A very special animal just made her grand debut! After a 14-month pregnancy (yes, 14 long, long, long months) new mom K’tusha the okapi gave birth to a baby girl at the Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom.
If you’re not familiar with the okapi, that’s okay. The okapi is an unusual animal that lives in the rainforest regions of Central Africa. The only living relative of the giraffe, the okapi has the large, upright ears of its long-necked cousin—but white and black zebra-like stripes on its hindquarters.
The zoo’s staff names the young okapi Nia Nia, after the village at the center of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. This area, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the only place where this awesome animal lives naturally.
The new member of the Chester Zoo family took her first steps for the world to see recently. The zoo’s CCTV cameras caught Nia Nia in action, as she strolled outside with her doting mama.
Nick Davis, Deputy Curator of Mammals at the zoo, said of the okapi, in a press release, “These gentle creatures have been heavily targeted by poachers in recent years, mainly as a result of the illegal bushmeat trade, which is growing across nearly all of its natural range – making conservation efforts to protect these animals really difficult…so not only is Nia Nia’s arrival an important moment for us, it’s an important moment for the species.”
Visit the Chester Zoo’s website here for more info on this amazing okapi.
Parents often discuss common milestones their children pass through: first foods, first steps, first words. All have their own major impact on a child’s development. Beyond those common ones are numerous family-specific milestones and events—their first stuffed animal, the strange (and usually funny or cute) way a child pronounces a specific word or phrase, and much more.
For me, one of the most memorable milestones that I learned from my first child and excitedly waited for in each of my two tag-alongs was the understanding of the word “then.” There’s countless words to be taught to a toddler, each with their own importance. Communication is critical. In my family, it was the word “then” that had a much more powerful impact than the more obvious choices of milk, toy, train or cow.
Each noun or adjective my children learned was important, but it was the power that came along with the understanding of “then” that meant so much to my wife and me. Understanding it indicates a milestone of learning that any simple words can’t possess on their own. “Then” is one of the first words that shows the next stage of brain development and quickly becomes a day-to-day (or minute-to-minute) word for any parent:
Eat your peas and then you can have some dessert
Watch your show and then let’s read a book
Put your toy away and then go pick out a new one
Before that simple word, my kids would have launched themselves into a cupcake at first sight. After learning it, toddlers have a sense of self-control and rewards.
As an adult, we take that simple connecting word for granted. Everyone knows its meaning and no one questions the order you want something done. As a parent, that simple word brings a new communications dynamic and raises conversations with your toddler to a whole new level. After a year or so of only looking 10 seconds into the future, your little one finally has goals! Yes, they may be small, but immediately, their horizons grow to think about the future.
It’s a powerful concept, all from the word “then.” It completely changes the parent/child dynamic and sets the stage for a toddler to begin their development into a kid.
I’ve spoken with many other parents about how much that word means to me, and I’ve received many strange looks in response. After discussing for a while, most seemed to agree it was important, but not nearly the hefty milestone I made it out to be. I completely understand. As I stated at the beginning of this post, each family has its own unique milestones and events that mean the most to them. For me, some of my most memorable moments were seeing the thought process of my children understanding that simple word.
Of course, even now, a sweetly said ‘daddy’ still gets them the cupcake immediately.
Father of 3 that run the gammut from wild and daring to quiet and introspective. I'm always surprised by how crafty, witty and ingenious each can be in their own unique way. I figured out long ago that they have more to teach me than I do them.
Forget hiking through wildflowers or exploring ocean shores. When it comes to outdoor expeditions, your sidekick prefers sledding, snowshoeing and wandering desert dunes. Winter can be a great time of year to explore the national parks as there are fewer visitors and you’ll get to see your favorite spots in a totally different light. Read on to find our favorite national parks to explore during the winter months!
Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
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Rocky Mountain will push the limits of your carrier backpack in winter. Strap your sidekick in and then hit the trails in your snowshoes. Any trail you can get to is fair game. Or, use your pack while you cross-country ski around the park’s west side. If you’re new to either (or both) take your first steps during a ranger-led program (offered Jan. through Mar.), before fulfilling your mini-me’s need for speed on the Hidden Valley sledding hill.
Airbnbs Nearby: This gorgeous riverfront cabin in Estes Park is the perfect home base for your winter adventures. It sleeps 8 and if you're lucky you might see some elk walking by!
Yosemite National Park, CA
There's nothing like seeing your favorite peaks fully covered in snow. Winter in Yosemite is a very peaceful time of year. You can bring your sled to tackle the many snowparks and sledding hills. Snowshoe or cross-country ski Yosemite’s winter trails to catch stellar views and spot wildlife roaming through the park. Check out our Yosemite guide here.
Airbnb Nearby: This cozy mountain home is only 30 minutes from the south gate of Yosemite, so it's the perfect home base for your national park visit. There’s a town nearby where you can stock up on snacks for your adventures, too.
Bryce Canyon’s iconic hoodoos take on an otherworldly feel when they’re covered in snow, like something you’d find at Hogwarts, not in the Utah desert. Snapping pics and marveling at these formations is a winter activity in itself. But we’re pretty sure your munchkin explorer will appreciate all the cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding the fam can do around the park even more. We love that night owls over the age of six can join parents for a full moon snowshoe hike from November through March, and that everyone can join in on the winter astronomy programs they also offer at Bryce Canyon.
