Aug/Sept 2021 On the Minds of Moms

AUGUST | SEPTEMPER 2021

Inside:

IN MEMORY OF HER MOM, ONE MOTHER FOUND HER PROFESSIONAL PASSION | 22 The valley’s

for today’s

CONTENT

IN EVERY ISSUE

CONTRIBUTORS.................................................... 4 EDITOR'S NOTE........................................................ 7 SHUTTERBUG............................................................ 20 EVENTS...................................................................................... 41 RESOURCES

Connect, find help, get answers, make a difference....................................... 42

Jennifer Peters Photography

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CONTENT

FEATURES & PROFILES MOD MOM

Trisha Lake.......................................................................................... 8

SURVIVING THE NICU

Dear NICU Mama, you’re not alone................................ 12

BIO GIRLS

Program helps girls develop confidence, improve self-esteem..................................... 16

32 36

PARENTING PERSPECTIVES

How to sharpen those back-to-school brains................................................................ 18

COVER STORY

Cassie Kasowski took the trauma of losing her mother to alcoholism and transformed it into her professional passion.......... 22

GOOD FOOD

How to easily enjoy your garden produce all year.......................................................... 30

RAD DAD

Melvin Whitney.............................................................................. 36

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O

n the Minds of Moms is grateful to have the following women contributing their expertise and voice to this issue of the magazine.

CONTRIBUTORS

Melissa Davidson

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is a mom to three girls and writer for Click Content Studios, a marketing and video production agency. In addition to writing, she’s passionate about health and wellness, wishes she could get through all the non-fiction books out there, and thrives on learning new things, like the cello!

Paula Quam works as managing digital editor of InForum.

A Glyndon, Minn. native, Quam served as an Air Force broadcaster before moving "back home" to join the news business in Fargo, working in both TV and newspaper. She and her husband Donavon are the parents of four children — Parker, Oliver, Addison and Kaja — and they live in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Jessica Rerick of Grand Forks is a freelance writer, trained chef and mom to four boys. Her food blog, wineandhotdish.com, is filled with recipes that quickly become new weeknight favorites. She also owns and operates Craveable Kitchen, an expanding line of dry mixes and seasonings.

Danielle Teigen is managing editor of On the Minds of Moms magazine as well as the author of two nonfiction local history books. She and her husband have three children who keep every day filled with laughter, craziness and caffeine.

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moms@forumcomm.com

PUBLISHER Forum Communications Company

EDITOR Mary Jo Hotzler mhotzler@forumcomm.com

MANAGING EDITOR Danielle Teigen danielle.teigen@forumcomm.com

WRITERS Melissa Davidson Paula Quam Jessica Rerick Danielle Teigen

ADVERTISING Lisa Tillotson adfeatures@forumcomm.com

DESIGN AND LAYOUT Sara Slaby specialsections@forumcomm.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Renee Clasen Jennifer Peters

CONTENT INQUIRIES moms@forumcomm.com

SFI-00574

MISSION AND VISION On the Minds of Moms is dedicated to providing a community of local support and real-life advice for the modern mom who is on the go and needs to know. We are inspired to help the woman behind “the mom” balance it all by offering support, validation and reassurance she is a good mom wanting only the best for herself and family.

On the Minds of Moms is an online community and magazine for and about local moms. We strive to achieve a balance between useful information and entertaining content. Written to serve as the local reading alternative to family magazines that are produced for a national audience.

On the Minds of Moms contains views from across the parenting spectrum. These views do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All activities listed in these pages are at your own risk and require appropriate supervision.

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The unbreakable bonds of family MARY JO HOTZLER

F

amily is everything. As moms, we are often at the center of that “everything.” It’s equal parts amazing and oh-so-exhausting.

Then, just when we think we have a rhythm, we shift to a new stage of life and the playbook changes. We are constantly adjusting the sails to withstand whatever new turbulence might be brewing.

In my family, we find ourselves bracing for the transition to middle school. I can’t even comprehend all the changes this will bring in the coming months and all of the new ways I will need to evolve as a parent. Nurturing children as they enter the teen years is a whole new challenge. I find myself worried about heavy things like mental health, anxiety, and pressures I may not even be able to see pushing their way into the safety bubble I’ve tried to create around my kids — a bubble that surely won’t be able to protect them much longer.

As many other moms, including my own, have told me: parenting doesn’t stop when your kids grow up. It changes; we adapt. The relationship between a

mother and child — between any parent and a child — will always be a special one, no matter your age or stage in life.

You’ll see and feel some of those relationships as you page through this edition of On The Minds of Moms. We feature some NICU mamas, Ashley Ham and Martha Mink, who had to adjust their parenting “sails” long before they were ready. These women now have come together to create a support network for other moms whose babies were born prematurely.

Be sure to also check out our cover story on Cassie Kasowski. Cassie’s love for her own mother, who lost her battle with alcoholism in 2017, prompted her to turn her pain into a profession where she helps other people overcome addictions.

It’s a story both heart wrenching and hopeful and a true testament to the unbreakable bond of family.

Mary Jo Hotzler is Forum Communications Company’s Chief Content Officer and the interim editor of On the Minds of Moms. She lives in Fargo with her husband Heath and twin boys.

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Trisha's family includes husband Corey and children Taylor, Lily and Carter. Special to On the Minds of Moms

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ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

Trisha Lake

MOD MOM

From side hustle to philanthropic business

W

By Melissa Davidson

hen faced with single parenthood during her last year of nursing school, Trisha Lake was dealing with more than the challenges of achieving 18 credits a semester; she also had to figure out how to provide for her and her daughter. Her solution: cleaning houses for extra income. Soon, what was just a small gig to get by, turned into one of the most well-known cleaning businesses in the area—TLC Cleaning.

“At the beginning of TLC it was really hard. I was a single mom to Taylor and I would bring her with me to houses often,” Lake said. “I would work until 2 a.m. on apartment move-outs so I would bring a blanket, crayons and a lunch box for her. I have a picture of her sleeping on a blanket on the floor really late at night. Each time I see that picture I cry.”

As a single mom, Trisha learned to just make things work. And as it became harder and harder to keep up with serving her clients and school she did just that. She hired her friend to take some of the workload. Eventually, she followed her passion for entrepreneurship, leaving nursing and going all-in on TLC Cleaning.

