October 2019 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Letters October 2019

growingupsc — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 12:46:26 +0000

Letters October 2019 Hello, My name is Séverine. I’m French and few days ago I was in California for my summer holidays. During my trip, I made a stop at Santa Cruz and I ate at Charlie Hong Kong. There, I found your September magazine, and the cover photography was so cool that I took one to realize a poster for my home. I wanted to put it on a frame. Only for my personnal use, only to have a souvenir. I love the California light on it, the color and even the typography and what’s written, school, grand parents… Anyway, I lost it at the airport … So today I try to remember the name of it and I found you out 🙂 I would like to know if you can send to me by email the September cover of your magazine? It would be very kind as I told you before, it’s not for a commercial purpose of course , only for my personnel l use. Best regards, Mlle Gautheron Séverine Hello! Less than a year ago, Californians voted no on Proposition 10, which would have repealed Costa-Hawkins. Costa-Hawkins was passed in 1995 and curbed the proliferation of rent control throughout the state. Californians overwhelmingly voted NO on Prop 10, crushing it with 59% against, 41% in favor. Now, the powers that be in Sacramento are hard at work on overturning the will of the voters and establishing statewide rent control – WITH just cause evictions. This is bad news for everyone. California desperately needs new housing – which, should enough actually be produced, would work to bring down the cost of rent (and housing in general). Enacting rent control will only serve to decrease housing construction and encourage landlords to pull their rentals off the market, restricting rental supply (and therefore, ironically, causing rent prices to increase). I called both my California Senator and my Assemblyman to voice my opposition. It’s super easy to do, only takes a couple minutes. I will show you how it’s done, check this out: How to Ask your Representatives to Vote No on AB 1482 There’s a video of me in there smiling and dialing – I encourage you to do the same, and ask that you invite your friends and family to do the same. I thank you for hearing me out and hopefully taking the time to let your representatives know where you stand. Thanks, Seb Frey

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Coloring Page October 2019

growingupsc — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 12:14:29 +0000

Coloring Page October 2019

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Editor’s Note October 2019

growingupsc — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 11:31:15 +0000

Editor’s Note: October 2019 Lou Reed called having a baby “the beginning of a great adventure,” which we love. But it’s also like a roller coaster ride, with ups and downs and questions, questions, questions. It seems the more we know, the more we need to know. Do I vaccinate? Do I send kids to day care? How long should I breast feed? How early is too early to start applying to colleges? If my kid doesn’t play violin by age 2, am I failing as a parent? Growing Up is all about being a resource to answer your questions. We are lucky to have some of the greatest experts in town contributing and we can help guide you down the path for every age…right on up to grand parenting. Our annual Pregnancy & Birth Guide is a great place to start looking for what expecting parents can expect and where they can find the best services in the county. Our October birth issue is one of our most fun times. We’ve had more than a thousand people vote for the best baby photo and we got so many great entries. You’ll see some top contenders inside. We also have some great baby advice. Nicole Young writes about how to say goodbye to your most precious infants when you have to leave. Jan Pierce covers singing to your baby and building a library for them. For older kids, Eric Chalhoub writes about going to school at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Yes that’s for real! Mary Gaukel Forster covers places for teens to search for careers. That’s a resource you won’t find anywhere else. We also love to celebrate Santa Cruz success stories. Alex Fowler went from riding on the Aptos pump track to building tracks for the Olympics. Chris Zephro started a mask making company with $250,000. He sold $20 million of them last year. Marc Monte turned his love of fireworks into $4 million of charity for area schools, libraries and parks. Clueing us in to what happens behind the teacher’s desk, Lisa Catterall deals with some tough issues: what happens when a whole class fails a test and what do you do when they start talking about things that may not be appropriate in a high school class. And on the fun side—this is Halloween month after all—writer John Koenig traces the history of scary rides, starting 200 years back and ending up at our Boardwalk. It’s a scream. Enjoy the issue, thanks for supporting our local community publication and for growing up with us in Santa Cruz. Brad Kava Jennifer Ford Steve Dinnen

