Mendo Lake Family Life September 2014

mendo lake September 2014

Give Dance a Chance 14 reasons why

Defeat Dyslexia Solutions that work

Your Body Rocks

Boost body image

Back-to-School Breakfasts

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September 2014

8

Feature Stories 8 Your Body Rocks

Pop music videos promote positive self-image.

12 Dyslexia Dilemma

How one teen overcame his disability.

16 For the Love of Learning Strategies for making school enjoyable.

18 Leap, Turn, Twist!

How dance lessons can help your child grow.

12

Every Issue

20 4 MendoLakeFamilyLife

6

Dear Readers

7

Bits and Pieces

Come Celebrate Cider

22 Calendar of Events

Be a Coastal Cleanup Fairy

Apps Make Birth Control Easier

20 Cooking with Kids

Breakfasts on the Go Make a Splash

30 Humor Break

MendoLakeFamilyLife.com September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

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Dear Reader You got through those hard first few days of school— adjusting to a new schedule, calming first-day anxiety.

Now it’s time to fine tune. What will your children’s extracurricular Sharon Gowan activities be? Are Publisher/Editor Sharon@family-life.us any special issues coming up for your kids in class or with peers?

From your child’s perspective, the early days of school are all about fitting in.

Remember how badly you wanted to be liked? Often kids are teased if they don’t wear the right clothes or look a certain way.

Suddenly they think they should go on a diet or head to the gym. “Your Body Rocks” (page 8) will tell you how to put a positive spin on your child’s self image—and where to get extra help with food and weight issues if your child should need it.

What if self-image isn’t the issue, but getting through an evening’s homework is?

The son of Cameron Carey, the author of “Dyslexia Dilemma” (page 12), was tortured by spelling and reading, but it wasn’t until he was in high school that he figured out he had a learning disability. Carey tells you how he overcame it—in spades.

Office Manager Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us

Involved parents like Carey are part of what can turn a good education into a great one.

Let “For the Love of Learning” (page 16) teach you how to participate in your child’s school in a way that works for you.

Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us

Of course the school year isn’t just about going to class. Extracurricular activities play an important role in a child’s overall development. Read “Leap, Turn, Twist!” (page 18), and learn how dance lessons can help your child develop not only strength and flexibility, but also confidence—and maybe some new friends.

Jolie Cook jolie@family-life.us

Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us

Marketing Jordan Lewis jordan@family-life.us

Calendar

Motherhood changes your life forever...

Patricia Ramos

Contributing Writers Patrick Hempfing John Corippo Christina Katz Cameron Carey

Billing Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office 134 Lystra Court, Suite A Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Who you choose to join you on this journey is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

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September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Bits & Pieces

Come Celebrate Cider

T

here is a cider revival across America, from coast to coast. And the Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show is part of it. For 90 years, the show has been celebrating apples of every stripe (more than 60 varieties), and the sweet “soft” ciders created in the world-renowned Anderson Valley farms. And now the fair will present award-winning hard apple ciders, selected from the inaugural California Cider Competition, which aims to help consumers find ciders they love and get to know the cider makers that craft them throughout California. You can even learn to make your own cider. The fair and apple show will be held September 12–14 at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville. See mendocountyfair. com for more information. ¶

Apps Makes Birth Control Easier

W

ant to keep the stork at bay? Consider using a birth control app to help you manage your mode of contraception.

•Bedside Reminders will text or e-mail entertaining messages telling you to take your birth control pill, switch your NuvaRing, or get your next Depo-Provera shot. It even has a kind of “snooze button” that will resend a reminder in case you can’t take your pill right away.

• MyPill is a similar app that in addition to sending texts and e-mails offers a visual reminder: a graphic that looks like a four-week pack of pills. Every time you take a pill, another pill is removed from the digital pack.

• MyPatch will send you automatic text and e-mail reminders for removing and replacing your contraceptive patch.

•MediSafe has a back-up system for its reminders: your friends. The app lets your desired contacts know when you’ve forgotten to take a pill, so they, as well as the app, can bug you. ¶

Be a Coastal Cleanup Fairy

W

ant to teach your children to take responsibility for their environment? Ask your family to participate in the California Coastal Cleanup Day on September 20. Choose a beach in Mendocino, Lake, or Sonoma Counties and contact the respective site captain for your next step. (See below for contact info.) Each volunteer will need to sign a liability waiver.

You can save time by downloading one from the California Coastal Commission’s website (coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ ccd/expect.html). Participants will be asked to keep track of everything they pick up. Arrive at your site a little before 9 a.m. Bring your own buckets and work gloves; other items such as trash and recycling bags, gloves, data cards and pencils, and waivers will be provided. Beach wheelchairs are available for those who need them. For Sonoma County beaches, contact Stephanie Picard-Colomb and Hannah Faire Scott at 829-6689, info@coastwalk.org; Mendocino County, Megan Smithyman at 962-0470, admin@ mendocinolandtrust.org; Lake County, Carolyn Ruttan at 263-2256, Carolyn.Ruttan@lakecountyca.gov. ¶

Source: Dawn Stacey, “Birth Control Apps,” About.com, updated August 11, 2014, contraception.about.com/od/sourcesandnews/tp/Birth-Control-Apps.htm.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

September 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 7

Your Body Rocks Y Teach Kids to Love the Skin Their In

ou notice that your 11-year-old daughter is starting to count calories, skip family meals, and complain about the size of her body, even though she is already thin. Could she be headed toward an eating disorder? Maybe. But with recent changes in media messages about body image, there’s hope she won’t.

According to the National Eating Disorders Organization (NEDO), 30 million Americans suffer from some kind of eating disorder, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating, and other disorders.

personal psychology, media and parental messages about beauty, and involvement in activities that emphasize weight, such as wrestling, gymnastics, or ballet, can all factor into the mix.

Cheryl Nygard, PsyD, a Santa Rosa psychologist specializing in eating disorders, says restricted eating is among the early warning signs of a problem, as is excessive exercising, and eating to soothe anxiety or other emotions.

Acknowledging these multiple factors, Laura DeBaun, LMFT, a therapist in Lower Lake, emphasizes that “culture is paramount.”

She also notes that young women are not the only ones affected. In a 2011 study, 40–60 percent of girls ages 6–12 were worried about their weight or getting fat. And The Atlantic recently reported on a JAMA study in which 18 percent of boys aged 12–18 were concerned about their weight and physical appearance, especially about being muscular and/or thin.

The Root of the Problem What actually causes eating disorders? There is no easy answer to that question. Nygard says there are multiple “points of origin” or causes for a disorder.

Genes, family dynamics, traumatic experiences, 8 MendoLakeFamilyLife

While DeBaun does not specialize in treating eating disorders, she does regularly see in her practice kids engaging in maladaptive eating patterns, such as overor under-eating.

“Identification formation and social grouping are what teenagers do,” she says. Figuring out who you are and where you belong is a major characteristic of being an adolescent. “So fitting in with the norm,” she continues, “is of paramount importance. Society dictates what the norm is. Clearly when Peter Paul Rubens was painting, the norm was to be full-bodied.”

