May 2023

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Meagan Ruffing

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Where It’s At! Happy Mother’s Day

Features:

6 n Tips & Gifts to Make Mom Feel Special on Mother’s Day by Rebecca Hastings

8 n 5 Reasons Moms are Lonely and What We Can Do About It by Rebecca Hastings

10 n Unsubscribe Me! by Cheryl Maguire

Do Anything by Meagan Ruffing

51 n Tweens and Teens

How to Support Your New Teen Driver by Cheryl Maguire

52 n Special Needs

The Surprising Reason Why I’m No Longer Angry About My Daughter’s Messy Room by Cheryl Maguire

54 n The Kid Friendly Kitchen Strawberries by Kathy Lundquist

55 n The Kiddie Gourmet

Betty’s by Barbara Blackburn

The most important day in the month of May has to be Mother’s Day! Leave this page on Dad’s pillow or his workbench for a little inspiration, or order one for Grandma, since it’s her special day, too! If you’re reading this after Mother’s Day, consider it a gift for a birthday or “just because” — since any day is the right day to say “I Love You!”

SUPER BESTEST MOMMY BOOK

With the ability to personalize scenes to reflect the interests of the adult, this professionally bound, hardcover keepsake celebrates endless love and joyful adventures. Cheerful, vibrant illustrations can be customized with one child or two and an adult name or nickname as the child(ren) call her. Add a photo to the dedication page and make a lasting family memory! Written uniquely from the child’s perspective. ($34.99, Etsy, ISeeMeBooksUS)

PERSONALIZED MOM BLANKET

This handmade fleece blanket comes in four versions, and three sizes, which can be personalized with your own signature words such as “Your Favorite Child,” “Love, Emily,” and the only limit being your imagination. Wrap mom in love with this unique keepsake! (Starting at $19.95, Etsy, BrdPersonalizedGifts)

MOM’S LAST NERVE CANDLE

Every mom needs a sense of humor and this soy-blend, hand poured candle definitely made us laugh. Some of the phrases on this shop’s other candles couldn’t be printed in a family magazine; check them out when the kids aren’t around!

($12.99, Etsy, SummitRidgeCandleCo.)

JUST FOR GRANDMA

This personalized Grandma necklace features a small disc with a custom est. date for when she first became a mother and a slightly larger disc charm to announce her grandparent status! Available in silver plated, sterling, gold plated, and rose gold plated, and different chain lengths. (Starting at $29, Etsy, BlackSparrowHandmade)

CAR SEAT SAFETY IN THE 716

The Buffalo Car Seat Club (buffalocarseatclub.com) has become a popular resource for local parents seeking to ensure the safety of their children in car seats. The organization, which was started by a local mom and licensed Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), connects local caregivers with car seat safety resources, explains proper car seat installation, and encourages best practices for car seat safety.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the United States. However, the use of proper car seats can significantly reduce the risk of fatal injury for infants and toddlers.

“We want to ensure that every child in Western New York is safe while traveling in a car” said Lia Tuso, the club’s founder. “We wanted to create a platform where caregivers can find all of our local car seat safety resources in one easy place.”

Since its inception, the Buffalo Car Seat Club has gained five-star Google reviews and popularity among local families through its strong social media presence, where they share safety FAQs, tips, and upcoming events.

The organization also provides answers to any car seat related questions you may have. You can contact them via email (buffalocarseatclub@gmail. com) or direct message on Facebook and Instagram.

In addition, the Buffalo Car Seat Club can connect caregivers with established local organizations to provide car seats to families in need. The organization believes that every child deserves a safe and secure car seat, regardless of their family’s financial situation.

“We want to make sure that every child in Buffalo has access to a car seat, regardless of their family’s income,” said Tuso. “We believe that every child deserves to be safe while traveling in a car.”

The Buffalo Car Seat Club is a shining example of the power of community and education in promoting child safety. With its growing popularity, the organization hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of local families and create a safer future for children in Western New York.

GUYS, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU!

You can ask her questions like this, but avoid simply saying, “What do you want to do?” Many moms are uncomfortable about saying what they truly want. Plus, asking that makes it one more thing for her to figure out — and she definitely doesn’t need that.

— by Rebecca Hastings

Tips & Gifts to Make Mom

Feel Special on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is the perfect time to shower some love on the moms in your life, whether it’s the mom of your children, your mom, or someone special whom you want to recognize. While every gift is special, you can use this as an opportunity to think about specific ways to make mom feel seen and appreciated.

Start Here

Think about her. Truly. There are endless gift ideas out there and that can feel overwhelming. Often, we end up buying something because it seems like what everyone is telling us to do (or it was easy!). Before you make a purchase, spend a little time thinking about whom you are giving the gift to and ask yourself these questions:

• What makes her smile?

• What do I see her looking at in stores or on her phone?

• How can I make her feel special?

• Does she have a favorite thing or hobby that she rarely makes time for?

• What is something she wouldn’t do for herself?

As you think about these questions,

really focus on her. If you’re not sure, ask some of the people she is close to, like a good friend or her sister. Even older kids and teens can lend valuable insight. Remember, making her feel seen and understood means focusing on her instead of what you think she needs.

Shop Early If You Can

Mother’s Day is not a surprise. The sooner you start thinking about this and shop, the better. April is a great time to shop because it takes the last-minute stress out of the equation. If you haven’t started early, however, there are still so many great options. And make things easier next year by putting a reminder on your phone now for shopping next April.

Think Beyond The Gift

Mother’s Day is more than a gift. It’s a day. Think about how you want to be intentional about celebrating her. Would she like breakfast in bed or would she prefer to sleep in? Is she hoping for a day with the kids or would some time to herself be appreciated?

A lot of moms will appreciate and benefit from a combination of time to themselves and time with the family. That could look like a family hike and then some time for her to nap and read. Maybe she would enjoy some time going shopping alone and coming home to a nice family dinner — that she doesn’t have to cook! Another great idea is to take her to breakfast with the kids and then drop her off for a massage that you’ve already scheduled for that day. The less she has to figure out and plan, the better.

Creative Gift Ideas

To help you get started, here are some fun, creative ideas for gifts that moms love and why they are great.

For the book lover: Once Upon a Book Club (onceuponabookclub.com) offers a creative approach to a book subscription service. Each box contains a book along with 3-5 wrapped gifts for her to open at different points in the book. She will love discovering fun gifts as she reads that will remind her of the story long after she is done reading. You can purchase single boxes or monthly and quarterly subscriptions.

For the puzzler: JIGGY (jiggypuzzles.com) offers art in puzzle form. One of Oprah’s favorite things, these specially crafted puzzles are fun to put together and seal with glue to preserve the beautiful artwork when completed. Plus, JIGGY offers special holiday and

seasonal gift boxes to enhance the puzzle experience with extras like chocolate or luxury bath items.

For the foodie: Make her life extra tasty with a gift or gift card from GoldBelly (goldbelly.com). A gourmet food market with gifts from around the country, she can have something special delivered right to her door. From making dinner easier with a prepared lobster dinner from Maine or BBQ straight from Texas to a special Ina Garten cake or “macarons” from Paris, there are tasty treats she will love.

com) offers specialty roasts in singleserve brew bags that taste great and help the planet.

For the mom who needs to relax: Every mom could use a little relaxation in her life, and you can find special gifts that help her do just that. Luxury candles like those from Noa Lux (noaluxco.com) or Opal Road (opalroadhome.com) are special choices she probably wouldn’t splurge on for herself. Plus, both companies are woman-owned, a sweet bonus. If she needs a little more help, Pure Enrichment (pureenrichment.com) offers lush heated blankets and aromatherapy, to help her let it all go.

For the organizer: If order and organization bring a smile to her face, try leveling up her planner and paper products. Ivory Paper Co (ivorypaperco.com) and Grado (grado-inspired. com) offer beautiful journals, planners, and stationery to make keeping track of things easier and inspiring.

The Key To Success

For the coffee/tea drinker: Few things keep a mom going like her morning cup of coffee or tea. Make hers special with a tea subscription from Tea Runners (shop.tearunners.com) offering her gourmet loose teas in a variety of flavors. If coffee on the run is more her style, Steeped Coffee (steepedcoffee.

Remember, Mother’s Day isn’t about being perfect. It is about celebrating the mom in your life and making her feel special. Make it about her, shop early, and plan the day to give her a Mother’s Day she won’t forget!

Rebecca Hastings is a former elementary teacher who traded the classroom for writing when she stayed home with her three children. Passionate about authenticity, faith, and family, you can find her at RebeccaHastings.net and on Amazon. In real life, she can often be found typing words, driving her kids places, or wher-

Invisible. Unknown.

RESOURCES

https://granolababies.com/blog/ 15-ways-to-overcome-lonelinessin-motherhood

https://www.wsj.com/articles/ moms-in-middle-age-rarely-alone-oftenonline-and-increasingly-lonely-11642860003

https://www.npr.org/sections/ health-shots/2020/01/23/798676465/ most-americans-are-lonely-and-ourworkplace-culture-may-not-be-helping

https://www.parentmap.com/article/ seattle-freeze-is-real

https://berlincameron.com/ research/2022/3/7/the-exhaustion-gap

Adachi, Kendra. The Lazy Genius Way. Colorado Springs, Waterbrook, 2020.

Reasons

Moms Are Lonely

and What We Can Do About It

— by Rebecca Hastings

These are the ways moms describe loneliness. It’s more than a lack of friends (although that can be part of it). Loneliness is deeper, affecting people in varied ways. While some moms feel they lack close, intimate connections that come with being known and loved, others struggle with broader, relational loneliness or collective loneliness. Whatever the struggle looks like, moms are struggling, and it’s dangerous.

Parents, mothers specifically, are navigating the challenges of parenting paired with a worldwide pandemic, fewer authentic relationships, less satisfaction in the workplace, and the double-edged sword that is social media. In a time when “social” seems like the answer, why are moms left feeling separate, isolated, and alone?

While the specific reasons vary widely, many of them can be whittled down to these core struggles. And we need more than a bubble bath to see change.

Reason 1

Moms are Tired.

This is more than a late night with the baby kind of tired. Moms are carrying all the ordinary things like raising healthy, well-adjusted humans, work, home, and all that goes with it. Plus, they are carrying life within the era of a pandemic. Life with social upheaval and safety concerns. It feels heavy. Moms don’t have one single ounce of energy to reach out and connect, even if it is what they need the most.

Solution: We need to build our villages, even if we have to do it one brick at a time. Parenting in isolation is impossible. Moms need to know other people are in the same place, working toward the same goals, and most importantly, available to help ease the burden.

Reason 2

Moms have been tricked.

How can moms be lonely when they know everything their friends are doing and they can reply with a thumbs up? Social media and technology have tricked us into thinking

Never alone, but completely alone.

we’re connected. It is often superficial, never getting to the root need to be seen, known, and loved.

Solution: Use technology for good. What are ways to connect with technology? FaceTime or video chats. Text messages. Or even the archaic phone call. Those are real ways to connect with a person. And if it leads to real-life connection, even better.

Reason 3

Moms have unique situations.

Some are single parenting or juggling multiple jobs. Other moms are raising kids with disabilities or handling frequent moves to new places. It’s understandable why uniqueness leads to loneliness.

Solution: While it’s understandable to want a village as mentioned above, these unique situations require patience. Start with one person. Find one person to start connecting with and do that consistently.

Reason 4

Moms struggle with who they are.

Being a mom is an evolution of your identity. It can be hard to know who you are through the seasons of motherhood and over time. This makes it especially hard to connect with others.

Solution: Foster a culture where moms are seen as people. Get to know yourself. Learn about other people. Ask about things beyond motherhood.

Reason 5

Moms feel pressure.

We can’t do it all. And sometimes the pressure is too much, even for seemingly good things like self-care or a night out. It can be overwhelming, leaving us frozen, and stuck in a place of indecision because all we do every day is make decisions for the most important people in our lives.

Solution: Do one thing. That’s it. Start very small and do one thing to release some of the pressure. This will look different for every mom, and that’s okay.

Kendra Adachi talks about the idea of starting small: “Name something that stresses you out and make one decision to make it easier. One, not thirty-seven.”

You have permission to do one simple thing. To make one change. To reach out to one person and say how you feel. Over time, one small thing can lead to a second and a third. We can work together to shift from a culture of moms that feel lonely to moms that feel seen, known, and cared for.

Unsubscribe Me!

— by Cheryl Maguire

My mom deemed the Internet useless back in the early 2000s when it became mainstream. Like other new technology, she resisted it. I knew she would love a digital camera, but she refused to buy one, insisting her camera worked fine. Since she wouldn’t buy a camera, I gave her one as a gift and, as predicted, she was snapping pictures of everything.

An Internet connection was not as simple as purchasing a camera. There is a monthly fee, and it requires a computer connection. She lived most of her life without the Internet so she thought it was unnecessary. By the time 95% of the population was surfing the net, she finally caved.

Once she learned how to use emails, she sent me a minimum of ten per day and about nine of those emails I deleted without reading. I informed her of this fact. I even typed “unsubscribe” in response to one of her emails, yet she continued to either forward or send.

Most of the emails she sent were forwards of articles for a town she didn’t even live in anymore. One email subject said, “FW: NEWS UPDATE: Miley Cyrus Spotted Food Shopping.” As you can imagine, I didn’t read it.

She also sent elaborate recipes even though I don’t cook or bake. When I see the subject line with a recipe title, I hov-

er the mouse over the trash bucket icon and then press delete.

A lot of the emails are things you would say in passing conversation or looking for suggestions like this one:

Subject: Laptop

Email Message:

This laptop is a lost cause -- I bought it last August and it has gotten worse and worse -- it takes FOREVER to do anything -- if you see any good deals, please let me know.... before this dies completely...

I rolled my eyes after I read it, thinking “she waited FOREVER to get an Internet connection and now it’s not quick enough for her??”

I wouldn’t want to leave out the fact she likes sending weather-related emails.

Subject: Snow

Email message:

For those of you who are news free -- they are predicting 6 inches to a possible blizzard (foot or more) of snow this weekend -- starting Friday night here...

She knows I don’t like to watch the news, but unlike her, I do have other ways of gathering weather information like checking the weather app on my phone.

Some emails I have to open. Like

when I read this subject:

Subject: GRRRRROSS!!!!!!

Email Message:

A live mouse caught in the trap under the sink -- moved the trap to the back under the pipes and trying to go down the hole where pipes come in -but the trap won’t go down with him..... and Dad can’t get him out!!!!!

You get the idea. I’m either deleting or rolling my eyes when I receive an email from her. The emails start coming in around 8am and then are sporadically sent throughout the day. Until one day when I didn’t get any.

My mom had an accident and shattered her shoulder. She needed a total shoulder replacement surgery. Before her surgery, I was really worried and concerned about whether she would be okay. My time was spent visiting her in the hospital instead of clearing my inbox of her emails.

