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36 The Path to Greatness A recap on the magical season of Louisiana Tech’s “Junkyard Dawgs” 00 Yoga Farm Fest Three days of well-being and fun 76 Football is in the Air Game day schedules and looks 84 Must Attend Events 88 Give Back Spotlight: Life Share Blood Center

HEALTH & BEAUTY 22 Caffeine Should you ditch it?

32 Covid Vaccine for Kids Just the facts 55 Collagen 101 Really… an advanced course

HOME & ENTERTAINING

8 Kim Mulkey The Louisiana Legend returns home

KIDDOS

18 Back to School Ten tips for the best school year yet 48 Birthdays on the Bayou Louisiana themed birthday parties that really take the cake

66 Lou Lou Sucre’ Summer Cocktails before the seasons turn

44 Go for The Gold How to set up students of all ages for great success

70 Rosepointe Fare Dine in with delicious dishes

27 That’s Ball Game When your kids quit YOUR favorite sport

60 Reinventing Southern Hospitality Introducing Cypress by The Revenir

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Champions are not made of MUSCLE;

A champion is made of HEART

thought about this quote recently after my daughter’s softball season had ended. Let me just say my daughter is talented in many things. She is a natural athlete, but softball isn’t her strong suit. She can swing a golf club like it’s nobody’s business, but Sister looks like a baby giraffe trying to field a softball. My entire family would gather at her games to watch her play. Throughout the season she got one hit, was thrown out at first and had one ball hit to her the last play of the last game. To sum it up, it was not good, there were tears, and leave I’ll it at that. After that game she gathered with her coaches and teammates for a short powwow. Never knowing what to expect with twelve-year-old girls, I was nervous when she jumped in the car. Her face was flushed and still damp with tears, but she was smiling. As I was silently praising Jesus to myself, she began to explain that her coach had just given her the best compliment. The coach told the team “When we began the season, Stowie didn’t know the first thing about softball, but she never quit trying. Even though she still has a lot to learn, she has improved so much, and I am proud of her.” In that moment I beamed with pride. Although she was clearly not a star softball player, she had demonstrated the heart of a champion. Whatever my children do in life, I pray that they realize it is not about how good you are at something. It is dedication, fortitude, hard work, and heart that make a true champion. As far as softball goes, we will see if she wants to play again next season. In the meantime, I am going to encourage sticking with golf. This issue of Lola Magazine is dedicated to those who carry the heart of a champion. We had the distinct honor of speaking with the Louisiana Tech National Championship winner, Olympic gold medalist, and record-breaking women’s basketball coach. Coach Kim Mulkey has returned home from an iconic career at Baylor University to take the helm as LSU women’s basketball head coach. Teri Netterville recaps Louisiana Tech Baseball’s nothing short of electric season in “The Path to Greatness.” Football season is around the corner and we have you covered for showing your team spirit with gameday looks and all our Louisiana teams’ game-day schedules. Make this school year your best yet with our back-to-school tips, and as always, find the latest on health, beauty and well-being. We hope that your summer was full of fun and that the transition into fall is full of enthusiasm for all this season brings. With the anticipation of cooler weather and the excitement of football in the air, may your teams not only win but may they play with the hearts of champions!

Cheers! Bevin

PHOTOGRAPH BY EMERALD MCINTYRE

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PUBLISHER Bevin Sutton Hicks Bevin@readlola.com 985-285-3742 MARKETING & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carie Cotter Hart Carie@readlola.com 318-573-6847 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Tommy Stow Sutton 318-560-5785 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Charles Anderson DISTRIBUTION ASSOCIATE Carl Hammock GRAPHIC ARTIST & ADVERTISING DESIGN Richard Creative Lola@Richard-Creative.com CONTENT EDITOR Kathy Spurlock CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Donesa Walker Jessica Comegys Victoria Arnold Sabrina Newell Dr. Karen Pendleton Dr. Andrew D. Yurochko, PH.D. Michelle M. Yetman, PHD Rebecca Durr, MCD, CCC-SLP Teri Netterville Payton Denney Tanya McMaster Chefs Brad Jones and Allison Gras Nicole Davidge CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jarrett Warren Emerald McIntyre Elsie Bordlee Matthew Cassity Tom Morris Nicole Davidge Tom Morris COVER Louisiana Tech’s Kim Mulkey and LSU’s Rhonda Hawthorne Original Cover Photo taken in 1984 by Tom Morris @tmopix FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION carie@readlola.com or visit Readlola.com FIND US ON FACEBOOK lola-magazine-lifestylesof-louisiana-ladies *Reproduction of contents without express written permission is prohibited. Lola Magazine is published bi-monthly by Stamper Marketing, LLC. 428 Mohican Lane, Shreveport, La 71106, Phone (318) 573-6847. Lola Magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any advertiser. Distribution of Lola Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products and/or services. Lola Magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the publication’s content. Nonetheless, we do not guarantee the accuracy of all information, nor the absence of errors. No responsibility will be assumed. Visit us online at readlola.com to subscribe. Lola Magazine is owned by Stamper Marketing, LLC.

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Get back to school safely. Hear from your local, trusted providers. The start of a new school year is always an exciting time. However, parents will have to decide whether to vaccinate their child against COVID-19. It’s recommended that children 12 years and older get vaccinated. Some parents are hesitant. At Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, we understand your concerns.

We asked members of our healthcare family for their insight to offer guidance to parents who are unsure and undecided. “It’s important that kids get vaccinated, even though they may not manifest illness like older people might. However, because kids are frequently not showing symptoms of COVID, it’s very difficult for us to know for sure whether they are actually getting COVID and spreading it to others. For the safety of all involved, vaccinating everyone is the right strategy.” - Dr. Mike Sewell Chief of Hospital Medicine – Academic Medical Center

“I think it’s important for children to be vaccinated because they are around older patients. They are around compromised patients. They are around grandparents and other family members. Although they are not the biggest super-spreaders that we have in our community, they definitely have a part to play. I think that, if your child is eligible to be vaccinated, then he or she should do their part to make sure that everyone in the family, friends and neighbors are all safer.” - Dr. Wanda Thomas Pediatrics, AHEC Program Director – Academic Medical Center “Children are not at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. They are not likely to cause spreading of COVID-19. However, children can become infected with COVID-19, and while they might not become ill, they certainly can spread that to others, especially family members.” - Dr. Euil Luther Family Medicine Physician – Monroe Medical Center

If you have a specific question, talk to your child’s pediatrician. For more information, visit ochsnerlsuhs.org/vaccine Together. Stronger.