And today, it is anything but that.

One of her favorite resources on the topic is famed clinical psychologist Mary Pipher’s book Hunger

September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Pains (Ballantine, 1997), which asserts that media idealize a female body type that is impossible for most to attain.

Indeed, just take a look at the celebrity mags lining the checkout at the grocery store or watch a night of prime time television, and the message is crystal clear: Thin is beautiful. (Or in the case of boys, being buff is hot.)

And if you embody these ideals, you’ll get everything from your dream date to your dream job.

Researchers have been studying the effects of media on kids for a long time. A now-famous 1998 study found that introducing Western television to Fiji had a disastrous effect on girls’ body image. Before television, the culture valued robust physiques. But after three years of a steady diet of

shows like Beverly Hills 90210, 74 percent of Fijian teen girls thought that they were too fat. Girls who spent three or more nights per week watching television were 30 percent

Viral music videos are encouraging fans to expand their definition of beauty. more likely to diet than those girls who watched less of the boob tube.

Newer research has had similar results. In a 2010 study, 69 percent of elementary-aged girls said magazine photos influenced their body ideal, while 47 percent said that the pictures made them want to shed pounds. Boys are affected,

too: A 2006 study, for instance, found that media influence had a significant effect on middle-school males’ drive to be muscular.

Steps in the Right Direction Within the last decade, organizations and public figures have actively worked to raise awareness about the negative impact that media have on body image.

Several years ago, the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty released a short film, Evolution, which demonstrated how Photoshop could turn a normal-looking woman into a glamorous makeup model. It went viral and won the Film Grand Prix at the 2007 Cannes Advertising Awards.

(A follow-up 2011 film, Dove Real Beauty Sketches, shows how women’s

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perceptions of their looks vastly differ from how others see them.) More recently, the pop-culture site Buzzfeed has busted celebs for altering their Instagram photos.

This year, several major performers have used music videos, which are getting millions of hits, to encourage fans to expand their definition of beauty.

In Colbie Caillat’s video for “Try,” the glam pop singer wipes off one layer of makeup after another, revealing more of her natural face with each frame.

Magazine photos made 47 percent of elementary girls want to lose weight.

“Take your make up off/Let your hair down/Take a breath/Look into the mirror, at yourself/Don’t you like you?” she sings.

Then there is Beyoncé’s “Pretty Hurts” video, which rails against how beauty contests and other social constructs cause women psychological and physical pain.

John Legend’s “You & I (Nobody in the World)” shows people of various ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, and developmental abilities—from a Jewish family in religious garb to an Asian girl with Down’s syndrome to a cancer survivor with a reconstructed breast—learning to accept themselves.

And let’s not forget older videos.

Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” features a young woman burning pictures from a fashion magazine and a small-framed teen boy battling his desire to be the next Hulk. And in

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Katy Perry’s “Firework” a chubby girl gets the courage to jump into a pool with her peers.

The music industry isn’t the only sphere where change is happening.

The blogging world is getting a dose of “body positive” medicine, too.

In February 2012, Tumblr started cracking down on disturbing blogs that promote self-harm, including pro-anorexia blogs, usually tagged “thinspo” or “thinsperation.” While some bloggers objected to the new rules, there has been a steady decrease in Google Trends numbers for “thinspo” and “thinsperation” tags since Tumblr implemented them.

Positive Action for Parents So what can you, as a mom or dad, do to help keep your daughter’s or son’s body image strong, and their eating habits healthy?

Here are some ideas from the Office of Women’s Health, U.S. Department on Health and Human Services: • Make sure your children understand that gaining weight, especially during puberty, is an expected part of physical development.

• Avoid critical remarks about food, weight, and body size and shape, whether directed toward yourself or your child.

• Let your children make food choices. Make healthy meals and snacks available.

• Compliment your children on positive attributes that have nothing to do with their bodies— their talents, accomplishments, and personal values. www.mendolakefamilylife.com

• Limit how much your children watch television. When they do watch it, discuss the media images presented to them.

• Encourage your school to create policies that prohibit size and sexual discrimination, harassment, teasing, and name-calling. Stand behind efforts to get rid of public weigh-ins and fat measurements.

• Communicate with your children.

Make sure they know they can talk to you about body image issues, especially any kind of bullying they are experiencing as a result on their physical appearance.

Nygard adds that it’s good to teach children to talk about food as “fuel,” and to eat pleasurable foods, such as desserts, in moderation, but to

enjoy them without guilt. She also encourages parents to explain that, much like animals, humans come in different sizes and shapes. We don’t expect giraffes to look like seals, and neither should we expect one girl or boy to look just like another.

Even if you do follow these tips, your child could still develop an eating disorder. A girl who is obsessed with calorie-counting and chronically puts down her body, or a boy who hates himself unless he’s spent hours in the gym, may benefit from visiting a therapist before their behaviors get out of hand. With time, perhaps they and all children will realize what John Legend shows us in “You & I”: All bodies are perfect. ¶

The Body Love Toolkit Article Jamie Santa Cruz, “Body-Image Pressure Increasingly Affects Boys,” The Atlantic (March 10, 2014): theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/03/ body-image-pressure-increasingly-affects-boys/283897.

Books Anita A. Johnson, Eating in the Light of the Moon (Gürze Books, 2000).

Margo Paine, Father Hunger (Gürze Books, 2004).

Mary Pipher, Hunger Pains (Ballantine, 1997).

Organizations The Body Positive: thebodypositive.org.

The Center for Media Literacy: medialit.org Eating Disorders Coalition: eatingdisorderscoalition.org National Eating Disorders Organization: nationaleatingdisorders.org Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: womenshealth.gov/body-image/kids Websites Laura DeBaun, LMFT: lakecountypsychotherapy.com Joe Kelly, The Dad Man (blog): joekelly.org/body-image-tips-1 MediaSmarts: mediasmarts.ca/body-image/body-image-boys Cheryl Nygard, PsyD: cherylnygard.com

September 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 11

I

Dilemma

How one family overcame a challenging learning disability

By Cameron Carey

t is very hard to watch your child struggle at anything, be it sports, social interactions, or academics.

For my son, it was spelling. All through grade school, preparing for the weekly spelling test was torture.

An assignment that involved looking anything up in a dictionary signaled hours of treachery. He was fortunately strong in most other academic subjects so allotting an unreal amount of time to spelling was somehow workable. It was not until he got to high school that one of his teachers said that something didn’t seem right.

She requested that we have him tested for a learning disability. We were hesitant at first, wondering how such an identification could possibly help him after he’d gone this far in school, but finally we consented.

Because of the nature of the tests, it was necessary for my son to be onboard with the plan. During his freshman year in high school, he had to spend four days of spring break testing one-on-one with a specialist while his friends were off enjoying camping, skiing, and swimming. He agreed, and the sacrifice turned out to be well worth it. At the end of the week, we were presented a report detailing his specific issues as well as what could be done to overcome them.

