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Keeping Kids Safe While Learning Virtually

By
Emily Miller
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Photo by Maria Thalassinou on Unsplash

The global coronavirus pandemic has lead to many important lifestyle changes for all of us. More people are working from home or working remotely, business and entertainment all take place virtually, and, significantly, our kids are no longer attending full time in-person schools. With so much learning taking place on the internet nowadays, it is very important that we keep our kids safe from the many potential dangers lurking online. 

Luckily, there are many simple and straightforward tools available to help smart parents in these endeavors. From online safety school to protective measures you can add on to your home Wi-fi network, let’s take a look at why online safety is so important today and how to keep kids safe while learning virtually.

  • Kid-Proof Your Internet

Before your children are given free reign to surf the net, there are some steps you can take that will pre-empt most unwanted interactions with cyberbullies or potential online predators. First, you can try installing parental controls. 

Download a computer monitoring software that will allow you to block certain apps or games, prevent your kids from downloading inappropriate content, screen and restrict access to certain types of website, and limit online purchases so your kids can’t make any payments without parental consent. Parental controls can also allow you to limit screen time, monitor social media activity, and prevent harmful ads. 

Keep in mind that the type of controls and restrictions you put in place may be different for younger children (who are more likely to stumble on inappropriate content accidentally) versus teenagers (who may seek out websites or chat rooms you don’t approve of). So as you search for the right kind of parental controls to keep your kids safe, keep in mind their relevant age level and what kinds of rules you want to put in place. 

You may also want to consider adding a VPN to your internet. A VPN, or “Virtual Private Network”, cloaks your location and identity online, preventing any would-be hackers from accessing sensitive personal information your kids might inadvertently share, such as home address or full name. The benefit of a VPN is that it not only keeps your child’s online learning sessions private and secure from outside prying eyes, it also protects every device you and your kids use that is routed through your home Wi-fi router, so their smartphone and tablet online activity will be equally secure. 

  • Home Training Session

Take some time to sit down with your children and review together some basic online safety protocols. Talk together about straightforward online safety plans, and how to look out for potentially harmful interactions. You can share with them animated videos to help kids learn about online safety that were created by US government agencies. And talk together about simple safety precautions you can all take when using online learning platforms. 

For example, never use identifying personal details in your child’s usernames on apps and online registration portals. Make sure to emphasize how important it is that they never give out personal information, like home address, telephone number, or age, to anyone that they don’t know, even if that person seems friendly. If they aren’t sure whether or not to share information with someone online, they can always check with a parent first. 

Clear, honest, and open communication is important here- you will want your children to feel comfortable coming to you to report any interaction they may have that feels uncomfortable to them. Remind them that they can always ask questions about something they may have viewed on the internet and that they can speak to you if something is on their mind. 

You may want to draw up a “Family Technology Contract” that lays out mutually agreed upon rules of behavior for your kids while using the computer. Print it out, sign it, and have your kids sign it as well. Keep it posted somewhere visible while they are on the computer, so they remember to abide by the rules you discussed together. 

  • Zoom Etiquette

Since much of your children’s online learning courses will be taking place via video chat platforms like Google Meet and Zoom, there are some simple precautions you can take to keep these formats safe and private. Put the computer in an open, public part of the house, and always avoid having school phone calls in your child’s bedroom. 

Make sure that the teacher’s Zoom classroom is password protected and private. Zoom meetings with randomly generated ID’s will discourage any potentially disruptive hackers from “zoom bombing” your child’s session. The meeting host can also disable the chat and screen sharing functions to prevent further distractions or possibilities for outside interference.

If you notice that your child’s teachers are not taking adequate precautions to ensure the safety and privacy of their virtual classroom, don’t be afraid to provide helpful feedback. Virtual learning is fairly new for us all and chances are that they will be all too happy to oblige.

You will also want to talk with your kids about cyberbullying in the digital classroom. Make sure your children are familiar with what constitutes appropriate and unacceptable behavior from and towards their peers online. Ask them to let you know if they think they have experienced or witnessed any incidents of cyberbullying. 

