West Georgia Woman Magazine Issue June 2024

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Hello Summer!

I don't know about you, but I am so glad summer is around the corner. The spring was a very busy time for us at West Georgia Woman, and I'm ready to relax a bit before we start creating our fall issues. It will be time for those special issues before you know it! This year seems to have flown by.

Summer is actually my favorite time of year (besides dealing with the sweltering heat). I just love the longer days, spending more time with my family and, of course, going on vacation! I know everyone here at WGW is ready for that.

In This Issue

Our feature this month is mother and Christian blogger Meshea Ingram. Two years ago, Meshea lost her 2-year-old son Briggs in a tragic drowning accident. To honor Briggs and help other children and families, she created the nonprofit Love Can Build a Briggs (LCBAB). LCBAB provides scholarships to promote survival swim lessons for babies and children. In addition to survival swim scholarships, LCBAB offers loving support to parents who have lost their children to drowning accidents.

On page 10, learn more about Meshea, her commitment to teaching the community about water safety and her dedication to providing the resources to help other children learn how to stay alive in water until help arrives.

Do you have a difficult relationship with your father? On page 21, Sandra Bolan explores various father/ daughter relationships and uncovers some common causes of rifts between the two.

Have you ever thought about going on vacation with your entire extended family? Although the planning can be stressful, it can be a ton of fun going on vacation with babies, grandparents and everyone in between. Turn to page 32 and learn how you and family can plan the best multigenerational vacation ever.

As you flip through the pages of this issue, you'll learn how to create a summer schedule for your kids, how to connect with your family in the great outdoors, Chef Rose Isaacs' delicious recipes and more.

Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman. Please do business with our valued community advertising partners in this issue. Without them, we wouldn't be able to provide you with this wonderful magazine each month! Be sure to tell them you saw their ad in WGW.

I want to wish all the fathers who are reading this magazine a very happy Father's Day!

See you next month!

Publisher

by

Photo

Keith May

Finding our voice. Knowing our value.

Making a difference. TM

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West Georgia Woman is a monthly publication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of this issue are copyright 2024. West Georgia Woman magazine, its logo and “Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.” are trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Print or online reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. All submissions will be included as space is available.

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By Shala Hainer

Photos by Zachary Dailey. Ingram family photos provided by Meshea Ingram.

Turning Tragedy into Survival

Mother uses personal loss to save children from drowning dangers

Briggs Ingram

Parents feel confident they understand water safety for children. However, statistics related to drowning say otherwise. From puddle jumpers to safe bath time, parents unwittingly create a false sense of confidence in young children.

Unfortunately, parents usually don’t have the proper information needed to make the best water safety choices. The shocking truth is drowning is the number one cause of death of children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause, just behind car accidents, for unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That’s not a statistic many people have ever heard. But it’s one West Georgia mom Meshea Ingram is on a mission to share after experiencing her own personal tragedy – she lost her son, Briggs, at age 2 to a drowning accident.

Since then, she’s created a nonprofit, Love Can Build a Briggs, to help educate families about proper water safety, reach out with love to other families experiencing the grief that comes from losing a child to drowning, and provide scholarships for survival swim lessons to help children learn how to stay alive in water until help arrives.

The Road to Tragedy

Meshea grew up in Bremen, attending school there until her junior year of high school, when she transferred to the Coosa Valley Academy Private School. Her husband, Josh, graduated from Bremen High School a few years before and became a firefighter for the city of Bremen.

They began dating while Meshea was pursuing her degree in psychology/Christian counseling from Liberty University, and they married not quite a year later in 2011.

“When we married, we were both very career driven,” she recalls. “I was still in college, determined to finish and enjoy my chosen profession, with no thought of a future family. However, two years after marrying, we were blessed with a beautiful, blonde-headed little girl, and our lives changed forever. I knew from that moment what God had intended my work to be here on this earth, and that was to raise disciples. (Or to be a mother.) After Ally, we had a very hard time conceiving again, and I actually suffered a miscarriage a year before having Briggs. He was our rainbow baby.”

Meshea earned her degree, then decided she should work as a full-time mother. She homeschools their daughter, Ally, who is now 10. “We also have three dogs, two cats and six chickens, nestled on a

wooded 200 acres of family land,” she laughs.

She remembers Briggs as full of joy and laughter. “Briggs was our little sunshine baby,” Meshea says. “He was truly a joy and would light up a room with his dimply smile. He was most known for his infectious laugh and had a unique cackle/giggle from a very young age. He was mischievous and fun, loving and sweet, and stole the hearts of everyone who knew him.

“I've said so many times God gave him such a big personality because He knew his time on earth was short. He truly wanted him to be remembered forever. Briggs loved fishing at the lake, fire station visits, tractor rides and riding the ATV through our property. He loved church and especially sharing the mic with our pastor. He loved his ‘wee-woo puppy,’ (a stuffed firefighter dog), Woody and Buzz.”

Nightmare in Real Life

As a family, the Ingrams enjoyed outdoor activities, including spending time at the lake or the beach. Josh’s family bought a lake house in Alabama, and the summer of 2022 was the first time they were able to enjoy time there on the boat and swimming.