The surgery ended up being successful, but she was unable to type for months which meant she was unable to send emails. Instead of being happy about the lack of something I thought was annoying, I felt this strange sense of loss.

I went into my email trash bucket and recovered all her deleted emails, creating a saved folder for the messages. As I read the emails, I found myself smiling with a new perspective, noticing the nuances of the messages for the first time.

I went back to the forward about Miley Cyrus and this time I read it. I thought about how she still read the local news from the town she used to live in because she probably misses it.

When I saw how she wrote FOREVER in all caps in the email about the laptop, I envisioned her feeling frustrated but able to laugh about it.

In the weather email, I chuckled as I thought about how she was poking fun at me for not watching the news. And reading the mouse email, I wondered what happened to the poor mouse trying to escape? Did it make it?

These emails have her personality all over it and I’m grateful to have retrieved them. As I continued to read the emails, I thought about how this was her way of keeping in touch with me. I then typed the following email: Subject: Subscribe

Email Message:

I would like to please re-subscribe to your email list. I really miss it.

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Your Teen Magazine and many other publications.

— by Rebecca Hastings

Celebrate the Real Meaning of Memorial Day with Your Kids

While we all enjoy a day off to invite friends and family over and throw some burgers on the grill, teaching kids about Memorial Day is an important way to honor our country and all who served. But it can feel hard to know what to say, how to make it memorable, and ways to make a difference. These simple tips will help!

What Is Memorial Day?

The last Monday of May is set aside for one simple thing: remembering those who have died during active military service. Technically, it is set aside to honor only those who have died. However, it is often observed as a celebration of the USA with American flags, parades, and cookouts.

But What About Veterans Day?

Many people get confused between Memorial Day and Veterans Day because they both celebrate people who have served our country. While Memorial Day is specific to those who died while serving, Veteran’s Day is a chance to honor all those who have served in the US military. These people can still be living, and it is always November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I.

What Can We Do?

There are many ways we can celebrate and honor those who lost their lives during active military service. Even the freedom to have a cookout and be with family in freedom is a way to honor their sacrifice.

Read a Book: There are many children’s books that show the value of the men and women who serve our country and highlight patriotism. To go a little deeper about Memorial Day, The Wall by Eve Bunting, which tells the story of a child visiting the Vietnam War Memorial, is a great choice for preschool ages and up.

Plant a Flag: Memorial Day is the perfect time to leave flags on the graves of local military men and women. Small flags can be purchased online or locally. Just be sure to check with the cemetery for guidelines.

Sing-Along: Learn a song that celebrates America. Great options for kids include The Star-Spangled Banner and You’re a Grand Old Flag. You can find age-appropriate sing-alongs online to enjoy.

Say Thank You: Memorial Day can be hard for those who have lost someone in military service. Teach kids

to recognize that these people have sacrificed something for the freedom we all have. A simple thank you, a card, or a kind gesture goes a long way.

Make a Flag: There are endless ways you can teach kids about the American Flag. Be creative! Try making a flag-themed dessert or coloring a big flag in your driveway with sidewalk chalk. Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you have plenty of red, white, and blue!

Watch a Memorial Day Parade: Full of fun, music, and festivity, a Memorial Day parade is a great way to celebrate while still remembering the meaning of the holiday. Teach kids the importance of standing when the flag or military service members walk by. These simple things go a long way in showing honor.

Adopt a Military Family: The reality of Memorial Day is always on the minds of those with someone in the military. Consider choosing a military family to show extra kindness to by sending them cards, making a meal, or inviting them to join you for holidays. These little acts of kindness go a long way.

Enjoy Time with Your Family and Friends: When you think about Memorial Day, consider the cost paid by the men and women who lost their lives serving our country. Think about the cost to their families, friends, and communities when they lost the person they cared about. Each one of those who died serving our country did so for freedom. We reap the benefits of their sacrifice. That makes it even more important to celebrate.

Spend time with the people you love. Enjoy a beautiful late spring day. Play and rest and live knowing that this, too, honors those who died. It is for this kind of life that they served our country.

If You Lost Someone

Memorial Day takes on a different feeling for those who have lost someone in service to the United States. If someone you love died serving our country, know that their sacrifice, as well as your own, is seen and honored. May we always remember.

FAMILY TRAVEL

— by Deborah Williams

History Comes Alive in St. Augustine

St. Augustine, along Florida’s northeastern Atlantic coast, is a city that has it all, from its spectacular beaches to alligators galore, to a multitude of unique historic attractions that offer fun for the entire family — even the family dog.

Best of all, many of the attractions in this more than 450-year-old city are in the old walled city or close by, making it super easy and relaxing to visit. Our hotel offered a free shuttle to the old city, eliminating any parking issues. Not to worry about the alligators, many are living happily on an alligator farm and welcome visitors.

St. Augustine also could easily win the award for the country’s most dog friendly city.

During our visit, the area was filled with 4th graders from throughout Florida who come here on school trips to learn about the city’s remarkable history.

History comes alive in the historic district, the oldest, continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States. It is truly a time capsule that showcases centuries of American history.

St. Augustine was founded in 1565 — 42 years before the English colonized Jamestown and 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

The heart of St. Augustine can be found in 11 pedestrian-only blocks of the city’s historic district. Except for tourists clad in shorts and toting cameras, this could be the St. Augustine of the 1700s or 1800s.

The main thoroughfare is St. George Street, lined by 18th-Century Spanish colonial houses that are now historic landmarks, and dotted with boutiques filled with arts and antiques as well as restaurants.

Don’t miss the Oldest Wooden School House, dating back to the late 1700s. It has been preserved to reflect the homestead life of the Minorcan settlers, as well as school life in the 1800s. The self-guided experience begins as the professor comes to life and welcomes visitors. All visitors receive a diploma after exploring the school. Don’t miss the child wearing a dunce cap.

We began our St. Augustine discoveries at the Fountain of Youth. Travel can be tiring and if drinking from the fountain can help us stay young, why not? My not so young Labrador retriever, Sam, was even offered a cup of the spring water but he preferred the bowl.

It is officially Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. Our first stop was the Spring House with the original spring that was recorded in the 17th century land grant. Of course,

continued on page 20

RAISING DIGITAL KIDS

— by Mike Daugherty

The Social Media Eventuality

Social media is a primary way for Centennials to communicate with their peers, local businesses, and the global community. As children approach adolescence, they will inevitably ask to create accounts on major social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. While parents may want to see their children keeping up with their peers, social media can quickly become a nightmare. Predators, cyberbullying, and privacy concerns are just some of the social media pitfalls that parents need to consider. So, when is the right time to allow children to join social media, and how can parents ensure they stay safe?

What age should I allow my child to join social media?

Almost every social media outlet requires users to be at least thirteen years old before creating an account. While this age requirement is helpful, many children under the age of thirteen still use these services with or without their parent’s permission. In my opinion, the right age to join social media is unique to each child. As a parent, you know your child best. I would not allow them to create an account until you feel they are mature enough for the responsibilities that come with having a public-facing profile online.

My child is ready. Now what?

If you have decided to let your child connect with the global community through social media, there are some ground rules you should lay down from

day one. Set clear expectations for what is acceptable and the consequences for unacceptable behavior. Have an honest conversation about personal privacy, reputation, cyberbullying, and how they should behave online. Before sitting down with your child, you can use Common Sense Media, an excellent resource for parents categorized by age group, to educate yourself.

Balancing Act

Finding the balance of protecting your child online while empowering them to make smart choices can be challenging. It’s about giving them personal space while ensuring they don’t make any mistakes. While researching this topic, I found a wide array of approaches

ranging from stalking every post to letting children make their own decisions without much parental involvement. In my opinion, the best practice is one that starts with a lot of oversight that gradually decreases as your child grows and earns your trust.

Most experts agree that parents should openly and actively monitor their children’s social media activity, especially for younger teens or new users. In the beginning, your child needs to know that you are watching their posts and direct messages.

Parents should know the username and password for each social media site during those initial stages. These direct messages are not public, so you won’t see them scrolling through their feed. One suggestion is to go through the feed with your child to make it feel less like “patrolling their activity” and more like something you can do together. Keeping an eye on their posts should be something you do openly, which makes the idea of looking at posts together even more appealing. Whether you do it together or on your own, it’s important to be open and honest with your child about what you’re doing. As time passes and your child shows you that they can make smart decisions, you should feel comfortable monitoring their accounts with less frequency.

Another option to consider is a tool like Bark.us. Bark has features that allow parents to monitor their children’s activity on social media and text messaging. The software looks for concerns related to topics such as cyberbullying,

self-harm, and sexting. The app is priced at $15 per month and does require a bit of setup on your end. Parents will need to install the monitoring software on their home computer along with an app on their child’s phone. When the phone and computer are connected to the same Wifi network, the software will connect to the phone and review the content. Parents will receive an email alert if something is found. Please be aware that the monitoring software is not real time. It may be hours or days before you get an alert. You can read more about it at Bark. us.

Some young adults may be embarrassed by having a parental account following them on social media. Parents can consider creating a fake account to help with the embarrassment issue. Create an account, don’t add much detail to it, and use that to follow your child’s account. Let your child know that the account belongs to you so they don’t remove it or block it, thinking that it might be a stranger.

Another option is asking a friend to keep an eye out on your behalf. Your child will want to quickly build a following, which will translate into them asking trusted adults (aunts, uncles, family friends) to follow them online. Those people can keep you informed if you feel comfortable asking them.

Finally, it’s essential to keep in mind that mistakes are bound to happen. Children’s brains and decisionmaking abilities are still developing. It’s important to instill good habits at a young age to ensure they have positive experiences with social media. As parents, it’s our responsibility to educate our children on the appropriate use of these various platforms and to understand the potential risks when going down this path. When the proper support strategies are in place, social media can be extremely positive for everyone in the house.

In Conclusion

The right age for a child to join social media is unique to each child. Parents should educate themselves and

their children on the potential risks and set clear expectations for what is acceptable behavior. Finding the balance of protecting children online while empowering them to make smart choices can be challenging. Parents should actively monitor their children’s social media activity, starting with a lot of oversight that gradually decreases as their child grows and earns their trust. Finally, it’s essential to instill good habits at a young age to ensure positive experiences with social media.

Mike Daugherty is a husband, father of three young children, author, speaker, Google Innovator, and possible Starbucks addict. He is a certified educational technology leader who has served in a variety of roles through his twenty-year career in public education. Currently, Mike is the Director of Technology for the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School district in Northeast Ohio. As an IT director he has developed creative, well thought out solutions that positively impact teaching and learning.

ChoicesWellness

Daddy Daddy The Track

– by Shannon Carpenter

Great Dad Jokes and Bad Ones

When does a joke become a dad joke? When it becomes apparent. That joke has been around for years, and every time I tell it, I imagine Fozzy Bear yelling, “Wocka-wocka.” I’ve told it so many times that my now teenage daughter has a business card to apologize on my behalf. She just hands them out rather than engage with the joke.

I should probably change up my repertoire with new and fresh material that would be appreciated by my kids. And yet, it’s the classics that I keep going back to. Some of these are timeless.

For example, when you want a really good laugh, watch a dad try to change a diaper in an establishment that has no changing table in the men’s room. That’s instant comedy along with the drama of a broken soul, because why is this still a thing? It’s an Oscar-worthy performance. It’s a dad joke in real-time. Of course, we are the butt of the joke. See what I did there? Dads love puns.

Every dad has struggled with this. So much so that I have written instructions on what to do in my at-home dad book. It’s a real thing in my world. There is a way to change a diaper while out in public without a changing table. It helps if you are an acrobat in Cirque du Soleil.

Many of you have probably seen the video of a father changing a baby while balancing that child on their knees. The father is in the men’s room, and I’ll admit, has excellent technique. It’s obviously something that he has practiced a thousand times before. The baby’s arms swing in frustration, but the dad doesn’t let that affect his balance. For his next trick, he’s going to walk a tightrope across the Grand Canyon to a bathroom that hopefully has a changing table.

The next technique is one that’s more aggressive. I have a friend that changed diapers in the booth of any restaurant that didn’t have a changing table for men.

“Mick, that’s a little, I don’t know, in your face?” I told him.

“Well, give me a changing table! What am I supposed to do without a changing table, Shannon!” he said, and somehow, I became the focus of his frustration. A stand-in for the restaurant. I get that he’s making a point, but at the same time, people are eating, and I can’t really blame them for restaurant management. But if you are all about activism, by all means, use the booth change when appropriate.

My personal favorite is changing the child in the car. This is where I spent many, many hours of diaper construction. I don’t recommend opening your trunk and changing the diaper there. It’s a bad look for a dude to find himself in.

No, the right way to do it is in the front seat. Stick with me, I’ve done this a million times. Place the baby’s head toward the rear of the seat (couldn’t help myself there) so that gravity helps. The kiddo will kick up their legs and that’s really ninety percent of the battle. Boom, there you go. One clean diaper and a bunch of weird looks from other parents that are going to talk to the play place about not letting you come back again. I’ve done this so much that at one point I had a diagram to hand out to new fathers.

Look, I love jokes, but I don’t like looking like one when I’m trying to provide minimal care to my child. I’m still part of a dad’s group that has babies and we have an active discussion when someone finds a new changing table in our city.

Caregiving is not a gendered sport. Moms and dads both need to do their fair share. Speaking for dads everywhere, please just make it a little bit easier on us. Give us the equipment to do the job right. Believe me, no mom likes it when it’s dad’s turn to change the diaper when they are out but can’t when the only changing table is in the women’s restroom.

Shannon Carpenter is the father of three and has been a stay-at-home dad since 2008. He’s the author of the book “Stayat-Home Dad: Your Essential Manual for Being an Awesome Full-Time Father.” as well as the co-host of Dadhouse Pod. In addition to his writing on parenting, he is also a humor writer trained through the famous Second City. And we all know that having a sense of humor is essential to surviving parenthood!