  • Take Precautions and Talk Often

As you go about putting in precautions to protect your children online, have an honest and direct channel of communication with them. Let them know what you are doing and why, so that they don’t feel they are being punished preemptively, or talked down to. There are many kinds of threats that can exist out there in the wild world of the internet. The best tool towards keeping your kids safe in the virtual classroom is to communicate and be open with your children’s teachers, other parents, and, especially, your children. The more issues are talked about out in the open, the more you can rest assured that your children are safe in their digital school. 

UT Students Bring Camp Kesem to Toledo: Summer camp provides support for children with parents affected by cancer

By
Laurie Bertke
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Registration is now underway for a summer camp that provides support to children with parents affected by cancer in the Toledo area.

The free camp is sponsored by Camp Kesem, a national program serving children ages 6-18 through chapters based at colleges and universities across the country. University of Toledo students Morgan Zickes and Rachel George led the effort to bring Camp Kesem to UT last year, and this summer’s camp will be the first offered by the local chapter.

Zickes attended Camp Kesem at The University of Notre Dame as a child and had such a positive experience that she wanted to bring the opportunity to children in the Toledo area. “It really had an impact on me and I wanted to be able to pay it forward to kids directly in my community that were in the same exact situation that I was,” says Zickes. “It’s a really special organization.”

Virtual camp
Zickes was 13 years old when her father died of pancreatic cancer in 2013. The rising college senior now serves as one of the outreach coordinators for Camp Kesem, which is largely staffed by trained college student volunteers.

While Camp Kesem is normally held as a weeklong sleep away camp, this year’s programming is to be offered online Aug. 1-6 due to the ongoing pandemic. Participants will receive a package with all the materials they need for the week and be invited to tune in to virtual programming to engage with counselors and their peers each day.

Zickes served as a counselor for a virtual camp that was offered through another chapter last year and says campers still found the programming to be beneficial and impactful. “The kids that participated really did give us good feedback and got a lot out of it, even though it was a little bit different,” she says.

Connecting kids with a supportive community
Founded at Stanford University in 2000, Camp Kesem has grown to become the largest national organization dedicated to supporting children impacted by a parent’s cancer. All programs are offered at no cost to families. In addition to the summer camp, staff members offer year-round support to children through and beyond their parent’s cancer.

According to the Camp Kesem website, an estimated population of more than 5 million children in the United States have lost a parent to cancer, have a parent undergoing cancer treatment or have a parent who is a cancer survivor.

“Kesem” is a Hebrew word meaning “magic,” and the name reflects “kind of an indescribable thing that happens at camp,” says Zickes.

“I’m probably the poster child for how successful this programming is,” says Zickes. She relates that when she arrived at camp for the first time, she didn’t want to talk with anybody and thought she could handle everything on her own.  Camp Kesem gave her a supportive community of peers who understood what she was going through.

“A lot of the kids kind of feel that sort of isolation and disconnectedness from their peers because they can’t relate to what you’re going through,” she explains. Many children with parents affected by cancer find themselves taking on adult roles at a young age and lack a support network. Camp Kesem has been shown to improve self esteem and communication skills in the youth who attend, and many campers return year after year.

“It’s really kind of about giving you a childhood back, in some sense, and surrounding you with people that know what you’re going through without you having to explain it,” says Zickes.

To register a camper or to learn more about year-round support programming offered by Camp Kesem, visit www.campkesem.org. You can also follow the UT Chapter on Facebook and Instagram.

Summer Camp 2021

By
Digital Media
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The days are longer, the sun is brighter, the thermometer is rising…summer is almost here!
But how will you keep your kids occupied once school is out for the year?
It’s time to think about making this a summer to remember.

Boy Scouts of America

Miakonda Day Camp:
5600 W. Sylvania Ave.
| 419-241-7293 | erieshorescouncil.org/cdc

The Erie Shores Council will host five week-long day camps for all kids entering grades 1-5. Attendees will get the chance to participate in a variety of activities, from STEM lessons and creating crafts to swimming and archery, as well as learning a variety of Scouting skills. Each camper will get a t-shirt, patch, lunches and a week of outdoor fun that they’ll never forget! Parents who register by May 6 get an Early Bird discount.

