Bronx/Riverdale Family - February 2023

Power of emPathy

Why kids utilizing emotional skills may be the cure for bullying

We Lucie

Lucie Fink on her unique professional journey, her relatable postpartum experience, and how she balances her family’s privacy

smile!

Dentists share tips on keeping your kids’ teeth healthy

F eat U res

34 | cover: lucie Fink

Lucie Fink’s on her unique professional journey, her relatable postpartum experience, and how she’s balancing being a public figure with keeping her family’s privacy intact.

stories & ColUmns

6 | editor’s letter

10 | a sk the e xpert Peaceful Parenting and how it works

14 | education

Everything you need to know about Catholic Schools

28 | Health

Keeping kids’ teeth healthy

29 | Family Fun Kids’ Night on Broadway

30 | c amps

10 reasons your teen might love to be a camp counselor

32 | a sk the e xpert

Why empathy is the key to preventing bullying

38 | crafts Valentine’s Day Hot Air Balloon

Family FU n

36 | c alendar

All the fun events and activities for February

Dire C tories

20 | charter School listings

on tH e cover

Photo: Yumi Matsuo | yumimatsuostudio.com

Hair & Makeup: Buffy Hernandez | buffysaintmarie.com

Cover Story written by: Cris Pearlstein

Produced by: Donna Duarte-Ladd

ENROLLING FOR 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR

NYC CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES

MISSION:

To provide a rigorous college readiness program and career preparatory learning environment that provides students with a foundation of the necessary skills to pursue college or a career in the architecture, engineering, and the construction industries.

INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL:

•98% Graduation Rate

•Rigorous college course sequence that allows students to earn college credits while attending AECI.

•Architectural Drawing, Drafting, Revit, and AutoCad classes prepare students for certification exams in the architecture field.

•Robust internships and partnerships provide our students with scholarships in the architecture field.

•Six counselors on staff to support whole student development.

•AECI Core Values of Perseverance, Achievement, Integrity and Respect develop our students into young professionals.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

•Use of UV Lighting to disinfect classrooms daily

•HEPA Air Filtration units utilized in all AECI classrooms

PPE Equipment (hand sanitizer, masks, disinfectant wipes) provided daily

•Digital temperature scanning performed daily

•Tri-Fold screens utilized at every student desk

connectivity device to support our hybrid learning model

LOCATION

Community School District 7, South Bronx 838 Brook Avenue, Bronx NY 10451

INSCRIPCIÓN PARA: AÑO ESCOLAR 2023-2024

Escuela

MISIÓN:

Proporcionar un programa riguroso de preparación para la universidad y un entorno de aprendizaje preparatorio para la carrera que brinde a los estudiantes una base de las habilidades necesarias para seguir la universidad o una carrera en las industrias de arquitectura, ingeniería y construcción.

MODELO INSTRUCTIVO:

•Tasa de graduación del 98%

•Secuencia de cursos universitarios rigurosos que permite a los estudiantes obtener créditos universitarios mientras asisten a AECI

•Las clases de dibujo arquitectónico, dibujo, Revit y AutoCad preparan a los

•Prácticas sólidas y las asociaciones brindan a nuestros estudiantes las herramientas necesarias en el campo de la arquitectura.

•Seis consejeras disponibles en el personal para apoyar el desarrollo integral del estudiante.

•Los valores fundamentales de AECI de perseverancia, logros, integridad y respeto convierten a nuestros estudiantes en jóvenes profesionales.

SALUD Y SEGURIDAD

•Uso de iluminación ultravioleta para desinfectar los salones de clases a diario

•Equipo de EPP (desinfectante de manos, mascarillas y toallitas desinfectantes) proporcionado diariamente

•Escaneo de temperatura digital realizado diariamente

•Pantallas de tres pliegues utilizadas en todos los escritorios

•Cada estudiante se proporciona una computadora Chromebook de aprendizaje híbrido

UBICACIÓN

Distrito Escolar Comunitario 7, South Bronx

838 Brook Avenue, Bronx NY 10451

CASA ABIERTA:

Feb. 11th, 10am-1pm (Fecha de mal tiempo 2/18)

March 11th, 10am-1pm (Fecha de mal tiempo 3/25)

¡VISITE NUESTRA PAGINA WEB PARA INSCRIBIRSE! – WWW.AECICHARTERHS.ORG – 646-400-5566

PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN SOBRE AECI / VISITAS

ESCOLARES EN PERSONA DISPONIBLE – CON CITA PREVIA

Comuníquese con la Sra. Harrigan al 646-400-5566 x. 3054

admissions@aecicharterhs.org

Secundaria Autónoma de la Ciudad de Nueva York para la Ingeniería Arquitectónica y las Industrias de la Construcción

We Love February

Spring may be around the corner, but winter lingers, yet the days are becoming brighter. This means it is a great time to check out a local event (page 36) or curl up on the couch and read our latest issue; happy February!

Teeth brushing and dental care for the kids starts early, and there are some great hacks to keeping those new teeth in good shape - our Dental Partners (page 28) share how to keep kids’ teeth healthy.

Bullying, unfortunately, impacts many kids daily, whether through social channels or IRL. It frankly sucks, and any form of it is heartbreaking. We asked experts to weigh in, and they shared the simple answer: compassion. Check out this must-read, Why

Empathy is the Key to Bullying (page 32). Helicopter, Tiger, Dolphin and FreeRange are some popular parenting terms, but have you heard of Peaceful Parenting? For one, it’s a chill way of parenting, and we have all the details (page 10).

We love this month’s cover mom Lucie Fink. Our Editor at Large, Cris Pearlstein, chatted with this new mom and prolific content creator on her unique professional journey, her relatable postpartum experience and balancing being a public figure with keeping her family’s privacy intact.

Publi SH er: Clifford Luster

e xecutive Director: Donna Duarte-Ladd

aSSociate Publi SH er: Erin Brof

aDverti S ing Director: Stacie Goldberg

DePuty eDitor: Jeannine Cintron

Digital eDitor: Kaitlyn Riggio

e vent S manager: Shara Levine

r e P orter: Barbara Russo

Senior aDvi S er: Susan Weiss

Partner SH i P manager S : Lauren Alperin, Lauren Anchin, Joan Bergman, Mary Cassidy, Chris Cunnington, Lori Falco, Shelli Goldberg-Peck, LynnMarie Hanley, Lisa Herlihy, Janine Mulé, Cara Roteman, Nina Spiegelman, Gwen Tomaselli

marketing & Strategy Director: Rosalia Bobé

Sale S & marketing coor D inator: Mykael Fields

marketing aSS i S tant: Tilejah Gilead

art Director: Leah Mitch

web Develo P er: Sylvan Migdal

g raPH ic De S igner S : Arthur Arutyunov, Connie Sulsenti

eD itor S at large:

Serena Norr, Cris Pearlstein

eD itorial contributor S : Jana Beauchamp, Mia Salas

eD itorial i ntern S : Tiana Henriquez, Adam Mobley, Campbell Schouten

ContaC t inFormation

aDverti S ing : (718) 260-4554

Advertising@NewYorkFamily.com

circulation: (718) 260-8336

Tina@NewYorkFamily.com

aDD re SS : New York Family Media/Schneps Media 1 MetroTech Center North, Third Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201

Pre S i D ent: Victoria Schneps-Yunis

ceo : Joshua Schneps

coo : Clifford Luster

New York Family has been awarded the PMA Gold Award for Excellence in Editorial and the Silver Award for Excellence in Design.

