November 2021 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

We won

growingupsc — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 15:41:22 +0000

Bring Home Awards By Brad Kava Growing Up in Santa Cruz won four big awards in a national contest sponsored by the Parenting Media Association, a trade group that reaches six million family and parent magazine readers each month in the U.S., Canada and Australia. The competition was judged by the journalism department of the University of Missouri. We took top honors for humor, with our wonderful monthly cartoon by Patty Benson. Here’s what the judges said:“This illustrated column uses multiple visual devices as a framework for funny observations that most moms will recognize from their own lives. The approach is hilariously on point as well as entertaining and original.” Our teen writer, Grace Timan, of Mount Madonna School, won a silver award for her article, “Youth Writer on the Pandemic.” “Written by a high school junior, this essay provides fascinating insight into the painful experience of going to school during the pandemic. But this piece is more than a unique perspective; it also delivers strong, descriptive writing, with the assured style of a natural storyteller.” Lisa Catterall’s groundbreaking series, “Behind the Teacher’s Desk,” which examines her experience teaching at Mount Madonna School won a silver award: “This series gave families and community members a glimpse into the life and challenges of an educator. Each article in the series shed light on a different topic – from creating a place of joy in a classroom, to coaching a student in a math competition, Catterall engaged readers with a behind-the-scenes view of what it means to be a teacher.” Finally, designer and managing editor Christy Shults was recognized for her layout skills in our Table of Contents: “The half-page ad forces a minimalist approach. The three lead items include artwork, followed by a long text list. The typography is clean and serves the situation.” We are so proud of our staff and community contributors and look forward to winning more next year!! We are always looking for more content from you! Read More Parenting Articles

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Womens Wellness Guide

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 19:19:06 +0000

Birth Network of Santa Cruz CountySanta CruzBirthNet.orgWe provide parents and professionals with information, education, and advocacy for safe, empowering, joyful birth. Visit birthnet.org for an extensive listing of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum-related service providers. Learn about the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative and become a more informed healthcare consumer. Find registration information on our Upcoming Events webpage for Meet the Doulas and other virtual events. Due to COVID19 recommendations, events such as Bellies, Birth & Babies will be delayed until in-person events are safe. Keep in touch with our local birth and parenting community with Birth Network Santa Cruz on Facebook and Instagram. Charlotte Carreira, Wellness Coaching831-688-1858Radiant-Wellness.comCandidaCleansing.netMyGutReboot.com/charlottecarreira Health is actually simple. I help you discover the empowering actions to help improve your digestive or candida-related issues, energy, focus, diet, nutrition and whole body wellness with natural alternative perspectives, wholefood supplement and ancient healing modalities like energy balancing and ear candling. Free consultation and Gut Healthy guidebook available. Live Oak Acupuncture & Healing ArtsMarcia Connelly 6892B Soquel AvenueSanta Cruz , CAMarciaConnelly.com(831) 818-7051mcherbgal@gmail.comMarcia is passionate about helping women and girls find and own their resilience through each stage of life. Relying on various styles and traditions of acupuncture, herbs/supplements, meditation, and nutritional recommendations, she helps her patients awaken and reconnect with their own sense of healing and vibrant health. Nursing Mothers Counsel831.688.3954 (Santa Cruz)650.327-6455 (Bay Area)NursingMothers.orgNursing Mothers Counsel, Inc. is a non-affiliated, non-profit organization whose goal is to help mothers and their babies enjoy a relaxed and happy feeding relationship. Our help is provided by telephone, text, Zoom, email, Facebook, FaceTime, and in-home visits. We provide hospital-grade breast pump rentals and grants. NMC services are provided without fee or obligation. Counselors are available from 9:00am – 9:00pm. If you would like to become a certified breastfeeding counselor please register for our trainings. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram. Yoso Wellness Spa831-600-8053740 Front St. Suite 110, Santa Cruz, Ca 95060YosoWellness.comWe aim to treat our clients with a clinical holistic approach to skin and body care. Yoso, meaning ‘raw elements’ in Japanese, reflects both the organic, eco-friendly products used in our treatments, as well as the diverse spa services offered utilizing natural elements which fits into our whole body well-being philosophy. Yoso is a space you are empowered with internal and external personal wellness so that you exude confidence, radiance and are educated to achieve your skin and body goals. Offering the ultimate client experience from the moment you call, to creating your own custom blueprint at your appointment, to let you know we are fully invested in you as a unique person. Angela Massage TherapistLocated in Downtown FeltonBehind Tomboy Outpost(714) 348-3907 Beth LilienthalSantaCruzBabyDoula.com831-588-7367 Dignity Health Dominican Hospital 1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95065831-462-7700dignityhealth.org FIT4MOM Santa Cruzsantacruz.fit4mom.comcarolyneckman@fit4mom.com Nitless Noggins4200 Scotts Valley Drive Suite D Scotts Valley Ca 95066831-566-6978marcy@nitlessnoggins.comNitlessNoggins.com 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline1 (866) 2MY ALLY | 1 (866) 269-2559 California Skin Institutecaliforniaskininstitute.com/locations/santa-cruz-ca/ Crandell Chiropracticfeltonchiro.com/ Head, Heart, Hands, Healingheadhearthandshealing.com/ Mindful & WellMind-Body-Spirit Wellness for Youth & Adultsemily@mindfulandwell.org(831) 471-7314MindfulandWell.org Planned Parenthood1119 Pacific Ave., Suite 200, Santa Cruz831.426.5550398 South Green Valley Rd, Watsonville831.724.7525 24-hour Facts-of-life Hotline1.800.711.9848 Parental Stress Hotline831.724.2879831.426.7322 Sexual Assault24-Hour Hotline Pregnancy Resource Center 831-475-9255santacruzprc.org/ Roots of Healthrootsofhealthsc.com/ Relational Resourcesrelationalresources.org/ Salud Para La Gente204 East Beach St., Watsonville831.728.0222 Survivors Healing Center831-423-7601survivorshealingcenter.org Walnut Ave. Women & Children’s Centerwafwc.org/