Soon after she met her husband, Corey, and they’d have two children, Lily and Carter. Her team of two at TLC Cleaning has grown to 55, which now includes her husband who runs the carpet cleaning side.

Trisha’s drive to help others led her to nursing, and while that’s not the path she chose, it’s still

a principle she incorporates into her business every day.

“We offer free cleanings to people undergoing cancer treatments,” Trisha said. “I want them to be able to concentrate on their health and not their home. These people are literally fighting for their lives and shouldn’t be thinking about their house chores.”

She also ensures TLC takes good care of its employees, hosting monthly events such as bowling, BBQ picnics, bounce house parties and weekend trips to the lake. She also treats the team to tubing down Detroit Lake Mountain each winter. “I want people to come to work and feel as though they are valued and truly a part of a community,” she said.

That extends to everyone in Fargo-Moorhead.

Trisha started the Fargo Moms Group on Facebook to provide a positive, safe place for moms of all types to come together and talk about things. She also intended the group to be a platform where women can meet new friends and take advantage of TLC’s special giveaways, including house cleanings!

Here’s a little more about Trisha.

The story of how I named my business is . . .

I asked my mom what she thought I should name it. She came up with TLC Cleaning for Trisha Leigh Cornelision, which was my name at the time. And now my children's names are Taylor, Lily and Carter. Yeah, we did that on purpose.

ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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Trisha's business TLC Cleaning has grown from two employees at its start to 55. Special to On the Minds of Moms

My favorite part of owning TLC is . . .

I work to balance all the things by . . .

simply the support we have from the community and the ability to have a large enough tribe to do some really awesome things in the community.

It is very fulfilling to know we are helping so many families.

just letting go and not getting consumed with perfection.

My big dream or goal is . . .

One thing I know today that I wish you knew when I was younger is . . .

to simply be happy and to take care of my family.

I enjoy challenging myself. That is probably why I like taking on large donations or big projects. I think it’s an awesome feeling to create a goal and work with your team to cross that line.

The No. 1 cleaning tip everyone should know is . . . you can clean almost anything with Dawn dish soap and a microfiber washcloth. Essential oils can be your best friend, too.

I can’t live without . . . my cell phone, ha! I can do all of my work from there. People are typically pretty amazed at all the stuff I can accomplish from it.

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My two favorite books are . . .

Profit First and The 4 Disciplines of Execution.

it truly doesn’t matter what others think of you. There will always be people in this world who want to bring others down. Just smile and keep going.

The most important thing I’ve learned thus far in life is . . . time is something you can never get back. There are only so many hours in the day. So I often choose bike rides with my family over dishes.

I often choose to read books to my kids over booking another client. These moments in time are ones we will never get back. Make sure you use yours wisely.

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ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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Dear NICU Mama, you’re not alone.

M

By Melissa Davidson

oms never forget the feelings of anticipation and excitement pending the arrival of our little bundle (or bundles) of joy. But often, almost as if a precursor to how our brains will operate from here on out as we raise our little ones, it’s accompanied by an undercurrent of worry.

What if something goes wrong?

What if my baby comes early?

What if, what if, what if?

For most moms, these thoughts never come to fruition. For others, they do.

Being a mom with a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit can be a lonely, scary and traumatic experience. But Ashley Ham and Martha Mink, founders of Dear NICU Mama, are using their own experiences to ensure NICU moms in our community have the unique support they need to get through even after they’ve come home.

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NICU mothers often don’t get to have maternity or newborn photoshoots, and this event gives them that opportunity to heal the wounds of trauma through community and provide validation and support for each woman’s individual journey.

Ashley Ham

“I found a lot of articles regarding the ways in which I would struggle, but I didn’t find any articles that honored the NICU motherhood journey or the bravery that exists within each and every NICU mom. It’s one of the core reasons we founded Dear NICU Mama,” Ham said.

NICU Mamas from around the country and their

Dear NICU Mama is a nonprofit that connects and creates community among moms who have or currently have a baby in the NICU. The program provides a variety of support and advocacy resources through their website and social media pages, including their private Dear NICU Mama Facebook group. The organization’s podcast highlights stories of encouragement from other

NICU experiences.

ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

monthly support groups provide a touch base with moms from all walks of life. Dear NICU Mama also holds events, from guided meditations to an annual conference that features keynote speakers addressing mental health specific to

“When you’re in the NICU, the baby is the patient, not you, which can make you feel isolated. The biggest remedy for this is helping mothers out of isolation and into community,” Mink said.

One of the more unique things Dear NICU Mama provides is their Celebration Photoshoots. The

Dear NICU Mama's Celebration Photoshoots give moms of NICU babies the photoshoot many missed out on and allows them to honor and celebrate their individual journey. Special to On the Minds of Moms

team gathers six to seven mothers of past and present babies of the NICU, provides them with styling in partnership with a local boutique and gives them a free professional photoshoot with their NICU graduate child.

“NICU mothers often don’t get to have maternity or newborn photoshoots, and this event gives them that opportunity to heal the wounds of trauma through community and provide validation and support for each woman’s individual journey,” Ham said.

Ham and Mink have their own NICU journeys they’ve worked to heal from.

In 2015, Mink’s son JP was born at 25 weeks.

Unfortunately, he only lived for three days after a brave fight. About three years later she delivered her daughter, JJ, at 29 weeks. JJ stayed in the NICU for 47 days. Ham also had a similar experience in 2019, when she gave birth to her son Silas at just 28 weeks. He spent 87 days in the NICU. It would be these experiences that would shape the bond between the two and give them the platform they needed to help other NICU moms.

“Ashley and Silas were in a NICU in Minneapolis several hundred miles away from her home in Fargo,” Mink said. “I had my daughter about 6 months prior and had been following Ashley’s story on social media. I decided to reach out. We met for coffee and within a month we had already devised the founding of Dear NICU Mama.”

The NICU experience is hard and there really isn’t anything a person can do to prepare. Ham and Mink were no exception.

“Obviously, the loss of our son was devastating, but the struggle of having a second baby in the NICU with the fear that she might not come home was incredibly stressful,” Mink said.