It turned out that my son did, in fact, have a learning disability, what we commonly know as dyslexia. A general name for a multifaceted condition, dyslexia is not simply a matter of skipping or mixing up letters, as I had always believed. In our case, it involved short-term memory and how the brain processes information.

I was surprised to hear that the disorder often goes undiagnosed,

12 MendoLakeFamilyLife

September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

and that it is not until sufferers are put in challenging situations that problems surface. For this reason, even prestigious colleges like Stanford find that a percentage of freshmen are diagnosed with similar learning disabilities. Another surprise was learning how many well-known figures suffer from dyslexia, including Albert Einstein, Ansel Adams, Steven Spielberg, and Magic Johnson. My son was in good company!

These were great insights, but the report’s recommendations for overcoming dyslexia’s challenges— outlined in different sections for the school, us parents, and my son himself—were the real gold. It was advised that he meet with a tutor who used a program like the Barton Reading and Spelling System to learn

the basic word-decoding associated with phonics. (Decoding is essentially sounding out a word.) When he was being tutored, his reading rate slowed, but he was truly able to understand what he was reading. Previously he was only able to guess words as he

Life would have been so much easier if he had entered high school understanding his challenges and knowing strategies to deal with them. read them, knowing what “should be there.” Now he could read the actual words. He also learned new

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proofreading skills for writing. His school was encouraged to allow him extra test-taking time so that he could slow down and utilize his newly learned decoding tools. His academic performance has improved immensely.

Learning a foreign language presented particular issues. (It was actually his Latin teacher who immediately had noticed his problem and asked that he be tested.) It was recommended that he work out loud; the auditory feedback of hearing the language would help develop phonemic awareness. Loosely defined as the knowledge of or ability to notice the different sounds that make up words, phonemic awareness is necessary for literacy. It was also suggested that he take tests orally or take written

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tests that included oral extra-credit questions. Likewise, in classes such as science, it was suggested that he use a “word bank”—a list of words, with or without definitions, relevant to the subject matter—to help with word retrieval and spelling.

Other ideas to help him overcome his challenges included using a computer with a spell-checker, reading large-print books, and, of course, taking additional time on tests. I came to understand that these concessions did not give him an added advantage over the other students, but simply evened out the playing field. As he became more adept at using his newly found skills, he discovered that the time required to employ them decreased significantly.

As we traveled the road to improved reading, the pool of resources we discovered was astounding—thanks, in large part, to technology. We learned about programs that allow

Many well-known figures suffer from dyslexia, including Albert Einstein, Ansel Adams, Steven Spielberg, and Magic Johnson. students to listen to textbooks while reading them. By listening while reading along silently, my son could focus on the spelling and pronunciation of hard words. We were also encouraged to register

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with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD, now Learning Ally), an organization that has an extensive audio textbook library.

Other useful technological aids included Kurzweil and WYNN Reader literacy software.

We all had to make sacrifices for these new strategies to be a success.

The next year was very trying as my son relearned what he considered to be first-grade skills. He also had to devote more time to studying as he incorporated new tools and techniques. It was frustrating for him and extremely stressful for us as parents. But, in the end, the results were tremendous and well worth all the pain. While he still needs to take a bit of extra time, things have become much easier.

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My son contended with an unidentified learning disability throughout his early school years.

We were assured that his issues were developmental and that he would outgrow them; however, he did not.

If I had to do it over again, I would have sought an outside opinion. Life would have been so much easier for us had he entered high school understanding his challenges and knowing strategies to deal with them.

No, it was not an easy journey, but the difficulties of “catching up” will make the rest of his life that much more enjoyable. ¶ Cameron Carey moved to Petaluma 21 years ago. She is a senior writer for Irish Dancing & Culture magazine, and freelances as a writer and web administrator.

Tools You Can Use These books and resources were provided to us by Trish Schreiber, M.A., C.E.T, of Schreiber Educational Services in San Francisco (schreibereducationalservices.com). She performed my son’s testing and has proven to be an invaluable resource.

Books Louisa Cook Moats and Karen E. Dakin, Basic Facts about Dyslexia & Other Reading Problems (International Dyslexia Association, 2007).

Elsie T. Rak, The Spell of Words (Educators Publishing Service, 1985).

Elsie T. Rak, Spellbound (Educators Publishing Service, 1991).

Sally Shaywitz, MD, Overcoming Dyslexia (Alfred A. Knopf, 2003).

Organizations Davis Dyslexia Association International: dyslexia.com The International Dyslexia Association: interdys.org Learning Ally: learningally.org Parents Education Network: parentseducationnetwork.org Websites dyslexia.tv thepowerofdyslexia.com

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MendoLakeFamilyLife 15

2

For the Love of Learning

By Christina Katz

Four Ways to Teach Your Child to Enjoy School

R

aising engaged students is not only the responsibility of schoolteachers and administrators, but also of parents. You may have anxiety, fears, or merely first-day jitters about your child going to school. But if you can muster up your courage and take a one-good-day-at-a-time approach, you will find that raising a child who loves school is easier than you might have imagined.

Just follow these four simple guidelines, keeping your interactions with your school’s employees constructive and upbeat, and watch your child’s love of learning grow.

1

Share to prepare. Tell your children what you enjoyed about school. Encourage your spouse to share stories, too.

If you had a difficult time in school, share those stories with someone other than your children. Talk to another adult about your struggles. Get fears and biases off your chest, and let them go so they aren’t unwittingly passed on. Remember, your children are not you. That was then, this is now. Confront and release back-to-school skeletons in your closet to ensure a positive school experience for your children.

16 MendoLakeFamilyLife

3

Step back. Some parents have trouble trusting that a school will care about their children as much as they do. And it’s true—teachers won’t treat children like a parent would. They will probably expect more. As educational professionals, they will want their students to reach their potential. Let them do their jobs.

Be positive and proactive.

On a regular basis, try to find something to like about your school. If you don’t know what to like, then you might not have enough information. Educate yourself about the school layout. Introduce yourself to teachers on open-house days, and meet the folks who work in the front office, including the principal. Make sure your children’s teachers know you are on their team.

If you have a miscommunication or misunderstanding with a teacher or administrator, strive to work things out in a calm, proactive manner. Don’t hang on to negative perceptions or collude with other parents. Confident, secure parents seek solutions not squabbles. Put yourself in the teacher or administrator’s shoes before you pick up the phone or shoot off that e-mail.

Remember to always behave the way you would like to be treated, no matter how you feel in the heat of the moment.

4

Give without strings.

Whether you work full time or not, there are typically two types of parent volunteers:

September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

those who willingly pitch in and help, and those who don’t want to spend time at school but do it for their kids. Be honest about the kind of parent you are, so you can find ways to be a cheerful contributor to the school.

If you like to pitch in, join the PTA or sign up to be a room parent. You will find plenty of opportunities to contribute—as long as you have no expectations of payoffs for your child. Be service-minded, looking for opportunities to match what you have to offer with the school’s needs. Do your best not to criticize parents who are less committed to volunteering than you are, unless you wish to be judged back. And don’t use your position as an insider to create an ongoing list of how you would do things differently and better.

