April 2021 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Alissa Bookakery winner

growingupsc — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 17:11:19 +0000

Alissa, Age 10 Flower Lady | Grand Prize Bookakery Box March coloring COntest Our March contest was sponsored by The Bookakery winner Alissa, age 10, won this incredibly fun box filled with silly books and a baking activity! Thanks, Bookakery for bringing adventure to our readers! Do you want your chance to win great prizes? Entries for our April Coloring Contest end March 20. Your kiddo could win four tickets to ride the train at Roaring Camp

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March Winner

growingupsc — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 17:04:44 +0000

Santa Cruz Housing Market HOT

growingupsc — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:33:11 +0000

Santa Cruz Housing Market: Hot, Hot, Hot! By Seb Frey It’s no secret that right now the real estate market in Santa Cruz is hot. Actually, you could say it’s overheated! There’s no shortage of stories of homes receiving dozens of offers and selling hundreds of thousands of dollars over asking price. But in a way, that’s yesterday’s news. The thing to know about the real estate market is that it’s dynamic. What’s true yesterday may not be true today, or what’s true today may not apply tomorrow. For example, interest rates have risen substantially over the past several weeks – up about 0.75% give or take. That might not sound like much but considering that the best rates a couple months ago were 2.5%, 0.75% is a big jump. Today, 30-year fixed mortgage rates are bumping up around 3.3%. That kind of jump up will definitely have an impact in terms of affordability – buyers won’t have the same borrowing power relative to their income. Many people are expecting that this increase in mortgage rates will therefore result in a decline in real estate prices. It’s easy to see why people think that – except that there have been many periods in history where interest rates rose – and home prices rose, right along with them. The reason for this is that interest rates rise as demand for money rises (or at least, the projected demand for money). Demand for money rises when economic activity picks up. Stronger economic activity points to job and wage growth – which means there will be more buyers out looking for property, which will boost prices, even as rates rise. If you’re looking to see moderation in home prices, you’d do better to keep an eye on inventory. For years now, we’ve been suffering through a dearth of homes for sale. Too many buyers chasing too few homes has resulted in steady prices increases for the past 10 years or so. A couple of years ago I interviewed Leslie Appleton-Young, then Chief Economist for the California Association of REALTORS. I asked her what number she looks at most when she’s forecasting what’s going to happen to home prices, and she replied with one word: Inventory. Springtime is when we traditionally see more inventory coming onto the market – a lot more. However, demand has been so strong that we haven’t seen much of a build-up in inventory. In most neighborhoods, and most price segments, homes are selling about as fast as they hit the market. Yet might demand weaken, just as more homes are coming on the market? Might the jump in mortgage interest rates and buyer fatigue with the bidding wars ultimately conspire to tamp down demand? Will inventory start to build and prices flatten, pushing the market to something closer to a state of balance? Eventually – one day! – that will happen. But there’s no telling when. Might the $1.9 trillion in COVID relief and stimulus slingshot the market to ever higher heights? Could the Biden administration and their oh-so-slim majority in congress actually manage to squeak out a $3 trillion infrastructure (or whatever they’re calling it) plan, virtually assuring robust economic growth for at least the next couple of years? It’s quite possible! That could happen – the stock and bond markets are apparently betting big on just that eventuality. Hence the rising asset prices and climbing interest rates. What are buyers to do in a market like this? If you ask me, it requires two things. First is a leap of faith. To get into a house in today’s market, you have to be fearless. You have to stop worrying if the bubble is going to pop. In other words, you have to be present. You have to focus, relentlessly, on the here and now. The other thing you need to do is to take action – here, and now. If you see a future for yourself as a homeowner, you need to take the steps today that will put you in a position to be a homeowner tomorrow. That means calling a mortgage broker and getting pre-approved. That means taking a hard look at your expenses and seeing what can be cut. That means looking at how you can increase your income, through promotion, a change in career, whatever. It may also mean looking at how you can increase your down payment – possibly with help from family, selling some assets, or tapping into retirement savings. It may also require that you lower the bar – instead of a single-family home, you may need to look into a condo, townhouse, or possibly a mobile home. You may need to widen your geography and consider areas outside the neighborhoods hugging the coast. The road to homeownership isn’t for the faint of heart – not in this town, and increasingly not anywhere in California…or any of the economically successful region of the United States, for that matter. But there’s no question that the ends justify the means! There’s a word that’s become very popular in the past couple of months in American politics: equity. Equity! Everyone needs it, and the tried and true way to build it is through homeownership. I hope you will soon be on the road to obtaining your fair share as well. Realtor Seb Frey is the author of the book Get It Sold! Check out his videos on Facebook and YouTube – search for “Seb Frey TV.” Learn more on his website and reach him at sebfrey@sebfrey.com Read More Your Home Articles

