NFamily Magazine March/April 2013

San Antonio Parenting Magazine

By St. Peter – St. Joseph Children’s Home

FEEDING THE FUTURE JC Food Mart

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BIGGER

ISN’T BETTER Battling child obesity SCARING AWAY THE MONSTERS

San Antonio’s new anti-bullying campaign

march / april 2013

tips for promoting dental health

r e i m Pre ue Iss > The parents’ guide to picky eaters > THOUGHTFUL PARENTING 101 > Training children to stay the course

nfamily magazine 1

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Transplants for Children empowers families to

MASTER LIFELONG CHALLENGES of pediatric transplantation

We accomplish this through: n Peer to Peer Networks for children and their parents to create a sense of “normalcy” and acceptance, and to keep families together n Transition Program from pediatric to adult medical care that prepares transplant recipient youth to survive into adulthood n Patient Navigation & Direct Services to help families overcome the complex demands of transplant care cycles

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CALL TODAY 210.949.1212 OR DONATE AT www.transplantsforchildren.org 7550 W IH 10, Suite #104 San Antonio, TX 78229

Phone: 210.949.1212 Fax: 210.949.1217 nfamily magazine 3

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T H E 10TH A N N U A L

Honoring the

C H A R I T Y B A L L A S S O C I AT I O N

The mission of St. PJ’s is to serve the needs of children and families by providing a safe, nurturing community to heal body, mind and spirit, shape successful adults, and break the cycle of abuse and neglect.

S A T U R D A Y , M A R C H 23 r d 2013 G R A N D H Y AT T

|

SAN ANTONIO

600 E. MARKET ST. www.stpjhome.org | 210.533.1203 ● ● ● ●

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march2013april

contents 12

parenting

22

child development

- A match made in heaven - According to plan - Get unplugged - Thoughtful parenting - Teaching the essentials

- A dream of love - The push-pull principle - Enhancing smiles early - Teaching your children about finances

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special issues

42

spiritual

44

therapy

52

nonprofit

62

events

- Bigger isn’t better - Scaring away the monsters - Eating well and living well - Those who can, do. Those who cannot, bully.

- Feeding San Antonio’s future

- Training children

- Healing children from the inside out - From “Coping to Excelling” - Promoting dental health in children

- The Super Bowl Run plays defense - Running to raise awareness - Disability is not inability - Helping families live life - A grand anniversary

- Upcoming events (March/April)

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march / april 2013

Eliot Garza

CEO / NSIDE Media Productions

Tina Rabe Publisher

Editorial Director Kelly Hamilton

Executive Editor Erin O’Brien

Creative Director Elisa Giordano

Graphic Designers Damaris Fike Cristina Villa Hazar

Executive Assistant Ashley Gray

Account Executive Marissa Tejeda

Contributing Writers Jennifer Allen Dr. Carlen Palmer Blume Sheryl Chariglione Chris Emmitt Jenny Flores Jane Flynn James Fulford Dr. Jeffrey Grimes Robyn Hass Dr. Amy Jackson Erica Jones Lenore Kaiser Katherine Lozano Anna Migeon Susie Monday Richard Orlando Adrien Paczosa Leslie Watts

Photography Jason Roberts

With your family of the way.

every step

Tina Rabe 210.667.0037 tina@getnside.com ● ● ● ●

6 nfamily magazine

Editorial Intern Katrina Torres

For advertising information, please call 210.667.0037 or email tina@getnside.com.

For editorial comments and suggestions, please email kelly@getnside.com.

www.getnside.com 18402 U.S. Highway 281 N, Ste. 201 San Antonio, Texas 78259 Phone: 210.298.1761 Copyright © NSIDE Media Productions. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

nfamily staff

Sense Life Te l: ( 2 1 0 ) 6 1 6 - 0 8 8 2 + F a x : ( 2 1 0) 692-7833 a lle r g y s a .c o m We are Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Associates of South Texas, and our mission is to enhance our patients’ quality of life by providing comprehensive medical service in a timely and caring manner.

We specialize in the treatment of:

Tina Rabe Publisher

Kelly Hamilton Editorial Director

210.667.0037 tina@getnside.com

210.630.8086 kelly@getnside.com

+ Asthma and other lung diseases + Nasal and eye allergies + Eczema and dermatitis + Allergies to foods, drugs and insects + Hives and angioedema + Recurrent infections/Immune disorders All Our Physicians Are Board Certified Joseph D. Diaz, M.D. / Erika Gonzalez Reyes, M.D. / Mirie R. Hosler, M.D. W. Ted Kniker, M.D. / Araceli Elizalde, M.D. / Melissa Garcia, PA-C / M. Celeste Loera, MSN, FNP-BC

Erin O’Brien Executive Editor

Elisa Giordano Creative Director

erin@getnside.com

646.280.8785 elisa@getnside.com

Damaris Fike Graphic Designer

Cristina Villa Hazar Graphic Designer

damaris@getnside.com

cristina@getnside.com

Marissa Tejeda Account Executive

Ashley Gray Executive Assistant

210.363.8374 marissa@getnside.com

210.560.7608 ashley@getnside.com

Southside: SW Medical Bldg: 7500 Barlite Blvd., Ste. 106 San Antonio, Texas 78224

Westover Hills Medical Park: 10447 HWY 151 San Antonio, Texas 78251

Stone Oak: Physicians Palza I: 19016 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 250 San Antonio, Texas 78258

Medical Center: 2414 Babcock Rd., Ste. 109 San Antonio, Texas 78229 nfamily magazine 7

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24-Hour Daycare

from the editor Family. It’s amazing how such an ordinary word is capable of conjuring up a deluge of thoughts, feelings and memories, both good and bad.

GET NSIDE WITH US!

LET US SHOW YOU THE

EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROMOTE

YOUR MEDICAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES!

Ask 10 different people their definition of family, and I’m willing to wager you’ll get 10 different answers depending on the respondent’s culture, upbringing and type of family, traditional or non-traditional.

An inordinate amount of mitigating factors determine how a child develops mentally, physically and emotionally. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, our fundamental requirement is that of life (breath, food and water), followed by the need for safety and personal security, then on to love and belonging.

So many of us spend our days searching for a sense of community and belonging without direct regard for where we go home to at night or what we will have for dinner. These things are taken for granted by many while there are innumerable around us who do not know where their next meal will come from or where they will find shelter for the night.

It is inconceivable to me that children should have to worry about their next meal, where they will sleep or who will love them and keep them safe. Through organizations such as St. PJ’s Children’s Home, many local children no longer have such dismaying concerns imposed upon them.

It is with great pride that NSIDE Publications has partnered with St. PJ’s to offer San Antonio a resource encompassing all things family. Through this collaboration, we intend to present our readers with an array of topics from education, parenting and child development to professional advice on special topics such as bullying and child obesity to sage words from seasoned therapists, both secular and religious.

As always, we welcome your feedback regarding our content and look forward to enriching your lives through another NSIDE publication.

kelly hamilton Editorial Director kelly@getnside.com

Scan QR Code to GETNSIDE ● ● ● ●

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We love them more than we ever thought possible.

Our children will always be first.

Our love for them is unconditional. When they are sick or injured, we stop at nothing to restore them back to health. They are the reason the new Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is taking children’s health care to the highest level possible. Follow our story at ourchildrenwillbefirst.com.

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from the ceo of st. pj’s The beginning of a new venture conjures up many different thoughts and feelings. Many are similar to starting a new family.

There is excitement, nervousness, anticipation, worry, happiness and, of course, love. Love is expressed in numerous ways – through compassion, empathy, commitment and loyalty, just to name a few.

It is because of our love and faith in others that St. Peter – St. Joseph Children’s Home (St. PJ’s) is collaborating with NSIDE Publications to produce this unique publication here in South Texas.

Our intention is to help children, parents, in-laws, couples, extended family members, foster families and our culture at large raise and care for exceptional people. We’ve all met exceptional people; some are in our own families and some are our neighbors, friends, classmates, teachers, coworkers, pastors, etc.

We hope to help everyone who reads NFamily magazine become just a little more exceptional, especially when it comes to caring for children.

You see, all children are a gift from heaven, which means you are a gift, too! So together, we will learn how to take better care of these gifts, each other and ourselves.

St. PJ’s has been caring for and healing children for more than 130 years. We’ve been able to survive and thrive during the good times and the bad. Each day we strive to improve everything we do related to the mission we serve, which is “to serve the needs of children and families by providing a safe, nurturing community to heal body, mind and spirit, shape successful adults and break the cycle of abuse and neglect.”

St. PJ’s has been successful in its mission due to the dedication and generosity of thousands of exceptional people over the years. These relationships are the lifeblood that keeps us going. They are the “family that has our back.” We hope through NFamily magazine, we will be able to help you and become part of your family, as well.

You see, we believe family should be the place to feel safe, nurtured, supported and protected; it is a place of refuge from all of the stressors and scary things of the world. We intend to exemplify these traits and so much more as we grow and mature.

I remember when the responsibility of this became a reality for me. As a child in middle school, I made a horrible choice that could have gotten me into some really hot water. When my father became involved, he guided and sheltered me from the looming trouble.

So instead of that circumstance possibly haunting me for life, my father demonstrated support, wisdom and concern, which in no small way helped me make better decisions as I grew.

Our commitment to you is to provide great content in the form of stories, resources, advertisements, material and all things relevant to children and families – to impart the wisdom of our community and the protection of sound information that will be helpful in all things family life. We are grateful to NSIDE Publications for this collaboration, and we are confident this is going to bear much fruit in raising exceptional people.

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parenting

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A Match Made in Heaven

Meet Joe and Aida, a San Antonio couple with a beautiful adoption story made possible by St. Peter – St. Joseph Children’s Home. { by sheryl chariglione }

T

he Christmas decorations have come down at the lovely two-story brick home of Joe and Aida in Northwest San Antonio. But even the end of the holiday season does not dampen the cheer and love that emanate from this charming suburban house.

Every adoption story is a different and fascinating journey, and Joe and Aida’s story is no exception. After ● ● ● ●

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getting married, waiting for five years and then waiting for several more years of fertility treatments and explorations of various other options, Joe and Aida turned to St. Peter – St. Joseph Children’s Home (St. PJ’s) for help in finding the perfect child for them.

Established in 1869 and relocated and rebuilt throughout the city several times, this facility has long been a refuge for children of many ages and cultures. According to Sherry Loyd, chief

operating officer, the establishment’s goal is to provide refuge, heal the children and seek permanency for their young charges.

Even those who are not adopted and who remain at the home for the rest of their childhood are kept safe, healthy and nurtured. They are trained to become productive and self-sufficient as adults, and every effort is made to break the cycle of neglect and abuse that most have been exposed to during the

Branley’s availability. They dropped what they were doing and took the red eye back to San Antonio. From that day on, Aida, Joe or both was there every night to give Branley his bath and tuck him in for the night.

Staff members fondly recall how Joe would get down on the floor and play with Branley and the other small

At the home, they like to get to know the family immediately so

they can match the strengths of the family with the needs of the child.

previous course of their young lives.

Joe and Aida’s young son was the first infant placed in the nursery at St. PJ’s in late 2007, and he was the first successful adoption placement at St. PJ’s. Joe and Aida welcomed their new baby boy, Branley Joseph, into their home when he was only 11 months old. They had actually already seen him at the previous children’s Christmas mass at St. PJ’s. They had started taking PRIDE classes in October 2008 and finished in March 2008.

Although they were initially offered sibling groups, they were well aware of their capabilities and needs and opted for a single child the first time around, and they would probably advise any adoptive family to analyze their situation before taking that big step.

Joe and Aida were in Dallas on a business trip when they first heard of

children in the facility. It was obvious that the little boy and his new parents were a match made in heaven. As Loyd aptly states, the home likes to “get to know the family intimately” so they can match “the strengths of the family with the needs of the child.” It was very clear that Branley belonged to this family.

But as with many adoption cases, the way was not always smooth. A relative who was interested in taking over the care of the little boy surfaced. Joe and Aida were advised to not get too attached to the child, but they insisted on continuing to visit and nurture that little boy. The relative was not approved for custody, and everyone, both the staff and the family, breathed a sigh of relief and gratitude.

Branley went home with his excited new parents on Aug. 20, and had his first birthday on Aug. 23. His adoption was made final on May 29, 2009. But the story of Joe and Aida with its very happy ending does not stop here. While Branley’s adoption and welcome into the family was, for the most part, by the book and expected, their second child’s arrival was anything but. It was a roller coaster ride of surprises and excitement.

Other children had came along at the home, and Joe and Aida had opportunities to adopt again, but the situations never felt right and the family kept waiting for that perfect new addition to come along.

The family received a phone call about another baby – this time an infant girl

– who was available for adoption. She was Branley’s full-blooded sister, and through some miscommunication, she may not have ever been brought to their attention if it hadn’t been for a phone call from the children’s attorney on June 20, 2010.

