North Shore Children & Families by Julie Pierce Onos

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Welcome Back to School! Mascara, Old Friends & Other Superheroes – Part 3 Confidence from Goal Setting Student Health: Overloaded Backpacks Healthy Snacks: Apples! Disney on a Budget Book Review Community Calendar

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SEPTEMBER 2014

2 North Shore Children & Families

Family & Friends

Mascara, Old Friends & Other Superheroes – Part 3: A Chemo/Radiation Vacation by Suzanne Provencher, Publisher/Editor

sometimes, it’s easier said than done as we all know too well. But we will try!

As many of you know, I have been helping one of my BFFs with her cancer battle these past 5 months. We are really more like sisters, sharing our friendship for over 45 years. We have just finished her last round of chemo for this course. Two weeks of daily radiation will keep the cancer from spreading to her brain. And then we will get a chemo/radiation vacation.

We are planning an end of summer trip, where we plan to visit her alma mater, Salve Regina, and tour the Rhode Island and Connecticut Coast. Well, let’s be honest. Shopping is at the top of our list and we plan to shop till we drop, sharing laughs and “scores” along the way.

My greatest challenge is finding ways to help keep my friend anchored in the here and now – instead of what may happen next month or the next month or the next month. While we have successfully shrunken her cancer and stopped its spread – they are also pretty certain that it will start to act back up at some point. I pray that positive thoughts and a few other things will further keep it at bay. But for now – we try our best to live for today. We try to focus on our blessings, as I strive to come up with quotes and analogies, that she loves, and that make sense to her. And we try to have good things to look forward to each and every day. It’s not really much different than how all of us strive to live and survive our own challenges in our own lives each and every day. And

I am still trying to convince her that good nutrition is very important – especially now that the chemo is over for now. Healthy eating is something that we can do to continue her battle in the most productive way. I am hoping that she will be more open to preparing healthy foods – now that her calendar will be mostly clear of medical appointments. Because of her MS, she no longer works – and I hope that she continues to make her health her new job and number one priority. She has to want this for herself as much as I want it for her. You can lead a horse to water…but you can’t make her eat kale… I am very proud of my friend. She has handled her battle with bravery, grace and determination. Whether I am holding her hand, wiping a tear or making her laugh – I am here for whatever she needs. And she knows this. I love that she really knows this. It fuels me to keep fighting alongside her. I will not let

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her go without a good fight. And she is not going anywhere, if she has anything to say about it. I love this about her. We wonder what her hair will look like when it returns? As a former bottle blonde – what color will it be? Will it be curly or smooth? She told me that she doesn’t mind not having hair – as this would be something else for her to have to deal with in her daily preparations to face the world. I am amazed by her attitude and grateful that she feels this way. For now – her growing collection of hats and hair pieces are suiting her just fine. If you have ever battled cancer yourself – or alongside a family member or friend – I welcome you to share your tips and stories with me. What special things made you or your friend feel better? How did you stay in the “now” – and not focus on the “what ifs” that cause anxiety and depression? What made you or your friend smile? Please share your tips and tales with me via email, using the subject line “Cancer Warriors”, and email it to me at suzanne@northshorefamilies.com. Thank you, in advance, for sharing your personal journey and advice with both of us. As the final days of summer fade and the fall begins, I wish all cancer warriors and their soldiers the very best in their fights – and I dream of the day when we finally find the cure. Until next time ~ Suzanne

North Shore Children & Families

From Suzanne Provencher, Publisher & Editor: Hello again, dear readers! Welcome back to school! I wish all students, teachers, support staffs and parents the very best this school year!

Attention Parents: If you are considering an independent secondary school for your pre-teen or teenager, there are 2 Secondary School Fairs coming up this month: Pike School, Andover: Wed., Sept. 17, 5-7pm (see ad on page 13) Glen Urquhart School, Beverly: Mon., Sept. 22, 5:30-8pm (see ad on page 4) These annual fairs feature dozens of school representatives that you can meet, while picking up lots of good information. You can literally meet with many schools in a few hours!

