggle than I thought they would be,” Lupean says. “I think it was a combination of dealing with the actual adop tion, but also, there's no one there to tag you out when you need it. You can't just run to the store. Every single diaper, every feeding, every everything is me.”
Lupean says she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I love that it's just me and her,” she adds. Looking back, Lupean says one thing she would have liked to have been more prepared for was the emotions and feelings that accompany adoption.
“I would say that one feeling I wasn't expecting to feel as a new adoptive parent was guilt,” she says. “I found myself feeling a lot of guilt. I am naturally a very empathetic person, but I found myself in these little moments of day-to-day life with a newborn feeling guilty that I was the one that was getting to experience this and that her mom wasn't. And it took me a long time to let go of that guilt to fully embrace that this is my child and I don't need to feel guilty for experiencing these things. When she would smile for the first time, that was something that always kind of lingered in my head. I think that had I been better prepared for all of the emotions that were going to happen once she was born, I would have been able to be more present.”
LUPEAN WAS IN THE DELIVERY ROOM FOR THE BIRTH OF HER DAUGHTER IN OCTOBER OF 2017. “WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN HER BIRTH MOM HELD HER FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN HANDED HER STRAIGHT TO ME — IT WAS THE MOST SURREAL EXPERIENCE,” LUPEAN RECALLS. PHOTOS COURTESY OF KAYLA LUPEANLupean chose an open adoption with Elsie’s birth parents and hasn’t shied away from telling Elsie about her adoption.
“I heard someone say that there is nothing shameful about the story of where you came from. It was really important to me, from very early on, to just be honest with Elsie,” she says. “Around 6 months old, I made her a book that included photos of her birth parents, from the hospital and coming home — a book of her birth story. So, she's known from as long as she could talk that she was in her birth mom's belly, and her birth mom wasn't ready to be a mommy so she picked me to be her mommy.”
In an open adoption, the biological and adoptive parents essentially agree to have some communication with each other, which could include sharing photos and life up dates, planning regular meetups and inviting birth parents and even extended biological family members to important milestone events. There’s not a “set in stone” way to have an open adoption, instead birth parents and adoptive parents can create something that works for their circumstances and preferences.
Lupean says she keeps a close relationship with Elsie’s biological maternal grandparents and has an open door for her daughter’s biological parents.
“I really dedicated the first three years of Elsie's life to keeping her birth parents as
involved as possible,” she says. “When Elsie was 6 months old we met at the Columbus Zoo. They came to her first birthday party. I texted photos and videos more than weekly and updates.”
Recently, communication has fallen off with the birth parents, which Lupean admits has been a difficult part of managing an open adoption. She says it’s important for people to know that there are some gray areas that come with it.
“People always ask me about my personal experience with open-ness and when I was researching open adoption, nobody seemed to be honest about it,” she says. “You either hear these stories of, 'we're so close that the birth mother babysits, for us,’ or it's ‘so closed we know nothing about her.' There's never this middle. I feel like the truth is what will help people, people who are even afraid of open adoptions. Open adoption is a relationship like any other in your life — it ebbs and flows. Sometimes you talk to your best friend every day for months and then life gets busy and things slow down before eventually picking back up again. Open adoption is a real human relationship that doesn’t have its own special rule book.”
Lupean says it’s all been part of her moth erhood journey and Elsie’s story.
“She was born with a whole family,” Lupean says. “And that is still her family. I believe that she is still her mom. I'm her mother. But I totally respect and accept that that is the reality of her situation – the truth of her story doesn’t take away from the family we have created.”
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at Its Best
Similar to the strong feelings Lupean experienced in 2017 about adopting, she had another compelling idea in 2020, which would benefit children in foster care.
“Christmas night of 2020 I put Elsie to bed and I was watching TV. I saw a suitcase on TV and I was like, I wonder if there's a dollhouse in a suitcase,” she says. “I Googled it, and I couldn’t find anything like what I had in my mind. And I'm like, is this a thing? Did I just have an idea?"
Lupean immediately started sketching her vision of a portable dollhouse.
She says foster care was the first thing that came to mind when she envisioned the case, since most of the time foster youth do not enter their first placement with any personal belongings. Something that kids could easily fold up and move from room to room.
“And play is the most important thing for a child,” she says. “It's how they process every thing happening in their life. And so it's really a great toy for them to process what's happen ing and to have this safe little play space that's theirs, when they first enter a home.”
Her brand, Play Maysie, was born, and within a few short months she was deep in the process of designing portable dollhouse cases.
The doll houses open on both sides, have interchangeable floors, come with magnetic accessories for easy clean-up and storage, and include a carrying strap so children can move around with it easily. By the Spring of 2021, her Kickstarter campaign raised about $30,000. She also won a $50,000 grant from Joanna Gaines to make her first round of inventory. She shipped her first batch of orders just before the holidays last year. Her goal is that a portion of all proceeds will go toward donating cases to youth entering foster care.
Earlier this year, Lupean also opened a Play Maysie storefront in The Arcade in downtown Cleveland and recently sent two trial run cases to youth who were placed in foster care.
While Lupean was successful with an unplanned private adoption, she says she’s very passionate about foster care and foster to adopt programs.
“I would highly encourage people that are looking to privately adopt to look into foster to adopt programs,” Lupean says. “I feel like everyone pushes towards private adoption and there's such a long waiting list, but there are real babies and kids that need love and a home.”
S. Arlington Street Akron
24-Hour Foster Care & Adoption Inquiry Line: 330-379-1990 summitkids.org
There are more than 800 children in the custody of Summit County Children Services. These children need a safe, loving, caring family due to con cerns of child abuse, neglect or depen dency. Nearly 40% of these children are placed with kinship families; however the remaining children need a foster home, and more importantly, a family. SCCS currently has about 170 foster homes and that is not enough to meet the need.
Ms. Jefferson has been a licensed foster to adopt parent for Summit County Children Services (SCCS) for over eleven years. Becoming a foster to adopt parent has been on her heart since she was a young girl watching the ‘Punky Brewster’ TV show. The show featured a young girl who did not have a family and was being raised by a foster parent. From that time, Ms. Jefferson knew in her heart that she wanted to become a foster parent one day and make a dif ference in the life of a child. Upon becoming a foster-to-adopt parent,
Ms. Jefferson has fostered nine chil dren and adopted three girls. Ms. Jefferson strives to make and main tain primary family connections for the children who enter her home. She recognizes the importance of fami ly bonds and has been successful in building relationships that encourage reunification or that provide ongoing connections for children after per manency has been achieved. She has made a difference in the lives of many children and has welcomed many new extended family members.
“I really love to work with Ms. Jefferson and her family. Ms. Jefferson continues to be committed to provide love and care for the children in her home and nurtures extended family relationships.”
— Ms. Christina Horner, SCCS Foster Home Coordinator
Be the Reason for Brighter Futures Become a Foster-to-Adopt Parent
Localstudents were recently fea tured on the covers of the four Northeast Ohio Parent Fall Education Guides. Ranging in grades preschool through senior year of high school, these kids (and their parents) share some of their favorite things about each grade, plus some advice for others.
