Rockland/Bergen Parent - Nov/Dec 2022

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Family Shot: JULee: Dressed in Joy “cora” blouse, eloquii sequin column skirt, eloquii faux leather moto jacket, nike sneakers, Gwen Beloti “nina” classic gold hoops. RAHsAAn: Zara shirt, Vintage jacket, Zara pants, nike sneakers. oRIon: Primark shirt, Janie and Jack pants, nike sneakers. nADIR: Primark shirt, Ade + Ayo jumper, Van sneakers

Julee Solo Shot: eloquii tie front peplum blouse, American eagle jeans, eloquii strong shoulder coat with cinched waist, studio entwine handmade fabric buttons, Brother Vellies heels , Gwen Beloti “nina”

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A FLURRY OF FUN IN NEW JERSEY

Welcome winter in New Jersey—from candlelight tours in Cape May to snow tubing in the Skylands. View dazzling light shows and live performances of The Nutcracker and other classics.

Experience Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure and shopping at Palmer Square in Princeton. Discover museums like the Liberty Science Center and enjoy journeys with American Revolution and Black Heritage Itineraries.

Get your free official travel guide and discover more at VisitNJ.org

November Shifts

November is a gorgeous month for the weather shifts from warm days to crisp and chilly fluffy coat weather.

It is also a time when you may be looking for inside adventures- check out our roundup of our favorite Children’s Museums to visit (page 8) and tips on navigating NYC Art Museums (page 30) with kids!

On a special needs note, if you have been told your child may need OT, our expert piece on How Can Occupational Therapy Help My Child? (page 20), is informative on its many benefits that will answer many of your questions.

If your child’s birthday is coming up (or

you’re like me and plan in advance), we have a superb round-up of The 7 Best Birthday Party Places (page 22) you must check out!

Lastly, this month’s cover mom Julee Wilson (and her gorgeous family) grace our cover (story on page 32). Writer Cris Pearlstein chatted with this beauty editor extraordinaire and executive at BeautyUnited on how she learned early on that dimming your light to make others feel comfortable is no way to live. Julee shares how she came to know her worth and her advice for other women trying to find their way in the world.

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Family-Friendly Museums

By Bella KjelleN , SeReNa NoRR

Whether your child is interested in art, science, history or anything in between, a children’s museum is sure to be perfect for you and your family. New York has some, if not the best, museums worldwide. But what are the ones that are great for families? Check out our favorites in and near Rockland, from history to arts and culture to play-focused museums. Many boast highly interactive and sensory-enhancing exhibits designed for growing intellects. If you are looking for a day of adventure and learning with the city kids, check out our picks.

Near Rockland Hudson River Museum

511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701. Located in Yonkers, the Hudson River Museum has some incredible routing exhibits, planetarium shows, tours of Glenview, and their gorgeous outdoor courtyard.

Adults, $8, youth (3–18) $4 and kids under 3 are free. 511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester

39 Fitzgerald Street, Yonkers, NY 10710. www. legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester/ Lego fans will love spending a day of brickbuilding adventure at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. Dubbed as the “ultimate indoor playground,” your kids will instantly be “wow-ed” by Miniland and its 1.5 million bricks, the Merlin’s Apprentice ride, Lego Friends, Duplo Village, and more.

Lyndhurst Mansion

635 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. Take a mansion tour of the historic Lyndhurst Mansion. Located in Tarrytown, this one-hour covers two floors of the mansion where you can see the opulent and lavish decorative arts and furniture from the previous owners. They also have daily grounds passes where you can explore the grounds and walk around.

Westchester Children’s Museum 100 Playland Pkwy, Rye, NY 10580. www. discoverwcm.org

For parents of younger kids, Westchester Children’s Museum is the ultimate indoor

escape for play and discovery. With Rye Beach on one side and Rye Playland on the other, you can make your visit a full day experience. At the museum, families can enjoy interactive exhibits such as the immersive toddler beach, a construction zone to build and create, a cozy book nook, and maker space, to name a few options. The museum also offers regular programming, such as STEAM programs, Science Saturdays, printmaking, and Museum Minis every Wednesday. In November, enjoy the “My Superpower Workshop Series,” designed to help kids understand themselves, the world around them, and learn tools to identify differences and celebrate themselves. There will also be an interactive storytime and author signing with author Christina Geist of the book “Hear “Buddy’s New Buddy” on November 19th.

Head to N yc!

American Museum of Natural History 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

The American Museum of Natural History brings excitement to learning about history, especially for families. Discover the world

Marita Smith, DDS

of sharks (running until September 4, 2023) in their new exhibit that focuses on these spectacular and often misunderstood creatures. The museum is filled with incredible life sized skeletons, including a Tyrannosaurus Rex! While you’re there, be sure to reserve tickets for the Hayden Planetarium. You and your family will be blown away with what this museum has to offer.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

212 W 83rd St, New York, NY 10024

Over the years, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan has been a notable destination for thousands of kids, families and educators in the five boroughs and beyond. Here, discover what the museum has to offer, like their new exhibit, Inside Art: Create, Climb, Collabo rate. The interactive exhibition allows kids to engage with contemporary art and explore new ideas.

Other exhibits include Dynamic H2O, which allows kids to learn about New York City’s water system; Play Works; Right to Vote, a temporary exhibition to celebrate the centen

nial of women’s suffrage and teach children about the importance of voting; and Super powered Metropolis, an immersive superherothemed exhibition. All of these offerings are curated for different ages and designed to teach kids important skills while having fun.

DiMenna Children’s History Museum 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street), New York, NY 10024

Part of the New York Historical Society museum, the DiMenna Children’s Museum allows families and children to connect with America’s past, present and future. Learn about the history of the country and New York City through exhibits that teach visitors about the lives of historical figures, from childhood to adulthood. Join along in singalongs, arts and crafts, and games scattered throughout the museum. Connect with our country’s past and have your kid engage in various interactive displays and lessons!

National Museum of Mathematics 11 E 26th St, New York, NY 10010

Numbers take on a new life in the National

Museum of Mathematics. This museum highlights the role of math in the world around us. Within its dynamic exhibits, allow your kids to explore how math is all around them, in everything from logo designs to sports. The museum also features events, including a math book club that allows tweens and teens to keep learning about math even when they’re not at the museum.

Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling

898 St. Nicholas Avenue at 155th Street New York, NY 10032

The Sugar Hill Museum was founded as a space for families to engage with cultural programs while also addressing the educational needs of young children in the community. The creators understood that children are natural artists, so it was created as a space where children could see art as well as share and create art from their own stories. Kids not only can explore art through the exhibitions or participate in the museum’s workshop and event offerings, like storytelling hours.

Exploring teatown

By SeReNa NoRR

There are so many cool places to see and explore in Westchester County. One location to get on your radar is a visit to Teatown.

