September-October 2021

As she was leaving her house, Shakima Broaddus noticed the residual raindrops on her car from the day before. Her three-year-old son Barry saw the same droplets and questioned why the car was wet.  She asked him if he remembered what it was doing yesterday and he replied, “Raining, Mom.”…

Alexis Bodrick is accustomed to having classmates and friends come to her with their problems. “It was usually a rant about something that had already happened, not [something] immediate,” the 2021 Manchester High School graduate says. “People just needed to air it out.” As a member of Chesterfield County’s Youth…

Teaching wasn’t always Deserita Napier’s first choice. In fact, when she started her freshman year at Virginia Commonwealth University, her goal was to become a pediatrician. However, after taking a few education courses, Napier knew she wanted to be a teacher. “I felt like teaching was my purpose, and I…

“Butterfingers are my life.” Our middle daughter, the child who teachers often described as an old soul in elementary school and who in young adulthood still has a somewhat tenuous relationship with smiling, made this statement one Halloween. My husband overheard her talking with a friend while he trailed them…

Watching your child’s athletic aspirations evolve from a distant dream to an attainable reality is a goal many parents have for their young athlete. The intensity of sports at the middle and high school level has increased exponentially over the years. As a result, so has the youth sports industry.…

Before sixth grade even started, the rumors swirled. Everyone said Mrs. Lamb was tough, mean, and scary. Even guys from other schools knew her students were prisoners. But there was no bread and water. Instead, she was all about journal writing and telling stories. One night at a Boy Scout…

As we say goodbye to summer and hello to crisp autumn air, pumpkins, and changing leaves, I am reminded of another fall, twelve years ago. That’s when we published our very first issue of Richmond Family Magazine. My boys were just one and three years old at the time, and…

My 11-year-old is starting middle school and many of his friends have smartphones. I have heard some schools have policies about keeping phones out of the classroom, but I’m not sure about ours. Should we get him the phone? Are there rules for phone use for students at school? It…

Operating in four locations in the greater Richmond area, SOAR365 was created in 1954 by area families determined to find a better way to care for their loved ones with disabilities. “When someone comes through our doors – from newborns to seniors – SOAR365 works hard to understand their needs,…

Americans of all ages are spending more time and money improving their smiles through cosmetic dental work and orthodontics. Some experts attribute this increased attention to orthodontics to more aesthetic and less noticeable treatment options, made possible by cutting-edge technology. One of the most popular – and most high-tech –…

Chicken with Caramelized Apples and Pears 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs ½ teaspoon pepper 3 tablespoons butter ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced 1 medium pear, thinly sliced 1 medium Gala apple, thinly sliced 2 teaspoons brown sugar ½ cup balsamic vinaigrette Fresh thyme Fresh rosemary Salt and black…

It’s never too early to start teaching children how to manage money, especially since the window for establishing good habits doesn’t stay open forever. University of Cambridge research suggests spending and saving habits are formed in early childhood and set by age seven.  Do not underestimate a child’s ability to…

As we head into peak Atlantic hurricane season, annual reminders about preparedness have to include pets. Over the last eighteen months, many of us have had our emergency plans – or lack of plans – tested. Whether the next challenge we face is a natural disaster, a medical emergency, or…

In 2015, my son Charles took his own life at age twenty during an episode of major depression and withdrawal from heroin. By 2017, I had sold my business and invested myself in suicide prevention which included a focus on postvention, the period following a death by suicide.  To better…

The Virginia Constitution of 1869 established a statewide system of free public schools. The schools evolved in the 1900s with both Jim Crow restrictions and Progressive Era reforms. Even progressive movements, though, were rife with racism, and Black activists rarely had a seat at the table. Reforms were directed to segregated white schools first. Beginning in the 1930s, Black plaintiffs challenged segregation at the graduate and professional school levels. In 1950,…

One-third of households with children have a gun in the home, many of which are not stored safely. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that approximately 4.6 million children in the United States are living with unlocked, loaded firearms – a staggering and dangerous statistic.  Kids are curious by nature.…

Before the pandemic, 13 percent of children in Virginia lived in families earning below the poverty level (just under $26,000 for a family of four), and one in three children were economically disadvantaged. With the significant disruption caused by the pandemic – from job losses and reduced work hours to…

Music streaming services offer millions of music tracks across a myriad of genres. Technology devices can now stream thousands of vinyl records, CDs, and cassette tapes. Gone are the hours of listening to the radio, hoping to hear your favorite song. Before choosing a streaming service, take time to consider…

Breathing is the most essential element of life, so it makes sense that parents are concerned when their baby's breathing patterns seem out of the ordinary. Many breathing sounds or noises are variations of normal infant respirations, but some may need monitoring, and occasionally, medical intervention is recommended. Our babies…

This year’s college graduates are ready for what’s next. Grads may be starting new jobs or relocating to a new city and looking for a place to rent. Graduation often means new financial responsibilities including beginning payments on student loan debt. While grads are navigating life’s new changes, scammers are…