July 2018

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At Broders’ Pasta Bar, we’re about much more than great pasta …

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hat’s why we’ve partnered with two very special organizations doing amazing things for people with Down syndrome and their families—Jack’s Basket and the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota.

Broders’ Pasta Bar donates 10% of all proceeds from our children’s menu—“Kit’s Menu”—to these incredible organizations. Kit’s Menu features pared-down versions of some of our most delicious and kid-friendly pasta dishes.

Kathleen ‘Kit’ Broder, first grandchild of the Broder family, is an avid pasta eater and Italian food enthusiast! Kit was also born with Down syndrome. It’s our goal to celebrate Kit and all children in the Down syndrome community.

612.925.9202 | broderspastabar.com 5000 Penn Ave S / Minneapolis, MN 55419

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It is the mission of the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota to empower individuals and families, to create community and celebrate the abilities of people with Down syndrome.

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Jack’s Basket has a mission to celebrate babies born with Down syndrome. They strive to ensure that every new and expectant parent is provided resources and avenues of support within the community, while aiming to educate medical providers on how to discuss the diagnosis in an unbiased way.


JULY

VOLUME 33 /// ISSUE 7

Untapped! Check out eight local breweries that welcome families and serve great beer.

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The Urban Growler

& About 44 Out CAL EN DAR

Treat street We’ve got the ultimate scoop on the best classic and new-fangled flavors in the Twin Cities.

The Bell Museum planetarium

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Honey & Mackie's Salted Caramel with Peanuts

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About our cover kid Name: Soraya City: Minneapolis Age: 3 Parents: Betsen and Sonal Philip Siblings: Kanon, 5 Personality: Happy, loving and funny Favorite toys: Baby dolls, Batgirl and board games Favorite book: All books about penguins or bunnies Favorite activities: Dancing to the Moana soundtrack, going to the zoo and reading Favorite foods: Macaroni and cheese, watermelon and ice cream! Photos by Sarah Karnas Photography / sarahkarnas.com

Moms We Specialize in Them

Helping Parents Create a Healthy Foundation for a Healthy Family Moms Emotional Coping Skills Group Miscarriage Support Group Couples Counseling & Parenting Work-Life Balance Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

7 Metro Locations

612.296.3800 phawellness.com

Postpartum Counseling Center MNP 118 V6.indd 2

12/7/17 4:01 PM

mnparent.com • July 2018

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JULY 10 FROM THE EDITOR

22 #ADULTING

It’s already been a hot summer. But we’ve got the cure.

My 28-day iPhone diet led me to some surprising discoveries.

12 CHATTER

24 ASK THE PEDIATRICIAN

There are still spaces left in these sessions, catering to ages 5 through 12.

Watch out for sudden severe swelling during pregnancy.

Beat the heat

Free camps

14 BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY

The Mom shift

Becoming a mother intensifies pretty much everything. 16 THE UNCENSORED TODDLER

Idiot box

Three shows you can actually stand to watch with your kids. 18 SCHOOL DAYS

Bug off!

A Northwoods mama shares her top bug-repelling product picks. 20 WORLD’S OKAYEST MOM

Moving out

We grew up in this house — and now we’re saying goodbye.

Mobile detox

Preeclampsia 26 ON BEHAVIOR

Is it just a phase? How do I know if my child needs mental help? 28 IN THE KITCHEN

Sprinkle pops Make your own ice cream treats with tasty toppings. 30 BOOKSHELF

Maker break Enjoy your time indoors with these project-based books! 50 FROM OUR READERS

Kid Fest 2018

It poured during most of our annual festival, but families had a blast anyway!

13 Super-cool keepsakes Twin Cities parents are going gaga over The Locket Sistersʼ unique creations.

Local moms Allyssa Woodford Hughes and Amy Woodford Honmyhr opened Woodford Sisters Photography in 2014. In 2017, they expanded their operations to include The Locket Sisters.

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FROM THE EDITOR mnparent.com

PUBLISHER Janis Hall jhall@mnparent.com SALES MANAGER AND CO-PUBLISHER Terry Gahan tgahan@mnparent.com GENERAL MANAGER Zoe Gahan zgahan@mnparent.com EDITOR Sarah Jackson editor@mnparent.com CONTRIBUTORS Megan Devine, Katie Dohman, Ed Dykhuizen Sarah Karnas, Shannon Keough, Rachael Krahn Laura Ramsborg, Rachel Berg Scherer Dr. Erin Stevens, Kaitlin Ungs, Jen Wittes CREATIVE DIRECTOR Valerie Moe vmoe@mnparent.com SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Micah Edel GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kaitlin Ungs CLIENT SERVICES Delaney Patterson 612-436-5070 • dpatterson@mnpubs.com CIRCULATION Marlo Johnson 612-436-4388 • distribution@mnparent.com ADVERTISING 612-436-4360 • sales@mnparent.com 45,000 copies of Minnesota Parent are printed monthly, available at 1,100 locations: mnparent.com/racks Go to mnparent.com/subscribe to get this magazine mailed to your home for $18 a year.

Minnesota Parent (ISSN 0740 3437) is published monthly by Minnesota Premier Publications. POSTMASTER send address changes to: MINNESOTA PARENT, 1115 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403. Minnesota Parent is copyright 2018 by Minnesota Premier Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Address all material to address above.

Drink it in I

s anyone else having trouble staying focused lately? I don’t know about you, but this year I’ve had the WORST case of spring fever! All I want to do is be outside — just soaking it all in. Gardening, going on walks, hitting the trails, the beach, the pool, the soccer field, the tennis court, lakes, breweries, ice cream parlors. All of it! Winter was so long this year. When the warm weather finally arrived, I already felt behind on planting veggies, unearthing the grill, filling the propane tanks and getting out the summer toys. I was even behind on setting up the hammock. Oh, the hammock. Is there a more iconic symbol of summer relaxation? I got my frame, one of those simple metal ones, from a friend for free. Then I found a used fabric sling from a guy on NextDoor for $30, compete with a pillow! My son and his friends use it as a swing during the day, of course. But at dusk, after the playdates are done, the hammock turns into our favorite spot for read-together bedtime stories. On those mild nights — in that short spring window when the bugs aren’t yet fully awake — we haul out the pillows and a fuzzy blanket and snuggle and read until the light is just too dim. We take breaks to watch the last of the late-day light fade as the clouds shift and the birds flit overhead. It’s heaven. Summer in Minnesota, folks. We KNOW how to do it. Don’t believe me? Check out this issue — our annual Beat the Heat-themed magazine — for two amazing features on things we do pretty well in our summer-lovin’ state: I’m talking about ice cream and beer, folks. Yep, we’ve done the deep digging and serious journalizing (so you don’t have to) to find out where to have ice-cold summer fun as a family! In the process, we (our magazine’s staff) realized: We don’t need to “Beat the Heat.” We need to join it. Because when it’s gone, it’s gone for so long. (In fact, next year, we’re going to go ahead and change our July issue theme from Beat the Heat to Local Eats.) But don’t worry: If you’re feeling overly hot, as always, we’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to Twin Cities splash pads at mnparent.com/splash-pads or view our comprehensive list of water parks at mnparent.com/directory. Happy summer!

Sarah Jackson, Editor

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Sarah Jackson

CHATTER

Free camps! Looking for fun summer activities with low price tags? Then check out the many free camps offered by The Sanneh Foundation, the St. Paul-based nonprofit youth-development organization founded by former World Cup soccer star, Tony Sanneh. Most of the camps — offered in the morning or afternoon and even some evenings — last 2.5 hours and focus on soccer (though there are some basketball camps as well). Designed for ages 5 through 12, the sessions are run by trained coaches. Each camper receives a T-shirt, water bottle, cinch bag and a Delta Dental oral care kit. Locations include parks and community locations in Minneapolis, St. Paul and a few other suburban locations, such as Brooklyn Park and Richfield. The Sanneh Foundation’s programs focus on athletics, academics and leadership. Learn more at thesannehfoundation.org. ↑↑The Sanneh Foundation offers free community camps in the Twin Cities that focus on soccer and basketball.

