Tonight on John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8, Kate takes her boys out west, to Wyoming.She even wades into a chicken coop in high heels.

Kate S.: I feel that she's wearing inappropriate shoes on purpose.

John: So she can complain about girly girl moments?

Kate S.: Yes.

Meanwhile, Jon is home with the girls. They are catching bugs. Jon altruistically reminds them that all the bugs and worms should "return to nature" at the end.

Kate is back out west, riding ATVs with th e little guys.

Jon: "Kate is not wearing a helmet. Obama got so much grief, she should get grief."

Kate S.: "I agree."

Kate has changed from heels to boots, with a cowboy hat thrown in. But she belies her obsessive-girly ways by telling the head cowboy that "screaming is like breathing to me."

Meanwhile, there is a gratuitous close-up of horse poop.

John: "Highlight of the trip!"

Jon takes the little girls to the dentist. Now there's a fun job. Leah has two cavities, and Alexis is jealous because she only has one. Jon thinks that's funny.

Kate S.: I love that Jon thinks cavities are 'hilarious.'

Back out west, Kate mentions this trip has been 'paparrazzi-free,' which means "everything in the world." And the boys have adopted a cat who seems to be living in their cowboy hats. Uh-oh, now the cat is running away.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Like many of you, I packed my two kids off to their first day of the 2009-2010 school year today. They were sound asleep last night at a wonderfully decent hour, and up and dressed with great cooperation this morning.

I, on the other hand, tossed and turned.

The start of a new school year is the beginning of a new routine for parents, too. Compared with summer, which seems to glide by more quickly each year, it's an opportunity for a season of worry.

Such as: What's behind my child's placement with a certain teacher? Will she/he make new friends this year? How much homework will there be, and how will that affect the nightly routine? Will I, the parent, be able to get home in time each night to help with it all -- and keep my job?

My husband, a former teacher, says he has a "back to school" dream every year on the eve of the first day.

What are you worrying about today, if anything?

Photo taken at a Dundalk school by Baltimore Sun photographer Lloyd Fox

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Another musical opportunity for kids: Children's Chorus of Maryland is holding an open house Saturday from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. at St. Timothy Church at 100 E. Timonium Road in Timonium.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Music
        

We wouldn't want to wake up Sun reporter Jonathan Pitts's 9-month-old daughter.

 I’m typing this (as quietly as possible) as my 9-month-old daughter sleeps in her crib upstairs.

The baby monitor’s going, emitting the static-like hiss that tells me it’s up and running.

I ‘ve turned off the TV, shut down the radio, and set my cell phone to silent. I’m praying she doesn’t wake up for a while. Johanna, our first, couldn’t be a sweeter baby.

She’s always up for a visit from relatives, the more the better. Put her in a Baby Bjorn or the car seat and she’s ready to go, big brown eyes wide and ready for adventure. She cries only when she needs something, a boon to her parents, and just in the past two weeks we realized she has been paying closer attention when we speak than we had any idea.

Say the words “ceiling fan,” “mirror,” “doorknob,” “Lucas” (our cat), “pantry”, “hat,” or (her current favorite) “toilet,” and she points right at and laughs, her three teeth showing. The first time she did this, it was as scary as it was delightful.

But our little angel still doesn’t sleep through the night.

Those of you with little ones know something I didn’t until just recently – when I became a dad, in fact: that even though they’re tiny, harmless looking munchkins, infants are hard at work building strong wills, and one of the best places to observe that is during sleep training.

It was interesting for me to learn that it’s actually not natural for babies to fall asleep. Or, put more accurately, they aren’t born with the internal mechanism to put themselves to sleep. They’re used to drifting off as we hold them, as mother’s feeding them, or in some other way that gives them the sort of comfort that allows them to go under without realizing what they’re doing. And they like it that you do the work: it feels nice, and it’s easy.

Leave Johanna in a crib by herself, though, and she still doesn’t know how to flip her own “off” switch. First of all, she hates going to bed, apparently because she’s afraid she might miss something.

But when the time comes, she wants us to step in and help. Whether it’s 7 at night or 3 in the morning, she’ll wail and cry most pitifully until someone comes in to rescue her. And it gets exhausting.

As we know from reading and talking to other parents, there are several methods for teaching the falling-asleep skill. Most of them work, it seems, if you have the backbone to stick with them. Problem is, they involve forcing your precious daughter to do something she’s disinclined to do.

It’s a test of your personalities. How much discomfort are you willing to inflict on her so that she learns what she must? How long is she willing to fight you?

What kind of man are you: cruel but wise or caring yet weak? Who blinks first?

Yes, we’ve tried the “Ferber” methods. One says to let her cry for five minutes, then go in to comfort her; let her cry ten minutes then go in again, and so on, until she falls asleep. There’s also “cold turkey”: letting her cry, all night if necessary, till she just gives up and drifts off. That can cause pandemonium and feel downright abusive. But many parents say it works great, no harm done.

We always vowed to be firm about sleep habits, but it has been tough.I voted for turning the monitor off so we just wouldn’t hear the crying, but my wife, Jiho, overruled that. “I want to hear what she’s going through,” she says. And when I hear the crying, I want to go in and check on Johanna.

But that’s’ when I see the pleading in her eyes, the tears streaming down her cheeks, the expression that seems to say, “how could you leave me here like this? I thought you loved me!” And our little darling ends up with anything from a silent hug to a full-fledged piggyback ride around the room.

Is she manipulating us? A child with those big, expressive eyes? Of course she is.

She’s learning to develop and use her will, we’re suckers, and we’re all getting more exhausted by the day.

Does it make us lousy parents? Nah. We’re still only nine months into this project. All things considered, we’re doing our best. All the books give that the thumbs-up.

And now excuse me, I hear sounds of distress coming through the monitor. Is Johanna starting to cry? Better be there when she wakes up. Gotta run!

Photo (not of Johanna) by valentinapowers @ Flickr.

Posted by Joe Burris at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

The Maryland State Fair starts Friday and runs through Sept. 7. And there's more:

Thursday, Aug. 27:

Hot Dog, There's Mustard: Kids 6 to 12 can hear stories about summer foods such as hot dogs, pretzels and mustard from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Herring Run branch.

Explore a stream:A naturalist will show you what lives in a stream from 2 to 4 p.m. at Patapsco Valley State Park. Meet at the Lost Lake picnic tables. $2. Register by calling 410-461-5005.

Friday, Aug. 28:

Fourth Friday Family Campfire: Learn about owls from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center in Abingdon. Bring a chair and roast marshmallows. $2 a person or $8 a family. Call 410-612-1688.

Saturday, Aug. 29:

The Incredibles: See the movie free at 2 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Central branch.

Children's Weekend at the Renaissance Festival: This weekend is Children's Weekend at the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville. Kids 11 and under get in free, and there's a "princess and pirate party" at 11 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 30:

Weekend story time:Kids 2 to 5 with an adult can hear stories and songs and take part in activities at 1:30 p.m. at the Towson branch of the Baltimore County Public Library.

Family Tour: American Road Trip Road trips are the theme of the Baltimore Museum of Art's Free Family Sunday, with activities beginning at 2 p.m.

Photo courtesy of the Maryland State Fair

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Six companies have recalled millions of window blinds and shades after three children died from being entangled in their cords,  the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.