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The Birth of a Mother: Yoga Can Help Childbirth and Infant Rearing

growingupsc — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 11:27:15 +0000

The Birth of a Mother Yoga Can Help Childbirth and Infant Rearing By Hannah Muse The journey of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum is undoubtedly one of the most incredible, life-enhancing, fulfilling experiences one can ever experience! And – whether it’s our first pregnancy or our fourth – it can also be a great challenge for our bodies, minds, and emotional life in ways we’ve never experienced; in ways that we don’t always feel ready and resourced to handle without additional support. Who needs goat yoga when you’ve got baby and prenatal yoga? And in Santa Cruz you can learn to be a prenatal yoga teacher. Photo: Expressivephotographics.com Luckily there is support waiting for you. Prenatal and Postnatal yoga classes are one of those invaluable support systems your community provides that resource mothers and their families in many beneficial ways. Research shows that Prenatal (during pregnancy) and Postnatal yoga (for mothers and their infants) can help to: reduce anxiety, decrease lower back pain, headaches, nausea and shortness of breath (to name just a few of the evidence-based physical benefits), improve sleep, and increase the inner resiliency the mother needs to cope with stress may arises along the journey. Countless women find a safe, supportive refuge when they attend these mother-focused yoga classes. After facilitating these classes for mothers for nearly a decade, one thing is certain: that although the path of motherhood is a unique journey for every woman, we can’t do it alone. Perhaps that’s why women often tell me and write to me that, in addition to helping with aches and pains, that they are often surprised to find that the most helpful and treasured aspects of these classes is the opportunity to be in a sacred circle of women who are also being initiated into motherhood – sharing their challenges and raw vulnerability, inspiring hope for each other, reaching out a hand or a Kleenex or a hug – all while we safely move our bodies and breathe together in a sanctuary of well-being and support. Childbirth is not only about birthing a child – it’s also the birth of a Mother. There are prenatal or postnatal yoga class in our area, including at the Pacific Cultural Center (www.pacificcultural.org) for $6 a class for new students. Prenatal classes are welcome to those in all trimesters, while postnatal classes are welcome to mothers and their infants up until crawling. There are also classes at Luma and Sutter. You can learn to assist these yoga classes too Dec. 4-8 for Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training – open to doulas, acupuncturists, healers and healthcare providers, and yoga teachers at the Mount Madonna Center alongside a faculty of specialists in childbirth, psychology, ayurveda, infant development and more. Hannah Muse is a Registered Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga Teacher, Doula, and Teacher of the Mount Madonna Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training.

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Sing to Your Baby: Music and Brain Development

growingupsc — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 10:04:57 +0000

