Main Line Parent | Issue 9

FALL 2014 • ISSUE 9

TM

STANDING STRONG

Meet 3 local moms who suffered, battled, and triumphed over

post-partum depression

Plus! Get to know Wayne with ourneighborhood map and business guide!

TAKE 2Christopher’s goes for a

second helping in itsnew Malvern location

URGENTCARE GUIDE:

When and where to go

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1|Join our community at mainlineparent.com

editor’s letter

Fall, like all the other seasons, is rife with cliches. The first day that’s below 70o people reach for anything dowsed with pumpkin flavoring. They pull out dusty boxes of chunky sweaters and knee-high boots from storage. They are drawn to hayrides and apple orchards by a strange magnetic force. I know this, because two of the three things I have mentioned above have already happened to yours truly.

There’s nothing wrong with these predictable actions – they are traditions. And what is fall, if not a season of tradition? From back to school to Halloween to

Thanksgiving to the plethora of religious holidays, these months bring us together and allow us to celebrate what generations before us celebrated. There is comfort in a recipe handed to you from a great grandmother, or posing your children on the front steps just like your mother did to you so long ago.

That does not mean we cannot find the new in this season, too. We here at Main Line Parent are actually thriving on it, excitedly unveiling the brand new and oh-so-fabulous mainlineparent.com.We hope the new features we’ve built in will help introduce your family to new activities and destinations – learn more about the site on page 9!

This issue focuses a bit on the future, as well. On page 41 we profile three Main Line teens who are building their careers thanks to vision and a serious entrepreneurial streak. On page 45 we highlight the new outpost of a much-loved Main Line restaurant as they welcome more families to the table. And on page 33 we introduce you to strong, amazing women who have battled postpartum depression and are now speaking out to improve the future for themselves, their children, and other struggling mothers.

Enjoy your annual rituals. Create new ones. And look forward to the bright possibilities ahead.

MELISSA GREINER Executive Editor

Spice something up (not just the pumpkins).

staff continued on page 6

CHLOE SHERMAN-PEPEAssociate Photo Editor

VERONICA UTZDesign Director

MEREDITH MILLER Art/Photo Director

Stylist

ELIZABETH FISLER Assistant Editor

MELINDA ENGELPhiladelphia FamilyAssociate Publisher

Join our community as a Supporting Member at mainlineparent.com/join.

ARDMORE: SEPT. 28 +NOV. 2CHESTNUT HILL: SEPT. 14 +OCT. 1910 am - 5 pm | 100+ VENDORS, FOOD TRUCKS, KIDS’ CRAFTS & MORE

ART. ANTIQUES. HANDMADE. VINTAGE.

theclovermarket.com

In cooperation with The Ardmore initiative & chestnut hill parking foundation

title sponsor

| Issue 94


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contents

41

Editor’s Letter Publishers’ Letter

todolistsupport

Room for Recovery

playExpress Yourself

thriveUrgent? Emergency?

shopIt’s a Date

createMini Matisse

featureFrom Parenting

to Advocacy

Everything IsNot Okay

BuddingEntrepreneurs

nourishDouble the Fun

Sip & Fall

Farm Fresh & Fabulous

my main lineFeaturing Jeff Long,

Founder, Healthy Kids Running Series

World Domination. Just because they are teens doesn’t mean they aren’t tenacious. Meet Michelle Lu and two other

Main Line high schoolers who are thinking big and starting their own businesses well before graduation day.

Cover photography by Chloe Sherman-Pepe

Kendall and Derek Dietterich live in Harleysville with their son Ryder, 2. Fall finds them enjoying the picturesque farm they are lucky enough to call their home – enjoying wagon rides and impromptu picnics, feeding the animals, and strolling the corn fields.

Photograph by John Sturgis

| Issue 96

publis

hers’ letter

Print ProductionABBE LUNGER

Map DesignALYSSA HAMILTON

Graphic DesignMELISSA SWEENEY

Contributing WritersDEB DELLAPENA

MIN DERRYJENNIFER MCGLINN

CHRISTY PARKERKELLY PEIFFERARIEL TURNER

Editorial InternNATALIE KOUBA

Contributing PhotographersJOHN BERNARDO

ALEX MILLERBRITTANY OSTROV

JOHN STURGIS

staff continued from page 1

Photograph by Jamie Siever

Main Line Parent is published by Family Focus MediaStrategic Marketing - Special Events - Niche MediaFamily Focus Media.comP.O. Box 99, Wynnewood, PA 19096 [email protected] | 484-416-0435

SARAH BOND Publisher

PAMELA BADOLATOAssociate Publisher

&

From the beginning, it has been our mission to build community. Since our last issue Main Line Parent’s team started to THINK BIG. Our team set our sights to publish THE BEST multimedia platform for Philly’s suburban families to connect with events, resources and referrals.

First, we decided to expand our reach by printing twice as many copies of our family lifestyle magazine. With the help of our clients and community supporters, we have doubled our circulation. You know that you can have this magazine delivered to your home twice a year, right? If you’re one of the lucky families on our direct mail list, we hope that you will sign up to get our next issue, too! Become a member and get yours at mainlineparent.com/join.

Our virtual village of mom-and-dad-experts has been growing just a click away in our Facebook and Google+ groups, but if we sought to be THE BEST, we also thought it was time our website kicked it up a notch. We hired a fantastic design team in Fishtown to help us transform our site into an unparalleled social experience for local events and resources. We’re confident that the new mainlineparent.com is going to knock your socks off.

Our new site will host our hyperlocal, in-the-know articles on everything from family fairs to parenting pitfalls, but our new functionality will allow us to showcase the BEST family-focused resources and events all in one place. For readers, this means a super-handy My Favorites tool that allows you to create a personalized age of the stories, events, and area businesses you want to remember. The evolving landscape of social media motivated us to find new ways to support local businesses and non-profits with this platform. As a business owner or social media manager, your Main Line Parent Page will empower families to find you through your stories, events, and Instagram feed. You have an opportunity to grow your digital footprint with us when you encourage your happy families to favorite and endorse on Main Line Parent. It’s like the best of both worlds, supporting search rankings for your website while connecting directly with our loyal readers. And it’s FREE for all of our Partners and Community Supporters. Let’s chat soon about how you can get involved.

Building Community – Our Mission

chop.edu/yourside

Allergists. Surgeons. Pediatricians. Sports medicine specialists. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is home to some of the top pediatric doctors in the country, who care for patients at more than 50 CHOP Care Network locations throughout our region. Our Care Network offers:

• Expert primary care to keep well kids well, with checkups, immunizations and more• Day surgery for certain procedures, by leading Children’s Hospital surgeons• After-hours urgent care, when your child needs medical attention right away• The region’s most radiation-free and low-dose imaging options for kids• Skilled specialist care, including management of chronic conditions

For big things, little things and everything in between, CHOP’s top doctors are right by your side.

At the top of their fi eld. And right by your side.

IN PENNSYLVANIABucks County• Bucks County (Chalfont) – Specialty Care and Surgery Center• Central Bucks (Doylestown) – Primary Care• Doylestown Hospital – Newborn Care• Grand View Hospital (Sellersville) – Newborn and Pediatric Care• HighPoint (Chalfont) – Primary Care• Holy Redeemer Hospital (Meadowbrook) – Newborn Care• Indian Valley (Souderton) – Primary Care• Newtown – Primary CareChester County• Chester County Hospital (West Chester) – Newborn and Pediatric Care• Coatesville – Primary Care• Exton – Specialty Care and Surgery Center• Kennett Square – Primary Care• North Hills – Primary Care• Paoli – Primary Care• West Chester – Primary Care• West Grove – Primary CareDelaware County• Broomall – Primary Care• Chadds Ford – Primary Care; Specialty Care Center • Drexel Hill – Primary Care• Haverford – Primary Care• Media – Primary Care• Springfi eld – Primary Care; Specialty Care Center Montgomery County• Abington – Specialty Care Center• Abington Memorial Hospital – Pediatric Care• Flourtown – Primary Care• King of Prussia – Specialty Care Center, After-Hours Urgent Care and Home Care• Norristown – Primary Care• Pottstown – Primary CarePhiladelphia County• Chestnut Hill – Primary Care• Cobbs Creek – Primary Care• Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania – Newborn Care• Karabots Pediatric Care Center – Primary Care• Pennsylvania Hospital – Newborn Care• Richard D. Wood Center – Specialty Care Center• Roxborough – Primary Care• South Philadelphia – Primary Care

IN NEW JERSEYAtlantic County• AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center: Atlantic City Campus and Mainland Campus (Pomona) – Newborn and Pediatric Care • Atlantic County (Mays Landing) – Specialty Care and After-Hours Urgent Care• Harborview/Smithville – Primary Care• Harborview/Somers Point – Primary Care Burlington County• CHOP at Virtua (Mount Holly)• Mount Laurel – Primary Care• Salem Road (Burlington Township) – Primary CareCamden County• CHOP at Virtua (Voorhees)• Gibbsboro – Primary Care• CHOP at Virtua (Voorhees) – Specialty Care Center• Voorhees – Specialty Care and Surgery CenterCape May County• Harborview/Cape May – Primary CareMercer County• Princeton – Specialty Care Center• University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro – Newborn and Pediatric Care

Middlesex County• Pediatric Cardiology at Saint Peter’s University Hospital (New Brunswick) – Specialty Care Center

©2014 The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, All Rights Reserved.

9433 Fall_Main Line Parent_MECH.indd 1 9/10/14 8:42 AM

The DREAM Lab® encourages girls to dream big, and if its first year results are any indication, not even the sky is the limit on what can be done. Fifth grade girls built soap box derby cars, staging a fun race across the campus with the entire Lower School and faculty lining the path to cheer them on. Fourth grade girls built robotic boats and became the youngest participants in the regional SeaPerch competition.