Magnolia, 4,
Magnolia’s mom Holly Maldonado describes her as a 4-year-old who “has a kind, silly spirit with a big heart for those in her life.”
A typical preschool day begins with Magnolia “Noli” greeting her teachers and friends, a quick breakfast and then lots of fun activities.
“She gets right to work, working with learning materials,” Maldonado says. “Noli loves working independently and with her friends on puzzles, math and
language activities.
Every day after lunch Noli gets to play outside, nap and participate in special classes like art, music, computers and gym.”
A few of her favorite things to do are taking care of her baby dolls and making art projects.
Maldonado, who is an early child hood teacher, says her “biggest piece of advice for new preschool parents is to focus on getting your child independent
with self-care before they begin.”
“For example, zip ping their coat, opening their food, etc.” she says. “This will help them feel confident as they enter the classroom.”
Grace, 6,
Whether she’s raising butterflies in the classroom, looking forward to pizza day at lunch, playing with her friends at recess or going on nature walks with her class, Grace is embracing all things elemen tary school.
“She is very observant and curious and takes in everything like a human sponge,” says Grace’s mom Sunita Mathew.
“She loves to read too and was an early reader. She teaches me things already. Just the other day she was telling me how to distinguish between a female and male monarch butterfly (the males have spots).”
In addition to her regular day at school, Grace does some extracurricular activities like art, Bolly wood dance, and most recently the school musical.
Elementary-aged kids still need a lot of parental guidance and Sunita’s advice for parents is to make sure they have a voice.
“You know your child the best, so don’t be afraid to advocate for them,” Mathew says. “During these early formative years, it is important to address your child’s needs. Go at your child’s pace, so they don’t feel overwhelmed or over scheduled.”
Dwight is an “outgoing, silly, and fun” seventh grader, according to his mom, Tanya Hodges, and is involved with flag football and soccer as well as student council and the builders club at school.
His favorite subject in school is math and he is really enjoying tech class, where he recently had a chance to live broadcast school announcements.
“These video announcements tell the students news for the day like the weather, what’s for lunch, birthdays, teacher’s an nouncements, events going on afterschool,” Tanya Hodges says.
Middle school is the time where kids really start to grow their interests and hob bies. It’s also the time when school assign ments can become more challenging and learning to balance it all can be a struggle for parents and their tweens.
Tanya Hodges says there’s three things middle school parents should stay on top of — communication, time management, and organization.
“Your middle school student will be required to be more responsible,” she says. “Good communication with your student and your student communicating with his teachers keeps everything on the right path.
Tim management with Dwight is our key
to being suc cess ful with school
work and sports. Allowing time for Dwight to get all his school work done to being able to play outside with friends. It’s very crucial to his mental and physical success. Organi zations in school is very important. Teaching Dwight how to keep his school work orga nized keeps him on track. Knowing when things are due by using his school planner helps him.”
As a senior at Chardon High School, Heath bal ances school, sports, family and friends.
“He is in all AP classes so his schedule is rigorous,” Heath’s mom, Julie Fetchik, explains. “Any off time during the school day is spent on homework, then football or baseball, depending on the season.”
Her advice for high school parents is to stay involved and soak in the last few years
of having your child at home.
“It’s long days, but short years,” she says. “Make every moment count. Secondly, take advantage of programs and activities your school and community offer. There are so many programs/opportunities for every student to be part of something in high school.”
Heath says he enjoys the social aspect of school and his advice for incoming high schoolers to make the most of their experi ence.
“Finish your work ahead of schedule if you can,” he says. “Get involved and be social at school. The more you are involved, the better your experience will be.”
Being a teen has new responsibili ties and new challenges to tackle in the four years they are at high school. For parents, knowing how to help navigate your teen’s social, ac ademic, and mental needs is anything but easy. Natalie Borrell, a certified academic life coach and licensed school psychologist and founder of Life Success for Teens (lifesuccessforteens.com), provides tips on how to help your teen become the best version of themselves possible.
No one ever wants to feel like they are alone. A child needs the love and sup port from their parents, and when the time comes to ask “how are you doing,” make sure you listen rather than lecture. Knowing the warning signs of anxiety or depression within your teen can help determine the right kind of help your teen needs early on.
Borrell provides some helpful tips:
• Ask your child how their day has been and what they did today. Find time to ask this question while preparing dinner or watching TV, so it doesn’t feel like you are interrogating them.
• Tell them that you are here to listen and to make them feel comfortable. Try not to pry information out of your child; when they are ready to share, they will tell you how they’re feeling.
• When your child opens up to you, do not judge them or try to critique their actions. Say “I understand,” or “that sounds like a difficult situation. How can I help?”
• Be honest and open with your teen. Show them that you struggle with mental health too. Share ways that you overcome your mental health struggles.
• Try bonding by doing activities that release stress and anxiety. Try going on a walk with your child, going to yoga classes, or taking some time after dinner to sit down, listen to music, and journal. Be a part of their healing process.
“Adding in some type of self care as part of your daily routine is so important,” Borrell says. Parents can get involved in
that by modeling it themselves. Talk about it and model self care and talk about cop ing skills. It is all normal.”
If your child has difficulty maintaining relationships, struggles academically, no longer engages in leisure activities, has repetitive, self-destructive behaviors, withdraws from family, friends, and usual activities, has a change in sleep or appetite, and/or talks about self-harm or suicide, consult with a mental health professional.
“Have conversations about safety,” Borrell says. “We always feel like ‘noth ing can ever happen to us,’ but things can happen so quickly that it’s important to emphasize safety first. Be very open with your teen about how driving can be anxiety provoking and stressful but it also gives us this amazing feeling of independence and you can see more of the world. Tell them how wonderful of an experience it can be as long as we keep these safety rules.”
• Be supportive and encouraging. Teens will feel more confident behind the wheel if their parents are positive and encouraging.
• Be mindful of the wording you use. Teens are anxious behind the wheel. Tell them “we will turn left at the next intersec tion” rather than “turn left NOW.”
• Telling them where to go ahead of time will make the driving experience go smoothly.
• Tell your child to be aware of their surroundings. Always check your mirrors, your blind spot, and for other drivers around you. Lock your doors at all times and never roll the window down for strangers. Pay attention to ambulance/fire truck sirens and always use your turning signal.
• Make sure to correct behavior rather than scold your child.
“I think the first step is awareness of what the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression are versus what is just normal teenage moodiness,” Borrell says. “To know when to seek professional help, I would say you have to look for subtle warn ing signs. I don't want to put a number on it, but a persistent change in mood that's for a long period of time”
Beep, beep! Time to buy a “student driver” bumper sticker. As your child begins to learn how to drive, be sure to be patient with them. You were once a student driver, too.
If your child is speeding, rather than yelling at them to correct their speed, say “We always have to follow the speed limit for the safety of the driver, passengers, and people on the road. Did you check the speed limit?”
