August 2019 by Peekaboo

August 2019

BIKING WITH YOUR FAMILY

INSIDE the Classroom

perfect

Finding the vehicle for every family wit h

M c L a rty Dani el *Northwest Health Physiciansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Specialty Hospital is owned, in part, by physicians.

When you need to see an OB/GYN, you want to be able to see the doctor without a long wait. So at Willow Creek Women’s Clinic, we’re committed to seeing you faster. And if you have an urgent need, we’ll fit you in just as soon as possible. Give us a call today for women’s healthcare that’s personalized and prompt. Call 479-974-5263 or go to MyWillowCreekWomensClinic.com to schedule an appointment online.

Jan Furniss, M.D. Board-Certified OB/GYN

Alexis McCollum, M.D. Board-Certified OB/GYN

Serena Pierson, M.D. Board-Certified OB/GYN

OB/GYN APPOINTMENTS.

AVAILABLE IN DAYS, NOT WEEKS. 4301 Greathouse Springs Road Suite 100 Springdale, AR 72762

You’ll experience the confidence of being able to access world-leading medical expertise from Mayo Clinic through your trusted Northwest Health doctor, with the comfort and convenience of staying close to home. Members of the Medical Staff at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital.

Expires: 1/1/2020

peekaboonwa.com

At Pediatric Dental Associates and Orthodontics youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll discover that we go the extra mile for our patients! From the moment you see our office, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know what we mean. We have a fully themed environment that is comforting and fun for your children. We offer preventive, restorative, and orthodontic services for kids ages 0-18. We also specialize in dental care for children with special needs.

1607 E. Rainforest Rd. Fayetteville, AR 72703

801 SW Regional Airport Blvd. Bentonville, AR 72712

Fayetteville: 479-582-0600

Bentonville: 479-268-5000

#brushflossrepeat

We accept all insurances and we are in-network with Delta Dental, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, ARKids, Delta Dental Smiles, and MCNA. 4 August 2019

We are privileged to introduce Kelsey Gilley, CNM to Lifespring Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Healthcare

Kelsey Gilley, CNM As a Certified Nurse Midwife, Kelsey will see patients for gynecoligic care, pregnancy and deliver at Northwest Health-Bentonville.

Katie Beal, MD

She has experience in both Hospital-based and Birth center-based deliveries. She will be working closely with Northwest Health-Bentonville, providing education and patient care as we develop Northwest Arkansasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first hospital based low intervention birth program that is lead and supported by our Midwife and Physician Providers and utilizes the full spectrum of alternative pain relief and team-based birth approach.

www.luminisbylifespring.com

The

Family KIMBERLY ENDERLE Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com | 479-957-0532

JONATHON ENDERLE Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com | 479-586-3890

Jonathon and Kim with Grant, Ava, Gwen and Holden PHOTO BY MAIN STREET STUDIOS

DISTRIBUTION/ CIRCULATION Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas

Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

Peekaboo Publications

FRANCES WILSON Assistant Editor

BEN LACY Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s View

Columnist

MEAGAN RUFFING Columnist

PO Box 1036 Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call 479-957-0532 www.peekaboonwa.com Peekaboo may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine.

PEEKABOO Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions

6 August 2019

DAVID HOVEY Story Design

ANA ORTIZ Social Media Photography

Celebrating One Year

You can help kids of Care Close tobe Home

BRAVE this holiday season

Our first year was a big one and we're just getting started! Thank you to our donors, patients, families and staff. We're proud to deliver care close to home for the children of Northwest Arkansas.

2,003 Surgeries

30,104 Outpatient Visits

19,133 Emergency Visits

1,978

Inpatient Admissions

Your gift of $25, $50hospital or more will help Why choose a children's for your child? Get an inside look at archildrens.org/oneyear champion children and the everyday heroes at Arkansas Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Please give generously! Visit giving.archildrens.org (479) 725-6800 | 2601 Gene George Blvd., Springdale, AR 72762 Across from Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Don Tyson Pkwy. Exit 70 or call (800) 880-7491 Patient data from March 1, 2018 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; February 28, 2019

Natural beauty. Personal generosity. Real community. And new growth.

Mercy is glad to call Arkansas our homeâ&#x20AC;Śfor over 150 years. Learn how our $277 million expansion of facilities and services will improve quality of life in NWA. Visit mercy.net/Peekaboo

Your life is our lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work.

Inside

AUGUST 2019

Also 20

Finding the Perfect Vehicle for Families Big & Small WITH MCLARTY DANIEL

Inside: First Baptist Christian School

Inside: Life Way Christian School

Like a Roc BY: ALEX FITTIN

Biking with Your Family BY: BIKE ALLIANCE OF NWA

Migration Nation BY: DWAIN HEBDA

Business Spotlight: Can Can Cleaners

Inside: Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy

The Story Behind Alma B. Occasions: Making Memories that Last a Lifetime

Dad’s View WITH BEN LACY

Upcoming Freshman: High School Isn’t All That Bad BY: EDEN STARR

Babies: Northwest Health Delivers

Inside: Ann Brown Memorial School

One Last Quick Trip Before School BY: COURT LANNING

A Day in the Life of a Homeschooler BY: LAW CHOUINARD

6 Easy Things You Can Do Today to Help Your Kids on the First Day of School BY: MEAGAN RUFFING

*Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital is owned, in part, by physicians.

Cover Sponsored by: Northwest Health www.northwesthealth.com 10 August 2019

On the Cover: Hayes, Hutson, and Cohen

Daniel with mom, Jamie.

Photo by : Main Street Studios www.mainstreetstudios.net

High quality child care looks like

LITERACY

Literacy is a process that begins in infancy. The process involves all of your child’s caregivers.

BABIES • L OVE •

BOOKS

When you look for child care, look for lots of books. Look for teachers that talk and read to infants. Look for teachers that tell stories children love. This is quality child care. Choose quality child care with teachers that know how to lead your child to reading and writing. Find quality-rated child care on our website.

ARBetterBeginnings.com 1-800-445-3316

Visit our Family Resource Library for tips to raise a reader from the beginning at bit.ly/ peekbk

If you have a story to share, or an idea for a story, email editor@peekaboonwa.com and become a part of the Peekaboo family!

From the Editor

HERE IS A LOOK AHEAD! _____________________________ SEPTEMBER is all about honoring our hometown heroes! Want to share a special message for a special hero? Email us at editor@peekaboonwa.com In OCTOBER, we turn the spotlight on families of multiples and share their tales, tips and tricks! Are you a twin or triplet, or a parent of multiples? Email editor@peekaboonwa.com In NOVEMBER’s issue, we turn the spotlight on families who foster and adopt. This is one of our favorite issues of the year!

eing a parent is hard -- like, really hard. How’s that for a feel-good introduction to this month’s letter? Parenting is especially difficult when you are a ‘type A’ personality and a ‘fixer’ who likes to be in control all of the time. From fighting siblings to struggles in the world of academia; behaviors that need to be redirected and social drama with friends; to missed milestones and emotional journies, there never seems to be a shortage of “problems” to fix, lessons to teach, or fights to break up when you have children. Before actually becoming a mom, my biggest playbook on motherhood came in the form of half hour TV shows. Does TGIF ring a bell? In most episodes, a perfect family encountered a slight struggle about 10 minutes into the episode, and all would be fixed before the final commercial break. Moreover, come next week there would be zero mention of last week’s dilemma, because it was fixed forever, somehow. That is definitely how I planned for our family to function, and since I handled literally everything else in my life in the same way -- where I maintained total control -- I didn’t see it as being out of the realm of possibilty. Not only was it out of the realm, but that particular realm doesn’t exist. For example, last month, while on vacation, all four kids were in the best mood ever, and all at the exact same time. To make it even more fairytale-ish, it was during a long car ride. Every word spoken to 12 August 2019

photo by: Lazer Lee Photography

each other was in a sweet, respectful and considerate voice. Sharing was happening. Caring was happening. Jonathon and I both looked at each other like we had done it! We had mastered parenting, and now our kids were perfect! All our lessons, advice, discipline and teaching had finally clicked. We did it! We were living in a sitcom! We would never have to nag at them or get upset with them again. We would never again have to hear fighting or yelling. And then it happened.... One little Enderle’s leg bumped another little Enderle’s leg, knocking a book off their lap. And, with that, the idea that our family was on the verge of greatness -- and in the midst of a sitcom-worthy storyline -- literally imploded. Tattletaleing commenced, and, with it, irritation in their tone and frustration in their choice of words. Our ‘show’ was canceled, and replaced with the regularly scheduled episode of ‘Crazy Town.’ Now, don’t get me wrong. All four of the people who call me ‘Mom’ are amazing. To me, they are hands-down the best four kids in the world... but, back to that first line just a few short paragraphs ago -- parenting is hard! Unless you parent a robot, it is virtually impossible to avoid tough ages, tough phases, and difficult days. The good thing is, there is a solution: Take a moment and... zoom out.

Zoom out to get a true perspective on your family. It is so easy to get completely caught up in each and every little thing that is difficult... to be consumed by the endless laundry, or the IEP meeting at school, or the button-pushing... but, zoom out for a bit. Instead of focusing on each little part, take a minute to view it as a whole. This is somewhat like a Discovery Channel video where the camera zooms out to see the Earth in its entirety -not the wars around the world, or the landfills, or the crime-filled cities, or famine. Instead, you see a lovely, bright blue ball, and are able to appreciate its inherent fragile beauty. None of the little things matter. Seeing the world in its entirety brings back faith in its grandeur, and respect for all that is still good and pure and awe-inspiring on our little planet. As I ended up realizing, it wasn’t the perfect family that I was seeking in those TGIF shows; it was a family, period. My dream came true, and I am the mom to not one, not two, not three, but four people! I get to watch and love and be a part of the stories of four of the most special people ever created. They might make more laundry than I ever thought

possible, they might not be as easily controllable as I had once expected, and I might not be able to fix every hardship or struggle that comes their way, but they are exactly what I wanted when I dreamed of becoming a mom. So, during moments that aren’t Facebook post-worthy, or when the answers to a parenting question aren’t found in any of the books I read and I find myself having to just “wing it,” I am going to think of that that blue marble that is Earth and ‘zoom out’ to see the hard parts of parenting for what they are: just a small part of the big, beautiful picture that is our family. As it’s that back-to-school time of year, a return to routine becomes necessary, which brings with it busy schedules, dreaded homework, and grumpy early mornings. As they say, parenting isn’t for the faint of heart. My wish for everyone this month is that you allow yourself to take a look at the big beautiful picture that is the opportunity to be a parent, and experience life through the joys and wonder of your child(ren). Kim Enderle

We get you. Care for Women, by Women | We know that a woman’s physical and emotional needs are unique, so we’ve designed a personalized care experience for women of all ages. For compassionate care and clinical expertise, HerHealth Clinic is here for you. Visit us online for a complete list of services and clinic locations.

