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Tomorrow's the deadline for asking a question that will qualify for the comment contest to win a coffee-table book on animals for your kids. Ask a parenting question that you'd like to see an expert answer here on the blog, and your comment will be entered in the random drawing. You can ask your question here, or under the previous post.
I'll let you know the winner Wednesday.
Have you been reading the latest about Madonna, who, on the heels of her split with Guy Ritchie, wants to adopt another child from Malawi?
The singer's rep has confirmed that she wants to adopt a 4-year-old orphan, Chifundo "Mercy" James, to give her adopted son David Banda a sibling with similar roots.
A court decision in the country is pending; proceedings are to resume Friday. Meanwhile, Madonna has come in for some criticism for her latest transcontinental adoption effort. Mercy's grandmother, for example, says the Material Girl is "stealing" her granddaughter.
What do you think?
(AP Photo of Madonna with David Banda and his father by Tom Munro)
Here's Liz Atwood with Tween Tuesday:
Can anything get on your nerves more than the kids arguing? In my house the boys argue over the TV remote, over who is copying whom and who said which offensive thing first. And hardly a day goes by without that well-worn children’s complaint: "You love him more than me."
One father who had had enough of the arguing was George Vraney, who came up with a way to settle the disputes. He gave one of his daughters a "referee coin." Then when a conflict arose, the child with the coin could have her way. But if she had her way, she had to give the coin to her sister. Or, she could keep the coin and save her turn for a more important conflict.
Now one of those daughters, Jennifer Vraney, has developed the Pocket Referee. It’s a coin a bit larger than a quarter with a picture of a referee on one side and a treasure box on the other. You can find out how to get one here.
Of course there’s nothing magic about the coin itself, but I think it’s a pretty nifty way to settle disputes.
What do you think? Do you have other tricks?
With spring finally springing, hop on over to Susan Reimer's new Garden Variety blog for a few ideas about how to get kids involved in gardening this year. She'd like to hear your stories about it, and has a comment contest going.
If you have questions about how to get a basic garden started, she's the one to ask. Not me; all we can keep alive, and not for long enough, is a basic selection of herbs in pots.
Photo by Susan Reimer/Baltimore Sun
I'm struck by the juxtaposition of several local news stories today, and what they say about the state of things for children in our society.
Unfortunately, there's lots of bad news today about adults doing horrible things to kids. In Baltimore County, a mother is going on trial today in the death of her son, who allegedly was starved to death because he wouldn't say "amen" after dinner. A Calvert County mother is charged with murder in the deaths of two of her daughters, whose bodies were found in a freezer last year.
But this news gives me hope for humanity: a crew of prisoners entertained a little boy who, missing from his family, was found walking alone along a busy road in western Maryland. The inmates, supervised by a correctional officer, shared their lunches with the boy and played with him until his family could be found.
Children can bring out the best in people, even people who've done bad things. Unfortunately, they are also the innocent victims of adults at their worst.
As the economy gets grimmer, more families are likely looking into hiring a live-in au pair visiting from another country to cover child care in exchange for room and board and a stipend. I asked Christine Connally, a Maryland-based community counselor for Au Pair in America, to give interested parents some things to think about. Here are her questions and answers:
How many hours a week do I need child care? "An au pair can work up to 45 hours per week and a maximum of 10 hours per day. While this stipulation is set by federal regulations governing the au pair program, it is a ground rule that’s also just common sense, as you want your au pair focused and alert during her work hours."
How many children can an au pair care for and how much will it cost? "Most au pair programs in the U.S. have one flat fee per family, not per child. Au pairs can care for families of all sizes. The minimum weekly stipend an au pair receives is set by federal regulations and tied to federal hourly wage limits with a consideration for room and board. The current stipend for an au pair working 45 hours per week is $176.85 and will increase in July 2009 to $195.75 when the regulated third increase in federal minimum wage goes into effect. Speak with your area’s community counselor if you have questions."
How much living space should be available for an au pair? "An au pair requires a private bedroom in your home that meets local fire code safety standards. It is important the space include a comfortable bed, adequate storage for clothing and personal items, a window and adequate artificial lighting. Remember, the room will be your au pair’s private living space for at least a year – if she is comfortable and happy, she is better able to focus on the important job of caring for your children.
What’s the proper way to address comings and goings; the use of common areas of my home; and other house ground rules? "Before your au pair begins living in your home, consider your family household habits and traditions that are assumed but rarely articulated. You probably have rules about where food can be eaten, taking shoes off, use of a car, private and communal areas of the home, acceptable hours for coming and going, noise levels and visitors. You need to convey your rules to your au pair before she arrives. Your community counselor will provide an orientation before the au pair arrives and meet with you and your au pair shortly after her arrival."
Can I expect our au pair to go on vacation with our family or attend special family holiday celebrations? "This is entirely up to the host family. You have chosen an au pair, in part, because you want someone living in your home that you can trust to love and care for your children. Choosing to include her in your family vacation or special family holiday celebrations is a great way for her to become an extended member of your family. This also gives you an opportunity to see her interacting with your children. However, be clear about your expectations. When you invite her on vacation or a family outing, let her know when she’ll be expected to care for the children."
If I hire an au pair and it isn’t working out, what do I do? "Most au pair agencies provide some provision to assist families whose au pair isn’t working out. At Au Pair in America, we provide full support services and if it is clear that issues between the family and au pair cannot be resolved, we work with the family to find to a suitable replacement within 24 hours. Keep in contact with your community counselor even if you are not having problems with your au pair. Usually it is a series of communication problems building up over time that can lead to separation from an au pair. These can be avoided by vesting yourself in a training period with the au pair – teaching her about how you want your children cared for; how to safely use the equipment in your home; speaking frequently with her in private; offering praise and constructive criticism; taking time to observe and hear how she is feeling. Adapting to a new culture, language and family is never easy!"
To find out more, visit Connally’s blog, or call her at 301-860-1314.
Judging by the record-shattering (for this blog, anyway) 247 comments left on my post on the subject yesterday, the White House Easter Egg Roll ticket process wasn't all it was, um, cracked up to be.
If you read all the way to the end of yesterday's comments, you'll live through the final drama of the White House's vendor site suddenly offering the free tickets around 7:30 p.m., then going down for good around 7:40, with all the tickets gone.
In the end, a number of the commenters who had had trouble all day with the system finally got tickets. Others, sadly, almost got there, only to have the system kick them off.
Whether you scored or merely suffered, yesterday's lively discussion told me a couple of things:
--I think RK nailed it when he/she said: "For those of you who have given up a whole day for your children just to see the joy in their eyes and were successful- cheers to you. For those that weren't, I’m sure your children will appreciate your efforts." Parents these days will do anything for their kids, including losing a whole day to refresh that screen. I was amazed.
--Some people will exploit that zeal to do everything for our kids. Thanks, Alexis, for pointing out that outrageous Ebay post advertising tickets for about $1,000. Looks like it's been taken down now; can any of you Ebay experts tell if someone actually bought them?
--And yet others are willing to help. Thanks SK, Josette, Carol, and others for alerting everyone -- even those who might have been in competition with you for tickets -- that the site was, however briefly, back up for business.
(Photo of broken and discarded eggs left over from the 2007 White House Easter Egg Roll by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The folks at Irvine Nature Center wanted you to know about another event -- an art exhibit that kicks off with a reception and awards ceremony in the Fern Room at the Owings Mills center tonight from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. The exhibit features works by Baltimore city and county students ages 6-12, and will run through April 7.
