Giggle Magazine April/May 2014

PUBLISHER

ART DIRECTOR

MANAGING EDITOR

SALES ASSOCIATES

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Nicole Irving

Allison Raber

Dana Kamp

Mark Chestnut, April Tisher

Sayeh Farah

Delia Albert, Michelle Bowers, Selena

Garrison, Nicole Germany, Kelly

Goede, Tara Griffin, Allen Haynes, Jen Hillan, Nicole Irving, Dana

Kamp, Lisa Katz, Burt Kempner, Helen Kornblum, Dr. Dawn Lozano Martin, Danielle Michels, Olivia Pitkethly, Haley Ponnock, April Tisher, Leslie

Vega, Dr. Miranda Whitmer

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shandon Smith with Lifeprints

Photography, Patricia Bishop

Photography, Verve Studio

INTERNS

Delia Albert, Nicole Germany, Carly Juve, Meg Konigsburg, Haley Ponnock

Mission Statement

Giggle Magazine is a modern and refreshing magazine for the families and communities of Alachua County, Florida. With our sole purpose of keeping families and communities connected, Giggle Magazine will keep readers intrigued, informed and inspired, with up to date information and heartwarming stories.

Irving Publications, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Irving Publications, LLC is not responsible for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Nothing that appears in Giggle Magazine may be reproduced in any way, without written permission. Opinions expressed by Giggle Magazine writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion. Giggle Magazine will consider all never before published outside editorial submissions. Irving Publications, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates.

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Giggle Magazine is a registered trademark property of Irving Publications, LLC. All rights reserved.

Giggle Magazine is published by Irving Publications, LLC. © 2014

from the publisher

When Giggle Magazine was launched out of my son’s nursery in 2009, I could never have imagined being where we are today. Of course I hoped it would be a success, but as a young mom suffering from sleep exhaustion who had an idea to create a magazine one day, a 5-year anniversary issue seemed so far away. And yet, here it is. In the blink of an eye, there are five candles on the cake.

I created Giggle Magazine to inspire parents to be the best parents they could be in their community. Parenting is a difficult, dirty, exhausting, nerve-tingling, heartwarming and never-ending job. Being a parent is wearing your heart outside of your body and watching it as though it is a ticking time bomb…protecting it with everything you have. Giggle Magazine was created to be your partner in this journey and I thank you for welcoming us into your world.

For each one of my children’s 5th birthdays, I went all out. For good reason, of course. They turned a whole hand! And nothing would be different for my other “baby.” Giggle Magazine is officially 5 years old and we put our heart and soul into this anniversary issue…just for you!

It was so much fun looking back at the 31 issues of Giggle goodness! So many amazing articles, lovely families, adorable cuties and wonderful memories. And because of that, we are so excited for the future!

Thank you for your heartfelt love and support these last five years. We are so honored to be a part of this community and your lives.

When Giggle Magazine first launched, I was the mother to a 4-, 3- and 1-year-old. Now those little boys are 9, 8 and 6. Gone are the diaper changes in between drafts, bottles in between meetings and endless pacifiers mixed with paper clips.

Nicole Irving, Publisher nicole@irvingpublications.com

Today, those three little muses who inspired me to create Giggle Magazine have grown up. They are independent, spunky, smart and energetic young men who now know how to read, write, send text messages and outsmart me daily. Giggle Magazine is not only a part of my life, but a huge part of theirs. They have grown up in the pages and will continue to inspire me as they move through their lives, with new obstacles, challenges and inspirations.

This issue is dedicated to those young men who have given me the honor of being their mother…

Irving Family photo by Lifeprints Photography. Irving Boys photo by Verve Studio. Cake photo by Giggle Magazine.

Picture your child’s perfect, healthy smile!

We specialize in orthodontics for children, teens and adults utilizing state-of-the-art technology to create healthy, beautiful smiles that will last a lifetime.

Dr. Reid W. Montini attended Florida State University for his undergraduate studies, received his dental degree from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and completed his residency in orthodontics at the University of Florida. Dr. Montini is an active member of numerous professional organizations and is dedicated to staying current with the latest advances in orthodontic treatment and technology.

Reid W. Montini

DMD, MS, PA

The Banks Carroll Group is dedicated to thoroughly understanding your financial needs and then aligning them with the resources to meet or exceed them. With each of them having over 22 years of experience in financial services, they offer a wealth of knowledge to help build and protect your wealth whatever stage of life you are in.

They also have additional experience and specialize in divorce-related financial matters as Certified Divorce Financial Analysts™ (CDFA™). Their combined experience in financial planning and investment management allow them to assist divorcees through this emotional and stressful time. They help identify assets and liabilities when completing financial affidavits, structure settlement options, set budgets, and perform income projections to be sure that the client knows what their financial future will be. To this end, they work with numerous divorce attorneys, insurance specialists, valuation specialists and CPA’s in an effort to make the process as seamless as possible while getting the best results. Their end goal is to give anyone having to go through a divorce, peace of mind.

Their business is built on trust, integrity & knowing the client.

Services

• Divorce Financial Planning and Analysis • Financial Planning

Asset Management

Estate Planning

Retirement Planning • Insurance/Long Term Care Insurance

Lending Services/Mortgages

• 529 Plans

Ashley Banks is the Producing Branch Manager of the Gainesville Florida Morgan Stanley branch. She is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. As a CFP® she has completed extensive education requirements to better understand and enhance the financial planning process. Additionally, Ashley is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA™) which specifically focuses on the financial side of divorce. These two combinations allow for her to be a complete resource for individuals needing financial direction before, during and after a divorce. Ashley is a graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Finance.

Donna Carroll is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA™). Her focus is on divorce financial strategies, retirement solutions and overall financial planning. Her passion is empowering & educating women about their financial future. The process begins with a thorough understanding of the client’s current situation and major life events and their impact. We work with the clients to develop specific strategies for income, overall budgeting and lifetime goals. This strategy results in providing the client with an asset allocation strategy that is customized to match the client’s goals and objectives. Donna’s years of experience in this industry have allowed her to witness many market cycles and how to avoid mistakes based on emotions and help clients understand their situation and better know what to expect.

They are both very involved in the Gainesville community, serving on the Board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Alachua County, members of Children’s Home Society Auxiliary Board, Women Linked In, Women’s Giving Circle, GFWC Gainesville Woman’s Club. Members of Association of Divorce Financial Planners & Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts.

life

Top 10 Veggies for Your Spring Garden

BY DANA KAMP

Spring is here! It’s time to get outside, feel the warm sunshine on your shoulders and the cool grass under your feet. It’s also a fantastic time to start that vegetable garden you’ve been thinking about since last summer. Don’t get overwhelmed by the uncertainty of how to get started. Choose one (or more) of these easy-to-grow veggies from our Garden Lifesavers list and go for it!

Cucumbers

LIFESAVERS

Working with compost and planting cucumbers 36-60 inches apart (depending on the type), will yield the best results. Planting straw mulch can help keep away the pests that like to disrupt these vegetables.

Tomatoes

Staking or caging the tomato plants will give them a sturdy place to grow, and watering thoroughly will keep them from getting thirsty as the heat rises.

Okra

In order for okra to flourish, the air temperature needs to be at least 60 degrees. Warm soil and full sunlight will also help okra blossom.

Summer Squash

Summer squash can be started inside or planted directly as seeds. As long as the squash receive plenty of moisture, they are extremely easy to grow.

Sweet Potatoes

You don’t need seeds to grow sweet potatoes, but you do need slips (shoots that grow from potatoes.) Starting slips can be as easy as washing potatoes, cutting them in half, and letting them sit in a jar of water, half-submersed. Leave them on a windowsill, and in a few weeks there will be plenty of sprouts.

Collards

Collards can grow with just four to five hours of sun, so don’t be afraid to plant them in partial light. To grow tender leaves, use fertile soil that will help them grow quickly.

Bush or Pole Beans

Starting beans inside can be detrimental to their growth – beans do not like to be transplanted! Plant seeds 1 inch deep and about 2 inches apart.

Peppers

In order to maximize plant growth, plant peppers in a soil that drains easily. They should be spaced about 12-18 inches apart.

Eggplants

Eggplants grow well in warm soil. Use shredded leaves or biodegradable material to keep moisture in the soil.

Sweet Corn

Corn requires a large growing space so using biodegradable pots can make the transition from inside pots to inside the ground easier.

Dr. Eric Simonne, the district extension director for the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Northeast Florida, said the vegetables on our list are all easy to grow.

“From experience, I'd say that the summer squash, bush beans, tomatoes and sweet potatoes are the best crops to start with,” Simonne said.

Simonne added that bush beans have large seeds and a short growing cycle, and sweet potatoes are fast growing and have few pests. He suggested starting with transplants when growing tomatoes because the seeds are small. Once they’ve started however, they will grow aggressively, he said.

There are so many benefits to having a backyard garden. Not only for nutrition and economic reasons, but having a garden also provides an enjoyable outdoor activity that benefits the whole family. 

For More Gardening Help: University of Florida’s “Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide,” is a great publication for learning more about Florida gardening. Check it out online: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021.

For more information, call the Alachua County UF/IFAS local extension office— (352) 955-2402.

Working from HomeSeparating Work Time & Family Time

BY LESLIE VEGA

Working from home has amazing perks. From changing out of my pjs just before lunchtime to listening to my favorite music without worrying about a co-worker’s preference. Sounds like anyone's dream job. But as a mommy, if I don’t do it right, it's my little ones who suffer. So I've made it my mission to find the right balance before my children find themselves at anonymous rehab meetings suffering from "My-mommy-loved-hercomputer-more-than-me!"

If my children are going to have a mommy that is truly present when they are home, my workday must be the most efficient it can be while they're gone. To stay on top of it all, I follow my own "work-at-home rules."

➜ I give myself workday time limits. Literally, every task has its time limit. If a project is taking far too long, I make myself stop and move on to the next one so I can make it through most of my to-do list that day.

I start with the small tasks and end with the big tasks. Each one is timed to fill my day efficiently. I admit, it can get kind of silly sometimes, but it works! (Shhh…I've even given myself time limits on the clock for potty breaks! I mean, I'm a woman on a mission, people: a completed list and a clear mind in the evening with my little ones!)

➜ I guard my schedule like a hawk. It may sound a little strong, but that's just how important my time is with my kids. If I use up my work time with bestie lunch dates and unnecessary meetings, I'm left overwhelmed at the end of the day with unfinished projects. The stress of that alone reflects in how I treat my children in the evening.

Guarding the time after work is key too. We make the extra-curricular activities fit our schedule and our sanity level! Sometimes we over-schedule our children. That's not only bad for them, but it wears Mommy out too! So in our home, we choose only one or two programs that allow us to get home at a decent time and still have a daily dinner and bedtime routine that the kids can expect.

PARENT-2-PARENT TIPS!

• Multi-task! Squeeze in laundry loads and crock-pot meals while you're working. This makes for more down time with the kids without chores in the way!

• Mute your computer when the kids get home. Not hearing the dings of new emails can help you ignore it all until it's work time again.

➜ Boundaries kick in as soon as the kids are home. It's inevitable that my brain will continue to run with work once the kiddos are home. So, I silence the mental chaos of to-dos by writing things down and leaving them there. Once it's written down, I can take it off my mind without worrying that I might forget it. There's so much that can wait for its allotted time. Emails and messages can wait just like they did decades ago when people didn't expect instant responses after work hours. Mind-boggling, but true! 

• Switch it up. Work late one night so you can use the next day for a mommy-child date!

We Got Away For the Weekend!

BY LISA KATZ

(KID FREE!)

Imagine going away with your spouse…just the two of you! Meaningful conversation at dinner, sleeping until you want to get up, not changing a diaper or shuttling someone to ballet class. It can happen; not always easily, but it can. After being married for sometime and then adding children to your family, it is important to refresh your relationship. And by that I mean, taking time for just the two of you.

Yes, family time is important too. My family is everything to me! I am a stay-at-home mother and am very close to my children. I know the day’s ins and outs, their schedule (better than my own at times) and how to juggle it all. It was our life plan for my husband to go to work and I would stay home with the kids and do that work. I love my “job” but sometimes, I just want some alone time with my hubby.

So, I made it happen. I approached this getaway goal just as I used to approach writing a research paper for school. It’s the who, what, where, when, why and how system.

uWHO: My husband and I decided that our first weekend away from our children should be at the place where we got married. It’s an amazing hotel in Fort Lauderdale with a revolving bar at the top of it. I picked the weekend, secured a great deal on a room, and held my breath that everything else would fall into place.

uWHAT: The trip for us was meant to be a refreshing weekend away from all the things that take focus and energy away from each other. It would also involve planning our children’s weekend. I needed to determine which activities, if any, my children had that weekend and if they could miss them. Were there any projects that would be due by the following Monday? These were definite obstacles to consider.

uWHERE: We had no trouble picking where we would go, but where would our kids be? Luckily, their grandmother was available to watch them. Side note: She

only lived 20 minutes or so from the hotel if there should there be an emergency—bonus!

uWHEN: I coordinated my children’s schedule with my husband’s schedule (he needed to get the weekend off from work). Then, when that magical weekend date was chosen, I asked my mother to see if she was available. Not too much to figure out…yeah, right!

uWHY: This was a time for my husband and I to see each other as a man and a woman and not as a mom and a dad. I know we both had a little guilt about leaving the kiddos but knew it was important, for us and for them. It is great for your kids to develop relationships with adults outside of their parents.

