washingtonFAMILY.com JUNE 2020 Expecting DURING THE Unexpected DAD WAYS TO CELEBRATE Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center The Support You Need at Home. The Care You Need in Person. • Breastfeeding support line • Over-the-phone birth consultations • Virtual hospital tours • Online maternity classes and support groups • Inpatient pediatric services • An emergency room just for children AdventistHealthCare.com/BirthCenters ADVERTORIAL OUR FUTURE LEADERS WILL COME FROM MONTESSORI If the COVID-19 crisis has taught us anything, it is that we are part of an interdependent, fragile world. It has also taught us the vital importance of scientific thinking. Finally, it has taught us that problems of this magnitude and complexity require adaptive leaders who can work with others to create effective strategies around which all segments of society can coalesce. Fostering an interdependent mindset, scientific thinking and adaptive leadership skills has been foundational to the Montessori approach to education since Maria Montessori launched her first school in 1907. These outcomes are natural by-products of the way Montessori classrooms function: teachers introduce concepts in a big-picture perspective, allowing students to move about freely and work in small groups, experimenting and engaging in self-directed projects. This structure provides many opportunities for students to practice leading teams and working together to accomplish a goal. Sometimes parents ask, “How will my child be prepared for the real world?” Our answer is that Montessori principles are the very things our children need to learn to not only be successful in the world, but to improve the world. Montessori principles such as self-motivation, initiative, creative thinking, scientific theory, emotional intelligence, ethics, communication and leadership will be integral if we want to see a world that can better address the next global crisis. At Oneness-Family Montessori High School, the only Montessori high school in the Washington area, we are building a 21st Century Leadership program founded upon Maria Montessori’s vision. We’ve gathered a team of exceptional thought leaders to create a program that incorporates essential leadership skill sets and will have students joining together for a real-world capstone project in their community each year. The program will launch in September 2020. 6701 Wisconsin Ave. / Chevy Chase, MD 20815 / 301.652.7751 onenessfamily.org / admissions@onenessfamily.org OFFERING the best in MONTESSORI EDUCATION for 30 years Join Us for a Virtual Tour 301-652-7751 admissions@onenessfamily.org VOTED “BEST MONTESSORI SCHOOL IN THE DC-AREA” — 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 — CONTENTS JUNE 2020 It’s Father’s Day, and we’re taking the party outside. Come and see. Page 25 14 PANDEMIC PARENTING 101 Expert advice on taking care of yourself and your family How to talk to kids about a serious illness 18 WHEN MOMMY IS SICK 21 22 MY QUARANTEEN DIARY Our high-school intern is keeping busy on her “coronacation” EXPECTING DURING THE UNEXPECTED What it’s like to be pregnant during a pandemic FAMILY FUN Virtual summer activities Make glitter chalk AT A GLANCE Local news and notes Meet Rachel Calderon-Murphy, a firefighter and mom of two 10 DIY 12 37 MOM LIFE 38 BOOKMARKED Summertime reads for all ages 30 DIRECTORIES GROWN-UP READS New books for when you need an escape READERS’ RESPONSES FEEDBACK 40 YOUR 8 25 FATHER’S DAY ACTIVITIES Ten ways to celebrate dad and the great outdoors WE WANT DEPARTMENTS We welcome your feedback on specific articles, overall themes and anything else related to editorial content. Enter your comments on the Feedback tab of our website, WashingtonFAMILY.com, or email us at info@washingtonfamily.com. Please note we reserve the right to edit or refrain from publishing comments we deem inappropriate. 4  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 DAD LIFE Meet Dr. Steve Silvestro, a pediatrician, podcast host and father of two 32 SUMMER CAMPS 34 MONTESSORI SCHOOLS 35 PRESCHOOLS/CHILD CARE IVANKO_BRNJAKOVIC/GETTY IMAGES; MOTHER: DIGITAL VISION/DIGITALVISION/GETTY IMAGES. FEATURES Expecting during the unexpected Page 22 SAVE UP TO 35 % on tickets Online Only FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE KID-FRIENDLY FUN AT 2-PARKS This is the year to make forever memories. Enjoy thrills for all ages and experience Finnegan’s Flyer™ Screamin’ Swing at Busch Gardens®. Even our youngest guests can enjoy fun at Sesame Street® Forest of Fun™ or Land of Dragons®. Then head over to Water Country USA® to explore the new Cutback Water Coaster™. VISIT BUSCHGARDENS.COM/VA FOR BEST OFFERS ©2020 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. OUR TEAM JUNE 2020 WashingtonFAMILY.com • 301-230-2222 Craig Burke, Publisher EXPLORE • WONDER • GROW ADVERTISING Account Executives Kim Coates, Tamara Morris, Mary Ramsdale, Stacie Shapero, Sylvia Witaschek BUSINESS Kris Ries, Accounting Coordinator • 443-471-5355 • kries@midatlanticmedia.com EDITORIAL Now Enrolling Ages 2 to 6 Toddler Program • Before & After Care NEW Outdoor Education Classroom Montessori Kindergarten & Preschool Advanced Academic Curriculum McLean, VA • 703-356-5437 • www.brooksfieldschool.org Dynamic sales professional needed to join our growing media company! Mid-Atlantic Media (MAM), publisher of Baltimore Jewish Times, Baltimore’s Child, Baltimore Style and Consumer’s Eye among others, is seeking a new business development advertising sales professional to join our team of revenue hunters. Jessica Gregg, Lifestyle Editor • 410-902-2319 • jgregg@midatlanticmedia.com PJ Feinstein, Managing Editor • 301-230-6696 • pfeinstein@midatlanticmedia.com Adranisha Stephens, Staff Writer • 410-902-2328 • astephens@midatlanticmedia.com Contributors Thomas Franklin, Gina Gallucci-White, Courtney McGee, Melanie Switzer Reilly Erica Rimlinger, Molly Szymanski, Gwen Van Velsor CREATIVE Jay Sevidal, Graphic Deisgner James Meskunas, Digital Media Manager David Stuck, Staff Photographer MID-ATLANTIC MEDIA Craig Burke, CEO/Publisher • cburke@midatlanticmedia.com Jennifer Perkins-Frantz, Director of Production • jperkinsfrantz@midatlanticmedia.com Bill Sims, Director of Circulation & Audience Development • bsims@midatlanticmedia.com Jeni Mann Tough, Director of Marketing & Custom Media • jmann@midatlanticmedia.com Responsibilities and Duties Primary objective will be to acquire new advertising customers for our publication’s print and digital platforms. Secondarily, the advertising sales professional will be expected to manage an active book of advertising customers to reach established budgets. The advertising sales professional will have the opportunity to cross sell into MAM’s other publishing titles, including Washington Jewish Week, Frederick’s Child, Montgomery Magazine, Washington Family and Home Services Magazine. Qualifications and Skills • Motivated to make money • Competitive • Excellent communication • High energy • Works well under pressure • Technical competencies including typing and familiarity with Outlook, Excel and CRM’s • Mini- mum two (2) years experience in advertising sales • Strong understand- ing of digital media • Familiar with building customer relationships and cross selling techniques Please send cover letter and resume to hr@midatlanticmedia.com. No phone calls. 6  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 2020 Special Series 2020 Calendar of Events 2020 Family Matters Family Fun 2020 Table of Contents 2020 Single Page Design Interior Illustration © Washington Family. Washington Family is published 12 times a year by Mid-Atlantic Media, and is distributed free of charge throughout Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Correspondence and editorial submissions from our readers are welcomed. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment on all editorial and advertising material submitted. We are not responsible for the return of any unsolicited materials. The acceptance of advertising by Washington Family does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without expressed written permission. 11900 Parklawn Drive, Suite 300 | Rockville, MD 20852 | 301-230-2222 or 703-318-1385 | washingtonfamily.com FIRST WORD A Quarantine Milestone A PJ Feinstein Managing Editor pfeinstein@midatlanticmedia.com Facebook @WashingtonFamilyMagazine​ Twitter @FAMILYMagDC Pinterest @FAMILYmagazine Instagram @washingtonFAMILYmag Email us Let us know what’s on your mind. info@washingtonFAMILY.com t the start of quarantine, my husband and I decided that our goal during lockdown was to teach our 8-year-old son how to ride a two-wheeler. Previously, my son hadn’t shown an interest in rid- ing, and since he was happy enough on his scooter, we decided not to push him until he was ready. But when schools closed in March and we suddenly had to fill our days with at-home activities, we agreed it was time to start practicing. A few times a week for the past three months, he attempted to ride his new 20” Schwinn, but his lack of balance—and confidence—was still a struggle. Finally, over Memorial Day weekend, something clicked. I don’t know if it was the way we held the bike steady as he mounted it or how we gave him a push as started pedaling, but he did it. He rode a two-wheeler! Then, during that same lesson, our 6-year-old son started riding without training wheels, too! Watching my boys graduate from training wheels to two-wheelers was more exhilarating than I could have imagined. It was a challenge, especially for my older son, and I’m just so proud of them. Biking around the neighborhood, it’s been bitter- sweet to see graduation signs popping up on lawns. I’m sure that high school seniors are disappointed that their final year ended so abruptly, but I also know that their parents are still so incredibly proud of them for reaching this milestone. On behalf of all of us at Washington FAMILY, I want to congratulate this year’s graduating class. What else takes place in June? Father’s Day! In this issue, we’re sharing ways to enjoy the great outdoors with dad as well as a bonus Dad Life column. We also have tips for moms-to-be on what to expect during this unexpected time and lots of book recommendations for your summer reading pleasure. Until next time: Be safe, and be well. n WashingtonFAMILY.com  7 FAMILY FUN It’s THE NATIONAL PASTIME Safe at Home is the oh-so-perfect name of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s pandemic programing. Listen to oral histories, learn about the Negro Leagues, read about women in baseball and more. We really like their Starting Nine challenge that lets kids check out nine must-see artifacts from their favorite teams. baseballhall.org #FRONTYARDCOOKOUT Oscar Mayer, the hot dog maker and originator of the Wienermobile, has partnered with Feeding America to give meals to the hungry during this time. They are encouraging backyard barbecue throwers to take the party out front, tweet or post with the #FrontYardCookout hashtag and join in the give-back effort. Check their website for more details and also Wienermobile photos that will surely make the kids laugh. oscarmayer.com ONE CORNY PLACE Do your kids know there is a palace made out of corn? That’s a good story to share over corn on the cob at a weekend cookout. The palace is in Mitchell, South Dakota, and kids can grab a look at this website. cornpalace.com HAWAII FUN-O The Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles offers Aloha Fridays, an exhibition—a tribute, really—of Hawaiian or lava shirts. Young fashionistas can read up on the history of summer’s most popular attire, and their home- schooling parents will appreciate the museum’s other virtual resources. theautry.org STAR-SPANGLED HISTORY The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History holds a lot of information on the “Star-Spangled Banner,” including its Maryland connection and the Star Spangled National Historic Trail, which can be explored virtually. Got a kid who really likes history? There are also online exhibits on submarines, diaries from the Civil War and more. If your child hasn’t dug into this resource, you’ll want to make some time for them to explore our country’s past. americanhistory.si.edu PARK IT RIGHT HERE We may not be able to drive to Yellowstone National Park any time soon, but we can still take advantage of our National Park System. The NPS website has a “Find a Park” feature that allows kids to click on a state, such as Wyoming, and then go right to Yellowstone or Grand Teton or the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Find fun facts (Did you know that Yellowstone also stretches into Montana and Idaho?) and take virtual tours of each park. nps.gov UNDER THE SEA Has your family watched the National Aquarium’s live cams recently? Kids can check out the Blacktip Reef or Pacific Coral Reef and learn about the myriad of life forms there. There is also a host of downloadable art so children can color the ocean. aqua.org 8  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 Here are some seasonally themed online resources Compiled by WF Staff simpson33 / iStock / Getty Imag es Plus WashingtonFAMILY.com  9 DIY By Lindsay Ponta HOW TO MAKE Glitter Gemstone Sidewalk Chalk Create bedazzling designs on your driveway with this shimmering sidewalk chalk Sidewalk chalking has gained popularity during the coronavirus pandemic as a way to spread positivity and create a sense of community amidst social isolation. Drawing with sidewalk chalk is a fun outdoor activity for summer, but it can only keep kids occupied for long. Making sidewalk chalk, however, can keep little ones busy for the whole afternoon. If you try this DIY at home, tag us on social media with the #washingtonfamilymag hashtag. We want to see your glitter gemstone sidewalk chalk and your colorful works of art! Supplies: 5-pound box of plaster of Paris Liquid tempera paint Biodegradable glitter Silicone gemstone mold Silicone rectangle mold Mixing bowls and spoons Cookie sheet bit more plaster of Paris to thicken it back up. 3 Sprinkle a generous amount of glitter into the gemstone mold, tapping and shaking the mold to distribute the glitter. Place mold onto a cookie sheet. Note: While beautiful, glitter Start by making a batch is just tiny bits of plastic that of sidewalk chalk for the end up polluting waterways. gemstones. Pour some powdered Use biodegradable glitter that plaster of Paris into a mixing bowl breaks down in water to ensure and slowly add water, stirring your afternoon of fun doesn’t constantly, until it resembles pancake leave a lasting impression on the batter in texture and thickness. environment. 