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National Adoption Day in Louisiana – Meet Elijah

November 16, 2017 by Guest Contributor

Elijah Evans, a then 15-year-old young man from LaFayette, Louisiana, defied every one of the many myths of adoption and foster care. Like most children, he entered foster care through no fault of his own. Tragically, he suffered abuse at the hands of the very person who was supposed to love and protect him, his biological mother.

Needing special care to address the damage left from being placed in a bathtub of scalding water as a baby, he met a nurse named Lynore who not only helped him heal, but ultimately became his mother. Today he is a thriving teenager who through his foundation, No Use for Abuse, is reaching out a loving hand to kids just like him to offer them hope and help achieving their dreams.

National Adoption Day

This annual, one-day event has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with policymakers, practitioners and advocates to finalize adoptions, and create and celebrate adoptive families. Communities across the county celebrate every Saturday before Thanksgiving.

It is one day each year set aside to raise awareness of the more than 100,000 children in foster care still waiting for their forever family. This year, National Adoption Day is particularly focused on the more than 23,000 children each year who reach the age of 18 without ever finding forever families. That’s nearly 1 in 4 children from foster care who age out of the system with no place to call home, no family to support them, no table to join for Thanksgiving.

The fact is that the current U.S. foster care system is very much built to support the false premise that the older a child gets, the less they need a family. As both a daughter and a mother, my life experience has shown me that we never outgrow our need for a family. I am 41 years old and still rely on both my parents and my siblings for guidance and support in life. And my soon to be 10 year old daughter, Grace, very much looks to her dad and me to help support her in her quest to discover who she is as a person and what she wants to be one day. There is no doubt in my mind that both her courage and confidence comes directly from her knowledge that we are there to catch her when she falls. This is no less true for kids in foster care.

So what can be done to bring about change? First, more people need to help in challenging the general public’s belief that there is such a thing as an unadoptable child. There is no such things as unadoptable children – there are just unfound families. And while one would think that most people would agree, a recent Harris poll sponsored by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption found that only 51% of those surveyed agreed that every child is adoptable. And an even smaller number (27%) said that they would personally consider adopting a child over 12.

Second, if you have not already, consider stepping up to play a role in the life of an older child in foster care. Those who have already answered their calling to parent these children will be the first to tell you that becoming a parent to a teenage child is no less magical than the birth of an infant. In fact, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption recently captured some of these parent’s hearts in a moving video.

And finally, speak out for these children. Tell your local, state and federal policymakers it is unacceptable that our system is putting more than 23,000 kids out on the streets to fend for themselves each year. Demand better for them than group homes. Push for more programs that are specifically designed to connect these children with permanent, loving families.

If you are already an adoptive parent, you can help too. The National Adoption Day Coalition has created the One Day Project to give hope to children waiting in foster care, and to encourage others to adopt, by sharing their stories of what their “one day” in the adoption process is like. Help us spread the message that adoption changes lives by submitting a short video about your adoption story, a few words of encouragement or why you support National Adoption Day.

For more information about the events taking place locally and foster care adoption, please visit nationaladoptionday.org.

Kathleen Strottman
Kathleen Strottman served as executive director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). National Adoption Day is supported by a coalition that includes CCAI, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Freddie Mac Foundation, Children’s Action Network, and Alliance for Children’s Rights.

TIGER Kids Study with Pennington Biomedical – Veggie Spring Rolls Recipe

April 28, 2017 by Guest Contributor

As moms, the health and wellbeing of our children is at the forefront of our minds. Balancing busy schedules with school, sports and social lives can make it hard for our kids to consistently eat healthy, exercise, perform well in school and manage the stresses of life in a healthy way.

Summer is fast approaching which means more time for fun activities. I’m also thinking about how to keep my boys healthy and happy during the hot summer months, which leads me to share about a great opportunity for our kids to become “TIGER Kids.”

Researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center are conducting a study to learn more about what motivates kids to make healthy choices. The study is called TIGER Kids and it’s a great opportunity right here in our community to contribute to knowledge that could help kids across the country. How cool is that?

Researchers are measuring things that influence how our kids perform in school, how to help them become more active and how to eat healthier. The study is also looking at body image, stress levels, family behaviors (like kids’ relationships with siblings) and other motivating factors that contribute to the choices kids make.

