June/July 2020 by Peekaboo

June/July 2020

*Northwest Health Physiciansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Specialty Hospital is owned, in part, by physicians.

READY. SET. ® GOddard! We help children explore and discover their interests through play in a safe environment. We provide ample opportunities for fun learning experiences, promoting a lifelong love of learning in literacy, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

CALL TODAY! FAYETTEVILLE • 479-262-0970 ROGERS • 479-335-1122 GoddardSchool.com INFANT THROUGH PRE-K The Goddard Schools are operated by independent franchisees under a license agreement with Goddard Systems, Inc. Programs and ages may vary. Goddard Systems, Inc. program is AdvancED accredited. © Goddard Systems, Inc. 2020

No matter how small, every EMERGENCY is a

BIG DEAL Arkansas Children’s Northwest has the only pediatric emergency room in the region.

ER Open

24/7

Pediatric Experts

Fast Access

Kid-Sized Care

Peace of Mind

Hablamos Español! Kemij kajin Majol! (479) 725-6977 | archildrens.org/emergency 2601 Gene George Blvd., Springdale, AR 72762 Across from Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Don Tyson Pkwy. Exit 70

The

Family KIMBERLY ENDERLE Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com | 479-957-0532

JONATHON ENDERLE Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com | 479-586-3890

Jonathon and Kim with Holden, Ava, Gwen, and Grant PHOTO BY MILES WITT BOYER

DISTRIBUTION/ CIRCULATION Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas

Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

FRANCES WILSON Assistant Editor

BEN LACY Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s View

Peekaboo Publications

Columnist

PO Box 1036 Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 MEAGAN RUFFING Columnist

Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call 479-957-0532 www.peekaboonwa.com Peekaboo may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine.

PEEKABOO Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions

June/ July 2020

www.peekaboonwa.com

DAVID HOVEY Story Design

Dr. Averitt, Megan, Staci & and the staff of Best Start Pediatric Clinic would like to welcome our new Nurse Practitioner, Bessie Smith, APRN.

Inside

#NWAPorchtraits

Truth in the Age of Covid

A Rare Perspective BY: RYAN SHEEDY

Dad’s View

WITH BEN LACY

BY: DR. SUSAN AVERITT

J U N E /J U LY 2 0 2 0

Jacob’s Journey

The “B” Word

BY: RACHELLE POLLARD

BY: SOPHIA LACY

2020 Camp Preview Guide

Quickly Seek Care During a Medical Emergency!

WITH NORTHWEST HEALTH

ON THE COVER 32

Good GREAT News BY: SOPHIA LACY

Adjusting to a New Normal BY: JENNIFER FADDIS

Mom Meetup of NWA BY: JENN RIDGEWAY

Go Wild for Wildlife BY: IKE WEVER

Cover sponsored by: Northwest Health www.northwesthealth.com

Reynolds and Campbell Sheedy, sons of Ryan Sheedy and Ashley Gibbs of Centerton, Photos by Miles Witt Boyer www.mileswittboyer.com

High-quality child care looks like

MATH

How does play prepare your child for kindergarten? When children play, they use their imaginations. Imagination is the key to learning. A child that can imagine she is a bird can understand that numbers mean “how big” and “how many.” In quality child care, children learn academic and social skills through play. Games and puzzles are the teacher’s tools. They are trained to help children prepare for kindergarten. Find quality early childhood educators that know the value of play. Visit our website to find starrated quality child care.

ARBetterBeginnings.com 501-682-8590

P L AY TO

LEARN Play the Way to Math Skills Many of the math skills your child needs for kindergarten develop naturally through talking and playing. Children learn best through experience. They remember best when it’s fun. Try these activities to give meaning to numbers, practice writing numbers and counting. Take Measure Tape pieces of newspaper or junk mail on a wall or door to a height taller than yourself. Any type of paper will do. Show your child how to use a measuring tape or a long piece of string to measure the heights of objects around the house. Measure furniture, door knob heights, a favorite toy or the family pet. Mark the heights on your wall chart with a thick mark or stickers. Be sure to measure and compare your child and yourself. Number Play Tray Write the numbers 1 through 10 on individual pieces of paper and set aside. Pour salt or fine sand into a box lid or any container with a flat bottom and low sides. Pick a numbered piece of paper and ask your child to write the number in the salt with her finger. Shake the box lid to make the number disappear and do it again! Number Games Play I Spy Numbers. Ask your child to look for numbers around the house. Make a game of who can say the number first. Play the game when you go places too. Look for house numbers, numbers on license plates and gas prices on great big signs. Play Simon Says. When you say “Simon says clap three times,” count out loud with your child as she claps. Play hopscotch and board games.

Click here to see the complete Family Resource Library.

Click here to see the Kindergarten Readiness Checklist.

www.ARBetterBeginnings.com • 1-800-445-3316

Visit our Family Resource Library for activities that help your child learn math through play at bit.ly/peekpath

Also en Español

From the Editor

photo by: Miles Witt Boyer

he past few months have put so much into perspective. As a young student, history textbooks were merely a collection of stories from the past-- after living through a pandemic that will one day be a part of our youth’s history lessons, I have a new appreciation for those “stories of old.” Now when I think of history, I will sympathize with all the people who weren’t important enough to be a bolded name in the text, but were effected just the same. You see, future textbooks won’t list every single person in the United States (or the world), but the coronavirus still had a huge impact on all of us. It took the lives of thousands. Nurses and doctors bypassed superheroes in their bravery and sacrifice. Parents lost their jobs, had their job put on pause, or at least had to shift to an office that was not their norm. Food scarcity reached frightening levels and unemployment took us back to the days of the Great Depression. It sent every student home to learn in a way that was full of challenges, which meant teachers were asked to completely rethink and recreate months of learning at the drop of a hat. The effects of COVID-19 on every individual person have gone

June/ July 2020

www.peekaboonwa.com

far beyond the medical repercussions. From missed graduations and proms to getting the chance to say goodbye to teachers and friends on the last day of school, kids have had a lot of missed milestones and had to mourn all the things that were forced to be canceled. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the fears I have for our youth’s mental health. Kids thrive on spending time with their friends, and those interactions all but went away in an instant. Understanding how hard this has been for you, I ask each of you, as parents, to realize that it has been that much harder on your children, who have even less control over their situation. They feel their loss even greater without the ability to get all the information that adults have access to (which can also be a good thing, if our over-clicking, anxiety-ridden, smart phone-addicted brains prove anything). As the country moves into a new normal, I want to make sure that we don’t dwell on the negative side of the last few months, but instead see the beauty in the positive. So much family time! We experienced so much quality time to learn more about each other, cook together,

and learn new skills together. In the months and years leading up to quarantine, I frequently caught myself saying, “I wish there were more hours in the day to get things done” or “I really wish we had just one evening without backto-back sports or to-dos.” Most of the time I was saying these in my head while scheduling the kids for another activity or camp or sport. When the world as we knew it shifted, it was as if a genie granted those wishes. Sports fields were closed, plans were all canceled, and calendars were magically cleared. This extra time with my kids came with moments that before would have seemed insignificant, but became beautiful during this unique time in our lives. I am not one of those people who like to drive, necessarily-I prefer the passenger seat--but after having nowhere to go for weeks, a short drive around town to get a change of scenery served as a memorable outing. Seeing friends on a Zoom call or FaceTime was so much sweeter after time apart. My teenage daughter spent hours upon hours talking to her friends, growing and strengthening those bonds through deep conversation and silly FaceTimes. Her first outing with a friend, where they went for a bike ride on the trails with all safety precautions in place (including a mask and no usual “Great to see you!” hug) was, in her words, “One of the best days of my life.” I am confident that the recent shift from what we took for granted as “normal life” will make people stop to really count their blessings, appreciate the little joys in life and not take for granted the people and friends in their circle. Other fun things that came from the shift in the norm include events like... birthday parades! I am pretty sure that at one time or another in my life I have wished for a parade just for me. I mean, that is pretty epic, right? Well, during the shutdown, kids all over Northwest Arkansas were celebrated with friends and family lining up with balloons and banners just for them. They shouted, “Happy birthday!” to let these kids know just how special they were-a memory they will be able to treasure forever, that they wouldn’t have been given otherwise. I hope this trend doesn’t go away just because traditional parties are able to return.

Additionally, honest-to-God physical mail found its way back into the hearts of kids. When I was a kid, I remember running to the mailbox every day to retrieve what seemed like treasure. With so little activity happening, a ring of the doorbell from the UPS or FedEx man--or the chance at a handwritten letter or small package in the mailbox--sent my kids into an excited frenzy daily. There are so many other silver linings during this time, but the last one I want to mention here is the fun chance to see inside the homes of our favorite celebrities. TV turned into home videos of sorts, as production moved from production studios to personal living rooms. We got to see how our favorite actors and actresses and news and TV personalities decorated their homes, and it was quite awesome, if I am going to be honest. The best part was seeing that most of them lived a much more “normal” lifestyle than we would have predicted, which was a fun twist. We will come out of these times stronger, more resilient, and less likely to take simple face-toface interactions for granted. We have all been in this together, and that sense of community is ever-present in Northwest Arkansas. This will not break us, but be a testament to our strength and ability to come out of a hard time better than ever. 2020 is only halfway done, but it has already been a year we will never forget. With so many consequences still unknown, as well as how the decisions our policy makers make will effect our future, I will be interested to see what is written about this pandemic in the history books of the future. I am going to hold on to the hope that this will lead to a future that is a much brighter, better place. We will have better-prepared leaders and kids who have a new perspective that none of us have had the opportunity to have before, which will make them even better future leaders of the world. Stay safe, NWA. - Kim Enderle

Note: Without the ability to know what changes in schedules will be made after this issue goes to print, we have not included a calendar of events. Be sure to follow us on Facebook: PeekabooMagazine or on our website at www.peekaboonwa.com for up-todate information on local news and events.

NOW ENROLLING On-site speech-language, occupational, physical & behavioral health therapies for children Therapeutic preschool serving children 12 months - 5 years old Arkansas Better Chance classrooms Parents As Teachers training program Preschool Enrichment Program Nutrition - Nursing - Transportation After School Care - First Connections

THERAPY

EDUCATION 479-636-3190 3400 Woods Lane, Rogers, AR 72756 nwaSunshineSchool.org

SUPPORT

Peekaboo Photo Album

Porch Portraits COVID-19 turned every home in Northwest Arkansas upside down and back again. To capture this unique time, photographers got creative and let families across the area commemorate this time with a snapshot of their day-to-day life (all taken from a safe social distance).

