Chicago Parent May 2014 by Chicago Parent

MAY 2014 | FREE

CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES

133 WAYS to love May

Make room for your

MIL What

moms really want CP_Cover2_May2_2014.indd 13

Oh baby

Childbirth surprises 4/16/14 12:30 PM

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BECAUSE EDUCATION BEGINS AT BIRTH

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ChicagoParent.com May 2014 3

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Join us for an upcoming Open House at our West Loop location! Monday, May 5th 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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www.littlegreentreehouse.com 4 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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WES

N BA

1OO YEARS E

1914

UBUR TS

IC AL CENT

2014

At the Irving & Margaret Houck Family Birthing Centre,

We Treat You Like Family. We know that the birth experience should be one where you feel empowered, joyful, confident, and cared for. For those seeking low intervention options for delivery, our Alternative Birthing Center is home to one of the largest midwifery programs in the area where we offer patients a variety of choices, including: • Support for low intervention birthing • Home-like setting with a queensize bed, television, refrigerator, microwave, and free internet access • Tubs for water labor and birth • Telemetry monitory to allow free mobility labor • All private, labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum rooms All our patients – whether choosing the Alternative Birthing Center or planning a delivery with one of our board-certified obstetricians – can take comfort in the superior level of care offered at West Suburban Medical Center.

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a new

perspective on learning

We are preparing students for life. At GEMS World Academy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Chicago, every day brings a new experience. With established connections to classrooms around the world, we offer JK-12 students the opportunity to interact with their peers globally and build life experiences right in the heart of Chicago.

Opening Fall 2014. Attend an open house to find out more. Scholarships are offered across a range of disciplines. www.gemsworldacademy-chicago.com | 312-300-6658

6 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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contents IN THIS ISSUE 15

GOOD TO GO

THE SELF-AWARE PARENT

TRENDING

CRAFT

FAILING WITH GUSTO

FEATURES ON A MISSION 41 DIVAS Twins turn couponing and saving into family business PERFECT 43 THE MOTHER’S DAY

What moms really want on their special day

Are your kids really ungrateful? Suiting up for summer Homemade lotion bars for mom

Make room for your MIL 83

MAY 2014 | VOLUME 30 | NO. 5

We have the scoop on birdwatching, the new Kinzie Hotel, Crosstown Fitness and a mom’s night out at One Strange Bird

CALENDAR

133 ways to love May

ON THE COVER OH BABY! ISSUE 47 THE Childbirth: What you don’t hear

MAY 2014 | FREE

from the experts Meg’s special room: HGTV star shares her secrets to creating a unique nursery Help is just a phone call away: Fussy Baby Network ready to assist Positively pregnant: Surrogacy on the rise as couples seek alternative ways to build a family Genetic testing gets easier: First trimester genetic screening available with blood test

CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES

133 WAYS Make room for your

MIL What

moms

really want

Cover kid: Quincy Debra Tung, 6 months, Chicago

to love May

Photography: Liz DeCarlo

Design: Claire Innes

Oh baby Childbirth surprises

Coming this month

GOING PLACES Available beginning Mayy 19

ChicagoParent.com t.com May 2014 7

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Summertime

Mar vels on the Mississippi!

Write something... Sarah Loved our summer getaway to the Quad Cities! Great restaurants. Cool and highenergy festivals right on the banks of the river. Lots to see and do! Sunday at 11:02 pm • Like Ann Sounds like what all families would love to do! Tuesday at 4:32 pm • Like Sarah For sure! It’s the perfect family summer adventure, and affordable. Check out www.visitquadcities.com. Five hours ago • Like

Comment • Like • Suggest to Friends For lodging and travel information contact the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau 800-747-7800 or visit online at visitquadcities.com.

The road to motherhood My road to becoming mom wasn’t without its bumps. In fact, it surprises people when I tell them that I didn’t originally want kids because my life now revolves around my kids and I am happiest when I am around babies and other little kids. And yes, as I told you last fall, I still yearn for another baby to fill my arms. But in my early 20s, I was stuck in an abusive marriage. While I saw no hope of escaping the relationship, I also knew there was no way I ever would bring a TAMARA L. baby into the situation, even though he O’SHAUGHNESSY often manipulated my birth control pill packages so he could have a mini version of himself. So when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I finally had a perfect reason to have a tubal ligation (the deductible was already met so the operation was free to me!) and put the baby issue to rest once and for all. I eventually did escape the relationship. And a year later, I met my husband, Bob. Suddenly, all I wanted to do was build a family with him. I wanted one; he wanted three. It cost $10,000 cash to reconnectt my tubes. The doctors were great Join me every Friday and after a few months of follownight at Chicago ing their sex schedule, we knew it Parent’s Facebook had worked. Marty arrived that fall. ll. page to discuss our Then came Arlee four years later weekly parenting and Zoë three years after that. We dilemma. joke that in the end, Bob won the child lottery. It’s a story that surprises people.. I’ve always believed that everything hing happens for a reason, and while I may not understand why my life took a crazy path in my early 20s, I am thankful that the path led me to my here and now, with three amazing kids and a job that lets me share what I’ve learned along the way. I especially like this month’s issue, our baby issue. I share my motherhood story as a reminder that no matter how you arrived at being a mom you should avoid getting caught up in the Hallmark holiday craze of Mother’s Day. You already have the best gift; take a deep breath and enjoy the little moments with your kids. Happy Mother’s Day to all.

8 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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Opens May 2

ow! h S e h t f o r a t S e Where You’re th wow your d n a g n ri r te n e c Take to the mes, big-top tu s o c y z ra c h it w friends much more! d n a s e c n a rm o rf pe mble, juggle, tu to ” e g ta s k c a Go “b d spin! balance, hang an

ChicagoChildrensMuseum.org AT NAVY PIER • Open daily at 10 am • (312) 527-1000 ChicagoParent.com May 2014 9

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CONTRIBUTORS

What we really want this Mother’s Day

EDITOR Tamara L. O’Shaughnessy SENIOR EDITOR Liz DeCarlo ASSOCIATE EDITOR Elizabeth Diffin DIGITAL EDITOR Graham Johnston DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Jackie

McGoey

ART DIRECTOR Claire Innes EDITORIAL DESIGNER Jaquinete Baldwin,

Sky Hatter

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cathy Cassani

The ideal Mother’s Day would be a beautiful spring day planting flowers with my littles and an afternoon with our family and the other mothers in my life. Megan Murray Elsener

The very best gifts ALWAYS are thoughtfully and legibly hand-written love notes from my two boys. This year I want it in essay form. And one entire day of pee-free toilet seats. Meredith Sinclair

Botox and a new martini shaker. Marianne Walsh

If you asked me that question four years ago, my response would have been “ME TIME!” I’m a little bit older and wiser and my kids are diaper- and (usually) tantrum-free. So, really I just want a fun day outside with my kids and husband … and lots of attention on me! Kristy MacKaben

Adams, Danielle Braff, Donna Bozzo, Megan Cottrell, Megan Murray Elsener, Kelly JamesEnger, Sara R. Fisher, Christopher Garlington, Caitlin Murray Giles, Linda Marsicano, Kristy MacKaben, Christine Palumbo, Meredith Sinclair, Marianne Walsh DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES

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Specializing DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Alan Majeski in Dentistry for CREDIT MANAGER Debbie Zari Diplomates of the Children & Specializing American Board PUBLISHER Dan Haley Adolescents of Pediatric Dentistry inDiplomates Dentistry VP/OPERATIONS DIRECTOR of for the Johnston Dennis R. LaMonte,Andrew D.D.S., M.S. Steven T. Kuhn,Board D.D.S. American Children & Specializing COMPTROLLER Ed Panschar of Pediatric Dentistry Adolescents FOUNDERS Natalie Goodman, in Dentistry for Specializing Carolyn Jacobs Dennis R.Exceptional LaMonte, D.D.S., M.S. Steven T. Kuhn, D.D.S. Children & forGeneral & Cosmetic in Dentistry HOW TO REACH US Adolescents Children & Exceptional Dentistry Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

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141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Illinois 60302 (708) 386-5555 ChicagoParent.com EDITORS

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Chicago Parent is published monthly by Wednesday Journal, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chicago Parent, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL, 60302. © 2014 Wednesday Journal, Inc. All rights reserved.

10 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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Join us at one of our three locations: May 10, 2014 • St. James Farm in Warrenville, IL May 17, 2014 • Grant Park in Chicago, IL June 1, 2014 • Vernon Hills Athletic Complex in Vernon Hills, IL Visit gotrchicago.org/gotrc5k or call 773-342-1250 for more information. Raise funds and win prizes including a 1-year, all-access membership to Chicago Athletic Clubs, National an iPad and more! Sponsors:

Visit gotrchicago.org/gotrc5k or call 773-342-1250 for more information. Visit gotrchicago.org/gotrc5k or call 773-342-1250 for more information. Girls on the Run–Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.National Using a fun, Sponsors: National experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running, the innovative program combines training for a 5k event with interactive lessons Sponsors: that encourage positive social, emotional, mental and physical development. Over the past 14 years, Girls on the Run–Chicago has served more than 35,000 young girls across six Chicagoland counties. This year, more than 1,000 coaches will mentor 8,000 girls, empowering them with the confidence and character they need to become strong, healthy women.

Girls on the Run–Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. Using a fun,

Girls on the Run–Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profi t organization whose mission is training to inspire to be healthy experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running, the innovative program combines for agirls 5k event withjoyful, interactive lessonsand confident. Usin that encourage positive social, emotional, mental and integrates physical development. the past 14 years, Girls on the Run–Chicago hasfor served experience-based curriculum which creatively running,Over the innovative program combines training a 5kmore event with interactive than 35,000 young girls across six Chicagoland counties. This year, more than 1,000 coaches will mentor 8,000 girls, empowering them with the that encourage positive social, emotional, mental and physical development. Over the past 14 years, Girls on the Run–Chicago has serv confidence and character they need to become strong, healthy women. than 35,000 young girls across six Chicagoland counties. This year, more than 1,000 coaches will mentor 8,000 girls, empowering them confidence and character they need to become strong, healthy women. 12 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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ON THE WEB

All new at ChicagoParent.com

e have a new look and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out, thanks to Digital Editor Graham Johnston. Best of all, everything on the site will work on any of your devices—desktop, phone, tablet—so you’ll always have access to the best calendar and parenting information in Chicago. Stop by for a visit and let us know what you think.

KEELY FLYNN, LOLLYGAG BLOG

Lyric Opera’s star on being a mom Broadway star Jenn Gambatese headlines as Maria in the Lyric Opera’s “The Sound of Music.” Recently, she chatted with me about the magic of the Lyric Opera, raising a kid while in show business and just how Greek her co-star (and Chicago’s homegrown boy) Billy Zane really is.

May is bountiful with prizes This month we’re brimming with great giveaways for your family. The movie offerings include a new take on Oz with the animated “Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return,” baseball movie “Million Dollar Arm” (Moms: it stars Jon Hamm!), and Angelina Jolie’s villainous turn in “Maleficent.” Plus, if you’re thinking about just how you’re going to keep your kids busy all summer, we’re giving away four spots to three ProCamps: The Bears’ Matt Forte, the Cubs’

Starlin Castro and the Bulls’ Taj Gibson. Can you even imagine how excited your little athletes will be to spend some time with the pros?! And we have something yummy for your tummy that’s healthy, too. We are giving away all seven varieties of Zemas Madhouse Foods superfood, ancient grain-filled, gluten-free baking mixes. If you haven’t tried Zemas yet, you are missing out big time. Watch our great weekly newsletters and ChicagoParent.com to enter.

For the full interview, visit Keely’s blog at ChicagoParent. com. The Sound of Music runs until May 25 For ticket info, call (312) 827-5600 or visit lyricopera.

What would be on your ‘My Favorite Things’ list of Chicago? The Art Institute, the Art Institute, the Art Institute! Such great restaurants, and the people! The people would definitely be on my favorite things list for Chicago. And now for an unfair question: how do you balance raising a kid with staying with the forward momentum of a career in the arts?

I think there was a period when she was just born that it was just about accepting that I was stepping off the career path for a bit—and happily and importantly doing it. But the number one answer to that question is my amazing husband and my amazing mother. Does your daughter dig what you do or is just another 9-5 job in her eyes? She digs it! There are definitely sacrifices for her as well, and before I left it was “I don’t want you to go!” But, she also loves the magic of theater and loves seeing the shows. I certainly won’t thrust it upon her and I hope it’s a passing phase, but she makes a lot of peeps about wanting to do it with me.

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ChicagoParent.com May 2014 13

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Joyful? Excited? And maybe a little worried?

Having a baby should be a blissful time. You want it to be a wonderful experience. But you know that “anything can happen.” You need the peace of mind that if anything does happen, you are in the best place with all the medical professionals you need ready to help at a moment’s notice. Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center provides the safety net you might need. + 24/7 “in-house” neonatology — there for your baby at a moment’s notice. + Level II nursery with Extended Capabilities to address whatever your baby needs. + Interdisciplinary medical professionals “in house,” including anesthesiologists, interventional radiologists, surgeons, stroke team, cardiologists and specially trained, certified (RNC) nurses. + Access to information customized to your stage of pregnancy. + A personal birthing consultant. + Interactive messaging customized to each stage of your pregnancy. We hope your experience is joyful from beginning to end, and we are here to help make that happen.

Get in touch. Call 815.737.4636 to arrange a meeting with a Personal Birthing Consultant. Visit presencehealth.org/stjoseph-joliet-newmom to learn about other patients’ experiences. © 2014 Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center

14 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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takes flight in Chicago

almy spring days are definitely worth singing about, and the birds know it. Walk down any city street right now and you’ll hear their cheerful twitter and see more than a few feathers flying. It’s May and the birds have arrived in Chicago—lots and lots of birds. Every spring, millions of birds, representing more than 300 species, travel the Mississippi Flyway, a migratory route stretching from New Orleans to northwest Canada. Bird watching can be enjoyed any time of the year in Chicago, but May is the perfect month for beginning birders. “May simply has the greatest volume and variety of birds of

any month of the year. They’re everywhere—it’s a feast of birds,” says Sonny Cohen, bird enthusiast and board member of the Lake-Cook Audubon Society. By summer the birds get quieter as they nest, and many of the unusual species have moved on, he says. Even if you don’t plan to make bird watching a hobby, it’s a nice way to enjoy the outdoors and learn something new. Cohen offers these helpful tips for first time birders: Go with a group. You’ll learn faster, and experienced guides can take you to exact locations to view specific types of birds. A good pair of binoculars is essential. It’s OK to share, but ideally each person

1 2

carries their own pair. Bird watching field trips are most suitable for adults and children over 10. It’s best to start with backyard birding if you have kids under 10. Take a hat with a visor, mosquito repellent, binoculars, boots or sturdy shoes, a notebook and pen. Numerous class and field trip listings can be found at chicagoaudubon.org, lakecookaudubon.org and illinoisbirds. org, the website of the Illinois Ornithological Society. Kids 9-18 can check out the Illinois Young Birders Association, illinoisyoungbirders.org, for activities and field trips especially designed for them. Kathy Woods

3 4

Good to go

Bird watching

ChicagoParent.com May 2014 15

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GOOD TO GO

A health haven for new moms and kids

on’t sweat it, moms. There’s now a gym with many innovative options to get in shape—and it isn’t limited to onsite childcare. CrossTown Fitness in the West Loop neighborhood is a boutique fitness ss center offering exercise and nutrition classes for adults lts and kids and also a fun program allowing new moms to burn calories while bonding with other moms. Programs just for moms and kids include: Mommy Meet Up combines the social com-ponent of meeting other moms in the neighborhood with kids taking part in child-centered physical activities. The Mommy Meet Up

gathers every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m.-noon for an invigorating hour of obstacle courses, fun activities and a chance for new moms to interact. Total Body Stroller Fitness is a workout for new moms looking g to get g back into their pre-pregnancy shape. These classes are the best way to put the stroller to good use with cardiovascular and

Meet

respiratory endurance exercises. Plus, infants and toddlers will love the soothing rocking motions and upbeat jams. Classes take place every Wednesday from 11 a.m.-noon. CrossTown Kids is for kids kid 4-11 and incorporates rat specific neurological, cal cognitive and motor activities. CrossTown act Kids Kid classes are available Sundays from noon-1 p.m. Su There is also a compreT hensive pre- and post-natal he workout program, Baby Got wo Back, which includes three Ba months of unlimited classes mo and 12 personal one-on-one an training sessions. tra The best part? Affordability. T There are drop-in rates, T packages with unlimited classes and pretty much any option that suits your

schedule and budget. Onsite childcare with access to the “Kid’s Corner” starts at $3 per session with a package of five. Single sessions are only $5. Linda Marsicano

CrossTown Fitness 1031 W. Madison St., Chicago crosstownfitness.com

Alex

attends: The Gardner School age: 2 ½ years old teachers: Miss Ashley & Miss Terri favorite food: Spaghetti & Meatballs favorite color: Orange best friend: Samuel loves: Caterpillars

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4/10/14 5:44 PM

GOOD TO GO

The new Kinzie Hotel: Pamper your family and pets Chicago-style

he boutique Kinzie Hotel, formerly the Amfali, opened its refurbished doors in February and is an ode to Chicago’s history. The hotel, named after John Kinzie who was among the first permanent European settlers in Chicago, encourages guests to boldly explore Chicago just as Kinzie did nearly two centuries ago by providing them with all of the information needed to experience the city. The design and artwork is chic and Chicago-focused, including the stunning piece in the lobby by Chicago artist Jeremy Tubbs illustrating the El fashioned entirely out of duct tape. It’s that Chicago vibe that makes the Kinzie

unique among a bevy of hotels downtown, while the service and amenities will keep families coming back for more. After check in, relax in the newly styled rooms (notice the navigational map representing Chicago in the early 1800s blended throughout the wall covering above the bed), then head to the nightly reception at 5 p.m. in the Double Cross

Lounge where parents can sip Chicago-inspired cocktails and nibble hors d’ouevres while children drink a mocktail and munch on cheese, veggies and dip. The generous breakfast buffet on each floor makes it easy for a family to get some delicious nourishment before heading out to explore. The Kinzie provides

complimentary bikes and maps for exploring—and a Go Pro can be rented to record the city adventures. Can’t part with the pup? No problem, pets are welcome and can even be spoiled with the Pamper Your Pooch package that includes a doggie bed and doggie bowl to use during your stay, a welcome gift bag including a treat, toy and pet shampoo and a complimentary copy of FIDO Friendly magazine along with Kinzie’s “Pet Lover’s Guide to the City.” Linda Marsicano

Kinzie Hotel 20 W. Kinzie St., Chicago kinziehotel.com

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ChicagoParent.com May 2014 17

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am a sucker for jewelry. Not necessarily the diamond and sapphire kind (although I’ll take that, too!), but the type of chunky statement jewelry you can find at a boutique, art show … or the clearance rack at Target. So when I heard about an opportunity to design my own jewelry, I was on board for a girls’ night out. “Wine & Design Jewelry” is offered monthly, usually on Friday or Saturday nights, at One Strange Bird in Wicker Park. The friendly and helpful instructor walked our class of nine women step-by-step through two basic techniques for designing our own earrings and necklaces. Then he set us free to create. My sister and I both took to the simpler of the two methods, the foundational Simple Loop. Although I wasn’t as smooth or practiced as our talented instructor, the built-in practice time helped me perfect a reasonable imitation. It can be easy to get frustrated, but don’t be afraid to ask questions or get tips from the instructor or other students. The tools are provided, as is a wide variety of beads, chains, clasps and other accoutrements, so you can let your imagination run wild. I’m not the craftiest of people, aside from a few forays into scrapbooking and crocheting,

so it helped that the cozy studio has displays of jewelry that can give you inspiration (in other words, I’m a copycat). But in the end, I came away with a pair of earrings and a necklace that look like they could be storebought—as long as you don’t look too close at the detailing. The classes are designed for relaxation and fun, so participants are welcome to bring along a bottle of wine, beer, or whatever beverage suits their fancy. Bottle openers are provided, as is charming Ball jar glassware, which only adds to the girls-night-out feel. Our class was made up of pairs and trios, although it might be even more fun to get a big group of friends together for an outing or a special event like a shower or bachelorette party. Overall, it was a great opportunity to unwind, chat, and get a little creative with a friend. Elizabeth Diffin

Wine & Design Jewelry One Strange Bird, 2124 W. Division St., Chicago $40 (773) 276-4420 onestrangebird.com

18 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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THREE FOR YOU

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he key to happy parenting? Knowing when to outsource. Here are a few inexpensive—or free!—services perfect for busy parents.

If you’re like most techy parents, you have a boatload of cute video clips of the kids just sitting on your iPhone or other device taking up space with nobody enjoying them. Send them off to Yourkidvid and get a mini-film back—edited by actual Los Angeles film editors—for just $29, that can be shared with friends and family on social media. Yourkidvid.com.

Summer is coming and the Playground Pointers app makes

entertaining the kids so much easier. For just $1.99, the app contains a database of more than 700 Chicago playgrounds, with an overview, maps, photos and insider tips. Playgroundpointers.com.

No more dragging kids aimlessly around the mall trying to find the store or merchandise you need. Head to Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie with the free Westfield Shopping App 2.0, which helps shoppers find stores and specific items. The app also features a voiceactivated “Concierge” who can answer questions and provide information on sales. Go to westfield.com and click on APP. Linda Marsicano

Get 20% off at zemasfoods.com Use promo code: CHICAGOPARENT Expires June 30, 2014

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Ingredients: 1 Zemas Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie mix ⅛ c. unsweetened applesauce 3 T. grapeseed oil (coconut oil) ½ T. pure vanilla extract Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a stand up mixer with paddle attachment combine applesauce, oil and vanilla. Add in Zemas mix. Using your fingers, form 2-inch balls and place on cookie sheet. Using your palm, lightly press down into cookies. Bake 12-14 minutes, remove and cool 10 minutes on the cookies sheet. Tip: Add in dried cranberries or chopped nuts to mix it up and store leftovers in an airtight container. They also freeze well for later enjoyment! ©2014 Zema’s Madhouse Foods. All rights reserved. Photos and images are copyrighted Jill Motew. ©2014 All rights reserved.

ChicagoParent.com May 2014 19

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BEST IN CHI

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New mamas are ready to come out and play—or at least they’re ready to attempt to get the plastic wrap off the buggy that’s been hiding in the garage all damp spring. What’s better than a brand spanking new stroller? The chance to get out and get to some classes so you can bond with the new baby, meet other new moms, and get a little out-of-thehouse time.

Ohana Mom & Baby Group, 2956 Central St., Evanston, May 4-June 8, ohanaparents.com So many women feel unprepared for having a baby, and Ohana founder Jocelyn Alt saw a need to help new moms adjust to their new arrivals with a mom and baby support group based on the idea that it takes a village to raise a child. Ohana mom and baby groups move beyond just socialization to build a trusted and friendly educational resource for new parents. Groups meet once a week and cover topics such as feeding, sleeping and time management.

CocoonCare, 409 W. Huron St., Suite 100, Chicago, cocooncare.com For moms who are ready to get moving, CocoonCare in River North provides an outlet to bond while exercising with your infant. Classes like Baby and Me Yoga use

interactive poses that include your baby in every move. Or try a cognitive development class that uses the Child’Space method, which engages a baby’s developing system so that your little one will receive the stimuli he needs to approach critical milestones.

Musical Magic, 2255 W. Roscoe St., Chicago, musicalmagic.net Sometimes bonding with your baby also means socializing with other new moms. I remember long ago wandering around my neighborhood, baby in tow, just looking for a place to relax and mingle and provide my newborn with something other than staring at my face. Eight years later, Musical Magic still provides these opportunities for babies with their unique and original music classes and programs. Babies can enjoy the Boogyin’ Babies class and listen to owner Katie Jeep sing through tunes that are expressive, imaginative and ones that your tots will grow to sing on their own. Purely magical indeed!

