If your summer travel plans include a visit to Italy this year, you’re in luck, as this year the Roman Catholic Church celebrates a Jubilee year, also known as a Holy Year. While Jubilee years are times of deep religious significance for Catholics around the world, they offer opportunities for non-Catholics as well.

The idea of a Jubilee year finds its origins in the Old Testament, where every 50th year was a time of forgiveness of debts, liberation of slaves, and rest for the land. Inspired by this biblical tradition, Pope Boniface VIII instituted the first Catholic Jubilee in the year 1300. Originally planned for every 100th year, the frequency was later adjusted, and Jubilees typically take place every 25 years, though special Jubilees are occasionally instituted.

Pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square

In the past, Jubilees have drawn millions of religious pilgrims and secular visitors to Rome, because each Jubilee year offers an opportunity for spiritual renewal. The theme for the 2025 Jubilee is “Pilgrims of Hope”, reflecting the late Pope Francis’s desire for the Church to be a beacon of hope to the entire world through community, mercy, and active charity.

Beyond the religious and spiritual implications for Catholics, the Jubilee signifies expanded opportunities for all visitors to explore the incomparably rich history of one of the world’s most important cities.

The most iconic and religiously important element of a Jubilee is the opening of the Holy Doors. The Holy Doors are special doors located in the four papal basilicas of Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Typically sealed shut from the inside, these doors are opened only during a Jubilee. For Catholics, passage through the Holy Doors symbolizes a spiritual transformation of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Four Holy Doors
Top, l-r: St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls
Bottom, l-r: St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major

Visiting these holy sites is not exclusive to Catholics, however. People of all faiths are invited to pass through the doors. While for non-Catholics this passage may not hold any spiritual significance, the historical significance of the doors and what lies beyond – relics, art, and artifacts only viewable during a Jubilee – is undeniable. So, if you are in Rome this year, a visit to the four papal basilicas to pass through the Holy Doors is a must. It will be 25 years before you get another chance.

Rome is always busy in the summer, and during a Jubilee year, those crowds can swell even more. To handle the expanded tourist population, the entire country of Italy has been preparing for over a year. The Italian government allocated over €2 billion for infrastructure projects tied to the Jubilee. New pedestrian areas, enhanced public transportation, upgrades to sanitation and security, as well as expanded medical and tourist services have been implemented.

The Vatican and local dioceses throughout the country have organized a range of spiritual and cultural events to celebrate the Jubilee. Museums and churches will display sacred art, relics, and historical exhibits that reflect the Jubilee’s importance and feature pieces seen only during Jubilee years.  The Vatican Museums and various Roman institutions have planned major exhibits that showcase items of historical, cultural and religious significance.

Milan Cathedral
photo credit: Caleb Stokes

If your travels take you to Italy this year but you cannot make it to Rome, or you simply prefer to avoid it, special Jubilee events will be taking place in just about every other Italian town and city, as well. While the Jubilee is considered to be mostly a Roman event, Italy is an overwhelmingly Catholic country, and Jubilee years are celebrated all over. Florence, Milan, Venice, and especially Assisi are hosting Jubilee events. These cities will likely not be as affected from a larger-than-usual tourist influx as Rome will be, but there will be expanded religious and cultural experiences available for visitors.

Regardless of faith, visitors to Italy will be able to partake of a unique spiritual and cultural event this summer. For Catholics, the 2025 Holy Year offers a powerful opportunity for inner transformation. For Catholics and non-Catholics alike, the opportunities for cultural enrichment abound. Whether one visits to walk through a Holy Door, attend a Mass at St. Peter’s, or simply to soak in the enhance atmosphere of history, art and architecture, the Catholic Jubilee of 2025 promises to be a memorable time for anyone visiting Italy this year.

Editor’s note: This issue went to press before the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, 2025. Requiem aeternam ei dona et lux perpetua luceat ei.

