Memphis Parent May 2015 by Contemporary Media

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May MEMPHIS PARENT

CONTENTS

FE ATU RES

D E PA RT ME N TS

Around Town

Dear Teacher

How Three Families Mix Business and Pleasure

Parenting Centers open, Hooray for Memphis Children’s Theatre Festival 10th anniversary

by Stacey Greenberg

Birthday Party Primer

by Jane Schneider

Stuttering, Learning to write

7 Cool Places to Throw a Kid’s Party

Online Life

Meet the 2015 Cover Kid Winners Plus, all of our cute contestants

Health Matters

Fun Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day

Other Voices

by Jane Schneider

Why Under 13 for social media makes sense

Editor’s Note

Family Table

Early Years

Calendar and Events

Balancing work/life responsibilities as a single parent

School Notes

Parent To Parent

Lemon pie

Fun ways to announce your baby bump Being best at something

What’s happening for families around Memphis

Recognize allergies versus asthma

VOIC ES

Our Favorite Moments

Kid funnies and pictures of your kids

Memphis Challenge

Let’s Talk

Mean girls, books on managing bullies

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# A R S t a t e Pa r k s

By Jane Schneider

Art Director Melissa Ellis

y son fractured his leg last week. We’re not sure quite how it happened. He’s been running and exercising more recently and at age 20, his body is still growing, so perhaps he stressed it. In times past, I would have been making phone calls to the doctor and getting him to his appointments. But these days, he manages his own affairs, handling the curve balls life throws at him with a fair amount of maturity. For now, he’s confined to a walking boot and crutches, in an effort to take some weight off of his leg so the bone can heal. While he’s not happy about the diagnosis, I respect the fact that he didn’t ignore his discomfort and instead, took himself to Campbell’s Clinic. He faced down the problem by taking care of his health. That’s one of the goals we strive to reach as parents, to help our kids learn how to problem-solve so when they eventually are independent of us, they can make smart choices. That same theme cropped up at a meeting I attended with a group of mothers last week who were discussing how best to help their teenage sons navigate the world as they learn how to drive. What a nerve-wracking milestone that one can be. It’s exciting for our teens, naturally. They’re often chomping at the bit for that first taste of freedom. But it can be nervewracking for us, knowing all the potential hazards that exist. Furthermore, as African American women, they are all too aware of the reports about police brutality that pepper the news. They talked about striking a balance, about teaching kids respect for authority, and also making smart choices about where they traveled and how they behaved. We all agreed with the mother who weighed in, saying, “I don’t want my children to not trust the police. They’re here to help us.” The discussion meandered from one topic to another but there was a common thread which all circled back to our desire as parents to give our children the guidance they need to mature and grow. But what I steadily realized as we compared notes was that talking about parenting help us mature and grow, too. Another mom mentioned the importance of consistently giving consequences when tasks at home were left undone. “We have boundaries,” she says. “Everyone has a job, so they don’t expect anything extra if the basics remain undone.” She assigns her kids chores and is clear about what she expects: the entire kitchen must be cleaned, the living room vacuumed and dusted, the downstairs bathroom scrubbed. Her children understand the rules, and more importantly, they know that consequences will follow when Mom’s rules are broken. Every. Time. When her teenager doesn’t get his chores on time, she rouses him in the middle of the night and hustles him downstairs to clean. “If you do that two or three times, you’ll find it works,” she says with a chuckle. The other moms nodded in agreement. What I realized as this casual conversation continued to unfold was how much wisdom these women embodied. We had all tackled similar issues at home with our kids, and while we might have arrived at a comparable end point, we used different strategies to get there. As the old adage goes, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. But how instructive to hear ideas that worked for others, and to compare their parenting styles to my own. I think there’s a lot of value in being with other parents and sharing experiences. It normalizes the worries you have, it allows you to see your children in a different light, it helps put into context the phases all children go through. It felt good to hear another mother say, I understand what you’re going through, I had that happen to me, too. Here are some tips that might help. That’s the role Universal Parenting Place hopes to play (see story, page 6). These pilot centers — located on the fifth floor of Baptist Women’s Hospital and at Knowledge Quest, across from LeMoyne College — offer counseling, parent meet-ups, and other services with the aim of making raising kids easier. It’s free. No judgment, no doctor’s referral required. So spread the word. The hope is these two will take off so that more centers can be developed elsewhere in the city. I think it’s a great idea. As parents, we need all the help we can get.

Graphic Designers

Dominique Pere, Bryan Rollins

Advertising Manager Sheryl Butler Account Executives Ashley Haeger Advertising Operations Director Margie Neal

Calendar Editor Meena Viswanathan Copy Editors Frank Murtaugh, Marilyn Sadler

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Memphis Parent strives to provide information of value to all who are invested in our children’s future.

Memphis Parent is published by Contemporary Media, Inc. Publisher/CEO Kenneth Neill Chief Financial Officer Jennifer K. Oswalt Director of New Business Development Jeffrey A. Goldberg

Editorial Director Bruce VanWyngarden Director of Digital/Operations Molly Willmott

Advertising Director Penelope Huston Digital Manager Matthew Writt Print/Digital Marketing Assistant Jackie Sparks-Davila

Marketing Consultant Britt Ervin

Accounting Coordinator Ashley Haeger IT Director Joseph Carey IT Assistant Ashlee Taylor 460 Tennessee Street, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38103 Tel: (901) 521-9000, Fax (901) 521-0129 send advertising queries to:

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Join us on Facebook and Twitter! Follow the magazine @memphis_parent or Jane at @membelle.

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AROUND TOWN

Let’s Put on a Show! Memphis Children’s Theatre Festival turns 10

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decade ago, Voices of the South set out to celebrate children’s theatre in a big way. The company envisioned an entire weekend of activities devoted to kids. So they polished up one of their popular offerings, The Ugly Duckling, called in lots of artist friends, and put on a show, several shows, in fact. The result was the Memphis Children’s Theatre Festival. It was fresh, kid-friendly fun, and families ate it up. Over the years, it’s been the perfect place to unfurl one’s imagination while listening to a silly story, watching a play, or hearing up-and-coming kid musicians. And 2015 promises to be even better. “We’re hoping to bump it up this year, in celebration of our 10th anniversary,” notes Teddy Eck, Voices of the South’s new executive director. Eck has invited a number of key arts organizations to take part in the weekend festivities. The list sparkles, with the Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Opera Memphis, Hattiloo Theatre, The Orpheum, and Casa Teatro for starters. Performances will take place on three stages set outside and inside McCoy Theatre at Rhodes College. You’ll also find workshops for kids, a silent auction, and booths where organizations will share information while providing activities for kids. Eck says he’s also excited about the possibility of expanding, inviting artists from the greater Mid-South, though that will likely make next year’s agenda, as he’s just settling in to his new gig. But the promise of taking this festival to the next level has never been greater as the company builds more partnerships across the city. So be sure to attend this year’s festival and celebrate art for children. MP

MEMPHIS CHILDREN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL Friday, May 22, from 7-9:30 p.m. & Saturday, May 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. McCoy Theatre, Rhodes College Admission: Pay What You Can VoicesoftheSouth.org

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Families celebrate the new UPP center at Knowledge Quest in South Memphis

Universal Parenting Places Now Open

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Being a parent is hard work, free centers to lend a hand

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ho do you turn to when your discipline attempts just aren’t working with your strong-willed 3-year-old. Do you call your mom, your BFF? Here’s a thought: Go to the Universal Parenting Place. Housed on the fifth floor of Baptist Women’s Hospital in an attractive clutch of rooms, UPP encourages parents to share all the messy details of raising kids: the good, the bad, and the ugly. In fact, the staff at the two new centers — the second is located at Knowledge Quest in South Memphis — hope parents will bring their daily challenges here. The purpose of the centers is to help moms and dads gain new insights and valuable parenting tools they can put to work every day at home. “Parents are often reluctant to reach out because they think they’re supposed to be perfect,” notes Baptist Women’s UPP Director Paige Marcantel. “It’s helpful to hear other parents say ‘I struggle with those things, too.” The centers opened on Monday, April 20th, after a celebratory ribboncutting ceremony on April 16th. They are an outgrowth of a three-year study that brought together more than 40 different organizations interested in offering preventative measures to help strengthen families in Memphis. The hope is through preventive care, problems at home can be dealt with early and parents can learn different Robin Karr-Morse addresses audience members at UPP’s ribbon cutting event ways to handle common child-rearing issues. Their offerings are numerous, from free, one-on-one counseling and a postpartum depression support group, to Beautiful Bundles, a support group for new mothers, Music for Aardvarks, and other nonjudgmental programs tailored expressly for parents. The best part is, you don’t a referral, the service is free. Meeting room at UPP, Baptist Women’s Marcantel, a licensed social worker, and her staff will be asking parents, “What’s working, what’s not. What does ‘This drives me crazy’ actually look like. We want to hear what the day-to-day issues are that parents struggle with.” Grant-funded for three years, the aim is to open additional centers across Memphis. Everything is in place. They just need you. MP

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DEAR TEACHER

By Margaret Eberts & Peggy Gisler

5 Common Myths about Stuttering

uch of what we think we know about stuttering is actually myth. Many very successful people, including Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, even a recent top 10 performer on American Idol, have struggled with severe stuttering problems. Here, with help from The Stuttering Foundation, is a list of facts to counter those common myths we hear about stuttering. Learn more about stuttering by visiting the organization’s website at stutteringhelp.org or by calling (800) 992-9392. Myth: People who stutter are not smart. Reality: There is no link between stuttering and intelligence. Myth: Nervousness causes stuttering. Reality: Nervousness is not the cause of stuttering. Should we assume that people who stutter are prone to be nervous, fearful, anxious, or shy? No, they have the same full range of personality traits as those who do not stutter.

Myth: It helps to tell a person to “take a deep breath before talking” or “think about what you want to say first.” Reality: This type of advice only makes a person feel more self-conscious, which in turn, can make stuttering worse. More helpful responses include listening patiently and modeling slow and clear speech yourself. Myth: Stress causes stuttering. Reality: As mentioned above, many complex factors are involved. Stress is not the cause, but it certainly can aggravate stuttering.

Teach Your Child How Q &A to Write Her Name We think you should be able to help your child accomplish this goal by August. Incidentally, she’ll need to be able to write all of the letters of the alphabet for first grade. You can work with your daughter by using the steps below to help her learn to write her name. She needs to master each step before going on to the next one.

• Get a copy of the alphabet letters your school is using. They should show the direction that © ROMAN MILERT | DREAMSTIME.COM each letter is formed. • Teach her how to print the letters in her name, starting with her first name. The letters can be taught in any order. She also needs to know the names of each letters. Work on lowercase letters first. • Teach her the capital letter for only the first letter in her name. • Print her name. Have her trace these letters many times. She may find it easier to write using a marking pen. • Write her name using only dots. Then she should connect the dots. • Print her name, and have her copy it under the letters you have written. She should say each letter as she writes it. • Have your child write her name without looking at the model. • Teach your child her last name in the same way. MP Do you have a question or comment? Go to dearteacher.com.

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My daughter, who will enter first grade next fall, is still unable to write her name. How can I help her improve this skill?