Those same girls were the force behind Baldwin becoming one of only 10 schools in the country (and one of only two elementary schools) to win the opportunity to launch a near-space balloon, whose trajectory is being determined for a launch this fall. Even the Early Childhood Center, grades Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, were part of the activities. Kindergarteners programmed Bee Bots and learned the dynamics of basic coding and assembling structures.

One of the DREAM Lab®’s key features is its fusion of the disciplines of Design, Robotics, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. The DREAM now continues to the Middle School where, equipped with both creativity and tools in the lab, girls will cut with lasers, create autonomous quadcopters, build with 3D printers, and even develop wearable electronics, renewable energy systems, and automated gardens.

Lessons and workshops will emphasize the scientific and engineering process and will provide opportunities for students to collect and analyze data, document their progress and share what they have accomplished in the community. With the goal of teaching the technical processes that underlie each task in mind, Baldwin hopes to foster creativity and a love of discovery.

Perhaps the best spokespersons for the DREAM Lab® are the girls themselves. As a fourth grader said in the video entry for the near-space balloon: “Girls can do anything that boys can do. That’s important.” Her classmate added: ”That’s important to us.”

Visit us and learn more about the DREAM Lab® and other Baldwin Original programs, students and faculty.

BALDWIN OPEN HOUSEWednesday, October 22 at 6 p.m.Thursday, November 6 at 9 a.m.

To register, call Anna at (610) 525-2700, ext 291 or visit

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INSIDE THE

DREAM Lab®

A BALDWIN ORIGINAL PROGRAM

Now celebrating its first anniversary, the DREAM Lab®, Baldwin’s cornerstone of creativity and technology, is continuing its momentum and expanding to the Middle School for the 2014-15 school year, building on the foundations of programming, design, and discovery.


MainLineParent.com online buzz

Study Up With Main Line Parent Magazine’s Guide to EducationWe know the school year just started, but it’s time to think about next year! Whether you have a budding preschool scholar ready to jump into their first school experience or a young adult hoping to strive and succeed in a new upper school, Main Line Parent’s fall education events can help you connect with the city’s private and independent schools and find that match. For a full guide to area schools and upcoming open houses, visit mainlineparent.com/edu.

Introducing Our New Website — Designed With YOU In Mind!The Main Line Parent team spent our summer hard at work, teaming up with an amazing agency and developing and designing a brand new, interactive, and — we must say — stunning website. The new mainlineparent.com is your one go-to destination for everything family. In addition to our weekly articles that keep you in the know, check out our dynamic new events calendar, turn to our comprehensive resource guide to family-friendly businesses, and join as a member to build your personalized My Favorites page where you can keep all the events, articles, and more that’s important to you handy. Discover the new mainlineparent.com now!

Web Design by SBDC | small business design center

Get Moreof the Story

We squeezed as much as we could into this issue, but there is so much more to learn, discover, and explore! You’ll see many of our articles continue online, be it with extra content, bonus details, or step-by-step instructions. Look for the call-out at the end of your favorite pieces for where to head on the website for your second helping (where you can save them to your Favorites page).

Lights, Camera,Main Line Parent! The only thing better than telling you about the area’s newest and greatest family events and attractions is showing them to you! Join as a member and check us out on the website and YouTube for our series of video guides. We hit the ground and check out the latest museum exhibit or a new expanded attraction, test driving on camera so you can decide if it’s worth the drive for your family. Check them out and know the destination will be awesome. Sorry we can’t do anything about all the “Are we there yets?” yet.

Photo by AleX Miller

Gentle Prenatal and Postpartum Chiropractic Care and Massage

Webster Technique Certiiied

bloommainline.com Dr. Brandie Nemchenko

Pregnancy is supposed to be a time of joy, not pain.610-337-7463 • 300 South Henderson Road, King of Prussia, PA

2008-2014

LIVING the curriculum.

851 Buck Lane | Haverford, PA 19041 | 610-642-2334 | FriendsHaverford.org

COME VISIT! OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 10:00am - 12:00pm | Preschool - Grade 8 Register online: www.friendshaverford.org

FOURTH GRADE ECOLOGISTSanalyzing our campus wetland ecosystem

Private tours also available, please call to schedule.

The promise of being in expert hands.

Surgery can be scary, for a child and the whole family.

So it’s good to know our pediatric fellowship-trained

anesthesiologists and surgeons are experts in procedures

from ENT to orthopedics and more. As the only surgery

center on the Main Line dedicated to children, our doctors

and nurses understand the unique physical, emotional

and social needs of children.

And in our family-friendly outpatient surgery center,

parents can go with their child into surgery until their

child is asleep. Pediatric experts combined with family-

centered care – it’s part of our promise to help more

children grow up healthy. And give families peace of mind.

The Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children Surgery Center, Bryn Mawr located within Nemours duPont Pediatrics, Bryn Mawr Bryn Mawr Medical Arts Pavilion825 Old Lancaster Road, Suite 250, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Accredited by the Joint Commission. Learn more at NemoursduPont.orgAppointments and information: (610) 542-3300 Your child. Our promise.

As cooler breezes blow, take cover indoors with activities,classes, and other ideas that will warm you through.

Design is in the details, like these delicate and darling silver stacking bracelets – perfect for easily punching up a cozy outfit. Check out the rest of the look on page 20.

Photograph by Chloe Sherman-Pepe

As cooler breezes blow, take cover indoors with activities,classes, and other ideas that will warm you through.

todolist

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Just one short year ago in West Whiteland, after a fundraiser held in honor of Maximilian Kolbe Schnittman, a little boy with a brain tumor, a wonderful and inspiring non-profit was born. The Kolbe Fund was created to empower all families to seek out the finest care – no matter what their financial situation may be. Serving families who must travel in order to obtain the best treatment for a sick child, The Kolbe Fund helps provide parking, hotel accommodations, and food for these families. This is a foundation built upon care: the care of an ailing child, and the care for their families who may be struggling financially and emotionally during an incredibly difficult time.

Within The Kolbe Fund is the Hopeful Nights program, a program that focuses on providing lodging for these families traveling with a sick child. Through this program, since November 2013, The Kolbe Fund has paid for more than 300 nights of lodging for almost 100 families traveling to receive care in Philadelphia.

“We have contracts with hotels throughout the city that offer us a generous rate,” says co-founder and executive director Kate Schnittman. “Financially struggling families are referred to our program through social workers at CHOP, The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, Wills Eye, Jefferson Hospital, and The Hospital at the University

Photograph by John Bernardo

Room for RecoveryThe Kolbe Fund provides hotel rooms so families can provide love and support to sick children.By Kelly Peiffer

Brooke, Joshua, and son Brayden Raffensperger, one of the many families supported by The Kolbe Fund organization

1 5|Join our community at mainlineparent.com

supportof Pennsylvania. More recently, we have begun working with A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Christiana Hospital, and The Ronald McDonald House Delaware.”

The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House is the first place many of these families seek help from, but since the facility experiences such tremendous volume, they are forced to turn away thousands of families away each year. That’s where The Kolbe Fund’s Hopeful Nights program steps in, creating a remarkable alternative for these families.

The Kolbe Fund isn’t just based here on the Main Line; it impacts here, too. Nearly half of the families that The Kolbe Fund serves come from Pennsylvania, and many from the Greater Philadelphia area, helping people who live just around the corner.

“When a family has a critically ill child, they want desperately to be close to the hospital where their child is, and parental involvement and support is a tremendous part of the healing process,” says Schnittman.

For the Walawender family, The Kolbe Fund provided them with the lodging they needed to be close to their newborn baby girl for her 6-week esophagus surgery and recovery at CHOP.

“The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House was filled to capacity, but The Kolbe Fund was able to provide lodging at a local hotel,” says Janelle Walawender. “We would not have been able to stay near our newborn daughter without the assistance of The Kolbe Fund. It relieved a huge financial stress during a time that was filled with so much emotional stress.”

Looking towards the future, The Kolbe Fund is looking to create long-term lodging solutions for local outpatient programs. They are also hoping to create a loss of income grant for families that must miss work to care for a sick child.

“We’ve experienced tremendous growth this past year,” says Schnittman. “As word spreads, we receive more referrals from social workers and continue to seek additional funding.”

Funding that is very much needed. This past year The Kolbe Fund had to turn away families due to limited resources, causing some families to forgo medical treatment.

How You Can Be a Part

e MAKE A DONATION. Mail all donations to 701 Old Valley Road,

Exton, PA 19341, or make an online donation at thekolbefund.org.

e DONATE YOUR TIME. The Kolbe Fund can always use more hands on deck, so email [email protected] to find out how you can donate your time to help families in need.

e BECOME A VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBER. Email [email protected] to join.

e HOST A FRIENDRAISER. The Kolbe Fund utilizes small parties and gatherings as an opportunity to talk

about The Kolbe Fund. Email [email protected] for details on

starting your campaign.

e GO SHOPPING. Next time you order through Amazon,

register for Amazon Smile (the site’s program that donates .5% of your bill to

a charity of your choice) and select The Kolbe Fund.

| Issue 91 6

Express YourselfPlaces and spaces to let the arts take hold of your child’s imagination.

By Elizabeth Fisler

play

Your kids ready to make some magic? From rocking on stage to painting up their first masterpiece, these Main Line destinations will get the creative juices flowing.

