One-on-One Basketball Game with My Oldest Son [Photo]

 No hard feelings son. Let's leave everything on the court.

It's time to have "The Talk." We have new resouces to help. #Obesity

PARENTS REMAIN IN DENIAL ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY EPIDEMIC
More Than a Year After Their Controversial Ad Campaign,
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Empowers Georgia Parents Struggling to
Address the Issue in Their Homes

ATLANTA (Sept. 5, 2012)— A behavioral insights research study commissioned by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta suggests that while the majority of Georgia parents recognized the severity of the childhood obesity epidemic in the state, parents of overweight and obese children still don't believe the issue affects their family.  With Georgia having the second highest childhood obesity rate in the country, Children's has kicked off the latest initiative of its Strong4Life movement called "The Talk" to jump-start a personalization of the issue for these parents.  

With childhood obesity reaching epidemic rates in the country, it's not surprising that parents now fear The Talk about weight and body issues with their kids more than the talks about sex and drugs.  Released to coincide with Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and the launch of the new Strong4Life website, The Talk helps parents realize that before they can talk to their kids, they have to have an honest conversation with themselves about family health risks, habits and the kind of role models they want to be for their children.  Additionally, The Talk helps parents learn that the eventual dreaded conversation with their children is actually not about their weight, but their health, making it less intimidating.  The website walks parents through this self-reflection while building their confidence and providing the necessary tools and resources to take their first simple steps toward a healthier family.

“As a mother and pediatrician, I know parents are willing to go to any length for the health of their child, so why stop when it comes to issues regarding childhood obesity?  It’s time for parents to be stronger than the thoughts that hold them back," said Dr. Stephanie Walsh, Medical Director of Wellness, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. "The Talk asks parents to first take a step back, candidly evaluate their family's habits, choose one simple step and then, only once they have done their due diligence, engage their family in a positive and reassuring way."

The behavioral insights research study completed in February 2012 included surveys with 1,043 families with children 0 - 11 years old, representing a true cross-section of Georgia, including children classified as normal weight, overweight and obese (according to the CDC’s BMI classifications). From those families, 42 percent of families were identified with overweight or obese kids.  Of those 42 percent of families' surveyed with overweight or obese children, 76 percent misclassified their children as either underweight or normal weight.  Click here for details on the methodology behind the study.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the nation's largest pediatric hospitals and a leader on the issue of childhood obesity, developed the Strong4Life movement in 2011 to ignite societal change and reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity and its associated diseases in Georgia.  Strong4Life launched an ad campaign to gain awareness of the crisis that garnered national attention and, while deemed by some as controversial, accomplished its goal to help raise the level of conversation about the epidemic in the state. Since then, Strong4Life has been in the community reaching families through school and provider training programs, community partnerships and policy change efforts.  Additionally, Strong4Life provides parents and caregivers the support they need to accomplish their goals, while making nutrition and physical activity habits fun.  Rooted in Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s clinical behavior change model for treating overweight and obese children, Strong4Life strives to help families recognize and identify the risks in their own family so that sustainable lifestyle change can then occur.

For more information on Strong4Life, including our latest videos on The Talk, join our community at strong4life.com, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Dedicated to All Better

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education.  Managing more than half a million patient visits annually at three hospitals and 17 neighborhood locations, Children's is one of the largest clinical care providers for children in the country.  Children's offers access to more than 30 pediatric specialties and is ranked among the top children's hospitals by U.S News & World Report.  With generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children's has made an impact in the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world.  Visit www.choa.org for more information.

“Eyecare About Reading” Book Drive Competition Provides Free Books and Eye Exams to Children Across the U.S.

Atlanta, GA. July 16, 2012 -  To read well, a child first needs to see well, as 80 percent of what we learn is through our eyes. However, an astonishing one in four children has an undetected vision problem—many of which are due to lack of vision care. To shed light on the critical role healthy vision plays in helping to develop a child’s passion for reading and learning,  HYPERLINK "http://www.vsp.com" VSP Vision Care, HYPERLINK "http://www.transitions.com/"Transitions Optical and  HYPERLINK "http://www.bessthebookbus.org" Bess the Book Bus have launched the national “Eyecare About Reading” Book Drive competition. The Book Drive will provide free books, eye exams and glasses (when needed), totaling more than two million dollars, to children in need. 