At the top of Mt. Rainier sits Paradise. And no matter what season it is, it’s the place to be when you hit the mountain with your crew. In the winter, your little speed demon can race down Paradise’s sledding hill or romp around in the snow play area once the snowpack is built up. Longmire’s winter trails are another place to check out when the snow’s deep. Plenty of shorter, novice-rated trails make this a great place for kidlets to test drive their shiny new snowshoes.
Airbnb Nearby: If the name alone doesn't convince you this is the winter cabin you've been looking for, the Yeti Cabin's aesthetic will. It's modern and chic and has everything families need to hunker down on vacay. A cozy fireplace, a kitchenette, an outdoor fire pit for stargazing at night are all part of this spacious
If snow isn’t a prereq for your family’s winter adventure, check out Big Bend in west Texas. Its welcoming mild temps are a big part of its appeal. Floating the Rio Grande is another. Winter is a great time of year to book a half-day float through the deep canyons, where spotting critters, both in and out of the water, makes fun sport for your mini crew.
Airbnb Nearby: You'll love to bring your whole crew to this eco hideout that's modern yet off the grid. The expansive mountain views are best enjoyed at the outdoor firepit.
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Washington, D.C.
Bundle up and bring the binocs, it’s time to spot some wildlife at Kenilworth Park. The songbirds may have headed south, but hearty raptors and blue herons are still out and about, ready to be caught on film during a winter boardwalk stroll. You can also spot deer and foxes roaming the grounds if you take the short River Trail hike. It’s a wild, wild world to explore!
Two active volcanoes make a trip to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park twice the fun. Watching your preschooler giggle at their sulfur “burps?” Even better. There’s plenty of hiking, camping and biking to keep the fam busy on the mountain. And when your little wanderer's wilderness quota is met, be sure to drive along Chain of Craters Road to explore the hot spots. After checking out the stunning overlooks, awesome arches and prehistoric petroglyphs your little will be overflowing with excitement.
Airbnb Nearby: Located 10 minutes away from the volcano, this family-friendly rental comes with a travel crib and a high chair. There’s a Koi pond, and the Volcano Golf & Country Club is down the road.
The folks at Acadia National Park love winter so much and you will too. Here you’ll find 45 miles of snowshoe and cross country skiing terrain to travel, 27 miles of snowmobile-worthy roads and frozen lakes full of fish waiting to be caught on an ice fishing outing.
Airbnb Nearby: Minutes away from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, this charming modern home sits on five acres of land. Grill out, cook lobsters and let the kids enjoy the great outdoors. Be sure to bring your bikes, too!
It makes sense that the best time to visit the hottest place on earth would be in the dead of winter. While other parts of the country are swimming in snow, the Death Valley mercury settles in around a pleasant 65 degrees most days, which makes for just-right hiking, biking or driving weather so you and your kidlet can seek out some of the park’s unusual sights, like Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View, The Racetrack or Ubehebe Crater.
Airbnb Nearby: Embrace the wild west at this cute cabin that's just 7 miles from the park's entrance. There's also a second cabin if your crew is larger.
When Minnesota’s magnificent lakes freeze over, they turn into icy roadways you and the fam can travel… by snowmobile! 110-miles worth of long icy stretches will take you where you need to go in Voyageurs. And hopefully one will lead your clan to the new Sphunge Island-Kabetogama Lake sledding hill, where they’ve set up a smaller sledding hill near the bottom for the babes, and a steeper one up top for more adventurous sibs or mom and dad.
Airbnb Nearby: This lakefront beauty has a dock that's the perfect spot to enjoy morning coffee and hot cocoa. The cabin is nestled in tall white pines with south facing views into Voyageurs National Park
Hit the tropics of the Everglades when the snow puts a damper on your spirit. The dry winter season here means more animals to spot (hello, alligators and manatees!), more ranger programs to attend (think: hikes, bikes and talks) and way less mosquitos than you and the kiddos would find any other time of year. Bienvenido a aventure!
Airbnb Nearby: This two-bedroom condo on a private beach has a pool, a hot tub, a playground and is a short drive away from the Everglades. We’re totally sold.
It’s been over 15 years since the Detroit Zoo birthed polar bear cubs, but all that changed on Nov. 17, 2020. Parents Nuka and Suka welcomed two cubs (who’ve yet to be named) in a special maternity den and the babies are doing well!
The cubs were born in a special area that is private and away from other bears. It is equipped with infrared video cameras so zoo staff can keep a close eye on the growing fam.
After the birth, staff noticed the female cub in distress so she was taken to the Detroit Zoo’s Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex where she is continuing to receive care. In the mean time, mama Suka is taking great care of her male cub.
Unfortunately for zoo guests, both cubs are currently in behind-the-scenes areas and can’t be viewed at this time. You can, however, visit papa Nuka in the Arctic Ring of Life’s tundra and pack ice habitats.
It will be some time before Suka and her cubs make it to the Artic Ring of Life habitats, but the Detroit Zoo has reported that the babies have their eyes open, their teeth are coming in and they are both learning to take their first steps.
These mom-tested tricks are guaranteed to have you saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?” From clearing clutter to crafting shortcuts and ensuring you always get a bite of your kid’s treats, these hacks will get you off the struggle bus. Share them with your favorite moms!