Myth: Stuttering can be “caught” through imitation or by hearing another person stutter. Reality: Stuttering isn’t a learned or imitated trait. In fact, scientists don’t understand the exact cause of stuttering, but recent research indicates that family history (genetics), neuromuscular development, and a child’s home environment, including family dynamics, play a role in the onset of stuttering.

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o one under 13 allowed. That’s been the rule on most social media sites since 1998 when Congress passed COPPA, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The thinking behind the law was that children under 13 aren’t developmentally ready to handle all the complexities of social networking and other online activities. They can’t anticipate the consequences of what they post. They’re more vulnerable to harassment from peers or strangers. And they shouldn’t have their data vacuumed up by marketers. The law is supposed to give kids under 13 time to grow up by requiring websites that want to interact with them to follow strict rules and get permission from parents. Even though there are good reasons to postpone networking on grownup sites, kids have figured out it’s very easy to lie about age online. Also, many parents regard the Under Thirteen rule as a guideline, more like the ratings associated with movies rather than the law. As a result, millions of children have signed up for accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media sites. Age restrictions are, of course, arbitrary. Yet, there are still compelling reasons to hold the line on the Under Thirteen rule. LYING. Fudging your age may not seem like a big deal. Children, however, need a great deal of experience with telling the truth if honesty is to become their default position. Allowing a young child to lie about age opens up questions about truth and trust long before children are ready to think clearly about them. If you don’t want your child to regard truth as optional, it may be unwise to make exceptions too early. LAWS. The Under-Thirteen rule brings websites into compliance with laws to protect children from predators. If a child has permission to disregard age rules about social networking, will he or she feel free to click through other legal barriers such as the “you must be 21 to enter” warning on sites that feature pornography? RISKS NOW. Research suggests younger social media users are more vulnerable to harassment in part because they have fewer tools to cope with online aggression. In addition, kids may see content that parents would rather they not see. Because they are curious and less guarded, younger children are also more likely to click on malware, malicious software that takes control of a social media account to collect data or send spam. RISKS LATER. Once Facebook users turn 18, they are subject to adult rules, anyone can search for and message them, and they’ll see ads for products considered suitable for adults including gambling or dating services. A child who shaves three years off her age will be exposed to this at 15 instead of 18. ALTERNATIVES. A number of engaging social networking sites have been designed specifically for children. Club Penguin, Kidzvuz, Franktown Rocks, and Fantage are some that offer children a safe place to experiment with chatting and socializing. All require verifiable parental consent. Kids who learn the basics on these sites will be better prepared when they enter the rough-and-tumble world of adolescent social networking. Kids will often push to do things before they are ready. And it’s easy for parents to feel pride when a child seems precocious. The truth, however, is that childhood is not a race. There’s no prize for finishing first, and social media may be one of those places where a little more maturity can make a very big difference. MP

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HEALTH MATTERS

Is It Allergies or Asthma? Emergency visits are up this season, as families wrestle with these common health woes By Kristi Cook

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COUGHING • Dr. Betty Mirro of East Memphis Allergy and Asthma says differentiating between causes of coughing can be difficult, even for a physician. However, coughing accompanied with tightness in the chest, wheezing, or breathlessness may suggest asthma. Frequent coughing at night, after exercise, during high emotions (crying or anger), or when exposed to allergens and irritants like smoke, is also common with asthma. People with allergies may have a chronic cough, often caused by postnasal drip or dry throat. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology says frequent coughing or sneezing may also indicate food allergies and is often accompanied with other symptoms such as rash, hives, stomach upset, or nausea after ingesting certain foods.

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SHORTNESS OF BREATH/WHEEZING • Shortness of breath and wheezing are the most recognized symptoms of asthma. However, Mirro adds that even in the absence of an asthma diagnosis, large allergen exposures can still cause wheezing and shortness of breath in individuals with allergies. In an anaphylactic, or severe allergic reaction, Mirro reminds parents that rashes, hives, itchy, or swollen mouth and throat are also often present and treatment should not be delayed as symptoms may worsen very quickly. OTHER ALLERGY SYMPTOMS • Clear, watery, nasal discharge is almost always a tell-tale sign of allergies. Itchy, watery eyes, chronic stuffy ears, nasal congestion, itchy mouth and throat, eczema, headache, excessive fatigue, and itchy nose or nose rubbing are other common allergy symptoms to watch for. OTHER ASTHMA SYMPTOMS • The American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents that recurrent bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic coughing, lingering chest colds, or frequent lower respiratory infections are often warning signs of asthma and should be discussed with your pediatrician. MAKE NOTE OF SYMPTOMS • Accurate diagnosis and treatment are paramount to a child’s health. Left untreated, symptoms such as ear infections, chronic bronchitis, and nasal congestion can result in permanent hearing loss or scarred lungs. To help your pediatrician make a correct diagnosis, take good notes including when and where symptoms occur, frequency of symptoms, environment, food exposure, and time of day/season these symptoms appear or disappear. SEE A SPECIALIST • “Children should be assessed by a specialist when symptoms require frequent treatment, especially if that treatment has not been successful,” advises Mirro. “I think that any child who has asthma that requires maintenance medications should be evaluated for allergies and to optimize asthma management.” Evaluating a child for allergies, with or without a diagnosis of asthma, allows parents to make informed decisions on environmental controls and use of medications, thereby granting their child a quality of life with few, if any, hindrances. MP

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ou’ve got a child who’s congested, wheezy, and has running eyes. What’s the cause? Distinguishing between allergies and asthma can be difficult, since both share similar symptoms. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows breathing airways. Allergies can be tied to seasonal changes (often associated with pollen) that cause itchiness, sneezing, and congestion in the head and chest. With 75 to 85 percent of children diagnosed with asthma also having some type of allergy, recognizing which disorder is causing the symptoms can be problematic. Use these tips to help interpret your child’s symptoms and assist your pediatrician or allergist in making a correct diagnosis.

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Mixing

Business & Pleasure B Y S TACEY G REENBERG

Meet three families who live, love, and work together

aintaining a strong marriage, raising children, running a business — each is tough in its own right. So imagine

doing all three with your spouse. Dr. Lee Horton, a psychologist specializing in marriage counseling, says couples who are successful at both working and living together are able to differentiate between work time and marital time. “When couples aren’t getting along at work, it is usually a marital issue. At work you ask for respect, at home you ask for caring.” It’s especially important to maintain a loving, caring relationship when you also work together.

We asked three couples how they find a balance between business and family.

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NATALIE & ALFREDO CERPA | GREENFIELD ARENA Natalie and Alfredo opened their business before they got married or had kids. A love of soccer brought them together and in March 2011 they opened Greenfield Arena in Midtown. (They married in 2012.) It’s an indoor facility with a turf soccer field, a viewing area, TVs, and a concession stand. They’ve been very successful in building their business, with leagues ranging from U8 (Under 8) to O40 (Over 40) — boys, girls, women, men, and coed, there’s something here for everyone. Alfredo handles operations while Natalie tackles the admin side of the business. “We do the visioning together,” explains Natalie. “Where we are going next — that takes both of us.” Both hold full-time jobs in addition to managing Greenfield. In November of 2014, they opened a second location in Bartlett just days before their first child was born, prematurely. Since then, Natalie has had to learn how to simplify her life. “I just can’t get it all done in the same amount of time anymore. So prioritizing and identifying some smaller objectives which will lead to reaching the larger goals eventually has been helpful,” she explains. Natalie says it can be hard to balance between business and family because it all gets intermixed. “If you want to find balance, you have to find things to do or talk about that have nothing to do with work.” She does think their shared passion for soccer, which brought them together and spawned Greenfield, helps their relationship. “It’s still something we enjoy doing together and it’s good to have something in common.” When asked how she makes time for her newborn son, she laughs and says, “How do I find time for work? I have no choice. At this point, he wins.” Her son’s early arrival didn’t allow her to get all of her ducks in a row at work as she had planned, but she has found some qualified people who she can hand over some of her duties to. “I’ve always been so career driven, but my end goal has always been to have time for children. Finding the right combination of opportunity, markets, value, and profit means I can work less and live more,” she says.

Lisa and Luis Toro just opened City & State on Broad Avenue in March. It’s a very sleek, modern coffee shop with a unique retail area attached. City & State celebrates products that are quality, heritage, and fair trade. They scour the country, and sometimes beyond, to find the best goods. “Coffee is the perfect pairing,” explains Lisa. “People can come in without any expectation to buy.” They met while working together at Hilton Hotels and Resorts and knew right away they wanted to be together. “We met in January and got married in August of 2010.” Lisa has a 9-year-old daughter and Luis a 13-year-old son, both children are from previous marriages. Lisa loves meeting people and making connections. “Working in digital, designing and developing websites started to feel extremely impersonal. Everything was online,” she says. Traveling in other cities and seeing the possibilities got her and Luis really excited about starting a new business together — one that would get them back in the community and allow them to spend their days together. Lisa says that when they are doing different things, the relationship struggles. “At Hilton we rode to work together, ate lunch together, and discussed everything. We pushed each other in a really good way.” For now, Luis remains at Hilton, but he gets up early to make the kids’ lunches before opening the coffee shop at 7:30. “He sends me texts all day long,” says Lisa. “We are really missing each other.” The Toros have been married for almost five years and Lisa says they have a very high-level partnership. They support each other and have complementary skills. “If I didn’t have Luis helping, forget it. If we weren’t together, City & State wouldn’t be happening,” she says. Since the shop has just opened, they are working on a new normal. Lisa takes the kids to school and picks them up from aftercare once the shop closes at 4 p.m. “I always feel guilty no matter what,” says Lisa. “I feel guilty for not being with my daughter, but then I feel guilty for not letting her be independent too.” Lisa makes sure to focus on the family until everyone is in bed. Then she sends emails, orders inventory, and reconciles the books. “There’s always something to be done. Sometimes I let it wait,” she says. The Toros only have their children every other weekend and since the shop closes at 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m.on Sundays, they can still fit in some quality family time. “It has been a bit of a struggle since opening, but we take turns and we’ve had friends and family help out.”

