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July 15, 2021July 15, 2021

The Fantels − adjusting to a new normal in music, performing arts

In early 2020, the future looked rosy for Coral Springs couple Caryl and Roy Fantel.

One night, Roy was playing drums in the orchestra for the world premiere production of the musical “A Wonderful World” at Miami New Drama, a professional, nonprofit theater company in Miami Beach. Roy helped create the drum score for the musical biography about jazz legend Louis Armstrong.

While Roy worked on “A Wonderful World,” Caryl was music directing a production of Stephen Sondheim’s classic “A Little Night Music” by Zoetic Stage, a nonprofit, professional company in downtown Miami.

Caryl and Roy, a nationally respected couple who have been married almost 26 years, own and operate Coral Springs-based Fantel Music (www.fantelmusic.com). The couple, between them, boast more than 60 years of professional expertise in the performing arts. And the couple had already booked most of the rest of 2020 with gigs. Life was good.

Then, almost overnight, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Folks who had booked the Fantels for jobs canceled the engagements. In fact, Caryl could not even retrieve her belongings from the Arsht Center, where “A Little Night Music” was to open. The Arsht shut down, as did the musical. Meanwhile, in Miami Beach, Miami New Drama postponed “A Wonderful World” indefinitely.

In the bleakness that followed, email message after email message reached the couple’s inboxes, confirming closures and cancellations.

For the first time in decades, the Fantels found themselves jobless. Fortunately, they are versatile and adaptable.

Caryl is a music director, event producer, pianist, teacher, editor, and arts activist. Meanwhile, Roy is a drummer, percussionist, teacher, video-audio producer, and web designer. With all the skills between them, they were able to adapt to the new normal by finding virtual work.

Their first COVID-era job was producing the Carbonell Awards, which recognizes excellence in South Florida live theater. Caryl has been part of the award show’s production team for 12 years. But this year, the awards ceremony looked different. Caryl, herself a Carbonell Award winner, decided — along with the organization — to prerecord the 2020 awards ceremony and present it virtually in August 2020. The Carbonells turned out to be one of several projects the Fantels worked on, during which they helped schools and other performers put on shows virtually.

“COVID has been extraordinarily challenging for everyone in the entertainment industry, but it has given us the opportunity to demonstrate our flexibility,” Caryl said. “Roy’s extensive technical background and abilities, and our wide experience working with groups of all sizes, ages, and levels, has enabled us to pivot into creating work that isn’t necessarily live performance, but is still art and entertainment.”

For instance, the couple worked with drama students at Coral Glades High School to virtually perform the Off-Broadway musical hit “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.” Among other things, Roy figured out via green-screen technology how to make four actors appear as though they were together.

The Fantels also used green-screen technology to virtually produce “Signs of Life.” The Yiddishkayt Initiative presented the musical drama as part of a Holocaust Remembrance Day program. Roy said because the production was virtual, people from all over the world were able to watch it on Facebook and YouTube.

Joan Limon, the producer of “Signs of Life,” praised the Fantels. “If there is an equivalent of a Tony Award for best musical direction and videography of a virtual musical drama, it definitely belongs on [their] mantel,” she said.

In addition to the Carbonell Awards, “Signs of Life,” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” the couple’s projects during the past year included the following:

“Stars of David in Concert,” produced by Avi Hoffman’s Yiddishkayt Initiative. The group is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates and promotes Jewish history, life, and culture.
Two readings of new musicals that combined recorded and live elements, including one at Florida Atlantic University.
A couple of holiday concerts presented as part of the Yiddishkayt Initiative’s international Hanukkah and Purim festivals.
A musical theater production for Nova Southeastern University.
A production of “Almost, Maine” for an area high school.

“As long as there’s a need, we will continue to produce virtually,” Caryl said. “To some degree, we believe virtual productions are here to stay, as they provide unlimited audience reach.”

However, “we’re both looking forward to performing in front of live audiences again,” Caryl said. “We are cautiously optimistic that audiences will return to theaters live and in-person in pre-pandemic numbers (or even beyond those numbers). We have heard that people are starved for live entertainment. We’re hoping they will be willing to prioritize attending live events, since people haven’t spent much, if anything, on arts events in more than a year … and artists and arts organizations need support now more than ever.”

July 15, 2021July 12, 2021

Sunshine, Wildlife, and Cane Toads: My First Year in the South

A year ago, I moved to southeast Florida from northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. Besides arriving in a new part of the country in the middle of a pandemic, which presents its own set of challenges, I encountered a lot of new and different things to contend with in my adopted state.