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Like a

ROC

By Alex Fittin

Meet my son, Roc. He’s super cute, right? I think so! Look at those adorable glasses, that whiteblond hair and pale blue eyes that I can take no credit for. I can’t, because we adopted this sweet boy when he was 3 weeks old. He was born at 37 weeks, highly addicted to multiple substances. He was then immediately ripped away from his birth mom, the only voice and body that was familiar to him, however harmful that body was to his little self. He lived in an overcrowded NICU for the first 2 weeks of his life, visited occasionally by his DHS caseworker, and then released to a foster home for a week before landing permanently with us.

would stand directly in front of the TV to watch cartoons. His eyes would quiver as they tried to focus on my face. We took him to Brandon Eye Clinic in Springdale to get him what we assumed would be simple glasses, but the doctor took one look at him and said, “Oh, this is way more than we thought. I’ve heard of this but never seen it in person before.” She was talking about the fact that Roc’s lenses were displaced and shifted well above his pupils. She expressed that we needed to get him in right away to see a pediatric ophthalmology specialist to treat his eyes and, more importantly, find the underlying cause of the displacement.

This kid has overcome more in his 3 1/2 years than most adults I know. He is the strongest kid I know, but I tell you that not to set the stage for a tale of his journey of drug withdrawal, or how he overcame the results of it; I’ve already told that story plenty of times. I laid this groundwork to set the stage for possibly his most difficult challenge yet, one that has nothing to do with his rough entry into the world: Marfan Syndrome.

We were shocked and confused, but we took the necessary steps and saw three different specialists over the next month. We were told over and over again that the most common cause of this condition was Marfan Syndrome, a disease I had vaguely heard of but knew nothing about. Almost immediately after telling us this, however, they would say, “...but he doesn’t look like a Marfan kid, so it could be something else.” We took that information into our appointment with a geneticist several months later, where it was eventually confirmed that he did in fact have the

When Roc was two, we noticed him pressing his little face very close to things to see them better. He 14 August 2019

FBN1 gene mutation that gave him an official Marfan Syndrome diagnosis. Let me pause for a minute and give you the rundown on what exactly Marfan Syndrome is. It is a connective tissue disorder, meaning that the gene mutation in question tells the body not to make as much of the connective tissue that holds together our joints, bones, heart valve walls, lung walls, and -- you guessed it -- lenses of the eyes. The most dangerous of these is obviously the heart, which is something that we will eventually have to address. You see, the blood that pumps through our heart valves, most notably the aortic root, expands the valve as it goes. For most of us, the heart naturally retracts, but for Marfan patients who don’t have the connective tissue to correctly retract, it just gets bigger and bigger until it ruptures and they die. Dark, right? But that’s where modern medicine comes in, thank the good Lord! For almost all of history, Marfan patients have had a very short life expectancy, but in recent years (we’re talking within the last 50ish), doctors have learned how to monitor this problem and replace valves before the rupture occurs. Marfan patients still have a shorter life expectancy than others, but by being diagnosed early and following some basic rules we can get our sweet

boy as close to a normal life expectancy as possible. That’s the hard part, though -- convincing a 3-yearold to change his lifestyle when all he really wants to do is be a normal kid. These changes include a lifetime ban on contact or strenuous sports, trampolines, climbing, carrying heavy loads, caffeine, medicines with antihistamine, or other stimulants that increase heart rate (Sorry about your allergies, kid), and more. This is made even more difficult when we have two “normal” kids --Keep Reading--

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who can still do all of these things without fear of, you know, dying. Marfan Syndrome affects each patient differently, but most of them have longer faces, limbs, fingers and toes, and are very tall. We saw the results of this when our height-stunted-as-a-result-ofdrugs baby who was born in the 11th percentile for height suddenly rocketed to the 95th within the first two years of his life. In fact, he has grown about four inches since his diagnosis a year ago. My parenting style went from “As long as they are kind and respectful, let kids be kids and they will learn to not jump off of/run into/climb onto ______ by means of natural consequences,” to a helicopter parent having to tell her toddler that “I know that all of the other kids are on the bouncycastle and that you’ve always been able to do these things, but you can’t anymore because we have to protect your heart.” Cue the mama tears! Let’s jump back to his eyes, though, because that’s the most immediate need for him right now. We learned that the solution to our little lensdisplacement problem was simply removing said lenses. You see, Roc’s lenses were slipping and sliding around at will, so every time he opened his eyes, depending on where they were, he would see things upside down, split in two, inches away from their actual position, etc. You can imagine how frustrating that would be, so removal was the plan. The way they do this is by removing them separately, about a week apart. They’ll start with the worst eye, then the less terrible eye, because apparently that’s how we measure things now. As I write this, we are between surgeries. His right eye is hidden behind a patch, and we have a strict drops and ointment regimen that we have to follow to keep everything progressing. This is as pleasant to do with a 3-year-old as you think it is.

adoption journey, jump in and learn about his condition, protect him from harm, donate to Marfan research, buy T-shirts, wear eye patches in support of his surgeries, and much more. We have been so blessed by our people rallying for our boy. We have so much more to learn, and a long journey of surgeries, dangers, difficult ‘no’s’ (to sports, activities, summer camps, and more), and helicopter parenting at its finest, but we love this child with our whole hearts. Even though he didn’t come from my body, I would lay my life down for his in a heartbeat. I will forever raise a glass to my strong and courageous boy.

The bravest kid I know:

My Mighty

Marf

Soon, though, he will have contacts to see distances and bifocals on top to see close-up. After almost four years of having no idea what the world actually looks like, our baby will be able to see! We can’t wait, and this long and arduous process to get there will have been worth it. It’s all worth it. We can’t believe the journey we have been on for the past year and a half. We took our baby to get glasses, and six months later he had a lifethreatening and rare disorder that would change his life forever. It’s been painstaking and slow to educate ourselves, and in turn to educate every caregiver, friend, and family member. Can I tell you what we’ve seen, though? We’ve seen a support system, who thought they were only joining us through our 16 August 2019

CREDITS: Kids Pano: Susie Burleson Christmas Tree Farm photos: Whitney Basinger

For children battling a critical illness, a wish is more than a dream. It can be a turning point that can give them the emotional and physical strength to keep going.

WISHES NEED YOU

R E F E R A C H I L D T O DAY AT MIDSOUTH .WIS H .ORG/RE FE R

I wish to be a cowgirl Kionna, 10 cancer

18 August 2019

SUMMER SUPER HERO SMILES ARE HERE!

Kids get a free Super Hero cape for August appointments when they say, “I have the Super Hero power of Kindness!”

Smile-Shoppe.com Fayetteville (479) 966-4100 Springdale (479) 756-6377

Bentonville (479) 876-8883 Rogers (479) 631-6377

FINDING THE PERFECT VEHICLE FOR FAMILIES

BIG

AND SMALL

Photos by: Main Street Studios

Being a parent often requires curating the skill of being in two places at once. Add more children, and the logistics rise exponentially: wrestling practice, cheerleading, band practice, football, softball, baseball, and math competitions – it never stops! Jamie Daniel knows as well as anyone how to manage the chaos, with three active children of her own. Jamie and her husband, Russ Daniel, manage their family business alongside juggling Hayes, Hutson, and Cohen, who range in age from elementary to junior high. For the Daniel family, a third-row Expedition and full-sized Ford F-150 make the

transportation magic happen. But, as we all know, vehicles aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. To help cut out decision paralysis in picking out the vehicle that will haul your most precious cargo, here’s a quick guide to cutting through to the features and benefits that you need for your family. If you have a smaller family, with a total maximum average size of four people or less, mid-sized to full-sized cars and compact SUVs are where to start. Main standout features include safety ratings, fuel efficiency, and ride comfort – especially for those with longer commutes who want ease of driving. Of course, nothing will replace actually test driving each vehicle, but here

level trims with great features. KICKS CLAIM TO FAME: 2019 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick ENCORE CLAIM TO FAME: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5 Star Overall Rating

FOR SMALL FAMILIES NEEDING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE... For those icy Northwest Arkansas winters, the 2019 Nissan Altima comes with available all-wheel drive. The Altima was redesigned in 2019 and is a great-looking car for those who prefer the sedan life. For those with one or two kids, this car is a great choice, with a roomy trunk for a stroller or sports equipment. Alternatively, the 2019 GMC Terrain with a NHTSA 5 Star Overall Rating offers three different trim options and two drivetrains, including all-wheel-drive.

are some stand-outs that might work for you.

FOR SMALL FAMILIES WITH LONG COMMUTES... The 2019 Nissan Kicks pencils in maneuverability, ease of driving, and great MPG (31 city/36 highway) in a smaller, more compact SUV footprint. You can fit two adults and two children easily, though the smaller hatch makes it less of an option for those hauling a lot of gear. Alternatively, the 2019 Buick Encore offers a sleek interior with upgraded technology for the forwardthinking driver. Both of these options are cost-effective in their class and offer higher

500 SE Plaza Avenue Bentonville, Arkansas

peekaboonwa.com

ALTIMA CLAIM TO FAME: Autotrader Best New Car for 2019 TERRAIN CLAIM TO FAME: Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

FOR SMALL FAMILIES WANTING PERFORMANCE OR LUXURY… The Dodge Charger is unmistakably American muscle. Seating five comfortably, it’s a great vehicle for those growing families used to having a little more ‘get up and go’ – it’s even available equipped with a 707 horsepower Hellcat configuration. But if you don’t need that many horses under the hood, you can pick the finest interior appointments in the Lincoln Continental, the superlative in the full-sized car category. Seating five with plenty of rear leg room, this sedan offers the most phenomenal luxury across any sized vehicle. CHARGER CLAIM TO FAME: 2018 Edmunds Best Retained Value Award Winner CONTINENTAL CLAIM TO FAME: IIHS Top Safety Pick & JD Power Dependability Winner

FOR SMALL FAMILIES WANTING THE BEST BANG FOR THEIR BUCK... There are many affordable vehicles in the small-family category, but the Ford Escape and the Jeep Cherokee both stand out as fantastic utility vehicles equipped with two rows and plenty of hatch space for all of your endeavors. With certain trims coming in sub-$20k after manufacturer rebates, it makes both of these vehicles no-brainers for frugal families. ESCAPE CLAIM TO FAME: The 1.5l turbocharged engine option – athletic and fun to drive! CHEROKEE CLAIM TO FAME: Available 8.4” touchscreen for maximum technology feel

FOR THOSE WITH LARGER FAMILIES... For families with 5 or 6 people, or with 22 August 2019

multiple children in car or booster seats – sometimes a two-row vehicle just doesn’t cut it from a space perspective. Third row vehicles add another row of seating in the very back, perfect for small children. Keep an eye out for configuration; some manufacturers offer not only bench seating but also captain chairs, which will cut the maximum seating of any row from three to two. The benefit of captain’s chairs are in the long-term comfort and ride quality – they’re perfect for those long trips!

