Author: Diane Del Rio

Posted on

Returning the favor

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” — Haruki Murakami.

To say that Margi Bre weathered her storm would be the understatement of the decade.

Margi Bre is the founder of The Legacy Closet. The Legacy Closet is a 501(c)(3) outreach center that provides families in need with new and gently used items such as food, clothing, household items, toys, diapers, and basic essentials. At their store in Margate, families can select items they need or want at no charge. The Legacy Closet has an all-volunteer staff, and many of the center’s volunteers and donors live nearby in Coral Springs and Parkland. The Legacy Closet is the referring agency for the Coral Springs Special Crimes Unit and the Broward County School Board.

Margi Bre founded The Legacy Closet, in part, because of the financial struggles she overcame as a single mother.  Margi had a troubled life throughout her 30s: she was evicted from her home and was forced to rummage for food in garbage cans to survive.  Every single day, Margi prayed that she would wake from her nightmare and her children’s suffering would end. With the generous help of others, Margi slowly dug out of her dark pit and made an impassioned vow that, on some future day, she would help similar families in their time of need just as she had been helped.

Margi is not proud of her past but appreciates that it transformed her into the woman she is today. Although Margi is kind, dedicated, and selfless, these are not necessarily the qualities that make her unique. Margi is a beacon of hope.  Like a crusader, she attracts people sympathetic to her cause.  The freight train that is The Legacy Closet is moving full speed ahead, picking up more and more passengers at every stop.

Margi formed The Legacy Closet just 17 months ago.  During the first few months, Margi donated items out of her garage on Sunday afternoons. At first, one family would receive help, then two families, then four families: and today, Margi is assisting tens of thousands of families per year with the help of over a dozen volunteers throughout the tri-county area (Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach).

In the past three months alone, Margi has helped 40,000 families receive essential items such as clothing, soap, underwear, and socks. For Easter, Margi helped secure 100,000 pounds of chocolate from a corporate donor. This donation allowed 4,000 families the opportunity to celebrate Easter.

In 2020, the Darcy J Foundation, another charitable fundraising organization in Florida, awarded Margi the title of “Mother of the Year” for her selfless acts.

Margi loves that she can finally give back to others the way others gave to her when she was down on her luck. Margi takes great joy in knowing that she can tell any child who walks in the door, “You can have anything you want.”  For some children, this is the first time in their lives they have heard this phrase. Something simple (and inconsequential to most) like a bag of gummy bears or a colorful, almost-new pair of pajamas can be the spark of hope a family needs to get them back on track.

Without fail, Margi’s patrons leave The Legacy Closet with tears in their eyes, knowing that “today was better than yesterday.”

Margi wakes up every day knowing that she is making a difference and instilling hope — hope that anyone can overcome their struggles with just a little bit of help. In just 17 months, Margi and The Legacy Closet have instilled hope in thousands of families. Margi survived her storm.  It transformed her into the person she is today.  With continued help from our community, imagine how many more families Margi and her crew can help to weather their own storms!

Thank you, Margi, for being the “Mother of the Year” to so many families.

You can learn more about The Legacy Closet at www.TheLegacyCloset.org

 

Posted on

Self-esteem: Part of the basics, not just a byproduct

By Dr. Simone Alicia, D.D, h.c

Take a shower, brush your teeth, mind your manners, and nurture your self-esteem. Those are the basics for our kids, right? Along with eating healthy, studying, and going to bed on time, most of us would agree that these are foundations of proper physical and emotional health.

Yet, there’s something strange on that list. Something that is always expected from our kids, but usually left off of the list of basic life lessons: It’s self-esteem.

Some say it’s just a byproduct that comes from doing other things, like sports, dance, or theater. But is that enough? Or do we need to teach self-esteem more directly?

As a self-esteem coach, one of the first things my young clients learn from me is that self-esteem is “the way we think and feel about ourselves.” I love that definition because it empowers kids to take charge of what they are thinking about anytime that they want. And they quickly learn that their thoughts affect their attitude, beliefs, and behavior!

Now, picture it, your kids just finished watching a drama-filled series online, then they played a few hours of a violent video game; they also realized that they got a bad grade, and a former friend was mean to them on social media. All of these experiences become images swirling around in your child’s mind. Each image has a negative feeling attached to it.