The post Pilgrims of Hope: Italy’s Jubilee Year first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

It’s true. In a single day you could enjoy some of the best BBQ or Mexican food on earth, watch a cattle drive, stroll through galleries of world-famous paintings and sculptures, hear an opera, and heaven forbid if you fall off your horse, receive second-to-none medical treatment. That’s because, as of last month, Baylor Scott & White All Saints in Fort Worth has been awarded their second Magnet Designation and their first Magnet with Distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

The Magnet with Distinction Recognition Program® was started in 2023 to celebrate hospitals and health care organizations that exceed the scoring thresholds required to attain Magnet® designation, which Baylor Scott & White All Saints had previously achieved. The award is only bestowed upon hospitals that are able to demonstrate, through validated empirical data, a level of nursing excellence that sets them head and shoulders above the rest. In fact, only .26% of hospitals operate at a level that warrant Magnet with Distinction Recognition!

Baylor All Saints Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Ulondia Lee, said of the momentous occasion, “As a mother myself, I know how important it is to feel confident in the care you and your family receive. Achieving Magnet with Distinction reaffirms our commitment to delivering the highest standard of nursing excellence, compassionate care, and patient outcomes. It’s a true honor to serve a community of families who trust us with their most precious moments — from welcoming new life to supporting every stage of health and healing.”

Achieving Magnet level status is an enormous source of pride for any hospital, but a Magnet with Distinction designation raises that already high bar of excellence to heights that are truly lofty. Only top-tier nursing programs are able to achieve such accolades, and those few that have done so are the elite of the nursing profession.

The award is an overt validation of a nursing staff’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence in nursing and patient care. It provides external recognition from top accrediting bodies and industry peers that the organization has gone above and beyond in the areas of nurse engagement and patient experience. Magnet with Distinction designation serves as a testament to an organization’s commitment to achieving excellence and dedication to constant improvement. It is only bestowed upon organizations that are able to demonstrate the highest standards of nursing practices.

There are two paths to achieve Magnet and Magnet with Distinction awards. A hospital must demonstrate no deficiencies in any component and have an exemplar in registered nurse engagement, and/or have no deficiencies in any component of the requirements, have two or more exemplars in patient experience, and at least two exemplars in nursing-sensitive indicators. The standards are extremely high.

According to Tatum Leonard, Director of Clinical Excellence at Baylor All Saints Medical Center, Fort Worth, who was instrumental in achieving these awards, “This distinction was extremely hard to obtain, but we never did it for the recognition. Our nurses and healthcare team live by our values, which is to empower people to live well. We are dedicated to providing only the most compassionate and cutting-edge care, backed by data and research. We have committed to serve the Fort Worth community with excellence, integrity, and heart—because that’s what our patients deserve, and that’s who we are.”

All of the hard work and dedication needed to achieve these awards has paid off for the Nurses at Baylor Scott & White, but Fort Worth is the real winner. We are extremely lucky and to have access to such high standards of care. Congratulations to the nurses and all of the staff at Baylor Scott & White for this truly spectacular achievement, but mostly, thank you from a grateful city for providing so many of us with the best care possible!

The post Raising the Bar Even Higher first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Fort Worth native Lovett has loved drawing since childhood and took drawing classes in high school and college but had never painted. “My grandparents lived out in the country near Granbury, and when we would go visit, my grandfather would give us a drawing pad and pens and send us outside,” says Lovett.

“Through middle and high school, I took art classes. Drawing came easy to me, and I always enjoyed it. I was the kid getting in trouble in math class for drawing instead of working on math problems,” he said with a rueful chuckle.

photo credit: Jacob Lovett

After graduating from Paschal High School, Lovett attended Ole Miss, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He took a job in the marketing department of a credit card processing company and then pivoted to a sales and marketing position in the hospitality industry. The Covid pandemic hit the hospitality industry particularly hard, and Lovett was laid off.

The timing of his friend’s out-of-the-blue portrait commission was fortuitous. When asked to do something he’d never done before, Lovett, a natural risk taker, did what few of us would do. He accepted the challenge, hopped on YouTube, bought some supplies, and jumped in with both feet. After finishing the painting, he sought out a painting teacher in Fort Worth and began honing his craft. “I was extremely lucky during Covid. I turned it into a thriving experience, and I wouldn’t be here today without it.”

Just five short but busy years later, Lovett has evolved into a world-class painter of the American West. Lovett describes himself as “a contemporary western oil painter who employs stylistically modern techniques to achieve a striking realism” that has earned him such distinctions as Southwest Art Magazine’s “21 Under 31 Young Artists To Watch” as well as accolades from Western Art and Architecture, Cowboys & Indians Magazine, Western Art Collector, and Cowgirl Magazine.