Family Movie Options: In Theaters and Streaming Online

While brothers Mario and Luigi are working in the Brooklyn sewer system, they get sucked into a pipe that leads to magical worlds. Luigi winds up in a barren land of lava and skeleton zombies and Mario falls into a world of mushrooms led by Princess Peach. This video game adaptation is underwritten and peopled by flat characters but it has stellar voice talent and plenty of funny jokes. Kids will love it and adult Mario fans will be fine Photo ©Universal Pictures

Edgin is desperate to regain his daughter Kira from the care of Forge, Lord of Neverwinter, and a sorceress named Sofina. Joining forces with Holga the barbarian, Edgin lays a plan that involves two more intrepid friends and a goal to regain Kira and a pile of treasure. Buoyed up by Chris Pine’s rakish charm, this film manages to deliver madcap action and humor. It’s a decently inventive movie that offers lots of fun for fantasy fans Photo ©Paramount Pictures The

During an impulsive visit to a fortune teller, orphaned Peter learns that his sister is still alive and can be found by following an elephant. When a magician unexpectedly conjures an elephant shortly thereafter, Peter makes a deal that he can have the elephant if he performs three impossible tasks. This Netflix production is a fantastic film with a simple story, beautiful visuals, great voice acting and inspiring themes around belief and hope Photo ©Netflix

Sent to Mexico to reconnect with his family’s culture, Alex is staying with his grandfather and cousins. While adjusting to the language and traditions, Alex meets a young chupacabra and he and his cousins vow to protect it from the scientist who wants to use its blood for medical research. This film doesn’t add much to the kid-meets-magical-creature trope but it provides a sweet story and treats the challenges of balancing cultures with sensitivity Photo ©Netflix

Mandy is tutoring Graham, the school jock, in hopes that his senator father will write her the perfect reference letter that will get her into Harvard. As they study together, Mandy learns that there’s more to Graham than she expected –and she’s also neglecting her friend, Ben, who needs her too. There are no surprises here – aside from teen drinking in a Disney flick. Other than that, the movie delivers the expected messages about self awareness, loyalty, and making good choices. Photo ©Disney+

Detailed reviews available at www.parentpreviews.com

PICK OF THE LITERATURE

— by Dr. Donna Phillips

May is the month of nature and nurture. It is the month of Mother’s Day, and also includes other noteworthy days such as National Teacher Day, National Nurses Day, National Day of Prayer, International Day of Families, International Living in Peace Together Day, Endangered Species Day, National Rescue Dog Day, World Turtle Day, and Memorial Day. It is also National Mental Health Month and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. All of these designated days help to create an awareness of the importance of caring for and cultivating wellness for ourselves and others.

It is the season of expansion and renewal. It is the month of new beginnings and birth. Baby mice, rabbits, birds, deer, fox, coyotes, and other local mammals can be seen in backyards, fields, and forests. Bird’s nests are beginning to fill with eggs and chicks. It is the time of planting, so as we are out in nature, we are nurturing ourselves as well as the things we plant. Keeping this in mind, let’s explore some wonderful new books to help us be more aware and more mindful about the time we take to care for ourselves and all life around us.

Hope is a Hop (Dial Books for Young Readers, New York, 2023, $18.99), beautifully written by Katrina Moore and sensitively illustrated by Me-

lissa Iwai, is the gentle story about Eva and the rabbits that live in her garden. She had high hopes for her spring garden and was upset when she found her new plants had been eaten. That was until she found the babies hidden nearby. As she watched them play and grow, she began to accept them as part of her garden family. Throughout this lovely story we learn about all kinds of hope. Hope is a spark… Hope is a whisper… Hope is a seed… Hope is a hum… Hope is a sprout… Hope is a heartbeat…” as Eva plans, plants, and discovers new life all around her. It eventually reminds her of her growing family, as soon she has a new baby brother. The simple rhyme and rhythm of this story softly leads us from one discovery to another until we are fully engaged in this charming tale.

Mommy time is special for every family, but especially so for this stayat-home mother and her children. While Daddy is away at work, Mommy has many things to do to create lasting bonds with her children. Mommy Time (Candlewick Press, Somerville, 2023, $18.99) is written by Monique

James-Duncan and illustrated by Ebony Glenn. Told from the perspective of the youngest child, we get a tour of his day, always expressed as a special time. He has morning time, get out of bed time, combing hair time, dressing time, breakfast time, off to school time… and so the day continues until it is evening time, bath time, story time and bed time. The entire family will love this reminder of the times they spend or have spent with Mommy. It is the perfect Mother’s Day book to celebrate the everyday little things that mothers do to nurture their children.

Grandmothers are forever mothers, and Together with You (Candlewick Press, Somerville, 2022, $18.99) is a delightful book, written by Patricia Toht and illustrated by Jarvis, that tells the story of a little boy and the special times he spends with his grandmother. Arranged around the seasons and written in rhyme, we learn about the adventures they have and the things they teach each other. This story captures the essence of a special nurturing relationship that many of us might remember from our own childhoods. It would serve as an excellent framework for creating a story like this of a

child and a special grandparent or parent, perhaps even as a gift for Mother’s Day. These special times and relationships are the things that memories are made of and that will be cherished forever.

Remember looking at the clouds and trying to find shapes that reminded you of animals or objects? You may have done this by yourself, or with a family member or a friend.

Cloud Babies (Candlewick Press, Somerville, 2023, $18.99) reminds us that sometimes all we need to do it look up for remembrance and reassurance. Eoin Colfer has written a beautiful story that shares the special bonding experience which unites a family and sees a little girl through a prolonged illness. Chris Judge has illustrated this story with characters that come alive in the clouds. The time the family spends looking for cloud babies provides a connection to each other and nature. This book reminds us to take the time to lie down on the grass, look up at the sky, and use our imagination to connect to each other and celebrate the time we spend together.

There are many ways we can take care of and nurture each other. Research shows that using books can be one of the best ways to do this. There are many books we can find at the local library, bookstore, or online that we can use to explore this. We can use books to teach us more about our interests, ourselves, or each other. Perhaps you can use them to learn more about the special days in this month, how to grow a garden, the life of local wildlife, or ways we can nurture each other and connect to nature. Regardless, May is the month to stop, look up at the sky, look at each other, look around us, and appreciate all the exciting things taking place in our little corner of the world.

Dr. Donna Phillips is an associate professor in the College of Education at Niagara University where her specialty is literacy and children’s literature. She lives on Grand Island, NY and is the mother of two adult children and the grandmother of one.

everyone knows de Leon failed to find a real Fountain of Youth but it is still fun to imagine that our drinks will bring eternal youth.

Check the schedule for the musket firing demonstrations and be sure to visit the blacksmith shop where costumed interpreters demonstrate their skills.

The park tells the tragic story of the Timucua civilization who had a bustling town on this site when the Spanish first arrived. Disease and warfare spelled doom. Visit the large replica Timucuan family house and special meeting house. They traveled by dugout canoe and there is now a replica canoe on the waterfront. Learn about the 1,000 year-old domesticated dog burial discovered here.

Many excavations on this property proved that this is indeed the original location of St. Augustine. It began when Pedro Menendez de Aviles discovered a harbor that he named San August’n. On September 8, 1565 Menendez landed at the harbor site, heard Mass, and took possession of Florida in the name of the Spanish king.

Red Train Tours bills itself as St. Augustine’s original sightseeing tour and the trips begin in Ripley’s Believe It or Not’s parking lot. Benjy Feldman, a veteran of nearly nine years as a tour guide and trolley driver, was in charge of our hour-long adventure.

Passengers, including families with children as well as dogs, were welcomed aboard to have fun and learn history. More students might fall in love with history if they had the experience of learning about the past from Benjy. He not only makes the area’s unique history come alive but he is full of jokes.

As we passed the Old Jail, Benjy related harrowing tales of the harsh conditions inside the jail that served as the county lockup until 1953 and is now one of the city’s many unique attractions.

“In the early days prisoners could look out the window and see the gallows where many prisoners paid the ultimate price,” he told the passengers. Descrip-

tions of the cramped quarters, minimal food, unsanitary conditions, and beatings would tend to make anyone think twice about potential criminal activity.

We stopped to view the impressive group of downtown buildings and learn about how oil magnate Henry Flagler envisioned St. Augustine as “America’s Riviera” and transformed the slumbering town into one of Florida’s earliest resorts at the end of the 19th century.

Surviving from this era are the ornate, Moorish minarets of Flagler College, originally built as a hotel in 1888 when the Alcazar Hotel, now the Lightner Museum was also built. Another glorious survivor of that era is the Casa Monica Hotel now known as the Casa Monica Resort & Spa. Also built in 1888, it underwent a total restoration in 1999. These hotels were just open from January to March in the early years and were accessible by trains that Flagler built from New York to St. Augustine.

Back at Ripley’s Museum, don’t miss a tour of the oddities. It was established here shortly after Ripley’s death in 1949 in a former hotel. It was the first museum to showcase some of the amazing artifacts Ripley collected in his extensive travels around the world. The museum also served as the exterior for many segments of Ripley’s TV series. Check out the wax replica of the world’s tallest man, Robert Wedlove, who lived in town for a time.

The new Space Oddities gallery includes a giant replica of the International Space Station made entirely from matchsticks, crayons carved into characters from Star Wars movies, and displays showing how the human body changes during space travel.

In 1893, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm opened as a small exhibition

of Florida reptiles. It soon became a quintessential Florida attraction. Over the years it grew into a modern accredited zoo. It remains one of the area’s most popular attractions and is the only facility in the world housing every species of crocodilian.

Be sure to visit Maximo, a 1,250-pound monster saltwater crocodile hatched from an egg collected on an Australian riverbank. He is the largest animal in the park. One of the special encounters (extra charge) is a close up of Maximo from the feeding platform.

For the super brave there is the most bragworthy zip-line attraction called Crocodile Crossing. You can look down and see live alligators and crocodiles and zip past tropical birds at eye level. More than 50 different obstacles take participants flying, climbing, and zooming through the zoo.

There are also Galapagos Tortoise Encounters, Rain Forest Sloth encounters, and Behind the Scenes Tours.

Time your visit to include one of the popular twice-daily alligator feeding sessions. Another highlight is the regular interactions between alligators and trainers. As the trainer walks amidst the large gators, calling several by name, the gators open their massive jaws revealing their rows of teeth. When a tooth is worn down, it is replaced and alligators often go through 3,000 teeth in their lifetime. Clearly, they have no need for dentists.

“Alligators are actually quite smart and are well adapted to their surroundings which has helped them live on earth for millions of years,” the trainer explained.

The great defensive Fort Castillo de San Marcos dominates the waterfront across from the Old City. Now a national monument and the nation’s oldest masonry fortress, it has 13-foot-thick walls. The fort never surrendered despite many days of siege. It was built after Sir Francis Drake burned the town in 1586 and later pirates and Native Americans threatened the settlement’s existence.

Guides tell the swashbuckling history of the fort from its beginning when it was the northernmost defender of Spain’s Caribbean empire. The fort endured

continued on page 50

– by Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts

Should Children Read Banned Books

Question: Of all things, our school district has banned certain books from the library and being used in classes. In spite of the ban, should I encourage my children to read some of these books as many would be considered classics? — Book Lover

Answer: This is nothing new. For years, states, communities, schools, and groups who are offended or do not think certain books are appropriate for children because of religious, political, racism, violence, explicit content, or other reasons have wanted certain books banned. Most of the recently targeted books have to do with race, gender, and sexuality. Just because someone or a group has requested a book be banned does not mean it will be banned. A school district, teacher, or class has to agree to the challenge in order for the book to be banned. In the past two years, there have been more requests (challenges) to ban books as well as banned books than ever before.

Book banning in schools is certainly not new. In the early twentieth century parents mobilized to have Darwin’s On the Origin of Species banned. Classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Grapes of Wrath have been challenged for years. And between 2000 and 2009 the most challenged books were those in the Harry Potter series. One interesting thing that has occurred over the years is that some books that were once banned are no longer banned in schools.

We believe that parents should be able to decide what is appropriate for their children to read. If you are famil-

iar with a banned book and believe that it offers an important age-appropriate message, let your children read it. If they decide to read the book, it is a good idea to have a discussion with them about why individuals or a group thought that it should be banned as well as the dangers of censorship.

The topics in banned books are part of the reality of the world in which we live. Children often want to read these books as they often help them sort out issues in their lives.

How Accommodations Can Help ADHD Students

Question: My ADHD child in middle school has extended time and note taking accommodations. Is it likely that they have really been helping him this year? Is there anything that might work better? — Concerned.

Answer: Your child is either receiving his accommodations because of a school intervention plan, a 504 plan, an Individual Education Plan (IEP), or a plan developed by a private school. All interventions are usually put in place by a team. You should have been present at the team meeting and been able to ask questions. When you left the meeting, you should have been given a copy of the written plan.

At any time, you can request for the team to meet again to look at how the accommodations are working for your son. There are two easy ways to find out how well the accommodations are working. One: simply ask your son if they really help. Two: look at his grades and comments on papers and report cards.

Usually, extended time means that

your son is taking his tests in another room with other students who are also receiving extra time. Note taking accommodations usually mean that he should be receiving a copy of the teacher’s notes. Definitely, extended time and note taking accommodations should help him. He should use the notes he receives to correct and fill in any missing information from the notes he took in class.

Other accommodations that could be added to his plan, if necessary, would be having tests read to him and being able to use notes or study guides when taking his tests, or having shorter tests. Word banks are another accommodation that can be added when students who are answering an essay question would have trouble spelling or coming up with words needed to answer an essay question.

Investigating New Apps

Question: What pitfalls should you warn your children about when they start using a new app? — Avoiding Dangers

Answer: Almost all children became more savvy users of electronic devices during the pandemic. You definitely want your children to enjoy using their electronic devices, but you also want to protect them from the drama of cyberbullying and oversharing. Keep in mind that most apps do build in features to disable things that could be a possible danger to young users.

You should use all apps that your children have to make sure that the app is using appropriate language for the age of your child and the content is appropriate. Safety is all important, especially when your child is using social media apps as your child’s location can be tracked within a city block and posts may include your location. Make sure to turn off location settings on the phone and in the app. Check to see if previous posts include location information and delete them.

Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com, and visit the dearteacher.com website to learn more about helping their children succeed in school.

Helping all parents make their children’s educational experience as successful as possible

Clarence Chiropractic

General Family Practice

FOUR SEASONS

CHILDCARE CENTER & PRESCHOOL

AGES 6 WEEKS TO 12 YEARS

• Programs for Infants, Toddlers, 2 & 3 Year Olds

• 4 Year Old Pre-K Program

• Award winning Gymnastics & Dance Programs available onsite

HIRING TEACHERS AND AIDES

Call 568-1140

1639 N. French Rd. • Getzville, NY 14068

www.fourseasonsfamily.com

Addiction Treatment & Mental Health Services:

ENDEAVOR HEALTH SERVICES

1526 Walden Ave., Suite 400 Cheektowaga, NY 14225 716-895-6701

www.ehsny.org

Endeavor Health Services provides outpatient mental health and substance use treatment services.

HORIZON CORPORATIONS

55 Dodge Rd., Getzville, NY 14068 716-831-1800

horizon-health.org

Horizon Health Services provides hope and healing for individuals and their families dealing with substance use and/or mental health disorders.

The next Family Resource Guide will appear in our October 2023 issue.

SPECTRUM HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

227 Thorn Ave., Orchard Park, NY 14127

716-539-5500

www.shswny.org

Helping families throughout WNY with mental health & addiction needs.