Located in Ossining, New York, Teatown is a non-profit nature preserve and environmental education center. The location is open year-round where you can find 15 miles of hiking trails, a two-acre island refuge home to 230 species of native wildflowers, educational and nature-focused events,

wildlife exhibits, programming for kids, and much more.

Below, we’re sharing some of the many ways you can explore Teatown with your kids.

take a Hike

With over 15 miles of trails (open yearround), you and your family will have access to appreciate and soak in nature in over 1,000 acres of protected land. Over the course of your hike, you’ll see native plants, maybe some animals, and more.

Families with young kids will love their

easy trails, ranging from .9 miles to 1.5 miles. These trails offer beautiful views of Teatown Lake and natural wooded areas. They also have moderate and strenuous trails with different scenic overlooks. All of the trails showcase the incredible biological diversity of the lower Hudson Valley, connecting to the Briarcliff Peekskill Trailway and the Croton Aqueduct Trail. Check out the trail map to plan your hike before you visit. Trails are open from dawn to dusk.

From May-June, you can take a guided tour of Wildflower Island, a refuge within the greater Teatown preserve. This island is home to 280 species of wildflowers, trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses, sedges, and rushes where you can see and experience the beauty of the everchanging blooms. Reservations are required for this tour.

check o ut an event

There are tons of events offered at Teatown. For the fall, check out Natural and Native Crafts where you can learn skills of the Lenape children by hand weaving phragmites mats, creating a corn husk doll, and more. The event Misunderstood No More will teach you more about the importance of snakes, bats, spiders, and bugs for a healthy world. See the beauty of the fall foliage in the Color Hike. This hike is moderately difficult and best for kids ages 8 and up.

For Halloween weekend, adults can take a haunted hike as a part of Teatown at Twilight on Friday, October 28th. On Saturday, October 29th and Sunday, October 30th, you can visit with your family as a part of their Enchanted Forest event. This includes a 30-minute guided walk with whimsical characters and familiar forest friends.

cindy’s g arden

Visit Cindy’s Garden, an educational sensory garden. Open everyday from 9am-5pm, guests are invited to interact with the plants and insects. You can smell leaves, watch

a butterflies, writre, listen to the insects’ conversations, or simply relax.

visit the visitor center

The on-site visitor center is a fun place to see exhibits, gardens, art from local artists, and take home a souvenir from the nature store.

The exhibits feature non-releasable birds of

prey include great horned owls, red-tailed hawks, opossums, snakes, turtles, and more.

visit teatown 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining, NY 10562 Parking is $7 for non-members 914-762-2912

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Fall Activities at American Dream

american Dream is the ultimate destination for indoor fun and action-packed attractions for kids of all ages. Home to the DreamWorks Water Park, Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, Black Light Mini Golf, Angry Bird Mini Golf, Big SNOW, The Rink, SEA LIFE Aquarium, the fun doesn’t stop there!

Shop at North America’s largest Zara, Lululemon, Saks Fifth Avenue and more! Don’t forget to stop by the first-ever MrBeast Burger, House of ‘Que – BBQ prepared Texas Style, and fine-dining Italian by Carpaccio.

This fall, you’ll also find tons of special events and activities that will truly be a dream for you and your family.

Dream Day Sundays – The Ultimate Fan Zone

Watch football with your family every Sunday at House of ‘Que. Wear your

favorite jersey for an all-day indoor tailgating experience.

Women’s Pro Hockey Skates Into American Dream

See The Metropolitan Riveters take the ice at American Dream this fall. This women’s team from the Premier Hockey Federation will be playing on The Rink during opening weekend on November 19th at 1:00pm and 20th at noon.

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

Experience the artistic wonders of Van Gogh through this immersive experience. Kicking off on December 1st, the exhibit features the use of cutting-edge technology and original music that breathes new life into 300 of his paintings. Guests will love walking through this 30,000-square-foot space, soaking in the fusion of art and technology.

Get a Dream Pass and Season Pass

Enjoy all of the awesome experiences at American Dream – for both parks at a dis count! Dream Passes allow you and your kids to experience the fun of DreamWorks Water Park and Nickelodeon Universe this fall and winter at a discount. The Season Splash Pass for DreamWorks Water Park cost $179 per person and the Season Thrill Pass for Nickel odeon Universe is $125 per person.

Soaring Skies Bundle

Save on a thrilling adventure to American Dream with a Soaring Skies Bundle. The bundle combines a day pass to Nickelodeon Universe and a pass to Dream Wheel, NJ’s only observation wheel for $89 per person. Passes can be used for one day or over two days.

Check out the full experience at americandream.com!

5 Common Myths

Autism Spectrum Disorder

BY KATELIN WALLING

While the awareness of autism spectrum disorder has grown due to social media, increased research, Autism Awareness Month, and more, there are still many misconceptions about ASD, from its causes to the characteristics and abilities of those on the spectrum.

As its name denotes, autism is a spec-

trum, meaning not everyone diagnosed with autism displays the same traits, exhibits the same behaviors, or has the same abilities— just like you or me. So applying blanket statements to those on the spectrum would be like saying girls can’t throw or boys don’t cry.

We spoke to experts about stereotypes of ASD, and uncovered the truth behind five big misconceptions about the disorder and those diagnosed with it.

Myth 1: Vaccines cause autism. Unfortunately we do still hear the misconception that autism is related to vaccinations, commonly the measles, mumps, rubella vaccination, says Sarah Kuriakose, Ph.D., BCBAD, clinical assistant professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health. “Not only was the initial study that showed that a fraudulent study, but follow-up studies have debunked that many times,” she explains.

There are other concerns that autism is caused by “various environmental factors that a pregnant mother may be exposed to and in utero some of those environmental causative factors may have somehow affected the fetus,” says John Pfeifer, senior director of Clinical Services and the Family Center for Autism, part of Life’s WORC, a Long Island nonprofit that supports people with developmental disabilities and autism. “There’s still ongoing research about the expansion of electromagnetic technology and various environmental chemicals and such that may be at play, but not knowing everything in the environment that may be affecting a fetus, either seen or unseen, makes it hard to decipher that.”

“What we do know about autism is there seems to be a genetic component, and about ten to twenty percent of cases with ASD are linked to an identified genetic disorder,” says Dr. Kuriakose, who is also senior director of the NYU Langone Autism and Developmental Neuroscience Initiative and the clinical direc tor of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical and Research Program at NYU’s Child Study Center. “We anticipate that that number will go up with more genetics research. But even in identical twins, the concordance rate is not one-hundred percent, so we know there is some factor that is not genetic as well.”

Myth 2: People on the spectrum are anti-social and don’t have feelings. Dr. Kuriakose says parents, teachers, and even doctors will tell her things like, “that child can’t have autism because…he’s affectionate, …she makes eye contact, or …he’s interested in other kids.”

