August 2015

Peekaboo Free Magazine

My Summer of LearnDates Paint the Town Red

Back to School

Northwest Arkansas’ Family Magazine

August 2015

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the PEEKABOO family Kimberly Enderle

Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com (479) 957-0532

Ava. Grant. and Holden.

Jonathon Enderle

Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com (479) 586-3890

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Distribution/ Circulation Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

Peekaboo Publications, PO Box 1036, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Peekaboo Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions.

Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call (479) 586-3890 Peekaboo may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher.

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Peekaboo nwa W h at ’ s I n s i d e | AU G U S T | 2 0 1 5

16

He Sets the Lonely in Families by: Amber Barrier

22

Paint the Town Red by: Trysta Herzog

24

My Summer of Learn Dates by: Loria W. Oliver

28

Skin to Skin at Northwest Health System

30

Harper’s Story by: Kelly Stamps

42

Hannah Grace Thomas: Arkansas Goodwill Ambassador for MDA by: The Thomas Family

46

Organizingthe ADHD Student by: Dr. Jennifer Lawson

50

Arkansas Virtual Academy by: Frances Wilson

52

Higher Education Can Be Your Reality: Get Plugged In by: Sarah Baum

54

The Dalai Mama with Kristin Hvizda

56

Girls’ Night Out!

58

Special Education in a Nutshell by: Kara Johnson, MS

62

Learning and Living by: John Leachman

64

Rituals of Life with Eva Lebens

66

Dad’s View with Ben Lacy

68

FunDango Fundraising

10 August 2015

Back to School!

on the c ov e r :

Annalise Stacey, 9, daughter of Drs. Heath and Adriana Stacey of Fayetteville.

Cover Photo by: EVERAFTER Portraiture everafterportraiture

from the editor A Look Ahead: Next Month: Home Town Heroes Then, October is our annual ‘families with multiples’ issue!

To be a part of this fun issue feauting twins and triplets email editor@peekaboonwa.com by August 15th.

Created For You Photography

This month is a huge one for our family, as Holden is entering kindergarten! To say I am not ready for this milestone is an understatement. If you see me in the hall on that first day (well, let’s be honest, for the first few weeks -- or months) I will probably have tear-stained cheeks and be unable to make eye contact for fear of melting down.

Luckily, Holden is excited to start this new journey. He feels a huge sense of pride getting to go to school with his big sister (who will herself be entering 4th grade). His ultimate goal, though, is to surpass her in age and become her big brother instead of little brother. He sees entering the same school as a trip to the starting line for his big chance. Obviously, this isn’t possible, but he is ready to try.

them how boring it would be if everyone looked, talked, and acted like them.

I feel like I am already giving a daily lesson in social dynamics, compassion and understanding to my daughter, who has entered the age where “girl drama” and cliques are not only emerging, but rooting themselves deeply. I just hope that I can be a guide for her in the art of love and compassion. I want my kids to see people who look or act differently as an opportunity to expand their perspective, and to learn from or offer guidance to, but never judge or criticize.

While I am so excited for him, I am also worried to send him out into the world, where I am no longer next to him 24/7, I never want them to isolate anyone or protecting him, guiding him and comforting him. make jokes at another’s expense. I do want them to be the first to run to the The great big world is a scary one, with a lot of unknowns aid of someone who they see hurting, and variables. While learning to read, spell and get all even if it isn’t the popular thing to do. ‘smiley faces’ on math assignments are important, the social I want them to keep their friend circle tests are the most vital to a child’s overall well-being. For large, and not limit the number of best some very strange reason, it is much easier for us to speak friends they let in. negatively about one another than it is to lift each other up.

I don’t know if it stems from a lack of self-esteem (if I say he Is this easy? Absolutely not. Look is bad that means that I am good), or some kind of warped around at the adults in your life. We, survival instinct, but it is disheartening and saddening for too, like to congregate only people who the heart. we agree with, and who, according to us, are on our same social plane. So, The reason this issue is so important to me now is because to expect our children to change their I am beginning to see it in the youngest of generations--my approach really starts with us. I hope children and their friends--already. To kids, things that as we enter this new school year we add don’t look the same mean that they are somehow ‘wrong.’ compassion and understanding to the They find comfort in what they are used to, so it is our job things we teach our children at home, so as parents of the next generation to reassure them that they have the opportunity to practice on beauty is in the uniqueness of each individual and remind the playground.

14 August 2015

He Sets the Lonely in Families By: Amber Barrier

As a wife and stay-at-home mom of six, with twin girls that hadn’t even turned a year old, I was surprised when I felt God’s leading to go on a mission trip in February of 2014. How would I find the time? What about the kids? Despite my misgivings, however, I was willing, and He soon showed me where to sign up--with a team from my friend’s church that was headed the following summer to minister in a town in Peru, along the Amazon River, called Iquitos. I heard the Lord say, “I have something for you there,” and immediately the idea of a child came to my mind.

Could He be speaking about adoption? As we were parenting several biological children already, my husband Robby and I hadn’t been looking to add to our family again for quite some time.

This thought of adoption began to sort of “nip at my heels” in the days ahead, though, eventually bringing me to a point where I had to take some time alone to specifically ask God, “What is this?

Are you telling me to begin the adoption process now?” He lead me to scripture that confirmed the knowledge deep inside my heart: we were to adopt a child from Peru. I came out of that meeting with God practically shaking with this news, and I wasted no time in approaching my husband Robby with what I believed God was instructing us to do.

He took my sudden proclamation seriously, but wasn’t convinced on the timing. He said he’d take some time to fast and pray about it himself. One evening, just days later, he came home from work, sat down at the table beside me and said, “God

16 August 2015

gave me a dream.” In this dream, he explained, the Lord plainly declared that we were to adopt a little girl from Peru. He even gave Robby the name of that child! When he woke up from the dream, he knew he’d just received the answer he needed.

Within a few weeks’ time, we’d applied for and were welcomed by an adoption agency, officially beginning the process. We announced our adoption plans on social media and received many well wishes. On one particular site, I received a comment from someone I didn’t know.

This person asked me to email them in regards to Peruvian adoption. I did so that night, and received a quick reply the following morning.

Once I read the email, I discovered that this individual was a woman named Anna who was a “prayer warrior” for a child in Peru. This meant that she dedicated a significant amount of time praying for that child’s future family to find him or her, and for his or her health and well-being, etc.

Anna had even held fundraisers to help the child’s future family with adoption costs. She linked me to her blog, where she’d written about the child and posted a couple of photos. I clicked the link and

quickly saw the child she’d described: an adorable, pig-tailed, 4-year-old girl with the pseudonym Lene. Lene wasn’t her real name, as fictitious names are sometimes given to children who are available for adoption to protect their identity. I noted that Lene had Down Syndrome, which is a topic I’d randomly brought up to Robby a week prior when discussing adopting a child with special needs. I continued reading and, when I came to the following sentence, where Anna was pondering Lene’s future family, a strange feeling came over me: “She will be 4 years old on March 8th. What if her family committed then? That’s my prayer…”

Lene was small in stature, with shiny brown hair.

She was beautiful and I loved her instantly.

The thing is, on March 8th of the previous year, I’d been having a serious, on-my-face prayer session with God when I clearly heard Him speak, “I’m going to use your family to display my miracles.”

The date of that powerful revelation was so important to me that I walked around for some time with “March 8th” written on the inside of my hand. When I read that March 8th was not only Lene’s birthday but also Anna’s, I instantly made the connection and it got my attention. I then wondered, “What was the date that God told me to adopt?” I scrambled for my journal, where I record all of my significant moments with the Lord, and flipped to the entry to see the date: God told me to adopt on March 8th.

At once, I realized Lene just might be our daughter.

I phoned my best friend, who has adopted from Peru herself, and shared everything. She inspected the picture I’d shared with her of Lene and said, “The background of the photo reminds me of my daughter’s old orphanage in Iquitos, though there are hundreds of orphanages in Peru...and that would be crazy.”

Turn the page ...

Immediately, I emailed Anna back to ask if she knew where Lene lived. Within minutes she’d replied, “She lives in a small city in Peru that’s only reachable by plane or boat. It’s called Iquitos.”

The blood drained from my face. Iquitos was the very city I was traveling to on a mission trip in merely three months! As if that wasn’t astonishing enough, I nearly collapsed from shock at Anna’s next words, “Oh, and by the way, her real name is ____.” It was the exact name God had given to Robby in his dream!

At that moment, I knew in my heart that Lene was our daughter.

Three months later, I left for Peru on the mission

trip. In the past, the director of the ministry we were working with had requested entry into the orphanage where Lene lived but had been denied.

When he asked again on behalf of our team’s arrival, he was granted access for the very first time. We arrived at night, ready to entertain and love on the children. When they were all gathered with us, I looked around for Lene, but she wasn’t there. Someone asked a staff member about her and was told she was sleeping. Soon after, a few members of our team were given permission to walk to the little houses within the orphanage where the children live, and pray over both them and the “substitute mothers” (women who care for each of the children that are assigned to her house).

We walked to every house and prayed with each of the children and the women. When we came to the end of the houses and I hadn’t seen Lene, I became concerned.

Then, someone somehow realized we’d missed a single room in one of the houses. We returned and greeted the house mother, and she showed us the room we’d unintentionally skipped over. When I walked into the room, I saw her. She was curled up in a twin bed that she shared with another girl.

Her hair covered most of her face and she was sound asleep. Everyone was silent as I reached out to gently touch her. I didn’t want to wake her, but I wanted to make the most of that opportunity.

I kept my hand on her while Anthony, our interpreter, prayed over her in Spanish. Lene was small in stature, with shiny brown hair. She was beautiful and I loved her instantly. We couldn’t stay long, so I soaked in as much of her as I could and whispered that I loved her before we retreated.

The next morning, I woke up grateful to have been able to see my daughter, even if only briefly.

However, I was also filled with sadness that I didn’t get to spend time with her while she was conscious and alert. I wanted to see her smile and to hear her laugh. My heart felt so bittersweet.

That morning, our team had plans to visit a special

needs school in the community. After arriving, I was talking with someone when Anthony approached me. He asked, “Did you see Lene?” I didn’t understand. He repeated himself and added, “She’s here.” I couldn’t believe it! He walked me to the other side of the very crowded, noisy room and stopped in front of a little girl sitting in a stroller. It was really her! I knelt down and greeted her with joy. I then asked her caretaker if I could hold her.

She nodded and, in Spanish, explained that Lene couldn’t walk. I picked her up and put her into my lap. She began interacting with me, smiling, laughing, going through my purse, putting on my sunglasses (upside down!), and playing a neverending game of Peek-A-Boo. She was brilliant and so, so beautiful. We spent a tremendous hour together before her caretaker politely took her from my arms, put her back into her stroller, and left. I watched her leave, not knowing how long it’d be until I saw her again.

