DFWChild March 2021

INSIDE:

M A R C H 2021

HOW MOM TO START NEXT HOLIDAY DOOR TRADITIONS SHELLY COLLINSWORTH

MOM NEXT DOOR MARI HIDALGO KING

ROAD STORIES OF 2020 TRIP ADVENTURE HOW NORTHAWAITS TEXANS COPED IN A CHALLENGING AT STATE PARKS NEAR YEAR DFW

OUR SPECIAL NEEDS ISSUE

GREEN SCENE HOLIDAY LIGHTS EXPLORE THE WORLD VIRTUALLY

+ +

MAKE KEEPING THE YOUR HOLIDAYS COOL AT MORE THANHOME GIFTS

LOOK WHAT I CAN DO BAILEY, SPORTS MEDICINE

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pages / M A R C H

2021

23 DEPARTMENTS NOTED 7 Cool Aid

Help for keeping your temper in check when the kids are driving you crazy

REAL MOMS 11 Mom Next Door / Shelly Collinsworth

Fort Worth Zoo’s assistant curator of birds talks about the wild adven- tures of career and motherhood

14

16

Briefs / On the Fly

Our Mom Next Door shares things that make her happy as a lark

Routines / Nadia Sherwin Twins and triplets keep this Wylie mom on her toes

INFLUENCER

18

ABOVE // Diana Whitworth Nelson welcomed her son Hugh, along with his sisters, through adoption.

FEATURE 18 Park Central We’ve all spent too much time on devices lately—here’s your guide to plugging into nature at state parks down the road words DFWChild Editors

ON THE COVER

SPECIAL NEEDS

39 Love for New Moms

This Dallas-based organization is caring for new mothers, one diaper at a time

KID CULTURE 49 Culture Club

Introduce your kids to the countries of the world without leaving home

PEOPLE + PLACES 56 Travel / Destination Disney

It may be a “small world,” but Disney is a big trip—here’s what to know

23 Mom Next Door / Diana Whitworth Nelson

NELSON FAMILY: KORENA BOLDING SINNETT; CANOE TRIP: COURTESY OF CADDO LAKE STATE PARK; PARK ILLUSTRATION: MARY DUNN

This newspaper publisher and mom of three talks about adoption, special needs and learning differences

26 Briefs / Extra, Extra!

28

Cover Kid: Natalie, 4 Photography: Cindy James / Alyssa Pizer Management Hair/Makeup: Lana Adams / Kim Dawson Agency Art Direction/Styling: Heather Vance Devers

A peek at our Mom Next Door’s favorites for relaxing, retail therapy and date night (in the living room)

Routines / Tyrona Taylor

This Seagoville mom meets special needs at home and at work

31 Take Note / Balancing Act

You have a lot on your plate as the parent of a child who has special needs—here are tips for handling it all

36 Take Note / In Brief

Dental care for those with special needs, an artistic tribute and more

COLUMNS

66

4 Hello / Chasing Wonder

Whether you’re traveling near or far, you can find awe-inspiring adventure words Heather Vance Devers 66

Confessions / Mom Truths

It was really cold last month—but were you “as cold as a naked mole rat,” as one DFW kid declared? dfwchild.com / march 2021

3

ABOVE // Heather Vance Devers in her home with her daughter, Betty, and son, Jude. LOWER RIGHT // Devers and her son in Mexico.

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NOTE

A

chasing wonder

S OF THIS MONTH, my 3-year-old-son will have spent nearly a third of his life seeing little more than his home and backyard, all because of COVID-19.

This is a child who thrives in the hustle and bustle of a crowd and had a passport before his first birthday. My dad moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, soon after my son was born, and we made a visit when he was 7 months old. One of my favorite pictures ever is my son’s squishy body strapped to my chest in a baby carrier, a huge smile on my face as I stood in one of the San Miguel’s iconic, colorful squares.

I was so worried about packing everything he and my daughter would need for that trip that I forgot literally all my toiletries and makeup. My children had outfits for every occasion, every blanket and snack imaginable, but I didn’t have a toothbrush. After a minor freak-out, I went down to the bodega, grabbed some basics, and the rest of the trip was a blast. Naps and bedtimes flew out the window.

My children ate guacamole for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And my son lived in that baby carrier, facing out and eagerly taking in the world. The locals cooed at his excitement. Meanwhile I got to explore a new city and fill my own cup a bit.

We were living in the moment and loving it.

I tell you this story because it’s a reminder of the impact a trip can have on our lives. Like you, no doubt, I’m ready to get back out there.

While an international trip may not be in the cards for a while, I think we all could use a change of scenery. In this month’s feature story, we share five beautiful state parks, all within five hours, that will take you into wild nature.

Working on this story certainly got me ready to hit the road with my family. I want to see the awe on my son’s face when he sees giant, moss-covered cypress trees or bison on the open range. I want my daughter to lie under a dark sky filled with bright stars, and begin to grasp just how expansive our universe is.

You don’t have to go far to find a sense of wonder. But you do need to seek it out. When you find that wonder, your kids will hopefully be so inspired that they are the ones planning your next family adventure.

Be well,

Heather Vance Devers 4

march 2021 / dfwchild.com

DEVERS FAMILY: KORENA BOLDING SINNETT; TRAVEL: COURTESY OF HEATHER VANCE DEVERS

hello / E D I T O R ’ S

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MOTHER + DAUGHTER: ©ISTOCK; HEART: NOUN PROJECT

noted.

COOL AID

controlling your temper with your kids WORDS

ALEXIS PATTERSON

I

T’S PRETTY MUCH THE WORST FEELING in the world: when you snap at your kids. Sure, they were pushing your buttons at the end of a long day, and your spouse wasn’t being particularly helpful. But that guilt, realizing that your little ones really didn’t deserve the wrath you just unleashed—it truly is the worst.

Losing your temper is a very human thing, and, unfortunately, it can be a very mom thing, more so than ever before. In the last year, we’ve had a lot piled on our plates. First, doing everything we can to safeguard the health of our loved ones. Trying to figure out how to balance work from home with virtual school. Keeping the kids from going at each other when they’ve been pretty confined. And let’s be real: It wasn’t easy to manage kids, relationship, work, home and so on before the pandemic. So if you struggle with keeping your cool with your kids (or hubby, or anyone), you’re not alone. But you can better manage your response to challenging situations. dfwchild.com / march 2021

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noted / C O O L

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FLARES OF ANGER “I remember many times during homeschooling when I lost my temper,” shares Allison Yoder, a Fort Worth mom of two. “I would be trying my hardest to explain something like second-grade math, and they would be goofing off. I would feel resentful and lose my cool, because it wasn’t like I wanted to be doing second-grade math at home, either.”

Yoder says the circumstances of the past year have definitely contributed to shortened tempers in her household. “I admit there were a couple of times I went on a yelling tirade at the kids about how they were going to have to repeat that grade while all their friends went on to the next one.”

Then there was trying to keep the peace (and quiet) between Yoder’s 13-year-old son and his 9-year-old brother. The family doesn’t have a home office, so Yoder’s husband was working and taking calls in the dining room.

“Throwing everyone in the house together with the demands of work and school is just plain unrealistic,” she says.

“Just as I got one kid settled, the other would need me for something. There was a lot of panic over not being able to log into school websites or not understanding what the assignments were.”

Adding to the stress was a critical difference in her boys. Yoder’s oldest son has autism and ADHD. “Even though he is 13, he doesn’t ‘get it’ like my other son,” she explains.

“He doesn’t fully understand the concept of consequences. He will continue to push my buttons because he loves to get a reaction, good or bad. It’s definitely harder to keep my cool. I’m not proud of this, but it frustrates me when I see my older son not getting things.”

Maybe you are working to keep your emotions in check with one or, like Yoder, two kids. Imagine trying to keep from reaching the end of your rope when you have 10 kids.

Laura Hernandez—a Collin County mom with seven biological children and three who were adopted through the foster care system and have special needs—says of course, not every day is created equal. “It depends what everybody’s moods are,” she says of maintaining her patience. “There are days

when they are playing happily and the birds are chirping, and then there are days when it feels like they’re all conspiring against you.

And those days are tougher.”

Hernandez, whose kids range from 1 to 14 years old, runs a consulting business called Mama Systems. She empowers moms with the processes, habits and mindset to run their homes as “managers.”

When it comes to dealing with flares of anger, first of all, give yourself a break, Hernandez says. “The last year, especially, has been really tough on moms. Something has to give.”

When the something that gives is your temper, it may be another emotion finally boiling over.

“Sometimes fear and insecurity come out as anger,” says Morgan Myers, a licensed professional counselor with East Dallas Therapy.

“We talk a lot about anger as a secondary emotion guarding or masking a more vulnerable emotion.

For example, I may be afraid of losing my job or getting COVID, and these fears lie under the surface until I’m so tense that I snap at my kids.”

Instead of feeling consumed by guilt when you lose control, you can take a few steps to rectify the situation—and even help your kiddos learn something in the process.

“WE’RE ALL STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT THROUGH, TRYING TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES, AND SOMETIMES IT’S MESSY.”

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RESPONSE MECHANISM One of Hernandez’s triggers happens with her adopted children, all of whom experienced fetal alcohol syndrome and have intellectual or developmental disabilities. “They love to destroy things,” she says. “After a long weekend of that, it’s very easy to lose my temper with them.”

When that happens, Hernandez removes herself from the situation until she calms down. Then, “I have to go back and make things right,” she says.

People make mistakes all the time, so we all should be pros at “sorry,” right? Nope.

Hernandez notes that a lot of the moms she works with struggle with how to apologize.

“I tell my kids, ‘It wasn’t OK that I said that. I can tell you felt shamed by that, and I didn’t mean it,’” Hernandez offers. “And I reword the message I was trying to get across.”

CALM MOTHER: ©ISTOCK

ABOVE // Is tension building and your patience shortening? Take a breath, and a break, to regain your emotional control around your kids.

Of course, you can’t always immediately remove yourself from a situation in order to emotionally regroup. If the kids are giving you trouble while you’re driving, for example, do the best you can. “If all you can get out is, ‘Mom is completely out of energy to respond right now, so I’m going to be quiet for a while’—that’s OK. Then, later, circle back to talk more about it,” suggests Myers.

Say you take your “mom time-out,” and when you come back, your kids have moved on. It could be tempting to not bring up what happened so you won’t potentially upset them again. Go ahead with the apology, advises Myers. “You’re reminding them what good communication looks like. And you’re acknowledging you aren’t perfect. Kids need to see that you aren’t perfect.

It prevents them from feeling like they have to be perfectionists. So always acknowledge your mistake and ask them to forgive you.”

In addition to saying “I’m sorry,” both Myers and Hernandez recommend a process that explains what caused your outburst as well as what you were thinking and how you were feeling. Here’s a basic script: “When you [screamed at the top of your lungs, threw food, refused to do your homework, etc.], I felt [sad, distressed, angry, etc.]. Please [don’t do that; do this] in the future.”

After that, go forward. “It’s not a secret that we’re all struggling to make it through, trying to be the best version of ourselves, and sometimes

it’s messy,” says Hernandez. “Showing our kids humility and apologizing is important.”

Yoder says that while she doesn’t like losing her temper at times, she has had success with making the experience a teaching moment.

“When I was upset about homeschool issues, I tried to actually go a little overboard with my apology so they could really see how to do it themselves. That was usually because of my son with autism. You do kind of have to overdo it a little to make the point known. In the end, both my kids were very receptive to my apologies. We would hug and move on and try to do better.”

TEMPER FIX So how do you do better? Can you set yourself up for better emotional regulation, even if your circumstances don’t change? Absolutely, says Myers. One way is to talk to a professional.

“I’ve done a lot of coaching with parents on healthy ways to express emotion with our partners and our kids,” she states. “One of the things I say a lot for parents and kids is, ‘All emotions are OK, but not all behaviors are OK.’” She also recommends that you make yourself engage in a little mindfulness and rational selftalk when you’re ready to lose it. “If you notice you’re tense, thoughts are racing, maybe you’re clenching your jaw and getting short with your responses, pause. Take a breath,” encourages Myers. “One thing that sometimes diffuses [the stress] is to say to yourself, She is being such a 7

year old. It helps put it into perspective. See if you can name what you are feeling. I call it ‘name it to tame it.’ If you’re feeling anxious, that’s fear.

What are you afraid of? If you’re angry, what line has been crossed? And is there an emotion beneath that anger? Then express it in a healthy way. Maybe your children are refusing to eat the dinner you’ve spent hours making. Say something like, ‘I’m feeling like you don’t appreciate what I made. I need to hear a thank you before I hear a complaint.’”

It can be beneficial to enact better household systems and processes, as Hernandez helps people do through Mama Systems. “We have to go from living reactionary lives to coming up with a plan for things,” she explains. “For example, make time to prep food for the week on, say, Monday. Then you don’t have to do it every night while the kids are screaming. Have the kids help with chores; moms should not be doing it all. When your house is running more smoothly, you’re less likely to reach that breaking point.”

Hernandez also uses the concept of a “redo” to keep anger from escalating. “I tell the kids, ‘We’re not going to talk to Mama that way. I want you to try that again.’ They can still be upset, but you can have boundaries.”

It’s critical for moms to make sure they’re getting support, particularly from their partner.

“Anger is usually a sign of burnout and deeper emotional needs going unmet,” says Myers, noting that mothers under a lot of stress and dealing with temper issues may very well need to ask more of their spouses.

That’s what Hernandez did with the behavior that upset her the most, when her children with special needs would throw their used pull-up diapers around the room.“My husband knows he needs to handle that, because I can’t,” she says. “We’ve had those discussions. He deals with that very level-headedly. But those expectations have to be set. You have to ask clearly. Before, I was bitter he was sitting on the couch doing nothing. I would take it out on him, and that’s not helping anybody.”

Other moms are also a good resource for talking out problems. They may not be the ones picking up the used diapers in your house, but they’ll certainly understand your frustration. For Yoder, that’s especially important as the mom of a child with special needs. “I have found that having a support system of other moms going through similar situations is very helpful,” says Yoder, who is part of the #MomStrongFW group for mothers of children with autism.

When your attempts to quench your anger with your children fail—as they inevitably will at some point—don’t forget the key point of not beating yourself up. Hernandez suggests talking to yourself the way you would talk to a friend, and Myers points out that everyone has bad days and bad seasons. “As long as you come back and connect with them in the right way,” she says, “your kids will have the sense of security they need to be healthy little guys and girls.” dfwchild.com / march 2021

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real moms.