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THE LEGE ND R E T U R NS HOM E

Kim Mulkey An Impressive and Inspiring Career Continues at LSU

WRITTEN BY VICTORIA ARNOLD

asketball Hall of Famer, Olympic gold medalist, storied college coach and Louisiana native Kim Mulkey has spent decades inspiring athletes and pushing past barriers. Along with her natural athletic talent, Mulkey’s perseverance, endurance and hard work have sustained her throughout a championship career. But she’s not finished yet. Now, Mulkey, a hard-working Louisiana girl at heart, is bringing her drive and passion back home to where it all started. Mulkey was born in 1962 in Tickfaw, Louisiana, and her passion for problem solving and working hard became noticeable to her peers and loved ones even from an early age. It was this perseverance for tackling obstacles head-on that eventually led Mulkey to the world of athletics. “Competing made me feel good,” said Mulkey. “I love to compete. I loved to compete in the classroom. It was always a challenge for

me to get good grades, so I studied harder and studied longer than most others my age.” Mulkey also credits her dad for playing a part in instilling her athletic drive. “My interest in sports began by following my father around when he would play in recreational leagues—whether that be for softball or basketball,” Mulkey said. “I think that drive can come from a lot of different areas. Maybe that’s just something that I was born with.” It wasn’t long before Mulkey came across her first opportunity to play in an organized league herself when she spotted a stack of Dixie Youth Baseball applications at her elementary school. Some girls would have been deterred by the fact that the league was for boys, but not Mulkey. “I knew I was good enough to play, and the same guys who were joining the Dixie team were the same ones who’d usually pick me to be on their teams, and I was usually the first one they chose.” Mulkey recalled

her dad picking her up after school one day and driving her to the try-outs for Dixie Ball. “I was the first player selected,” she said. At age 12, Mulkey became one of the first girls to play organized baseball for boys. She played Dixie Ball for two years and then Pony Ball for two more. Although she was interested in basketball from an early age, Mulkey recalls that there weren’t many opportunities for young girls to play, so she had to opt for other sports, like baseball, volleyball, softball and anything else that caught her attention. By the time she got to junior high, though, Mulkey had her sights set on the one sport that excited and challenged her the most. After making the basketball team at both Nesom Junior High School and Hammond High School, Mulkey helped lead her high school team to four consecutive state championships. Not only did Mulkey succeed as a student athlete, but she also worked hard to excel in her academics. Upon her graduation, Mulkey left Hammond High School with a 4.0 GPA and the title of valedictorian under her belt. Mulkey had also caught the attention of Louisiana Tech University president F. Jay Taylor and headed to Ruston. There, Mulkey became one of many talented players under head coach Sonja Hogg and associate head coach Leon Barmore to breathe life into a women’s basketball program that was just getting started. Mulkey knew early on that Louisiana Tech would be an excellent option for her because it offered both the opportunity to play basketball and to receive an outstanding education. After much practice and countless hours of hard work, Mulkey stepped onto Louisiana Tech’s basketball court as a Lady Techster—#20 jersey, hair divided into her signature

braided pigtails, and game face on. Mulkey described entering the world of college athletics for the first time. “As a freshman, you feel the butterflies, but you also feel the excitement because you’d walk out onto the court in Old Memorial Gym and it was packed,” recalled Mulkey. Playing alongside teammates and colleagues like Janice Lawrence, Pam Kelly, Angela Turner, Lori Scott, Jennifer White and more, Mulkey and her teammates eventually led the Lady Techsters to winning the national championship— the very first win for Louisiana Tech University. It was a special time for women and the sport, especially at Louisiana Tech. “Certainly for us in the ‘80s it was the love of women’s basketball. In comparison to other kinds of sports— you weren’t second fiddle to any other sport on Tech’s campus,” Mulkey said. Throughout her time as a Lady Techster, Mulkey won two national championships—one for the AIAW title in 1981 and the other for the inaugural NCAA title in 1982. In addition, Mulkey was also awarded the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award in 1984. This award is given to the nation’s top college seniors under 5’6”, and Mulkey was 5’4” at the time. One of the greatest things that Mulkey looks back on in regard to her career as a player for Tech? The fans. “My first year that I was at Tech, we played in Old Memorial Gym and you could hardly find a seat,” she said. “The one thing I remember the most, other than winning, was that our fans didn’t sit in their seats until the opposing team scored.” From 1980-1985, Mulkey enjoyed her time as a student athlete at Louisiana Tech and remembers it with fondness, though she soon received news of an opportunity that at that time she had only dreamed about. After many hot and exhausting college summers dedicated to training, she reached

a new height in her athletic career: becoming an Olympian. Since she was a little girl, Mulkey fantasized about participating in the Olympics. “I remember as a young person watching Nadia Comaneci when she was competing in gymnastics for Romania. I just watched her and thought, ‘She’s the best of the best,’” she recalled. Inspirations from fellow athletes, like Comaneci, fueled her drive to work toward her own goal of one day becoming an Olympic athlete. And finally, that day came when Mulkey discovered she had been chosen to participate in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California. To begin her Olympic journey, Mulkey was sent to the William Jones Cup competition in Taipei, Taiwan, for preOlympic training. During their time there, Mulkey and the rest of the U.S. national team easily beat each of the eight teams they competed against, winning by an average of just under 50 points per game, with Mulkey averaging 6.8 points per game. That same year, Mulkey helped lead the United States to its first ever Olympic gold medal for basketball. “I was very fortunate I was selected and very fortunate to play for Pat Summitt, and I’m very fortunate it was for the United States and we were able to win a gold medal,” she reflected. Though she began reaching new heights in her basketball career, Mulkey’s motivation, strategy and passion for the game remained constant. The thing that kept her going during highstake games like the Olympics? Her keen ability to focus on whatever challenge is right in front of her. “You’re just so in the moment—the heat of the moment. Our game is so fast-paced... you’ve got so many things happening so quickly that you have to make quick decisions and stay focused. Sometimes you make the right decision and

