Lori Ann Moscato and her husband Robert Moscato, Jr. are the Founders the Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation, while Lori currently serves as the foundation’s chair.
Lori was born and raised in Connecticut and in 1995 Lori and her family moved to North Carolina. She attended Meredith College and in 1999 graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing. Lori has always had a passion for healthcare and a love for helping others. After graduating Lori joined GlaxoSmithKline as a pharmaceutical sales representative. She had an exciting career in sales, marketing and professional relations. Shortly after Lori’s second child was born she became a stay at home mom.
Lori and Rob struggled with infertility for 2 years before going to the North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Sameh K. Toma diagnosed Lori with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome commonly know as PCOS. After the first round of in-vitro fertilization Lori became pregnant and conceived Sophia in 2007. To everyone’s surprise Lori got pregnant naturally just 4 months after Sophia was born and Ryan was born in 2008.
In December 2008 Lori and Rob decided they wanted to “pay it forward” and help other families who are struggling with infertility and the exorbitant costs associated with treatment so they started the Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation was created to give hope to people who want to build a family. The goal of the organization is to educate , create awareness, and provide financial assistance.
Visit www.PayitForwardFertility.org for more information.
Imagine meeting someone who bubbles over with fire about helping others, has a charming personality and breathes new life into the word “vision”. I couldn’t wait to sit down with her to experience what many women are desperately trying to find - Purpose. This P3 Pearl is Lori Moscato.
Lori is truly a P3 Pearl, she has the uncanny and uncommon ability to give over to life as it is happening, yet stand for something extraordinary in the process. Most of us have wanted something so desperately that we never consider giving into life while allowing things to unfold naturally. We choose instead to take matters into our own hands. We push and prod and rush, to no avail. But Lori, a truly brave soul did just that. She surrendered to life and let it happen in its own way and in its own time.
Lori and her husband Rob had trouble conceiving and went through several rounds of fertility treatments. After much patience and incredible faith she conceived a daughter, Sophia and months later on their own a son. Filled with gratitude, Lori and Rob wanted to find a way to give back. It was in that very moment that inspiration ignited within Lori.
As you listen in, you’ll hear how quickly Lori’s inspiration became an idea which became a foundation. Lori candidly gives new meaning to the word “hope” and the phrase “sweet surrender.” Most wonder how those words can live in the same sentence, but Lori tells us how. She shares her best advice and what she knows for sure.
Sit back and enjoy this interview with Lori Moscato. From thought to concept to reality, Lori is the epitome of vision made real.
I had an epiphany just the other day. I realized that the longer I sat at my computer, the less housework I get done. Yes, I work from home. I find it increasingly difficult to keep my home in “open house” status when the kids and I are at home all day. I love a clean house. Who doesn’t? But I have learned to live with some degree of organized chaos. There is a method to the madness. Of course, some days are more madness than method.
My husband has witnessed me typing and nursing at the same time. He is totally amazed. He says, “You are doing way too much!” I am thinking, “You have no idea. I’m only doing two things right now, just wait until I have the phone in my hand as well.” Multitasking takes on a whole new meaning for the work-at-home mom.
Let me set the record straight that every mother works at home. I don’t want to go back and forth on the pros and cons of being a stay-at-home mom versus a work-at-home mom. I have heard the arguments and have come up with a few of my own. I must say there is a level of freedom and empowerment you can get from staying at home with kids. My kids have their own way of taking me up to a new level of creativity.
I recall an incident last year when I was on the phone with a client going over some very important details for an upcoming event. The call required my undivided attention (yeah right!). So here I sat at my dining room table which is my makeshift office during the day. My son, 3 years old at the time, comes running to me wearing “butt naked”. I think, “Oh my gosh! Where is his pull-up?” Surprisingly, he doesn’t say a word. I quietly get up from my chair (phone still to my ear) and walk him back to the bathroom, praying against droplets on the way. Keep in mind; we were in the midst of potty training days so I was fully prepared for my carpet to be stained. Ironically, “it” all ended up in and around the toilet. I discreetly changed him while on the phone and continued my conversation as if nothing happened.
I try to make it clear to my clients that I am a mom. I find acknowledging the fact up front works for me. My thing is if I am able to function with the background noise of an infant, toddler and preschooler then surely you will survive being on the other end of my Sprint "free and clear" phone line. I find that most people are quite understanding and accepting, even impressed with work at home moms.
Some ask me how I do it. My response is, “I have no idea. I just do what I can with what I have.” Coupled with the responsibilities of being a wife and mother, I also have business and ministry commitments that I choose to keep. Working from home allows me to make full use of my talents and gifts and contributes to who I am as a whole person. That is a fulfilling opportunity.
Annika shares the chaos, the challenge and some of the cherished memories of raising a family of five.
As the popularity of video games increases, the debate over their effect on children rages. Some child psychologists and family groups argue violent and mature video games negatively affect children. Parents who complain that video games are harmful may now have proof. A number of studies have linked video game usage to negative behavior in children and adolescents. Video game supporters cite studies that show benefits, and encourage better parental supervision.