When Joe and Aida asked about the possibility of adopting her, the response was to go ahead and buy a car seat just to be prepared. They went to the hospital the next day to see her, and when they arrived, they were amazed to find that they were expected to take the new baby home with them that very day. Luckily, the car seat, still in the carton, was in the car. Audrey Taylor was 3 weeks old when she went home with them to stay, and her adoption was finalized on July 28, 2011.

“We had nothing,” Aida recalled, and the couple had to scramble to pull together all of the clothes, equipment, diapers and accessories a new baby needs. But they did it, and now Audrey is firmly ensconced in their home, along with her big brother. Now, not only was their first child the very first infant adoption at St. PJ’s, their second was the first kinship adoption at St. PJ’s.

Looking at the two small children playing so well together in the cozy, childproof rooms of this family-friendly house, one would think Joe and Aida have it all. Branley is the classic big brother, always ready to help his little sister with a drink or snack. The two of them have their own special pet names for each other, which only they use and understand. They even look alike, with soft brown eyes and straight, glossy black hair.

When asked what she would do if that phone rang again with the promise of another baby, Aida’s green eyes sparkled and she did not hesitate. Would they want another child if the opportunity arose again? Her answer was a resounding “yes!” Not every foster, foster to adopt or straight adopt story is like Joe and Aida’s, but one never knows. ✪

To learn more about fostering or adopting, please call St. Peter – St. Joseph Children’s Home at 210-533-1203 and speak to one of our professional specialists who can help you begin your own foster or adoption journey. nfamily magazine 13

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parenting

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According to Plan Birth plans: What no one tells you about the increasingly popular checklists for moms

{ by leslie watts and robyn hass }

p

regnant women are demanding more choices during their labor and delivery and writing something called a birth plan. These birth plans gained popularity in the 1980s when moms wanted better control over what happened to them and their babies in the hospitals.

Today they are so popular that women can visit websites like babycenter.com and

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thebump.com and easily print out a typed birth plan checklist that varies in length from four to six pages. They can include items such as whether or not mom wants an epidural or IV, as well as things like eating and drinking in labor and how their baby will be cared for after delivery.

But those birth plans don’t always go as planned, and you shouldn’t expect them to.

Here’s why: You have unrealistic demands. Oh my, yes, we said it. Many women think they can see a provider for 30-plus weeks and then out of the blue, drop a long, detailed list of labor and delivery demands into their laps at the last minute. Unfortunately, women sometimes fail to take into consideration that their provider may not offer certain things (like a vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC), or that their hospital’s protocols won’t allow for their birth plan choices (such as no IV or a water birth).

Solution: Think about what you want early, even before you first step into your health care practitioner’s office for the first time. Be open and honest about your desires and find a provider and facility that can honor your wishes. Don’t try to change your provider or facility’s guidelines to meet your needs. Go over your birth plan with your provider early on and again at the end of your pregnancy to make sure they are in agreement. Otherwise, your baby’s amazing birth could wind up being a battle of wills when you should be focused on the joy of welcoming a new life into the world.

Your birth plan is too long. Health care providers and facilities are busy, busy, busy. If your birth plan is more than one page, it’s too long. Ask yourself this: Even if they do have the time to read it, will they remember every single thing you’ve put on there? Will they tell the next nurse on shift what you want? Would your partner remember it all if you quizzed them?

Solution: Keep it simple and highlight the most important things you want. Better yet, try drawing out your wishes or using the new Visual Birth Plan Kit. If no one can remember what you want, your birth plan is useless. Make it short, simple and to the point.

Birth is crazy. That’s right. You can have every plan in place, but ultimately, your baby and your body decide what is going to happen in labor.

Solution: If something goes off track and puts you or your baby at risk in labor, be flexible. Your health care provider is there to take care of you. Cut them a break if they miss a few things on your birth plan because your baby’s heart rate is dropping. Remember, they are part of your

If something goes off track and puts you or your baby at risk in labor, be flexible. team because you picked them. So pick a good teammate and then trust their judgment.

With all of that said, should you still consider a birth plan? Absolutely! A recent study showed that women who presented

with birth plans are less likely to undergo a cesarean section.1 If nothing else, a birth plan makes you really stop to think about what is imK portant in your labor and in the postpartum care of your infant.

Use a birth plan checklist or kit to help you figure out what you don’t know and learn. That way, whether or not you decide to use the birth plan, you’re not making an uninformed decision in the middle of contractions. ✪

T K K H

Robyn Hass, MPH, LMSW, and Stone Oak mom Leslie Watts created the new patentpending Visual Birth Plan Kit. It replaces long typewritten birth plans with a onepage birth plan with picture decals that moms can post in their delivery room. The two Texas stay-at-home moms have seen an overwhelming response to the product since they launched it in March 2012. They have already sold the kits both throughout the United States and as far away as Malaysia. The kits are available online for $25 on www.amazon.com and at www. visualbirthplan.com.

1. Eran Hadar, Oded Raban, Bracha Gal, et al. (2012). Obstetrical outcome in women with self-prepared birth plan. Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine.

April 21, 2012 [Epub ahead of print]. nfamily magazine 15

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parenting

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Get Unplugged As a parent, caring for yourself and ditching the “to do” list once in a while are just as important as caring for your children. { by katherine lozano }

M

oms and dads: Does it feel like you are the last one in line at your house – like you didn’t even make the “to do” list? With all there is to do, know and be ready for, the needs of a parent fall far behind the dirty laundry, the little league practice and the cupcakes needed for the class bake sale. The baby’s cries, the toddler’s tantrums and the preschooler’s whining often drown out the little voice inside mom or dad that says, “you’re overdoing it” or “better slow down.”

We put aside our own needs to make sure our children are cared for and continue trying to do it all, have it all and be it all. We overload our schedule, our bodies and our minds with a million things and then wish there were more hours in the day. I crack up when I see articles about all you can do with two or three spare minutes – like we need to cram in more jobs like cleaning out the junk drawer when we are on hold. Even brownies can be made in the microwave these days!

Many of our “time savers” just make us more anxious and impatient. We demand so much of our technology and forget that a few years ago, you had to get up and change the channel or actually shake the pan of popcorn on the stove. Rush, rush, rush! The first time I heard a cell phone ring in church, I was astonished. Now the person next to you in the pew may be sending a text message during the sermon.

The modern “conveniences” sometimes rob us of time instead of making our lives easier. We lose precious time and ourselves with our children when we just have to buy the van with the DVD screens to keep the little ones occupied. With everyone wearing headphones, no one is communicating.

I remember one time I wanted to block out the screams from the backseat and I began singing at the top of my lungs. Once my child settled down, we were both singing, “There was a farmer had a dog, and Bingo was his name.” I guess that is an old-fashioned coping mechanism before the days of “plugging in” your child. Mostly what we need today as parents is time to get “unplugged” – time to turn off all the noise, the beeps, the bells and the whistles.

So how do you find time to take care of yourself? You have to make time.

When we are worn out and overloaded, nerves are frazzled and moods are cranky. Our children benefit when we are rested and calm. They receive the opposite effect when we are stretched to the limit. Often, the biggest source of our stress is the unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves. We overwork, overspend and over-commit.

We try to keep up our home and appearance like we have no children getting jelly and crayon on any and all surfaces. Look around your home.

What is building the lasting memories?

I would say it is not furniture sparkling with lemon Pledge or a perfectly

How do you find time to take care of yourself?

You have to make time. manicured lawn.

We need to kick back, enjoy the day and ditch the “to do” list once in a while. Make plans to swap childcare with other parents so you get “me” time and “we” time. Too many couples find they have lost each other in the busy years of raising children. Every moment you invest in taking care of your own needs will grow into hours of happy family time. Make yourself a priority, and everybody wins. ✪

Katherine Lozano is the director of Parents’ Academy, the parent education program of Blessed Sacrament Academy. nfamily magazine 17

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parenting

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Thoughtful Parenting

Rather than taking a “one size fits all” approach to parenting, try to understand both your child’s actions and the impact your behavior has on your child in order to breed patience and wisdom. { by dr. jeffrey grimes }

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houghtful parenting requires self-reflection.

When should we be a coach, a disciplinarian, a nurturer? How much of each? And what is the correct timing of each of these roles?

These are only some of the daily questions parents should work on asking themselves when they are negotiating the long and winding road of childrearing.

The easy answer, unfortunately, will not likely come from this article or any other printed word. Instead, the answer will be unique to each

18 nfamily magazine

parent, child and situation.

In general, the role of the coach is needed when the parent assesses that the child’s challenge is the result of a lagging skill rather than simple misbehavior. The disciplinarian role should be reserved only for those experiences where the behavior is judged to be a product of testing limits.

And the nurturer role is there when we comfort our child during a period of emotional turmoil or when the child experiences failure.

Let me illustrate this with a few examples.

after a sub-par performance. She will cry and talk badly about herself. These crying jags, followed by a negative mood state, last for much of the day.

Should parents help her recognize her faulty play? Should we punish her for her “dramatic” shenanigans? Or should we instead play the role of the nurturer?

For some reason, Hanna is struggling with being able to self-soothe, and as result, it clouds her view of the world and herself. Simply sitting with her emotion and comforting her with a hug may begin to help her understand what it feels like to be soothed and how she can begin replicating this herself.

nting e r a p l u . tf Though elf-reflection ss require

John is an elementary-age child who sometimes has trouble recognizing others’ boundaries. He can be intrusive, loud and demanding. He is the child who does not recognize when someone is busy with something else.

Is the correct parental stance to discipline and punish the child for rudeness? Or is the correct stance to stop what you are doing so you may meet the child’s needs? Considering John’s age, here, the child truly needs a coach – someone who can teach him a skill he has a tough time recognizing on his own for some reason.

For example, maybe the parent could get down on one knee and let the child know how his behavior is coming across to others. Here the parent is teaching a skill, and with learning any new skill, repetition is the primary method in which it will be taught.

limits of her parents’ tolerance.

Recently, she complained to her parents about how her curfew is much earlier than that of her friends. The parents listened to her concerns and decided to extend the weekend curfew 30 minutes longer. All agreed on this new curfew. The very next weekend, Mary was nowhere to be found at the agreed upon time and strolled in 20 minutes late.

Should we, as parents, sit down and discuss the importance of time management? Should we give her a break, as it was only 20 minutes and she promised it would not happen again? Or should we simply enact a punishment – perhaps decrease her curfew by an hour for her next outing?

Given that Mary appears to be testing limits and the authority of her parents, here, the role of the disciplinarian seems most appropriate in getting across the ideas of rules and consequences of behavior.

The limit-testing child

The “it’s my fault” child

Mary is an older adolescent girl who appears to be more interested in her social relationships rather than academics or home life. She continually pushes the

Hanna is a younger adolescent girl who plays softball for a fairly competitive league. She is a very good player, but tends to get down on herself frequently

The interrupting child

Taking a flexible parenting approach In these examples, I have provided common childhood struggles that many parents will confront while raising their children. Different situations may require using a combination of approaches: nurture first, then discipline, or discipline first, then coach. All parent-child situations are unique, and parenting in a “one size fits all” manner typically leads to unproductive parent-child conflict when the “size” does not fit.

We should constantly be pushing ourselves to understand both our children’s struggles and how our behavior impacts them. We will chalk up a great number of parental mistakes such as yelling when we should listen or ignoring when we should comfort.

However, the beauty of us making mistakes as parents is that we then have the opportunity to demonstrate to our children how we survive these failures, learn from them and emerge stronger than before. These parental demonstrations are typically the most important learning experiences we can give to our children. It will breed patience and wisdom in us, as well as them. ✪

Jeffrey Grimes, Ph.D., provides outpatient psychotherapy, psychological assessments and inpatient consultations for children and adolescents at Clarity Child Guidance Center. Grimes is also a clinical assistant professor in the psychiatry department at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Visit www.claritycgc.org for more information and parenting resources. nfamily magazine 19

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parenting

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Teaching the Essentials The new book, “The Missing Alphabet,” provides parents with a highly effective guide to developing creative thinking in kids. { by susie monday }

w

hat is the best way to equip our children for the unknowns of the future?

Teachers and parents we talk with often remark they notice their children don’t seem as selfreliantly imaginative as they themselves were as children – that much of their play is pre-determined by consumer culture’s icons and characters (and that each of those characters requires packaged sets of props, clothing and stories).

Imagination seems to be in short supply ● ● ● ●

20 nfamily magazine

and even discouraged, as schools focus more and more on “basics” and critical thinking skills. But look at the worlds of business, science, media and the arts today – facility in working on the edges and in between disciplines are the skills that reap the rewards. Not to mention the satisfaction of the maker.

It is impossible to know what the world will be like and what our children’s career choices will be when they are grown.

The scale of change, largely driven by technology, is unprecedented in human

history. And it is change itself – this reordering and inventing of the new world – that will occupy our children’s future.