1 2 Squeeze tempera paint into your bowl of “batter,” mixing colors until you have a shade you like. I recommend matching the color of your sidewalk chalk to your glitter, which you will add next. If the paint thins out the chalk mixture, add a 4 Spoon the colored chalk mixture into the gemstone mold. Tap the cookie sheet a few times to let the mixture settle into the corners of the mold and to remove any bubbles. 10  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 5 two. If it’s warm and sunny, set Let the mold dry for an hour or 9 Set the rectangle mold aside to dry for at least an hour or it outside in the sun. You should be two. Peel back the silicone mold able to pop the gemstones out as on one rectangle to see if it’s dry. soon as they feel dry on top. Once Once they’re ready, pop them removed, leave them uncovered in a all out and place somewhere warm spot to dry for a while longer. warm and dry to air out for a couple days. Repeat steps 1-5 with two Note: They might look dry on the additional colors of your outside, but they could still be holding choice. If you have three gemstone onto a lot of moisture. If you seal molds, you can mix up all three them up too soon, the moisture will colors at once to save time. turn the chalk into a blob of mush inside your container. Mix a bigger batch of sidewalk Once your chalk has had chalk without tempera paint for plenty of time to dry, you the white rectangular bases. can store it in any container to keep the chalk dry. 6 7 8 Pour mixture into one cavity of the rectangle mold at a time, quickly pressing three gemstones into the top before it solidifies. Repeat for remaining cavities. 10 Lindsay Ponta created the DIY and lifestyle website Shrimp Salad Circus in 2009 to inspire busy women to live perfectly-imperfect creative lives. She lives in Silver Spring, MD. Find easy DIYs and recipes at shrimpsaladcircus.com. Discover your capable, confident Montessori child. From infancy through elementary school, children learn best when they’re working with activities they love. At Guidepost, your child will enter the wonderful world of Montessori lessons and learning materials, designed to captivate and inspire. Now Enrolling! Visit us online today to RSVP for a virtual event or schedule a virtual tour. guidepostmontessori.com/northern-virginia Aldie 24328 Marrwood Drive Aldie, VA 20105 (703) 542-5522 Broadlands Herndon 42945 Waxpool Road Ashburn, VA 20148 (703) 723-3364 13251 Woodland Park Road Herndon, VA 20171 (571) 203-8686 Chantilly West Alex NEW CAMPUS! 4550 Walney Road Chantilly, VA 20151 (571) 321-0364 GP052720 Fairfax 3909 Oak Street Fairfax, VA 22030 (703) 934-0920 Reston 11579 Cedar Chase Road Herndon, VA 20170 (703) 404-9733 Montclair NEW CAMPUS! 3551 Waterway Drive Montclair, VA 22025 (571) 402-1888 3475 N. Beauregard Street Suite 301 Alexandria, VA 22311 (571) 206-1687 Spanish and Mandarin Immersion programs available at selected campuses Infant • Toddler Preschool • Kindergarten Elementary AT A GLANCE By PJ Feinstein COMMUNITY NEWS FAMILY FUN Germantown Teen Earns Every Scouting Merit Badge Eighteen year old Daniel Free of Germantown has accomplished something very few Boy Scouts ever do. He is one of only 450 Boy Scouts in the country to earn all of the 137 merit badges offered in scouting. The Clarksburg High School senior, who is a member of Troop 489 at Neelsville Presbyterian Church in Germantown, started as a Tiger Cub in elementary school, became a Boy Scout in middle school and eventually earned the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 15. Free had 54 merit badges when he became an Eagle Scout. That’s when he decided to earn the rest of the badges. “I originally started out to get all of the merit badges because I thought there were about 100, and I was almost half way there. I found out later that there were 137, but I decided to keep going,” says Free. Free says his favorite merit badges were metal working and welding because they were “very hands on.” The most difficult was the swimming merit badge, which required Free to remove a dress shirt and a pair of pants in the water. “I struggled with that because you had to mess around with the clothes while you’re treading water, so it was very exhausting,” he says. Free is the first member of his troop to earn all of the Scout merit badges. His troop mem- bers were very encouraging as he worked to reach his merit badge goal. “They were always checking in on my progress, seeing how many more I had left to do, and I know it’s inspired a lot of younger scouts to be more active in Scouting activities because it was just an exciting thing for them to experience, “ says Free. One of the highlights of being a Boy Scout for Free are the friends he’s made over the years. “Starting in first grade, Scouting really helped me connect with people my age, people that went to my school that I might not have known because they weren’t in my class,” says Free, adding, “a lot of those friends I still have today.” Scoutmaster Karl Moline praises Free for 12  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 New Ways to Beat Boredom at Home his work with younger Scouts, helping them to prepare to become Boy Scouts during the sum- mer when the troop doesn’t normally meet. Moline says Free is an exemplary individual. “He’s eager to help, very outgoing, very friendly. Just an all-around outstanding young man,” he says. Free plans to attend Montgomery College this fall and then transfer to the University of Maryland next spring to study secondary education and history. —SUSAN AHEARN As we approach our third month of quarantine, boredom has become a big problem for kids and adults alike. To help families have more fun at home, several national brands have launched new initiatives centered on creativity, learning and having compassion for others. On their new website, Bring Home the Fun, Hasbro is sharing short videos featuring popular characters, such as Peppa Pig and the Power Rangers, easy-to-do crafts and downloadable family games. Search #BringHomeTheFun on social media to see what other families are creating while staying at home. shop.hasbro.com Audible’s new service, Audible Stories, gives children and teens free access to hundreds of audiobooks to keep them entertained (and off screens) while staying at home. The vast selection of stories include old and new favorites, such as A.A Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” and J.K Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” stories.audible.com The new Mattel Playroom website, with activities for kids and tips for parents and caregivers, wants children to #KeepPlaying during this challenging time. In addition to printable activities, online games and character entertainment, the toy company also launched a new “Thank You Heroes” collection of essential worker figurines and building sets. mattel.com The PBS Kids “Thank Your Neighbors” campaign encourages children and their families to thank the essential and frontline workers in their community. Activities include writing thank you cards for workers and making thank you signs to display in your window. There’s also a program that allows your child to create a superhero in the form of a grocery store worker, nurse and more. pbs.org On Disney’s YouTube channel, kids can watch and listen as famous actors, such as Angela Kinsey, John Stamos and Jeff Goldblum, read their favorite Disney stories. Or they can learn how to draw Disney characters from Disney animators. youtube.com —MEGAN GREGOIRE 30% OFF CALL TODAY FOR FREE QUOTE (866) 956-3322 WINDOWS & DOORS PLUS NO INTEREST UNTIL DECEMBER 2021 We’re making it more affordable than ever, during our Home Sweet Home Sale, including special financing. Replacement Windows | Doors | Siding Roofing | Clog-free Gutter Systems SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SAFELY FOR 40 YEARS OFFERING VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON CONSULTATIONS Thompson Creek is neither a broker nor a lender. Financing is provided by Greensky, LLC under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and Greensky, LLC, all subject to credit requirements and satisfactory completion of finance documents. Thompson Creek does not assist with, counsel or negotiate financing. *Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required during the promotional period. Making minimum monthly payments during the promotional period will not pay off the entire principal balance. 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MHIC #125294, VA # 2705-117858-A, DC Permanent # 8246 P 101 by Jessica Gregg andemic arenting Here’s how to navigate this summer’s emotional challenges. 14  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 The most accurate quote on parenting in this COVID-19 crisis belongs to Jon Hershfield, director of The OCD and Anxiety Center at Sheppard Pratt. “There’s no book, ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Pandemic,”’ Hershfield says. And yet, “adults have a lot of pressure to be the perfect parent right now, and there’s just no frame of reference.” Indeed, there has been no shortage of challenges facing families as the world shut down in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In just a few months’ time, they experienced health worries, unemployment, grocery shortages, online learning challenges, stress, boredom, regression, anxiety, depression and more. This summer, experts say, we can expect more emotional changes— in our children and in ourselves. With than in mind, we talked to psychologists and social workers from Sheppard Pratt, University of Maryland, the American Red Cross and more to find out how we can best take care of ourselves and our families during this time, and even how we can emerge stronger. WUNDERVISUALS / E+ / GETTY IMAGES PLUS WashingtonFAMILY.com  15 ‘WHAT ABOUT VACATION?’ Summer’s here and much has been affected: camp, vacations, trips to see grandparents. It’s tempting to reassure our kids that life will return to normal soon, says Veronica Raggi, a child and adolescent psychologist and owner of Brighter Outlook Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Bethesda. But we have to be honest with children and tell them there are some answers we don’t have. This generation of parents has “high expectations,” says Raggi, a parent herself, and we often think our vacations “need roller coasters and water slides.” Without those choices, “families can come up with another plan for how they can enjoy their time together,” she says. “Ask your children, ‘What else might be options for us?’” Day trips, hiking and camping maybe be reasonable activities, given the restrictions. And for days that we are stuck at home, it’s still important to make that time productive. In her own household, Raggi’s elementary-school-aged daughter is keeping up with online music lessons. She also has ordered her a water color kit so her daughter can try her hand at painting. It’s important for both kids and adults to look for any positives in their situations. Kids may be missing their friends, but they may also be glad for more time with their dog. Or they may be happy that the pace of life is less frenetic now. “We’re more resilient when we can look holistically and see both good and bad,” Raggi says. ‘I NEED A BREAK!’ American Red Cross volunteer Lynn Hottle has seen many families in crisis after disasters. But the 2020 coronavirus pandemic is “so new, so different and so prolonged,” she says. Hottle is the regional lead for disaster mental health services for the American Red Cross’ National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region. She also regularly holds workshops for military families, help- ing them with stress management and resiliency building. In ongoing situations like this pandemic, caregiver fatigue is a very real risk. Parents 16  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 can get easily worn out and need to practice basic stress management. “It’s that whole thing—you can’t take care of others until you take care of your- self,” Hottle says. Sounds great. But how do parents do this when there are employment, health and education stressors? Start by being mindful of your day. Find ways to fit in breaks, Hottle says, adding that they don’t have to be long breaks; 10 minutes are enough. Take a hot shower, if it fits in with your schedule. Do some deep breathing. Or crank up the music and have a 10-minute dance party. “We’re lacking so much control in this situation,” she says, but parents can bring back some of that control by taking care of themselves. Cut back on Zoom. Many workers have filled days with back-to-back videoconfer- encing. That can be wearing, Hottle says. It’s important to step away from the com- puter and other technology throughout the day to adjust both your eyes and outlook. Another suggestion: Schedule meet- ings on different days, so tech time is broken up throughout the week. Follow a sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time on week nights and get up at the same time, too. Good quality sleep is import- ant, Hottle says, and we should try to make it a priority when we can. It’s a lot, acknowl- edges Hottle, who is a grandmother. She sees how much work her adult children have to put into both caregiving and their jobs right now. Adding self- care to that might seem like just another increase to the workload. But it is a much- needed step if we are to weather this disaster. “We have to be intentional about taking care of ourselves,” she says. ‘I NEED A NEW JOB!’ Amidst the health and economic woes of this pandemic, there were parents contem- plating a career change. Many had already lost their jobs, and others were considering their work-life balance. “While not to minimize the current devastation, amid darkness, there are also opportunities,” says Janet Ladd, a The good news is that we have the skills to ready our kids (and ourselves) for whatever come next Kay Connors professional coach and consultant with Bounce-Forward Consulting Group. Ladd is also the senior director of corporate services and workforce development at Carroll Community College. It’s time to take an inventory of our interests, strengths, experiencers and areas for development, she says. The economy has been devastated, but parents can still make job changes. “It’s important to recognize the shock this pandemic has had—and will con- tinue to have —on the economy,” Ladd says. “While experts vary in their projec- tions, it will take time for the economy to recover. People need to be patient, flexible and tenacious.” Expect for career options to shift, she says. Some jobs will disappear and new ones emerge. She recommends that workers keep an eye out for trends in our region, network and take advantage of online classes. Talk with professionals, including financial planners, small-business RBOZUK / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS counselors, college advisors or recruiters. What if a worker likes his or her job right now? That’s great, Ladd says. Stay engaged and look for ways to make your- self indispensable. Hone in on what’s important and work with colleagues toward goals. Overall, focus on “what you can influence in the present while keeping an eye on the future you’d like to invent,” she says. ‘WHAT CAN I BE HAPPY ABOUT?’ It’s really easy to get lost in how hard things are, says Jon Hershfield, the Sheppard Pratt expert. But focusing on the difficulties can lead to depression. Instead find joy in the moments: Listen to a favorite song. Appreciated the home- cooked meal a spouse made. Remember what inspired you to buy that favorite painting of yours. Maryland mother Jessica Reighard, finds comfort in nature. “I wish I could identify the bird calls and understand what they are saying,” she says. “There’s a whole separate world up in the trees.” Reighard’s friend and neighbor Karen Levin is cooking for her family. “We’ve been making homemade sushi, lots of roasted vegetables, egg stratas, things that use random ingredients and last for a while,” she says. “Mainly I love trying to come up with new ideas using the limited ingredients on hand. It feels like a rewarding challenge.” Activities like these are meaningful, Hershfield says. “Pay attention to these moments. They are more important than we think.” ‘WHAT’S NEXT?’ The good news is that we have the skills to ready our kids (and ourselves) for whatever come next, says Kay Connors, an instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Maryland School of Medicine. Connors is also the executive director of the Taghi Modaressi Center for Infant Study, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. We have the skills? Yes, we do this every August, Connors reminds us. Think about how we help our children tran- sition from summer to school. We go shopping for the supplies they’ll need and review the rules to make sure they under- stand what’s expected of them. Tap into those preparedness practices to make sure everybody feels ready for life in pan- demic recovery. “What’s unique is that there is an ele- ment of fear,” she says. “Fear goes beyond worry, and it’s reasonable in this situa- tion. Something did happen.” Both parents and children can be afraid. But research shows that a parent’s response greatly influences a child’s response, Connors says, which is why it’s important for parents to reflect on all they had to learn and do to keep their families safe. “Take a moment to recognize how adaptive we’ve been,” Connors says. We tend to associate trauma with mental health problems, and trauma can definitely exacerbate depression or anx- iety, she adds. But “we’ve all developed a whole new set of life skills that will be available to use at different times.” n WashingtonFAMILY.com  17 My first thought after being told I had cancer: “What about my kids?” 18  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 My first thought after being told I had cancer: “What about my kids?” So many questions rushed through my mind. Who would give them the guidance that only a mother can give? Who would make sure that they were raised exactly how my husband and I—as a team—had planned? A few weeks later, after I had wrapped my head around the diagnosis, my thoughts turned to a more practical question: “How will I tell my kids that I have cancer?” At the time, I had an 8-year-old and twin 6-year-olds who quickly sensed something was wrong. I wanted them to understand that things were going to have to change, but I also didn’t want to scare them. I tried to imagine what each child’s reaction would be. I worried about my introverted daughter and how difficult it might be for her to share her fears. And I had no idea how her twin—one year after his diagnosis of autism—would han- dle the inevitable change in routine that lay ahead. Most of all, I worried about my twice-exceptional oldest child, who, in third grade, had an understanding of the world well beyond his years. So, I turned to my community for some guidance, starting with the counselor at my children’s school. When to tell your kids A conversation about a sick parent starts with honesty, says Rebecca Kotok, the school counselor at Fallsmead Elementary School in Rockville. She explains that children are quick to notice mommy’s increased doctor’s appointments or par- ents whispering around the house. “It is important to remember that kids are intuitive and pick up on our emotions more than we may realize,” Kotok says. “Often parents delay telling kids hard news only to find that the kids already knew that something was going on and were feeling scared and anxious.” However, Elise Abromson, a psychologist at the Healing Circles Wellness Center in Frederick, FatCamera/E+/Getty Images. When Mommy is Sick How to talk with your children about a serious illness By Jacqueline Renfrow warns that parents should wait until they have enough information and a treatment plan in place in order to avoid too many “I don’t know” answers. When you are ready to open a dialogue with your children, Kotok recommends starting the dialogue when the kids are fed and comfortable, perhaps on a week- end morning when the day is not rushed. Choose a time when you will be available after the conversation in case they have follow-up questions. The initial talk could even be held during a fun, low-key family activity, she says. Just make sure it is a “screen free” environment so that everyone is pay- ing attention. And tell siblings as a group because there is value in hearing the questions that the other children ask. What to say Open the conversation by revealing that you have important and difficult news to share with them, then try to put the news in context. For example: “Remember when Mommy went to the doctor last week, so Grandma had to pick you up from school?” Of course, the conversation will vary depending on the age of your children, as the information you provide teenagers can be more specific than what you give little kids. “You would rather they [teenagers] hear those details from you than seek them out and get incorrect information that can cause more stress or anxiety,” says Abromson. “With a younger child, I would be more general and let him know that it is a sickness and that it will be treated with medicine to help make it better.” But in both cases, paint a picture of what the illness will look like, whether that means less energy for playing, hair loss, etc. Moreover, don’t be afraid to show emo- tions during this discussion. “I believe that it benefits kids to see us model healthy and appropriate emo- tions,” says Kotok. “You can name the discomfort, ‘I wonder if it feels scary to see mommy cry?’ and acknowledge that it is hard to see their parent cry but that crying is OK when we feel sad or scared.” Again, always be honest. Do not prom- ise that the parent will be 100 percent better if you are not sure of the medical outcome, advises Kotok. And if your child asks a question that you can’t answer, assure them that you will follow up with the doctor and get the information in the next day or so. “Do not feel like you have to respond or solve everything that your kids ask. Listen, validate and comfort,” she says. How to move forward The conversation doesn’t end after you explain the medical diagnosis in an age-appropriate manner. Keep the lines of communication open and follow up with each child individually, frequently, to hear their thoughts and fears, says Abromson. As kids thrive on consistency and a plan, Kotok recommends creating visu- als that show who will pick them up from school, give them a bath and put them to bed every night. Also, consider having the children make a stop sign for the sick par- ent’s room. Put a green light on one side of the sign and a red light on the other side so that they’ll know when it is okay to visit and when the parent is resting. Finally, consider asking for and accept- ing help from your friends, family, spiritual community, bus stop parents, school PTA, etc. “Take this opportunity to demonstrate to your kids the power of community,” says Kotok. “Activate your village. You cannot do this alone.” n WashingtonFAMILY.com  19 The Center for Ballet Arts Summer Dance Camps Summer Intensive Programs Ballet . Pointe . Modern . Jazz Tap . Pilates . Kinderballet Ages 3 thru Adults 3955 Pender Drive, Suite 105 Fairfax, VA 22030 • 703.273.5344 • thecenterballetarts.com COMING IN JULY 2 019 SPECIAL FOCUS: Children with Disabilities W IN N ER Washington FAMILY The Area’s Leader in STEM Education Winner for Best STEM Program for the 2nd consecutive year Please call 301-770-4370 to learn more!  Print readership 147,000  Website page views 34,776  E-news subscribers 22,657  Social media followers 15,330 Preschool-8th Grade www.feynmanschool.org 20  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 Call to advertise: 301-230-2222, Ext. 4 or email advertising@washingtonfamily.com My QuaranTEEN Diary by Adora Brown March 13 is a day that will forever go down Adora Brown is an intern at Mid-Atlantic Media and a junior in the Howard County Public School System. in infamy. OK, maybe I am being a bit dramatic. But the girl who left high school on that strange Friday thought she was embarking on what teenagers had dubbed “coronacation.” The previous day, state officials announced their decision to close schools because of the pandemic, so I said a premature good-bye to my classmates and teachers. The first week of quarantine was fine. I filled my days with mindless marathons of Netflix sitcoms. I convinced myself that I was not being lazy, I was just taking a well-deserved break. Of course, that was when I thought we would only be out of school for two weeks. By the second week, I could barely get out of bed. Isolation left me with too much time in my own thoughts. I wanted to go to school, skip lunch with my friends, have movie nights filled with high-calorie snacks and drive down the highway without a care in the world. My small problems seemed gigantic. It was not until I crawled out of that slump that I began to take control of my life. The first step was to analyze the facts: 1) I probably would not see my friends for a while. 