20 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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starbright dance

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ChicagoParent.com May 2014 21

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THirTeenTH annual CoMMuniTy MenTal HealTH ConferenCe Sunday, June 1, 2014 • 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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Suicide: Responding and Creating Hope Making a diﬀerence in the lives of those at risk and in the lives of survivors. Providing an opportunity to explore and analyze the latest knowledge and developments. Panel of SPeakerS: David Clark, Ph.D., is Assistant Dean for Clinical Research, Professor of Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin; member of the International Academy for Suicide Research. Cheryl king, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Michigan; Director of the Youth Depression and Suicide Research Program. Heidi Bryan is a suicide attempt survivor who lost her brother to suicide in 1995. She serves on the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Suicide Attempt Survivor Prevention Task Force and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. father Charles T. rubey, MSW, Founder and Director of Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide, LOSS, will begin the conference with an inspirational message. Beth emet The free Synagogue 1224 Dempster St. • evanston, illinois 60202 Registration fee $40/$45 after May 15, 2014 • Scholarships available To learn more, call 312-467-2552. Visit our website and register online at www.naomicoheninstitute.org

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www.marklund.org Facebook.com/MarklundCharity 22 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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THE SELF-AWARE PARENT

You cook a great meal, or plan a great party, or change your work schedule to volunteer at school, but your children seem ungrateful. Not only do they seem ungrateful, they actually complain about the experience or wish it was better or different. CATHY CASSANI I know this is infuriating. I’ve ADAMS been there. I’ve felt the sting of unrecognized parenting efforts. But that’s just it. Our kids can’t begin to understand the daily challenges of an adult, and really, that’s a good thing. As much as we would like for them to validate and admire all of our efforts, this doesn’t always happen. Not because they are ungrateful or unkind, but because they are still learning to see beyond their own experiences. As parents, we tend to view our children’s lives through an adult lens. We expect them to understand life the way we do, to offer reasoned and consistently polite responses. These are important adult skills, but our kids are still learning how to do this. They are still developing their insight and hindsight. These experiences that we view as ungrateful are actually fantastic teaching opportunities. What better way to teach compassion or noticing the good than with a real-life example? Instead of being offended by our children or shaming them for not understanding the bigger picture, we can make a point to discuss what they may not have noticed. Of course, I am occasionally triggered by a

less-than-grateful response or unappreciative complaint. I’ve had my share of reactive or what-about-me responses. But when the dust settles, it becomes obvious that my kids just want what I want. They want to be heard and validated. They want to share what they feel. And sometimes a comment about a party being bad isn’t about the party at all; it’s about what someone said or did at the party. Sometimes a negative attitude at dinner isn’t about the food that was cooked; it’s just a releasing of accumulated stress from school. Instead of deciding that our kids are ungrateful, maybe we can first ask questions and do our best to view the situation from their perspective. Practicing gratitude is dependent upon recognizing and acknowledging what another shares. So if we want our children to develop this skill, we need to demonstrate and practice what we want them to know. Cathy Adams is an author, the host of Zen Parenting radio and the mom of three girls.

Need to know

Are your kids really ungrateful?

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MOM OF THE MONTH conversations about sex. I think the process of how couples fight really changes. ... When you are not sleeping, it really can cause depression. When you are exhausted and depressed, you are not really at your best to fight fairly. What has been the most surprising thing about being a mom? I think it’s really corny, but I think it’s the love I have toward my son, but also the love I have toward my husband. I see him in a completely different light. ... I knew I would be in love with my son, but I didn’t realize that my love toward my husband would change as well.

Photo by Paul Finnell

The relationship mom Mallory Rose

Husband, Matthew; son, Jeffrey, 18 months

{M.O.M}

Northbrook Staff therapist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, creator of a one-day workshop for parents-to-be, Staying Connected After the Birth of Your Baby What is the most common complaint you hear from couples? Conflict. I think it’s really important that people know that conflict is normal. A healthy relationship is not absence of conflict, but how conflict is handled. The content about what people are arguing about changes, things are coming up that you hadn’t thought about before baby, such as how to handle in-laws, values around parenting,

What has been the toughest transition for you as a parent? The anxiety. Even though we have a very healthy son, there’s always something you are going to be anxious about as a parent. I’m an anxious person and I own it, but I feel like there’s always something that I am worried about. What has been the funniest thing to happen since your baby arrived? We were in music class two weeks ago. We assume because he sees Matt and I kiss a lot, he’s a big kisser. I literally look over for one second and he’s gotten to first base with a 2-year-old. It’s not just a peck, they are French kissing.

Not your ordinary parenting class Parents-to-be often take classes focused on labor and delivery, breastfeeding and newborn care, but therapist Mallory Rose found the Chicago area lacking in ways to help couples keep their relationships strong. That’s why she created a workshop, Staying Connected After the Birth of Your Baby, held at New Mother New Baby, 3115 Dundee Road, Northbrook. “It’s really kind of a gift to do for your relationship, to make it a priority,” Rose says. In the workshop, she focuses on conflict management, division of labor, fighting fairly and warm fathering. “A lot of the research shows when mom and dad are happy, baby is happy. I think a lot of times that gets sidetracked. It’s very easy to forget about your significant other. Research also shows for a baby’s healthy emotional attachment, they really need to see parents having a healthy, loving relationship.” The next session is May 10. Register at newmothernewbaby. com or call the store at (847) 272-1500. Contact Rose at family-institute.org or (847) 733-4300.

A fun way to get kids to eat more veggies Try having a “make your own salad bar” night! It’s really easy. Just set out a bowl of greens and bowls of various chopped up veggies, fruits, nuts and cheeses. Let kids create their own masterpiece, experimenting with different combinations. Then they can top their salad with their favorite dressing. Add a loaf of garlic bread and you’ve got an easy dinner that empowers kids to make healthy choices. Keep it fun and your kids may surprise you! Elisa All, founder of 30SecondMom.com, is mom to three incredibly active kids who inspire her to be “in the know while on the go.”

24 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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PLUGGED-IN PARENT

A little bedtime reading

Q A

Is it OK for my daughter to read on her e-reader in bed at night?

Many parents—and kids—like to read themselves to sleep. But falling asleep with a paperback in bed is much different than dozing off with an electronic reader or iPad. Screens can affect sleep, utility cords can be hazardous, and devices can get accidentally damaged if not properly used. Less than 5 percent of children under age 8 use an e-reader daily, possibly preferring the cuddle time of reading with a parent. If your child does want to use an electronic device, consider these cautions:

1 SHARON MILLER CINDRICH

Set the screen. Reading in a dark room can be tough on the eyes. Some e-readers have backlighting that can

make reading difficult; others have book light settings that provide an easier view. Work with your child to increase type size if necessary and make lighting adjustments in the room and on her device so reading is easy on the eyes.

Unplug devices. Children should not bring an e-reader or tablet into their bed if it is plugged into an electrical wall outlet or charging on a computer. Kids can get tangled in cords, and power sources that come in contact with blankets or pillows may be a fire hazard. Devices should be charged away from the bed and power cords should always stay out of beds.

fall asleep with them in their bed. If your device has an alarm, set it to give a five-minute warning so kids can put their e-reader away before they fall asleep.

Set limits to avoid accidents. We’ve all dozed off while reading and been startled awake when the book hits the bridge of our nose. Now imagine that book was an iPad or a Kindle. Electronics with hard edges and metal and glass components can injure children who

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Unplug early to get a good night’s sleep. Electronic screens can disrupt sleep patterns and cause children to have difficulty sleeping soundly. Most experts recommend dialing down all screens including video games, computers and tablets well before a child goes to bed.

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AYSO Chicago Lakefront

Registration for Fall 2014-Spring 2015 Season Boys and Girls ages 4-15

www.ayso418.org ❏ Everyone Plays! ❏ Full Uniform to Keep

❏ Saturday Games at Lakefront between Lawrence & Foster

❏ Separate Boys and Girls teams

❏ Competitive Travel Soccer through Northwind SC and AYSO Extra

❏ Spring and Fall Seasons with optional Indoor Season available

❏ Photos: Individual & Team

Returning players go to eayso.org For new players please see www.ayso418.org for registration information.

AYSO Region 418 – Chicago Lakefront

26 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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GOOD SENSE EATING

Get your mojo back

CHRISTINE PALUMBO

Your child is thriving and hitting all his developmental milestones. But what about you? Are the demands of motherhood taking their toll? The way many of us cope with stress is by loading up on caloric, nutrient-poor foods (Hello, big ice cream bowl!), drinking too much alcohol or consuming too much caffeine. But that often exacerbates stress, making us feel worse and sabotaging our health and spirit.

“In order to make any successful changes in how you cope, moms need to first identify how stress affects them and their food, fitness and lifestyle habits,” says Elisa Zied, MS, RDN, author of Younger Next Week. For example, does stress make you go to the nearest drive-thru for fast food? Do you skip your workout or spend more time watching TV or surfing the Internet? Do you sleep less (or worse) because you have too much to get done or your mind races? Once you realize how stress affects your personal habits, work toward tweaking one or two of these behaviors at a time to get back on track, Zied says. For example, set an alarm every hour to remind you to take 10 minutes to stand, stretch, take a short walk or climb stairs if physical activity is lacking.

to 225 fewer calories to prevent weight gain than the Mad Menera moms. You know the drill. Focus on a dietary pattern that includes fruits and vegetables, protein-rich foods, low fat dairy, whole grains and healthy fats. What about treats? Zied says give yourself permission to include small amounts of chocolate, cookies, wine or even some French fries daily. “Not every calorie moms consume has to be nutritious. As long as most of the foods and beverages are powerpacked, a few items that don’t fall into basic food groups can fit in just fine.” Christine Palumbo, RDN, FAND is a Naperville nutritionist who pines for the Mad Men era. Follow her on Twitter @PalumboRD, Facebook at Christine Palumbo Nutrition or Chris@ ChristinePalumbo.com.

Peanut Butter Fruit Napoleon Prep time: 15 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients ½ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt 1 Tbsp. honey ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon ⅛ tsp. ground nutmeg 1 Granny Smith apple 1 pear ¼ cup creamy peanut butter ¼ cup seedless raisins, plus 4 tsp. for garnish

Directions 1. In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg. 2. Quarter the apple and pear and remove the core. Slice each quarter into four thin slices. 3. To build the napoleon, lay four pear slices onto each of four plates. The pear slices should be facing in the same direction and touching each other to create the bottom layer of the napoleon. 4. Top with 1 Tbsp. of peanut butter and, using the back of a spoon, spread evenly to coat. 5. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. of raisins on top. 6. Layer four apple slices over the peanut butter and raisins. 7. Spoon on 1 Tbsp. of the yogurt mixture and, using the back of a spoon, spread evenly to coat. 8. Sprinkle 1 tsp. of the raisins over the yogurt to garnish. Serve immediately. Nutrition information (per Napoleon): 218 calories, 34 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 8 g fat (2 g saturated), 7 g protein, 0 mg cholesterol, 91 mg sodium Created by Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, for the National Peanut Board

Nutrient-rich plus a treat Mad Men viewers were shocked by the scene of a pregnant Betty Draper smoking and enjoying a glass of wine. Yet two generations ago, women’s lifestyles were healthier in other ways than they are now. A Mayo Clinic Proceedings study found today’s mothers are less physically active than mothers in the 1960s. Today’s moms need to eat 175

ChicagoParent.com May 2014 27

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Seventh Annual

SEE OUR FLYING PIGS

AND CRAFT AND VENDOR SHOW Saturday, June 21, 2014 ★ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Sunday, June 22, 2014 ★ Noon – 6:00 pm Located at the intersection of Arlington Heights Road and Devon Avenue in Elk Grove Village

Preschool & Pre-K Playdates

The “Little Boots Rodeo” is an event where families help their children participate in 13 events in a non-competitive atmosphere. After completing all events, the children will be certified as an official Cowboy or Cowgirl on stage, have their name announced over the speaker and receive a certificate! Stunt Jump Zip Line

NEW THIS YEAR!

An independent school for gifted children from Preschool through Eighth Grade. Saturday, May 17, 2014 Preschool and Pre-K Play Date (Ages 3 - 4)* 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.

Quest Academy goes beyond other preschools by providing: • • • • •

Accelerated learning opportunities Advanced concepts and skills A differentiated curriculum An environment of like-minded peers Teachers who “get” your child

* Reservations required for these events.

Apply Today for 2014/15 Weekday morning tours available by appointment. Contact Director of Admission, Leslie Kovich at leslie.kovich@questacademy.org or call 847.202.8035, ext. 438 today.

★ Rodeo Participant Events ★ Mechanical Bull (Big & Baby Bull) ★ Cow Milking ★ Stunt Jump ★ Crabbing ★ Shooting Gallery ★ Pick-aPearl ★ Corn Stripping ★ Butterﬂy Release Zip Line ★ Bow and Arrow ★ Panning for Gold ★ Pennies in the Corn ★ Smell the Breath of a Dinosaur

★ General Public and Family Events ★ Large Petting Zoo ★ Wagon Rides ($2 per person) ★ Lasso ★ Jail ★ Little Boots Railroad ($2 per person) ★ Pony Rides ($2 per person) ★ Camel Rides ($3 per person) ★ Bronco Riding ★ Huge Rafﬂe ★ Best Dressed Cowgirl and Cowboy Contest (Trophy awarded every hour)

Pony Rides

Mechanical Bull

Shooting Gallery

Pig Races

Corn Stripping

Panning for Gold

Camel Rides

Pennies in the Corn

FREE OSCAR MEYER HOT DOG AND DRINK FOR FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS Proceeds will beneﬁt The District 59 Education Foundation, The Elk Grove Farmers Market, The Lion’s, Lioness, Leo Clubs of Elk Grove Village Rodeo organized and sponsored by the Little Boots Foundation in Elk Grove Village, IL Certiﬁcation events entrance fee is $12.00 per punch card (only 1 child per punch card) Huge Model Train Display on site from LGB Model Railroad Club of Chicago Main: 630-766-8980 ~ Cell: 630-878-7627 www.littlebootsrodeo.org Subject to Change

questacademy.org 500 North Benton, Palatine, IL 60067 28 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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TRENDING

Suiting up

for summer

MEREDITH SINCLAIR

After a winter that has made most of us wonder why the heck we actually LIVE here, it’s time to fall back in love with our city on the shore. This month I’m sharing four trendy essentials ials for all those upcoming lakeside eside escapades, beach picnics or community pool parties.

The Super Suit

When I received the “look book” for Target’s new summer collection, there may have been some serious shrieking. And not the scary kind. This season, the big box store of joy has done a bang-up job at combining “chic and trendy” with “cover up my lady parts, will ya?” Here are a few of my faves: Mossimo monokini in blue/orange floral, $39.99 Merona one-piece in palm green, $34.99 Merona one-piece in black/ivory print, $34.99

The Perfect Cover-Up

Instead of wearing a simple T-shirt that does absolutely nothgetting crisped while ing to keep you from ge romping around with your kids in the outdoors, check out this breathch able and lightweight ab top that looks great in to the grocery store, summer th ccamp carpool or splashing about in the waves. ab Mott 50 Sun Protection sshirt, $60, skinfo.com

The Face Guard

Those of us who grew up in the baby-oil-as-suntan-lotion era are not always the most diligent when it comes n tto protecting our faces from UVA rays on a daily basis—not just when we’re at the beach. I recently discovered the Skinfo line of b sskin care and I am loving the oil-free, lightweight sunscreen that also includes a little w vitamin A, C and E. Protection and pampering vi all in one. Skinfo Vita Lite Protect 50+, $30, skinfo.com

The Fabulous Flips

With celebrity fans such as Halle Berry, Eva Longoria and Jessica Alba, these bling flip flops from Girl Two Doors Down add fun, glam and a hint of sexy to any occasion. Whether you’re wearing long maxi dresses as you run errands with the kiddos, capri pants to a summer picnic or lounging pool side in your bathing suit, the sassy sayings on the shoe’s sole are guaranteed to make you smile. $49, gtdd.com ChicagoParent.com May 2014 29

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This free access online mathathome.org site provides you with printable lesson plans, videos, a blog and resources to help you with planning math activities for young children. Questions? Write to info@mathathome.org

www.Mathathome.org a Free access online Professional Development Center for Family Child Care Home Providers, Center and school Based Teachers and Parents Math At Home is a National Louis University project funded by CME Group Foundation.

NaTioNal louis uNiversiTy www.nl.edu

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To mom with love

Homemade lotion bars are the e perfect gift for all the mothers in your life

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MEGAN MURRAY ELSENER

fter one of the worst winters in Chicago history, all mamas can use a little extra pampering this Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day. These homemade lotion barss are the perfect solution for dry hands, elbows, feet and cuticles. The lotion bars are solid at room temperature, but oncee you hold them in your hands for a few seconds, your body heat will soften the bar to rub on needed areas. The key is the beeswax that locks in the butters and oils to nourish skin. Keep them in your purse and car to have easily accessible. They make a fabulous and thoughtful gift for all the well-deserving mothers in your life.

Directions

Supplies 4 oz. coconut oil 4 oz. shea butter 4.5 oz. beeswax Silicone or metal molds Double boiler and spatula

Select molds for your lotion bars. They can be silicone or metal molds that come in any unique or simple shape. Even ice cube trays and cupcake pans work well. Combine the coconut oil, shea ea butter and beeswax in n a double boiler. Supplies pplies can be bought online line or at health food d stores like Whole Foods. Be careful, water ater can boil over and nd get into the ingredients. ients. Stir well ell and melt the ingredients gredients until completely pletely mixed and the liquid quid almost resembles a clear honey. Carefully ll pour the h melted l d liquid into the molds.

Allow the lotion bar to completely cool before popping out of the molds. Putting the molds into the freezer for 30 minutes makes removal even easier. Wrap up the lotion bars in decorative paper or bags and deliver to all the moms in your life.

ChicagoParent.com May 2014 31

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Congratulations CGS! Latin Certamen Team 1St place Chicago Regional Junior High Division

In June 2014 CGS will celebrate our first 8th Grade graduation. Walter Payton, Jones, Lane Tech, Lincoln Park IB and St. Ignatius are among the High Schools to which our CGS students have been accepted. www.chicagogrammar.org 312‐944‐5600

Chicago Grammar School 900 N. Franklin Chicago, IL 60610 32 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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4/11/14 3:17 PM

FAILING WITH GUSTO

Defending the mother-in-law

But lately, I have noticed a powerful new movement that has drawn my ire to the point where I need to say something. Mothers-in-law bashing. I’ve witnessed groups of moms gather at parks and coffee houses for the sole purpose

of criticizing their mothers-in-law. It is a cruel game of oneupmanship, “You think your mother-in-law is bad? You have no idea!” The infractions are usually minor. She doesn’t stick to the posted schedule. She gave the baby a non-organic banana once. She kept

the kids up an hour past their bedtime to watch TELEVISION. Has humanity truly forgotten what being a grandmother is about? The generation of moms before us did not have the Internet to scour when the baby got croup. They relied heavily on the wisdom of family, including their mothers-in-law. If Grandma didn’t toe the line exactly, it was quickly overlooked and forgotten. I may be more sensitive (or perhaps insensitive) to the subject because I do not have a mother-in-law. I never did. Joe’s mom passed away from breast cancer at 55. Yet in life, there are only a few people who will love your children beyond reason. They can usually be counted on one hand and include grandparents. Who will be delighted to receive a phone call when your baby starts walking? Who will beam with pride at your child’s first basketball game? Who can be

called to show up at 3 a.m. to watch your other kids when the baby needs to go to the ER? There is not a day that goes by that Joe wouldn’t like to call his mom and share a funny story about our boys. I miss the love she would have had for them. Would she have criticized my cooking skills, mocked my overscheduling, or given the kids chocolate cake before bed? I will never know. But I would gladly take it all if she could have met my sons just once. To see the same love I feel reflected in someone else’s eyes? That connection is forever. This Mother’s Day, I continue to be grateful for my own wonderful mom who, unfortunately, still gets those 3 a.m. emergency calls. But I will also be grateful to my mother-in-law. She delivered me the love of my life. She raised her son to be a loyal husband and loving father. He is my everything. No organic banana can ever hold a candle to that. Marianne Walsh is a

Talk back

Over the last 10 years, I have noticed all kinds of parenting trends. Baby-wearing. Organic everything. Attachment parenting. Genderneutral toys and clothes. As a mom who believes strongly in raise-and-let-raise, I try hard not to question other people’s philosophies and techniques. If parents want to MARIANNE breastfeed their kids until they go off WALSH to college, I refuse to be the villager at the gate carrying a pitchfork and crying foul.

Chicago mom of three boys. Want more? Go to ChicagoParent.com and webandofmothers. blogspot.com.

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4/11/14 1:44 PM

READERS’ OPEN MIC

The one time I should have listened to my

mother

I should have listened to my mom when she insisted that she understood what I was going through as a teenager; I believe her now when she insists that she understands what I am going through as a mother, myself.

Tracey Becker

My mother followed the creed, “IF YOU

CAN’T SAY SOMETHING NICE, DON’T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL,” so I should

THAT TIME WHEN SHE SUGGESTED THAT

have listened when after I asked what she thought of my boyfriend, she told me, “Well, he’s very handsome, isn’t he?”

ORANGEY,

SUN-IN HAIR MIGHT

NOT BE THE BEST LOOK FOR ME? YEAH,

Lea Grover

MOM, EIGHTH GRADE KEELY WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE.

I should have listened when my

Keely Flynn

NOTHING GOOD EVER HAPPENS AFTER MIDNIGHT. Now mother told me that

“your skin remembers.” There

My mother used to say

if only I could get my newborn to take this good advice to heart. Hear that, Baby? Nothing’s going on after midnight, you might as well just sleep until 7 a.m.!

are a few dark spots and wrinkles that remind me baby oil was a poor

Andrea Burkly

choice of sunscreen. If only I had listened to my mother!

When she tried to warn me about

Paulette Delcourt

85% of my boyfriends.

Hyacynth Worth

IF THERE WAS A TIME I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO MY MOTHER AND DIDN’T,

I WOULD NOT ADMIT IT IN A PUBLICATION THAT SHE MIGHT SOMEDAY READ.

Listen To Your Mother, Chicago

hese women are a few of the 15 women who will have you laughing and crying May 4 at the annual Listen to Your Mother event in Chicago. Gather your gal pals for an afternoon out. Tickets sell out quickly so buy early. Sunday, May 4, 2-4 p.m. Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago

Kim Z. Dale

web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/9886390 10 percent of ticket proceeds go to Recovery On Water, a Chicago charity for women in recovery from breast cancer treatment.

34 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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4/10/14 5:39 PM

REAL PARENTS IN THE TRENCHES

Your mother and MIL can’t be in the same room and fight over the time the other gets with the kids. How do you fix things?

Move further away from the in-laws? I kid, I kid. Sort of. Seriously though, kids are not there to be passed around like a “peace pipe.” Enjoy them while they are young! Ryan Salzwedel, Chicago

Make sure you’re giving each a fair amount of time. Then each of you should speak to your own parents. If all else fails, don’t let either see the kids until they come to their senses or go on a cruise and leave the kids with them!!!! Lisa Cheruff, Skokie

A family meeting is a good start. Lay out ground rules, “No talking over each other,” and remind everyone that sharing the love felt for the next generation and modeling cooperation is a great example for the grandchildren. Kate AtkinsTrimnell, Homewood

Want more? Visit ChicagoParent.com/parentpanel

I would ask both of them to come over and discuss how damaging it is to the kids to know (because kids DO know) that they are the source of unrest in the family. This kind of argument is about their egos, it has nothing to do with the kids. Kerry Quirin, Downers Grove

If possible, set up certain days when each gets their own time with the kids. Or if the kids are old enough, use them to let their grandmothers know how silly they are acting. Jeff Mezydlo, Chicago

I would try my best to get them to reconcile and if it didn’t work, then I would have to schedule visits individually and ignore comments that they make. As long as the kids don’t realize what’s going on, I would be fine with it. Tracie Guzolek, Chicago

SHE SNORES MOREMORE SHE SNORES THAN THAN I DO, BUT I DO,I STILL BUT I STILL LOVE MY LOVEHUMAN. MY HUMAN. — BANDIT — BANDIT adopted 11-26-09 adopted 11-26-09

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VOICE: ANNE GRUNSTED

Disband the Selfless Mother Club Chicago mom: My son isn’t a burden, so please stop the platitudes

eing the mother of Bobby, a boy with Down syndrome, is for many my induction into the Selfless Mother Club. Strangers assume that my life must be one of constant sacrifice as I care for a child with so many extra needs. I get it. I sometimes look at friends who have children with complex medical diagnoses and feel convinced I couldn’t walk in their shoes. So when I hear, “you are a special mother,” “God bless you,” and “I don’t think I could do it,” I don’t scowl in anger or digress into the rant burning on my tongue. I mutter something about the wonderfulness of Bobby and hastily turn away, ending the awkward situation. But don’t get me wrong, the anger is lurking. Bobby, after all, is right there, listening to these platitudes. I give my son a constant stream of feedback: about how strong he is for having survived three heart surgeries, for how funny he is when he silly-dances, for how unthoughtful he is when he plops down in the middle of a store and refuses to walk. And most of all, how happy I feel when I am with him. Then a stranger comes along. They only see the burden of Down syndrome and can’t imagine the abundance of what Bobby gives in our relationship. They never think that I have given up a

career because I can’t bring myself to give up time with Bobby. My son is demeaned by the false accolades sent my way. My own mother inducted herself into the Selfless Mother Hall of Fame. Eight children. Thousands of loads of laundry. Thousands more meals cooked, dishes washed. My head spins at the organization required, the creativity used in making do, the going without that both of my parents did. I respect it all, but I find it hard to ooze gratitude when my mother, over and over and over again, recounted her sacrifices to me and reinforced all the ways that I was not worthy of her gifts. She was so steeped in her pot of resentments that she could not give without demeaning me. I would never do that to Bobby, and so it angers me when strangers diminish him with careless words. I chose to have my son. He does not have the option to set out and find a new family, nor does he, at 5, have the ability to care for himself. Certainly, I don’t want my son to be spoiled, ignoring what I do for him and assuming that the world will always provide. Teaching Bobby appreciation does not

require me to count the things I do for him as endless sacrifices, as debits to an emotional account he can never hope to repay. Nor does it require Bobby to see himself as a burden. He’s here because I wanted him here.