We have entered a time that calls for innovation across the board. This call is already echoing through all fields. Just look at what is happening in the world around us: video gaming, multimedia installations, science that reaches into the workings of the brain through amazing imaging tools, info graphics on every website and Web-based connection marketing racing past traditional

entrepreneurship in business success. The child’s counterpart to innovation is creative thinking, and creativity is our children’s next essential literacy.

Innovation and thinking skills The future will belong to children with innovative minds. But where will they get the thinking skills that build effective innovators? Unfortunately, most schools are focused elsewhere.

“The Missing Alphabet” “I love this book! Science is showing is a practical guide that children’s education must expand beyond to help parents solve the three Rs to include the basic building blocks these problems and of creativity and social-emotional learning. The authors provide a sensory alphabet to hone a address the learning child’s attunement to everyday experiences and skills their children will provide a strong foundation for such growth.” – find essential for success Susan L. Smalley, Ph.D., professor emeritus, in their lives: economic, Department of Psychiatry, Jane and Terry intellectual and creative.

Semel Institute of Neuroscience and This book introduces Human Behavior, David Geffen the Sensory Alphabet, School of Medicine at UCLA basic building blocks that are as powerful for building 21st-century literacy as the ABCs are for reading – essentials that are lacking in schools today.

“The Missing Alphabet” also offers foundational knowledge, current research and a practical path for parents to discover, understand and amplify the individual strengths and creative potentials of their own children.

To turn these ideas into action, the book supplies a field guide full of resources and activities for parents and kids to explore together at home, in museums and around the neighborhood.

The book explains in simple and concrete language how to give your child experiences in this nonverbal alphabet, and how to look at and analyze the strengths inherent in your child’s individual ways of working and thinking. The activities provide hundreds of suggestions for ways to develop and encourage imaginative thinking both with “scratch” materials like clay, paint, crayons and cardboard boxes and with digital tools and software.

This tried-and-true approach engages children with the creative thinking processes, the capacity to invent with many media, the ability to think across disciplines and the reliance on and joy in the imagination.

habet to sory Alp ink about n e S e ises of th ed the way I th beyond the pra ng e go “I sing e it cha s helps m u to lots a an bec dren. It ildren access gave c il I h e c n g o n h u c h o c g y a every o in h r rk wit ply giv is app h and wo elief that sim ather, th creativity wit R . y it b v ’s ti to al n a e o u e r s s r d c u ,’ s il e th ord t ch uals lk abou rials eq w the ‘w lphabet’ is of mate cabulary to ta once they kno A issing o d zed us the v emselves, an to say! ‘The M aven’t I reali h h y s th c e h u id th k m ‘W e , e o th to se ve s urself they ha ’ll begin t ask yo speak, u migh as quickly, you way.” – o y e iv it just a new ing so intu re?’ But child in Learn this befo rld and your ger of Early t r A wo mana um of anson, s Muse Leah H rams, Dalla Prog

comprehensive guide for building confidence and creative thinking skills of their own children – the new basics now urgently needed for our collective future.

The authors of “The Missing Alphabet” draw on decades of applied research in creativity, individuality, play and media to craft an engaging guide for parents who understand that creative thinking skills are no longer a luxury, but a necessity for success in the new, grownup world of work.

Much of our work had its origin in San Antonio, in the awardwinning and international active educational foundation, Learning About Learning, based at Trinity University between 1969 and 1989.

We worked with foundation director Jeanine Wagner and a staff of 20 to develop after-school programs and curricula used in schools across the city and the nation, and operated a lab school with San Antonio ISD that was recognized as a national model for arts in education by the Ford Foundation.

Since then, we have separately crafted successful careers in education, consultation, museum and publication design, journalism and the arts. Today, through the Austin-based nonprofit organization The Foundry, our creative education programs are being implemented in schools, museums, after-school and out-of-school programs in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin. ✪

The future will belong to children with innovative minds.

“‘The

Missi About the authors is im ng Alphab Over the past 40 years, comp portant a et’ ... the authors (Susan elling nd readi Dav Marcus, Cynthia Herbert, chair id Lawr ng.” – Ph.D., and myself) have ence of th , e Ch Move developed highly successful ild ment programs for both in- and of Fl ren’s orida out-of-school settings based on these concepts.

Now we offer parents a

To find out more about “The Missing Alphabet,” ask the authors questions, subscribe to a newsletter and follow the weekly blog entries at www.themissingalphabet.com.

Help us spread the word by liking the book at www. facebook.com/themissingalphabet. You can also join the discussion on our page at GoodReads.com at www. goodreads.com/book/show/14491511-the-missingalphabet. You can purchase the book via Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com, or check your favorite independent book site. nfamily magazine 21

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child development

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A Dream of Love Listening to the heart of a child { by james fulford }

E

ach day, I drive my 7-year-old daughter to school and walk her to her first grade classroom. As we walk to through the halls of the school, there are bulletin boards outside of each classroom with student projects posted on them. On this particular day, the one that caught my eye was dedicated to Martin Luther King’s dream speech.

Dreams are wonderful to me because they speak of a future hope that can become reality if we are passionate and purposeful in our pursuit. As I looked at the board, I saw all of the dreams of childhood that many of us may have shared. There were doctors, fighter pilots, policemen, firemen and teachers represented in the many dreams that were shared.

One, however, absolutely riveted me: It simply stated, “My dream is to be loved.” My knees nearly buckled and my heart sank to see that in that child’s world, simply being loved seemed like a dream.

To say that parenting is difficult is somewhat like declaring an elephant a bit big. I don’t know that child’s home life, but I do know that at that moment, that child wasn’t feeling loved. It doesn’t mean the parents don’t love the child; it may just have been temporary because the child had been punished. It may be that the parents don’t know how to accurately love that child.

Most of us have had someone in our lives who we believe loves us, but fails at making us feel loved.

They’re not bad people; they just don’t know what motivates you to feel the love they really have for you, and we live disappointed in the relationship because it tends to feel so one-sided. Children can feel the same way.

Some time ago, a friend pointed something out to me that I found funny, yet profound. He said ● ● ● ●

22 nfamily magazine

I treat my children like they were people! The truth is that they are people capable of thoughts, feelings and expression. They can make decisions, even if those decisions are not necessarily backed by experience or great information.

It’s easy to lose track of that because as parents, we must do so much for them that they cannot. However, dependence does not nullify humanity or the need to be acknowledged on a deep level.

Words are very powerful; they can build up or they can tear down. I’ve found it helpful not to assign what they do to who they are, whether it’s good or bad. The sentence can start with, “what you did was,” and address their behavior without making it about them as people.

When I speak to who they are as a person, I declare my love for them and how wonderfully blessed I am to have them as my child.

It makes no difference to me what their behavior is like at the time; they need to know that nothing can stand in the way of your love for them.

The task, in and of itself, can seem nearly impossible, but it really isn’t. Children have an amazing knack for telling you just what they need. A baby cries for nearly everything, but once that child has the parents trained, they know each cry. The same happens as they grow and begin to learn words. They long to communicate their needs and desires to us. Selfish? A bit, but

The one thing children do better than anyone else is forgive. selflessness comes later as they begin to understand the real working of love.

For example, my 7-year-old cherishes our time in the morning because she gets to talk to me. We hold hands as we walk through the school and make each other laugh. She is showing me how to love her the whole time. She doesn’t really desire to roughhouse with me anymore; she’s becoming a young lady, and I have to be Prince Charming. That’s right: It changes because it is in our nature to change and grow. Find a stagnant person, and you will find a deeply unfulfilled life.

If I had to put it all in one statement, it would be a bit of advice I offered a friend a while back. If you are a father, this applies to your daughter, and if you are a mother, this applies to your son.

Would you be pleased if your child were to marry someone exactly like you? If not, that’s OK; I wasn’t for the longest time, and I have days it would still make me cringe.

There is time to change things because the one thing children do better than anyone else is forgive. I had to make up years with my two eldest daughters, and I never knew if it could really be fixed. With my wife’s help, I saw how to really show them that I loved them and have watched those relationships blossom into a beautiful flower that adorns our hearts.

There may still be some thorns on those flowers, but they have come to know me by my love for them rather than my many faults.

So our dream of love is no longer, for it has become a splendid reality. ✪

child development

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The more children are pressured to eat, the more they resist.

The Push-Pull Principle

Have a picky eater on your hands? Follow these tips for getting kids to want to eat what you want them to eat. { by anna migeon }

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24 nfamily magazine

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alker, 6, was a picky eater, surviving mostly on beanand-cheese tacos. From early on, his mom, Vanessa, pressed him to eat, while he resisted. The problem was not that Walker wasn’t hungry. The problem was he had too few limits, but at the same time, too little freedom. For example, he snacked from after school until dinner.

At dinnertime, Vanessa relentlessly pressured him. Dessert was always in plain view, as a reward. If he wanted another meatball, Vanessa made him eat a bite of green pasta first. Sometimes Walker played video games while mom spooned food into his mouth. If Walked didn’t eat

dinner, Vanessa would give him a “second dinner” of whatever he would eat before bed.

It’s no wonder Walker was overweight.

With such an atmosphere at the table, neither is it a surprise that while Walker’s teacher reported that he loved chili when they made it in cooking class at school, he “hated” it at home.

The push-pull principle

For better results, Vanessa needed to do just the opposite of what she was doing.

The more children are pressured to eat, the more they resist. Rewarding children for eating broccoli only reinforces the idea that it’s yucky. Restrict eating, however, and

better eating is likely to follow.

Like a river, a healthy child’s appetite is a natural force. If it’s going the wrong way, the answer is not to get in and push.

Rather, blocking the current from the wrong direction naturally shifts it in the right direction.

So if your child isn’t eating, pull away instead of pushing. Maybe your child is eating too many snack bars to want rutabagas at dinner. Instead of making your child eat the rutabagas (thus encouraging overeating), eliminate the snacks.

If rejecting food is a thrill for your child, reverse it so that the child’s the one getting turned down. For example, one mom used nfamily magazine 25

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to tell anybody who rejected her food, “good – leaves more for the rest of us.”

Methods of seduction

Attracting love is about the same as getting kids to want to eat. Desire, by definition, is a matter of free will.

The more parents push kids to eat, the more it backfires. Feelings can be influenced only through more subtle techniques. Our efforts to “make” a child eat should be as indirect as in the old saying: “He chased her until she caught him.”

Confidence is attractive

The first rule of seduction is confidence. You have what children can’t live without: food. No matter the age of the child, his or her hunger is your best secret weapon. Confidence will counter any temptation to offer incentives. If you, like ACDC, want someone to want you, don’t offer payment to go out with you. Delicious food is its own best reason for eating.

Likewise, telling a kid to eat something because it’s good for him or her is more of a turn-off than a turnon. “Good for you” clearly implies “not good.” It’s like saying, “She has a nice personality.”

If you think what’s good for you is icky, so will your child; therefore, the only inspiring example is sincere enjoyment of wholesome foods.

Whatever you’ve got, make it as enticing as possible. Then get out of the way and let your food and the growing youngster’s natural hunger make beautiful music together.

Play hard to get

Desperate pleading is never as effective in winning hearts as a little reverse psychology. So keep a happy face, enjoy what’s on your own plate and let them wonder what they’re missing if they don’t want to eat.

Pressure, subtle or otherwise, is counterproductive, so resist the temptation to show you care whether your little darling eats or not. Forget the “one-bite” rule and the “clean the plate” rule. Such loser tactics send the message that what you’re offering isn’t worth much. Let the food itself demurely, yet compellingly, prompt a child’s hunger.

Don’t make it too easy, though. ● ● ● ●

26 nfamily magazine

As the saying goes, “If you get milk for free, why buy the cow?” Random snacking means children are less eager to come to the table and eat when it’s time to eat. The best foundation for eliminating pickiness is limited eating: only the right food at the right time at the right place.

Take them on a date

To capture the heart of a picky eater, make eating enjoyable. Reel them in with fun experiences and fabulous flavors. Pressure at the table causes the appetite to disappear like a mouse into its hole. Children are more likely to try new foods when free to approach them on their own than when forced. So instead of talking about what your child is or isn’t eating, make more stimulating conversation.

Be unpredictable! Don’t limit your cooking to what your picky child thinks he or she wants; give your child something better. Keep offering the widest possible variety of wonderful food, regardless of initial reactions.

Whet kids’ appetites by getting them seeing, sniffing, touching and tasting ingredients. Get them cooking. Take them to markets and farms where they can enjoy getting to know food at its best: fresh, ripe, colorful and fragrant.

Family style revolution

Walker’s eating improved when Vanessa offered a broader variety of meals and eliminated both the pressure and the random snacking.

One of her most effective tools was switching from serving full plates to letting everyone serve themselves.

