Sonoma Family Life May 2016

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May 2016

Keep Teens Safe Help for parents

Love Up Mom 6 Local ways

Get Your Zzzs Help kids sleep

Babymoons 5 Fun stops

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May 2016

Every Issue

10 Features 7

We Won Big! Sonoma Family Life awarded

for editorial excellence.

10 Risky Business Is it teen rebellion? Or something to worry about?

6

Dear Reader

8

Bits and Pieces Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Slide Down the Rabbit Hole Winged Wonders Hospital Backs Breastfeeders

30 Family Fun Queen for a Day

14 No Drop-Off Day Blues Make the first day of camp a happy one.

18 Girl Power Teach your daughter the art of self-respect.

32 Calendar of Events Get Juicy

42 Humor Break Shower SOS

32

20 Room to Grow Give your child’s space a makeover.

22 Get Me Some Zzzs How to help the whole family sleep better.

24 Babymooners Local spots to spend your last child-free days.

26 Away She Goes A poignant essay on sending a daughter to college.

8 4 SonomaFamilyLife

28 Grateful & Groovin’ How moms can keep their energy and spirits high.

30

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

YEARS CE

L E B R AT I N G

YEARS

#1 resource for local families

Online…Mobile…Magazine…E-mail…Social Media…Events…Local…Award-winning sonoma

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sonoma

January 2016

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November 2015

December 2015

Twin Talk Advice on multiples

28 Private Schools Your local guide A+ Education

How to choose a school

Dream Center

Help for homeless kids

Learning Styles What’s yours?

FREE!

Valley Fire Tale A silver lining X-mas Lights!

24 sparkling spots

E-cig Autism

sonoma

A holiday how-to

Visit Making the Grade School’s new

Crazy for Apples!

Local fair & presses

Back-2-School Help kids chill out

Teach kindness

Kinetic Carnivale Steampunk fun!

May 2015

12 Great Gifts The NAPPA guide

Safe Sports

How to stay injury-free

Back-2-School Thrift-store bargains

May 16

Build a Global Family Host a

Kids & Pets

Easter Egg Hunts 9 Top spots

Mother ’s Day 5 ways to celebrate

money for kids

April 11 & May 16

Pop-up

Playgrounds

Make your own fun

11 Ways to

Honor the Earth

sonoma

JULY 4TH

Hot spots

Brunch to Beach

Fun in the Sun 12 great games

June 2015

Take a Swim 9 super city pools

Day Trip!

5 great stops

Backyard Fun 25 easy ideas

Why Dads Rule What the

research says

March 2015

Local Fab Moms Raise

A love fest

Halloween top spots

Take the family!

4 terrific trips

April 2015

Come to our

foreign student

5 Local Hikes

July 2015

Camp Fairs

Camp Fair!

Treats &

Steps for success

sonoma

sonoma

Come to our

Teach social skills

sonoma

Stop Mean Girls

Make

Buy local

rating system

August 2015

Napa mom honored

The exercise cure

gift ideas

Interfaith Families

sonoma

August 2015

Little League

Go Local!

Get great

131 CAMPS SUMMER

Curvy Girl Club Teach body-love

Teens & Digital Love

20

Camp Tips Choose the best

How to find a

Tutor

SonomaFamilyLife.com

Online Guide to Local

Dear Reader

F

rom celebrating Mom to smelling roses, May is a month of delight. We are particularly happy to announce that our articles won Sharon Gowan Publisher/Editor four Silver Awards Sharon@family-life.us at the international Parenting Media Association Editorial and Design Awards Competition. What’s more, our August 2015 cover garnered a gold!

See “We Won Big!” (page 7) for the scoop.

Sonoma Family Life is proud to offer

in every issue a broad range of local activities for families. For instance, if you are looking for terrific, local ways to spend Mother’s Day, just turn to “Queen for a Day” (page 30). Or if you are parents-to-be, check out “Babymooners” (page 24) for beautiful

places for a last hurrah. Perhaps you just want a fabulous weekend of family fun, see our calendar (page 32) for tons of area kid-friendly events. After you’ve planned your next excursion, be sure to enter our Summer Camp Contest. Your child could win a free ride to the Young Actors’ Theatre Camp, as well as many other great prizes. Log on to sonomafamilylife.com and enter by May 15.

Office Manager Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us

Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us

If anyone loves to dream up ways to have a good time, it’s teenagers. But, unfortunately, some kids’ play puts them in harm’s way. How do you know when to be worried? Check out “Risky Business” (page 10) for constructive advice on navigating the tricky terrain of adolescent risk-taking.

Have a safe and happy spring! We’ll be here to make sure the summer to come is a blast.

Marie Anderson marie@family-life.us Leanna Wetmore leanna@family-life.us

Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us

On-Line Social Media Jean Flint

Contributing Writers

Sonoma County Parks Summer Camps

Mary Helen Berg Holly Hester Christa Melnyk Hines Christina Katz Janeen Lewis Rachael Moshman Ashley Talmadge

Spring Break Surf Camp

Billing

March 21 - 24 9 am - 2 pm Doran Regional Park

Surf Camp

Surf Camp

July 18 - 21 9 am - 2 pm Doran Regional Park

Junior Guards Camp August 1 - 5 9 am - 4 pm Spring Lake Regional Park

Discovery Camp

Endless Summer Surf Camp

Surf Camp

Kayak River Camp

Discovery Camp

Junior Guards Camp

Discovery Camp

June 13 - 16 9 am - 2 pm Doran Regional Park June 20 - 23 9 am - 2 pm Doran Regional Park June 27 - July 1 9 am - 4 pm Spring Lake Regional Park

July 18 - 22 9 am - 4 pm Spring Lake Regional Park July 25 - 28 9 am - 4 pm Del Rio Woods

August 8 - 11 9 am - 2 pm Doran Regional Park

August 8 - 12 9 am - 4 pm Spring Lake Regional Park

Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office 134 Lystra Court, Suite A Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Tel (707) 586-9562 Fax (707) 586-9571

July 25 - 29 9 am - 4 pm Spring Lake Regional Park

Kayak River Camp July 5 - 8 9 am - 4 pm Del Rio Woods

Surf Camp

July 11 - 14 9 am - 2 pm Doran Regional Park

6 SonomaFamilyLife

Register Today at sonomacountyparks.org May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Over the River & through the Woods

We Won Big!

4

Lunch at the Fishetarian Fish Market. After you’ve had enough sea and sand, head north about a mile on Highway One to this popular eatery (right next to Lucas Wharf) for a delectable rockfish sandwich or fish tacos. The restaurant, owned by Shane and Dana Lucas, gets its name from Dana, a lifelong vegetarian who became a “fishetarian” after marrying avid fisherman Shane.

t’s summer, and the kids are

proportions, plan a day trip. We live in a place where people

of it! Here are our ideas for a memory-making weekend

Green Grocer Heirloom Tomato BLT

East West Café Salmon Tacos

Guerneville

116 See sonomafamilylife.com for contact information and hours of listed establishments.

2

Doran Regional Park. Take a walk on a two-mile stretch of beach, fly kites, build sand castles, and even fish at this gorgeous park. Be sure to get there early so you have plenty of warm time on the beach before the brisk late-afternoon wind kicks in. Day-use fee is $7.

Sebastopol

1 Freestone Bodega Bay

hway a Hig Bodeg

Screamin’ Mimi’s

1

Breakfast at Wildflour Bread. This bakery is worth making carbs legal for a day. The minute you walk in, you’ll be greeted by samples of out-of-this-world breads and pastries baked in a wood-fire brick oven.

Everything—from the sticky buns and the biscotti to the fig-ginger-pear Egyptian bread and scones in flavors like apricot or double chocolate—is a treat for the tastebuds. (Gluten-free scones sometimes make an appearance, too. Call ahead to see what is available.) Once you’ve eaten your fill, and packed some mouth-watering goodies for the road, forge ahead for some beach time. (Note: The bakery is only open Friday–Monday.)

adventure.

Begin. Start off in Sebastopol and drive toward the coast via Bodega Highway. Let the landscape of rolling hills bearing the secret of soon-to-be-seen waters bring a smile to everyone’s faces. Play car games like I Spy or 20 Questions to keep any backseat sibling squabbling at bay.

Wildflour Bread owner Jed Wallach

Doran Regional Park

10 SonomaFamilyLife

Sonoma Family Life Honored at International Competition

www.sonomafamilylife.com

June 2015

www.sonomafamilylife.com

SonomaFamilyLife 11

June 2015

Like it or not, digital romance is here to stay. The stigma that was once attached to it has passed. Fifty-nine percent of Americans have decided that online dating is a good way to meet people. One quarter of online daters have entered into a marriage or long-term relationship with someone they met on online. You probably know some of them. I myself have been seeing for more than a year a

Fifty-nine percent of Americans have decided that online dating is a good way to meet people. man I met on OKCupid. And I know of a handful of other people who are either married or committed to someone they first met in cyberspace.

Cyber L Dating

W

e were thrilled when we found out that Sonoma Family Life was honored at the international Parenting Media Association’s (PMA) Editorial and Design Awards Competition, which recognizes regional family publications across the country for excellence in journalism, photography, and design.

Will You Find Romance Online?

10 SonomaFamilyLife

oneliness is part of the human condition. We all “want somebody to love,” to quote Jefferson Airplane. And for lots of people friendship doesn’t cut it. They want a mate. But where to find one if bars and parties just aren’t your thing? Well if you’re like 38 percent of what the Pew Research Center calls “single and looking Americans,” you’ve posted a profile online or have used a dating app.

Google “stories of couples who met online” and you’ll find many more such examples.

So if you’re looking for a mate, maybe it’s not such a bad idea to try the online world of romance. But as my mom always told me, you’ve gotta take the bad with the good. And, trust me, there’s plenty of bad.

For a preview, read Salon.com blogger Victoria Carlson’s August 2011 post “OKCupid, I’m Done” in which the Los Angeles writer and single mom

www.sonomafamilylife.com

February 2015

www.sonomafamilylife.com

WLL: Parents need to know their teen and work with them to explore their teen’s expectations or fantasies about meeting a virtual friend in real life. They should also talk to teens about the structure and limits of such an encounter and what supervision parents will provide.

Role-playing an exit strategy—a way for a teen to remove him or herself from an uncomfortable meeting—is important.

Help! My Teenager Fell In Love Online Family Life Talks to an Expert

G

one are the days of kids passing notes in class. Now teens send texts and e-mails across school corridors—and continents. Your child’s first crush could be someone who lives in England, a person she or he has never met, except on Facebook or some other social media venue. Of course, it’s important to talk to your child’s friend or romantic interest, and his or her parents, to establish that these people actually exist and that they aren’t predators. But after you’ve done this, then what? How can you

16 SonomaFamilyLife

help your child navigate his or her online relationships? To find out, we asked psychologist Winifred Lloyds Lender, Ph.D., author of A Practical Guide to Parenting in the Digital Age: How to Nurture Safe, Balanced, and Connected Children and Teens

(CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014).

FL: Some children can feel that they have actually fallen in love through texts, Skype calls, and other forms of digital interaction. How should a parent respond to this?

WLL: Parents should take online teen romances seriously. Teens can develop very strong feelings for those they have relationships with online. They can feel that online relationships are more meaningful to them than any face-to face relationships. Part of this may be due to the fact that they feel less anxious or threatened, and more accepted, by virtual relationships.

Parents should not assume these relationships are not real, and they can provide structure around them.

FL: To what extent should parents support online relationships? Allow phone and Skype calls? Buy tickets to see a friend or romantic interest?

WLL: Parents should strive to create balance for their teens. A balance of real and virtual relationships is important. Limits can be set around the amount of time, and time of day, virtual communication can occur and this can be contingent on maintaining face-to-face relationships and contacts with friends. Parents need to do their www.sonomafamilylife.com

February 2015

mendo lake

The PMA awards “recognize the best work done in our industry,” says PMA President Mary Cox. “Our collective goal is to make parenting easier—after all, it’s the most important job in the world—and an even more fun ride.”