For Ham, and likely for all NICU moms, it’s the entire experience in and of itself that was hard.

“Leaving Silas at the hospital each night was one of the most challenging parts. It never feels right to be separated from your baby,” Ham said.

And often, when moms finally do get to bring their baby home, the challenges don’t stop there.

“In the NICU, a mother is in survival mode,” Ham said. “It isn’t until she is discharged and home ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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when she begins to address or have the capacity to address her mental health. I was confronted with PTSD, anxiety and bouts of depression.” In fact, for many NICU parents, these experiences can fall into many different categories of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs). “I think this is one of the most common misconceptions about trauma, there is no prescribed way for each of us to react,” Mink said.

“For me, I faced a mix of postpartum anxiety, PTSD and grief.”

The NICU becomes home to parents and the staff becomes family. Leaving that behind to start life at home, Mink said, can be really scary. But the most important thing is to speak up and reach out.

“When I came home the emotions started flooding. I immediately sought out support from my doctors and a therapist who specializes in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. It was a game-changer,” Mink said.

“Bringing my scary thoughts into the open gave them less power and took away the shame. This is one of the fundamental reasons we started Dear NICU Mama. We discovered that community could be a formative source of trauma healing.”

TOP TO BOTOM: Ashley Ham, Dear NICU Mama co-founder and creative director, is shown with her son Silas who spent 87 days in the NICU. Martha Mink, Dear NICU Mama co-founder and mental health advocate, is pictured with her daughter JJ who spent 47 days in the NICU. Special to On the Minds of Moms

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For Ham, too, finding community with other NICU moms who “got it” was essential for her in taking care of her mental health. “It wasn’t until I connected with other NICU moms that I truly felt seen and heard. I also found a therapist who specializes in trauma,” she said.

Mink and Ham also learned a lot about themselves and what was crucial in terms of setting boundaries and taking care of themselves and their relationships during this time. Things like

NICU MAMA communicating honestly with those around them, being involved with their children’s care in the NICU, and scheduling date nights with their significant other helped them cope.

“Friday nights were mommy and son date night.

We watched a movie together during kangaroo care,” Ham said. “Because he was born so early, I was also intentional to uninstall pregnancy progress apps and mute social media accounts regarding pregnancy.”

Mink was also intentional about being as involved as possible with her daughter’s care, decorating her space, reading her books, and giving her baths. “It made me feel like her ‘real’ mom, even in a medical environment,” Mink said. “There’s still a long way for society and medicine to go in terms of supporting NICU families, identity and providing support for PMADs, and the realm of birth equity. It’s our mission to help bridge the gap for moms when they come home from the NICU, so they know they are not alone."

September is NICU Awareness Month Here are additional resources recommended by Dear NICU Mama:

BOOKS: Pregnancy Brain Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Yourself.

The Body Keeps the Score Widen the Window

WEBSITES: Self-compassion.org dearnicumama.com

ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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BIO GIRLS

FOCUSED ON

BIO Girls program

helps girls develop confidence, improve self-esteem The grassroots organization has grown from one Fargo chapter in 2013 to multiple across five states

F

By Danielle Teigen

or 8-year-old Emily Cote, being involved in the BIO Girls program last spring offered

her a safe place where she could truly let her personality shine. The sweet, cherub-faced redhead shared that she doesn’t always feel like that at school.

“I feel like I can’t be myself at school because people will laugh at me, but at BIO Girls, I can be myself and be who I want to be,” she said.

That’s exactly the type of outcome BIO (which stands for Beautiful Inside and Out) Girls is designed to do through its 12-week program.

Founder Missy Heilman, who was also Cote’s

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group leader, explained that BIO Girls envisions a world where girls feel confident to be their bright, bold and beautiful selves. Weekly sessions last 90 minutes, with an evidence-based lesson as well as physical activity.

One of the BIO Girls’ pillars is kindness, and many of the lessons focus on being kind to themselves as well as their peers, so its second annual 5K Virtual Run in May was themed “Find Your Kind” again. “We want our participants to represent BIO Girls by being the one who is including others and spreading kindness in the community,” Heilman said.

Cote and her grandma, Aimee Hanson, saw firsthand how impactful the lessons have been for the first-time participant.

To learn more about BIO Girls, visit www.biogirls.org.

“I enjoy how we all get together to do activities that are based around real life and not (a subject) at school,” Cote said. “One of the most valuable things I’ve learned is just to be yourself; if someone tells you differently, don’t listen to them because in your mind, you’re right.” Hanson loves seeing her granddaughter’s confidence grow. “This has helped Emily know she can do anything she sets her mind to,” she said. “One of the best things is seeing how excited she is to go every week.”

That type of confidence is part of the selfesteem toolkit BIO Girls offers in four key topic areas: kindness, mental wellness, healthy relationships and leadership; the curriculum has been developed through research by doctors, counselors, teachers and professors, and participants are surveyed to ensure the lessons are achieving their purpose.

Aimee Hanson brought her granddaughter, Emily Cote, to weekly BIO Girls sessions in Fargo from Hillsboro where they live. Hanson is a co-owner of Grateful Cratefulls, which sold kindness-themed shirts to support the BIO Girls program. Photo courtesy of Aimee Hanson

“They are going to be navigating situations almost every girl will experience, and they will think back to BIO Girls and access this toolkit,” Heilman explained.

BIO Girls is a grassroots organization that Heilman founded in 2013 as a single program at her church that has now grown to multiple programs across five states that will reach approximately 1,700 girls. Then Heilman had two girls and she’s welcomed a third since establishing the program, and she said the program was born from a sensitivity to raising confident young women. “I just wanted to give back in some way,” she said.

Cote soundly affirms Heilman is giving back to her and all the other BIO Girls participants in so many important ways.

“One night while running . . . I’d had a tough week, and I just felt sad and started crying,” she remembered. “Missy stood up for me . . . she kind of feels like a family member to be because she stood up for me like a friend.”

