My Son Said The F Word!

I was attending an evening meeting last week when I got a call on my cell phone.  From the caller ID, I saw that it was someone calling from home.  Worried that it was my babysitter calling with an emergency, I picked up the phone, hit answer, and whispered, “Yes?”

“Mommy, he said the F word,” reported by ten-year old son, confident that I would want to know this information.  He was referring to his seven-year old brother.

“Oh, I see…” I stumbled… trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my ten-year old was calling me so late, and trying to figure out how to respond.  “Uhhhh…  I’ll take care of it tomorrow morning, okay?”

“Okay, mommy,” he answered, satisfied that his brother would be appropriately disciplined for this violation of our house rules.

The next morning, I called my seven-year old over to have a discussion about what words were not appropriate to say and why.

“Did you say the F word last night?” I asked him sternly.

"Umm.... yes?" he said meekly.  Then realizing that he was in big trouble, he started to explain.  “I said ‘The F word’ and it meant ‘Funny’!   I told him that was what the ‘F’ was for!”  

I was confused.  So, I said again, ‘Did you say the F word?”

“Yes,” he repeated.  “I said… ‘The.. F... word...’ and it meant ‘Funny’!”  

Ahhh...  So here’s a lesson for those parents with very concrete children.  In the past, I cautioned my children about bad language when I overheard an adult using profanity nearby.  I told them quite seriously that we do not use “the F word” because it is bad to do so.  It would appear that they took the instruction quite literally.  They thought that the phrase “the F word’ was taboo.

Ooops…  and I can’t really fix this, can I?  How do I explain what I meant instead?   I suppose that my ten-year old will figure it out soon enough… but it may be awhile until the seven-year old hears it again (hopefully).

Addressing profanity is a task all parents have to face at some point.  It is important for parents to agree on what is and is not acceptable for their child.  Many times the first time a child utters a bad word, they are very young and haven’t a clue as to what it means.  So try to keep a straight face when you are delivering this important message.  By laughing, you may be reinforcing the behavior since your child wants to make you happy. 

For school-aged children, it’s often an attempt to be cool, or get a laugh.  While everyone has different points of view on what is reasonable and what is not, there are certain social situations where foul language is inappropriate, such as in school.  Teach your child early before they become accustomed to using these words.  Many times they do not know what the word means.  If you can explain why the word is hurtful or offensive, that can help them to understand why it is inappropriate.  Help your child come up with alternative words to use in these moments.

 

Many tweens and teens swear as a way of expressing themselves emotionally when they are angry or depressed.  Instead of getting too worked up over the words, try to get to the root of the reason for the profanity.  Your child may need your help and swearing is just an outward signal.  When things are calmer and you are both no longer in the heat of the moment, you can then address your family's rules on swearing and provide alternatives.

Setting a role model is the best way to teach.  If you are prone to letting swear words slip out when emotions take the best of you, try to come up with other words to use when venting.  Be sure not to have a double standard in the home where the adults swear, but the children cannot.  This sends mixed messages to your child and can make it more confusing for them.

So, according to my sons, have a really F day!  (and I mean "fantastic"!)

Thanks for reading!

Finding Childcare - How do I do find someone as good as me?

“I’m going to need four weeks off to visit my family,” said my nanny to me one morning as I was rushing around trying to get my coffee and breakfast so that I would not be late for work.  I nearly choked on my breakfast. 

“Really?  When?” I asked, my heart rate already racing with fear as I awaited the response.

“Well, my sister is having a baby in two weeks, and I’d like to be there to help her,” she says nonchalantly.  “It’s her first baby, and you know how hard that can be!”  She looks at me for understanding and empathy. 

“In two weeks?!” I sputter.  Then recovering from my incredulity, I stop and realize how I must sound to her.  “Oh, wow.”  Then I started to think about our family’s hectic schedule the next few weeks.  Between tae kwon do, gymnastics, piano, swimming, school and work…. This was going to be a challenge without help.  And of course… my husband was going to be out of town.  Great.

So, I said, “Ummm, I can understand that you’d want to help her. But that’s really going to be hard on us.  Can you give me more time to find other arrangements?”

“I’ve already booked my airplane tickets,” she explained.  “You know how expensive it can be to fly.  The price was really good and so my husband bought the tickets.  We’ll only be gone for three weeks or so.”

