A popular video channel on YouTube the past few days has an unlikely star. She's 93-year-old cook Clara Cannucciari of upstate New York, whose grandson has filmed her showing how to make the meals her family ate during the Great Depression.

Here's Cannucciari making a three-course "Poorman's Feast," a Depression-era version of a celebration meal featuring salad and lentils, rice and a little bit of meat cooked in lemon and oil. She calls these thin slices of meat "a big treat":

I'm a little in love with Clara, and plan to show these to my kids. She's very real, and most importantly, she shares stories of hope that came from a dark time. She shows us we can survive what's going on now.

Of course, now she's not just surviving but thriving in 2009 terms. Cannucciari has a web site and a Facebook page. I'm sure we'll see her on Twitter soon.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Guest Dad Steve Sullivan, who last wrote for us about how his middle daughter got her name, shares with us today the story of his youngest learning to bake.

It reminds me of the time as a child when I made peanut butter cupcakes, and put in a cup of baking powder instead of a teaspoon.

They exploded.

Here's Steve:

Our 10-year-old, Moira, has been been teaching herself to bake. A headstrong child, Mo has decided to do this with as little intervention from my wife, Marcy, and me as possible.

A couple of weekends ago, she pulled out a chocolate chip cookie recipe, assembled all the ingredients and set about to put it all together. Once in a while, she'd run upstairs and ask Marcy the baker queen a question about technique, but otherwise this was her show.

Once the dough was mixed, she scooped out little lumps onto the baking sheet, then put it in the oven. Ten minutes later, the buzzer buzzed. Soon after, Mo came into the room where Marcy and I were, disappointment dripping from her face. She said her lumps of cookie dough flattened out and ran together.

Marcy went down to take a look and discovered a large slick of chocolate chip goop, oozing all over the cookie sheet.

They started troubleshooting the recipe, step by step, until they discovered that Moira had used only one cup of flour instead of the two called for in the instructions.

Determined not to repeat her mistake, she was at it again this past weekend. She measured, mixed, scooped and baked. The buzzer buzzed and out of the oven came - more goop.

Marcy's first post-mortem question was, of course, "How much flour did you use?"

"Two scoops," Moira said. "Two scoops, or two cups?" Marcy probed.

Moira showed the "scoop" to Marcy. It was a half-cup measure.

It was a learning moment. I'm sure that one of the next weekends will find Moira back in the kitchen. And I bet she gets it right this time. And even if she doesn't, we'll eat the goop. Just like we did the other two times.

(Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Amy Davis)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Yesterday, I decided to take a day off from worry. It wasn't easy, because these days, worry wants its workers on the job 24-7. Unlike other employers, it's hiring, bringing new folks into the fold even as the worry load increases for the veterans.

Parents are among worry's best workers. Even in good times, they obsess over what might seem small (Does Amy have clean, matching socks for tomorrow?). And now, the big: Should I hold off on sending in the summer camp check since there's a chance I might be laid off next week?

Even if you have little reason to worry -- you're careful with money, your job seems relatively safe --  it seems you will because of the worry that swirls around you. I can't help it, anyway. 

Plus, I knew I needed a "no worries" day when I began to reminisce fondly about having...pneumonia. There was a sweet spot there, when I knew I was recovering but was still under doctor's orders to do absolutely nothing, not even household chores. I stayed on the couch for days as I built up my breathing capacity, reading good books and watching Ina Garten on the Food Network.

Good times.

Thing is, I hadn't had a day off since then quite like that....

that hadn't been filled with household chores, caring for kids, and/or work done away from work. And the pneumonia happened two years ago.

So, yesterday. I took a day off from work, because even though I like my work, like many a workplace it's filled with worry. (It's our job, after all, to pay attention to and discuss the news.) I also took a day off from Twitter, and mostly from Facebook.

The day got off to a less than auspicious beginning, so I decided my worry-free time would have to start after I'd gotten the kids to school. (Their listening ears weren't working very well.)

I read (one of my old friend Laura Lippman's recent novels). Worked out. Tried to stimulate the local economy with a banh mi sandwich from Saigon Remembered.

I didn't completely escape worry/sadness/stress. I couldn't, for example, turn away from the horrific story of Andrew Griffin. Got a call from work around noon from someone who didn't get the memo (you know who you are, Midnight Sun Sam). 

But in general, it was a fantastic day that left me feeling rejuvenated even today, and thankful for all the friends and coworkers I have.

Take that, worry.

What would your no-worries day be like?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Sasha and Malia Obama, as my fellow blogger Mary Corey reported yesterday at our new pets blog Unleashed, may soon become the owners of a Portuguese water dog. Though apparently the breed is still up for debate, Michelle Obama is pushing for the water dog.

Here's the thing, girls -- as Mary reports, this dog needs lots of exercise. And Michelle Obama has made clear that Sasha and Malia are going to be primarily responsible for helping the dog get it.

This brings up an issue for the readers here. When young kids beg for a pet, what are the rules about who will do what to take care of it? And if the kids end up shirking their duties once the cute puppy or sweet kitten has joined your family, do the parents pick up the slack?

If not, how do they enforce the pre-pet agreements?

AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

This weekend brings maple sugaring at Oregon Ridge, a free African-American festival at the Walters, and, notably, two free family concerts by musicians from the Hopkins Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. (A story by BSO violinist Ellen Pendleton, pictured at right, will be featured in the BSO concert.) It's also time for those Dr. Seuss birthday celebrations...

Thursday, Feb. 26:

Fun with Dr. Seuss Kids ages 6-12 can enjoy Seuss stories and activities at 3:30 p.m. at the Orleans Street branch of the Enoch Pratt Public Library. 410-396-0970.

Friday, Feb. 27:

Teen Book Club - Talk about the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer at 7 p.m. at the Broadneck branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library. 410-222-1905.

Things kick into high gear on Saturday...

Saturday, Feb. 28:

African-American festival: The Walters Art Museum will hold a free African-American family festival from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., with music, theater, and dance performances, and a collaborative art project called “Build a Brownstone.” Call 410-547-9000.

Maple sugaring at Oregon Ridge: Take a hike to tap for sap, then make maple syrup at the Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Activities are free (though sugar will be sold in the gift shop).