Lovett’s signature style is a perspective on the American West Lovett calls his “Western windows.” Verging on the architectural, Lovett’s paintings offer a view on the American West from the outside looking in. Or rather, from the perspective of one who does not live the cowboy life but is offered a glimpse into it. “I don’t pretend to be a cowboy. I’m not cosplaying the cowboy life,” says Lovett. “Growing up in Fort Worth, we’re surrounded by Western culture. As a teenager, I resisted that. I resisted being put into any category. When I came back from school and Covid hit, everything changed. The vastness of the West, the values of the American cowboy, and the cowboy ethos inspired me to see a different perspective. The windows are my perspective on and relation to the West. They are my way of interpreting the subject matter.”

photo credit: Lane Womack

Lovett’s fresh take on the American West in general, and the American cowboy in particular, is double-takingly eye-catching. The paintings are at the same time familiar and novel: Remington- and Russell-inspired, sure, but phrased differently. Foundational, yet extraordinary. The aural analogy would be like hearing Stevie Ray Vaughan playing Beethoven on a Stratocaster. And who wouldn’t want to hear that?

To the delight of generations of Fort Worthians, Will Rogers famously said, “Fort Worth is where the West begins, and Dallas is where the East peters out.” Setting the humorous aspect of that sentiment to one side, there is real gravitas in the notion that in Fort Worth we live on the edge of the American West. Not too far out of town on I-20, you are met with vistas that terrified early pioneers. The European mind simply could not wrap itself around such vast emptiness.

The vistas have changed, of course, but the spirit of those pioneers lives on. Jacob Lovett’s art is proof of that. Like those who came before, he said yes to the unknown, and through his paintings, we are given “an entrance into or a peeking into the west.” Or, as Lovett himself put it, “a returning home.”

You can find Lovett’s work at the Gallery at Bowie House here in Fort Worth or at the Commerce Gallery in Lockhart.

The post Windows into the West first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

With a robust pre and post-delivery education program, Andrews Women’s Hospital at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center staff help to alleviate much of the anxiety of having and caring for a new baby. The state-of-the-art facility with its well-conceived delivery suites is designed to help mothers feel comfortable and safe when “it’s time!”. The comprehensive care provided for a new mother and baby includes services for high-risk pregnancies and neonatal intensive care.

Delivering, on average, 6,000 babies per year (that’s 16 babies per day) means the staff have built a level of experience that Fort Worth mothers find comfort in. It also means they are celebrating their 100,000^th delivery this month!

This monumental achievement is the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work by a staff dedicated to providing the highest quality care for a new mother (and her baby).

Tanglewood Moms reached out to two of the fantastic doctors on staff at Andrews Women’s Hospital for their take on what it means to them to be a part of our community and to get to be the first to welcome so many new Fort Worthians into it.

“Having grown up in Tanglewood in the 60s and 70s, I would be glad to respond. Well before Baylor bought All Saints and Baylor and Scott & White joined forces, I worked one summer at All Saints as a surgical orderly. Fast forward twelve years and I came back to Fort Worth to practice in 1991 with my father. When the new Andrews Women’s Hospital first opened in 2008, we were excited to be a part of it, and to think less than 17 years later that we would have delivered over 100,000 tiny Texans is amazing. Andrews Women’s Hospital delivers more babies every year than any other hospital in the metroplex except for Parkland Hospital in Dallas. We are very fortunate to live in a city like Fort Worth and to have the backing of both our generous donors and the Baylor Scott & White system and hope to remain the Best Place to have a baby in Fort Worth.”

Jay Herd, MD
Executive Vice-President of Medical Affairs
Chief Medical Officer
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth

“Practicing medicine in general and specifically delivering babies in my hometown of Fort Worth is a dream come true for me. Fort Worth truly is a big city with a small town feel and often I will run into my patients with the children I have helped welcome into the world as I am out and about town – grocery shopping, running the Trinity Trails, or at sporting events watching my own children. I very much feel like an integral part of this community. Andrews Women’s Hospital has been a center for excellence in obstetrics and gynecology here in Fort Worth, thus giving me a home to serve women of my community with the highest quality of care.”