Sessions held weekly from June 14 through July 16.

Camp Invention
invent.org

The National Inventors Hall of Fame’s summer programs have delighted attendees for over three decades. This year, parents will get a choice as to how their kids can experience the camp: In-person at one of five Toledo area options, or at home with daily virtual sessions. Both choices offer the same curriculum, and parents can change their mind about which option they choose up to six weeks before camp starts.

Sessions and schedules vary.

Dorr Elementary School
1205 King Rd. | 419-867-5666

Fallen Timbers Middle School
6119 Finzel Rd., Whitehouse | 419-877-0601

Grove Patterson Academy
3020 Marvin Ave. | 419-671-3350

 

Toledo Christian School
2303 Brookford Dr. | 419-389-8700

Waterville Primary School
457 Sycamore Lane, Waterville | 419-878-2436

Photo credit to Cardan Montessori Center’s Facebook
Cardan Montessori Center

1555 S. Byrne Rd., Ste. 100
419-787-7376
cardanmontessori.com

Give your child a summer with the inspirational educators at Cardan Montessori. This year marks Cardan’s fourth annual summer camp, themed “Summer of the Arts.” Attendees will
get to sample a wide variety of artistic pursuits, from written
work such as poetry, staged performances like dance and
theatre, to visual arts like photography. Better yet, the camp will feature daily field trips and guest presenters to inspire your child.
Register today!

Camp scheduled for May 24 through August 13.

Children’s Discovery Center

338 N St Clair St. | 419-255-4890
3839 Talmadge Rd.| 419-474-8303
11090 Avenue Rd., Perrysburg
419-874-8203
childrensdiscoverycenters.com

Camp Discovery is a program designed to help children learn and grow during the summer months. Based around projects and problem-solving, camp sessions will include weekly bible lessons and activities that will strengthen your child’s curiosity. In addition, the camp features weekly field trips to a variety of area locations, giving campers a chance to swim, skate, go bowling, ride horses and much more.

Sessions and schedules vary.

Educare Academy
educareacademy.com

The award-winning specialists at Educare Academy offer a specialized Summer Camp program that keeps young campers engaged and learning all summer. With activities like cooking, science projects, water play, field trips and more, kids are sure to love their time at any of Educare’s full day programs. Openings available for campers as young as infants all the way through school age.

Schedules and sessions vary.

2303 Cheyenne Blvd. | 419-865-8191

943 N. Dixie Hwy., Rossford |
419-666-9843

631 Euclid Ave. | 419-691-6444

111 Indiana Ave. | 419-254-4000

4450 Jackman Ave. | 419-478-3131

3580 Lagrange St. | 419-242-4777

1940 W. Laskey Rd. | 419-474-3400

3158 Navarre Ave., Oregon |
419-693-6982

806 Starr Ave. | 419-693-7550

1902 W. Sylvania Ave. | 419-214-1322

educareacademy.com

Heather Downs Country Club

3910 Heatherdowns Blvd.
419-385-0248
heatherdowns.com

Does your child love to hit the links? Heather Downs Country Club offers a four-day program that will help sharpen their skills with a series of instructional clinics. Aimed at players ages 7-17, the camp will include instruction by a member of Heather Downs’ staff, balls for the range and a discount on green fees if they want to play after class (accompanied by an adult). Want more intensive instruction? Check out the Country Club’s Junior Golf Academy sessions beginning in June and September.

Sessions and schedules vary.

Imagination Station

1 Discovery Way | 419-244-2674 | imaginationstationtoledo.org

Another hands-on, science-stuffed, excitement-packed summer is just around the corner at Imagination Station!  Campers ages 6-13 can sign up for one (or two or three!) weeks of amazing summer camps at the science center. From computer coding to some seriously messy science, Summer Camp will inspire creativity and challenge and expand growing minds. Each summer camp program has been reimagined to align with local and state COVID-19 recommendations and guidelines. Camp capacity has been reduced to allow for social distancing, campers and counselors will be required to wear masks during their visit and temperature checks will be administered before campers and Team members enter the science center.

