September 2015 by Peekaboo

Peekaboo Free Magazine

Northwest Arkansasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Family Magazine

Sept. 2015

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the PEEKABOO family Kimberly Enderle

Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com (479) 957-0532

Ava. Grant. and Holden. Jonathon Enderle

Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com (479) 586-3890

Distribution/ Circulation Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

Peekaboo Publications, PO Box 1036, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Peekaboo Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions. Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call (479) 586-3890 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 nwa W h at ’ s I n s i d e | S E P T E M B E R | 2 0 1 5 16

A Very Happy Homecoming by: Melissa Knight Miller

A Hero Across the Table by: Kathryn Pierce

Sweet Southern Advice with Sherry Lloyd

How Can Kumon Improve Performance on Standardized Tests?

The Unspoken About Loss... Finally Said by: Anonymous

DBI Notes with Downtown Bentonville

Dad’s View with Ben Lacy

Moments by: Leah Elliot

The Balancing Act of a Working Mom: “Dr. Mom” by: Dr. Sarah Rowden

Give In to Memories by: Nathan Rowe

Northwest Health System and Heads Up Football Focus on Education to Prevent Student Athlete Injuries

Fall Fashion Trends

Rituals of Life with Eva Lebens

Junior Real Men Wear Pink

The Dalai Mama with Kristin Hvizda

Emphasis on Safe Sleep for Baby Earns Willow Creek Women’s Hospital National Recognition

Play Date Picks

10 September 2015

Hometown Heroes!

on the c ov e r :

Owen, 10, Mason, 9, and Adalynn, 3, children of Scott and Kathryn Pierce.

Cover Photo by: EVERAFTER Portraiture everafterportraiture

from the editor A Look Ahead: Next Month: Annual ‘families with multiples’ issue! To be a part of this fun issue feauting twins and triplets, email editor@peekaboonwa.com. Then: November is our Adoption issue!

Created For You Photography

Last month, kids across the area went back into the classroom, and by now they are full-swing back into their routine. I love all three of my children’s new teachers, and am so thankful for the positive role they play in our family’s lives. These people are true heroes in our community. They do amazing things in and out of the classroom, and teach and mold the next generations, all with little thanks. It is easy to think that teachers are always in ‘adult form,’ but, since becoming a mommy, most of my education has come from my kids. For instance, recently Ava came home from school talking about an assignment she had been given, where she was to share what she was best at. She listed off the things her classmates wrote down, and then told us a few of her own. At the end of her assignment she wrote “...but what I am really best at is being me.” A lesson that hit home for me. Ava is a mother hen by nature, and sometimes when mothering comes from a big sister, it can be met with a bit of resistance. Sure, Holden shouldn’t stick his gum on his arm, or leave his nose unblown, or put his shoe up to his face like a telephone, but sometimes he does, and when he does he is always met with a reminder about germs and unsavory behavior by his big sis. The other day, when this happened, I turned around and told Ava that, while I loved that she knew what should and shouldn’t be done, sometimes she just had to “let Holden be Holden, and Grant be Grant... and for you to just be you.” That night, my own advice was flipped around and used to teach myself a lesson--though I was equally as resistant to it as Holden had been to his sister’s admonishments! After having a less than A+ day that day, I finally got all three kids to sleep and “I love yous” said, even though the struggle had been real to get them there. I climbed in bed,

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crestfallen, and shared my stress about my failings as a mom that day. I questioned what little good I had accomplished that day, and was met with my own advice: “Kim, just let you be you.” When a person takes on the title of “Mom” or “Dad,” they instantly become a role model and a little person’s hero. It is important to remember the magnitude of the big picture, and to allow the bad to balance the good--not negate it. This issue is all about honoring our hometown heroes, from those in uniform to those who sit across from you at the dinner table at night. This issue is for the heroes who are a constant source of inspiration to the people around them, and to those who see them from afar; for the moms who balance work and family; the parent who finds strength after the loss of a child; the boys and girls who walk bravely into their school lunchroom despite their deadly food allergy; the cancer survivor, and the men who wear pink to raise awarness for finding a cure. Hometown heroes come in every shape, and size with many different experiences and tales to tell. I am honored for you to meet them, just as I am now honored to know them. Take the time this month to say thank you to some of the heroes you know! And thank you for being you.

a very happy Homecoming

by Melissa Knight Miller

onrad and I met our senior year at Ole Miss. We were married September 11, 1999, a few weeks after he received his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. I remember an older family friend telling me at the time that the military was an ideal profession during peacetime.

Truer words had never been spoken. Two short years later, our nation, and our lives would be forever changed. After Conrad completed the Officer Basic Course, we were assigned to the 125th Signal Battalion in Hawaii for our first duty station. Our son, Christian, was born at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu in February of 2001. Conrad would deploy on a six month peace-keeping

16 September 2015

mission to Bosnia not long after Christian celebrated his first birthday. We welcomed our second child, Jackson, into the world in September of 2003 in Augusta, Georgia. Three months later, Conrad would deploy to Baghdad, Iraq with the 519th Military Police battalion, the day after Saddam Hussein was captured. Christian, Jackson, and I celebrated Jackson’s first Christmas at Fort Polk, Louisiana, which would be the first of several major holidays without my husband and the father of my children. Conrad would return four months later and separate from active duty shortly thereafter. (The MPs were two-thirds of the way finished with their deployment when Conrad joined them in Baghdad as their Signal officer.) Thankfully, communication was scarce during this first deployment. The reason I say this is is because, unbeknownst to me, Conrad was patrolling Baghdad with the military police. That was a time of much unrest in Iraq and Conrad witnessed many things. He doesn’t really talk much about what he saw. I do know that Iraqi children would approach the soldiers on the roadside begging for

food and water, often giving the Americans a thumbs up sign. Conrad was hired by Walmart at a Junior Military Officer recruiting conference in the fall of 2004. Our family moved to Washington State and then briefly to northern California before Conrad was called up to deploy to Iraq a second time through the Army Reserves. As a result, the boys and I moved to Franklinton, Louisiana to be near family during Conrad’s pre-deployment training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and deployment (spanning 15 months). He would receive the Bronze Star during this second deployment to Iraq. Anyone who is close to my husband knows he possesses a strong work ethic. He earned this honor due to a theater-level impact on communications. Conrad provided network infrastructure for the war fighter, greatly enhancing their ability to receive real time intelligence and communications. I cannot say enough what a blessing Walmart is to their associates serving in the military. The company kept Conrad’s job waiting for him upon his return, continued our benefits, and would call to check on me periodically. In the spring of 2008, our family moved to Northwest Arkansas. We welcomed our third child, Madeline Rae, in August of that same year. Conrad continued serving with an Army Reserve unit in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma with the intent to retire with 20 years of combined service in the Mississippi National Guard, active duty and Army Reserves; however, one last deployment to the Middle East would rear its head.

On August 1, 2014 Conrad flew to Fort Dix, New Jersey to begin his pre-deployment training. Conrad serves with the 315th Quartermaster Detachment out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The unit would serve as a petroleum liaison detachment, meaning that they would manage fuel for all of the CENTCOM areas of operation. This deployment would be a bit different from the others, as I would be entirely on my own. Our closest family is my in-laws who live in Wichita, Kansas. In early September, I flew to New York City to spend the weekend with Conrad

With each deployment, I have relied heavily on my faith to see me through. My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” before his unit shipped out to Kuwait and Afghanistan. We enjoyed taking in the sights and attending Wicked on Broadway, but my heart was heavy knowing I wouldn’t see my husband again for another nine months. With each deployment, I have relied heavily on my faith to see me through. My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” At times, the weight from shouldering the responsibility of caring for our three children was almost unbearable. All of our children are very active, involved in numerous sports and activities, as well as attending three different schools. There were times I didn’t know how I would manage it all, but I didn’t

want them to have to give up something they truly enjoyed, since they were already giving up enough by being separated from their daddy. I would look to the skies and meditate on Psalm 121:1-2. “I lift my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” I would draw my strength from the Lord each and every day. Conrad flew to XNA the morning of June 18th. A dear friend of mine went through a lot of trouble spearheading his homecoming at the airport. My in-laws, the kids, and I met Conrad directly outside of the security gate. We exchanged long-awaited hugs and happy tears. Then, as he stepped foot on the escalator, cheers erupted from down below. Conrad was not expecting the fifty-plus crowd of wellwishers, ranging from boys he had coached in Bentonville youth baseball to co-workers, church members, neighbors, and the like. That is not a moment either of us will soon forget.

To say our neighbors and church family stepped up to the plate during this ordeal would be a gross understatement. Our family received random acts of kindness through gift cards, home-cooked meals, play dates, babysitting, etc. Friends filled in the gap by cheering on my children at their sporting events when Conrad couldn’t be there in the stands, always encouraging me with a kind word or hug, and even shuttling kids to/ from school and music lessons when I became ill with pancreatitis. I can never say thank you enough for the outpouring of love, support, and, most importantly, prayers my family received. The military life is not for the faint of heart. I cannot tell you how many nights I would cry myself to sleep. I quit watching the news long ago because it would keep me up worrying for hours. Even still, my heart swells with pride and my eyes with tears every time I hear our national anthem. I love this great country of ours and know the sacrifices our family (and so many others) have not been made in vain.

Conrad and I met our senior year at Ole Miss. We were married September 11, 1999, a few weeks after he received his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. I remember an older family friend telling me at the time that the military was an ideal profession during peacetime. Truer words had not been spoken. Two short years later our nation, and our lives, would be forever changed. After completing Officer Basic Course, we were assigned to the 125th Signal Battalion in Hawaii for our first duty station. Our son Christian was born at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu in February of 2001. Conrad would deploy on a six month peace-keeping mission to Bosnia not long after Christian celebrated his first birthday. We welcomed our second child Jackson into the world in September of 2003 in Augusta, Georgia. Three months later Conrad would deploy to Baghdad, Iraq with the 519th Military Police battalion, the day after Saddam Hussein was captured. Christian, Jackson and I celebrated Jackson’s first Christmas together at Fort Polk, Louisiana. It would be the first of several major holidays without my husband and the father of my children. Conrad would return four months later and separate from active duty shortly thereafter. (The MPs were two-thirds of the way done with their deployment when Conrad joined them in Baghdad as their Signal officer.) Thankfully communication was scarce during this first deployment. The reason I say this is, unbeknownst to me Conrad was patrolling Baghdad with the military police. That was a time of much unrest in Iraq and Conrad witnessed many things. He doesn’t really talk about what he saw much. I do know that Iraqi children would approach the soldiers on the roadside begging for food and water, often giving the Americans a thumbs up sign. Conrad was hired by Walmart at a Junior Military Officer recruiting conference in the fall of 2004. Our family moved to Washington state then briefly to northern California before Conrad was called up to deploy to Iraq a second time through the Army Reserves. The boys and I moved to Franklinton, Louisiana to be near family during Conrad’s pre-deployment training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and deployment (spanning 15 months). He would receive the Bronze Star during this second Iraq deployment. Anyone who knows my husband well knows he possesses a strong work ethic. He earned this honor due to a theater level impact on communications. Conrad provided network infrastructure for the war fighter, greatly enhancing their ability to receive real time intelligence and communications. I cannot

A Hero Across the Table

by: Kathryn Pierce

sk anyone you know to describe or give an example of a hero, and I am certain you will get a lot of different, albeit slightly predictable, answers. Many people that I, personally, have asked more often than not reference the brave men and women of our military who have fought to protect our freedom. Since I come from a military family, that example is also the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word “hero.” In addition, other occupations and callings that people find heroic include firemen, doctors, athletes, teachers, or perhaps someone that is battling cancer or another debilitating illness. While all of these are great examples, you rarely hear anyone simply reference their spouse as being their hero. Once this occurred to me, I began to wonder why.