“Parents simply want the best for their families,” says Sharon Gowan, founder and publisher of Sonoma Family Life. “As a truly local publication, we’re very proud to be the number one resource guide for parents planning family fun in Sonoma County. We’re grateful for our readers and a wonderful, internationally recognized staff.” ¶

Twin Talk Advice on multiples

Start-up Stars Help locals thrive

FL: What kinds of expectations do you find teens have of their online interests?

WLL: Some teens believe that online interests will understand them better than their real friends as they can be more open with virtual friends without risking embarrassment they might feel with real world friends. Teens who are socially isolated might feel a quicker and more intense connection to a virtual friend.

FL: What kind of advice can you give to parents who are worried their kids will keep their online romances secret?

WLL: Open communication with teens is key. Parents need to cultivate their relationship with their teens and show interest in all parts of their lives in a supportive way that shows unconditional love. Parents should tell teens that they shouldn’t be afraid to tell them anything and that they want to be helpful and supportive.

FL: Should you have a sex talk with a teen before they meet an online interest?

WLL: It is important that parents educate their teens about sex before any contact with potential romantic partners, real or virtual. Even though there has been no physical contact, virtual friends can quickly become romantic partners.

Parents need to talk with their teens about this and ensure that they are knowledgeable and safe.

CLIMBING, TRAINING, COMMUNITY

WE LOVE TO PARTY!

FL: What role does sexting play in teen dating?

WLL: Sexting—the sending of sexually provocative texts, photos, or videos—has become popular among teens and young adults. Recent studies report that 28–54 percent of teens engage in sexting. Drexel University found that 54 percent of teens reported sexting prior to age 18, with some starting as early as 13; and a study at Temple University reported that 25 percent of respondents sexted.

Most often sexting occurs within the context of a romantic relationship. Teens sext often due to peer pressure, and the desire to appear “mature” and to please their romantic partners. While only 8 percent of the respondents in the Drexel study reported experiencing negative consequences as a result of sexting, the consequences of sexting can be severe and life-long. Although sexts are typically meant for a romantic partner, they can be shared with others via forwarding the photo or message, or taking a screen shot of the image and then sending it to others. Twenty-six of the respondents in the Drexel study reported sharing with others sexts that they had received. Anecdotal reports of sexts being shared with an entire school or on social media abound and have led to suicide attempts. Most teens are not aware that sexting between minors is illegal as it can be considered the sending or receiving of child pornography. Educating teens about the illegality of sexting and consequences such as jail time and being registered as a sex offender have been shown to impact teens sexting behavior. ¶

www.sonomafamilylife.com

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February 2015

I’m Free!

Mom’s Back-to-School Emancipation Checklist

By Holly Hester

Give Thanks 5 steps to gratitude

Right now it’s all about the highly anticipated, tearful reunion between your butt and the couch.

7

Sit down. The kids have left for their first day of school. The house is miraculously silent. Not even the dog is moving. No one is asking for a snack. No one is shoving a board game onto your lap. No one needs swim goggles adjusted. No one is fighting because THERE’S NO ONE HOME! Sure, you’ll miss the kids and long for those fun summer days— eventually, but not yet. Right now it’s all about the highly anticipated, tearful reunion between your butt and the couch.

Read a bad magazine.

You’ve finished all the weighty, thought-provoking summer novels Oprah recommended and now it’s time to get down to more important business—celebrity hookups, divorces, and plastic surgeries gone horribly awry. Ah, that’s better. Life is so much

3

Eat. Eating is nice, isn’t it?

Eating is really nice when you don’t have to share every single thing you’re putting into your mouth with one of your spawn. Eating is exceptionally nice when it’s a big chocolate bar, and you’re standing in the middle of your living room dancing around in your underwear screaming, “I’m free! I’m free!”

easier when you’re not trying to set a good example for anyone.

5

Call someone.

Call anyone.

Your mom. An old college friend. Call Comcast about your bill. Make a crank call. It doesn’t really matter. The point is that the phone is suddenly wonderful

2

again because no small person is interrupting you while you’re on it—or worse, eavesdropping on your conversation. You can curse on the phone! You can gossip on the phone!

You can talk about your children on the phone! You can curse and gossip about your children on the phone! It’s amazing. Just pick it up and start venting!

4

Throw away toys you hate.

You know those loud, battery-operated toys that some vengeful relative sent your children over the summer? Well, now is the perfect moment for a reconnaissance mission into your kid’s bedroom. Discreetly select several hateful toys, and shove them into a black garbage bag. On the way to Goodwill, practice saying with a straight face, “No, I haven’t seen that toy. Have you tried looking in your closet?”

42 SonomaFamilyLife

Exercise. Actually, better yet, make an exercise plan. You don’t want to rush into anything. You could accidently hurt yourself. Take a look at the calendar. Halloween is just around the corner, and then Thanksgiving, followed shortly by Christmas. So it’s best to start exercising next January.

Now sit back on the couch and continue reading that trashy magazine.

That’s an order!

1

Breathe. Haven’t done that in a while, have you? Just breathe in.

Now breathe out. See, you’re getting the hang of it. Children are incredible. They are the reason we get up in the morning and the reason why we do everything throughout the day. And, while they fill us with indescribable amounts of joy, they also seem to drain the life out of us at the same time. So don’t feel guilty about being excited they’re back in school, and don’t busy yourself doing things you think you “should” be doing.

Take a moment for you. In fact, take lots of moments. You deserve it.

Just breathe. (And eat lots of chocolate.)

Holly Hester lives in Sebastopol and writes about life on her blog, Riot Ranch. Find her book, Escape from Ugly Mom Island!, on Amazon.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

August 2015

Ride Free in Fifteen

2015

pilot program*

It was so easy and fun, the sisters decided to do it again. This time Acevedo hosted an event at her house for a man with melanoma who was going through chemotherapy. They educated people about how to protect themselves from the sun, and then took donations.

It was such a success that they made their fundraising parties regular events.

It was clear: The “giving bug” had bitten them—in a big way.

The Fabulous Women board: Erin Ascher, Sandy Acevedo, Melissa Becker, Krista Gawronski, Valerie Montplasir, Sharon Medley, and Ellen Yant.

The Giving Bug

I

f the desire to give to others were a virus,

you’d definitely get it

from Sandy Acevedo, a high-energy

54-year-old family law attorney and mother of two teens who is

passionate about helping

her neighbors.

10 SonomaFamilyLife

May 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 11

6

The NAPPA guide

While these kinds of stories abound, there are plenty of online dating experiences that aren’t awful, just perplexing. I put those in what I call my “Say What?” file. For example, the No Show-ers, such as the woman with whom Ben spent several months engaged in an extensive e-mail

Humor Break FREE!

12 Great Gifts

“There’s no etiquette. People act in ways they would never act in the real world.”—Ben “There’s no etiquette. People act in ways they would never act in the real world. And it can be very hurtful, especially for newbies,” he says.

February 2015

FL: If a real-time visit happens between two teens who meet online, what kind of guidance can parents give their kids about how to approach it?

November 2015

We were also very proud to win the top award in the nation for the best front cover use of stock photography. The November 2015 “Twin Talk” cover, which was featured in both Sonoma Family Life and Mendo Lake Family Life, won a Gold Award. The happy faces, bright smiles, and vibrant colors of our twins really caught the judges’ attention!

Men have their horror stories, too.

A Sonoma County man (I’ll name him Ben) who’s been online dating on and off since 2004 shared several tales with me. There was the time that a woman he’d spent the day hiking with and then took out for a drink told him bluntly, not five seconds after he paid what had become her $120 bar bill, “I want you to know that at no time during this day have I ever thought there was

due diligence around any planned visit of a virtual romantic partner and determine carefully what limits and structure they will set for such a visit. In addition, parents need to have information about the virtual friend and should consider learning more about the friend and contacting their parents.

Sonoma Family Life beat out stiff competition to win four Silver Awards! The following articles were recognized for their content and fine writing: “Cyber Dating” (February 2015), on the do’s and don’ts of Internet relationships; “Help! My Teenager Fell in Love Online” (February 2015), on teen digital romance; “Over the River and through the Woods” (June 2015), “a colorful roadmap for a fabulous weekend”; “The Giving Bug” (March 2015), about a grassroots philanthropic nonprofit; and our hilarious humor column

by Sebastopol mom Holly Hester.

any chemistry between us.” And he never saw her again. Or the woman who sent him an excessively vitriolic communication simply because, after a few brief friendly e-mail exchanges, he’d politely declined her request to go out on a date.

details some colossally wretched dates, like the unemployed man who lived with his mother and used unspeakably derogatory language to describe women, or the guy who admitted he occasionally beat his dog, or the one who chain-smoked and went on and on about how much he couldn’t stand his ex-wife. Her experiences fall in line with a Marin County woman I spoke with, I’ll call her Helen, who had endured many a man behaving inappropriately.

Among my friends (names have been changed), writer Sally met her new wife, Barb, a web designer, on Match.com.

Graphic designer Dan met his partner, Joni, a therapist, on OkCupid, and now they are planning to have children together. And my favorite example, Bridget, met her now husband in an online game of poetry tag.

By Jane Barteau

www.sonomafamilylife.com

Blended Choice

116

116

climbing the walls. Before their boredom escalates to biblical

from all over the world come to be inspired. Take advantage

Dinner. You can have an economical picnic in Armstrong Woods, but if you want to splurge and go out, try Blended Choice in Guerneville for nutritious smoothies and super-fresh sandwiches. If you’d rather have more options, take the 30-minute drive back to Sebastopol and choose from a variety of eats, such as the Mediterranean fare at East West Café (kids love the sweet potato fries) or the locally sourced and organic offerings at Green Grocer. (Ask for the Sneaky Grilled Cheese, which hides wholesome veggies in the middle of gooey goodness.) If you have any energy left at all, indulge in the homemade ice cream at Screamin’ Mimi’s, a local favorite for 20 years. Try the sublime Mimi’s Mud or Deep Dark Secret. Then rustle up the brood and go back home, where everyone will fall happily exhausted into sweet slumber.

Armstrong Woods State Natural Reserve

3

Fishetarian Fish Market Maui-Wowi Tacos

A Family Day Trip to Remember

I

5

Armstrong Woods State Natural Reserve. With hunger satisfied, pack everyone into the car, and drive via Highway One and Route 116 to this magical forest in Guerneville, where ancient redwoods have stood for hundreds of years. Kids can spread their little arms and hug trees wider than four of their parents combined. A flat, extremely well marked 1.7-mile nature trail makes it easy to explore the grounds. You can park outside the entrance and walk in, or drive through and park by a picnic area. If you’re in the mood for some stellar mountain vistas, it’s worth it to drive a few miles up the winding Armstrong Woods Road to the entrance of Bullfrog Pond Campground, where there is ample opportunity to stop and stare. Park day-use fee is $8.

Acevedo and her sister, 45-year-old business owner and mother of two Krista Gawronski, are founders of the grassroots Petaluma philanthropic organization the Fabulous Women, which raises money for local nonprofits and people in need.

The sisters started the group in 2005 when a British mother in Acevedo’s neighborhood unexpectedly lost her husband, leaving her and her two children without financial resources.

Acevedo and Gawronski were moved by their neighbor’s circumstances and put their heads together to figure out a way to help.

March 2015

How Local Moms with Big Hearts Make a Difference “We thought, hey, we all go out in the evenings and spend money with a bunch of girlfriends. Why don’t we all meet at Krista’s? Everyone can put money in the pot, and we can gather around and support [this woman] during a difficult time,” Acevedo recounts.

It was such a simple idea—and it totally worked. They invited ten of their friends, who invited their friends, and in the end about 30 people attended. They had a great time, according to Acevedo, and they raised “a bunch of money” to help the family relocate back to the woman’s native United Kingdom. www.sonomafamilylife.com

Ride Free in Fifteen CollegeRide Free in Fifteen Students 2015 pilot program*

2015

pilot program*

*Your valid ID card is your 2015 sctransit pass.

visit sctransit.com or 707.576.7433

contact us at 800.345.7433 or visit us on the web at sctransit.com for more information.