Walker ate better with more freedom within the right limits. ✪

Anna Migeon conducts workshops, coaches parents and writes about how to get picky kids to eat better. Her blog is “Sacred Appetite: Restoring Healthy and Harmonious Family Meals.” She is the mom of a 20-year-old and a 22-year-old who have always eaten everything put on the table except once. That time, within 10 seconds of saying, “We don’t want any,” they were begging for a taste. Migeon lives in San Antonio.

Identifying the Causes of Problem Eating ÜÜChildren will eat well if they can, as

long as only good choices are available, without pressure. If children aren’t eating, there’s a reason.

ÜÜIf you have set up the structure and

atmosphere in your home that leads to healthy appetites, but you still aren’t getting good results, your “picky eater” may actually be a “problem feeder.”

ÜÜIf children accept fewer than 20 foods or

react strongly against trying new foods, they may have an undiagnosed medical condition, lack the physical skills or development needed to eat solid foods or have a sensory processing disorder. Solutions exist for these problems, but the first step is to figure out why children are not eating well.

A good reference tool to figure out what’s behind your child’s food refusal is “Food Chaining,” by Cheri Fraker, et. al.

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Faith in her and her ability to go Far. and when She arriveS here, we Further her potential. becauSe we believe in her. we alSo See all that She can become and work to nurture her through Faith-baSed learning and Shared belieFS rooted in SiSterhood,

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nfamily magazine 27

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child development

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Enhancing Smiles Early The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive orthodontic checkups no later than age 7. { by dr. amy jackson }

A

lthough many people associate orthodontic treatment with adolescence, a qualified orthodontist can spot subtle problems with jaw growth or the teeth much earlier, while the primary, or “baby,” teeth are present.

Parents may incorrectly assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit the orthodontist. However, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that every child get a checkup with an orthodontist no later than age 7.

It is important that parents understand the value of an orthodontic checkup. By the age of 7, enough permanent teeth have erupted for an orthodontist to evaluate the anterior-posterior and transverse relationships of the bite, as well as discover any bite shifting.

Front teeth have also begun to erupt, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and subtle facial asymmetries can be detected.

For some, a timely evaluation will lead to significant treatment ● ● ● ●

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Although many people associate orthodontic treatment with adolescence, orthodontists can detect subtle problems with teeth and jaw growth much earlier.

benefits. For most, the principal and immediate benefit is a parent’s peace of mind.

Some of the more readily apparent conditions that indicate the need for an examination include:  Early or late loss of baby teeth  Difficulty in chewing or biting  Open-mouth breathing  Finger or thumb sucking  Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth  Jaws that shift or make sounds  Speech difficulties  Biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth  Teeth that meet abnormally or don’t meet at all  Facial imbalance  Jaws that are too far forward or back  Grinding or clenching of the teeth Orthodontists are uniquely qualified specialists who correct improperly aligned teeth and jaws (bad bites).

In addition to dental school, an orthodontist receives two to three years of specialized education to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth. Only those with this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists are eligible for membership in the AAO. For patients who have clear indications for early intervention, early treatment presents the opportunity to:  Influence jaw growth in a positive manner  Harmonize the width of the dental arches  Improve eruption patterns  L ower the risk of trauma to protruded upper teeth  Correct harmful oral habits  Improve aesthetics and self-esteem  Simplify and/or shorten treatment time for later corrective orthodontics  Reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth  Improve some speech problems  Preserve or gain space for erupting permanent teeth An orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, but there is an optimal time period to begin treatment. Beginning treatment at the most favorable time ensures the greatest result and the least amount of time and expense.

An early evaluation provides both timely detection of problems and greater opportunity for more effective treatment. ✪

South Texas Orthodontics is located at 15900 La Cantera Parkway, Ste. 20260, San Antonio, Texas 78256.

For more information, call 210-493-6067 or visit www. southtexasorthodontics.com.

child development

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Teaching Your Children

About Finances

Instill good habits in your children and teach them about the importance of budgeting early on to help them become financially savvy adults. { by richard orlando }

a

lmost half of the respondents to the August 2011 edition of the Merrill Lynch Affluent Insights SurveyTM 1, consider financial literacy the most important life lesson they can impart to their children. By following a few simple guidelines, you can instill good habits into your sons and daughters that will help them become financially savvy adults.

1 Start Early

Fifty-seven percent of the MLAIS respondents are talking to their children about financial matters before the age of 12; this rises to 85 percent by the time the children are 18. When they are old enough, you may want to set up a personal savings account in their name, and encourage them to deposit holiday and birthday cash gifts in the account. First lessons can focus on the importance of budgeting, keeping track of what money you have coming in and what you are spending. Explain to them the value of putting the money into buckets: one bucket to handle day-to-day expenses and short-term goals (which can be a piggy bank for very young children) and a bucket for savings (the bank account).

2 Communicate With Your Children

Set a good example by showing children how you make purchasing decisions and deal with household expenses. Show them how you prepare for unexpected expenses by having an emergency fund whose assets are easily accessible, as well as how you save for expenses such as family vacations and holidays.

When they’re old enough, you can explain how you invest some money for the long-term in securities and

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30 nfamily magazine

other products.

According to the MLAIS, most of the parents responding use milestones in their children’s lives to initiate financial discussions. Sixty-two percent involve their child in determining how their college education expenses will be paid for; include your child in the process of researching grants and scholarships and loan options. Major purchases also offer opportunities for parents to talk with their grown children about finances, including a first car (57%) and first home (63%).

3 Involve Them In Your Financial Planning

One in five (18 percent) parents age 51 and older responding to the MLAIS have invited their children to participate in a discussion with them and their financial advisor, and 42 percent of those who haven’t invited their children or parents to such a discussion would consider doing so. This becomes more critical as you begin

working with your financial advisor to determine the assets you will need to cover your expenses in retirement and begin your estate planning strategy. Decisions around long-term care insurance may be shared with your children, as may details of your philanthropic activities.

Teaching your children how to set short and long-term goals and develop a financial strategy to reach them will likely pay off when they begin to manage their own finances. Whether it’s explaining to your five-year old the value of putting some of his allowance away in a piggy bank or involving your older children in discussions about the family’s investments, helping them become financially literate adults is one of the best gifts you can give them. ✪

For more information, contact Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Tiffany Mock in the San Antonio office at (210) 805-2848 or www. fa.ml.com/Tiffany_Mock.

Richard Orlando is Director of Legacy Planning, Merrill Lynch Family Office Services.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is a registered broker-dealer and a

wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (BAC).

Affluent Insights Survey Methodology: Braun Research conducted the Merrill Lynch Affluent Insights Survey by phone between June 7 and June 21, 2011 on behalf of Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management. The nationally representative sample consisted of 1,000 affluent Americans (of all ages) with investable assets in excess of $250,000. At least 300 affluent Americans were oversampled in each of the five target markets including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent for the national sample and +/- 5.7 percent for the oversample markets, with both reported at a 95 percent confidence level.

1

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is a registered broker-dealer and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (BAC). Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A. and affiliated banks. Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of BAC. Note: This article was reviewed and edited

by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith according to the company’s policy and style.

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special issues

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Bigger Isn’t Better As child obesity becomes an increasingly alarming problem in the United States, stop the pattern early to both better your children’s health and help them avoid growing into obese adults. { by lenore kaiser }

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Genetic factors have little to do with obesity.

D

id you know that the first hamburger for adults at McDonald’s was the size of today’s Happy Meal burger for a child? Have you ever pulled out old china dishware and silverware from your great-grandmother and compared it to today’s standard sizes for dishware and silverware? There is a dramatic difference in size! It doesn’t take brain science to understand why child obesity has grown substantially in the past few decades.

We have become a generation of “bigger is better,” less body movement and activities, more TV and quick and easy drivethru eating. Today, staggering numbers of children in America are defined as obese – so if your neighbors to the right and left of you have healthy-weight children, it is your child!

Genetic factors have little to do with obesity. The core issue is parents’ accumulation of unhealthy choices for their child over time such as unhealthy food high in fat, cholesterol, sugar and sodium, while allowing the child to spend excessive time in front of a TV or computer with little activity.

Low-self esteem, diabetes, heart issues and an array of other health complications are associated with child obesity. The good news is that this unhealthy lifestyle can easily be changed. However, it takes true commitment from parents not only to set the example, but to be the example of healthy choices day in and day out.

Making subtle changes within the family structure is the place to start. Discontinue purchasing soda and sugary beverages and

Facts About Child Obesity  Today, one in three children in America is defined as obese.  Most obese children have obese parents, as well as an 80 percent or higher chance of growing into obese adults.  This is particularly true for the African American and Hispanic communities.

replace them with Crystal Light-type drinks that have a sweet taste, but zero calories.

Instead of eating in front of a TV, make it a point to have a family sit-down dinner at the kitchen table and talk. Studies show that human interaction during meals reduces the amount of food one eats.

Instead of allowing your child to go watch TV after dinner, go on a family walk around the neighborhood. Keep fast food and junk food to a minimum or for weekend splurges only, and encourage your child to drink more water. Enroll your child in an outdoor activity such as football, baseball or cheerleading. This will not only burn calories, but build a child’s self-esteem as he or she starts engaging with other children.

If you, as a parent, deal with overweight issues, the last thing you want to do is burden your child with a lifelong battle of obesity that will domino effect into every aspect of your child’s adult life, both personally and health-wise. Keep in mind that more than 220,000 LAP-BAND and gastric bypass surgeries are performed a year – a sevenfold leap in the past decade, costing more than $6 billion a year.

The patients are getting younger and younger. Studies show this is the after effect of decades of family lifestyle changes occurring in America. Stopping the child obesity pattern begins with you, the parent. ✪

Lenore Kaiser is the owner and wellness director of Kaiser Medical Management.

To learn more, call 1-800-764-0418 or visit www.kaisermedicalmanagement.com.

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special issues

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Scaring Away the Monsters

In an effort to stop bullying in schools and encourage awareness, 13th Floor Haunted House San Antonio launches the “Don’t Be a Monster” anti-bullying campaign. { by erica jones }

T

o say there aren’t real monsters out there is a lie – monsters are quite common. Affecting one in every seven students, American schools harbor approximately 2.1 million bullies, and ● ● ● ●

34 nfamily magazine

2.7 million are their victims. The “Don’t Be a Monster” anti-bullying campaign, sponsored by 13th Floor Haunted House San Antonio, spread across San Antonio middle schools last fall in an effort to scare away the real-life monsters.

For people who make a career out of

scaring people, “Don’t Be a Monster” may seem counter-intuitive. However, that was exactly the haunted house’s mantra when it launched the campaign in conjunction with National AntiBullying Month.

Chris Stafford and Jon Love, the

“We want victims of this heinous behavior to

have the courage to seek help and talk to someone about it.”

owners of 13th Floor San Antonio, sent actors dressed in the haunted house’s wellknown and intricately detailed costumes to San Antonio middle schools with a mission to educate children on the harmful emotional and physical effects of bullying.

“We saw that bullying was affecting a large portion of kids in middle and high school,” Stafford said. “We may be open for just over a month, but we wanted to keep the kids happy and healthy in school throughout the entire year.”

Staying in school is a big problem for victims of bullying, with an estimated 160,000 children missing school every day due to fear of being attacked or intimidation by other students, and one in 10 students dropping out of school due to repeated bullying. Middle schoolage children are especially affected, with 90 percent of fourth- through eighthgraders citing bullying as a noticeable problem in their schools.

“Our goal was to start the kids and parents talking about bullying,” Love said. “We bring the actors in costume and ignite conversation about the issue of bullying. We want victims of this heinous behavior to have the courage to talk to someone about it and seek help.”

With any luck, bullied children will seek help from parents. However, parents may also want to step in if they see certain warning signs. Aside from the obvious torn clothing and unexplained bruises

and cuts, bullied children may also experience a loss of appetite, appear anxious, suffer from low self-esteem and have few, if any, friends whom they enjoy spending time with.

Armed with more than 5,000 LIVESTRONG-esque rubber wrist bands engraved with the campaign’s name, kids and parents receive a constant reminder to help those they see are victims of bullying and hopefully scare away this gruesome problem.

“Don’t Be a Monster” marked 13th Floor San Antonio’s first local advocacy campaign, and the haunt plans on making the program an annual rite of passage for school kids in the Alamo City.

“There is no reason we can’t help out youth who have been victims of bullying,” Stafford said.

“The trauma associated with school-aged bullying can haunt people well into adulthood. Kids should be scared the old-fashioned way, with fake blood and dark corners. Bullying is unacceptable.” ✪

For information on hours and dates of charity nights, visit the website at www.13thfloorsanantonio.com.

èè It is estimated that 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students. èè American schools harbor approximately 2.1 million bullies and 2.7 million of their victims. èè 1 in 7 students in grades K-12 is either a bully or a victim of bullying. èè 56 percent of students have personally witnessed some type of bullying at school. èè 15 percent of all school absenteeism is directly related to fears of being bullied at school.