Now here’s the key: Your child has no clue what to do about these thoughts and feelings. So, now it affects their behavior, and they have a negative attitude toward you all day.

Is the self-esteem “byproduct” from their extracurricular activities enough to help them through this? No. They need real, direct tools, like affirmations, journaling, and reframing skills, which I’ll detail for you below:

  • This involves reciting positive things about yourself starting with “I am.” Singing them to the beat of a familiar tune helps younger kids through difficult times.
  • Step 1: “Release,” which is writing out all negative emotions in a journal and really imagining that they are being released out of you. Step 2 (most important): Turn to a new page and “refill” yourself, being a best friend to yourself and coaching yourself through whatever you just released, so you are left in a positive place. For example, “Even though that happened, I am strong, and I know it’ll be OK.”
  • This is a method by which you try to see your situation in a different way, perhaps with humor or by finding the good thing hidden in your situation. The sentence may start with “Well, at least…” ⎯ for example, if children get a low score at school, they could say, “Well, at least it’s not the last grade for the year.”

The most important thing for parents to know is that tools are out there to help their kids with building self-esteem, and they should have those tools before they need them. Preparation is power. After all, it’s far easier to put the life vest on before you fall into the water. Am I right?

With the current times that we live in and the unlimited access to technology, social media, controversial influencers, and more, we can no longer treat self-esteem building like a mere byproduct that kids will pick up somewhere. Instead, it’s time to recognize self-esteem building as a basic, fundamental life skill that our kids need to learn directly in order to live mentally healthy lives.

 

Posted on

Lupus: a cruel, mysterious disease

Lupus is one of the cruelest, most mysterious diseases on earth, an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body.

It is more pervasive and more severe than people think. Most people with lupus don’t look sick. Victims can appear normal while suffering intense pain in different parts of their bodies. It impacts nearly all aspects of a person’s life: relationships, daily responsibilities, finances, and basic enjoyment of life.

May is Lupus Awareness Month. Readers can help by showing support for those, mostly women, who suffer from this brutal affliction. Lupus can strike anyone, but 90% of the people living with lupus are females. Men, children, and teenagers develop lupus too.

No two cases of lupus are alike. Common symptoms include joint pain, skin rashes, overwhelming fatigue, and fevers that last for days or weeks.

Lupus can affect any organ or tissue, from the skin or joints to the heart or kidneys. Two leading causes of serious illness and death from lupus are kidney disease and heart disease. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. At this point, the disease has no cure and can be fatal.

The disease is not contagious, but recent studies show that 41% of people are not comfortable shaking hands or sharing food with someone with lupus.

While the causes of lupus are unknown, scientists believe hormones, genetics (heredity), and environmental factors are involved. More research is needed to better understand the role of these factors. People of all races and ethnicities can develop lupus, but it occurs two to three times more frequently among African Americans, Asians, Hispanics/Latinos, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans than among Caucasians.

Lupus usually develops between ages 15 and 44 and lasts a lifetime. It can be expensive to live with and to treat. The average annual direct and indirect costs incurred can exceed $21,000, higher than for those living with heart disease, bipolar disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

There is no single blood test to diagnose lupus, and its symptoms mimic those of other diseases, vary in intensity, and can come and go over time. More than half of those afflicted with lupus suffered at least four years and saw three or more doctors before obtaining a correct diagnosis of lupus.

To donate, contact the Lupus Foundation of America at 2121 K Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20037-1830; (202) 349-1155; or www.lupus.org.

(Source: Lupus Foundation of America)

Posted on

New rabbi comes to Margate’s Temple Beth Am

Rabbi Michelle Goldsmith will become the rabbi of Temple Beth Am in Margate in June.

Most recently, Goldsmith was rabbi of Congregation Beth Emeth in Herndon, Virginia, where she served since July 2013.

Prior to Beth Emeth, Goldsmith was rabbi at Temple Beth-El in Birmingham, Alabama, from 2009 to 2013. She also has served as associate rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom in Sarasota, Florida (2001-2009), and at Beth Shalom Congregation in Jacksonville (1998-2001).