If you don’t like to volunteer, there are some options for moderate involvement. Acknowledge that your child could benefit from seeing you at school once in a while whether you enjoy volunteering or not. Break the school year up into three parts,

and try to pitch in or chaperone at least once each season. Don’t forget to get your spouse involved.

Two reasonably involved parents are better than none. If you want to stay in proximity to your child, ask your child’s teacher about her or his classroom needs.

Don’t feel guilty about not being a PTA volunteer. There are plenty of ways to contribute that don’t funnel through the PTA. Give money to financially support PTA programs, if you can swing it.

• Respect • Discipline • Self Confidence

LET US HELP YOU FIND YOURS

20 OFF

$

First Month. September Only

Lake County Martial Arts 1624 Parallel Dr, Lakeport,

263-0706

No matter how you choose to contribute, when you give the way you want to give, you set a great example for your kids. Parents who cheerfully and proactively invest energy in their children’s school stand out for all the right reasons, paving the way to school success for their children. ¶ Christina Katz has always loved school and strives to pass this passion on to her daughter. She comes from an extended family of enthusiastic learners, teachers, and educators. Her latest book is Permission Granted: 45 Reasons to Micro-publish.

An Apple (or Gift Card) for Teacher If you make a habit of waiting until May to show teachers you care, consider stepping up sooner. Pay attention to teacher-recognition activities, and try to celebrate educators throughout the year.

Catch a teacher or administrator doing something right, and express your gratitude with a quick thank-you note. Here is a list of inexpensive gifts that make nice gestures of appreciation any time:

KICK IT OUT!

Pair of movie tickets Small bouquet of flowers Art supply store gift card Sweet confection or goodie Potted perennial Restaurant gift certificates Bath salts or bubbles Bookstore gift card Your best cookie recipe –(with the cookies) iTunes card Water bottle or travel mug

Never Underestimate the Power of the Purse Moms typically control 80% or more of their household budgets They’re looking right here, to find you. Call now, don’t miss another month.

IN PRINT • ONLINE • EVENTS • CONTESTS 586-9562 • MendoLakeFamilyLife.com

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

September 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 17

important part of the process, especially for more visual learners.

14 Reasons Expanding social circles. to Give 3 Because dancers spend a lot of working on new skills together, Dance a time they form tight, long-lasting friendships that deepen throughout the years.

Chance Growing more fit.

4

Leap, Turn, Twist! 5

Regular dancing increases cardiovascular health, muscle mass, and physical endurance.

By Christina Katz

D

on’t be fooled by glittery costumes and false eyelashes—competitive dancers are athletes who deserve to be taken seriously. Dance has multiple benefits—often more than other sports. And, yes, dance performed regularly and intensively is both a sport and a multisensory art form that may raise your child’s self-esteem.

According to the National Registry of Dance Educators, dance can enrich the physical, intellectual, artistic, and social aspects of any dancer’s life.

Before you balk at the price tag of weekly classes for your child, you may want to review the benefits of dancing.

Unlike many seasonal sports, dance practice typically runs throughout the school year or even year-round.

Many kids participate in a variety of sports throughout the year, but dancers first must take a steady stream of foundational classes before they learn new forms of dance. Ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, acrobatics, and hip-hop are the most common forms of dance offered at dance studios.

18 MendoLakeFamilyLife

If you visit a few local studios in your area, you will likely find a vibe and set of values that are a good match for your child and family. Here are some of the many benefits of taking consistent dance classes:

1

Listening better. In order to learn, students have to hear and absorb verbal instructions from their teachers, often on the fly. In the practice room, instruction is offered in a variety of ways. This helps children learn to pay attention before, during, and after learning something new.

2

Observing closely. Dancing is a multisensory skill, so there are many ways to learn. Carefully watching demonstrations is an

Gaining musicality and rhythm. If you want your child to become more musical, even without practicing an instrument, dance is a good choice. Learning measured movements helps kids intuitively understand and adapt to other kinds of rhythms—in music, dance, and in life.

6

Building strength. We often think of dancers as dainty and delicate, but they are actually quite strong. No matter what their size, students must be strong enough to leap, turn, and twist without injury.

7

Becoming more flexible.

Don’t worry if your child is not terribly agile. After a few years of stretching and flexing, any child can become more limber.

8

Focusing on following through. If your child has trouble concentrating, dance might help develop focus. It engages kids’ bodies as well as their minds.

9

Responding to feedback.

Instructors are constantly critiquing dancers’ work. The onus is on the students to receive feedback as graciously as they can.

Learning to collaborate, instead of becoming defensive, is part of the dancers’ education.

September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

w

Clearlake

10

Practicing poise. Even if your child often trips or bumps into things, dance can cure the curse of klutziness. Poise in the practice room will eventually translate into increased body awareness and better motor control outside the studio.

Youth Center

11

Inspiring self-discipline.

So many situations in life require us to train ourselves to do our best. Mastering a routine teaches students to aim for a goal and reach it. Repeated over time, this ability to focus the will and work hard can be applied to any task or healthy habit.

12

Finding opportunities for self-expression.

Dancers artistically express themselves through movement, agility, showmanship, and poise.

Children may be cast in a role or offered a solo based on personality as well as ability, so it is important students learn to let their spirit shine through their movements.

13

Test-driving commitment. Dancers earn dividends on what they invest. When your child commits consistently and fully, the payoff is great. Half-hearted or lax engagement typically yields poorer results.

14

Increasing confidence.

Self-assuredness comes from doing. It’s one thing to watch a dance recital; it’s quite another to perform in one. Don’t be surprised if dance boosts your child’s confidence in ways you may not have expected. ¶ Christina Katz is the author of The Art of Making Time for Yourself: A Collection of Advice for Moms. www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Lake County Youth Services is a non profit program serving youth ages 7 thru 17.

Continuing thu the Fall Archery Program Ages 6-8

Boxing Program

Lessons will be one day per week. competitions on selected weekends.

Affiliated with Middletown archery and USA Jr. Olympics

Kick boxing & self defense, fundamental boxing training. Trainer retired Pro-Kick Boxer Charlie Smith.

Call for all details

BECOME A MEMBER FOR ONLY $15 A WEEK Back to school means we will be starting our after school programs

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS Want a tax deduction, donate your old vehicle.

Call Enterprise Towing at 707 994-8801 and they will pick it up!

Must have title

To make a monetary donation: send to: Attn: Youth Center P.O. Box 1042 Lower Lake CA 95457 Please make checks out to LCPF/ Youth Center

Board Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month @6pm at the Center 707-994-KIDS 4750 Golf Ave., Clearlake clearlakeyouthcenter.org September 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 19

Cooking with Kids

Breakfast on the Go S

By John Corippo

Fast Meals for Busy School Mornings

ummer break is over and congratulations are in order. getting your little ones up, fed, and dressed in time for You’ve conjured up 60-plus days of kid-approved that first class. (Why oh why does it have to be so early?) fun, prevented sibling warfare, and managed not to Never fear. These two easy, nutritious breakfasts will go crazy yourself. Now get ready for a new challenge: make your mornings run smoothly.

