Freckleface Strawberry The Musical

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Father’s Day Gift Suggestions

After sifting through almost 400 Father’s Day gift suggestions, I’m happy to see that Dads are being focused on after all. (My initial impression was that dads got the short end of the stick holiday-wise.)

Honestly, when it comes to getting gifts for the men in my life, I usually get them something that they have recently mentioned in casual conversation that they wanted or needed. If they haven’t mentioned anything lately, I just ask. (I started this practice after getting Kangols and Old Spice for my own dad year after year until he protested. Me: “You were the one who asked me for them. I thought that you liked them.” Him: “Yes, I did, but that was many years ago. I do like them…just not every year!” Point taken.) This year, I bought my dad a gift card to Macy’s. (He has very specific tastes in clothes – he’s a “Dapper Don”. So, if he doesn’t tell me specifically what he wants clothing-wise, I let him choose for himself!)

My husband mentioned that he needs some new pants, so I also bought him a gift card to Macy’s. I’m going to go shopping with him though as a part of his gift, because he’s one of those people who won’t ever use their gift cards! In addition, I’m creating a photo/video montage as a gift for him with the boys. I’m using One True Media to create it. They gave me a trial Premium Subscription to test out the site and it’s so easy to use! You simply upload your photos and video, add music and any other effects that you desire and you’re done. (I’m writing this on here, because my husband doesn’t read my blog without asking first!) I’m going to turn the montage into a gift DVD. (You can also e-mail it, post it on social media sites or send it to TiVo so it can be watched on TV.) Basic membership to One True Media is free (while premium membership is $3.99/month or $39.99/year) making this a great gift idea. I’ll post the montage on the blog after my husband sees it first.

Okay, so that’s it for the dads in my life, since my husband is getting his father’s gift. Below are two more tech gift ideas that I wanted to highlight. (I’ve seen them, but I don’t own them.)

1. Motorola TALKABOUT® MR350R Radios ($79.99 per pair): Active dads will enjoy these two-way radios that are best suited for outdoor use. That is where you will see the best range (they have a range of 35 miles). The radios also come with NOAA weather alerts, an Emergency alert button and many other features. (I’m thinking of some of my “outdoorsy” guy friends who would love this – especially since summer vacation camping/trips are right around the corner.)

2. Vue personal video network ($299.99): Earlier this year, I was able to see a preview of this system at an Editor’s Showcase. It is a wire-free video system that can be used on a daily basis. With it, dads will be able to see their families from practically anywhere. (When I initially saw it, I thought that it would be a great purchase for parents who are away from their families a lot for business or other reasons.) What I especially like about it is that it’s simple. You just set up the cameras, plug an Internet connection into the back of the Gateway and start viewing. There are no wires and no software to set up, so it’s easy to use no matter how tech savvy you are (or are not!). The Vue will be shipping soon, but you can pre-order now in order to be one of the first people to experience it.

Cheeburger Cheeburger in Forest Hills (Queens)

My family is moving (primarily because of the school system). After recently signing the lease on an apartment in the Forest Hills neighborhood, we went to this place called Cheeburger Cheeburger. It was just a burger place, but the service and food was so good…look:

I keep hearing such great things about the food (bakeries, kebabs, etc.) in the Forest Hill area. If we actually do move there, I'll be sure to "report back" to you about as many of them as possible. Smile.

Father’s Day Celebrations

Do you want to know something funny? A lot of people in my personal life think that I’m creative. I’m not. I just know how to “borrow” and implement ideas from people who have the gift of creativity! That’s why I’m happy to share some ideas from Penny Warner, the party planning expert for Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kits. (She has more than 25 years of experience in the industry and writes frequently on creative and budget-friendly party and gift ideas for all types of special occasions.) She was kind enough to share some insights with us from her recent Father’s Day column.

Father’s Day Celebrations
Father’s Day is the perfect time for Mom and the kids to show Dad how much he means to the family. Here are some tips and suggestions for sharing this special day with the man of the house and letting him know he’s the best Dad ever!

Father’s Day Morning
Start the day with a fun gift for Dad. Buy or make him a funny tie covered with cartoon characters, golf balls or wild designs. Roll up the tie and stuff it into a large balloon. Inflate the balloon with helium using a Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit, tie it off, add a ribbon, and tie the ribbon to Dad’s bedroom door early in the morning. When he finds the balloon, have him pop it to retrieve his first Father’s Day gift. Then make him wear that funny tie the rest of the day!

Decorate for Dad
Make a big “Happy Father’s Day” sign and hang it in the kitchen for Dad to find when he comes out for his morning coffee.

Make him a crown out of brightly colored construction paper, decorate it with stickers or the kids’ artwork, and crown him “King for a Day.”

Inflate a bunch of balloons with helium and tie them to Dad’s favorite chair, his TV, his car or anything else that he loves.

Fun with Father
Entertain Dad with some fun activities the family can enjoy together.

1. Write a Poem for Dad
Let Dad know how much he means to you with a few well-chosen words. The poem doesn’t have to rhyme—it just has to express your feelings.
1. Start with a topic, such as:
- What are Dad’s hobbies and interests?
- What makes Dad special?
- What’s something funny your dad always does?
- What kind of work does your dad do?

2. Write a heart-felt poem about Dad.
- Include one or more of the topics you’ve chosen.
- If you need more ideas, flip through the family album to remind you of some fun family times.
- Keep in mind the poem can be sweet, serious, or funny—as long as it’s written by you.
3. Give the poem to Dad in a clever way, such as:
- Stand up and read the poem during dinner.
- Slip it into Dad’s coat pocket before he goes out.
- Recite it on Dad’s cell phone or answering machine.
- Record it on video and play it later for Dad.

2. Make Your Own Father’s Day Card
Create a unique card that Dad can proudly display at his workplace or on the refrigerator for everyone to see.
1. Find an 8 ½” by 11” sheet of cardstock and fold both sides inward so the ends meet. When folded, the card should look like a set of “double doors.”
2. Open the “doors” and draw a picture of your dad in the center.
3. On the inside, write the words: “Daddy’s Home!”
4. Fold the doors closed and write the words: “My two favorite words are…”
5. Use a sticker to secure the doors closed.
6. Place the card in an envelope and give it to your dad.

3. Scrap a “Dad Memory Book”
Capture the best of your dad in a mini-scrapbook.
1. Fold several sheets of construction paper together to make a book. Staple it along the fold or punch two holes and tie together with ribbon.
2. Color-copy several of your favorite pictures of Dad from the photo album to use for your scrapbook.
3. Cut out the pictures, glue them to pages of the book, and then add funny captions, such as “Watch out Tiger Woods!” for a golf picture or “How do you like it—burned or blackened?” for a BBQ picture.
4. On the cover, cut out a headshot of your dad, glue it onto the front, and draw a Super Hero outfit on him. Then write, “Super Dad’s Scrapbook”

4. Play Miniature Golf
If Dad’s a golfer—or wants to be—set up a mini-golf course in the backyard.
1. Instead of holes, create an obstacle course using an empty can, a small cardboard box, a tented book, a plastic cup and other objects.
2. Take turns using golf clubs to hit the golf balls through the course.
3. Let Dad win…

5. Bake a Necktie Cake
Because neckties are a tradition on Father’s Day, whip up a tie he can eat!
1. Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
2. Pour a little batter into a single cupcake tin (you only want to make one cupcake), and pour the rest into a rectangular pan.
3. Bake and allow the cake to cool.
4. Cut the rectangular cake in half, lengthwise, and lay it end to end to form most of tie.
5. Set the cupcake at the top of one end to form the knot.
6. Frost the cake and decorate it with M&Ms to form a polka-dotted or striped tie.

Father's Day Gift Ideas (Books)

I’m not really putting together a Father’s Day Gift Guide. Rather, I’m going to do two days of gift ideas (Books and Unique Gifts).

Books are some of my favorite things. Below are eight that I think will make wonderful Father’s Day gifts for a variety of dads:

1. Afterbirth: Stories You Won’t Read in a Parenting Magazine
“(It) is a new book offering compassion and hope for parents of any age and disciplinarian follower. (It) is not a sentimental love-fest about the joys of parenthood. Rather, it has more heart in its depictions about the shocking, wonderful, and terrible moments of being a parent, and embraces the complaints, brutally honest opinions, and parental failings about the most mystifying job in the world. Afterbirth is largely written by fathers, and not just any fathers, but some of the funniest dads today, most of whom are award-winning comedy and television writers.”