Shelly Birger Phillips, a mom, wife and parent coach explained, “When young people have the opportunity to develop strong bonds with people other than their parents, they become more well-rounded, better able to adapt, and they’re exposed to new ways of thinking and new ways of doing things.”

This was really a win-win situation!

uHOW: With a great deal of determination and organization, I made

that weekend happen. It was worth every bit of effort! I wrote anything I could think of down on paper. My mom had our cell phone numbers, emergency phone numbers, bedtime routines, and even some of the kids’ eating habits listed. I wrote down whatever I felt would help make the weekend smoother for both my mom and for my kids. In the end, everyone did so well!

Having a weekend for just the two of us was essentially an investment in our marriage. It was a time to recharge and to refocus our energy on each other. After the trip, I felt even more in love with my husband. Isn’t that what your children deserve—to have parents who love each other and want to be with each other? I think that is the ideal environment for happy children. Make and take the time…it’s worth it!

Lisa and her husband, Adam u

CHOREMONSTER app! parent

Make chores fun with the ChoreMonster app! Kids earn points by completing their assigned chores on time. Then they can redeem their points for rewards you choose, such as ice cream or an hour of Xbox. They can also use points to win monsters at the Monster Carnival. Kids are motivated to do their chores (and even extra chores to earn more points!) and parents enjoy a hassle-free digital chore system.

What would you do if...

your child's best friend said they were no longer friends?

"I would tell him to blink his eyes! Young friendships change daily (sometimes hourly) so I wouldn't make a big deal about it. I'd end the conversation with 'I bet your friend forgot he said it, let me know how it goes tomorrow.'"

- Yanetta Arnold, mom of two

"I guess it depends on the age. For example, if my 4-year-old son told me that his best friend didn't want to be friends I wouldn't be as concerned and would just tell him it'll change tomorrow. If my older daughter's best friend said that she didn't want to be friends that would probably be a more dramatic event. We'd have to talk about it and figure out what happened."

- Melinda DeJong, mom of two

Money Management for Kids of All Ages

BY SELENA GARRISON

Think back to your earliest memories of money. Who taught you money management skills? I distinctly remember being a child and asking my mom for something at the store. She said we didn’t have the money for whatever it was I wanted, and I said, “That’s okay, Mommy! Just write a check!” Today, it would probably sound more like, “Just use your credit card!” I didn’t understand there had to be money in the bank to write a check. After all, I was just a little kid!

Dr. Michael Gutter of the University of Florida explained that children learn about money from watching their parents and practicing money management for themselves. In addition, children who take part in regular discussions about using the family income learn how to make financial decisions of their own. Depending on the age of your child, Dr. Gutter suggested many different ways to get them involved in learning about money.

››Preschoolers learn by doing, not just talking!

• Allow them to choose among several items in the store and hand the money to the sales clerk. Now they have made a simple decision and spent money.

• Help your children understand how jobs and money work together to meet the family’s needs. For example, explain that when Daddy (and/or Mommy) goes to work, he gets paid. Then that money is used to buy food, pay for dance lessons, etc.

››Elementary-age children are beginning to understand that money is limited!

• They may want to hoard their own money, but do not mind spending yours! This is a good time to start teaching them about wise spending and saving.

• You may want to get a divided “piggy bank” with sections for saving, spending and donating. Then open a savings account for them at a local bank or credit union and have them deposit their savings. This gives them a great head start on good saving and banking habits.

››Preteens and teenagers want and need to decide how to spend their money.

• Let them create their own spending plan. Instead of “paying” them for good grades, chores well done or good behavior, give them an allowance based on the amount of money you would normally spend on their needs and have them budget it out to meet those needs. If they run out of money (and they probably will the first time around!), they will learn to budget better the next time.

• Provide plenty of practice by involving them in the family’s long-range planning, recordkeeping and credit decisions.

Providing our children with the opportunity to handle money and make (and learn from) financial mistakes while they are young will give them a great foundation in financial management, as well as the confidence they need to handle their money when they are on their own.

• Children need to learn that basic chores are just a responsibility of being a member of the family and not something they get paid to do.

• Instead of linking allowance to chores, give a basic allowance based on the child’s spending responsibilities. (This is money that you would normally spend on them anyway – lunch money, entertainment money, etc.)

• Then, if your child would like to supplement their regular allowance, allow them to do extra chores to save money for more costly goals (special trips, expensive shoes, a new iPod, etc.).

• This not only teaches children that chores are just a fact of life, but it also allows them to learn to budget their money.

"Should I link my child's allowance to chores?"

life

Favorite vacation: Getting away to the beach is a favorite family vacation. We go to Flagler Beach and St. Augustine regularly in the summers. This year, we are also planning a winter ski vacation.

The Ladkani Family

Occupation(s): Rob is an electrical engineer for Altavian and an adjunct professor of engineering technology at Central Florida College in Ocala. Prentiss is a stay-at-home mom, violinist, owner of Strings for Things and teacher for Tonewood Family Music, Inc.

Favorite meal: Our favorite meal is homemade pizza. We get a bunch of toppings and everyone makes their own personal pizza. Spinach and pepperoni is a favorite combination.

Favorite restaurant: Our girls always request Chuy's when we go out to eat.

Favorite date spot: Date nights are rare, but when they happen, we usually end up downtown for dinner and socializing.

Movie in our DVD player right now: It has been alternating between “Hercules” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

Our family is most like: A whirlwind! With three young kids running around, there is not much quiet time around our home. We wouldn’t have it any other way!

Pets: We have two dogs, a schnauzer named Benni and a schnauzer mix named Buster.

Both are rescue dogs. Prentiss adopted Benni from Texas while she was at UT Austin for grad school and we added Buster to our family right before we got married seven years ago.

The kids’ favorite books: The Skippyjon Jones series by Judy Schachner. The girls love it when we read them and use silly accents.

Mommy and Daddy’s favorite TV shows: “The Walking Dead,” “Parenthood,” and “Archer.”

Websites we love: Amazon and Google. We love Amazon Prime and Subscribe and Save. Google does everything from keeping track of our schedules, pictures and documents to answering curious questions.

Favorite family sports/activities: We live in Turkey Creek and love to walk and bike around our neighborhood. When the weather is nice, you can find us out on Lake Santa Fe or at the beach.

Favorite sports to watch: Gator sports, especially Gator football! Our girls were very interested in the Winter Olympics, so we found ourselves watching a lot of ice skating.

What makes my kids laugh: Potty humor!

Why we love living in Gainesville: Gainesville is such a great place to raise a family. Both of us grew up in the area with Prentiss’ family here in Gainesville and Rob’s family in Crystal River and Ocala. We love spending time with our siblings and their families, watching the little cousins play together. There are so many things to do that are so close—water sports, hunting, fishing, theme parks—all within two hours of driving.

Favorite day trip: Heading out to Lake Santa Fe for a day on the water.

First word you think of when we say “family”: Home.

Favorite picnic spot: Anywhere we lay down our picnic blanket.

Must-have item: A minivan.

Three words that describe our family: Creative, Thankful, Loving. 

{ Prentiss, Robert (Rob), Salma (4), Carmen (2), and Dennis (6 months)}

PHOTOS BY PATRICIA BISHOP PHOTOGRAPHY ON LOCATION AT KANAPAHA BOTANICAL GARDENS

Gainesville is such a great place to raise a family... We love spending time with our siblings and their families, watching the little cousins play together.

Life Lessons From Our Grandparents

BY LISA KATZ

We all say we want to live life to the fullest. We want to grow old gracefully and be healthy for as long as we can. Still, there is more to growing old than looking "less old." Our grandparents’ generation lived a simpler way and, perhaps, it may have been the wisest generation of all. Here are a few lessons I learned about life from both my grandparents and my husband’s grandparents.

• Don’t worry so much about your future because you will miss out on all of the wonderful things going around you in the present day. It’s fine to look forward to what’s ahead and to save for a rainy day, but it’s just as important to throw a party and make a great memory.

• Be grateful for the people in your life. Do not take those you love or who love you for granted.

• Take care of your body. Your body is the only one you get, so treat it wisely. That means eating well (not too much junk food) and engaging in some form of exercise.

• Enjoy the ease of technology but realize that it can backfire on you as well. Sites like WebMD.com hold a great deal of information but that doesn’t mean you should self-diagnose. While Facebook and even Instagram are used to reconnect with old friends or show off your newest hairstyle, there is no need

to overexpose yourself or your every thought. Sometimes it’s nice to have someone get to know you in person.

• Writing thank you notes will never go out of style. Taking that extra step to personalize a note shows that you truly appreciate someone’s gesture. This holds true for gifts received or even expressing gratitude to the hostess of a dinner party.

• Be accountable for your own actions. While you may not be entirely responsible for all the things that happen to you, you are responsible for how you react to them.

• If a relationship has to be a secret then you shouldn’t be in it. This also holds true for friendships.

• Be a leader not a follower. Show everyone you are confident in yourself and in your choices. Being a leader also allows you to live your life without regrets.

• Marriage is a wonderful thing. Do it right the first time, if possible. Falling in

love with someone may ultimately bring you together, but creating a trusting, longlasting friendship will keep you together. That friendship will help you endure all of the ups and downs that may fall in your life’s path.

• Be the person you want to meet. Be that person who smiles often, who laughs at silly things, who has a positive outlook on life and who is fun to be around. Those people typically attract the same kind of people into their lives. It’s a win-win.

• You are responsible for your own happiness. Life may be unfair occasionally. Even so, you cannot blame anyone else or any circumstance for your unhappiness. Happiness is a conscious choice.

• Don't save your fancy clothes for a fancy occasion. Wear your dressy shoes, your best piece of jewelry and your expensive coat. Burn those new candles you bought. Use your good china. Why wait for that special occasion to happen? Today is special! 

"What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies." – Rudolph Giuliani

Love has no Limits

That magical moment when a woman becomes a mother is unlike anything else. Whether that experience is duplicated once, twice or a dozen times, becoming a mother to a child is life changing. Nothing can prepare her for the moment her heart beats outside her body in a tiny life of sweetness. Her whole world will be moved with every breath he takes, smile he creates and tear he sheds…

In honor of Mother’s Day, we introduce you to 10 incredible mothers who share with us a glimpse into their journeys of motherhood.

STYLED BY GIGGLE MAGAZINE

PHOTOS BY LIFEPRINTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Expecting Baby #1

‹ MELINDA BROWN

What is your "Mommy Mantra?"

I am the most important influence in my child's life. I chose this because I believe what I say, do and how I do it will make an impact on his life. Good or bad.

What do you look forward to the most about becoming a mom? I look forward to seeing who this tiny person will grow up and become, and having a part in his life.

What is the best advice you've gotten from your mom? Many people will give you advice; take what you want, but remember it is your choice how to raise your child.

STACY LANG ›

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? I love watching her grow and learn and seeing things through her eyes. Each stage, from being an infant to becoming a tween, leaves me with a sense of amazement. She truly is her own person, though she is full of Matt and me.

You are already a hero...but if you were a Super Hero, what would your name be? Elastigirl (from “The Incredibles”) because she got to be a mom and have a career and always saved the day! And she had an incredible family too.

DEBRA WALTERS ›

What is the best advice you've gotten from your mom? My mom has advice about everything, but the best advice she's ever given me is her example. Actions speak louder than words, right? There are three things about my mom that have left a lasting impression on me. She has always been my #1 cheerleader, she approaches every situation with kindness, and she prays incessantly for her children. I hope I can make my children feel the love, grace and admiration I felt from my mom growing up.

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? I love having a front row seat to the story of my kids' lives, watching them grow and change over time; but my favorite is definitely watching my children love each other.

‹ SHAUNA EDWARDS

What is your "Mommy Mantra?" “When things do not go right, turn left!” I also have learned to choose my battles.

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? As my boys get older, I love watching and listening to them play and work together. I hear things like "You can do it, don't freak out." Their bond melts my heart!

What is the best advice you've gotten from your mom? My mother reminds me that, "Children will not remember you for the material things you provide, but for the feeling that you cherished them!"

-Elizabeth Stone

BRIDGET FLEMING ›

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? I love EVERYTHING about being a mom…except throw-up.

What is your best piece of advice that you'd share with other mommies? Your little ones are a gift who will grow and sprout their own roots outside of the safety of your arms, so never stop dating their dad! Don't put Daddy on the back burner, he's half of the reason you have such a precious little one. Also, remember that this too shall pass (quicker than you want it to).

Mommyof

Mommyof 5

‹ GINA CHONG-YOU

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? At the end of a long day when my children jump in bed with me and say, "Mommy, can we hold you?"

What is your best piece of advice that you'd share with other mommies? Laugh often— sometimes it helps to not take yourself or life so seriously and just enjoy the moments.