Quick Pop Pocket

T Strawberry jam makes a great “ketchup.”

Breakfast “Hot Dog”

W

e almost always have a couple of extra buns around the house from the last time we had a cook out. Instead of just waiting for them to become stale, we fill them with banana, peanut butter, and jam. For kids, it’s almost as much fun as having breakfast for dinner.

• 1 hot dog bun • Peanut butter • 1/2 banana cut lengthwise • Favorite jam (red colors look most like ketchup) Lightly toast hot dog bun. Spread peanut butter on both sides of open bun. Place half banana on one side of bun. Spread jam on top of banana. Hand to child as he shuffles out the door.

John Corippo lives in Ukiah, where he is a husband and father to two sons as well as a fire captain, paramedic, hazmat specialist, journalist, college instructor, avid sports fan, and stand-up paddleboard representative.

20 MendoLakeFamilyLife

hese sandwiches are a hit with kids, especially if the little ones get to pick out the fillings. Just be sure to include protein-packed peanut butter to keep growing bodies fueled throughout the morning. Besides a good breakfast, they also make a simple snack or healthy dessert—minus the excess sugar of most processed treats. Try any number of combinations: peanut butter/ banana, peanut butter/apple, or, for dessert, peanut putter/chocolate syrup. You can even turn them into a s’more sandwich for a fun camping goodie. Just fill with little pieces of chocolate and marshmallow plus a sprinkling of crushed graham cracker. Thinly sliced ingredients are more likely to lie flat and not spill out on small fingers.

• 2 pieces of bread • Dollop of peanut butter • ½ banana or equivalent portion of other fruit, thinly sliced • Jam, applesauce, or chocolate syrup

DIY poptart is sure to please.

Cut off and discard bread crusts. Apply thin layer of peanut butter to one side of bread. Add layer of fruit, jam, or applesauce. Top with second piece of bread. Crimp edges of bread together with fork. Toast as desired.

September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Pets are family too adopt-a-pet discount

Blue Ribbon Pets Safe, Cool Summer Fun for Your Pets

(707) 485-8454 www.brpets.com

Help Us Support the Humane Society Be a part of our pet page

Proud Sponsors of the Humane Society

Pets of the Month Humane Society FOR INLAND MENDOCINO COUNTY Humane Society Wish List: Big Mac

Really sweet, cuddly tabby.

Loves to curl his 12-lb self on a lap. Once you have met and played with him it will be hard to leave him.

Goonie

Lovable, playful, very sweet guy. Would love to be a best friend to a first time owner.

Come in and see Kit and Buster

Bleach & Non-Fragrance, Dye-Free Laundry Detergent

9700 Uva Dr. Redwood Valley (707) 485-0123 www.mendohumanesociety.com

Dirty Dog

Linda Geurts, Trainer/Owner

D AY C A R E Cage Free Day Care 20 for 8 hours

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Discounts for multiple Dogs • Fully Equipped Self-Wash Station • Professional Grooming • Professional Training

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Pet Boutique (707) 462-1848 • 610 S. State St., Ukiah

September 2014

Mention this ad for $ 10 off!

707-463-8400 976 Mazzoni Street, Ukiah MendoLakeFamilyLife 21

September Calendar of Events

Make a Splash

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Monday 1 Labor Day BBQ! To support local charities. Adults $15. Kids/seniors/ military $10. Noon–4 p.m. College of the Redwoods Field. 1211 Del Mar Dr., Fort Bragg. 961-1727. fortbragglionsclub.org.

Learning Thru Play. Drop-off

program for 18 mos.–5 yrs. $15 includes lunch. Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Action Network. 39144 Ocean Dr., Suites 3 & 4, Gualala. 884-5413. actionnetwork.info.

Tuesday 2 FREE Playgroup. Ages 0–5 yrs. &

their caretakers. Tuesdays. 1–4 p.m.

Fridays 2–4 p.m. Action Network, Point Arena office. 200 Main St., Point Arena.

Wednesdays 10 a.m.–noon. Fridays 11 a.m.–noon. Action Network, Gualala office. 39144 Ocean Dr., Suites. 3 & 4, Gualala. 884-5413. actionnetwork.info.

Wednesday 3 Lake County Rockhounds. Come

join us as we share our love & knowledge of minerals, rocks, crystals & fossils. Offering educational, entertaining programs & frequent field trips to various locations. Annual dues: Adults $15. Children 15 & under $8.50.

First Wednesday of month. 5–7 p.m.

22 MendoLakeFamilyLife

he Lakeport sky will be dotted with seaplanes during the 35th Annual Clear Lake Splash-In on Saturday, September 27, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. at Natural High Field, 810 N. Main St., Lakeport. Enjoy aerial demonstrations, airplane and helicopter displays, craft booths, and more. Admission $3; children under ten, free; family of four or more, $10. Lakeport Kiwanis pancake breakfast will be held from 8 a.m.–11 a.m. Breakfast tickets are $7; under five, free.

See clearlakesplashin.com for full details.

Redbud Library. 14785 Burns Valley Rd., Clearlake. 277-9700.

Kids Corner. Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. 8:15–11 a.m. Call or visit website for rates. C.V. Starr Community Center.

300 S. Lincoln St., Fort Bragg. 964-9446. starrcenter.net.

FREE Mendocino County Museum.

First Wednesday of each month. 10 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. 400 E. Commercial St., Willits. mendocinomuseum.org

Thursday 4 FREE Mendocino County Sheriff’s Youth Activities. Willits Youth offers

S.A.L karate at Body Works Gym in Willits. Thursdays 6 p.m. 5–11 yrs. 7 p.m. 12 yrs.–adult. Other programs offered: Boxing (Covelo, Ukiah ), Football (Laytonville), Jr. Giants Baseball (Covelo, Laytonville, Ukiah, Willits), Basketball (Covelo). Call Michael Tobin 459-2220 for karate.

468-4288 for other S.A.L activities. mendocinosheriff.com/patrol/sal.html.

Friday 5 FREE 21st Annual Cloverdale Car & Motorcycle Show. Friday starts the

fun with a cruise & live music. On Sat. over 200 classic cars & motorcycles will line up the boulevard. Fun for the whole family. Music & dancing, food

booths, kid zone, swap meet, chili & salsa cook-off. Fri. 7 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Downtown Cloverdale. cloverdalecarshow.com.

FREE Story Time at Lakeport Library. Pre-school story time with

stories, crafts & fun. Older children & babies are welcome, too. Fridays. 10 a.m.

1425 N. High St., Lakeport. 263-8817. co.lake.ca.us.

16th Annual Granite Chill Cook-off.

