Mendo Lake Family Life June 2023

Humor Therapy

Parents share stories Cheap Fun

25 creative ideas

Parent Stress

How to cope

Sibling Rivalry

We are sti in the fight against COV D. t has not yet bn defeated. t has bn knocked down, but not knocked out.

f you fl sick, stay home. Use masks and social distance when neceary.

We must be watchful, alert, and aware. We must know when to take action.

t is important to learn how to protect yourself and others.

SECOND boosters are available 4 months after 1st bivalent booster for over 65 and 2 months after 1st booster for immune-compromised.

We especially recommend the updated booster for:

• Those who are 65 years and older

• Those who are pregnant

• Those who are immune-compromised

• Everyone 6 months old and up is eligible for the updated Pfizer or Moderna booster.

Children over 6 months are eligible for the new bivalent vaccinations. Please consult with your child’s provider.

Sharon Gowan Publisher/Editor Sharon@family-life.us

In the world of parenting literature, there is not a lot written for dads. That’s why this issue features four pieces by or for fathers.

The first, “Humor Therapy” (page 12), is an interview with Sonoma dad Jay Rooke about his snarky but supportive online community, Gonzo Parenting. Humor is the way Rooke stays balanced. And the same is true for funny-guy Shannon Carpenter, who shares his top sanity tips in “Parent Stress” (page 26); then he makes us laugh with “Dad History” (page 34).

Meanwhile, “Zesty Meatloaf” (page 8), an excerpt from Cooking with My Dad, the Chef (America’s Test Kitchen, 2023), makes Father’s Day dinner a cinch. While our Calendar of Events (page 28) and Bits and Pieces section (pages 10–11) offer great ways to celebrate Pop’s special day.

We hope all our dad readers know how important they are not only to their families, but also their communities. May this issue make it easier for you to keep up your fantastic work.

Happy Father’s Day!

Marketing/ Sales/Events

Patricia Ramos

707-205-1539

patty@family-life.us

Features Editor

Melissa Chianta

melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager

Donna Bogener

production@family-life.us

Contributing Writers

America’s Test Kitchen

Kimberly Blaker

Shannon Carpenter

Christina Giaquinto

Camilla Gray-Nelson

Tanni Haas

Christina Katz

Billing

Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office

P.O. Box 351

Philo, CA 95466 (707) 205-1539

Cooking with

Kids

Zesty Meatloaf

A Kid-Friendly Version of a Classic

By Verveine and Ken Oringer

The special thing about meatloaf is that you can eat it any way you want—hot, cold, or even in a sandwich! In our family, I (Verveine) like it hot and my brother Luca likes it cold. Meatlof is like the American version of French pâté, and it’s also kind of like making a burger but you can pack more flavors into it. This was one of the first recipes my dad ever made for us kids—he made it for our toddler group and taught the other parents how to make it too. I like to think it was a good start to my cooking career. Be sure to use ground turkey, not ground turkey breast (which may be labeled 99 percent fat-free) in this recipe.

Reprinted, with permission, from Cooking with My Dad, the Chef (America’s Test Kitchen, 2023), americastestkitchen.com

In Cooking with My Dad, the Chef, Verveine Oringer and her dad, James Beard Award–winning chef and restaurateur Ken Oringer, share more than 70 kid-tested and kid-approved recipes that also happen to be gluten-free.

Turkey Meatloaf

Prepare Ingredients:

1 large onion, peeled and chopped

2 carrots, peeled and sliced ½ inch thick

3 ounces frozen spinach

2 garlic cloves, peeled

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon paprika

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon pepper

2 pounds ground turkey

¾ cup gluten-free bread crumbs

½ cup ketchup

1 large egg

2 tablespoons gluten-free tamari

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

Start Cooking!

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Add onion, carrots, spinach, and garlic to food processor. Lock lid into place. Hold down pulse button for 1 second, then release. Repeat until vegetables are finely chopped, about ten 1-second pulses. Remove lid and

carefully remove processor blade (ask an adult for help).

3. In 12-inch skillet, combine vegetable mixture, oil, paprika, salt, and pepper. Use wooden spoon to stir until well combined. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and just beginning to brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Turn off heat.

4. Transfer vegetable mixture to large plate (ask an adult for help). Let cool completely, about 15 minutes.

5. In large bowl, combine turkey, bread crumbs, ketchup, egg, tamari, mustard, and cooled vegetable mixture. Use your hands to mix until well combined.

6. Transfer turkey mixture to center of parchment-lined baking sheet. Form into loaf about 9 inches long and 5 inches wide. Wash your hands.

7. Place baking sheet in oven. Bake until meatloaf is well browned and center of loaf registers 165 degrees on instant-read thermometer, about 1 hour.

8. Use oven mitts to remove baking sheet from oven and place on cooling rack (ask an adult for help). Let cool for 15 minutes. Cut loaf into 1-inch-thick slices and serve. (Meatloaf can also be chilled in refrigerator and served cold.)

OFFICES IN UKIAH AND SANTA ROSA

Apply

begin your child's journey

online:

at

Nurturing classroom experiences for children 3 months to 5 years old.

cost. Applications online: • Nurturing classroom experiences for children 3 months to 5 years old. • We do not require children to be pottytrained. We will help! • Children with disabilities welcome. • Accepting applications year-round.

Potty-training assistance provided.

little Do you have questions? Email: EnrollHeadStart@ncoinc.org

Near Brookside School at Spruce St & Lincoln Way Lake County Upper Lake - 2nd Street Lakeport - Lakeport Blvd Clearlake - Pearl Ave Clearlake - Meadowbrook Dr Coast Fort Bragg - Lincoln St Find out how we keep children and families safe by reviewing our COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines on our website. Applications

your child Also providing unique home visits for infants, toddlers & pregnant women! Apply Now! C E N T E R S Ukiah North Ukiah - Bush St Nokomis - Washington Ave South Ukiah - S State St Peach Tree - S Orchard Ave Willits Near Brookside School at Spruce St & Lincoln Way Lake County Upper Lake - 2nd Street Lakeport - Lakeport Blvd Clearlake - Pearl Ave Clearlake - Meadowbrook Dr Coast Fort Bragg - Lincoln St

S Ukiah North Ukiah - Bush St Nokomis - Washington Ave South Ukiah - S State St Peach Tree - S Orchard Ave

Making braces affordable for everyone! NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS EASY FINANCING OPTIONS SAME DAY BRACES ORTHO FOR ALL AGES BRACES FOR $129/MONTH C AL L 8 00 - 915-2884 TO S CH EDU L E Y OU R FR E E E XAM TO D AY ! www.mendolakefamilylife.com June 2023 MendoLakeFamilyLife 9

Dance to World Music

The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival has been staging roots-reggae and world music bands since 1994. Due to the pandemic and then the death of its founder, Warren Smith, it’s been on hiatus. But now it’s back. Headlining this year’s 20-plus acts will be Burning Spear, Beres Hammond, and Luciano. There will also be children’s activities, dance troupes, and yoga and other workshops. The festival will run June 16–18 at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville. Tickets are $275 for a three-day pass; one-day tickets are $90 for June 16 and $105 for June 17 and 18. Children ages 12 and younger get in free with a paid adult ticket and must be supervised at all times. Find out more and purchase tickets at snwmf.com