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1. Institute a Mom Tax Almost as soon as babies learn how to eat, parents want a bite of their baby’s food. This desire gets stronger as babies grow into toddlers who eat the pizza, ice cream and cookies parents often forego because they are watching their budgets, minding their waistlines or because the birthday party host did not invite the adults to partake. Unless parents establish early that Mom and Dad always gets a bite, attempts to take even a morsel may be met with strong protests. The answer is instituting a Mom Tax (or Parent Tax) early and often. Once kids come to expect that Mom will always tax their treats by taking a bit for themselves, they may even begin to offer a bite of their own free will. And nothing tastes sweeter than that.
2. Tame the Toys A trip to Target, let alone a toy store, can easily turn into a minefield if toy parameters are not set early. Reaching, grabbing, begging starts young. One of the easiest ways to assure a child you really, truly understand that they want a certain toy is by taking a photo of it so you remember what their heart desires. Your child is likely to quickly forget about the toy, and if they don’t, you have a ready-made wish list once their birthday or the holidays roll around.
3. Picture It The old adage that the days are long but the years are short is true. Take pictures of it all, not only the first steps and birthday parties, but the everyday routines and moments. Get kids used to the camera early and often. If you don’t, they can feel as though they have to perform every time the camera comes out, resulting in all of your photos featuring strange faces or cheesy, fake smiles. You can learn helpful tricks, like how to take great photographs with any camera, with inexpensive guides like Fearless Indoor Lighting ebook from Click Photo School. Make sure you have a consistent photo vibe that will not only look good on Instagram but will also look great on your walls and, one day, in a wedding montage. Find a photo style you like, whether you edit your photos on your phone or computer, from Pretty Presets for Lightroom.
4. Toss Carefully and in the Dead of Night Your child is undoubtedly a prolific artist who creates one masterpiece after another. You, or they, probably want to keep every museum-worthy drawing. They will protest loudly should they find one of their unbelievably valuable scribbles in the trash. The secret is to carefully toss these treasures after bedtime and to strategically place them under other rubbish so the drawings will not be spotted. However, if losing that artwork will also break your heart, there are a few options to preserve it: Fill an Artkive box with your child’s artwork and then send it off. Soon you will get a book filled with your child’s professionally photographed artwork to treasure forever. Or, take photos of your child’s best artwork and create your own personalized Shutterfly book. If you want to create your own mini-museum at home, snag an Articulate picture frame that allows parents to easily swap out artwork.
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5. Don’t Be Afraid of Shortcuts Do you want to the kind of parent who does crafts and whips up creations in the kitchen but don’t have the time, energy or inspiration to pull it off? Take a deep breath and take these prep-work shortcuts. Craft kits come in lots of themes, like these dinosaurs and glow-in-the-dark rocks kits from Creativity for Kids. In the kitchen, let someone else do the baking with a Color My Cookie kit that comes in ready-to-decorate themes from fire trucks to Valentine’s Day with everything included. Baketivity is a hassle-free option to get kids more involved in the kitchen with (nearly) all-inclusive kits and easy, color-coded directions for baking everything from cupcakes to whoopee pies. It’s okay to not plan every activity from scratch. In fact, you will probably be a more present parent if you don’t.
6. Make the Must-Dos Easy Life with kids isn't all sunshine and rainbows. There are things that must done get no matter how hard, like cleaning and taking care of sick little ones. Invest in getting these things done as quickly and painlessly as possible. Saving a few dollars is usually not worth the stress of having to spend a weekend cleaning or holding down a toddler to have their temperature taken. Some examples: If you ever wished there were a magical machine that could vacuum and mop at the same time, you are in luck. The Bissell Crosswave does both well so you can get the cleaning done faster and move on to more fun tasks. When your child has a fever, try an OAXIS no-contact thermometer. For under $50, it's a good way to have peace of mind that you can take your child's temperature without a fuss, even while they are asleep. Keeping an eye out for new gadgets that make tedious tasks faster will pay off when your stress level falls. These small tricks can add up to a lot of saved time. Check out these health & safety innovations for babies & toddlers.
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File these hacks for when your child gets older. Your future self with thank you....
7. Set a Flexible Schedule for the Tooth Fairy It is very exciting when a child loses their first tooth. And their second. Parents anxiously await their child falling asleep when those first couple of teeth are lost, but by the fourth or fifth tooth, the Tooth Fairy may lose her shine. Once that happens, distracted parents may forget to leave a dollar under their child’s pillow at night. This will undoubtedly result in disappointment and tears, but not if parents tell their children from the outset that the Tooth Fairy will come sometime during the week each tooth falls out. Building in some wiggle room is smart, even if it turns out you are one of the rare parents who never needs it.
8. Visit Santa Early Inexperienced parents may put off a trip to see Santa or delay getting that all-important letter to the North Pole in the mail. Do not wait until the week of Christmas to do this. Even if your child has been set all year on what they want, it is almost guaranteed that once they see the man in red himself, they will have a change of heart. This means either a disappointed child on Christmas or a stressed parent scrambling to find an out-of-stock toy or or paying for overnight shipment. While we are planning for Christmas, don't be afraid to let your child know that your family's Elf on the Shelf will visit for only a week. Your child can still have all of the magic without you stressing about coming up with tons of different places for the Elf to hang out.
There are several things people seem to “know” right off the bat when it comes to family planning, conception, and infertility.