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Creating Positive Childhood Experiences

growingupsc — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:05:47 +0000

Creating Positive Childhood Experiences By Nicole M. Young, MSW April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, which makes me pause to think about all the hardships and trauma children and families have experienced this past year. COVID-19. Displacement due to wildfires. Racism. Social isolation. Hunger. Lost jobs. Financial instability. Struggles with remote learning. Hate crimes. These multiple “storms” have left their mark. Communities across the nation have reported increased calls to domestic violence and mental health hotlines. Recent results from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Household Pulse Survey, suggest “the proportion of U.S. adults with symptoms of anxiety disorder and/or depressive disorder have quadrupled since before the pandemic,” especially among women and people of color (https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2020/long-term-impact-covid-19-mental-health). Thankfully, hope is on the horizon with COVID cases declining, vaccinations increasing, and schools and businesses starting to welcome kids and customers back. But life will not suddenly return to “normal,” as though someone flipped a light switch on. It will take time for children, families, schools, businesses, and communities to recover from these multiple storms and regain our sense of safety and well-being. This is a challenge we can tackle together. As a community, we have a shared responsibility to create the conditions that enable all children and families to thrive. We can do this by providing the support and resources that families need to provide Positive Childhood Experiences – loving relationships and nurturing environments – that increase resiliency and counteract the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences – such as losing a parent, witnessing or experiencing violence or abuse, being isolated during a pandemic, or experiencing discrimination and racism. Here are some tips for parents, caregivers, and all adults who want to help create those Positive Childhood Experiences: Encourage kids to express their feelings. Let the kids in your life know you’re there and ready to listen whenever they want to talk, especially about issues that may be scary or confusing like the pandemic, mass shootings, or racism. This helps children learn to identify their feelings, understand what is making them feel that way, and develop healthy ways of handling anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, or depression. If your kids aren’t used to talking about emotions, try using a feelings chart (with words or pictures of emotions), books, movies, social media, or imaginary play to help kids learn to recognize and name their feelings. Support each other as a family, especially during difficult times. It’s important for kids to know their parents and caregivers are there for them in both good times and hard times. Spend brief, frequent quality time together to strengthen the bonds between family members. Or hold family meetings to check in with each other (about things other than family rules or household chores) and give and receive support. Make this a habit during “regular” times so that your kids know they can turn to their family for support during difficult, uncertain times. Help your child or teen build positive relationships with at least two other adults who are not their parents or caregivers. These could be grandparents, other relatives, childcare providers, teachers, bus drivers, guidance counselors, coaches, therapists, pastors, neighbors, older youth – anyone who sees and values your child just as they are. Research has shown that having positive, trusting relationships with other adults makes a big difference in children’s lives, even (or especially) when they are experiencing challenges in other areas of their life. This can be particularly helpful for teens who crave independence from their parents but still want adult support and guidance as they navigate their way through adolescence, into adulthood. Participate in community traditions and activities, such as holiday celebrations, volunteer days, farmers’ markets, or other cultural events. This helps children and youth build a sense of belonging and connection to their neighborhoods and communities. Involve your kids in planning fun, safe community activities your family can do together. Encourage your kids to take pictures, collect objects, or keep a journal of the family memories you’re creating together. FINAL THOUGHTS: We may not ever completely prevent children from experiencing hardships in life, but we know that Positive Childhood Experiences can reduce or reverse the harmful effects of those difficult experiences. During Child Abuse Prevention Month (and every day, really), let’s recommit to building resilient communities that support nurturing family environments and strengthen children’s confidence and emotional resilience. I’m in. Are you? This monthly article provides tips for families raising children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, please email triplep@first5scc.org. Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 17 and 21, who also manages Santa Cruz County’s Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, the world’s leading positive parenting program. Scientifically proven, Triple P is made available locally by First 5 Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (Mental Health Services Act) and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit http://triplep.first5scc.org, http://www.facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org. Read More Ask Nicole Articles