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Paula Quam, front center, recently went hiking in Grand Portage, Minnesota, with her daughters and family friends. Getting exercise, particularly in nature, is proven to help create and keep a healthy brain. Special to On the Minds of Moms

How to sharpen those back-to-school brains A

By Paula Quam

s a mother of four, I've always tried my college best to make sure my kids understand the importance of taking care of themselves. But holy cow, there is sooo much nagging to do, and when you've got four children like I do, it's hard to keep straight what you've nagged about, to whom, and if it's been laid on sufficiently heavy in each of the necessary categories: brushing teeth, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, exercising, eating right, etc. There have been many times when I've passed by one of the kids and randomly, and for no particular reason, blurted out a drive-by nag regarding one of those things just to kind of make sure I'm covering bases.

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But now, my friends, I'm trading in all of my micro-nags for one, overarching and allencompassing macro nag: "Have you taken care of your brain today?"

I recently read a book from Dr. Sanjya Gupta called "Keep Sharp: Build A Better Brain at Any Age", which changed the way I think about mental and physical health, not just for my kids but for me as well. The premise of the book is that if you do the things you need to do have a healthy brain, the rest will just naturally follow.

According to Gupta, focusing in on that one special, spongy organ in your noggin will actually have a trickle-down effect on a whole host of health issues, a few of which includes anxiety, depression, focus and obesity — four things that plague many children. And as kids everywhere

PARENTING PERSPECTIVES are getting ready to get back to school, I can't help but believe that if we all truly focused more on our kids' brains (and our own), some of those struggles may start to ease up considerably.

Spoiler alert: I'm about to tell you what the book says you need to do in order to create and keep a healthy brain. I doubt Gupta will care — the guys seems genuinely interested in spreading the word.

1. Get 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week.

He listed way too many ways in which this benefits brains and bodies for me to actually quote it all, but it helps in all four of those areas I mentioned above: anxiety, depression, focus and obesity. This is an easy one to deem credible. Just get up from your desk and get your blood pumping for a bit and see how it helps you literally feel mentally sharper and happier when you come back.

2. Get a good amount of sleep.

Apparently — and parents who've watched the Pixar movie "Inside Out" will get this — it's during the deeper stages of sleep when your brain turns short-term memories into long-term memories, giving you recall ability. (Poor Bing Bong. Maybe Riley just wasn't getting enough sleep.) It's the time when your brain reorganizes and gets ready for the next day so that it can actually absorb new material again.

started with tribes and protection and safety and is now just something our brains literally need to stay happy and healthy. Socializing and laughing helps produce hormones such as oxytocin, while also decreasing harmful stress hormones.

5. Keep the brain stimulated.

Think games, puzzles, music, video games (it felt weird to say that), exploring new ideas, and just generally learning new things. It's all part of making new brain pathways and brain reserve that we all need maintain good brain health throughout our lives.

I know you all have probably heard each of these individual tips before, but I have to admit, I've always thought of them as separate things to deal with . . . each their own hill to try climb.

But when I boil it all down to one thing — brain health — it feels consolidated, like I only have one thing to think about now instead of 20. It's all about the brain.

I found this David Suzuki quote recently that I really liked: "The human brain had a vast memory storage. It made us curious and very creative. Those were the characteristics that gave us an advantage curiosity, creativity and memory. And that brain did something very special. It invented an idea called 'the future."

3. Eat real, whole, nutritious food and less processed, sugary junk.

No earth-shattering tip here, but Gupta does specify say that eating omega-3 fatty acids is always a good thing and that getting vitamins from food, rather than supplements, is much better, since apparently it's still quite difficult for scientists to extract the healthy ingredients from food to turn them into supplements. Also, staying really well hydrated is important. Studies show that if you're even dehydrated by even a few ounces, you will feel that fog start to settle in to your brain.

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4. Socialize.

We all need plenty of time bonding with people we care about. It's an evolutionary thing that

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ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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In memory of her mom

Cassie Kasowski took the trauma of losing her mother to alcoholism and transformed it into her professional passion

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CASSIE KASOWSKI

N

By Danielle Teigen

early every day, someone calls Cassie Kasowski's chemical dependency evaluation and treatment practice addiction treatment center in Moorhead and asks for her mom, Beth.

The practice is named "Beth's Place" in honor of Cassie's mom, who lost her battle with alcoholism in 2017, so the question is not unexpected. That also means that Cassie gets to talk about her mom nearly every day, which is a cathartic practice years in the making.

Cassie admits that she wouldn't have been able to do that shortly after losing her mother, but through her own work coming to terms with her mother's death, Cassie says she is now in a better place and has turned her sadness and pain into a profession where she helps other people overcome their addictions, even though her mother was never able to.

Cassie Kasowski is the treatment director, clinical supervisor, and CEO of Beth's Place, an outpatient addiction and mental health practice located in south Moorhead. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Peters Photography ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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Cassie's children include Hudson (12), Reecy (10) and Brody (8).

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Peters Photography

Lost battle and idea sparked Growing up in East Grand Forks, Cassie never saw her mother drink. After her mom underwent gastric bypass surgery, she began to drink to battle early menopause symptoms and insomnia.

She didn't realize that her surgery and recent weight loss made her more sensitive to the effects of alcohol; when Cassie's mom's late-night drinking turned into full-fledged alcoholism, she became one of the 20 percent of people who have had gastric bypass surgery and subsequently developed an alcohol abuse disorder, according to Ria Health.

Once Cassie's family realized what was happening, they enacted a plan to help her get treatment. Cassie spent more than three years in and out of rehabilitation centers with her mother, and as a counselor herself, she began to wonder if she could make a difference in the field of addiction treatment. She saw that other programs like Alcoholics Anonymous weren't working for her mother.

Sadly, Cassie's mother, Beth, lost her life to alcohol addiction on March 5, 2017. At the time,

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ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

Cassie was 33 years old and had three young children ages 8, 6 and 4. As Cassie grappled with the enormity of her loss, she concluded that she wanted to open a private practice addiction treatment center. She went to her husband, Nick, and shared her idea.

Bracing herself for his reply, Cassie remembered that he looked at her and said: "Cassie Marie, you don't know how to fail so go and do it."

Opening the practice, healing along the way Armed with her idea, her husband's confidence and the experiences she'd shared with her mom, Cassie aimed to provide treatment for patients that involved customized, person-centered care rather than a universally strict program with specific steps and milestones. She carefully cultivated her practice, designed a warm, welcoming space and then began to consider what she'd call her center.

