FAMILY Magazine May 2017

May 2017• Moms Just Know

A Role to be Cherished Serving: Granger • Mishawaka • Elkhart • South Bend • Goshen & Surrounding Communities

On the Cover: FAMILY Magazine would like to thank Kristin and her three beautiful children for being on our May cover! Happy Mother's Day!

Contributors President & Publisher:

Family Magazines of Michiana would love to hear from you! Please submit press releases, event information and inquiries to: Jessy@Michianafamilymagazine.com

Managing Editor: Jessica Haviland

The FAMILY Magazines P.O. Box 577 Granger, IN 46530 PH: 269.228.8295 • FX: 574.217.4700 www.MichianaMom.com

Sue Heinrich Sue@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

AD COORDINATOR & INSIDE SALES MANAGER Amanda Oiler

Meet the Cover Photographer:

Amanda@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Over the last 14 years, Nicole Waldron, photographer and owner of Classic Image Photography has lived, traveled and established photography clients throughout the country. With east coast and west coast influences, Classic Image Photography provides clients with unique images, custom art work and exceptional customer service. Specializing in family, senior and corporate photography, Nicole looks forward to serving you with all of your photographic needs.

574.855.1435 nicole@classicimage-photography.com www.classicimage-photography.com

TheFamilyMagazineOfMichiana

GRAPHIC DESIGN Manager: Zuzanna Zmud

Zuzanna@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Event Coordinator & Outside Sales Representative Denise M. Longley Denise@michianafamilymagazine.com

Medical Editor: S. Jesse Hsieh, M.D. Distribution Manager: Chad Haviland

The FAMILY Magazines May 2017 Established in 2006.

All rights reserved.

Permission from the publisher is required for any reproduction or reprint of this publication.

Read The FAMILY Magazines online each month!

Go to www.MichianaMom.com and flip the pages, cover-to-cover the organic and green way!

Volume 11: Number 4

Find the Hidden Acorn!

For your enjoyment and fun!

www.MichianaMom.com Please use the information compiled by Michiana Family Magazines for your research. Michiana Family Magazines recommends that parents and families interview each business or organization to make sure that it is safe and a good fit for your family. The information presented here and provided by Michiana Family Magazines is for informational purposes only and although every effort has been made to present accurate information, Michiana Family Magazines does not, in any way, accept responsibility for the accuracy of or consequences from the use of this information and/or for the businesses and organizations presented herein. We urge all parents and families to confirm any information given herein through additional research. The views and opinions expressed by the writers, event organizers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of Michiana Family Publishing LLC, its officers, editors, staff or contributors.

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F R O M T H E P U B LI S HER

Things We

Love Right Now! (at FAMILY)

M

ay is for mothers! It’s the time to honor them for all the wonderful

1. Outdoor Walks

things they do for us.

2. Celebrating Mother’s Day

From the nine months of pregnancy through

3. Memorial Day Camping

childbirth and the sleepless nights with a but you did it! But that’s just the start. There are still the terrible twos, nursery school,

4. First Beach Day (Even Though The Water Is FREEZING!)

colds and flu and lots of “firsts” – first word, first steps, first day of school, first date,

5. Smell Of Fresh Cut Grass

newborn, it’s not easy becoming a mother,

first kiss and on and on. But moms are always there to encourage us, to pick us up when we fall, to fix the hurts whether physical or emotional. And they do that throughout our lives, not just throughout childhood. In addition, of course, they also cook our meals, clean the house, do the laundry and drive us everywhere until they teach us to drive. Then they worry about us. And most of them also have to work outside the home.

For all they do, mothers deserve more than just one day of honor, they deserve to be honored in some way every day - whether it’s with a hug, a phone call, a small gift or just a simple “thanks, Mom.” To all of you mothers out there, whether young mothers with new families, moms with growing teens or grandmas, I salute you! I personally am not a mother, but I had a great one and I tried to honor her every day I had her around.

In this issue of FAMILY, we have focused on moms in several stories including “Mom,

6. Tulips & Other Spring Seasonal Flowers Blooming 7. Outdoor Décor 8. Grilling 9. Mommy & Me Stroller Walks 10. In-Home Parties 11. Family Pictures 12. Drive-In Movie Theater 13. Floral Scented Candles

a Role to Be Cherished,” “Stay at Home or Go to Work,” “Dear Mom, School’s Out …

14. Sun Stays Out Later

Almost” and “Feminine Fuel.” I hope you enjoy reading these stories as well as the rest

15. Planning Birthday Parties

of the issue.

MAY 2017

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mothers out there! I hope you have a day of relaxation, joy and fun!

Check it Out!

free!

N O54

Figuring Out “Fit” How to Unco ver Company Culture During a Job Interview

BlOOMing MAd

Tips for the Accident Prone Garde ner

HelPin

g ind iana W

Celebra omen te and OuTheir Inner ter Beau ty

Please take one!

4Keeps

By: Casey Kiel

Like '4Keeps' on Facebook or visit CaseyKiel.com

FAMILY contributors

Meagan Church is married to her high-school sweetheart and is the mother of 3 kids. She is a writer and children’s book author.

She is also the brainpower of the online resource Unexpectant, exploring the realities of birth, babies and beyond.

Noelle Elliott works in publicity. She is a writer and has been published on several websites and print publications.

She is the owner and creator of the esteemed bowchicabowmom.com where she humorously shares the triumphs and failures of raising her four young sons. She is also the creator of the succesful local staged production, The Mamalogues. She happily lives in South Bend.