Goldsmith graduated from American Jewish University in Los Angeles in 2013 with a Rabbinic Management Institute certificate. She received her rabbinic ordination (M.A.) in 1998 from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. She also earned a master’s in Hebrew letters from American Jewish University in 1994 and her B.A. in 1993 with a concentration on the Hebrew Bible.

Goldsmith describes her style as “marked by sensitivity to tradition and the spiritual needs of my congregants.” She strives for her “timeliness … humor and intellectual breadth.”

At her latest position in Virginia, Goldsmith stepped boldly into the 21st century, undertaking active shooter response and “Stop the Bleed” training, following attacks on Jewish institutions across the country. Her congregation became a national model for synagogue security.

During the pandemic, Goldsmith worked with congregants and staff to adapt the offerings of the synagogue to the reality of COVID-19, including holding Zoom services, streaming the high holidays, and moving the early childhood center, religious school, and adult education programs online.

 

Posted on

Mothers Day Gift Guide

 

  1. Antiques & More

Why settle for standard or ordinary when it comes to Mother’s Day gifts? Here in Coral Springs, Antiques & More has a treasure trove of unique jewelry, collectibles, statues, clothing and costumes, furniture, porcelain, and paintings from all over the world for you to show your mom or mother figure how much they’ve inspired you!  9371 W. Sample Rd. Coral Springs, FL 33065 954-575-5699 antforsale@yahoo.com

2. Lormin Beauty Spa

Why pamper yourself, when someone else can do it for you? Lormin Beauty Spa offers natural results without the need for plastic surgery.  Facial, body and special treatments are available such as platelet-rich plasma, deep facial cleaning, anti-cellulite, microblading, eyelash extensions, and more.  Look for their ad in the Parklander for a coupon!

10440 West Atlantic Blvd Coral Springs, FL 33071 305-250-8837 lorminspa@gmail.com

Facebook @lorminbeautyspa and Instagram @LORMIN_BEAUTY_SPA

3. Karma Bath & Body Co.

Who doesn’t need a little self-love and pampering after the year we’ve all had?  Karma Bath & Body Co. is here to help!  The Golden Goddess Collection (pictured) is perfect for anyone who loves to sparkle like the Goddess that they are! This yummy blend of Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Vanilla & White musk creates an intoxicating aroma.

4. Boom Again is a Baby Boomer pop culture game filled with questions from the ‘50s, ‘60s & ‘70s calling on advertising slogans and jingles, politics and social movements, movies, music, television, and more.  Boom Again is the perfect gift for Boomer moms longing for genuine laughter and a good time with others. It draws people together and takes them on a nostalgic road trip through the fun memories from their youth — the Twist right up to Disco; American Bandstand to Soul Train; Doris Day all the way to Janis Joplin; Hula Hoops to The Pill; and poodle skirts to mini-skirts. wwwBoomAgain.com

5. BRGR STOP

Don’t cook for mom, bring her here!  Craft beer, craft milkshakes, and incredibly wild and tasty appetizers, burgers, and sandwiches will make sure she doesn’t leave hungry.  There’s even the Plant Power impossible burger for the vegetarians.  Look for their ad in the Parklander for coupons too!

4301 Coconut Creek Pkwy, Coconut Creek, FL 33066 954-975-8459 brgrstop.com

 

 

Posted on

Tips from Florida Power and Light Company

Save energy and money this spring with simple tips from FPL

By Andre Sowerby-Thomas

While spring is the season of new beginnings, it is also the season of more sunshine and as the weather heats up, spring also brings increased energy usage – especially as many of us continue to spend more time at home.

To help you save energy this spring, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is offering some simple tips.

  • Check windows for air leaks: Check your windows for drafts. Re-caulking and using weather strips can help to keep the warm air outside.
  • Leave incandescent bulbs behind: LED bulbs are 85% more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer.
  • Try to block out the sun: Use thermal-backed drapes for your windows and sliding doors and keep them closed during the sunniest parts of the day to help keep your home cool.
  • Always turn off your fan: Ceiling fans cool people – not rooms. Turn ceiling fans off when you leave a room. Leaving them on in an empty room can drive up energy costs.
  • Never leave your A/C filter dirty: Be sure to change the filter and make a habit of doing so within the timeframe recommended for your model.
  • Inspect the ceiling for duct leaks: If the ceiling is dirty around your A/C vents, that is a good indication of leaks in your ducts. Contact an A/C contractor to perform a duct test if that’s the case.
  • Consolidate electronics with power strips: Easily turn off a group of electronics at once when they’re not in use by consolidating several plugs onto a power strip. This could save you up to $100 a year.
  • Get energy savvy: Install a smart thermostat and control the temperature of your home from anywhere. When used appropriately, these can help a single-family home save about 3% of total energy costs.

