June 2012 Northland Family

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Dads’ nurturing paves the way for future fantastic fathers

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JUNE 7, 2012 L I B E R T Y T R I BU N E THE KEARNEY COURIER G L A D S TO N E D I S PAT C H

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Films to watch with Dad

Like father, like son

Father’s Day is a day to spend with Dad and show your appreciation for all he’s done over the years. Many families prefer to tailor the day around whatever it is Dad likes to do the most. For instance, if Dad’s an avid golfer, a day on the links is ideal. For the Dad whose passion is baseball, a day at the ballpark is a real home run. But what to do if Dad’s true passion is film?

How about a day watching movies tailor-made for Father’s Day? Father of the Bride: Choose from the original 1950 version starring Spencer Tracy or the 1991 remake of the same name that starred Steve Martin.

Both films focus on Dad’s struggles with letting his little girl go and the often hilarious side effects of wedding planning and preparing for the big day.

Mr. Mom: Jack, played by Michael Keaton, loses his job, so his wife (Teri Garr) and he decide Jack should stay home and look after the kids and the household in this 1983 comedy. Jack’s often clueless approach to the task at hand makes for many a funny moment.

The Lion King: This animated 1994 classic tells the tale of the strong bond between King Mufasa and his son, Simba, a young cub Mufasa is trying to turn into a good leader.

Parenting is hard work, and raising boys can be particularly challenging.

Having fathers who show compassion, nurturing and caring can help shape what kinds of fathers, uncles and husbands they’ll become someday.

“I tell my boys,‘I picked that daddy for you!’” says Jennifer Ryan, mother of two small sons, ages 4 and 6.“They want to grow up to be just like Daddy, so I love it when he shows them how to care for a doll or how to make a stuffed animal feel better.”

While it might seem logical for fathers to play rough with their boys, many parents are trying to preserve their sons’ sweet, innocent years by providing more cuddle time, more songs and more creative play.

“From the beginning, we’ve had girls and boys in mind as we designed our collections,” says Beau James, president of North American distribution for Corolle Dolls.“We offer several boy-appropriate dolls and accessories, like our blue-and-green doll stroller and Paul, our anatomically-correct drink-and-wet

bath doll, but we find that little boys really love to play with all of our dolls.”

Corolle dolls (www.corolle.com) can help parents prepare their sons for a new baby’s arrival or they can help conquer the challenges of potty training. Dolls also help boys feel secure and confident as they learn to care for others.

“If we want our sons to grow up and be great husbands and dads, it’s important that they share pretend play that involves nurturing and being an active caregiver,” says Stephanie Oppenheim, Today Show toy expert and founder of The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio.“Every toddler and preschooler should have a nice doll, regardless of their gender.”

Playing with dolls fosters imagination and creativity. This fundamental form of play, also teaches children of both sexes about friendship, empathy and kindness, values that will serve them well and enrich the world in which they live.

— Metro Creative

About a Boy: A less traditional Father’s Day film, this 2002 adaptation of a Nicky Hornby novel stars Hugh Grant as Will, a cynical London slacker who lives life entirely for himself. Things begin to change when Will meets an especially memorable 12-year-old boy and his chronically depressed single mother Fiona.

— Metro Creative

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JUNE 7, 2012

Celebrating a stepfather on Father’s Day

This June, plans to celebrate Father’s Day may include celebrating a number of notable men in people’s lives.Those men can include stepfathers, many of whom step in after a divorce or the death of a parent and play a strong role in their stepchild’s life.

One million American children experience divorce every year. About 65 percent of marriages today don’t go beyond 15 years of marriage. Of the marriages that end in divorce, statistics indicate that women often gain custody of the children and remarry within five years. A stepdad may become a part of a child’s life, and blended families are often the norm.

Whether a man is the biological parent or a stepdad, he is often an important figure in a child’s life.

Come Father’s Day, children may want to show their appreciation to the dad in their lives whether or not they share the same DNA or last name. Here are some things to keep in mind. ◆ If both your biological dad and a stepfather are living and in your life, you will have to set aside time for both of them. Perhaps the morning can

be devoted to one and the evening to another.

Or maybe spend time with your stepfather on the Saturday prior to Father’s Day and spend time with Dad on Sunday. ◆ Create a collage of images featuring you and your stepfather. Present it to him on Father’s Day and explain how he has helped shape the person you’ve become. ◆ There are cards made specifically for stepfathers.