After brainstorming and considering options, Cassie settled on the name Beth's Place. "She is my reason why, so why not?" Cassie said.

IN MEMORY OF HER MOM The hummingbird logo, which was designed by Amanda McKinnon from MINT Brand Marketing, represents the struggle of addiction. "She used to watch hummingbirds with my babies all the time," she explained. "And it's chaotic on the inside but then it takes flight."

involved vetting several different communities

By 2018, Beth's Place opened as an outpatient addiction and mental health practice. Cassie, the organization's CEO as well as treatment director and clinical supervisor, shared that those first months tested her patience and her faith in the decision she'd made. "Slowly we started to get one patient, two patients, and it took a really long time," she remembered, noting how mentor and now great friend Leanne Lafrance helped her understand the state statutes and what it takes to run a successful treatment facility, based on Leanne's own experience. "Now looking back, I wasn't ready yet. It was for a reason. It was one of those God things . . . God was telling me I still had some healing to do."

ity this year geared specifically toward women

and at the end of the assessment period, Cassie's heart was in East Grand Forks. "I love home. I'm super proud to be from here, and it has been so well-received," she said.

In addition, she plans to open a residential facilwho have overcome their addiction and have children but need a safe place to stay. The home will be called the "I Love You House", another tribute to Cassie's mom. Just before Beth died, she sent Cassie a card from her treatment center and all it said inside was "I love you", Cassie shared. That message of love and acceptance resonated with Cassie in the aftermath of her mother's death, so the name made sense.

By the time the anniversary of her mother's death happened, Cassie realized she had pushed herself to move forward and get back to work too soon; she needed to come to terms with the grief she was still feeling. “I needed to take care of myself before I could take care of anyone else, and I learned how important my community of girlfriends were to me,” Cassie said. “Leaning on them, especially my sister in law Racheal-Ann, was the only way to get better.

"A patient asked me recently if I had done things differently then with my mother if I had known everything we do now regarding therapy and treatment, and I said, 'No, because she's safe now'," Cassie shared. "For whatever reason, that's what she had to go through and I decided to do something with the pain of all of that. And I'm not a saint for that . . . gone is gone, but there are lessons in it. But it takes a second to see the lessons."

Growing business attracts accolades As Beth's Place grew in Moorhead, Cassie saw an opportunity to help even more people overcome their addictions by opening another center in September, this time in her hometown of East Grand Forks. Deciding on a second location

Nick and Cassie knew each other growing up in the East Grand Forks area and married in April 2012.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Peters Photography

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IN MEMORY OF HER MOM

The Kasowski family includes Cassie and Nick and sons Hudson and Brody and daughter Reecy. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Peters Photography

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ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

IN MEMORY OF HER MOM Throughout the past year, Cassie's story of transforming pain into a profession captivated audiences at a Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber Women Connect event as well as at the North Dakota Women's Business Center's Leading Ladies Luncheon. Beth's Place was also nominated as Emerging Business of the Year for The Chamber's annual ChamberChoice Awards, and Cassie herself was nominated for the 2021 YWCA Woman of the Year award in the health and wellness category.

At the event, Beth's Place was described as "a refuge, where those suffering with substance abuse can feel welcomed, loved and are treated fairly" and Cassie as "a powerful advocate for women's health" who combines "toughness and compassion" in the work she loves to do every day.

"Being in a room full of women of that degree and level was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," she explained. Cassie didn't know what category

Olivia Rickford

“Dr. Jones-Dees is an absolutely phenomenal pediatrician”. ~ Liz Rickford

imahealthcare.com • 701-280-2033 ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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IN MEMORY OF HER MOM will learn through your life experiences that your relationship with yourself and how you serve others and how you serve your higher power is the truest, most important relationship you will ever have. You will also learn that it is not much different than the person standing next to you.

Nobody will give you ladies anything and quite frankly nobody owes you anything. Work hard.

Do the next right thing and push each other to level up because you are only as strong as the woman next to you."

A lasting legacy The death of her mother sparked a turning point in Cassie's life, not just professionally but personally. And while she loves her job and loves that her family members — husband Nick, sons Hudson (12) and Brody (8) and daughter Reecy (10) — have been involved with Beth's Place since its beginning, Cassie knows her mother's legacy is much simpler: she taught Cassie about love and the power of family.

Cassie said she always wanted to be a mom and calls her three children the loves of her life.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Peters Photography she was nominated in, so she thought when she didn't win in the business management and entrepreneurship category that she was no longer in the running. In fact, her grandmother got up to leave because she figured they didn't need to stay until the end, Cassie laughed.

Then Cassie won.

During her acceptance speech, she thanked her team for being "the true definition of service which is to give to people who can give nothing back to you". Then she asked her 10-year-old daughter Reece to stand up and look around the room. She told her and other young girls in the audience not to get lost in the glamour of the evening but rather the lessons and education represented by the women.

"Social media and our need to share our lives with the world has painted a facade that life is perfect, and it is not," Cassie said that night. "You 28

ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

"She didn't learn about self-love, but I have.

You have to love yourself before you can love others," she said. "I really don't think of myself as any different. I just feel like we're all doing our part . . . I love humans and I love people, and I'm just living my truth and I love my work and I love my babies. I just feel so fortunate.

After going through what I did with my mom, you just get a whole new perception of life and what really matters."

At the end of the day, what matters to Cassie is her family. "All I ever wanted to be was a mom," she said with tears in her eyes. "They are truly the loves of my life."

Cassie shared that one of the best pieces of advice her mother gave her was to "take the babies everywhere". As a female business owner, that’s a daunting task but Cassie’s kids are at the clinic every day and often handle important tasks like making coffee, taking out garbage, checking drug screens, etc. They’ve even sat in on bank meetings or waited for Cassie to be done in court. “It is possible, and I want women to know that,” she said.

She didn't learn about self-love, but I have. You have to love yourself before you can love others.

Cassie Kasowski

Since losing her mother, Cassie has been more open and honest with her children, and she tries to spend as much time as she can with them.

It's a challenge with her thriving business, but she works hard at being intentionally present. She and Nick have been married for more than 12 years, and despite being total opposites in terms of personality, they communicate really well, Cassie said. "He was raised by a therapist," she explained, laughing.