Beyond contributing to research that could help our kids get and stay healthy, what’s in this study for us? Kids will be compensated for participation in TIGER Kids (can earn up to $100 for participation) and they have the opportunity to become a kid scientist! They can help researchers work to discover how to help kids move more, sit less and eat healthier. You and your kids can also get great in-depth information about their health, and kids will receive two “wearables” for a week to track their physical activity.

Participating in this study is easy! You and your child will visit Pennington Biomedical a total of 3 times over a 2 year period. Interested in your child becoming a TIGER Kid? I’ve included the full study details below. To screen for the study, visit http://www.pbrc.edu/TIGERKids or call 225-763-3000.

TIGER Kids Study with Pennington Biomedical

Study Purpose

The TIGER Kids research study will evaluate ways to: increase kids’ physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior (help kids move more and sit less), encourage healthy eating, and assess other factors that may influence school performance, body image, stress and mood.

About the Study

TIGER Kids participants will attend an orientation session at Pennington Biomedical to learn about the study and receive activity tracking tools. Participants will then visit Pennington Biomedical’s Translational Research Center for Children (TReCC) twice during the study – one visit after the orientation session and one visit two years later.

TIGER Kids participants will also receive valuable health information at no cost. Each participant is eligible to receive a copy of:

their lab work; including blood sugar and cholesterol tests;
a printout of their DXA scan, which includes total body fat, total muscle mass, total lean mass and bone density readings; and
a copy of body measurement data including height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure and heart rate.

TIGER Kids participants will attend a total of 3 study visits over the course of approximately 2 years with the following procedures:

Body measurements (height, weight, and waist size)
Blood pressure
Surveys
Dietary Questions
Wear an activity monitor, GPS tracker, and respond to messages on a mobile app for 7-days

Study Qualifications

To qualify, participants in this study should be:

Be between 10 and 16 years old
Not be on a restrictive diet

Compensation

Total compensation for the completion of this study is $100.

Study Contact

Parents, are you ready to see if your child qualifies for the TIGER Kids study? Visit http://www.pbrc.edu/TIGERKids to screen online or call 225-763-3000.

Looking for a healthy family fun recipe to cook this summer? Check out these rainbow fruit and veggie spring rolls:

Veggie Spring Rolls

Makes about 24 rolls, 1 roll with dipping sauce is 110 kcals, 2g protein, 17g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 4g fat, 1g saturated fat, 2g monounsaturated fat, 1g polyunsaturated fat

2 cups shredded carrots
1 red bell pepper
1 cucumber, peeled
1 large avocado, peeled and seeded
2 mangoes, peeled and seeded
1 package of vermicelli noodles, cooked according to package
24 brown rice spring roll wraps
1 cup cilantro leaves
1 cup basil leaves
1 cup mint leaves

Veggie Spring Roll Dipping sauce

1/3 cup peanut butter or cashew butter
2 Tbsp Hoisin sauce
1 ½ Tbsp Reduced Sodium soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
½ tsp chili sauce (check ingredients for peanut allergens if necessary)
2-4 Tbsp warm water for desired consistency

Fruit Spring Rolls

Makes about 10 rolls
1 roll with vanilla yogurt is 65 kcals, 1g protein, 15g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 0g fat

1 mango
5 strawberries
2 kiwis
6 pineapple chunks
5 romaine lettuce leaves
10 Brown rice spring roll wraps
½ cup mint leaves
½ cup Vanilla yogurt for dipping

Directions

Slice fruit or veggies into skinny strips and tear herbs into smaller pieces. Set aside.
Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a saucepan or kettle and set aside to cool slightly.
Prepare the veggie spring roll dipping sauce by combining all ingredients together. Thin with warm water to achieve desired consistency.
Add the hot water to a large bowl and submerge one rice paper to soften for about 5-10 seconds.
Transfer rice paper to a flat, slightly wet surface and add desired fruit, veggies, and herbs. Fold the bottom of the rice paper up over the fillings, then gently roll over once, fold in the sides to seal, and continue rolling until completely sealed.
Repeat process until all toppings are used.
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to a couple days, though best when fresh.