CREATIVE CLUBHOUSE Let your kids discover new ways to create and explore the world of art. The Clubhouse offers classes that encourage learning and focus on the art-making process – not just the final product. With engaging hands-on classes, kids learn the importance of following directions, mixing and measuring, and working with groups. With classes like Darling Doodlers, Ooey Gooey Kitchen Lab, Sketch and Sculpt, Powerful Puppets, Music and Aardvarks, and Seasonal Art, your kiddo will have trouble just choosing one. Open studio is available several times each week with an open-ended creative curriculum and guests pay per visit and can come go as they please – a great option for those with busier schedules. If you have younger ones at home who want to participate, Creative Clubhouse offers Creative Corner Preschool and Kindergarten Enrichment programs, specifically designed for the younger artists. Stop in to have fun, explore, make art, and get messy.18 E. Eagle Rd. Havertown | creative-clubhouse.comClasses: 45 minutes, 8 weeks $135; individual $15Creative Corner: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9 am - 12:15 pm, ages 3-5 | Kindergarten Enrichment: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11:45 am - 3 pm, ages 4-6 | Membership: Annual fee $250 includes free open studio, 10% off classes and birthdays

BACH TO ROCK This rockin’ music school believes, “Music is the key to success.” If your child is banging on the piano, or maybe belting tunes in the shower, Bach To Rock is the place for them to explore the world of music and find which instrument suits them. The school’s method focuses on building teamwork while developing social skills and self-esteem. Your child can start learning with private lessons or with group bands at their Wayne location. Learning music should be fun and enjoyable; that’s why this school has weekly ensemble instruction, band formations,

and public concerts including a Battle of the Bands. They even offer Kids N’ Keys, a class that introduces kids 5 - 7 years old the fundamentals of music. Want to start them even younger? The Rock City program has music education for your 3 - 5 year olds using musically inspired story time. Making music fun through learning, your little ones will be enjoying the beats and rhythms while pursuing a new creative hobby. 226 Sugartown Road, Wayne | b2rmusic.com | Small Groups: 8-10 weeks, $30 per session | Private Lessons: 8-10 weeks, ages 7+, $35+ per session

ROCKDALE MUSICThis music enrichment school has won rave reviews from critics, families, and their students, and there’s a little something for everyone. They offer private one-on-one lessons on acoustic, electric, and bass guitar, piano and keyboard, drums and percussion, flute, trumpet, and voice. Even if kids are just starting to exploring their creative musical talents, Rockdale Music teachers will mentor them and help find an instrument they will enjoy. Just watch out, one day they’ll be banging on pots and pans in your kitchen, and the next they will have formed a band in your garage. Already having neighbors complaining about the noise? Rent a rehearsal space at the studio, or join the band mentorship program and leave with a demo recording! The Rock Band program takes students and their groups to the big stage. Kids rehearse with peers and teachers while improving the skills – and confidence – it takes to perform at World Cafe Live and The Note. Rockdale Musical students fill the rooms at the Philadelphia area’s best local venues, cheering on their classmates. 5561 Pennell Road, Media | rockdalemusic.com | Private Lessons: $30-$35+ per half hour | Recording Studio Rental Packages: $50+ per hour

Photograph courtesy of Bach to Rock

p lay

MAIN LINE ART CENTERToddlers, adults, teens, families, special needs: the Main Line Art Center believes anyone can create art. Celebrating their 50th anniversary of special needs art classes, the art center is committed to making art more accessible to everyone, of any talent. Individual classes allow kids and teens to focus on developing their artistic skills among peers. But if you’re looking for some bonding time this fall, Family Workshops are available for creative family-fun time – and clean-up is included! With education being a primary focus, the Main Line Art Center also grants more than $12,000 in need-based scholarships annually. Parents can even pop in and try some classes while the kiddos head to a lesson. With classes on jewelry and metals, ceramics, mosaics, sculptures, print-making, and more, the possibilities are endless!746 Panmure Road, Haverford | mainlineart.org | Membership levels available allow discounts on classes and events | Pricing: Classes vary on level and duration, starting at $100+/per course

MAIN LINE SCHOOL OF ROCK Time to rock n’ roll! If you’ve got a newbie on your hands, Rock 101 is a beginner’s class where budding musicians learn to master the basics of music while playing actual rock and roll songs. Playing songs by The Beatles, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, and Green Day, your kid will think they’re the ultimate rock star. If group gigs aren’t their thing, Lessons+ is a hands-on, private music lesson program with rock instruments of their choosing. If your teen has the basics, and is ready to advance to the next level, their performance program is the perfect stepping stone. Students learn harmonies, musicianship, and how to perform for a real rock and roll crowd. All students get access to special member-only artist events, workshops, and free admission to seasonal shows. So much fun they’ll be thanking you for sending them to music class. Maybe they’ll even practice...511 Old Lancaster Road, Suite 4, Berwyn and 478 Acorn Lane, Downingtown | mainline.schoolofrock.com | Rock 101: 45-minute weekly lessons, 90 minute rehearsal $280/month | Lessons: 45-minute weekly private lessons, $170/month | Performance Program: 45-minute weekly private lessons, weekly 3 hour rehearsal, $280/month.

Register Now for Fall!

CREATIVE • FUN • ACTIVE Join Us for Fall Family Fun • Art Market: Fresh & Local: Fri., September 26, 5:30-8:30 pm • Family Happy Hour and Make, Give & Take:

Sat., October 18, 4:30-6:30 pm • Art of Giving Thanks Family Art Festival:

Sat., November 2, 2-5 pm610.525.0272 | mainlineart.org746 Panmure Rd., Haverford, PA

| Issue 91 8

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It’s 3:30 on Friday afternoon. Your normally ravenous preschooler has eaten only half a banana and taken a few sips of water all day. Then, she spikes a low-grade fever.

What do you do?

You could call your pediatrician, but it’s Friday, and you reassure yourself, it’s probably just a little virus that will pass quickly. So you resolve to wait it out. Friday night is rough – very little sleep and a poor, crying little one who’s obviously in some discomfort. Saturday brings with it a higher fever, less appetite, and extreme fatigue and irritability. It could be anything from an ear infection to early symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth. You decide you need to take her in, but where?

Thanks to a growing medical trend, the answer to that perplexing question is simple – urgent care. More and more people are choosing the faster-paced treatment of urgent care centers over waiting for an appointment at their primary care physician (PCP). With weekend and evening hours, these medical facilities are designed to treat many illnesses and injuries during and after normal office hours without the extreme wait times and costs of the ER.

“There’s been a lot of change in medicine over the past 10 years,” says Dr. Magna Dias, medical director of urgent care for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s new King of Prussia location.

“Some of it’s been driven by cost, some of it’s been driven by convenience, and some of it’s driven by families with two working parents who just need to get it all done,” she says.

CHOP opened a pediatric urgent care facility earlier this year in its King of Prussia facility for the exact type of weekend health scenario above.

Dias says pediatric PCPs in the Philadelphia area have grown concerned about the changes, specifically that their young patients, whose families are cramped for time and opt for an after-hours facility over their usual physician, are often being treated at urgent care facilities geared toward adults and, for example, antibiotics are being over-prescribed. So rather than acting as a replacement for PCPs, the CHOP Urgent Care center is a supplement to their regular care.

“It is really important to us that every child have a medical home,” Dias says. “We are just temporarily borrowing their patient.”

CHOP Urgent Care is open only during the evening hours and on weekends to ensure patients are seeing their PCP as my much as possible. The center – staffed by experienced pediatricians with additional emergency room or urgent care training as well as knowledgeable nursing staff – can provide X-rays, basic lab work, and stitches, with oversight from CHOP X-ray and EKG technicians, making the new center a hybrid between the PCP and ER.

The CHOP Urgent Care doctors and nurses follow up with each patient within 24 hours, and send full reports to each PCP.

Another option for the whole family is CareSTAT urgent care facilities in Abington, Folsom, Haverford, and Springfield. Owned and managed by local parents Drs. Jonathan and Jaime Gusdorff, they, too, are concerned that busy family lifestyles impact the healthcare each member receives.

Urgent? Emergency?When kids get sick or hurt, panic often overtakes practicality. Know when the ER can be avoided, and how a new crop of local urgent care centers can make it all better.

By Ariel H. Turner

The Gusdorffs’ daughter Jessica’s camp injury a few years ago and subsequent treatment at a nearby urgent care center initiated their decision to open their first center on the Main Line.

“It was very different from sitting in the ER,” Jaime Gusdorff says. “We couldn’t believe how quick and easy it was. “

And while urgent care wasn’t new, they chose to design their centers around their needs as parents – expedited service, online check-in, a variety of services making it nearly as complex as an ER and an office staff dedicated to bridging the communication gap with insurance companies and PCPs.

t h r i ve

A Unique Preschool for Children Ages 2.7 through PreKindergarden

Built as a preschool in 1966 on over two beautiful acres, West Hill’s teachers are warm, loving and dedicated to nurturing a love of learning while providing a trusting, secure environment where children engage in joyful learning.

Now accepting applications for the 2015-2016 school year!Accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent SchoolsWhere to go?

Convenience aside, some ailments are better suited for urgent care, while others require the skill and facilities available at a hospital emergency room.

URGENT CARE:e sprainse cuts and bruisese nausea and vomitinge minor feverse ear, nose, and throat paine rashes

EMERGENCY ROOM:e shortness of breath or trouble breathinge loss of consciousnesse sudden, severe paine serious cut that won’t stop bleeding

Who is near you? For a full list of urgent care centers around the Main Line and western suburbs, visit mainlineparent.com/urgentcare.