sometimes you don’t, but you just have to stay focused and in the moment.” After taking home the gold, Mulkey began to set her focus toward winding down her athletic career and opening a door to a new world of opportunity—the world of business. Having graduated from Tech with her bachelor’s in Business Administration, Mulkey buckled down and began to pursue her master’s in business administration in 1985. However, fate had other plans. During her Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Induction speech in May 2021, Mulkey reflected on her time after the Olympics and recalled that she had no idea that her athletic career in school could ever become her primary career. “I never thought I would be a coach. After the ‘84 Olympics, I received a post-graduate scholarship from the NCAA to work on my master’s degree, and I was sitting in a class when police officers came and got me out of class and asked me to report to the president’s office, and at the time the president of Louisiana Tech was F. Jay Taylor.” During that meeting, Taylor informed Mulkey that he wanted her to become the assistant coach under Leon Barmore. Mulkey remembers, “He wanted me to be part of that world, and my first reaction was, ‘No way. I’m done. I want to be a CEO and travel across the world and fly on corporate jets—not coach basketball.’ ” However, after much reluctance, Mulkey ended up accepting a position as assistant coach for Louisiana Tech. She says, “Little did I know, that man knew more about what I was supposed to do than I did.” In 1985, Mulkey began her 15-year coaching career at Louisiana Tech. Under her leadership, the Lady Techsters reached new heights that would propel them into being ranked

as one of the greatest women’s basketball teams in the country. During Mulkey’s tenure as assistant coach and eventually head coach, after her promotion in 1996, the Lady Techsters posted a 430-68 record and advanced to seven Final Fours. More impressively, the Lady Techsters also won the NCAA championship in 1988. When asked about the feeling of winning a championship as a player versus winning a championship as a coach, Mulkey’s answer was straightforward: “I’d say it felt about the same. I’ve been blessed to be on so many championship teams as a player, assistant coach and head coach, but the truth is that they all feel the same. I believe people think that it feels better as a player or it feels better as a coach—but the truth is that I really did love it all. When you’re competing for a championship, you just feel like you’re a part of it. No matter what part you play, you’re a part of that championship.” It was her natural, headstrong, down-to-earth leadership as a coach that eventually led Mulkey to pack her bags and relocate to Waco, Texas, in April 2000 after she landed the role of head coach for Baylor University’s women’s basketball team. Even though she felt anxious and excited to start a new job as a head coach, Mulkey said, “It turned out to be a great decision— and I spent 21 wonderful years at Baylor University.” Mulkey’s start at Baylor came with a good omen, as she received the honor of being inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 for her outstanding accomplishments as a basketball player. With this achievement under her belt, she began investing in her next achievement— revamping Baylor University’s basketball program. Upon her arrival, Mulkey’s mission was to reconstruct the program from the ground up. The previous season, Baylor had finished with a final record of 7-20 and finished last in the

Big 12 Conference. The Lady Bears had also yet to receive an invitation to the NCAA tournament. That is, until Coach Kim stepped onto the court. Mulkey brought energy, passion and true grit with her to Baylor. In fact, during her first season at Baylor, the Lady Bears received their first NCAA tournament bid thanks to Mulkey’s leadership. The team has continued to go into postseason play every year since her arrival. Throughout her 21-year reign at Baylor, the Lady Bears won an average of 20 games each year, and only once has the team lost more than 10 games in a season. With Mulkey’s guidance, Baylor’s team continued to strengthen in their success until finally, in 2005, the Lady Bears took the championship title. It was this victory that changed Mulkey’s basketball career forever. After leading the Lady Bears to their first national championship, Mulkey became the first woman in NCAA history to have won NCAA Division I basketball titles as a player, assistant coach and head coach. In fact, since her initial tournament win as a player for Louisiana Tech in 1982, Mulkey has been involved in the NCAA tournament either as a player or coach every year, except in 1985 and 2003. Mulkey’s string of success would continue. After signing a 10-year extension as head coach for Baylor, in 2008 she released her autobiography, Won’t Back Down: Teams, Dreams, and Family. Four years later, in 2012, Mulkey made NCAA history yet again when she led the Lady Bears to a perfect 40-0 season, the most wins in basketball history for women or men. In 2019, Mulkey climbed another mountaintop after Baylor defeated Notre Dame with a score of 82-81 –making Mulkey the third coach to win three or more NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championships, ranking her with some of Mulkey’s own sources of inspiration—Geno Aurimma and

previous Olympic coach Pat Summitt. However, Mulkey and her Baylor team would soon face a challenge that would be one of the most difficult yet—the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in March of 2020. Mulkey remembers, “We were headed to the conference tournament in Kansas City, sitting in an airplane and waiting to take off, when I saw my phone light up on the seat next to me. I received a text from one of our administrators saying that the conference was going to be canceled. I was able to ask a flight attendant to knock on the pilot’s door, and he kindly turned the plane around and took us back to the terminal area.” Mulkey described the reaction her players had to this news: “We were just devastated. Particularly the seniors were devastated. I just told them to head home and be safe and that they’d hear from me in a few hours.” Unfortunately, there was more bad news to come. “It wasn’t until a few hours later that we learned about the NCAA tournament being canceled. I think we were all in a kind of denial, disbelief and disappointment. It was very difficult. We felt that we had a team that could really win another national championship. The Final Four was also going to be held in New Orleans, which I was sad couldn’t happen.” Despite the heartache of not being able to see players or participate in any organized games, Mulkey did receive some exciting news in the midst of the disappointment of 2020— she was to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Not only that, but the beginning of 2021 had more good news in store: an opportunity to return to her home state of Louisiana and become head coach for Louisiana State University’s women’s basketball program, which she accepted.