The Harry Family Manuel Trinidad Photography

s ith Boy hy. The Sm e Photograp e L r Laze

The Smith boys. Photo by Lazer Lee Ph oto

graphy.

The Stertz Fa mily Amber Lannin g Photograph y. The Meyer Family Emily Hughes for #nwaporchtraits Emily Hughes with Emilyinstamatic.com offered families the opportunity to take part in #NWAPorchtraits. Through this project, together they raised money for the NWA Food Bank that will feed up to 26,000 people!

June/ July 2020

www.peekaboonwa.com

The Glenn Family Emily Hughes

P L A N N I N G R E T I R E M E N T* O N Your T E R M S .

The Bray Family Emily Hughes

Investment products offered are: Not a deposit, not FDIC insured, may lose value, not guaranteed by the bank, not insured by any federal government agency.

The Kehrli Family Amber Lanning Photography

Member FDIC

Rare

A PERSPECTIVE story by: Ryan Sheedy / photos by: Miles Witt Boyer

PER • SPEC • TIVE /According to Google/

a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.

Perspective is one of those things in life that really changes when you find yourself going through a particular situation. We all think we know how we’d react, or that we truly understand someone else’s situation, but until you are living it, your opinion is merely based off of your current point of view. Perspective brings appreciation for others. The past two years of fatherhood have brought so much perspective to my life. I was totally the guy who was put in his place once we had kids. I thought life was going to remain the same as it was pre-kids. Man, was I wrong. Our story started in 2013. Like many people that move to Northwest Arkansas, both Ashley and I came to work for Walmart. Ashley moved in 2009 after getting her MBA from Vanderbilt to

start a career with Walmart in the marketing department, and I came in 2013 to work for a vendor from Texas. We met through a mutual friend in Fayetteville by happenstance. Ashley and I are both very type A personalities. We are career-driven, and we love to travel, cook together, explore new restaurants, and drink wine. I love being the life of the party! I’m the guy who is always up for 18 holes on Saturday and Sunday, and can get talked into playing an extra 18. Often the guy who used phrases like, “When I have kids, I won’t change,” “I’ll never let my kids do that,” and, “Did you see how they parent those kids?” Then we had kids. Those were my famous last words. Two days before my 35th birthday, I met Ashley

peekaboonwa.com

at the doctor’s office for our first ultrasound. We were both so excited. I was also scared to death! I’ll never forget “the moment.” My heart was racing. I had so many questions: “Was the baby growing? Did ‘it’ have a heartbeat? Was Ashley okay? This was becoming really real. I’m going be a dad. This is really HAPPENING! I love her so much! She looks so pretty. Am I dreaming? Our lives are about to change (still no idea by how much).” We heard the heartbeat, thank God. There was a pause for a second, and the rest is history. “There’s the first heartbeat, and there’s the second heartbeat.” (She couldn’t officially tell us how many babies were inside. We had to wait for the doctor to confirm.) “Um, what did you say?” Ashley and I immediately looked at each other with so many different emotions: “Holy cow, Batman! Are you kidding me? What did you say? No way! We totally forgot that this could HAPPEN (though twins run in her family)! We hit the lottery!” For the next week I walked around with a look of shock on my face! Twins?! Fast forward to December 8, 2017. No book, no blog, no YouTube video, and no advice can truly prepare you for the day that you become a father. It just happens! And it happens differently to all of us! It humbles you pretty fast. Our plan was to welcome the boys into the world, spend two days in the hospital, and go home and start life as a family of four. Then, back to work in eight weeks. Well, that didn’t happen. The boys were born at 36 weeks, and then were whisked to the NICU, as they

both had complications after delivery. Can I give a quick shout-out to all the moms out there who make such a huge sacrifice to bring these babies into the world? We couldn’t be dads without them --we certainly couldn’t go through pregnancy. Y’all are the true heroes! The next time we saw the boys was three hours later in the NICU and they were connected to so many machines that I can still hear in my head to this day. After many days in the NICU (30 for Campbell and 103 for Reynolds), mostly separated as a family (Ashley and Campbell in Bentonville and Reynolds and me in Little Rock), we had to adapt very quickly to our new life. We had no idea what was in store over the next 12-18 months. Being in the NICU with Reynolds was life-changing. At the same time, Campbell and Ashley were 200+ miles away. Not exactly how we drew this up on the whiteboard. I’ll never forget my first night at the ACH NICU. The twins were five days old. I had just left Ashley and Campbell back at Washington Regional and followed Reynolds in an ambulance down to Little Rock. I was scared. I was tired. I didn’t know what questions to ask. I was feeling very overwhelmed. Then a conversation happened that I will never

“

Ryan, no one will ever remember your career or what you shot in the last round of golf, but they will remember how you were there for your family.

”

forget. I met a guy named David sitting next to his son in a crib. He introduced himself and said he noticed that I was all by myself and wondered if I was in the same situation as him. He paused and said that he lost his wife due to a complication while delivering their baby. My heart sank. Life got even more real for me. Here I was feeling all these new feelings, and now perspective smacked me across the face. I couldn’t imagine how David was feeling. I immediately thought, “What if that happened to Ashley?” I knew then that I needed to stop feeling bad for myself and be thankful for our situation. This was the plan that was meant for us. There will always be people who do way more with way less. I often think of David. While in the NICU, we spent most of our days getting ready for surgeries, fighting infections, getting new diagnoses, meeting new doctors and ultimately trying to find the underlying root to all of Reynolds’ issues. We were told by every doctor that this was most likely a genetic disorder. Once Reynolds was discharged from the NICU, it was game on. We spent the next 14 months meeting with new doctors, learning about nutrition, making his special blended diet, and just trucking right

along. The one constant in all of this was that we were all together, just like we planned. Campbell was growing and hitting all of the milestones of a typical baby. “Typical” was a new word in our vocabulary. All the while, we were still trying to figure out how to describe Reynolds’ situation. Both Ashley and I eventually went back to work. Due to Reynolds’ medical complexity, g-tube feedings, and a compromised immune system, we couldn’t put the boys in daycare. Too much was at risk. I was taking him to doctor appointments every week between ACH in Little Rock and NWA. We are so thankful for the new ACH in NWA. We were fortunate to find an in-home caretaker. She was great and the boys really took a liking to her. Five months later, however, we still had no answers for Reynolds. He was now seeing 18 specialists. We were waiting to get in to see a geneticist to get more answers. At this time, Ashley was offered a new role, which was a new position within Walmart. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. All of her hard work had paid off. One requirement-more travel. As life would have it, our caretaker told us that she would be moving in a few weeks. Now what? Maybe this was a sign that I could stay at home with the boys full-time. How hard could it be? Man, was I wrong... again! So, in October of 2018, I left my job and became a Stay-at-Home Dad (SAHD) for twin boys who were less than a year old, one with extra needs. This was definitely not what I had envisioned for a career, but I’m now learning to hit curve balls. I’ve never been so scared for a new job in my whole life, but since then I’ve had so much fun. Even though there are no sick days, paychecks, or bonuses, I’m rewarded every day. Each day is new and challenging. Having twins, one of which is “differently abled,” has pushed me beyond my wildest imagination and I feel like I’m in over my head, even though I had been training for this role my whole life. Every person, mentor, failure, journey, job, project, 360’s, and conversation(s) that I have “collected” over the years, I consider to be the mortar that has helped me build the foundation for this role. After meeting with the geneticist, he suggested that we do a full genetics study to determine what was causing all of Reynolds’ issues. This was a very extensive, extremely expensive test, and it took 3-4 months to complete. There was also a good chance C O N T I N U E S O N N E X T PA G E peekaboonwa.com

that we might not learn anything new from the results. In May 2019, the test results came back. The geneticist’s counselor called to give us the news that “Reynolds has Costello syndrome.” Costello who? Words can’t describe the feelings that I felt. I was so glad to have the answer we had been looking for since birth, but now there was no going back. He now has a label. A roadmap when you look up Costello on Google. Costello syndrome is the rarest of the rare syndromes that affect many different parts of the body. Signs and symptoms generally include: developmental delay, intellectual disability, distinctive facial features, loose folds of extra skin (especially on the hands and feet), and unusually flexible joints. This is a lifelong journey. Only 1,000 people around the world have been diagnosed with CS. We rely heavily on his team of doctors, and are so fortunate to have such great care so close to home. We push Reynolds just like we push Campbell. Costello is a medical term that describes his medical condition--it does not define who he is. Having twins is a lot of work (still in awe that Ashley carried these dudes for 8 months, where Reynolds was 8 lbs and Campbell 4.5 lbs). We’ve heard that sometimes pregnancies with multiples where one of the babies has CS result in the other non-CS baby not surviving birth. So, in our case, we got two miracles!