FOR LARGER FAMILIES WITH LONG COMMUTES... Don’t settle for anything that doesn’t come equipped with a DVD player! The Ford Explorer and the GMC Acadia are both comfortable vehicles that don’t skimp on the amenities. Either of these domestic SUVs can be found in third row configurations with upper-level trims offering such features as panoramic sunroofs, drop-down DVD players and finely appointed leather. EXPLORER CLAIM TO FAME: SYNC 3 Infotainment puts everything you need at your fingertips. ACADIA CLAIM TO FAME: 21/26 MPG is one of the most efficient in third-row SUVs

FOR LARGER FAMILIES NEEDING EXTRA UTILITY... Full-sized trucks such as the all-new RAM 1500 or fully redesigned Chevrolet Silverado offer the best of both worlds, seating up to 5 people and offering all the utility of a full-sized truck bed. Worried about the weather? Camper shells or more discreet tonneau covers make the difference in weatherproofing all that bed space into an area where strollers won’t get wet. Plus, these trucks come in dedicated 4WD models, meaning peace of mind when traveling over suspect terrain. RAM CLAIM TO FAME: The 2019 Motortrend Truck of the Year SILVERADO CLAIM TO FAME: Innovative on-armrest wireless mobile device charging

FOR LARGER FAMILIES WANTING PERFORMANCE OR LUXURY… Look no further than the iconic Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. A four-door Jeep with fantastic space and athletic off-road capabilities, this vehicle proves that the active family doesn’t have to sacrifice performance for full-sized family capabilities. On the luxury side of things, look no further than the Buick Enclave Avenir, which the brand boasts as redefining SUV luxury. With available third row, custom leather, and amazing technology and safety features, the Avenir proves you don’t need to spend German money to drive a beautiful, luxurious vehicle. WRANGLER UNLIMITED CLAIM TO FAME: Being able to save every other vehicle on this list from being stuck in the mud ENCLAVE AVENIR CLAIM TO FAME: Continuously Variable Real-Time Damping suspension for the best ride quality

FOR LARGER FAMILIES WANTING THE BEST BANG FOR THEIR BUCK... The Dodge Journey stands out in this category as a very accessible third row SUV frequently seen at sub-$20k starting-at pricing after all manufacturer rebates. For very large families, Nissan’s NV Passenger line of vans offers very economic pricing for up to 12 – yes, 12! – passengers with

one of the best warranties available. If you’re finding yourself volunteering for hauling the baseball team on the regular, the Nissan option brings great economy without sacrificing ride comfort or handling. JOURNEY CLAIM TO FAME: uConnect infotainment center offers maximum technology NV PASSENGER CLAIM TO FAME: 5 year/100,000 bumper to bumper warranty!

FOR LARGER FAMILIES CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY... Look no further than the highly-awarded Chrysler Pacifica, which the manufacturer touts as the next evolution of the minivan. Claiming both an IIHS Top Safety Pick and a five star NHTSA overall safety rating, you can drive with peace of mind. The optional built-in vacuum cleaner isn’t shabby, either! Sharing the same one-two punch of safety awards is the Nissan Pathfinder, a roomy third row SUV with iconic handling and sporty trims available. PACIFICA CLAIM TO FAME: Cars.com 2019 Family Car of the Year PATHFINDER CLAIM TO FAME: Parents Magazine Best Family Car (3-Row SUV)

THERE’S ONLY ONE THING FOR SURE: There are plenty of options for those searching for the perfect family vehicle. Determining your family’s needs and discussing it with a certified product expert is the first step to finding exactly the right fit. Whether you prioritize safety, or technology, or economy, there is a vehicle out there right for you and your family.

McLarty Daniel is a locally owned and operated group of automotive dealerships located in Northwest Arkansas. With six locations between Springdale and Bentonville, MD is a full-service provider selling and servicing all makes and models of vehicles. Employing over five hundred people, McLarty Daniel is happy to have such an extended family of clients across Northwest Arkansas. Part of all dealership proceeds go to assist a variety of community programs that impact local neighbors in need.

Find your next vehicle at mclartydaniel.com

y l i m a F r u o Y h t i w Biking

oing for a bike ride with your family can be a lovely experience, but it can also be quite stressful. Meltdowns, close calls, crashes, hunger, and plain discomfort all contribute to a rotten time. Making the experience a happy one for all is important if you want to incorporate bike rides into your family time. I have been riding with my family since my son was a year and a half old and eating Cheerios in the bike trailer. He is now 10 and regularly rides 15 miles at a time with us. In that time, we have all learned how to help make the experience a pleasant one. Here are some tips when trying to get your kids on board with biking.

1.Be prepared If you can roll right out of your driveway to a safe, comfortable, and stress-free bit of greenway, bike lane or other route that is separated from people driving cars, you are very fortunate. Many of us have to drive to a family-friendly place to ride. 24 August 2019

This of course, can be a production. If you are rolling straight out of the garage, keep all of the gear together in one area to save time searching for the sunscreen, helmets, sunglasses or favorite set of gloves they won’t ride without. If you have to drive, you can minimize the fuss and delay by having the biking gear pre-packed in a milk crate or container ready to pop in the car. Always check the bikes ahead of time and be ready to roll as soon as you mention a ride to the kids.

2. Wear your helmet Just do it. Religiously. All the time. When you ask a child to do something to keep themselves safe that you don’t do, it devalues your ask. Model good behavior and protect your brain. One day they will be out riding on their own or with friends and you will sleep better knowing that they would never question whether or not to wear a helmet. Also, all the cool people wear helmets. While we are on the topic of safety, consider a first aid kit, extra water and, if you aren’t packing a snack, you are asking for hangry trouble.

3. Establish a formation This sounds very militant, but is about safety. Establish a leader at the front and a sweeper to follow at the back. Let kids know that it is their job to stay behind the lead rider and in front of the sweep. The leader watches ahead for traffic and obstacles. When leading, make sure you ride like you want the children to ride. Assume they will mimic your every move. Call out if you need to stop just in case your kiddos are not paying attention. I prefer to ride sweep so I can watch for proper signaling when turning, and make sure kids are not doing anything unsafe. Remind them of the proper etiquette, but try not to pepper them with too many pointers because it can get overwhelming and cause a meltdown, or a crash.

4.Know your route Children will ask you 1,000 times how much further, and it is best for everyone if you have an accurate answer. Also, knowing the route means that you have an idea of areas to watch carefully for, like crossings or tunnels. Keep kids interested by giving them a description of a landmark or feature to look for. Ask them to count the mile markers or look for a certain color of flower. Much like a long ride in the car, kids need some sort of distraction or objective to keep them engaged. A regular game of ours is “top five favorite.” Pretty self-explanatory: one person names a category like “dinners,” and the others list their top five favorite dinners. Hours of fun, and you learn what meals to keep in heavy rotation. Win, win.

5. Have a destination in mind and MAKE IT FUN Riding for the sake of putting miles under your belt is a concept lost on children. There must be some point to it all. So, choose a fun destination that is appropriate for the distance you are riding. Be prepared to dole out special treats for longer distances. The greater the distance, the more fun or special the destination. Riding for ice cream is a great incentive. Also, taking a break halfway to rest tired little legs means you can go farther. Ride to lunch, to a favorite shop, to a park, or explore a creek. Go a little further each time and --Keep Reading--

Summer

BIKE DRIVE

Gently used bikes of all sizes or new helmets Financial gifts of any amount at any First Security Bank or at pedalitforward.org

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y l i m a F r u o Y h t i w g n i Bik

keep it fresh with new stops and places to visit. Another great motivator is tracking miles. Kids love to look back and document how far they have gone over time. Create extra special incentives for major mileage markers or let them set their own goals.

6. Quit while you’re ahead Stop your ride just before they have had enough. Try to leave the kiddos asking to go a bit further. This can be hard to judge at first, especially if you are going out and back on a route. Err on the side of caution. Going too far or too long is a quick way to ensure your children think twice before they agree to ride with you again. Always leave them wanting more, with plenty of energy left for the return trip, and then some.

7. Be ready to bail if it all goes sideways They are just kids, after all, and if they are not feeling it, then you may as well head back. No one is happy if the kids aren’t happy. Bummer that your ride got cut short, but encourage them for trying something hard. Try not to be devastated if every ride isn’t a treasured family memory. Aim for each one to be a better experience than the last. You’ll be surprised by what your kids look back on and remember fondly.

Anya K. Bruhin

Enriching children’s lives by providing high quality care and education in a Christian environment. Our facility is committed to excellence in childcare. We are currently rated a Level 3 facility in the Better Beginnings quality initiative program.

www.peace-church.org 805 West Olrich St. | Rogers, Arkansas 72756 | 479-621-5683 | arbetterbeginnings.com 26 August 2019

Dollars and Sense L

ast winter, after far, far, far too many games of Scattergories, Rummikub and (dear Lord help me) Settlers of Catan, I decided to go old school and teach the kids how to play poker. Growing up, my family played card games all the time, and someone once told me studies have shown that students who play card games excel in arithmetic. Not sure if that is true... I wouldn’t bet on it (boom, nailed the pun!). There is, however, obviously a bit of math skill involved in card games, and also some economics. Specifically, how to effectively manage your chips so you can continue to play. I did a poor job of establishing this thought process, since we weren’t playing for “real money” (move along now, Feds). In fact, if you lost all your chips, you could just grab another handful. Let’s move from winter to summer, AKA “frigid” and “humid,” which are pretty much the only two seasons we get here in Arkansas. Anyway, this was the first summer in which we deployed all three Lacy kids to get employed. Yes, the hope was for them to chip in a bit on their fast food frenzies, but to also teach them a bit about money management. And it actually worked (pun #2), WAY better than expected. Let me explain. On the child raising scale, we’re pretty cliché. On a range of “Let the child be raised by wolves” to “We will do whatever Pinterest says,” we fall into the upper middle range of “Pottery Barn for Kidsobsessed.” Meaning, the changeable letter board sign is in full effect (and updated more often than the geography of an Elf on the Shelf) and daily 28 August 2019

(sometimes hourly) social media updates are the norm. I offer this as background to our past methods of teaching our kids how to manage their money. We tried all the popular hints, help and humor to encourage our children to respect their dough. You know, things like allowances, chore charts, money jars and on-line gambling (just kidding). Of course, all of them failed. Rather spectacularly, I may add. In our defense (sort of), it is difficult to teach youngsters about dollars and cents, as we’re moving towards a cashless society where tangible money is not readily available. Case in point – as we left church a few Sundays ago, my wife said she needed money, and an ATM was approximately a hundred yards away. The following is a transcript of our conversation.

Wife: I need money. Me (non-chivalrous): Okay, the ATM is right over there. Wife: You go get it. Me (lazily): Why? Wife: I don’t know my ATM pin. Me (baffled): How long have you not known your ATM pin? Wife: I don’t know... ten or twelve years. Me (bewildered): WHAT? How do you get money? Wife: I take it from your wallet. Me (blank stare): ...