Attention Advertisers – October Issue Advertising Deadlines: If you need to advertise in our October issue – and if you require any ad production assistance to create or revise your ad – please confirm your ad size and submit all ad materials and/or ad copy changes by noon, Wed., Sept. 17. If you will be submitting a completed ad, one that does not require any ad production assistance, simply confirm your ad size by noon, Fri., Sept. 19 – then submit your completed ad by noon, Tues., Sept. 23. To see our advertising rates, sizes, available discounts, ad production specifications and more, please visit us at www.northshorefamilies.com/advertise – or contact me at suzanne@northshorefamilies.com for further assistance. We’ve Got the North Shore Covered – Since 2007!

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL! North Shore Children & Families

www.northshorefamilies.com P.O. Box 150 Nahant, MA 01908-0150 781.584.4569

Suzanne M. Provencher Publisher/Editor suzanne@northshorefamilies.com Designed by Group One Graphics Printed by Seacoast Media Group Please see our Calendar in this issue for our upcoming deadlines. Published and distributed monthly throughout the North Shore, 10x per year, and always online. Information contained in NSC&F is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. Individual readers are responsible for their use of any information provided. NSC&F is not liable or responsible for the effects of use of information contained in NSC&F. Established 2007.

INDEPENDENT SECONDARY SCHOOL FAIR Monday, September 22, 2014 • 5:30-8:00pm Hosted by Glen Urquhart School • 74 Hart Street Beverly, MA 01915 978.927.1064 x111 • gus.org Gather information and meet representatives from over 90 boarding and day schools in New England and beyond. Any family interested in independent secondary schools is welcome. The event is free and open to the public. Fair is co-sponsored by the following North Shore Independent Elementary and Middle Schools: Brookwood School, Manchester; Glen Urquhart School, Beverly; Shore Country Day School, Beverly; Tower School, Marblehead.

Questions? Contact Elaine Collupy, Administrative Assistant and Registrar, at 978-927-1064 x111. Austin Preparatory School, MA Baylor School, TN Belmont Hill School, MA Berkshire School, MA Berwick Academy, ME Bishop Fenwick School, MA Bishop's College School, Quebec Blair Academy, NJ Brewster Academy, NH Brooks School, MA Buxton School, MA Cambridge School of Weston, MA Canterbury School, CT Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School, MA Choate Rosemary Hall, CT Commonwealth School, MA Concord Academy, MA Covenant Christian Academy, MA Cushing Academy, MA Dana Hall School, MA Darlington School, GA Deerfield Academy, MA Dublin School, NH Emma Willard School, NY Ethel Walker School, CT Florida Air Academy, FL Fryeburg Academy, ME Garrison Forest School, MD Gould Academy, ME Governor's Academy, MA

Groton School, MA Hebron Academy, ME High Mowing School, NH Hotchkiss School, CT Hun School of Princeton, NJ Hyde School, CT/ME Kent School, CT Kimball Union Academy, NH Landmark School, MA Lawrence Academy, MA Lexington Christian Academy, MA Loomis Chaffee School, CT Madeira School, VA Marianapolis Preparatory School, CT Marvelwood School, CT Middlesex School, MA Millbrook School, NY Milton Academy, MA Miss Hall's School, MA Miss Porter's School, CT New Hampton School, NH Newman School, MA Noble & Greenough School, MA Northfield Mount Hermon School, MA Peddie School, NJ Perkiomen School, PA Phelps School, PA Phillips Academy Andover, MA Phillips Exeter Academy, NH Pingree School, MA Pomfret School, CT

Portsmouth Abbey School, RI Proctor Academy, NH Putney School, VT Ridley College, Ontario Ross School, NY Salisbury School, CT Shore Country Day School, MA Sparhawk, MA St. George's School, RI St. Mark's School, MA St. Paul's School, NH Stanstead College, QC Canada Stoneleigh-Burnham School, MA Suffield Academy, CT Taft School, CT Thacher School, CA Tilton School, NH Trinity-Pawling School, NY Vermont Academy, VT Waldorf High School of Mass Bay, MA Walnut Hill School for the Arts, MA Waring School, MA Webb Schools, CA Westminster School, CT Westover School, CT White Mountain School, NH Wilbraham and Monson Academy, MA Winchendon School, MA Winsor School, MA Worcester Academy, MA