Born and raised around Chicago, I moved to the D.C. area after college, got married and raised kids there, and then decided to move to Florida after a divorce and job layoff last year. Why not start fresh in a new place, where I wouldn’t have to deal any longer with snow and ice? The lingering image that had always been in the back of my mind was to someday live in a warm and subtropical place, surrounded by palm trees, and somewhere near the ocean. And so that’s what I ended up doing when the opportunity unexpectedly presented itself.

I took the settlement checks from both my divorce and my full-time job and put them toward the purchase of a nice “villa” home in Florida. And so in July 2020, I suddenly found myself moving still further south and east from where I had originally started (cold, windy Chicago). My dog Lex, a Pomeranian mix, and I arrived last summer to this sunny and humid part of the country and began to put down roots, and I soon discovered a lot of differences here.

I have no regrets, but here are some observations from my first year in Florida:

Lizards in the house. I didn’t know that there would be so much wildlife around my new neighborhood. While I appreciate all the birds, geese, ducks, and rabbits lollygagging around my lakeside community, and I’ve gotten to enjoy the various lizards darting around the lawn, I didn’t expect to be sharing my home with the geckos. These quick creatures like to sneak into the house and creep around the rooms, hang out on the ceiling, and pop out and startle me.

Cane toads that could kill my little dog. Of all the animals I’ve encountered in southeast Florida, including alligators at the wetlands reserves, the scariest for me are the ugly toads that secrete powerful toxins that could take out Lex, horribly and painfully, within 30 minutes if I’m not constantly vigilant outside.

Hurricanes! Two weeks after I moved to Florida last July, Hurricane Isaias hurdled in from the Atlantic and joined me here. I got a very quick lesson on preparing for tropical storms and securing my hurricane shutters. While my windows were tightly covered for a couple tumultuous days, it was dark and depressing in my house. I was so happy when Isaias finished up his visit and rolled away.
Gated communities. Yes, I live in a secure, gated community, and as a single woman residing alone, I am relieved to have that protection. But what I have found in this part of the country is that there are so many gated communities that it’s not easy to just drive through neighborhoods here and explore. When I lived in Virginia, I could run through any neighborhoods I felt like. Here, I can’t do that. I have to keep to my own community or on the busy roads around it.
More tattoos than I’ve ever seen before. I didn’t know before my move that Florida was the land of full-body tattoos. While I have had friends and family in my life who have sported one or two small tattoos, I was in for a surprise when I arrived here and saw that they are etched all over people’s faces and limbs, in every corner of the region.

Like the colorful tattoos, I am getting used to all the differences in southeast Florida. I enjoyed my first warm winter here, although I missed the changing of the seasons in the fall and the spring. But I am glad my winter coat is packed far away in a bin in the closet, and I don’t ever have to shovel out my car again. I’ll take it.

July 8, 2021July 7, 2021

Rebounding After the Pandemic: The Return to the Cinema

The cinema is truly a cornerstone of American culture. More important than providing a source of fun entertainment or a classy taste of art, going out to the movies is a great way to spend time with others.

From the nail-biting suspense of watching a thriller with a tightknit group of friends, to “ahhing” at a bombastic action movie with our families, to gushing over a corny rom-com with a significant other, going to the movie theater affords us a surefire way of spending quality time with those we care about most. That is why it hurt so much to lose the theater during the pandemic.

Fortunately, as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down and the American public becomes vaccinated, we are having our beloved cinemas, and all that comes with them, returned to us.

Although many Americans continue to remain hesitant, the future of the cinema still looks bright. On March 31, the mega-budget CGI monster slugfest, “Godzilla vs. Kong,” released in theaters and earned over $420 million at the box office. More than just an outstanding economic success, the film proved to studios that if they release films, audiences will go to see them. After all, there is no point in producing a movie if it will not earn any profits.

Also taking a stand for the return to the cinema is one of the most successful and beloved movie studios, Marvel. In a recent trailer for Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the studio not only showcased its upcoming films, but also implored audiences to return to theaters. Marvel carried this out by having the late Stan Lee speak about the importance of being with those we care about, showing video clips of remarkable in-theater reactions to Marvel movies, and ending the trailer with the large white text “See you at the movies.” With such an influential and cherished studio confidently leading the way, more are bound to follow and resurrect the cinema.

