Month: April 2020

Moms Fight Back: Rising From the Shadow of Abuse

“You’re a greedy b—.” The low and intense tenor of my ex-boyfriend’s voice conveyed a deep contempt for me. I was in my car waiting for my daughter to come out of his house so I could take her home. But he wasn’t letting her out. He was crouched down at the driver’s side window with his face disturbingly close to mine, berating me for my “bad behavior” as if I were a child. The father of my child has never physically harmed me or my daughter. His onslaught takes the form of control, manipulation, intimidation and verbal and emotional abuse. Over the years, he has used threats of lowering her child support or obstructing her medical care when he doesn’t get his way. In order to mitigate conflict, I’ve had to pick my battles. Several years ago ...

Helping Colorado’s Most Vulnerable Kids

During a pandemic, trauma does not take a break. In fact, for children and families at Tennyson Center, trauma has increased exponentially. Parents are faced with layoffs, rents are due; the economic uncertainty is often unbearable. Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children face a heightened risk of neglect and abuse as coronavirus-related school closures keep them at home and away from hotline tipsters like teachers and childcare providers who are no longer carefully watching children in their care. In fact, Colorado’s Child Abuse and Neglect hotline saw a 40% drop in calls in just one week since schools closed in March. That does NOT mean that cases are decreasing—again, it means that these sometimes-invisible children, whose safety lay in the stability provided by thei...

National Camp-In: Go camping (in your backyard) for a great cause!

Whether in your backyard or in your living room, join families across the country live on Facebook on Saturday, May 2 for a day of fun virtual adventures from the Boy Scouts of America. From camp-style cooking and friendly competitions, to special guests and campfire singalongs, this virtual event will bring the best parts of Scouting to life. This National Camp-In is free and open to all families – including families whose children are not currently in Scouting. Tune in all day or jump in and out for particular activities. As the National Camp-In draws closer, check back for event times so you can plan your day, or provide your email in the form above and get the updates delivered to you! Our schedule will include: Camping tips and tricks Camping hacks from adventure pros Easy camp-style ...

COVID Diaries Colorado: A day in the pandemic

A teacher greets her students. An imam counsels his congregants. A firefighter reports for duty. New parents take their baby home from the hospital. These are routine moments in the lives of Coloradans. But the coronavirus has transformed the routine into the remarkable, upending how we live and interact with each other. As a heavy spring snow blanketed the state on Thursday, April 16, journalists from news organizations across Colorado set out to chronicle a day in the life of the state’s residents during this extraordinary time. The Colorado stories of April 16 show how much has changed in such a short amount of time. Teachers now instruct students over screens. Doctors speak to patients through masks and face shields. Newborn babies are quarantined from sick parents. But the journalists...

The New Now

Remember: This pandemic is not the “new normal,” this is just the “new now.” My 13-year-old Bode has always been a deeply intuitive child.  He recently taught us an important lesson on perspective during our little graveside service for our beloved pet. Bode was 3 when we adopted Fat Kitty and it was his earliest memory. “I remember when we were driving home with him for the first time that it was Dark outside,” he shared. “But then today when we were driving home with him for the last time after putting him down, it was Light.” I was struck. During one of the saddest moments of his young life—when that car felt silent and dark—all he saw was light. A month ago, I listened to a podcast by Boyd Matheson about perspective and this “New Now” we’re all living. It’s so easy ...

Emotional needs, instructional support top concerns for Colorado school districts doing remote learning

Many Colorado school districts say their biggest struggle right now is providing social and emotional support for children who are learning at home, even as tens of thousands of students still don’t have home internet access. These findings come from a school district needs assessment carried out by the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Education Initiative, a nonprofit. Released Monday, the survey highlights the challenges faced by educators and families as schools have closed for weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19. Officials and advocates hope that the results help guide both government response and philanthropic efforts. “Before we act, we should ask,” said Landon Mascareñaz, vice president for community partnerships with the Colorado Education Initiative. “What are th...

