If you're looking for what to do with all that Halloween candy -- and you're worried your kids will eat too much if it stays around the house -- you might want to stop by a dentist's office in the next few days.

Several local dentists are buying candy from kids to save their teeth, and sending the goodies to soldiers overseas.

Maryland Family Magazine has the details on this buyback in Ellicott City. This Timonium dentist has said he'll take part. And in Clarksville, Parmar Family & Cosmetic Dentistry tells me their office will collect candy for the troops between noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, the day after Halloween.

(Associated Press photo)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Guest Dad Joe Burris tells us about his daughters' unusual opportunities for traveling abroad -- and how it shapes their view of the world:

When I was a youngster, I marveled at taking a trip to the Canada side of Niagara Falls. The wonder of being in another country and the opportunity to see different things fascinated me, even if it was just across the border.

Yet my Canada trip pales in comparison with my daughters’ travels thus far.

As I write this, Nyaniso (12) and Onalenna (3) are with their mother in Istanbul, Turkey.

My wife is a priest of South African descent whose work takes her around the world. Anytime she heads to a land we know we’re not likely to visit anytime soon, we try to make it possible for our daughters to go. Two years ago, they traveled with her to Singapore, last year they went to Shropshire, England.

Most of the trips occur during the summer, but the Turkey trip is one of few that have happened during the school year. Each time, we sit down with Nyaniso’s teachers and principal to make sure she keeps pace with the class lessons. This time, she’s turned the trek into a school project, complete with a video she’s shooting.

Both of my daughters have been to their mother’s homeland much of their lives, and Nyaniso lived there at age 5. Onalenna won’t remember much about her travels at this age, but we plan to continue both of their visits to foreign lands.

It’s interesting to hear about such places from a child’s perspective; they couldn’t wait to tell me about the exotic flavors of ice cream offered in Singapore. Unlike their father -- and many Americans -- their initial perceptions about these faraway places haven’t come from news reports or Hollywood films.

I’m anxious to see how their first-hand experiences shape the way they see the world as adults. Already for Nyaniso, it’s made for some interesting conversations among kids her age.

A few years ago, she commented to friends how she couldn’t wait to go back to South Africa.

They questioned why she would want to set foot in Africa, saying it’s nothing but a mangy jungle full of crime and people dying from starvation.

“No it’s not,” she replied.

“Yes it is,” they said.

She then drew silent stares when she asked, “How do you know?”

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

This is Sarah K.K., back with Toddler Thursday after a short hiatus for that vacation I mentioned a few weeks ago.

I was concerned about flying cross-country with my son, who had learned to walk since our last cross-country flight. I was also a little worried because he got sick during our trip to California in the spring, but I wasn't overly concerned since I figured that was a fluke puke.

Well ... maybe not so much. We got on the plane, an early morning departure with a change of planes in Chicago, and I had my Bag of Tricks at the ready, filled with many of your suggestions, plus a few of my own ideas.

The first leg, things went pretty well. The flight was far from full, so we were able to bring the car seat on the plane, and Isaac conked out and slept the whole way (see photo above). We're doing great, we thought! Second leg, the long one, things were a little rockier. There was still room for the car seat, but Isaac was cranky and didn't seem to know what he wanted.

I busted out almost everything from the bag of tricks. Toddler-friendly Tonka truck! Yogurt melts! Crunchies! New book with flaps! Other new interactive book! Mini-MagnaDoodle! He was just not happy and kept crying. The only thing he ever wanted was bottle of milk, and even after a few sips, he'd be unhappy again. It finally became clear that he wasn't just unhappy, but that his stomach was hurting. We figured this out when he barfed all over us -- spectacularly and several times in quick succession. Sigh.

I felt so terrible -- for him because he'd clearly been not feeling well for quite a while and for those around us because it was gross, and probably quite alarming in our H1N1-fearing state of alert. I felt like standing up and making a statement: "Sorry about this, and by the way, he doesn't have swine flu." We got similar treatment as our last sickly flight and cleaned ourselves and him up as quickly and as best as we could. After that, he was in a fine mood, hanging out in the seat, reading books, chatting us up.

On the way back, we were worried but prepared. The Bag of Tricks was repacked. There were clean outfits for everyone in one of the carryons. I even had Lysol wipes in a zipper bag. But this time, he slept almost the whole way back. We spent more than six hours in the air, and he snoozed for easily close to three quarters of it, after a short stint of throwing things at the beginning of the second flight. The Bag of Tricks went mostly unused, but it was reassuring to be ready.

Things that did work: My husband took him on a walk up and down the aisle after takeoff on the second leg, which apparently tired him out. Yogurt melts were great for food and a distraction when we first took off. The toy truck got the most interest of the new things I'd packed, even after he'd played with it awhile during the vacation. And, as happened during the last pukey flight, his big muslin blankets were super absorbent and helped us contain and clean up the mess. (Gross but true.)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Halloween is here, and it's on a Saturday, which means there's a whole weekend to celebrate. Plus a ramp-up on Thursday and Friday.

Thursday, Oct. 29:

Owls, Bats and Spiders: Kids 6 to 12 can hear about "scary" animals through poems, stories, and a craft at 3:30 p.m. at the Orleans Street Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

Spooky Craft: Make something for Halloween at 4 p.m. at the Govans branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. for ages 3-12. Free.

Friday, Oct. 30:

Free admission to the Science Center: Get in free to the Maryland Science Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of Free Fall Baltimore.

Halloween Creature Feature:See spooky animals and hear scary stories around a fire from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Avalon Area Shelter 106 of Patapsco Valley State Park. Hot cider included. $6. Register by calling 410-461-5005.

Saturday, Oct. 31:

B&O Halloween Bash - The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum will hold a costume party with Halloween games, crafts, music, and refreshments from noon to 2 p.m for kids 2-12. $5 with paid admission.

"Coraline": See this movie about a girl who stumbles upon a parallel family in her own house at 2 p.m. in the Wheeler auditorium at the Central branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Free.

Fells Point Halloween Children's Event: Crafts, music, storytelling and a costume contest will be offered under the tent at 1700 Thames Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community trick-or-treating takes place at 12:30 p.m.

Halloween Howl - Port Discovery Children's Museum hosts a "not-so-scary" Halloween party with cupcake decorating, a skeleton craft, and music by the kids' band Milkshake. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Come in costume. Free with museum admission.

Halloween Boo Bash at Arundel Mills: Arundel Mills Mall hosts a food drive, safety fair, costume contest and trick or treating. The safety fair runs from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by the contest. Trick-or-treating from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. while supplies last. Free with a nonperishable food donation for the Maryland Food Bank.

Sunday, Nov. 1

Day of the Dead celebration: The Walters Art Museum celebrates El Dia de los Muertos, the traditional Mexican holiday to honor the dead, with a festival from noon to 3 p.m. There will be refreshments, crafts, and traditional Mexican dance and music. Free.

Fall’n Leaves Explore the falling leaves and colors of the season from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Irvine Nature Center. For all ages. $3 members, $5 non-members.

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

A Facebook friend's status this morning got me thinking about the great last-minute Halloween costume changeup that seems to occur every year in our family. Apparently it's an exciting adventure for lots of parents out there.

It goes like this: In late September or early October, Mom (or Dad) pulls it together and realizes it's time to get the Halloween costume(s). Kids accompany parent to the store, if parent is not the crafty type, and make their choice. Or, in the more dramatic version of the story, child announces he/she wants to be something incredibly original, the costume for which does not actually exist in a pre-made costume, and must be put together by ordering parts from various obscure Internet sites.