Obviously, I also need to learn more about currency control, as I’ve unknowingly been getting rolled by the Mrs. for over a decade. Back to the newly-employed urchins. Work has suited them fine, and they’ve enjoyed their new jobs and new-found friends, but mostly it’s about the moolah. There have been some surprises, as well as some economic education. Obviously, the first surprise to them was taxes; however, we’re headed into an election year and I can’t stomach another convo on politics. The second surprise was the immediate understanding of the relationship between time and money. Let me explain. My daughter usually works eight-hour shifts that include a lunch break. I told her to either pack a snack, or come home during break, because if she went out she was picking up the tab. Of course, on day one she visited Teen Mecca (Chik-Fil-A) and got her first taste of sticker shock. Looking at the receipt, she noticed that it cost her one hour of work to eat lunch. That was all of the cash coaching she needed. Lunch is now PB & J all the way. My boys had similar moments of coin clarity. One

filled up his car for the first time and sat there, mouth agape in full zombie mode while reading the pump, “That just cost me four hours of work.” Yup, kid, welcome to hell. The other attempted to save $200 for a Nintendo Switch, but bailed at $50 of income in favor of a less expensive option – a fish (that’s a whole other long and weird story). So, ‘round these parts it was a summer of sun and a summer of funds. The offspring learned that “Time is money,” something we were sadly unable to teach them via social media, blatant bribery or perpetual threats. They’ve learned that literally paying to play makes all the difference in their spending habits--and hopefully that lesson will stick with them as they eventually start careers. Their new dollar discipline also had a profound impact on our poker games. No longer are the kids going “all in” on every hand, or even making a mild attempt to bluff. They protect their chips tighter than a mama bear with a newfound respect. With that in mind, a little hint, just in case you drop by the house and play with us one night: if they stay in, you had better get out!

Explorers

ages 0-6 years Thursdays 2-4 pm Fridays 10 am-12 pm

Crawlers

ages 9-18 months Wednesdays 10-11 am

Cuddlers

ages 0-9 months Mondays 10-11 am

Toddlers

ages 18-36 months Thursdays 10-11 am

Little Tinkers - register today! ages 3-6 years old and one adult caregiver Forts and Fireflies Aug 10, 2019 9-10:30 am

Studio Grow is sponsored by Pampers

Make It Move Sept 14, 2019 9-10:30 am

For more information, visit our website at amazeum.org/programs

INSIDE THE CL ASSROOM

First Baptist Christian School implements a robust academic program, creating various opportunities for character development and family involvement within the context of God’s word. Our students build strong literacy skills alongside science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), which are critical gateways toward achievement. Providing our students with a strong educational program within a learning community that builds self-confidence is our academic focus. FBCS provides an optimal learning environment by having small classes and highly qualified teachers, who have all structured their classrooms to best teach the core subjects. Our students have opportunities to lead and serve both inside and outside the walls of our school, and to develop into leaders who demonstrate the hands and feet of Jesus to their community.

grow and expand. Further, FBCS offers a unique Bridge program designed for children who are not ready for kindergarten but have turned 5 by the kindergarten cut-off date. This enables those children to have one more year to develop and mature so that they are confident and ready to start kindergarten.

As our students progress through kindergarten and elementary school, every student will have music, art, physical education, and technology to enhance every aspect of their educational FBCS provides a dynamic preschool program that experience. In middle school, more enrichment includes Bible-based classroom curriculum. A new classes are added, and more leadership and feature both the preschool and early elementary outreach opportunities are available to further program will be adding is a movement lab called maturity into Godly young men and women who “Ready Bodies, Learning Minds,” which offers a will be confident and successful. powerful approach to sensory integration, motor learning, and academic success. Our preschool It is our mission to partner with families in program begins with classes for 3-year-olds. providing sound education, with a Biblical During these formative preschool years, students perspective, in a small environment where every are challenged to explore and discover their student has an opportunity to prosper and build a world through the lens of God’s Word, where strong foundation in their academic journey. that learning will carry over into kindergarten To learn more, visit: FBCSnwa.org and elementary school with new opportunities to 30 August 2019

welcome,

Grant Gaines, MD Dr. Grant Gaines is a welcome addition to the pediatric care team at Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics in Fayetteville and Pinnacle Hills. Schedule your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wellness exam or acute care appointment with Dr. Gaines by using the myMANA Health Portal or by calling (479) 442-7322. wellness care / acute care / newborn care / adolescent care walk-in clinic / immunizations / ask the nurse

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PINNACLE HILLS

FAYETTEVILLE

Wellness Clinic & Acute Care & Walk-in Clinic

Wellness Clinic

Acute Care & Walk-in Clinic

3730 S. Pinnacle Hills Pkwy Rogers | 479.464.5597 Monday-Friday, 8am-5:30pm

3383 N. MANA Ct., Suite 101 Fayetteville | 479.443.3471 Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

3380 N. Futrall Drive Fayetteville | 479.442.7322 Monday-Friday, 8am-7:30pm Saturday, 8am-11am

INSIDE THE CL ASSROOM

Why Life Way? Young people today spend roughly 40 hours a week in school, which equates to 1,500 hours a year. So, what does this mean? Where we send our precious children to school matters! Children today spend more time under the influence of teachers and school than they do any other single influence. This is why at Life Way we take very seriously the education and training of the next generation. The reason I send my kids to Life Way boils down to these three things: • Life Way’s greatest priority is the spiritual formation of children • Life Way students continue to excel academically and consistently rank higher than the local and national norm • Life Way teachers love, care for, and want to know every student In regards to the spiritual formation of students, Life Way offers Bible classes, chapel, mentorships, mission trips, service, and many other opportunities to develop young people who love and grow in Christ. These opportunities are great, but what makes these all work is Life Way’s overarching desire to glorify Christ in everything, and point young people to the great hope that is found only in Christ. Crystal King, a parent of three Life Way students, said it best: “The heart of Life Way is Christ-centered.” 34 August 2019

Developing young people who know the Lord and want to understand His purpose for their lives is the heart of Life Way. Academically, Life Way continues to be set apart and exceed the local and national norms. The class of 2019 scored an average of 26.4 on the ACT, and those taking AP classes averaged a score of 3.7 on their tests. Lisa Green, a parent of three, said, “Our family came to Life Way because we wanted our children to follow fast after Jesus, and the academics were icing on the cake.” Life Way realizes that God created people to fill the earth and take care of what He created. God wants us to be second creators, and use the intellect and resources He has given us to make this world a better place. Life Way realizes that by maintaining a rigorous and excellent academic program, young people are prepared to go out into the world as leaders to spread the glory of God. Life Way also rounds out its academic program by having excellent athletic and fine arts programs that benefit the whole child. Finally, Life Way is a family that loves each other and loves doing life together. Caden Darby, a recent graduate of Life Way, said, “You are not a random number in a crowd of people... teachers know you and care about how you are doing.” Another graduate, Trinity Burton, said, “I have never been in a place where I felt so loved”. Why Life Way? Because every child needs a Christcentered, academically excellent, and loving environment that will help mold them into the future leaders of our homes, churches, and communities. If you would like to find out more about how you can become a part of the Life Way family, please call us at 479-795-9322 or look us up online at www.lwcsar.com. We would love to meet with you and tell you more about why Life Way is the best choice for your family!

September to November

FALL

Enroll in Trike Academy this Fall! Registration opens August 1. Classes are available for PreK through 12th grade.

Visit triketheatre.org to learn more and sign up!

Cultivate Creativity. Build Character. Strengthen Communities.

Get 10% off classes by using code TrikeFall10.

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August 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

August 4

Children First On the Town! 5 PM The Splash Park At Lawrence Plaza Bentonville Join us for a concert in the park with all your favorite Children First sing-a-longs! Splash, play, sing, and meet new friends.

August 7

32nd Annual Fayetteville Education Expo 10 AM-1 PM Fayetteville High School

August 9

Alan Jackson 5 PM Walmart AMP Alan Jackson Honky Tonk Highway Tour with Randy Houser and William Michael Morgan. With a year of sold out shows and packed houses in the rear view mirror, Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson’s Honky Tonk Highway Tour is adding more miles in 2018. Doors open at 6:30 PM and music starts at 7:30.

Adoptive Family Carnival 5 PM Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s · Rogers Please join us for a back-to-school carnival to be held at The Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s in Rogers on August 9th from 5-8 PM. This event will be FREE to ALL Adoptive families.

August 10

Dr. Compton Day 9 AM to Noon Compton Gardens Festivities begin at 9 AM. Free family fun for the community! Dr. Compton Day is a free community event for all ages to learn about conservation, environmental stewardship and recreational activities in NWA. The event is a celebration of Dr. Compton and the issues he championed in Arkansas and beyond. The celebration will also include the unveiling of our very own Dr. Compton neon sign, followed by a raffle drawing! Events include rock painting, music, ice cream, cake, food trucks, and more!

Chalk Festival

August 6-10

115th Annual Benton County Fair Benton County Fair Bentonville FREE GATE! Family Fun, Food, Music and Shows

10 AM Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art This will be the chalk of the town! Watch professional chalk artists turn concrete into masterpieces at Crystal Bridges. Watch the pros at work and get an up-close look at their chalk creation process. Then, come back on Sunday, August 11 to see the finished products and take fun photos with them! On both days, admire impressive chalk art while enjoying live music, food trucks, a kids chalking area, and artmaking, and chalk it up to a good time. Free, no registration required.

Gravette Day 2019 6 AM City Of Gravette Join us for the 126th Gravette Day! The theme for this year’s event is ‘Making Memories.’ This all day event takes place in the heart

of Gravette, Arkansas. Activities include a pancake breakfast, 5K race, car show, parade, pageants, live music, games and entertainment, vendors, an art show, Dutch oven cook-off, and more! www.GravetteAR.com

Mommy And Me: Sun/dream Catcher 1:30 PM The Grove Comedy Club · Lowell The Grove Comedy Club is graciously hosting us as we host you for this amazing mommy and me, back-to-school crafting class. Prepay online at creativelycrafted.net to save yours and your kiddo’s seat. Only $15 per craft. This wonderful quality time together is affordable and fun. Dads welcome too. We prefer that you pre register online, but walk-ins are welcome!

August 14

Free Trial class 10-11:15 AM Park Spring Park, Bentonville Hosted by Tinkergarten: Outdoor Play NWA www.tinkergarten.com

August 17

Secchi Day on Beaver Lake 9 AM-1 PM The public is invited to attend the FREE 14th annual Secchi Day Science Fair on Beaver Lake at Prairie Creek Park. The Science Fair includes activities for all ages, with hands-on water and environmental science education fun, a fire truck, kayak test rides, free healthy snacks in the morning, lots of giveaways and chilled tap water to drink, free lunch (regular hot dogs and vegan), Popsicles and ice cream, as well as Water Fun Facts with Papa Rap.

A Cool Summer Homecoming 6 PM Fayetteville Town Center Enjoy an evening of dinner, dancing, silent auction and crowning of the 2019 Homecoming King and Queen. Featuring Backroad Anthem!

August 20-24

Washington County Fair

Admission prices are $5 nightly. See website and schedule of events for daily specials. Parking is free. Armbands for the midway will be sold nightly. Online at mywashcofair.com

August 22-25

Fayetteville Roots Festival Fayetteville Public Library Fayetteville Roots Festival is a five-day, intimate, urban music and food festival taking place August 22 - 25, 2019 in Northwest

Arkansas. The festival features over 10 music stages and multiple culinary stages and events. The Roots Festival is a showcase of many of the elements that make the Fayetteville community and Northwest Arkansas region a beloved cultural hot spot. Fayetteville Public Library is the Community Stage showcasing events that are free and open to the public.

August 23-24

35th Annual Frisco Festival Downtown Rogers Inc. · Rogers, Arkansas Get ready for the 35th Annual Frisco Festival. Make sure to bring your dancing shoes there will we have live music on both Friday & Saturday, Kid Zone, tasty food, craft vendors and more. There are still more surprises planned so stay tuned! This is going to be a fantastic way to end the summer!