Yikes!

Now… I love my nanny.  She’s been with our family for years.  She wonderful with my children and they adore her.  Finding a good person who you can trust to take care of your children can be one of the most stressful times in a parent’s life.  Once you find someone, you will do nearly anything to keep that person happy (at least it feels that way sometimes). 

This is true for any type of childcare it seems – nannies, daycares, preschools, babysitters.  I know parents who drive well out of their way from home or work to keep their kids in the same preschool to minimize the disruption for their child and to avoid having to look for another caretaker. 

So, how do find that wonderful person or childcare provider?  If you’ve never done this before, start with asking people around you who have been through the process recently.  While everyone has specific needs and different criteria for childcare, it will help you to narrow down your search.  Make sure to start well in advance (at least a few months) before you will actually need the childcare.  Then make sure you have a backup plan for when your childcare falls through.   

Daycares – these should be licensed.  Take a tour.  Take a list of questions to ask during your tour.  You can find several lists online, or in my book “Dr. Sandy’s Top to Bottom Guide to Your Newborn.”  Often, you can tell just by the feeling you get while you are there.  Is it clean?  Do the providers seem like they care about the children?  Are the children happy?  For babies, is someone with them, or are the babies just sitting alone in swings?  Does the location and cost suit your needs?  Are the hours what you need?  Is there a waitlist? 

Home daycares – these are smaller and may provide more individualized care for your child.  These may not be licensed in some states. This can make it harder to ensure the quality of a home daycare.  Some states have certifying boards for home daycares.  While this does not guarantee safety and ability, it will at least mean that the daycare has met basic standards.  Speak to the parents of other children who are there to see what they think of the daycare provider.  You should be able to get references for the daycare provider.  Spend time visiting the day care and consider randomly stopping when your child is there.

Nanny/babysitter – this is usually someone who lives with you or someone who comes to your house.  There are many services that can help you find potential sitters. If you belong to a homeowner’s association or have a community center, you may be able to find or place an ad. It is a good idea to interview several candidates before deciding on someone. Ideally, you would have one interview without your child present so you can go through the first round of questioning.  Then do a second interview with a candidate with your child present.  This will allow you to observe his or her interactions with your child.   You can find suggested interview questions online and in my book.  Some of your questions should include experience with childcare, how she would react in sample scenarios of emergencies or in routine situations. Check to see if she is certified in child and infant CPR.  Does she smoke?  Is she comfortable around pets? (if you have any)  Has she had traffic tickets or been in any accidents (if she will be driving your child)?  You can do background checks for a small fee easily to rule out criminal history, including sex offender crimes.  Checking references will be very important to get information about that person’s character and work ethic. 

Aupairs - this can be an economical way to find flexible childcare if you have the space to have someone live with you.  Aupairs are usually young adults who are interested in coming the U.S. for a year to learn more about American culture in exchange for taking care of your child.  This can be a great way to expose your child to multiple cultures from around the world.  There can be a bit more work involved on your part since you are responsible for helping this person transition into the American culture and you need to help them with meetings requirements such as taking classes while they are here (part of the exchange visa requirement).  In general, the cost is less than hiring a nanny and the hours are more flexible than what you may be able to get with other types of childcare. 

Finding childcare can be stressful.  However, there are many wonderful childcare providers available.  Put the work into researching and doing the necessary background and reference checks.  It will pay off in the long run.

In the meantime, I’m going to start calling my neighbors and friends… because as wonderful as your childcare provider may be, it’s vital to have a backup system just in case your child cannot go to childcare or your provider decides to leave for a vacation!

Thanks for reading!

Why aren't you like your brother? Comparing your child to others

“I don’t like it,” said my nine-year old son, looking into the mirror.

He was referring to his new hairstyle that I crafted for “Crazy Hat and Hair Day” at school today.  It was a spiked up, high volume, super hair-sprayed, absolute work of art (if I may say so myself).

“What do you mean you don’t like it,” I replied, flummoxed by his less than enthusiasm over my skill at styling hair.  I had just spent nearly ten minutes trying to get his hair to stand straight up.

“Can I wear a crazy hat instead,” he said morosely, still staring at his reflection.

