Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Passport Mommy. I'm your host, Michelle Jerson. This
show is for anyone raising little humans. We feature experts
with tips and advice to enrich the lives of our children.
Mom and dad entrepreneurs tell us their inspiring stories, learn
about products that could make both you and your child's
life easier and more fun, and of course, fellow parents
(00:21):
discuss and laugh about what's happening in their child's world.
Motherhood is a journey. Thanks for joining me onmine. Welcome
to Passport Mommy. I'm Michelle Jerson.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I hope you had a fabulous week.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
You know, as parents, there is so much pressure on
us to make sure that we are doing the very
best for our children, and that starts when they're really young,
from homework help and finding missing cleads to shielding them
from stress.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
It's hard for parents to see children struggle.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
However, there is some research that suggests that rushing in
to save them may be doing more harm than good.
So I'm really happy to have on the show with
me today parenting and education expert gg Schwikert. She's going
to talk to us about the growing concern that over
protection may be actually hindering the development of resilience in children,
(01:13):
and she'll share the secrets to raising better problem solvers
and how parenting differently can actually lead to more independence.
If you have kids, you know that those preschool years
are so important. They are so formative for both kids
and parents. I think we really learn what our child
(01:34):
is like a little more with each year. And I
firmly believe that who they have as their pre K
teachers and their three K teachers or whatever you call
it nursery school, depending on wherever you are, is so
important in their development. And so I'm happy to have
on the show with me today, Gg Swikert. She is
the Lightbridge Academy CEO and parenting expert.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Hi Gg, good morning.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Michelle doing well? Thank you?
Speaker 1 (02:02):
So talk to me about children these days? What are
you finding as the CEO and parenting expert of light
Bridge Academy, are children becoming more or less resilience?
Speaker 3 (02:15):
So great question, and first of all, let me retract
the expert piece. As the mommy of four grown children
and now a nine month old grandchild, I will say
that we never reach expert status in being a parent.
(02:35):
So it's important for parents to realize that you're never
going to be perfect and you're never going to do
everything just right.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
But what we are noticing.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Today coming out of the pandemic and maybe the parenting
that we have looked at previously, is that children are
less resilient. And so let me define resilience for you. Resilience,
and it's simplistic form, is really recognizing how we respond
(03:07):
when things don't go our way. So how do we
bounce back? How do we bounce back that we didn't
get the purple popsicle? How do we bounce back that
our artwork didn't turn out exactly like we wanted it?
How do we bounce back that mommy's not going to
let me wear those sandals in the snow? How do
we bounce back? And how we help children to develop
that skill set when they're young is going to be
(03:30):
exponentially helpful to them as they're adults, because we know
as adults that never there's never a day that goes
as we expect, and that we need to have emotional
and mental health stability, be able to recognize those emotions,
be able to identify those emotions, and be able to
(03:52):
move quickly towards how do we overcome it so that
we can push through what it is that we need
to do for that day.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
That's excellent advice, and you're right we need that. We
need reminders as adults, and especially so we can be
role models for our children because they are modeling us
as well, in addition to all their influences that they
have during the day when they could be at school.
So is there a secret to raising more independent kids?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah, so I want to get to the raising independent
children in just a second, but I do want to
comment on your very astute statement about children are watching us.
Research shows that children do more of what they see
than what we say, and that's part of that resilience.
(04:43):
Is children need not just explanation, but they need experience.
And you will see as your children grow that they
will even with my three daughters I have three daughters
and a son, is that they choose the nail polish
that I chose. Is that the way that I talk
about things, the way that I see my grown daughter
(05:06):
now speaking to her grandson are many of the words
that I used with them. And so the way that
we're going to help those children, our children become more
resilient is that we're going to have to recognize as
parents that when we're rushing through things is when we
(05:26):
typically don't give children an opportunity to practice, meaning to
put their own shoes on, meaning to gather the things
of their backpack. And with that, we just do everything
for them because it's faster, it's easier, and we really
don't want to cause any ripples where people are upset,
(05:47):
where the children are fussing. We're just trying to get
out of the house and get to where we need
to go. These younger years are so important that we're
taking time for children to have some moments of being upset.
Way more important to learn emotional skill set on being
upset because you didn't get the purple popsicle that your
(06:10):
sister or your brother.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
God, then how.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
You're going to deal with a relationship breakup later in life,
or a grade that you anticipated to be an A
or a B in college and it's a C or
a D. How do you have the resilience to come
back from that? Because it's continued demonstration, demonstration of great
performance that ultimately leads to the success of children and
(06:37):
to the success of adults.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Excellent excellent advice. I love it and it is so
important everything that you just said. And so we touched
on becoming more independent, and I know you just said
things like packing your own backpack and doing things for yourself.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
What's the secret? What else can we do?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
So I think that independent piece is really structuring routine
for children so that they understand what it is that
they need to do for independence. And that is letting
them brush their own teeth. That is making sure that
you have rules when you come in the home, that
they're taking their shoes off and they're throwing them into
(07:16):
this basket, and that you're making sure those things happen.
So one of the things that I can say is
that don't say anything at all if you're not prepared
to spend the time making sure the child does what
it is you're asking that child to do.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
So if you're asking.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Them to clean up toys and that expectation is that
we clean up the toys before we move to reading
and before we move to snack time, is that you
take the time to recognize that learning just doesn't happen
during play, but the greatest learning, that mental health learning,
that resilience learning, happens when a parent is helping a
(07:58):
child to do what it is they ask them to do.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
And so how can we as parents and caregivers find support?
Because I feel like on a daily basis, we are
balancing our own jobs, our own responsibilities, the pressures of being.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
A parent, and we want to show up.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
We want to show up positively for our kids because,
like you said, they are going to act like we act.
They are going to really absorb what we're doing. And
I know so many days parents just experience guilt because
they feel like they're not doing enough, or maybe they
did have an explosion of their own because they were
so stressed out. So where can we go for support?
Speaker 3 (08:40):
So you've said so many important things, Michelle, and so
the first thing I'll just reiterate two of the things
that you said. One is giving up the guilt. You
can't be perfect and parenting. Just strive for good intention
and for excellence. And the second one is that give
up the guilt. There are so many people that are
(09:00):
judging you social media. We're trying to be some sort
of parent that's been painted for us. The parent that
we want to be is developing a relationship with our
child so that when they're older, they will come to
us with any of the issues or problems that they
have so that we can help them work through them
and them recognizing that they're going to be consequences. So
(09:24):
surround yourself with parents who know that we're all just
doing our best. Surround yourself with people that you can
speak with, relatives, neighbors, places of worship where people are
going to give you support and not judgment. And we
also know that for those children who are in nursery, school, preschool, childcare, daycare,
(09:46):
is that ninety one percent of parents recognize and know
that the providers and those programs are an important part
of the growth and development, including resilience to their children.
So let go of the guilt, surround yourself with people
who share your values, and do the best you can
(10:08):
every day and let it go at the end of
the day.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Yes, and you mentioned how it is so important to
pick that program for your kids that does all the
things that you just mentioned. So where can we find
more information on light Bridge Academy.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
So you can find more information at Lightbridge Academy dot
com and it can tell you about educating the whole child.