Since then, my family and I have been collecting as much of the approximate $40,000 it will take to complete the adoption process and bring our daughter home. Lene not only has Down Syndrome, but also has also been diagnosed with other intricate special needs that create a sense of urgency for her homecoming to be expedited all the more. We’ve held many fundraisers, saved our income, strictly budgeted, applied for grants, and

more. We’ve completed our home study and are currently compiling our dossier, which is a giant folder of all aspects of our life that will be sent to Peru in the coming months, along with a letter of request to adopt Lene specifically. We are hopeful we can travel to Peru to bring Lene home before her 6th birthday next March. To date, we have raised approximately $12,500 of the overall costs.

We know God will provide these funds in ways only He can, regardless of what the circumstances might try to convince us otherwise. We believe every single cent, every hurdle we must jump through, and even the smallest of efforts to bring her into our family is more than worth it. She is worth it.

To donate to the Barrier’s adoption fund, visit their Pure Charity page: www.purecharity.com/ barrier-family-adoption

To contact them directly: thebarriers@gmail.c om Stay updated on their adoption process via blog: www.amerrychaos.blogspot.com

Paint the Town

Red

Indie nail polish offers Razorback fans new accessory

By Trysta Herzog

Y

ou can always spot Razorback fans by their T-shirts, face paint, and car license plates. Now, there’s another way to show your team pride: by donning the glittery red nail polish “SCEN,” named after the University of Arkansas’ Science and Engineering building.

The polish is part of the SeCience Collection made by indie start-up Parallax Polish, whose owner Erin Buchanan is a resident of the Ozarks.

SCEN and other Parallax polishes can be purchased at http://parallaxpolish.storenvy.

Shattering stereotypes

The recently released collection was designed to highlight the ongoing research and educational goals at major universities in the SEC Conference.

Buchanan, an associate professor of psychology at Springfield’s Missouri State University, said she wanted to blend three things she loves: football, science education and nail polish.

“I want to break those stereotypes of who likes football or nail polish or science. There are a lot of nerdy girls who like nail polish. I’ve sold to guys, too. We are all more than just one thing. This is a great way to bridge those stereotypes.”

In addition to the University of Arkansas, the collection includes McAlester (University of Missouri), Bryant (University of Florida), Choppin (Louisiana State University), Halbouty (Texas A&M University), McClung (University of Tennessee) and Morgan (University of Kentucky).

Mixing art and science

Buchanan has been teaching statistics and applied psychology at Missouri State University since 2010.

She is a Texas A&M alumna, and taught briefly at University of Mississippi. She started creating her own polishes a couple of years ago as a way to explore her inner artist.

“I’m a creative person, and I was looking for a way to express that creativity in an artistic way... Plus, I just really like nail polish!”

The scientist part of her could not stay banished forever, however.

“I think it’s definitely helped to have a science background. It’s like a chemistry experiment gone wrong in our house sometimes. You never know which chemicals might react poorly. You’re not going to blow something up or anything, but maybe the color isn’t going to come out like you would expect. It helps to know why.”

Painting with purpose

Earning her PhD at the young age of 25, Buchanan also found this could be another way she could educate others and promote the sciences.

With her first collection, Women in Science, she highlighted the women she hails as heroes in various sciences, including Nobel-Prize-winning physicist Marie Curie (think radioactivity!), pioneering computer programmer and mathematician Ada

Byron, and the first woman in space, physicist/ astronaut Sally Ride.

Since then, Buchanan has produced four more collections and is working on another— Discoveries in Diagnosis — in which she has worked with individuals who have less-familiar medical conditions like Chron’s disease and congenital heart defect.

“They got to pick the color and type of polish they felt represented the medical diagnosis they wanted to highlight, and then I made it.”

Nailing the accessories

If that wasn’t enough, Buchanan added jewelry to the mix last winter, and is now offering hair pins, rings, necklace pendants, bracelets, and necklaces — all made using nail polish.

Customers can also opt for a monthly subscription box, usually containing one or two limited-edition polishes with a hand-crafted cuticle oil, along with a science “trading card” to continue the educational component of Parallax’s mission. The boxes cost between $6 and $14.

“This is a way for me to design things that I like that I don’t necessarily want to make into a collection,” she said. “But I didn’t want to do it in a way that made people buy into a contract. Instead, you can go on to my online store on a month-by-month basis to decide.”

Applying the perfect finish

As for the SeCience Collection, Buchanan said she hopes fans like the colors she’s developed to reflect each school’s pride, and takes an interest in what that school is doing beyond its athletics.

“I try to do research about each school and put together six facts. Did you know the University of Arkansas has just identified 15 goals to set themselves up to become a top 50 public research institution by 2021? And that Sen. J. William Fulbright, namesake of the famous Fulbright Scholar Program, is a U of A alum and was the university president at one point? That’s really cool!

“So, it’s highlighting that these are great academic institutions with lots of cool research in addition to their incredible football programs.”

ABOUT PARALLAX POLISH

The indie nail polish company creates polish sets to promote research and ideas in science. It is five-free, meaning the polishes are made without the toxic chemicals Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, and Camphor.

Photo credit: instagram.com/thepolishedphd

www.thepolishedphd.com

www.peekaboonwa.com

23

My Summer of

Learn Dates!

By: Loria W. Oliver

A

t the start of each school year growing up, were you asked about your summer? I never had anything exciting to report. My highlights were mostly made up of amusement parks, summer camps, vacation bible school and maybe a family trip to a lake or camp ground.

One summer, I did get to go to Alaska; but we’ll save that story for another time. Let’s talk about this summer. Summer 2015, the summer of learndates! I finally have something exciting to share.

My husband and I decided that our pre-school aged boys would stay home full-time this summer and each day we would need an activity; for them and for my sanity! After speaking with a group of friends, we said that play-dates were a must but what if we took it a step further? What if our group of playdate moms took responsibility for programming once a week that could enrich our children, allow them to socialize and let them have fun at the same time? Would we be up to the challenge? We had a few concerns. None of us are full-time homeschool moms, most of our pre-school age children go to school either full or part-time during the normal school year. Could we support each other enough, to see this project through?

Other learn-date topics included gardening, the science of baking, weather, transportation, field trips to a fire station and a chocolate factory.

Each activity was thoughtfully planned and tailored, just for our little group; by each mother.

The gardening learn-date included trees that each child took home to plant with their fathers, the baking learn-date allowed preschoolers to use their counting skills, take turns mixing and the “older” kids were happy to help the “younger” kids.

The weather learn-date included making clouds with shaving cream and letting balloons go in the air to see which way the wind was blowing. We each tied a postcard on the string, as we learned it could travel up to 150 miles, and asked if it was found to send it back our way.

This summer was one of the best I’ve had in a long time and I would do my seven weeks of learndates all over again. Thank you to the moms who participated; Amy, Mary, Beth, Kathleen, Elizabeth and Kristin. The summer of 2015 was an extra special one, for 17 kids...and their moms, because of learn-dates.

Each mom took a week and a topic. Some of us planned field trips and some of us planned hands on learning activities. The first week and we had an amazing tour of KNWA-NBC. The moms and kids had a wonderful time. We got to visit the control room, the news desk and even pretended to be weather reporters.

Loria W. Oliver is excited by innovation, creativity and above all else, the power of living with purpose, not perfection. After inspiration and input from her husband and young children, she created a child-friendly bag, called The Tot Tote, which she calls a Travel System for Adventurous Kids, Everywhere. She has given parenting and lifestyle advice on her local NBC and CBS stations and currently hosts Retail HER, a monthly TV segment that highlights women who work in the retail industry.

24 August 2015

Skin toSkin

The Approach That Most Benefits Newborns After C-Section

Northwest Health System hospitals in NWA focus on immediate mother-baby bonding

T

he hours immediately following birth can be filled with emotions, new experiences, and a daunting learning curve as mother and baby meet for the first time. The way in which a new baby is welcomed into the world, and the events that take place during the first hours after birth, play a much more important role than was once believed.

The idea of mother holding her baby close right after birth seems the most natural one--because, in fact, it is--yet the practice of routinely separating mothers and newborns has become common practice in most hospitals in the 20th and 21st centuries. Although most mothers are quite capable of taking care of their babies immediately after birth, across the nation, the practice of separating moms and babies during the recovery period is still at 37% of vaginal births and 86% of C-section births during at least the first hour. This lost time together while separated causes both mommy and baby to miss out on the most crucial moments for bonding and breastfeeding. This is why Willow Creek Women’s Hospital and Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville now provide the opportunity for infants delivered by Cesarean Section to go skin-to skin immediately with mothers while still in the operating room--because they understand the importance of establishing a positive foundation for good health from a baby’s very first breath.

“Both at Willow Creek and Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville, we are dedicated to this initiative because breastfeeding, immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth, and consistent rooming-in are endorsed as the best practices by several leading health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization. We are dedicated to fostering the very best outcomes for all of our mothers and babies!” says Christine Picarelli, Clinical Nurse Educator, RN, BSN. When a baby first leaves the womb, the mother’s

28 August 2015

Amber Parsons

body takes over the function of the uterus and placenta – the place where all its needs are met.

It helps regulate a baby’s body temperature, blood sugar levels and oxygen levels.

This time with mom allows baby to be introduced to the breast sooner, and activates their instinctive feeding behaviors that increases the chances of successful breastfeeding. Not to mention, the baby will be in continual proximity to the mother’s heart and voice facilitating instant bonding.

“Moms who experience skin-to-skin for the first time, especially after a previous C-section, are amazed at the bonding experience they get with their babies. Mom is the first to hold, touch, and kiss their baby, and also the one to present the baby to the rest of the family. In the past, C-sectioned babies were transported to the nursery to complete their transition. Now, this transition occurs while skin-to-skin with mom. Our moms are so pumped to have this amazing experience,” said Stephanie Dunham, OR/PP Director at WCWH. Immediately following delivery at WCWH and NMC-Bentonville, the new family is encouraged to participate in the ‘Golden Hour,’ a time during which skin-to-skin occurs and the family is able to bond and become familiar with each other. Skin-

Morgan Schroeder

to-skin contact, or ‘kangaroo care,’ is simply placing the brand new, naked baby on the mother’s bare chest with a warm blanket draped across the baby’s back. Instead of having a rush of routine tests, measurements, and photoflashes from friends and family ready to get a first look, that first hour is reserved for the new Mom and Dad to bond with their baby. The Golden Hour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that lays the foundation for a positive and healthy future.