The recall includes about 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades imported by Lewis Hyman Inc., of Carson, Calif. The Roman shades were sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide and on Target.com from March 2006 through December 2008. The roll-up blinds were sold at retail stores nationwide from January 1999 through December 2003.

The CPSC said that in November 2007, a 1-year-old boy from Norridgewock, Maine, became entangled and strangled in the loop of a roll-up blind that had fallen into his crib. In October 2008, a 13-month-old boy from Conway, Ark., was found with his head between the inner cord and the cloth on the backside of a Roman shade.

The cord strangled the child after it looped from ear to ear. The recall also includes 15,400 horizontal blinds, 16,400 vertical blinds and 800 cellular shades made by Vertical Land of Panama City Beach, Fla., and sold in Vertical Land stores in Panama City and Pensacola, Fla., from January 1992 through December 2006.

The CPSC said that in May 2006, a 4-year-old girl from Pensacola, Fla., was strangled in the loop of a vertical blind cord.

The CPSC said a strangulation risk prompted the recall of blinds and shades sold in such stores as IKEA, Expo Design Centers and Pottery Barn Kids.

Photo courtesy of TrekkyAndy @ Flickr.

Posted by Joe Burris at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Child Safety
        

Hey Charm City Moms readers: We’d like to know what concerns you most about the back-to-school season.

You're invited to take part in the Monday Consult by submitting a question that we will pose to an area educator.

If your question is chosen, you will win a prize courtesy of Charm City Moms -- a pink-and-dotted soft lunch box.

Submit your questions today!

Posted by Joe Burris at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

As the first day of school looms for us Monday, I'm thinking about how Dinner Together will fit into the extra-hectic weeknights that are to come. One solution: Make it ahead.

The hardest thing about these carnitas is cubing the meat from a pork shoulder, which can be slippery work. Make sure your knives are sharp, then cut up a big hunk of meat and slow-roast it in your oven on Sunday. You'll have meals in the bag for the first couple of days of school.

The following technique should work with any amount of meat. To get two pounds of meat, you'll probably need to buy a 4-5 pound pork shoulder, since most of the weight is bone and fat...

These got a good response from my family.

Carnitas

Serves 8

2 pounds cubed pork shoulder (off the bone)

Salt and pepper to taste

For garnish: Corn tortillas, minced onion, chopped avocado, salsa, cilantro (Jodie; don't need to include these. I'll note that it's just the pork being analyzed.)

Heat the oven to 200 degrees. Toss pork cubes with salt and pepper and spread onto two baking pans that are coated with cooking spray. Roast about 2 hours, or until cubes are cooked through and slightly crisp at the edges. Serve with tortillas and other accompaniments.

Adapted from "The New York Times Cookbook" by Craig Claiborne, which received the recipe from Mexican cookbook author Elena Zelayeta

Per serving (pork only): 180 calories, 25 grams protein, 8 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 0 grams carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 73 milligrams cholesterol, 50 milligrams sodium

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

This week's consult, which usually falls on Monday, comes on Tuesday. The question is courtesy of Julia McCready: What is the best way to lobby for more recess and multisensory education at my child's school?

For the answer, I contacted Kara E. B. Calder, spokesperson for Baltimore County public schools. "There are a number of ways that parents can engage with the school system to both learn more about what is happening at the schools in their communities and to communicate to the school system their questions and concerns," Calder said. In Baltimore County, for example, Calder encourages communicating directly with the Board of Education via the board's administrative assistant.

There's also an opportunity for public comment from students, parents and members of the community at board business meetings. Calder also pointed to the Baltimore County public schools Web site's new parents/families page, which offers a wealth of research, study and learning resources, as well as information on joining advocacy and stakeholder groups such as education advisory councils. Members of the advisory council advise the board on issues that affect students, families and the community.

Posted by Joe Burris at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Here's Liz Atwood's Tween Tuesday: 

School is about to begin, and I am both excited that the kids will embark on new adventures and dreading the frenetic schedule of getting the kids to school, sports events and club meetings. Worst of all, a new school year brings the resumption of homework.

While my eighth-grader is capable of coming home and getting right to work on his lessons, my third-grader procrastinates and refuses to begin his work until I can get home to help him. I’ve been wondering whether I could enlist his older brother in the effort.

On the one hand, it might foster brotherly bonding, as the older one helps the younger. On the other hand, it might just spawn more sibling arguments that I will have to diffuse when I get home.

This summer, we’ve had mixed results as the older son attempted to teach the younger one multiplication tables. At times, big brother got exasperated with his little brother’s inattention and the younger one thought the older brother was being mean.

I wonder if you have had experience enlisting older siblings in helping their younger brothers or sisters with their homework? Do you think it’s a good idea, or just asking for trouble? Should I offer to pay the older boy for tutoring the younger one or appeal to his sense of altruism? I’d like to hear your thoughts and experiences.

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

Here John & Kate Plus 2 were all ready to get back on the Gosselin bandwagon, and there's a repeat. Catch our recap next time there's a new episode.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 9:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

 Wish me luck.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: School's Out
        

There I was, in a car dealership lot recently shopping for a new vehicle, when I came across a sporty Jeep Wrangler: black interior and exterior, thick tires, canvas top, chrome trimmings.

This, I thought, is the car I wish I could have afforded in my early 30s -- before the wife, the kids, the mortgage and all that comes with being a family on a tight budget.

I must have been gawking at the Jeep quite steadily, because, in no time, along came a salesman -- the kind of guy who thinks he can charm the larva out of a jumping bean.

“I can get you in this car!” he exclaimed. “I can see that you want it, and I can get you into it. C’mon, let’s go inside and talk numbers.”

“Actually, I …”

“No really,” he pressed. “I can get you in this car!”

I turned toward the car and momentarily entertained the thought of driving away with it.

Then another thought hit me:

Nyaniso (my 12-year-old) has long legs. That back seat doesn’t look very roomy. And a canvass top? Onalenna (my 3-year-old) would freeze in the winter.

I moved on to another row of vehicles, where I spotted a souped-up Dodge Challenger V8 Hemi. All I could think of was the Kowalski character from the movie, "Vanishing Point."

“Whoaaaaaa,” I said, wide-eyed. The salesman came dashing up behind me.

“I can get you in this car!” he said. “You’ll turn all kinds of heads in this car. You can set the clock back 20 years.”

What about gas mileage? Will it set our family budget back 20 pay periods?

I soon departed, leaving behind the cars, the savvy salesman and the wishful thinking.

Just before I had kids, a former colleague told me that fatherhood is most difficult for guys who don’t accept that it’s a permanent change from singlehood.

That said, perhaps someday when the kids are grown up, you might see a sixtysomething like me rolling in a show-stopping muscle car _ with milk-crate-sized speakers that blast old school hip hop across two area codes.

For now, however, I ended up buying a Toyota Corolla _ roomy inside, outstanding gas mileage, smooth ride, low maintenance.

Plus, Nyaniso (who picked the color) says her friends call it “cool,” and Onalenna likes it so much she insists that it’s actually her car; I’m simply riding her around in it.

You might say my new car is father tested, kid approved.