National Self-Improvement Month

Confidence from Goal Setting by Julie Pierce Onos I recently learned that September is National Self-Improvement Month. Initially, I thought the timing was strange. Shouldn’t it be in January when we are all making our New Year’s resolutions? Or at least in February, when we remember that we haven’t started working on achieving those resolutions? From my many years of schooling and of being a parent, September does make sense since it is the start of the ‘Back to School’ season for us here on the North Shore. The season includes new clothes, new supplies and new vows to be studious or in a different social circle. How often do we or did we start a new school year off with high hopes? By recognizing National SelfImprovement Month, you can have more than just hopes. You can gain confidence through introspection, setting goals and experiencing success in selfimprovement. “You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.” ~ C.S. Lewis Goals can be related to just about anything - health, career, family or pastimes. Goal setting is an important skill for adults and children alike. It is one thing to say you want to improve, let’s use finances as an example, but it’s quite another thing to actually do it. Let’s unpack this example together. When a person says he wants to improve his finances, it’s not that he doesn’t understand money. What’s more likely is that he understands money and feels it doesn’t stretch far enough. Five Steps of Successful Goal Setting: 1. Determine where you are right now. 2. Determine where you would like to be. 3. Determine ways to get there. 4. Determine if the chosen method makes sense and is reasonable to achieve. 5. Work towards your goal and continually re-evaluate your progress. Examine these steps in the context of our example: 1. Determine where you are. There are a lot of ways you could determine where you are financially. Start with a series of questions. What is your credit score? What are your debts? How much do you pay out each month for bills and expenses? How much income are you bringing in? Is there something else that you need? Are you saving? The answers to these questions provide a clear picture of your financial life. 2. Determine where you would like to be. Choose one goal to work on at a time. The goal needs to be concrete, measurable and have a set time frame. In terms of finances, choose whether you want to work on the expense side of your financial life or the income side. For this example, let’s assume the individual is sick of paying his student loan. The balance is $15,000 and he is currently paying $150 a month. (We’ll ignore interest for the sake of an easy example.) At this rate, it will take 8 years and 4 months to pay off the loan. Where he would like to be: free of the student loan debt as fast as possible. 3. Determine ways to get there. Come up with 2 to 3 ways to achieve your goal. Here the focus is on time. Continued on page 7

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Confidence from Goal Setting Continued from page 5

The goal could be to pay off those loans in 4 years. If you do the math – the payment would increase to $312.50 a month. 4. Determine if the chosen method makes sense and is reasonable to achieve. If he has the extra money available, great! But what if he realizes he doesn’t? That’s great, too! Why? Because this information is necessary to truly set an achievable goal. Perhaps he cannot increase his payments to $312.50, but he could increase them to $200 each month. This achieves the goal of paying off the loan faster than 8+ years. The point is to start with something that you can finish. Yes, it will take hard work, time and discipline, but it will happen. Don’t start with something unsustainable; think things through so that you can reach your goal. 5. Work towards your goal and continually re-evaluate your progress. Intentionally check in on yourself and re-evaluate where you are. Have at least 2 re-evaluations during the time period you have set for your goal. See what’s working, what you could improve on and what is ineffective as well. You may find that greater discipline in one area leads you to be able to be more disciplined in another area. Goal setting as part of working toward self-improvement is relevant for all of us regardless of age. It’s especially relevant for parents with children. Being able to model goal setting and goal achievement to our children helps them to attain this important life skill. As parents, our job is to help each of our children find their way as adult members of society. There is a proverb that says, “the plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance”. Can you imagine our community if a large part of the adult population had the ability to set positive goals and diligently work towards them? That would be pretty amazing! It starts at home. Talk to your older children about your goals and what you’re doing to work on them. Don’t feel pressured to only share successes. Everyone fails sometimes – what’s important is how you get back up and get back to work on your goals. Resilience pays off in the end; and it’s important for children to both witness this and experience it. I encourage you to recognize National Self-Improvement Month and initiate conversations in your home about goal setting. Have each person set one goal and also set a family goal together. Family goals could be playing a game together once a week or being sure to eat a weekly meal together regardless of (or perhaps because of!) how much our schedules encourage us to constantly be on the go. For children, as they go back to school, help them set concrete goals. Avoid glib resolutions like, “I will do well in school”. An example of a concrete goal could be that a student completes and turns in every homework assignment on time for English class. Working consistently on a subject produces greater mastery of the subject matter – and in the long run, this increased proficiency should show up on tests and other assignments and in turn, lead to better grades. The purpose of goal setting with your children is two-fold. First, it serves to help the child do what is necessary. Second, it provides the child with practice in self-discipline and planning – important life skills. As each person experiences setting and achieving goals, their confidence will grow. This experience is sure to have both short term and long term improvement effects on our life skills, relationships and successes. Julie Pierce Onos is a married mother of two girls and two dogs from Beverly. She expertly delivers technical knowledge in accessible language that is easy and useful to implement. She is a graduate of Yale University with a BA degree in Sociology and later obtained an MBA in Finance, focusing on the financial implications of policies and procedures. In addition to working as an auditor, she is a published author and blogs at christianmommyblogger.com.