Sessions and schedules vary.

Sylvania STEM Center

3315 Centennial Rd, Ste., Sylvania
419-283-3084
[email protected]
www.sylvaniastem.org

KIDS LOVE OUR CAMPS!!!!

We frequently hear, “This is all my kids have talked about all week, what else do you have?” Sylvania STEM Center has been offering fun STEM based programs for the last 10 years. We offer a variety of camps to ignite imagination and spark interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. With camps like Exploratory STEM, LEGO Robotics, Battle Bots, Stop Motion, Rockets Rock, Build Your Own 3D Printer, and Underwater ROVs, it’s sure to be an exciting summer full of adventure!

The Details:
Camp dates: June 7-July 30th
Camp times: Varies—Most start at 9am or Noon and range between 2-3 hours
Ages: Entering grades 1-12
Cost: $150-$300, depending on the camp
Register: https://www.sylvaniastem.org/summer-camps

Open Arms Wellness Center
& Yoga Loft

2300 Navarre Ave., Oregon.
419-720-8604 | openarmsmassagestudio.com

Want to give your kid a break from the stresses and pressures of, well, being a kid? Sign them up for one of Open Arms’ two week-long Little Yogi Summer Camp sessions! Meeting at Pearson Metropark in Oregon, these five-day events will introduce children to a variety of stretches and relaxation techniques, helping them improve poise, strength, self-confidence and their ability to relax. In addition, attendees will be taken on hikes, share stories, play games and much more in a beautiful, natural setting.

June 21-25 or July 19-23. $175 per session.

Scrap4Art

 

333 W. Wayne St., Maumee. | 419-343-8338 | scrap4arttoledo.org

Crafting, gaming, sculpting and painting– all done with a scrappy touch! Scrap4Art in Maumee is hosting weekly art camps all summer, Monday through Friday, from 10am-noon each day. Every week will come with a specialized theme, from creating magic-themed projects to creating pieces inspired by students’ favorite games. Come dressed for the weather– and to get messy! $100 per student per week.

June 14-August 6. Open to grades 1-6.

St. Rose Catholic Church

217 E Front St., Perrysburg. | 419-874-5631 | saintroseonline.org

If you’re looking for a variety of experiences for your child to choose from, St. Rose in Perrysburg has a slew of options. Over the course of three week-long summer camp sessions this June, St. Rose will host classes running from 9am-noon each weekday. From art to reading to cooking to dance to sports to science to theatre to…look, if your child is interested in something, chances are that St. Rose has a camp session that will appeal to them! Camp is open to preschoolers and children ages Kindergarten through 4th Grade, and camps are subject to registration numbers.

June 7-11, June 14-18 & June 21-25. Sessions vary.

Toledo Ballet

5327 Monroe St. | 419-471-0049 |
toledoballet.com

Young dancers who want to broaden their horizons have opportunities thanks to Toledo Ballet. The group offers Summer Intensives, week-long programs where more experienced dancers will have the chance to work with experts from around the country. For the younger set, Toledo Ballet will feature five-day morning Summer Camps, where performers will take lessons centered on classic children’s stories, from Alice in Wonderland to The Nutcracker. Space is limited, so register your child today!

Sessions and schedules vary.

Toledo Junior Golf Association
tjga.golf

Looking to keep your young golfer’s competitive edge sharp before the Ohio High School golf season? The Toledo Junior Golf Association’s summer session runs tournaments from June through the first week of August. Each event sees competitors vying for medals and points, aimed at winning the overall “Player of the Year” award, given to one male and one female golfer at the end of the season. In addition, all new members of the Toledo Junior Golf Association will get 50% their membership dues and entry into all tournaments.

Visit tjga.golf for a complete list of tournaments.

Toledo Museum of Art

2445 Monroe St.
| 419-255-8000 |
toledomuseum.org

From creating depictions of living creatures to learning how to share their story in a narrative form, the Museum gives kids ages 6-13 a chance to stretch their imagination in ways they never thought of. The camps run each week from June 10 through July 26 (though not on Fourth of July week) with morning and afternoon sessions available. Kids can opt to take both sessions and stay at the museum for lunch, too. Registration for this summer’s camps end on May 21!