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Bakers Dozen Wellness

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 19:07:00 +0000

Christy Shults AffirmationsDo you put those sweet little notes in your kids’ lunch boxes telling them how amazing they are and that you love them? You go into their classroom, and the walls are covered in posters with positive messages. Well, you deserve those too. Take one minute every morning to write yourself a love note. It could say, “You’re doing fantastic,” or “That dinner was delicious last night!” Sometimes all you need is an “I love you.” Stick it in your phone notes, write it on a post-it, even write it on the back of that receipt floating around in your purse. Just get it out there in the universe that you believe in yourself! Take the long way homeIt can be hard to get a moment to ourselves. Why not take that backroad and blast your favorite song? Sing at the top of your lungs! Maybe it’s been a hard day. Let those tears flow, and it’s okay. It’s good to release it. Stick your hand out the window and let the wind wipidy doo your arm into a wave. Feel the fresh air and breathe. Ask for helpYou don’t have to do it all, and it all doesn’t have to be done right now! Ask your partner and your children to take on a task that eases your load. It could be something as simple as making sure the dishwasher is unloaded when you get home. Have them write out a list of meals they love so you can easily meal plan and satisfy all of the hungry bellies in your home. By asking for help, you are freeing yourself from constantly serving everyone and teaching them to help in the future without being asked.Say thank youThank yourself every day. It doesn’t matter what it is for; show yourself gratitude. Say thank you to your family when they make you laugh or when they do their laundry. The more you acknowledge how much they are helping you, the more they will recognize how much you do for them.Stretch Our bodies seem to always be in some curled over sitting position for too much of the day. Set aside time to stretch it out. You only need 10 minutes to feel the effects. Lay on the ground reach your arms far above your head while stretching your toes, lengthening your body as much as possible. Look for an extended version of stretches in a future Baker’s Dozen article. Tea/coffee/water ritual Most mornings start with a cup of coffee or tea. Are you simply pushing a button and carrying on multi-tasking? Make your morning drink with love! Set your intentions as you carefully scoop your coffee/tea/lemon into your mug. Watch the water swirl around your morning potion, ready to nourish your waking body. Let the steam rise through your nose with a deep breath and savor that first hot sip, because who knows if you’ll get the chance to finish it before its cold.Am/pm make time for youWhich is your favorite, a sunrise or a sunset? Different people favor the dark of the early morning or the black of night. Figure out which one suits you best and set time aside for yourself away from the hustle and bustle of the day. Find your sweet spot and dedicate moments to yourself before everyone wakes up or after they fall asleep.Breathing exercises You’re holding your breath; why? Your plate is full, and there are 20 things to do and not nearly enough time. The anxiety creeps in, and all of your breaths become shallow. We can go for hours like this, tense and frustrated as it worsens. Stop. Take a deep breath through your nose, count to 4, breath out your mouth until there is no air, and then breath out some more. Now take that deep breath back in through your mouth. Repeat. Repeat until you start to feel your arms and hands unclench. We need to remind ourselves to fill our lungs completely, or we have minuscule breaths to release. Take a step towards goal“I’m going to make time for myself this week, and I’m going to go for a 5-mile walk.” Then life happens. “Shoot, this is a bummer. I feel like a failure.” You’re not, and you can reach your goals. Start with baby steps. Take a walk after dinner, even if it’s for 10 minutes. The dishes will still be there when you get back. You deserve this. You deserve to accomplish your goals, and it is okay to chip away a little bit at a time. Tasklist Really, who doesn’t love a good checklist? You’ve made it this far in the article, haven’t you? Make it before you go to bed so that your mind doesn’t keep you up all night. Prioritize, and make sure you are a priority! Now, set a realistic timeline and prioritize again. When you check off those bubbles or boxes, maybe cross off that item, thank yourself. Slow downHurry it up, Herbie is an idiom that may be as rare as you taking your time and escaping the rush of American life. Mistakes happen; you breathe too shallow, and life isn’t that fun when everything is set at hare speed. Embrace your inner tortoise, and notice the little things, even if it’s for a short period of the day.Don’t commit right awayHow often do you say yes without much thought then feel guilty when you don’t want to do it. Unless it’s something that makes your bucket overflow with joy, take a moment to decide. You can even take a day or two or a week! Make sure that it is right for you. Bonus CookieBe gentle to yourself. Christy was a single working mother for 14 years, and now, in addition, she is a stepmom and a wife. Her favorite way to fill her bucket is to spend a day crafting with her best craft chicks. Read More Parenting Articles

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Turkey 21

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 18:50:58 +0000

Gobble Gobble Submit your coloring page for a chance to win tickets to Gilroy Gardens! Send to Editor@growingupsc.com More Coloring Pages