Three well-known bloggers from across the country including Atlanta blogger Meghan Cooper from  HYPERLINK "http://jamonkey.com/" JaMonkey and Atlanta Moms on the Move HYPERLINK "http://atlmomsonthemove.com",  will compete to collect the most books for the Atlanta area through August 22. The books will be donated to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta as well as to Bess the Book Bus, a mobile literacy outreach program that travels across the country providing free books to underprivileged children in schools, shelters and community organizations.

“Reading opens worlds of opportunities for children throughout their academic and personal lives,” shared Jennifer Frances, founder of Bess the Book Bus. “I am thrilled to be a part of this campaign, which will help to spread the love of reading to kids, many of whom have never had a book of their own or access to proper eye care, potentially hindering their reading skills.” 

Eye Health & Reading:

80% of what we learn is through our eyes and an astonishing one in four children have an undetected vision problem.

Approximately 20% of school-aged children struggle to read.  A large portion of these children have vision problems that interfere with their ability to read.

10% percent of school-aged children have eye teaming problems, which causes visual strain and words to appear blurred or scrambled.

While it’s recommended that children get an annual eye exam every year once they start kindergarten, it has been reported that more than 76% of American children under the age of five have never received a comprehensive eye exam.

How the Book Drive works:

For every three books donated in the competition (either through the bloggers or online), VSP will donate one free eye exam (and, if needed, glasses fitted with Transitions lenses) to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for children without access to these services. VSP will provide up to 5,500 free eye exams in total for the campaign, a value of more than $2,000,000.

If Atlanta collects the most books Children's Healthcare of Atlanta will receive an additional 100 free eye exams (and glasses with Transitions lenses), as well as a special visit from Bess the Book Bus and the VSP/Transitions Optical Mobile Eyes clinic nicknamed  HYPERLINK "https://vspglobal.com/cms/vspglobal-outreach/vsp-mobile-eyes.html" Eyenstein.

“Increasing access to quality eyecare is a priority for VSP,” said Connie Vavricek, director of industry outreach at VSP Vision Care. “To partner with organizations such as Transitions Optical and Bess the Book Bus, who share our passion to give back, increases the collective reach to make a positive impact on the life of a child.”

How to participate:

The book drive will be from July 17-August 22.

Metro Atlanta residents  will be able to donate their new (for the safety of patients) books at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Urgent Care Centers listed below. Hours of operation for the centers is 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9a.m. to 9p.m. on weekends.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Urgent Care Centers

Children's at Mount Zion (through Friday 27^th and Hudson Bridge location opens August 1)
Attn: Lisa Gaither

2201 Mount Zion Pkwy
Morrow, GA 30260-3312
404-785-8660

Children's at North Point
Attn: Rose Weber

3795 Mansell Road
Alpharetta, GA 30022-8247
404-785-8540

Children's at Satellite Boulevard
Attn: Katina Artis

2660 Satellite Boulevard
Duluth, GA 30096-5803
404-785-8330

Children's at Town Center

Attn: Dana Hunter Tatum
2985 George Busbee Parkway
Kennesaw, GA 30144-6812
404-785-8010

Children's at Forsyth

Attn: Roshonda Gideon
410 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 300
Cumming, GA 30041-7407
404-785-3100

If you live outside of these areas, visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.Facebook.com/VSPVisionCare" www.Facebook.com/VSPVisionCare, select the Book Drive Tab and make a “promise” to protect your eyes. For every promise received, Transitions Optical will donate one free book to Bess the Book Bus.  

To donate a book, visit the Book Drive Tab at  HYPERLINK "http://www.Facebook.com/VSPVisionCare" www.Facebook.com/VSPVisionCare.

About VSP Global

VSP Global^® includes VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States with 57 million members; Marchon^® Eyewear Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers, designers and distributors of quality fashion and technologically-advanced eyewear and sunwear; Eyefinity^® which offers innovative solutions and the premier management software and technology to improve overall practice management and patient experience; VSP Optics Group, industry leaders in new technologies, production processes, service and logistics.

About Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education. Managing more than half a million patient visits annually at three hospitals and 17 neighborhood locations, Children’s is one of the largest clinical care providers for children in the country. Children’s offers access to more than 30 pediatric specialties and is ranked among the top children’s hospitals by U.S.News & World Report. With generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children’s has made an impact in the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world.