Want more healthy recipes? Check out the Pennington Biomedical metabolic kitchen website! www.pbrc.edu/kitchen

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Mumps – 5 Things Parents Need to Know

March 16, 2017 by Dr. Mindy Calandro

Last week, Louisiana joined the ranks of 37 other states to have reported cases of mumps since January 2017. In an urgent memo released on Saturday, March 11, the Louisiana Office of Public Health reported that several cases of mumps have been confirmed in students at LSU. The number of student affected as well as their vaccine status has not been released at this point in time. So here is what you need to know about mumps and how to protect yourself and your children.

What is Mumps?

Mumps is a viral illness that is spread through respiratory droplets or saliva (so coughing, sneezing or sharing drinks). An infection with the mumps virus may begin as nonspecific fever, headache, and malaise, but then often progresses to the most common symptom of mumps which is pain and swelling of the parotid gland. As you can see in the pictures below, the parotid gland is located just in front of the ear and at the upper part of the jaw. Swelling of the parotid gland, called parotitis, can be quite impressive and cause the ear to push outwards and the angle of the jaw to no longer be easily seen. If you or your child currently have any health issues such as depression or stress inform yourself about kratom benefits that can have a positive impact on your life. More serious complications of mumps include orchitis (which is swelling of the testicles that may lead to sterility) or oophoritis (which is swelling of the ovaries), encephalitis (swelling around the brain) or deafness. Death from mumps is very rare (even in the pre-vaccine era).

How common is Mumps?

Mumps vaccination became commonplace in 1967, but prior to that time, there were over 186,000 cases each year here in the US. Since routine vaccination, there has been a 99% reduction in the number of mumps cases each year, however, mumps has not been eliminated from the US.

On average, there are anywhere from several hundred to several thousand cases each year. In 2006, there were 6,584 reported cases (many on college campuses) and in 2009, there were more than 3,000 cases. As of February 25, 2017, there have been 1,077 cases so far, and now our cases here in Baton Rouge will be added to that total.

How contagious is Mumps?

As with most viruses, people are contagious before they even know they have symptoms of the illness. Those with mumps can spread the disease 2 days before the onset of symptoms and up to 5 days after symptoms begin. Therefore, when someone is diagnosed with mumps, they should avoid contact with others for at least 5 days.

Can you treat Mumps?

Well, unfortunately, since it is a virus, antibiotics do not help to treat mumps. For those diagnosed with mumps, the virus simply has to run its course. As with other viruses, lots of fluids, rest and medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to help with symptoms.

How can you protect yourself and your children?

VACCINATION is key!! Children receive their MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine between 12-15 months of age and again between 4-6 years of age. These two doses of the mumps vaccine are 88% effective at preventing mumps viral illness. As you can see, the vaccine is not perfect, but it is the best protection that we have against this virus. For adults born after 1957, blood work can be done to see if you have immunity against the mumps virus, and if no immunity, then vaccination is recommended. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) those born before 1957 are likely to have had the mumps virus and therefore, should have immunity to the virus.

Well, why does it seem that people who have been vaccinated are getting the mumps virus?

That is a great question! As I stated above, the MMR vaccine is not perfect, but those who have received their MMR vaccines are 9-10 times less likely to come down with mumps illness if exposed to the virus as someone who is not vaccinated. Look at this example created by the CDC of a hypothetical outbreak: say a mumps outbreak affects 1,000 people. If 95% of those people have been vaccinated, that means that 50 people are unvaccinated. If 30% of those unvaccinated come down with mumps, that would mean 15 people would be sick with the mumps virus. If 3% of the vaccinated crowd got the virus, that is still 29 people who would be sick. So just by looking at the numbers (15 vs 29), there are more in the vaccinated group that have the mumps. HOWEVER, if none of those 1,000 people were vaccinated, you could expect 300 people to be sick (again with a 30% “attack” rate). It is not just the number that are affected, but more importantly the percentage of the population in question that is important.

Something else that we are learning about in regards to the mumps vaccine…it appears that over time, there might be waning immunity to the vaccine. We know that over time our immunity to vaccines may diminish which is why booster vaccines are so important (think about your tetanus booster which is given every 10 years as well as the recent push for pertussis, or whooping cough, booster vaccines). At this time, there is not a universal recommendation for a 3rd booster for the mumps vaccine, but in certain circumstances (areas with large outbreaks, for example), a third booster dose of the MMR vaccine may be recommended, since this vaccines are just one of the products people use to keep their health and there are other products that are qualified between health and beauty but are as well important as https://analbleachadvice.com/my-amaira-review/ and others.