Amber Parsons had two C-section deliveries at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital. She shares her experiences in her own words: “Before delivering my son Cooper via C-section, I was a nervous wreck. The weeks leading up to it, I got full step-by-step stories from three very close friends who had all had C-sections in other hospitals within the past year. From their experiences, I was fully prepared to deliver Cooper and then have him be taken away from me for hours. I thought to myself how horrible it was that a new mother only gets to see her baby for a split second as the nurses hold him up over the curtain, only to then leave baby and Mom alone while they finish the surgery and start recovery. When it came my time, however, something wonderful happened. The nurses asked me before my C-section if I wanted to do skin-toskin. I said “Of course!’ (I’m not sure why anyone would say no, and I’m not sure I even understood exactly what that would mean.) This meant that as soon as my sweet baby Cooper was cleaned up, he was laid on my chest. Though I was in surgery, having him there took away all the fear in my mind, I knew my baby was safe, healthy, and with me. I have a picture my husband took of the moment they laid him on my chest and I will cherish that photo forever -- it is the first bonding moment I got to have with my son. When surgery was over, I remember being wheeled to recovery with him on my chest, and it was the proudest moment of my life as we passed by all the people in the halls of the

hospital surgery area. I was even able to breastfeed him for the first time in the recovery room shortly after he was born. Most mothers have to wait for a while to feed their child, but with skin-to-skin I had special time with him right away. My birthing experience felt less like a surgery as it had been in the past, and more like a traditional labor process with regards to the bonding and introduction to my baby. I did not have the option of a traditional birth, so the new, baby-friendly skin-to-skin option is amazing and gives mothers like me the chance to bond with their child right away.”

The benefits of skin-to-skin after delivery extend to the new mom as well. Mothers who have had a cesarean delivery often mourn the loss of the traditional vaginal birth that they had hoped for. They are especially disappointed by the fact that they were unable to hold and bond with their baby after delivery. This can often cause great distress and sometimes even depression for new moms. With the ability to have time skin-to-skin, new moms find themselves so focused on their new baby that their perception of pain is often less, and they even need less pain medication. Being able to see and interact with their newborn baby also decreases their anxiety levels, which results in a healthier postpartum that includes more stable heart rate and blood pressure.

Morgan Schroeder, another mom who delivered C-section at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital, shares her story: “When our family was blessed with our third baby, sweet Maya, via C-section, I got to hold her for skin-to-skin, even before my husband made it to the room! I struggle to find the words to explain the immense emotions that come with holding your baby skin-to-skin for the first time. A wave of love, hope, happiness and a need to protect this tiny person washes over you all at once. Feeling the rhythmic rising and falling of their chest, a skill they acquired only moments before, reminds you how amazing the miracle of life really is. It truly is breathtaking, and something I thought I would have to wait hours for when I went in for my scheduled C-section. It was a welcome change from my first two deliveries and a memory that I will cherish forever.”

Harper’s Story

by: Kelly Stamps

T h e soun d o f a s u cce ss fu l fi r st school y e ar

W

e tried for several years, and enlisted a lot of medical help to have our first child. Harper was born on January, 16, 2009, and when she came out, she was bright blue and didn’t make a sound. I didn’t realize initially the gravity of the situation until they whisked her out of my room and a neonatologist came to visit me, delivering words I will never forget, “Harper is very sick and I don’t know that she will live through the night.” She had developed pneumonia during delivery, and her lungs were not working. She was flown to Tulsa by helicopter to Saint Francis Hospital and was put in the NICU on an oscillator to work her lungs. She stayed in a medicated coma for two weeks, and the prognosis was not great, to say the least. She had a turnaround after 12 days, and I was able to hold her for the first time. After almost 5 weeks, we brought her home from the hospital. She was a healthy baby and we were so grateful.

When she was around 18 months, however, I knew in my gut that something wasn’t right. She didn’t speak much, and I just had a feeling that she couldn’t hear us. We had her hearing tested and she didn’t pass. They began to talk to me about hearing aids and sent us to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for further testing. There, we found that Harper has moderate to several bilateral hearing loss.

The medicine that saved her life in the NICU can apparently have a side affect of hearing loss.

She has worn hearing aids since she was two, now. I had so many fears and a lot of sadness when we first got her diagnosis, and it was tough in the beginning to get her to wear the hearing aids.

We immediately put her in speech therapy. I remember the therapist saying that she

30 August 2015

hoped that Harper would speak normally by kindergarten. I feared she would struggle.

Between preschool, therapy and wearing hearing aids full time, Harper began to make so much progress! Her speech improved dramatically. She struggled to learn her letters and sounds, and we worked with her a lot at home. We would both end up frustrated. I later learned that it’s more difficult for children with hearing loss to learn to read because they can’t hear a lot of sounds.

It was also difficult in the early years for Harper to relate to other children. She couldn’t always hear them, and it made it hard for her to carry on conversations. I worried how this would be for her as she began school. She is full of life and joy, and has a funny and huge personality, but she had some obstacles to overcome.

She started kindergarten last August. I worried most of the summer whether she would be ready. I wondered if she would end up needing to repeat the year, and how she would relate to the teacher and classmates.

She still barely knew her letters or sounds. Honestly, I spent a lot of time praying!

It’s always a big step sending your first child to school. I felt like such a rookie mom, and it took a while for me to get adjusted to how things run... but Harper loved it from the very beginning.

She came home telling me about every child in her class and things she had done or learned. She just flourished! Before I knew

it, she was sounding out words and beginning to write sentences on her own. She developed close friendships and adored her teacher.

school this year. I have to say that teachers are just my heroes!

I know she may struggle in first grade or third grade... or, more likely, she may exceed every I was blown away at all that she expectation. We learned this learned in one year of school. spring that her hearing is She is now reading on a declining, and it’s possible Between first grade level and she could completely preschool doing addition and lose her hearing at and therapy and some point. Her subtraction.

She wearing hearing hearing loss did not only understands aids full time, hold her back, and less than half of Harper began to she doesn’t realize what she hears, but make so much she works harder she’s determined and progress. than most kids in smart. I have no idea her class, but she does. how she has learned so We will be proud of her no much with the difficulty she matter what, but I know that we has. We have never let her think can face the school years with a her hearing is an issue. She was lot of hope and excitement. I miss even chosen as the girl in her Harper as a sweet baby, but it’s class to receive the Citizenship also fun watching her grow and award! I can’t help but laugh now learn. I look forward to the school at all the fear I had about this years ahead! She starts first grade year. I’ve been encouraging my in a few weeks and we can’t wait! friends who have kids starting

A A s a s H a H e n e o n y o r y r e v e EEv l a l a m r m o r o N N t n t n e r e r e ifffe D Dif Mid-American Accessibility Summit

Free to public Saturday, September 12th • 9-4pm

“

I am looking forward to the awareness that The Summit will bring to NWA. Knowledge is power and I hope everyone can take something positive away whether it be from the vendors, speakers, sponsors or even those with and without disabilities who are in attendance.

Tabitha Mayberry, TEAMworks Advocate

A Special Thanks to our Summit Sponsors:

Summit Host:

”

coordinated by:

LEADING PEDIATRIC T H E R A P Y C A R E I N NWA Adaptive Recreation Activities + Aquatic Therapy + Family Support Services Funding Support + International Outreach + Occupational Therapy + Orthotics Physical Therapy + Serial Casting + Speech Therapy + VitalStim Therapy All in one Faith-based TEAM!

Believe in KIDS

CALENDAR • 2015 Weekly Activities: Monday:

Artist Retreat Center 2D Design - 12pm to 2pm 13467 Lookout Drive, Bella Vista

Various design projects for beginners to advanced. Ages 8-13. Call (479) 268-6463 to register.

Artist Retreat Center Art and Nature - 2:30 to 4:30pm 13467 Lookout Drive, Bella Vista

Gather from nature and create a take-home project. Ages 8-13. Call (479) 268-6463 to register.

Tuesday:

Family Program 11am Siloam Springs Public Library Little Artist led by Ms. Gigi at Crafty Cottage 10:30am and repeated at 12:30pm Little Giggles - Bentonville $8 per child paid directly to Ms. Gigi. Best for ages 2+ Admission to Little Giggles is discounted to $5.50 + tax if you’d like to stay to play. A 45 minute art class, completing two projects.

Wednesday:

Little Sprouts at Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks 9:30am & 10:15am http://bgozarks.org/learn/education-classes/little-sprouts/

Thursday:

Storytime Fun - Siloam Springs Public Library 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Preschool Program – Storytime with Ms. Laura

Saturday:

Storytime at Barnes and Noble, Rogers and Fayetteville 11:00 AM

Sunday:

Sidewalk Sundays Walmart Museum in Downtown Bentonville Themed crafts and games and activities. Drop in anytime between 2-5pm

Library story times:

Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org Siloam Springs Library: siloamsprings.com

Special events: Saturday, August 1

7th Annual Dog Day Of Summer Downtown Siloam Springs Dog Day features a dog parade down Broadway Street, a variety of dog contests, and dog-related vendors.

Sunday, August 2

Shrek The Musical Rogers Little Theater Based on the Oscar® winning DreamWorks film that started it all, Shrek The Musical brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to dazzling new life on the stage.

Sidewalk Sundays At The Walmart Museum Downtown Bentonville Learn about wild animals with Turpentine Creek. Drop in any time between 2 and 5 p.m.

Friday, August 7

Dive-In Movie Siloam Springs Aquatic Center Parks and Recreation will be presenting Monsters University at the Family Aquatic Center. The center will be open at 8:00 - 11:00 PM. There is no cost for the movie with paid admission or Aquatic Center membership.

Sunday, August 9

Sidewalk Sundays At The Walmart Museum Downtown Bentonville Train Your Brain! Bentonville Public Library will get your brain back in shape for a new school year with engaging memory activities, crafts and games. Drop in any time between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. It’s free!

Monday, August 10

COVER TO COVER KIDS BOOK CLUB Bentonville Public Library 5:00 pm It’s time for kids ages 10-12 yrs. old to talk, discuss, chat and share ideas about Legend of the Ghost Dog by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel at Bentonville Public Library. Books are available in the Children’s Library. Keep the book forever after you attend the club meeting! bentonvillelibrary.org Camp Whisper 9-11am Equestrian Bridges at Parkerman Stables 3100 Oakland Zion Road , Fayetteville Camp Whisper is a summer horse camp for children with special needs ages 5-10. This camp is designed for children with special needs interested in improving social skills and relationship building by equine assisted learning and activities.