Donna

A Total School Program

Full Day UPK

Schedule: 8:00 am to 2:35 pm

Breakfast Program Available (beginning at 7:00 am)

After School Programs to 6:00 pm (FREE for grades 6, 7 & 8)

Academics - According to New York State Board of Regents Requirements

Foreign Language Instruction in grades K-8

Accredited by AdvancEd

2 to 1 ratio of laptops to students

CYO Sports, National Junior Honor Society

Last year our 8th Graders earned $300,000 in H.S. Scholorships

AECI 2 CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL

The culture of AECI2 school is driven by our commitment to the school’s Core Values:

PERSEVERANCE ACHIEVEMENT INTERGRITY RESPECT

AECI 2 is a Computer Engineering & Innovation themed high school located in The Bronx school district 9. Through collaboration with industry partners, post-secondary institutions, apprenticeships and themed project-based learning, our students gain exposure to “real world” careers and college-preparatory learning experiences in the computer sciences.

For the 2023-2024 school year, AECI 2 provides students with a rigorous program including Computer Science, Programming, Microsoft

Lottery applications due Saturday, March 25th

Lottery date - Friday, March 31st

JOIN US FOR A TOUR OF THE AECI 2 CAMPUS

3/01,

AECI 2 Highlights:

• Computer Engineering & Innovation course work

• Intensive college preparation with yearly college visits

• College counseling at every grade level

• Social & emotional focus to support student daily needs

• Robust sports program (basketball, soccer, volleyball etc)

• Vibrant afterschool programming and student centered clubs

• Every student is provided a Chr����������������������������

AECI 2 CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL AECI 2 HIGH CHAR SCHOOL TER

La cultura de nuestra escuela está impulsada por nuestro compromiso con los valores fundamentales de la escuela:

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El ultimo dia de someter la solicitud: 25 de marzo 2023

Fecha de Loteria: 31 de marzo 2023

UNASE A NOSOTROS PARA UN RECORRIDO

POR EL CAMPUS AECI 2

What is Peaceful Parenting?

By Donna Duarte-LaDD

We all know parenting can be challenging which is why many of us parents love to share and commiserate about what is and is not working in our parenting journeys. Maybe you chatted or heard about the Peaceful Parenting Revolution, and if the words ‘parenting’ and ‘revolution’ pique your interest — you’re not alone. But what exactly is it? Is it doing yoga with the kids or burning some sage?

We connected with parenting expert and author of the new book The Peaceful Parenting (R)evolution , Kiva Schuler, the Founder & CEO of The Jai Institute for Parenting (jaiinstituteforparenting.com), where Kiva trains parenting coaches to help families parent with compassion, balance and communication.

What is the Peaceful Parent Revolution?

In today’s chaotic world, there is a need for a radically different approach to parent-

ing. One that helps parents and children create a life-long bond by accessing emotional intelligence, conscious communication, and an understanding of our children as evolving human beings. The Peaceful Parenting (R) evolution redefines the way parents support their children as they face the complex challenges of this world.

The real change that Peaceful Parenting advocates is that parents shift their role from disciplinarian to being our child’s mentor and guide. Traditional parenting strategies like punishments, arbitrary consequences (meaning the consequence isn’t directly related to the mistake our child made) and “tough love” aren’t necessary to teach children values, boundaries, rules and morals.

Today, more than ever, our children need us to be their safe-harbor, knowing that they can trust us to support them through the ups and downs of life.

When we give children what they need, they will give us what we need. The shift to Peaceful Parenting creates a family system

where every person in the family’s feelings and needs matter, and families thrive.

In what way do parents (unintentionally) bring their generational trauma into their parenting?

One of the biggest myths of parenting is that it “comes naturally.” But what actually comes naturally is affected by the way we were parented. Especially in moments of highstress, overwhelm, exhaustion or conflict.

Our emotional reactivity is the outcome of the culture we experienced in the home we grew up in. Whether you avoid conflict at all costs or you’re always ready for a fight, you likely learned this from your early environment.

If you grew up in a family of yellers, you yell. If you grew up in a family that simmered in silence, you simmer. Unhealthy conflict strategies create disconnection, resentment and have an impact on our nervous system, keeping us in a constant state of fight or flight.

Unchecked, we pass these unhealthy communication strategies down, generation

An expert shares on building stronger, more balanced communication between generations

PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL:

A Rigorous curriculum with a focus on law and social justice

A direct pathway into high school Classes that prepare middle school scholars for high school and a successful high school experience

A guidance counselor per grade on staff to support whole scholar development

CHSLSJ Core Values of Excellence, Character, Courage, and Commitment with a focus on Law and Social Justice

Full Sports programs and afterschool clubs

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SURVEY

92% responded positively to questions about Strong Family-Community Ties

97% responded positively to questions about Effective School Leadership

97% responded positively to questions about Trust

97% of students feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms, and cafeteria

The Charter School For Law and Social Justice is currently accepting applications for incoming 6th graders for the 2023-2024 academic school year. Visit CHSLSJ.ORG or use the QR code to apply today!

To learn more about our CHSLSJ or for questions about our admissions process, email Ops@chslsj.org or call (347) 696-0042

Para obtener más información sobre CHSLSJ o si tiene preguntas sobre nuestro proceso de admisión, envíe un correo electrónico a Ops@chslsj.org o llame al (347) 696-0042

(Matricula gratuita)

after generation, even if we want to act differently. The good news is that we all have access to something called neuroplasticity. This means that with intention and practice we can learn new ways of relating to our children, and break any generational cycles of harm that impacted us as children.

Is it possible to transform your parenting style with older kids?

One of the things that we hear from parents all of the time is “I wish I had this information when my kids were younger!!” But truly, it’s never too late to repair the relationship with our children, even if they are teens or adults. It requires three things:

1) Vulnerability

The first step in regaining trust and connection is a willingness to speak to the reality and truth of our awareness of the past. This takes tremendous courage. But for your child to hear – from you – that you recognize the mistakes you’ve made and are open to hearing their experience lays the foundation for a new relationship to emerge.

2) A willingness to listen without getting defensive

Defensiveness is a natural response to shame. But it serves its purpose, and creates a wall between people. It’s helpful to think of yourself as an interviewer in these relationship-rebuilding conversations. Ask a lot of questions! Things like:

“What was it like for you?”

“How did you feel when ____ happened?”

“Tell me more.”

“What do you wish things were like?”

You’ll probably notice a tightening in your chest or heat rising in your face. Just breathe and resist the urge to negate, explain, justify or give context. Just listen.

Let their words sink in. The simple act of being willing to just listen is a gift your child will relish. It’s truly what they’ve been longing for the whole time. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel had your parents been willing to do this for you?

3) Patience

When our children are older they’ve stockpiled a lot of evidence about who we are and how we treated them. Repairing relationships takes time. It may take several of these empowered conversations over the course of months or even years for the relationship to heal.

In my book I share a story about a very difficult experience I had with my own daughter when she was 14. She was justifiably

furious with me. But I was trapped in believing that I was doing the right thing because of my own fears and beliefs. Once I realized what I had done, and used the framework above, it took almost a year for her to come back to me with an open heart. I am so grateful to have had the support of one of our parenting coaches at The Jai Institute for Parenting, because I now have an incredible connection with my daughter.

This experience strengthened our relationship. We learned to trust, hear and forgive each other. This is the foundation of the intimacy that I believe all parents truly want with their children.

What tools can new parents exercise when they lack a foundation/understanding of peaceful parenting?

One of the biggest misconceptions of Peaceful Parenting is that it is permissive parenting. Effective peaceful parents set boundaries, make rules and have expectations of their children’s behavior.

The difference is that we don’t use any tools of manipulation, shame, punishment or threats to instill these valuable life lessons in our children. The idea that we have to cause our children pain and suffering to teach them to be good people defies logic. Power-over strategies perpetuate so much of the suffering we see in the world.

We don’t need to look at children to see

that they don’t work. We can simply look at adults: how we judge other people… or become people-pleasers because we learned this was how to get our needs met when we were kids… or become demanding because now we’re the grownups and we finally get to have the power.