It's important for them to have the academics, but it's
also equally important to have the mental health and the
resilience you need to be a successful adult.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Absolutely, And I will say that just firsthand. I have
seen my kids who have both gone through threes and
FOURST programs and the teachers, the ones who are outgoing,
the ones who bring out my kids personalities.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
I mean, I definitely saw the difference.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
We were probably three or four different programs throughout their time,
and you can definitely see the difference. So I think
it is so important to do your research. And I'm
so happy to have had you on the show today
with me. I'm Michelle Jerson. The Passport Mommy more coming
up in a few you're listening to Passport Mommy. I'm
Michelle Jerson. And did you know that June is Beautiful
(11:23):
in your Skin Month? It is celebrated every June and
it basically brings our attention to promoting healthy skin routines
and self love. And so I'm really happy to have
on the show with me today renowned dermatologists doctor Alexis Stevens.
She is teaming up with Olay Body to share some
body and skincare tips for the summer. Because we all
(11:45):
know that the most important thing to do is to
take care of our skin. She is the founder of
Lex Dermatology and Aesthetics in Boca Raton, Florida. Thank you
so much for joining me today, doctor Alexis Stevens.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
My pleasure is so tell me what's the most important
thing to know about skin care?
Speaker 4 (12:06):
The most important thing to know for me as a
dermatologist is making sure that not only myself but also
my patients are using effective skin care products, not just
sitting on the skin, but the ones that can actually
penetrate the skin and therefore deliver real results and benefits.
So I love products that have going to innovation behind
them where you can see the changes on your skin
(12:26):
and so you're motivated to continue to use them.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Exactly, and so, how can a daily routine basically improve
our overall wellness?
Speaker 4 (12:35):
So our overall wellness, especially women, but everyone, we really
want to feel good in our skin. So it's important
to use the skincare routine that's going to improve our skin.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
But we also want one.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
That's going to improve how we visibly see our skin
because it helps us to feel more confident. So using
products that actually work like Olay Super serum body wash
are fantastic options because it will deliver five visible benefits.
It hydrates, firms, smooth bretons, and even out your skin tone.
So making sure that you're using products that you can
(13:07):
see the change in actually working, it's going to help
you to not only feel good in your skin, improve
your skin, but feel more confident.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Right exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
And I know you mentioned that obviously we want those
products that are actually absorbing into the skin. What are
some other benefits of using quality skin care products?
Speaker 4 (13:27):
A good quality product is also going to help to
hydrate your skin and protect it from environmental damage and
reduce the signs of aging. We want a product that
can do it all. And with the advanced technology of
the world that we have today, we have products that
can do so many different things. So it's really important
that we're actually using those quality products as opposed to
(13:48):
the products that might just be trendy but don't necessarily
deliver the results.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
And I feel like you know, we always think we
have to spend so much money to get a quality product,
but not necessary.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Now, that's the beauty of the world today is that
there's so many good products that are easily available at
like national retailers. You don't necessarily have to go with
the big expensive products anymore.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Right, So what would you say has improved most with
skincare technology over the years.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
So Alay has actually paved so many different ways with
the technology and skincare. They have an advanced delivery system
that actually helps to penetrate the skin several layers deep,
meaning that you can see the results faster. You can
see moisturization in the skin and hydration, so.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
It just looks healthier.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Binding products that can actually get into the skin have
been a challenge over the years, and so I love
that we have this breakthrough technology that make sure that
the products are delivered deep down into the skin.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, me too, And so walk us through what a
routine should look like.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Maybe when you wake up.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
In the morning, what are some things you should do
and when you go to bed at night.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
So a good skincare routine does not have to be
multiple different steps like what we see on social media.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
It could be very simple.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Most importantly, you want to make sure that you are
cleansing your skin with an appropriate cleanser for your skin type.
Important to hydrate your skin and important to protect your skin.
So your morning would be cleansing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
If you want to get fancy, you can always incorporate
things like an antioxidant and there before you put on
your sunscreen. And then at nighttime you don't need your sunscreen,
(15:30):
but you should be finishing off with a moisturizer. So
you would cleanse, maybe use a targeted product that's very
specific to whatever your skin concern is, and then moisturize
and don't leave your body out. Because we focus so
much on our face that we forget our body needs
a routine too. One of my favorite things is to
use a product on the body that can multitask, can
do so many different things. Because I'm a busy mom,
(15:52):
I don't have a lot of time and r two,
so finding products that can do more for us with
just like a single kind of body wash like the
Ola Super Sum. It's fantastic because we're already hydrating, exfoliating,
brightening the skin with just that one product.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Exactly. I love it.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
And I know you mentioned your mom. I'm a mom
to two young kids. What types of cleaning or cleansing
would you recommend for young kids?
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Should they just.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Use a bar of soap, or should they also use
a product for.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
Young kids for their face and for their body. So
I have two young children too, and they already have
a skincare routine. So for the face, actually think even
at a younger age, it's important to use a product
that is gentlely formulated for facial skin and for the body.
I would say to use either a bar that's fine
or a bar soap that's gentle. Or my children actually
(16:46):
use liquid soap for their body too. You don't want
to use too many actives when you're too young because
you don't need that and you don't want to irritate
the skin. But making sure they have a slid routine
and they understand taking care of both their facial skin
and their body is important. My kids are five and eight,
so they're on it already.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Oh wow, that's great.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Well, your motivational mind just turned six and eight.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
So we will go out and add that facial watch
that I've been meaning to do. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
So where can we go for more information on everything
we spoke about today?
Speaker 4 (17:19):
You can find more information at Ola dot com and
you can find the Ola supercier Own bodywatch at all
of the national retailers perfect.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Thank you so much, and where can we find you?
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Thank you. You can find me at doctor Alexis Stevens.
I'm on all of the platforms.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Great well.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Thank you so much, Doctor Alexis Stevens. I appreciate you
joining me today on Passport Mommy. Thank you for all
of the wonderful skincare tips.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Thank you, have a great day.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Thank you too.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
I'm Michelle Jerson the Passport Mommy More coming up in
a few you're listening to Passport Mommy. I'm Michelle Jerson,
and it's that time of year. It is finally time
if you're in the Northeast where we can enjoy the weather,
we can go outside, we can work outside if you
work from home, and there's nothing better than a really
(18:06):
nice outdoor space. And so I'm really happy to have
on the show with me today. Sean McLear. He's with
us because he has written the book Deck Rebellion Revolutionary
Concepts for Outdoor Living, and he does this for a
living and he builds beautiful spaces. So I thought he
could give us tips on what we can do for
(18:28):
our spring and summer projects and also just.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
What we can find in his book Sean. Thank you
so much for joining me today.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
Thank you, Michelle, it's great to be here.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
So what inspired your passion for deck construction, designing.
Speaker 6 (18:40):
And building, and which has been in my family for
three generations, and that was the world that was born into.
I've built a lot of houses, I've built a lot
of different things. Interiors, furniture grew up in my father's
architectural woodworking shop, but I gravitated towards doing it outdoor
living spaces, being outdoor spaces. I just I always felt
(19:03):
like we would do these beautiful, beautiful houses, and the
decks were like they were sad, They were just rectangles
stuck on the.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
Back like a platform.
Speaker 6 (19:13):
And I was the houses deserved more, and the properties
were beautiful. And this is your transitional space between your
house and your property. And for those of us that
pay a lot of property taxes, you're paying a lot
of money to live on that property, and you really
want to take it full advantage of being outside and
enjoying the view, I mean, the health benefits of being outside.
(19:36):
Biophilic design is a whole science of how being outside,
feeling the breeze on your face, the sun, everything else,
and how it stimulates your mind and your body, and
it's just a healthier way to live. So I felt
that and I really gravitated towards that, and I really
wanted to take the take the inside out.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yes, I hear you. I feel this same way.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
I feel like my home is my haven and when
I am outside, I do I just want to relax and.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
I want to have that space.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
So what are some ways decks are changing in current
home designs.