I believe we get so caught up in comparisons and the dramatic stories in the media that we don’t think to compare the courage or noble qualities of our spouses to that of a military member or someone battling cancer. Maybe the thought of referencing our spouse as a “hero” might indicate we are placing them on a pedestal, or perhaps we fail to see or acknowledge the character and courage of the person we have become so familiar with through marriage and parenting. After all, we do get used to our spouses. Let us no longer discount the everyday, unsung hero. If you know or have seen my husband even once, he is easy to spot in a crowd. He is 6’8”, and weighs 250 lbs. He is a nightmare to shop for and gets asked on a daily basis about his height. To his credit, he never gets upset or impatient when answering the same question, “Wow. How tall are you?” (over, and over, and over). Besides his height, the other typical question he is asked is whether he played basketball, to which he answers that he played in college at Oklahoma State. Even though he was a stand-out player on a Final Four team, most people immediately lose interest after that

20 September 2015

because he was not a Razorback. Despite this slight, I think the loyal, enthusiastic fan base of the Arkansas Razorbacks is one of the things he enjoys most about living in NWA.

When he was at Oklahoma State, my husband got to meet one of his heroes, a 12-year-old boy named Scott Carter. Scott was battling bone cancer and had become a fixture of the Oklahoma State basketball team before my husband’s arrival. When he was first diagnosed with cancer, he started putting together

a remarkable collection of sports and celebrity memorabilia which contained signed boxing gloves from Muhammad Ali, a signed football from Barry Sanders, a signed hockey stick from Wayne Gretzky, and a signed basketball from Michael Jordan. The collection was designed to help raise money for children’s cancer research. It was while he was on his quest for memorabilia that his path crossed former Arkansas, and then Oklahoma State basketball Coach Eddie Sutton. Coach Sutton had formed a deep connection with the young boy and asked that he sit on the bench at all home games as an honorary member of the OSU basketball team. My husband, who red-shirted his first season at OSU, sat right next to Scott during all the home games that season, which is where their friendship began. “I think most people might assume that our friendship consisted of some small amount of pity”, said my husband, “Absolutely not. Like many friendships, it began by us making jokes about each other. I would make jokes about his glasses and he would make fun of the fact that he played as many minutes of OSU basketball as I did.” Through that form of male bonding, my husband and Scott became fast friends.

It was a true friendship, and a feeling of being kindred spirits that brought us together. “I felt like it was important that we started our friendship that way. It was a true friendship, and a feeling of being kindred spirits that brought us Turn the page ...

together. It was not until Scott started radiation later that season that I began to see the true battle he was fighting. You could see the effect the radiation was having on him, but he never complained. He never acted like a victim, even though, from my perspective, he had every excuse to.” After the season, Scott and my husband continued to build their friendship until the next basketball season came around. This season began with several of the opening games in Tulsa, Scott’s hometown. It was easy to see that Scott didn’t look the same. He had gained a substantial amount of weight, especially considering his skinny, lanky frame from a year ago. The weight was a byproduct of steroids used for his cancer treatment. Scott was losing his fight, and continued to decline. It would not be long before it was over. Sadly, after a three year battle, Scott passed away in December of 1993. My husband and other OSU team members were honored to be pallbearers at his funeral.

who know nothing about sports, like me, let’s just say that it was a huge accomplishment. Through it all, though, my husband managed to stay both humble and grateful. At the end of the season, in honor of Scott, my husband donated his Final Four ring to the Scott Carter “Heroes” collection, which had now grown to over 300 items from elite celebrities like Mickey Mantle, Garth Brooks, Arnold Palmer, and more. The ring was given in private to the Carter Family at the basketball banquet following that season. The next day, my husband was called into

year later, my husband found himself to A be fortunate enough to start on a team that made it to the Final Four. For those of you Coach Sutton’s office for a meeting. Coach told my husband that he heard about him giving his ring to the Carter family and said he had some remarkable news for him. Apparently, the NCAA had sent two Final Four rings with the name Pierce engraved on them that year in error. Coach Sutton looked at my husband and said, “The Lord works in mysterious ways.” He tossed the replacement ring to my husband and smiled. Last month, the Scott Carter Memorial Golf Tournament and Auction was held in Tulsa, just as it has been for the last 22 years. My husband and I were in attendance once again, in hopes of raising money for Children’s Cancer Research. To date, the Scott Carter Memorial has raised over $2.3 million.

22 September 2015

In my experience, heroes come in many shapes and sizes. Some are easy to spot, whether from wearing their uniforms or from the loss of hair due to undergoing chemotherapy. Many others are heroes that give of themselves quietly and without fanfare, like teachers, fireman, and doctors, for the benefit of others. In many cases, they are sitting right across the dinner table from you, devoted and dependable husbands or wives helping to raise the children you have together. My husband’s compassionate, giving heart and his daily self-sacrifices for the good of our family are an inspiration, because true heroism resides in the heart of a person, no matter their circumstances.

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Sweet Southern Advice

u o Y Are Glue? the

t’s that time again… back to school time. Back to being on a set schedule; hurrying children in the morning to eat, dress and get to school; worrying about after school childcare; feeling the pressure of homework assignments--which includes understanding this year’s new math; fitting in all the after school activities; cooking a healthy dinner, refereeing TV and computer time; and, finally, ending the day by enforcing the early bedtime. Exhausting much?

If this daily description makes your chest tighten up, then you, my friend, have a special gift…you are the glue that holds your family together. You are the “sticky secret” that makes every day move along without a hitch. If you are feeling the weight of these parental responsibilities, but are not sure of what success actually looks like, you are not alone. As parents, we set the standards high for raising happy, healthy children. Feeling confident at the end of the day that we succeeded can feel uncertain, and, at times, extremely overwhelming. We parents are wired internally to be the problem solver, the peace maker, a counselor of all things drama, EMT’s at a moment’s notice, and, while wearing all of these sticky hats, we still must be able to wave the magic wand to create a clean house, provide fabulous meals that don’t include a drive thru or the phrase, “Do you want fries with that?” and end each day on a harmonious note. Life’s events whirl around us so quickly that everything becomes a blur, making it harder and harder to stick together as a family and not get overwhelmed. There are so many distractions for families, along with increased pressure to perform and succeed, not leaving much time to just enjoy being a family. And when things get blurry, we make bad parenting decisions and, at times, we become reactive when handling stressful situations.

26 September 2015

When I look back to when my kids were young and still in grade school, I believe that my husband and I were guilty of putting intense pressure on them and ourselves to be involved in anything and everything in our small town. Let me ask the real questions: Do they really have to be in every sport, every dance class and every after school activity? Or is it more important to scale back on some of these extra things and refocus on what our kids really want and need at the end of a hectic day of performing at school?

www.sweetsouthernadvice.com As our children age and mature, it is so hard for us parents to back off and allow them to experience a slight crumble from their glued together world. We try to fix everything and keep it all together, when allowing them to feel a little bit of instability can

be somewhat healthy at times. The reality is that we sometimes overparent, which makes us enablers and is not healthy for our plan to create strong, confident adults.

Here is my Sweet Southern Advice on how to strengthen your family to face those times when things begin to crumble, and your glue is just not strong enough. Create a strong family identity. Your presence matters. It’s a sign of care and connectedness. I believe that families should eat meals together at a table and not eat out of a sack, riding in the car; families should play and laugh together; and I believe that a family should pray together, building faith and strength to greet the good and bad times.

and think about how you will deal with your day. Teaching your kids that each day brings with it joy as well as challenges will teach them to handle all kinds of circumstances with a joyful heart.

Remove unnecessary life noise. This is a tough one. Because we spend the majority of our week in a whirlwind, life is noisy. We react quickly to situations that need more quiet time and deep thought causing us to make bad decisions. Don’t make reactive parenting decisions. Instead, back away from the situation and quiet your mind and heart before reacting. The outcome will be so much more positive for you and your child.

Empower your kids to problem solve. There is no doubt that we hold things together day in and day out, problem solving and coddling our children. However, Accept each day as it comes there are teaching moments to you. Do not waste your where you can empower your time and energy wishing for a kids to also problem solve and different set of circumstances greet difficult things that come Sherry each day. Instead, take a breath their way. To subscribe to my blog, visit www.sweetsouthernadvice.com. Share this with someone you love. They will thank you for it…later.

“Coming up with the answers quickly and accurately is what counts the most.” - Toru Kumon

How Can Kumon Improve Performance On Standardized Tests?

or many students, “test” is a dreaded four-letter word. In addition, this anxiety can turn into downright panic if the test happens to be timed (as is the case with most standardized tests). Trepidation over taking a test becomes even worse if the consequences of test results are overstated for the student’s future educational or career prospects. The SAT, ACT and other such tests are considered to be very important for assessing students academically. Unfortunately, many students are not adequately prepared for these tests. If they are nervous or apprehensive, they will probably not perform well on standardized tests. With the Kumon Method, students develop their test-taking abilities naturally. In Kumon, every day’s assignment is a kind of test. The method trains students in ways that directly affect their ability to test well. Students not only learn several ways to approach a mathematical problem, but also acquire strong time management skills as well. Speed is another component of a student’s abilities, which facilitates standardized test performance. Whereas a typical standardized test may contain 45 math problems to be completed in 30 minutes, an assignment might contain 60 such problems with a Standard Completion Time of 30 minutes. The ability of students to finish quickly could provide them with extra time to check their answers on

kumon.com/bentonville

28 September 2015

standardized tests while other students may still be struggling to finish all the problems. The process of achievement testing in the Kumon Method also reinforces the idea that a test is not something to be feared, but an opportunity to demonstrate mastery. Likewise, our students grow accustomed to being timed. A long-term student develops the ability to stay on task and complete assignments quickly, as well as demonstrating a strong mastery of the basic mathematical operations. Students who are comfortable with being timed and tested have a definite advantage over those for whom the idea of taking a timed standardized test creates anxiety. Mathematics is a subject of great importance on standardized tests, often comprising at least 50% of the content. Students benefit from having an eclectic mathematical capacity. In other words, students who know only one strategy for attacking a difficult equation are not as well equipped as Kumon students, who have been exposed to a variety of methodologies. There is often more than one way to solve a problem; the more of these techniques a student has mastered, the better the prospects will be for performance on standardized tests. Today more than four million children in 48 countries and regions around the world are currently studying in Kumon.