“Women would come from all over Sonoma County. We would always have a really wonderful time. No one person could do it alone, but together we could raise a lot of money for these families,” Acevedo says.

“We want to teach our kids to be good community leaders and to realize that there are great rewards in giving.”

—Sandy Acevedo It wasn’t long before they started drawing hundreds, instead of tens, of people to their events. Local businesses began to offer their products or venues to help out.

“People are so generous. We didn’t have to ask, they’d just offer. They’d offer their business, or they’d offer a hall,” Acevedo says.

In 2011, the group decided to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit so that people could make tax-deductible donations. Just a couple of weeks after being officially dubbed a nonprofit, Acevedo and Gawronski were shocked to receive an invitation from Oprah Winfrey to appear on her show Favorite Things. www.sonomafamilylife.com

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SonomaFamilyLife 11

SonomaFamilyLife 7

Bits & Pieces

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

L

ittle things with wheels and wings will be the stars of the 10th Annual All Hobbies Swap Meet. See mini trains, trucks, and cars make their way on land as planes and helicopters whiz through the air. Check out model rockets and Lego creations, too. The event will be held May 14, 8 a.m.–2 p.m., at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial in Santa Rosa. Admission is $3; kids under 12 get in for free. For more locomotive fun, wave at choo-choos of all sizes at the free Train Show at Fundemonium! in Rohnert Park on May 21 and 22, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. You can even hop on one and take a ride. See fundemoniumtoys.com for details. ¶

Slide Down the Rabbit Hole

W

atch a magical world unfold in a dance production of

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Jazz, hip-hop, and ballet

performers from Teresa Lubarsky’s Healdsburg Ballet will put a new spin on the Mad Hatter’s tea party and croquet with the Queen of Hearts. Performances will be held at the Raven Theater in Healdsburg on May 14 at 7 p.m. and May 15 at 2 p.m. Advance tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $15 for children 12 and under, and may be purchased via raventheater.org. Add $2 for tickets bought at the door. ¶

Winged Wonders

L

isten very closely for the whoosh of tiny wings, for fairies are afoot—and they, like everyone else in the Bay Area, need affordable housing. You can build them the best digs a mythical creature could hope for at Fairies!

A Craft Program on May 7 at 1 p.m. at Central Santa Rosa Library in Santa Rosa. Make wands and decorate a fairy cake, too. Be sure to wear wings or elfin ears. The free class is open to kids of all ages and their caregivers. See sonomalibrary.org for more information. ¶

8 SonomaFamilyLife

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Hospital Backs Breastfeeders

T

he World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have a special name for hospitals that create an optimal environment for breastfeeding and mother/infant bonding: baby-friendly.

Petaluma Valley Hospital (PVH) in Petaluma has just been welcomed to the fold. In order to earn the Baby-friendly Hospital distinction, institutions must implement WHO’s “10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding,” which include having a breastfeeding policy, helping mothers initiate breastfeeding one hour after birth, and allowing mothers and babies to remain together 24 hours a day. Besides meeting these criteria, a hospital must also implement the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, which prohibits the marketing of formula to new mothers, either through media or free samples. PVH is the only hospital in Sonoma County to receive the baby-friendly designation. To learn more about the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative, see babyfriendlyusa.org. ¶

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SonomaFamilyLife 9

Risky Business

By Melissa Chianta

How to Help Teens Make Tough Choices

It was 11:30 p.m. and Kathleen Stafford was anxious for her 16-year-old son to come home. When he walked in on schedule, as she knew he would, she let out a sigh of relief and went to bed. It wasn’t until the

next morning when she discovered that her normally conscientious teen had snuck out in the middle of the night to get high on Xanax and alcohol with friends. He almost didn’t make it home alive.

10 SonomaFamilyLife

A shocked Stafford was forced to confront a reality many parents don’t want to face: Teenagers of all stripes take risks. Some teens take so many risks that they are called “at-risk”— for criminal or violent behavior and substance abuse. Others, like Stafford’s son, take their parents off guard with their walk on the— potentially lethal—wild side.

There are many ways to approach adolescent risk-taking, from drug and alcohol education classes to psycho-education groups and individual, family, and group therapy.

School-based drug and alcohol education is tops on the list for Stafford, a Petaluma business owner,

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

and her newly formed advocacy group, Petaluma Parents Against Drugs.

“A great ER nurse from [Petaluma Valley Hospital], Wendy Thomas, just did a little [assembly] at St. Vincent’s High School. A couple of kids came to her and asked her to come to the school and talk. Wendy said absolutely.

Three hundred and seventy-six kids sat intently for 35 minutes listening to her speak. They asked questions, they were interested. How easy is that?” says Stafford.

Besides assemblies, sometimes drug and alcohol education is offered in small groups, like the ones Carter Grissom runs for at-risk youth.

“We go over the impact of drugs and alcohol on the brain, body, family system. Guest speakers

come and share their own stories and experiences with drugs and alcohol,” says Grissom, who works

“I tell parents that the best way to change their child’s behavior is to change their behavior.”

—Uriah Guilford in prevention and early intervention services at a local youth-services nonprofit. Kids then make the decision about whether or not to use substances “based on their own experience and education,” he says.

Grissom asserts that this approach is “so much more powerful” than parents telling kids what to do.

Local therapists and nonprofit administrators say that, beyond drug and alcohol education, getting to the root of what drives kids toward substance abuse and other risky behaviors is key. And that is where psycho-education groups, as well as individual, family, and group therapy, come into play.

The goal of psycho-education is often geared toward helping kids, as well as parents, identify and cope with the stressors in their lives.

Jolene Chapel, director of a local school mental health initiative, says that anything from academic and extracurricular pressures to a traumatic home environment can trigger the fight-or-flight stress response. So a stressed child might get

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physically aggressive or seek to escape or “flee” through alcohol and drug use, she says.

Aggressive children can learn to handle their feelings through avenues like the nonprofit Petaluma People Services Center’s (PPSC) Interactive Journaling program or other anger management groups.

Meanwhile, overscheduled students can learn to cut back on their activities, Chapel says.

“When a child comes to us and says, ‘I can’t handle sports and school right now,’ we as parents, caregivers, and coaches…[can] help them to make some decisions about what is going on in their lives so that they feel like they are still in control and

that they don’t need to escape,” she explains.

In order to help teens manage their emotions and make good choices, parents need to effectively communicate. Santa Rosa therapist Uriah Guilford says that parents often react instead of respond to their kids.

And that can spell trouble. He teaches parents how to “dial down” their own reactivity and approach problems with playfulness, acceptance, curiosity, and empathy—PACE, for short.

“I tell parents that the best way to change their child’s behavior is to change their own behavior,” says Guilford.

The PACE approach may look something like this: The next time

When to Worry

M

ost of the time your job is to stay calm, parent with confidence, and remain connected to your child. Don’t sweat the small stuff is usually really good advice, but what about when things start to get serious?

There are usually small signs that could signal trouble.

For example: Your children start hanging out with a new group of kids.

They suddenly seem moody and irritable.

They become withdrawn and isolate themselves.

They don’t complete their homework, and their grades start to drop.

For the most part, these are normal experiences of adolescence. But start to worry when any of the following begin to happen: 1. Drug and alcohol abuse (beyond experimentation) 2. Self-harm, such as cutting or suicidal thinking 3. Major depression or anxiety 4. Ditching school or sneaking out at night 5. Stealing or fire starting 6. Violence or gang involvement At this point, don’t focus as much on consequences or discipline as on figuring out what is really going on and getting your child some help.

—Uriah Guilford, guilfordfamilycounseling.com

12 SonomaFamilyLife

your kid yells, “You’re ruining my life!,” try to contain your hurt and anger, and instead, calmly ask, “What do you mean by that?” Be truly interested in your child’s response.

When you communicate a real desire

“I’m a good mom. I’m a careful mom. If this can happen in my family, this can happen in anyone’s family.”

— Kathleen Stafford to understand—not judge—your child’s thoughts and feelings, he or she is more likely to open up to you.

If a child doesn’t feel comfortable talking to you, he or she might be willing to speak to a therapist.

Often parents don’t reach out to a professional, though, because they assume such services are out of their budget. But Elece Hempel, executive director of PPSC, says some community agencies offer one-on-one therapy on a sliding scale— $10–$28 at PPSC. And Medi-Cal covers many services, too.

Still, moms and dads may never pick up the phone because they simply feel too embarrassed. Hempel encourages them to shirk shame and feel empowered, instead.

“A lot of times parents…are anxious and nervous because they don’t want anyone else in the world to know that they are dealing with these issues. And I think we would be doing everybody a big favor if we felt not stigmatized by saying, ‘I’m getting help for my child,’” asserts Hempel.

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Gift of Giving Stafford says she felt like “locking [herself] in the house and closing the curtains” when she found out what her son had done. But she knew that she had to speak up so other parents would know they were not alone.

“I’m a good mom. I’m a careful mom. If this can happen in my family, this can happen in anyone’s family,” she says.

Of course, there are parents who have tried everything from psycho-education groups to family therapy and are still dealing with a verbally and physically abusive child.

In situations like these, where it’s no

Guilford teaches parents how to “dial down” their own reactivity. longer safe for a family to house their teen, Guilford says shelters like Social Advocates for Youth’s Dr. Coffee Teen Shelter in Santa Rosa can provide a temporary place for teens to stay and get assistance.

The path of parenting a risk-taking adolescent is full of twists and turns, some of which, as in Stafford’s case, are completely unexpected. While every family’s journey is unique, there are therapists and programs to light the way. Educating kids about drug and alcohol use, teaching them how to handle stress, and learning to communicate are all steps in the right direction. The rest of the road is paved by the choices that kids, and their parents, make. ¶

For a list of therapeutic services in your area, see SonomaFamilyLife.com. www.sonomafamilylife.com

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SonomaFamilyLife 13

No Drop-Off Day Blues How to Prepare Yourself for Summer Camp

By Ashley Talmadge

T

hirty years ago, parents eagerly awaited Drop-Off Day at summer camp.

For a few glorious weeks, they could happily ditch their roles of chauffeur, chef, and chaperone. They’d read a few more books, have an extra glass of wine with dinner, and simply enjoy a respite from the nonstop pace kids require.

14 SonomaFamilyLife

Today, we parents seem to have more difficulty letting go. Thanks to new communication technology, we’re accustomed to being in constant contact with our kids. And our news feed can make the world seem like

Express confidence in your child’s ability to succeed and have fun at camp. a pretty scary place. How can we trust that our kids will be protected and get their needs met unless we’re overseeing every detail of their lives?

But trust we must. In his book Homesick and Happy (Ballantine, 2012), psychologist Michael Thompson concludes that children become more resilient, confident, competent,

and independent when they have opportunities to make decisions, solve problems, and try new things out of their parents’ view. Overnight camp provides the perfect environment for such growth.

Kevin Gordon, camp owner and director, has many years of experience working with first-time campers and their parents. When deciding whether to send a child to overnight summer camp, Gordon says it’s a good idea to separate a child’s readiness from a parent’s readiness. He says, “Sometimes well-meaning parents will communicate that their child isn’t ready, but, in fact, it’s the parent that’s not quite there.”

Erec Hillis, also a camp director, agrees. He says, “It is our observation that 95 percent of kids finishing second grade can be successful for

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

a three-week camp term, but only 5 percent of their parents think they can.”

As a parent, memories of your child as a baby, toddler, and preschooler may skew your understanding of her current capabilities. Hillis suggests that parents begin to more accurately assess a child’s maturity by “taking note of things he or she can do now that weren’t so easy a year or two ago.”

Good preparation can also help you manage parental uneasiness. Taking the time to select the right camp is the first step. Is the camp director

Children become more resilient, confident, competent, and independent when they have opportunities to make decisions, solve problems, and try new things out of their parents’ view. approachable and available? Do staff members undergo a rigorous hiring and training process? Does the camp provide exciting physical opportunities for kids, while also managing risks? If you can answer these questions in the affirmative, you can remind yourself as Drop-Off Day approaches: “I’ve chosen a great camp. My child is in good hands, and he’ll get to try some really cool things.”

