She had an amazing time reading to the enthusiastic tikes at Goddard School Henrico. They had enjoyed having her so much last year that asked her back again for a repeat performance, and she was more than happy to!

The kids learned a lot about their local history, and learned new things about some of the places they had visited in our city. For instance, they couldn’t believe that there used to be live alligators in the fountain at the Jefferson Hotel!

I think they learned a little bit about literary history too. One little guy learned that Edgar Allen Poe was not in fact George Washington…

Would you like to have a free author visit and fundraiser at your school? Contact Suzanne Sherif: suzanne_sherif@hotmail.com.

There it was, listed amongst the “Attendance,” “Honor Roll” and other awards:

Tryuuuumph Award

2.0 or better

There may have been some additional text along with that, I’m not sure because my brain couldn’t process past the words “2.0” and “Award” in the same phrase.

Unless modern grading has radically changed, 2.0 is a “C.” Average. Mediocre. In the middle of the pack.

My thoughts then buzzed to my son’s report card and the few times that I’ve ever seen a “C” (I’m not bragging, there’s a point here I promise) and how disappointed I was, because I knew he could do better if he put some effort forth. He always has and that’s why thankfully, in his final grades there’s never been a “C” listed: he knows our expectations of him, and that he can and will do better.

For our kids, who are expected to get A’s and B’s because they will work hard to do so, a Tryuuumph Award is a bit like a “Showing up and Breathing Award.”

The assembly rolls along . . .and along . . .and we realize that the reason we aren’t hearing our son’s name yet is because every student in the sixth grade is receiving an award of some sort. Every. Single. Student. Then I thank the Gods of job flexibility for allowing us this time to wait as a couple hundred or more kids walk across the stage and wonder if all of the other parents are wondering just what awards, exactly these kids are all receiving.

This may anger today’s parents  but in my opinion winning and losing–excellence and failure–are just part of life. We don’t all get trophies, we don’t all get our dream job, we don’t all get the perfect body, spouse and soon-to-be perfect baby (except you  Jessica Biel, except you.) But with a lot of work, a little luck and a ton of perseverance, things will probably work out and we’ll end up winning at something or other.

And while it’s important to celebrate our successes, it’s also important to celebrate others when they succeed and take a moment to reflect on our own performance to ask, “hmmm,  how can I improve so next time maybe I’ll get an award?”

Let’s congratulate the honor roll students and encourage the would-be Tryuuuumph Award-holders to belly-up and whip out the ol’ elbow grease so so that they too can receive an honor roll award–or get as close as possible.

Because while it’s fun to win, anything worth doing is worth the hard work, and hard work isn’t going to get anyone an average grade.

Author Kate Hall —

So before Kate gave her readings, she walked them through the writing process as well. She discussed how to brainstorm ideas to write about, such as their favorite places. Then once you’ve found your inspiration, go ahead and write your first draft or “sloppy copy”. Then the editing begins. Fun fact: did you know that Kate’s first book went through at least fifty different drafts before she got it where she wanted to be?

After the readings, Kate and the kids had a big Q&A session. Here are a few examples:

How old were you when you started writing?

“I was about your age, maybe 8 or 9. I’ve been writing a long time!”

Where did you get your ideas for your books?

“Well, I got the idea for my first book, Richmond Rocks!, when I took my kids to Belle Isle one summer, and my oldest began reading some of the posted signs and asking me a lot of questions about the Civil War. I got the inspiration for my second book, The Spooky Sequel, by asking kids like you what they would be interested in, and they said ghost stories!”

Speaking of ghost stories, Kate learned a couple of new things about ghost-spotting from some third graders:

Did you know that if you are walking on the beach, and it’s hot, then you suddenly feel cold, then hot again, you just walked past a ghost? 

Did you know that ghosts show up in pictures as a couple of orbs in the background?

Well, we didn’t know that before either!

Would you like to have a free author visit and fundraiser at your school? Contact Suzanne Sherif: suzanne_sherif@hotmail.com.

Stefanie and Karl Smith, who founded The Jack & Abby Neonatal Foundation, know all too well how things can go terribly wrong – they lost their beautiful twins due to premature birth.

The local March of Dimes is preparing for a fundraiser which will be a fun night of high heels and laughter, as they raise money to celebrate healthier babies — and help find ways to prevent premature birth. As parents, being a part of this important fundraiser is a privilege.

We can all help by donating to this worthy cause.