Though the announcement was devastating to many Baylor fans, the community that supported Mulkey in her transition was a testament to all the lives that she has touched. Upon the announcement of her departure, several of her staff even followed her to Baton Rouge as she began her new chapter at LSU. In her 2021 induction speech to the Naismith Hall of Fame, Mulkey discussed how thankful and humble she was to have participated in an amazing university and basketball program at Baylor University. “I’m amazed that a university in Texas, with which I had absolutely no prior connection, welcomed me, embraced me and provided me, my family, my two children with unwavering and unconditional support,” said Mulkey. “They took a chance on a little country girl from Louisiana that had never left the state of Louisiana, and they gave me every resource and all the support in the world.” Mulkey also expressed her excitement for beginning her new chapter at LSU during a press conference in May. “I’ve been at Baylor for 21 years of my life, and we built that program from the ground up. Can you believe, there’s only one institution I would have left for, and they decided to make that commitment, and now I’m home.” Mulkey also talked about how she was looking forward to returning to Louisiana. “I’m excited to be back in my home state. I’m excited that LSU had the faith and belief in me enough to offer me the job. I’m appreciative of all the support that my staff and myself have received. We understand what lies ahead and we know there’s excitement about us coming back—and that feels good.” However, Mulkey isn’t the only one who’s excited for her return to her home state. Before she took the stage during her

LSU introductory press conference, Mulkey was introduced by many different administrators from LSU athletics and was showered with warm welcomes. Mary Werner, Athletics Committee Chair on LSU’s Board of Supervisors said, “Coach Mulkey’s resume is unlike any other coach we have ever welcomed to LSU.” Werner’s recognition of Mulkey’s accomplishments was also preceded by kind words from Tom Galligan, LSU’s interim president. “She will be a valuable asset to LSU through the pride she displays and the standards she sets on the court and, just as importantly, off the court,” said Galligan. “Coach Mulkey represents the very best of Louisiana.” Mulkey is also well aware that her successes weren’t accomplished alone. During her acceptance speech for her induction to the Naismith Hall of Fame, Mulkey made sure to honor all of her supporters and previous coaches. She said, “While we’re the ones being honored and recognized, we’re only here because of one of life’s greatest ironies—we get the credit when it should be shared with and by so many others. I’m only here because of the great individuals who coached me.” Many of these individuals that played a significant role in shaping Mulkey’s drive and determination have shown her how to encourage that same drive and determination in others. Mulkey shared that for each practice, she usually has a different motivational quote of the day for her players. When asked which piece of advice has resonated with her the most, she simply said, “There’s just too many to live by.” Though there have been numerous phrases and mottos that have inspired Mulkey and her players throughout the years, the one thing that she does believe is important for everyone, athlete or not, is to have goals. “I think it’s important for everyone to have goals,” said Mulkey. However, Mulkey also acknowledges that it’s important for individuals to be able to carry on even when certain goals don’t work out. “I think we all have obstacles. We can choose to call them failures or obstacles or roadblocks or whatever—it’s part of life. No one has ever said life was easy or that life was fair. Whatever obstacle comes your way, you need to know how to pick yourself back up and regroup. You have to keep keeping on.” Reflecting upon her overall career as an athletic coach, Mulkey’s primary feeling is thankfulness. “I’ve been blessed to be in a leadership role, and I always want to be prepared. I always want to guide them in the right direction and help them grow, mature and become not only great basketball players, but great people, too.” She elaborated on this during her Naismith Hall of Fame induction speech as well. Addressing her peers in the professional and collegiate athletic communities, she advised: “No coach stands up here without having great players. I’m a very small part of the basketball world, because those players choose to either listen to you or ignore you, and I’ve been so blessed that they believed in me, they embraced me, and allowed me to push them beyond places they thought they could ever go.” Despite the numerous awards she’s received and obstacles she’s conquered, the greatest achievement in Mulkey’s life isn’t her career. She said, “My two children without a doubt are the greatest accomplishments of my life.” Her son Kramer and daughter Makenzie have been extremely supportive of her career, not only at Baylor, but during her transition to LSU. Kramer, now a player for the St. Louis Cardinals, previously played baseball at LSU during his 14

“I’ve been at Baylor for 21 years of my life and we built that program from the ground up. Can you believe, there’s only one institution I would have left for, and they decided to make that commitment, and now I’m home.” COAC H MU L KE Y

time as a student there. “Being able to watch my two children grow and see the people they have become—what a blessing they have been in my life,” said Mulkey. Having a daughter has also given Mulkey a unique perspective on what she hopes can be accomplished for female athletes in basketball, a long male-dominated sport. She has witnessed inequities firsthand and said, “Financially, you can be a head coach at the elite level of your profession and see male coaches that haven’t accomplished near enough what you have get paid more than you. That can be an issue, but I do believe it’s gotten better, especially in my lifetime.” Yet, in true Mulkey fashion, she’s learned to not let anything distract her from reaching her goals. “That’s also just part of life. You just have to do the best that you can do and try to not compare yourself to others. Don’t concern yourself with other people’s opinions, just do your job.” Reflecting on her time in the world of athletics, Mulkey admits that a lot has changed for the better when it comes to the growth and respect for women in athletics, particularly

in basketball. Mulkey recalled, “I think we’ve seen a lot of things change throughout my lifetime. We see more television coverage for women’s sports and more support from fans. The salaries have gotten better and the opportunities have gotten better. I can think of a lot of things that have changed. I don’t think we’re where we need to be, but I believe that things will get better as they always have. You keep pushing—you keep fighting for what you believe in to be right and I think we’re seeing the rewards from that, or at least in comparison to 2030 years ago.” In Mulkey’s eyes, the future is bright for women’s basketball, especially for the Lady Tigers she’ll be coaching at LSU. Tough as nails and built with the push to achieve even some of the most seemingly impossible goals, Mulkey represents not only the characteristics of being a strong basketball player, but a strong woman in leadership. As Mulkey stated herself, “It’s no secret, I do coach with passion. I do coach with intensity. But I think I learned that from the great state of Louisiana,” said Mulkey, smiling. “We’re fighters here.” 15