“That was our first summer at the lake house,

but we had been to various lakes on the boat many times prior,” Meshea explains. “We did enjoy swimming in the water, but Briggs particularly didn't like the lake water, and would cry when I'd have him swim with me – always in his life jacket. We are still puzzled what drew him to the water that day, given his distaste for the muddy water. He had also never been in the water or on the boat without wearing a life jacket.”

On this hot day in July, the family was getting ready to head back home in the afternoon. They went out on the boat in the morning to enjoy a last few hours on the lake. “We were packing up to leave, and all it took was a few seconds of my distraction (I was vacuuming, to be specific), for him to wander off and find himself in the water,” she remembers.

While it might seem easy for people who have never experienced this type of loss to judge Meshea and say how the accident could have been avoided, parents of small children know just how

quickly kids can slip away and get into trouble. It happens to all parents at some point, and it happens in an instant – parents turn their backs literally for seconds, and the child disappears. In most cases, the child gets into minor trouble, such as emptying an entire bottle of lotion all over the bathroom floor or making a huge mess by ripping open the bag of dog food.

When it comes to drowning, however, those seconds are precious. “Since Briggs’ accident and becoming a bit of a water safety champion, we have learned that almost 70% of childhood drownings happen during non-swim times, and a child can drown in as little as 30 seconds,” she shares.

The day of the accident, Meshea realized almost immediately Briggs was no longer in the room with her, and she called for help.

“We aren't sure how long he was in the water, as the events of that day are still such a blur and everything happened so quickly, but as mentioned, it can take as little as 30 seconds for a child to drown,” she says. “Once I realized he was missing, we began searching frantically, but truly did not think to check the water first. Since then, we have learned the water should always be the first place you check, as every second matters. Your mind truly doesn't want to even go there, but I remember saying, ‘Josh, we have to check the lake.’ We both searched, but Josh found him in the water, jumped in, got him out, and immediately called 911.

This is the last photo the family took of Briggs before he passed away. Meshea says it's impactful to her because they did everything right, except teach Briggs to swim. She says people don't think about their babies/toddlers needing to know how to swim because they assume they'll always be within their grasp, but it only takes a moment for them to slip away, and they can drown in as little as 30 seconds.

“I remember screaming both for help and for God. Josh began CPR and performed CPR for 30 minutes before Briggs regained a heartbeat and was life-flighted to Children's Hospital of Alabama at University of Alabama-Birmingham.”

As a first responder, Josh let his training kick in through his panic as he fought to save Briggs’ life. "It was just natural instinct, like muscle memory without a second thought,” Josh remembers. “On top

Briggs' bedroom holds some of his favorite toys and books, including Woody and Buzz Lightyear from the movie Toy Story

Quick Facts from the National Drowning Prevention Alliance

• Nearly 40% of drownings treated in emergency departments require hospitalization, transfer, or further care (compared with 10% for all unintentional injuries).

• There is an average of 4,012 unintentional drowning deaths each year.

• Drowning is fast and silent. It can happen in as little as 20-60 seconds.

• 88% of children drown with at least one adult present, and close to 70% of toddler drownings occur during a non-swim time.

• For every fatal childhood drowning, another seven to eight children receive emergency department care for non-fatal drowning.

• We lose 11 school buses worth of children to fatal unintentional drowning per year, with the average school bus seating 80 students.

• Two out of three drowning incidents that take place in the home occur in a bathtub.

of him being my son, I was going to do whatever I could to save him."

The family couldn’t ride in the helicopter with Briggs and was forced to make the excruciatingly long drive to the hospital. “We had to drive from Rockford, Ala., to Birmingham, which took around an hour,” Meshea recalls. “It was agonizing and long, and all I remember doing was praying in between

the countless phone calls that began pouring in. My brother and sister-in-law actually beat us to the hospital and were able to be there when he arrived, because they live right outside of Birmingham.

“Briggs spent five days on life support before passing away.”

Honoring Briggs' Legacy

After such an unimaginable loss, many parents find it difficult to look toward the future. Meshea decided to use what she learned from her loss to help others – others who might be in a similar situation, but also others who aren’t aware of the dangers.

“A family friend had a dream while were in the hospital that we began a drowning awareness nonprofit called Love Can Build a Briggs. However, it wasn't until a few months after his passing that I considered starting a charity that focuses on drowning awareness, water safety and providing hope to families who have also lost a child,” she explains. “I felt a strong urge to do this, not only as a way to honor his legacy, but to advocate for young children everywhere.

“We were completely naïve to the statistics of drowning in children, especially children ages 1-4. I wasn't even aware of survival swim until after Briggs' passing. Its technique is specific to young children –as young as 6 months old – and teaches them a selfrescue skill vital to surviving an incident in the water. I also never considered a child so young would need the knowledge of swim or self rescue.

“I'm determined to change the statistics. Drowning is the single leading cause of death in children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children up to age 14.”

Meshea believes the stigma related to talking about child drowning needs to shift. “People don’t

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talk about it because it's tragic and ugly, and no one believes it will happen to them,” she shares. “As mothers, we assume we will always be there to protect our children, never considering our own humanity and the fact that we are unable to be everywhere at once. But it's also not presented to us at hospitals and doctor's offices, schools and on commercials. No one knows the facts because they aren't given.”