Sing to Your Baby Music and Brain Development By Jan Pierce The sweet interaction between a mother and her baby when the mother sings to the infant is a universal behavior. And researchers now know that this simple, most natural activity is mutually beneficial to both mother and child. Singing provides the sensory stimulation that helps baby to focus attention enabling learning, and the mother feels empowered as she creates a positive bond with her baby. Music builds connection, both with words and the unconscious mathematics of creating a melody. Benefits of Musical Experiences But studies are showing that a broad array of musical experiences can build connections in the brains of young children aged 0-6 and that these connections are vitally important for later learning of all kinds. Incorporating music into the fabric of your daily family life can bring social and educational benefits to your children in surprising ways. Soft music can calm and soothe children from fussy babies to high-strung older children, serving as a stress-reducer. Music can help children focus attention, a necessary skill in any learning process. Hearing music and responding to it accelerates brain development, especially in language acquisition, reading and math skills. Music provides healthy ways to interact with others, both adults and peers. Moving to music builds motor skills and allows healthy self-expression. Music interactions build memory skills. Music provides a vehicle for the expression of many emotions, especially joy. Early Brain Development Neuroscientists now believe that crucial brain development takes place in the early years between ages 0-6. These years offer a window of opportunity to build connections in the brain that will serve the child throughout a lifetime. New connections are made in the brain based on what the child sees, hears and touches. Music is a key way to introduce new learning experiences to your child in both fun and productive ways. We now know that children who engage in musical activities from birth to age six have a head start on social competence, cognitive skills and emotional well-being. Besides, music is fun! Here are some games and activities to bring more music into the culture of your family life: Play music for babies and toddlers. Encourage them to sway, bounce, clap and otherwise respond to the rhythms. Make up songs as you go about your daily routines. They might relate to bath or nap times, meal times or play times. “It’s time for your bath, bath, bath,” to the tune of a favorite song. Sing familiar songs and insert silly words. “Mary had a little ____.” Play music and provide household items or simple rhythm instruments for your children to play. Learn songs to sing together as a family. These work wonders during commute times in the car. Sing “movement” songs to build simple dance routines. “Wiggle, hop and turn around.” Have fun with music because “In the first six years of life, a child’s brain develops more and faster than at any other time in life. The early experiences a child has—the things seen, heard and touched, stimulate the brain, forming connections. Healthy brain development establishes a child’s social competence, cognitive skills and positive emotional well-being.” (Quote from clinical psychologist Seema Hingorrany) Let music of all kinds form a backdrop to your daily family life. Have some musical fun with your kids and build their brainpower. Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a freelance writer specializing in education, parenting and family life topics. She is the author of Homegrown Family Fun and Homegrown Readers. Find Jan at www.janpierce.net Want ten free tips on boosting your child’s reading skills? Go to www.janpierce.net. The download is free. Resources University of Miami, “Mother and Infants Connect Through Song, Science Daily, Feb. 17, 2017. Gold, Claudia M. M.D., Music, Children and Brain Development. How Music May Help Children with “Behavior Problems.” Author of The Developmental Science of Early Childhood.

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When Saying Good-bye is Hard for Babies (and Parents): Ask Nicole October 2019

growingupsc — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:40:23 +0000

When Saying Good-bye is Hard for Babies (and Parents) Ask Nicole: October 2019 By Nicole M. Young, MSW You wouldn’t know it now, but my daughter cried constantly when she was a baby. First, she had colic. Then she cried whenever I was out of her sight. This made it extremely hard to drop her off at child care, and I often ended up crying just as much as my daughter. Our wise child care provider suggested I give my daughter something that smelled like me when saying good-bye, so she could be reminded of me throughout the day. Saying bye to baby or his older brothers can be challenging, but a “good-bye routine” can help. For many months, I packed the nightshirt I’d worn the night before into the diaper bag each morning, then gave it to my daughter as I kissed her good-bye. It helped, and it became a special part of our good-bye routine that my daughter came to depend upon. After awhile, it didn’t matter if I’d worn the shirt – any soft, white T-shirt symbolized comfort and security. I’ll always be grateful for that simple tip that got us through many teary good-byes. This monthly column provides tips for anyone who’s helping raise 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 me at triplep@first5scc.org. Dear Nicole, My wife and I recently adopted our first baby. We’re both excited, nervous, and clueless. Our daughter is 8-months old and usually easy-going, but lately she gets upset and cries when I drop her off at child care. It’s a terrible feeling to leave her when she’s crying and reaching out for me. Our child care provider says she’s fine once I leave, but should I be worried? –Tessa Dear Tessa, Great question! It’s common for babies to go through a phase where they become upset and cry during separations. This is often called “separation anxiety” and is usually temporary. It can start as early as 4-months old, peak around 1-year old, then start to fade as children learn that their parents exist even if they can’t see them and that they will return after a separation. Here are some tips to try: Spend quality time together This is the first positive parenting strategy to use in any situation, with any child, at every stage of life. Talk, read, sing, make eye contact, hold, cuddle, and play with your baby, even if it’s only for a few minutes at a time. This kind of brief, frequent quality time builds warm, loving relationships and will help your baby feel safe and secure. Create a good-bye routine Predictable routines help children feel safe and teaches them to prepare for separations. For example: Tell your baby when it’s almost time to say good-bye – “Mommy [or Daddy] needs to leave in 5 minutes.” Do something special as you say good-bye – e.g. blow kisses, rub noses, sing a song, or hug. As you say your final good-bye, give your baby a “transitional object,” such as a toy, blanket, or other item from home that reminds them of you while you’re apart. Respond calmly if your baby gets upset Babies often react to their parents’ emotions, even if they don’t understand or speak words. Try to stay calm and relaxed as you say good-bye and reassure your child that you’ll be back. It might not stop the crying, but can help prevent it from escalating. Create a routine for reconnecting Babies often cry, turn away, or avoid their parents when they return, too. If this happens, it’s not a sign of rejection. Babies may need time to adjust to seeing their parents after being apart. Stay close by and talk in a calm, caring voice so she knows you’re there, even if she doesn’t want to look at you or be held. Watch her face and body for signs she’s ready to be picked up or hugged. Take care of yourself Separating from and reconnecting with children (especially crying babies) can be an emotional roller coaster for parents. Give yourself time and permission to feel your emotions, then practice self-care. Take a walk, listen to music, get a cup of coffee or tea, talk to someone, take deep breaths – whatever will help you feel calm and ready to face the day. Final Thoughts Saying good-bye is hard for many children and parents, no matter how old they are. Developing routines for separating and reconnecting helps children learn how to handle their feelings about saying good-bye, which helps prepare them to cope with changes and transitions throughout life. Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 15 and 19, 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.