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The Evelyn

Customizable, local lockets If your child goes to daycare, it can be hard to be apart all day long. Why not stay connected with a special token of your love — a locket! We’re in love with these little gems from The Locket Sisters, two local moms (and actual sibs), Amy and Allyssa, who handcraft lockets for kids as well as adults at their art studio in Northeast Minneapolis. You simply choose a design, upload the image you want and the sisters go to work on photo sizing and crafting with metals such as silver, brass, pewter, steel and gold. Prices range from $85 to $175. Bonus: Twenty-five percent of all Locket Sisters profits go to charity every month. Learn more at thelocketsisters.com.

The Lillian

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Jen Wittes

BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY

You. In stereo. C

ertain emotions are a given with a new baby — joy, fear, wonder, exhaustion. The standards. What’s talked about less often, if ever, are the heightened feelings outside of the intimate relationship between parent and child. As you hyper-focus on parenting, what happens to your other relationships? To your feelings about work, love, life and faith? How do you view your environment? Driving a car? Drinking alcohol? Some of these auxiliary thoughts, beliefs, opinions and values will shift when you become a parent. You drive more carefully, you’re less bothered by your boss, you shy from that second glass of wine. More profound than these changes are the ways in which a new baby amplifies what’s already there. A love for nature seems more intense when a parent is expansive with love for the baby. A reformed ex-smoker becomes all the more militant about a smoke-free existence. The simple act of having a child seems to bring forth and intensify parents’ best qualities, and their worst. A newborn in the house will unearth and shed light on what’s already there — painful insecurity, sexual frustration, creativity, playfulness, tenderness, a need to stay organized. Fights between two new parents are bigger, scarier and deeper-cutting. The stakes are higher. The way he plays with his phone during intense conversation is 10 times more annoying. The way she mocks you in the heat of battle seems pointed and poised to drive you insane. Of course, the fear of “not working it out” is magnified by that precious embodiment

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of the love between you — YOUR baby. The way you feel about your own upbringing means more now than ever. A perceived idyllic childhood can stir up a crippling sort of perfectionism. Feelings of resentment toward your mother — rooted in how hard she worked outside of the home or her codependent desire to be your friend — will come up, swish and swirl, seem bigger and will perhaps cause guilt. You now know how hard it is to be the M word. Mom. The therapy starter. The everything. Gratitude toward your parents emerges as new and surprising. There’s an understanding of choices, reactions, mistakes. Or there’s some stuff to work out — feeling now what you feel for your baby — in those choices, reactions and mistakes. It’s not unusual to dive deeper now

— to suddenly journal, start therapy and (finally) “get” yoga. All of it — your sibling rivalry, your proverbial Daddy Issues, your unyielding love for coffee and the ability to taste the complexities of the bean — are suddenly and overwhelmingly BIGGER. The way you choose your friends, the friendships you leave behind, the way you dress, the way you approach your lover, how hard you cry, with what health (or lack of) you handle conflict, what you want to be when you grow up, the way you feel more grown up than ever under the moniker Mom or Dad, the way you feel more like a child than ever under the weight of motherhood, fatherhood. All of it, all the things, are pronounced. While skipping happy hour on Friday night and going to bed at 9 might feel like an identity crisis, you’re now more than ever so authentically you.


Convertible entertainer BABY STUFF

Skip Hop’s award-winning Explore and More 3-Stage Activity Center may look like a jumper, but it’s really more of a 360-degree surfer. Rather than using springs in the seat to create a bouncing effect, it features an adjustable foot-support platform that moves with your baby’s every step. We love the piano, which can be installed up top or on the bottom for toe-tapping fun (made delightfully visible to Baby through a clear plastic window). That’s Stage 1. It turns into a play center for cruising for Stage 2 and eventually a flat-top play table for Stage 3. $120 • skiphop.com

A lot gets said about adapting to “the new normal.” It’s a cliché attributed to packing a diaper bag, sleeping in shifts and taking pump breaks. But I think the real point of adaptation is akin to stepping out into a bright summer day after sitting in a dark movie theater. There’s a tendency to shade your eyes, but you must adjust to how bright the world is and you must move forward. This is the real new normal. It’s you. In stereo. Jen Wittes is a certified postpartum doula and writer who now works in marketing and communications. She lives in St. Paul with her two kids, her two cats and her husband. Send questions or comments to jwittes@ mnparent.com.

Day Communications MNP 0618 S3.indd 1

EXERCISE PREGNANCY STUDY The University of Minnesota is seeking women who are currently less than 20 weeks pregnant to participate in a research study examining the effect of exercise and wellness on mood following childbirth.

5/16/18 4:25 PM

ESTUDIO SOBRE EL EJERCICIO DURANTE EL EMBARAZO La Universidad de Minnesota está buscando mujeres con menos de 20 semanas de embarazo para participar en el estudio de investigación que examina los efectos del ejercicio y la salud del estado de ánimo posterior al parto

• Program delivered to you via the mail and phone

• Programa ejecutado vía correo o teléfono

• Must be 18 years of age or older

• Debe ser mayor o igual a 18 años de edad

• Must not currently exercise regularly

• No debe hacer ejercicio regularmente

• Must not take antidepressants

• No debe tomar antidepresivos

• You will receive $100 & a FitBit for your time (you will be allowed to keep the FitBit after the study is over)

• Usted recibirá $100 y un FitBit por su tiempo (será permitido quedarse con el FitBit después de la culminación del estudio)

• Program can be delivered in English or Spanish

• Debe considerarse de bajos ingresos, lo cual se define como:

• Must be considered low-income, defined as: - Enrollment in any government assisted program (e.g., WIC, SNAP) AND/OR - Annual income that is considered low (less than $45,510 for a family of four, less than $30,044 for a family of two, and less than $22,311 if single). English: Call or TEXT to 612-345-0325 or mompro@umn.edu to see if you qualify for this research study.

U of M - Kinesiology Dept MNP 0318 S3.indd 2

- Inscripta en cualquier programa asistencial del gobierno (por ejemplo, WIC, SNAP) Y/O - Ingresos anuales considerados como bajos (menos de $ 45,510 para una familia de cuatro, menos de $ 30,044 para una familia de dos y menos de $ 22,311 si es soltera). Español: Llamada o TEXTO 612-237-1004 o mompro@umn.edu para ver si califica para éste estudio.

2/14/18 11:13 AM

mnparent.com • July 2018

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Shannon Keough

THE UNCENSORED TODDLER

Quality screen time

“W

e all know that screen time in excess can be harmful to infants and toddlers, and that it isn’t great for older children, either. And I would guess that there aren’t too many parents out there that would want their children struggle with things like obesity, ADHD or cognitive and language development.” This comment is from Mindy Wood, writing for MamaNatural.com. Screen time — isn’t it the worst? I simply don’t understand these parents who feel

like it’s OK to sacrifice their child’s well-being and impair their healthy development with passive sessions in front of the “idiot box.” Whatever happened to good old-fashioned play in the great outdoors? What is this world coming to? LOL, just kidding! I totally let my kids have “screen time.” I know it’s “bad,” or at least not ideal. I’ve read about what the studies have shown. But let me share a little secret with you: I just don’t care that much.

TODDLER STUFF

Please note that I said I don’t care “that much.” I care; sometimes I wish I cared more. But when it comes down to it, I have bigger concerns. For example, every day before I put my kindergartener on the bus, I make sure to give her a big hug. If there’s any stress about forgotten homework packets or permission slips, I try to defuse it. The nice, euphemistic way to explain why I do this is because I think it’s important to try to live every day as if it’s your last. (But seriously, if I really lived every day as if it was my last, I’d never pay my Xcel Energy bill.) The real reason I try to ensure a happy sendoff is because every day this thought floats through my head: “Will this be the day my 6-year-old is gunned down in her classroom?” Until this kind of thought is indicative of hysterical anxiety and not, in fact, a rational reaction to the state our country is in, I will continue to keep my handwringing over screen time to a minimum. On that note, let me share some of my screen time recommendations. Since I read somewhere that it’s a good idea to watch this stuff with your kids — to better answer their questions and make sure a given show isn’t just a 30-minute toy ad — I’m going to suggest only things I’ve been able to endure watching.

Beach tote

Lightweight, water-repellant and designed to keep a parent’s hands free, this megasize hamper bag (22 inches tall and 14 inches around when expanded) attaches easily to any stroller — or you can use the shoulder straps to carry it like a backpack. Bonus: It’s machine washable. (Regularly $38, these were on sale at press time for $18.99.) 7amenfant.com

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Therefore, all the standard “good” shows for toddlers will not be on my list. A quick Google search will let you know it’s OK for them to watch Daniel Tiger, Dinosaur Train and the Octonauts.