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Student Health

Watch Out for that Loaded Backpack & Poorly Designed Computer Workstation The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society Inc.’s Back to School Check List Offers Parents and Students Healthy Tips Now is the time of year when parents across the Commonwealth prepare their kids for back to school. Besides school supplies and locker essentials, there are some important health tips parents could use! The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society Inc. offers the following back to school check list that includes tips for backpack safety and computer ergonomics. Believe or not, the very item we send our child to school with every day can cause health problems. The backpack that our children use on a daily basis can cause pain and discomfort. “Improperly worn and overstuffed backpacks can cause spinal issues in young children,” says Dr. Scott Darragh, Bay State Centre Family

Chiropractic, LLC and vice president of Public Information and Education with The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society Inc. “Many of these problems can be prevented by checking fit and size for your child. Now as part of a regular chiropractor check up, kids will bring in their backpacks to make sure they are utilizing the backpacks correctly.” With the workload increasing each year as well as the amount of books being brought home, here are some guidelines from The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society Inc. on backpack safety:

back. For example, a 50-pound child should not carry more than 5 pounds.

• Make sure the child’s backpack weights no more than 5 to 10 percent of their body weight. A heavier backpack will cause the child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her

• Where it sits makes a big difference. A backpack should never land more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing the child to lean

forward when walking, which distorts their posture. • Urge a child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain. The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your

child’s body. Straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal misalignment and pain. • Use rollerpacks or backpacks on wheels with caution. Children tend to overload these packs because they are on wheels and then need to haul them up bus and school stairs, resulting in injury. Many school districts have banned rollerpacks because they clutter hallways, resulting in dangerous trips and falls. • A backpack with individualized compartments helps in positioning the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child’s back. As students get older, they use a computer on a daily basis and many students have not been taught the proper way to work at a computer to avoid potential injuries such as repetitive motion injuries. Teaching kids now the proper way to use the computer workstation can help to avoid poor working habits later in life and it can also help avoid repetitive motion injuries (RMI) such as carpal

tunnel syndrome and chronic pain in the hands, back, neck and shoulders. Poor work habits and computer workstations that don’t fit a child’s body during the developing years can have harmful physical effects that can last a lifetime. The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society, Inc. suggests the following for proper computer ergonomics: • Position the computer monitor so the top of the screen is at or below the child’s eye level. This can be accomplished by taking the computer off its base or stand, or having the child sit on firm pillows or phone books to reach the desired height. • Make sure the chair at the workstation fits the child correctly. An ergonomic back cushion, pillow or a rolled-up towel can be placed in the small of the child’s back for added back support. There should be two inches between the front edge of the seat and the back of the knees. The chair should have arm supports so that elbows are resting within a 70 to 135 degree angle to the computer keyboard.

North Shore Children & Families • Wrists should be held in a neutral position while typing – not angled up or down. The mousing surface should be close to the keyboard so your child doesn’t have to reach or hold the arm away from the body. • The child’s knees should be positioned at an approximate 90 to 120 degree angle. To accomplish this angle, feet can be placed on a foot rest, box, stool or similar object. • Reduce eyestrain by making sure there is adequate lighting and that there is no glare on the monitor screen. Use an antiglare screen if necessary. • Urge your child’s school or PTA officials to provide education on correct computer ergonomics and to install ergonomically correct workstations.