I Love You Day: It's "I Love You Day" at the Maryland Science Center to create awareness of heart health. From noon-4 p.m., there will be health cooking demonstrations, rope jumping to observe heart rate increases, team-building activities and self esteem exercises. Free with admission.

Family concert: The Hopkins Symphony Orchestra with perform compaoser Nkeiru Okoye's "Songs of Harriet Tubman" and Niolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Symphony No. 2 "Antar" in excerpted form in its annual family concert, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. at Shriver Hall on the Hopkins campus. After the performance, the audience will be invited onstage to meet the musicians and take a look at their instruments.

Summer camp expo: Find out about local camps and meet their representatives in the food court at Arundel Mills Mall, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Kerplunk drop-in art activities continue from noon-3 p.m. today at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson (for details, see last week's post).

Sunday, March 1:

Musical Mystery Tour with BSO musicians: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians hold a free family concert geared toward kids 4-12 at 3:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church in Guilford. The musicians will demonstrate how music tells a story.

(Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Andre Chung, 2001)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Really faithful readers will remember an early Dinner Together attempt at Vegetable Mac 'n' Cheese, which the grownups liked but the kids did not.

This mac 'n' cheese fared much better, with a big added bonus: you make it in a skillet, and it takes just about 20 minutes instead of the longer prep time needed for the baked version.

The kids ate well, though Leah commented that it needed more cheese. (With 4 cups in it already, I don't recommend adding more.)

Here's the recipe, from The Cook's Country Cookbook...

Skillet Macaroni and Cheese

Serves 4 to 6

3 1/2 cups water

one 12-ounce can evaporated milk (divided use)

1 pound elbow macaroni

1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, to taste

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Pepper to tste

Bring the water, 1 cup of the evaporated milk, macaroni, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a simmer in a large nonstick skillet over high heat, stirring often, until the macaroni is tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Whisk the remaining 1/2 cup milk, cornstarch, mustard, and hot sauce together, then stir the mixture into the skillet. Continue to simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.

Off the heat, stir in the cheeses, one handful at a time, adding water as needed to adjust the sauce's consistency. Stir in the butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

--Adapted from The Cook's Country Cookbook, by the editors at America's Test Kitchen

Per serving: 709 calories, 33 grams protein, 35 grams fat, 22 grams saturated fat, 63 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 106 milligrams cholesterol, 691 milligrams sodium

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

If so, and if you live in Maryland, my colleague Meredith Cohn would like to interview you for an upcoming story. Get in touch with her by e-mail or call 410-332-6480 if you're interested.

AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Screen Time
        

It's Fat Tuesday -- also known as Shrove Tuesday -- today, and that means pancakes at my house. In honor of the day, here are three ways to eat pancakes today for not much dough:

--It's IHOP National Pancake Day. Until 10 p.m., each IHOP diner gets a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. (The restaurant will ask you if you'd like to donate to the Children's Miracle Network, but it's not required.)

--Make the Blue Moon pancakes at left. We featured them last week in a Cooking 101 story with Sarah Simington of the Blue Moon Cafe in Fells Point. (I made them last night, and the vanilla smell was heavenly. I like this recipe because it doesn't require buttermilk, which I never seem to have on hand when I want pancakes.)

I'm reprinting the recipe on this post after the jump, or you can read the full story with Simington's tips here -- and have the added treat of watching her make them in a video.

--If you like thicker pancakes with some texture, try my mom's Cottage Cheese Pancakes, a favorite of my daughter's.

Here's that Blue Moon recipe...

(Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Karl Merton Ferron)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Food and Recipes
        

Here's Liz Atwood with Tween Tuesday: 

Summer vacation is still nearly four months away, but it’s already time to think about summer camp, as we reported yesterday. There are so many options for families to choose from: computer camp, art camp, sports camp, space camp, and on and on. The price variables are just as great, ranging from about $100 a week for day camp at the YMCA to nearly $1,000 a week for some overnight camps.

Throw in the whims and emotions of your typical tween, and you’ve got a challenge to come up with a camp that makes everyone happy.

So what are you going to do? Are you making your camp choice now to take advantage of the early-bird rate? Are you waiting until the last minute to see how your budget looks and what your tween wants to do? And do you have any suggestions for affordable camps tweens will enjoy? (That last question is for me).

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Teens
        

My kids didn't get to stay up to watch Slumdog Millionaire win best picture, but they did get a glimpse of the movie's adorable child stars on the red carpet. I was curious about how they became part of this much-heralded movie, and found this YouTube video that explains. Looks like they earned their communal Oscar...

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Movies
        

Sign of the times: A reader asked for help in telling her kids she'd been laid off. I asked Brad Sachs to respond. He's a psychologist in Columbia who's written books on parenting including The Good Enough Child, The Good Enough Teen, and When No One Understands.

He gives us six ways to approach a layoff with your family...

"No family is completely protected from adversity, and it is important to use these challenging times as opportunities to teach children enduring lessons about resilience, hope and belonging. Due to the economic precipice that we all are now living on, one that we will most likely remain on for some time, many contemporary parents will encounter adversity in the form of a lost job and income, which naturally stirs substantial fear, anxiety, uncertainty and concern regarding the future. How you address and discuss this matter with your children will go a long way towards determining how well they (and you) adjust and adapt to this challenge. Here are some things to keep in mind as you do so:

1) It is best to be straightforward with them, and to avoid pulling any punches. Children need to be able to trust their parents, and trust is rooted in knowing that they will be dealt with honestly. Your candor will also build their self-esteem, because they will recognize that you see them as able to handle difficult matters. “I have some not so great news to share with you, but I think you’re old enough that I can be truthful—you’ve probably heard that the economy is pretty bad right now and times have gotten tough. Well, I found out yesterday that I’m being laid off at work, and this means that I’ll need to look for a new job. Until I find one, we’re all going to have to find some ways to pull together and get through this.”

2) It’s important to be hopeful. I generally try to distinguish hope from optimism, in the sense that optimism is the simple belief that things will get better, while hope is the more important belief that there are things that we can do that are likely to make things get better. With this in mind, you might want to suggest, “I’m not happy about this, of course, but I’ve already begun thinking about some ways that we can cut back until I find a new job, and I’ve already begun talking to people and exploring some new possibilities on the job front that might turn out well.”

