Every parent wants the best for their child, and education and healthcare top the list of priorities. Unfortunately for many, access to adequate insurance lies just out of reach. The toll a single trip to the doctor’s office can take on a family’s finances is hefty, with only partial or poor coverage. As a result, […]
Annette Benedetti
Posted inBend Nest
Spring Cleaning and the Consequences of Clutter
Spring is the time of year when people start thinking about breaking out the garbage pails and mop buckets and cleaning house. The changing of seasons signifies a change in lifestyle. More outside time is around the corner, and getting a fresh start with a fresh house just makes sense—but finding the motivation can be […]
Posted inBend Nest
CASA of Central Oregon: A Voice for Children
This year alone, approximately 500 abused and neglected children in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties spent time in foster care. Many of them have gone, or will go through, multiple foster placements before the courts determine their final destination. Without a loving parent or family member to speak up for their best interests, their lives […]
Posted inBend Nest
Surrogacy: Providing hope & help for families
For many couples, deciding whether or not to have a child is a matter of agreement and timing. For others, fertility and carrying a healthy pregnancy is difficult or impossible, leaving them with few options for expanding their tribe. While adoption is an obvious, viable solution for those who are unable to conceive, some parents-to-be […]
Posted inBend Nest
Ringing in the Holidays, Central Oregon Style
Central Oregon embodies the dream of a white Christmas. In fact, it offers up the idyllic version of every holiday that takes place during the winter season. From local events and celebrations to traditions made possible by the high desert’s natural gifts, the region’s holiday culture draws families from all over the nation looking to […]
Posted inBend Nest
Creating Smiles for 20 Years: Kemple Memorial Children’s Dental Clinic
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of five children between the ages of five and 11 years old has at least one untreated, decayed tooth. The statistics aren’t much better for children between the ages of 12 and 19 years old, with one out of seven suffering from an untreated […]
Posted inBend Nest
Opening Doors: Finding the Right Tutor
A child’s school years are vital to their life-long success. From the first day of preschool until they walk down the aisle at graduation, an endless number of hours are spent learning everything from counting to 10 to fluently speaking a foreign language. While keeping learning fun and stress-free is a top priority, there is an […]
Posted inBend Nest
A Message of Acceptance: Supporting Local Trans Youth
Brenda Ferns lives in Bend and is a mother to five children including Levi—her 14-year-old trans son. She remembers how around the age of five he would come to her and confide that he wanted to be a boy. “At that point, I wasn’t educated on (the transgender experience)…I hadn’t even really heard of it,” […]
Posted inNews
Child Care Crunch
School’s out. If you’re one of the many who waited to find somewhere for your kids to hang out this summer, this may help
Summer break is here—and whether it’s due to a sudden change of plans or procrastination, you might be finding yourself faced with finding last-minute care for your school-age kids. As you search the internet and begin to make calls, you realize the situation is dire. Enrollment dates are long over. Many summer programs are filled […]
Posted inBend Nest
Local Businesses Serve Up Family-Friendly Summer Fun
Summertime in Central Oregon is packed with outdoor camps and kid-focused activities that kick off the minute the last school bell rings. But kids aren’t the only ones who need a little break from the usual daily grind. During those few months when the weather warms and the sun shines, parents deserve a little break […]