Jamie Lin Walker Erwin, MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth

Tanglewood Moms would like to offer our thanks and congratulations to Doctors Herd and Erwin, and all the staff at Andrews Women’s Hospital at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center for their continued care of the women of Fort Worth and on their tremendous achievement of delivering 100,000 new babies into our community!

Bravo!

Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community, or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of Baylor Scott & White Health or those medical centers.

The post Welcoming 100,000 New Fort Worthians first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

With roots going back to the 1950s, Lil Goldman Early Learning Center has been a paragon of early childhood developmental learning for more than 70 years! Founded by and named for a true pioneer in early childhood education, Lil Goldman provides “an enriched environment in which sensory awareness, cognitive growth, and language development can flourish within a Jewish framework”. Lil Goldman operates on the belief that early childhood education affects the long-term outcomes of children’s lives and that children learn best through experience.

Photo courtesy of Lil Goldman Early Learning Center

An emergent play-based curriculum is the foundation for the Lil Goldman experience. Emergent play builds upon each child’s own strengths and interests and taps into their natural sense of awe and curiosity. With a track record of 70 years, this approach has proven successful. It is so successful, in fact, that expecting parents put their child’s name on the enrollment waitlist before their babies are even born. According to the school director, Melessa Johnson, “I sometimes know a couple is pregnant before their own parents know.”

With programs for children ranging in age from two months to Pre-K, Lil Goldman helps build a child’s educational experience from the earliest days. Current total enrollment at Lil Goldman is around 75 students. Student-to-teacher ratios are kept low, with two teachers per six children in the infants and one teacher per ten students in the Pre-K group. This allows teachers to focus on each child’s needs and communicate effectively about each student with his or her parents. Speaking of communication, teachers at Lil Goldman provide parents daily, often real-time, updates and photos of their kids’ progress and interactions.

As mentioned, the Lil Goldman educational experience is established within a Jewish framework, meaning that the curriculum and calendar reflect Jewish holidays and teachings, but Lil Goldman is a non-secular school. In fact, most students and teachers aren’t Jewish.

Aside from school activities, Lil Goldman hosts a vibrant and fun summer camp each year with options for two-, three-, or five-day-per-week camps. There is an active and robust Parents Club and plenty of other entertaining and educational activities throughout the year.

Enrollment for next Fall opened earlier this month, and summer camp enrollment starts in March. For more information, please visit the school’s website at lilgoldmanschool.org.

The post A Launch Pad to a Successful Adulthood first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Characterized by symptoms such as difficulty focusing, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior, ADHD is generally considered to be, first and foremost, a genetic disorder. While genetics definitively play a significant role in who has ADHD, it is becoming more and more clear that certain environmental factors can have a profound impact on the severity and management of the disorder.

While little was known about ADHD before the 1960s, ADHD is now one of the most widely and thoroughly researched neural conditions. There is increasing evidence that certain foods, food additives, chemicals found in household products, and lifestyle choices can and do exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Traditionally treated with powerful psychoactive medications, this research points to potential avenues for intervention and management.

Leaving to one side the causes of ADHD and the rise in diagnoses, there are some simple things those with the condition can do to improve their lives. The most obvious is proper diet and nutrition. It’s not just a matter of what one eats, but what one should avoid.

Diets high in sugar, certain food additives, and artificial food colorings have been shown to contribute to hyperactivity and attention problems in some children. A 2007 UK study revealed that certain food additives led to an increase in hyperactivity in children. The study found that Allura Red AC, known in the US as FD&C Red 40, may be linked to increased hyperactivity and irritability. This observation has prompted many parents of ADHD kids to strive for a dye-free diet, many with observable positive effects.

On the other hand, a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain function, has been linked to an exacerbation of ADHD symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods like oily fish and some nuts and seeds, but dietary supplements are recommended if levels are low.

Poor sleep quality and disruptions to our natural circadian rhythms also negatively affect ADHD symptoms. Chronic sleep problems, such as sleep apnea, can mimic or exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Sleep deprivation affects the brain’s ability to regulate attention and behavior, so getting a proper night’s sleep regularly can improve symptoms. Additionally, disrupted sleep-wake cycles, often caused by screen time and late-night activities, negatively affect cognitive functioning and increase symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. Some people with ADHD swear by blue-blocking glasses worn especially at night, but conventional wisdom stresses the importance of simply turning off all screens at least an hour before bedtime.