Besides studios being encouraged to solely create new movies, they also will be incentivized to release big-name blockbusters that they have been strategically holding on to. Examples of completed, yet unreleased films include the highly anticipated new installment in the James Bond franchise, “No Time to Die”; Wes Anderson’s artsy yet broadly appealing “The French Dispatch”; and the novella-adapted, sci-fi thriller “Dune.” However unfortunate being forced to see these movies later than sooner is, these films will be made all the better by having the full cinema experience.

Although using a streaming app and enjoying a movie on a personal device is still great and enjoyable, nothing quite compares to the silver screen. In addition to the aforementioned social aspects, there are more factors that make this statement true.

As showcased in the Marvel Phase 4 trailer, collectively watching and reacting to movies as an audience improves the viewing experience tenfold. There is a certain magic to laughing, gasping, crying, and cheering with complete strangers that only the cinema can provide.

Going to the theater also provides a more cinematic experience in general. When it comes to movies, bigger is better, and viewing from a large, high-quality silver screen is much better than the lesser quality and smaller size of a personal device. In addition to the visual aspect, a greatly underappreciated factor of the cinematic experience is audio quality. There is a world of difference between personal earbuds and professional-grade speakers at movie theaters. Punches feel weightier, dialogue is clearer, explosions are more visceral, and the music is more expressive.

Bringing everything back to a more local level, I recently went out to a local theater to see the action-comedy film “Nobody.” To put it bluntly, the movie theater was in a desolate state. Aside from the theater lacking customers, it also was short-staffed. There were no ticket clerks, janitors, or ushers. The one concessions worker who was there also took the role of ticket clerk, selling both tickets and treats. Her manager took the role of janitor and was maintaining the theater. As for the lack of ushers, one could walk into a theater without having purchased a ticket.

At this cinema I saw only three other movie-goers, all of whom were in my theater. However bare-bones the cinema was, seeing the film in an actual theater was no less of a welcome experience, which I hope to enjoy again as we move forward into the future.

List of notable movies being released in theaters:

June 25 — “Fast and Furious 9”

July 2 — “The Forever Purge”

July 9 — “Black Widow”

July 16 — “Space Jam: A New Legacy”

July 23 — “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania”

July 30 — “The Green Knight”

July 30 — “Jungle Cruise”

August 6 — “The Suicide Squad”

August 20 — “Paw Patrol: The Movie”

August 20 — “The Protégé”

December 16, 2020December 3, 2020

Yes, there are decent sweet wines

Most wine aficionados, geeks, and the pinky lifters look at sweet wines as “syrupy sweet little nonentities” that should not be taken seriously and dismiss them as undrinkable trash. Unfortunately, in some cases, they happen to be right. This country, whose citizens are known to have a monstrous sweet tooth, has been subjected to some incredibly poor sweet wines that have nothing at all to offer them except being an inexpensive, slightly alcoholic, grape flavored, soda pop without the bubbles.

Enter Bordeaux France, the ancestral home of many of the world’s fi nest wines, some of these being sweet wines. These wines are so popular in Europe (more specifically in Russia) that we rarely see them here. Sweet wines, often called Dessert Wines, display all of the charm and character that made the classical Bordeaux wines famous and are once again appearing on our shores. Might I suggest that we drop our sweet win prejudice and give these wines a fair trial?

Just FYI, Château d’Yquem, a Bordeaux sweet wine, was awarded the highest rating a Bordeaux wine can achieve, Premier Cru Supérieur, and sells for $250+ a bottle.

Let’s start by stating one very important point: it is ILLEGAL in every wine producing country of the world to add sugar to wine to sweeten it or increase its alcohol content; in ancient Germany, the penalty was death. Wines are made sweet in Bordeaux when growers take the gamble of losing their entire crop to frost or disease and leave the grapes on the vine long enough to create natural sugars enhanced by a good fungus called botrytis cinerea. The botrytis not only enhances the grape sugars but also adds its desirable and distinctive flavor and aroma to the finished wine.

2015 Château Dauphiné Rondillon 750 ml ($42).
This wine, as do all of the Bordeaux sweet wines, displays a golden color that is almost hypnotizing and eagerly invites the first sip. The aroma is outstanding, displaying wildflowers, citrus, and summer stone fruits. On the palate, the wine presents peaches, honey, crème brûlée, tangerine, and the unmistakably pleasant flavor from the botrytis. These all continue to the finish where they seem to last indefinitely. This is a prime example of a Bordeaux sweetie and may change your mind about sweet wines forever.