The next step is to prepare your child. Both Gordon and Hillis say it’s a good idea to have children spend a few nights away from home with friends or relatives. In addition, some parents will find peace of mind in familiarizing their child www.sonomafamilylife.com

with camp-necessary skills, such as sorting laundry, stowing toiletries, and using a flashlight or headlamp.

You can also acquaint yourself and your camper with the rules, daily schedule, and layout of buildings by downloading information from the camp’s website.

serious fun It’s a girl thing.

Finally, it really helps for parents to make their own plans! Sign up for that hula-hooping class, plan a tour of the wine country, or read ten classic novels and get a new tattoo.

Above all, express confidence in your child’s ability to succeed and have fun at camp. “Whatever you do, don’t project your uneasiness or anxiety on your child,” advises Hillis. If you have concerns about food, allergies, or medical issues, speak with the staff ahead of time.

Read the parent brochure and be prepared to follow the guidelines regarding communication with your child during the camp session.

“When in doubt, call the camp,” says Hillis. “The directors are there to talk to you.”

Drop-Off Day is often bittersweet.

You may need to hide a few tears behind dark glasses. But before you know it, Pick-Up Day will arrive.

As you hug your tangle-haired, sodden-sneakered, somehow wiser child, you’ll think, “How could she have grown up so fast?” On the way home, the stories may bubble from her lips. Or the words may be few. But her eyes will tell you: “I’m different. I’ve found parts of myself I never knew existed. Thank you.” ¶ Ashley Talmadge is a freelance writer and mother of two boys whose articles have appeared in dozens of parenting publications across the US and Canada.

May 2016

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Girl Power

managing her menstrual cycles and moods? Seek assistance through traditional or alternative medicines until problems are resolved.

4

Think about values.

One of our most important roles as parents is helping our children think for themselves. Talk to your daughter about her values. Really listen and ask thoughtful questions to help her understand how she thinks.

Respect her beliefs and choices.

10 Ways to Help Your Daughter Stay Strong

M

By Christina Katz

arch 8 is International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. In recent years, it’s become clear that the advancement of women’s rights can recede if we are not persistent, insistent, and assertive in championing them. One of the ways we remain a country of empowered women is by passing on what we have learned from experience to our girls. So why not take the opportunity to have some important and inspiring conversations with your daughters? Here are some talking points to get you started.

1

Expect equality. Equality is not only for women and girls, it’s for every member of a healthy society.

So talk to your daughter about parity and fairness. Ask her if she has gotten the impression that opportunities that should be available to her are not. Ask if she thinks the same opportunities that are available to her are accessible to others. Challenge her to think.

18 SonomaFamilyLife

2

Promote body-love. Talk to your daughter about her body.

Does she love it? Hate it? Wish it were different? How are you modeling self-love and self-care? Work together to create more body awareness and acceptance in your family.

3

Be period positive. Ask your daughter how she feels about being female. Does she need help

5

Speak up and be heard.

If you are always speaking on your child’s behalf, she is not going to learn to speak up for herself. So, the next time she needs to straighten something out with a friend, teacher, or coach, why not talk to her about it and then let her do it herself?

Afterwards, ask how she did and offer support.

6

Dress to express, not seduce. Girls may seek to express themselves and their burgeoning sexuality through their clothing, but that doesn’t mean that they have to flash their assets all the time as if they were up for auction.

Explain to your daughter that she will be more likely to draw quality attention if she can keep her assets off continual display. Teach her to value herself for more than her physical appearance.

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

7

Never miss a chance to vote. In 1920, the 19th amendment granted women in the US the right to vote. Teach your daughter to exercise this hard-won right and vote her own conscience.

Let her catch you debating choices and selecting wisely.

8

Stay alert and safe. Maybe you have never had a teacher make racy remarks about your figure or had an employer put his hands on you, but it happens. Rules and laws don’t keep your daughters safe; healthy boundaries and assertiveness do. Make sure she understands her body belongs to her, and talk to her about how to steer clear of danger. Have a “safe” word that only you and she know, so she

can communicate with you in public settings if she feels uncomfortable.

If your daughter struggles with assertiveness, consider martial arts or assertiveness training.

9

Support sisterhood. It’s a good policy to never disrespect a sister. In any situation where a girl is being picked on, singled out, or mistreated, prep your daughter to stick up for the other girl, rather than ignore the situation. Social instincts may discourage her from speaking out, but teach her to be brave and do it anyway.

10

Cultivate self-trust.

You may not always agree with her desire for green hair, a triple-pierced earlobe, or raucous music. But if you assume she’s

always making a mistake, then you are setting her up to second guess herself for the rest of her life. This morning, my daughter insisted on wearing Chuck Taylor shoes with a maxi skirt for a choir performance.

I suggested boots. She said they wouldn’t look good. I said, try them and see. Once I saw them, I said, “You are right. Your idea looks better.” Teaching her to trust herself means accepting you are not always going to be right. But as long as the doors to communication stay open, your mother-daughter relationship will always be in great shape. ¶ Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz is not a perfect mother, but she has accepted the mission to talk to her daughter about tricky topics before her girl turns 18.

They may never ask how you always know… all the coolest things to do & places to go.

Visit Sonoma Family Life.com & Join Our Funblast Email Updates www.sonomafamilylife.com

May 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 19

feeling, make sure there is enough room between each piece of furniture for air to flow. If any pieces need a fresh coat of paint, now is the time to tackle the task.

Go for effect. Consider what the tone of the room will be. Are you going for a dark man cave

Only participate in the decorating phase if you are invited.

13 Tips for Decorating Your Tween’s Digs

Room to Grow

By Christina Katz

Y

our child’s room is an important vehicle of self-expression. With so many sources of online inspiration, it’s easy to find inexpensive embellishments for transforming any bedroom from “blah” to beautiful—at least in the eyes of your kid. Follow these steps for bicker-free results.

20 SonomaFamilyLife

Phase One: Prepare the canvas. Out with the old. Have your child put on his or her favorite music, and then, step by step, clean out drawers, closets, bookshelves, and cubbies.

Clean inside and out. You will likely get some resistance from your teen when cleaning supplies invade her or his hallowed space. Explain that a deep clean while you are preparing to redecorate is sure to make future cleanups quicker and easier.

Let furniture breathe. Reposition the primary furniture—bed, dresser, desk, vanity, and bedside table—for optimal results. To avoid a cramped

with fluorescent night lighting for your skater boy? Or do you want a modern shabby chic for your Mr. Darcy fan? Whatever style suits your tween-teen, sum it up in one sentence that you both come up with together. This phrase will guide the rest of the process.

Treat the windows. A great way to create year-round versatility is to hang two layers of curtains. First, use a heavy curtain made of tightly woven fabric to block out light and keep in heat. Then add a sheer curtain on top for warm days. If you provide pullbacks on either side of each window, your child can arrange the curtains to match the temperature and his or her mood.

Flick a switch. If you can put the overhead light on a dimmer, do it. If not, provide an array of overhead, tabletop, and wall lighting combinations that can be adjusted to suit the time of day.

Smooth out storage. Dirty clothes go in the hamper. School papers get piled in the paper sorter.

The activity bag hangs on the hook in the closet. Cubes with sliding drawers

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

or bins can keep other collections out of sight yet in reach.

Phase Two: Accessorize! Now comes the fun part. However, only participate in the decorating phase if you are invited. Your job as the parent is to provide the materials for your child to embellish the room and then step out of the way.

Dreaming of decals. Rather than painting the entire room, which can be costly and time-consuming, why not turn to wall decals to alter the vibe instead? Search on Etsy as well as on Amazon for the most inspired, least expensive deals.

Wire the room. This is not about eavesdropping. This is about hanging images without putting holes in the wall. Loop picture

wire around two screws to create a clothesline effect. Use clothespins to hang pictures from the wire.

also purchase a three-tier wire hanging basket and use it to display interesting objects.

Personalize it. There are lots of options for purchasing monogrammed items for your child’s room. An

Add twinkle. String lights are cheap and add instant ambiance. You can embellish lights with tulle and ribbons or photos, too.

Provide the materials for your child to embellish the room and then step out of the way.

Charge it! No, not the credit card.

Set up a simple device-charging station for your little battery-burner. Start by mounting a surge protector against the molding near a power outlet. Then mount a photo ledge within cord’s reach of the surge protector. Secure the cords to the wall using a cord management system. ¶

inexpensive route is to pick up letters made from various materials at a local art supply store. Then embellish the letters with fluorescent paint, glitter, fabric, or magazine collages.

Look up. Your teen can make a custom ceiling mobile using two styles of photo-clip copper mobiles. You can

Christina Katz is a journalist, author, and writing coach. She is always curious to see what her teenage daughter will dream up each time she decides to re-decorate her room.

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SonomaFamilyLife 21

Get Me Some Zzzs Helping Toddlers & Preschoolers Sleep

By Rachael Moshman

P

arents expect to be sleep-deprived zombies when their kids are infants, but what if the sleeping issues continue into the toddler years? After all, Mom and Dad can only run on fumes for so long. I spoke to infant-and-toddler sleep expert Elizabeth Pantley, author of the best-selling The No-Cry Sleep Solution (McGraw Hill Education, 2002), about her ideas for helping toddlers and preschoolers get into a healthy sleep routine. Here is what she said.

22 SonomaFamilyLife

1

Maintain a consistent time for sleep and awakening.

Your child’s biological clock has a strong influence on his or her wakefulness and sleepiness. When you establish a set bed and wake-up time, you “set” your child’s clock so that it functions smoothly. Aim for an early bedtime. Most children will sleep better and longer when they go to bed early. For young kids, this means 6:30–7:30 p.m.

2

Encourage regular daily naps. An energetic child can find it difficult to go through the day without a rest. A napless child will often wake up cheerful and become progressively fussier or hyperalert as the day goes on. Meanwhile, kids who settle in for a daytime snooze get better sleep at night. If your child will not nap, stick to a daily routine quiet time.

3

Tap into the power of dark and light. Darkness causes an increase in the release of the body’s sleep hormone—the

biological “stop” button. So dim the lights the hour before bedtime.

Meanwhile, morning light tells the body, “Time to wake up and be active.” So pull back the curtains and let your mornings be bright.

4

Develop a consistent bedtime routine. A peaceful routine will allow your child to transition from the motion of the day to the tranquil state of sleep. If you stay consistently organized about bathing, putting on pajamas, and teeth brushing, you’ll be able to function on autopilot.

5

Create a cozy sleep environment. Where your child sleeps can be key. Make certain the mattress is comfortable, the blankets are warm, the room temperature is right, pajamas are comfy, and the bedroom is welcoming.

6

Provide the right nutrition. Unhealthy food choices can lead to vitamin deficiencies that in turn affect sleep.

So make sure to provide three daily

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

meals plus several snacks, including one before bed, if need be. Since different foods affect energy levels in different ways, be wise about what you feed your child right before bed. Carbohydrates can have a calming effect on the body, while foods high in protein or sugar can generate alertness, particularly when eaten alone. Good pre-bed snacks might include whole-wheat toast and cheese, peanut butter spread on a bagel, oatmeal topped with bananas, or yogurt mixed with low-sugar granola.

stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling refreshed. So encourage your child to run around and play with friends during the day. Avoid activity the hour before bedtime, though. Since exercise

7

8

Help your child to be healthy and fit. Too much TV watching and a lack of activity prevent good sleep. Children who get ample daily exercise fall asleep more quickly,

A peaceful routine will allow your child to transition from the motion of the day to the tranquil state of sleep. is stimulating, the kids will be jumping on the bed instead of sleeping in it!