And then I committed a horrible parenting mistake, I said, “Your brother likes his crazy hair!  Why don’t you?”  As soon as the words left my mouth, I thought… oh no, that was the wrong thing to say.  This son was a shy, conservative child who was happiest in front of a computer or working on puzzles.  His brother on the other hand was an outgoing, jokester, who loved attention and being active.  As I reflect back on the moment, I wasn’t surprised by his resistance to looking like a crazed cartoon character… I think I was just disappointed that he wouldn’t try it.

We all know that kids are different.  Siblings are different.  Personalities, temperments, athletic ability, academic achievements… all different.

So, why do we compare them?  

It’s human nature to compare.  We get through much of our lives checking to see if we are doing the “right” thing by comparing to what we decide is the norm or the goal.  We choose what is valuable to us and then compare our behaviors or abilities to see how we are doing towards reaching those values.

In this competitive society, we are exposed to a culture of comparing to see who is smartest, most achieved, has the most money, looks the nicest, wears the best clothes, runs the fastest, and so on.  It is hard to resist the tendency to compare. It’s natural to look at your child and see how he/she does compared to siblings, friends, and children who you’ve never met that you saw on the playground!

The good news is that the world needs all types of people, and that there is no one thing that predicts success or happiness.  It is important to dentify your child’s strengths and help them develop these strengths to their fullest potential.  If your child has a weakness that worries you, try to put yourself in their shoes and think of a solution that would make them feel confident and be successful in small steps.

One mom told me that she was worried about her three-year old daughter who was terribly shy and would not participate in group activities.  This was her second child, and her first one loved to be the star of the show.  This child seemed so different and she was worried that there was something wrong with her child.  “Could she be autistic?  Or does she have an anxiety problem?” she asked me.

She had put her daughter in music class, gymnastics classes, and similar programs, thinking that with more exposure her child would get more comfortable with being in large groups.  She was frustrated because her daughter would either just stand off to the side, or cry until they had to leave.   She was worried that her child would be a social outcast forever.  

During the office visit, initially the child hid behind her mother refusing to come out to be examined.  By coaxing her out with the crayons and paper, I was able to get her to start talking to me as she learned that I was not going to do anything scary.  By the end of our twenty minutes together, she was happily coloring on the paper, telling me about her drawings.  She made eye contact and communicated appropriately for her age.  It appeared to me that she was a child who was shy, very cautious, and needed time to acclimate to something new.

I recommended to mom that she should start with a setting that her daughter would be comfortable with, such as a playdate with one child in her home.  Then, once her child was comfortable with that, she should include more children in the playdates.  The next step would be to go to an unfamiliar place with these friends so that her child would have people she knew to play with.  It was also important to recognize that her daughter was still very young, and that likely as she grew older, her child would gain more confidence. 

The mother happily reported a year later that by introducing her to others in a smaller, safer, familiar environment, her daughter now had several little friends and was comfortable going out with them.  “She even went to a birthday party and led her friends to the moonbounce!” mom exclaimed proudly.  “She still will sit on the side if she is really nervous, but usually she will try it after watching for a bit.  I think she’s just a perfectionist and wants to make sure that she can do it right before showing anyone else.  She’s a lot like me!”

Find your child’s strengths, and focus on their abilities and unique qualities.  This will go a long way towards building self-esteem and confidence… this is likely to be more important than being the first child to know how to read in preschool, being the best at catching a football, or having the craziest hair on Crazy Hair Day at school!

Thanks for reading!

Ear Infections – What Are They and How to Prevent Them?

“For the last two nights, he keeps waking up at night.  He used to be a wonderful sleeper... I don’t know what’s wrong with him,” reported a tired mom holding an cute infant on her lap.  She wiped his runny nose with a tissue.

Another dad tells me about his toddler daughter, “She’s been congested for over a week, and woke up last night with a fever to 101.  She seems a little better during the day when I give her ibuprofen, but she’s miserable at night.”

"My son woke up this morning and told me that his ear hurt," said another mom about her four-year old.

All of these children have signs of a possible ear infection. 

What is an Ear Infection?  

When doctors refer to an “ear infection,” we are talking about a viral or bacterial infection in the middle ear.  This is a space behind your ear drum that is connected to your nose via your Eustachian tube.  See illustration below.

Fluid is produced in the middle ear space all day long and normally it is not a problem.  However, when our noses get congested, then our Eustachian tubes can become blocked.  Then the tubes do not function to drain the middle ear.  This is especially true with young children and infants because their tubes are much smaller and are more horizontally oriented.    