It’s a women’s issue, certainly not for men to discuss
Infertility is all about the woman
Men are along for the ride—when the woman wants a child, the couple wants a child
First you date. Move-in together. Get married. Then you have kids. In that order. At every wedding—“You’re next, when are you putting a ring on it?” from some nosy person. Chill, bro. Don’t try to press me. Then whenever someone wants to know about your sex life, they ask, “When are you finally going to have a baby?” incessantly. I always wanted to ask if they were having unprotected intercourse. But I digress.
The First Steps
First comes the “I’m not trying, but I’m not trying not to” routine. Really, I think it’s just something us guys say because we don’t want to look too eager to get into the parenting thing. Especially for younger couples, it’s easier to say that than to hear, “You have your whole life” when you say you want kids now. But let’s face it, you want kids and you really are giving it the old college try.
Mood: Great. Sex all the time, no more worrying about birth control or any of that business. Just… fun.
Should It Take This Long?
“If you have sex, you will get her pregnant.” You totally expect it’ll be quick! Two or three months tops? Surely it’ll be happening soon. Like, really soon. Let’s give it a few months. What people don’t commonly know is that your odds of conception are only 20-25% each month for the healthiest of people.
Mood: Still pretty good. Because, sex, you know? But maybe we should try something different
Ok. Really, Let’s ACTUALLY Start Trying
This is where the research comes in. Basal body temps, special lubrication, cutting the booze, eating healthier, monitoring cycles. The list goes on. So after 7-8 months, you reach “let’s actually put a plan in place” status. We’re smart people, we can handle this.
Mood: Well, this is slightly annoying. Still, sex. But now it’s planned. And that’s not so exciting.
Infertility: The Dreaded Word
After 12 months of trying, you now get slapped with the infertility title, by medical definition. We knew it was headed that way, but it still sucks going to the Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) for the first time. For the wife, it was her feeling like a failure. This goes back to the beginning rule: infertility is a women’s issue.
For us guys, our experience is different. Doctors, nurses, insurance people, etc. all try their best to include the males, but at clinics, the woman is the patient. The woman gets the tests. She has to talk to insurance because the husband isn’t a patient. For me, that was the most frustrating part. Not being talked to as a patient but as the support. Give us your sample and you can go on your way.
Mood: This is such crap. But we’re taking charge, here. Bringing in the experts. As the guy, I might be ignored a bit, but it’s worth it. Also, if you ever posted a baby picture on Facebook, I hated you and probably hid you from my timeline. You’ve since been re-added and I’ve caught up on your awesome journey through parenthood.
On to the Treatments!
Monitoring. Blood tests. Shots. Lots and lots of shots. Have you ever been jealous of someone getting a shot or blood drawn or anything? It’s a very strange experience. If I could have taken my wife’s place as a human pin cushion, I would have. No doubt. It started out gradually with just oral medication and ultrasounds, but then we got into blood tests and a trigger shot (to induce ovulation). And after that, stimulating hormone shots.
Mood: Ok, for real. I am here. Maybe talk to me a bit?
Total side note: I got to be a damn fine shot giver. Like, so good. Me doing the shots, in a way, got me more involved in the process. I was less resentful of the whole thing because I actually felt like I had a role in creating my child. But that wasn’t until basically year four of our infertility journey. Years two and three were super shitty. One failed procedure after another, a canceled IVF cycle. It wears on you.
Mood: Our second cycle of IVF was actually a great experience from my perspective. I had a role. A purpose. And everything she was doing wasn’t going to be a complete waste of time and money.
Looking Back at the Whole Infertility Experience
Obviously, I wouldn’t take it back. I have a daughter (who is now an energetic 4-year-old). Gosh, it sure was terrible at times. And other times it was just laughable. Let’s just say that our dignity took a hit between collecting samples and a million ultrasounds.
There’s still a ton of stigma associated with infertility—and that’s the reason I am writing this today.
Yes, men can and do want families just as bad as their wives.
Yes, the woman is the patient. But I am still a willing and necessary part of the equation.
I work for an airline, so our our family of 4 flies everywhere on standby. Meaning, we never know if we'll actually get there. It's like travel Hunger Games. We have young kids and were never sold on the belief that you can't travel with little ones.
Can you believe it?! Another trip around the sun—time to celebrate! Trying to find the perfect gift for the young kiddo in your life can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack. With so many options, what to pick?
We’ve teamed up with VTech and LeapFrog to bring you a curated list of fun and engaging toys that make learning new skills a snap! For ages 1-5, you’ll find a variety of gifts that will spark their imagination, get their bodies moving and their brains firing on all cylinders. Ready. Set. Go! (And discover the perfect gift by age and stage!)
For Ages 1-2
Stroll & Discover Activity Walker™
From floor play to first steps, the Stroll & Discover Activity Walker™ grows with your little one. The easy-to-remove activity panel is great for floor play and is packed with features and the legs fold for easy storage.
When you get the Sort & Recycle Ride-On Truck™, you’re already doing your part to help the earth! This recycling truck is made from plastic that is 90% reclaimed.
Hold 100 animals in your hands with the touch-sensitive pages of the 100 Animals Book™! Six double-sided, interactive pages feature animals from 12 habitats and environments.
Fix and play with the Drill & Learn Toolbox™! Open this toddler-friendly toolbox and get ready for role-play fun with the included electronic fix-it tray, working toy drill, hammer, wrench, nails and screws.
Win the learning game with the Count & Win Sports Center™. Toddlers get their muscles moving with a soccer ball to exercise their legs and feet, and a basketball to get little arms and hands working.
