July - South Jersey Mom Magazine by Adam Nichols

July

2009

TAKE A SOUTH JERSEY “STAYCATION” Great Places to Vacation Closer to Home this Summer

KICK THAT THUMB SUCKING HABIT

School Grade Retention Should Your Child Be Left Back?

The Fun of a

PEN PAL Friendship

Raise your family while raising your income!

2 | July 2009

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Table of Contents mom 2 mom

7 Older Kids Kicking the Thumb Sucking Habit 8 Dating as a Single Parent

moms R women 2 14 Chick Lit: Somebody Else’s Daughter

features 10 Take a South Jersey “Staycation” 15 The Fun of a Pen Pal Friendship

also in this issue 3 5 6 12 13 16 17 18 19 20

publisher’s note nana’s 2 sense life sentences learning 2 learn just born her story business spotlight book review resource guide things 2 do

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ing for We are look r to add to ou le p o e p g n stro have sales staff. If you king and are loo experience e work, visit for part-tim m to rseymom.co www.southje b about our jo learn more s. opportunitie

Dear Readers, I

recently traveled to Florida for my niece’s high school graduation. She graduated from the same school I attended when my family lived there back in the 90s. I was looking forward to visiting the area, a place, up until recently, I longed to move back to some day. When I was attending college at Rowan University, I planned to move back to Florida after graduation. I sent my resumé to tons of places and waited for a call. Soon after, I met my future husband, Eric, who was in the Union and had no plans of ever leaving New Jersey. I had to make a decision, stay in New Jersey (which I hated, by the way) with this wonderful man I fell in love with, or go back to Florida, a place I loved. Well, it’s obvious which choice I made, and I’m glad I made that choice. If I hadn’t, there would be no Kayden or Camille and no South Jersey MOM Magazine. But, secretly I always hoped that maybe someday, I could convince my husband to move to Florida. I would always reminisce about how polite the people were there, how wonderful the weather was, how beautiful the beaches were… and how great the sweet tea was. So, of course, I was looking forward to this four-day trip back to heaven. Within hours of arriving though, I started

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to notice things that weren’t so great. Like how SLOW everyone talked… and drove… how impolite people had become… how horrible my hair looked with all the humidity!! I started to think… New Jersey is so much better (but I didn’t dare say it out loud). I was also missing my family. I wasn’t able to bring them with me to Florida and this was the first time I was away from the children for more than one night. Every baby I saw made me think of Kayden and Camille… every family I saw vacationing together made me wish my family was there with me too. I could write a whole new article about the meltdowns going on back at home while I was in Florida. Let’s just say, I think my husband has a new appreciation for how difficult the juggling act can be with kids, the house, work and family. I’ve come to realize that New Jersey isn’t so bad… and it’s now my new “home.” But I will always miss that southern sweet tea.✲ Your Friend and Fellow MOM,

publisher’s note

July 2009

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July 2009 | 3

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July

MOM 2009

Publisher/Editor: Adrienne Richardson adrienne@southjerseymom.com Editorial Associate: Jeanette Giza jgiza@southjerseymom.com Advertising Inquiries: Camden & Burlington County: Colleen O’Brien-Fleisher • 856.905.5046 colleen@southjerseymom.com All Other Areas: Orin Jespersen • 856.690.5565 orin@southjerseymom.com General Advertising Info: ads@southjerseymom.com Copy Editor: Gaily Von Schlichting Production Manager: Lisa Celfo lisa@southjerseymom.com Communications Manager: Nicole Hyde nicole@southjerseymom.com Photographer: VioletBrown Photography Contributing Writers: Mary Pat Correro, Jessica Humphrey, Jean Jones, Fran LoBiondo, Keri Mikulski, Kelsey Pollard, Sarah Rohlfing, Kathryn Ross, Emily Seltzer, Bernadette Smith Submit Calendar Listing: calendar@southjerseymom.com Letters to the Editor: editor@southjerseymom.com For Any Other General Information: info@southjerseymom.com www.southjerseymom.com South Jersey MOM is published monthly and distributed throughout the region. The publication is available free of charge at select locations. Subscriptions $24.99 per year.

Just Throw Them In P eople look at me funny when I tell them I used to go to the beach in Chicago. They say there is no beach in Chicago. Hey, where there is sand, there is a beach. One of my favorite photos is an old black and white of me, my sister, brother, mother and my Oma having a picnic at the Lake Michigan “beach”. But it brings back mixed memories. One hot 4th of July weekend, my aunt, uncle and four cousins were able to join us at the “beach” for a big family barbeque. I think I was 10. It was very hot and all we wanted to do was play in the sand and water. My Oma was a very good swimmer and tried to teach us all to swim the right way. My uncle had his own philosophy about teaching children to swim. “Stop babying them. Just throw them in. They’ll get it.” This was the summer I learned to be very afraid of the water. This was the summer my cousin threw me into Lake Michigan. We had all eaten and were to wait the proverbial one hour before going back into the water. “Hey let’s go over there by the rocks,” urged my oldest and biggest cousin, Dale. We all looked up to him and eagerly followed. The water was about six feet deep below the rock wall we were standing on. It looked dark and deep. I wanted to go back to the “beach”. Before I knew what happened, I felt myself flying through the air and into the cold, dark water. I remember looking up from what seemed like a mile below and barely seeing daylight. There was a barbed wire

nana’s 2 sense

South Jersey

fence down there. I panicked and struggled and, when I reached the surface, I was far from the edge. I remember thrashing my arms and legs but knowing this was not “swimming.” I do not remember being pulled from the water. I thought I heard my uncle laughing. No one else seems to remember what happened either. I guess it will forever be one of those family mysteries. There is, as usual, a point to my story. Parents have a very strong influence over their children, even over generations. I still hear dads at the beach (the real beach) blurt out, “Just throw him in.” Another child may have laughed, jumped right back in the water and swam like a fish. Not me. This traumatic and unforgettable day in my life was caused by a kid who meant no harm. He was just helping his cousin learn to swim by using the same method his dad did. I love the ocean. I feel the need to live near the ocean. Had my uncle not taught the “sink or swim” method, I believe I would not have been thrown into the lake that day. I might today even be able to enjoy swimming in the ocean, instead of wading knee deep in the water watching everyone else have fun. Think and be gentle.✲ —Nana Jean