RÉSUMÉ

AGE 43 LIVES IN Fort Worth HAILS FROM Irving ALMA MATER Texas A&M University for her bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology; Angelo State University for a master’s in Biology with a focus on Ornithology CAREER TRACK Previously with San Antonio Zoo and Audubon Zoo in New Orleans; 10-year tenure at Fort Worth Zoo as assistant curator of birds PARTNER Husband Shane CHILDREN Son Griffin, 11, and daughter Rowan, 9

COLLINSWORTH FAMILY: NICK PRENDERGAST; ZOO: NOUN PROJECT

Shelly Collinsworth’s kids also love birds— especially the babies she brings home.

mom next door /

SHELLY COLLINSWORTH raising kids—and birds!

INTERVIEW BY

HEATHER VANCE DEVERS

W

HILE MANY OF US SPEND WORKDAYS PEERING AT SCREENS, Shelly Collinsworth has a decidedly different kind of office. It’s the Fort Worth Zoo, where she is assistant curator of birds.

And yep, sometimes work has to come home with her. “When they’re first hatched, we’re bringing [chicks] home every night,” Collinsworth shares. “We’ll do feeds every two hours up until midnight, and then we’re up at 6am feeding again.”

Sounds like motherhood. Collinsworth has plenty of experience there, too; she’s mom to two kids, now 11 and 9. And Collinsworth’s roles at home and work are more symbiotic than you might think. dfwchild.com / march 2021

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real moms

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ABOVE // Shelly Collinsworth with one of her feathered friends at Fort Worth Zoo—where she has worked for a decade, after tenures with San Antonio Zoo and Audubon Zoo in New Orleans.

“YOU JUST HAVE TO RAISE THEM THE BEST YOU CAN. YOU GIVE THEM THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.”

There are lots of creatures in the animal kingdom. What made you choose birds?

Well, I love all wildlife, but it’s always been birds. At my elementary school, they actually had birds in the building that they asked the children to take care of. We had a huge finch cage, dove cage and parrot cage. I signed up, and I was one of two or three students that year who took care of the birds. That was it.

Birds are very unique.

There are so many varieties, and I love raising the babies.

When people think of a day at a zoo, birds may not be the first animal that comes to mind. Are they missing out? You have those really big animals—I call them “charismatic megafauna”—that are really impressive. “Oh, it’s an elephant! It’s a tiger!” But it’s fun to show a person how fun a parrot can be—how interesting they are, how much personality they have and how smart they can be.

People are amazed that they haven’t really seen them past the elephant. They never even realized that, for example, the bird of paradise can talk to you if you’ll stop for a minute and listen. There

are lots of interesting things about birds.

Sounds like a cool workday. I get my hands on them every day. Tigers are protected contact. [Tiger staff members are] not in there loving on them; you’re separated. I get personal contact with my birds every day. I get to raise the chicks. I get to see those birds go on to raise their own babies, too. It is very rewarding.

Has your love of birds been passed down to your children? Yes, they love birds and are so nosy when I bring babies home. “Can I peek in the birder?” I always tell them, “Peek only; no touching.”

They’re very interested, and they tell all their friends about their knowledge—“I know what that bird is.”

How do you bring home the baby birds? We take the babies home in these—they look like coolers, but they’re actually warm inside. They have a machine that helps heat them up, and we keep them toasty.

They must require around-the-clock care.

There is a period, when they’re of a certain age,

Student Success Starts Here! that they can go without food. So we do have a little six-hour break after midnight, but yes, we’re feeding every two hours up until that time and then again first thing in the morning.

It’s kind of like having newborns all over again! Yes, it is. We do share the work; it’s not just me feeding all of the babies. We have an entire department. I have 16 keepers and two supervisors, and then curator Brad Hazelton and me. So we do have a lot of people to help.

It is definitely a team effort, but yes, we stay busy. Right now, we have tons of babies.

How do you balance your unique work responsibilities with your role as a mom? There are times that I have to travel for long periods of time, but my husband Shane is fantastic. He’s so good with the kids.

He’s so good with my work. When I had to go to South Africa, he’s all, “Yes. Absolutely. I will take care of the kids. It’s handled. You do what you have to do.” He’s pretty cool.

Wow, why did you have to go to South Africa? Fort Worth Zoo is really known for breeding lesser flamingos; we are the leader in the world. And at the beginning of 2019, there was an emergency in South Africa. There’s a lake called Kamfers Dam, and it’s one of only three remaining nesting sites for lesser flamingo in Africa. There was a drought there, and several thousand chicks were abandoned by their parents. People were pulling them all in because they didn’t want them to die—the population really can’t sustain that big of a loss. The public there was saying, “We don’t know how to take care of them. What do we do?” The Association of Zoos & Aquariums requested that we go and help, and I was sent out. We helped raise babies and train folks on how to take care of babies and get them going. We had lots of volunteers from AZA that came out. We did weeklong shifts out there, or a couple of weeks at a time, and everything went great. Those babies were raised and then released back into the wild. It really was the bestcase scenario.

Can you apply any of your knowledge about raising birds to raising kids? All kinds of things! How important nutrition is—that’s a big one. If I start to see, say, a growth issue here or there with the birds, we work with our nutrition department to tweak nutrition in such a way that the flamingo legs are straight and we get good feather growth and things like that. Then I start looking at my kids and what they’re eating. I’m like, “Oh, no. Here are your green beans. Eat those first.” I know better.

Having patience and letting them explore is another one. Moms are always nervous. You know your kids are going to get into stuff.

They’re going to eat dirt or a bug. So, not freaking out, because it’s not the end of the world. I learned a lot of that. There are just too many babies here for us to micromanage like that. You just have to raise them the best you can. You give them the best opportunities to grow and hope for the best.

Get Ready Now for Online Registration April 1 www.fwisd.org/prek Why Fort Worth ISD? • Our teachers are certified* and trained to nurture young learners.

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COLLINSWORTH AND BIRD: COURTESY OF FORT WORTH ZOO; PENGUINS: KALEIGH MITCHELL

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ABOVE // Fort Worth Zoo penguins play in the recent snow. Collinsworth says the birds were moved inside during the extreme cold and fared well. dfwchild.com / march 2021

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BRIEFS

3

FOR THE BIRDS

FO R FA M I LY FU N

shelly collinsworth shares her favorite things INTERVIEW

1

G O -TO FO R U NWI N D I N G

H OW S H E G E T S AC TI V E

“WITH THE FAMILY, IT’S BIKE RIDING. HERE AT THE ZOO, IT’S THE WALKING—ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. I DO SIT IN MY OFFICE; I HAVE PAPERWORK AND THINGS TO DO— BUT I’M KIND OF LUCKY THAT THE BIRD BUILDING IS 10 MINUTES AWAY, SO THERE’S A LOT OF WALKING.”

5 14

2

HEATHER VANCE DEVERS

“Reading. I’m a big reader, huge reader.

I go through two or three books a week.

Kindle Unlimited

is awesome because, otherwise, I couldn’t afford my habit.”

TO P PL ACE TO S E E B I R DS O UT S I D E A ZO O

4

“South Africa was pretty amazing because what I consider a zoo-collection bird was right in your backyard. It’s a little shocking to have hoopoes land there—you want to run and get a camera.”

B E S T FA M I LY VAC ATI O N

g “Disney World. I didn’t feel like I was having to juggle plans the whole time—they help you plan for a trip with kids. Disney World was actually a vacation for my husband Shane and me, as well as for the kids.” Editor’s note: Find our guide to planning a Disney World getaway on page 56.

march 2021 / dfwchild.com

WE LIKE TO PLAY BOARD GAMES EVERY NIGHT. WE HAVE A GAME CLOSET AND A GAME CABINET, AND THE KIDS WILL PICK A GAME OR CARDS. THEN WE’LL SIT AROUND AND PLAY GAMES ALL EVENING, UNTIL IT’S BEDTIME. WE LOVE EXPLODING KITTENS.

6

FAVO R ITE KI DS’ BO O K S A BO UT B I R DS

What’s in the Egg, Little Pip?

by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman; No Two Alike by Keith Baker; Fine Feathered Friends: All About Birds (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library)

by Tish Rabe

COLLINSWORTH: NICK PRENDERGAST; KINDLE: AMAZON; EXPLODING KITTENS: THE OATMEAL; SOUTH AFRICA: ©ISTOCK NO TWO ALIKE: SIMON AND SCHUSTER; EPCOT: DISNEY

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/ ROUTINES

a thursday in the life of

NADIA SHERWIN All moms are busy. But Nadia Sherwin has even more going on than most. She’s the mother of twins and triplets. And Sherwin has not one but two jobs: She’s a parttime preschool teacher and a custom cookie artist through her home business, Be The Light Bakery. Sherwin lives in Wylie with husband Robbie—a car dealership sales manager—and their children Amari and Keona, 6, and Mila, Colette and Noah, 3.

6

AM Time to wake up! Finally turn off the alarms and slide out of bed. As soon as my feet hit the ground, there’s no slowing down until bedtime—so the first thing on the agenda: coffee!

6:15AM Time to wake up the twins. We try to encourage as much independence as possible, so they choose their own outfits and get ready mostly on their own. After the twins get dressed, they help wake up the triplets. The twins have always been the best helpers, and I am thrilled to have four extra hands on busy mornings like this.

6:45AM We are usually running late, so we grab something quick and easy for breakfast. Double check five backpacks, folders, snacks, lunches and water bottles. I try to set aside a few minutes for extra snuggles with the kids to help time slow down for just a second.

7AM The twins grab their backpacks and masks, then head out the door with their dad. I take a deep breath as the door closes behind them. Two down, three to go.

7:15AM I work part time teaching at our church preschool, so the triplets and I are all headed to school today. We try to always set out their outfits the night before so they can start getting ready right away. The triplets are 3 and so cute as they toddle downstairs. I turn shirts the correct direction and encourage them to switch their shoes

to the right feet. Everyone wearing their undies?

Check! (Whew.)

7:45AM The triplets take breakfast to-go as we head to school-slash-work. We love to sing, count and talk in the car on the way to school. They take turns asking me a million questions before we pull into the school parking lot.

9AM I am incredibly blessed that I get to teach in the classroom right next door to the triplets’ class. I fulfill my love of teaching while still catching sweet little waves and smiles from my trio throughout the day. Now it’s time to get our school day started.

9AM–2PM I spend the school day playing, counting, learning, painting and dancing with my class.

2PM My students head home, and the triplets join me in my classroom to tidy up. I clean and sanitize every surface, straighten up toys and get things ready for the next school day. I move quickly so we can leave to get the twins.

2:30PM Drive quickly to the twins’ elementary school. I turn on the radio right away, and we have quiet time on our way to carpool. All the triplets are asleep within five minutes.

3PM The twins hop in the car, and I can’t wait to hear all the stories they have. One of the best things about having twins is that they have each other at school. We do our best to not wake the “babies” until we get home. I drive around for as long as I can to let them sleep, so today I head to Target to pick up a grocery order.

3:30PM Finally home! Once we’re inside, I spend a few minutes looking at the twins’ schoolwork to see what they are learning and making in class. I start a load of laundry. If I don’t do at least one or two loads of laundry every day, I’ll fall behind.

4:30PM The kids get a little screen time while I start to prep things for dinner. They snuggle up together on the couch. They’ve missed each other today. We move laundry over, and the kids help me fold and put away the finished laundry.

6:30PM Dinnertime! On school days, I try to keep dinners low-key and make sure that it is something that everyone will eat well. We spend every dinner taking turns sharing our favorite parts of our day. When they’re finished, the kids head upstairs to put on pajamas. We take baths every other day. It’s a non-bath night, luckily— because my husband’s working late tonight.

7:30PM The kids brush their teeth in my bathroom. They get started on their own and then line up to give me a turn to help them. And just like that, everyone is ready for bed! We read a couple of books together before bedtime. Even though I know there’s never enough space in my lap for all five, I will never stop squeezing them in all around me.

8PM Time for bed! My son is first to tuck in, sing songs and say prayers. Next up: the two triplet girls, and then finally the twins.

8:30PM After the kids’ bedtime I start on my “night owl” job. I make custom cookies for my

Diaries are penned by moms (and dads) in the North Texas area. The authors volunteer to share a day of their choosing and are not paid or endorsed by DFWChild. Send your diary to editorial@dfwchild.com. All submissions are subject to editing and may be cut for space.

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SHERWIN FAMILY: BRITTANY EBANY & CO.

real moms

the fine

print

WHAT SHE’S READING The Gift of Imperfection by Brené Brown WHAT SHE’S WATCHING “Firefly Lane” on Netflix FAVORITE INDULGENCE Cheesecake WHERE SHE GOES FOR RETAIL THERAPY

Target and Michaels FAVORITE SONG “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles

RESTAURANT SHE FREQUENTS WITH THE FAMILY Hat

Creek Burger Company BEVERAGE OF CHOICE Iced coffee or red wine BEST PURCHASE EVER Our new house that finally fits all of us! NO. 1 ITEM ON HER BUCKET LIST To fly in a hot air balloon WORDS SHE LIVES BY Every day is a gift—don’t forget to celebrate it. WHAT SHE DOES WHEN LIFE GETS STRESSFUL Snuggle my babies.

It fixes literally everything. HOBBIES Crafting and baking. I love to learn new things. SHE WISHES SHE HAD MORE TIME TO Spend one-on-one time with each child. LOOKING FORWARD TO Traveling somewhere, literally anywhere. IF SHE HAD TO CHANGE CAREERS, SHE’D BE AN

Accountant FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN WYLIE Small-town feel with access to city amenities IN HER MOM BAG Extra masks, hand sanitizer and lots of snacks!

BEST EVER 2021

CAMPS • TRAVEL • CLASSES

VIRTUAL FAIR APRIL 16

Your ultimate summer plans start here.

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Explore the virtual booths for summer options, hear from experts about navigating this summer safely, and find a few new ideas that will thrill your kids. home business, Be the Light Bakery. Most of my work is done at night after the kids are in bed. Tonight, I have four dozen cookies to bake. I grab a cup of coffee and get to work! I have been listening to audiobooks while I bake. Even though I am technically working, this is my time to breathe and decompress from the day.