Go to Jam-Band Heaven

There once was a band in search of a name. Then one day a chaotic mess of jack cheese, beans, and salsa inspred one: the String Cheese Incident. Thirty years later, the Colorado group is a jam band icon. They’ll be headlining the Hog Farm Hideaway, where more than 30 artists, including Leftover Salmon and Railroad Earth, will join them. The festival will also feature an array of children’s activities; yoga, sound healing, and tai-chi classes; and the antics of the colorful Big Fun Circus. The event will be held June 9–11 at the Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville. A three-day festival pass, which includes camping, is $365 for adults or $150 for youth (ages 12–17); one-day tickets are $125 for adults or $50 for youth. Kids 11 and younger get in free. See lineup details and purchase tickets at hogfarmhideaway.com

Make Some Slime

He slimed me! Anyone who has seen the 1984 classic film Ghostbusters has heard Bill Murray’s post-ghost-attack proclamation. But at the Borax Slime Day, encounters with the gooey stuff have nothing to do with ghosts and everything to do with science. At the event, instructors will discuss the chemistry of borax and how it interacts with other materials to make slime. Participants will have the chance to make their own slime, in a variety of colors and textures. The free class will be held on June 16, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., at the Lake County Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport and is open to children and adults.

Sierra Nevada World Music Festival

String Cheese Incident

Come to the Library in PJs

Every parent knows how hard it is to get kids to go to bed. Pajama Storytime aims to make it a little more pleasant for everyone. Kids are invited to wear their PJs, curl up in blankies, hold their favorite stuffies, and listen to a librarian read a story. There’ll be singing and rhyming, too. The event is held the third Saturday of every month at the Ukiah Library in Ukiah. The next one will be held on June 17, 5–5:30 p.m. For more information, contact the children’s librarian, Sam White, at 707-234-2865 or whitesa@mendocinocounty.org. Also see tinyurl.com/yckthkwa .

Does Dad Like Bacon?

Homer Simpson has a serious obsession: bacon. If he were a real person, he’d probably go into a state of ecstasy at just the mention of the Lake County Beer, Wine, and Swine Baconfest. The annual shindig features local chefs cooking up all manner of pork treats. And, as the name of the event suggests, there will also be local beer and wine, as well as the Ray Jaurique Trio’s brand of blues. It all happens on Father’s Day, June 18, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., in downtown Kelseyville. Admission is $45–$50 and includes 10 tastes from the chef entries and one drink ticket. Beer and wine are extra. Find out more at beerwineswine.com.

Watch a Bucking Bronco

The first Willits Frontier Days was held in 1927. It was an instant success, and nine decades later, is still going strong. This year’s festivities will feature truck and tractor pulls, dances, a carnival, a beef barbecue, and, of course, a CCPRA rodeo. The event will run June 23–July 4 and will include a July 4 parade down Main Street in Willits. Rodeo events are $10–$12 and will be held at the Willits Rodeo Grounds in Willits. Other events, such as the dances, are free. For a complete schedule, venues, and pricing, go to willitsfrontierdays.com/index.html

Ray Jaurique Trio

Humor Therapy Sharing Struggles without Shame

Family Life’s Melissa Chianta talks to Sonoma dad Jay Rooke about his online community, Gonzo Parenting.

Family Life: You started Gonzo Parenting as the result of the pandemic. Tell us more about that process.

Jay Rooke: I was intending to launch a new business venture on March 20, 2020, and I was feeling bad about myself because that didn’t happen. Throw in other emotional turmoil and constantly being around five-year-old twins—I noticed that the more isolated I felt, the crazier I went. Finally, out of an attempt to preserve mental sanity, I started to use Facebook to talk about what I was going through with the kids. All of a sudden I got this unintended traction. Others said, “Hey, you are saying how I was feeling but couldn’t say myself.”

FL: During the pandemic, so many parents felt badly about themselves

because they couldn’t meet the incredible task handed to them. And it sounds like you put things into perspective: “Actually the task is crazy. Not you.” You created a service to help parents realize they weren’t going nuts.

JR: One hundred percent. I know every generation has its challenges. But I think our challenges are unique because everything is so different from our childhood. I think all of us are constantly in the “not good enough” space. Also we feel societal values clash with what we intuitively feel is right. We think: Why are we doing this? Why are we scheduling all 24 hours of our kid’s day?

FL: What are some other ways you think parents can get stuck trying to meet cultural expectations?

JR: One of the sacred cows is that we aren’t allowed to say we don’t enjoy being a parent. I think that the reality is that it’s impossible for us to enjoy all aspects of parenting all of the time. And that it should be much more socially acceptable to say, “I don’t like this part,” or “I’m just overwhelmed today. I’m tired and the kids are being a pain.”

FL: You have a Gonzo Parenting Facebook page/group.

JR: Yes, it’s a very active and engaged community. We went from zero to 1,500 members in the first three weeks. Parents are sharing their own Gonzo parenting stories, and making snarky but supportive comments they wouldn’t make on their own FB pages. One of my favorite stories is from a mom who was excited that she finally had a weekend without her kid. It had been two years since she had had a night off. Her mom was in town to watch the kid. On Sunday, when the kid was dropped off, he had on his head a patch of missing hair that was the size of a baseball. She freaked out and, after googling it, assumed the worst. Then her son ran into the bathroom, and said, “Mom here is the hair gel I put on.” It was a tube of Nair.

FL: That’s hilarious. So it sounds like people can laugh along with each other.

JR: Yes! I feel like a pharmaceutical company could market an antianxiety drug with a video of the

It’s impossible for us to enjoy all aspects of parenting all of the time.

Jay Rooke

moment that a parent realizes that it’s 3:15 p.m. and that they are 10 minutes late to pick up their kid from school. Every parent can relate to that abject panic. But a parent would never post on their public Facebook page: “Hey, I got wrapped up in an email and forgot to pick my kid up today.” In this community, though, you’d get a response like, “OMG, I’ve been there.” One person talked about sending her kid to school with only one shoe on because she was so busy with other stuff.

FL: So humor becomes a wonderful way to connect to other people— without shame.

JR: Yes!

FL: Where would you like your work to go next?

JR: One of my beliefs is that corporate life is completely set up in the worst possible way for parents. It is my belief that entrepreneurship

is the best way for parents to take their agency back. One of my hopes is to start to teach entrepreneurship to parents—and kids. We’re actually launching an offering called the Lemonade Stand, where I’m going to teach parents how to launch a business with their kids.

FL: Is there anything else you would like to add?

JR: We have a Gonzo Parenting podcast as well as a comic book, Gonzo Parenting: The Comic Book (see image, left) Our next offering is going to be a weekend retreat in late September called Stare at the Lake. Find out more about Gonzo Parenting at gonzoparenting.com

Goof Off & Save Money

25 Ideas for Cheap Summer Fun

By Christina Katz

Thanks to these tips, creating special summer memories doesn’t have to break the bank or leave you stranded at home all summer.