Reader Testimonials “The FAMILY Magazine is perfect for moms, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles and so much more. It’s perfect for any generation.” – Michelle N.

Jill Lebbin is a wife, mother, craft fanatic and DIY blogger at www.EveryDayisanOccasion. com. She and her husband Marcel have been married for nine years and love living in Granger with their two spunky kids, Marcel Jr. and Lilly.

Jackie Folkert is a mother of three and lives in South Bend. She is a freelance writer and an English teacher. www.jackiefolkert.com

We’d LOVE to hear from you! CONTACT US AT....jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

“I love all the giveaways and contests that the FAMILY Magazine does. You always win some great prizes.” – Ashlee C.

“I’m a working mom and sometimes I find it difficult to find things to do with my kids on the weekend. That’s where the FAMILY Magazine helps me out with the Centerfold Calendar.” – Claire W.

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | MAY 2017

5

the FAMILY magazine table

Of

contents

Family Craft

9 DIY Magnetic Board By: Jill Lebbin

Family Movie Review Live Your Best

4 From The Publisher 4 Things We Love Right Now 5 4Keeps Comic 5 Contributors & Testimonials 8 The FAMILY Month Calendar

12 Titanic: A Family Movie For The Ages

By: Cole Pollyea

22

Mommy and Daddy

16 Dear Mom, Schools Out… Almost By: Meagan Church

14 Centerfold Calendar 18 Feminine Fuel

Family Book Review

6 The Inquisitor’s Tale, Or The Three Magical Children And Their Holy Dog

By Adam Gidwitz & Illuminated By Hatem Aly

By: Noelle Elliott

20 Mom: A Role To Be Cherished By: Gayla Grace

Reviewed By: Sara Maloney

10 Stay At Home Or Go To Work?

By: Jackie Folkert

Family Fiction

22 The Diary Of A Modern Mom: The Mother-In-Law By: Meagan Church

16

18

FAMILY kids book review

The Inquisitor's Tale, or The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog

By Adam Gidwitz & Illuminated by Hatem Aly Reviewed By: Sara Maloney, Assistant Manager, Research and Technology Department, St. Joseph County Public Library, South Bend, Indiana

I

Photo courtesy: Amazon.com

f this story were set in the present day, we might call them "superheroes." In 13th century France, they're considered "saints." The three main characters in The Inquisitor's Tale don't know where their supernatural powers come from, but as the stories of their "miracles" grow, so do rumors, debate, and the list of powerful people who want to stop them. What makes someone (whether human or dog) a saint? This is merely one of the thought-provoking questions about faith, morality, prejudice, and freedom of thought raised by Adam Gidwitz's Newbery Honor winning book.

With such heavy themes, this might sound like difficult or serious reading. But The Inquisitor's Tale also has plenty of thrilling adventures, gross-out humor, and appealing characters. It is written in a fun, conversational voice and has an unusual structure. Reminiscent of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, various characters of different backgrounds share what they know about the magical children and the strange occurrences associated with them.

The central group is admirably diverse, considering the historical setting: Jeanne, a white Catholic peasant girl, has visions that predict the future; William, a young bi-racial monk (his mother was from Northern Africa), is unusually large and has superhuman strength; Jacob is a Jewish boy with healing powers; and finally there is their mascot, Jeanne's miraculously resurrected greyhound, Gwenforte. From the tales of the nun, librarian, butcher, and other travelers gathered and gossiping in the inn, we learn that both agents of the Inquisition and King Louis IX are on the hunt for them. The children end up together through a series of exciting events, but each of them must deal with suspicions and mistrust of the other two arising from religion, skin color, or gender.

Don't be intimidated by the thickness of the book, because it's not as long as it looks. The wide margins leave space for clever "illuminations," similar to those found in actual medieval texts. Unlike traditional illustrations, these are more like doodles that sometimes have nothing to do with the action of the story and may even question or contradict the author's words. "The author and illuminator are unique individuals, with unique interpretations of the story, and of the meaning behind it," according to an introductory note. This question of whether perspectives can be different, but equally valid, fits perfectly with the themes of the whole book.

From beginning to end, there are plenty of twists and surprises to hold readers' interest. Some may have trouble following the convoluted, nonlinear plot, but others will get even more pleasure out of the book for the same reason. The Inquisitor's Tale is best suited to children at least nine years old because of the complex structure as well as some challenging topics. The themes are handled with enough depth to interest much older readers as well, including adults, while still keeping a kid-appropriate jovial mood. Readers who enjoy historical fiction set in the medieval era, as well as fans of fantasy inspired by folklore and legends - or anyone who likes a good fart joke - will not be able to put this book down.

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | MAY 2017

7

MAY

2

Brothers & Sisters Day

5

4

13

First Fridays,

5:00 P.M., Downtown Goshen & South Bend

Cinco de Mayo

May The Fourth Be With You

7

Antiques On The Bluff,

16

Mamma Mia,

9

2017 Girls On The Run Michiana 5K Celebration,

20

Mother’s Day!