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10 TIPS

for the best school year yet

ith the rocky pandemic school year behind us, including virtual learning and hybrid learning, many parents are looking forward to returning to a “traditional” school year. Some parents (and kids) are feeling anxious about returning to this format, as their child may have lost some academic ground and developed less than ideal study habits during the pandemic. How does a parents help ensure a successful school year for their child? The following suggestions may help set your child up for success this year.

Attend Back-To-School Night & Parent/Teacher Conferences Research indicates that kids do better academically when their parents take an active role in their school lives. It is important to be familiar with your child’s school policies and their teacher’s expectations. Conferences are a chance to discuss any concerns you have about your child’s learning and discuss strategies to help

WRITTEN BY MICHELLE M. YETMAN, PHD & REBECCA DURR, MCD, CCC-SLP

your child do their best in class. Meeting with the teacher also lets your child know that what goes on in school will be shared at home. It is important to work together as a “team” to support your child.

Visit the School and Its Website Knowing the physical layout of the school and playground can help you connect with your child when they talk about their school day. On the school website, you can find information about: › the school calendar › staff contact information › upcoming events like class trips › testing dates

It is a good idea to post such dates on the family home calendar and help your child keep these dates in mind.

Support Homework Expectations Homework is designed to help reinforce what students have been learning during the school day. It can also help children develop time management skills and important study skills techniques. It promotes a sense of responsibility and work ethic that will benefit them in the future. As parents, you can support this process by letting them know that homework is a priority. One way to do this is to create an effective study environment. It should be well lit, free of distractions (like a television in the background) and should have the necessary supplies, e.g., pens, papers, etc. A good rule of thumb for an effective homework and/or study period is roughly 10 minutes per elementary grade level. Fourth graders, for example, should expect to have about 40 minutes of homework or studying each school night. If you find that it is often taking significantly longer than this guideline, you may want to discuss the issue with your child’s teacher.

Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn Being ready to learn includes have a nutritious breakfast. Children who eat breakfast have more energy, can focus better, and tend to do better in school. You can boost your child’s attention span, concentration, and memory by providing breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein as well as being low in sugar. Kids also need the right amount of sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day. Most school age children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night. Bedtime difficulties can arise at this age for a variety of reasons. Homework, sports, after school activities, TVs, computers and video games as well as hectic family schedules can contribute to kids not getting enough sleep.

Teach Organization Skills When kids are organized, they can stay focused instead of spending time hunting things down and getting sidetracked. Check your child’s backpack every night. Look in the assignment

book and homework every night so you are familiar with assignments, and so you can help ensure your child doesn’t fall behind. Re-pack the backpack nightly before going to bed and leave it by the same spot so it will be easy to find in the morning. No last minute racing around looking for things in the morning – this can be a stressful start to the day. Remember, no one is born with great organizational skills; they need to be learned and practiced.

Teach Study Skills Be sure to know when your child is going to have a test so you can help them study in advance rather than the night before when anxiety is highest. Teach your child how to break down the overall tasks into smaller, manageable chunks so preparing for a test isn’t overwhelming. Also the more memory tracks you can lay down in the brain, the easier it will be to recall the information. For example, having your child practice their spelling words in the bathtub while writing the words in colored, scented markers on the wall will help them recall the words easier than just looking at the words on the page and trying to memorize them.

Know the Disciplinary Policies Schools usually cite their disciplinary policies (sometimes called the student code of conduct) in student handbooks. The rules cover expectations and consequences for not meeting the expectations, for things like student behavior, dress codes, use of electronic devices, and acceptable language.

Get Involved Children tend to better when their parents take an active role in their school life and getting involved at your child’s school is one way to do that. While many grade-schoolers like to see their parents at school events, you should follow your child’s cues to find out how much interaction works for both

of you. If your child seem uncomfortable with your presence at the school, consider taking a more behind-the-scenes approach. Parents can get involved by: › Being a classroom helper or homeroom parent › Organizing and/or working at fundraising activities & other special events, e.g., bake sales, book fairs › Chaperoning field trips › Planning class parties › Attending School Board Meetings › Joining school PTA › Working as a library assistant › Reading a story to the class or listening to new readers › Giving a talk for career day › Attending school concerts or plays › Take Attendance Seriously

Sick children should stay home from school. Otherwise, it is important to go to school. If your child misses school, make plans with your child’s teacher about how your child can catch up on missed work. If your child is missing school due to anxiety, you may want to talk to someone like a psychologist.

Make Time To Talk About School Parents get busy and it is easy to forget to ask your child what is going on at school. Dinnertime is a great time to “check in” with your child and find out what was the best part of the day and what they wish they could change. Establishing good lines of communication in the elementary school years are critical because you want to maintain that open communication during the adolescent years. Try to make time every day to talk about school. If you have concerns about your child’s development or learning, you can seek out evaluation services at LSU Health Shreveport Children’s Center.

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HOSTESS with the MOSTESS:

JESSICA COMEGYS

CAFFEINE - should you ditch it? Regain your natural energy levels! E

nergy: the elusive resource we all crave. It’s the motivation to conquer the to-do list, fuels creativity, and provides a sense of presence that prevents stagnation. But the question is: how do you recharge this internal battery, or find new ways to create energy stores and live more vibrantly, more awake? Coffee has long been the default solution, and now we have lots of more tasty caffeine sources. But is that popular fruity energy boasting tea, canned energy drink or afternoon triple espresso extra foam causing you more harm than good? Not to mention the crazy amounts of sugar, but that’s another article. Leaving you jittery, unfocused and anxious in its aftermath? Let’s explore a chapter out of the Luminous Lifestyle on caffeine, your adrenal glands, and some healthy alternatives to keep your energy levels high without the crash.