3) You want to share with your children your previous experiences with similar adversity, and how you were able to endure and become stronger as a result. If you have had experiences (as we all have) when what felt like a loss or disappointment in the short run actually turned out to be a gain or a triumph in the long run, this would be a good time to share such a story or anecdote. “I remember being fired from my first job and thinking it was the end of the world, but as it turns out, that forced me to get some additional training in my field, which led me to get a much better job down the road. I’m not sure I ever would have gone to the trouble of getting that extra training if I hadn’t gotten the axe in the first place.”

4) Because children often feel futile and helpless in the face of forces that they have no control over, such as the loss of their parent’s job, it is important to give them a sense of what they might do to contribute to the family’s survival. Helping them to feel needed during a difficult time will mobilize them to rise to the occasion and, ultimately, build their sense of self-respect. “Tonight at dinner we’re going to spend some time talking as a family about ways that we can cut back on our spending and save money until I’m back at work. I want you to think about some things, even small things, that you might do differently in the coming weeks that will make a difference and help us to get by."

5) During family crises, children need to be able to rely on their friends for support. While you may not be enthusiastic about having your unemployment broadcast among your son or daughter’s peer group, it is important, nonetheless, to let them know that they’re free to discuss this with their closest friends if they’d like to, and that they’re not to feel embarrassed or ashamed. You can remind them that most likely some of their friends’ families are currently, or are going to be, in the midst of a similar ordeal. On the other hand, if they’d prefer to keep it private, you can let them know that that’s perfectly okay, too, and it’ll just be kept within the family.

6) Finally, you want to use this crisis as an opportunity to emphasize what you believe are the most meaningful and profound aspects of being a family, which have less to do with achievement, accomplishment and acquisition, and more to do with compassion, kindness and collaboration. Children need to be reminded that hard times can actually be good times, because we tend to come together and appreciate each other more when we yoke together in the face of misfortune. There’s a difference between having goods and being good—when we educate our children in the vulnerability that we all share as human beings it ultimately provides them with a deep sense of security and connectedness that transcends financial security and enables them to better cope with and grow from the subsequent challenges that will come their way."

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Today marks the first anniversary of Charm City Moms. For me the time has flown by, but just to remind myself how far we've come, I took a look back at my first post. From it we got our first expert question -- on the 4-year-old who begged for Motrin -- and things went from there. 

Thanks to all of you for reading, commenting and making this a very interesting year. I hope our second year together will be even better than our first.

To that end, I'd like to throw the floor open. As we start this new year, what features would you like to see more of on Charm City Moms? What would you like to see disappear? What's new and interesting that I haven't thought of yet?

To get you talking, we have a contest. A winner will be chosen at random from those who comment on the topic of this post to score a book from my stack of cookbooks and parenting titles. The catch: You've got to enter your e-mail address when you comment so I can contact you afterwards, but rest assured that we will not publish your e-mail address. That's between you and me.

(Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

Today's Guest Dad is a new face on Charm City Moms -- stay-at-home dad and blogger Joeprah of Havre de Grace (aka Joe Schatz). He writes his own blog at Joeprah.com and is a contributor to the useful Dad blogs site.

Joeprah is writing today about the 13-year-old boy in the U.K. who says he fathered a child with his 15-year-old girlfriend. Word of warning: Joeprah writes, "This article is written with tongue firmly planted in cheek." But you'll find much of the information in news accounts like this one.

Here's the rest:

(Again, tongue in cheek...) 

For many years the race to have the highest teen pregnancy rate among developed nations was very much a one sided affair.  Hungary, Canada, New Zealand, Australia-unfit to really even be in the race. The U.S. was lonely on top and quite simply dominated the competitors.  Now, however, it looks like the U.K. has finally started to "step up" and give the United States a real run for their money. 

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Julia Roberts, mother of three, is on the cover of the March issue of Allure with a wide-ranging interview about all things domestic. I was amused by this blurb from the interview from bumpshack, in which Roberts confesses that somebody once asked her when her baby was due....after she'd, um, already had him, and he was right there on her hip.

She also says that she hates it when people tell her she looks tired.

But what puzzles me is that Roberts suggests that instead of saying she looks tired, that people should say instead that she "looks like a mom." What...does...that...mean exactly?

It's particularly interesting -- maybe even ironic -- given that Allure has her glammed up for its photo shoot, reading a kids' book in heavy makeup under the headline: "Domestic Goddess." I don't really know any moms who look like this, at least when their kids are around.

(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Kids can take part in Oscar fever this Saturday with a double feature of popular children’s movies at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Kung Fu Panda will be shown at 1 p.m., followed by Wall-E at 3 p.m., in the central library’s Wheeler Auditorium at 400 Cathedral St. For information, call 410-396-5464.

Here's more of our short list of things to do around Central Maryland. If we've missed something, please feel free to chime in in the comments:

Thursday, Feb. 19:

Magic Lessons with Turner, Dean of Magic: Part two in a three-part series of magic lessons at Kahler Hall, Harper's Choice, Columbia. For information: 410-730-0770.

Songs with Deborah "Spice" Kleinmann: Songs and stories for winter will be performed for kids under 6 (with an adult) at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Cockeysville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library.

Friday, Feb. 20:

Rainbow Theatre Puppet Show: See a show featuring Little Red Riding Hood at 10am at Slayton House in Wilde Lake, Columbia. $5 in advance, $6 at the door. Call 410-730-3987.

The Golden Dragon Acrobats perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis. $33. Call 410-280-5640.

Saturday, Feb. 21:

Karma Dogs stop by the Rosedale branch of the Baltimore County Public Library to read with kids under 6 at 11 a.m.  

Meet the (14-year-old) illustrator: Paul Cronan, a freshman at the Baltimore School for the Arts, will be at the Ivy Bookshop, 6080 Falls Rd., to talk about the new book he illustrated, The Last Synapsid, from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. The author, Timothy Mason, will be there, too. (Full disclosure: Paul is the son of a Baltimore Sun colleague. Still, your kids might like to find out how a 14-year-old got to illustrate a book.)

Rumplestiltskin Pumpkin Theatre has performances of this classic children's tale today and tomorrow at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. It's playing next weekend, too. $12 in advance, $13 at the door. 410-828-1814. 

Drop-in art at the Patterson: From noon-3 p.m., kids can drop in with an adult and make art projects linked to the exhibits at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson. Hot chocolate, too.