Teach your child how to relax. Many children get in bed but aren’t sure what to do when they get there! A pre-bed ritual like story time can help children calm down. Or search for a bedtime guided

meditation for kids on YouTube. There are many, particularly by Australian Jason Stephenson. Try “Hot Air Balloon Ride: A Guided Meditation for Kids” or “Children’s Sleep Relaxation Storytime: Octopus Tea Garden Under the Sea.” When little ones don’t sleep well, neither do Mom and Dad. Lack of sleep isn’t healthy for anyone. Starting new routines is challenging when everyone is exhausted—and maybe even a bit cranky—but if they make it easier to get some Zzzzs, they are well worth the initial discomfort. ¶ As the mom of a child with insomnia, Rachael Moshman, MEd, knows sleep deprivation well. She has worked with thousands of young children and their families over the last two decades. Contact her at rachaelmoshman@gmail.com.

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Hotel Healdsburg

Babymooners 5 Local Spots for that Last Kid-free Fling

By Holly Hester

O

kay, so you’re so pregnant you can no longer see your feet or even remember what shoes you put on. You have no memory of having ever worn a belt in your life and your house looks like Babies “R” Us exploded inside it. You and your partner spend fretful evenings poring over baby-name books and trying to figure out an interesting twist on a celebrity baby name—East West for a boy?

Purple Ivy for a girl? Choosing a name your child will hate can be very stressful.

24 SonomaFamilyLife

That’s why I’m suggesting you take a vacation before the little ankle biter pops out. It’s known as a “babymoon,” and it will mark the last uninterrupted conversation you’ll ever have.

Look, I’m not going to be one of those annoying people that tells you that once the baby arrives you will never take another vacation again and that life as you know it is over—because that’s simply not true. There are plenty of people that travel all over the world with their babies and children. In fact, I am one of them. I have three kids, and they all not only have their own frequent flyer cards, but their own airline neck pillows, which they enjoy hitting each other with on long flights.

But I will tell you that taking vacations with your children is not romantic—at all. There is no sleeping in until room service knocks on the door at 10 a.m.

There are no strolls down beaches unless you like wads of sand hitting your back and wails of “Why are we walking sooooooo far?” And of course, there are no romantic bubble baths unless you are willing to ignore the small person wearing goggles and

making loud submarine noises who’s in the tub with you.

I suggest that you take a babymoon locally. Babies do come out early sometimes, and do you really want to show off your naughty bits to a bunch of penguins while on vacation in Antarctica? Here are my five picks for the most romantic babymoon getaways in your own backyard.

1. Stanford Inn Eco-Resort, stanfordinn.com You’ll find yoga classes, Ayurvedic treatments, and an all-organic vegetarian restaurant at this little Mendocino sanctuary. Choose to either paddle around in a kayak or just lie in bed listening to crashing ocean waves. Love each other while still loving the Earth—it’s a nature three-way!

2. Hotel Healdsburg, hotelhealdsburg.com This hotel is located right in downtown Healdsburg, which is packed with fabulous not-kid-friendly restaurants and boutiques. Take my advice—go here while you can!

Browse an antique shop! Sip a decaf

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

SONOMA COUNTY’S

latte! Live amongst civilized people before it all slips away!

3. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, fairmont.com/sonoma I went to this Sonoma gem right before our third child was born and let me tell you—their pregnancy massage is to die for. Plus, the food is delicious, and the rooms have huge bathtubs.

You’ll basically never want to leave.

favorite pediatricians

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Manage your child’s healthcare online; lab results, prescriptions, appointments, and e-mail your doctor with questions 24/7

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To find the Pediatrician that’s right for you, call 1-888-699-DOCS (3627) or visit sutterpacific.org

4. Indian Springs, indianspringscalistoga.com This hotel, within walking distance of downtown Calistoga, has a great spa and a gigantic, warm, spring-fed pool where the two of you can drift on cushy floats for hours. Sure, you’ll look like a bloated whale, but who cares?

There are no harpoons nearby, only ice-cold lemon water.

5. Palace Hotel, sfpalace.com This is one of my favorite hotels in San Francisco. It was built in 1909, and it’s absolutely beautiful. But the best part about it is the afternoon tea. You and your partner can feed each other buttery scones, tiers of chocolate-covered strawberries, and mouthwatering bite-sized tarts. After you’re both full to almost bursting, you can then waddle over to the farmers market at the Ferry Building and continue eating. See who passes out first at this take-no-prisoners couple’s eat-a-thon.

Have a wonderful babymoon!

And remember, babies make life better. What you lose in romance, you gain in love. ¶ Holly Hester lives in Sebastopol and writes about life on her blog, Riot Ranch. Find her book, Escape from Ugly Mom Island!, on Amazon.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

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May 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 25

Away She Goes Letting Go of Your Graduate

M

By Mary Helen Berg

y eldest daughter and I had a symbiotic relationship during her childhood, but she pushed me away during her last year of high school. Friends warned me that the summer before college began, she could be like an oozing sore, making me anxious to turn her bedroom into an office. Or she might be so sweet, I’d feel like she was taking one of my appendages with her when she left. I wondered which one my daughter would choose and vowed that, no matter what, I wouldn’t cry. I would make it easy on everyone and be tough.

Anyone who knows me knows that such a vow is a joke. I like to appear to have the hide of an armadillo, but my soft underbelly qualifies me to write for Hallmark.

Of course, she was right. I was sentimental. She was rational.

It turns out, she was neither sweet nor ornery; she was womanly. She worked full time and became as reliable and reasoned as a best friend. When it was time to plan her cross-country move to college, I thought that the entire family could tag along—her siblings, her dad— and, well, everyone but the family dog.

“Well, Dad might be better at setting things up.” (Not true by the way. Love him, but he is not Mr. Handyman.)

“But truthfully, I always imagined you moving me in.”

“No mom. No. One of you can move me in. Not everyone,” she said.

26 SonomaFamilyLife

I asked if she perhaps had a preference as to whether her dad or I went with her. (Pick me! Pick me!)

She picked me.

The summer before she left, two films came out that seemed to pave the way for my daughter’s college

departure, Toy Story 2 and The Kids Are Alright. In the former, the boy Andy tries to hold on to a few special toys when he leaves for college. But he finally gives them away right before he drives off.

I gave her what she needed—tomato soup, a grilled cheese sandwich, and a hug from her mom.

I wept, of course. But my daughter wanted nothing to do with mushy stuff.

“I am not giving my toys away,” she said. “I am taking them with me.”

Then, after a few weeks of keeping busy and to herself, she went to see the film The Kids Are All Right, which ends with a daughter being dropped off at college.

She came home crying. “She’s left all alone in the room and the family leaves and drives away! I’ll be all alone.”

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

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“You won’t be alone. You’ll have three roommates,” I said. This time, I wanted nothing to do with the mushy stuff.

The clock is ticking and finally it is the day. Nine hours until we say goodbye.

We walk up Broadway toward campus, hand in hand, symbiotic again.

The school supplies are bought and the move-in is smooth. The clock ticks. Three hours to go. We lunch on campus with some of her new classmates. Too many of them are from California, the kind of girl she came to New York to escape. Will any of them be a soul mate? I step aside to take a phone call, and she texts me: “Where did you go?” I am only a few feet away but she wants me closer.

Finally, we sit on folding chairs and listen politely to the orientation speech by the charismatic president of the college. Our shoulders are touching, and we sit as close as we can without her being on my lap. I watch the clock.

The president is talking about who these promising young women will be in four years. I try to figure out how not to cry, but I know I haven’t a prayer of carrying off my plan. I breathe deeply and try to distract myself, but I can’t help it. I sniffle.

It’s ok, I tell myself, as long as my shoulders aren’t shaking, and I keep www.sonomafamilylife.com

So little time left. Outside the auditorium, a few brave parents start to go. She says, “Not yet.”

We sit at a table under the trees, and now she is on my lap. Families are trickling out, and there are few excuses left. “But,” she says, “look at the clock. It’s not time.” Fifteen more minutes.

Then, it really is time. We walk to the courtyard near the front gate. We are buried in each other’s arms. We whisper in each other’s ears: “I love you,” “I love you,” “I am going to miss you so much,” “You are going to be great.” Now, she is crying, too.

“Over this last year you have become one of my best friends,” she says.

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The clock is ticking and finally it is the day. Nine hours until we say goodbye.

“Awwww, Mommy,” she says and puts her head on my shoulder.

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Still, my little girl was shaken, and I gave her what she needed—tomato soup, a grilled cheese sandwich, and a hug from her mom.

looking straight ahead, no one will notice. Then a big, fat tear slides down my left cheek and hits my daughter’s bare shoulder. She jumps as if the ceiling is leaking and then realizes the origin.

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Braves in Motion

I tell her I will always be there for her. I decide she should be the one to go, and I tell her I will watch as she walks to her dorm. I will watch her walk away. She finally releases me and turns to go. I watch as she walks across the brick courtyard.

Halfway to the ivy-draped doorway, she stops and turns around to look for me, to see if I am watching her.

Yes, I am still there. Still watching.

She smiles and turns away again.

This time she doesn’t look back.

Mary Helen Berg has survived two college send-offs and still has one to go.

She lives and writes in Los Angeles.

May 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 27

Grateful & Groovin’

11 Secrets of Happy Moms

By Christa Melnyk Hines “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” —Dalai Lama

W

e know that happiness is an emotion that can come and go. But how do we recapture that bubbly feeling amid the challenges and stresses of parenthood? Here are a few tips from moms for staying positive and feeling good.

Lean on community. Several moms polled for this article agreed that moms’ night outs with their friends help them feel more optimistic. And science proves it.

Studies find that time spent bonding with friends boosts a woman’s level of oxytocin, a hormone that reduces stress. Check out mothers’ groups in your area if you are struggling to build a support network.

Commit to healthy living.

Women who make time to care for their bodies enjoy a stronger self-image and feel more self-confident and energetic.

Exercise, try to get adequate sleep, schedule regular massages, and make healthy food choices to feel 28 SonomaFamilyLife

your best. “I know that when I am reasonably well rested and happy, I am absolutely more patient, energetic, and empathetic to everyone in my household,” says Erica Wilson, a mom of one.

Take time for personal pursuits. Whether you like surfing Pinterest, training for a 5K, or simply taking a warm bubble bath, time stolen for self-care contributes to our overall sense of well-being. “I try

If you have quality childcare, you’ll feel secure taking time away from the kids to pursue a personal interest to take at least a few minutes a day outside. I close my eyes, take deep breaths, and listen to the sounds,” says Melanie Werner, a mom of one.

Nourish yourself. During the rush of the week, most of us throw meals together just to get our hungry crew fed. If you enjoy cooking, find a day when you can slow down and relish the preparation. Create a feast and serve it on a table laid out with your favorite dishes and cheerful flowers.

Laugh. Family life can be funny.

Kids say hilarious things. Pay attention and write those gems down.

Next time you need a lift, read them.

Need more ideas? Look at silly family videos or photos, hang out with jovial friends, watch a lighthearted movie, or read a humorous book.

Follow a spiritual practice.

Studies find that people who lean on a belief system are happier. You don’t have to be religious to be spiritual.

You can feel a sense of spirituality through helping others, spending time in nature, or engaging in yoga, music, art, personal meditation, or journaling.

Michelle Hovick, a mom of one, says the “Elevation” church app is one of her favorite tools for spiritual uplift.

Practice gratitude. In a gratitude study at Eastern Washington University, researchers found a positive correlation between gratitude and happiness. “We have found that

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

grateful individuals tend to be happy individuals and that grateful thinking improves mood,” the researchers report. Try writing down three things you are thankful for each day.

Get a groove on. Jessie Mallicoat, a mom of three, says, “If I’m in a bad mood, I put on some ‘dancy’ music and it usually helps.” In fact, studies find that dancing boosts the body’s feel-good endorphins, and even reverses depression and increases self-confidence.

Set boundaries. Happy moms make conscious decisions on a daily basis about who and what is allowed into their lives. Switching to this way of thinking is empowering. You don’t have to be harsh or hurtful to accomplish this goal. Politely decline

invitations that don’t fit with your priorities and limit interactions with negative individuals.

Access good childcare. If you have quality child care, you’ll feel secure taking time away from the

Kids say hilarious things.

Pay attention and write those gems down.

Next time you need a lift, read them. kids to pursue a personal interest, get a routine check-up, or go out for date night with your partner. Having trouble finding a sitter? Check out SitterCity.com or Care.com; ask other parents for references, as well.

