Autumn (or what passes for it in Coastal Georgia) has arrived! It’s time to get out the sweaters and jackets, sip something pumpkin-flavored, and enjoy every breath of cool air we can get! October is also a month when we celebrate and honor many things, from breast cancer awareness to Halloween. Paisley is here to help you take it all in.

“We should, like, what? Give him a year to figure out his life and move out?”
I’m talking to the parents of a 21-one-year-old male who instead of
going to college or into the military, delivers pizzas, eats pizzas
(he gets an employee discount), and plays video games.

I’m having a déjà vu experience. I’ve had this conversation before, many, many times.

“Why a year?”

“Um, well, that’s enough time for him to figure things out, isn’t it?”

When is the last time you thanked your kidneys? Those two, small bean-shaped organs in your lower back are incessant workhorses for your health. Here’s what these superstars are doing while you go about your day: They are regulating your body’s fluid levels, filtering waste and toxins from your blood, releasing hormones that regulate your blood pressure and direct production of red blood cells. If that is not enough, they also activate vitamin D to maintain healthy bones and keep blood minerals, such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium, in balance. We all experience malfunctions occasionally, and unfortunately, one in three Americans is at risk for developing kidney disease.

Read on to get more in touch with your kidneys and urinary tract. Here’s what we asked our local health experts:

Happy Fall, Y’all! I am so inspired by all the amazing Girl Bosses in our community! From the women featured in this issue to our ad partners and many of you I met at last month’s Partini! The women I see around me are making a positive impact on their communities and the world.

Q: Our four-year-old, an only child, is giving us fits. As a toddler, he began ignoring us. That evolved into downright refusing to do what we ask, as in, “I’m not going to” and just plain “No.” It seems like the nicer we are to him, the meaner he is to us. In addition, his tantrums when he doesn’t get his way have become Class 5 hurricanes that last until we give in. We know we shouldn’t—give in, that is—but his fits just wear us out. There is no doubt that he’s in complete control of our home. Is it too late to turn things around?

If anything should go with the flow, it’s your blood. You might not think about it very often, but the blood flowing through your veins plays a vital role in your overall health. From minor cosmetic issues to life-threatening conditions, vascular health should not be neglected. We asked local medical specialists how to identify and treat issues affecting the vascular system.

What a month this will be! July starts with Independence Day celebrations and ends with the Summer Olympics, giving us a chance to cheer on Team USA as they compete on the other side of the world. I have a background in theatre, so I tune in as much for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as the sports. The amazing performances the organizers come up with always impress.

We interrupt this monthly column with a three-question quiz, following which you will find the correct answers.

True or False? Telling a child that her feelings concerning a decision you have made
are irrelevant and that you will not discuss the matter with her is likely to cause
psychological damage to the child, including trauma to her self-esteem.

True or False? Answering “Because I said so” to a child who wants to know the
reason behind a decision you have made is likely to cause psychological
damage to the child, including trauma to her self-esteem.

True or False? Refusing to help a child with a problem she brings to you is likely to
cause psychological damage to the child, including trauma to her self-esteem.

We all have questions about our feminine health that sometimes just feels a little awkward—or maybe a lot—to talk about, even with your doctor. For some women, it’s just difficult to casually hold a conversation when words such as vagina, sex, labia and the like have to freely flow.

Read on to see what our local medical experts had to say on subjects important to women’s health. Be sure to tell your doctor everything with no fear or hesitation.

Your health is what’s most important, and besides, they tell us they have heard it all! 

What a month this will be! July starts with Independence Day celebrations and ends with the Summer Olympics, giving us a chance to cheer on Team USA as they compete on the other side of the world. I have a background in theatre, so I tune in as much for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as the sports. The amazing performances the organizers come up with always impress.

Q: My 15-year-old daughter is slowly driving me insane! She argues with me about everything and always wants the last word. No matter how well I explain the “why?” of a decision to her, she argues. Even when I offer a compromise, she argues. It’s her way or the highway. Is there a solution?

We’ve all heard that being overweight is unhealthy, and weight loss can help prevent illness and disease, but how? We asked local medical experts to weigh in on the advantages of losing weight. Looking good on the beach is just a fringe benefit!

by Diane G. Bowen, MD

How does being overweight increase risk for Cancer?
According to research from the American Cancer Society, excess body weight is thought to be responsible for about 11% of cancers in women and about 5% of cancers in men in the United States.

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of cancer because:
• There is inflammation in the body.
• Cell and blood vessel growth is impacted.
• The cells’ life span is stunted.
• Increased levels of certain hormones, such as insulin and estrogen, fuels cell growth.
• Because of all listed above, cancer cells can spread or metastasize.