As the mumps story of 2017 continues to unfold, stay tuned to see what, if any, new recommendations might be made. In the meantime, make sure that your children have received their MMR vaccine on time, and for those parents with soon to be college students, make sure they have received both of their MMR vaccines as well before heading off on their new college adventure!

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Moms where local experts share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting and living in Baton Rouge.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this site is to share BRM moms’ experiences with food, fitness, health and life as well as opinions from some of our local experts. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice. When it comes to your health or the health of your child, please be sure to contact your physician.

Get Organized Month – Week Three – Bedrooms

January 19, 2017 by Guest Contributor

Do you get up in the middle of the night and have to walk an obstacle course to get to the bathroom? Well, it’s week number three of “Get Organized” month and we are going to focus on our bedrooms. This could mean your bedroom, your children’s bedroom, or your guest bedroom where your guests can’t sleep because you use it for storage. Remember your tools! Get your timer and 2 different colored trash bags.

Day One: Bedside Tables.

Set your timer. I bet this one can be 15 minutes! Clear your bedside table of all the trash. Now, think about what truly needs to be next to your bed. A clock? A book or magazine? A photo of that special someone? Whatever it is that you truly need, put aside. Now put away or donate the other items. Wipe the table and drawer and put needed items back neatly.

Remember, flat surfaces are not our friend. They are like magnets so resist the urge to place items next to your bed that truly don’t need to be there.

Day Two: Under the Bed.

No groaning. Set a timer. You may need a broom to help you get whatever is under there out. Leah Hennen from HGTV was told by Feng Shui experts that anything under the bed can disturb our sleep. Our goal with this space is to decide if we really need these items. If we need them, where else can they be stored? Let’s go! Trash, donate, or find a new home. 30 minutes! Go!

Day Three: The Bedroom Floor

Don’t pretend you don’t have things thrown on that floor. Set that timer and let’s knock it out quickly. You know this routine by now. Toss the trash first, touch every item, and add to the donate bag what you don’t LOVE (like that favorite shirt that was too small and is now on your floor because you can’t even think of letting it go. Yes, I know it’s there….donate). Put away all other items that are on the floor that do not belong there. Run a vacuum over the space, including under your bed, and wow, look how nice and peaceful! I realized how good it is to have a good watering system at home, here you will find the best water softener systems and I also recommend to check out http://waterdamageatlanta911.com/ where I always find help with any water damage I might have at home.

Day Four: The Dresser (and/or other furniture in your room.)

I don’t have a dresser in my bedroom, but I do have a nice reading chair and thinking to upgrade it to one of the best recliners to relax. Also have a bookcase and occasionally (more often than I will ever admit!) a coffee cup, water bottle, or clothes end up hanging out there until I take the time to clean it up. Now’s the time!

If you have a dresser stuffed with clothes, take 2 drawers a day and knock it out. You can do this!

Toss anything damaged or stained. Donate items that you no longer love, no longer fit in, or just haven’t used in a year. Put away the other items neatly.

Day Five: The Bed

Wash your bedding, pillows included, and make it up nicely. Use your flat iron to iron the edges of your sheets and pillow cases. As your reward, get a glass of wine or a cup of tea, a great book, and relax! You’ve worked hard. Enjoy!

Chaos Organizing – Creative Help and Organizing Solutions for your home or office.

I’m Martha-Carol Stewart, owner of Chaos Organizing. Everything I know about helping others to get organized, I learned during my 18 years of teaching. I graduated with a BS in Child Development and Family Studies and I have trained my staff as I would train another teacher. Kindness and patience are of utmost importance as you go through your items and decide what to keep and what to toss or give away.

My staff and I use the same teaching philosophy with organizing. We individually tailor the organizing plan to what is maintainable for you. That means there is no cookie cutter plan. It also means we have to think outside the box at times. Our organizers are gentle but firm to help keep you on task.

Get Organized Month – Week Two – Entry Way & Laundry Room

January 11, 2017 by Guest Contributor

It’s week number two of “Get Organized” month and I know you are ready to get moving! We’ve tackled our kitchen and made it into a less cluttered and more efficient space. The next two spaces we will organize are the entry ways to our home and our beloved laundry room. (No eye rolls please!). You need your timer and your white and black trash bags. (White for donations and black for trash.) You may want to get a cardboard box for breakable items too.