What do you do for "me time?" I enjoy reading a good book, watching a funny movie, having coffee with my girlfriends, or just taking a long bubble bath...with the bathroom door locked.

KRESHELLE MARQUIS ›

What is your "Mommy Mantra?"

"It is what it is." Early in my motherhood experiences, I think that most of my anxieties and frustrations came from trying to achieve some form of perfection. "It is what it is,” allows me to live in the moment, accept it and let go of the need to achieve some kind of elusive perfection. It brings me AND my family peace.

What do you do for "me time?" My wonderful husband encourages me to have a night out with my girlfriends at least once a week. Sometimes he leaves the house with the whole crew, and my friends and I just chill at the house with some random Pinterest project and a glass of wine, or just enjoy talking uninterrupted. It's pretty fantastic.

‹ RUTH PATZ

What is your "Mommy Mantra?"

The mercies of the Lord are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. --Lamentations 3:2223. When I mess up today, I have another chance tomorrow.

What is your best piece of advice that you'd share with other mommies? Wise parents are aware of the fruit we call behavior, but they focus on the root motive behind the behavior.

What do you do for "me time?”

As an introvert in a family of 10, I need some alone time. It might be as simple as shopping for groceries or a trip in the car alone. Recently I discovered I really enjoy getting a pedicure at a nail salon!

-Cardinal Mermillod

Mommyof

Mommyof

SUZIE BYRNE ›

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? I am always so privileged and honored that God chose me to be the mother to all of these beautiful children. My life really did not begin until I gave birth to my first child. So, to answer the question...

EVERYTHING! I am so grateful for all the smiles, hugs, laughs, I love yous...even the poopy diapers.

What is the best advice you've gotten from your mom? Always keep God at the center of your family, live for today and do not worry about tomorrow.

-Henry Ward Beecher

‹ CHRISTY ZIEGENFELDER

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? Seeing my children grow and learn.

What is the best advice you've gotten from your mom (or mother-in-law/grandmother/ great-grandmother)? Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you, and never give up.

What is your best piece of advice that you'd share with other mommies? Help your children work toward being on their own one day. It is easier to do things for them rather than teach them how to do it, but they need to learn the skills for being independent.

pCargo Spring 2014 Lip Gloss. Available at Cargocosmetics.com, Ultabeauty.com and Nordstrom.com, $16.

uValspar Interior Paint Sample. Available at Lowe's, $2.98 each.

Spring into Pastels!

Start the season off with a burst of bouncy color!

NEW FRAGRANCE!

tUrban Decay Eyeshadow. Available at Sephora, Ultabeauty.com, Urbandecay.com and select Macy's, $18 each.

qLavender Pencils. Available at Michael's, $1.50/set.

uRalph Lauren Fragrances Midnight Romance. Available at Ralphlauren.com, $94.

p Aladdin 20-Ounce Classic Insulated Mason Tumbler. Available at kmart.com, $9.99.

tDuff's Cake Mix. Available at duffscakemix.com, $8-Small (shown), $11-Large.

qZak! Designs Egg Plate. Available at zak.com, $9.99 each.

pNails Inc. Spring 2014 Trend Shades. Available for a limited time at Sephora and Sephora.com, $14 each.

Pastel Striped Writing Pen. Available at Michael's, $1 each.

forks & spoons

Thirsty?

Choose Wisely!

BY JEN HILLAN, MSH, RD, LD/N

With so many drink options on the market today, it may be difficult to determine the best choice for your child. Here are some facts that may help you decide.

ENERGY DRINKS Energy drinks are becoming very popular among adults and adolescents. In fact, 12- to 25-year-olds drink half of the energy drinks sold in the U.S. However, there is growing concern about the risks of caffeine use in children and adolescents. The main ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine. They also have other caffeine-like ingredients that stimulate the central nervous system. Too much caffeine can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, increased heart rate and increased blood pressure. Many emergency department visits and even deaths have been related to the use of energy drinks. The American Academy of Pediatrics states, “Stimulant-containing energy drinks have no place in the diets of children and adolescents.”

SPORTS DRINKS Sports drinks are also popular among children and adolescents. Sports drinks can be beneficial if your child is involved in a long-endurance sport or activity, or if he is sweating excessively. Otherwise, water is the best choice to replace fluids and satisfy thirst. Most sports drinks have carbohydrates and calories that can cause weight gain if your child drinks too much of them. Sports drinks may also be harmful to your child’s teeth.

FRUIT JUICE/ FRUIT DRINKS

In moderation, 100% fruit juice can be part of a healthy diet. Fruit drinks may or may not have any actual fruit juice. Even though 100% fruit juice has

nutrients important for good health, too much can cause diarrhea, gas, bloating, weight gain and even weight loss in some children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting fruit juice to 4-6 ounces per day for children ages 1-6 years old and 8-12 ounces per day for children ages 7 and up. If you do give your child juice, offer it in a cup (never a bottle) and serve it with meals/ snacks rather than allowing your child to drink it throughout the day.

MILK AND MILK SUBSTITUTES

Milk provides nutrients important for good health including calcium, protein and vitamin D. Children from 1-2 years of age need whole milk. After age 2, gradually change to low-fat or fat-free milk. Your child will still get the nutrients she needs, but not the extra calories and fat that is found in whole milk. If your child drinks a milk alternative, read the label and choose a brand that is fortified with vitamins and minerals.

WATER Water is always a great choice! If your child doesn’t like plain water, flavor it with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, or use a fruit infuser in your water jug. 

Energy Drink BREAKDOWN

:QWhat’s the difference between an energy drink and a sports drink?

Sports drinks have carbohydrates and other ingredients that are intended to replenish water and electrolytes lost during exercise. Energy drinks have caffeine (and other ingredients that act like caffeine) that can boost energy, decrease fatigue and improve exercise performance in adults; however, these effects have not been studied in children or adolescents.

In addition to the concern about caffeine, energy drinks usually have a lot of sugar. An average 12-ounce serving of an energy drink has about 36 grams of sugar and 160 calories, which is almost the same as a 12-ounce can of soda. The amount of caffeine in a 12-ounce energy drink may be as high as 500 milligrams (about the same amount as 14 cans of caffeinated soda).

Jen Hillan is a pediatric dietitian at UF Health and she also gives in-home cooking demonstrations as a Pampered Chef independent sales director.

forks & spoons

Sweet Summer Strawberries!

BY NICOLE GERMANY

Whenstrawberries are good, they’re really good. At their best, strawberries are juicy, bright red and smell a little bit like heaven. Pop one in your mouth and you may be tempted to finish the whole container yourself. But no need to overindulge because you have April through June to buy the ripest strawberries of the year!

These heart-shaped fruits taste yummy added to just about any recipe, and their healthy makeup aids with so many ailments from heart disease to inflammation and high blood pressure to cancer. It’s also important to be aware of food allergies associated with strawberries because some people may be sensitive to the proteins found in them. Different skin rashes can arise from eating strawberries including hives, pruritus and contact dermatitis. Just be on the lookout to prevent any itchy side effects from this natural sweet treat.

Strawberries are the first fruit to become ripe in the spring and it only takes three days for them to complete their cycle of turning from green to white to red! Some believe that the word strawberry comes from the practice of farmers mulching the plant with straw so it can retain moisture, prevent the growth of pests and keep the berries ready for picking! Other myths say they were named after being strung together on pieces of straw. However they were named, we’re thankful to have them as an addition to our springtime menus! 

DELISH

Strawberry Pizza

BY CHERYL PONTHIER

1 cup flour

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

½ cup white sugar

½ cup melted butter

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 ½ cups sliced strawberries

2 cartons frozen strawberries, in juice

²/³ cup crushed pecans

Small tub of cool whip

4 tablespoons cornstarch

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, white sugar, melted butter and crushed pecans. Press mixture evenly into a 12inch cake pizza pan. Bake in oven for 15 minutes and allow to cool. Take another small mixing bowl and mix cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and cool whip. Spread cream cheese mixture over pizza. Place frozen strawberries and 4 tablespoons of cornstarch in medium saucepan, stirring on medium heat to make a glaze, then let cool. Spread glaze over pizza and add fresh sliced strawberries over pizza. Slice and enjoy!

Facts!

• Washing strawberries in a vinegarwater bath (1 cup of white vinegar and 3 cups of water) kills any spores on the fruit and helps preserve them longer.

• Strawberries are the only fruit that have their seeds on the outside.

• In Belgium there is a whole museum dedicated to just strawberries.

• Newlyweds in France are served a traditional breakfast of strawberry soup topped with sour cream, sugar and borage.

• Strawberries are a member of the rose family.

• One of the first uses for strawberries was helping to heal sunburns.

Goin' Pickin!

Brown’s Farm

18120 N.E. State Rd. 26

Hawthorne, Florida 32640 (352) 475-2015

Mid-March through mid-April

Monday-Saturday

9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Roger's Farm

3831 N.W. 156th Ave.

Gainesville, Florida 32609 (386) 462-2406

Beginning mid-March

Monday-Saturday

8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

forks & spoons

The Brown Bag

Lunch Grows Up

BY NICOLE IRVING

It sounds so simple, but why do I always forget to do it? Every morning, I pack lots of yummy snacks and sandwiches for the kiddos, but I always forget to make anything for my own lunch bag! It just slips my mind as I am rushing to get the little rug rats fed, dressed and out of the house. Then I find myself hungry at 11:30 a.m. searching every inch of office space for something appetizing for lunch.

In honor of National Brown Bag-It-Day on May 25, here are a few parent-friendly, mommy- approved, quick and healthy lunches to pack for those long hours at the office. These are so easy…even I can do them! (And since most offices have a fridge and microwave, cold and hot items are easy to bring to work!)

YUMMY LUNCH OPTIONS!

CHICKEN SOUP

ROTISSERIE CHICKEN AND SWEET POTATO

SNACKS

CHEESE STICKS

PRETZELS

OATMEAL

RICE CAKES

HUMMUS AND CARROTS

MATZO POPCORN

DRINKS

APPLES

NUTS

NUTELLA

DRIED FRUIT

KALE CHIPS

TRAIL MIX

GRANOLA BARS

SKIP THE SODA!

WATER

ALMOND MILK

UNSWEETENED TEA

GREEN TEA

100% JUICE

KEEP THESE AT THE OFFICE:

• SALT AND PEPPER

• SMART BALANCE

SPREAD

• NUTS

• WATER

• FAVORITE DRESSINGS

• LEMONS

• CAN OPENER

• PEANUT BUTTER

GREEK YOGURT WITH GRANOLA AND FRESH FRUIT

FRESH SPINACH SALAD WITH STRAWBERRIES, NUTS AND SLICED CHICKEN

TUNA SALAD IN A PITA POCKET WITH SPROUTS AND NUTS

CLASSIC PEANUT BUTTER WITH SLICED BANANAS ON WHEAT TOAST

TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE AND FRESH BASIL

LUNCH BOX

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

One of the blessings of being a magazine named Giggle is that finding time to smile, laugh and have fun is never hard. We have met some of the most incredible people, done some of the most amazing things and most of all, had fun while doing so. Here are some of our favorite issues, funny statistics and an update on some of our past cover models!

Thank you for welcoming us into your lives the last five years. We can’t wait for the next five! There are big things to come!

With love and laughter,

The Giggle Magazine Team

STYLING BY GIGGLE MAGAZINE PHOTOS BY VERVE STUDIO

AUG/SEPT 2010

Maryn

Age: 5 ½

Grade: Kindergarten in College Station, Texas

Favorite Things: Dancing, gymnastics, singing and playing with her friends and little sister.

OCT/NOV 2009

Jasmine

Age: 6

Grade: 1st

Favorite Things: Singing, being a big sister, music class and riding her bike.

WHERE ARE THEY

JUNE/JULY 2011

Cason

Age: 3 ½

Grade: Preschool

Favorite Things: School, playing his drums, Taco Tuesday date night with Mommy at Chuy's, and hanging with his Uncle David.

These Giggle cuties have graced the covers of some of our favorite past issues. We caught up with them to see how they've grown and what's new in their lives.

OCT/NOV 2011

Abbie & Chris

FEB/MAR 2012

Bryce & Brooke

Age: 3 ½ (4 in May!)

Grade: Preschool

Favorite Things: Brooke-drawing, dancing, singing and playing with her Princess dolls (Ariel is her favorite). Bryce-Jake and the Neverland Pirates, playing outside, riding his scooter or bike and doing whatever his older brothers are doing.

JUNE/JULY 2012

Seth & Curren

Age: Curren is 4 and new baby brother Reeves is 10 months

Favorite Things: As a family we enjoy playing "Family Band" (where we play instruments and sing together), having dance parties and going exploring in our new neighborhood.

APRIL/MAY 2010

Savannah

Age: 18

Grade: Freshman at Santa Fe College, majoring in Health Science.

Favorites: Gator sports, going to the beach, music, and is taking both piano and guitar lessons.

Age: Abbie is 9 and Chris is 6.

Grade: Abbie is in the 4th grade and Chris is in kindergarten.

Favorite Things: Abbie-Reading, being creative, gymnastics, and swimming. Chris-Learning how to read and write, gymnastics and T-ball.