HEY MOM GIVE US A SHOUT! We want to know what you think.

• What did you like in this issue?

• What do you want to see more or less of?

• Know a teacher, coach, or special person that makes local family life better?

• Know of an upcoming event or fun family outing?

• Want to write stories or recipes, or blog for Family Life?

e-mail melissa@family-life.us www.sonomafamilylife.com

Avoid comparison. Parenting philosophies that work well in one family may not work well in another.

Thanks to the influx of information at our fingertips, parents have no shortage of advice. Decide which strategies make sense for your family.

And beware of spending too much time on social media if you’re starting to feel like you don’t measure up.

“Being happy with yourself and how you parent is key to accepting other moms and how they parent, which creates a more supportive parenting community all around,” says Mandy Yokim, mom of two.

Christa Melnyk Hines, a freelance journalist and parent of two boys, is the author of Confidently Connected: A Mom’s Guide to a Satisfying Social Life.

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May 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 29

Family Fun

Queen for a Day

Watch drummers at the Matsuri: Japanese Arts Festival in Santa Rosa.

6 Local Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day

M

om works round the clock every day of the week. Her one official day off should be worth remembering. Let these area events help you make this Mother’s Day a special one.

Santa Rosa The Taiko percussion performances at Matsuri: Japanese Arts Festival are amazing—and loud enough to mask Mother’s stress-release primal scream. After the thrill of unburdening herself, she can feel free to enjoy the gentler, more refined offerings of the festival, such as beautiful origami, kimonos, and folk dance. The free event will take place on May 7, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., at Julliard Park. For details, see sonomamatsuri.com.

Enjoy the Spring Festival at Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood.

30 SonomaFamilyLife

Kenwood The woman who stops World War III from erupting over a Lego block needs an adult beverage now and then.

So living in wine country comes in handy. Landmark Vineyards, for instance, will be happy to hand Mom a glass of chardonnay or pinot noir. And they will feed and entertain her, too. Their Spring Festival boasts barbecued chicken and ribs, Hog Island oysters, and a rock ’n roll band for some serious kid-free boogie-woogie-ing. There will even be Belgian draft horse-drawn carriage tours of the grounds. The festival will be held on May 7, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., at Landmark Vineyards. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased via landmarkwine.com.

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Educating the Whole Child

Listen to pianists play at the House of Happy Walls Museum in Glen Ellen.

Now Enrolling for 2016-17

Glen Ellen Whether mom secretly conducts Mozart in the air or sings “Diamonds and Rust” in the shower, there’ll be something to make her smile at the Mother’s Day Concert at the Jack London State Park. Classical lovers will enjoy piano solos while the hippie at heart will love the Joan Baez-esque voice of Laura Benward, who sings everything from folk to show tunes.

The concert will be held in the park’s House of Happy Walls Museum on May 8, 2–4:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, which includes the parking fee, and may be purchased at jacklondonpark.com/piano-mom.html.

Children’s Circle: 2.5–3.5+ yrs.

Kinderclub: 3–5 yrs.

Montessori In Motion: 3–6 yrs.

(Offering Kindergarten)

7:1 Teacher Ratio Register at the Parks and Recreation Office 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 300D 838-1260 • townofwindsor.com/preschool

Larkfield If the woman who brings home the bacon and fries it up in a pan deserves anything on Mother’s Day, it’s carbs. We have just the place for them—the 68th Annual Rincon Valley Volunteers Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast on May 8. Mom can eat as much as she wants and enter a big raffle, too.

Cakes will be served 8 a.m.–noon at the Mark West Elementary School.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for kids, and free for children under 5. See cscfire.org for more information.

Petaluma Anyone who has tried to explain the birds and the bees to a little kid more interested in what’s for dinner than where babies come from knows that parenting is a humorous affair. Mama-logues: A Comedy about Motherhood will have Mom guffawing at the absurdity of her consistently sleep-deprived, everything-I-own-is-covered-in-spit-up parenting life. The show will feature local talent performing material published by the Bloggess, Scary Mommy, Outnumbered Mother, Moms Who Drink and Swear, and Babysideburns. See it May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Wilson Elementary School. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased at brownpapertickets.com/event/2511776.

Sonoma A little sizzle might be just the thing to break up Mom’s routine. And nothing heats things up quite like samba. But then again, bossa nova is pretty hot, too. The lady of the house can listen to both of them at the free Rua Samba Brazilian music program on May 7 at 2 p.m. at Sonoma Valley Regional Library. See sonomalibrary.org for details. www.sonomafamilylife.com

May 2016

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May

Calendar of Events

Get Juicy

E

ating strawberries is one of summer’s sweet delights. And there’ll be plenty to sample at the 11th Annual Strawberry Festival. Sink your teeth into ruby-red goodness while you listen to live blues and rock ’n roll, and then, if you have room, sit down for a barbecue and a strawberry mimosa. The free festival will be held on May 28, noon–5 p.m., at 14520 Armstrong Redwoods Road in Guerneville. See kggv.fm for more information. ¶

Sunday 1 FREE Blossoms, Bees & Barnyard Babies. Visit Sonoma County farms.

Meet farmers, vintners & artisan producers. Enjoy tastes, tours & demos. Free admission at most farms.

Register to attend. Sonoma County.

837-8896. farmtrails.org.

Chicken Run 5K. Open to the public.

Costumes encouraged. If running is not your thing, come & walk the course. Register before race day. 10 a.m. $20–$40. Sonoma County

Cross & Crown Lutheran School

Where the JOY of learning meets the JOY of the Lord Register Now for 2016/2017 2 - 5 years Preschool Jr. Kindergarten - Kindergarten 1st - 6th Grade Preschool license #490100475

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32 SonomaFamilyLife

Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. chickenrun5k.com.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Fridays–Sundays (plus May 19). Thru May 22. 7–9 p.m. $16–$26. Spreckels Performing Arts Center. 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. rpcity.org.

Fully Committed. A rare comedy, very well done. Presented by Young Actors Studio (formerly H-Town Youth Theatre). May 1: 2 p.m. May 6 & 7: 7 p.m. $10. Raven Theater. 115 North St., Healdsburg. raventheater.org.

FREE May Day Festival. Kiwanis Rib Cook-off, Geyserville Elementary third grade May pole dance, Ballet Folklorico performance, craft area for kids, rock-climbing wall, wine & food offerings. Noon–4 p.m.

Hoffman Grove Picnic Grounds.

22298 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville. geyservillecc.com.

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

“Traditional approach” production of one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies. Professional musicians will play Elizabethan music on

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period instruments, including the lute, hurdy-gurdy, krumhorn & sackbut. 3 p.m. $12–$18. Santa Rosa Junior College. Burbank Auditorium.

1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. theatrearts.santarosa.edu.

activities, food & informational vendors. Free valet bicycle parking.

5–8 p.m. Windsor Town Green.

701 McClelland Dr., Windsor. townofwindsor.com.

Spanish! Libros, canciones, rimas y actividades en ingles y español. Ages 1–5. Fridays. 11 a.m.–noon. Sebastopol Regional Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE 11th Annual Roseland Cinco

The Mama-Logues: A Comedy about

FREE Whale Watch at Bodega

de Mayo. Two stages of live music & dance. 4–9 p.m. Transport on trolley at start of festival: 3–5:30 p.m. Transport resumes: 6:30–10 p.m. 771 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa. santarosacincodemayo.com.

Motherhood. Are you a mom? Know a mom? Have a mom? Then this show is for you! Ages 13 & up. 6:30 p.m. $20.

Wilson Elementary. 3775 Bodega Ave., Petaluma. brownpapertickets.com/ event/2511776.

Head. Volunteers will be there

through Mother’s Day weekend (weather permitting) to help spot these incredible animals & answer questions.

Weekends. Thru May. Bodega Head.

Bodega Bay. sonomauncorked.com.

Tuesday 3 FREE Homework Help. Get free homework coaching in the Homework Help program at your local library.

Grades K–12. May 3, 10 & 17 at 5 locations. May 24 at 1 location* only. 3:30–5:30 p.m. Central Santa Rosa Library, Rohnert Park Cotati Regional Library, Sonoma Valley Regional Library*, Petaluma Regional Library & Windsor Regional Library. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Mother’s Day Craft Table.

Stop by & create something to make Mom feel special! All supplies provided. May 3–7. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Petaluma Regional Library.

100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. sonomalibrary.org.

Wednesday 4 FREE CoderDojo. Learn to code, develop websites, games & much more. Beginners welcome! Ages 8–17.

4:30 p.m. Petaluma Regional Library.

100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. sonomalibrary.org.

Thursday 5 FREE Cinco de Mayo Celebration.

Live entertainment, children’s www.sonomafamilylife.com

Friday 6

Saturday 7

FREE Cuentos y Cantos—Bilingual

FREE 17th Annual Senior Expo

Story & Play Time. Explore books,

of Santa Rosa. 80+ exhibitors. Not

songs, rhymes & play in English &

just for seniors. Bring the whole

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SonomaFamilyLife 33

family. Travel & benefit opportunities, recreation & fitness, free health screenings. 9 a.m.–noon. Person Senior Wing. 2060 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. 543-4342. srcity.org.

8th Annual Film Fest Petaluma.

Hosted at the historic Mystic Theatre.

Enjoy lively post-screening discussions with filmmakers after all shows.

All-day pass (ages 17 & up): $30.

Matinee shorts (ages 14 & up): $10.

Afternoon shorts (ages 14 & up): $10.

Mystic Theatre. 21 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. mystictheatre.com.

FREE Bilingual Storytime/Hora de Cuentos para Niños. Vamos

a leer cuentos en español e inglés, cantar canciones, y hacer cosas manualidades. Read stories in Spanish & English, sing some songs & make fun crafts! Ages 2–5. Saturdays. 10 a.m. Roseland Community Library.

779 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Fairies! A Craft Program.

Build a fairy house. Make a fairy wand.

Decorate a fairy cake. Dress like a fairy or an elf if you wish. For children of all ages, with a caregiver. 1 p.m.

Central Santa Rosa Library. 211 E St., Santa Rosa. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Gaining STEAM: Chromatography Butterflies.

Perform a basic science experiment with color, coffee filters & water. Use the results of your experiment to make a butterfly to take home. Ages 4 & up. 2 p.m. Petaluma Regional Library.

100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Mindful Minis. Yoga para niños/kids’ yoga & meditation workshop. Acompáñenos para una práctica del yoga y exploración del consciente con actividades divertidas. Será limitado el número de participantes. Regístrese con la Recepión en la biblioteca. Join us for a playful yoga practice & exploration of mindfulness through fun activities.

Space is limited. Sign up at the service desk. Ages 6–11. 2 –3:30 p.m. Roseland Community Library. 779 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Nuestros Parques Hike.

Make It Good

W

ant to build a fort out of balloons or dissect a mini motorcycle?

Come to the Creator Faire on May 7, 1–4 p.m., at the River Montessori Charter School in Petaluma. You can mess around with all sorts of stuff. Paint with a pendulum, make a rocket, watch a demo of a 3-D printer, or dip your finger into a kiddie pool of Oobleck, a substance that transitions from liquid to solid with the touch of a finger. Construct a cork boat and have fun with explosive chemistry experiments, too.

Tickets are $5 or $20 per family in advance ($6 or $25 at the door), and may be purchased via rivercreatorfaire.wordpress.com. You’ll also find a complete list of creator stations on the website. ¶

34 SonomaFamilyLife

Spanish-language nature hike. 10 a.m.–noon. Heavy rain cancels.

Helen Putnam Regional Park. 411 Chileno Valley Rd., Petaluma. parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Great Petaluma Chili Cook-off & Beer Tasting. Bring the family for

live bands & fabulous local food. 1–5 p.m. Adults: $25–$45. Ages 5–11: $10. Free for kids under 5. Petaluma Fairgrounds. 175 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. cinnabartheater.org.