Nana Jean is a South Jersey grandmother with two daughters and six grandchildren. Enjoy her stories about her 37+ years as a mom and 18 years as a grandmother as she shares her experiences and lessons learned with lots of laughs and tears along the way.

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On the COVER

“Cutest Kid in Town” winner: Dominic, age 6, is a homeschooled class clown who is always entertaining his three older siblings. He especially loves to play with his baby sister. He's a great big brother! He is very active and participates on a soccer team and swim team. His passions are food, playing, going to church and of course cars.Photo by VioletBrown Photography.

July 2009 | 5

life sentences

Standing Tall in the

By Fran LoBiondo

Shade of the Survivor Tree

hen I stand by my sink each day, I can look out my window and see a slim column of filmy pink plastic sticking out of the ground in the center of the back yard. It’s a miniature greenhouse to protect a stripling American elm tree for the first two years of getting used to our climate and the small woodland creatures of our yard. Vermin, I used to call them; sneaky, nasty, tomato-stealing, morning-glory trashing, basil-chomping rodents. But I have now evolved to a plane on which I no longer hate varmints; I do not fight them, but I do not feed them either. And if a stray cat just happens to wander into our all-you-can-eat chipmunk buffet, I’m happy to share. I am known as the Black Thumb. Everything but chickweed fails to thrive under my care. Fresh, dewy nursery flowers gasp, blacken and die. I have had some luck with other people’s cuttings, so benign neglect seems to work for me. Plant it, throw some water on it, do not get attached and do not make their failure yours. But this scrawny little tree is special. It’s a cutting from a magnificent spreading American elm that used to shade the parking lot of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City.

Workers in the building used to arrive early survived the brunt of the blast, its park embedded with glass and debris. just to park under its cooling branches. After my visit to the memorial, I sent Picture yourself slogging to work on a sunny morning in smart but uncomfortable away to a nursery and got a cutting from shoes, hugging your toddler at the door of the beautiful Survivor Tree. Last fall, as my the day care center downstairs, and clutch- daughter and I planted the supple shoot and ing a cardboard cup of coffee as you head built the greenhouse around it, as directed, up to the office. By 9 a.m., you are settled I was solemn and respectful. Also a little in for a humdrum meeting with the same worried. The leaves fell off precipitously. As spring arrived, my daughter kept old suits. At 9:02, a two-ton bomb checking our small planting. One fine day, explodes, and the world spins off its axis. I thought about that as I walked she raced in, shouting, “Mom, it has new through the exhibits at the Oklahoma City leaves!” Whew! What a relief. I will be National Memorial and Museum, which now stands at the bomb site. A clear barrel mortified if I kill off the tree that survived of charred shoes from the cleanup contains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in a single turquoise pump. Outside, the sym- US history.✲ bolic memorial stands where the Murrah Fran LoBiondo of Vineland has children in grade building once stood. The lawn is lined with school, high school and college. A Purdue University 168 chairs representing the lives taken on graduate with a degree in Journalism, she has written April 19, 1995. They stand in nine rows to about parenting, food and fun for 25 yrs. represent each floor of the building, and each chair bears the name of someone killed on that “Bringing It All Together” floor. Nineteen litfor Children with Autism tle chairs stand for and all neurodevelopmental, the lost children. neurological & neurobehavioral disorders The 90-yearold spreading elm We are now an in the parking lot

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6 | July 2009

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Older Kids Kicking the Thumb Sucking Habit By Kelsey Pollard any kids start out life sucking their thumbs. Some even begin while in the womb. This habit isn’t bad for a child, as long as they stop by age five. If they continue past this age, the habit will be harder to break. Also, thumb sucking can cause serious dental issues if continued for too long. Children usually suck their thumbs when hungry, tired or hurt. The thumb takes the place of pacifiers and other soothers. Thumb sucking tends to calm and comfort children. Trying to forcefully make a child stop, by yanking his or her thumb out of the child’s mouth, will only cause trauma. However, there are some remedies that parents can try to help their children stop sucking their thumb.

m Placing drops of lemon juice, vinegar, or pickle juice directly on the thumb can prevent children from sucking their thumb. This method will only work for a short amount of time because eventually the child will become used to the sour taste. Try placing a glove or mitten on the child’s hand as a reminder to keep their thumb out of their mouth. m Pediatricians sometimes recommend a game-playing, reward-based system for helping kids to stop sucking their thumbs. Keep track of the days when your child does not engage in thumb sucking. At the end of a set period of time, say a week, you can offer the child a modest reward for his or her accomplishment. m Try to keep kids busy. Children are more likely to suck their thumb when watching television than when they are participating in a hands-on activity. Sometimes, the best thing to do as a parent is to wait it out. Many children give up thumb sucking altogether by age six or seven due to peer pressure. Once a child’s permanent front teeth begin to come in, it’s time to worry. Thumb sucking can cause serious damage to permanent front teeth. If none of these remedies work, and your child is still sucking his thumb by age six or seven, contact a pediatrician for more remedies.✲ www.southjerseymom.com

Fine Art Portraiture by VioletBrown Photography 609.369.4478

Capturing Special Moments in Your Life July 2009 | 7

parenting recipes

Dating as a Single Parent

o matter how hard you work to keep your social and home lives separate, your children are always going to be a critical part of the dating equation. The following situations must be considered when dating. By Bernadette Smith Parent Coach Finding time to date can be an issue. Between work and your children, there is little personal time, let alone time to date. That means you have to be very efficient with your time. Take a look at what is taking up your time. Rearrange, delegate or consider deleting things of less importance.