2. Always By My Side
”The National Sportscaster of the Year beautifully recounts his loving relationship with his own father, Jim Nantz Sr., who ultimately succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. Nantz discusses how his father shaped him as a person, and helped him become the man he is today.”


3. Crash Course for New Dads: Tools, Checklists and Cheat Sheets
"Greg Bishop, founder of Boot Camp for New Dads, a non-profit orientation program for fathers-to-be, operating in more than 260 hospitals, clinics, schools, fire stations and churches around North America and internationally, has recently released his second book on fathering…which serves as a terrific "how to" guide for new fathers."


*4. Dance Me, Daddy
” In her new children’s book, singer/songwriter and 2009 Dove Award Winner Cindy Morgan celebrates the bond between fathers and daughters everywhere. With lively illustrations by Philomena O’Neill, Dance Me, Daddy recalls the days when Daddy was the “King of the World.” The final copy of the book will include a CD with the song “King of the World” (written by Morgan and inspiration for the book) performed by Point of Grace, as well as a reading of the book by Morgan.” (I was sent this beautiful book. Since I don't have a daughter, I'm going to give it to one of my mom friends that does have a little girl.)


5. Keel's Simple Diary Volume One
“This unique mole-skin diary is TASCHEN’s first release primarily filled with text which TASCHEN describes as, “a book that provides us with a little comfort in difficult times.” Illuminating thought starters, queries and illustrations enable the reader/creator to explore, navigate and document the chaotic adventure that is life.”


6. LAMENTATIONS OF THE FATHER
“Celebrated humorist Ian Frazier’s (book is) a collection of The New Yorker contributor’s essays from the past fourteen years of his career. Stories included are “The Cursing Mommy Cookbook,” “Kid Court,” and “How to Operate the Shower Curtain.”


7. LIFE with Father
“Celebrate the joys of parenthood. Featuring celebrities—think Jackie and Caroline Kennedy—and everyday moms and dads; these books are the perfect gift to express the sentiments words cannot.”


8. Love Equals Sacrifice
“An emotional and moving autobiography chronicling the author's experiences caring for a father with Alzheimer's and his realization that true love does not come without sacrifice.”

Hidden Hazards in the Home

For some reason, when random accidents injure/take the life of kids, it really shakes me up. So, a couple of weeks ago, I was really sad to learn about the accidental death of Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter. She had been strangled by a cord on a treadmill.

One great thing about working in the parenting field is that you have access to all types of experts. I immediately emailed my contact person at Safe Kids USA to see if they had anyone that could address child safety in regards to exercise rooms/gyms (in-home and out). Yesterday, I had a telephone call with Chrissy Cianflone, the Director of Program Operations at Safe Kids USA, and we had a very helpful conversation. Since it turned out that the case with Tyson’s daughter was simply a tragic accident/it’s very rare for kids to be strangled at home by exercise equipment, we talked about several things that parents should be more aware of in the home…

1. Cords: Parents need to be mindful of infants and toddlers playing with common household items like lamp/blind/computer cords. Tie them up out of the reach of kids and make sure that they’re not accessible. That also includes clothing items like drawstrings/necklaces/scarves. Kids are at risk of playing with them in a dangerous manner until they’re older/know better.

2. Adult supervision: Of course no one can watch their kid 24 hours, 7 days a week. However, it is important for parents to watch their kids – especially when they’re in areas where they have access to potentially dangerous items (i.e. treadmills, large televisions, etc.) Since we can’t watch our kids all of the time, it’s important that we limit access to potential dangers.

3. Secure furniture: Small kids use furniture to creep and climb. That’s why it’s important that stands/dressers/televisions are properly secured. Be sure to use furniture straps to secure large pieces of furniture and equipment so that small kids won’t be able to pull them down on top of themselves. (As I listened to this point, I made a mental note to get a strap for our new flat-screen television ASAP!)

4. Check recalled products: Toys, clothing and all types of other products are constantly being recalled for a variety of reasons. Parents need to get those items out of their homes for safety’s sake. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) lists recalls. You can also sign up on their site to get email notices of products as they are recalled by category (toys/clothing/etc.) As I glanced at their site, I noticed that there is an “ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS” section.

5. Toys: If parents have children of different ages in their homes (like many of us!), it’s important that they store each child’s toys separately. It’s potentially hazardous to the younger kids to play with their older sibling’s toys (especially because of the small parts). It is important that parents follow the recommendations/warning labels that come with toys. Chrissy made a great point that I want to emphasize. Many parents overestimate their child’s intelligence, but underestimate their child’s ability. In other words (and I’m guilty of this too!) we think that our kids are so smart that they can “handle” toys designed for older kids. However, we don’t realize that our kids are able to use these “older” toys in a way that can cause them harm. Being able to handle toys is not an issue of intelligence; it’s an issue of development. Safe Kids USA has a great page on their site that shares various safety tips in a wide variety of categories. It’s definitely worth a look!

12 (Budget-Friendly!) Fun Family Spring/Summer Activities

As the weather gets warmer outside, there are so many fun things to do. That's why I'm happy that Bette Holtzman, vice president of consumer and family advocacy at The Goldberger Company is sharing 12 fun family activities that will cost little (or no) money during the warm weather below. (Those of us who are urban parents might have to be a little "more creative" in regards to implementing some of the suggestions.)
12 Fun Family Spring/Summer Activities That Won't Break the Bank
1) Take a Trip to the Farmers’ Market. Farmers’ markets are unexpected family-oriented places that offer great stimulation for children. They present a fun learning opportunity where kids can experience various colors, shapes, sounds and smells. Kids can touch and taste. And there are plenty of freebies, which means mom and dad don’t always have to buy! Frequent visits allow a family to develop relationships with local farmers and vendors in their community. To find a local farmers’ market near you, visit: www.localharvest.org/farmersmarkets.



2) Do a Little Gardening. This is an inexpensive way to teach your kids about nature. Buy a packet of seeds from a local hardware store or gather some leftover seeds from the fruits and vegetables you bring home from the market. Kids can plant flowers, fruits or vegetables in your backyard garden, a flower pot, or a widow box, and watch them grow. Plus, girls and boys love to play in the dirt!

3) Visit the Schoolyard or Playground. Head to an elementary school playground outside of school hours, or any local park or playground. When your kids have tired of the swings and jungle gym, go for a walk or take a bike ride.

4) Go on a Picnic. Pack up some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and juice boxes and spread out a blanket at a nearby park. Meet up with other moms and dads and their kids. Feed the birds or ducks day-old bread—just watch out for those pesky squirrels! You can even bring the family dog or a favorite doll or stuffed animal along for the fun.

5) Make Your Own Bubbles. Whether you’re at home in the backyard or at the park, blowing bubbles is always a fun activity for kids. Take the fun one step further and make your own bubbles together! All you need is a shallow pan, a little dish soap, water and glycerin (available at your local pharmacy). A house fly swatter doubles as a wand for lots of teeny bubbles. Check out some great bubble recipes and tips at http://bubbleblowers.com/.

6) Hold a Neighborhood Bicycle Parade. Round up the children on your street and hold a bicycle and tricycle parade through the neighborhood! Use newspaper comic strips as handlebar streamers. Attach playing cards to the part of the bike that holds the wheels in place, and when the wheels turn, the spokes will make all sorts of noise.

7) Have a Garage Sale. Get rid of “stuff” in the house that you no longer want or need. Parents are always looking for “gently used” children’s things. Let your school age kids manage their own lemonade stand—always a big hit! Or, if you’re in the market, take your kids to a neighborhood garage sale. Let your kids pick out a “new” toy. Remember, another kid’s old toy is new to your child! Garage sales are also great places to find gently used books for all ages to read. Check your local community newspaper for garage sale listings.

8) Chalk is Cheap. Sidewalk chalk is a great invention. It’s thicker than blackboard chalk (easier for small hands to maneuver), it lasts longer, and it comes in colors and fun shapes. Any sidewalk or driveway becomes a canvas for “works of art” and will attract children of all ages. This is a fun mess that is easy to clean up with a garden hose or families can just wait until it rains.

And for rainy days or those days when it’s just too hot to be outside, here are some great indoor activities to try!

