Up The Hill 5 18

Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine

May 2018

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May 2018

MS tried to

silence me.

But Published by Estrella Publishing LLC, PO Box 6962, Goodyear AZ 85338. Additional copies and article reproductions can be obtained for a fee by contacting info@ EstrellaPublishing.com

Catherine Uretsky, Publisher and Editor 623.594.9283 info@EstrellaPublishing.com Al Uretsky, Publisher and Sales Executive 623.594.9283 info@EstrellaPublishing.com All contents Š 2010-2018 Estrella Publishing LLC. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission from Estrella Publishing LLC is prohibited. Estrella Publishing accepts freelance contributions, there is no guarantee that materials will be used or returned. Some content is provided by Brandpointe. Estrella Publishing is not responsible for the views of contributing writers and assumes no responsibility for errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Publisher or Advertisers. Estrella Publishing reserves the right to restrict all advertisement to their proper classification and to edit or reject any copy at its sole discretion.

I won’t let it.

Kim

PML survivor. Mom. Diagnosed in 2000.

Explore powerful stories of people doing whatever it takes at nationalMSsociety.org/ kim

Neither this publication nor Estrella Publishing is an agent of or in any way affiliated with the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association, or any of their respective affiliates. This publication has not been approved by, sponsored by, or endorsed by the associated Developer nor Homeowners Association in any way.

msaw_ad_kim.indd 1

Catherine Uretsky Publisher & Editor

3/2/18 2:40 PM

Al Uretsky Publisher & Sales Exec

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From Me To You...

Welcome to the May edition of Up The Hill magazine!

I am dedicating this issue to all the mothers I know, all the mothers I have not yet met, and all the mothers I wish I could meet again.

May is the month where we think of flowers and sunshine and Mothers’ Day. A holiday that honors the women who try to put their children first, even when it seems too much. Because motherhood is hard. It is painful. It is lonely. It is isolating.

It also brings the most unimaginable love and connection. A sense that you will move mountains for this tiny creature that has been placed into your arms. A desire to do better, to be better.

I remember the morning after I brought my first child home. I woke with a heart full of happiness and love. And a creeping dread. A sense of hopelessness and futility. Who decided that I could be responsible for a human being? Who decided that I knew enough to keep her alive?

Where was the manual? They sell you a car with reams of paperwork on how to do everything to keep this machine running. A baby? Nothing.

Then there was the feeling of being trapped inside a prison of my own making. I wanted this child. I carried this child. I made this child.

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And now I am stuck with her.

My husband got to keep being himself. He got to go to work and leave the house and the never ending piles of laundry.

I was forever chained to this tiny being who relied on me for everything. No matter how much you prepare for the life of a parent, this is what hit me the most.

My life was no longer my own.

If you are lucky you have family around to help and guide you. Groups of mothers to join and talk to. Someone to let you know you are not alone.

That other mothers feel this way too. That it is OK to founder. If you don’t have that then find it! In the age of the internet it is easier to find groups to talk to but I got the best support and help from a group I met in person.

I had moved to a new town with my two children and husband in tow. We were adults now. We had jobs and a mortgage and reliable cars with car seats. But it was lonely. I found an ad in a local paper for an open house at ‘The Mothers’ Center’. The decision to go was one of those moments people talk about. The moment I found my people. The Mothers’ Center was a community of women supporting each other. We had discussion groups where members were free to tell our lives to and learn from each other.

With no recriminations, no judgement, only truth and support. There were rules, of course. Do not judge. Speak from the I. Do not tell others what was divulged in this place. Simple requests, but ones that allowed us to be free and cared for.

On this Mothers Day I encourage all of you to reach out to a mother you know. Offer her support, friendship, a non-judgemental ear.

Perhaps even offer to help with the laundry.

Catherine Uretsky Editor, Up The Hill Magazine info@estrellapublishing.com 623.594.9283

May 2018

May Calendar

A big THANK YOU to all the Moms and their kids who braved the heat to be on our cover this month! Some of them have contributed articles on Motherhood. Please enjoy them and give your Mom a big kiss this Mothers’ Day!!