A family friendly event that benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Ukiah. 6–10 p.m. Alex R. Thomas Plaza. Downtown Ukiah. 467-4900. ukiahbgc.org.

FREE Family Movie Night. Free popcorn & Kool-Aid. Candy, soda & hot dogs are available. Snack shop opens 5:30 p.m. Movie starts 6:30 p.m. Lucerne Community Church. 5870 California 20, Lucerne. 274-8326. lucernecommunitychurch.com.

Saturday 6 FREE Steamboat Building Workshop. Make & race your own

mini-steamboat! Free, if you bring your own materials. Race your boat in the Steamboat Races at the Lake County Steampunk Fair in October. Workshop 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Lake Co. Youth Services. 4750 Golf Ave., Clearlake. spiritsontheloch.com.

September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

FREE Family Movies at Lakeport Library! Enjoy current releases & old

favorites. Will include both animated & live-action films. All ages. Children must be with adult. First Saturday of each month. 1425 N. High St., Lakeport.

263-8817. co.lake.ca.us.

First Annual Mr Lake County Pageant. Brave men will take the

stage, competing in swimsuit, talent, formal wear, and a question & answer segment. $25 presale. $30 day of event. 7 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre.

275 S. Main St., Lakeport. 263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.

Roots of Motive Power Annual Steam Festival. Featuring classic car

Sunday 7 FREE FOCUS Youth Group. Teens 7–12 grades join us for a time of games, snacks & Bible study! Sundays.

5:30–7:15 p.m. Clear Lake Baptist Church. 555 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

Information call Pastor Jeremy 278-8181. clearlakebaptistchurch.org.

FREE Kids’ Fun Day! All types of sports, skateboarding, inline skating, snack shop, Bible time & more! Grades 1–12. Adult supervision. Sundays. 4–6 p.m. Lucerne Community Church.

5870 E. Hwy. 20, Lucerne. 274-8326. lucernecommunitychurch.com.

“Catch the small town magic!”

Parade • Music • Food • Arts & Crafts • Children’s Activities Fine Arts Show & Sale • Quilt Show • Horse Faire Antique Tractor & Engine Exhibit

show, BBQ, beer & wine. Steam train rides & live lumberjack show! $1–$12.

9 a.m. Sat. & Sun. Roots of Motive Power. 420 E. Commercial St., Willits. rootsofmotivepower.com.

Winesong Charity Auction & Tasting.

Celebration of wine, food, music, art & giving benefiting Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation. Tickets $150. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. 18220 Hwy. 1.

961-4688. winesong.org.

FREE Ukiah Bicycle Kitchen. Your friendly local bicycle cooperative.

Volunteers show patrons how to maintain & repair their bicycles. No one turned away for lack of funds. Saturdays.

10 a.m.–noon. Alex R. Thomas Plaza.

Ukiah. visitukiah.com.

FREE Harvest Moon Celebration.

Local food & wine, tours, green & sustainable living workshops, kids’ activities, local bands. $10 donation appreciated. Speakers. Alex de Grassi & other local musicians performing. 1–9 p.m. Solar Living Center. 13771 S. Hwy. 101, Hopland. 472-2450. solarliving.org.

Main Street Kelseyville 9am–4pm 707.279.9022 www. PearFestival.com

www.pearfestival.com/sponsors

22ND ANNUAL

Friends of the Library Book Sale.

4–8 p.m. 105 N. Main St., Ukiah.

272-5296. co.mendocino.ca.us/library/. www.mendolakefamilylife.com

September 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 23

Monday 8 Creative Babies. Presented by the

Mendo Coast Mamas. Adventures in art, story & song. $10/child. Mondays.

10:30–11:30 a.m. Community Center of Mendocino. 998 School St., Mendocino. facebook.com/CoastalMama.

Tuesday 9 FREE AWANA Kids Club. For kids from 3 years to 6th grade. It’s a great night of games, Bible, and fun! 6:30–8 p.m. Clear Lake Baptist Church. 555 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. 278-8181. clearlakebaptistchurch.org.

Friday 12 Old Fashioned Bluegrass Jamboree.

Open tables & log seating. Country dance, jamming sessions, workshops.

Fri. $15. Sat. $20. Both days $30.

Benefiting Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association. Fri. 6:45–10 p.m. Sat. 1:30-10 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre.

275 S. Main St., Lakeport. 263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.

Mendocino County Fair & Apple Show. CCPRA rodeo, classic car

show, sheep dog trails, entertainment, carnival & apple & cider tasting. Fri.– Sun. 9 a.m.–midnight. 14400 Hwy. 128, Boonville. 895-3011. For schedule of events, visit mendocountyfair.com.

Saturday 13 Annual Tri-Tip BBQ & Dance.

Sponsored by the Cloverdale Volunteer Firefighter’s Association.

4 p.m.–midnight. Citrus Fairgrounds. Cloverdale. 894-3545. cloverdalefiredistrict.com.

Lake County Aids Walk. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Library Park. 222 Park St., Lakeport. cityoflakeport.com.

Not Just Cowboy Poetry & Apple Pie Throw Down. Benefits Willits Public

Also Featuring Chuck Aaron, Greg Colyer, Frank “Dr D” Donnelly Dan Buchanan, Historic Warbirds, and Much More!

PACIFIC COAST AIR MUSEUM CHARLES M. SCHULZ-SONOMA COUNTY AIRPORT SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA

WINGSOVERWINECOUNTRY.ORG 24 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Library & Daily Bread. Arrive early to swim, enjoy the gardens, or picnic on the lawn. Music by Juni Fisher. Poetry

by Jim and Karen Ross. 2:30 p.m. apple pie judging. 3 p.m. concert. Adults $25. $30 at the gate. Children under 12 $10. Tickets can be purchased via cowboypoetry@emandal.com. Emandal Farm, 16500 Hearst Rd., Willits.

459-9252. willits.org.

FREE Coastal Cleanup. Volunteer to preserve & restore & beaches. Tools will be provided. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Hare Creek Beach. Access via north end of Hare Creek Bridge on west side of Hwy.

September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

1, near Hwy. 20, Fort Bragg. 962-0470. mendocinolandtrust.org.

Sunday 14 “Let the Fur Fly!” Luncheon &

Fashion Show. Silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Inland Mendocino Humane Society. Adults $25. Students $20. Children 6 & under free. 1–4 p.m.

9700 Uva Dr., Redwood Valley. 485-0123. mendohumanesociety.com.

FREE Friends of Boggs Mt. Hike Trail Maintenance. Bring water, work gloves & hand tools, such as loppers or clippers.

9–11:00 a.m. Meet in Boggs parking lot. Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest. Middletown. 928-0465. boggsmountain.net.

California Indian Days. Native

dancers, vendors & $10 Matchplay. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Konocti Vista Casino. 2755 Mission Rancheria Rd., Lakeport.

262-1900. kvcasino.com.

Passion Play Fundraiser Dinner & Auction. Lobster/clam bake. Live

and silent auctions. Tunes played by pianist David Neft during dinner.

Adults $50. Seating is limited.