August 24

5th Annual Parents Left Behind Seminar 9 AM Central United Methodist Church · Fayetteville, Arkansas We welcome parents, grandparents, and other concerned adults who are grieving the loss of a child, no matter what age or how long ago the loss occurred. The event will consist of an opening address by Dr. Susan Averitt, a local pediatrician and bereaved mother. Attendees will then have the opportunity to attend two breakout sessions of their choice. Registration is free! Complimentary childcare will be provided to any attendees registered by August 8th

August 31

Multisensory Saturday 11 AM-2 PM Crystal Bridges Join us for multisensory exploration at the museum featuring gallery activities that focus on access and inclusion and highlight all the senses. Free, no registration required.

Hog Wild Tailgates 2019 12:30 PM Janelle Y Hembree Alumni House · Fayetteville Go HOG WILD with the Arkansas Alumni Association! The Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House is across the street from Razorback Stadium, and tailgates are open to everyone. Enjoy televised games, live music, Razorback Marching Band and Spirit Squads, special guest appearances and Food Truck Alley. Tailgates begin 2 1/2 hours prior to kick off and end 30 minutes before kickoff. Be sure to check www.arkansasrazorbacks.com for updated game time information. There is no cost to attend unless you want to reserve a catered meal option, which includes a “Hog Pen” meal ticket, water, lemonade and three Snout Tickets to use on Yarnell’s ice cream or the beverage station

peekaboonwa.com

LO O K A N D F E E L

YO U R B E S T At Women’s Health Associates, we want you to feel confident about every aspect of your life, including how you look. That’s why we offer a number of aesthetic services designed to help you be your best self at every stage of your life.

FA C I A L S Designed to help you put your best face forward, let us help you discover a more beautiful and youthful-looking you. All facials include an in-depth skin analysis, cleansing and exfoliation of the neck, face, and décolleté. Also Offering: Dermaplaning | Microneedling | Chemical Peels | Microdermabrasion

I N J E C TA B L E S A N D D E R M A L F I L L E R S As we age, our faces naturally lose subcutaneous fat and the “plump” look of our youth. Injectables and dermal fillers can be used to help diminish facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face. Plump thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases and wrinkles, and improve the appearance of recessed scars. Offering: BOTOX® Cosmetic | JUVEDERM®

I N T I M AT E W E L L N E S S CO2RE Intima vaginal treatments help restore your vaginal health… and help you rediscover what you’ve lost. The procedure only takes a few minutes and many women report symptom relief after the very first treatment. The treatments use laser energy to stimulate healing and renewed collagen that results in increased elasticity and natural lubrication, decreased urine leakage, and more pleasurable sex.

B O DY C O N T O U R I N G Love the idea of reshaping your body, but not the reality of incisions or scars? Our non-invasive procedures don’t require any incisions and deliver noticeable results. The treatments work to improve the appearance of cellulite, reduce dimpled skin, and tighten skin on the abdomen, love handles, hips, thighs and other areas that require fat reduction. BodyFX addresses problematic fatty tissue in larger body areas such as the abdomen, back (flanks), and thighs. MiniFX addresses problematic fatty tissue in smaller areas like the neck, arms, and knees. Forma tightens the skin on the face, neck and hands. Also offering: Photo facials with Lumecca | Laser Hair Removal | Waxing Spider Vein Treatment

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NOW ENROLLING

Migration Nation Kids leave Facebook to Mom and Dad, flock to other social media

by: Dwain Hebda In case you haven’t heard, Facebook is no longer the ‘cool place to be.’ Parents looking to track their kids’ social media habits may have noticed that all that seems to be left on the formerly youthdominated platform are ads and, well, other adults. Meanwhile, kids have moved on to other forms of social media and are counting on the fact that adults are a step or two behind the trend line, thereby giving them the privacy to go and do what they want without prying parental eyes. Many of these sites offer anonymity and deal in mature themes, a combination that’s both irresistible to teens yearning to act like adults and predators looking to act like predators. Andrew Stover of Chenal Family Therapy in Rogers said social media has long since stopped being a mere diversion and is now so ingrained in the life of the modern teenager that it’s been shown to have a direct physical effect. 40 August 2019

“The thing about social media,” said Stover, “is that it is instant gratification, validation, feedback, and connection. It seems to be a pretty immediate way to connect, and that connection can be very intentional, relational and intimate. A teenager can post something on social media and, as certain studies have indicated, getting a like on that post lights up the gratification part of your brain the same way that doing a drug does. The pleasure pathways in the brain explode, because ‘I’m being seen, I’m being validated by my experience’ on a bigger platform very quickly.” Stover, a father himself, doesn’t condemn social media altogether, but does admit that it requires management to keep it from commanding too much attention and playing too big a role in the user’s self-identity. “I don’t know that [social media is] all-ornothing,” he said. “I have worked with and know lots of kids and teens who have very healthy,

productive lifestyles, and their social media habits are not maladaptive in any way. Meaning, they’re not experiencing any bullying, they’re not experiencing any negative feedback. It’s a healthy platform.” “But, the flip side of that happens when kids start using social media in a superficial way. Many kids tell me they use it to grow their ‘brand,’ which means they use it to grow themselves. That can be something scary. I hear it more now than I did a couple of years ago. ‘Oh, I’m on social media to get likes and followers because I’m trying to grow my brand. I’m trying to be the next... (insert whoever else has gotten famous on these platforms.)” The problem with such aspirations, Stover said, is that “such fame is generally based on vapid, senseless, and, in some cases, dangerous behavior, captured and posted in an instant.” The Tide Pod Challenge and Cinnamon Challenge are two recent, well-known examples of behavior that go beyond stupidity, but result in attention, however fleeting. --Keep Reading--

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100 West Center, Ste 101 Fayetteville 479-444-7778

“I think those challenges would be indicative of the loop exchange that takes place,” he said. “Kids post this, and any attention at that point is good attention. It doesn’t necessarily denote itself as bad as long as everyone that’s onto any of these platforms scrolls and comments. That’s a pastime now.”

Amino – Another chat-room based app lets users

Parents have a hard time keeping up with such behavior, and when kids scatter from sites that have become too mainstream, or too clogged with boring old grownups, the challenge only multiplies. Often, sites juggle a double-edged sword in protecting user privacy, shielding identities to the extent that anyone can be whoever they want online, from a pedophile posing as a peer to a shy teen who substitutes digital relationships for real ones.

Discord –

“If you’re not who you want to be in your real life, social media offers a second opportunity to be who you want to be in this virtual world,” Stover said. “The problem is, it hampers how you develop the aspect of knowing your own value. If my value is a direct result of how many likes I got from a post, then that could present problems.” “I think the thing that I have seen more in the last year of working with teens is that there are teens who are not as well-connected at school for various reasons, specifically in public schools. School overcrowding is a very real thing, so it can be very overwhelming and difficult to find a group to fit in with.” Stover’s advice to parents when it comes to social media rules is very simple – set a hard line and don’t back down from it. “Parents, set a firm limit,” he said. “When they’re home, it’s a full-disclosure space. If [kids] want to have rights with their device, then they must do what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s a parent’s job to check.”

The Most Popular Apps You’ve Never Heard Of The following are just a few of the sites collecting many of the kids who are leaving Facebook. Some you may know, but the majority are unfamiliar to most parents. 42 August 2019

with common interests find each other and chat via text, voice or video. While this by itself can be a bonding experience, there’s a mix of adults and kids using it, so it’s risky. And because Amino wasn’t intended for kids, some subject matter and language are often definitely not for children. Simply put, Discord streamlines the process of connecting online gamers. It’s completely anonymous, and if your device has a mic you can actually talk to the person you’re befriending, even though you have no idea who that person really is.

Instagram –

Among the most widely popular sites, this photo-driven app is a teen favorite. There are controls in place to monitor content, but the sheer volume of pics means nudity is hard to eliminate altogether. The stream of mostly-happy, upbeat pics can also fool parents into thinking all is well with their teen’s emotional state.

Reddit – The site features threads or discussions

reminiscent of the chat rooms of the Internet’s early days. Users don’t have to look that hard to find porn or darker-themed threads, and it’s largely anonymous.

Snapchat – Another better-known app, Snapchat

is a photo/video sharing platform with a twist – images or videos have a timer so the recipient can only view them for a few seconds before they are deleted. The problem? Besides lulling tweens and teens into a sense of security over things like sexting, the sent messages do not always completely disappear.

Tik Tok –

This performance- and video-sharing social network mostly features teens lip-syncing to famous songs. Songs and videos contain some iffy content, and viewers can make comments about the performance, which opens the door for cyberbullying and “stranger danger.”

Yik Yak – A free app that requires no registration

and allows total anonymity, Yik Yak is not particularly difficult for kids younger than the recommended age 17 to get on. Yik Yak connects up to 500 users in a chat room and was intended for the college set. In the hands of teens, however, it becomes a haven for cyberbullying and other online misbehavior.

Upcoming Freshman:

High School Isn’t All That Bad. by: Eden Starr

What is high school? Is it cliques, boring classes, teachers out to get you, and terrifying upperclassmen? Maybe in movies, but not in reality. High school is portrayed incorrectly in the media time and time again. Whether it is the “popular” crowd, like in “Clueless,” or the ones seeking popularity after being ghosted by the in-crowd in “Can’t Buy Me Love,” high school is shown only by its stereotypes. In reality, it isn’t so bad. Although everyone’s experiences with high school are different, these myths that promote being polarized by popularity are just that: myths. For instance, when I was a bright-eyed, impressionable eighth grader, almost three years ago, I was told by a sophomore at the time that if you ate in the BHS north commons for lunch, you would get your head smashed against the wall. “The north commons are for upperclassmen to eat in. Not for freshmen. That’s what the lesser, south commons, is for,” she told me. However, as I arrived on the first day of school, me and my very obvious freshman friend sat in the north commons. Instead of keeping you on the edge of your seat, I’ll tell you: no head smashing occurred. Just people eating their food and minding their own business. I continued to eat in the north commons until the last day of school as a freshman, and no one ever said anything to me. Was this a terrorizing technique used by a soonto-be upperclassman to intimidate and instill fear in my friends and myself? Was it to assert dominance that someone once had over them? Probably. But where did she get the idea from, and why did I believe her? Movies, TV shows, news stories, etc. I see these stereotypes in almost every single media form I watch. Even as bullying seems to become less of an issue, the stereotype sticks. 44 August 2019

I’ve explored the possibility that maybe my high school just wasn’t full of bullies, but I don’t believe that to be the case. We need to encourage eighth graders to enjoy their years in high school. As my junior year approaches, I regret wasting my time worrying about others and what they thought of me. I regret waiting for someone to seek me out and trying so hard to try to make a name for myself. I regret feeling as if a small group of close friends held less value than a large group of acquaintances that I occasionally hang out with. We need to reverse this stereotype. Turn it into something positive. So, that’s what I’m doing, or attempting at least. So, for you upcoming high schoolers: enjoy high school. Before you know it, you’ll wish you could go back to the beginning to relive it again and again. Don’t listen to upperclassmen. Don’t fall into stereotypes. And, most important of all, don’t act too cool for school. Cheer at football games and pep rallies. Be involved! Don’t worry about what other people (especially older kids) think about you. To be honest, they probably don’t think about you at all. Trust me, not only will this improve your high school experience, but it will also show commitment on your college applications. (But don’t worry -you’ve still got a while before you have to worry about that!)