2019 Château La Hargue 375 ml ($15).

This wine presents a brilliant golden color and an attractive aroma of exotic fruit, citrus, and vanilla. The aroma proceeds nonstop to the flavor, where it is enhanced by the sweetness. The finish will impress you with its extraordinary length. If you believe that all sweet wines taste the same, the 2019 Château La Hargue will change your mind.

2018 Château Tanesse Palissades 375 ml ($15).

Another melody of a similar tune, however, this one has incorporated the Muscadelle grape into the blend for added interest, depth, and color. This is truly a summer wine as it very prominently displays the aromas of summer flowers and the light-colored summer fruits. There are hints of citrus, such as tangerine and grapefruit, which carry on to the flavor and then transition to a fresh and fruity, almost overpowering, finish. This wine could be considered the perfect ambassador for sweet Bordeaux wines.

Château la Rame 750 ml ($35).

This wine is the most kaleidoscopic of the quartet, presenting an ever changing experience. Here too, the wine shares similar flavors and aromas to all Bordeaux sweet wines but presents its flavors in a different order, making for even greater interest. It is the summer fruits that take preference over the floral aromas. These fruits carry through to the flavor and are amplified in the finish. This wine, like all of the others presented here, can prove to be the perfect end to a perfect meal.

November 15, 2020October 23, 2020

You never forget your first

Among the first wines I ever wrote about were those of Wente Vineyards (https://wentevineyards.com). Like a first kiss or first date, I never forgot the occasion and it always lies safe and secure among my cherished memories. Over the years, it has slipped into the background along with some other things that I have learned over my lifetime, but it has never left me.

Years later, it was with great joy that I was privileged to reacquaint myself with my old friend. The big question was, “Would they still be as I remembered them, or had they succumbed to the current ‘bottom line’ business philosophy?” The answer was a resounding NO.

The years have been kind to Wente. The wines I sampled seemed bigger, better, and with greater depth than I remembered. Also impressive, the wines had not taken the popular route and priced themselves into the stratosphere, but instead have remained in the affordable range.

Wente 2018 Livermore Valley Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon ($20). Let’s begin by saying that this is not one of those cabs that will make you swoon in ecstasy with the first sip. It is a wine that has been made to accompany red meat dishes without overpowering them but will also fit well with many vegan foods. All of the interesting and enticing flavors found in more costly cabernet sauvignon are present in this gem. The lush flavor of berries, ripe cherries, and cassis are underscored by a gentle oak sensation.

The Wente 2018 Livermore Valley Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon is a prime example of a well-made, California cabernet sauvignon. It can proudly hold its head high when compared with other California cabs in the same price range. it will revive your faith in the possibilities of chardonnay.

Wente 2018 Riva Ranch Chardonnay ($22).
This wine is typical of all the wines from Wente — luxurious, well made, and elegant. Throughout the entire process of making this wine, extra care has been taken, from the selection of the grapes to the winemaking procedures. All of this tender care results in an impeccable wine of great character and distinction. This wine features green apple and tropical fruit in both the aroma and flavor. Coupled with this is a positive oak and vanilla flavor. Unlike many of
the lesser chardonnays, this wine has a long, fruity, and captivating finish. Try this wine with seafood as well as almost any poultry-based dishes and I am sure it will revive your faith in the possibilities of chardonnay.

Wente 2018 Morning Fog Chardonnay ($18).
Wente Morning Fog; the name alone says it all. The cool morning fog that blows over the vineyard helps produce the delicate flavors and aromas in a full-flavored chardonnay. All too often, the very sensitive chardonnay grapes get baked by the sun, resulting in higher grape sugar which, in a dry wine, increases the alcohol when fermented to dryness. Too much alcohol then requires some additional processing to reduce it. As a bit of FYI, the fabled chardonnays of France are grown in a district that is about as far north as fine grapes can be grown. This is why there can be massive differences between chardonnays from producer to producer.

The Wente 2018 Morning Fog Chardonnay offers a fine wine at a reasonable price. This wine is heavy with aromas of summer fruits, vanilla, and oak. All of these scents are incorporated into the flavor with an added sensation of big, ripe raisins. Like all of the Wente wines, there is a long and fruity finish that lasts in the mouth for a bit after it has been swallowed. This may not be the wine for wine snobs (it’s not expensive enough for them) but it certainly can fi t the bill anywhere a Chardonnay or a really fine sipping wine is called for.