So the first tool would be the recognition that the power-over strategies of traditional parenting cause unnecessary pain. Next, I would recommend simply getting curious about why we believe that we have to treat our children this way for them to learn. Is it possible that they could learn the same things without compromising the trust and connection in the relationship we have with them?

We can absolutely parent peacefully without compromising our role as parents.

What principles do you use in your parenting?

As the founder of a Peaceful Parenting institute, I feel extraordinarily lucky to have had these tools as I’ve raised my children. They are 16 & 18 now, and I get to reap the rewards of doing the work of becoming a better person in the name of raising good people. I’d say these are the core three principles that have guided us through:

1) Trust :

I trust them to be able to create solutions for their challenges. The way children learn to make good decisions is to make decisions (and sometimes bad ones!). So I don’t rescue them from their challenges. I’ve learned to talk less and listen more. And to step back to make room for their confidence to grow.

2) Honesty :

Children can handle anything when we tell them the truth. They are so incredibly smart and wise, when given the chance to be. Our family has experienced our share of adversity, from divorce and financial struggles, to illness and death. I’ve learned that being direct and honest with my kids about what is really going on allows them to feel safe and respected.

2) Fun :

Parenting is no easy feat. So it’s really important to remember to make as much time and energy for fun as possible. Whether it’s impromptu dance parties in the kitchen or one of my favorite family activities: speed cleaning the kitchen after dinner (can we do it in under six minutes?!!) These moments strengthen the relationship I have with my kids and fill our cups for the more challenging situations that arise.

The Peaceful Parenting (R)evolution: Changing the World by Changing How We Parent by Kiva Schuler is available now!

Kiva Schuler, author of The Peaceful Parenting (R)evolution

@lindsayhite

Catholic Schools

Everything you need to know

By Mia Sala S & BarBara ruSSo

Choosing a school for your child is always a time-consuming, challenging process. If you have been considering a Catholic School future for your child - to save you time (and stress!), we’ve got the scoop on Catholic Schools in New York City and Westchester. If you’re considering a Catholic School for your kiddo, read on to learn how these schools have thrived since the pandemic, continue to maintain community, implement safety precautions and so much more.

First things first, here’s something you should know: The Archdiocese of New York invested over $18 million to ensure schools could open on time and without incident for the 2020-21 school year. School principals worked with the Catholic Schools Reopening Advisory Council to draft an opening plan that got kids back onto a regular schedule. The plan was accommodating and flexible for different family situations.

The schools also put out the “Rising Above” opening plan for 2022-23, detailing facility requirements and guidelines when it comes to COVID-19 safety.

It’s also important to note that the Archdiocese offers a variety of tuition assistance programs, including scholarships and financial aid to qualifying families at participating schools.

With investments like these, we feel good about kids continuing to get a great education well into 2023-24. Let’s take a look at some more highlights that are making Catholic schools stand out for the next school year.

Test Scores: Improving Since the Pandemic

When it comes to a good education, there’s something to be said about test scores. In 2022, the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York reported continued excellence in test scores. The all-important ELA (English language arts) state test scores went up 7.3 percent, while math scores held nearly steady with only a slight decline from pre-pandemic levels.

“This is a testament to the dedication of

our pastors, principals, and teachers in delivering a Christ-centered, academically excellent education,’’ Michael J. Deegan, superintendent of schools in the Archdiocese of New York, said. “These results demonstrate that our work will continue to achieve positive outcomes and elevated expectations for all our students.”

Deegan has previously noted that state test scores are one factor of academic success. The Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese use multiple measures of student growth and achievement. Deegan also noted that the schools took action throughout the pandemic that helped lead to educational success.

“Catholic schools have distinguished themselves in a way that we always knew but now the country recognizes,” Deegan said. “Through our strong test scores and post-pandemic performance, parents have recognized that what goes on in a Catholic school is not only richly Catholic but academically excellent. These two principles—our faith and our high-quality curriculum—are the underpinnings of everything we do.”

COVID-19 and Respiratory Illness Precautions

Although schools have remained open fulltime for in-person learning since September 2020, the Archdiocese has still made health and safety a priority.

The Catholic schools have been—and

continue to be—prepared for peak levels of respiratory illness including flu, RSV and COVID-19. Many of the precautions Catholic schools have had in place remain in the schools. These include:

• Exhaust fans in every classroom

• Frequent cleaning

• Ensuring good ventilation and air circulation throughout the buildings

• Thousands of HEPA filters deployed

Throughout the height of the pandemic, safety was a priority. Speaking of health and safety, you may be wondering how NYC Catholic schools took precautions during the pandemic to ensure little ones returned home from school happy and healthy. Maria Regina High School said last year: “All students are required to complete a daily health screening through the app SchoolPass…Students and staff entering the building have their temperature checked before signing in and moving to their classes for the day…Lunches are pre-ordered and individually bagged. We have increased our maintenance staff to deeply disinfect our school building each night after students and staff have left for the day”.

The Catholic schools also supported students by maintaining normalcy when possible. Many kept with their traditions by turning virtual. St. Raymond Academy for Girls, for example, hosted virtual spirit week and Christmas activities. St. Joseph’s School held virtual coffee house events.

A Strong Community

We all know that support also means communication. So if you choose an NYC Catholic school, how will you stay informed with what’s going on? “Our families stay connected to the school community via a number of channels,” said St. Raymond Elementary School, “We post updates of important information for parents both on our school website and on our Facebook page. In addition, our principal Eugene Scanlon emails updates to all parents and also sends home hard copies of announcements…Mr. Scanlon also publishes his Monthly Messages newsletter, which goes to parents and is also posted on our website.” We appreciate how St. Raymond Elementary School provides not just one, not just two, but multiple outlets for communication.

Jennifer Cedro Puglio has two boys who attend St. Peter’s Boys High School on Staten Island. She loves the sense of community and support network that thrives among the staff and parents.

“The staff and parents are a family. We all get along and work together and support

each other’s boys,” she said. “ We look out for each other. If the boys are doing something wrong, we are always there to guide them. The principal is amazing. He knows each boy by name and treats the parents the same. He is always there to talk and is open with us. This is what makes it a Catholic school.”

Is a Catholic School the Right Fit for Your Child?

Now that you know all about the current state of NYC Catholic schools, you may still have some more general questions about whether a Catholic school is the right fit for your kiddo. Well, we’ve got you covered with that too.

Here’s the rundown: Catholic values and academic excellence guide NYC Catholic Schools. Students learn in an environment where respect, courtesy, and service to others are always part of the curriculum. Not only do these schools offer Math, Religion, English language Arts, History, and Science, but they have expanded technology in the classroom and STEM programs. Recent New York State Education Department

Examination results show that Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York outperformed New York State and New York City schools in performance growth once again. Immaculate Heart of Mary, for example, has over 90 years of exceptional Pre-K to 8th grade education, and it’s been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

But New York Catholic schools are about a lot more than academic results. “When you send your children to Catholic school you are sending them for the community,” explained one parent in a recent Archdiocese of New York survey. Another parent said: “My children love their school. It is like family to us. They love their teachers. The teachers are the backbone of the school.” Community is a foundation at these schools, and it’s been a top priority to maintain during these challenging times.

Want to learn more about Catholic Schools and see if they’re the right fit for your family? Visit catholicschoolsny.org, check out catholicschoolbq.org, you can also go online to book a virtual tour.