Breastfeeding:

THE CARE CONNECTION

1360 N. Forest Rd, Suite 111, Williamsville, NY 14221

716-725-6370

www.careconnectiononline.com

New Boutique! Insurance covered items, breast pumps & supplies, lactation support, classes, mom & baby items, nursing bras & tanks.

Butcher Shop:

FEDERAL MEATS

With 9 WNY Locations to Serve You 716-633-1390

E-mail: info@federalmeats.com

www.federalmeats.com

WNY’s trusted source for the freshest products available. Knowledgeable service since 1930. FIND US ON INSTAGRAM

Childcare:

(Also See PRESCHOOLS/MONTESSORI)

FOUR SEASONS

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL

1639 North French Rd., Getzville, NY 14068 885 Sweet Home Rd., Amherst, NY 14226

716-568-1140

www.fourseasonsfamily.com

Programs for infants, toddlers, 2 & 3 year olds, 4 year old Pre-K and Summer Camp.

Spezio’S Dance DynamicS

Instilling Passion & Building Character One Step At A Time!

Spezio’s Dance Dynamics, Amherst’s premier dance training center, has been educating young artists from beginner to pre-professional since 1993, while enhancing each dancer’s creativity, physical fitness and passion for the art of dance.

Director and Owner Michelle Spezio holds extensive teaching background in all genres and aspects of training enhances opportunities for all students whether they intend to pursue a

career in the arts or are dancing for enjoyment. The professional staff of degreed teachers is dedicated to providing students a well-rounded dance education to all. SDD offers a professional studio with 4 class rooms, many amenities and versatile subjects of study as well as high level ballet training for dancers to discover their personal talents.

“Dancer’s TurnOut Better,” that’s what we believe. Research shows that students who study dance are disciplined, goal oriented and selfmotivated. Dancers are expressive in their communication of emotions, likely to excel, creative, imaginative and able to critically analyze and problem solve. Educating dancers to use these life skills in pursuing goals, overcoming obstacles and staying physi-

cally fit throughout their lives is our goal.

Dance Dynamics Students have won significant awards for proper training/choreography all through the USA. Dancers have attended many prestigious summer intensives and awarded scholarships. SDD is committed to helping every dancer experience the joy of dance! Spezio’s Dance Dynamics is a proud member of Dance Master’s of America, International Dance Entrepreneurs Association, NDEO, Award winning faculty and director, and has had the pleasure of training so many talented dancers. SDD dancers are going places!

www.speziosdancedynamics.com

Dr. David Lewis ~ Dr. Emily Patrick

JCC EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

2640 North Forest Rd., Getzville, NY 14068

716-688-4033

787 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14209

716-886-3145

www.jccbuffalo.org

Infants to pre-K, full & part-time options available Mon.-Fri., 7:30am-6:00pm. Values-based & developmentally appropriate curriculum including learning to swim. FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Childcare Resources: COMMUNITY CHILD CARE CLEARINGHOUSE OF NIAGARA

1521 Main St., Niagara Falls, NY 14305

716-285-8572 or 1-800-701-4KID

Email: CCRRNiagara@niagaracap.org

www.childcareofniagara.com

The Niagara County Child Care Resource and Referral Program. “An Informational Source.”

Chiropractic:

CLARENCE CHIROPRACTIC

4440 Shimerville Rd., Clarence, NY 14031

716-633-2036

www.MainChiropractor.com

General Family Practice. Also specializing in Pregnancy, Children, and Athletic Injuries.

Consignment Shops & Sales:

KID TO KID

1060 Niagara Falls Blvd., Tonawanda, NY 14150 • 716-831-8300

www.kidtokid.com/tonawanda

980 Union Rd., #42A, Southgate Plaza, West Seneca, NY 14224 • 716-675-0483

www.kidtokid.com/westseneca

Best kids’ resale. Clothing, baby gear, toys, furniture, maternity. Open 7 days.

Dance Instruction:

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF BALLET & DANCE

491 W. Klein Rd., (Dash’s Plaza) Williamsville, NY 14221

716-688-4774

www.aab-buffalo.com

Offering Ballet (6yrs.-adult), Fairytale Dance, Pre-Ballet (3, 4 & 5 yr. olds), Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tap, Acro & Lyrical. FIND US ON FACEBOOK

AcAdemy of TheATre ArTs

Giving Students the Opportunity to Shine

Winner of New York Theatre Guide’s “Best Theatre Program for Young Artists”; Academy of Theatre Arts is the only full-time, year-round theatre venue in Western New York created for the development and training of children and young adults in acting, vocal performance, and musical theatre dance. ATA provides an extensive year-long program for anyone between the ages of 3 and 18 who has an interest and passion for theatre arts. But beyond its excellent theatrical training, ATA uses theatre as a platform to teach and promote excellence in public speaking, self-esteem, confidence, and personal skills.

Each year, the students of ATA perform a major school showcase, which gives them the opportunity to shine on our ATA Theatre stage. ATA creates entertaining, professional shows consisting of smaller student casts and providing each child with more stage time in a much shorter show. In addition to regular classes, ATA offers special audition-only student companies where students get the opportunity to perform in their own musical, attend workshops, work with Broadway performers, and compete in festivals.

In addition to their year-round program, Academy of Theatre Arts offers summer programs to provide students with the opportunity to learn and perform in a full-blown musical in just 1-2 short weeks. While youngest students begin by learning about public speaking and how to feel comfortable on stage, older students learn about all aspects of a theatrical production: what it takes to put on a musical not only on stage but off stage as well.

Dance Instruction cont.:

CENTER STAGE DANCE STUDIO

4837 Union Rd. Cheektowaga, NY 14225

716-634-3395

www.CSDS.dance

Encouragement and positive reinforcement through dance to reach one’s personal best.

FACEBOOK | VIDEO

DAVID DEMARIE DANCE

10151 Main St., Clarence, NY 14031

716-510-2531

www.daviddemarie.com

Instilling a great love of dance, while inspiring self-confidence and discipline. Ages 2 & up.

ELITE DANCE COMPANY

5360 Genesee St. Bowmansville, NY 14026

716-288-7868

www.EliteDanceWNY.com

Where every dancer counts so that each dancer can reach their fullest potential.

Pull out and save this section for future reference. And, remember, you can also find it online at www.wnyfamilymagazine.com

EUGENIA’S DANCE STUDIO

730 Orchard Park Rd.

West Seneca, NY 14224

716-675-3128

www.eugeniasdancestudio.com

Outstanding classes from Mommy & Me to Award-Winning Advanced Classes.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

SPEZIO’S DANCE DYNAMICS

1639 N. French Rd., • Suite 300 Getzville, NY 14068

716-688-9590

www.speziosdancedynamics.com

Offering quality classical dance instruction for all ages and levels since 1993. See Our Advertiser Spotlight.

ZPAC PERFORMING

ARTS CENTER, LLC

Southgate Plaza - 954A Union Rd., Ste 3 West Seneca, NY 14224

716-608-1010

www.zpac.biz

A unique performing arts center with every style of dancing, singing, acting and creating the arts with playwriting, choreography and directing. Ages 1 to adult.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

The SummiT CenTer

Offering Programs & Services for Children with Autism

The Summit Center provides educational, behavioral health, adult & community programs & services to children and adults with developmental, social and behavioral challenges. We accomplish this goal by using evidencebased practices and carefully monitoring progress.

Summit employs more than 500 staff members including special education teachers, behavior specialists, speech pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, psychologists, and respite providers. Most professional staff have Master’s degrees and many members of Summit’s leadership team have Doctoral

degrees and advanced training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). These professionals work closely with parents to help your child achieve the highest level of independence.

Following are the various programs we offer for your child and family:

• Evaluations

• Early Autism Program

• Adult Programs

• Summit Academy

• Respite Programs

• Parent Training Programs

• Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic

To find out more about how Summit may be able to help your child, please call us at 629-3400 or visit our website at www. TheSummitCenter.org.

150 Stahl Road Getzville, NY 14068 716-629-3400

www.TheSummitCenter.org

Dentists (Family):

TAMMY PERISON, DDS

425 Main St., West Seneca, NY 14224

716-674-5256

6590 E. Quaker St., Orchard Park, NY 14127 716-662-7651

www.perisondental.com

Afraid of seeing the dentist? We can help! Call now for an appointment.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Dentists (Pediatric):

MAUREEN J. CASEY, DDS

4017 Legion Dr., Hamburg, NY 14075

716-648-4035

www.drmcaseypediatricdds.com

Pediatric Dentistry. Dental Care for Infants, Children, and Young Adults.

Educational Services:

THE SUMMIT CENTER

150 Stahl Rd., Getzville, NY 14068

General Information: 716-629-3400

www.thesummitcenter.org

Developmental evaluations, therapeutic and clinical services, family support services, behavioral health services, respite, & school programs for children from birth to adult.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

See Our Advertiser Spotlight.

Family Medicine:

UBMD FAMILY MEDICINE

Amherst: 850 Hopkins Road, Williamsville, NY 14221

716-688-9641

Buffalo (Conventus): 1001 Main St., 4th Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203 716-550-8361

Tonawanda: 2465 Sheridan Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150

716-835-9800

www.ubfammed.com

Accepting new patients at all locations!

See Our Advertiser Spotlight.

Farms & Farm Markets: BECKER FARMS & VIZCARRA VINEYARDS

3724 Quaker Rd., Gasport, NY 14067 716-772-2211

www.beckerfarms.com

U-Pick Fruit; Farm Market; CSA; Pies, Ice Cream; Animals; Educational Tours; A 129-Year Family Tradition! Visit Vizcarra Vineyards & Becker Brewing Co.!

UBMD FaMily MeDicine

Primary care providers for all ages

When looking for a health care provider, there are many qualities to consider. At UBMD Family Medicine, we work to ensure that your health care needs are met in all of the ways that matter to you most.

Comprehensive Care for All Ages. We’re with you through every life stage and milestone. Our practice cares for all ages – from pediatrics to geriatrics. Your entire household can be cared for by the same provider. We see patients for wellness, sick visits and physicals, but also for other concerns that may come up, such as behavioral health and addictions. Our providers are uniquely equipped to provide continuity of care for a wide range of health concerns, ensuring that your family’s needs are always met and tailored specifically to you.

Quality Care. As faculty members at the University at Buffalo, our doctors are also teaching the future generation of family medicine physicians and conducting research to find answers to today’s top medical concerns. This means that your physician is always up-to-date on the latest medical innovations and advancements that may affect your wellness.

Patient-Centered Care. With us, you and your family come first. We are committed to a team approach centered around you, including coordinating with any other providers or specialists

you may see. For new concerns requiring specialist care that may come up, we have trusted partners in our UBMD Physicians’ Group of doctors. With over 550 physicians around Western New York, UBMD, together with your family doctor, can meet all of your health care needs.

Accessibility With locations in Amherst, Buffalo and Tonawanda, we care for you where it best fits your life. We also offer same-day or next-day sick visits for existing patients when the unexpected comes up.

Amherst: 716.688.9641

Buffalo: 716.550.8361

Tonawanda: 716.835.9800

www.ubfammed.com

We Can Help!

Farms & Farm Markets cont.:

GREG’S U-PICK FARM MARKET

9270 Lapp Rd., Clarence Center, NY 14032

716-741-4239

www.gregsupick.com

U-Pick farm market and CSA. Produce, baked goods, animal barn and more.

This handy resource guide appears twice a year, in WNY Family’s May & October issues. Call 716-836-3486 to learn how your business or organization can participate.

Fencing Instruction:

FENCING CENTER OF BUFFALO

485 Cayuga Rd., Cheektowaga, NY 14225

716-553-3448

www.fencingbuffalo.com

Learn to fence. Instruction in classical fencing. Kids, teens, adults. Equipment provided.

Gymnastics:

BUFFALO TURNERS

3200 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore, NY 14217 716-877-2700

www.buffaloturnersgymnastics.com

Gymnastics instruction for girls and boys, 3 - 18 years.

Rolly Pollies

GYMNASTICS UNLIMITED

70 Weiss Ave.

Orchard Park/West Seneca, NY 14224

716-677-0338

www.gymnastics-unlimited.net

Infant-18 yrs., Tramp/Tumble, Learning in Motion, Open Time. FIND US ON FACEBOOK

ROLLY POLLIES

9630 Transit Road, Suite 100 East Amherst, NY 14051

716-689-6151

4058 N. Buffalo Rd. Orchard Park, NY 14127

716-662-7424

1669 Hertel Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216

716-833-3318

www.RPWNY.com

Children’s gym classes, camps, birthday parties, open play & more for ages 4 months - 9 years old!

See Our Advertiser Spotlight.

WNY’s Largest Locally and Family Owned Children’s Gym!

bouncehouses, and more, Rolly Pollies creates healthy habits that last a lifetime.

Gym Classes

Rolly Pollies’ unique motor-skill development curriculum allows children to learn through play. Class Schedules include evening, daytime and weekend classes. Families are encouraged to have fun together with equipment built for everyone! A full session of classes gives children the opportunity to develop gross motor skills, learn socialization skills, take directions from “Roll Models”, and see the same friends each week.

NEW Classes for 2023!

Open Play

Check our website to register online for Open Play.

Thank You for Playing Local!

Since 2005, Rolly Pollies has been a locally owned and family operated business built specifically for WNY’s families. Rolly Pollies mission to “develop children physically, intellectually and socially in order to build the selfesteem and confidence needed for a healthy and successful life” drives Rolly Pollies to help families experience play with a purpose, and create meaningful memories to thousands of WNY families. With trampolines, foam pits,

Rolly Pollies is growing again! Recently added programs are sure to delight families for years to come. Music, Montessori, and WNY’s only infant sensory-play program, “Messy Baby” have been introduced to continue Rolly Pollies mission.

Party With Us!

Rolly Pollies offers WNYs best birthday parties, hosting only one party at a time: yours! Visit our website to find available dates and times.

Use

Your

Health Insurance Wellness Cards

Raising heathly children is Rolly Pollies mission! Because of this, most health insurances will help pay for your Rolly Pollies classes and camps.

Three great locations:

9630 Transit Road East Amherst, NY 14051 716-689-6151

4058 North Buffalo Road Orchard Park, NY 14127 716-662-7424

1669 Hertel Ave. Buffalo, NY 14216 716-833-3318

www.RPWNY.com

LAPP ROAD • CLARENCE CENTER, NY 14032 PICK HERE.

families and professionals to empower individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential

Hair Salons (Children’s):

SHEAR MADNESS

3316 Sheridan Dr., Amherst, NY 14226

716-248-1455

3467 Amelia Dr., Orchard Park, NY 14127 716-322-5332

100 Marketplace Dr., Henrietta, NY 14623

585-491-6555

www.shearmadnesskids.com

Specializing in haircuts for kids, ear piercing, birthday parties and our unique toy store.