10AM If I can, I try to squeeze in a quick Beachbody workout before bed. Tonight, I was able to find the motivation, so I went for it. I am not a morning person, so nighttime workouts work better for me.

11PM It’s been a busy day, and it’s finally time to head to bed. We have another eventful day tomorrow!

Register today at

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dfwchild.com / march 2021

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Park Central WORDS DFWCHILD EDITORS

Load up the car and hit the roads leading out of Dallas-Fort Worth for some of our region’s best state parks, where wild nature awaits

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6,659,968.

That’s the number of people who live in the Tarrant-Dallas-CollinDenton area. We’re one of the nation’s biggest and fastest-growing metropolitan zones—and while we have pockets of lakes and trails and green spaces, the Metroplex isn’t really the best place to unplug and appreciate the natural world. But you don’t have to go far to get to the great (really great) outdoors. We’ve compiled a guide to five state parks, all within five hours of North Texas, that provide room for your family to explore under wide-open skies.

CAPROCK CANYONS STATE PARK & TRAILWAY

850 Caprock Canyon Road; Quitaque, Texas tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/caprock-canyons Drive from Dallas: 4 hours 52 minutes Drive from Fort Worth: 4 hours 26 minutes

Red-rock cliffs create a rugged backdrop for this state park located in the Texas Panhandle. The activities are plentiful on the park’s open range: You can hike, bike or ride a horse through dozens of miles of trails. Stand in wonder (and at a distance) as bison—the largest land animal in North America—roam the plains. Traverse a trailway to an old railroad tunnel that happens to be the summer home of a huge colony of Mexican free-tailed bats.

At first glance, Caprock Canyons may look straight out of the dry, dusty Old West, but it’s also home to Lake Theo. You just might spot bison grazing on the shores, and the 120-surface-acre lake is open for swimming, fishing and no-wake boating. If you’re visiting during the winter, you could see snow along the banks and on the bluffs beyond.

Back in the canyon, you can take in the park’s weathered landscape along one of the many trails. Whether you’re a novice hiker or an experienced pro, there’s a path for you. “Our trails are all longer distance trails, so many people with young children usually go a short distance down the trail and then come back,” shares Stephanie Salinas Garcia, spokesperson with Texas Parks & Wildlife.

If you’re in for the long haul, you can walk the extensive trailway created from an abandoned railroad line, which leads to Clarity Tunnel.

That’s where the bats (up to half a million of them) spend the warmer months and where mothers give birth and raise their pups. “We recommend watching a bat emergence flight, [which takes place] each evening from late June through September,” says Garica.

The bats may be seasonal, but the bison are permanent residents.

The large, shaggy animals are descendants of a herd started by famed cattle rancher Charles Goodnight and his wife back in 1878. You can even play a role in protecting and preserving the bison (the official state herd) if you visit the park in September, when the annual Texas State Bison Herd Music Festival is held in downtown Quitaque. Funds raised help maintain the herd. The bison fest was canceled last year because of COVID-19, but the park hopes to be back in the saddle in 2021.

Speaking of animals—if you want to see babies (and who doesn’t), spring is the ideal time to make a Caprock Canyons trip. “In the spring, the bison calves are born and prairie dog pups emerge from their burrows,” notes Garcia, adding that the landscape is ideal, too. “If we have received some good rainfall, wildflowers are plentiful. Fall is beautiful as well, with changing leaf colors and fall wildflowers. Just remember that these are our busiest times of the year, with higher visitation, so plan ahead to secure a reservation.”

Those reservations cover day passes as well as in-park camping options, including drive-up sites with electricity and hike-in, primitive areas. If you have a horse, you’ll want to set up at the equestrian campsites complete with corrals.

The park will even make your kiddo a Junior Ranger, and a variety of kid-friendly programs at the park will resume as soon as public health concerns ease. So there’s a lot of reasons to giddy up on over to Caprock Canyons.

Know before you go: Did you know there’s such a thing as bison etiquette? (And you thought you only had to teach the kids table manners!) Visit the state park’s website for tips on how to safely observe the animals. The closest access point for Clarity Tunnel, where the bats are located, is five miles down the trailway, making for a 10-mile round trip. During the summer, staff typically offer “bat tours” using the park van, but they are on hold because of the pandemic. There are no horse or boat rentals, and the boat dock is currently closed due to low water levels. Fishing equipment rentals are not available due to COVID-19.

The Lake Theo Lodge cabin is currently closed for repairs. Be sure to ask rangers about the difficulty level of any trail you take; some are not for novices and younger kiddos. Make sure you have water with you, and be safe out there—cell service is limited.

SAN ANGELO STATE PARK

362 S. FM 2288; San Angelo, Texas tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/san-angelo

Drive from Dallas: 4 hours 15 minutes Drive from Fort Worth: 3 hours 39 minutes

The stars are certainly big and bright from your vantage point at San Angelo State Park. This West Texas destination’s wide-open acres (7,500 of them) make stargazing just one of the many things your family will love here. From longhorns to prehistoric creatures (well, their fossilized tracks), there’s abundant wildlife to observe. Trek across mile after mile of trails. Reel in a catch from the O.C. Fisher Reservoir or the Concho River. And learn some history, too. Archaeologists believe Native Americans’ presence in the area dates back some 18,000 years.

The landscape at San Angelo State Park is a study in variety. On the trails, you may be in green flats one minute and make your way into a rocky ravine the next. Whether you hike, geocache, bike or ride a horse (it’s BYOH, by the way), you’ll see diversity in what surrounds you. One trail passes fossilized trackways of Permian Age beasts. There are spots where colorful wildflowers wave in the breezes; in other areas, prickly cacti stand guard over the land.

And that land is roamed by portions of the Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd and bison. The animals’ paddocks are designed to give dfwchild.com / march 2021

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park central visitors a glimpse into life on the range in Texas’ early days. Then turn your eyes to the sky—birding is outstanding in the park. Located at the convergence of multiple ecological zones, San Angelo State Park provides a home or a migration stop for more than 300 species of birds. You can use the birding-wildlife blind or take a walk under the pecan trees that line the North Concho River.

Don’t just look at the water from the shores; you can fish, boat and paddle on the lake and river. San Angelo State Park also offers hunting and camping (primitive as well as sites with water and electricity) areas.

There are cabins, too.

There are more outdoor activities in town. Head to the Concho Riverwalk for a family stroll and picnic.

You’ll also find playgrounds, gardens, golf… San Angelo is called “an oasis in West Texas” for a reason.

Know before you go: Planning to get out on the water? Bring your own fishing gear; rentals are on hold due to COVID-19. No fishing license is necessary if you’re fishing from shore (that’s true for any state park), but you need one to fish from a boat. Make sure you’re appropriately licensed if you plan to hunt. For boating, check lake levels before you come. When lake access is available, your best bet is the Lakeview Boat Ramp. There is no swimming area at the park, and there aren’t any sections of the river accessible enough to swim. Bringing a horse? There are sites in the North Concho area with pole tethers and pens. Rustic (read: the restroom is nearby, not on-site) log cabins are available for rent on Friday and Saturday nights. The park does have a bunkhouse that sleeps six, but it’s currently closed for repairs.

CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK

209 State Park Road; Murfreesboro, Arkansas craterofdiamondsstatepark.com Drive from Dallas: 3 hours 55 minutes Drive from Fort Worth: 4 hours 32 minutes

This state park in southwest Arkansas might just be a girl’s best friend.

That’s because you could find a bona 20

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fide diamond in the park’s 37-acre search field, the eroded surface of a volcanic crater. White, brown and yellow diamonds, plus amethyst, garnet, quartz and other rocks and minerals—it’s finders keepers here, so you can take home any rock, mineral or diamond you unearth. The park staff will even identify (at no charge) the items that visitors find.

“Some people walk and search the top of the ground for a diamond’s metallic shine, similar to looking for a dropped earring or coin,” says Waymon Cox, a park interpreter.

“Most visitors like to dig and sift the dirt to look for gems.” If that’s your style, you’ll want to bring along buckets, garden shovels and sifting tools. “People use everything from simple kitchen colanders to screens of graduated sizes,” adds Cox. There are also nearby businesses that sell mining tools. And you can keep the treasure hunt going when you get home; visitors may not remove dirt from the search area, but the park sells small amounts of diamondbearing soil in the gift shop.

Of course, don’t promise the kiddos a diamond; it’s a real search field, not a game with gems planted for your finding pleasure. But they are out there. Last year, guests unearthed 353 diamonds totaling 81.91 carats.

Once you’ve finished your search, there’s still plenty to do at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Walk a 0.2-mile graveled path to the wildlife observation blind, where your family can sit quietly and watch for wildlife.

There are observation windows at various heights, so kids and adults can comfortably look for armadillos, squirrels and birds; you might even spot deer, foxes, turkeys and owls. After the kids have been quiet and still, reward them with a trip to the on-site Diamond Springs Water Park. It’s a mining-themed aquatic playground, with a wading pool, geysers, sprayers, water jets, cascades, water slides and waterfall hideaways.

“It’s a great place to cool off after a hot summer day searching for diamonds,” Cox says.

You can also have some waterbased fun by casting a line on the Little Missouri River. The nearest fishing hole is at Terrell Access, about two miles south of the state park entrance. Reel in largemouth bass, catfish and bream before you head back to camp at your RV or tent site.

You’ll enjoy picturesque walking trails and picnic sites during your visit, as well.

If you’re not totally worn out from all that, consider driving another hour and a half, or thereabouts,

to Hot Springs National Park. Let the family fun continue!

Know before you go: The park’s busiest times are spring break, summer weekends and holidays.

Admission to the diamond search area is currently limited to 1,500 people per day; buy advance tickets online to make sure the park isn’t sold out during your trip. It can get warm during your search, so the park recommends families bring a beach umbrella, canopy or popup tent to provide shade. You can also sit and rest at the park’s sun shelters. There are accessible trails in the park. The water park is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

LAKE WISTER STATE PARK

25679 U.S. Highway 270; Wister, Oklahoma travelok.com/state-parks/lake-wisterstate-park Drive from Dallas: 3 hours 59 minutes Drive from Fort Worth: 4 hours 12 minutes

SUNSET: COURTESY OF SAN ANGELO STATE PARK; KAYAKING: COURTESY OF CADDO LAKE STATE PARK

Considered the gateway to Ouachita National Forest—which covers 1.8 million acres of land stretching from southeastern Oklahoma into central Arkansas—Lake Wister State Park is an outdoor paradise. Relax at your shoreline campsite, surrounded by pine- and oak-covered mountains.

Cast a line for northern bluegill, channel catfish, white bass, and smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Meander a self-guided nature trail, or hike wilderness routes that offer glimpses of deer, ducks and rabbits.

Mountain-bike along the water.

The adventures continue yearround at Lake Wister State Park.

Visiting in spring? The birdwatching is ideal; try a birding scavenger hunt or have the kids imitate the calls they hear. (The National Audubon Society has more tips for getting children interested in birding at audubon.org/ news/easy-ways-get-kids-birding.)

You can also snap a gorgeous family photo among the Indian paintbrush, Indian blanket and other wildflowers. Summer vacationers might try their hand (or legs, as the case may be) at waterskiing on the 7,300-acre Lake Wister, or take a dip at the swimming beach.

If you have a hunter in the family, they’ll find abundant opportunities in the fall at the nearby Wister Wildlife Management Area. And don’t shy away from a winter visit to Lake Wister State Park. The park’s Quarry Island hosts “Lights on the Island,” featuring more than 300 light displays, such as a towering Statue of Liberty. And in the colder months, you could spot gold and bald eagles in the skies above.

When you’ve gotten a good dose of nature, play a round of mini golf or disc golf, hit the playground or cool off in the spray park if it’s warm enough. (All those amenities are on-site.) And whether you want to rough it at night or lean more toward “glamping,” there’s a lodging option for you. Reserve one of the park’s cabins, located in groves of dogwood, wild cherry and northern spruce.

You’ll enjoy majestic lake and park views, stone fireplaces, queen beds, kitchens, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, showers and convenient access to trails. Pets are welcome in select cabins, too. If your family is RVing it, or you prefer to tent camp, Lake Wister State Park has you covered there as well. Comfort stations around the park will let you shower and, ahem, answer the call of nature.

A couple of fun facts: The Poteau River, which flows into Lake Wister, is the only north-flowing river in Oklahoma. And if you head over to the nearby Heavener Runestone Park, you can explore some of the state’s ancient history: It’s the home of a large sandstone that contains markings believed to have been created by Vikings.

Know before you go: Find fishing and hunting license information, and book your cabin, RV site or campsite, on travelok.com. Lodging includes 15 one- or two-bedroom cabins, 118 modern and semi-modern RV campsites, and close to 50 tent sites. There’s also a group camp area. Want to enjoy the water but don’t own Enormous bald a boat or other water cypress trees make for sports equipment? impressive surroundings as your family cruises This year, a new conthrough the waters at cessionaire is offering Caddo Lake State Park kayak and canoe rentin a canoe or kayak. als. And if you Google “Lake Wister boat rentals,” you’ll find nearby businesses. The splash park is open from Memorial Day Weekend until Labor Day. Lake Wister State Park boasts two cabins with accessible main and bathroom entrances, and the park’s Wards Campground has an ADAcompliant trail.

CADDO LAKE STATE PARK

245 Park Road 2; Karnack, Texas tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/caddo-lake Drive from Dallas: 2 hours 49 minutes Drive from Fort Worth: 3 hours 20 minutes

If you’re looking for a true change of scenery from the hustle and bustle of the city, then Caddo Lake State Park is the perfect spot. Located on the eastern edge of Texas, this park is home to a lush landscape of wetlands and slow-moving bayous—an ideal habitat for a diverse range of animals, including fish, frogs, minks, waterfowl, beavers, white-tailed deer, snakes and even alligators. Yep, you read that right: There are alligators in the park, so definitely check out the park’s website for alligator safety tips as a precaution.

The animals are, of course, not the only ones to enjoy this natural

haven. Bring a kayak or canoe (or rent one in the park) and explore the huge, 26,810-acre Caddo Lake; navigate the twists and turns under a canopy of giant bald cypress trees, draped with Spanish moss. You can even journey into the 50+ miles of paddling trails in the Caddo region.

Interested in some serene fishing?