Photo by myhsu @ Flickr

Posted by Joe Burris at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

A free outdoor movie is a great way to entertain yourself as summer winds down. And there's more below. Thanks to intern Kate McNaboe for the compilation:

Friday, Aug. 21:

Bolt: Bring comfy chairs and yummy snacks and enjoy a free outdoor showing of new children's favorite, Bolt. The movie starts at 6 p.m. at 510 Monkton Road in Hereford, and is sponsored by the Hereford Volunteer Fire Co. Learn more by calling 443-912-8383 or visiting www.herefordfire.org.

Float Boat Races: Native American children often entertained themselves by creating boats out of cattail leaves, and now your kids can too. This event is for children age 9 and older, costs $5 per person and will take place 1-3 p.m. at the Bear Branch Nature Center in Westminster. Reservations are strongly recommended; for more information call 410-848-2517 or visit www.nps.gov/mono.

Saturday, Aug. 22:

Waterfront Wiggle: March to the beat of some awesome drummers at St. Veronica's Youth Steel Orchestra's free concert in West Shore Park at the Inner Harbor Promenade. The show starts at 4 p.m., rain date is scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. For more information call 410-528-1523 or visit www.waterfrontpartnership.org.

Summer Live!: Summer will be over before we know it, so make sure to catch the fun, poppy sounds of The Remainders, 8-11 p.m., as part of the free summer concert series at the Harborplace Amphitheater. Learn more by calling 1-800-HARBOR1 or visiting www.harborplace.com.

Anime Club: Calling all anime and manga fans! Come to the Brooklyn Park Branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., for the next meeting of the Anime Club for teens. Get more information at 410-222-6260 or www.aacpl.net.

Family ties: The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland in Baltimore will host a history workshop, Geneaology for Kids, for children ages 8 and up, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Kids, parents and even grandparents can go through family records and then create their very own special family tree. This event is free with museum admission, and reservations are recommended. Call 443-263-1875 or visit www.AfricanAmericanCulture.org.

Family Fun Night: Children and parents of all ages are welcome at the Catonsville Y for a free family fun night filled with fitness activities at the pool, gym and climbing wall, along with other games and delicious snacks, 7-9 p.m. Reservations not required, drop by any time! For more information call 410-747-9622 or visit www.ymaryland.org.

Sunday, Aug. 23:

Painting Inside Out: Free summer drop-in art activities, inspired by special summer exhibition Herman Maril: An American Modernist, continue at the Walters Art Museum, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Kids will delve into painting styles such as watercolor and oil pastels to create vibrant colors, shapes and lines. Call 410-547-9000 or visit www.thewalters.org for more information.

Summer Live!: Don't miss one of the last performances in the Harborplace Amphitheater's free summer concert series. Jazz favorite Funk Daddy G takes the stage Sunday, 5-8 p.m. Call 1-800-HARBOR1 or visit www.harborplace.com to learn more.

Passport to Asia: Free family Sundays at the Baltimore Museum of Art continue with a exhibit on Asian ceramics. After touring the collection, children ages 6-14 can sculpt some of their own masterpieces! The event takes place 2-4 p.m., call 443-573-1700 or visit www.artbma.org for more information.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

The New Handel Children’s Choir of Baltimore is now auditioning singers aged 7 to 17 for its 2009-2010 season.

Operated by the nonprofit Baltimore Children’s Choir, Inc., the New Handel Children’s Choir shares choral music from a variety of traditions and performs up to six times a year in the Greater Baltimore area.

It also holds concerts at other venues within a two-hour drive. The choir rehearses Mondays after school at First English Lutheran Church (39th and Charles streets). The first rehearsal is Sept. 14.

For more information, visit their Web site or call 410-753-2958.

Posted by Joe Burris at 5:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Music
        

What would you do if your child came home from school with an exam grade worst than “F”? That might be the case someday.

Already, some college students in Canada face the prospect of such a grade -- and getting it would be their own fault.

The big talk in academia these days is a new low in grading standards recently introduced by Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.

 According to the Calgary Herald newspaper, the low grade is called “FD”, which means “failure with academic dishonesty.”

The grade is designed to address those who cheat, and is said to be in response to students who copy data from the Internet instead of turning in original work.

 Only department heads, not teachers, can issue “FD” grades, and students can appeal to have the grade changed.

But get this: If the school determines that the grade is valid, the “FD” stays on a student’s transcript not only during his or her entire college tenure but for two additional years after graduation.

Try getting into graduate school or landing a job with an employer that asks for transcripts with an “FD” on your record.

There’s no wonder why U.S. educators are now paying close attention to our neighbors up North (the University of Alberta has a similar “F” grade, but it stays on a transcript for three years). If “FD” grades catch on with American colleges -- let alone high schools -- expect a firestorm of controversy and a landslide of lawsuits.

Cheating is cheating, yet one could argue that, as adults, our willingness to stress Internet discretion among young people has lagged behind our society’s willingness to make the Web popular and accessible.

That’s why I’m glad that my 12-year-old daughter’s middle school frowns on essays and research papers that reference Wikipedia as a source. It doesn’t prevent all cheating episodes, but if “FD” comes their way, it won’t catch them off guard.

Photo by pbwier @ Flickr

Posted by Joe Burris at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: School's In
        

Scallops. Perhaps a stretch for Dinner Together, but the kids do generally like white fish, and these shellfish (so tasty, to my mind) aren't far from that, are they?

To sweeten the pot, we served this dish in parts. The kids opted for just the scallops without the chai-flavored sauce, and without the bok choy.

Split decision, with one in favor and one definitely not. John and I both liked this, for its ease, its waistline-friendly nutritionals, and for its taste. The sauce was very mild, but in a way I found oddly comforting.

Here's how to make it:

Chai Scallops with Bok Choy
Makes 4 servings

2 bags chai tea
2-4 heads baby bok choy, quartered lengthwise or halved if small (about 3/4 pounds)
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1 pound sea scallops, halved horizontally
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons canola oil
1/3 cup light coconut milk
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges

Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil. Remove from the heat and steep the tea bags for 3 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags. Reserve the brewed tea.
Sprinkle the bok choy with ginger. Steam over rapidly boiling water in a covered steamer for about 8 minutes, or until bright green and easily pierced with the tip of a knife.
Pat the scallops dry and sprinkle with salt. Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the scallops in a single layer. Work in batches if necessary. Cook for 2 minutes on each side, or until opaque. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the tea and coconut milk to the skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, swirling the pan and allowing the sauce to thicken. Divide the sauce evenly among 4 shallow bowls. Top with the bok choy, scallops, and cashews. Serve with lime wedges.

--From "The Flat Belly Diet," by Liz Vaccariello with Cynthia Sass

Per serving: 144 calories, 5 grams fat, 21 grams protein, 1 gram saturated fat, 5 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 37 grams cholesterol, 366 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

A few days ago, my mother-in-law, who lives with us, became ill. She’s better, but still isn’t up to her usual bustling self, and I’ve been trying to tell my kids they are going to have to do more to help out because grandma isn’t feeling well.

Usually my mother-in-law is overly indulgent with the kids, asking them every 15 minutes if they are hungry, carrying food to them in the family room, picking up their clothes off the floor and walking them to the video game store. To see that grandma isn’t up to these tasks now has been a difficult lesson for the kids to absorb.