Parent jumps through assorted hoops and obtains desired costume. The week before Halloween, child wears it to a trick-or-treating event at a museum, and perhaps to a Halloween party.

By the time Halloween actually arrives, the child is thoroughly bored with her costume. She wants to be something else.

What do you do?

This has happened with us enough times that my kids now know this rule well: We buy a maximum of ONE costume for each child. If you want to change, you will create your new costume yourself, from available materials at home. And Mom will not be doing any last-minute sewing.

Associated Press photo

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

This Dinner Together is pure fall comfort. And the most comforting thing about it is the ease of making it in a slow cooker, and coming home from a long, hard day to the wonderful smells of apples and spices.

The only bother you'll have is browning the meat and then cooking it on the HIGH setting of your cooker for an hour before you leave it on LOW for 7 or 8 (or if you're in my job, 9 and counting) more hours. But if you start it early enough in the morning, you'll just have time to switch the setting as you race out the door.

The kids' verdict....

was lukewarm, which surprised me, because this is mildly spiced and Sam likes apples. He just didn't like the way they fell apart after all that cooking.

But he likes applesauce. This just didn't look like his usual applesauce. The fact that it looked different because it was homemade was entirely lost on him.

Roast Pork with Apples
Serves 6 to 8

One 3- to 4-pound pork loin roast, boned and tied, trimmed of fat and blotted dry
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 to 7 tart cooking apples, peeled, cored and quartered
1/4 cup apple juice, fruity wine, or champagne
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

Preheat the broiler. Season the pork roast with salt and pepper and place on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Brown it on all sides under the broiler or in a skillet over high heat to remove excess fat; drain well.

Coat a medium to large slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Put the apple quarters in the cooker and set the roast on top of them. Combine the apple juice, brown sugar, and ginger in a small bowl and spoon over the roast, rubbing it all over. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour.

Reduce the setting to LOW and cook until fork tender, about 7-8 hours. Transfer the pork to a warm platter and let rest 10 minutes. Slice and serve warm. Serve apples alongside.

From "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker," by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann

Per serving: 489 calories, 31 grams protein, 32 grams fat, 12 grams saturated fat, 20 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 119 milligrams cholesterol, 41 milligrams sodium. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield.

Photo by me

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Dinner Together, Food and Recipes
        

Liz Atwood talks Halloween costumes this Tween Tuesday: 

I love Halloween, but it seems like every year there’s an issue about the costumes.

 My boys have always preferred the gruesome ones, so there’s always been the debate over how much blood and gore is acceptable. In addition, the 8-year-old is fascinated by weaponry, even though he knows fake guns and knives are not allowed in school. This year, he’s going as a Star Wars character for at least the third time because he’s permitted to carry a light saber.

Parents of girls might have it even worse given some of the raunchy costumes that are on the market. Party City’s ad for the Born Bad costume proclaims: “Naughty never looked so nice!” Or there’s the Miss Behaved costume complete with pink handcuffs.

 As the New York Daily News reports, these sleezy costumes for tween girls are scary at least to the parents. While most of the boy costumes are more along the lines of action heroes and zombies, there is a Mac Daddy pimp costume for boys.

 Are you and your tween battling over what costume is tasteful and appropriate this week?

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Tonight's is a Q&A episode of John & Kate Plus 2 Watch Jon & Kate Plus 8.

No dialogue tonight. Just a synopsis of some of the more interesting questions, and Kate's answers:

The first question is: “What happened to the dogs?”
She explains that things were falling through the cracks and the dogs were suffering.
“Never when I got them did I have the intention of giving them back.”

“Are they gone forever? I’m hoping not.”

Does she regret renewing her vows with Jon in Hawaii, just a year ago? Surprisingly, no. “At that time, I knew that I meant it.”

How much sleep do you get in a night? Right now, she says, 4 to 5 hours on average.

Does she ever flip out? Sure, often. “I’m getting better and getting the understanding and the patience, too. I find myself asking them, what are you really upset about?

She says more often than not, it’s “the issues. The family issues.”

What is the worst thing she has ever read about herself? She acknowledges reading lots of bad things, including that she was having an affair. (Rolls her eyes, makes a disparaging sound, doesn’t say yes or no.)
Because of all the people trying to get things from them, she says, “I have a feeling I am raising kids who are going to scrutinize people inside, outside and upside down. And that’s not a bad thing.”

“They’re not suffering from this.” All their experiences are “life lessons.” If the kids don’t want to be on camera at any particular time, they can go in their rooms, which are off limits.

Her reaction to the Halloween Kate wig? “I hear it’s back-ordered to the end of time.”
“I think that it’s great that people can laugh at us or with us.”

She wears heels to look taller and thinner, and because she doesn’t “feel dressed” without heels on.

Does she see herself getting married again? “Do you really think now is the time to be asking me that?“
“I just know it’s going to have to be someone with a lot of patience, character, strength…wow…and wisdom to take us on.”

She says there are a full time babysitter and several part-time babysitters around pretty much all the time because with that many kids, it’s about safety. Cue the footage of kids wailing and wailing on each other. Do we have to see this? We get it.

She says they’ve had lots of opportunities for great trips.
That she did the show originally “for the memories…and it became our income.“ So all eight kids could go to college. “It will not be touched” except for that, she says.

She says that she is still a saver and a coupon clipper.

What are her career goals? “I would love to be in a movie at some point.”

Is the fact that she always wants everything to be clean a problem? Kate says the only problem lately is that, given the unraveling family situation, she isn’t organized enough.

The show, she says, is "really reality." "We plan events," but don't stage, she says. And the kids aren't forced to do anything.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

Stu, our Halloween contest winner, wanted to know:

"How much candy should I allow my 5- and 8-year-old to eat? What should be my percentage of their take?"

(Stu assured me that he was just as serious about getting the answer to the second question as the first, by the way.)

I asked Judith Feola Gordon, a registered dietitian in Carroll County who is a spokeswoman for the Maryland Dietetic Association, to give us some guidance.

Here's what she says about those treats:

"As a mother of two Halloweeners, I know this is an exciting time for children and quite frustrating for parents. Everyone has a different approach on candy eating. Here are three approaches for better candy eating.

1. Steer clear of foods of minimal nutrition value. These include items like chewing gum, candy-coated popcorn, and certain candies including hard candy, jellies and gums, marshmallow candies, fondant, licorice, and spun candy. Candies such as these usually only provide calories - empty calories in fact.

2. A better choice in the candy category are candies with 5 percent of the daily value of at least one of the specified nutrients (protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, calcium and iron). These are considered to have nutritional value even though it's "candy." For example, two Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have 4 grams of protein, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 2 percent of the daily value of calcium, and 2 percent of the daily value of iron.

3. Portion size and frequency also play into the equation. Bite-size and minis for children are better portion sizes than regular or super size candies/bars. With that said, the portion control of bite size and minis can be derailed by eating too many of them at one time. Aiming for 4 bite- size bars or 2 minis at a sitting is appropriate. For the diehard candy-eating children, aim for bite size or mini portions no bigger than a regular size candy/bar in one sitting.

Candy when stored properly can last for a while. Establishing eating times for Halloween candy -- or any candy, for that matter -- such as after lunch or after dinner will prevent overeating. Avoid rewarding good behavior with candy; often leftover holiday candy is used as a reward for good behavior. Reward with a pencil or having the child pick their favorite fruit when grocery shopping.

For an adult, it really is almost the same. Aim for no more than a regular size candy/bar daily. A regular candy bar can range from 170 to over 200 hundred calories a day. If an adult eats mindlessly -- 2 or more regular size candy bars daily -- they run the risk of gaining a pound a week. Five hundred calories a day equals a pound in a week, and it does not take long to eat that with candy eating, especially, when we (adults) are multi-tasking at the same time."