Health Care & Wellness: GREAT LAKES

MEDICAL IMAGING

199 Park Club Lane, Suite 300 Williamsville, NY 14221 716-836-4646

www.GLMI.com

Open MRI, Low Dose CT, 3D Mammography, Bone Density, Nuclear Medicine, PET/CT, Ultrasound and Interventional Radiology.

Home Help Services: CHRISTIAN HOME COMPANIONS

788 Birchwood Dr., Lockport, NY 14094 716-439-8100

Email: ChristianHomeCompanions@gmail.com

www.christianhomecompanions.com

In Home Help from the HEART.

Horseback Riding: BUFFALO EQUESTRIAN CENTER

950 Amherst St., Buffalo, NY 14216 716-877-9295

www.buffaloequestriancenter.org

Private and group lessons; ages 5 and up; year round; beginner to advanced.

Human Services: PINNACLE COMMUNITY SERVICES

1522 Main St., Niagara Falls, NY 14305 57 Canal St., Suite 102, Lockport, NY 14094 716-285-6984

www.pinnaclecs.org

Domestic Violence, Youth, Parenting and Care Management Services.

Choose your favorite fairytale character to come celebrate with you! We bring the FUN... the LAUGHTER... & the HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

May all your dreams come true!

www.enchantingbirthdays.com

godmother@enchantingbirthdays.com

716-725-3578

Indoor Recreation: URBAN AIR ADVENTURE PARK, BUFFALO

1 Walden Galleria Dr., Buffalo, NY 14225 716-568-7083

www.urbanair.com/new-york-buffalo/ The ultimate indoor adventure park and a destination for family fun.

Martial Arts: ROMNEY TAYLOR’S WORLD FIGHTING ARTS

facebook.com/enchantingbirthdays enchantingbirthdaysofwny

97 North Park Ave. (Corner of Hertel) Buffalo, NY 14216 • 716-446-0447

Email: lisatayloracademy@gmail.com

www.lrtaylorstudio.com

Authentic Isshin Ryu Karate, since 1993. Children, teens, adults. Developmentally appropriate, educational training emphasis.

Museums & Attractions: AQUARIUM OF NIAGARA

701 Whirlpool St., Niagara Falls, NY 14301 716-285-3575

www.aquariumofniagara.org

Visit WNY’s only aquarium. Sea lions, seals, penguins and more!

Find

BIRD KINGDOM

5651 River Rd., Niagara Falls, ON L2E 7M7 905-356-8888

www.birdkingdom.ca

Discover the world’s largest indoor free-flying aviary… an adventure for all ages! Open all year.

THE BUFFALO & ERIE COUNTY BOTANICAL GARDENS

2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo, NY 14218 716-827-1584

www.buffalogardens.com

A tropical paradise featuring exotic horticulture treasures & so much more!

CEPA GALLERY

617 Main St. Buffalo, NY, 14203 716-856-2717

www.cepagallery.org

CEPA is a contemporary photography and visual arts gallery and education center.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S MARTIN HOUSE

125 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14214 716-856-3858

www.martinhouse.org

GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE AND MUSEUM

1410 Flint Hill Rd., Mumford, NY 14511 585-538-6822

www.gcv.org

The largest living history museum in New York State, plus Nature Center and gallery.

HERSCHELL CARROUSEL

FACTORY MUSEUM

180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda, NY 14120 716-693-1885

www.carrouselmuseum.org

Fun events and activities for all ages. Once Around Is Never Enough!

NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER

203 W. 2nd St., Jamestown, NY 14701 716-484-2222

www.comedycenter.org

Fun and laughter for the entire family with a safe, immersive and interactive experience.

VISIT THE NIAGARA POWER

VISTA VISITORS CENTER!

5777 Lewiston Rd, Lewiston, NY 14092 716-286-6661

www.NYPA.gov/niagarapowervista

Powerful Family Fun with 50+ interactive energy exhibits! Open 7 days/week, 9am-5pm (except some holidays). Always FREE admission, parking, and seasonal shuttle service. Handicap accessible.

OLD FORT NIAGARA

PO Box 169, Youngstown, NY 14174 716-745-7611

www.oldfortniagara.org

Your gateway to family adventure! Living history programs every day, special events, re-enactments. FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Music Instruction:

716 MUSIC & MORE

716-390-8347

www.716MusicAndMore.com

Family music classes for young children and their parents or caregivers.

Support

Advertisers…

Obstetrics & Gynecology:

UBMD OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

1020 Youngs Rd., Suite 110, Williamsville, NY 14221

716-636-8284

Conventus, 1001 Main St., 4th Floor Buffalo, NY 14203

716-636-8284

www.ubmdobgyn.com

Care for every woman… for every phase of life.

Paint Your Own Pottery: CLAY HANDS POTTERY

10086 Main St., Clarence, NY 14031

716-759-1208

www.clayhandspottery.com

Offering glass fusing and pottery. Birthdays, Scouts, mom’s groups, showers and team building.

DESIGNING DISH

138 Grey St., East Aurora, NY 14052 716-655-4456

www.designingdish.com

Where everyone is creative. Pottery, glass, pottery to go and much more!! FIND US ON INSTAGRAM FIND US ON FACEBOOK

The next Family Resource Guide will appear in our October 2023 issue.

Parenting Resources: PARENT NETWORK OF WNY

1021 Broadway St., Buffalo, NY 14212 716-332-4170

www.parentnetworkwny.org

Supporting families of individuals with disabilities through educational resources, 1-on-1 support and events.

Party Resources:

ENCHANTING BIRTHDAYS OF WNY

716-725-3578

www.enchantingbirthdays.com

Bring your child’s dreams to life with our Princesses and Superheroes.

SHEAR MADNESS

See Listing Under “Hair Salons (Childrens)”

Performing Arts: ACADEMY OF THEATRE ARTS

4231 Transit Rd., Williamsville, NY 14221 716-810-0551

www.academyoftheatrearts.com

Nationally award winning ATAoffering classes in voice, acting, dance AND FILM for ages 4-18!

See Our Advertiser Spotlight.

ZPAC PERFORMING

ARTS CENTER, LLC

See Listing Under “Dance Instruction”

Preschools/Montessori: ELMWOOD FRANKLIN SCHOOL

104 New Amsterdam Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216 • 716-877-5035

www.elmwoodfranklin.org

Independent school serving students

3 years old through eighth grade.

Our dedicated teachers deliver a challenging, comprehensive academic program paired with citizenship, character, and creativity. Students are given the opportunity to learn and to lead in a child-centered environment, promoting small class sizes, individual attention, and a wide range of programming.

FOUNDATIONS

6445 West Quaker, Orchard Park, NY 14127 716-667-9377

www.foundationspreschool.net

A private preschool offering an enhanced curriculum with progressive programs for 2-5 year olds.

LAUNCHPAD FOR LEARNING

9400 Transit Rd., East Amherst, NY 14051 716-688-1772

Email: monica@launchpadforlearning.com

www.launchpadforlearning.com

Premier preschool for 3-5 year olds including summer camps!

LAUNCHPAD FOR LEARNING Now Enrolling

Preschool programs for Fall 2023

Ages 3 yrs – 5 yrs

Summer Classes ~ Ages 3 yrs – 6 yrs

Children enjoy fun & exciting programs that help LAUNCH them into academic success!

9400 Transit Road, East Amherst 716-688-1772

Monica@launchpadforlearning.com

www.launchpadforlearning.com

Pottery Painting and Glass Fusing

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

Open for walk-ins 7 Days a week, Birthday Parties, and Ladies Nights.

138 Grey Street, East Aurora, NY 716-655-4456

www.designingdish.com

LEARNING ‘N’ MOTION/ GYMNASTICS UNLIMITED

See Listing Under “Gymnastics”

ROOTS OF THE FUTURE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

8970 Main St., Clarence, NY 14031 716-545-8048

www.rootsofthefuture.com

An education that understands and nurtures your child’s natural curiosity for knowledge.

Schools:

CHARTER SCHOOL FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES

2303 Kenmore Ave., Buffalo, NY 14207 716-710-3068

www.csat-k12.org

Serving grades K-12, open to all residents, no entrance exams.

Schools cont.:

CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL

2 Lamarck Drive, Snyder, NY 14226

716-839-0473

Email: office@myCTKschool.com

www.myctkschool.com

Offering PreK3 - 8th grade. Small Classes & Strong Academics. FIND US ON FACEBOOK

CHRISTIAN CENTRAL ACADEMY

39 Academy St., Williamsville, NY 14221

716-634-4821

www.christianca.com

Independent, Pre-K-12, collegepreparatory school. Middle States accredited. Member: ACSI. NYS Regents.

ELMWOOD FRANKLIN SCHOOL

104 New Amsterdam Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216 • 716-877-5035

www.elmwoodfranklin.org

Independent school serving students

3 years old through eighth grade. Our dedicated teachers deliver a challenging, comprehensive academic program paired with citizenship, character, and creativity. Students are given the opportunity to learn and to lead in a child-centered environment, promoting small class sizes, individual attention, and a wide range of programming.

HOLY GHOST LUTHERAN SCHOOL

6630 Luther St., Wheatfield, NY 14304

716-731-3030

hgl.school

Nationally accredited preschool through eighth grade Christian education. Serving Wheatfield and surrounding communities.

NATIVITY OF MARY SCHOOL

8550 Main St., Williamsville, NY 14221

716-633-7441

www.nativityofmaryschool.org

Educating students age 3 through grade 8.

NATIVITY OF OUR LORD SCHOOL

ST. BENEDICT SCHOOL

3980 Main St., Amherst, NY 14226

716-835-2518

www.stbenschool.org

High academic achievement in a rich spiritual environment. PK3-8th grade.

ST. MARY SCHOOL, SWORMVILLE

6919 Transit Rd., East Amherst, NY 14051 716-689-8424

www.stmaryschoolswormville.org

Christian values and academic excellence. Kindergarten - Gr. 8, Montessori age 3- Kindergarten.

Senior Housing:

PEOPLE INC. SENIOR LIVING

716-817-9090

www.people-inc.org

People Inc. operates 19 Senior Living affordable apartment complexes throughout Western New York.

You can find our digital issue at www.wnyfamilymagazine.com

Skating Lessons (Ice):

SKATE GREAT

2982 Lakeview Rd., Hamburg, NY 14075 3465 Broadway, Cheektowaga, NY 14227 75 Weiss Rd., West Seneca, NY 14224 41 Riley St., East Aurora, NY 14052

716-580-3458

Email: sk8gr8info@gmail.com

www.sk8gr8.com

#1 Learn-To-Skate Program in WNY. Over 20 classes per week. FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Special Needs Services: ASPIRE OF WNY

Serving all of Erie & Chautauqua Counties

716-838-0047

www.aspirewny.org

Aspire of WNY Supports People with Disabilities Live Independent and Fulfilled Lives!

THE CHILDREN’S LEAGUE

393 North St., Springville, NY 14141

716-592-9331

•

• STREAM School/STREAM Academy

• Accredited by Middle States Commission

• State-of-the-art Technology Lab

• Sports, Art, Music, Extracurriculars

• After-school Care on Premises

• Tuition Assistance Available

•

4414 S. Buffalo St., Orchard Park, NY 14127 716-662-7572

www.nativityschool.net

Nativity: Focused on Educating the Whole Child.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

www.tclny.org

Center & community-based educational & therapeutic programming. EI & CPSE Evaluations. Serving children birth-8 years of age.

This handy resource guide appears twice a year, in WNY Family’s May & October issues Call 716-836-3486 ext. 104 to learn how your business or organization can participate

COMMUNITY

FOR EVERY1

SERVICES

180 Oak St., Buffalo, NY 14203

716-883-8888

Email: info@csevery1.com

www.csevery1.com

Helping people of all abilities reach their fullest potential.

THE DOWN SYNDROME PARENTS GROUP OF WNY

547 Englewood Ave., Kenmore NY 14223 716-832-9334

www.dspgwny.org

Raising awareness of and enhancing the lives of people with Down syndrome.

PEOPLE INC.

1219 North Forest Rd., Williamsville, NY 14221 716-817-7400

www.people-inc.org

People Inc. is Western New York’s leading non-profit human services agency, providing services to people with special needs, families and older adults to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. Services include: Residential, vocational and supported employment, respite, senior services, health care and affordable apartments.

Summer Camp:

CRADLE BEACH, INC.

8038 Old Lakeshore Rd., Angola, NY 14006 716-549-6307

www.CradleBeach.org

Cradle Beach Summer Camp is a nurturing, transformative and fun experience in nature. See Our Advertiser Spotlight.

Toy

CLAYTON’S TOYS

5225 Main St., Williamsville, NY 14221 716-633-1966

1396 Hertel Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216 716-939-3000

www.claytonstoystore.com

One Hundred and seven years of delivering smiles!

FISHER-PRICE® TOY STORE

636 Girard Ave., East Aurora, NY 14052 716-687-3300

www.fisherpricetoystore.com

We carry Fisher-Price® and Mattel ® products. Visit our website for coupons and more.

Cradle BeaCh

Urgent Care:

WNY IMMEDIATE CARE

4988 Harlem Road, Amherst, NY 14226 716-564-2273

6375 Transit Rd., Suite 2000, Depew, NY 14043 716-684-2273

2228 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216 716-874-2273

3346 Southwestern Blvd, Orchard Park, NY 14127 716-675-3700

www.wnyimmediatecare.com

For quick, quality treatment in an hour or less, 365 days a year visit WNY Immediate Care. On-site physicians and advanced practice clinicians provide cost effective treatment of coughs, colds, flu, allergies, and other non-life threatening injuries. With four convenient locations, we help you Get In. Get Out. Feel Better!™

A Magical Camp Experience for Children

Did you know Cradle Beach also welcomes children with no disabilities and across all income ranges?

Cradle Beach is a nurturing, transformative and fun experience in nature with a legacy of 135 years serving the Western New York community. We specialize in bringing together individuals with and without disabilities and/or with economic disadvantages. Our overnight summer camp provides children ages 8-16 opportunities to learn skills, build confidence and grow friendships in accessible facilities, while experiencing hope through magical moments.

Our summer camp is unique because of its inclusive programming

and our proximity to Lake Erie. Our 66 acre campus provides beach access with the most beautiful views of the sunset in all of Western New York! While at summer camp, children play and grow with peers of differing abilities and backgrounds. Campers have the opportunity to participate in sports sampling, arts and crafts, disc golf, swimming lessons (in our accessible pool) and so much more! Our inclusive overnight program provides opportunities for children and young adults to have meaningful connections with friends of all abilities. We know there is growth and healing by being in nature. Our paved

trails, sandy beach, gardens, athletic fields, campfire ring, treehouse and more provide a safe and natural environment.

We offer eight, five-day sessions Monday through Friday throughout the summer. Our campers are welcome to attend two non-consecutive sessions each summer. If you are interested in enrolling your child for camp, please visit www.CradleBeach. org or call us at (716) 549-6307 ext. 205.