10:00 A.M., Downtown St. Joseph

26

Community Grange Spring Bazaar 2017, 9:00 A.M.,

14

7:30 P.M., The Lerner – Elkhart Happy

Memorial Day

Lucky Penny Day

7:00 A.M.,

National Potawatomi Park – Teachers South Bend Day Singin’ In The Rain,

29

23

7:30 P.M., Morris Performing Arts Center – South Bend

Memorial Day Parade, Noon,

Community Grange Hall - Niles

Downtown St. Joseph, MI

1 3 6 8 10 11 12 15 17 18 19 21 22 24 25 27 28 30 31 M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th Fr Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W

Cherry Limeade Momaroons Ingredients: For The Macaroon:

- - - - - -

4 Egg Whites ½ Cup Sugar 1 Tsp Vanilla Extrat ½ Tsp Almond Extract ¼ Tsp Salt 16 Ounces Coconut Flakes

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

For The Limeade Filling:

- 4 Ounces Cream Cheese - 7 Ounces Sweetened Condensed Milk - ½ Lime, Juiced - ½ Tsp Vanilla Extract

Top Five Best Movies To Watch With Your Mom Troop Beverly Hills Steel Magnolias Mama Mia The Blind Side Stepmom

Photo Courtesy: tastykitchen.com

Directions:

1. Mix together the egg whites, sugar, vanilla, almond extract and salt. Then add the coconut and stir.

2. Drop tablespoons of coconut mixture onto greased cookie sheet. Push thumb into each pile to create indentation.

3. Bake at 350 for eight minutes and then let them cool completely.

4. Whip up the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, lime zest, lime juice and vanilla.

5. Drop tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture into the cooled macaroons. Top with a cherry and store in refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Recipe Found At www.allrecipes.com

Mother’s Day Gifts From Kids

Handprint Tulip Towels

Monogram Manicure Jar

DIY Flower Pot

(www.icanteachmychild.com)

(www.anightowlblog.com)

(www.kcedventures.com)

FAMILY craft

DIY Magnetic Board By: Jill Lebbin This is a project that I created when I was on a Paper Manufacture Design Team a couple of years ago and just came across it again. I absolutely love this project because you can make it for all seasons and it is a great gift!

Can you tell, I have teacher appreciation and Mother’s Day on the brain!

Materials: • Flashing Sheet (I found Mine at Menard’s) • Scrapbook Paper Cut Down to the Flashing Sheet Size • Magnets • Chip Board Stickers (Can be Found at Craft Stores …They are a Thicker Sticker made from Chip Board) • Hot Glue Gun • Adhesive (I used Scrapbooking Tape)

Photo Provided By: Jill Lebbin

Steps: 1. Adhere the scrapbook paper to the metal flashing sheet (on both sides of the flashing sheet) with the adhesive of your choice. I recommend a scrapbooking tape. I use a tape runner (craft stores will have them).

2. Hot glue magnets to the back of the chipboard stickers of your choice.

3. Cut out a bow using a paper bow pattern. There are TONS of free ones online (just search “Paper Bow Pattern”).

4. Hot glue magnets to the back of your paper bow.

5. Put a note or picture on your flashing sheet and hang with your magnet. Enjoy!

For more projects and inspiration visit my site, EveryDayIsAnOccasion.com

Presented By:

Dozens of camp themes to choose from!

June 5 - July 28 AT NORTH SIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN ELKHART, INDIANA For Grades K-7 (completed)

REGISTER ONLINE! OneCityOneMission.org/Camp

574.607.3725

*Discounts available!

One-Week Sessions . 8am-4:30pm $95 Half Day . $165 Full Day (per week)* Staffed by Certified ECS Teachers Before & After Care Available THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | MAY 2017

9

FAMILY book review

Stay at Home or Go to Work?

New Research Prioritizes Those First Crucial Years

By: Jackie Folkert

F

irst, know that this book isn’t fuel for mommy wars, that I’m-a-bettermom-than-you debate played out across social media. Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters by Erica Komisar, LCSW, is about the relationship between the mother’s physical and emotional presence to the chances that the child grows up emotionally healthy, secure and resilient.

Komisar shares the results of her research: The more time a mother spends with her child between the ages of zero to three, the better. on.com

Photo: amaz

Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters by Erica Komisar, LCSW, TarcherPerigee, April 2017, 257 pages

Komisar wrote the book to generate discussion about those crucial three years and to ultimately influence the debate on maternity leave. It’s a conversation about both what is good for children and what is good for women’s success. She’s not shaking a finger at the mother who chooses to spend time away from her baby; instead, Komisar slings an arm around her shoulders. She digs into what makes for an emotionally insecure mother and how that affects her connection with her child. Her research urges all mothers to re-examine how they nurture their children.

Read it if you are getting ready to go back to work after baby.

You’ll pick up strategies to nurture your child while managing your professional responsibilities. Komisar shares her research-based conclusions unapologetically, but she does it from within a judgment-free zone. If your gut says that your child needs you more, Komisar affirms that.

Read it if you’re a fact-finder, a mom who wants to gather all the info before making a decision to stay home or go to work.

If you want stats, you’ll lap them up in this book. Komisar shows how culture and mothers’ personal struggles get in the way of children’s emotional and mental growth in the early years. She has accepted the facts produced by her years of research—even though the truth makes many mothers uncomfortable.

Read it if you’re screening caregivers.

Whether you’re interviewing a teenager next door or a candidate you discovered online, you will want an extensive list of questions that covers professional background, education, certifications, personality and ability to do the job. Her list includes questions about discipline style, and familiarity with allergies and disabilities. Komisar reminds the parent of the questions that she is not allowed to ask, too. This book is worth picking up for this professional resource alone.

Bored but Engaged: Choosing to Nurture Your Kids Not many women still enjoy playing with Barbies, and they aren’t ecstatic about reading the Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar for the hundredth time. “In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf…”

Groan.