Adrenal Fatigue

Overuse of caffeine can over task your adrenal glands and can send your body’s stress hormones sky high. When your adrenal levels are always high, that signals your body to produce cortisol, which is your long-term stress hormone, and when your adrenal and cortisol levels are high, your body can’t function properly. Enter - Adrenal Fatigue. That’s when our elimination stops, our digestion system gets stopped up, we feel foggy, irritable, all of those responses in our body kind of shut off. It’s also the reason people hold on to excess weight, because if you think about back in historic times of famine, there would be high levels of stress hormones because the body was in stress, so it would signal the body to hold on to weight because there was no food. Lucky for you, there are tools nature provides to combat the push/pull of wanting a 3 p.m. coffee craving without the side effects of anxiety-provoking mental fatigue.

To Coffee Or

Not To Coffee So what’s the deal with coffee… here is what I’ve found. Coffee is actually the highest source of antioxidants in the western diet, probably because it’s consumed so much, coffee is a plant and does contain a ton of antioxidants, HOWEVER, coffee is very acidic and it contains caffeine which, like we said, can be detrimental to your adrenal glands. But also while it’s the highest source of antioxidants in the western diet, it’s also the most heavily sprayed crop in the world with pesticides. If you choose to indulge in a little bit of coffee… it needs to be organic. So choose it well. Make it with purified water. Otherwise it’s like a little cup of poison. Don’t get me wrong, I love coffee too. The intoxicating aroma, the morning practice of pouring a cup and lazily sipping as you map out the day. Deciding whether or not coffee fits into your healthy lifestyle is something only you can do for yourself, by listening to your body.

Depleted Energy -

How To Fix It

How do you re-spark creativity and focus once the lull of the afternoon hits? A nourishing snack may be the answer, but the slew of processed, preservative-laden options are less than inspiring. The spike in insulin, followed by an inevitable refined sugar crash can result in feeling more depleted than ever. Instead, focus on functional ingredients that nourish the fatty brain tissue and improve cognitive function.

The Nootropic You NEED

L-theanine is an amino acid, naturally present in green tea. It’s touted to help boost cognition and fight the stress and anxiety that seem to follow us all in a ubiquitous haze. It also happens to be a smart thing to pair with a stimulating cup of coffee. L-theanine helps to induce calm alongside the hit of caffeine, a stimulant known to raise levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. The yin/yang of these two compounds, instead of canceling each other out, foster a hyper-focused, enhanced clarity. The bioactive compound not only combats stress mentally; it’s also a physical destresser. Studies have suggested its ability to fight against neurodegenerative toxins like aluminum, and alleviate ailments ranging from PMS, hypertension, and chronic pain.

Great options include the previously mentioned L-theanine, an amino acid that heightens focus while lowering cortisol (ideal headspace for fostering great ideas!); vitamin B12, a critical nutrient for brain health, mood, and making DNA (note: digestive enzymes can be a great aid better absorbing B12); enough plant fiber to support your gut microbes, the control center of your body systems. WRITTEN BY JESSICA COMEGYS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARRETT WARREN

I have a green smoothie for breakfast every morning in order to get my body started with all the nutrients it needs for a productive day. Midday, I reach for a Cosmic Matcha Latte, iced or hot. Here are some recipes and tips on making your healthy switch.

Energizing Green Smoothie: • 1/4 cup pineapple, frozen • 1 cup fresh spinach • 1/2 banana, frozen • 1 tbsp coconut oil, or octane oil • 1 cup coconut water or plant milk • Optional: 1 tsp matcha powder • Optional: 1/2 avocado to replace banana • Optional: 2 scoops Skinny Greem Plant Protein

Awakened Elixir: • 1 cup of Wild Dandelion Cococ or high-quality organic coffee • ½ teaspoon Maca powder • ½ teaspoon Reishi powder • 1 spoonful coconut oil or octane oil • A generous splash of plant milk Why this works: Begin with a cup of organic coffee, or Wild Dandelion Cocoa, if you choose to wean yourself off coffee but lust after the flavor, try as a nice alternative (its ground-up dandelion, raw cacao, and moringa leaf give off a similar coffee flavor). Then, uplevel the morning brew with libido-boosting maca root and reishi mushroom powder. Reishi is medicinal mycelium, and once an important piece of the Egyptian pharaohs' diet for immortality. More recently, it’s been heavily researched for its anti-cancer properties and its support for the spleen, kidney, and liver (critical detox organs that could use some focused care if you’ve been a buzz hound). This recipe is further supercharged with a scoop of coconut oil, offering essential fatty acids that will help soothe the adrenals, cortisol, and insulin. Blend it for optimum frothiness.

Adaptogenic Matcha Latte: • 8oz hot water or warm nut milk • 2 tbsp Cosmic Matcha • Sweeten to taste. Blend on high. Leave hot, or pour over ice. Sip in bliss. Why this works: Energizing Matcha with Tocos and Silver Ear Mushroom to nourish skin, edible Hyaluronic Acid draws in moisture for plant-based collagen support, and adaptogens like Schisandra, Ashwagandha, and Amla target the effects of stress in the body and elevate mood while promoting a deeper sleep at night. Plus remember that super amino acid we talked about? Matcha contains up to five times the amount of Ltheanine as regular green tea!

Products available for enjoyment in cafe or retail purchase at Glow Alchemy Kitchen or online at CaspianaCatering.com

Blend on high, drink with a straw. Or try turning it into a smoothie bowl by adding a little ice to thicken it and topping it with granola, berries, and crunchy seeds and nuts. Why this works: Enter healthy fats and fiber. This green smoothie contains naturally energy boosting ingredients like leafy greens that provide an excellent source of iron - which helps fight fatigue. Healthy fats, which help maintain energy levels. Coconut oil or octane oil contain medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which provide a quick energy source for the body in addition to nourishing the brain.