Days One and Two: Entry ways.

Stand in the most used doorway into your home. Do you get a feeling of peacefulness and joy? Why not? Assess what is there. Do you need to make a space to store those items or can they be put where they belong? I discovered that soccer bags, backpacks and shoes were a constant at my back door entry way so I bought storage cubes that now hold those items that way my children can keep their Best indoor soccer shoes at home, I use the system of storage things I don’t need from long time ago, I even got a storage unit with the best Self Storage Prices for keeping my extra furniture I can’t keep in the house. I also added command hooks to the inside of a cabinet at that entry way that hold my purse and keys. Never again was I on the hunt trying to find those much needed items. Set your timer for 30 minutes. Go! Toss, donate or put away. Now, sweep the floor, clean the glass on the door, wipe the fingerprints off the door handle area and take a look. Nice? Maybe you can even hang a favorite picture or add fresh flowers to a nearby table. Your home is your sanctuary, your safe place to feel happy with those you love. Entering and having a feeling of joy after a long day is important. Spend 30 minutes at each entryway. Of course we understand that you don’t always have the time to do all the cleaning by yourself, work and other responsibilities gets in the way, for those times you can also hire Maid Complete or other cleaning services like >Monster Cleaning Services London

Day Three: Laundry Room upper cabinets.

Set your timer! Empty one cabinet at a time. Wipe the shelves clean. Toss broken or damaged items. Donate items that are useful, but not being used. Now, group like items together. I like the Sterilite latch boxes at Walmart for the laundry room because they stack. The white stackable baskets also work well depending on your shelf size. Some things I store in my laundry are light bulbs, batteries, hurricane radio, candles, cleaning supplies, rag towels, animal supplies, tools, laundry supplies and more. 30 minutes! Go!

Day Four: Lower cabinets

Typically, the lower cabinet in the laundry is the one under the sink cabinet if there is one at all. I have noticed that often times, perhaps because of a leaky pipe, this cabinet will emit a not so pleasnt odor. But I fixed that pretty easily with a sink deodorizer. When it comes to what you store in these use the same protocol as we used on the upper cabinets. Remember, keep chemicals in the higher cabinets and away from children and pets.

Day Five: Flat surfaces in the laundry room

For me, this consists of a space for folding the dry clothes. Everything the kids bring into the laundry room tends to land in this space. Now is the time to get it put away, toss it or donate it. 30 minutes!! Go! Don’t forget to wipe the counter! Stand back and enjoy your work.

Day Six: Catch up on laundry and add laundry time to your daily calendar. Throw a load in the washer in the morning and dry, fold and put away when you get home. Some schedule a week’s worth of laundering to be done in one day. Tip: Use a lingerie bag to hold the single socks waiting to find their mate. Who knew your laundry room was a singles bar!

Be sure to check back next week for the second week of quick and easy home organizations tips!

Chaos Organizing – Creative Help and Organizing Solutions for your home or office.

Get Organized Month with Chaos Organizing – Week One – The Kitchen

January 2, 2017 by Guest Contributor

Feeling overwhelmed with all of the clutter left behind from the holidays? You are in luck because January is Get Organized Month!
Over the next few weeks we will be tackling the clutter in each room of our home. Items needed are a timer, white trash bags(donations), and black trash bags(trash.)

Each day there will be a designated space. Touch each item in that space. Do you love it? Do you use it? If not, put the item in the donate(white) or trash(black) bag.
If it is broken, torn, missing pieces or doesn’t work, it is trash!!
Let’s begin in the hub of our home, the kitchen.

Day one: The Pantry
Set your timer for the time you have available to focus on this one space. I like 30 minutes.
Toss all expired food items. Wipe the shelves. Group like items together.
All snacks can go in a basket or bin. Plastic shoe boxes work if you are on a tight budget. Breakfast foods can be contained on one shelf. Cans can be grouped and organized. All these kitchen advises you can also find at knife blog which helps you get organized.
Dry good can be stored in airtight containers that are clear and labeled. (The OXO containers below can be found at Target, TJ Maxx and Marshalls.)