Anne Grunsted is a former data analyst turned stay-athome mom for her son with Down syndrome. She now advocates for children who lack a strong voice. She lives in Chicago with her partner/soon-to-be wife of nearly 15 years.

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36 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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VOICE: AMY CONNELL-DONOHUE

Having

it all

That’s no longer good enough for this mom

was recently asked to do an interview on “having it all.” The request came from someone who said she understood I had a successful career while juggling a large family. I didn’t know if I should be flattered or laugh out loud. I feel fortunate for my life. I have four children, a loving husband and a job that gave me pride. I manage to get vegetables in my kids’ bodies, make my husband’s lunches and get to the gym. So what if the veggies were never fresh, the lunch was frozen sandwiches and I got up at 4 a.m. to exercise? So when asked about having it “all,” I hesitated. The truth is, from where I sat, I felt like I was just barely managing. Having a husband who worked endlessly, no family in town and a boss who turned a blind eye to the fact I always put him ahead of everyone else often amplified the challenge of juggling everything.

From where I sat, I felt like I was just barely managing. I spent my 20s working hard, often at the office until 9 p.m. and putting in a full day on Sunday. I wanted to climb up the corporate ladder fast. I was great at what I did and I felt fulfilled. I dreamed of having babies. I had a blueprint and was ready to execute it at 32, the year Emerson was born. I lined up day care, cut back to 45 hours in the office and became a working mother. It was not easy,

but it was achievable. I carried a lot of guilt for not being at the office as late. It became harder when Emerson was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome. I was determined to successfully give wholly to my job and my child. I never missed work, moving mountains to show that a working mom could still be as effective as anyone else. Nineteen months later, Connell arrived just hours after being in the office to finish up last-minute emails. Life was organized chaos at its finest. Sullivan arrived two years later, nearly on the Kennedy Expressway because again, I needed to tie up a few things at the office. I started working from home one day a week. It was splendid. I got just as much done. Maybe more. No water cooler talk, no lunch distractions and multiple loads of laundry done before 8 a.m. After my company was bought, I feared losing my job. I began to travel, proving unwavering commitment to the company. I missed conferences, plays and school parties. To add to my guilt, I secretly looked forward to sleeping through the night and the peace of getting ready for work in a hotel room by myself. Ellis arrived that winter. I assured my newer, less flexible boss that the baby would not affect my work. He was not familiar with the previous conference calls taken from my hospital bed or the full schedule I resumed from home when Connell was a week old. I would take my customary maternity “leave” and be available when released

from the hospital. As I was ready to bring my baby girl into the world, my Blackberry chimed. My boss needed revisions. Ellis lay with me in the hospital as we constructed the 2011 Account Manager Comp Plan together. As 13 years passed, I found I could address an office crisis, feed four kids and treat high fevers all in one day. Then I was let go. Pointing out my large family and special needs daughter when I was offered a lesser position was a great out for the poor guy tasked with giving me the news. It left me wondering if one working mom could “have it all.” My outlook on life has changed. In attempting to have it all, I spent too much time working to prove to myself and to everyone around me that I could handle anything. What I do know now is that I would give less time to the guy who didn’t reply to my emails or the silent thoughts that my boys were lousy at soccer because I was not home to make sure they knew how to play. I miss my job every day. I don’t know if I will go back to that life or take a different path. What I do know is that whatever my next endeavor may be, I will look at it through a different lens. Life is a series of lessons. Perhaps we can find more success if we decide that “having enough” is a better way to view our worlds than “having it all.” Amy Connell-Donohue is the mother of four living in Elmhurst.

ChicagoParent.com May 2014 37

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My daughter has ADD. Her mind is an endless roller coaster that only stops for princess-level emergencies and shiny doodads with which she lines her nest. The flip side of ADD is powerful, unwavering, laser-like focus, which, when joined with fear, makes for a splendid day of cave diving in Mexico.

without even looking at a At this cave, cenote in book. Spanish (death hole in fearOur guide informed us nglish), the guide whispered we’d need to be careful as instructions about avoiding the water got shallower the needle sharp stalactites because the bottom was aimed for our heads, not cushioned by about nine feet dropping the waterproof of pure guano. flashlight, and being quiet so “What’s guano?” my as not to disturb the thoudaughter asked, between sands of sleeping bats hangscreams. ing from the ceiling only Before I could inches from our say “Don’t faces, to which tell her!,” my daughter the guy replied: “AA closest to AAAAAAAAA us said “It’s AAAAAAAAA bat poop,” AAAAA!” and the girl We all morphed into slowly looked some kind of up at the JA ILL DE UST top lure imitation ceiling, which RATIO N BY TOM as she tried to float was wriggling with between the hungry bats and snoring, leathery, winged a watery carpet of poop. rodents. Our daughter could I learned a lot from our not take her eyes off them. recent vacation. I now know She kept a running, whisperhow much waterproof ing monologue of exactly flashlights cost in pesos. I how close we were to them, know what cave bats smell a monologue that began like. I know how it feels to to rise as the bat-coated step onto the cruise ship ceiling dipped toward us as and realize you got back 17 we drifted on our flotation pesos from the $200 bill you devices toward a stalactiteused to buy $3 worth of ice toothed cavern entrance cream. And I learned that designed by the Lord of the all my future vacations will Rings special effects crew. occur at home. We’ll watch As we got closer, her voice the Nat Geo channel. It’s got higher and louder. I can’t almost the same—and much understand a lot of Spanish, safer. but I can translate glares

38 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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ChicagoParent.com May 2014 39

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Photo by G. Yoshioka

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Twins turn couponing and saving into family business

BY KRISTY MACKABEN PHOTOS BY REBECCA C. HEALY t all started with a trip to Disney World. Since they were preschoolers, twins Tai and Tarin Perry, who live in Chicago’s south suburbs, had been begrudgingly clipping coupons for their mom, Gayle.

“They talked about me like I was not a good mother. ‘There goes Ma making us clip coupons.’ They would hate to go to the store with me,” Gayle says, laughing. Gayle Perry, who also has three other children, Duane, Kelli and Justin, worked as a nurse on the weekends when the kids were young, and on her lunch break, she collected patients’ discarded newspapers and brought them home. Every Sunday the children were required to sift through at least 50 newspapers for coupons. They hated the Sunday night ritual.

But then 140 Box Tops changed their mind. Those Box Tops cut from food packages, which the Perrys had been saving for years, won the family four plane tickets to Orlando and their first Disney World vacation. “The tide turned for my children when Chex Cereal ran this crazy promotion,” says Gayle. To earn the tickets, each family member needed to submit Box Tops from cereal or other food packages. After that trip, the Perry kids had a new appreciation for couponing. And the twins, who turned

34 in March, have taken their mother’s obsession with saving to a new level. Like their mother, they faithfully clip coupons and scour store circulars and advertisements for discounts and promotions. But they also search the internet for deals and regularly stop by stores to find information on specials. They easily save $5,000 a year each for their families. And the frugal sisters, who have been featured on the TLC show “Extreme Couponing,” want to help other people save money. Three years ago, they launched a website, doublesavingdivas.com. The website features daily and weekly deals, discounts and promotions, as well as advice on saving and becoming financially stable. The sisters teach couponing classes and speak to groups and organizations about financial freedom.

“Our focus is more on showing people the deals,” says Tai. “We scout and find deals. The premise of the site is showing people how to save without compromise. We’re saving experts.” Tai and her husband Talaat have three children: Emmanuel, 4, Brinkley, 2, and Grace, 9 months, and Tarin and her husband Corey have a daughter Rylee, who turns 2 in June, and at press time they are expecting a baby in May. Saving has become a way of life for the sisters and their families. Before having children, Tai and Tarin worked in the finance industry, but both became stay-at-home moms two years ago and got more involved with the website. “In our profession, we came across a lot of people we saw CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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DOUBLE SAVING DIVAS who were struggling. We saw people who really didn’t know they could save in some areas,” says Tai. “It’s truly a passion of ours. We weren’t looking to get paid or come off our jobs. It just happened.” The website became their business. Not only do they save money, but they also receive

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

money from advertisers and com- go out and pay full price for panies who pay them to promote anything,” she says. The sisters products they love and trust. often plan meals weekly based on what’s on sale. They also shop around. Depending on the sales and promotions, Tai and Tarin might hit three or more “Planning ahead is very impor- stores before their shopping is complete. tant,” says Tarin. Along with couponing and “There’s no reason you should taking advantage of promotions, Tai and Tarin advocate buying in bulk—but not at bulk stores. Shoppers save the most when they use coupons toward items and stock up on items that are on sale, Tarin says. Tarin started stocking up on diapers a couple of years before she was pregnant with Rylee. By the time Rylee was born, she had more than enough diapers in varying sizes. “My daughter is almost 2 years old and we’re still using the diapers,” Tarin says. “Every time I go to change my daughter’s diaper, I see how really grateful I am to make that move.

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It’s tremendously blessed my household. We were prepared.” Diapers aren’t the only items the twins have stockpiled. In the basement of Tarin’s home is a collection of cleaning products, paper towels, toilet paper, canned goods, cereal and other nonperishables. They joke that they “shop” in the basement when they need something. Though Tarin and Tai love being prepared, they are more focused on saving. “It’s something fun and thrilling. It makes us proud. Our husbands go out and work very hard. My sister and I take care of the home for our family and we do our share. We’re working inside of the home,” Tai says. “We go to church and give to those in need and we’re also able to do things with our families like go on vacations and buy nice things.” Kristy MacKaben is a mom of two and frequent contributor at Chicago Parent.

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The perfect

Mother’s

Day

Moms envision how to celebrate their special day

BY MEGAN MURRAY ELSENER ften it seems what moms may want the most on Mother’s Day is the last thing they actually receive. Whether it’s some alone time, a break from the household chores, or to be pampered for the day, Mother’s Day can have high expectations. Here are four moms’ visions of the perfect way to spend the day and some advice for husbands out there to make the day special for their wives.

Natalie Greer Chicago, mother of two What would the perfect Mother’s Day entail for you? I think I already have the perfect Mother’s Day. Each year we go pick out our annual spring flowers and we spend part of the day planting them as a family. Usually the weather cooperates, so it’s nice to be outside while being productive. Add time for a workout and a good dinner, and it is a perfect Sunday. And the best presents are the ones that make me laugh. My oldest son made a card that said he loved me because I like to wear my swimming suit and I can cook chicken tenders. It’s priceless. continued on page 44

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MOTHER’S DAY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43

What advice would you give to husbands on how to celebrate the holiday? Don’t wing it! This is the Super Bowl of days for moms, and your team cannot lose. Be prepared. I wish Mother’s Day came more than once a year. People are generally kind to one another, and I love hearing strangers wish each other, “Happy Mother’s Day.” I am extremely lucky to be able to celebrate with my mom, family, and friends, so my advice is to just try to make the most of the day.

April Terrien Northbrook, mother of two with one on the way What would the perfect Mother’s Day entail for you? The perfect Mother’s Day for me would be to sleep in late without any interruptions, have brunch with my sweet little family at a nice restaurant and for my husband to take the kids for the rest of the day and tackle my entire to-do list. Being a stay-athome mom is not a 9-to-5 gig so I think it’s healthy to take some time “off” to rejuvenate. I don’t feel guilty about it! A day at the spa or just an hour away to get a massage

would be heavenly. I would even be thrilled with a more economical stay-in-bed morning at home if it meant I didn’t have to settle any brotherly squabbles, change diapers or do dishes or laundry. What advice would you give to husbands on how to celebrate the holiday? Every mom is different and every family is different, but it takes a lot of juggling to keep a household running. Much of it goes unnoticed, but we do it because we love our families. I think it’s important to recognize everything mothers do for their families and not only thank her, but reward her for it. My advice to husbands is to make moms feel special, get the kids involved and just take care of mom for a day. Not only will it give her a much needed break, but it will allow her the time and freedom to enjoy the little things about the family that give her joy.

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to spend the day. Also, do not forget to take care of all the kid responsibilities. I prefer to split up the day so that I can have some time alone, as well as time with the family.

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Julie Walsh La Grange, mother of three What would the perfect Mother’s Day entail for you? The perfect Mother’s Day would start with sleeping late followed by a pancake breakfast cooked by my husband. Then I’d take a yoga class or go to a spa. I’d spend the afternoon with our extended family. The best Mother’s Day gift I’ve received was homemade heart-shaped pins from my boys. They decorated the pins with glitter, sparkles and flowers. I love when they put all of their effort into a gift. What advice would you give to husbands on how to celebrate the holiday? Myy advice is to ask yyour wife how she would like

Elmhurst, mother of two What would the perfect Mother’s Day entail for you? The best Mother’s Day would be to sleep in that morning, wake up to a quiet house, have coffee and a little something to eat actually sitting down. Then taking a shower without anyone banging down the door, getting dressed without kids climbing up my leg, and meeting my husband and daughters to eat at a restaurant where someone else is cooking. In the past, my husband took my kids to visit all the grandmas while I relaxed at home and had time with my own thoughts. What advice would you give to husbands on how to celebrate the holiday? I would say that all moms love to feel appreciated, and Mother’s Day is your day to outshine any other day of the whole year and to show her that her everyday dedication to you and the kids is priceless. You know your wife best, so if she likes to have time with friends, set that up and send her out, or if she loves flowers, get her favorite ones first thing that morning.

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Moms dish on the unspoken truths, surprises and realities of childbirth and afterwards

Childbirth

What you don’t hear from the experts

BY MEGAN MURRAY ELSENER

hen it comes to childbirth and the aftermath, parenting books don’t always portray the realities and unexpected experiences that come along with birth and the first few weeks of baby’s life. There is no better source to hear the truth, from the giant diaper-like maxi pads to post-baby bellies, than from other moms who’ve gone through the trenches themselves. We turned to four moms for the truth based on their childbirth experiences.

Megan Mitchell Oak Park, mother of two What took you most by surprise during childbirth and afterwards? The fact that you will

walk around in giant cotton underwear and giant pads, feeling like you’re the one in a diaper for a long time. And you may not be a religious person, but at some point after bringing your child

home from the hospital you will start praying. You will pray they don’t die. You will pray they poop and will spend lots of time talking about their poop. Oh, and how you will pray they sleep! What do you wish a friend had told you in advance about childbirth? With my first child, I was pretty much in a fog the entire time in the hospital. I was exhausted after laboring for 20 hours and then having a C-section. I was starting to feel a bit of depression and the painkillers weren’t helping. The entire five days I was in the hospital, I never changed out of my CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

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hospital gown. Why didn’t someone tell me to change into clothes? Seriously, the bag was right next to my bed. Mom? Husband? Anyone? After my second labor, I changed into my own cozy clothes as soon as possible. Man, it makes you feel so much better. What advice would you give a new mom preparing for labor and childbirth? You will vacillate between feeling like a total crazy person and feeling like you have it totally together, often at the same time. I had postpartum depression with my first son. I had no appetite, cried all the time and breastfeeding was giving me panic attacks. After a few pretty rough weeks, I started to get it together with the help of my doctor, friends and family. Don’t wait to get help if you need it; there is no shame in saying you’re not OK. I learned that what your baby needs more than anything is for you to be there and be OK. As hard as it might be, remember to take care of yourself.

Aurora Hart Evanston, mother of two What took you most by surprise during childbirth and afterwards? I planned for a med-free birth and did a

I was surprised at how pregnant you still look after giving birth!

ton of research in preparation. When the time finally came, I was really surprised how all that research just kind of went out the window. I didn’t follow any specific birth method, but instead I just trusted my instincts and listened to my body with regards to what eased the discomfort and felt right at the time. In the end, I’m really happy I did not feel that I had to adhere to a specific birth model. I trusted my own body and was lucky enough to have the birth experience that I had always wanted.

What do you wish a friend had told you in advance about childbirth? I was surprised at how pregnant you still look after giving birth! I am not sure what I expected to happen, but I was surprised to be leaving the hospital with a baby on my arm, still looking three to four months pregnant. What advice would you give a new mom preparing for labor and childbirth? I would tell expecting mothers that pushing is really hard work. In much of the reading I had done prior to giving birth, they talked about how pushing would feel good. I did not experience this at all. The urge to push was tremendous and very primal, but the actual act of pushing was really difficult and exhausting. It is completely worth it in the end, but calling it “labor” is definitely an appropriate term.

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My epidural didn’t work, so I definitely wasn’t expecting that.

Rosie Hepner Forest Park, mother of two What took you most by surprise during childbirth and afterwards? With my first child, I wasn’t prepared for the chills from the Pitocin and the fact that

What do you wish a friend had told you in advance about childbirth? I wish I’d known that labor could be more emotionally taxing then physically. With my first labor, I was induced a week early because I had preeclampsia, but the baby was not ready to come out. It took three days and multiple procedures to get labor going and after not being allowed to eat any solids for those three days, I was so physically weak when it finally was time to push. The entire process was frustrating and exhausting. What advice would you give a new mom preparing for labor and childbirth? Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to share your desires. Don’t be afraid to voice your concerns. Each childbirth experience is unique.

I was shaking so much my husband had to feed me. And my epidural didn’t work, so I definitely wasn’t expecting that. With my second child, it surprised me how normal I felt between contractions and after birth. It was strange going from intense pain to feeling completely fine.

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Bekah Kalita Oak Park, mother of two What took you most by surprise during childbirth and afterwards? Not knowing exactly when I was going to go into labor. I am very much a planning, Type A personality, so when my water broke four-and-a-half weeks early with my first pregnancy and three weeks early with my second, it wasn’t part of my plan. To say I was surprised would be an understatement. What do you wish a friend had told you in advance about childbirth? I wish someone had told me to be prepared well in advance. I went into labor before my baby shower was scheduled, so there were important baby things that I didn’t even have yet. Being only 35 weeks along, I figured I had plenty of time before I

I wish someone had told me to be prepared well in advance.

needed to get everything organized, so I wasn’t worried. I didn’t even have a bag packed and had to have a friend go out and buy us a car seat. What advice would you give a new mom preparing for labor and childbirth? One word: epidural. I have labored both with an epidural and naturally, so I can speak from experience. Childbirth with an epidural is so much more relaxed and enjoyable. My plan would have been to have

epidurals with both, but unfortunately, I had no choice the second time around. I consider myself a pretty tough individual, but I have never experienced pain like that and I honestly thought I wasn’t going to be able to make it. So if you’re open to it, there is nothing I would more strongly recommend than getting an epidural. Megan Murray Elsener is a Chicago mother of two, preparing for her third child coming this summer.

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Positively pregnant with someone else’s child Surrogacy on the rise as couples seek alternative ways to build a family

BY KRISTY MACKABEN

hen Kimberly Foster became pregnant a few years ago, she didn’t want any more children. Four children were enough for Foster and her partner, Daisy Simbulan, of Berwyn. Still, Foster happily became pregnant again, knowing she would not be the mother. She had agreed to become a surrogate for friends who were desperate to have a child. “I knew that it would be something that I would like to do for them,” she says. Simbulan’s cousin Harold Cezar and his partner Jamie Thompson first considered adoption. But the long process seemed daunting given their age, 43. So they began researching surrogacy and eventually asked Foster and Simbulan if they could help. Foster knew “right away” the answer was yes. Simbulan always wanted children, but never wanted to be pregnant, which is why Foster gave birth to their two sets of twins and also to Cezar and Thompson’s baby. Charles Logan

Cezar-Thompson, now 2, often sees his surrogate mother at family functions. “When Charlie grows up, he’s going to have lots of questions. It’s really nice that Kim and Daisy will be around to answer,” Cezar says, adding that surrogacy was the perfect option for their family. “In hindsight, I wish we went the surrogacy route su sooner.” so Though still relatively uncommon re in the United States, surrogacy is becoming more popular for couples looking for non-traditional ways to raise a family. Since 2004, the number of babies born by a surrogate mother (738) more than doubled by 2011, the most recent data

available (1,593), according to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. Couples experiencing infertility, as well as an increasing number of same-sex couples looking to raise families, account for the growing number of surrogate births.

A costly option The process of surrogacy and egg donation costs about $100,000. Many couples start with a fertility center, which refers them to a surrogacy agency. Fertility doctors create embryos from sperm

and eggs from the intended parents (the name given to couples who want a child via surrogacy) or from donated eggs and/or sperm. Then, the embryo is transferred to a surrogate, says Dr. Angie Beltsos, a fertility doctor at Fertility Centers of Illinois, based in Hoffman Estates. “We identify who the surrogate would be through the agencies we work closely with. We will transfer the embryo we’ve created into that surrogate,” Beltsos says. “Oftentimes they come to me first. Sometimes people CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

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who know they would need a surrogate, they would find that agency first.” For many couples, surrogacy is a last resort. “Sometimes they’ve tried everything under the sun and it’s not working,” says Zara Griswold, owner of Family Source Consultants, a Chicagobased company that matches couples with surrogate mothers and egg donors. Griswold started the company after choosing a surrogate mother to have her twins Isabella and Noah, 10. At 23, Griswold underwent a hysterectomy for ovarian cancer. When she and her husband, Mike, were married seven years later, they knew they wanted children, but assumed adoption was the only answer. “That’s when I learned about surrogacy and egg donation,” says Griswold, who lives in the north suburbs. “I thought it was such a phenomenal thing. The more I learned about it the more I became interested.” Her experience prompted her to start Family Source Consultants with a fellow mom, Staci Swiderski, who also used a surrogate mother for her children. Griswold and Swiderski wanted to make the process, which can be confusing and stressful, as easy as possible for couples. Many couples, downtrodden after trying different options, are worried that surrogacy might not work for them. Even Griswold worried about whether her babies would be born healthy. Before the process, legal contracts ensure the surrogate mother will make healthy and safe decisions regarding diet, lifestyle and medical choices. Surrogates are required to regularly visit their obstetrician and report updates to intended parents. Legal documents also ensure the intended parents will be the parents and guardians of the baby after birth. Some states, but not Illinois, require

Charles Logan Cezar-Thompson, now 2, with dads Harold Cezar and Jamie Thompson intended parents to legally adopt the baby after birth. “This is an option that’s completely realistic. It’s not just for celebrities. It’s definitely a means to an end,” Griswold says. “It’s not for everybody, but more people can really think about it because it’s such a positive thing.”

