Phyllis Law - August 2020

Phyllis Law - August 2020

AUGUST 2020

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Celebrating My One Year Anniversary as Court TV Guest Panelist One Year at Court TV

do not think I missed one minute of the trial coverage. It was the most entertaining thing I had ever seen on TV.

Equally as fascinating, in 1995, I, along with the entire nation, tuned in to the daily coverage of the O. J. Simpson trial. I could not get enough of it. Even today, I enjoy watching the old clips. You can imagine my excitement when I got a call from one of the Court TV producers in early August 2019. At first, I was so nervous, my instinct was to say no. I had never done TV or radio. My team at PhyllisLaw.com said, “Are you crazy? Of course, you are doing it.” So, I faced my fear and dove in headfirst. I have appeared weekly on the show since then, taking a brief hiatus from the studio since COVID-19 began. While there are no jury trials being conducted during this time, we continue to cover investigations, first appearances, bond hearings, and preliminary hearings via Skype as we wait with the rest of the world to return to standard operating procedure.

T his month I celebrate my one-year anniversary at Court TV. When I started, I was stepping way outside my comfort zone, and I am so glad I did. In May 2019, I learned that Court TV was relaunching in Atlanta. When it debuted in 1991, Court TV focused on real crimes and trials, offering gavel to gavel coverage. In 2008, Court TV converted to truTV and rebranded completely. I first began watching Court TV in 1993. I was 19 years old and had just finished my first year at Georgia Tech. Lyle and Erik Menendez were spoiled, rich Beverly Hills brothers accused of killing their parents. I

I am so grateful to the executives and producers at Court TV and the extremely talented and kind anchors Julie Grant, Vinnie Politan, and Ted Rowlands for including me in this amazing experience. Please check out some of my appearances on our YouTube channel (search Phyllis Collins Law).

–Phyllis Gingrey Collins

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With These Sensory-Rich Activities HelpYour Kids Handle Stressful Situations

Y ou can see it happening, almost in slow motion: Your child goes from playing and laughing to frowning in less than a second. They start to cry, and suddenly, a meltdown is underway. Is this just the way raising young kids is? Does a lack of sleep, change in routine, or intense hunger always have to lead to a meltdown? While it’s human to feel emotions and express them, you can use certain strategies to help your child navigate major emotions and calm down. The key is helping them tap into their central nervous system with activities that engage their senses.

especially in situations that are stressful for them. That’s where activities that engage the five senses can be really beneficial. Sensory activities that utilize the five senses can help your little one connect their body to their immediate surroundings and the larger world around them.

Here are some sensory-rich activities that can help kids feel calmer in stressful times:

• Make a pile of pillows and jump into it. • Put on some fun music and dance. • Bounce your little one on your lap or an exercise ball. • Take them for a spin around the house in a box or laundry basket; kids can even race each other. • Create a slide by propping a mattress or exercise mat against the couch.

These are activities you can use right where you are to help your child find their calm again, even in a meltdown. According to early childhood development expert Alyssa Blask Campbell, sensory input stays in the system for about two hours, meaning even just five minutes of these types of activities can give you and your child hours of calm throughout the day.

Just like adults, younger kids sometimes need support to regulate their emotions,

Increase in Accusations of Cheating and Cyberbullying

Back to School (sort of…)

collaboration,” or cheating, since the onset of COVID-19. Additionally, allegations of cyberbullying have increased dramatically. All parents should be concerned about these trends and monitor their children closely. Chegg is a very popular app used to help students with difficult homework problems. It is the modern version of a tutor. Many college students have been accused of cheating via Chegg during final exams this past spring. For many of these students, the lines were blurred because many exams were taken online and were open note, open book. Most colleges and universities are aggressively pursuing disciplinary action against the students involved and Chegg is cooperating in the investigations. The penalty for this offense is a zero on the final. For most students, that means an F in the class. This can have a devastating effect on the HOPE Scholarship.

Equally as serious are the allegations of cyberbullying. We have seen this pop up in a variety of ways: creation of fake social media profiles to humiliate others, terroristic threats to teachers or other students, catfishing, TikTok videos containing racial slurs — the list goes on and on. Some schools are pursuing criminal action in addition to school discipline. Most of these kids think they are being funny, struggling to try to “fit in.” I recommend you have an open and honest dialogue with your kids about this. Talk through different scenarios with them to make sure they understand how quickly they can get themselves in trouble. Kids are going to make mistakes. That is not always a bad thing. They will learn and grow from those mistakes. However, we owe it to them to help them avoid the big mistakes with big costs.