You can cast a line for 71 species of fish found in Caddo Lake. Hiking more your family’s thing? The forest awaits; look for the Pine Ridge Loop or the Caddo Forest Trail. Stop in at park headquarters so your little one can become a Junior Ranger and earn a badge by completing tasks throughout the park.

When it comes to lodging, choose from campsites (accommodating tents to RVs, with water to full hookups); screened shelters, with electricity, outdoor grills and picnic tables; and, if sleeping in a bed is more your speed, the limited-use cabin (sleeping space only) or historic cabins with other amenities.

And speaking of history, Caddo Lake State Park has a rich one: People

have lived in the area for some 12,000 years, hunting and gathering throughout the Caddo wetlands, forests and floodplains. Ask your kiddos what they would do to survive here without all the comforts of modern home. You can look up information about the Caddo Indians, who were here long before there was a park.

Caddo Lake State Park’s first structures were constructed by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1933–37. Can your children spot the remnants of original picnic spots along the trails?

Know before you go: This is a popular park, so booking your day passes early is recommended; you can book up to 30 days in advance.

Want to stay in one of the coveted cabins? You might need to plan five months ahead. Pets are not allowed in cabin areas, but they are allowed in the park for camping or day use.

Several of the cabins are ADA accessible. Busy season is from March to November; we suggest visiting in late March or early April when dogwood trees are blooming. Beautiful! dfwchild.com / march 2021

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THE RESOURCES OF A TOP PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. THE RESILIENCE OF A CHILD.

Children’s HealthSM works with families to face the tough stuff head-on. And this time is no different. We’re taking every precaution to keep you safe.

See how we’re keeping your family safe at childrens.com/safety.

special needs.

RÉSUMÉ AGE 46. “Yikes. It shocks me to say that out loud.” HAILS FROM Born in Arizona; grew up in the Rio Grande Valley LIVES IN East Dallas (Forest Hills) OCCUPATION Publisher of Raymondville Chronicle & Willacy County News ALMA MATER Southern Methodist University SIGNIFICANT OTHER Joel, her husband of 21 years (“also shocking”); research technology professional KIDS Edie, 11, Hugh, 9, Bea, 7. Edie has ADHD. Hugh has autism spectrum disorder. Bea has dyslexia.

NEWSPAPER: NOUN PROJECT

mom next door /

DIANA WHITWORTH NELSON on the record WORDS PHOTOGRAPHY

K E L LY W O O L E Y

KORENA BOLDING SINNETT

D

IANA WHITWORTH NELSON MAY HAVE BEEN BORN IN ARIZONA, but she got to Texas as fast as she could. She grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, where her parents published a newspaper, then moved to Dallas to attend SMU. After graduating with a degree in journalism (it runs in the family), she took a job in south central Texas—as did the man she would marry. “We were on different paths, in different cities,” Nelson says.

“Stars aligned in summer ’97 to bring us to San Antonio and to the same company.”

Becoming a mother wasn’t as easy as finding her life partner. Nelson and husband Joel, who moved back to Dallas, finally turned to adoption. Once they made that choice, their first child was home quickly. Two siblings followed. But after yearning for parenthood, the couple were plunged into something unexpected: parenting children with special needs and learning differences. Nelson adapted and embraced what was before her. “We thought there was one right way to raise kids,” she says.

“Now we realize there are three right ways to raise three different kids.” dfwchild.com / march 2021

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special needs / M O M You had a tough road to motherhood. Tell us a little more about how you got to the point when you finally brought your children home. Joel and I were on the same page about having a big family and starting early, because we wanted our kids to be close with their cousins. I have older brothers and he has an older sister, so we were born playing catch up. After we were married a couple of months, we started playing “Catholic roulette.” (Laughs.) Then we tried everything from acupuncture to IVF. And what is it they say about the best-laid plans? After 10 years, it was still just us and the dogs.

It had been all that time of shots and disappointment with no real diagnosis of why I couldn’t get pregnant. We considered using donor eggs, and Joel’s immediate response was, “I don’t want to make a baby with someone else.” That was exactly what I needed to hear, which led us to adoption. Sometimes the best-laid plans don’t go awry; they just delay. Our 10 years of “just us” were pretty amazing though. We worked, traveled, bonded and remodeled a house.

Is adoption something you were familiar with, or was it new to you? Joel’s first cousin was adopted, so it was familiar to him. And when I was little, I had the sweetest aunt and uncle who couldn’t get pregnant. I remember thinking they were crazy for not adopting, and I vowed I would [if I dealt with infertility].

Failed fertility treatments were financially and physically stressful. I was tired of the treatments and ready to be a mom. After we sat down at a Catholic Charities adoption seminar and I heard the speaker say, “If you want to be parents, you will be parents,” I finally believed that I would be a mom.

What was that process like for you? We did the required home study; it wasn’t easy but not as intimidating as it sounded. We were approved within a few months and had our photo in a book of potential adoptive parents for birthmothers to consider. She picked us in a couple weeks and was due a few weeks after that. So after 10 years, it happened quickly.

NEXT DOOR

After we met our daughter’s “tummy mommy,” we drove straight to Pottery Barn Kids and opened a line of credit. I remember that as well as I remember Edie’s birth. It was a fun, mad fury of preparation. She reached out two more times to tell us she was pregnant.

Did you immediately know you’d adopt Edie’s siblings? We always wanted four, a nice, even number. Hugh, who has autism spectrum disorder, is like having two kids though. When their birth mother called and told us she was pregnant with Bea, we weren’t sure we could handle it. But of course we brought her into our family.

How do you talk to the kids about adoption? We speak openly about it.

They know “my tummy doesn’t work” and that they have a “tummy mommy.” Joel and I were in the delivery room for all three kids, and the hospital treated us like any other parents and gave us our own room. The children have met their birth mother, but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen her. She moved out of state. In the beginning, as an adoptive parent in an open adoption, you’re a little afraid of a co-parenting situation. We very quickly realized that wasn’t the case. It’s typically the adoptive parents who want more contact.

When did you discover that your children have learning differences or special needs? I knew Edie had ADHD early. She got her diagnosis at age 6. With Hugh, I feel like I noticed from birth that something was different. He is non-verbal. Bea recently received a dyslexia diagnosis. She’s actually proud!

I do want to share a positive aspect of our adoption—besides the obvious, that it made us parents. Joel and I never played the “blame game” for any special needs or learning differences. Because we aren’t their birthparents, I think it helped us not waste time in denial or wondering if our genetics or something I did during pregnancy caused autism. We got to skip that and go straight to action mode.

You mentioned that your son is non-verbal.

How will you and Joel handle his future? Hugh

“FAILED FERTILITY TREATMENTS WERE FINANCIALLY AND PHYSICALLY STRESSFUL. I WAS TIRED OF THE TREATMENTS AND READY TO BE A MOM.”

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and the kids, eager to move back to the Rio Grande Valley and family.

Side by side, they published the Raymondville Chronicle & Willacy County News until my mom died in 2001. My dad continued the work until he passed away in 2018. I grew up in a newsroom and had been working for magazines, including DFWChild, since I graduated from SMU; it was a natural step for me to take over.

My very sympathetic DFWChild boss, Joy Niebes, graciously allowed me the flexibility to take on the responsibility of the newspaper and continue to work for her the year my dad was sick and then after he passed. About the time COVID-19 hit, I was running out of steam with my day jobs and mothering my three kids, even with the support of my hero husband. I very reluctantly left the magazines three weeks before I was introduced to distance learning.

It was a God thing, like everything in my life. Now I am managing the newspaper from afar. I have not seen our employees in person or the office in over a year. The paper is celebrating 101 years of local journalism, and it is economically surviving the pandemic just as it did the Great Depression. Sometimes I peek at it through the Nest cameras just to feel like I’m there.

How did COVID-19 affect your family?

We turned our house into a school-slashoffice. Our living room is Hugh’s classroom; Joel works out of the home office; each girl has a desk in a bedroom; and I am the floater with my laptop. It has been an adventure and a memory-maker. I remember a horrific hurricane from my childhood fondly; my family was all nestled together for a few days playing cards and sheltering from the storm.

Even though this has been a lot longer, I’m betting my kids will remember this year like that and have stories for their children.

Are the kids still learning virtually?

Hugh’s ABA provider BlueSprig and the girls’ school St. Thomas Aquinas opened back up this past fall. We have chosen to keep Hugh home because his allergies and asthma put him in a high-risk category, and his school has been awesome. They’ve allowed us to keep his therapist coming to the house every day for regular hours. Our fifth grader chose to stay online, but our first grader begged to go back. We are lucky that their school gave us the option.

A lot of people have felt very isolated this past year. Has it been hard on your family?

We have a few “pod families” we have relied on for socializing, who are as cautious as us. We occasionally visit with them, mostly outdoors, like we did for Halloween. The kids manned the PVC-pipe candy chute; the dads orchestrated a candy scavenger hunt; and the moms guarded the fire pit. Through all of this, I think Hugh is the happiest he has ever been.

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has made amazing progress in his 9 years. For instance, we did not know if he would ever learn to chew and swallow food or use a toilet. But because Hugh is mostly non-verbal and has developmental delays, we must be pragmatic about his future, especially at the point when Joel and I are gone. We know his sisters will love and watch over him, but he will most likely need more care than they can give.

Like many families in this position, we are on two housing interest lists, formerly called waiting lists. One is the Texas Home Living Program— TxHmL—and the other is the Community Living Assistance and Support Services—CLASS. It is widely known that it could be 15 years before you get a call, so getting on the list while your child is very young is key, even if you do not need it later.

Another safeguard for Hugh’s future is financial planning. I assumed only wealthy individuals had trusts, but it’s not like that. I went to an info session at Weeks Law Firm, which specializes in special needs trusts, and it was an eye-opener.

Hugh will need the support of Medicaid one day, and his housing and care will be costly. If someone like Hugh were to get a part-time job sweeping the lobby of a movie theater, he could not earn enough for his care. If a grandparent were to gift him $2,500, he could be ineligible for government assistance. A trust is a safe place for us to leave him money from our life insurance policies and make sure he has a safe living environment. It is also a place where a family member could contribute. Hugh will not be able to manage finances, so his sisters and cousin will act as trustees and make decisions in his best interest.

Coming back to the present, how has having children with special needs and learning differences affected your view of parenting? Infertility was a lesson in patience, and so is parenting children with special needs and learning differences.

Hugh’s progress is extremely slow but steady. I am not blessed with patience, but I practice every day and appreciate every milestone he meets.

As parents, Joel and I balance each other out. I was not spanked, while he got the wooden spoon.

My parents explained natural consequences and that worked for me. Our kids require a lot more structure, and we constantly strategize about how to motivate and provide consequences. And I’m a worrier. Joel is a doer. We aren’t prepared for everything, but we’ve mentally prepped for a lot.

Do you feel like the situation causes any stress in your marriage? I don’t think much has changed between us except that we are blessed with three beautiful, perfect children, and our challenges are different. Travel looks different—hello, Suburban.

Let’s talk about your career. You were formerly the associate publisher for DFWCHILD’s SPECIAL NEEDS magazine and grew up in the industry.

Right. After my parents were married, my dad worked for newspapers across Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona, and my three brothers were born along the way. I was born in Casa Grande, Arizona, right before they bought a weekly newspaper in Raymondville—down the road from their hometowns. My parents packed up the Suburban

For further information or to schedule a visit, email info@heroesdfw.org

heroesdfw.org 972-663-5853 Like us on Facebook: HEROESCamp

dfwchild.com / march 2021

©

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special needs / B R I E F S

EXTRA, EXTRA! read all about diana whitworth nelson’s day-to-day

1

FA M I LY AC TI V ITI E S S H E LOV E S

WE LIKE TO BIKE AND WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHITE ROCK LAKE, HAVE A WEEKEND FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT— OUTDOORS WHEN IT’S NICE—AND PLAY CARD GAMES.

K E L LY W O O L E Y

H OW S H E S PE NT A PA N D EM I C DATE N I G HT

2

“The only date night we’ve had this year was to an intimate restaurant located in our living room. The sign said ‘Vito’s’ and we had lasagna—that’s the restaurant in ‘Garfield’ and of course Garfield’s favorite meal; he has been popular in our house lately. The ‘wait staff’ was unusually intrusive and performed loud, off-tune keyboard melodies. And we had to clean everything up at the end of the night.”

WH E R E S H E S H O P S TI LL S H E D RO P S

4

3

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

“At the moment, it’s ‘Vito’s.’

But I’m looking forward to visiting our favorite patios again, like Smoky Rose and Matt’s Rancho Martinez.”

SMOKY ROSE // 8602 Garland Road, Dallas; smokyrose.com MATT’S RANCHO MARTINEZ // 1904 Skillman St., Dallas (additional locations in Garland and Royse City); mattstexmex.com

5 H OW S H E U NWI N DS

TEXAS // Multiple locations in Dallas; ruibals.com

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‘‘

“I’ve been spending too much time at outdoor garden centers like Ruibal’s, Lowe’s and Home Depot. And I’m a regular at Costco.” RUIBAL’S PLANTS OF

‘‘

A FEW YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE SAID A GOOD BOOK AND EXERCISE. THESE DAYS, IT’S A GLASS OF WINE, SCARY MOVIES AND REMODELING SHOWS.

DIANA: KORENA BOLDING SINNETT; GARFIELD BOOK: LERNER PUBLICATIONS ™; OUTDOOR DINING: SMOKY ROSE; WHITE ROCK LAKE: ©ISTOCK; GARDEN CENTER: HOME DEPOT

INTERVIEW

SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS AND GUARDIANSHIPS Sign up for Free Workshops at weekslawfirm.com/news-events

5600 Tennyson Parkway, Suite 105 Plano, Texas 75024 214-269-4290 weekslawfirm.com dfwchild.com / march 2021

27

a monday in the life of

TYRONA TAYLOR

As a single mom to three boys (a 1-yearold, a 7-year-old who has special needs, and a 19-year-old now in the Army), a special education teacher in Dallas ISD, and a student working toward her master’s degree, Tyrona Taylor has a full day every day. The Louisiana native makes her home in Seagoville. Her middle child, Malachi, has pachygyria—a developmental condition involving the brain—and experiences seizures.

6

AM I turn my alarm off and turn on Kirk Franklin’s Praise on Pandora.

Hop out of the bed to collect and administer 7-year-old Malachi’s seizure medication and change his diaper before the nurse arrives.