8038 Old Lakeshore Road Angola, NY 14006 716-549-6307

www.CradleBeach.org

ABUSE/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

n New York State Office of Children & Family Services

https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/ prevention

State Hotline: 1-800-342-3720

Report abuse/neglect of children. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department.

n New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence https://opdv.ny.gov/survivorsvictims

New York State Domestic & Sexual Violence 24 hour Hotline: 1-800-942-6906

According to Safe Horizon, a New York victims’ services agency, 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence; more than 3 million children each year witness domestic violence at home; without help, girls who witness domestic violence are more vulnerable to abuse, and boys are more likely to become abusers of their partners and children as adults, continuing a cycle of violence seen in families all too often.

n Haven House Child & Family Services

24-Hour Hotline: 716-884-6000

(for HELP & Shelter)

For over 35 years, Haven House has been working to prevent domestic violence/intimate partner violence and promote peace in the home. Services are based on a continuum of care ranging from a fullyinclusive emergency shelter in a confidential location to long-term transitional housing. The continuum of care includes an extensive counseling and advocacy program for all individuals regardless of gender that includes many satellite locations throughout Erie County.

Who Should Call? Anyone involved in an intimate partner violence or family violence situation,

including: domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, those in same-sex relationships, those with disabilities, male survivors, senior citizens, and immigrant and refugee victims of domestic violence. Friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, or professionals with questions about domestic violence operates safe and secure emergency housing in a confidential location for women and their children, single women, and transgendered individuals identifying as female. Shelter supportive services include: Safety Planning, Individual Counseling, Support groups (including Art Empowerment), Advocacy. Referrals can call the hotline for information. Haven House housing assistance, Referrals to transitional housing, Food, Clothing, Crisis Intervention, and Children’s Programs.

n Family Justice Center of Erie County

716-558-SAFE (7233)

www.fjcsafe.org

Offers free services for domestic violence victims and their children through an extensive collaboration with 13 partner agencies, all located at one secured, comfortable location, where victims can get all the services they need to safely escape abuse. Appointments are not necessary but are recommended. All services are available virtually by calling 716-558-7233.

Buffalo

438 Main St., Suite 201, Buffalo 716-558-7233

(Monday-Friday; 8:30am-4pm)

Orchard Park

4383 South Buffalo St., Orchard Park 716-662-0259

(Wed. 8:30am-4pm)

Amherst

330 North Forest Rd., Amherst

716-634-4309

(Thurs.; 8:30am-4pm)

Grand Island Satellite

1801 Grand Island Blvd. Suite 3

Grand Island

716-507-0764

(Tues.; 8:30am-4pm)

ADOPTION

n Adoption Star

131 John Muir Drive

Amherst, NY 14228

716-639-3900

www.adoptionstar.com

Provides thorough and compassionate counseling to pregnant individuals, regardless of location, who are considering their options, including abortion, parenting, and adoption. Allows prospective adoptive parents and expectant parents to explore all the adoption options and to receive the appropriate information and education necessary to access those options. Provides counseling and support to birth parents and prospective adoptive parents.

n Adoption Program

Child & Family Services

330 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY 14202

716-842-2750

www.cfsbny.org

Specializes in promoting permanency through adoption for children of all ages in the foster care system. Staff work with children freed for adoption as well as families interested in adopting children. Provides support, training, and case planning services for the child and adoptive family.

n Center for Family Development

5820 Main St., Suite 406

Williamsville, NY 14221

716-810-0790

Provides counseling for adoptive and foster families, adopted children, children in foster care

 Parenting Resources  Parenting Resources  Parenting Resources 

(ages birth through adult), and adult adopters. Offers educational workshops for families and support groups; professional training and consultation; court ordered custody evaluations; pre-placement home studies and post-placement supervision. Offers WNY’s only Attachment and Bonding Center. Provides attachment therapy, evaluations, and treatment for children and adolescents using an evidencebased treatment approach.

AFTER SCHOOL CARE

n For a very comprehensive list of more than 100 after school care programs in Erie County visit www.211wny.org and enter “after school” in the search box. Information on programs in Niagara and other counties is also available through this site. If you do not have access to the Internet, call 1-888-696-9211.

BABY NEEDS

There are a number of local “Baby Needs” programs that meet the emergency needs of infants and very young children by providing them with a supply of diapers, infant formula, baby food, and baby care products. Limited quantities available; supplies may differ at each location. Get in touch with Baby Needs programs at the following locations which serve specific zip codes:

n Buffalo River Food Pantry

62 Republic Street Buffalo, NY 14204

www.old1stward.com

716-856-8613

Mon-Thurs, 8am-11am. Serving zip code 14204.

n Every Bottom Covered

Delavan Grider Community Ctr.

877 Delevan Ave. Buffalo, NY 14215

716-896-7021

Provides up to 50 free diapers and/or 20 pull-ups for each child in eligible families. Diapers available for pickup on a monthly basis.

n The Genesis Center

2161 Seneca Street Buffalo, NY 14210

716-822-1901

www.thegenesiscenter.us Hours by appointment only. Call to schedule. Serving zip code 14210 for parents with an emergency need; no residency requirements for children’s clothing.

n Kenmore Alliance Church

175 Bonnet Ave

Tonawanda, NY 14150

www.kenmorealliance.com/ ministries/kac-serves

716-876-5570

Many types of services are offered including emergency essentials for babies.

n Harvest House Baby & Children’s Ministry

175 Jefferson Avenue Buffalo, NY 14210

716-824-7818 ext. 214 www.harvesthousebuffalo.org

Serving Erie County; by appointment only.

BREASTFEEDING

n La Leche League International www.lllusa.org

La Leche League has several groups meeting in WNY as well as leaders who are available to answer your questions about breastfeeding. If you are unable to find a leader in your area, call 1-877-4-LALECHE (1-877-452-5324).

Amherst • Cynthia, 716-989-7070; Cindy, 716-835-7504. East Aurora • Karen, 716-652-0225.

Hamburg/West Seneca • Kimberly, 716-997-4662; Amanda, 716-220-1597

Niagara Falls • Christine, 716-523-1143.

CHILD SUPPORT ASSISTANCE

n Child Support Enforcement (CSE)

Erie Co. Dept. of Social Services 95 Franklin St., Room 230 Buffalo, NY 14202

Helpline: 888-208-4485

Email: cseweberie@dfa.state. ny.us

CSE can help locate the noncustodial parent, help parents establish paternity if either has any doubt about the identity of a child’s biological father, help the custodial parent file a petition in Family Court for an order of support, and enforces a child support order when the non-custodial parent does not pay.

The child support enforcement program has legislative authority to collect overdue child support (arrears) and to obtain medical coverage through a variety of administrative procedures. Some administrative procedures can be put into action without going to court.

Noncustodial parents who fail to pay child support can be subject to having the funds automatically deducted from their wages; unemployment payments, federal and/or state tax refunds, and lottery winnings can be intercepted; financial assets, including bank accounts, can be seized. Delinquent noncustodial parents can also have their NY State drivers license suspended and can be prevented from obtaining or renewing their passports.

For further information about Child Support Services in New York State visit www.newyorkchildsupport.com.

DIVORCE SUPPORT

n NY State Parent Education & Awareness Program

http://ww2.nycourts.gov/ip/ parent-ed/index.shtml

Launched in 2005, and offered under the auspices of Catholic Charities of Buffalo here in WNY, this program is designed to educate divorcing or separating parents about the impact of their breakup on their children. The primary goal is to teach parents ways they can reduce the stress of family changes and protect their children from the negative effects of ongoing parental conflict in order to foster and promote their children’s healthy adjustment and development. Four topics are addressed in the Parenting & Child Well-Being portion of the curriculum:

1) Creating and Maintaining Supportive Parent-Child Relationships

2) Providing a Stable, Supportive Home Environment

3) Maintaining Healthy Parental Functioning & Psychological WellBeing

4) Protecting Children from Ongoing Conflict Between Parents. An overview of the Legal Process is also included.

In Erie County, there are “Our Kids: A Parent Education & Awareness Program” class locations in Amherst, Buffalo, and Hamburg; contact Michele Wittman, 716-896-6390 or email michele. wittman@ccwny.org.

In Niagara County, there are class locations in Niagara Falls and Lockport; contact Michele Wittman, 716-896-6390 or email michele.wittman@ccwny.org.

At the present time, online courses are also being held. If you live in any other county, visit the website for a list of providers.

n New York State Council on Divorce Mediation

https://nysmediate.org/

Divorce mediation is a voluntary, cooperative settlement process in which a neutral professional helps you make practical, informed decisions to resolve your differences. It is used frequently and successfully by separating and divorcing couples who want to plan their futures rationally, in an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect. With the guidance of a trained mediator, you work together through a series of orderly steps to create a fair and reasonable agreement. Visit their web site to find accredited mediators in your area, or call 516-227-2595.

DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE

n Partnership for Drug-Free Kids Get Help via text, email or by scheduling a call with their trained specialists by visiting www.drugfree.org.

Drug use remains a significant problem in the United States, however adolescent drug use is particularly damaging as such use can affect the physical and mental development of younger people and can impact their opportunities later in life. In 2020, 7.58% of 12- to 17-year olds reported using drugs in the last month. 91,799 people died from drug overdoses in 2020, 21,000 more than the previous year, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. A person is more likely to die from an accidental opioid overdose than from a motor vehicle crash.

This national organization helps parents take effective action before their child’s drug use or drinking reaches a point where treatment is required. Research has shown that substance abuse problems can be reduced by intervening early. Encouraging parents to take immediate action is therefore a main goal of the helpline’s team of parent support specialists who offer expert advice to help parents plan a course of

action and can supply a list of local resources or treatment facilities. Their website is an excellent one-stop resource where you can educate yourself about specific drugs, teen behavior, and ways to talk to your kids to prevent abuse from ever happening in the first place.

n UNDERAGE DRINKING TIPLINE

1-800-851-1932

Erie County Sheriff’s Office anonymous, confidential, and free hotline. Concerned adults, teachers, students and friends now have a number to call 24 hours a day, to report planned underage drinking parties; underage drinking parties taking place or other activities that may be harmful to the health, safety and welfare of young people.

FOOD ALLERGIC FAMILIES

n Greater Buffalo Food Allergy Alliance

www.gbfoodallergy.org

The mission of this local support group is to share information, tips, and experiences to ease the challenges of living with food allergies, as well as raise the awareness in the community; meets at the Orchard Park Library, 4570 South Buffalo St., Orchard Park. You can find more details on their website or Facebook page.

KINSHIP CAREGIVERS

Among the many changes in society today is the growing incidence of grandparents raising their grandchildren, or other relatives or family friends taking on the primary role or raising a child in the absence of biological parents. Check with your church, your town’s senior services center, or your county’s mental health association for currently active support groups or counseling services. Here are several resources:

Parenting Resources  Parenting Resources  Parenting Resources 

n Catholic Charities of Buffalo

Kinship Preventive Services

412 Niagara St., Buffalo, NY 14201

716-854-3622

The Preventive Services Kinship program serves Erie County families involved with the child welfare system by placing children under the care of relatives. Staff conduct home visits to observe family interactions and provide referrals, as well as offer counseling and support for caregivers and biological parents in attaining child permanency, including filing for benefits and petitions in family court. In addition, staff are specially trained to work with families where children have been removed out of the natural home and placed in kinship care. All families must be referred through the Erie County Department of Social Services.

n Child and Family Services

330 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202

716-842-2750

Child and Family Services Kinship

Preventive Services Program works with kinship caregivers and parents to prevent placement of relative children out of their homes (foster care, residential), and works to expedite the return of children to their parents and/ or Article 6 custody to the kinship caregiver. The Kinship Preventive Services Program assigns a counselor who – utilizing a family systems, solution focused approach – assists parents and/ or kinship caregivers in solving problems, learning new ways of coping, and identifying other needed services. A majority of the service occurs in the kinship caregiver and/or parent’s home, however, some counseling sessions and group sessions will occur in one of several Child and Family Services offices. The kinship program offers the family case management, various workshops including support groups and parenting education.

n OLV Human Services-Kinship Caregiver Program

790 Ridge Rd

Lackawanna, NY 14218

716-828-9411

www.olvhumanservices.org

Provides services to caregivers in Erie and Chautauqua counties who have Article 6 or 1017 custody arrangements, as well as those caregivers providing informal care arrangements for children not biologically their own.  Services include family-driven case management provided by an MSW Case Manager. Additional services include monthly peer lead support groups and educational sessions for kinship caregivers, as well as interactive groups designed specifically for children in the caregiver’s household, and family engagement activities for all family members.

Non-parent caregivers — grandparents, other relatives, friends — who are caring for children without a parent living in their home, may be eligible for Temporary Assistance.

Temporary Assistance for children not living with a parent is often referred to as “nonparent caregiver” or “child-only” grants, and includes Medical Assistance (MA). If the non-parent caregiver wants assistance only for the children, the non-parent caregiver’s income is not used to determine eligibility and there are no Temporary Assistance work requirements for the non-parent caregiver. Non-parent caregivers may apply for temporary assistance at their local social services office.

In addition to financial assistance, non-parent caregivers (also called kinship caregivers) often have a need for information and assistance related to food stamps, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), custody, guardianship, foster care, adoption, schooling, school enrollment, and other forms of assistance such as child care, social security, respite, case management and service programs.

n Hillside Kinship Caregiver Program

1 Mustard Street Rochester, NY 14609 315-459-1606

https://www.hillside.com Serving Erie and Monroe counties. This program serves families with informal or legal custody of a youth between the ages of 0-18, free of charge. Services are provided by experienced kinship parents and other kinship professionals who understand the challenges grandparents, relatives, or any non-parent caregiver may experience at times and the need to secure resources and meet other kinship families.

n Non-Parent Caregivers: NY State & Erie County Dept. of Social Services Programs

You can download a very detailed PDF of non-parent caregiver resources - financial, childcare, food, home energy assistance, and more at https://ocfs.ny.gov/ publications/OCFS-Pub5194.pdf

LEAD POISONING SERVICES

n Erie County Department of Health LEADSAFE Erie County 503 Kensington Avenue Buffalo, NY 14124

716-961-6800

Families with young children who want information about lead poisoning prevention can request an assessment of their pre-1978 home. A visual exterior and interior inspection by staff will identify any potential lead hazards and a lead education visit with the family will provide

cleaning supplies and strategies for avoiding lead hazards. “Communities of Concern” have been designated in zip codes 14201, 14207, 14208, 14209, 14210, 14211, 14212, 14213, and 14215.

MISSING PERSONS

n New York State Division of Criminal Justice Missing Persons Clearinghouse

1-800-346-3543

Call local law enforcement first to report a missing child or adult. Call the hotline for case intake or to provide lead information. Electronically distributes missing child or missing college student alerts statewide and assists in investigation.