ST. THER E SA SCHOOL

aeci 1 - nyc charter High School for a rchitecture, e ngineering & construction i ndustries

646 Brook Avenue, Bronx 646-400-5566

aecicharterhs.org

AECI offers an academic program that provides students with the necessary skills, knowledge and practical experience to pursue college and/or career in architecture, engineering or construction industries. The school offers a rigorous college preparatory program to prepare students for success in industryrecognized exams. All students receive double periods of math, and ELA in freshman year to prepare for success. Staff members work to develop the whole child by supporting all academic, emotional and social development.

aeci 2 - n ew york city charter High School for computer e ngineering & i nnovation

424 E. 138th St., Bronx 646-741-7470

aeci2charterhs.org

The mission at AECI2 is to create a rigorous collegeprep program with the necessary skills, knowledge and practical experience to pursue college and/ or a career in computer, engineering or innovation industries. AECI2 emphasizes science and math, effective communication and critical thinking skills through a standards-based curriculum while offering classes like Intro to Computer Science, Coding, Circuit Design and 3-D Printing. They also have sports teams, after-school activities and student clubs.

american Dream charter School - m S

510 E. 141st Street, 4th Floor, Bronx 718-585-3071

American Dream Charter School - HS

403 Concord Avenue, Bronx 718- 924-2809

theamericandreamschool.org/ apply

The American Dream Charter School develops academic excellence in both Spanish and English for grades 6-12, preparing students to excel in college and become leaders in their communities. The school cultivates a welcoming, encouraging environment for English language learners and immigrant students in the South Bronx. Through their dual-language program, they strive to maintain the scholars’ native language and develop their English language skills as it is proven to accelerate language learning. Now accepting applications for middle school and high school applicants, visit the website to learn more.

atmosphere academy

Public charter Schools

6th & 7th Grade Campus: 22 Marble Hill Avenue, Bornx 8th Grade Campus: 3700 Independence Avenue, Bronx 9th & 10th Grade Campus: 5959 Broadway, 2nd Floor, Bronx 718-696-0745

atmosphere.org

Atmosphere Academy is a free public charter middle and high school in the Marble Hill section of the Bronx. There is no tuition required to attend Atmosphere Academy.

Atmosphere achieves these outcomes not only through a rigorous academic program, but also through intentionally designed experiential learning and social-emotional support. If you and your child are looking for a high-quality middle or high school, please complete an application for admission.

Parents,

Does your child’s school have violin, chess, art, and fencing classes?

Does your child’s school end at 5:00pm?

Are you interested in enrolling? Enroll today!

Rosalyn Yalow Charter School is accepting applications for K-2 now.

Our strong curriculum will benefit your child throughout life, as will our extracurriculars— fencing taught by Olympians, chess by grandmasters, music by Juilliard graduates (violin and singing). These can set your child on a strong path to college. Don’t miss this opportunity!

When a student enrolls, he/she receives a free tablet and a free uniform. Yalow has a partnership with Montefiore School Health Program to meet all of your student’s health needs.

2020 ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION SCHOOL

b rilla Public charter Schools

Brilla College Prep Elementary, 413 E 144th St., Bronx

Brilla College Prep Middle School, 500 Courtlandt Ave, Bronx

Brilla Veritas, 600 E 156th St., Bronx

Brilla Veritas Middle School, 452 College Ave, Bronx

Brilla Caritas, 2336 Andrews Ave, Bronx

Brilla Pax, 2336 Andrews Ave, Bronx 347-273-8439 brillaschools.org

Brilla Public Charter Schools, K-8 schools in the classical tradition, help students to grow intellectually, socially, and physically into young men and women of good character and spirit, and to be prepared for excellence in high school, college, and beyond. Character development is just as important as academic outcomes; for that reason, Brilla prioritizes a joyful environment and collaborates

with families. Join an upcoming Open House. Now accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year. Visit apply.brillaschools.org/ enrollment/ or call today!

b roome Street academy

charter High School (b Sa) 555 Broome Street New York, NY 10013 929-2853176

broomestreetacademy.org

Admissions@ broomestreetacademy

Broome Street Academy (BSA), a tuition-free public charter high school in SoHo, provides a dynamic environment, responsive to every student’s unique needs. Housed under the same roof as The Door, a youth development organization, BSA offers unique holistic resources—from arts, college, and career programs to no-cost health services. BSA’s social workers and 9:1 student-teacher ratio ensures individualized support. BSA also offers

athletics; afterschool clubs; AP courses; and a National Honor Society. Now accepting applications for the 9th grade lottery through April 1st and transfers on a rolling basis.

c apital Preparatory b ronx charter School

755 Co Op City Blvd, Bronx 929-436-2728

info@capitalprepbronx.org

capitalprepbronx.org

Capital Prep Bronx is a college preparatory public charter school that centers on holistically serving historically underserved scholars in grades 6-9. By offering a comprehensive education with a social justice lens, Capital Prep is building a community of lifelong learners and leaders. In fact, 100% of Capital Prep graduates have been accepted to 4-year colleges since 2006! Your child can be next! #WeAreCapitalPrep

the charter School For l aw and Social Justice

1960 University Ave, The Bronx, NY 347-696-0042

chslsj.org

The Charter School For Law and Social Justice (LSJ) offers a rigorous curriculum focusing on Law and Social Justice to its Middle and High School Scholars. A direct pathway to high school for their middle school scholars and a college course sequence for their high school scholars to earn college credits while attending high school. LSJ prepares its scholars for a successful high school and college experience. Visit the website to schedule an in-person school tour and to learn more about the school.

Family life academy charter Schools

5 locations throughout the

1260 Franklin Ave., Bronx, NY 10456 • www.motthallcs.org

The mission of the Mott Hall Charter School is to prepare our scholars in mind, body, and character to succeed in top high schools, colleges, and careers by becoming inquisitive, open-minded, and compassionate citizens of the world.

Our programs include access to community -based organizations focused on mentoring and college, adult civics classes, adult ESL classes, after school and Saturday tutoring, engaging online platforms to increase student learning , music classes, and softball & basketball.

We will also provide transportation via MetroCards for all eligible students. For more information, please contact Erica Flores at eflores@motthallcs.org or 718-991-9139

With multiple locations in the Mott Haven, Highbridge, and Morrisania sections of the Bronx, near the #2, 4, 5, 6, and B/D trains. Their schools are committed to empowering a diverse community of future global leaders through education. At FLACS, all K-12 students are empowered to excel academically, take responsibility for their own learning, and affirm human values, today, in college, and beyond. The application for the 2023-2024 school year is NOW OPEN! Visit their website to find out about upcoming open house dates or reach out to them at apply@flacsnyc.com.

ki PP nyc kippnyc.org/enroll

Founded in 1995, KIPP NYC operates 18 public charter schools throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, and supports its alumni through its signature KIPP Forward program as

part of the national network of KIPP Public Schools. Home to over 7,300 K-12 students, KIPP NYC offers engaging and challenging academics, world-class co-curriculars and arts, competitive sports, and social emotional support at every level, so your child can not only meet, but exceed expectations. Four of KIPP’s Bronx schools are moving to brand new, state of the art facilities for the 23-24 school year! To learn more about everything KIPP NYC has to offer, please visit www. kippnyc.org/enroll to submit an application today!

m ott Hall charter School (m iddle School)

1260 Franklin Ave., Bronx 718-991-9139 motthallcharterschool.org

Mott Hall’s mission is to prepare scholars in mind, body, and character to succeed in top high schools, colleges, and careers.