(File photo by Baltimore Sun photographer John Makely)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Walt Disney is taking the extraordinary step of offering refunds for its Baby Einstein videos bought between June 2004 and September, in what consumer advocates say is an admission that the videos don't teach babies anything.

The videos also have long conflicted with a recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics that kids under 2 watch no television (including videos) at all.

Will you be seeking a refund?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Babies and Toddlers
        

From the growing ranks of the sick, Guest Dad Joe Burris writes today about how hard it is to cope with the after-effects of flu while still being a daddy:

A few weeks ago, I felt as if I was coming down with an ailment. Now, I can’t seem to get up from it.

What began as seasonal flu has gravitated to bronchitis, which means I’ve become a walking cough machine. I’ve also become anxiety ridden, worried that my ailment will spread to my family.

This has been without question my most frantic and fearful year for flu illnesses. Normally, I rarely think about it. But this year’s flu outbreak often makes a parent feel helpless.

My 12-year-old daughter Nyaniso just got over seasonal flu; my 3-year-old daughter Onalenna attends a school where two H1N1 cases have been confirmed. I now fret over every cough, and with me being sick, I’ve mostly isolated myself from the rest of my family.

This has not been easy. Already, working more than an hour from home, I miss out on many family gatherings. Still, better safe than sorry; embraces and kisses are at a premium.

Oddly enough, Onalenna (who has also insisted that she doesn’t want my germs), has made it easy to cope with. She has taken to blowing kisses to me from across the room. She blows them until she’s certain they reach me with the same effect as a warm embrace.

At a time when my ailment sometimes keeps me up all night, it’s as soothing as a hot bowl of chicken soup.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

The New York Times today has a very interesting piece about how screaming at your kids is the new spanking.

In other words, most of today's parents would do anything not to spank their kids. But every so often, they lose it and yell, or speak harshly, when a kid won't put on his shoes or draws on the walls or pulls his sister's hair.

I have to admit I'm guilty of this every now and again. Underline the guilty part: It makes me feel terrible. I make a point of apologizing to the child about raising my voice, though I also make clear that if what they were doing was wrong, I'm not apologizing for correcting their behavior.

As the story says, most shouters wouldn't dream of screaming when they're angry at a co-worker, or even at a spouse. What is it about children that makes us think it is OK, even when we don't actively mean it, to yell at them?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Parenting in general
        

The Halloween fun has begun, with trick-or-treating food drives and events at the Zoo, Whole Foods, and the Walters (where you can dress up as a hero, like these kids).

Thursday, Oct. 22:

Halloween fun at Whole Foods:The market in Mount Washington, 1330 Smith Ave., will host a Jack O'Lantern lighting with carved, decorated pumpkins from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in front of the store, with apple cider. Free. On Friday, the market offers treats and welcomes kids in Halloween costumes from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., then will show the movie "Coraline" outside at 6:30. Bring blankets and chairs for that. Free.

"Harriet's Happiest Halloween": In this Halloween confection, Harriet is off on another crime-solving adventure at Harford Community College's Chesapeake Theatre, 401 Thomas Run Road. The show runs through Sunday. Performances are Thursday-Friday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for attendees 17 and younger. Call 443-412-2211.

Friday, Oct. 23

Family Fun Night:The Carroll County Y hosts a free night of activities for families from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with fitness, games and refreshments.

ZooBOOO!:Trick or treat at the Maryland Zoo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. There will also be carnival games and a costume contest each day at 12:30 p.m. Free with admission.

Saturday, Oct. 24

School for the Arts Information Day:The Baltimore School for the Arts holds an information day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its campus, with details on how students can apply and audition for its slots in music, dance, art and theater. Here's a full schedule.

Free Family Festival of Champions:The Walters Art Museum celebrates heroes and heroines, from ancient Greece to modern times, with a family festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The first 200 kids receive a "victorious laurel wreath."

Families March for the Climate: Kids, their parents and their dogs are invited to march about a mile with members of Greenpeace and local-nonprofits from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Inner Harbor to call for action on global warming. Meet outside the Port Discovery Children's Museum.

Sunday, Oct. 25:

Trunk or Treat Food Drive: Baltimoremommies.com holds "Trunk or Treat," a food drive/costume contest/trick or treating opportunity for the kids from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. outside Bruster's Real Ice Cream, 801 Aquahart Road, Glen Burnie. Bring canned food items to donate to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank. Kids can wear their Halloween costumes and collect treats from moms who've decorated their car trunks for the occasion. Yours truly will be a guest judge of the costume contest at 4:45 p.m., so I hope to get to meet you there!

The Great Anne Arundel Candy Drop: And another fun food drive for the Anne Arundel County Food Bank takes place the same day as Trunk or Treat from noon to 3 p.m. at Old Mill High School. There will be a candy drop for kids 3-12 and other activities. Free; bring a food donation. Pre-register here.

Harbor Harvest, rescheduled: Harbor Harvest has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. after last weekend's rain. There will be free activities for kids of all ages at West Shore Park in the Inner Harbor, including a hay maze, pumpkin patch and decorating, live performance by Mr. Norman, a petting zoo, face painting, cookie decorating and more.

Wildlife Adventures: Port Discovery's special animal program takes place again today at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

(Photo courtesy of the Walters Art Museum)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Halloween's a night when it's nice for the family to eat together, along with friends, possibly. It's always a challenge to get any kind of balanced meal into the trick-or-treaters before they gorge on the candy. Here's one fun idea from myglutenfacts.com:

And here are more Halloween recipes from our recipe database.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I've been waiting and waiting for the movie version of "Where the Wild Things Are" to come out. But I was surprised to learn that the only person interested in seeing it with me was my husband.

My kids have certainly seen the trailer plenty of times. They even correct my husband when he proclaims: "Let the wild rumpus begin!" (It's "Let the wild rumpus start, Dad," says my 8-year-old.)

Yet when we offered to take them to the movies last weekend, the kids voted for "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," a film it's best not to discuss any further.

My daughter said "Wild Things" looked like it was only for boys. My son, a dead ringer for the actor who plays Max in the movie, just acted bored by the whole subject, even though he liked the Maurice Sendak book.

Turns out that lots of people who have seen the movie say adults are, indeed, shaping up to be its primary audience. Warner Brothers reports that the movie's opening-weekend success came largely from those over 18, not kids.

This mom and film writer, who did take her kids to the movie, got a similar reaction from them. And she explains why very well. We adults experience the free-spirited, fantastical world of the wild things through the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia, but to a kid, imagination gets taken for granted.

I have another (sad) theory: While adults of a certain age remember vividly the time they spent exploring in the woods and daydreaming adventures, kids today rarely get to venture beyond their backyards unsupervised. They're not used to feeling like wild things.

Have you seen the movie?

(AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, Matt Nettheim)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Movies
        

Here's Liz Atwood with Tween Tuesday:

Sometimes kids are brutally honest, as the Colorado family that reported their son was caught up in a hot air balloon is finding out. Had not 6-year-old Falcon spilled the beans that he was hiding in the house because of a TV show, his parents probably would not be facing criminal charges.

The incident reminded me of the times my own kids have revealed family secrets, some funny and some not so funny. There was the time when my older boy told the teachers we had given him wine to drink. We had not, but had given him sparkling apple cider, which we call “children’s wine.” His teachers, needless to say, were quite surprised. This is the same son who told his best friend that my husband had called the boy a loser when he got especially irritated at their antics. That made for an uncomfortable situation the next time the boy came to visit.

