Y Fitness Challenge Success

Kelly & Tom, Kelly L and Cheryl:
(Staff members at the Walter & Betty Ward Family Center Y)

I wanted to send you all a quick note of thanks! I won't be able to be at the awards on Wednesday because I'll be traveling for work.

I started this in September and I have to admit half heartily. ALL of my former attempts to change my lifestyle had failed and I was not anticipating this to be any different. If someone would have told me 7 months ago that I would actually get upset when I can't make it to Body Pump at least twice a week - I would have been rolling on the floor laughing.

WOW, was I wrong. I have definitely learned to live a different lifestyle. I was inspired and I was held accountable. I learned how to exercise and how to be comfortable in the gym. I finally realized that walking around the block once a month or eating lettuce for a week straight was not going to get the weight off. I no longer fear the gym, I'm no longer on a "diet" and I love to exercise and feel great. I have lost 28 pounds since the Fall session started and 4 clothes sizes. It feels darn good to pick up something in a store and have it fit!

One of the greatest things for me has been inspiring others. I have inspired family members and friends to change their lifestyle as well. It has been so rewarding to see my parents and my children now enjoy spending time in the gym. Nightly trips to the Y are a part of our daily routine now. My kids are also making smarter choices. They are reading labels and choosing fruit over junk. My energy level and my general mood have greatly improved.

I truly hope that you all realize what a difference you have made in quite a few lives. I can certainly attest to the difference you've made in my family's life.

While my "home" gym is Perry Hall and I don't make it Abingdon very often, I hope to see you all again soon!

Take Care,

Angie Martin - Green Team


Posted by Angie Martin, Fitness Challenge Participant at the Walter & Betty Ward Family Center Y

A Y Member and Parent

I’m Wendy, a full-time working mother of 2 young boys, ages 2 and 3. I joined the Carroll County Family Center Y about a year ago. I was so out of shape that I couldn’t keep up with the instructor using the light weights, and now I can complete all the reps with the maximum weights available! Maybe now I can keep up with the kids…maybe!

This week ‘s Body Sculpt class was fun! It was nice being able to relieve some stress from work and build strength all at all the same time. It’s great to see people encouraging each other to up their weights and hear updates on everyone’s family—kids coming home from college, plans for the weekend, etc. I starting running again (first time since last October), and it made me realize maybe I shouldn’t have skipped all those months in between! At least I did it for longer than I expected, and I did catch up on some great tunes stored on my cell phone that I hadn’t heard in ages!

My older son attends the Chipmunks preschool program in Finksburg (his second year), and my younger son can’t wait to start next year to be just like his big brother. This week at school my son got invited to a birthday party for one of his friends at preschool. He’s so excited to go bounce around with his friends! The other day he asked me if I would play “Cat in the Hat” with him. I had no clue what he was talking about until he started tapping me and his brother on the head and saying, “Cat. Cat. Hat!” I guess I was the “goose” since I had to chase him around a circle. I love reliving childhood days! And remember Mr. Yuck? Apparently he’s still around since he told me that he couldn’t take any medicine unless he asks me first. I’d say we had another great week at Chipmunks!

Posted by Wendy Smith-Wilczynski, Y Member and Preschooler Parent, Carroll County

Early Bird Gets the Worm

I worked at the front desk yesterday and boy were we busy! Besides the normal questions and assistance given with check-in and selling memberships we were very busy selling camp. Yesterday was the last day for our “early bird” special with summer camp. Parents were lined up with their papers and wanting to register their kids for camp. It was especially nice to hear parents share information on how much their kids enjoyed camp last year and how much they like that we have all the information out so early in the year.

I have always tended towards being a “last minute” person and because of that miss out on specials that are offered for being early. I was impressed with how many people came in and were prepared with their summer ahead. One member and I did get laughing because she was still debating which weeks to enroll her child in camp and which weeks she thought they may do some other summertime activities. I felt like I was looking at myself in the mirror. That seems to be me – if I can catch the special – I will always be the one standing there working out the last minute details. Anyway, what a crazy day. I’m sure we will get many more parents registering their kids for camp, but was impressed with the patience that all had as we helped work-out the details of each family.

Posted by Peggy Curet, Member Services Representative, Carroll County Family Center Y

What is your idea of Family Time?

Family Time can mean many things to many different people. To some, it is going to the movies at an exurbanite rate of $10/per person, to some it could mean going on an afternoon picnic. While to others, it could mean going on that long awaited vacation.

At the Y of Central MD, we put a new meaning to the words Family Time. Have you ever thought of working out with your children? I recently had both my 10 and 11 year old attend the Teen Strength Training at the Perry Hall Y and they were more than excited to say the least. They got to learn how to properly use the equipment, what proper gym etiquette is and even learned some anatomy that they did not know. They even got their own Fitlinx I.D. and can go work on the strength training machines without any assistance. They really feel like Big Kids now.