Mott Hall offers access

to community-based organizations focused on mentoring and college, adult civics and ESL classes, afterschool and Saturday tutoring, engaging online platforms, music classes, and sports. Contact Erica Flores for more information.

m ott Haven academy charter School

170 Brown Avenue, Bronx 718-2927015

havenacademy.org

Haven Academy is redefining school by intentionally designing spaces and programs to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of all children, with a focus on those impacted by the child welfare system. United with the scholars and their families, they aim to dismantle systemic barriers to success through comprehensive support services, responsive curriculum, predictability, and an emphasis on voice

and choice. They lead with empathy and forge deep relationships to build a better future.

rosalyn yalow charter School

650 Grand Concourse, Bronx 347-735-5480

yalowcharter.org/apply

Rosalyn Yalow Charter School is a K–5 public charter school located in the South Bronx. They provide a private school education with low student/teacher ratios. Their strong curriculum will benefit your child throughout life, as will their extracurricularsfencing taught by Olympians, chess by grandmasters, music by Juilliard graduates (violin and singing). These can set your child on a strong path to college. They also have a partnership with Montefiore School Health Program to meet all of your student’s health needs.

u rban Dove team charter Schools

UD Team Bronx

671 Prospect Ave., Bronx

718-682-3975

urbandove.org

Urban Dove Team Charter

Schools are completely unique and innovative alternative sports-based high schools for over-aged, under-credited youth that combine a rigorous academic curriculum and an awardwinning program that strives to give each graduate a high school diploma, a foundation for higher education, and the job skills needed to enter the workforce. Eligible applicants are: Graduating 8th graders who repeated a grade in middle school; 9th graders who have less than 8 credits, or 10th graders and up who have less than 18 credits. All students must be 16 years old or younger at the time of

acceptance. Visit urbandove. org to apply!

wH in m usic community charter School

517 West 164th Street, New York, NY

office@whinmusic.org

844-489-0817

whinmusic.org

Charter School is built on the principles of El Sistema where staff, families, and students work together to ensure every child reaches their full potential. The school makes academics a priority while also ensuring students’ character and social-emotional growth.

With music at the school’s core, students work together to create something bigger than their individual skills, and this approach extends to their classrooms where project-based, hands-on

learning cultivates curious, creative, and hardworking children. Visit the website for more information and to apply for the 2023-24 school year.

Zeta charter Schools

Zeta Inwood Elementary School - 400 West 219th Street, New York

Zeta South Bronx Elementary School - 425 Westchester Avenue, Bronx

Zeta Bronx Mount Eden Early Childhood School - 1325 Jerome Avenue, Bronx

Zeta Bronx Mount Eden Elementary School - 1475 Macombs Road, Bronx

Zeta Bronx Tremont Park - 1910 Arthur Avenue, Bronx

Zeta Manhattan Middle School

- 400 West 219th Street, New York

Zeta Bronx Middle School - 425 Westchester Avenue, Bronx Zetaschools.org

Zeta Schools are free, high-performing schools with an innovative, wholechild approach that prepares children for the modern world economy. Starting with a foundation of world-class academics, their complimentary social-emotional program emboldens students with the skills to thrive. It is extraordinarily important that children have the time and space to explore potential interests and passions. At Zeta, students engage in specialty classes such as art, dance, chess, music, sports, and Taekwondo. Zeta will grow to serve children from Pre-K to 12th grade. Now until April 1, Zeta is accepting applications for Pre-K through 6th grade for the 2023-24 school year.

Eligible Applicants Are: Eligible Applicants Are:

16 years old or younger and Rising 9th graders who repeated a grade in middle school or 9th graders with 8 credits or less or 10th graders with 18 credits or less

A free public charter school where literacy, math, science and music help your child grow into a leader of tomorrow.

Una escuela autónoma pública gratuita donde la alfabetización, las matemáticas, la ciencia y la música ayudan a su hijo(a) a convertirse en el líder del mañana.

RSVP for an Open House and Apply now online K-7th Grade at: whinmusic.org 517 West 164th, New

A revolutionary school model founded on the principles of El Sistema with music and community building at its core.

Keeping Kids’ Teeth Healthy

By Donna Duarte-LaDD

During the COVID lockdown, parents wore many hats. Teacher, cafeteria cook, and barber were just a few of our tasks, but the one challenging area was dental care. Of course, the kids brushed their teeth, but many of our kids went without dental care for a significant period. Once in-person appointments opened up, at least for me, it took time to get an appointment. I would have had better luck getting tickets to see Taylor Swift! This is because dental care is critical, especially for growing teeth. Thankfully lockdown is over, but the need to know how to take care of our kids’ teeth is not.

We checked in with our dental partners to answer questions about keeping our kids’ teeth healthy. We have the answers from in-between visits to a hack on warding off cavities after a meal to when is the best time for braces.

How can I make brushing fun?

Want to help a child brush better? Use music and a rhythm during the brushing routine. Also, let the child pick their favorite toothpaste and toothbrush. Have them involved in their oral care. Remember to brush and floss for 2 min twice a day. — Dr. Parul Makkar, Kids Dental, pdmfamilydental.com

Any fun tricks when you don’t have a tooth bush handy?

After eating cookies, crackers or chips, eat a piece of fruit. It acts as a cleanser and prevents anything from sticking to the teeth causing cavities.” — Dr. Penny ResnickGraulich, Main Street Pediatric Dentistry, mainstreetpediatricdentistry.com

I have seen kids get braces pretty young and as teenagers. When should a child have their first Orthodontic consult?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic consultation

around age 7. This is because by this age, most children have a mix of primary (baby) and permanent teeth, which allows the orthodontist to identify and evaluate potential issues with jaw growth and emerging teeth. Early evaluation and treatment can prevent more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. However, It’s important to note that every child is different, and some may need to be seen earlier or later, depending on their specific needs. If you notice any concerning issues with your child’s teeth, jaw, or bite, you should schedule a consultation with an orthodontist as soon as possible. — Dr. Seth Newman, Jackson Heights Orthodontics, jacksonheightsorthodontics.com

When is the best time to schedule appointments for kids, especially your child’s first visit?

One of the most common questions new parents ask about the dentist is when to bring their babies for their first visit. You should have your child come for their first visit as soon as the first teeth begin to come in. Pediatric Dentists specialize in treating babies and children can use this time to check and make sure teeth are coming in correctly and give you advice and tips on how to take care of your child’s teeth until they are old enough to manage the techniques themselves. By setting up regular appointments with the same dentist, your dental provider can keep a record and track your child’s unique dental progress. The rule of thumb is to schedule the first appointment between six months and one year. Starting around the age of three, it can be expected to start up the “regular check-up” routine, visiting the dentist every 6 months for an exam and cleaning.

— Dr. Phyllis Merlino, Todt Hill Pediatric Dentistry Staten Island, DrMerlino.com

Kids’ Night on Broadway

By New york Family

Mark you calendar for one special evening this winter, kids will take over Broadway! The Broadway League is once again inviting young people ages 18 and under to attend a participating Broadway show for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult.

The 25th annual Kids’ Night on Broadway takes place one night only on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Fans can sign up for The Broadway Fan Club at KidsNightonBroadway.com to be the first to know when tickets go on sale.

A Kids’ Night on Broadway ticket also includes restaurant discounts and other perks. Select shows will offer in-theatre activities for kids including talkbacks, Kids’ Night on Broadway activity books, and other events still to be announced.

Attendees celebrating their first Broadway show experience will receive commemorative stickers to wear and add to their Playbill.

Kids’ Night on Broadway will also take place in multiple cities around the country, with different shows and venues putting their own spin on the event on several dates throughout the year. For more information, visit KidsNightonBroadway.com.

Kids’ Night on Broadway is a year-round

national audience development program of The Broadway League, the national trade association of the Broadway industry. Designed to introduce young people to the magic of live theatre and make Broadway accessible to a new generation of theatergoers. Kids’ Night on Broadway has welcomed young people to Broadway shows in New York and on tour across the U.S. since the program was created in 1996 by the League and Theatre Development Fund.

10 Reasons Your Teen

Might Love to Be a Camp Counselor

BY JANEEN LEWIS

Did your teenager love summer camp as a child? Does he or she need a job but can’t work during the school year because of homework and activities? Maybe you’re ready for your teen to get employment experience but still have some carefree time outdoors away from electronics. Day or sleepaway camp is the perfect place for teens to transition to the world of the employed. The paycheck is nice, but being a camp counselor has other rewards, too.

The Gift of Responsibility

As much a teens sometimes protest about it, learning responsibility is the gateway to more independence as they grow into adults. Camp is an ideal place to build accountability

because teens are in charge of other kids or activities, but they are still being supervised. If they work at a sleepaway camp, they must keep their cabin quarters neat and guide younger children to do the same. If they work at a day camp, they must show up on time, care for children and lead activities. Working at camp is fun, but it also gives teens a glimpse into the adult world with the guidance they still need.