Speaker 6 (20:12):
So decks were for the last thirty forty fifty years,
decks were an afterthought. It was something that was put
on afterwards. They were built out of pressure treated lumber.
For the last thirty forty years. Before that, it was
just regular lumber. But there the actuarial tables on these condos.
When you buy a condo, if you have a pressure
(20:33):
treated deck, their thing is replaced every twenty years. That's
how long it's going to last. And by the time
it gets into the second half of its life, not
so good.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
So it was.
Speaker 6 (20:43):
Always an afterthought and the material people didn't want to
invest a lot into it because they knew it wasn't
going to be something that was around for a while. Now,
with the modern materials that we have PBC deck boards,
steel framing, the aluminum lovered roof and pergolis structures that
we do outdoor kitchen inspire everything. This is you're building
(21:05):
it forever. This is part of the home. It's going
to last as long as the home does, and that's
how we design it. So that's the trend in decking.
And really it's not just decks, it's you want to
have a space outside that can be covered because if
you think about you're going to spend all this money
on a deck, it's like building a room with no roof.
(21:26):
I mean, what literally, what are you going to do
with that? Sovering? Covering decks, and especially now here in
the Northeast, this past winter was more normal, but the
trend is warmer and warmer, and you know, we build
spaces that you're using for at least ten months a year,
and when.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
It's covered as you've got heat.
Speaker 6 (21:47):
Ceiling, fans, the whole bit, it becomes people's favorite room
in the house.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
They're outdoor living room exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
So if somebody already has a deck, let's say that
they're happy with, but they want to add a covering
to it, how difficult is that to do?
Speaker 5 (22:02):
It's not difficult.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
It takes some design expertise to make it look like
it wasn't just an ad on, But do that a
lot for people. We put on the Equinox lever roof
over existing decks. We do regular roofs we put over there,
we put add in kitchens and fireplaces. It can be
done over an existing deck and depending on the age
of the deck. We do a lot of remodels, which
(22:24):
is where the name of my company, Deck Remodelers came from.
We started out doing a lot of remodels where we
would take the existing frame, strip it all down, jacking
new rails, new facious stairs, the whole bit, and basically
you have a brand new deck. I mean esthetically, you
have a brand new deck. Now the frame has to
(22:46):
be in good condition because this is going to last
for the next fifty years.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
But that's something you could definitely do.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Yeah, And I think when some people think about home
projects like this, it might seem a little overwhelming for them.
What advice would you give so that they don't just
not do it and that they do move forward?
Speaker 5 (23:05):
You know what, that's a great question I have.
Speaker 6 (23:08):
I cannot tell you how many people come to me
that have been just kicking this back and forth for years.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
They don't know where to start.
Speaker 6 (23:16):
Or they started with an architect, but that kind of
was a dead end because they really couldn't get what
they wanted they didn't know what it cost. Or they
started with a contractor and then they started getting prices
and they weren't even sure what they were getting. The
best advice is start with a master plan. Need a
master plan, whether you're going to do it all this
year or over the next five years or eight years.
(23:38):
Start with a master plan, and then break it down
into phases.
Speaker 5 (23:42):
That way you know what you're getting and you avoid the.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
I tell people that this has happened so many times.
It's a cliche. I get to somebody's house. They decided
to put the pool in real quick, in a hurry
because they wanted the pool for the kids. Now it's
time to do the deck, and they want this, you know,
they see this stuff that we do, and they want
the outdoor living room and this and that and this
and that.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
And I look at them and I say, the pool
is to do what you want to do. The pool
is five feet too close to the house, right And
like pool guy just said.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
To put it there. I'm like, because the pool guy
doesn't care. The pool guy is putting a pool in,
He's not thinking master plan.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Right exactly. That's good advice.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
So when you were putting together your book, how did
you decide which top ten plans to illustrate in the
book and what can we expect to be featured?
Speaker 5 (24:33):
Oh that was really hard for me.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
That was these are like my babies I've got I've
got so many different projects, and like everyone has a
backstory and this one, you know, this one there was
grading issues, and this one we had to build rotaining walls.
And this one they wanted a hundred and eighty degree
(24:57):
one hundred and eighty degree he local stairs and we
had to design and come up with, you know, how
to construct that and it was painful to go through
really so many intimations. But then when it was done,
it was like, oh my god, this is awesome. Yeah,
and you know, so it was really hard to pick
the top ten. Basically, you know, my team has their favorites.
(25:19):
I have my favorites. And then we looked at the
award winners, so a lot of the National Award winners,
so that's NADRA is the North American Deck and Rail
Association that they have the Deck Awards, which is like
the Oscars of decks.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
Okay, it used to be red carpet and we would
at the.
Speaker 6 (25:38):
At the Aquarium down in Baltimore, we did in Chicago,
all around the country every year. It's a little more
casual now, but it still brings in three hundred.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
Of the top designers and builders from around the world.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
This is the United States, Canada, UK, New Zealand, Australia
and these guys compete so well. The winners that you'll
see in the book are winners first place winners from
those awards, so they were judged by a lot of
judges around the world.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Wow, that's amazing.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
And I know you travel a lot to inspire your
designs when designing someone's deck in their home, how do
your travels influence your building?
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Oh? I do?
Speaker 6 (26:21):
You know in America there's a lot of we're a
little bit behind on the outdoor living space. When you
go to these other countries, there's so much more outdoor
living right And you know, you go to the resorts
and just everything is outside and you just you know
that feeling when you walk outside with the drink in
(26:42):
your hand. The temperature is absolutely perfect, and they've got
the couches overlooking the water and you sit down there
and the whole weight of the world just lifts.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
Off of you. Yes, that feeling is what I design
for people's backyards so they can have that every day.
Speaker 7 (27:00):
So amazing.
Speaker 6 (27:01):
You know that it's birch and whether it's you know,
Spanish influenced design. I was in Spain and just the
arches and the colors and the different things, or you
know Thailand where it's it's just a whole different kind
of rustic thing going on there and very textural.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
It's just really cool.
Speaker 8 (27:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
And so if somebody has maybe like a smaller acreage
in their backyard, could they still make an oasis out
there with the deck?
Speaker 5 (27:30):
Absolutely?
Speaker 6 (27:30):
And those those are some of my favorite projects too,
because you know, when you have some parameters and you're restricted,
it forces you to get really creative. Right when you
just have this giant, open, big lot, it's like, okay, yeah,
it's really.
Speaker 5 (27:44):
About about budget.
Speaker 6 (27:45):
But when you have a smaller space, and especially if
it's you know, densely populated so that you've got neighbors
around stuff, creating a cool space that's private. Yeah, and
you know gives you everything. You know, New York apartment, right,
there's some New York apartments that are so well designed
that everything fits into this smaller space and it's just
(28:07):
like it's perfect. I really that that kind of design.
Speaker 5 (28:12):
I just love it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Yeah, And so I know you're a third generation builder.
How did your family influence your current work?
Speaker 6 (28:20):
Oh, my dad kicked my ass out to work every
morning at five thirty and didn't let me waste anything.
I mean, he's from Ireland, so he's old school. It
was no waste in anything. No was not an option.
Failure was not an option. It was figure out how
to do.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
It make it work.
Speaker 6 (28:41):
So, you know, I have a big family and my
first house was a very small house. I literally couldn't
have all of my family over unless we were on
the deck.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
So that kind of pushed me as well, like we
need to cover this thing.
Speaker 6 (28:55):
I can't be sweating out is it going to rain
on Easter when we have everybody over or you know,
Thanksgiving or whatever. So that kind of led me to
start covering a lot of the decks that I did.