No-host bar 4 p.m. Dinner 5 p.m.

Fancy barn at Rancho De La Fuente, 2290 Soda Bay Rd., Lakeport. Tickets contact Fr. Ryan 279-0349, Jeanette 263-6390, or Pat 263-5649.

Thursday 18 FREE Kickin’ in the Country Street Dance! The C.A.M. band will

be performing. 7–10 p.m. Main St., Kelseyville. visitkelseyville.com.

Friday 19 FREE Concert on the Greens. 5 p.m. PRO Shop Golf Course. 19210 Hartmann Rd., Hidden Valley Lake.

987-3138. hvla.com.

FREE HazMobile. Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons. Items that cannot be accepted: TVs, monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials, or infectious wastes. Fri. & Sat. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Lucerne Harbor County Park, 6225 E. Hwy. 20, Lucerne. recycling.co.lake. ca.us. 263-1980.

Fabulous Flashback Car Show.

This annual classic car show features more than 300 vintage, antique & classic automobiles. Pre-1973 stock and modified vehicles. Fri. 4–9 p.m.

Applebee’s parking lot. 1201 Airport Blvd., Ukiah. Sat. 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Downtown Ukiah. earlyironofukiah.org.

It doesn’t matter what you call it,

We Accept It. COVERED CALIFORNIA

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OBAMACARE INSURANCE

WE ARE YOUR HOME FOR HEALTH CARE. 707-468-1010 333 LAWS AVE., UKIAH

707-263-7725

707-456-9600

5335 LAKESHORE BLVD. LAKEPORT

45 HAZEL ST., WILLITS

PRIMARY CARE IS THE FOUNDATION OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. WE ACCEPT MEDICARE, MEDI-CAL, PARTNERSHIP & other insurance.

Access. Quality. Care. mchcinc.org - FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS

MEDICAL • DENTAL • BEHAVIORAL HEALTH • CARE FOR HER September 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 25

Get Your SCARE On!

Saturday 20 15th Annual Gala Benefit for the Arts, Health & Community. Enjoy

wine & food during the wine auction.

The proceeds support community organizations in Lake County. Black tie encouraged. $150 per person. 4–10 p.m. Cole Creek Equestrian Center.

4965 Steelehead Dr., Kelseyville.

866-279-WINE. winealliance.org.

REAL Costumes for the True Monster in you

707-463-2624 • 178 E. GOBBI ST. • UKIAH Located in Beautiful, Little Lake Valley of Willits • Small Class Sizes • Personal Attention to each student

A Christ-Centered Education Adventist Christian School of Willits

• A Safe Place to Grow

A Journey to Excellence Participant School 707-459-4333 • www.willitssdaschool.com

Christian Education to the children of this area for 50 years.

Give Your Child a Head Start!

Free & Low-Cost Quality Preschool!

Also providing FREE in-home services for infants, toddlers & pregnant women!

Head Start Child Development Program License #230111843 Applications online: www.ncoinc.org • (707) 462-2582 26 MendoLakeFamilyLife

• Ukiah

C E N T E R S

✓ 1/2-day & full-day classrooms for ages 18 months to 5 years ✓ Potty-trained not necessary ✓ Children with disabilities welcome ✓ Referrals for transportation available

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 Upper Lake - Clover Valley Lakeport - Howard Ave. Clearlake - Pearl Ave. Clearlake - Meadowbrook Dr.

FREE Children’s Nature Education Program. Great fun for children ages

7–12 or younger, if accompanied by a parent. 9 a.m.–noon. 6350 Westlake Rd. near Upper Lake. Info: 263-1637 or 994-2024. lakeconews.com.

Taste of the North Coast. Annual

Gualala Rotary Club fundraiser for local scholarships. Gourmet dinner, champagne toast, live music & silent auction. $125 per person. 5–10 p.m.

Gualala Arts Center. 46501 Gualala Rd., Gualala. gualalarotary.org.

4th Annual Laytonville Artwalk.

10 a.m.–5 p.m. 44400 Willis Ave., Laytonville. 321-8003. laytonville.org.

Monday 22 Lake County’s Window to the Universe. The evening event includes

a science presentation, planetarium, full dome experience & telescope viewing.

Adults $5. Children under 12 $3. 8–11 p.m. Taylor Observatory. 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville. taylorobservatory.org.

Friday 26 Kelseyville Pear Festival Kick-off Dinner & Concert. Enjoy BBQ dinner,

complimentary glass of wine & an evening of musical performances with singin’ cowboy Dave Stamey. Ticket $45.

5–10 p.m. Wildhurst Tasting Room. 3955 Main St., Kelseyville. 800-595-WINE. wildhurst.com.

• Coast

Fort Bragg - Lincoln St.

September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Come Explore College and Careers Workshop at Mendocino College Saturday 27 FREE Kelseyville Pear Festival.

Hometown fun with activities, craft booths, art show, live entertainment, children’s playland & more. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Main St., Kelseyville.

9th Annual Wine Gala Fundraiser.

Presented by Cloverdale Performing Arts Center. The evening will start with music, food, wine, beer & silent auction. Entertainment will be provided by trio of stand-up comics, “The Bad Aunties,” fresh from sold-out shows in the Bay Area. 6 p.m. 209 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. 894-2214. cloverdaleperformingarts.com.

35th Annual Clear Lake Splash-In.

Aerial demonstrations, airplane and helicopter demos, craft booths.

Adults $3. Under 10 free. Family of 4 or more $10. 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Natural High Field. 810 N. Main St., Lakeport. clearlakesplashin.com.

Lakeport Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser & Splash-In.

Adults $7. Free 5 yrs. & under. 8–11 a.m.

Natural High Field. 810 N. Main St., Lakeport. lakeportmainstreet.com.

FREE Rowell Family Empowerment Conference. For families with children

who have special needs or health care issues. Concepts to be covered: How to work with the School System, IEP Process, Parenting Network/World Model Café. Registration required for child care & meals. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Mendocino Co. Office of Ed. 2240 Old River Rd., Ukiah.

877-227-3471 or kat@rfenc.org.

For Grades 7-12

My Future, My Way Workshop

Sat. Oct. 4 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Mendocino College • 2565 Parallel Drive, Lakeport Register in advance at 994-9001 or www.lakecoe.org

BECOME A

TEACHER The Ukiah Center offers

- Teacher preparation programs and master’s degree programs - Evening and weekend classes - Convenient location - Excellent reputation

DOMINICAN.EDU/UKIAH 707-463-4800

Love Working with kids?

WORK AT HOME • CHOOSE YOUR OWN HOURS • WORK WITH CHILDREN Own Your Own Business • Free Training and other great incentives for attending fun workshops.

Sunday 28 Russian River Rodeo. Rodeo Play Day series final event. Rodeo queens from all over Northern California will be in attendance. 9 a.m.–early afternoon. Rodeo Grounds. Hwy. 116 & Moscow Rd., Duncan Mills. 865.9854. mendonoma.com.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

• Child Care Assistance for low income eligible families.