NUTRITION ASSISTANCE

n WIC - Women, Infants & Children

https://www.ccwny.org/wic

Women, Infants & Children (WIC) is a federal nutrition program that supports pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to the age of five to live a healthier life. WIC provides nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, prenatal and postpartum support, referrals and supplemental food vouchers. All of our services are free of charge.

WIC is for all kinds of familiesmarried or single parents, working or not working. Fathers, mothers, grandparents, foster parents or other legal guardians of a child under five can apply for the child to receive WIC. WIC does not require US citizenship, social security number, green card or legal residency to receive benefits.

Catholic Charities operates the program locally through a variety of locations. To reach any of the sites serving Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties, call (716) 2181484

Not all of their locations are open every day, please call for site schedules.

You may be eligible for WIC if you:

• Are pregnant, breastfeeding or post-partum, OR

• Have an infant or child under 5 years old, AND

• Receive SNAP (Food Stamps), Temporary Assistance (TANF) or Medicaid or meet the income guidelines below, AND

• Live in New York State

You can also call NY State’s Growing Up Healthy Hotline toll-free at 1-800-522-5006 for further information about eligibility, etc.

n WNY Mothers Of Multiples

formerly Mothers of Twins Club of Buffalo

www.wnymultiples.org

This support group for expectant and current mothers of twins (and more!) meets on the 2nd Wednesday of most months at 7pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2669 Sheridan Drive, Tonawanda. In addition to their meetings which feature “meet and mingle” sessions, they organize activities such as moms’ nights out, toy/clothing sales, and a great vareity of other mom-oriented and family events. Download membership forms on their website.

POISON EMERGENCY

n Upstate New York Poison Center

24 Hours A Day, 365 Days A Year

1-800-222-1222

https://www.upstate.edu/ poison/

PARENT ORGANIZATIONS

Moms, we know how it is. We manage the house, the schedules, the lunch packing and dinner making. We’re there for homework, the big game, the school play, and we make it happen with a smile. Where’s that little dose of “me” time? Thankfully, there are some helpful organizations in our community just for moms. Whether you’re a new mom or a veteran mom, there’s a special place for you to connect, refresh and relax.

n MOMS Club

www.momsclub.org

The MOMS Club is an international non-profit organization, started by a California mom. Several local chapters have formed which offer monthly meetings with speakers and discussions, park play dates, holiday family parties, outings for mothers and their children, and activity groups like playgroups, arts ‘n crafts, and a monthly MOMS Night Out. They also do community service projects. Find a local chapter through their web site.

Calls are answered by Specialists in Poison Information (SPIs), registered nurses, and pharmacists trained in toxicology. Specialists provide the most efficient and up-todate poison information available. Physicians and toxicologists are on-call 24 hours a day for consultation purposes.

SPECIAL NEEDS

For a complete listing of special needs organizations, visit the DD Info Link at https://www.211wny. org/search/ddinfolink/ which provides a multitude of resources related to developmental disabilities. The resources can be broken down by age group, and then by service types, such as daily living, education, in-home services, recreation, respite and more. If you do not have access to the Internet, call 1-888-696-9211.

n Parent Network of WNY

1021 Broadway

Buffalo, New York 14212

Information & Referral: 716-332-4170

www.parentnetworkwny.org

This community resource provides all the tools necessary for parents and professionals to take an active role in the education of children and young adults with special needs. They offer a wealth of seminars, workshops, information and referral services, a newsletter, family training services, all FREE of charge. If you’ve struggled to find the right services for your child, or are lost in the maze of rules and regulations in the Special Education System, these are the folks who can help.

n Down Syndrome Parents Group of Western New York

716-832-9334

www.dspgwny.org

Provides support to persons with Down Syndrome and their families through information on educational programs and community services. A Parent Support Program connects new parents with volunteers who can share their experiences and provide support. A phone call, hospital or home visit is available upon request by calling Barbara at 716-983-2140. They host activities throughout the year.

n Autism Society of Western New York

716-633-2275

https://autismwny.org/ living-with-autism/

Visit this website for a detailed list of area support groups in addition to the ones listed below.

n Grand Island Autism Support Group

Meets at Realty USA

2139 Grand Island Blvd., Grand Island, NY 14072

Contact: Vienna, 716-430-5118

Email: GrandIslandNYAutismGroup @gmail.com

MY FAMILY

n Group for Parents of Children with ASD

Meets monthly, 6:30pm-8:30pm Aspire Building, 7 Community Drive

Cheektowaga, NY 14225

Contact: Jana Mertz, 716-323-6435

Email: jmertz@kaleidahealth.org

Ask about their groups for parents of teenagers with ASD or Aspergers.

n Niagara County Group for Parents of Children with ASD Meets monthly, 6:30pm-8:30pm Empower Children’s Academy 9812 Lockport Rd., Niagara Falls, NY 14304

Contact: Parent Network of WNY, 716-332-4170

AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE?

n Family Help Center (formerly Joan A. Male Family Support Center)

24-Hour Parent Help Line 716-892-2172

www.familyhelpcenter.net

Did you ever get the feeling that being a parent is a bigger job than you expected? The stress continues every day! Raising a family is a big job and sometimes it’s an overwhelming one! Since 1973, the Family Help Center has been providing services to families raising children and gives the support you can’t always get from family, neighbors, or even parents. They operate the only 24-hour, 365 day a year family crisis intervention and support service in Erie County, and offer immediate assistance with no application procedures,

no eligibility requirements, and no waiting period. They provide in-home support services to all of Erie County, as well as a NY State licensed daycare facility. Their Family Help Center Daycare, at 60 Dingens St., Buffalo, offers full day, before, and after school care, and school-age summer programs.

n Crisis Services

Serving Buffalo & Erie County www.crisisservices.org

24-Hour Crisis Hotline:

716-834-3131

24-hour Addiction Hotline:

716-831-7007

24-Hour Erie County Domestic Violence Hotline:

716-834-3131

For Shelter:

716-884-6000

Provides crisis intervention and supportive counseling to all callers in Erie County. Provides immediate assistance for people who are in acute emotional distress; who are or perceive themselves to be in life-threatening situations; who are a danger to themselves or to others; or who are hysterical, frightened or otherwise unable to cope with a problem that requires immediate attention.

n Crisis Services

Kids Helpline: 716-834-1144

The Kids helpline is a part of the Crisis Services Counseling Program and is dedicated to serving school aged children, adolescents and parents by providing immediate and confidential support 24 hours a day, on a variety of issues related to youth and their families.

Ireally don’t know when I started saying, “Because… moms can do anything,” but I do know that I’m glad that it’s part of my many phrases of being a mom. With Mother’s Day coming up this month, it’s im portant to not only recognize each other for the tireless work we do raising children, but for the infinite number of ways we inspire other human beings.

If you’ve forgotten how amazing you are, let me take a moment to remind you. Here is a list of 10 reasons why moms are simply the best.

1. You can multitask like no other. Who else can make dinner, help a kid study for his spelling bee, talk on the phone, and fix a boo-boo all at the same time? YOU can!

2. You are stronger than you think. This year may have thrown you for a loop. Maybe something happened that you didn’t see coming. Did you lose a loved one? Did you go through a divorce? Did you lose a child? A job? A pet? Did you get diagnosed with postpartum depression? Chances are, any one of us reading this has experienced one of these life-altering moments. But guess what? You are still here and you are still standing. You are stronger than you think.

3. You are smart. Do not discount what you already know. You may have a doctorate in your field of study or maybe you are a high school graduate who went straight to beauty school. Whatever your trade is from work-inthe-home mom to work-out-of-thehome mom; you are smart. Whether you get a paycheck or help someone else get a paycheck by staying home and raising children; you are smart. You are a mom and moms are smart.

4. You are beautiful. Those stretchmarks you see looking back at you in the mirror are a daily reminder of the life you birthed. No stretchmarks? That’s okay. Maybe you are one of the few who did not get any or maybe you brought your child into the world a different way. The point is, you are a mother and are a beautiful one at that. Even on the days when you feel like you are at your ugliest or when life gets a little

— by Meagan Ruffing

Because Moms Can Do Anything

too crazy and the gym classes slip out of sight, remind yourself of how beautiful you are.

5. There is no one like you. As moms, we always wish we could clone ourselves to help with the laundry, and the dishes, and this and that. Reality is… there is only one you which means, there is no one like you. The good news is that you possess something so special that your children can only get from you — a mother’s love.

6. You have eyes in the back of your head. If you are a newly minted mom, you will get the hang of saying this all too soon. For all of you veteran moms out there; you know what I am talking about. I don’t know if it is sheer luck that helps us know exactly what our kids are doing at any given moment but whatever it is, it allows us to have some sort of sixth sense that makes our kids believe that we really do have eyes in the back of our head.

7. There is no TLC like a mom’s TLC. Moms just have a special touch. It just is what it is. Call it what you like, but kids just need their mom

sometimes. It is in our DNA. Our kisses are healing. Our tears are reviving. Our hugs are healing, and our words are sweet like honey. Kids need tender, loving, care and moms can dish it out at the drop of a hat.

8. You come up with the most random words. What’d you say? You think your 5-year-old wasn’t listening when you let that word slip but… surprise… she did! No fear. You can whip out a word that makes total sense and you are both on with your day like nothing ever happened.

9. You make things fun. When you give a mom a few minutes of unplanned time, she will have a brilliant idea all thought up and ready to go. The next thing you know, everyone is laughing, time is flying, and endless memories are being made all because a mom knew how to make things fun.

10. You are selfless. This is an unspoken, in-us-when-we-become-mothers-type-of-quality. Selflessness comes with the territory and requires nothing but love. Just the other day, my daughter and I were on a walk when I noticed she was cold. I offered her my jacket and she looked up at me, her eyes big and wide, and said, “But what about you mom? Won’t you be cold?” “Well, it hadn’t crossed my mind but now that you say it, yes, I will be cold. But that’s okay. I would rather have you be warm. I’ll be okay.” And with that, we continued on our walk with big smiles on our faces.

Enjoy Mother’s Day this year, knowing how amazing you are. This is your day to relax, unwind, and bask in the love of your family. Happy Mother’s Day to you and to all of those moms out there who wonder if you can make it through one more sleep-deprived day. Yes, you can!

Meagan Ruffing can’t wait to spend this year’s Mother’s Day with her three children, Dylan, Hannah, and Elinor. She’s hoping for breakfast in bed now that her kids are school-aged and know how to pour a bowl of cereal. Visit her on Facebook at writermeaganruffing to read more about parenting.

Princess Camp

Every little girl dreams of being a Princess. Make her dreams come true at the American Academy Princess Camp.

Our Princess Camp will enchant her with: Dance, Theatre Games, Etiquette, Tea Parties, Crafts, Princess Costumes, A Life Sized Cinderella Carriage & A Visit From Prince Charming Every Friday!

The weeks of June 26th, July 10th, July 17th

All Classes are Grouped by Ages 4-8

491 West Klein at Hopkins, Williamsville Call 688-4774 for more details

Boost your enrollment in 2023 through WNY Family’s

Learning ing

Crafts

Competitions

Advertising Space Reservation Deadlines:

June .... Wednesday, May 10

July .............. Friday, June 9

For more info call 836-3486

COME DANCE WITH US THIS SUMMER!

Making The Right Camp Choice

Summer camps have become an absolute necessity for many working parents who need coverage during the weeks when school is no longer in session, but camp has always been an important experience for children.

Summer camp provides numerous benefits, many of which last a lifetime.

Camp experiences allow children to make new friends, relate to adult supervisors other than their parents, develop a sense of independence and self-confidence, as well as the ability to work with others as a team.

In today’s technology-oriented world, summer camp gets kids away from their screens and outdoors to interact with the natural world. Sports and physical activities get kids moving — literally — toward increased fitness levels.

Camp is a natural extension of the classroom — today’s camps offer many traditional activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, and hikes, but there are many creative and exciting opportunities to explore specific areas such as performing in a theater production, learning to dance, riding a horse, or trying gymnastics.

Choosing a camp is a very individual decision based on many factors. Some important questions to ask are:

1) How does the camp recruit its staff? What type of training do the camp counselors have? How old are they? Are background checks done? Do they have first aid training?

2) What is the ratio of counselors to campers? Day camp guidelines call for 1:8 for children ages 6-8; 1:10 for children ages 9-14; and 1:12 for ages 15-18.

3) Ask about return rates. How many staff members return each year? How many campers return? Ask for references — talk to some parents who have recently sent their children to the camp.

Visit the American Camping Association’s website at www.aca.org for more complete parent checklists to help you determine if your child is ready for a summer camp experience and the questions to ask when “interviewing” a camp to see if it’s a good fit for your child and your family.

Summer 2023

Think Summer

Summer 8 WEEK PROGRAM

Starts July 3rd

• NEW!! Mini Camp group addedTues/Thurs 12:30-3 in addition to our returning times of 9:30-noon or 12:30-3:00 on Mon/Wed.

• Quality Gymnastics: Ages 1-18yrs ~ Weekly Themes

• Trampoline & Tumbling Classes: 7-18yrs

• Open Tumble/Cheer Class July/Aug. - Mon. 8:50-9:45pm

• July/August Open Workouts - Wed. 7:15-9pm

70 Weiss Ave. • Orchard Park/West Seneca (Near Duff’s & Leisure Rinks) • 677-0338

www.gymnastics-unlimited.net

HORSE CAMP at Skibbereen Farm

June through August • 9am-1pm

• Learn basic riding skills

• Safety rules around horses

• Horse care • Saddlery

• Basic first aid

Cost: $375/Session

Registration Form Online

Skibbereen Farm

5142 Bussendorfer Road • Orchard Park, NY 14127 www.skibbereenfarm.com • 648-1908

Summer Intensive

Summer Dance Workshop

FAMILY TRAVEL continued...

battles between the Spanish and English and the Civil and Seminole wars.

Children are invited to become a Junior Ranger. It is a fun way for the whole family to learn more about the fort. Pick up a booklet at the information desk. Read exhibits and view the movie in the theater or take the self-guided tour. Attend a ranger talk or demonstration and ask questions. Then complete the activities in the booklet and earn an official Junior Ranger Badge.

Across the street is the picturesque black and white striped St. Augustine Lighthouse — visitors are welcome to climb the 219 steps to the top for a panoramic view of the city, bay, and ocean beyond. A museum displays maritime artifacts and provides visitors with a look at what life was like for lighthouse keepers and their families.

Cruisers aboard Victory III enjoy waterside views of the fort, the lighthouse, and if lucky, passing dolphins in Matanzas Bay. The boat is owned by the Usina family whose ancestors first arrived here from Majorca and have lived in the area since 1777. Michael Usina’s great grandfather started the boat business ferrying people to the nearby islands and beaches before the bridges were built.