Getting out of the house is always an excuse to look good, no matter who you’re stepping out with. These

trendy leather-kissed leggings are not only super comfy, but make the perfect base for every outing on your

agenda. From lattes and Legos with the neighborhood play group to late-night tapas with someone special, a

few adjustments and you’ll be looking the part.

Styled by Meredith Miller Photography by Chloe Sherman-Pepe

It’s a Date!

Special thanks to our model, Dana Farrell, owner of Avenue Kitchen in Villanova.

Learn more about her favorite Main Line spots at mainlineparent.com/farrell.

| Issue 920

shop

These lovely leggings come in tons of great colors!

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Beasts of the Sea is a paper collage on canvas paintingby Henri Matisse, which is currently on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

Bring a little color to your walls by creating your own paper creationwith supplies you probably already have on hand.

Instructions courtesy Carol Gannon, artist educator at Chester County Art Association

Photography by Chloe Sherman-Pepe

Shopping List:

c Large sheet of white paper c Scissors

c Colored construction paper

c Glue

| Issue 922


Instructions:

1. Cut a few pieces of construction paper into large squares about 4 inches wide, arrange them on your white paper base, and glue to secure.

2. Select another piece of colored construction paper and, without drawing on it, pick up your scissors and begin cutting out shapes. To bring in the ocean theme, think of shells, coral, and other sea creatures as your cut away your shapes. Try to make a spiral or a sea snake.

3. After you have a lot of shapes cut out, assemble and glue them on the colored squares of paper. Remember: it’s okay to have your shapes hanging off the edges. You don’t need to keep everything confined inside one of your colored squares.

4. Play around with the colors—primary, secondary, warm, cool, or compliments.

5. When you have finished, find a fun place to hang and display your artwork.

ABOUT THECHESTER COUNTY ART ASSOCIATION

Founded by impressive names like William Palmer, N.C. Wyeth, and Christian Brinton, the Chester County Art Association is a West Chester-based organization dedicated to educating and enriching the area throughthe arts. Classes, camps, and exhibitions are held at facilities in West Chester, Exton, and Kennett Square.

Learn more about their offerings for both children and adults at chestercountyarts.org.

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For most of us, becoming a parent can have a transformational effect on our lives. At a minimum, it drives us to become more multi-dimensional, and consider our children’s needs before ours, especially in the early developmental stages. The types of changes that a parent may undergo by assuming the role of father, mother, or guardian can be as varied as the types of parenting styles and families out there. Parenthood may temper someone who was impulsive, change a behavior such as smoking, or even cause a restructuring of their lives by changing vocations, residential locations, or even religious affiliations for their children.

But for some very special parents, their children’s illnesses, conditions, or special needs catapult them into forging roles of advocacy, which they had never imagined before, even in their wildest dreams.

In cases where the conditions are revealed at birth, parents have minimal to absolutely no preparation and training – much less time to contemplate and map out the best plan of attack.

These parents are true heroes who rise up to the call of duty, even in critical life-saving and sustaining situations, without the benefit of ramping up any support forces at all.

Yet, they arm themselves with courage and grace, humility and faith – sometimes relying solely on their instincts – to protect and survive, alongside their beloved children.

From childhood cancer and Alex’s Lemonade Stand, proton radiation therapy and Ella’s Retreat, rare diseases and the RASopathies Network, to autism and the Public Citizens for Children & Youth, these parents have forged new roles and competencies advocating and fundraising for clinical research and legislature to support their children’s treatment while educating others. They have turned a critical diagnosis, condition, or illness into an active platform for advocacy, assistance, education, research advancement, and philanthropy – and a brighter future for the children and families who will follow.

FROMparentingTOAdvocacy

Faced with the most difficult of news, a parent can break down, battle through, or bust down walls and barriers in honor of their children and others ailing.

Meet four local families who allowed a diagnosis to define them, in the very best sense. by MIN DERRY

| Issue 928

ADVOCATE: GIULIANNA “THE BRAVE” and THE TROIANO FAMILYOrganization: Alex’s Lemonade StandEvent: The 5-Mile Lemon Run and Hero Ambassador Program

At Giulianna Troiano’s 9-month-old well visit, doctor’s started to diagnose the cause of the symptoms that she had previously presented: aversion to foods, constant bowel movements, and not gaining weight. The mass in her tiny stomach, the size of a grapefruit and what came to be considered by her family as the “monster inside of her,” was Stage 4 of Neuroblastoma, the same type of cancer that attacked Alex Scott, founder of the locally based Alex’s Lemonade Stand. The tumor, sitting on her kidneys and adrenal glands, spidered out and wrapped itself around her organs.

On her first birthday, Giulianna, who had earned herself the touching nickname “Giulianna the Brave,” underwent her first operation, an 8-hour surgery to remove part of the tumor.

She was discharged in September, only to return due to complications from her procedure. After another 5-hour surgery to place a platinum coil to correct the leaky valve on her chest that was filling up her lungs with fluid, she was discharged just two days before Christmas. A few weeks later, she relapsed. After spending the summer of 2012 in the hospital for chemotherapy, Giulianna underwent her second operation to remove the other side of the tumor.

As Giulianna fought, so did her family. The Troianos started the “Giulianna the Brave Crusade” by participating in the Alex’s Lemonade Stand’s 5K Lemon Run, a cycling fundraiser that takes place every July in Doylestown. Since 2012 the group has raised more than $4,000 annually. Relying primarily on social media, they mobilized one of the biggest teams running or walking for childhood cancer with more than 100 participants. In addition, the Troianos participate in Alex’s Original Lemonade Stand at Penn Wynne Elementary School in Wynnewood, a festival-like event with carnival games, a moon bounce, a silent auction, raffles, and, of course, lot and lots of lemonade. On June 7, 2014, celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Alex’s “original” lemonade stand, the foundation raised nearly $100,000 for pediatric cancer research.

Giulianna is now 4 years old and in one year of remission. Instead of monitoring scans every three months, she will go every six months for the next 4 years. She will need five years of continuous stable scans to be considered cancer-free. But even

after that she will go every year for the rest of her life. “Each time we go it’s more difficult, because she’s getting older and associates scans and hospitals with boo-boos,” says her mother, Christy.“I can’t even remember what my life was like before her diagnosis, except that before [Giulianna was diagnosed], I would get upset over little things in life as if they were a big deal. It changes your whole perception in life. Before, I was always rushing here and there. Now I take a step back and enjoy the little things and moments in life, like the time that you get with your children,” says Christy.

Learn more about the Alex’s Lemonade Stand’s 5K Lemon Run November 9, 2014, at alexslemonade.org/campaign/lemon-run and Alex’s Original Lemonade Stand at alexslemonade.org/campaign/alexs-original-lemonade-stand.

ADVOCATE: ELLA and the WALSH FAMILYOrganization: Ella’s RetreatEvent: Bryn Mawr Twilight Concert Series and Night Out for Hope

The summer of 2014 was momentous for 7-year-old Ella and the Walsh family. Her final MRI scan showed no more evidence of disease. This means that Ella is 5-years removed from her original diagnosis: Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer formed around the eye and nose.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is an extremely rare form of cancer. Ella had a 43-week treatment protocol regimen (funding for research for this fairly new protocol was funded by Alex’s Lemonade Stand), beginning with chemotherapy in September 2009. She then underwent six weeks of proton radiation at Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center in Boston, the closest hospital offering the treatment at the time. Those six weeks were difficult for the Walsh family as Ella’s father, Joe, and two older siblings, Emily and Colin, stayed back in Philadelphia.

In fact, Joe vividly remembers the flashpoint of decision on the roles and responsibilities between Audrey, Ella’s mother, and him, when Ella was first diagnosed. “We didn’t want to stop normal activity,” says Joe.

There are currently only 14 proton therapy centers in operation across the United States. The financial and logistical burden of seeking temporary housing near a center while coping with


the disease, symptoms, and side effects of radiation treatment can be overwhelming. In Boston, Ella and her family received free accommodations from Christopher’s Haven, a nonprofit organization.

“Something good came out of the diagnosis,” says Audrey. “I have a new perspective in life. Life is most important, not issues of social, political or economic relevance.”

The help they received shined a light on the needs of other families. The Walshes wanted to pay it forward by creating a non-profit organization to specifically help proton therapy families receiving treatment at since-opened Roberts Proton Therapy Center in Philadelphia. So in collaboration with the Wyndham Hawthorne, Philadelphia Airport, in 2012 they created Ella’s Retreat and have provided 2-bedroom suite accommodations to families undergoing proton radiation therapy for their child. Since inception they have housed 15 families through the duration of their child’s treatment in Philadelphia, at no cost.

Funding for Ella’s Retreat started with a cut-a-thon at La Mirage Salon, Wyndmoor, which belongs to Ella’s grandmother, Janet, with all proceeds going to Ella’s Retreat. From that point, it has grown to multiple major fundraising events a year, including the Night Out for Hope in Wyndmoor and the Bryn Mawr Twilight Summer Concert Series. “Ella’s Retreat is based on 100% volunteer work. There’s no pay. We all have daytime jobs and families. There are days when it’s daunting and we ask, ‘Can we do this?’ But the answer always is: ‘Yes, it feels good to do it, and we can do it,’” says Joe.

Learn more about upcoming Night Out for Hope in November and the organization’s other fundraising events at ellasretreat.org.

ADVOCATE: PATRICIA and the GRIEST FAMILYOrganization: RASopathies Network, USAEvent: The 10 to 75-Mile Million Dollar Bike Ride

Two-year-old Patricia Griest’s first diagnosis was made within the first 12 hours of her birth: it was thought that she had Down’s syndrome due to a heart murmur. After more than 30 family members rushed to the hospital, bearing books about Down’s syndrome and offering comfort and support, a

cardiologist determined that instead Patricia had pulmonary valve stenosis associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.She stayed at Chester County Hospital for more than one month until she was referred to a geneticist at CHOP.