• Free Child Care Referrals.

1-800-606-5550 ext. 211 September 2014

Rural Communities Child Care

MendoLakeFamilyLife 27

Ask your grocer for

Gowan

Gravensteins Apples, Peaches, Plums, Berries, Tomatoes, Corn and Much More!

Orchard-fresh flavor in every bite!

Visit Gowan’s at These Farmers Markets Ukiah–Saturdays 8:30–Noon Fort Bragg–Wednesdays 3–6 p.m.

Willits–Thursdays 3–6 p.m.

Gowan Orchards Your local heritage farm for 138 years

Marketplace Schools

Schools

La Vida Charter School

n u FBlast!

Weekend

• Independent Study • K –12 • Free Public Charter • Academic & Specialty Classes • Gifted & Talented Served • Inspired by Waldorf Education 16201 N. Hwy. 101, Willits

707-459-6344

Tuition-free Montessori elementary for ages 5-13  Hands-on, arts and music integrated with academics

 National Green Campus  Promotes responsibility,

www.MendoLakeFamilyLife.com

@

Accelerated Achievement Academy • • • •

Located on north end of Fairgrounds PO Box 966 Ukiah 95482

Join us today GirlScoutsNorCal.org/StartTheFun

Tutoring

707-462-0913 treeoflifeschool@pacific.net www.treeoflifeschool.net

Free Public School Grades 4-12 Small classes Support for struggling students

Your Child can Thrive!

(707) 463-7080 1031 N. State St.

Online learning ignites the minds of children like yours

Gifts

Oh Sweet Sugar Candy Store • Lakeport Fudge & Truffles!

Custom-Colored Candy for Your Birthday or Wedding

707-900-5036 • 140 A N. Main Lakeport

Services Enroll now K12.com/AAS or 877-506-8631

WHAT IS LAKE COUNTY’S

BEST KEPT STORAGE Natural SECRET? Family Medicine

Health

Jim’s

MINI STORAGE! School Physicals • Vaccine Consultations Focus & Attention • Food Allergies Well Baby/Child Care • Ear Infections

Like Us On Facebook

Units Starting at $ 45 A Month OUTDOOR BOAT, RV & VEHICLE STORAGE TOO!

707-994-JIMS

707-996-WELL

710 West Napa St., Suite 1 • Sonoma www.sonomanatmed.com

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

I can’t wait to... share dreams watch her grow join in on the fun

respect, and peace

www.lavidaschool.org

Sign up online for our weekly enews featuring the best family friendly weekend events.

Lessons

September 2014

2330 Industrial Ct., Clearlake

(Just North of town, Off Hwy. 53 & Ogulin Canyon Rd. at La Rosa Plaza)

MendoLakeFamilyLife 29

Humor Break

I Hope You Twirl A Dancing Daughter Is a Delight

By Patrick Hempfing

be twirling (or doing a cartwheel).

This is usually not a bad thing; the key word here is usually.

One recent evening, my family was enjoying strawberry shortcake in the living room. Jessie’s shortcake and strawberries weren’t served in even

I

’m a fan of Lee Ann Womack’s song “I Hope You Dance,” which beautifully expresses parents’ desire for their children to live life to the fullest. When I think about my own life, I regret what I didn’t do more than what I did. For example, I wish I had mustered up enough nerve to ask a girl to my high school prom. What’s the worst she could have said? No? Being rejected would have hurt, sure. But, then again, she could have said Yes. However, I never asked, and my shoes never scuffed the dance floor.

Unlike her shy father, Jessie, my nine-year-old daughter, dances with abandon. She takes ballet lessons once a week, but her dancing doesn’t stop when she leaves the studio.

She’s twirling all the time, from the kitchen to the bathroom, from the living room to the bedroom, and even across the school parking lot. If there’s space for a spin, my girl will 30 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Unlike her shy father, Jessie, my nine-year-old daughter, dances with abandon. proportions, so she asked if she could have another small piece of shortcake.

As she rushed to the kitchen holding her glass plate filled with strawberry juice, I cautioned, “Don’t run.” A few seconds later, I heard the noise I had hoped I wouldn’t.

By the time I made it to the kitchen, Jessie had already retrieved the dustpan and broom to begin cleanup.

I assessed the damage. Pieces of broken glass had flown everywhere.

Somehow, glass had even landed in the living room and dining room.

As Jessie and I cleaned up, my sneakers sticking to the floor with each step, I noticed strawberry juice dripping down the side and front of the refrigerator. The red liquid had splattered all over the items on the kitchen countertop—a loaf of bread, a camera, my wallet, and a recently

purchased music CD. The only thing left untouched was the ceiling.

I couldn’t figure out how a single, dropped plate could have covered half our house in glass and juice. When I asked Jessie for an explanation, she sheepishly admitted that she had done one, only one, twirl as she went into the kitchen. Unfortunately, during her spin the glass plate smashed into the side of the refrigerator and, well, the rest is sugar-and-shards history.

As I painstakingly mopped the floor, worried that I might miss a small piece of glass that could stick in someone’s foot, I can’t say I was thrilled with my daughter’s love of twirling. After a well-earned night of sleep, though, I thought, “Isn’t it great that Jessie spins with happiness?”

One day, Jessie and I will talk about this story and laugh. In the meantime, Jessie, I hope that life’s wonderful experiences always inspire you to twirl—just not when you’re holding a juice-filled glass plate, or knives, or cartons of eggs. (Our dog, Sadie, would probably appreciate it if you’d stop twirling with her, too.)

And if a boy ever asks you to the prom, feel free to say “No,” but do it nicely. ¶ Patrick Hempfing had a 20-year career in banking before he became a father at age 44. He is now a full-time husband, stay-at-home dad, and writer.

September 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

90th Annual

Mendocino County Fair &

Apple Show September 12-14 9 am to Midnight Daily

Tastings!

• Taste over 50 varieties of Apples-FREE • Taste Local Sweet Ciders-FREE • Taste Award-winning Ciders -Paid from the California Cider Competition

• Learn how to make your own cider

PLUS enjoy: the California Wool and Fiber Festival, Good Food, Fun Rides, Soccer, Football, Rodeo, Sheepdog Trials, Parade, Winetasting, Music, 4-H and FFA Boonville Fairgrounds, 14400 Hwy 128, Boonville, CA

707-895-3011 www.mendocountyfair.com

free children’s health fair

W il d Ab out Heal th Kids’ Challenge Course – In Memory of Sidney W. Maurer, MD Health Screenings | Fun Activities | Prizes | Shriners Hospital Screening

FREE H ALT

HE NINGS E SCRE hildren for C

Sunday October 5, 2014 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Alex Rorabaugh Center

Grace Hudson Elementary School campus 1640 S. State St., Ukiah Rain or Shine!

Bike Safety Course

Bring your bike & helmet Or receive a FREE helmet at the event

For children 0-12 and their families 707.467.5282 for more information Major Underwriters:

Connect with us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/FreeCHF