“So what can end up happening is people have this very black-and-white picture that a person with autism is someone who is anti-social and isn’t interested in other people,” she says. “We know that those aren’t necessarily true.” Yet thanks to this persistent myth, a child who does have autism might not be given a diagnosis—his parents may be hanging on to the fact that their child is affec tionate though he is struggling in other ways.

“It is often thought that people with autism don’t have feelings, which is a very sad misconception and very far from the truth,” adds Janet Koch, CEO of Life’s WORC. “They are capable of having loving relationships with family members and friends.”

Myth 3: People with autism exhibit challenging and/or maladaptive behaviors.

“It’s not fair to say that challenging behaviors are inherent in the diagnosis,” Pfeifer says. “They are often a byproduct of ineffective treatment of some of the things that are inherent in the diagnosis, which are communication and socialization difficulties.” These behaviors could include flapping hands, rocking, or other selfstimulatory behaviors.

“We still unfortunately have the misconception from previous media portrayals that kids with autism are nonverbal, are going to sit in the corner, and just rock or flap their hands,” Dr. Kuriakose says.

As society becomes more educated about autism, people are learning about adapting communication efforts. “I have young children, and they’re learning in integrated classrooms about what these behaviors may mean. It could actually help a person [on the spectrum] to not escalate to such a significant behavior because they’ll be able to communicate more easily with people who have been taught how to communicate with them,” Koch says.

Myth 4: Those on the spectrum are savants and/or are fixated on one topic.

The media commonly portrays those with autism as being savants or having restricted interest in a singular subject area: Sam Gardner in Netflix’s Atypical and Shaun Murphy in ABC’s The Good Doctor are two recent portrayals. “Certainly we have kids and adults with autism who have an amazing depth of knowledge in a particular area, incredible memory, incredible pattern recognition skills, things like that that are going to set them up for a particular career,” Dr. Kuriakose says, but not all people on the spectrum show these characteristics.

In fact, the most recent criteria for an ASD diagnosis from the Diagnostic and

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fall into two categories: social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors (RRB). There are four traits that fall under the RRB category—repetitive speech or behavior/ mannerisms, restricted interest, sensory challenges, and difficulty with transitions or insistence on sameness—and a person needs to only exhibit two of the RRB traits (and meet criteria from the social communication category) to receive a diagnosis of autism, according to Dr. Kuriakose. “So you could have a kid who has some sensory challenges and insistence on sameness without any restricted interest at all and you could still have the diagnosis,” she says.

Myth 5: People with ASD can’t go to college, have jobs, or get married. Because some people with autism may struggle with social situations, have commu nication challenges, and have difficulty with flexibility, there’s the misconception that they will not be able to attend higher education, have a job, or get married and have kids.

“There are lots of examples of folks with au tism who do successfully do those things, and the big thing that’s important is it’s all about the supports the environment can provide,” Dr. Kuriakose says.

When working with a patient who is looking at colleges or employment opportunities, Dr. Kuriakose looks for a setting that is supportive of that patient’s strengths and challenges. In fact, “a lot of individuals with autism are actually really great, dedicated, passionate employees, but it has to be a setting that can understand that they might process information and interact in ways that are slightly different from typical.”

In terms of getting married, Dr. Kuriakose says there are quite a few instances where she’s diagnosed a child with autism, and a few months later their parent will observe that they’re seeing some of the same characteristics in themselves or another family member. “And these are all people who had families,” she says.

Combatting the myths So how can we continue to combat these and other myths about people on the spectrum? “Just like with any other group, you shed your misconceptions when you have more close relationships with people in that group,” Dr. Kuriakose says. “And so I really would encourage people to engage with lots of individuals with autism.”

“It is often thought that people with autism don’t have feelings, which is a very sad misconception and very far from the truth.”

Occupational Therapy

By Jeannine Cintron

“Every child develops at their own pace.” I have repeated this (absolutely true) statement countless times before, always in an effort to comfort a concerned friend or relative who is wondering why their child isn’t walking yet, talking yet, playing yet or reaching any number of milestones a parent will anxiously await when their kids are young. I’ve even said it to myself a few times. A parent’s job is to worry, right?

But what happens when it becomes apparent that “their own pace” is nowhere near that of other children their age? Words of comfort from a friend should be replaced by the advice of a professional, which is when the occupational therapist might come in.

We chatted with Nicole Benedicks, a school-based certified Occupational Therapist, who shared with us what the OT

does and what a parent should expect if their child is starting this kind of therapy.

What does an Occupational Therapist do?

Generally, occupational therapists work with people of all ages in a variety of settings to enhance or recover function, teach or modify a skill, or adapt a task or the environment to promote independence. Occupational therapy helps people live more independent lives and engage in everyday activities that are purposeful to them.

I work with children in a special educa tion school environment (K-5) to support and enhance students’ school-based skills. I work with a team, which can include the teacher, speech therapist, and physical therapist, guidance counselor and/or social worker. I typically work with students 1:1 or in a small group to develop or enhance skills to help them function and be as independent as pos sible within the school environment. Areas of

focus can include writing, cutting, dressing, feeding, visual perceptual skills (e.g. puzzles), and visual motor skills.

What is the difference between Occupation al Therapy and Physical Therapy?

There is a lot of overlap between the two professions. The most common assumption is that occupational therapists focus on the upper extremities and that physical therapists focus on the lower extremities, but that is not always the case. Both professions focus on the entire body and movement, but occupational therapy typically focuses on improving a person’s ability to engage in everyday activities, and evaluates limitations that might be affecting their daily performance. Physical therapy, on the other hand, focuses on movement, specifically a per son’s physical abilities and limitations in their mobility, strength and range of motion, and evaluates their movement dysfunction.

How can you prepare your child for Occupa tional Therapy?

It is beneficial to start therapy immedi ately once you notice there is a problem or de lay in development. When your child is very young there isn’t much you can do to prepare them for occupational therapy. However, if

what

need to

therapy begins when your child is old enough to understand that they are meeting someone new, preparation will depend on your child’s age and level of cognition.

Typically, OT sessions include play activities, so explaining to your child that someone new will be coming to play with them may help to prepare for their session. I typically recommend having a child’s sessions scheduled for an optimal time of day where you would expect them to perform their best (i.e., not too tired, not overstimulated). Avoid allowing them to be engaged in a desired task (e.g., playing with a tablet, watching television) just before their scheduled session because removing the desired item can lead to a meltdown and your child may make a nega tive association with their therapist.

How long can treatment last?

The length of time a child receives treatment varies based on the child’s needs. Treatment can be on a consultative level where a child may not receive direct services and an OT can provide useful information and strategies that families can implement

and use in their everyday lives. For children with more severe cognitive and/or physical deficits, treatment can last through child hood into adulthood.

What does treatment look like for a child who mildly needs OT versus a child who has a disability?

Typically, treatment for a child with mild delays focuses on specific areas of deficit and the OT will work to develop those problem areas to promote independence.