2) Maybe watching Netflix all day was not the best idea. 3) I needed a better hobby, and fast. Whereas some people try one hobby at a time, I decided to do them all at once. It was an unconventional approach, but these are unconventional times. I started with baking. Chocolate chip cook- ies, macarons and a three-tiered carrot cake! I tried every recipe I could find on Pinterest until my parents complained there were too many desserts in the house. Then I stumbled upon an old skein of yarn and knitting needles. Yes, I, a 17-year-old girl, started knitting a headband—and quite successfully. My ritual was to turn on Disney’s “Tangled” and knit a little bit every day. There also were about 100 family walks and FaceTime calls to friends. My life hack for surviving quarantine was staying busy, and it has worked. Online school finally started on April 13. I completed more than four hours of assignments every day, studied for the SAT and tried not to lose my mind in the pro- cess. Yes, I missed getting coffee at 3 p.m. with my friends and studying for midterms at the library. But there were worse things in the world than boredom. The last time I went to the grocery store, the aisles were barren. I suppose that was when it hit me, that someone in my family or I could get sick from a simple Target run. Everything became a stressor—the news, my family, even going on a walk. I know that the choices we all make have an impact, and I chose to make small sacrifices to the keep the people I love safe. Right now I am looking forward to warm summer afternoons at my friend’s pool, hosting barbeques in my backyard and spending a week at the beach in North Carolina. I can only hope that every day I spend at home is another day I get to enjoy summer with friends and family. Maybe things will never completely go back to normal, but the thought of truly enjoying the summer before my senior year drives me to stay home. Until then, maybe I will get better at knitting. n WashingtonFAMILY.com  21 Expecting Unexpected DURING THE Local mothers relay their fear and hopes by Jessica Gregg DIGITAL VISION/DIGITALVISION/GETTY IMAGES. C ourtney Levin and her husband, Andy, are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son, whom they assumed would be their only child. Doctors had told them, in fact, that they could not have more children. Imagine their surprise when they learned they would have a baby this year. Now imagine what it has been like for them to be expecting as COVID-19 continues to spread through our community as well as around the world. “I have several high-risk factors, so I have appointments twice weekly at Sinai Hospital [in Baltimore] for fetal moni- toring. It’s been pretty stressful, I’m so worried about delivery and exposing us to the virus, but home birth is not an option for us,” Levin says. “It’s my second child, I’m 41 and a Baltimore County Public Schools teacher, so I’m also worried about going back to school potentially.” It’s been rough, she admits, although some days are better than others. She teaches high school science through BCPS’s e-learning program and is currently work- ing from home with Andy, who is also a teacher. “I have been trying to focus on setting up the nursery and prepping for baby to keep my mind on happier times,” she says. “Having a high-risk pregnancy was stressful before, but this added stress has been hard.” By mid-March, or three-quarters of the way through her pregnancy, Sinai Hospital changed its visitor policy, and Levin’s son was no longer able to attend appointments with her. Then the policy changed again, and no one, not even her husband, could go to appointments. “I was very concerned about not having my husband there for the actual delivery,” she says. “Luckily, they are still allowing one visitor or support person for labor and delivery. But I was told that could change at any time.” Delivery partners For now, most Maryland hospitals are allowing mothers to have one support person with them during the delivery, says Dr. Ngozi Uzogara Wexler, an obstetrician with MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. But, like Levin, she knows that at any time partners could be prohibited for safety reasons. “We’re not there yet, and we hope not to get there,” Wexler says. At MedStar Montgomery Medical, the support person now must pack his or her own to-go bag, just like the patient herself, because once admitted, that person cannot leave. COVID-19 affects pregnant patients, says Dr. Kathryn Boling, a primary care phy- sician with Mercy Personal Physicians at Lutherville. Physicians in China com- pleted a few studies, and while the number of patients in these studies is small, they showed that symptoms for pregnant women are not worse than for the general population. That’s important, because pregnant “We treat every patient with compassion, but the underlying assumption is that they could be a COVID-19 patient. ” Dr. Ngozi Uzogara Wexler “We treat every women are often more patient with com- susceptible to respira- passion, but the tory infections due underlying to changes in their assumption is immune systems, that they could Boling says. be a COVID- “In those 19 patient,” low num- Wexler says. bers, it looks In a sim- somewhat ilar effort to reassuring,” decrease traffic, she says, add- labor and deliv- ing that pregnant ery staff has even women still need to stopped using the be careful and follow hospital’s phleboto- all precautions advised by mist, and nurses on the their doctors, both at home unit are drawing blood, and at the workplace, if Delilah Levin was born on April 15. she adds. The unit also they are essential workers. uses its own house- Another family member, keeper and is not sharing that staff person for example, should do the grocery shop- with the hospital. ping if possible, and everything needs to be Levin was hoping to be induced at 37 wiped down when brought into the home weeks but adds that “at the moment, my from the store, Boling says. doctors are recommending we take it week by week depending on the current Virtual visits situation. They want to minimize the Mothers can expect the same level of care amount of time we are in the hospital as from their obstetricians, but some of that much as possible, so it may be necessary care may be through virtual visits, Wexler to go either earlier or later.” (Update: Her says. Obstetric patients are usually seen daughter was born on April 15.) weekly from 36 weeks until delivery, but now those visits may alternate between virtual and in-person. Intrauterine transmission? She has prescribed blood-pressure cuffs There is very limited data on how WashingtonFAMILY.com  23 so patients can check their own pressure at home, and they weigh themselves on a home scale during the video visit. Wexler can even check a cesarean scar during a virtual visit, she says, adding that her patients are accepting of these new practices. “A lot of patients don’t want to come in,” she says. “They don’t want to be exposed.” Another tool? An app called Babyscripts that physicians use to send patients updates, or patients use to document blood pressure and other health indicators. Other worries Delivering During a Pandemic And Why You Don’t Need to Be Afraid During the thick of the COVID-19 health crisis, seemingly everything—from businesses, to schools, to routine healthcare appointments—came to a pause. But as mothers know, one thing that can’t be put off is childbirth. With a new normal, and “stay home” being the mantra, the thought of walk- ing into a hospital right now can be daunting. Since March, Adventist HealthCare has been following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the National Institutes of Health and the state of Maryland to keep patients safe. “While your labor and delivery experience should be no different than normal, we’ve implemented several new policies to ensure the safety of our moms, babies and caregivers,” says Kathy Schaaf, RN, Birth Advisor at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center. For instance, Shady Grove enacted a new visitor policy, limiting labor and delivery patients to one visitor for the entirety of their stay. Also, when moms arrive at the hospital, they are routed to avoid high-traffic areas. Upon reaching the Birth Center, all patients and visitors are screened prior to entering the unit. “While many things can be put off during this health crisis, we know that childbirth cannot wait,” Schaaf says. When moms go into labor, the first thing they should do is call their obstetrician. Obstetricians with privileges at the hospital keep in close contact with the Birth Center and will call to let staff know when moms are on their way. While delivering during a pandemic is not something anyone could have prepared for, it’s important for moms to remember how exciting of a time this is. “New life brings joy,” Schaaf says. “During a time of such uncertainty, keep in mind that one thing is for certain: Your life is about to change in the best way.” —Provided by Adventist HealthCare White Marsh mom Joahnna Fournier understands the unique anxieties. She is a mom, a pediatric nurse practitioner, and she delivered her second child, a little boy named Asa, on March 24. “I was happy to have my husband with me,” she says. “My anxiety since being discharged is trying to still meet the edu- cational needs of my other child, who is in kindergarten, since we are now having to provide distance learning all while tending to a newborn. Kids need social stimulation, too, and acquire basic problem-solving skills just by being at school with their peers on a daily basis.” She is trying to stay optimistic. “I hope we can all stay healthy through this and pray that our children can still thrive with social distanc- ing,” she says. Second-time mom Sari Lerner of Burke says she too is staying optimistic in this stressful time. “Mentally, I also feel Asa Fournier was born like I’m doing pretty on March 24. well. I’ve struggled with anxiety my whole life, but surprisingly, I feel like it has been under control during this time,” Lerner says. “I take the things I can control seriously, such as allowing only immediate family within six feet of me, not going to stores, stay- ing home, not reading every single news 24  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 report, avoiding all of the pres- idential press conferences and getting my informa- tion from a more reliable source.” Instead, she has been keeping busy, taking naps when she needs to and “allowing myself to be sad some- times that this isn’t the experience I anticipated.” Lerner is a high school special education teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. She has a daughter who is 4½ and was scheduled to deliver her son by cesarean section early this summer. “I’ve always said my birth plan contains two must-haves: a medical professional and drugs. My doctor has been reassuring that I will have both,” Lerner says. “I am disappointed that I will not have the photo shoot in the hospital that I planned for after the birth. My daugh- ter will not get to come to the hospital to meet her brother. No one will be visiting us. All that is sad,” she says, “But in the end, a healthy baby and mom are what matters. I will roll with the punches.” Wexler, who is the mother of four, has been prioritizing sleep, exercise and med- itation when she is not with her patients. She and her family live on a farm, and car- ing for their animals has been another good outlet for all them, she says. What also helps is the care and concern every- one is showing each other. As a physician, she is always asking patients how they are doing; now they are asking her and her staff the same question. “I’m amazed at the little compassionate moments,” she says.  