9) Walk the Mall. Many local malls open their doors for walkers before the stores open. Get a group of moms and dads together, grab the kids and strollers, and head out bright and early to get some exercise. Moms and dads can visit the coffee shop afterward and bring some juice boxes for the kids. Call your local mall to learn more about their walking program, as some require registration.

10) Visit the Public Library. The public library is a terrific and often underutilized resource for families. Because early literacy is a huge part of the library’s mission, most libraries have a number of free programs including story times, author readings, reading contests, and even craft activities. Check your local phone book for library and branch information.

11) Make Your Own Clay!

1 Cup flour 1 Tbsp oil

½ Cup salt 1 Cup water

2 tsp. Cream of tartar Food coloring, beet or carrot juice

Combine flour, salt, cream of tartar in bowl. Gradually stir liquids into dry ingredients.

Stir in food coloring or juice (add small amounts at a time).Cook in saucepan over medium heat until a ball forms. Clay will darken slightly when cooked.

Remove from heat and knead until smooth. If sticky, cook for a few minutes longer.

Have fun – just be careful of the furniture!

12) Spend Time on the World Wide Web. More and more parents are using computers with their young children, as the Web can help teach important skills. The Internet offers a wealth of knowledge and activities for children to do on their own or with parents or older siblings. There are some phenomenal Web sites and resources out there. I like www.PBSKids.org, www.ala.org/greatsites, and www.nwf.org/kidzone. Or Google “free stuff for kids” for a host of other options!

For more information about The Goldberger Co. (a 93-year-old family owned and operated toy company that specializes in dolls and playthings for children aged 0 to 3) and to read more parenting tips from Bette, please visit www.goldbergertoy.com.

Interview with Mark Consuelos

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Consuelos (actor, Kelly Ripa’s husband and father) regarding what he’s learned about family closeness and the new Lever 2000 Make Every Touch Count campaign benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (http://www.bgca.org/). [As part of the campaign, Lever 2000 (the only soap that my husband buys for himself!) is also inviting families to share photos of their favorite family moments for a chance to win great prizes (including being in a magazine ad, a new family dining set and digital cameras).]

Although time was short, I also had a chance to ask Mark a few questions from some Twitter friends (@StorybookQuilts @Ballyhoo and @TimeOutMom). Please view the clip below to hear his responses.

High Tea at The Russian Tea Room

My 36th birthday was earlier this month. A few weeks before, my husband asked me what I wanted as a gift. I responded that I wanted to go to high tea (one of my favorite things). Being the wonderful husband that he is, he was fine with that. Then, he asked whom did I want to join me for the tea. (Last year, he had treated me and a girlfriend.) This year, I switched things up a bit though. I said that I wanted him to go with me. Let’s just say that high tea is definitely not my husband’s thing, but he consented. He was so great about it. He made our reservations and set up the childcare (with a preschool teacher friend of ours) so that I wouldn’t have to think about the kids as we enjoyed our meal.

On Saturday, it was high tea day – and not just any high tea. He had arranged for us to go to high tea at The Russian Tea Room because it was one of the few places that I had not had high tea already. I didn’t know quite what to expect because every high tea service is different. I wasn’t sure if we would have to pick one of the sandwiches from the menu or if they would serve an assortment. (They served the assortment). I’m pretty adventurous so I didn’t have a problem with anything except the caviar. My husband had to convince me to try it, because I just couldn’t stand the way it looked (little black fish eggs – no thanks!). The truth is that it tasted perfectly fine. (I still couldn’t eat the second caviar though.)

Sandwiches and Blinis:
Curried chicken salad with raisins and pecans;
Shrimp salad with rémoulade;
Smoked Scottish salmon with chive cream cheese and cucumber;
Artichoke with red pepper and a sun-dried tomato goat cheese;
Smoked ham and turkey with truffle croque monsieur;
N.Y smoked sturgeon with dill and sour cream;
Roquefort bleu cheese and pear with walnuts;
A tasting of two American caviars on Blinis

The next platter was much easier to enjoy. I’m used to having clotted cream with my scones, but they didn’t have that. It was fine though, because the scones were delicious and served with butter and a greater assortment of jams (strawberry, apricot and black cherries) than any of the other teas that I had attended. Everything looked small, but it really was filling. Neither my husband nor I were able to finish our cupcakes and petit fours by the end of our date.

Assorted seasonal scones, cupcakes and petits fours

I like simple teas, so I ordered the Chamomile. My husband ordered the Indian black tea. Both of us enjoyed our drinks. My husband really liked the tea glasses. (I think that he just felt relieved that the Russian tea service wasn’t as “feminine” as typical English teas.) The only other thing that I found different was that sweet and sour cherries (that you put in your tea) is a traditional part of the Russian tea experience. We tried them in our teas at the end. For me, it really didn’t add to or take away from the flavor of my tea.

Loose Teas

All in all, it was a wonderful experience. It was fun to get dressed up and try something new with my husband. The best part was that we both enjoyed it. It was one of my best birthday gifts ever. Thirty-six is definitely starting off on a high note!

5 Tips on Selecting a Pregnancy Photographer

For our expecting readers, below are five tips from award-winning pregnancy and family photographer Jennifer Loomis on how to make the best choices when selecting a pregnancy photographer:

1) Look for Experience. The photographer should either have extensive experience in or specialize in pregnancy photography, in order to obtain the most flattering poses for a pregnant woman’s body.

2) Consider Artistry and Personality. Finding someone whose work you love and whom you want to work with is key to capturing beautiful images of your pregnancy. Also look for redundant images on the artist’s website which indicates a lack of creative artistry.

3) Ask for Referrals. If you weren’t personally referred by someone who has used the photographer and can recommend his or her work, ask for several referrals to contact. These may be already posted on the photographer’s website.

4) Start to Finish. Ask if the photographer will be thoroughly involved in the editing and photo selection process; this represents about one half of your cost. The photographer should expertly guide you to the best and most unique photos, plus offer suggestions for cropping and finishes.

5) Get Technical. Ask if the photographer uses film or digital. Jennifer Loomis recommends film, dark room prints have a superior archival quality over digital prints. Film is more expensive, but the quality and longevity is worth it, so you can pass the images down through the generations.
© Jennifer Loomis 2009

(Jennifer Loomis also has a new book out with Hugo Kugiya from Sentient Publications called Portraits of Pregnancy: The Birth of a Mother ($24.95). It has more than 50 portraits and stories from women on their journey to becoming mothers. She is based in Seattle but also has studios in New York and San Francisco. You can see her work at www.jenniferloomis.com.)

Twenty Five Ways to Be the Best Mom Ever

I’m happy to share with you the following list as compiled by Dr. Sharon Fried Buchalter. She is a clinical psychologist, life coach, public speaker, hypnotherapist and author. Two of her books, Children are People Too and New Parents are People Too have received many honors and awards. To find out more about her, visit her site.

“Smart Plans, Strong Words, A Clear Voice”
Twenty Five Ways to Be the Best Mom Ever

1) Listen attentively.

2) Let your child know you are always there for them.

3) Constructively guide your child, but do not demand that they do things.

4) Be your child’s coach and mentor.

5) Cheer your child on, through thick and thin.

6) Treat your child with respect.

7) Compliment your child’s smallest achievement.

8) Spend time being a child with your child.

9) Don’t be too harsh or critical.

10) Teach your child to be all he can be without doing things for him. Instead, teach him how to do it for himself

11) Love your children for who they are, not just for who you want themto be.

12) Spend the moments of the day letting your children know they are special.

13) Treat your children as you would expect to be treated.

14) Cherish time together with your children.

15) Never deny your children the most precious gift- your time and love

16) Keep a journal. Don’t keep emotions pent up inside. Moms go through a lot of emotions - pour them into a journal or find another way of expression that works for you. Consider it a time when you can have an open conversation with yourself.

17) Take time to smell the roses- literally. Very often we, as mothers, get caught up in our daily routines of errands, play dates, classes, etc. Take a break once in a while and take your child for a spontaneous walk, smell the flowers in the garden, point out the birds and planes in the sky. This is a great opportunity to relax with your child, experience new things and break up your everyday routine.

18) Make sure your child knows that you are always there to listen to his thoughts or concerns. Children may not always open up right away, but if he knows you’re there for him, he will come to you when he is ready and needs you.

19) Make sure the lines of communication are open between you, your child and his teachers. Be aware of what is going on in his life and at school. The more you know, the better.

20) Take time for YOU! Make some time every week to do something for yourself- take a bubble bath, read a book, take a jog or a swim. Whatever you enjoy; do it!