Helping grow families Part of what makes surrogacy a positive experience is that intended parents are matched with surrogate mothers who are dedicated to delivering a healthy child. While money is a motivation (surrogates usually receive about $30,000 to $40,000), many surrogate mothers enjoy being pregnant and helping other couples have children. “They definitely have a compassion for people who can’t have children of their own. They know they can help,” Griswold says. Quad Cities mom of two, Jill Snodgrass, was drawn to

become a surrogate. Her sons are Gabe, 19, and Jacob, 17. But she also has given birth to six children via surrogacy. In four pregnancies, there has been a set of triplets, a set of twins and a single baby, and she is pregnant again with twins. “I love being pregnant. The thought of somebody not being able to have children was probably the biggest driving force,” Snodgrass says. “The gift of creating families, it makes you speechless. It’s just the sp greatest gift to watch g them with their kids.” th For surrogate mothers aand intended parents, the process is often th aamazing and surreal. While some parents do not want a close connection with the surrogate mother, others find their families intertwined from the beginning, says Griswold. (Expectations are discussed as part of the surrogacy agreement.) In many cases, intended parents are in the delivery room when the baby is born.

And surrogates often continue a relationship with the families well after the birth. Parents usually want their kids to know the surrogate mother to understand the story behind their birth. Because Simbulan and Foster and Cezar and Thompson are already family, they will continue to see each other regularly. When Charlie was a baby, he was often comforted easily by Foster. Griswold also remains in contact with the surrogate mother for her children who have heard about their birth stories since they were toddlers. “We have been telling them since they could understand language. Mommy’s belly was broken and we needed someone to help us have a baby. A surrogate put you in her belly. That’s how we started,” Griswold says. “Then we talked about egg donation. Surrogacy and egg donations are a huge part of family life. My kids know this is the way they were born. To us it’s a very positive thing and open thing.” Kristy MacKaben is a mom of two.

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Meg Caswell

CELEBRITY MOM

Meg’s special room

HGTV’s star Meg Caswell shares her secrets to creating a unique nursery

hicagoan Meg Caswell has been designing rooms for people for years, but now she’s got a very special someone who has her pulling out all the stops on her creativity. Her own baby. As the season six winner of Design Star and the star of HGTV’s “Meg’s Great Rooms” worked to finish her nursery, she took a few minutes to share some of her best tips and tricks to help you elevate your nursery from looking just like everyone else’s. “I think that’s what a lot of moms are out there trying to accomplish. Everyone wants their nursery to be unique to their baby,” she says.

Start with a concept.

It helps pull together all of the stuff that needs to be in the room, she says. Caswell chose a coastal theme for her nursery, filled with Kelly green and indigo blue, shells, rope and brass. For example, she found brass porthole mirrors online and is substituting photos for the mirrors.

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Mix patterns.

Don’t feel stuck with cutesy baby patterns and colors. Caswell has a reputation for mixing patterns, usually ually using a large, a medium and a small scale pattern in herr designs. “A lot of people are scared to do that because they ey don’t know what looks good together. If you don’t know wheree to start, my biggest advice is to start with the rug. You are more likely to find a rug that you like,” she says. Starting with the rug allows you to have fun with h the patterns and colors you can pull from it, she says. None of the fabrics and patterns in her nursery are meant for a nursery. “When put together, they are playful and fun.”

3Incorporate custom touches.

“You have to think a little outside the box as far as finishes to go along with your theme,” she says. To keep costss lower, she suggests adding trim, fringe or bands to store-bought drapes. es. Dry cleaners can usually attach the trims. Caswell is using nautical rope tie-backs on her drapes as a subtle nod to coastal style. She also created giant fish outt of old barn boards for the walls.

Re-imagine furniture you already ady own.

“So many new mothers just go out and buyy the matching crib, the matching changer, the matching side table, thee matching shelves and then it looks like you just walked into a nursery ry store,” she says. Bring in a piece, maybe it was your grandmother’s r’s or something that is sentimental or something that doesn’t have a home in another space, put a new coat of paint on it, change out the he hardware or put a fun chevron pattern on it, she suggests. If you can’t ’t paint, decals are available online. Caswell is repurposing a dresser, bookshelf and day bed in her nursery. “The nursery looks more finished when you bring in a more maturee p piece,” she says.

Create C reate your own artwork.

“This “Thi “T Thi h s is ssomething om om that I think is really special,” she says. example, her Forr ex Fo exam aam mpl ple, e, h e mother-in-law gave her a piece of art that husband’s nursery when he was born that will hung hu ng g iin n he herr hu usb now hang in their child’s. Or make your own mobile. Caswell has h ha a a friend who collected a few used one-liter soda bottles, painted the on n iinside different colors and made in them into fish. “We don’t all have to go for the storebought brightly colored mobiles.”

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HELP

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BY DANIELLE BRAFF

bout a month after she had her baby, Laura Paul hit her low point. The 39-year-old lawyer—who was on her maternity leave—felt like she hadn’t showered in weeks and she was being screamed at 24/7 by the most demanding boss she had ever encountered: A tiny dumpling named Juliette, wrapped up in a sweet swaddling blanket. “I smelled disgusting and she would not stop demanding every minute of my day. I was ready to lose it,” Paul says. “Then I had an epiphany and I remembered that the hospital gave me a 1-888 number.” That number led her to the Fussy Baby Network, a nonprofit organization based in Chicago that is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year. The Fussy Baby Network is composed of two-parts: The phone component and the home visit, both geared toward parents with infants under the age of 1 who are struggling with feeding, sleeping or crying. Anyone nationwide may call the number, which is staffed by infant and family specialists 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday to receive free advice and support, while the home visits are available to anyone in the Chicago area on a sliding scale (they top out at $40). When Paul called in tears, she spoke with Nancy Mork, associate director of direct services for the Fussy Baby Network. “She was calming, so peaceful, so supportive—it

was just the voice I needed to hear,” Paul says. “She justified all my feelings and says it would be OK. She was a listening ear.” Linda Gilkerson, a professor and the founder and executive director of the Fussy Baby Network, says the network can help in a range of ways. “What we’re really looking for is trying to understand and help with what the parent’s concern is,” she says. “We try to open the dialogue up to wherever the parent is and to where the mom or dad wants to take it.” They can help parents work through sleep issues, listen to them vent, offer emotional support, or explore options and figure out solutions. In Paul’s case, she just needed some emotional support and a listening ear. The Fussy Baby Network is

part of Erikson Institute (a graduate school in child development) but has its own public and private funding sources and grants. It has expanded a lot over the past decade. There are now Fussy Baby Network programs in nine other states that use the same logo and follow the same approach as the original Chicago model. So far, the Fussy Baby Network has served more than 3,100 families through phone calls and more than 1,000 families through home visits, Mork says. And starting in March, they’re expecting to start a webbased group open to families who have already done home visits, though they plan to open this up to more families in the future. When Gilkerson started the Fussy Baby Network F a decade ago, she knew that there k was a need for this w service in Chicago— se aand nationwide—beccause of the isolation that many first-time and experienced parents feel. “It’s really easy to get thrown off—you don’t know what to expect and it’s not possible to know what to expect,” says Gilkerson, who herself had a fussy baby 30 years ago. “Labor and delivery might be more difficult than what you thought, there’s an idea in our culture

Get help To contact the Fussy Baby Network, call (888) 431-2229. For more information, check out erikson.edu/fussybaby. about an instant bond with your baby—some people might feel that and others might not. We’ve been primed to think that it’s all going to be blissful, but it’s full of the unknown, and that can be challenging.” When Gilkerson had her fussy baby, she worried that there was something wrong with him, and then she worried that there was something wrong with herself and her husband. The feelings and the fussiness passed, but she still remembered how difficult a time it was. Parents, she decided, shouldn’t have to face it alone. Danielle Braff is a mom of two little girls and a frequent contributor at Chicago Parent.

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9 shows this summer • still only $1 Doors open at 9AM • shows start at 10AM

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Genetic testing gets easier

First trimester genetic screening available with blood test

hile genetic testing isn’t always required during pregnancy, it’s something nearly every woman is offered by their doctors and considers during their first trimester. And just in the past few years, there have been dramatic updates and improvements to the first trimester screening process. The new Panorama genetic test, created by Natera, is considered the most accurate and comprehensive noninvasive screening test to date. Research shows it is more than 99 percent accurate for most screens, including for Down syndrome, and is done with a simple blood draw. According to Todd Sloan, senior director of marketing at Natera, Panorama identifies the most common chromosomal anomalies as early as nine weeks of gestation.

At just nine weeks into the pregnancy, some of the DNA from the baby crosses into the mom’s bloodstream and that DNA contains the chromosomes that carry the baby’s genetic information. So a simple blood sample from the mother allows doctors to check for certain chromosomal conditions that could affect the baby’s health. The test looks specifically for the chromosomes responsible for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau

syndrome and certain sex chromosome trisomies. It also allows parents to find out the gender of their baby if they decide to. Katie Thomas, a Glenview mother of two, was able to experience the advances in genetic testing between her first and second pregnancy. “The Panorama blood test was more informative and detail-oriented than the previous nuclear ultrasound that I took for my first pregnancy,” says Thomas. “For the Panorama test, I had a specialized medical professional review the results with me with more detailed information, as opposed to the nuclear ultrasound where the

results were sparse and more focused on broad percentage ranges.” While genetic testing remains a very personal decision, the p Panorama test gives P moms an option that m doesn’t come with a d risk of miscarriage. ri “Expecting parents deserve the reassurance that comes from having the most accurate and comprehensive genetic information available,” Sloan says. Megan Murray Elsener

KESHET sees

diSabiliTiES in those with disabilities

EdUCaTiONal

RECREaTiONal

liFE SKillS

SOCial/liFESTYlE

COMMUNiTY

SPiRiTUal

www.keshet.org Keshet is a partner in serving our community, supported by the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation.

Now enrolling Toddler & Early Childhood students for 2014-15.

Understand how the learning process at Chiaravalle Montessori is designed to connect how and what children learn. Drop-in Admission Coffee & Conversation held each Thursday at 9am through May. 425 Dempster, Evanston, IL 847.864.2190 www.chiaravalle.org

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camp 2014 // special advertising section SALT CREEK BALLET SUMMER

BALLERINA SUMMER FUN ages 3-8 6 wks. of Tuesday Afternoon Ballet June 16—July 25

SUMMER BALLET CAMPS

Photo by Cheryl Mann

themes include Cinderella, Peter Pan, Swan Lake & more

July 28-August 1 August 4-August 8

Fairy Tale Camp Ages 3-4 9 am—11 am

Dance Training

 increases musicality  promotes teamwork  improves coordination  builds strength

Is Fun!

Creative Ballet Camp Ages 5-7 12 noon—2 pm

Boys are Welcome too!

Excellence in Dance Training 630.769.1199 saltcreekballet.org 98 E Chicago Ave., Westmont, IL 60559

formerly ChinaKids

Our Mandarin camp is an incredibly effective learning program. Your child will absorb language skills through music, story telling and play. Campers will explore the Mandarin language and Chinese culture in a fun, stimulating environment. Come for a week or stay all summer! 8 0 0 W. B U E N A 773·525·6000

•

CH I C AG O

INFO@CHINAFRIENDS.ORG

chinafriends.org

Camp Rainbow offers all the fun of a day camp in a half-day format designed specifically for preschoolers. Children explore the world through art, hands-on math and science, music, games, sports, field trips, and beach trips. Campers will love spending their summer in a fun-filled, nurturing learning environment.

For ages 3 - Entering Kindergarten MCGAW YMCA CHILDREN’S CENTER 1420 Maple ave Evanston, IL 60201 847.475.8580

www.mcgawymca.org/childrenscenter

ENROLL TODAY! FALL REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! 60 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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special advertising section // Day Camps Avery Coonley Summer Program 1400 W. Maple Ave., Downers Grove (630) 969-0800, option 2 averycoonley.org Educational and recreational programs for children ages 4-14, offering a variety of enrichment classes for those entering kindergarten through eighth grade. Three sessions: Session 1: June 16 – June 27 Session 2: June 30 - July 11 Session 3: July 14-July 25. Program individualized to foster the unique curiosity of each child. Students select from a wide range of courses that stimulate new interests while strengthening existing skills.

Brickton.org Brickton Montessori School is fully accredited by the American Montessori Society and ISACS. Summer Enrichment Classes are taught by expert instructors in science, sports, art, circus performing and clowning, drama, music and dance. Afternoons are filled with fun activities related to the weekly theme, including games, sports, art projects, cooking and other activities inspired by the campers. More info at Brickton.org/summer.

Chicago Athletic Clubs 1019 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago (773) 529-2022 ChicagoAthleticClubs.com

Chicago Grammar School

At CAC Kids Club Camp, our energetic camp counselors are dedicated to your child’s progress, encouraging them to reach new heights on the rock wall, great lengths in the pool, and most importantly, to have fun! Available for kids ages 2-8 years in Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, West Loop, and

900 N. Franklin, Chicago (312) 944-5600 chicagogrammar.org A full and half-day Summer Program for Kindergarten - 8th Grade designed to stimulate, provoke and nurture your child’s curiosity and performance. Weekly themed academic enrichment in reading, grammar, and math; Sports (including swimming); and Creative Arts. Also offering standardized test prep program for 7th and 8th graders. Dates: June 16-July 25.

Summer Arts Garden at Columbia College Chicago 1312 S Michigan Ave, Chicago

(312) 369-3100 colum.edu/sherwood

Baker Summer Discovery

Drop off your child to a fun, nurturing learning environment filled with arts and play! Your child will grow and explore in our exciting arts camp for ages 4-6. Columbia’s Summer Arts Garden meets for a half-day in the South Loop, and features classes in music, dance, theatre and visual arts. Learn more at colum.edu/sherwood.

201 Sheridan Rd., Wilmette (847) 425-5800 bakerdemschool.org What will you learn this summer? Baker Summer Discovery offers a blend of hands-on progressive educational activities and traditional summer camp fun. Educational Explorations, Musical Theater, STEAM, BIT/CIT programs, small camp groups, caring college-age counselors, swim instruction, and Fun Fridays make for an engaging summer. June 16 - August 8.

Council Oak Montessori School 11030 S. Longwood Dr., Chicago (773) 779-7606 counciloakmontessori.org

Brickton Montessori School 8622 W. Catalpa, Chicago (773) 714-0646

camp 2014

Evanston.

photo courtesy of second city

Council Oak Montessori School’s Summer Urban Gardening Program

Be Your Best,

STEM Programs for Kids

Learn from The Best

Naperville and Chicago

6701 W. North Ave., Oak Park

Robotics & Invention • Adventure with LEGO Digital Media & Technology Video Game Design · App Design Explore NASA • MinecraftEdu • KidsCode

www.greenapplecampus.org 630.778.8480

708-383-3456

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camp 2014 // special advertising section for children interested in community agriculture. Located on our property in the beautiful Chicago Beverly/ Morgan Park neighborhood. Camp begins in later June for 7 weeks. Daily from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Hands-on-learning centered around the development of the whole child. Limited availability.

built upon a series of two week themes to help reinforce learning all summer long. They inspire your child to explore, create, interact and stay active during the summer months. At Camp Adventure you child’s summer vacation is transformed into a strong foundation for the future.

Gateway Montessori

Camp Summer Quest

3748 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago (773) 539-3025 GatewayMontessoriSchool.org

Lisle Park District Recreation Center, 1925 Ohio St., Lisle (630) 964-3410. lisleparkdistrict.org

At home in the arts: Learning to scribble, draw and paint is really a matter of concentrating on seeing what the world has to offer. Pablo Picasso said that “every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” All children between 2 and 6 years of age are invited to join us for a fun-filled and relaxed summer.

Kiddie AcademyCamp Adventure Batavia (630) 761-4500 kiddieacademy.com/batavia Bolingbrook (630) 679-9400 kiddieacademy.com/bolingbrook Carpentersville (847) 844-8600 kiddieacademy.com/carpentersville Naperville (630) 416-8000 kiddieacademy.com/naperville Plainfield (815) 609-0900 kiddieacademy.com/plainfield Streamwood (630) 497-0200 kiddieacademy.com/streamwood The Camp Adventure curriculum is

Ages: Entering 1st - 6th Grade in the Fall Camp Summer Quest is an outsidebased camp which offers days filled with sports, fitness, games, arts and crafts and outdoor fun! Children entering grades 1-6 will enjoy field trips, special events, and swimming at Sea Lion Aquatic Park. Camp Summer Quest offers a supportive and fun-filled experience for all children.

The Little Gym of Chicago 3216 North Lincoln Avenue (773) 525-5750 thelittlegym.com/ChicagoIL Our summer camps offer three hours of fun and activities. The specially developed camp curriculum using fun weekly themes, combines physical fitness and play with arts, crafts and special events. It’s the perfect break for kids (and parents!) during the long summer months. Available to children ages 3-12.

Learning through Play Center for Child Development

Summer CampS 2014

Speech & Language preschool program “Handwriting without Tears” Summer Camp

Professionally trained staff focuses on speech, behavior, and developmental goals to help your child attend and gain confidence in a classroom setting.

July 7—August 14 Speech & Language Camp for Preschoolers

Little Hands Learning Centers 2 Beverly Campuses 10126 S. Western Ave., Chicago (773) 445-1900 2324 W. 111th St., Chicago www.littlehandspreschool.com LHLC offers the highest quality of curriculum and a nurturing and an accelerated academic envrionment designed to maximize each child’s individual potential. Our summer day camp provides an enriching experience for all ages and is design for working parents looking for a full day program. Our mission is to build confidence and a love of learning giving students a solid foundation for a healthy and happy life.

Montessori Academy of Chicago 1335 W. Randolph St., Chicago (312) 243-0977 (ask for Nina Pope) montessoriacademychicago.org

Moraine Valley Community College Valley Learning Center Summer Classes & Camp 9000 W. College Pkwy., Palos Hills (708) 974-5735 morainevalley.edu/vlc Offering classes and camps for every child’s special interests. Some of the fun things to do are create arts and crafts, discover exciting careers,

improve your computer skills, learn a new language, do scientific experiments, build lego robots, take music lessons, & improve academic skills. Morgan Park Academy

2153 W. 111th St., Chicago (773) 881-6704 morganparkacademy.org Join us for Summer Camp June 23-August 15,2013. Help your child embrace and discover hidden talents and interests at the world- class Morgan Park Academy summer programs. These exciting, educational programs foster independence, imagination and enriching experiences that will impact your child’s success throughout life.

The Morton Arboretum 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle (630) 719-2468 mortonarb.org/sciencecamp Expand your child’s mind this summer with interactive adventures in the great outdoors. In Summer Science Camps, they’ll come face-to-face with creepy crawlers, beautiful birds, tiny tadpoles, and more. Discover more than 100 camps that integrate the art and science of trees and nature for K-8th graders, June 9 through August 8, 2014.

Mt. Prospect Park District 1000 W. Central Rd., Mt. Prospect (847) 255-5380 mppd.org When school is out, camp is in! Mt. Prospect Park District offers full

AmericAn DAnce center Nationally Recognized School & Performing Company

A 44 Year tradition of excellence!

★ Summer-Dance • Tumbling • Poms ★ Class registration & Show Tickets Online at www.americandancecenter.net

Spectacular Student Showcase

Beginner to Advanced

“it’s Showtime”

Child •Teen • Adult 8 weeks - Start June 16th • Ballet • Pointe • Hip Hop • Street Funk • Jazz • Tap • Lyrical/Contemporary • Leaps/Turns NEw Classes Pilates • Improvisational Dance • Scholarships • Shows

5 shows • June 7th-8th Center For Performing Arts Governors State University

Full Ticket Refund with Ticket Stub and New Student Registration

Intensive speech program, Mondays—Thursdays mornings

Handwriting Without Tears Camp

Wednesday afternoons (2 groups: ages 5-7yrs and 8-10 yrs) SIGN UP NOW: 312-458-9865

Award-Winning Children Division 3 years and up

Limited space available—small class format with maximum 6 students

Learning Through play Center for Child Development 633 West addison Chicago IL Tel: 312-458-9865 Or sign up online: www.pediatricresources.org

• Pre dance • Beginner Dance

708-349-4964 Voted “Best Dance School” 17 Years Straight SouthtownStar 6 Studios • Dancewear Shop

★ Free New Student Evaluation

10464 163rd Place, Orland Park

708-747-4969 1933 Ridge Road, Homewood

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camp 2014

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camp 2014 // special advertising section 111 W. Olive St., Arlington Heights stpeter-AH.org

day camp for children who have completed Kindergarten through those who have completed 7th grade. Our professional staff will keep your child busy with outdoor games, swimming, educationally structured activities and more. Additional mini-camp options for 3-6 year olds are available, with games, crafts and outdoor play to keep your child happy and active.

Eight weeks, Monday through Friday, June 9 – August 1 with the exception of Friday July 4. A Christ-centered summer day camp with indoor and outdoor activities. Caring, qualified Christian educators and staff. Ages 4 (by 9/1/14) through 13. “Jr. High Happenings” camp program for students finishing grades 5-7. A “Junior Counselor” program for volunteer assistants who are 14, 15, & 16 years old.

Oakbrook Terrace Park District Summer Day Camps 1S325 Ardmore Ave., Villa Park (630) 627-6100 obtpd.org Registration is taking place now for the Oakbrook Terrace Park District summer day camps. Camps offered are: Summer Day Camp for children age 5-11 years old, Teen Camp for children age 11- 15 years old and Fun in the Sun Preschool Camp for children age 3-5 years old. All camps begin the week of June 12th. Days will be filled with games, field trips, and lots of fun activities. Sign up fast as space is limited!

River Forest Community Center Summer Camp Programs 8020 Madison St., River Forest (708) 771-6159 rfcc.info Offering full and part-time programs for parents & tots and children ages 3-12 years of age. Activities include arts & crafts, games, sports, swimming, field trips, special events, and more!

YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago

photo courtesy of irish music school

Science & Arts Academy

Skokie Park District

Summer Adventures Learning 1825 Miner St., Des Plaines (847) 827-7880 scienceandartsacademy.org/summer

9300 Weber Park Pl., Skokie (847) 674-1500 SkokieParks.org

Morning enrichment classes and afternoon recreation. Flexible class options that fit any schedule, 1st-8th grade. Full and half-day preschool and kindergarten. 9am-3pm with early morning and extended day care. Four, two-week sessions: June 16 through August 8. Hot lunch option. Visit our website for schedule & brochure. Unique Summer Program

For more than 85 years, the Skokie Park District has provided summer camps that focus on adventure, friendship, fun, exploration, discovery and safety. This summer, the district’s camp program promises to offer yet another exciting experience for kids. Check us out today!

St. Peter Lutheran Church and School “God’s Promises” Summer Camps

Summer Camp and Programs Locations in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan (312) 932-1200 Ymcachicago.org/camp

SPECIALTY Acacia Academy 6425 S. Willow Springs Rd., La Grange Highlands (708) 579-9040 AcaciaAcademy.com Acacia offers programs of individual instruction emphasizing: reading, mathematics, writing, personal forms of authorship, book making, literary development, study skills, and thinking skills. These programs create the desire to read, motivate students to learn, and build self esteem. Our 2 acre

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camp 2014

I am ... a writer a filmmaker a dancer a sculptor an actor a musician

... an artist.

Volleyball Summer Camps Registration Now Open 3rd grade - 12th grade

CREATIVE WRITING • DANCE • MOTION PICTURE ARTS MUSIC • THEATRE • VISUAL ARTS

Low Player to Coach ratio Skills Camps

SUMMER ARTS PROGRAMS

Beach Camp

Grades 3-12 • June - August

Multiple Chicago Locations

www.interlochen.org

PowerhouseAcademy.com

The Language and

Music School

In Central Oak Park Since 1994 • Trial Classes Available!

Music Lessons

All instruments. Recitals & more!

Spanish Preschool

Immersion 1-5 days/week

Spanish Parent-Tot

4 month old babies to 4 year olds

CALL US TO SCHEDULE A PLACEMENT VISIT FOR OUR SPANISH SUMMER CAMP!!!

Foreign Languages

Private lessons for children or adults. 10 languages available!

150 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park LMSCHOOL.com • 708-524-LALA (5252) ChicagoParent.com May 2014 65

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special advertising section // Nature Center integrates the curriculum with the outdoors. Design your program to fit your schedule.

American Dance Center 10464 W. 163rd Place, Orland Park (708) 349-4964 1933 Ridge Road, Homewood (708) 747-4969 americandancecenter.net FREE! Attend our spectacular dance recital. Professional sets, costumes, lighting, and 1,200 seat theater. See children and adults in all styles of dance. Purchase tickets onlinewww. americandancecenter.net. Save your ticket stubs. Receive full ticket refunds for each new registration. Available to all ages and ability levels. See our ad on page ….