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Mom and Son Artists

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 19:50:38 +0000

Zephy Pfotenhauer and Dante Clark Mother and Son Duo Mother and son Zephyr Pfotenhauer and Dante Clark (11) have been working together creatively for as long as Dante can remember. A professional artist and designer, Zephyr is often inspired by Dante for her own work and regularly enlists his help in completing various projects, from murals to printmaking. Dante is a longtime member of Art Lab in Boulder Creek and particularly enjoys building in Lego, Minecraft, wood and clay in worlds both real and virtual. A 6th grader at the Nature Academy, he is looking forward to returning to school, seeing friends and exploring the county with his classmates. Until recently Zephyr worked for Discretion Brewing as their in-house artist and designer, creating labels and merchandise for the family-owned craft brewery. Now fully self-employed, her clients include Edible Monterey Bay, the SC County Arts Council, Fruition Brewing and numerous others in need of her sharp-yet-whimsical creative aesthetic. Her work can be found at the Felton Mercantile and online at zephyrpfo.com or @zephyrpfo.o on Instagram. Read More Local Artist Articles

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Playing Music

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 19:43:22 +0000

Nurturing the Teenage Musician by Susan Willats For music students, who often spend a lot of time practicing and playing alone (especially those who don’t have a school music program available), playing with other musicians can be a true game-changer. We all know it’s not easy being a teenager. (It’s also not easy parenting a teenager, but that’s a topic for a different article.) Teenagers who play musical instruments face additional challenges: finding time (or motivation) to practice on a regular basis, worries about disappointing their instructors, and possible stigma or labeling from other kids at school. Research continues to show great advantages to those who play music, but it can seem a long and lonely slog at times to younger players. Community Music School of Santa Cruz has been hosting a resident music camp specifically for teenagers since 1999. At camp, students play in both instrument-specific groups as well as in an all-camp ensemble. One of the benefits of attending a full-immersion program like Teen Camp is having the space to focus on music for an extended period of time. Phones are off, there are no televisions, and campers’ sole purpose is to have fun while playing music with like-minded people. The primary music of Teen Camp is Celtic, a genre with a rich tradition of playing in multi-generational groups. Campers learn the etiquette of playing in seisúns (informal jam sessions) – the glue that binds the traditional music community together. One of the less-obvious benefits of attending Teen Camp is learning that such a welcoming community exists, and how to become a part of it. For music students, who often spend a lot of time practicing and playing alone (especially those who don’t have a school music program available), playing with other musicians can be a true game-changer. Parents of campers often report their teenagers show a renewed interest in music – and practicing – after returning from camp. Students often start thinking of themselves as musicians, which can be extremely empowering during the confusing and pressure-filled teenage years. A parent of a new camper sent this just after the final concert in 2019: “This week was amazing for him. The concert was almost tear-inducing, to be honest. I was so happy to see my kiddo SO HAPPY playing gorgeous music with other kids, and he talked about camp for over an hour back at home. He loved it, and I’m so grateful. Thank you for creating this.” This year Teen Camp will take place from Monday, June 14 to Saturday, June 19 at the Monte Toyon Conference Center in Aptos. Camp is open to players of fiddle, cello, flute, recorder, pennywhistle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, harp, dulcimer, accordion, keyboards, and more. Participants must be proficient on their instrument (i.e., have played for at least two years). Faculty include world-class musicians from the Monterey Bay area and beyond – some of whom are Teen Camp graduates who have gone on to careers in music. Additional information (including scholarships, COVID considerations, and the new “bring a friend” discount) is available online at CommunityMusicSchool.org. Read More Local News