 Sometimes it’s hard to teach children that they should be honest, and at the same time teach them that some truths are better left unspoken. Every family has actions, opinions and statements that are better kept private. But kids don’t always understand that.

How do you explain to your kids the difference between being truthful and being diplomatic? What’s been your child’s most embarrassing moment of truthfulness?

Photo of Falcon Heene by Getty Images.

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Tonight, on John & Kate Plus 2 Watch Jon & Kate Plus 8:

Where would the Gosselins be without a trip? Kate's going to Florida with the little girls while the boys do "destructive man stuff."

Kate S.: "They're going to Butterfly World! Do you think Sam would like that?"

John: "I guess we should mention for disclosure's sake that we have raised butterflies in our home."

Kate S.: "And for the record, we let them go in a lovely place. But it wasn't Florida."

John: "Hopefully, they're still alive...."

There are also parrots at Butterfly World.

Meanwhile, Jon and the boys -- oh, and the older twins -- are back home, and Jon is trying to put together some colossal rocket thingie.

John: "So I'm not supposed to notice this, but is separation making Jon get fatter?"

Kate S.: "Why are you not supposed to notice?"

John: "He's getting this huge gut!"

John: "You know what else I've noticed? As the marital strife has grown on this show, the Sonic commercials have disappeared. Coincidence? I think not."

Back to the little girls, who are holding nectar for the birds. One of the birds has bitten Kate.

Kate S.: "Oh, how cute, that she's having eight birds line her arms."

Says she's "very much into symbolism."

Kate S: "Next, she is forced to confront disgusting insects."

John: "Is this a metaphor for Jon?"

The rocket is set off, uninspiringly.

Kate is impressed that the little girls have no fear of the bugs. One walks around holding one!

Kate S.: "Sorry, but Kate is protesting a little too much."

John: "She's totally being a girl."

Kate S.: "Hey!"

Jon gets the rocket to go higher this time, and pronounces the results "awesome."

Kate G: "I love how old they're getting, that they can just torture me" with the bugs.

Kate S: "Excellent! Get used to it. The torture doesn't end."

Oh no. They aren't taking a hot air balloon ride now, in Florida. Not after balloon boy...

John: "I would never do that."

Kate S.: "Neither would I."

One girl says: "Not fun! At all!" Hot air balloons are, it turns out, hot.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 9:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

With his question about how much trick-or-treating candy his children should eat, Stu wins a copy of "Tombstone Tea" and an answer from an expert next Monday.

Congratulations, Stu!

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

A reader e-mailed with this question:

"My 13-year-old is now old enough to babysit my younger child (under 8). Should I pay him to sit? How about if there is meal prep or bedtime involved, when I go out for an evening work event, as opposed to 'look after your brother while I run to the grocery store'?"

I asked Barb Miller of Sitters Connect, a local company that helps parents meet college aged sitters and college aged sitters meet parents, to weigh in. Here's what she wrote back:

I can speak as a mother of 13, 11 and 9 year olds (all boys). When officially babysitting for us, I have chosen events in which I will pay my 13 year old and events in which I will not pay him. My determination for payment is as follows:

First of all, your 8 year old is legally allowed to stay alone (Maryland is one of the few states that has laws on the books regarding ages that children are allowed to stay alone). Although I am not comfortable doing this for a long period of time, I do not use quick trips to the grocery store leaving my 13 year old in charge as official “babysitting” and it does not constitute payment in our family.

However, when my husband and I go out on a date at night, I do pay my 13 year old. I do not pay the $10-$12 per hour that my college sitters usually earn through their jobs with Sitters Connect because he is NOT a college student. I usually pay him $5 per hour or I barter a special piece of clothing from a name brand store or skate/soccer equipment. This agreement was not written in stone or documented for our son’s sake, but it has worked well in our family. I know several families whose 13 year olds do cook for their families when the parents are out, but I am not comfortable with that in our family. My son is limited to microwave popcorn and scooping ice cream.

I highly recommend that you send your son to a babysitting class. The American Red Cross and St. Agnes Hospital both have classes that go over emergency procedures, questions to ask parents in regards to special needs, etc. Some classes even teach Infant/Child CPR. These classes often give young adults/early teens the confidence they need to sit for friends, neighbors and family. Remember, every child and their maturity level is different; there are some 13 year olds who are not mature enough to watch themselves, much less a younger sibling...

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Who knows whether the balloon boy story that captivated the nation yesterday was a cruel hoax. I'm glad there was no boy the age of my son hurtling across the skies of Colorado in a homemade balloon after all, and that he was safe in his attic the entire time.

Still, something about the story haunts me.

The thing is, one day my little boy is going to get in a helium balloon. He's going to climb in on purpose, pull up the tether, and fly away.

I might even be on the ground, powerless to stop him, calling him back. And he'll probably look at me coolly with those deep blue eyes, uttering not a sound in reply.

In other words, one day or another, he's going to leave me. He's going to fly away. I probably won't think he's ready. I'll probably be worried sick.

I'll probably roam the ground underneath, trying, absurdly, to catch him if he falls. Trying to find him a soft place to land.

It'll be the wrong thing for me to do when it happens, probably. I'll have to trust the wind that takes him, and hope that his father and I have taught him how to have an adventure the right way.

I'll be powerless. I'll be frantic. I'll hope against hope.

One difference? Nobody will be watching the drama of this balloon boy but my family.

They'll be too busy trying to catch their own.

(Associated Press photo)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Parenting in general
        

Here's Guest Dad Joe Burris with musings about girls, sports, and role models:

Prior to coming to the Sun, I spent 16 years as a sportswriter for the Boston Globe, and among the things I remember most about that time was watching how female sports had evolved since my childhood, when opportunities for girls and women were paltry at best. I was there for the start of two women's professional basketball leagues and one professional soccer league in the 1990s. And though the leagues struggled (and two eventually folded), I figured that the future for women's team sports was bright. I envisioned that someday when I had children, I'd take them to both men's and women's games.

Fast forward to this year, when my 12-year-old daughter Nyaniso decided to take up ice hockey at school.

She and a few of her friends joined the TC Williams High School (of "Remember the Titans" fame) girls team in our hometown of Alexandria, Va. The program allows eighth graders to practice with the team and play only in non-league games.

The TC Williams team bills itself as the only girls' ice hockey team in Northern Virginia; it plays in the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League. Though I initially had reservations about the sport due to its physical nature, I encouraged my daughter to pursue her interests.

Yet earlier this week, when the program's officials decided the girls should see ice hockey played at a higher level, they took the team to a Washington Capitals-New Jersey Devils game at the Verizon Center.

I'm glad that my daughter witnessed the electricity and excitement of an NHL game up close.

Yet I wondered: Weren't there any women's ice hockey games that the group could have attended?

After a quick Google search, I was discovered that several colleges in the Baltimore-Washington area play club hockey. Among them: the University of Maryland, College Park, American University and the University of Virginia.

The University of Maryland regularly plays its home games at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, but on Saturday afternoon it meets the University of Virginia at the Verizon Center.

Right now, we're slated to go. It's not the Caps and the Devils but I figure it can't hurt seeing women involved in a team sport she now relishes as a preteen. Plus, the Maryland-UVa game is free. That's a far cry from a Capitals game, where ticket prices are high enough to all but require a down payment plus closing costs.

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Sports
        

It's that time, moms and dads, to win a prize just for asking a parenting question for the Monday Consult. This time, I want your Halloween-related questions to use as that holiday approaches.