The Opportunity to Be a Role Model

Do you remember a teen you looked up to when you were a kid at summer camp? Maybe he or she helped you perfect your back stroke, taught you how to throw a curve ball or gave the perfect advice for dealing with disagreements between friends. Teens can connect to kids in ways that adults sometimes

can’t, and when teens work at camp, they experience the fulfillment of helping younger kids meet their goals and develop new skills.

Refi ned Relationship Skills

From fun-centered sports competitions between rival teams to getting chores done for inspection, counselors and campers have to work together. Being able to do this teaches teens to hone their communication and interpersonal relationship skills. Camps even offer staff communication trainings and morale building activities before camp starts to increase awareness and create discussion about how to get along with others.

Improved Time Management Skills

Teen counselors have to be on time to meals, the morning meeting at the flag pole, and the activities they lead. They’re also responsible for gently prodding their campers to be punctual. If they are in charge of a lesson, craft or game, they must plan ahead and make sure they have all the supplies ready and set up on time. These time-management lessons will benefit them as they enter college and the work place.

Time Away from Technology

Most day camps and sleep away camps either

have a no device policy or have only short scheduled times with technology. Camp is the perfect place to do a “digital detox” and get back to nature, sports and face-to-face socialization.

Preparation for Being Away at College

If your teen works at a sleep away camp, he or she may get a taste of what college life is like. He or she will be responsible for meals, getting up on time or using a coin laundry. These are all valuable lessons that will prepare him or her for college. Also being away from home for an extended period of time for the first time can take some adjusting to and it can create some homesickness. Teen camp counselors have experienced these feelings and dealt with them before they go to college.

A Chance to Share Talents and Skills

Is your teen an athlete? An artist? A nature enthusiast? Can he or she dance, write or program computers? Camp is an ideal

place for teens to share strengths. I served as a camp counselor when I was in college, and it was the first time I realized I had a knack for teaching kids. It was the gateway to me becoming a teacher, even though I was a journalism student at the time. Camp introduces teens to opportunities that maybe they hadn’t considered. It builds confidence and opens doors to future careers.

Saving on Summer Expenses

One of the advantages of working at an overnight camp is that in addition to a pay check, meals and lodging are usually provided by the camp. Staffers’ work and life all happen at the camp, so gas use is minimal. Teen counselors chaperone camp trips to amusement parks and museums which are usually covered by the camp. Granted, these covered expenses do require responsibility and work, and are not solely carefree outings, but they are positive perks for a summer job.

Resume Building

Working at camp is great experience to put on a resume when your teen is ready to enter

the adult world of work. Camp experience is beneficial if your teen wants to teach or coach, but working at camp also builds communication, collaboration and problemsolving skills, all worthy resume additions that may catch a future employer’s interest.

A New Appreciation for You

Being a teen counselor is indeed hard work. It involves stamina, patience and responsibility. Oh, and teen counselors must also teach, guide and care for children younger than themselves. It sounds a teeny bit like parenting, right? Teens who are camp counselors may begin to recognize how hard parenting is. With that recognition, they may have a new appreciation for all their parents do by the end of the summer.

Being a camp counselor is a great start for teens who want to join the world of work. If your teen is interested in beginning the adventure that comes with being a camp counselor, you can find more information at the American Camp Association website at acacamps.org/staff-professionals/job-center.

Is Empathy the Cure for Bullying?

Anti-bully group Sweethearts and Heroes says emotional skills are key to prevention

By Jeannine Cintron

We don’t have a bullying problem in America. At least that’s what Sweethearts and Heroes founder and former MMA fighter Tom Murphy says.

When I first approached the anti-bully group, my goal was to learn ways a parent can help their child who is being bullied. After talking to Murphy, I decided to reframe my plan because, apparently, there is a larger issue at hand, and it starts with improving the emotional health of our children.

Sweethearts and Heroes is an organization that visits schools across the country, educating students of all ages on the negative impacts of bullying and empowering them to be more empathetic and compassionate individuals. Since its inception, the group has met with over two million kids, including over a thousand schools in New York State alone. I chatted with Murphy to get an understanding of what kind of social and emotional issues are plaguing today’s younger generation – one that is facing a whole new kind of bullying –and what parents can do about it. He began by explaining the group’s approach to the topic.

“From day one, the bullying problem has never been our focus,” he says. “Our message has always been about empowering students. People think our focus is empowering only the kids who are marginalized. But it would be a silly little trick for me to give a motivational speech and some kid is sitting in a sea of a thousand students and thinking ‘Tom Murphy said I can protect myself!’ Unfortunately, it’ll be a short period before that kid is humiliated again. Because that is that kid’s reality. You have no idea where they are coming from, what they have been subjected to, neurologically how they’ve developed over time, the culture that they’re in. It’s crazy to think that I’m going to fix a

bullying issue in a one-time speech. But you know who has the opportunity to help that child? The other kids who are walking the halls with that student on a regular basis.”

According to Murphy, we can’t be quick to label a child a bully.

“Bullying is habitual; it happens over and over. There has to be an element of intimidation or fear involved. It is an intentional act,” he explains. “But many kids operate on their feelings. Sometimes they have really difficult things going on at home. Maybe their parents are getting divorced, or their pet died. You can’t expect that kid not to come to school and say something mean or hurtful. We do it as adults! And we label that kid as a bully because he hurt someone’s feelings? This kid is labeled because he is struggling in life? Not that these issues can’t lead to actual bullying, but essentially bullying is an intentional act.”

Statistics show nearly 170,000 students skip school every day in North America because they are afraid to face their bullies. So what can be done about it? The short answer

is to stop it before it starts, using effective parenting methods. Murphy points out that while most people spend over 20 years preparing for their careers, they spend less than nine months preparing for parenthood. Yet essentially it’s on us as parents to teach our children to be kind and compassionate human beings.

“The greater issue is these human skills,” he says emphatically. “Empathy has been nearly cut in half in the last 30 years — both cognitive and affective empathy have been sliced in half in our students. So while we can develop a curriculum to teach kids about bullying, if you don’t have the neurological circuits in your brain that have been developed around things like empathy and compassion then good luck. Without empathy, there is no society. Being able to put yourself in someone else’s interreality and to say ‘ok they’re not me but I’ve got to work with them’, that’s the greatest struggle in our society. So I spend a lot of time identifying why empathy has degraded, and what activates it, and how to create environments

sweethearts and heroes founder tom Murphy (left) visiting a school with pat Fish (middle) and rick Yarosh (right).

and conditions where it can grow and thrive.”

“We need to start having conversations dealing with feelings,” he continues. “Parents love to say ‘don’t be sad’ to their kids. But what’s wrong with being sad? I used to be so uncomfortable when kids would get upset around me. But then I realized that was MY issue. Anger is a natural feeling. And dads, in particular, are often terrible at stopping those natural feelings from happening. You can’t do that to your kid because they will grow up and not know how to manage those feelings, and they’ll be uncomfortable around people.”

Conventional educational methods don’t seem to be working, Murphy says. You can’t send your child to school and expect they will learn the human skills needed to be compassionate and empathetic beings, because it’s just not possible in that environment.

“The famous psychologist Benjamin Bloom talked about something called learning for mastery, ” Murphy continues. “He said that anyone can learn anything given the right strategy and the right time. Unfortunately our society doesn’t allow us to treat each child differently – but they are! They’re all unique individuals, and every child has 120 billion neurons that do 10 quadrillion things per second and they’re all unique! But it’s just really hard when you have a class full of kids that are jumping up and down and screaming, not to just treat them all the same.”

Perhaps the biggest problem is the role technology plays in bullying today. It’s nothing our parents ever had to deal with and nothing we, as parents of Gen Z children, were ever prepared for.