Jaden

Age: 8

Grade: 2nd grade

Favorite things: Art, listening to music and being funny.

WE HAVE CREATED 31

ISSUES SINCE THE START OF GIGGLE

WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR BEVERAGES AT THE OFFICE? COFFEE, SWEET TEA AND LOTS OF H2O!

NUMBER OF GIGGLE BABIES BORN IN LAST FIVE YEARS:6

NUMBER OF GIGGLE COFFEE MUGS THAT WE HAVE CREATED: THREE GURGLE POTS IN THE OFFICE 4

ORGANIZATIONS THAT GIGGLE MAGAZINE HAS SUPPORTED

What are the go-to lunch favorites for the giggle office?

McAlister's Deli and Domino's Pizza

The Giggle offcehas

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF GAINESVILLE

MARCH OF DIMES

SEBASTIAN FERRERO FOUNDATION

CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY

CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

HAVEN HOSPICE

different colors of paint on the walls!

Here are a few of my favorite Giggle pages from the last five years. Enjoy! Love,

OCT/NOV 2012

OCT/NOV 2013

FEB/MAR 2013

I wanted to do this issue for so long! All things Apple! LOVE IT.

APRIL/MAY 2011

right?

Nothing can describe what it felt like to be there and witness this town in mourning. It still weighs on my heart.

DEC/JAN 2012

I was so nervous about how the boys were going to do at this photo shoot, but the result was so cute.

For some reason, this was one of the hardest candy spreads to design. It took us forever to come up with the perfect combination!

As a non-crafter, I am very proud of the felt owl wreath I made for this shoot. Not bad,

OCT/NOV

Our Business of the Year application. It took two weeks and lots of teamwork.…but it was a success and we won!

APRIL/MAY

Nate's story was truly inspiring. He just melted my heart!

My letter in honor of my grandmother. My grandfather still thanks me for that letter every time I see him.

This was our editor’s mother’s newly remodeled kitchen and we bombarded it with an entire photo shoot. It came out perfect!

2014 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE PART 2!

The Must-Have Items for a Great Summer Day Camp Experience

BY KELLY GOEDE

When summer rolls around, it’s time to kick back, take a break from homework and just enjoy being a kid. Summer day camps are a wonderful way to allow your child to play with her friends and meet new ones, create amazing experiences, learn new skills and just have fun. And with a little parental forethought and preparation, your child will have a fabulous time at day camp creating a summer full of memories, and will be ready to dive back into school in the fall.

Hydration is key during our hot Florida summers! Make sure to pack a full water bottle each day, encouraging your child to drink whenever possible.

Camp is supposed to be fun and messy. Sending along a change of clothes, a towel, even extra socks and shoes will help your child remember that a spoiled outfit isn’t the end of the world.

Bug spray is essential in Florida, although some camps have different requirements for what type is allowed. For young children, alternatives to DEET exist and work nearly as well. Repel Lemon Eucalyptus is almost entirely natural and works as well as DEET, up to six hours. No need to ruin a camp day with mosquito bites and the threat of Lyme disease from a tick bite.

Sunscreen seems like a no-brainer when we visit the beach, but the daily exposure during camp warrants a good slathering each morning before you leave home. If the camp allows, you can even send along some sunscreen with your child, encouraging him to reapply mid-day.

A healthy and yummy lunch will restore your child’s energy and make sure she has the fuel she needs to get the most out of her camp experience. Pack it in a durable lunch bag with extra ice packs to keep it cool. Florida summers are hot and your child’s lunch may not be stored in a refrigerator.

If your child has food allergies, or other serious environmental allergies, be sure to send along his medicines, including an epi-pen if needed. Even if you have indicated on your child’s registration form that he has allergies, be sure to mention it to the folks who will be working directly with your child. Having your child wear an allergy bracelet is a great reminder for the staff. Time is of the essence in treating an allergic reaction, and keeping camp staff informed would allow them to react quickly in the event of an allergic emergency.

A child’s time at day camp may be fraught with excitement and anticipation, as she tries new activities and meets new friends. Spend some time talking with your child in the days before camp starts, to reassure her and get excited together about all the fun things she will experience. 

Giggle Tip!

Create Your Own

CAMP FUN

BY OLIVIA K. PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

Children living in the Gainesville area have just about every kind of summer camp at their fingertips. From dance and karate to painting and science, kids can channel both physical and mental energies into fun activities all summer long.

For parents of little ones who are too young for camp, or for those weeks between your child’s camps, finding creative things to do over the summer can be daunting. To help ease your anxieties, here are some DIY daily summer camps you can have in your own backyard (or kitchen or living room!):

Space Camp

Start your day reading Dr. Seuss’ “There’s No Place Like Space” and follow it with an out-of-this-world snack on a black paper plate. Use a Ritz cracker for the sun, Froot Loops for the planets and mini marshmallows can be the asteroids in your own solar system. Create a space suit from aluminum foil and teach your child how to space walk in the backyard using exaggerated, ultra slow movements. Super silly laughs will ensue! End the camp by creating a papier-mâché Earth he can hang in his room.

Sounds of Summer

Introduce your child to different kinds of music. Even songs with questionable lyrics have been remade for little ears. Have him listen for the different instruments (guitar, horns, drums) and create your own instruments using household items like chopsticks, pots and pans, string and cardboard. Invite his friends to join in, help them come up with a band name and have a concert. And, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, color your child’s hair with food coloring for that “rock star” look!

Prehistoric Play

Hide rocks and small toy dinosaurs in a sandbox, then have your little paleontologist dig for “fossils.” You can even freeze one of the dinosaurs in a homemade Popsicle and discuss how some prehistoric animals have been found in ice. Play the song “Walk the Dinosaur” (you remember it from the 90s!) and make up your own dinosaur dance. Print out pictures of actual dinosaur footprints, then repurpose the sand and mix with plaster to make your child’s footprints!

Little Chefs

Get your kiddo into character by having him make his own chef hat out of construction and tissue paper. Show him the different measuring cups and kitchen tools and teach him how they are used. Together, pick a few kid-friendly recipes like fruit kabobs, veggie soup or mini pizzas and create a menu for that night’s dinner. Help your child set the table, cook the food and serve the meal, just like in a real restaurant.

Party Animals

Start your day with a grrrreat breakfast! Arrange slices of cantaloupe, blueberries and bananas on a plate to look like a lion. Discuss with your child the different sounds that animals make: lion, cow, monkey, polar bear, etc. After breakfast, use disposable roasting pans to create different environments: ocean (using water and sand), jungle (using grass and leaves from outside) and snow (mix conditioner and baking soda). Then ask your child to place miniature toy animals in the places where they live. Wrap up the day with a “field trip” to one of the many animal encounters in our area.

Keep your eye on the prize! While these ideas and other online resources are helpful and fun, remember to be flexible. Kids want to explore their own creativity, so if they want to draw a solar system instead of making one out of Froot Loops, or dig for worms instead of fossils, let them! And leave room for lots of questions. Children learn through play and you are their number one teacher! 

Teaching Your Children to Honor and Remember

BY DELIA ALBERT

Formost people, Memorial Day is a reason to barbecue and begin wearing white again. The holiday marks the beginning of summer, where you can indulge in mini vacations and start tanning in preparation for the season. But with so many festivities, it’s easy to lose sight of the real meaning¬to remember those who lost their lives during combat.

Teaching children about the importance of this day can be a tricky task, but it is important to teach them about Memorial Day’s true significance. Speaking to younger children, who may be completely unfamiliar with the concept of war, can present the toughest challenge. Because the subject is graphic, try telling them a general history of the day instead of explaining the details.

Some regions in the United States have been celebrating the day since the Civil War. During the years following the Civil War, towns took the day off to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. The day was originally known as Decoration Day.

Americans wear red, white and blue to feel closer to their country and to remember the history of the nation. The vibrant patriotic colors at barbecues and gatherings are a perfect way to illustrate decoration as a way of commemoration. Decorating the graves of soldiers with flowers, flags and thank you notes is another way to honor the past and those who made our freedom possible.

In the ‘70s, the event became a national holiday celebrated on the last Monday in May. The holiday was then called Memorial Day. The president typically gives a speech at Arlington Cemetery, and people participate in parades, picnics and ceremonies across the country.

Most children understand the significance of the president and will recognize Memorial Day as an important event. By sharing the presidential speech on TV, or playing the broadcast on the radio, children can appreciate the importance of the event.

Becoming involved by walking in the local parade and visiting memorials are also wonderful ways to teach children about the holiday. These community events are designed to involve everyone in the community on all levels and create opportunities to engage in open dialogue with other families. This is also a great way to unite around the holiday.

And don’t forget—it’s okay to party! The best way to celebrate is to enjoy the liberties we have as a result of the soldiers’ efforts. This event brings friends and families together in the spirit of America and celebrates the hard work and sacrifice that built and strengthened the country.

It’s perfectly okay to indulge in chips and potato salad, as long as we keep those heroes in mind who made it possible. 

TO CELEBRATE WITH THE KIDDOS

» Wear red, white and blue.

» Bake cookies and bring them to the nearest veterans’ hospital.

» Learn about the different badges and medals of honor.

» Create a letter to send to a soldier overseas.

» Have a moment of silence for the soldiers lost in previous wars.

» Fly a flag at half-mast until noon.

» Decorate the house with stars and stripes.

» Sing “The Star Spangled Banner” and other patriotic songs.

» Create a safe fireworks display in the neighborhood.

» Eat red, white and blue popsicles.

» Talk about what it means to be an American.

Guard Your Mouth

BY DR. DAWN LOZANO MARTIN, DMD, MS

As parents, we work hard for our kids. This includes driving them to soccer practice and investing in their dental care. What is the common denominator between your child’s sport and his teeth? Mouthguards.

Everyone knows what they are and what they do, but few kids actually use them. However, most professional athletes at risk of dental injury use mouthguards, and many high school football teams require them. If they are considered so important for trained athletes, they should be equally important for younger athletes as well.

The American Dental Association projects that one in every three dental injuries is sports related. Those injuries can range from chipped and broken teeth to fractured jaws and concussions.

Don’t invest in great dental care only to overlook the importance of investing in a mouthguard. Braces and regular dental care will make your child’s teeth a success—mouthguards will keep them that way! 

While mouthguards seem inconvenient and uncomfortable to wear, they don’t have to be. There are three types of mouthguards to consider for your child:

STOCK MOUTHGUARDS

BOIL-AND-BITE MOUTHGUARDS

CUSTOM-MADE MOUTHGUARDS

This is a ready-made mouthguard that can be found at any large chain retail store.

They can be extremely helpful in a pinch, but they are a one-size-fits-most product and may be uncomfortable to some kids.

WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?

Boil n' bite mouthguard. Fits all ages.

Shock Doctor Gel Max Flavor Fusion Mouthguard Boil n' bite, flavor-infused mouthguard with multiple sizes, attachable strap and exoskeletal shock frame.

These guards are sold in local sporting goods stores and come in various sizes. The user boils the material to make it pliable and bites down to create imprints that fit his or her teeth.

While this type fits better than a stock mouthguard and is less expensive than a custom-made one, it is still not a perfect fit for some children and will not work for children wearing braces.

If a boil-and-bite mouthguard does not work for your child, that doesn’t mean you should give up!

An orthodontist can create a custom guard that your child will be able to talk in and not drool! These guards can protect teeth with or without braces.

Dr. Martin is a married, working mother with three children. She is a graduate of UF Dental School and has her master’s in orthodontics from Baylor College. She is an orthodontist at Progressive Orthodontics.

Adams All MouthguardSport Boil n' bite mouthguard with strap.

Vettex Doubleguard Mouthguard Boil n' bite mouthguard with adjustable strap, and teeth and lip protection.

Mouthguards available at Play It Again

Love the Sun, Love Your Skin

Use a quality brand that offers broad-spectrum coverage with an SPF, or sun protection People with sensitive skin or children may fare best with nonirritating sunscreens that contain only titanium dioxide or zinc oxide based ingredients.

Start by applying a heavy coat to any exposed areas of skin. When you think you have applied enough, apply a second coat. Studies have shown that most Americans only use half as much sunscreen as it takes to get the full SPF stated on the bottle. Also, be sure to apply 30 minutes prior to going outside to allow the sunscreen time Once outside, don’t forget to reapply at least every 2-3 hours

Use non-sunscreen methods of limiting exposure.

Hats, sunglasses and rash guards are excellent ways of protecting your skin and eyes. Seek shade whenever possible, especially when the UV rays are at their peak between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Build good habits in children now.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world, and its numbers are skyrocketing, especially in our youth. Never go to a tanning bed, and do not allow your children to go either. Teach them how to protect their skin now so they will continue good habits into adulthood. Wear sunscreen and

Try to look over your and your family’s skin once a month. Note any new or changing moles. I recommend that children receive their first professional skin check with a dermatologist by the age of 15, or earlier if you have a family history of melanoma. Most adults over the age of 25 should receive yearly skin exams.

Living in Florida is great! With a little effort and a lot of sunscreen, we can keep it safe for the whole family. 