It helps if you have a support system. Ask friends or family to look after your children while you go out. Many single parents have their children every other weekend, so they can plan adult activities for when they are solo. A lot depends on the age of the children. Younger kids are more pliable than older kids to accepting a new person in their parent’s life. Relationship issues often develop quickly as the children struggle with acceptance of the new person. Consider the children’s feelings. Introduce new friends only when you feel the relationship may have potential. Additional considerations: • The person you are dating has to love you and accept the entire package – children and all. • The person you date should be flexible and undstanding because you can’t always control things when it comes to kids. • Wait a while before introducing your child to the person you are dating – make sure it’s serious. You don’t want your child to get attached and then have to deal with a loss if things don’t work out. Single parents benefit from dating. It’s nice having an adult companion and someone who can offer emotional support.✲

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8 | July 2009

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Take a

South Jersey

” n o i t a c y “Sta By Sarah Rohlfing ithin easy driving distance, the Garden State’s 127 miles of pristine beaches are just the ticket for a lowhassle weekend or a summer getaway with the kids filled with sun, sand, surf, boardwalks and endless fun. “Summer is all about exciting events and activities at destinations throughout New Jersey,” says New Jersey Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells. “With just a little planning, visitors can find something of interest for every member of their family.” Visitors will find three legendary theme park experiences at Six Flags Great Adventure, Wild Safari and Hurricane Harbor in Jackson. The Great Adventure park is home to some of the world’s tallest and fastest roller coasters, great family shows and many more attractions. At Wild Safari, experience the world’s largest drive-through safari outside of Africa. The 45acre Hurricane Harbor, set in a tropically themed island hideaway, is one of the world’s largest water parks. Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach is a Jersey Shore institution that entertains all ages. Amusements, an aquarium, sweet shops, games and a nightclub, plus special events and a white, sandy beach mean you will have more fun than you can shake on a funnel cake. Seaside Heights is famous for its colorful, bustling boardwalk, exciting nightlife, thrilling arcades and fantastic family amusements. Cool off at Jenkinson’s Breakwater Beach, then visit Casino Pier and Funtown Pier for rides, games and indulgent boardwalk food. At the farthest northern tip of the Jersey Shore is the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation area in Highlands. Wide, pristine beaches, sand dunes, nature trails and America’s oldest working lighthouse make Sandy Hook a favorite destination for summer fun and relaxation. Take a stroll around Fort Hancock, a National Historic Landmark. Visit the Fort Hancock Museum, Battery Potter, and History House, a restored home on Officer’s Row. Tuckerton Seaport is a multifaceted experience, illustrating New Jersey’s coastal legacy through entertainment, education and maritime exhibits. The seaport offers unique, interactive programs that bring visitors face-to-face with

10 | July 2009

Vacation Closer to Home this Summer

New Jersey’s unique culture, environment and maritime heritage. The Surflight Theatre and Showplace Ice Cream Parlor in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island offer visitors a professional theater featuring toe-tapping musicals and children’s presentations. Showplace provides Jersey Shore vacationers a sundae topped with audience participation, improvisation and cabaret shows. Bird watchers flock to Cape May all year long for wonderful bird watching opportunities. Start at the Cape May Bird Observatory, a nature resource center that has more than 400 species of birds, butterflies and dragonflies to watch. Surrounded by water on three sides, Cape May presents an unparalleled opportunity for a seafaring safari ride on the Cape May Whale Watcher, where whales and dolphins frolic alongside the boat. Visitors flock to Congress Hall, a haven of relaxed elegance, fun, historic charm and luxury at the New Jersey shore. Three amusement piers located on the famous boardwalk in Wildwood, Morey’s Piers offer more than 100 exciting amusement park rides and attractions, including two beachfront water parks, kiddie rides, roller coasters and more! Visit an Early American living history museum on a 22-acre wooded site at Historic Cold Spring Village in Cape May. Step back in time to the “age of homespun” and visit with historical interpreters who bring the sights, sounds and even the aromas of the mid-1800s to life as tradesmen, craftspeople, housewives and farmers. You can see them go about their daily chores much as they did generations ago. Nothing is more indicative of New Jersey than its boardwalks with saltwater taffy, carnival games and eclectic shops. Revel in the nostalgia of yesteryear or embrace the innocence of childhood at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier on Ocean City’s boardwalk, where you will find more than 38 amusement rides and enjoy hours of family fun. No matter which destination you select, the Jersey Shore is perfect. For more information, including additional itinerary ideas, accommodations and free brochures, go to www.visitnj.org.✲ Photos Courtesy of New Jersey Tourism

YOUR PASSPORT TO FUN THIS SUMMER IS AT JELLYBEAN JUNGLE! Enjoy exciting weekly themes and activities for the whole family or drop the kids off for Parent’s Night Out. Visit www.jellybean-jungle.com for full calendar of events. (856) 596-8889. CHILDRENSONG VOCAL CAMP Vocal Camp for young singers aged 8-12. August 24-28: 11:00a-noon each day in Haddonfield. Learn vocal technique, music reading, end with a concert at the Children’s Garden. $75/week. www.childrensong.org, (856) 216-1140.