PHOTO BY MARCI LAMBERT

LISA & LUIS TORO | CITY & STATE

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Jeff and Allison Rodgers met at Good Advertising and then had their own freelance business for 10 years. Now, Allison remains busy with her boutique photography studio while Jeff heads his newly launched graphic design firm, Kitbash Brand Design. The two work in the same building, an airy studio space they refurbished on Collierville Square. They have two daughters, Fable (13), and Ever (8 ). Jeff says the key to balancing work and family is setting boundaries. “The first year, my office was over the garage. My work was at home so when the kids were in bed, I’d think of that stack of work and go upstairs and work until midnight. Then the whole night was gone.” Later, when he had more space and his office wasn’t at home, he decided to leave work at the office. “I created personal boundaries. Something is wrong if I can’t get my work done between 9 and 5.” The same goes for Allison. Her photography business is 90 percent family portraits. “But she stopped working weekends a long time ago,” says Jeff. “Allison decided to accept the loss of customers who wouldn’t come in during the week. Her business is high end, not high volume.” Jeff says they’ve never gotten to a point where they can’t talk about work but he says they try not to talk about it all of the time. Their shared passion does help their marital relationship. “We’re both artists and we respect each other. We can look at each other’s work and help. I trust her opinion.” As far as honoring family time, Jeff says he has to be deliberate. “I schedule it or it won’t happen.” They unplug at dinner — no phones or TV. Afterwards, Jeff goes outdoors with his Ever most nights for a walk or a bike ride. And on Sundays, you’ll find the Rodgers attending church together, followed with dinner out. The designer acknowledges, too, that family vacations are just as important as client meetings. “I put them on the calendar and I stick to them.” MP

PHOTO BY ALLISON RODGERS

ALLISON & JEFF RODGERS | ALLISON RODGERS PHOTOGRAPHY & KITBASH DESIGN

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Creating Work/Life Balance As a Single Parent B Y L AUR A L. F REEMAN

he stress of juggling child-rearing responsibilities with the demands of a career can take its toll, especially if you are a single parent. Being the mother of five, a single parent, and having a demanding career was indeed a very difficult balance. After always feeling guilty and frazzled, I realized what I was doing was not working. I needed to find the right balance between parenthood and a full-time career. I painfully learned and adopted these five tips that helped me achieve successful work-life balance. 1. DON’T GO IT ALONE — ASK FOR HELP Asking for help requires humility and admitting you can’t do everything yourself. Remember, you are not alone and others really do want to help you. Be willing to ask other parents, family members, or friends to help out — it might surprise you how much they are willing to help and what a positive impact it has on your family life.

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2. PRIORITIZE BEFORE YOU DRIVE YOURSELF CRAZY Decide what is truly important to you and your children. If a task can wait until tomorrow, let it wait. Instead, spend that precious time with your children. Sit down with a sheet of paper and define your high, medium, and low priorities. If everything falls into your “high” priorities, force yourself to write three items in each category. Once you do this, hold yourself accountable. Let go of the low priorities unless you have spare time. 3. MANAGE THE WORKING MOM’S GUILT As a parent, whether you work to pay the bills and/or you work because you enjoy your career, guilt can be ever present. Sometimes the guilt is real but sometimes it’s a false perception. Having five children, I did not make every sports game or school outing, but I found ways to offset my guilt. I resolved to leave work at least once or twice a week on time. Monthly, I would sit down with my children and ask what events they really would like me to attend. I adjusted my work schedule accordingly. Other times, I would tell myself, “It’s okay,” and realize I was offering a positive role model for my children. 4. TIME: QUALITY VS. QUANTITY You may have heard the saying “It’s not the quantity of time you spend with your children, it’s the quality.” I truly believe this. When you have time with your children, be in the moment and dedicate your attention to them completely. I remember one night trying to multi-task while having some “one-on-one time” with one of my daughters when she said, “Mom, you are not even listening to me!” She was right. I was physically present but not tuned into her. Make sure time you spend with your children is high quality and that your child feels that. 5. DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOU If you don’t take care of yourself, then how can you take care of your children? Managing your energy is just as important as your time. Start by spending 15 minutes a day doing something that relaxes or re-charges you. For me, it was playing the piano when my children were young. As they got older, I would take a short walk. Just do something every day that helps you have some “me time,” even if for only a few minutes a day. MP Author and psychologist Laura Freeman works to help parents understand how to address life’s challenges and be the best parent possible.She is the mom of five.

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class of 2015

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Skip these social gaffes for a zero-drama bash

B Y M ALIA J ACOBSON

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t happens all too fast: one minute, you’re wiping up the

crumbs from the first-birthday cake smash. A few whirlwind years later, your precocious preschooler brings home a stack of birthday party invitations penned by parents you’ve never met. Party evites invade your inbox and group texts detailing last-minute party plans zip back and forth with the urgency of national security missives. Your child has hit the birthday party scene, and it’s hoppin’.

Given that kid birthday parties are big business — the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions reports the kids’ party venues charge an average of $370 per party; add in decorations, food, and favors, and costs can easily top $500 — it’s understandable that parents want to get it right. That’s easier said than done, though. Parents bring different expectations, cultural norms, communication styles, and budgets into the party planning process, and etiquette can fall through the cracks, says Jacqueline Whitmore, an internationally-recognized etiquette expert, author and founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach. And the increasingly paperless world of party communications leaves room for etiquette missteps; per online stationer Punchbow l, 73 percent of parents prefer to send online invitations. While there’s no formula for the “perfect” party, avoiding these party planning pitfalls keeps the focus where it belongs — celebrating your not-so-little-one’s big day.

BIRTHDAY PARTY PRIMER:

TINY GLITTERATI

A top parental pet peeve: Supersized (or super spendy) soirees that make your casual neighborhood cupcake-and-juice fete look ho-hum by comparison. “I’m tired of over-the-top parties that make my kiddos wonder why we don’t spend $5,000 on their birthday,” says mom of three Lynne Williams. “We went to one a few years ago that had two bouncy houses, hired entertainment, catered food, full bar, craft projects. . . all for a 3-year-old.” While the size of the budget and guest list are personal preferences, you can skip some stress (and save green) by focusing on party details your child will notice and remember. And consider this: it will be hard to impress a teenager who’s received mega-parties since babyhood. One way to dial down the crazy is to only include activities and entertainment that can reasonably fit into a 90-minute party — roughly the party attention span of a kindergartener — with enough schedule space for cake and relaxed socializing. That means you don’t need the bounce house, band, slip n’ slide, pizza-making station, and petting zoo. One to two “main event” activities, with a quieter option like crafting or coloring for overstimulated kiddos, is festive without feeling forced. Scale back on decorations, too, says mom of two Yin Chang, co-owner of L3 Academy, a Montclair, New Jersey learning center that hosts STEM birthday parties. “Kids either completely ignore decorations, or they look at them for five seconds.”

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In today’s uber-connected world, responding to party invites has never been easier; email, texting, or simply checking a box on a web-based evite takes all of 30 seconds. But these days, many guests mistakenly consider RSVPs optional, says Whitmore. This leaves the party-planning parents to guestimate the guest list, or track down and re-contact all invited guests’ parents about whether they’ll attend. And nobody has time for that. “It gets frustrating when people don’t reply at all, or respond ‘maybe’ but don’t update as to whether they’ll come or not,” says Raina Johnson, a mom of three boys. “If you’re fortunate enough to be invited to party, respond as quickly as possible,” Whitmore says. Whether you can or can’t attend, respond to invites — including evites and text invites — within a week at the most. And if plans change and your child can’t attend, contact the host ASAP so the food, activities, and party favors earmarked for your child can be repurposed.

RSVP REFRAME

SKIP THE SIBS

Meet Wicked Plants author Amy Stewart

GOODIE BAGS GONE BAD

Goodie bags filled with dollar-store junk irk Amy Hussey, a mom of two. “Keep it consumable so it doesn’t add to the clutter!” Or skip goodie bags entirely — most families won’t miss them. If you just bear to abandon giveaways, consider a copy of the birthday child’s favorite book, a packet of seeds or a bulb to plant, a single can of Playdoh, crayons and small notepad, or a take-home craft like a hair barrette or a bookmark. A party favor that fosters family time or quiet play after the excitement of a party will be welcomed by guests’ parents—who may be inspired to reciprocate when their child’s party rolls around. MP — Malia Jacobson is a nationally published sleep and health journalist and mom of three. Her most recent book is Sleep Tight, Every Night.

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As soon as invitations go out, the “siblings welcome?” queries come in. And some parents will show up with their entire brood in tow. This stressful scenario stretches party budgets and party hosts’ patience, because some parties are simply more enjoyable on a smaller scale. “We do small birthday parties at our house, and if child comes with a sibling or two and both parents, the party triples in size for food, gift bags, and activities,” says Gretchen Coulson Smith, the mom of two. Party activities aren’t always well-suited to younger sibs, addss Chang. Her parties can involve experiments with chemicals; though not toxic or dangerous, they’re not designed for toddlers. “We put a minimum age on those party invitations, for safety reasons,” she ways. Avoid this sticky subject by clearly addressing paper invitation to the invited child, says Whitmore. This gets trickier for evites, which may not allow senders to specific which child the invite is for. In those cases, a quick email or text with “We hope Ameila can attend Jake’s party!” can spare an awkward back-andforth later on. On the other hand, “the more the merrier” parents can let guests know that sibs can attend with a simple “siblings welcome!” note on the invitation. When you’re not sure — because of limited space at your venue, for example — write “please inquire about siblings” to head off sibling surprises. And if sibs aren’t on the guest list, consider making the party a “drop-off” celebration (also, of course, indicated on the invitation); parents with young kids may not be able to stay for the party if they need to keep their other children at home.

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Making Strides Towards a Brighter Future SCHOOL NOTES

Memphis Challenge helps shape teens to become city leaders of tomorrow By Robin Gallaher Branch

RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH CITY LEADERSHIP Memphis Challenge occupies the ground floor of Emerge Memphis, a refurbished warehouse in the South Main District of downtown. “Memphis Challenge is part of an ecosystem that nurtures emerging businesses. Emerge Memphis is a business incubator,” says Webster. The location is ideal for rubbing shoulders with the city’s leadership in industry, healthcare, and politics. Challengers frequently land paid summer internships with AutoZone, FedEx, and International Paper. “We show them a bigger picture of Memphis and what it takes to make the city tick,” she says. “We help them see beyond their neighborhood. All the while, we seek to present a model of excellence.” Senior Challengers get ACT prep sessions on Saturdays, says Webster, where “they practice, practice, practice.” The junior year concentrates on financial literacy, public speaking, and goal setting. “Students get their eyes

STEPPING OUTSIDE COMFORT ZONES The organization also helps students gain insights into career paths. If a teen wants to be a lawyer, how does he get there? “We set goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely,” says Webster. Ninth and tenth graders take part in a three-unit module called The 9/10 Movement. The January introduction seeks to create a “culture of intellectual sophistication” by stressing that students do “what is required, when it is required.” Accelerated Intellectual Boot Camp follows in late June, with a focus on developing critical thinking, verbal, and team-building skills. While mentoring from Challenge graduates is essential throughout the program’s years, it is particularly emphasized during this hands-on month. The third module runs from September to May and brings out the diversity of the world. This module intentionally pushes students outside their comfort zones and familiar environments. Taylor Washington, 16, a junior from Arlington High School, joined A’Doriann in the recent public speaking workshop. “It helped me because I am going into law,” Taylor explains. She also appreciates the emphasis Memphis Challenge gives on writing college placement essays. “I really need all the help I can get,” she says with a laugh. According to statistics and results, Memphis Challenge not only offers help but makes learning exciting and even fun along the way. They are opening doors to the future. MP

Interested in Applying for Memphis Challenge? The organization is currently accepting applications for their 2015-2016 class. Applicants must have the following: • Scholastic average of 3.5 or higher • ACT score of at least 25 or a combined SAT score of 1500 (applies to senior applicants only • Recommendations from guidance counselor and teachers • Proven leadership skills, particularly in community service To learn more, go to memphischallenge.org