T “THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING ,” Get Out & Celebrate John Muir once said, a famous quote that’s made its way onto plenty of coffee mugs in the last few years. We’re sure you’ve seen them. But the mountains are calling. So, too, are the golf courses, the bike trails, the Chesapeake Bay. Even our own backyards. And we must go. It’s Father’s Day and this year we are spending it outside, soaking in that vitamin D and breaking a sweat. We’ve spent a long spring facing a global pandemic. Now it’s time to put down that cute mug and grab the sunscreen. Pack the trail maps. Pitch the tent. This year, Father’s Day is an outdoor activity FLUXFACTORY/[COLLECTION NAME]/GETTY IMAGES. WashingtonFAMILY.com  25 IVANKO_BRNJAKOVIC/GETTY IMAGES. Here are to appreciate both dad and great outdoors. Throw a next-level barbecue For wannabe (or already accomplished) pitmasters, Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to tie on an apron, grab some favorite tongs and fire up the grill for a delicious home-cooked meal. But before Dad can start flipping burgers, he has to form the per- fect patties. And Bill Edelblut, owner of O’Donnell’s Market in Potomac, has some advice on how to do it right, starting with the type of ground beef. “If you buy too lean, like a 90/10, you’re not going to have the fat content to give it the juiciness in the burger,” Edelblut says. “We feel that an 80/20 blend is good, and most grocery stores, that’s what they’re carrying.” Next, shape the burgers so there’s a decent firmness to them— not too loose, not too tight—and season with salt and pepper. Bring the grill to medium heat and cook the patties for 3 to 4 minutes. Once there’s a nice char, flip them over (adding cheese, if you’d like), cover the grill and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. When it comes to a delicious burger, the bun and toppings are almost as important as the patty itself. O’Donnell’s Market uses a brioche roll for its burgers, but Edelblut also recommends a stan- dard potato roll. As for toppings, you can’t go wrong with a classic combination of cheddar, bacon, lettuce and tomato; however, Edelblut recommends 26  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 adding the surprise element of avocado. “People have all of their own preferences, but that seems to be one of the biggest sellers for us,” he says. Of course, some people may prefer something entirely different: a hot dog. “Hot dogs are universal,” says Ronnie Heckman, owner of Caddies Bar and Grill in Bethesda. While they’re delicious with the traditional mix of spicy mustard, onion and relish, Heckman says the latest way to eat a hot dog is with popular cookout sides piled on top. Case in point: Caddies’ best-selling hot dog is the crab mac ‘n’ cheese dog, topped with hearty macaroni and cheese and Old Bay-seasoned crab meat. Another popular option is a Western dog, which has onion, jalepenos and—wait for it—Chipotle ranch. Caddies uses Vienna brand hot dogs from Chicago, but the good news is that today’s hot dogs can be “whatever you want,” according to Heckman. All of it, unexpected toppings included, he says, tastes good. Have an overnight adventure in your backyard If your kids love to build forts with blankets and pillows in the living room, they’re going to love camping in the backyard. Plus, we can’t think of better way to bond with dad on Father’s Day than by pitching a tent, making s’mores and sleeping under the stars together. But s’mores are a bonus. You really only need two things to camp out in your backyard: a tent and good weather. “Being wet is miserable, and preventing it on a campout, even with a tent, takes some experience and trial and error,” says Dr. Jim P. Boyce, Cubmaster with the National Capital Area Council Cub Scout Pack 1280. Most new tents come with a tarp and a rain fly to help keep you dry. But you’re better off rescheduling if wet weather is in the forecast, especially if it’s your first time camping. “The nice thing about backyard camping is you just come inside if anything goes amiss,” he says. Ticks, on the other hand, are cause for concern. “These scourges are vectors for a long list of human diseases,” he says. The most well-known tick-borne disease, of course, is Lyme disease. To help prevent tick bites, Boyce recommends cutting grass short and spraying down your camping equipment with tick repel- lent a day before the overnight. Also, parents should get in the habit of checking kids any time they play, hike or camp outdoors. “It’s hard to do, and even more so once the ticks find a hairline, but if you can catch them within a day or two of attaching and before the can engorge on blood then odds of transmission and consequent treatments is quite low,” say Boyce, who happens to be a medicinal chemist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Stay warm and cozy Enjoy the nightlife When choosing a “campsite” in your yard, avoid trees with branches that might fall on you overnight. Then pitch your tent with your children’s help and make it cozy with sleeping bags or blankets and pillows. For an even more comfortable slumber, consider blowing up an air mattress or two. “Keep in mind the importance of staying warm underneath,” says Boyce. “So something insulating to go under you is as important as over you, even in spring, as the ground will tend to suck heat away from your body.” For extra insulation, Boyce recommends sleeping on top of a closed-cell yoga mat. Before tucking in, slip on a pair of socks and a ski cap, which will help keep you warm if the temperature dips, and have a flashlight handy for the inevitable middle-of-the-night bathroom trip to the house. Boyce prefers red LED flashlights “so you can see but you don’t lose your night vision.” Watch our for tiny dangers KALI9/E+/GETTY IMAGES. When it comes to wildlife, you’re pretty safe in your backyard. Raccoons might investigate the campsite for food, but they, along with foxes and deer, aren’t likely to bother anyone. “A neighborhood dog getting loose is probably the biggest non-human mammal to worry about around here,” says Boyce. One benefit of camping is the opportunity for children to experience nature in a whole new way. Take fireflies, for example. Firefly season starts mid-June and hits its peak around the Fourth of July; however, “a lot of kids may not notice how many fireflies there are out because they tend to come in and to go bed,” Boyce says. “But if you’re out camping in the backyard, it’s like Christmas trees lit up with fireflies.” Kids may also catch a glimpse of bats hunting for mosquitos at dusk or hear owls hooting at night. “There’s a lot of nightlife to appreciate that I don’t think kids usu- ally fully get because they’re indoors sleeping in bed,” he says. And since no campout is really complete with s’mores, Boyce has just one request: Use an old fashioned wooden stick, not a metal skewer, to roast those marshmallows. “Kids and sticks and waving them around … inevitably, someone’s going to get poked with a red hot skewer,” he says. “Find a branch, find a stick. Much safer than metal.” —PJ FEINSTEIN WashingtonFAMILY.com  27 Spend an afternoon in the sun Maybe dad doesn’t like to cook. Or a campout in the backyard isn’t far enough away for a holiday. Here are six more ways, from golf to boating to biking, to make the day naturally great. Golfing RESTON NATIONAL GOLF COURSE, VIRGINIA One of the exciting things about Reston National Golf Course is that this public course has its own app to track scores and to book tee times. Sweet! Tee time prices start at $55 for 18 holes, if walking, and $70 with cart. There are also twilight prices and rates to play nine holes. COVID-19 rules are in place. Dads who want to drive a little farther for a whole afternoon away could check out Potomac Shores Golf Club in Dumfries. Overlooking the Potomac River, this course also has an app and offers tee times starting at $69. restonnationalgc.com; potomacshoresgolf- club.com WHISKEY CREEK GOLF CLUB, IJAMSVILLE, MARYLAND Another public course, Whiskey Creek Golf Club in Frederick County makes many of those “most play” lists in part because it’s just so darn scenic. Surrounded by woods and central Maryland countryside, it offers golfers a view of the Catoctin Mountains and is known for its nice staff. Tee time prices start at $86, but drop to $66 later in the day. Social distancing, mask wearing and other COVID-19 rules are in place. whiskeycreekgolf.com Boating ANNAPOLIS ELECTRIC BOAT RENTAL, MARYLAND It’s hard not to chuckle at Annapolis Electric Boat Rental’s slogan, “like a Tesla but slower.” We’ll take some of that luxury on water. The business reopened in time for Mother’s Day and enjoyed quite a few customers. Now it’s Dad’s turn to take a spin on the water. COVID-19 rules mean that only immediate fam- ily members can be on a boat together. A two-hour rental costs $350, and all reservations can be made online. Boaters who don’t have certification arrive early for training and a 10-day temporary certification. aebrentals.com 28  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 Biking KENT ISLAND SOUTH TRAIL, MARYLAND TrailLink (traillink.com) is a website from the Rails to Trails Conservancy that offers maps, route descriptions and reviews for more than 37,000 miles of trails across the U.S. One is the Kent Island South Trail on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, a 5.8-mile trail that starts at Matapeake State Park and ends at Romancoke Pier. The trail has both woods and open fields, and is also frequented by walkers and runners. MOUNT VERNON TRAIL, VIRGINIA For some DMV families, this is an old favorite. After all, what’s not to like about these 18 bike-friendly miles that run from Theodore Roosevelt Island to Mount Vernon alongside the Potomac River? Newcomers and those familiar with the trail will appreciate the option to mix up your ride by hopping off this trail and connecting with the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail or one of many others. virginia.org C&O CANAL TOWPATH, MARYLAND Another great afternoon of cycling starts in the middle of the C&O Canal Towpath in Point of Rocks. Cyclists can follow alongside the Potomac River in either direction on a mostly flat trail with wooded scenery, old rail bridges and, of course, Point of Rocks’ Victorian train station. We picked this trail because it feels as far away from dear old Dad’s desk as we could find. canaltrust.org —JESSICA GREGG NIGHT LIGHT LUMINARY FROM THE AMERICAN VISIONARY MUSEUM Sticking with the theme of outdoor fun, kids can craft a colorful jar luminary to give to dad on Father’s Day. This easy DIY will brighten up the front porch or even dad’s desk—when he heads back into the office, that is. What you need: • Tissue paper, cut into small pieces • Clean container, plastic or glass • White glue • Paintbrush • Scissors (optional) • Colored paper or cardstock (optional) • Beads, buttons, pom poms (optional) • Hot glue gun (optional) • Stencil (optional) • Battery-operated LED light or glowstick How to make it: Use a paintbrush to paint a layer of glue inside the jar. Layer tissue paper on top of the glue, using your paintbrush to push each piece against the inside of the jar. Once you’ve finished layering your tis- sue paper, decorate the outside of the jar by cutting shapes out of colored paper or using doo-dads like beads or pom poms and attaching them with a hot glue gun. You can also stencil “Happy Father’s Day” onto cardstock, cut out the letters and glue them to the outside of the jar. Finish by adding your LED light or glowstick. To watch the full luminary tutorial, visit the AVAM’s YouTube page. And check out washingtonFAMILY.com for more DIY gift ideas. PEOPLEIMAGES/E+/GETTY IMAGES. WashingtonFAMILY.com  29 3 Grownup Reads by Jamie L. Watson The best books will always allow you a little escape or distraction, something else to focus on than the world around you. These three debut novels, books I read before the pandemic, gave me that escape. I hope they do the same for you during this challenging time. ‘The Operator’ Nostalgia is one way of escape. In Gretchen Berg’s “The Operator,” we go back to a time before social media, to a time when switchboard operators had to make every tele- phone connection. In a small town where gossip is currency, the tid- bits overheard by the operators can change a life. When Vivian Dalton overhears something about her own family, it sends her on a jour- ney of discovery fueled by pettiness against the owner of the gossip. There aren’t a lot of characters to root for here, but the depiction of small-town dynamics is spot on, including provincial newspa- pers, independent dress shops and the tiniest bit of class warfare. A subplot about two “lovers” who rob a bank eventually ties into the whole story, one that will manage to surprise. ‘Saint X’ Alexis Schaitkin’s “Saint X” is a narrative built on shift- ing sands less sturdy than any tropical beach. On a family vaca- tion to the fictional Caribbean island of Saint X, 7-year-old Claire’s older sister disappears and a few days later is found dead. The main suspects, two resort employees, are cleared, and eventually her death is ruled an accident. The parents push their grief deep inside, while Claire, now an adult, lives with it more viscerally, even before a chance meeting with Clive, one of the suspects, on the streets of New York. Chapters shift back and forth in time and perspective. A murder mystery on the surface, this book doesn’t shy away from deep issues of class, race and, more importantly, how we are all a product of our circumstances. This emotionally powerful book will stick with you long after the vacation is over. ‘Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line’ Similar issues of class, gender and religious divisions occur in Deepa Anappara’s “Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line,” narrated 9-year-old Jai, who fights with his sister and loves police reality shows in his Indian home city. Jai and his friends, smart girl Pari and a Muslim named Faiz, live in a slum, and their families work for the “hi-fis” in the gated community nearby. When a friend goes miss- ing, the children play detective, even as Faiz is convinced the disappearances are the result of angering djinns. The use of a child narrator is powerful, as we see a multilayered, tragic situation through the eyes of a naïve, resilient boy. The prejudice toward the Muslim members of the com- munity, the on-the-take police and the fate of the children are tempered through Jai’s sweet voice and a little bit of magical realism. 