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July 2009 | 11

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July 2009 | 9

learning 2 learn

School Grade Retention: Should Your Child Be Left Back?

he decision to have your child repeat a grade is difficult and emotional. The fear that not making the right decision may affect your child’s well being is very real. That is why it’s very important to trust your gut, go slowly and do not let yourself be pushed into a decision you are not comfortable with. You know your child best. That being said, the child’s grade, age and circumstances should all be considered. There is no black and white answer. First, the teacher’s recommendation that your child be retained should not be a surprise to you. You should be seeing learning issues also. There are many options for most children other than retention. Holding children back in a grade is seldom the best solution! Deciding to hold a “young” five or six year old child back from kindergarten or first grade (especially boys) requires a back-up plan for continuing their psycho/educational-social growth in a pre-school program. Another year in pre-school to give your child more time to mature is the only instance in which I would strongly recommend holding them back. With the pressure of advanced curriculum in earlier grades, social/ emotional and cognitive maturity is critical. Otherwise, your child may struggle throughout their school years. Being a year older as they enter high school with all that is involved socially is most often only a positive. If your child has been absent from school for a long period of time, they should have received home bound instruction. If your child has been receiving home bound instruction by a certified teacher and your child is still behind at the end of the school year, pursue full time tutoring from the school over the summer, rather than deciding prematurely to hold your

child back. Those two extra months may be just enough time to make a difference in getting your child ready for the next grade. Chronic illness resulting in excessive absence needs to be well documented by your physician. Schools have strict attendance policies and you may have to assert yourself and demand options other than retention be explored. If your child has been struggling throughout the year and not doing well, even with your help, he or she should be evaluated for a learning disability. If the teacher brings up maturity or attention issues as reasons your child should be retained, even in first or second grade, consider an evaluation. I must warn you however, that if the Child Study Team feels your child does not have a learning disability based on their testing, that still may not be the case. The testing that school professionals do is sometimes not comprehensive enough to identify all learning disabilities, especially those that are less detectable in kindergarten to 2nd grade. Unfortunately, due to overcrowding and other problems, schools sometimes diagnose learning disabilities late, after they have become a full-blown problem! Just as you would seek out a pediatric specialist for a medical problem beyond the expertise of your primary pediatrician, so too, you may need to seek out a specialist for a second opinion in diagnosing learning disabilities. Make sure it’s someone who

There are many options for most children other than retention

12 | July 2009

uses an alternate By Mary Pat test from those used in the Correro, Ed.M. school and is a learning specialist who works with children, as well as tests them. The specialist should have extensive experience as a diagnostician. National tutoring franchises do not provide comprehensive testing to accurately diagnose learning disabilities. Children in upper elementary and high school may start to exhibit problems as they reach puberty and adolescence and start to fail in school. This may be due to the social/emotional issues of adolescence or a learning disability that has been simmering for years! Tutoring over the summer and a full evaluation, including a referral to a psychologist for social/emotional assessment, is important before any decisions are made. Changing from public to private school (especially where there are smaller classes, better discipline and a warmer, more peaceful atmosphere) or vice versa may be a good option for your child. In any of these scenarios, retention should be the last resort. If the school is pushing you, without first exploring other options, it may be time to consult an advocate or lawyer.✲ Mary Pat Correro is the founder of The Center For Learning Enhancement,LLC. The Center resolves learning disabilities through a comprehensive, developmental approach based on the most current research on the brain and learning. For more info call (856) 234-7337 or visit www.CLEnhancement.com.

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just born

Just Born

Looking for the latest gadgets, toys, books or family related products? Look no further! Each month, we highlight the latest and greatest just for you. Take a look at these “just born” products and add them to your list of must haves!

1 4

Green Girl Tiny Totes From grocery stores, schools and sleepovers to sports and activities these whimsical machine washable eco-totes hold everything you need. Each one has a reversible design and adjustable strap. $35, www.greengirlworld.com Gather Round Restaurant Game Hungry kids and a crowded restaurant are a combo platter no parent wants to dish up! Keep everyone happy and distracted while you wait with this new travel size game. $24.95, www.theorganizedparent.com Kinesys Spray Sunscreen As hard as it is to get kids to wear sunscreen, spray applications may be just the answer parents need to ensure the kids are covered. Fast drying without rubbing, alcohol free, PABA-Free, water/sweat-resistant with an SPF of 30. $6.99, www.kinesys.com

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4 The Bug Book and Bug Bottle

A neat, compact little kit with everything a kid needs for some quality bug hunting and study. $13.95, www.amazon.com 5 Bug Fandex

Each card features a full-color and very up-close photograph of a bug where kids can get a really good look at it. The cards tell where each bug is found, the scientific and an informative info. $10.95, www.amazon.com 6 Happyheads Bye Bye Lice Happy

Camper Prevention Kit This kit helps keep head lice away in any environment where they seem to spread like wild fire. Lice prefer clean hair so the light “coating” and essential oil scents of tea tree, peppermint, lavender, lemongrass and geranium deters them and makes laying eggs difficult. $38.99, www.happyheadsproducts.com

7 Polly Pocket Shimmer ‘N Splash

Adventure Playset It’s the perfect playset for indoor or outdoor water play fun. Take it to the beach or play with it by the pool. $18.49, Toys R Us 8 Squirter Scrubbies by Spa Sisters

Featuring three different characters that squirt water, these cute sponges create a rich lather for squeaky clean kids. $7.50, www.bathaddiction.com 9 Change Up, By Keri Mikulski

The second book in the ground breaking teen sporty SCREWBALL series continues to follow spunky Ashley through her sophomore summer as she struggles to balance school, sports and an active social life. $12.95, Amazon.com, Target, Barnes and Noble 10 The Great American Staycation

A book on how to make a vacation at home fun for the entire family and easy on your wallet. $9.95, www.amazon.com, Borders

July 2009 | 13

chick lit

Chick Lit

Looking for Child Care?