Day Two: Refrigerator
Set your timer! A simple task. Keep or toss. Wipe shelves and door. Put items that you are keeping back neatly and grouped by use. Quickly check freezer for food over a year old. Toss.

Day Three: Kitchen Drawers
Set your timer! Take one drawer at a time. Empty the drawer, wipe it and put back only what you use. Donate or toss anything you haven’t used in a year.

Day Four: Upper Kitchen Cabinets
Using the same process of empty, wipe, donate or toss, group like items and put back neatly.

Day Five: Lower Kitchen Cabinets
I bet you have the hang of this now! Same process!

Day 6: Flat surfaces in your kitchen
This one can make or break all of your hard work because if your cabinets, pantry and refrigerator look fabulous but your counter is cluttered with stuff, your home will not feel organized! Tackle the piles, put away items that don’t belong in the kitchen and wipe down your counters.

Voila! Feel better?

Be sure to check back next week for the second week of quick and easy home organizations tips!

Chaos Organizing – Creative Help and Organizing Solutions for your home or office.

Weiler Plastic Surgery Christmas – {GIVEAWAY}

December 1, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Between the hustle and bustle of the holidays and the many things on your ever-growing to-do list, we think you deserve a little pampering. We want to help make your life a little smoother with hair-free legs, FOREVER! I am excited to announce: Weiler Plastic Surgery is teaming up with Baton Rouge Moms for an exclusive offer for Laser Hair Removal of the lower legs –that’s EIGHT whole sessions… {$2,800 VALUE!!}

What’s better? Each session only takes about 15 minutes out of your busy schedule to say “goodbye” to shaving those legs for good, my husband found this Great site which is shavingforbaldmen.com/ where he will be getting a shaver for his head.

Laser hair removal is an energy-based laser treatment that provides permanent hair reduction for unwanted hair anywhere on the body. Laser hair removal is also effective in the treatment of Pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps). At Weiler Plastic Surgery, Dr. Weiler utilizes The High Speed Lumenis LightSheer DUET. This laser hair removal equipment uses state-of-the-art diode lasers with vacuum-assist technology to remove unwanted hair and with greater speed and comfort than other methods. This laser hair removal procedure is able to safely treat men and women of all skin types and colors. It can also be used to treat a wide range of hair types from coarse to thin and from dark to light, laser hair removal can be used to provide silky smooth skin.

Weiler Plastic Surgery Clinic

Weiler Plastic Surgery clinic offers some of the latest, state-of-the-art plastic surgery equipment available today. Thier welcoming office not only features advanced equipment but you can assure that you will be greeted and assisted by their friendly, professional staff. If you would like to learn more about our facility and what we have to offer, Weiler Plastic Surgery clinic offers complimentary consultation and give us a Visit. But if you’re not located in the USA, and you’re in search for a recommended plastic surgeon in Manchester go to Reflect clinic.

Dr. Jonathan Weiler

Dr. Jonathan Weiler, a native of New Orleans, is a plastic surgeon dedicated to providing quality patient opyare and surgical excellence to Baton Rouge, Hammond, Gonzales, and the surrounding North Shore community.

GIVEAWAY:

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Baton Rouge Location
Weiler Plastic Surgery

4212 Bluebonnet Blvd. Suite A
Baton Rouge LA 70809
1-225-399-0004

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

Cox Connect2Compete – getting more families online.

September 12, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Today’s kids are considered digital natives, they are growing up surrounded by and immersed in digital media. As a homeschool mom, not a day {or an hour} goes by that we do not turn to Google to get quick answers on just about any topic or question. The world’s encyclopedia is as weightless, free and instantly accessible as Wikipedia. Using the internet, you can learn a new language or delve into the depths of metaphysics with just a click of a mouse. The Web has unlocked the keys to a worldwide virtual school, a plethora of information and connectivity. Our boys use the internet to access their lessons, research and watch tutorials on just about anything they want to learn how to do. In much the same way, students are increasingly using the internet to keep up with homework assignments, to do research for school, and to connect with teachers and classmates.

Teachers are using digital tools in the classroom more and more to improve learning, assign online homework, post grades and email parents about student progress or needs. In today’s digital world, home internet connection is a necessity.

