ONCEKids Publishing Cheers on Olympian and Modern Mom Candace Parker

Candace Parker, accomplished basketball player and mother -- need we say more? This female athlete has been setting records and dominating the basketball court since college. 

In 2006 she became known for being the first women to ever dunk, not once, but twice in a college game. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, she has also become known for being the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game, as well as the second player to dunk during a game in WNBA history in 2008.

Her talents range as her positions switch between forward, center, and guard, but mainly sticking to the forward position. 

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In 2008, she was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks, and still remains on the team today, playing alongside Olympic teammates Tina Thompson and Delisha Milton-Jones. Perhaps one of the most exciting accomplishments of Parker's career was this year, when she was one of 21 finalists selected to play for the U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball Team for the 2012 Olympics in London. 

Learn more about acclaimed author and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker, click here.

Candace Parker is truly from a basketball family, she is the younger sister of NBA player Anthony Parker and married to Brooklyn Nets basketball player Shelden Williams. Even this basketball loving family takes time out of their busy schedule for their number one fan, daughter Lailaa Nicole Williams, who was born in 2009 - just a year after Parker got drafted by the Sparks. 

ONCEKids Publishing Cheers on Olympic Mom Jenny Potter

At 33 years old, Jenny Potter is a very accomplished hockey player . She has been on the U.S. Women's Team since 1997 and during that time has competed at three Winter Olympics and seven World Championships. 

At just 19 years old she was the second youngest player on the 1998 U.S. Olympic team. In 1999 she led the team in the Women's World Championships, scoring 12 points in five games.

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During her career she has won seven medals at World Championships; three gold medals, in 2005, 2008, and 2009, and four silver medals, in 1999, 2001, and 2007. She has participated in four Olympic Games, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010, winning a medal in each. She won gold in her first Olympic games in 1998! 

She played at the University of Minnesota Duluth for three years and at the University of Minnesota for one year. In 2002, Potter set the NCAA record for most goals in one game with 6 and became the all-time leading scorer in Bulldogs history. Winning the silver medal at the 2010 made Potter the most decorated Olympic medalist in Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs history. She currently plays for the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Western Women's Hockey League. 

Learn more about acclaimed author and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker, click here.
Oh and did we mention she was the only mother on the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team? In 2001 she gave birth to her first child, Madison, and in 2007 she had a second child, Cullen. 

ONCEKids Publishing salutes Modern Mom Kim Clijsters

Kim Clijsters is a professional tennis player from Belgium. She is a former world number 1 in both singles and doubles and as of August 13, 2012 she is ranked number 28 in singles in the world. She won Grand Slam titles at the US Open in 2005, 2009, and 2010 and one at the Australian Open in 2011. In 2003 she won the French Open and Wimbledon titles. 

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter.

In 2007 she announced her retirement but returned only two years later. All of these accomplishments, and she is a mother! 

Clijsters gave birth to her daughter, Jada Elle, on February 27, 2008. A year after giving birth to her daughter, she came back from her retirement to win her second US Open title. This victory gave her the title of the first mother to win a major since 1980 when Evonne Goolagong won. 

To learn more about Mompreneur and acclaimed author Eileen Wacker, click here.
Her accomplishments equal the record set by Margaret Court, winning three Gram Slams as a mother. She is also the first mother to hold the number one ranking since 1975. In June 2011, she was named one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present, and Future" by TIME magazine and according to Forbes in August 2011 she became the fifth highest-paid female athlete. 

Olympian Lochte shares Gold-Stained Secret

Olympians are admired for their world-class ability, discipline and prowess.  As a mother, many of us use this standard to inspire our children.  One moment our family is cheering on our favorite Olympian, the next we're using that hero to help to motivate or teach a lesson.  "Olympians eat their vegetables..."  "Olympians go to bed early..." (luckily we're still many years away from the well-publicized: "Olympians wear condoms...")

After a recent and revealing interview, gold medal-winning Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte has perhaps reminded us of two family lessons -- but perhaps not using the exact words that we would've chosen.

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Lochte entered the London games as a relative unknown in a competition featuring one of the most famous athletes in the world: Michael Phelps. Rather than let his nerves get the better of him, he worked hard, trusted himself and earned his worldwide standing.  This paid off as he won the gold over Phelps and others in several early games.  This is of course brought his notoriety which he may or may not have been "media prepared" for.  But the lesson: work hard, stay discipled and your dreams may come true.

Secondly, Olympians are human beings.  Just like me, you and everyone else.  While they excel to the highest percentile in at least one distinct way, they also have foibles.  When first given his media attention there were many people to thank, many companies to endorse and many poignant ideas to share.  For better or worse, the quote that received the most attention was how often and comfortable Lochte was with peeing in the pool.  With so many comfortable athletes in the warm water for hours, it makes you wonder not the drug content in their blood.  But rather the urine content in their communal bathtub.  Practice forgiveness; no one's perfect.