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Sonoma County Human Race 2016. 3K & 10K race. Check-in: 6:30 a.m.–7:45 a.m. Timed run: 8 a.m. Walk: immediately after runners. Adults: $50. Ages 12 & under: $15–$20. Free for untimed runners & walkers. Begins & ends at Herbert Slater Middle School. 3500 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa. 573-3399. humanracenow.org.

FREE Xtreme Science. An

interactive science magic show full of fire tornadoes, bouncing bubbles, flying objects & more! Ages 4 & up. 10:30 a.m. Healdsburg Regional Library. 139 Piper St., Healdsburg.

433-3772. sonomalibrary.org.

Sunday 8 68th Annual Rincon Valley Volunteers Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast. All-you-can-eat breakfast

& big raffle. 8 a.m.–noon. Adults: $8.

Kids: $5. Under 5 years: free. Mark West Elementary School. 4600 Lavell Rd., Larkfield. cscfire.org.

Astronaut Lullabies. Captivating

astronomical visuals choreographed to original live music. 3–4 p.m. $10–$15. Santa Rosa Junior College.

Planetarium in Lark Hall. 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. santarosa.edu/planetarium.

FREE Mother’s Day Admission.

All mothers receive free museum admission today! 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. 579-4452. schulzmuseum.org.

Mother’s Day Concert. Bring your

mom for an afternoon of beautiful music with popular vocalist Laura Benward, plus a diverse repertoire of piano solos. Refreshments served. www.sonomafamilylife.com

2–4:30 p.m. $20, includes parking. Jack London State Historic Park. House of Happy Walls Museum. 2400 London Ranch Rd., Glen Ellen. 938-5216. jacklondonpark.com.

FREE No Charge for Mothers. 9

a.m.–4 p.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org.

Thursday 12

Do you change your own oil? (in your cars, trucks, boats, or motorcycles)

Musical Moments with Nancy Nelle.

Explore music making! Signups are required & start at 9:30 a.m. at the front desk. Thursdays. 10–11:30 a.m.

(2nd session available at 10:45 a.m. if 4–5 families sign up.) Free with membership or admission. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org.

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater.

Come see Gregory Popovich, winner of multiple international circus competitions & his rescued furry friends! Arrive an hour early for free fun with art, pizza & drinks & more.

All ages welcome. 6:30–7:30 p.m. $5–$17. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. Person Theater. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. 527-7006. lutherburbankcenter.org.

Friday 13 Spring Dance Show 2016. Presented by the Theatre Arts Dept., in collaboration with the Dept. of Kinesiology, Dance & Athletics.

May 13 & 14: 8 p.m. May 14 & 15: 2 p.m. $10–$17. Santa Rosa Junior College. Burbank Auditorium.

1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. theatrearts.santarosa.edu.

May 2016

Whatever the vehicle, you haven’t finished the job...

Until you’ve properly recycled the oil AND

filter!

Get info:

RecycleNow.org

Eco-Desk 707 565 3375

SonomaFamilyLife 35

Saturday 14 3rd Annual Loma Vista Family Carnival. Games, prizes, raffles, face

painting, bouncy houses, music, silent auction, vendors & all kinds of fun. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Loma Vista Immersion Academy. 207 Maria Dr., Petaluma.

843-2345. lv.oldadobe.org.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Music & dance production. Ballet, jazz & hip hop. May 14: 7 p.m. May 15: 2 p.m. $15–$22. Raven Performing Arts Theater. 115 North St., Healdsburg. raventheater.org.

10th Annual All Hobbies Swap Meet.

All hobby-related items are welcome to be sold, bought & swapped. 8 a.m.–2 p.m. $3. Free for kids under 12. Veterans Memorial Building. 1351 Maple Ave., Santa Rosa. jphracing. com/JPH_Special_Events.cfm.

National Train Day: Train Music with Nancy Nelle & John Kushman.

Weather permitting. 10–11 a.m. Free with membership or admission.

Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org.

Santa Rosa Symphony— Preparatory Orchestra & Repertory Orchestra. 3 p.m. $12–$17. Sonoma

Country Day School. Jackson Theater.

4400 Day School Pl., Santa Rosa. srsymphony.org.

Second Saturday Cartoonist: Jeff Schinkel. Meet, watch & talk to Jeff Schinkel, illustrator & graphic designer for Kid Scoop News, a monthly publication for elementary school kids. 1–3 p.m. For fees & reservations, call or visit gsnorcal.org. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org.

Sunday 15 Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra & Analy High School Orchestra. Join our young musicians

from our youth ensemble as they perform. 3 p.m. $12–$17. Sonoma State University. Green Music Center. Weill Hall. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. srsymphony.org.

FREE Open House. Zip-lining, horse

rides, face-painting & swimming. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Rain cancels. Cloverleaf Ranch. 545-5906. cloverleafranch.com.

Wednesday 18 FREE Book Sale. Children get a free

Yipee for Wool!

H

ave you ever wondered how wool bedding and blankets are made?

Take a tour of the wool mill and farm at Casari Ranch in Point Arena. It produces—without the use of chemicals or oils—bedding and other products from wool that is grown and milled right on the premises. Tours will be part of the Third Annual Wool Festival, which will also feature demonstrations of spinning, weaving, and felting as well as exhibits of crafts made by area fiber artists. Live music and local eats and drink will round out the day. The free festival happens May 21–22, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., at the Casari Ranch in Point Arena. For more information, see casariranch.com and slowfoodrr.org. ¶

36 SonomaFamilyLife

book! May 18: open to members at 11 a.m., open to all 3–7:30 p.m. May 19 & 20: 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. May 21: 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Sonoma Valley Regional Library. 755 W. Napa St., Sonoma. sonomalibrary.org.

Friday 20 Maker Faire Bay Area 2016. A family-friendly festival of invention, creativity & resourcefulness & a celebration of the maker movement.

All ages welcome. May 20: 1 p.m.–May

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

22: 6 p.m. $25–$125. May 22: Family Pass $125 for 5 people. San Mateo County Event Center. 1346 Saratoga Dr., San Mateo. makerfaire.com.

Youth Overnight. May 20: 7 p.m.–

May 21: 9 a.m. Sonoma County Family Y. 1111 College Ave., Santa Rosa. scfymca.org.

Saturday 21 FREE 122nd Annual Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival. Theme:

Re-Cycling into the Future. Parade: 12:15–2 p.m. Downtown Santa Rosa. roseparadefestival.com.

FREE 3rd Annual Wool Festival.

the family dog! Live music, chicken & fixin’s, great contests (all $1 each) & grand prizes. Free tours. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Artful Arrangements Homestead.

205 Orchard Ln., Penngrove. artfularrangements.org.

33rd Annual Plowing Play Day.

Features historic farming practices, including plowing & mowing demos as well as free wagon rides around the historic ranch buildings. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $10 parking fee. Jack London State Historic Park. 2400 London Ranch Rd., Glen Ellen. jacklondonpark.com.

for Kids 0-18 June 15th 9am to 5pm Fun Activities • Education • Giveaways

Limited Availability Call Now

1801 Cleveland Avenue, Suite C • Santa Rosa (707)-545-3338 • coddingtowndentalcare.com

Storybook Ball 2016 – Charlotte’s County Fair. An old-fashioned county

Join us for fiber crafts, local artists, music, local foods & drink, farm tours, demonstrations, fun activities & much more! 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Casari Ranch. 42900 Curley Ln., Point Arena. casariranch.com.

fair theme, complete with games, music, dance & craft activities & local foods & drink. Ages 10 & under, with caregiver. 3–6 p.m. $50. Free for under age 3. Mill Valley Community Center.

180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. mvlf.org.

FREE Sun Dye Art. Print your

Ukulele Performance. Youth &

own designs on fabric using dye activated by the sun! Ages 12–17. 11 a.m. Sebastopol Regional Library.

7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Dental Screening

seniors perform ukulele music together in Mary’s Garden. 2–3 p.m. Free with membership or admission. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org.

6th Annual Great Russian River Race. Food & drink, live music, vendor booths & a costume contest among racers. Noon–4 p.m. Johnson’s Beach. 16215 First St., Guerneville. greatrussianriverrace.com.

Sunday 22 West Side Story. Performed by The

Mountain Play. Sundays thru June 19. $25–$40. 2 p.m. Cushing Memorial Ampitheatre. East Ridgecrest at Pan Toll Rd. in Mt. Tamalpais State Park.

415-383-1100. mountainplay.org.

FREE Down Home Day. Affordable

family fun for everyone, including www.sonomafamilylife.com

SANTA ROSA CO-OP PRESCHOOL

EST. 1951 A Place to Play. A Place to Learn. A Place to Grow.

• 2 & 3 year old class and a Pre-Kindergarten class for academic & social Kindergarten readiness • Positive Discipline tools and classes for parents • Oooey gooey fun environment combined with teaching communication and responsibility skills.

Now accepting applications for 2015/16 school year

579-3718

srecschool.org May 2016

KaCees Car Wash Car Wash Discount

2 OFF

$

Reg. $7.00 • Expires 5/31/16

High-Tech Car Wash Present this coupon for discount.

Coupons cannot be combined with other offers.

586-8997

320 Rohnert Park Expressway Open Daily 7am–7pm

SonomaFamilyLife 37

Windsor Town Green Half Marathon, 10K & 5K. Half Marathon (13.1 miles):

Summer Youth Pass

Unlimited Rides.

June 1-August 31

On Sale May 15th

Ages 18 & Under.

Always Moving Forward.

Sonoma Family Life_summercampAd_03-16-16A.ai

School’s out, summer camp’s in!

Just $24

1

3/17/16

2:41 PM

7:30 a.m. 10K: 7:40 a.m. 5K: 7:50 a.m.

Ages 5–15: $25–$55. Ages 16 & up: $45–$90. Begins & ends at Windsor Town Green. runwinecountry.com.

Friday 27 Funky Fridays Concert. Live music, dancing & picnicking. 7–9 p.m. $10. Parking $10. Hood Mountain Regional Park. Hood Mansion. N. Pythian Rd. off Hwy. 12, Santa Rosa. funkyfridays.info.

Saturday 28 Register for Camp Yu-Chi or Doyle Adventure Camp

by June 3rd & save $15!

crafts • field trips • archery songs & skits • games santarosarec.com or call (707)543-3737

FREE 11th Annual Strawberry Festival Guerneville. Live music,

BBQ & strawberry mimosas. Noon–5 p.m. 14520 Armstrong Redwoods Rd., Guerneville. kggv.fm.

Sonoma County Roller Derby. Wine Country Home Wreckers vs. Sintral Valley. Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. sonomacountyrollerderby.org.

FREE Tide Pool Talk & Exploration.

For accessible information, call (707) 543-3292 TDD (707) 543 3289 (M-F 8am-5pm)

Explore tide pools & learn about the complex & dynamic creatures that inhabit them. 10 a.m.–noon. Pinnacle Gulch Coastal Access Trail. 20600 Mockingbird Rd., Bodega Bay. parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Monday 30 Ending the Cycle. All are welcome to end the cycle of violence with a benefit bike ride to help fund YWCA services in Sonoma County.

Beginner & moderate routes.

Participants are encouraged to wear purple, in support of domestic violence prevention. 9:30 a.m. $50 donation. Prince Memorial Greenway. Santa Rosa. bikesonoma. org/events.

38 SonomaFamilyLife

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Classified Marketplace Camps

Camps

Camps

Camps Western Riding Lessons Youth Camps & Birthday Parties

June 6 thru August 12 Ages 5 & up

789-9898

www.pvac.com

Science! Art! GAmeS! Santa Rosa, Rincon Valley 6/13–7/29; M–F; 9am–3pm Sign Up: Santa Rosa Rec. Parks & Cmnty Srvcs: (707) 543-3737 (707) 793-2251 kidscienceadventures.com

ARTS CAMPS FOR KIDS & TEENS 4-day morning or afternoon sessions June 6 thru Aug. 4

Camp C ASTLE Affordable Summer Camp in Sebastopol

Weekly field trips & swimming, visiting artists, enrichment, and more

Like Us On Facebook

R * A * N * C * H

castle@sebusd.org

829-4578

Super Kids Camp

Cartooning, basic drawing, jewelry making, ceramics, chalk drawing and more!