Wed., August 12

WHO’S READY FOR KINDERGARTEN Bentonville Public Library 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Get ready for kindergarten at Bentonville Public Library! Students entering kindergarten are invited to explore literacy, science, math, motor and social skill stations that feature music, stories, art and play!

This free drop-in program does not require registration. bentonvillelibrary.org

Thurs., August 13

Preschool Playdate » Pups!

Crystal Bridges Museum 11:30-2pm Join us for a live performance at 11:30, followed by art making, creative play, stories, and more. Our activities are inspired by the pups you’ll see in our Wyeth and Warhol exhibitions! Activities are geared for ages 2 to 5 with adults. Free, no registration required.

Sat.., August 15

Secchi Day at Beaver Lake Prairie Creek on Beaver Lake : 9-1pm The Science Education Festival does not require a boat. Just come on out to Prairie Creek! The Festival includes activities for all ages, with a mobile aquarium, on shore scavenger hunt with prizes, lunch, pontoon boat rides, birding walks, fish identification and more. This event is free and open to everyone! To volunteer with your boat and for information, email awilson@bwdh2o.org.

Wed., August 19

Kodaking With Mulkeepmo Shiloh Museum of Ozark History - Springdale A noontime program about early 1900s life in Northwest Arkansas as seen through the camera lens and fountain pen of Marion Mason, photographer and correspondent for the Springdale News, by Shiloh Museum photo archivist/ research librarian Marie Demeroukas

Sat., August 22

Frisco Festival Downtown Rogers 10am to 4pm A community event and fundraiser featuring live music, great food, fun activities and vendors in downtown.

Tues., August 25

Summer Concert Series The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks The second of our Free Summer Concert

August Series feature Still on the Hill.

The celebrated Ozark Folk Grass duo uses traditional instruments from their home in the Ozarks (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, and scrub board) and other oddities to create a kaleidoscope of musical color and texture.

Jubilee Music Artist Retreat Center, Bella Vista 4:30 pm Birth to Kindergarten

Wed., August 26

CHILDREN’S CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP Bentonville Public Library 4:00 pm Want to learn more about writing?

How about write your own stories?

Join us the fourth Wednesday of each month 4-5 pm. Registration is required and is limited to the first 10 participants. Registration will open the 1st of each month. This workshop is for students entering grades 4-6. bentonvillelibrary.org or contact 271-6816.

Northwest AR Muscle Walk August 29, 2015, 9am-12pm @ Arvest Ballpark “MDA Northwest AR Muscle Walk event Sponsored by Walmart will unite and rally the community to raise funds and accelerate progress for people whose abilities to move are compromised — including everyday abilities like walking, running, hugging, talking and even breathing,” said AR MDA Fundraising Coordinator Shelly Chaney. “Everyone is invited to register for the Muscle Walk event in Northwest AR today. Support from sponsors and participants helps MDA assist families facing the challenges that muscle disease brings, maintain independence and invest in state-of-the-art scientific research for treatments and cures.”

Link to sign up a team for the walk: www.musclewalkmda.org/ northwestarkansas201

l l a F This

Thurs., Aug 27

6th Annual Fayetteville Roots Festival Downtown Fayetteville An urban festival focusing on roots music and local food with more than 40 musical acts. Highlights local farmers in the local chef prepared food court.

Jubilee Music Artist Retreat Center 4:30 pm Birth to Kindergarten

Sat., Aug 29

Drop-In Art Making » Endangered Species Masks Crystal Bridges 1-4pm Drop in to our studios any time between 1 and 4 p.m. to create a mask of your favorite endangered animal using markers, feathers, yarn, and more—inspired by the Vanishing Animals series by Andy Warhol, Free, drop-in. no registration required.

Crystal Bridges 600 Museum Way, Bentonville crystalbridges.org This fall, get your family together with art and fun at Crystal Bridges! The Museum offers Family Workshops, Drop-in Art-Making, Family Sundays, and weekly gallery tours geared especially for families! Check out the online events calendar for a full schedule of upcoming programs and events.

Did you know that Crystal Bridges offers free field trip programs for K-12 school groups? The Museum even provides healthy lunches and reimbursement for bus transportation and substitute teachers, if needed. Go online to view a full roster of available tours and learn how to schedule a visit for your school group!

www.peekaboonwa.com

39

Hannah Grace Thomas

Arkansas Goodwill Ambassador for MDA by: The Thomas Family

O

ur story started out like most all other parents: We simply began praying for a child. On July 26, 2002, our prayers were finally answered, and Hannah Grace was born…. perfect, 6 pounds, 3 ounces. She was followed by her pediatrician, and met all her milestones with ease. She was growing and developing just as she should.

While Hannah Grace has some limitations due to her feet and legs she does not let it stop her from doing what she wants to do.

Then, she started to walk, and... she walked on her toes. It seemed a little odd, though, at first, I was not alarmed. After all, I consulted my mother and she reminded me that I, too, had walked on my toes when I was a kid.

She assured me that Hannah would outgrow it. When Hannah turned three, however, she was still walking on her toes, and she seemed to fall a lot more than what I thought was normal. We turned to her doctor, and he assured us that Hannah was “just a toe walker.” According to him, Hannah had now developed a habit in which she would need to wear braces at night to retrain her brain and feet to walk flat-footed.

We followed the orders of the doctor, of course, and did exactly as he said.

Hannah wore the braces, but she didn’t like them, and popped them off in the night. Despite this, we stuck with it. In May 2008, we moved to Harrison, Arkansas, and we switched to a new doctor, Dr. Kevin Jackson. It was Dr. Jackson who finally saw that Hannah’s feet and legs were not normal in appearance. He was the first one to say muscular dystrophy aloud. Dr. Jackson immediately referred us to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where we soon had our first appointment.

The doctor at ACH came in and started asking questions about both myself and my husband’s family medical history, and that was when the pieces of the puzzle started to fit together.

What we didn’t know was that almost every member of my husband’s mother’s side of the family have some form of muscular dystrophy. The doctor recommended genetic testing, and we proceeded.

In a few short months, we had the answers that we needed from the testing... but not necessarily what we wanted to hear. Hannah Grace was genetically diagnosed with CMT, the form of muscular dystrophy that runs in our family. In true Hannah Grace form, she has one of the rarest forms of CMT. On this visit to ACH, we found the MDA clinic at ACH, and among many people that we found there, we met a wonderful woman that would soon change Hannah’s life and ours in ways none of us could even imagine.

42 August 2015

This wonderful woman was with MDA Arkansas, and she told us about Camp Aldersgate. Both I and my husband had heard of this camp in passing, but no details. Within a week of her visit, we received a packet of information regarding Camp Aldersgate.

We read through the material and we knew this was the camp for Hannah. We filled out the registration form, and within a month we knew that Hannah would be attending Camp Aldersgate for the first time the summer of 2012... and it would turn into a summer that changed not only our life, but my daughter’s life. She came home from a week of camp with a newfound confidence! She said then, and will say today that “CMT will not define who I am, but, rather, I will define what CMT is.”

This is, and will probably always be, her motto.

Hannah has attended camp every summer since, and just completed her fourth year of summer camp. Hannah has made lifelong friends with everyone, from the volunteers, counselors, and staff, to the girls in her cabin. Every year, a week is just never long enough! In the words of Hannah, “At camp, you don’t realize anyone has a disability because everyone is just like you. No one is judging others, but, instead, lifting each other up to push themselves beyond what others may see as limits.”

While Hannah Grace has some limitations due to her feet and legs, she does not let it stop her from

Hannah Grace Thomas Hometown and family: Fayetteville AR-McNair Middle School Daughter of Mark and Mary Thomas Diagnosis: Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT) Interests: MDA Summer Camp and Dance MDA Activities: MDA Summer Camp NWA Muscle Walk Little Rock Muscle Walk Lock Up events all over the state Shamrock Shambassador Be A Star Passport To A Cure

doing what she wants to do. Hannah was blessed with a very strong will, academic excellence, and a “never give up” attitude. In November 2013, we moved to Fayetteville, AR. Hannah has met amazing friends and has educated many 6th to 7th graders, along with their teachers, about CMT.

Turn the page ...

Hannah will be a team manager for the Woodland Junior High cheerleading squad this year, and she takes cheer at Pride of Arkansas. She just loves to dance! Hannah will undergo a big surgery next spring, in 2016, to help correct her feet and stretch the heel cord in both of her feet and ankles. The surgery will be performed at ACH and, while the surgery is a big one with a lot of rehab to follow, Hannah is ready to face it head on, just as she has been with her entire diagnosis.

Hannah has a love for not only Camp Aldersgate, but MDA as well.

Hannah enjoys being the Arkansas Goodwill Ambassador for MDA, and has truly shown us what a true inspiration she has become to so many. Hannah has helped raise money all over NWA to help fund MDA! Hannah realizes the importance of educating people about muscular dystrophy, and she wants to give back to an organization that has given her so much more than we can ever put Excellence in custom home building

into words. Hannah will always be a part of MDA, no matter how big or small, as will our entire family.

Hannah wants to go to college and medical school at Stanford. Why Stanford, you ask? Because she knows that they are renowned for their medical school and research, and she aspires to be a pediatrician. She wants to, and will, give back to kids just like herself one day. She will instill in them the confidence that was instilled in her

by Camp Aldersgate and MDA.

Northwest AR Muscle Walk August 29, 2015, 9am-12pm @ Arvest Ballpark Thousands of people in local communities nationwide will take a small step to fund powerful progress for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during the 2015 MDA Muscle Walk season by raising critical funds and awareness that will help save and improve the lives of children and adults fighting muscle disease.

“MDA Northwest AR Muscle Walk event Sponsored

by Walmart will unite and rally the community to raise funds and accelerate progress for people whose abilities to move are compromised — including everyday abilities like walking, running, hugging, talking and even breathing,” said AR MDA Fundraising Coordinator Shelly Chaney. “Everyone is invited to register for the Muscle Walk event in Northwest AR today. Support from sponsors and participants helps MDA assist families facing the challenges that muscle disease brings, maintain independence and invest in state-of-the-art scientific research for treatments and cures.”

Link to sign up a team for the walk: www. musclewalkmda.org/northwestarkansas2015 3 clinics are provided in AR for MDA families. A certified ALS clinic, an adult clinic, and a children’s clinic. These clinics are staffed with the best neurology doctors that study and concentrate only on the 43 muscle diseases that are Muscular Dystrophy. All of the money raised in AR stays in AR and helps to provide for every community in AR. This money also provides free services at these clinics to all MDA families.