Adler Planetarium 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago (312) 322-0329 alderplanetarium.org

ArtReach Education Theatre 3839 W. Frontage Road, Palatine (847) 372-7798 artreachspotlite.com Cost: Varies by workshop. ArtReach Educational Theatre offers a variety of arts and theater camps, workshops, and private lessons. Workshops take place at 3839 W. Frontage Road, Palatine. One, Two, and Three Week Summer Sessions offered with after Care Sessions Available. Let your child have fun this summer while learning

all aspects of the creative and performing arts activities, and explore nature trails! In addition to our Summer Camps we also offer acting, singing, and dance classes, as well as teen programs and private voice lessons all summer long!

AYSO Region 418 ayso418.org

AYSO Summer Camp at Chicago’s Lakefront. Camp Includes: Professional coaching each day, age appropriate coaching curriculum, camp t-shirt, personal evaluations, limited ratios of coaches and players. Camps are full and half day for ages 4 to 14: June 17-21, Aug 5-9 at Foster Avenue turf fields. Go to ayso418.org and choose “programs” and “summer camp” for details.

Bear Paddle Swim School Aurora, Woodridge, Orland Park (630) 692-SWIM bearpaddle.com Experience swimming created just for kids at Bear Paddle Swim School! 5-Day Spring Swim Camp is offered in a 91 degree warm saltwater pool, with small class sizes and our exclusive iron-on skill patches. View online schedule and register today! The first 25 students to register will receive a swim bag!

Brehm School 950 S. Brehm Ln., Carbondale (618) 457-0371 brehm.org Brehm’s Summer Scenarios: Self-

Reliant is a multi-player experiential learning adventure where participants discover their own strengths through quests and challenges. Through individualized and shared adventures, players will explore the environment; learn about sustainability; develop survival skills and delve into academics, assistive technology and art while getting to know their fellow players.

The Center for Enriched Living Summer Camp 2014 280 Saunders Road, Riverwoods (847) 948-7001 www.CenterForEnrichedLiving.org Campers with developmental disabilities, ages 13-22 will make memories, explore possibilities and share experiences with friends at the Center for Enriched Living’s Summer Camp. Camp runs from June 9 -August 1. Choose from the full eight-week session or two four-week sessions; full and half-day options available. Registration deadline: May 16

camp 2014

CircEsteem Summer Camp 4730 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago (773) 732-4564 circesteem.org CircEsteem’s fun, unique, engaging circus camps will teach kids to juggle, unicycle, stilt walk, hang from a trapeze, roll in a gym wheel, clown around and so much more. Circus camp is pe fect for kids ages 7 and up. Sign up for 1 week or all 7. Each week ends with a performance where kids can shine in the center ring.

The Cove School 350 Lee Rd., Northbrook (847) 562-2100 coveschool.org The Cove School Summer Program is a unique experience for K-12 students with learning disabilities. There are a variety of course offerings and electives in small classroom sizes where students’ individual needs are supported.

DANK Haus German American Cultural Center

ChinaFriends 800 W. Buena Ave., Chicago (773) 525.6000 ChinaFriends.org Registration is underway for Half Day Summer Camps geared to children ages 3-12. Enroll for one day, week, several weeks or join us for the entire 8 week session! No prior experience with Chinese is necessary. While immersed in Chinese culture, fun activities, and making friends, campers will barely notice they’re learning a language!

4740 North Western Avenue, Chicago (773) 561-9181 dankhaus.com Enroll your children in a 2 week Summer camp designed to provide an introduction to German language and culture with an emphasis on fun! Our program is for children between 4-10 years old. Previous German experi-

Irish Culture Summer Program Kids Day Camp July 21-26, 2014

since 1962

Summer Horse Camp for Girls Western Riding • Vaulting • Trail Rides • Swimming • Boating Arts & Crafts • Field Activities • and much more! ** Mother / Daughter weekends available! Call for details! **

• Singing TRADITIONAL IRISH Music Dancing • Arts

IrishMusicSchool.org

Call today to learn more! Phone (810) 679-2505

www.BlackRiverFarmAndRanch.com

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Science is about observing what’s happening all around you. Your family can have fun with science by practicing observation skills together. Challenge your kids to look for something that seems strange or out of place to them. An observation that starts with “That’s weird!” often leads to discovery. Just by wondering why, you’ve started exploring. Keep looking up!

@AdlerPrez

Try this at home! Children are natural observers. Scientists need strong observation skills and the ability to describe what they see. Encourage these skills by going on a walk and observing what’s all around you. Remind your children to engage all of their senses. They may not see birds, but can they hear them? Ask your children to describe all the things they observe. Describing your observations is important to the process of science.

Register by Session or Week Swim Instruction, Arts and Crafts, Games and Sports, Extended Day Program, Fun Fridays with Beach trips and grilled lunch, Small Nurturing Environment, Awesome Counselors, Master Teachers

Other fun ways to practice observing include looking for the Moon in the sky, playing I Spy, or watching shadows change throughout the day.

CHOOSE YOUR PROGRAM for your perfect summer

Looking for more fun ways to do science at home? adlerplanetarium.org/Science4Everyone

Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten half- or full-day Educational Explorations • Musical Theater Arts Immersion • STEAM ScienceTechEngineeringArtMath

#Science4Everyone

Babysitter/Counselor-in-Training

201 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091 847.425.5814| bakerdemschool.org/summer-program 68 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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special advertising section // ence is not required and program is fully bilingual. Instructors are recent, native transplants, child to instructor ratio held 1:12. The Sommercamp is held August 11 through 22, 2014. Daily 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.

Angelina Ballerina curriculum incorporates reading and literacy, nutrition, healthy snacks, educational activity sheets, and fun craft projects. Oneweek & four-week camps. www. ABTinley.com, 708-532-6237

Dolphin Swim Club

Intercultural Montessori Language School

Crystal Lake, Skokie (847) 854-1300 dolphinswimclub.com Swimming lessons for children 4 months to adults! We offer professional, indoor swimming lessons year round for all ages and skill level. Splashtacular birthday parties are also available! Call today for your FREE trial lesson!

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (708) 725-3828 flwright.org Youth Architecture Workshops June – July (multiple sessions) 951 Chicago Ave, Oak Park Experience designing, drawing and model-building in the inspiring drafting room of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park studio. For grades 7-12. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Art of Japan, July 9-11. Unity Temple, 875 Lake St, Oak Park. Create your own artwork as you explore Japanese art and its influence on Wright. For grades 3-8. Visit http:// www.flwright.org/ for more architecture and design fun.

Goethe-Institut Chicago German Summer Day Camp for Teenagers 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 200, Chicago (312) 263-0474 goethe.de/chicago The Goethe-Institut Chicago, official cultural institute of Germany, is offering a summer day camp for teenagers (ages 13 – 16) from June 16 – 27. Participants will have fun exploring German Chicago, German art, music and film, all while learning German. Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM – 4 PM. Fee: $ 800.

GreenApple Campus Locations in Chicago & Naperville (877) 735-4550 or (630) 778-8480 greenapplecampus.org Hey Robotics, Digital Media & LEGO Maniacs! GreenApple Campus provides creative, challenging programs for kids, preK to grade 8. Programs rich in science, technology, engineering, architecture, design and invention. Exciting Robotics, Digital Media & Technology, LEGO, green energy, and Video Game Design Chicago & Naperville

Heart and Sole Dance Angelina Ballerina Summer Camps 7038 183rd St. Tinley Park (708) 532-6237 HeartSoleDance.com Angelina Ballerina Summer Camps – making learning fun! Our summer camps develop physical health, confidence, and creativity while teaching proper dance technique. The official

camp 2014

301 S. Ridgeland, Oak Park 114 S. Racine, Chicago (708) 848-6626 interculturalmontessori.org Looking for Summer Fun! Intercultural 2014 Summer Program for children ages 3-12 begins Monday, June 9. Register now if you want your child’s summer to include cultural activities such as foreign language, art, music, folklore, outdoor games and cooking. Our 5 two-week Summer Sessions are available at both locations.

Interlochen Arts Camp PO Box 199 Interlochen, MI 49643 (800) 681-5912 or (231) 276-7472 Camp.Interlochen.org Each summer, young artists from around the world come to Interlochen Arts Camp to learn, create and perform alongside leading artists and instructors. Located in beautiful northwest Michigan, Interlochen Arts Camp offers summer programs for grades 3-12. We are now accepting applications for summer 2014.

Irish Music School of Chicago Francis O’Neill Irish Arts Week 773) 412-5082 IrishMusicSchool.org Kids ages 6-14 of all musical abilities can participate in this amazing week of Irish culture from 9am - 3pm Monday through Friday, July 21-25. They will learn traditional Irish music, song, dance, language and arts & crafts with a Finale Recital on Saturday, July 26 at Chief O’Neill’s for friends and family.

Keshet (847) 205-1234 keshet.org Keshet offers various eight-week, fullday and overnight-integrated camp options for individuals with special needs. Families can choose from over 14 camps to best suit their child’s interests and needs. Keshet provides opportunities for children with intellectual/ developmental disabilities that no one else does!

Language & Music School 150 North Oak Park Ave. Oak Park (708) 524-5252 lmschool.com Spanish summer camp – ages 2-5, 6-9. Flexible scheduling to accommodate your summer travel plans! Sign up for 1 week or up to 9 weeks – May 23rd thru July 23rd, half day or full day. Special trips to the park etc., weather permitting. $42/3 hrs/1 day a week.

Great Birthday Celebrations Without the Work!

River Forest Community Center 8020 W. Madison, River Forest Private Birthday Parties in our Indoor Playland or Gymnasium! Three affordable packages to choose from, including a Deluxe Pizza Party Stop in and see why Chicagoland Parents give our Birthday Parties “Two Thumbs Up” Call Our Party Coordinator for more information

(708) 771-6159 Mention our ad and receive 10% off your party package ChicagoParent.com May 2014 69

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camp 2014 // special advertising section Language Stars 15 Locations around Chicago (866) 55-STARS info@languagestars.com languagestars.com This summer at Language Stars, your child will experience our full immersion camps and classes in Spanish, French, Mandarin, Italian, and German taught by native-speaking teachers from around the globe. Your child will be immersed in language, culture, and pure fun! Choose the summer program or mix and match programs that best fit your summer plans. Choose Parents & Tots (1-3 years old), Summer Long Programs (ages 3-10), Week-long camps (ages 3-8), or build your own schedule! Join Language Stars for a summer of fun with a lifetime of benefits!

Learning Through Play Center 633 W. Addison, Chicago (312) 458-9865 pediatricresources.org The 2014 Summer Speech Camp for preschoolers will focus on speech, behavior, and developmental goals to help your child attend and gain confidence in a classroom setting. Intensive 6-week program runs MondaysThursdays, morning (9am-11am) or afternoon (2:30pm-4:30pm) session available. Call for details.

Lookingglass Theatre Company 875 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1430, Chicago (773) 477-9257, x193 lookingglasstheatre.org/education Spend your summer with Lookingglass! Our multiple camp programs for students 5-18 years old offer opportunities to explore thrilling stories about the world around us, as we create original pieces performed on the Lookingglass Main Stage. Each program, offered at multiple sites, focuses on developing theatre skills using Lookingglass core values: collaboration, invention and transformation.

Master S.H. Yu Martial Arts 6701 W. North Ave., Oak Park (708) 383-3456 Master-SH-Yu.com Ninja Camp (ages 5-12) presents the movement, culture and history of the Martial Arts. GrandMaster Yu appears with Kumdo (Swords) demonstrations and leads traditional martial arts conditioning games. Other camps include: The Twin Sticks Defense Art, and Airborne Kicks, for youth & teens. Camps presented in June and August: Schedules available.

New Traditions Riding Academy 10100 S. Kean Ave., Palos Hills (708) 598-7718/7719 newtraditionsridingacademy.com Come and experience the thrill of horseback riding with a stable that has over 50 years of teaching riders the art of equitation. We have all skill levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) with horses big and small

for camp participants of all ages. Ride your best life today!

Old Town School of Folk Music 4544 N. Lincoln Ave & 909 W. Armitage, Chicago (773) 728-6000 oldtownschool.org The Old Town School of Folk Music will be offering camps for many age groups all summer long. Check out Summer Double Play: Two-day morning camps designed for 4 & 5 year olds. Drop your child off and introduce them to a wide variety of music, art and dance. Learn more and register at oldtownschool. org

Power House Volleyball Camp (773) 234-5048 powerhousevbc.com Camps are offered for male and female athletes ages 9-18 with sessions available for both beginner, intermediate and advanced skilled players. Camps will work on all essential individual skills, as well as team concepts and teaching the athletes the component of team competition. Sign up today! www.powerhousevbc.com

Pro Martial Arts Kick’n Summer Camps St. Charles (630) 584-2340 promartialarts.com/stcharles Downers Grove (630) 324-6068 promartialarts.com/downersgrove Hoffman Estates (847) 252-4100 promartialarts.com/hoffmanestates Naperville (630) 305-9215 promartialarts.com/naperville Character Building Lessons- Fun Activities- Snacks- and more! During your child’s summer camp experience with us they will receive character education, learn basic martial arts and parts of our Anti-bullying and Predator Prevention programs. Please contact your closest dojo for more information and to sign your child up today! Space is limited.

Pump it Up Chicago (312) 664-PUMP(7867) Orland Park (708) 479-2220 pumpitupparty.com The #1 indoor inflatable party place in the country! With private arenas and party rooms and our dedicated staff, Pump It Up isn’t just for birthday parties. We will customize field trips and special events for any group! No matter the size of your group, your event will be private~no sharing of inflatables with other groups guaranteed!

Salt Creek Ballet Summer 98 East Chicago Ave., Westmont (630) 769-1199 saltcreekballet.org You choose the dance option this summer! Girls and boys ages 3-8. Six weeks of Summer Fun on Tuesday afternoons only: June 16-July 25, or Week Long Summer Ballet Camps: July 28-August 1, and August 4-August 8. Bring your energy and take home some dance

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TRAINING CENTER

camp 2014

AGES 8 & UP

ONLY 10 REPORTED MILK IN NOSE ACCIDENTS LAST YEAR

TENNIS

ON THE LAKE Youth Program

Kids Camps are run every week Monday-Friday from June to August IMPROV • SKETCH • MUSIC • ACTING • CLOWNING • STAND-UP • CAMPS

SECONDCITY.COM/TC • 312-664-3959 • Half Day and Full Day Sessions • Weekly Registration/ Individually Tailored Schedules • U.S.T.A. “Quickstart” Methods and Equipment • Newly resurfaced courts Primary Location: Waveland Park at Addison and LSD (other city locations also available) visit tennisonthelake.com OR CALL PETER AT (773) 278-8877 ChicagoParent.com May 2014 71

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camp 2014 // special advertising section Bilingual summer camp

Intro to German lanGuaGe & culture wIth an emphasIs on fun! • 2 Week Summer Camp • August 11th - 22nd • Ages 4 to 10 years • Convenient Drop-off and Pickup

pro Martial arts

spring specials!

Enrolling Now!

character education • confidence • discipline • bullying and predator preVention

2 FREE KaRatE ClassEs

choose from

2 FREE

KiCKboxing ClassEs

*Valid for first time students only. No cash value. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Offers may not be combined. Rates and services may vary by location. Independently Owned & Operated. ©2013 PRO Martial Arts Franchise Corp. Franchises Available.

Downers Grove Hoffman estates 630-324-6068

456-458 W. 75th St. Located in Fairview Plaza

847-252-4100

2509 West golf rd. • in the Hoffman Village shopping center with Mariano’s

st. CHarles

630-584-2340

2422 West Main st. • one block West of randall rd. • on North Ave. Next to Pizza Hut

promartialarts.com

naperville

630-305-9215

N Opeow n!

Westridge center (next to Hollywood Palms) 2835 Aurora Ave., Ste. 113

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Affordable Summer Arts Camps One, Three, and Six week sessions available!

Interc u ltural Montessori Language School Two Locations: Oak Park (708) 848-6626 Chicago-West Loop (312) 265-1514

Acting, Singing, Dancing, Swimming, Crafts, and Outdoor Activities! Early Registration Discounts! Camps & Workshops taught in the Palatine/Schaumburg, Rolling Meadows area For more info - visit our website at www.artreachspotlite.com or call our offices at (847) 372-7798 or (773) 604-1892.

camp 2014

Dual Language Montessori Programs • Chinese/English • Spanish/English • Japanese/English • Ages 3-12 years old

ENROLL NOW FOR SUMMER 2014! E-mail: admissions@interculturalmontessori.org Visit: www.interculturalmontessori.org Elementary After School Language programs in Spanish and Mandarin – Oak Park campus only

Summer Fun

ChiCago Parent’s summer aCtivities guide

June and July

JUNE 2013 | FREE

CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES

Sweet spots for summer

For more information, call (708) 386-5555 or visit ChicagoParent.com

Giuliana Rancic dishes on dads

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camp 2014 // special advertising section enrichment! Summer programs also available for ages 10 and older.

pline. Special speakers, Mentoring, Career explorations. Science projects; culminating showcase for each camp. Powerful lessons designed to ignite a passion. Affordable and easily accessible by all modes of transportation. Spacious center equipped with state of the art classrooms and computer lab.

Schaumburg Boomers Youth Baseball Camp 1999 S. Springinsguth Rd., Schaumburg (847) 461-3695 x2207 boomersbaseball.com

UIC Soccer Camp

Session 1: June 20-21 Session 2: July 24-25 Learn from the Champs! The 2013 Champion Schaumburg Boomers Players and Coaches provide professional baseball instruction for aspiring young athletes with TWO sessions in 2014! Each two-day session is just $69 and each child receives lunch, an official t-shirt, a souvenir baseball and a ticket to each night’s Boomers game! For more info or to sign up, please contact the Mike Kline at 847.461.3695 x2207.

The Second City Training Center 1608 N. Wells St., 4th Floor, Chicago (312) 664-3959 secondcitysummers.com Get ready to laugh! The Second City Training Center offers Summer youth camps in improvisation and sketch comedy for students ages 11-18. Summer Camps are two weeks long and feature an end of camp performance, an exclusive Second City show, and a pizza party.

UIC Athletics Fields 839 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago (312) 996-6755 uicsoccercamp.com UIC Soccer Camp has developed a reputation the past eight years as a premier environment for players of all ages, levels and interest to develop their abilities as a soccer player and further their passion for this great game. Day Camp and Residential/Commuter Camp Options are available. photo courtesy of id tech camp

Tennis on the Lake The “Racket Shack” Club House & Pro Shop is located in Waveland Park at 3650 N. Recreation Drive Other court locations throughout Chicago (773) 278-8877 www.tennisonthelake.com Using the latest U.S.T.A. “Quickstart” methods and age-appropriate modified equipment on our newly resurfaced “U.S. Open Blue” courts, your child will develop the character and

Saturday, May 17 Noon-4 pm • Free

Keeping Kids Fit Day

Saturdays, June 7-14 • 10 am-11 am Age: 6-8 years old • $26 R/$31 NR Heritage Center

High School -- Take courses for credit • Grade School High Arts, School -- Take courses for -- Academics, & Nature Camp • Transition/ credit • Achievement Grade School -- Academics, Vocational Programs : Ages 18-22 •The Centers • June, July Arts, & Nature Camp • The Achievement Centers • June, July and August Tutoring Sessions

Grades 1-12

and August Tutoring Sessions

Call to Enroll Today: 708.579.9040

C al l to Enrol l Toda T y:

6425 South Willow Springs Road La Grange Highlands, IL 60525

708.579.9040

www.acaciaacademy.com www.achievementcenters.com 6425 South Willow Springs info@acaciaacademy.com

! n u f r e m m u !

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Five types of academic camps. Reading, Math and STEM camps. Small groups, individual attention. Bilingual coaches, trained in the academic disci-

WCF specializes in youth programs including sports classes, clinics and camps Year-Round. These programs strengthen children’s skills in a structured and safe no-pressure environment. All programs focus on learning rather than winning. WCF offers a full schedule of Summer Classes and Camps. Classes and camps for boys and girls ages 2-14.

Ages 6-22

Summer Day Camps Registration is taking place now for Summer Day Camps. Camps available are: Summer Day Camp, Teen Camp, Fun in the Sun Preschool Camp, Kids Tennis Camp & Counselor in Training Camp. Call the Park District for further information. Oakbrook Terrace Park District 1S325 Ardmore Avenue Villa Park, IL 60181 (630) 627-6100 • www.obtpd.org

Summer Brillante 5342 W. Cermak, Cicero (708) 477-6383 tutorialatina.com

2367 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago (773) 486-7300 WindyCityFieldhouse.com/youth

Summer Programs June 16 - July 29

Spring Celebration at the Lake View Nature Center

Poetry, Art & Mozart Class

Tutoria Latina

Windy City Fieldhouse

and The Achievement Centers

The Oakbrook Terrace Park District has lots of spring time fun for everyone!

Saturday, June 14 10 am - Noon • Free Terrace View Park

lifetime skills only tennis can deliver! Camps run half or full day, M-F, JuneAugust. Registration can be tailored to meet your needs. Afterschool, weekend classes and privates available April-Oct.

fun us mmer

Road La Grange Highlands, IL 60525 Acacia Academy is accredited by the North

Central Association of Colleges & Schools (NCA), www.acaciaacademy.c y of AdvancED. om a Division y com info@acaciaacademy.

Acacia Academy is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools (NCA), a Division of AdvancED.

4/11/14 4:00 PM

special advertising section //

camp 2014

Theatre Summer Camps be you. be together. be lookingglass.

AGES 5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;18

registration is now open for 2014 summer camps! for information call 773.477.9257 x 193 or visit lookingglasstheatre.org /education ChicagoParent.com May 2014 75

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camp 2014 // special advertising section OVERNIGHT Black River Farm and Ranch 5040 Sheridan Line Crosswell, MI 48422 (810) 679-2505 blackriverfarmandranch.com At Black River you will be able to experience being a horsewoman. Each camper will enjoy bringing in the horses, feeding, grooming, and saddling them. You will go on trail rides, mounted lessons, & ground lessons. The camp activities program at Black River is full of adventure, creativity, and fun!

Camp Anokijig

2050 Tower Dr., Glenview (847) 730-5275 www.Makeamessterpiece.com Unleash camper’s creativity with unique, messy, hands-on projects... explore gravity, airflow and color theory while painting with bubbles at Bubble’ology, work together and create a giant banner to proudly display back at camp at the Splat’tacular tables, and mess-makers will be rocking out in Drum Roll, drumming in liquid water color dressed head to toe in rain gear!

FIELD TRIPS

Safari Land

Adler Planetarium

701 W North Ave, Villa Park (630) 530-4649 safarilandfun.com

1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago (312) 922-7827

W5639 Anokijig Ln. Plymouth, WI 53073 (800) 741-6931 or (920) 893-0782 anokijig.com Camp Anokijig offers summer adventures filled with positive values, personal growth and outrageous fun. Coed, ages 7-16, overnight camp with sessions from four days to one or more weeks. A great variety of activities to choose from plus many specialties, horses, teen programs and adventure trips. Conveniently located. Plymouth, WI

YMCA Camp MacLean 31401 Durand Ave. Burlington, WI 53105 (262) 763-7742 ymcacampmaclean.com

Build a rocket, program a robot, or explore the edge of space at the Adler this summer! Our popular hands-on summer camps are specially designed for kids ages 5-14. Adler camps sell out quickly so register beginning February 3 at www.adlerplanetarium.org/camps.

Chicago Children’s Museum Navy Pier - 700 E. Grand, Chicago (312) 527-1000 chicagochildrensmuseum.org Chicago Children’s Museum is the perfect summer destination for families, camp groups, scout troops, daycare centers and field trips of all kinds. Located on historic Navy Pier, it’s three floors of hands-on fun!

Kohl Children’s Museum

Since 1941, children 7-16 years old have

2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview

Valley Learning Center

SUMMER 2014

Moraine Valley Community College offers classes and camps for every child’s special interests. Here are some of the fun things your kids can do: • • • • • • • • • •

Full- and half-day academic camps Lego movie making Create arts and crafts Discover exciting careers Gain computer skills Learn a new language Do scientific experiments Program Lego robots Take music lessons Improve academic skills

Visit morainevalley.edu/vlc or call (708) 974-5735 to request a list of classes.

photo courtesy of camp Anokijig

(847) 832-6600 kohlchildrensmuseum.org Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago offers 17 interactive, handson exhibits for children ages birth to 8. All of our exhibits and programs are aligned to the Illinois State Learning Standards and are designed to nurture a love of learning in young children.