The Aquabats Super Show The Aquabats (left) are a pop-punk band by day and superhero team by night. It’s a silly show, with crappy special effects, ridiculous monsters and goofy crimefighting plot lines. Although it’s definitely one of those shows that’s going for the “parent market,” my own little kids love it. In fact, my daughter instructed me to grow out my hair so I could dress up as EagleBones Falconhawk for a proposed family Halloween costume theme.

Boohbah This super-weird British children’s show features five brightly colored, gumdropshaped creatures. Created by the people who brought us Teletubbies, Boohbah is ostensibly aimed at getting little kids to exercise. The odd little blob creatures appear on screen at least twice in each episode to perform a repetitive “dance.” This show doesn’t get a lot of love online, but I think it’s strangely fascinating. Also worth a try: In the Night Garden.

Koyaanisqatsi Can’t stand the thought of enduring yet another viewing of Moana? Ensure your child’s acceptance into Macalester College by showing him this hypnotic, wordless 1982 experimental film by Godfrey Reggio, featuring mesmerizing footage of natural landscapes giving way to forces of modernization with an ever-undulating score by Philip Glass. What’s your favorite show to actually watch with your kids? Comment on this article at mnparent.com/tods. Shannon Keough lives in St. Paul with her husband and two children. Send questions or comments to skeough@mnparent.com. mnparent.com • July 2018

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Bugs — and bites — be gone! J

uly is here! It’s high time to experience all that summer has to offer in Minnesota in this short, but amazing season — ball games, picnics, time near the water, camping in the woods and going on day hikes. The challenge, especially in our fair state, is to repel those uninvited guests that frequently make themselves present during our time outdoors, namely mosquitos, black flies, horse-flies, deer flies, no-see-ums and ticks. Here how I — a longtime Northwoods mama — keep the bugs at bay.

Natural repellents Many products on the market appeal to those who are concerned about covering themselves with potentially dangerous chemicals. However, many natural insect repellents — many of which are made from essential oils — don’t work very well, putting you at risk for the ailments associated with Zika and West Nile viruses, or Lyme disease. If you’re looking for an effective repellent with more natural ingredients, look for products with oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE). Understand that oil of lemon eucalyptus isn’t the same thing as lemon eucalyptus essential oil, which doesn’t have the same repellent effect. My top pick for a plant-based repellent is Repel Lemon Eucalyptus ($4.99 at Target). Note that the CDC doesn’t recommend products with OLE on children younger than 3.

The tough stuff Products containing DEET, Picaridin or IR3535 are your best bets if you want the most effective, long-term protection against insects and ticks. Products containing DEET tend to be more oily and have a more unpleasant odor compared to products containing Picaridin. DEET, however, has proven to be more effective on ticks.

IR3535 offers similar protection against most species of mosquitoes and is effective at repelling deer ticks — without the odor, staining or possible skin irritation associated with DEET. My top heavy-duty product picks are OFF! Family Care Insect Repellent I (Smooth & Dry) with DEET ($5.89 at Target); Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent ($7.99 from Walmart, at right); and Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535 Expedition Aerosol Spray SPF 28 ($16 from Avon). DEET is approved for use on children with no age restriction as long as it is used according to manufacturer directions, according to the EPA. Talk to your doctor before using chemicals on infants. See tinyurl.com/ewg-bugs for a guide to choosing the right product for your child.

Thermacell devices These fuel-based portable repellers can serve as additional protection against mosquitos or as an alternative to sprays or lotions. Powered by small fuel cartridges, these cordless devices disperse scent-free repellent into the air using low heat, creating a 15-foot “zone of protection.” We like the wearable MR150 Portable Mosquito Repeller ($19.58 on Amazon) for gardening, berry picking and camping. At home for outdoor dining, I recommend the Patio Shield Mosquito Repeller ($24.95 at REI).

CLICK THROUGH! Go to this story at mnparent.com/meg for direct links to all the products listed here, plus a list of resources tackling how to choose and use insect repellents safely. 18

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Apparel and gear Another creative and effective solution is insect-repellent apparel and gear. I highly recommend products treated with Insect Shield, an odor-free from of the pesticide permethrin designed to last the lifetime of the apparel upon which it is applied. Insect Shield shirts, pants, socks, hats, buffs, scarves and bandanas repel mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and no-seeums, while the blankets, travel sheets, nets and hammocks repel mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and flies. My top Insect Shield picks are the Sport Crew Socks ($8.76), the Outdoor Blanket ($34.95) (a great protective ground barrier for babies and children) and the Versatile Wrap ($28). You can find maternity, workwear and pet products treated with Insect Shield, too, and can even send your own garments in to be treated, such as kids clothes for camp, family reunion T-shirts and more. See insectshield.com for details. Megan Devine is an elementary school teacher who lives with her husband and four school-age children in Northeastern Minnesota. She blogs at kidsandeggs.com.

Parents, have you named guardians for your kids?

Free Estate Planning and Asset Protection Workshop July 26 at 5pm Edina Southdale Library 7001 York Ave. S. Save your seat at: lauraecowanlaw.com/ minnesota-events or call.

225 S. Sixth Street, 39th Fl. Minneapolis lauraecowanlaw.com 855-914-1944 Law Office of Laura Cowan MNP 0718 H4.indd 1

6/14/18 9:50 AM

mnparent.com • July 2018

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Katie Dohman

WORLD’S OKAYEST MOM

The things we grew W

e planned on living in our current house forever. It’s midcentury modern, and has the elusive fourth bedroom. It’s in a great location — we can walk to a small grocery store when we’re out of coffee (a true emergency if there ever was one) — and there’s a splash pad across the street. Most notably, it was here that I started to invest in decor like an adult, instead of tacking up a few photos and semi-squatting as if I might pack up and leave at any time. I proved my fidelity with grown-up expenditures on furnaces and city assessments. And my husband and I started figuring it out as a pair: Less like two individual humans fighting for autonomy, we fused as a team, making decisions and sharing the load. We laid our beloved cockapoo to rest and adopted two more sad-sack fluffmuffins. We got better at our arguments over whether IKEA loads would fit in the car or what color gray to put on the walls (final picks: Sharkey Gray and Chelsea Gray). When I got pregnant with Ruby, morning sickness would wake me at dawn. I’d sit in the backyard, eat dry cereal and close my eyes to ward off the nausea, the scent of lilac dancing in the air. I waited for three babies in this house. All told, I did about 16 weeks of bedrest, memorizing the rhythms of my neighborhood from the couch — 10 a.m. the guy with the unleashed black lab walks by; 11:30 our mailman; after dinner, the boy two houses down glides by on his scooter. My best friend beeps when she drives by; my mom and dad, who live around the corner, pop in, or we beep and wave when we drive past their house.

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William and I carried three babies across this threshold, paced our wooden floors with their familiar creaky spots as these babies grew and their legs spilled out over our arms, folded like cradles. Now I wake at 3 a.m. to hear my middle child’s feet striding up the stairs; if we make eye contact he’ll whisper, “Mama, wuv wuv.” And I’ll lift the blanket to let him in. I know there are five stairs up to our second floor and 10 to the third, because that’s how Ruby learned to count. Each year on Mother’s Day weekend, we’ve gone all together to the nursery or farmer’s market, then come home and planted bulbs, seeds and baby plants by

the wagonload. One fall, William and Ruby buried 200-some tulip bulbs and 50 hyacinth — and the next spring, they exploded into a natural Xanax bouquet after a long winter (above). Then came a two-story playhouse (in which a 3-year-old Ruby wielded a real drill for the first time), and a matching raised herb garden bed, whose harvests depended on whether I had morning sickness. The gardening bug stuck around long enough that we learned how to divide hostas. We learned peonies don’t like to be relocated, and any gains we made growing a blueberry bush were yoinked right outta our grasp by adorable, but totally guilty, bunnies.