Prizes are being given at the reception for work on each grade level.
(Art from the exhibit by Lisaann Tang, a student at Ridgely Middle School, courtesy of the Irvine Nature Center.)
Andrew Ratner, the blogging columnist who has written here about, among other things, missing Halloween, is back with a post on the dangers of sexting -- teenagers sending out provocative messages from their cell phones. (You may recall the sad case of the young teenager who had sex with two different teachers from his school started with provocative text messages.)
Here's Andy:
I haven’t seen any examples of sexting yet -- the practice of kids sending nude or semi-nude photos of themselves or others over their cell phones -- but I have seen enough drunken videos and TMI messages posted by teen-agers online to know that many kids don't grasp that the first two letters in www. stand for "World Wide."
Practically every week brings new and horrifying tales of sexting. The latest story, out of Northeast Pennsylvania, had a new twist: three girls there are suing the local district attorney for threatening to prosecute them for cell-phone photos of two of them in bras from a slumber party two years ago.
Authorities might be getting carried away in some instances, but communities are also on edge because some of these sexting cases have ended tragically. A new online education game about to launch soon is designed to teach teen-agers how to use cell phones responsibly and to realize the consequences of sexting and cyberbullying.
In the game, called "It's Your Call," players become live-action characters in an interactive movie and are presented with a series of difficult decisions. The game will be available through the Web sites of WILL Interactive (http://www.willinteractive.com) and Web Wise Kids (http://www.webwisekids.org). They produced the game with Verizon and the ESA Foundation, a charity offshoot of the entertainment software industry. "Keeping our children safe is at the forefront of every parent’s mind," Sharon Sloane, president and CEO of WILL Interactive, Inc. said in a release. "Based on the success of previous programs that have helped kids improve personal decision-making, we are confident that this game will emphasize the importance of judicious cell phone etiquette."
OK, unfortunately I'm not giving away tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll. But I do have a lovely coffee-table style book on animal migration -- great for engaging kids and researching school projects -- for a lucky commenter who submits a question for the Monday Consult.
If you're new to the blog, you may not know that each week I find an expert to answer one of your questions (this week, it was about no-gift birthday parties) and post the response on the blog (and in our You & Your Health section in the print newspaper).
I'll choose a comment that has a parenting question at random for the prize. Please include your e-mail address on the comment form when you post so that I can contact you in case you win. Don't worry; I won't share the e-mail address with anyone else.
Good luck!
Are you trying to get tickets to roll Easter eggs with Sasha, Malia, and -- oh yes -- their parents, the president and first lady, on Monday, April 13? As you may have read yesterday, the free tickets are available online at whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll for the first time, starting today.
But getting them may be an exercise in frustration. For example, I just logged on and got this message:
"Tickets for the 2009 White House Egg Roll are no longer available at this time. Tickets will be available at various times throughout the day. If you are unable to order tickets at this time, please check back later."
The word is that the White House wants to avoid crashing its site with a high volume of traffic, so persistence is apparently in order.
Good luck. I'd love to hear from you if you've been successful in scoring tickets. By the way, the event is for children 10 and under and their families, with no more than two adults per group.
(Photo of the 2006 White House Easter egg roll by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Baseball season is about to start, and you can celebrate minor-league style with a free family festival with the Bowie Baysox Saturday. The night before that, you can check out a free family night at the Towson Y.
Here's the rest of our short list of fun events, with help from intern Lindsey Citron:
Thursday, March 26:
Monsters and Aliens Twist and Shout: Music and activities to mark the animated movie, which is opening this week, at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Elkridge branch of the Howard County Library. For ages 2-5. Call 410-313-5077.
Circus! Circus!: Play circus-themed games and see Calder’s mini-circus in action at the Light Street branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library at 4 p.m. Ages 6-12. Free. Call 410-396-1096.
Friday, March 27:
Free family fun night at the Y: The Towson branch of the Y of Central Maryland offers a free "family fun night" Friday. From 6 p.m.-9 p.m., families can take free fitness classes, use the gym or pool, and play games at the Y at 600 W. Chesapeake Ave. Call 410-823-8870.
Merry Mother Goose: The musical duo Candy and Cupcake perform with a nursery rhyme theme at 10:30 a.m. at the Towson branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Ages 2-5 with adult. Free. 410-887-6166.
Somefin' Fishy: Take part in nature stories and a "fishy" session of arts and crafts at Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, 12:30-1:15 p.m. Ages 2-4 with adult. Members: $5 per pair; non-members: $10. Advance registration required: call 410-557-9570 or visit ladewgardens.com.
Gaming program at the library: Explore and learn to play new board and card games at the Reisterstown branch of the Baltimore County Public Library at 3 p.m. Teens, Free, Call 410-887-1165.
There's more on Saturday and Sunday...
Saturday, March 28:
2009 Spring Showcase, Peabody: Enjoy a dance recital including contemporary and ballet pieces with a Johann Sebastian Bach theme at the Peabody Institute, Miriam A. Friedberg Hall, 17 E. Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. $14 per adult, $7 per child, senior or student with I.D., Tickets may be purchased in advance. Call 410-659-8100 ext. 1125.
Baysox 10th Annual Free Family FunFest: Celebrate the beginning of baseball season with games, face-painting, food, inflatable rides and more at Bowie Baysox’ Prince George's Stadium, 4101 N.E. Crain Highway, Bowie, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For kids of all ages. Free.
Folktales: Anansi, Brer Rabbit and the Leprechaun: Enjoy folk tales filled with music and jokes at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Ages 6+. Free with museum admission. Call 443-263-1801 or visit AfricanAmericanCulture.org.
Sing-along with Mr. Norman: Sing fun songs with Mr. Norman at Port Discovery Children’s Museum, 35 Market Place, Baltimore, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Free with admission.
Earth Hour star party: Take part in a worldwide "powerless hour" to fight global warming by attending a stargazing event in the dark from 8:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at Thunder Hill Elementary School, 9357 Mellenbrook Road, Columbia. All ages. Free. Advance reservations required; email the number in your party to thespta@gmail.com. Call Julie at 410-458-8012 or visit thespta.synthasite.com.
Carroll County Chocolatefest: Taste and vote for your favorite chocolate desserts from local bakeries, caterers and restaurants at Century High School, 355 Ronsdale Road in Sykesville, from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Call 410-795-9101.
Sunday, March 29:
Creatures Great and Small: Take part in an interactive puppet show and maybe even get to play your favorite creature at the Pikesville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. 2 p.m. All ages; under 6 with adult. Free. 410-887-1234.
Natural egg dyeing: Use earth-friendly materials for an egg-dyeing extravaganza at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, 700 Otter Point Rd., Abingdon, 1- 2 p.m. All ages; under 12 with adult. $3.50 per person. Reservation required, Call 410-612-1688 or visit otterpointcreek.org.
(Photo of last year's family fest courtesy of the Bowie Baysox)
Octuplet mom Nadya Suleman has fired the free nanny service Angels in Waiting, according to a report on Modern Mom, which quotes her lawyer as saying Suleman felt she "didn't need" the service. The site says Angels in Waiting had filed a complaint with child welfare officials about the appropriateness of Suleman's environment for her 14 children.
Um...I don't suppose the free nurses would help take care of my kids? They're more than welcome...
Grilling season just hasn't quite gotten here yet, but with that great invention the grill pan, you can approximate it. (It works any time of year that you don't feel like dealing with the outdoor grill.)