21) As moms, it’s easy to lose our identity as a woman. Try to make time for yourself to take a long shower, do your make-up, or whatever it takes to make you feel good. Just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you can’t also feel like a woman.

22) Plan a date night! Be sure to schedule alone time with your spouse. It’s easy to put our relationship on the back burner when we have so much to focus on with our kids. It is, however, very important to keep the spark alive. Focus on your rekindling your relationship and remember what made you fall in love with each other.

23) Don’t feel guilty about spending some alone time. You love your kids- that is what is important. As long as they are cared for (by your spouse, a trusted babysitter, a grandparent), then they are in good hands.

24) Relinquish some control and allow yourself to let loose when you have the time to do so. You deserve it. A relaxed mom is a happy mom!

25) Love your child unconditionally. We all get frustrated; we all have our good days and bad days as parents- it’s natural. But no matter what, be sure your child knows that you love them unconditionally.

Six Tips on Teaching Kids Responsibility

I’m lucky. My mom taught me the importance of personal responsibility (by words and actions) since I was a little girl. As a divorced mom of five kids, I saw how she took responsibility for holding our family together – often working a couple of jobs at a time without complaint. As such, I try to teach this important quality to my kids by example.

As such, I’m happy to be able to share the following six recommendations to instill responsibility in children from Rick D. Niece, Ph.D., author of The Side-Yard Superhero and president of the University of the Ozarks. You can learn more about Rick D. Niece, Ph.D. and his various works at www.RickNiece.com.

1. Build Work Ethic
When I was nine-years old, I took over a newspaper route, a route I kept until I entered college. I was proud to be a miniature entrepreneur. My 72 customers waited anxiously for me to deliver their daily newspaper. My customers depended upon me, and if I let them down, I let myself down. That newspaper route helped me grow into being a responsible adult with a strong work ethic.

2. Assign Household Chores
Responsibility can begin at an early age. Assign children routine tasks to complete around the house. The following chores involve nothing unreasonable or barbaric: make the bed; tidy the bedroom; carry out the trash; empty the dishwasher; mow the yard; rake leaves; dust, sweep, and mop (not mope).

3. Encourage Saving Money
When children earn money, insist they save some of it. The savings can be for short-term purchases like video games and clothing, or toward long-term goals like summer camp and college. When children save their own money, it gives the purchase special meaning.

4. Adopt a Pet
When something depends upon us, we become responsible. Pets—from goldfish to golden retrievers, turtles to gerbils— require regular and reliable maintenance. But lessons of responsibility are not
learned if Mom or Dad becomes the one who cares for a neglected pet.

5. Foster Reflective Thinking
The power of reflective thinking dates back to Socrates. The concept is a simple one: the more we think, the better we learn. Children make good decisions and bad decisions. As adults, we can help them think about why they did what they did, and how the consequences affect them and others.

6. Model Values
We are children’s role models. We are models of honesty and truthfulness, examples of ethical behavior and integrity. We are the superheroes of ordinary life, and our heroics are as powerful and protective as our fictional counterparts. We teach that dishonesty and deception have unpleasant consequences, that unacceptable behavior is unacceptable. But we cannot be worthy examples if we do not model proper values ourselves. Be diligent. Children are watching.

(Do you have any other practical guidelines in regards to teaching your kids to be personally responsible?)

Around the Web

Helpful Websites
-MommyandMe.com: If you belong to a Mom’s playgroup or are looking for one, you’ll enjoy this site which has a lot of tools that helps groups stay connected and organized for FREE. If you set up a playgroup on their site, you’ll get a custom playgroup area, private group message boards, an events calendar with RSVP, file and photo sharing, personal messaging and more.

Mother’s Day Giveaways:
-The Mother’s Day Giveaway-a-Day: What can I say? Parenting.com leads the way when it comes to giving mom’s special treats! They have over $21,000 in giveaways this month in honor of moms, so be sure to bookmark their page. (And I was happy with the $1,000+ in giveaway items that I had lined up for Mom in the City readers in May…oh well, everyone does what they can…)

-Mother’s Day Giveaway 2009: 5 Minutes for Mom also has a great series of mom-focused giveaways running until Saturday, May 9th.

-Mother’s Day Giveaways: Mom Central also has several great Mother’s Day giveaways every day until May 8th.

Special Offer:
-ZeroWater Discount: I shared about ZeroWater on the Nine More Great Green Products post. Readers can download a discount coupon online to get $10 off at retail by going to www.zerowater.com/Shop/ and click on the promotion tab.

Kumon Books Are Innovative and Educational

As a mom, I’m constantly looking for fun and different ways to introduce learning skills to my two sons (ages 2 and 5). Recently, Kumon Publishing sent me several of their workbooks to review. (I was already familiar with the Kumon name, because I was familiar with their parent company’s popular after-school math and reading programs.)

I was sent three different sets of books (for ages 2 and up; ages 2-4; and ages 4-6). The workbooks are based on the Kumon Method, where educational concepts are introduced in a logical step-by-step approach that allows children to build on skill sets. The workbooks focus on math, reading and other basic skills (i.e. cutting, folding paper, coloring, etc.).

I like that the books are very sturdy – which was especially helpful when my toddler and preschooler were trying to grab them away from one another! The graphics are also bright and colorful. I also like how each workbook builds on the skill sets that each kid already has. Overall, the kids really enjoyed the workbooks. I know, because my “technique” is to leave educational books lying around in view of the kids. That way, they have access to them whenever they like. The boys constantly kept asking to do the activities in the various books.

In any event, if you have kids ages 2-7, you should visit their website www.kumonbooks.com for more information and to see what’s offered. (FYI: They also publish a Spanish-language workbook series of 8 titles.)

Habitat Heroes

Last week, Sharon Lowe (a mom of 3 young children) and a panel of experts launched the first global, social networking site for young environmentalists – Habitat Heroes. The site is geared towards children ages 6 to 12 and registration is free. It is referred to as a “Club Penguin meets Greenpeace”.

On the site, kids will be able to learn fun facts about the environment, play games, and chat with other young environmentalist. The site is a safe and moderated online environment. As an added bonus, the site has exclusive footage of the cast of Disney XD’s popular television show “Aaron Stone” as they discuss their thoughts on saving the planet.

(Parents should note that the site does contain corporate sponsorship and product placement. However, money raised by Habitat Heroes™ is donated to environmental charities including Global Green U.S.A., PlayPumps International and The Climate Project.)

National Safe Kids Week

National Safe Kids Week runs from April 26 to May 3, 2009. To kick off Safe Kids Week, Safe Kids and its founder Johnson & Johnson commissioned a safety study. (It’s the first time a scientific study has been released that links age-appropriate safety tips to children’s cognitive, behavioral and physical development.) Relevant study findings can be found below:

Did you know that infants…?

Have spines that are not fully developed, leaving them vulnerable to injury if they are not correctly positioned in a vehicle. They have a slower digestion rate and a lower tolerance for medication. Their skin is thinner and more sensitive, meaning it can burn more quickly than that of an adult. To keep your infant safer:

• Use a rear-facing, semi-reclined car seat until your baby is at least age 1 and 20 pounds. Use a rear-facing car seat longer if the seat has higher weight and height limits.
• Always follow directions and read labels when giving your baby medicine to avoid over-medicating.
• Do not hold an infant while cooking or carrying hot liquids and foods.

Did you know that children 1 to 4 years old…?

Have muscles and bones not yet fully developed. They are also still learning how to balance themselves and adjust their stance to avoid falls. They may wander off unsupervised to explore cupboards and drawers that may contain chemicals and poisons in them. To keep your 1-to 4-year old safer:

• Provide safe places to play. Only allow your child to play on playgrounds with 12 inches of safe surfaces such as shredded rubber, hardwood fiber/mulch or fine sand below the equipment to create a softer landing in case of a fall.
• Install stair gates so your curious child will not fall down stairs, and secure furniture to the wall to avoid it tipping over on them if they try to climb on it.
• Keep medicines and poisonous household items locked up and out of reach. Also, choose products with child-resistant packaging.

For information about Safe Kids Week events taking place around the country or for a copy of the Raising Safe Kids: One Stage at a Time report please visit www.usa.safekids.org.