If one doesn’t express the right sentiments, create a handwritten card that offers the right words. ◆ Children who have not had the coziest relationship with their stepfather should attempt to use this Father’s Day as an opportunity to revisit that

relationship and spend time together. It could mark a meaningful turning point for both people in the relationship. ◆ If your biological father and stepfather are friendly to one another, think about going out with both of them at the same time. Plan a special outing to a sporting event or something they both find appealing. ◆ Stepfathers sometimes have to play second fiddle and may not find it easy to blend into an existing family. On Father’s Day, your stepfather should be able to call the shots and have his needs and interests met.

— Metro Creative

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The Accidental Parent Love it, hate it, live it

o

By Betsy Lee

Often, when I’m out with my children, strangers will approach to wax nostalgic about their own children’s early years.

“Enjoy every moment,” some say.

“They are just so fun at this age,” sigh others.

Or my personal favorite, “It just doesn’t get any better than this, does it?”

Apparently they don’t recall hauling their own whining, kicking child out of the supermarket after a battle of wills over peanut butter M&Ms. Indeed, there are some beautiful things about having a young family.

If you’re paying attention, you get to observe as personalities, relationships and imaginations develop. But, as only those truly in the trenches can appreciate, there are many reasons why the early years can be the most challenging.

Here is my list of the things I love and hate about living with children under age 5. I would love to hear yours.

C

I love youthful curiosity and how my children make me take note of the beauty all around me.

I hate wrenching cigarette butts, hardened dog poop, rocks, firecrackers and all sorts of other contraband out of tightly clenched fists (or mouths).

I love the weight of my cuddly, sleepy children on my chest.They give themselves over to me with no hesitation.

I hate being a jungle gym — all day, every day.

I love the biceps I’ve built while constantly carrying my children.

I hate holding a squirming 20pound child while vacuuming the entire house — all because she is convinced that the machine will suck her up.

I love those rare moments when I get to step back and observe how their tiny minds and bodies are perfecting new tasks.

I hate tying three sets of shoelaces,

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I love hearing my child whisper “Mama” for the first time, in an adorable teeny little voice.

I hate hearing my children yell “Mama” over and over and over again — for no apparent reason.

I love the development of my motherly instincts.

I hate seeing, in terrifying clarity, little motion-picture “what-ifs” play in my mind. What if he falls from that ledge?

What if the gate isn’t shut? What if someone kidnaps her? What if a mountain lion snags him right from the trail and runs away with him?

I love how freely they love me, without peer pressure or social norms pulling them away.

I hate how tremendous love can so easily breed guilt, an ugly emotion and one that I am constantly battling.

I love bearing witness to the beginnings of their relationship as

brother and sister.

I hate breaking up fights.

I love children’s toys. Who doesn’t love balls, bubbles and sprinklers?

I hate stumbling in the dark over a sea of Hot Wheels cars, building blocks and baby doll dresses.

I love to watch them grow up as they slowly become the people they are meant to be.

I hate to watch them grow up, waxing nostalgic about the versions of themselves that they are leaving behind.

Betsy Lee is a Kansas City journalist and columnist who lives in a perpetually messy house with her husband, three children and two pets. She can be reached at contactbetsylee@gmail.com.

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An ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure, and taking that first step toward proactive health can be as easy as scheduling a physical exam with your family medicine physician.

“Getting a physical is one of the many things you can do to stay healthy,” said Dr. Jennifer Moretina, a board-certified family medicine physician with The Liberty Clinic.

If you don’t see a physician at least once every two years, Moretina recommends making an appointment for a routine checkup.“This allows a physician to discuss health-maintenance issues or preventative-medicine issues with the patient,” she said.

Typically, the screenings during a physical are age-related and differ for women and men but usually include height, weight and blood-pressure checks. Also included is a physical assessment by your doctor, which can include a skin and mole check, a neck exam for carotid pulses and swollen lymph nodes, and a check of the heart and lungs for abnormal sounds.

Other tests, including cancer screenings, can also be a part of your exam.These tests vary by age and gender and can include colon cancer screenings, a Pap smear, a mammogram and a digital rectal exam of the prostate.