It seems like winter has flown by, while sunshine and warm weather are here to stay. Here are a few tips to keep your family safe in the sun this spring and summer.

Dr. Whitmer is a dermatologist at Gainesville Dermatology.

Fresh Mommy Makeup Looks

GET PRETTY

BY DEVON CHESTNUT AND DANA KAMP | HAIR BY JESSICA JORGENSEN SCHNEIDER

We asked Devon Chestnut, a busy, working mom of two and fabulous makeup blogger, to give our managing editor a great look for three very different aspects of her life. Here Devon shares how she created each look and some of her favorite beauty tips and products.

WORK APPROPRIATE

Devon says: For Dana’s work look, I added a little more eye shadow, eyeliner and a deeper shade of lipstick. You want your work makeup to be noticeable, but professional and appropriate for a business environment.

WEEKEND CHIC

Devon says: A fun weekend in Florida requires little makeup. I used a small amount of concealer to even out some areas on Dana’s face. Then I added a little eye shadow, blush and neutral lipstick. Now Dana is ready

Benefit Brow Highlighter u

What I like about it: It gives a nice highlight and “lift” to the area directly under the brow.

EVENING GLAM

Devon says: It’s all about glam! For Dana’s evening look, I added some contrast and highlights to her eyes and darkened her lips. To achieve the ultimate glam look, focus on one facial feature—smoky eyes with neutral lips or ruby red lips with subtle eyes.

DEVON'S BEAUTY TIPS

1.When applying makeup, use a light hand. It’s much easier to add more color than to remove it.

2. Before applying eye shadow, lightly pat some translucent loose powder under your eyes. The powder will catch any eye shadow that falls during application. Once eye shadow application is complete, dust away powder (and excess eye shadow) with a clean powder brush.

by Giggle Magazine.

Devon Chestnut is a working wife and mother who always makes time for beauty! Check out her blog at beautytipsfromabusymom.com.

Photos

health

Family Fun Runs

BY HALEY PONNOCK

»Flatwoods 5K

April 5, 2014—8 a.m.

Austin Cary Forest, Gainesville Runsignup.com/Race/FL/Gainesville/Flatwoods5K

No entry fee for ages 14 and under. Jogging strollers are recommended. Also, adult volunteers will keep kids entertained with nature-based activities, coloring books, etc., near the start/finish area.

»Paws & Pals on the Run

April 5, 2014—8 a.m. Jonesville Park, Gainesville Stfrancispetcare.org/paws2014.htm

Also a 2.5k option for those under 13 years old. Pets are welcome!

»3rd Annual Race Against Child Abuse 5K/Fun Run

April 5, 2014—8 a.m.

MTI-Marion Technical Institute, Ocala Active.com/ocala-fl/running/races/3rd-annual-race-againstchild-abuse-2014

»Eagle Trail 5K

April 5, 2014—9 a.m. Rembert Farm, Alachua Runsignup.com/Race/FL/Alachua/EAGLETRAIL5K

One-mile fun run for kids (or those who don't want to do the 5k), but no strollers. There will be a bounce house and face painting.

»Hogtown 5K Beer Run Benefiting Climb for Cancer

April 5, 2014—9 a.m. Kanapaha Veterans Memorial Park, Gainesville Cfc-foundation.org

Two brackets: Under age 18 and 21+. Adult runners can enjoy a delicious craft beer at the finish line, along with plenty of family-friendly refreshments, live music and entertainment.

»Kinetix 5K Benefit Run for Balance

180

April 5, 2014—4 p.m. Haile Market Square Kinetixpt.com

Course runs through Haile Plantation. Fitness Extravanganza with free screenings, local business demonstrations and giveaways, live music, food and family fun from 4 - 7 p.m.

GET MOVING

Every spring there are so many different races throughout North Florida for parents and children to participate in together. There are one-mile fun runs, 5ks, color runs and even mud runs. There is a running or walking event for everyone! Check out the list below, choose a race that works for you and your family and get out there and run!

»The Girls on the Run 5K

April 11, 2014—6 p.m. Jonesville Park, Gainesville Alachuagotr.org

Part of trail is unpaved so jogging strollers are recommended.

»Ducky Dash (1-Mile Fun Run)

»Derby Dash 5K Benefiting Haven Hospice

May 3, 2014—8 a.m. Wilson Park, Lake City Havenhospice.org

»Helping Hands 5K

May 10, 2014—8 a.m. Baseline Greenway Trailhead, Ocala Helpinghandsocala.org

April 13, 2014—1 p.m. Westside Community Center, Gainesville Gainesvilleduckderby.org/ducky-dash

»LGAA 5K

Family-Friendly Fun Runs

All ages—family fun with food, snacks, music, exhibit tables and awards.

»5K Sprint for Students – Feed the Need

May 10, 2014—8 a.m.

BY HALEY PONNOCK

April 16, 2014—6 p.m. Ironwood Golf Course, Gainesville Active.com/gainesville-fl/running/distance-running-races/ lgaa-5k-and-corporate-team-challenge-2014. Bring your strollers and walking or running buddies. Enjoy food, drinks and music after the run.

»Swamp Dash and Bash

April 19, 2014—8:45 a.m. Windy Hill Farms, Alachua Swampdash.com/north-central-florida--april-21-2012.aspx Kids Mud Run: 4-8, 9-13, Family Wave (9+), and regular race.

»Equal Access 5K

April 19, 2014—9 a.m.

Phillips Center for Performing Arts, Gainesville Milestoneraceauthority.com Age groups: Under 18, over 18.

»UF CPT Walk a Mile, Protect a Child April 26, 2014

Gainesville Info: TBA

»The Color Run

April 27, 2014

Thecolorrun.com/gainesville/2014-04-27/ Info: TBA

»Gainesville TriHard - Kids Triathlon

April 27, 2014—11 a.m.

Westside Pool, Gainesville Youthcombine.org/our-initiatives/events/gainesville-tri-hard Mini Trike and Run: Ages 2-4/Pee-Wee Division: Ages 5-7/Shorty Division: Ages 8-9/Junior Division Ages 10-12/Teen Division Ages 13-15.

Riverfront Park, Palatka Runsignup.com/Race/FL/Palatka/5KSprintforStudentsFeedtheNeed

»May Day Glow Run 5K

May 10, 2014—8 p.m.

Town of Tioga, Newberry Active.com/newberry-fl/running/distance-running-races/ may-day-glow-run-2014

Glow necklaces will be provided. Bring extra glow to compete in the best-dressed contest.

»M.O.M.S. Day Dash

May 11, 2014—7:30 a.m.

Jervey Gantt Park/M.O.M.S. Park, Ocala ocalafit.com

Free Kids Fun Run (7 years and under) at 7:30 a.m.; 5k Run/Walk at 7:40 a.m.

»Eye Mud Run Ocala

May 24, 2014—8 a.m. Florida Horse Park, Ocala Eyemudrun.com

Mini Mudder Run: Ages 6-12, actual race is 13+.

»Luke’s Race for Recovery 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run

May 31, 2014—8 a.m.

Gale Lemerand Commuter Lot, University of Florida, Gainesville Lukesway.org

»College of Dentistry – Oral Cancer Awareness 5K

May 31, 2014—9 a.m.

Bo Diddley Community Plaza, Gainesville Donate.oralcancer.org

Family-friendly walk/run. Kids under 5 and oral cancer survivors are free.

WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE BiG 2014

Starting a weight loSS journey iS hard. It takes endurance, dedication, perseverance and knowing that you will be “hangry,” sore and achy all over. Our six BWLC #4 girls are at the half-way point in their journey and this competition. Here they share their ups, downs and what they have learned!

What is your primary reason for wanting to lose weight?

Creating a healthier lifestyle for me and for my family. It’s now or never. I want to play with my kids and not be out of breath, and to feel better mentally and physically.

Who is your biggest fan during this process?

My husband. He’s stopped drinking soda and beer to show his support. And my kids, sister and parents are also great supporters.

What're you most excited to show off?

I’m most excited to have a different lifestyle. I’m going to be a different person from the inside out.

What's your weight loss goal?

Not a number, but more so a feeling. I’ll know when I get there. At least 50 pounds!

What workout activity makes you feel like Super Woman?

Running on the treadmill. When I can beat my best time I feel accomplished.

Who is your biggest fan during this process?

Probably Melanie Ostovic (BWLC contender last year and friend). She’s a big supporter and understands the process, and can share recipes with me.

What have you learned about yourself during this process so far?

I think that I am stronger, mentally and physically, than I thought.

What is your challenge area or biggest hurdle? Just pushing myself physically and working out to the best of my ability. You can get self conscious when comparing yourself with others.

What is the biggest lifestyle change you've made during the challenge?

Not eating out and having no sugar and no caffeine.

Who is your biggest fan during this process?

My husband. My son is also a very good eater. I’m blessed!

What's been the hardest food to eliminate from your diet?

Dairy—especially cheese and milk.

What have you learned about yourself during this process so far? I am mentally stronger than I thought.

What is the biggest lifestyle change you've made during the challenge?

Eating clean. Preparing foods ahead of time and giving up Starbucks, which actually saves a lot of money.

What's your weight loss goal?

I have several goals. For the challenge, it is to lose 35 pounds. My long-term goal is to get back on the normal weight range. It’s been a long time. I’d like to see that again.

Who is your biggest fan during this process?

My husband. He’s a great cheerleader. He participates in what I’m doing and is willing to try new foods.

What's been the hardest food to eliminate from your diet?

Wheat breads, pasta. Any white-flour food. You kind of get over sweets after you’ve made thousands of cookies (She’s a cookie designer.)

What is your primary reason for wanting to lose weight?

On the job market, outer appearance is critical. A healthy weight gives the impression of an energetic and capable person. I also want to be fit with my son. I want him to remain active and know how to make good choices, how to see food as fuel.

Who is your biggest fan during this process?

It’s a challenge because I am a single parent. I draw energy from the group. Having the opportunity to be surrounded by people that have the same goals helps me.

ANGELA W. LINDSAY ANGELA L. APRIL MELODY

AMANDA

Workout Photography by Delia Albert. Headshots by Lifeprints Photography.

happy home

Life In the Fast Lane

ORGANIZED CHAOS

Lillianvernon.com, Etsy.com and Thirtyonegifts.com all offer backseat organizers in a variety of colors. If you have the time and sewing skills, Simplicity and McCall’s have patterns for car organizers.

For older children, look at the Sunshine Kids Travel Pal Organizer, featured on Amazon. It will hold drinks as well as toys.

u INVENTORY what you need to carry in the back of your vehicle or in the trunk and then find the appropriate organizing product. A folding canvas organizer and cooler combination might be what you need for afternoons at the ball field or road trips to the beach. Some families are comfortable using collapsible milk crates, laundry baskets or clear storage tubs.

BY HELEN KORNBLUM

You may be so busy hauling groceries, business supplies, sports equipment and—oh yes, children—that you have not noticed the gradual hijacking of your vehicle’s interior. It’s time to open all the doors and gather the family for a fiesta of spring cleaning in the driveway.

Trash the dirty tissues, fast food residue and candy wrappers. You’ll need a box for stuff that goes back into the house or needs to be returned, finally, to someone else. Recycling may be involved if you stumble onto your old cell phone and charger. Vacuum the Goldfish crumbs, dust the dash, and get ready to start your engine with new tools for organizing.

u Use the GLOVE COMPARTMENT for insurance and registration information, owner’s manual, notepad

and pens, phone charger, extra change, first aid kit and flashlight.

u If the FRONT SEAT is your command center, make a list of what you need beside you. Choose a tote bag, basket or other sturdy container that can be used for holding those items you need to have with you while on the go. Put CDs in a visor organizer or the middle console. You can find substantial organizers that also serve as a desktop for times you need to pull over and write or work on your laptop.

u You can PERSONALIZE STORAGE for each child still in a car or booster seat with a backseat organizer. This faces the child’s car seat and fastens to the back of the front passenger seat with a secure strap around the metal supports of the headrest. A second strap fastens around the crease area between the seat and the seat back. These organizers are sectioned to hold kid necessities, so drinks, snacks, games, books and small toys are within the child’s reach.

You may find yourself reloading the car with as much stuff as you removed. That’s okay. Stuff migrates in all of our cars. Your travels will still be easier if you depart with an updated packing list and a fresh trash bag. 

LOCAL AND ONLINE RESOURCES FOR CAR ORGANIZATION

» Thirtyonegifts.com (Find a local consultant to order)

» Etsy.com/shop/ashleynef

» Onekingslane.com

» Etsy.com/shop/ KimmysSewingShop

» Cargodesk.biz

» Lillianvernon.com

 Helen Kornblum is a life coach and organizer in Gainesville, FL. She owns naturalorderorganizing.com. Her specialty is coaching teens and young adults who have ADHD or ADD.

Photo by Giggle Magazine.

MAKE IT. FIX IT. CLEAN IT.

24Household Uses for Baking Soda

BY ALLEN HAYNES

Baking soda is a frequent player in our cooking performances, but did you know there are literally dozens of uses for this miracle powder that will make your life easier? Below are 24 uses for baking soda other than making muffins soft and fluffy.