Sunday, Feb. 22:

African-American celebration: The Maryland State Boychoir will hold a free concert at 4 p.m. during the celebration at Douglas Memorial Community Church, 1325 Madison Ave.

African-American artists is the theme of the family tour for this Free Family Sunday at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Activities start at 2 p.m.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Trying something new today. I'm playing Wordless Wednesday, a link-swapping tradition among moms who blog. Comment on the picture (kind of like The Sun's Caption Call), link your name to your blog, and we'll all discover some new blogs.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Boy, it was harder than I thought it would be to find turkey cutlets in this town for tonight's Dinner Together. I wanted to try this recipe because it was lean, super-fast and offered my kids' current favorite --poultry or fish with very little done to it.

Finally ordered the cutlets from Peapod. They were worth the trouble -- dinner was on the table in 20 minutes, and the kids ate every bit.

Here, as usual, is the recipe:

Honey Pepper Turkey

Serves 4

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon cracked pepper

8 teaspoons canola oil

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless turkey breast cutlets, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick

Mix Worcestershire sauce, honey, mustard and pepper together and set aside. Heat oil in a medium-size nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add turkey and brown 1-2 minutes. Turn and brown second side 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, spoon sauce over turkey and cook 1 minute or until cooked through.

Note: Chicken tenders, thighs or breasts can be substituted for the turkey; you'll just need to cook them longer, depending on the cut.

Adapted from "Mix 'n' Match Meals in Minutes for People With Diabetes," by Linda Gassenheimer. The recipe analysis is also from the book.

Per serving: 350 calories, 41 grams protein, 10 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 22 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 110 milligrams cholesterol, 530 milligrams sodium.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Even though breastfeeding is the recommended way to feed your baby, women still get heat in some places for doing it in public. That's become something of a hot topic again, since Salma Hayek was shown recently on Nightline breastfeeding a hungry baby while on a goodwill trip to Sierra Leone.

Then this post from breastfeeding123.com caught my eye; it's a pretend rant/campaign against public bottle-feeding. Tongue-in-cheek, obviously, but it makes its point. (Example: "Bottlefeeding Parents might try to argue that BIP is done for the baby who needs to eat, but that baby doesn’t need to eat! Bottlefeeding Parents are just doing it for the attention!")

I'd love to know what those of you who've fed babies either way have to say about it, and about Salma Hayek's nursing of a baby that wasn't hers.

(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

Here's Liz Atwood with Tween Tuesday: 

When my son was a toddler, he was painfully truthful. It was impossible to play hide and seek with him because when he was hiding and I’d come looking, I’d say, “Where can you be?” And he would pop out from behind the curtains or underneath the bed, and declare: “I’m here!” No matter how many times I tried to explain that the idea was to stay hidden, he would always want to let me know where he was.

Now that toddler has turned into a tween, and his never-failing honesty has begun to slip. Usually, it’s over small matters – straightening his room, walking the dog, finishing his homework. But it’s nevertheless upsetting to see that the son whom I’d always thought completely honest has learned how to lie.

This month’s Scholastic Parent & Child magazine talks about why tweens lie and offers strategies for how to deal with it. Among the suggestions:

• Show the importance of honesty by being honest yourself
• Make it safe to tell the truth
• Try to find out why the child doesn’t want to be straight with you
• Preserve her autonomy and self esteem

 Do you find your tween lying or at least stretching the truth? What do you do?

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Teens
        

Kayris asked how to go about researching kindergartens for her child. I consulted Richard E. Bavaria, senior vice president for education outreach for Bal timore-based Sylvan Learning and author of DrRickblog.com, a blog for educators and parents. He offers an equation: “A squared + C Squared = Good Choice. The As are ‘Atmosphere’ and ‘Adults.’ The Cs are ‘Curriculum’ and ‘Children.’

--Atmosphere: Visit the school, Bavaria writes. “Are you greeted warmly? Do the children appear to be enjoying themselves and learning? Are the children playing and learning together? Is there children’s art work on the walls? If the weather’s nice, are there kids out on the playground? Does the playground appear safe? Trust your Mommy and Daddy instincts – does the place “feel” right? Relax. If your child senses you’re stressed, she will be, too.”

--Adults. Does there seem to be a good teacher/ student ratio? Recommendations vary, Bavaria says, but a good rule of thumb is that there should be a teacher or a trained assistant for every three or four children. “Do these adults seem to be genuinely devoted to the children? Do they seem to like being there? Do they take an interest in each child? Do they read books to the children regularly, enthusiastically, and frequently? What do other parents say about the school? Does the school communicate regularly and concisely with parents?”

--Curriculum. Bavaria recommends looking for a good balance of academic and social skills. “Yes, you want kindergarten to be nurturing the “whole child,” but you also demand the beginnings of the 3 Rs,” he writes. “These earliest school days are when healthy attitudes and values about learning are set. Do there seem to be accommodations made for lots of different learning styles and levels of readiness? Are the kids learning in large groups, small groups, and individually? Is there a lot of reading going on?”

--Children. “Are the children the most important people in the room? Do the children seem to be happy, eager to learn, excited to be there? Do the activities inspire, challenge, and stretch their creativity, imaginations, and natural curiosity? When your child comes home, does he want to tell you excitedly what he’s done today and tell you he can’t wait to go back? That’s the ultimate recommendation.”

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

A press release I got for a book on marriage the other day made me think this was a good question to pose for Valentine's Day. The release, for a book called "The Rules of Love" by Richard Templar, said that one of the rules is: "Your partner is more important than your kids."

Remember when Ayelet Waldman, the wife of the novelist Michael Chabon, declared in a New York Times essay that she loved her husband more than her four kids? She got a lot of flack for it.

But maybe she was right...

(Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Kim Hairston)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

A couple of local museums that don't usually open on Monday (at least not this time of year) will be open for Presidents Day. As a mom who will be off with her kids, I thank them:

--Port Discovery will be open from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., with storytelling and musical performances; activities to help kids learn about coins; and a Presidents Day slide show.

--The Maryland Science Center will be open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Do you have other ideas for fun on Presidents Day? Please share.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Our friend and Baltimore Sun reporter Joe Burris returns today as guest dad. You may recall his previous posts on teacher conferences, daughters versus wives, kids' catch phrases, and whether a dad can hug his kids too much.