Crystal High Heel Award

The event in Richmond is scheduled for October 2, 2014. Ladies are competing as high heel models for the 2014 March of Dimes Crystal High Heel Award.

On October 2nd the women will walk the runway in one of two looks:

• “Little Black Dress”
• “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”

At the end of the night, the model who has raised the most money for the March of Dimes mission of stronger, healthier babies will be named the Crystal High Heel winner. This is a great way to help raise money for healthier babies and support an important cause.

Walk High Kate!

Richmond’s own Kate Hall, founder and previous owner of Richmondmom.com, is a model in this event. We are so excited to support her in this endeavor. Who better to show us all how to walk in high heels? Even though we know Kate is steady on her feet, we have to wonder if she might stumble and fall! But we’re sure she’ll be practicing in those heels plenty before the big event.

When asked why she was participating, Kate responded,

“I have several friends who have had preemies and benefited from the March of Dimes, so I’ve seen the help they provide first-hand. In fact, I met a few of these friends through a March of Dimes walk we had early-on in Richmondmom.com’s growth! Some of those families have lost their babies–which to most of us is unimaginable–and this is in memory of all of those sweet ones gone too soon, and to help save as many lives as possible.”

If you’d like to donate to this worthy cause for healthier babies, click here to support Kate Hall or any model of your choice. Mark your calendars for October 2 for a fun night and help babies too.

A little over three years ago, we were new here in Richmond.  I stumbled across Richmondmom.com and became hooked on the Facebook page and the newsletter, especially the Real Richmond Parents articles.  Soon I got the guts to submit an article myself and heard back very quickly from Kate Hall, who accepted it!  After I submitted several more, she asked me to become a regular contributor!

Two years and 50 (yes, 50!) articles later, I find myself feeling very grateful for this opportunity and honored to be part of the Richmondmom.com family.  I truly appreciate everything that Richmondmom.com has offered to me.

I have always loved to write but never took the path of being a “writer”.  Richmondmom.com has given me the opportunity to join two of the things I love most in life:  writing and being a mom.  I can’t believe I get to share my perspectives on life, motherhood, and parenting through this website!  It has been an invaluable outlet.  It has brought me personal fulfillment in a way that my “day job” cannot.  Though I have to set aside time to work on the articles, it never feels like work.  Thank you, Richmondmom.com, for letting me add “writer” to my list of experiences.

Like most other moms, my life is spent mostly focused on fulfilling the needs of others.  I spend a lot of time as mom, wife, daughter and co-worker.  Rarely do I get to do something that I enjoy and am appreciated for in my own right.  On Richmondmom.com, I get to be, and am allowed to be, just me.  It’s just my name on the by-line, and I am never made to feel pressured to write about a certain topic, nor have any of my articles ever been rejected or censored.  Thank you, Richmondmom.com, for allowing me to use my own unfiltered voice.

Contributing to Richmondmom.com has also connected me to a wider community of awesome moms (and dads and grandparents too!).  I write alongside some very talented people whom I wish I had more time to get to know in real life.  I love the helpful, supportive and often funny interactions on the Richmondmom.com junkies Facebook page!  Our readers (and advertisers) rock!  I love how the articles generate discussions on the site.  Thank you, Richmondmom.com for being part of my village!

I find myself tonight, reflecting on the past two years as part of this journey, just wanting to say thank you.

Thank you, Kate Hall for your vision for this site, and for creating the spirit of openness, inclusion, generosity and sharing.  You rock and we miss you.

Thank you Brian and Christa, who are carrying on Kate’s vision with their own very savvy spin.

Thank you to all the Richmondmom.com writers and staff for all your hard work you put into writing, marketing, community building and all the other magic that happens.  Because of you, this website is wayyyy more than just a website.

Richmondmom.com is a community.  It is a force for good.  It is a place I hope to still be part of, and writing for, for the next two years.

With utmost sincerity and appreciation,
Mary Beth

However, 3 years ago, I was a doe-eyed newbie. Here is how I was initiated to my first swim meet…

We were told to arrive at the pool by 4:45. When we arrived, it was raining. I figured they would call a rain delay and we would all go home after a few minutes. That is when I learned about the complex rain delay protocol and that sometimes a meet is not called off for hours when thundering. I even learned that if it was raining, but you could still see the bottom of the pool, the meet was still a go!