Everyone should be back to school by now. For some, that means being in a classroom, and for others it is a virtual experience. Whatever the situation may be, parents need to be aware of the stress that accompanies the “new normal” for our kids and the risks that stress poses. I specialize in defending students charged with school code of conduct violations in Georgia public and private schools. We have seen an increase in accusations of “unlawful

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SUDOKU BREAK Solution on Pg. 4

We are thrilled to introduce our new logo at PhyllisLaw.com. Roy Fleeman at Office Hours is the creative genius behind the design. We really enjoyed working with him and highly recommend him to anyone looking to define their brand. The top image reflects turning over a new leaf, with the hand below indicating a helping hand. I believe this image captures the true illustration of the services we provide. People come to us in crisis. They are looking to resolve a conflict in a positive way, and they need help doing that. The helping hand indicates that we are here to help our clients help themselves. It is a collaborative effort. “Brokering Second Chances” is a phrase that captures the mission of our firm. We spent a year reflecting on the best way to articulate what we do. We believe that everyone deserves a second chance. Sometimes that means that criminal charges are dismissed. Sometimes it means that charges are reduced to less serious charges. For our clients in financial crisis, it may mean bankruptcy protection, which enables them to start with a clean slate. It could be settling a debt for pennies on the dollar. For students it may mean avoiding school suspension. Whatever that second chance is, it is an opportunity for a person to learn and grow and use their experience in a positive way. It is an honor and privilege to serve this community in this way. Introducing Our NewLogo

World’s Best Vegan Chimichurri

This tasty sauce originated in Latin America and is easy to make: It has just eight ingredients and takes only five minutes to whip up. The flavors in the recipe are flexible, so you can experiment with different herbs and spices. Then, pour over rice or your favorite grilled foods and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup oil (extra-virgin olive oil recommended) • 1/4 cup vinegar (apple cider vinegar recommended) • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 4 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped • 2 tbsp dried oregano • 1/2 tsp salt (Himalayan pink salt recommended) • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper • Cayenne pepper, to taste

Directions

1. In a bowl, add all ingredients except cayenne and whisk until well mixed. If desired, add cayenne pepper a little at a time until you reach your preferred level of spiciness. 2. Serve immediately or, for an even better taste and texture, refrigerate for 1–2 days. 3. You may increase the batch size, but keep the ratio of oil and vinegar the same — 2-to-1. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 months.

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www.PhyllisLaw.com | 404.514.3397 531 Roselane Street Ste 200 | Marietta, GA 30060

Solution From Pg. 3

Inside This Issue

Celebrating My One Year Anniversary as Court TV Guest Panelist 1 The Best Activities for Helping Kids CopeWith Stress Increase in Accusations of Cheating and Cyberbullying 2 Check Out Our New Logo World’s Best Vegan Chimichurri 3 Exercise Your Way to a Clean Home 4

Your ‘Clean’ Workout Routine

Turn Household Chores Into Effective Exercise

Nearly any chore can be turned into an exercise, but here are some ideas to get you started.

• Vacuum: Vacuum briskly nonstop for at least 20 minutes, switching arms as you go. For an added challenge, do lunges as you vacuum and remember to keep your toes pointed straight ahead and your knees bent at 90-degree angles. • Pick Up: Instead of simply bending over to pick up toys or clothes, do a squat with every item you grab. Remember to use your legs, not your back. You can also do squats while unloading the dishwasher or with any other chore that involves repeated bending. • Wipe Down: Whether you’re wiping windows or scrubbing appliances, do big, exaggerated arm circles until your muscles start to burn and make sure you’re switching arms as you go. • Cook: It’s not cleaning, but it’s still a chore with useful downtime. While food is simmering or thawing in the microwave, do some pushups, situps, or planks to get your muscles moving. You can implement dozens of exercises to turn mundane activities into beneficial workouts. Some chores will burn more calories than others, but every bit of activity helps. Now’s the time to work your way to a cleaner house and a healthier you.

Everyone knows how labor-intensive cleaning can be. A long day of scrubbing down your house is a great way to work your muscles and get your blood pumping, so crank up some tunes, grab a mop, and get ready to transform your cleaning routine into a great workout. To get physical benefits from cleaning, you need to turn up the intensity of your methods. Exaggerate your motions, pick up your pace, and keep your abs tight and knees flexed.

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