This recipe from the book "Chef on a Shoestring" works for both grill and grill pan. I liked it for the kids because the vegetables stay colorful and a bit crunchy, and because the parts work together but can be enjoyed apart, which seems to be key to a successful meal for us.
The kids ate well (when it came to the meat, at least). Then, when asked, Sam claimed he hadn't liked it...
"I just tried it a lot," he said.
Then he asked for some of the leftovers the next night.
(Photo by me)
Michael Lomonaco's Marinated and Grilled Pork Medallions
Serves 6 to 8
1 3-pound pork loin
1 cup apple cider
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons ketchup
1/2 teaspoon ginger
2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut into wedges
2 large onions, cut into wedges and skewered
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cut the pork loin into 1/2-inch-thick medallions. Combine the cider, soy, honey, ketchup, and ginger in a bowl. Place the pork medallions in a large, flat dish and pour the cider mixture over them. Cover and let the pork marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
Heat an outdoor grill, or an indoor grill pan, until hot. When ready to grill, brush the vegetables lightly with oil, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place on the grill or grill pan and grill for 8 minutes. (If you are using a grill pan, you will have to work in batches.) Remove the pork from the marinade and drain for a moment.
Season the pork to taste with salt and pepper and grill 3 to 4 minutes on each side over high heat to coincide with the end of the vegetable cooking time. (If you are using the grill pan, remove the vegetables and cover to keep warm while you cook the pork.) Watch the medallions closely; they will cook quickly because they are thinly sliced. Be sure the pork's juices run clear when removed from the grill. If they do not, return to the grill and cook for another 30 seconds or so on each side.
Adapted from Chef on a Shoestring, edited by Andrew Friedman
Per serving (based on 8): 335 calories, 38 grams protein, 15 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 12 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 113 milligrams cholesterol, 432 milligrams sodium
David Letterman revealed on his show last night that he has married his longtime girlfriend, Regina Lasko. They've been dating since 1986 and have a 5-year-old son.
Here's an excerpt from the Associated Press story: "After avoiding marriage for more than two decades, Letterman said, 'I secretly felt that men who were married admired me ... like I was the last of the real gunslingers, you know what I'm saying?' "
OK, maybe, but what about when a child is involved? What do you all think?
(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Liz Atwood's Tween Tuesday subject is boys:
Is it just me, or does it seem when it comes to what’s going on in the tween world, it’s mostly about the girls?
Do a Google search of tween boys, you get 1.43 million hits. Search Google for tween girls and you come up with 2.06 million hits.
Allykatzz.com, a social networking site for tween girls, is joining with Carnival Cruise Lines to offer a mother-tween daughter cruise in August. The site and its parent company, AK Tweens, a research arm focusing on tween girls, are organizing a summit in Washington in October to "examine the minds, motivation and lives of tween girls, giving them a platform to share their thoughts and opinions on a wide range of subjects, and giving marketers, policy makers and parents a more thorough understanding of this enigmatic and highly influential demographic."
AK Tweens founder Denise Restauri says: "The influence tween girls have on nearly all aspects of consumer culture is only now starting to be fully realized and understood."
I can do without the marketing to tween boys, but when it comes to learning what tweens think, I hate for the boys to be left out of the picture.
Maybe that is changing a bit. Disney, which for years has focused its shows and music on the tween girl market, recently launched Disney XD, a "boy-focused" cable brand that includes TV and a Web site with themes of adventure, accomplishment, gaming, music and sports. My nearly tween son is still into Sponge Bob. My nearly teen son has moved on to crime dramas. We'll have to check this channel out and see if there's programming for both.
But I’m curious what you think. When it comes to entertainment and public discourse, are tween boys getting their due?
Photo: Kelly Blatz as "Charlie Landers," right, and David Lambert as "Jason Landers" on Disney XD's "Aaron Stone." (Disney)
Here's a tip courtesy of the folks at Mom Central: If you're interested in attending the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus this week at First Mariner Arena and haven't yet bought tickets, you can get 4 tickets for $44 ($11 each) by buying your tickets online at ticketmaster.com. Buy from the MC promotional box, and enter "MOM" as the code word.
So I told Leah that the Obamas were planting a vegetable garden at the White House the other day. Here was her response:
"They need to stop with the fun and games. We've got big problems to solve!"
I didn't bother trying to persuade her that getting fresh, locally grown food to every family is a big problem. We all know how much she likes vegetables.
But it did tell me that consciousness of our other "big problems" is starting to seep down to the kid level.
If you're more interested in the Obama garden than my daughter was, hop over to my colleague Susan Reimer's new blog, Garden Variety.
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
A Twitter follower asks: "How (do you) encourage friends and family to give to charity in lieu of gifts at a kid party? We're racking our brains for a polite, workable way to do this. We hear people do both when asked, which doesn't solve the issue."
I sent the question to Bill Dougherty, a professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota, and one of the people behind Birthdays Without Pressure, a Web site (and group) that discusses how costs and expectations have gone up for children's birthday parties. (The site has ideas for simple birthday-party games and alternatives to gifts.)
Dougherty writes: "It doesn't work well to ask people to give to a charity in lieu of gifts--not for birthday parties. Here is what seems to work: Say in the invitations, and repeat when guests arrive with gifts, that you will give presents to a children's charity. That way, when people bring gifts, they know where they are going, and they don't have to do it themselves. They get to be generous to the birthday child and to the charity simultaneously."
He had another thought: "Consider present-free parties like the Obamas do (and other parents we've talked with). Children get plenty of presents from family. Why not make the friends' party just for fun. In that case, the parent can say "please, no gifts, and if you decide to bring one, we'll be donating it to charity."
"If gifts arrive, say thanks and move them out of view."
(Photo from Ron Chapple Stock)
Here are two more things you might want to check out with the family this weekend:
--Hunt Valley author Susan Magsamen, who's written a book called The 10 Best of Everything Families: An Ultimate Guide to Travel, will sign copies of her book 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Hunt Valley Greetings & Readings. Our travel page has details, as well as a Q&A with Magsamen by travel editor Michelle Deal-Zimmerman.
--The Rotunda Cinemateque is advertising "Cinema Recession Busters" this weekend, with free showings of kids' movies like The Lion King, Pinocchio, and Shrek 2. Details and show times here.
Here's a rejoinder to Joeprah's more-sex post, courtesy of the new book Momnesia, by Shannon Payette Seip and Adrienne Hedger.
It's called "Mommy Brain Haiku":
Movie date night fun
But seat more comfortable
For snoozing sans child
I'm taking submissions for your haiku take on Joeprah. Leave 'em in the comments.
Our Read Street blog has a post on the classic "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," which my children have had several copies of over the years, turning 40 today. The Google logo is a Carle design today.
Did your kids love this book as much as mine?
Has today's Guest Dad, Joeprah from Havre de Grace, got your attention yet? Here's his post on what wives can do to improve their sex lives with their husbands after kids come along. (You can also find Joeprah at his own blog and Dad blogs, where a version of this post originally appeared.)
Here he is:
Let’s face it, married life is challenging on many levels. Before kids are in the picture there are plenty of challenges, but the availability of intimate time isn’t one of them. After kids are thrown into the mix, intimacy can be downright nonexistent.
So, I thought, being a guy, I could lend some advice to those ladies out there looking for hints on how to improve the married sex lives. After talking to some other dads about the topic, I came up with a list of ideas that (I believe) will prove fruitful for you ladies to not only increase the quantity of sex in your lives but also the quality.