Play time with baby can be, well, boring. Babies need a slow and quiet mode, and we’re addicted to fast, said Erica Komisar, LCSW and author of Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters. Our brains are overstimulated. As much as mothers adore their babies, the adult world is understandably more engaging.

When the day-to-day grind feels weighty on the mother’s soul, how does she refocus on her child? “Gratitude,” Komisar said. “It reminds you of what’s important.” Mothers can forget to be in the moment, she said. Being quiet with your baby, studying the baby’s facial expressions, and marveling at their exploration, can bring the mom back to center.

“We can’t do everything all at the same time to the best of our ability,” she said.

Busyness gets in the way of connection. The inconvenient truth is that while women can choose to have it all, research shows that it’s not the best idea for raising children.

Having it all is stressful—for both mom and baby. Komisar said that babies and their mothers experience a surge in cortisol (the stress hormone) when they separate.

Togetherness reduces the stress. When a mom feels the pressure to bond quickly with her baby before she returns to work, she sometimes experiences anticipatory anxiety and postpartum depression.

Some women see their ambitions like a train that leaves the station in their 20’s and doesn’t brake if they choose to get off it to spend more time mothering. “You have a lot of years to work,” Komisar said. There’s a kind of panic that if moms don’t take advantage of their career opportunities that there will never be another train, she said. In fact, she counsels that parenting can take mothers in many different and positive directions.

Nurturing your children comes in different forms. “I was never the parent who felt like I needed to spend $200 on tickets to take my kids to Sesame Street Live and hate every minute of it,” said Mary Rumble of Granger, mother of three. She and her husband chose to view nurturing their children as time spent doing what they all loved. “I think that if you do things you genuinely like with your kids then they can relate to you better and then it turns into a positive experience for everyone.”

Kelli Collins, a single, working mom in Granger, said that the weekend is her quality time with her son Collin. “I do my best, whatever we do, to create memories.” She said that when she is doing something constructive with her son that he shares more with her than if she sits him down to have a conversation.

There is a difference between nurturing versus entertaining your kids. You can’t spend every single moment together. “It’s ok to disengage,” Komisar said. “When you come back you re-engage; you repair and engage.” Mindfulness is another tool for mothers that helps them to engage with their children.

FAMILY movie review

Photo Courtesy: dailymotion.com

Titanic:

By: Cole Pollyea

A Family Movie For The Ages

T

oo many debates over what movie my family should watch in the past have sounded like this: “‘How about This?

Or That? Or That?’ ‘No, Elliot isn’t old enough to watch any of those!’” But now, Elliot, my little brother, is 12 and the last few movies he, my parents and I have watched together have been more mature films that we love. It’s a great thing when young siblings catch up to the rest of the family and can participate and feel included in all activities.

Just a few weeks ago, we all watched Titanic. While not R-rated, it is certainly a very intense film with the occasional bad language, mature content and an overall traumatic tale. This was one of my mom’s favorites and, in all honesty, I had never seen it all the way through before. Featuring a compelling performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, 19 years before winning his first Best Actor Award, and an equally compelling performance from his long-time screen partner Kate Winslet, Titanic is an epic that truly lives up to the record that it set at the 1998 Academy Awards–most nominations for a film at a hulking 14. It follows the people on the ship in the days leading up to its sinking, with special attention on the budding, forbidden romance of DiCaprio’s and Winslet’s characters. Almost as valuable as this intricate character study is the insightful depiction of the class division on the ship and, ultimately, in society. A skilled supporting cast help make this a more convincing tale of a harrowing event that could have been prevented if not for the pride and egotism that the movie so effectively portrays.

Our experience watching it as a family was both fulfilling and entertaining, living up to director James Cameron’s grandest intentions for his Best Picture-winning Blockbuster. It also allowed us to pay tribute to the great Bill Paxton and show Elliot the kind of bona fide actor he was. My brother, a big fan of thrillers, absolutely loved the movie and keenly pointed out to my mom that “Their belongings and money don’t matter. It’s the people and their love that matters.”

Photo Courtesy: Playbuzz.com

This is what I most cherished: the powerful life lessons that we got to witness as a family, most of which he was able to comprehend. The true value of a good movie is its ability to make the viewer empathize with someone that they normally wouldn’t empathize with. And yes, many children’s films accomplish this. But there’s something to be said for showing a film like Titanic that accomplishes this with its attention on more mature ideas to a 12-year old in the awkward transition from childhood to adolescence.

12

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | MAY 2017

FAMILY Magazine wants to hear from you!

ELKHART GOSHEN MIDDLEBURY NAPPANEE BRISTOL & WAKARUSA

Tell us how we are doing so we can keep providing you with the best articles that Michiana has to offer!

Scan the QR code below to fill out the short survey and be entered-towin a SASSY T-shirt!

www.surveymonkey.com/r/ Z9SGQP6

FREE, FUN, FANTASTIC ONLY MAY 30 – OCTOBER 20, 2017

Free Public Art Exhibit May 30 – October 20 only!

Grab the whole family and see how many poses you can recreate with 56 life-size bronze sculptures & one 25-foot-tall monumental. While you’re out, enjoy 19 super-sized Quilt Gardens.

Jill Lebbin

Independent Trunk Keeper TK ID# 1303 JillLebbin@matildajaneclothing.com

Download Heritage Trail Adventures free from your app store for useful tips and interactive maps.