30  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 Cover 1 SENIOR LIFESTYLE NEWS ARTFUL AFTERNOON AMOS OZ DIES Page 20 Page 6 YO U S H O U L D KNOW DOWN FOR DUMPLINGS Page 35 FEBRUARY 2019 2019 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER washin gtonFA e r’ s Eye Consum Gratefully e .com a z i n M a g HAPPY 30 years! a for over HOLI DAYS & US A PROS PERO acy NEW YEAR! A MAGAZINE FOR PARENTS MILY.co m JANUARY 2019 PASADE NA 19 WINTER 2018-20 ACY 25 % OFF PHARM MIKE’S ins sion Vitam CEM Life Exten Expires 1/31/19 per customer. serving Pasaden Limit 1 Rd Smallwood 8541 Ft. Pasadena, MD Ste G • 0099 TTER % OF F 25 BE STUDY HABITS Pharm cy.com 410-255- MIKE’S arma kesph www.mymi PHARM Rd Smallwood 8541 Ft. 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He’s not a student at the yeshiva but this isn’t a normal ack when Judy Davis was the young- is Thursday. The federal government est of four children growing up in shut down and employees like Werner Bakersfi eld, Calif., she swam and played — who would only say that he works badminton — but never competitively, in the executive branch — have been unless vying against her siblings counts. furloughed. Th at changed about 13 years ago. “My For Werner, the shutdown has its up- his fi rst time competing was the Maryland sides. He can spend more time with Senior Olympics,” the 79-year-old says. family and use an otherwise lazy week- the at But Now, having medaled in swimming day morning to learn Torah. to and badminton in the 2018 Maryland end of the day, he wants to get back Th ey kitchen at Father McKenna Center. Senior Olympics, the longtime Rockville Jaron Bourke, left , and Sarinah Kalb work in the Jewish Community Center’s D25 day of work as soon as possible as the prospect the Edlavitch DC resident and member of Tikvat Israel were among 700 volunteers for of a missed paycheck looms. Dec. 25. See page 25. I Photo by Lloyd Wolf Congregation looks ahead to compet- service on “I have six children,” he says, “and set ing in the National Senior Olympics pay private school tuition.” her Werner is one of about 400,000 for June in Albuquerque, N.M. — on my “non-essential” federal employees second trip to the nationals. “It’s furlough as President Donald Trump hope to bring home a national ribbon in demands more than $5 billion from or a medal.” It would be her fi rst Congress to build a wall on the border the nationals. in with Mexico. Her 2018 Maryland golds were Re- an- It appeared that Democrats and women’s doubles and mixed doubles Mandelblit has decided to wait to two By Marcy Oster would be able to narrowly badminton; she took silvers in nounce his decision in the cases known publicans the avoid the third shutdown of the Trump 50-yard swim events, women’s breast as 1000, 2000, and 4000 until aft er ERUSALEM — Israel’s attorney gen- stroke and freestyle. She’ll compete eral likely will wait until aft er na- one See SHUTDOWN, page 13 in those swim events and at least See ELECTION, page 15 tional elections to announce whether badminton event. he will indict Prime Minister Benjamin Competition is generally stiff er in the Netanyahu in three corruption inves- age nationals. She will be in an older but the allegations could be 84, tigations, bracket than in recent years — 80 to to the early elections. central which may work in her favor. “Every Sources reported to be close to Avichai Mandelblit told Hebrew media includ- that ing the KAN national broadcaster THE HOW TO AVOID ACHES AND PAINS FROM BACKPACKS 1800 410-255- 410-255 410-255 $1.00 With govt. closed, some turn to study FOCUS FIVE AREAS TO TO ON FOR BACK NE SCHOOL HYGIE 410-255- Pharmacy Many hands, light work B ACY Toys a & Doug 1/31/19 CEM Meliss customer. Expires Limit 1 per Senior FREE athlete looks to national Olympics | Tevet 26, 5779 | washingtonjewishweek.com | Candlelighting 4:41 | Havdalah 5:44 By Andrea F. Siegel Special to WJW Rd 3820 Mountain MD Ste G • Pasadena, 1800 410-255- Pharmacy VOLUME 28, ISSUE 6 Vol. 55, No. 1 January 3, 2019 IN PRINT & ONLINE class OLYMPICS, , page 14 See OLYMPICS School Brake Service Summer Camps SEE PAGE 30 SERV FOOD ALLERGIES homeservices mag.com MAG AZIN ARUN DEL CAMP FAIR • FEB. 24 SEE PAGE 51 TEACHING BOYS IN THE #METOO ERA Readers' Choice IS BACK 10 Lo ve BOOKS to toto To advertis e please call: 410-902- 2300 | Anne Arundel Brake Service Brake Service ICES Fall 2018 ANNE ONE MOM'S FIGHT County | homese rvicesm ag.com 410-349-9507 WadeL andsc apes.c om 1 DIA M ID -ATLANTIC M E both Beltways has been covering E way in a MAJOR LEAG U for over 100 years. 301-230-2222 410-902-2300 midatlanticmedia.com PU BLI CATION EST. Baltimore Jewish Times ............................1919 Washington Jewish Week .........................1930 Baltimore’s Child .........................................1983 Baltimore Style ............................................1989 Consumer’s Eye Magazine.........................1991 Frederick’s Child..........................................1991 Washington Family .....................................1992 Mid-Atlantic Custom Media.......................2004 Montgomery Magazine...............................2005 Home Services Magazine ..........................2018 Tastes of Montgomery ...............................2019 E COUNTY CAMP DIRECTORY SUMMER CAMP Directory W ith each new milestone that our children reach comes the need for information to guide them (and us) through this stage. This is particularly true when our children are old enough to attend summer camp. How do we know which camp is right for them? In an education-centered community like ours, there can be a lot of options—where do we even get started? Right here, actu- ally, with these listings. Read about these camps, what they offer and the ages they serve. Then visit their websites to learn more. On our website, WashingtonFAMILY.com, you can find even more listings to help you in your search. Be sure to check back on our DAY CAMPS MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MUSIC Ages: 3-12 ismw.org info@ismw.org 301-365-5888 11325 Seven Locks Road Suite 255 Potomac, MD Categories: Drama, Music SPRING BILINGUAL MONTESSORI SUMMER CAMP Ages: 2.5-6 spring-bilingual.org info@spring-bilingual.org 301-962-7262 3514 Plyers Mill Road Kensington, MD Categories: Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts, Educational Activities 32  WashingtonFAMILY  JUNE 2020 website and in our magazine in upcoming months for more stories and helpful tips. Note: The camps on the following pages were still planning to be open as we went to press; however, that may change as we get closer to summer. Please be sure to contact the camps directly for up-to-date information about their operating status. Good luck! Here’s to a great summer. SUMMER AT SANDY SPRING Ages: 3-Grade 12 SASS.Camp@ssfs.org 301-774-7455 x167 16923 Norwood Road Sandy Spring, MD Categories: Traditional Day, Day Camp, Coed, Swimming Daily, Custom Schedule DAY CAMPS VIRGINIA BROOKSFIELD SUMMER CAMP Ages: 3-10 brooksfieldschool.org camp@brooksfieldschool.org 703-356-5437 ext. 2 1830 Kirby Road, McLean, VA Categories: Extended Day, Arts, CIT, Cooking, Dance, Educational Activities, Field Trips, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Music, Sports, Swimming, Yoga RBOZUK / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS; MG7/ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS 2020 CUPPETT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SUMMER CAMPS PRINCESS CAMP CAMP GRIFFIN AT WESTMINSTER SCHOOL Ages: 3-14 westminsterschool.com campgriffin@westminsterschool.com 703-340-7268 Westminster School 3819 Gallows Road Annandale, VA Categories: Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts and Crafts, Cooking, Dance, Field Trips, Music, Sports, Swimming, Travel ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO – SCENES FOR TWEENS Ages: 8-12 encorestage.org info@encorestage.org 703-548-1154 Encore’s Main Campus 4000 Lorcom Lane Arlington, VA Categories: Day Camp, Extended Day, Dance, Drama/Theatre ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO – STAGE DOOR TECH CAMP SUMMER DANCE CAMP/ Ages: 11-15 INTENSIVE AT THE CENTER encorestage.org FOR BALLET ARTS info@encorestage.org Ages: 3-adult 703-548-1154 thecenterforballetarts.com ctrbalarts@aol.com Kenmore Middle School 703-273-5344 200 S. Carlin Springs Road 3955 Pender Drive Arlington, VA Suite 105 Categories: Day Camp, Teens, Fairfax, VA Categories: Teens, Sibling Extended Day, Dance, Drama/ Discount, Arts, Dance, Drama Theatre CONNECT CAMP Grades: current K-8th grade connectcamps.com/Annandale CapitalKids@capitalbaptist.org 703-560-3109 x118 3504 Gallows Road Annandale, VA Categories: Science Lab, Archery, Basketball, Soccer, Flag Football, Girls Club, Man Cave, Painting, Crafts, Tumble, Great Outdoors Date: July 27-31, 2020 Discount: 10% off with code MM10 for first 50 registrations ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO – IT’S ELEMENTARY Ages: 4-9  encorestage.org  info@encorestage.org 703-548-1154 Swanson Middle School 5800 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA Categories: Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Extended Day, Drama/Theatre PINECREST PAVILION AT PINECREST SCHOOL Ages: 4-12 pinecrestschool.org camp@pinecrestschool.org 703-354-3446 7209 Quiet Cove Annandale, VA Categories: Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts, Computers, Cooking, Drama, Educational Activities, Field Trips PRINCESS DANCE CAMP Ages: 3-6 Affiliation: Cuppett Performing Arts Center CuppettPAC.com CuppettPACdance@gmail.com 703-938-9019 135 Park St. SE Vienna, VA Categories: Day Camp, Girls only, Sibling Discount, Arts and Crafts, Dance, Drama/Theatre, Music. n Five weekly camps July 6 to Aug. 8, 2020 CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS CAMP Variety of camps for all ages July 6 to Aug. 8, 2020 INTENSIVE BALLET PROGRAM AND DAILY CLASSES IN BALLET Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Acro and Musical Theatre All levels of dance, ages 3-93! July 6 to Aug. 8, 2020 REGISTRATION STARTS MARCH 18, 2020 OFF your registration fee! * Present this ad to receive $ 15 *NEW FAMILIES ONLY 135 Park St., S.E., Vienna, VA 22180 | (703) 938-9019 CuppettPAC.com Puppet Shows For All Occasions (703) 444-9426 • Large and colorful marionettes and hand puppets • Lively music • Audience participation • Puppet-making workshops • Goody bags Susan Wall's www.carouselpuppets.com F i Pinecrest School N U R T U R I N G C U R I O S I T Y, CO N F I D E N C E, A N D A L O V E O F L E A R N I N G S I N C E 1957 • Preschool Age 3 - Grade 6 • Before-Care & After-Care • Summer, Winter & Spring Camps • Diff erentiated Instruction • Small Classes • Challenging Academics • Positive Social & Emotional Development Annandale, Virginia 703.354.3446 • pinecrestschool.org n D FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE DMV washingtonfamily.com WashingtonFAMILY.com  33 MONTESSORI DIRECTORY MARYLAND SPRING BILINGUAL MONTESSORI ACADEMY spring-bilingual.org Ages: 2-6 3514 Plyers Mill Road Kensington, MD 301-962-7262 Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Montessori School Directory VIRGINIA BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL brooksfieldschool.org brksfield@aol.com Ages: 2-6 1830 Kirby Road McLean, VA 703-356-KIDS COMMUNITY MONTESSORI SCHOOL cmsreston.com bonnieredcms@gmail.com Ages: Infants-6 years 1700 Reston Parkway Reston, VA 703-478-3656 HOLLY BROOK MONTESSORI SCHOOL preschoolmontessori.com info@hollybrookmontessori.com Ages: 3-5 2455 Gallows Road Dunn Loring, VA 703-573-7800 HUNTER MILL MONTESSORI SCHOOL preschoolmontessori.com info@huntermillmontessori.com Ages: 2 years, 9 months-5 years 2709 Hunter Mill Road Oakton, VA 703-938-7755 34  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 RESTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL restonmontessori.com office@restonmontessori.com Ages: 3 months-Grade 6 1928 Isaac Newton Square Reston, VA 703-481-2922 ■ Foundation for Future Education FRENCH • • • SPANISH Spring Bilingual Montessori Academy Established in 1967 “We plant seeds that spring to life!” Accepting applications for the 2020-21 school year Sister Montessori preschools, providing Northern Virginia's preschool children with quality education for the past 45 years. ThE MonTEssori school oF cEdar lanE established in 1971 703-560-4379 • 3035 cedar lane Fairfax, Virginia holly Brook MonTEssori school established in 1999 703-573-7800 • 2455 Gallows road dunn loring, Virginia h hunTEr Mill M MonTEssori school established in 1990 What makes Spring unique among Montessori schools? Bilingual Montessori environments with immersion classes for ages 2-6 