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MEMPHIS CHALLENGE GETS RESULTS “We have a track record with universities,” notes Webster. The organization’s 26 graduates from the class of 2014 are now freshmen at competitive schools, like Rhodes, Macalester, and Amherst colleges; Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech, Howard, even Yale University. “We teach them soft skills,” says Webster, like how to improve time management and study more effectively. The nonprofit was founded in 1989 and began with just 25 seniors from East High School. Over the years, the program has “expanded downward,” so to speak, to include 11th, 10th, and 9th graders. Admission is competitive; to be accepted, students must have and maintain a 3.5 grade point average each year. Memphis Challenge seeks to attract freshmen and keep them throughout their high school years. Why? “Because it takes four years to build a GPA,” says McKenzii Webster, a member of the Memphis Challenge Fellow Program and a 2009 Challenger graduate. “The aim of Memphis Challenge is to provide college prep and professional development,” says McKenzii, who is also Cassandra’s daughter. She graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and awaits word on law school applications for the fall.

opened regarding what’s taken out with each paycheck from a full-time job.” Workshops also stress organization and time management skills, Why? Because students often procrastinate, notes McKenzii, and must learn to manage the constant distractions of social media and electronics.

isa Smith faces a room of excited but cautious teens. Her topic is public speaking and she’s trying to get these high school juniors, all members of Memphis Challenge, pumped up about speaking in front of an audience. “Make it exciting! You can open with a statistic or question,” she says, her smile offering encouragement as she assigns the topic: Planting a Garden. The students begin scribbling. Memphis Challenge makes learning intentional. The nonprofit targets highachieving minority teens, coaching them in leadership principles and preparing them for college and the work world. Their aim: To develop future leaders for our city. “We have over 500 alums,” says Cassandra Webster, executive director. “About half of them come back to Memphis.” A’Doriann Bradley, 16, a junior at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, likes what she’s hearing at the public speaking workshop. She finds learning how to manage the on-the-spot pressure of public speaking helpful. Since Memphis Challenge draws students from charter, public, and private schools, she meets a variety of students who share similar goals: to be college-bound.

PARENT TO PARENT

WHEN GIRLS ARE JUST PLAIN MEAN O verc ome the tears and j eers with these anti- b ully ing strategies By Margie Sims

“M

om, all year long my BFF has been talking about her birthday party,” my then-fourth-grade daughter whimpered, fighting back tears. “Now she tells me her party’s been cancelled, but the other girls are talking about it so I know it’s still on.” Though we almost avoided the drama, the inevitable happened: Just a month before summer, my daughter’s best friend turned on her. She was crushed. Girl drama has always been around, but from where I stand, it seems mean girls are meaner than ever. While tears and jeers can’t always be avoided, there are steps parents can take to put an anti-bullying plan in place.

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Step 1: Pay attention and listen Anti-bullying specialist and award-winning author Nancy Rue says the most important thing parents can do is to take their daughters concerns seriously. “When your child comes home and tells you she is being bullied, avoid playing it down by saying she will outgrow it,” says Rue. With the stigma attached to bullying, kids often only tell half the story. Parents have to look closely for signs of trouble. “Pay attention when birthday party invitations slow to a halt, grades drop, or if a normally outgoing child is suddenly at home more than usual.” Germantown mom Carrie Hencyk saw the signs in her then 9-year-old daughter, Emma, early on, when her grades began dropping. “She wouldn’t write her homework down because the girls were in their huddle making fun of her, telling her ‘You can’t sit with us.’” Hencyk encouraged her daughter to keep her focus on school. “I told my honor student daughter, ‘Mean girls don’t care about their grades, but let’s keep caring about yours.’” Parents can also focus on extracurricular activities to help kids shine outside of school, while at the same time assuring them it’s not their responsibility to avoid getting bullied. “Mean girls can change how kids view themselves; consequently, kids need reminders that they have a life outside of school,” says Rue. Untapped talent may be discovered in art class, club teams, or community theater.

Step 2: Reassure and take back power Once kids convey the problem, reassurance from parents should come in regular doses and parents should offer help. “Stay calm and assure your child you can fix it, because you can,” says Rue. Give your daughter lots of reminders that this is not about her, but the bully. “This is my mantra with kids, parents, and teachers: Show victims how to take back the power to be themselves because that is what a bully is trying to take from them: allowing them to be who they are.” Along with reassurance, parents should help kids understand that there is no satisfying a mean girl — the victim will always be too fat or thin, too smart or dumb, too talented or too clumsy. “Whatever is different from the bully is the target,” says Rue, “and parents must convey to their kids that they are going to help them take back the power to be who they are, go where they want, and do what they need to do.” Hencyk agrees. “For my daughter, at first it was ‘You can’t sit with us’ and then ‘You’re eating lunch? It’s going to make you fat!’ Then it was the shoes

What’s the best response when confronted with a mean girl? “Don’t give bullies the satisfaction of an emotional response, whether it’s anger or tears,” recommends author Nancy Rue.

she had saved money for yet wore only once because the girls made fun of her.” With each new school year, the harassment continued, escalating into mean posts put anonymously on social websites, a favorite venue of bullies. Because of her own experience with both sides of the mean-girl scene, Hencyk knew a little about how to guide her daughter. “In grade school, I was a mean girl,” says Hencyk, who apologizes even today when she happens to encounter one of her former targets. “I was unhappy in my home situation so my message was ‘I am not going to like you if you don’t wear a certain shoe or do this or that.’” In high school, however, the tables turned. “The roles were reversed and I was the one spending lunch alone, unable to eat, going outside, to the bathroom, anywhere so they wouldn’t see me cry.”

Step 3: Take action So what’s the best response when confronted with a mean girl? “Don’t give bullies the satisfaction of an emotional response, whether it is tears or anger,” says Rue, adding that one effective way to equip kids is to give them one-liners to say and walk away. “‘I thought you were better than that,’ is one thing your child can say, especially to a friend who has turned on them.” One-liners are significant because ignoring is not going to make the problem go away. A bully will keep on until she gets a reaction. “The less you say, the better,” says Hencyk. “Save the tears and cry outside of their vision.” For Hencyk and her daughter, adding humor to the situation also helped. “I shared with my daughter that I use to visualize pulling up to the drive-through in my luxury car and the mean girl handing me my order, saying, ‘You want fries with that?’ She thought that was great!” Again, parents should tune into their kids, and when it is time to take the next step, do it. “Kids may be reluctant to involve another adult, but if your child expresses feelings of physical danger or depression, they need someone to act,” says Rue. The difference between tattling and reporting is simple. “Tattling is getting someone into trouble; reporting is keeping someone out of trouble, even if it is yourself,” says Rue. Sometimes one-liners are ineffective and teachers or counselors don’t come through. This was indeed the case for Hencyk, who tried going through the proper channels at school, taking her daughter to a therapist, and even confronting the parents herself. The bullying continued, however, and she saw no other option but to remove her daughter from the situation altogether by sending her to live with her dad in another state. “I knew for her sake I had to make a radical change,” says Hencyk, who Skypes with her daughter every night. “It was the ultimate sacrifice but she has friends, she is happy, and she’s out of the situation.” A year has passed since the mean girl incident my own daughter encountered. Thankfully, new friendships have bloomed and my daughter only sees her former BFF on the playground. “I’m so glad I’m not part of her posse this year,” she confided in me recently, adding she is relieved to be out of the drama. And how do I feel about having a ‘tween daughter entering middle school, happy to be drama-free? In my book, she gets an “A” in people smarts. MP

READ MORE: MEAN GIRL MAKE-OVERS By Nicole Yasinsky

Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World by Rosalind Wiseman Little Girls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-Proof Girls in the Early Grades by Michelle Anthony Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression of Girls by Rachel Simmons For Mean Girls Sometimes, the mean girl doesn’t know how much her actions hurt the offended parties, and it can take a step into someone else’s shoes to make them think twice. Empathy is a crucial key to stopping all sorts of harmful behaviors —something many adults could stand to read up on, too! Wonder by R. J. Palacio Confessions of a Former Bully by Trudy Ludwig Mean Girl Makeover fiction series by Nancy Rue: So Not Okay, You Can’t Sit With Us, and Sorry, I’m Not Sorry

Marlene, Marlene, the Queen of Mean by Jane Lynch and Lara Embry Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Friends by Stan and Jan Berenstain Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell Odd Velvet by Mary E. Whitcomb For the Innocent Bystander It is easy for a girl to stand by and do nothing when her friends are being bullied. Encouraging your child to stand up for what is right is a major step in empowering them to change this epidemic. Blubber by Judy Blume American Girl: Stand Up for Yourself and Your Friends by Patty Kelley Criswell There are so many books out there that address the mean girl culture — here are a few more to add to your list to spark conversations about girls and their friends. The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen The Girls by Amy Goldman Koss The Clique series by Lisi Harrison Beacon Street Girls: Just Kidding by Annie Bryant Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: The New Girl by Meg Cabot Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renee Russell — Freelance writer Nicole Yasinsky is marketing manager for The Booksellers at Laurelwood. She headed the children’s department there for 13 years.

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at the corner of Sanga Road

M E M P H I S PA R E N T M AY 2 0 1 5 www. me m ph ispare nt . com

For Parents It can be hard to remember how all of this happens, as we adults have (hopefully) escaped the mean girl epidemic. Educate yourself to know how to talk to your girls and get as much information as you can to help them through the tough times.

For Younger Girls The Mean Girl culture isn’t exclusive to older girls — sometimes it pops up before you were expecting it. These picture books use humor and fun illustrations to confront the issues and to embrace differences and individuality.

THERE ARE SO MANY ELEMENTS OF WHAT CREATES AND FEEDS THE MEAN GIRL CULTURE. HERE ARE SOME BOOKS TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GET THROUGH THIS PHENOMENON AT ANY STAGE.

M E M P H I S PA R E N T M AY 2 0 1 5 www. m e mp hi spare nt . com

FOR A PERSON WITH ADD, IT CAN SPACE TRAVEL BE VERY DIFFICULT TARANTULA TO CONCENTRATE. RANDOM THOUGHTS EVIL ALIEN ROBOT ENTER THE MIND UNCONTROLLABLY, MAKING IT NEARLY KUNG FU MASTER IMPOSSIBLE TO FOCUS. That’s because their brain works differently. Extensive medical research has proven that ADD/ADHD is a result of abnormal brainwave patterns. While medication is conventionally used for temporary results, there’s now a way to actually change the brainwaves to function more normally, permanently. It’s called Neurofeedback. An amazing computer technology that works by monitoring brainwave activity and using video games to train the brain to produce healthier patterns. Highly effective and increasingly practiced, Neurofeedback is fast becoming recognized as a valuable tool for peak mental performance, and is even used by NASA for flight training. If you or your child suffer from ADD or ADHD, we invite you to call for a free phone consultation.

Summer programs begin in June and are filling up fast. So call now to schedule your sessions.

901.624.0100 memphisneurofeedback.com

THINK BETTER.