#EpicArtAdventures | EpicArtAdventures.com | 800.262.8161 All sculptures by Seward Johnson: God Bless America ©2005, 2012, Los Mariachis ©1994, Forever Marilyn ©1996 Based upon the photograph by Bernard of Hollywood, Captured ©2013, Time For Fun ©2000 All rights reserved by The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc. www.sewardjohnsonatelier.org

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | MAY 2017

13

Christiana Creek Country Club – Elkhart

5:30 P.M., Ice Box – South Bend

Learn To Skate W/ Irish Figure Skating,

Cornelia Powell Presents At Four Arts Club, 1:00 P.M.,

1

2 Brothers & Sisters Day

3 World Press Freedom Day

4

5 5:00 P.M., Downtown Goshen & South Bend Cinco de Mayo

First Fridays,

6

Neighborhood – South Bend

BBQ & Barn Party To Celebrate The Kentucky Derby, 4:00 P.M., Hannah & Friends

Central Park – Mishawaka

Cinco de Miles 5K, 9:00 A.M.,

Penn High School Mishawaka

PHM Silver Mile Run – For Education & Health & Fitness Fair, 8:30 A.M.,

-Rudyard Kipling

“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.”

MAY

2017

Get connected to our online calendar at MichianaMom.com to see additional events and submit events of your own for free!

Want to check out even more things to do in Michiana?

10:00 A.M., Downtown St. Joseph

Lemon Creek Winery

The Lerner – Elkhart

Gordon Lightfoot: The Legend Lives On, 7:30 P.M.,

Lemon Creek Winery’s Art & Wine Festival, Noon,

28

21

14

Antiques On The Bluff,

7

29

6:30 P.M., Panera Bread – St. Joseph, MI

Parent-To-Parent,

5:30 P.M., Ice Box – South Bend

Learn To Skate W/ Irish Figure Skating,

22

7:30 P.M., Morris Performing Arts Center – South Bend

Mamma Mia,

Meditation Yoga,

5:30 P.M., Elkhart Environmental City

15

8

Mamma Mia,

The Lerner – Elkhart

Bridges Out Of Poverty, 7:00 P.M.,

National Teachers Day

30

23

11:30 A.M., South Bend Museum Of Art – South Bend

Best.Lunch.Ever!

Lunchtime Concert At The SBMA With The Music Village,

Lucky Penny Day

7:30 P.M., Morris Performing Arts Center – South Bend

16

9

Fernwood Botanical Garden And Nature Preserve – Niles, MI

Vinyasa Flow – All Levels, 12:15 P.M.,

A.M., The Ler ner – Elkhart

Lunchtime Live! Free Concert Featuring Acoustic Justice, 11:00

31

Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve – Niles, MI

Pack Rat Day

Vinyasa Flow – All Levels, 12:15 P.M.,

24

17

7:30 P.M., South Bend Civic Theatre

Big River Musical,

10 The Music Village – South Bend

Swing Dancing Lessons, 7:00 P.M.,

Together Time,

7:00 P.M., Wagon Wheel Theatre – Warsaw

Disney’s Newsies,

P.M., Riverfront Park Downtown Niles

Niles Family Fun Fair & Bluegrass/ Americana/Roots Music Festival, 5:00

June 1

The Lerner - Elkhart

Silent Movie Experience: Seven Chances, 7:00 P.M.,

11:00 A.M., Warren Golf Course – Notre Dame

Michiana Masters,

25

All Day, Blackthorn Golf Course – South Bend

12th Annual St. Joseph County D.A.R.E. Golf Outing,

8:30 P.M., Peace Lutheran Church & School – Granger

18

1:00 P.M., Mishawaka Lions Flower Sale Pick-Up

Annual Flower Sale,

11

2

Memorial Day Parade, Noon,

8:00 P.M., Wagon Wheel Theatre – Warsaw

Disney’s Newsies,

St. Joseph County Public Library – South Bend

Best. Library. Ever.

Truck Rally, 4:00 P.M.,

6:00 P.M., Wellfield Botanic Gardens - Elkhart

Bottlecaps & Corks,

Downtown St. Joseph, MI

26

7:30 P.M., South Bend Civic Theatre – South Bend

Big River Musical,

The Lerner – Elkhart

Oaklawn’s 18th Annual Spring Spectacular, 7:30 P.M.,

19

7:30 P.M., The Lerner – Elkhart

Singin’ In The Rain,

9:00 A.M., Mishawaka Lions Flower Sale Pick-Up

Annual Flower Sale,

12

Garden & Nature Preserve – Niles

3

Lemon Creek Winery

Wagon Wheel Theatre – Warsaw

Disney’s Newsies, 8:00 P.M.,

Gardens – Elkhart

Linton’s Classic Car CruiseIn, 11:00 A.M., Linton’s Enchanted

Relay For Life, 10:00 A.M., St. Joseph County Fair Grounds – South Bend

St. Joe Farmers Market,

9:00 A.M., Downtown St. Joseph, MI

Lemon Creek Winery’s Art & Wine Festival, Noon,

27

Community Grange Hall - Niles

Community Grange Spring Bazaar 2017, 9:00 A.M.,

Kamm Island – Mishawaka

MAYFEST.US 2017 Charity Craft Beer Fest, 2:00 P.M.,

Spring Garden Festival/Plant Sale, 10:00 A.M., Fernwood Botanical

20

The Lerner – Elkhart

Singin’ In The Rain, 7:30 P.M.,

A.M., Potawatomi Park – South Bend

2017 Girls On The Run Michiana 5K Celebration, 7:00

2:00 P.M., First Baptist Church – Bristol

SPA Women’s Ministry Homes – Pouring Blessings: Tea Party With A Really “Cool” Twist!,

13

FAMILY mommy & daddy All Mom's Can Use A Bit Of Encouragement!