Raising awareness of the risks is key to keeping water safety at the forefront of parents’ minds. “We need to make the facts around drowning awareness and water safety easily available to the public,” she emphasizes. “We have an informational pamphlet on our website that we've tried to make available to doctor's offices willing to accept them and hand them out. We'd also love to see it at schools and daycare centers. I also think commercials and advertising would make a significant impact. Placing signs up at lakes, public pools and beaches encouraging parents to keep their children in life jackets and to actively watch their children would also increase awareness substantially.”

In addition to educating the public about drowning dangers, Meshea and Love Can Build a Briggs work to inform people about ways to keep children safe. One of the main ways is to teach children, even babies as young as 6 months old, how to keep themselves afloat on their backs in the water long enough to be rescued – this is known as survival swim training.

“The best way parents can protect their children is by giving them the ability to save themselves should they find themselves in the water alone,” Meshea shares. “This can be done through survival swim. It teaches them the ‘swim, float, swim’ method. A young child cannot sustain a swim, but through muscle memory learned through lessons, they can flip over on their backs and float until they either swim to safety or are found by a parent. After this, the five layers of protection should be practiced.”

As a way to help families keep their babies and children safe around water, Love Can Build a Briggs offers financial assistance to attend survival swim classes. “We specifically provide scholarships for survival swim only. This is because of its unique technique which teaches children usually ages 6 months-6 years not only how to swim to safety, but also how to float on their backs to rest between swimming,” she explains.

Survival swim is different because it’s short lessons – about 10 minutes long – that the child attends five days a week for about six weeks, on average.

“It's all about developing muscle memory,” Meshea says. “These lessons provide more swim time than conventional lessons. As I was naïve to the statistics of drowning, my intention was to put Briggs in swim lessons when he was older, just as I did his sister. This is most parents’ thought process, which is why I believe the statistics are so high. No one considers the fact that their 2-year-olds might find themselves in the water alone, but if it wasn't a common occurrence, drowning wouldn't be the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4.

“The cold, hard, never-considered-before fact is that our babies and toddlers must learn to swim. On our website, but also on the internet in general, you can find a certified survival swim instructor nearest you by simply entering in your zip code.”

Other Water Safety Tips

While survival swim training is essential for babies and children, parents should practice other types of water safety. For example, the color of a child’s swimsuit makes a difference on how quickly she can be spotted in the water in an emergency. Experts warn parents to avoid blue and neutral colors, and stick to bright colors that stand out from the colors in the water.

“Our slogan is ‘water isn't fun until it is safe,’” shares Meshea. “We introduce our children to water as a fun activity at a very young age, not realizing that young children cannot differentiate danger from fun. We make it fun, so they think it is safe. Their young minds don't say, ‘Oh, mommy puts me in a life jacket before I get in the water, so I need to wear one to get in.’ So on the rare chance they are unsupervised, their instinct is to jump in the fun water, life jacket or not.”

As for life jackets, Meshea reinforces the recommendation that parents always use a Coast Guard-approved life jacket in open water, even if the child can swim.

5 LAYERS OF PROTECTION

From the National Drowning Prevention Alliance

Young children tend to be the most vulnerable to drowning because of their curiosity. Drowning happens quickly and quietly, which makes it necessary to add multiple layers of safety to reduce the risk.

Layer 1: Barriers that limit access and alarms that alert you. In addition to door alarms that sound when a door is opened or pool surface alarms, the best practice with small children is to have a fence completely separating the house from the water source, like a pool or pond. Also, install a self-latching lock at least 54 inches above the floor on all exterior doors that lead to a water source. The NDPA recommends pool safety covers as well – not all pool covers are designed to hold weight, so look for those that meet the ASTM International voluntary standard F1346-91 for safety covers.

Layer 2: Close, constant and capable supervision. Active supervision means keeping young children within arm’s length during water activities. Assigning “water watcher” duties means giving adults shifts where their one and only job is watching the children in the water with no distractions such as preparing food or answering phone calls.

Layer 3: Water competency and the skill to survive. No swim lessons can make your child “drown proof,” but they can reduce the risk of drowning among children ages 1-4 years by 88%. Check with your pediatrician to determine when your child is ready for survival swim lessons.

Layer 4: Life jackets when appropriate. Always choose one approved by the U.S. Coast Guard when in open water or when boating. Ensure the life jacket fits properly to keep the child floating with her head above water in an emergency.

Layer 5: Responding to aquatic emergencies. If you have a pool, install a phone with a land line near the pool – calling from a land line automatically gives 911 your location in case of an emergency. Keep rescue equipment handy, like a shepherd’s hook or rescue ring. Adults should learn proper rescue techniques including CPR and rescue breathing.

Remember: If a child is unaccounted for near water, ALWAYS CHECK THE WATER FIRST. Seconds count!

“Yes, that includes the ocean, whether they can swim or not. All life jackets are by weight and should be worn accordingly. Puddle jumpers and other forms of flotation devices are not a safe alternative to life jackets and put children more at risk for drowning once removed, as they do not position the child's body properly in the water, and encourage a drowning position, rather than a horizontal, swim position.