6:15AM Turn on “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” for Malachi and make a pot of coffee. I also prepare 1-year-old Ashton a bottle and place it in the warmer while I get ready for work.

6:30AM I’m dressed now. I get the bottle out of the warmer, get Ashton dressed for daycare, change his diaper and feed him before we leave.

6:50AM Greet Malachi’s nurse and sign her in.

7AM Out the door to take Ashton to daycare.

7:40AM I arrive at work. Grab my lunch and computer and head inside the school. I get my temperature checked before I enter.

8AM I collaborate with my coworkers, talking about meetings, trainings, new students and any upcoming events—such as parent-teacher conferences and ARD meetings. The list goes on and on, and I’m already feeling overwhelmed.

I can’t help but think about Ashton, because he just started daycare. I’m also wondering what my

oldest is up to. He just left for boot camp, and I haven’t heard from him.

8:15AM Can’t think about those things for too long—have to grab hand sanitizer, gloves and face shield, then head to the front of the school to get my kiddos off the bus.

8:45AM Head back to the classroom for handwashing, restroom break and breakfast.

9AM I’m on Zoom with my kiddos whose parents decided to stay virtual, while my kiddos in the classroom finish breakfast, check their schedule and start art by watching a YouTube tutorial, “How to Draw a Funny Cheeseburger.”

10AM Done with my Zoom, I teach a lesson on the subject of the month, government. I’m a little overwhelmed because Zoom lasted longer than expected, so we didn’t get to have our morning meeting. I thrive off of structure. But it’s Monday and everyone usually has questions from the weekend. We’ll get back on track later.

11AM Time for lunch. My students know that after lunch, it’s leisure time—something they look forward to every day. While they’re on leisure, I try to sneak a bite to eat and start writing IEP goals and objectives for an upcoming ARD. 12PM I wonder what Ashton is doing. I know Malachi is good; Mrs. Sarah has been caring for him for almost his entire life, so she’s like his second mom. I call the daycare to check on Ashton and make a phone call for Malachi’s doctor appointment. Then back to writing goals, checking emails, Google Classroom and Vizzle. That’s another platform for work, which allows me to manage data on progress. I forgot to input data today, so I’ll have to do it later.

12:30PM Although I’m not nearly done with paperwork, I need to get my students off of leisure and teach another lesson.

1:15PM Usually I would be teaching a life-skills lesson, but due to COVID, everyone has their iPad—so I allow them to complete a life-skills lesson on Google Classroom for Vizzle and tell me what they learned.

2PM Snack time. We head outside to get a little fresh air. While they’re playing basketball and doing other activities, I try to complete my ARD paperwork and respond to any parent messages.

And of course, read emails and comply with daily deadlines. Suddenly wonder, Did I put grades in for last week? Check my grade book to make sure.

2:45PM Head back in the building to clean up, take a bathroom break and spray tables and dividers. Then we prepare for the buses to come.

3:30PM Students start to leave, and I do some last-minute planning for tomorrow.

4PM Leaving work to pick Ashton up from daycare. As usual, traffic on 635.

4:45PM Stop by the store or stop to get Malachi his favorite beans from Taco Bueno. He doesn’t chew, so the refried beans and chili sauce with a side of ground beef is the perfect texture to cater to his sensory needs.

Diaries are penned by moms (and dads) in the North Texas area. The authors volunteer to share a day of their choosing and are not paid or endorsed by DFWChild. Send your diary to editorial@dfwchild.com. All submissions are subject to editing and may be cut for space.

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TAYLOR FAMILY: PHOTOGRAPHYBYKEN

special needs / R O U T I N E S

the fine

print

HOBBIES Arts and crafts, plus making bath bombs REGULAR DESTINATIONS It was Arizona and Vegas before I had Ashton. BEAUTY PRODUCT SHE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT Bobbi Brown foundation WHERE SHE GOES FOR RETAIL THERAPY Amazon CELEBRITY CRUSH Idris Elba RESTAURANT SHE LOVES FOR FAMILY MEALS Razzoo’s MOST-USED EMOJI The rollingon-the-floor-laughing face BEVERAGE OF CHOICE Water FAVORITE FAMILY TRADITION Getting together in my hometown for Easter BEST PURCHASE EVER My home NO. 1 ITEM ON HER BUCKET LIST Visit France for Fashion Week ON A GIRLS’ NIGHT, YOU’LL FIND HER Entertaining at home, in pajamas and having a glass of wine BIGGEST PET PEEVE When people don’t clean up behind themselves WHEN LIFE GETS STRESSFUL I go to the spa for a massage MOTHERHOOD IN FIVE WORDS Unconditional, love, patience, forgiving, priceless FAVORITE GIFT TO GIVE FRIENDS A motivational planner IF SHE HAD AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, IT WOULD BE TITLED How To Be Patient and Wait for God to Show You Your Purpose: The Story of Tyrona Taylor HER THEME SONG “Diamonds” by Rihanna SHE’S REALLY GOOD AT Getting things done under pressure SHE’S REALLY BAD AT Waiting for someone else to get something done for me DREAM JOB Owning my own day care, Grace Learning Academy. I already have my license!

Our organization’s mission is to help promote the rights of Individuals with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities.

We are determined to educate and assist families navigating through the complicated process of HHSC and Medicaid Waiver Services.

Did you know?

STOPS AT AGE 18

• Children’s Medicaid • Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP)

STOPS AT AGE 19

• Youth Empowerment Services (YES) waiver

STOPS AT AGE 21

• Medically Dependent Children’s Programs (MDCP) waiver • Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) program,

Note: persons with cystic fibrosis are eligible indefinitely

WAIVER PROGRAMS

5:30PM Finally make it home. Get Ashton out of the car, speak to Malachi and give him a big kiss. I prepare Ashton a bottle and jump in the shower. If my goddaughter Brianna is here, she’ll take Ashton while I’m in the shower and even feed him for me.

6:30PM Mrs. Sarah is leaving, so I talk to her about Malachi’s day, including new activities, bowel movements, seizure activity and anything else I need to be aware of. She’ll usually remind me of something I forgot about, like appointments and needed equipment.

6:45PM Mrs. Sarah is out the door. I’m reading the boys a book. Hoping they will fall asleep soon so I can study.

8PM Pull out my laptop, notebook, pen and my Exceptional Learners textbook. I really need to read at least one chapter and an article and look at a video that the teacher has assigned for this week. Malachi is fast asleep, but Ashton is looking at me with his big brown eyes, babbling and wanting me to talk to him. I talk to him and then start to read my textbook out loud. He smiles wide.

9PM Ashton is finally asleep. I want to sleep, but I’m still reading and looking for research to start on my assignment that is due Friday. I know I will not finish, but writing notes along the way helps me keep my thoughts together before I type it up Thursday.

10PM I lie down in bed and turn on the television. I’m fast asleep within 15 minutes.

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dfwchild.com / march 2021

29

ADVERTISEMENT

EXPANDING THE HORIZONS For over 14 years, Therapy and Beyond has been expanding the horizons of families impacted by autism. Founded by Dr. Regina Crone, they use play-based teaching in a naturalistic setting to provide ABA therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy for children ages two to 18 in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Their individualized programs encourage family involvement and focus on major areas of development, including behavior, language, social, academic, and self-help.

INSPIRED BY AUTISM

individualized programs encourage family involvement and focus on major areas of development, including behavior, language, social, academic, and self-help.

Dr. Crone’s devotion to the autism community started when her family adopted her youngest brother from Russia. At eighteen months old, he had few sounds, little eye contact and displayed behaviors such as head banging, lining up shoes, and sorting his toys by color. She watched her mother work tirelessly to find help for him, from school district red tape to therapists who readily gave up. Finally, they found a good fit and a dedicated therapist who taught her brother sign language. Watching his communication skills and confidence grow inspired her to one day make a difference in other children’s lives. Today, she fuels this passion through programs at Therapy and Beyond as well as Camden Hill Montessori and Teach Me Academy. Recently Dr. Crone co-founded the nonprofit Labeled and Loved, whose mission is to embrace and strengthen families with special needs by providing connective experiences and educational resources igniting personal growth and systemic change within the community.

NOT A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH Therapy and Beyond aims to teach socially significant, meaningful skills, not rote skills, by developing a specific, individualized program for each child using the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

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GIVING BACK One of Therapy and Beyond’s goals each year is to give back to the Autism community through free events, such as the Mom’s Mingle.

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special needs

/ TAKE NOTE

FAMILY: ©ISTOCK; SENSORY BATTERY: NOUN PROJECT

Parents of kids with special needs should ensure siblings also feel seen and heard.

BALANCING ACT tips to help parents care for their kids and themselves WORDS

JUDY M. MILLER

M

ANY MOMS AND DADS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

appear to parent with energy, balance and grace. They seem organized and remarkably stress-free. How do they pull it together when you’re just scrambling to get everyone ready for school and in the car? (Spoiler: It’s years of trial and error.) Here are six tips to make life a little easier. Even if we as parents know these things, a gentle reminder is always helpful.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

First and foremost, become an expert about your children and their needs. You probably research continually and ask questions of their health care providers, but being wellversed in the state and federal laws that regulate services for your children is also a must. dfwchild.com / march 2021

31

services.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

special needs / T A K E

NOTE

a resourceful guide for your special needs A One-Of-A-Kind Camp

Camp Summit is a residential camp for children and adults with disabilities where the emphasis is on the campers’ abilities rather than their disabilities. Traditional camp activities are adapted to each camper, provided in our barrier-free facilities, and implemented by trained, caring staff.

Campers are grouped by age, providing the opportunity to make friends within peer groups while experiencing new adventures.

Camp Summit 270 Private Rd. 3475, Paradise, TX 76073 972-484-8900 • camp@campsummittx.org campsummittx.org

ABA Team Approach For Success ROCKWALL & GREENVILLE Our program includes an on-site therapy clinic, where students receive ABA Therapy throughout the day in addition to participating in an accredited educational program.

• ABA Therapy • Indoor Motor Lab • Speech Therapy • Social Skills Group • Occupational Therapy • Summer Camp

ABOVE // You'll have more energy for family fun and your responsibilities if you surround yourself with the right kind of people.

Marigold Learning Academy ABA Therapy Center 401 W. Washington St., Rockwall, TX 75087 972-722-3892 • MarigoldLearningAcademy@gmail.com MarigoldLearningAcademy.com

Knowing your child’s rights as an individual with special needs is essential for you to be able to advocate for them and get everything the government provides for children with their disability.

The tricky part about educating yourself is knowing where to start. Wrightslaw (wrightslaw.com) is a comprehensive collection of laws and news related to special needs advocacy. To zero in on Texas services, bookmark Texas Project FIRST (texasprojectfirst.org), an offshoot of the Texas Education Agency that compiles resources for Texas parents, including state handbooks and training workshops.

We provide services to children and adults.

• 1-on-1 in center & in home ABA therapy • Social Skills • Community Outings • Naturalistic Teaching • Interactive Approach • Social Skills Group • Community Outings • Speech Therapy Available ABA Interactive Behavioral Therapy 817-849-5802 abainteractive.org

DON’T NEGLECT SIBLINGS

Work to ensure that your neurotypical children actually have childhoods and don’t take on adult responsibilities. Like their parents, siblings of children with special needs are also coping and often need help in learning to deal with their brother or sister with special needs. Encouraging them to spend time with their friends is one way to help; sending them for professional counseling is another great option for you to consider.

Connect your neurotypical children with kids they can relate to by joining Sibshop, a program created by the Seattle-based Sibling Support Project. Kids who have brothers and sisters with special needs meet regularly with kids in other families for a curriculumbased playtime with games and activities. For more info, visit the website at siblingsupport.org.

To advertise in the DFWChild Special Needs Services section, call 972-447-9188 or email advertising@dfwchild.com

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KIDS: ©ISTOCK

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH ENERGY GIVERS

People are either energy zappers or energy givers. Being an effective parent means spending time in the company of people who make you feel confident, positive and happy, and less time with those who don’t. Parent coach Galit Birk, Ph.D., describes energy zappers as those who leave you feeling exhausted. “Anyone who drains you, or compares his or her kids to yours and makes you feel bad or doubt yourself, is not someone you want to be around,” she says. Be good to yourself by weeding out the zappers.

dfwchild.com / march 2021

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special needs / T A K E

NOTE

ABOVE // Managing stress is key to a smooth day-to-day life. A family activity such as martial arts could help you maintain an even keel.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS Get all the sweet stuff delivered to your inbox: the latest parenting trends, mom favorites, and DFW’s best family-friendly events.

Scan with your phone’s camera

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SELF-SOOTHE

“TRY AN APPRECIATION OR GRATITUDE JOURNAL. ONCE A DAY, WRITE DOWN SOMETHING THAT YOU’RE GRATEFUL FOR.”

Between all the therapist and doctor appointments, juggling becomes your way of life and leaves little time to do the things you want and like to do. Address yourself holistically by taking care of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Eat nutritious food, stay properly hydrated, schedule time for regular exercise—make sure you take care of all of you.

Spending time with your significant other is essential, too.

To carve out a few hours for yourself, take advantage of local opportunities for respite care. Many church groups and nonprofit organizations host monthly respite programs, often for free, and childhood recreation centers host hourly drop-in programs exclusively for kids with special needs. We have a list of resources on our website; visit dfwchild.com and click on “Directories.” There’s a dedicated section for special needs providers and services, including respite care.

Managing stress doesn’t come easily for most parents, so learning to self-soothe is a must.

“Moms need to figure out what works for them,” says Birk. “For some it might be putting on music or going in the other room and doing deep breathing.” If music and deep breathing don’t do it for you, Birk suggests writing in a journal.

“Try an appreciation or gratitude journal.

Once a day, write down something that you’re grateful for.”

JOIN A SUPPORT GROUP

Support groups exist for a reason: so you can join forces and share your journey as a parent of a child with special needs. We recently compiled a list of local resources; head to dfwchild.com and search for the article “12 Support Groups for Parents of Kids with Special Needs.” Just knowing you’re not alone will grant you some much-needed peace of mind.

Additional reporting by the editorial staff.

KIDS: ©ISTOCK

TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF

Pediatric Home Health Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy Terapia de Lenguaje, Ocupacional y Física

Serving Children Ages: 0–21

• Highly Experienced Clinical Team • Specialized Feeding Program • Achieving your child’s greatest potential Our therapists create a fun and nurturing therapy experience for children with special needs.