Learning is sweet when pretending to run your own ice cream cart. Create imaginative and tasty-looking ice cream combinations using delicious ice cream flavors and toppings.
An exciting adventure awaits with the LeapLand Adventures™ learning video game. Kids go on a quest and learn about letters, numbers, shapes and colors along the way.
The Write & Learn Creative Center™ provides children with an interactive and fun way to give them a head start on how to write. Animated demonstrations help preschoolers follow along to learn proper stroke order for uppercase and lowercase letters.
Learn and create with the Explore & Write Activity Desk™! This interactive desk features five activity pages filled with engaging content including letters, numbers, music, colors and more.
This year has been heavy, to say the least. We have a virus, mixed in with an election year and all sorts of opinions and emotions swirling around. We’ve been separated from friends and family or lost loved ones and seen some of our favorite businesses and humans struggle. We recently lost Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who once said, “I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability”. We believe this sentiment extends to the people who are the helpers in the community, who do the very best they can, using the talents they possess to help others rise in times of need. Come, be inspired with us by our friends and neighbors who are digging deep to find ways to help.
Joanie Jett — End a Child's Hunger & Community Santa Project
Oh, man. Joanie Jett. Do names get any cooler than that? The kicker is, she's an even better human. She is honestly one of those people you want to plop down next to in a big cozy chair on a rainy never-ending Sunday, (spiked) coffee mug in hand for hours-long chats. She just oozes goodness and an unrelenting desire to show up and do her best over and over.
Joanie and her husband own Jett Pro Painting based in Wayne. When COVID-19 hit, they had to shut down their business to keep themselves and the families they work for safe. They used this time to ramp up the services offered by their 501c3, End a Child's Hunger. End a Child's Hunger initially started as an emergency resource to fill in the gaps until someone could get sustainable, long-term assistance. They have relationships with local police and social services agencies and historically they assisted primarily with cases of domestic violence. Since March, they've stepped up their operation and are now an on-going dependable resource for families, hand-delivering groceries to 30-40 families weekly. Before COVID, Joanie would visit food pantries to shop for the families in need. With current safety restrictions, Joanie and her husband have 100 boxes of food dropped off in their driveway weekly that they sort and deliver, sometimes driving 150 miles in a day.
Joanie also runs a pro-bono legal clinic for people in dire need, especially abused women, to receive legal guidance and representation. She assists with paralegal work, including filling out orders of protection and has a group of lawyers she's developed relationships with who grant her one pro-bono case per year. She serves as a calming first-point-of-contact for people who are intimidated by the legal process.
For 10 years, she's also coordinated the Community Santa Project (formerly known as Secret Santa Program). It started as a small project for her and her friends who didn't want kids to go without Christmas, and in 2019 they delivered gifts to 950 local families. In the past, they've depended on bars, restaurants and mom-and-pop shops for gift collection and donations, but that format is potentially in jeopardy this year. If COVID-19 forces more closures this fall and winter and with the financial impacts the virus has had on her benefactors, Joanie will have to get creative with how she accomplishes her mission.
How to help: Joanie's most immediate need is with the Community Santa Project and making sure it can run without hiccups. Like her Facebook page to get updates on the project and find out how you can help. If you own a business, you could also consider being a collection site.
Spend more than a few minutes with mom to 9-year-old son Aury and Art of Giving founder Autumn Pippenburg and you quickly understand she is so much more than an outwardly beautiful person. That beauty creeps through and permeates her soul. Her mind is in constant motion, churning out groundbreaking ideas and concepts that are truly brilliant, and almost always aimed at helping people in some way.
In 2018, Autumn launched Art of Giving, a 501c3 founded with the belief that cultural awareness and all mediums of art have the ability to bring people together and ignite change. Using funds raised through AOG, she founded a cultural center in San Marcos, Carazo Nicaragua so kids in grades K-12 could have access to clean bathing water, nutritional meals, fun and educational activities such as art, yoga, dance, music, English and, most importantly, a feeling of community.
Autumn is the person you call when a community need arises and you're not quite sure who to call. She always knows somebody who knows somebody who has a cousin who can help. Her brain is like a Rolodex of helpers and individuals, families and organizations that need help. She knows who to tap on the shoulder for what, and is equally willing to be tapped back to assist.
When COVID-19 hit and restaurants were forced to close quickly, she helped by taking carloads of perishable food marked for the dumpsters to city of Chicago organizations that could redirect the food to kids who were missing out on meals at school, since in-person school was not in session. Through AOG, she also collected donations and packed 55 backpacks with art supplies and 50 medical/hygiene supply bags for families in need. Because Autumn keeps on top of who needs what and who's doing what, she's able to respond quickly when an opportunity arises to help.
Not only is she constantly raising funds and developing programming to support the kids in Nicaragua, she recently redirected over a 1,000 pairs of soccer cleats from one local organization who wasn't quite sure what to do with them to a group in Africa, and she's helping bridge the gap between local charity organizations and community outreach initiatives to ensure kids have school and art supplies during remote learning.
How to help: Tax-deductible donations can be made to Art of Giving. If you find yourself with extra art or school supplies, food or clothing items, Autumn is always willing to find those items a new home as well. Just reach out via her contact information found on Art of Giving's website.