It was not until Patricia was seen by Dr. Marie Gleason, a cardiologist at CHOP, that they learned about Noonan syndrome, and what Patricia’s life would be like. “For patients with Noonan and other rare diseases, this type of quick misdiagnosis is a major reason for advocacy and education,” says Lisa, Patricia’s mother. Their education continued at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children’s MAP Program, where the Griests met Dr. Karen Gripp from the Division of Genetics and continued to learn about the genetic conditions resulting from mutations in genes encoding proteins of the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway, collectively referred to as RASopathies. The genetic syndromes associated with Ras/MAPK, like Patrciia’s Noonan syndrome, can affect the way a child’s organs were formed, the way kids can look, the way they grow, and the way they learn.

Since her diagnosis, Patricia has endured open heart surgery at two months old, two eye surgeries, countless doctors’ appointments, and many challenges throughout her daily life, beginning with the most basic functional necessities, such as feeding.

The Griests learned about the RASopathies Network, a non-profit organization working to connect researchers and families while collaborating on treatment for the syndromes of the Ras/MAPK pathway, first through an informational brochure they found at the hospital. They found them again when Lisa connected with the organization’s vice president, Lisa Schill, through the Noonan Syndrome Awareness Facebook group. They both have children with Noonan syndrome and are now close personal friends, sharing an experience in common and providing mutual support and comfort. The RASopathies Network supports families with information during the initial developmental stage, when they face many critical issues, as well as through advocacy, fighting the lack of health care knowledge in the medical community and in general.

The Griests rose to the occasion when they heard of the UPenn Million Dollar Bike Ride for rare disease research. Together, they decided to personally raise $1,000 (100% of proceeds were going to research for RASopathies). Within two days, they raised beyond their original goal. The “Pedaling for Patricia” team became the top fundraiser for the RASopathies team, raising a grand total of $11,206 for the cause. In total, the RASopathies team raised $32,000, which Penn matched 1:1.

| Issue 930

“There was an excitement about how much more can be done through research. It was empowering for us. And makes you feel good when people step up and show that they really care.”

Learn more about theMillion Dollar Bike Ride at milliondollarbikeride.org.

ADVOCATE: JAMES and the FRATANTONI FAMILYOrganization: PCCY (Public Citizens for Children & Youth)Event: The Picasso Project

As the Home & School Association president at Nebinger Elementary School in Philadelphia, Maureen Fratantoni learned very early on that parental involvement and advocacy were crucial to preserving and bringing the resources necessary to bridge and enrich her son’s education, considering his diagnosis on the autism spectrum. She knew that James, 14, was artistically and musically inclined and responsive, but there was a lack of resources in the public schools. “Art is self-expression. When you take art out of the schools due to budget cuts, then you’re taking away a means for autistic children, who might otherwise lack the means of communicating via speaking, writing or reading, to express themselves,” she says. “[For children on the autistic spectrum], music and art can help them function and develop occupationally. Music and art are therapeutic, with many hospitals, rehabilitation, and therapy centers using them as both occupational and instructional instruments.”

In addition to volunteering in her son’s classroom and partnering with his school-based speech therapists to introduce art and music to his instructional activities, Maureen became an active participant in the Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC), advocating for the arts and music with a group called Public Citizens for Children & Youth (PCCY).

One of Maureen’s favorite PCCY initiatives is The Picasso Project, created in 2002 to increase arts education opportunities for students in the School District of Philadelphia and improve the capacity of schools to provide arts education experiences.

Maureen and other members of her Home & School Association used The Picasso Project to bring a mosaic to their

school, and to ensure that the students with autism were involved in its creation. “Many of the parents in Home & School are representing autistic students,” says Maureen. “Sometimes, the teacher managing a special project may not be aware of the special relationship between autism and the arts, or they may be reluctant to involve the students with autism because of the perceived risks involved with handling certain materials, such as smashed glass. However, the grant included Home & School and children with autism. So, we invited ourselves into the project.” The parents helped identify stages in the mosaic building process in which autistic children across the spectrum could participate in, such as gluing the tiles on after the artist had illustrated the wall and coloring and painting the grouting after it was installed.

The mosaic is complete, but Maureen has more fights to win. When Mayor Nutter visited Nebinger Elementary, Maureen advocated for more music and arts programs. She plans to work on bringing programs for students with autism to mainstream high schools, and to advocate for Philadelphia schools in general.

Learn more about Public Citizens for Children & Youth at pccy.org.

The stories of

Giulianna, Ella, Patricia & Jamesare compelling and diverse. They represent a spectrum of causes that affect a significant number of American families. But in each case, there is strength and courage. These are parents who offer up their voices, time, and efforts to speak on behalf of the children who are fighting not only to survive, but to thrive.

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Three women open up about the births of their children, the turbulent weeks that followed, and why they aren’t being quiet about post-partum depression any more.

There is truly nothing that can prepare you for the day you officially enter motherhood. No book, movie, blog post, or well-meaning friend can ever fully describe the experience of giving birth and the feelings that surface when you lock eyes with the little human that was a part of you for the past 40 weeks. No one can explain to the hormones, the highs, the lows. And no one can ever warn you how low you might go.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 8-19 percent of women experience signs of post-partum depression during the months following delivery. They cannot sleep. They feel disconnected. They have thoughts that scare them, and guilt that racks them. And they struggle through each day, smiling at family and friends and trying to convince themselves this is what they have to deal with.

But they don’t. As difficult as taking those first steps are, treating and overcoming the stresses of post-partum depression is possible. Meet three area mothers who fought through the fog, admitted their worst fears, and persevered, determined to help others make their way through as well.

Edited by Melissa Greiner Photography by Carrie Hill

Everything Is Not Okay

| Issue 934

Melissa BocageI was induced at 37 weeks when my 32-week growth scan measured our child “small” with possible intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This was so scary to me – I’m an intensive care pediatric nurse and the babies I care for with IUGR also have a slew of other issues. In my gut, I knew this baby was fine. But they scared me into being induced. After 8 hours of contractions pretty much every minute, thanks to a pill in my cervix, I was moved to labor and delivery. My nurse was amazing; it was the beginning of her shift and she used to be a doula. The epidural was started and stopped so I could push. I literally attempted to birth this child in every possible way for more then three hours. And then I had a C-section. Boom: welcome to motherhood, shaky and exhausted girl.

Thankfully they brought our daughter, Harper, to me in less than 30 minutes to hold and nurse. It wasn’t the delivery I had wanted, but oh well, I thought, suck it up. A healthy baby and a healthy mommy is enough, I told myself.

Upon returning home, when I would think about returning to work as a nurse,

I would panic. Partly because I did not want to be away from our daughter, but also because I knew that I could not handle losing a patient at that time. Sometimes when our daughter was napping I would look at her resting and see a nonliving child, just for a moment. I began to get really jealous of other new moms that were seemingly able to enjoy their newborns.

My mother and sister live out of state, and I became angry when they couldn’t come and visit and help me whenever I needed it. I had always heard that if you need help, ask. And the people I asked couldn’t do what I needed them to do. This threw me into depression.

By my six-week postpartum appointment, I knew something was wrong. My OB-GYN asked how I was feeling, and I told her everything. She then pointed out that in the 15 minutes we talked, I hadn’t made eye contact with her once.

I took more time off from work. I saw a therapist a few times and a psychiatrist a couple times. I began Zoloft once a day. I started to get more sleep after the third month of her life. I talked to my husband. A lot. He knew it was a hormonal thing and that I would come back to him eventually.

I didn’t feel fully myself until Harper was 14 months. I joined groups such as baby music, gym, and library storytime – for Harper’s benefit, but also for my own. Navigating parenthood with other moms that have been there has been very beneficial.

I recently increased my Zoloft and took a little time off work after my husband, who is fighting lymphoma, needed surgery. I spend my time now playing with Harper, learning to run, and fundraising for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I will run a half marathon in November, and I have never been a runner. This is giving me focus, stress relief, distraction, and a goal. I am very good at putting everyone else ahead of me, even strangers. I am learning now to discover my limits and

to say no when myself, my husband, or my daughter will be stressed from my overdoing it.

I don’t remember exactly when, but sometime between 6-9 months postpartum I saw a video of a new mom that had ended her life. She suffered from PPD and had a 3-month-old daughter at home. The video showed photos of her wedding, travel adventures, and baby shower. She was so beautiful and full of life. She looked so incredibly happy. I wondered what got so bad that she couldn’t go on. I wished that she had held on a little longer to discover what I thankfully had. I grieved for her loved ones, not knowing any of them, thinking oh gosh, could that have been me. I never had any desire to end my life. The thought never crossed my mind. But this video is what made me realize that postpartum depression and anxiety needs to be discussed. We need to create a safe place to help moms, so their relationships remain intact and their children get to grow with them.

Sara FrascellaI have always been a glass half-full, lemons-out-of-lemonade sort of person – heck, my nickname in Kindergarten was “Sara Sunshine.” When I found out in the summer of 2009 that my husband Dave and I were expecting our first child, I was ecstatic. After an uneventful 9.5 months and a relatively easy labor and delivery, we had a perfectly gorgeous baby girl. I should have been overwhelmed with happiness.

While I was amazed at what my body had given life to, and while I loved the snuggly little baby that was presented

“Boom: welcome to motherhood, shaky and exhausted girl.”


to me, I was also terrified. For years it had just been my husband and I, and I struggled mightily coming to terms with my new identity as “Mom.” We brought Lily home and started to settle in as a family of three.