It’s not just the blue light from screens disrupting circadian rhythms that exacerbates ADHD symptoms. Excessive exposure to screens of all kinds at all times has been linked to attention problems. Though the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, some scientists believe the fast-paced and highly stimulating nature of the digital media that kids consume these days contributes to attention problems by making it harder for children to focus on less stimulating tasks. Let’s face it: everything seems boring to a child’s brain compared to TikTok and Fortnite. And strictly reducing screen time has shown positive results for all kids, not just those with ADHD.

Basic diet and lifestyle changes, along with medications, if necessary, are often the easiest ways to mitigate many ADHD symptoms. Some ADHD triggers, however, aren’t so easy to deal with. Many environmental toxins and contaminants, including air pollution, have been shown to negatively affect brain function and cause an increase in ADHD symptoms. Exposure to air pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide has been linked to an increased risk of ADHD, particularly in children. Certain chemicals, such as flame retardants used in furniture, clothing, and electronics, have also been associated with ADHD-like symptoms. Lead exposure in early childhood is one of the most widely recognized environmental risk factors for ADHD because lead affects the nervous system, leading to cognitive deficits and behavioral issues, including inattention and hyperactivity. Exposure to mercury and other heavy metals has also been linked to developmental delays and ADHD in children. That’s why women are encouraged to avoid certain fish, such as tuna, during their pregnancy.

While environmental, lifestyle, and dietary factors do not cause ADHD by themselves, they can act as triggers for ADHD behavioral symptoms, especially when combined with genetic predispositions. Taking control of your family’s diet and environment by radically reducing exposure to these known triggers has proven beneficial to many people living with ADHD and can be the difference between merely surviving and thriving.

The post Mitigating ADHD Symptoms first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

The Carter offers membership levels to match any budget and degree of desired involvement. Whether you’re an art neophyte just dipping your oar in the art waters for the first time or a serious philanthropic supporter of the arts, there is a place for you within the museum’s membership structure. If, after reading this article, you’re still on the fence about becoming a member, you should know now is the time to do it. For the entire month of February, the museum is offering a 14% discount on all new memberships.

Associate-level membership is aimed at individuals looking for a way to get involved in the local art community and have a great time doing so. Membership is only $75 per year and includes invitations for members and a guest to two opening night previews, free or discounted registration for select events, discounts at the museum shop, complimentary coffee, tea, or bottled water, a complimentary cocktail at the Second Thursday events, as well as a subscription to Carter Magazine.

Friend-level membership is designed especially for families to enjoy the benefits of the museum and builds on the Associate level by including advanced registration for family events, access to members-only family events, and annual birthday cards for your kiddos. Friend-level membership is $125 per year.

A new membership level called Carter Society has recently been developed to give young professionals the opportunity to expand their social activities to include “the art scene”. For $175 per year, Carter Society members enjoy all the benefits of Associate and Friend level members as well as events curated specifically for Carter Society members, including the annual Rodeo Pre-Party and Midsummer Mingle.

Midsummer Mingle
Part of: Carter Society
Pam Moncrief, from POP UP BAR
Caricature artist, Art by Sam

Stepping up from Carter Society, Sustainer-level members also enjoy the opportunity to purchase additional guest tickets to opening night exhibits, invitations to special events, and deeper discounts in the museum shop. The annual fee for the Sustainer-level membership is $250.

Patron-level membership is $500 per year and is inclusive of all of the above membership-level benefits as well as invitations to select upper-level events and many more additional benefits. The museum offers membership at levels beyond Patron in what is known as the Circle. Circle members enjoy benefits beyond the other membership levels, including invitations to exclusive events with artists and publishers aligned with special exhibitions. For details about Circle-level involvement, your best option is to contact the museum’s membership team.

The Amon Carter is a jewel in the crown of Fort Worth’s art community. The fact that it is always free to visitors is made possible, in part, through its robust membership offerings. Being a “patron of the arts” is no longer a pie-in-the-sky dream. With memberships starting at $75 per year, nearly anyone can afford it. With events and social gatherings throughout the year, the Carter makes being an art patron fun and educational. From Second Thursdays to Tea and Tours and the Midsummer Mingle, there’s always something happening at the Carter. As museum Membership Manager Stacey Smith says, “Our events are designed so that if you know a lot about art, you will feel engaged, but if not, you won’t feel lost. We want all of our members to have fun and learn something about the art.”