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Book Review 2020 Hindsight

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 19:38:03 +0000

Book Review Local Photographers Create Living History By Brad Kava When two of the top local news photographers looked back on last year, with its traumas, disasters and a community that fought to come together, they realized they were seeing a huge piece of history, something people would be interested in seeing for years to come. So, Kevin Painchaud, of Lookout Santa Cruz and Growing Up in Santa Cruz, and Shmuel Thaler, of the Santa Cruz Sentinel, decided to pack 2020 into a special edition glossy book. The resulting work—“2020 Hindsight: Looking Back on a Tumultuous Year in Santa Cruz County”—is the kind of keepsake most everyone in this county would want to have in their bookcase and look back on through the ages. Sometimes you don’t realize just how important the times you are living in are until you see it bound in a publication that puts it all in context. This duo didn’t create the book to make a profit. All proceeds from its sales go to the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County’s Fire Relief Fund. Through a partnership with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, a free copy of the book also will be made available to every high school junior in Santa Cruz County, as well as free curriculum for all teachers of U.S. history. Along with breathtaking photos, the book features essays by locals who look at five forces that drove 2020 in Santa Cruz: pandemic, justice, fire, democracy and community. The writers include columnist Wallace Baine; former county clerk Gail Pellerin; former Mayor Justin Cummings; emergency room doctor Misty Navarro; Digital Nest founder, Jacob Martinez; journalist Rachel Anne Goodman; and developer and philanthropist George Ow, Jr. The essays give a real insider’s view to the year from the people who were driving forces, or victims. “No one we asked for help said no,” Thaler recounted. Community Printers donated much of the printing cost; Rowland and Pat Rebele, the Ow Family Properties and the Community Foundation gave funding. Writers donated their time. Teachers created a curriculum you can see by searching Hindsight Santa Cruz curriculum. And in the interest of full disclosure, I proofread the book and was blown away by the writing and honored to be a small part of it. Part of the beauty of the project is that it will be featured as an educational tool in all of our high schools. What could make history come alive more for students than studying something they were a part of, but may not have realized its context and perspective? This is something they lived through, a living history book, and one they will someday share with their children and grandchildren. You can buy the book at Bookshop Santa Cruz and on the web at HindSightSantaCruz.com While it’s great that the money is going to fire victims, this is a book that will be a treasure for everyone who got through one of the toughest years in our history.