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Ball Game: When your kid quits WRITTEN BY

PAYTON DE NN

your favorite sport

y daughter retired from gymnastics, and I’m certain that I need therapy. Her decision to quit was not a hasty one. It was accompanied by handwringing and tears. But after 18 months of chronic shoulder pain, we knew that the only option was to hang up her leotard and grips. I’m still grieving. For the past 4 years, I have watched Dylan transform into a talented athlete. She trained for 16 hours each week while balancing family life and schoolwork. I can remember her coach encouraging

the parents as he laid out the time and monetary commitments. He said, “If they want it bad enough, they will figure out a way to balance everything.” He was right. Dylan is a straight A student. Progress comes slowly in the gym. Mental and physical toughness are imperative for advancement to occur. Just four years ago, Dylan couldn’t do a cartwheel. She finished this season by placing 4th in her age division in the UGA National Championships in Orlando.

t makes sense to me why this life transition is difficult. The time and money invested, the personal gut punches I felt when she didn’t hit her mark, the joy our faces shared when she’d climb the podium—we experienced those failures and victories together. It has become a part of our growing process—Dylan as a kid and me as a parent. While Dylan learned how to sling her body around a bar, fly 10 feet in the air, and land on her feet, I learned how to braid and hold my tongue. I also learned to trust her body to safely perform the skills she attempted. We both made girlfriends along the way. That’s no small feat for us boy-loving gals. We’ll miss being in the mix of this sport and among these people.

nterestingly enough, this isn’t my first time to grieve a chapter close on my kid’s sporting story. When my youngest quit baseball I felt a similar tug on my heartstrings. Cameron is our social kiddo. Once Cam started school, it didn’t take long before parents were calling the house to see if Cam would play ball for their team. “It’s just t-ball,” I thought to myself. “How big of a commitment can it be?” It wasn’t long before I was eyeballs deep in ballmom town. I had the t-shirts, the monogrammed bag, and the canvas wagon. I sat in the same spot each game and welcomed the aftergame swim parties and barbeques. I knew all the kiddo nicknames and cheered the loudest when a kid came out of a slump. While Cameron loved the social aspect of the game, he didn’t love how he sized up to the other players. The nail in his baseball coffin was swiftly administered by a colossal error in parenting judgment. A few years into Cam’s baseballing days, Dakota decided that he wanted to play. Because they are only 18 months apart, it made sense (mainly because it was convenient) for Dakota to join Cam’s team. Thus began the sibling comparison war. I didn’t realize how bad it had gotten until Cam broke his arm. His overwhelming sense of relief of not having to perform on the field was obvious. My parenting heart was mortified. How had I missed my kid’s misery cues? I vowed never to do that again. The following season, I found myself watching Cam’s old team play from a different set of bleachers. Dakota had aged out of playing with them. I missed the comradery of those parents and celebrating the victories of their kids. It was easy to be envious

for all those reasons and also because watching Dakota’s live arm game was like watching paint dry. Just as Dakota’s team began hitting the ball and I learned the parents’ names, he decided to hang up his baseball cleats too. This next chapter of life will be full of change. Dylan has decided to pick up a set of competitive pom poms. Dakota has joined the Griffin football team. Cam is still creating things with his hammer to sell for cash. Periodically, Cam will mention wanting to play ball again. But once we dig deeper, it’s evident that he actually misses being part of the team. Instead, we schedule a sleepover with a former team member or two. Pat and I are preparing to pivot. I’m

entering a deafening world of glitter and eyelashes. I might as well walk in there naked as I couldn’t be more out of place.

Pat is charged with teaching the tiniest kid on the team to block kids twice his size. I overheard one recent coaching session, “You gotta learn how to turn on that speed while wearing those pads.” I couldn’t agree more. Run buddy, run! Here’s the thing, as much as we are not looking forward to transitioning again, this isn’t about us. Pat and I have had our time. Our glory days should remain in our memories and should not be relived through our kids. Keeping the urge to project our wishes onto our kids is difficult but not impossible. Our kids’ choices good, bad, or indifferent belong to them. No matter the outcome of those choices, it’s all going to be ok. There’s no need for us to orchestrate how those choices play out. I do however have one request. If, at any point from here forward, you see me wearing fake eyelashes, please be kind. I’m doing this thing called parenting, and I’ve never been exactly here before. A little grace and some prayer would be appreciated. Go team! Now someone pass the Xanax.

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The FactsT

Vaccinating Children

he Coronavirus pandemic has raged for more than 18 months, and we are now in our 4th viral surge in Louisiana (caused largely by the new Delta variant). The Delta variant is the most infectious and possibly most fit and dangerous of the existing variants. This variant has completely taken over the great State of Louisiana and the country in less than three months. There is no doubt that the coronavirus’ impact on all of our lives has been staggering. In the past two weeks we have seen numbers of infections and hospitalizations that are among the highest since the pandemic began in 2019. Now, the new school year is starting, and our precious children are all headed back to school.