It’s interesting too. Now, when I ask “what do you want to do for Family Time”, they pack up their bags and say “Let’s head to the gym.”

Posted by Shelley Drasal, Member Services Representative, Perry Hall Family Center Y

Just Like Every Other Kid

My son, Alex has Down syndrome. Activities that are easy and taken for granted by other families are more difficult for us to access because of Alex’s disability.

When attempting to participate in community programs we are often referred to “a special program” or a program that accepts “kids like those”. We don’t want to be special, we want to be just like other families. The Y has embraced our family. Rather than welcome the typical members of our family and segregate Alex, at the Y we are integrated like every other family. Alex participates in swimming lessons, childcare, camp – every aspect of the Y that is available to typical children with typical children. Never once has anyone ever suggested that he participate in “special program” or a “program designed especially for special children”. Our children (we have four) want to share their experiences with each other like other sisters and brothers. They want to give high fives when a younger sibling has a favorite swimming instructor an older sibling had. They want to tease their younger siblings when they get the camp councilor that insists you finish your lunch.

If you have ever had a child in a swimming class then you know the “biggest fear” of swimming lessons – if you haven’t had a child in a swimming class, - it’s poop in the pool. During one of Alex’s swimming lesson, I noticed that the pool beginning to clear out – the first sign of poop in the pool. I got a big lump in my throat – and started to pray - please God, please, don’t let it be my kid. My heart sank when the swim instructor walked towards me. I looked behind me to see if there was any one behind me – no – she was headed to me. My heart began to beat hard, my eyes filled up tears. I was sure this would be our last swimming lesson. Surely they would ask that Alex not return. It had happened to us so many other places and so many other times. But that wasn’t what happened. Instead the swim instructor informed me that Alex had left a “gift” in the pool. Before I could say another word, she went on to say that he wasn’t the first child to do it and she was sure he wouldn’t be the last child to do it.* She then turned to Alex, patted him on the head and said “see you next week buddy”. And he’s been back every week since. My kid was like every other kid at the Y!!!

* The Y of Central Maryland treats pool accidents immediately with appropriate sanitary measures.

Posted by Jessica Pearsall, Fitness Instructor, Dancel Family Center Y

Check the Calendar

It’s the beginning of the month and in the pre-school, we get a handy little newsletter with all the key dates for the respective classes. It’s hard to remember, but it’s critical to put those dates in my Outlook calendar.

This month, there’s a PJ/movie day, mix-match day, show and tell, etc. I’ve been a Y parent long enough to know that I’d BETTER be on top of that schedule. You wouldn’t believe the water works when my kid shows up NOT in pajamas, a princess costume, or with crazy hair. I’ve gone home, gone to the store, gone crazy, trying to make a workaround for a forgotten theme day.

If I’m honest, I’d say that SHE really should be on top of this schedule herself. She’s old enough. The Y has a challenging academic program, so she knows the days of the week. It’s more important to her than it is to me- or is it?

I LOVE her school, her teachers, her classmates. I WANT her to get the full classroom experience and that includes the theme days, show and tell, homework and all the other stuff that’s miserable to remember when we’re running out of the house late in the morning. I get a kick out of her evening re-caps of what everyone wore, said, and did during the day.

So ultimately, where does that leave me? It leaves me with a massive calendar which includes work, personal, exercise, and play-dates. Every now and again, a weekday appointment pops up which says “PJs”…and I wish it was meant for me!

Posted by Angie P. Kirk, Y Preschooler Parent

Youth and Government

My current position at the Y of Central Maryland is to oversee a teen program called Youth and Government. The program models the Maryland state legislature and gives high school students the opportunity to learn by participating in actual elections, bill writing and debate. Delegation meetings take place in Ys and schools all over the state and range in size from less than 10 to almost 40 students. In their delegation meetings students learn to research and write a bill, the rules of parliamentary procedure and how to properly debate. We meet together for a pre-legislative session where the students read and rank their bills, elect committee chairs and elect their officials. Then in April we head to Annapolis for three days where the students use the actual Maryland State House facilities to debate their bills. The Youth Governor and Lt. Governor take on great responsibility in leading the program as do the other elected officials, cabinet members and committee chairs.

I have been involved with Youth and Government for a number of years and each year I continue to be amazed at the level of professionalism and responsibility the students show during the program. As advisors and adults we could never do for them what they are able to do for the program.

While in Annapolis for the Legislative Session the Youth Lt. Governor hosts a banquet. Parents, school principals, Y directors and CEO's join us at the Lowes Hotel for dinner and awards. This year we are honored to have Governor O'Malley scheduled as the keynote speaker.

Please contact me if you or someone you know is interested in the Youth and Government program. Our registration is closed for this year but there are delegations all over the state that would love to have additional members in 2010-2011. If you are interested or want to know more, please contact me at amymaloy@ymaryland.org.

Posted by Amy Maloy, State Director, MD Youth and Government, Y of Central Maryland