Jennifer Lopez and the “Sounds of Pertussis”

Last Wednesday, I spoke with Jennifer Lopez and Alan R. Fleischman, M.D., medical director of the March of Dimes, about the “Sounds of Pertussis” national education campaign. They are the primary spokespeople for this joint initiative of the March of Dimes and sanofi pasteur. The goal is to raise awareness about the threat that pertussis (also known as whooping cough) can pose to infants. They recommend that all new parents should get an adult pertussis vaccine.

Photo courtesy of StartraksPhoto.com

A few things that stood out to me on the call:
1. Jennifer Lopez practices what she preaches. I’m always curious as to why celebrities serve as spokespeople for various campaigns. Ms. Lopez mentioned that initially when she was a new mom (to her twins Max and Emme) she didn’t know about this. When she was approached about getting the message out, she thought, “Why wouldn’t I let people know that this exists and is easily prevented?” She and her sister wanted to do something with healthcare and education with a foundation that they’ve formed, so this fell right in line. (On a side note, both she and Marc – along with practically everyone else that they allowed their twins to be around in their early months – received the campaign’s recommended Tdap vaccination.)

2. Many of us have not received this information about the threat of pertussis from our doctors or our kids’ pediatricians because this is new information that is coming out. Since there has been a dramatic increase in cases of pertussis, bring up the topic and ask your doctor where to get the vaccine.

3. Since immunity wanes over time, all adolescents and adults (ages 11-64) should get the Tdap booster shot. It is especially important that those who will be around/caring for/in close contact with infants get a pertussis vaccine either before the pregnancy or immediately after the child is born.

To learn more about this “Sounds of Pertussis” campaign, please visit SoundsofPertussis.com. (Below is a short video about the campaign.)

Celebrate positive interactions with kids during Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month. So, this is a great time to encourage your child to pick up a pencil and transport their thoughts onto paper. (Granted, most of our preschool aged children will need some help.) Teresa de Grosbois, children’s author and international speaker, shares some tips for parents trying to help their kids learn how to express themselves efficiently below:

1. When at a heightened emotional state, give children a pencil and paper and suggest they write down how they feel.

2. Have fun! Poetry is about emotion, and be sure to remind your children that expressing any and all emotion in poems is OK - whether it’s happiness, sadness or anger.

3. Clear your mind of thoughts, breathe deeply and see what comes out on paper. Stream of consciousness is a great style, and many times the first thoughts written down are already a form of poetry.

4. Be conscious of the rhyme or repeating rhythm in your poem.

5. When working on rhyming poems, sometimes a trick of the trade to use is working backwards. A lot of times the last line of a verse is the most powerful, so working backwards will prevent you from creating an
anti-climatic ending.

6. Look for opportunities to submit your child’s work for publication. Every parent knows to post their kids work on the fridge. Having it posted as an e-book or in print publication takes their self esteem through the stratosphere.

7. *Personal story: Teresa’s own daughter was encouraged to write this way, after sitting before her paper stumped and uninspired, and actually ended up writing a piece of work that became her first publishing.

MAKE ROOM FOR SAVINGS

Below are some money-saving tips from Laura Rowley a personal finance expert, Yahoo! Finance Columnist and mother of 3 kids.

LIVING ROOM: MAKE A LIVING FROM YOUR LIVING ROOM
Use your family room to unplug, literally. Vampire drain of electricity in “standby mode” –turned off but still plugged into the wall – drains our wallets $3 billion per year. Plug items into fuse-protected power strips that don’t suck energy from the wall when turned off.

Watch a little closer. Americans pay an average of $60 for cable, but only watch 15 channels, according to the Consumers Union. If you pay for premium cable, call your provider and put the service on “vacation mode.” You’ll still receive basic service but save temporarily on the extras – and get a good sense of whether you miss them. If you don’t, call the cancellation department and say you’re considering eliminating service altogether – this department has the best deals on hand to keep you as a customer.

HOME OFFICE: CREATE A HOME (OFFICE) TO CALL YOUR OWN
Rethink your ink. Equip yourself with items that stretch your dollars like Kodak’s All-in-One Inkjet printers, which can save you up to $110 a year on ink.

Channel your inner freegan. Sign up for free services like Skype that lets you make long distance calls online without spending a penny and faxzero.com, a service that allows you to fax for free by adding an ad coversheet to your faxes.

BATHROOM: DON’T FLUSH MONEY DOWN THE TOILET
Go with the low-flow. Water bills can be cut back 25 to 60 percent by replacing showerheads and faucets with low-flow aerating models for $10 to $20 each. Look for a model that’s 2.5 gallons per minute to save on average $200 per year.

A prescription to save. Only one-third of prescription drugs are mostly covered by insurance, according to a recent Consumer Reports survey. Prices can vary as much as $100 between designer and generic drugs so make sure you ask your physician for a generic equivalent, which can cost up to 40 percent less.

LAUNDRY ROOM: DON’T GET TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS ON YOUR DRY CLEANING
A dirty secret. Households spend an average of $1,500 a year on dry cleaning, and 65 percent of those clothes are washable, according to Proctor and Gamble research. Wool, cashmere, silk, rayon, polyester and spandex can all be laundered, saving America $750 a year.

(For more savings ideas and to calculate getting started, visit www.moneyandhappiness.com and www.printandprosper.com.)

Healthy Teeth Tips from Dear Doctor

One of my favorite things about being a parenting writer is that I get to learn (and share!) about new developments that effect kids and their parents. Earlier this week I spoke with Dr. Mario Vilardi, president and publisher of Dear Doctor- Dentistry & Oral Health about the increase in dental erosion among young kids. He shared that over time, there has been a historical change in the way that kids are being fed, including what they drink. Now, more kids are drinking soft drinks, sports drinks and fruit juices. Since these liquids are more acid-based, they erode/cause the loss of tooth enamel over time. I took away some great tips to minimize/ prevent this loss of enamel thickness (some that go contrary to what we’ve been traditionally taught in regards to dental health) that I want to share with you.

Dr. Vilardi

1. Don’t rush to brush. Waiting for 30 to 60 minutes after sipping on a soda gives teeth time to re-harden after the acid softens surface enamel. Basically, the saliva neutralizes the effects of the acid/serves as a buffer/remineralizes the tooth surface. (This goes contrary to what I’ve always been taught - to brush immediately following meals.) Other options include eating a piece of cheese after drinking acidic drinks, because it also neutralizes the acidity of the drinks.

2. Grab a straw. If your child has a taste for juice that she just can’t shake, serve beverages with a straw. This reduces contact between these acidic beverages and teeth by allowing the acids to bypass most of the teeth.

3. Cash in on calcium. Calcium is added to many beverages to up their nutritional ante, and research has shown that the presence of calcium may reduce the erosive potential of soft drinks and that they remineralize the tooth surfaces better.

4. Explore natural alternatives. While your child is young and impressionable, take the opportunity to introduce them to beverages like milk and water. If this has proven unrealistic, limit the ingestion of acidic beverages to mealtimes because the rest of the food eaten at mealtime can neutralize the acids.

5. Only brush 2 times a day. Over-brushing can lead to other problems such as receding gums, the enamel being worn down, etc. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste should suffice.

6. Don’t eat right before bed. (No, this isn’t a diet tip.) It takes saliva about an hour to neutralize acids in your mouth, but saliva “shuts down” when you sleep. That’s why it’s best to finish your last meal/snack an hour or so before bed.

Overall, what I appreciated about Dr. Vilardi was that he was realistic. He wants parents to find balance, not to be excessive in regards to dental health. He stressed that preventive care is the best. Little things like avoiding simple sugars (sucrose/refined sugars/etc.) so that we don’t desensitize our kids’ taste buds are most helpful. (Sugar based products are a major problem because sugar converts to acid by the bacteria in our mouths – leading to tooth decay.) In any event, after the end of our talk, I was extremely grateful that there are dentists like Dr. Vilardi who focus on educating others to build good habits that lead not only to dental health, but also to overall health and well-being.

(To learn more about Dear Doctor, the nation’s leading consumer dentistry publication, please visit www.deardoctor.com.)

7 Spring Cleaning & Greening Tips From Julie Edelman

In keeping with our green theme of the month, I had a chance to speak with Julie Edelman as a preview to the Go Green Expo. Julie Edelman (aka “The Accidental Housewife”) is a best-selling author of “The Accidental Housewife: How to Overcome Housekeeping Hysteria One Task at a Time,” and the more recent follow-up, “The Ultimate Accidental Housewife: Your Guide to a CLEAN-ENOUGH House.” She will be speaking on the NATURAL PRODUCTS & A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE panel at the Expo on Sunday, April 19th at 11am.