--No Nagging: Nothing makes a guy want to hit himself in the head with a brick more than nagging. Nagging is a serious turn off. I am not sure why, but females seemed to be genetically predisposed to being superior naggers. Perhaps there were ancient creatures that would die or run away if attacked by an adult human female wielding a whiney voice. We can only guess at this point, but what is clear is that women nag. I am not a math guy, but I would venture to guess that as nagging decreases, quality sex increases in a marriage.
--Initiate: Men aren’t machines ,and after years of marriage and children it becomes difficult for them to play the ‘game’ all the time. The game in question is the one that revolves around the unspoken tradition that the man has to initiate “business time,” otherwise nothing will happen. It is fine, say 80-85 percent of the time, for us guys to initiate things, but if the women in our lives would take over every once in a while—it would go a long way. We husbands would feel better about ourselves and this would certainly help spice up things.
--Communicate Ladies, although you may think your man is a mind reader—it simply isn’t the case. If you want us to know what you want (in the bedroom), you are going to have to tell us. If you tire of us wearing the red cape all the time—just say so. We would love to know what you are thinking, because we really have no clue. Talking can only lead to a closer connection between you and your husband and that is one thing husbands and wives both want.
--Keeping up appearances: If you want to have better sex with your husband, then it isn’t a bad idea to put your best foot forward. A lot of guys say things like, “She used to try harder to look good for me when we first got married,” or “She always looks so nice when she goes to work or out with her friends—why not when she is home with me and the kids?” Ladies, sometime your man needs to be reminded just how beautiful you are. I am not saying lingerie all the time and 10 pounds of makeup. I am talking about making an effort to look sexy for your husband every once in a while. We’ll even let this count as you initiating. It may be tough for you to part with the bummy tee-shirts and baggy sweats, but give it a try every once and a while and see where it gets you.
--Surprise: Surprise sex is great. Let’s say you surprise your spouse with sex during the day when the kids are on a play date with some friends. Actually, for that matter, it is quite likely that we forgot that sex can happen during the day or that it is possible in the first place. Your husband might be like, “Wait, it's day time…can we even do this?” So, just scheduling a daytime encounter with your husband one weekend would pretty much make you the most amazing person ever. Why not try it?
--Promises: If you talk about/schedule/hint/think about having sex one morning or afternoon just keep this in mind—we heard that. Your husband is about 1 million times more likely to remember what you say about sex then just about anything else. Furthermore, your husband is about 4 billion more times likely to remember what you talked about earlier in the day regarding sex then something you were nagging him about 5 seconds ago. We remember. You forget. If we need remind you what we had talked about earlier in the day, the sex has already begun to suffer.
--Preparation Another key component of the married sex game is the rite of passage I would like to call “tucking them in.” If you are truly serious about having sex—put your kids to bed. Don’t make your husband do it the night you want to get busy. It is kinda like telling him he can watch 10 more minutes of ESPN—not soon forgotten. This will pay off later. Also, when you are starting to get things started in the bedroom—lock the door. This is another one of those tasks that us guys generally have to do, and by us not having to do this simple mundane task we are interpreting that you are either: A) really into us (which is awesome on its own) B) really turned on (which is really, really awesome) Or C) both (which is incomprehensible).
--Fun Sex is not work, it is fun. If you treat the act as an obligatory gesture, your husband can tell -- and this will lead to a lower self image for your husband and friction in your marriage. Have fun; enjoy yourself.
I hope you find the list to be both reasonable and helpful. Is there anything I left off? Is there anything that doesn’t belong? I want to hear what you think. Let’s get the conversation going.
Salma Hayek got lots of support for breastfeeding a child that wasn't hers. But have you read Hanna Rosin's piece in the upcoming Atlantic magazine, on "the case against breastfeeding"? It's in the April issue of the magazine, but the controversy is already rolling along.
In the piece, Rosin, who breast-fed her three children, questions the notion that breastfeeding delivers all the benefits that popular science and lore say it does -- and whether it's become a modern shackle of domesticity for women, something like the vacuum cleaner once was.
The backlash has started already. Here's the case against the case against breastfeeding at Strollerderby.
And here's Rosin on the Today show:
Here's my perspective: I breast-fed both my kids for their first year. After I went back to work as a reporter, after about seven months each time, I pumped during the day. Toward the end of the year I gradually tapered off pumping and supplemented with formula, breastfeeding in the morning and the evening.
It wasn't as hard for me to accomplish as Rosin portrays, but I was lucky enough to have access to a room with a lock, blinds and a phone. With a hands-free pump with a quiet motor, I could actually interview people on the phone while I was pumping. And fortunately I was never caught out at a news event when I really needed to pump.
The thing that's sad, I think, is the mother-to-mother judginess that's crept into our modern thinking about every element of parenting, from how many activities your kid should have to whether they can eat candy before dinner. Breastfeeding has become a lightning rod for that kind of judginess, and a mom can feel it from the moment she becomes a mom.
Babies Love Disco already has the first-steps set dancing with their parents. Now they're going after the other end of the age spectrum: grandparents. This Sunday, the dance party moves to the Recher Theatre and lets grandparents in for $5 in honor of Grandparents Month.
Get the details below, along with other fun things to do this weekend (like scoring a free Italian ice at Rita's on Friday):
Thursday, March 19:
Dance Dance Revolution: See details of this friendly dance-off at the Miller Branch of the Howard County Library here.
Improv at the library: Learn about creating spontaneous performances at 7 p.m. at the Rosedale branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. For kids 11-17.
Friday, March 20:
Free Italian ice: Rita's gives away one Italian ice per customer at participating locations to celebrate the first day of spring, noon-10 p.m.
Night hike: Irvine Nature Center has a "Vernal Equinox Night Hike" planned from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. to observe nocturnal animals and explore signs of spring. For ages 5 and up. $6 members, $10 non-members.
Puppet show: "All Creatures Great and Small," for children 2-5, starts at 10 a.m. at Rainbow Theatre, Slayton House, Wilde Lake Village Center, Columbia. 410-730-3987. $5 in advance, $6 a the door.
Saturday, March 21:
An elephant's birthday party: Samson turns 1 at the Maryland Zoo with a party, as Jane from the Zoo pointed out the other day. He'll be on exhibit from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., and is scheduled to eat his birthday cake at noon.
National Nutrition Month celebration: Learn about healthful eating with stories and a craft at 2 p.m. at the central branch of the Howard County Library in Columbia. For kids 3-6.
Jack and the Beanstalk is performed at Pumpkin Theatre in Stevenson at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, as well as next week. Tickets are $12 in advance, $13 at the door.
Sunday, March 22:
Baby Loves Disco: The dance party for the stroller set moves to the Recher Theatre in Towson, and welcomes grandparents for Grandparents Month from noon-3 p.m. $12 "per walking human" in advance, $15 at the door. $5 for grandparents.
Spring tandem and recumbent bike day: Mt. Airy Bicycles hosts a demonstration day with scheduled rides and demonstrations of recumbent bikes, tandems and more. Rides begin at 10 a.m.; demonstrations at 11 a.m. Registration and details here.
(Photo of Baby Loves Disco founders courtesy of Baby Loves Disco)
You won't want to miss our story today on ways to use up 20 ingredients that often go bad before you can use them.
There's a recipe for Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic, pictured on the left, which uses up a lot of the things I often worry I'll have to toss: Celery, herbs, onions, garlic, along with inexpensive chicken.
Now I'd love to hear your great ideas for using up these ingredients, or others.