New French Immersion Early Childhood Center TODDLER • PRESCHOOL PRE-K • KINDERGARTEN Visit our website to choose the program that meets your needs. www.thefrenchacademie.org • 952-944-1930 French American School MNP 0718 H6.indd 6

6/21/18 3:17 PM

MOM STUFF

Planners

In the age of apps, call me a brontosaurus. I can’t live without my Ban.do planner. I make All the Lists with monthly/weekly views, note pages and stickers. My inner 8-year-old: Thrilled. Adult self: Organized. August–to–August formats are for sale now. — Katie Dohman $20–$32 • bando.com

The community grew. We formed a friendship with the green thumb down the block, sharing gardening implements and jokes. We sat with our neighbor friends at the city parade. We borrowed from Little Free Libraries. Idyllic, really. And yet … a dream home called us, by sheer accident. An offer our curiosities couldn’t refuse. It’s a 1921 Tudor looking for someone to bring it back to life. One bedroom had “Ruby” painted on the wall. It was a sign. We will build new things. Grow new things. Celebrate milestones we don’t even know are coming. A house is just a house. I know that. But this was our home. Katie Dohman still lives in West St. Paul (just a mile down the road from her old house) with her three kids, two dogs and one husband. She loves them a lot, which is good, because she can’t remember the last time she slept a whole night through. mnparent.com • July 2018

21


Laura Ramsborg

#ADULTING

My iPhone cleanse H

ow long can you go without using your phone? After declaring “device-free dinners” at our house, I decided to conduct a monthlong iPhone experiment: For an entire month, I would limit the use of my phone and see what happened. Initially, I planned to restrict my phone use to its intended purpose — making phone calls. However, after realizing such extreme limitations weren’t realistic, I adjusted my guidelines to make the experiment challenging, but manageable: ⊲⊲I would respond to texts only when my family was sleeping. ⊲⊲I wouldn’t use apps of any kind (including social media) on my phone. ⊲⊲I would check/respond to email by computer only, also when my family was asleep. Here’s the truth: I went into this experiment a bit unprepared and far too cavalier about my ability to resist the device. I’m not a person who would rather give up chocolate than my phone (no judgement if you are), but I thought this challenge would be relatively easy for me. Of course, I was proven wrong.

Facing withdrawal On Day 1, when I came downstairs and spotted my phone on the kitchen counter, I had to forcibly stop myself — using one hand to stop the other — before I touched the screen. This impulse didn’t pass for a full 48 hours. By Day 3, my experiment moved into the frustration realm. I use my phone to make daily life easier, but it was no longer available — no more quick weather

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checks before getting dressed for the day; no more Google maps (and I’m beyond navigationally challenged); no more nightlight app for infant feedings; and no more list apps for my Target run. I was lost, both literally and figuratively, until I created new methods to replace my digital ways (think: back to paper and pen). Yet, by the end of Day 4, my phone had lost some of its “power” over me and morphed from being my Phone (capital P) to an inanimate piece of gadgetry. Major moment: During a busy weekend (Day 7), I forgot about the phone for nearly 12 hours and didn’t know where I had put it.

Devolving into cheating But I still missed my phone. I’ll admit it: I “cheated” and used Google maps after getting hopelessly lost on Day 5. I also asked my 6-year-old to read some texts to me, like those related to our carpool or messages

from my husband. (I learned I’m not sure I want my first-grader to be adept at opening and responding to text messages.) Sometime around Day 12, the experiment progressed from frustrating to annoying. A close friend who routinely uses text messages to communicate said, “When is this dumb experiment going to be over? I’m tired of it already. And you can quote me on that.”

Feeling disconnected One of the surprising outcomes was how the experiment affected my emotions. I started feeling lonely and withdrawn from my friends. Technology gets blamed for deteriorating relationships, but it helps me stay connected. During the experiment, I wasn’t able to easily plan outings, playdates, nights out with friends or text the occasional, “Hey, how are you?” Although I did enjoy talking to my


TRACK YOUR USAGE ⊲ Moment (above), a free iOS app for iPhone and iPads (Android coming soon), inthemoment.io ⊲ QualityTime, a free Android app available on Google Play, qualitytimeapp.com

friends more and hearing their voices during a quick phone chat, it wasn’t the same as the simple convenience of a text.

Arriving at awareness After 28 days of grueling phone withdrawal (yes, I chose the shortest month on purpose), and with the support of my loved ones, I survived the iPhone experiment. It took less than a week for me to resume some behaviors (mainly texting), but I’m more aware of 1) when I’m using my phone, 2) how I’m using it and 3) why. I’m not mindlessly scrolling through my email whenever I have a spare moment, and I’ve recognized that I really don’t need to respond immediately or be accessible all the time. By choosing to put my phone down or leave it at home, I’m more attentive and able to thoroughly enjoy what I’m doing. The best outcome from my experiment is that I’m using my phone for its intended purpose — as a technologyenabled tool to enhance my life — instead of allowing it to take over. Laura Ramsborg lives in Bloomington with her husband, three daughters and a rambunctious Labrador. Contact her at ramsborgwrites@gmail.com. mnparent.com • July 2018

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Dr. Erin Stevens

ASK THE OBGYN

Preeclampsia 101 P

regnancy is generally thought of as a wonderful, magical time. Although that certainly can be so, it’s also a time of great risk for a woman’s health. Women’s bodies change in many ways to accommodate pregnancy, but sometimes these changes lead to health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, blood clots, excessive bleeding, infection, liver dysfunction, kidney problems, heart failure and depression. These conditions can be life-threatening, and the U.S. shockingly is the only developed nation with a rising rate of maternal mortality, with state-specific rates of maternal death ranging between 5.9 to 40.7 women for every 100,000 live births, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. One of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide is preeclampsia. In my practice, I’ve found that many women are

unaware of preeclampsia or mistakenly believe it to be a malady of the past. Some are familiar with it only as the condition that took the life of Lady Sybil in the fictional TV series Downton Abbey in 2013. However, preeclampsia — which can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby — is responsible for 8 percent of maternal deaths in the U.S., according to a recent report by NPR and ProPublica.

What is it? Preeclampsia begins early in pregnancy with abnormal development of the vessels of the placenta within the womb. The disease doesn’t typically begin to show any outward signs, however, until the second half of pregnancy, usually in the third trimester and most of the time not until the pregnancy is at term. Women often present with symptoms such as fluid

retention, headaches, vision changes, upper abdominal pain and high blood pressure. In the setting of preeclampsia, blood pressure can become so high that it causes a woman to have a stroke. It can contribute to poor functioning of the placenta, low fluid around the baby and small growth of the baby. It may lead to premature separation of the placenta from the uterus (called a placental abruption). Preeclampsia can cause temporary and permanent damage to multiple organs in the mother; or the mother’s lungs may fill with fluid (called pulmonary edema), leading to restricted oxygen for her and the baby. Women have seizures when preeclampsia progresses to eclampsia, most often in the 48 hours postpartum, the condition TV viewers observed with Lady Sybil after the birth of her daughter.

Who’s at risk? Preeclampsia can develop in any pregnancy — including in mothers with otherwise normal blood pressure — but factors that place women at highest risk include: • First pregnancy • History of preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy • Age 40 or older • Diabetes • High blood pressure outside of pregnancy • Lupus • Kidney disease • Obesity • Pregnancy conceived by in-vitro fertilization • Twins or multiples.

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before an early delivery is pursued. Depending on the severity of preeclampsia, medications may be a part of management. This includes medications to prevent blood pressure from becoming dangerously high and IV-delivered magnesium sulfate to reduce the risk of seizures.

Keep your child safe. More than 60,000 young children end up in emergency rooms every year because they got into medicines while their parent or caregiver was not looking. Always put every medicine and vitamin up and away every time you use it. Also, program your poison control center’s number in your phone: 800.222.1222.

To learn more, visit UpandAway.org

What happens after delivery?

What are the signs? Preeclampsia is sometimes difficult to immediately diagnose as potential symptoms can be vague and common in pregnancy in general — and women with it don’t always feel unwell. The severity and number of symptoms are important to consider: Women might experience headaches, vision changes (blurry vision or spots in the vision), difficulty breathing, pain in the middle or right side of the upper belly or a sudden increase in swelling, particularly in the hands and face. Women should always mention these symptoms to a health-care provider during pregnancy. One of the big reasons women are seen so frequently later in pregnancy is for blood-pressure monitoring to detect sudden elevations. Although it’s part of normal pregnancy physiology for blood pressure to increase at the end of pregnancy, measurements that fall in the range of hypertension aren’t expected. If there’s a concern about preeclampsia, in addition to watching your blood pressure closely, your health-care provider will likely order tests to look at your blood counts, liver function, kidney function and the protein content of your urine.