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special needs / WORDS

TAKE NOTE: IN BRIEF

HEATHER VANCE DEVERS + ALEXIS PATTERSON

Dental Care for Special Needs practitioners who are comfortable assessing and treating them, finding dental clinics that accept their insurance, and having access to sedative services—in-office and at surgical centers. These problems are amplified in smaller cities and rural areas due to lower saturations of dentists. Patients with special needs face these challenges due to poor insurance coverage and the dental community’s unfamiliarity in treating this group.

How will the grant help address those issues?

Our HRSA grant will train dentists to be confident in treating patients of all ages with special needs. Dental students and advanced general dentistry and pediatric dentistry graduate students will have the ability to work together to allow patients a seamless transition into adulthood. In the community, this would minimize barriers to care this group faces over a lifetime and standardize treatment goals across specialties.

What will students learn? Our grant will allow students to not only interact with patients who have special needs but encourage an interdisciplinary, patientcentered approach in treating them as part of a team. They will learn how to deliver dental care in a community clinic environment as well as in a hospital setting. Advanced sedation methods will be taught to postdoctoral students to manage patients with complex medical histories.

Tell us about plans for a dedicated clinic.

Once fully funded, our clinic will see patients who have special needs with no age limit. We will be able to provide a full array of dental services to the vast majority of patients and families. We are currently treating children with special needs in our pediatric dentistry department and expect our teenage and adult special-needs clinic to be completed in 2022. Readers can visit dentistry. tamu.edu to stay updated or donate through the Texas A&M Foundation to help make this a reality for families across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

News:

TALK IT THROUGH Parents of children on the autism spectrum may need to take steps to ensure kids understand healthy disagreements between Mom and Dad. A study from researchers at SMU and TCU showed that children with autism could be more likely to perceive constructive conflict as more negative than it is. “Seeing parents respectfully problem-solve during a disagreement provides children with examples of how to resolve conflict in a healthy way,” says Chrystyna Kouros, associate professor of psychology at SMU. “But children on the autism spectrum may be missing the chance to benefit from those interactions.” Researchers suggest parents make clear when differences are resolved, and teach kids to distinguish between destructive yelling and constructive disagreements that are talked through. The team received a grant for further research.

work of heart A NEW MURAL IN THE HEART OF FORT WORTH ISD honors the district’s 14,000 special education students. Painted by artist Juan Velázquez, the artwork depicts a diversity of student hands releasing multicolored butterflies. The colors and patterns of the butterflies correspond to the colors and awareness ribbons representing the special needs and conditions experienced by students within Fort Worth ISD—cerebral palsy, ADHD, limb loss, Down syndrome and neurodiversity, among others.

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march 2021 / dfwchild.com

DR. BURCH: COURTESY OF TEXAS A&M COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY; HEART TUG: ©I ©ISTOCK; MURAL: FORT WORTH ISD/@KENTPSCRIBNER

H

ere’s something to smile about: The Texas A&M College of Dentistry, located in Dallas, is launching a program for special-needs dentistry, and planning a new clinic for individuals with special needs. Those patients are often underserved—but Dr. Dan Burch, a clinical assistant professor at the school, worked with a colleague to secure a grant to expand opportunities for care. We chatted with Dr. Burch about his commitment to serving those with special needs and what families need to know.

Tell us about your inspiration for broadening access to dental care for individuals with special needs. As I have practiced pediatric dentistry, I have seen an increased number of children, teenagers and adults with special needs continually search for dental homes.

As children aged, fewer and fewer dentists felt comfortable treating them. By the time they turned 18 years old, the number of dentists willing to provide treatment was next to none. While working in Fort Worth, I was amazed to have patients drive from Oklahoma and Amarillo to see me. It was flattering, yet frustrating, to see families make such a long journey for a simple cleaning or filling.

As a professor at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, I felt like I had to do something to help.

This is not just a state issue, but a national issue that cuts across economic, geographic and ethnographic lines. I turned to the Health Resources and Services Administration to answer my call for an intervention and teamed up with Dr. Dan Jones of the dental school’s public health sciences department to submit an innovative community intervention grant proposal that received funding.

What are some of the issues patients with special needs often encounter in accessing dental care? Some of the most troubling issues that patients encounter include finding dental

Offering on-campus and robust virtual learning options

CREATIVE + INTEGRATED approaches to speech + feeding therapy

Speech | Orofacial Myofunctional | Feeding Therapy We believe in a multi-sensory holistic approach to therapy to meet individual needs.

SAFETY IS A PRIORITY

Our safety measures include:

• PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL • SMALL CLASS SIZES • ROLLING ADMISSIONS • SOCIAL LEARNING CURRICULUM AT ALL GRADE LEVELS • ON-SITE THERAPY (SPEECH, OT, FLOORTIME AND COUNSELING)

+ Wash hands upon entering and leaving

• PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN CLASSES TAUGHT BY LICENSED SPEECH THERAPISTS

+ Clean and sanitize rooms between each client

• EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING CURRICULUM, TRANSITION AND LIFE SKILLS CLASSES

+ All therapists and clients wear face shields

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OMS, YOU’RE WELL AWARE of how overwhelming it is to bring home a new baby. There’s so much to learn. And so much to buy! Babies need a lot of things—and diapers are at the top of the list. Have you ever thought what it would be like to struggle to provide diapers for your child? Trying to stretch out baby’s time in one diaper so you don’t run out completely? Dallas organization iLookLikeLove is working to serve moms and babies in that very situation. We spoke to iLookLikeLove founder and executive director Phillipa Williams about the need, which is greater than you probably expect.

Tell us about how iLookLikeLove got started. I was working in a ministry at FriendshipWest Baptist Church. We started doing some research on where there were gaps, as far as the resources that were available to young families. And that’s how we came upon providing diapers. dfwchild.com / march 2021

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FOR NEW MOMS

We saw there were really no organizations that were focusing on diaper insufficiency, and we felt like this was an area where we could make a real impact.

How does your distribution work? We [normally] have a monthly event called Diaper Day; it’s on the fourth Saturday of every month. We’re starting up again this month.

It actually started with Dallas WIC [the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children] back in 2017; we became a community partner with Dallas WIC. And so we started doing Diaper Day events, distributing through Dallas clinics.

And we focused primarily in the southern sector of Dallas WIC clinics.

How did COVID impact your efforts? We were just starting our third year with WIC, and in March, when everything came to a halt for all organizations, we were forced to shut down and reassess how we were going to provide services. That prompted us to pivot and to make sure that we were still addressing our community. So we actually started connecting with different organizations throughout the community to provide a Diaper Day experience at their location.

We’ve been at Park South YMCA in South Dallas. We’ve been there several times. Casa View Christian Church with Pastor Jayme in East Dallas—that particular community was really important. Teen pregnancy in that area is extremely high, so we knew the need was extremely great. This month we’re slated for Red Bird Mall.

Tell us more about the need for diapers. I call it the “overlooked essential.” It’s something that every family, if you have a new child, has as a prominent need. And we know that it takes up so much of a low-income family’s finances; about 14% of their take-home pay goes toward diapers. And 1 in 3 families in America struggles to maintain a sufficient diaper supply. Dallas, interestingly enough, has a history of being significantly higher as far as diaper need, almost 1 in 2 families.

That’s shocking—1 in 2 Dallas families struggling to provide diapers. Yeah. It was shocking to me as well because people aren’t having conversations about diapers. It’s not really part of the childhood poverty profile. When you hear about the elements of childhood poverty, it’s not something that’s really discussed. But when you’re at that point of having to make a decision—and this was pre-COVID—between transportation or food or utilities, or to stretch diapers—something that’s common for families who don’t have enough—it became a real touchpoint for us.

Did COVID mean more diapers needed?

Prior to COVID, the highest number of babies served in a day was 156. And now with COVID, we’ve reached 302 babies served at one Diaper Day. We understand your own story was part of your inspiration. I was a child of the ’60s; my

mother was a single mother. Being a young African-American woman raising a little one then—the stigma was very intense. She had a circle of family that was very supportive, and I’m so grateful for that. But so many mothers do not. I found myself as a single mom when my child was young. And it was the gift and the love of, sometimes, strangers who came to our rescue. [They helped] us with some of the essentials so I could make sure that he was a happy child, that he was a healthy child.

What that did for me was to really bring home and make very real in my own life what it means to give unconditional love. People availed themselves to me, without judgment, without an agenda. I wanted to give back in that way in my own community.

And I’m a product of Dallas. I grew up in South Dallas, in Oak Cliff, went to Carter High School. I really wanted to make sure that mothers in this community were getting something more. I mean, 14% is significant when you’re talking about your take-home pay. And if you just have something to help supplement that diaper supply, then that can be a lot. That can mean a lot.

Every little bit helps. Since your organization really got going a few years ago, how has iLookLikeLove grown? In 2018, iLookLikeLove served over 600 families and over 38,000 diapers were distributed. Last year, we did a little over 104,000 diapers in the community for 4,037 families. So we definitely had a growth spurt. (Laughs.) Part of that was, of course, word of mouth and raising more awareness about diaper need. But our partnerships were very important in that.

Because we’re mobile, we wanted to make sure that was part of the model.

Even now in COVID, we aim to have proximity to the need. Even our office is based in South Dallas so that we’re close to the impoverished communities that really need us the most.

Do you ever have people come to you from other areas of DFW? Yes. The one thing I have learned is that when people need diapers, they will travel. They will get to where the diapers are. But it’s always important to make sure that we are addressing these very specific needs of those communities that are hardest hit.

Being very strategic about that really helped us to explode as far as volume, making sure that we were connecting to the families who need it the most.

What are some ways the community can get involved? Diaper Day events are certainly open to volunteers. And then, of course, donations are accepted. A diaper drive is a lot of fun.

And because people are really looking for meaningful ways that they can serve, that’s something that we’ve seen an increase in. And of course, a financial or tax-free donation is certainly appreciated. People can also find out information on our website, ilooklikelove.org, or call 800/569-5897.

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kid culture.

LONDON GIRLS: LAUREN BRYAN KNIGHT; GLOBE: NOUN PROJECT

Dallasite Lauren Bryan Knight’s family lives abroad— but kids can learn about the world without traveling.

CULTURE CLUB put the world at your kids’ feet

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ALEXIS PATTERSON

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UITCASES GATHERING A LITTLE DUST these days? Yeah, ours too. Any travel, and especially family travel, seems daunting during the pandemic. (How many times would you say “Don’t touch that!”?) Of course, even without a pandemic, traveling with kids isn’t exactly easy. And taking your kids overseas? Well, the thought of that sends chills down many parents’ spines.

Still, we want our children to appreciate the world around them. So we asked some bona fide world travelers and other savvy individuals to tell us how they bring the essence of cultures from across the globe to kids—no plane ticket required.

BRING THE WORLD HOME If a question about Europe comes up, Dallas native Lauren Bryan Knight almost certainly has the dfwchild.com / march 2021

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“Keep this fun and easy,” she says. “We all have plenty on our plates with work, virtual school and chores. Don’t make this another chore.”

That means a simple approach, centered on things your family already enjoys.

“Pick a place. Watch a movie or read a book,” Jewsbury suggests. Picture books or photography books are great for helping kids visualize life in another society. You can also go on a YouTube trip, as the platform has endless videos of travel experiences, from train rides and urban exploration to mountain hikes and wildlife tours. (Just screen the video first to make sure it’s kid-friendly.)

Once your family has gotten a feel for the country, “have a party where you make or buy food from that culture. Just one dish is fine,” Jewsbury stresses. “Maybe the kids want to do an art project to decorate the party.

Use the time to sit together and share your thoughts on what you’ve learned, what you would still like to learn, connections you see to your life, differences you appreciated, and so on. Maybe next time, you’ll be inspired to dive deeper.”

That deeper dive could include livestreamed and other virtual experiences—something that the pandemic has made more abundant than ever.

“One of the silver linings of the pandemic is how many organizations have put their festivals, lectures, performances and classes online,” says Jewsbury. “Now, from the comfort of your own sofa, you can watch dance performances in Vienna, attend Egyptology lectures or go on safari in Africa.”

CULTURE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Our North Texas communities also provide windows into foreign lands. For example, there are a number of language schools with class options for kids.

“Learning the language provides an immersive experience into a new culture,” says Kerry Briard, director of admission and development for Dallas International School (DIS). “The more fluent children become in another language, the broader their access to that culture.”

DIS students receive a bilingual education in French and English, and learn an additional language—Spanish, Mandarin or German. But

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answer. She now makes her home in London; Knight is the author and owner of Aspiring Kennedy, an international tour and travel guide website.

She and her husband moved abroad a decade ago for his graduate work; their children—Viola, 8, Harrison, 5, and Edie, 3—came along after. Living in Europe, and having a mom who travels professionally, obviously puts the Knight kids at an advantage when it comes to understanding and appreciating foreign cultures. “Working in travel at the same time we had babies meant that they were often coming along for the ride,” Knight notes. “My oldest had clocked 10 countries by her first birthday, and it never really slowed down after having our other kids. Well, until COVID happened.”

While the family has always enjoyed learning about the world, the pandemicimposed lockdown led to different ways of doing so.

For example, “I got new cookbooks and began making food that reminds us of some of our favorite places,” says Knight.

“If you’re eating a wintery soup from Tuscany, dinner in rainy London feels a bit cozier.”

Eating foods from different countries is a great way to, well, get a taste of what life there is like. Music is another. “Smelling the black dhal slowcooking and playing Indian music on your record player makes you feel less like you’re in your home and more like you’re grabbing food in a Mumbai train terminal,” says Knight. Want to give your kids a bit of French culture? “Never underestimate the power of a weekend morning with Edith Piaf cranked up a bit too loud and a breakfast table of warm, store-bought pains au chocolat.” (Those would be chocolate croissants, bien sûr.)

Perhaps these music-filled meals stir memories for Knight’s children. What if your kids don’t have those experiences to recall?

There are actually learning opportunities all around you.

During COVID-19, Kipper and Andrew Jewsbury have been planted stateside, but their children—known on their blog, Kids & Passports, as Falcon, 11, and Batty, 9—have visited 37 countries and every continent except Antarctica. They have plenty of advice on how to introduce your kids to other cultures at home. Kipper Jewsbury’s bottom line advice?

CLUB

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kid culture / C U L T U R E

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ABOVE // The Kimbell Art Museum, located in Fort Worth, is one of the area’s museums offering a window into different places and times.