Visit www.choa.org for more information.

About Meghan Cooper

Meghan is the creator of Atlanta Moms on the Move, a free resource for parents looking for fun things to do with their kids around metro Atlanta as well as Family travel. She writes a parenting blog at JaMonkey.com and is a contributing writer to Fox 5 Atlanta's My Atlanta Moms. Find out more about Meghan Cooper are www.megcooper.com

About Bess the Book Bus

Founded solely by Frances in 2004, Bess the Book Bus began visiting schools, shelters and after-school programs in the Tampa area to distribute children’s books and host readings for underprivileged children.  Since then, Frances’ efforts have expanded, servicing more than 200 children and adults in need each week to promote literacy.  Frances gives more than 50,000 new books each year to schools, community centers and shelters, with 2011 being the record year, distributing nearly 100,000 books.  Her program continues to grow as Frances prepares for her third multi-city tour across the country.  For more information about the program, visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.bessthebookbus.org" www.bessthebookbus.org.

About Transitions Optical, Inc.

Transitions Optical is a joint venture of PPG Industries, Inc. and Essilor International.  The first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990, today the company is a leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers worldwide.  Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs, materials and brand names.

Transitions^® lenses are the ideal everyday choice for healthy sight.  They are clear indoors and at night.  Outdoors, they automatically darken as light conditions change.  Transitions lenses provide visual comfort, and enhance visual quality by reducing glare and enhancing contrast, helping you to see better today.  Transitions lenses block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays – helping to protect the health and wellness of your eyes – so you can see better tomorrow as well.

For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, visit Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).

A Makeover Reveal: Hope, Will, & CHOA Mom Bloggers

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta held a "mom makeover" event for their Mom to Mom Bloggers to share the news about their brand refresh and Hope and Will's makeover. Special thanks to Pla Beauty and Woo Cosmetics!

Check me out getting a well needed and deserved makeover! Thanks CHOA!

Bert's Big Adventure Celebrates 10 Magical Years (Video)

Just before sunrise, families, friends, and supporters gathered at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel Atlanta Airport on Thursday, February 16^th for the kick-off of Bert’s Big Adventure! What made this day so special was that Bert and Stacey Weiss, founders of Bert's Big Adventure, were celebrating 10 years of making magical moments in local Georgia residents lives.

Bert's Big Adventure is a non-profit organization, designed to allow children, 5 to 12 years, with a chronic or terminal illness to experience a weekend with their families at Walt Disney World. Participants must show financial need and have never visited Walt Disney World. My twin brother, Joshua Manning Marable and I attended the magical kick-off event and had the chance to meet the 2012 Bert’s Big Adventure children:

Bree B. Age 5 Newnan

Brianna E. Age 6 Douglasville

Elizabeth O. Age 5 Thomaston

Gabe A. Age 11 Woodstock

Hunter W. Age 12 Gainesville

Jainah R. Age 8 Morrow

Jordan S. Age 5 Canton

Linda C. Age 11 Kennesaw

Marie S. Age 5 Atlanta

Megan M. Age 10 Dalton

Noah M. Age 5 Flowery Branch

Will A. Age 5 Kathleen

When Bert's Big Adventure children opened the doors to the event space at the Sheraton, they were greeted with a red VIP carpet, and their names etched in the Hollywood's Walk of Fame. It room suitable for kings and queens. Children enjoyed Nintendo Wii entertainment, hairstyling, jewelry making, inflatable bounce houses, and other festivities, planned by Posh Tot Events.

Enjoy the video again!

Sojourner Marable Grimmett is an Atlanta-based author who is recognized for writing about the joys and challenges of being a “stay-at-work” mom and connects with moms, both new and experienced, who have the responsibility of raising a family and maintaining a full-time job. Sojourner has been featured in FitPregnancy, iVillage, MacaroniKid.com, BlackCelebKids.com, MyAtlantaMoms.com, WhatToExpect.com, BlackandMarriedwithKids.com, Fox News, and CNN. She is married to her college sweetheart, Roland and they have two young sons, Roland Jay and Joshua.

Visit her blog sojournermarablegrimmett.blogspot.com follow her on twitter and like her on Facebook. Also join her new campaign to support establishing lactation rooms in public places www.supporttablefortwo.org.

Video by Joshua Manning Marable.