"He's calm and relaxed and level headed whereas I'm a pusher."

Cassie's drive and ambition to overcome her pain and make something good out of it is transforming the lives of those around her: her family, friends, co-workers, patients and more. But Cassie doesn't want any special recognition; she just wants everyone to extend grace and understanding to each other to make a kinder, more compassionate world. "We're all just trying to do the best we can," she said with a smile.

Cassie was named the 2021 YWCA Woman of the Year in the health and wellness category. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Peters Photography` ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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GOOD FOOD

Preserve the goodness How to easily enjoy your garden produce all year

By Jessica Rerick

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Make a quick flatbread using fresh mozzarella and thawed Basil and Roasted Pine Nut Pesto. Recipe on page 33.

Jessica Rerick / On the Minds of Moms

W

GOOD FOOD

hether you have spent all summer growing your garden or you just purchased more than you can use at the local farmers’ market, you can sometimes find yourself scrambling to use all of your produce before it goes to waste.

For a couple years I would tell myself that I was going to take a day and dedicate it only to preserving my foods. Then that day would come and go and it would go to waste. That is, however, until I got real about using the methods that work best for me.

Did you know that you can still preserve all of that garden goodness without fancy equipment?

Admittedly, my husband cans pickles and I have a dehydrator, but that is all I have ever attempted to tackle. With 4 kids and 2 jobs, I often run out of time and patience to set up special equipment, and I shy away from jobs that require a lot of hands-on time. To work within my preferences, I do most of my preserving with my freezer and a little help from my oven and microwave.

More often than not, the extra produce I find in my kitchen are piles of leftover herbs. There are times that I have purchased a bundle of fresh herbs for a recipe that only requires a tablespoon or two, leaving me stuck with either having to find another recipe using the same herb or throwing the leftovers out. That is, however, until I discovered that I could dehydrate fresh herbs in the microwave. That’s right: I said the microwave! I do have a dehydrator, but for small quantities of things, the chances of me digging it out of the cupboard are nil. Plus, in the microwave, I can have my fresh herbs dehydrated in a minute or two.

How to use your microwave to dehydrate fresh herbs 1. Lay the herbs on a microwave safe plate between 2 paper towels. (you can chop ahead of time or leave as whole leaves) 2. Microwave for 1 minute. Check for doneness to see if the herbs crackle/crunch.

3. If they are not fully dry and “crunchy” yet, cook for an additional 30 seconds.

4. Once fully dried, store in a sealed container or a resealable plastic bag until ready to use.

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Another item that I find myself trying to save is tomatoes.

The recipe that I use has long been a recipe for an almost effortless side dish to pair with fish or grilled steaks and chicken but is now also my go-to recipe for preserving tomatoes before the frost hits (or when I have had the package on the counter for a week too long). I prefer to roast them in the oven with garlic and olive oil, but, of course, you can omit the garlic if you like. Because most recipes that I use tomatoes in also include garlic, I figured I am just saving myself a step later on. The cooking times vary depending on the sizes and moisture content of your tomatoes, so keep an eye on them during the final hour of roasting. If you are using a smaller pan, the times could be greatly reduced.

To store the tomatoes, I let them cook and then divide them into quart freezer bags. Once I have added 2-3 cups of tomatoes to the bags, I lay them flat in the freezer so that once they are frozen, I can stack them and they won’t take up too much space in the freezer. Plus, it really makes the tomatoes easier to find!

Roast tomatoes with garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper. Jessica Rerick / On the Minds of Moms

To use the tomatoes, I add them into jarred pasta sauces or use them in my own completely homemade sauce.

I also use them for quick Eggs in Purgatory or Shakshuka.

Oven-to-Freezer Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic Ingredients: Tomatoes Peeled garlic cloves Olive oil Salt Pepper Directions: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Load your pan with tomatoes and fresh cloves of garlic. With large tomatoes, I give them a very large rough chop. I leave grape tomatoes whole. Fill the pan about half way up the sides. For a lasagna-size pan, add about 12-15 cloves of garlic and for smaller pans, use about 4-6 cloves. Use as much or as little as you like. Add a couple tablespoons 32

ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

of olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. When it comes to the salt and pepper, remember that you can always add more in the recipes you make later. Stir the tomatoes and garlic to make sure that they are all coated in the oil and place the pan in the oven for 1 hour.

Remove the pan from the oven and stir the tomatoes. Smash them a little with the back of a spoon or a potato masher. Place the pan back in the oven for an additional hour or until the tomato juices have started to thicken and have reduced by at least half.

Remove the pan from the oven and let cool. Store the mixture in resealable freezer bags. They can be stored in the freezer for up to one year.

GOOD FOOD My third way of preserving items is to turn my fresh herbs into pesto and to freeze it. For years I have read about mincing herbs and covering them with olive oil in ice cube trays, but I never did it. It just didn’t work with my style of cooking, and I didn’t like not knowing the amount of olive oil that I would end up having to put into my recipes. Then I discovered that I could freeze pesto. I much prefer this method, because to me, it’s the most “ready to use” way to store it.

Anything to save time during meal prep later on down the road is definitely high on my list!

Realizing that I could freeze pesto was a real kitchen game changer for me. It doesn’t get much better than pulling out fresh pesto on the fly in the middle of winter to add to a flat bread for a

quick appetizer or to make a seemingly indulgent pasta dish in only the amount of time required to cook your pasta.

After I finish making my pesto, I store it in freezer bags laid flat so that they can easily stack. Because the olive oil won’t freeze solid and as long as the amount in the bag doesn’t make it “too thick”, you will be able to break frozen chunks of your fresh pesto off year round.

If a piece won’t break off for you, go ahead and scoop/dig it out with a spoon.

This is the recipe for my Large Batch Pesto, but feel free to cut the amounts in half to suit the amount of basil that you have on hand. There are also many other herbs that you can make pesto out of, so get creative!

Large Batch Basil & Roasted Pine Nut Pesto Ingredients: 8 cloves of fresh garlic, peeled 8 cups packed basil leaves, whole 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese ¾ cup toasted pine nuts ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper 1 cup olive oil Directions: Place garlic, basil, cheese, pine nuts, red pepper, salt, and black pepper into your food processor.