May 2018

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5 Cinco De Mayo

World Asthma Day World Lyme Day Estrella Business Group 8am Sister in Stitches 10a EMR Social Committee 5pm

City Park & Rec Meeting 6pm RC Sailing Club 12pm Ladies of the Lake 1pm Poker 1pm EMES/WES Early Release EMR Budget Meeting 4:30pm

Lag B’Omer Nat’l Day of Prayer World Press Freedom Hugs & Stitches 9am Storytime 10:30am Bunco 7pm

Star Wars Day Coffee Social 8:30am Bridge 12:45pm Life Adjustment Group 6pm

Kentuky Derby Racing For Hope Water Walk 5pm

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13 Mother's Day

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19 Armed Forces Day

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Notes: National Bike Month, National Physical Fitness and Sports, National Mental Health Awareness, Lupus Awareness Month, Lyme Disease Awareness Month Birthstone: Emerald Fruits & Veggies: Mangos, Potatoes, Limes, Rhubarb Flower: Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn Astrological: Taurus (til 20th) & Gemini (21st+)

MTV Movie Awards World Laughter Day

Estrella Motorcycle Riding Group 11am

Shavuot (start)

Bridge 12:45pm Mahjong 3pm EMR Communications Meeting 5:30pm Games Club 6pm

Bridge 12:45am City Council Meetng 6pm Games Club 6pm Trivia Night 6:30pm

Shavuot (end) Bridge 12:45pm Games Club 6pm City Council Meeting 6pm Genealogy Group 6:45pm

Nat’l Burger Day Bridge 12:45pm Games Club 6pm

Nat’l Teachers Day Sisters in Stitches 10am

Sisters in Stitches 10am New Resident Orientation 6:30pm

EMR HOA Board Meeting 6:30pm

VW RC Mariners 12pm

Casino Trip to Ak-Chin 8am Book Club 10am RC Sailing Club 12pm Poker 1pm EMES/WES Early Release City Zoning Meeting 6pm Photo Group 7pm

RC Saling Club 12pm Poker 1pm EMES/WES Early Release EMR Art Gallery Meeting 3pm

RC Sailing Club 12pm Poker 1pm

Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine

Edward Jones Financial Group 9am Bingo 6pm EFHS Graduation 8pm

Nat’l Brother Day Photo Group 7pm

World MS Day Crafters Club 6:30pm

Coffee Social 8:30am Brige 12:45pm

Coffee Social 8:30am Bridge 12:45pm EMES/WES Last Day of School

Coffee Social 8:30am Bridge 12:45pm EMR Landscaping Meeting 3pm

Estrella Car Club 9am Vet & Military Group 12pm

WV RC Mariners Regatta 10am

Surf’s Up Pool Party 11am

May 2018

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The Good Enough Mother

“I am not OK with being with a good enough mother. I work too hard to settle for that.”

One of my closest friends (and one of the most devoted mothers I know) said those words to me a couple of years ago, and I’ve never forgotten them. On a personal level, I was heartbroken to realize that my friend was putting that much pressure on herself. On a professional level, I was saddened to see that once again one of my favorite theories of parenting and child development had been totally misunderstood.

Usually when I hear the phrase “good enough mother*,” it’s either by mothers like my friend, who see “good enough” as “not enough,” or by mothers who are using it as an explanation for why they aren’t the perfect mother. It’s become about whether or not we cook a multicourse meal every night or bring a holiday craft project and snack in for the entire preschool class. The good enough mother is now a failure to be avoided at all costs, or an explanation for why we haven’t been able to do better.

Unfortunately, for both our children and ourselves, both of these explanations totally miss the point.