1. Leave your car behind as much as possible. Add baskets and racks to bikes and be sure to give them a seasonal tune-up. If you go long distances, bring along a tire repair kit.

2. Before you go anywhere, visit websites to check for discount coupons.

3. Grow your own cutting garden. Fill an entire bed with varieties such as daisies, lilies, gladiolas, sunflowers, and zinnias.

4. Make sun tea. Buy bulk quantities of black tea bags, remove the tags from 10–12 bags, and leave the jar in the sun

until water turns amber. Add mint and lemon to a glass of ice or create your own tasty variations.

5. Teach kids that the best things in life are not always new. Shop garage sales, flea markets, and local thrift shops for summer clothes and shoes.

6. Build a raised garden bed to keep out weeds and pests, and plant a whole summer’s worth of salad plants. Pace plants to harvest on an ongoing basis.

7. Check Family Life’s Calendar of Events (page 28) for free music performances and festivals.

8. Visit the library each week for a steady supply of reading materials and educational media. Remember, the library is often cool on extremely hot days.

9. Have a full-family yard sale. Let kids sort, price, and sell for a couple of days in exchange for a percentage of the profits. Or spend earnings at the Redwood Empire Fair in Ukiah.

10. Check out beaches within an hour’s driving distance. Leave early and stay all day to maximize the fun without adding the hotel stay. Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay is an excellent option, as is the boardwalk walk and beach at MacKerricher State Park in Fort Bragg.

11. When the big summer movie that you all want to see comes out, eat lunch at home first and then go to the matinee. Also, check the Family Life Calendar of Events (page 28) for free movie nights.

12. Tree swings cost a lot less than swing sets, and create lifelong memories.

13. Make note on your calendar of free days at museums and nature centers.

14. Attend a parade. Bring a picnic and homemade lemonade.

15. Go to bed early, wake up with the larks, and go for a long day hike. See parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov, lakecountyca.gov/341/Parks-Trails, and tinyurl.com/97ds44m as well as

Give each child five bucks to spend at the farmers’ market.

alltrails.com for hiking options as well as free or low-cost kids’ nature activities.

16. Can’t afford camp? Create your own. Choose a theme for the day or the week. Let older kids be the counselors to younger children in the neighborhood.

17. Take siestas during the hottest time of the day. It’s a great way to give siblings a break from each other.

18. Share music as a family. Instead of buying whole albums, let each child download five or six songs to make their own summer mix. Pick up inexpensive, used CDs to download.

19. Call it potions practice. Everything from your grill will taste fresh and tangy when you teach your

kids to make BBQ marinades from scratch.

20. Have a movie night with popcorn popped the old-fashioned way at pennies per serving. With a Sonoma County library card, you can rent six movies for free ever month via Kanopy.

23. Camp in the backyard. Use whatever camping gear you have on hand or borrow anything else you need from friends and neighbors.

24. Invest in a few inexpensive sprinkler heads. During the hottest weeks of summer, turn on the sprinkler at set times every afternoon. Encourage kids to invite their friends over for a quick dash about, squirt fight, and bubble-blowing contest.

21. Visit community pools and the YMCA. Don’t forget to check for free swim times.

22. Give each child five bucks to spend at the farmers’ market. Eat breakfast at home before you go. Then enjoy free samples at the market.

25. Let children paint favorite words on wooden boards and rocks with smooth surfaces. Set these around the yard for inspiration. ❖

Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz never needed much money to create summer memories as a kid. But she’s also noticed that everything costs a lot more when you are a parent.

Tree swings cost a lot less than swing sets.

Camp Is Great… for Grown-Ups

Just Think of All the Free Time

By Tanni Haas

Most parents know that kids benefit tremendously from going to summer camp. But have you ever thought about how sending your kids to camp can benefit you, the parent? Based on my own experiences as well as those of other parents, I can assure you that camp is great for you, too.

Parents are used to always putting their kids first. From the moment they wake up in the morning until the time they go to bed at night, our kids are constantly on our minds. What do they need? What can we do for them? Imagine what happens when they go off to summer camp and the house is suddenly quiet. Here’s what happens: slowly but surely you begin to relax in

a whole different way. You can hear your own thoughts, and that’ll give you the mental space to reflect on what

you would like to do—to put yourself first for once.

Use that mental space to do things you’ve been wanting and meaning to do all year. Perhaps there’s a hobby you’d like to pursue. While the kids are at camp, you have the time to take that yoga or painting class, and you get to choose—all by yourself—whether

you’d like to do it after work or on the weekend. Get together with some friends you haven’t seen for a while. If they have kids at camp, too, chances are that they’re available and eager to spend some time with you. Go on a romantic date or two with your partner. The possibilities are endless. Being able to focus on yourself, your partner, and other people in your life who mean a lot to you is no small matter. As parents, we’re used to being responsible providers and caregivers. However, there’s so much more to a person: We’re also partners

Slowly but surely you begin to relax in a whole different way.

Being able to focus on yourself, your partner, and other people in your life is no small matter.

and friends. These are important parts of our identities that we need to remember to cultivate. Sending your kids to summer camp may bring out your playful side, which you probably haven’t shown for a while.

Another great thing about sending your kids to summer camp is that it’ll give them an opportunity to develop and reach important developmental

milestones without you being there every step of the way. They’ll become more independent, more mature, and much better at solving problems on their own. Trust me: Every time my now-teenage son came home from camp, I could tell that he’d grown in leaps and bounds. Seeing how your kids grow also makes you trust them more. You realize that they’re able to develop new skills and take care of themselves, even when they’re not under your watchful eye.

Ultimately, summer camp is great preparation for the day that all parents will face—the day when their kids move out and they become empty-nesters. You will miss them—a lot—and they’ll miss you too. But, if you’ve done your job well and you have developed deep and meaningful relationships with them, your kids will always come back to visit. Just like they’ll come back each year after summer camp. ❖

Tanni Haas, PhD, is a college communications professor.

You can hear your own thoughts.

Summer Crushes What Not to Say to Your Kid

By Tanni Haas

Whether your kids are going to camp this summer, joining you and the rest of the family on a vacation trip, or just hanging around the neighborhood with friends, chances are they’ll experience their first crush. People are apt to tell you what to say or do about it, but what should you avoid saying or doing? Here’s what the experts suggest. Don’t minimize its significance. The first and most basic thing is not to minimize the significance of the crush or the inevitable breakup. Or as Katie Austin, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in adolescents, puts it, do not “dismiss how they’re feeling.” As a parent, you know that this and future crushes probably won’t lead

to ever-lasting relationships, but your kids don’t necessarily understand that. To them, the crush may feel overwhelming and overshadow everything else that’s happening in their young lives. If they confide in you be careful about how you react. Brandi Lewis, a licensed professional counselor and educator who works with families, advises parents not to

say things like “there are plenty of fish in the sea” or “there’ll be other guys or girls.” Instead, listen carefully to what they’re telling you and what it means to them, and validate their experiences and feelings.