• Be a good example for your child. Follow good driving practices when driving with your child. Monkey see, monkey do.
• Try practicing how to drive during the day and when there’s good weather.
• Driving at night and during a thunder storm or snowstorm may be too difficult for a first-time driver.
Help to navigate teen's mental health to learning skills for adulthood.
“I think having a Discussion about family rules first. Give them all the information they need to hopefully make the right decision" Natalie Borrell, Life Success for Teens
• Begin practicing in large, empty spaces. Go to a large empty parking lot or drive around a cemetery. Starting off on a busy road or highway may make your teen anxious and not know what to do.
• Tell them it’s OK to fail. If they aren’t good at making turns, changing lanes, or braking properly, let them know that’s och. If they fail their driving test, let them know it’s OK. Practice makes perfect.
• Tell your child the dangers of drinking and driving and the dangers of getting in the car with someone who is driving under the influence.
Some friends/teammates/classmates may get their license before your teen. Let them know that is OK and to celebrate their friend’s success rather than look down upon the fact they don’t have their license yet.
“I see so much comparison,” Borrell says. “Comparison is real. It happens across the board. Please remember that what you're seeing is just the highlight reel of somebody else's life. Where somebody else is ahead of you, they're also far behind you in another area of their life. You just don't know about it. Everybody has a story, right?”
Out with the old and in with the new. As teens move away from middle school to high school, they may lose touch with old middle school friends or may find it diffi cult to find a friend group in high school.
“Find your people,” Borrell says. “So that can either be for the teenagers themselves or for parents to help facilitate that. Look for activities, clubs, sports organizations, that you are innately interested in If it’s not at school, then look in the community, maybe through your church."
Lots of teens download Bumble or Tinder or other dating apps. Be cautious of the dangers of dating apps. Some people are not really who they say they are. Lots of people lie about their age, their appearance, and their intentions
“My dating app safety tip is it's not safe,” Borrell says. “I don't approve of that at all. There are so many people misrepresenting themselves. I don't think teens have the emotional maturity to handle something like that. So I'm very anti dating app for teens.”
She advises teens to be careful dating in high school. Make sure your child is involved in a healthy relationship. Look out for red flags.
“A parent should always know who you're going out with face-to-face,” Borrell says. “It should not just be I'm going out with so and so and I'll see you later. It is a
need to absolutely know where you're going and what time you're going to come home. If I've met the person, I know where you're going, and you can tell me what time you're going to be home then that would be okay, but I think those three things are absolutely necessary.
“I think one of the most important things is to talk about and describe what a healthy relationship looks like and how it makes you feel,” Borrell says. “Teens don't necessarily realize that the type of relation ship they're in is not healthy."
Also, while in high school, teens may be pressured to do things they don’t want to do, such as drugs, drinking and/or sex. Talk to your kids about peer pressure and that they are never obligated to do some thing they don’t want to.
about who got the most points or kicks and who is the MVP. School and extracurricu lars should be fun, not a competition.
“Ask for help,” Borrell says. “Now, that is very difficult for teenagers. But if we can talk about the importance of advocating for yourself and asking for help when needed, I think that's the first step. The other thing that I recommend is having a conversation with your teenager, under the umbrella of who's on your team, meaning if you're struggling with math, who are the people that you can go to at school, who can you go to? So that you know if and when there is an issue in a specific class, you've already figured out who it is that you can go to.”
The ACT/SAT can be very stressful and Borrell advises not to compare scores.
“Prepare early,” Borrell says. “There’s a lot of smart kids who don't do well on those tests, because part of doing well on that test is understanding the format of that test, the timing, the types of questions that are asked and being well practiced in all of that. So not only are you being tested on the material, but you're also being tested on the ability to take that type of test. So that's why the preparation is so important. And the earlier that you can get started on that the less daunting of a task it will seem.”
“I think a lot of families have different expectations or rules about this behavior,” Borrell says. “I think having the discussion about family rules first, what the conse quences will be, and then also what some other additional consequences could be outside of the home, is important. Give them all the information they need to hopefully make the right decision.”
Academics and extracurricular activities are a huge part of high school.
“I do strongly feel that any type of sports or extracurricular activity that the pros outweigh the cons,” Borrell says. “That sense of being a part of a team, that sense of accomplishment and goal setting and working towards something.”
Teens shouldn’t have to compete with classmates about taking AP or honors classes or getting the best GPA. Likewise, teens shouldn’t compete with teammates
Most high schoolers get their first job around this age. Knowing how to answer questions in a job interview is uncharted territory and can be nerve-wracking Borrell says practice, practice, practice. Parents or friends can help teens conduct a pretend job interview to get them comfort able
“Such a simple question like ‘tell me about yourself’ in an interview seems very easy, right? It can be very difficult for a teen if they have not thought through that or maybe even scripted it out or done some bullet points in practice,” she says. “Also, make sure that they know all the basics about finding a job in terms of how you apply, how to fill out an application, what kinds of things to put on your resume, they might need to see some samples.”
She advises:
• Resumes can make or break whether you get a job or not. Have a teacher or some one in career services take a look at their resume and tweak it.
• Make sure your child knows what to wear during their job interview and when they actually begin work.
• Balancing a social life, work life and ac ademic life can be tricky. No one ever said
“One Of the Most Important Things
Is To Talk about and Describe what a Healthy relationship Looks like and How it makes you feel. " Natalie Borrell, Life Success for Teens
it would be easy; take it one day at a time. “Time management is a huge issue for adults too, but also for teens,” Borrell says. “I think one of the best ways to look at that is to really figure out some ways to manage your time efficiently.”
COLLEGE WORRIESCollege applications, the Common App Essay, FAFSA — all are a stress inducer. They can get a head start on college plans to relieve any potential headaches.
“The amount of support that a teenager is going to get with their college application process at school is going to vary greatly,” Borrell says. “So in some schools, they get a lot of support and hand holding through the process. But for other teenagers, they're not going to have that type of support. And so I think knowing the overall timeline of the college application process is import ant.”
She advises to have them start planning early.
Tour schools your junior year of high school. Decide what school best fits their mental, academic, spiritual, and social needs. Have them talk to a college counsel or at school. See what options are available. They can start sending out their academic
transcript and ACT/SAT scores. Also, make sure to discuss financial aid options with the college.
“So I think (teens) really need to do some assessments,” Borrell says. “So either like personality assessments, which (they) can do online. There's also career assessments that can kind of guide (them) towards a specific career cluster. (They) may even discover some careers you didn't know existed.”
“Please let your teen know that there are going to be bumps in the road,” she adds. “They're going to have days where they're moody, they're going to have times when they get in trouble. But if you can have this underlying unconditional love, I think that is so important. Let them know that there might be consequences to bad behavior, but that you will always love them and support them. I think that needs to be the tone of all conversations.”
Effective study tips can help children learn the skills and confidence they need in the classroom and beyond.