Source: National Education Association

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special issues

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Eating Well and Living Well

This school year, keep your teenagers eating well and feeling good about themselves by paying attention to both their physical health and their emotional health. { by adrien paczosa }

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36 nfamily magazine

D

o you remember when you entered middle school and high school? Besides new schools, new teachers and more homework, add hormonal changes, the dramas of teenage relationships and the demands to be treated like an adult, but not acting like one. The teenage years can be a rather challenging time for both you and your kid.

So often in transitional periods, we forget about our physical and emotional health. In my work as a dietitian, I have seen transitional times as a source for possible eating disorders and disordered eating. And adolescence is a good example of such a time.

Because of the all the changes and demands that occur during this period of development, teenagers can (and do) turn to eating disorders to help achieve a sense of control – control over their changing bodies, tumultuous relationships and scholastic and athletic demands, and a search for a separate identity from their peers. This sense of control is a false one, of course, since what is really in control is the food.

As you pack your kids’ back-to-school lunch boxes, don’t forget to add good nutrition to help power their brains, bodies and self-esteem. Never hesitate to reach out for direction from professionals. Remember, 60 to 80 percent of your and your kids’ health comes from what you eat. Nourish your body. Nourish your life.

As always, if you suspect your child may be struggling with body image issues or disordered eating, please consult a professional who can make an appropriate diagnosis. ✪

Adrien Paczosa, R.D., L.D., is a consulting dietitian for Cedar Springs Austin, an eating disorder treatment center located in the Westlake area of Austin. For more information, please call 877-7552244 or visit www.cedarspringsaustin. com.

National Eating Disorders Association (www.nationaleatingdisorders.com)

1

Here are some tips for you and your kids about eating well and feeling great. I encourage everyone to make an effort to live well. ★ Have fun! Too often, we give food too much power and control in our lives. Enjoy food for the way it tastes and the conversations and laughs you have while sharing it. ★ Eat when you are hungry. Stop eating when you are satisfied. Listen to your body. ★ Think variety. All foods can be part of healthy eating. There are no “good” or “bad” foods, so try to eat lots of different foods.

★ Teenagers are growing and need different amounts of nutrition as they grow, develop and increase their activity.

★ If you are sad or mad, or have nothing to do (and are not really hungry), this is a good time to practice checking whether it is emotional hunger or physical hunger. ★ Good health, feeling good about yourself and having fun go hand-in-hand. ★ Remind yourself that healthy bodies and

happy people come in all sizes, and that no one body shape or size is a healthy one. People come in many shapes, colors and personalities.

★ After-school snacks are a must even after junior high. This is a great time to offer fruit and vegetables, along with some protein. ★ Kids involved in sports must eat pre- and post-activity to make sure they are not damaging their growing bodies and muscles. If you are not sure what that nutrition should be, please reach out to a registered dietitian. ★ Some people believe that overweight

people are bad, sick and out of control, while thin people are good, healthy and in control. This is not true, and it is unfair and hurtful.

★ Appreciate yourself for all you are – we

should all respect and like ourselves, enjoy playing and being active and eat a variety of healthy foods.1

special issues

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Those Who Can, Do. Those Who Cannot, Bully.

{

A parent’s guide to warning signs of the potentially devastating problem in our schools and on the Internet { by jane flynn }

B

ullying is an enormous problem facing our youth.

Its emotional and psychological effects can be devastating. Bullycide, suicide that can be attributed to having been bullied, is the leading cause of death in children under age 14.

The current bullying research is rather sobering:

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38 nfamily magazine

● An estimated 160,000 children miss school each day due to the fear of being bullied. ● Fifty-six percent of students have personally witnessed some type of bullying at school. ● Seven percent of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their school. ● The CIA reports that two-thirds of recent school shootings are committed by victims of bullying.

And, as all the recent news stories can attest to, gay and lesbian youth are especially vulnerable. ● Eighty-six percent of LGBT students reported harassment at school. ● Nearly nine out of 10 LGBT youth reported being verbally harassed at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation. ● Forty-four percent reported being physically harassed. ● Twenty-two percent reported being assaulted. Nearly 61 percent who experienced harassment never reported the incident to the school.

Bullying comes in many forms: physical (kicking, hitting), verbal (name calling, teasing) and indirect (cyber bullying via text messages, email, chat rooms and instant messages).

And unfortunately, too many kids who are being bullied suffer in unnecessary silence. Because they fear retaliation, these young victims refuse to talk to their parents, their teachers or anyone else about their situation.

So, as a parent, what should you look for if you feel your child is possibly a victim of bullying? Ask yourself: Does he or she:

Come home from school with torn clothing or a damaged backpack?

Have cuts and scratches, but can’t give or refuses to give a reason for how they received them?

Appear afraid or reluctant to go to school?

Talk about suicide?

When parents feel their child is being bullied, it is imperative to keep the lines of communication open. Parents need to talk with their child often and honestly without judging them. And kids who have an open and trusting relationship with their parents and feel safe to talk to them are less likely to take part in bullying, as well.

In this digital technology era, texting, Facebook, Instagram, Google Chat and FaceChat are essentially the “norm” in how youngsters communicate. Cyberspace allows bullies to continue their torture well after the school bell has sounded. As a result, the victims know no reprieve.

But parents can play an active role in helping prevent the abuse of technology by their youngsters. Consider the following:

➊

Internet safety: Teach your child how to safely browse the Web, even if your child is very young – as young as kindergarten.

Have trouble sleeping? ose interest in L schoolwork and experience falling grades?

Appear sad or depressed, or show unexpected mood shifts, irritability and sudden outbursts of temper?

Consistently ask for money from you (to meet the bully’s demands)?

Seem socially isolated?

Have a change in eating habits?

➌

Discourage retaliation: Once

something is said online, it can never be taken back.

Make sure your teen treats peers with respect both on and offline. Written words are often misinterpreted. Talking it out can prevent making an impulsive (and often regrettable) decision to post a nasty message on Facebook.

Pause before you post!

➋

Make it public: Keep

your computer in an open and relatively public area of your home such as a family room or kitchen. Determine how much online time your child can have and stick to it.

➍

Don't be rash:

Parents often have the impulse to take the computer away after a troubling online incident, but resist the urge to make a snap decision.

Instead, listen to your child, without judgment, about what’s going on.

How much bullying takes place in our schools and other youth environments depends on the role that committed adults will play in their schools, their families and their communities. Correcting these behaviors before they get out of control will keep your child safe and allow parents to get a good night’s sleep. ✪

Jane Flynn, LPC, is a program therapist at Cedar Springs Austin, an eating disorder treatment center located in the Westlake area of Austin. For more information, call 512-732-2400 or visit www.cedarspringsaustin.com. nfamily magazine 39

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special issues

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Feeding San Antonio’s Future JC Food Mart goes the extra mile to help young and new mothers and to give children the proper nutrition start in life by catering to participants in the Texas Women, Infants and Children program. { by erica jones }

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40 nfamily magazine

According to the San Antonio Food Bank,

230,000

San Antonians seek food assistance every year.

H

unger is no small issue for many San Antonians. According to the San Antonio Food Bank, 230,000 San Antonians seek food assistance every year. However, retailers are making big leaps to combat the problem, among them JC Food Mart, a San Antoniobased grocery store that sells foods authorized by the Texas Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

WIC is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women, new mothers and young children eat well, learn about nutrition and stay healthy. WIC provides nutrition education, counseling and nutritious foods geared to children under 5 to give kids the proper nutrition start in life.

The store offers the same food items found elsewhere (fruits, vegetables, dairy products, cereals, juices and baby formulas), but without the inconvenience and added confusion of shopping at a larger retailer. Locally owned and operated by John Callanan, JC Food Mart opened 18 years ago after Callanan saw a need in the community for a simplified shopping experience for WIC participants.

The company has grown and recently unveiled its eighth location, a 1,200-square-foot building in San Antonio’s west side, in December 2012. The other stores are located across the city, and always in close proximity to a WIC clinic to provide convenience to WIC participants. Callanan is also careful to only staff his locations with friendly people who will go the extra mile to help customers.

One of those employees is Patricia Childress-Ramos, who began working for JC Food Mart at just 18 years old. She is now the manager of the company’s Fredericksburg Road location. She is also a former WIC participant, so she understands the value of a grocery store like JC Food Mart.

“I was looking for a part-time job while I was in college, and I had no idea what WIC was at the

time,” Childress-Ramos said. “I was amazed that there was a store that catered specifically to WIC participants.”

While working for JC Food Mart, Childress-Ramos became even more familiar with the program.

She participated in WIC after her daughter was born.

“One time I went to a non-WIC grocery store and was amazed how long it took to filter out the WIC items from everything else,” Childress-Ramos said. “The store didn’t do anything to educate WIC participants on their benefits.

It’s this type of extra step that sets JC Food Mart apart from the conventional grocery store.”

Recently, the grocer expanded its presence outside of the stores. Callanan and his team saw a need to give back to the communities that have shopped at their stores over the years.

Working with organizations like the YMCA of Greater San Antonio, CentroMed and the Family Service Association, Callanan and his staff are working to educate the community about the importance of healthy eating.

During the 2012 holiday season, JC Food Mart worked with the Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner, San Antonio’s largest community Thanksgiving dinner, entertaining kids with a balloon artist, stickers and big smiles.

Activities in the community are impactful not only for the public, but also for the JC Food Mart team.

“The outreach into the community has given the kids and parents a chance to try delicious fruits and vegetables in fun, new ways, while we get the opportunity to interact with them one-on-one,” Childress-Ramos said. “I love seeing their smiling faces and learning more about the neighborhoods we serve.” ✪

With eight locations throughout San Antonio and a commitment to the community, the future is bright for JC Food Mart. To learn more and to find locations near you, please visit www.jcfoodmart.com. nfamily magazine 41

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spiritual

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Training Children

How to raise kids who stay the course

elcome to this brand-new magazine, NFamily!

Bre’anna, my wife, writes for NFit, and I write for NSIDE San Antonio. We are proud of Eliot Garza and his team for consistently putting out great magazines, and we are honored to be part of this new endeavor.

One of the reasons we love living in San Antonio is that strong family values are a vital part of our culture. We enjoy the different parks, activities and events throughout the San Antonio area on a regular basis. Family is a vital ingredient in the recipe that makes San Antonio so special. And it’s a topic that is near and dear to our hearts.

Bre’anna and I have been married eight years. We have a wimpy little dog named Cowboy, and three children ages 5 and under (Daniel, 5; David, 3; and Cara, 1 – yes, please pray for our sanity). We love our kids, and it is a daily adventure with all of their different personalities. It seems that every day, Bre’anna and I find ourselves laughing to the point of tears

w

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42 nfamily magazine

over something they did or said. In short, we love our family.

Raising kids isn’t all giggles and laughs, however. It takes a lot of work. But you’re

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” likely in the thick of it just like we are.

There are so many obstacles to work around and so many trenches to pull through along the way.

You can go to any bookstore or simply

{ by chris emmitt }

Google “how to raise kids,” and you will find more resources than there are kids on American soil. Everyone seems to have an opinion, an idea, a thought and something that worked for them – something you must do.

Bre’anna and I looked through many of those resources and felt the same overwhelmed feeling you probably did. I don’t want to underestimate the power of many books and resources; those books and resources have great parenting tips and tricks of the trade that seasoned parents have passed on.

However, at the end of the day, we had to decide what would be the final decision in how we raised our children. When it is all said and done, what are the baseline rules and core values that are nonnegotiable for us as we raise our children?

In the Bible, there is a book called Proverbs. It’s full of wise sayings and phrases. One verse says: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV).

So let me ask you this: What do you want your children to “not depart from” when they are older? And are those a baseline for you as you train up your children?

Let this question roll around in your mind for a while. My guess is (and this is purely a guess) you are probably raising your child based on your experience as a child. If it was good, you do the same your parents did. If it was bad, you do the exact opposite of what your parents did. Seems logical. But times change, culture changes, environments change and the world changes. You know that.

What would happen if you ran a business using the same logic you used to raise your children? “Well, it worked 40 years ago, so I’m sure it’s going to work now.” In your business, you have core values that drive how you train employees, treat customers and plan for the future.

Why not have core values that you instill in your children?

Have I got you thinking? Good. Now, where will you get those core values? I’ll

tell you where we get our core values in how we raise children: the Bible. Yes, I’m a pastor, so that answer seems pretty obvious, but for us, it is the baseline of how we raise our children and where we get our core values that we want to instill in our children.

Are we perfect? I let our son, Daniel, eat an oatmeal pie for breakfast last week; I’ll let you be the judge. (In my defense, it did have oatmeal in it.)

We do our very best at raising our children, but we have our mistakes like every parent out there. There is extreme comfort in knowing we have a concrete baseline in the scriptures. It’s a great and firm foundation. If you want to give our method a try, but don’t know where to start, open up to the book of Proverbs. You might be surprised how much wisdom is in there.