June/ July 2020

Having a child with a rare syndrome is no walk in the park. There are many to-dos throughout the day. Sometimes it’s scary. Reynolds gets screened for cancer every 3 months for his first 10 years of life. Test and wait, over 30 times. We can’t go and do as much as we want, but all that will come. I never thought I’d be doing g-tube feedings at 30,000 feet in the air, or in the middle of an aisle at Walmart. Not all days are perfect or typical. And that’s okay. As a parent, you do whatever it takes! Soon after Reynolds’ diagnosis, someone shared a famous essay/poem by Emily Perl Kingsley, “Welcome to Holland.” It’s about finding out that your child has extra needs and how to cope with the news. In short, it talks about a couple planning a vacation to Italy. How excited they were, how many months they spent planning, etc. After a long flight, the stewardess says, “Welcome to Holland.” They were confused and upset that they weren’t in Italy. The stewardess explains the change of plans and that they must stay in Holland. The couple states that they don’t know anything about Holland, and they don’t want to stay, but they end up staying, learning quickly all about what’s to see and appreciating all that Holland has to offer. It’s a little slower-paced than Italy, but beautiful in its own way. For years to come, the couple’s friends talk about their trip(s) to Italy and the couple will

www.peekaboonwa.com

often say that they were planning to go to Italy, but plans changed. My main takeaway in this is that if we spend our lives mourning the fact that Reynolds isn’t the way we planned, we would miss out on all that he brings to and teaches us in our lives. And guess what... we get to go to Holland and Italy. Their names are Reynolds and Campbell. How’s that for perspective? What I’ve learned so far as a father is that you have to be vulnerable. What I mean by that is that men aren’t naturally nurturers like women/ moms. We have to work at that. We are naturally fixers, users of maps, grillers, hunters, bad joketellers and usually are stubborn. The uncertainty of fatherhood sometimes causes extra stress in which we need to learn how to let go, take a deep breath, and love on those kiddos. Being a SAHD has also put me in situations that are eye-opening and sometimes uncomfortable. I’m usually the only dad at story time, morning swim lessons, or the park on Tuesdays at 9AM, and get asked where Mom is when I take Reynolds to doctor appointments. Society is still trying to understand a world in which Mom works and Dad stays home. It’s not for everyone, but it works for us. It’s important to Ashley and me that we teach the boys to be understanding, learners, doers, and helpers. Campbell and Reynolds have given me a new outlook on life and make me a better man. One of the biggest challenges that I work on each day is having twins that are developing at different stages. A big stereotype with twins is that they are the same, that they are automatically best buds since they were wombmates. This is not always the case. As a father of twins, I have struggled with having the right mindset that is needed when you have twins that have different capabilities, and thus not every father-son moment will be with both of them at the same time. I have tried, pushed, and hoped to make all moments together. It’s not fair to them. So, I have made a conscious effort to make more individual time for each boy. I know this will present itself even more as they grow up. To quote Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park, “Life finds a way.” For those who already fellow me on Instagram (@dadhappend) you will see that I have so much fun with our boys. We dress up, dance, do art projects, and explore. They have really given me a new platform to be creative. One of my heroes is Mr. Rogers. His credo was all about creating a positive and fun environment for kids to grow up in. That is exactly what I try to provide Reynolds and Campbell. We all know kids

C O N T I N U E S O N N E X T PA G E peekaboonwa.com

can sometimes throw a wrench in plans, so some days we just hang out play. In my opinion, in order to be a great father, you need a great partner. I am certainly not doing this alone. Ashley makes my job so much easier. She gets me organized. She pushes me. She celebrates me. She shows me how to be compassionate, empathetic, and loving. It’s a team effort. Being parents is by far the hardest thing we will ever have to do in our lives. I’d like to give a shout out to my mom, who raised my two brothers and me to be self-sufficient men who can do their own laundry, cook, be creative, love music, and respect women. I’m so glad that she pushed me. I was also blessed with an amazing mother-in-law. Not many guys can say they have traveled with just their two kids and his mother-in-law (as well as being quarantined with her for 6 weeks) and enjoyed it! I have amazing men in my life--my father, fatherin-law, grandpas, and great-grandpa--who have taught me many things with regards to being a great man, a loving husband, and father! My dad is the “Dad of all Dads.” His best friends are my brothers and me. I never knew how special that was until I became a dad. We still talk on the phone almost daily. I might not have always appeared to be listening, but I was. Family first! “Ryan, no one will ever remember your career or what you shot in the

last round of golf, but they will remember how you were there for your family.” The key in all this for me is to not to worry about what happens in life, but how we choose to live that life. I try to practice positivity and take one day at a time… and believe, me, it takes work. There are many challenges that I face on a daily basis, but I know that all I can do is my best. Happy Father’s Day to my fellow dads out there. I am thankful and humbled to be a part of this club!

Hands-on, interactive activities Everything you need delivered to your home Limited screen time

Virtually the best summer camp experience your child will have all year.

Amber J. Sills, MD | Amy Sarver, MD | Lisa Bearden, MD

500 SE Plaza Avenue Bentonville, Arkansas

peekaboonwa.com

Best Start Pediatrics

FROM THE SECRET FILES OF DR. MOM

Truth in the Age of Covid by: Dr. Susan Averitt I have been sharing experiences and writing pieces for Peekaboo for over ten years. I have written about becoming a pediatrician, given advice to parents, shared about opening my own practice, and divulged my brokenheartedness as a bereaved mom. By day I own and run Best Start Pediatrics. At home I have three teenage daughters and a sporty husband to keep me busy. I have a full life, and I dream big. Today, I am going to confess some of the secrets of the reality of my life the past few weeks. I was asked to provide advice and wisdom that would be helpful for readers in these crazy Covid times. So, my first confession is: I’m finding it really hard to write something today in early May that will still be relevant to those reading this in midto late June. These last few weeks have thrown me such a curve ball. I have had to read emails and new articles nearly daily to stay on top of the latest statistics,

CDC recommendations, and changing information about this virus. Some days I just don’t want to hear or think about it anymore. I want to close my eyes and wish it away. I want the answers to my questions to be easy, stable, and positive. I want things to get better and stay better so we can all just stop worrying about it. I don’t know how things will be a few weeks from now when you are reading this. I hope we are going out to dinner with friends, watching outdoor concerts, and planning trips to the beach! I have learned a lot of new technology in the past six weeks. I started using Zoom for televisits with patients. I then learned how to use a couple of different apps to communicate until my electronic medical record opened up televisits for me, and I could communicate with patients with their charts open in front of me on the screen. I bought a texting system for my clinic that allows texting from patients directly to our clinic number. It has a video feature that allows me to video chat with patients as well. There are multiple ways to use technology so that I can see my patients face-to-face at a remote and safe distance! But... my eyes are tired. I miss hugging and high-fives. I miss listening to hearts and lungs with my stethoscope. I miss the day-to-day routine I have grown accustomed to all these years of practice.

I miss standing right next to my nurses between patients, just talking and sharing a quick joke. I miss the rhythm of going through my work day in the organized and predictable way it has been for the last few years.

close to my normal time. My kids are up until the wee hours of the morning. When I leave for work, I rarely see anyone else awake besides my dog! They eat meals at sporadic times. This life bears no resemblance to our old routine!

When I do see patients in the clinic, I wear an N95 mask, a face shield, a repellent gown, and gloves. After each patient, I wipe all my equipment down with medical-grade antibacterial wipes. I know this will help keep me safe and keep the patients that I’m seeing safe from me. But, honestly, wearing PPE is MISERABLE! The mask itches. I re-breathe my own breath. I can’t see as well through the face shield. I feel frumpy in the gown. I have imprints on my face from the mask and shield that last for minutes to hours when I remove them. I miss wearing normal clothes and breathing shared air and not fearing that everything I touch is contaminated and might be the thing that gives me the Covid!

Screen time two hours or less a day? Please! I don’t even want to know the real collective amount of time spent on phones, laptops, Chromebooks, TVs, or video games at my house on a day-to-day basis. We are all still getting exercise—going out to shoot hoops, hitting the volleyball, walking the trails, or riding bikes. We have a little family time each evening with board games or cards. When it is nice out, we sit on the back deck for a bit. But the screens are definitely ever-present. I don’t even know how to stop it. I can’t even keep my own screen time down to a reasonable amount. Everything we do is on a screen!

I’ve been talking to a lot of families who are struggling. I am hearing about difficulty staying ontask with schoolwork. Parents of toddlers are trying to work from home while their children crawl all over them or run around the house in unsafe ways during a work conference call. I have talked to kids who can’t fall asleep and teenagers staying up all hours of the night and sleeping until noon. I’ve talked to cranky preteens, depressed adolescents, stir-crazy toddlers, school-aged siblings who want to beat each other up, and over-stressed parents who are barely hanging on. I listen. I understand. I advise. I encourage routine, limiting screen time, and eating healthy. I suggest exercise and family dinners. I try to help. I know it is hard! I know because these things are happening at my house, too. Fortunately, my girls are good about getting their schoolwork done and (usually) submitting or turning it in. But the bedtime routine is out the window. I stay up too late and have trouble falling asleep anywhere

Are we eating healthy? This means five servings a day of fruits and veggies, no sugared beverages (only milk and water), and limit sweets. Well, some are better than others. One of us is a vegan and makes the healthiest choices. We are all good about drinking water. Some are better with veggies than others. A couple of us love Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, and a good burger with fries. Being home more means more temptation for snacking... and these girls love to bake brownies and cookies. My opinion is that most people have a pretty good idea of how we are supposed to eat. I just don’t think we are capable of doing it a lot of the time. So, I hope maybe it helps others feel better to know that I am struggling with the same things you are. My work isn’t like it was. My home life has changed. My family is feeling the pressure and giving me stress with their choices. I have decided to pick my battles. We talk about healthy choices at my house and sometimes we even make them. But we are all human. This time of quarantine has been taxing for all of us. In order to survive it, I suggest we find a balance. We do our best and accept our imperfections. We love ourselves, and we love our families. We will remember this time for the rest of our lives. Don’t worry about making the days just right and accomplishing every goal. Just breathe, take a walk, take a bath, and hug your kids. And some nights, eat the cookies, drink the wine, and fall asleep on the couch watching Netflix.

Learn more at www.nwacc.edu/kidscollege

Exploratory, hands-on learning!

Fun for students ages 6 - 17!

Courses in robotics & more!

Classes begin Monday, June 1st, 2020

June/ July 2020

www.peekaboonwa.com

promising hopeful abundant Your new life is our life’s work. comfy joyful complete

From first tries to first cries, Mercy supports expectant moms and dads at every step of their childbirth journey, and beyond.

Get free pregnancy guides and more at mercy.net/NWABaby Your life is our life’s work.

Your life is our life’s work.

There seems to be a never-ending debate on whether kids these days have it better or worse than their parents. You know, things like safety: is the fixation too much today, or were we just a bit bonkers to climb up metal jungle gyms that sat on concrete pads? Or communication: was it sneakier to pass notes in class or do we feel texts/snaps are the way to go? How about gaming? Xbox Live vs. Aladdin’s Castle? The battle lines are drawn by age group, but the vicious virus we’re dealing with now has shown me something that might tip the scale in the old man’s favor: online grades. Since we’re all currently camped out in the casa, I’ve had a bit more involvement in the educational

June/ July 2020

process. And let me tell you, if continuously updating online and parent-accessible grades were a “thing” during my scholastic journey, I’d still be grounded... and I’m 47. As a parent, it’s pure gold, but as a student it has to be absolute hell. Gone is the ability to coast through the beginning of a year/semester, have a major freak out mid-term, then drop it into fifth gear, pull a bunch of all-nighters, and negotiate a roundup of an 89.47% to an A. Instead, they have the total terror of “Big Father” and/or “Big Mother” literally and figuratively looking over their shoulder… daily. However, that door swings both ways. Meaning yes, parents can constantly check their child’s grades and test scores, but on the other hand, we are now

www.peekaboonwa.com

parenting 24/7. Gone are office hours and happy hours. Nope, now I’m being graded, continuously, on my parenting skills. The courses are super important, the homework is super difficult, and I’m pretty sure my grades need some work. Let’s review.

in helping my kids do homework are that I’m quiet and quite good at sharpening pencils.