When a child has a more severe disability, an OT will typically work on a range of skills focusing on helping children play and learn in a purposeful way. When physical disabilities are involved, treatment can include strength ening tasks, fine motor muscle development, improving dexterity, and adapting a task or the environment so they can engage in tasks in a modified way.

What should a parent consider when select ing the right OT professional for their child?

I would recommend finding a therapist that works mostly with children, and more specifically, if your child has a diagnosis (e.g., autism, cerebral palsy), finding a therapist that has a lot of experience working with that population. You might want to schedule a “trial” session before making a decision to see how well your child responds to them.

You should also consider what works best for your family and your schedule. Children can be seen in their home, at school or in a clinic-based setting. Finding what works best for your child is really going to differ from one family to the next.

people

engage

that are purposeful to them."

RocklaNd’S

7 Best

Birthday Party Places

By New yoRK Family

Birthday Party planning can be right up there with trying to find the right daycare provider. Ok, fine, they aren’t that stressful. Yet, we want our kids to have a fantastic birthday experience, and if your kids are like ours, they may start bringing up their birthday at least ten months before the big day. So yes, there is a bit of pressure.

And, of course, all parents want their kids to have an amazing birthday party. Fortunately, we got you covered! What if we told you we could take a large chunk of that worry from your to-do list? We can, as we have seven of the best spots to throw a birthday party in and around Rockland. From parties that include an indoor water pool to a venue where the kids can dance their socks off, check out seven of the best places to start planning that birthday party!

american d ream Head to this fun spot for a memorable birthday party at the world-renowned indoor attraction American Dream for your child’s next birthday. Stay cool by the pool at DreamWorks Water Park or coast into thrills at Nickelodeon Universe! At the American Dream fun destination- the birthday possi bilities are endless. Kids can enjoy visits with their favorite characters, customizable food & drink menus, face painting & glitter tattoos, Magic Memories photo & party favor pack ages, Candy raid, Graffiti wall and more. 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, 833-263-7326, americandream.com/ locations, americandream.com/birthdays.

b ounce! trampoline Sports

Kids of all ages will bounce into the fun at Bounce! Trampoline Sports! Located only ten minutes from Palisades Center,

Bounce! has everything families need to have a “bouncing” good time at their child’s birthday party. Enjoy one hour of open bounce time, fun at the arcade (each child gets a $5 arcade card), explore the obstacle courses and even play dodgeball and basketball (don’t worry, they only use foam balls). Enjoy a 1.5 hour long party with the Super Bounce! Package, just $295 during the week for 11 children (each additional child is $22). The weekend package is $400 for 11 children. Need more time for your party? Check out their Ultimate Bounce and Platinum Bounce packages online. Bounce! Trampoline Sports, 612 Corporate Way, Valley Cottage, NY, bouncevalleycottage. com/book-your-next-party, 845-268-4000, info@bounceonit.com.

d ream Wheel NJ

The new Dream Wheel NJ, at The American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, NJ (a quick 20 minutes from Manhattan), offers a wide range of kids’ birthday party packages to make the special day unique and unforgettable! Private areas and café space paired with private “gondolas” to experience amazing views of the NYC skyline from almost 300 feet in the air. For yummy food, partygoers can eat at Deep Fried Love; the in-house carnival-type treats café. Munch on Deep Fried Oreos, Corndogs and cotton candy, and it is not a party if you don’t have four choices of flavored lemonade. Your party kid and friends will make memories that last forever! Dream Wheel NJ, 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, 201-800-4261, DreamWheelNJ.com, info@ dreamwheelnj.com.

g litter & g lam

Glitter & Glam is the ultimate party venue for your princess, rock star, or little diva in the

making! Little girls will love their glam décor and throne pedicure chairs and will certainly feel pampered, pretty and special throughout their party celebration. Parties can be booked at three great locations in West Nyack, Para mus and Jersey City. Their team of trained staff members will go above and beyond to deliver top-of-the-line services to spoil your child and their friends. Choose from amazing themes such as “Princess in the Making”, “Glam Pampered Diva”, “I’m a Rock Star”

or “Diva Paint” parties, or customize your party with their many add-on options like balloons, decorations, party favors and even a special appearance by one of your favorite princess characters. Check their website for more details about each package, individual spa treatments and upcoming special events. Glitter and Glam, 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, NY; 700 Paramus Park, Paramus, NJ; 30 Mall Drive West, Jersey City, NJ, 201-970-4526, glitterandglamspa.com

m onster m ini g olf Monster Mini Golf is the planetary leader in glow-in-the-dark mini golf every day of the year. Their goal is to provide an exceptional and engaging family entertainment experi ence in a unique and cool environment that is fun for humans and monsters of all ages. At Monster Mini Golf, prepare for a monstrous birthday party experience like no other! Their full-service memory makers will make your child’s birthday an unforgettable experience

for not only the little monsters but for all the big monsters as well! Their two-hour events provide nonstop entertainment and engage ment with memory makers who specialize in turning wow moments into lasting memo ries. From set up to clean up and everything in between, your dedicated memory maker will handle everything for the duration of the event. Monster Mini Golf guarantees a stress-free experience for party parents, at an affordable cost. Monster Mini Golf, 49 East Midland Ave. Paramus NJ, 201-261-0032 paramus@monsterminigolf.com, monster minigolf.com/paramus.

Palisades climb adventure

Palisades Climb Adventure provides next level birthday parties for all ages, as well as other private events, team building challenges, school and youth field trips, and scouting trips. This amazing installation, located in the center of Palisades Center (entrance on the 4th floor), is the world’s tallest indoor ropes course, stand ing at 85 feet tall and featuring over 75 unique challenge elements designed for climbers of all ages and skill levels. In addition to the main course, they offer a “Sky Tykes” course specific for kids ages two to seven years-old, and 48 inches tall and under. They offer several party packages that include two hours of climbing, access to a decorated party room (with a private bathroom), online invitations, and a t-shirt for the birthday kid (outside food and drink per mitted). See website for party package options. Palisades Climb Adventure, 4590 Palisades Center Drive, W. Nyack, NY, 845-727-3500, palisadesclimb.com.

tumble- b ee gymnastics Tumble-Bee Gymnastics’ bright, colorful facility is the perfect place for your child’s private birthday party (for kids ages 1-12). Exciting and energetic instructors will lead the party where your child and their friends will enjoy everything from age appropri ate obstacle course activities, including the balance beam, trampoline and floor bars, to jumping in the bounce house and ending off with parachute games and songs. You’ll even get to meet the Tumble-Bee himself! All parties include free invitations, paper products, and utensils for the children. The guest of honor will also receive a free gift and balloons. In addition to parties and weekly classes, Tumble-Bee also offers drop offs and open gym dates. Tumble-Bee Gymnastics, 401 Market Street, Nanuet, NY, 845-6232553, info@tumble-beegymnastics.com, tumble-beegymnastics.com.