kumon.com/Fayetteville-ar

kumon.com/lowell

The T Unspoken About Loss... Finally Said

he first year I felt like I had walked out of a gruesome car accident; bones broken, skin gashed, nerves exposed, and missing limbs. I felt physical, emotionally-driven pain that I didn’t know existed like that. Everyone looked at me as if I was normal, as if life was normal, as if life went on. Did they not see my broken, battered, and bleeding body? Life went on, while I was torn open from the inside and out, dying. On the days my oldest was in school, I would take the pain pills I had left over from labor (because I was in pain!) and eat an entire pizza. I thought it helped. All it did was made me gain 10 pounds, which I needed, because I was underweight for my size the day my daughter died in my arms. And for all of this, people called me “blessed.” I don’t get that. How is it a blessing that my daughter died? I find myself saying it now, too, because somehow it’s the social norm to say you have been “blessed” after a loved one dies. Really? We need to come up with something different, people. The second year after it happened, I was pregnant again, so therefore it was all supposed to be better... right? At least, that’s how everyone treated me, and that’s what everyone thought. I was in true love with the baby growing inside of me, but my motherly fears were amplified on what could happen to this baby--could she be taken from me, too? If she was, I would be right behind her. That was the peace I carried with me throughout my pregnancy: if this child was called to heaven, too, I would be right behind her. The third year I turned numb. Reading stories of sick “living” babies made me close the magazine, walk away from the conversation, and change the channel. My daughter was dead. Nothing is worse than that. It made me numb to the friends and family that never asked or tried to understand how I felt throughout the years. It had made me numb to my abusive, alcoholic husband. Most of you don’t know me, and those of you that do probably didn’t know that about me, because I would like to think I am a good faker. I have to be for my kids. I pulled myself out of bed most days, and went to parks, soccer practice, swimming lessons, libraries, and play dates. I worked out, put on makeup, went on girls’ nights out, went on dates, went to church, and went on vacations. I was

30 September 2015

there for my friends--and that was true, not faked. I hid my failing marriage, my alcoholic husband, and the abuse. I cried every day in my car, next to my sleeping children, or flat on the floor, praying for God to make the pain stop, bring her back, or take me away. Every day I woke up and, if I could push a “Live” or “Die” button, I would push the latter.

{ } This world has broken me down, disappointed me and left me hurt. But what I do know is God forgives me. He feels my pain, He lost a child, and He lost a child for ME. And I love Him for that. He holds my peace, my salvation and my eternal life. He holds my daughter. He gives me the peace that surpasses my understanding.

And, now as the third year rolls to an end, I am divorced. All the dreams and desires I had for my family are gone, on too many levels to describe. I am providing for my family after years out of the work place, and for that I feel blessed. I wasn’t good at giving the death of my daughter to God, but my failed marriage, I did, and I watched Him provide for me and keep me and my family safe. Now, I have to let go of the parenting I wanted to provide for my kids, with their mother there supporting them through learning the alphabet, potty training, a successful trip across the monkey bars, and the first to hear how their day at school was. Instead, I have to trust caregivers with those precious, oh so precious moments. I have learned to fake it at work, putting my professional foot forward for myself, my company, and my family. Now, I cry when I drive by parks and pools on my lunch break, thinking, “That’s where I should be... with my children, feeding them their lunch, teaching them to swim, and rocking them to sleep.” I have seen lights at the end of the tunnels throughout the years, but they always fade. I believe now that the only light we have will be eternal life that will be full of love, light and happiness. I know a lot of you are judging me and feeling pity. Please don’t. I write this for the mothers who have walked this path and feel alone. You are not. Anonymous

Why become a foster parent to a service dog in training?

hen my husband approached me with this question, it didn’t take long for me to agree. I have always felt a bit empty in an attempt to honor veterans for everything they have done for me and my family. We, like many families in America, have members who have served. As I get older and understand the sacrifices better, it overwhelms me. I cannot fathom what a veteran, once back home, goes through. How is it possible to get back to any sense of normalcy after seeing, hearing, feeling and experiencing what they have? Simply saying “thank you” (as we should) doesn’t seem near enough considering the expense they and their families have made. Those who served are all around us; they are in our families, in our work places, in our churches, towns, cities, working hard to get back to some sense of regularity with their lives. When my husband and I learned of Soldier ON Service Dogs, we knew it was an incredible way to make a difference and take action with our gratitude. Considering what a single veteran has sacrificed, caring for a puppy seems so insignificant and the absolute least we can do. In the short time since we made the decision to get involved, it has already been an incredible journey. Simply learning of so many others that want to give back and make a difference is so gratifying. Soldier ON Service Dogs can make such an incredible difference for a veteran diagnosed with PTSD or TBI. Not only can these dogs assist in so many daily functions desperately needed by the Veteran, what better loving companion can be given. We understand by simply loving and teaching a puppy, how it can ultimately impact a veteran’s life. That is the least we can do…. Tresa and Steve Oldham …and Zeus

DBI Notes group of Never doubt that a small can change the ens thoughtful, committed citizthin t ever has. tha g only the it’s ed, inde ; world -- Margaret Mead

hen we talk about what makes Bentonville such an extraordinary place to live I think that we always end up coming back to the same conclusion: it’s the humans that live here that make our community exceptional. We are privileged to live in an area where changing the world for the better is the norm and not the exception for our citizens.

Upcoming Events September 4th & 5th Sugar Creek Days We’re getting nostalgic this week-end with good old fashion fun! September 4th First Friday Activities Bank Robbery Re-enactment 5:30pm & 6:30pm Werther’s old fashioned candies & caramel popcorn Traditional kids crafts & activities with Vendormasters at Dave Peel Park Forging demos by Bentonville Ornamental Iron Live Americana music by Cindy Woolf, Mark Bilyeu & Yarn

34 September 2015

Apple tree giveaway by the Steuart & Tom Walton Funds of Walton Family Foundation

We look forward to welcoming you and your families to downtown Bentonville! At Downtown Bentonville Inc. (DBI) we have the honor of meeting local heroes every day, just like Tresa a manager at Walmart and her husband Steve (and Zeus!). Giving our local heroes the opportunity to share their stories makes our work that much more meaningful.

is a natural one given the inclusive community perspective. Meeting her and hearing her family story was inspirational and also a gentle reminder of how fortunate we are to live in this incredibly generous area.

Tresa is a member of the Associates for Disability Awareness and Education (ADAE) resource group at Walmart. This group is one of 7 Associate Resource Groups (ARGs) that encourage diversity and inclusion both at Walmart and in the community. The ARG and DBI partnership

Another way we celebrate our amazing community is by collaborating with other city organizations to offer exciting and unique free family experiences. Listed below are some of our upcoming September events. We want to connect to our community and we encourage and welcome every resident of Northwest Arkansas and beyond to become a member of DBI. Please visit us at 410 A Street, Bentonville or online at downtownbentonville.org to sign up for our newsletter and other free member benefits.

FREE MUSIC SERIES OFFERING A WIDE ARRAY OF STYLES FROM ARTISTS ALL OVER THE REGION IN VARIOUS DOWNTOWN VENUES.

SEPTEMBER 10 • BLU FRESH FISH MARKET OCTOBER 8 • 21c MUSEUM HOTEL OCTOBER 22 • PEDALER’S PUB NOVEMBER 12 • TABLE MESA DECEMBER 3 • RAMO D’OLIVO

September 5th Saturday Farmers Market Werthers candies chef demos Kids sack & 3 legged races Corn hole Square dancing demonstrations September 10th Notes at Night live music Blu Fresh Fish Market 607 SE 5th St. Bentonville September 12th World Championship Squirrel Cook Off Bentonville Square 9am-3pm September 18th Job Fair Bentonville Public Library

Dad’s View

c by Ben La

s I grow older (but not up!) the ol’ memory is either fading, or is far too full. Definitely fragmented--most likely in need of a good defrag (do we still do that to computers?). This loss of memory is the only plausible reason I can come up with for taking another family road trip. Have I not learned? Of course, the crazy-Lacy-family-vacay story has been told before, but never like this! Okay, so the scenery changed a bit this year, as we channeled John Denver (mountains) instead of Jimmy Buffett (beach), but the end game was the same: pandemonium! So, I’ll spare you all of the little fun facts--like how there isn’t an even semi-clean bathroom between Topeka, Kansas and Denver, Colorado, and that it is far easier in Denver to obtain ganja than gas, and that Kid #3 dined one evening on mere hot chocolate and queso, and that the insurance policy for white water rafting companies must be an attorney’s dream, as they willingly put 5 clearly incapable Lacys into a perfectly good raft and sent us down a perfectly terrifying 2-hour stretch of water. Nah, we’ve already chewed this dirt, so let’s move onto somethin’ else. I want to talk about something very cool in the

36 September 2015

very cool Colorado mountains... the locals. I’m a big fan of meeting the locals or natives when entering a new city, town, or territory. Treat em’ right, and they’ll let you peek behind the curtain, find the best restaurants, and show you the off-thebeaten-path gems that will never, ever be found in brochures. I’ve also found they are fiercely loyal to each other, and always have each other’s backs. As I was raised in a small town, this greatly appeals to me. This localism isn’t a small town thing, and it isn’t a Midwestern thing; it seems to be found everywhere. I’ve seen it among Kansas wheat farmers who willingly loan friends tractors that are more expensive than Ferraris, along with free labor to complete a harvest; or, on the North Shore of Hawaii, where the love of the land and sea has transformed an entire culture into a nearly impenetrable family (you are either in or out, no in between!) I saw it when the tornado hit Joplin, MO a few years ago, when I wrote about the localism of that community who quickly and effectively embraced each other in order to rebuild the scar left over from the storm. New York City showed it, when 9/11 transformed a city of people identified as Polish, German, Russian, Chinese, Puerto Rican, Israeli, Indian, and Italian into a city of people identified as “New Yorkers”. The Colorado natives of the ski country we encountered also displayed a strong sense of community, and were constantly looking out for each other, whether in the river rapids, the ski slopes, or at the local general store. The population of Northwest Arkansas, specifically Bentonville, as that is where I’m usually roaming, has grown so fast it is sometimes hard to find a true “local.” I’m one of those “Ven-duh” people who have flooded this corner of the state over the last few decades, so I’m not a native, but, not surprisingly, many of my close friends are. Again, locals rule. If you don’t know a NWA local, then you probably haven’t filled your belly at Herman’s, you don’t get very good seats at Razorback football games, and you probably don’t catch many fish on the White River. Despite this rapid growth, there is a new sort of “localism” in Bentonville, and I was delighted to find it a few weeks ago. Before I go on, let me get

back to the ‘vendor invasion’ of the 90’s and 00’s. Every family that moved from Chicago or New York or Atlanta or Cincinnati or Dallas said the same thing, “My company told me I had to get experience on the Walmart account. I told them I would stay two years; then I’m outta here! Who wants to live in Arkansas?” Well, actually, based on the latest census, um... all of you! NWA has a way of quickly and wonderfully assimilating all those who enter. These newly minted “locals” all share a different sense of community. They were all from “there” and now they all live “here”. All have the same stories of despising, then loving, Arkansas, all went through leaving their families for the unknown foothills of the Ozarks, and all seem to be pretty dang happy with their decision. Like I said, I’m one of them. A few weeks ago, the queen and I were dining at one of downtown Bentonville’s newest restaurants (it still amazes me to write that sentence) when the new localism really showed. As we sat on the deck listening to one of my all-time favorite musicians (Amen, brother Roger!) a crowd of 10, then 20 continued to grow. The chairs and tables and benches became sort of communal property as everyone freely wandered from table to table. For the most part, these weren’t people that knew each other; they were transplants that have now firmly planted roots. The people at our table changed often, sort of like speed dating, as everyone mingled and talked about how they got from “there” to “here”. Suddenly the big town of Bentonville became small again. A new sense of community formed. In my opinion, it isn’t so easy to have a strong sense of community in this area. Too many subdivisions (just not a fan), too many competitive youth teams (that fracture relationships), too many alphas (male and females-- after all, companies don’t put the shy, quiet, meek guy on the Walmart account, they send in the gladiators!). However, through all of the barriers there have become bonds. So, if you are new to the area know you aren’t alone, and while you may not be a native, you’ll soon be a local. Welcome to the family!