The crush may feel overwhelming and overshadow everything else.

Don’t try to protect their emotions. Parents sometimes minimize the significance of a first crush because they fear that it won’t be reciprocated, and they can’t handle seeing their kids in pain. That’s understandable but not a good reason for minimizing its significance. For one, it won’t eliminate the pain. Secondly, as Kim Bell, PhD, a well-known child psychologist, says, parents are in danger of losing “touch with [their] child when [they] try to minimize it.” Simply put, your kids may decide not to talk to you about it at all.

Don’t tease them. Don’t tease them about the crush or make light of it. You may think that inserting a bit of humor will lighten the emotional load, but the exact opposite is often the case. Sharon Saline, PhD, a clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience, says that teasing could be interpreted as devaluing their feelings. Saline advises parents to “avoid judgments of any kind. The less your [child] feels judged, the more likely they are to open up to you.” Julie de Azavedo Hanks, PhD, a well-known child psychologist and media personality, agrees that parents

should never tease or make fun of their kids’ crush. Instead, she says, “talk about feelings of infatuation in a positive light, as a wonderful thing.”

counselor and parenting coach, “but you and your child will handle the crush better if you step back a bit and let your child experience [it].” Bring it up occasionally: if you talk about it constantly, they may get

GIVE YOUR CHILD a joyful learning experience full of discovery with:

• Exploration of own interests & abilities

• Experiential learning with field trips, arts

• Respectful and caring learning community

Don’t offer unsolicited advice or over-talk. Take your kids’ experiences and feelings seriously, and be careful about over-talking or offering unsolicited advice. If they’re open to advice, that’s great. Share with them whatever you feel like sharing, including your own experiences with crushes. But if that’s not the case, it’s better to stay silent. More generally, be careful about over-talking. “You may want to talk about your child’s crush every opportunity you have,” says Paul Chernyak, a licensed professional

• Peace education and mindfulness

• Earth stewardship

embarrassed or even annoyed and may resist sharing anything further with you. Saline agrees: “Stay away from micromanaging: This is their relationship. Your main job as the parent is to be available when it hits inevitable bumps and likely runs its

Open House Wednesday, April 13

Call for more information

T of L Charter ree ife

Free Montessori Elementary Education for Children Ages 4 1/2–13

Don’t share confidential information with others. Maintain confidentiality. Julia Simens, a family therapist in private practice, says “one of the most dangerous things [she sees] parents do is comment on their child’s crush in front of the child to other adults—or worse —to their child’s friends.” If you do that, you’ll most certainly lose your kids’ trust, and you won’t be able to help them navigate the inevitable ups and downs of this and future crushes. Put more positively, treat your kids’ crushes with the utmost care and confidence, and your kids will respond in kind. ❖

Tanni Haas, PhD, is a college communications professor.

• Exploration of own interests & abilities

• Experiential learning with field trips, arts

• Respectful & caring learning community

• Peace education & mindfulness

• Hands-on & multicultural learning experiences

• Earth stewardship

Free Montessori Elementary Education for Children Ages 4 1/2 Through 12

Free Montessori Elementary Education for Children Ages 5 through 13

Free Montessori Elementary Education for Children Ages 4 3/4 through 12

OPEN ENROLLMENT January For application and more information: 707-462-0913

GIVE YOUR CHILD A JOYFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE FULL OF DISCOVERY WITH:

treeoflifeschool@pacific.net www.treeoflifeschool.net

FREE meals cooked from scratch for all students, FREE before and aftercare, FREE summer program

For application and more information: 707-462-0913

businessmanager@treeoflifeschool.net • www.treeoflifeschool.net

Don’t tease them about the crush or make light of it.

Web Learners

11 Educational Sites for Children

By Kimberly Blaker

Limiting the time kids spend on the computer can be a daunting task. But when they hang out on the sites listed below, they will not only have fun, but also beat the summer slide.

Animals Abound Kids can travel to faraway states and US territories via National Geographic for Kids and discover all kinds of critters and cool places. In addition to freaky creatures, there are crafts, photo tips, and plenty of weird stuff to discover, too. kids. nationalgeographic.com

Space Odyssey At NASA’s Star Child, future astronauts can learn the orbit each planet belongs to, and match planets to their descriptions.

They also can calculate their own weight and age on each planet. There’s even a link to a teen site starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild.

Pop, Dong, Kerplunk Brain Pop is dedicated to health, science, and technology. Young learners will thrill at the awesome background sounds, and find experiments, activities, cartoons, quizzes, and animated movies on this fee-based sited. brainpop.com.

Basics & Beyond Fun Brain offers all levels of educational games in every subject. Kids can play Grammar Gorillas, Math Baseball, or Connect the Dots. funbrain.com

Math Wizardry Kids can exercise the left sides of their brains with Starfall, a science and math site that’s loaded with entertaining games. starfall.com.

Future astronauts can learn the orbit each planet belongs to.

Coding Empire At Code.org, kids can learn computer science via free courses and online projects. The courses progress according to age, all the way through the teen years. Pre-readers can watch videos and listen to audio recordings as they move through interactive learning segments. code.org/ hourofcode2022#explore

Green Games ClimateKids is another NASA site for kids. It answers kids’ questions about weather and climate, the atmosphere, water, energy, plants, and animals. After clicking to read lots of fascinating facts, kids can scroll to the bottom of the page for activities, videos, games, and more. climatekids.nasa.gov

Medical Time Travel At PBS’s a Science Odyssey, kids can explore the evolution of medicine from the early 1900s to today. They can play a game show called “That’s

My Theory,” read comic stories about scientists, and learn about the discovery of penicillin. pbs.org/ wgbh/aso.

Math Mind-Benders

Math has never been so cool as at Coolmath4Kids. Young mathematicians can mess around with brain-teasers and jigsaw puzzles, and play the Demolition Division and Integer Warp games to improve math skills. coolmath4kids.com.

Kids can play Grammar Gorillas, Math Baseball, or Connect the Dots.

Online Adventures Little explorers can take journeys to the Greatest Places, and visit the Amazon, Tibet, Greenland, and other fascinating lands. Learn neat facts, watch videos, send postcards, play games, and find great activities to do at home. greatestplaces.org

Presidential Probe There’s plenty to learn at the Smithsonian’s American Presidency page—even for parents. Read about inaugurations, life in and after the White House, and assassinations. Then, take a poll and share your thoughts. americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/ home.html. ❖

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer. She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks.com

Little Animals at War

Manage Sibling Rivalry Like a Farm Girl

By Camilla Gray-Nelson

Your kids are home from school for the summer. Can sibling rivalry be far behind? Research shows that about one in three kids with a sibling have been targeted with some sort of physical or verbal abuse, and perceived differences in parental favor is often identified as the cause. Serious sibling rivalry can verge on bullying, and additional research indicates that kids who have been routinely put down tend to feel more anxious, suffer in school, and adapt less easily to social situations than kids who are not.