Today, he has an admission to make about his watching of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse...

Here's Joe: 

Often I hear friends commenting on a previous episode of Dancing With the Stars, or co-workers discussing Law and Order or restaurant patrons reliving their favorite Two and a Half Men scene. Most of those conversations scarely resonate with me, however.

The truth is that beyond sports programs, I don’t watch much television _ unless I’m seated before the tube alongside my three-year-old daughter, Onalenna.

My TV show conversations, therefore, are a bit different.

"Donald Duck gets on my nerves," I told my wife Mpho recently after watching an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. "I don’t know who’s more obnoxious _ him or B.J. from Barney."

My wife stared at me incredulously.

"I also don’t know why it matters to me."

"That I can agree with," she replied.

But it does matter, and for me, that’s what it means to be an adult immersed in a toddler’s world. You can be a casual, unattached observer for only so long. Ultimately, a storyline or character grabs your attention, and you respond as you would while watching grown-up shows. To me, Donald Duck is obnoxious in the same vain that Archie Bunker was narrow minded, Kojak was cool and Homer Simpson is, well, obnoxious.

I didn’t always see it that way. When my now 12-year-old daughter Nyaniso was a preschooler, I took her to the movies, and when friends asked me what I thought of the film, I replied, "She watched it; I sat through it."

That changed when we watched such films as Monsters Inc., or TV shows such as Arthur. I saw the detail the creators put into ensuring that the stories were riveting to young eyes, that the characters were more than just nice and cuddly or inherently evil

Some of what I see is delighfully colorful and creative. Some of it is hopelessly boring. None of it is intended for me, but I'm not embarrassed to say that it often makes for interesting viewing.

And besides, what matters most is that Onalenna enjoys having me watch her favorite program with her.

Now, if I could only get her to warm up to SportsCenter.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Today's tip comes from our neighbor Tech Savvy Mama, a D.C.-area blogger who writes about technology resource for kids. She's compiled a list of educational Web sites for elementary schoolers that could come in handy over the coming long weekend. Check out her other posts for leads on sites for other ages.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: On the Web, Tip Sheet Thursdays
        

Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday this year, which makes it prime time for fun with the family. You can decorate cookies with the kids at certain Giant store on Friday. (Dining@Large has those details.) Build Baltimore landmarks out of sweets at the Baltimore Museum of Industry on Saturday, attend a "pinkalicious" party at the East Columbia library, go to a Milkshake concert on Sunday, and more.

That's a model made from sweets that the museum sent over with its press release, on the right. Can you guess which Baltimore landmark it represents? 

Thursday, Feb. 12:

The Great Teen Media Swap: Middle- and high-schoolers can swap a CD, DVD or book with someone else from 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Harford County Public Library's Joppa Branch. Free. Call 410-612-1660.

Friday, Feb. 13: 

Totally Teens: A ‘hoodie’ tie-dyeing event for teens only takes place from 7-9 p.m. at Secrets on Main Street, Reisterstown. Ages 13 and up. $29.95 per person, Reservations required; 410-833-5235.

Get Your Game On: Participate in various video game tournaments, including Rock Band and Guitar Hero, from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Westminster branch of the Carroll County Public Library. Prizes and snacks provided. Ages 11- 14. Free, Registration required. 410-386-4488.

Kohl & Company Show: See a comedic magic show at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Amoss Center, 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air. Premier seating $11, Adults $9, Kids 17 and under $7.  443-412-2211.

Parents Night Out: Let your kids have a night filled with movies, games and pizza while you enjoy a Valentine’s eve out, from 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at the North County Recreation Center, 196 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park. Ages 5-12. $20. Reservations required by today at 410-222-0036.

Saturday, Feb. 14:

Candy building contest: Celebrate Valentine’s Day Baltimore style with a candy-house-building contest Saturday at the  Take a picture of a well-known Baltimore building and make a model of it using local treats at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway. Building begins at 11 a.m.; judging begins at 1 p.m. Entry cost is $5 for a model made at home; $8 to create one at the museum. Winners receive museum merchandise and free memberships. Call 410-727-4808, ext. 146.

Valentine's Day stories: Enjoy various stories, songs and games as a part of this storytime series from 10 a.m.-noon at the Mount Airy branch at the Carroll County Public Library, 10 a.m.- noon. Ages 2- 3 with adult. Free. 410-386-4488.

Valentine’s Day Crafts: Enjoy arts and crafts and stories with a special Valentine's theme at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Waverly Branch, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Ages 3-12, Free. 410-396-6053.

Pinkalicious Party: Take part in a very pink party including pink food, crafts, and stories at the East Columbia branch of the Howard County Library, starting at 2:30 p.m. Ages 4-7. Space is limited; free tickets will be available at the front desk 30 minutes before the event. 410-313-7730.

The Junior Naturalists present "I Love Eden Mill Park": Hiking, wildlife sightings and more from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at the Eden Mill Nature Center, 1617 Eden Mill Road, Pylesville. Ages 6-9. $5 per member, $6 per non-member. Reservation required by 2/13, 410-836-3050, www.edenmill.org.

Sunday, Feb. 15:

Milkshake Valentine's Special: Join the children’s rock band Milkshake for a Valentines-themed dance party to celebrate their new DVD Screen Play, Creative Alliance at The Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, 1-3 p.m. For ages 1+. $8; free for kids 1 or 2 and under free. Reservations highly recommended. 410-276-1651.

Maple Magic: See firsthand how maple syrup is made with a nature walk and maple syrup treats from 2-4 p.m. at Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton. $10 per adult, $8 per senior, $5 per child. Ages 4+. Reservations required by today. 410-557-9570.

Baltimore City Public School Dance Symposium: Watch a school-team dance competition in various categories at 3 p.m. at Western High School, 4600 Falls Road, Baltimore. Adults $5, Kids 7 and under, $3. Tickets available in advance or at the door. 410-396-8610.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Things to Do
        

This family dinner was another attempt at using peanut sauce to lure my peanut-butter-loving kids to a new dish.

With the salmonella scare, it seemed like a good time to try a homemade peanut sauce instead of a storebought one. The FDA is still saying jarred peanut butter is OK to eat, but if you're worried about buying even the jars, it's easy to make your own peanut butter -- here's Alton Brown's recipe.