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Building Baby’s Library

growingupsc — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:36:09 +0000

Building Baby’s Library By Jan Pierce Books Matter Educators tell us that every child needs to hear five hundred books read aloud to them before entering Kindergarten. Hearing all those stories prepares boys and girls for learning to read. They’ll pick up important “book knowledge” such as concepts of words and sentences, left to right orientation, top and bottom, the beginning, middle and end of a book and much more. Here’s a place Kindle and tablets haven’t penetrated—books for babies and kids. Nothing beats nightly reading and educators say kids need to hear 500 books before kindergarten. They’ll learn to enjoy book language which is different from everyday speaking. They’ll move and bounce to the rhythms of words, they’ll learn to love characters who do silly things and they’ll giggle at funny pictures. They’ll learn there are books about virtually everything in the whole wide world. They’ll learn something else from hearing their parents and other significant people in their lives read to them—they’ll learn to love reading. Since one of the primary indicators of success in school is learning to read, parents are wise to pour themselves into building baby’s love of and immersion in books. Many medical professionals believe children can even begin to enjoy language and music before they’re born. It’s never too early to read aloud to baby. Given the importance of baby’s exposure to good books, let’s explore the kinds of books to put into your family’s library. The benefits of board books for babies are many. They’re usually small enough for little hands to hold easily. The pictures are simple and clear and the print is large. The heavy, durable quality of the paper means the books will last through hundreds of readings and can even survive an inadvertent dip in water or a few nibbles from baby’s teeth. In addition you’ll be assured that a board book is appropriate for baby—not too difficult in language and topic. Know the Classics When it comes to books for baby there are some classics you just don’t want to miss. Anything by Eric Carle will delight babies. His Very Hungry Caterpillar or The Very Busy Spider are just right for exposure to beautiful pictures and a simple story. Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon, Mem Fox’s Hello Baby and Bill Martin books so full of rhythm and rhyme are also classics. Bill Martin’s Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and his collaboration with Eric Carle on Brown Bear, Brown Bear are two selections that should be on every baby library shelf. Other popular titles include Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Other authors with wonderful books for baby are Tana Hoban, Sandra Boynton and Philip Eastman. There are other books written for the purpose of exposing baby to specific topics or skills. The Baby Gym Books by Sanja Rescek introduce the five senses in titles such as Wiggle and Move, Touch and Tickle, Bounce and Jiggle and Calm and Soothe. My Little Quiet Books by Pockets of Learning teach baby beginning concepts of color, counting, opposites and recognition of animals. Spots and Dots by Chez Picthall are wordless books meant for newborns to babies six months of age. They introduce visual stimulation through high contrast images in black and white and in bold colors. Every book store and library have special sections of books just for baby. For those with tight budgets you might consider regular use of your local library and build a “rotating library” at home. In addition your local library will have read aloud times to introduce you to new titles and teach baby to sit and listen to another adult read. Skill Building In addition to the sheer pleasure of hearing books read aloud, babies also love the cuddly closeness of sitting with their readers. They’ll learn to point to certain objects and characters. In fact there are lots of books for babies and toddlers meant specifically for building recognition of shapes, colors, objects, parts of the body, familiar animals and the like. The skill of hearing the name for an object and then finding it on the page is not only a book skill, it’s also related to beginning math skills such as sorting objects into categories. Many books for babies and toddlers will build skills. Color recognition, shape recognition, and learning to count are early skills necessary for success in school activities later on. The subtle skills of noticing the emotions of characters, the action of a story and lessons learned will also set the stage for later reading comprehension skills. Quality books for your baby are the building blocks of future literacy. Your efforts to make books available and your time spent reading aloud to your baby will be rewarded many times over when it comes time for your child to become an independent reader. You may enjoy going to the website for the American Library Association (www.ala.org). Here you’ll find their book list for babies entitled Born to Read. It includes books in categories such as: Books with sharp color contrast Books with bright colors Books with human faces (studies show babies look longer at these than any other image) Books of common objects or first words Books on concepts Books on daily routines Books babies can manipulate Books showing diversity Books with the best stories for babies Best Books to Choose for Babies Choose sturdy board books or washable cloth or vinyl books Choose bright colors and simple pictures on solid backgrounds Babies respond to rhythm in language and simple rhymes Babies enjoy seeing pictures of familiar objects such as animals, food or clothing Babies love stories about the things they do such as eating, taking a bath or going to sleep Babies like repetition. They like books with repeated words or phrases Babies like to touch a variety of textures and help to turn pages in a book Babies love to read homemade books with pictures of their family members