by: Heather Reynolds

f you had asked me when I was growing up what I wanted to be, I would have never envisioned myself as a “trash can cleaner.” Actually, all the way through my first year of college I wanted to be a math teacher, like my mom, and help kids grow and learn. However, my career path took me in a different direction, and I ended up being an administrative professional for over 10 years. During my time in administration, I worked several side hustles that allowed me to capitalize on my creative side and fueled my passion to own my own business. I always thought that I would own a cute gift store or creative craft store, but today I am the proud owner of a trash can cleaning business, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I get asked by a lot of people how we came up with the idea of trash can cleaning. My husband and business partner, Kyle, had seen the business idea and kept saying what a great idea it was. After all, no one in Northwest Arkansas was filling this need. One night, it hit me: this might not be the business I thought I would own, but why not? Especially if I can bring a service to Northwest Arkansas that helps to make our community better. After a lot of thought, research, and planning, Can Can Cleaners was born. We are a professional trash can cleaning company that services both residential and commercial customers all over Northwest Arkansas. Our 46 August 2019

goal is to take care of this dirty job for you in an efficient and eco-friendly way so your cans are sanitized, disinfected and deodorized. All you have to do is set them out on trash day... we do the rest. We make sure that the cleaning is convenient and easy for you and guarantee your satisfaction. We use the latest technology on our specialized truck to clean the outside and inside of your cans. This technology is relatively simple and uses no chemicals. Rather, it uses heated, high pressure water. Wastewater is collected and stored on our truck, and is disposed of properly. This process mitigates any chemical or waste water from entering our local streams and rivers. Becoming an entrepreneur and starting Can Can Cleaners has been a dream come true for me, and has been both challenging and rewarding. There are so many hurdles to overcome when starting a business. I’ve learned so much as I’ve developed a business plan and all that comes with it, from designing my own logo to picking the colors that define our brand. Each and every step along the way has been from my heart, and I can truly say that I couldn’t be more proud of what the business is now and what it will become in the future. I’ve found a way to serve others, while also saving them time. Ultimately, I’m not just cleaning trash cans, I am making lives easier and our community a much more pleasant place in which to live. I mean, you could clean them yourself... but why, when we Can Can?

INSIDE THE CL ASSROOM

The Classical Difference NWA Classical Academy is continuing its amazing growth and success as the only open-enrollment charter school focused on teaching the classical liberal arts and sciences in Northwest Arkansas. This fall, high school students will be moving into an adjacent building on the current property, and enrollment will be over 800 students. By focusing not just on academics, but also on character formation, students learn to appreciate the good, the true, and the beautiful in life. Recent graduate, Grant Reader, reflects on his time at NWA Classical Academy: I’ve always thought in numbers, and only had use for words when they were in the form of entertainment. I started reading at an early age, but only select genres and only for pleasure. History was trivial, and I didn’t have much of an interest in educating myself outside of math. This changed my freshman year in high school. My mom somehow convinced me to spend my 9th grade year at the classical charter school that had just opened in town. I quickly realized that I’d be doing a whole lot of reading of classical texts as part of the curriculum, and not just for entertainment. I fought reading the assigned literature at first because I thought it was a waste of my time to study something I wasn’t interested in. I mostly skimmed the texts and, honestly, didn’t read a single piece of classical literature in its entirety. I didn’t get much out of my first semester. As the year progressed, I was exposed to the insights of my teacher and classmates during class discussions and I realized that what we were reading was impactful. I began to see that literature was more than just telling a story--it could be used to change perspectives, and even 48 August 2019

lives. For the first time in my life, I recognized ® that literature could be used for education and ResponsiveEd growth, and I began to understand that my teachers were trying to give me the tools to be more than a student--to be my own teacher. In the words of Albert Einstein, “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” The words began to have meaning that affected me on a deeper level. Because of this, I started reading the assigned texts on a more frequent basis. Eventually, I read the assigned texts in their entirety. The reading changed me; it influenced my thoughts and my decisions and helped me realize how beautiful and intricate life is, and what things really are important. I began to connect what I read to my life and realized how knowledge could change me. The history lessons we studied were no longer just stories, they were past actions of people that had an effect on forming our society today. They gave me a desire to learn more about the people around me. I started wanting to learn more, to know more, about history, literature, different cultures, and different opinions so that I could better decide who I was and what I wanted to be. The more knowledge I obtained, the more I sought out, and the more I realized just how much there is to learn. While I still think in numbers, I read with intent now. My joy in reading comes not just in the entertainment, but in the knowledge, purpose, and fulfillment that I gain. Grant Reader National Merit Scholar NWACA 2019 Graduate

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–The Story Behind–

Alma B. Occasions Making Memories T h at L a s t a L i f e t i m e

Hi! My name is Alma Wallace, and I was born in Liberia, West Africa and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. I am an educator by trade. I taught kindergarten in Atlanta and loved every minute of it. After relocating to Dallas, Texas and having my son Cyril, I decided to stay home and raise him. While at home, I would do DIY projects and coordinate events for family and friends. After getting great feedback on my events, I decided to start a business that would help parents make their kids’ dreams come true! My pathway to the event industry started in 2014, when I planned my own wedding. I enjoyed learning about the logistics and background details needed to put on an event, and fell in love. When the wedding was over, I knew I had found a pathway that spoke to my heart. Immediately after, I started volunteering to coordinate events for my family and friends, and soon learned that my passion was in kids’ events. Seeing the faces of our little people light up brought warmth to my heart. In 2018, I decided to turn my passion into a business: Alma B Occasions. Alma B Occasions started in Dallas, and is now local to the NWA area. I specialize in designing and coordinating kids’ events. I am known for my eye for detail, which helps parents enjoy a party for their kids without stressing over planning. I am most proud of what I do when I get that text or call after an event, where the parent and child tell me how thankful they are that I was able to assist them on their special day. I believe my passion for every single child that crosses my path is what sets me apart from other event planners. This career has not been a smooth road. I’ve worked many events for free, just to learn. I was determined to get my hands on any experience I could. Some of the struggles along the way included simply finding opportunity. Additionally, a planner needs to be able to think on their feet, be very organized, and handle long hours of high intensity work. For any young woman starting their journey, my advice is: success does not come 50 August 2019

overnight in this industry, and you need to have the patience and determination to make it through. However, any young woman starting her career should not listen to anyone that feels her dream is unachievable. Your ideas and your dreams are just that: yours. So... go for it! You will not regret it. CONTACT

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Phone 1-800-649-7958/404-536-4366 Web www.almaboccasions.com Email awallace@almaboccasions.com Instagram @almaboccasions Please contact Alma B Occasions for your child’s next event. We will make sure your event is a memory that last a lifetime.

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INSIDE THE CL ASSROOM

— A Day in the Life —

of a Homeschooler

BY LAW CHOUINARD

very morning I wake up, hop out of bed, walk downstairs to the kitchen, eat a bowl of wheat squares cereal, accomplish my daily morning chores and then gear up for my most difficult school subjects: Algebra, Latin and college-level Chemistry. When I’m finished, I work on my easier subjects, and then I’m free to pursue other interests--even if my public school friends are still in the classroom. Some of my free time hobbies include: gaming, bookworming, walking my dog, swimming and trying to get a magazine article published. Homeschooling has proven to be a great opportunity for me, and I want to share my experience with you in case you are considering whether it would be a good fit for your family. If you are interested in homeschooling your kids, here are some of the pros and cons:

You may be wondering at what age you should start teaching your children (though, if you have children currently in school, and you are helping them with homework, you have already begun!). A good start for very young children would be tons of reading. Teach children to read as soon as they are able, so grammar, spelling and vocabulary will be easier to learn in the future. Surround yourself with people that will love and support you on this journey to a custom education. There are many homeschool groups that offer classes, field trips and friendships. If you’ve heard that homeschooled children are lacking social activity, that is just a myth! For example, I have swim classes three times a week, homeschool co-op classes on Thursdays, soccer teams, science fairs, homeschool skating parties with friends... the activities go on and on in our family.

Pros: You have a wider schedule for social activities, your kids can take birthdays or other holidays off, and teaching the children you love and care about can help build a strong family bond. The student/teacher ratio is exponentially smaller than public school, and therefore each student gets more attention from the teacher. You can choose your favorite curriculum from countless publishers to match the learning styles of your children. Kids at home learn useful life skills, and less time is wasted on the bus or in the car line.

Don’t be discouraged by the challenges of homeschooling, because the benefits often outweigh the sacrifices. I hope that I have inspired you to consider homeschooling your children. I enjoy this lifestyle and I believe you will, too.

Pro-ish: I homeschool year-round, which means I complete curriculum sooner and am able to study advanced subjects that fifth grade wouldn’t normally assign. Cons: The curriculum can be expensive depending on your choices (new vs. used, etc.), and your children may require tutors for advanced subjects. Another sacrifice could be lower income because one parent generally has to stay home. 52 August 2019

Law Chouinard is a diligently learning 10-yearold and a mama’s boy who loves his pet dog and rabbits.

Have a great school year!

THERAPY

On-site therapy for children Speech-Language, Occupational, Physical & Behavioral Health Therapies

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BABIES: Northwest Health Delivers expect more when you are expecting

ne of the most exciting aspects of pregnancy is making decisions– like selecting a name, picking nursery colors and choosing the right doctor and hospital to deliver your bundle of joy. When you choose to have your baby at Northwest Health, you’re choosing to have the comforts of home in an advanced hospital setting. You’re choosing knowledgeable, board-certified obstetricians and neonatologists as well as trained nurses and lactation consultants– all dedicated to keeping mom and baby as healthy as possible. At Northwest Health, we understand that women have unique health concerns – that’s why we offer a comprehensive Women’s Health program with comprehensive services to address the needs of women of all ages at three of our hospitals: Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Johnson, Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville and Siloam Springs Regional Hospital. Interested in learning more about our women’s health program or touring one of our hospitals? Join us for an exclusive event designed to inform and empower new and soon-to-be parents. In addition to hand-picked exhibitors and vendors, we’ve partnered with local experts to offer classroom-style seminars. Meet and interview OB/GYNs and Certified Nurse Midwives. Take a tour of the hospital and one of the low-intervention labor and delivering suites. The Baby Fair will be at all three campuses. Visit http:// bit.ly/SummerBabyFairs to register for FREE today or call (479) 757-LIFE (5433).