As always, please include your e-mail address in the appropriate comment field so that I can get in touch about your prize.

This week's giveaway is a new young adult novel, "Tombstone Tea," by Joanne Dahme. It looks appropriately creepy....

The contest runs through Monday morning, when I will pick a winner at random. Good luck!

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

In my weekend post, I left out an event you may want to know about, especially since it's on rain or shine.

Irvine Nature Center hosts its 32nd annual Pumpkin Fest, a family harvest festival, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For $10 a child (adults and kids under 3 get in free), there will be scarecrow stuffing, music, puppet shows, pony rides, animal "encounters" and story times.

(Photo courtesy of Irvine Nature Center)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

If the rain holds off this weekend -- or at least takes a break by Sunday -- your family can get a taste of the fall farm experience without leaving the city at the Harbor Harvest in West Shore Park. There will be a hay maze and pumpkin patch. On Saturday, there will be music and pumpkin-carving demonstrations in the Harbor East neighborhood.

Thursday, Oct. 15:

Teen Book Club: Teenage readers will be discussing "Tattoo" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes at 3:30 p.m. the North Point branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Free.

Friday, Oct. 16:

Russian Festival: Baltimore's Russian community celebrates its heritage with music, dance and food. The event takes place at the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, 1723 East Fairmount Ave., from noon-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Free Friday; $2 Saturday and Sunday. Call 410-276-6171 or go to russfest.org.

Fenceathon: The Chesapeake Fencing Club presents its 10th annual FENCEATHON, an all-night-long celebration of fencing to benefit its educational programs and the Sisters Academy of Baltimore, an independent Catholic middle school for girls (grades 5–8) from low income neighborhoods. The FENCEATHON will be held in the gymnasium of the Liberty Christian School at 11303 Liberty Road in Owings Mills. Registration 7-8 p.m. with fencing beginning at 9 p.m. Friday through 9 a.m. Saturday. Highlights include electrical fencing in all three weapons (foil, saber, epee), swordplay demonstrations, door prizes, food/refreshments, music, videos, etc. Registration for participating fencers is $30 and includes 10th anniversary commemorative t-shirt. Call 410-532-7445.

Tot Shabbat:The Jewish Museum of Maryland presents a Tot Shabbat at 10:45 a.m., a program of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore. Kids up to 5 years old accompanied by an adult sing songs and light candles.

Saturday, Oct. 17:

Clayfest: Baltimore Clayworks holds a free festival from noon to 5 p.m. Learn to make tiles, to throw wheels, etc. Free.

Comcast Family Day:Kids can meet favorite costumed characters, such as the Bearenstain Bears, at Port Discovery Children's Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free with admission.

Sunday, Oct. 18:

Harbor Harvest offers a hay maze, pumpkin patch and decorating for kids of all ages from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West Shore Park in the Inner Harbor. Free.

Riveting Ravens is the theme of this week's Free Family Sundays at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

A friend posed an interesting question the other day: What do you do when your child's day care has sent home a note saying there are kids in his class that have been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus?

Your child isn't yet sick. He's shown no symptoms. The other children are presumably at home and recovering, and so not presently infecting him.

But my friend debated about whether to keep his son home from preschool anyway. Or whether he should ask a doctor for preventive TamiFlu. Or just ride it out and try not to worry.

This assumes your child hadn't been vaccinated against H1N1 yet.

What would you do?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Health
        

You may recall that a few weeks ago, the Spatulatta girls showed us how to make a harvest soup with butternut squash for Dinner Together. Their soup looks very easy, but it occurred to me I've made a squash soup that might be considered even easier because there's no need for a blender. Plus you can customize the spices to make one batch two different ways.

I came upon a recipe for Thai-spiced Pumpkin Soup at the fantastic blog 101 Cookbooks last year, and loved the results. I use acorn squash without pumpkin, and have a smaller ratio of coconut milk to squash, but one of the great things about this recipe is its adaptability. Add liquid a little bit at a time, and you'll get the consistency you want.

I knew my kids would not eat anything "Thai-spiced," however. So I experimented with making half the soup slightly sweet, to play off the idea of that gateway drug -- pumpkin pie.

A little Trader Joe's pumpkin butter did the trick...

My daughter, who usually wouldn't touch a vegetable soup, said it did taste like pumpkin pie. But she was kind of mad that it wasn't pumpkin pie. She gave the soup a backhanded compliment, saying that "if it was the only thing to eat, I would eat it."

Rather than starve.

My son didn't like it. I didn't have either of them try the spicy version -- which, by the way, is great for a sore throat.

Squash Soup, Sweet or Spicy

Serves 4

1 large acorn squash, or two small ones (about 2-3 pounds)
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper to taste
one 14-ounce can coconut milk
1/2-1 teaspoon Thai Kitchen green curry paste
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon Trader Joe's Pumpkin Butter
Roasted acorn squash seeds for garnish (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut squash in half; scoop out the seeds and reserve. Rub inside of each squash half with butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and roast squash cut side down for 30-40 minutes, until completely tender.

Scoop squash flesh into a pan over medium low heat. Whisk chunks until they're as smooth as you like while adding coconut milk a bit at a time. Add a little water if you like until the soup is the desired consistency.

Divide soup into two pans. To one batch, add cinnamon and pumpkin butter, whisking until smooth. To the other, add Thai curry paste to taste. Ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle with roasted seeds and serve.

To roast squash seeds: Remove all stringy pieces of squash from seeds and pat dry. Toss with a few drops of oil, and season with salt and pepper. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and roast for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees, until crunchy. Let cool before using.

--Adapted from 101cookbooks.com by Heidi Swanson

Per serving (sweet version only): 376 calories, 30 grams fat, 23 grams saturated fat, 27 grams carbohydrate, 8 grams fiber, 6 grams protein, 20 milligrams sodium, 15 milligrams cholesterol. Analysis by registered dietitian Jodie Shield. Note: You can bring down the calorie count by using light coconut milk.

(Photo by me)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Dinner Together
        

Are you about to have a second, third, or-so-on baby? If you're delivering at a hospital in Maryland, chances are that your new bundle's older siblings won't be able to visit you and the newborn in the hospital.

As Kelly Brewington and Meredith Cohn report today, it's because of swine flu. (Isn't everything?) Hospitals want to protect their patients and the public at large, and even children who appear healthy are known spreaders of flu.

On the other side of things are moms like Kimberly Franklin, shown in the picture on the left, who would love for her 3-year-old to be by her side right after she has a scheduled C-section at St. Joseph Medical Center next week to welcome his new brother.

I would have been very sad if my daughter, then 2, hadn't been allowed into my room to see her new brother the day after he was born. I still remember how she charged into the room, newly confident in her role as big sister, and proclaimed: "I wanna pick him up."

Then again, I wouldn't have wanted to expose a vulnerable new baby to the flu.

(Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock Taylor)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Babies and Toddlers, Expecting
        

Liz Atwood talks about her own family dinners this Tween Tuesday. The results of the poll she cites don't quite jibe with our own less scientific Dinner Together poll: 

 The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University recently released a study that said teens who have frequent family dinners (five or more per week) make better grades and are less likely to use tobacco and try alcohol and drugs than teens who eat with their families less than three times a week.

Perhaps even more surprising was that about 60 percent of kids say they eat meals with their families more than five days a week and that the average family dinner lasts 35 minutes.

Sadly, this is not the picture in my house. It isn’t unusual for me to come home after the kids have eaten dinner. When I am able to get everyone assembled for a meal, it's usually just a matter of minutes before the younger one declares that he doesn’t like what we’re having and the older one proclaims that he isn’t very hungry. I might keep them at the table 10 minutes, but certainly not 35.