Sponsored by Walmart

New homes in Bentonville Now Open Phase 4 of Woods Creek - Large Flat Lots - Bentonville School District - Easy Access to I-49

www.HomesByJonathon.com

479-586-3890

The walk will be emceed

by Jo Ann Bauer Walgreens will offer health screenings Zaxby’s will provide lunch Everyone will receive a swag bag Bouncy Castle • Photo booth Great music and more!

www.peekaboonwa.com

45

L O O H C S O T BACK

organizing the adhd

By Dr. Jennifer Lawson, Educational and Disabilities Support Consultant

A

s an experienced educator in teaching, administration, consulting and academic support coaching, I have experienced a variety of scenarios from the simple act of opening the backpack of the ADHD student: The ‘Paper Avalanche Fall-Out” The “Bottom-of-the-Backpack Mashed Potato Effect’ And the all-too-common: “It’s Empty, Please Don’t Panic” It’s a fact: One of the ‘Executive Function Skills’ that is frequently noted as deficient among ADHD students and commonly experienced by families is ‘Inability to Organize.” Luckily, as long as a high degree of organization is not being required of the student, this challenge can be managed to an acceptable degree--at least during the summer.

However, when upward grade movement and college readiness appear on the horizon, we want to address organizational strategies that will contribute to school and life success.

The reality is that, in school, college, and in life, being organized is significantly important. That being said, the more and earlier we can practice strong habits, the higher the likelihood these practices will repeat themselves in the future.

I work weekly one-on-one with junior high, high school and college students, encouraging them and teaching them strategies that strengthen learning and test-taking, organization, and time management. With support and perseverance, the task of organizing becomes an effective experience for the ADHD student, and will prove to be a lifetime asset.

46 August 2015

Life is busy. Schedules are full.

Although at times the ADHD student doesn’t perceive the importance of being organized, he or she WANTS help organizing. Together, we can set the stage for a strong school start by considering the following organizational strategies:

printed calendars Post a visual calendar for all to see. Write on it and post a monthly and weekly calendar on the refrigerator for each student. Post and update the weekly calendar each Sunday night. And, together, clean out and organize backpack each Sunday night before the new week begins.

routines Establish the study hour routine for each evening Monday-Thursday. Yes, ‘things” will Remember… the neurological process that lets us organize, prioritize and analyze is called ‘executive function.’ Individuals with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) have impaired executive function skills due to abnormal levels of neurotransmitters in the frontal lobe of the brain. As caretakers and encouragers, we are there to model positive practices, encourage the heart, and continue to work with our student on new and repeated skills that will ‘pay forward’ in benefits.

student

Come play with us!

Learning begins with play.

get in the way. However, the more this can be implemented the higher the likelihood that studying will become a healthy habit and an expectation. A great response to “I don’t have any homework” might be, “Okay, just re-read your notes from history today”-or whatever the low scoring subject happens to be. The habit we want to create is the ‘norm’ that, each night Monday thru Thursday, we study and review at home.

Stregthening study strategies during precollege equals stronger students in college.

Little Giggles is an indoor playground providing a safe environment fostering educative, creative play for young children.

Loved by children and enjoyable fo parents, too! r

Party Packages A(c vailable! all for details)

textbook and supplies Create a home set and a school set.

This gives less chance of ‘forgetfulness’ (an executive skill challenge) and helps conserve the child’s mental energy for the most important task: LEARNING. Consider purchasing strong plastic pocket folders, one color per subject/course labeled for organizing handouts. Keep a hole punch at home.

Your support and perseverance help make the task of organizing an effective experience for the ADHD student, one that will prove to be a lifetime asset.

LAWSON-Coaching.com offers a variety of services in supporting and customizing growth in student strength. Among those are weekly school improvement coaching, partnering with parents in considerations for the IEP and 504 Accommodation Plans, and private content tutorial services. Call the Center for Psychology & Counseling for further information: 479-444-1400.

Babriees a !

F(0-8RmEE s) h t on Monday - Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm Saturday and Sunday Open Play Hours vary Please call ahead to see what our open play times are!

3301 South Walton Boulevard Bentonville

479-268-4949

www.littlegigglesplay.com

by: Frances Wilson

F

or many busy Northwest Arkansas families, each morning before school is emblematic of the stresses of the whole school year: bleary-eyed adults and youngsters, soggy cereal, snappish comments, and too many “I-forgotmy-homework”-s to count. Frustrations of time management, ride organization, vacation planning, and class pacing of traditional school can stress out even the most zen and organized of parents. But, what if your family could create its own schedule, without the freezing day-old coffee or early-morning child wrangling, while still benefitting from the structure, supervision and access of a traditional school?

Enter ARVA. Arkansas Virtual Academy has created opportunities for an ever-growing number of Northwest Arkansas families to have more control, and less stress, over how and when their children learn and have fun. Currently, kids from kindergarten to 11th grade, and next year, to 12th grade, can enroll in ARVA’s online school and benefit from the CITA-accredited K12 curriculum. Because ARVA is an certified Arkansas public school, the tuition is free, their online teachers are statecertified, and mandatory state testing is conducted.

Students are required to complete 30 hours of school per week, as well as attend weekly “Class Connect” sessions with their ARVA teachers in Blackboard. For older children, ARVA has electives, honors classes, and AP classes.

In addition, ARVA accommodates special education students with IEPs, and offers speech, occupational and PT therapy.

Michelle Ham, a Bentonville mom, has plenty of experience with ARVA. Her daughter, Sabrina, is currently in 11th grade at the local public school, but she attended ARVA from second to sixth grade. According to Michelle, “We initially heard about ARVA about 12 years ago.

We had just adopted our special needs

50 August 2015

daughter, Sabrina, who was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and she was experiencing some social and learning difficulties during her early years of elementary school. Because of that, we decided to do some research and see what other options might be available for her. We read about ARVS in the local newspaper and decided to remove her from the local public school system and try it out. It was truly wonderful for her, as we were able to go at her own pace and at the level that was more appropriate for her. Those years teaching Sabrina at home, with the help of a certified special ed teacher, are some of my fondest years with my daughter.”

For Shannon Parsons, a mother of five from Centerton, ARVA is what she calls “a perfect fit for our family. Before ARVA, when the kids went to a traditional school, two of our children would get incredibly frustrated with all the homework and how fast the class was moving--they felt behind. On the other hand, our youngest was in the ‘gifted and talented’ program and still felt as though school was too easy. We love that, with ARVA, the schooling is shaped around your child’s own unique pace and abilities.” Additionally, Shannon’s family loves “the freedom to set our own schedule. We no longer have to wake the kids up at 5:30am just to wait in a long car line. Instead, we simply get up and start school. If we know that we have a day of doctor appointments or counseling sessions with our adopted daughter, we can modify and not have to worry about missing an important lesson. We are in charge!”

As far as the specific differences between ARVA and traditional brick-andmortar schools, Michelle explained that “You are able to schedule your six-hour school day and your school calendar for your child according to what works best for your family--within the guidelines of the August through May ARVA school year, of course. In other words, if we want

to schedule a vacation for our family in November for a couple of weeks, rather than taking a long Christmas break, we can do that. For families that travel a lot, ARVA is great, because students are able to take their lessons with them, using the internet to log into their classroom, and doing book work when they don’t have access to the internet. What’s more, your child is able to work at their own pace, given the one-on-one attention he or she may need until they master the lesson.

If certain subjects come easy for your child, they are able to move on in their lessons, rather than waiting on classmates.”

Of course, ARVA students don’t want to miss out on the all-important social learning that goes on in school. “With Arva,” Michelle states, “a student can decide how much they would like to be involved with the other students. Here in NWA, we have created a group where ARVA families plan social and learning activities for our students and families throughout the school year and summer months.

There are opportunities for play dates, park play, field trips, book clubs, study clubs, etc., that a student can get involved in with the other ARVA students.

Also, ARVA is a public school and our students are able to participate within the local public school for activities such as band, athletics, or clubs.”

“Lastly,” Shannon said, “I strongly believe that ARVA has drawn us closer as a family. We adopted a sibling group a year ago, and they were were a little behind, educationally. I did not want to single them out by only bringing them home, so we decided to allow everyone to learn from home.

This has freed me up to spend time individually with each of them. I am more involved with their education, so I know what their strengths and struggles are firsthand, instead of hearing about them from a teacher. The children have learned how to get through their differences, and have actually grown closer together, encouraging and helping each other.”

More information on ARVA can be found at http://arva.k12.com/, and they are now accepting applications for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year.

For more information about Chrysalis Scholars, to apply to be a scholar, and/or discover additional ways to get involved, please visit our website at www. chrysalisscholars. org or contact Kristin Page (Academic Coach) at 479.903.4799.

Get plugged in By: Sarah Baum, Program Manager of Saving Grace

M

y five- and seven-year-old girls—like most little ones their age, I’m sure—are fascinated with all things relating to butterflies... So much so that I have purposefully planted numerous spring and summer flowers to attract the likes of Monarchs, Swallowtails, and all their friends in between. We talk about what butterflies eat, who their natural predators are, and how they transition from egg to caterpillar, from caterpillar to pupa, and from pupa to adult--and thank you, Eric Carle, for starting them off early.

Perhaps it’s my love for parables/analogies or for the more “nerdy” things in life, but I find a lot of similarity in the life cycle of a butterfly and the growth and development of a young child transitioning into adulthood. Perhaps it’s because, in addition to my role as mom, I also happen to be a social worker at Saving Grace in Rogers, Arkansas. Saving Grace is a home for young women ages 18-25 who have aged out of foster care or are facing homelessness.

Navigating the challenges of early adulthood these days isn’t an easy task for anyone, but particularly not for the young adult who lacks a safety net and solid support system to depend upon.

The girls who call Saving Grace home fall into two different stages of human development coined (by a different Erik) as “Identity vs. Role Confusion” and “Intimacy vs. Isolation.” In other words, our girls are trying to figure out who they are and how they fit into the world around them. They are in the midst of a transformational process of child to adult... dependent to independent. In a world of “predators,” these girls are entrusting Saving Grace to be their “chrysalis” – that hard protective covering

for a caterpillar as it is in the process of becoming a butterfly.

Over the four years I have been at Saving Grace, I have come face-to-face with some of the most beautiful “butterflies” I’ve ever had the privilege to know... young women who decide they want to do better than just survive. Young women who aren’t afraid to reach out for help and let the Saving Grace community and the community of Northwest Arkansas love and support them.

It is through our connection with DHS, CASA, and foster parents over the years that we have also come face-to-face with countless stories of former foster youth who, though they do not wish to live at a place like Saving Grace, have the same desire and motivation to reach their fullest potential. They talk with their caseworkers, set a course for independent living, apply for college, and enroll with little hesitation.