Pulse 15-20 times until well chopped and everything is even in size, brushing down the sides of the food processor every couple pulses as needed. With the food processor running on high, slowly pour in the olive oil. Turn off the processor and scrape the sides to make sure everything is even in texture. Pulse again a few more times if required. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days of freeze in quart bags, muffin tins, or ice cube trays to use later.

Making pesto is an easy way to preserve an abundance of basil or other fresh herbs. Jessica Rerick / On the Minds of Moms ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

33

GOOD FOOD My last method of preservation is again with the freezer, but this is how my family has saved sweet corn since I was a little girl. I grew up on a farm and we always grew sweet corn. At harvest time, I can remember husking what felt like a million ears of corn for my grandma and my mom so that they could freeze it for later in the winter. You can use a corn cob “zipper” to remove the kernels from the cob when they are raw, or you can use a chef’s knife. Either way,

Cut corn close to the cob to extract the milk which will make your frozen corn creamier once you thaw it. Jessica Rerick / On the Minds of Moms

make sure you get in close to the cob. That’s where the “milk” of the corn is located and that part is key to the best frozen corn you can make!

Note, you will also have to make mental peace with the fact that loose kernels of corn are going to fly all over the kitchen. Don’t worry about it during the process, it will all wipe up later!

To store the corn, I use the same lay flat freezer method that I used for the tomatoes and pesto.

That way I can make sense of what’s in my freezer!

Freezer Corn “Off” The Cob (makes 2-3 quart bags) Ingredients: Corn kernels from 12 ears of corn 1 cup water 3 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon sugar Directions: Place corn kernels, water, butter, salt, and sugar into a large saute pan. Turn heat to medium high and bring the water to a boil, stirring the corn occasionally. Once the water boils, keep stirring the corn and let it cook for 5 minutes. Remove the corn from the heat and let cool.

Store in quart freezer bags. Lay flat on a sheet tray and place in the freezer. Once frozen solid, stack together and store for up to one year.

Note: For my family of six, I add 2-3 cups of corn to each freezer bag.

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ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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35

RAD DAD

Melvin Whitney He’s coaching athletes and his kids in the game of life

A

By Danielle Teigen

s a kid growing up in Chicago, Melvin Whitney never thought he'd end up working and raising a family in the Fargo-Moorhead area, but he's been here for more than 20 years and wouldn't have it any other way.

His journey west started in Thief River Falls at Northland Community & Technical where he played football, but he set his sights a little higher and ended up walking on at North Dakota State University to become a member of the Bison football team. Life took a bit of a turn for Melvin though, so he didn't play for the Bison long before he left to focus on working (returning later to complete his degree).

Melvin's love for the game of football found a new outlet through coaching when he was hired as an assistant coach at Shanley High School in 2010. During his six years there, his team qualified for the state title game five times, winning championships two years. In 2016, Melvin landed the head coach position at Oak Grove Lutheran School where he continues to mentor and guide student-athletes on and off the football field. He shared that he believes his role as a coach is about more than just helping the athletes play the game well but is also about teaching them valuable life lessons on being upstanding young men.

Melvin also stays busy watching plenty of sports, in addition to spending time with his two kids: Michael, who is 12, and Grace, who is 36

ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

2. Melvin jokes that his daughter should have been named "Sass" because she has a lot of attitude and knows exactly what she wants, he laughed. What's not a joke is her love and adoration for her big brother, and Melvin has enjoyed watching their relationship develop, even if that means Grace prefers Michael over him, Melvin said with a smile.

When he's not coaching football or spending time with his kids, Melvin works as the director of advancement and development at M State Community and Technical College, a role that involves securing funds for scholarships while providing him with a sense of fulfillment because he's helping students achieve their goals. He also spends plenty of time giving back to the community through his involvement with the Fargo West Rotary. His love of service is something he hopes to pass on to his own kids as well as those he coaches. "The best thing you can do (in life) is give back to others and inspire someone else to do the same," Melvin said.

He also shared that a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2019 changed his life in many ways. After dealing with symptoms for years, he switched to a male doctor who immediately wanted to check his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level.

The results led to a cascade of additional tests and appointments and eventually surgery in November of that year. Once he'd finally recovered, Melvin researched how he could live healthier and help his body continue to recover, which meant changing his diet and seeking alternative treatment options.

Melvin Whitney splits his time between his job at M State, his football coaching job at Oak Grove and raising two children. Photo courtesy of Ten Little Chickens Photography

ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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(Mom remarried and had a son with my stepdad, and I have a brother from my father’s side), so I was one that valued my close friends as though they were my siblings. Same with my cousins.

I spent a lot of time with them. My father was not around much in my younger years, so I was raised by strong-minded women. I think that plays a major role in how I treat people today.

What do you enjoy most about living in the Fargo-Moorhead area?

Son Michael enjoys his role as big brother to Grace, who has a big personality that keeps her family on its toes. Photo courtesy of Ten Little Chickens Photography The experience also helped Melvin realize how important it is for people to understand their own bodies and be their own health advocate when something is off. He also wants other men — no matter their age — to get a baseline checkup to establish their PSA level in case it changes down the road. Medical issues aren't fun to talk about, Melvin shared, but they are so important to understand.

Keep reading to understand more about who Melvin is and why that makes him a rad dad.

You love sports — which team do you love cheering for the most?

To a fault, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football.

I once quit a job because that company would not let me work a shift that would allow me to get done in time to watch the games on Saturday.

How would you describe your childhood growing up in Chicago?

I had a lot of fun as a kid. Because my mom moved so much, I had better friendships around my grandmother’s neighborhood, so I spent most of my time there. I was an only child for 12 years 38

ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

The ability to experience things at a closer level than you could in a larger city. For instance, some years back the rapper/reality TV show figure and the rap group that made him famous, Public Enemy, was in Fargo performing. A group of us went to the show, and as the show was ending, another friend of mine and I decided to see if we could get backstage and meet some of the performers. We were successful, and I just kept thinking, there is no way we could have had this experience if this concert was in a larger city.