The phrase “good enough mother” was first coined in 1953 by Donald Winnicott, a British pediatrician and psychoanalyst. Winnicott observed thousands of babies and their mothers, and over time he came to realize that babies and children actually benefit when their mothers fail them in manageable ways. (I’m not talking about major failures, such as child abuse and neglect, of course.) The process of becoming the good enough mother to our children happens over time. When our babies are infants, we try to be constantly available and immediately responsive to them. As soon as they cry, we feed them or snuggle them or change their diapers—we do whatever it takes to help them feel better. This is important, because it teaches our children that they are safe and that they will be cared for.

The thing is, we parents can’t sustain this level of attentiveness to our children forever, nor should we. That is precisely Winnicott’s point.

He believed that the way to be a good mother is to be a good enough mother. Children need their mothers (or primary caretakers, whoever they may be) to fail them in tolerable ways on a regular basis so they can learn to live in an imperfect world. Every time we don’t hear them calling us right away, every time we don’t listen as well as we should, every time we feed them a dinner they don’t want to eat, every time we make them share when they don’t want to, we are getting them ready to function in a society that will frustrate and disappoint them on a regular basis.

Children need to learn, in small ways every day, that the world doesn’t revolve around them, that their every request won’t be honored, and that

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their behaviors impact other people. They need to learn—through experience—that life can be hard, that they will feel let down and disappointed, that they won’t get their way, and despite all of that (or perhaps because of it) they will still be OK. If our children never have these experiences—if their every need is met every time—they will have no ability to manage the challenges that will inevitably arise. They won’t learn that it’s ok to feel bored or annoyed or sad or disappointed.

They won’t learn, time and again, that life can be painful and frustrating and they’ll get through it.

In short, building our children’s resilience is the gift of the good enough mother.

There’s one other important point we need to remember about the good enough mother—she’s not only a gift to her children, but she’s also unavoidable. It is, quite simply, not possible to do better than good enough. Perfection is not an option. I don’t need to explain to you that it’s just not possible to meet every single one of our child’s needs, be it another bowl of macaroni and cheese, a desire to cover the wall with marker, or a wish to stay up all night watching Dora episodes. Even if it were somehow possible to be the perfect mother, the end result would a delicate, fragile child who couldn’t tolerate even the slightest disappointment. None of us want that for our children.

down in a myriad of unpredictable, possibly irreparable ways. If we are good enough—which I believe most of us are—then we mostly get it right, and sometimes we get it wrong. Our children may feel annoyed or frustrated or sad because we have let them down, but in that moment, in those many small moments, they learn that life is hard, that they can feel terrible, and they will bounce back.

Each time we let our children down, and they get through it, they get just a little bit stronger. That is the gift of the good enough mother, and it’s time we all embrace it.

Carla Naumburg, PhD This piece was first published on Carla Naumburg’s Mindful Parenting Blog on PsychCentral.com.

The reality is that either we are good enough or we aren’t, most of the time. If we’re not good enough, then we may be letting our children

Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine

May 2018

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May 2018

Motherhood

My life as a Mother - The day I found out I was pregnant with my first child was the best day of my life. Little did I know that from that moment on my life would forever change. I am a Mother of three children Kaeleigh, Zachary, and Tyler. Each of my kids are unique in their own way and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Nothing else in life can compare to motherhood and the joy that it provides.

But with every positive, there are always challenges. You have no idea if you are raising your child correctly, in fact no one knows.

You do what you feel is right and hope that you are creating a person who will be kind, respectful, loving, and of course contribute to society in their own special way. Beyond your own control, you worry from the day you conceive until the day you pass on that you did everything right. My job is to guide them through life’s challenges and provide them with

Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine

the answers to questions not yet asked. As my children have grown, each age/stage has its own special memories, ones to last a lifetime. Being a mom is the most wonderful job you could ever ask for. When I say job, I use that term loosely because being a mom is a job but it is also the most rewarding, knowing that you have created and molded the greatest gift of life.

Lynette Keating

May 2018

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Motherhood

I like doing hard things. Not the torment of the hard. That’s never fun. But I love the confidence, joy and strength that emerges.