Visit your chiropractor if pain and discomfort is a problem for you or your child. For more information, please visit www.masschiro.org. The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society Inc. is a non-profit professional service organization of doctors of chiropractic in this state dedicated to the advancement of the chiropractic profession.

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Healthy Snacks

An Apple for the Teacher by Mary Higgins Are you through with that back to school shopping spree for notebooks, pens, pencils, calendars, staplers, tissues, laptops, cell phones and new apps – ready to face the excitement of a new school year? Have you survived the sale on new shoes, new clothes, everyone’s visits to the dentist and the pediatrician? Did you remember the apple for your child’s teacher? Have you ever wondered where that now-outdated custom of bringing a shiny red apple to the teacher originated? Before I answer that question, let’s look at reasons for buying apples in the first place. In September, these juicy fruits ripen and begin to fall from the trees. Apples can be sweet, sour or tart; red, green or yellow. Who doesn’t enjoy biting into a juicy red apple? Apples pair well with aged cheese, can be diced and added to that morning oatmeal or spread with peanut or almond butter. And of course baked apples, warm from the oven, make a satisfying dessert when nights grow cooler. You can add diced apples to your pancake batter on a weekend morning, serve sautéed apple slices alongside the pork, relish an apple tart or drink cider made from fermented apples. The list of things to do with apples during the Fall is endless. Besides being crunchy and delicious, ever wonder what makes them so beneficial?

Nutrient Profile: What nutrients are found in that ordinary 3-inch apple? An apple is a carbohydrate food containing 90-95 calories and comes in low on the glycemic index due to its gel-like pectin that slows down absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. The apple contains a fruit sugar called fructose and many compounds called polyphenols, which hold a multitude of benefits. At the market, choose firm apples free of bruises, preferably organic, to avoid pesticide residue, then rinse them well. Apples are on the Dirty Dozen list which the Environmental Working Group provides every year to alert the consumer about produce containing large amounts of pesticide residue. In addition to the cancer-causing chemicals that grow into the flesh and skin, non-organic apples are often coated with wax to make them shiny and look more appealing. They’ll need to be scrubbed with a small brush to remove the wax. Don’t throw out that apple peel! Another reason to buy organic apples – the skin of the apple is loaded with phytonutrients such as quercetin, also found in the white pith of citrus fruits, that acts as a natural anti-histamine. If you suffer from allergies, you are particularly familiar with the value of antihistamines that put a temporary halt to runny noses, itchy eyes and sneezing. If you choose a red apple, the skin is providing anthocyanins, the red pigment also found in red grapes and cherries, with its most powerful anti-inflammatory action. Even the seeds, which humans do not eat, contains a nutrient called phloridzin. We do not eat the seeds because other compounds in them are poisonous. Don’t worry if you accidentally swallow one.