Sesame Street to host a town hall about coronavirus with CNN

CNN is partnering with Sesame Street for a special town hall Saturday at 9 a.m. ET about coronavirus, focused on kids and parents. “The ABC’s of Covid 19: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Parents” will tackle issues including education, anxiety, screen time and playdates. The 90-minute town hall will feature experts and Sesame Street characters — including Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Rosita and Grover — answering questions submitted by families. Big Bird will join CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and CNN anchor and national correspondent Erica Hill to moderate the event.   How to watch: The town hall will air on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español. It will stream live on CNN.com’s homepage and across mobile devices via CNN...

Enjoy date night at home with this “Dinner and a Movie” series

Hard times call for community, and nothing says community like a “shared” meal. Starting Friday, April 24th, the Flatirons Food Film Festival will offer a weekly dinner and movie series to enjoy together, while physically apart. With a streaming featured movie, “paired” takeout dishes from recommended restaurants, recipes for dishes related to the film, and expert speakers, each Dinner and a Movie event will offer an exciting and interesting online Festival experience from the comfort of your own home. “Much of the Flatirons Food Film Festival’s success is due to the participation and generous donations of Boulder and Denver restaurants and food businesses,” said Festival Director Julia Joun.  “Dinner and a Movie gives a fun, tasty and community-building ...

The Year Without Graduation: A Letter to My Daughter and the Class of 2020

As a parent, I’ve had to navigate hundreds of unanticipated situations. I’ve uttered scoldings I never thought would be necessary, including “Don’t lick street signs,” and “We always wear underwear to school.” I’ve offered support as they changed schools and sustained concussions. I’ve even seen them through a divorce in which we all demonstrated great resiliency. Parenting a high school senior through COVID-19 has been the greatest challenge yet. I’m more familiar with public health than the average layperson. My undergraduate coursework included microbiology, epidemiology and immunology. I spent years volunteering with the Shot@Life campaign, lobbying on Capitol Hill for global vaccine access. I have observed public health days in Uganda, where mothers who are two weeks postpartum walk k...

‘We wanted to spread joy’: Parents start local Adopt a High School Senior groups

The buildup to graduation starts when Class of 2020 seniors are just little kids. “Those 12 years lead up to this kind of big ending, and to miss out on that big ending is definitely really sad,” said Ponderosa High School senior Shaye Springer. Ponderosa High School is located in Parker near Parker and Bayou Gulch roads. Springer said she thought her final semester would be special right now. Instead, it’s over. “On my way to work, I just started crying,” Springer said. “I was so upset, just one thing on top of another, you know.” That feeling is why Sheli Silvius, a mother of a senior at Ponderosa, started her own version of an Adopt A High School Senior Facebook group in Parker. “We really wanted to spread joy and happiness for seniors,...

Exhausted and Grieving: Teaching During the Coronavirus Crisis

Stress isn’t new to teachers, but what they’re experiencing now makes their typical stress seem like a picnic. Driven by a pandemic to the front lines of an unprecedented rush to distance-learning, the nation’s teachers are scrambling to manage an armful of new challenges. And they’re exhausted. That exhaustion emerges from a tangle of dynamics. Teachers are grappling with unfamiliar technologies. They have to retrofit—or reinvent—their lessons and find new ways to do familiar things, like grading homework. They’re inundated with emails, texts, and calls from principals, parents, and students. They’re trying to “be there” for students and their families. And many are also juggling the needs of their own children or other loved ones while managing their own coronavirus fears.  Amy Poll...

It’s Earth Week—Go on Safari with your kids!

If you can’t go on a Safari right now, a virtual one is the next best thing! Newly launched, NatGeo@Home is National Geographic’s hub filled with enriching learning resources helping parents and teachers find content for kids and students that will keep them engaged and empowered to make the world a better place. Celebrating Earth Day all week long (April 17-22), the hub’s offerings will inspire families to celebrate the planet from home – from engaging animal videos and DIY projects, to daily live talks from National Geographic Explorers, Nat Geo has set up a virtual base camp to keep the spirit of exploration and adventure strong for kids. In addition to the NatGeo@Home online resource, National Geographic is also encouraging families across the ...