For more information on how you can become a member of Fort Worth’s only dedicated American art museum, please visit CarterMuseum.org

Family Workshop: Paint Party

The post The Carter Is Head Over Heels for Their Members first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

This is the night the Amon Carter Museum of American Art hosts its, aptly named, Second Thursdays at the Carter. Described by event creators as a “new art experience”, each Second Thursdays event features a unique theme, live music, themed cocktails and mocktails, and the opportunity to “mingle with fellow art lovers, make art, and meet visiting artists”. The best part is, like everything at the Carter, it’s free!

Photo courtesy of the Carter

Launched on the heels of the museum’s rebranding and renovation in the Fall of 2021 and designed as an affordable happy hour and night out, Second Thursdays has become one of Fort Worth’s favorite adult social gatherings.

Built upon a very intentional foundation of Creativity, Conversation, and Cocktails, Second Thursdays incorporates a creative activity, like painting, bookmaking or printmaking with interactive conversation with local or visiting artists as well as fellow attendees, and a monthly themed cocktail/mocktail creation by a local bartender (February’s Cocktail is a Cupid’s Kiss, of course). The combination makes for a very fun evening, and a unique date night or friend-group meet-up. It has also become a venue for new friendships to blossom. What better setting to meet like-minded people!

Photo courtesy of the Carter

As mentioned, monthly event themes and live music vary, but some of the most popular ones have been and will be repeated throughout the year. For example, Paws and Pictures allows attendees to bring their furry friends (outside on the lawn) and have their picture made with a reproduction of one of the museum’s permanent collection artworks, and Toasts and Tunes features a live band. For example, last year’s band was Brave Combo, and this year the May event will feature the Elvis tribute band, Graceland Ninjas.

Interestingly, while the museum’s traditional audience and membership tends toward an older demographic, Second Thursdays skew younger. Parents whose weekends are taken up with their kids’ extracurriculars, friend groups busy with work and other commitments, and an even younger set kicking off their weekends, tend to make up a large proportion of the attendees.

Photo courtesy of the Carter

While registration is not strictly required, it does help event coordinators with their planning, and while the events themselves are free, the drinks are not. However, membership hath it’s privileges, and museum members receive free cocktails at each event.

For more information and to register for upcoming events, please visit the museum’s website at cartermuseum.org/events/public-programs/second-thursdays

The post A New Art Experience Every Second Thursday first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

However, setting aside time to think about and plan for the future you and your future children will tackle future life is imperative. What happens to the kids if something happens to you? What happens to your income if something happens to your job or company? Thinking about these things can be unsettling.

Helping create plans that address these often scary questions is what The Cleverly Law Form does. James Cleverly has developed a unique process to help families find peace of mind while working through tough questions.

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Cleverly

Can you give a brief rundown of your legal education and background leading up to starting your firm?

First and foremost, I am a husband, father, brother and son. These titles mean the most to me and drive me to do what I do. For over twenty years, I’ve used my law degree to help make a difference in people’s lives, and I believe there is no greater reward than to provide people with the peace of mind of knowing that their family and loved ones will be taken care of should something happen to them. Most attorneys and firms commonly refer to this as “estate planning,” but we think a better term would be “life planning.”

I attended Stephen F. Austin State University for my bachelor’s and attended law school in New England. Upon graduating from law school, I worked for a mid-sized law firm with offices across Texas and later a litigation boutique. I was the Ellis County Bar President for four years, an adjunct professor of business law, a member of Cowtown Angels, and a board member of the SFA Alumni Association; I volunteer with the Aledo Education Foundation and serve on the finance committee at my local church.

I am also one of only a few attorneys in Texas to start, scale, and sell two companies: one to a private equity-backed buyer and a third company through a venture capital-backed incubator. While the majority of our practice focuses on wills, trusts, guardianships, etc., I draw upon my personal experience and devote a portion of our practice to assisting a select few companies with exit planning, succession planning, and/or brokering the sale of their company.

What made you decide to start a firm specializing in estate planning? Why that specialty?

I had two large life-changing moments within just a few short months of each other; my daughter was born, making me a dad for the first time, and my father passed away unexpectedly.