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Holiday Preparation

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 18:44:45 +0000

Preparing for the Holidays by Nicole M. Young, MSW I love this time of year. The cool air (and even some rain!) makes me want to stay in my pajamas all day, cook, bake, listen to music, and reflect on everything I’m thankful for. I try to make gratitude and thankfulness a daily habit, but when life gets busy and stressful (and disrupted by a pandemic), it’s easy to take things for granted or feel too overwhelmed to be grateful for “the little things.” As the holiday season begins, I want to remind myself to slow down, be present in the moment, and enjoy time with my family. Who’s with me?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 for a future column, please email triplep@first5scc.org. Dear Nicole,We’re visiting extended family during the holidays this year. We haven’t seen several family members since before the pandemic, which means our two young children (2, 5) won’t know or remember them. I’m worried it will be overwhelming for our kids to be around so many “strangers,” and that my wife and l will spend our entire visit handling tantrums. I also worry about everyone hugging and kissing our kids and am afraid we’ll get exposed to COVID. Do you have any suggestions?– Miguel Dear Miguel,Good question! The holidays can be an exciting AND stressful time for many children and adults. That might be especially true this year. Many families are eager to celebrate together after spending the holidays apart last year due to the pandemic, and several children, teens, and adults are also finding it difficult to adjust to being around a lot of people again. Here are a few tips to try: Maintain your children’s daily routines.The predictability of daily routines helps children feel secure and can prevent meltdowns caused by being tired, hungry, over-stimulated, or overwhelmed. Ask family members about their plans for mealtimes, visits, exchanging gifts, or other holiday activities, and let them know your children’s schedules. This allows you to discuss ways to minimize disruption to your children’s routines or help family members understand why your family might follow a different schedule at times. Talk about plans and expectations.Talk with your children about your travel plans, which relatives they’ll see, and holiday traditions. If you can, show them photos of family members they don’t know or remember so that their names and faces will seem familiar when they meet in person. Talk about any family rules that will be the same (or different) as when they’re at home—e.g., sharing, cooperating, amount of screen time (TV, movies, tablet). This helps them know what to expect, which prepares them to cope with unfamiliar situations. Also talk with family members about how to have a COVID-safe celebration.Will you gather indoors or outdoors? If indoors, will family members be supported if they choose to wear masks and maintain physical distance? Let your family know in advance about any boundaries or limits about hugging and kissing your kids. If they protest, explain that it’s out of concern for everyone’s health and safety and ask them to respect your decision, even if they don’t agree with it. Have simple, engaging activities for your children.This helps prevent meltdowns caused by boredom or restlessness. Take healthy snacks, some books and a few of their favorite toys on your trip. Play guessing games, make up stories, or sing songs together. And don’t be too hard on yourself if you relax the rules about screen time during your visit. This can give both children and parents a much-needed break from constant activities and socializing. Encourage the behavior you want to see more of.Give your children descriptive praise when they’re being kind, helping others, following family rules, or expressing their feelings. This shows them you appreciate their efforts and encourages them to keep it up. Take time for yourself.Living with fear, uncertainty, disruption, and loss during nearly two years of a global pandemic has taken a physical and emotional toll on many people. Whenever you can, find time to do something you enjoy, like catching up with a relative, exercising, taking a nap, or sitting in silence by yourself. Final thoughtsHolidays provide opportunities for quality family time, but they can also add stress and pressure. Try a few of these positive parenting strategies to help you and your family truly enjoy each other and the spirit of the holidays. Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 18 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, www.facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org. Read More Ask Nciole Articles