707-762-5600 ext. 104 www.PetalumaArtsCenter.org

ArtsEducation@PetalumaArtsCenter.org

Find Your Perfect Camp!

YAS

At Sonoma State University

An exciting, recreational & educational experience for campers, ages 5-11.

Fun weekly themes, field trips, swimming, rock wall climbing & so much more!

A full week of camp as low as $150 per week.

Call, email, or check out our website for details.

YOUNG ACTORS STUDIO

707-664-4FUN

superkidscamp@sonoma.edu www.sonoma.edu/campusrec/programs/skc Blog—superkidscamp.wordpress.com

Kristine Sheets Stewart 415-302-8118 horsemom302@aol.com crossroadsranchridingstable.com Ride with us in Penngrove, California

Pony Camp!

Weekly June 6 thru August 18

European Pony School

546-7669

europeanponyschool.com

Teaching the art of the sword Sign up for our summer camps today!

Santa Rosa

433-8102

egfencing.com

Wings After School Martial & Arts Program

Wings (707) 544-2302 www.wingsmap.org

AFTER-SCHOOL MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM

SUMMER ADVENTURE CAMP! • Daily Martial Arts • Swimming, Movies • Weekly Adventures • Science, Art & Discovery Labs

www.wingsmap.org • 544-2302 3644 Airway Dr., Santa Rosa

www.sonomafamilylife.com

SUMMER DRAMA CAMP for kids age 6-9 and 10 -13 SESSION 1 at the LBC Santa Rosa JUNE 13 - JULY 1. 9am -3pm

LEARN TO

DANCE Kids Who Dance are:

Proud • Focused Healthy • Inspired Committed • Smart Passionate • Confident

SESSION 2 at the Raven Theatre Healdsburg JULY 11 - 31. 9am - 3pm COST: $550 discount for multi-session or multi-sibling (707) 955-5759 | www.htownyt.com

May 2016

What more could a parent ask for?

A SK A BOUT OU R C A M PS

542-1367

www.keenanirishdanceschool.com

SonomaFamilyLife 39

Camp

Camp

Counseling

La Cantera

Real Estate

Buying or Selling?

Racquet & Swim Club

Summer & Afterschool Junior Tennis Programs

Call to schedule a free site visit!

A Week of Play Enjoy a week of fellowship, community, pool time, good music, hiking trails, and fun games.

July 18-23 • Campers entering grades 4-6

707-515-6683

www.mikkimoves.com License #01913386

Services

New registrants receive a $25 discount with the code: FIRST

707-433-2440 (x133) www.bishopsranch.org

Got Art? We Do!!!

Ages 4-5 & 5-12

Afterschool Mon. & Wed. 4 Classes - $50 Summer Tennis Camps and Summer Swim Lessons Call or go online for our brochure!

544-9494

3737 Montgomery Dr. Santa Rosa lacanteraracquetandswimclub.com

Lessons

PIANO & SINGING LESSONS IN YOUR HOME

Painting • Drawing Cartooning Mask Making Glass Staining Silk Painting Wood Burning Mosaic • Clay

New students get 1st lesson free!

We can help!

Health

Endermologie Massage Proven Effective for

Cellulite Reduction And Fibromyalgia Scar Tissue and More Free Evaluation & Sample Massage

Piano: Ages 6 & older Singing: Ages 12 & older

Celebrating 25 Years

Classes • Camps Birthday Parties

Since 1984

5435 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park • 285-2002 www.scribblesandgigglesart.com

Endermologie

Call 206-5613

546-7987

5212 Old Redwood Hwy, Santa Rosa www.bodytec-massage.com

sonoma RIDE

US!

Summer Camps

#1 local resource for for 25 years local families

Lessons & More!

W

markweststables.com

Sonoma County Child Support Services 3725 Westwind Blvd., Ste 200 Santa Rosa, CA 95403

LOCAL

WITH

(707) 538-2000

 Paternity and Child Support Order Establishment  Payment Collection Services  Payment Tracking and Accounting  Child Support Modification

MARK WEST STABLES

W

40 SonomaFamilyLife

(707) 538-2000

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Classified Marketplace Childcare/Preschools

Place for A Greaotler s to Grow o h c !

Pres

PLAY WITH

STEAM

Hands-On Play with STEAM, Language & Music too!

Preschool 2-5 yrs.

After School K-3 Summer Program 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Lic# 493000574

Childcare/Preschools

Extended hours available

Miss Lisa’s

Early Childhood Education Petaluma 707 778-8074 misslisasece.weebly.com

RAINBOW GARDEN AT KENWOOD SCHOOL

Lic #49011142

A magical place full of love, light and learning. Where kids use their imaginations, get messy and have fun!

707-833-6551

230 Randolph Ave. Kenwood

Schools

Childcare/Preschools

Childcare/Preschools

Educating the Whole Child

YMCA PRESCHOOL

YMCA PRESCHOO

GROW.LEARN.THRIVE YMCA PRESCHOOL

GROW.LEARN.THRIVE SANTA ROSA GROW.LEARN.THRIVE 2590 PINER SANTA RD. ROSA

Part Time2590 /Full Time Care PINER RD. Flexible Plans Part TimeAvailable /Full Time Care Flexible Plans Available Serving 2-5 year olds

SANTA ROSA 2590 PINER RD. Serving 2-5 year olds

Now Enrolling for 2016-17 Children’s Circle: 2.5–3.5+ yrs.

Kinderclub: 3–5 yrs.

Montessori In Motion: 3–6 yrs.

(Offering Kindergarten) 7:1 Teacher Ratio

Part Time /Full Time Care

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: Health & Flexible Nutrition, Motor Skills, Plans Available

Health & Nutrition, Relationships, Motor Skills,Self Interpersonal Serving 2-5 year Interpersonal Relationships, Self Confidence, and Cognitive & Academic Skills. & Confidence, and Cognitive PRICING & Academic Skills.

REGISTRATION:

olds

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

707.544.1829

PRICINGwww.scfymca.org & Health & Nutrition, Motor Skil REGISTRATION: Interpersonal Relationships, S Register at the Parks and Recreation Office

YMCA Program Office The Y isConfidence, a non-profit community based organization. and Cognitive 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 300D 707.544.1829 Financial Assistance is available.

838-1260 • townofwindsor.com/preschool Academic Skills.

Thriving Academics, Creativity, & Well-being • Traditional Montessori Curriculum • Ages 2 - 6 years old • Kindergarten Program • Summer Program

Developing the Foundations for a Lifetime of Creative Learning 537-8889

2810 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa bvmontessori.com

(707)528-9133 360 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa

Check Out Our Virtual Camp Guide

Preschool•Kindergarten The Y is a non-profit Parent-Toddler Class community based Ages 18 months organization. to 6-years

Financial Assistance is available.

Diane: 546-7012

FUMC

Preschool & Child Care Center

Montessoriin Windsor Fun!

Montessori Education Inspires ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Joy of Learning Order & Detail Concentration Grace & Courtesy

2427 Professional Dr. • Santa Rosa Near Steele Lane & Hwy 101

707-528-0889•www.rhioscasa.com

Join us!

Home Preschool license #490170838

www.sonomafamilylife.com

YMCA Office b io’s Program Since 1981 707.544.1829 Montessori School

preschool@fumcsantarosa.org www.fumcsantarosa.org/preschool License#490110699

SonomaFamilyLife.com

Like Us On Facebook

PRICING & REGISTRATION: Casa dei Bam

Rh

PRESCHOOL

Our program is a place for your child to play and learn in a rich and challenging environment.

We encourage social, emotional, physical, cognitive and spiritual growth; respect and sensitivity towards others; and maximizing kindergarten readiness.

Year-round • Play based Ages 2 - 5 (Pre-Kindergarten) Excellent Teacher-Child ratios Open 7am-6pm

The Y is a non-profit community based organization.

Financial Assistance is available.

ini

St. Eugene’s Cathedral

Program of First United Methodist Church

Morning, Afternoon or Full Days till 2:30 Organic Meals Spanish Class Every Day Academics & Fun! Small Class of 12 - Two Trained Teachers www.montessorifun.com

Check Out Our New Online Directories

SonomaFamilyLife.com May 2016

&

The Bridge School. Located in Central Santa Rosa, 1625 Franklin Ave. Year-round full/half–day. Rich nurturing environment.

Center based program for ages 3–5 with separate 2’s program. Caring, qualified teachers. Julie & Andrew Day; owners.

Lic.#493005697. 575-7959.

Playtime Daycare/Preschool Join our loving family. Spacious playroom, large yard, meals provided. CPR & first aid certified.

M-F. Infants & up. Call Wendy 539-7524. Lic. #04746.

SonomaFamilyLife 41

Humor Break

Shower

SOS

Then there is a time for unbridled panic. This was one of those times.

“Gracie, get down! You might get hurt!” Visions of red-hot burners and Gracie’s fair baby skin flashed through my mind.

A Mom Never Bathes Alone for Long

By Janeen Lewis

A

ll I wanted was a shower. A long, uninterrupted shower like the ones I took before I had children.

I know, I know. To have a shower of solitude, all I have to do is put in earplugs and lock the bathroom door.

The Shower Diva, the not-so-perfect angel who sits on my left shoulder, often tells me this. However, Safety Freak Mom, the goody-two-shoes angel who sits on my right shoulder, says, “What if your kids need you, and they can’t get to you?”

Nevertheless, one day when I was tired of quarrels about who owned the Scotch tape, I decided to get a little crazy and lock the bathroom door.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get so crazy that I put in earplugs. Live and learn.

I grabbed my “Carried Away” shower gel and told seven-year-old Andrew to watch four-year-old Gracie, and to knock on the door in case of an emergency. I explained that emergencies involve bleeding or poisoning, not whose turn it is to play a game at NickJr.com or watch a show on Netflix Kids.

The first minute in the shower was glorious. Then I heard a noise.

The Shower Diva said, “Ignore it.

They’re fine.”

42 SonomaFamilyLife

Safety Freak Mom countered with, “What if one of them is hurt?”

I stayed put. But as I got to my favorite part of the shower, the part where I lather shampoo into my hair with all the ecstasy of a woman in an Herbal Essence commercial, I heard what sounded like a thump and a yell.

There was a commotion somewhere in

The first minute in the shower was glorious.

Then I heard a noise. the house—I could feel it in my Mom bones. I turned the shower off.

“Andrew, is something wrong?”

He answered, but he might as well have been Charlie Brown’s teacher. I couldn’t understand a word he said, so I stepped out of the shower and onto the bath mat, every pore of my skin shrieking at the chilly air. I cracked the door.

“Andrew, is everything okay?”

“NO!” he yelled. “Gracie is getting up on the stove!”

In every mom’s life, there is a time for nerves of steel. I pray for them, my SOS to God, when the computer crashes or the cat throws up on new carpet.

I yanked the towel off the rack and whipped it around me. I ran down the hall, slipping on the hardwood floor while Safety Freak Mom scolded, “What were you thinking? She’s practically still an infant!”

As I slid past the kids’ bathroom, I skidded to a stop, confused. Both children stood in the bathroom, and while yes, I am a multitasker, no, I have not yet installed a stove in the bathroom. Andrew blocked Gracie from the sink with his whole body.

Arms outstretched, he shielded her from—gasp!—the soap dispenser.

Exasperated, he said, “Gracie is using up all of the soap!”

From my heavenly little enclave in the back of the house, I’d heard, “Gracie is getting up on the stove!”

I took a very deep breath. I was kind of glad Safety Freak Mom was with me.

She gently coaxed, “Step away from the children, and no one gets hurt.”

As I stood dripping in my towel, I knew the “stove” versus “soap” miscommunication would be really funny to me the next day.

But that day, as I turned and walked slowly down the hall to get dressed, I wondered if I would take an uninterrupted shower this decade.

I sighed and sent my daily SOS heavenward.

Janeen Lewis is a freelance journalist and mother of two. She has yet to take an uninterrupted shower this decade.

May 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

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