CALENDAR • 2015 Weekly Activities: Monday:

Artist Retreat Center 2D Design - 12pm to 2pm 13467 Lookout Drive, Bella Vista

Library story times:

Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org Siloam Springs Library: siloamsprings.com

Various design projects for beginners to advanced. Ages 8-13. Call (479) 268-6463 to register.

Special events:

Artist Retreat Center Art and Nature - 2:30 to 4:30pm 13467 Lookout Drive, Bella Vista

Thursday, September 3

Gather from nature and create a take-home project. Ages 8-13. Call (479) 268-6463 to register.

Tuesday:

Family Program 11am Siloam Springs Public Library Little Artist led by Ms. Gigi at Crafty Cottage 10:30am and repeated at 12:30pm Little Giggles - Bentonville $8 per child paid directly to Ms. Gigi. Best for ages 2+ Admission to Little Giggles is discounted to $5.50 + tax if you’d like to stay to play. A 45 minute art class, completing two projects.

Wednesday:

Little Sprouts at Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks 9:30am & 10:15am http://bgozarks.org/learn/education-classes/little-sprouts/ Preschool Art Class » Lovely Lines Crystal Bridges Let’s cover the basics of art this fall, starting with lines! All materials are provided. $45/3 classes for one child plus an adult ($36 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.Wednesday, September 2, 9, and 16, 1 to 2:15 pm

Thursday:

Storytime Fun - Siloam Springs Public Library 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Preschool Program – Storytime with Ms. Laura

Saturday:

Storytime at Barnes and Noble, Rogers and Fayetteville 11:00 AM

Sunday:

Sidewalk Sundays Walmart Museum in Downtown Bentonville Themed crafts and games and activities. Drop in anytime between

40 September 2015

Open Play Gymnastics Joe’s (age 10 & under) NWA Mall Monday-Sat from 10-11 and again from 11-12. Kids can run wild on the in-ground trampolines, jump in the foam pit, and bounce around on the spring-loaded floor, and play on the recently added inflatable bounce-house/slide. $5/ child per hour, $2 each additional child in same family children under 2 free with one paid admission www.gymnasticsjoes.com

Friday, September 4

First Friday Downtown Bentonville Sugar Days Theme: Taking you back to the 1800s and reenacting the famous bank robbery on the Bentonville Square in 1893. The event will be fun for the whole family!

Tuesday, September 8

Teal Talk Luncheon: Ovarian Cancer John Q Hammons Center 11:30 - 1:00 PM Join us for lunch and learn more about ovarian cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and recovery from physicians and experts in our community. Seating is limited. Call 479-527-7015 to reserve your FREE ticket or stop by any First Security Banking Center.

Thursday, September 10

Notes at Night Downtown Bentonville This free music series offers a wide array of styles from artists all over the region in various downtown venues. Plan on having dinner in downtown and staying late. Preschool Playdate Crystal Bridges 11:30-2:15 Enjoy art projects, story time, and creative play inspired by Andy Warhol’s colorful Endangered Species series. Sponsored by the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust and The Hershey Company. Free, no registration required. Crazy 8’s Math Club Rogers Public Library 3:30 - 4:30 Children in grades K-2 will build stuff, run and jump, make

September

music, make a mess, and have a blast with new friends while learning and strengthening their math skills! Registration is required for this program as supplies are limited. Program begins promptly at 3:30 and ends promptly at 4:30. Latecomers may be denied entry. To register for this program, contact 621-1152 ext. 26.

Fri, September 11

Tired Iron Tractor and Engine Show Gentry - www.tiredironoftheozarks.org Friday - Sunday Exhibitions of old-time sawmilling and blacksmithing, hit & miss engines, kiddie tractor pulls, plowing, home-related antiques, and more. Church service Sunday morning. RV parking with electricity and water hookups available (call 479-524-0450). Food concession onsite.

Sat, September 12

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Arts Center of the Ozarks Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill ten year old. That’s just the problem....for Stanley, life is too normal. Careful what you wish for, Stanley! Paint in Progress - Library Art Walk 10:00 - 1pm Fayetteville Public Library Six local artists will be in the library painting on location.

Sun, September 13

Walker Landing Arts Crystal Bridges - 1 - 3pm Enjoy live music and art-making for all on Walker Landing! Free, no registration required.

Thurs, September 17 Girls Night Out Downtown Siloam Springs 5-8pm Music, refreshments, specials and door prizes highlight downtown merchants and provide a fun way to get extra downtown shopping time!

Cherishing Children Dinner 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM CDT www.cacbentonco.com Each year the CAC staff, community supporters, law enforcement and others who work with victims of child abuse are invited to hear an inspiring message from a guest speaker. This year we welcome Michelle Knight, a child abuse survivor to Northwest Arkansas. She will share her personal story of child abuse in hopes to raise awareness about the issue. This is a ticketed, fundraising event for the CAC.

Fri September 18

Family Workshop - Family Traditions Crystal Bridges - 6:30 to 8pm Inspired by the temporary exhibition Jamie Wyeth, family members will work together to create paintings commemorating one of your family traditions. $10 per family (Free for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

Sat. September 19

RazorRail Frisco Park, Rogers Razor Rail from Frisco Park to the University of Arkansas vs. Texas Tech football game. Ride the A&M Railroad from downtown Rogers to the University and enjoy food and drinks on board.

Sat. September 26

Rodeo of the Ozarks Fall Demolition Derby Rodeo of the Ozarks, Springdale rodeooftheozarks.org 7:30 p.m. SAMS Furniture brings us a heated competition as drivers face off until the last car is standing! Join us for fun family night where drivers compete for cash prizes and bragging rights. Peace at Home Family Shelter !Fiesta! Jones Center in Springdale 9am-1pm. Peace at Home Family Shelter is excited to celebrate 38 years of saying NO to family and intimate partner violence in our community. Please join us on September 26th to help in celebrating healthy families in Northwest Arkansas at the Jones Center! We’ll have tons of food, games, live music, and activities for the whole family! We hope you’ll come out to support Peace at Home Family Shelter and enjoy our !Fiesta! Please contact Helen Cheek at hcheek@ peaceathomeshelter.com for more information or if you would like to participate in !Fiesta! as a service provider, volunteer, or if you would like to donate to ¡Fiesta! 2015.

Tues., September 29

Summer Concert Series Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks bgozarks.org Smokey and the Mirror, the Fayettevillebased Americana husband and wife duo, brings the energy for the third of our Free Summer Concert Series. Bring your lawn chairs and picnics for a beautiful evening in

the garden. No alcohol please. Soft drinks and water will be sold.

Wed. September 30

Fall Carnival Rodeo of the Ozarks September 30- October 4 Pride of Texas brings fun for all ages. Armbands available.

This Fall

Crystal Bridges 600 Museum Way, Bentonville crystalbridges.org

This fall, get your family together with art and fun at Crystal Bridges! The Museum offers Family Workshops, Drop-in Art-Making, Family Sundays, and weekly gallery tours geared especially for families! Check out the online events calendar for a full schedule of upcoming programs and events. Did you know that Crystal Bridges offers free field trip programs for K-12 school groups? The Museum even provides healthy lunches and reimbursement for bus transportation and substitute teachers, if needed. Go online to view a full roster of available tours and learn how to schedule a visit for your school group!

Moments...

by: Leah ElliotT

It’s what our lives are made of; some good, some not so good.

On April 27, 2006, at the age of 35, I had a big moment. That’s the day I was told I had ovarian cancer. “You….have cancer.” Not the words I expected to hear, and honestly, in that moment I didn’t realize the full impact of those words. When someone told me it was known as the “silent killer”, reality started to set in slowly. It was as if I was a cartoon character standing still while the world kept spinning around me. We can all write down our name, put a comma behind it, and list a string of words that describe who we are--Christian, mother, daughter, sister, soulmate, best friend. The night of April 27th, I added two more words. I became a fighter, and in that moment I became a survivor; a part of a club I didn’t ask to join.

My story is a familiar one. I endured months of symptoms, months of being misdiagnosed, and saw several physicians who took notes but never laid hands on me. I was told I had dysfunctional uterine bleeding, but no one could explain why. I was told I was depressed, not ovulating, could have endometriosis, that I was premenopausal, that I was menopausal--and there was always the underlying suggestion that this was in my head.