Kaleb Curry, student success manager at Cuyahoga County Public Library says there are several things that contribute to a student’s success when it comes to studying and prepar ing for a test.
“When looking for ways to help your child during testing, the first consideration should always be their mental state,” Curry says.
“Testing can be a high stakes experience, so parents will want to work with their children on managing stress and focus. This can include calming techniques and systems for keeping themselves on track.”
A classic example to help with both is closing your eyes and taking three deep breaths to reorient. Students that have not considered or practiced these skills may find themselves overwhelmed by the very concept of the test, rather than the information tested within.
Make sure the child understands the impor tance of what they are doing as well. A sense of purpose builds motivation, Curry adds.
“Parents can also consider the format of the test, he says.“Try and find ways to help your child become comfortable with the various formats they may take the test in.”
Carmela Cira, a math teacher at Beachwood High School says taking good notes in class,
• Schedule and Pace: Teachers warn kids about big tests for a reason. Scheduling and pacing your kid’s study lowers their mental strain and promotes retention of the information long past the test. Having them take short breaks as they study fur ther lowers that mental burden and keeps their brain primed for learning.
• Gamify Learning: When studying with your child you can take steps to gamify as well, such as turning it into a friendly com petition or making it a family affair. For students that are studying solo, it can be about practicing the material in interest ing ways such as speeches, drawings, or even jokes: whatever helps them practice while also keeping them entertained.
• Test in Multiple Ways: The problem with preparing too specific an answer is that kids freeze when presented the same question in a different way. So, while something like memorizing a flash card may be a good start, it is rarely enough. Have them practice speaking and writing about the subject. Challenge them to teach someone else about the topic. The further they push themselves, the more prepared they are for the unexpected.
When it comes to some of the practical things students can do to improve their studies, Kaleb Curry, student success manager at Cuyahoga County Public Library offers these tips:
Tests can be stressful with each grade level, here are some ways to help them prepare.
asking for clarification when they don’t under stand something, doing homework on time and correcting it are simple things students can do to prepare for a test without doing extra studying.
To study, she says, it’s important to create good study habits and be consistent.
“Some students may have test anxiety and have a hard time keeping calm and confident when they receive the test,” she says. “Some students worry too much about what others in the room are doing like how much they’re writing or calculating or how quickly they’ve turned a test in. Some students may get stuck on a question, and rather than moving on, they spend too much time trying to figure that one question out, rather than moving on to questions they can answer.”
She says parents can be aware of upcom ing tests and check in with their child on how their studying is going and hold them accountable. They can also help by quizzing their child or helping them find practice prob lems to work on. There are so many resources online to help students practice and parents can help them find a few.
“Make sure there is an emphasis on school,” Cira says. “So many students work, play sports, play instruments and are involved in a lot of activities, but students need to remember that they are students first. School and learn ing need to be a priority. Parents can keep an eye on grades and the amount of schoolwork that their children are doing and check in to make sure that their children are keeping up and getting any resources or help they may need, especially if something seems to be hindering their learning.”
Try to find fun ways to study that are more interactive, rather than simply sitting down and working through problems or reading notes, she adds. Other things parents can do are to use extrinsic rewards for studying and good grades, or reach out to teachers to ask
them for tips or additional resources to help.
Alise Kulbago, a seventh-grade science teacher at Beachwood Middle School says paying attention to detail and preparing for day-to-day lessons and activities are also key.
Students who succeed continuously stay on top of the content and are prepared for the daily work.
“For me, what I’ve seen in my class, specifi cally with a student that does well, is one that has been doing the work, participating, and being involved in classroom discussions, rather than someone who tries to do a quick-review guide at the end of the unit, and attempts to pass a test,” Kulbago says.
Annisha Jeffries, manager of the youth ser vices department at Cleveland Public Library agrees that children can build effective study habits through practice and consistency.
“A set routine can help students build ef fective study habits; for example, setting aside an allotted time each day to do homework or study with breaks in between,” Jeffries says “I think all test-taking strategies can be beneficial depending on the type of learner. Everyone learns and reacts differently to tests, so what doesn’t work well for one person may work well for someone else.”
For example, some students are more visual learners and do better with hands-on experience while others do well with written examples. Some may find tools such as flash cards helpful while others may do better with mnemonics such as acronyms or poems or fun songs, she says.
When it comes to test taking for your kids, she offers these tips: Read each question carefully; if it is a timed test with multiple questions, complete all the questions first and then go back and double check your work and if you are struggling to answer a question, skip it and go on to the next question so you are not
wasting time on a question you don’t know the answer to. If there is time at the end, you can go back and try to answer the ones you weren’t sure of.
Jeffries says another way parents can support their child’s learning at home is by creating a space that is dedicated to learning,
“For example, a space that has a desk and chair where students could comfortably do their work,” she says.” Sometimes adding extra colorful pieces of furniture or alternative seating such as bean bag chairs may make their learning space feel more inviting and less stress inducing. It may help to remove distractions from this learning zone such as phones and tablets unless they are actively being used in an educational manner or the students are taking a break. This space could also be a family learning zone; for example, a space where family members read together or work on math skills together. By learning and working together, education becomes a family affair, as opposed to a solitary event which can be uninviting to some.”
Also, parents will often receive communi cation from a child’s teachers. They can also take the initiative to find out what a student is learning about. Another push is when a teach er assigns homework, parents can encourage their children to do the homework.
“Habits don’t get created overnight; with a consistent emphasis of schooling outside of the classroom, even students who aren’t motivated will find it easier and easier to stay caught up in school and perform better on assessments,” Cira says. “Once students feel pride in their grades and feel stress relief, because they are not missing assignments, they tend to contin ue with those good habits and their grades and confidence will improve.”
✔ Be as organized as possible can help. If a student has many classes with different assignments or projects, it may be hard to keep track of homework.
✔ Have them use a planner or even write down lists of assignments and due dates for classes. This can help a student keep on track, because they can see when something is due and how long they have to get it done.
✔ Sometimes making daily goals can help students stay on track if they have a long-term project they are working on; for example, a student can try and work 20 to 30 minutes a day on a project that takes a few weeks to complete instead of trying to get it all done in a day or two.
Jeffries says there are several hands-on things students can do to improve their studies. Here are a few examples:
A better way to find quality pub lic school options in Cleveland. Cleveland Transformation Alliance (CTA) is a reliable and trusted community partner providing families with tools and resources to help them make informed school choice decisions. Work with a CTA navigator today to create a personalized plan and find the best fit school for your family. mycleschool.org
Are you looking for a high school that offers the FLEXibility you need? FLEX High School provides a path to graduation that is flexible, personal, unique, and completely free. They focus on providing a safe educational environment, so that you may focus on your goal of obtaining a high school diploma. The students love the quiet, one-on-one attention they receive from their teacher mentors. Enroll anytime 216-310-9750, flexhigh.org
Hawken School offers two high school options: the Upper School in Gates Mills and the Mastery School of Hawken in University Circle. The Upper School guides students to embrace the intrinsic value of learning by providing opportunities for student inquiry, analysis, agency, experimentation, and leadership. The Mastery School immerses students in real-world problem solving with a focus on personalized, project-based learning and an assessment model that leads students to learn deeply and persist to mastery. hawken.edu
Laurel School is a nationally recognized independent day school for girls, Kindergarten-Grade 12, with a co-ed Early Childhood School. Laurel has two campuses, the 11-acre Lyman Campus is in Shaker Heights and the 150-acre Butler Campus is in Russell Township. The Butler Campus is home to competitive athletics, full-time outdoor learning, and the new Environmental Justice Semester for 10th and 11th Grade girls launching in Fall 2023! Learn more about Laurel at LaurelSchool.org.