Sessions vary.

Toledo Rep
16 Tenth St. | 419-243-9277 | toledorep.org

 

Whether your young actor is looking to croon some of the classics or create a brand new show, the Toledo rep has options for them with summer classes and workshops. The Rep’s week-long sessions include a salute to country western musicals, the creation of a brand new show built around an invented superhero and a week of training in improvisation.

Sessions vary.

 

Toledo Zoo

2 Hippo Way | 419-385-5721 | toledozoo.org

Calling all animal lovers! The Toledo Zoo’s Safari Summer Camps offer the perfect vacation getaway for kids from kindergarten through middle school. Each week-long session runs Monday through Friday from 9am-3pm (unless otherwise noted on the website) and will give attendees a chance to visit live animals, play games, craft items and more. All attendees will get two Zoo t-shirts, a water bottle and a daily snack in addition to their classes. The Zoo even offers care for campers before and after camp sessions for an additional fee.

Sessions, schedules and prices vary. Discounted for members.

St. Francis De Sales

2323 W. Bancroft St. | 419-531-1618 | sfsknights.org

Get ready for a summer of sports with one of St. Francis De Sales’ athletic camps! From basketball to football to baseball, soccer and golf, St. Francis is offering a variety of camps for children of all ages and skill levels. Whether your child is just starting on the path to an athletic career or already is showing skills, sign up today!

Camps run June 7 through June 28. Schedules and prices vary.

 

May/June Edition

By
Digital Media
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5 Questions for Mother’s Day: Area moms talk about the challenges they face

By
Digital Media
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Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

As we move through year two of the pandemic, the impact it has had on all our lives has been immeasurable. For area parents, it has meant a complete restructuring of how they approach the responsibilities of raising their children. We asked several moms for their perspective on how being a mother has changed, the surprises they’ve learned along the way, and the best advice they’ve ever gotten!

Raven Bender, Holland

How many kids? One child, age 2. 

How has COVID impacted your life as a parent in the past year?
Covid has impacted our family in many ways, the most significant being not being able to have the support of mom groups, or play dates, or even taking my toddler to the grocery store.  However, it has also made me a more patient mother, and made my bond with my daughter so much stronger. We have spent more time at home playing this year, and learning about one another than we would have if Covid never happened. 

What’s something about being a mom that surprises you the most?
How much I’m able to get done in one day has been the biggest surprise for me. Waking up, and taking care of a toddler and a puppy, all while working and keeping up on housework sounds daunting, but it always gets done somehow! 

Parents teach their children about life. What’s something that your child has taught you?
My child has taught me to live life to the fullest, and let go of every expectation I’ve ever had! (In a good way, most of the time.) You can never anticipate things going exactly how they’re planned and having a two year old in a global pandemic has taught me exactly that. 

What’s one thing you wish you could change about your early days as a parent?
I would change how hard I was on myself. I was so caught up in milestones, and comparisons that I almost missed the beauty in my daughter’s growth. I always found things to compare, and was very tough on myself for things that were out of my control. If I had just taken a breath, and allowed myself some grace in the beginning, I could have saved myself from months of stress. 

What is the best advice about being a mom you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is from my family doctor.  When my little one was a year old, the doctor said a phrase that has stuck with me. “The days are long, but the years are so short.” I think about it often, and it reminds me to slow down, and take it all in. The good, the okay, and the bad.

Sierra Fox, Maumee

How many kids? One, 1 year old.

How has COVID impacted your life as a parent in the past year?
COVID has drastically impacted our life as parents in both positive and negative ways. Since our daughter was born 2 weeks before the national lockdown we got to spend many months bonding with our newborn as a family and as first time parents. But it also eliminated our ability to expose our daughter to other family members in her first year of life, and other children.

What’s something about being a mom that surprises you the most?
Something that surprises us most about being a mom is the amount of pride and joy we wake up feeling for our daughter everyday. She brings out the absolute best version of ourselves as parents and individuals.