I’ve been reading about how to teach empathy to children. I came across some good advice online. Among the ideas are common-sense suggestions such as teaching politeness and talking about feelings.

We do that, and at times, my kids have been terrific in showing empathy toward others. I was proud when my younger son volunteered to team up with one of the less popular boys for a Cub Scout activity. In school, when a buddy was being mean to another child, he told him so. Likewise, I was proud of my older son who recently helped a elderly woman with her groceries when he saw her struggling to get them in the car.

At home, they aren’t always so nice. The one who saw that an old woman needed help at the grocery store, is oblivious to me when I’m trying to carry my grocery bags in the house. The one who stood up for a kid in school thinks nothing of calling his brother and me names. And neither will volunteer to help out with chores around the house.

Some kids are naturally sensitive. Others, such as my sons, tend to be oblivious to the feelings of family members. I’m constantly reminding my boys to be considerate—toward each other, toward me and toward grandma. But still they haven’t been able to quite “get it” when it comes to showing empathy at home.

Perhaps empathy at home develops over time. But on those days when I’m stretched to my limit, I sure wish my kids would acquire it a bit faster.

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Teens
        

Good morning, Charm City Mom readers!

I'm pinch hitting for my editor, Kate Shatzkin, for a couple of weeks, although many of her blog posts will still appear during the day. I recently came across an interesting forum post on Parenting.com.

It asked dads to describe fatherhood in six words.

For me the answer is conditional.

On most days, the six words that come to mind are the old Peace Corps motto: "The toughest job you'll ever love."

Often, at the end of a day, all I can think of is: "Time to go to bed, Sweetie."

Then there are times when one of my daughters will plop in my lap, put her head on my shoulder and give me a hug.

I think of all the things I've asked God for, and look down at her.

"This is surely God's greatest answer."

What would your six words be, moms or dads?

Posted by Joe Burris at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Parenting in general
        

The Monday Consult is tackling back to school issues for the rest of August. Recently, Wendy Burt-Thomas asked:

"How do I get my 4-year-old daughter back on an early sleep schedule to start preschool?"

It just so happens that we had a Consult on this last year. But since back to school comes along at the end of every summer, I think it's worth repeating.

--National Sleep Foundation experts say you should start to transition kids to their school sleep and wake-up times about ten days to two weeks before the start of school.

--This site has a video with interviews with several sleep experts, including Jodi Mindell, author of who has written several books on children's sleep. Most important, they say, is having a bedtime routine (which hopefully you've kept up for the summer, albeit at a later hour) that helps kids relax and get ready for sleep. Reading a story right before sleep helps with that, and may help soothe children who are anxious about the start o of a new school year.

--When you set your schedule, make sure kids are getting enough sleep. The National Sleep Foundation says school-aged children should get 10 to 11 hours a night on school nights, and adolescents should get 9.

--This site from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, says it's important to set limits with your kids about how many stories you'll read and what time the lights must be turned off. The site also advises against television, video games, and other screen-centered activities close to bedtime.

--Kim West, the "Sleep Lady" from Annapolis, e-mailed me some of the same tips, along with an important extra: If a child is just starting school, "plan on a snack when they get home and early bedtimes for the first 6 weeks of school. It’s a big adjustment!"

I've found that in the last few days before school, it helps to add a morning "trial run" to the schedule so that the kids not only wake up at the right time, but practice getting their things together and breakfast eaten by the time you'll have to leave. That way, you can figure out where the kinks in the system are, and adjust wake-up time if necessary.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Joe Burris is here to tell you exactly what to do, even though he's never met you.

No, not really. But, as he explains, that's how lots of dads (and moms) feel when people are quick to tell us we're doing something wrong with our kids:

On one recent afternoon, my wife was entertaining friends while I put our three-year-old daughter Onalenna down for a nap. I emerged from our daughter’s bedroom to see astonished looks on the faces of her friends; they wondered why it took our daughter more than 40 minutes to fall asleep.

And they insisted that I must be doing something wrong.

I replied that though there are some general traits involving child sleep, each child is different, and, like adults, some often take longer to nod off than others.

Nothing doing, they said.

In fact one, who ironically is childless, said that she’s always read how toddlers are supposed to fall asleep within 10 minutes of being put down for a nap.

They both offered some suggestions on how I can do better at naptime. Neither bothered to ask whether I had tried some of their suggestions beforehand (I had).

If there is one peeve I’ve developed in 12 years of fatherhood, it’s people who feel compelled to offer unsolicited parenting advice. That’s due in part because most of these folks could be divided into two groups: Those who have difficulty raising their own kids and those who don’t have kids. They seem convinced that there’s a world out there in dire need of their critique and counsel.

Never mind that they rarely offer unsolicited compliments.

I’m sure that many of these folks mean well, and I admit there have been moments where I’ve benefitted from their counsel.

But show me someone who offers such unsolicited advice and I’ll show you a parent who’s often left feeling guilt-ridden because of it.

Most parents already spend ample time second guessing their parenting. Yet I know of mothers who worry needlessly because friends mentioned growth-and-weight percentile charts to which children don’t measure up, and fathers who fall silent when relatives cast aspersions on their children’s eating habits.

Sometimes I have more patience for unsolicited comments than others. Once while in a pediatrician’s office, I chastised my then 4-year-old daughter Nyaniso for playing with the window blinds when I had asked her to stop. The pediatrician said that Dr. Spock would have wanted me to handle the situation more delicately.

“That might be true,” I replied, “but I’m not raising Dr. Spock’s child.”

There are times, however, when I do seek parenting advice, and most often I turn to people whose children have grown up to be the kind of young adults I want my daughters to be.

Most offer an array of suggestions, but all of them end with the same refrain.

“Do the best you can.”

That’s the most poignant advice anyone can give.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

The dog days of August have arrived. Fortunately, the libraries still have a lot going on, along with some other venues. And then there's Kidstock:

Here's the list from intern Kayla Cross:

Thursday, August 13:

Sing, Say, Stomp and Play: Play around at the Loch Raven branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Children ages 2 to 5 are invited to act out their imaginations through song and dance with Tracey Eldridge. This program starts at 10:30 a.m. and is free.

Frida Kahlo: Enjoy a performance by Colleen Webster, professor of English Humanistic Studies at Harford Community College, as she presents 20th century Mexican painter Frida Kahlo at the Havre de Grace branch of the Harford County Public Library. Adults and children (middle/high students and up) are invited to watch Webster’s performance, held in conjunction with the 46th annual Havre de Grace Arts show. This event is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is free.

Are You Ready for School?: Prepare for the school year at the Orleans Street branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Children 6 to 12 can play games, as well as participate in read-a-longs. This event is free and starts at 3 p.m.

Thursdays at the Lewis: Enjoy a night out, with an educational spin, at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. Families can enjoy a light meal, poetry by Bettina Judd, shop around the museum store and explore the museum’s galleries and exhibits. This event is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and tickets are required for admission at $6 to $8 per person.

Friday, August 14:

Tie Dyeing for Teens: Experiment with colors in this tie dyeing program at the Westminster branch of the Carroll County Public Library. Teenagers, ages 11 to 17, can bring their own T-shirt to tie dye, or use one of the scarves supplied by the library. This event is free and starts at 1 p.m.