You can also visit her website, The Accidental Housewife.

At the expo, Julie Edelman will be sharing some practical eco-friendly household tips. I asked her to share some green Spring Cleaning tips with Mom in the City readers. She encourages moms to focus on the simple “manicure-friendly” things to do to be a little greener.

1. Unplug cell phone chargers, blow dryers, curling irons, and other electronics that are not in use. This helps save phantom energy.

2. Switch from hot/warm water to cold when doing laundry. (Did you know that almost 90% of the energy used to wash clothes is used to heat the water?)

3. Don’t rush out to buy new compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs. Rather, wait for your current bulbs to blow. Then, switch them.

When it comes to Spring Cleaning, focus on high traffic/visibility rooms like the kitchen and bathroom

1. For general cleaning, use natural products (i.e. 1/3 cup of white vinegar combined with 2/3 cup of water in a spray bottle) as a cleaning spray.

2. To clean drains, pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drains and ½ cup of white vinegar until if foams. Boil a kettle of water and pour it down the drain in order to release the sediment.

3. Use reusable microfiber cloths to clean. You can use water to clean the windows with them. They also come with handles so that you can clean ceiling fans and higher windows. As an alternative, you can use a 1/3 cup white vinegar and 2/3 cup water mixture to clean the windows.

4. Use newspaper because it absorbs moisture and odor. You can dry windows with them and put them in the bottom of garbage pails. (You can also stuff your kids’ wet shoes with them.)

Overall, Julie stressed that kids learn by example. I agree. That’s why in every area (including going green) it’s important to strike a balance and not be extreme. Rather than stressing out about making every area of our live green at once, it’s better to focus on easy ways to blend green living into our day to day lives. (On a side note, if you’re in the NYC area, adults can get a weekend pass to the Go Green Expo for Saturday & Sunday, April 18 & 19 for $10. Children under the age of 12 are free.)

Nursery University

Recently, Mom in the City reviewer Jennifer Lehner attended a private screening of the upcoming movie Nursery University, a film which exposes the comedic aspects of the cut-throat world of pre-school admissions.

Jennifer’s thoughts…

Gone are the days when preschool meant plunking down $35.00 for annual tuition and dropping your kid off in the church basement at the top of your street with a bunch of other four year olds. Applying to preschool for one’s toddler in 21st century Manhattan, as “Nursery University,” the new documentary film by Marc H. Simon and Matthew Maker makes clear, is a veritable blood sport.

“Nursery University”, in a refreshingly balanced and non-sensationalistic way, chronicles the preschool rite of passage for five diverse families during the 2006 admissions year, interspersing footage of their journey through the process with interviews with those on the other side—preschool admissions consultants and preschool directors.

If you’ve already had the pleasure of chaperoning your child through the preschool admissions process in New York City or if you are a New Yorker with a child who is nearing preschool eligibility age, you should go see this movie. It will be interesting to see if the film, though, has already passed its sell-by date and now just seems a quaint relic of what over-privileged New Yorkers did during the not-so-long-ago go-go years of the early 21st century.

The movie starts Friday, April 24th in NYC at Phoenix Adlabs ImaginAsian Theatre, 239 E. 59th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues).

THE END

10 Tips to “Living the (Healthy!) Sweet Life”

Last week, Edith Flowers, one of the Mom in the City reviewers, was able to attend a “Live the Sweet Life!” event sponsored by SPLENDA Brand Sweetener. At the event, top parenting experts (including Tanya Zuckerbrot, Cathy Riva, Chef Laura Diaz Brown and Michele Borba) and celebrity mom (Melora Hardin of “The Office”) came together to discuss solutions to make moms’ lives “a little sweeter”. Below, is her recap…

On March 30, 2009, I had a great opportunity to be surrounded by a group of mom-panelists (pediatrician and parenting advisors, nutritionist, etc – all moms!) who provided expert advice, tips and knowledge. I left there feeling armed to face the challenges I have as a mom of two girls (3 and 5 years of age). Some of the things I learned and wanted to share are:

1. Nutrition is the #1 concern: 79% of moms find nutrition to be their #1 concern above anything else – including saving for college and life insurance.

2. Veggies: Kids usually acquire a taste for foods that they are constantly given. Even after many trials and refusals, keep giving kids the same vegetable for 2 weeks every day. They will (usually) latch on to it/acquire a taste for it.

3. Art of Replacement: If you take away unhealthy snacks or candy from your kids appease them by ALWAYS providing a replacement. For example, you can say something like “No cookie right now but how about this granola bar with great nuts and tasty fruits that will also make you strong and healthy?”

4. Wise Shopping: Let your kid(s) accompany you to go food shopping and have them pick some healthy foods. For example, if the kid can read, ask him to search for a cereal with (x) grams of fiber on the label. It is found that when the kid assists with choosing the food items, he is usually inclined to eat it when it’s brought home.

5. Rewarding/Treats: Don’t reward good behavior with sweets and cookies. Rather, use other incentives (i.e. stamps, a movie, etc.) When you award/reward with unhealthy foods it sends a message to the kid that he can gain happiness from eating candies and cookies. That has the potential to have him do the same when he is older. For example, the thought process will be “Today I am feeling sad, so I will just buy a bar of chocolate or a pint of ice-cream and then I’ll feel so much better”. Store up healthy treats that you know the kid likes and give those as treats rather than the sweets.

6. Don’t Be Too Rigid: When your kid goes to a party and picks up a candy to put in his mouth, don’t take it away or scold him – let him have one. It is just for that day. Experts have found that when you are too rigid with children and only allow them to eat healthy, they can become resentful and ‘pig out’ behind your back especially when they are with their friends. This may result in having them develop insecurities, deceit and lack of trust in your guidance - and even food disorders.

7: Halloween Tips: (These tips also work well for other candy-giving holidays i.e. EASTER!)

(a) Empty out the goody bag and have the kid choose 10 pieces that he likes. Then you (secretly) pull out a few of his favorite pieces and hide them in case he ever wants to have them again, you can pull it out from that secret spot. Either dump the rest or buy them from the kid (if he is older) and have him save the money to get something healthy for himself with the cash.

(b) Play ‘sorting’. Sit down and put all of the lollipops together, all of the gum together, etc. Then have the child pick 2-3 from each pile and dump the rest.

(c) Make rules. Kids can have only one per week, etc

(d) When kids drop by to trick or treat, you can give them other goodies instead of candy (i.e. pencils, note book, small toys, stickers, etc). Bring your kid(s) along when you shop for the items to give and have your kids focus on buying non candy items to give away.

(e) Use “out of sight out of mind”. Pull out a few that the child likes (have him choose) them keep the few picks on top of the refrigerator. Hide the rest (the majority). Eventually because the sweets are not in sight, the child usually forgets that they are there. Later (after a couple of months), simply throw the rest out.

8. Be Creative: Make your own ice cream and cookies –USE SPLENDA in it! Have your child choose their favorite fruit to add to the ice-cream and cookies and educate them on the nutritious value that fruit provides.

9. Praise a lot. When your child makes good food decisions say things like “well done”, “awesome”, “great job”, etc.

What I will always remember … and this is my #1 ‘take away’….

10. BUILD HEALTH AND CONFIDENCE: As I walked out of the building, what stuck with me the most was that when I have my children choose their healthy foods in the shopping aisle/when I reward their good behavior with healthy treats instead of candies/ when I train my children to think healthy and make them feel armed to choose healthy habits …I am not only making them healthy but I am building their CONFIDENCE! So if I practice some of these tips, I am preparing my children to avoid diseases and illnesses and preparing them to face the world as well rounded adults with the ability to make right decisions.

(On a side note, if you use SPLENDA, you can find their current promotions and get coupons for various Splenda products on this page.)

Yoga for Everyone

Last Saturday, I hosted a private Mom in the City yoga party at the (temporary) Soho branch of YogaWorks. Around a dozen Mom in the City readers met up for a wonderful mixed-level yoga class. I only received positive feedback from the women that took the class. The instructor was very patient and helpful to the point that several of the attendees stayed after to get advice regarding their posture and various back problems.

Our Amazing Instructor

After the class, we had a tasty lunch of various salads from 218. There were also several giveaways from Mom in the City sponsors. (Everyone went home with something!)