I cannot think of a better description of Motherhood. It’s truly THE hardest thing I have ever done. Yet, far exceeding the hard is the joy and satisfaction that Motherhood brings! My hard pregnancies didn’t diminish the awe of the happy miracle I carried.Labor and delivery for 4 children was far and away the most excruciating pain I have EVER experienced. But the miraculous thing about delivery is after the hours of labor end, the pain is totally gone. The love that radiates from this singular moment far outweighs the hard work that went into it. I recall thinking how I wouldn’t survive another moment of labor only to say with confidence that I would do it again every day to have my children.

Whenever we moms think “Yes, I’ve got this!” our children begin a new phase and new struggles.

But I have yet to experience a challenge that didn’t carry with it its own joys. Memories of Sleepless nights with newborns make me want to cry for my younger self. That was hard! But I also

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treasure the tender moments of a 2AM snuggle that belonged only to me and I feel gratitude that I experienced that struggle.

Toddler tantrums that are so mentally exhausting and downright annoying? Really hard! Patience runs thin and I wonder what I got myself into!

Just the other day my daughter screamed so loud Banshee status was an understatement.

The whole church could hear her. She fought, ran, and screamed some more. I was not feeling that motherhood joy. I happened by the hallway as she woke up from a nap that afternoon. With a yawn and a smile she said brightly, “Hi Mom. I love you. I’m sorry I screamed at church.” My heart melted. This was so worth the momentary challenge of the tantrum.

I know that joy will continue to outweigh the hard. If I’m being honest, it’s possible that the joys of motherhood come BECAUSE I choose to work through the challenges. There is a distinct happiness that comes from overcoming difficulties and I feel the joyful effects that come from this lifetime journey. I will forever have challenges along the way, but I am forever grateful that I get to love these sweet children of mine as we overcome the hard together.

Morgan Hochstettler

May 2018

Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine

May 2018

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May 2018

Motherhood

I have been spending the last few days thinking about what it is to be a mom.

It’s not that I don’t have an answer, but how do I write something down about an unconditional love that is so deep inside me that it consumes me, it is a part of me…. It is who I am!!!

For me, being a mom is the most important job I will ever have. It brings a lifetime of tears. Tears from the moment you find out you are pregnant (or not) to tears of the latest life event. Tears of joy, sadness, happiness, exhaustion, pride, disappointment and the list goes on.

It’s teaching your kids anything and everything from walking to decision making. It’s going to soccer, basketball, cheer, football, dance practices, games and recitals. Bringing snacks for the team or volunteering at the snack shack.

Hauling not only your kids, but their friends around. Realizing that you are now 2nd mom to your kids’ friends too. Being there to cheer them on and being there to support and hold them when life’s challenges don’t go their way.

Trying to hold on to them tightly and yet learning to let them go. Its’ realizing that after they

Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine

have grown and moved out, that a part of you is missing. I didn’t know what to do once the youngest child moved out. For the first time, I truly realized how much my life revolved around my kids and just how much I missed all those practices, games and recitals. I don’t miss the homework though. I miss talking about their day, every day. Now what was I supposed to do?

After reflecting on all my years as mom, I realize how much growing I had done in the years also.

I was only 17 when I had my first child, followed by 2 more by the time I turned 22. I was, in a sense, still a child. My 4th child was born 22 years after my last child and I can certainly tell the parenting difference between the first 3 and her, but the bond is still the same. After all is said and done, being a mom is still the same no matter how old I am. It is that unconditional love, a bond, a blessing and a friendship that never ends. It is the greatest love I have ever had and the best thing I have ever become.

Trina Clark Messah

May 2018

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The Bug Guy

Mother’s Day, every year it comes around and we are delighted to celebrate our mothers this month. I remember the fire ant nest in our back yard growing up in Texas and my mom yelling at me and my brother for using a magnifying glass on them. Our mom would catch us and yell “stop that, you two, you’re going to burn the house down”. I never would have thought that would lead to a career in Integrated Pest Management… Moms have a way of always being right!

I bet you are wondering what this has to do with pest control? Well here it is…moms (and dads too) are always worried about their children getting bit or stung. Here in the SW Valley that’s a very rational fear.