Brett Nicholas, Chief of Play & Learning — DuPage Children’s Museum
Brett Nicholas
After 16 years in museum-based education and time spent as a middle school science teacher, Brett Nicholas has a pretty sweet job title at DuPage Children’s Museum that might leave you questioning your own career choices, wondering why you didn’t shadow his path. Chief of Play and Learning. Sounds like all fun and games, but it’s actually a big responsibility to shoulder at a much-loved, STEAM-based organization that’s focused on servicing all members of the community in a way that’s educational, equitable and accessible.
Much like many of us, COVID-19 planting itself in our lives this year necessitated Brett working from home for the first time in his career. State guidelines restricting use of interactive exhibits has made it impossible for hands-on museums like DuPage Children’s Museum to return to being fully operational. His co-workers are now his wife, who’s also an educator, and three-year-old son Arthur. This temporary change-up has given him the opportunity to see close-up the obstacles caregivers and stay-at-home parents face keeping young kids engaged, challenged and developing a life-long interest in learning.
Brett has used this opportunity to reenvision long-standing activities and created new ways to support families. One such activity is the popular annual Touch-a-Truck event. Typically, visitors get right up next to land, water and air vehicles, sometimes even sitting in them. That being deemed unsafe mandated a rethinking of the event. Trucks needing to be separated from the audience meant they could actually show off in a transportation zoo format. The front-end loader was lifting up its scoops, the highly technical garbage truck was impressing with its movements. Brett and his team figured out a way to make the event just as, if not more, exciting in a way that eliminated touchpoints, allowed for social distancing and kept the learning and play aspect on full display.
The Museum also developed Parent Playshop, an adults-only virtual program that helps parents, who are playing a more rigorous role than ever in education, understand early childhood development. The program is meant to give parents context on what might be going on in the brain of a young child, and provide tips on modeling behavior, how to talk through emotions and issues and addresses specific age-appropriate needs.
The remote-learning format of the school year brought about a complex set of challenges, so DuPage Children's Museum, with Brett at the controls, responded by creating a variety of STEM Labs and took their popular in-house Arts & Maker programming virtual to help fill the afternoon with engaging activities that spark curiosity.
DuPage Children's Museum surveyed the community early on in the pandemic to help identify needs and continues to answer the call in ways that are unique, creative and impactful. Thank you to Brett and his team, some who are using their perspective as parents to drive evolving content, for their on-going commitment to the museum's mission of encouraging kids to become resilient, innovative, life-long learners
How to help: Small neighborhood-based museums like DuPage Children’s Museum exist all throughout our city. They rely on in-person visits and their relationships with schools and other organizations that service kids who utilize their programming and expertise to remain open and for funding the development of content. We’d venture to guess that most of us don’t fully understand the impacts they have on our kids and how far-reaching their work actually is, but they are irreplaceable. Please consider purchasing family memberships or making a donation to your favorite to ensure they come out on the other side of COVID-19 shutdowns.
Halle Frances Quezada Rasmussen — West Ridge Community Response Team
Halle was hesitant to chat about what's she's been doing to help since the start of COVID-19 because she really believes this isn't a story about her, it's the story of a large number of West Ridge community members who came together to tackle a crisis. She's just one important piece of a very beautiful puzzle. That being said, she agreed to be the humble spokesperson for this inspiring group.
The West Ridge Community Response Team launched on March 18 as a platform for neighbors to give and receive help. One of their first steps was to utilize a texting service to make a call-out to 10,000 people offering assistance in 7 different languages. From that message, they not only received requests for assistance, but offers of support that expanded their team. They created a hotline that operates in 7 languages where they receive requests for things like diapers, formula, food, job support, and guidance in understanding the availability of resources and services. The team launched a Facebook page to communicate with followers on the needs of neighbors, disseminate information they've received on events, activities, free or low-cost resources and conduct giveaways to encourage donations. They have volunteers who make twice-weekly food deliveries, make masks, operate their hotline, translate messages. Their goal is to address acute needs, be an emergency first-point-of-contact resource that hands off to more established agencies who can offer more sustainable support.
One of the biggest issues the team faced is a lot of resources typically available were also hit by COVID-19. Fundraisers and other generators of cash flow were halted. Job fairs and workshops that typically help those in need, especially immigrants, were canceled or moved to virtual models, creating access inequity. It took a while to begin to remedy those issues, but public schools and refugee stores have increasingly provided access to technology.
All donations made to the West Ridge Community Response Team are made through Life Quilt Foundation, a 501c3 founded in 2010 by a group of family and friends who believed every child was entitled to free basic education and poverty and lack of resources was not an acceptable barrier. When needs arise, they are usually able to respond with physical donations of the items. When they aren't able to do that, they utilize the $30,000+ they've raised via donations to address the needs of the 500 families they've supported thus far.
This team mobilized and responded remarkably fast to the pandemic. But they don't see this as a group that will disband once COVID-19 is in the rearview mirror. They know if they keep the engine at least a hum, the speed at which they can respond will be must greater if a far-reaching crisis happens again in the future. They will use it as a vessel to keep their community connected,
How to help: Follow the West Ridge Community Response Team Facebook page to get updates on ways you can give or receive assistance. You can also call their hotline at 773-888-0469. The team works a lot with State Senator Ram Villivolum and he has an excellent COVID-19 community resource page, as well.