Murder at the Library – You solve it: Solve a murder mystery at the Whiteford branch of the Harford County Public Library. Middle and high school students are invited to this after-hours teen party to help solve a murder. This even is free and lasts from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Registration is required; call 410-452-8831.

Friday Floating Feasts: Relax and enjoy dinner on the water at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center. Meet up with friends at the Estuary center, and float away on the Water Strider Pontoon Boat. Registration is required for this event; call 410-612-1688. Admission is $10 per person, or $35 per family (families are limited to 5 people). The event lasts from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is for adults and children over 30 pounds.

Saturday, August 15:

Backyard Science Days at the Maryland Science Center: Explore the world of science at the Maryland Science Center’s 4th annual Backyard Science Days. Hands-on activities at this 4th annual event include vegetable racing, stomp rockets and various art activities using common items. There will also be cooking demonstrations and bat encounters. This event is free with museum admission at $12.70 to $15.70 per person. The event lasts from noon to 4 p.m.

Summer Live! Concert Series: Listen to Irish-American roots rock with Donegal X-Press at the Harborplace Amphitheater. The concert lasts from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and is free.

Kidstock: Relive the peace and love-filled days of Woodstock with popular songs, and performed by kids, at the Power Plant Live!. Festival Stage. Students from Paul Green School of Rock will be performing Woodstock favorites, accompanied by other musicians as well. This event is free and starts at 1 p.m.

Silver Turtles: Make food using coal and foil in this activity at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center. Children must be at least 8, and those between 8 and 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required; call 410-612-1688. This event is from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is $5 per person.

Sunday, Aug. 16:

Free Family Sundays: Head out to the Baltimore Museum of Art for another Sunday of free activities, at the Free Family Sunday: Island Adventures. This event is free and lasts from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ice Cream Social: Enjoy George Washington’s favorite dessert, ice cream, at a historic location, the Hays House Museum. The ice cream social will feature music by Novus Luna, a demonstration by British and American soldiers, hands-on 18th activities and a tour of Bel Air’s oldest home. This event lasts from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is $3 to $5 per person.

Story Hour: Children 6 and under can enjoy a story hour with Master Gardener and teacher Jody Fleury at the Howard P. Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens. This week’s theme will focus on water conserving plants in the desert and children can create stained glass pictures of southwest plants. This event is free and lasts from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Photo of School of Rock-ers preparing for the Kidstock concert, by Baltimore Sun photographer Amy Davis

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Lots of parents are buzzing about this Miley Cyrus performance on the Teen Choice Awards the other night. Did it bother you? Take our poll:

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (109)
        

I've been looking so long for the right meatball recipe to try for Dinner Together. And I'd been looking forward to the new cookbook from the writers behind the blog Gastrokid, which, natch, is a bonding place for foodies attempting to raise their kids in their own image.

The cookbook, called "The Gastrokid Cookbook," I find both empowering and intimidating. It has recipes that appear approachable yet sophisticated, including said meatballs, which were easy but overflowing with that kid Kryptonite, herbs. On the other hand -- and I won't soon forget this -- it basically says one of the worst things you can do is to make your kid a quesadilla while you consider what the adults will eat.

OK, I've in fact done just that, though usually after offering what I was having to the child. (The whole point is that the kid with the quesadilla did not find my dinner more interesting; instead, he or she thought it downright inedible and an affront to nature.)

And I can bet I'm gonna do it again, because sometimes peace at the dinner table is just more important than everybody eating the same thing. IMHO.

Back to the meatballs....

They were even more delicate than the "Gastrokid" authors promised. They barely held together, and as I tried to coax them into the saucepan without breaking them, I thought I might have an epic dinner fail on my hands. Even tongs wouldn't work to turn the meatballs, so I resorted to using my (soon burned) fingers.

But in the end, the meatballs that fell apart enriched the tomato sauce beautifully, and those that held together were light and flavorful. We served them over wide noodles, which supported the sauce nicely. Unfortunately the kids were not big fans (their loss). It was, almost, a quesadilla night after all.

Meet The Meatballs
Makes 4 servings
1 cup cubed bread
1/4 cup milk
1 pound ground beef
1 overflowing cup chopped fresh herbs (use one or a combination of parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano
1 cup freshly grated parmesan or pecorino Romano cheese
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 large egg, beaten
Pinch red pepper flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup all-purpose flour on a plate
1 29-ounce can San Marzano tomatoes (or other canned tomatoes, such as peeled plum

To make the meatballs: In a small bowl, mixed the cubed bread with the milk. In a large bowl, combine the bread-milk mixture with the beef, herbs, cheese, garlic, egg, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, mixing with your hands until everything is evenly distributed. Using your hands, form into 1 1/2-inch balls.
Heat a big saucepan or skillet with a few tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Lightly roll the balls in the flour, then carefully place them, one by one, in the hot pan. Brown on all sides, turning with tongs occasionally. To get a good crust, let meatballs sit for several minutes before attempting to turn them. Do this gently so they don't break apart.
Pour the tomatoes into a big bowl and squish them with your hands (do this carefully because the tomato juice tends to squirt out of the tomatoes as you squish them.) Pour the tomatoes over the meatballs and simmer over medium heat until the sauce has reduced a bit and the meatballs have cooked through. Season with salt and pepper.

From "The Gastrokid Cookbook," by Hugh Garvey and Matthew Yeomans

Per serving: 467 calories, 36 grams protein, 24 grams fat, 9 grams saturated fat, 28 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 141 milligrams cholesterol, 741 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.

Photo by me

Note: An earlier version of this recipe left the bread out of the ingredients list. It's in there now. My apologies.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

 This is Liz Atwood's Tween Tuesday:

Did you hear about the family that just concluded its visit to 52 zoos in 52 weeks? Gabe and Marla Taviano and their three daughters spent the last year visiting zoos from coast to coast, including the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. You can read about their exploits here.

The accounts I read talk about the fun they had seeing all the different animals. But having just returned from vacation myself, I'm sure the Tavianos are leaving out some of the details. How about the arguments over where to eat? What do you do when one kid is hungry for McDonald's and the other refuses to eat anything but Persian? And then, after you compromise and have McDonald's for lunch and book the Persian restaurant for dinner, you have to change the time of the reservation so as not to conflict with the season premier of Monk. And what about the demand for a restroom break just minutes after leaving the hotel? And let's not forget the pleas for stopping at every souvenir shop you see. I wonder how many stuffed animals the Tavianos crammed into their suitcases.

But all in all, despite the occasional tween/teen trantrum, we had a nice vacation.  We visited Arizona and traveled the state from the Grand Canyon in the north to Tombstone in the south. Before we got there, my younger son had declared that "Indians aren't his thing." But when we stopped by a souvenir stand on the Navajo reservation, he begged for a necklace with an arrowhead and wore it the entire trip. And while the older boy refused to watch any Western movies I had rented before the trip, he was thrilled to walk down the streets of Tombstone with a toy gun and pretend he was Wyatt Earp.

I'm glad they have a new appreciation for the West and it's history, but I don't expect we'll be taking any cross-country excursions anytime soon.

What's your secret to traveling with the kids?

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Tonight, "Beach and Kitchen Reveal" on Jon & Kate Plus 8. At our house: a raging thunderstorm.