When fluid builds up in the middle ear, then bacteria and viruses can replicate in the fluid and cause an infection.  If it is a bacterial infection, then antibiotics are needed to treat the infection.  More than 50% of ear infections are caused by viruses and do not require antibiotic treatment.  Your child’s doctor can assess for the possibility of a bacterial infection.  If your child is having significant pain, fever, ear drainage, or other signs of bacterial infection, then your child’s doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

How do you know if your child has an ear infection?

Well, unfortunately, the answer is that you may not know.  The good news is that if your child is not acting sick, has no symptoms other than a cold lasting less than two weeks, then he is unlikely to need antibiotics, so do not worry about missing an ear infection.  Some symptoms of an ear infection that need to be treated are described below.

Pain:  Generally, children experience pain and pressure from the fluid accumulation – so they do not sleep well or complain of pain when they are old enough to talk.  Pulling on the ears is not a good indicator of an ear infection since some infants pull on their ears when they are just tired or when they are teething.

Fever:  Many children have fevers with their ear infections.  If your child has a fever after having a cold for several days, then he may have developed a secondary infection, such as an ear infection.  Take your child to the doctor to be checked. 

Congestion/Cold:  Since the fluid builds up because the drainage system or Eustachian tube is not functioning, then your child is more at risk for an ear infection when she has been congested for several days.  If your baby is fussy or has a fever after having a cold for several days to weeks, it may be an ear infection.

Ear Drainage:  If you see drainage of fluid from your child’s ear, then the eardrum may have ruptured from the pressure.  While this sounds horrible, your child will probably experience relief since there is less pain.  In general, small ruptures of the eardrum heal well.  However, the infection still needs to be treated, so see your child’s doctor.

How can I prevent my child from getting an ear infection?

Focusing on the nasal congestion is one of the best ways to prevent the fluid from building up and getting infected.  Nasal saline works well for all ages.  For younger children, help to clear their noses by putting a few drops of nasal saline in each nostril and then cleaning the nose using a bulb suction device.  For older children, spray or drop the nasal saline into their nostrils and then have them blow their noses.  Running a humidifier (cool or warm) in your child’s room will also help with the congestion.  If the congestion is from allergies, treating the allergies with antihistamines may be appropriate depending on your child’s age. 

Some children are more prone to ear infections due to their anatomy.  Unfortunately, these children will get ear infections despite their parents’ best efforts to keep their noses clear.  If your child has multiple ear infections in a year (usually 5 or 6 episodes), then your child’s doctor may recommend myringotomy or PE tubes to prevent recurrent infections.

Stay healthy, and thanks for reading!

“My tummy hurts!” - How to Tell When a Stomachache Is Real

“Mommeeee… my tummy hurts!” my three-year old complained as he came out of his room for the second time that night.  

“Show me where it hurts,” I said to him.

He pointed to an area around his belly button (where most children will point when asked this question).  My son was normally a great sleeper, so I was a little concerned that maybe he really was coming down with something.

I looked at him and went through my checklist.  Dressed in his dinosaur fuzzy footy pajamas, he had walked over to my room to report his distress (no signs of pain with walking).  He wasn’t bent over or crying (not severe pain).  He had come up with this reason after a previous unrelated reason for leaving his bed (not repeated or consistent pain).  He had eaten dinner well earlier today and went to the bathroom normally (no loss of appetite and no vomiting, diarrhea or constipation).  I put his hand on his forehead and he did not feel feverish (yes, we will always tell you to take your child’s temperature with a thermometer – but I’ll admit to using the mommy forehead test).

 “What do you need to make it better?” I asked.  I almost always ask my kids this question when they have a complaint.  They usually have a fix in mind and the “boo-boo” disappears magically.  My favorite was when my daughter told me that “chocolate candy” would fix her stomach pain.  (I didn’t give in on that one!)

“I need boo-boo penguin,” he answered promptly.  He was referring to our penguin-shaped ice pack that seems to cure almost all ailments. 

So, I said okay.  And within five second of boo-boo penguin’s magic, he was ready to sleep.