I was finally correctly diagnosed six months after my symptoms began. I had a friend do an ultrasound on me after I started experiencing unbearable pain, and that was when a three-pound mass was discovered that had torqued and twisted everything along the path it blazed. A simple blood test to check for a specific protein was done called CA125. If elevated, it could indicate ovarian cancer. Your CA125 should be 35 or under. Mine was 1680. A family friend, also a radiologist, sat on my couch that night and said, “Everything points to ovarian cancer, but we are fighting this.” Fighting this? Knowing what I do now about this disease, I understand how grim the situation looked at that

44 September 2015

moment. Although my friend’s words validated my intuition that something was wrong, still, it was not what I expected to hear. I don’t know how to describe my feelings at that moment. So much of it is all a blur. I remember my parents being stoic in front of me, but breaking down when they thought I wasn’t looking. Some of my dearest friends were at the house immediately. We all sat in silence, scattered around the room, until I spoke the words, “If I don’t make it, please take care of my babies.” In an instant, they surrounded me, and through tears we prayed. That was the only moment I allowed the fear of not surviving to exist. From that moment on, cancer was the enemy and I waged war. I went to a local emergency room later that night due to the pain--though, honestly, that trip was probably more anxiety-related than anything. The next day, the pain was so intense I went to the emergency room at Baptist Health in Little Rock, where the gynecological oncologist I had been referred to practices. There, another big moment happened. I was a 35-year-old mom who was dehydrated, very sick, in pain, and anxious about the unknown. I was scheduled for a hysterectomy, and was also prepared to wake up with a colostomy bag, as the doctor felt the tumor had invaded my colon. Dr. Lawrence Bandy saw me on his day off in the emergency room. He performed my surgery early the next morning. Thankfully, the tumor was millimeters from my colon, and was a stage 2B borderline ovarian cancer tumor, which is the best type of ovarian cancer tumor to get. Unfortunately, it had hemorrhaged, which is what caused the pain, and the malignant cells in the fluid had swished all around my abdominal cavity. For those reasons, I was told chemo was a must. My gratitude for Dr. Larry Bandy and the care he continues to provide

cannot be adequately expressed in words. I am standing here today in large part due to that man, but, most importantly, I stand here today by the grace of God. The night before my surgery, after numerous family and friends made their way home, I found myself alone in a hospital bed, and to say I lost it would be an understatement. I am certain my visitors and I had been a disruption to that floor. There were a lot of people with good intentions wanting only the best for me, and I was probably labeled high-maintenance. So, when the room was quiet and my nurse came to check on me, she spent the next hour wiping my tears and giving me words of hope. In that moment all of our commotion made sense to her. I saw her months later and she didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recall me. I told her that that was okay, because I remembered her, and what she did for me in one of my darkest hours. You never know the impact your words may have. She and I still stay in touch today. I had my chemo treatments at Arkansas Oncology under the care of Dr. Thomas Sneed. My mom went with me to my first appointment and, as we

sat in the waiting room, we watched a man in a suit help an older gentleman in his wheelchair out to his car. We quickly learned that man was Dr. Tom, and thus knew we were exactly where we were supposed to be.

My daughters, Emma and Arden, were 9 and 4 at the time. They were too young to truly comprehend it all. They witnessed the gracious support I had, but they were introduced to a fear no mother

Turn the page ...

wants their child to bear. When my hair started falling out, they each got a pair of scissors and gave me a haircut, the hope being that that moment was made a little less frightening to them. It seemingly worked, because now, nine years later, they still argue over who did the best job!

I was introduced to a small group working as a taskforce under the umbrella of the Arkansas Cancer Coalition. In 2008 the taskforce grew into its own entity now known as the Arkansas Ovarian Cancer Coalition (AROVCC).

Surprisingly enough, being bald had its advantages. Splashing cool We want women to water on my head in the hot summer listen to their bodies; to months became a simple pleasure, listen to their whisper. especially since I couldn’t bear to Together we shout wear wigs. I wore scarves, hats or just let my bald head shine. There were about this disease that’s mornings I woke up without my first known to be silent. thought turning to cancer, but, once I looked in the mirror, it would all rush back. Being bald was the outward reminder my treatments ended, of what was happening on the inside. When chemo my hair was growing took away my ability to walk, the girls conveniently back, and the outward would be elsewhere. They were sheltered from signs of the battle were my worst days, but now, if I have a cold or go to diminishing, I was settling into my new “normal.” bed earlier than usual, those thoughts of “Mom is My daughters’ worries and fears bubbled over sick” still resurface. For instance, one year after and rushed out of them, so I took them to that man I watched patiently help another... to the man who had listened to me cry and calmed me on numerous occasions. We sat with Dr. Sneed as he told my girls I was healthy again, and that he and Dr. Bandy would always work to make sure I stayed that way. His words were, literally, “Your mom will outlive the cockroaches!” In that moment, I was reminded of how fortunate I am. So, I made a decision. I worked daily on not asking God why this happened to me. That sounded as if I thought someone else was more deserving. I asked God to show me what to do with all of this I had been handed. I asked Him to show me the blessing in the broken… and He did. I decided to focus on the first three letters of the word cancer... C-A-N. “Can”--to focus on what I can do because of cancer and not on what it took away. I have friendships and bonds with people I would’ve never met and have had incredible opportunities. I can still tell

I didn’t know anything about ovarian cancer until I had it. I now know 1 in 72 women are diagnosed with it each year and over 15,000 do not survive. I know that all women’s cancers are not pink. Teal is the color for ovarian cancer and September is the awareness month. Known as the “silent killer” among gynecological cancers, ovarian cancer has a very low survival rate. Your pap smear does not test for ovarian cancer. The disease often is not diagnosed until the late stages when a woman’s survival chances are less than 10%, making awareness of common symptoms a vital key in early detection. The most common symptoms are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly and urinary symptoms such as urgency or frequency. These symptoms are also commonly caused by benign (non-cancerous) diseases. When they are caused by ovarian cancer, they tend to be persistent and a change from what is normal. Persistence of symptoms is key and, if they last for more than a few weeks, a woman should see her doctor.

Come play with us!

Learning begins with play. Little Giggles is an indoor playground providing a safe environment fostering educative, creative play for young children.

Loved by children and enjoyable fo parents, too! r

my girls I love them. Every day is a celebration of life. After treatments ended, I started to not only look for support groups, but for organizations that helped educate on the disease. I was introduced to a small group working as a taskforce under the umbrella of the Arkansas Cancer Coalition. In 2008, the taskforce grew into its own entity now known as the Arkansas Ovarian Cancer Coalition (AROVCC). We are a 501(C)3 non-profit group of volunteers who have a mission to educate others on the signs and symptoms of this disease. Our board members and volunteers all have some sort of personal connection to ovarian cancer, so we have a great deal of passion about our cause. I recently heard someone speak on the power of women-- that a group of women with a focus, with a passion, and with a drive is an unstoppable force. AROVCC is that force. We educate so that my story of late diagnosis is no longer the norm. We can connect women and caregivers with resources they need, and we always say that no one fights alone. We want women to listen to their bodies; to listen to their whisper. Together, we shout about this disease that’s known to be silent. Without the wonderful support from donors and organizations, we would not be able to help enhance the healthcare of women in the state of Arkansas. Please visit our website at www.arkansasovariancancer.org to learn more and to make a tax-deductible donation. I also ask you to like our Facebook page, titled “Arkansas Ovarian Cancer Coalition.” There, you can keep up with our upcoming events and ways you can be involved. ‘Teal’ there is a cure, Leah

Party Packages A(c vailable! all for details)

Babriees a F(0-8RmEonEths)! Monday - Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm Saturday and Sunday Open Play Hours vary Please call ahead to see what our open play times are!

3301 South Walton Boulevard Bentonville

479-268-4949

www.littlegigglesplay.com

Struggle to read, write or spell?

Remediation for students of any ability

Dyslexia Screening and Instruction with Certif ied Barton Tutors

Do YOU know the warning signs of Dyslexia? In Preschool

In Elementary School

• Delayed speech • Mixing up the sounds & syllables in long words • Chronic ear infections • Severe reactions to childhood illnesses • Constant confusion of left versus right • Late establishing a dominant hand • Difficulty learning to tie shoes • Trouble memorizing address, phone number, or the alphabet • Can’t create words that rhyme • A close relative with dyslexia

• Dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read) • Letter or number reversals continuing past the 1st grade • Slow, choppy inaccurate reading • Guesses based on shape or context • Skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, of) & ignores suffixes • Can’t sound out unknown words • Terrible spelling • Often can’t remember sight words or homonyms • Difficulty telling time on a clock with hands • Trouble with math • Memorizing multiplication tables • Memorizing a sequence of steps • Directionality • When speaking, difficulty finding the correct word • Lots of “whatchamacallits” & “thingies” • Common sayings often come out twisted • Extremely messy bedroom, backpack, & desk • Dreads going to school • Extremely poor written expression: large discrepancy between verbal skills and written skills

Research-based, Dyslexia multi-sensory affects 1 in 5 approach

individuals and is genetic.

98 E. Sunbridge • Fayetteville • 479-521-6500 • www.gideonreading.info

The Balancing Act of a Working Mom...

“Dr. Mom” by: Dr. Sarah Rowden

often find myself wishing I had more hours in the day. There just never seems to be enough time to expand my career, enjoy my family, and complete all of my daily responsibilities. I know there are a lot of other women out there that relate to me. This is my story and how I try to make it all happen.

up, run Evelyn through the bathtub, tuck her in, and make sure we all have clean clothes to wear the next day. I know many of you have felt like this before, trust me, we all share in these moments!

Our household consists of two working parents, one toddler (3 year old daughter), two dogs, and a baby on the way! My husband and I are chiropractic physicians who own and operate our private I have found a few things practice in Rogers, AR. We that have truly helped me are extremely passionate find balance in my life. First about what we do and are of all, a fabulous day planner devoted to helping our is a MUST for a mom like patients. I feel very blessed Morter Health Corner me. There is no way I could to truly love what I do every 215 W Poplar, Rogers, AR 72756 keep everything stored in day. Having said that, I also 479-636-1324 my head. I am also not one cherish every moment I get of those people who can to spend with my daughter, keep everything in my phone. I want to open up Evelyn Grace. We are fortunate enough to have my calendar and see my whole month or week with both of our extended families right here in NWA. every activity, appointment, or errand listed out for I don’t know how I would have survived the last 3 me. From the time I discovered this gem, I have felt years without my family, especially my mom and my much more organized and less crazy. The second mother-in-law. They are both there at the drop of a hat thing I could not do without is help and support from to help out with Evelyn. Aside from work and family, my husband. We operate as a team around our house I also have all of those dreaded responsibilities we and clinic. We both have to give 100% in order for all share...running errands, laundry, house cleaning, our journey to work. He is always right there to help grocery shopping, cooking, and more cleaning. How out around the house, run an errand, pick up Evelyn, do such tiny people make such big messes? There or spend extra hours at the clinic to make it all work. are days I come home from work after picking up (I know many single parents do not have this benefit Evelyn, and I feel like I am swimming in laundry, right now. Kudos to all of the single parents out there! have forgotten to plan dinner, and it is only one hour You have my sincere respect.) away from her bedtime. I have to pick up the house quickly, throw something together for dinner, clean Another very important part of my life is social time.