I am an animal behavior expert who, for more than 30 years, has worked with the human animal, helping bring clarity to human behaviors that may defy logic but could have a deeper, instinctive core. Rivalry between siblings is as old as the biblical story of Cain and Abel because rivalry is one of our hard-wired human

instincts (think caveman competition and survival). Since we cannot eliminate the instincts that drive us, the question, then, is this: How can a parent navigate rivalry and maintain a more peaceful, healthier home environment?

The solution may not be obvious to the logical mind, but it’s one that makes

complete sense if parents can look more deeply at rivalry’s instinctual causes.

Living on a farm, rivalry between animals is commonplace as they compete for limited resources. The horses or cows will compete for the hay, the dogs will compete for a bone, and so forth. Our domesticated

animals will also compete for my attention and approval. It’s not such a stretch to see that rivalry between children in a family could have more to do with their Inner Animal competing for a most important resource—a parent’s attention and approval—than the children simply being mean or unkind. This at least helps us begin to understand sibling rivalry, but it doesn’t get us to a point of controlling or stopping it. This is where we can look to another, more human instinct for inspiration: the Desire to be Great or Important, which both Sigmund Freud and John Dewey identified near the turn of the 20th century.

As every parent knows, even though kids may share similar DNA, that doesn’t mean they share the same traits. Each has their individual personality, talents, interests, and skills. And, when it comes to preventing sibling rivalry, this can be a very good thing. Here’s why.

When most social mammals are treated exactly the same, they predictably compete to be different.

To reduce competition and rivalry, recognize children’s differences.

That’s because the hierarchy that sustains them requires distinctiveness. Each member needs to be a little different from the other so that no two compete for the same position.

Children’s Inner Animals also do this: They strive to find their unique place in the family pack as they compete for parental pride and approval.

So to reduce competition and rivalry, recognize children’s differences. Instead of holding them up to the same standard of accomplishment, diversify your sources of pride and approval. It’s easy to be proud of scholastic achievement and athletic ability. But what about artistic talent? Creativity? Innovation? Those tattoos on your daughter that give you such grief could actually be beautiful

expressions of art, if you change your perspective. They might even be worth a compliment.

Understanding your kids’ Inner Animal can help you effectively address competition over the coveted resource of parental approval. By diversifying your criteria for accomplishment and pride, you will be better able to satisfy each child’s need to feel special and important.

Mother Nature would approve. ❖

Brag about your artist. Talk about your poet or musician and let them pursue those talents during school break. Encourage your creative writer to pen their first book this summer. This approach could well reduce sibling rivalry and go a long way toward building lifelong pride and self-confidence in your kids.

Camilla Gray-Nelson is the author of Harvest Your Happy: A Farm Girl’s Guide to Leading, Succeeding and Living Your Best Life. She is founder and president of Dairydell Canine, a luxury dog boarding and training facility on her ranch in Petaluma, California. Camilla is also founder of Farm Girls Lead, where she lectures and writes on leadership and success skills for women. For more information, visit farmgirlslead.com

When most social mammals are treated exactly the same, they predictably compete to be different.

Everything in Its Place

8 Tips for Summer De-Cluttering

By Christina Giaquinto

Summer is always an exciting time filled with beach get-togethers, dips in the pool, road trips, and…de-cluttering. And I don’t just mean putting the rain boots and heavy coats in storage and finally ridding all kitchen countertops of scattered mail. I mean giving your home and lifestyle a whole summer refresh. In my experience as a professional organizer, I have discovered a number of helpful de-cluttering tips. Here are eight of these tried-and-true strategies.

1. Organize a grab-and-go station for pool and beach essentials. Isn’t it the worst when you are trying to leave for an outing and can’t find your keys or cellphone? Organize a bin by the front door or in the garage that contains summer essentials, such as

sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, clean beach towels, and water bottles and you will be prepared for any outing.

2. Write down five things you want to do this summer. From camping excursions to trips to amusement parks, it seems like once summer hits there is almost too

much you want to do. So de-clutter your plans; organize a summer bucket list. Once you write down the top five must-dos, schedule each of them on your calendar. This will ensure you accomplish the bucket-list items and plan other activities around them.

Organize a bin by the front door or in the garage that contains summer essentials.

3. De-clutter last summer’s essentials. Garages and sheds tend to fill up with clutter. Spend a day de-cluttering expired sunscreen, deflated pool floats, and broken beach chairs so that you know what needs to be replaced. Trust me, the last thing you would want is to arrive at a pool party and realize one of your kids’ floats has a hole in it. Getting rid of any items you no longer need makes space for new essentials—and new memories.

4. Deep clean the windows. The sun is shining and that means windows and porch screens are open. Deep-cleaning windows will help you enjoy the lovely sunny days to the fullest. Take an hour or two to spray all of them with a cleaning solution and wipe them until they sparkle. You will smile every time you look through them.

5. Write down your home-organizing goals. Have you been meaning to paint one or more of your rooms a new color? Do you really want to clean every single carpet and rug in your living space?

Commit to one home-organizing project and allow yourself the summer to accomplish it. I highly recommend scheduling the project on your calendar. Set your plans in stone and it will get done.

6. Create a travel station in your car. Summertime is filled with travel, so it is paramount to have your car organized. First, do a deep clean. Yes, that means vacuuming under the seats and picking up all the stale Cheerios all over the floor. Once the car is clean, organize a summer station in the trunk. Include hats, sunglasses, wipes for sandy hands, and an extra pair of clothes for the kids, in case a pool-invite opens up. Preparation is key!

7. Organize summer clothes. Spend an afternoon getting rid of summer clothes that you no longer love wearing or that don’t fit. Then organize your closet so all your summer clothes are front and center. Bathing suits tend to get mushed

Commit to one home-organizing project.

together. Fold one-piece suits horizontally and then vertically; pair two-piece suits together, folding the top over the bottom piece. Fold summer trunks like you would shorts and neatly stack them on top of each other.

AN EXCITING NEW KIDS’ NOVEL

For ages 9–18 Readers are calling the book “really, really suspenseful,” “fast-paced and action-packed,” and “with a couple of very likable heroes.”

Grab a copy and see for yourself!

8. Organize garden tools. Throw out any rusty or broken tools and organize a garden-tool bag so you don’t have to stress about finding what you need. Next to your garden-tool bag, place your watering can, ready to go. ❖

Christina Giaquinto is the professional organizer and brand ambassador of Modular Closets (DIY customizable closet units). Christina focuses on giving her clients de-cluttering and organizing tools, methods, and techniques to transform their lives and homes. She combines spiritual coaching with organizing to help her clients let go of things that do not spark joy and happiness. Her work has been featured on sites like Popsugar, Women’s Health, Reader’s Digest, Realtor.com, the Spruce, and Yahoo

dropping grades; kids and parents self-medicating and using substances; increased conflict at home.

These symptoms may be really evident in teens. Every parent knows the cliché: teenagers are argumentative. And, yes, that is true. But some of their behaviors may be the result of stress—ours and theirs. While we are worrying about their future and our own ability to guide them, they are dealing with high school politics, busy schedules, and college-entrance

Parent Stress A Dad’s Advice on How to Avoid Burnout

By Shannon Carpenter

Iopen the mail and find an unexpected bill for an eye exam. If there is one thing that wrecks a parent’s Zen, it’s unanticipated bills. This and other stressors eventually lead to parent burnout—and our kids are noticing.