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Vanessa Silver Linings

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 18:41:19 +0000

Vanessa Garcia Seeks Silver Linings Suki Wessling Welcome back to our monthly feature of moms who have faced the task of pandemic parenting while also continuing their work in our community. Research has shown that women have suffered greater economic and personal fallout from the pandemic, losing jobs or having to work while also caring for children. Avid readers of Growing Up might remember Vanessa from last month’s article, “Pandemic-era Birth Stories: Unknowns, Rainbows, and Hard Choices.” About two minutes into the interview about her difficult Covid-era pregnancy, I knew I needed to feature her as our next Mom Who Makes a Difference. But this article is different because until now I’ve been making an effort to feature moms I don’t have a personal relationship with. Fifteen years ago, Vanessa was a young adult who walked into our house to bring peace, good cheer, and a much-needed break in a difficult child-rearing decade. She was deeply interested in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and approached the job of babysitting a child with undiagnosed developmental issues with an unusual level of commitment and seriousness. In the years since I met her, Vanessa got an associate’s degree in ECE from Cabrillo, a bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Mills College, and moved from preschool teacher to preschool administrator to site coordinator. She was recently promoted to Child Development Coordinator for Pajaro Valley Unified School District. “You’re lucky you’re cute because that pregnancy was horrific!” That’s what Vanessa joked to her baby Benjamin as we spoke on the phone. She was home again, waiting for Covid test results, because like all babies, Benji picks up everything he’s exposed to. “At one point I had more than 50% of my students that were out sick on a 10-day quarantine or waiting for Covid results,” Vanessa says. “It’s incredibly inconvenient to have your kid signed up for childcare and every other week you have to keep them out because they have the common cold.” At least Vanessa’s centers are open now. At the beginning of the pandemic when she was told that she was supposed to supply ECE via screens, she was skeptical.“There were some awesome moments but it was also incredibly frustrating,” she remembers. “You’re taking a population of people who still do not fully understand reciprocal communication and then you’re putting them on a platform where grownups were struggling!” At the same time, Vanessa was going through a hellish pregnancy, first suffering from hyperemesis then later from gestational diabetes. She had her two older children (12 and 9) learning from home, and finally had the time to document what she had suspected: her 9-year-old son didn’t have a behavioral issue—he had undiagnosed learning disabilities. Learning at home gave her the ability to observe him and document his behaviors, and they ended up getting a diagnosis from a neuropsychologist. That was one of those little pandemic silver linings. “At the beginning, I felt like it was really hard and stressful, but I also felt like, ‘Wow, I’m making progress for our family,” Vanessa remembers. Rebuilding from the ground upIn between illness, childcare, Zoom classes, and birth, Vanessa was hard at work with the PVUSD team rebuilding their program. She’s excited that kids are back in the classroom receiving the hands-on education that small children need, but not surprised that their enrollment hasn’t rebounded. Her community is still hurting.“Every time I ask someone else ‘How are you?’ it’s the same response: ‘Do we really want to be honest in that answer or just say, we’re fine?’! Everybody’s having a really hard time. I don’t know anybody right now who’s just thriving.”But Vanessa does see slow improvement—raising children forces everyone to find a way forward. “People are very adaptable,” she says. “Despite how everybody’s complaining, people have adapted. It’s pretty amazing to see people get creative and figure out how to make it work.” Read More Moms Who Make a Difference Articles