By Keri Mikulski

SOMEBODY ELSE’S DAUGHTER by Elizabeth Brundage

fter circumstances force free spirit wanderers Nate and Cat to give up their baby daughter, Willa, to wealthy farm owners, Cat ironically dies during the ride home. Consequently, Nate spends years wandering, weeping and wondering about Willa. Many grief-filled years later, Nate begins teaching English at the prestigious Pioneer school in Massachusetts and Willa unknowingly sits in his class. As Nate’s eventual fate unfolds, so do the secrets of this so-called perfect private school, exposing all the embarrassing escapades of the parents, faculty and students. Elizabeth Brundage’s descriptive and beautiful prose immediately sucks the reader inside the scandalous world of affluence. A true eye opening escape, Somebody Else’s Daughter will keep readers glued to their beach chairs for hours. If you are looking to be completely swept away, like a sailboat on a summer day, do not miss Somebody Else’s Daughter.

Promote children, families and quality learning in Gloucester and Cape May Counties

Southern Regional Child Care Resource Center, EIRC

• Parent Referrals • Child Care Subsidy Assistance • Child Adult Care Food Program • Infant/Toddler Programming • Strengthening Families • Technical Assistance on Early Care Issues • Professional Development • SAC Resources • Child Care Health Consultation • Family Child Care Registration

Monday-Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm

856.582.8282 • www.eirc.org

Laugh Out Loud..................................Serious tone Escape Potential ..................................J J J J J Brain Use ............................................J J J J 1/2 Worth Losing Sleep Over....................Sometimes Overall ................................................J J J J 1/2 / 5✲ Keri Mikulski is a mom, author, coach, and college writing instructor. Her young adult novel, SCREWBALL and the sequel CHANGE-UP are now available. Visit her blog and enter to win Chick Lit Pick novels at http://kerimikulski.blogspot.com. She resides in Cape May County with her family.

Not a School, Not a Clinic... But the BEST Practices from Both Programs for infants/children including: • Mommy and Me • Sensory Motor Play • Handwriting Without Tears™ • Therapeutic Listening™ • Occupational Therapy Ask about Kaleisoscope Kids Summer Kamp

14 | July 2009

856.692.9292 • www.schlinic.com The Schlinic, LLC • 3530

E. Oak Road • Vinelan

www.southjerseymom.com

The

ids love adventure, discovery and excitement. A pen pal can give kids all this and more. Today, having a pen pal can be only a click away. There are a few different types of pen pal friendships kids can get involved in. One such option is the Make A Child Smile organization (MACS). Founded in 1998, their mission is to support children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses and their families. While MACS does not consider itself a pen pal website, their site does provide children the chance to make a difference in the lives of other children who are going through tough times. A list of do’s and don’ts can be found at

www.southjerseymom.com

FUN Pen Pal Friendship of a

www.makeachildsmile.org This is a great option for children looking for ways to help other children. Why not make it a class project and put together a package of letters? The idea is to “MACS” – make a child smile. For example, children can send letters telling about their family, sending pictures of their pets and sharing with other kids. Kids can find more traditional pen pal friendships at www.friendship-by-mail.com and the International Kids Pen Pal Network at www.kidsmc.com. Here, they can find children their own age with similar interests from all over the world who are looking for a pen pal too. Kids are very interested in the world today and what goes on in it. Having a pen pal can give them a glimpse into the lives of children across the world. With the assistance of their parents, the pen pal buddy system can be tons of safe fun for everyone involved! Inquiring kids want to know!✲

By Jean Jones

Come Outside and Play!

Nine Garden Themes

Three Amusement Rides

Indoor Exhibits Family Festivals

Festival de Aibonito ~ Jun 27 & 28 BlueBEARy Blast ~ Jul 11 & 12 Storybook Celebration ~ Jul 25 & 26 Peach Party ~ Aug 8 & 9 Chocolate & Vanilla ~ Aug 22 & 23

Weekend Birthday Parties Available &DPGHQ &KLOGUHQ·V *DUGHQ 5LYHUVLGH 'ULYH Camden NJ 08103 856-365-8733 ZZZ &DPGHQ&KLOGUHQV*DUGHQ RUJ

July 2009 | 15

her sotry

I Believe in Miracles

By Emily Seltzer

Tomasso. “During the surgery, I felt like the baby was going to fall out.” When she got home, the mom-to-be was in horrific pain and was barely mobile. “It would take me ten minutes just to walk to the bathroom and I had to sleep sitting up.” Tomasso’s biggest fear throughout the pregnancy was that the cancer would come back and she would lose her baby. Christopher is now 15 months old, healthy and happy. Even though some doctors discouraged Tomasso from trying to get pregnant, she did not give up. “It’s the risk you have to take if it’s something you want,” says Tomasso. She prayed every day the year before she got pregnant and asked God to help her have another baby. Since then, Tomasso has had the hysterectomy and is now cancer free. She has regular GYN visits and always stays informed. This experience changed her view on life. “I feel more hopeful now and I believe in miracles!”✲ hortly after giving birth to her first child, Michelle Tomasso was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She had no signs or symptoms. In fact, 3,000-5,000 women who have cervical cancer die each year because they do not know they have abnormal cells, and do not go for regular OB/GYN visits. After being given the grim news that she had cancer, Tomasso had a “Leep” procedure done in order to remove cancerous tissue from her cervix. However, doctors told Tomasso she had to have a hysterectomy to keep the cancer from coming back. Tamasso planned on having more children and was saddened that she would not be able to give her daughter a sibling. She and her husband agonized over the life altering decision of whether or not to try and get pregnant before scheduling the hysterectomy. The doctors gave Tomasso one year to get pregnant. If she did not get pregnant within that time, she would have to have the hysterectomy. “I couldn’t believe how many fertility options they gave us,” says Tomasso. “But I didn’t want to use any fertility drugs. I wanted to get pregnant naturally. If it wasn’t going to happen, it wasn’t going to happen.” Almost a year had passed when Tomasso scheduled her hysterectomy. Shortly before the surgery, she decided to take a pregnancy test one last time and, to her surprise, the test was positive! However, this pregnancy was not easy. Early on, doctors informed Tomasso that she did not have enough of her cervix left (as a result of the Leep procedure) to support the baby in the womb. Tomasso underwent an Abdominal Cerclage, an invasive procedure that allows the cervix to support the weight of the baby until the end of the pregnancy. “The Abdominal Cerclage was worse than giving birth 20 times in a row,” says