HALF DAY • FULL DAY BEFORE CARE • AFTER CARE 703-938-7755 • 2709 hunter Mill road oakton, Virginia MonTEssori school aT GoosE crEEk PrEsErVE 703-541-8083 • 42470 rosalind street ashburn, Va 20148 3514 Plyers Mill Rd., Kensington, MD www.spring-bilingual.org 301-962-7262 admissions@spring-bilingual.org C OMMUNITY M ONTESSORI S CHOOL ♦ STEM ♦ Music ♦ Spanish ♦ PE & Yoga ♦ Infants to 6 years CELEBRATING 25 YEARS! ➾ MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CEDAR LANE preschoolmontessori.com info@cedarlanemontessori.com Ages: 3-6 3035 Cedar Lane Fairfax, VA 703-560-4379 MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT GOOSE CREEK PRESERVE goosecreekmontessori.com Ages: 16 months-6 years 42470 Rosalind St. Ashburn, VA 571-417-3999 ENROLLING NOW 7:30am to 6:30pm 1700 Reston Parkway, Suite 1, Reston, VA 20194 703-478-3656 ♦ cmsreston.com Email bonnieredcms@gmail.com to schedule a tour. PRESCHOOL/CHILD CARE DIRECTORY DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY chesterbrookacademy.com 866-267-5685 26 locations throughout the DMV Chesterbrook Academy preschools combine learning experiences and structured play in a fun, safe and nurturing environment - offering far more than just child care. Preschool is the first introduction to a lifetime of learning, a journey that should start off on the right foot. We help children discover, explore and learn to their fullest potential. MARYLAND BARRIE SCHOOL barrie.org/preschool admission@barrie.org Ages: 18 months+; 301-576-2800 13500 Layhill Road, Silver Spring, Md. Beginning at age 18 months, we provide a safe and secure environment that cherishes the uniqueness of each child and integrates a hands-on Montessori approach. Guided by our experienced teachers, children learn independence and build confidence. THE BETHESDA MONTESSORI SCHOOL bethesdamontessori.com admissions@ bethesdamontessori.com 301-986-1260 7611 Clarendon Road, Bethesda, Md. Ages: 3-6 BMS, established in 1983, is located in the heart of Bethesda, offering two years of preschool and a Kindergarten year. Open 8 a.m.-6 p.tm., AMI trained teachers, art, French & computer offered, and after school activities. CRESTVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL crestviewmontessori.com info@crestviewmontessori.com Ages: 2-6; 301-910-4728 4728 Western Ave., Bethesda, Md. Children enter Crestview at age 2 1/2, often as their first school experience, and depart after kindergarten as confident and self- assured young children. FEYNMAN SCHOOL feynmanschool.org info@feynmanschool.org 301-770-4370 11810 Falls Road, Potomac, Md. The area’s leader in educating academically gifted children, Feynman School features extraordinary programs in science, math, language arts, theater and music designed to maximize your young child’s potential while at the same time providing opportunities for unstructured play. We offer both half- and full-day preschool programs. GEORGETOWN HILL EARLY SCHOOL georgetownhill.com 14901 Dufief Mill Road, North Potomac, Md. With a “Play. Learning. Arts. Nurturing.” approach to teaching, we’ve found that children thrive in an educational environment at Georgetown Hill. SPRING BILINGUAL MONTESSORI ACADEMY spring-bilingual.org sbmaoffice@yahoo.com 301-962-7262 3514 Plyers Mill Road, Kensington, Md. Founded in 1967, Spring Bilingual Montessori Academy has innovated and refined the concept of integrating a Montessori education with the acquisition of proficiency in a second language. We are open year-round for academic programs and summer camps. VIRGINIA A CHILD’S PLACE achildsplaceinc.com 703-698-8050 3100 Prosperity Ave., Fairfax, Va. A Child’s Place in Fairfax was established in 1981. We take children 8 weeks to 5 years old. Please stop by for a visit. BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL brooksfieldschool.org info@brooksfieldschool.org; Ages: 2-6 703-356-5437 1830 Kirby Road, McLean, Va. Spanish, organic gardening, art, dance, music, mindfulness and summer camp. Westminster School provides a safe, creative, and loving environment in which children ages 3 and 4 can thrive. The preschool day is structured to have an equal balance of play and structure. GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI guidepostmontessori.com/ northern-virginia 866-202-8593 24328 Marrwood Drive, Aldie, Va. 42945 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, Va. 4550 Walney Road, Chantilly, Va. 13251 Woodland Park Road, Herndon, Va. Ages: Infant to elementary Guidepost Montessori in Loudoun and Fairfax counties is among a growing, worldwide network of schools that offer language immersion for ages infant through elementary. HOLLY BROOK MONTESSORI SCHOOL preschoolmontessori.com info@hollybrookmontessori.com 703-573-7800; Ages: 3-6 2455 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, Va. Children learn in an intimate and unpretentious atmosphere, where they respect themselves CAMPAGNA EARLY and others and care for the LEARNING CENTER AT ST. ONENESS-FAMILY environment around them. We JAMES SCHOOL offer a complete educational and onenessfamilymontessorischool.org campagnacenter.org/ social environment and utilize the Ages 2-Grade 8; 301-652-7751 programs/early-childhood discoveries and methods of Dr. 6701 Wisconsin Ave., pshannon@campagnacenter.org Montessori. Chevy Chase, Md. 571-982-3924 Oneness-Family School has 5140 Fillmore Ave., HUNTER MILL been providing the very best Alexandria, Va. MONTESSORI SCHOOL in Montessori education sinc preschoolmontessori.com e 1988. Our unique program THE GRIFFIN ACADEMY info@huntermillmontessori.com focuses on both character and OF WESTMINSTER 703-938-7755; Ages: 2.9-6 curriculum, offering a diverse SCHOOL 2709 Hunter Mill Road, international community founded on values within an westminsterschool.com Oakton, Va. academically rich environment. klee@westminsterschool.com Hunter Mill Montessori School This enables us to prepare our 703-340-7268; Ages: 3-4 provides an intimate and students to be the global leaders 3819 Gallows Road, nurturing environment for 2.9- of tomorrow who can think in Annandale, Va. 6 year olds to develop their creative and dynamic ways for The Griffin Academy of independence through the an everchanging world. WashingtonFAMILY.com  35 PRESCHOOL/CHILD CARE DIRECTORY Montessori experience. We offer a complete educational and social environment and utilize the discoveries and methods of Dr. Montessori. MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CEDAR LANE preschoolmontessori.com info@cedarlanemontessori.com Ages: 3-6; 703-560-4379 3035 Cedar Ln., Fairfax, Va. Montessori School of Cedar Lane has been providing over 45 years of Montessori tradition to Northern Virginia. We offer a complete educational and social environment and utilize the discoveries and methods of Dr. Montessori to help the child develop more fully the potential within him. MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF MCLEAN mcleanmontessori.org 703-790-1049 1711 Kirby Road, McLean, Va. Ages 2 ½-12 Preschool and Elementary classes • Foreign Languages: Spanish and French • Science & Technology • Drama • Music • P.E. • Computer • Art • Transportation • Summer Program MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA msnv.org; info@msnv.org 703-992-0255 Valleybrook: 3433 Rose Ln., Falls Church, Va. At the Montessori School of Northern Virginia, we want the delight of discovery to last a lifetime. MSNV provides authentic Montessori education for children ages 2-12. From preprimary through elementary, our learning environment is designed to directly benefit social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Montessori School of McLean Exceptional Montessori Education for Toddlers through Upper Elementary: Ages 2-12 Cultivating each child’s unique ability to flourish in mind, body and spirit ENRICHMENTS • Science • Technology • Spanish • Outdoor Classroom • Library • Music • Drama • Art • Physical Education Aftercare • Transportation • Summer Camp 1711 Kirby Road McLean, VA 22101 703-790-1049 www.mcleanmontessori.org 36  WashingtonFAMILY  JUNE 2020 Accredited by NYSMITH SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTED nysmith.com; ebalberde@ nysmith.com 703-713-3332; Ages: 3 years-Grade 8. 12625 EDS Drive, Herndon, Va. Family owned and operated since 1983, 620+ children. 1:9 teacher- student ratio, award winning. Daily individualized reading & math, science, computers, logic & foreign language. Loving atmosphere with an exciting curriculum. PINECREST SCHOOL pinecrestschool.org; admissions@pinecrestschool. org Ages: 3-4; 703-354-3446 7209 Quiet Cove, Annandale, Va. Stimulating preschool program that includes Spanish, music and P.E. enrichment classes. Special presentations and field trips, too. Before- & after-care until 6 p.m. Nurturing curiosity, confidence and a love of learning since 1957. SUNSET HILLS MONTESSORI SCHOOL sunsethillsmontessori.com office@sunsethillsmontessori. com 703-476-7477; Ages: 18 months-13 years 11180 Ridge Heights Road, Reston, Va. At SHMS we are committed to recognizing and cultivating the uniqueness of each individual child. We have a community of educators, and wonderful families, that have chosen SHMS because of a shared vision for early childhood and elementary education.  ■ MOM LIFE Meet Rachel Calderon-Murphy BY PJ FEINSTEIN What do you love about the work you do? my stepdaughter, Ava, came to live with us in 2012. She not only helps us with the child- I have been a firefighter since I was 16 years care, but she has helped us with parenting old. I have worked with Frederick County as well. Her help was critical while Sean was Fire and Rescue for almost three years, but deployed in 2018. I’ve been volunteering with Rockville Volun- teer Fire Department for 15 years. I tried to What do you and your family do other jobs, but this is where my heart is. love to do together? There is no doubt that firefighters see Because of our schedules, there are usu- people at some of the most vulnerable ally only two days a week when we are all moments of their lives. If I can do some- together. It’s hard, honestly. Most families, thing to make them smile, or make them most kids, do not experience that. So we try to take advantage of our time together. better, then I’ve made a difference. Also, there’s nothing that gets my blood We have family dinners, go to church and pumping more than when I’m working on take walks or hike. Sometimes we’ll make the fireground or on an intense EMS call. a fire in the backyard and roast marshmal- Oddly enough, it’s that chaos that really lows for s’mores. Other times we may just makes me think clearly. I think that takes a end up on the couch watching TV, but we’re together. certain type of person. How has the coronavirus pandemic affected your work I think the biggest challenge is always and home life? What do you find challenging about raising kids? OCCUPATION: LIVES: WORKS : Firefighter Potomac, MD Frederick County, MD Ava, 16, and Maximus (aka Moose), 5 CHILDREN: SPOUSE: Sean Murphy We’re looking for local moms and dads who are juggling multiple priorities and making a positive impact in their community to feature in our new Mom/Dad Life column. Send your nominations to editor@washingtonFAMILY.com. wondering if you’re doing it right. There are so many different ways of parenting, and what works for one kid probably won’t work for another. I have found the best way to combat the confusion is by talking to my mom friends—with a glass of sangria! My husband and I also have a strong faith, and we turn to God, the Bible and our church family when we are struggling. Hav- ing that support from the ones you love and people who know what you’re going through helps you realize that what you do may not always be textbook “right,” but it may be what’s right for your family. What’s something that makes juggling motherhood and your career a little bit easier? Work has definitely been more stressful because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both my husband and I are worried about what we could potentially bring home to our kids and my mom. We take all the precautions we can and make sure that cleanliness is a priority in the house. My husband is also a paramedic, so he sees a lot of those patients. My firehouse is the HazMat house in Fred- erick, and we are in charge of decontaminat- ing all the units that transport potential or positive COVID patients. The stress is high, but we know what we signed up for when we started our careers. It has also presented a challenge at home. Our routines are totally out of whack and everyone is going a bit stir-crazy. We try to keep some kind of routine with the kids and stay active, but we miss our family outside the home. Luckily, we have been taking advantage of technology and using FaceTime or Zoom to talk with family and friends. We will make it through this, we just have to stay positive. n My husband and I are both firefighters, and he is also in the Maryland Air National Guard. We work opposite shifts: 24 hours on, 48 hours off. He also has one weekend a month where he is serving his military duties. What helps us is living with my mother and having a great family support