The ktichen renovation isn't finished, and Kate is still at the beach, making bacon and eggs for her kids in a garguantuan ... kitchen. She claims she feeds her kids bacon or sausage only about twice a year.

Kate S.: "Uh-oh; they're saying they miss Daddy."

Our cable goes out. Yikes! Comes back on to show Kate snuggling one of the little girls; we're not sure which one.

Kate S.: "That's really cute. It's the most affectionate I've ever seen her with one of the kids."

Kate talks about how this was her first vacation as a soon-to-be-separated mom, and how she made "all of the decisions."

John: "She was the sole one making the decisions before!'

As they go to commercial, Kate announces the kids are going to "paint themselves with pudding."

John: "She's giving up control!"

Cara and Mady, the older twins, are into performing lately, Kate G. says. They are also kind of bossing around the little ones.

Back at the homestead...

John: "Apparently their design team can't measure."

One of the contractors seems to be describing the renovation as "total disaster" on the phone to someone. But then he says they'll be out of there in a few days.

At the beach and lacking paintbrushes, Kate hatches the plan for the kids to paint themselves with pudding. Chocolate pudding. Hilarity ensues.

John: "You can lick your kids!"

Kate S.: "Disgusting. But this actually does look fun."

John: "There goes your security deposit on the place."

Jon is shown wearing a T-shirt with the words blocked out -- "A non-sponsor?" asks our John -- and discusses his earring wearing. It is not a mid-life crisis, he says.

Meanwhile, Kate says she is amazed at how "adjustable" her children have become.

Kate S.: "Do you think Jon is having a midlife crisis?"

John: "Midlife, no. Crisis, yes."

The kids and Kate visit a snake museum, freaking Kate out.

John: "She's doing things she's never done before."

Kate: "What do you think of that?"

John: "Well, I think there are lots of things she needs to try, and to work on. Holding a snake is not one of them."

Kate says she is trying not to feel sorry for herself. Jon says it was good that they were away -- "especially Kate."

Kate S.: "Ouch."

The kids and Kate pull up in a bus and the kitchen is....beautiful. So much for the disaster. "Holy cow, it's like a different room."

Kate S.: "I want that kitchen."

John: "You can have it in heaven."

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

If you can, listen in to WYPR's Midday show today at 1 p.m. to hear me talk with a couple of local parenting bloggers -- our friend Kayris from The Great Walls of Baltimore and Evan Serpick, of Baltimore Magazine's Learning to Crawl -- about parents and the Internet. I'm sure our conversation will veer into work-life balance, the communities of moms and dads online, and maybe even Jon & Kate.

You can listen on the radio or stream the show online, and call or e-mail questions in if you feel moved to. I'd love to hear from readers.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The rest of this month, the Monday Consult is here to help your family get ready to go back to school.

Today's answer goes out to CRM, who wrote:

As the school year approaches, there will be a new set of students in my son's class. There are some children who may misbehave periodically and others that have some more serious issues. How do I teach my child when he needs to complain/report to a teacher/administrator regarding another students behavior and when to ignore it and not be overly sensitive?

I called Robin Townsend, principal of Elmer Wolfe Elementary School in Union Bridge (Carroll County), for guidance. Here are some of the tips that came out of our conversation:

--Start the year with an open mind. While some of the students in your son's class may indeed have problems behaving, they also may have changed over the summer. Try to help your child not to prejudge what will happen with them.

--Empower your child to ignore annoying, but not harmful, bad behavior. Kids who talk to another child when he's trying to work, for example, are usually trying to get attention. But if your child talks back -- even if it's to say "Stop bothering me" -- he might get in trouble, too, Towsend said. Sometimes kids tell Townsend that someone "won't stop chasing me" on the playground. "Do you know how to make him stop?" she replies. "Stop running."

--If the child's safety is threatened, involve an adult. If your son has been hurt or is being physically threatened by another student, it's time for him to tell the teacher, says Townsend. That's also the case if another child is seriously interfering with his ability to learn.
"It's important to have the child initiate that on his own for the teacher" if he can, she says; "If they are constantly waiting for mom and dad to come fix the problem, (kids) don't solve that problem on (their) own."

A teacher may already have procedures in place in her classroom for a child to approach her with such a problem. Some have "issue boards" behind their desks where a child can tack a note, says Townsend.

--If you as a parent must get involved, try to do so without your child present. If you're really worried about the group of kids your child will be in class with and want to talk with the teacher beforehand, do it without your child there, Townsend says -- and it's best if he doesn't even know about the meeting. If he thinks you're very worried, that will reinforce in his mind that this is going to be a very rough year with his peers. The teacher may be able to offer perspective about the children in question that will ease your mind, while sharing her planned system of discipline.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Our friend Oren Miller of A Blogger and A Father is Guest Dad today. After learning about a local stay-at-home dads meetup from this blog, he summoned up the courage to go -- and write about it.

Here's Oren:

A lot of things went through my head before I went to my first daddies-playdate.

First of all, do they call it a daddies-playdate? In emails I referred to it as the daddies meet-up. Thought it sounded more masculine.

I figured I had to be cool--I didn't want the others to think they needed to babysit me and stand in line to introduce themselves--but not too cool.

I speak Hebrew to my son, but would that make other fathers uncomfortable? Would it make it seem like we were there, in a group, but not part of the group?

To paraphrase the mother in "Carrie," were they all gonna laugh at me?

What do daddies talk about? It's not just about sex before, during, and after pregnancy, right?

I don't know anything about sports!!!

I've gotten used to hiding my social awkwardness behind my son's cute face, but now everyone was going to have cute kids, which meant they were expecting me to be a functioning adult!

Now, here's what happened:

I guess I can call it a playdate or a meet-up or anything I want to call it. People don't have time to care. Some of the kids were younger than my kid, and some were older. No one laughed at me or at him. No one talked about sex, thank God. Or sports. Oh, and no home improvement, either. At least not the DIY stuff. I guess I don't know much about much. And as the new guy, I guess I wasn't expected to say much, anyway.

The bottom line is that I have a cute kid who doesn't go to daycare, and needs to meet other kids. And he has a father who can go a little crazy at home, occasionally. And here was a chance to get my kid the social interaction he needs, so maybe, when he grows up, he'd be comfortable around other people. Unlike his father.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

My kids got the letters yesterday with their new class assignments, so I guess we can't put it off any longer -- it's officially back to school time.

Fortunately, we at baltimoresun.com have a whole web page of back to school resources to give parents guidance. Check it often, because we'll keep adding to it all month.

What would you like to see there that's not there now?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Leakin Park train rides are back this weekend (and every second Sunday of each month through November).

Thursday, Aug. 6:

Learn to Fish: Use bamboo, string and a bobber to make your own fishing pole at Patapsco Valley State Park. Children ages 6 and up can learn more about fish and water, as well as try to catch their own with homemade fishing poles. Bring your own sunblock and water, and meet up at the picnic tables at Lost Lake. This event costs $2 per person, and lasts from 10 a.m. to noon. Call ahead to sign up at 410-461-5005.

Seuss Stories: Enjoy a day with Dr. Seuss and his characters, including The Cat in the Hat, Horton and The Grinch at Carroll Arts Center. Children are invited to participate in sing-a-longs, dance-a-longs and laugh-a-longs at 10:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. This event costs $5 to $7 per person and registration is required. Call 410-848-7272.