It’s the day-to-day stress that really gets to us. Job difficulties, marriage problems, and Dora not exploring. How about schedules? How many of us have to be at the soccer fields at the same time we have to be at the volleyball courts?

Don’t forget to make dinner.

To be a parent is to be under pressure, and that can affect our mood. Personally, I become short-tempered and anxious when I’m stressed. I easily lose my patience and get hyper-focused on the next task. Yes, my kids notice.

How does parental stress affect kids?

The simplest explanation is that stress takes us away from our kids. To use a sports saying, we are not “giving a 110 percent.” The quality of our quality time is lessened. This can lead to kids feeling rejected; they may also exhibit low self-esteem, disruptive and aggressive behaviors, and social withdrawal.

Fantastic! Now I’m stressed about my stress.

Sometimes the affect of our stress is subtle and takes a while to notice, but other times it has more drastic effects:

pressures. What’s more, they are also way more aware of what’s going on in the world than a lot of us Gen Xers were at their age.

Their tsunami of stress collides with our hurricane of stress and conflict is inevitable. This isn’t good for anyone.

To take care of your kids, you first have to take care of yourself. This advice seems counterintuitive, but it’s the best advice I can give. If you don’t take care of your mental health, and your stress, it’s going to become a problem.

For fathers, stress can often manifest as anger, especially when we are taking care of toddlers. We are not as comfortable with that age group for a variety of reasons. We have never been encouraged, are rarely supported, and the literature for us is often condescending. None of this helps us manage our stress or our anger. You never want to parent from extreme highs or lows. That’s advice a

To be a parent is to be under pressure.

parenting expert gave me 15 years ago, and it works. So I tell upset dads and parents to walk away for ten minutes. Put yourself in a time-out.

Next, remember that you are more than a parent. You are a person with hobbies and interests. Ditch the parenting guilt, and take time to do something that only you enjoy.

Now, what about the things that you can’t control, such as the unexpected bill or work invading your home space? Honestly, this is where a lot of us struggle. Look, I know that I’m a bit of a control freak. When something happens that I can’t fix, my stress gets the better of me.

My support system really helps. I encourage you to build yours. Keep

in mind that you may not always find your people in the parenting world. So you don’t necessarily have to be in a parenting group to get connected. Join a quilting circle, neighborhood watch, or a D&D club. Just find others with whom you feel comfortable sharing life’s burdens.

I have more advice to offer, but there’s not enough room to share it here. So read chapter four of my book, The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad (Penguin Life, 2021). It will teach you about the benefits of practicing mindfulness, being present when you are with your kids, surrounding yourself with positive reinforcement—and, of course, diet

and exercise. But let’s be honest, “experts” always tell parents that running after toddlers can keep off extra weight. But my kid isn’t fast enough yet.

Obviously, I use humor to help deal with my stress.

But my best coping mechanism is self-care. I’ll say again the one piece of advice every parent needs to hear yet often fails to listen to: Take time to focus on yourself. Your kids will notice the difference. ❖

Shannon Carpenter is a professional humorist, co-host of The Dadhouse Pod , and the author of The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad Manual (Penguin, 2021).

June Calendar of Events

Thursday 1

FREE Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program, 1942–1964. Traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum explores when millions of Mexican guest workers came to the United States to help fill the labor shortage during World War II & beyond. Donation suggested. Thursdays–Saturdays. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. See the exhibit at 3 sites: Courthouse Museum (255 N. Main St., Lakeport); Schoolhouse Museum (16435 Main St., Lower Lake); Gibson Museum (21267 Calistoga Rd., Middletown). facebook. com/MuseumsOfLakeCountyCa.

FREE Traveling Toy Library. Families welcome to check out toys & materials for children ages 0–5. Easterseals Northern California: 1173 11th St. (next to post office), Lakeport. Early Learning Center: 14085-2 Lakeshore Dr. (next to

WIC), Clearlake. Send email to schedule time and location for pick-up: earlyinterventionreferrals@ esnorcal.org.

FREE Virtual Circle Times. Songs, story time, activities & socialization opportunities for little ones. English & Spanish versions available. facebook.com/First5ELC. Sign up via email: earlyintervention referrals@esnorcal.org.

FREE Blue Zones Project: Movement Moai. A moai is a group of 5–8 people who walk together for an hour, once a week for 10 weeks. Open to all. Thursdays. 6–7 p.m. New location: Alex Rorabaugh Recreation Center. 1640 S. State St., Ukiah. tinyurl.com/2rswnzpx.

Gadgets Galore! Exhibition. Traveling, hands-on exhibit reveals hidden histories of everyday objects in American households. $2–$5. Families: $10. Kids 4 & younger:

free. Wednesdays–Fridays: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays: noon–4 p.m. Runs thru Aug. 13. Mendocino County Museum. 400 E. Commercial St., Willits. tinyurl.com/2jcreptn.

Friday 2

Redwood Empire Spring Fair. Rides, agriculture, livestock, nightly entertainment, food & games. Additional fees for carnival wristband, monster trucks & parking. Parking: $10. Thru June 4. Redwood Empire Fairgrounds. 1055 N. State St., Ukiah. redwoodempirefair.com.

Friday Family Skate Night. Parent or guardian must sign waiver for kids younger than 18. $8 ($5 if you bring your own skates). Fridays. 7–9 p.m. Old Rec Gym. 213 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. tinyurl.com/2djbe3jj

FREE Lakeport Mama Walk & Talk. One-hour weekly walk is hosted by Mother-Wise. Open to all Lake County

moms. Fridays (except June 30). 9:30 a.m. Meet up at Mother-Wise Office. 180 N. Main St., Lakeport. facebook. com/MotherWiseLakeCounty

Hymn to Her. Play looks at the evolution of romantic love in America from 1640 until the present day. Contains adult language & themes. $20. June 2–3, 9–10: 7:30 p.m. June 4 & 11: 2 p.m. Willits Community

Lakeport City-Wide Sidewalk & Yard Sale. City residents & Lake County businesses sell a variety of merchandise. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Downtown Main Street. Lakeport. Sign up to sell: tinyurl.com/2p8xzx5b

FREE Wood & Glory Antique & Classic Boat Show. All ages

welcome. BBQ, wine/beer for purchase. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Konocti Vista Casino. 2755 Mission Rancheria Rd., Lakeport. thebloom.news/big-calendar

Sunday 4

FREE Open ARRC. Use gym for free on Sundays. Noon–4 p.m. Alex

Rorabaugh Recreation Center. 1640 S. State St., Ukiah.

FREE First Fiddlers’ Jam. Listen to fiddle tunes played by members of the Northern California Old Time Fiddlers Group. Noon–2 p.m. Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum. 9921 Soda Bay Rd. (Hwy. 128), Kelseyville. elystagestop.com.