KIMBELL ART MUSEUM, FORT WORTH, TEXAS: ROBERT LAPRELLE

you don’t have to be an official DIS student (or parent) to benefit from its expertise. The school’s Language Institute offers online classes for children and adults, as well as camps, for French, Spanish, Mandarin and Arabic.

Both traditional DIS classes and its special programs extend beyond learning language. “DIS helps children learn about international cultures through various subjects, including art, music, literature, poetry and history,” notes Briard.

Art museums are another DFW resource to immerse kids in foreign culture. “Children are naturally curious, and art museums are filled with eye-catching, wondrous objects,” points out Connie Hatchette Barganier, education manager for Fort Worth’s Kimbell Art Museum (which offers free entry to its permanent collection). “Artworks are packed with a lot of visual information—colors, shapes, textures—and invite us to construct stories about what artists are communicating, or to form more personal connections. Building upon those initial observations, an artwork can act as a portal into many time periods, places and cultures from around the world.”

We’re going to pause here—we know what you’re thinking: There’s no way my device-obsessed kid is going to enjoy a trip to an art museum.

You’d be surprised; it’s all in how you approach it. Barganier explains, “Most kiddos are very kinetic, tactile learners. This can work in the museum, as long as adults remind them to avoid getting too close and to not touch the artworks. For example, children, and adults too, might try mimicking the different poses and gestures they see. This simple activity deepens attentiveness and understanding of how these stances communicate different ideas. Simple questions or prompts—such as ‘What do you think we might hear if we were inside this scene?’—can lead to some exciting discoveries.”

Keep in mind, Barganier emphasizes, that a successful museum visit doesn’t have to be a long one.

“One of the Kimbell’s great strengths is its comparatively small permanent collection made up of artworks that range from thousands of years to almost 50 years old, and that represent traditions and cultures from around the world,” Barganier says. “In a single, unrushed hour, a family may marvel at a sculpture of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, travel along a winding mountain path in a scroll painting from China, learn the story of an influential African hero, and decide what will happen next in the painting depicting a game of cards.”

Barganier notes that many museum websites offer specific suggestions for visiting with children (for the Kimbell’s recommendations, check out kimbellart.org/visit/visiting-kids), and you can also find information about special events that feature family activities. She reminds parents to be aware of when kids have absorbed plenty and are ready to move on to something else.

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MAKE IT HAPPEN That’s sage advice from Barganier; the goal in all this, of course, is to incite kids’ interest and want them to come back for more.

Jewsbury agrees. “I sometimes feel pressured to learn everything about another culture,” she says. “Turns out, you don’t have to.

Pick one culture to start and go with it as long as everyone’s interested. Then stop. You can always come back later.”

Your children’s level of interest may be higher than you think. Sure, they’re into video games, Tik Tok and a million other e-things.

But you can use that to your advantage. “Don’t be afraid to leverage devices if that starts the conversation,” Jewsbury says, adding that all the major streaming services offer international children’s programming. Have a Minecraft fan? She suggests trying to pattern builds after famous architecture from around the world.

And let kids get really hands-on. Tina Dieber, a first-generation Italian-American and mom of three who lives in Colleyville, has turned her kids into master chefs with family recipes. They also get a window into their heritage with Skype and WhatsApp video calls with relatives who live in Italy. “My son likes to see my uncle’s farm, and his twin sister likes to see my aunt’s outdoor kitchen,” Dieber says. Have relatives, however distant, who live abroad? Forge a connection. Maybe someday you’ll even be able to visit, and your children

march 2021 / dfwchild.com

will already have a sense of what life there is like.

“I have seen my children develop a love and appreciation for Italian culture, food and music,” says Dieber, who has used that foundation built at home to enhance the trips the family has taken to Italy. “In my mind, understanding leads to appreciation. The kids love their Italian relatives and really connect with them.”

But why is that connection to another culture so important for kids? There’s plenty to know and love about Texas and the rest of the United States, right?

Exposing children to distant lands “shows them that different cultures and people live differently than us, and that’s OK,” Knight notes. “There can be happy, extremely important aspects to daily life in other places that may have never previously crossed our own minds. It gives kids awareness to think: There’s more out here than I can know or realize. And that’s a humbling realization most people get only as adults.”

Jewsbury echoes Knight’s sentiments.

“Many of us spend the majority of time with people who live, think and look very similar to ourselves. Learning about and experiencing other cultures is a way to take a few steps in another person’s shoes, a way to connect on similarities and acknowledge differences without casting them as wrong. Open minds, open hearts.”

BROADEN THEIR MINDS

Virtual field trips, books that inspire understanding, and more: Here are some specific tools to extend your kids’ worldview.

• MULTICULTURAL BOOKS: Kipper Jewsbury, who travels extensively with her family, recommends Colours

of Us (coloursofus.com) and I’m Your Neigbor (imyourneighborbooks.org) to find lists of books organized by culture. The lists include the ages the books are best suited for, summaries and images.

KID-FRIENDLY NEWS: Jewsbury likes The Week Junior magazine (theweekjunior.com), which covers current events and other relevant topics from the United States and around the world—in a way that kids ages 8–14 can understand and appreciate.

GAMES AND QUIZZES: One more Jewsbury favorite—BrainPop, a subscription-based site (brainpop.com) with short, kid-friendly videos, quizzes and activities about a variety of topics; searching “culture,” for example, pulls up everything from the Great Wall of China to the Maya civilization.

MAPS AND SATELLITE IMAGERY: Access Google Earth for satellite images, 3D buildings and terrains for cities throughout the world. Google Earth also provides guided tours to interesting sites. You can get an atlas as well. Lauren Bryan Knight, a Dallasite who now lives abroad, says her 5-year-old son goes to bed every night with his atlas and plans fantastic trips. Then they talk about what each destination would offer.

INTERACTIVE CONTENT: Here’s another Google resource. Google Arts & Culture has everything from a virtual coloring book, with famous paintings and iconic structures from diverse countries, to virtual tours of places such as Easter Island and celebrated art galleries. In addition, you can find imagery and information about various historical events and figures.

FOLLOW ALONG: The Jewsbury family blog, found at kidsandpassports.com, lets your kids accompany Kipper, Andrew, Falcon and Batty as they explore the world. The site also has more tips for learning about other cultures from home. Knight writes at aspiringkennedy.com, offering travel tips, guides and more.

• •

• • •

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CLUB

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kid culture / T R A V E L

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plan the park trip of your dreams WORDS

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SYDNEY BLALOCK RITCHIE

HEY SAY DISNEY WORLD IS THE HAPPIEST PLACE on Earth. It

can be—if you plan your trip well! Here’s your “how to” guide.

WHEN TO PLAN—AND GO Former Disney planner Angelyn Horrell (now DFWChild’s audience development director) advises starting to plan six months to one year out. As far as best time of year to go, Shannon Albert—travel planner with WDW Prep School—says that “the best time of year to visit is normally a fairly easy question for us to answer, but it’s tricky to predict currently. Right now, we are projecting that crowds will mostly increase

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throughout the year as more and more people feel safe to travel.

People traveling now will see lighter crowds but also fewer things open.”

Albert expects the best balance— smaller crowds and more open attractions—to be in September.

(For a breakdown of crowd expectations, visit WDW Prep School’s crowd calendar at wdwprepschool. com/disney-world-crowd-calendar.)

How long to stay? For a group of first-timers, Albert recommends a week. “That allows for plenty of time in the parks, some resort time, a chance to rest between long park days and so on,” she explains.

If you’ve been before, were you rushed? Will you visit all the same parks? Plan accordingly.

Courtney Tennyson, the Grapevine mom of a toddler, recommends working with a Disney travel agent. “They give you all the ins and outs beforehand,” she explains. Plus, it’s free to use a Disney travel agent.

Horrell says they will watch for discounts and share valuable tips.

RESORT TOWN Your hotel options are extensive—both on Disney property and throughout the city. In fact, there are

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more than 450 hotels and resorts in Orlando; check out visitorlando.com/ places-to-stay.

Tennyson, who visited last September when her son was 18 months old, recommends a hotel with access to Disney’s monorail.

“With a baby, monorail access made getting back and forth very easy,” she says. It’s also helpful if you have a big group. Resorts with monorail service include Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa; service is normally available to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, but it’s currently undergoing refurbishment.

A WALK IN THE PARK Take your child into account when sketching out your agenda. Not sure what rides would be best? The Disney World website lists attractions with info including required height, whether it’s a fast or slow ride, if it has any drops, etc. Is your child sensitive to loud noises? Maybe you should head out before the fireworks. Horrell says it’s also a good idea to schedule your mornings but leave the afternoons flexible. “This will allow your family to either keep going if the kids are happy, or open for returning to the hotel for a nap.”

If you need a stroller, bring your own, or rent one from the park or a local company that will deliver to your hotel. Make sure you bring something that will help you identify your stroller when it’s parked with others—attach a scarf or something else distinctive.

1 / There are lighter crowds at Disney World now but fewer open attractions due to COVID. 2 / Cinderella’s Castle is the symbol of Magic Kingdom. 3 / Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers wild entertainment. 4 / Epcot takes guests around the world and beyond.

And what about meals at the park? “Make reservations for dinner as soon as you know your dates,” Tennyson says. “Hot spots like Cinderella’s Castle book up.”

Horrell adds that you should consider reservations at non-peak hours. Get a breakfast reservation before the park’s opening, or a dinner reservation at closing. Horrell recommends disneyfoodblog.com for great dining information.

COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS If you’ve been to Disney before, you might notice a few changes. Instead of parades, there are cavalcades— unannounced mini-parades, each with perhaps one float and a few “cast members.” Socially distant character spotting opportunities are also unannounced, but WDW Prep School’s website includes guides to regular locations. Don’t forget to pack masks, and be prepared for some temperature screenings.

Another change is that parks must be booked for specific days.

Before COVID-19, you could easily “park hop” in the course of a day.

Now park hopping is more limited.

Head to disneyworld.disney.go.com/ experience-updates for full precautions and more you should know before you arrive in Florida. Happy (and safe!) travels.

ALL IMAGES: DISNEY

DESTINATION DISNEY

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It’s amazing. The power and beauty of horses.

Every day they surprise you with their love and tenderness and desire to please. But horses do more.

They teach. They bring out the best in us.

And, in our children.

WELCOME TO THE C J LEGACY RANCH A DIVISION OF THE ELTS FOUNDATION We strive to create an environment where children get hands-on, real-world experience. Our equine program is no exception. A life long love of horses brings different rewards at different stages of childhood, but aspiring to be the next Charlotte Dujardin can be a great motivational tool for feeding their enthusiasm and achieving their dreams. Our focus is you and your family. We recognize the need to provide a program that:

Award-winning Rider and Trainer...

ASHLEY WILDES!

• Develops core strength.

• Improves coordination.

• Encourages trust.

• Exercises the mind.

• Develops problem solving skills.

• Increases socialization.

• Creates time to relax.

• Provides opportunities to compete.

Riders develop coordination, balance, fine motor skills, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and can improve posture and cardiovascular health. Working with horses is one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences a person can have, though it also takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

By allowing your child to explore his or her interest in horseback riding, you are offering them the opportunity to learn valuable life skills while doing something they love. Riding helps support healthy physical and emotional growth, and it teaches kids to work together, support their friends, and take on more responsibility.

We are a place of transformation for adults and children. With our horses and trainers we offer children a one-of-a-kind opportunity: to learn about horses while they learn about themselves. Sure, it’s about riding, but it is much more. It is about seeing the light in your child’s eyes when they see a horse respond to them and recognize them–as an individual.

CJ’s Legacy Ranch is a spectacular world-class equestrian facility. Located just north of the DFW Metroplex in Bartonville, Texas. This property is situated on approximately 100 acres in the heart of North Texas horse country and is only 20 minutes from DFW airport.

FOR RIDING LESSONS, CALL US AT 469-286-9603!

2700 FM 407, Bartonville, TX 76226 cjslegacy.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BEST

Summer EVER

Has there ever been a summer where kids needed camp more than this year?

Childhood summer memories and camp go hand-in-hand. Explore these safe and fun camp options that will make this a summer to remember.

Additional camps online at dfwchild.com/directory

SPECIAL NEEDS CAMP

Weekly Camps June 7 thru August 6 9am–1pm, Monday thru Friday 9 week-long sessions

Our ABA therapy services will make you a happy camper!

Summer Camp at The Behavior Exchange combines expert ABA therapy services with a fun curriculum of activities to bring about measurable improvements in children with autism and other developmental concerns. For more than 20 years, we’ve helped children communicate better, successfully participate in group activities, get ready for school, and develop their social skills — all in our uniquely colorful, caring learning environment. You’ll love the sweet results. Plus, our services are covered by most insurance.

So call to reserve a spot today!

Choose from the following camp sessions: Farm Life, History Detectives, Water on the Farm, Outdoor Explorers, Farm Power, Keeping Cool on the Farm, Curator Camp. $225/camper, t-shirt included. Sorry, no after-care available.

Plano Hive: 6105 Windcom Ct. Suite 400. Plano, Texas 75093 Frisco Hive: 8501 Wade Blvd. Building 12. Frisco, Texas 75034 972-312-8733 • behaviorexchange.com

1900 West 15th St., Plano, TX 75075 972-881-0140 heritagefarmstead.org/summer-camps

Ready to apply? Visit our Summer Camp page at heritagefarmstead.org/summer-camps and click on “Register” to begin the registration process.

dfwchild.com / march 2021

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BEST SUMMER EVER / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Ann & Nate Levine Academy Summer Camps offer fun-filled learning opportunities for children ages infant to 12 years old!

Campers may enroll in one or more weekly sessions, facilitated by professional staff. Themes vary weekly throughout the summer and are open to the community.

Camp Shemesh Ages infant-care through rising Kindergarten. Early care/aftercare available from 7:45am–6pm (5pm on Fridays) Summer@Levine Ages 6–12. Weekly camps embrace arts, sports, STEM, and much more!

18011 Hillcrest Rd., Dallas, TX 75252 972-248-3032 levineacademy.org/camp

SummerYou is a 10-week summer program facilitated by, and on the campus of, All Saints’ Episcopal School.

Our 147-acre campus in west Fort Worth is the perfect habitat for exploration, adventure, and curiosity.