Patience: D, but at 69.4%

We’ll start off with a good one. I’ve really grown my online grocery skills and house cleaning capabilities. Plus, the yard is immaculate and no plants have perished.

This one is incomplete. At the start of house arrest, my grade would have been an “F,” and then only because the common grading scale does not include a “G.” Regardless of the size of your cell, if you can’t get out, there’s bound to be a few bouts. However, I’m learning and hoping to earn some extra credit to bump me up to a C.

General Studies: C-

Management: B

One of our kids is a freshman in college and neither wants nor needs any assistance. Another is a junior in high school and is mainly taking classes in design and photography. Seeing as I somehow continually take out-of-focus pictures with my iPhone, he does not seek my guidance. But the big one is my seventh grader. Seventh grade is that time in life where you are taught things that you will likely never use again unless you follow those classes as a career. Not bashing junior high teachers--you guys are awesome --but my Geometry and World Geography skills have long since left my mind. All this to say, my best assets

What is more important; a Zoom call for work or English class? Is the wifi needed for Mom’s online business deadline more important than FaceTime with sorority sisters? My education in Management benefited from my learnings within my Patience class. A little patience, a tad bit of communication, and a sprinkling of ingenuity, and the five of us found a way to do our work without going berserk.

Home Economics: A+

This story has been designed using resources from Freepik.com

So I’m looking at an A, a B, and 2 Cs this grade period. Not epic, but with some definite room for improvement during summer school. Let’s hope, for everyone’s sake, stability, safety and sanity, that my coursework is done before fall.

Easy transfers. Free delivery. Plus, 10 on-the-way locations across Northwest Arkansas, making your journey to wellness its easiest. collierdrug.com

1-888-237-6261

LO O K A N D F E E L

YO U R B E S T At Women’s Health Associates, we want you to feel confident about every aspect of your life, including how you look. That’s why we offer a number of aesthetic services designed to help you be your best self at every stage of your life.

FA C I A L S Designed to help you put your best face forward, let us help you discover a more beautiful and youthful-looking you. All facials include an in-depth skin analysis, cleansing and exfoliation of the neck, face, and décolleté. Also Offering: Dermaplaning | Microneedling | Chemical Peels | Microdermabrasion

I N J E C TA B L E S A N D D E R M A L F I L L E R S As we age, our faces naturally lose subcutaneous fat and the “plump” look of our youth. Injectables and dermal fillers can be used to help diminish facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face. Plump thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases and wrinkles, and improve the appearance of recessed scars. Offering: BOTOX® Cosmetic | JUVEDERM®

I N T I M AT E W E L L N E S S CO2RE Intima vaginal treatments help restore your vaginal health… and help you rediscover what you’ve lost. The procedure only takes a few minutes and many women report symptom relief after the very first treatment. The treatments use laser energy to stimulate healing and renewed collagen that results in increased elasticity and natural lubrication, decreased urine leakage, and more pleasurable sex.

B O DY C O N T O U R I N G Love the idea of reshaping your body, but not the reality of incisions or scars? Our non-invasive procedures don’t require any incisions and deliver noticeable results. The treatments work to improve the appearance of cellulite, reduce dimpled skin, and tighten skin on the abdomen, love handles, hips, thighs and other areas that require fat reduction. BodyFX addresses problematic fatty tissue in larger body areas such as the abdomen, back (flanks), and thighs. MiniFX addresses problematic fatty tissue in smaller areas like the neck, arms, and knees. Forma tightens the skin on the face, neck and hands. Also offering: Photo facials with Lumecca | Laser Hair Removal | Waxing Spider Vein Treatment

500 SE PLAZA AVENUE BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS

479-876-8111 www.whanwa.com

by: Sophia Lacy A couple of weeks ago, my family and I were watching a YouTube video by John Krasinski, who many of you probably know from one of the best shows ever (The Office), called “Some Good News”. In this new video series, he shared how he felt the news has been full of COVID-19 and all the other terrible things happening around the world. To counteract this, John created the show to report “some good news” to show people that there is good still in the world. With special guests like Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey, and amazing people doing amazing things, the show has become very popular on YouTube. The channel has hit almost 3 million subscribers., with videos ranging from 2 million to 12 million views. As for my family, we’ve watched every week and love seeing the famous celebrities and hilarious videos (my favorite being the kid surfing in his backyard with nothing but a hose and a wagon). However, I been wondering why all these incredible things happening in the world were not already on the news. Why weren’t people reporting a hundredyear-old veteran getting tens of thousands of birthday cards after raising $36 million for Britain’s health services? Why hasn’t everyone heard about the thousands of graduation parades that lasted hours? Why doesn’t everyone know about the little girls in California who went outside to compliment anyone they saw passing by? All the reports from newspapers, magazines, and TV are centered on the coronavirus and how awful it is. What’s up with that? Aren’t there other things happening in the world?

June/ July 2020

I’m not saying that the pandemic isn’t important and people shouldn’t hear about it, but why does it seem like that is the only thing being reported? As a journalism student, I have been taught to write stories with major impact and articles that help citizens make informed decisions. My pieces generally focused on important themes that have prominence and sometimes conflict. We are taught not to write about small victories or actions, but rather about events that are impacting and reshaping the world. Because, we are told, small things aren’t critical for everyone to know. The small things being the awesome things people were doing, like TV show reunions, homemade indoor sports, and entire cities clapping for hospital workers. I still believe people like the news, heartfelt stories, and cheering for success, even during a pandemic. Perhaps this is why “Some Good News” is so popular. While I get that not everyone needs to know that my best friend’s brother had a massive birthday parade with decorated cars and blow horns, it is still a break from our new reality. In one of my journalism classes, we report on current events we have heard or read. We are required to know something about everything going on in the world, and be ready to answer any questions on those topics. In January, we reported sports, political issues, and natural disasters. The class had so much to discuss that the two-hour time period was too short to cover the material (and for a college student, that is hard to admit, because we usually spend way too much time

www.peekaboonwa.com

watching the clock during the class period). News was diverse and exciting... but when the coronavirus hit, we didn’t have really anything else to report on besides COVID-19. Imagine having a class solely on what news companies had published that week... and the articles were only on the pandemic. It got boring pretty quickly. Let’s just say I am now a master of social distancing and what precautions countries are taking to slow down the virus.

each other. In one of his episodes, he told a story about a little girl who was having trouble with online schooling and needed a teacher to guide her. The teacher came over and worked through her math assignment on a whiteboard in her yard. He literally came and sat in the yard and taught her! Crazy, right? This event was so small and didn’t include anyone “famous,” but it was “some good news” happening in a world in turmoil.

To me, news just became repetitive and depressing.

No one has to learn how to make whipped coffee, or see driveways decorated in intricate chalk designs, or watch people interact through windows just to see loved ones. But we might just need some good news to get through another day.

John Krasinski, however, showed the world that news that is small, but good, is worth sharing with

BUNDLE NOW. SAVE ALL YEAR. Now save $30/mo. for a whole year on a bundle with DIRECTV and AT&T Internet. w/24-mo. TV & 12-mo. Internet agmts & combined bill. Savings based on extra $10/mo. off for 12 mos. compared to previous price, plus $10/mo. discount on internet and $10/mo. bill credit for 12 mos. on TV when you bundle.

mo.

For 12 mos. plus taxes & Internet equipment fee.

w/ 24-mo. TV agmt & combined bill. Autopay & Paperless bill req’d. TV price higher in 2nd year. $10/mo. internet equip. fee applies.* Incl Unlimited data allowance ($30 value) at no add’l charge.†

The Addams Family now playing on DIRECTV CINEMA®

*$19.95 ACTIVATION, EARLY TERMINATION FEE, $20/MO. FOR TV FOR EACH MONTH REMAINING ON TV AGMT., EQUIPMENT NON-RETURN & ADD’L FEES APPLY. Price incl. SELECT TV Pkg., monthly service & equip. fees for 1 HD DVR & is after $5/mo. autopay & paperless bill and $10/mo. bundle discounts for up to 12 mos each. Pay $54.99/mo. + taxes and fees for TV until discounts start w/in 3 bills. New approved residential customers only (equipment lease req'd). Credit card req'd. Restr’s apply.

CALL your AT&T Dealer Today! Iv Support Holdings LLC

1-844-876-5704 Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T Internet services. Not all speeds available in all areas. Call or go to www.att.com/internet to see if you qualify. 1-YR BUNDLE PRICE: Ends 6/27/20. Pricing: $79.98/mo for first 12 mos. only. After 12 mos. or loss of eligibility, then prevailing rates apply (currently $85/mo. for SELECT TV Pkg.; $39.99/mo. for Internet), unless canceled or changed prior to end of the promo period. Must maintain all qualifying services and service addresses must match to receive advertised pricing. Pricing subject to change. $5/mo. autopay/paperless billing discount for TV: Must enroll in autopay & paperless bill within 30 days of TV activation to receive bill credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain autopay/paperless bill and valid email address to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for autopay/paperless bill. $10/mo. bundle discount for TV: Internet must be installed w/in 30 days of TV activation to receive credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain both qualifying svcs to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for bundled services. Includes: SELECT All-Included TV Pkg., Internet plans 768k to 100M, monthly service and equipment fees for one Genie HD DVR, and standard pro installation. Additional Fees & Taxes: Price excludes $10/mo. internet equipment fee, applicable use tax expense surcharge on retail value of installation, custom installation, equipment upgrades/add-ons (min. $99 one-time & $7/mo. monthly fees for each extra receiver/DIRECTV Ready TV/Device), and certain other add’l fees & charges. See att.com/fees for additional details. Different offers may apply for eligible multi-dwelling unit customers. †Must maintain a bundle of TV and Internet on a combined bill in order to receive unlimited data allowance at no add’l charge. Unlimited data allowance may also be purchased separately for an add’l $30/mo. For more info, go to www.att.com/internet-usage. DIRECTV SVC TERMS: Subject to Equipment Lease & Customer Agreements. Must maintain a min. base TV pkg of $29.99/mo. Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change at any time. Some offers may not be available through all channels and in select areas. Visit directv.com/legal or call for details. The Addams Family: ©2019 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. and BRON Creative MG1, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ©2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, Globe logo, DIRECTV, and all other DIRECTV marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

peekaboonwa.com

Mom Meetup of NWA: A GROUP OF MOMS FOR EVERY MOM.

by: Jenn Ridgeway

Seriously. We mean that!