So that's that's a big influence on my design.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yeah, it's so smart and it's so creative.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
And so what does revolutionizing deck design mean to you?
Speaker 6 (29:20):
It means taking things that haven't been done before outside
or haven't been done at scale, and.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
Making them available for people.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
So like when we did in twenty fourteen, we won
for Sunken Fire Lounge, which was a situation where I
didn't have enough space zoning wise to be able to
build a deck and big enough with the lounge area
and everything else. And the lady, the client, she had
(29:52):
a round couch on her patio and that was on
her old deck. The first thing that struck me was like,
the round couch stuck in the corner of a deck
does not look good.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
It just doesn't fit. It just it wasn't a great
use of space.
Speaker 6 (30:06):
And then I had to curve the deck and manipulate
the deck to make it work inside the zoning parameters.
And I'm like, well, if I do this as a
circular curve, I can get it. I can pull it
in enough to make this work, and I can put
her couch in there, which you'll even be better, and
then a fire in the middle of it. It'll be perfect.
And she had a lot of faith in me. We
(30:29):
didn't have the three D design stuff that we have now.
So I told her what I was going to do
and she's like, I trust you, and I did it
and it was like blow away. She was so incredibly
happy with that. So doing something like that was is
kind of cool and just making the space. So when
when I designed, I designed for I designed, So it flows.
(30:53):
It flows from an intimate gathering. So it's you and
your family, your kids, whatever, hanging out to a bigger party,
but there's no breaking it up. It's everybody is at
the same party.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Well, I love what you're doing, and you know, when
I get my next home, I want to call you
and come at it.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
You come out.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
So what's the process.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
If somebody wants to get in touch with you for
our consultation, say where do you service?
Speaker 6 (31:17):
We're based in Spartan, New Jersey. Decromodelers dot Com is
our website. You can see tons of stuff that we
do up there. You can reach us through there. There's
thousands of pictures and videos and it really walks you
through all the different the different aspects and things to
think about whether you work with us or not. Looking
through that stuff and reading what we have up there
will help you make better informed decisions.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
Right.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
So that's dec Remodelers our Instagram. We have a big,
big following on Instagram and that's where all our latest
and greatest stuff go up. There's a lot of walkthroughs
of spaces, which, by the way, in the book, which
is kind of a cool thing.
Speaker 5 (31:51):
I thought.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
We put QR codes on some of the pictures. So
we have about ten or fifteen walkthroughs that you can do.
So if you're looking at a picture of a deck
you like, you can click the QR code and I'll
walk you through the space. We work from northern Fairfield
County in Connecticut all the way down through outside of Philly.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
And where can we get your book, Deck Rebellion Revolutionary
Concepts for Outdoor Living.
Speaker 6 (32:16):
You can get it on Amazon. It's available on Amazon
and it's also available through our website. If you'd like
a signed copy, you can go through our website.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Well, thank you so much, Sean McLear. I appreciate you
joining me today on Passport Mommy.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
Thanks Michelle, have a great day.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Thank you you too. I'm Michelle Jerson the Passport Mommy.
More coming up than a few.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
You're listening to Passport Mommy. I'm Michelle Jerson, and we
are talking about meningitis today because it is often something
that a lot of people don't speak about but maybe.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Need to learn a little more about.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
And so I'm happy to have with me today doctor
April Barnes. She's a pediatrician and Patsy, a mother of
a meningitis survivor.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Thank you both so much for joining me today. Thank
you for having you for having us, Doctor.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Barnes, can you explain what meningitis is and how serious
it can be.
Speaker 8 (33:08):
One in ten of the people that contract meningitis will
die even with proper treatment, and one in five of
the survivors can have long term complications like brain damage,
hearing loss, or limb amputation. So there are five SARAH
groups of meningecacled meningitis ABC wn Y, and their vaccinations
(33:31):
against those SARAH groups. The bacteria that can cause meningitis
is spread through common tene and young adult behaviors, so kissing, coughing,
sharing drinks, utensils, and living in close quarters. And so
since we're in this back to school season, we really
want to empower parents to ask their teens doctor to
(33:52):
be sure that they have gotten the vaccinations, not just
for acwn y, but for b as well.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
So interesting try to tell my kids don't share cups
and I'm thinking colds viruses, but you don't realize just
how serious it could be. And so doctor Marns, why
are teens ages sixteen to twenty three years of age
at an increase risk for meningitis?
Speaker 8 (34:16):
So mainly it's because of the behaviors that they're doing
at this age, so that they're in starting relationships, so
they're kissing, they're sharing drinks and utensils. But they're also
living in close quarters, so they are going off to college,
they might be in military barracks, and so just in
that age group, the potential for them to have long
(34:37):
term contact with people in close quarters, all of those
things can increase their risk.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Right, and Patsy, what's it been like for you?
Speaker 1 (34:46):
What's your experience been like with being a parent to
somebody with meningitis.
Speaker 7 (34:52):
Well, I did become involved with the GSK campaign, asked
to be sure after my daughter Jamie survived a devastating
battle with meninja cockle disease. Jamie was a second year
student at her dream college, living the life as any
other college kid would do, and within one day she
(35:13):
just started feeling he flew like symptoms, fatigued body aches,
nothing too alarming, but quickly turned into something more serious
with high fevers and chills, and rushed to the hospital
again within less than twenty four hours, and she stayed
in the hospital there for seven months. When the doctors
(35:36):
told me it was meninja cockle disease, it was quite
alarming for me and certainly something I was not totally
educated on, and so Jamie was in the hospital some months.
She ultimately had both legs below the knee amputated it
as well as all of her fingers. But this is
the reality of meningitis and what it can do to
(35:58):
a young what could be healthy child.
Speaker 1 (36:01):
Doctor Barnes, what question should parents be asking their teen's doctor.
Speaker 8 (36:06):
So first they should be asking what vaccinations their teen
or young adult.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Has already had.
Speaker 8 (36:12):
Then they should ask if there are any other vaccinations
that they are eligible for at this time, and then
they should ask what is the follow up schedule for
completing the series of those vaccinations and making sure that
they put that on their calendars, because it is pretty
high priority to make sure that you've done what you
(36:33):
can do as a parent to protect your teen against meningitis.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
Absolutely, and at what age should they look into the vaccine?
Speaker 8 (36:40):
So the acwny those vaccines usually start at about eleven
and then the B vaccine Usually that conversation starts about sixteen.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Okay, So tell me about the Lifetime original movie Pretty
Hurts brought to you by GSK.
Speaker 8 (36:58):
So Pretty Hurts is a Lifetime original movie brought to
you by GSK that honors stories of families and survivors
of meningitis. And so it follows a parent played by
Haley Duff who has a teen and a beauty pageant,
and then we just kind of see how meningecocle disease
(37:18):
can affect not just an individual, but a community. And
so we are very excited to see how this empowers
parents to ask the questions that they need to in
order to protect their teens against meningitis.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
Well, thank you both so much for joining me. What
an incredibly informative segment and one that I think parents
need to hear.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Where can we go to learn more?
Speaker 8 (37:43):
So they can go to ask to the number two
the letter b sure dot com and that will give
them more information and also for Pretty Hurts. It premieres
June twenty eighth, eight pm Eastern Time.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
Horrific.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
Well, thank you both so much for your advocacy, for
your speaking role committed to raising awareness about meningitis and
the importance of vaccination against it. I appreciate you both
joining me today on Passport Montei
Welcome to Passport Mommy. I'm your host, Michelle Jerson. This
show is for anyone raising little humans. We feature experts
with tips and advice to enrich the lives of our children.