Looking for more ways to save this spring? Check out FPL’s various energy saving programs, like our ceiling insulation and A/C rebates, no cost On Call program and free Energy Analyzer tool at fpl.com/save/programs.

 Andre Sowerby-Thomas is FPL’s Home, Business and Energy Solutions expert and residential contributor to Watt’s Happening, a blog by FPL focused on helping residential and business customers become energy savings pros. For more than 15 years, Andre has helped customers improve their energy efficiency and lower their home/business energy costs.

 

 

 

Posted on

SOFLO Gardening – May

What to plant

Annuals/Bedding Plants: Plants that can take summer heat include salvia, angelonia, wax begonia, and ornamental pepper.

Bulbs: Planting early-, mid-, and late-blooming varieties of daylily ensures months of color from these low-maintenance plants.

Herbs: Continue to plant heat-loving herbs, including basil, oregano, Mexican tarragon, and rosemary

Vegetables: Swiss chard will take the heat as well as okra, southern pea, and sweet potato.

What to do

Pests: Insects become more active in warm weather. Watch for thrips, scales, and mites on ornamental plants.

Gardenias: Yellowing of older leaves is usually normal; yellowing of new growth usually indicates a micronutrient deficiency

Oleanders: Inspect chewed or ragged leaves for oleander caterpillars at work.

Lawn insects: Watch for damage from chinch bugs in St. Augustinegrass and begin scouting for newly hatched mole crickets in bahiagrass lawns.

Tomatoes: Watch for pests, disease, and nutritional disorders on tomato plants.

New plants: Produce more plants by air layering, grafting, division, or cuttings. See Seeds and Propagation (Lawn and Garden):

Trees: Prepare for hurricane season by checking trees for damaged or weak branches and pruning if needed. Hire an ISA-certified arborist.

Lawn Mowing: Encourage healthy growth and discourage insects, weeds, and diseases by mowing correctly.

 

Posted on

The spirit of agave

By Curiously Thirsty

Tequila will be part of many Cinco de Mayo celebrations. The nectar extracted from the blue agave plant is often enjoyed as a shot, or part of a cocktail, including one of my favorites ⎯ the margarita.

Founded by Franciscan monks in 1530, the city of Tequila is in the Jaliscan Highlands of Mexico, and it is the home of the distilled beverage. In the pre-Columbian era, the locals near Tequila had enjoyed a fermented beverage derived from the agave plant. The drink was popular until it was displaced by beer in the 19th century. The legacy of the agave beverage is still preserved by the European distillation methods introduced by the Spanish.

Starting in 1600, the mass production of the distilled spirits began at Tequila. Soon in 1608, King Carlos IV of Spain granted the local governor the license to commercially produce the drink. And 266 years later, the Mexican government officially nationalized the name “tequila” in 1974.

Tequila comes in many forms. The silver tequila, also known as Blanco, is made with no, or very little, aging. The resulting taste profile highlights the skill of the distiller, and the agave used; there is no oak to mitigate it. It’s often enjoyed in a cocktail or a shot.

As you age tequila, usually in oak barrels, the flavor of the wood gets absorbed. As the alcohol ages, the color and flavor from the oak get imparted into the tequila. Reposado is tequila that is aged two months to a year, and Anejo is aged past one year. A well-aged tequila, which has picked up the flavors of the oak, is often with a golden hue and a taste profile similar to a fine whiskey, along with the unique fruity aroma from the agave plant.

Most of us often have our first experience with tequila as a component in popular cocktails, like a Long Island iced tea, or on a warm day at the beach or pool, in a margarita. For the connoisseurs of Anejo tequila, the drink is best enjoyed straight, optionally with lime and salt.