Rainbow Fentanyl

What parents need to know

By BarBara russo

Adeadly new drug is on the rise in the United States, and it’s designed to look like candy to appeal to kids.

Dubbed unofficially as “rainbow fentanyl,” this dangerous combination of manufactured chemicals is making its way into communities around the country in the form of small, colorful pills that resemble Skittles, Smarties or other popular candy products often given out during Halloween.

“Rainbow fentanyl—fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes—is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults,” Anne Milgram, DEA administrator, said.

Fentanyl, which started showing up on the West Coast earlier this year, is now making headlines in NYC. Last month, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and law enforcement partners seized 15,000 of the colorful pills in Manhattan.

The significant seizure, the largest to date in New York City, signals more widespread distribution of the pills. The case highlights Mexican cartels’ most recent tactics to attract the public while deceiving them about the lethal drugs, the DEA said.

“Rainbow fentanyl is a clear and present danger, and it is here in New York City,” Frank Tarentino, DEA Special Agent in Charge, said. “Approximately 40% of the pills we analyze in our lab contain a lethal dose. And in a recent 15-week enforcement operation, DEA New York seized half a million lethal pills.”

Fentanyl is relatively cheap for drug dealers and their lab cronies to make. In fact, the pills are often made to look like real prescription opioids, such as Oxycontin or Xanax. So, any one who thinks they’re buying an Oxycontin can very well be getting fentanyl, which is far more potent, and far more deadly.

According to the DEA, fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of

table salt, is considered a lethal dose. Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know how much fentanyl is concentrated in a pill or powder.

To recap, fentanyl is not often a drug that tweens and teens are seeking out. Instead, it’s often in the other drugs kids are using.

“Teens for the most part understand how dangerous fentanyl is but rarely understand that it can be mixed into other drugs that they feel are ‘safer,’” Keri Cooper, LCSW, and author of Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Parent Needs to Know, explained. “Parents need to have honest conversations about drugs and how they are made and how buying pills off the street may likely have fentanyl mixed in them. It is never safe to be buying a drug that is made in

someone’s basement. Anything can be in it.”

It’s also possible for marijuana to be laced with fentanyl.

“While kids might not be directly exposed to fentanyl, they might be offered something like marijuana that could very well be laced with fentanyl,” Lisa Bonaviso, Ph.D., and licensed mental health counselor at Pleasantville Wellness Group, Westchester, said.

Here is some more information on what parents need to know about fentanyl and how they can help keep their kids safe:

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. There are two types: Pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Both are considered

synthetic opioids. Under controlled circumstances, pharmaceutical fentanyl is an effective medicine approved for treating severe pain. Doctors use it to relieve pain in patients during and after surgery. Fentanylrelated overdoses are linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl.

What makes fentanyl so deadly? It’s a more potent drug than many others and can easily be disguised to look like a painkiller or party drug. It is 50 times stronger than heroin, and just a small amount is considered a lethal dose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the drug depresses the central nervous system and respiratory function. It can cause breathing to stop.

How would a parent know if their child has taken fentanyl?

There’s no way to tell if a pill or powder contains fentanyl just by looking at it, so the best thing to do is to not take any illegal drug. Test strips can tell you if a drug contains fentanyl, but not how much is in it.

What can a person do to help someone who is overdosing?

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, according to the CDC.

If you think someone is overdosing, the CDC recommends treating it like and overdose, and call 911 immediately. Also administer naloxone if it’s available. Try to keep the person awake and breathing. Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.

Children should always know that if they or a friend are seeming sick after using drugs, they can’t be afraid to immediately reach out for help, Cooper explained.

“Parents need to let their kids know that their life is more important than their fear of getting in trouble,” she said.

How can parents talk to their kids about drugs and peer pressure?

Parents need to acknowledge that all kids just want to fit in. It’s normal, and it’s not always easy to do something different from the

crowd, Cooper said.

“In saying that, parents need to have conversations with their kids about which friends would support their decisions, who are good friends and talk about what positive friendships look like,” Cooper explained. “There are many kids who don’t do drugs and sometimes it’s just about finding one or two other kids to stand up together.”

Bonaviso underscored the importance of talking to kids about drugs and keeping the lines of communication open. Informing them is key. Not to scare them, but to let them know the realities of fentanyl or drug use overall.

“Children are very curious. So it’s natural that they’d want to explore or experiment,” Bonaviso said. “But, parents giving them the reality of the long- and short-term effects of drugs might make them think twice before trying it.”

She added that it’s important for parents to remind their children that illegal drugs are not controlled.

“They’re coming from the streets, so you don’t know what people are contaminating them with,” Bonaviso said.

Holiday Highlights

By jeaNNiNe ciNTRoN & New yoRK Family aDveRTiSiNg PaRTNeRS

For some, the holiday season does not truly begin until the Thanksgiving turkey is carved and eaten. For others, the magic begins the moment the Halloween decorations come down. We here at New York Family are definitely more the latter (we’ve already swapped out the apple cider for some eggnog). So although it’s still early, we just had to reach out to some of our partners to find out what they have in store for the most wonderful time of the year. Check out their holiday highlights below and be sure to stop by NewYorkFamily.com all season long for TONS more holly jolly fun!

14th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop

Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses 437 North Street, Greenwich, CT 06830 203-869-3418 greenwichreindeerfestival.com

Every day from November 25th through December 24th, enjoy a holiday wonderland with three LIVE reindeer and photos with Santa Claus! Proceeds benefit Kids in Crisis. Get a photo taken with Santa and receive a complimentary gift bag.

HERSHEY’S Melted Hot Chocolate

Hershey’s Chocolate World Times Square, 47th St & 7th Ave chocolateworld.com/locations/times-square.html

Warm up the holidays with a HERSHEY’S Melted Hot Chocolate. The signature recipe uses a full HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate bar mixed with white milk and topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, chocolate chips and a snack-sized HERSHEY’S Bar.

Christmas Fantasy with Lights Storybook Land

6415 Black Horse Pike (routes 40/322) Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 Storybookland.com

Experience Christmas magic in real life! Watch as Santa Claus waves his magic wand and lights up Storybook Land with over 1 million lights! Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus until December 23. All rides and snack bars are open. Check the website for holiday hours.

Holiday Events at Cross County Center

8000 Mall Walk, Yonkers, NY 10704 914- 968-9570 crosscountycenter.com Cross County Center offers an action-packed lineup of holiday events for everyone! Stop by this holiday season and enjoy photos with

Santa, a pop up Ice Skating Rink, Holiday Food Truck Market and the largest Christmas Tree in Westchester that you can walk thru!