I know, I know. You likely read the title, saw ‘group of moms,’ and probably thought, “Oh lovely, another group for moms.” If that was you, I can totally relate to that feeling. The stigma around mom groups has kind of been a tough one. Hear me out, though! Mom Meetup of NWA is here to be a place for every mom, and we are working to rewrite the script of traditional mom groups. We are building a community of women! We are a new era of mom groups, per se. Gone are the days of exclusivity; we have a seat at the table for you! In August 2019, I moved from the huge city of Fort Worth, TX to a small town right on the border of Arkansas. In Texas, I had a relatively large circle of friends and, due to being a small business owner and freelance photographer, I was always pretty social. As a then-single mom with three boys in tow, moving to a place where I knew no one was tough. I missed my Texas friendships dearly, and I missed the connections I had back home. At I assume my low point of “zerofriends desperation” I made a post in a large online mom’s group and basically said “I NEED FRIENDS!” Woman after woman started commenting, saying they, too, needed a friend and wished there was a way to casually meet other moms in person. I jokingly commented that one of us should start a group. Zero intention that the “someone” would be me! Well, 6 months and 700 members later, here we are! The minute I decided that I would create Mom Meetup of NWA, I knew I wanted to create something different. Mom Meetup was created to be an inclusive community where mothers--no matter their age, race, marital status, children’s ages, or religious preference--could all sit around a table and stand on the common ground of motherhood. To ensure both

an inclusive and judgment-free zone, we have a few basic community rules (or you could say guidelines) to ensure equality and respectable grounds for all moms who come from all walks of life. Being a woman is not easy, and being a mom takes us through some of the greatest challenges we will ever walk through. Knowing there are so many pressures on us as not only women, but as moms, my goal is for our group to be a safe place. Shouldn’t we as moms have a safe place to fall where other women are there to hold us up? I sure think so! Mom Meetup is designed to be a local group of moms who meet in person and are a place of support for each other. I think in a very digital world most of us are looking for connections a little bit deeper than our keyboards. Having friends online is fantastic (we have an amazing online community too), but Mom Meetup exists to facilitate face-to-face connections. Being able to tell another mom that you are struggling, and seeing her face as she truly hears you and says, “Girl, I get you and you are not alone,” is a connection we just cannot build with solely online interaction. Plus, you deserve time alone to have adult conversations while you enjoy a cup of coffee you didn’t reheat four times. Whether it is a coffee meetup, pizza at a brewery, or simply sitting side-by-side with other women, our meetups are tailored to giving moms a break. Now, more than ever, I have realized how much the women in our group mean to me and to each other. During COVID-19, we have not been able to meet in person as we had--typically four times each month. We are a community that is strong no matter the limits we are given. There are friendships continuing to exist because of our group, new moms who are supported by women they met at a meetup,

hurting moms who have a support system because this group loves them, women taking steps to care for their mental health because this group helped them feel understood and heard, and moms who finally feel like they have allies in motherhood. Since our first meetup last November, we have not only met for coffee and lunch, but we have donated to charity, delivered meals to new moms, stood in the trenches with grieving mothers, and created incredible bonds. The women of Mom Meetup have created something more than I ever dreamed was possible: they created beautiful bonds that will hold no matter if we can meet for coffee or not. They are rewriting the script and creating an astounding community of incredible women! Oh, and P.S.: my wish was granted! Some of my closest confidants in my own life as a mom are women who I have met though Mom Meetup. I found more than friends... I found a sisterhood.

THE MOST ADVANCED PERINATAL CARE

NOW IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

We specialize in providing health care services for high-risk pregnancies. Our staff includes obstetricians with expertise in maternal-fetal medicine, specially trained sonographers, skilled obstetrical nurses, registered dieticians with expertise in diabetes and genetics counselors.

Now taking appointments at 5414 Pinnacle Point Drive, Suite 300 Rogers, AR

The only criteria for joining Mom Meetup is that you are a mom living in Northwest Arkansas. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it! Though our structure looks a tad different during COVID-19, we are continuing to be a booming community and we cannot wait to be able to meet in person again. To find out more about the group, you can find us on Facebook as Mom Meetup of Northwest Arkansas.

peekaboonwa.com

G N I T S U J D A W E N TO A AL M R O N by: Jennifer Faddis

COVID-19. Who else is tired of that word? I know I am. I’m sure you are. And I guarantee your kids are. The phrase “unprecedented times” has become commonplace, but there is no other way to describe what we are living through. What we thought might be a few weeks has stretched into months, with still so much uncertainty surrounding what the months ahead are going to look like. As adults, we are having to adjust to a new normal that is hard. It can be even harder when you have children that have missed out on so much and are asking you when things will go back to “normal.” I have five kids, one of which just graduated high school, so I totally understand having to parent through some tough disappointments. Our kids didn’t get closure to a school year, they missed out on spring sports and competitions, they are missing hanging out with friends, and they just want things to be back to the way they are supposed to be. The challenge facing parents right now is how to help our kids deal with the disappointments of all of the missed events, and at the same time maintain a positive outlook, despite not knowing when life will get back to the way it was. I want to give you five suggestions that can help you navigate the uncertainty that we are all facing as parents.

June/ July 2020

1) Be Honest

In age-appropriate ways, be honest with your children with what is going on. I know it feels like it, but they don’t truly expect you to have ALL the answers. When you are honest with them that you don’t, they know that they can trust you. That you aren’t going to lie to them. Assure them that even though you don’t understand all of what is going on, we will get through this at some point.

2) Think Outside The Box

One of the coolest things that has come from this whole experience is seeing people think outside the box on ways to make missed events special. Drive-thru birthday parades, slideshow videos with messages from friends and family celebrating graduates, Adopt-a-Senior/Nurse/ Teacher Facebook groups, etc. If your child has a big event coming up that isn’t going to look like you planned, find a way to still make it special. So many of my friends have said that their child loved their drive-thru birthdays more than they loved their parties in the past. As a parent, our attitude will set the tone for our kids. If we find ways to still make these events fun, our kids will have great memories of the event we were so worried would be sad for them.

3) Get Outside

Being outside and getting some good old Vitamin D has so many positive benefits! Take a bike ride

www.peekaboonwa.com

as a family. Go for a hike. (We are SO BLESSED in NWA with an amazing amount of trails for all skill levels!) Go to a creek and get wet. Get takeout from your favorite restaurant and find a spot for a picnic. Go to a neighbor’s house and draw a chalk message on their driveway. Catch lightning bugs in a field. The thing about these activities is that they take intentionality. Make a plan to do something outside as a family. Don’t just sit inside watching movies and playing video games. Engage with your kids. It might take a few tries for them to appreciate it, but I promise, you will find something you all enjoy if you stick with it.

4) Allow Your Kids (And Yourself) To Grieve

This might be the most important point. Like I said earlier, I have a high school senior. He’s my oldest. This is NOT how I envisioned my firstborn’s senior year and graduation experience to be. It is a disappointment that no one in our generation has ever faced. There is grief in that. Your child’s missed events are sad for them. Some could be downright devastating for them. IT’S OKAY TO BE SAD ABOUT THAT. Allow them to express that sadness. Ask them about how they are feeling about things. Listen to them. Don’t shut them down and tell them to “Look at the bright side,” or “You don’t have it that bad.” To a child experiencing the loss of an event they had been

looking forward to is a hurdle they can’t always get over by themselves--especially in light of losing all sense of normalcy. Yes, there will always be someone who has it worse. But that does not take away from the loss that any given individual experiences. Allow your child to be sad. Hold them and give them a hug. Tell them you are sad, too. Give some space for those feelings.

5) Look For The Blessings

I know I just said not to tell your kids “Look at the bright side.” This is different. Allow them to be sad, and after they have expressed that and you have cried through it with them, find ways to be thankful for the good things that are different. I absolutely LOVE John Krasinki’s SGN (“Some Good News”) on YouTube. If we look around, we can see so many acts of human kindness that are being displayed right now. Look for those. Share them with your kids. Help them to see that even though things aren’t how we want them to be, there are still ways to find good in our collective situation. One of my favorite quotes is by Mr. Rogers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” Help your children to see the good that is happening around us. It’s there. You just might have to look a little harder for it.

Spectacular Science NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

• School Assemblies & Workshops •• School & Workshops SpecialAssemblies Events & Camps •• Special Events & CampsPresentations Corporate/Non-Profit •• Corporate/Non-Profit Presentations Awesome Party Concept • Awesome Party Concept

EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES!! www.super-sci.com • 479-444-0303

www.super-sci.com • 479-444-0303

d l i W Go wild life for

by: Ike Wever Would you pounce on the possibility of seeing lions and leopards in the African savanna? Do you love learning about tigers native to the jungles of Asia? How far would you go to get an unforgettable experience surrounded by – but safe from – apex predators and other breathtaking beasts? As it turns out, you may not have to go that far at all, especially if you live in Northwest Arkansas.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) in Eureka Springs is an ethical animal tourism destination where you can experience all the wilds of Africa and Asia without the price tag or jet lag of a globetrotting trip. Our 459-acre, nonprofit sanctuary provides lifetime refuge to survivors of the exotic animal trade. We’re the “good guys,” in terms of animal welfare.