50 September 2015

I feel it is vital to have a social life outside of work and “kid talk.” We try to spend at least a few nights

every month with our friends or on a date night for ourselves. Adults need adult time, for leisure conversation and enjoyment. I know it can be hard

to find the time, a babysitter, the money, and so on. I promise, it makes a world of difference in your life and in your relationship to make it happen. These times don’t have to be something elaborate, expensive, or time consuming. You can even do something simple and inexpensive, such as taking a long walk, riding bikes, going to a museum, or a picnic. It’s really more about the company and conversation than anything else. The last, and probably most important thing I could say, is having trusted child care makes a world of difference. If you are always worried about your children when someone else is with them, it can be too hard to focus on what you are doing. Knowing the caretaker loves your child and is taking the very best care of them alleviates a lot of worry, allowing you to enjoy your free time or focus on your work to your fullest ability. Caretakers can be anyone from family, to a nanny, to a fabulous day care center! It has honestly taken me the last three to five years to begin to figure these things out. This balance has not been created overnight. The first year of being a

mom and running my own business (a business that requires 100% of my focus) was overwhelming at times. The second year, I started to find a few things that helped...asking for help was a big one for me! This last year (our fifth year in practice) has started to feel like a “routine” and a more enjoyable life at that. These organizational tools have helped me create a somewhat “less-stressed” life. I finally feel I am able to say “yes” to more things that I want to do and “no” to the things that are just not a priority in my life. My priorities sure have changed, to say the least. It is amazing how many things that used to be so important to me have become simply irrelevant. The things that bring me joy are so different than they were five years ago. My Friday nights couldn’t be any more different than they were a few years ago...but I wouldn’t change a thing about where I am in my life right now. The next few years are going to be different again, as we add another child into our family. I am sure I will rediscover balance as I have two children at different ages and stages in life. I plan to incorporate all of my current tools for balance into my new life, as well as listen to peers on more suggestions for life with two kids! Another essential thing in my life as a working mom is talking to and listening to other moms and women. We are each other’s best support system. I am a firm believer in building women up and never tearing them down. It gets us all so much further in life to support each other and offer assistance when we can, instead of cutting each other down and judging each other for our inevitable mistakes. I spend my days at my clinic working with moms, children, and families. Many of the women who are my patients have become friends at this point. I love to watch their children grow, share stories about how crazy our kids are, and laugh at the fabulous “mommy moments.” We are all on this journey called life, and I hope we can all find the balance we need to truly enjoy every single moment!!

Give In to Memories By Nathan Rowe

hen I was in elementary school, I remember my class being given an assignment where we had to write and present a report on our favorite book we had checked out from the school library that year. I can’t remember what book I reported on, but I vividly recall the most popular girl in class reporting on Lois Lowry’s The Giver, which she enthusiastically endorsed as the best book ever written. She went on to explain that we all needed to read it immediately. Naturally, when a popular girl endorses something as the best ever, the result is predictable enough-nearly everyone in our class immediately checked out copies of The Giver, mainly to get in her good graces. For those who claimed to have read it, the girl quizzed them, inquiring about key scenes, asking opinions of specific characters, examining the book’s themes and mood. When she was satisfied that someone had, in fact, read it, that person became one of her very best friends. Juvenile social drama aside, there’s nothing quite like sharing a favorite book with another, and, for many, Lowry’s novel has had staying power even into one’s adult years, as seen in the popularity of last year’s film adaptation of the book. Fans of The Giver in Northwest Arkansas can be excited, then, that they will soon have an excellent opportunity to share memories of an old favorite with others.

the Holocaust— for children. For decades, her work has been ubiquitous with reading projects in upper elementary and middle schools everywhere. For a festival that celebrates the power of the written word, Lowry is a perfect fit. “The man that I named The Giver passed along to the boy knowledge, history, memories, color, pain, laughter, love, and truth,” Lowry said in her Newbery Medal acceptance speech for The Giver. “Every time you place a book in the hands of a child, you do the same thing.” In addition to Lowry’s talk, the festival will also feature a youth songwriting workshop with New York-based folk musician Joe Crookston and the Montessori Art Wall, a visual interpretation and celebration of favorite books and poems by local students. Like the girl in my elementary school, many are most excited about their chance to share their memories of the book with others. “Memories need to be shared,” the Giver explains to Jonas in one of the book’s pivotal scenes. We all now have an excellent excuse to do just that.

True Lit is sponsored by the Fayetteville Public Library, the Fayetteville True Lit: Fayetteville’s Literary Festival hopes to build on its previous Montessori School, Fayetteville successes when it kicks off October 1. In its third year, the festival Public Schools, the University of offers a variety of events at multiple venues around Fayetteville. Arkansas Program in Creative Lois Lowry, the event’s keynote speaker, will address the public on Writing and Translation, the Wednesday, October 7, at 7 p.m. at Fayetteville Public Library. Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, the Northwest Arkansas DemocratIf you’re not familiar with Lowry, you should be. Gazette, Citiscapes, the Idle Class, and KUAF. Lowry is credited with more than thirty children’s books, including the Newbery Award-winning In addition to children’s events, the festival books Number the Stars and The Giver. She is best offers events for adults and teens including adult known for handling difficult subjects—subjects songwriting, a teen comics class, pitch sessions including racism, murder, terminal illness, and with local and regional publishers, and more. For complete schedule of events, visit truelitfest.com

www.peekaboonwa.com

Northwest Health System and Heads Up Football ation to Focus on Educ

Prevent Student Athlete Injuries

hat if you could be guaranteed your child would never get a concussion when playing football?

There is not a parent out there who wouldn’t snap up a guarantee like this... if it were only available! Parents know, however, there are no guarantees. So, what can we do to keep our kids safe as they play a sport that requires helmets (and pads) to protect their heads? Even with these protections, accidents still occur. What can be done to reduce and altogether avoid such injuries to our children? Steve Conley, a former Pittsburgh Steeler, star linebacker and alumni from the University of Arkansas, sums up the answer with three words: “HEADS UP FOOTBALL”. Head Up Football is a comprehensive program developed by USA Football to advance player safety in the game of football. Working with youth football leagues in their area, former NFL players support commissioners and coaches while helping parents and players understand the importance of developing sound fundamentals, including safety fundamentals, at an early age. “Education is the first step to help protect players from concussion,” Steve says, “As an ambassador for Heads Up Football, I pass along information to youth coaches and reach out to youth football programs to make the game safer, and more enjoyable, for everyone.” As the game of football has matured, so has research on concussions and what causes them, as well as what can be done to prevent them. Properly fitted helmets and pads are an important

54 September 2015

component in making sure the players, some as young as 8, are protected before they are ‘hit’ in the game. However, we have learned that pads and helmets alone are not enough to prevent concussions. Knowing how to hit is a skill that must also be taught in order to keep the game safe, and fun. Steve is the head coach of the Arkansas Hawks Football Organization that includes 8, 9, and 10-year-old kids who play youth football. As an Ambassador for Heads Up Football, he is also Heads Up Certified, along with offensive line coach Terrence Spencer. The coaches teach the kids about how to safely tackle at this early age knowing it may not be until they reach high school that they will be receiving the kinds of ‘hits’ that cause a concussion. It is important they receive this information and training NOW so it is woven into the very fabric of their football game. Once they reach high school, how to tackle safely will be as much a part of their game as how to put on their pads the correct way.

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“By and large, concussions are not brought up as a topic of concern,” Northwest Health pediatrician Craig Keever, MD remarks. “Prevention is 90% of the answer to avoiding them so anything we can do to increase awareness certainly helps,” he adds.

“

Education is the first step to help protect players from concussion. Steve Conley

”

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The staff and physicians at Northwest Hospital System understand the importance of education and preventative measures to keep our community’s kids safe while playing the game they love. As part of our commitment to the community we serve, Northwest chose to sponsor the Arkansas Hawks Football Organization.

“Northwest does a great job and helps a lot of kids in our organization who can’t afford to travel or need a uniform or a pair of cleats,” Steve explains, “They provide options for physicals at their clinics at reduced costs and even do group physicals for no cost when schools allow it and Northwest also provides certified athletic trainers at the games of schools they have agreements with for the trainers.” There are risks associated with playing football just as there are risks to riding a bike or a skateboard. The clinicians and staff at Northwest Health System want to be a part of reducing those risks. By sponsoring organizations like the Arkansas Hawks who take children’s safety seriously, Northwest strives to provide a healthier, happier experience for kids and parents alike.

Craig Keever, MD is a board certified pediatrician with The Children’s Clinic at Springdale located at 3057 Springdale Ave. in Springdale.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 479-751-2522.

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Fall f shion trends When the temperature begins to drop, the air gets crisper, and the leaves begin to change color it can only mean one thing -- Fall has arrived! Time to break out the jackets, implement layers, and don’t forget the cute ankle boots.

Fall fashion is making its way to Belle Boutique, and that goes for our Lil’ Belles too!

Booties e are all thostly m d n a e rag all’s fter in f sought a e colors like favorit nter green u taupe, h urgundy. and b

Trends for this fall are the Boho look. suede and fringe coming in first and foremost, with lace and camo making a strong finish. Skater skirts and soft dresses make your Lil’ Belle feel like a “big girl.” Let’s not forget Lil Pika tops, a staple for all girls closets. Razorback season is also up on us so we can’t forget to show our pride there. Palazzo pants make the perfect tee have “dressy” feel for our trendy Lil’ Belle Fashionistas! Models: Maggie Upchurch and Ava Enderle

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Rituals of Life

Nice eve - nice-eve.com Rootines - rootines.com

Eva interviews people living in NWA about their family routines and rituals. This month Cara Osborne shares her story. Cara is the founder of Baby+Company, which aims to make pregnancy and childbirth as supported and celebrated as it should be. She holds - just listing a few - a BA in Biology, a MSN in Midwifery and a MS and SD in maternal and child health from Harvard School of Public Health. Cara is married to Marcus and they have two sons; Maxwell (10) and Tate (8).

The bigger picture Cara texts me: ‘So. Sorry! Got caught on a conference call. Am still 15 minutes out. Can you wait or shall we reschedule?’ 15 minutes later she runs in with an infectious smile. I’d like to plan my time, but I find it hard. I used to be able to when I worked at the University, but nowadays I have to abide by the schedule of the doctors and nurses I’m working with as they run a practice and I don’t. I travel a lot. Maxwell and Tate used to tag along when they were younger. They would come with me to Kentucky where they would stay at my parents’ while I worked at the University. Now that they’re older, they have to go to school and we can’t do that anymore. Marcus and I do realize it’s good for them to have stability at home, and that’s one of the reasons my mom and dad recently moved to Bentonville. There really are no standard weeks. Marcus and I make an effort not to travel at the same time, but we don’t always succeed. This week, I took the boys to baseball camp and showed my mom and dad where it was on Monday morning. Then, I flew out until late Tuesday night. Wednesday morning I left for a meeting in Kansas City while Marcus flew to Phoenix on Wednesday evening and my parents stayed overnight. I came home Thursday morning, Marcus Thursday evening, and today I will make it to the closing ceremony at the boys’ camp before we both have a work dinner. It sounds like a hectic, tangled up system (describes it with her hands) when I say it out loud! I do believe this weekend is pretty empty though. Saturday is often soccer day. They all love playing

soccer and even Marcus manages to play on a weekly basis. Sunday is our slow day, where we have breakfast together, the kids hang out with friends, and there are no schedules. We love to go out on the lake, ride our bikes and get an ice cream at the square. Bentonville has so much to offer, and we take advantage of it all. Sunday is also the day we plan the week ahead. Marcus and I discuss our schedule with each other, then we involve my mom and dad and we discuss the outcome with the children. Our aim is that our travel schedules don’t surprise the boys, and sometimes they even add things to the list we had forgotten about. Planning creates space for what I believe is our main routine; making the most of every day. Our lives are packed, but that’s okay so long we use our time wisely and do what we love. Marcus and I have always been busy; the boys have grown up with it and don’t know any other way, than having parents that travel for work. They know that they come first, but they understand that work and related activities are important to us too. We often show them what we do and we talk about it. I’d like to raise them with a sense for the bigger picture. If you are privileged enough to do so, you should use your skills and talents to create a better world. I hope that our journey will make them aware of the fact that making a difference in the life of others is not only a good thing, but also extremely rewarding. “Planning creates space for what I believe is our

60 September 2015

main routine; making the most of everyday.”