Mom and dad entrepreneurs tell us their inspiring stories, learn
about products that could make both you and your child's
life easier and more fun, and of course, fellow parents
(00:21):
discuss and laugh about what's happening in their child's world.
Motherhood is a journey. Thanks for joining me onmine. Welcome
to Passport Mommy. I'm Michelle Jerson.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I hope you had a fabulous week.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
You know, as parents, there is so much pressure on
us to make sure that we are doing the very
best for our children, and that starts when they're really young,
from homework help and finding missing cleads to shielding them
from stress.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
It's hard for parents to see children struggle.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
However, there is some research that suggests that rushing in
to save them may be doing more harm than good.
So I'm really happy to have on the show with
me today parenting and education expert gg Schwikert. She's going
to talk to us about the growing concern that over
protection may be actually hindering the development of resilience in children,
(01:13):
and she'll share the secrets to raising better problem solvers
and how parenting differently can actually lead to more independence.
If you have kids, you know that those preschool years
are so important. They are so formative for both kids
and parents. I think we really learn what our child
(01:34):
is like a little more with each year. And I
firmly believe that who they have as their pre K
teachers and their three K teachers or whatever you call
it nursery school, depending on wherever you are, is so
important in their development. And so I'm happy to have
on the show with me today, Gg Swikert. She is
the Lightbridge Academy CEO and parenting expert.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Hi Gg, good morning.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Michelle doing well? Thank you?
Speaker 1 (02:02):
So talk to me about children these days? What are
you finding as the CEO and parenting expert of light
Bridge Academy, are children becoming more or less resilience?
Speaker 3 (02:15):
So great question, and first of all, let me retract
the expert piece. As the mommy of four grown children
and now a nine month old grandchild, I will say
that we never reach expert status in being a parent.
(02:35):
So it's important for parents to realize that you're never
going to be perfect and you're never going to do
everything just right.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
But what we are noticing.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Today coming out of the pandemic and maybe the parenting
that we have looked at previously, is that children are
less resilient. And so let me define resilience for you. Resilience,
and it's simplistic form, is really recognizing how we respond
(03:07):
when things don't go our way. So how do we
bounce back? How do we bounce back that we didn't
get the purple popsicle? How do we bounce back that
our artwork didn't turn out exactly like we wanted it?
How do we bounce back that mommy's not going to
let me wear those sandals in the snow? How do
we bounce back? And how we help children to develop
that skill set when they're young is going to be
(03:30):
exponentially helpful to them as they're adults, because we know
as adults that never there's never a day that goes
as we expect, and that we need to have emotional
and mental health stability, be able to recognize those emotions,
be able to identify those emotions, and be able to
(03:52):
move quickly towards how do we overcome it so that
we can push through what it is that we need
to do for that day.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
That's excellent advice, and you're right we need that. We
need reminders as adults, and especially so we can be
role models for our children because they are modeling us
as well, in addition to all their influences that they
have during the day when they could be at school.
So is there a secret to raising more independent kids?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah, so I want to get to the raising independent
children in just a second, but I do want to
comment on your very astute statement about children are watching us.
Research shows that children do more of what they see
than what we say, and that's part of that resilience.
(04:43):
Is children need not just explanation, but they need experience.
And you will see as your children grow that they
will even with my three daughters I have three daughters
and a son, is that they choose the nail polish
that I chose. Is that the way that I talk
about things, the way that I see my grown daughter
(05:06):
now speaking to her grandson are many of the words
that I used with them. And so the way that
we're going to help those children, our children become more
resilient is that we're going to have to recognize as
parents that when we're rushing through things is when we
(05:26):
typically don't give children an opportunity to practice, meaning to
put their own shoes on, meaning to gather the things
of their backpack. And with that, we just do everything
for them because it's faster, it's easier, and we really
don't want to cause any ripples where people are upset,
(05:47):
where the children are fussing. We're just trying to get
out of the house and get to where we need
to go. These younger years are so important that we're
taking time for children to have some moments of being upset.
Way more important to learn emotional skill set on being
upset because you didn't get the purple popsicle that your
(06:10):
sister or your brother.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
God, then how.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
You're going to deal with a relationship breakup later in life,
or a grade that you anticipated to be an A
or a B in college and it's a C or
a D. How do you have the resilience to come
back from that? Because it's continued demonstration, demonstration of great
performance that ultimately leads to the success of children and
(06:37):
to the success of adults.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Excellent excellent advice. I love it and it is so
important everything that you just said. And so we touched
on becoming more independent, and I know you just said
things like packing your own backpack and doing things for yourself.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
What's the secret? What else can we do?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
So I think that independent piece is really structuring routine
for children so that they understand what it is that
they need to do for independence. And that is letting
them brush their own teeth. That is making sure that
you have rules when you come in the home, that
they're taking their shoes off and they're throwing them into
(07:16):
this basket, and that you're making sure those things happen.
So one of the things that I can say is
that don't say anything at all if you're not prepared
to spend the time making sure the child does what
it is you're asking that child to do.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
So if you're asking.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Them to clean up toys and that expectation is that
we clean up the toys before we move to reading
and before we move to snack time, is that you
take the time to recognize that learning just doesn't happen
during play, but the greatest learning, that mental health learning,
that resilience learning, happens when a parent is helping a
(07:58):
child to do what it is they ask them to do.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
And so how can we as parents and caregivers find support?
Because I feel like on a daily basis, we are
balancing our own jobs, our own responsibilities, the pressures of being.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
A parent, and we want to show up.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
We want to show up positively for our kids because,
like you said, they are going to act like we act.
They are going to really absorb what we're doing. And
I know so many days parents just experience guilt because
they feel like they're not doing enough, or maybe they
did have an explosion of their own because they were
so stressed out. So where can we go for support?
Speaker 3 (08:40):
So you've said so many important things, Michelle, and so
the first thing I'll just reiterate two of the things
that you said. One is giving up the guilt. You
can't be perfect and parenting. Just strive for good intention
and for excellence. And the second one is that give
up the guilt. There are so many people that are
(09:00):
judging you social media. We're trying to be some sort
of parent that's been painted for us. The parent that
we want to be is developing a relationship with our
child so that when they're older, they will come to
us with any of the issues or problems that they
have so that we can help them work through them
and them recognizing that they're going to be consequences. So
(09:24):
surround yourself with parents who know that we're all just
doing our best. Surround yourself with people that you can
speak with, relatives, neighbors, places of worship where people are
going to give you support and not judgment. And we
also know that for those children who are in nursery, school, preschool, childcare, daycare,
(09:46):
is that ninety one percent of parents recognize and know
that the providers and those programs are an important part
of the growth and development, including resilience to their children.
So let go of the guilt, surround yourself with people
who share your values, and do the best you can
(10:08):
every day and let it go at the end of
the day.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Yes, and you mentioned how it is so important to
pick that program for your kids that does all the
things that you just mentioned. So where can we find
more information on light Bridge Academy.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
So you can find more information at Lightbridge Academy dot
com and it can tell you about educating the whole child.