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AT 194 COLLEGE ROAD, PINEVILLE, MO NO OUT-OF-STATE TUITION | FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING | JUST NORTH OF THE STATE LINE ASSOCIATE DEGREES: Certified Medical Assistant (AAS) General Studies (AA) Nursing (AS) Psychology (AA)

CERTIFICATIONS: Certified Nurse Assistant Certified Medical Assistant Emergency Medical Technician Phlebotomy EKG

ACCEPTING NURSING PROGRAM APPLICATIONS THROUGH FEBRUARY 15, 2020

CROWDER.EDU | 417.226.6000

In fact, TCWR is one of only a handful of big cat facilities in the U.S. accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, and we are a founding member of the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance. While our primary mission involves rescuing and caring for animals in need, educating the general public about the harmful nature of the exotic animal trade is evident in everything we do. For instance, did you know that there are more captive tigers in America’s backyards than there are wild tigers in Asia? Or that in some U.S. cities, it may be more difficult to acquire certain dog breeds than it would be to purchase a lion cub? You can learn a lot more about our lions, tigers, bears (Oh my!) and other animals by participating in public guided tours, exclusive behind-thescenes offerings, and fun programs, or by spending time in our Discovery Area, which features educational signage and other learning options. We also offer some of the most unique lodging accommodations in the area, with family-friendly safari suites, a tree house, glamping tents and RV/ campsites, as well as secluded adults-only lodges. We are a great destination for those celebrating anniversaries and birthdays, or for those just wanting to get away for a weekend. Speaking of birthdays, Turpentine Creek celebrated 28 years in May, and our team has rescued over 400 animals

since 1992. As a legitimate sanctuary, TCWR does not buy, sell, trade or breed our animal residents, and we also do not allow hands-on interaction. However, when you visit, you’ll see how happy and healthy our animals are as they enjoy their large grassy habitats, which feature enrichment toys, swimming pools, and other items that promote mental and physical well-being. Unlike roadside facilities or exploitative operations, you’ll also be glad to know that admission and lodging fees, as well as program income and retail sales, go right back to helping the animals within our care. So spending your dollars makes a lot of sense at TCWR! What doesn’t make a lot of sense, though, is animal abuse for profit. You may have seen or heard of the massively popular Netflix docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. As an animal advocate, you may have even felt disheartened while witnessing the inhumane treatment of the animals depicted in each episode. The series focuses on a for-profit exotic animal zoo in Oklahoma that offers cub petting opportunities and other harmful programs involving its animal residents. But by conducting a little bit of research, you would quickly learn that the Oklahoma facility is more motivated by compensation than compassion. Continued on Next page >

peekaboonwa.com

Treatment of Animals (PETA) which requests an emergency ruling banning interaction with big cat cubs (i.e. cub petting), as experts have learned that tigers as a species can contract the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Like a human’s fingerprints or a tiger’s stripes, no two big cat facilities are the same, and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has certainly earned its reputation of being one of the nation’s most respected big cat sanctuaries. We also strongly support the Big Cat Public Safety Act, a bill that, if signed into law, would ultimately provide stronger protection for big cats and other animals in need. We encourage those who would like to help us protect exotic animals to learn more about the Big Cat Public Safety Act by visiting our advocacy page at TCWR.org. We also support a recent petition submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) by the People for the Ethical

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has advocated for exotic and native animals since the early 1990’s and we continue to do so through hard times. In mid-March, we temporarily closed the sanctuary in order to do our part in slowing the spread of COVID-19. The temporary closure came at a time when we would normally experience peak attendance and steady revenue, but protecting our animals, our team and the community from the virus was the right decision, regardless of financial loss. Because of the pandemic, we are navigating financial challenges in excess of $400,000 compared to this time last year. And, although we reopened to the general public in June, we’re also encouraging potential visitors and donors to do what they can to support our mission and efforts from home. We introduced our 2020 “Your Focus. Their Future.” vision campaign in January and we need your support now more than ever. The idea behind the campaign is that we all have the ability to leverage unique individualism to help secure our animal residents’ future. Each of us can

Camp War Eagle is a Christian summer camp in Rogers, AR! HOW MUCH IS IT?

Camp can be affordable! Tuition is based on family income & starts as low as $20 per session!

WHO CAN APPLY?

Camp is for kids and teens ages 7 to 17! There is an Overnight camp on Beaver Lake and Day Camp options in a town near you!

APPLY TODAY!

campwareagle.org | (479) 751-8899 June/ July 2020

www.peekaboonwa.com

focus our own energy – whether that’s through our individual skill sets, knowledge, creativity, volunteerism, fundraising, social and professional connections, etc. – to secure a happy and healthy future for the animals within our care. Although our supporters are always raising funds for our animal residents, it’s also important to protect their wild counterparts. Please get involved by donating, advocating, educating, or any other “-ing” you can think of. It’s “Your Focus. Their Future.” Beyond experiencing Turpentine Creek Wildlife

Refuge in person, the most important thing you can do to support animals in need is to research animal tourism facilities before visiting. A quick online search will generally tell you whether the organization in question has its animals’ best interests at heart. You can also visit our Facebook page and website or connect with us for a little more guidance. While you’re making summer travel plans, put Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge on the list and go wild for wildlife. You’ll be glad you did!

peekaboonwa.com

S ’ B O C JA JOURNEY

e mothers all see those super funny memes titled “Mom Fail” and just fall down laughing, because, ya know, we’ve all been there. Parenting isn’t easy and it’s not always pretty, and those memes are great because they help you to know, as a mother, that you are not alone. But when your kid is diagnosed with an extremely rare autoimmune disease and you start looking back on the years of signs and symptoms that all led up to the diagnosis, “Mom Fail” takes on a whole different meaning. You begin to experience the guilt, knowing that you saw something, but thought that it was just a weird thing that your kid, who is a normal, stinky boy, experienced in passing. You never dreamed that it was leading to a diagnosis of Juvenile Systemic Scleroderma. “Juvenile what?” you ask? Yeah, that’s what I said, too. So, let me tell you a little about Jacob’s journey with JSSc. The summer of 2018 started out so fun! The first week of June we took a family trip to Florida. My husband Danny, Jacob, our youngest daughter Bailee, her friend Rachel, and I piled up in the Suburban and made the 18-hour trip. We spent a glorious week with a group of our friends at their resort on Cocoa Beach, playing in the ocean, watching the spaceship launch, eating seafood, and relaxing. We were sad to come home, but, as with all vacations, we had to return to reality. About a week after we returned home, Jacob and I were sitting on the couch, watching TV, when Bailee came down the hall. He was in shorts with no shirt, as per usual, sitting next to me. She stopped, looked at her 9-year-old brother and said, “What’s wrong with his skin?” I looked over at him and he looked like a completely normal, pale-skinned, freckled-faced, 60-pound, skinny kid. “Nothing,” I replied. Bailee cocked her head to the side and said, “Then why is he so shiny?” I

by: Rachelle Pollard

looked again at Jacob, this time closer, and noticed that he was indeed shiny, but not remarkably so, and I shrugged it off, giving the explanation that he must have gotten a good polishing from the sand and seawater last week at the beach. The next-to-last week of June, I got to again return to Florida, to Orlando, to attend a Model Schools Conference with my school district. It was tons of fun with my coworkers, attending the conference during the day and experiencing Disney World and seafood in the evenings. On the second day there, my husband called me and during our conversation said, “Hey, what’s wrong with Jacob’s skin? He’s all shiny and it looks like he has been dipped in oil, but he’s not wet.” Again, I brushed it off, saying that he was just shiny from being at the beach and his skin was polished. When I returned from my work trip, I looked Jacob over. He was indeed shiny. But he had no rash, no bumps, a few small bruises on his shins from being a boy... but no red-flashing warning signs. Four days later, Jacob and I traveled to Louisiana to spend July 4th with my mom and family at her yearly cookout. We were set to stay for a week. On the 4th, a big part of my very large extended family came to my mother’s house to swim and grill out and visit. We had so much fun! Jacob and his cousins, coated with copious amounts of sunscreen, spent all day in the pool. And again, I got the question often about why his skin was so shiny. By then, there was a small voice in the back of my head asking, “WHY is his skin SO shiny?” The next morning after everyone left, I Googled why kids would have shiny skin. Google said that it is the turnover of cells in children because they slough off more skin than adults. I told my mom this while sitting in her den, as she is a worried Grandma. She asked me why Jacob is walking funny, and has trouble bending over. I looked at

her funny. “What do you mean?” I asked. “He’s not flexible at all and he has always walked and run on his toes... that’s why his sisters call him Twinkle Toes.” She pointed out that it was different this time that she saw him, that he couldn’t bend over and pick up her small dog well, and that his heel never touched the ground when he walked. My Aunt Betty, who was having coffee with us, agreed. I explained that he had never been flexible and that his last Rheumatoid Arthritis blood work, in February, had come back negative. After my aunt went home, she started Googling “shiny skin and stiff joints.” She called me and told me to Google “Scleroderma.” So I did... and my world turned upside down in the space of 30 minutes. See, I didn’t have a complete “Mom Fail.” In kindergarten, when it was quite apparent during his fitness testing in PE that Jacob was not flexible, I began to worry about this. I had him tested for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Over the years, he had signs and symptoms of some vascular issues, pigment changes in his knuckles, skin infection around his eye, his extreme sleep habits (12-14 hours each weekend night), all of which I had checked out by our GP, and all of which came back with no positive test results and no explanation. So, after my Google session on Scleroderma, I called my GP and spoke with the nurse about my findings. She had him call me back and I explained everything to him and forwarded him the information that I had found. The day after we

returned home, we sat in his office. His face was very serious as he looked over Jacob, pinching his skin, bending his hands. He turned to Danny and I and stated that he agreed with me that he could very well have this disease, and then explained that he had never seen a case in a child before. He drew some blood from Jacob and said if his ANA (Anti-Nuclear Antibody) came back positive, that he would be referring us to the Rheumatology Department at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He explained that they only took one new case per month and it was likely that they would not be able to see us for 6-8 months, unless the blood work warranted a sooner appointment. That was a Tuesday. On Thursday, the nurse called and said that the ANA was positive and she was putting in a call to ACH, but to not be surprised if I did not hear from them due to their caseload. I was prepared to wait. In my thoughts, if we have to wait 6-8 months, then this Scleroderma business is not that serious. At 9AM on Friday morning, I received a phone call with a (501) area code. I answered and heard the voice of Dr. Sukesh Sukamaran, the Pediatric Rheumatologist at ACH. He stated that he and his panel of doctors had reviewed Jacob’s blood work and would like to see him the following Friday. As I tried to fight back a panic attack, I agreed that we would be there at the stated time.