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Protection of Heart and Lungs: Research shows some promising effects from the flavonols found in apples on heart health in both men (Lancet, October 1993), and women (Epidemiology, November 2001). In both studies, those who consumed apples experienced a smaller risk of heart disease due to a decreased rate of oxidation which is responsible for cardiovascular disease. Oxidation also causes the development of rust (like the underside of the car, the chain-link fence, the wrought-iron grate), as well as the browning of apples when we slice into them or even bruise them a little. In the body, oxidation is damaging to blood vessels and creates atherosclerosis. The good news is that regular intake of apples lowers cholesterol, both total cholesterol and the unfavorable portion of cholesterol, the LDL-part. The people studied were eating whole fresh apples. Sorry, apple juice and apple cider donuts, as yummy as they are, won’t lower cholesterol but can be enjoyed on occasion. Apples possess powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Every day we see commercials on TV for anti-inflammatories to control pain and inflammation. Inflammation is the response of the immune system during injury and plays a big role in the production of fever. Populations eating many apples are found to have one marker of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP), greatly reduced. When your CRP is high, your doctor is aware that inflammation exists somewhere in your body. Early research on the benefits of apples for the health of our lungs shows some promise. The research was done on 582 men and women living in Hawaii (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, November 1999). Those who ate apples, onions and white grapefruit were protected from developing lung cancer. Apples also benefit anyone with asthma. Clear Skin and Strong Bones: Apples contain minerals and vitamin C. The 10 mg. of vitamin C adds protection to tissues all over the body. Vitamin C, found in many foods including your orange juice, potatoes and peppers, scavenges nasty particles called free radicals in the body. When free radicals roam about searching for electrons to attach to, they cause the immune system to break down. Vitamin C is also very important for skin and connective tissue. Connective tissue that joins cells together also makes up ligaments and tendons in the body. When we get injured, even with a small paper cut, our body needs to use vitamin C-rich collagen to form the clot that forms over the cut. Without the formation of a clot, we would continue to bleed. Apples are loaded with minerals beneficial for our bones as well. Ever heard of Boron? This mineral works with the calcium in your diet to maintain the structure of the bone. You don’t want that calcium you work so hard to attain, leaking out into your bloodstream. Another mineral found in apples is potassium. The American diet is loaded with the mineral sodium, which the intake of, over time, leads to high blood pressure in some people. At one time, high blood pressure was a disease of middle-aged people. But today, teenagers with their high consumption of processed, packaged snack foods are being diagnosed with this condition as well as high cholesterol. We can prevent the onset of these conditions as well as childhood obesity by offering fruit and vegetable snacks rich in potassium. This important mineral lowers blood pressure and is needed for muscles to contract, including those inside the heart. Help for Weight Control: Do you snack while cooking dinner? Sometimes it’s too difficult waiting for dinner to come out of the oven without reaching for something crunchy. But you may want to consider reaching for one apple about 15 minutes before you sit down to eat. You’ll likely eat 100 calories less at that meal. Apples contain about 3 grams of fiber depending on their size. Two types of Continued on page 12

12 North Shore Children & Families Apples Continued from page 11

fiber in them are beneficial to the digestive tract. Both the inner white flesh (soluble fiber) and the outer skin (insoluble fiber) keep digested food moving through the intestinal tract. The pectin in apples has a beneficial influence on blood sugar. Carbohydrate foods such as vegetables and fruit, along with starches such as crackers and bread, ultimately break down into a form of sugar the body can use, called glucose. A higher level of glucose in the blood requires the pancreas to secrete more insulin needed to push the sugar into cells found outside the bloodstream. The polyphenols in apples slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, thereby reducing the need for the pancreas to produce excessive amounts of insulin. Now how did that custom of pioneer children bringing an apple to the teacher come about? Apples are harvested in the Fall and the children, back then, worked on the farms. Teachers, poorly paid, had little time to grow food and were often given food by their students, invited to eat with families and given baskets of food for goodwill. Eventually the baskets of produce dwindled down to one very shiny apple held out in a tiny hand, maybe a symbol of good will between the student and his new teacher. Mary Higgins is a nutrition educator who writes about food for several websites. She graduated from Simmons College with a Bachelor’s degree in both Nutrition and Education. She studied Exercise Science and received her Master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She has worked as a Sports Nutritionist and personal trainer at YMCA’s in the Greater Boston area and is certified by both the American Council on Exercise and the American Academy of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists. Mary enjoys photography and often uses her own pictures to complement her writing. She is the author of a children’s picture book, Daddy Trains for the Marathon, a family-friendly story about a young father’s journey to lose weight, which was first published in 2011.

Reader Contribution

Planning A Disney Vacation on A Budget by Tiffany Bairos Planning a Disney vacation can be overwhelming and expensive! You want to get the most bang for your buck. There are a few things you can do to save loads of money.