It's important for them to have the academics, but it's
also equally important to have the mental health and the
resilience you need to be a successful adult.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Absolutely, And I will say that just firsthand. I have
seen my kids who have both gone through threes and
FOURST programs and the teachers, the ones who are outgoing,
the ones who bring out my kids personalities.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
I mean, I definitely saw the difference.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
We were probably three or four different programs throughout their time,
and you can definitely see the difference. So I think
it is so important to do your research. And I'm
so happy to have had you on the show today
with me. I'm Michelle Jerson. The Passport Mommy more coming
up in a few you're listening to Passport Mommy. I'm
Michelle Jerson. And did you know that June is Beautiful
(11:23):
in your Skin Month? It is celebrated every June and
it basically brings our attention to promoting healthy skin routines
and self love. And so I'm really happy to have
on the show with me today renowned dermatologists doctor Alexis Stevens.
She is teaming up with Olay Body to share some
body and skincare tips for the summer. Because we all
(11:45):
know that the most important thing to do is to
take care of our skin. She is the founder of
Lex Dermatology and Aesthetics in Boca Raton, Florida. Thank you
so much for joining me today, doctor Alexis Stevens.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
My pleasure is so tell me what's the most important
thing to know about skin care?
Speaker 4 (12:06):
The most important thing to know for me as a
dermatologist is making sure that not only myself but also
my patients are using effective skin care products, not just
sitting on the skin, but the ones that can actually
penetrate the skin and therefore deliver real results and benefits.
So I love products that have going to innovation behind
them where you can see the changes on your skin
(12:26):
and so you're motivated to continue to use them.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Exactly, and so, how can a daily routine basically improve
our overall wellness?
Speaker 4 (12:35):
So our overall wellness, especially women, but everyone, we really
want to feel good in our skin. So it's important
to use the skincare routine that's going to improve our skin.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
But we also want one.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
That's going to improve how we visibly see our skin
because it helps us to feel more confident. So using
products that actually work like Olay Super serum body wash
are fantastic options because it will deliver five visible benefits.
It hydrates, firms, smooth bretons, and even out your skin tone.
So making sure that you're using products that you can
(13:07):
see the change in actually working, it's going to help
you to not only feel good in your skin, improve
your skin, but feel more confident.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Right exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
And I know you mentioned that obviously we want those
products that are actually absorbing into the skin. What are
some other benefits of using quality skin care products?
Speaker 4 (13:27):
A good quality product is also going to help to
hydrate your skin and protect it from environmental damage and
reduce the signs of aging. We want a product that
can do it all. And with the advanced technology of
the world that we have today, we have products that
can do so many different things. So it's really important
that we're actually using those quality products as opposed to
(13:48):
the products that might just be trendy but don't necessarily
deliver the results.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
And I feel like you know, we always think we
have to spend so much money to get a quality product,
but not necessary.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Now, that's the beauty of the world today is that
there's so many good products that are easily available at
like national retailers. You don't necessarily have to go with
the big expensive products anymore.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Right, So what would you say has improved most with
skincare technology over the years.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
So Alay has actually paved so many different ways with
the technology and skincare. They have an advanced delivery system
that actually helps to penetrate the skin several layers deep,
meaning that you can see the results faster. You can
see moisturization in the skin and hydration, so.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
It just looks healthier.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Binding products that can actually get into the skin have
been a challenge over the years, and so I love
that we have this breakthrough technology that make sure that
the products are delivered deep down into the skin.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, me too, And so walk us through what a
routine should look like.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Maybe when you wake up.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
In the morning, what are some things you should do
and when you go to bed at night.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
So a good skincare routine does not have to be
multiple different steps like what we see on social media.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
It could be very simple.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Most importantly, you want to make sure that you are
cleansing your skin with an appropriate cleanser for your skin type.
Important to hydrate your skin and important to protect your skin.
So your morning would be cleansing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
If you want to get fancy, you can always incorporate
things like an antioxidant and there before you put on
your sunscreen. And then at nighttime you don't need your sunscreen,
(15:30):
but you should be finishing off with a moisturizer. So
you would cleanse, maybe use a targeted product that's very
specific to whatever your skin concern is, and then moisturize
and don't leave your body out. Because we focus so
much on our face that we forget our body needs
a routine too. One of my favorite things is to
use a product on the body that can multitask, can
do so many different things. Because I'm a busy mom,
(15:52):
I don't have a lot of time and r two,
so finding products that can do more for us with
just like a single kind of body wash like the
Ola Super Sum. It's fantastic because we're already hydrating, exfoliating,
brightening the skin with just that one product.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Exactly. I love it.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
And I know you mentioned your mom. I'm a mom
to two young kids. What types of cleaning or cleansing
would you recommend for young kids?
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Should they just.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Use a bar of soap, or should they also use
a product for.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
Young kids for their face and for their body. So
I have two young children too, and they already have
a skincare routine. So for the face, actually think even
at a younger age, it's important to use a product
that is gentlely formulated for facial skin and for the body.
I would say to use either a bar that's fine
or a bar soap that's gentle. Or my children actually
(16:46):
use liquid soap for their body too. You don't want
to use too many actives when you're too young because
you don't need that and you don't want to irritate
the skin. But making sure they have a slid routine
and they understand taking care of both their facial skin
and their body is important. My kids are five and eight,
so they're on it already.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Oh wow, that's great.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Well, your motivational mind just turned six and eight.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
So we will go out and add that facial watch
that I've been meaning to do. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
So where can we go for more information on everything
we spoke about today?
Speaker 4 (17:19):
You can find more information at Ola dot com and
you can find the Ola supercier Own bodywatch at all
of the national retailers perfect.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Thank you so much, and where can we find you?
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Thank you. You can find me at doctor Alexis Stevens.
I'm on all of the platforms.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Great well.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Thank you so much, Doctor Alexis Stevens. I appreciate you
joining me today on Passport Mommy. Thank you for all
of the wonderful skincare tips.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Thank you, have a great day.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Thank you too.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
I'm Michelle Jerson the Passport Mommy More coming up in
a few you're listening to Passport Mommy. I'm Michelle Jerson,
and it's that time of year. It is finally time
if you're in the Northeast where we can enjoy the weather,
we can go outside, we can work outside if you
work from home, and there's nothing better than a really
(18:06):
nice outdoor space. And so I'm really happy to have
on the show with me today. Sean McLear. He's with
us because he has written the book Deck Rebellion Revolutionary
Concepts for Outdoor Living, and he does this for a
living and he builds beautiful spaces. So I thought he
could give us tips on what we can do for
(18:28):
our spring and summer projects and also just.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
What we can find in his book Sean. Thank you
so much for joining me today.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
Thank you, Michelle, it's great to be here.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
So what inspired your passion for deck construction, designing.
Speaker 6 (18:40):
And building, and which has been in my family for
three generations, and that was the world that was born into.
I've built a lot of houses, I've built a lot
of different things. Interiors, furniture grew up in my father's
architectural woodworking shop, but I gravitated towards doing it outdoor
living spaces, being outdoor spaces. I just I always felt
(19:03):
like we would do these beautiful, beautiful houses, and the
decks were like they were sad, They were just rectangles
stuck on the.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
Back like a platform.
Speaker 6 (19:13):
And I was the houses deserved more, and the properties
were beautiful. And this is your transitional space between your
house and your property. And for those of us that
pay a lot of property taxes, you're paying a lot
of money to live on that property, and you really
want to take it full advantage of being outside and
enjoying the view, I mean, the health benefits of being outside.
(19:36):
Biophilic design is a whole science of how being outside,
feeling the breeze on your face, the sun, everything else,
and how it stimulates your mind and your body, and
it's just a healthier way to live. So I felt
that and I really gravitated towards that, and I really
wanted to take the take the inside out.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yes, I hear you. I feel this same way.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
I feel like my home is my haven and when
I am outside, I do I just want to relax and.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
I want to have that space.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
So what are some ways decks are changing in current
home designs.