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE > When Summer Hits, Math Skills Slip! Transform Your Child’s Summer

During summer, kids lose up to 3 months of their math skills. In only 2-3 sessions per week, your child can avoid this “summer slide” and start the school year strong. Kids love our faceto-face instruction and fun activities. And Mathnasium fits with almost any schedule. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Mathnasium of Bentonville M at hnasium of Locat ion

103 SW(000) Winsted Bentonville 000-MLn, ATH (6284) 657-3000locat ion mat(479) hnasium.com/

#### St reet Name, Cit y, St at e Zip www.mathnasium.com/bentonville

peekaboonwa.com

photo by: Robin Fulton Photography

The next week flew by, and I submerged myself in research on Scleroderma. When we met with Dr. Sukamaran, it was confirmed with more blood work, a head-to-toe physical exam, and review of Jacob’s past medical records that he indeed had Scleroderma-Diffuse Juvenile Systemic Scleroderma with Overlap Syndrome and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. JSSc is uberrare, as in 0.27 per million children per year in the world are diagnosed with this disease. Scleroderma is a rare connective tissue disease where the immune system starts fighting against itself and creating copious amounts of collagen cells which replace healthy skin cells. This causes the skin to be tight and scarred. The diffuse systemic type that Jacob has also leads to internalization and begins to affect his internal organs as well, including the lungs, kidneys, heart, gastrointestinal system, and blood vessels. It was not a good diagnosis. We began aggressive treatments of steroids, immunosuppressants, and biologic drugs to reduce the symptoms that Jacob was experiencing. We added in physical therapy and occupational therapy to treat his inability to move his body correctly. You see, there is no cure for Scleroderma--only treatment of the symptoms. And boy, the symptoms are many. Dr. Sukamaran told me that very first day that we caught the disease in the early stages of progression. He said that there would be stages of progression and stages of nonprogression of the disease, and that this would be a long, hard process for my child and my family. The outpouring of love that we receive on a daily basis from our community, and our extended family’s community, is nothing short of amazing. They have done fundraisers for us so that we could take Jacob to Disney World last fall. They pray for us daily. They always have a

June/ July 2020

kind word to offer or ask how Jacob is doing. This has kept me sane over the last two years. To know that people love and support you during a battle that will last for a long, long time... there are no words to express our gratitude. We were blessed after six months of treatment with a 8-9 month respite of non-progression in Jacob’s disease. However, over the last 9 months we have seen a rapid progression in his disease. Jacob has some changes in his lungs. He is also being evaluated soon for changes in his GI system. He has had major changes in his skin. But during all of these changes, there are three things that I know for sure: God is good, prayer works, and we will fight! There is no cure. This is for life. But it will not define us. We will educate. We will raise awareness. We will fund research. We will fight. Our communities are educated on Scleroderma because we reach out to them. However, too little is known about Scleroderma. The research is underfunded and limited. At this point, Jacob IS the research for his type of this disease. More awareness needs to be brought to NWA about this disease because, as we have found, more people suffer from Scleroderma than you think. People need to know what it is and how to fight it. There need to be support groups and researchfunding activities. So, I ask you to join me and my community in bringing more awareness to the disease that Jacob fights daily.

www.peekaboonwa.com

June is Scleroderma Awareness Month. If you would like to know more about Scleroderma, or help start support groups or fund-raising activities, please reach out to me at: email: jacobsjourneywithjssc@gmail.com website: scleroderma.org

Come help Jacob fight!

Now Enrolling for fall!! The Ultimate After School and Summer Program The Mobius experience... Technology, science, and art rooms for kids to learn with hands-on projects Gymnasium and game room for high-energy activity Ultimate playground with a triple decker slide, zipline, and full-size soccer field Visit exploremobius.com for more information!

bentonville@exploremobius.com

davidadams.com

479-224-8077

100 West Center, Ste 101 Fayetteville 479-444-7778

“

The

”

word By Sophia Lacy While in quarantine, I have focused on getting things done that I really never made time for, as well as attempting the things I have always wanted to try. My activities have stretched from bottle flipping to alphabetizing my brother’s video games to making pumpkin bread in the middle of May. To me, this seems usual, given the pandemic situation. The first week of quarantine, my time was mostly spent doing schoolwork, but I was able to work out and exercise with my very motivated brother. As a freshman in college, I was working hard to finish the semester strong. I was busy, but had time for myself. School was actually great because it kept me occupied and my mind off the pandemic. Most people my age probably think online school isn’t fun; I thought it was great because I didn’t have to leave my bed for class! The new two weeks of quarantine were pretty much the same, with the addition of my brother making wild desserts (including groundbreaking homemade cosmic brownies) every day. After I finished my first year of college, I didn’t have much to do. I started working, but still wasn’t motivated to do much and really had little to do. Sadly, I must admit I missed school and still do (as a college student, it is frowned upon to say you miss classes). I did anything that popped into my mind for weeks. I cleaned the entire house one day before noon. I tried learning American Sign Language after watching A

Quiet Place (which I recommend, but not at night. Too quiet and creepy for my taste). I FaceTimed all my high school friends and family every week, but still found myself with so much time on my hands. I noticed a lot of people around me saying, “I’m bored.” It seemed everyone hated the idea of staying home for weeks with “nothing” to do. I also thought I would be staring at the wall for hours with nothing to do. Then, it came to me: it wasn’t that I had nothing to do or couldn’t find something to do; it was that I had no motivation. I had stopped working out, trying new things, and keeping myself busy. I blamed COVID-19 and said I had nothing to do because everyone else was saying it. Then, on week five of quarantine, I swore off saying the word “bored.” And I haven’t said it since. I did this because each time I would go downstairs and say, “I’m bored,” to my family or text someone to say, “I’m bored,” there was always something that could be done. So, here are my methods to avoid saying, “I’m bored.” First off, you absolutely cannot say it anytime until quarantine is over. Pretty easy right? Wrong. Everyone has said it before and I hear it a lot, so I have to stop myself from saying it. Next, you can’t agree with someone who says, “I’m bored.” Agreeing is the same as saying it, and that’s cheating in this game.

Finally, when you have the urge to say it, stop and think about what you could do to help yourself and others. I have organized almost everything and cleaned everything in my home. The action doesn’t have to be extraordinary, like learning a new language or biking for hours on end. It just has to be something to keep you occupied. Being occupied means you are going to accomplish something, which makes your day productive. Just do it. These rules might seem simple and easy to follow, but they are about as hard as playing poker (though learning to play poker could be fun and also one of the things that keep you from saying the “b” word).

You’d be surprised how often you say the “b” word without thinking about it. Things have definitely changed. Over the last few weeks, I have been very productive and occupied. I have the time to do practically anything; more than I even imagined. I have made hundreds of cookies, read lots of books, aggressively cleaned my closet, organized all my music playlist and written letters to all my college friends. Take advantage of this time, because once we go back to “normal,” you’ll wish that you had something to tell friends and family when they ask what you did during quarantine.

INTRODUCING

PACKAGES STARTING FROM

99 MO.

For 12 mos. plus taxes & Regional Sports Fee when bundled.

W/24-mo. agmt & other qualifying AT&T svc (min. $39.99/mo. + taxes and fees). TV prices higher in 2nd year.* Regional Sports Fee up to $8.49/mo. is extra & applies.

All your favorite entertainment, together in one place, including: Live TV & Sports, On Demand, Cloud DVR, and access to HBO, Netflix, Pandora & more!1 1 Req's separate subscription/login for HBO,® Netflix and Pandora..

CALL your AT&T Dealer Today! Iv Support Holdings LLC

1-855-900-3809 AT&T TV: Requires high speed internet. Recommend minimum Internet 25 plan (min 8 Mbps per stream for optimal viewing). Limit 3 concurrent AT&T streams. See att.com/tv for details. *$19.95 ACTIVATION, EARLY TERMINATION FEE ($15/M). FOR TV) FOR EACH MONTH REMAINING ON AGMT., EQUIPMENT NON-RETURN & ADD’L FEES APPLY. Price Incl. ENTERTAINMENT AT&T TV Pkg., 1 AT&T TV device & is after $10/mo. bundle discount on TV for up to 12 mos. Pay $49.99/mo. + taxes until discount starts win 3 mos. New residential customers only, excluding DIRECTV and U-verse TV customers. Rest’s apply.

peekaboonwa.com

At Pediatric Dental Associates and Orthodontics youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll discover that we go the extra mile for our patients! From the LPgA moment you see our office, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know what we mean. We have a fully themed environment that is comforting and fun for your children. We offer preventive, restorative, and orthodontic services for kids ages 0-18. We also specialize in dental care for children with special needs.

1607 E. Rainforest Rd. Fayetteville, AR 72703

801 SW Regional Airport Blvd. Bentonville, AR 72712

Fayetteville: 479-582-0600

Bentonville: 479-268-5000

#brushflossrepeat

We accept all insurances and we are in-network with Delta Dental, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, ARKids, Delta Dental Smiles, and MCNA.

www.siloamwomenscenter.com

Kyle Thompson, DO, FACOG

Chad Hill, MD, FACOG

Natalie Eiland, DO

Siloam Springs Women’s Center BOARD CERTIFIED OB - GYN SPECIALISTS SERVING SILOAM SPRINGS REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Focusing On:

• Comprehensive OB Care & Delivery • Gynecological and Laparoscopic Surgery • Female Incontinence • Pelvic Pain • Pelvic Reconstruction • Minimally Invasive Outpatient Hysterectomy • In-Ofﬁce Surgical Sterilization

Now Accepting New Patients COMMERCIAL INSURANCE • MEDICARE • OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS & MISSOURI MEDICAID

603-2 N. Progress Avenue, Suite 100, Siloam Springs 479.524.9312 Hours: Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm

peekaboonwa.com

2020

Camp Guide

PREVIEW

Camp dates and times dependent on continually evolving public health situation. Please be sure to check individual websites.

Amazeum 1009 Museum Way, (J St & Museum Way) Bentonville, Arkansas www.amazeum.org Amazeum summer camps specialize in curiosity! Our unique week-long summer camps are the perfect place to unleash your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curiosity to explore and make new discoveries. Summer camps offer hands-on, STEAM-focused fun that encourages your camper to be a creative explorer. Camps include: Welcome to Dragon Training, Room Makeover, Mechanical Pinata Party, Lighting Bugs, and more

SUMMER ART CAMPS 2020 Imagine Studios 479-619-6085 imaginestudiosnwa.com Fire up your creativity and join the summer fun! Imagine Studios camps are for creative, artsy kids of all ages. Campers will work with a variety of mediums such as watercolor, clay, canvas, acrylics, board art, glass fusing, and/or ceramic painting.

