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47474| O akville B eaver | T hursday,O ctober 11,2018 insidehalton.com Metroland Media's Halton divi-Metroland Media's Halton divi-M sion photojournalist Nikki Wesley is thinking outside of the box with a profile series that aims to shine a different light on those who call Halton home. Interview subjectsHalton home. Interview subjectsH are asked to pose for photos with an item that is important to them. The Beaver continues this reg- ular Q-and-A feature with Tina De Crisci. The 46-year-old elementa- ry teacher, who is qualified to teach the deaf and hard of hearing, is also co-founder of Duran Places for Kids Inc. and foster parent.for Kids Inc. and foster parent.f The mompreneur just recently in- corporated the activity centre for children and can be found attend- ing business meetings with a baby on her hip - and that's OK, she says, because "that's who we are." Below is a condensed version of Wesley's Q-and-A with De Crisci. Wesley's Q-and-A with De Crisci. W Describe yourself in one word? Good (I try to be). Q: In one word how would someone you are close with describe you? A: Most would probably say caring, especially towards chil- dren. Those who know my dreams will say driven. My husband says I am the nicest person he knows. Q: What are your favourite qualities in a person? A: Integrity and, to me, that means doing the right thing when no one else is watching. Q: What is your idea of hap- piness? A: Sitting at our long kitchen table and looking at my husband and seeing just how big our love has grown around that table. It warms my heart to think of the new faces who will join us next. Q: What are you passionate about? A: Play. I believe in the impor- tance of just letting the children play. Back in the day when a par- ent said to go play, it meant a cer- tain freedom for a kid, but today it usually means screen time. Every parent knows that healthy kids are active and engaged in some- thing, so parents start to fret about how many activities - and which ones. I did so as well with our chil- dren but now I look for something to help narrow things down. I watch their play (because) play is a child's work and the way that they learn. Q: What's your favourite smell? A: The top of a newborn's head. Q: What's your least favou- rite word? A: Fine. Q: Who is your favourite fic- tional character and why? A: Emma from A Woman of Substance, a great rags-to-riches story about struggle and a strong female who does what she is goodfemale who does what she is goodf at and succeeds with sheer deter- mination and God's favour. Q: What is something that you wish everyone knew about you? A: That it may seem like I am al- ways smiling but I have those sad moments as well and I make the choice to keep smiling, and to nev- er take my niceness for weakness. Q: If you could give the world one piece of advice what would it be? A: Our seniors are treasures for our young. If your children stillfor our young. If your children stillf have their grandparents, please take them around them often and if not, then seek out seniors to be- friend and help. Your children willfriend and help. Your children willf benefit from the relationship and remember it always. They can learn so much from them. They THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX: TINA DE CRISCI Tina De Crisci, 46, is an elementary teacher, who is qualified to teach the deaf and hard of hearing. She is also co-founder of Duran Places for Kids Inc. and an Oakville foster parent. Nikki Wesley/Metroland NIKKI WESLEY nwesley@metroland.com COMMUNITY See FOSTERING, page 49