Magnificat High School is a girls' Catholic, col lege-preparatory high school that prepares young women to learn, lead, and serve in the spirit of Mary’s Magnificat. Students with diverse backgrounds and aspirations are given the tools to reach their academic goals as well as the flexibility to discover new interests and talents. Hands-on learning, service, faith formation, and leadership opportunities enrich the educational experience, along with engaging advanced electives, myriad clubs, and competitive athletics. magnificaths.org
When you become a student at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School, you become a member of a family where everyone knows you. It is a place where you can grow in your faith, be challenged academically, follow your passions, and create high school memories and friend ships that will last a lifetime. Come feel the family atmosphere for yourself by visiting VASJ. Schedule a tour or set up a shadow day at vasj.com/admissions.
Find spots for year-round family fun in our online directories.
Go to NortheastOhioParent.com for summer, fall and winter fun!
The 15th Annual Stop the Hate: ® Youth Speak Out essay contest and Youth Sing Out song writing contest cele brates students committed to creating a more accepting, inclusive society. Each year, through the generosity of a donor, the Maltz Museum awards $100,000 in scholarships and anti-bias education grants in recognition of 6–12th grade upstanders. Will you or your school be the next winner?
Learn more on our new Stop the Hate Learning Portal plus access free anti-bias education tools
Take a Stop the Hate Digital Tour with optional activities
To learn more about the Stop the Hate program please visit learn.maltzmuseum.org
Book a Classroom Workshop with Roots of American Music (songwriting) or Lake Erie Ink (essay writing)
Enter the Stop the Hate contest as a class (Youth Sing Out) or as an individual (Youth Speak Out)
By Denise Koeth
This month, it’s all about turkeys as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families. But the bountiful birds are good for more than just your holiday meal — they also can be the subject of fun for many family-friendly activities.
Everyone loves a good “dad joke,” right? This time, all members of the family can play the comedian with these Thanksgiving-themed one-liners.
A: Because he was already stuffed.
A: “Wing, wing, wing.”
A: She took the gravy train.
A: It got ejected for fowl play!
A: They saw the turkey dressing!
Even the adults will get a kick out of this lively game. Divide your friends and family members into two or more teams. Each team needs a turkey baster and a lightweight object like a craft feather, ping pong ball or craft pom pom. Designate a starting point and finish line, then have a person from each team squeeze the baster to make the puffs of air move the object across the line and back to the start. Pass the baster to the next person until each teammate has completed a lap. The first team to have all of its players complete a turn wins.
If you don’t mind the extra mess, this game is guaranteed to get the whole family laughing. All you’ll need is pie tins, candy corn and candy pumpkins, and plenty of whipped cream. For each person playing, line up three pie tins. Place three candy corn pieces and three candy pumpkins in the center tin, then cover them with whipped cream (leave the other two tins empty). Using their mouth only, the player must find and sort the candies, placing candy corn in the left tin and candy pumpkins in the right tin. For a friendly competition, every one can try at the same time, or you can time each participant and declare the winner as the person with the fastest time.
Guests young and old can take turns sharing their gratitude with this colorful game. Fill a dish with multi-colored candy (M&Ms, Skittles, Runts, etc.) and have everyone grab a few pieces. Determine a different gratitude question for each color, then everyone can take turns answering questions based on the color of candies in their hand. For example:
• Red candy — Share a memory you are grateful for.
• Orange candy — Name a person you are grateful for.
• Yellow candy — Talk about a skill you are grateful for.
• Green Candy — Tell about a place you are grateful for.
• Purple candy — Name an experience you are grateful for.
Q: Why did the sweet potatoes get so embarrassed?
HELP
Q: How did the turkey get home for Thanksgiving?
Q: What happened when the turkey played football?
Q: What sound does a turkey’s phone make?
Q: Why didn’t the turkey eat any food?
Put those holiday leftovers to good use with these delicious, savory muffins that are a meal all by themselves (recipe courtesy of Fresh Fork Market, freshforkmarket.com).
1 medium bulb kohlrabi (1.5-2 cups shredded)
2 carrots (1.5 cups shredded)
1 small onion, grated or finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 cup leftover roasted turkey
1/3 cup chopped dried cranberries
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 eggs
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 cup rolled oats
1¼ cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Peel off and discard the thick, outer layer of the kohlrabi. Using a box grater or a food processor fitted with a grating blade, finely grate the kohlrabi and the carrots.
Add grated kohlrabi, grated carrots, minced or grated onion, parsley, turkey and cranberries to a large bowl. Crack in the eggs on one side and drizzle in the maple syrup.
In another bowl, add all the dry ingredients: salt, pepper, thyme, garlic powder, rolled oats, flour and baking powder. Mix together, and then add to the large bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
Mix well, making sure no flour rests behind on the bottom. It will be really lumpy, but you’ll start to no tice some liquid releasing from the vegetables as you mix.
Grease or butter a muffin tin and then pack in the filling in each cavity (you can overstuff, as the muf fins won’t rise. Bake for 35-40 minutes until lightly browned and crispy on top.
Let cool for 10 minutes, then slip out onto a cooling rack. Serve with some warmed up leftover gravy for dipping.
Keep the occupants of the kids’ table entertained this year by creating these fun, simple puppets before the big meal. With just a few basic craft supplies, kids can let their creativity loose (courtesy of My Nourished Home, mynourishedhome.com).
Colored craft paper
Pencil
Scissors
Craft glue
Craft feathers
Googly eyes
Popsicle or craft sticks
Select colored craft papers for the turkey parts. Create your own body shape, or trace and cut out the patterns from the online template.
Attach the wattle on the head part of the turkey body. Cut out and attach the legs on the bottom side.
Attach the beak on the top side of the wattle (overlap the top end of the wattle a little). Also attach the googly eyes.
Flip the paper turkey to its wrong side. Glue colored craft feathers on the back side of the turkey, making sure they are visible from the front side. Mix and match different col ored craft feathers to make a fun pattern.
Attach the wing cutouts on both sides of the turkey’s body.
Finally, attach the paper turkey to a popsicle stick.