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Life After Covid

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 19:19:00 +0000

We polled kids around town about what they most want to do when shelter in place orders are lifted and we got a lot of answers. What do you think they miss most? Read on! Polled at Seacliff Skate Park Weslie Rose10 years old – Fifth grade Soquel Elementary“I’m looking forward to going to amusement parks again. I just love the rides and always have fun. I miss my friends too, and really want to go back to school.” Caleb Gregory10 years old – 4th GradeTwin Lakes Elementary “I’m looking forward to the arcade at the Boardwalk. Me and my dad play games there and I really miss it. I miss seeing my friends – just hanging out and playing with them. Having to wear a mask really bums me out. Andrew9 years old – 3rd GradeGreen Acres Elementary“I miss going to the Boardwalk. Playing games was the best. The claw machines especially. I’m looking forward to not wearing masks when the coronavirus ends. To feel free.” Nora Pilgram7 years old – 2nd Grade Fammatre Elementary “I’m looking forward to going on trips and seeing my friends I can’t see right now. Especially my friends living in Seattle. I can’t get on a plane to go see them. I wish we could go back to school and get close to each other without wearing masks.” Gavin Pilgram10 years old – 4th GradeFammatre Elementary“When this is over I’m going to go to Disneyland and possible Lego Land too. We’ve missed out on a whole year. We missed out on so much. I miss play dates with my friends.” Edison WeaverAge 12 – 6th Grade Branciforte Middle School“I for sure want to go on vacation again. Anywhere. For now though, I’m just going to skate a lot. I love this community.” Linnea BrooksAge 15 – 10th Grade Pacific Collegiate School“I’m looking forward to going back to actual school. Remote learning sucks. I miss going out to lunch with my friends. Also being able to go on trips and vacations. Going on planes. Snowboarding too, for sure.” Ben PalmaAge 15 – 10th GradeNew Brighton Middle School“Travelling is the biggest one. You know, sitting on a plane without a dang mask. Sitting and relaxing in a restaurant too. It’s been a year. Going back to movies will be awesome.” Here’s what Fourth Graders at Mount Madonna School are most looking forward to: Rebecca The thing I look forward to most after the pandemic is seeing my friends, and being able to do fun things with them. Before the pandemic we went on bike rides together, and had playdates almost every day. My friends were always by my side. I cannot wait to see them again! Timothy After Covid-19 I’m looking forward to not having to wear my mask and having more options of things to do on the weekends. I’m on campus now, and my favorite thing is being able to see my friends. I also like that I don’t have to be on a computer all the time. There is one thing that is kinda annoying on campus, and that is the masks because I get rashes on my chin. River BrintonWhat I really look forward to after our pandemic is that the citizens of California will be able to have social interaction which is good for our community. Also after the pandemic, scientists will have a greater knowledge of when and what to do when we have another pandemic. I think we learned a lot about what to do in a pandemic and it will help if this happens again. In conclusion, in a way, COVID-19 was a blessing, because we will acquire social interaction and scientific knowledge. WillowAfter COVID-19 I am really looking forward to a lot of things. I am mostly looking forward to doing horse shows because they are really fun. Sometimes it can be scary, but most of the time I am just having fun. I like when I am riding in the shows. My favorite horse is named Icee, and I like riding him and winning. That is what I am most excited about doing when Covid-19 is over. Molly After the pandemic, I look forward to seeing my mom the most. Though I would also look forward to seeing my friends again, and just having normal life back. I look forward to no problems with anti-maskers or stuff like that too. I can’t wait to see my friends again! Amelie What I most look forward to when the pandemic is over is being able to see my friends Kyah and Owen again. I also would love to see my family, especially my uncle who we call “Trouble” and my aunt Betty. I am excited to see and hug them again. Myla What I look forward to after Covid is seeing my friends. When the pandemic is over, I will be so happy. Felix After Covid, it will be great because then we can have sleepovers and play sports. Pierce The thing that I look forward to most after Covid-19 is playing soccer with my friends and doing fun tournaments with them. When the coronavirus hit the US, soccer got shut down. I was very sad and for about a year and a half I couldn’t play at all. There were no games. Soccer is one of my most favorite sports in the world and I am really looking forward to games even if we have to wear masks. I don’t care, I just want to play soccer. Leyla I am most excited for the pandemic to end so I can see my aunts, uncles, grandparents and my cousins again. I miss them so much and want to hug them a lot. One of my favorite memories is when I made