“Bullying has been around for thousands of years, and it’s always been the same format” Murphy remarks. “But when you talk about the last two decades, it’s drastically changed. There’s no reset button anymore. When we were in school, we got to go home Friday and escape from that feeling or the behaviors directed at us. For many kids, that reset button has been ripped away. I had one mom say to me ‘My son took his own life in his bedroom, in his private misery.’

“In over a decade, I’ve never seen these challenges young people are facing today. We were in two schools this year that had suicides the week before we got there. A school in Kentucky had three in the last year, after not having one in 22 years. One school had a 12-year-old young man take his own life on the playground and his best friend found him. It’s beyond belief that our children are

in such a state of hopelessness that they don’t feel like they can hold on to the possibility that exists for their future. How did we get to this space?

“Most kids don’t know how to talk about feelings of hopelessness. If your parents were born in the 50’s or 60 you didn’t talk about that stuff; you just hid it. But the research is extremely clear that talking about these things never makes them worse. The parents of today just don’t know how to talk about these things because no one talked about it with them.”

Technology isn’t the only difference between then and now, he goes on. “The most important thing is the human skills that we used to get when we were baking with mom or working on a car with dad or in the barn with grandpa,” Tom mentions. “These human skills have been nearly cut in half because we

just don’t spend that face time with people anymore in play. Self-directed and selfcontrolled play has been eviscerated. We just don’t allow kids to do it at even a fraction of the rate that they did 100 years ago. So when you ask me about creating a curriculum to end bullying, sure we can do it, but I think the greater need is for these human skills that used to be taught naturally by parents and extended families. Nowadays it’s about just rushing kids to get them to the next thing to do instead of really working on the whole child and these emotional states.

“When I was a kid, the kid who had down syndrome or was in a wheelchair was the easy target. I’m not saying it’s always the case, but largely, I feel like we fixed that. That kid is rallied around today. I think the kid with the mental health issues or emotional health issues is the new target today and we haven’t figured out how to talk about it and to understand that it’s a condition like any other condition.

“But I feel like maybe there is a change coming in our consciousness that these issues are not to be made fun of. The kid who sits in the back of the room with his hoodie up, he’s talking to us. He’s saying ‘I’m not doing good. There’s things going on in my life that I need help with and I need different strategies than other people because the ones you’ve given me, they don’t work for me.’”

Sweethearts and Heroes aptly calls kids who help other kids superheroes. “Every superhero is ruining things with their powers when they first start using them,” Tom says. “It’s your job to teach your kids how to use their superpowers to help the kid who is not being treated the right way.”

For more information about Sweethearts and Heroes or to book a visit to your school, go to sweetheartsandheroes.com.

Sweethearts and Heroes' goal is to teach kids to be a "superheroes" by helping others.

“I spend a lot of time identifying why empathy has degraded, and what activates it, and how to create environments and conditions where it can grow and thrive.”

We Love Lucie

By Cris Pearlstein

It was a Saturday morning, I had just made my daughter breakfast, watched her eat it and then asked her to go up to her room to pick out an outfit and get dressed. She listened. At almost 5 years old, it’s hard to imagine her as the reckless, never-stopsmoving toddler she once was, or, better yet, the sleepless baby who woke up three times a night almost every day for the better part of a year. It’s even harder to imagine the frazzled, exhausted, overwhelmed me that existed during that time. But here we are. Now, she almost always sleeps all night, gets herself dressed and feeds herself. It’s wild.

But after breakfast I was suddenly transported back to those early days during my interview with social media content creator, Lucie Fink. Lucie is a new mom (son Milo is just over a year old) whose postpartum story is as relatable as they come—at least for me it was. As she recounted her experience I found myself either furiously nodding along or just sitting there, paralyzed by the similarities. I know motherhood is different for everyone, and I know that every baby is also different, but I believe moms have more in common than not. She said it best during our chat, “Since becoming a mom…I just feel this connection to moms that I never felt and it’s kind of wild.” I couldn’t agree more. It’s like we’re all in this secret club that’s not so secret, and no matter how we gained entry (biological birth, IVF, adoption, egg/sperm donors, the list goes on) we all share the burden and the blessing of being in charge of keeping a little human alive—and being their shining North Star in the process. It’s a lot to carry. Lucie says it’s “heavy” and she’s right.

She is set on keeping her platforms varied and exciting and not just about mom stuff— especially now that she’s feeling more like herself again. Many of Lucie’s 213K followers on Instagram, TikTok 440K and 417K subscribers

on YouTube are not mothers, so while she tries to balance her content to reflect all facets of her life, she can’t deny the major shift this last year has brought. Read on to learn about Lucie’s journey through her professional career, family life, and how her and her husband try to keep things as 50/50 as possible.

CP: Tell me a little bit about how you came to be a content creator.

LF: So I guess if I go back to my youth, I kind of had this split interest—I was fascinated by medicine and thought I wanted to be a doctor and then the other half of me was fascinated with TV and media. I grew up with a radio DJ for a dad and an interior designer for a mom, so I was raised in a very artistic, creative household and definitely was not pushed into a traditional career path. I was allowed to follow my passions. When it came time for college, I decided that the route I wanted to go down was the medical route. So I went to Johns Hopkins, and my first semester I was pre-med. Very quickly, while being surrounded by other students that were going down that medical route, I realized that my passion for media was actually more fitting with my personality type. Like, all throughout high school, I was in plays, I was the president of the Scarsdale High School Drama Club, my senior year and when I got to college, I immediately joined an acapella group—I was always performing. But really the one thing in college that I guess kind of kick started my career was during my freshman year I pitched a YouTube series that would live on the Johns Hopkins admissions website. My vision for it was like a travel channel type show about the city of Baltimore so that prospective students from around the world could see what the city has to offer without having to come to visit. They had never had a student that wanted to do something like that, so they said, ‘By all

means, here’s a student videography crew, go do whatever you want.’ It started as a total, extracurricular side passion, but after my first year, it turned into a full time job on campus where I was actually getting paid to make these videos. There were thousands of students who in their applications were writing that my videos were the reason that they were applying. So that was really my first experience .

CP: Let’s talk a little bit about how your presence on social media has changed since becoming a wife and a mom—what that means for your son, and how you’re navigating all of that.

LF: I’m lucky that I was with my husband since I started doing this because he’s always been a way more private person who has agreed to be in videos with me, if I ask him early enough—sometimes I need to put two weeks notice on his calendar that I need him for a video so he can mentally prepare (laughs). But I’ve always had to navigate being conscious of the fact that while I’m an open book and nothing’s taboo, I realized that a lot of elements of my personal life are actually his personal life, too.

CP: It’s not just your story.

LF: Exactly. I just feel like I try to be as open as I can myself while respecting his boundaries. And so when we got pregnant, we started talking about what are we going to do, because there’s just so many different theories—some people who are completely not sharing their children’s names or faces at all, then there’s some people who share a little bit or put emojis on top of the kids faces, and then some people who the whole channel is the baby.

CP: So where did you guys land? Or have you not landed somewhere yet?

Lucie Fink on her unique professional journey, her relatable postpartum experience, and how she’s balancing being a public figure with keeping her family’s privacy intact

LF: We landed in a place where we knew for a fact that we did not want my platforms to become a family vlog channel. My husband said to me, ‘If social media was a thing when our moms were young, if both of our moms were influencers, and put you and me on social media, maybe because of you and your personality, you would have been happy. But because of my innate personality, I would not have been pleased.’

CP: Do you feel like your love has deepened since having Milo?