I started with a recipe for Spicy Peanut Sesame Noodles from the latest edition of Joy of Cooking, but I figured it might be too spicy...

so I cut way back on the chili oil and left out the called-for 1 to 3 seeded and chopped serranos. I also left out the dark soy sauce; it probably adds a depth of flavor, but what family wants to invest even in an extra bottle of a different soy sauce for one recipe these days? I also cut down on the salt.

The resulting sauce was nicely balanced, and the adults could (and did) add a dash of chili oil to theirs alone.

The kids gave this a pretty lukewarm reception. At least they ate the plain noodles. We liked it a little warm this time of year, but in summer, this would be a great dish to serve cold at a picnic.

Not-so-spicy Peanut Sesame Noodles

Serves 4 as a main course

1 cup unsalted peanut butter (I used natural)

1/4 cup rice vinegar or white vinegar

3 tablespoons light soy sauce

1 garlic clove, chopped

1 1/2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup toasted sesame oil plus 2 teaspoons (divided use)

1 teaspoon chili oil

1/2 cup freshly brewed black tea

1 pound Chinese egg noodles or spaghetti

1 cucumber, peeled and shaved into ribbons (optional)

1/4 cup chopped cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Coarsely chopped peanuts, for garnish (optional)

Combine all ingredients except the 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil and the pasta in a blender and process until smooth. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until soft. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until cool.

Toss pasta thoroughly with the 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil. Place in a serving dish and top with the sauce, stirring together gently. Garnish with cucumbers, cilantro, and/or peanuts, as desired.

--Adapted from "Joy of Cooking," by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, and Ethan Becker. Nutritional analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.

Per serving (based on 6): 664 calories, 22 grams protein, 35 grams fat, 6 grams saturated fat, 71 grams carbohydrate, 6 grams fiber, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 862 milligrams sodium

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Dinner Together, Food and Recipes
        

Deep thought of the day: If you are tasting wine online with twittermoms (they're planning the next virtual event for Feb. 27), are you having a cool outing with the girls without the expense of a babysitter?

Or are you, pathetically, drinking alone? (Assuming you haven't invited any girlfriends over in the flesh to take part in your tweet-and-taste.)

Related question that one of my friends posed the other day -- if you drink when you're alone with the kids, are you drinking alone?

(Photo by Bonnie Trafelet, Chicago Tribune)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 3:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

So, Moms, would you have worn this to sing at the Grammys on your due date? Then again, I usually wasn't singing anything but the blues at that point in a pregnancy, so you have to give MIA credit for performing at all.

By the way, if you'd like to come up with a witty caption for another picture of the pregnant MIA, head over to post it on our Caption Call blog.

(ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Everybody’s talking about a fiscal stimulus package to pull the country out of recession, but a recent article on kiplinger.com argues that first tweens Sasha and Malia deserve a stimulus package of their own.

Barack and Michelle Obama have been quoted as saying they give their daughters a dollar a week if they do their chores. Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, says it’s time Sasha and Malia demanded a raise. She advises giving kids a weekly allowance of about half their age: that’s $3.50 for Sasha and $5 for Malia. For that money, they should be expected to do extra chores.

“With an allowance, kids learn how to be patient and save money for something they really want. They use their own money—not someone else’s—to buy their things. In short, they take on more personal responsibility,” Bodnar says.

Of course, some families don’t give any allowance at all, believing kids should do chores without expecting a payment in return.

What do you think? Is Obama being too fiscally conservative when it comes to paying his daughters? Do you pay your tweens an allowance? If so, how much?

Photo: OBAMA TRANSITION OFFICE

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
        

Have the kids ever wondered what tracked through your yard the night before? With this week's warm weather and attendant mud, it should be easier than ever to spot those prints.

The Maryland Zoo blog has a fun post on how to identify the tracks. We've seen red foxes, such as the cute one at left, walking through the snow in our backyard a time or two.

(Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer David Hobby)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Getting kids ready in the morning is often a struggle during the school year, but it's especially difficult this time of year -- when the kids (not to mention parents) would rather stay in their warm pajamas. All those hats, gloves and scarves have to be collected and put on, adding to the morning rush.

Today I'm passing on some advice from the Wondertime blog's expert advisory board, made up of family experts, who had some tips for taming morning madness:

--Make getting ready fun, if you can, by singing songs for each stage of the process. Or turn getting ready into a fun "race" that the kids can win. Have a pack of toys or books in the car to give the kids an incentive to make it out there and play on the way.

--Help each step along with a chart that reminds children of each thing they must accomplish (brushing teeth, packing backpacks, etc.) before they leave.

--Dial down the stress, including your own. The experts say that if adults seem rushed, kids will get the idea that that's the normal way of getting ready to go somewhere, and they'll naturally resist it.

--Stay focused. On the other hand, you (the adult) should make sure everyone does get out the door on time. Don't let kids dawdle, or they'll think they can do it every day.

Here's a tip that has worked for me recently: Let the kids come downstairs for breakfast in their pajamas and dress there. It lets them feel cozy longer, encourages them to eat more for breakfast, and -- most importantly -- gets them out of their rooms earlier than if they were dressing first.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Today's Guest Dad is Michael Cross-Barnet, who last wrote about his many-school shuffle. Today, he shares his successes and struggles in finding the right sports for each of three very different kids.

Here's Michael:

Today's topic is sports and kids. First, let's be clear about something: I'm no jock. Didn't play sports as a kid, and except for occasional pickup basketball -- and even less frequent tennis -- don't play much now. Moreover, except where the Orioles are concerned, I'm not even much of a fan. To my mind, the sports world pretty much shuts down sometime in October and resumes in early April. (I hear there was a big football game in Florida the other day, but don't ask me to name any of the players, much less recite their statistics.)

But if your kid has ever slapped on a pair of cleats and shin guards, you are, willing or not, a soccer enthusiast. You might even wake up one day and discover yourself to be an assistant coach, no matter that you're still a bit fuzzy on what constitutes "off sides."

My kids are 15, 12 and 9. There are, believe me, no future Ripkens, Phelpses or Flaccos in the Cross-Barnet household. Nevertheless, I have tried to instill in them, from an early age, an appreciation of the virtues of athletics: good exercise, exposure to the Great Outdoors, the values of teamwork and sportsmanship, healthy competition. (My wife, being even less athletically inclined than I, has graciously ceded this particular aspect of child-rearing.)