Parents teach their children about life. What’s something that your child has taught you?
Patience and to slow down and enjoy every second in a day.

What’s one thing you wish you could change about your early days as a parent?
One thing we wish we could change is the amount of pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect moms.   

What is the best advice about being a mom you’ve ever received?
To take all of the pictures, babies are growing and changing everyday and it goes by too fast.

Jodie Hanf, Perrysburg

How many kids? Three daughters, currently ages 9, 7 and 3.

How has COVID impacted your life as a parent in the past year?
Oh man. It would truly be easier to tell you the ways that it has not impacted my life as a parent in the past year. I have Multiple Sclerosis and take a disease-modifying treatment that affects the immune system, which makes us a high-risk family. Our entire world was paused in early 2020, and we are still looking for the remote in the couch cushions. 

We do not go anywhere, do not do anything, do not see anyone. My husband now works from our home office. I now teach our two oldest children at home. This is no small feat, especially with a toddler in tow. I have added “bouncer” and “events coordinator” to my parental wheelhouse as well. When your small children do not get to see their friends in person you have to be prepared to do two things— break up (so many) sibling fights and keep them from getting too bored. A little a bit of bored breeds creativity, but too much just causes the bickering I mentioned. 

The first half of the year 2020, we worked incredibly hard doing “Family Fun Nights.” We built a temporary indoor playground, had a fancy tea party, made an indoor mini-golf course, went camping in the backyard, and did a Jackson Pollock-inspired art session. We have also celebrated six quarantine birthdays in the house without our family or friends.

It is beyond difficult and tiring to parent 24/7 without any breaks for over a year now! It is not for the weak-willed. I did the rough math the other day and I have parented approximately 2,000 additional hours this last year then I normally would. That extra time with my children has been invaluable, though. I know my girls much better and have talked with them in depth about compassion and empathy, something we value in our family. I have dug into my reserves for patience and strength, especially when I was faced with a relapse of my MS at the beginning of 2021. We have done, and still continue to do, what we have to in order to keep our entire family safe and healthy. 

What is something about being a mom that surprises you the most?
That parenting evolves. I read all the books you are supposed to read when I was pregnant and thought that once you started with one parenting style, then that was where you stay, locked in the same with each child. But as time goes by you learn and you change. And you parent each child differently, as each child is unique. 

Parents teach their children about life. What is something that your child has taught you?
Giggles and hugs are the best medicine! And that I need to spend more time just being silly. And if you mess up, children deserve your apologies. They are not just for adults. We often hold children to a lot of adult standards yet fail to give them human courtesies. 

What is one thing you wish you could change about your early days as a parent?
Oh my goodness, SLEEP! Our oldest never slept. We nicknamed her the night watchman since she woke hourly. I suffered from severe sleep deprivation for the first year and a half. I also wish that I had trusted and listened to my own Mama instincts more often. 

What is the best advice about being a mom you have ever received?
Babies don’t keep. It’s true. They just don’t. And my best advice to give to other mamas would be to never, ever compare yourself or your sweet little one(s) to anyone else. You are doing a phenomenal job, Mama! 

Kendra Hipp, Toledo

How many kids? Two boys, ages 6 and 12.

How has COVID impacted your life as a parent in the past year?
Life as a parent during COVID has been stressful at times especially because both my husband and I are essential employees who work full time. Our jobs never shut down. We also didn’t have the option to work from home. In the very beginning it was very difficult because we didn’t want either of our parents watching their grandchildren with the fear of giving them COVID so we had to manage through switching schedules, using vacation/sick time etc. Online learning was also a challenge as well especially in the beginning of the school year but kids are truly resilient. I am so proud of our boys with all they have been through during the pandemic!!!  Entering Kindergarten and 6th grade– major milestones in their life as well as ours but they worked through it and did such an amazing job!!!

What is something about being a mom that surprises you the most?
Something that surprises me about being a mom is just truly how fast time goes! I remember my parents always telling me that the years go by faster and faster as you get older and how true that really is especially being a mom and being busy 24/7.