Dear Mom, Schools Out… Dear Mom,

By: Meagan Church

Almost

You’ve made it. Or nearly so. Look straight ahead. Can you see it? Can you see the light? It’s getting closer! That light at the end of this school year’s tunnel is getting so close. And you know what that means?

No more:  Homework.  Standardized tests.  Standardized test prep.  Stress from being nervous about doing well on standardized tests.  Permission slips to sign.  Packing lunches.  Scrambling around to throw together a last-minute dress-like-your-favorite-book-character outfit for Dr. Seuss week.  Fundraisers.  PTO meetings.  Racing to the bus stop. And then waiting. And waiting.  Unpredictable snow days.  Waiting in the carline at pick-up.  Calls from the school nurse.  Rushing to find socks, shoes, backpacks, lunches, homework, take-home folders…every morning (even though you swore you “organized” it all the night before).

Yes, summer is almost here. Can you taste it? Soon you will be sitting poolside, kicking back with a summer book as your kids perfect their strokes and dives. Okay, okay. For now, let’s not talk about the hours you’ll spend applying sunscreen or the negotiations you’ll make with the toddler to get him into his swim diaper. And forget about the fact that the kids aren’t yet capable of swimming on their own. Or the fact that they like to drip their chlorinated bodies all over that library book you 16

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waited weeks to check out. Let’s forget about the whines of it being too hot. Too loud. Too crowded.

Let’s focus.

Soon you will rise without the care of assembling lunches or finding shoes for gym class. Okay, okay. You’ll still need to get them out of bed, dressed, fed and carpooled to their camps and/or summer care. And then of course you’ll be waiting in the carline to pick-up at the end of the day. But let’s not go there now.

Focus.

Think about the vacations. The beaches. The travels. Seeing new places. Experiencing new adventures. What could possibly go wrong? Well, sure there’s the oft-repeated “Are we there yet?” question that gets old. And then of course there’s the little one who gets carsick. And the older one who is bored and just wants to SnapBook (or is it FaceChat… maybe TweetStory…you get my point) with his friends. But really, it’s quality time. In the car.

For hours.

But, please! Let’s focus!

We’ve made it! We’re at the end of another school year. We survived the pop quizzes, standardized tests, parent-teacher conferences, folder signings and car lines. When that last school bell of the year rings, pat yourself on the back, dear mom. You deserve it! Maybe even stay up late and sleep in the next morning.

Just not too late. The kids do have camp. The dog needs to get to the vet. Oh, and don’t forget about the dentist appointments. Perhaps you should schedule the well-child check-ups, while you’re thinking of it.

On second thought, forget it! You’ve waited months for this moment. You’ve autographed more papers this year than a preschooler learning to write her name. You’ve gotten them to school on time despite the ice, rain, snow and misplaced shoes. So, that first day of summer vacation, make it a day of rest. Let them make the pb&j sandwiches. Give them some extra screen time. You have two months to check off bucket-list adventures. For this one day, breathe.

And don’t feel guilty about it for a second.

You’ve earned it!

Minutes off I90 – Exit 49

Take a ride on three different steam railroads & experience machines of the industrial age.

Visit Doc’s

Bring this ad for a

Free Single Fare Train Ride

with purchase of same.*

www.hesston.org A 1930 vintage Soda Fountain

for lunch & ice cream.

Look for the billboard at IN-39 & CR 1000 North GPS: 1201 East 1000 North LaPorte, IN 46350

*Not valid Labor Day Weekend. Offer not valid in combination with any other offer.

No Cash Value Free ticket equal or lesser value. One per guest per day. Expires: 1/1/18 THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | MAY 2017

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FAMILY mommy & daddy

Feminine Fuel Why Women Need Each Other

W

hen I was in second grade, I met Kristen. I loved everything about her. She was a gymnast, and we would spend our days playing on the school field.

She would do back handsprings, and I would skip along side her. We had our own special language; we liked the same sandwich, (peanut butter). She was my first girlfriend. Up until this point, I had spent a lot of time in the dirt with boys. Until one day, she just stopped. She became mean. I would try and talk to her, and she would ignore me. I couldn't understand how she could turn so quickly. I remember the feeling of my heart dropping to my stomach when she said she didn't want to be my friend anymore. She moved the next year. Thankfully within a year or so I met a new best friend whom I am still very close.

What the experience with Kristen created in me is a fear of intimate relationships with women. I didn't allow a lot of women in my life despite many trying. I was fine with men. I understand men. Even being a woman, I sometimes don't understand women, I don't even get myself half the time. In high school and college I picked up a few girlfriends that I remain close with, but more guy friends by far.

By: Noelle Elliott

married too, and so the romantic portion of the relationship is spoken for. That doesn't work the same way when guys aren't married.

Needless to say, this hasn't helped my ability to maintain friendships with men or women for that matter. It left me feeling lonely.

Other than my husband, my closest male friendship is with my brother. Men are a solid yet a soft place to fall into when you need to talk. Throw in a handful of close guy friends and that was my social circle. (I'm still recovering from all of that ESPN exposure.)