(Photo by me)
My son had been asking for mangoes, and no, he wasn't completely satisfied with the frozen version from Trader Joe's. So I picked up the ripest mango I could find at Giant and made these chicken-mango quesadillas from the new book Petit Appetit: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry.
I liked this recipe because it shows you that you can bake quesadillas, which is so much easier if you're feeding a crowd. I'd never thought to do that.
Here's the recipe and the kids' verdict...
The other good part of these is that you can leave stuff out of some quesadillas while including it in others. I knew my daughter probably wouldn't eat the mango, especially if it was mixed in with the chicken and cheese, so I left it out of hers and served it on the side. (Where, yes, it stayed.)
My son was initially very intrigued by this mango dish, but after trying a slice, he said he would prefer to have his mango straight, without any "other stuff."
My husband and I both liked this, but as you know, we're easy compared to the other two. (If you're making this your main dish you may want to double the recipe, which is easily done.)
Chicken and Mango Quesadillas
Makes 2 quesadillas; serves 2-4
four (8-inch) whole wheat tortillas
Vegetable oil for brushing (about 4 teaspoons)
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1 mango, peeled, pitted and sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, optional
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush 2 tortillas with some of the oil. Place tortillas, oil side down, on a baking sheet. Sprinkle each with half of the cheese, half of the chicken, half of the mango, and half of the cilantro. Top each with 1 tortilla, pressing to adhere; brush top with oil.
Bake quesadillas for about 10 minutes, until filling is heated through and edges begin to crisp. Using a large metal spatula, carefully turn each over and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until bottom is crisp.
Transfer quesadillas to plates. Cut into wedges with a pizza cutter. Let cheese cool sufficiently to prevent burning little tongues before serving.
Adapted from Petit Appetit: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, by Lisa Barnes
Per serving (based on 4): 552 calories, 24 grams protein, 32 grams fat, 11 grams saturated fat, 41 grams carbohydrate, 4 grams fiber, 69 milligrams cholesterol, 693 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.
(Photo by me)
Here's Liz Atwood with Tween Tuesday:
Easter and Passover are approaching and I’ve been thinking about how our tweens view religion. Leonard Pitts Jr. argues in a column this week that religion is fading in America because of a backlash against religious fanatics and hypocrites from all faiths. A few months ago, researchers writing in the Journal of Happiness reported a link between spirituality and happiness in tweens, but not one between religious practices and happiness. You can read an MSNBC.com account of the report here.
Having resorted to pleadings and threats on more than one occasion to get my kids up in time for church, I understand how there might be a disparity between feeling spiritual and going to church. And yet I know many faiths make an extra effort to reach out to pre-teen children, incorporating rock music, drama and games to make the services more interesting.
What’s been your experience? Do your tweens accept your religious views or are they searching for their own way?
Photo: Children walk back to their pews after hearing a religious story at a church in Boston. (AP)
A few last-minute ideas to help celebrate St. Patrick's Day:
--If you're into making a leprechaun trap, Geek Dad has tips for you.
--Parent Hacks points out that it's a good time to get kids to try green food, including this spinach-fruit smoothie from AskMoxie.
--Try this easy Irish Soda Bread from a Cooking 101 piece we did a couple of years ago with the folks at Baltimore International College.
Here's the recipe:
Irish Soda Bread
Makes 16 slices
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold butter
1 cup golden raisins
1 3/4 cups 1 percent low-fat buttermilk
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter (or crumble it in your hands) until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add raisins. Stir in buttermilk just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; gently knead 6 to 8 times.
Place on an ungreased baking sheet; pat into a 7-inch round loaf. Using a sharp knife, score the dough about 1/4 inch deep on top. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
Per serving: 184 calories, 4 grams protein, 3 grams fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 34 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 9 milligrams cholesterol, 264 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.
--From allrecipes.com
(Photo by David Hobby)
Some schools in the area are on break this week -- and, given the state of the economy, you may be looking for things to do at home instead of traveling.
Here are a few ideas for school-aged kids. If you've got more, please add them:
--Tweens and teens 11-17 can learn scrapbooking at the Woodlawn library, at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. Registration required; call 410-887-1336.
--Also Tuesday, visitors to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum get $1 off admission if they're wearing green.
--Are your kids into the interactive video game Dance Dance Revolution? They can dance it out with others at the Miller branch of the Howard County Library at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19. Registration, which can be done here, is required.
--Through March 31, kids' tickets are 2-for-1 to visit the Top of the World Observation Level at the World Trade Center at the Inner Harbor. Adults bringing kids get $1 off admission. The observation level is open Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Through this Sunday, there's a Black History exhibit on display. 410.837.VIEW (8439).
As spring approaches, I thought we'd do a fun Consult with the folks at McCormick & Co. on things you didn't know you could do with food coloring. Here are a few things kids 7-12 might enjoy creating. (McCormick, of course, recommends using McCormick Assorted Food Color):
--Funny Putty. Start with a cup of white glue in a plastic container. Add 1 cup liquid starch a little at a time, stirring constantly, along with any color of the food coloring, until the mixture is rubbery. Store in an airtight container.
--Homemade play dough. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water and 1/4 cup cream of tartar with about 20 drops of food coloring in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for about 5 minutes. Cool on wax paper, then knead slightly until dough is smooth. Store in an airtight container.
--Goofy Goo. Mix 2 tablespoons white glue with 2 tablespoons water in a paper cup. In another cup, mix together 1/4 cup water, 3/4 teaspoon borax laundry booster and about 10 drops food coloring. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the borax mixture into the glue mixture and stir well.
--Water colors. Instant paint! Combine 1 tablespoon white vinegar with 2 teaspoons baking soda. Slowly add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1/4 cup glycerin. Pour 1 inch of the mixture into 6 to 8 paper cups and let dry overnight. Once they're dry, add the food coloring, making sure to use a lot, as the color isn't as deep when it dries. To use, dip a paint brush into some water, then into the paint.
We can talk about food dye and Easter eggs a little later. By the way, if you are interested in learning how to dye Easter eggs the natural way, check out this post from last year.
(Photo of play dough courtesy of McCormick & Co.)
As you may have read yesterday in my weekend activities post, tomorrow (March 14) is Pi Day, a celebration of pi (3.14), the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. Besides going to the pi fest at the Maryland Science Center to see what they have in store, here are some other fun (and, sh!, educational) things you can do with children to celebrate:
--Your kids may not know that 3.14 is just the rounded version of pi, which actually has endless digits beyond its decimal point. You can find 10,000 of them, along with other fun pi facts, at The Joy of Pi. Then convert the digits into a musical sequence here.
--Learn about pi's history here.
--This site from Scholastic offers activities geared to different age groups, including fun with balls and hoops for the younger set and pie chart ideas for older kids.
--Pi Day is also Albert Einstein's birthday. Kids can learn about him here.
--Make Irish salmon pie for dinner. Here's the recipe from an Emeril Lagasse kids' cookbook we tried last year. Or make pie for dessert. And, hey, if you don't want to cook, pizza makes the pi-pie tie-in beautifully.
(Photo of last year's Pi Day at the Maryland Science Center by Baltimore Sun photographer Lloyd Fox)
Today's Guest Dad is Tony Chen, who writes in Chicago for the web site/community Savvy Daddy. He has some observations on how life has changed now that his family includes two children.
Here's Tony:
Today's tip sheet comes via momlogic, which had a good post on the heat that the octuplet mom, Nadya Suleman, is getting about a 911 call she made when she thought her son was missing a while back. (Apparently she was so hysterical on the phone that it was hard for the dispatcher to help her. But the good news is that the boy was found safe with a nanny.)