Junior e w n e M l Rea We have all heard the phrase “Real Men Wear Pink”, but do we know what it means? Real Men Pink is an October campaign that benefits American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides against Cancer”. The Real Men of Northwest Arkansas are a group of community leaders who have committed to end the fight against breast cancer by committing to raise awareness and money. This money, research and awareness helps people stay well while finding a cure. Last year, twelve community leaders got together and hosted Real Men Wear Pink for the first time. The men wore something pink every day and fundraised for breast cancer awareness. In their inaugural year and in less than 1 month, the men raised over $20,000 for our making strides against breast cancer event in October. Twelve community leaders are working hard again this year to participate in ‘Real Men Wear Pink” 5K this October. Jen Wasem of American Cancer Society is very involved in the campaign and is more than excited to have these men on board. On a recent shopping trip for “pink” merchandise, one of Jen’s twin boys asked her why not set up a junior campaign so that boys in the community can raise money and awareness too, “Out of the mouths of babes”, Jen said. “What a perfect idea. This will encourage young boys to be an inspiration for their mothers, sisters, aunts, etc. Boys in the community have so many reasons that they may want to participate.” Sam Boyle, a seventh grader at Fulbright Junior High School, said “I joined to raise money for breast cancer research and to help create more birthdays for everyone. I would like for the breast cancer death rates to decline”. Ben Boyle, 7th grade, Fulbright Junior High said “I am participating in Jr RMWP to raise awareness

62 September 2015

and money for breast cancer research. We need research to find a cure”, Ben concluded.

“I joined to raise money for breast cancer research and to help create more birthdays for everyone.”

-- Sam Boyle

Through a lot of planning, the young team has set a team goal of $10,000. Outdoor Cap of Bentonville has signed up to be the junior team sponsor. They will give each participant a custom Junior Real Men Wear Pink hat. During October each boy is asked to wear something pink every day during the month. Just like our 12 real men candidates, each of the candidates are doing the fundraising, as well. “It’s been so exciting to watch the boys brainstorm fundraising activities for their campaigns and watching them work together”, said Jen.

ear pink The first year for Junior Real Men Wear Pink is off to a great start. The team of twenty boys under the age of 18 has already raised around $2,000, and they still have several weeks to go. Tristan Avila, a seventh grader at Fulbright Junior High in Bentonville said, “I know people who have suffered from cancer and even died from it, I don’t want anyone else to go through this kind of pain knowing it could have been prevented.” This may be the first year for JR RMWP, but if we can learn just a little from these guys, the Real Men Wear Pink Campaign, big or junior can have many successful years. For more information, visit http://makingstrideswalk. org/realmennorthwestarkansas or call the local American Cancer Society Office at 479.246.0002.

Who can participate in Making Strides events?

By: Ben Smith

Anyone, from CEOs to schoolchildren, can participate in the Making Strides against Breast Cancer walk! The success of our events depends on passionate individuals, who commit to raising funds; generous donors, who support our participants; and dedicated corporate and community sponsors. You can walk as an individual or as part of a team. Teams can be comprised of friends, families, neighbors, classmates, and coworkers. Organizations or businesses can also sponsor teams of walkers.

TheDalai

Mama

by: Kristin Hvizda

Deep thoughts (well not that deep) on life as a mom, wife, and transplant in NWA

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Food Allergies Bite What You Should Know...

Pizza is gross. Well, not actually, but that’s what I tell my two-year-old daughter. You see, she’s severely allergic to milk and, although she’s still too young to grasp her allergy, “gross” is a term she seems to understand. Though I wish it wasn’t necessary for her to comprehend such a heavy issue as a toddler, the reality is she must; along with every one of her caretakers. Unfortunately, that isn’t the only food allergy we contend with in our house. In addition to milk, my daughter is also allergic to eggs and all nuts, an allergy she shares with her four-year-old brother. I assumed teaching my children how to stay safe would be the hard part, but it’s actually been the adults in their lives with the steeper learning curve. During the 80’s and 90’s, when my generation was growing up, food allergies weren’t prevalent. Fast forward thirty years and it seems like everyone knows someone affected by this condition. Whether it’s your own child, a student in the class you teach, your grandchild, or your kid’s best friend, food allergies are on the rise and affecting mostly children. I personally had very little experience with food allergies prior to both of my children being diagnosed. Suddenly, I had

66 September 2015

no choice but to become a food allergy expert. I had to figure out how to keep my children safe as well as educate my husband, parents, friends, teachers, and babysitters. I figured everyone would immediately fathom the gravity of the situation and support me in my efforts. Yet, I’ve been characterized as overprotective, over the top, a helicopter mom, and told I need to relax. People have minimized my children’s allergies, questioned my medical history and pregnancy habits, and even requested copies of my children’s allergy test results. I admit I take great lengths to ensure my children’s safety. We have a nut-free home and are obsessive to avoid cross contamination with the limited egg and dairy we do allow. We rarely eat out in restaurants (cheese is EVERYWHERE), minimize plane rides (nuts!), only stay at hotels with a kitchen (so I can cook while on vacation), and we bring our own food to parties. If I felt like any other option was safe for my children, I sure as hell would not be going to these lengths! However, when you witness your own child’s severe reaction or read about a child dying from a seemingly innocuous meal, you realize you can’t let your guard down with this condition. It’s frustrating that even though 1 in every 13 children in the US is living with a food allergy, there are still so many misconceptions. It seems our society, our families, and our schools still have a lot of catching up to do. However, I’m happy to address questions, misunderstandings, even judgements if it means my children will be better understood. For those readers who struggle to understand food allergies and the parents that deal with them, here’s what I think you should know… Food allergies are serious! This is not a choice diet, a fad, or anything less than a legitimate medical condition. It’s also not a food intolerance, which although bothersome, is not life threatening.

Food allergies have the potential to be fatal within minutes of ingesting an allergen. Anaphylaxis (the potential reaction of ingesting an allergen) is that rapid and unpredictable. Please remember this when you are tempted to think a food allergy parent is acting “over the top”. We aren’t lying awake at night worried about indigestion or diarrhea. We’re worried about our child suddenly unable to breathe, hence our obsessive concern about the whereabouts of their most valuable accessory- the Epi-pen. Please don’t minimize our concerns or try to make us prove that our worries are valid… they are. Avoiding our allergens isn’t as easy as you may think. You may assume it would be fairly easy to avoid nuts. Well, think again. Although food manufacturers have to label for the top 8 food allergens (Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soy, Wheat, Fish, and Shellfish) if they are an ingredient in the item; they are not required to label if a product was processed on the same equipment as an allergen or if it “may contain” a potential allergen. Considering that trace amounts of an allergen could have a potentially life threatening impact, this fact seems unfathomable and senseless, but it’s true. The homework involved in feeding your child with food allergies can be pretty

overwhelming. Food allergic parents are literally forced to scour the internet for information and call companies to confirm that a product is actually and totally free from an allergen. Don’t feel like cooking tonight? Yeah, me either, but eating out is even more anxiety provoking. Although you may actually find something free of an allergen on the menu, you have no idea how it’s being prepared in the kitchen. Did the cook just grill my daughter’s burger on the same griddle used for grilled cheese? If so, that momentary encounter with dairy proteins has the potential to induce anaphylaxis. That’s a risk that many food allergy families simply choose not to take. Oh, and it’s not just eating that’s risky. Especially for the very young who, despite constant reminders, always find their hands in their mouth; we need to be concerned about what our children touch. That’s why we may ask you to have your child wash their hands after they finish eating their nutty trail mix. We’d rather chance appearing neurotic than chance our kid reacting from cross contamination through a shared toy. We worry our children will be excluded. Although our children’s safety is our top priority,

Turn the page ...

having them lead full and fulfilling lives alongside their peers is definitely second. Stories about children being bullied or left out at school because of their allergies are prevalent within the food allergy community. We know kids can be cruel, but it’s even more alarming when you hear about teachers or principals being insensitive as well. Kids shouldn’t be excluded from classroom parties or made to eat lunch at a table by themselves. No one should be excluded, shamed, or alienated on account of a medical condition they can’t control, especially a child. I truly hope that school procedures are beginning to change, considering how widespread this condition has become. I honestly don’t expect everyone to cater to my children, but what I do expect is for the respected adults in their life to take their allergy seriously, while also considering the social impact of keeping them safe. I’m sure if we work together we can come up with a creative way to protect and include everyone.

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We know it could be worse. Being a food allergy mom is not easy. You consider every scenario and try to rationally weigh risks, without becoming paralyzed by fear. You struggle with the implications of a potentially life threatening condition and try not to think too far in the future because the implications can feel overwhelming. Then you hear about other families’ struggles and remember that it could be worse. You put your challenges into perspective and do your best to manage them. My kids have had food allergies since infancy, so they don’t know any different. For them this is just how life is, and they don’t feel like they’re missing out on anything, but I’m painfully aware that this may change as they get older. I feel confident, though, that my children will be empowered to one day advocate for themselves. In the meantime I’m doing my best to instill them with the selfconfidence and conviction that will drive that empowerment.

68 September 2015

Overall, my family has had many more positive personal experiences than negative ones and I am forever grateful to those who have tried to be inclusive and considerate. Not one of my girlfriends has ever been anything less than completely understanding and empathetic. I truly hope that all the food allergy moms reading this can find their village, too. I also feel grateful that my children are dealing with food allergies at this point in history. Despite the catching up we still have to do, there is much more awareness in our society today than there was even ten years ago. Cutting edge research is showing a variety of promising potential treatments to lessen the severity of food allergies. With this research comes hope that one day my children, and others, will not have to live with this burden. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when dealing with food allergies, but I’m able to find strength through supporting other food allergy moms as well as organizations that make a difference to those living with this condition. One such organization is FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education). I was lucky enough to partner with FARE this year to plan the NWA Walk for Food Allergies. This walk’s purpose is to raise awareness about food allergies, offer support to families dealing with this condition, and raise funds to help FARE in their overall mission to improve the quality of life for those dealing with food allergies. As the largest non-government funder of food allergy research in the world, FARE is giving hope to the 15 million people living with food allergies, that one day we will find a cure. Please join us Sept. 12th at 10am at the University of Arkansas Gardens as we walk to strengthen, support, and encourage the individuals and families in our community, dealing with food allergies. Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. -Helen Keller Register at foodallergywalk.org/ northwestar2015 Visit FARE for more info on food allergies at foodallergy.org

The event will include fun family activities including a bounce house, face painting, DJ, and tons of great prizes, such as a Head Coach Bret Bielema-autographed Razorback football, Naturals tickets, and free passes to Little Giggles, High Rise Trampoline Park, Little Gym, and more!