With more than 200 camps to choose from, your child won’t be riding the boredom train. From building robots to throwing water balloons, starting a business to playing baseball, SummerYou has it all!

With full-day options and affordable weekly camps for Ages 3–Grade 12 all on one world-class campus, parents can rest easy knowing the logistics, and their kids, are well taken care of.

Bee active, Bee silly, Bee YOU! Registration for summer 2021 is open!

Explore featured camps and dive into details at summeryou.org/fwcmag.

9700 Saints Circle, Fort Worth, TX 76108 817-560-5700, ext. 416 summeryou.org/fwcmag

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Camp El Tesoro overnight camp is READY to welcome campers ages six–16 to achieve whatever they set their minds to this summer. Archery, canoeing, horseback riding, nature studies, dance and more!

Kids go to camp because it’s fun, but what they find are friendships and magic in themselves.

See for yourself what makes El Tesoro a special place!

Come to a FREE Camp Preview. Details online.

7710 Fall Creek Highway Granbury, TX 76049 817-831-2111 • CampFireFW.org

BEST SUMMER EVER / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SPARK! offers a unique format of play time & creative instruction in our 11,000 square foot facility, filled with wild experiential exhibits, as well as massive art installations, all made for play and learning. Structured activities will be a collaborative experience, while others will be an individual make n’ take piece for the day, based on cool weekly themes.

• Register for a day, a week or all nine weeks for the maximum experience.

• Full class schedules can be found on our linked site.

• 9A–4P Monday–Friday, with before/after care available.

• Children must be entering 2nd grade Fall 2021.

Whether your child is new to the world of arts training or is a seasoned performer, we know they will grow and learn with us—while having fun! Open to ages 3–19, our FULL-DAY camps focus on foundations, technique, and creative exploration in one or more art forms. Each specific art area is taught by a highly qualified, degreed instructor.

Exposure to the arts can help shape children’s views of the world and their place in it. Through arts-based learning, we inspire children to be more confident, empathetic, and collaborative. Camps run June–August. Multi-week discounts available! Visit ArtsAcademics.org/Summer today!

1409 S. Lamar St., Ste. 004, Dallas, TX 75215 214-421-7727 • info@sparkdallas.org SPARKDallas.org

3901 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth, TX 76109 817-717-4544 ArtsAcademics.org/Summer

Camp Clayton 2021: June 1 to August 6 At Clayton Youth Enrichment, we prepare children for great lives. Clayton offers traditional summer day camps in Fort Worth that are located on a school campus near you. Designed for ages 5–12, these full-day camps are perfect for your childcare and enrichment needs. Our kids will experience new friends and amazing activities each week—while practicing social emotional learning skills.

Registration for weekly themes open by March 1. Financial assistance and CCMS also available. Join the fun and invest in your child’s summer today!

Ready for a fun one-of-a-kind summer experience?

Your child is invited to join Ursuline Academy of Dallas Summer Camps designed to stimulate creativity and curiosity, spark innovation, and encourage collaboration.

Camps run weekly from June 7–July 30.

Multiple camp locations serving Keller ISD, Birdville ISD and Fort Worth ISD 817-923-9888 • claytonyouth.org

Adventure Camps are offered in areas such as STEM, Musical Theater, and Leadership Skills. Some are exclusively for girls and others are open to all middle school students.

Athletic Camps include Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Rowing, and Volleyball for elementary and middle school girls.

4900 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229 469-232-1800 ursulinedallas.org/summerprograms

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BEST SUMMER EVER / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Color your summer with creativity, fun, and arts enrichment at The Dallas Conservatory in Frisco and Dallas!

We offer dance, theater, voice, music, and fitness with Camps, Classes, and Intensives for ages 18 months–Adult.

Whether it’s for a shining starlet or a b-boy in training—or YOU in a range of adult options—we have something for students of all ages.

7979 Inwood Road, Suite 201, Dallas, TX 75209 214-357-8888 6106 Frisco Square Blvd. Frisco, TX 75034 469-498-8188 Info@TheDallasConservatory.org TheDallasConservatory.org/Summer

Spending time in nature plays a vital role in child health and development!

Register for a Heard Nature Camp and give your child the gift of a connection to nature. Heard Nature Camps and mini-camps feature opportunities to investigate the wonders of nature on our 289-acre sanctuary, encounter animals and more. Specialty camps offer opportunities to create art in nature, learn about animal care, go behind the scenes and more.

1 Nature Place, McKinney, TX 75069 972-562-5566 heardmuseum.org

Summer just got more awesome!

The shores of Grapevine Lake can be your child’s next summer adventure—full of water activities such as fishing, tubing, and testing your skills on the WhoaZone.

Land adventures include laser tag, archery, gaga ball, wilderness skills, and so much more!

Dove Creek Day Camp offers your child the experience of overnight camp without the hassle of packing for a full week.

Multi-child and multi-week discounts are available for families.

We can’t wait to see your camper this summer for all the fun we have planned!

Visit GoGrapevine.com/DoveCreek for dates, times and complete details.

3000 Meadowmere Lane Grapevine TX 76051 817-228-9104 GoGrapevine.com/DoveCreek

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Good Shepherd Episcopal School’s Summer Program 2021 shatters all expectations! We provide students (ages 1 through the 6th grade) the opportunity to explore engaging activities in a safe and nurturing environment! We offer a unique blend of dynamic and academically-rich classes, June 7–August 6, 2021. For a great summer, visit gsesdallas.org/summer for class descriptions and to register!

11110 Midway Road, Dallas, TX 75229 gsesdallas.org/summer Contact: Whitney West, Director of Enrichment 214-357-2968, Ext. 283, wwest@gsesdallas.org

Laugh with Friends • Try New Things • Rise to Challenges Your Summer to Shine extends The Westwood School’s blended Montessori & IB approach into summer for children ages 3 to grade 6: • Each session tailored by age • Exciting daily schedule of activities: Art, games, cooking & more! A special guest each week!!

• Camp Times: 9am–3pm; Extended Day & Childcare Available The Weswood School 14340 Proton Rd., Dallas, TX 75244 972-239-8598 • westwoodschool.org/summer

BEST SUMMER EVER / SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SUMMER ART J’S ART Paint, Draw, Sculp All Summer Long!

Kid Camps Ages 5–13 Weekly themes. Morning 9am–12pm and afternoon 1–4pm camps.

Art Skills Camps ages 10+ Introduction to different art media Afternoons 1–4pm

Sewing, Teen and Adult Classes too!

Camp schedule and details online.

17630 Davenport Rd., Ste. 102, Dallas, TX 75252 972-931-1933 jsartstudio.com

Kids need camp! Join Kidventure, where for 26 years, we have provided the most dynamic and rewarding camps in Texas. Several Day Camp locations in DFW for children ages 3–5th grade. Opportunities for athletics, art, archery, rock climbing, camp games, learning, and so much more. All-adult teams, low ratios, and designed to build character and confidence.

Kidventure’s Camps: Preston Hollow, Arlington, Frisco, St. Marks, St. Patrick, Kessler, Mansfield, Overnight Camp 214-303-9789 kidventure.com/dallas-summer-camp

Ballet Basics introduces young dancers, ages 3 to 6, to the fundamentals of ballet. The camp experience also includes crafts, story time and choreography correlating with the theme of the week. The Junior Intensive Program broadens the perspective of 7–14 year old students with a variety of classes including ballet, modern, jazz and musical theater.

Dallas County: 214-377-8576 300 N. Coit Rd. Suite 231, Richardson, 75080 Fort Worth: 817-763-0207 1540 Mall Circle, Fort Worth 76116 texasballettheater.org/summer-programs

Want more camps?

Check our our SUMMER CAMPS DIRECTORY dfwchild.com/directory

dfwchild.com / march 2021

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SPRING FAMILY FUN DIRECTORY //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SPRING FAMILY FUN DIRECTORY

Shed those winter coats, grab the kids and check out all the season has to offer!

DESCRIPTION

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Amon Carter Museum of American Art cartermuseum.org 817/738-1933

Join in on the fun during our Virtual: Spring Break, March 16–19, 10:30–11am, on Facebook Live. Watch us all week as we play games, make artworks, and explore the Carter collection from home. See ads on pages 10 and 33.

2

Bureau of Engraving and Printing bep.gov 817/231-4000

Learn how U.S. money is made at bep.gov. Also, visit uscurrency.gov for more on education, training, and information about Federal Reserve notes. See ad on page 57.

3

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden dallasarboretum.org 214/515-6615

Dallas Blooms floral festival, February 20 to April 11, featuring “America the Beautiful,” focuses on six regions in the United States with food, music, and family fun events. Timed tickets and face coverings required.

4

Fort Worth Stockyards fortworthstockyards.com 817/625-9715

Cowtown Goes Green in the Stockyards Saturday, March 13, 10am–8pm.It’s an action-packed day of live music, great food, kids games, giveaways and more!

There’s also a Texas-sized parade that will have you seeing green!

5

Fort Worth Zoo fortworthzoo.org 817/759-7555

The Fort Worth Zoo is home to nearly 7,000 animals and many exciting attractions spread out over 64 acres. Plan your spring visit today! See ads on pages 6 and 38.

6

Heritage Village at Chestnut Square chestnutsquare.org 972/562-8790

WayBack Workshops Spring Break Camp, March 9–12. Offered Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am–noon or 1–4pm. Activities such as canning, soap making, stamping/printing, blacksmith demo, sewing/weaving. So much fun, it's historical! See ad on page 4.

7

Irving Archives and Museum irvingarchivesandmuseum.com 972/721-3700

Spring Break is for inventors! At Spark!Lab, we believe everyone is inventive.

Spark!Lab gives kids the opportunity to create, innovate and problem solve, and empowers them to develop the skills and needed for success. See ad on page 55.

march 2021 / dfwchild.com

SPRING FAMILY FUN DIRECTORY //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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8

Irving Arts Center irvingartscenter.com 972/252-7558

Named “Best in the Burbs” by D Magazine, Irving Arts Center offers youth and family virtual art experiences and exhibitions year-round. Bring your family to safely explore our five galleries today. It's free fun! See ad on page 5.

9

Kimbell Art Museum kimbellart.org/springbreak 817/332-8451

Join us March 15–19 for a free week-long celebration of art, music, storytelling, movement, and more. The Virtual Spring Break Art Extravaganza features art-making guides, live family programming, and engaging videos from guest artists!

Lakefront at Little Elm lakefrontlittleelm.com

Spring into fun at The Lakefront Little Elm! This family-fun destination has something for the entire family. From the largest beach in North Texas, a variety of dining options, and even an indoor waterpark! See ad on page 51.

11

Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau visitmineralwells.org 940/325-2557

Visit Mineral Wells where fun and adventure run deep. Dig for fossils, test your rock-climbing skills, become a butterfly with one of our amazing murals. Blue skies and wide open spaces to make new memories. See ad on page 48.

12

Reunion Tower reuniontower.com 214/712-7040

Day or night, make the iconic Reunion Tower your first stop to explore fun things to see and do in Dallas. Take your Spring Break to new heights with our special events from March 8–19! See ad on page 51.

13

River Legacy Living Science Center riverlegacy.org 817/860-6752

Discover nature with the family! Enjoy the park then head inside to River Legacy Living Science Center to view our aquariums, terrariums, exhibits and a variety of games on our interactive screens. See ad on page 47.

14

Vetro Glassblowing Studio & Fine Art Gallery vetroartglass.com 817/251-1668

Vetro is a state-of-the-art glassblowing studio and fine art gallery. Vetro offers opportunities for guests to assist in creating their own, unique art glass. Visit Vetro to shop handcrafted fine art glass. See ad on page 55.

10

Want More Family-friendly Events?

Check out DFWChild’s online calendar for events from your favorite places in DFW and beyond. You’ll find plenty to entertain every member of your family.

dfwchild.com/calendar

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confessions

MOM TRUTHS ILLUSTRATION MARY DUNN

CO M P I L E D BY E M I LY Y E A R W O O D

“I’ve been working a lot, including weekends. I finally had a Saturday off and slept in. I was hanging out with my daughter in my room for hours. At about 1:30, I said, ‘Let’s get dressed so we can get some lunch.’ She tells me, ‘But I didn’t even eat breakfast yet.’”

—NAKIBA, MANSFIELD

IT WAS PICTURE DAY AT SCHOOL. I DIDN’T NOTICE MY TWINS’ GRANDPARENTS HAD PUT TEMPORARY TATTOOS ON THEM THE NIGHT BEFORE. THERE’S NOTHING LIKE HAVING YOUR KIDS COVERED IN TATTOOS FOR THEIR FIRST SCHOOL PICTURE!” —NADIA, WYLIE 66

march 2021 / dfwchild.com

“My autistic son works as a bagger at a grocery store. I went in to pick up a few things before picking him up and saw him hugging and highfiving a friend—who also has special needs— from high school. On our way to the car, a man came up to us and said he had been having a horrible day and seeing that turned his day around.”

—SUSAN, PLANO. HER SONS, 25 AND 18, HAVE AUTISM.

“I was dropping my teenage daughter off at school after a rough morning of not being able to find the perfect outfit, her iPad and other teenager stuff. After she slammed the door, my son looked at me with a serious face and said, ‘Well, that was difficult.’”—ERIKA, COPPELL. HER SON HUNTER, 9, HAS

AUTISM, AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS AND DIABETES.

ON A COLD DAY, I SAID TO MY DAUGHTER, ‘OOOH, GIRL. I’M AS COLD AS… I DON’T KNOW WHAT.’ TO WHICH SHE SAYS, ‘I’M AS COLD AS A NAKED MOLE RAT!’” —DACIA, DALLAS

Have a funny or heartwarming moment to share? We’d love to hear from you. Send it to editorial@dfwchild.com.

My 7-year-old son was reading a book about hermit crabs. ‘Hermit crabs can live to be 30 years old,’ he read aloud. Then he looked up. ‘Mom, if you were a hermit crab, you’d already be dead.’ Thanks for pointing that out.”—ALEXIS, GRAPEVINE

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Turner Fortune Real Estate | 214-316-9500 | rsumner@turnerfortune.com

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BABY QUESTION #293

WILL WE EVER SLEEP AGAIN?

Newborn questions? We’ve got answers.

When you’re a new parent the questions never end. At Cook Children’s our pediatricians are here to help answer all of them. Schedule a consultation with a pediatrician and explore the many articles from experts in newborn care at newborncenter.org.