It’s hard to imagine living without the luxury of high speed internet, it’s something many of us take for granted. Unfortunately, too many are under-connected; an estimated one in three Louisiana residents does not have access at home. Students who don’t have internet at home struggle to keep up. Especially now, after the recent floods, I would imagine that many more children will go un-connected.

Having internet access at home is essential in helping students connect and succeed in the classroom and beyond. Living without internet access makes it hard for children to explore topics and ideas that interest them personally — what I, as a homeschool mom, call interest-driven learning. It’s easy to see that living without internet access can cause major learning gaps for children. Cox is working to alleviate this struggle.

Cox Connect2Compete Baton Rouge

Cox understands this new reality and works in the communities they serve to provide affordable internet and devices to low-income students and their families. Cox is striving to narrow the digital divide with Connect2Compete, a discounted Internet service available to qualifying households in our area.

There are many families in our area who want internet access but can’t afford the equipment or can’t afford the monthly fees. If you or someone you know is eligible for Connect2Compete, you need only apply online at www.connect2compete.org/Cox or call 855-222-3252 and get connected!

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

Keeping Children Safe After a Natural Disaster

August 25, 2016 by Tiany Davis

I have had my fair share of experiences with natural disasters, I lived in Miami during Hurricane Andrew, just minutes from one of the hardest hit areas. I volunteered with the Red Cross at makeshift shelters and vividly remember the children… scared, restless and tired.

A few years after Andrew I got married to a Baton Rouge native and moved to Baton Rouge. I thought I had seen the worst with Andrew until Katrina hit Louisiana and devastated New Orleans. Babies at the Super Dome went without formula and diapers. Children were separated from parents, some were lost in the shuffle of chaotic evacuations. More than 4,000 children were reported missing after Hurricane Katrina and the last child was not found until six months later. It was every parents worst nightmare.

baton-rouge-mom-003-inline-today-160822_ed7093f96a738a6ef4542662f0708b43.today-inline-large

Harmony Hobbs’s 4-year-old son, Asher, surveys the damage near their home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

If there was one thing I had learned from Andrew and Katrina, it’s that your family and your home must be properly prepared for a natural disaster. I thought I was prepared, until floods quietly took over most parts of South Louisiana, in the middle of the night. Without warning, the majority of South Louisiana woke up to find their homes filling with water. Homes that were not in flood zones and perceived safe. I can’t adequately describe the helplessness of seeing friends posting on Facebook that they desperately needed rescuing. It was a morning of shock and panic as Louisianans scurried to find boaters who could go out to rescue loved ones. Photos of children sleeping on roof tops seemed unimaginable until it became a reality.Most of the damage was because of the plumbing that’s why I decided to call santa monica plumbercompany so my house is now prepare to any disaster like Andrew and Katrina.

An estimated 60,646 houses are damaged, 30,000 people were rescued; 13 deaths and thousands remain in shelters, the worst part is that the expert inheritance disputes have had to intervene in the situation, due to all the disputes between the victim’s families.

Thinking back to Katrina, I knew the impact Save the Children had on children after the storm, even years after. I reached out to a friend from Save the Children on day two of the floods and they immediately agreed to respond and help Louisiana’s smallest flood victims.

Thousands of children remain displaced and unable to return to school. Friends have told me of their children crying at the sight of rain. These children face risk of serious emotional and developmental consequences if proper steps are not taken to ensure that they receive the support that they need.

Keeping Children Safe After a Natural Disaster

I was given the opportunity to spend the day at our largest shelter with Save the Children to see their child friendly spaces and talk with families staying at the shelter. The child friendly spaces offer children a safe place to play while giving parents time to care for themselves and flood related business. It warmed my heart to see children smiling, laughing and playing in the midst of crisis. The parents I spoke to were relieved and grateful to have a safe area for their children to go to. The situation is still dire, we have 3000 people in shelters, they’re overcrowded and being consolidated. These families have lost what little they had and many of them have nowhere to go and no family to call on.

Save the Children is doing a phenomenal job of protecting and caring for the children in shelters, this is an organization that deeply cares for their welfare and well-being. Throughout the day I watched as the coordinator worked to close loopholes to protect the kids at the shelter. I can’t imagine the shelters without these child friendly spaces and the resources that Save the Children brings.