Believe me, I have tried to enforce family meal times, but it seems like with work, meetings and sports, it is rare for us to all be together at the table. It was bad enough worrying whether the kids were eating nutritious meals. Now I have to worry that unless we eat together the kids will quit school and turn to drugs.

Am I the only one who lives like this? Do most families really sit down and eat dinner together for more than a half hour most nights of the week?

(Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Kim Hairston)

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Tonight on John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8, the six little Gosselins head off to school.

Kate S: "Junior kindergarten?"

But first shoe shopping. Kate G.: "There will be no tie shoes in this house." (Until they can tie them themselves quickly.)

Victory! Kate G. finds the very lunchbox that goes with the bookbags she just got! "I'm gonna cry...."

Kate S.: "Uh oh, paparrazzi!"

Kate G. talk about all the support she feels, especially when she travels.

John: "She must not read your blog."

John: "Now she's making homemade organic snacks. I better get started on our organic snacks for Sam and Leah!"

At this point in her own home, Kate S. starts nodding off. John helpfully suggests that she "walk around" at the commercial break to keep her observational skills sharp and defeat typos.

Uh-oh! On the first day of school, the kids are up at 5:30 a.m.

She says the kids were very eager to get on the school bus.

Kate S.: "I bet they were."

Jon shows up unexpectedly to see the kids off. At least, she says, the two of them want to rally together for big kids events.

When she got on the bus, Kate G. was planning to ride all the way to school, but says this idea was voted down because the paparazzi might follow and pose a hazard.

Kate S.: "Hmm; commercial lead-in refers to the last remaining Jon & Kate episodes. Does this mean the show is for sure ending?"

John: "Sounds ominous."

Now Kate is back home, alone, while the kids are at school. "Crazy," she says. "Really crazy."

She goes up to get Mady and Cara's laundry and is 'horrified' at the state of it.

Kate S.: "Does she never go up there?"

And now it's time for her to pick up the kids already. "Not much of a break," she says.

Kate S: "Isn't that always the way?"

Kate G. muses that the children are "getting too big."

John: "You can always have more!"

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 9:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: John & Kate Plus 2 watch Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

Normally I don't take unsolicited Consults out of my e-mail box, but this list of tips on how to help a disorganized child spoke to me. And I'm sure it will to many of you, since organization has become such a point of emphasis so early in school these days.

This primer is from clinical psychologists Joyce Cooper-Kahn and Laurie Dietzel, authors of the book "Late, Lost, and Unprepared: A Parents' Guide to Helping Children with
Executive Functioning." Here they are...

Kids with weaknesses in planning and organization have trouble independently imposing structure and order on tasks and on ideas. So, they have difficulty organizing information in their heads, as well as organizing their stuff or planning out a long-term project. When faced with a task, the disorganized child may have trouble thinking through the steps required, and she may tend to underestimate the complexity and the time needed.

Does this sound like your child?
 He neglects to turn in completed assignments.
 She arrives at an event completely unprepared.
 He underestimates the effort involved in a project.
 She is overwhelmed at juggling multiple classes and projects.
 He has trouble identifying the most important information.
 She has trouble organizing space.

If so, there are tried-and true behavioral interventions you can try--and continue to practice--with your child to help him or her with this challenge. Here are six:

Break down tasks into component parts.
For example, for a school project, divide the tasks into daily chunks, and enter these on the calendar or in an agenda book as homework. Build an extra day or two for the unexpected so your child gets in the habit of planning a cushion of extra time.

Offer organizational frameworks in advance.
Discuss the most important points to be learned before the child starts an independent reading task. Provide an outline of the major topics and subtopics from the text with space for the student to fill in specific information. Offer study questions in advance so the student understands the learning objectives before starting to read.

Teach the use of tricks and technology aids.
Buy a watch that can be set to vibrate and show a reminder phrase at the programmed time. When a student prints out an assignment, prompt her to also email it to her teacher. Teach a student to write a one-sentence summary on a sticky note after reading each paragraph that he can use later for his report.

Develop templates for repetitive procedures.
Make a checklist of everything that needs to be in his soccer bag. Laminate it and keep it in the soccer bag for last-minute checking. For young children, create photo charts with pictures from magazines for completing chores, preparing to catch the bus, and gathering necessary gear for sports practice.

Walk through the planning process with the child.
For a child who chronically loses or doesn't turn in homework, talk through the process. Is the homework getting lost at home? Is it in the bottom of the backpack? In his locker? Is it in the right notebook but forgotten once class starts? Once you identify the sticking point, add a step to his routine to get past it.

Provide accommodations at home and at school.
Simplify your child's schedule; consider reducing the number of extracurricular activities. For a high school or college student, it makes more sense to reduce the course load. Ask for advance notice of upcoming assignments from the teacher so you and your child can identify the most demanding times of the week or semester so appropriate adjustments can be made in her homework/study schedule.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Thanks so much to my friend Katherine Lewis, the About.com Guide to Working Moms, who named Charm City Moms as her site of the week this week. We appreciate the love!

And you should give her some back. Katherine's got valuable information on flexible work options; juggling a sick child and work (timely these days); and easing separation anxiety.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Work-life balance
        

Guest blogger Oren Miller of A Blogger and a Father takes the Father's Day Friday reins today with a thought-provoking post:

I recently read a blog post from a new father who admitted, to his shame and horror, that he didn't love his newborn son. It takes guts and self-awareness to realize something like that, let alone to admit it in public. And indeed, I can't think of anyone else who's ever said that. I know I didn't say it when I felt that way because I was terrified of the way I was feeling, and I was terrified of being judged if I told others about it.

No one tells you there's a chance you will not love your newborn. In all the classes we took, we saw the happy family leaving the hospital and riding into the sunset with their bundle of joy, so how come this guy wasn't a bundle of joy?

It wasn't an easy pregnancy for my wife, and to a lesser extent, it wasn't an easy pregnancy for me. And when it was over, instead of finally breathing a sigh of relief, we were confronted with the hard part. How could this little thing that spent so much of his time sleeping, be so demanding? Then, one night, while I was holding my crying infant son, I realized I didn't love him. In fact, I resented him for what he did to our happy family. We quit smoking, we moved the dogs away from our bed, and down to a gated living room, we didn't get enough sleep, I quit my job, and for what--THIS THING that didn't even look at me?

I believe it's worse for fathers, at least when compared to breastfeeding mothers. At least the mother can breastfeed to calm the baby and bond with him. But what did I have? Nothing but an impatient "Shhhh...."

I don't know when or why love starts or ends. Sometimes we meet a person and fall in love, and sometimes we get to know someone for a little while before love happens. For me, maybe it was the first time I was able to calm my son down. Or maybe it was the first time I calmed him down after a failed attempt by my wife. Maybe I suddenly felt needed, which made me want to give him everything I had, which then made me love him.

My wife is pregnant with our second child now, and this time I'm ready. I will change the diapers, and I will whisper "Shhh" in the middle of the night, and I will sing and clap and smile, and no matter what, I will not think of myself as a monster for feeling the way I do. And then, one day, my boy or girl will cry in my arms, then suddenly stop to look into my eyes, and then my baby will smile. And I will fall in love.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Sarah K.K. returns with this week's installment of Toddler Thursday:

There is something about this age (closing on 16 months) that just feels so momentous.

I mean, every stage of my son's life, even from the moment I learned I was finally pregnant, has felt this way to an extent. But there is just so much growth going on now, it's hard for me to get my grown-up mind around it.