All animals, while many are considered pests, have mothers too. The queen bee works very hard to ensure the success of her subjects, the mother scorpion keeps her young on her back to keep them safe, and well, a snake is a snake.

Here are a few ideas to keep you and your family safe.

· Never play with or throw things at a swarm of bees.

Scorpions are also very active now and here are a few suggestions: · Make sure your foliage is not low to the ground, just like for snakes. · You can utilize a handheld blacklight flashlight at night to inspect for scorpions.

Western Diamondback Rattle snakes are also very active at this time of year, here are few safety suggestions: · Make sure your foliage is trimmed up off the ground as rattle snakes like to rest in the shade under foliage that is low to the ground. · If you have a view fence, you can install galvanized metal fabric on the fence to deny access to snakes. · You can install the same material in the drain blocks on a block wall too.

Well, those are this month’s tips, so celebrate your mom and be sure to say, “Happy Mother’s Day”.

Brought to you by Estrella Mountain Pest Control.

Bees are often swarming, during the spring and summer and can be very protective of their queen: · Make sure that you talk to your kids about bee safety, never approach a swarm of bees.

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Positive Parenting If some one had asked what motherhood meant to me six years ago I would probably have said something along the lines of “pure bliss”, and I would have meant it. Being a Mum was the only thing I had ever consistently wanted in life.

When I finally became a Mum at 34 I was genuinely ecstatic. And I was good at it from the very start. As soon as she was placed on my chest, seconds after being born, my daughter began nursing. It didn’t hurt. I had no supply issues. Nursing on demand was never a problem because my husband and I had decided that the best thing for our family was for me to stay home with our daughter. Mom’s Clubs, play dates, the odd evening out with new friends while Daddy and Daughter snuggled in bed waiting for me to get home, a new found confidence in myself and what I was doing became my life. I was delighted, and we all thrived.

Life was easy and full of joy, so we decided to try to add to our near perfect life. The first time around getting pregnant wasn’t easy, and we expected things to be harder the 2nd time. We

Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine

planned to have another child born when our eldest was about 3. Life decided we were doing so well at this parenting thing that we didn’t need to wait that long. Before our eldest was 18 month old I was pregnant. From the second she found out (the same time as me, after all, who pees alone with a toddler in the house?) she was adamant that there were “2 babies in Mummy’s tummy”. And on Christmas Eve, 3 months before she turned 2, we found out she was right!

I have been overwhelmed ever since.

The twins (a boy and a girl) will be 4 this summer.

I love them so much my heart hurts. There are moments of joy and pride in the things they do.

But life is no longer easy. I’m not the confident and carefree Mum that I was before. Chaos, endless noise, and self doubt like I have never felt before are my new normal.

But life is good and things are settling down. My heart is full, my days are never the same. And it gets easier from here ….. right?

Submitted by Terri Smith

May 2018

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Life As A Caregiver It has been close to two months since I placed my mom in her care facility, but it feels like so much longer. Certainly a lot of adjustments.

The biggest one for me has been looking at life without her. That realization takes on many elements: the huge change to my family unit, my own mortality, what the disease may bring to ME, and being so thankful for my mom’s relationship & memories. But it is also about freedom. MY freedom from the 24/7 caregiving responsibilities I had dedicated to her for the past four & a half years; the permission to feel that freedom and relief; and the reality of being able to take back my life.

But for now, it is mostly about dealing with the disease and the toll its taking on my mom. Our visits are very different now and they seem to diminish each time. I am told she yells at and hits the staff when they proceed to give her a shower.

She is now in a wheelchair which moves her from place to place. The staff feeds her instead of her feeding herself.

They have explained her behavior this way: it is the disease taking over by allowing her brain to ‘relax’ from the pressures to keep up with the daily tasks that are considered normal behavior (conversing, feeding oneself, response). She is now accepting to let people take over those tasks for her. But by the same token, she is angry that she is unable (or unwilling) to perform things on her own and having people tell her what to do (showering, eating, going to the bathroom, etc).