“Besides life jackets and swimsuit colors, we also recommend barriers and alarms as a means of protection, such as pool alarms, covers, four-sided fencing, gates and locks.”

Since the accident, Meshea and Josh focus on making life as full and fun for daughter Ally as possible, including visiting the beach and pools. While Meshea might feel nervous with her daughter around water, she knows she’s doing all the right things to keep her safe. “I immediately got Ally in survival swim lessons,” she shares. “She knew how to swim, but not how to float, nor was she a very strong swimmer. Leanna Joy with Little Otters Survival Swimming in Carrollton taught her, at 8 years old, how to properly self rescue and swim, making her a much stronger swimmer and easing my mama’s heart. We have not visited a lake since

Briggs' passing, but do visit the beach and pools often, and Ally shows no signs of fear of the water as a result of Briggs' accident.

“I do naturally struggle with anxiety in these situations. I make sure she and I are both practicing safe swim, (without exerting my anxieties onto her), such as making her wear a life jacket in the ocean even though she can swim. Those are live, changing waters, and even adult swimmers cannot fight a rip current. Again, this is not something most parents take the time to consider, because it isn't talked about.” Meshea says she wishes all parents would keep child water safety at the forefront of their minds as a real and present danger.

“Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4, and yes, it can, in fact, happen to you, even the best of parent,” she reiterates. “Don't introduce your children to water before they can swim. If I had known what I know now, the statistics and the way to prevent such a tragedy from happening to my family, I would have done everything within my power to ensure my child's safety. I thought I had, and was, right down to the life jacket, but you can't practice what you don't know. Learn the facts.”

If you or someone you know would like to donate or become a partner of LCBAB, you may visit the website at www.lovecanbuildabriggs.com and choose “Get Involved." WGW

Since the accident, Meshea and Josh focus on making life as full and fun for daughter Ally as possible, including visiting the beach and pools.

Exploring Difficult Father/Daughter Relationships

By Sandra Bolan

Most little girls want to be the apple of their father’s eye, and "Daddy’s little girl." After all, fathers love to spoil their baby girls and protect them from the big bad boys, no matter how old their daughters get. But sometimes, being "Daddy’s little girl" can turn toxic, creating an unhealthy co-dependancy or physical and emotional abuse.

Children, whether boys or girls, learn how to maneuver relationships by witnessing how their parents treat each other and their children. For little girls, the way she perceives her value in society and how she expects men to treat her all stem from her relationship with her father. A toxic relationship with her father will typically manifest in unhealthy unions with romantic partners. A dysfunctional father-daughter relationship has also been shown to have a negative effect on a daughter’s psychological development, including self-esteem, mental health and how she interacts with figures of authority.

A parent never intends to raise a spoiled and bratty child, but sometimes that ends up being the result of a parent forgetting how to use the word “no” when it pertains to their child asking for something. This can be especially true for fathers and daughters.

Some fathers have no idea how to communicate or relate to their little girl, especially as she grows into a woman, so fathers will often be more than happy to hand over their credit card with the thought of “anything to make my baby girl happy.” While this might make her happy, unbeknownst to both of them, it also may be teaching her that with the bat of an eye and a “pretty please,” she can get whatever she wants from a man. Longterm, she may become selfish and view men as nothing more than ATMs.

It may also affect whom she dates. When younger, the likelihood of a boy or young adult male being able to provide her the baubles and fancy dinners

Happy Father’s Day From Our Family to Yours

she’s grown accustomed to is slim. An older man, on the other hand, who is well into his career, can provide a lifestyle this type of girl is used to having and wants to maintain, but with little to no effort on her part. It’s the classic “daddy issue” relationship –young girl dates older father figure.

Another type of toxic father-daughter relationship occurs when the daughter constantly seeks her father’s approval, never wanting to disappoint him. Young girls like this often grow up to be people pleasers and put a man’s needs ahead of their own.

These girls can also feel like they always have to prove to their father, and everyone else, they’re the smartest/prettiest/best/fastest at whatever career/ hobby or sport they choose. This may not seem like a dysfunctional character trait, but these girls usually aren’t being driven by their own internal need to excel, but rather by the positive attention it garners them from their fathers.

Watching children grow up is hard, and some fathers never want their little girls to become young ladies and women. These men can become overbearing and overprotective, creating a situation of emotional abuse. He may tell her no one is good enough, to the point of threatening any suitor she may bring home to meet the family. Other signs include not letting her become independent by

forbidding her to have a car, instead insisting he drop her off and pick her up. He may not allow her to move away for college.

Any relationship that involves physical or sexual abuse is toxic, but when a parent abuses their own child, it’s devastating because the child has nowhere to turn.

Daughters who have been abandoned by their fathers are more likely to engage in substance abuse, early sexual behaviors, fear of abandonment or fear of losing everything important to them.

A strong father-daughter relationship, according to studies, often leads to girls having better grades and thus more likely to obtain a college degree. These girls also have a higher sense of self and are more assertive and confident – including in their relationships with men.

Fathers play important roles in their daughters’ lives, even if they don’t realize it. To have a positive impact, fathers don’t need to solve all their problems, but just be there for them, even if it’s just sitting together and watching sports or a favorite television show. By making himself available, he’s there for when she does feel like talking one day.