September 18, 2020August 26, 2020

Planning your post-pandemic vacation

Summer of 2020 will likely not be remembered for the vacations you took. We have all been dealing with stress from the unseen contagion that has been aging us more than it should.

Amidst a conversation with a friend with whom we vacation with regularly, he said, “It’s your turn to plan the next trip. 2021 is coming up, and we should have a vaccine by then.”

Planning for a vacation in the past has involved searching for destinations, booking online, and simply going. This year, with all the rules, special conditions, and offers, I felt it would be best to seek professional help.

I reached out to Carlos and Renee Boozer, from Cruise Planners. They are full-service travel planners and offered a lot of valuable insight into the current state of the vacation planning industry.

“Most river cruises on the Mississippi river are sold out ’til July 2021,” Carlos mentioned, “unless there is a cancellation.” Not having to travel internationally, the Mississippi trip is growing in popularity.

Another popular option for our New Normal is RVing. I learned travel planners can help you rent an RV, and ensure you have all you need to camp in a national park with style. It’s not only a good option for a family vacation but also a group of friends.

A Caribbean cruise would normally be a great way for a group of friends to enjoy the islands. With the pandemic, the Caribbean cruise protocols and plans are still pretty much in flux. According to Carlos, the cruise industry is offering extra perks to excite their customers into taking advantage of 2021 and 2022.

Another option is to check out one of the many resorts in the Caribbean. All-inclusive resorts were a favorite for us and provided a great way to experience the local culture, with a well-defined budget. Many of the top tier resorts like Sandals and Beaches offer a concierge service to help ensure you clear immigration and customs smoothly. With all the rules governing international travel being constantly adjusted, having the guidance of local professionals will make your trip much less stressful.

After a season of too much Youtube, I am looking forward to next summer. Hopefully, a vaccine for COVID-19 will be widely available in time, and we can again gather with family and friends while sharing a cool summer cocktail. Working with a travel agency like Cruise Planners will make it easier to navigate through the complicated rules for each country and avoid surprises.

By Li Pan

August 24, 2020July 28, 2020

Horse camp lives on

My first time on a horse was in Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek when I was three. The first time I climbed up onto the giant animal was exhilarating, although it was hard, at first, to entrust my wellbeing to this animal.

Fast forward to 2018. I started to go to horse camp at Malachi Acres in Parkland, thanks to a recommendation from the Parklander. It’s something I have looked forward to each summer since.

When COVID-19 shut down my school, I began to worry there would be no horse camp this summer. I missed seeing all my friends, but somehow, I knew I would see my friends from Malachi.

When they reopened the camp, I was delighted. New protocols are in place, mask-wearing when necessary, constant cleaning, not standing too close to each other, and not sharing food have become our “new normal.”

All the horses at the barn are great for different reasons, but Cosmo is my absolute favorite because she listened to me immediately. My favorite parts of camp are seeing my friends, feeding after camp, being in control of a thousand-pound animal, and just having fun.

Coronavirus may have shut down other camps but at Malachi — as long as we are on our p’s and q’s — camp lives on, and I hope to be able to attend horse camp next summer!

By Madeline Bernstein

August 7, 2020July 28, 2020

SWAT Mosquito Systems’ managers discuss the SWAT difference

The Florida lifestyle is one to envy; moreover, it is one many aspire to obtain. Endless sun-drenched days, balmy breezes, and abundant access to the outdoors makes it an ideal place to live, work, and play. However, it is also no secret that this way of living includes high heat and humidity, making Florida a paradise for mosquitos, flies, and the annoying “no-see-ums.” For residential and commercial property owners alike, these pests can wreak havoc on the quality of outdoor experiences. For many, the answer to their pest control issues lies in the hands of SWAT Mosquito Systems.

SWAT Mosquito Systems was opened in 2006 in Miramar, Florida, under the leadership of Founder and C.E.O. Steve Jenkins. In no time, this congenial entrepreneur assembled a world-class team who specializes in the installation of a one-of-a-kind pest control system, and his firm has become the uncontested leader in Florida’s mosquito and no-see-um control industry.