It’s just so sad.

She wasn’t interested in eating the rest. She doesn’t remember my dog at all when I show her pictures…and they spent all day, every day together. I don’t say this to make you sad…. although it is tragically sad. I say this so that you can be somewhat prepared for the next step.

Our next step came very quickly. It is like night & day to see the decline in just eight weeks. Seeing how sad I was coming from a recent visit, a friend of mine asked me why I go. Was it for my mom or was it for me? Excellent question. I think it’s a little of both. I want her to know that I am here and with her, somehow making her feel more secure and at peace and not alone….although I doubt it does. And I guess I do it for me…to ease the guilt and frustration of not being able to DO anything to fix this nightmare. Intellectually, I know I have done all that I could being an unskilled caregiver. But emotionally, it just isn’t enough.

So I go to help ease the pain for both of us.

Unfortunately, I’m losing that battle.

Submitted by Kathy Linton, West Valley Resident

Sometimes when I visit, she barely knows me.

Other times, not at all. She doesn’t eat much, even when fed, so she has lost weight. She hardly engages in conversation anymore. I brought her a CD player and some of her favorite CDs so she could listen to music. She seemed to like that….but not that much. I brought her some of her favorite cookies and she took two bites.

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Book Review

loss of ego. In addition to telling the story of an addicted mother’s plight like no other book, the memoir also beautifully portrays the role of music, place, and connection—to friends, families, and unexpected allies—in each of our lives.

Looking for a Mother’s Day treat for your favorite bibliophile mother or grandmother? Look no further than Renegade Mothering blogger Janelle Hanchett’s literary debut, I’m Just Happy to Be Here: A Memoir of Recklessness, Rehab, and Renegade Mothering.

For instance, we meet “Good News Jack,” a sponsor and “washed up gutter drunk” (now sober and ready to help others get there) she found while smoking cigarettes outside an AA meeting. Early in their friendship he tells her, “If your ideas worked so well, what the f*ck are you doing here?” So yes, readers should be prepared for profanity in the service of tough love and a back-breaking search for truth.

I’m Just Happy to Be Here, by Janelle Hanchett

The book is told in three parts and follows the major stages of the typical hero’s journey with the first part chronicling the writer’s life before all the trouble began. This part almost reads like a love story while foreshadowing the darkness to come. The second phase of the book details Hanchett’s cringe-worthy bottom of addiction, a world full of what she calls “3:00 a.m. ideas” and “maintenance whiskey.” The book’s third phase marks her return to the ordinary world, where she is forced to grapple with the mundane along with the beautiful and finds herself still struggling though newly redeemed.

Though the book veers off the path of love story early on, it can be viewed as a love story throughout if only readers adjust their expectations of what a love story really is. Adjusting expectations, after all, is what this book is really about.

With incredibly raw candor, Hanchett shares each detail of her journey, complete with paradoxes, revelations, grace, and 20 Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine

In a chapter called, “The Childhood I Could No Longer Blame,” we learn about Hanchett’s complicated though steadfast relationship with her own mother and the book’s dedication page reads, “Hey Mom. Look. We did it.”

We read about her grandmothers, Bonny, the writer, and Joan, the beauty, in a chapter called “Lineage.” A temporary rupture in Hanchett’s relationship with her grandmother Joan over comments Joan made about one of Hanchett’s daughters being “shorn like a boy,” gives insight into generational divides experienced in nearly every family. Hanchett eventually mends the relationship, offering this reflection: “Do we hate them for that? Our mothers and grandmothers?

Do we hate them for the roles they’ve internalized and been forced to play? Or do we simply love them as they pass into the gray?”

Love of family, gradual loss of ego, and embrace of paradox lead Hanchett to the light where life is still challenging. To not read this book is to miss the tiny, beautiful revelations along the way, revelations all of us can relate to and appreciate.