The Chromatics: Celebrate a penumbral lunar eclipse with the astrophysicists at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and their band, The Chromatics, at Chesapeake Arts Center. Families can enjoy the six-member a capella do-wop band at 7:30 p.m., for $8 to $10 per person.

Friday, Aug. 7:

Outdoor Movies: Watch a free presentation of "Kung-Fu Panda" at the Hereford Volunteer Fire Co. Bring your own chair, and enjoy an evening of games and door prizes. The movie starts at 6 p.m.

Owl Prowl: Listen for the sounds of owls during a nighttime hike, and learn more about the animals after the hike in a Scales and Tales presentation. Bring your own water, and wear sturdy shoes, to this event at Soldier’s Delight Natural Environment Area. This event is $5 per person, and for ages 7 and up. Call in advance to sign up at 410-461-5005. The event lasts from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday Hike: Learn more about forest and stream ecology during this guided hike at Patapsco Valley State Park. Those 6 and up can participate for $2 per person. Wear sturdy shoes and bring your own water. The event lasts from 10 a.m. to noon, and participants need to call in advance to sign up at 410-461-5005.

Freaky Friday Science Labs with UMBI: See the various stages of a crab’s life at Port Discovery’s Freaky Friday- Crab Investigation. This event is from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and requires admission to the museum at $12.95 per person.

More Saturday and Sunday...

Saturday, Aug. 8:

Ancestral Knowledge: Survive the wild with the skills our ancestors used at Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum. Learn how to build fires, make ropes and track animals in this event, which lasts from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

Star-Gazing: Perseid Meteor Shower: Learn more about the sun and magnetic storms with the Westminster Astronomy club from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and then come back later for star-gazing of the Perseid meteor shower from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. These events will take place at Patapsco Valley State Park, and are free. Call in advance to sign up: 410-549-3026.

FestAfrica 2009: Celebrate African culture and heritage at this two-day festival in Patterson Park. There will be a dance competition, traditional foods and crafts and musical performances by African artists such as Anna Mwalagho and DJ Arafat. This event lasts from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, and is $5 per person, and free for children under 10.

Anime Drawing: For a fun afternoon for teenagers, head out to the North Point branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Teenagers ages 11 to 17 can learn how to draw an anime character. This event is free and starts at 2 p.m.

The Bubble Lady: Explore the world of bubbles with Margie Lynch as she creates them in all shapes and sizes. All ages are invited to this event at the Woodlawn branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, and children under age 6 need to be accompanied by an adult. This event is free and starts at 2 p.m.

Free Welcome Home Concert: Enjoy a night of free music with the Concert Choir at the Maryland State Boychoir Center for the Arts. The choir is returning from a tour in New England and Nova Scotia, and the performance will take place at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 9:

Second Sundays in Leakin Park: Ride around the miniature trains at Leakin Park, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Adults can go hiking at 1 p.m., or tour the historic mansion and grounds from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free.

Plants and People Series: Exploration Station: Learn more about xeriscaping and water conservation through hands-on activities at the Howard P. Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Children, ages 7 to 13, can learn about decorating with rocks, make their own ladybug rock, make a mini-xeriscape with native plants and more. This event lasts from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is free.

Healing Herbs: Cleopatra Milk Bath: Explore the medicinal properties of herbs, and take home a product made from featured plants, in this program at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. This event is for ages 14 and up, and is $4 per person. Registration is required; call 410-612-1688.

Free Family Sundays: Postcards from Paris: Families are invited to spend a free afternoon at the Baltimore Museum of Art for an art activity called Postcards from Paris. 2 p.m. Registration is required; call 443-573-1700.

Painting Inside and Out: Free Drop-In Art Activities: Let your artistic side out at the Walters Art Museum, as part of its weekly Drop-In Art Activities for August, inspired by an exhibit by Herman Maril: An American Modernist. Explore a world of bright colors, shapes and sizes, and learn techniques for paper tearing, oil pastels and other art tools. This event is free and lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

--List compiled by Kayla Cross

(Photo of the Leakin Park trains in April by Baltimore Sun photographer Barbara Haddock Taylor)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Things to Do
        

CRM, for a question about how a child should navigate a new set of students as he goes back to school.

Look for an expert to answer on Monday, and for answers to the other good questions on future Mondays.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Much is being made of some Nielsen numbers released today that show teens don't tweet (aka, use Twitter) as much as those over 25.

That's spawned a fair amount of responsorial tweeting by, um, teens.

Here's a sampling from tweeters in our area (and, as you'll see, beyond):

@EddyKhalil from Annapolis: "Stats confirm it: teens don't tweet I don't think so I tweet and few of my friends tweet the only reason why we don't like it is because we think that the only people who use twitter have no lives." (Note: tweet extended at Twitlonger)

@machpe, Bel Air: "Teens don't tweet Teens started tweeting."

@filipepadilha, Anapolis (OK, localized Twitter search doesn't work so well. This appears to be Anapolis in Brazil, Twitter. No wonder teens don't tweet, but this one is interesting anyway.)
"They don't want grow up. hahaha. RT @techxav Why Teens Don't Tweet http://bit.ly/gb9PV"

@_AmyBryson ("Solar System): "if "teens don't tweet" then what am i doing"

AP Photo/O'Reilly Media Inc.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Now that Jon & Kate Plus 8 are back in their post-separation reality show, will you keep watching? (John & Kate will, but that's their job.)

Posted by Carla Correa at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

Roast chicken has become a pretty sure bet for our Dinners Together. The key is to find ways to vary it for the adults (and for you readers!) while keeping the kids on board.

This chicken from "Simply Delicioso," a cookbook by Food Network star Ingrid Hoffmann from the show of the same name, mostly filled the requirements. With lemon and lime under the skin, a coating of adobo and a mess of onions roasting below, this chicken takes on a beautifully subtle Latin flavor. The meat was moist and delicious, and the kids ate it up.

That is, until Leah got a piece of meat that had been close to one of the lime slices....

She said that tasted like "sanitizer" and was more than a bit put off.

Oh well. I think this chicken would be almost as good if you left out the lime.

We prepared this in the oven on a not-too-hot day, but it could also be cooked using the indirect method on the grill. The onions and fruit make for a lovely presentation.

Lime and Rosemary Chicken
Serves 4

5 medium yellow onions, about 2 pounds, unpeeled and quartered
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 lemon, halved and thinly sliced
1 lime, halved and thinly sliced
one 3-pound chicken, rinsed inside and out and patted dry
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, plus 2 extra sprigs
2 tablespoons adobo seasoning

Preaheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
Place the onions in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, some salt and pepper, a pinch of the garlic slices, and a few lemon and lime slices. Toss to coat, place the mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan, and set aside.
Trim any excess fat off the chicken and tuck its wings underneath its back. Using your fingers, gently separate the skin from the breasts, legs and thighs. Rub a pinch of rosemary on the meat under the skin of the breast and then stuff a few slices of the garlic, lemon and lime beneat the chicken's skin. Continue seasoning the thigh and leg meat, using the rest of the herbs, garlic, lemon and lime.
Rub the chicken, inside and out, with the adobo seasoning. Tie the chicken's legs together with kitchen twin and place the chicken on a rack set over the onion mixture on the prepared pan.
Roast the chicken, basting it with pan drippings occasionally, until the juices at the leg-thigh joint run clear and a digital thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees, 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes, stirring the onions midway through cooking. (If at any time the onions look to be browning too much, add 1/2 cup water to the roasting pan or baking sheet.) Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, loosely tent with foil, and transfer the onions to a serving platter. When the chicken has rested for 10 minutes, remove the lemon and lime slices, carve it, and arrange on a platter with the onions.