Momlogic got tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about how you should (try) to act if you truly think your child is missing. Among the tips: Give the dispatcher your child's height, weight, and what he was wearing. Take time to listen to the dispatcher's questions, and answer them carefully so you can be understood.
(AP photo)
This weekend brings opening day at the Maryland Zoo, Pi Day at the Maryland Science Center, gaming activities for teens at city libraries, and St. Patrick's Day fun. If we forgot anything you know of that sounds fun, chime in with a comment.
Thanks to intern Lindsey Citron for her help with this compilation:
Thursday, March 12:
Teen Tech Week: The Enoch Pratt Free Library’s branches are hosting video and board gaming sessions featuring Mario Kart, Trouble and Monopoly. Today, play at the Cherry Hill Branch, 3- 4 p.m., tomorrow, at the Central branch, Poe Room, 3- 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday at the Herring Run Branch, 1- 4 p.m.
St. Patrick's Day stories: Get ready for the holiday next week with stories at the Pratt's Govans branch. 4 p.m.
Friday, March 13:
Future Entrepreneurs: Teens can meet with a representative from the Small Business Administration to discuss and learn how to start a business at the Woodlawn branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, 1811 Woodlawn Drive. 2:30 p.m. Ages 11-17. Free. Call 410-887-1336.
Shabbat Circle Parent and Me: Join in a Shabbat celebration complete with challah, songs and prayers, Jewish Family Services in Howard County, Century Plaza 1000, 10630 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Suite 401, Columbia. 10:15 a.m.-noon. Free. Call 410-730-4976 ext. 118 or e-mail hbrenner@jcsbaltimore.org.
Lively Arts for Little Ones: A DinoRock show featuring a dinosaur family plays at 10 a.m. at The Other Barn. 5851 Robert Oliver Plaza, Columbia. Ages 2- 5 with adult. $4.75 per person at the door or in advance. Group rates available. Call 410-730-4610 or visit columbiavillages.org.
Saturday, March 14:
Infant Toddler Day: Enjoy balloon activities with a clown and a sing-a-long with the Kindersinger at Port Discovery Children's Museum. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. For infants and toddlers. Free with admission.
Pi Day: Celebrate Pi Day (the date is 3/14; the value of the mathematical constant is 3.14) at the Maryland Science Center with a Hula-Hoop endurance challenge, a scavenger hunt and lots of complimentary pie. Free with admission.
Kangaroo Kapers: A fun activity time for big brothers and sisters to-be will be held at 10:30-11:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Medical Center, Noppenberger Auditorium, 7601 Osler Drive, Towson. Ages 3-6. $10, Registration required. Call 410-337-1000.
Night Vision Hike: Discover how your eyes can adjust to the dark with a pitch-black hike, Cromwell Valley Park, Willow Grove Farm, 2175 Cromwell Bridge Road, Baltimore, 8-9:30 p.m. Ages 10+ with adult, $2 per member, $4 per non-member. Reservations required. Call 410-887-2503.
Star-gazing: View Saturn without its rings, presented by the Westminster Astronomical Society, Soldiers Delight, 5100 Deer Park Road, Owings Mills, March 14, 8-10 p.m. All ages. Free. Donations welcome. Registration required. Call 410-549-3026.
Maryland Zoo Opening Day: Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Drive, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, opens for the season from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $7 per person for March 14 and 15. 410-396-7102.
The Chef Shapes Up: Learn how to eat smarter with "shaped up" food choices at the Cockeysville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, Cockeysville Branch, 9833 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville. 2 p.m. Ages 5-12. Free. Call 410-887-7750..
Carroll County Children's Festival: Celebrate a series of fun activities sponsored by Child Care Choices and the TownMall of Westminster, TownMall of Westminster, 400 North Center St., Westminster. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Ages 2-8. Free. Call 410-751-2917.
St. Patrick's Day parade: The annual parade starts at 2 p.m. at the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon and continues to Pratt Street and Market Place. Here are the route and more details.
(Photo of a new zoo arrival, a male sitatunga born on Jan. 9, courtesy of the Maryland Zoo)
The student was 13 years old when the first relationship began, according to this story from the Salt Lake Tribune. According to the story, police say the teachers have acknowledged the relationships, and each said they didn't know about the other's involvement with the boy. According to the newspaper, both the teachers have teenage children themselves.
This follow-up piece looks at whether students and teachers should be allowed to directly text-message or call each other, which is apparently how both of these relationships began. A school district spokesman says the practice is necessary so that teachers can check in on students who might have been absent and can't be reached at home.
In that case, I'd certainly want the teacher to reach me instead. But that's just me. What do you think?
This may be the easiest salmon you ever make. It's from Mireille Guiliano's French Women Don't Get Fat, which is another bonus.
If you can, spring for a piece of wild salmon to cook simply on one side with a squeeze of lemon juice. But the technique should work for less expensive farm-raised salmon as well.
I thought the children would like this, since lately they have done well with minimally garnished proteins...
But they seemed to forget that they actually like salmon (particularly Sam). Maybe the beautiful, redder color of the wild salmon scared them off?
Anyway, they didn't eat that well, but we loved this simple preparation.
Saumon a l'unilateral (cooked on one side only)
Serves 4
4 pieces wild salmon, about 4 ounces each
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
Heat a nonstick frying pan. Place the salmon in the pan, skin-side down, pour the lemon juice over the salmon, add the salt, and cook for about 6 minutes over mediumheat until the skin is crispy. (Cut a slice to determine the degree of cooking you desire, such as medium-rare -- pink at the center -- which preserves most of the natural taste.)
Serve immediately. Season, if you like, with a dash of extra-virgin olive oil and a sprig of fresh thyme.
From French Women Don't Get Fat, by Mireille Guiliano
Per serving; 185 calories, 26 grams protein, 8 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 72 milligrams cholesterol, 297 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.
(Photo by me)
Our Maryland Politics blog has the details on a bill that's been filed in the state legislature to ban smoking in cars when children younger than 8 are present. As the post says, the bill is up for a hearing today, but it's failed to pass a couple of times before.
What are your thoughts?
The Maryland School Assessment Tests (MSAs) are upon us. This is the test that’s given to students in grades 3-8 to measure their achievements in reading, math and science.
I don’t know anyone who really likes these tests, especially the students. But here are some suggestions from the American School Counselors Association on how to relieve the test anxiety that some kids can have:
You can read more here.
Any other ideas?
(Photo courtesy of the Maryland state Department of Education web site)
Wasn't last weekend magical around here? My kids had a fantastic time feeding the ducks, visiting Baltimore's tulip park (where of course the tulips aren't in flower yet), and climbing our Japanese maple.
I celebrated by making this Cottage Cheese Poundcake from our Recipe Finder column. (Part of the fun of making it was watching the afternoon light play over the cake as it was cooling in the pan...)
If you haven't read the column, do check it out: It's a personal look at the hunt for a long-sought recipe, an angle too easily lost in the world of easy Internet recipe hunting.
This recipe was sent in by Nancy Simmons of Salisbury, N.C. I'm reprinting it here...
Cottage-Cheese Poundcake
(Serves 16)
3 cups sifted flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup cottage cheese, sieved
2 cups sugar
6 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon vanilla
confectioners' sugar
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease a 9-inch bundt pan. Sift flour and baking soda onto wax paper. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and cottage cheese until smooth and creamy. Slowly beat in 2 cups sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time. Beat in orange rind, vanilla and flour mixture until well blended.