How is it treated? The best treatment for preeclampsia is delivery of the baby. Depending on how far along a woman is in her pregnancy, the risks of preeclampsia and its severity must be closely weighed against the risks of prematurity of the baby

In partnership with

Although delivery of the baby is a big part of the Centers for Disease Control and treatment, health risks to the mother persist Prevention (CDC) after delivery. Sometimes the condition doesn’t even arise until the postpartum Up and Away MNP 2012 Filler 12.indd period, up to six weeks after delivery. Most women who ultimately die from preeclampsia die postpartum. Women who have had preeclampsia during the pregnancy are seen back in the office sooner and more frequently postpartum than women who had uncomplicated pregnancies. They may be instructed to take their own blood pressure at home or set up to have a nurse perform this assessment for them. All women should continue to monitor for symptoms of preeclampsia postpartum and present to their health-care provider’s office or emergency room if they have persistent headaches, vision changes (spots or blurry vision), chest pain, troubles breathing, pain in the upper belly or sudden onset of severe swelling.

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How can it be prevented? Women at high risk for the development of preeclampsia may be able to reduce their risk by taking a daily baby aspirin throughout the pregnancy. There are no other interventions that have been shown by research to decrease the risk or to prevent the disease altogether. If you have more questions about preeclampsia and how it might affect your pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider. Dr. Erin Stevens sees patients at the Edina location of Clinic Sofia, a leading OBGYN clinic known for its personalized approach to women’s health care. She is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Learn more at clinicsofia.com.

One hour east of Twin Cities (715) 778-4414 Spring Valley, WI

acoolcave.org mnparent.com • July 2018

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Dr. Rachael Krahn

ON BEHAVIOR

More than ‘just a phase’ W

hen a child falls off a bike and breaks an arm, parents know what to do. But when a child’s pain and distress are on the inside, it can be hard to know when to reach out for help. As a psychologist who specializes in working with children and families, I’ve heard many parents ask, “Is this behavior normal? Or is this just a phase?” It’s an important question to ask because depression and anxiety are more prevalent than many parents realize. The National Institute of Health has identified mental health challenges as the most common and the most expensive health conditions of childhood. Mental health disorders don’t discriminate; they impact every age, gender, culture, religion and income level.

A child’s response The truth is everyone has mental health. One out of five Minnesota children will experience mental health challenges at some point in their childhood — but only 20 percent of children with mental disorders will receive mental health services. Mental health disorders such as depression can look different in children than adults, but often are triggered by similar life challenges — a difficult relationship,

Many schools in our community have a child therapist based right in the school to offer families convenient access to mental health care. 26

July 2018 • mnparent.com

a major (or even minor) transition in life, a change in the family system, the loss of something or someone important. For children, whose brains are still developing, having adults who can attend to their mental health and bolster their social supports is key to their adaptability.

Signs to spot The following questions may help tease out when your child’s emotional or behavioral difficulties have reached a level where more help is needed: Does your child have: • Disrupted sleep, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, or frequent nightmares? • Anxious or depressed feelings that make it hard to play, learn or connect with others? • Emotional or behavioral displays that seem out of proportion to the current situation or have persisted for several weeks? Has your child: • Witnessed or experienced a traumatic event, such as a car accident or community violence? • Experienced significant loss, such as a death in the family, a move or divorce? • Been encouraged by a teacher or pediatrician to complete a behavioral, emotional or developmental assessment? If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions — and your child is struggling at home or in school — you may want to consider reaching out for help.

Trust your instincts Ultimately it comes down to your intuition. As a parent, you know your child best. If you begin to feel like an issue is impacting your child’s and family’s overall well-being, give yourself the OK to say, “I need help to see if this is more than just a phase.” Reach out to your child’s network for help. Ask your pediatrician if she would recommend an assessment by a mental health professional. Ask your child’s teacher what he observes in the classroom. Check with your school social worker or guidance counselor to see what types of services are available at your child’s school. Many schools in our community have a child therapist based right on site to offer families convenient access to mental health care.

What to expect Look for a therapist who will collaborate alongside you to develop an understanding of your child’s social, emotional and behavioral development. Then determine a path for healing. A mental health professional will support your child, your family and often the systems your child is a part of (child care, school, community programs). The ultimate goal of therapy is to nurture your child’s resilience and well-being. As you reach out for help, remember, we all have mental health. And our mental health is just as important to care for as our physical health. Dr. Rachael Krahn is a child psychologist with the Washburn Center for Children, a Minneapolis-based community mental health center with a mission to nurture every child and family’s well-being and full potential through transformative children’s mental health care. Learn more at washburn.org.



cutie pops

IN THE KITCHEN

Photo by Sarah Karnas Photography

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ICE CREAM SCOOP POPS Having cake and ice cream this summer? Don’t waste valuable party time by scooping tableside. Instead make these delightful grab-and-go treats ahead of time. Or better yet, skip the cake — like we did — and just make these for fun with the kids. All you need, besides ice cream and toppings, is little wooden tasting spoons. Check at your local craft store or hit up Amazon, where we found a bag of 100 for $6 (tinyurl.com/mnp-spoons). Cool, right? Scoop out 2-inch balls of ice cream and place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. (You may need to form them a bit with your hands or a spatula to get perfect spheres — if that’s what you’re after.) Insert a wooden tasting spoon into each scoop. Freeze until fully hardened, about two hours. Roll the scoops in assorted toppings such as sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, toasted coconut or crushed graham crackers, candy bars or colorful cereal such as Trix. Serve immediately or freeze, covered, for up to three days.

Source: Adapted from Jessica Walker at bettycrocker.com.


Kaitlin Ungs

BOOKSHELF

Dream, explore, create! What does your family do to stay occupied when it’s blazing hot outside? Sometimes, the best option is to stay inside and create. Let this list inspire you and the kids to make something new!

What do nunchucks, banjoes and cowboy spurs have in common? You can make them all using this ingenious book. We love its wild, unique ideas — air cannons, gliders, car shooters and headdresses — and can see days of fun coming from its 150 pages. Be aware that parental supervision (and sharp knives) are often required. Ages 7–12 • $14.95

Keep this book tucked away for a rainy day and whip it out whenever your kiddos need a distraction. You’ll find inviting coloring pages, mazes, word searches, fill-in-thebubble comic strips, seek-and-finds, tons of paper punch-out activities and a whopping 400 stickers. Ages 6–9 • $14.95

Cheese doesn’t have to come from the grocery store! You can make your own by using a few simple recipes. Enter this gem, which teaches kids not just how to make different kinds of cheese (plus butter and other dairy products), but also how to use the results in recipes, such as ricotta pancakes, berry cream cheese pie and mini lasagnas. Flip to the back for cheese stickers, country flags and a little chunk of cheese history. Ages 8–12 • $18.95

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Spreading Hope to Families of Micro-Preemie Babies, One Potato at a Time. thepotatoheadproject.org Techmaster Charlotte knows more about her mom and dad’s gadgets than they do, but when Mom gifts her a baby doll, Charlotte doesn’t know what to do with it. After much trial and error, Charlotte finds her own way to play with the doll — by reprogramming it to say different words.

The Potato Head Project MNP 2017 Filler H6.indd 1

1/4/18 2:33 PM

Ages 4–8 • $9.99

Roger Fazendin MNP 0718 H4.indd 1

6/20/18 1:06 PM

BRAINERD’S WILDEST FAMILY ATTRACTION Imagine if your pencil was taken away — how would you create your art? This story’s protagonist discovers she can fold paper, carve wood, draw in the dirt, shape the leaves, build sandcastles, raise her voice and even use her mind to make art! Ages 5–8 • $17.99

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OPEN MAY 12TH – SEPTEMBER 30TH 2018

SafariNorth.com • 218.454.1662 • 2 MILES NORTH OF WELCOME CENTER Safari North Wildlife Park MNP 0418 H4.indd 1

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mnparent.com • July 2018

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T TAPR Ample space and kid-friendly amenities such as high chairs makes Lake Monster Brewing in St. Paul a good fit for families. Photo courtesy of Lake Monster


TOP ROOMS! These Twin Cities breweries welcome families with tot times, game corners, house-crafted sodas and more.

U

ntil recently, Twin Cities parents had a choice: Hire a babysitter and go out for a drink or grab a six-pack and head home. Dragging the kids along to the corner bar was seldom seen as a good decision. But with the recent explosion of spacious, family-friendly breweries and taprooms, parents suddenly have an option. In fact, they have a lot of options: According to The Growler magazine, 30 breweries opened in Minnesota in 2017, a fifth of the state’s whopping 150! Here’s a look at some of the best kid-friendly taprooms in the Twin Cities. But keep in mind, most taprooms these days are surprisingly kid friendly — and sometimes dog friendly, too — due to their informal, airy spaces and relatively low price points on food and drink. Some even allow outside food.