I wouldn’t recommend giving in to demands on repeated nights, but since this was a first request, I let it slide.  Sometimes it isn’t worth the battle!  (ummm - perhaps “do as I say, don’t do as I do” applies here also)

How do you know when a stomachache is the sign of real illness or when it’s just a behavioral ploy for attention or to get out of doing something (like eating vegetables or going to school)?

It can be difficult to tell sometimes.  However, there are certain signs that are red flags for illness.  Some of these require immediate medical attention.  Others can be treated first at home and then your child should be brought to your pediatrician if there isn’t any improvement.

When you call your doctor, think about the following so that you can have these answers ready.

Timing  - How long has the pain been going on?  How often does your child have the pain?  How long does it last? When does it happen?  Most simple pains only last a few minutes and happen only once or twice.  If the pain lasts for several days or several hours, call your child’s doctor.  Some pains only occur during school mornings.  Others happen only at bedtime.  These can all be clues as to the underlying cause (or motive as the case may be!)

Severity – Is your child running around and playing? Or is she rolled up in a little ball crying about her pain?  This will help you to determine the seriousness of the pain.  Asking young children if their stomach hurts does not always help since they will usually give the answer that they think you want (not how they actually feel).

Location – Where does your child point to when you ask where it hurts?  Tell them to point with one finger to where it hurts the most – otherwise, they’ll usually rub their entire belly button area and say “It hurts all over!”  Pain located in the lower right side of the belly is possible appendicitis and is an emergency.

Triggers – Does it occur after eating certain foods or drinking certain liquids?  Lactose-intolerance is fairly common and can be helped by eliminating lactose from the diet (your child can drink soy milk or Lactaid milk to get the needed calcium).  Also, food allergies can cause stomach pain or vomiting or diarrhea.  Celiac disease (or gluten intolerance) is a common food allergy that can cause ongoing stomach pain.  Bloating and gassiness can be associated with food-related allergies or intolerance.

Vomiting or Diarrhea – Stomach bugs can cause short-term belly pain along with vomiting or diarrhea.  However, if the vomiting/diarrhea is severe, lasts more than 24-48 hrs, contains blood, or your child is unable to keep fluids down, call your doctor.

Constipation – If your child’s pain is much better after having a bowel movement, then the pain may be related to constipation.  Increase water, fiber and vegetables in your child’s diet to see if your child’s pain improves with softer stools.  See my previous blog post on constipation for more information.

Urinary problems or groin pain – these can be signs of other medical problems like a urinary tract infection or testicular torsion.  Call your doctor immediately.

Rash – stomachache and rash can be signs of other types of illnesses, such as a Strep infection, call your doctor for guidance.  If your child has hives, then it may be an allergic reaction, seek help immediately.

Fever – fever usually means infection.  If the fever is low grade (102 or less), has been less than 3 days, and the stomach pain is minimal, you can likely treat your child’s symptoms at home.  However, if the pain is severe, your child is in distress, the fever is high, or any of the warning symptoms described above are present, then you should call your child’s doctor.

Weight changes or poor growth – if your child is not growing well or is losing weight, these can be signs of more serious diseases and your child needs to be seen.

What to do if you suspect the complaint is behavioral?

If your child is running around happily and is not ill-appearing, then the complaint of a tummyache may be a way of getting attention or a ploy to get out of an activity.  If you think this is the case, the best thing you can do is to ignore it.  The more you acknowledge it, then the more he will repeat the behavior (i.e. getting boo-boo penguin in the middle of the night – oops!) 

Instead, provide a distraction and move on to the next activity.  If there are no further complaints, then you know it’s just a clever way to get some attention.  Or if he insists on a cure, then give a placebo, like a medicine syringe full of colored water or juice and see if the pain improves.  If so, you know that there is nothing serious causing the pain. 

Shower your child with love and attention when he is not complaining of tummy aches and gradually the behavior will stop.  It may take a few weeks, but if you stick to it, then the imaginary tummy aches will be cured.  (and then they’ll move on to “Mommeeee…  my leg hurts!!!”)  (more on that later!)

Happy Holidays, and thanks for reading!

Keeping Our Kids Happy and Healthy Through The Holidays

“Can I wear my gloves today?” asks my daughter holding up her new pink gloves decorated with snowflakes.  It’s the end of October and sixty degrees outside.  It’s been unseasonably warm this season, and we’re only just starting see some colder weather announcing the arrival of autumn.  