If you are a fan of whiskey and have not tried Anejo tequila, you will be pleasantly surprised. When a good tequila is aged in oak barrels for a few years, the result is often smooth and fruity, reminiscent of good scotch, but with distinct tequila flavors. A good starting point for experimenting for Costco members is the Kirkland Signature Anejo tequila. You will find it creamy, and it’ll remind you of tropical fruits, which pairs well with most desserts.

 

If you are in the party mood, celebrate with the spirit of agave with the following margarita recipe. Say a cheer to the Aztec civilization who first recognized the potential of agave for making this Cinco de Mayo cocktail.

 

Ingredients:

2 ounces Blanco tequila

½ ounce orange liqueur

1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed

½ ounce agave syrup

Garnish: lime wheel

Garnish: kosher salt (optional)

Steps:

  1. Add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake until well chilled.
  2. Strain into a glass over fresh ice.
  3. Garnish with a lime wheel and kosher salt (optional).
Posted on

Luxury Real Estate with Douglas Elliman

Douglas Elliman is a leading Real Estate Brokerage Firm with $28.9 Billion in sales this past year, and counting, throughout the nation. Caroline Rannazzisi, Luxury Realtor Associate, and Traci Klein, Realtor Associate, are the Rannazzisi —Klein Team for South East Florida.

Douglas Elliman specializes in Luxury Real Estate, including the Professional Sports and Entertainment Division, high-end confidential Sales, and Residential Sales and Investments. They also have an exclusive partnership with a global company, Knight Frank, which makes them the world’s largest privately-owned global property network, with the stature and presence that attracts buyers worldwide.

The daughter of a contractor in New York, Rannazzisi grew up watching and learning from the family business, giving her a complete understanding of real estate from the building process through the final sale. While successfully investing in homes, land, and hospitality deals with her husband who is a VP/Certified Financial Adviser, she earned her real estate license and today takes pride in helping others realize their own real estate dreams. Rannazzisi worked alongside an elite real estate auctioning company that averaged sale prices of $6 million in specialty properties, where she fell in love with luxury real estate sales. She has been with Douglas Elliman since 2017.

Originally from New Jersey, Traci lived in New York and Maryland before purchasing a vacation home in Palm Beach County 15 years ago. Making the move to Florida full time, they relocated to Parkland and have lived in the Parkland Golf and Country Club for nearly 12 years. Klein’s knowledge of sales, marketing, and private investments of her own has made her the perfect agent to understand the needs of their buyers and sellers, and she has recently teamed up with Rannazzisi at Douglas Elliman.

Not only are Rannazzisi and Klein work partners, but they have been friends for over 12 years. “We know Parkland in and out and are deep-rooted in this community. We have watched it grow with our children and have been here through thick and thin,” Rannazzisi said.

If you are looking for a team that feels like family, with a highly successful Real Estate background, contact Rannazzisi | Klein of Douglas Elliman.
RANNAZZISI | KLEIN TEAM of
DOUGLAS ELLIMAN
440 East Palmetto Park Road
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Caroline Rannazzisi, Luxury Realtor Associate
M: 561.414.7697
Caroline.Rannazzisi@Elliman.com
www.CAROLINERANNAZZISIREALTOR.com

Traci Klein, Realtor Associate
M 301.806.8982
Traci.Klein@Elliman.com
www.DouglasElliman/TraciKlein.com

Posted on

Earth day celebrations

Multiple local events mark the 50th year of Earth Day celebrations.

Just to be clear, the first Earth Day was held April 22, 1970. That means the 50th Earth Day was April 22, 2020. But this April 22, 2021 marks the 50th year of observations.

It’s like those folks who thought the 21st century began in 2000, when, in fact, that was the last year of the 20th century. Get it?

According to earthday.org, “Senator Gaylord Nelson, a junior senator from Wisconsin, had long been concerned about the deteriorating environment in the United States. Then in January 1969, he and many others witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.

“Senator Nelson announced the idea for a teach-in on college campuses to the national media, and persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair.”

They chose to choose April 22, a “weekday falling between spring break and final exams, to maximize the greatest student participation.”