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Lighting the Fire: Behind the Teacher’s Desk October 2019

growingupsc — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:35:16 +0000

Lighting the Fire Behind the Teacher’s Desk: October 2019 By Lisa Catterall “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel” —Socrates. “I have to do what? Talk about how a living thing is different than this candle flame? Why?” Good point. Why would I have you do that? Well, there are years of research showing that for many kids, thinking and talking about something cause that concept to fall into your memory in a more useful way than passively reading about it or listening to a teacher give you the answer. “Can you just give me the answer?” I would like to offer all of my students an open choice as to what activities they complete in order to learn the concepts and knowledge they need, but truthfully, they’re here in school because they don’t yet know how they learn. If they knew how to learn already, I could be removed from the system by just handing them a set of “learning objectives” for the year and letting them figure out how to get there. See ya at the final exam, kids. Learning how you learn should be one of the major combined goals of every piece of curriculum offered in a program. This summer, a study came out in which a group of college students were asked what activities in class helped them learn things better. Across the board, the students said they preferred a direct lecture then reading the textbook at home. There was a broad dislike of group collaboration, of arts-integration activities, of hands-on activities, and of, well, creating, doing, and thinking as part of the class. After this survey, the students’ learning was tracked and assessed through two classes with the same learning objectives. One class used strictly lectures, with textbook reading as homework. The “other” class integrated group projects, creative activities, and hands-on learning. Remember, NO students stated they wanted to be in this “other” class. But the class with those “pointless” learning activities learned much, much more. The “other” class, where the students had to get out of their seats, talk to other people, think things through, do creative things with the material, and, well, just take a more apparently crooked path towards the same destination. This will not surprise any teachers. When I am choosing lessons each year, particularly those that set the tone for the school year in the opening weeks, I gravitate towards the ones that bring me joy. If I get a little excitement when I touch the handout or the kit or the materials, I choose it. Of course, that does not mean the kids are going to enjoy my offerings. It only guarantees that my students are going to meet a very happy and enthusiastic teacher. For me, the more the students are thinking, moving about the classroom, and being creative, the more excited I tend to get about the lesson. Because this is my wheelhouse, it’s been devastating to watch kids (and sometimes parents) get more and more vocal about only liking direct lectures and textbook learning. In the very distant past, teachers would rule by fear, ruler in hand, and demand silence as students in their one-room schoolhouses sat still and memorized lessons to recite word-for-word. The deeper content didn’t matter and creativity had nowhere to sit. Fear. The pressure is on and the stakes are high. They need to have the dots connected between what they are doing and whether they will be successful in the future. Something about what we are doing in our 45-minute period each day has a stakehold in creating a positive future. Could they be nervous because, for this generation, the future seems so very uncertain? Whatever the reason, there’s a story they are telling themselves about their ability to learn that is not helping them. Instead of asking myself how I am going to make sure everyone does a perfect two-column proof by the end of the year (Geometry), a successful six-step picket fence and a distillation column (Chemistry), and can design an ELISA (Biology), I’m asking myself how to get those unhelpful stories to change. So talk about that candle, kiddo, whether you think there’s a point or not. We’ll start from there, and by June, we will have fanned the flame until it has burned out every instinct you have to say, JUST GIVE ME THE ANSWER. That’s right, we are here to make the crooked and curving path to learning fun again. Lisa Catterall teaches STEAM, math, science, and art at Mount Madonna School. She has authored curriculum frameworks for California and Kentucky on arts education as a senior associate of the Centers for Research on Creativity. She is a former middle school director and the founder of a STEAM engineering program. She lectures and trains teachers and administrators on innovation in education in Chaoyang District’s foreign experts program in Beijing, China. After spending 14 years in biotechnology, she began her teaching career as a middle school math teacher in her mid-thirties. Lisa has five children and has lived in Santa Cruz County for most of her life.