1. Plan your vacation 1 year in advance.To save the most money, you have to do your research well ahead of your vacation. Every year, you should be planning your next year’s vacation. You can save thousands by doing this. The time of year that you visit Disney can have a huge impact on your wallet and how enjoyable your vacation is. Once you decide on the perfect week for you to visit, sign up for alerts from your favorite airline(s). The day your airfare for your vacation departure day will be

released, be prepared to book it. The airfare will very rarely be any lower than it is on its first day available. For example, JetBlue usually releases its fares 6-10 months ahead of time. I recently purchased airfare through JetBlue on its first day for $140 each way. Two months later, my flight down was on sale for $569 and still is. This was still 4-5 months before my trip. I couldn’t afford to go for that price. I have a Disney cruise booked for October that I booked last December. I paid $2,600 for the 4 of us. The price of the same cruise is now $1,000 more than that! If I had waited until 6 months before my trip to book, I’d already have spent $2,716 more for the same exact vacation!

2. You have to weigh different options

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North Shore Children & Families or even your airline. There are also deals to be found on park tickets. If you sign up for the monthly newsletter from mousesavers.com, there is a link in it from Undercover Tourist. Their prices are the cheapest I’ve seen. The ticket prices include tax and shipping.

4. Staying at a Disney hotel has its

so you’re not paying for luxuries you will not use. For example, Disney offers the park hopper option with its tickets. For a substantial fee, you can visit more than one park per day. If you’re traveling with small children, chances are it’s taxing enough to get them to one park per day. There’s a lot of walking and carrying things around. If you plan your days well, you can visit one park per day and save some money.

If there’s a restaurant that you want to visit inside the park, make sure you book your reservation in advance for the day you will visit that park.

3. You can always do better buying things a la carte than booking one package through Disney. You can definitely find cheaper airfare on your own (you booked well enough ahead!). Booking airfare through Disney is not only more expensive, but you cannot choose your flights

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perks, but you could save a bundle staying off property. There are many resorts that are also timeshares that you can stay at even if you’re not a timeshare owner. I love Orange Lake and Sheraton Vistana. For roughly $250/night, you can stay at a beautiful resort with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a full kitchen, washing machine and plenty of room to spread out. That means putting your kids to bed in their own bedroom and watching whatever you want on TV! Having a washing machine means you can pack less and having a kitchen means you can eat a quick breakfast

much cheaper than in a restaurant. Of course, this also means you have to rent a car and pay to park at Disney, so you have to weigh the pros and cons.

5. If you do decide to stay in a Disney property, the rates vary during peak and off-peak times of year. If you book a hotel room far ahead of time and they offer a sale as your dates approach, you can be refunded the difference, so book away! So you can go to Disney without spending a fortune. Although a package deal might sound like it should be cheaper, with a little research you can get better deals yourself. Most importantly, plan ahead of time for the best rates. This will also give you more time to look forward to your fabulous vacation! Tiffany Bairos is a mother of 2 boys from the North Shore. She is a dental hygienist who enjoys planning vacations and traveling with her family.

14 North Shore Children & Families

Children’s Book Review

When Elephant Met Giraffe Written and illustrated by Paul Gude; Disney-Hyperion, $16.99, Ages 3-5 by Cathy Ballou Mealey

(Photo Credit: Disney Publishing Worldwide)

For children, September is about getting back to school, settling into routines and making new friends. But how do you become friends with someone who is very different from you? Paul Gude’s new book, When Elephant Met Giraffe, is a funny, upbeat collection of simple short stories that will entertain young readers while helping to answer that question.

Early in the morning, Elephant bounces out of bed, eager to get to the water hole with her puffy pink polka-dotted floaty. At the water hole she meets Giraffe, who doesn’t say hello or answer any of Elephant’s many, many questions. In fact, Giraffe says nothing at all. Elephant leaves in a huff, but then spends some time reading about giraffes. What she learns leads her back to the water hole and paves the