But about five years ago I felt like a crucial substance in my life was missing. I made it a goal to foster more female friendships. I joined a book club; I created a show that centered around women, called The Mamalogues. I accepted invitations to dinner or drinks with women. I went on a trip to Australia and met extraordinary women.

I read books written by women, watched movies directed by women, went to symphonies conducted by women. I created space in my soul to allow women in.

And something amazing happened.

Then almost everyone my age got married. I don't know many women who are okay with their husbands having friendships with other women. It's confusing; I mean "why would she want to be friends with a married man?" they ask themselves. Well, because I'm 18

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My feminine fuel was ignited. Feminine fuel is a fire that women keep lit deep within themselves. It's a light, that if you are open to it, will guide you when you are weak. Will warm you when you are

cold. Good female friendships will burn together, and the power of collective flames is something you can't extinguish.

I soon realized that there isn't a wall a woman can't climb or bust through to help a friend.

There is an indomitable energy when a group of women gathers together.

Men can be great listeners when you share things and they will try their hardest to solve your problems and ease your pain. But women, we have a way of hearing what is unspoken and will sit still with you in your pain, and support you because deep down, they know you will be able to handle it yourself.

My family had a tragic accident that rocked our world for the last six weeks. This is where the female fire begins to spread.

When another woman is suffering, there is an unvoiced hum that calls out for help, and we answer it. It as if women weave together and create a tightly woven basket that can surround you and hold you tight, and carry you along as long as you need to be held.

And nothing is too heavy.

I could not have remained as strong as I have without my girlfriends.

What I have learned is that with any intimate friendship, you are a reflection of each other. The highlights and the shadows. What you admire in the other person are probably things you like about yourself. The faults you see in others are usually things you can also see in yourself. That is true with men and women. What I did at a very young age is put a wall between myself and other women to protect me from getting hurt.

EARLY CHILDHOOD REGGIO SUMMER PROGRAM: AGE 3 - K www.stanleyclark.org/summerfun

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SUMMER CAMP: 1st-8th GRADE

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FAMILY mommy & daddy

A Role to be Cherished By: Gayla Grace

A

t 38 weeks pregnant, Jenn eagerly awaited the birth of her first child. Her pregnancy had gone well and she looked forward to what lay ahead as she arrived for her routine doctor exam. With little warning, and a racing heart, she was ushered to a nearby hospital for a more extensive ultrasound. The doctor said the baby appeared to have quit growing and needed to be examined further.

After several tests, Jenn learned the baby girl she had carried for nine months would arrive with heart complications that would affect her for the rest of her life.

Upon admittance to the hospital for delivery to begin, Jenn was understandably beyond anxious, but she wasn't prepared for the emotions she experienced when the baby arrived.

Regardless of the challenges she knew were ahead, she felt an unconditional love that far surpassed any of her expectations.

Within the next few years, Jenn and her husband welcomed two more children. And all were-not surprisingly-embraced with an immense love.

Parents so often take the privilege of parenthood for granted, instead of a role to be cherished. (Yes, no one can possibly cherish every moment. Certainly there are many nonmagical moments during parenthood). It's easy to overlook the important role we play, but the influence we have as parents can't be denied. We teach, we nurture, we counsel, we discipline, we taxi, we solve problems, we ease drama, we nurse wounds and more. While the preschool years have days that never end, the teenage years have days that take flight.

Before we're ready, our babies begin to drive, graduate from high school, start college and venture out on their own.

Time runs out for those positive parenting moments we intended to have. The daily influences we take for granted to mold our children change to parenting snapshots via text messaging, late-night conversations and crisis intervention.

Parenthood provides meaning to life we wouldn't otherwise experience. Although not easy, life without children wouldn't be the same. The lessons we learn while raising children aren't taught in school: how to make it through a long day after enduring a colicky baby all night, how to rid your child of lice without setting her hair on fire, how to stay calm when the school administrator reports your teenager has skipped school or how to alleviate the intense fear of your new driver getting in an accident. As our kids grow older, we learn how to let go when our 18-year-old leaves for college and how to move on when our young adult announces wedding plans.

Parents offer unending selflessness with little guarantee of what lies ahead. We endure heartache and disappointment; we celebrate victories and accomplishments. We refuse to give up when our child goes astray, or turn our back when our child rebels.

Parenthood never truly ends. Whether your parent lives next door or out-of-state, they're always a phone call away. When my job ended in my young adult years, my mom was the first to know. When my children were born, she celebrated with me. When I endured a difficult divorce, she walked with me. When I struggled as a single parent, she encouraged me.

When I celebrated marriage again with a new family, she congratulated me.

Now, as my parents approach their sunset years, I seek to be there for them. Our roles have reversed as I watch the effects of Alzheimer's grip my mother's failing mind and I take over the driver's seat to help my dad with errands. The caretaking role goes full circle: sacrificial love and devotion without end.

My friend, Jenn, cherishes the joy of birthing three babies. All of her children are loved immeasurably and she genuinely has an unending appreciation for a role she'll never take for granted. Plan for the future, while simultaneously living in the moment as you celebrate your extraordinary role. Affirm your value and commit to be a positive influence as you guide and nurture your children. No one else can play the role only you have been granted.

Parenthood provides meaning to life we wouldn't otherwise experience.

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FAMILY fiction

The Diary of a Modern Mom:

The Mother-In-Law By: Meagan Church

Dear Jo, Today Carol Ann stopped by. I could leave this entry at just that and I’m sure you could fill in the blank as to what happened when your mother-in-law randomly knocked on your door. But, I’ll continue, just so you have the details.