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He Lights up the Skies for Kids: Marc Monte Honored for Donating $4 Million to Schools

growingupsc — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:26:34 +0000

He Lights up the Skies for Kids Marc Monte Honored for Donating $4 Million to Schools By Brad Kava Marc Monte loves fireworks. That’s one of the reasons he came up with a yearly show held in October that has raised $4 million for local schools, libraries, sports fields and boatloads of other charities. When his father, Rudolph Monte, opened the gourmet supermarket, Deluxe Foods in Aptos in 1977, they donated $150 to a charity golf tournament, the Little Helpers Tournament. But they wanted to do more. So, starting in 1996, Marc came up with the idea of a fireworks show held at Seacliff State Park for which kids would sell tickets. It shouldn’t have worked because of all the permits and bureaucracy needed to do anything these days—but Monte lobbied state and local officials and got it done. Six years ago the regulations became too tough and Monte moved the celebration to Capitola, which was more supportive and made it free. Vendors donate 5 percent of their sales to the Monte Foundation and other sponsors join in. Shoppers can tell the clerks at Deluxe Foods in Aptos that they want 5 percent of their spending to be donated to charity and Marc Monte’s store does it. They have raised millions for local schools, parks and culture. Photo: Brad Kava The show costs $30,000 and the Foundation has been able to raise millions for charity work. It will celebrate its 25th year Sunday Oct. 13 in Capitola at 8 p.m. for free. Marc’s dad, Rudolph (Rudy) Daniel Monte and his mother Doris Sylvia Monte opened up two grocery stores together. The first was Lady Fair Market in San Jose, which was named for Doris and her blond hair. She worked at that store for over 20 years doing the books, checking, and stocking groceries. Deluxe Foods of Aptos was opened later and Doris was the head checker and worked in the office until she and Rudy retired. Marc, 55, has been working there since he graduated from Soquel High and Santa Clara University. He started at the bottom learning his way up to management. The store has 65 employees; many of them have been there for decades. “We’ve been blessed with a very loyal following and people really care about the store because we care about the community.” Deluxe will donate 5 percent of any customer’s spending to an assortment of charities if they ask at the checkout stand. Monte says he got his love from giving from the Catholic priests in church and school and from his grandmother, who was a very giving woman. Among the things the foundation has contributed to are the McGregor skate board park, pump track and dog park, Jade Street Park tennis courts, the Monte Fields at the Aptos Polo Grounds, the SPCA and dozens of schools and foundations. Monte says Deluxe was a pioneer in the high-end food industry, bringing in high quality foods at higher prices. But these days, he notes, stores like Whole Foods and New Leaf have followed the trend. The market largely runs itself so he can devote more time to charity. “You’re only on this Earth a short time,” says Monte. “So it’s about how many people you touch, how many people you help. That’s what I think.” Monte will be honored at an Aptos Sports Foundation dinner Nov. 2 at Seascape Resort. More information at aptossportsfoundation.com.