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lying or pretending

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 18:29:06 +0000

Lying or Pretending? Teaching Kids to Tell the Truth By Jan Pierce Somewhere around the age of three, when children begin to understand parents may not know what they actually did or didn’t do, your precious little angel may begin to tell big whoppers. “Baby Jack made that mess,” or “I played with a dinosaur today and rode on his back.” Before you panic, thinking your child is destined for a life of crime, let’s take a look at when children lie, why they lie, and how to teach them to tell the truth. WhyChildren tell lies for a variety of reasons. They’re afraid of getting in trouble, they want attention, they’re testing boundaries, or quite often with the very young, they just enjoy a good story and haven’t yet learned the distinction between fantasy and real life. If a child breaks a family rule, or makes a big mess, he may be afraid of the consequences. Parents need to first discern whether the infraction was intentional or a normal childhood accident such as spilling milk. When parents see the lie was meant to cover a normal child “accident,” it’s best to reassure that we all make mistakes and work together to clean it up. When the lie was meant to cover breaking a family rule, it’s best to set a consequence in line with the infraction—perhaps forgoing play with a favorite toy for a period of time. Setting reasonable consequences builds trust yet reinforces the family value of both the rule and truth-telling. When consequences involve physical punishment, children are much more likely to lie in an effort to avoid the pain. Some “lies” are merely pretending. Wouldn’t it be fun to have an imaginary friend, or be able to fly to the moon and back? This is absolutely normal behavior and part of a child’s growth and development. Young children are learning right and wrong and need experience to tell the difference between truthfulness and lying. Plus we adults read them stories filled with creativity, pretending and magical acts. So children need experience and practice in separating fun, creative fantasy from everyday real life. WhenChildren begin to experiment with telling fibs at about age three when their language is developed enough to express their thoughts clearly. They are experimenting with the lines between fact and fantasy. They understand they may displease adults with some behaviors and want to avoid being in trouble.From ages four to six children are able to tell more sophisticated lies. However, when questioned about the circumstances most children will eventually relent and tell the truth. As children grow older they learn they can tell a lie and not get caught. They’ve learned more about how other people think, and know when their fabrication is believable. That’s why it’s so important as parents to take the time to teach honesty as a family value from babyhood on up. Whenever your child tells an untruth, you have the opportunity to teach. If they share a creative idea as fact, “My doll says she is hungry now.” You have the opportunity to teach, “It would be fun if your doll could talk, wouldn’t it?” If a mess is made and a fib told, “The dog spilled the juice.” You can say, “It’s okay if you accidently spilled. We all spill sometimes. Let’s clean up the mess.” And when lies are blatantly told to cover up a broken rule, “I didn’t hit my brother.” Then a fair and reasonable consequence is imposed to set the boundary. “We don’t hit and our family tells the truth.” How to Teach Truth-tellingEveryday family life offers countless opportunities to mold and shape our children’s moral code. We all want our children to be honest, upright citizens. Here are some ways to teach our children to be truth-tellers: Be a good role model.You can talk all day about being honest, but if your children hear you tell a lie, they’ll know you don’t really mean it. Even small fibs told by parents are confusing to children trying to navigate the rules of the home. Notice and encourage whenever truth is told.Both in real-life situations and when watching television or videos, there are opportunities to notice who is telling the truth and who is not. “Oh, dear, that character is telling a lie. What will happen now?” Or, when your child does tell the truth, make a point of complimenting him or patting her on the back. Applaud truth-telling whenever it happens.Help children understand the difference between truth and fantasy. Enjoy fantasy tales with your children, but talk about reality. “It would be fun if animals could really talk, but it’s just pretend.” Tell your children you know they can do the right thing.Children need to hear your praise and encouragement. “I know you can do the right thing.” And “I know you can make the right choices.” Talk about the importance of being honest.“When people don’t tell the truth they feel bad. They may be worried or feel guilty. It’s so much better to tell the truth.”Play games and do activities that promote honesty.Play a game in which you draw a card with a sentence written on it. Read it aloud for everyone to hear. Is it real-life or fantasy? Or role-play with puppets that either tell the truth or lie. Avoid tempting your child to lie.Explosive anger or asking “Who did that?” will tempt a child to lie to avoid trouble. Whenever possible, stay calm and get to the bottom of the problem. Additionally we want children to trust us enough to tell the truth in the event of any kind of dangerous or abusive situations. Children have to know it’s safe to admit a problem. Share childhood memories that help teach honesty.Kids love to hear stories of their parents as young children. Tell how you learned to tell the truth and resist lying. Share hard lessons learned. Read books that lead to discussion about truth and lies.We all know about the boy who cried wolf. Take the time to find stories that teach the importance of telling truth. Some recent ones are: The Honest to Goodness Truth by Patricia McKissack and Giselle Potter What Should Danny Do? By Adir Levy Scout’s Honor: A Kid’s Book about Lying and Telling the Truth by Tiffany Obeng. We want our children to thrive as responsible citizens. We want them to be people of character and moral goodness. Honesty is one of those character traits that take some work to instill. It needs to be held up and valued in our everyday lives. The value of creativity and fantasy has its place in our lives, but children need to be taught the difference between fantasy and reality. So remember, an occasional fib is a normal part of a child’s life, and for most kids it doesn’t become a habit. With patient teaching and understanding your child will master truthfulness. Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a retired teacher and author of Homegrown Readers and Homegrown Family Fun. Find Jan at www.janpierce.net. Read More Parenting Articles