Treat a real-talk-loving mother, grandmother, or aunt to I’m Just Happy to Be Here this Mother’s Day. Submitted by Jen Hamilton Jen Hamilton is a writer in Austin, TX. Find her online at jenhamiltontx.com.

May 2018

School Zone

EMES Honors Students & Cougar Community Volunteers Team Up

Situation: Eight 2nd graders at Estrella Mountain Elementary would benefit from one-to-one math help from knowledgeable and experienced older people who understand and can explain “today’s math”.

Outside-the-box-thought: Junior high honors math students are knowledgeable older people who understand and can definitely explain “today’s math”. Mrs. Chaney, our EMES 7th grade honors math teacher indicated that she had students whose schedules might allow them to help second grade math students twice each week. She asked for sixteen student volunteers, and we had our “knowledgeable older people”.

At the end of March, the 7th grade math volunteers attended a training session led by Gina Simmons, a Cougar Community Volunteer, and began working with 2nd grade students at the beginning of April. Volunteers are divided into two groups of eight, based on their scheduled elective classes. Each of the volunteers in group 1 works with a specific 2nd grader on Mondays and Fridays, and each of the members of group 2 works with a specific 2nd grader on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each of the 2nd graders works with two 7th grade tutors for a total of four days per

week. Each of the tutors misses a few minutes twice each week out of an elective class.

Mrs. Arriaga, one of our 2nd grade teachers, teaches a math lesson each day and students complete worksheets to help them use and internalize the lesson. Now, with the new math tutoring program, eight of her students go to a different room after the math lesson to work with their tutors on the worksheets and then complete their Exit Tickets on their own. The Exit Tickets are used by Mrs. Arriaga to verify that students can solve problems that are based on the lesson of the day. If a student does not demonstrate an understanding of the lesson, Mrs. Arriaga uses the Exit Ticket information to formulate opportunities to review and re-teach the lesson.

Already, we are seeing positive results. At the end of the second session with her tutor, one of the 2nd graders excitedly informed her friend that she had finally completed her worksheet within the allotted time. Mrs. Arriaga is already seeing students improve their Exit Ticket scores.

7th Grade tutors are: Maxx Carroll, Lauren Crowell, Rylee Frazier, Hannah Kieffer, Anali Colin, Melina Unsworth, Keely Walker, Augie Stewart, Erin Deats, Jennalee Acosta, Gavin Harrill, Emma Holmes, Kayla Schmidt, Jazzlee Acosta, Chloe Garret and Gracie Wressel.

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Money Matters

Mother’s Day is almost here. If you’re a mother with grown children, you might receive flowers, candy, dinner invitations or some other type of pleasant recognition. However, you might find that you can get more enjoyment from the holiday by giving, rather than receiving. The longest-lasting gifts may be financial ones – so here are a few moves to consider:

Contribute to your child’s IRA. If your children have earned income, they are eligible to contribute to an IRA, which offers tax benefits and an almost unlimited array of investment options.

You can’t contribute directly to another person’s IRA, but you can write your child a check for that purpose. This could be a valuable gift, as many people can’t afford to contribute the maximum yearly amount, which, in 2018, is $5,500, or $6,500 for those 50 or older.

Give gifts of stock. You know your children pretty well, so you should be familiar with the products they buy. Why not give them some shares of stock in the companies that make these products? Your children will probably enjoy being “owners” of these companies, and if they weren’t that familiar with how the financial markets work, having these shares in their possession may greatly expand their knowledge and lead to an even greater interest in investing.

the withdrawal directly to a qualified charitable group, the money won’t count as part of your adjusted gross income, so, in effect, you can get a tax break from your generosity.

Review your estate strategy. Like virtually all parents, you’d probably like to be able to leave some type of legacy to your children, and possibly your grandchildren, too. So, if you haven’t already started working on your estate strategy, consider using Mother’s Day as a launching point. At the very least, you’ll want to write your will, but you may need much more than that, such as a living trust, a durable power of attorney and other documents. And don’t forget to change the beneficiary designations on your life insurance and retirement accounts if you’ve experienced a major life change, such as divorce or remarriage.