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Willow Creek Women’s Hospital Willow Creek Women’s Hospital was the first hospital in Arkansas to earn international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Hospital, a designation from the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, which encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer a high level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. As a Baby-Friendly Hospital, we support breastfeeding mothers. Our nurses and lactation consultants guide you through the Golden Hour after birth to assist with the first feeding, and answer any questions you may have during this time of bonding. Willow Creek Women’s Hospital also has earned the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program Accreditation as a Silver Safe Sleep Leader, which recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to leadership for best practices and education on infant sleep safety. Willow Creek is the only dedicated women’s hospital in Northwest Arkansas, offering a 24-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Our onsite clinical teams include board-certified neonatologists;

certified neonatal nurse practitioners; respiratory therapists with specialized training in the care of fragile newborns; physical, occupational and speech therapists; pastoral services; and social workers. The hospital also offers an ambulance solely dedicated to Neonatal Transports. We also provide family-centered care in which mother and baby stay together from childbirth to discharge– an evidence-based best practice in maternity care that facilitates family bonding, supports successful breastfeeding and increases patient satisfaction. Willow Creek also offers one new low-intervention birthing suite with plans to add an additional suite soon. With minimal intervention and technology, the low-intervention birth program allows hospital staff to support patients and families in their labor and birthing goals. The suites offer a large bed, specialized labor tub, shower, birthing stool, labor balls and waterproof, wireless monitoring. Willow Creek Women’s Hospital is proud to offer a 24-hour OB/GYN emergency department. This service enhances patient safety and care by ensuring that a board-certified physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology is in the hospital and immediately available at all times, 24 hours a day, seven days of the week and every day of the year. If you have an emergency during pregnancy or an urgent matter with your gynecologic health, the OB/ GYN emergency department at Willow Creek is here so patients can get an immediate assessment and treatment plan by a board-certified OB/GYN. Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville At The Family Birth Place at Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville, our goal is to provide safe, quality health care that recognizes and focuses on both the physical and psychological needs of the new mother, the newborn and the family. The Family Birth Place was first in Arkansas to provide a lowintervention birthing suite– as well as nitrous oxide as a pain management option – allowing hospital staff to support patients and families in their labor and birthing goals with minimal intervention and technology. Should your infant require neonatal care, he or she will receive special monitoring and extra care in our Level II NICU. Level II patients include babies at or above 32 weeks gestational age that require further development and/or treatment prior to discharge. In partnership with Willow Creek Women’s Hospital, infants will be cared for by a multidisciplinary team of registered nurses & health care professionals who are specially trained in Level II NICU care. The Family Birth Place at Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville is also designated as a Baby-Friendly hospital and Silver Safe Sleep Leader.

Siloam Springs Regional Hospital At Siloam Springs Regional Hospital Women and Children’s Unit, our goal is to provide safe, quality health care. We offer labor and delivery services that balance technology with a family-oriented, welcoming and comfortable environment. The spacious birthing suites offer comfortable and familiar furnishings to help make you feel relaxed and right at home. All rooms are equipped with a sleep sofa so family members can stay in the room, as well as a flat-screen television with a DVD player, a seating area, and more. There also is a surgical suite close to the unit for patients who undergo caesarian section deliveries. Siloam Springs Regional Hospital offers a Level II nursery. The Level II nursery provides care for babies born at 34 weeks gestation or greater and those who need special monitoring or extra care after birth. Infants will be cared for by our nursery staff of registered nurses who are specially trained in Level II care. Should your infant require the highest level of neonatal care, he or she will receive care in Willow Creek Women’s Hospital’s Level III A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Siloam Springs Regional Hospital Women and Children’s Unit is also designated as a Silver Safe Sleep Leader. Additionally, the March of Dimes recognized Siloam Springs Regional Hospital for the Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait initiative. We have reduced the number of elective inductions and cesarean deliveries, unless medically necessary, performed before 39 completed weeks of pregnancy to give babies a healthy start in life. From preventive education and screenings to maternity care, we provide a full range of services to support women’s optimal health and wellness.

INSIDE THE CL ASSROOM

A Sudbury School Emerges From the Cocoon of

Ann Brown Memorial School What if Kids Could Learn the Way They Want to? “What sets Ann Brown Memorial School apart from other schools in Northwest Arkansas? For starters, we are a project-based, childdriven, mentor-supported learning environment where every child’s ideas, dreams, desires and learning styles are honored.” Rebecca Buchanan, Modulation Trainer (MT) and Mentor at ABMS, said. “ABMS founder, Melissa Graham and I are excited to have the opportunity to teach in such a free and natural way, absent the pressures of tests, homework and the ‘sit down, stay still, memorize, and shhh, be quiet!’ mentality of most public and private schools,” continued Buchanan. “We love and respect children and believe in their inherent ability to learn everything they need to know in a personalized way that excites them most, thereby making the learning most effective! We are a different kind of school, for a different kind of child.” “It was a natural progression to become a Sudbury School as we truly observed the needs of the Learners,” Graham added. “We offer daily classes here, but the only mandatory class is the daily student-led School Meeting. I look forward to a democratic school where kids have a voice and a vote. With this freedom and responsibility, a child

56 August 2019

can blossom to their full potential! And that is a Sudbury School.” Ann Brown Memorial School began in the fall of 2018 as a collaboration between Graham and Buchanan and their spouses, Paul Davis and Arbor Buchanan. “We had a fantastic first year, including all the twists, turns, and curves of a roller coaster ride, starting out as a fresh new private school in Northwest Arkansas,” said Rebecca. “We finished the spring semester and said to one another, ‘How can we take this approach further? Do we dare move closer to our ideal model of a Sudbury School? Are we all on board and ready for this? We will be the first true Sudbury School in the Arkansas? Can we do this?’ The answer was a unanimous, enthusiastic, ‘YES!’ And so, out of the cocoon of Ann Brown Memorial School - Center for Inspired Learning, the first Sudbury School in the state was born.” According to Graham, “This will be our year to honor the legacy of the first Sudbury school started in 1968 by a group of educators and parents that had a clear vision for children. They believed that if the individual freedoms of children were respected, that children would flourish. The evidence is insubstantial that if children are given freedom, responsibility, and a community governed equally by all its members that all involved will thrive! I am beyond excited to offer this type of education to the kids in Fayetteville and surrounding areas.” “We will continue the amazing programs we began in 2018, such as student mentors and internships, student-led support groups, Socratic Dialogue, Modulation Training (MT), Fine Arts and Music studies, pop-up community educational presentations and anything else that we can dream up to inspire children in this

new educational paradigm,” said Buchanan. “The addition of the Sudbury model will allow us to do more parent and family education and training, really honoring and trusting these children to shine and grow beyond the traditionally offered local educational models.” Ann Brown Memorial school implements the Sudbury model, which believes that all children are born with a strong desire to learn what they need in order to become an effective adult in the society to which they are born. “In fact,” said Buchanan, “our species would not have survived for very long without this inner drive. Our current education system was designed to short-circuit this process in order to make people into cogs of the industrial machine. It made sense at one point in history. However, in this postindustrial, or information, age, children know that traditional schooling is a waste of time, so more and more of them are tuning out. Our community will provide your child with the time and space to get back in touch with their own natural desire to learn without being told to do so.” Children are learning all of the time. When children are very young, they are like little scientists. This natural, driven curiosity can continue into school age if it is allowed to thrive. Children and teens are curious about their world and naturally want to grow to become independent adults–which is unique for each of them, as it is for adults. Sudbury schools foster a child’s internal motivation, which is a much more powerful driver to learning than external motivation. “We have created an environment where children have everything they need to design their own path to adulthood,” said Graham. “Ann Brown Memorial School understands that each child learns differently. We respect that. We honor that. We encourage that.”

Graham, Paul, Rebecca and Arbor combine forty years of accumulated educational experience to support, mentor, monitor and to educate the whole child. “The Sudbury Model enables us to be a place where children’s ideas, dreams, desires and learning levels are honored in a personalized program of individual freedom, responsibility and the tools necessary to make it all happen,” said Graham. “Finally, we believe in the dignity and respect of all living beings, including the youngest among us,” said Buchanan. ABMS is currently accepting children 5 to 15 years old. Space is extremely limited.” To learn more, or to apply for enrollment, visit: www.annbrownmemorialschool.org For more information, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ AnnBrownMemorialSchool www.instagram.com/ annbrownmemorialschool/ You may also contact us at: 512-788-1835

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— One —

Last Quick Trip

l o o h c S e r o f e B by: Court Lanning It’s August, and the free weeks before school starts are dwindling. The school supplies sections in stores have been up for half a month now, and people are looking at the calendar wondering where that summer vacation all went. It took forever to get here, and zoom, it was gone in a flash.

Fortunately, the NWA area has plenty of great places to satisfy this appetite for one last trip before school buses, homework, and lunch money dominate lives once more. One last adventure to get the family together to pile in the van, laugh at jokes, eat some food, and sleep in a new place.

The big summer trip is long over, and there’s this itch for one last family vacation, nothing huge. Families are just looking for a little snack-sized vacation. They want something close to Northwest Arkansas for a quick overnight trip before school starts back up, and they don’t want to break the bank on this outing.

But where to go? Northwest Arkansas has been home for a while, so surely there aren’t any hidden overnight vacation spots, right? Wrong! Peekaboo got cracking and put together a nifty little list (in no specific order) just for readers looking for that trip.

60 August 2019

1. Eureka Springs Eureka Springs is a picturesque Victorian village nestled in the Ozarks. You won’t find it near an interstate, but that kind of adds to the charm. It takes a beautiful hour drive through the country to get to this place. The town’s best feature is its beautiful historic downtown district filled with local shops, restaurants and boutiques that’ll provide lots of great places to visit. It’s colorful, cozy and has a unique small-town atmosphere that’ll leave people asking why they don’t spend more time there. “People love Eureka Springs because it’s not like any other city they’ve ever visited,” said Gina Rambo with the Eureka Springs City Advertising & Promotion Commission. The town boasts great trails and water access with two rivers and Lake Leatherwood nearby for activities like fishing, paddleboarding, canoeing and more. Zip lining is another great activity available to families, or visitors can go see tigers and other big cats at Turpentine Creek. It seems like there’s always a festival going on in Eureka, whether the town is celebrating blues, jazz, bluegrass and more. And if families are brave, they can take a ghost tour in the famous haunted Crescent Hotel. If that’s not quite their thing, the town also offers America’s largest-attended outdoor drama with the Great Passion Play. “There are plenty of towns in the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks, but none have the character and charm of Eureka Springs,” Rambo said.

2. Devil’s Den State Park One of the great things about Northwest Arkansas is the abundance of fantastic outdoor activities, and one of the best places to visit for this purpose is Devil’s Den State Park. The park sits west of Winslow in the Lee Creek Valley.

looking to get in a beautiful evening under the stars. The Fossil Flats Trailhead offers some of the best hiking in the state. And there’s also an eightacre lake for fishing and boating. The park actually rents out paddle boats. One of the coolest features of the park is the stone dam that forms the lake along Lee Creek. Visitors can actually walk along the top of it. Construction on a new bike trail at Devil’s Den State Park is expected to start late this year, according to Suzanne Grobmyer with the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation. The project is part of the Monument Trails being constructed at a number of parks across the Natural State.

3. Tulsa Northwest Arkansas is a fantastic place to live, but if families are wanting their last summer trip to be in a bigger city, Tulsa is just two hours away. Tulsa is becoming a more popular destination for families looking to visit, do some shopping on Cherry Street, stay in a nice hotel, and check out --Keep Reading--

THE MOST ADVANCED PERINATAL CARE

NOW IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

We specialize in providing health care services for high-risk pregnancies. Our staff includes obstetricians with expertise in maternal-fetal medicine, specially trained sonographers, skilled obstetrical nurses, registered dieticians with expertise in diabetes and genetics counselors.