--From "Simply Delicioso" by Ingrid Hoffmann

Per serving: 532 calories, 44 grams protein, 30 grams fat, 8 grams saturated fat, 21 grams carbohydrate, 5 grams fiber, 134 milligrams cholesterol, 137 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

It's time to replenish the well of questions for the Monday Consult. So ask your parenting questions in the comments section, and you'll be entered to win a really cute, pink patterned backpack.

Include your e-mail when you post, of course, so I can get in contact with you if you win. I'll announce the winner by the end of the day Wednesday.

And because the Back to School season has begun, I'm looking in particular for questions about easing your child back into school, navigating new teachers, and whatever else you're wondering about.

Ask away...

(AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Here's Liz Atwood with Tween -- make that almost-Teen -- Tuesday:

This week marks a bittersweet milestone in my life as a mom. My older son will turn 13 and I’ll be the mother of a teenager. Just that phrase fills me with dread.

Before I know it, he’ll be driving, and just a couple years after that, he’ll probably be gone off to college. I’ve already written about how strange it seems that my baby boy is now taller than I am.

I’ve always told myself that my aim is to raise a man, not a boy. I’ve never wanted to hold my kids back from growing up and always was proud when they took steps toward independence and responsibility. I never wanted to turn back time and I still don’t.

But 13 has such an ominous ring to it. It feels like we’re on the threshold of big changes. I wonder if other moms feel the same way.

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Tonight, the reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8 returned to TLC for the first time since Jon & Kate announced their intention to divorce in June. And it looks like at least some of them are headed to the beach. And remodeling the humongous kitchen. In a double episode.

Kate S.: "Just like any old divorce."

John: "Another freebie."

Flash back to January of this year, when Kate says they were "having problems" but not to the point of no return in their marriage. The people who are helping remodel the kitchen stop by to find out what Jon & Kate want in a kitchen.

John: "You mean like, who's in it? Take out the slacker dude!"

Kate S.: "FUNCTION!" says her notebook. That's what she wants in a kitchen."

Kate S.: "Did she just tell the designers to remove the flowers because they were 'distracting and ugly'?"

Kate G. says she's not quite sure how she will survive the chaos of the renovation. "I didn't know then that I would go away," she says rather dramatically.

John: "It's hard to empathize with a hardship imposed on you by a contractor. Especially when houses are being foreclosed..."

John: "So this is the show that shows why they got divorced. It started with the cabinets."

Kate S: "Wow. That is an army of kids."

John: "I think there's a lot more crying we don't see."

Kate S.: "Are you talking about the kids?"

John: (As Kate tearfully announces she can't take the renovation any more, and they're going to the beach) "Oh, now she's crying!"

Jon says the kids and Kate had to sneak out to the beach at 4 a.m. to avoid the paparazzi.

Kate S.: "The beach house looks just like...their house."

The kids frolic on the sand and water.

Kate S.: "Wouldn't you go crazy trying to watch all of them around the water?"

John: "I guess you give up some of that."

John: "Sonic!"

Kate S.: "A new Sonic commercial."

As they go to another commercial, Jon says the cabinet construction is, like, "super-dangerous." Kate and kids lounge by the pool.

Kate S.: "So how would you watch 8 kids at the beach?"

John: "With bodyguards, handlers, and many camera people. Oh, you mean someone normal?"

John: "I think you'd have to rely on their good sense, and only intervene in extreme emergency. So you can't get nervous about the borderline cases."

Jon talks about the weirdness of waking up in an empty house, and the irony of being bored by it. Well, he doesn't say "irony."

Next week's preview shows one of the contractors saying "somehow, the dimensions were off."

Kate S.: "You've got that right."

Second episode -- Kate's first official turn alone with the kids under the custody arrangement. She says her new mantra is that she will do things she has never done before.

The kids are going camping.

John: "We need to camp. In the backyard."

Kate S.: "I'm with you. That way the bathroom's close."

The kids seem skeptical that she can set up a tent. They say Daddy knows everything about that.

Kate S.: "Boy, that's low. Geez, where are they if even the girls think the girl can't do it?"

Kate finally erects the hugest tent we've ever seen. She admits that the PAs -- production assistants? -- put up the other one.

Kate S: "Can the production assistants put up our tent?"

John: "Maybe if we ask them nicely."

The campout includes a swim in their giant pool.

Kate S: "Eeeww! Drinking pool water."

Kate S: "At least I feel like I'm seeing more of the kids now. And less sniveling."

Kate G. hands out high-falutin' granola bars.

John: "She's trying to improve on s'mores? I don't think so."

Kate S: "Meanwhile, looks like they're burning the marshmallows."

Quote of the night: Kate G.: "I don't really get the principles of fire, because I'm not, like, a pyromaniac." But redemption comes when she gets a fire of sorts going, smoky though it is.

John: "Man, what will happen when you've got Jon & Kate Plus Adolescents? It's going to be ugly...I'm seeing more and more attitude."

Kate says she slept in a tent with the sextuplets, and Cara and Mady were fine in their own tents. They slept with the help of battery operated ceiling fans and decorated with light sticks.

John: "I get the sense she's spending more time with her kids than she has in a long time."

Kate S.: "That's probably true."

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

For those of you who have asked for the return of the sideshow known as John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8 -- it's baaaack. Tonight.

We'll be watching and posting our running dialogue right after the 9 p.m. episode of the TLC show. According to our David Zurawik, the resumed show will offer a "relatable" look at a family while it's breaking up.

I'm not sure I'll be able to relate to keeping my eight kids in the public eye as they watch their parents split up and date other people. But maybe that's just me.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

It's August. Argh. The back-to-school readiness cannot be put off much longer. Here's one aspect of it I hadn't thought of, but that makes a good Monday Consult subject: Getting your school uniforms in shape.

The folks at Angie's List have several tips for those of you who'll need to make sure school uniforms fit just right before classes start:

Check specifications: "It’s important to check with the school to find out exactly what the uniform policy entails. You want to make sure all the alterations follow those guidelines."

Start early: "One of the common complaints we see on Angie’s List in the alterations category is that clothes are not altered in time. Don’t wait until a week before school starts to get those clothes fitted properly because they might have a back to school rush. Keep in mind shops may also be busy this time of year with wedding alterations."

Rely on professionals: "If you’re not a savvy seamstress, you run the risk of ruining those newly purchased clothes. Instead, have the alterations done at a reputable company."

Shop around: "Prices are fairly consistent across the board, but it's quality that makes the difference. Look for company recommendations from family and friends or check out independent ratings."

Trust is a must: "Alteration companies rarely offer refunds to unhappy customers. It is up to you to find a place that you trust to leave your clothes, whether it’s for one day or one week."

Photo by Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Monday Consult