These designations are powerful and can even supersede whatever instructions you might have left in your will. As you can guess, estate planning can be complex, so you almost certainly will want to work with a legal professional to get your arrangements in order.

Mother’s Day is a good opportunity for your children to show their love for you, and you can do the same for them by helping bolster their long-term security through financial gifts and legacy planning.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Chris Carlton

Donate to a charity in your child’s name. You might want to donate to a charitable organization that your child supports. In years past, such a donation might have earned you a tax deduction, but the new tax laws, which include a much higher standard deduction, may keep many people from itemizing. Still, it’s possible for a charitable gift to provide you with a tax benefit, depending on your age. If you’re 70 ½ or older, you must start taking withdrawals from your traditional IRA and your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan, but by moving Estrella Publishing - Up The Hill magazine

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STEM

Even though many Americans understand the importance of STEM education, children in the U.S. continue to lose interest in science, technology, engineering and math subjects at young ages.That said, we’re still not on track to meet demand, partly because students continue to lose interest.

Many educators in our country believe we need to accelerate our approach to STEM education.

There are three to four million STEM job openings in the U.S. right now, and companies can’t find American workers with the skills they need.

What can parents and educators do to foster more interest? Consider the following: * Find role models. If a child doesn’t know anyone working in STEM, he or she may be unable to imagine a career in such roles. Introduce him or her to people actively working in such fields, then encourage discussion and/or job shadowing.

Teachers might bring in speakers who can answer candid questions about the rewards and challenges in their fields - including significant demand and attractive pay scales.

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* Seek achievement opportunities. Introducing children to engaging events like the annual Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge may spark their sense of competition and passion for STEM. The top 10 finalists receive a summer mentorship with a 3M scientist, and the winner will receive $25,000. * Keep participating. Reducing involvement in your child’s daily academics once he or she enters middle school may backfire. One study shows middle schoolers maintain a more positive attitude toward science when their parents continue to display interest. * Discourage snap decisions. During adolescence, Moss notes, kids struggling to figure out who they are can easily form inaccurate perceptions of their academic weaknesses.

Reassure your child one challenging assignment or bad grade need not rule out a future career. understanding science and math simply requires more thinking for some people than others; it’s not a skill based on gender.

It’s critical for us to maintain interest during the middle school years, and it’s our responsibility to help children see the possibilities.

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Goodyear PD A Fork in the Road for Teens

The Goodyear Police Department enjoys a long tradition of hosting its annual Teen Police Academy each summer for high school students, ages 14-18 years of age. This is a great opportunity for them to learn the ins and outs of police work and may even serve as a fork in the road for teens interested in law enforcement as a career option.

We all face choices in life; for a teenager, often the choices made can be a fork in the road, leading to a desirable outcome or not so desirable one with serious consequences. By offering the Teen Police Academy, Goodyear Police believe they can give students the tools they need to make good life choices; sometimes choices that may lead to their future career in law enforcement. Teen academy also gives students and officers the opportunity to connect on a deeper level. Officers serve as role models and students interact with officers in a positive environment, building encouraging relationships.

Students who participate in the program learn about many facets of the police department

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including: SWAT/SAU, K9s, Traffic Unit, Patrol, and Crime Scene Investigations. They also learn about making good life choices, the severe penalties of underage drinking and driving under the influence, as well as drug and gang awareness. In addition, they will gain hands-on experience with firearms safety and training, as well as learn CPR and first aid.

This year, the Teen Police Academy will take place June 18-22nd. For more information on teen academy or to follow their week of learning and adventure, follow the Goodyear Police Department’s Facebook page or check the city of Goodyear website at http://www.goodyearaz.gov/ government/departments-divisions-a-z/police/ community-policing/teen-police-academy.

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Puzzles & Games

Mothers’ Day Word Search

Sudoku for May

Numbers from 1-9 must appear only once in each row, column and box. Good Luck!

Solution is on our website www.EstrellaPublishing.com

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