a snowman with them in Reno. That was so much fun. We also did a fun snowball fight together. I can’t wait to get back to doing that stuff again. Giavanna What I enjoy most about going to school instead of online learning is that I get to see all of my friends and get to talk to them. Even though we wear masks and have to stay six feet apart, I still enjoy being around them. I know quite a few people who do online classes, and they say that they miss being around other people. That is the reason why I feel so lucky to get to be in person at school. Cadence My favorite thing about being at school is being able to see my friends. I joined Mount Madonna School when Covid19 was not here, and I did not have to wear a mask. Now, I have to wear one and it is very uncomfortable. My cousins are remote, and all my other friends. I am glad I get to go to school in person with my classmates, Pierce, Amelie, Willow, Timothy, Ripley, Rebecca, River, Giavanna, Myla, Leyla, Molly, Bishop, Felix, and my teacher Nick. I enjoy seeing them five days a week. Although we still have to be careful because of Covid, we still have fun and play games together. I can’t wait to see all my friends and family again soon. Bishop I am excited to visit my cousin Ivy when the pandemic is over. It’s been a long time since we saw each other, and I am looking forward to playing together again. Ripley After the pandemic, I look forward to going places again. My favorite place to go is Disneyland. I hope we can go back there soon. Fourth and Fifth Graders at Orchard School in Aptos had this to say: Lyla Lou9 years old – 4th gradeDuring the pandemic, I am lucky to go to Orchard School. We have an outdoor classroom, and I like to play outside. We are so lucky that we are not on a screen! When we are outside, we do not have to wear a mask and there has never been a time like this. I will never forget last year and the rest of this school year. I am glad we are at school. Jordan11 years old – 5th gradeIt feels so special to have gotten the opportunity to go to school in person during covid. There are lots of things I enjoy about school but one stands out to me and that is playing soccer with my friends at recess. It feels like life before the pandemic. Sometimes when I play I can even forget about covid. I am having so much fun. The sense of joy when I score a goal or from just getting to run, it is truly magic. For a while I was on zoom and I remember hearing that Orchard was coming back, I was so happy. I had missed everything, but especially playing with my friends. Solomon10 years old – 4th gradeI am very grateful to be going to school right now during the pandemic. I really like being with my friends. We have partner activities which are the best because you get to be with your friends. The class is reading a book right now, it is called “Holes” and it is the best book, it is so awesome. There are yellow spotted lizards in the book. My all time favorite thing about my school is that we have a lot of choice over how we learn and what activities we do. For instance, before the pandemic we chose electives, and now we get to choose if we want to draw, knit or sew. There is also a POOL! Siena10 years old – 4th gradeI’m so grateful to be in school during the pandemic, while a lot of my friends have to stay at home and do zoom. I feel very lucky. It’s been an amazing year so far. We have a pool at our school, and when it’s hot we get to swim. We also do art, play soccer, and best of all learn together. Right now we are learning about explorers. I’m learning about James Cook, an explorer from the seventeen hundreds. It’s been really fun, a lot more fun than learning on a computer. There’s a lot of things we have done that you can’t do on zoom, like bingo math games or making pie for Thanksgiving. We are also allowed to bring our unicycles, it’s so much fun. I hope all the other kids can go to school soon. Julien 10 years old – 4th gradeI am grateful for being able to go to school during the pandemic. It is much more fun than learning on a computer. For example, we got to make a map of our school, and we played explorer games which would have been really hard on a computer. Also, when you’re at school you can see your friends in real life instead of in a tiny box on a screen. Riley10 years old – 4th GradeWhat I like about school during the pandemic is that we usually use a tent as a classroom, but sometimes we have to go inside when it’s raining. Secondly, I’m very grateful and lucky to even be able to go to school in person, so many people have to use Zoom all day everyday, and Zoom isn’t as fun as in-person school. It takes twice as long for me to do my work on the computer because my teacher isn’t there to help me. At our school sometimes the teachers start playing games with us during recess and we have so much fun that they forget to call the end of recess. Additionally, in general, we are outside a lot more than before we entered the pandemic. Sadie10 years old – 4th Grade In the pandemic, I am very grateful that I’m able to go to school because all of my neighborhood friends have to sit down looking at a screen for hours! At school I get to be outside and I have all my friends there in person. My favorite things are...