Marketplace Holiday Gala. Let the festivities begin at The Mar ketplace’s annual Holiday Gala. Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, gervasivineyard.com
Fairlawn Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. Get a jump start on holiday shopping. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. St. George’s Fellowship Centre, 3204 Ridgewood Rd., Fairlawn, agshows.com
Christkindl Markt. A juried fine arts and crafts show with a holi day theme. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Canton Cultural Center for the Arts, 1001 Market Ave. N., cantonart.org/christkindl
Holiday Toy Drive for Children in Foster Care. Accepting new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages and gift cards for their older children. 9 a.m.-noon.
232 Northland Dr., Medina, laynefosteradopt @gmail.com, mcjfs.us
Nature Art Fest. Find one-ofa-kind, nature-inspired pieces for everyone on your holiday gift list. Oenslager Nature Center, 6100 Ridge Road, Sharon Township, medinacountyparks.com
Santa Visits Lehman's! Bring the little ones to meet Santa. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Lehman’s, 4779 Kidron Rd., Dalton, lehmans.com
41st Annual Holiday Tree Festival. More than 200 decorated trees, 85,000 strings of lights and countless other creations. John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill Street, Akron, akronchildrens.org/treefestival
Santa Parade. Live entertainment, vendors and exhibitors, face painting, and more. 5:30-7 p.m. Great Northern Mall, 4954 Great Northern Mall, North Olmsted, greatnorthernohio.com
Medina Candlelight Walk. Shops and restaurants of the nine-block Medina historic district will be open later to welcome local resi dents and visiting guests. Medina Public Square, mainstreetmedina.com
Tree Lighting Ceremony. Crocker Park will welcome back the 50foot Christmas tree with its annual tree-lighting ceremony. 7 p.m. 89 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, crockerpark.com
Holiday Marketplace. Hand crafted art, pottery and other handmade specialties. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Fine Arts Association, 38660 Mentor Avenue, Willoughby, fineartsassociation.org
Cleveland Botanical Garden Holiday Show. The indoor and outdoor gardens will pay a festive holiday homage to the beautiful blocks that knit neighborhoods, people and plants together. 11030 East Blvd., cbgarden.org
Magic of Lights. Family-friendly drive-through of holiday lights. Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 19201 E. Bagley Rd., Middleburg Hts., magicoflights.com, cuyfair.com
FEATURED TREE FARMS
Hot cocoa, wagon rides, and farm fresh trees await your arrival at Pioneer Trails Tree Farm. Serving Ohio and Western Pennsylvania for over 30 years, the Perdulla family welcomes your family this holiday season. The farm is open November 25 through December 22 and tractor drawn wagon rides are available daily. They are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and noon to 6 p.m. during the week. 4222 Center Road, Poland, pioneertrailstreefarm.com
Families and friends have been making memories at Sugar Pines Farm for over 40 years. Explore dozens of acres of cut-your-own Christmas trees; shop for fresh pre-cut trees and holiday green ery in our cozy barn; take a ride on our tractor-drawn hay wagon; and enjoy hot chocolate and kettle corn by our roaring fire. Beautiful Sugar Pines Farm in Geauga County is the place to be for continuing long-time holiday traditions or starting new ones. 9500 Mulberry Road, Chesterland, sugarpinesfarm.com
Pre-cut & cut your own Christmas trees at Heritage Farms. Christmas Tree sales begin November 19 for you to select the perfect tree for your holidays. You’ll find holiday roping, wreathes, swags and more in their Tree Barn. Then warm up by the sandstone fireplace with hot chocolate and cookies from the coffee corner. Open Friday, Saturday and Sun day 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday 12 to 7 p.m. Heritage Farms, 6050 Riverview Rd., Peninsula, your farm for all seasons, heritagefarms.com
Elf The Musical. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole and raised by elves. Weathervane Playhouse, 1301 Weathervane Lane, Akron, weathervaneplayhouse.com
Holiday Lights Cruise-Thru. Drive-th ru family event featuring classic lighted features. Carlisle Equestrian Ctr., 13630 Diagonal Road, Lagrange, loraincountymetroparks.com
Nature’s A-Glow. The beautiful botanical garden turns it into a winter wonderland . Friday-Sunday. 5-9 p.m. Beech Creek Botanical Garden, 11929 Beech St. NE, Alliance, beechcreekgardens.org
Deck the Hall 2022: Lights, Camera, Christmas! Come see the estate illu minated with over one million lights. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org
Wild Lights. Enjoy the wildest lighting display this holiday season. 5-9 p.m. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org
Ballet Theatre of Ohio presents “The Nutcracker.” This classic has become a treasured holiday tradition for families of all ages. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., akroncivic.com
Christmas on the Farm. Photos with Santa, Candy Cane Forest, animals and more. Nickajack Farms, 2955 Manchester Ave., Canal Fulton, nicka jackfarms.com
Country Lights Drive-Thru. Enjoy the festivities from the warmth of your own vehicles. 6-8:30 p.m. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, lakemetroparks.com
Christmas Lighting of the Square. Colorful lights, live mu sic and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. 6:30-8 p.m. Chardon Square, chardonsquareassociation.org
The Polar Express at the Canton Palace Theatre. Fam ily movie on Canton’s largest screen. 7 p.m. 605 Market Ave. North, Canton, cantonpalacetheatre.org
Elf the Musical. This hilarious big-elf-living-in-a-small world comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity in a holiday bedazzled New York City. Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, beckcenter.org
Light Up Lakewood. The most joyous of Lakewood traditions is returning to Downtown Lake wood for the 16th annual cel ebration. 4-8 p.m. 14701 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, lakewoodalive.com
Light it Up! A celebration of family, friends, community, and
each person’s ability to make every day brighter. Allen The atre, 1407 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, clevelandplayhouse.com
Hudson Holiday Walk. Join the Merchants of Hudson as they welcome shoppers and diners with activities for the entire family. Noon-5 p.m. firstandmainhudson.com
A Drummer Boy Christmas. The most elaborate, meaningful, joy-filled and rhythmic tour of the year. 7-10 p.m. Rocket Mort gage FieldHouse, 1 Center Court, Cleveland, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com
Holiday Happiness: A Multi cultural Celebration. Explore the universal message of joy and peace across all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds. 1:30 p.m. Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, maltzmuseum.org
Scuba Claus Meet & Greet. Talk to the magical man in red while he’s underwater with sharks, stingrays, eels and angelfish on his “nice list. Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, greaterclevelandaquarium.com
