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APRIL 2025
As parents, we are responsible for preparing our children for the real world. Sometimes, this preparation comes in the form of allowing them to experience the consequences of their actions, good and bad. Other times, we are able to give them opportunities to learn and grow. For some, one such opportunity arrives when we acknowledge Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on April 24. Not everyone can take advantage of this opportunity, but those who can shouldn’t hesitate, as it can be incredibly beneficial to your children. I’ve never brought my kids to work specifically for this occasion, but a few have experienced what it feels like to work in my office. My youngest daughter, Jessica, worked for me for a few summers when she was still in school. At that point in time, our firm was incredibly small, so we only planned on using her for simple tasks like making photocopies, answering the phone, or picking up the lunch order. Before long, I realized she could do much more than what I was asking of her. She could prepare some documents for my review and help other team members with their responsibilities. After working with me, she went on to work for her father’s law firm before charting her own path in the legal field. When my daughter was in law school and going through the summer internship process, I found another way to help. Over the years, I’ve seen many poor resumes and unprepared interviewees. I wanted my daughter to excel when interviewing with other firms, so I scheduled a mock interview for her. She submitted a resume with a cover letter that other team members and I reviewed before providing feedback. Then, she interviewed with the office manager, an associate attorney, and me. Not only were we able to give her a glimpse into the interview process, but we also gave her valuable insight and feedback that WHAT MY KIDS LEARNED BY WORKING WITH ME HANDS-ON LESSONS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
helped her prepare for future interviews. This experience proved fruitful, as she landed two internships after her next two “real” interviews.
My youngest son, Zach, also worked for me for a short period of time, even though he had no desire to become a lawyer. He mainly worked as a receptionist, but it was still a rewarding experience for both of us. There was a really unique outcome that resulted from his time with us. During our annual office party, I told Jessica to stop by. Zach was also there but as an employee. My daughter quickly realized he fit in with our office culture and got along well with his coworkers. Seeing a different side of him gave Jessica a newfound respect for her brother. My other two children never technically worked for me. However, my oldest son, John, proved to be a lifesaver when we experienced the CrowdStrike update glitch that had everyone concerned last July. Our bank was temporarily affected, which delayed payroll for a few hours. John explained what was happening and offered solutions to help my staff get through that day. Now that all my kids are grown and on their own, I bring Bella into the office. She’s the office dog that greets everyone who comes in, and if I’m being honest, it’s much easier to have her at work than one of my kids! Although, she hasn’t quite figured out how to pick up lunch or make photocopies! That said, my kids and I benefited greatly from their time working with me, and I got an opportunity to show them the working world. I highly encourage everyone to bring their kids to work with them at some point, as it could open their eyes to a whole new world!
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The Colosseum’s Wildest Spectacle ROME’S AWESOME AQUATIC BATTLES
The Challenge of Arena Battles Of course, flooding the Colosseum was not easy.
The Roman Colosseum is famous for its gladiator combat, but did you know it was once flooded with water for full-scale naval battles? While this might sound like Hollywood fiction, it actually took place and is one of the more epic tales from Roman history. Known as naumachiae , a Greek term that translates to “naval combat,” these battles were a feat of ancient engineering and showcased Rome’s appetite for over-the-top entertainment. For a society captivated by lions and gladiators, transforming the iconic Colosseum into an aquatic battlefield was the ultimate flex — a bizarre yet undeniably brilliant display of Roman ingenuity and excess. The Spectacle of Naumachiae Imagine thousands of spectators cheering as tiny warships clashed in a flooded arena. Dating back to the third century B.C., these mock sea battles weren’t small staged skirmishes; they were elaborate naval reenactments complete with ships, soldiers, and condemned criminals and prisoners of war forced to play the role of combatants. In some cases, these spectacles recreated historical battles or mythological scenes. One naumachiae held by Nero in 57 A.D. even included seals and hippos. So, why did Romans go to such lengths? More than entertainment, naumachiae was a statement of imperial power. Such Roman spectacles entertained the masses while reinforcing the empire’s might.
It’s believed the same aqueducts used to supply the city with water were also used to fill up the arena, and special flat-bottomed
ships capable of navigating shallow waters made the events possible. The discovery of an ancient drainage system also provided new insights into how Roman engineers may have efficiently removed water from the arena to prepare it for other events. Why It’s More Than Just a Weird Story The logistical challenges of flooding an arena to a depth sufficient for floating ships eventually led them to abandon the naumachiae after only a handful of events. Yet, these extravagant displays reveal much about Roman culture. They highlight the empire’s unmatched ability to combine practicality and imagination to create spectacles that continue to captivate and inspire us centuries later.
Laughter Is the Best Medicine — Even After an Accident!
