A Difficult Discussion TALKING TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT CANCER
EMBRACE CHANGE WITHOUT ERASING HISTORY
Our Building Has Lived Through It All
As pink-clad products line store shelves this October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, children are bound to be curious. Since they rationalize the world around them with what they already know, kids may ask silly questions like, “Is cancer contagious?” Whether you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer or you just feel it’s time to educate your children about the disease, answering questions can be difficult. These tips can help you prepare. ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH Telling a child that you or a loved one has cancer can be complicated. To start, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends giving yourself time after hearing the news of a cancer diagnosis to process this new reality. Two-parent households should tell their children together, while single parents are encouraged to ask an adult with a positive influence on the child’s life to join the conversation. Remember, your child will be experiencing the same emotions as you but in a kid’s body, where hormones and developmental changes are already wreaking havoc. Monitor their emotions and offer them space and opportunities to discuss their feelings with a professional. When it comes to explaining the disease and its consequences, younger children may require fewer details and broader concepts, while older kids may need more comprehensive answers to their questions. A 5-year-old is going to have different concerns than a 16-year-old, so your approach must be different. However, regardless of your child’s age, always tell the truth. FOCUS ON PREVENTION EDUCATION A loved one doesn’t have to be diagnosed with cancer for you to educate your family about the disease and its prevention. Studies have linked prevention efforts, including anti-smoking campaigns and healthy lifestyle programs, to actually preventing cancer. (In fact, half of all cancers can be prevented!) Teach your child about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and excessive sun exposure to foster healthy habits and lifestyles. Organizations that host walks, benefits, and other events for cancer prevention and research can be great sources of education for families, too.
Our dry cleaning business officially opened for business in 1938. Then after many successful years in the industry, Janet Davis Cleaners decided it was time to change locations. In 1950, the company settled into the building we know and love today. Owned and operated by a family through five generations, Janet Davis Cleaners has seen its fair share of significant historical events over the last half century. It witnessed, for example, the start and end of both the Cold War and the Korean War, the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy,” Neil Amrstrong’s first steps on the moon, the passing of beloved celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, Bill Gates’ creation of Microsoft, the eruption of Mount St. Helens, the OJ Simpson case, the Y2K paranoia, the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, and the creation of famed social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. After nearly 70 years of operating a dry cleaning business (and serving as a grocery store for another 20 years before that), the building that houses Janet Davis Cleaners has been present for much of our nation’s history, and all the while it gave our family and team members a great place to offer our services to those in the community for many amazing years. But, as it goes with any building housing an active business, especially older ones, it has seen plenty of wear-and-tear. That’s why we recently decided to give our lovely old building a facelift by repainting. Because our building has such a rich history, we tried to strike a balance between making it look modern without erasing its heritage. Just as it goes with any kind of change, whether it’s a personal or professional one, maintaining existing assets while embracing new ones is important. Here at Janet Davis Cleaners, we are excited about our old building’s new aesthetic. Check out our picture to see how the paint job turned out, and, if you haven’t paid our location a visit in awhile, take a trip down Woodward Avenue. You’ll see the building that’s served as home since 1950. Here’s to another 70 years!
The ACS has resources for families living with cancer or those wanting to learn more. Visit Cancer.org for more information.
www.janetdaviscleaners.com 2
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