Parents teach their children about life. What is something that your child has taught you?
As crazy as this sounds, I think my children have taught me to slow down in life especially most recently. It’s still a work in progress lol but I am really trying. There is always the laundry and the constant upkeep of your home but it’s ok to just sit back and relax sometimes. The chores will still be there for you for a later day!

What is one thing you wish you could change about your early days as a parent?
One thing I wish I could change in my early days of parenting is cherishing more of the time and not worrying as much about the small stuff. I also wish I would have taken more time off when my boys were first born. I went back to work after 6 weeks with my first and 8 weeks with my second. If I could go back in time I would have definitely taken the full 12 weeks!!!

What is the best advice about being a mom you have ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is to just slow down and enjoy every moment. If they want to play a game with you, play the game. If they want to go to the park, go to the park. One day they will be grown and out of the house— enjoy them and cherish every moment.

Ashley Hunt, Toledo

How many kids? Three kids, ages 14, 12 and 8. 

How has COVID impacted your life as a parent in the past year?
COVID has had a huge impact on our lives. Besides the obvious with schools closed and adapting to that I work full time at Toledo Hospital as a respiratory therapist. We as a profession are up close and personal in the fight against COVID. Work and life balance has taken a toll on us with all of the overtime I have worked this past year. 

What is something about being a mom that surprises you the most?
What surprises me the most about being a mom is no matter how mad or disappointed I am with my life, family or work my children always have a way of taking all of life’s worries away. Just unconditional love (even from my preteens).

Parents teach their children about life. What is something that your child has taught you?
My children have taught me to live life with less worries. As an adult we often absorb so much worry about everything. Kids just want to play, smile and have new exciting experiences. We as adults need to smile more. 

What is one thing you wish you could change about your early days as a parent?
I wish as a new parent I would have taken the time to really take it all in. Having a baby is stressful and you just go through the motions. I honestly wish I remembered more of those firsts. 

What is the best advice about being a mom you have ever received?
The best advice I have gotten was to make a lot of memories with my kids. Kids don’t remember things or toys, they remember going on the trips as special experiences, those are moments that they tell their kids about someday.

Faith Keller, Maumee

How many kids? One child. She turned 2 the end of January (a polar vortex baby!) 

How has COVID impacted your life as a parent in the past year?
How hasn’t it? We lost my grandmother almost two weeks after Christmas due to complications of COVID. I find myself over protective of my child. She has rarely seen the inside of anything but home since COVID started. It’s unfortunate because she is a very social child so we are thankful for our care provider and a group of friends with children. 

What’s something about being a mom that surprises you the most?
How fiercely I love my child! I didn’t realize just how much I would love her. My love for her motivates me in ways that no amount of Pinterest motivational quotes could do.

Parents teach their children about life. What’s something that your child has taught you?
An example of God’s unconditional love! My daughter looks up at me with these eyes of love that I can’t comprehend sometimes! Mamas, your child thinks the world of you! Even in your worst moment. 

What’s one thing you wish you could change about your early days as a parent?
I wish I would have been quicker at finding more parents resources. It’s so great to have multiple diverse communities to glean parenting wisdom from. Especially when we can’t leave our homes as often (covid), it was great to have a community on social media I could turn to. I wish that I would have had that in the first few months of being a mother, especially since my family is 7 hours away in my hometown!

What is the best advice about being a mom you’ve ever received?
Don’t let your mental health suffer because you are too proud. Every mama has something they battle and for some of us, it’s postpartum depression/anxiety. Speak out often, surround yourself with a good support system. Always, always ask for help!

MAY/JUNE GIVEAWAY Funko Snapsies!

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Mix ‘em, match ‘em, create unique creatures that your kids will love! That’s the idea behind Snapsies, a mystery bag-style toy Funko. Each plastic ball comes filled with surprise animal pieces that can easily be taken apart and put back together with new pieces, letting your child make new creations all their own. This month’s winner will receive TWO different Snapsies balls, so enter today!

Congratulations to the winner of our March/April Dowdle Puzzle giveaway! 

Virginia Feltman, Maumee

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