For better or worse, a daughter’s experiences with her father are the most telling blueprint for what she’ll seek out in a life partner. WGW

The Great Outdoors

Connecting with Your Family Through Camping

By Sandra Bolan

When the world shut down in 2020, the only vacations anyone could take were typically camping. For many families, being even more removed from civilization and people was akin to being waterboarded. On the flip side, other families took advantage of being able to go outdoors to explore, learn new skills and forge even stronger familial bonds. Being outdoors slows down your pace of life. No one is rushing to or from work or school, and cooking becomes a cooperative event instead of quick trip through a drive-thru. Without any technology, you can also enjoy the sights and sounds of nature that surround you.

Location, Location, Location

The key to a successful campout is location, which is especially imperative if you have a wide range of camper interests. Choose a campground that offers some creature comforts such as hot showers and flush toilets, as well as outdoor activities like hiking,

paddling, fishing or kayaking. Other campground amenities that may be helpful in turning the outdoorresistant into an enthusiast might include mini-golf, a swimming pool, a playground and cell service. Onsite amenities also help when not everyone wants to head out for a full day of adventuring; they can stay behind and take part in activities that are of interest to them.

formerly outdoor resistant becomes one of the most competent wilderness survivalists. She may also posses some untapped outdoor skills that are just waiting for an opportunity to be utilized.

When planning daily activities – especially hikes –take into consideration the ruggedness and length of the trails. You don’t want to set out with the entire family on what is assumed to be an easy three-mile hike that turns into six miles of climbing and rugged rock scrambles. Hiking is also not for everyone. Some see it as nothing more than a long, boring and bug-filled walk. To help make it more interesting, turn it into a scavenger hunt. For example, everyone has to photograph five different kinds of flowers, four types of trees, two kinds of mushrooms and berries and anything else they find interesting. Back at the campsite, have everyone look at all of the photos to see how many items were photographed

Many state and national parks provide ranger-led hikes and other interpretive programs, some for the whole family, while others may be for children, only. Before planning your trip, check to see what is offered and make any required reservations.

The great thing about family camping is it's not expensive, and you don't have to travel far if you don't want to. There are plenty of local campgrounds for your family to experience the great outdoors.

Sometimes a parent, or grandparent, and child just can’t seem to find a common interest. Camping may be just the activity that bridges the generation gap by providing a great opportunity for the younger generation to learn from their elders, such as how to catch and prep fish for dinner, or how to make the perfect s’mores over an open fire.

A campout can strengthen a family’s bond by passing on traditions and working together. This fosters trust and cooperation. Even when things go wrong, camping creates great stories and memories that will be retold and embellished for years to

Proudly

Chef Rose Isaacs is a native of Carroll County and lives in Carrollton with her husband, Shawn and their son, Sebastian. She graduated from West Georgia Technical College in 2013 with a degree in Culinary Arts. She is a personal chef who offers cooking lessons, baby food prep, date night dinners for two and more.

Learn more about Chef Rose at www.chefrosecooks.com.

Chef Rose photos by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography daileylifephotography@gmail.com Recipe photos by Andrew Agresta, Agresta Photography www.agrestaphotography.com

Scotch Egg

Ingredients

5 large eggs

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 pound pork sausage

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

3 tablespoons fresh parsley

2 tablespoons fresh sage

Vegetable oil for frying

Preparation

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Carefully lower in 4 eggs, and cook for 5 minutes.

Transfer the eggs to ice water to cool. Peel, and set aside.

Place sausage meat in a bowl. Add herbs and mustard, and season with salt and pepper.

Separate sausage into four portions and form into flat patties.

Beat the remaining egg and prepare three bowls with flour, beaten eggs and panko breadcrumbs.

Form sausage patties around the peeled eggs, then dredge – first in flour, then egg, and finally, panko breadcrumbs.

Fill a sauce pan halfway with oil and heat to 350°F.

Deep fry eggs for 6 to 8 minutes until crisp and golden brown.

Alternatively, bake in a 400°F oven for about 25 to 30 minutes until light golden.

Serve warm or cold.

Serves 4.

“Surprise Dad with this hearty breakfast food for Father’s Day.”

Grilled Peach and Prosciutto Flatbread

Ingredients

1 pre-made flatbread or pizza dough

Olive oil, for brushing

2 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced into wedges

4 slices of prosciutto, torn into pieces

4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

Handful of arugula

Balsamic glaze, for drizzling

Salt and black pepper, to taste

Preparation

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Brush the peach wedges with olive oil to prevent sticking.

Place the peach wedges directly on the grill grates.

Grill for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until grill marks appear and the peaches are slightly softened.

Remove from the grill and set aside. Brush the flatbread or pizza dough with olive oil on both sides.

Place the flatbread directly on the grill grates. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly charred and crispy.

Remove from the grill and set aside.

Arrange the grilled peach wedges evenly over the grilled flatbread.

Scatter torn pieces of prosciutto over the peaches, followed by crumbled goat cheese. Return the flatbread to the grill, and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Once cooked, remove the flatbread from the grill and transfer it to a serving platter.