By 1990 Earth Day became a global event. But, sticking
close to home, here are Earth Day events in South Florida.

April 22
Coconut Creek: Earth Day Arts and Crafts Fair
3:00 to 5 p.m. Recreation Complex, 4455 Sol Press Boulevard. $15 for Coconut Creek residents, $20, non-residents.

Participants will learn about the origin of Earth Day, read a related story and create fun recyclable green crafts. All activities are structured, safe, and meet the CDC guidelines.

Broward Lotus Sangha (Virtual) Earth Day 2021: Participate from wherever you are in easy steps. Details at https://www.meetup.com/fr FR/LotusSangha/events/270198561/

Lotus Institute for Mindful Living (Virtual)
Details at https://www.meetup.com/ru-RU/MindfulLiving/events/270197490/

April 25
Heal the Planet Day
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Esplanade Park, 400 SW 2nd St., Fort Lauderdale Heal the Planet Day celebrates Earth Day by bringing together the South Florida community for a day of fun, family-friendly activities. The focus is on small, local acts that have a global impact. Heal The Planet Day offers an array of activities. (Free admission)

Posted on

Jump in! Summer camps abound

These camps are planning to offer your children loads of enrichment, athletics, art and old-fashioned fun this summer. With COVID-19 things can change rapidly. Please be sure to check with camps concerning cancellation and refund policies. We’ll let the camps speak for themselves.

Pineview camp adventure
Get ready for the summer S.T.E.A.M Camp adventure! The learning never ends at Pineview Preschools. S.T.E.A.M summer program is designed to enhance the learning experience with age-appropriate activities for all age groups. Ages 12 months- 5 years are welcome to come join in on the fun sensory games, science labs, and animal shows all summer long. Check out pineviewpreschools.com to schedule a tour.

Evert Tennis Academy
For children who like to play tennis, check out the Evert Tennis Academy! The camp runs throughout the whole year, following health and safety protocols. For details on how to sign up and general questions, email or contact a camp consultant at (561) 488-2001. evert@evertacademy.com.

Broward Center theater camp
Discover the star within! Don’t miss the fun when the curtain rises for a summer filled with the excitement and magic of live musical theater. The in-person camp offers students the chance to study singing, dancing and acting while rehearsing for a theatrical production which will culminate in a final performance on stage at the Broward Center. Students will also enjoy theater games, arts & crafts, and much more. We are offering three 3-week sessions June 14 – August 13. Capacity is limited with enhanced safety protocols in place in accordance with local conditions and CDC guidelines. browardcenter.org

Camp Osprey
Camp Osprey is a Christian based, family run, Kid’s Overnight Adventure Camp located 9 miles N. of Parrish, FL on US Hwy 301. Activities include horseback riding, paintball, zipline, giant swing, archery, BB guns, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, arts & crafts, games, camp fi res and more. Come as Campers, leave as Family! 204 acres along Little Manatee River. Weekly Overnight Sun 4p.m. – Sat 9:30a.m. is $525. camposprey.com

American Heritage Schools
Whether online or in-person, American Heritage Schools is offering a summer experience for all ages. For the online courses, the teachers will design specific courses for each grade and age level, including exciting electives and reinforcement classes to make the experience fun and educational. As for in-person courses, both the Palm Beach Campus and Broward Campus will be open and ready to engage your child. Together, children will continue to learn and achieve success, whether it be in person or online. https://online.ahschool.com/

Moonlighter Makerspace
All of your child’s favorite maker experiences… engineered to be done safely at home with Moonlighter Makerspace’s virtual summer camp. A new project theme each week challenges your young maker to think critically, curiously, and creatively. Camp is ideal for children ages 7-12 and their day will be a balance of on-screen time, with 1-on-1 time with Lead Instructor, as well as real hands-on activities. All tools and materials will be delivered to your home. moonlighterfablab.org