Amber White
When Illinois COVID restrictions kicked in, Naperville resident Amber White, mom to Elliana (11) and LJ (3), was in the middle of everyone’s most favorite time of year: Girl Scout cookie-selling season. Her troop was no longer able to set up booths in front of storefronts, nor did it make sense to continue their door-to-door operation. This meant she had just under 200 boxes of Girl Scout cookies lingering around the house. Elliana gave Amber the idea to donate the remaining cookies to frontline workers at Naperville’s Edward Hospital. Utilizing her Facebook page and the Nextdoor app, Amber made a call-out to friends, family and neighbors and the response was overwhelming. She was able to procure cookies from 3 additional troops and not only fulfill personal orders, but donations to the hospital. With the cookie drop, the troop also delivered 30 get well cards for isolated COVID patients.
COVID initiated big changes for Amber’s family. Having a toddler at home meant in order for both parents to work, they would need to line up childcare. As a family, they decided it was best for Amber to quit her IT sales job and stay home with the kids to assist with e-learning, a concept they support until things with the virus level out. In addition to caring for the kids and supporting their remote learning, she reps a line of athletic clothes, ZYIA Active, a collection she feels is perfect for the stay-at-home workouts we’ve all been tackling.
If you know Amber, you know she’s an incredibly positive person who is always looking for ways to make a positive impact on the people around her. When BLM protests began this year, it was particularly personal for her, as her two kids are biracial. She used this time of increased racial tension as an opportunity to have big conversations with her kids about inclusion and diversity. Teaching them that it’s okay to recognize the way we’re all different, but to believe in equality and appreciate the way we all fit together to create a more beautiful culture.
These conversations spun the idea to create a mural for the neighborhood to appreciate. The mural was of a giant heart covering her driveway, pieced together using different colors and shapes. The shapes seemed irregular when you looked at them on their own, but if you pull back and look at the big picture, you can see their beauty. During its creation, Amber and her kids discussed how everyone is different—skin color, religion, gender, how we look and talk. We’re all so very different and when those differences are recognized, celebrated and accepted, we as a society shine exponentially, just like the collective pieces of the heart.
Amber hopes that the lessons of 2020 will stay with her kids. That they learn that hiccups, sometimes big ones, are just a surmountable part of life. That through those trials they will continue to support their neighbors and friends. And that teaching them the importance of inclusion, kindness and respect while they’re young will keep shifting the climate and culture into a positive direction.
Elena Marre - The Kids' Table
The Kids' Table team has been cooking with Chicago kids and families for over thirteen years. When COVID-19 hit, they had to close their Wicker Park and Lakeview storefronts—but they also saw an opportunity to reach kids and families in a whole new way.
Last spring, The Kids' Table launched a full virtual class schedule for kids ages 18 months all the way up through teens. Using various virtual platforms, their team of cooking instructors was able to connect with kids in Chicago—and WAY beyond Chicago. Their virtual classes have now reached thousands of kids from California to New York and Florida and beyond.
Their team is committed to teaching kids about healthy eating by involving them in the process. But their mission during COVID times is about so much more. Owner Elena Marre believes that cooking for others is a way to show love. While we are all going through challenging times, coming together to cook in the kitchen is a means of self-care— for kids and adults! This is a way for families to spend QUALITY time together and support EVERYONE's mental and emotional wellness. Elena also believes that because kids are spending so much time in virtual activities, it is critical for them to have hands-on experiences. Cooking in the kitchen is a great way to take learning experiences offline! And the kids in the virtual classes LOVE connecting with one another and meeting new friends from across the country. This is a way to make true connections—both virtually and with your own family.
Because The Kids' Table team knows that fall schedules look different for families this year, they have put together virtual and in-person programming options that will work for everyone. Break up the day with a one-hour “Let’s Lunch” or “Fabulously Fall” Cooking Class. Or make dinner for the family during a virtual “Supper Club.” Fall flavor profiles include Apple Brownies, Cheesy Broccoli Calzones & Sweet Potato Whoopie Pies! All offerings are available as single classes or a series.
Do you have a story you’d like to share of a friend (or you!) doing good work in the community? We’d love to help raise awareness and bring attention by sharing with our readers. Please reach out to maria.chambers@tinybeans.com.
The beach vacation we had originally planned never included a leg brace or Cerebral Palsy. After receiving the diagnosis just weeks before our trip, we were still functioning in a fog of disbelief. Going out in public was suddenly filled (in my mind at least) with stares and awkward glances exchanged between mothers and fathers of typical children. I couldn’t help but notice every single one.
It was summer, and our 16-month-old daughter’s brace was obvious. Summer clothes do not exactly hide a leg brace. While most kids, including her older sister, wore sandals in the sweltering summer heat, she wore tall socks and thick sturdy sneakers along with the brace to help support her balance.
Sitting at a beachside pizzeria waiting for our order to arrive, I saw her. She was a beautiful young mom seated across from us with her young family. I could have imagined myself striking up a friendly mom conversation under normal circumstances. However, I was not in a good place. My surly mood only intensified when I noticed her glancing over at my daughter’s leg brace.
I was angry about her staring. At that moment, I was angry about everything. I had not yet met anyone else in our situation and I assumed that no one would ever understand our pain.
When we finished eating, we paid the bill and packed up our leftover slices. I refused to look over at her table as we left. As we pushed the stroller back toward our beach cottage, we came upon a playground a few blocks down. Naturally, our daughters wanted to play. It was the first time we were at a playground with our daughter who had just started walking with her brace. I was terrified to let her go but I had decided that I would never hold her back. I was so focused on helping her navigate the equipment that I didn’t notice the mom from the pizza place standing in front of me.