Speaker 6 (20:12):
So decks were for the last thirty forty fifty years,
decks were an afterthought. It was something that was put
on afterwards. They were built out of pressure treated lumber.
For the last thirty forty years. Before that, it was
just regular lumber. But there the actuarial tables on these condos.
When you buy a condo, if you have a pressure
(20:33):
treated deck, their thing is replaced every twenty years. That's
how long it's going to last. And by the time
it gets into the second half of its life, not
so good.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
So it was.
Speaker 6 (20:43):
Always an afterthought and the material people didn't want to
invest a lot into it because they knew it wasn't
going to be something that was around for a while. Now,
with the modern materials that we have PBC deck boards,
steel framing, the aluminum lovered roof and pergolis structures that
we do outdoor kitchen inspire everything. This is you're building
(21:05):
it forever. This is part of the home. It's going
to last as long as the home does, and that's
how we design it. So that's the trend in decking.
And really it's not just decks, it's you want to
have a space outside that can be covered because if
you think about you're going to spend all this money
on a deck, it's like building a room with no roof.
(21:26):
I mean, what literally, what are you going to do
with that? Sovering? Covering decks, and especially now here in
the Northeast, this past winter was more normal, but the
trend is warmer and warmer, and you know, we build
spaces that you're using for at least ten months a year,
and when.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
It's covered as you've got heat.
Speaker 6 (21:47):
Ceiling, fans, the whole bit, it becomes people's favorite room
in the house.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
They're outdoor living room exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
So if somebody already has a deck, let's say that
they're happy with, but they want to add a covering
to it, how difficult is that to do?
Speaker 5 (22:02):
It's not difficult.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
It takes some design expertise to make it look like
it wasn't just an ad on, But do that a
lot for people. We put on the Equinox lever roof
over existing decks. We do regular roofs we put over there,
we put add in kitchens and fireplaces. It can be
done over an existing deck and depending on the age
of the deck. We do a lot of remodels, which
(22:24):
is where the name of my company, Deck Remodelers came from.
We started out doing a lot of remodels where we
would take the existing frame, strip it all down, jacking
new rails, new facious stairs, the whole bit, and basically
you have a brand new deck. I mean esthetically, you
have a brand new deck. Now the frame has to
(22:46):
be in good condition because this is going to last
for the next fifty years.
Speaker 5 (22:49):
But that's something you could definitely do.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Yeah, And I think when some people think about home
projects like this, it might seem a little overwhelming for them.
What advice would you give so that they don't just
not do it and that they do move forward?
Speaker 5 (23:05):
You know what, that's a great question I have.
Speaker 6 (23:08):
I cannot tell you how many people come to me
that have been just kicking this back and forth for years.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
They don't know where to start.
Speaker 6 (23:16):
Or they started with an architect, but that kind of
was a dead end because they really couldn't get what
they wanted they didn't know what it cost. Or they
started with a contractor and then they started getting prices
and they weren't even sure what they were getting. The
best advice is start with a master plan. Need a
master plan, whether you're going to do it all this
year or over the next five years or eight years.
(23:38):
Start with a master plan, and then break it down
into phases.
Speaker 5 (23:42):
That way you know what you're getting and you avoid the.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
I tell people that this has happened so many times.
It's a cliche. I get to somebody's house. They decided
to put the pool in real quick, in a hurry
because they wanted the pool for the kids. Now it's
time to do the deck, and they want this, you know,
they see this stuff that we do, and they want
the outdoor living room and this and that and this
and that.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
And I look at them and I say, the pool
is to do what you want to do. The pool
is five feet too close to the house, right And
like pool guy just said.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
To put it there. I'm like, because the pool guy
doesn't care. The pool guy is putting a pool in,
He's not thinking master plan.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Right exactly. That's good advice.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
So when you were putting together your book, how did
you decide which top ten plans to illustrate in the
book and what can we expect to be featured?
Speaker 5 (24:33):
Oh that was really hard for me.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
That was these are like my babies I've got I've
got so many different projects, and like everyone has a
backstory and this one, you know, this one there was
grading issues, and this one we had to build rotaining walls.
And this one they wanted a hundred and eighty degree
(24:57):
one hundred and eighty degree he local stairs and we
had to design and come up with, you know, how
to construct that and it was painful to go through
really so many intimations. But then when it was done,
it was like, oh my god, this is awesome. Yeah,
and you know, so it was really hard to pick
the top ten. Basically, you know, my team has their favorites.
(25:19):
I have my favorites. And then we looked at the
award winners, so a lot of the National Award winners,
so that's NADRA is the North American Deck and Rail
Association that they have the Deck Awards, which is like
the Oscars of decks.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
Okay, it used to be red carpet and we would
at the.
Speaker 6 (25:38):
At the Aquarium down in Baltimore, we did in Chicago,
all around the country every year. It's a little more
casual now, but it still brings in three hundred.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
Of the top designers and builders from around the world.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
This is the United States, Canada, UK, New Zealand, Australia
and these guys compete so well. The winners that you'll
see in the book are winners first place winners from
those awards, so they were judged by a lot of
judges around the world.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Wow, that's amazing.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
And I know you travel a lot to inspire your
designs when designing someone's deck in their home, how do
your travels influence your building?
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Oh? I do?
Speaker 6 (26:21):
You know in America there's a lot of we're a
little bit behind on the outdoor living space. When you
go to these other countries, there's so much more outdoor
living right And you know, you go to the resorts
and just everything is outside and you just you know
that feeling when you walk outside with the drink in
(26:42):
your hand. The temperature is absolutely perfect, and they've got
the couches overlooking the water and you sit down there
and the whole weight of the world just lifts.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
Off of you. Yes, that feeling is what I design
for people's backyards so they can have that every day.
Speaker 7 (27:00):
So amazing.
Speaker 6 (27:01):
You know that it's birch and whether it's you know,
Spanish influenced design. I was in Spain and just the
arches and the colors and the different things, or you
know Thailand where it's it's just a whole different kind
of rustic thing going on there and very textural.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
It's just really cool.
Speaker 8 (27:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
And so if somebody has maybe like a smaller acreage
in their backyard, could they still make an oasis out
there with the deck?
Speaker 5 (27:30):
Absolutely?
Speaker 6 (27:30):
And those those are some of my favorite projects too,
because you know, when you have some parameters and you're restricted,
it forces you to get really creative. Right when you
just have this giant, open, big lot, it's like, okay, yeah,
it's really.
Speaker 5 (27:44):
About about budget.
Speaker 6 (27:45):
But when you have a smaller space, and especially if
it's you know, densely populated so that you've got neighbors
around stuff, creating a cool space that's private. Yeah, and
you know gives you everything. You know, New York apartment, right,
there's some New York apartments that are so well designed
that everything fits into this smaller space and it's just
(28:07):
like it's perfect. I really that that kind of design.
Speaker 5 (28:12):
I just love it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Yeah, And so I know you're a third generation builder.
How did your family influence your current work?
Speaker 6 (28:20):
Oh, my dad kicked my ass out to work every
morning at five thirty and didn't let me waste anything.
I mean, he's from Ireland, so he's old school. It
was no waste in anything. No was not an option.
Failure was not an option. It was figure out how
to do.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
It make it work.
Speaker 6 (28:41):
So, you know, I have a big family and my
first house was a very small house. I literally couldn't
have all of my family over unless we were on
the deck.
Speaker 5 (28:52):
So that kind of pushed me as well, like we
need to cover this thing.