Westchester’s Winter Wonderland Drive Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza Kensico Dam Plaza, 1 Bronx River Pkwy Rd, Valhalla, NY 10595 wwinterwonderland.com Guests will be dazzled and delighted along the 1.2 miles of holiday lights by several new additions for 2022, including a new North Pole and live Santa display; breathtaking Kaleidoscope Corrido; cheerful Snowmen Caroling Corner; more electrifying lights

Fall in Love with Rockland County!

surrounding the largest holiday Christmas tree in Westchester and a new 30-foot glistening star guests will be able to make their New Year’s wish upon! Tickets are $25 weekdays, $35 weekends per vehicle.

Holiday Fair & Craft Sale

Hand and Hoe Lot

241 Hungry Hollow Road Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977 fellowshipcommunity.org/hand-and-hoe

The Fair and Craft Sale will be held mostly outdoors, with the nostalgic feel of a Winter Street Fair - Christmas trees, cider & chestnuts, holiday treats, children’s activities, festive music and caroling, puppet shows, a silent auc tion, and a wide array of beautiful and unique handmade gifts, crystals, candles, and more.

Palisades Center- Shop Small

1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, NY palisadescenter.com

Palisades Center in partnership with the Greater Nanuet Chamber of Commerce will host a special event highlighting small busi nesses throughout the mall! Meet the business

owners, listen to live music, enjoy free give aways, and more! Check Shop Small Saturday on November 26,.

Holiday Fun at Palisades Center

1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, NY Palisadescenter.com

Holiday events are taking place at Palisades Center! Check out Santa’s Arrival - November 19 (5 PM - 7 PM), Visits with Santa - November 18 - December 24, Santa Cares (sensory friendly event) - December 5 (9 AM - 10:30 AM) and Pet Night with Santa - December 11 (4 PM - 6 PM.)

Ramsey Farmers’ Market

Ramsey Main Street Station Ramsey, NJ ramseyfarmersmarket.org

The Ramsey Farmers’ Market is hosting the Second Chance Toy Collection on November 13 and graciously accepting donations of gently used plastic toys. The market will begin its winter hours effective December 4, taking place every Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM during the months of December through April. The market will be closed on December 25 and January 1.

RYDE Nutcracker Performances Rockland Community College 145 College Road Suffern, NY 10901 rocklandyouthdanceensemble.org

The Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble’s annual performance of The Nutcracker will be held December 9th through 11th at Rockland Community College. Six full length performances, including special narrated shows for younger guests. Discounted tickets available for Girl Scout Troops.

A pA rents guide to n Avig Ating them with kids NYC Art Museums

By Kaitlyn Riggio & Donna DuaRte- l aDD

We have all been there- you decide to spend the day at one of the many museums in the city, as NYC has no shortage of art museums. Perhaps you want to check out an exhibit or have you and the kids stare away at a Monet. And we are lucky- our city is full of the best museums in the world and visiting one is an educational day out for all. Plus, bringing your kids to museums comes with a whole host of benefits. It encourages a love of learning, develops their curiosity and critical thinking skills and inspires them to create independently!

But also, kids are kids and not all want to hang out for hours. This is why we have our own personal tips coupled with representa tives (from the most visited art museums in New York City) insider tips. We’ve gathered these helpful tips as well as the best offerings/ programs for families and kids to ensure you get the most out of your visit.

Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue metmuseum.org

Open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am to 5 pm; Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 9 pm

A New York staple, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) showcases over 5,000 years of art from around the world. The Met has a wide variety of programs for kids and their families to help them engage with the art, like story times, art treks around the museum, family afternoons and more. They also offer an audio guide for kids, which includes thirteen tours with kid-targeted messages for artworks throughout the major areas of the museum.

The Met is pretty vast and if you have young kids they may get a bit exhausted, we suggest checking online and mapping out what floors and wings you would like to visit. A few favorites are the Egyptian Art Wing, European Paintings and not to be miss is the Kimono

Style: The John C. Weber Collection (until February 20, 2023)- a gorgeous exhibit of kimonos from the late Edo period through the early 20th century and runs until February.

Your kids can even explore the Met from home! #MetKids is a digital feature where kids can learn about the museum’s works of art, watch behind the scenes videos and even get inspired to make art of their own.

Tip: Tickets for New York State residents and New York, New Jersey and Connecticut students are pay what you wish!

Museum of Modern Art 11 West 53 Street moma.org

Open Sunday through Friday, 10:30 am to 5:30 pm; Saturday 10:30 am to 7 pm , Kids under age 16 are free

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is com mitted to sharing modern and contemporary art with visitors. When visiting galleries as a family with kids, try turning your visit into a search-and-find experience. Look for people and places on Floor 5, lines, shapes and colors on Floor 4 and interesting materials on Floor 2.

The MoMA, while rich with art that adults appreciate, can be a lot for kids especially young ones. This doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy this amazing museum. We suggest you stay for a short time if bringing young kids and sticking to art that they may gravitate towards like Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night and Pablo Picasso’s Girl before a Mirror– both on the 5th floor. Since kids under age 16 are free you can visit this museum a few times a year and explore a new section at each visit! Definitely check out the MoMA’s Kid’s Activity Guide. They offer movement, writing and drawing activities to do in front of artworks.

While you’re visiting, be sure to visit the Heyman Family Art Lab, where families can create art by drawing, working with wire, engaging in light-box play and more.

Tip: Looking to take a break during your visit? Spend some time in the Sculpture Garden or in the lounges throughout the museum.

Whitney Museum of American Art 99 Gansevoort Street whitney.org

Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30 am to 6 pm; Friday, 10:30 am to 10 pm; Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 6 pm. Kids admission is free Located in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, the Whitney Museum of American Art displays a collection of twentiethcentury and contemporary American art. One of the ways that the Whitney strives to make their collection more accessible to children is through their kids guides. Available in English and Spanish, the guides contain descriptions of artworks that could be interesting to children. They share information about the art (including the title, artist and what the piece is about) and invite visitors, especially children, to imagine themselves as an artist by thinking about questions and even giving them the opportunity to create artwork of their own.

Whether you are visiting for the first time or the tenth, the views from the terraces as well as from the picturesque widows within the museum are pure wow!

Additionally, the Whitney has an ongoing program called Open Studio for kids. Families and kids have the opportunity to create their own works inspired by what’s on view in the museum.

Tip: Cris Scorza, head of education at the Whitney, says families should bring a snack, maybe a pack of colored pencils and a notepad and, most importantly, an open mind when visiting as a family.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum 1071 Fifth Ave, guggenheim.org

Open Sunday through Monday and Wednesday through Friday, 11 am to 6 pm; Saturday 11 am to 8 pm

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum collects, preserves and interprets modern and contemporary art. The Guggenheim offers

programming for children and families. For example, students in third to fifth grades can explore and create art in the Art After School program. There’s programming for older kids too. GuggTeens give teens the opportunity to learn about museum operations from a variety of different perspectives. Families visiting can use the kids audio guides to learn about different artworks.