The organization’s service area is impressive. Their coverage areas reach from Vero Beach south to the Keys and from Marco Island north to Naples. Brent Ball serves as the firm’s Vice President of Project Management and has been with the company for over a decade. Ball states, “The key differentiator between our systems and others involves the delivery mechanism. SWAT Mosquito Systems, unlike their competitors, utilize a system that eradicates the mosquito population instead of repelling them.”

SWAT Mosquito Systems apply a misting solution versus the more traditional fogging spray applications. Why? Foggers cannot sustain sub-tropical climates and they break down when exposed to the elements, whereas mists are ecologically sustainable. Their mist consists of pyrethrum, which is derived from chrysanthemums as well as other compounds that include a 100 percent USDA National Organic Compliant alternative, a rosemary-based solution made up of essential plant extracts and other oils. The mist is applied by custom-built sprayers strategically placed around the perimeter, and they are designed to blend seamlessly into the landscaping.

As part of their service, SWAT monitors all mist release timers and tank levels right from their office on a daily basis. Their automated monitors will generate immediate email alerts if there is a system leak. Therefore, it is not uncommon for a SWAT Mosquito Systems technician to arrive at a property to do a repair before the owner even knows there’s a problem. Technicians also routinely check nozzles, make sure that the system is refilling itself automatically, and clean the filters.

The average single-family homeowner will consult with a project manager for approximately twenty minutes, the installation, depending on the size of their property, will take one to two days. SWAT Mosquito Systems are then programmed to release mist two to four times per day based upon individual needs. Ball explains, “All SWAT systems are set to release mist daily at sunrise and sunset as those are peak periods for activity. While Florida has insect issues all year, May to October see a rise in insect levels annually, which is why we allow for additional daily misting should we deem it necessary or should the Owner choose to mist more frequently.”

All owners are trained to operate their system both on-site and remotely. Virtual access to your SWAT system is done via a proprietary app that allows the possessor to monitor, activate, or turn-off the system based on individual demand, travel, or changing external conditions.

In late 2019, industry veteran Robert Mackey joined the company as a Project Manager. Mackey states, “The quality of the SWAT Mosquito systems is beyond anything currently available in the marketplace. In addition, the employees’ dedication to doing whatever it takes, without exception, provides an unparalleled level of customer service,” which he believes makes SWAT Mosquito Systems the “Bentley of its field.” He explains, “There is no other company, in this space, I would rather work for or recommend more highly to property owners.”

Jenkins and his team take great pride in their offerings and have adopted the very apt motto “You’re either SWAT or You’re not!” To learn more about SWAT Mosquito Systems, or why they are the leading provider of insect control in Florida, visit swatmosquitosystems.com. To schedule your complimentary consultation, call 1-866-900-SWAT.

By Jill D. Kaplan

July 6, 2020July 13, 2020

Pandemic Parenting – Making it up as we go along

Think back to the beginning of the year. No one would have predicted that our children would be graduating in our living rooms; that summer camp, family get-togethers and beach days would be so oddly different.

For many, this change to a virtual existence has been difficult. Children thrive from social engagements, which makes this a time of great struggle and stress. Children’s brains develop through play and learning social skills. They learn boundaries and empathy through playing side by side with others, a scenario impossible to re-create through a video chat! So how do we fill the void for our children while maintaining social distancing?

Growing up, I had our summer ritual down pat. Days spent with family and friends, summer camp, vacation on Sanibel, school clothes shopping. It had a rhythm and regularity. This is the time to revisit your summer rituals and revamp them for COVID-19. Rituals are important for family cohesion. Resurrecting a custom from your childhood might be the answer. Unearth photo albums from your childhood and your children’s. Share stories and bring the past alive. Create a new rhythm for summer with family dinners, game time, and movie nights to help children connect with the family.

When we ask children to make a choice, they feel more empowered and in control. That’s a good thing. If we give kids choices, they have a set list of options to choose from. What they don’t have is an endless list of options you don’t want them choosing. “Are we going to the beach at 9 a.m. to beat the crowds, or are we playing in the sprinklers today?” Did you notice two choices with limits? If your child counter offers with a Disney trip, ice cream for breakfast or some other extravagance, it’s fine to pass. Just because your child wants something, it’s OK not to give it to them. Even when life is weird or stressful!

Just remember – you’re a great parent doing the best you can during a difficult time. You got this!

By Maria Berger

Maria Berger is a licensed mental health counselor and a registered art and play therapist. Her practice, Berger Counseling Services, is located in Parkland. Maria has been serving children, teens and families for over twenty years.