16 | July 2009

www.southjerseymom.com

Who Said Going to the Dentist Can’t Be FUN? By Jessica Humphrey In addition to being a full family service practice, all services except orthodontics, including treatment for “diseases of the mouth,” are done on premises. Along with a genuine concern for their patients, the three dentists on hand each bring their own expertise, including pediatric dentistry, general dentistry and periodontal health. “We do not double-book patients. When you are here, you are the only one,” says Hayat. “In addition, we always respond to patient calls within a few hours. When you call, you will be contacted back

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quickly or connected to our personal cell phone.” Going to the dentist can be a stressful and nerve racking time, but at Alpha Dental Associates, patients are part of a family where going to the dentist is fun for young and old. “We schedule enough time [for the patient] to feel at ease and for things to be well explained to them,” says Hayat. “It’s important to make it fun, as well as a learning experience, especially for the child. Adults sit [and tolerate]. Children will run out of your chair.” Welcoming faces, the entertaining waiting room and experts willing to teach their patients make Alpha Dental Associates the place to take your family for their pearly whites.✲

business spotlight

ew folks actually like going to the dentist – the odd tools, uncomfortable x-rays and a stranger’s hands in your mouth is enough to make an adult run scared, not to mention a young child. Dr. Hamid Hayat at Alpha Dental Associates in Cinnaminson is a pediatric dentist, providing a dentistry establishment unlike any other. “Going to the dentist isn’t easy,” says Hayat, pediatric specialist for over thirtyfour years and professor of Pediatric Dentistry at Penn University. “No one likes it, but if the hygienist is a friendly face with a caring and gentle hand, you are more comfortable.” Making their patients feel comfortable and welcomed upon arrival is the top priority at this 45-year-old dentistry firm. Open Monday through Thursday, with 9 p.m. closings on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the establishment prides itself on their tolerance, patience and service. “We offer treatment and care for the whole family. [Mom, Dad, and children] can all come in and be seen at the same time and be finished at the same time,” says Hayat.

For more information regarding services, hours of operation, or to make an appointment, visit Alpha Dentist Associates at www.alphasmiles.com or call (856) 829-1989.

Relax Mom—We Take the Fear Out of Visiting the Dentist!

INDOOR nd Playgrou

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Our child-friendly staff offers the perfect beginning for a lifetime of oral health for your child Alpha Dental 2103 Branch Pike Cinnaminson, NJ

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Dr. Hayat of Alpha Dental makes visiting the dentist fun!

One coupon or discount per customer per week.

www.southjerseymom.com

July 2009 | 17

book review

Tale Spin Stories Read-to-Me Book Reviews By Kathryn Ross, a.k.a. “Miss Kathy”

CRACK! The bat hits the ball and we know summer is in full swing with folks catching baseball fever from sea to shining sea! A purely American sport, baseball has given us some of our greatest sports heroes and most cherished collective moments – where every grown-up feels like a kid and communities rally around the commonplace of “team”! Once the Super Bowl is over, in my house at least, baseball season begins. My husband, an avid fan of the game, rearranges all his baseball books and memorabilia and re-reads his favorite publications – especially anything detailing the highly emotional history of the Brooklyn Dodgers. And, for him, there is no baseball player more worthy to read about – and re-read about – than Sandy Koufax, the left handed pitcher for the Dodgers in the 1950’s and 60’s. What? You never heard of Sandy Koufax? Apparently the author, Jonah Winter, was afraid that might be the case with a contemporary generation of young baseball fans… young fans who think a baseball hero is the stereotypical steroid-charged, grossly overpaid celebrity so prevalent today. Winter confirms this is not so! There was a day when grace, manners, humility, integrity and raw talent set apart a true hero. Enter Sandy Koufax. Enter Winter’s excellent biography of Koufax, complimented by the stunning retro-feel artwork of Andre Carrilho. The lens-shaped cover first captures your attention with the special effect of movement – a series of three drawings, rendering Koufax in a pitch, blur together with the holographic-type appearance of follow-through. This bodes greater things to come inside – and we are not disappointed. The role model of Sandy Koufax, his sterling career, and character worthy of emulation provides young and old with a checklist by which any and all heroes should be judged. The text reads in the first person – very conversational – as though you are sitting in 18| July 2009

T HEME : Take Me Out to the Ballpark! B OOK : You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax? A UTHOR : Jonah Winter I LLUSTRATOR : Andre Carrilho EAN: 9780375837388

Brooklyn, in Ebbets Field, talking baseball with the fellow next to you. Hotdog anyone? Follow-up Activity: Read this aloud with elementary through middle school youngsters. Make a list of the various character qualities you see exhibited by Koufax as the story of his wins, losses and challenges on the field play out. Have intelligent discussion with your family about the lessons learned from his example, and how those lessons might be applied to your own life. Then, go out in the yard – and have a catch!✲ Kathryn Ross is a professional storyteller celebrating the love of learning and literacy with children of all ages. She hosts Tale Spin Stories every Tuesday for preschoolers at the Cumberland Mall in Vineland. To learn more about Miss Kathy programs from Pageant Wagon Productions, visit www.pwpstorytellers.com.