Over the years, we’ve helped countless clients who walked through our doors after experiencing an accident. They come to us anxious and in pain as a result of someone else’s negligence. However, being a victim does not mean you have to develop a victim mentality. One way to break free from a victim mindset is to incorporate humor into your daily interactions. People use humor for a variety of reasons. Some do it to make themselves feel better, while others just want to share a laugh with friends. Whether telling jokes or laughing at someone else’s, humor has this amazing superpower to lift our spirits. Just like smiling, laughing is contagious. Once you start laughing, someone nearby will usually follow suit. While most of us love to laugh, we may not realize the many physical benefits associated with a good chuckle. For starters, laughing is a great stress reliever, as it can increase your heart rate and blood pressure before decreasing it, resulting in a great relaxed feeling. It can even offset the
physical symptoms of stress, like tension. Laughing stimulates some of your other major organs, such as your heart, lungs, muscles, and brain. Laughing can also bring long-term benefits to your life. Over time, negative thoughts and emotions can wreak havoc on your immune system. By laughing more regularly, you can replace those negative thoughts with positive ones, which will help you fight stress and even serious illnesses as you age. Laughing can make it easier to process difficult or even traumatic situations, such as a car accident. Some studies even suggest that laughter can reduce pain. Since April is National Humor Month, now is the perfect time to add more laughter to your life. Watch a stand-up performance or your favorite funny movie (I recommend “Hitch” or “Airplane”), share some jokes with your loved ones, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself! You can gain even more enjoyment out of life by laughing more regularly!
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Have a Laugh!
Distracted driving is a constant issue across the country. People consistently find ways to distract themselves while behind the wheel. We should never put our lives or the lives of others at risk to answer a text message or change the radio station; let’s take a second to explore the dangers of distracted driving and how to handle some common situations. Several different types of distractions can lead to danger while driving. There are visual and auditory distractions, like looking at a billboard or listening to music at a high volume. Manual distractions, such as eating, require us to remove our hands from the steering wheel. Finally, cognitive distractions, like road rage or daydreaming, take our focus away from the road. Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving because it involves every type of distraction. You pull your hand off the wheel to grab your phone, your eyes off the road to read a message, and your focus away from your current action while trying to compose a response. If you want to avoid the temptation to text while driving, turn your phone off and put it in the glove compartment or center console so it’s out of sight and out of mind. There are other common distractions you might not consider. Parents turning around in their seat while driving to discipline their kids should instead pull over to address whatever issues arise. Pulling into a gas station or parking lot is safer than pulling over to the shoulder. We’ve worked on countless cases where someone dropped something and crashed while reaching for it. If it’s not an immediate concern, leave it be until you get to your destination. You should also be aware of your emotions while behind the wheel. Driving after getting an emotional phone call can be a recipe for disaster. If you find out a parent has cancer, someone you care about was in a wreck, or some other emotionally distressing news, have someone else drive. Ask your spouse, neighbor, or friend. It’s the safest option. Hands on the Wheel, Focus on the Road FIGHT THE URGE TO MULTITASK BEHIND THE WHEEL
Ginger Veggie Stir Fry
INGREDIENTS •
4 tbsp vegetable oil, divided 2 tsp fresh chopped ginger root, divided 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• • • • • • •
3/4 cup julienned carrots
•
1/2 cup snow peas
1/2 cup halved green beans
• • •
3 tbsp water
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 small head broccoli, cut into florets
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/2 tsp salt
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large bowl, mix 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tsp ginger, garlic, and cornstarch. 2. Add broccoli, carrots, snow peas, and green beans, and toss lightly. 3. Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes. 4. Stir in water and soy sauce. Add onion, salt, and the remaining ginger; cook and stir until the vegetables are crisp and tender.
We shouldn’t take distracted driving lightly. By taking preventive measures, we can make the roads safer for all!
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INSIDE
BRINGING YOUR KIDS TO WORK HELPS PREPARE THEM FOR THE REAL WORLD 1 NAVAL COMBAT INSIDE THE ROMAN COLOSSEUM? STRESS LESS, LAUGH MORE 2 DISTRACTED DRIVING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN YOU THINK GINGER VEGGIE STIR FRY 3 HEROIC GOLDENDOODLE SAVES BABY DEER IN HEARTWARMING RESCUE 4
How Harley Became a Real-Life Hero RESCUE, COMFORT, AND REUNION
Everyone likes to believe their canine companions would jump into action if they noticed someone or something in danger. However, most dogs will never be in a position to save a life or avert a catastrophe. That’s probably a good thing, as watching one of your best friends risk their life for others would be incredibly stressful. In 2021, a Virginia family experienced precisely that as they witnessed their goldendoodle attempt a heroic rescue with a heartwarming aftermath. During an early summer evening, Ralph Dorn’s dog, Harley, was gone. He started surveying the lake behind his Culpepper, Virginia, home when he spotted the goldendoodle about 200 feet from shore. At first, he
Harley helped the fawn to shore, where Dorn greeted the animals and helped them climb back onto dry land. Once the deer was out of the water, Harley immediately started licking the fawn to comfort and calm it down. Harley didn’t want to leave the fawn, but after spotting the deer’s mother, Dorn escorted his heroic canine indoors. The fawn and mother walked away, seemingly never to be seen again. That was, until the next morning. Harley appeared restless that morning, running from window to window. Dorn opened the front door to see what was happening when he heard the fawn bleating. The deer had returned, eager to thank its rescuer! The two ran toward each other, touching noses and sniffing one another before Harley returned indoors. The brief reunion was enough to calm the fawn and Harley down, and Dorn has not seen either deer since that day.
wondered what his dog was doing in the water, but he soon realized his trusty pup was not alone. Harley was swimming alongside a tiny baby deer. “Not sure how the fawn got out there, but Harley obviously didn’t ask why. He just jumped into action,” Dorn, 62, wrote in a Facebook post.
But that’s not Harley’s only heroic feat. The proud pup has also spent time as a
certified therapy dog, providing comfort and companionship to seniors in care facilities and children reading at the local library. We can all hope our dogs would take the same actions as Harley if presented with a similar opportunity!
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