HEALTH AROUND THE HOME CLEANING

• Add a cup to bathwater for softer skin.

• Apply to rashes and insect bites to relieve irritation.

• Mix 1 teaspoon with 1 cup of water for heartburn.

• Get rid of canker sores by using as mouthwash (1/2 teaspoon with warm water).

• Stung by a jellyfish? Baking soda can help draw out the venom when applied to sting.

• Out of deodorant? Simply apply baking soda with a powder puff and you’re good to go.

• Unblock that stuffy nose by adding 1 teaspoon to your vaporizer.

• Put 2 tablespoons in your baby’s bathwater to help relieve diaper rash.

• Keep your flowers fresher longer by adding 1 teaspoon to the vase.

• Put an open box in the fridge to absorb food odors.

• Sprinkle small amounts in your shoes to eliminate and prevent yucky foot smells.

• Wipe your windshield with it. It’ll work as a wax and repel rain.

• Sprinkle on your carpet before vacuuming to freshen up the living room.

• Have little artists? Combine 1 cup of baking soda with 1 cup of cornstarch and 1/4 cup of water to create modeling clay.

• Deodorize the family pet by combing it through his fur.

• Make a homemade air freshener by mixing 2 cups of warm water, 1/8 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of lemon juice in a spray bottle.

• Add a cup to the toilet and leave it for an hour before flushing. It will clean the toilet and get rid of odors.

• Remove stubborn grease from pots and pans by using it as a scrub.

• Make a paste by combining some with small amounts of water, then use it to polish stainless steel and chrome surfaces.

• Marble countertops? Mix 3 teaspoons with 1 quart of warm water and wipe down countertops.

• Keep your drains clean by adding 4 tablespoons each week. Let sit for five minutes before flushing with hot water.

• Get mouth retainers fresh and clean by scrubbing them with a baking soda paste.

• Remove burned-on food from a pan by soaking it in a baking soda solution (equal parts baking soda and water) for 10 minutes.

• Clean your microwave by mixing 2 teaspoons of baking soda with water in a bowl. Heat for 3-5 minutes and all that gross, stuck-on food should wipe away easily. 

REMEMBER!

Always check with a doctor before trying any new regimens.

happy home

Mason jars are a cute and easy way to organize buttons, clothespins and other odds and ends.

A simple chalkboard makes it easy to keep track of whose laundry day it is! before

Laundry Room The Evans'

By making her laundry room fresh, organized and inviting, mom of four Lori Evans keeps her family's never-ending chore of laundry under control.

Organization is key. With baskets, jars and covered cabinets, items are designated their own spaces and kept neat and tidy. Include the whole family to teach responsibility and great habits for college days!

Photos by Allison Raber. Designed by Lori Evans, Evans Construction and Design.

COHOUSING A Family-Friendly Approach to Living

BY BURT KEMPNER

Picture a small community where everyone knows your name – a community where neighbors select one another by choice rather than chance. A place in which communal meals are a weekly occurrence and friends gather for festive occasions, lively discussions and educational events.

Shangri-La? Hardly. It's real and part of a national movement called cohousing. It’s taking shape locally at a beautiful, 4.75-acre wooded lot in northwest Gainesville.

Gainesville Cohousing has purchased property within walking distance of Thornebrook Village. Plans call for the construction of 24 individually-owned homes, as well as a communal pool and a common house for socializing, shared meals and celebrations.

The cohousing community is designed to be environmentally friendly. According to future resident Brooks Nelson, the community will have immense appeal to sustainability-minded owners.

"Our goal is to offer efficient appliances, passive and active solar, geothermal heat pumps, insulation, airflow via cupolas, water conservation, rain collection, cisterns, grey water re-use, low footprint, gardening, native landscaping and xeriscaping," he said.

Another pillar of the cohousing movement is its intergenerational approach. This will be an ideal place for young families to mix with people their own age as well as friendly elders. The community will be planned, owned and managed by the residents – who also share activities like cooking, dining, child care, gardening and governance of the community. Common facilities may include a kitchen, dining room, laundry, child care areas, offices, Internet access, guest rooms and recreational features.

To learn more, visit cohousing.org. For local information, check out gainesvillecohousing.org.

EARTH DAY CELEBRATE

Earth Day Family Activities

] Decorate RECYCLING BINS for different materials (glass, paper, etc.).

] Start a COMPOST BIN at home.

] Sing FUN SONGS about recycling (i.e. Jack Johnson’s “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”).

] Play FLASHLIGHT GAMES in the dark (spend an hour without electricity).

] Make FLOWER VASES/COIN BANKS from empty butter, sour cream or yogurt containers.

] Collect seeds from fruits to PLANT together.

] Make DYED GLASS LUMINARIES from empty baby jars and homemade paint.

] Create PAPIER-MÂCHÉ globes.

] Build a recyclable BIRD FEEDER from plastic soda bottles.

] Turn off the TV and PLAY OUTSIDE!

] Plan and prepare a meal with ORGANIC, UNPROCESSED FOODS

] Eat Earth Day “DIRT CUPS”—chocolate pudding, cookie crumbles and gummy worms.

] Create MINI GLOBES out of blue and green Play-Doh.

] TIE-DYE Earth Day hard-boiled eggs by using blue, green and yellow natural food coloring.

] Give a REUSABLE water bottle to each family member, then decorate them together.

] FEED THE DUCKS with leftover bread crusts from today’s lunch.

GREAT GREEN TOYS!

Getting Their Little Hands Dirty: Hands-On Recycling Activities For Kids

BY DELIA ALBERT

Teaching young children about Earth Day will help to protect the Earth for years to come, and the trash pile is a great place to start! Make reusing and recycling fun by letting them get their little hands dirty. They’ll show a greater interest in conservation and absorb the knowledge like daisies taking in water!

No matter the age of your children, there are tons of inexpensive, hands-on activities to get them excited about Earth Day. Items around the house can inspire the day’s activities and create an opportunity to teach them about giving old waste a new life.

That trash pile has never looked more appealing!

eco-crayons from eco-kids u Handmade with 75% natural and organic fruit, plant and veggie extracts and 25% beeswax. Available at shop.ecokidsusa.com.

Green Toys Safe Seas Sets u Seaplane or Submarine set; made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic; sales benefit the Sustainable Surf charity organization. Available at greentoys.com.

Oriental Trading DIY Watch it Grow Seed Pots p Made of biodegradable peat fiber; add small plants or herbs; can be planted directly into the ground. Available at orientaltrading.com.

Gifted: Understanding the term, the process and the program

BY APRIL TISHER

What constitutes a child being gifted? We hear the terms gifted, talented, accelerated and enriched used interchangeably all the time. What do these words mean as far as the educational experience for children in Alachua County is concerned? As a parent, it can be tricky to understand.

Traditionally, a child is considered gifted if they score over 130 on a cognitive or IQ test. This equates to two standard deviations above normal. Most psychologists use the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales or the WISC IV to assess a child’s IQ.

According to Dr. Peggy Vermont, a psychologist with the ITM Group, there are many factors to consider other than just an IQ test. She explained that just because a child scores high on the test doesn’t necessarily mean he should be in a gifted program. He should not only meet the full criteria of a gifted child, he should also demonstrate that the regular classroom isn’t meeting his needs.

The first step is for the child’s teacher to identify that the student meets most of the characteristics of an intellectually gifted child via a standard checklist. This begins during the kindergarten school year. Next, a screening test is done. If a child passes that step, a school psychologist will give her the full cognitive testing panel. This is typically done over the summer after kindergarten. Parents may have their child tested by a private psychologist, or they may also request that the school test their child if it has not been offered to them. A parent must give their consent prior to

any testing being done with their child. If the child meets all criteria, the parent is required to attend a meeting to create an educational plan. Parents and teachers will discuss what educational goals they would like to set for the child. The plan is reevaluated each year to ensure that the student’s needs are being met, and that she is benefiting from the program. At any time, a parent can decide to remove their child from the gifted classes and put her back in her regular curriculum.

Bill Goodman, the supervisor of guidance and student services for the county, believes that the Screening Assessments for Gifted Students utilized here is the reason that Alachua County has the highest rate of gifted students in the state of Florida. Starting in kindergarten and continuing each year the child is in school, teachers are asked to evaluate their students to determine which ones might qualify as gifted. Most public elementary schools in Alachua County begin their enrichment programs in first grade. This may vary depending on the number of children that qualify and staff availability. The subjects offered as gifted classes may also differ; however, the trend for gifted programs is to focus on STEM classes, those associated with science, technology, engineering and math.

Teachers who lead these enhanced classes must also have special education that

prepares them to relate to their students and to recognize their educational potential. They complete classes beyond their teaching certificate that help them specialize in developing gifted curriculum and identifying giftedness in non-traditional students.

Kara Meyers, a gifted teacher at Archer Elementary, noted that just like in a traditional classroom, there are wide variances in the abilities and interests of gifted children. She added that often learning disabilities and giftedness go hand and hand, although the disability may cause the giftedness to be overlooked.

Parents should arrange to meet with the school’s educational planning team (usually the child’s teacher, a guidance counselor and an administrator) if there are any questions regarding their child’s educational track. Goodman reiterated that no matter which public school your child attends, there are gifted services offered to meet his educational needs. 

...Alachua County has the highest rate of gifted students in the state of Florida.

On Campus With the Family

BY APRIL TISHER

For those of us who didn’t grow up in Gainesville and came here for college or a career, navigating University of Florida’s campus with kids can be intimidating. If you aren’t working or going to school there you probably don’t go at all, unless you’re lucky enough to score some football tickets. Not any more. As it turns out, there is a lot more to do on campus than just attend class and dodge scooters going 20 mph. There are so many family-friendly activities you can do; activities that effortlessly combine entertainment and, yes, a little education too.

THE WILMOT GARDENS

This little known treasure is situated beside the UF Health Medical Plaza. At one time it was considered the largest publically owned camellia collection in the state, before years of neglect and hurricanes made it unrecognizable. A small group from the College of Medicine decided to restore it in 2006, and through the work of mostly volunteers, has made incredible progress. There are picnic tables for lunch or studying, almost five acres of green space and trails to explore, and a lifestyles track for exercising. For a fee, you can hold events in the event hall they have also restored.

Price: Free. Wilmot.med.ufl.edu.

LAKE ALICE

Want to see some live gators? You can walk along the boardwalk around the lake and view them swimming lazily or sunning on the shore. The Baughman Center, UF’s beautiful lakeside chapel, is also located on Lake Alice. The lake is located off Museum Road.

Price: Nature walk is free; to rent the Baughman Center see their website.

Performingarts.ufl.edu/venues/baughman-center

THE BAT HOUSE

The UF Bat Barn and Bat House are located on the north side of Museum Road between Village Drive and Radio Road across from Lake Alice. According to the website, the best seasons for observing the bats in action are spring through early summer. The bats normally emerge 15 to 20 minutes after sunset on calm, warm evenings when temperatures are at least 65 degrees.

Price: Free.

Flmnh.ufl.edu/bats

SAMUEL P. HARN MUSEUM AND CAMPUS ART

Get cultural. The art museum on campus is fantastic! (They even have a Monet!) There are various styles of art from all over the world on display year round, with traveling exhibitions and collections always changing. They have a little café out back for lunch and outside art on the path that leads to the Museum of Natural History.

Price: Free admission, donations accepted. Harn.ufl.edu

Besides the Harn, be sure to take a walk around campus to see a variety of other works of art. One of the most famous is the “French Fries.” This John Henry sculpture’s official name is “Alachua” and is located outside the Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering Building.

UF JUMPING FOUNTAIN

I never knew about this little gem when my littles were, well, little enough to really take advantage of it. There it is though, “hidden” near the Buckman dorms; little spouts of water streaming up, perfect for running through on those hot Florida days.

Price: Free, unless you have to pay to park.

FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

We have been here so many times that my kids know every inch of it, but they love it every time. You can explore a cave, hang out in a palm-thatched Calusa Indian house or stroll along a mangrove boardwalk. The famous Butterfly Rainforest and special temporary exhibits are here too. There are tables outside for lunch, and a nature trail and a fossil plant garden to explore.

Price: Free general admission with a fee for the Butterfly Rainforest and special exhibits. Flmnh.ufl.edu

If your child earns an 'A' or 'E' grade in science, bring their most recent report card and receive free admission with the purchase of a paid adult for the Butterfly Rainforest or current special exhibit.

So, the next time you are mulling around family field trip ideas, don’t overlook our gorgeous UF campus. For little to no money you can entertain all ages and learn something too. We are so lucky to have such an amazing resource at our fingertips. (You can even go inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for some family exercise or photo ops.) Go Gators! 

Photography by Giggle Magazine.

BY TARA GRIFFIN

All the World's A Classroom

In Florida, there are no requirements for the amount of days a homeschool student attends school. There are also no requirements for the amount of hours in a day a student attends school. So how am I meeting the needs of my kids you wonder? With no guidance, how do I know how much to teach in a day?