Come start your journey here....don your pith helmet and prepare for ja jungle adventure. Explore the grounds, play any of our 190 state of the art and retro video games. Venture if you dare and ride the tiger terror. The Midwests’ largest indoor roller coaster; little explorers can ride the monkey jump, merry-go-round or play in the lion’s den soft play area. Want to fly...ride in our 3D Hi Def Max Flight simulator...”

SUPPLIES Mabel’s Labels RPO Dundurn, PO Box 33561 Hamilton, ON Canada L8P 4X4 (866) 306-2235 mabelslabels.com

Planning your summer? ...WE ARE! AVERY COONLEY SCHOOL SUMMER PROGRAM In Three Sessions June 16 – June 27 June 30 – July 11 July 14 – July 25 Enrichment Courses • Recreational Programs Stimulate new interests and strengthen skills in an exciting and educational summer program.

FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-14

For the 2014 Program Guide or Course Description call or write

Avery Coonley School

& 14-429A

Make-A-Messterpiece

spent summers enjoying the outdoors, learning new skills, living in a small group environment, building lasting friendships and self-esteem, while having the summer of their lives in a safe, caring environment. ACA accredited Overnight Co Ed camp with Three-day, One and Two-week sessions. YMCA of Metropolitan ChicagoResident Camps Locations in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan (312) 932-1200 Ymcachicago. org/camp

1400 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515

9000 W. COLLEGE PKWY., PALOS HILLS, IL 60465-2478

(630) 969-0800, option 2 fax.(630) 969-0131 www.averycoonley.org

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camp 2014

Safari Land Making Friends. Making Memories.

YMCA Camp MacLean Burlington, WI

Explore Chicagoland’s Largest Indoor Amusement Park And Experience The Largest Indoor Roller Coaster In Illinois Exhilarating Family Fun filled with adventure, food, games and rides!

Since 1941, children and teens have been spending summers learning new skills, building lasting friendships, spending time outdoors and having the summer of their lives in a safe and caring environment! A resident camp in the southeast Wisconsin for boys and girls ages 7-16 years old. Camp MacLean provides quality staff supervision, modern facilities and great food!

Tilt-A-Whirl • 3DMaxFlight Simulator • Bumper Cars Kiddie Go Karts • Cosmic Bowling • Soft Play Video Games • Atlantis Restaurant

701 W. North Ave., Villa Park 630•530•4649 www.safarilandfun.com

ymcacampmaclean.com You do not have to be a YMCA member to go to Camp MacLean. Visit our website or call for a registration packet.

31401 Durand Avenue Burlington, WI 53105 262.763.7742

Birthday Parties & Group Packages

A LIFETIME LOVE OF LEARNING STARTS HERE. • Children ages 2-14, Toddler through Middle School • Enriched curriculum - Spanish, drama, art, music and phys ed • Quiet study areas and outdoor class space • Before and after school programs available • Toddler (2 yr old) space available 8:45 - 11:15 • Daycare option until 3:15PM Please call Julie Einstein at 773-271-1700 to learn more.

established in 1966

www.rpmschool.org | 1800 W. Balmoral Ave. Chicago

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camp 2014 // special advertising section

CircEsteem

Circus

Summer Camp for Kids 6+

with performances every week Put on your super cape... it’s time for an adventure! Our all-new Super Kids’ Quest Summer Camp is full of exciting, Put on your superwhere cape... it’s will timeexercise for an adventure! Our creative missions kids their muscles, all-new Super Kids’ Quest Summer Camp is full of exciting, creative missions where kidsscheduling will exercise theirallow muscles, Quest each day! Plus, flexible options you

Juggling • acrobatics • trampoline

June 23 - August 8

to sign your Super Kid up for several weeks, a single week Quest each Plus, or even just day! a day at aflexible time! scheduling options allow you to sign your Super Kid up for several weeks, a single week or even just a day at a time! Enroll now......before it's too late!!!! Enroll now......before The Little Gym of Chicagoit's too late!!!! www.TheLittleGym.com/ChicagoIL The Little Gym of Chicago (773) 525-5750 www.TheLittleGym.com/ChicagoIL (773) 525-5750

CircEsteem.org

day Camps Week-long day camps for boys and girls 4-14 JUNioR eLite aNd sUmmeR CoLLege pRep Camps Commuter & residential options for boys 12-18 additional information & online registration available www.uicsoccercamp.com | 312.848.6106 78 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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Traveling

As seen on WGN, WTTW, and NBC Local!

Teddy Bears We come to you!

• Parties, Events, Block Parties & More! • Portable Bear Stuffing Machine! • Special Guest: Baxter The Bear!

Award-winning magician with over 30 years experience! All Birthday Shows include balloon animals and live rabbits! Also offering Face Painting! Don’t miss our newest magic trick, “BirthDAy ChilD levitAteS”

Magical Entertainment for all occasions!

630-855-4521 toll free:855-KDM-AGIC

773.934.5314 Find us on Facebook!

www.kidzmagic.biz Make your next Birthday Party a

Let’s CLown Around Former Ringling Bros. Navy Pier Entertainer

Performer with an ActionPacked, High Energy Comedy Magic Show

• Hands-on • No mess fun • Ages 5-12!

Includes: • Fire-Eating • Machete Juggling • Stilt Walker • & Much More

847-672-6165

www.letsclownaround.net

847-895-2340 Schaumburg

www.mypartyprincess.com Come experience the ultimate

Girly-Girl Party!

• Princess Tea Parties

• Diva/Glamour Parties • Spa Parties • All New! Doll Parties • All New Limo Service!! • Ultimate Pajama Parties

• All-New FROZEN Parties - Elsa & Anna are HERE!

We Come to You! Exciting hands-on experiments may include: • Slippery slime • Cool chemistry Also Available • Rocket launches • Cotton candy ....and lots more

North Cook and Lake 224-676-1635

Chicago 773-227-3345

Western Suburbs 630-393-3322

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Traveling Players presents

• • • • •

Aurora area

CLOE the Clown

BLING BY GLITZY GIRLZ Online Store sells our custom sequin transfers/clothing www.blingbyglitzy.com

• Magic Tricks • Games • Face Painting • Balloon Animals • Story Telling and More

Book your Birthday Parties Today!

Birthday Parties: NEW Pajama Sequin Party GlamGlitz, Pop/Rock Dance, Spa Retreat, Pink In Paris, Funky Peace Dance, Princess/Pirates, Hawaiian Luau, VIP Diva Package

Event Classes run in 40 Park Districts

www.glitzygirlz.com

Call: 630-816-2288 www.cloeclown.com

Our entertainment travels to your location Affordable pricing beats competition Youthful, trendy staff Caters to girls & boys ages 4-12 Goodie Bags, Invitations & Cookie Favors

(online schedule on website)

Girl Scouts/Mother/Daughter Events Custom Embellishing Apparel: Affordable & Unique Spiritwear/Cheer/Pom/Dance/ Organizations/Team Sports

847-873-2011 • wwwblingbyglitzy.com

Perfect 5-star rating on Yelp Learn more: www.TheGreatScott.com

Magic for children and families

(847) 361-0924

Mary Macaroni

SuE’S Party AnimAlS

Princess & Character Parties Magic • Clowning Guitar Sing-a-Longs Face Painting & Balloons!

Book us for your next party or event!

Children’s Parties! Corporate Events!

•We Entertain •We Educate •We're Cute & Fun •We're Clean & Safe

Amazing Tim Adamz 3 Arrives Early

3 Amazes Kids 4-9

Rated

You'll LOVE US!

Call Today:

Call Sue Johnson, Educator

773-774-3755

847-215-8508

www.marymacaroni.com

HOUSE OF BOUNCE Shaved Ice & Cotton Candy machines also available

#1 Birthday magician

Serving the greater Chicagoland area

Call Ron at 708-927-5455 www.houseofbounce.org

3 As Seen on WGN 3 Live Rabbit

HHHHH

Book Him Here Now: www.AmazingAdamz.com - 630-416-4318

Themes to choose from: • Disney Princess • Scooby Doo • TMNT • Sports • Strawberry Shortcake • Plain • World of Disney 5 in 1 Combo • 30’ Dual Lane Obstacle • Water Slides • Slip ‘n’ Slides

Get customers

connected with your website through ChicagoParent.com with an affordable web button

Call Walter - 708-613-3357

wburden@chicagoparent.com

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Magic & Juggling Shows

Low Rates ! Book Now !

Balloon Animals and Puppets

Providing Quality, Professional Entertainment since 1991 Several Themed Characters available. Video clips and party ideas are provided on the website.

www.IYQENT.com IYQ Entertainment

708-620-HOPP • www.hippity-hop.com Local Delivery, Setup & Pick-up included

847-228-0882

The Bus of Fun will come to your home for your child’s next Birthday Party. “Like Us” and add a friend on Facebook and receive $25 off your Party! ...Sit back and let us run the PARTY for you!

Not only do we bring the fun, we also bring:

Indoor Center Highlights • Bouncers, Slides, Obstacles & More • Birthday Parties • Huge Play Area • Tons of Party Options • Field Trips/Group Rates • Toddler Area • Free WiFi

Now Open!

Please call or visit our website for reservations & current promotions

(773) 354-7720 (708) 862-2500 www.jumpnjamplayland.com

Located at: 1584 Huntington Dr. Calumet City, IL. 60409

Walk on the WildSide! Exotic Animal Programs Bat Talks

School,

Libraries

& Birthdays...

■ Prizes ■ Cotton Candy ■ Snow Cones (seasonal) ■ Face painting

■ Photography ■ Homemade Treats ■ Small gift for Birthday Child ■ Games

Indoor Center Highlights

■ Creative Crafts ■ Pinata ■ Money Machine (real money) ■ Refreshments

Rain or Shine, Hot or Cold, we always bring * the Bouncers, Slides, Obstacles FUN to you year round!

* Birthday Please call (708) Parties 388-2200 to yourArea party * schedule Huge Play

NOW OPEN!

& More

www.TheBusofFun.com

* Tons of Party Options * Field Trips/Group Rates * Toddler Area * Free WiFi

The Bus of Fun is fully insured.

Mrs. Newberry's Traveling Tea Party

Please call or visit our website pleasant for than a tea party with friends complete with feathered reservations and current promotions hats, exquisite ball gowns, formal china, custom tables (708) 862-2500 & chairs and a host for set up & take down? (773) 354-7720 Dahlings, what could be more

W W W. J U M P N J A M P L A Y L A N D. C O M Located at:

1 5 8 4 H u n t i n g t o n D r.Call to make your event simply divine! C a lu m e t C it y, I L 6 0www.mrsnewberrystravelingtea.biz 4 0 708-951-0351 9

Browse our amazing Entertainment directory at

www.flyingfoxconservationfund.com 773-823-1466 ChicagoParent.com May 2014 81

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Unlock Your Child’s Imagination! Sign up now for Summer Science Camps at The Morton Arboretum. Kids in kindergarten through 8th grade can expand their mind with interactive adventures in the great outdoors. With more than 100 hands-on camps to choose from, we have something that will stimulate your child’s senses and unleash their inner adventurer. Here is a sample of our summer camp offerings: Where the Wild Things Are Adventures in Art

Eco-mythbusters Camping Out

Enchanted Forest Exploring Energy

Go Fish Nature Illustrators

And so much more! Week-long camps run June 9–August 8. Sign up now at mortonarb.org/sciencecamp or call 630-719-2468.

Thursday Family Nights Thursdays, June 5–August 28

Summer Festivals Select weekends, June–October

Theatre-Hikes® Weekends, July 5–October 26

Learn more about our TREE-mendous summer at mortonarb.org/events. THE MORTON ARBORETUM • 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 630-968-0074 • mortonarb.org 82 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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calendar MAY

This month is the tim time for some fiestas, and we can all agree that the animals deserve to celebrate, too. (Disregard their daily siestas, please.) Families with kids 4 and up can help the meerkats and mongooses—and even e n some tigers!—celebrate Cinco de Mayo by creating piñatas fill filled led d with animal-friendly treats. Then stick around to watch the creatu creatures uress dig in… or should we say “rip them apart.” $13 $13,, $ $10 10 zoo members. 9-10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 a.m.-12:30 12:30 p.m. and 1-2:30 p.m May 17. Cinco p.m.. M de Mayo Piñata P ata Party, Piñ Lincoln n Park Paark Zoo, 2200 N. N Cannon C Drive, Drive, Chicago. Ch hicago. (312) 742-2000, 7 2-2000, 742 lpzoo.org. lpzoo.orrg.

Every mother of girls would like to think she’s raising little ladies, and Morton Arboretum’s Mother Daughter Tea is a great place to find out if it’s true! Moms and daughters 2 and up can enjoy tea and a sweet treat, plus learn which parts of trees and plants make the best teas. Each pair also gets to create a fragrant keepsake to take home. Now if only wee could promise a few moments of peace ce and quiet to go along with that steaming aming cuppa. $28, $20 members. 10-11:30 11:30 30 aa.m. m and 2-3:30 0 p.m. May 17. 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

Have you ever wanted anteed to play Mrs. O’Leary? Or wa watch atch the Cubs actually win the n th he World Series? Or narrowly wly avoid a run-in with some mo mobsters? obsters? A lot has happened in thee pa past ast 177 years in our city, and families yea miliees with kids 6 and up can find inspiration spirration in key moments of Chicago history oh istory at Family Drama Club, where Fam heree local theater students will he help the lp you role play and discover disc your voice. We’re hoping pin ours sounds a lot like Harry Caray, to be honest. ones $20, $10 kids. $ s. 1:30-3 3 p. p.m. May 17. Chicago Hist History Museum,, 1601 N. Cla Clark St., Chicago. go. (312) 312) 64 6424600, chicagohistory.org. cagohist

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CALENDAR 1 | THURSDAY COMMUNITY NIGHT. A special viewing, accompanied by art, music and hands-on activities. 5-7 p.m. National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago. (312) 738-1503, nationalmuseumof mexicanart.org.

Chicago Kids & Kites Festival See May 3

3 | SATURDAY CHICAGO A PIANO WITH 3 TALES.

Pianist Mary Rose Norell performs three pieces for piano for kids 4-12: Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition; Frederic Chopin’s Scherzo in B-flat minor; and Montague’s Mirabella a Tarantella (for toy piano). The music is paired with various handmade puppets, from bunraku dolls to larger-than-life human-sized costumes. 1 and 3 p.m. Indian Boundary Park & Cultural Center, 2500 W. Lunt Ave. (773) 7640338, chicagoparkdistrict.com. CHICAGO KIDS & KITES FESTIVAL. The Department of

Cultural Affairs and Special Events provides free kits for kids to design and create their own kites. Plus crafts and face painting. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cricket Hill in Lincoln Park, West Montrose Drive. (312) 744-3316, chicagokidsandkites.us. FAMILY DAY: ABOUT FACE.

A springtime face-painting and mask-making festival. Transform into a Chinese opera character from

The White Snake or something else. 1-4 p.m. Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, 5550 S. Greenwood Ave. (773) 702-0200, smartmuseum.uchicago.edu. GET ORGANIZED CHICAGO.

Drive through and drop off clothing, books, eyeglasses, electronics, furniture, kids’ toys, shoes, coats, blankets, kitchenware, computers, pots and pans, jewelry, linens, decor, accessories, games, media, sports equipment and recyclables.

All are donated to charity. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Lane Tech Stadium, 2501 W. Addison. napochicago.com. FAMILY TROLLEY TOURS.

Professional tour guide Josh Eisenberg leads family-friendly urban exploration in an open-air trolley. Today’s theme is The Chicago Flag. $25, $10 kids; $20 members, $5 member kids. 10 a.m.-noon. Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. (312) 642-4600, chicagohistory.org.

SUBURBS

About the calendar The deadline for submitting listings for the June issue is April 28. All events are subject to change. Please call the event sponsor at the number listed to confirm before you go. Events taking place on four or more dates during the month are listed in Ongoing Events, beginning on page 97.

Searchable listings updated daily ChicagoParent.com/calendar

SPRING ASTRONOMY. Kids 6 and up can see the moon, Jupiter and Saturn through a telescope. Kids must be accompanied by a participating adult. This program will be cancelled if it is cloudy. 9-10 p.m. Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park. (847) 4336901, hellernaturecenter.org. BARRINGTON AREA KIDFEST.

A day-long event that combines the Community Kite Fly and Family Nature Fest. Several organizations host outdoor educational activities

for all ages. Children can learn about nature while having fun through activities such as constructing bird houses, tree climbing, exploring insect and animal habitats, and creating nature note cards. Other activities include archery, slack-lining and lessons on bike safety. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Citizens Park, 511 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington. funoutside.org. PAPER-MAKING. Kids 8 and up discover new ways to recycle paper through the creation of a handmade greeting card and a paper bead bracelet. Advance registration required. $7, $5 resident. 9:30 a.m.noon. Elk Grove Historical Museum, 399 Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village. (847) 439-3994, elkgroveparks.org/museumcampus.asp. COUNTRY IN THE PARK.

View demonstrations on blacksmithing, butter-making, sheep-shearing, heirloom gardening and more. Visit with calves, sheep, chickens and pigs and celebrate the rural heritage of Downers Grove. Noon-4 p.m. The Museum, 831 Maple Ave., Downers Grove. (630) 963-1300, dgparks.org.

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CALENDAR FAMILY KITE DAY. Enjoy a largely

forgotten pastime on a beautiful spring day. Kites are provided; register by May 1. $4, $2 residents. 10 a.m.-noon. Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora. (630) 859-8606, foxvalleyparkdistrict.org. FREE COMIC BOOK DAY.

Celebrate with comic books, a cosplay contest, trivia and more. 1-3 p.m. West Chicago Public Library, 118 W. Washington St., West Chicago. (630) 231-1552, westchicago.lib.il.us. FROGGY PICNIC. Kids 2 and up

can visit the frogs near their homes, view live tadpoles, learn to recognize different frog calls and make some froggy music. A picnic lunch is included, and blankets are welcome. $25, $18 members. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org. SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES. Scooby-Doo and the

Mystery Inc. gang take center stage in an all-new family musical that features some of the world’s most popular characters from one of television’s longest-running animated series. $17-$63 (top ticket price includes a VIP Meet and Greet with the cast). 1 and 4 p.m. Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. (847) 6715100, rosemonttheatre.com.

Learn to

Ice Skate New classes starting in May • www.SkokieParks.org

Figure Skating Registration begins May 5

Hockey Registration begins May 4

STARS ON ICE. America’s top

Olympic medal contenders from the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, including Ashley Wagner, Gracie Gold and ice dancers Meryl Davis and

9340 Weber Park Place, Skokie • (847) 674-1500, ext. 2900

Lighten up

this summer!

Register now for classes that start May 19, June 9 and July 7. • Save money while you earn credits that easily transfer to a four-year college or university. • Convenient class times fit around your summer fun. • Classes and camps for kids and teens, too.

Babi B Ba ab biie es s in Natu Na ture e

morainevalley.edu

Seee May May 6 Ma

9000 W. COLLEGE PKWY. PALOS HILLS, IL 60465-2478

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CALENDAR

here we come

TRANSPORTATION We are the people, for the people providing transportation services for all people. We provide service to and from appointments, school, after-school, day care centers, small group outings and much more!

H E R E

HERE WE

COME

C O M E TRANSPORTATION

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • Car Seats Provided • Safe Drivers Reasonable & Affordable Rates • Available 7 Days a Week Wheelchair Accessible • 12 & 7 Seat Vans Available State of ILL/MBE Certified • Courteous & Professional Drivers

773-812-6359 or 708-244-7277 PO Box Matteson, IL 60443 • overcomer2@sbcglobal.net

We provide service for adults & children With special needs

F mi Fa m ly ly Day ay:: De D esi sign g SSeee M Maay 10 10

Charlie White, headline the all-new tour. Check website for ticket prices. 7:30 p.m. Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. (847) 635-6601, allstatearena.com.

4 | SUNDAY CHICAGO WIGGLEWORMS CELEBRATES PETE SEEGER. Concert for kids.

$10, $9 members. 11 a.m. Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. (773) 728-6000, oldtownschool.org.

SUBURBS

Please join us at our May 14th “Coffee.”

MONSTROUS SUNDAY. Come dressed as a favorite monster or bring one along for a mythical magical romp. Explore everyday physics principles that demystify movie magic. Plus, manufacture monstrous treats and create creature crafts. Free with admission. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. (815) 963-6769, discovery centermuseum.org. BACKYARDS FOR NATURE FAIR. A native plant sale and a

backyard ecology fair for the whole family, including birdhouse building,

free wildflower seedlings, games and activities in the Kids Garden, and a puppet show. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. (847) 985-2100, parkfun.com/spv. INTERACTIVE FAMILY OPEN HOUSE. Parents and children have

the chance to participate in three short demo lessons and an international sing-along. Each child receives a passport, which is stamped at each language or music lesson attended, and there will be opportunity for tuition discounts and door prizes. 4-6 p.m. Music Institute of Chicago, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. (866) 557-8277, languagestars.com. TOUCH A TRUCK FAMILY FESTIVAL. Kids can get up close

and personal with 25 full-sized vehicles, including fire engines, dump trucks, semis and tractors. Also includes food, sweet treats, music, face painting and rides on the Great Chicago Kiddie Express, a child-sized train. $35 family up to six, $40 day-of family up to six; $55 VIP access. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Fields Chrysler Jeep Dodge, 670 Frontage Road, Northfield. (847) 832-6600, kohlchildrensmuseum.org.

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directory to advertisers // Assential Therapies Golf Mill Professional Bldg. 241 Golf Mill Center, Suite 201, Niles (847) 699-9757 AssentialTherapies.com

Brehm School 950 S. Brehm Ln., Carbondale (618) 457-0371 brehm.org

The Center for Enriched Living

(773) 812-6359 or (708) 244-7277 overcomer2@sbcglobale.net

Keshet (847) 205-1234 keshet.org

Kohl Children’s Museum 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview (847) 832-6600 kohlchildrensmuseum.org

La Rabida Children’s Hospital

The Cove School

La Rabida: Raising Possibilities for A Lifetime 6501 S. Promontory Drive (888) 527-2243 larabida.org

350 Lee Rd., Northbrook (847) 562-2100 coveschool.org

Learning Disabilities Association of IL

280 Saunders Road, Riverwoods (847) 948-7001 www.CenterForEnrichedLiving.org

Dolphin Swim Club Crystal Lake, Skokie (847) 854-1300 dolphinswimclub.com

Here We Come Transportation A family-friendly service meeting your special needs! Wheelchair accessible! Safely get your kids to after school programs, practices and activities.

2013 Fall Workshops 9/7,9/21,10/5,10/26,11/16 10101 S. Roberts Rd. Suite 205, Palos Hills (708) 430-7532 LDAiL.com

Learning Through Play Center 633 W. Addison, Chicago (312) 458-9865 pediatricresources.org

Special Needs

Make-A-Messterpiece 2050 Tower Dr., Glenview (847) 730-5275 www.Makeamessterpiece.com

Marklund Day School 164 S. Prairie, Bloomingdale (630) 307-1882 marklund.org

Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Education 13th Annual Community Mental Health Conference Sunday June 1, 10a.m. - 3:30a.m. 1224 Dempster, Evanston www.naomicoheninstitute.org

Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists

Sertoma Speech & Hearing Centers Homewood (708) 957-7122 Palos Hills (708) 599-9500 Romeoville (630) 633-5060 www.sertomacenter.org

Skokie Park District 9300 Weber Park Pl., Skokie (847) 674-1500 SkokieParks.org

Southwest Dental Group At Southwest Dental we take special care of special needs 16600 South 107th Court Orland Park (708) 403-3355 drtentler.com

Treasured Smiles

City & Suburbs (312) 266-6200 (847) 266-6200 pediatricentchicago.com

Russell S. Pollina, D.D.S., PC Dentistry for Children, Adolescents, Special Needs Patients Mt. Prospect (847) 392-2457 Barrington (847) 382-1720 grins4kids.com

Specializing in Dentistry for Children & Adolescents 10313 W. Lincoln Hwy. Brookside Commons, Frankfort (815) 806-1600 drstevekuhn.com

Jerry Udelson, DDS Children’s Dentistry Where Kids Have Fun at the Dentist! 1129 S. Harlem, Forest Park (708) 386-5437, (708) FUN-KIDS little-teeth-big-smiles.com

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CALENDAR Mexican music and inflatable fun. Reservations are recommended. $5. 5:30-7 p.m. Pump It Up Chicago, 821 W. Eastman St., Chicago. (312) 6647867, pumpitupchicago.com. BABIES IN NATURE. Take a stroll

with a naturalist, and let nature engage the senses of infants and toddlers. Dress for the weather. $6 pair, $3 additional family member. 10-10:45 a.m. Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park. (847) 433-6901, hellernaturecenter. org.