Speaker 6 (28:55):
I can't be sweating out is it going to rain
on Easter when we have everybody over or you know,
Thanksgiving or whatever. So that kind of led me to
start covering a lot of the decks that I did.
So that's that's a big influence on my design.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yeah, it's so smart and it's so creative.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
And so what does revolutionizing deck design mean to you?
Speaker 6 (29:20):
It means taking things that haven't been done before outside
or haven't been done at scale, and.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
Making them available for people.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
So like when we did in twenty fourteen, we won
for Sunken Fire Lounge, which was a situation where I
didn't have enough space zoning wise to be able to
build a deck and big enough with the lounge area
and everything else. And the lady, the client, she had
(29:52):
a round couch on her patio and that was on
her old deck. The first thing that struck me was like,
the round couch stuck in the corner of a deck
does not look good.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
It just doesn't fit. It just it wasn't a great
use of space.
Speaker 6 (30:06):
And then I had to curve the deck and manipulate
the deck to make it work inside the zoning parameters.
And I'm like, well, if I do this as a
circular curve, I can get it. I can pull it
in enough to make this work, and I can put
her couch in there, which you'll even be better, and
then a fire in the middle of it. It'll be perfect.
And she had a lot of faith in me. We
(30:29):
didn't have the three D design stuff that we have now.
So I told her what I was going to do
and she's like, I trust you, and I did it
and it was like blow away. She was so incredibly
happy with that. So doing something like that was is
kind of cool and just making the space. So when
when I designed, I designed for I designed, So it flows.
(30:53):
It flows from an intimate gathering. So it's you and
your family, your kids, whatever, hanging out to a bigger party,
but there's no breaking it up. It's everybody is at
the same party.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Well, I love what you're doing, and you know, when
I get my next home, I want to call you
and come at it.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
You come out.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
So what's the process.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
If somebody wants to get in touch with you for
our consultation, say where do you service?
Speaker 6 (31:17):
We're based in Spartan, New Jersey. Decromodelers dot Com is
our website. You can see tons of stuff that we
do up there. You can reach us through there. There's
thousands of pictures and videos and it really walks you
through all the different the different aspects and things to
think about whether you work with us or not. Looking
through that stuff and reading what we have up there
will help you make better informed decisions.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
Right.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
So that's dec Remodelers our Instagram. We have a big,
big following on Instagram and that's where all our latest
and greatest stuff go up. There's a lot of walkthroughs
of spaces, which, by the way, in the book, which
is kind of a cool thing.
Speaker 5 (31:51):
I thought.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
We put QR codes on some of the pictures. So
we have about ten or fifteen walkthroughs that you can do.
So if you're looking at a picture of a deck
you like, you can click the QR code and I'll
walk you through the space. We work from northern Fairfield
County in Connecticut all the way down through outside of Philly.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
And where can we get your book, Deck Rebellion Revolutionary
Concepts for Outdoor Living.
Speaker 6 (32:16):
You can get it on Amazon. It's available on Amazon
and it's also available through our website. If you'd like
a signed copy, you can go through our website.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Well, thank you so much, Sean McLear. I appreciate you
joining me today on Passport Mommy.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
Thanks Michelle, have a great day.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Thank you you too. I'm Michelle Jerson the Passport Mommy.
More coming up than a few.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
You're listening to Passport Mommy. I'm Michelle Jerson, and we
are talking about meningitis today because it is often something
that a lot of people don't speak about but maybe.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Need to learn a little more about.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
And so I'm happy to have with me today doctor
April Barnes. She's a pediatrician and Patsy, a mother of
a meningitis survivor.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Thank you both so much for joining me today. Thank
you for having you for having us, Doctor.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Barnes, can you explain what meningitis is and how serious
it can be.
Speaker 8 (33:08):
One in ten of the people that contract meningitis will
die even with proper treatment, and one in five of
the survivors can have long term complications like brain damage,
hearing loss, or limb amputation. So there are five SARAH
groups of meningecacled meningitis ABC wn Y, and their vaccinations
(33:31):
against those SARAH groups. The bacteria that can cause meningitis
is spread through common tene and young adult behaviors, so kissing, coughing,
sharing drinks, utensils, and living in close quarters. And so
since we're in this back to school season, we really
want to empower parents to ask their teens doctor to
(33:52):
be sure that they have gotten the vaccinations, not just
for acwn y, but for b as well.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
So interesting try to tell my kids don't share cups
and I'm thinking colds viruses, but you don't realize just
how serious it could be. And so doctor Marns, why
are teens ages sixteen to twenty three years of age
at an increase risk for meningitis?
Speaker 8 (34:16):
So mainly it's because of the behaviors that they're doing
at this age, so that they're in starting relationships, so
they're kissing, they're sharing drinks and utensils. But they're also
living in close quarters, so they are going off to college,
they might be in military barracks, and so just in
that age group, the potential for them to have long
(34:37):
term contact with people in close quarters, all of those
things can increase their risk.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Right, and Patsy, what's it been like for you?
Speaker 1 (34:46):
What's your experience been like with being a parent to
somebody with meningitis.
Speaker 7 (34:52):
Well, I did become involved with the GSK campaign, asked
to be sure after my daughter Jamie survived a devastating
battle with meninja cockle disease. Jamie was a second year
student at her dream college, living the life as any
other college kid would do, and within one day she
(35:13):
just started feeling he flew like symptoms, fatigued body aches,
nothing too alarming, but quickly turned into something more serious
with high fevers and chills, and rushed to the hospital
again within less than twenty four hours, and she stayed
in the hospital there for seven months. When the doctors
(35:36):
told me it was meninja cockle disease, it was quite
alarming for me and certainly something I was not totally
educated on, and so Jamie was in the hospital some months.
She ultimately had both legs below the knee amputated it
as well as all of her fingers. But this is
the reality of meningitis and what it can do to
(35:58):
a young what could be healthy child.
Speaker 1 (36:01):
Doctor Barnes, what question should parents be asking their teen's doctor.
Speaker 8 (36:06):
So first they should be asking what vaccinations their teen
or young adult.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Has already had.
Speaker 8 (36:12):
Then they should ask if there are any other vaccinations
that they are eligible for at this time, and then
they should ask what is the follow up schedule for
completing the series of those vaccinations and making sure that
they put that on their calendars, because it is pretty
high priority to make sure that you've done what you
(36:33):
can do as a parent to protect your teen against meningitis.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
Absolutely, and at what age should they look into the vaccine?
Speaker 8 (36:40):
So the acwny those vaccines usually start at about eleven
and then the B vaccine Usually that conversation starts about sixteen.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Okay, So tell me about the Lifetime original movie Pretty
Hurts brought to you by GSK.
Speaker 8 (36:58):
So Pretty Hurts is a Lifetime original movie brought to
you by GSK that honors stories of families and survivors
of meningitis. And so it follows a parent played by
Haley Duff who has a teen and a beauty pageant,
and then we just kind of see how meningecocle disease
(37:18):
can affect not just an individual, but a community. And
so we are very excited to see how this empowers
parents to ask the questions that they need to in
order to protect their teens against meningitis.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
Well, thank you both so much for joining me. What
an incredibly informative segment and one that I think parents
need to hear.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Where can we go to learn more?
Speaker 8 (37:43):
So they can go to ask to the number two
the letter b sure dot com and that will give
them more information and also for Pretty Hurts. It premieres
June twenty eighth, eight pm Eastern Time.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
Horrific.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
Well, thank you both so much for your advocacy, for
your speaking role committed to raising awareness about meningitis and
the importance of vaccination against it. I appreciate you both
joining me today on Passport Montei
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