“How do we protect our loved ones and return to a normal life?” The answers lies in the use of the developed coronavirus vaccines (for example those made by Pfizer and Moderna, which have been the largest contributors to the current vaccine numbers). These vaccines are among the safest vaccines ever manufactured and have together already been used in more than 160 million Americans to date. They have been shown to have high efficacy and to prevent severe disease and hospitalizations in those vaccinated, even against the new Delta variant. They also help reduce virus spread. Both vaccines are approved for use by adults aged 18 and older. The Pfizer vaccine is also now approved for use by those 12 and older and is currently undergoing trials to test its safety and efficacy in those 5 to 11 years old and in a second study in those 6 months to 4 years

old. A third vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson is also in use in the U.S. and is approved for those older than 18. These vaccines will allow us to return to a normal life, but only if taken by a large proportion of the population. The author felt so strongly about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines that both of his minor children were vaccinated. In fact, the oldest child, the author and his wife participated in the first Pfizer clinical trial offered by LSU Health Shreveport (with Dr. John Vanchiere as the lead investigator) in support of the testing of this vaccine candidate. The youngest will also be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is approved is approved for ages 5 to 12. At present, these vaccines are approved for the ages noted above under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA. What does this EUA approval mean? An EUA approval means the vaccines have undergone

thorough safety testing with safety being the primary consideration. That is, these vaccines have undergone an extremely rigorous and thorough safety testing program and would not have been approved if all safety standards were not met. Safety is also always monitored and if issues arise, as was noted with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, the FDA can suspend the use of the vaccine. Pfizer and Moderna have now submitted their respective vaccines for full approval. The requirements for full approval include long term efficacy of the vaccines, as well as ongoing evaluation of safety. We know from data collected around the country and the world that these vaccines are safe and effective against currently circulating variants. They are the best “Magic Wand” that we can wave to help us stay safe, protect our loved ones, allow schools to open normally, allow us to safely return to church, return to sports and all the things we love. It is

WRITTEN BY DR. ANDREW D. YUROCHKO, PH.D., Professor and Carroll Feist Endowed Chair in Viral Oncology Vice Chairman, Dept of Microbiology and Immunology Executive Director of the Center of Excellence in Emerging Viral Threats Director, CoBRE Center of Applied Immunology and Pathological Processes LSU Health Shreveport 32

important to point out that only with high levels of vaccination can we reach the herd immunity needed to effectively end the threat of COVID-19. No dangerous virus has ever resulted in herd immunity via natural infection. As an example, the eradication in 1979 of Smallpox (which had a 2030% case fatality rate) was only possible because of a concerted worldwide vaccination effort. This same point holds true for Polio (which can cause life-long paralysis in children) eradication efforts that are currently being undertaken. Through using an effective vaccine, the world health organization has limited wild type polio to only two countries as of July of 2021. Modern scientific techniques have created several safe and effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. It has been argued that this is the fastest vaccine to reach human use. Although that statement is absolutely true, it is forgotten that the first SARS outbreak in 2002-2003 and then the MERS outbreak that began in 2012 stimulated research into effective coronavirus vaccines and a focus on the coronavirus spike protein as the key vaccine target. Thus, in reality a background knowledge about coronavirus vaccines has been in the works for close to 20 years. Likewise, the use of the mRNA vaccine strategy that has been deployed to allow this rapid manufacturing of hundreds of millions of doses of a vaccine by Pfizer and Moderna can be traced back to the 1980’s. The current coronavirus has seen more than double the number of fatalities among children when compared to the seasonal flu, and current hospital numbers unfortunately show that the Delta variant can also infect and seriously affect our children. Because we have a strong, safe, and effective vaccine against this coronavirus (including the Delta variant), we can vaccinate ourselves and our children to prevent its spread in schools and beyond during this dangerous 4th surge of SARS-CoV-2. The author is a professor and viral immunologist with more than 30 years of experience working with the immune system and viral disease. He is currently the Executive Director of the Center of Excellence in Emerging Viral Threats and Heads the National Institutes of Health Funded Immunology Center of Excellence at LSU Health Shreveport. 33

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THE PATH TO

Greatness I WRITTEN BY TERI NETTERVILLE

n my personal library, I have shelves full of books about the “Greats” among us: Great athletes, great coaches, great business leaders, world leaders and great every day, ordinary people who defied the odds and became something rather extraordinary in their field of interest. Interestingly, they usually achieved their greatness during a time and space when the world needed their brand of inspiration the very most. And that’s usually part of what makes their story so great. What I have discovered is that many people have come to believe that greatness is a gift reserved only for a select few… only for the “chosen ones.” That’s simply not true. Greatness is not some rare DNA strand or some precious and rare gift that only some of us are entitled to. It’s something inside all of us. But it’s also something you must work at; something you must strive for and believe in with all your heart. What mostly fascinates me about these stories is how these people were able to get around whatever adversity was placed in front of them...whatever stumbling block

was meant to stifle their path TOWARD their great destiny. Adversity seems to be part of the theme in every truly great story. It can come in the form of another person, an illness, an unfortunate event or even a natural disaster. After all is said and done, we always discover that there was a higher purpose for it. It’s always worth going through adversity in the end. Stories and movies about great teams have always intrigued me the most because the dynamics that must shift into place to make an ordinary team extraordinary is nothing short of miraculous to me. The different personalities… the different make up of each player… the different mindset...skillset… and “will” set is crucial to the success of any remarkable team. But, quite frankly, whoever is placed at the helm of this group, (meaning the coach), is absolutely critical to the success of it. Those of us who were lucky enough to be part of this past 2021 baseball season at Louisiana Tech University are well aware that what we witnessed… what we were all part of ...was something truly, truly GREAT.

PHOTO BY ELSIE BORDLEE

To attempt to encapsulate what happened with this team, this University, along with this very special town of Ruston, into one article seems almost impossible, but I shall do my best. I think the only way to do this is to ask you to step back in time with me and let’s rewind the clock and journey back forward through all of the Great Moments that put us on the path to greatness that we all witnessed this past spring. That first moment of Greatness that set things in motion came five years ago. I’ll never forget it. The year was 2016. My eldest son, Steele, was a junior in high school. I was cleaning the kitchen when I first saw Coach Burroughs on my television screen answering questions at his introductory press conference. Unable to hear very well, I could tell by his facial expressions that whatever he was saying meant a lot to him. I reached for my remote control, rewound the segment, turned the volume up and heard this man very matter-of-factly share with the press, “We will host a regional here.” As if once wasn’t enough, he repeated himself with even more resolution, “We WILL host a regional here.” He paused briefly, then continued his thought, “We have the facilities… We’ve got the support… and there is a commitment to winning here.” Never before had Louisiana Tech hosted a Regional tournament, but I believed his words. I genuinely believed what he was saying because HE believed what he was saying.