Lake County Community & Youth Orchestra Spring Concert. $15. 18 years & younger: free. 2 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/yy8ne9as

Wednesday 7

FREE Waldorf Campus Summer Tour. Explore 38-acre campus, including biodynamic farm. Learn how campus is integrated into

curriculum. Parents only. 10–11 a.m. Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm. 655 Willowside Rd., Santa Rosa. summerfieldwaldorf.org

Friday 9

Hog Farm Hideaway. Three-day, family-friendly music festival. Headliners: String Cheese Incident & Leftover Salmon. Camping, craft vendors, workshops, classes & kids’ zone. $150–$650. Thru June 11. Black Oak Ranch. 50350 Hwy. 101, Laytonville. hogfarmhideaway.com.

FREE Parent Café: Dinner & Discussion. Hosted by First 5 Mendocino. Listen, talk, share & connect through a hosted conversation. Limited number of seats. 6–8 p.m. Head Start Nokomis. 499

Washington Ave., Ukiah. Registration required: tinyurl.com/y94y5nbp

Saturday 10

FREE Funky Dozen at the Mercantile. Wine & food available for purchase. 4–7 p.m. The Mercantile. 4350 Thomas Dr., Kelseyville. tinyurl. com/mv2srrrs

FREE StoryWalk & Crafting Party. Take a short walk while reading a book with your kids. Crafting activity afterward. Bring picnic lunch. Held second Saturday of the month. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Clear Lake State Park. Visitor Center. 5300 Soda Bay Rd., Kelseyville. tinyurl.com/mhp8yxvj

Lake County Winefest 2023. Tastings from Lake County’s wineries & breweries. Food & art vendors. June

Live music by the Hip Replacements. Tasting tickets: $30–$35. Proceeds benefit Lake County Symphony & Youth Orchestra. Noon–5 p.m. Library Park. 200 Park St., Lakeport. lakecountywinefest.com

FREE Anderson Marsh Guided Nature Walk. Walks are 1.5–3 hours, depending on the route. Bring water, sturdy shoes & binoculars. Rain cancels walk. Held second Saturday of the month. 8:30 a.m. Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. 8400 Hwy. 53, Lower Lake. andersonmarsh.org

FREE Battle of the Bands Concert. The City of Clearlake is looking for local bands & bands that are starting out. Two-part show. The finalist will play again on July 17. Winner will be an opening act at one of the

shows in July. Noon–3 p.m. Austin Park. 14077 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake. thebloom.news/big-calendar. Register: 707-994-8201 or email: tviramontes@ clearlake.ca.us.

FREE Crusin’ into Summer Car Show. Trophies, prizes, music, vendors & food trucks. Entry fee: $20. Free for spectators. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Haverty Field. Clearlake. thebloom. news/big-calendar.

MicroMania Midget Wrestling. Outdoors. 4:30 p.m. $20–$25. Gates: 5 p.m. Show: 6–8 p.m. Konocti Vista Casino. Parking Lot. 2755 Mission Rancheria Rd., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/ mw5f4z8n.

Caspar Beach Concert. Featuring the Caspar Kings. Bring lawn chairs & coolers. 2–5 p.m. Caspar Beach

RV Park. Garden Stage. 14441 Pt. Cabrillo, Mendocino. tinyurl. com/56nmy55k.

FREE Xtreme Science Magic. Don O’Brien’s fast-moving & interactive show full of science experiments, demonstrations & audience participation. 1–1:45 p.m. Fort Bragg Library. 499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. Will be held at other branches: tinyurl. com/f4cr7w9n.

Sunday 11

FREE Sundays in the Park Concert Series. June 11: Royal Jelly Jive (Gypsy jazz). June 25: Earl Thomas: The Blues Ambassador. Blanket or low-back chairs only. Food/drinks for purchase or bring picnic. Sundays. 6 p.m. Todd Grove Park. 600 Live Oak Ave., Ukiah. cityofukiah.com

Pack a picnic and bring your chair (low-rise please!) and join us in the plaza. You’ll be glad you came!

Admission is free (donations welcome). Hosted by 1st Presbyterian Church, Ukiah. Questions?

Caspar Forest Fest. Live music, kids’ activities, guest speakers, food, dancing & ecology workshops. $5–$20. (No one will be turned away for lack of funds.) Proceeds benefit the effort to save Jackson Demonstration Forest. Noon–7 p.m. Caspar Community Center. 15051 Caspar Rd., Caspar. tinyurl.com/bdzefnp7.

Wednesday 14

FREE Online Foster Family Orientation. Presentation about the different options, including short-term fostering & fostering-to-adopt. June 14 & 25. 5:30–7:30 p.m. RSVP: facebook. com/redwoodcommunityservices/ events.

Thursday 15

FREE Kickin’ in the Country Street Dance. Featuring Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra with Terrie Odabli & Ray Jaurique Trio. Bring chairs & dancing shoes. 6–10 p.m. Main St., Kelseyville. tinyurl.com/yb6ccwws

FREE Summer Fridays & Moonlight Movie Madness. 5–8 p.m. June 16: School’s Out! (Oak Manor Park, 500 Oak Manor Dr., Ukiah). June 30: Family Game Night & screening of the Sandlot (Anton Stadium, 558 Park Blvd., Ukiah). cityofukiah.com/ moonlight-movie-madness.

Friday 16

Urchin Festival. Beach demos, diving for sea urchins, tidepooling, campfires & loads of opportunities to eat uni. Thru June 18. Various venues on the Mendocino Coast. tinyurl.com/ fme83ncy.

FREE Borax Slime Day. Create your own slime at this science event for kids & adults. 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Lake County Historic Courthouse Museum. 255 N. Main St., Lakeport. lakecountyhistoricalmuseum.org.

FREE Friday Night Summer Concerts. Live music & dancing. Different band every Friday evening throughout the summer. June 16: Beatz Werkin. June 23: David Perez Band. June 30: Alameda All Stars. 6:30–8 p.m. Library Park. 200 Park St., Lakeport. cityoflakeport.com.

Saturday 17

Dirty Cello. Band presents unique, high-energy spin on blues & bluegrass. $20–$40. 2 p.m. Willits Center for the Arts. 71 E. Commercial St., Willits. tinyurl.com/dt4ty5nm.

FREE Summer Music Series. June 13: Junior Toots with Kulcha Knox (reggae). June 24: Joe Peters with Bobbi Zoppi & the Corduroys (country). Concerts held on hotel lawn. Bring own seating. Food & drinks for purchase. All ages welcome. Gates: 5 p.m. Music: 6–9 p.m. Konocti Vista Casino. 2755 Mission Rancheria Rd., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/yc2jwjnz.

Nor Coast Rodders Car Show. Raffle, poker walk & hot dogs. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Franklin & Laurel Streets, Fort Bragg. norcoastrodders.com.

FREE Celebration of Redwood Valley. Family friendly. Organic wine tasting, appetizers, live music & pollinator garden tours. Bring own wine glass. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Frey Vineyards. 14000 Tomki Rd., Redwood Valley. freywine.com/Events.