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EXERCISE AND FUN FOR YOU AND THE KIDS! Now available: Music for little ears. Tues/Wed mornings. Yoga T/Th am, Wed evenings. *NEW CLASS, “HULA”, now forming. Also Natural Childbirth Classes and gentle Chiropractic care for children. The Cafe of Life, 1 N. Valley Ave., Vld. (856) 794-9888 or www.thegoodlifefamily.com

weight. Private, large and small group consultations. Call Leslie Richardson @ 1877-DROP-003 or Evette Glover @ (856) 213-1986 for more info. HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE, HONEST, AFFORDABLE HEATING CONTRACTOR? Then you’ve found them! For new construction, including custom homes, upgrades, change outs or renovations call RJ Mechanical for all your HVAC needs. (856) 690-9692. JOB OPPORTUNITIES NEED EXTRA INCOME? If you need to make money without putting the kids in daycare, call us today. Work from home; set your own hours. Great local support. No billing, no collections, no carrying inventory. For more info call (856) 305-7680.

TIME 4 DRAMA REGISTERING FOR SUMMER CLASSES We enhance your child’s self-esteem and confidence through physical exercise, role-play, vocal exercises, music, costumes, masks, etc. Locations at Kid Junction and Little Sport. July 1-Aug 19. 8 weeks=$80 plus FREE play at participating facility. www.time4drama.com or call (609) 502-4112.

MONDAY MORNING MOMS® Family Childcare Management consulting with Stay-At-Home Moms who make home-based, full-time childcare their career! We’ll help with the equipment, screening, advertising and support!! (856) 802-0500 or MomsNSoNJ@aol.com

COOKING SERVICES INTIMATE CUISINES Stay in, relax and let us prepare great cuisines for you at home! Our services include event catering, weekly stress-free meal plans for your family, cooking lessons and in-home cooking parties for kids. Great gift for busy moms. (609) 556-5005, www.intimatecuisines.com

MENTAL HEALTH DEFIANT? OPPOSITIONAL? RESTLESS? INATTENTIVE? DEPRESSED? ANXIOUS? Struggling with your child’s behavior? Then the time to call Dr. Katherine Perez-Rivera is NOW! A licensed psychologist specializing in clinical pediatrics, she offers individual, group, marital and family therapy, behavior modification services, play therapy and more. Call today! (856) 383-0585.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS DROP 3 SIZES IN 10 MINUTES, NO PILLS, CREAMS OR DIETS! Reshape your body, improve posture, increase memory and energy. Lose, maintain or gain

PARTIES – ADULT NOOKIE PARTIES Host a Nookie Party & earn loads of FREE romance products! Cash-n-carry available!

Free 2- night vacation for party hostesses! Earn 50% as a Consultant w/no quotas or requirements. Couples parties also available. Book your party today! (856) 397-2234 or www.NookieParties.com. Use coupon code SJMOM at checkout for 10% off online orders. PARTIES – CHILDREN HOST A BIRTHDAY PARTY IN YOUR BACK YARD OR OTHER LOCATION! Tumblin’ Tots brings the music & activities for 1 hour of FUN! Ages 2-5 yrs. Includes musical warm up, obstacle course, parachute play & more! Visit www.TumblinTots.net or call (856) 912-3079.

resource guide

CLASSES JUMPBUNCH SPORTS & FITNESS FOR KIDS Introduces sports and fitness to children in a non-competitive environment. 18 mos-12 years. Classes improve gross motor skills, hand/eye coordination, balance, and self-esteem & teamwork. For details contact Jamie (856) 433-8220, jstiely@jumpbunch.com. Ask about our birthday parties & summer camps! www.jumpbunch.com

PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY NEED HELP GUIDING YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENTAL JOURNEY? At The Schlinic, happy childhoods are our specialty. Kids come for awesome motor equipment, fun sensory experiences and developmental play. Parents come for answers, professionals who listen, assessments and research-supported intervention. Learn more at www.schlinic.com or call Dr. Jodi and Karen at (856) 692-9292. WILLS/ESTATE PLANNING WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN? Appointing Guardians for your minor children is one of the most important aspects of Estate Planning. Complimentary initial consultation. Mention this ad and receive 15% discount for July. Contact James F Fahy, Esq., LLC to learn more. Call (856) 287-3107 or email JFahylaw@verizon.net.

x Le o F

arning Cen ter

• Drama • Gymnastics • Academics • World History Class • Dance

• Music • Swimming at the YMCA • Cooking Classes • Arts and Crafts • Weekly Field Trips

Full Days: 7am-6pm Half Days: 9am-1pm or 1pm-5pm

www.southjerseymom.com

July 2009 | 19

Vacation Close to Home This Summer Include these events in your family “Staycation” ATLANTIC COUNTY Merchants in Venice Seafood Festival July 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. Come feast on the best seafood in the area. Enjoy entertainment and rides for the kids. From 6th to 9th Streets on Asbury Ave., Ocean City. (609) 399-2269. Galloway Movies in The Park July 25 at 8:45 p.m. Journey to the Center of the Earth, rated PG. FREE. Bring your blankets and chairs to enjoy a night under the stars. Refreshments available for purchase. Galloway Municipal Complex, Jimmie Leads Rd., Galloway. (609) 652-8657