7 | WEDNESDAY

Sttories ie es in n the W th Wo ood ds Seee Ma May 8

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

American Family Theater’s awardwinning musical tells of Beauty’s adventures at the castle of the Beast and leads to the magical moment when the Beast becomes a man. $10. 2 p.m. Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park. (708) 235-2222, centertickets.net. FISHIN’ KIDS. Kids 5-11 learn all the basics of fishing, including how to rig a pole, bait the hook, cast and handle fish. Dress for the weather. Parents need to remain with children during the class. Bring lawn chairs; bait and tackle are provided. $29, $19 resident. 10 a.m.-noon. May Watts Park, 804 S. Whispering Hills Drive, Naperville. (630) 848-5000, napervilleparks.org. GREEN EARTH FAIR. Enjoy sunshine, live music and fresh air at a 60-acre organic vegetable farm. A variety of children’s activities includes crafts and Willowbrook Wildlife Center, which brings local wildlife for up-close viewing. Tour the farm and

find out more about the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Learn new ways to green your life from more than 40 exhibitors and expert speakers on nutrition, organic gardening, backyard chickens and more. Organic vegetable seedlings will be available for purchase. 12:305 p.m. McDonald Farm, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville. (630) 664-5681, greenearthinstitute.org. MAKE ‘N TAKE TIN PUNCHING.

Learn the simple technique of punching holes into decorative patterns on tin and make a piece of punched tin to take home. Free with admission. 1-3 p.m. Graue Mill and Museum, 3800 S. York Road, Oak Brook. (630) 655-2090, grauemill.org. SPRING FESTIVAL. Celebrate spring with fun activities for all ages, including guided nature walks, dip netting for fish and frogs in the pond, animal encounters, children’s crafts, and much more. Call for information and schedule. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Trailside Museum of Natural History, 738 Thatcher Ave., River Forest.

(708) 366-6530, fpdcc.com.

5 | MONDAY SUPER STOLIE’S MUSICAL FUN SHOW. Performing catchy

songs from two CDs of original kids’ music, Super Stolie sings, plays guitar, ukulele, harmonica and other percussion instruments. Her shows aim to engage kids 2-10 and their families. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove. (847) 929-5102, webrary.org. WONDERFUL WORLD OF WHEELS. Preschoolers have an

opportunity to see, touch and experience a police car, fire truck, tractor and more, as well as meet the community helpers who drive them. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Whole Foods Market, 2607 W. 75th St., Naperville. (630) 848-5000, napervilleparks.org.

6 | TUESDAY CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with

EARRINGS THAT POP! Kids 10 and up use ordinary aluminum pop cans to create two pairs of unique earrings. Registration required. $10, $8 resident. 6-8:30 p.m. Elk Grove Historical Museum, 399 Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village. (847) 4393994, elkgroveparks.org/museum campus.asp.

8 | THURSDAY STORIES IN THE WOODS. Kids 3-6

enjoy story time with a naturalist, play a game, take a short hike and make crafts to take home. Dress for the weather. $8 pair, $3 additional child. 10-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park. (847) 433-6901, hellernaturecenter.org.

FRIDAY

OLD FASHIONED CAMPFIRE. Take a short hike with a naturalist along the trails, play games with friends and family, and enjoy marshmallows roasted over the campfire. $8, free kids 2 and under. 6-7:30 p.m. Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park. (847) 433-6901, hellernaturecenter.org. FAMILY TWILIGHT ADVENTURE.

Hike, do activities and roast marshmallows before going on a silent tram ride through the woods after dark. The May theme is turtles. $19, $16 members. 7-9 p.m. Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53,

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CALENDAR Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

10 | SATURDAY CHICAGO

spaces inspired by dreams, memories, or real life. Free for families with kids 12 and under. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. (312) 280-2660, mcachicago.org.

ADVENTURES WITH ALADDIN.

Chicago’s Lookinggglass Theatre Company joins the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to bring this timeless music to life. Families are invited to arrive one hour before the performance for activities, including performances by students from community music schools, composition activities with musicians from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, an Instrument Petting Zoo and visual art activities presented by the Art Institute of Chicago. $6-$57. 11 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. (312) 2943000, cso.org. FAMILY DAY: DESIGN.

Families can explore the exhibition Unbound: Contemporary Art After Frida Kahlo by designing imaginative

SECOND SATURDAYS. Explore the city’s stories through interactive activities, make-and-take crafts, music, performances, and more. Today’s theme is Maps. Use a compass and connect artifacts to where they came from in the city, follow clues and share stories. Free with admission; free kids 12 and under. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. (312) 642-4600, chicago history.org.

C icago Ch Me emorial Da ay Parade See May 24

SUBURBS ASTRONOMY DAY. Celebrate

National Astronomy Week with free planetarium shows, star maps and star crafts. Check out the inner workings of a telescope and take a closeup look at our star, the Sun, with

You Are Invited to Our Upcoming Reception

Please be our guest at the Brehm School & OPTIONS Reception in Evanston, hosted by Fred and Tina Chapekis. The reception will be April 29th at the Evanston Golf Club in the Terrace Room. Hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, beer, and soft drinks will be offered and will include presentations. You are encouraged to invite guests to learn more about Brehm School and OPTIONS Transitions to Independence.

When April 29, 2014 | 7:00 pm

the Rockford Amateur Astronomy Club. Free with museum admission.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford.

INDOOR KART RACING

ARRIVE & DRIVE . BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Where Evanston Golf Club 4401 W. Dempster St. | Skokie www.brehm.org | www.experienceoptions.org RSVP to Erin Camfield by email or 618.457.0371 x1802

ADULTS AND JUNIORS 48” AND UP

*Dress is Business Casual

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Making the Difference La Rabida gets him home and keeps him home

LA RABIDA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Raising Possibilities for a Lifetime www.larabida.org 773.363.6700

Old Town Sc hoo of Folk Mu l sic

e l g worms g i w for newborns, ba bies, an d

toddl

e rs

Since 1985, the Old Town Schoo l’s celebra te d e a r l music program has welcomed ba y ch bies, todd l e r s , p re il d h o o d and their families to a musica schoo l world! Ena lers gage d a kids sing, dance, learn fing nd cur , e r p l ay s , t e iou ll story explore rhythm i songs , s n s tr u m e n and ts for lit tl e h a n ds! To register your child, call 773.728.6000 or visit us online at:

OLDTOWNSCHOOL.ORG LINCOLN SQUARE 4544 & 4545 N. LINCOLN

LINCOLN PARK 909 W. ARMITAGE

WE ALSO OFFER CLASSES IN THE CHICAGO SUBURBS!

HYDE PARK GLENCOE

EVANSTON INSTITUTO WESTERN SPRINGS CERVANTES

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CALENDAR (815) 963-6769, discovery centermuseum.org.

Ridge Road, Highland Park. (847) 433-6901, hellernaturecenter.org.

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY. Make pre-

A HOLE LOT OF FUN! The library is transformed into an 18-hole putting course winding through the stacks, reading and meeting areas. Stop by the “19th hole” for refreshments. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. West Chicago Public Library, 118 W. Washington St., West Chicago. (630) 231-1552, westchicago.lib.il.us.

tend binoculars, do bird rubbings and view hawks and owls up close. Spot migrating birds along the trails with experts from Prairie Woods Audubon Society. Try the Migration Obstacle Course and see what dangers birds face. Noon-4 p.m. Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. (847) 381-6592, fpdcc.com. MOONLIT CANOE. Families with kids 6 and up paddle the Skokie Lagoons by the light of the moon. Heller naturalists provide canoes, instruction and everything else needed for an evening on the water. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. $20. 8-10 p.m. Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park. (847) 433-6901, hellernature center.org. SPRING CANOE. Heller natural-

ists provide canoes and everything else needed for an afternoon on the Skokie Lagoons. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. $20. 4-6 p.m. Heller Nature Center, 2821

www.dolphinswimclub.com

SPRING FEVER RELIEVER.

Enjoy half-price paddleboat rides and kayak rentals, free popcorn at the Riverwalk Eatery, “Bike Bald” Bike Rodeo and Rally, live music, children’s entertainment and activities, hands-on nature activities, program demonstrations and more. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The Naperville Riverwalk, Naperville. (630) 848-5000, naper villeparks.org.

11 | SUNDAY CHICAGO SECOND SUNDAY. Workshops may include puppetry, painting, drawing, paper arts and other activities related to seasonal themes

ASK ABOUT OUR SUMMER BOOSTER CAMPS

Dolphin is the best choice for

SWIM To Touc ouc uch aT Trruc ck Fa F ami m ly y F est Fe stiv iv va all Seee Ma Se Mayy 4

LESSONS! With our small classes, amazing teachers, and all of the extras we offer, it’s no wonder why Dolphin Swim Club is the BEST choice for your family: Safety Showcases, skill stickers, level ribbons, year-round open enrollment, fun birthday parties, and more!

CRYSTAL LAKE | SKOKIE ChicagoParent.com May 2014 91

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CALENDAR or current shows on view at the Art Center. 1-4 p.m. Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave. (773) 324-5520, hydeparkart.org.

TUESDAY

BABIES IN NATURE. Highland

Park. See May 6.

SATURDAY CHICAGO

CONCERT AND GAMES.

Celebration includes live music, face painting, games and more. 4-6 p.m. Holstein Park Field House, 2200 N. Oakley Ave. (773) 904-7426, bucktownmusic.com. MAY FAIR FESTIVAL. Features

Maypole dancing, games, activities, music, food and fun for the whole community. Check website for cost. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Chicago Waldorf School, 1300 W. Loyola Ave. (773) 465-2662, chicagowaldorf.org.

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MOMMY AND ME SEWING WORKSHOP. An afternoon of

sewing, snacks and fun. Kids 7-16 and parents make stylish projects together. $45. Noon-2 p.m. Bridgeport Art Center, 1200 W. 35th St. (773) 247-3000, bridgeportart.com.

SUBURBS TRAIN DAYS. Kids can don conductor’s hats and navigate a Thomas the Tank Engine train or view the famous circus-themed trains courtesy of NCOG Model Railroad Club and the Circus Model Builders club. Some activities cost $2-$4. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Lambs Farm, I-94 and Route 176, Libertyville. (847) 3624636, lambsfarm.org. CIRCUS IN PROGRESS - AN EVENING OF DARING NEW WORK. Get a sneak peek at some of

Chicago’s new works of circus art. Professionals from the Chicagoland circus community are featured as well as advanced students from The Actors Gymnasium’s classes. $15, $12.50 kids. Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. (847) 328-2795,

actorsgymnasium.com. KIDS FARE: PRANCING AND DANCING. The Kids Fare season

finale spotlights DanceWorks Chicago and its creative and energetic blend of music and dance for families with kids 3-8. $6, $4. 10:30 a.m. PickStaiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. (847) 467-4000, pickstaiger.org. MALOTT JAPANESE GARDEN CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL. Listen to

music, enjoy traditional folktales, and watch a tea ceremony. Kids can make projects at hands-on stations to celebrate Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day, including a kimono paper doll, a miniature carp kite, and an origami samurai helmet. $20 parking. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440, chicagobotanic.org. EARTH DAY-ARBOR DAY.

Children’s activities include crafts,

petting zoo, jump zone, storytelling, hay rides and pony rides. Exhibits feature antique cars, eco-vehicles, tractors, a green market with items for sale, energy solutions and demonstrations. Plus, presentations of Birds of Prey from Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab and Education and Jim Necsi’s Cold Blooded Creatures. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The Konow Farm, 16849 S. Cedar Road, Homer Glen. (708) 301-0632, homerglen.org. YEA! FESTIVAL. A festival of visual art in which all Evanston schools, preschool through high school, are invited to exhibit students’ artwork. A performing arts stage features music and dance by Evanston kids. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Chicago/Dempster business district, Evanston. yeaevanston.org.

special Zoo Chats, craft activities, and watch a bear training session. In addition, learn about bears in the wild and the challenges they face. Free with admission. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. (708) 688-8000, czs.org. CIVIL WAR DAYS AT NAPER SETTLEMENT. The Settlement

becomes a Civil War Encampment where visitors can meet famous characters of the past and become immersed in history. A battle is held each day at 2:30 p.m. $10 in advance, $5 kids 4-12 in advance; $15, $10 kids 4-12; free kids 3 and under. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. (630) 420-6010, napersettlement.museum. FAMILY TWILIGHT ADVENTURE.

BEAR AWARENESS WEEKEND.

Lisle. See May 9. Today’s times are 6-8 p.m.

Join animal care staff and volunteers to become acquainted with the bears at Brookfield Zoo: polar bears, grizzly bears and sloth bears. Enjoy

FLOWER POWER. Join the greenhouse staff to help plant thousands of annual flowers. Afterward,

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Arts

A Fairytale Ballet

ChinaFriends

Interlochen Arts Camp

Make-A-Messterpiece

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800 W. Buena Ave., Chicago (773) 525-6000 ChinaFriends.org

PO Box 199 Interlochen, MI 49643 (800) 681-5912 or (231) 276-7472 Camp.Interlochen.org

2050 Tower Dr., Glenview (847) 730-5275 www.makeamessterpiece.com

Irish Music School of Chicago

6701 W. North Ave., Oak Park (708) 383-3456 Master-SH-Yu.com

Adler Planetarium Cosmic Wonder Show 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago (312) 922-STAR alderplanetarium.org

American Dance Center 10464 W. 163rd Place, Orland Park (708) 349-4964 1933 Ridge Road, Homewood (708) 747-4969 americandancecenter.net

ArtReach Affordable Performing Arts Camps 3839 W. Frontage Rd., Palatine (847) 372-7798 or (773) 604-1892 Artreachspotlite.com

Chicago Children’s Museum Located at Navy Pier Chicago (312) 527-1000 chicagochildrensmuseum.org

Dank Haus German American Cultural Center 4740 N Western Ave, Chicago (773) 561-9181 DankHaus.com

(773) 412-5082 IrishMusicSchool.org

Drury Lane Theatre

Kohl Children’s Museum

Sleeping Beauty Through June 7 Oakbrook Terrace (630) 530-0111 Drurylane.com

2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview (847) 832-6600 kohlchildrensmuseum.org

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Youth Architecture Workshops 951 Chicago Ave, Oak Park Unity Temple, 875 Lake St, Oak Park (708) 725-3828 flwright.org

Heart and Sole Dance Summer Camps 7038 183rd St. Tinley Park (708) 532-6237 HeartSoleDance.com

Language & Music School

Master S.H. Yu Martial Arts

Old Town School of Folk Music 4544 N. Lincoln Ave & 909 W. Armitage, Chicago (773) 728-6000 oldtownschool.org

150 North Oak Park Ave. Oak Park (708) 524-5252 lmschool.com

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98 East Chicago Ave., Westmont (630) 769-1199 saltcreekballet.org

Fostering future generations of multilingual children 15 Locations around Chicagoland (866) 55-STARS (557-8277) languagestars.com

Lyric Opera The Sound of Music Through May 18 (312) 827-5600 Lyricopera.org

1608 N. Wells St., 4th Floor, Chicago (312) 664-3959 secondcitysummers.com

Skokie Park District 9300 Weber Park Pl., Skokie (847) 674-1500 SkokieParks.org

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CALENDAR 3748 West Montrose Ave. Chicago, IL 60618 GatewayMontessoriSchool.org Phone: 773-539-3025 • Email: info@GatewayMontessoriSchool.org

enjoy a free workshop and take home a free plant. 9-11 a.m. Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora. (630) 859-8606, fox valleyparkdistrict.org. NATURE EXPLORATION STATION: GARDEN GRAND OPENING. See the new Nature

Nurturing the potential within each child Parent-Child Program: For parents with children up to 18 months. Children’s House: For children 3 to 6 years old.

Community: For children 15 months to 3 years old. Elementary: For children 6-12 years old.

Exploration Station and Stephanie’s Garden reveal. Features interactive hands-on family activities as well as showcase performances in the drama, music and art spaces. Plus, opportunities to help plant herbs and flowers and to decorate the new compost bins. 2-4 p.m. Rookery Building, Hoover Forest Preserve, 11285 Fox Road, Yorkville. (630) 553-4111, co.kendall.il.us/ forest_preserve. SPRING CELEBRATION.

Enjoy fun activities, live animals, face painting, self-guided hike, paddle boating and more. Donations are appreciated. Noon-4 p.m. Lake View Nature Center, 17W063 Hodges Road, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 9418747, obtpd.org/lvnc.

SUNDAY CHICAGO

poetry, stories, slide shows and songs all about you. 2-4 p.m. Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. (773) 4453838, beverlyartcenter.org.

SUBURBS BEEKEEPING. Discover the secrets

of the honeybees, then dress up in a beesuit for a safe, up-close look at life inside the hive. Everyone gets a taste of honey to enjoy. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. All participants must wear closed shoes and tall socks to visit the hives. $8. 1-2:30 p.m. Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park. (847) 4336901, hellernaturecenter.org. JEWISH YOUTH ZONE MINI CHEFS: LAG BAOMER PARADE.

Kids learn cooking skills alongside relevant Jewish laws and upcoming holidays. Kids 2-8 can bring their wristbands and take part in the parade of the Great Jewish Family Festival. $7. 2-4 p.m. Chabad and F.R.E.E. of Niles, 9401 Margail Ave., Des Plaines. (847) 296-1770, chabadandfree.com. MALOTT JAPANESE GARDEN CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL.

Glencoe. See May 17. GET IN, GET ART DAYS. A

series of free monthly hands-on art days. Today’s theme is “Get Told: Telling Our Stories.” Bring your stories, photos and artifacts to create

NORWEGIAN CONSTITUTION DAY PARADE.

Includes local marching bands, folk dancers, singers and various

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For more information, call (708) 386 5555 or visit ChicagoParent.com 94 May 2014 ChicagoParent.com

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CALENDAR

Civi Civi Ci vil W Wa ar Days Da SSeee Ma See May 17 May 17

Scandinavian groups in national costumes. Plus, pre-parade entertainment, activities for children, and vendors. Noon-4 p.m. Hodges Park, 20 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge. nnleague.org. TOUCH-A-TRACTOR. Climb into

the seat of a real tractor, talk to farmers and learn about farming. $3, free kids 3 and under. Noon-4 p.m. Bonner Heritage Farm, 19412 W. Sand Lake Road, just west of Route 45, Lindenhurst. (847) 9683400, bonnerfarm.org. WOOFSTOCK & PET PARADE. All animals are welcome

in the Pet Parade (1/4 mile); prizes for best dressed, most exotic, most original, smallest/largest pet. Plus, dog contests (Woof Off, Look-ALike, Best Tail Wagger and Hot Dog Relay), pet-friendly vendors, raffles and demonstrations. All dogs must be on a leash and all vaccinations current. Pet Parade registration 1-1:30 p.m.; dog contest registration 1-2 p.m. 1-4 p.m. Main Park, 10925

W. La Porte Road, Mokena. mokena park.com. BEAR AWARENESS WEEKEND.

Brookfield. See May 17. CIVIL WAR DAYS AT NAPER SETTLEMENT. Naperville. See May

17. RARE BREED SHOW. Visitors can observe rare domesticated animals and tour the 1846 Teamster Inn and Tavern. $6, $3 kids 12 and under. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, La Fox. (630) 584-8485, garfieldfarm.org. SHEEP SHEARING. See sheep shearing demonstrations (1:30 and 2:30 p.m.) and witness the art of spinning raw fleece into woolen yarn. 1-4 p.m. Graue Mill and Museum, 3800 S. York Road, Oak Brook. (630) 655-2090, grauemill.org. SHEEP TO SHAWL. See how wool is sheared and witness the process that eventually turns wool

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CALENDAR into clothing items. Sheep-shearing demonstrations are at 1 and 3 p.m. Free with admission. Noon-4 p.m. Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. (630) 892-1550, foxvalley parkdistrict.org.

THURSDAY

STORIES IN THE WOODS.

Highland Park. See May 8.

SATURDAY

(312) 744-3370, cityofchicago.org/ specialevents.

ceremony begins at the Eternal Flame on Daley Plaza. The parade proceeds south on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street. Participants include many area high schools’ Drum and Bugle Corps as well as many veterans groups. Wreath Laying: 11 a.m. Parade: noon. Daley Plaza, Washington and Dearborn.

MONDAY

MESSY MONDAYS. Features special theme-focused art projects with professional artists. Free with admission. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. (815) 9636769, discoverycentermuseum.org.

CHICAGO CHICAGO MEMORIAL DAY WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AND PARADE. The wreath laying

SATURDAY CHICAGO

CHICAGO’S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART’S DÍA DEL NIÑO HEALTH WALK & FAMILY FESTIVAL. Free family

festival is filled with interactive games, art activities, performances, wellness screenings and fitness. Beforehand, take the two-mile walk from the museum to the UIC Forum. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. UIC Pavilion, 725 W. Roosevelt Road. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.

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SUBURBS RACE HORSES OF THE SKY. Meet Matt Wiesbrock in the Children’s Garden as he showcases his racing

pigeons and talks about his fascinating backyard hobby. Free with admission. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org.

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ONGOING EVENTS FAIRS & FESTS CHICAGO CINCO DE MAYO FESTIVAL. Community celebration

in the Little Village neighborhood features food, live music, arts and crafts, and activities for kids and families. 6-11 p.m. May 2; 2-11 p.m. May 3-4. 26th Street and Kostner Avenue, Chicago. (773) 868-3010, chicagoevents.com. LONG GROVE CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL. Enjoy live music, food

and wine pairings and children’s activities, including rides for all ages, rock climbing, obstacle courses, pony and kiddie rides. $5. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 2-4. Old McHenry Road and Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove. (847) 634-0888, visitlong grove.com. ART IN THE PARK. A show of fine arts and crafts. Enjoy activities including kids’ art, School of Rock performances by local high school musicians, a food vendor court, and gourmet food gift section. Microsoft

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will offer a kids’ activity along with Mariano’s giveaways. Wilder Mansion will be open for coffee, pastries and lunch provided by Café Amano both days. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 3-4. Wilder Park, 175 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. (630) 834-0202, rglmarketingfor thearts.com. MAYFEST. This family festival

includes Polish food favorites and live music on indoor and outdoor stages. Families can visit the “Krakus Kids Stage” with live children’s theater, dance, music, magic, balloon-twisting, face-painting and other special entertainment. Festival also offers a pierogi-eating contest. $5, free kids 12 and under. Noon-9:30 p.m. May 3; noon-7:30 p.m. May 4. Copernicus Foundation, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. polishmayfest.com. WHAT’S BLOOMING ON HARRISON STREET. Features

artist demonstrations, live music, dance performances and an art fair featuring select guest artists and

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local crafts people. On Saturday, enjoy the art fair and other family fun. 6 p.m. May 16; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 17. Harrison Street, Oak Park. oakparkartsdistrict.com.

MAYFEST. Music, festival favorites,

local vendors at the Merchant Square, and interactive games and entertainment. Special events include Chicago Kids Day, a celebration of health

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ONGOING EVENTS and wellness, and the Chicago Pet Pageant and Expo. $10. 5-10 p.m. May 16; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. May 17-18. 3100 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (773) 665-4682, starevents.com.

kids’ activities. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 24-25. Cook and Station Street, downtown Barrington. (847) 926-4300, amdurproductions.com. DO-DIVISION STREET FEST.

JUSTPLAY! Sports & Rec

Festival. Dozens of activities, all designed to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to get active, have fun and try new things. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 17; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 18. Carol Stream Town Center, Gary Avenue and Lies Road, Carol Stream. justplay.org.