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My hope is the next time my son plays in our pool, I don't catch him smiling slowly with relief and then cheering, " I did it, Mom!  Now I can be an Olympian too!"

Modern Mom Chaunte Lowe Rises for the 2012 Olympics

Chaunte Lowe is an Olympic athlete in the sport of track and field. She is originally from Riverside, CA and currently resides in Decatur, GA. This year she qualifies for her third olympic team after winning the 2012 Olympic Trials, clearing 2.01m/6-7. Lowe competed in Athens and won a silver metal at the 2005 World Championships. Her Olympic career continued when she represented the United States in the 2008 Beijing games, finishing sixth. Shortly after she went on to set three personal records in 2010, one of which included an American-record 2.05m/6-8 in the high jump. 

To learn more about the culture in this article, #ModernMom's and Eileen Wacker's acclaimed book series, visit ONCEKids.

All of these accomplishments at just 28-years of age, oh and did we mention she is a graduate of Georgia Tech and mother of two? Now that is a modern mom! Lowe gave birth to her first daughter, Jasmine, on July 30, 2007. She resumed training just eight weeks after she gave birth. She admits that getting back into it was a struggle, for the first few weeks jogging was difficult and jumping was simply out of the question, but she didn't let her challenges hold her back or break her spirit. She gave birth to her second daughter, Aurora, on April 20, 2011 but is back in the game for the 2012 London Olympics! 

'Blade Runner' Pistorius races toward Olympic Dreams

The London Olympics have proven to be unique and exciting in many ways this 2012, but one thing setting it apart from all the rest is athlete Oscar Pistorius. The South African double amputee will make history in the 400 meters this summer. Pistorius' chances at winning gold are doubtful, but many say he has already won the biggest challenge of all- the ability to participate. 

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Originally Pistorius was banned from competing in able-bodied events, such as the Olympics. He fought before the 2008 Summer Games in Beiging to overturn the ban on athletes with prosthetic legs, and eventually won. After much struggle to make the qualifying time for the Summer Games, he earned his spot in London. Squeezing a spot on the South African team, he will be competing in the London Olympics this 2012, and doesn't plan on letting his prosthetic legs slow him down. This will make him the first amputee to compete in track and field at any Olympics. This became possible for Pistorius nicknamed 'Blade Runner', thanks to his carbon fiber prosthetic legs. 

Extreme Action to Perform at Olympics 2012 [VIDEO]

Streb Extreme Action performers have been appearing at various landmarks across London, catching spectators off guard with their spontaneity and daring moves. The performance, choreographed by founder Elizabeth Streb, is called "Surprises: Streb." Elizabeth Streb says the performance is designed to show the human body being pushed to its limits. "Streb" is a sudden explosion of human energy and art demonstrated through dare-devil feats of intense athleticism. 

Regarding the addition of the new and unique performance, director of the London 2012 Festival, Ruth Mackenzie, says "Streb is a wonderful and inspiring element of the 12-week UK-wide festival celebrating the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad. We're in the middle of a truly amazing series of events."

To learn more about the culture in this article and Eileen Wacker's acclaimed book series, visit ONCEKids.

The addition of the Streb Extreme Action performances promises to be one of the most creative, as well as mind-blowing, highlights of the 2012 Olympics! 

Here's a performance by Elizabeth Streb's Streb Extreme Action dancers:

2012 Olympics Presents the First 'Social Games'

The 2012 Summer Olympics are featuring some of the world's most popular sports, including soccer, basketball, swimming, and track and field, but new to the Olympics will be the role of social media. 


The Olympics in London are actually being nicknamed by some the first "social games." There is no doubt that sports conversation will be driven throughout July and August by popular networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. 


These networks were present during the last games, which occurred in 2008, but the reasons for the 2012 games being touted the first social games are simple- since 2008 social media has exploded. 


To learn more about the culture in this article and Eileen Wacker's acclaimed book series, visit ONCEKids.


In 2008, there were about 1.5 billon Internet users around the world, making up 23% of the world's population. Going into this year's Summer Olympics, that number has increased to 2.3 billion users, about one third of the world's population. 


In 2008, Facebook was used by 100 million people, passing MySpace in popularity. Today, Facebook claims more than 900 million users. In 2008, Twitter saw explosive growth when it had about 6 million users, sending about 300,000 tweets a day. Today, over 500 million users collectively send about 400 million tweets a day. 


To find Eileen Wacker's acclaimed books, the Fujimini Adventure Series, click ONCEKids.


It has become a main source for sports news and is where much of the London 2012 Olympics conversation is sure to take place. Five hundred years' worth of YouTube video are watched via Facebook every day and more that 700 YouTube videos are shared through Twitter each minute. 


Due to this dramatic increase in the last four years, the big role the social media will play in how information is passed around from London this summer is undeniable. Thanks to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Foursquare, and Google+ the best moments of the London 2012 Summer Olympics will be able to be replayed and shared across the world. All of this change since the last olympics, just four years ago, can only make you wonder what is in store for us for the 2016 Olympics.