Security would have thrown us out in a heartbeat.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I don’t remember having any set thoughts in mind of a career. I just remember wanting to just live a comfortable life. I can tell you this: I never thought I’d live in North Dakota, or anywhere close to this area. Those are goals for a kid on the south side of Chicago.

How did your cancer diagnosis change your life? Big or small ways?

It’s made me want to enjoy life as much as possible, because you never know when it’s going to end. Sure, you make plans for the future, but you have to enjoy it now, while you are able to.

It’s made me more aware that you must be an advocate for yourself when it comes to your health. Do your own research and you decide how you want to live the rest of your days. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about how different medicines will affect you, and give your opinion on how you want to live.

Three words to describe you?

Empathetic. Competitive. Fair

RAD DAD How does being a coach affect your parenting style?

situation and practice more patience and putting the kids first as opposed to my own selfish wants.

This is the gift and the curse. I’ve always been of the coaching mindset that I don’t treat everyone the same. You can’t, because each person is different. But I do feel that I treat them fair.

Parenting a mini version of yourself has its challenges. You have to sit back and not just emotionally react, you have to look at where this “action/thought” is coming from and be fair in your reaction to it. I try to do the same with my players. One player might say something, and my reaction would be totally different to another saying that exact same thing. I might be able to get after Player A and challenge them right on the spot, but Player B might not react in a good manner under those same circumstances, so you have to spend time getting to know your players to know how you can get the most out of them.

Same with your kids. I don’t think I can talk to my daughter the same ways I would have with my son. They are two different people who would have totally different reactions.

What's it been like watching your son become a big brother?

What does your family love doing together?

Your son is almost a teenager — what scares you most about raising a teenage boy?

Board games or anything that involves competition.

Greatest parenting lesson so far?

Patience. When I look at my son, physically he looks older than he is, so I have to resist the urge of reacting towards him as if he’s older than he actually is. I once set him up for failure because it was something that I wanted for him that he wasn’t ready for. I didn’t sleep at all that night. I felt like a failure as a parent. I had to learn form that

It’s funny to watch because he is 10 years older than his sister. I can somewhat relate, being 12 years older than one of my brothers who lived with me. She adores him, and he’s a pretty caring kid, so he’s navigating trying to be “cool” with his friends and being that loving big brother. We have talks all of the time about him and his role with his mother sister. He knows that no matter what, those are the two women he has to protect and care for.

How are you hoping to instill a love of service and giving back to others in your kids?

I think that when you show them how good they have it in comparison to others and getting them involved in helping those less fortunate, you hope that sparks that desire for them to want to give back. The earlier you can get them involved in helping others, the better.

The time in which he isn’t that “cute little kid” anymore and can be viewed as a threat. Even at the young age of 12, he and I talk about how to react in certain situations. It sucks that those conversations have to happen, but that’s where we are as a society.

What do you want your kids to always know?

That they are loved more than they can imagine.

ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

Upcoming Publication Dates: October 4, 2021 December 3, 2021

Note: This list is not exhaustive, but rather a resource for families looking for local events.

1 Fiber Arts Festival

When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Hartl Building, Red River Valley Fairgrounds, West Fargo ND The Fiber Arts Festival is a relaxed, informal day that everyone in the family can enjoy. Free admission.

7 German Folk Festival

When: Noon to 5 p.m.

Where: Rheault Farm Experience Germany without leaving

Fargo! Enjoy this free, one-day event dedicated to all things German culture, food, music, and fun.Free admission.

13 When: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Aug. 13); 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Aug. 14); 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Aug. 15) Where: North Dakota Horse Park, 5180 19th Ave. N. Fargo The eighth annual food truck event returns with vendors, competition and fun. Admission is $2 and more information can be found at 701food-

Fargo Marathon Sanford Children's Youth Run

29 Island Park Show

Fargo Food Truck Festival

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SEPTEMBER EVENTS

AUGUST EVENTS

trucks.com and www.facebook.com/ FargoFoodTruckFestival.

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Fargodome Kids ages 12 and under can choose from a ½ mile or 1 mile race after a

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturday); 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Sunday) Where: Island Park, downtown Fargo.

More than 100 different makers and crafters will offer a variety of products, plus food vendors will have tasty treats available. Tickets for horse-drawn carriage, barrel train or face painting can be purchased.

fun stretching and dancing session to get them warmed up and ready to run. Parents or guardians are welcome to run with children or push them in a stroller if necessary, and a staggered start based on age will reduce congestion. All racers finish in a secure, fenced-in area.

Hosting an event that you would like to have published in the On The Minds of Moms magazine? Email moms@forumcomm.com.

Kindergarten Registration for 2021-22

Register Now!

Child must be age 5 by July 31, 2021 to attend school in the fall.

Registration is a two-step process:

STEP 1: REGISTER ONLINE Complete registration forms at

www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration

STEP 2: SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION

O

OO LS

FA R G

BLIC S C H

PU

Upload or bring the following documents to your child’s school* before August 25 to finalize registration: Child’s certified birth certificate Child’s immunization record, with 5-year shots Document (i.e. current city utility bill or bank statement) that includes parent/guardian name and current address to verify the correct school *For assistance, please contact your child’s school to schedule an appointment to complete in-person. If you do not know which school your child will attend, call 446-1043 or check online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/boundarymaps. If you need PowerSchool help, please call 446-1030.

ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

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RESOURCES

Our list of resources is as everchanging as the content of our magazine, so we’ve moved all the resources online so we can make changes better and offer opportunities to connect, find help, get answers, and make a difference.

You can find resources regarding COVID-19, mental and behavioral health, food support, parenting, adoption, child abuse prevention, support groups, counseling, pregnancy and infant loss, MOPS groups and more. Go to inforum.com and search “OTMOM resources” to find the list.

To submit a group or resource for consideration in the online listing, please email the information to moms@forumcomm.com.

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ON THE MINDS OF MOMS | AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2021

Ready for better work-life balance?

Search today jobsHQ.com

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Hiding Pods or Vape Under Mattress Unfamiliar Items in Backpack

Unfamiliar Devices Being Charged Through Computers, Gaming Consoles, or Outlets

SPOT MORE SIGNS AT Fargo Cass Public Health

SpotTheSigns.net