Top with fresh arugula and drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serves 8. WGW

Planning the Perfect Multigenerational Vacation

By Sandra Bolan

For all the upheaval, trauma and chaos the pandemic created, one good thing came of it: families realized they missed being together and have since prioritized spending time together. This has resulted in an increase in multigenerational family vacations. However, coordinating that many people, ranging in age from newborns to 90, brings with it the need to accommodate various physical abilities and an even broader range of interests.

But with some planning and compromise, a fun and memorable family vacation can be enjoyed by all. The first step in planning a multigenerational vacation is to figure out who’s going and the budget. Studies show that 40% of family trips are arranged and paid for by the grandparents, but that can be very expensive if you have a large family. If family members can afford it, it’s best to divvy up the expenses.

The average cost of a one week vacation in the U.S. is $1,991 per person, according to Bankrate. For many people, this may be well out of their budget. When planning a family trip, determine the budget first. Once that’s decided, it’s time to figure out a destination. Some families opt to pick the destination first and then figure out the budget, but that can lead to some people being left out because the price tag is just too high.

One way to choose a destination is to first decide whether it will be domestic or international. Have everyone write down five places they want to visit. Compile all the answers, and hopefully there’s a clear winner. If not, discuss the locations people want to visit and do some research to determine if any of these places become more appealing.

Now that the budget and destination have been solidified, there’s a variety of ways to plan. You can

do it yourself, work with a travel agent or head to an all-inclusive resort.

The most challenging option is to plan the entire vacation yourself. If you opt to go this route, start planning a year ahead of time because it might take that long to hammer out every little detail such as flight times, lodging, local transportation, meals and activities.

One way to efficiently plan a trip yourself is to delegate. One person handles the flights, the next, accommodations and so on. Delegating can also go hand in hand with payments. The person who books the hotels, for example, pays the upfront costs and gets reimbursed from their family members. This ensures all deposits get made.

Another way to book a trip yourself is to have each family book and pay for their own part of the trip once all the details have been worked out. The third option is one person does it all. She books every flight, hotel room and activity. Each person then reimburses that one person for their portion of the trip. Doing it this way may qualify your family for a variety of group discounts, but it’s a lot of work for one person.

Travel agents still exist and can be your greatest asset in creating a budget-friendly, all-abilities trip for your family. You provide the agent with a budget,

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the number of people, as well as their ages, abilities and interests. The travel agent then works her magic and provides you with a variety of destinations and itineraries. This is a great option for people who don’t want to plan an entire trip on their own and may also be willing to visit some lesser known “hot spots” a travel agent may know about, as opposed to the typical trendy and well-know locales.

Not only will the whole trip be planned for you, but many, if not all, of the costs will have been pre-paid, so you’ll only need to bring money for souvenirs and meals.

Another option many group travelers find appealing is an all-inclusive resort, which provides a variety of activities on-site and close by. The downside is these resorts usually come with a higher price tag. But the upside is everything, other than your transportation, is included.

When booking a resort vacation, consider renting a villa or large suite. This way, everyone in the group can have private sleeping quarters, but there’s a common room for all of you to hang out together.

Keep it Chill

Whenever you go somewhere new, you want to see and do everything, but that can be exhausting and lead to cranky and overtired people just a few days into the trip. Don't go crazy on the itinerary. No matter who plans your vacation, have her book a main activity for everyone in the morning, then allow for free time in the afternoon for naps, swimming or relaxing.

The purpose of going on a multigenerational family vacation is to spend time together and create new memories while exploring a new city or country. The key to ensuring everyone has a good time is a lot of flexibility and packing your patience before you go. WGW

LocaL Happenings

Nursing From The Heart

Breastfeeding Support Group

This group meets the third Thursday of each month from 11:00 to noon at the Villa Rica Library located at 869 Dallas Highway, Villa Rica, Ga.

These events are free to pregnant women and moms looking for breastfeeding support. Weight checks for your baby will be available at no cost. Come and share your breastfeeding journey with us.

Please check our website for meeting and event updates at www.nursingfromtheheart.com.

Domestic Violence Support Group

There is Hope is a support group for women survivors who have dealt with, or are currently dealing with, domestic violence.

This is a private group where women survivors come together and share their personal stories of experience, strength and hope.

This group meets on the first Thursday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at a private location. A ZOOM option is available.

There will be guidance for help and resources available as needed. At times there will also be guest speakers.

Contact hopefulone807@gmail.com for more information and to obtain the privacy contract with the physical address or ZOOM meeting ID and passcode.

Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Groups

Has your life been impacted by the loss of a friend or loved one to suicide? You are not alone.

These groups offer peer support for anyone who has been affected by suicide loss.

There is no cost to attend.

Group meetings in Carrollton are the third Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at 306A Bradley Street.

For more information, contact Ivey Rollins at iveyrollins@gmail.com or call 470.729.0909.

Group meetings in Douglasville are the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 6167 Priestley Mill Rd., Room 226.

For more information, contact Terri Johnson at chose2live@aol.com or 770.765.2181.

Group meetings in Newnan are the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Crossroads Church, 2564 Hwy 154.

For more information, contact Lynn Bradley at 770.301.4890 or email nbll.bradley170@gmail.com, or contact Nancy Bradley at 770.251.6216.