“During your physical exam, it’s important to ask your physician what tests would be appropriate for you,” Moretina said.“If a patient shows symptoms or has a family history of a certain disease, I might want to perform a screening test much earlier than the normal protocol.”

To help you determine what screenings you should have and when, below is a list of major tests (routine screenings for people without symptoms) recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Blood-pressure measurement: All adults should have their blood pressure checked at least every two years.

Cholesterol measurement: Men over the age of 35 and women over the age of 45 should be screened every five years. Women and men over the age of 20 with an increased risk of heart disease should be screened every five years.

Pap smear: Women between the age of 21 and 65 should have a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer every two years or more frequently according to individual risk factors. Women ages 30 to 65 years who want to lengthen the screening interval should get a Pap smear and HPV screening. Speak to your primary care physician to discuss risk factors and an appropriate interval for your screening.

Breast-cancer screening: The national guideline states women who are 50 years of age and older should be screened. If you are younger than 50, talk to your primary care provider about your individual risk factors, including your family history and find out if getting screened early may be right for you.

JUNE 7, 2012

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Colorectal-cancer screening: Everyone 50 and older should have a colonoscopy every 10 years. If you have a family history of colon cancer, talk to your primary care provider about the possibility of getting screened earlier.

Diabetes screening: Adults with sustained blood pressure (either treated or untreated) greater than 135/80 should be screened.Talk to your physician about your risk factors for diabetes to determine when and how often you should be screened.

Influenza vaccine: Anyone who wants to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza or spreading influenza to others should have the annual seasonal flu shot. Speak with your physician to determine the best time of year to receive your flu shot.

Pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine: Everyone over the age of 65 should have this vaccine at least once.This vaccine may be administered earlier in specific medical illnesses such as patients without spleen or patient with lung disease.

Chickenpox vaccine: Anyone who has never had chickenpox should get this shot. If you are under

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the age of 13, you only need one shot. If you over the age of 13, you will need two.

Shingles vaccine: Everyone over the age of 65 should have a shingles vaccine.

Ask for your doctor if you should get this vaccine sooner if you have certain medical conditions.

For more information on what preventative measures may be right for you, visit www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstopics.htm and talk to your physician about your individual risk factors before participating in any preventative health screening.

— Liberty Hospital

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Help kids make healthy food choices

When the USDA revised its food pyramid nutrition guidelines last year, its goal was to educate children and adults alike on the new recommendations. Now, just over half a year later, the movement toward a healthier lifestyle is picking up steam. With school-based health and wellness programs like “Let’s Move” and “Fuel Up to Play 60” becoming popular, kids across the country are making a conscious effort to make nutritious food choices and prioritize daily activity.

Nutrition educators at Learning ZoneXpress, a USDA partner and producer of “edu-taining” learning tools, has developed this list of popular tips and tricks to help kids make healthy food choices: Get kids involved — It can start at the grocery store.

Let them choose a fruit, vegetable or whole-grain snack.

If they choose the food, it is more likely the child will want to eat it. At home, let the kids help with meal preparation.

Young children can help gather and wash the food, while pre-teens, with supervision, can help stir or sauté at the stove. Teenagers can help chop vegetables or use the oven. By involving kids in the process, they are more likely to try new foods.

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Make fruits and vegetables a bigger part of your day — Eating healthier does not mean kids have to feel hungry.

Instead, try helping your kids fill up on more fruits and vegetables, which are rich in fiber — a key nutrient that will help them feel full longer.The new MyPlate recommends filling half of your plate with fruits and vegetables.

Eat breakfast every day — Even if the children only have time for a banana and a piece of string cheese on their

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way out the door, eating breakfast is important for both kids and parents. It provides energy and curbs hunger later in the day when you will be more likely to snack.

Eat dinner on a smaller plate — Healthy eating doesn’t mean children have to give up all their favorite foods. Instead, try eating smaller portion sizes. At home, serve meals on smaller plates, like a salad plate. It will appear that you are eating more, and it will be less tempting to add larger portions of food.

Don’t eat out of the package — Always put food in a bowl or on a plate.This makes it easy to see the exact portion of food. When Junior eats directly from the package, he’s less in tune with what and how much he is eating.

If given the option, order the smaller portion — This small change can save hundreds of calories. For example, a

small hamburger contains 260 calories while a large burger contains 730 calories — a difference of 470 calories!