In short, parenting is a journey. It’s good, it’s tough, it’s sad and it can be quite funny. But beyond the day-to-day, there is a bigger picture: We are raising the next generation. How will we do that? What

values will we instill?

For us, it’s the Biblical values of faith, love, mercy, kindness and generosity, among many others. What are yours? ✪

Chris Emmitt is the executive pastor at Community Bible Church, and Bre’anna Emmitt is a stay-at-home mom and freelance writer. You can connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also see Chris’ sermons at www.communitybible.com and read Bre’anna’s blog at www. sozowomen.com.

nfamily magazine 43

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therapy

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Healing Children from the Inside Out St. Peter – St. Joseph Children’s Home continues to lead children from a life of despair to a promised future more than 120 years after its inception. { Special to NFamily }

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44 nfamily magazine

S

am, the young actress in the photo, dramatically captures the look of pain and sadness a child experiences as a victim of abuse or neglect. Her suffering comes at no fault of her own; sadly, it comes at the hands of her own family.

Fortunately for children like Sam, Child Protective Services has a safe environment they can bring her to, which begins the healing process. St. Peter – St. Joseph Children’s Home (St. PJ’s) has been serving children since the late 1800s.

Prior to the late 1960s, the home was primarily an orphanage for abandoned and parentless children, and as the state of Texas began regulating orphanages, the home transitioned into serving abused and neglected children. Today, St. PJ’s has the capacity to care for 143 children at a time ranging in age from infancy to 17 years old.

“The greatest thing we do for a child is restore their need to feel safe, loved and respected,” said James Castro, chief executive officer of St. PJ’s. “We cannot

As a leader in caring for children for more than 120 years, St. PJ’s intends to increase its efforts exponentially toward preventing child abuse and neglect in the first place. The timing is good for San Antonio since Texas is in the middle of the 83rd legislative session.

Through strategic public awareness and education campaigns, Castro is confident St. PJ’s can help reduce child abuse numbers in the future. “Texas is the best place in the country to live for many reasons,” Castro said. “Now we need to add child safety as the No. 1.”

Children who suffer from child abuse and neglect frequently struggle educationally, as well. They come to St. PJ’s usually one, two or three grades behind in their education level. That is why St. PJ’s launched the Early Intervention and Child Development program a few years ago. This program was able to start due to the generous support of the Harvey Najim Family Foundation.

Before this program started, some children 5

“

The greatest thing we do for children is restore their need to feel safe, loved and respected.” replace their parents, but we can give them a belief in themselves, which helps tremendously in the healing process.”

This is accomplished by continually paying attention to the quality of character of the staff they hire, the training they implore and the implementation of best practices in the programs.

Castro’s training as a marriage and family therapist helps influence the types of programs they strive for. St. PJ’s recently added Trust-Based Parenting to its programs. This program provides specific skills and strategies for disarming the fear and sadness that are beneath most disruptive behaviors in children who have experienced the trauma of abuse.

It includes a deep understanding of attachment, sensory integration, brain development and brain chemistry. “Without programs like this, the child is vulnerable to fall into the horrible outcomes children of abuse may end up in,” Castro said. “That is drug and alcohol addictions, criminal activity, jail, school dropout, gangs, homelessness and even chronic unemployment.”

St. PJ’s also helps place children with foster families or find new families. Once Child Protective Services recommends the termination of parental rights and the court makes it legal, St. PJ’s works hard to help match the children with loving families.

Babies, toddlers, middle school kids and adolescents have all benefited from this program.

years old couldn’t even identify colors correctly.

Now through targeted interventions, St. PJ’s quickly moves them into their appropriate stage of development, and the children have a much better chance of being successful in school. ✪

To learn how you can make a difference in a child’s life and make an investment that will definitely improve our community, contact James Castro at St. Peter – St. Joseph Children’s Home at 210-533-1203 or www. stpjhome.org.

Facts About Abuse/Neglect According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services 2011 Data Book: »» Parents make up 78.2 percent of confirmed cases of abuse or neglect. »» San Antonio and the surrounding counties had 37,235 alleged victims of child abuse and confirmed 8,382 victims. »» The statistics for 2011 show an increase in cases from 2010. Of all alleged and confirmed victims in and around San Antonio in 2011, St. PJ’s provided residency and shelter services for 480.

nfamily magazine 45

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therapy

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From ‘Coping to Excelling’ The locally produced documentary about high-functioning autism highlights mother, son and Dr. Temple Grandin. { by jennifer allen }

S

am was in Kindergarten when we knew something was “different.” Other children began to shun him, and he seemed perfectly content remaining in his structured and organized world.

Struggling with outbursts, it wasn’t until the end of the second grade when someone who had attended a mandatory district workshop for educators strongly suggested a reason for Sam’s challenges: Sam had autism.

Like a crashing wave, it hit me as I ● ● ● ●

46 nfamily magazine

read the symptoms: clumsy motor skills, intense interest in one topic, separation from peers, etc. Sam had a form of high-functioning autism called Asperger’s syndrome.

After a period of grief over all the things we thought our child would never take part in, my husband and I quickly began to seek knowledge on his diagnosis, as well as find the solutions.

Now Sam is a junior at Reagan High School with a near 100 average in engineering and the ability to speak and write in Japanese. Although he never gets

invited to parties or outings, Sam is doing fine.

The journey with producing the documentary and booklet, “Coping to Excelling,” began more than a year ago as a quest to assist younger mothers who are embarking on the journey of raising a child on the higher end of the autism spectrum.

Careful to gather the most knowledgeable in their field of autism and Asperger study, the interviews took many months to gather and many more to transcribe and assimilate. Excited by the diverse, yet

solid knowledge that made its way into a fluid form, I felt the step-by-step information would provide solid tools to assist parents though the school years or at least provide them with a great place to start.

What I never expected to occur on this journey was the impact of Dr. Temple Grandin.

I mention this to share the enlightenment she offered me and my boys through her genuine interest in – if not concern about – getting them on the right path by way of her experience living with autism.

The powerful and insightful contributions Grandin made to the “Coping to Excelling” program bears me passing on to you, the reader. I’ll try to summarize so you, too, can benefit from her experience and wisdom. Here we go: An absolute for getting your child past the bullying, especially during the dreaded middle school years, is shared interests. Let geeks be with geeks! Whether it’s art, math, auto shop or rocket building, your Asperger child will certainly feel better around those with similar interests.

Get them hands-on work experience, and do not revel in the label of autism, but rather, in their particular area of interest.

Another strong statement within the documentary came from Janessa Manning, who is currently working on her doctorate at UT Health Science Center right here in San Antonio. Her specialty of study is magnetic resonance imaging on autistic minds.

“The brain of your child who has been newly diagnosed with high-functioning autism, or Asperger’s, is different and functions in different ways than a typically developing child,” she said. “This is not a choice the child is making; we see actual neurological differences when we query by both anatomy and

“It is very important to understand that children with highfunctioning autism, or Asperger’s syndrome, are neurologically different.” function.

“So there is a great importance to getting therapy and getting treatments, welldefined efficacious treatments and trying to improve the behaviors, but [also to] understanding that they are coming from a place of being different neurologically.”

Wow! That is a strong statement that bears repeating. The high-functioning autistic, or Asperger, brain is different in its function and in its anatomy.

This is not a choice the child makes. In other words, it’s not bad parenting or bad behavior; these children are wired differently.

Manning goes on to say that imaging should eventually help diagnose autism based upon brain biomarkers instead of by behavioral observation, as is currently the practice in diagnosing Asperger’s syndrome.

In bit of a surprise, when gathering interviews for the documentary, I searched for a soundtrack or music that felt touching, yet smart.

My husband, Herb Allen, wrote a hauntingly beautiful piece of music titled, “Sam’s Song.” He mixed chords that typically don’t go together, evoking feelings of these incredible and gifted individuals who often get overlooked in a crowd.

Rudy Gatlin and Randy Wills graciously took “Sam’s Song” and wrote and produced a masterpiece of a soundtrack for the “Coping to Excelling” documentary.

It’s very easy to get caught up in a form of pity because you are reminded of your child’s autism daily by way of disgusted looks, elusive soccer-mom neighbors or family turmoil.

However, by staying focused on your child and your family as a whole, you’ll find another world of astronomy, physics, inventions or Pokémon to appreciate. It’s different, but

it can be both fascinating and liberating at the same time.

Let’s celebrate our children’s eccentricities and not worry so much about what others think.

Removing the obstacles and allowing them to be who they were intended is all we can do as parents.

Bottom line: Let’s take them from merely “Coping to Excelling”! ✪

To reach Jennifer Allen and see and read exerts from the “Coping to Excelling” documentary and booklet, please go to www. copingtoexcelling.com.

nfamily magazine 47

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therapy

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Promoting Dental Health in Children Educate yourself and your children about the benefits of dental health and help prevent tooth decay by following these five simple tips. { by dr. carlen palmer blume }

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48 nfamily magazine

F

ebruary was a big month!

Not only did we celebrate Valentine’s Day and African American History Month, we also celebrated the Tooth Fairy’s favorite: Children’s Dental Health Month.

According to the American Dental Association, the first event that led to the nationally recognized month we have now was in Ohio in 1941. That single day has evolved into a month-long nationally recognized mission to educate parents and kids about dental health.

Recently, the Ad Council partnered with 35 other organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Sesame Street and DreamWorks, to create public service announcements to help remind kids and their parents that brushing for two minutes twice a day can help not only prevent cavities, but many other health problems you might not think of.

Did you know that dental decay is the most

Dental decay is the most common childhood disease. common childhood disease, and that it is five times more common than asthma? Dental decay doesn’t only affect teeth. It causes pain that may affect diet, weight loss, ability to pay attention in school, life-threatening infections and selfesteem problems, and it can be linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Kids under the age of 5 are the only portion of the population that shows an increase in the number of cavities diagnosed per year.

All of these are important reasons to prevent tooth decay. However, it is important to note that baby teeth aren’t just little teeth on little people. They are, in fact, built a little differently, and therefore require their own level of respect. They are not “just baby teeth.” Your child uses them to chew, to speak, to smile, etc. When they don’t work right, other things don’t work right as a result.

Filling teeth on children is also different than on adults. In addition, kids have to be handled with “kid gloves” and in a manner that ideally will help them be free from dental anxiety.

I’m sure you are wondering what you can possibly do to combat all of that bad news! Here are five ideas to combat tooth decay and promote dental health:

u

Never share anything that goes in the mouth. If you need to check your child’s food for temperature, use a clean spoon and don’t double-dip. Cavities are caused by bacteria, which are contagious like a cold. If you have the bacteria, you can give it to your child. For the same reason, limit the sharing of toys that go in the mouth as best you can. If anyone in the house has an active cavity, everyone is high-risk.

v

Eat your fruit; don’t drink it. When you chew food, your teeth begin to break it down physically. In addition, your saliva gets secreted, and enzymes in the saliva start to break down the sugars that occur naturally in fruit. Also, most people take longer to drink a cup of juice than to eat an apple, for example.

The time of exposure to sugar is also a big threat.

So if you offer juice, limit it to when your cutie pie is at the table chewing food. Once they get up, the juice is gone with the dirty plate.  nfamily magazine 49

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50 nfamily magazine

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R E A L E S TAT E

Remember: Lemonade and orange juice are also very acidic, which is a double whammy. I didn’t mention Gatorade and soda because they don’t even have nutritional value. I offer my kids milk or water at each meal. Juice is a treat a few times a week, and the other stuff is for birthday parties, weekend special treats and things of that nature.

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To use fluoride or not to use fluoride … I am a fan of fluoride. It actually creates a chemical reaction in your teeth to make the microscopic bonds stronger. Think of it as hardening a shell. By doing so, it reduces what can break through the barrier and makes teeth less sensitive as an added bonus. It has also been shown to kill some of the bacteria. My kids drink filtered tap water from the refrigerator or a Brita filter. That water has fluoride in it. If you have a reverse osmosis system, you are filtering out the fluoride, but those come with a price tag, so if you have one, you know it. Some bottled water has fluoride, and some does not. Check the label or contact the manufacturer.

Unless your child gets no fluoride exposure, which isn’t common in this area, I don’t recommend fluoride supplements. It is true that in large doses, fluoride can have negative side effects. What do you do if you really don’t want your child to have fluoride? In that case, I recommend Spry products. Their active ingredient is xylitol, which you may have seen in gum. It does not strengthen teeth, but it does kill the bacteria that cause cavities. It is imperative that you watch your diet and clean the teeth well in any case, but people who don’t use fluoride typically have a higher incidence of cavities.

“ Where smiles blossom ”

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Help your child brush his or her teeth every day, twice a day, for two minutes. When can you stop? One of the popular rules of thumb is that children can brush their own teeth when they can write cursive well enough for someone else to read it. I’ve also heard some of my colleagues say that you can let them stop when you trust them to clean your floors. Even then, you should be checking. I can read my daughter’s cursive, but she had plaque on her front teeth after brushing the other day. Now she brushes right next to me while I brush mine.