Save the Children is also working to assess the needs of families and fill those needs. Next, they will work on creating temporary learning stations with an education advisor so children’s education won’t be delayed. Once these kids go back to school Save the Children will have their psychosocial expert available to help children and equip teachers and parents with the tools and resources they need to support children that have lost so much and experienced such tragedy.

If you are able, please consider making a monetary donation in support of the work Save the Children is doing in Louisiana, this is a tangible way to immediately help Louisiana’s children. We have a long road ahead of us and we need them here for the long haul. You can learn more about the work Save the Children is doing and donate here —> http://www.savethechildren.org/gulf-floods

What can moms do to help their children at a time like this?

August 23, 2016 by Guest Contributor

Throughout the area, families are dealing with enormous challenges and the stress levels that come along with them. In my role as psychosocial lead for Save the Children, I’m spending time at the shelters working to help families who have no other place to go. The moms I talked to today were worried about so many things that the first thing I wanted to do for them was help them find ways to cope.

I started by really listening to them and acknowledging all the fears and emotions they are dealing with. That went a long way. If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, please try to find someone who can do the same for you. And if you can’t, try writing down your feelings, taking a walk, or using other strategies that have worked for you at other stressful times in your life.

Self-care is so important. One of the moms I spoke with today had a young baby and her husband had just been abandoned them after a fight. He had taken the few belongings they had salvaged with him, so the first thing we did was help her find a change of clothes for herself and her child. But then we talked through her other challenges and what she could do to feel calmer and more equipped to start taking them on one at a time.

I connected this lovely woman with some other moms and they quickly offered each other emotional support. Together we discussed how the stress they were feeling as moms could easily transfer to their children. They realized it wasn’t selfish at all to look after themselves, and how important it is for their little ones.

Certainly this is a scary and uncertain time for many children. They look to their parents and caregivers for guidance and reassurance, but sometimes we aren’t sure of the best way to manage. Here are basic ideas I hope can help.

10 Tips to Help Kids Cope with Disasters

Limit TV time. Watching television reports on disasters can overwhelm younger children who may not understand an event is being replayed and instead think the disaster is happening over and over again. Overexposure to coverage of the events affects teenagers and adults as well.
Listen to your children carefully. Emotional stress results in part when a child cannot give meaning to dangerous experiences. Begin a dialog to help them gain a basic understanding that is appropriate for their age and responds to their underlying concerns.
Give children reassurance. Let them know that if any emergency or crisis should occur, your primary concern will be their safety. Make sure they know they are being protected.
Be alert for significant changes. Be aware of changes in sleeping patterns, eating habits,
concentration, wide emotional swings or frequent physical complaints without apparent illness. They will likely subside within a short time but if prolonged, we encourage you to seek professional support and counseling.
Expect the unexpected. As children develop, their intellectual, physical and emotional capacities change. Younger children will depend largely on their parents to interpret events, while older children and teenagers will get information from a variety of sources that may not be as reliable. While teenagers seem to have more adult capacities to recover, they still need extra love, understanding and support to process these events.
Give your children extra time and attention. They need your close, personal involvement to comprehend that they are safe and secure. Talk, play and listen to them. Find time to engage in special activities for children of all ages.
Be a model for your child. Your child will learn how to deal with these events by seeing how you deal with them. Base the amount of self-disclosure on the age and developmental level of each of your children. Explain your feelings but remember to do so calmly.
Watch your own behavior. Make a point of showing sensitivity toward those impacted by the disaster. This is an opportunity to teach your children that we all need to help each other.
Help your children return to normal activities. Children almost always benefit from activity,
goal orientation and sociability. Ensure that your child’s school environment is also returning to normal patterns and not spending great amounts of time discussing the crisis.
Encourage your child to do volunteer work. Helping others can give your child a sense of control, security and empathy. In the midst of crisis, adolescents and youth can emerge as active agents of positive change.

We are sharing these tips with parents in the shelters when they bring their kids to our child-friendly spaces. It’s wonderful to see the children play, smile and have fun again, but we all know there is so much more work to be done to help these children and their families bounce back.

If you’d like to support our response and recovery work, please consider donating at www.SavetheChildren.org/Gulf-Floods.

Thank you!

Anjana Dayal de Prewitt

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Keeping Children Safe After a Natural Disaster

10 Tips to Help Kids Cope with Disasters

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