The Nutcracker. This magical production of the Cleveland Ballet promises to enchant and inspire all audiences. Connor Palace at Playhouse Square, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, playhousesquare.org
Thanks and Giving Family Program. A program to cele brate thankfulness. 6:30-7:15 p.m. North Olmsted Branch Library, 27403 Lorain Road, cuyahogalibrary.org
Silly Turkey Tee. Learn how to make a silly turkey t-shirt using the Cricut maker and heat press. Ages 5-8.The HUB at Mentor High School, 6477 Center St., Mentor, mentorpl.org
Take-and-Make Thanks giving Craft. Make paper pumpkins and Thanksgiving turkey crafts. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sterling Branch Library, 2200 E 30th St, Cleveland, cpl.org
Talkin’ Turkey. Learn all about these interesting birds through a variety of wild turkey activities. Noon-5 p.m. Susan Hambley Nature Center, 1473 Parschen Rd, Brunswick, medinacountyparks.com
Turkey Roll on Ice. Put to gether turkeys, cranberries, an ice rink and a team of four friends together. 7 p.m. Mentor Civic Ice Arena, 8600 Munson Road, cityofmentor.com
Harvest and History Dinner. First-person living history presentations and interac tive experiences. Hale Farm & Village, 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath, wrhs.org
Yoga for Thanks and Har vest. Learn techniques to find balance in your life’s bounty. 6:30-7:30, North Ridgeville Branch, 35700 Bainbridge Road, lorainpubliclibrary.org
Origins of Thanksgiving. Learn about the origins of Thanksgiving with a quick history lesson and informa tion from indigenous peoples. 10 a.m.-noon, Splash Zone, 95 West Hamilton Road, Oberlin, loraincountymetroparks.com
Turkey Trot. A Thanksgiving morning tradition for the entire family. 8:45 a.m. Public Hall, 500 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland, turkeytrotcleveland.com
Hike Your Turkey Off. A steadypaced, calorie-burning eightmile hike. 9 a.m.-noon. The West Woods, 9465 Kinsman Rd, Novelty, geaugaparkdistrict.org
Stride Mobility, a custom rehab wheelchair and DME company, specializes in personalized seating and wheelchairs for all age groups throughout Ohio and surrounding states. We provide assistive technology to all ages with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s, ALS, Huntington’s, and neurologic and spinal injuries. From children to octogenarians, Stride Mobility delivers customized wheelchairs, strollers, and scooters to the individual’s home or residence, along with education and service. 2455 Sawmill Parkway, Huron Stridemobility.net • 419.616.6017
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Self-guided Storybook Trail: Time to Sleep. Enjoy exercise and fresh air while following a self-guided story trail based on the book, "Time to Sleep." Twinsburg Ledges Area & Nature Center. summitmetroparks.org
Nature Baby. Stories, activities and a hike. Ages 2 and under w/ adult. 10-11 a.m. Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy., North Olmsted, clevelandmetroparks.com
Forest Friends Scavenger Hunt. Indoor and outdoor fun for the whole family. 1-3 p.m. The West Woods, 9465 Kinsman Road, Russell, geaugaparkdistrict.org
Family FUNday. Family-friendly games, movement-based activi ties, art, and more. First Sunday of the month. 1-4 p.m. Community Arts Center, West 25th St., Cleveland, clevelandart.org
Mentor Marsh Family Hike. Come explore the forest. 2-3:30 p.m. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, The Carol H. Sweet Nature Center, 5185 Corduroy Road, Men tor, cmnh.org
Sing and Swing: Rhythm Kids. Drumming, games, rhythm patterns and singing for ages 4-8. Through 11/14. 4-4:45 p.m. The Music Settlement, 2610 Detroit Ave., Ohio City, themusicsettlement.org
Funday Group. Designed to help 8-11 year olds manage their social skills. Times vary. The Center for LifeSkills, 6325 Cochran Road, Solon, center4lifeskills.com
Creative Clay. Create works in clay inspired by the holiday sea son and beauty of winter. 11/2912/13. 4:30-6 p.m. Bay Arts, 28795 Lake Road, Bay Village, bayarts.net
After School Teen Program. A place to decompress, have a meal and play some games. 2:45-5 p.m. That Place for Teens, 1480 Pearl Road, Brunswick, thatplace4teens.com
HomeSchool Skate. Exciting and beneficial form of recreation for home school children. THROUGH 12/16. 10:30 a.m.-Noon. Mentor Ice Area, 8600 Munson Road, mentoricearena.com
Friday Night Lights. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will keep the lights on until 8 p.m. with special programming. 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, cmnh.org
The Great Leap. An American college basketball team travels from San Francisco to Beijing for a “friendship game” against a Chi nese squad. Cleveland Play House, Outcalt Theatre, clevelandplayhouse.com
Trekking Through Autumn. Get out and explore the Medina County Parks through this self-guided hiking program. First-year hikers earn a backpack; veteran hikers earn a pin. medinacountyparks.com
59th Annual Fall Hiking Spree. Get out and explore; complete at least eight designated hikes to earn hiking staff (first year hikers) and shield. Summitmetroparks.org
Wild Hikes Challenge. Walk, hike, skip, jog, run or stroll on eight des ignated trails before Dec. 31 to earn a hiking staff (first year) and/or a 2021 Wild Hikes medallion.
portgageparkdistrict.org
Financial Literacy for Teens. Learn about budgeting, setting financial goals and more. 2-3 p.m. Kirtland Public Library, 9267 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, kirtland.lib.oh.us
Voice. Sing along to your favorite track in our sound booth and make a recording. 4-6 p.m. Lee Road Branch Library, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Hts., heightslibrary.org
Fall Art Exploration. Make some nature-inspired seasonal art. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Carnegie West Branch Library, 1900 Fulton Road, Cleveland,cpl.org
Goal Setting & Good Study Skills. Sylvan Learning Center will teach students goal setting and study habits. 4 p.m. Aurora Memorial Library, 115 E. Pioneer Trail, portagecounty.lib.oh.us
Read with a Ranger. Go wild for storytime with a ranger from Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Tower City Center, 230 W. Huron Road, Cleveland, Noon-3 p.m. towercitycenter.com
Illustration Creation. Learn about a featured illustrator and then create a project inspired by their art. Grades 1-3. 3 p.m. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, westlakelibrary.org
Paleontology “Fun-01”. Play trivia, analyze real fossils, and more for kids who love dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. 1-2 p.m. Fairlawn-Bath Branch Library, 3101 Smith Road, Akron, akronlibrary.org
Family Portrait Day. Sign up for a free digital family portrait session. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Brunswick Library, 3649 Center Road, mcdl.info
Financial Literacy for Ages 5-12. Learning program for children and their parents. 6:30 p.m. Willoughby Public Library, 30 Public Square, we247.org
Chemistry Science for Preschoolers. Learn basic chemistry through hands-on activities. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Avon Branch Library, 37485 Harvest Drive, lorainpubliclibrary.org
Date Night: Sip and Paint. Enjoy a drink with your date while you create a work of art together.