BURLINGTON COUNTY Burlington County Farm Fair July 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. Entertainment, exhibits, 4-H animals, antique farm equipment, children’s tractor pull, amusements, music, food and a recyclable scarecrow contest open to the public. $10/parking Lumberton Green, Main St. (Rt. 541), Lumberton. (609) 267-2881, www.burlingtoncountyfarmfair.com BCC’s 5th Annual Employee Showcase July 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. Visit the Student Gallery and Art Store to view the instructors’ and employees’ creative talents in a display of artwork and fine crafts. Burlington County College Student Art Gallery, 1 High Street, Mt. Holly, (609) 267-5618

CAMDEN COUNTY Independence Day Week BBQ on the Battleship July 3 Tour our nation’s most decorated battleship and enjoy hamburgers,

hot dogs. The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, 62 Battleship Place, Camden. (866) 877-6262 or www.battleshipnewjersey.org. The Princess and the Pea July 14-18 at 10a; July 18 at 1p A prince travels the world, searching for a real princess to marry. One evening, a woman claiming to be a real princess sneaks into the prince’s castle. The prince’s mother decides to test her by a unique method of using a single pea. The Ritz Theatre, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Twp. (856) 858-5230 or www.ritztheatreco.org Storybook Celebration Family Festival July 25 & 26 from 12 to 4 p.m. Crafts and readings of children’s classics. Plant your own magic beans and enjoy interactive storytelling. $6/adults, $4/ children (3-11), FREE/ 2 & under. Camden Children’s Garden on the waterfront in Camden, (856) 365-TREE (8733) or www.camdenchildrensgarden.org Ice Cream Sock Hop July 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. Kids enjoy singing, dancing, playing instruments, personalizing soda jerk hats and make their very own ice-cream sundaes. A fun, interactive day. All ages welcome! $18/child, The Pop Shop, 729 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, (856) 869-0111. Bernard’s Salon and Spa Girls Night Out July 14 at 7 p.m. Join us for a night of fun with spa services, food, wine, shopping, give-a-ways and more. $35/pp Bernard’s, 100 Springdale Rd, Cherry Hill. (856) 795-1701. Beauty and the Beast Jr. July 29-7:30p; July 30 & 31-10:30a Watch a teapot, teacups and candlesticks come to life while Belle tames the Beast and finds true love. Dennis Flyer Theater, Lincoln Hall, Camden County College, 200 College Dr, Blackwood. $11/evening; $9/ morning. (856) 227-3091 or www.mainstage.org

Hearing Screenings July 15 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Must be at least 3 years of age, able to follow directions and tolerate wearing headphones in order to be screened. FREE for patients of the practice, $4/pp for non-patients. Mary’s Place Pediatric Rehab, 9004 F Lincoln Dr. W., Marlton, (856) 988-1160.

CAPE MAY COUNTY Independence Day Celebration July 4 & 5 from 10a to 4:30p Celebrate with patriotic programs, and American food. A special 4th of July 19th century baseball game will be played on the Village farm Saturday at noon. $8/adults, $7/seniors, $6/kids 3-12, FREE under 3. Historic Cold Spring Village, Rt. 9, Cape May (609) 898-2300, ext. 10 or www.hcsv.org Family Fun Weekend July 25 & 26 from 10a to 4:30p Enjoy family-oriented activities and crafts including music, hands-on projects, face painting, papermaking, 19th century dress-up clothes & more. $8/adults, $7/seniors, $6/kids 3-12, FREE under 3. Historic Cold Spring Village, Rt. 9, Cape May (609) 898-2300, ext. 10 or www.hcsv.org

CUMBERLAND COUNTY The Villain Vaudevillians July 30, 31 & Aug 1 Pageant Wagon Productions Old-Fashioned American Melodrama Summer Family Theatre presents Showstoppers at Starr's Theatrical Emporium or "The Villain Vaudevillians". Evenings 7p, Sat @ 1:30p. Calvary Chapel Playhouse, Vineland. Call (856) 205-9334 for tickets. Visit www.pwpstorytellers.com for more info. Downtown Vineland Seafood Festival July 18 A smorgasbord of seafood with Vineland’s finest restaurants and fresh food purveyors serving up shrimp, clams, calamari, mussels, chowders & more. Dance to great live music played on our incredible

man-made beach right in the middle of Landis Avenue! (856) 794-8653.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY Movies in the Park July 1 at 8 p.m. Kung Fu Panda showing at Wenonah Park, Mantua Ave, Wenonah. Family Fun Show July 8 at 10:30 a.m. N. J. Academy for Aquatic Sciences - Beach Detectives Show at Chestnut Branch Park Main Boulevard, Mantua.

SALEM COUNTY Woodstown July 4th Parade/ 5K Run/Fireworks July 4 at 8 a.m. Woodstown and Pilesgrove kick off Independence Day with the annual “Firecracker 5K” in Marlton Park. Parade starts at 10a; Memorial Lake down Main Street towards Marlton Road ending at Marlton Park. Fireworks in Marlton Park at dark. Market Street Day—July 18 Annual street fair featuring live music, vendors, activities for children, car show, museum exhibits and food court. Market St., Salem. www.marketstreetday.com Alice Through the Looking Glass July 22-24 at 10 a.m. Musical version of the Lewis Carroll classic. Salem Community College, 460 Hollywood Avenue (856) 935-2562 or www.oakwoodsummertheatre.com For a complete list of events, log onto www.southjerseymom.com. To submit your event, send an email to calendar@southjerseymom.com. Submit eight weeks prior to the event. First come first serve basis, space is limited.