You had just finished nursing Lyla and she was nearly completely asleep when you heard the knock. It wasn’t a slight little tap. It was a full-out pounding.

That of course set off Arnold who charged towards the door barking at full guarddog volume. Of course, Lyla began to cry and then Emerson started complaining because he couldn’t hear his show.

You knew who was at the door before you opened it. You knew her knock. You also knew how much she enjoyed just popping in even though both you and Paul had tried to ever-so-politely request that she call first.

“Well, sometimes I just get an urge or I find myself on your side of town and I don’t have a chance to call,” she had said.

So, you open the door as you bounce and shush a startled Lyla and try to get the guard dog to stand down. You open the door just a crack, so Arnold won’t charge out.

“Hi, Carol Ann,” you say between shushes.

Before you can say anymore or begin to make room for her to enter, she steps forward and makes room for herself.

“I was in the neighborhood and wanted to see my grandchildren,” she said. Then, as if she had just noticed all the commotion from inside the house, she reached for Lyla and asked, “Why is she crying?”

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“Well, she was nearly asleep, but the knocking,” you so badly wanted to say “YOUR knocking!” but you refrained, “woke her.”

“Oh, well, I’m sure Arnold’s barking didn’t help either.”

You wanted to explain that the (her) knocking was what had also set off the dog, but before you could respond, she continued. “You know, my boys slept through everything. I could vacuum, talk on the phone, put away dishes, you name it and they would just keep right on sleeping. In fact, one day there was a car accident out in front of our house,” and so began the story you had heard countless times before. “There were squealing tires and a loud crash. The police and fire departments showed up, right in our front yard. So much commotion and when I finally got back into the house after the mess was gone, they were still sound asleep. And you know, they slept through the night from the first day they came home. I guess we just did things… differently…than how you all do things nowadays.”

And there it was. Less than two minutes through the door and she had made you feel inferior to her natural giftedness of being a mother. Thankfully she turned her attention away from indirect insults and focused on Emerson.

“Hey, Emerson! Come give your Grandma a hug!”

Emerson had been so involved in his show that he had barely noticed his grandma had come in. Even still, he seemed to hesitate, wanting to finish his show before greeting his grandma.

“I’ve got something for you!” she coaxed, as if sensing his internal conundrum. She knew how to speak his love language of gifts.

Emerson stood up and ran towards his grandma. “What is it?”

“Candy!” she said as she held out a fistful of miniature candy bars. Given their orange and black wrappers with leaves and pumpkins, you assumed these were leftover from Halloween. Actually, they were probably from the after-Halloween sales when she found them for a good bargain.

You calculated how many months ago that was and wondered if they had an expiration date.

“Can I have one?” Emerson asked, but before you could respond, Carol Ann answered for you.

Finally he returned and he made his choice.

You wondered if that was all he was doing, moving at his own pace. But that blip seemed less like an intentionally slow pace and more like a forced pause.

“Which one do you think your sister would like?” Carol Ann whispered to Emerson.

Before you could respond and remind her that the baby hadn’t been introduced to solids yet, despite Carol Ann’s opinions and reminders that her boys started having cereal in their bottles and that’s why they slept so well, Emerson answered for you.

“She only eats from mom’s breasts,” he said matter-of-fact, as he unwrapped his candy bar and walked back towards the TV. You tried not to laugh as Carol Ann’s face turned red. You wondered if her boys ever knew the proper anatomical terms before being introduced to them in biology class.

“Sure! Take what you want!”

“Uh, just one for now, Buddy. We’ll put the rest in the kitchen.” You didn’t say you’d save them for later. You didn’t want to commit to actually consuming them at some point. He may only be three-yearsold, but he still understands semantics, especially when it comes to candy.

As her color returned to normal, she handed Lyla back to you. “Well, Emerson, what do you say we play with some trains for a few minutes, while your mom puts Lyla down for a nap. Then you and I can clean up a bit since it looks like it has been a while.”

You wanted to be grateful for her help. Yes, it had been a while, but did she really have to point that out? Though you assumed her house never looked that way since the boys could sleep through dusting, dishes and even vacuuming.

Lyla went to sleep quickly, but after you transferred her into the bassinet, you decided to take a few minutes to rest before reentering the in-law zone. You needed to muster up more courage. You must’ve drifted off to sleep, but Carol Ann made sure it didn’t last long, as she vacuumed right outside your door. Maybe her boys slept through the vacuum, but one thing was sure: you, nor Lyla had that ability.

You tried to comfort her back to dreamland, but she was awake and not wanting to return. You finally gave in only to be met with Carol Ann just outside the door. Over the vacuum she mused, “Oh. Guess she wasn’t as tired as you thought.”

Then you wondered how much wine you could have without needing to pump and dump.

Emerson reached out his hand to make his choice. Then he paused. You saw the look, that distant stare. You hoped Carol Ann wouldn’t notice.

“Go on, Emerson. Choose whichever you want,” she said to him.

You knew it would only last a few seconds before he would resume to normal, but those few seconds ticked on for minutes.

“Emerson, just pick a candy,” Carol Ann prompted again.

She looked at you and you merely shrugged your shoulders. You didn’t want to say more. You still didn’t know more. She said, “He’s just like his father. He moves at his own pace.”

The Diary of a Modern Mom is a serial fiction story written by Meagan Church.

Check back each month for the next installment of one mom’s attempt to chronicle what she has been told are the days she shouldn’t forget…spit-up, tantrums, milestones and all.

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