6-7:30 p.m. Tam O’Shanter Park, 5055 Hills and Dales Road, Canton, starkparks.com
Family Day: Mess Makers. Children and caregivers explore creativity. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., akronartmuseum.org
Teen Mystery Night. Ages 12 and up participate in this interactive mystery party and solve the crime. Noon-5 p.m. Twinsburg Public Library, 10050 Ravenna Road, twinsburglibrary.org
Owl Prowl. Join a naturalist for an evening hike in search of owls. 7-8:30 p.m. Silver Creek
Pheasant Run, 5000 Hametown Road, Norton, summitmetroparks.org
Pushing Up the Sky. Join Kulture Kids’ Robin Pease, a Mohawk descendant, to “become” the ani mals, speak native language. 1:30 p.m. Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, maltzmuseum.org
Forest Friends Scavenger Hunt. Indoor and outdoor fun for the whole family. 1-3 p.m. The West Woods, 9465 Kinsman Road, Russell, geaugaparkdistrict.org
Explore Winterland at the Cleveland Public Library. Free family activities, music and more. 325 Superior Ave., Cleveland, cpl.org
Wee Science Sampler. Step inside a giant dinosaur footprint as you learn about these ancient reptiles. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., alpl.org
Youth Biz Academy. Interactive workshop for kid and teen entre preneurs to be. 4:30 p.m. Memorial Nottingham Library, 17109 Lake Shore Blvd., Cleveland, cpl.org
A Bug’s Life. The story of an ant, Flick, who is looking for warriors to save his colony. 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. French Creek Theatre, 4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village, loraincountymetroparks.com
ONGOING
Legends of the Wild. How did the jaguar get its spots? How does the Andean condor carry the sun into the sky? Learn the answers to the legends of these animals and more. 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org
State of the Art: Constructs. An exploration into how contempo rary art-produced all across the country and in regions outside traditional art centers-reflects the present moment. 1 S. High St., akronartmuseum.org
AKRON FOSSILS & SCIENCE CENTER ONGOING Creation Education Museum. Comparing and contrasting scientific models like evolu tion and intelligent design on the origin of the universe, and catastrophism and uniformitar ianism models on the geologic record. 2080 S. Cleveland-Mas sillon Road, Copley, akronfossils.com
ONGOING Adventure City. This multi-lev el environment, consisting of cozy corners and tall overlooks, encourages pretend play and limitless imagination. 3813 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, cmccleveland.org
Costa Rica Glasshouse. Experience the year-round exuberance you can find only in a Central American rainforest with towering trees, ev er-blooming shrubs, and more. 11030 East Blvd., University Circle, cbgarden.org
CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO ONGOING Australian Adventure. Visit koalas year-round at Gumleaf Hideout. See kangaroos and wallabies in Wallaby Walkabout, and visit Kookaburra Station for up-close animal encounters. 3900 Wildlife Way, futureforwildlife.org
Text and Image of Southern Asia. A collection of illuminated Buddhist and Jain manuscript pages, many of which were identified and dated by Phyllis Granoff, Lex Hixon Professor Emerita of World Religions at Yale University. 1150 East Blvd., clevelandart.org
Curious George: “Let’s Get Curious” and “Run!” Jump Fly! Adventures in Action”. A unique pair of hands-on special exhibitions.601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, greatscience.com
Shark Gallery & Sea Tube. With 230,000 gallons of water, this impressive space features three species of sharks, stingrays, eels and many other species of fish. 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, greaterclevelandaquarium.com
Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower. A 500-foot-long elevated walk way that’s 65 feet above the forest floor and a tower 12 sto ries tall provide a breathtaking view. 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, holdenarb.org
This Light of Ours. Features works by nine activist photog raphers who documented the clash between institutionalized discrimination and determined resistance by activists and vol unteers. 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, maltzmuseum.org
Entertaining: You’re Invited. Showcasing how the estate was used as an event space, with a deep dive into the types of par ties and events that were held there, and who attended. 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org
Do you provide care to someone else? A child, teen, young adult or grandchild? Maybe you’re also caring for a parent, grandparent, friend, neighbor or colleague? Then you’re a caregiver. Did you know that the stress of caregiving can take ten years off of a caregiver’s life? Finding healthy coping strategies and techniques to reduce stress can ultimately prevent caregiver burnout and help caregivers reclaim those ten years.
Caregivers are no strangers to stress. Understanding what causes stress, what it looks and feels like for you, and learning ways to cope with stress can help you to manage the stress of daily life and the stress of caregiving.
Understanding what causes you stress is an important first step to better coping and managing your stress.
Kristi Horner is the Executive Director at Courage to Caregivers, a nonprofit with the mission to provide hope, support, and courage to caregivers and loved ones of those living with mental illness. For more tips, a Self-Care Plan template, and information about their free Caring for the Caregivers Virtual Summit Nov. 16 and 17 or visit couragetocaregivers.org.
By Kristi Horner
CONNECTION — When we stay socially connected, with friends, family, colleagues, or a support group we start to normalize what caregiving looks and feels like. We are better able to reframe stressors as opportunities for growth.
STRENGTHS — Make a list of all your strengths to remind yourself that you are strong. You can tackle just about anything when you leverage your strengths.
GRATITUDE — Start a gratitude journal. While things seem hard today, there’s always something to be grateful for.
GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD— Self-talk - regrets - lost expectations fill our thoughts. Take the first step to get out of your head and into your body - movement of any kind. Your body is always in the present.
MAKE A PLAN — When you can plan on your good days - you’ll always be prepared for the bad days. What brings you joy? What’s your self-care plan to counter the stress of caregiving?
We can’t remove the stress of caregiving. Stress is a part of life, but doesn’t have to knock us flat. We do have tools to cope and manage the stress of caregiving — we just need to remember to use them.
Understanding stress & creating a self-care plan
I've only been out of the country a few times in my life — England, Italy, France, and can't for get Canada — and I'm so thankful that I was able to do that and see a little bit of the world. Even though those countries aren't drastically different, I still learned so much about the differ ences in cultures from other countries when I was there. I vowed after coming home to the states that I would take both my girls back someday so they too could see for themselves how others live around the world.
Well, that hasn't happened yet, but recently we had the opportunity to welcome two young ladies into our home from Capetown, South Africa. They came to visit our church to perform over the weekend and we offered to be one of the host families for them.
My daughter (now 11), had the opportunity to talk and learn about South African cultures, differences in languages, and it really opened all of our hearts and minds. We learned that most of the kids in this area of South Africa are in poverty and do not have access to things like an indoor shower. It reminds you that sometimes we can live in a bubble and it's important to know and realize that many others live differently around the world. They also taught us some of their language “Xhosa” which includes a dialect with clicks —it was so beautiful.
I know this was a unique experience for my family, but it truly made me think of different ways to introduce different cultures to my daugh ter. Here's a few ideas I came up with:
1. Cook an authentic meal together from a different country. We've done this with Austrian and German dishes because my daughter has always been intrigued with these countries. It's an easy way to introduce them.
2. Learn a different language. My daughter is currently teaching herself German from an app. She's always been interested in other languages and began two years ago. She said it's fun because you go up levels, earn points, and learn at the same time.
3. Listen to traditional music from a different country. We're a musical family so this one is fun for us. Our guests from South Africa brought many different types of songs and dance for us and it was amazing. You can find plenty of things like this on YouTube or arts festivals around the area too.
4. Get a Pen Pal. Remember doing this when we were kids? I loved it. I had a friend in Guatemala I used to write to and always loved learning about what they were doing and learning.