Approximately 90% of these young adults drop out of college after the first semester. Some outsiders might say they didn’t work hard enough for their dream, or they just “weren’t cut out for college.” A dream gets labeled as impossible, and gets put on the back shelf behind making ends meet with a low-paying job.

Saving Grace isn’t willing to watch them settle for less, and thankfully this community isn’t willing to watch that happen either! Thanks to an investment from the Walmart Foundation, the Chrysalis Scholars Initiative launched in April 2015 under the umbrella of Saving Grace of NWA. This program exists to serve as a protective covering that will enable these young adults to reach their fullest potential. The overall

mission is, as stated, to “Improve retention and graduation rates of young adults who have experienced foster care and are enrolled or have plans to enroll in a Northwest Arkansas college, university, or higher education opportunity.”

The Chrysalis Scholars Initiative intends to reverse the trend of a 3-8% graduation rate for young adults who have aged out of care in our community, and bypass the 46% graduation rate of their peers! Just as it takes time for a caterpillar to become a butterfly, it takes time for a student to go from dream development to degree completion.

Like this mom who cultivated a garden to attract the butterflies, the NWA community has a tremendous opportunity to cultivate a richer environment, where those who have experienced foster care can secure a solid future for themselves. We are currently recruiting both scholars and volunteers, and could use your help! Our three biggest volunteer needs are for the following: 1) Collegeeducated professionals who are willing to become a career mentor for at least one Chrysalis scholar; 2) Multiple office teams or church groups able to adopt the responsibility of assembling “Building B(l)ox” care packages for one month out of the year; and 3) Individuals willing to serve on the “Fueled” team by preparing and/or serving dinner to 1518 year olds attending foster care life skills classes.

Together we can become the chrysalis—that vital protective covering—for some of the bravest and gifted in our midst. After all, it’s about time we gave new meaning to the words “Back to School.”

The “life cycle” of a Chrysalis Scholar, as it pertains to our goals at each phase, can be described as follows:

1

INSTILLING the dream of higher education in foster youth ages 15-18.

2

EQUIPPING the prospective college student with the tools & resources required for preparing for college, applying for college, and enrolling in college.

3

SUPPORTING the Chrysalis Scholar as an individual and helping him/ her overcome the challenges of higher education.

4

COORDINATING with campus, community, and government resources (DHS) to ensure that appropriate services and supports are provided/utilized, i.e., tutoring, counseling, I.E.P. modifications, etc.

5

CELEBRATING with Chrysalis graduates as they change the landscape of higher education and professions in NWA.

x Dress Like You

Mean It

by: Kristin Hvizda

The Dalai Mama Deep thoughts (well not that deep) on life as a mom, wife, and transplant in NWA

O

nce upon a time, in a faraway land, I worked a 9-5 job in the corporate world. I had to report to my office prim and proper in a smart pant suit, hair perfectly coiffed and makeup expertly applied. Sure, some days it felt like a hassle to sweat it out under a hot dryer, arms burning to the point of submission while trying to work a round brush. Yet, in spite of it, most days I actually enjoyed the daily ritual. I enjoyed indulging in my appearance and the feeling of looking my best.

When I became a stay-at-home mom, all that changed, and the luxury of getting dressed up felt like one I could no longer afford.

Suddenly, all of my most basic self-indulgences, like doing my hair, putting on makeup, dressing cute, and mani/pedis, were reserved for special events. No longer was looking “put-together” an important adjunct to my job description as a SAHM, nor did it seem particularly beneficial.

On the contrary, it seemed like a waste of time and an impediment to getting down and dirty with the kiddos. So began my departure into the contemporary mom uniform of workout clothes, a ponytail, and sneaks. Sure, the black stretch lyrca of Lululemon is ridiculously comfy and yes, some of the outfits are adorable, but unless I planned on becoming a fitness instructor, why was I wearing a workout outfit 7 days a week? In all honesty, there was only a 20% chance I’d even work out on any given day and, if I did, it would take about 30 minutes max. That didn’t stop me from rocking that “workout” outfit throughout my 15 hour day.

This all changed when I became friends with a fellow mom of two who always dressed chic, never

54 August 2015

wore a ponytail, and always looked put together.

I wondered how the heck she found time to take care of herself in the morning and, suddenly, I longed to do the same. I remembered this lost piece of myself and, even though I committed the cardinal mom sin of comparison, it ended up being a good thing in the long run. Sometimes you need to see that something is possible before you can get the courage to implement it in your own life. After months (okay... maybe a year) of letting my appearance slide, I made a change. I started carving out time in the morning to spend on myself. I made an effort to look cute, and in doing this, I realized just how beneficial the simple act of dressing up for the day really was for my selfesteem.

Moms, trust me, I understand. Who has time to make breakfast, get the kids dressed, clean up, pack the bags, and apply makeup?! I assure you, we all feel this way, but hear me out. I’m going to give you some practical tips to go from hot mess... to hot mama.

First off, utilize your electronics. It’s 2015, and if I didn’t teach my kids how to use a computer and iPad, what kind of parent would I be? My kids don’t get a ton of screen time during the day, so they look forward to catching up on their favorite games/shows while I get ready in the morning.

Everyone piles on my bed with the electronic device of their choice, and I get to take a shower in peace. Of course, it’s never totally uninterrupted, because their attention spans are on par with that of a gerbil, but it’s enough to make me feel human.

Granted, the AAP suggests only two hours of screen time a day, so just deduct this from their

total screen time and you still have TV to spare for cooking dinner. If you pick good educational games, or a particular show, it could even be construed as learning time. My son has learned more from watching Wild Kratts than I care to admit!

Next, use your time wisely. You probably only have 20-35 minutes before someone ends up in tears, so manage your time efficiently. Winter is easy to be efficient in the shower, because you can just stop shaving. (TMI?) Summer is a great time to start experimenting with updo’s. As for makeup, you really only need some concealer (to hide the dark circles from years of not sleeping), bronzer/blush (to give that “I just drank a freshly blended green smoothie” instead of “I choked down a pop-tart and a 40oz coffee” look), curl the lashes (to pry open your barely functioning eyes), and lip-gloss (because who can’t benefit from a little lip-gloss?).

If you can blow out your hair the night before and sleep without actually touching the pillow, even better.

Lastly, pretend you’re in grade school and lay out your outfit the night before. Seriously, it saves a ton of time. It’s also super helpful if you just go through your closet and give away everything you don’t love. As for the clothes you are hoping will fit again one day, put them in a Tupperware container under your bed and hope for the best. Your closet should only contain clothes that you actually wear.

When picking out your outfit, think functional, cute, and totally you. When you’re younger, your clothes are a representation of your personality.

You use them to tell people about yourself and your outfits are a form of your creative expression.

As you age, and especially after you have kids, it’s all about function, comfort, and price. Picking out your clothes isn’t a fun pastime anymore; it’s just a part of the day that most of us wish we could delegate--but why? Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can’t dress like the rock star you are! Have fun with it!

Sure, in the early months of having a newborn wearing anything besides yoga pants and a dirty ponytail is unrealistic. It’s just not going to happen, and to put any extra pressure on yourself to do otherwise is ludicrous. However, there will come a time when taking care of yourself in the morning, the way you did pre-kids, is a very real possibility, but some of us choose to forgo these ritualistic preparations and let ourselves be engulfed my motherhood. No shame to moms who thoroughly enjoy not having to wear real pants on a daily basis, of course. If you want to wear workout clothes 7 days a week, never do your hair or makeup, and that makes you feel good, then, by all means, do it! I can definitely make the case for comfort, and

the virginal condition your hair will maintain.

However, if you feel like you are in a self-care slump, and you hide when you see people you know in public, I’m here to tell you there is another way to live.

Of course, there will be days that you’re just not feeling it, and even changing out of pjs is enough to make you feel accomplished, and that’s okay, too! You do what you can; we are all just trying to get by. However, getting dressed up and ready for the day can be a big factor for your confidence and mental capacity to tackle the day. I’m not talking business attire here... just pants that button, and a cute shirt, possibly some dress action if you really want to get sassy. Face it, when you’re a stay at home mom with young children your life is going to be hectic. You can either look disheveled while you’re dealing with your messy life, or you can throw in the workout towel and look like the hot mama you are! I know I feel better embracing the latter. I feel more like the old me, not just the ‘mom’ me. Give it a try for a week, and see if it does anything for you. “ Vain trifles as they seem, clothes have, they say, more important offices than to merely keep us warm. They change our view of the world and the world’s view of us.” - Virginia Woolf

Girls

Night out!

I

by: Kim Enderle

consider myself very lucky to have developed friendships with women who have become my go-to friends whenever I need a reset button from the day-to-day grind and chaos.

We love each other, accept each other in good and bad, and also appreciate the importance of a good girls’ night out. Since we don’t get to do it very often -- and, between the few of us, we have created a small village -- we make every effort to make each night out one for the memory books. Last month we forewent the usual pampering and relaxing, and went to war cupcake war, that is! Jenny Max with ‘Max Out Cooking Parties’ invited us to join her at the Artist Retreat Center in Bella Vista. We divided into two teams and created our own cupcake recipe, frosting and then decorated them in an attempt to beat the other team in both taste and design.

Facebook.com/MaxOutCooking

We laughed, we learned, we bonded and we walked away with cute boxes of our cupcake creations and a lot of memories. Jenny was amazing to work with, and was very patient with someone’s major lack of baking, cooking, and overall kitchen skills (I won’t name names, but the person’s picture is on the Letter from the Editor page.) Not only will we do it again, but we will also be hosting some of our children’s birthday parties with Max Out Cooking Parties - her specialty!

Max Out Cooking Parties has a very simple mission: to create fun and educational cooking parties for kids of all ages. They want kids to be comfortable in the kitchen and practice their creativity. They have classes designed for kids ages 3 and up and have four developed parties (including pizza party, breakfast fun, cupcake wars, and princess party) but can also customize parties or incorporate themes. *The Artist Retreat Center in Bella Vista was a great venue to host this event. Part of our girls night included getting a special tour of the grounds, which were amazing. It is truly a hidden gem, with a lot to offer groups of all sizes. They even have art classes for all ages! artistretreatcenter.com

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va had her own Girls Night Out last month to celebrate her birthday at Vintage Violet in Fayetteville! Each girl was treated to hair and make up, a chance to dress up in fun petticoats and floral crowns and jewelry, take part in a fun photo shoot, and compete in a scavenger hunt.

shopvintageviolet.com

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Special Education in a Nutshell A

t birthday parties, soccer, or even on the playground, you notice your child does not seem to be keeping up with his peers when it comes to language, speech, behavior, social skills, or academic skills. Your child has a hard time in loud, bright, or busy environments. He or she has trouble holding a pencil or playing on a playground alone. Your child care provider or school has told you he or she has meltdowns, prefers to play alone, or does not follow directions. They say he or she rarely speaks or is difficult to understand. Additionally, your child continues to fall behind in reading and math and now is being referred for special education.