PFLAG Carrollton Support Group

PFLAG Carrollton provides a free monthly peer facilitated support group for adult members (ages 18+) of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their family, friends and allies, as a resource for families struggling with acceptance of their LGBTQ+ loved ones.

The goal is to meet people where they are and lead with love. PFLAG’s mission of support, education and advocacy from a place of love can help struggling families, as well as the community at large.

Support group meetings (for adults 18+) are led by a PFLAG trained facilitator and held on the second Thursday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Grace Lutheran Church, 101 Somerset Place in Carrollton. Confidentiality and safety are top priorities. Contact Julia Houser, pflagcarrollton@gmail.com for more information.

Pregnancy Resource Center 2024 Fall Fundraising Dinner

The Pregnancy Resource Center for Carroll, Haralson and Heard Counties will be hosting its 2024 fall fundraising dinner featuring special musical guest Allie Kennedy, speakers Al and Lisa Robertson and live artist Laura Ashley. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit www.pregnancyrc.com.

Indulge Salon and Day Spa Celebrates 20 Years

Indulge Salon and Day Spa, located at 1019 Rome St. in Carrollton, proudly celebrated two decades of business in Carroll County May 3. Visit the Indulge website for all your beauty and wellness needs at www.indulgedayspa.net.

Legacy Brain and Spine Cuts Ribbon at Carrollton Location

The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce Legacy Brain and Spine has cut the ribbon at its brand new Carrollton location, located at 100 Professional Place, Suite 107.

For more information on the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce and upcoming programs and events, please visit www.carroll-ga.org.

For more information on Legacy Brain and Spine, please visit www.legacybrainandspine.com.

Indulge Salon and Day Spa held a ribbon cutting celebrating its 20th year in busines May 3.

Legacy Brain and Spine held a ribbon cutting at its new Carrollton location May 9.

Georgia Storm Girls Champions Again

The Georgia Storm G13 girls’ soccer team traveled to Destin, Fla., the weekend of May 18 and competed in the Destin Soccer Shootout superregional tournament against other Georgia and Florida teams. The girls went undefeated Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, bringing home another championship comparable to their Panama City Beach tournament win last November.

Starting the tournament with a blowout win, Georgia Storm upped their first opponents 5-1 with another winning match of 3-0 to follow, sending them immediately to the semifinals.

The semi-final and final games were against equally matched teams, including a come-frombehind, overtime win against an in-state rival. The matchup is typically very physical and difficult for the Storm G13 with younger girls playing up in age group, but the girls pushed through the bumps and bruises to advance to the final. With the game tied at 2-2, the Storm team was able to find a blistering shot from outside the penalty after a direct kick. The girls would hold their 3-2 lead until the end of the five-minute overtime period and advance to the final match, including multiple great saves by the Storm’s goalkeeper.

Closing out the tournament, Georgia Storm played against Emerald Coast Rush (ECR) from Niceville, Fla. The ECR program is one of the largest regional soccer clubs in the world and produces strong teams. While the game remained scoreless for most of the first half, the Storm finally put up the first goal and gained momentum. With a pair of breakaway goals and multiple attacks on the ECR defense, the Storm would secure its 3-0 lead. ECR continued to try and counter-attack until the end, but the Storm defense was too quick and moved to cover each other well in the backfield, securing its win and the championship.

The Georgia Storm will be conducting try-outs for all ages for the 2024/2025 season, beginning May 20, 2024. Additional information may be found on the club website listed below.

Georgia Storm is a regional soccer club partnering with Carrollton, Douglasville, Paulding and Villa Rica recreation departments to form competitive youth soccer leagues. Whether a player is looking for traditional recreational, developmental academy, or premiere level opportunities, Georgia Storm is the most comprehensive club system for western Georgia and eastern Alabama, including a professional men’s team. Learn more by going to georgiastorm.com or follow them on social media.

4th Annual Women's Extravaganza a Success

West Georgia Woman magazine held it's 4th annual women's event Saturday, May 18th at City Station from 9 a.m. to noon. A great time was had by all. Thank you to all our generous sponsors, our vendors, and everyone who attended or helped in some way. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year for our 5th annual event! To view all photos of the event visit our Facebook page @WestGaWoman.

The Ultimate

West Georgia Women's Extravaganza

Keeping Your Kids on a Schedule

This Summer

By Sandra Bolan

At the beginning of every summer break, parents are filled with ideas on how to keep their kids busy for the next two months. But by the third week, parents are exhausted and the kids are aimlessly wandering around the house whining, “I’m bored,” or they’re cranky because their regular schedule has been thrown out the window.

When the school year ends, you breathe a small sigh of relief because the hamster wheel comes to a stop. While it may seem boring or mundane, kids actually thrive on the routine of a school year. So, when summer vacation starts and there’s no schedule or structure, kids go into a state of confusion. Parents should create a summer schedule and stick to it, because a structured day or week sets clear expectations for the children, which is what they need.

The keys to creating a successful structured summer include consistency, predictability and follow-through. What this looks like in real life is the child understands when nap time is, for example, and the parent enforces it.