So I tell her, “Not yet, but soon.  It’s cold, but not cold enough for snow yet.”  She nods and puts them in her backpack for safekeeping.  “Maybe it will be cold enough tomorrow!”  

The she zips up her backpack, thinks for a second, and then asks, “Can I wear my boots?”

And so it goes…  in the end, we’ve compromised.  She can wear her boots this weekend, her hat now, and her gloves when she goes to the playground today if she wants.

Cold weather is here, and we are spending more time indoors sharing viruses and germs.  Kids and adults alike tend to get sicker in the winter months because of this.  Parents can take help prevent illness in their children by teaching them valuable skills that will prevent illness.

Regardless of age, one of the most important methods of prevention is good hand washing.  My kids are notorious for running their hands under the water for three seconds (maybe getting a little bit of soap if we’re feeling extra good today) and then quickly wiping their hands on a towel as they run out to get back to playing. 

To wash our hands properly, we should rinse our hands with water and soap for at least twenty seconds, or the time it takes to sing the alphabet song.  For children who are old enough, teach them how to wash correctly.  Show them how to clean the tips of the fingers especially well since children tend to put their fingers in their mouths often.

One of the most common ways that we pick up germs or viruses is by touching surfaces that someone else who has been sick coughed on, sneezed on, or touched.  Then we end up infecting ourselves or our children.

Many parents also notice how younger siblings seem to get sicker at a younger age or perhaps more often than an older sibling did.  This is because the older child brings germs or viruses home from school or daycare and infects the younger child.

Colds, flu, and vomiting/diarrhea diseases are some of the most common illnesses that children get from others.  If your child ends up with any of these illnesses, here are some tips to help you and your child get through them.

For colds and flu, it is important to give your child plenty of fluids.  Food is not as important while they are ill, and your child may lose her appetite while sick.  Hydrating your child with age-appropriate fluids is important.  Running a humidifier in the child’s bedroom and having her sleep in a more upright position will ease nighttime congestion and cough.  For children older than 1 year, giving 1 teaspoon of dark honey can quiet coughing episodes.   In general, over-the-counter cold medications are not recommended for children under the age of 6 years.  If your child has fever greater than 104, has prolonged fevers for more than 3days, has a severe cough, chest pain, wheezing, or seems lethargic, call your doctor immediately.

In the past, we were all told “cover your mouth when you cough”… and we did this with our hands.  However, when a child coughs and covers his mouth with his hand, the virus particles get all over that hand, spreading the virus to others as he touches various surfaces.    To help keep from spreading germs, teach your child to cough into the crook of his or her elbow.  And again, good hand-washing is key to prevention of spread.

Use antibacterial hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available.  These are effective for killing many of the germs that can cause illnesses.

For vomiting and diarrhea illnesses at all ages, it is very important to prevent dehydration.  This can be done by giving small frequent sips of an electrolyte solution, such as Pedialyte.  If your child refuses to drink or cannot keep large amounts down, then give 5 mL every 5 minutes using a medicine syringe.  This can hydrate a child successfully and will be less likely to trigger more vomiting.

You should avoid giving juice or sports drinks because the excessive sugar in these liquids can result in worsening diarrhea.  Giving water alone does not provide enough of the salts and sugars that the body needs to function.  Probiotics can also be very helpful with diarrhea illnesses.  These can be found in yogurt (if your child isn't vomiting) and in powder or chewable tablet forms in most drug stores and several grocery stores.

If your child shows signs of dehydration, call your doctor immediately.  Signs of dehydration include increased thirst, dry mouth, sunken fontanelle (for infants), doughy-feeling skin, decreased urine production, and lethargy or tiredness. 

Regardless of the type of illness, do not send your child to school if he or she has a fever.  Viral illnesses are the most contagious when the person has a fever.  Most viruses are spread by respiratory droplets or contact with fluids that contain virus, so even though the fever is gone, your child may still be contagious to others.  Use your best judgment when deciding when your child should go back to school.  

Teach your child not to share food or drinks with other kids since someone else might be ill or be contagious and not realize it.

Help your child stay healthy and ready to learn by taking precautions and use prevention methods.  Teach your child to wash his or her hands often and avoid direct contact with other sick children when possible.  By doing this, everyone can stay healthy and have a happy holiday season!

Happy Fall and thanks for reading!