Community Creative Center communitycreativecenter.org Community Creative Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Time for Art Virtual Summer Art Camp invites kids to embark on a full week of hands-on, virtually taught arts adventure, exploring the art in the world around us in the safety of their own homes. Virtual art camps are offered in both the morning 9:30 am to 11:30 am, and in the afternoon 12:30 to 2:30 pm. Camps are organized into two age groups, 6-8 and 9-14 years old. Students can register for morning, afternoon or both camps.

Camp Eagle summer Camp War EagleWar is a Christian 14323camp Camp War Eagle in Rogers, AR! Rd Rogers, Arkansas HOW MUCH IS IT? (479) 751-8899 Camp can be affordable! Tuition is based www.campwareagle.org on family income & starts as low as $20

perwill session! An adventure that not stop at the end of the summer, but will continue WHO CAN APPLY?throughout the year... an adventure that fun, exciting, Camp is for kids andwill teensbe ages challenging life-changing! 7 to 17!and There is an Overnight camp on Beaver Lake and Day Camp options in a town near you!

APPLY TODAY!

campwareagle.org | (479) 751-8899

ReWild Nature Summer Camps 2020 (479) 310-9107 (text/call) rewildthechildnwa@gmail.com rewildthechildnwa.com Coler Mountain Bike Preserve ReWild Summer Camp June 22 -June 25 - 12PM-3:30PM / Ages 7-10 ReWild Boys Social Skills Camp July 13 -July 16 - 12PM-2PM - Ages 12-15 Kindergarten Readiness & Review Camp July 27 -July 29 - 9AM-12PM - Ages 4-6

Lazer Lee Photography Phone: (479) 644-7121 Email: lazerleephotography@yahoo.com Facebook: Lazer Lee Photography

Dr. Britte Smith of HerHealth Clinic understands the emotions that can come with a visit to the OB/GYN because she’s felt them herself. That’s why she’s committed to high quality and compassionate care. Dr. Smith’s experience as a woman, mother and a doctor helps her understand what her patients are going through. Learn more about Dr. Smith and HerHealth Clinic at wregional.com/herhealth.

“I get how vulnerable women can feel at the doctor’s office because I’ve been there.” Britte Smith, MD

We get you. Care for Women, by Women. 479.463.5500

2020

Camp Guide

PREVIEW

Code Ninjas 1501 SE Walton Blvd Suite 115, Bentonville www.codeninjas.com Transform your child’s love for technology and video games into an exciting learning adventure. Code Ninjas Camps offer an immersive environment for children to explore and develop new skills, gain confidence, and have fun with friends. It’s an unforgettable experience! Watershed Summer Camp irwp.org We hope you will join us at camp this summer! We will be exploring different ecosystems in Northwest Arkansas, participating in interactive, nature-based activities, and taking a field trip to Lake Fayetteville Environmental Study Center! Snacks will be provided each day and a cookout will occur each Friday during lunch to celebrate the end of camp week.

Here are a few of our favorite camps for kids this year! The full guide can also be found online at www.peekaboonwa.com

Camp dates and times dependent on continually evolving public health situation. Please be sure to check individual websites.

Board Game Knights 1400 SW Susana Street, Bentonville www.boardgameknight.com Board Game Knights is Northwest Arkansas’ premier board game lounge located in Bentonville. Join us for a unique summer camp experience for ages 9-12. Campers will spend the day immersed in board games, collaboration, and competition. They will spend each week learning the essential components to tabletop games and creating a game of their own. Each week features a new type of game and selection of games curated for campers.

Buddy Pegs Summer Camps www.buddypegs.com/summercamps www.facebook.com/BuddyPegs

The Little Gym 2603 W. Pleasant Grove, Suite 118, Rogers, AR 479-636-5566 Little Gym’s expert instructors fill each threehour camp day with fitness and fun. Obstacle courses challenge them. Arts and crafts engage them. And group activities, snack time and special events give them time to interact and build their social skills – all in a non-competitive, nurturing environment.

What better way to spend a summer week than on a bicycle?! Buddy Pegs summer camps are perfect for kids (ages 4 1/2 to 9) with a wide range of ability levels, including: kids who are not pedaling yet, new pedalers who want to improve their bicycle skills, and rippers who want to improve their mountain biking skills. The Buddy Pegs Ride Leaders work hard to ensure that all kids individually progress in their skills and double their bike stoke throughout the week! Go to buddypegs.com/summercamps to find the perfect camp for your child’s ability.

SAY HELLO TO YOUR BEFORE

DREAM KITCHEN In just 2-5 days starting at $99-$249/month

Refacing & Redooring Cabinet Painting Custom Cabinets 1 Day Tune-Up

FREE ESTIMATES Ryan & Alexandra Bennet

479.320.9090

kitchentuneup.com Kitchen Tune-Up Rogers, AR Each franchise is locally owned & operated.

After Refacing

Before

Quickly seek care in a medical emergency! Northwest Health emphasizes patient safety and importance of timely care Northwest Health (NWH) is urging the local community to seek emergency care when needed – without delay. If you experience a medical emergency such as chest pain that may be a heart attack or stroke symptoms, getting care timely will support the best possible outcome. As the hospital responds to COVID-19, it is taking extra precautions, going above and beyond all normal efforts to keep the hospital clean and safe for patients and caregivers. The latest campaign by the American Heart Association (AHA) – Be Certain In Uncertain Times – reinforces the critical need to secure treatment as soon as possible. The AHA is working to remind everyone that heart attacks, strokes and cardiac arrests don’t stop for COVID-19. “Heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest symptoms are always urgent, so call 9-1-1 without hesitation,” said Dr. Danelle Richards, NWH emergency services medical director. “Emergency workers know what to do to protect and care for you. Emergencies don’t stop for COVID-19.” Safety remains the hospital’s highest priority and it has taken action to enhance infection prevention, restrict access to the facility, and support social distancing to maintain a safe environment for patients who need medical care. Among the many precautions in place, everyone who enters the buildings, including staff, is screened, and all employees, physicians, and patients are expected to wear masks. Care for any individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 is delivered in a restricted, separate area away from other patients. Cleaning and disinfection are emphasized in caregiving areas and throughout the facility, including high-touch items like door handles, elevator buttons, tables, and chairs. Getting fast medical treatment could be the difference between life and death – so NWH asks everyone to pay attention to the signs of a health emergency and act quickly. Call 9-1-1, come to the hospital, and get the help you need.

The emergency rooms at Northwest Health are here for you and your family 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To learn more about our services, visit NorthwestHealth.com today.

Know the signs and symptoms Signs and symptoms for a heart attack include: • Chest discomfort • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body • Shortness of breath Other possible signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. *Signs for women: the most common heart attack symptom for women is chest pain. Some women are more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

June/ July 2020

www.peekaboonwa.com

Remember to act F.A.S.T. for stroke

Cardiac arrest

• Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? • Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? • Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

• Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. • Within seconds, a person becomes unresponsive, is not breathing or is only gasping. • Survival depends on getting immediate CPR.

We're open and we're ready to help you!

Virtual consultations are fun, easy and free!

BUY 1, GET 1

We Now Offer FREE Virtual Consultations! ✓ Be safe and secure ✓ Air-tight installation

OFF

YOUR ENTIRE PROJECT1 MINIMUM PURCHASE OF 4

PLUS

0 MONEY DOWN 0 INTEREST $ 0 MONTHLY PAYMENTS $ $

for 12 months1 MINIMUM PURCHASE OF 4. INTEREST ACCRUES FROM DATE OF PURCHASE BUT IS WAIVED IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 12 MONTHS.

CALL BY AUGUST 31 TO LOCK-IN THIS OFFER THE FULL SERVICE REPLACEMENT WINDOW DIVISION OF

844-236-6011

1 DETAILS OF OFFER: Offer expires 8/31/2020. Offer valid on initial visit only. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Buy one (1) window, get the next one (1) at 40% off and 12 months $0 money down, $0 monthly payments, $0 interest when you purchase four (4) or more windows or patio doors between 4/1/2020 and 8/31/2020. 40% off windows and patio doors are less than or equal to lowest cost window or patio door in the project. Subject to credit approval. Interest is billed during the promotional period but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid before the expiration of the promotional period. Financing for GreenSky® consumer loan programs is provided by federally insured, federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender or familial status. Available only at participating locations. See your local Renewal by Andersen location for details. Los Angeles License #992285. Orange County License #990416. MHIC #121441. VA License #2705155684. DC License #420215000125. License MN: BC130983/WI:266951. Excludes MN insurance work per MSA 325E.66. Other license numbers available on request. Some Renewal by Andersen locations are independently owned and operated. "ENERGY STAR" is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Renewal by Andersen" and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. © 2020 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. *Using U.S. and imported parts.

Compassionate care from board-certified physicians

Schedule a wellness exam! It’s important to stay up-to-date with your child’s wellness visits and vaccinations. We are open and here for you! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

separate acute care & well care immunizations newborn care adolescent care telemedicine online health portal

nwapediatrics.com PINNACLE HILLS

FAYETTEVILLE

Wellness Clinic & Acute Care & Walk-in Clinic

Wellness Clinic

Acute Care & Walk-in Clinic

3730 S. Pinnacle Hills Pkwy Rogers | 479.464.5597

3383 N. MANA Ct., Suite 101 Fayetteville | 479.443.3471

3380 N. Futrall Drive Fayetteville | 479.442.7322

Monday-Friday, 8am-5:30pm

Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

Monday-Friday, 8am-7:30pm Saturday, 8am-11am

FAYETTEVILLE

When someone in your family needs emergency care, you want it fast. Now, you can get the same quality emergency care you’ll find at Northwest Health at a NEW location in Fayetteville, the CLOSEST 24/7 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT to Elkins, Farmington, Lincoln, Prairie Grove and West Fork. From treatment of broken bones to care for life-threatening conditions, count on the dedicated team at Northwest Health Emergency Department Fayetteville. • 24/7 care • Emergency-trained physicians and staff • On-site lab services, X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound For directions or to check in online, visit MyFayettevilleER.com.

1255 S. Shiloh Drive, Fayetteville

NEW ER IN FAYETTEVILLE LESS WAITING NOW OPEN

Take I-49 to Exit 62

If you believe you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department as soon as possible. June/ July 2020 www.peekaboonwa.com