Only 19 months a part, Maya and Masami Tempel are close in age, but quite different in personality. "Maya is very cautious of new situations but opens up quickly and has very witty things to tell everyone," says mom, Melissa. "Masami is outgoing and wild and more demanding."
But one thing the two girls have in common is their love for music, which is one of the reasons why we chose Maya and Masami to be June's Mini-Milwaukeeans of the month. According to mom, their favorite musicians are Dan Zanes (they went to Zanes' concert in Milwaukee last month), Laurie Berkner, Bob Marley and the Beatles.
"They love to sing and dance in the car, at home, anywhere," says Melissa, a private school Spanish teacher who plans to return to the Milwaukee Public Schools when Masami is in kindergarden.
The girls also love spending time with their dad, Gene, who works for a building restoration company and plays in the local band Broken.
The Temple family owns a home in Riverwest. Melissa says the neighborhood is a good fit because she felt alienated growing up Korean in a suburban neighborhood, and she hopes Riverwest's diversity will allow her girls to feel more connected to their peers and community.
"I didn't have any friends that looked like me and I always felt different. At our Riverwest playgroup at the Children's Outing Association (COA), my daughters have played with friends from all different cultural and ethnic backgrounds," she says. "We wanted to raise our children in a diverse neighborhood with nice people and lots to do."
Nominate your kid to be OMC's next "Mini-Milwaukeean of the Month!"
Every month, we'll select one Brew City babe (suburban kids are also eligible) and write a little article about him or her. Then, Mom or Dad can forward the article to friends and relatives -- three cheers for cyberspace bragging rights!
Contest requirements:
1. Kids entered in the contest must be between the ages of newborn and 6 years old.
2. Kids must be nominated by a family member.
3. Family must live in the Metro Milwaukee area.
Note: Preference will be given to kids photographed in a recognizable Milwaukee setting or wearing Milwaukee/Wisconsin gear.
So, e-mail your favorite digital photo to us, the name and age of your child and your name. If we pick your mini for the month, we'll email you back and ask for more information for the article.
E-mail molly@staff.onmilwaukee.com and type "Mini Milwaukeean" in the subject line. There is no deadline for this contest.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