Museum of Discovery & Science
Camp Discovery at the Museum of Discovery & Science has summer fun down to a science! Give your child a S.A.F.E. (Science. Affordable. Fun. Educational) SCIENTASTIC SUMMER STEM experience at MODS’ summer camp program, sponsored by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, for children ages 6 through 12. At Camp Discovery, we’ve crafted the ultimate age-appropriate camp experience, providing campers with interactive exploration and hands-on  learning opportunities in the coolest camp environment, including a weekly IMAX immersion on South Florida’s BIGGEST screen! Awesome themes abound at our multi-day camps. From “Game On” to “Chillin’ Like a Villain,” “Hogwarts Summer School,” and more. Your child will have a spectacular summer of science! Call 954.713.0930, email booking@mods.net or visit mods.org/summercamp to register. Space is limited to ensure social distancing and masks are required. mods.org

Souce: Munchkin.com

Posted on

Ask Dr. Renae: A quandary worthy of Solomon

Dear Dr. Renae,
I have been alternating weekly living with each parent since I have been five years old. My parents explained to me that the judge ordered this plan. The arrangement was one which I never questioned since it feels like it has always been that way. Lately, I have been wanting to have a different arrangement, but I am afraid of hurting the feelings of the parent I want to spend less time with. I also do not want to cause further problems between my divorced parents since they do not get along with each other. I am sure my bringing it up would cause more conflict, but it just doesn’t seem fair that I need to move back and forth each week just because they are no longer married! My friends are encouraging me to talk to my parents rather than waiting another year and a half when I go off to college. I can’t decide if it is worth the risk and I will regret bringing it up.

                                                                                                                                                    Torn at 17.

Dear Torn at 17,
Your parents love you so much and I’m confident they would want to make sure you are happy. If this is something you really think would be beneficial, I would suggest talking to one of your parents about it!! See what they think, and maybe you can come up with a good solution. Listen to your heart and do whatever makes you happiest! I feel that your parents will understand no matter which direction you go.
A Caring Friend

Dear Torn at 17,
It’s very difficult to move your entire life from one house to another every week or so. Your feelings of wanting to spend more time in one house are very valid; everyone deserves to settle down in one place because it helps keep you stable. I believe that if you bring it up in a non-emotional way then your parents may be okay with the change. Tell them that you want to spend more time in one house rather than with one parent. You’re not preferring one parent or the other, you just want to feel settled down and constantly moving is not helpful. I wish you all the best and I hope everything works out.                                                    A High School Senior

Dear Torn at 17,
I always believe communication is key, and I think it is of the utmost importance in your situation. I understand that you are leaving in a year and a half, but your feelings in the present are just as valuable. Every party involved is mature and so you should not be afraid of having conflict. Compromise and discussion are important to have, so I advise having a meeting with your parents whenever everyone is available. I hope everything goes well for you.
Your Fellow Teen

Dear Torn at 17,
I suggest that you consider the time you cherish with each parent outside of the location where you sleep. Your parents will value more time with you in specific activities you enjoy with each of them. You might request a weekly dinner night, movie night, day trip, or time engaged in a shared hobby. Explain to your parents that the time you spend alone in your room, sleeping in your bed under their roof is not the important part of their parenting. If you pair your request for sleeping nightly in the same home with spending more quality time together engaged in enjoyable activities, you will be closer to meeting the needs of the parent whose home you would not be sleeping. Focus your conversation on enjoying the relationship with each parent for now and the long- term future. Keeping your thoughts and feelings to yourself is not emotionally healthy and detracts from the honest relationship you hope to have with your parents. You are in a position to determine the type of communication YOU have with each parent, not the relationship they have with each other. The conflict they have with each other is not your fault, nor are you able to control it. I hope they appreciate your honesty and recognize your efforts to improve YOUR relationship with them. Your parents are so lucky to have you as their child!
Dr. Renae

 

TEENS: Curious as to what other teens would say? If you have a question or problem you would like to present to other teens, please email: askdrrenae@att.net and include your age, grade, and gender you identify with. All questions are published anonymously and your identity and contact information will be kept confidential.

PARENTS OF TEENS: Would you like to anonymously and confidentially ask the panel of teen Peer Counseling Writers to comment on a parenting issue you are struggling with? If you are ready for a variety of honest opinions from real teens, please address your questions to askdrrenae@att.net.

Dr. Renae Lapin, a licensed marriage and family therapist with 40 years experience, currently maintains a private practice in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information about Dr. Renae and her practice, visit her website:

Welcome

Proudly powered by WordPress