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Practice Gratitude

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 18:22:20 +0000

By Mikayla Shults It’s November! This is a time that we start thinking about what we are thankful for, and it might be the first time in a while for some people. I certainly don’t think about gratitude on a daily basis, but I hope to change that. Something that I’ve been working on is telling people I appreciate them. You’ll see how many of the people I spoke to do the same. If that’s out of your comfort zone, I suggest expressing your gratitude for nature. Start paying attention to how the seasons change, the feelings you get at sunrise or sunset, and notice what the earth can do for you. Just starting to acknowledge my relationship with nature has helped me become more grounded. I asked people a few different questions to get in the mood for the season of gratitude. I learned what gratitude means to some people, how they practice, and what they are thankful for. I hope you get some new perspectives on gratitude from this. If you want to share your answers to these questions, message @GrowingUpSc on Instagram, and we will post it! Hannah Mathiesen she/herAptos High School I practice gratitude by never taking a single thing for granted! Something as little as receiving a hug or even getting a text is always followed by a “thank you” or “I appreciate you/that/it” etc. The universe works in mysterious ways, and you never know what someone may be going through or when you get the opportunity to see them again, so don’t let a single moment be forgotten or unappreciated. Nimali Goonetilleke she/herOASIS To me gratitude is being appreciative of the things in your life. I am very thankful for everything good that has happened, but I also appreciate the things that didn’t as well. Although in the moment I may not be happy with my failure or how something is going, I feel those are the times that I have learned the most and can grow from. I am truly grateful for those times because without them I feel I wouldn’t have a true understanding of what the world is today; filled with joy and happiness but also with defeat and hardship. To practice gratitude I think of the moments in life that have improved me as a person, the good and the bad. Daniel Schafer-Dews he/himSan Lorenzo Valley High School I am grateful for my parents and for my amazing sister. They support me, feed me, and love me. Even when my sister went to college she would text me everyday; she would listen to my problems, give me advice and make me laugh.I practice being grateful by trying my best to look out for my family and do whatever I can to reciprocate the things that they do and help me with. One of the most important ways that I show them that I am grateful for them is by always saying goodbye to them . Whenever I leave for a trip or go anywhere I always say goodbye to my family or call them. This is my way of making them feel like I always acknowledge them and my way of letting them know that I never take their presence for granted. Hailey McKinney she/herScotts Valley High School I practice gratitude by telling/showing my friends or family that I am very thankful for how they support me every single day through tough or good times. I also try to pick one good thing a day I am grateful for. Taylor Kittle she/herAge 16 My cheer coach is very understanding when it comes to mental health. A lot of my team is very open about mental health and common issues we all share. Many of our teammates have dealt with self harm and eating disorders and we all help each other. It’s like one big therapy family. I don’t think I’ve ever met a group of people who I find so similar and so helpful all in one. Jacklyn Herring she/herHomeschool Since I was younger, I have kept a gratitude journal where I would list a few things I am grateful for daily. Remembering to focus on the things I am grateful for has definitely helped me to keep a positive mindset through tough experiences. I am so grateful for my close community of friends! Coumba Faye she/herSanta Cruz High School I’m very grateful for family and friends that I have in my life. And I am very grateful for everything that I have in Santa Cruz. Read More Youth Writer Articles