Guys! Guys! Look, your wives, bless their hearts, are having enough trouble putting their children and priorities into proper perspective without you adding to the muddle. Keep it straight, please.

I’m referring to the media voices telling you to be better fathers. Three times in the last six months or so I’ve been invited on podcasts promoting fatherhood. The hosts are well-meaning, sincere, articulate fellows who apparently didn’t know they were interviewing a guy who never says what other people expect him to say.

Happy Father’s Day!
It might seem strange to read that in a women’s magazine, but we celebrate every chance we get!

I only had 15 years with my father, but before he died, he made sure my brother and I saw 47 of the United States and a few Canadian provinces, too! Dad was king of the road trip. Before we all started carrying phones, GPS, and cameras in our pockets, he would spend hours at the dining room table with highlighters and good old Rand-McNally. He would meticulously plan, but never hesitate to take a detour if he saw a sign with an arrow and the words “Rock Shop.” He worked very hard all year so that he could pile us into the Suburban and take to the highway for four to six weeks every summer.

Ahh-choo! It’s  a common sound during this time of year when the flora and fauna are in full swing spreading their yellow pixie dust across the world. Allergies—seasonal or not—are a big buzzword these days, with more people than ever showing signs and symptoms. Obviously we all know the sneezing, itchy throat, watery eyes and runny nose symptoms of allergies, but read on to learn more about allergies, intolerances and what is behind the rise.

Concerning my prior use of the word “addiction” in association with smart phones and children (including teens), some people think I am speaking figuratively. To set the record straight: No, I am speaking quite literally.

When the addiction in question is to a substance, as in an opiate, there is both a psychological and physical component. During withdrawal from an addictive substance, both components come into play. The individual’s thoughts and emotions are in disarray and the person suffers physiologically, as well. When most people think in terms of an addiction, that is their mental picture.

Happy Mother’s Day! I am incredibly proud to be taking the reins of Paisley for our May issue. Over the past few months, people have asked me if I am “replacing” Meredith. I tell them I will try to fill her shoes the best I can, but Meredith is irreplaceable!

Living with pain is no fun. In fact, pain can take all the fun away, especially if you enjoy being active. It’s somewhat of a Catch-22, though. It seems the more active set are the ones who get sports injuries. Makes sense, afterall, doesn’t it take sports to get a sports injury? Not necessarily. Sometimes, just a simple walk to the mailbox, moving a planter in the garden, or a quick clean up of the garage can end in injury. The good news is pain does not have to be forever with many injuries, over use, or degeneration. There are new, modern and effective ways to stop the snap, crackle, pop in the knees, reduce the burn of bursitis and rejuvenate the rip of the rotator cuff. We asked our local orthopeadic experts to tell us all about sports injuries, joint replacements and knee problems. Here is what they had to say:

If you feel the urge to hide your smile, now is your time to say cheese! Cosmetic dentistry has never been so accessible, or advanced. Whether a little whitening will brighten your world, or you need to wear braces as an adult, a beautiful, brilliant smile, worthy of that big screen money shot, it easy to attain. And  no longer do you have to have a mouth full of metal—or head gear, for Heaven’s sake! Want whiter teeth? You can check it off your to do list in about 90 minutes. There are many new and advanced procedures your cosmetic dentist offers that can help you look younger, healthier, and happier! Find your options and watch that frown turn upside down. Now that’s something to smile about.

Concerning my prior use of the word “addiction” in association with smart phones and children (including teens), some people think I am speaking figuratively. To set the record straight: No, I am speaking quite literally.

When the addiction in question is to a substance, as in an opiate, there is both a psychological and physical component. During withdrawal from an addictive substance, both components come into play. The individual’s thoughts and emotions are in disarray and the person suffers physiologically, as well. When most people think in terms of an addiction, that is their mental picture.

A therapist takes a 10-year-old boy into what she calls “therapy.” The young fellow is belligerently defiant toward his parents and throws titanic tantrums when things don’t go his way. At school—virtual, going on a year—he’s distractible and doesn’t finish his work without being hovered over and harangued by his mother, a tactic that frequently precipitates more belligerence and a titanic tantrum.

It’s time for me to create personal projects. I’m ready to pass my role in Paisley Magazine to our new Regional Manager, Kelly Hunter, a big fan of the magazine since we first started in 2008. Kelly will stay true to our mission—empower, inform, encourage and evoke thought—for women and their families with even more verve! Here we are in Historic Downtown Brunswick at Queen Square as I pass Kelly a symbolic bag of “cool paisley things.”

One of the greatest things about reading Paisley Magazine is how our enticing covers and monthly themes connect us all. Living here as an active citizen over 24 years has helped me easily find local inspirational women to share their stories, and featuring each one of them has been a real treat.