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Children should have a dental home by their first birthday. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry was instrumental in teaching the medical community that oral health should be no different when considering that prevention is the best medicine. The initiative is called the First Dental Home.

The point is to bring your child in early and often to establish a place where your child is comfortable and you can learn about how to progress and prevent dental problems. Pediatric dentists, in particular, have been trained to help identify developmental problems and assist in the coordination of care across dental and medical specialties. Once the dental home is established, checkup frequency varies between three and six months depending on your child’s risk level. ✪

For more information, please contact Dr. Carlen Palmer Blume, a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. You may contact her by visiting www.blumedentistry.com or calling 210-614-3334. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ blumedentistry. To watch the videos from the Ad Council, visit www.2min2x.org. More information about pediatric dentistry and Children’s Dental Health Month can be found at www.aapd.org or www.ada.org.

pediatric dentistry Carlen Palmer Blume, DDS, PC Board Certified Pediatric Dentist Dr. Blume and staff aim to nurture and support your child’s oral health throughout the formative years. We provide contemporary, preventive dentistry in an intimate, fun environment.

8221 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78229 210.614.3334 www.BlumeDentistry.com Se habla Espanol Major insurance accepted, including Medicaid nfamily magazine 51

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I The Super Bowl Run Plays Defense “

The 7K race held by Transplants for Children supports local transplant recipients and their families. { by jenny flores }

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t’s an amazing feeling, running side-by-side with my transplant donor during the Super Bowl Run. I would have never been able to do that a couple of years ago, and never have been able to do it without him.”

Zach Krimbill, an 18-yearold college freshman, runs Transplants for Children’s 7K Super Bowl Run every year with his sister and parents. It’s a tradition they started together, along with eating seven-layer dip and wearing their favorite Packers jerseys while they watch the game together.

Zach would have never been able to make those traditions if it were not for his father’s kidney donation back in 2009

“Before my transplant, they gave me information about what to expect.

That was half of the battle.

”

and the help of the Transplants for Children support team. The San Antoniobased organization empowers families to master lifelong challenges of pediatric transplantation.

“Before my transplant, they gave me information about what expect. That was half of the battle,” Zach said. “After my surgery, they all visited me in the hospital and created a support group that means the world to me to this day.”

The Super Bowl Run is one of the many events the organization holds to raise money for the cause. This year’s race, on Feb. 3, started and ended at the Commander’s House by the H-E-B corporate headquarters in downtown San Antonio.

After racing on the Riverwalk, up steps and through bridges, the runners were greeted by the special Transplants for Children Super Bowl Run End Zone with food, drinks and classic Super Bowl

snacks. Participants were encouraged to wear their favorite sports team outfits, as the best costume received a prize.

Along with events, the organization provides a network of support for the families. “My parents are active in the organization,” Zach said. “They find a lot of comfort in talking to other parents and families who are going through the same thing.”

Zach and his Transplants for Children friends – or “stars,” as they are called – are a group of 10- to 18-year-olds who have experienced something similar to Zach. They meet once a month to do fun activities together. Recently, they went to the Lion King musical at the Majestic Theatre.

“Those kids understand what I’m going through more than other people,” Zach said. “They made this process 1,000 times easier than it would be without them.”

Now in its 27th year, Transplants for

Children is working to help more families than ever before. “They even helped my parents just by helping me,” Zach said. “[They gave] them peace of mind to know that I would be happy and healthy for a long time.” ✪

Transplants for Children was created in 1986 by Sharon and Eric Sutton in response to their own difficult personal experience in securing a liver transplant for their son. Although having endured the tragedy of losing their son, the Suttons were inspired to honor his memory by creating an organization dedicated to helping families manage the daily challenges associated with transplantation. For more information about the foundation, its mission and resources, call 210-949-1212 or visit www. transplantsforchildren.org. nfamily magazine 53

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Running to Raise Awareness Boys Town Texas raises awareness of child abuse and kicks off Child Abuse Awareness Month with the second annual Race for Prevention of Child Abuse. { Special to Nfamily }

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very day, more than five children in the United States die as a result of child abuse.

Many of these children are under the age of 4.

Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education. You can help change this by joining Boys Town Texas to raise awareness of child abuse during its annual Race for Prevention of Child Abuse.

“We all have to be aware and on the lookout to keep children safe,” says Janie Cook, Boys Town Texas executive director.

“That’s why it’s important that everyone understand and recognize the signs of abuse and neglect.”

Some things to look for:  Unkempt, unclean appearance  Acting out in school  Lying B odily injuries in unusual areas like the back, face or legs C hild is vague about his or her injuries, or the injuries appear suspicious

When children tell you they are being abused or neglected, what should you do?

hallmarks at Boys Town is keeping kids and families safe, and we don’t take that lightly.”

To help raise awareness of child abuse in your community, Boys Town Texas invites you to sign up today to be a part of its second annual Race for Prevention of Child Abuse on March 31. Take a stand for the kids by lacing up your shoes or volunteering for this year’s race.

More than 600 runners participated in last year’s 10K, 5K and one-mile fun walk.

You can register for this family-friendly event at www.boystown.org/texas.

In addition to the run, Boys Town Texas provides many ongoing community services and programs to children and families in need. Foster parents are desperately needed in our community to provide a safe and loving home to foster children, many of who have suffered from child abuse.

Boys Town Texas provides 24/7 support and ongoing training for its foster parents.

To learn more about Boys Town Foster Family Services and how you can help, please call 210-271-1010.

Boys Town also offers preventative programming through its Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic and common sense parenting classes. These specialized programs use research-proven methods to help provide children and families with counseling and care regarding behavior problems.

Other Boys Town resources include the 24/7 Boys Town National Hotline (1-800448-3000), and Parenting.org, a free online

“We don’t just have a legal obligation to help these kids.We have a moral and spiritual obligation.”

First, remain calm and listen to them – don’t lead or pressure them into talking.

Use children’s vocabulary, and reassure them that they are doing the right thing by telling. Don’t promise not to tell others, and report the case immediately to the Child Protective Services Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400.

“We don’t just have a legal obligation to help these kids,” Cook says. “We have a moral and spiritual obligation. No one is exempt from that obligation. One of our main

resource that provides practical information for parents and caregivers of children of all ages.

We are here to help, but it is only with your support that we can truly begin to stop the horrible cycle of abuse. Together, we can make the difference in the life of a child. ✪

For more information about Boys Town Texas and the race, please visit www.boystown.org/texas. nfamily magazine 55

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[Disability[ is Not Inability International nonprofit organization Ready, Willing … Enable! works to level the playing field for children with disabilities in developing countries. { Special to nfamily }

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roviding educational opportunities for people with disabilities in developing countries using solely volunteer contributions isn’t easy, but Jennifer Catron and Edwin Blanton have found a way to work this mission into the fabric of their lives, and the result is impressive.

While working as Peace Corps volunteers in the Eastern Caribbean island of Dominica, the two young professionals met and instantly bonded. This partnership resulted in the creation of the San Antonio-based international nonprofit organization Ready, Willing … Enable!

(RWE).

RWE provides training and resources for children with disabilities in countries such as Dominica, Mexico and Paraguay who are often denied education, jobs and social status.

Eighty percent of people with disabilities worldwide live in developing countries, according to the United Nations Development ● ● ● ●

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Programme (UNDP). Ninety percent of children with disabilities in these countries do not attend school, says the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

To address this need, more than 50 RWE ambassadors have traveled abroad to facilitate nine-week-long interdisciplinary camps with a focus on reading, writing, math and life skills since 2006. Also, a

scholarship fund has been established.

With 94 cents of every dollar raised going toward programming, RWE has equipped classrooms with computers, a Brailler and school supplies; provided training to staff working with persons with disabilities; and made grants to keep the only wheelchair-accessible vehicle in Dominica in operation.

In Dominica, RWE’s community partners include the Special Olympics, the Dominican Association of People with Disabilities, Lifeline Ministries and the Alpha Centre – the main school for children with disabilities in Dominica.

Back home, RWE has provided educational programming for approximately 100 San Antonio-area youth with regards to developing countries and disability awareness. ✪

For information about volunteering locally, including serving on the board of directors or in another capacity, contact Edwin Blanton at edwin@rwenable.org.

Eighty percent of people with disabilities worldwide live in developing countries.

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Helping Families

Live Life

Transplants for Children supports families in their darkest hours with a blend of knowledge, care and compassion. { Special to nfamily }

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ife is not, as they say, “all sunshine and rainbows.” At times, it can be rough and seemingly too much to handle. We all have moments in life where we feel the weight of the world.

The beauty of these moments is that they can be the greatest personal tests of strength and will. Often, many of us are not aware of our full potential and capabilities. Those who are aware have endured these rough moments, seen them as blessings in disguise and pushed right through them without fear.

These times of adversity can be opportunities not only for personal growth, but to influence others with our experiences.

Eric and Shannon Sutton are living examples of strength and will. They were hit with the tragic loss of their son, Richard, at a very young age due to liver complications. The Suttons experienced tremendous difficulties in the search for a transplant for their child.

Even though they had gone through the most trying time of their lives, the two were inspired to honor their son’s memory the best they could.

In 1986, the Suttons created Transplants for Children, an organization dedicated to helping families manage the daily challenges associated with transplantation. The organization was the perfect way to share the knowledge they have gained through their own personal experiences. Transplants for Children enables families to find the support they need in all aspects of the transplantation process.

As the only agency of its kind in South Texas, Transplants for Children is dedi-

cated to helping young organ and tissue transplant recipients and their families effectively cope with the emotional, financial and social challenges that arise before, during and after transplantation.

Few of us know the hard truth that there are more than 112,000 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Almost 13,000 of these people live right here in Texas. Every 11 to 12 minutes, another name is added to that list.

Even more shocking is the average percentage of Texans who are registered organ/tissue donors. The national average is 40 percent, and Texas has an extremely disappointing 8.3 percent, putting our state next to last.

On average, 18 individuals die each day due to the lack of available organs for transplant.

One of the scariest things for families who have loved ones affected by medical conditions requiring transplants is the financial hardship. According to the

educated in either the gravity of these numbers or the hardships that arise with medical conditions resulting in the need for a transplant.

Transplants for Children was founded with the hope of building awareness for individuals and families affected by these challenges through a blend of knowledge, care and compassion.

With a pledge to serve not only as an advocating voice, but as a pillar of support, Transplants for Children promises to “be there” when families need something solid in their times of uncertainty. Transplants for Children makes this promise because they firmly believe the strength and will to succeed lies in each and every one of us.

With the right amount of support, we all have what it takes to overcome life’s rough patches and then pay forward the value of our own knowledge, experience and resources. Transplants for Children and the countless families they support

On average, 18 individuals die each day due to the lack of available organs for transplant.

National Foundation for Transplants, the average costs for transplants and firstyear expenses can range anywhere from a few hundred thousand to more than a million dollars. This cost does not include the added costs of follow-up care and prescriptions.

The sad truth is that very few of us are

in their darkest hours are counting on you to be that sunshine and hang those rainbows. ✪

For more information on Transplants for Children, please call 210-949-1212 or visit www.transplantsforchildren.org. nfamily magazine 59

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A Grand Anniversary

Jack and Jill of America, Inc., celebrates its 60th anniversary with a luncheon fashion show spotlighting the organization’s young members. { photography by jason roberts }

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n Jan. 20, 2013, the San Antonio chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., celebrated its 60th anniversary at The Club at Sonterra in Stone Oak with a luncheon fashion show that spotlighted the children who were members of the organization.

The president of this chapter is Dr. Linda Howelton. More than 250 guests were in attendance. Some of these guests included the organization’s South Central regional secretary, Fran Mayes, and South member-at-large, Diedra Fontaine.

The afternoon’s festivities included a silent auction, booth vendors, a raffle with a multitude of items and a surprise visit from former San Antonio Spurs great, George Gervin, who assisted in raffling one of his own autographed basketballs. At the event, canned goods were for the San Antonio Food Bank.

This 60th anniversary was funded by all of the San Antonio chapter members and organized by the foundation committee of the San Antonio chapter, chaired by Daphne M. Evans, who also served as mistress of ceremonies and culminated efforts that spanned more than a year-and-a-half of planning.

Jack and Jill of America, Inc., was founded on Jan. 24, 1938, in Philadelphia, Penn. Today, the organization boasts more than 220 chapters nationwide, representing more than 30,000 family members. Each chapter plans annual programming activities guided under a national theme.

Through community service projects, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., creates a medium of contact for children to stimulate their growth, positive development and leadership skills. ✪

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Upcoming Events

Your source for family-friendly fun in the Alamo City in March and April Rapunzel Feb. 27 – March 30 Parents and children will love this witty retelling of a fairy tale classic about a strong-willed young girl, Rapunzel, who was taken from her real parents by a wicked witch who pretends to be her mother. With a book and lyrics by two creators of the hit television show “Friends,” rest assured this fairy tale isn’t going to be business as usual. The show runs at the Magik Theatre, located at 420 S. Alamo. For more information, call 210227-2751 or visit www.magiktheatre.org.