When my father died, he left behind a twenty-five-year-old will and a notebook with passwords for accessing accounts should something happen to him. But that was all: a bare-bones will his employer had paid to have drawn up decades ago, some passwords, and a single saved voicemail that I cherish.

I quickly came to two realizations:  One, that having a boilerplate will that most firms prepare is woefully inadequate and would fail to accomplish what clients truly wanted – to protect their loved ones in the event something should happen to them; and secondly, that estate planning that leaves your family monetary assets is the absolute bare minimum, and even that was not being done correctly by most attorneys.

At my law firm, we emphasize ensuring our clients not only convey their financial assets but also pass along their values, insights, guidance, and family history – which is just as, if not more, valuable to their loved ones.

In opening my firm, I wanted to change the dynamic of estate planning and business law and bring back a true trusted advisor relationship with my clients. To put it quite simply, we do things differently.

We start with the end in mind – determine your goals and concerns and then work backward into an estate plan specifically tailored for your family. We don’t cut corners and are probably more detail-oriented than most people anticipate.

At the end of the day, we see ourselves as being paid not for the papers we create but for the results we produce for our clients and their families. Lastly, nothing we do is based on an hourly rate basis. Everything is billed as a flat-rate fee, agreed upon in advance, so there are no surprises. You will know exactly what it will cost to work with us.

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Cleverly

What does your typical client profile look like? Have you seen changes in that since you started your practice?

My typical client is usually a couple or an individual in their mid-thirties to mid-fifties, with children still at home or young adults. As a father myself, we place an emphasis on ensuring minor children are protected should something happen to their parents.

Most people’s thoughts usually think of what happens to their kids when they die, but that isn’t always the case. For example, my wife and I were out on a rare date night not long ago. As we were heading home, waiting at a red light, the car directly in front of us was t-boned by a drunk driver. We stopped and rendered aid until EMS arrived, and I believe everyone was going to be “okay”, but they were all transported to local hospitals.

I bring this story up because if you only had a simple will and this happened to you, the police would show up at your home. They would find your kids with a teenage babysitter – someone who cannot take legal custody of them, and CPS would be called. You’re not coming home, and your kids are headed to CPS – that is the worst of both worlds for a parent.

At our firm, we provide all of our clients who have minor children with a “Children’s Protection Plan.” This includes both long-term and short-term guardians. Short-term guardians are friends, family, or neighbors who can be at your home quickly in an emergency. We also provide a sheet to leave with your babysitter listing those they can call and who have legal authorization to take custody of your children should there ever be that dreaded knock on the door. Lastly, we also provide our clients with an ID Card to keep in their wallet that says you have minor children waiting for you at home, and please call these people listed in this order.

What typically brings new clients to your firm? Are there specific life events that trigger clients to seek out the type of expertise you deliver?

We are fortunate that many of our clients come from referrals from other professionals or, most commonly, from former clients. Occasionally, someone has experienced a life-changing event – be it an accident or the death of a loved one that brings them to us; other times, it is much happier events – such as a marriage or the birth of a child.

I like to tell people we are an estate planning firm – or as we call it “life planning” law firm. So, what does that mean, or what is it we do exactly?

We help families get all those documents they know they should have in place but always seem to put off doing:  wills, trusts, healthcare directives, guardians for the kids, etc. However, your “assets” are more than just numbers on a balance sheet or bank statement; they represent the fruits of your hard work and the key to a secure future for your loved ones.

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Cleverly

Why is it important for people to be thinking about these things in their 30s and 40s?

As I referenced above, estate planning shouldn’t be something you only consider when you’re older; it is just as, if not more, important to have in place when you have young children still at home.

If you have one or two simple pieces of advice for our readers that everyone should be doing or thinking about, what would they be?

The best way to give advice might be by example. Take a moment and ask yourself – if something were to happen to you and your spouse, who would be the person who would arrive at your home to help handle things? Maybe it would be a sibling, close friend, or parent? Now ask yourself – does that person know where you bank? Do they know if you have life insurance? A 401K? Who your mortgage company is? How to access your computer? Where your birth certificate, passport and other important papers are stored? If the answer to these questions and more is “no,” then I’d encourage you to start to work on selectively sharing that information.