After a few weeks, as my husband went back to work, the guests stopped coming, and my Mom went home, I began to feel isolated and lonely. When people would say, with that knowing look, “Don’t you just LOVE being a Mom?” I would force a smile and nod in agreement, though inside I was falling apart. I was crying daily, and would call my husband and beg him to come home early. Nighttime became a source of dread for me as I wondered just how little sleep I would get, and consequently, how I would be able to function the next day. I wanted to run away, and felt like a horrible person every time I looked at my daughter.

I remember telling Dave that something was really wrong with me. But I am stubborn (sometimes to a fault) and I couldn’t shake the thought that this was something I should be able to muscle through. At my six-week postpartum check-up, my wonderful doctor walked into the room and asked me, “How are YOU doing?” I just started to cry. She gave me a checklist about post-partum depression and told me she’d be back in a minute. I checked off over half the symptoms on the list, mostly those pertaining to anxiety, feelings of helpless/hopelessness, and not feeling at all like yourself. When she came back in, I asked her how she knew. Her response: “You bounced into this office for 9.5 months, happy as a clam. Today, you look defeated.” And she was right. We talked about my options and she suggested Zoloft in conjunction with speaking to a therapist at the Postpartum Stress Center. I felt like I was finally gaining control and taking steps to “get my happy” back.

I stayed on a minimal dose of the meds for about four months, and was amazed at how much better I felt. I finally got

what everyone was talking about! With my anxiety under control, I truly enjoyed every minute of my time with Lily.

Fast-forward three years. I was imminently due with our second child, another girl, who was diagnosed at 29 weeks with intrauterine growth restriction. They induced at 38 weeks, and all went well. Emlyn Grace entered the world at 4 lbs 11 oz., with no complications. I adored her from the get-go, and loved her newborn period! I thought I had dodged the PPD bullet.

Summer turned to fall, and I started trying to regain some sense of a schedule. Where Lily easily took to a nap schedule, Em was having none of it. She was a cat-napper, sleeping in 20- 40 minute increments multiple times a day, and, while she slept at night, I felt trapped at home, this time with not only a baby, but a high-energy 3.5-year-old to contend with. The old feelings started creeping back. I grew anxious and frustrated, and the tearful

afternoons returned. I struggled with my new identity as a SAHM, and often felt like I was barely keeping my head above water. Around December, I got in touch with my doctor, and she put me back on Zoloft. She was adamant that this was PPD again, and it wasn’t unusual for it to come back at any time in the first 12-18 months after birth. She also shared that it may take longer to eradicate this time around, though I was confident that I’d be fine in a month or so. I should have listened to her.

I weaned off the meds about two months later and things seemed to return to normal until we were all sick for most of the month of March. No one was sleeping well, routines were upended, and we didn’t leave the house much. By mid-April, I was a basketcase. I was disappointed in myself and repeatedly questioned what was wrong with me. Why did I struggle so much when others seemed to breeze through motherhood with apparent ease?

Thankfully, my awesome husband and family rallied around me again and helped me find a wonderful therapist that I loved. She was supportive and kind, and wouldn’t let me berate myself for something that was truly out of my control. She also identified that my kids, through no fault of their own, had curbed the main coping strategies (long runs, extra sleep, and making schedules) that have helped me control the anxious tendencies of my type-A personality. I have been back on a low dose of Zoloft since the first week of June, and can honestly say, I am back to the “old me.” I’ve found a way to take those long runs at least once a week, I have learned to ask for help, and lean on friends and family when I need to. To look at me, nobody would ever guess that I have struggled with this awful disease not once, but twice, but that’s the thing about PPD -- it doesn’t discriminate. It can happen with your first child, or your fourth. It can hit right after or months after birth. The important thing is to get help. Talk with other Moms. Reach out. It will get better. I promise.

“Why did I struggle so much when others seemed to breeze through motherhood with apparent ease?”

36

Rebecca StarrI have always been someone with anxiety. But with my second pregnancy, I had pretty crippling anxiety from the get-go. And then I started to spot at six weeks. We ended up in the ER and after ultrasounds and bloodwork we confirmed that my baby was in my uterus and with a beating heart and growing appropriately. It was an incredibly intense and scary night for me.

And after that night, I went numb.

I went numb to the baby inside of me. Clearly it was a defense mechanism. I know that spotting is a very normal occurrence in many healthy pregnancies, but it threw me overboard. Instead of caring more, I began to care less.

I was responsible in my pregnancy, not eating deli meat or drinking excessively, but I also was not nearly as cautious or loving as I had been to my first. I didn’t sing to my belly every night or read it stories. I wasn’t sure I could love another child. I even asked my best friend if she would take him if I didn’t love him enough to be his mom. How crazy does that sound?

And then, I went into labor. Alexander Beau was born. We sang to him in the

OR. And I loved him immediately. And all of those feelings of insecurity and doubt washed away. But what I did not expect was that my C-section would be complicated; I had a lot of scar tissue, the front of my uterus was very thin and I lost a lot of blood. I was very sick and ended up in the hospital for five days. But I was happy. Happier than I had been in months. I was also on Dilaudid, an opiate. But I was happy.

And that happiness actually lasted. It lasted a good two weeks, just about as long as my Dilaudid consumption. And then, something started to creep in.

I remember a text from my husband. It said, “I want to make sure you’re OK. I see the light starting to go out in your eyes.”

And I sobbed. Because I was so loved. And because he was right.

I decided that in order to be the best mother I could be, I would begin to seek therapy for my depressed symptoms. They were classic: I was tired, grumpy, sad and weepy, could no longer find joy in the things that once made me happy…and then there were worse things. I thought about my life a lot and why it was worth living. I knew that it was, but it was hard to feel it.

I found a wonderful therapist, someone who did not judge me, but took me seriously and was willing to work with me and my family in order to get me out of my funk. She also prescribed medicine for me.

But my symptoms continued to get worse. My bad moments were getting more frequent than my good ones, and stronger medicines were encouraged. But that would mean giving up breastfeeding. I heard the expression “It is better for your son to have a mom without a boob than a boob without a mom,” but it was still hard for me. So I kept on nursing and kept on going down a spiral of deep, deep devastation.

The feelings that I had been having about my life and its meaning started to take over me like a demonic plague. I couldn’t think rationally. I couldn’t feel

happiness or love. All that I could feel was pain. So in order to keep me safe, my family members had to stay with me at all times, taking shifts. I was never left alone. The therapist reached out to my husband. She told him I needed to be hospitalized. She feared for my safety. So did my parents and best friend.

So I made an appointment to check in to a postpartum treatment center, one in which I could keep my son with me, keep nursing, and try to recover before it got worse. And the day before I was supposed to leave, I kissed my son. And he was hot.

I took his temperature: 100.4. The magic number for a baby 3 days shy of 2 months. We had to go to the hospital. They had to do a full septic work up, including drawing blood, catheterizing him and, worst of all, giving him a spinal tap. Alex was diagnosed with RSV, which had presented itself in my daughter as a cold earlier in the week. While in the ER, out of sheer malnourishment and stress, I passed out. I had to be admitted as well. So my son and I spent the night in adjoining rooms, each hooked up to tubes and tests, each fighting.

Alex needed oxygen, and spent four days in the hospital. I needed help. And that meant weaning my son and giving him formula. So in the hospital that night I gave him his first bottle. And I began to take the medicine I needed. And it began to work.

I am happy to say that while my story is not yet over, things are looking up. I no longer cringe when I see the container of formula. I look at my strong, moose of a baby and am thankful that he is fed and that we have the resources to feed him. I no longer look at life as hopeless. I have hope.

“And after that night, I went numb.”

For a guide to post partum depression resources on the Main Line visit mainlineparent.com/ppd

| Issue 938

FAMILY FUN GUIDE

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They had the drive (before they could drive!) to imagine and create something that got people excited.

Get to know these three young local innovators, and learn about how they prepared to take on – and do business in – the real world.

By Christy Parker // Photography by John Sturgis


| Issue 942

Z-Licious Games, Exton

“I like to bounce ideas off my parents, my younger brother, and my friends.”Zach has created three games available for iPhone and Android (8-Bit Beatdown, Duality, and Tiny Miner). His first game got a great review on one of the sites that can make or break a download, and his second game has had more than 2,000 downloads. Tiny Miner just debuted (go download it and see what you think!).

The now 15-year-old first showed an interest in programming in second grade, and says he was initially drawn to racing games, Legos, and Xbox. “Scratch” was Zach’s introduction to the back-end of the world of game creation, and his parents encouraged him to take a one-week Scratch camp in middle school. He started working on games during the school year, then did most of the time-intensive work – creation and testing – over winter, spring, and summer breaks.

Though Zach’s schedule is typical of today’s high schoolers (he’s a sophomore at Malvern Prep who balances homework with playing

soccer, running track, and participating in band), summer is his “fun” time to develop apps and play around with art and music.

MLP: What do you like most about developing games?

ZD: I like coming up with different ideas and having them come together… and seeing the final product is really cool. I sometimes go online to get ideas, or come up with something random.

MLP: What does the process teach you?

ZD: The music on the apps is my own – I wrote it – so every time I build another app, I learn something else on the math or music side of things.

MLP: Is there a downside to developing?

ZD: I like the art and design – the game itself – and I’m learning more about the business side, like monetizing it for Apple and Google, but it’s hard for me to participate fully in that because I’m not 18. (Z-Licious Games is registered in Zach’s dad’s name.)

MLP: What’s some advice you’d give to parents of entrepreneurial kids?