I erroneously thought the entire thing would be OVER by 7pm, rain delay or not. I was not prepared for the revelry of the meet – kids were playing chase, running around, full of energy and the noise was ear splitting. And then there was the food (or in my case, lack of food).

Since I thought we might not get home until around 7, I had shoved a few granola bars into my bag before I arrived, thinking that would be enough provisions for the meet. As the rain delay wore on, people brought more and more food. Pizzas. Buckets of chicken. Coolers stuffed with veggie trays and fruit trays. We are talking about substantial  foodstuffs. I had no such foodstuffs. I finally found a familiar face and told my friend that I had only brought a few granola bars. She turned and looked at me, horrified. “Oh no! Fiona, you HAVE TO BRING FOOD! We will be here for HOURS!” This was becoming readily apparent, as more pizzas were arriving. Although most pools have snack bars, this was closed due to the rain delay. I desperately called my husband who was caring for my younger son. It went straight to voicemail. I left him a message about the situation, but since it was so loud, apparently he could not hear me. He called back and left me a phone message (since I never heard the phone),

game of chess between heats

“Well, at least they have food there!” As I listened to the message, I whined, “NO! I don’t have food! THEY have food!” I called him back, left another message and told him that I only had granola bars, that we needed more food and would not be home any time soon. About 30 minutes later, my sweet husband arrived with additional provisions – granola bars, which was apparently the only thing that he heard in my message.

3 years later, I can laugh about it, but in the moment, my sense of humor utterly failed me. And now, I can appreciate that sometimes the rain delay is the most fun part of the meet for my kids. Now when I see doe-eyed newbies at a meet, I always take the opportunity to pass on what I have learned along the way.

For information on how to start the swim season off with a splash, check out Kate Hall’s article on top 5 things I’ve learned as a Newbie Swim Team Mom. And don’t forget the food.

Safe Harbor received a $22,300 grant from The UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of UPS. The grant will be used towards the upgrade of technology and equipment along with the costs associated with recruiting, training, supervising and celebrating Safe Harbor volunteers.

Jodi Ottaviano of Safe Harbor Shelter and Kate Hall, founder and previous owner of Richmondmom.com

Safe Harbor’s volunteer program significantly supplements the work of the agency’s twelve paid staff. It would be impossible to provide all essential services, 365 days a year, without a cadre of highly trained volunteers.

• The agency typically has 100 active volunteers deployed across ten volunteer teams.
• They work beside our staff providing direct services to survivors and educating the community about the issues of sexual and domestic violence.
• This grant supports this important program and its immeasurable impact on our community.

“UPS’ corporate values of diversity, community safety, and volunteerism align perfectly with the focus of Safe Harbor’s volunteer program. We are honored to work together with UPS to build a program that meets the needs of survivors of violence and tells the story of the UPS Foundation’s commitment to delivering sustainable solutions to the communities where UPS employees live and work,” stated Safe Harbor Executive Director Kathleen Demro.

Established in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its backing clearly impacts social issues. In support of this strategic approach, The UPS Foundation has identified the following focus areas of giving: nonprofit effectiveness, encouraging diversity, community safety and environmental sustainability.

In 2011, The UPS Foundation distributed more than $45.3 million worldwide in grants that benefit organizations or programs such as Safe Harbor and provide support building stronger communities.

“The UPS Foundation is honored to support Safe Harbor’s efforts to empower survivors of sexual and domestic violence to transform their lives, and promote healthy relationships for all,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation. “Our goal is to fund powerful programs that make a lasting difference to the global community.”

About Safe Harbor

Safe Harbor empowers survivors of sexual and domestic violence to transform their lives, and promotes healthy relationships for all. The agency was born through the efforts of a St. Mary’s Hospital emergency room nurse who was devastated by the number of domestic abuse victims she treated. As a result, Safe Harbor opened in April 2000. It has grown from an emergency shelter to offering additional critical supportive services including a 24-hour confidential helpline (804-287-7877), community counseling programs for adults and children, community support groups in English and Spanish, court advocacy, hospital accompaniment and community education and outreach services.  For more information, please visit www.safeharborshelter.com or www.facebook.com/SafeHarborRVA.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Doors Open at 8 a.m.
8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Richmond Marriott
500 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 22319

Hosted by Senator Mark R. Warner, VCU Medical Center, Virginia State University and Virginia’s Community Colleges.