A summer schedule, which should include a healthy mix of exercise, group play, rest, independent time and learning, is imperative to

prevent the “summer slide,” which occurs when kids do nothing but play video games and watch television for two months. The summer slide can result in a 17 to 34% academic loss of what was learned over the prior school year.

Along with the summer academic slide, some school-aged children can become socially isolated from their friends, creating a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out). Parents should try to schedule playdates with their kids' classmates to help maintain that social connection.

Examples of Summer Schedules

No matter the age of the children, print and post their daily schedule somewhere they can see it. Have them check off each activity as it’s completed, and at the end of the week, if there were no meltdowns or missed activities, reward them with a treat, such as ice cream or allowing them to choose the movie for family night.

Checking off each activity as they’re completed gives children a sense of accomplishment and an opportunity to look forward to what’s next.

For younger kids, the daily routine should focus on the basics: making their bed, eating breakfast, brushing their teeth, getting dressed, playtime, lunch, story time, nap, independent play, dinner, bath, brushing teeth, story and bedtime.

For older children, the schedule should include some chores such as making their bed, unloading the dishwasher, taking out the trash and putting away their clothes.

If kids need even more structure, put an actual time beside the activity. For example: 7 a.m. wake up, 7:05 a.m. make bed, 7:15 a.m. eat breakfast. No matter the age, independent playtime is important because kids are otherwise

Free For All Fridays: the kids can do whatever they want.

See it Saturday: head to the zoo, museum, movies, theater, botanical gardens or aquarium.

Slow-Down Sunday: spend the day with family. Have a cookout, play games or go to the park.

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dependent on parents and teachers for their entertainment, which can become frustrating for both the child and parent, and exhausting for the adult who has to always play activity director for a fickle child. Independent play fosters a child’s creativity and imagination, as well as develops a sense of independence and self-reliance, resulting in a confident child.

Theme Days

To make structure fun so the kids don't think they're back in school, you can create theme days for the week.

Make it Mondays: craft, bake, cook, puzzles, take a pottery class as a family.

Think About it Tuesdays: journal or play games like Scrabble.

Wet ‘n Wild Wednesdays: head to the local pool or set out a yard sprinkler for the day.

Try it Thursdays: everyone tries something new. It can be a skill or new food. It can also be a formal class or done on your own.

Post an “I’m bored” list of activities on the fridge. When she comes to you expressing boredom, point out the pre-approved list for her to choose from. Creating a summer schedule for your family may sound counterintuitive. After all, isn’t the purpose of a two-month break from school meant to let kids be free from books and routine? Yes and no. As any parent knows, if you don’t go into the summer with a plan, your home can become chaotic and cranky. Don’t schedule every minute of every day, but do lay out your expectations. Don't rely on what other families you know are doing, either. If your kids are older, ask for their input. You might be surprised at their creative ideas. The important thing is to find out what works best for your family. WGW

Kids Korner

Joyful Jellyfish

Materials

Orange paint and paint brush

Paper plate

Orange yarn or string

Craft glue

Paintbrush

Scissors (not pictured)

Googly eyes

Permanent marker

Instructions

Cut a paper plate in half and paint it orange. Allow to dry.

Poke 6 to 8 holes in the bottom of the paper plate. Feed string or yarn into the holes at the desired length and tie it off to resemble tentacles.

Glue the googly eyes to the plate as shown.

Decorate as desired.

By Jordan Dailey

Craft photos by Zachary Dailey

Perfect Pineapple

Materials

Craft glue

Scissors

Markers, paint (for fingerprints) or BINGO daubers

Paper plate and green construction paper

Scissors

Instructions

Cut out pineapple shapes from a paper plate.

Cut the crown of the pineapple from the construction paper.

Glue the crown to the back of the pineapple shape at one end.

Then use markers, BINGO daubers or your child's fingerprints to place the desired patterns to fill in the white space as shown. WGW

Soda Shop Search

Welcoming Dr. Rachel Harper to Widener Family Dentistry

UGA & DCG Alumni

Hinman Scholar

Inducted into OKU & the National Dental Honor Society

Certified Solea laser dentist to help provide the highest quality of dental care

Dr. Harper is married to Dr. Chris Harper. they enjoy raising corgi puppies and quarter horses on their small farm

Providing

Leading Edge Dentistry

Solea Laser Dentistry

90% of Fillings with no shot or drill 3D Digital Imaging

Crowns, Veneers, and all Aesthetic

Makeovers designed by both Doctors in house

Digital 3D printed splints & Dentures

Same day placement and restoration of implants

Now Serving West GA in Two Locations

• Carrollton

110 Executive Dr, Carrollton, GA (770) 834-4847

• Bowdon

106 Sue Avenue, Bowdon, GA (770) 628-5557

The future of cancer care

has come to Carroll County.

Introducing the new Roy Richards, Sr. Cancer Center.

Our approach to treating cancer has always been remarkable for a community healthcare provider. Now, we offer a cancer center where the experience is on par with the quality.

Introducing the new Roy Richards, Sr. Cancer Center. The future is here.

FIRST IN THE NATION

We’re the first community cancer treatment provider to offer Varian TrueBeam with HyperSight — giving oncologists neardiagnostic quality images during treatments and making treatments faster and more accurate than ever.