BY RACHEL BERG SCHERER

mnparent.com • July 2018

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TOP TAPROOMS!

EAST SIDE BlackStack What: With one of the most spacious taprooms in the Twin Cities, BlackStack somehow also manages to be one of the most inviting. Its many couches and comfortable chairs and collection of board games makes it feel more like a living room than a brewery. Where: 755 Prior Ave. N., St. Paul Why kids love it: BlackStack is right next door to Can Can Wonderland, an indoor amusement center with a full restaurant and bar. Kids and adults can play a round of miniature golf or try their hand at dozens of pinball machines and other arcade games. Why parents love it: Events at BlackStack / Can Can include options such as aerial performances, “trivia against humanity,” bingo and balloon artists. Eats: Aside from food trucks outside BlackStack most nights, Can Can Wonderland also offers an extensive menu, ranging from fancy duck dishes to carnival staples such as cotton candy. Outside food is welcome BlackStack, but not at Can Can. Info: blackstackbrewing.com

Dual Citizen What: Dual Citizen prides itself on being part of the community, and its wide selection of unique beers — including a hand-pumped cask ale — doesn’t hurt. Where: 725 Raymond Ave., St. Paul, across the street from the Raymond Avenue lightrail stop Why kids love it: Tot time! Every Sunday afternoon from noon to 2 p.m. — and all day on special days like Mother’s Day — Dual Citizen’s taproom and patio convert to huge play spaces for babies and kids of all ages. Parents can linger amid the scooters and exersaucers while their little ones have the run of the place. Why parents love it: Dual Citizen hosts various other weekly events, including trivia and bingo. The owners have small kids of their own, so children are always welcome in the open spaces of this lively taproom. Eats: A wide variety of food trucks come to Dual Citizen’s patio most nights of the week and all weekend. There are plenty of restaurants clustered around University Avenue, too, such as Key’s Café and Dogwood Coffee Bar. Info: dualcitizenbrewing.com

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Urban Growler What: Urban Growler, situated in a warehouse district north of University Avenue, is one of the first female-owned breweries in Minnesota. Though it calls itself a taproom, it boasts an in-house kitchen that opens at 11 a.m. every day, which makes it one of the few taprooms in town where you can grab a full lunch — with table service — and a microbrew. Where: 2325 Endicott St., St. Paul. Your GPS may take you to the middle of some warehouses: Drive around the building. Why kids love it: There’s a spacious patio and lots of noise inside. Kids’ meals are generously portioned and come with loads of ranch dressing for dipping. Old train tracks run right through the dining room — a conversation starter for your little train nuts. And there are many good games to keep everyone busy, too. Why parents love it: The extensive kids menu offers carrots as the default side item, and there are changing tables in both the men’s and women’s restrooms. A huge selection of beers makes this a worthy stop as well. Bonus (if you’re checking breweries off your list): Next door is Bang Brewing Co.’s taproom, The Bin (limited hours), housed in shiny retrofitted grain silo next to a dreamy patio. Info: urbangrowlerbrewing.com

Lake Monster What: Lake Monster pours a healthy beer selection, including four to five staple brews and a good variety of rotating seasonals. Enjoy one on the incredibly ample patio or inside the spacious taproom. Where: 550 Vandalia St., St. Paul Why kids love it: Kids have plenty of room to roam and run. There are dozens of board games to choose from inside, and even a Cozy Coupe outside for scooting. Rain or shine — or snow — there’s always ample space to play. Why parents love it: Even at its busiest, Lake Monster rarely feels overcrowded, especially in the warmer months. The venue also hosts community events, including yoga classes on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Eats: A different food truck is parked at Lake Monster every night of the week. Or you can ask the bartender for a book of menus from local restaurants, all of which deliver. Info: lakemonsterbrewing.com

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TOP TAPROOMS!

WESTERN SUBURBS Enki What: Thanks to its adjacency to the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail, this recently relocated Victoria brewery offers an ideal destination for cyclists. (Suggestions: Park the car at Excelsior Brewing Co., jump on your bikes and head east for a gorgeous 12-mile round-trip trek.) Where: 1495 Stieger Lake Lane, Victoria Why kids love it: Spaces for families abound, including a large upper patio, a lower patio with house games like oversized Jenga and a spacious upstairs taproom, painted a cheerful bright gold. Why parents love it: Live music and improv nights boost the kid-friendly feel with quality entertainment. In warmer months, you can bring a Frisbee or ball to play catch near the lower patio. Eats: Enki recently added an in-house menu of flatbread pizzas and appetizers. (The beer cheese dip alone is worth a visit.) Food trucks also stop by for periodic events, and pizza is available for take-out at nearby Roulette’s. Bonus: Public access points on Stieger Lake are right off the biking trail, too, if you need little nature escape. Info: enkibrewing.com

Unmapped What: This Minnetonka taproom, a couple blocks west of the famed Gold Nugget Tavern & Grille, boasts “Belgian and stateside ales,” along with a constantly rotating menu of limited-release beers. Where: 14625 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka Why kids love it: Kids can enjoy a selection of craft sodas, a designated game corner (including foosball and a monstersized game of Connect Four!) and plenty of open space to move, plus a patio area. You’ll find plenty of other kids to play with, too, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. Why parents love it: Unmapped hosts a variety of regular events such as trivia on Mondays and “Pints and Poses” yoga on Saturday mornings. Other special offerings, such as beer and cupcake pairings, are offered throughout the month. Eats: Different food trucks come to Unmapped most days of the week. Or stop at Gina Maria’s next door and get 10 percent off if you’re ordering from Unmapped. Bonus: Gina Maria’s will deliver right to your table upon request. Info: unmappedbrewing.com

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WEST SIDE HeadFlyer What: With an inviting atmosphere, bright indoor areas and a spacious outdoor patio, it’s easy to spend quite a few hours here, especially if you’re a fan of IPAs. Where: 861 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis Why kids love it: Owned by a couple with three kids of their own, HeadFlyer goes above and beyond to make kids feel welcome. Their play area includes Lincoln Logs, LEGOS, coloring books and board games; and events — such as the annual anniversary party — include kid-friendly elements such as arts and crafts and bouncy houses. Why parents love it: Free bingo and beer-and-pizza happy hours keep adults as entertained as their kids. Try a variety of generously poured beers and reasonably priced flights. Eats: Kids will love HeadFlyer’s locally made soda, juice pouches and snacks. Parents will dig the food trucks that roll through several times a week. The restaurants along Central and Hennepin are also just a few blocks away, too — such as Brasa, R Taco and Punch Pizza. Info: headflyerbrewing.com

HONORABLE MENTIONS 56 Brewing

3055 NE Columbia Ave., Minneapolis 56brewing.com

612 Brew

945 Broadway St. NE, Minneapolis 612brew.com

Bad Weather Brewing Company

414 Seventh St. W., St. Paul badweatherbrewery.com

Bent Paddle Brewing

1832 W. Michigan St., Duluth bentpaddlebrewing.com

Imminent Brewing

519 Division St. S., Northfield imminentbrewing.com

Lakeville Brewing Company 8790 Upper 208th St. W., Lakeville lakevillebrewing.com

Wooden Hill

Lift Bridge Brewery

What: This brand new taproom — the first in Edina — is already making a name for itself among parents eager to have a high-quality brew in a family-friendly environment.

1900 Tower Drive W., Stillwater liftbridgebrewery.com

Where: 7421 Bush Lake Road, Edina

248 N. River St., Delano lupinebrewing.com

Why kids love it: There isn’t a lot of room to run and play — in fact, running is strictly prohibited — and the patio is fairly small, but there are plenty of games, snacks and other distractions to keep kids of any age happy and occupied, plus ample high chairs and changing tables. Why parents love it: Food cooked on site (and quickly) makes Wooden Hill a fab stop for a family meal — with a beer. Eats: No outside food is allowed, but there are plenty of in-house choices, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, plus kid-friendly classics such as hot dogs and hamburgers. Info: woodenhillbrewing.com

Rachel Berg Scherer is a freelance writer from Chaska, where she lives with her husband and two usually delightful children. Reach out at rachel@midwestwriting.com.