In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Gently fold the beaten whites into cake batter. Spoon batter into prepared pan, smoothing top evenly. Bake for 1 1/2 hours or until top springs back when pressed lightly. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Turn out onto rack and cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar before serving.
Per serving: 318 calories, 7 grams protein, 14 grams fat, 8 grams saturated fat, 43 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 111 milligrams cholesterol, 105 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.
(Photo by me)
because his distracted father or mother forgot he hadn't been dropped off at day care, should the parent be prosecuted? That's one of the questions posed by this tragic portrait of the rising phenomenon of hyperthermia in yesterday's Washington Post Magazine.
Warning: The story is extremely graphic, so while I urge you to read it for its cautionary message -- that leaving a baby in the car has happened to all kinds of people -- it's not for the faint of heart.
If you don't want to attempt it, please go directly to the most important part: the tips on how to prevent this from happening to you and your child. They include leaving your work i.d. badge, cell phone or purse in the back seat with your baby; having a day-care provider call you right away if the baby hasn't shown up as expected; and putting a stuffed animal in the front seat with you to remind you that the baby is in the back.
A Twitter follower asks: "What do you do when you see your kids pick up your bad habits that you don't want them to have?" (That question could cover a lot of ground, so the follower agreed to narrow it down to something like biting your nails.)
I asked Molly Brown Koch, a local parent coach and author who has answered questions about kids using public bathrooms and about dealing with a young hitter, to tackle this one.
She wrote back that the solution -- and the adults may not like this -- is for the grownup and the child to have a talk and agree to kick their bad habit together. Even a child as young as 3, she says, can help brainstorm solutions if asked.
"Children are little 'strangers in a strange land,' they study us to find out how to be, what to do, how to do it, and because they love us so much, we are their most important role models," Koch writes. "If the child is old enough to understand, you can explain that you have been doing something for a long time and are ready to get it under control. A brainstorming session about ways for you to stop the habit can be both enlightening and fun. Let the child be part of the solution, and be partners in both your efforts to end the habit.
If it's not so easy for the child to give up the habit, don't point out his failures, Koch writes. "Nothing works as well as praising children for their efforts, for their persistence, for their strength of character, and celebrating with them when they succeed, day by day," she says.
It's appropriate to offer a reward to the child for finally kicking the habit -- but make it a special outing with you, Koch advises, rather than a toy.
Barbie's turning 50 and having a mid-life crisis. The Los Angeles Times reports that Mattel is rolling out a tattooed Barbie, and opening a new Barbie megastore in Shanghai. (She's not just tattooed, but comes with a tattoo gun. I'm just thrilled. Here's a picture.)
Barbie has also joined Twitter, reporting recently that she "is back together with her boyfriend!" (I must be behind, because I didn't know Ken was on the outs. Or maybe it isn't Ken.)
Some parents, including Whoa, Momma!, have been up in arms over the tattooing; others, such the writer of the Idol Chatter blog, don't think it's such a big deal. You?
Saturday mornings are daddy mornings, and unless someone is sick, my daughter and I go to Hoppin’ Tots, a toddler gym on Falls Road. It’s our special time together, as it is the only time in the week where it’s just us; no wife or step-daughter, no distractions of work for me or toys for her.
And although we’re surrounded by other toddlers and their parents, we’re often pre-occupied with the task of tumbling. Each session starts off with “circle time” when we stretch, sing songs and poems, and learn what’s in store for the obstacle course.
When she and I first started coming, my daughter was about 18 months, and she didn’t know what to make of the songs, the instructor or the other children. She would huddle in my lap, hiding from the exposure of participation in the group activities, which was nice as she was immensely attached to my wife and rarely turned to me for comfort outside of this particular setting.
Each week’s obstacle course offers a different theme: animals, superheroes, Sesame Street, Alice in Wonderland. Here the children climb and roll, bounce on mini-trampolines and try to walk across balance beams. Each week is a new configuration, and I’m always impressed with the instructor’s ingenuity at using the same tumbling mats and cheese blocks over and over again without making it repetitive.
Once each child has made it through the obstacle course a few times, we move onto open play, which also offers a new configuration each week. There’s a big trampoline that the children flock to almost immediately. Inevitably, a parent makes a hopeful comment about their child burning off energy and both of them taking an early nap. For parents with particularly active children, it seems like endless trampoline bouncing is the best reason to attend the gym in the first place.
Open play always ends with the same structured series of events: play on top of the big parachute, bubbles, play under the big parachute, one last song (always Skinamarinky Dinky Dink) and then stamps. The children get them on their hands and feet, and if they say please, one on the belly.
Finally, with our shoes and socks back on our feet and all of our belongings gathered, my daughter and I usually make one last stop before rejoining my wife and step-daughter: Bonjour Bakery. Here my daughter eagerly downs a chocolate croissant and a juice box. I sip an Americano and watch her spread chocolate across her face, quietly delighted to watch her grow up.
...by Rainbow Play Systems, reports the Chicago Tribune. Pretty neat, huh?
It's interesting to me, because I was wondering when kids age out of wanting a swingset of their own. We've held off buying one, partly because of the cost (this one reportedly costs about $3,500, which is actually less than I would have thought), but also because we'd want to make sure the system was safe and that we could maintain it properly. With a couple of playgrounds close by, we just haven't taken the plunge.
What are your experiences with swingsets? Worth the money?
(Charles Dharapak/AP Photo)
For today's Tip Sheet Thursday, I'm seeking tips instead of providing them directly, since several readers recently wrote in with similar child-care questions. Please chime in if you can help:
--One mom writes that she's moving to north Baltimore soon, and is looking for a good local preschool for her daughter, who will be 3 this summer. She's looking for just a couple of mornings a week, at first.
--Donna is looking for day camp options during spring break, which for her kids is March 16-20. I know at least some public schools in the area are on break the first full week of April, and there are parents looking for day camp options then, too.
--Dorothy Jenkins writes that she is looking for summer camp options for her 10-year-old. (Even though she wrote she was looking for an "expensive" day camp, I'm betting she meant "inexpensive.")
This weekend, families can learn about healthy cooking at Port Discovery, take in a youth production of Cats, celebrate Purim at the Jewish Museum of Maryland, check out two camp fairs, and more.
If you want more options, remember to check out the new searchable calendar at Maryland Family Magazine.
Thursday, March 5:
Family Fun Day: Take in stories and fun at 10 a.m. at the Mall in Columbia. Call 410-730-3300.
Hereford library story time: Kids ages 2-5 and their caregivers are invited hear stories at 10:30 a.m. at the Hereford branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Call 410-887-1919.
Full Beekeeper's Course Teens 14 and up can learn the lart of beekeeping, including how to establish and maintain your own hive of honeybees, at 7 p.m. at the Eden Mill Nature Center. Reservations required by today. Call 410-836-3050.
Friday, March 6:
Urban Pirates Story Time: Kids 2-5 (with an adult) can listen to a pirate-themed story time at 11 a.m. at the Essex branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Call 410-887-0295.
More Saturday...
Saturday, March 7:
Pancake breakfasts: Taste this season's fresh maple syrup on pancakes at Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday and Sunday. $6 for adults and kids 9 and up; $3 for kids 2-8; free for kids under 2.
Kids in the kitchen: Kids can learn about cooking with a former Food Network chef Saturday at Port Discovery. Cookbook author George Stella will show kids how to make healthful snacks and lead them in an Iron Chef challenge. The event, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the museum, 35 Market Place, is sponsored by the Junior League of Baltimore. Free with museum admission. Call 410-727-8120.