If a smaller portion is not available, try sharing the meal or packaging a portion of it in a doggie bag as soon as the meal arrives.

Set small goals — Eating healthy starts by setting small goals and sticking to them.

For example, encourage the whole family to try drinking more water, cut out soda or replace high-calorie and sugary desserts with a piece of fruit. It will be easier to stick to healthy goals if the whole family is committed to better habits.

For more healthy eating information and free nutrition resources for engaging growing students, visit www.freemyplate.com.

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Well-meaning parents or grandparents often tell children not to do something with the warning that a serious health implication could result. Kids often take their elders at their word. But some of these warnings bear more truth than others. Here’s the scoop on some of the more common misconceptions.

Myth: Swallowed chewing gum stays in the stomach for seven years.

While chewing gum cannot be digested and is meant to be chewed and not swallowed, accidentally swallowing a piece here and there won’t cause major issues. That’s because the gum will simply pass through the digestive system whole and come out with stool. If a large amount of gum is swallowed in a short period of time, then there could be issues, including constipation and intestinal blockage in children.

Myth: If you keep your eyes crossed too long, they will get stuck that way.

The muscles in the eye are just like any muscles elsewhere in the body. Although they may tire and get sore, they are relatively resilient and can take a lot of wear and tear. Crossing your eyes may tax these muscles, but you won’t do any permanent harm. Rest assured that crossing the eyes will not leave them stuck that way.

Health myths debunked

Myth: Going outside with wet hair will make you sick.

Although you will feel colder stepping outside with a part of your body wet,

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it won’t make you more susceptible to catching a cold. Researchers at the Common Cold Research Unit in England once tested a group of volunteers who were given the cold virus. One half of the group stayed in a warm room, while the others took a bath and stood wet in a hallway for a half hour. The wet group didn’t catch more colds than the dry.

Myth: Covering your head is most important because you lose 75 percent of your body heat through it.

This calculation is more for an infant whose head makes up a greater percentage of his or her body. In an adult, the figure is closer to 10 percent.

Heat can escape from any exposed area of the body. Therefore, it is helpful to bundle up all areas of the body when spending time outdoors in the cold weather.

Myth: Don’t swim right after eating.

The basis of this mantra is that when digesting food, the digestive system pulls blood away from the muscles and the idea is that you could cramp up and drown. While you may have less energy to swim vigorously, chances are you won’t be so weak as to drown.

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JUNE 7, 2012

Liberty Hospital now welcomes Preferred-Care Blue.

Now even more people can experience the right care.

Right here.

We’re pleased to announce that Liberty Hospital now accepts Preferred-Care Blue, the insurance plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.

This is important news for people with Preferred-Care Blue coverage because they can now enjoy in-network access to affordable, high-quality care — right here at Liberty Hospital. And we’re excited that the inclusion of this new plan allows us to broaden our mission of serving the healthcare needs of our community.

Learn more about how you can get the right care, right here by visiting www.libertyhospital.org.

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LIBERT Y T R I BU N E , T H E K E A R N E Y C O U R I E R , G L A D S TO N E D I S PAT C H

Summertime means plenty of play time — so why not play with your food? Finding creative ways to enjoy healthy foods like watermelon is a great way to encourage the whole family to eat well — and have fun while doing it. Try these suggestions:

The wetter, the better — Playing hard on a hot summer day can take a lot out of you. In addition to drinking plenty of water, look for foods that can help you keep hydrated. Watermelon is 92 percent water — so keep some slices or cubes in the refrigerator for a handy, hydrating snack. For a fun, kidfriendly twist, use cookie cutters to cut watermelon into fun shapes.

Get colorful — For a real nutritional boost, serve plenty of colorful, deeply pigmented produce. For example, red peppers, carrots, broccoli and grapes are packed with minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. In addition to vitamins A and C, watermelon has a higher level of the antioxidant lycopene than any other

fresh fruit or vegetable. Let the kids use an ice cream scooper or melon-baller to scoop out watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew to make a colorful and nutritious dessert.

Think outside the recipe box — Look for fun and unusual ways to serve healthy foods.The recipes on the next page from the National Watermelon Promotion Board, for example, are creative enough to appeal to kids and grownups, and easy enough for just about anyone to make.