Sunday 18

Beer, Wine & Swine Baconfest. Vendors, live music & local breweries & wineries. Tastings from chef

competition: $45–$50. Not necessary to buy ticket to enjoy live music & individually purchased food & drink items. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Main St., Kelseyville. beerwineswine.com.

Blue Wing Father’s Day Dinner & Music. Featuring live music by New Orleans jazz pianist & vocalist Andy Rossoff. 6–8 p.m. Blue Wing Restaurant. 9520 Main St., Upper Lake. tinyurl.com/8kye29aj.

FREE The Riverside Concert. Featuring the Riverside folk music band. Pack a picnic, blanket, or low-rise chair. Donations accepted. Hosted by the First Presbyterian Church of Ukiah. 6 p.m. Alex Thomas Plaza. 310 S. State St., Ukiah. fpcukiah.org.

Thursday 22

Music in the Redwoods. Performances by Moon Rabbit, Aaron Ford & Lauralee Brown. Taco dinner. $35–$40. Benefit for Noyo Center for Marine Science. Bring own chairs & blankets. 4 p.m.–sunset. 25209 N. Hwy. 1, Fort Bragg. noyocenter.org.

Friday 23

FREE Fratello Marionettes. All-ages puppet show, with a special rendition of Jack & the Beanstalk. 2–3 p.m. Fort Bragg Library. 499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. tinyurl.com/29xjxd3v.

Willits Frontier Days. Truck & tractor pulls, horse show, street dance, carnival & CCPRA professional rodeo. BBQ: $12–$20. Rodeo: $10–$25. June 23–July 4. Various venues in Willits. Schedule & venues: willitsfrontierdays.com.

Saturday 24

27th Annual Fort Bragg Quilt Show. Quilts of all sizes & styles. Vendors, raffle baskets & more. $10 entry fee.

June 24: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. June 25: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Dana Grey Elementary. 1197 Chestnut St., Fort Bragg. tinyurl. com/apyx75s4.

Sunday 25

Caspar 4th Annual Sunday

Breakfast & Outdoor Flea Market.

Breakfast: 9–11 a.m. Flea Market: 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Caspar Community Center. 15051 Caspar Rd., Caspar. casparcommons.org/calendar

Monday 26

FREE Wings of Hope Family Bereavement Camp. Hospice Service of Lakeport presents a 3-day camp for children 5 years & older who have experienced the death of an important person in their lives. June 26–28. Camp location revealed after registration: 707-263-6222. tinyurl. com/yckas2p8

Thursday 29

Woody Guthrie’s American Song. Musical based on the words & songs of Woody Guthrie. $10–$20. June 29 & 30: 7:30 p.m. Runs thru Aug. 20. Mendocino Theatre Company. 45200 Little Lake St., Mendocino. tinyurl. com/yc3k8c6f

Friday 30

FREE Hometown Celebration. Live music, entertainment & food. 5–9 p.m. Main St., Willits. willitsfrontierdays.com.

Dad History

Great Moments Across the Ages

By Shannon Carpenter

Prehistory, the Dawn of Man

And behold Thag, who put two pieces of wood in the fire that warmed his family’s cave. He squatted and then stood. Deep in thought, he rubbed his caveman belly and burped. Taking one of the pieces of wood off the fire, he suddenly discovered the perfect thermostat setting of exactly 72 degrees. This occurred 5,000 years before the invention of the wheel or hot wings.

Greece, 508 BC Greek

Philosopher Parmenides gave a rousing dad-lecture on how today’s youth need direction in their lives. “A bird in the hand is worth a penny saved,” he said. “Let no man control your destiny but manifest it yourself!” Young men and women everywhere heard his talk and suddenly sprouted hair on their chests. Thus, Democracy was born.

Russia, 912 AD At the Battle of Weeds, mighty King Oleg led his troops against the unstoppable Constantinople army. Upon his steed, John Deere, Oleg mowed down the enemy. His edges were so sharp and his steed so strong, it changed how fathers look at fields for all time. It is in his honor that dads everywhere recreate the Battle of Weeds every summer weekend. May your brew always fit inside your cup holder; your radio never be turned away from AM; and your yard lines be as straight as King Oleg’s, to whom we offer the tribute of our yard clippings.

England, 1562 Harold, aged 32, told a dad-joke so profound it forever changed the life of his son. Feeling emboldened by his son’s interest in obvious and apparent humor, Harold told another dad-joke. At that moment, his boy became a man.

Chicago, 1871 Steven Tullard laid down his head to rest his eyes for a minute. His snore, guttural and full of dad-power, sounded like a large horn. It woke his neighbors, the O’Leary family, who quickly discovered that their cow had exploded in their barn. As a result of Tullard’s snore, thousands of pounds of product were saved from the Great Chicago Fire. This is the world’s first known use of the Emergency Broadcast System.

Paris, 1922 In a moment that struck the fashion world numb, American dad Paul Russell accidentally stumbled onto the Paris Fashion Week runway. Sporting a sleek ensemble of cargo pants, socks with sandals, and a t-shirt from a burger joint in Cleveland, the crowd went wild.

Cape Canaveral, 1969 With just seconds to spare, and armed only with a Dewalt 18V cordless drill, a Phillips-head screwdriver, and duct tape, Richard “Hammer Hands” McConnell quickly replaced the blower motor on the A/C unit in Apollo 11.

Mars, 2099 They told George Mercer that Mars couldn’t be terraformed. Taking off in a homemade rocket, Mercer said, “Screw that!” and traveled to the red planet, which he quickly started terraforming. Eventually, Mercer found Mars’s thermostat and set it to 72 degrees Earth. Humanity was saved, and Mars was renamed Planet Thag, to honor the father of us all. Shannon Carpenter is a professional humorist, co-host of The Dadhouse Pod , and the author of The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad Manual (Penguin, 2021).

Tap Your Feet to Tejano

Quick musical quiz: In what state was tejano music born? Here’s a big clue: Tejano is Spanish for Texan Yep, Texas is the right answer. The unique Tex-Mex music, which combines styles of both central and south Texas and northeastern Mexico—as well as European waltzes and polkas—is the specialty of the David Perez Band. Hear the five-generation family band perform on June 23, 6:30–8:30 p.m., at a free KXBX concert in Library Park in Lakeport. Learn more about the performers at davidperezband.com

See the complete KXBX summer concert schedule at lakecochamber.com/concerts-in-the-park

One Person’s Clutter Is Another’s Good Deal

Americans like to accumulate stuff. What’s one way we get rid of it? Garage sales. And, after a pandemic that turned many of us into hoarders, we may be in need of a big one. That’s what Lakeport seems to think, anyway. The city’s residents and businesses are banning together for a giant de-clutter party: the Lakeport City-Wide Yard and Sidewalk Sale. Those looking to divest themselves of too many possessions—or add more to their collection—are welcome. The free event will be held on June 3, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., on Main Street in Lakeport. See tinyurl.com/2p9jpxr2 for more information.

David Perez Band

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY FUN BLAST & ENTER TO WIN GREAT PRIZES!

ONLY AVAILABLE IN OUR WEEKLY EBLAST. NEW GIVEAWAYS WEEKLY!

SIGN UP HERE