For me, it's simple. I'm always teaching. There are no days off. That doesn't mean I'm an education tyrant. It means I'm good at spotting "teachable moments" and personally think learning and growing is FUN. If they're engaged and want more, I teach. If a child asks an interesting question when we're out to dinner, we google the answer. When properly provoked, I have been known to pull a math book out on a Saturday morning and launch into a two-hour lesson that included games, manipulatives and cross-referencing. We do beach-schooling and car-schooling, library-schooling and vacation-schooling. And we take several field trips a week. None of this LOOKS like traditional school, but if the kids are learning (which is all that matters), then it counts.

Do we take a spring break? Summer break? Well, this spring, we are taking the kids skiing. During the school week. Am I going to bring their math books? No. Am I going to have them research Colorado, snow, mountains and have them watch ski tutorials on YouTube in the weeks before we go? Yes. Am I going to have

them write poetry about what they see and the way they feel while we're out there? Probably.

I asked around, and my sentiment seems to be shared by the homeschool families I know. I got several replies like this one from my friend Sarah: "We don't take official breaks, which gives us more flexibility year round. It also means that we don't have a lot of catching up to do after those breaks."

There's a difference between school-athome and (the fine art of) homeschooling. School hours for a homeschooler look much different than they do for a traditionally schooled child. There are many days when I write a schedule and we sit at the kitchen table and "do math" followed by spelling, history, art and science. But that's not where school ends. Most of the time, we can get a whole day's school work done in two hours, leaving the rest of the day to explore new ideas and projects, read novels, play outside, play instruments and play with friends.

For me, homeschooling is an extension of parenting, just like when they were little. Except now, the questions are bigger and the answers are more complicated and way more fun to investigate. 

Last week, Tanner (age 9) was concentrating on a project and his sister kept distracting him. I was working on something and needed something engaging to keep Torie (age 7) busy on her

own. It helped her work on decision-making skills and ended up being so fun that it kept her engaged for at least an hour.

I suggested she put all of her stuffed animals (insert your child's Lego minifigures, etc.) in order, starting from your

favorite, ending with your least favorite. She ordered and re-ordered until she felt she got it right. The result surprised me. Then I photographed the line and asked her to consider donating a few from the "least favorite" section. (She's thinking about it...)

FOR EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BEGIN HOMESCHOOLING IN ALACHUA COUNTY, VISIT: sbac.edu

Investigating coastal landscapes.

A painting project inspired by a favorite book.

Enjoying some nice weather.

Science field trip with friends at the Orlando Science Center.

conception2college

 EXPECTING Party of Two (Or More!)

 INFANT | 0-1

Taking Care of Yourself While Taking Care of Your Baby

 TODDLER | 2-3

Those Trying Toddler Times: Appropriate Discipline for Your Little One

 EARLY YEARS | 4-5

Fun & Games: Building Your Child's Fine Motor Skills

 KIDS | 6-7

Tutor Time: When to Call in Reinforcements

 TWEENS | 8-12

Sibling Sitters: Knowing When the Time is Right

 TEENS | 13-18

Texting & Driving: The Real Rules of the New Law

Photo by Julie Effron Photo & Video.

Party of Two (Or More!)

BY KELLY GOEDE

From the moment the line turns pink on the pregnancy test, you know you’re in for a wild journey. And when the doctor confirms that more than one babe is along for the ride, the ascent gets steeper and the climb a bit more taxing.

A pregnancy with twins or other multiples places demands on a woman’s body that seem to defy its already amazing capabilities.

Beginning in the first weeks of pregnancy with multiples, moms may experience increased nausea, fatigue and other early pregnancy symptoms. Consider that more than one baby means double or more hormones circulating and wreaking havoc on a mama. In my own twin pregnancy, I had epic morning sickness, and my belly poked out around week two. Before I even knew there were two babies, my body told me something was up. Trying to eat the additional 600 calories that doctors recommend was increasingly difficult when keeping food down was impossible.

My fellow twin-mommy and friend, Gainesville mom of four Sarah Sawyer, can attest to feeling extra green when she was carrying her twins.

“I was sick all the way until I delivered,” Sawyer said, adding that, “it was really difficult to actually gain weight.”

When the nausea subsides, it may be tempting to eat for three. Doctors do recommend gaining 35-45 pounds (if you start at a healthy weight), which is higher than with a singleton. But gaining extra weight beyond that recommendation puts you at risk for higher blood pressure, gestational diabetes and difficulty getting

the weight off down the road. Plus, the more weight you gain the more your skin has to stretch, which means the more souvenirs (er, stretch marks) you may be left with once your little ones arrive. Deeper inside, your abdominal muscles may also split, forming a diastasis recti, as your growing uterus pushes up and out.

As your multiple pregnancy progresses, you may find yourself visiting the OB-GYN more often, as twin-specific complications may arise. Identical twins who have a monochorionic placenta may suffer from twin-to-twin-transfusion, which means one twin gets the lion’s share of nutrients from the shared placenta, while the other baby does not receive enough. Make sure you discuss your concerns about complications with your doctor.

One possible bright side to all this nausea, stretching and weight gain is that twin pregnancies are considered full term at 37 weeks. Small consolation, considering you will be full-term size starting around 28 weeks. But at the finish line of this journey are two or more sweet babies who will steal your heart, even if they can’t erase your stretch marks. 

Help for the Mama of Multiples:

A twin or other multiple pregnancy should be an experience you share with someone who understands what you are going through.

You can connect online with other expecting mamas at nomotc.org, the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs. Plug in your zip code and find the closest club to you.

Gainesvilletwins.com also offers a local place to connect and access resources.

Drbarbaraluke.com/multiplesquiz. aspx is a quiz to test your knowledge on multiples pregnancies.

Recommended Reading:

“When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads,” by Dr. Barbara Luke, who created the University Consortium on Multiple Births. Her website, drbarbaraluke.com is a valuable resource as well.

Taking Care of Yourself While Taking Care of Your Baby

BY OLIVIA K. PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

Sleep deprivation. Milk-stained pajamas. Memory loss. Your heart bursting with love one minute, your eyes bursting with tears the next.

Welcome to parenthood.

In my work counseling new parents, and as someone who has conquered the “newness” twice, I can tell you that you are not the only person wanting to pull your hair out sometimes. And your baby might be feeling it too. Researchers in California report that babies up to 12 months of age can sense when their mothers are under pressure and even develop anxiety themselves.

So, how do we tame those lions to help our little lambs? Here are some suggestions:

✤ Walk away

Sometimes, you can do everything right, and you still can’t console a crying baby. We know it’s normal, but it feels like nails on a chalkboard. So, give yourself a timeout. Place the baby in the crib or bassinet and walk out of the room. Leaving your baby alone in a crib is sometimes safer than being in a stressedout parent’s arms. Check on your baby when you need to (either via monitor or poking your head in the room). If you’re not ready to attempt consolation again, then wait another few minutes. Keep taking breaks until you’re ready to calmly approach the situation.

✤ Empathize

It’s hard work being a baby. Everything is new, your senses are heightened to the max, your bones are shifting and your brain is developing. And, worst of all, you can’t communicate any of your feelings! Try seeing the world through those precious eyes, even when you’re not stressed. It’s quite an adventure!

✤ Rest

You’ve heard it before: Sleep when the baby sleeps. But, if you’re like me, you know you can get so much accomplished in that hour or two! Then baby wakes up, and you realize that you are still exhausted, if not more so. So, choose one nap to get stuff done, and another to rest. You’ll feel accomplished and refreshed!

✤ Find support

Call a friend and ask her to come over for an hour so you can run to the store or take a shower. If your friend has children, she understands how valuable an hour can be, and may even give you two! Even your childless friends need a “baby fix” every now and then.

✤ Speak up

Be honest with yourself and with others. Talk with your partner, your family and close friends about the daily stressors of parenthood. Join a moms group for those who can relate to your

experience or contact a counselor who specializes in parental stress for a little objectivity, especially if you feel that your symptoms may be a little more serious (such as postpartum depression).

✤ Me time

Give yourself a little time each week to do something just for you. Read a book, get a massage, take a walk. Remember, you were you before you were a mom. Replenishment is good for the soul.

✤ Know your limits

You aren’t the perfect parent. You never will be. No one is. So, cut yourself some slack from trying to do everything right. You love that sweet little face and that’s the most righteous thing of all. 

Second Time Around?

Big brothers and sisters may start acting out for attention. Reserve some one-on-one time just for them. Read books, put together puzzles or just have a conversation.

Also, depending on their ages and capabilities, enlist their help. Little ones love to feel like a big help so pour on the praise!

Those Trying Toddler Times: Appropriate Discipline for Your Little One

BY MICHELLE BOWERS, MSN, ARNP

As parents, we all have dealt with (or are anticipating) the “terrible twos” and the “independent threes.” How to handle the wide variety of behavior a toddler can exhibit at these ages is challenging at best. I have many parents sit in my office, asking how to deal with issues from biting to hitting to throwing temper tantrums. These behaviors are hard to handle at home, much less out in public. As a parent and a pediatric nurse practitioner, here is some of the advice I give them.

ALLOW FOR NATURAL

CONSEQUENCES:

Children need to learn that there are consequences for their behavior, and toddlerhood is not too early to learn. Make sure the environment is safe, no one is in danger and no valuables will be lost. Then if your child is acting out, she is the only person being affected. If she makes a mess, she now has to clean it up (to the best of her ability). If she keeps dropping food on the floor, she doesn’t get more to eat. If she deliberately breaks a toy, she won’t have it to play with anymore. As parents, we feel the need to rescue our children all the time. There are times when this is very appropriate. But there are times we need to let things naturally play

6 TIMEOUT TIPS!

1. Find a dedicated timeout spot (not his room, bed or high chair).

2. Have him sit for no more than 2-3 minutes at this age.

out and allow our children to see the effects of their behavior.

BE CONSISTENT: This is huge! Our children will learn at a very early age what they can get away with, and if we aren't consistent in how we discipline, they will get away with too much. Parents should decide what is nonnegotiable and stick with it as much as possible. Decide ahead of time what consequences need to occur for certain behaviors. Share these with the people who help care for your children, such as grandparents and babysitters, so everyone is handling each situation in a similar way.

PICK YOUR BATTLES: Not everything should be a struggle! If you make every disagreeable behavior a battle, you will be spending all day in conflict. There are behaviors that are okay to let go. Again, parents need to sit down and agree on which behaviors deserve discipline or redirection and which can simply be ignored. It is hard to do, but ignoring a behavior, as long as the child is safe, is sometimes a very effective way of stopping a behavior. Negative attention is still attention. If a child gets no attention for his behavior, it won't be worth his time.

3. Don't engage him while he is in timeout. Let it be a timeout. We all need these at times!

4. Once he is out of timeout and calm, tell him what he did wrong and what he could do differently next time.

CHOOSE EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE:

There are different ways to discipline a toddler and you need to find out what works for your child. Utilize techniques like giving a timeout and earning or taking away privileges. Be consistent with when and how you discipline and stick to your plan! I personally never recommend spanking and the American Academy of Pediatrics does not endorse it. Most importantly, don't discipline your child while you are angry. Take a deep breath, count to ten or step away for a moment if needed.

Remember that you are not alone when it comes to figuring out how to handle toddlers. Don't be afraid to sit down with your pediatric provider for advice. Have a moms’ night out and share experiences with other mommies. Know that you will survive, and your toddler will outgrow a lot of her behaviors. Enjoy her energy and love her with all your heart—she will be grown in the blink of an eye.

5. Be sure to praise good behavior! This will hopefully help to keep him out of timeout in the future.

6. Healthychildren.org offers a lot of great advice!

early years

AGES 4-5

Children can use their fingers in a bucket of sand or shaving cream.

“It’s more fun to play with the squishy materials,” Robinson said.

Between ages 2 and 4, children can use crayons to draw pictures, getting accustomed to gripping writing utensils. Technique isn’t important at this stage, so parents shouldn’t be hard on their children, Robinson added.

Eventually parents can teach their children to make an “OK” sign with their hands before beginning to write. Students should put their pointer and thumb finger on the pencil, then rest the other three. This grip is correct for most people, but it doesn’t work for everyone, noted Robinson.

IT'S FUN TO PRACTICE!

Try these activities to strengthen hand muscles and improve fine motor skills:

• Using a plant sprayer, encourage children to water plants around the house.

• Create bracelets or necklaces to engage your children’s pointer and thumb fingers. Start with big beads and work up to smaller beads to make the task more challenging.

Fun & Games: Building Your Child's Fine Motor Skills

BY DELIA ALBERT

“Playtime” is just another phrase for “learning time.” When children engage in their favorite activities, they are actually building the foundation for many life skills, including those needed to become great writers.

Although teaching children to write may seem daunting, incorporating playtime activities can go a long way. Watching children reach these milestones can be even more exciting when they are having fun in the process.

Kourtney Robinson, a kindergarten teacher at Myra Terwilliger Elementary School, said toddlers that mold Play-Doh and maneuver objects like bottle caps are improving their hand-eye coordination, a crucial skill when learning to copy information from the board.

If a child has poor motor skills in general, Robinson encourages tracing activities.

She has noticed that lack of exposure is the most common problem among her students. She recommends starting at a basic level by engaging children though drawing.