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Nutrition Check

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 18:16:09 +0000

Parent Health and Nutrition Check By Leslie Funk Why are so many Americans metabolically unhealthy? It is the food we eat. Being labeled as “overweight” or “obese” by the medical system is irrelevant. All parents want their kids to be healthy. Children learn by observation; watching what you do and how you do it. This is very important when it comes to food choices, food preparation and eating habits. Now is a great time to take an honest look at your own health and the choices you make regarding food. This is not about dieting, it is about learning to choose foods that improve your health, not harm it. Preventive medicine through the consumption of fresh, real foods is the goal. How is your metabolism?Healthy adults come in many shapes and sizes. In this country 31% of adults are overweight and 43% are obese. In clinical studies evaluating the metabolic health of people designated “obese,” findings show that 80% have poor metabolic health while 20% have good metabolic health. This illustrates that health cannot be confirmed by falling into the “normal” body weight category. In studies of the “normal weight” population, 40% have Metabolic Syndrome; a clustering of conditions that lead to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. This group is now designated as “TOFI,” which stands for “Thin on the outside, fat on the inside.” Why are so many Americans metabolically unhealthy? It is the food we eat. The offerings at your local grocery store or supermarket are about 30% real and minimally processed food and 70% highly processed non-foods disguised as healthy. If it contains “added sugar, partially hydrogenated oils of any kind, added flavorings, added colors or added fiber” it is a non-food and damages your metabolism. Being labeled as “overweight” or “obese” by the medical system is irrelevant. To evaluate your health look at the health of your metabolism. Right now 88% of adults in the United States are metabolically unhealthy. How can you find out where you stand? Ask your primary care physician to run the following: TESTS: Fasting blood glucose and Hemoglobin A1c Fasting Triglycerides Fasting Lipids: specifically your good cholesterol: HDL level Liver Function: ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase enzyme) Blood Pressure GOALS: Fasting blood glucose < 100mg/dl Hemoglobin A1c < 5.7% Fasting Triglycerides < 150 mg/dL HDL levels: > 40 mg/dl for men, 50 mg/dl for women Liver ALT < 25 Units/L excellent for men and womenacceptable ranges:10-40 Units/L for men 7-35 Units/L for women Blood Pressure < 120 systolic/80 diastolic mmHg To be categorized as “metabolically healthy” you hit the goals above and you are not taking medication to improve any of the goals. If you are on medication for glucose control, lipid levels, blood pressure or other lifestyle disease your doctor is trying to “buy you some time” to change your food choices. Are you ready? Now is the ideal time to make changes and the best team to do it with lives at your house. Lifestyle changes are made at home, not at the doctor’s office and not in the gym. Enlist your family, make a plan together and jump right in! Small changes that become habits will lead the way, you are on the slow, steady path to excellent health. This article is Part 1 in a monthly series; to help you revamp your family’s relationship with food and the practices you use to eat healthy at home. November 2021How is Your Metabolism? December 2021Hunting for the REAL Food January 2022Learning to Make Great Meals February 2022Stock the Kitchen March 2022Grow Something Edible Read More Parenting Articles