The endeavor has had, shall we say, mixed success. My daughter, the eldest, played soccer for six seasons -- at first happily, later on rather more dutifully. So what if she never quite figured out whether she was left- or right-footed? She was able to contribute solidly at midfield, and it was a joy to watch her glide across the grass. Two years ago, she announced that she had had it with soccer. She said she wasn't getting better, and it was no longer fun. But when one door closes ... "Well, why not give basketball a try?" I suggested. After all, she was tall and still growing. And so, for the last two years, we've been a basketball family. Of course, we live in the city and she plays in the county, so it's a bit of a shlep. And it ain't exactly varsity-level play. But everyone has a good time; as a coach, I've learned something about the game; and it sure is fun to watch the team improve and coalesce a bit more each week. Once-wayward passes are smoother. Once-timid teens are willing to take chances with their shots. Sometimes the shots actually go in. Confidence grows.

Our middle child, by contrast, will never be much of a basketball player; while his sister was the tallest girl in her grade school classes, he was the usually the shortest. It's soccer and baseball for him, and what he might lack in raw skill he makes up for in enthusiasm and effort. Every day he gets to play is a good day. This year, he's moving up to the "American League" in Roland Park Baseball, where they use major league rules that allow stealing, tagging up, etc. It's exciting, if a little daunting, for a kid for whom the ability to fire a baseball from third to first has not always been a sure thing. Once the weather cooperates, look for us many an early morning on the parks and playgrounds of North Baltimore, practicing catching, throwing and hitting.

Then there's our youngest and hardest case. One season of soccer at age 6 was, apparently, enough team sports for a lifetime. Baseball? Nope. Basketball? Not a chance? Lacrosse? You gotta be kidding. Well, OK. Team sports aren't for everyone. That's why God invented swimming, right? After two years of taking -- and despising -- swimming lessons, it looks like he won't be threatening to overtake that guy from Rodgers Forge anytime soon. Ditto tennis. Ditto pretty much everything else (unless miniature golf counts as a sport).

And then, last month, we filled up the minivan -- two adults, three offspring, two friends -- and made our way over to the Mount Pleasant skating rink for the first time. The boy was intrigued. He laced up his skates, stepped into the rink and hit the ice -- literally. He got up, fell again, got up again. There were words of encouragement, a few tears. He gave up for a while, then gathered his courage and got back out there. By closing time, an hour later, something had clicked. He wobbled, sure -- but he stayed upright for more than a minute ... without even holding onto the wall! Then came the kicker: On the drive back home, he asked for skating lessons. Could he have found his sport at last? For some people, I guess it just takes time.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

My kids have been very into the "I Spy" books lately, so I was very happy to stumble upon today's tip, which comes from Rookie Moms. They've written a primer on how to make your own "I Spy" book by collecting household items and photographing them. You can then actually order a book of your photographs through the wonderful Internet, or just print out the pictures. As the moms point out, you could also dump out your purse/diaper bag and photograph that.

Hmm, then again -- maybe not.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tip Sheet Thursdays
        

Highlights in the activities file for this weekend include the BSO's Cirque de la Symphonie from Friday-Sunday, a free African dance performance at the Walters on Saturday, and some interesting-sounding story times at the downtown Barnes and Noble. Also: SteveSongs on Sunday:

Thursday, Feb. 5:

Story Pals: All Around the World: Enjoy stories, songs and games as a part of this storytime series at the Eldersburg branch of the Carroll County Public Library, 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Ages 3 and under with adult, 410-386-4488. Free.

Story Pals: Socks & Mittens: Another Carroll County Public Library story time series that takes place at 11 a.m. at the Mount Airy Branch. Ages 3 and under with an adult, 410-386-4488, Free.

Love Stinks Chocolate Fest: Chocolate fondue and games for those who aren't so crazy about Valentine's Day, at the Abingdon branch of the Harford County Public Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Grades 6-12, Reservations required. Free. 410-638-3990, hcplonline.info.

Nature story time:  Listen to a story and do an activity at 11 a.m. at the Eden Mill Nature Center. , Families are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after the event, Eden Mill Nature Center, in Pylesville. Reservation required. Call 410-836-3050. Free.

Arts on Stage: Roots of Rap: Explore the work of African American poets including Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes through rap at 10:15 a.m. and noon at Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium, 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd. Recommended for grades 3-12. $6.50. 410-252-8717, artsonstage.org.

Chemistry in the Kitchen: Conduct chemistry experiments with everyday food items at 7 p.m. at the East Columbia Branch of the Howard County Library. Ages 11-17. Reservations required; call 410-313-7700.

More on Friday...

Friday, Feb. 6:

Tiny Wonders - Animal Pairs: A themed question-and-answer session for young minds includes a story or activity from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at the Eden Mill Nature Center. Ages 2-5 with adult. $8 per member child, $6 per member sibling, $10 per non-member. Reservation required. 410-836-3050.

Storytime with Peter Rabbit: A special storytime featuring Beatrix Potter classics will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Barnes and Noble Inner Harbor, 601 E. Pratt St. Free. Call 410-385-1709 or visit barnesandnoble.com.

Cirque de la Symphonie: Circus acts combine with orchestral performances by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. $12-$75.

Saturday, Feb. 7:

African dance performance: Watch dancers on stilts and in masquerade reflect the customs of Mali and Nigeria at 2 p.m. at the Walters Art Museum. Free.

Korean Culture Celebration: Activites include a paper-folding workshop, calligraphy, Tae Kwon Do demonstrations, Korean music and dance performances from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. at Anne Arundel Community College, Student Union and Pascal Center for Performing Arts, 101 College Parkway, Arnold. All ages. Call 410-777-2341 or visit aacc.edu.

Night Hikes: A guided hike in the night air includes hot chocolate at 7:30 p.m. at Eden Mill Nature Center. All ages. $3 per member/$10 per member family, $5 per non-member/$15 per non-member family. Reservations required. Free. 410-836-3050, edenmill.org.

Whose Feet are Those?: Learn about and look for real animal tracks and make a unique Valentines Day wreath to bring home from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, 700 Otter Point Rd., Abingdon. Ages 7-10. $5, reservation required. 410-612-1688, otterpointcreek.org.