What exactly is special education and how will it help my child?

Special education refers to specifically designed instruction that meets the needs of children who have at least one qualifying disability. It is provided free of charge by public schools under Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

Who qualifies for special education services in public school?

A child between the ages of 3-21 may qualify for special education services in public school. Multiple standardized assessments should be given to help determine if a child qualifies. Observations should be made in the classroom environment to help determine if a child’s education is being adversely affected by a disability. The classroom teacher and/or parents may be given rating scales or questionnaires as part of the assessment. All the testing data, observations, and surveys are collected and analyzed to determine if a disability is evident.

There are thirteen qualifying disability categories as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These include the following: • Autism • Blindness • Deafness • Emotional Disturbance • Hearing Impairment • Intellectual Disability • Multiple Disabilities

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• Orthopedic Impairment • Other Health Impaired • Specific Learning Disability • Speech or Language Impairment • Traumatic Brain Injury • Visual Impairment

Who reviews the assessment data?

A multidisciplinary team includes the following team members: parents, general education teacher, special education teacher, an individual who can interpret assessment results, and a representative of the school system (LEA). Other members of the team may include individuals with specialized expertise, representatives from transition agencies, and your child, when appropriate. Parents are welcome to invite others to the meeting for support but should notify the school prior to the meeting.

What is an IEP? The IEP, Individualized Education Program, is a legal document written for children who are eligible for special education services.

The multidisciplinary team will determine if a child is in need of special education services by reviewing the assessment data to determine if he or she has a disability. If that disability is adversely affecting his or her education, the team will create an IEP. What should an IEP include?

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a multi-page document that includes a plan of service to meet the individualized needs of a child who qualifies for special education.

The document should contain information regarding the type of specialized instruction a child will be receiving, the duration of the IEP, and the frequency and duration of services. The IEP should also include information about the child’s present level of educational functioning. This information would include both strengths and areas that need improvement as well as the data sources from which the information was obtained. Measurable goals that the child could reasonably meet within a year will be included in the IEP and should be written based on the evaluation results.

Also included in the IEP will be accommodations that are needed for the child to be successful while at school and considerations of other special factors with regard to behavior, communication, visual or hearing impairments, or assistive technology. The school district is required to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). This means the IEP team must, to the maximum extent possible, allow a child to be educated alongside kids without a disability. Multiple factors will be considered when deciding what is least restrictive for each individual child. Special education services can range from indirect services to a full day in a specialized classroom depending on the needs of the student. Finally, the last page of the IEP will include signatures of all the members of the IEP team to show they participated in the meeting and the development of the IEP. This IEP is reviewed at least once per year by the members of the IEP team to determine what changes need to be made as the child continues to grow and develop new skills.

What is my role?

As a parent, it is your role to be involved with your child’s education. A child cannot be placed in special education without a parent’s consent, meaning you must agree to the services being offered before the district can provide those services to a child. A parent must also give consent prior to an evaluation. As a parent, you are an active member of the IEP team and provide important information relating to the child’s functioning outside of the school environment. It is important for that information to be included when determining best placement and services for a child with a disability. Parents are also able to make a referral when they feel their child may need special education services. If at any time questions or concerns arise, parents are welcome to request a conference with the members of the IEP team.

As you can see, a referral to special education is not something to fear, but actually a way for you to work with your child’s school to ensure your child is getting the help he needs to be successful.

Submitted by: Kara Johnson, M.S., CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative Early Childhood Program

Learning and Living by: John Leachman

W

atching my son, Cameron, now often takes me back to when he was a young child newly diagnosed with autism. When we got his diagnosis, it was something that thrust all of us headfirst into a world we knew nothing about. It would soon enough become a “normal” way of living, though we had no idea at the time.

I suspect it’s a familiar story for a lot of us. You have a child, and everything seems fine. However, around the age of 1 ½ - 2 ½ years, things just don’t feel right. At first, you hide your suspicions.

You don’t talk about them in public and, in our case, my wife and I didn’t talk about them to each other... Almost as if there is a hidden belief that if you don’t say it, then it won’t happen.

Then, it’s the diagnosis … a day of surveys and tests that I will never forget. At the end of the day, the words Autism Spectrum Disorder roll

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off the panel’s tongue, and we are handed a large pile of handouts and information to sift through and make sense of.

For me, time stands still there for a while.

Looking back, I realized it was far too much about me and what I had “lost” than it was about Cameron and what he had to gain. I let myself wallow in self-pity for far too long. I felt robbed … this was my son, after all. My future Arkansas Razorback football player, my future Dallas Cowboy, the boy I was supposed to take hunting and fishing and do ‘man stuff ’ with. Suddenly, those dreams would not be possible... or so I thought.

Though it didn’t happen as quickly as it should have, I am thankful that I did get over myself.

I am even more thankful for a wife who let me go through my ‘doom and gloom’ phase with understanding and the willingness to let me

know when it had gone on too long. It was 2006, and Cameron was five years old when life really started being about placing him in the best situation to achieve the most out of life that he could, to whatever extent possible. Finally, I became the father I needed to be.

to having the ability to navigate sensory rich environments.

He’s come from being a kid completely inside himself and no desire to have interaction with his peer group, to looking forward to the time he gets to spend with them... and us.

I was a manager in the stores for Walmart then.

We were contemplating areas of the country to move to that would provide a great place for Cameron to get the experience in schools that he needed. At first, I never considered Northwest Arkansas. Candidly, I didn’t know much about it, and so didn’t have much of an opinion. Then, someone we knew mentioned the Bentonville School District to us as a potential home for Cameron, and the more we looked, the more we liked it. I applied for an open position in the home office, got the job, and we moved here in 2007, a few months before Cameron started kindergarten at Apple Glen Elementary. We are so incredibly happy that we moved to this area.

Cameron starts 7th grade this coming year. It’s been an amazing journey with him through elementary and middle school here in NWA. Cameron has transitioned from a boy who was completely non-verbal in kindergarten, to being able to converse lightly with us today. He’s come from being unable to sustain a trip to Walmart,

We have been blessed with some of the most amazing teachers and therapists a parent could ask for. The commitment to Cameron’s success has been absolutely wonderful, and the collaboration beyond the walls of the school building has been phenomenal. I think this has been a real key in Cameron’s achievements… we have learned to partner strongly with the teachers and therapists in order to ensure we are keeping Cameron’s life consistent from school to home.

Each day, Cameron and I take a short run around the neighborhood as he prepares for cross-country this coming year. It’s the best 20 to 25 minutes of my day, and I think often of the times that I almost gave up and what an incredible experience I would be missing out on today. Cam and I are best friends, and I have yet to see a challenge he hasn’t accomplished. Just when we think he’s plateaued, he starts upward trajectory again.

Rituals of Life

Nice eve - nice-eve.com Rootines - rootines.com

Eva interviews people living in NWA about their family routines and rituals.

This month Esti Edwards Corcoran shares her story.

Esti is a fitness instructor and is currently researching the possibilities of becoming a PE teacher. She is married to Forrest and they have two children; Colt (9) and Cambell (5).

Run for Your Life!

Helping People My mother used to turn every holiday into a magical through Fitness experience. She would prepare big breakfasts and used food coloring to dye literally everything in the color of the day we were celebrating. Eating breakfast together was special, as we normally rushed through our morning ritual. She made Christmas extra special by pretending Santa sent us letters, even stamping boot prints in the ashy soot on our fireplace hearth to add more magic. Each holiday tradition was lavish in its own way, and it made us feel loved and cherished. I try to continue these holiday traditions and routines with my own children.

Finding My Passion I have a business degree, had a good job and lost it during the recession in 2008. Suddenly, I was a stay-at-home-mom, and I never felt that was my calling. I have always wanted to make a difference in peoples lives outside the home, but the question was ‘how’. In college, I developed a love of Cardio Kickboxing and continued to attend classes after I had children. When my instructor asked me to become a substitute instructor for the Cardio Kickboxing class I attended, I reluctantly accepted. I was a bit worried about the time commitment. Amazingly enough, this turned my love for exercising into a passion to help people finding their fitness goals.

Teaching and Routines I’m teaching Cycling, Kickboxing, and PIYO (an athletic combination of Pilates and Yoga) classes, and work when other people have time to exercise. It means teaching early morning and late afternoon classes. Those are not necessarily the easiest hours in a household, which means we need to have strict routines. I lay out my workout clothes each night before classes - two or three sets of clothes may be needed depending on my teaching schedule. My children often come along when I teach, and Forrest and I are a tag team. He sometimes picks them up to take them to after school activities or finishes the dinners I prepare; we function like a well-oiled machine on weekdays.

Living this life is strenuous at times, but I also love to work. Teaching gives me the ability to show people what they are capable of. I’m a big girl, was a chubby child and I know by experience that it’s not easy to change certain habits, but I also know that it is possible. You can exercise and eat healthy, and I know that you will eventually stop hating and start loving it! I love pushing people beyond their limits and outside their comfort zone. Another benefit of being a fitness coach is that my children automatically develop an interest and understanding in the importance of a healthy body. I love it!

Zombie Apocalypse I’m usually free on the weekends. We go to the lake and look for shells or my family cycles while I run the trails. My son recently ran his first 10K with me.

The process was interesting. I explained the techniques and the importance of breathing and running the right way. He would just sigh and get mad at me when we were training, but, over time, it went more smoothly. He ran an extremely good race, and the other day I overheard him explaining running techniques to a friend! We also joke that if there will be a Zombie apocalypse we will definitely make it because we’re so fit. Being active and incorporating those healthy habits in my family life really makes me happy!

Home School

Dad’s View

A

f e w years ago, the q u e e n and I had a grand plan to home school the little urchins. We even went so far as to divvy up the subjects: Math, her, English, her, Science, her, Chemistry, her, History, her, Logic, her, Reading, her, Music, me.

The only reason she didn’t sweep all categories is because I know four chords on the guitar, and she only knows one...Victory is mine!

To be sure we could handle this monumental task, we reviewed and analyzed our past and present educational methods and achievements: Math: We only have three children, but routinely miscount and lose one. Thank God we’re not herders.

Science/Nutrition: Only one child eats anything organic, the other two exist on the tasty preservatives found in Cheez-Its and Frosted Chocolate Pop Tarts.