Features food, crafts, live music and a huge sidewalk sale. Family Fun Fest activities include live music, drumming, dunk tank, pony rides and vendors. $5 donation. 5-10 p.m. May 30; noon-10 p.m. May 31-June 1. Division Street from Ashland to Leavitt, Chicago. (312) 850-9390, do-divisionstreetfest.com.

EXHIBITS

SKOKIE FESTIVAL OF CULTURES. Two days of ethnic folk

music and dance, a wide range of food, unique arts and crafts, international games, children’s events, a merchandise bazaar, and dozens of cultural booths and displays. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. May 17-18. Oakton Park, 4701 Oakton St., Skokie. (847) 6741500 ext. 2715, skokieculturefest.org. BARRINGTON ART FESTIVAL.

Features artwork, live music, food and

DESTINATION SOLAR SYSTEM.

Opens May 16. A live show that takes space explorers from one end of the Solar System to the other in under 30 minutes, from sizzling solar flares on the Sun to liquid methane lakes on Saturn’s moon, Titan. Passengers can travel on an adventure-filled tour led by Jesse, an enthusiastic, knowledgeable yet “green” tour guide, and MAX, a highly advanced, fully integrated onboard computer. Check website for cost. Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 922-STAR (7827), adlerplanetarium.org. BUTTERFLIES & BLOOMS.

TREASURES OF THE WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES. Through May 4.

The exhibit showcases the creative accomplishments and innovations of one of Chicago’s native sons, Walt Disney. Hands-on, interactive stations bring Disney’s technological breakthroughs to life. $9, $7 kids 3-11, plus admission. Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (773) 684-1414, msichicago.org.

Opens May 24. Outdoor butterfly garden where visitors can immerse themselves with hundreds of live tropical butterfly species from around the world. A field guide is available to help visitors identify species in the exhibition. Visitors can observe butterflies hatching through a window into the pupa emergence room. $6, $5 seniors, $4 kids 3-12. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., weather permitting. Chicago

Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440, chicagobotanic.org. STINGRAY TOUCH. Opens May

24. Shedd staff members guide guests through the 15-minute touch experience, while providing facts about stingrays, including information about how choosing sustainable seafood protects stingrays in global waters. The outdoor exhibit also allows visitors to see cownose stingrays through various angles. Included in Total Experience Pass. John G. Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 939-2438, sheddaquarium.org. PET VET. Kids explore the pet vet

office and nurse sick and injured animals back to health on the examining and operating tables, examine x-rays, help lost pets find their correct homes and clamber through the pet obstacle course. Free with admission. Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. (847) 832-6600, kohlchildrensmuseum.org.

Professional services Directory Pediatric dentistry

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ONGOING EVENTS TREE HOUSE TALES. Enter a tree house village filled with adventure and imagination. The exhibition is comprised of six fun-filled, educational tree houses, aimed at kids 2-10. Free with admission. 7 a.m.-sunset. Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org. MODEL RAILROAD GARDEN: LANDMARKS OF AMERICA.

Visitors of all ages love the sights and sounds of garden-scale trains traversing bridges and trestles, past miniature scenes of America’s best-loved landmarks and beautiful gardens planted to scale. $6, $5 seniors, $4 kids 3-12, free kids under 3; $1 discount for members. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440, chicagobotanic.org. EGGS TO CHICKS. The exhibit fea-

tures the rare Black Java and White Java chicken. Includes a special child-height egg incubator, hatchery

ory

Mo M ode el R Ra ail aililro roa ad d Garden Gar Ga rden rd n See thhis Se is pagge

unit and a pen for newborn chicks. Free with museum admission. Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. (847) 832-6600, kohlchildrensmuseum.org.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PRESENTS: EARTH EXPLORERS.

Journey to the wildest places on the globe. Explore an arctic cabin, descend into the deep in a 3-D

submersible, identify insects from the Amazon, ascend into the thin air of the Himalayas and soar in a hot air balloon over the Savanna. $9, $7 kids, plus admission. Museum of

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ONGOING EVENTS Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (773) 6841414, msichicago.org. JAPAN AND NATURE: SPIRITS OF THE SEASONS. A multi-

media, interactive exhibit that allows children to discover how nature is reflected and celebrated in the lives of Japanese children through special seasonal environments and traditional Japanese activities. Free with admission. Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. (847) 832-6600, kohlchildrensmuseum.org. OPENING THE VAULTS: WONDERS OF THE 1893 WORLD’S FAIR. Travel back to

Na atiion onal all Geo a ogr g aph aphi ap hic ic Prres esen e ts en ts:: Ea Eart rrtth Ex xp pllorrer ers rs See pa Se page 99

1893 and experience the excitement of the White City as digital technology brings the World’s Fair to life. Using an iPad application, visitors can explore many items from the World’s Fair still hidden in the vaults. Included in Discovery and All Access passes. Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 9229410, fieldmuseum.org.

80 AT 80. Special exhibit showcases 80 rarely displayed artifacts in honor of the museum’s 80th anniversary. These artifacts, carefully selected by MSI curators, will ignite guests’ memories from past exhibits. Free with admission. Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (773) 684-1414, msichicago.org.

OTHER EVENTS STROLLER TOURS IN THE PARK.

Take a stroller tour of Chicago’s historic parks with public historian and stay-at-home dad Josh Eisenberg. Each Monday is a different theme and location. May 5: Union Park; May 12: Millennium Park; May 19: Lincoln Park. $20, $15 members; free kids in strollers. 9:30-11 a.m. Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago. (312) 642-4600, chicagohistory.org. BEGINNER’S ART STUDIO. Kids and adults can explore their creative sides in this engaging, open-ended art experience. Materials change daily

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ONGOING EVENTS Family Resource Center on Disabilities

Providing parents of children with disabilities information, assistance, and support

IEP SUPPORT AT YOUR CHILD’S IEP MEETING

For Families residing in in the following counties: Cook, Dupage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, McHenry, Lake, Will, *Do you attend your child’s IEP meeting alone? *Do you have questions about your child’s IEP? Hold a Ho Ba B aby y Lam amb SSeeeee th thiiss pag aggee

and trained facilitators assist with the artistic process while children create masterpieces. 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays-Saturdays; 12:30-4:30 p.m. Sundays. Free with admission. Wonder Works, 6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park. (708) 3834815, wonder-works.org. TREE POSE YOGA. Kids 4-6, with adult, learn about the environment while stretching, moving and breathing like the creatures around them with a certified YogaKids instructor. $17, $10 members. 10-11 a.m. Wednesdays, plus May 17. Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb. org. ACORN EXPRESS ADVENTURES.

Families with kids 2 and up take an open-air tram ride adventure through the arboretum. Plus, make a craft and explore new topics each week. $5, $4 member, plus admission. 1111:45 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org. SPRING WALKS. See garden highlights on guided walks on Saturdays. Walks begin at the “What’s Bloomin?” cart and take 45-60 minutes. $20 parking. 1 p.m. May 3,

10 and 17. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440, chicagobotanic.org. HOLD A BABY LAMB. Farm is open on weekends for holding baby lambs, goats, chicks, piglet and feeding the calf. Plus, watch sheep shearing and enjoy a farm experience. $5; $12 family (up to four people), $20 family (five or more). 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Enjoy Pioneer Farm, 17N400 Big Timber Road, Hampshire. (847) 683-2863, enjoypioneerfarm.com. BIRD IS THE WORD. Match bird

moms to bird babies, play with nest materials and make a baby owl call to take home. Free with admission. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074, mortonarb.org. OPEN GYM. Explore a play

space specially designed for little hands, feet and bodies. Includes soft places to climb and explore, developmentally appropriate gross motor equipment, slides, tricycles, climbing structures and more. $10 family. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Florence G. Heller JCC, 524 W. Melrose Ave., Chicago. (773) 8716780, gojcc.org.

*Are these questions preventing you from making informed decisions at your child’s IEP meeting?

Our knowledgeable Volunteer Parent Advocates will:

● Help you prepare for your child’s next IEP meeting. ● Attend your child’s IEP meeting with you. ● Help you understand IDEA (the law that protects your child’s rights to a free and appropriate public education.) ● Help you navigate the special education system. ● Help you communicate effectively with your child’s school.

Requirements:

● You must be the legal parent or guardian of the child with the IEP. ● Must work with the parent advocate prior to your child’s IEP meeting. ● Attend special education workshops. ● Complete FRCD parent questionnaire. As a parent, you are your child’s best advocate. An appropriate Individualized Education Program(IEP) is crucial to your child’s academic future. To partner with one of our Parent Advocates, contact Paula Wills at paula.wills@frcd.org or call 312-939-3513. This project is funded through the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs ChicagoParent.com May 2014 101

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PERFORMANCES ANCES

with James and his insect ct friends on a journey as he travels ls in a giant peach across the ocean. $10, $8 students. 7:30 p.m. May 2-3 at 7:30; 3 p.m. May 4. Mayer Kaplan plan JCC, 5050 Church St., Skokie.. gojcc.org/ locations/mayer-kaplan-jcc. jcc. hrough May THE BULLY SHOW. Through 2. Join Professor McBumble mble and his group of rag tag actors ors as they present three fairy tales with an anti-bullying message. Updated adaptations of Little Red Ridinghood, The Ugly Duckling and Three Billy Goats Gruff are performed med in this musical. Recommended for families with kids 4-10. Performances ances are at locations throughout Chicago and the suburbs. Check website for dates and times. $7-$10.. 10:30 a.m. AlphaBet Soup Productions, ons, P.O. Box 85, Lombard. (630) 932-1555, absproductions.com.

p.m. Sundays. May 3-25. $18, $13 kids. Li’l Buds Theatre Company, Unity Lutheran Church, 1212 W. Balmoral, Chicago. (773) 334-4543, lilbudstheatre.org. SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE.

Through May 4. This one-hour presentation is for children of all ages. s.. $15. Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. (847) 634-0200, marriotttheatre.com.

Yaman Kelemet. Photo by Heidi Peters

THIN ICE ENSEMBLE THEATER PRESENTS JAMES AND ND THE GIANT PEACH BY ROALD ALD DAHL & RICHARD R. GEORGE. GE. Escape

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S T’S DREAM. Through May 3. The

marriage of King Theseus us and Queen Hippolyta dishes up more re than cake when mortal and enchanted nted characters clash in misadventures tures of the heart. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; turdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. $25, $15 students, $10 kids 10 and younger. r. Piccolo Theatre, 600 Main St. (inside nside the Main Street Metra Station), tation), Evanston. (847) 424-0089, 89, piccolotheatre.com.

Carnival of the Animals See page 103

THE WHITE SNAKE. Opens May

STAGES, SIGHTS AND SOUNDS.

SPARK: CHAPTER ONE OF THE PROMETHEUS PROJECT. Through

3. The White Snake chronicles onicles the tale of a gentle serpent spirit pirit who lives for centuries coiled on a mountaintop. One day, she transforms ansforms herself into a beautiful young woman and, with her feisty companion, panion, Green Snake, travels down wn to the world of humans. Call for or cost. Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800, 3800, goodmantheatre.org.

This year’s festival features four international theater companies/artists from Australia, Spain, and Japan/ Czech Republic, along with readings by children’s book authors Timothy Basil Ering and Jon Scieszka, handson creative workshops for youth, and the first-ever Chicago Puppetolio. Performances take place at Chicago Cultural Center, Storefront Theater, and the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater. Visit website for schedule and ticket information. $14, $7 kids. May 6-24. Chicago Humanities Festival, 500 N. Dearborn, Suite 825, Chicago. h ((312)) 454-9509, chicago h humanities.org.

May 8. Pandora lives a regimented life within the underground tunnels of Sanctuary, where each inhabitant has a purpose, a place, and a common enemy—the mysterious Outliers who live in the world above. But after Pandora encounters two young Outliers, she starts to question all that has been taught to her and ultimately must decide between the life she knows and the one that is calling to her. Recommended for families with kids 9 and up. 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 4 p.m. Saturdays. $25, $15 kids. Adventure Stage Chicago, Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago. (773) 342-4141, adventurestage.org.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND. AND. An original adaptation of the he stories of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland onderland and Through the Looking Glass. 11 l a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays; 5:30

JACKIE AND ME. Through May 10. Joey Stoschak has the ability to travel through time. When Joey is assigned a report on an African American role model, he travels to 1947 and meets baseball player Jackie Robinson. Events are held in conjunction with this production, including an ice cream social, community partner days, post-show discussion and autograph sessions. 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 2 p.m. Saturdays. $10. Chicago Playworks at DePaul University, Merle Reskin Theatre at DePaul University, 60 E. Balbo Drive, Chicago. (312) 9221999, theatreschool.depaul.edu. THE MUSICAL ADVENTURES OF FLAT STANLEY. Through May 10.

Stanley Lambchop is an ordinary 10-year-old with a normal life—until a bulletin board falls from the wall and flattens him. Stanley decides to make the best of his condition and travels around the world by mailing himself in an envelope.

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PERFORMANCES The Ve The Very ry Hung Hu ngry ry Cate Ca terp rpililla larr an and d Othe Ot herr Er Eric ic Car arle le Favo Fa vori rite tes s Seee pa Se page ge 104

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Plan a play date with your Kids! Recommended for families with kids 4 and up. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays. Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences, 3323 Walters Ave., Northbrook. (847) 291-2367, northbrooktheatre.org. THE TALE OF SNOW WHITE.

Opens May 10. 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays; 1 p.m. Sundays. $15, $10 kids 16 and under. Steel Beam Children’s Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 587-8521, steelbeamtheatre.com. THE WIZARD OF OZ. Through May 11. Join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and her little dog Toto, as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard. Call for cost. Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (312) 9771700, broadwayinchicago.com. THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA.

Through May 12. Barrel of Monkeys, a Chicago-based arts education theater ensemble, conducts creative writing workshops with third to fifth grade students in underserved Chicago Public Schools and turns their stories and words into professionally-performed theater. 8 p.m. Mondays. Barrel of Monkeys, The Neo-Futurarium Theater (2nd Floor), 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (312) 409-1954, barrelofmonkeys.org. DODGEBALL DUNGEON. Through

May 17. ComedySportz presents a new and completely original interactive fantasy adventure. Volunteer

players from the audience are sent to aid the heroes of a fantasy kingdom by completing challenges and fighting monsters using the world’s most powerful weaponry—the mighty dodgeball. $10. Noon-1 p.m. C Saturdays. ComedySportz Theatre, 929 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773)M 549-8080, comedysportzchicago.com. Y THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. Through

May 17. When the pigpen starts to lookMY like a real sty, Mama says it’s time to CY leave and build something new. Help CMY Cha, Stu and Bao watch for wolves while they use hay, sticks and bricks to make K it in a big, bad world. Recommended for kids 3-10. $16, $13 kids. Emerald City Theatre Company, Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6100, emeraldcitytheatre.com. CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS. Salt

Creek Ballet performs the colorful dance. 3 p.m. May 17; 1 p.m. May 18. Buy tickets at atthemac.org. $29, $15 kids. The McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. (630) 769-1199, saltcreekballet.org. RAMONA QUIMBY. Through May 18. Ramona Quimby is about to start third grade and everything is about to change. Her sister Beezus guides us through a year on Klickitat Street, bringing a change for Dad, a rivalry for Ramona, and the speediest wedding this side of Alaska. Recommended for kids 5-10. $16, $13 kids. Emerald City Theatre Company, Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6100, emeraldcitytheatre.com.

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PERFORMANCES CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN.

Through May 18. $32-$42. Fox Valley Repertory, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342, foxvalleyrep.org. THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Through May 25. $29 and up. Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. (312) 827-5912, lyricopera.org. SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS. Through

May 24. The Showfolk Family Matinee is Sounds of Blackness, performed on Saturdays. Call for cost. eta Creative Arts Foundation, 7558 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago. (773) 7523955, etacreativearts.org. THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR AND OTHER ERIC CARLE FAVORITES. Featuring innovative

puppetry, evocative music and black light visual effects, the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia production brings to life three of Eric Carle’s all-time family favorites—The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud and

The Mixed-Up Chameleon. $25 and up. Call or visit website for tickets and information. Recommended for kids 3 and up. Runs 50 minutes with no intermission. Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Ruth Page Center for Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (872) 2229555, chicagochildrenstheatre.org. CHICKEN LITTLE. Recommended

for families with kids 2-12. $12. Chicago Kids Company, Beverly Arts Center, 111th and Western, Chicago. (773) 205-9600, chicagokids company.com.

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LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

Recommended for families with kids 2-12. Check website for days and times. Chicago Kids Company, Stahl Family Theater, 5900 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 205-9600, chicagokidscompany.com.

Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-0111, drurylaneoakbrook.com. THE TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC.

SLEEPING BEAUTY. Meal packages

and breakfast buffet with character packages offered in addition to the performance. $15. Drury Lane

Emerald City Theatre’s first production for ages 0-4. The performance includes gentle sound and lighting effects that create a full sensory experience,

building a simple story with the audience through repetition and participation, a shoe-free experience for parents and kids. The show lasts about 45 minutes. $14 ages one and up, $7 kids under 1. Emerald City’s Little Theatre, 2933 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (773) 529-2690 ext. 810, emeraldcitytheatre.com.

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Uncover nature’s wonders

New Field exhibit will get kids interested in biomechanics The Machine Inside: Biomechanics Open now through Jan. 4

The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago fieldmuseum.org Entry included in Discovery and AllAccess passes

our years in the making, The Field Museum’s new exhibit, The Machine Inside: Biomechanics, comes with a huge wow factor that will have your kids busy rushing from room to room testing their strength, spinning until they are dizzy while attempting to fly, and trying to finally answer the question: just how does the giraffe’s blood travel up that g super long neck to its brain? br Kids are going to love the exhibit l the moment they walk in and will talk about what they learned w they leave. It asks long after th kids wonder about: questions all k How a Venus fly ttrap knows when cheetahs run so fast, a fly is near, how chee how snakes don’t how fleas jump so far, ho desert and how burn as they cross the de woodpeckers aren’t brain damaged with

all their pecking. The exhibit is colorful, interactive and fun. In addition to taking a try at pumping a giraffe’s heart (it’s tough), one of the most popular elements allows people to “fly” using a regular office chair and “wings.” One of the exhibition developers, Marie Georg, says she hopes the exhibit gets people to look at nature with new eyes. “They can really feel how the forces of nature really work,” she says. “We have a lot of things meant for the whole family in one area, so there is something for one person to read, and one person to look at, one person to touch,” she says. The real takeaway is how humans have adapted elements of nature for our use (think Velcro, wind turbines and chainsaws, to name a few). The exhibit is one of the best the museum has unveiled in some time. Tamara L. O’Shaughnessy

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The price is right at Elmhurst Museum Day

e all know that three for the price of one is a pretty good deal. And when that price is free … well, who can argue with that? That’s just one benefit of Elmhurst Museum Day, an annual celebration of the three unique museums found in the western suburb. Families can hop the free trolley to travel between the museums, which each feature a special kid-friendly activity for the day. Everyone who gets a stamp at all three locations is entered into a prize drawing. At Elmhurst Historical Museum (120 E. Park Ave.), check out the Chicagoflavored exhibit “Cubs vs. Sox: The Chicago Civil Wars.” Create your own baseball card and pose for photos with baseball mascots. But remember: whoever you choose for your photo op could establish

your side in the age-old battle for decades to come. Lizzadro Museum (220 Cottage Hill Ave.), a littleknown spot devoted to lapidary art (the act of cutting and polishing stones), opens its doors for visitors to see Jade carvings, gemstones and the stunning Castle Lizzadro. Kids can take

Elmhurst Museum Day home a rock critter—and the care of this kind of pet won’t fall to Mom or Dad! For those who have a more artistic bent, be sure to hit Elmhurst Art Museum (150 Cottage Hill Ave.), where you can see the colorful “Lifeloggers: Chronicling the Everyday,” which features artists who use their daily lives as inspiration. A related craft helps kids turn their own lives into works of art. Check out the Artivity, an interactive art wall designed

1-5 p.m. May 18 elmhurst.org

just for families. All of the museums are situated in and around Elmhurst’s central Wilder Park, which is home to an expansive playground and the (also free) Wilder Conservatory. If the weather cooperates, arrive early for a picnic, catch the trolley and take advantage of the culture Elmhurst has to offer. Elizabeth Diffin

In your pocket. On the go. We’re with you.

Discover the Chicago Parent FREE mobile app today! Chicago Parent Tablet editions available at your favorite digital newsstand now! ChicagoParent.com May 2014 107

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SPECIAL NEEDS PRE-TEEN AUTISM SOCIAL GROUP. The leader of this group

is the mother of 10-year-old twin girls with autism. Her social group was formed to help facilitate social interaction and help with other issues that pre-teens ages 9-12 with autism face. 7-8 p.m. May 9. Celebrate Differences, 5375 Route 34, Suite 4, Oswego. (630) 885-3006, celebrate differences.org. CELEBRATE DYSLEXIA SUPPORT GROUP. A Kendall County

support group for families concerned with the limited access to educational interventions for dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities within public schools. 7-8 p.m. May 13. Celebrate Differences, 5375 Route 34, Suite 4, Oswego. (630) 885-3006, celebratedifferences.org. THE AUTISM TEEN CLUB.

The Autism Teen Club is for teens on the autism spectrum and provides a place for them to have positive social experiences with their peers in a safe,

comfortable atmosphere. 7-9 p.m. May 16. Celebrate Differences, 5375 Route 34, Suite 4, Oswego. (630) 885-3006, celebratedifferences.org. WALK NOW FOR AUTISM SPEAKS. Includes a three-mile walk

route along the Chicago Lakefront, followed by a family-friendly afterparty and resource fair that features concessions, petting zoo, bounce houses and kid-friendly entertainment. Money raised funds research to find answers about autism. $20 parking. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. May 17. Soldier Field Stadium and Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Chicago. walknowforautismspeaks.org.

Gy ymQ Que ue es st st Op pen en Pla ay Seee th Se this iss page

CELEBRATE TICS TOGETHER. Tourette Syndrome and

associated disorders support. Everyone is welcome including teachers, caregivers and doctors. 6:30-7:30 p.m. May 21. Celebrate Differences, 5375 Route 34, Suite 4, Oswego. (630) 8853006, celebratedifferences.org.

and kids. There will be more than 100 speakers, an art expo featuring works of young artists with autism, culinary classes, new parent day and a Down syndrome Track. Childcare is available. May 21-25. $99. InterContinental Chicago Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hare, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. autismone.org

AUTISMONE 2014 CONFERENCE. BOUNCETIME. A great oppor-

tunity for parent and children to bond over singing and reading together. BounceTime promotes movement and independence outside of therapy. Siblings are welcome. 10:30 a.m. May 19. Celebrate Differences, 5375 Route 34, Suite 4, Oswego. (630) 885-3006, celebratedifferences.org.

The nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest and most comprehensive autism conference. Learn the latest biological research and treatments from leading scientists and physicians, meet with educators and therapists, and network with other parents from around the world in a high-energy, positive atmosphere with special events for moms, dads

GYMQUEST OPEN PLAY. Spend the morning with your special child, their siblings and friends. Check Celebrate Differences calendar to confirm dates and times before going. $5. 11 a.m.-noon May 25. Celebrate Differences, 14511 S. New Vandyke Road, Plainfield. (630) 885-3006, celebratedifferences.org.

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WHY W WH Y YOU’LL LL LOVE THIS LL THI

Spring has sprung I

f ever there were a year that called for a party to celebrate the return of spring, it’s this one. And fortunately, the May Fair at Chicago Waldorf School heralds the arrival of warmth and color with a community festival that’s full of both. The centerpiece of May Fair is the traditional Maypole Dance at noon, in which students welcome spring by weaving brightly colored ribbons around a pole as they skip along to traditional music. (You may be tempted to dance along!) An hour later, the school’s Circus Club awes the crowd with aerial silks performance, tumbling, acrobatics, clowning, a hip-hop

dance performance, juggling and more. The free festival also includes lots of other fun activities such as the cake walk, jump rope-braiding machines, a tie-dye station, hand-made hula hoops, flower crowns, arts and crafts and a treasure hunt. And the facepainting is—what else?—beautiful, brightly colored flowers. So if the tough winter threatened to beat down your spirit, take a deep breath of some warm(ing) spring air and welcome the return of the lost season with some music, a dance and colors aplenty. Elizabeth Diffin

May Fair

10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 17 Chicago Waldorf School, 1300 W. Loyola Ave., Chicago chicagowaldorf.org

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