Valentine's Story and Music Hour: A story, music, games, cookies and hot cocoa are offered with a Valentine's Day theme at 10 a.m. at the Barnes and Noble at the Inner Harbor, 601 E. Pratt St. All ages. Free. 410-385-1709, barnesandnoble.com.

Sunday, Feb. 8:

Winter Lacrosse Camp: Start training for the spring season with a boys and girls winter lacrosse camp, including demonstrations, lectures, and lots of play from 10:30 a.m.- 4 p.m., at various Anne Arundel County locations. Grades 4-8. $60 per program. Reservation required by Saturday. Call 410-222-7313 or visit www.aacounty.org/recparks.

SteveSongs: Steve Roslonek, who performs his music regularly on PBS Kids, will bring his "SteveSongs" show to the Gordon Center for the Performing Arts, 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave. in Owings Mills, at 3 p.m. For kids 4 to 9. Tickets are $7 for kids 10 and under and $8 for adults in advance, $9 at the door. They can be ordered by calling 410-356-SHOW or at gordoncenter.com.

Image of Cirque de la Symphonie by Bill Allen

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Sister blogger Jessica McFadden, also known as A Parent in Silver Spring, recently wrote an essay for the Washington Post about taking kids to the Goddard Space Flight Visitors' Center. It's reprinted on her blog, along with links to other essays by parents about family-friendly indoor-play destinations in and around Washington.

If you're headed that way -- and cherry blossom season isn't far off -- you might give these destinations a try, and report back on how you liked them. Meanwhile, any other ideas?

Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Christopher Assaf

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Things to Do
        

A kid hit to report! I'm so happy.

This simple fish comes from a new Weight Watchers book that offers lean dinners in 20 minutes or less, and this recipe delivered. It also had the qualities that please my picky crowd: a pretty plain piece of fish, in this case, that one could dress up with a sauce or not.

I was intrigued by the title, of course. The seasoning did have a few of the elements of Old Bay Seasoning, including a dash of cayenne, which you can leave out if your kids are sensitive to spices.

My kids didn't dress up their fish, and both liked it fine. Leah actually asked for more. I tried not to jump up and down....

(Photo by me)

Chesapeake Bay-Style Catfish

Serves 4

1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise

1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon celery seeds

4 (1/4-pound) catfish fillets

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons canola oil

Combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, and celery seeds in a small bowl; set aside.

Sprinkle the catfish fillets with the salt, pepper, and cayenne. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fillets and cook until just opaque in the center, about 3 minutes on each side.

Place 1 fillet on each of 4 plates and top each serving with a dollop of the lemon mayonnaise.

--Recipe and analysis from "Weight Watchers in 20 Minutes," by the editors at Weight Watchers

Per serving (1 catfish fillet and 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon mayonnaise): 204 calories, 10 grams fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 88 milligrams cholesterol, 666 milligrams sodium, 3 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 23 grams protein

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Dinner Together, Food and Recipes
        

Michael, Michael, Michael. Instead of celebrating you as our hometown hero (as you might remember our family did after his Olympic triumph), I am hiding the newspaper because of you.

I quietly ask my husband what he thinks of your trangression with a bong. (Now the authorities are considering criminal charges.) I don't want my 7-year-old to hear because a) I don't want to explain what a bong is, yet, and b) I don't want to have to explain why someone who has the discipline to win eight gold medals would make such a mistake. Because I can't, really.

Though it's more of an issue because you're a local icon, other moms are talking about this, too. Here's the take from 518Moms in New York.

(Associated Press photo)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Sports
        

Here's Liz Atwood with today's Tween Tuesday: 

What does it tell you when three of the five most read stories this week on people.com have to do with Jessica Simpson’s weight? Seems like everyone is weighing in (pun intended) on whether the star has put on a few too many pounds. I’m always amazed at how in the United States we have a serious obesity problem, and yet our ideal body type is extremely thin. This sends confusing messages to our tweens, whose struggles with body image sometimes lead to eating disorders.

This confusion hit home the other day when my 12-year-old announced that he had written an essay about someone he admires. I was flattered when he told me he had written about me until I asked him to read what he had written. He began by describing me as “average looking” and said I was “a bit overweight.” I admit I’d like to lose the 5 pounds I put on during the holidays, but my weight is still well within the normal range.

I shared this story with my hairdresser and she said her teen son had commented that he thought the actresses on Desperate Housewives were “fat.” Meanwhile, when I asked my son to name girls and women who he thought were attractive, the people he mentioned seemed to me to be extremely — even unhealthily — thin.

What’s your tween think? Does your tween have a distorted view of what body type is attractive and desirable?

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Family life can be stressful even in the best of times, and now, USA Today reports, the state of the economy is sending many families into crisis mode -- with visits to therapists and incidents of domestic violence on the rise.

I know that even those of us who still have jobs worry about what will happen next. Then there's the added stress of trying to hide those worries from younger children so they won't be worried.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

A friend asked for an expert’s help in understanding night terrors in kids, what causes them, and what to do when they happen. Here’s what Dr. Julie Yeh, a pediatrician at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, wrote back when I asked for guidance:

"Night terrors are a common form of sleep disturbance that occurs during non-REM sleep in young children, usually between the ages of 2 and 6. Typically, the child will wake up very frightened and upset during the early part of the night - somewhere around one to four hours after falling asleep.

"Symptoms include screaming, crying, and sweating with a rapid heart rate. Often, parents are unable to wake the child up and the child will not have memory of the event in the morning.

"These episodes can last anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes and can be distressing for parents, as the child is often inconsolable. (The parents) should offer comfort, safety and reassurance to their child knowing that he or she will come out of it on their own. Yeh says that though it’s natural for parents to want to wake children up while they’re having a night terror, it’s exactly what they shouldn’t try to do. "If night terrors occur on a regular basis, there may be some benefit to waking the child up before the time that he usually has one," she writes. "This may interrupt the sleep cycle and prevent the night terror."

What else can be done to prevent night terrors? "Night terrors can be exacerbated by sleep deprivation or poor bedtime routine, so it is important that children get enough rest and go to bed at the same time every night," Yeh writes. "Most children eventually outgrow night terrors, and medication is rarely necessary."

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: The Monday Consult