7 Cool Places to Throw a Kids’ Party

Plus, D Y I op tions for a b irthday y our kid won’ t forget B Y J ANE S CHNEIDER

F airy Tales

S p rin k ly D eliciou s

Millstone Market and Nursery in Germantown has discovered that children love fairies. So they host fairy parties for kids ages 5 and up. Those who still believe in magic go on a scavenger hunt to collect materials, and build their own fairy garden. Older children create a fairy garden container and learn all about plants and fairy lore. Cost: $475 for up to 20 children. Party includes materials and activities. • millstonemarket

Let them eat cake takes on a whole new meaning at this Collierville bakery. The Donut-Hut rolls out the red carpet for young party-goers, providing two-hours of fun that includes donuts, drinks, pizza, and crazy big donut cake. Donut-Hut makes your job easy, by handling set-up, decorations, even cleanup. They’ll also keep kids entertained, though we expect the donut cake does the trick.

DYI: Fairy garden supplies can also be purchased at Urban Gardener ($50-$75), where they’re of particular interest for grandmother/granddaughter play. Hobby Lobby and Michaels sell fairy figurines and fairy costumes. Create a wonderland in your backyard.

Cost: $195 for 2-10 participants, $265 for 11-15 participants $295 for 16-20 participants • donuthutt.com

eady, S et, G low

F in g er Pain t

Many kids love to paint and several locations specialize in painting parties, including Parties with a Twist in Germantown and Pinot’s Palette in Memphis. Both tailor parties for creative types ages 8 and up. And guests returns home with their own masterpiece.

Turn down the lights and turn up the fun. That’s what happens at glow parties when you play at Pump It Up. Have your guests dress in white or glow-in-the-dark colors and add to the excitement. Inflatables slides and bounce houses take on a cool new look when the lights come down. Cost: $200+ for a 2-hour private party for 10. Includes pizza, ice cream, beverages, paper products, and entertainment.

Cost: Paint with a Twist: $250/10 painters, $25/per additional child for 1.5 hrs. of painting time; 1 hr. of party time. • paintingwithatwist.com • Pinot’s Palette: $35/per person for three hrs.; 2 hrs. with instructor, 1 hr. to party. • pinotspalette/sanderlin DYI: Make homemade Play-Doh and have the kids sculpt and paint their creations. Use washable paint with plenty of newspaper on the table to soak up spills.

DYI: Keep kids moving with a Field Day preschool party in your backyard. Create simple events young kids can do, like three-legged races, hula-hoop contests, jarts, fishing for prizes in a kiddie pool. End by smashing a colorful piñata filled with treats.

F iz z y F u n

ide I n

Tweens are oh-so-cool, which means finding something different is a challenge. That’s why we like Love Pop Soda Shop. This new store on South Main rocks a fun vibe, with milk crates that hold craft sodas and vintage games. Parties include soda taste tests from where kids swig flavors like Toxic Slime and Cookie Dough Bites. Later in May, create your own floats, with handmade ice cream from La Michoacana. Don’t forget to try Ty and Maddy’s Southern Treats and Sweets popcorn. Yum.

S tyle

DYI: Skip the limo and host a skate party instead (roller rinks include East End and Cordova Skate among others). Skating is fun and great exercise. Most rinks offer a party package. • memphisskating.com

ov e I t, M

ov e I t

Some kids are always on the go, so Little Gym of Germantown gives them a great place to get the wiggles out. You receive a 90-minute party filled with bouncing, tumbling, active fun. Led by a birthday leader plus an assistant, these parties are perfect for the preschool set. Cost: $235/members, $260/nonmembers. Includes party set-up and break down. Thelittlegym.com/germantown MP

Cost: $150 for 10 kids, birthday child brings home with a six-pack of soda. • Find them on Facebook

Cost: $150 hr.+. You provide the location; the limo company will ferry your party out and back. Specify this is a kids’ party, and ask plenty of questions about how they operate. Some will allow drivers to park for an hour so your tweens can hangout inside.

M E M P H I S PA R E N T M AY 2 0 1 5 www. m e mp hi spare nt .com

When my son was 9, he became smitten with limos. So, for a special surprise, we rented one for his birthday. He was stunned when he opened the sleek black door to discover five of his besties lounging inside. They cruised over to the roller rink for an hour of skating and spent the second hour goofing off in style.

•Christ-centered •Academic excellence •Structured & nurturing environment •Tuition based on sliding scale

Providing an academically rigorous and vibrantly Catholic education that prepares students to become all God created them to be JUBILEE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS NETWORK St. John Catholic School De La Salle at Blessed Sacrament PreK-6th Orange Mound (901) 743-6700 K-8th Binghampton (901) 866-9084 St. Joseph Catholic School Memphis Catholic PreK-6th Whitehaven (901) 344-0021 7th-12th Midtown (901) 276-1221 Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School St. Patrick Catholic School PreK-8th Frayser (901) 358-7431 PreK-6th Downtown (901) 521-3252 Resurrection Catholic School St. Therese Little Flower Catholic PreK-6th Hickory Hill (901) 546-9926 School PreK-2nd Vollintine-Evergreen St. Augustine Catholic School (901) 725-9900 PreK-6th South Memphis (901) 942-8002

Funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

To learn more: Contact (901) 373-1205 jubilee.schools@cc.cdom.org www.jubileeschools.org

DISCOVER THE BRIGHT HORIZONS DIFFERENCE High quality early education in the Memphis area At Bright Horizons® we provide an exceptional place for children to thrive. Our individualized, flexible curriculum and experienced teachers inspire

M E M P H I S PA R E N T M AY 2 0 1 5 w ww.m e m phisp aren t .co m

children at every age and stage.

Highlights

Children’s Choice at the Memphis Service Center

Nurturing children 6 weeks to 5-years-old

901-546-2220 http://campaigns.brighthorizons.com/memphis-mp

Flexible scheduling for full-, part-time, and drop-in care

A Children’s Place at Bayer

Prepares children for success in school and life

901-320-2958 http://campaigns.brighthorizons.com/scheringplough-mp

Supportive and strong parent community

Bright Horizons at Nonconnah

3 Star Tennessee Quality Centers

Surprise!

Meet This Year’s Cover Kid Winners! W E’ RE S O EX C ITED.

W e

r e c e iv e d s u c h w o n d e r fu l p ic tu r e s fr o m y o u , o u r r e a d e r s , e a c h y e a r a t th is tim e . K id s w h o s e s m i l e s l i g h t u p y o u r l i f e e v e r y d a y . Yo u k n o w t h e y ’r e s p e c ia l, a n d n o w , o u r r e a d e r s w ill k n o w th a t, to o . Ea c h y e a r , w h e n w e a n n o u n c e t h e c o n t e s t , w e lo o k fo r w a r d to r e c e iv in g th e m a n y e n tr ie s th a t

Ages 6-15 mos. – Ezra Warren

Ages 16mos.-3 yrs. – Tia Riley

Ages 16mos.-3 yrs. – Augie Varghese

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Tristan Stokes

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Emma Casey

Ages 7-10 yrs. – Lucas Winters

come into our ofﬁce from across the city. What d o e s it ta k e to m a k e o u r c o v e r ? W e lo o k fo r p ic tu r e s th a t c o n v e y w a r m th , c h a r m , a c e r ta in e n e r g y ; p ic tu r e s th a t c a p tu r e th e e s s e n c e o f y o u r child’s personality. We also try to ﬁnd a range of lo o k s , s in c e y o u r c h ild b e c o m e s th e fa c e o f o u r m a g a z in e a n d a r e p ic k e d u p in n e ig h b o r h o o d s a c r o s s th e c ity . O u r te a m

o f ju d g e s w e ig h e a c h

Al l o f t h e e n t r a n t s a r e b e a u t i f u l . Bu t a f t e r m u c h d e lib e r a tio n , w e m u s t w in n o w it d o w n to th e ﬁnal six. So here are this year’s winners of Me m p h i s Pa r e n t ’ s C o v e r K i d c o n t e s t . C o n g r a t s t o y o u a ll a n d w a tc h fo r th e s e s m ilin g fa c e s in th e m o n th s to c o m e .

g r o u p , a n d s lo w ly , th e w in n e r s b e g in to e m e r g e .

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p h o to , c a r e fu lly c o n s id e r in g th o s e in e a c h a g e

Here’s To You!

Our 2015 Cover Kid Contestants

Ages 6-15 mos. – Aubrey Brockwell

Ages 6-15 mos. – Ryleigh Hoffman

Ages 6-15 mos. – Andre Jackson

Ages 6-15 mos. – Micah McKinzie

Ages 6-15 mos. – Kailey Owens

Ages 6-15 mos. – Paige Parish

Ages 6-15 mos. – Paisley Rolfe

Ages 6-15 mos. – Lauren Scott

Ages 6-15 mos. – Bryson Smiley

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Campbelle Burns

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Ember Byrd

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Connor Crenshaw

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Dominic Dudley

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Mckenzie Finkle

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Emery Gilliam

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Dominic Hoffman

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Cash Kemp

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Briana Middleton

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Jaxson Miles

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Evelyn Sterling

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Ramer Sutton

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Elle Stirling-Voyles Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – TalorMarie Wiggins

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Willow Cotton

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Ka’Nia Hardaway

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Victoria Mosby

Ages 16 mos.-3 yrs. – Caylie Thomas

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Sydnie L. Robertson

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Morgan Skorupa

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Parker Sutton

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Eva Vandenbergh

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Colton Waddell

Ages 4-6 yrs. – Addison Young

Ages 7-10 yrs. – Ronan Goff

Ages 7-10 yrs. – Angel Jackson

Ages 7-10 yrs. – Abigail & Gabrielle Knox

Ages 7-10 yrs. – Elijah Munn

Ages 7-10 yrs. – Alex Vandenbergh

Ages 7-10 yrs. – J’sean Wiggins

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Ages 6-15 mos. – Michael Asplund

Fun Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day By Kristi Cook

CALLING ALL MOMS! Single moms, married moms, military

moms, and more. Don’t sit around waiting silently for someone to rush in and offer you a Mother’s Day celebration. Instead, take the helm (like you always do), and create your own activities honoring motherhood this Mother’s Day. © GPOINTSTUDIO | DREAMSTIME.COM THANK THE WOMAN WHO LOVES YOU ENOUGH TO LET YOU CALL HER MOM. Show children of all ages how special a mom is by first remembering to honor your own mother. Visit Mom with the kids and share favorite memories of her motherly love, such as how she kissed your boo-boos as a child or carefully fixed your hair for the prom. If your mother has passed, make her favorite dessert with the kids and share these stories as a reminder to all of you just how special this woman was, and still is, to your family.

PLANT A MOTHER’S DAY GARDEN. Gather your mom and children and shop for everyone’s favorite flowers. If possible, purchase enough plants to fill a small garden or a pretty flowerpot you can take to both homes. Be sure to include flowers chosen by each family member in both gardens as a “flower collage” of loved ones. COLOR SCARVES WITH LOVE. Have the kids craft a colorful scarf for you and Grandma to wear as a reminder of their hugs. Lay a white silk or cotton scarf on a covered surface. Place torn pieces of tissue paper (the kind that bleeds) on top and spray with water. After colors bleed to the desired amount, remove paper, dab the scarf of excess moisture, then toss it into the dryer for about 20 minutes, or just until dry. Iron on low heat to help set the dye. Visit southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/mothers-day-silk-watercolor-scarfvideo ) for a video tutorial. BE A SECRET SANTA. Everyone knows those moms who get left out on Mother’s Day. They’re usually the ones who sit quietly when the “What did you do for Mother’s Day?” question is asked at Sunday school or book club. Show your kids the power of love by filling a gift bag with inexpensive gifts, such as the hand-colored scarf, candy, a rose, or simply a little note telling her what a special mom she is. Secretly hang it on her doorknob early Sunday morning. Her heart will melt when she opens the love-filled gift bag from you. And you have given yourself an even better gift — that of selfless giving.