Of course, we would be happy to help get your readers organized and provide those important people in their lives with the legal documentation they would need to handle whatever may arise.

The post Life Planning with Jeremy Cleverly: A Worthy Convo first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Eating right, exercising daily, and making sure to see your doctor regularly covers a huge portion of it, but there are some things that require extra attention. Dr. Cindy Zimmerman of Eyes Fort Worth strives to make sure her patients’ eyes are also well cared for. Taking a one-on-one, patient-centric approach to eyecare and eye health, along with offering a unique eyewear selection and cutting edge technology, Dr. Zimmerman has quickly become one of Fort Worth’s premier eyecare providers.

Courtesy of Cindy Zimmerman

Can you give a brief account (including timeline) of your background and what led you to go out on your own and open Eyes Fort Worth?

I graduated from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2008. I spent the first year out of optometry school as a “fill in” doctor to learn the style of practice that fit me best. It didn’t take long to realize that Private practice was my passion. I purchased an established private practice and changed the name to Eyes on Camp Bowie! I was able to add an associate doctor who is amazing and works a lot with our pediatric patients. We have enjoyed 10 years of growth and caring for the Fort Worth community. The practice has expanded our services and has grown out of our current space. We recently rebranded to Eyes Fort Worth in preparation for the move to our new office! We are excited about our location change and anticipate moving in early 2026!

What should our readers know about Eyes Fort Worth and what differentiates your practice from other FW vision care providers?

We at Eyes Fort Worth pride ourselves most on customer service and personalized care, every patient, every time. We provide preventative eyecare and love to cultivate meaningful relationships with our patients. We strive to be mindful of our patient’s time and communicate expectations effectively. Oh, and we have AMAZING eyewear!

Let’s talk glasses. Not only are they a useful medical device, but they are also a great way to accessorize and show our individuality. What are some of the brands and styles that you carry and are excited about that help your patients/clients do that? 

Where do I start? We are well known in Fort Worth for our amazing opticians and unique independent eyewear brands.  We carry luxury eyewear brands that are curated from all over the world. First and foremost, you want a lens for your eyewear that has superior optical quality and minimizes glare and distortions to help you see your best! We are really excited about our newest Jacques Marie Mage, Masahiromaruyama and Press Eyewear Collections!

For parents, vision issues aren’t always obvious in our kids, because we can’t see that something is wrong. What are things we should be looking for and talking about when it comes to our kids’ vision care?

Early detection is critical. Even if your child gets regular vision screenings, it is amazing how kids with vision problems can still go undetected.  Excessive eye rubbing, an eye or both eyes that turn in or out, watering or discharge coming from one or both eyes, avoiding near work, holding print extremely close when reading, closing an eye, and squinting are just some of the many things to work for.

Screen time is another topic that should be addressed. Excess screen time can lead to worsening myopia or nearsightedness. There are also studies that point to near work association with dry eye due to the decrease in blink rate. Having your kid go outside and play for an hour a day can help combat this.

Courtesy of Cindy Zimmerman

What about caring for aging adults? Whether our parents or ourselves, how do we best ensure we are recognizing and addressing issues early on, or even before they present?

Get annual examinations, even if you don’t require prescription glasses and just use reading glasses.

These preventative eye checks help to detect glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, and also some systemic diseases.

Potential things to look out for include eyelid redness & matting, growths on the whites of the eyes or eyelids, difficulty seeing in dim light, difficulty driving at night, running into walls, tripping over furniture, excess tearing.

Finally, what are some simple things we should be doing regularly to ensure the health of our eyes?

– Get annual examinations.

– Follow the 20/20/20 Rule: After 20 minutes of reading, look 20 feet away and blink for 20 seconds. This allows the muscles of the eyes to relax, and the blinking encourages a more stable tear film which is essential for both clear vision and meibomian gland health of the eyelid.

– Eat more vegetables and fish, less fried foods.

– Be selective with cosmetics, eye creams, lash enhancing serums, and false lashes. Ingredients in certain formulas can be irritating to the ocular surface and can contribute to dry eye symptoms.

– Wear a hat and sun wear when outdoors. UV exposure can contribute to cataract formation and skin cancers around the eye and eyelid.

The post One-on-One Patient Care at Eyes Fort Worth: A Worthy Convo with Dr. Cindy Zimmerman first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.