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Which Parent Are You

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 19:14:02 +0000

Which Parent Are You? by Chris Jackson One parent steps in and prevents the child from failure and negative outcomes. The other parent says, “I’m not doin’ that. Either (the child) does it, or it won’t get done.” Which one seems healthier? Are you surprised it’s the second parent? Healthier for the parent and for the child. “But, if I don’t help her register at the DMV, I’ll be the one driving her around.” No you won’t. Don’t do it. “But she’ll miss her classes and lose her job.” Yup. “But then I’ll have to pay more to support her.” Well, you could consider other options for that too.The term codependency is thrown around a lot, and for good reason. It applies here. The first parent has a codependent relationship with their child. An easy way to look at it is: do you, the parent, depend on your child feeling good? Liking you? Loving you? The second parent does not depend on that. The second parent’s happiness is, to a large extent, independent from the child’s happiness. The first parent’s happiness is strongly dependent on their child’s feelings, moods and disappointments. For example, if you were to announce you’re dating someone new or starting a new part-time job and will not be available to drive your child to participate in something for which you had been the driver. How much would it bother you that the child will be upset, not approve, and be extremely disappointed? Some parents would delay telling their child. Some parents, after hearing their child’s disapproval, would compromise their new schedule to accommodate the child’s wishes. Those parents could be doing that in an unhealthy way that’s codependent. The child who is saved from discomfort, loss, failure, and fury, may suffer greatly as an adult. That child may not be sufficiently independent. We parents must be emotionally free to make decisions based on whether or not they are wise and healthy, not based on whether or not they are convenient or comfortable for a child.A great example would be a child’s birthday. The child can be told “no” to much or all of what they’re requesting for a birthday celebration. But why don’t you, the parent, do that? Because your feelings are tied in with (dependent on) your child’s feelings. You want to accommodate the child’s wishes, because it makes them and you feel better. The healthy place to be is where it only makes the child feel better, not you. That is, you feel just fine knowing you made a healthy decision–one of which your child just happens to disapprove. Try seeing how long the protest from the child lasts. You’ll learn that the child bounces back a lot sooner than you thought. They do so because they have to–and your healthy decision forced them to have to–and that’s a good thing. Chris Jackson is a Bay Area disk Jockey at KOME-FM who is working on a book about how to treat your kids like rock stars. Read More Parenting Articles