If you live in the NYC area, you can try out a YogaWorks class for free in April. (Don’t be surprised if you decide to continue taking classes – they really are good!) Below is the schedule:

Westside
Tuesdays | April 7, 14, 21, 28 | 2:00 – 3:00pm
Sundays | April 5, 19, 26 | 10:30 - 11:30am
No free orientation Easter Sunday 4/12

Eastside
Wednesdays | April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 9:30-10:30 am
Sundays | April 5, 19, 26 | 6:00 -7:00pm
No free orientation Easter Sunday 4/12

Midtown
Thursdays | April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm

Downtown
Mondays | April 6, 13, 20, 27 | 11:30 – 12:30pm
Sundays | April 5, 19, 26 |5:45-6:45pm
No free orientation Easter Sunday 4/12

Westchester
Wednesdays | April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 2:00 – 3:00pm
Sundays | April 5, 19, 26 | 2:00 – 3:00pm
No free orientation Easter Sunday 4/12

Soho
Sundays | April 5, 19, 26 | 3:30 – 4:30pm
No free orientation Easter Sunday 4/12

Enjoy!

ZING ZANG ZOOM

Last Friday, I went to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s all-new ZING ZANG ZOOM circus playing at Madison Square Garden with Sean and a family friend. (Michael was coming with us, but his school trip to the Central Park Zoo was switched to that day at the last minute. That’s another story though…)

This circus was so amazing! Because I do parenting writing, our family is fortunate in that we get to see practically all of the circuses that come to town. This was one of my favorites. It really was a pleasant surprise, because I didn’t really enjoy the last Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s circus that came to Madison Square Garden. (It had too much going on at the same time on one stage for me to enjoy it visually.) In contrast, ZING ZANG ZOOM had the perfect amount of activity (in my opinion). I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Sean did too (and he’s hard to impress!). He was clapping through most of the performance. Overall, I liked that this event had the feel of a great, old-fashioned circus. I have seen many circuses, but this was the first time that I saw someone get shot out of a cannon! Other highlights included the dancing elephants and the Bengal tigers. We took an adult family friend with us and he enjoyed it most of all! Below are some of the pictures that my friend took:

The Cannon

Safe Landing

Bengal Tigers

Elephants

If you get the opportunity to do so, definitely go. You can purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code: MOM for select show dates (Sunday April 5: 11:00am, 3:15pm, 7:30pm; Monday April 6: 3:15pm, 7:30pm; April 10-12: 11:00am, 3:15pm, 7:30 pm; and Monday April 13: 11:00am, 3:15pm). Also FYI: all Ringling Brother’s circus shows now feature a free pre-show event for all ticket holders that begins an hour before the show begins. During this time, you can bring your family down to the circus floor and meet some of the performers and clowns as well as see some acrobat performances and an elephant that paints!

Having Fun on Spring Break (While Staying on Budget)

NYC public school students are out of school on Spring Break from 4/9 to 4/17. We went away in February, so we won’t be going on a family trip this year. From what I’ve been hearing/reading, a lot of families are cutting back on trips due to the economy.

Fortunately, there are plenty of fun, inexpensive activities to do with kids. Beth Engelman a “Do It Yourself” expert was kind enough to share some ideas with us below. Beth also has many other ideas listed on her website www.momonashoestring.com.

Spring Break Article ~ Having Fun while Staying on Budget
By Beth Engelman

Spring Break is right around the corner and this year your vacation consists of keeping your kids, happy, stimulated and entertained without breaking the bank. Here are a few inexpensive games, activities and recipes you can do with your kids

Be the Mommy for the Morning!
This idea came to me from a dear friend, Amy Hamill, who is one of four children (all girls). Amy’s very smart mother would allow each of her daughters to be the mommy for the morning. That meant the child got to make all the morning decisions including making breakfast, getting everyone dressed, choosing a morning activity, you name it! Giving your children this type of ownership strengthens their self-esteem and self-reliance as well as provides a lot of fun and memories for your family.

“YOJNE” Backwards Day
Another fun idea is the timed honored Backwards Day. Basically you and your kids spend you day in reverse! For example, when you wake up in the morning, watch a movie with popcorn. After the movie, cook up a little pizza for “dinner”. In the afternoon, make a big bubble bath for your children using handmade “paints” (shampoo mixed with food coloring). Kids can stay in the bath till the water gets cold, painting on the walls and tub with their handmade “paints.” After their bath, everyone gets into their jammies for a delicious pancake breakfast.

Capture the Moment with Pictures
A wonderful activity to do when the weather warms up is to create a photo gallery with your children. The first step is to get a disposable camera and then take your children out for a walk. I recommend a disposable camera because they are inexpensive and more importantly, they are fairly indestructible (which is always a plus when dealing with children). Take a walk around your neighborhood with your budding photographers and watch their imaginations run wild as they snap away at all the “cool” things they see. You might even consider taking your children into the city and letting them photograph the busy streetscapes and skyscrapers. Once the roll is finished, get the pictures developed and sort through them with your children, picking out the photos they like best. Together you and your children can create an art gallery by mounting their favorite pictures on colored paper and hanging them on an empty wall. Encourage your children to name each image just as a professional photographer would. To make the gallery theme even more special have a “gallery opening” where you invite family and friend over for a viewing. Be sure to serve refreshments. I recommend following the stained glass cookie recipe (listed below) for a delightful and colorful treat!

Think Spring with Stained Glass Window Cookies
These cookies make great window decorations or are a tasty treat when served with cold milk!

You Will Need
-One bag of hard candies (Jolly Ranchers work well)
-1 roll of Pre-made sugar cookie dough or make your own sugar cookie dough.

-Step 1: Pre-heat over to 350.
-Step 2: Crush the hard candies into small pieces by placing them in a plastic bag and pounding them with a mallet (Let your kids do this – they’ll love being “allowed” to pound something).
-Step 3: Slice cold cookie dough into circles and roll out into 1/4-inch thick circles. Using a sharp knife cut a hole in the middle of each cookie and fill it with bits of broken candy.
-Step 4: Place cookies on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet (you do not want to ruin your cookie sheet!) Bake for 17-20 minutes or until cookies are brown and candy is melted. Allow to cool and enjoy! To hang your cookies in the window, punch a hole at the top of each cookie prior to baking and then thread ribbon or string through the hole once the cookies have cooled.

Open a restaurant in your home
Spring Break is the perfect time to get your kids interested in cooking and nutrition. Talk to your children about their favorite kinds of food, restaurants and store bought items. Encourage your children to look through cookbooks and recipe boxes for new ideas and twists on old favorites. To make the meal planning more memorable, let your children turn your kitchen into a restaurant for the night. Your chefs can shop with you for the needed groceries, design the menus, decorate the tables, pick the mood music and wait on their customers. Who knows, you might find your child is the next Wolfgang Puck.

Can’t go to the Beach? Watch the Waves with an Ocean in a Bottle
This is a great project that is easy to make, requires a few ingredients and teaches your a little science in the process.

You Will Need
-1 Clear Plastic Bottle with top (A liter soda bottle works well)
-½ - 1 Cup of vegetable oil
-Water
-Blue food coloring
-Glitter (optional)

Directions:
-Fill 2/3 of the bottle with water.
-Add oil until the bottle is almost full.
-Add a few drops of blue food coloring.
-Place cap on bottle and make sure it is screwed on tight.
-Now, move the bottle around and watch the glittery waves roll.

And For something really different…try Letterboxing
Check out www.letterboxing.org to learn about this fascinating and fun activity. Letterboxing is a community-organized treasure hunt where unconnected people place letterboxes throughout the United States. It is best to do with children over 5 and requires some planning and preparation. Be sure to check out the website or the book, The Letterboxer’s Companion by Randy Hall.

Dr. Harvey Karp’s Child Abuse Prevention Advice

April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. As such, this is the perfect time to hear top pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp’s input on the topic. He is the creator of the best-selling Happiest Baby on the Block book and DVD. You can also find “Happiest Baby” class locations on his site.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is the most deadly form of child abuse. It is the #1 cause of death from any type of child abuse. Each year, 1500 babies are severely shaken - ending up in emergency room visits. 25% of those babies die while 66% of the survivors suffer brain damage. What is most shocking (to me anyway) is that these are very young babies - the average age is 4 months! This is only the tip of the iceberg though. It is assumed that more babies are shaken and suffer mild brain damage. They have just never been diagnosed.