The post Nutrition Check first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Circle Family Center

Laura Maxson — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 18:10:47 +0000

The Circle Family Center Helping New Families Find Help by Laura Maxson, LM Many expectant parents look longingly at a prenatal yoga listing, an independent childbirth class, or parent/child art class and sigh with the realization that it is not within their budget. The Circle Family Center is trying to turn that sigh of resignation into a positive affirmation – “yes, you can!” Newly opened, the Circle is an idea that has been incubating for some time in the minds of Nora Yerena, Elisa HavensStokes, and Kim Guiley. As parents and birth workers, the cofounders of the Circle know firsthand about the support new families need and the difficulty in finding it. Their own experiences include: feeling the effects of leaving an established, supportive community when moving to a new city, an awareness of the lack of classes and services for Spanish speaking families, and the isolation of a person of color becoming a parent in a predominantly white community. The abrupt standstill that came with the recent pandemic offered an opportunity for the cofounders to rethink and expand on their original plans. Their work with families, combined with their own experiences, led them to envision a family center with no barriers. Structured as a nonprofit endeavor now, the Circle looks toward both memberships and donations to help support families who would not normally be able to participate. Their midcounty location, just down the street from Sea Cliff Beach, means the Circle is within easy reach of families from both Watsonville and Santa Cruz. The Center boasts a large sunny room for yoga and similar classes and a smaller “family room” for lactation visits and smaller groups, complete with kids play area and cozy couches. The large parking lot, deck and side yard offer more options for meeting safely together outside. The entrance area includes some shopping opportunities with baby carriers, organic baby care products, baby booties, teething toys, apparel & more. Parents may borrow from the lending library on site, as well as contribute their own birth and parenting books when finished with them. The needs of many families have intensified as parents are beginning to emerge from the abrupt and unique isolation of the COVID pandemic. From a total shutdown to the evolution of remote contact for classes, workshops, and individual visits, families and care providers are providing new and different options for support. This new inclusivity will likely linger beyond the pandemic allowing new parents not quite ready or able to leave home, to find connection. At the Circle, some classes are offered inperson, others virtually, and some as a combination.Activities at the Circle Family Center strive to incorporate COVID vaccinated instructors who are LBGTQ, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), native Spanish speakers, and those who support diversity. If you don’t see what you need, check back, as the schedule is evolving. Currently The Circle Family Center offers: Prenatal education Pre & postnatal yoga, family yoga & kids yoga Pre & postnatal fitness Pre & postnatal support groups Child + caregiver circle time, story time & music time Dads groups Lgbtq+ parents group Individual & group lactation support Bereavement support Baby sign language Pelvic floor workshops Positive Discipline parenting workshops Car seat education & installation by certified CPSTs Santa Cruz Babywearing meetings Wombsong PLUS Spanish offerings for: Childbirth education New parents support group Parenting workshops Lactation support Dads group The Circle Family Center is building relationships with a variety of community programs to connect people in need with the support they can use. As the Circle gets rolling, supporters are welcome to stop by or head to their webpage to make a taxdeductible donation. There is something about a circle that is inherently inclusive. The curved sides gently reach out like a big hug to encompass everyone. A circle feels cozy while also suggesting expansiveness and strength. The Circle Family Center is all those things and more. Circle Family Center – www.thecirclefamilycenter.org 245 Sea Ridge Rd., Suite C, AptosFind the Circle Family Center on Facebook and Instagram More childbirth/parenting resources Read More Parenting Articles

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