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way to a wonderful new friendship. Gude’s digital illustrations are cheerful and bright, thickly outlined in black with minimal detail. Clear blue sky, rolling green hills and pale tan sand provide a simple static backdrop that draws attention to the expressions on the animal’s faces. Did you look carefully at the cover and see “Elephant” in thick, block gray letters, while “Giraffe” is written in narrow yellow and brown spotted text? Clever! After the two new pals waddle in the water hole, their second story is about making pretzels, and a big mess, while cooperating. The third chapter (The Bossy Pirate) is a delightful tale of finding ways to compromise during an imaginative round of dress-up. Each story, though brief, is humorous and well-paced while the lessons are understated and subtle. The text is simple enough to work as an early reader for older kids as well as a funny storybook for the preschool set. Elephant and Giraffe are appealing and relatable in their child-like enthusiasm and sense of adventure, yet they are distinctly different characters. Elephant is consistently bubbly and upbeat, throwing herself wholeheartedly into every activity. Giraffe plays counterpoint as a reserved, gentle soul who will particularly appeal to shy or introverted readers. Together, they are a dynamite duo! Be sure to add When Elephant Met Giraffe to your list of good buddy books to read. Cathy Ballou Mealey is a picture book writer and mom to two great kids. She lives in Lynnfield, MA and shares book reviews through Twitter via @CatBallouMealey. Cathy borrowed When Elephant Met Giraffe from her local library, where she discovers wonderful new stories every week.

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For complete listing accuracy, we recommend that you call ahead or check the websites listed. Featured listings do not constitute an endorsement from this Publisher and we encourage our readers to always do their own research. SIGN UP NOW: Aztec SoccerTots offers a free trial class, prorated rates, sibling discounts and $10 off first session; see ad on page 2! www.aztectots.com It’s never too early to start saving for your child’s college! Open a MEFA UFund College Investing Plan account with Fidelity Investments; see ad on page 6. www.fidelity.com/ufund Teach your kids to save like a pro with Dustin Pedroia! Open A Gold Star Saver with just $10 and Salem Five will match it! See ad on page 10; www.salemfive.com/goldstarsaver. SEPTEMBER 2: Boston Ballet School’s North Shore Studio Open House, 56:30pm, at the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA, Marblehead. www.bostonballet.org/school SEPTEMBER 17: Secondary School Fair at Pike School, Andover, 5-7pm. Meet with over 70 secondary schools in one night; see ad on page 13. SEPTEMBER 17 (NOON): AD DEADLINE: If you need to advertise in our October issue, and if you need our ad production assistance, please confirm your ad size and submit your ad materials by NOON TODAY! You can see our display ad rates, sizes, available discounts & more at www.northshorefamilies.com/advertise or contact suzanne@northshorefamilies.com.

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North Shore Children & Families OCTOBER 15: Brookwood School, Manchester, presents: 4 to 14 Speakers Series: Parenting Elementary School Kids. Bruce Feiler, one of America’s most thoughtful and popular voices on contemporary life, comes to campus to discuss his work, The Secrets of Happy Families, a top-five New York Times bestseller. See ad on page 5; for tickets, please visit www.brookwood.edu. OCTOBER 23: College Financial Aid Workshop, 78pm, free for teens & parents at Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, S. Hamilton. Presented by Certified College Planning Specialist Jim Femia. There are billions of dollars available in need-based and merit-based aid available every year to assist students in paying for college. In order to receive financial aid, the proper paperwork must be submitted accurately and on time. Many of these forms, FAFSA, CSS Profile, Institutional Forms, etc. can be longer and more complicated than the

federal tax forms. This workshop is designed to introduce the financial aid process and provide helpful hints to potentially increase your financial aid eligibility. www.hwlibrary.org OCTOBER 31: Open House at Waring School, Beverly; see ad on page 2. NOVEMBER 1: Sustainability Fair at Brookwood School, Manchester, 10am-2pm; see ad on page 7! NOVEMBER 12: Middle School Open House at Shore Country Day School, Beverly, 6-8pm; see ad on page 11. NOVEMBER 14: Open House at Waring School, Beverly; see ad on page 2. Please visit us online at www.northshorefamilies.com/events for more calendar listings for North Shore parents, children & families!

SEPTEMBER 22: Independent Secondary School Fair at Glen Urquhart School, Beverly, 5:30-8pm. Meet with over 80 schools in one night; see ad on page 4. SEPTEMBER 24: Open House at HarborlightStoneridge Montessori School, Beverly, 9-10:30am; see ad on page 8! www.h-sms.org

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Happy Birthday, Dad! OCTOBER 8: Open House at HarborlightStoneridge Montessori School, Beverly, 9-10:30am; see ad on page 8! www.h-sms.org OCTOBER 10: Open School at Waring School, Beverly. See ad on page 2. www.waringschool.org

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