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Where are they now Caleb

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 19:04:57 +0000

This Kid has Grown Up with Growing Up by linda kay Over the years so many kids have graced the cover of Growing Up in Santa Cruz. We are curious about what’s become of them! Caleb Malabuyo, now a junior at Scotts Valley High School, was featured on the August 2012 cover of Growing Up in Santa Cruz. He remembers the photo shoot. “I was totally trying to seem nonchalant about it, but I was actually really excited to be in a magazine.” He remembers when the magazine came out. “I had mixed feelings at first because in all the photos we took I had this cool new Sharks hat on, and the ONE picture it fell off my head was the one that was used for the cover. But I quickly got over it after my friends and family showed their enthusiasm for my appearance. My family was super happy for me getting on the cover and my grandparents immediately framed it and it still is hanging on their wall today.” That was over eight years ago. A lot has happened in Caleb’s life since then. Caleb’s family moved to England when his dad was transferred to Google’s London office. Caleb did part of 5th grade and middle school there. “British and American schools are very similar and very different at the same time. Here we have roughly 5-7 classes. The school I went to had 17 mandatory classes. And this was on a two-week rotating schedule, so it was almost impossible to remember where you needed to go and getting lost was pretty common. Some of these mandatory classes included religious studies, art, computing, geography, drama, and more, along with all the normal academic classes. We also had to wear school uniforms with a blazer and tie every day.” Caleb’s family took advantage of their proximity to Europe, so every school break they checked out a different European country. When asked about adjusting to the school and cultural changes, Caleb said, “Honestly for the most part I didn’t find it too difficult to go there, because I was the cool American kid from California (which means Hollywood to them). Coming back, I already knew most people and was able to pick up on those friendships where I left off.” “Shortly after moving back some of my good friends were starting a band and wanted a permanent drummer. Since I was there for most of the band practices, and I already had a pretty good sense of rhythm, I naturally became their drummer. Shortly after that, the newfound Polarity Band played their first gig on the 4th of July at the celebration at Skypark. Polarity is still together but Covid-19 has made it very hard to find or play at gigs. I have been playing for Gateway Bible Church for a while and Santa Cruz Bible Church more recently.” Besides drumming Caleb has a passion for art and design He also plays a lot of video games and he’s learning to skate. He plans to attend college after high school. Caleb said he had no idea what was going to happen in his life when those cover photos were taken back in 2012 “From my experiences, I have found that change should be embraced, and opportunities are made to be taken.” Do you remember the photoshoot for the cover picture? What were your feelings about it?I do remember the photoshoot and I was totally trying to seem nonchalant about it but I was actually really excited to be in a magazine. How did you feel when you saw yourself on the cover of Growing Up?I had mixed feelings at first because in all the photos we took I had this cool new sharks hat on, and the ONE picture it fell off my head was the one that was used for the cover. But I quickly got over it after my friends and family showed their enthusiasm for my appearance. How did your family (parents, siblings, grandparents, extended family) react to seeing you on the cover?My family was super happy for me getting on the cover and my grandparents immediately framed it and it still is hanging on their wall today. Did any of your friends or teachers say anything about you being on the cover?I don’t remember if I told my teachers, but I definitely told my friends… a lot. They didn’t believe me at first, but when I showed them they thought I was awesome and asked how they could get on a cover. I didn’t tell them of course. That was over 8 years ago. What have you done with your life since then? A couple of years after that photoshoot I moved to England for some of the 5th grade (called year 6 there) and then middle school (which is high school there). I lived in a town called Woking for about 2 years, and during the breaks in school, my family and I would vacation to a different European country. Then I came back to the US and picked up some new hobbies, then moved houses, and after the first “stay at home order” picked up some more hobbies. Now I am stuck at home like everyone, waiting for the virus to pass. How did British schools compare to American schools?British and American schools are very similar and very different at the same time. Here we have roughly 5-7 classes including extracurricular, which are optional, and usually, every other day is roughly the same. The school I went to had 17 mandatory classes. And this was on a two-week rotating schedule so it was almost impossible to remember where you needed to go, and getting lost was pretty common. Some of these mandatory classes included religious studies, art, computing, geography, drama, and more, along with all the normal academic classes. As you progressed from year 7 to year 11, you were able to choose your own classes. There was the main building and a lot of classrooms were inside because it was so cold outside. We also had to wear school uniforms with a blazer and tie every day and every so often there was a special day called day 11, because of the 10 days in the normal two weeks, and this is where we could wear our own clothes and we got to choose from an array of special activities for the day. Other than that, the school was very similar to the US with classes, worksheets, and homework. Did you find it difficult to adjust to the differences either coming or going? If yes, how so?Honestly for the most part I didn’t find it too difficult to go there, because I was the cool American kid from California (which means Hollywood to them), and the fact that I came in year 6, so everyone was moving to a new school along with me. And coming back, I already knew most people and was able to pick up on those friendships where I left off. Of course, it was difficult to leave those relationships I had with those people and leave the place I have been my whole life or just gotten used to, but I got lucky to have such a good experience with moving. What was your favorite British cultural thing?My favorite British cultural thing has got to be the tea and scones. Afternoon tea and scones with clotted cream and lemon curd when it was 5°C (41°F)is the best. Also, the candy, like Cadbury and Haribos, are delicious. What American cultural thing were you happy to return to?The American cultural thing I was happy to return to is the Mexican food. I could not get a good taco, burrito, and quesadilla for such a long time. Tell me about your drum playing. Is it your primary passion? Were you self taught? Do you play at school? I know you played in a band on the 4th of July at the celebration at Skypark. Are you still with that band? I know you play with two worship bands. Tell me about that.Shortly after moving back some of my good friends were starting a band and wanted a permanent drummer, because their drummer at the time, my guitarist friend’s brother, wasn’t really interested in drumming anymore. Since I was there for most of the band practices, and I already had a pretty good sense of rhythm, I naturally became their drummer. Shortly after that, the newfound Polarity Band played their first gig on the 4th of July at the celebration at Skypark. I got an electric drum set first and then an acoustic when I moved houses. When I first started playing I learned by watching drum covers of my favorite songs and playing along with them until I attended Soundwall Music Camp where everyone could read music, so I began to take drum lessons about 1 and a half years into playing. Since then Polarity is still together but Covid-19 has made it very hard to find or play at gigs. Also, I have been playing for Gateway Bible Church for a while since my dad plays piano there, and Santa Cruz Bible Church more recently. What other passions/interests do you have?Another passion of mine is art and design. Ever since I was a kid I loved drawing superheroes, and last year I was gifted an Ipad and apple pencil. I love to draw and have been trying to expand my mediums for art on my own time, as well as in art class in school. I also play a lot of video games and I’m learning how to skate. You’re a senior, right? How do you feel about that?I am a junior. It is crazy to me how fast time moves and it almost feels like yesterday I was in the UK and I am disappointed that Covid has taken so much time from my high school experience. What are your plans after you graduate?After I graduate I plan on attending college. Beyond that, I have no idea what I want to do. I am interested in something along the lines of art and design, and I am considering going to college in Europe but nothing is set in stone. If your friends were going to describe to you what three words or phrases would they use?My friends would describe me as Eccentric, Outgoing, and Friendly. If your family were to describe you, what three words or phrases would they use?My family would describe me as Responsible, Thoughtful, and Entertaining. Do you have a job? If so, tell me about it.I do not have a job because I am taking most of the hardest classes at my school so I spend too much time doing homework(especially during online learning), chores, and hobbies. What else should the world know about you?The world should know that I had no idea what was going to happen in my life when I took those photos, and what path I was going to take. And from my experiences, I have found that change should be embraced, and opportunities are made to be taken. 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