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Getting Your Ducks in a Row. Pregnancy Homework Pays Off: Birth Matters October 2019

Laura Maxson — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:21:46 +0000

Getting Your Ducks in a Row. Pregnancy Homework Pays Off Birth Matters: October 2019 By Laura Maxson, LM There is so much to learn about, plan for and decide on when expecting. Parents-to-be and new parents can easily feel confused or overwhelmed. Although it can seem like an eternity at times, pregnancy does go quickly when it comes to getting all your ducks in a row before baby arrives. And who knew there were so many ducks. There is support for the biggest adventure, having a baby, at Bellies, Birth and Babies, where you join other mothers and learn about everything from compostable diapers to home birth and breast pumps. Doing a little homework in pregnancy can save time and stress when baby is actually here and no matter how much planning is done in pregnancy, your baby will bring new questions. With so many items on the new parent to-do list, it’s nice to know so many can be checked off by attending a Bellies, Birth and Babies event. Held twice a year these free events are geared toward answering questions and providing information and resources to new and expectant families. Parents come with questions and leave feeling a little more prepared, not just with lists of resources, but with names and faces – real connections with those they’ve spoken with. Those attending Bellies, Birth and Babies often come in search of a practitioner – a yoga/fitness instructor, doula or childbirth instructor, for example. Others are looking specifically for information or support around a certain topic such as postpartum care, labor coping skills or lactation support. One of the best parts of the event, besides getting the information you were looking for, is finding out about all the resources you had no idea were out there. Birth Network of Santa Cruz County created this event to get information to parents. With the help of their professional members and others in the birth and parenting community they have created an event that brings everyone together. Parents can walk in to a full afternoon of workshops, demos and conversations, or just pop in for the answer to a specific question and be on their way. Every family that attends receives a free ticket to the raffle of fabulous door prizes. But the biggest prize of all often comes from talking with other parents. It can be so helpful to listen to other parents and professionals discussing the needs of new babies (and their parents) with your own baby in arms. It’s not unusual to start a list of additional questions for a person’s doctor or midwife after joining in the pain coping ideas for labor discussion. According to parents who attended past Bellies, Birth and Babies events, it is just the place to explore options and find resources. When asked if they would recommend this event, past participants responded with a resounding, “yes.” Specifically: “Yes! Friendly and welcoming,” “Yes, it was fun and there are a variety of things to check out,” and “Yes even as a 2nd time mom, so helpful and so many resources.” So many different kinds of resources are available. At the event, parents can: Sign up for delivery of compostable diapers that are picked up after use and actually composted instead of going into the landfill. Do some shopping for nursing bras and pregnancy lingerie. And also schedule someone to come to the house with an assortment of nursing bras to try on once baby arrives. Ask questions about selecting and installing a child safety seat. Practice some hands-on infant massage techniques. Check out baby carriers and get tips on using them. Find out about homebirth options, including waterbirth, siblings in attendance and laboring safely at home. Learn about how to support pregnant and postpartum bodies through yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic, fitness classes and physical therapy. Experience the support of a mini-pregnancy/baby singing circle. See how a breastpump works and find out if you might need one (not everyone does!) Explore some of the newest toys, diaper bags and other “must-haves” for new parents. Ask about recommendations for helpful birth and parenting books or podcasts. Most importantly parents can feel supported in this big work of preparing for and raising a family. Connecting with other parents through classes, support groups, online resources and just simple conversations lightens the load. It is a unique experience to be able to connect with professionals in a one-on-one situation. Our community is so lucky to have so many wonderfully dedicated people working hard for parents in our community. Getting prepared and organized as you can is an ongoing process. Be like those mama ducks – take off, but keep checking… chances are you’re going to have to stop and line them all up again! Register for Bellies, Birth and Babies https://bbb-fall2019.eventbrite.com Online Pregnancy and Birth Resources www.birthnet.org

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