Lupine Brewing

Pryes Brewing

1401 West River Road N., Minneapolis pryesbrewing.com

Sisyphus Brewing

712 Ontario Ave. W., Minneapolis sisyphusbrewing.com

Surly Brewing

520 Malcolm Ave. SE, Minneapolis surlybrewing.com

Utepils Brewing

225 Thomas Ave. N., Minneapolis utepilsbrewing.com

Wild Mind Artisan Ales

6031 Pillsbury Ave. S., Minneapolis wildmindales.com mnparent.com • July 2018

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There’s no pla

An ice cream flight — mini tastes of Strawberry, This $&@! Just Got Serious, Zanzibar and Thin Mint — at Cold Front in St. Paul. Photo courtesy of Cold Front


ace like cone By Sarah Jackson

mnparent.com • July 2018

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There’s no place like cone

Thi color- s is a chan spoon ging !

↑↑The Bananutella at Waffle Bar Desserts & Tea in Minneapolis is served in a freshly made egg-custard bubble waffle. Photo by Kaitlin Ungs

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W

hat’s happening to the local ice cream scene? It’s positively exploding with color, creativity, innovation, multi-cultural influences and increasing indulgence, too. Today in the Twin Cities you can find ice cream that’s rolled (Thai style), scooped into a house-made tie-dye cone, presented in flights, sprinkled with edible glitter and/or served in a warm bubble waffle (see above). And all this is to say nothing of all the mind-blowing base flavors you can find at the many shops in town, including vegan options to boot. Parents, load up the kids: This is your ultimate summer ice cream bucket list.


Roll with it

Where: Wonders Ice Cream (Maple Grove, St. Paul and Blaine — and coming soon to Burnsville and Minneapolis) What to order: Rolled ice cream — a popular Thai treat that’s made its way stateside — has arrived in Minnesota. This local purveyor’s most popular flavors are Oreo Oreo, Strawberry Smashed and Sour Tang. Bonus: You get to watch as ice cream crafters mix and mash ingredients on a super-cold hibachi (20 below zero), spread it thin to flash freeze it and methodically scrape it up with a special knife to create amazing little rolls, which are then nestled into a bowl and sprinkled with toppings, whipped cream and garnishes like Pocky and gummy worms. Sota Hot & Cold (about

ALSO TRY three blocks west of the

St. Paul Wonders location) also offers rolled ice cream and coffee, while Loulou Sweet & Savory is rocking a food truck and an uptown location at 2839 Emerson Ave. S., Minneapolis, with rolled ice cream, coffee and New Orleans-style beignets!

Crazy for caramel

Where: Cold Front, 490 Hamline Ave. S., St. Paul (next door to the iconic burger joint, The Nook) What to order: Yes, there’s actually a flavor called This $&@! Just Got Serious (salted caramel ice cream with sea salt fudge and salted cashews), and it’s even better than it sounds (and it sounded pretty good to us). Bonus: Not ready to commit to one flavor? Get a flight of this shop’s most popular tastes — the aforementioned This $&@! Just Got Serious; Exhausted Parent (bourbon-spiked espresso ice cream with bittersweet chocolate chunks); Zanzibar (three kinds of cocoa for a fudgy-brownie flavor); and (for your kid) Superman (colorful fruity swirled ice cream). Pro tip: Cold Front serves Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, a hugely popular national brand from Madison, Wisconsin. See chocolateshoppeicecream.com for a map of other locations across the state (and the country) that offer this good stuff. Salted Caramel with an Izzy

ALSO TRY scoop of Graham Cracker at

Izzy’s (Minneapolis and St. Paul); Carmel Collision (caramel ice cream with a caramel swirl and chocolate-coated caramel pieces) at Scoops Ice Cream and More (Bloomington).

Death by chocolate Where: Milkjam Creamery, 2743 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis

What to order: This hot spot is famous for its long lines — and its 16-scoop mega-platter ($58). But you don’t need all that. Just get one scoop of Ridin’ Duuurty (Oreo milk with Oreo chunks and salted peanut butter) topped with a scoop of Black (“a darkest cocoa”). Don’t worry, both you and the kids will dig this killer-choco combo. The flavor Black is amazingly vegan, sweet and somehow not too dark. See also Hard Knock Life 2.0. Nicollet Avenue Pot Holes

ALSO TRY (fudge, truffles, chunks of

Heath bar and sea salt) and Raspberry Chocolate Chip at Sebastian Joe’s (Minneapolis); Mexican Chocolate Fiesta at Izzy’s (Minneapolis and St. Paul); Chocolate from Sweet Science (sold seasonally at the Como Lakeside Pavilion in St. Paul and at grocers); Chocolate Gold (chocolate and caramel) from Honey & Mackie’s Ice Cream & Fresh Fries (Plymouth). See also: Salted Caramel With Peanuts.

mnparent.com • July 2018

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There’s no place like cone

Tropical dream

Where: Sonny’s Ice Cream, 3403 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis What to order: If you love coconut, you need to try the Toasted Coconut ice cream. This place (you might have heard it called Crema in the past) makes 1,000 flavors of ice cream, gelato and sorbet in any given year. Plus, Sonny’s is a café with family-friendly food and a charming patio, too, ideal for a date-night dessert. Coconut Explosion or Key

ALSO TRY Lime Pie at The Social Ice Cream Parlor (Victoria).

Dairy free (vegan )

Where: The Wedge Community Co-op, 2105 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis What to order: Sorbet and/or Italian ice are always good bets for kids (and adults) who can’t eat dairy. But why not try something a little different — and creamy without the cream — with Wedgemade Coconut Milk Soft Serve, which comes in vanilla, chocolate or twist. Yes, it’s vegan and gluten free, too. Lick’s Unlimited (Excelsior)

Minty goodness Where: Licks Unlimited, 31 Water St., Excelsior

What to order: Mint Avalanche. This mint ice cream from Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream is studded with Andes candies, Grasshopper cookies and a fudge swirl. We recommend ordering this in Licks’ amazing chocolate-dipped waffle cone (above) for pure decadence.

ALSO TRY — Raspberry Lemon Sorbet

(sweet raspberry and tart lemon Italian ices swirled together) from Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream. Also, go to luvicecream.com to find stores that sell local, vegan LUV Ice Cream.

Thin Mint/Mint Oreo

ALSO TRY (one scoop of each) at

Big Dipper Creamery (Blaine and North Oaks).

Wannabe banana

Where: It’s a tie — between two of the hottest new ice cream shops in Minneapolis. What to order: Bananutella (traditional vanilla ice cream, fresh slices of banana, a Nutella drizzle and whipped cream in a freshly made egg-custard bubble waffle, served with a color-changing spoon) at the spacious Waffle Bar Desserts & Tea, 2758 Lyndale Ave. S. (across the street from Milkjam); Gone Bananaz (soft serve topped with bananas, puppy chow, fudge, nuts and edible glitter) at Minnesota Nice Cream, 807 Broadway St. NE (home of the tie-dye cone). Sarah Jackson is the editor of Minnesota Parent magazine.

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Out & About

JULY

mnparent.com/calendar

Bell Museum Grand Opening ⊲ Experience a mammoth opening weekend for “The Bell” at its brand new location in St. Paul, featuring extended Saturday hours, science demos, make-your own mini dioramas, water-rocket launching and Dark Matter, the Bell’s custom-made ice cream from the U of M’s food science department. When: July 13–15 Where: Bell Museum, 2088 Larpenteur Ave. W., St. Paul Cost: Admission is $10–$12 for adults ($9 for ages 3–21); planetarium shows cost $6–$8. Free events will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 14 outside in the museum’s learning landscape. Info: bellmuseum.umn.edu

ONGOING

Madagascar ⊲ Come on and “move it, move it” with Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hippo and those plotting penguins in this all-ages musical adaptation of the 2005 DreamWorks film. When: Through Aug. 5 Where: Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins Cost: $14–$21 Info: stagestheatre.org

Open Build Fridays ⊲ Discover open-ended activities — designed with the youngest engineers in mind (ages 3 to 5) — including different building toys and materials each week, all in a big-kid-free part of the museum. When: June 29–Aug. 10 Where: The Works Museum, Bloomington

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July 2018 • mnparent.com

Cost: Included with museum admission of $8.50 per person Info: theworks.org

JUNE 30–JULY 1

Hmong Freedom Festival ⊲ Founded more than 35 years ago to mark the anniversary of the Hmong immigration to the U.S. following the Vietnam War, this event is one of the largest Hmong celebrations in the world. Spectators come to see tournaments, including soccer, volleyball, flag football and the Southeast Asian sport of kick-volleyball, known as sepak takraw. When: June 30–July 1 Where: McMurray Field in Como Park, St. Paul Cost: $7; free for ages 65 and older or less than 42 inches tall Info: facebook.com/ TheUnitedHmongFamily

JULY 2–4

Fourth of July Celebration ⊲ Stop by Chanhassen for three days of family-friendly fun, including a carnival, concessions, a street dance, a fishing contest, a parade, fireworks and more. When: July 2–4 Where: 7700 Market Blvd., Chanhassen Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/chan-fourth

JULY 4

Red, White and Boom ⊲ Celebrate Independence Day on the Minneapolis riverfront with morning races, live music, food, family-friendly activities and a grand finale of fireworks. When: July 4 with family activities from 6–10 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. Where: Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: mplsredwhiteboom.com


JULY 5–8

JULY 11–15

⊲ Watch professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls compete in this beloved annual event.