The truth may lie somewhere between; like most things, video games should be enjoyed in moderation. Proper supervision over content could avoid many of the negative side effects, while taking advantage of the positive benefits.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS
Studies and reports suggest a correlation between extended video game use (especially violent games) and negative psychological and behavioral effects. Among those cited are aggressive tendencies, violent outbursts, and drug and alcohol abuse.
A 2008 report in the American Academy of Pediatrics combined studies on children in the United States and Japan, and found violence behavior increased with video game usage. The studies showed "conclusive evidence that playing violent video games has harmful effects on children and adolescents."
A 2006 study by Indiana University reported violent video games could cause aggression in children and teens. MRIs performed on adolescents playing violent video games found the emotional centers of the brain become more active while the centers of the brain that regulate self control stopped functioning.
Some studies suggest extensive video game use could negatively affect social development in young children. A 2007 Journal of the American Medical Association report found adolescents who played video games spent significantly less time doing homework than those who did not. Authors of the study fear video games "interfere with the development of skills needed to make a successful transition to adulthood."
A 2009 Brigham Young University study found that as video game usage increased, the quality of relationships with others, including family, friends, and other peers, decreased. The BYU Study found that daily video game users were twice as likely to use drugs. They were three times as likely to use drugs over those who never played games.
POSITIVE EFFECTS
The news isn’t all bad for gamers. Studies of puzzle-based video games found they improve problem solving skills and raised intelligence levels in children. Other studies cite video games as stress reducers in children and adults. In addition, video games appear to improve hand coordination. A hospital-based study found doctors who practiced on a modified Wii video game controller improved their skills on tools used in minimally invasive surgery up to 50%.
LIMITING VIDEO GAME USE
While direct parental oversight is ideal in limiting video game use by children, parents do have additional tools. Devices like the "PlayLimit" attach to televisions and limit viewing, as well as game play, in 15 minute increments.
Child psychologists recommend that parents both limit the time their children spend playing games and take heed of ratings on games. Many parents are unaware that popular games rated as "MA" (Mature Audiences) often contain graphic content, like profanity, excessive violence, sexual content, and nudity.
Victor has served as a Community Voices columnist for THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS and editor of the NORTH TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS REPORT. He has been featured in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL & several national magazines.
Sometimes I feel sorry for my son, Alston. At 4 years old, he is smack in the middle of his siblings. We have the two oldest, Ariana and Alana, and of course the two babies, Ayden and Avary. Ariana and Alana are just 16 months apart in age. Ayden and Avary are just shy of 18 months apart. Then there is Alston, almost exactly 3 years younger than Alana. I try not to assign labels to the kids, but I think Alston may be suffering from a case of "middle child syndrome". He is too little to be "big" and too big to be "little".
Alston’s syndrome is most apparent on Saturday mornings. Alston wakes up to find that Ayden is still asleep. Since he has been conditioned to not wake up sleeping babies, he quietly exits the bedroom. Alston’s first stop is to visit his older sisters.
"Get out of here!"
Alston turns toward the door with sad puppy dog eyes. It is much too early to fuss. So he goes with his next best defense.
Knock, knock.
"Mommy, the girls don’t want me in their room."
"Well, go back to your own room!" I exclaim from behind the door.
The doorknob turns.
"But Ayden is asleep. I can’t play in my room."
"Alston, it is too early. Try to go back to sleep."
"But the girls are up."
"Tell them I said to let you in." I say sleepily, knowing that this temporary solution will be problematic.
He walks back down to the girl’s room with a mission.
Alana screams, "What do you want?"
"Mommy said I could come in here."
I hear an additional set of footsteps coming down the hallway. "Mommy, we don’t want Alston in our room this morning. We want to be by ourselves." She says in typical Alana fashion.
This goes on for about 10 minutes, which seems much longer. Then I hear a door slam, and another. So I kick my husband out of the bed to go police the mishaps. By now it is late at 7:30 in the morning.
Alston comes back to my bedside. "Is it time for breakfast?" Oh well, so much for my sleeping in. Off to make breakfast I go.
The good thing about Alston being in the middle is that he rules the little people during the day. While the girls are at school, he makes it his business to let the little ones know who is in charge.
"Stop, Ayden!" "Mommy, Ayden has something in his mouth! Mommy, Avary is crawling on the hard floor!" And so on and so on.
Alston is so anxious to get "big". Everyday he jumps on my scale to ask, "how big am I?" He is 38 pounds, but I say "almost 40 pounds". Alston raises his arms in the air and says, "am I this big?" I say "yes you are." He likes that. For some reason, kids are cutest when they ask how big they are. I smile every time that I respond, "you are almost 40 pounds!" It just sounds so big to him.
One meaning of Alston’s name is "ruler of the elves". I was a little skeptical about naming him Alston for that very reason. However, when I think about it, "ruler of the ‘little people’" is most appropriate. It certainly gives him a sense of belonging. Everyone needs to find their place in the world. Come to think of it, some of the best things in life are in the middle, like oreo cookie creme! That’s my sweet little middle child.
Annika shares the chaos, the challenge and some of the cherished memories of raising a family of five.