Tip: Download family-friendly Art Kit activity sheets to encourage your kids to create their own art!

Frick Collection

Temporary home: 945 Madison Avenue frick.org

Open Thursday through Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm

While the Frick Collection’s historic buildings are closed for renovation for the time being, you can still visit Frick Madison to explore artworks from the Renaissance to the early twentieth century. This is a great choice if you’re looking for something to do with older kids– children under 10 are not admitted.

Tip: The Frick Collection offers pay what you will admission on Thursday evenings from 4 pm to 6 pm!

Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Parkway brooklynmuseum.org

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm

The Brooklyn Museum’s mission is to

include tables with intergenerational games, like skelzies and dominoes, that invite visitors to relax and play as part of the exhibition. It will be on view from Oct. 26 through April 30.

Tip: Admission is always free!

Museum of the City of New York 1220 Fifth Ave mcny.org

Open Thursday, 10 am to 9 pm; Friday through Monday, 10 am through 5 pm

The Museum of the City of New York gives visitors the opportunity to celebrate the city’s past, present and future. They offer programming for families, like the upcoming Movies for Minis event. Exhibitions on view will give kids an opportunity to learn about the city. There’s also a Kids Create series, where kids have the chance to take part in interactive art-making activities.

Tip: If you’re looking for a unique tour, check out the 80s-themed scavenger hunt that will take you and your family through all three floors of the museum.

connect visitors with art in a way that changes how they see themselves and the world. First Saturdays are a staple. Visitors of all ages from Brooklyn and beyond can enjoy free programming once a month. Other programming options include Yoga on the Stoop, where attendees of all ages can enjoy a relaxing outdoor yoga session. Keep an eye out for Stroller Tours, an interactive strollerfriendly tour designed for children up to 24 months old. It features touchable objects, music and an opportunity for parents to connect with each other.

Current exhibits the family will enjoy Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” and Really Free: The Radical Art of Nellie Mae Rowe (January 29, 2023).

Tip: Looking for a way to enhance your day in Brooklyn? Stop by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden after visiting the Brooklyn Museum! Buy a Museum & Garden Pass to visit both spots on the same day.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts 1040 Grand Concourse bronxmuseum.org

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 1 to 6 pm The Bronx Museum of the Arts’ collection includes over two thousand works of art. The upcoming exhibition, “Swagger and Tender ness: The South Bronx Portraits by John Aheam and Rigoberto Torres,” is sure to be a great experience for the whole family. It will

New Museum of Contemporary Art 235 Bowery newmuseum.org Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm The New Museum is a contemporary art museum in Manhattan’s lower east side. Their goal is to create a dialogue between the public and contemporary artists. “Off Grid” by artist Kapwani Kiwanga is a great exhibition for kids and families on display through October of this year. Kids can enjoy the exhibition’s colors, shapes and natural lights and adults can enjoy engaging with Kiwanga’s ideas about how bodies experience and inhabit structures of power.

While you’re there, also be sure to check out the 7th floor Sky Room. The floor to ceiling windows and balcony offer beautiful views of Downtown Manhattan that anyone of any age can enjoy.

Keep an eye out for the museum’s Family Days! These events include free admission to all exhibitions for kids and two adults per family and art-making activities at extended morning hours. If you can’t make it on Fam ily Day, don’t worry: entry to the New Mu seum is always free for anyone under 18. The museum also offers a Kids Menu newsletter, so you can keep up to date with all of the museum’s offerings for kids and families.

Tip: Visit the galleries on weekdays for a quieter, more intimate experience. Go to the front desk for packets that include large print wall labels and stools.

By Cris Pearlstein

Full disclosure: I’ve known Julee Wilson since 2007, when we were both young, hard-working magazine editors trying to find our way in the fashion industry. I liked her from the day we met. She was outgoing, confident as hell, really funny, and always kept it real. She had a magnetism to her that drew you in—when she told a story, people hung on every word. I need to tell you before I go any further with this piece that she is the same exact way today, 15 years later. Except today she has two beautiful sons (Orion, 8, and Nadir, 21 months), a rockstar of a husband, and almost 72K followers on Instagram—who also hang on her every word. She still keeps it real, sharing the highs and lows of her life with an openness and vulnerability that Instagram could frankly use more of (everything from pep talks she gives to herself when she’s having a bad day, to being open about her diastasis recti and how she has not “snapped back” after having kids). Since those days of hustling as a young editor, Julee left fashion behind and has become a force in the beauty industry, making a major impact from the inside out (she counts publishing a story in Cosmo about how Black women interact with beauty as one of her proudest moments). You can also rely on her to introduce you to all the other smart, successful women in her life (and there are many) because she believes in lifting women up, and helping them to shine their light. Oh and let’s not for get, her feed is full of photos of her absolutely adorable boys (if you haven’t clicked on the hashtag #wombfire yet, do yourself a favor). So, dear reader, do you now understand why I’ve been manifesting this cover story for so long? I knew you would love her. I knew you would learn from her. And, most of all, I knew you would want to know her. Read on to hear about how she got her start as a young Black woman in publishing, her incredible rise to beauty edi tor powerhouse, and why she never lets a day

go by without being grateful for the family she came from and the family she has now.

CP: Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself, and how you ended up where you are today?

JW: So my professional journey kind of actually started in college, when I decided I wanted to write fashion. That was when I was laser focused on getting the type of experience I needed in order to break into this industry. I knew being a young Black woman that I didn’t see much of myself in the industry, so I knew I had to start early. Most people do internships between their junior and senior years, I started interning after my freshman year. I interned at Bergdorf Goodman, because the father of one of the girls who went to my high school was a senior vice president there.That was my first “in”. After that experience I interned at Vibe magazine, then, between my junior and senior year, I got into the Condé Nast Internship Pro gram and was at Condé Nast Traveler magazine. It was exciting because I was able to write so I had bylines. I was able to go to the newsstand and pick up the magazines and see my name in print, which was crazy. Later I found my fulltime job at Real Simple, and then that started my real journey. I stayed there for six and a half years. It was great. I feel like it was such a strong brand during that time. The magazine was thick, they had international editions. It was so sick. I was traveling, I did media training, I was able to go on the Today Show. I’m like, 24 years old going on the Today Show doing segments, it was amazing. They really trusted me. But by the time 2011 rolled around magazines were folding and keeping their websites it was very clear that digital was about to take over. HuffPost reached out to me about Black Voices and I was like, why not? I got the job and it was a turning point. I’ve had very challenging jobs before, but I always say I went from a monthly to a minutely. I used to work on three to four stories a month. Now I was writing three to four stories a day. Writing

three to four fashion stories a day was a lot, so when they added beauty it really helped diversify my content and my voice and I just started to fall in love with beauty. It feels more universal. It feels like an industry that I can really make a difference in. But the real turning point in my career was when Essence reached out to me to write a cover story.