system. Read our extended interview with Rachel My mom opened up her home to us when Calderon-Murphy at WashingtonFAMILY.com. WashingtonFAMILY.com  37 BOOK MARKED 12 Books About Summertime Fun These children’s books are filled with the adventures and hijinks we associate with summer, plus a few activities to try at home. BY JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD, COLLECTION ENGAGEMENT LIBRARIAN, ARLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESCHOOL best summer ever together. Then Allie’s par- ents tell her she’s going to sleep-away camp, but Amy isn’t. Now the friends have to find Written and illustrated by a way to still have the best summer—with- Gaia Cornwell Jabari has finished his swim lessons, passed out each other. his test and can’t wait to jump off the high dive. But when he gets there and looks up, ‘If I Were a Park Ranger’ up and up at the diving board, he finds many Written by Catherine Stier, things he needs to do before he works up the illustrated by Patrick Corrigan courage. Learn about everything park rangers do at our National Parks, including which parts of ‘Hike’ the job change depending on which park you Written and illustrated by Pete Oswald work at. In this nearly wordless picture book, a boy and his dad take an early morning hike and ‘Plant, Sow, Make and Grow’ are filled with wonder at nature’s sights and Written and illustrated by sounds. Their adventures, including cross- Esther Coombs ing a river on a log and climbing a steep This colorful guide for young gardeners not slope, are rewarded with a wonderful view. only covers planting and tending a garden, but also includes related art projects and sci- ‘The Bear’s Garden’ ence experiments. ‘Jabari Jumps’ Written by Marcie Colleen, illustrated by Alison Oliver After her tomato plant falls off the window- sill into the empty lot next door, a young girl starts a community garden, leaving her stuffed bear in charge when she can’t be there to help the plants grow. EARLY ELEMENTARY ‘Adventures of Allie and Amy: The Best Friend Plan’ Written by Stephanie Calmenson and Joanna Cole, illustrated by James Burks MIDDLE GRADE ‘To Night Owl from Dogfish’ Written by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer When their dads start dating, Bett and Avery are secretly sent to the same summer camp in hopes they’ll bond. However, in this reverse “Parent Trap,” the girls know about the plan and are determined to make sure happily-ever-after isn’t in the cards. ‘Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy’ Best friends Allie and Amy have planned the Written by Noelle Stevenson and 38  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 BOOK MARKED Grace Ellis, illustrated by Brooke Allen ‘Young Adventurer’s Guide to (Almost) Everything’ Written by Ben and Penny Hewitt, illustrated by Luke Boushee A survival guide for kids, this activi- tiy book teaches 45 awesome outdoor adventure skills, such as navigating by the stars, tapping a maple tree, cook- ing on a campfire, tying knots, mak- ing a log raft and turning an acorn into a whistle. And, of course, the many, many ways to use a bandana. YOUNG ADULT ‘Imaginary Girls’ Written by Nova Ren Suma When one of Chloe’s classmates is found dead after a night with Chloe’s older sister, Ruby, Chloe is sent to live with her father. When she returns to town two summers later, Chloe begins to realize that the power Ruby holds over the town may be darker and more supernatural than sheer popularity and charisma. ‘Again Again’ Written by E. Lockhart Adelaide’s life fractures the summer before her senior year, as different decisions and interactions create mul- tiple directions for her life to go. A cre- ative visual design and font changes help keep the different versions of Adelaide’s story straight. ‘Games of Deception’ Written by Andrew Maraniss Missing this summer’s postponed Olympics? This nonfiction book tells the story of the first Olympics to fea- ture basketball. The year was 1936, and Hitler was using the Berlin Olympics to showcase an idealized Germany while hiding the true horror of his regime. Maraniss looks at the different threads of this story to weave together a narra- tive that will appeal to fans of history and sports. n Happy Birthday, Maurice Sendak! Each month we celebrate a birthday of literary significance Maurice Sendak was born on June 10, 1928. Growing up in Brooklyn, Sendak wrote short stories with his older brother, Jack. The two brothers would illustrate their work and bound them into books. As a teen, Sendak began to illustrate and sketch children in his neighborhood. These children later showed up in Sendak’s work, notably in his illustrations for Ruth Kraus’s 1952 book, “A Hole is to Dig.” Sendak briefly attended the Art Students League of New York but prided himself on being a self-taught artist. In 1963, he released the book “Where the Wild Things Are” about a young boy named Max whose bedroom is transformed into a mystical jungle where beasts called Wild Things roam. The book received universal acclaim, earning Sendak the 1964 Caldecott Medal. Sendak considered “Where the Wild Things Are” as part of a trilogy, later writing and illustrating “In the Night Kitchen” in 1970 and “Outside Over There” in 1981 to round out the series. In his lifetime, Sendak illustrated more than 90 children’s books. In 1970, his collective works won the Hans Christian Anderson Medal, making him the first American author to accomplish this feat. In 1996, Sendak was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. In his later years, Sendak spent his time in the U.S. and England designing sets and costumes for ballets and operas, including productions of “The Nutcracker” and Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” Sendak passed away on May 8, 2012 at age 83 in Danbury, Connecticut. WIKIPEDIA Five friends thought they were going to have a normal summer at Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s camp for hard core lady-types, but as this graphic novel starts, they’re following a bear shapeshifter and dealing with light- house-guarding hipster yetis. And that’s just the beginning. WashingtonFAMILY.com  39 DAD LIFE Steve Silvestro, MD BY PJ FEINSTEIN What do you love about the work you do? Pediatrician, bone marrow harvesting physician and host of “The Child Repair Guide Podcast” OCCUPATION: LIVES: Rockville, MD North Bethesda, MD and Washington, DC WORKS: Adeline, 12, and Cole, 10 CHILDREN: SPOUSE: Monica Silvestro 40  Washington FAMILY  JUNE 2020 So in 2016, I launched “The Child Repair Guide Podcast.” Over 100 episodes later, and having covered everything from basic medical questions to talking to kids about race and puberty to growth mindset and more, it’s blossomed into a thriving podcast, YouTube channel and social media presence. It’s been a pretty amazing journey! I get to help kids and parents feel less anxiety and more confidence through all the ups and downs of growing up, which is a pretty special role. What I love about the podcast and all of the associated projects with social media and YouTube is the incredible opportunity to do this in a unique, creative way—to feed the imaginative part How has the coronavirus of my soul and bring helpful, enjoyable pandemic affected your work content to people in the process. and your home life? This is a healthcare crisis, and there has been a lot of wonderful praise for healthcare What do you love about workers, but the experience has been odd being a dad? Before you have kids, you might worry that for primary care docs. If the ER or ICU is being a parent means losing a part of who you the front line, we’re kind of in Iceland. In are—that it’ll hold you back from becoming our practice, we’re each only going into the who you’re supposed to be. I find it’s actu- office one day a week to see a small hand- ally the opposite that’s true—that being a ful of baby or toddler checkups, then doing parent forces you to grow and develop parts telemedicine from home the rest of the of yourself you never knew needed work, or week. The biggest challenge has been trying to maybe never even knew were there at all. I’m trying to get more in tune with who I educate families about the pandemic in a am every day, in part to become the parent way that walks the line of being both imper- I want to be for my kids, but also because of ative enough that people take this seriously what I learn about myself as my wife and I and reassuring enough that we don’t cause overwhelming anxiety. Early on, I wrote an raise them. article that went mega-viral with more than 2.5 million views. It discussed why playdates Tell us about “The Child were not a good idea, and the way it reso- Repair Guide Podcast.” Several years ago, I received a phone call nated with so many people reinforced to me from a mom who was sobbing because her the role that good, clear messaging can play 18-month-old daughter had a fever of 100.8. in helping people respond to challenges. As for my family, we’re facing many of the Keep in mind that the medical definition of fever starts at 100.4, so this was just barely same challenges that other families face— a fever. But it was her daughter’s first fever, how to deal with online learning, working from home and being confined to a space and the mom was petrified. At first, I was taken aback by how worried with the same people day in and day out. this mom was over such a common childhood But we’ve also used this as an opportunity occurrence, but then it struck me that I for creativity. My kids were making a video wasn’t terribly different when I first became a news show for a while. My wife and I have parent. I probably diagnosed my poor teamed up to make “10-Minute Preschool,” daughter with half a dozen bizarre things when a YouTube series for preschoolers stuck she was a baby—none of which she actually home during the pandemic. And we’ve all had—all because my new-parent eyes were taken to learning or practicing instruments. We’ve been busy! catastrophizing every possible problem. What do you find challenging about raising kids, and how have you tried to resolve those challenges? The funny thing about being a pediatrician and a “parenting expert” is that it doesn’t mean that I make any fewer mistakes than anyone else. It’s just my job to research the solutions and then share what works. I’ve long held a philosophy that “you cannot teach what you have not learned.” But when it comes to being a parent, I think it’s okay to recognize that we’re still learning each step of the way, that we are all works in progress. In fact, that’s a message I try to instill in my kids as well. What’s something that makes juggling fatherhood and your career a little bit easier? The obvious answer is that I get to do it with Monica, my amazing wife. She really is incredible. She’s the glue that holds this crazy boat together, and she’s often the force that keeps us moving towards the fun. I’m also grateful that I’ve had years of experience with meditation. My formal What are 5 things you can’t practice is a bit hit or miss these days, but live without? I draw on the lessons and skills I’ve learned 1. My wonderful family (of course!) all the time. 2. Music—I’m a diehard U2 fan 3. Exercise 4. Harry Potter—Monica and I were What do you and your family hooked from the beginning, and it’s been a love to do together? blast raising a family of Potterheads We’re pretty tight-knit and do quite a lot 5. The 1-minute express button on the together, but the first thing that comes to mind is reading. Even though my kids are microwave 12 and 10, we still read together at night. Sometimes we’ll have a story that my What would you do if you wife will read aloud over a few weeks, or had one hour without any sometimes we’ll all read our own books responsibilities? in bed together (we call it “ruggling”). As Right now, the answer would be “play someone who didn’t actually read that guitar.” I tried to teach myself guitar when much as a kid, I’m glad to that my children I was in medical school, which is probably are growing up readers. the worst time to try and learn. Then resi- dency happened, then kids, and my playing How do you take care of your fell by the wayside. Now in these last few months, I’ve mental and physical health? picked it up again and have found a joy in I exercise a few days a week, drink primarily water (or coffee!) and am always trying to playing that wasn’t there before. So what- eat more plants. I’ve also long recognized ever moments I have when I’m not doing that I have a better day when I sing— something with my family or for “The whether it’s around the house, in the car or Child Repair Guide,” I’ve stolen away to play guitar. n just in the shower. WashingtonFAMILY.com  41 Your best friend is waiting... Montgomery County Humane Society is a private, non-profit, no-kill cat and dog rescue that does not receive any operational funding from the government or from national humane societies. It relies on the support of the community to keep its doors open. Cats and dogs available for adoption today. Come meet your new best friend. ® 601 S. Stonestreet Ave. Rockville, MD 20850 240-252-2555 mchumane.org