The park has been around since 1933 and protects the largest sandstone crevice area in the U.S. What this means is the park is filled with all sorts of sandstone caves and bluffs that made great hideouts for outlaws before the Civil War. Devil’s Den offers cabins and campsites for families

Now taking appointments at 5414 Pinnacle Point Drive, Suite 300 Rogers, AR

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all the great restaurants around the city as tourism numbers increase. “You’re probably going to see significant growth, certainly in the day visitor, the day-trippers. I think that’s probably more connected to the park, but clearly the inbound activity is rising. And that equates to more visitors, which impacts our economy and our quality of life,” VisitTulsa President Ray Hoyt told KWGS. Families can watch the Naturals play at home in Springdale, but in Tulsa they can catch a Drillers game. And, if the family is more into soccer, the Roughnecks are sure to put on a great game. The BOK Center is constantly hosting great shows and concerts, and there are great museums to visit, like the Philbrook Museum of Art or the Gilcrease Museum. If the kids love seeing animals, a stop at the Tulsa Zoo and Oklahoma Aquarium is definitely in order.

4. War Eagle Mill and Beaver Lake With 170 years of rich history, the War Eagle Mill makes a fantastic stop for shopping and getting a meal. The mill sits east of Beaver Lake and offers history dating back to 1832 with the original founders Sylvanus and Catherine Blackburn (talk about cool names!). Outside the mill sits a beautiful historic bridge that was renovated within the last couple of years. Once across, visitors are up close and personal with the picturesque red gristmill on War Eagle Creek. Inside the mill, visitors can shop for flowers, whole grains, cereal, jams, jellies, soups and more. The mill also serves lunch daily. To this day, the mill is still active and uses the river to grind grain into flour. The site sees visitors year-round, but especially during Bikes, Blues & Barbecue. “They love to come to the mill, and we love to have them,” Johnice Cross, general manager of the mill,

told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Just to the west of War Eagle Mill sits Beaver Lake, a man-made reservoir formed by a dam across the White River. Visitors can actually drive over the top of the dam via Arkansas Highway 187. The lake offers great opportunities for fishing, swimming, and boating, and there are plenty of campsites for your family to choose from all around the 483-mile shoreline. One of the coolest sites to visit on Beaver Lake is the ruins of Monte Ne, AKA the partially submerged remains of an old resort. Monte Ne Inn Chicken is also a great spot to stop by and have dinner.

5. Lake Fort Smith State Park East of Chester sits Lake Fort Smith State Park. When visitors are out in the water, they can look all around and see they’re nestled in the Boston Mountains. The park has been around since the 1930s. It closed in 2002 to make a larger dam and spillway, an event which actually flooded the site of the original park. The park’s name may be a mouthful, but it offers great features like kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and more. The site boasts campsites, cabins, a marina with boat rentals. There’s so much to do at this picturesque lake. Lake Fort Smith State Park’s trails actually serve as the western terminus for the Ozark Highlands Trail, a world-famous backpacking and hiking trail that spans 165 miles. “It’s an oasis here in the Boston Mountains. Lake Fort Smith is tucked away, yet close enough to all these metropolitan areas. When you’re here, it’s like stepping back in time, or stepping into nature, and drowning out all the things that create such busy lives,” Heather Hula, a park interpreter at Lake Fort Smith State Park, told KFSM. Even if they were only in the car for an hour, being out on the water at Lake Fort Smith can really help a family feel like they’ve gotten away.

Getting in that last-minute trip with the family can help make wonderful memories before school starts... and squeeze in that last bit of relaxing people didn’t even know they needed.

A SUDBURY SCHOOL COMES TO NWA! What is a Sudbury School? A school founded in 1968 by a community of parents and educators in Framingham, Massachusetts, United States. This intentional learning community empowers young people to follow their individual and shared interests within a dynamic, democratic, mixed-age environment based on meaningful work, individual rights, and community respect.

Fa ll 2019 Accepti ng ages 5 -15 a nnbrownm em orial school .org 2237 S. School â&#x20AC;˘ 5 12-788-1835

You Can Do Today to Help Your Kids on their

First Day of School By Meagan Ruffing

Believe it. School is back in session, alarms need to be set, and bookbags will be packed, all in an effort to get the kiddos in their seats before the bell rings. This year will be a first and last for me. My youngest child will be entering kindergarten, and that will be the beginning of a work-out-of-thehome season for me. I’ll trade my Keurig coffee cup mornings and tea party carpet rendezvous with my youngest for time card punches and team huddles. My kids won’t be the only ones going back to school this month; I’ll be hitting the snooze button right along with them. Coming off of a summer high can sometimes be harder for the mom than for the kids, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve that will help ease the transition. First things first: Start putting your kids to bed at their regular schooltime bedtime about one week before classes start. Ideally, you should be bumping it up by 15-20 minutes each night leading up to the big day. My kids go to bed at 7:30pm during the school year, but I let them stay up between 8 and 8:30 during the summer. I have slowly pushed that bedtime later each night. The first night I will start at 8:10/8:15 and do that for a few nights. Then I will move it up another 15 minutes and keep going until all three kids are on the same schedule. This 64 August 2019

makes the night before school go a lot easier than if I’d waited until the last minute to change up their bedtime routine. This next one is an oldie but a goodie: Lay your kids’ clothes out the night before their first day back. How many times do we say we’re going to do it, but something comes up and we forget? Make it a fun deal and take your kids shopping for a new back-to-school outfit. This will get them excited about showing up for their first day in style and it will help you stay on time for what will most likely be an already crunched-for-time morning. Go ahead and decide what your kids are going to have for breakfast before the first day of school comes up. Whether you go all out and make a gourmet meal complete with French toast, topped with berries and whipped cream, or you plop a box of cereal on the counter for your kiddos – take a minute to decide how you want the morning to go and prepare as much as you can ahead of time. I like to put bowls, napkins, cups and spoons out the night before in case my kids get up before I do (which they usually do). If I’m feeling really fancy, I will write them little notes and stick at each one of their seats. If I’m running late and miss the opportunity to write sticky notes in the morning, I’ll try and sneak some in their lunchboxes.

Talk through their first day of school with them. You may not know exactly what your kids’ first day of school will look like down to the hour, but you can get an idea of what their schedule will be like from the information you get at open house. Use that to your advantage and talk it over with your kids the night before. I do this a lot with my son Dylan because he functions better at school when he knows the plan, but I’ve noticed my daughters appreciate it too, so I’ve started asking them, “Do you guys want to know what the plan is for today?” I can’t help but smile when all three yell in unison, “Yes!” This also provides me the opportunity to answer any questions they might have about things that are on their minds and, often times, I’ll find out what they’re anxious about without having to come right out and ask them. That first day of school will be full of firsts and new things, so be prepared to put your listening ears on. Make it a priority to put your phone down and give them your full attention. This will go a long way in starting the school year off right if your kids know you’re genuinely interested in learning about

their day. Kids do best when they feel seen, heard, and important. You can do this for them just by being you. Keep things simple that first week of school. The end of summer is a really busy time with getting things lined up for fall. Don’t worry too much about making this perfect and trying to have something planned for your kids every second of the day. They’re back in school now, which means they’re away from you for at least eight hours of the day. Think outside the box and talk about your day while sitting outside on the front steps of your house, or hang out on the couch if it’s a rainy day. Some kids are wired when they get home from school. If that’s the case with your brood, go for a bike ride around the neighborhood, or continue the summer swimming streak and head to the neighborhood pool. Welcome back to reclaiming your sanity! Summer is officially over and, with these six tips, you and your kids will be ready for a successful school year this fall.

The fall is Meagan Ruffing’s favorite time of year. She’s thankful for the chance of new beginnings, and loves the idea of setting things off with a fresh start. Visit her at writermeaganruffing on Facebook to read more of her parenting articles.

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66 August 2019

Parents Left Behind

5th Annual Grief Seminar Riding Your River of Grief

Glance At a

ARTS and MUSIC

Amazeum (Pg. 29) (479) 696-9280 NWA Classical Academy (Pg. 39) (479) 715-6662 Trike Theatre (Pg. 35) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org

BANKS

First National Bank of NWA (Pg. 33) (479) 621-6800 First Security (Pg. 25) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

CAR Dealership

McLarty Daniel (Pg. 71) bentonvillebuickgmc.com

CAMPS

Amazeum (Pg. 29) (479) 696-9280 Super Science (Pg. 51) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 35) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 51) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 11) ARBetterBeginnings.com Peace Kids (Pg. 26) Peace-Church.org

Cleaning Services

CanCan Cleaners (Pg. 27) CanCanCleaners.com

Clothing

Oh Baby Boutique (Pg. 69) (479) 254-2911

DENTIST

Pediatric Dental Associates & Orthodontics (479) 582-0600 (Pg. 4) The Smile Shoppe (Pg. 19) www.smile-shoppe.com

DERMATOLOGY / SKIN CARE

Advanced Dermatology (Pg. 65) advancedskinMD.com

68 August 2019

To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Associates (Pg. 38) (479) 876-8111

Dog Training

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EDUCATION/TRAINING

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FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT Amazeum (Pg. 29) (479) 696-9280 Girl Scouts (Pg. 36) girlscoutsdiamonds.org/join Starlight Skatium (Pg. 45) (479) 444-STAR Super Science (Pg. 51) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 35) (479) 464-5084 triketheatre.org

FOOD / DRINK

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

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Arkansas Children's Northwest (Pg. 7) ARchildrens.org Collier Drug Stores (Pg. 15) 1-888-237-6261 Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 66) fccare.org Make-a-Wish (Pg. 17) midsouth.wish.org

To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com

Mercy Hospital (Pg. 9) mercy.net/peekaboo Northwest Health (Pg. 36) NorthwestHealth.com

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

David Adams (Pg. 41) davidadams.com (479) 444-7778

LEARNING CENTER/THERAPY

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 51) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Academic Math and Language Therapy (Pg. 58) (479) 253-3256 www.amltherapy.com Autism in Motion Clinics (Pg. 54) (479) 439-6906 Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 66) (479) 524-2456 NWA Classical Academy (Pg. 39) (479) 715-6662

PEDIATRICIAN

Best Start (Pg. 31) (479) 575-9359

Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 66) fccare.org Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics (Pg. 32) (479) 442-7322 Ozark Pediatrics (Pg. 45) (479) 544-9432

Real Estate / Moving

Midtown Real Estate Associates (Pg. 17) (479) 268-5170 Young’s Moving Service (Pg. 37) www.youngsmovingservicenwa.com

WOMEN'S HEALTH

HerHealth Clinic-Washington Regional (Pg. 13) (479) 463-5500 Lifespring Women’s Health (Pg. 5) (479) 271-0005 Parkhill (Pg. 57) (479) 521-4433 The Perinatal Center (Pg. 61) (479) 268-4979 Siloam Springs Women's Center (Pg. 59) (479) 524-9312 Willow Creek Women’s Clinic (Pg. 2) (479) 974-5263 Women's Health Associates (Pg. 21) whanwa.com

Back to School Fun with

A P PAREL & ACCESSORI ES

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Peppa School Supply Set

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