Isaac just feels like a ball of potential -- who knows what his life will be like, or what the world will be like, but right now, everything feels so ... possible. Every day, he's saying a new word, grasping a new concept, doing something new that is funny, finding something new hysterical.

Even since last week's post, he's understanding and responding to "no" (and, of course, saying it more. Much more). A couple of days ago, one of his toys started playing the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" while we were reading a book, and he suddenly stood up from my lap and grabbed his head. I didn't even know he knew that yet!

A few days ago, he started calling me "Mama" on purpose (*swoon*) and running over and giving giant, heartfelt, laying-his-head-on-your-shoulder hugs. After Mr. Independent's stint of not being into cuddling, these new breakthroughs have been particularly gratifying.

I can barely begin to imagine how fast the synapses must be firing in his brain as he's making connections and learning so, so, so much every day. It's an amazing time, and I don't want to miss a second of it. Sometimes, I just want to wake him up in the middle of the night so we can hang out, but I resist the urge.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 4:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

Jennifer Hudson talks about her new son, David, with fiance David Otunga on People's web site today. She says she was able to keep her pregnancy a secret almost to the end, and that she's going to encourage her son to get a good education.

But she might want to keep the part about her easy-as-pie recovery from C-section more of a secret, too, if she doesn't want a lot of angry mamas on her hands:

"To me, the pain is no different than when you work out a muscle you’ve never worked out before and it’s sore," Hudson says.

I was lucky enough to avoid C-section, but I know plenty of others who had a tough time recovering.

(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

It's Baltimore Marathon weekend, of course, with the race taking place Saturday. There's information about a Kids' Run, or your family can just watch the race. Here's the map.

Here are some more activities to enjoy with the brood in Central Maryland this Columbus Day weekend:

Thursday, Oct. 8:

Let's Get Ready: Emergency Preparedness Preschoolers can learn what to do in an emergency, with the help of Sesame Street characters, at 10:30 a.m. at the Catonsville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Ages 2-5 with an adult.

Children's Fire Safety Kids from age 5 to fourth grade can learn about fire safety at 4:30 p.m. at the Harford County Public Library branch in Fallston. Reservation required. Call 410-638-3003.

Friday, Oct. 9:

Guitar Hero Tournament for teens takes place at the Whiteford branch of the Harford County Public Library from 6 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. Reservations required; call 410-638-3608.

Saturday, Oct. 10:

Party in the Park: The children's rock band Milkshake, along with other musical acts, will appear at this benefit for the Nikki Perlow Foundation from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Padonia Park in Cockeysville. $10 Adults, $5 for children 12 and under.

Food Allergy Walk:The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network holds a 2-mile walk to raise awareness and money to cure food allergies at 10 a.m. (sign up at 9 a.m.) at Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City.

The Great Scale-Model Train Show: This show at the Timonium Fairgrounds will have 700 tables of national dealers offering model trains, equipment and merchandise. While enthusiasts check out operating train layouts and a circus train display, kids can enjoy rare train movies, train-theme cartoons and a Thomas the Tank Engine play area. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9, good for both days. Kids younger than 15 are free.

Bump in the Night - The Walters Art Museum has free drop-in art activities on a Halloween theme from 10 a.m- 3 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 11:

Wildlife Adventures: Meet live animals at Port Discovery at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. $2 members, $3 nonmembers, plus admission. Free for those under 2.

Free Family Sundays: Shadow Puppets at Play: The theme of this week's Baltimore Museum of Art family activities is Edgar Allan Poe. Create characters out of Poe's stories, starting at 2 p.m.

Second Sundays in Leakin Park - Time for the Leakin Park trains -- next month is the last until next year. 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.; 410-396-0440.

Photo of the 2008 Baltimore Marathon by Kim Hairston

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

For Dinner Together Wednesday, check out this easy fajita party from Cooking with Kids. I love the cow aprons they put on the soccer team. You've got to have a certain amount of confidence to wear those on YouTube.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Dinner Together
        

Just as it's getting lots of attention for its new homeless doll, American Girl has announced that it's retiring another of its historical figures. Last year, poor little rich girl Samantha (my daughter's fave) headed to the archives.

This time, pioneer doll Kirsten (she's wearing a bonnet and apron in the photo) is on her way out.

What do you think about the latest changes in the American Girl lineup?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

Liz Atwood is cleaning house on this Tween Tuesday: 

I’m in the mood for cleaning up the clutter that’s been accumulating around our house. I never got my spring cleaning done this year. Summer passed and before I knew it, the kids were back in school. But we all seem to be tired of the stuff lying around the house, and much of that stuff is toys.

 Now that the kids are getting older, I’m wondering whether it’s time to get rid of the action figures and the stuffed animals. The teen has outgrown his toys and moved on to an iPod and video games. But what about the 8-year-old? He’s the typical tween. Sometimes weeks go by without him playing with the action figures, then he’ll pull them out and lay on his bed and play with them. I remember I was about his age when I gave up my Barbie dolls, although my mom never had the heart to give them away, so Barbie, Ken and Skipper are still keeping house in my Dad’s attic.

What about your tweens? Have they gotten too old for their dolls and action figures? Do you think we should just put them away or is it time to get rid of them for good?

Photo by the Associated Press.

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Tonight's episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 is called "Time to Organize!" At the John & Kate Plus 2 household, I am watching and blogging while simultaneously trying to eat dinner after another late evening at work; hemming a pair of kids' pants; and doing the dishes.

So I can't imagine what the Gosselins have to organize. Other than, of course, their bills...

Kate G. says her long hope has been to organize the basement, but last winter, "things fell apart" and it didn't happen.

Kate S.: "Um, yeah, I'd say they did fall apart."

A professional organizer has come to the rescue.

John: "We need her! Maybe if we let someone film us, they'll give us an organizer."

Kate S: "But we'd have to get organized for that."

Kate says there is a "Jon box" that she's not sure what to do with.

John: "Make a bonfire! A Jon-fire!"

(He says this while snipping the ends off fresh green beans for our, um, can we call it dinner after 9 p.m.? I tell him I admire his dedication. There will not be a John-fire here.)

Back to the show. They're going to put things on shelves. Including, kid you not, the "vomit bucket."

Kate S.: " Ohhhkaaaayyyy -- so much for that 'dinner.' "

Kate S.: "Now she's trying to throw away their stuffed animals."

John: "Their stuffed buddies? What kind of a witch is she?"

Kate S: "Oh, now she's lying about it."

Now they have found an old milestone calendar and are reading and reminiscing. Sad.

And then Kate G. reveals that her true love is....the labelmaker.

John: "And to think they've had them at Staples all these years."

Kate G. reveals that more than ever, she needs the kids to help her. One of their jobs is "toilet paper dispersal." They're in charge of restocking the many bathrooms with extra rolls.

Back to the basement...

Kate S.: "Whoa. Is that a whole big rack with just their winter coats?"

The kids break out their old costumes, and this is one of the most genuinely cute moments I've seen on the show.

But it doesn't last.

John: "This is getting more and more mundane."

Kate: "Oh, they're keeping a box of their wedding memories..."

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

When I looked back at questions still unanswered for the Monday Consult, I remembered that Theresa Finnigin had asked for tips about traveling with kids. And so, in her recent Toddler Thursday, had Sarah K.K.

Jamie Pearson, publisher of the family travel website Travel Savvy Mom, came up with these tips for us:

"As long as you do your best to anticipate your child’s hunger, fatigue, boredom, and ear pain, most of your fellow passengers will bear you no ill will. If things start to go badly, you can defuse the situation by saying, “Things are about to get ugly over here, can I buy you a drink?”