LF: Definitely, but a lot of people warned me, our relationship has shifted a lot. And it has become way harder to find the time to connect just the two of us without Milo there, or without us talking about Milo. It actually takes a dedicated concerted effort to put in our calendar date nights and make sure we have someone to watch him. To go out and force ourselves to not look at pictures of him, to not talk about him. It’s definitely hard work. And even our New Year’s resolutions, a lot of them were about how at the end of the night, when we put him to sleep, not just putting in our own headphones and going about doing our own tasks, but connecting and doing highs and lows of the day, and looking at each other and sitting together and doing things together, because otherwise it’s easy to just put the baby to bed, finish up your work, and then get in bed and watch a show. So in a lot of ways, it’s gotten a lot harder, but the crux of it, has gotten way, way stronger. And I genuinely think my husband is in like the top 1% of partners in terms of how hands on they are with the baby. He works from home so he’s here physically, and he’s so 50/50. I hate to say that because I don’t like scorekeeping, but he’s definitely very involved.

CP: Again, very relatable. I loved talking to you about motherhood and hearing your journey into social media because I think it’s actually a very unique story. I think will be interesting for people to read about.

LF: What’s been exciting is since becoming a mom…I just feel this connection to moms that I never felt and it’s kind of wild.

You can find Lucie at: Youtube, Instagram, TikTok: @luciebfink. Facebook: Lucie Fink

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity, please visit newyorkfamily.com to read the article in its entirety.

Photo by Yumi Matsuo

by SHara LeviNe

br ONX

children’s Steam: Fairytales and crafts

wHen : Monday, Feb. 6, 3-3:45pm

wHere : Riverdale Library, 5540 Mosholu Avenue, Bronx ageS: 9-12

wHat: Engage in a thoughtful discussion about fairytales that will be used as an entry point to create meaningful artwork. This program is appropriate for students in 4th grade and above. want to go?: 718-549-1212. nypl.org

Family art Project: love for woodland Friends

wHen : Feb. 11-12, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-1pm

wHere: Wave Hill House, 4900 Independence Ave, The Bronx ageS: All

wHat: This Valentine’s Day, take a cue from the ways animals care for their families by creating woodland creature sock puppets.

want to go?: FREE with admission: $4-$10; $4 children 6 and older; free for members. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org

children’s book Festival

wHen : Wednesday, Feb. 15, 11am-1pm

wHere : Williamsbridge Oval, Van Cortlandt Ave. East, Reservoir Oval E, Bronx ageS: All

wHat: Celebrate all things books with special guest readers, arts and crafts, and more.

want to go?: 718-543-8672. nycgovparks.org

the orchid Show: natural Heritage

wHen : Feb. 18- April 23, Tuesdays-Sundays, and Monday federal holidays, 10am-6pm

wHere : The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx ageS: All

wHat: Experience this immersive installation of thousands of orchids inspired by ancient Chinese garden design and artistic principles. want to go?: $35; $31 seniors 65 and older and students with valid ID; $15 ages 2-12; free admission for children younger than 2. 718-817-8700. nybg.org

mid winter extravaganza winter olympics

wHen : Feb. 20-24, MondayFriday, 12-3pm

wHere : Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, 3225 Reservoir Oval East, Bronx ageS: All

wHat: The Olympics come to

the Bronx complete with opening ceremony, winter sports, Olympic trivia, and more. want to go?: 718-543-8672. nycgovparks.org

winter birding with the bronx river alliance & nyc audubon

wHen : Sunday, Feb. 26, 9-10:30am

wHere : Starlight Park at the Bronx River House, 1490 Sheridan Boulevard, Bronx

ageS: All

wHat: Hear some of the many beautiful birds that rely on Bronx River including songbirds, waterfowl, and more. want to go?: bronxriver.org

M a NH aTTa N

Hip Hop cinderella

wHen : Feb. 10-26, See website

for schedule

wHere : The New Victory Theater, 209 W 42nd Street, Midtown

ageS: 5 and older

wHat: See a fresh take on this classic fairy tale. want to go?: Tickets start at $20. 646-223-3010. newvictory.org

let’s celebrate Presidents’ Day!

wHen : Saturday, Feb. 18, 1-3pm

wHere : New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side ageS: All

wHat: Find out what it takes to become president of the United States, make your own campaign buttons, and more. want to go?: Included with admission: $6-$22; free for members and ages 4

take part in a woodland friends art project at Wave hill on Feb. 11 and 12.

and younger. 212-873-3400. nyhistory.org

new york city ballet: the Sleeping beauty

wHen : Saturday, Feb. 25, 11am

wHere : David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side

ageS: 5 and older

wHat: See excerpts from this cherished ballet and hear from the artists who perform it. want to go?: $22-$32. nycballet.com

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black Future Festival

wHen : Feb. 19-26, 10am-5pm, daily

wHere : Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights

ageS: All

wHat: Experience interactive dance performances, storytelling, genealogy workshops, art-making, tasty food, and more.

want to go?: $13. 718-7354400. brooklynkids.org

Jurassic world live tour

wHen : Feb. 24-26, Friday and Saturday, 11am, 3pm and 7pm; Sunday, 11am and 3pm

wHere : Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Avenue, Downtown

Brooklyn

ageS: All

wHat: Jurassic World comes to life with dinosaurs from

the iconic franchise, pulsepounding stunts and an original, authentic storyline. want to go?: Tickets start at $50. 718-704-7332. barclayscenter.com

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Hands on History: Supreme black History

wHen : Saturday, Feb. 18, 1-4pm

wHere : King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave, Jamaica

ageS: 5 and older

wHat: Design your own gavel inspired by Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court Justice and current Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to be on the Supreme Court. want to go?: 718-2060545. kingmanor.org

Queens theatre

Presents “ the beauty of ballet” by the School of american ballet

wHen : Sunday, Feb. 26, 1pm and 3pm

wHere : Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave South, Corona

ageS: 5 and older

wHat: This family-friendly performance features excerpts from famous ballets, including The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. want to go?: 718-7600064. queenstheatre.org

FREE

The Shifting ADHD/ADD Lens: Moving From Disability to Ability

With New York Times-bestselling author Dr. Edward Hallowell Thursday, March 2, 2023, 4 p.m. ET

A

Parenting Playbook for Raising the Happiest Kids on Earth

With cultural researcher, parenting expert and columnist Jessica Joelle Alexander

Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 2 p.m. ET

PRESENTING SPONSORS

Landscape artist Lily kwong designed this year’s orchid s how and the new York Botanical Garden, opening Feb. 18.

�alen�ine’s �a� H�� Air Bal����

COURTESY OF JUICY JUICE

Valentine’s Day is here and that means fun ways to show your little one how much they mean to you. Your kiddo’s imagination will take flight with this cute hot air balloon that’s perfect for holding Valentine’s Day cards and plenty of candy!

Materials

• Tape

• Permanent marker

• Felt heart stickers

• Basket

• Bakers twine

• Colored paper shred

• Scissor (Under parent supervision)

• Hot glue & hot glue gun (Under parent supervision)

• Paper straws

• Clear school glue

• Ribbon

• Balloons

• Cardstock

• Name tag

• Valentine themed favors/candy

Directions

1. First cut the handles off your basket. Be safe and help your little one by cutting it for them.

2. Now you’re ready to begin decorating your basket. Start with wrapping some ribbon around the edge of the basket and adhere it using the hot glue gun. Give your hot glue some time to dry.

3. Now you’ll need something to attach the balloon to the basket. Take your paper straws and hot glue them evenly around the basket rim. Then give it a couple of

minutes to dry.

4. Blow up your balloon and tie in. Then cut out several red flags from the card

stock. Using school glue, glue these red flags to enough twine to wrap around the balloon. Separately, cut some twine and glue it to a length of ribbon.

5. Wrap both your flags and ribbon around the balloon. Attach the balloon and the basket, either by simply resting it on top of the straws or cut a few small strips of tape to attach the balloons and straws.

6. Write your little valentine’s name on the tag and use school glue to attach it to the side of the basket.

7. Add shredded paper, candy, and gifts to the basket. Finally, tape your favorite photo of your little one to the balloon.

STEP 2

STEP 4

STEP 6

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