And there’s one more BIG reason you may want to attend. Our own Kate Hall is a panelist on the topic of social media! Who better to talk about optimizing social media for your business than the Richmondmom.com founder? Want to learn more? Richmondmom.com has all the details for you here. 

Kate Hall

The 4th Annual Women’s Conference is Saturday, October 26, 2013 at the Richmond Marriott Downtown and it’s a day filled with great speakers and lots of valuable information. If you’re an entrepreneur, mompreneur, or just interested in what’s going on in the world of business, health, and social media, you’re going to love this conference! The event is free to all participants.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Doors Open at 8 a.m.
8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Richmond Marriott
500 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 22319

Hosted by Senator Mark R. Warner, VCU Medical Center, Virginia State University and Virginia’s Community Colleges.

And there’s one more BIG reason you may want to attend. Our own Kate Hall is a panelist on the topic of social media! Who better to talk about optimizing social media for your business than the Richmondmom.com founder?

Putting Social Media to Work for You
Facebook is great for staying in touch with friends and sharing pictures. You get all your news from Twitter. But do you know how to unlock the full potential of social media and put it to work for you? This session will share best practices for maximizing social media – an important platform for networking and showcasing your professional profile. The content you post every day is building your personal brand – make it count! A strong personal brand online is an important factor for potential employers and clients. Join our panelists to learn the best way to use different social media platforms to your advantage.

Moderated by Addie Bryant, Office of Senator Mark R. Warner

Latryce Noel, Public Relations & Marketing Specialist, Virginia State University
Judi Crenshaw, Communications & Marketing Manager, Virginia Council on Economic Education
Kate W. Hall, Founder/Writer Richmondmom.com
Kendall Morris, Founding Partner, Create Digital

You will also enjoy hearing from Mary Foley, Emcee, Author and Radio Host, along with other great speakers. Click here for the full agenda.

Fun and engaging topics include information on:

• Your Financial Roadmap
• The Affordable Care Act & You
• Create Your Next Job…Become an Entrepreneur!
• Make Shift Happen
• Ages & Stages: Women’s Health & Happiness
• Women as Agents of Change: Rising to the Challenge of Building Community
• And much more!

It’s an inspiring day for women that you don’t want to miss. Click here for details and take advantage of this free conference to get your creative juices flowing and create the life you’ve always wanted!

Oh, hey there, cutie.
(Thanks to duckykitty.com for this image)

Like most six-year olds, my sweet daughter loves to shop. Every time we walk into that (hypnotic and cult-like wonderland) Target store we oogle and stare at the rows upon rows of super-cool merchandise that we REALLY REALLY WANT AND CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT would love to have.

HK’s biggest fans, right here.

What draws us in most, however, is the lure of the adorable, bright-eyed, and always attractive Hello Kitty merchandise beckoning for us to touch, feel, own it.

It hit me as I was yelling at kids about all this clutter cleaning out closets the other day just what a mountain of Hello Kitty goodness we’ve amassed.

Have ‘em. In two sizes.

It was a little shocking just how much we’ve actually accumulated. And when I say accumulated, I mean we need one of those PODS in our driveway to house all of this swag.

You see, for my little gal, there is never enough Hello Kitty in her life. I’ll admit that, as the chief purchaser and wardrobe-designer in her world, I not only condone this behavior, I wholeheartedly endorse it.

Moustache not included.

Luckily the wonderful world of retail has us hooked us up on that front. Along with the Hello Kitty shoes (thanks, Saxon!) we have the fabulous earrings (Claire’s) and purse.

The ultimate in Nittany Lion-loving-ridiculous-mama-fandom: The Hello Kitty Nittany Lion long-sleeved shirt, perfect for football season (Old Navy, have I told you lately that I love you for selling this?) Nothing says “Let’s Go State!” like this cute little puddin-head in my favorite blue-and-white.

I mean, shellooo. How could we resist?

There are too many purses to name–including cosmetic, travel and hard-sided make-up bags, t-shirts and a tutu, pants with the outline of Kitty’s face in “pink diamonds.”

For her sixth birthday recently we had to have the complete set of Hello Kitty cupcake decorations (gracias, Barnes & Noble).

I tried to get a pic of the cupcakes all made up, but they were gone pretty quickly.

Finally, no night’s sleep is complete without a set of snuggly pajamas with that sweet little kitty on ‘em. We like to hang out in ours extra-long on Saturdays and have tea in ‘em.

You should join us sometime.

This crumpet looks divine, don’t you think daaaahling?