ZD: Help your kid find which way to go. I didn’t know where to get started, and it was my dad who got me to look into different opportunities because of what I was interested in.

iChina, Villanova

“I’m lucky to have been able to have lived in China and the U.S... I want to be able to share that with others.” Michelle imagined and brought to life an exchange program for high school students called iChina. Traveling back and forth between China and the U.S., and being educated in both countries (the Lus lived in Shanghai for four years) made Michelle aware of the value of seeing, experiencing, and becoming immersed in two cultures. She was accepted into the Young Entrepreneurs Academy at Bryn Mawr College – YEA! is a year-long program that teaches middle and high school students how to start and run their own businesses – and has been working on iChina for the past year.

A sophomore at The Agnes Irwin School, the now 14-year-old was recently named Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Michelle spent three weeks of her summer at CTY (Center for Talented Youth) at Johns Hopkins studying microeconomics, and was an intern at


Julian Krinsky Camps. She also enjoys spending time with her family, singing, dancing, swimming, and reading.

MLP: How did iChina come to life?

ML: I’ve always had this idea, but starting the Academy back in September… that was the incubator. I was coached by amazing people who helped me make it a reality.

MLP: How did you imagine the program working?

ML: My initial plan was focused on peers studying Chinese language in the summer, then bringing those students from the U.S. to China. In talking with people I’ve worked with, we realized there was more of a business opportunity bringing Chinese students here.

MLP: How did you get the word out?

ML: I got in touch with old contacts from my school in Shanghai and worked on those connections… teachers and students. We also talked to Julian Krinsky and had a few meetings with him. He was the one who helped me bring the first two students from China to the U.S. this summer – they’re in the Julian Krinsky Camps. He has been really involved with helping us on the business side of things.

MLP: What’s your focus now?

ML: I’m going to be working on an iChina marketing package for my contacts in China. I will be translating things to Chinese, and starting to reach out in China to expand my business. I’m also recruiting classmates and peers to go to China.

M&R Pens, West Chester

“Seeing the finished product after final assembly gets me most excited about the process.”Mark took what began as a middle school shop project and ran with it. Mike Dumas was Mark’s technology education teacher at Pierce Middle School. He’s an educator who knows that kids don’t want to sit – they need to move, and want something to do with their hands. Pens, handmade by eighth grade students from exotic woods, were the project, and U.S. troops in Afghanistan were the recipients. After the pens were shipped, Rizzo and Dumas discussed business plans, making money after an initial investment, buying tools, how to set up a website, and the basics of online marketing.

A few parents of the Pierce students owned restaurants, and offered the pens to patrons at $30 each. $700 worth was sold the first day. Mark got excited and began making pens on his own. He started with a few, then batches. After Mark’s family got word out to friends and contacts, he upped production. Before the Rizzos knew it, Cabela’s was requesting a formal marketing plan. No deals have been inked at this point, but as Mark prepares to put in 10-20 hours a week in the fourth quarter (filling holiday orders), the momentum is building.

A sophomore at Henderson High School who also enjoys playing football, lacrosse, and spending time with his friends and family, Mark is managing numbers that have nothing to do with teaching to the test. The real life implications? His middle school teacher asserts that compounding interest on pens you’ve sold this week is far more exciting than figuring out hypothetical word problems.

MLP: What do you enjoy about the business?

MR: It’s still a lot of fun for me and a way to pick up a few dollars. And I like receiving accolades about the quality of the work.

MLP: How do you market the pens now?

MR: I haven’t spent much time soliciting new orders or advertising, (but) I have a PowerPoint presentation that shows me in my shop at home making a pen and the varieties that I make.

MLP: What different types do you make?

MR: I have about a dozen – there’s one made from deer antler that’s one of the more difficult to produce. And there’s one that looks military because it has a camouflage body. They range in price from $23 to $65 per pen, but the more you buy of one kind, the lower the cost.

MLP: What’s next on your radar?

MR: “ (As I get) more serious about making more money, I’ll pursue other ways of bringing in new business.”

I II II II I

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nourish

The Main Line’s go-to family restaurant, Christopher’s, expands to a new location, delivering a second helping of food and fun.

By Deb Dellapena Photography by Carrie Hill

DOUBLE the F UN

It was February and he was driving from his Philadelphia home to the opening when he slid on ice and crashed into a guardrail, releasing the car’s airbags. The first thing he thought of was his black bean soup - he’d hoped it didn’t spill.

After assessing the damage as minimal and deeming himself okay, he made it to work to serve 30 to 40 people. “Everyone had a great time” and the black bean soup was awesome, says Todd. Customers still talk about opening day, which tells you something about Todd: “Honestly, I love the customers and making them happy.”

Todd and his wife Molly, then pregnant with their first child, had chosen Wayne for the first Christopher’s in response to the remodeling of the Anthony Wayne Theatre. People would go to the movies, and then “get in their cars and drive away,” he says. “We needed to feed those people.” They focused on good food and consistent service. “We cater to our customers,” he says. “It’s part of the concept.” In addition, the Todds wanted parents to feel comfortable when dining with their kids – from babies to teens. He didn’t want them to worry when their kids threw food on the floor. “We’ll sweep it up, just relax, and have a good time,” says Todd.

It has been that come-as-you-are, anything-goes, welcoming attitude – matched with award-winning food choices like fried avocados, traditional and gourmet pizzas, mushroom risotto, and killer burgers – that turned Christopher’s into the Main Line favorite it is today.

Over the years, they’ve expanded the menu and their family (they had their second child three years after the Wayne restaurant opened). And when something could be better, they changed it. For example, customers asked for a healthier kid menu. Now little ones can order a salmon tail with veggies, pesto chicken with quinoa, or chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese. Todd thinks the options are the difference between kids trying new food and eating well. It’s also another reason why he feels his family restaurant is so successful.

“ IT WAS A W EIRD,

SLEET Y DAY,”

RECALLS CHRIS

TODD, CHEF AND

OW NER OF

CHRISTOPHER’S

FAMILY RESTAURANT

IN WAY NE, OF T HE

RESTAURANT’S

OPENING DAY 13

Y EARS AGO.

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| Issue 946


That success allowed the Todds to expand, and Christopher’s fans now have a second location to enjoy in Malvern. It was always part of the 5-year plan, says Todd, it just took 8 to 10 years to get there. “For the past two years, the Wayne restaurant was running great,” he says. “We took the kids on vacation.”

That’s all changed with the opening of the second restaurant. Even though the Malvern location is open for business, Todd has been working 12 to 14 hour days cooking and washing dishes. “I’ve washed more dishes last month than I have in 10 years,” he says. But that’s what he and Molly like about the job. “Every day is different,” she says. “The people you work with make it fun. We always have a good time!” He also likes

employing more than 50 people, many who are college kids.

Older now, the Todd kids are getting involved in their parents’ business – especially with the new location. Maddie, 13, and Collin, 10, “were around for almost every discussion during the opening of the Malvern locale. I’m sure they will both get a shot at working with us when they are old enough – but they will be fired if they stink!”

If you haven’t been to the Malvern location yet, you won’t be in for much of a surprise. It’s just like the restaurant in Wayne – intentionally, because that’s what people love. The menu is the same, too, and only changes twice a year. “There are things on the menu I can

never take off” because customers tell him not to. He recalls when a regular customer in Wayne yelled at him for changing a food item.

“You changed the rolls! I know you changed the rolls!” To which Todd acknowledged that yes, he did. The response: “Change it back!”

He changed it back. Now that’s customer service.

C H R I ST O P H E R ’ S I N WAY N E 108 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne 610-687-6558

C H R I ST O P H E R ’ S I N M A LV E R N 335 E. King St., Malvern 484-568-4127

“ H O N E S T LY , I L OV E T H E C U S T O M E R S A N D M A K I N G T H E M H A P P Y . ”

nourish | chef

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Warm up the season with these soulful and savory soups.

By Jennifer McGlinn Photography by Brittany Ostrov

Sip & Fall

| Issue 950

This soup is the epitome of simplicity. Satisfying and nourishing, it is just the right dish to enjoy on a crisp fall night. This soup has a surprisingly round flavor that is suited to grown-ups’ taste for sophistication and complexity, but it is also delicate enough to please children’s often less adventurous palates.

Makes about 4 cups

Ingredients: ¡ 3 tablespoons olive oil ¡ 3 small to medium shallots, peeled

and cut into thin slices ¡ Sea salt ¡ 4 cups baby spinach leaves ¡ 3 to 4 cups broccoli florets and

chopped trimmed stems ¡ Generous ¼ teaspoon curry powder ¡ Freshly ground black pepper ¡ About 2 ½ cups vegetable broth ¡ About 1/2 cup crème fraiche or sour

cream for serving (optional) ¡ About 1 cup steamed or roasted

broccoli florets for serving (optional)

¡ About 1/3 cup roasted pumpkin seeds for serving (optional)

Instructions:1. Heat the olive oil in a medium

saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, season with a generous pinch of salt, and saute, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and broccoli and stir to combine with the shallots.

2. Sprinkle in the curry powder, season with black pepper and another generous pinch of salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.

3. Pour in the broth (just enough to cover the vegetables), bring to a simmer, and cook gently just until the broccoli is tender but still very green, about 10 minutes.

4. Transfer the soup to a blender or Vitamix and puree until very smooth, adding additional liquid (water or broth), if necessary. The soup should be the consistency of heavy cream — not too thick or thin. Season with additional salt and pepper, as needed.

5. To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with dollops of crème fraiche, broccoli florets, and/or pumpkin seeds, if desired.

6. Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Velvety Cream of Winter Greens Soup

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sEvery fall, foodie websites and cooking magazines present us with soup recipes. Even though this theme expectedly reemerges year after year, we can’t help but enjoy it. Warming, delicious soups are not only the perfect dishes to satisfy us on cool evenings, they are often easy and quick to prepare, as well. When developed with healthful whole foods, they are nourishing, and tempting for palates of all ages.

The key to a quick and tasty soup is planning a bit ahead: there are a few of ingredients you’ll want to have on hand. Keep your pantry stocked with fruity olive oil, coarse sea salt, a pepper mill filled with fragrant whole black peppercorns, and a variety of basic herbs and spices like ground coriander, cumin, turmeric, mustard, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Stocks or broths, of course, are important to keep on hand, too. Homemade is best, but there are plenty of quality cartons on the market, too. Choose low-salt when you can.


Beets are so ubiquitous, appearing in supermarkets as well as at seasonal farmers’ markets year round, that we are apt to overlook them. It’s worth learning one or two easy ways to cook this superfood among produce, though, as they are not only delicious but incredibly healthful; beets are a unique source of phytonutrients. Known as betalains, they have been proven to work as antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory and detoxifying agents in the body.

Makes about 7 ½ cups

Ingredients: ¡ 4 large beets ¡ Olive oil ¡ Coarse sea salt ¡ Freshly ground black pepper ¡ 1 medium onion, peeled and

chopped ¡ 3 medium carrots, cleaned and

chopped into about ¼-inch pieces ¡ ½ cup water ¡ ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¡ ¼ teaspoon ground coriander ¡ Pinch of dried dill ¡ About 3 cups vegetable broth ¡ 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, plus

more as needed

Instructions:1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Line a large baking sheet with a aluminum foil, large enough so that you can fold it over the beets to create a packet.

2. Arrange the beets on the prepared baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. Fold the foil over the beets, enclosing them tightly. Roast until the beets are tender and have released some juice, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly.

3. When the beets are cool enough to handle, peel them and cut into about ½-inch pieces.

4. Heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large straight-sided saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt, and saute until slightly softened. Add the carrots and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.

5. Stir in the water, cinnamon, coriander, and dill and continue to cook until the carrots are slightly softened, about another 3 minutes. Add the beets and stir in the vegetable broth and 2 teaspoons of vinegar. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for about 5 minutes.

6. Transfer about 3 ½ cups of the soup to a blender or Vitamix and puree until very smooth. Stir the puree into the soup and season with additional sea salt, pepper, and vinegar, as desired.

7. Serve warm or at room temperature.

8. Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Indian food is satisfying any time of year, but with its warming spices and complex flavors, it seems particularly suited to fall’s crisp evenings. Typically a cross between a soup and a stew, this mild dhal (just right for kids and grown-ups alike) resembles a hearty soup. With its warm golden hue, speckles of red and green, and complex perfume, one would think it requires laborious cooking. In point of fact, this remarkably light dish comes together in less than half an hour and can be served on its own or over your favorite cooked rice.

Makes about 4 cups

Ingredients: ¡ 1 cup red lentils ¡ 3 ½ cups vegetable broth ¡ About 2 tablespoons olive oil ¡ 1 small onion, peeled and cut

into thin slices ¡ Coarse sea salt ¡ 1 large clove garlic, peeled and

finely chopped ¡ ½ teaspoon ground cumin ¡ ½ teaspoon ground coriander ¡ ¼ teaspoon ground fennel ¡ ¼ teaspoon ground mustard ¡ 1 teaspoon ground turmeric ¡ Freshly ground black pepper ¡ 4 large plum tomatoes,

cored and chopped ¡ 1 bay leaf ¡ Juice of 1 lime ¡ About ½ cup chopped fresh

cilantro ¡ Cooked basmati or jasmine rice

for serving (optional)

continued on next page

RoastedBeet Soup

Red LentilDhal

nourish | recipes

| Issue 952

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Science lessons in our organic garden, Pickering Creek, and our native meadow as well as labs and experiments allow our students a truly hands-on science experience.

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Open Houses Thursday, October 9 at 7 pm Sunday, October 26 at 1 pm

Instructions:

1. Stir together the lentils and broth in a medium straight-sided saucepan and bring to a hearty simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer gently until the lentils are tender and have absorbed just about all of the liquid, about 12 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt, and saute until lightly caramelized. Stir in the garlic and continue to cook for about 1 minute more. Sprinkle in the cumin, coriander, fennel, mustard, and turmeric and cook for about 1 minute more again, stirring frequently.

3. Transfer the onion mixture to the cooked lentils. Season with additional salt and pepper, stir in the tomatoes, and nestle in the bay leaf. Simmer, uncovered, over low heat for another 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice and cilantro.

4. Serve warm spooned over basmati or jasmine rice, if desired.

5. Store any leftover dhal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Craving another bowl-full?Head to mainlineparent.com/soups for another delish recipe!

Red LentilDhal (continued)

EXPLORE THE WORLD!

Embark on a journey and explore the world’s rich variety of cultures at the Penn Museum. • hands-on workshops • docent-led gallery tours • distance learning • International Classroom

speakers • loan boxes, and more!

For our Museum Trip Planner and FREE educational activities, visit www.penn.museum/programs

3260 South StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19104215.746.6774

Mention the code MAINLINEPARENTand get 10% off chaperones’admission DRESS (pg 20-21)

•Ebb and Flow Bags - ebbandflowbags.com, etsy.com/shop/EbbandFlowBags•J.Crew - www.jcrew.com•Louella - 227 E Lancaster Ave, Wayne, PA, louellastyle.com•Malena’s Vintage Boutique - 101 W Gay Street, West Chester, PA, malenasboutique.com•The Walking Company (Suburban Square) - 59 St James

Place, Ardmore, PA, thewalkingcompany.com

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Farm-Fresh & FabulousAutumn automatically conjures up visions of a time-worn but loved Chester County farm: aged barn board, hearty wildflowers, the smell of something just-baked wafting through a gingham-curtained window. You want to go there, don’t you? Well you can, and you don’t need to leave your own dining room. From a cozy at-home date for two in front of the fire to a holiday meal with those you hold near and dear, a few simple items and you have a romantic and rustic look that will warm anyone’s heart.

Styled by Meredith Miller Photography by AleX Miller

| Issue 954

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3. Create the place to be. Place cards can be formal, but we think they add a personal touch to a dinner party or celebration. Especially when they are as welcoming and adorable as these individual bread and herb bundles.

4. Make your centerpiece the center of attention. Pass on a stiff floral bouquet and instead find a conversation piece to hold a mass of clippings from the fields. This country colander and vase-meets-buck-trophy (from Home Grown) both liven up the table and make for a good conversation starter.

5. Include a dash of flash. As lovely as the farm is, a little glitz never hurt anyone. Balance out all your natural elements with a bit of sparkle, like the metallic dipped handles of these salad servers.

Ready to invite the crew over?

Download a specially designed place card template (perfect for cradling that crusty bread) you can personalize with each guest’s name at mainlineparent.com/placecard.

1. Say hello to a little friend. Look at his face! How can you resist the sweetness (and perhaps touch of kitsch) that country-themed items bring to your tablescape? Look for salt and pepper shakers, serving dishes, and napkins that have motifs that fit your feel. Anything goes – although we suggest you don’t serve pork with this guy on the table.

2. Tie your theme together - literally. Who knew you could do so much with a $5 spool of twine? Gather up your various votive holders and small vases – or pick up some for pennies at your favorite flea market or thrift store – and wrap each with a few twirls of twine at the base. Secure with a bow, or clean up the edges with ribbon.

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nourish | table

| Issue 956

Jeff Long, Founder, Healthy Kids Running Series (3rd from left)

Photograph by Chloe Sherman-Pepe

my m

ain

line

Main Line Parent: You’re the president of Pattison Sports Group, a sports marketing and events firm. Your company also launched and runs Healthy Kids Running Series, a 5-week running program that encourages kids Pre-K through 8th grade to hit the track and break a sweat. How did you guys decide to add this to your workload?Jeff Long: In essence, we were looking for a community initiative program that our company could support within our own backyard. I have three boys that I wanted to be more active, to get away from games and consoles and start adapting a healthy lifestyle. So we created the Healthy Kids Running Series program in Fall 2009 in West Chester at the local high school.

MLP: And then … it grew. Big time.JL: Yes. The success and response from that first program were so positive, that we did it

again in 2010. Then we got feedback to add a session in the spring. And now it’s grown to 61 towns in 20 different states. We had 5,000 runners in the spring of 2014, and with the 16 new towns joining us this fall, we’ll surpass 8,000 runners. We have a goal to be in 200 towns in five years, which would make us the largest running organization in the world.

MLP: Why running? Does it run in your veins?JL: I ran for St. Joe’s [University], so I was always a runner. And my middle guy is going to run cross country and my little guy does Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) track. Running is something all the kids can do; it’s rare we don’t hear positive feedback. There’s as much applause for the kids in the back as the kids in the front. It makes it special; we see an overarching theme of positive

reinforcement in just finishing. It’s not the Olympic trials. We just want kids to see improvement. It delivers a very appropriate message that you can live an active and healthy lifestyle while having fun.

MLP: What if there’s not a Healthy Kids Running Series in my neighborhood? How can I get one going and help you reach that goal?JL: Become a community coordinator! There’s no out of pocket expense. Just go to the website (healthykidsrunningseries.org) and check out the implementation kit for an overview of what you’d need to do. If you want to take the next step, you can apply, go through the background check process, and then get the how-to manual that includes all the things that are involved, and how we help on the back end to make it as easy for you as possible.

Main Line Parent | Issue 9

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Transcript of Main Line Parent | Issue 9