“Hi, I saw you back at the restaurant,” she said softly, completely taking me by surprise. Before I could respond, she looked down at my daughter with a warm smile and motioned to her brace. “Do you mind if I ask why she wears the brace?”
It was the first time someone had asked me about it. Oddly, it felt good. The words didn’t come easily at first, but I managed to explain how we had noticed some developmental motor delays as a baby and had been through a great deal of testing and doctor visits. I told her how we had just received the diagnosis of Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy a few weeks earlier.
My voice cracking with emotion, I explained that she had only worn the brace for about a week and that she took her first steps just days before. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Is it okay if I give you a hug?”
At that moment I realized how hard I had been trying to hold it all together. I had been so strong that I never stopped to think about what I needed. As mothers and caregivers, we don’t really ever stop to think about that. More than anything in the world, I needed a hug. I needed to tell our story. I needed someone to truly listen and care. She hugged me, genuinely hugged me. I suddenly didn’t feel so alone.
I must have talked for an hour that day as she listened with kindness and empathy. She confessed that she saw us back at the restaurant and noticed the brace. She had wanted to talk to me then but didn’t know how to approach me. I realized it was my own defensiveness that caused me to think the worst of this lovely mom.
Our children played delightfully together for quite some time that afternoon. She patiently followed beside me as I anxiously shadowed my daughter. When our time was done that day, we went our separate ways. I know our paths will most likely never cross again, but I will never forget her. I am forever grateful for what she gave me that day: comfort and kindness when I needed it the most. Let’s all be that kind of a stranger to each other. You never know what kind of impact you may have on someone’s journey.
Hi, I’m Jennifer Farmer, an adventurer at heart. As a mother of two young children, I seek out fun adventures and opportunities that connect families to nature and the outdoors. Follow my blog for fun, budget friendly ideas for your family.
To help kids play it safe during the pandemic, these LA yoga studios and indoor playgrounds are now offering both private classes (aka playdates), as well as classes in your own backyard or at a nearby park. Read on for all the details.
This former brick and mortar and family-favorite spot now offers mobile classes and birthday parties across the city for early walkers up to 12 years old at your home or local park. Sessions focus on boosting the children’s physical and emotional development—all while having fun of course! From strengthening kid's balance and core-strength to fine-tuning their co-ordination and gross motor skills, their team of coaches ensure that each mini bouncer thrives physically while encouraging socialization, boosting confidence and gaining early leadership skills to help aid them in every aspect of their early lives.
Each 50-minute class is led by one of their expert coaches whether it's early walkers taking their first steps to older kids wanting to hone their athletic and sporting prowess, Bounce offers a wide range of activities to suit every age—and every skill set.
Cost: $195 for a group of up to 5 kids, $20 each additional child
For more information email them at: hello@bouncela.com or call the office on 323-842-0411.
While Little Play Society was unfortunately forced to close its indoor brick-and-mortar space, the beloved kids gym recently debuted socially distanced, outdoor classes. Little Play's Wee Jammin’ 2 (for ages 2-5) takes place at Little Play Park (aka Los Angeles High Memorial Park). The classes are held every Wed. and Sat. 9:45 a.m., right after the original Wee Jammin’ class (for kids under 2), which starts at 9 a.m. There will be sanitized instruments and props for kids to jam with.
Cost: $20 per class
COVID Protocols: Pre-registration and masks for adults are required. Masks or face shields for kids 2 and over are optional but recommended.
Sign up for yoga, dance, music, soccer and messy art classes, all held outdoors at nearby local parks. (Check out Zooga Yoga's West Hollywood schedule here, and Culver City's here.)
In addition to outdoor classes, Zooga will also come to your home for a private Zooga Pod, with prices starting at $100.
Cost (for outdoor classes): $24 for drop-in class; $16-20 per class for Zoopaks; $12 per class on average with membership
Covid Protocols: Class sizes are limited and all children ages 3 and up are required to wear masks.
Wild Child goes In the Wild (Child), their newest at-home, outdoor program. Classes offered include early childhood development (aka "mommy and me"), Wild Child Play Dates (1-2 hours), physical skills and development for preschoolers, P.E.-inspired sessions to supplement distance learning, and 1-3 hour "mini camps" for children to do arts and crafts, music and physical activities.
Cost: from $165 per hour (maximum number of participants based on size of the outdoor space); click here for additional details
Covid Protocols: All equipment is sanitized before and after each class. You also have the option to purchase a Wild Child Play Box, a curated assortment of age-appropriate toys that correspond with classes. Also, Wild Child staff is regularly tested for Covid and temperature/wellness checks are given each morning to ensure everyone is healthy.
Shorty comes "om" to your backyard with private yoga classes. Little yogis of all ages are welcome to join in the 45-minute kid-friendly session. Times are available both on the weekdays and weekends. Call or email to schedule.
Cost: $125 per class for up to 4 students, $25 per additional student
COVID Protocol: In accordance with social distancing guidelines (no contact, masks worn by instructors, and sanitizing precautions throughout session)
Schedule a private play date at My Gym Toluca Lake! You get 60 minutes of exclusive use of the entire gym, which has been completely cleaned and sanitized before you arrive.
Cost: $150 for up to 5 kids
Covid Protocols: Temperatures will be taken upon entry, and ask everyone must wash hands before and after playing. Children 3 or older must wear a mask, and all adults must wear a mask. My Gym teachers will be wearing masks while in the gym as well.