Dance Scholars, Inc.

Summer Program July 6- 31, 2015 Junior Camp:

Tues. & Thurs. 7:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Senior Camp:

Mon., Wed., Fri., 7:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Guest Teachers & Performances Registration May 22nd- 30th & June 22nd- 30th. Scholarships Available!

Call 901-301-3262

Peace on Earth Begins at Birth

Trillium WomanCare

prenatal care ~ home birth ~ water birth www.trilliumbirth.com 901-292-5354

Certified Professional Midwife services licensed by NARM and The State of Tennessee

Located in the Evergreen District 1738 Galloway Ave. Memphis, TN 38112

www.dancescholars.org

Happy Mother’s Day.

M E M P H I S PA R E N T M AY 2 0 1 5 www.m e m ph ispare nt . com

CELEBRATE REGARDLESS. Unfortunately, some of us don’t have moms or children with us on our big day. Divorce, deployment, passed loved ones, even lost babies leave a gaping hole. Celebrate your motherhood anyway. Remember favorite moments with your loved ones, however short or few they may have been. Remember how big your mothering heart is. Remember, whether children are present or not, you will always be a mother. MP

FAMILY TABLE

When Life Gives You Lemons Smile, and bake a citrusy lemon pie by Liz Phillips

very season has its rituals, and spring is no exception. As April turns to May, hunting for colored eggs or the afikoman matzah (some families do both) gives way to bake sales and Mother’s Day brunches. It’s the time of year when a person needs all-occasion treats. Most of us think of cookies or maybe cakes, but this year I’ve been obsessed with bars and pies. Take brownies, for example. They have all the chewy sweetness of cookies but are easier to crank out on a schedule crowded with work and kids’ activities. My winter bar this year was a brown-butter blondie with a bit of salt on top. The sweet-salty combination made it almost impossible to eat just one. But since they were bars, I could cut them into tiny cubes that made it possible to avoid sugar shock. Here’s the thing, though. After a long winter, we’ve had enough of those warm, savory flavors. We crave something bright and fresh. It’s a great time to look at lemons. I guess it’s possible to forget how ethereal, how transporting, a good lemon bar can be. I’ve ingested my share of gluey, listless oblongs at office parties and school functions. But don’t write them all off. Good ones are pretty enough to please your grandmother, but husbands and children love them, too. There are easy versions that use flour or cornstarch, so you don’t have to precook the filling. These can be very nice — much better than the ones from a box — but not always perfectly lip-puckeringly lemony. Then there are versions that call for cooking the curd filling on the stove. You pour it onto a warm pre-baked shortbread crust before finishing in the oven. These bars are the Platonic ideal: citrusy, buttery, luxuriously smooth on top yet flaky down below. However, they are a little too time-consuming for general use. There is an easy, super-lemony dessert that you can bring anywhere: lemon chess pie. An old Southern recipe, it combines the intense flavor of a no-starch lemon bar with the ease of no-cook toppings. Plus, it’s pie. Pie does many of the nice convenient things that bars do, but you also get pie points. You can slice it up thinly if you want small portions. You can top it with whipped cream and strawberries if you want to make someone happy on Mother’s Day. Best of all, if you use a food processor and a frozen pie crust, you can make it in pretty much no time flat. And that’s worth turning into a springtime ritual. MP

LEMON CHESS PIE

Adapted from A Love Affair with Southern Cooking by Jean Anderson

The Pool School’s UNDER THREE SWIMBOREE

M E M P H I S PA R E N T M AY 2 0 1 5 w ww. m em p hispa re nt .com

A NEW SELF-PACED, INTERACTIVE APPROACH TO PARENT/TOT SWIM LESSONS BEGIN YOUR CHILDS WATER EDUCATION IN A FUN, NONTHREATENING ATMOSPHERE WATER TEMPERATURE 90 DEGREES YEAR AROUND CLASSES SATURDAY MORNINGS TO ENROLL, GO TO: WWW.SWIMPOOLSCHOOL.COM, CLICK ON ENROLL HERE CLASSES BEGIN MONTHLY

FOR ADDITIONAL INFO CALL: 901-386-1999

An unbaked 9” pie crust, either homemade or frozen, unbaked Zest of 3 large lemons, either grated fine or cut in strips (if you’re using a food processor) with a vegetable peeler Juice of 3 large lemons 1 1/2 cups sugar 5 eggs, at room temperature 1/3 cup unsalted butter Preheat oven to 325. If your eggs are cold, place them in a bowl of hot tap water to get them to room temperature quickly. Melt butter in the microwave using a glass measuring cup, or melt it on the stove. Place the pie crust on a baking sheet lined with tinfoil.

Food processor method

Place strips of lemon peel and sugar in food processor and run it till the zest is fine and blended with the sugar. Blend in juice, adding eggs one at a time. Finally, with the machine running, pour melted butter through the tube and process till entirely blended.

Conventional method

In a large bowl (with a pouring spout, if you have one), whisk together finely grated lemon zest and sugar till all the sugar looks lemony-yellow. Whisk in juice, then beat in eggs one at a time. Add butter in a thin stream, beating it in all the while, till entirely blended. Pour filling into crust and bake 45 minutes, till the filling is set but still slightly jiggly and the top has a bit of golden-brown coloring. Allow it to cool to room temp before serving. Sliced strawberries and whipped cream go nicely on top.

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Speech Therapy Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Developmental Therapy Summer Camps Available www.brightsong.net ph: (901) 309-3077 Dentistry for ChilDren Betsy Barcroft, DDs, Ms Pediatric Dentist

EARLY YEARS

Being the Best at Something I n the end, p rac tic e is key By Matthew Timberlake for the Urban Child Institute

s much we want our kids to be absolute aces at the activities they attempt, the reality is no one can be top dog at everything. Similarly, no single child can fill all the roles in a family. True excellence, at anything, is darn tough to achieve.

PRAISE EFFORT OVER OUTCOME

Your kid is one smart cookie. But before you start filling out Ivy League applications while she’s still in diapers, let us remind you: human beings are smart; especially in the very early years of life when the brain is thundering with activity. Young children constantly watch, listen, and respond to what is happening around them. They often even amaze us with their wise observations. As parents, we need to provide support for our children’s interests, but not be false in our praise. When your daughter graduates from high school, she likely won’t be the valedictorian and captain of the soccer team, lead in the spring musical, and editor of the school paper. But with effort, she might hone some of those talents, which may have an impact on the life path she takes. Praise your children for the effort they put into their true interests. By guiding them to new experiences and activities, they can sample life’s offerings until they find those roles that fit. When they discover a skill they show both an interest in and aptitude for, let them know you’ve noticed. Remind them they aren’t doing it well because of some natural awesomeness they were born with, but because they enjoy it enough to give it their full attention, keeping at it until they get it right.

THE BEST AT EVERYTHING 6425 N Quail Hollow RD Suite #101 MeMPHiS, tN 38120 901.682.8491 baby-Dentist@ComCast.net

The Racquet Club of Memphis

SPTC

summer performance

training center

TENNIS training program

W hen y our c hild disc overs a skill he shows an interest in and ap titude for, let him know y ou’ ve notic ed.

May 26 - August 6 Mention this ad and your first week is on us!

for more info.. contact the Racquet Club Tennis Office

901.765.4458

tennis.office@racquetclubofmemphis.com

racquetclubjunioracademy.com

M E M P H I S PA R E N T M AY 2 0 1 5 w ww. m em p hispa re nt .com

11 Week

When your child sees a violinist performing, she finds a pair of objects to simulate a fiddle and bow, and mimics the movements of the musician. It’s cute, but also gets the parent thinking about aptitude and inherent talent. This kind of pretend play can be a useful cue to parents that it’s time to find an instructor and begin lessons. Perhaps you’re dealing with a philharmonic first chair in development, but chances are your child is beginning a phase in which they will learn some music theory, perform a few recitals, and potentially take their playing into middle or high school. And that’s commendable. Learning music, like gaining a language or mastering a sport, is good brain food. It enables your child to see and think about ideas in new ways. It shows them that achievement is directly related to practice, especially when you’re there congratulating her on how well she sticks to practice, and how she’s steadily improved over the years. At home, similar rules apply. A younger sibling might aspire to be the family swimming champ, just like her brother, but just can’t master the butterfly stroke. The instinct is often to praise her, and tell her she’s almost there. Instead, it might benefit her to be reminded of other things she does well. Maybe she’s the family caretaker, always comforting those in need, or the family chef who makes a great egg salad. Taking cues from our children is key. When they find an interest, help them apply themselves to developing a skill and encourage their perseverance. Let them know they don’t have to be the best at everything to be happy, but they must put in the work to excel at what they love. MP

C reative way s to sp read the news

Fav editing tool: Adobe video editing Fav Apps: Word Swag. Cool type you place over your photos for one-ofa-kind images • Wordswag.co

Courtney Kassner and husband, Will, are expecting baby number two in June. For her social media announcement, Courtney wanted “something people hadn’t seen before.” So she created this photo of Crew (18 months) going old school, whispering to baby brother through a tin can phone. Fav Apps: AfterLight • This photo editing app gives you interesting filters, vintage borders, and other great ways to edit your images • afterlight.us OBaby • Artwork, doodles, announcements for pregnancy, first steps, and more associated with baby • ohbabyapp.com

apply now.

www.cmdsmemphis.org 901.261.2157

devotion to

St uf f We Like

STORAGE SOLUTION Organize your paperwork with Baby Briefcase With babies comes birth certificates, growth charts, medication information, check-up forms, vaccination records, photos, the paperwork is endless. That’s why we like Baby Briefcase. You need one handy place to store records for your children and this makes it easy. From the sturdy, seethrough case to premade labels, your organization starts here. Just remember where you put it. • $29.95 • Available at Cotton Tails or babybriefcase.com

ROAD MAP Pick up Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting Tips Aimed at parenting during the early years, you’ll find lots of useful information and ideas in Zero to Five. Chock full of inviting family photos that help illustrate each section, author Tracy Cutchlow organizes chapters around action words like Prepare, Talk, Connect, Discipline, and Slow Down. The book offers solid advice on how to get enough sleep (for you and baby), the importance of speaking to your child, fun ways to bond, play, and discipline. We like that she offers ways you can follow up on ideas. Here’s a nugget: “It’s hard to see your baby unhappy. But if you solve every problem for her, she can’t learn how to solve problems herself.” We hope this book might help solve some of yours. • $19.95 on Amazon.com

expression

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Lyssa Zimmerman is expecting her fifth baby in September, so she wanted an announcement that incorporated her children ages 2, 5, 7, and 9. She took a snap of each of her four children and made a fun video. But she selected this for her announcement. “I thought Jake, my youngest, was sweetest, because of his cute little hand.”