English/Grammar: Our geographic upbringing has permanently entrenched in us the improper enunciation of “hill” as “heel,” “get” as “git,” and “picture” as “pitcher,” so maybe we ain’t so great at English.

Chemistry: On our first “study date” in high school I convinced (coerced) my wife-then-girlfriend that

66 August 2015

if she studied the periodic table with me, she would be ensured a good grade.

She, a straight “A” student, got a “C”.

Logic: She gets an “F” in logic for trusting a guy in a mullet and a 1977 Malibu Classic (me) to help her with chemistry.

As the review continued, we sadly realized why we were not offered full-rides to Harvard.

So home school didn’t work out - for us. Many parents/students have made it work, and work well. I commend thee for thine efforts. Keep up the good work, and if you get stuck, don’t call me to find the atomic number for Plutonium!

We entertained home school because we thought we could enhance our children’s learning experience and help them grow beyond traditional methods (I’m laughing so hard now that I just snorted and can barely type). We asked ourselves many times: why doesn’t our child know this?

Why doesn’t our kid know that? How come they do it this way now?

But the older I get, and older our kids get, I see many gaping holes in our “Non-School” education-you know, the “home schooling” we’ve tried to give them in common sense and life lessons outside of class. I’ve found that on most days, and most topics, we would have to beg the almighty instructor to get a low “C”. As parents, we’ve made

too many assumptions on what our kids know or don’t know (or have been exposed to) and have a distorted view of our own educational talents. That’s not a ringing endorsement for us to become the CEO/President of Lacy Kid Education.

Some “home school” things are really embarrassing.

Have you taught your kid how to cross a street?

How about cross a city street with a light? We were recently in Kansas City, and almost had any future concern of college debt erased away as our kids marched into a busy intersection, all ten foot tall and bullet proof. They thought the cars should stop for them (cue the American kid entitlement music). My natural reaction was to act like a total idiot and scream at them for nearly becoming Flat Stanley. Then it hit me: um, I’ve never shown them how to cross a city street.

We’ve also excelled at teaching them the opposite of what we’re trying teach. Man, we’re really bad at this one. Case-in-point: We tell our kids a dozen times to take their clothes basket up the stairs to “help with chores” and “take responsibility.” After the basket doesn’t reach the summit for a day or two, we haul it up. What did we teach them? Wait

long enough, and eventually somebody else will do it. Heck, I’ve even flunked this sort of teaching with our dog. She spends ten minutes begging for a treat while I continue to say “no”. After ten minutes, she exhausts me, and I go get her a treat.

The dog’s teaching skills surpass mine!

So I’m going to work much harder and cram on teaching “Home School” subjects like “Canine Excrement Disposal,” “Sibling Empathy 101” and “Proper Dinner Plate Transfer Methods,” but I’m going to leave the hard subjects to the experts.

In closing, a big thanks to all the real teachers out there for keeping our kids smart and safe, and for keeping the non-teachers, like me, sane. A+!

FunDango Fundraising LLC - Your Fundraising Solution Because every group, big or small, local or national, needs a fundraising specialist.

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undraising can be an amazing experience, as it creates opportunities for financial empowerment, networking, and meeting fundraising goals for PTOs, schools, churches, dance and sports teams as well as nonprofit groups. However, it can be difficult to balance running everything else with a big push for fundraising because of the huge commitment involved. Half-hearted fundraising can actually be detrimental to a company or group, as, if the push is less successful than you’d hoped, those involved can lose steam in the entire project, dealing with not only feelings of failure, but being overwhelmed and overworked in the process.

We are within 25 minutes of your front door and provide face-to-face customer service.

As native Arkansans, we have a vested interest in our area.

Offer High profit %’s If there is a particular product you want to sell and don’t see it listed on our site, we’ll make sure to offer it.

from the initial face-to-face meetings, to the final execution and prize program awards.

To do this in a way that specifically targets a group’s unique fundraising needs, we spend plenty of quality time with the team to help them determine what the best product is for the group to sell.

We have many levels of involvement, of course-we’re prepared to oversee the entire experience, but, if a group simply needs guidance, products and a tip in the right direction, we’re absolutely up for that, too.

Our goal is to help you raise the most amount of money with the least amount of effort. We’re with you every step of the way to create a successful fundraiser for your group.

Enter FunDango Fundraising LLC! We are trained, committed and inspired by assisting the fundraising efforts of others with energy and innovation. While we work to create support for other causes, we ourselves actively help our communities with our own projects! We donate a portion of funds received after an event to help local citizens, families. Your groups’ profits will not be affected.

We are a fundraising company made up of Northwest Arkansas natives, partnering with local schools, PTO’s, churches, dance and sports teams and any other groups planning to raise money for their cause. We help facilitate the entire process,

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www.peekaboonwa.com

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At a Glance

To advertise and become a part of the Peekaboo Family email : editor@peekaboonwa.com

At a Glance ARTS and MUSIC

Crystal Bridges (Pg. 41) (479) 418-5700 crystalbridges.org Trike Theatre (Pg. 43) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org

BANKS

First Security (Pg. 20) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids (Pg. 63) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 65) (800) 445-3316 arbetterbeginnings.com The Kid’s Studio (Pg. 23) (479) 268-6675 www.thekidsstudio.com Mary’s Little Lambs (Pg. 69) (479) 273-1011

CHIROPRACTOR

Dr. Sarah Morter Rowden (Pg. 31) (479) 636-1324

CONSIGNMENT

Rhea Lana (Pg. 15) (479) 273-1011

DANCE/CHEER/TUMBLE/STRETCH

High Pointe (Pg. 45) (479) 544-1457 www.highpointedance.com The Little Gym (Pg. 57) (479) 636-5566 tlgrogersar.com

DENTIST

My Village Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics (Pg. 25) Rogers: (479) 621-9500 Bentonville: (479) 273-9302 Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry (Pg. 12) (479) 631-6377

DERMATOLOGY

NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center (Pg. 57) (479) 268-3555 advancedskinmd.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Fayetteville Public Library (Pg. 67) (479) 856-7000 faylib.org Lawson Academic Coaching (Pg. 48) (479) 414-1400 lawson-coaching.com Mustard Seed Children’s Academy (Pg. 27) mustardseedchildrensacademynwa.com The New School (Pg. 36) thenewschool.org Shiloh Christian School (Pg. 33) (479) 756-1140 Walnut Farm Montessori (Pg. 74) (479) 271-9424 walnutfarmmontessori.com

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

All About Mickey Vacation Planning (Pg. 62) (479) 461-6519 The Amazeum (Pg. 76) amazeum.org Crystal Bridges (Pg. 41) (479) 418-5700 Fast Lane Entertainment (Pg. 11) (479) 659-0999 www.fastlanebowl.com Fayetteville Public Library (Pg. 67) (479) 856-7000 faylib.org Little Giggles (Pg. 47) (479) 268-4949 Ozark Corn Maze (Pg. 53) www.ozarkcornmaze.com Starlight Skatium (Pg. 69) (479) 444-STAR

FOOD / DRINK

TCBY (Pg. 3) (479) 636-8229 (TCBY)

HAIRCUT / SALON

Pigtails & Crewcuts (Pg. 8) (479) 935-4121

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Northwest Primary Care (Pg. 13) nw-physicians.com Tate HealthCare (Pg. 23, 73) (479) 271-6511 www.tatehealthcare.com

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

David Adams (Pg. 19) davidadams.com

LEARNING CENTER

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 63) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com

Kumon (Pg. 75) Fayetteville: (479) 595-8765 Bentonville: (479) 273-5866

MARTIAL ARTS

ATA (Pg. 4) Bentonville: (479) 273-1212 Fayetteville: (479) 443-5425 PRO Martial Arts (Pg. 59) (479) 250-9899

MUSIC

Kindermusik(Pg. 51) facebook.com/kindermusikwithmspam

OPTOMETRIST

Pediatric Vision Development Center (Pg. 18) nwavisiontherapy.com (479) 795-1411

PEDIATRICIAN

Best Start Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 17) (479) 575-9359 Bentonville Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 58) (479) 273-5437 The Children’s Clinic at Springdale (Pg. 9) (479) 751-2522 MANA NWA Pediatric Clinic (Pg. 21) (479) 443-3471

Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M (Pg. 35) www.childrenstherapyteam.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 71) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 Tate HealthCare (Pg. 23, 73) (479) 271-6511

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Birth Center NWA (Pg. 40) (479) 372-4560 bcnwa.com Lifespring Women’s Health (Pg. 45) (479) 271-0005 lifespringhealthcare.com Northwest Primary Care of Springdale (Pg. 13) (479) 927-2100 Northwest Women’s Health Associates (Pg. 7) (479) 503-2525 Parkhill Clinic for Women (Pg. 25) (479) 521-4433 Siloam Springs Women’s Center (Pg. 32) (479) 524-9312 siloamwomenscenter.com Willow Creek Hospital (Pg. 5) (479) 757-3000

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ever After Photography (Pg. 70) (479) 633-5126

PLASTIC SURGEON

NWA Center for Plastic Surgery (Pg. 2) (479) 571-3100 www.nwacenterforplasticsurgery.com

PRESCHOOL/ PRE-K

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 63) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 71) Lowell: (479) 770-0744 Siloam Springs: (479) 524-2465 West Fork: (479) 839-3359 The Kid’s Studio (Pg. 23) (479) 268-6675 www.thekidsstudio.com Mary’s Little Lambs (Pg. 69) (479) 273-1011 The New School (Pg. 36) thenewschool.org Walnut Farm Montessori (Pg. 74) (479) 271-9424 walnutfarmmontessori.com

SPORTS

Happy FeetLegends (Pg. 26) (479) 372-4860

THERAPY

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 63) (479) 621-6126 www.abchappykids.com

www.peekaboonwa.com

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Experience. Discover. Grow.

Walnut Farm Montessori School Building a Foundation for Growth

Montessori Toddler Program 18 months-3 years old Walnut Farm offers flexible 2, 3, and 5 day toddler programs available in half day and full day options.​

• Well prepared, peaceful environments that support learning and development • Dedicated, nurturing, trained teachers • Developmentally appropriate curriculum that fosters cognitive development, speech and language development, fine and gross motor skill enhancement • Nutritious meals prepared onsite daily for full day students • Before and after school programs offered Walnut Farm Montessori School is the first and only school accredited by the American Montessori Society in the State of Arkansas and the first school to offer a natural playscape environment for exercise and exploration. Our school provides an authentic Montessori education for children ages 18 months to 12 years.

Enrolling Now

Contact us today to schedule your tour of our enriching toddler program

479-271-9424 • info@walnutfarm.org

www.walnutfarmmontessori.com