You can find more deliciously fun ways to enjoy watermelon at www.watermelon.org.

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Surf Wave

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Carve it up

Oval or round-shaped watermelon Kitchen and paring knives Cutting board

Read through the directions before you start.

Green dry-erase marker (preferably washable) Large bowl and spoon Brown sugar or raw sugar

Have the watermelon at room temperature when you carve. That makes it easier to cut.

Small dolls or beach-themed toys WASH watermelon under cool running water and pat dry.

Drain cut watermelon and other fruit before placing it in the carving.

ON A CUTTING BOARD, place watermelon on its side and cut off 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the stem end, being careful not to cut too deep into the white part of the rind. This will provide a sturdy base.

When removing excess flesh, try to leave it in big pieces. This will make it easier to make melon balls or cubes.

USING THE DRY-ERASE MARKER, draw a wave from the top of the watermelon halfway down, similar to a backwards C. Repeat on the other side to form a wave.

Use a green dry erase marker, then wipe off excess marker after making cuts.

USE THE KNIFE to carefully cut away the parts of the watermelon that you will not be using. Use the spoon to hollow out the watermelon, reserving the inside watermelon to cut up and serve.

PLACE THE CARVING on a serving platter covered with brown sugar. Decorate with toys and shells and fill your carving with fruit.

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12

JUNE 7, 2012

LIBERT Y T R I BU N E , T H E K E A R N E Y C O U R I E R , G L A D S TO N E D I S PAT C H

BOOK BUZZ: Dream Big

Books enable us to “Dream Big,” to see bee-yond ourselves and soar a mile or two in someone else’s blue shoes. There’s no better way to have the world open up then on the pages of a book. This month Newsbee is delighted to introduce you to characters who don’t settle for less in three awesome titles for young readers. Hope you won’t settle this summer either, stretch that brain and gain with lots of visits to your public library.

Here Come the Girl Scouts!

Dreams sprout from ideas — but they’ll die on the vine without courage, hard work and perseverance. No matter how many obstacles Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low faced, she forged ahead.

“Here Come the Girl Scouts!” by Shana Corey details the high road Low took in creating an organization that means so much to so many.

“Daisy,” as she was known, longed for a life filled with adventure, but she met obstacles aplenty. For starters she was born at a “time when proper young ladies were supposed to be dainty and delicate.”

“Boosh! How boring,” Daisy thought.

The young woman struck out on her own — even though she was struck with an affliction. An ear infection affected Daisy’s hearing, but that didn’t stop her.

On a visit to England she learned about the Boy Scouts, and a seed was planted.

“Girls in America should have something like this,” Daisy thought. And so they have, since 1912, thanks to a lady who made a difference and was ahead of her time.

This new book is a dream come true for a debut artist, too — it’s the first illustrated

by Hadley Hooper. She gets an art badge for bringing Low’s adventures to life.

Kepler’s Dream Dreams grant us gifts unimaginable. Such is the case for 11-year-old Ella, the sprightly heroine in “Kepler’s Dream,” a charming book by Juliet Bell about

a girl who gets more than she bargained for when she goes to live with Violet Von Stern, a grandmother she barely knows.

Ella has a tough go of it. Her parents are divorced, she never sees her father, and her mother has leukemia. A stem cell transplant is required, necessitating a long hospital stay. But who will watch Ella?

Her father isn’t in the picture, never has been.Taking folks on wilderness fishing trips is all he’s interested in, but he has an idea. Ella can stay with his mother,“the dragon lady.” Violet Von Stern expects perfection and lives in an eclectic hacienda in New Mexico overrun with peacocks, and littered with old books.

Life at the hacienda is dull for Ella — no TV or Internet — until she meets Rosie, the daughter of a man who works for GM, the title Ella gives her grandmother.The girls are the same age, and soon become friends — and partners in solving a mystery surrounding the disappearance of the most valuable book in GM’s collection, a prized edition of “Dream,” by Johannes Kepler, a scientist/astrologer from the 17th century.

As Ella’s dreaded June gives way to July, and a reunion with her mom, bonds form that Ella couldn’t have foreseen.The mystery of the missing book is solved as the mystery of love develops in a heartwarming story of dreams come true.

Reprinted with permission, Missourian Publishing Company. Copyright 2012.

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