⊲ Check out more than 40 events, including a diaper derby, a kid fun run, a parade, an art fair, inflatable rides, entertainment on two stages, a car show, bed races, a big-truck show and more.

Hamel Rodeo

When: July 5–8 with a special family matinee at 1 p.m. July 7 Where: Corcoran Lions Park, west of Maple Grove Cost: Matinee tickets start at $10. Info: hamelrodeo.org

Maple Grove Days

When: July 11–15 Where: Maple Grove Cost: Many events are FREE. Info: mgco.org

JULY 7–15

JULY 12 AND 19

⊲ Going on its 84th year, this nine-day community event features tons of events, including live music, a family day, a senior day, an arts and craft fair, a car show, a soap box derby, a street dance, fireworks and a finale parade on July 15.

⊲ This family-friendly series continues with two more great acts — the Teddy Bear Band on July 12 and Jack & Kitty on July 19.

Raspberry Festival

When: July 7–15 Where: Hopkins Cost: Most events are FREE. Info: raspberrycapital.com

JULY 11–29

The Best Summer Ever! ⊲ See a world-premiere production by Minnesota’s own celebrated storyteller, comic genius and kid-at-heart Kevin Kling, who helps audiences see a Minnesota summer through the eyes of a 9-year-old named Maurice. When: July 11–29 Where: Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis Cost: $15–$32 Info: childrenstheatre.org

JULY 11–AUG. 15

Summer Slojd ⊲ Taking inspiration from the Swedish tradition of slojd, or handcraft, kids can create beautiful and useful objects. When: July 11, 18, 25 and Aug. 1, 8, 15 Where: American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis Cost: $15 Info: asimn.org

Kid Concerts

When: See bands through Aug. 16. Where: Rosedale Center, Roseville Cost: FREE Info: myrosedale.com/events

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Dragon Festival ⊲ Racing teams paddle in ornately designed boats representing the mythical creatures of Chinese folklore. Plus enjoy martial arts demonstrations, music and dance performances and kids’ activities. When: July 14–15 Where: Lake Phalen Park, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: dragonfestival.org

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Out & About

ArtCar + ArtBike Parade ⊲⊲See bicycles and cars turned into whimsical pieces of art at this 24th-annual procession around Lake Harriet. You can also see the group featured in the Aquatennial parade (July 18) and at the Minnesota State Fair at 2 p.m. daily (Aug. 23–Sept. 3). When: July 21 Where: Line up begins at 5 p.m. at the Lyndale Park Rose Garden, 4124 Roseway Road, Minneapolis.

JULY 15, AUG. 19, SEPT. 16

Lutz Railroad Garden ⊲⊲Visit Conductor Bud and his charming railroad garden with free public open houses.

When: 1 to 4 p.m. July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16 Where: Lutz Railroad Garden, Eagan Cost: FREE Info: lutzrailroadgarden.net

JULY 18

Carmen ⊲⊲Mill City Summer Opera presents a new one-hour audience-participation version of the classic story designed to introduce children to the concept of opera. When: July 18 Where: Mill City Museum Ruin Courtyard, Minneapolis Cost: $5 for adults and FREE for children Info: millcitysummeropera.org

Cost: FREE Info: artcarparade.com

parade, a 5K, kids activities, water ski shows, fireworks and more. When: July 18–21 Where: Downtown Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: aquatennial.com

JULY 18–AUG. 15

Rhythm on the Rails ⊲⊲This free summer concert series will feature live music, family fun, food/brew vendors and more. Acts include The Suburbs (July 18), Gear Daddies (July 25), The 4 On The Floor (Aug. 1), G.B. Leighton (Aug. 8) and Chase & Ovation, a Prince tribute band (Aug. 15). When: 6–9 p.m. Wednesdays July 18–Aug. 15 Where: Lewis Street, downtown Shakopee Cost: FREE Info: downtownshakopee.org

JULY 20–22

JULY 18–21

Aquatennial

Middle Eastern Festival

⊲⊲Celebrate the city of Minneapolis with a four-day festival, including a torchlight

⊲⊲Now in its 11th year, this event features authentic cuisine, live entertainment, a

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July 2018 • mnparent.com

traditional marketplace, a silent auction, games for kids and camel rides. The nationally renowned John Khoury Band will perform in addition to the St. George Dabke Dance Troupe. When: July 20–22 Where: St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, West St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: mideastfest.com

JULY 20–21

Lowertown Blues and Funk Festival ⊲⊲Experience a night of soul and funk on July 20 with the Ohio Players, Average White Band, Chase & Ovation (performing a salute to the music of Prince) and more, followed by a day of blues with acts such as Marcia Ball, the Scottie Miller Band and Chubbie Carrier, among others, on July 21. When: July 20–21 Where: Mears Park, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: lowertownbluesfestival.com


JULY 20–22

Highland Fest ⊲ Enjoy live music, a juried art fair, St. Paul Police K9 unit demos, wiener dog races, a movie in the park, a business fair, a 5K run, a wide array of food vendors and a beer tent, too. When: July 20–22 Where: Ford Parkway from River Boulevard to Howell Street, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: highlandfest.com

JULY 21

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Rondo Days ⊲ This festival has grown since its inception in 1982 to become the largest African-American sponsored festival in Minnesota. Events include the 5k walk/ run, a parade, live entertainment, food, local vendors, a drill and dance team competition and more. When: July 21 Where: Rondo Learning Center, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: rondoavenueinc.org

JULY 21–22

Poultry Weekend ⊲ Explore how farmers raise poultry and meet newly hatched chicks, turkey poults and laying hens. Then sample favorite recipes in the farm’s learning kitchen. When: July 21–22 Where: Oliver Kelley Farm, Elk River Cost: $6–12 Info: mnhs.org

JULY 21–22

Street Art Festival ⊲ A celebration of chalk and graffiti artists, this festival offers plenty for kids, including art stations, face painting, pony rides and breakdancing shows. When: July 21–22 Where: Canterbury Park, Shakopee Cost: $7 for adults, FREE for ages 17 and younger Info: canterburypark.com

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Where: Nicollet Island Pavilion, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/sister-city-mn

Out & About

Cost: $7 per child, $7 per adult, $20 per family Info: dodgenaturecenter.org

JULY 28

JULY 23

WNBA All-Star Game

Songs and Stories Campfire

JULY 22

Sister Cities Day

⊲ Snack on roasted marshmallows while listening to stories and songs around the campfire. Then enjoy a hike as a family.

⊲ Minneapolis is celebrating all 12 of the Minneapolis Sister Cities with free ice cream, music, multi-cultural entertainment and children’s activities.

When: July 23 Where: Dodge Nature Center, West St. Paul

When: July 22

⊲ The home of WNBA champions, the Minnesota Lynx, hosts this year’s display of the league’s best talent. When: July 28 Where: Target Center, Minneapolis Cost: $30–$75 Info: lynxbasketball.com

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FROM OUR READERS

Kid Fest 2018!

Minnesota Parent’s fifth-annual summer kick-off party at the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis was a blast — despite the on-and-off rain. Just look at these troupers! See you next year. Learn more at mnparent.com/kidfest.

Want to see your kid on this page? Send photos with your child’s first name, age and city to editor@mnparent.com. #FromOurReaders

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July 2018 • mnparent.com




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