CP: I’ll never forget something you said to me back then: “Don’t let anyone dim your light” or “They will not dim my light.” And I think for you that was really it.

JW: I mean, look, people get threatened by what you have to offer. And to me, everyone has magical talents and traits. I’m just here to show mine off, you show yours off too. But whatever relationships I had or personality that I had that was exciting, or drew people or whatever, they would see it as some type of indictment on their own light. And I’m like, that’s got nothing to do with you. That’s just me being Julee. But I do stand by that today: Don’t let anyone dim your light. I used to dim my own light to make others around me feel comfortable. I have learned over the years— and I wish I had learned it sooner—that I am not responsible for how those people feel when I’m shining my light. And whatever conse quences come from that, I just have to ride with it. If that means them being, you know, cruel or bullying me and passive aggressive, I just have to eat it and know that what’s to come is better. Because yeah, it takes a lot of energy, stressed anxiety to dim your own light—while also hav ing their hand on the knob dimming you.

CP: So tell me about being a Black beauty director at a legendary brand that is not maybe known for its coverage of diversity. And tell me about the importance for you of your impact there and your mission.

JW: I first got hired…this is another func tion of age, and again, the journey of continuing to know your worth, right? When I went into

Julee Wilson, @missjulee, beauty editor extraordinaire, shares how she learned her worth and what advice she has for other women trying to find their way in the world

that interview with Cosmo, I was very self as sured and very aware of who I am, what I bring to the table. I never was like that in interviews before. It was always like, what do they want? What do they want to hear? Like, how do you want me to fit into this box? And I’m telling you every year that has gone by, I’ve been more like, this is who I am. I literally remember saying this to Jess Pels, in that interview. I was like, “I am a Black woman, but my superpower is the fact that I tell stories from that lens. And that I can know about everyone’s beauty, too.” Because I’ve had to know about everyone’s beauty. My white counterparts have not had to learn about me, they can be like, oh, that’s a Black girl thing. I have to write about me, I have to write about you, I have to write about our Asian brothers and sisters. I’m a true expert in this thing. And the fact that I tell stories through my lens, a lot of my story ideas and the things I want to talk about are Black, Black, blackity, Black. And I can’t hide that. And in fact, I don’t want to, I actually want it to be celebrated. So if you are down for that, and that is something that you see in Cosmo’s future, then I’m your girl. If it’s not, no hard feelings. But that is the space I need to live in, and if that is not something you’re down for, I will not take it personally, but this partner

ship won’t work out. And she was just like, “No, I love this!” And speaking to your light dimmer thing, Cris, I hand to God, I literally said to her in the interview, I was like, “I’ve worked for a lot of light dimmers. That’s my question to you, how do you interact with your talent and your leaders on staff? Are you someone that uplifts them and pushes them to greater things? Are you happy when you have stars on your team?” I was like, “I’m the type of manager that I want stars. It only makes me look better. I’m not here to dim people’s lights, I’m here to make them better.” We literally had this conversation. And she was like, “No, I love that. I’m not a light dimmer. I want everyone to be great.” And she’s proven that to me, she has pushed me in every way and has allowed me space and grace to be me, so I’m so grateful for that. I wrote a whole story about how Black women interact with beauty and how the world should take note. I’ve written about headscarves and bonnets.

CP: So what’s next for you?

JW: A few months ago, I got a new job. I am now the executive director of BeautyUnited. My part-time job is being editor-at-large at Cosmo. I am very grateful for that. Cosmo made a way that I could stay but also run this non-profit. So

the future is full and exciting! I get to still be an editor, I get to run a non-profit that I really, truly believe in. I have the freedom now to say, yes, no, maybe. Every day offers a new opportunity that I get to either say yes to and dream around, or say no, that’s not right for me right now. And even that feels magical.

CP: What’s your advice to someone who may be struggling with impostor syndrome and knowing their worth?

JW: Surround yourself with people that do know your worth and will constantly tell you in a real authentic way like, you can share your woes and your wells with them. And they will tell you the truth, they will be the battery in your back. They will tell you you’re being silly. Or they’ll tell you that, no, you’re right. Just a village of people that remind you of who you are. Whether that is a difficult conversation or a cel ebratory conversation. Also, don’t beat yourself up, don’t take yourself too seriously. And every year, know you’re going to get closer and closer to the ultimate you.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. To read the full version, please visit us online at Newyorkfamily.com.

Photo by Yumi Matsuo

By ShaR a leviNe

indian Heritage celebration - kerala Piravi & diwali

WHeN: Sunday, Nov. 6, 2-4:30pm

WHeRe : Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack ageS: All WHat: Celebrate Indian heritage and culture at this event featuring local students presenting many Indian Traditional art forms.

WaNt to go?: 845-348-1000, palisadescenter.com

Public ice Skating

WHeN: Nov. 5 - March 5, Fridays and Saturdays, 10am-9:3pm; Sundays, 10am-7:30pm

WHeRe : Bear Mountain Ice

Rink, Bear Mountain Ice Rink State Park, Bear Mountain ageS: All

WHat: Lace up those skates and glide around this outdoor ice skating rink.WANT TO GO?: $5 admission; $10 skate rental. 845-942-1789, bearmountainicerink.org

veteran’s day Parade & ceremony

WHeN: Friday, Nov. 11, 11am-1pm

WHeRe : Suffern Village Hall, 61 Washington Avenue, Suffern ageS: All WHat: Honor our Veteran’s at this annual parade followed by a ceremony at Soldiers Monument.

WaNt to go?: 845-357-7943, suffernny.gov

children & Families: Sun Prints

WHeN: Sunday, Nov. 13, 1-3pm

WHeRe : Storm King Art Center, Old Pleasant Hill Road, Mountainville ageS: All WHat: Learn about cyanotype, an early photographic process, and make your own composition to expose in the sun.

WaNt to go?: Admission starts at $28. 845-534-3115, stormking.org

books, cookies and yoga, oh my!

WHeN: Saturday, Nov. 19, 12:30-2pm

WHeRe : Peace in Piermont, 458 Piermont Ave, Piermont ageS: 3-8

WHat: Drop off your little ones for an afternoon of yoga and guided meditation, story time, crafts, and sugar cookie decorating.

WaNt to go?: $44. 845-8482600. peaceinpiermont.com

Holiday bricktacular

WHeN: Nov. 25 - Dec. 31, Fridays-Sundays and Thanksgiving, 11am-5pm

WHeRe : LEGOLAND New York Resort, One Legoland Blvd., Goshen ageS: All WHat: Experience unforgettable seasonal shows, holiday characters, special treats, LEGO® activities, twinkling lights, and more! WaNt to go?: Admission starts at $67.99. 845-4100290, legoland.com/new-york

t he Holiday Bricktacular at LeGoLAnD new York begins on nov. 25.

legolaN d New york

toWonder

Visit with Santa

–December