Dalai Mama

dalaimamakh

Safe Sleep

Emphasis on Safe Sleep for Baby Earns Willow Creek Women’s Hospital National Recognition

ou’ve gone without proper amounts of sleep for weeks before baby arrives because of the discomfort of being so pregnant. Then once the glorious event happens and baby is home, you realize you would give just about anything to have those few, albeit continuous, hours of sleep that you used to get. You are exhausted, both emotionally and physically, so the idea of getting out of bed to go get your bundle of joy in order to feed or change him or her is daunting. It seems so much easier on everyone if you just keep baby with you as you try to nap and get those precious few minutes of sleep you so desperately need. When baby does sleep in the crib, you believe the soft and cuddly blankets and adorable plush toys and bumper pads you have provided will keep your newborn safe and entertained; and you hope this environment will lend itself to baby drifting quietly off into eight hours of uninterrupted sleep (which allows mother the sleep she wants and needs). However, a frightening statistic will wake you up: approximately 4,000 babies die each year suddenly and unexpectedly while sleeping. In the past, most of these deaths were classified as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and unpreventable, but since the advent of better death scene investigations and child death review we now realize that a vast number of these deaths - at least HALF - are actually deaths due to suffocation, strangulation, or overlay while sleeping in an unsafe environment. “We know that consistent education can have a profound effect on infant mortality, and we have implemented a program that is designed to encourage safe sleep as we take an active role in reducing unnecessary deaths, Carol Gore, Chief Nursing Officer said. “Our commitment to this has not gone unnoticed,” she adds.

No mother would knowingly put her infant at risk in an unsafe environment. The physicians and staff at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital understand this and have dedicated themselves to educating the community about the often unknown risks associated with a baby’s sleep environment. “Our team at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital earned this prestigious recognition by demonstrating a commitment to community leadership for best practices and education on infant safe sleep,” Sharif Omar, CEO, Northwest Health System says. “We are proud to be a part of such a determined team that recognizes and values the positive impact we have on babies’ lives. By educating our patients and the community on the risks of unsafe sleep environments and the benefits achieved through consistent and caring education, we strive to help everyone get a good, and safe, night’s sleep.” The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to leadership for best practices and education on infant sleep safety. This national program was officially launched by Cribs for Kids®, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to preventing infant, sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. The Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations such as the National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs, Kids In Danger, Children’s Safety Network, American SIDS Institute, Charlie’s Kids and numerous state American Academy of Pediatric chapters and health departments. For more information or to schedule a tour of our unit, call 479-684-3054.

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s k c i P e t Play Da paint your own pottery

at imagine studios

imaginestudiosnwa.com Painting pottery is a fun, relaxing activity for kids and adults alike. Drop by either studio in Rogers or Fayetteville and select a piece of ceramic bisque, choose your colors and let an Imagine artist get you started on your unique work of art.

Bowling

at Fast Lane Video games, bowling, laser tag, go karts and more make for a memorable play date. Plus a full dining experience! www.fastlanebowl.com

Learn while you play at the Amazeum

www.amazeum.org

PRESCHOOL PLAYDATE

Indoor Creative Play

at Crystal Bridges Preschool Playdates are monthly dropin gallery activities just for children ages two to five, with a caregiver. The program includes a child-friendly performance in the Great Hall, followed by a variety of theme-based and collection-inspired activities, allowing you and your preschoolers to explore at your own pace.

at Little Giggles www.littlegigglesplay.com

Kid Jump at High Rise HighRise preserves the 9:00am to 10:00am time slot for children 6 and younger. Monday-Saturday from 9:00am to 10:00am they provide a special discount for children 6 & under: $10 per child and one accompanying adult jumps free (one parent per paid child for that same hour, this excludes the 2 and under jump for free).

Spanish Language Play Dates at Casa Castillo Spanish Language Play dates once a month at Casa Castillo! Free and open to the public. A Spanish teacher will narrate play and encourage Spanish speaking. Another staff member is avabilable to lead an informal conversation with parents regarding different topics, like how to expand childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worldview, facilitate language development and more.

casacastillo.net

Bentonville Baking Company offers fun mommy and me cookie decorating classes, birthday parties and private play dates. They also offer baking classes, cookie kits and custom cookie orders that make great gifts and party treats! www.bentonvillebakingcompany.com

k c i P e t a D y Pla

At a Glance

To advertise and become a part of the Peekaboo Family email : editor@peekaboonwa.com

ARTS and MUSIC

At a Glance

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 33) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Trike Theatre (Pg. 57) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org

First Security (Pg. 19, 46) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

BANKS

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 69) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 75) (800) 445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 51) (479) 633-9900 Mary’s Little Lambs Preschool (Pg.27) (479) 273-1011

CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN Morter Health Corner (Pg.53)

(479) 636-1324

CLOTHING Belle Boutique (Pg. 57)

(479) 876-8085

High Pointe (Pg. 73) (479) 544-1457 www.highpointedance.com iNFiNiTi (Pg. 38) (479) 715-6480 www.infinitiathletics.com The Little Gym (Pg. 61) (479) 636-5566 tlgrogersar.com

DANCE/CHEER/TUMBLE/STRETCH

DENTIST

My Village Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics (Pg. 23) Rogers: (479) 621-9500 Bentonville: (479) 273-9302 Dr. Nick DDS (Pg. 79) (479) 876-8000 DrNickDDS.com Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 12) (479) 631-6377

DERMATOLOGY

Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center (Pg. 61) (479) 268-3555 advancedskinmd.com Lips and Lines (Pg. 45) (479) 330-1201 NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com spa810 (Pg. 37) (479) 877-7041

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Aloha (Pg. 22) alohamindmath.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 32) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville)

76 September 2015

Fayetteville Public Library (Pg. 53) (479) 856-7000 faylib.org Gideon Math & Reading Center (Pg. 49) (479) 521-6500 Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 51) (479) 633-9900 The New School (Pg. 38) thenewschool.org Walnut Farm Montessori (Pg. 78) (479) 271-9424 walnutfarmmontessori.com

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 33) (479) 418-5700 Downtown Bentonville Events (Pg. 35) www.downtownbentonville.org Farmland Adventures (Pg. 63) (479) 799-5033 farmlandadventures.com Fast Lane Entertainment (Pg. 11) (479) 659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com Fayetteville Public Library (Pg. 53) (479) 856-7000 faylib.org Girl Scouts (Pg. 56) (800) 632-6894 girlscoutsdiamonds.org Little Giggles (Pg. 47) (479) 268-4949 McGarrah Farms (Pg. 18) (479) 451-8164 Ozark Corn Maze (Pg. 23) www.ozarkcornmaze.com Rogers Activity Center (Pg. 59) (479) 631-0336 ext. 438 Starlight Skatium (Pg. 73) (479) 444-STAR The Wonder Place (Pg. 67) thewonderplace.com

FOOD / DRINK

TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY)

FUNDRAISING Fundango (Pg. 69)

(888) 465-3012 FundangoFundraising.com

HAIRCUT / SALON Pigtails & Crewcuts (Pg. 8)

(479) 935-4121 spa810 (Pg. 37) (479) 877-7041

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 13) nw-physicians.com Tate HealthCare (Pg. 26, 77) (479) 271-6511 www.tatehealthcare.com

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

David Adams (Pg. 71) davidadams.com

LEARNING CENTER

Aloha (Pg. 22) alohamindmath.com ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 69) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 32) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) Gideon Math & Reading Center (Pg. 49) (479) 521-6500 Kumon (Pg. 80) Fayetteville: (479) 595-8765 Bentonville: (479) 273-5866 Lowell: (479) 770-0055 Larson’s Language Center (Pg. 51) (479) 633-9900

MARTIAL ARTS ATA (Pg. 4)

Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425 PRO Martial Arts (Pg. 65) (479) 250-9899

MUSIC Kindermusik(Pg. 21)

facebook.com/kindermusikwithmspam

OPTOMETRIST

Pediatric Vision Development Center (Pg. 55) nwavisiontherapy.com (479) 795-1411

PEDIATRICIAN

Best Start Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 31) (479) 575-9359 Bentonville Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 15) (479) 273-5437 The Children’s Clinic at Springdale (Pg. 9) (479) 751-2522 MANA NWA Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 64) (479) 443-3471 Morter Heatlh Corner (Pg. 21) (479) 636-1324

PHOTOGRAPHY Main Street Studios (Pg. 29)

(479) 524-2004

PLASTIC SURGEON

NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 www.nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com

PRESCHOOL/ PRE-K

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 69) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 32) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 43) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Mary’s Little Lambs (Pg. 27) (479) 273-1011 The New School (Pg. 58) thenewschool.org

Walnut Farm Montessori (Pg. 78) (479) 271-9424 walnutfarmmontessori.com

THERAPY

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 69) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M (Pg. 24) www.childrenstherapyteam.com The Elizabeth Richardson Center (Pg. 32) (479) 441-4420 (Fayetteville) Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 43) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Tate HealthCare (Pg. 26, 77) (479) 271-6511

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Birth Center NWA (Pg. 42) (479) 372-4560 bcnwa.com Lifespring Women’s Health (Pg. 45) (479) 271-0005 lifespringhealthcare.com Morter Health Corner (Pg.53) (479) 636-1324 Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 13) (479) 927-2100 Northwest Women’s Health Associates (Pg. 7) (479) 503-2525 Parkhill Clinic for Women (Pg. 71) (479) 521-4433 Siloam Springs Women’s Center (Pg. 74) (479) 524-9312 siloamwomenscenter.com Willow Creek Hospital (Pg. 5) (479) 757-3000

Experience. Discover. Grow.

Walnut Farm Montessori School Building a Foundation for Growth

Montessori Toddler Program 18 months-3 years old Walnut Farm offers flexible 2, 3, and 5 day toddler programs available in half day and full day options.

• Well prepared, peaceful environments that support learning and development • Dedicated, nurturing, trained teachers • Developmentally appropriate curriculum that fosters cognitive development, speech and language development, fine and gross motor skill enhancement • Nutritious meals prepared onsite daily for full day students • Before and after school programs offered Walnut Farm Montessori School is the first and only school accredited by the American Montessori Society in the State of Arkansas and the first school to offer a natural playscape environment for exercise and exploration. Our school provides an authentic Montessori education for children ages 18 months to 12 years.

Enrolling Now

479-271-9424 • info@walnutfarm.org