EARLY YEARS

Announce Your Baby Bump

CALENDAR

Happenings in May Memphis-area activities and events for families

BY MEENA VISWANATHAN

1 · Friday

Food Truck Fridays. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Fridays from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Enjoy lunch on the Dixon grounds. Docent led tram tours, too. 10 a.m.noon. Prices vary. 761-5250. Movie Night at Carriage Crossing. Carriage Crossing Mall in Collierville. Movies begin at dusk on alternate Fridays at Central Park. May 1: Planes Fire & Rescue. May 15: Dolphin Tale 2. May 29: Up. Free. 854-8240.

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2 · Saturday

Lettuce Toss It Up. Memphis Farmers Market. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Meets on Saturday with different activities each week. May 9: Sweet on Mom. May 16: Strawberry Fields Forever. May 23: Patriotic Picnic. May 30: Blooming with Flower Power. Free. For details, go to memphisfarmersmarket.org The Mid-South Baby and Kids Expo. The Agricenter International. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Familyfriendly festival offers informative activities for adults and kids. $5/adult. Free under 12. • midsouthbabyandkidsexpo.com

Song & Dance: A Tap Tribute to Great Voices at Evergreen Theatre

Family Studio. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Drop in at the Dixon to create works of art, open-studio style. Free. 761-5250. Repertory Movie Series. Pink Palace Museum. Saturdays at 4 p.m. Also showing on Memorial Day, May 25, at 4 p.m. Catch Little Mermaid in 2D at the IMAX theatre. $9/ adult. $7/child ages 3-12. • memphismuseums.org/ cti_3d-events_programs/

and resources available in the Hickory Hill community. Event includes door prizes. Free. For information and vendor registration, contact Twana Whitlock at 323-3600 x22. Whet Thursday. Metal Museum. 5:30-8 p.m. Enjoy the museum after hours for free. Participate in the foundry class, explore galleries, listen to live music, and enjoy food truck refreshments. Hands-on activity: stamped washer bottle openers. Free admission. Fee for hands-on activity: TBD. 774-6380.

5 · Tuesday

Mini Masters. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Tuesdays from 10:30-11:15 a.m. Parent-child workshop for toddlers features story time, art activity, and snack. $8/child. Call 761-5250 to pre-register and pre-pay by noon the day before class.

7 · Thursday

40th Annual Fair on the Square. Collierville Historic Town Square. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Also on Sunday, from noon until 5 p.m. Features children’s area with games and rides, live music, arts & crafts vendors, and food. Free. For details, visit Fair on the Square on Facebook.

Family Reading Boot Camp. Seabrook Hall at Christ United Methodist Church. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Literacy Mid-South and the Assisi Foundation present this camp featuring Bethany Tucker. Tucker Signs is a multisensory literacy approach that works with kids and adults who struggle with reading. Free. Registration required. Contact: Kayla Brooks, 201-6036.

Touch-A-Truck. Germantown Community Library. 10 a.m. until noon. Kids get behind the wheel of their favorite vehicle to touch, climb, and snap pictures. Free. 757-7323.

Community Resource Fair - #iConnect. Hickory Ridge Towne Centre. 4-7 p.m. Fair addresses the needs of parents and students providing families with educational support, extracurricular activities

8 · Friday

Shelby County Schools’ 6th Annual ArtsFest. Colonial Middle School. Two performances, 10 a.m.1:30 p.m. & 4-8:30 p.m. Features student works of visual art and live performances in theatre, dance, band, choir, and orchestra. Free. 416-5300. 57th Annual Greek Festival. The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Also on Saturday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Festivities include music by Kosta Kostanis and his band, dance by Athenian Dance Troupe, marketplace, food, and sanctuary tours. $3/ adult. $1/child ages 6-11. Donate 3 cans of food for free admission or receive $1 off ticket price for every can donation. Benefits the Mid-South Food Bank. • memphisgreekfestival.com

May Calendar Girl’s Night Out. Children’s Museum of Memphis (CMOM). 6-9 p.m. Mrs. Sew and Sew helps design and sew eight scarves, Erika Hill of Fusion Fitness challenges girls to stay healthy and fit, Sewing into Dreams presents a fashion show, and more. $25/ person. 458-2678 x221

2015 Memphis in May Triathlon Sports Festival

Kids Night Out. Co-Motion Studio. 6:30-10 p.m. Bring children ages 7 and up for an evening of hula hooping, dodging obstacles playing parkour, eating pizza, and have fun. $25. Advance discounts available. 316-7733.

Baby Day. Memphis Zoo. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Celebrate Baby Day by learning about the zoo’s newest babies and watching presentations featuring the zoo’s youngest stars. Free with admission. 333-6500. Mother’s Day Storytime. Wolfchase Barnes & Noble. 11-11:45 a.m. Celebrate Mother’s Day with Mom School and How to Babysit a Grandma stories. Free. 386-2468. Mother’s Day Art. CMOM. 11 a.m. Make a picture frame for Mother’s Day. Free with admission. 458-2678 Family Tunes & Tales. At area libraries including Central, Bartlett, Cordova, Germantown, and Collierville. 11 a.m.-noon. Join the musical families of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra as they present a story set to music. Free. 537-2500. Symphony in the Gardens: Big Band Music. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Gates open at 4 p.m. Concert from 6-8 p.m. Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy an evening of big band music by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Rain date: May 10. $20/adult. $5/child. 761-5250

10 · Sunday

Mother’s Day Brunch at the Garden. MBG. 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.. Treat mom to an unforgettable experience in the Japanese garden featuring a gourmet buffet, live music, children’s crafts, carriage rides, and outdoor fun. MKX Photography will be on-hand for family portrait sittings at a nominal fee. $55/adult. $10/child ages 2-12. Call 6364131 to confirm by phone.

11 · Monday

High School Musical Theatre Awards. The Orpheum. 7 p.m. The 6th annual award ceremony, part of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards program, recognizes achievement in all areas of high school musical theatre. $15-$35. Call 525-3000.

12 · Tuesday

Food Truck Garden Party. MBG. 5-8 p.m. Join for dinner al fresco featuring live music by Josh and Jeremy of Star and Micey, local food trucks, and the new Memphis Parent Play Zone with themed activities each month. $10/person. 636-4100.

15 · Friday

2015 Memphis in May (MIM) Triathlon Sports Festival. Orgill Park (9080 Bethuel Rd., Millington 38053). Kicks off with the Sports Expo on Friday, May 15, from 3-7 p.m. and on Saturday, May 16, from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Also on Saturday: MIM Sprint Triathlon, which includes 1/3 mile swim, 12-mile bike ride, and 3-mile run, beginning at 8 a.m. On Sunday, May 17: MIM Olympic Triathlon race with a 1.5K swim at Casper Lake, 40K bike in Orgill Park, and 10K run around the park. Race begins at 7 a.m. Register online or on site at the Sports Expo. • memphisinmay.racesonline.com

16 · Saturday

Kids Fishing Rodeo. Catch’Em Lake at The Agricenter. 7 a.m. until noon. The Agricenter hosts the Kids Spring Fishing Rodeo. This is a catfish rodeo and participants keep what they catch. $10/ person. 757-7777. Buggin’ Out Discovery Days. Lichterman Nature Center. 9 a.m. until noon. Perfect for families and scouts. Participants learn about arthropods, visit activity stations, and explore invertebrates. $6.50 per child/scout. $3.50 per adult/chaperone. 636-2211. 28th Annual Dance Scholars Inc. Open House Performance. Trinity Educational Center. 3-4:15 p.m. Performance features dancers with local musicians Lisa Goble, Tony Thomas, Diana Stein, and Gary Kabakoff. $12/adult. $10/child. Advance discounts available. Group discounts available until May 11. Reservations. 301-3262.

17 · Sunday

Costume Character Storytime: Skippyjon Jones. Wolfchase Barnes & Noble. 3-3:30 p.m. Meet Skippyjon Jones and read the first book in his series, then create a craft. Free. 386-2468. KIDZ BOP: Make Some Noise Tour. Minglewood Hall. 8-9:30 p.m. The KIDZ BOP Kids will take the stage to perform family-friendly versions of today’s biggest hits in this energetic and interactive live show. $20-$50. For details, go to kidzbop.com

22 · Friday

National Missing and Exploited Children’s Day. CMOM. 2-4 p.m. CMOM partners with The Commission of Missing and Exploited Children (COMEC) to share information on keeping children safe. Meet McGruff the Crime Dog, firefighters, and police officers as you explore a fire truck and police motorcycles. Also take part in arts & crafts activities, make a picture frame, get a fingerprint kit, and have your face painted. Free with admission. 458-2678.

High Musical Theatre Awards The Memphis Children’s Theatre Festival. The McCoy Theatre at Rhodes College. 6-9 p.m. Also on Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Features a dozen different performances by local theatre groups, workshops, street performances, and arts activities. Pay what you can. 726-0800.

23 · Saturday

International Blacksmiths’ Day. Metal Museum. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Metal Museum celebrates blacksmiths everywhere with free admission and forging demos throughout the day. Free. 774-6380.

28 · Thursday

Memphis Italian Festival 2015. Marquette Park. May 28-30. Festivities include Luigi’s Café, Luigi’s Market, Luigi’s 5K, cooking demos, Spaghetti Gravy contest, bocce ball and cornhole tournaments, grape stomping, live music, arts & crafts. Admission: $5/ Thursday, $8/Friday & Saturday. • memphisitalianfestival.com

29 · Friday

Fairy Party. MBG. 6-8 p.m. Explore this year’s Idea Garden: Fairies, Gnomes, and Hobbit Homes in My Big Backyard. Build fairy houses and gnome homes at Gnome Depot, play gnome games, and enjoy a dance by Garden fairies. $15/person. 636-4100.

30 · Saturday

How-To Fest. Germantown Community Library. 1-4 p.m. Do-It-Yourself enthusiasts are invited to come watch experts demonstrate dozens of topics — from raising backyard chickens to woodworking and more. Free. 757-7323. Spring 2015 River Series Concert. Harbor Town Amphitheater. 6 p.m. Memphians can hear musical acts and enjoy springtime on the Mississippi. Bluegrass duo Eric Lewis and Andy Ratliff perform with Caleb Sweazy on May 30. Minimum donation: $5. Benefits Maria Montessori School. For details, go to bit.ly/RiverSeries Frog Chorus Walk. Bateman Road Bridge in Moscow. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Join us for our annual Frog Chorus Walk along the Mineral Slough Boardwalk in Ghost River State Natural Area. This two-hour event introduces families to more than seven species of frogs and other amphibians you’ll find in our wetlands. Free. 452-6500.

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Dog A Roo. Outback Off-Leash Dog Park at Shelby Farms Park. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. This paw-some festival includes talent+costume contest, rescue parades, the fourlegged 4K Fun Run, information sessions, and vendors. Free. Parking: $5/car. 222-7267.