"Cats": The Children’s Playhouse of Maryland, Inc. presents "Cats" featuring local young performers for the next three weekends, at 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in the J Building Lecture Hall at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Boulevard. (A special 4 p.m. performance will be given Sunday, March 15.) $10 general admission; $8 for birthday parties or scout troops. Tickets are available in advance through the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS or 410-780-6369, or at the door.
Empty Bowls: Dine on soups provided by local restaurants to help the hungry at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland's Doyle Hall Cafeteria, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Proceeds benefit St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore. $15; children 5 and under free. Call 410-662-0500, ext. 216. Advance ticket purchase recommended.
Simon Kidgits Club book blast: Kids can listen to stories, participate in activities and prize drawings, and sign up for the new Simon Kidgits Club, a health and entertainment program for children 3-8, at noon at Arundel Mills Mall. The event is free; membership in the club costs $5 for one year or $8 for two years.
Harford County Kids Magazine camp fair: Learn about summer camp options at the Harford County Kids Magazine Camp & Education Fair 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the John Carroll School in Bel Air. There will be hourly raffles. Free.
Sunday, March 8:
Baltimore's Child camp fair: Meet camp directors and learn about camps at the Baltimore's Child camp fair, noon-3 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Timonium. Attendees will have a chance to win a camp scholarship. Free. Call 410-367-5883
Drawing on Tradition: The Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd St., marks Purim with a new exhibit titled Drawing on Tradition: The Book of Esther as Graphic Novel. It opens to the public at noon Sunday and runs through July 26. It’s a retelling of the Book of Esther in comic-strip form by artist J.T. Waldman. There’s a preview from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. today. Admission is $3-$8 and free for members. Go to jewishmuseummd.org.
(Photo of "Cats" courtesy of the Children's Playhouse of Maryland)
This is one of my favorite pictures ever.
Perfect for Wordless Wednesday. Leave a comment with a link to your blog. More rules here. Also check out the links on 5MinutesforMom.
(Photo by me)
Hamburgers are already a budget meal (and a good one to bank on the kids liking at my house), but these are "stretch" burgers. With a little bread, wine and other add-ins, the meat goes a little further.
At least, that seems to be the reason for the name of these burgers from "The Boston Globe Cookbook." If you're worried about the cost of the wine, try using Crane Lake petite syrah, a surprisingly decent wine (you can drink the rest) for just about $4.99 a bottle.
This was a big hit with the burger-lovers among us: juicy, with good beef flavor.
Here's the recipe:
Stretch Burgers
Serves 4
1 slice white or wheat bread, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons dry red wine
3/4 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon butter
Combine bread, garlic salt, pepper, Worcestershire, and wine in a bowl and blend well. Add ground beef and lightly mix with bread and seasonings. Shape into 4 patties. Heat butter in skillet and pan fry patties, about 8 minutes for medium, turning to brown both sides.
--From "The Boston Globe Cookbook"
Per burger (without buns): 191 calories, 15 grams protein, 12 grams fat, 5 grams saturated fat, 3 grams carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 60 milligrams cholesterol, 210 milligrams sodium
(Photo by me)
Kids who love math might like to know that it's square root day -- an event that occurs only nine times a century. (For example, today's date is 3/3/09 -- and 3 times 3 is, of course, 9.) The next square root day won't come until 4/4/16.
You'll find ideas for marking the occasion here, here and here, including details on a Facebook page.
Here's Liz Atwood with Tween Tuesday:
Sometimes I’m glad I have boys. Yeah, I have to put up with the roughhousing, but I was spared this weekend from Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience. Yes, even though I have boys, I know who the Jonas Brothers are. I got stuck in a terrible traffic jam last August when thousands of their teenage fans descended on the First Mariner Arena to swoon over Nick, Kevin and Joe. Thank goodness my sons didn’t drag me to the movie that one critic called “a curious mixture of shameless pandering” and another “a devotional object, a kind of secular fetish designed to induce rapture.”
I know moms of some of the girls were not so lucky. While they were enduring the screaming of tween girls, I was spending Sunday afternoon with my sons watching monster trucks smash cars and belch exhaust fumes in the First Mariner Arena (funny how the arena plays into these events).
Did you go see the movie? What did you think? Even if you don’t like the Jonas Brothers’ music, I bet you didn’t have to wear earplugs like I did when I was watching the trucks.
....Dan Taylor, also known as the Hungover Gourmet. He won by my patented scientific methodology (closed my eyes, ran the cursor along the comments page, and landed on his name).
So, Dan, since you're a cook as well as a dad, I'll offer you a choice of one of these three books. Let me know in the comments (or by e-mail if you're shy) which one you'd like:
1) "A Year in Chocolate," by Jacques Torres. The latest cookbook from the New York chocolatier offers chocolate recipes for holidays and special occasions. I reviewed it recently for a Valentine's Day story.
2)"On the Line: Inside the World of Le Bernadin," by Eric Ripert and Christine Muhlke. (Since Hungover Gourmet writes frequently about Top Chef, where Ripert is a frequent guest judge, my money is on him choosing this one.)
3)Or, the charming "Little Big Book for Dads," with nursery rhymes, tongue twisters, essays, and recipes for dads to share with their kids. I like the illustrations.
It's Dr. Seuss's birthday. (You know it's a big deal when Google designs its logo on a Seuss theme.) Since you may be home with kids on this very snowy day, here are a few quick ideas for things to do:
--Here's a recipe for "Green Eggs and Ham." Looks fun, though I haven't tried it. My past attempts at Green Eggs and Ham have been met with scorn and derision.
--Visit the Seussville playground.
--Find activities themed to your favorite Seuss books here.
--Take quizzes to test your knowledge of Seuss stories here.
Now I know not everybody loves Dr. Seuss books; my father has confessed he dreaded reading them with us as kids. What's your opinion?
Breaking up is hard to do, especially when you're considering parting ways with your pediatrician.
I asked Owings Mills pediatrician Dr. Daniel Levy, who's answered a number of our Consults, to give us some things to think about when the relationship isn't working. Here's his post:
"Most parents go to some trouble finding the "right doctor," for their child, but as hard as they try, sometimes things just don't work out.
There are lots of reasons why families switch the care of their kids to new pediatric practices in a community, but courtesy and humanity in going through the process will help tremendously. Regardless of your reason for leaving, remember that all pediatricians are hard-working, have given your family much of their care and expertise for free, and are usually compensated well below what they charge. More importantly, doctors for kids are always about what they think is best.
When you're weighing leaving a practice, here a few things to consider:
--Why are you leaving? Is it a personal disappointment, or was there a medical error? Was it your doctor's lack of caring or inattention to detail, or are you feeling guilty that you didn't follow through on good advice? Make sure you're clear, sleep on it, run it by trusted advisors, then act. Never make a hasty judgment.
--Let your doctor know why you're leaving. She/he can't profit from the experience without your communication.
--Be clear about what you want in a pediatric office, and make sure your needs are realistic.
--If your pediatrician has been conscientious, affable, knowledgeable and available, maybe she/he deserves a second chance. Talk it out with her, and let her know your concerns. Some of the best professional relationships are cemented that way. We're all busy, but the best of us are never too busy to listen. Your pediatrician is ready to help 24/7, and deserves your honesty and best intentions."
Baltimoresun.com's school closings database is designed to provide up-to-date, easy-to-access information in the event of inclement weather.