"Here are a few other tricks I’ve learned over the years:

--With enough milk, pacifiers, and board books, infants can be great traveling companions. Bring twice as many diapers as you think you’ll need. If it’s okay with your pediatrician, consider giving them a dose of Tylenol thirty minutes before landing.

--Always carry on a car seat for your toddler, and strap him in. If possible, have one parent sit in front of him so that seat kicking isn’t an issue. Load your digital camera or smart phone up with pictures to distract him when he gets cranky, pack a few new toys, and hope for the best.

--Preschoolers are old enough for movies, so bring a portable DVD player (or your laptop) and splurge for an extra battery. Don’t count on the seatback entertainment system being available and appropriate, even on very long flights.

--Grade school-aged children can also watch movies, and have enough dexterity for craft projects. Fill their backpacks with pipe cleaners, sketch pads, activity books, Mad Libs, and chapter books—you might even be able to watch a movie yourself!

--No matter what your kids’ ages, bring plenty of familiar food, lollipops (which help both with ear pain and excessive talking), and good headphones. Good luck!

Associated Press photo of image from Delta Airlines

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

We knew it would come to this: I, the health editor and the mom editor, am sick. Sick at work.

So far, it just seems to be a bad head cold. Lots of sniffles. A headache, but no achy throat or cough. Yet.

Still, in these days of swine flu fear, I feel damned if I stay here at work sneezing into my sleeve, and damned if I go home, where I would undoubtedly be viewed from afar as a slacker. What if this is nothing and I get the H1N1 virus later, and people look at me like the lady who cried wolf? Or what if this is something bad, and I stay and infect my co-workers, despite my best attempts at hand-washing and sanitizing?

I suspect lots of you are facing, or will soon be facing, the same dilemma. So take our poll and help me figure out what to do:

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Health
        

Joe Burris is here with Father's Day Friday:

A few years ago, I came across an article that listed utterances heard only in a home with small children. Among those most popular was the parental query, “Did you wipe?”

As a father of two girls born nine years apart, I can attest to such utterances. There’s no doubt that my 12-year-old Nyaniso and 3-year-old Onalenna come up with comments heard only among families with children from their age group.

Here’s a sampling of things they’ve said the past two months:

Onalenna: Daddy, Nyaniso’s copying me!

Nyaniso: Well, you copied me first!

Onalenna: You copied me first!

Daddy: Okay, from now on, no more copying. Make up your own things to say. Got it?

Nyaniso: Ab-so-lutely!

Onalenna: Ab-so-lutely!

Nyaniso: Daddy, have you seen the new Ipod Nano? It’s only about $150.

Onalenna: No, Daddy, that wasn’t me. I don’t pass gas at home. I pass gas at school!

Nyaniso: Daddy, have you heard about a new phone service called Cricket? Unlimited texting for $35 a month.

Onalenna: That’s okay, Daddy. I don’t need any help. I can do teamwork all by myself.

Nyaniso: Daddy, can I paint your fingernails?

Onalenna: Daddy, Nyaniso said she’s gonna ride the roller coaster at the carnival, but I don’t want to ride the roller coaster.

Daddy: Well, I think it’s for kids Nyaniso’s age anyway, Sweetie.

Onalenna: It’s scary!

Daddy: It can be.

Onalenna: I don’t want to ride it, Daddy! I don’t want to!

Daddy: Sweetie?

Onalenna: Yes, Daddy?

Daddy: Don’t worry. You’re not going to ride the roller coaster.

Onalenna: I’m not riding the roller coaster?

Daddy: No, Sweetie.

Onalenna: Why?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Here's Sarah K.K. with the weekly installment of Toddler Thursday:

I'm not sure how we got to 15 months old without Isaac knowing what "no" means, but here we are. He'll run into some forbidden corner of the basement, and I'll call out, "NO-NO!" But he just keeps on doing what he's doing until I go over to him and get his attention.

It's not as if he doesn't get the concept at all. If we're trying to feed him something he doesn't want or get him to go somewhere he's not interested in, he shakes his head wildly and even sometimes says something vaguely resembling "nue."

But for the moment, this communication seems to be going in one direction.

One of his favorite activities that I have to dissuade him from is causing a bit of a conundrum. He loves to run into the bathroom (we keep the doors closed, but the cats like to drink from the sink in the half-bath -- clearly Isaac isn't the only one we've had trouble communicating "no" to -- and they know how to open the door). The other day, I sprinted after him into the bathroom, only to find him singing "Hi-iiiiiiiii" into the toilet bowl, totally taken by the echo of his own voice.

"No! No-NO! Dirty!" I said to him as I pulled him away from the bowl (and immediately washied his hands, of course). But then it occurred to me: If I manage to communicate that he needs to stay away from the toilet because it's dirty, won't that pose problems later?

"So, kid, you know that nasty, gross, icky, disgusting, germ-ridden thing I've told you time and time again to stay away from? Yeah, well, now you have to sit on it. Make sense?"

For the time being, I'm leaving "DIRTY" out of the "no-no" equation where the toilet is involved. These are the complexities that never would have occurred me until they were staring me in the face.

But that's toddlerhood in a nutshell, isn't it?

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Toddler Thursday
        

October is prime time for fun with the family. I've compiled my list of ten favorite fall pastimes on our parenting page. On the list is Free Fall Baltimore, which starts today and offers a slew of free activities and destinations.

And there's more on tap for this weekend:

Thursday, Oct. 1:

Hispanic Family Festival: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a festival from 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.at the Catonsville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Free.

Nature Storytime - Kids can listen to a story and do a craft at 11 a.m. at the Eden Mill Nature Center. Donation for craft requested. Reservation required; call 410-836-3050.

Friday, Oct. 2:

Hands-On-Holiday Sukkot Party

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival: This festival at the Maryland State Fairgrounds showcases the work of 250 artists and crafts designers, and runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. There will be a dress-up theater and other activities for kids. Adult tickets are $7 when purchased online, $8 for at the door; free for children under 12. Admission is good for all three days.

Disney's "Christmas Carol" train stops through Sunday at the B&O Railroad Museum, with exhibit cars about the making of tthe upcoming movie version of "A Christmas Carol." Free. 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. -4 p.m. Sunday.

Saturday, Oct. 3:

Big Truck Day: Climb on the city's big rigs -- fire trucks, a police helicopter, and more -- at the Baltimore Public Works Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.

Da Vinci the Genius: Learn all about Leonardo Da Vinci's inventions and works of art at the East Coast debut of this exhibit at the Maryland Science Center.

Make It Matter Day at the Y: The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Family Center Y in Waverly offers a free morning of fun and entertainment from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in honor of National Make it Matter Day, which celebrates volunteerism and reading to kids.There will be a free Dr. Seuss “Green Eggs and Ham” breakfast, “Mother Goose on the Loose” activities sponsored by the Enoch Pratt Library, and more.

Lantern-Making at Irvine Nature Center:Make a lantern from natural materials for Halloween parading from noon to 2 p.m. at Irvine Nature Center. Supplies and hot chocolate provided. $25 members; $40 nonmembers. For kids 6 to 10 years old.

Sunday, Oct. 4:

MouthPower Family Day: Learn the right way to brush your teeth, play in a mock dentist's office, and make a tooth diary at the National Museum of Dentistry, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free.

Baby Loves Disco returns to the Recher Theatre in Towson with a "Boo Baby Boo" theme, noon-3 p.m. $12 in advance, $15 at the door; babes-in-arms, free.

Photo from "Da Vinci the Genius" courtesy of the Maryland Science Center

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