Barbara Finch, the lead occupational therapist at Fundamental Therapy Solutions, said children can usually hold a pencil around age 1 and develop hand dominance around age 3—but what if the child doesn’t show a preference?

The signs of a child’s preferred hand can be linked with their eye dominance and preferred foot, she said. By paying careful attention to these preferences, parents can help choose the correct hand.

Children may have difficulty crossing the midline (writing with the dominant hand without changing when reaching the middle of the page). Some children even lean their bodies to one side to compensate, Finch said.

After determining hand dominance, children should work to develop adequate strength in their hands. Playing with LEGO construction pieces is a great way to build hand strength and visual motor skills, Finch suggested.

If children are still struggling, Finch recommends seeing a handwriting tutor or occupational therapist. A specialist can get to the root of the problem and teach parents how to ease their child’s anxieties. Finch said most doctors know to refer parents to these specialists when a child needs more attention in this area. 

• Have children trace over letters on a chalkboard with a paintbrush and water.

• Using grapes and toothpicks, teach children how to construct three-dimensional shapes. (Marshmallows work for this also.)

• Write letters on clothespins and let children practice making words. (Provide a template where children can clamp letters.)

• Using pipe cleaners and a colander, demonstrate how to thread pipe cleaners through the holes.

TIPS FOR LEFTIES

• Make sure children are using the correct utensils. Some teachers give left-handed children scissors intended for right-handed students. The child’s difficulty may be fixed simply by providing the right tools.

• Left-handed children often write letters and numerals reversed. Teaching children how to think left to right will prevent them from getting confused and frustrated.

Tutor Time: When to Call in Reinforcements

BY KELLY GOEDE

The scene is played out in homes all around town. A showdown—day after day, mom or dad vs. a child. Homework papers sprawled on the table in front of them, heads in hands, tears, frustration and confusion. Many times parents reach the same conclusion; their child’s academic needs are beyond what they can offer, and it’s time to call in professional help. So how do you know if you’re there, that you’re ready to hire a tutor?

In my own home, I knew when I watched the hours tick by on the clock, and we had only painfully and tearfully worked through one math equation, with my daughter not recalling how she had been taught to solve it in school. Those hours, although incredibly frustrating, were not productive and my daughter still needed help. After several months with our wonderful tutor (who is a teacher of a different grade at my daughter’s school), we have seen a boost in her confidence, and her ability to work through problems on her own has dramatically improved. Our tutor also ascertained my daughter’s learning style, giving her kinesthetic ways to learn math concepts, since that’s the way she learns best.

Lisa Morris, the guidance counselor at Waldo Community School, shared that parents can first look at their home routine before making their decision.

“Building good habits by reading daily with your children, doing homework as a part of the daily activities, and staying informed of class requirements and expectations can aid in reducing the need for outside help,” Morris said.

If you feel you are doing everything you can and your child still needs help, Morris explained that calling in a little reinforcement may be your next step. 

Morris said tutors can be helpful in several situations:

• If your child is struggling in a particular subject or area of a subject. For example, if your child is having trouble getting over a barrier in reading fluency or comprehension, a tutor can focus on that area and with extra practice and encouragement your child may be able to move to the next level.

• To boost skills for an upcoming test. Listen to your child’s teacher though. If your child is struggling in second grade, that is the time to look for help, not in January of third grade right before the FCAT.

• When the parent/child interaction is so stressed from frustration and anger that the relationship is suffering. If homework time is an enormous fight every night, and the family has the means, hiring a tutor is a way to release the pressure (although Mom and Dad are irreplaceable).

• To build confidence and make a student feel more prepared for daily class assignments. In most cases they can be of help for several months, but most students should not need a tutor for more than a year.

...is confused more often than not by his homework,

...is frustrated easily,

Signs That It Might Be Time for Outside Help

...has difficulty staying on task and focusing,

...has poor time management, or

...has slipping or failing grades.

If your child...

Sibling Sitters: Knowing When the Time is Right

BY DANIELLE MICHELS

One of the first steps on the road to independence happens long before driving a car, or even heading off to college. For both parents and children alike, one of the first steps in being independent is when you allow your child to stay home alone.

This might be the point where you have nightmarish flashbacks from scenes of the movie “Home Alone,” or you recall every frightening story you have heard on the news regarding a child being left unattended.

Don’t let your brain’s own scare tactics influence your decision.

The fact of the matter is, for many children this is the first taste of what it’s like to be a “big kid.” You allowing your child to stay home alone is not a matter of convenience (you could easily get a babysitter or a friend to look out for your child), it’s a moment where you temporarily give your child the reins and he is in control.

While there’s no set-in-stone rule in Florida legislature on what age your child has to be in order to be left unattended, Florida’s Department of Children and Families suggests not leaving children home by themselves before the age of 12.

“I think that particular parenting decision has a lot to do with the personal responsibility and maturity level of your child,” said Melissa Hutchison, a mother of three children, ages 15, 11 and 8 years old.

“We let our oldest child stay home alone when he was 12, and he was also allowed to watch his

Safety Tools for Success

Things to leave with your children to

younger sisters as well, Hutchison said. “They’re never home alone more than two hours, and they know all the rules: don’t answer the phone or open the door, no going outside and no inviting friends over.”

Although Florida’s Department of Children and Families claims that children under the age of 15 are generally not ready for the responsibility of supervising younger children, Hutchison said she looked into a local babysitting course and went by that age requirement as an indicator.

According to the American Red Cross, the Babysitting Basics course

requires students be 11 years or older and teaches them to responsibly care for infants and children under the age of 10.

Hutchison said that all of her children have exhibited behavior showing they don’t act on impulse. They understand right from wrong and they follow all of the house rules even when they’re not being watched.

“There has to be a point where you trust them. Take that leap of faith and let your child exhibit his ability to be responsible.” 

A list of emergency numbers – Keep it posted in a central area of the house, where it never gets moved (not on a loose piece of paper), so kids always know where it is.

A fire extinguisher – Make sure kids know where it is and how to use it.

A pre-prepared meal – This will prevent kids from using sharp utensils or turning on the oven/stovetop.

Cell phone – These days, many homes do not have a land line so make sure your oldest child has a cell phone he can have with or near him at all times. Even if it’s not a phone that’s in his possession 24/7, it’s a good way to introduce that new concept of responsibility as well.

Texting & Driving: The Real Rules of the New Law

BY NICOLE GERMANY

Every teenager is connected to one thing, his cellphone. We’ve become part of a culture that is constantly texting, Instagramming and tweeting. So how do we teach our teens to put the cellphones down while behind the wheel?

With distracted driving being responsible for far too many accidents on the road, it’s time for something to be done. The “Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law” was passed in October 2013 and prohibits the use of a wireless communications device while driving. The texting while driving ban is considered a secondary offense, meaning a driver would have to be pulled over for another violation first to actually get a ticket.

Ben Tobias, Gainesville Police Department’s public information officer, said that since the ban has been in effect, 25 citations have been given in Gainesville. The majority of the tickets issued were to drivers between the ages of 19-26, but drivers as old as 56 have been ticketed for the offense. The consequences of texting and

dangers of texting and driving. According to a wireless survey AT&T conducted, 75 percent of teens said that texting and driving is “common” among their friends. In order to prevent distracted driving, many wireless providers have created free mobile apps that automatically send a customizable autoreply to incoming texts to let people know you’re behind the wheel.

In 2012, the federal Department of Transportation reported that distracted driving-related accidents killed 3,328 Americans and that 21 percent of all fatal auto accidents involved teens ages 15-

The Department of Transportation found that sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent—when driving 55 mph—of driving the length of an entire football field blind.

driving not only put the driver at risk, but everyone else on the road around you. AT&T has started the “It Can Wait” campaign in order to educate drivers of all ages on the

19. Even though you think taking your eyes away for a few seconds won’t do any harm, you’re very wrong. The Department of Transportation found that sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes away

from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent—when driving 55 mph—of driving the length of an entire football field blind.

The more we educate our teens, the less likely we will have to worry. It’s important to not only set a good example for them by putting our own devices away, but also helping them understand that a text message can wait is crucial. Encourage them to put their cellphones in the backseat or download one of the apps that notifies callers when they’re driving and can’t respond right away. Also try offering incentives for good driving habits and consequences for distracted driving habits.

If there’s one place we don’t want our teens to be distracted, it’s the car. So make your teen take the pledge to never text and drive, and prevent one less accident from claiming a life. 

Everyyear on the fourth Thursday of April, daughters and sons join their parents to learn the ins and outs of the adult world. This year “Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” is celebrating its 21st anniversary on April 24th. The 2014 theme is “Plant a Seed, Grow a Future,” with the hope of continuing to help parents share their work lives with their children, giving them an introduction to Mom or Dad’s career. The goal of the program is to engage boys and girls with various activities to teach them about the work environment. Parents/mentors are encouraged to show their children that an education leads to a bright future in the career they choose.

Bringing your child to work can be a learning experience at any age:

Ages 3-7

• Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items to find around the office and provide a prize when they find them all.

• Bingo: Make a card with pictures of supplies on it and as you use each item have them put a mark on that picture.

• Draw a picture of the office.

Ages 8-12

• Take pictures of items A-Z: Let them use your phone or camera to take pictures around the office to become familiar with different jobs/activities that occur in your workplace.

• Highlight words they don’t know in documents/forms.

• Answer the phone using a polite, professional greeting.

Ages 13-18

• Design a future career plan: Have them map out a plan that includes what they hope to accomplish in the future and how they will get there.

• Make a list of skillsets: Brainstorm their strengths and weaknesses.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

BY NICOLE GERMANY

• Organize documents/ paperwork.

• Customer Service 101: Roleplay different scenarios that occur in a typical week with your customers/clients. 

happy community

April

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY, GIGGLE!

APRIL 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30

Barnyard Buddies

3 p.m.

Morningside Nature Center

APRIL 4

Frogs and Friends

2 p.m.

Morningside Nature Center

APRIL 5

Children's Crafts During Spring Festival

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

America's First 3D Fluorescent Art Museum Newberry Robertroberg@gmail.com

APRIL 5

Egg Drop Alachua

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Eggdropalachua.com

APRIL 5

Kinetix Fitness Extravaganza

4 – 7 p.m.

Haile Market Square Kinetixpt.com

APRIL 5 – 6

Spring Arts Festival Springartsfestival.com

APRIL 6

Spotlight on Youth

2 p.m.

Fine Arts Hall at Santa Fe College Cdsfl.org/youth/spotlight-on-youth

APRIL 6

Little Red Riding Hood

3 p.m.

Sun Country Dance Theatre

Performing Arts Center at P.K. Yonge dance@suncountrysports.com

APRIL 8

Team Dynamo and Cohen & Montini Orthodontics Wing Bowl

6:30 p.m. Splitz

APRIL 12

O2B Eggstravaganza

9:30 – Noon

O2bKids Supercenter O2bkids.com

APRIL 12

Teen/Tween 3D Fluorescent Painting Class

2 – 4 p.m.

America's First 3D Fluorescent Art Museum Newberry

Robertroberg@gmail.com

APRIL 12

Orange and Blue Football Game

TBA

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

APRIL 13

Gainesville Duck Derby

1 – 4 p.m.

Westside Park Gainesvilleduckderby.org

APRIL 14

Passover begins at sunset

APRIL 14 – 21

Spring Break

Queen of Peace Catholic Academy, St. Patrick Interparish School and St. Francis Catholic High School

APRIL 19

Earth Day Exploration

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Florida Museum of Natural History Flmnh.ufl.edu

April Showers...

APRIL 19

Easter Egg Hunt

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

11 a.m.

APRIL 20

Happy Easter!

APRIL 22

Earth Day

APRIL 26

High Springs Pioneer Days Celebration

10 a.m.

Downtown High Springs

happy community

MAY 10

Moonlight Walk

7 p.m.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

MAY 2

Empty Bowls 2013 Luncheon and Silent Auction

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church

MAY 2

Frogs and Friends

2 p.m.

Morningside Nature Center

MAY 2

Salsa de Mayo First Friday

5 – 10 p.m. Downtown Gainesville

MAY 3

12th Annual Gainesville Jazz Festival

7 – 10 p.m.

Tioga Town Center

MAY 4

O2B a Kid Again

O2bKids Supercenter O2bkids.com

MAY 5

Cinco de Mayo

MAY 7, 14, 21 & 28

Barnyard Buddies

3 p.m.

Morningside Nature Center

MAY 9

Uptown Art Hop

6 – 9 p.m.

Thornebrook Village

MAY 9

Leadercast

Westside Baptist Church

Leadercastgainesville.com

MAY 11

Happy Mother's Day!

MAY 14-15

Cirque du Soleil: Michael Jackson, THE IMMORTAL World Tour

Stephen C. O'Connell Center Cirquedusoleil.com

MAY 17

Greater Gator Scavenger Hunt

11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Shucks

MAY 18

Ask a Scientist: International Museum Day

1 – 4 p.m.

Florida Museum of National History Flmnh.ufl.edu

MAY 25

The Bob Rose Golf Scramble

11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Haile Plantation Golf and Country Club

MAY 26

Memorial Day Schools closed