9 · Saturday

Ongoing Events Chris Nemec

Homework Help. Parkway Village Branch Library. On Mondays & Tuesdays (except Memorial Day) from 4-6 p.m. Staff members assist with homework. Call 415-2776 to register. ACT Prep. Parkway Village Branch Library. On Wednesdays & Thursdays from 2:30-4 p.m. Staff member helps teens with homework and ACT prep. Free. Call 415-2776 to register. Kaleidoscope Club. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m. At this after school program, children ages 5 to 9 are invited to work on a creative project that involves horticulture, art, or literature. $12. Snack provided. Call 7615250 to

Museums and Exhibits

Dixon Gallery and Gardens. “Jun Kaneko.” May 28-November 1. This outdoor exhibition features large monolithic sculptures of Jun Kaneko that are colorful, approachable, and visually interactive. 7615250. Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement. Through May 10. 544-6200. Memphis Zoo. Memphis Zoo Takes Flight. Through October 31. Show times during the week: 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Show times during weekends and holidays: 10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. 3336500. CTI 3D Giant Theater. Humpback Whales 3D. Through November 13. Hidden Universe 3D. Through November 13. 636-2362. Sharpe Planetarium. Wonders of the Universe. Through June 15. A flat screen tour through the current night skies offered in the Mansion Theater or the Discovery Theater. 636-2362.

Other Programs

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Mallory-Neely House Tour. Mallory-Neely House, 652 Adams Avenue. Fridays & Saturdays, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $7/adult. $5/child (ages 3-12). 523-1484. Magevney House Tour. Magevney House, 198 Adams Avenue. Saturday, May 2, from 1-4 p.m. Free. 523-1484.

Classes & Workshops

Open Studio. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Fridays from 4-5 p.m. Ages 15 and up. Bring your sketchbook and get advice from an art instructor on how to advance your skills. Free with admission. 761-5250. Whistle While You Work. Shelby Farms Park. Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. until noon. Volunteer program for ages 16 and up directed at keeping the park beautiful through various outdoor projects. For details, go to shelbyfarmspark/volunteer Yoga Sessions Begin. Delta Groove Yoga. Classes offered include Mommy & Me Yoga, Kids Yoga, Yoga for Growing Kids, and Prenatal Yoga. For details, go to deltagrooveyoga.com or call 207-7835.

Children’s Greenline Garden Workshop register. Children’s Greenline Garden Workshop. Greenline Garden’s Learning Arbor at Shelby Farms Park. Saturday, May 9, from 10-11 a.m. A program designed for children in grades 1-6 help them cultivate new skills and learn about all the great natural resources found in the park. $5/person. RSVP to Carol O’Connor at 222-7265. Children’s Workshop: Garden Wind Chimes. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Saturday, May 16, from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Children ages 7-11 enjoy an interactive garden walk, exploring the sounds of nature and finding materials to make unique wind chimes. $20. Snacks provided. Call 761-5250 to register.

Homeschool Classes

Homeschool Days: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Memphis Botanic Garden. Wednesday, May 27, from 2-3:30 p.m. Ages 5 and up. Learn all about natural resources and make a handmade paper creation. $5/child. Garden admission not included. Call 636-4100 to pre-register and pre-pay.

Fundraisers

“A Broadway Pops with Chris and Friends” – Piano stylings of Chris Nemec. Lindenwood Christian Church. Sunday, May 3, at 6 p.m. Join singer-pianist Chris Nemec and the Lindenwood Chancel Choir, orchestra, and soloists, as they perform favorites from the American songbook. $15. Golden Circle reserved seats: $50. Benefits the Church Health Center. 458-1652. GPAC Gala: “Give My Regards to Broadway.” Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC). Saturday, May 16. Features live music, gourmet dining, live and silent auction. For details, contact Denis Hirsh at 751-7505.

Zoom Through the Zoo. Memphis Zoo. Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. Join for annual 4-mile race and 1-mile fun run following the course through the zoo and Overton Park. Pre-registration through May 20: $25/4-miler. $20/1-mile fun run. Race Day Registration: $30/4-miler. $25/1-mile fun run. Register online at racesonline.com or call 333-6500.

Theatre Performances

Lagbaja. Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s School. Friday, May 8, at 8 p.m. Nigeria’s Lagbaja, hailed as one of Afro-Worldbeat music’s talented artists, comes to entertain with his one-of-a-kind stage attire representing the “common man.” $25/adult. $20/child. 537-1483. “Song & Dance: A Tap Tribute to Great Voices.” Evergreen Theatre. May 8 & 9 at 8 p.m. May 10, at 2 p.m. Join Memphis’ premier tap dance company Hot Foot Honeys as they pay tribute to great vocalists and performers who have influenced 75 years of music, dance, and culture. Guest artists Artistik Approach and Deneka Lewis also entertain, putting a new twist on classic songs. $20/adult. $5/child ages 10 and under. Mother’s Day Matinee Special: $30 for two adult tickets. Advance discounts available. Reservations. 212-1332. GSO: Classical Concert – Elijah. GPAC. Saturday, May 9, at 7 p.m. The concert features performances by GSO, Germantown Chorus, Oxford Civic Chorus, and soloists including soprano Jennifer Robinson, mezzosoprano Angela Horn-Barrett, tenor Jos Milton, baritone Bradley Robinson and others. $12/person. 751-7500. Project : Motion presents Bloodlines + Bylines

Backstreet Boys: Show’em What You’re Made Of. Malco Paradiso. Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. A behindthe-scenes look at the popular boy band, Backstreet Boys. $13.50/person. 761-3480. Project: Motion presents Bloodlines + Bylines: Excavating Familial Stories from Memphis. Evergreen Theatre. May 15 & 16, at 8 p.m. May 17, at 2 p.m. Premieres original choreography based on stories from Bethany Wells Bak, Rebecca Cochran, Emily Hefley, Louisa Koeppel, and Wayne M. Smith. $15/adult. $12/child. 214-LEAP. Kinky Boots. The Orpheum. May 19-24. This Broadway hit is a musical celebration of the friendships we discover, along with the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind. Tickets start at $20. Reservations. 525-3000. Jerry Seinfeld. The Orpheum. Friday, May 29, at 7 p.m. America’s premier comedian brings in his signature stand-up routine to Memphis. $67.50-$125. Reservations. 525-3000.

Story Time at Area Bookstores

Barnes & Noble Booksellers The Avenue Carriage Crossing Mall, 853-3264 Mondays at 11 a.m. Ages 1-6. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 2774 N. Germantown Pkwy. 386-2468 Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Ages Pre K-6.

Ongoing Events For a complete listing of library events, stop by your local branch and pick up “Infodates,” the library’s monthly calendar, or go to memphislibrary.org.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Discuss It Together! Thursday, May 14, from 7-7:30 p.m. Readers are invited to discuss the classic novel in anticipation of the July release of Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman. Free. RSVP to crm2822@bn.com The Booksellers at Laurelwood 387 Perkins Rd. Ext. 683-9801 Story time with Miss Marjorie every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Germantown Community Library Events For a complete listing, visit facebook.com/ GermantownCommunityLibrary.

Teen Tutor Night. Thursday, May 7, from 5-8:30 p.m. Come study at the library and get help from peers. Free. Exams Are Over! Party. Saturday, May 23, from 3-5:30 p.m. Recycle and make crafts out of old homework, enjoy food and cake. Free.

Central 3030 Poplar Ave., 415-2700 · Read with Me, Sign with Me. Saturday, May 2, from 11 a.m. until noon. Family story time for deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing families in collaboration with Literacy Mid-South and Deaf Family Literacy Mid-South. · PAWS for Reading. Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. Program allows children to read to a therapy dog in order to improve reading and communication skills. · Junior Achievement Teen Program. On select Tuesdays (May 5 & 12) from 4-6 p.m. Local professionals guide high school students with realworld corporate experience helping develop skills necessary for school and in the workplace. Cordova 8457 Trinity Road 754-8443 · Pretty as a Picture - Celebrating Mother’s Day. Saturday, May 2, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. · International Story Time: Celebrating Russia. Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. · Teen Award Day. Thursday, May 21, from 3-5 p.m. Teens display academic awards explaining related why, how, and who questions. East Shelby 7200 E. Shelby Drive 751-7360

· Children’s Story Time: A Few of My Favorite Things. Saturday, May 9, from 1-3 p.m. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority presents this story time for children ages 3-11. Frayser 3712 Argonne 357-4115 · Teen Program: Create Mother’s Day Cards with Blackout Poetry. Saturday, May 9, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Randolph 3752 Given 452-1068 · Teen Cooking. Tuesday, May 19, from 4-5 p.m. Learn how to prepare simple meals and side dishes from teen librarians Carolina and Jasmine. · Tween Craft: Make Friendship Bracelets. Thursday, May 21, from 4-5 p.m. South 1929 S. Third 946-8518 · Dress for Success. Saturday, May 30, from noon-2 p.m. Teens learn interview techniques and how to look and act the part when applying for a job. Call 415-2780 to register. Whitehaven 4120 N. Mill Branch Road 396-9700 · Teen Tech Mondays. On select Mondays (May 4, 11, & 18) from 2:30-4 p.m. · Digital Story Times. On select Wednesdays (May 6, 13, & 27) from 4:15-5 p.m. Program combines high interest, technology literacy-building programs with traditional storytelling programs to promote a love of reading and a familiarity with the newest technology.

A: We are not going to take any of the fun away from you! In fact, we’ll be there to offer suggestions and recommendations based on our personal travel experiences. Our tips will save you valuable time before and during your trip, and will help you discover the travel diamonds in the rough. Feel free to research and plan all you like - just be sure to book with Travelennium to ensure that you are getting the right fit and what you are expecting.

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Memphis Library Events

Jerry Seinfeld

Our Favorite Moments

KID FUNNIES

Gus, after telling me a long and involved story about the Easter bunny: “All my stories belong to me, and all my stories are my friends.” ~ Thanks to Greg The kids were all lined up and ready to go play outside. Before we left the classroom I said, “Raise your hand if you promise to be quiet in the hallway.” Everyone except for Lucas (5) raised their hands. “Why didn’t you raise your hand, Lucas?” I asked. “Aren’t you going to be quiet?” “I can’t be quiet,” he replied. “I’m just a loud person.” ~ Thanks to Melody

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Shrey Shaarvi (1 (4) and ) discove the beac r ha Perdido t Key.

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Morgan (2 ) finds spring flo joy in a wer.

Victoria (3) strikes a pose in her pageant finest.

Scarlett, celebrating her very Frozen 5th birthday.

Your Child Should Be Here! Send us your kid funnies, photos, or artwork

via email with Favorite Moments in subject line to janes@memphisparent. com.

Friends let friends be silly, say Sam (5) and Bays (3)

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VAC AT I O N

Dancing also qualifies as physical therapy. Understanding that matters.

At Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, we often see children when they’re feeling their worst. Our experts understand the challenges of caring for kids and encouraging them to take steps designed to help them feel better. Many times, all that’s required is a playful imagination on their part – and ours. We’re completely dedicated to caring for kids. As one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals according to U.S. News & World Report, we know that if something matters to a child, it matters to us.

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