Obviously, this is a serious problem. The main trigger for SBS attacks are crying babies. Some parents can’t handle their baby’s cry when they are stressed or exhausted. The crying (which can grate like fingernails on a chalk board to a parent’s nervous system) can literally push the parents over the edge. The combination of crying babies and exhaustion are also top causes for a variety of things including postpartum depression; mothers prematurely giving up breastfeeding; marital discord and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS) – to quiet fussy babies, caregivers sometimes put them on their stomachs rather than their backs.

Fortunately, there are great resources, like Dr. Karp’s books, DVDs and classes, to help teach parents how to soothe their crying babies and boost infant sleep. Personally, I found the tips in his books (I bought both the baby and toddler ones when Michael was younger) very helpful. Now, I’ve learned that the DVDs are equally (if not better!) effective tools. In fact, the DVDs are being used in classes for teen parents, women suffering from postpartum depression, on military bases, etc. They are also being used in child abuse prevention programs across the county. In addition to the books and DVDs, there are 3,000+ Certified Happiest Baby Educators (CHBE) who teach the principles. You can find them on The Happiest Baby site. (On a side note, I was especially interested in the classes being taught on the military bases since my brother has been in the military since he was 18. With deployment issues, the young age of the parents and the families being away from their support systems, our military families definitely need this type of education!)

Basically, Dr. Karp teaches parents how to “switch on” their baby’s calming reflex. Parents are taught how to calm their baby’s cries in minutes and how to have their babies sleep an extra 1 to 3 hours (on average) at night. The trick about the calming reflex though is that you must do it exactly right or it won’t work. The 5 S’s covered in the book are: swaddling; side (or stomach), shhh, swinging and sucking. When done incorrectly (i.e. swaddling too lightly), the whole purpose is defeated. That’s why the DVDs are especially helpful visuals.

One thing that I wanted to point out is that it’s essential that men learn these techniques too since 70% of SBS attackers are men. An interesting thing that I learned is that (in studies) crying babies cause a physical stress reaction in both men and women. However, when asked, the women recognize that the crying is driving them crazy while the men don’t. They don’t realize that they are stressed until they snap. That’s the bad news. The good news is that men are better at baby calming then women, because they are more willing to follow specific directions. Once they learn that they can calm the baby down, it makes the men proud of themselves and makes them feel like they want to be with the baby more.

At the end of my time speaking with Dr. Karp, I asked him, “Do these tips work for all babies?” For the most part, the answer is “yes”. However, there is a small percentage (5%) of babies that they won’t help even when the parent is doing the 5 S’s right. Usually, that is because there is a medical problem, so parents should check with their baby’s doctor. (The tips don’t apply when babies are in some type of physical pain!) In any event, I think that The Happiest Baby books, DVDs (and their white noise CD) are valuable additions to the library of every expectant and new mom. In study after study, parents who have used these products feel more prepared (expectant parents) and much better (current parents) at calming their babies’ cries.

Reassurance Regarding Epidural Hematomas in Kids

Since Natasha Richardson died from an epidural hematoma, I have been thinking a lot about falls in general. I have especially been concerned about kids’ falls. Personally, I don’t know any mom whose kid has not fallen – off a bed, a sofa, or something. (Okay, one mom that I know claims her kid has never fallen off anything in his life, but I’m not quite sure that I believe her.) Anyway, I’ve been wondering whether I should take my kids to the hospital when they fall in the future. (I’m a pretty attentive mom, but I’m also a realist – they will fall again.)

Fortunately, I was able to talk to renowned pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp this morning. (I was interviewing him regarding a totally unrelated topic, but he was kind enough to calm my fears.) First of all, he said that Ms. Richardson’s condition was an uncommon event in general even more so in regards to young children. Their skull bones are more flexible and not as easily broken. When our kids do fall, for the most part we just need to keep any eye on them for the next couple of hours. If it happens at night, we should wake them up occasionally to make sure that they’re alright. When do we need to take them to the hospital? If they have a big knock on their head, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Also, if the kid gets knocked out when they hit their head, complain about headaches or start vomiting – it’s time to get medical attention. As a final note of reassurance, Dr. Karp shared that in his 30+ years as a pediatrician, he has never come across a case of epidural hematoma in kids (and he has treated many kids who have fallen!). All that to say – it happens, but it’s extremely rare in its occurrence. Whew - that’s a relief!

Don’t Be Nervous About Your Child’s Development

One of the questions that I get asked the most by my moms - especially first-time moms - is “Is this normal?” in regards to their kids’ development at various stages. There’s such a wide range of “normal” that 9 times out of 10, the answer is “yes”. (Of course, I’m not a pediatrician or specialist, so I always encourage moms to also speak with the professionals in their lives!)

Although I’m not an “expert”, one of the best parts of being a parenting writer is that I have access to them! As such, I asked Ellenmorris Tiegerman, Ph.D., the Founder and Executive Director at the School for Language and Communication Development, to share about this topic. She specializes in children with language and autism spectrum disorders. Below are her thoughts:

“Parents are often concerned at different points in their children’s lives that something is developmentally wrong. There are several misconceptions that parents need to understand as they proceed to gather information and to figure out what their child needs. Firstly, the term “wrong” is not helpful. If there is a developmental difference between your child and his peers, most of the time the “difference” is just that – a learning style difference. Children do not all learn in exactly the same way. Nor do they learn at exactly the same rate of development. Sometimes children are shy or they have very specific activity preferences. None of these things indicate either a disorder or a disability. So my recommendation to parents who are just beginning this process is to calm down and put your fears aside. At this stage, parents need to gather information.

Secondly, there are several helpful sites for parents who have young children (the American Speech Language and Hearing Association at www.asha.org). This site has a section specifically for parents who are interested in determining what skills children acquire at specific ages. This information is usually presented on a developmental chart. The advantage of looking at a developmental chart is that parents can compare their children’s behavior to other typical children at specific ages. So, the parent who is concerned about her 2-year-old who only has 10 words can look at a developmental chart for comparison purposes. Many two-year-olds have a vocabulary of 100 to 200 words and are beginning to combine words to create short sentences. What if a parent is still anxious about the difference between her child and the skills described on the developmental chart?

As I indicated earlier, it is important for parents to understand that normal development does not have exact ages and stages. Keep in mind that social environments and families as well as cultural experiences are vastly different. As a result, what children know will be directly affected by the experiences that you provide such as play dates, museums, dance classes, art classes, music classes and most important adult/child conversations. Talk to your child – constantly. The most important indicator of learning development and success is language. Teach your children about words. Teach your children to read books, books and more books.

Okay, so after all of this, parents discover that there is a 3- to 6-month difference between their child’s skills and the developmental chart. Most of the time a difference of three to six months is quite typical since children are not robots, they are little language processors who are highly specialized and unique. Children hear everything, children process everything but they learn in their own special way. Look at your child in relation to his peers. Is he standing on the sideline? Is he watching? Does he interact? Does he approach other children? Does he play with toys? When a child has a disability, he is usually disengaged, isolated and not playing with toys appropriately.

If parents are concerned, then the first professional to speak to is the pediatrician. If the pediatrician has concerns, then she can advise parents about clinical practitioners who can appropriately evaluate a young child’s hearing, language and social skills. Formalized evaluations will then provide quantitative as well as qualitative information to distinguish between a learning difference and a developmental delay. Usually a developmental delay of 8 to 12 months signals the need for intervention services. In some communities, a child has to present a difference of 12 to 18 months before services are provided.

Remember, a developmental difference is not a developmental delay. There are many parent-friendly guidebooks that provide valuable developmental information, so relax. Consider this journey of leaning about your child as one of exploration and wonderment. Even after all of these years, I am always amazed at how easily and readily typical children learn the most complicated concepts, skills and lessons. Typical children are natural learners. Their differences relate to how they learn. The best thing for parents to do is to watch their children to see what they are doing and how they are doing it.

Suggested Books:
-What is Language? What is Speech?

-The Portable Pediatrician: A Practicing Pediatrician’s Guide to Your Child’s Growth, Development, Health and Behavior, from Birth to Age Five by Laura W. Nathanson.

-Alphabet Kids From ADD to Zellweger Syndrome by Robbie Woliver.

-Language Disorders in Children Real Families, Real Issues, and Real Interventions by Ellenmorris Tiegerman-Farber and Christine Radziewicz.”