The Southern Oaks Inn is a great choice for families as well as anyone traveling with a dog. It boasts its own Dog Park with shade, toys, and water. Dog treats are at the ready at the front desk, as are homemade cookies for the human guests. A buffet breakfast, with lots of choices and fresh cooked eggs and other items, is included. There’s also a large swimming pool. Located about five minutes from the Old City, the free shuttle that runs from 10am to 10pm eliminates parking stresses. Dogs are welcome on the shuttle.

Travel Tip of the Month: For information on the St. Augustine area visit FloridasHistoricCoast.com or call 904-8291711. For the Southern Oaks Inn visit southernoaksinnstaug. com or call 904-342-2354.

Deborah Williams lives in Holland, NY and is a veteran travel writer whose work has appeared in national and international publications. She is the recipient of the Society of American Travel Writers’ Lowell Thomas Gold Travel Writing Award.

You’re going to hit the car in front of us!” I shouted at my 16-year-old son as I tried to slam on the imaginary brake from the passenger side of the car.

As the parent of twin teens, my fear of my kids being in an accident is justified. According to the CDC, almost 2,400 teens were killed in 2019 and around 258,000 were treated in emergency rooms that year for injuries sustained in car accidents. In fact, automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers and one study reports that teens are most likely to get in an accident during the first three months after getting their driver’s license.

It’s hard not to have these scary statistics in your head when you have a young driver behind the wheel.

I don’t like roller coasters, or any other type of thrill ride, so teaching two teenagers how to drive has been a challenging experience. The pandemic has also made it difficult for new drivers to schedule drive time in driving schools — which leaves most of the teaching to parents who may not be ready for the challenge.

So how should parents handle this daunting responsibility, especially when parent-teen relationships are often fraught with conflict?

“Parents need to meditate first and then cover their mouth with their hand while in the car with their teen,” says Dr. Laura Markham, clinical psychologist and author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids

Even though she was joking, there is some truth to the fact that parents are often too critical of their teens while driving — myself included. Since Markham offered this advice, I’ve actually physically put my hand over my mouth to remind myself that I don’t always need to voice my feedback.

Before your teen gets behind the wheel for a driving lesson, Dr. Markham recommends the following suggestions:

1. Remember how it feels to be a new driver.

Markham offers this reminder: You learned to drive and so will your child. You may not remember much about the

TWEENS & TEENS

— by Cheryl Maguire

How to Support Your New Teen Driver

experience, but try to recall how it felt and what you found helpful (or not).

2. Stay calm.

“The calmest parent should be the one who teaches the child,” says Markham. If you are anxious or stressed, you will be more likely to yell — which will only make your teen more anxious about the experience. If you are calm, it will help your teen feel calmer and increase their self-confidence, which means they will be more focused on driving.

3. Review the rules.

“Before you get in the car, review basic safety guidelines with your child,” says Markham. Instead of lecturing, highlight why the rules exist and ask questions to reinforce what they already know. This quick review will help build their confidence for the driving lesson ahead.

4. Save the advice for later.

“Do not give your child feedback while they are driving a moving vehicle,” Markham recommends.

Before your teen gets behind the wheel, let them know that you will wait to discuss their driving experience until the car is parked. This will reassure your teen that they can focus on driving without interruptions. Of course, if it’s a mat-

ter of safety, speak up —calmly.

5. Keep your eye on the horizon.

You don’t want your teen to think you don’t have confidence in their ability to drive, so the less you say in the moment, the better. But even with the best intentions, there still might be times when you slam on the imaginary brake, grab the side of the car or even yell. “If you aren’t able to stay calm, no shame, no blame, it’s understandable,” says Markham. But, if this does happen, do your best to calm yourself down and apologize to your teen for your behavior. I’m happy to say that my teens got their driver’s licenses last week. And even though I’m no longer sitting in the passenger seat teaching them to drive, I still check in with them to answer any questions and support their newfound freedom. There were times when the road was bumpier than I would have liked, but I’m grateful we made the best of the journey!

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, National Geographic, Washington Post, Parents Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Your Teen Magazine, and many other publications.

— by Cheryl Maguire

The Surprising Reason Why I’m No Longer Angry About My Daughter’s Messy Room

Iam a neat freak who feels anxiety at the sight of clutter. When the culprit of the clutter is my 16-year-old daughter, my anxiety turns into anger. She is someone who would benefit greatly from a Marie Kondo extreme intervention. Merely catching a glimpse inside her room is enough to cause my inner Hulk to emerge. As you can imagine, this has led to some family conflicts.

I’m not just talking about her room. I know the exact path she traveled from the front door to the kitchen to her room. Instead of dropping breadcrumbs like Hansel and Gretel, she marks her way with a jacket, sneakers, and rice cake pieces. As if that’s not enough, the pantry door will be left open and all the lights along the way will stay illuminated.

I used to get angry. I felt like she did not care that her messes strewn throughout the house upset me. I felt like a failure for not being able to teach her how to be neat. But when anger didn’t change anything, I stopped getting angry at her and instead stewed about it on my own.

I’d always suspected that she had an

Specia l N eeds

ADHD diagnosis like her twin brother. Besides the disorganization and messes, she has other symptoms of ADHD. She is always losing and forgetting things and she feels the need to keep busy or else she becomes bored. Most of these behaviors may sound typical of a teen but she has struggled with these tasks since she was young. She was never the type of kid that could be entertained by a screen; instead, she liked socializing or doing physical activities like swimming.

When I filled out the paperwork for my son’s ADHD reevaluation, I remember thinking, “She has way more of these symptoms than he does.” I decided to get her evaluated even though none of her teachers from the time she was in kindergarten thought she had ADHD. And their responses on the Conners rating scale questionnaire when she was 13-years-old showed no symptoms of the disorder. Since she received straight A’s in her honors classes and did not have any behavioral problems, I decided not to pursue it any further.

Then three years later, two different circumstances happened around

the same time. I saw Jessica McCabe’s TEDx Talk and the pandemic began. Jessica McCabe is a woman who has ADHD and considers herself an advocate for the ADHD community. As I listened to her speak, tears streamed down my face because her struggles mimicked my daughter’s struggles in every way. She also reminded me of my daughter with her quick wit, intelligence, and engaging personality. Even though Jessica is gifted she was unable to graduate from college. After researching ADHD, I learned that often people with ADHD struggle in college since they need to be able to excel in time management, organization and perseverance which are areas that are challenging for them.

The pandemic meant that my daughter was learning remotely instead of in-person. A lot of the remote learning relied heavily on email communication. For the first time, she struggled with being able to complete her assignments and keeping up with the emails. At one point she had over 100 unread emails. The lack of structure and routine that she normally had in school made it difficult for her to pay attention and remember what she needed to do. Staring at a screen is also much less engaging than listening to a teacher speak in person.

Her plan is to attend college in three years and live on campus. One reason her teachers never noticed any ADHD symptoms is because all the times she forgot her Chromebook or homework or project, I brought them to her. I also helped her with organization and time management. After watching Jessica’s talk, I thought about the ways I helped

her with her forgetful and disorganized behaviors and how I would not be there to do that when she goes to college.

For both reasons I decided to have a more formal assessment of her behaviors and emotions. During the pandemic, she completed a virtual neuropsychological exam which consisted of over three hours of psychological testing. And then she finally received the ADHD diagnosis I always suspected she had, eight years after her twin brother was diagnosed.

Unfortunately, my experience with the diagnosis of ADHD with my boy/girl twins is common. Boys get diagnosed with ADHD earlier and more often than girls. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls (12.9% compared to 5.6%). Girls are not less likely to have the disorder rather they are less likely to receive a diagnosis since their symptoms are different than boys. Research studies show that boys tend to present with hyperactive, behavioral issues that teachers notice whereas girls are typically inattentive and may go unnoticed by their teacher.

When a person has a diagnosis of ADHD they can receive school accommodations like a 504 plan or an IEP. A 504 plan can also be used in a college or workplace setting. You can also receive prescribed medication and counseling when you have an ADHD diagnosis.

Since my daughter was doing well academically and socially, I didn’t think having an ADHD diagnosis mattered. But I realized that it can be helpful in preventing future problems and understanding why she struggles with organization and time management. I changed my perception on why she has a messy room. Instead of thinking she’s lazy or doesn’t care (common misperceptions of people with ADHD), I now realize it is because it’s challenging for her to be neat due to her disorder.

She’s an extremely talented artist. If she expected me to draw like she does every day, I’m sure I would feel frustrated and not even bother trying because I’m positive my drawings would look nothing like hers. I’m guessing that she feels the same way about cleaning her room.

Her ADHD diagnosis has helped to improve our relationship and I no longer feel extreme anger when I see her messy room. Instead, I’m now able to joke with her about it. I’ll ask questions like, Are you trying to see how high your pile of clothes can get? She even laughs; it’s much better than yelling at one another. Like Felix and Oscar in the Odd Couple, we are never going to see eye to eye on our housekeeping efforts but that is okay. Dare I admit that I think I might miss the messes when she goes to college?

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Washington Post, Parents Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Your Teen Magazine and many other publications.

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May and June are strawberry season in Western New York. There are many local places you can take the family to go strawberry picking, a fun (and delicious) outdoor activity.

Strawberries are high in vitamin C, fiber, and potassium, are fat free, low in sugar and only 50 calories per cup. They are packed with good nutrition.

Of note, while strawberries are not in the top food allergens list, some people are allergic to them. If you need to avoid strawberries, replace with other berries or fruits in these kid-friendly recipes that follow.

A few ideas:

• Select strawberries that are ripe, bright red with fresh green caps still intact, and not mushy. Strawberries don’t continue to ripen after they are picked, so pick only the freshest, ripe berries.

• If they taste sweet already, you can use less sugar. Be sure to give sugared strawberries at least a few hours to allow the juices to form and the sugar to fully dissolve.

• Do not wash fresh strawberries or remove the caps until you’re ready to eat them or use them in a recipe.

• Store unwashed strawberries in the refrigerator and use them as soon as possible after you buy them. Place them on a plate, uncovered, to minimize mold. That’s a good tip for blackberries and raspberries too.

• Not a fan of strawberries? You can use blueberries, blackberries or raspberries. Or use other fruits such as peaches, apples, melons, etc.

Fresh Sugared Strawberries

Free of: DAIRY, EGGS, SOY, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, WHEAT, GLUTEN, VEGAN

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Refrigeration Time: 2 hours, up to 2 days

2 pints (4 cups) strawberries, washed, stemmed and sliced

2-3 tablespoons sugar

In a medium bowl, toss together strawberries and sugar. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally to fully dissolve the sugar and coat berries evenly. They’ll create their own “sauce” within a few hours. Serve over waffles, vegan ice cream, cereal or biscuits.

Strawberry Yogurt Cones

Free of: DAIRY, EGGS, SOY, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, WHEAT, GLUTEN, VEGAN

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

2 cups fresh strawberries, stemmed and sliced

2 cups of your favorite vegan yogurt 4 waffle cones (wheat/gluten free brand if allergic)

In bowl, gently mix together strawberries and yogurt, reserving a few halves for garnish. Spoon into waffle cones, dividing mixture equally. If desired, garnish with strawberry slices. Serve with spoons.

If you have any questions about our column, e-mail Kathy at allergy@roadrunner.com. For further information about food allergies, contact FARE at www. foodallergy.org, or call 1-800-929-4040.

Kathy Lundquist is a Western New York parent whose son, now an adult, was born with severe food allergies. Over the last two decades, she has worked tirelessly, in a variety of capacities, to increase community awareness about food allergies.

THE KIDDIE GOUR ME T

— by Barbara Blackburn

Brunch has sprouted wings in the last decade or two. At Betty’s, this meal combo of breakfast and lunch has soared to angelic creativity. The imaginative ideas and culinary concepts don’t just stay on the menu but appear on the plate, with the food even better than it sounds on the menu. Betty’s calls it “Blunch.”

Betty’s

370 Virginia Street Buffalo, NY 14201 716-362-0633

bettysbuffalo.com

~ SPOONS ~ FOOD 5/5 SERVICE 4/5

The kids’ menu, available any time, titled “For The Kiddos,” offers three choices: Chicken Tenders ($8.00), Lil’ Pasta ($6.00), and Classic PB & J ($6.00). The chicken tenders are described as all natural with a side of fresh fruit. The pasta is buttered noodles with a side of fresh fruit. The pea nut butter and jelly comes on wheat bread with fresh fruit; a heart appears next to the description, signifying that it is the healthiest of the three items. Not only is there a three-choice option for kids but also one For Fido, with the items all priced at $9.00: Grilled Chicken, Grilled Salmon, and Grilled Tuna. Fresh veggies come with them, and the food is made without seasoning “for our furry friends.”

Poached eggs have been elevated in cuisine these days since the time when the doctor recommended them for convalescents’ meals. More vegetables have assumed new roles instead of just being in the background. Such it is with the regular brunch menu. Items such as Portabello Benedict on the regular daily menu testify to this. My Mickey’s Casserole ($15.00) showcased baked eggs. These were baked with bread, sausage, peppers, onions, cream, and cheddar cheese, topped with caramelized onions, and home fries. I call that a Strata. I might say that some of these specials wear other names, with a few changes at other times.

Dad’s was the healthy choice: Beet and Butternut Roasted Squash Hash ($15.00). Besides the squash and the beets, there were red onion, sweet and chef potatoes, and balsamic reduction, with a choice of two eggs any style. His choice of the Toast category was Grilled Cornbread. He liked the hash, but really liked my entrée better.

The lunch menu looks inviting but not as exciting as the brunch and breakfast menu. Just to mention a few: Black Beans and Rice, the Betty Burger, and the Chickpea Toona Sandwich. We enjoyed dinner at Betty’s a long time ago but it is no longer served.

If you are imbibers “spirits,” know that the cocktails and boozy coffee brunch selections are as creative as the food. My breakfast/brunch cocktail was elegantly presented.

We noticed the two families next to our table, with two kids, one in a high chair and one transitioning between a booster and an adult chair. The wellbehaved young lady was entertaining herself on her screen, alternating with participation in the table conversation. That reminded us of the times we dine with our own grandkids.

We were glad to have arrived early to secure an “early bird gets the worm,’ in this case a table. Upon leaving we noticed a very long line of hungry people. We understand why this is such an acclaimed and popular restaurant.

Barbara Blackburn has been happily acting as The Kiddie Gourmet for over 35 years. She has two adult children and four grandchildren, all living in Florida. She is a home instructor and community education cooking instructor for Williamsville Central Schools.

May 3rd

Teachers’ Day

May 4th

Kids Fitness Day

May 18th

International Museum Day

May 20th

Pizza Party Day

May 23rd

World Turtle Day

May 28th

National Hamburger Day

May 30th

Play in the Sand Day