Mommy Matinees Wednesdays in March and April Bring your baby and leave your worries at the door! Every Wednesday at 11 a.m., enjoy the latest romantic comedy or action adventure without having to hire a babysitter. Enjoy brighter lights, lower sound, stroller parking and most importantly, no ugly looks from moviegoers without children! One PG-, PG13- or R-rated movie will be selected by the theater each week. Participating theaters in San Antonio include the Santikos Embassy and the Santikos Silverado 16. Regular admission price applies, and children under 3 are free.

Visit www.santikos.com for this week’s selected film.

Walk MS March 2 Walk to create a world free of MS by participating in Walk MS, presented by H-E-B. The walk begins at the AT&T Center at 9 a.m.

Rackspace Mid Week Farmers Market March 6 Rackspace invites friends, families and the community out every Wednesday for our Mid Week Farmers Market! We have several local vendors, as well as varying entertainment, cook-offs, cooking demonstrations and more. Come out and support local farmers. Most farmers accept cash only, but some accept credit cards. The general cost is free, and the market is open from 4 to 7 p.m. ● ● ● ●

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Family Flashlight Night March 8 Bring the whole family to Family Flashlight Night at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, located at 555 Funston at N. New Braunfels Avenue. The fun starts at 6 p.m. To learn more, call 210207-3250 or visit www.sabot.org.

The Joffrey Ballet March 8 Brought to you by ARTS San Antonio, the Joffrey Ballet performs “The Rite of Spring” at the Lila Cockrell Theatre, located at 200 E. Market St. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 210-224-9600.

George Strait Team Roping Classic March 8 and 9 Enjoy the George Strait Team Roping Classic at San Antonio Rose Palace, located at 25665 Boerne Stage Road. The fun starts at 1 p.m.

Family Flicks: “The Secret of Kells” (Ireland, 2009) March 9 Enjoy the animated story behind the famed Book of Kells at the San Antonio Museum of Art, located at 200 W. Jones Ave. The show is free with museum admission, and it starts at 6 p.m. For more information, call 210-978-8100.

Gospel Brunch with a Texas Twist March 10 Take the whole family out to enjoy gospel at the Gospel Brunch with a Texas Twist at Gruene Hall, located at 1281 Gruene Road in New Braunfels. Enjoy the fun from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Fourth Annual Corona Paella Challenge March 10 When the quintessential dish of Spain and culinary all-stars from across the country and Mexico come together, you know it’s time for the return of the Fourth Annual Corona Paella Challenge, hosted by Chef Johnny Hernandez.

On March 10, join fellow epicureans

for a beautiful afternoon featuring distinguished chefs from San Antonio and across the United States and Mexico, live entertainment, wines from Spain and sangria on the grounds of The Pearl.

Watch as chefs and high school teams go head-to-head in competition to create the most impressive paella dishes cooked right before your eyes. All of the proceeds will benefit the Culinary Institute of America’s San Antonio campus. The challenge runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, connect with Culinaria San Antonio on Facebook or on Twitter (@ culinariasa).

Dallas Mavericks vs.

San Antonio Spurs March 14 Enjoy the game with the family at the AT&T Center, starting at 7 p.m.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live: Get the Sillies Out! March 16 Yo Gabba Gabba! is an award-winning live-action television series that airs on Nick Jr., and a live stage show whose unconventional formula has created a triple-stacked fan base, making it one of the most popular entertainment properties among preschoolers, parents and indie music lovers alike. Enjoy the show at the Majestic Theatre, located at 226 E. Houston St. Free Kids Night March 19 and April 16 Enjoy free admission for both children and adults from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the San Antonio Children’s Museum’s Free Kids Night.

10th Annual Red Shoes Gala March 23 Please join St. PJ’s Children’s Home for the 10th Annual Red Shoes Gala on Saturday, March 23, at the Grand Hyatt on the Riverwalk, located at 600 E. Market St. The gala starts at 6 p.m. For more information, call 210-224-1234.

Dog Days March 23 and 24 Enjoy Dog Days at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, located at 555 Funston at N. New Braunfels Avenue. For more information, call 210-207-3250 or visit www.sabot.org.

Texas Rangers vs. San Diego Padres March 29 and 30 Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers come to town for San Antonio’s “Big League Weekend” and play a two-game exhibition set against the San Diego Padres. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. at the Alamodome (Center Stage).

H-E-B Body Adventure Food and Fitness Family Day March 30 Celebrate food and fitness with the entire family. Explore what is really in the food you eat, and see how food is broken down inside your body through live demonstrations. Experience basic parkour moves while you jump, flip and balance your way through a full body obstacle course, led by Live Oak Parkour, Skate and Bike Association. Plus, climb Mt. Witte, dance on the Move It! floor and take a bike ride 14 feet in the air on the H-E-Buddy SkyCycle! Food and Fitness Family Day is included with museum general admission.

The festivities run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Witte Museum, located at 3801 Broadway. For more information, call 210357-1900 or visit www.wittemuseum.org.

Jamie Grace – TobyMac March 30 Enjoy the music of Jamie Grace and TobyMac at the AT&T Center. Tickets cost $10, and the show begins at 6 p.m.

Valero Texas Open Monday Practice April 1 Have fun with the whole family at the Valero Texas Open Monday Practice at TPC San Antonio. The fun begins at 7 a.m.

Saturday Educator Workshop: Early Childhood Series – 1, 2, 3, Si! April 6 Enjoy the Saturday Educator Workshop: Early Childhood Series – 1, 2, 3, Si! at the San Antonio Museum of Art, located at 200 W. Jones Ave. The cost is $10, and advanced registration is required. Five CPE/GT credits are available, and the workshop runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register, call 210-978-8121.

SeaWorld Just for Kids April 6 – 28 Bring your little ones to sing, dance and play the day away at SeaWorld’s Just For Kids festival. Experience live shows from artists like Choo Choo Soul and Imagination Movers. Try out our kidsized rides, meet adorable animals and soak up all of the fun, music treats and more. Just for Kids will feature street entertainment in Shamu’s Party Zone, including a live DJ with dancing for the kiddos, kid-friendly foods and several activities for the young and young at heart. It’s a festival that’s just for kids, and it’s only at SeaWorld. As part of the festival, enjoy the following concerts (times TBA): Caillou on April 6; Laurie Berkner on April 13; Choo Choo Soul with Genevieve on April 20; and Imagination Movers on April 27.

Run Wild for Brainpower 5K Run/Walk April 7 Take the family out to enjoy the Run Wild for Brainpower 5K and 10K Run/Walk.

All proceeds will benefit the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) track and cross-country teams for travel and equipment. It’s a flat, fast course through the beautiful UIW campus. The run/walk starts behind Ann Barshop Natatorium and runs along the San Antonio River, through back trails and around campus.

The run/walk starts at 9 a.m. at UIW. Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After April 10 – 14 Have a fun family night at Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After. The show is at 7:30 p.m. at the Alamodome (Center Stage).

For more information, call 210-207-3663.

The Velveteen Rabbit April 10 – May 11 An American classic that brings to life a heart-rendering story of the transformative power of love, The Velveteen Rabbit tells the tale of a little boy who receives a stuffed rabbit as a gift.

The rabbit becomes the boy’s constant companion, and as the seasons change, the boy comes to love him as a real friend.

Even the grownups in the audience will be reminded of and moved by the simple joys and magic of childhood. The show is at the Magik Theatre, located at 420 S. Alamo.

For more information, call 210-227-2751 or visit www.magiktheatre.org.

Any Baby Can’s Ninth Annual Walk for Autism April 13 Any Baby Can’s Walk for Autism serves as an awareness walk to support families with individuals of all ages who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The two-mile walk is for the entire family, and it supports programs such as counseling, parent training classes and case management.

Families will have access to more than 80 community resources so they may learn more about services for those with autism spectrum disorder. There will be many activities for individuals of all ages.

The walk is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the AT&T Center.

Fiesta San Antonio 2013 April 18 – 28 It’s that time again! Enjoy a number of fun-filled family events throughout San Antonio during Fiesta San Antonio 2013.

For a complete list of events, visit www. fiesta-sa.org.

VIVA Botanica & Plant Sale April 21 Take the whole family out to the VIVA Botanica & Plant Sale at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, located at 555 Funston at N. New Braunfels Avenue. The sale begins at 10 a.m. For more information, call 210-207-3250 or visit www.sabot.org.

Family Force 5 April 21 Enjoy the Family Force 5 concert at the TriPoint Club, located at 3233 N. St Mary’s St. The show starts at 7 p.m. For more information, call 210-733-6201.

Carrie Underwood April 25 See Carrie Underwood at Freeman Coliseum (End Stage), located at 3201 E. Houston St., No. A. The show starts at 7:30.

Little Big Town April 28 Enjoy the sounds of Little Big Town at the Majestic Theatre, located at 226 E. Houston St. The show starts at 7:30.

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“Is WordPress Right for Your Business?”

WordPress is used to power nearly 58 million websites around the globe. Conventional wisdom has it that it is an easy-to-use, SEO friendly, all-in-one content management solution.

But Boss Creative—a San Antonio web design and online marketing firm that has thrived since 2005—contests the popular “wisdom.”

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San Antonio Web Design Firm

Boss Creative Bucks Conventional SEO Wisdom boss Creative, a san antonio Web design and online marketing firm, shook up the marketing blogosphere with a blog post titled “is WordPress right for Your business?” the popular online marketing firm bucked the conventional wisdom that WordPress is a good fit for almost any business.

WordPress is a popular web development platform that was released as blogging software in the spring of 2003. since that time, it has become the go-to content management system for both amateur web hobbyists and professional web development companies alike. both clients and developers like the software because of its almost infinite design templates, flexible functionality, robust support communities, and ease of use. the platform is so popular, in fact, that the official WordPress statistics site claims there are nearly 58 million websites being run on WordPress! but boss Creative says that the easiest route is not always the best. in fact, they say, the easiest route may not be as easy as many people think.

“Unless you happen to be gifted in the areas of HtML code, Css, or PHP, (that’s development speak for “knowing how to program”), then using WordPress to create your business website will likely be more headache than help,” they state in their post.

in fact, they think that using WordPress can hinder a business’s lead generation and branding capabilities, saying that its one-size-fits-all nature leaves little to no branding flexibility when it comes to professional websites.

By: Boss Creative

it’s not that the firm hates WordPress. in fact, they claim to even use it for some of the sites that they develop for clients. the company’s main objection is simply that it is not a “magic bullet” when it comes to online marketing, branding, and search engine optimization. “We here at boss utilize WordPress for a number of websites, but we do so in conjunction with a multitude of other solutions, such as online marketing and search engine optimization,” says the firm on its official blog. they implement these solutions “in addition to applying [their] expertise in business web development and other graphic design capabilities.” in other words, the san antonio web design firm doesn’t believe that WordPress is an adequate online marketing solution straight out of the box.

What they advise business owners is to avoid looking at the platform as a quick-and-easy solution.

A bout Boss Creative Boss Creative has no small amount of knowledge about the field.

Established in 2005, the firm has carried on a strong presence in the San Antonio market. It has successfully weathered the recession— even thriving—by way of advanced marketing techniques and frequent referrals. They have even won three advertising awards from the American Advertising Federation.

To learn more about the San Antonio web design & online marketing firm, or simply get online marketing tips for your business contact them at: Contact Name & Title: Charles Pilkilton (Managing Partner) Contact Agency/Company: Boss Creative Address: 18402 U.S. HWY 281 N Suite 201 San Antonio, TX 78259 Contact Telephone: (210) 568-9677 Contact Email: hello@thisisboss.com Website: www.thisisboss.com

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Excellence...

in all aspects of Pediatric Orthopaedic & Spine Problems

OSI Medical Centers NEW Children’s Center opening To learn more about how we can help with your child’s back, neck or extremity pain, call: 210.387.3388 To Make An Appointment 210.487.7463 Main Office Children’s Orthopaedic & Spine Center Texas Center for Athletes 21 Spurs Lane | San Antonio, Texas 78240

www.SaChildrensOrthopedics.com www.SaScoliosis.com www.SaMedicalCenters.com

Dr. Hongbo Liu is a Board Certified Pediatric and Adult Orthopedic Spine Surgeon who received extensive training to specialize in the delicate science of Spine Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnisota. ● ● ● ●

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MARCH 1, 2013

THE CHILDREN’S ORTHOPAEDIC & SPINE CENTER specializes in the entire spectrum of non-surgical and surgical care. Our surgeons and proceduralist are board certified and fellowship trained by the nation’s top institutions.

Our Services include, but are not limited to: Scoliosis Pediatric Orthopedic Disease & Deformity Spina Bifida Spine Surgery Sports Medicine