Sonoma Family Life May 2017

sonoma

FREE!

May 2017

Power of Empathy

A letter from the Super

Get Crafty!

Make a shoe pot

Fast & Fresh Simple meals Honor Mom 5 local ways

Choose from Bowling, Trampolines, Sports, Laser Tag, Arcade Games & More!

C I EP HDAY T R I

B N! FU

MAKE YOUR CHILD’S NEXT BIRTHDAY AN EPIC CELEBRATION! With so many fun and exciting attractions under one roof, nobody in Sonoma County throws a birthday party like Epicenter!

Learn more and reserve your date now!

3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa

visitepicenter.com/family

Santa Rosa Symphony’s SUMMER MUSIC ACADEMY

JULY 10-29

For beginning & experienced students Full-day (9am-3pm) & A La Carte Classes Available!

Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Guitar and more!

546-7097 x219 www.srsymphony.org

CAMP EPIC Sports & Entertainment Camp SUMMER CAMP: JUNE 12–AUGUST 4 NON-STOP FUN FOR KIDS AGES 4–12 Including Soccer Trampolines Entertainment Basketball Bowling Attractions at Flag Football Laser Tag Dodgeball & More FLEXIBLE REGISTRATION OPTIONS

HALF DAY• ONE DAY• MULTI-DAY• WEEKLY

LUNCH & SNACK AVAILABLE LEARN MORE: playsportscity.com/epicfun

May 2017

Every Issue

10 Features 10 Teach about Trauma

6

Dear Reader

8

Bits and Pieces Hot Stuff Lessons in Beauty Sweet Tunes Find Your Calling The Good Life Beloved Bivalves

14 Calendar of Events ¡Vamos a Celebrar!

26 Humor Break Clean Is a Dirty Word

The Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools talks about a new initiative.

12 All Eyes on Mom Local ways to show her she’s the best.

14

22 Plant a Present A unique project that makes a great Mother’s Day gift.

23 Fast & Fresh Dinner is a snap with these two recipes.

8 4 SonomaFamilyLife

12 May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

8

FREE FREE CAR SEAT

FREE CAR SEAT CAR SEAT INSPECTIONS

INSPECTIONS

Classes for all ages.

World music, drumming and ukulele camps too.

Come to to any any AAA AAA branch branch to to have have your your Come car seat seat inspected for free. free.

Theyour safety car inspected for The safety Come to any AAA branch to have of your your child is is priority priority forThe oursafety certified of for our certified car seat child inspected for free. technicians.

All are welcome! welcome! technicians. are of your child isAll priority for our certified

INSPECTIONS technicians. All are welcome!

Come to any AAA branch to have your car seat inspected for Come to any AAA branch to of have your free.

The safety your child car seat inspectedis for free.

The safety a priority for our certified technicians.

Allcertified are welcome! of your child is priority for our

technicians. All are welcome!

Only in child safety Only 11 in 44 child safety Only 1 in 4 child safety seats is used properly. seats used properly. seats is is used properly.

MAKE SURE YOURS IS. MAKE SURE YOURS MAKE SURE YOURS IS. IS. To make an appointment:

FREE PREVIEW CLASS

Doug Reynolds: 707-543-5305

Sonoma County Children’s Music 867 Third St., Santa Rosa 707-527-7900

www.childrenlovemusic.com

Douglas.Reynolds@norcal.aaa.com

Debra Thorpe: 707-566-4029

Only Debra.Thorpe@norcal.aaa.com 1 in 4 child safety Go to www.AAA.com/carseats to find an inspection location near you. seats is an used properly. www.AAA.com/carseats to find find an inspection locationnear nearyou. you.

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PIZZA PARTY! Birthday Parties Baseball Teams Soccer Teams Fundraisers

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Pizza...the way it ought to be.

WE DELIVER TOO!

EASY ONLINE ORDERING

MOUNTAINMIKES.COM Santa Rosa

2280 Santa Rosa Ave 707-544-2828

Rohnert Park

1451 Southwest Blvd 707-795-4433

NOW OPEN Rohnert Park

6314 Commerce Blvd 707-303-7474

Petaluma

919 Lakeville St 707-769-8989

Healdsburg 1051 Vine St 707-433-2911

Windsor

6580 Hembree Ln #258 707-836-1700

Santa Rosa

3781 Cleveland Ave 707-595-6505

Dear Reader CHARLES M. SCHULZ SONOMA COUNTY AIRPORT (STS) For less stress, fly STS

Seattle (SEA) Alaska Airlines

Portland (PDX) Alaska Airlines

©P N

TS

Sonoma County Airport

(STS)

Las Vegas (LAS) Allegiant Airlines

Los Angeles (LAX) Alaska Airlines

Orange County (SNA) Alaska Airlines

San Diego (SAN) Alaska Airlines

Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) American Airlines

sonomacountyairport.org

I

t’s time to recognize mamas for all they do for their families.

Check out “All Eyes on Mom” (page 12) for some great, local Mother’s Sharon Gowan Publisher/Editor Day celebrations.

Sharon@family-life.us And then see our Calendar of Events (page 14) for even more goings-on Want to make Mom a gift? See “Plant a Present” (page 22) for a fun project that will show her you care.

Raising children is hard work for both moms and dads, so sneaking in self-care is a must. But how do you find the time? One strategy is getting your brood to pitch in around the house. It can be done, but humorist Holly Hester knows it’s not that easy.

Let her “Clean Is a Dirty Word” (page 26) give you perspective—and a good laugh.

It can be especially hard to get kids motivated to do chores when summer break looms near. As the school year draws to a close, Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools Steven Herrington offers some wise words about an important topic that affects many families: childhood trauma. In “Teach about Trauma” (page 10) he talks about how Adverse Childhood Experiences affect students’ ability to learn. He also discusses a new initiative that aims to help troubled kids build resilience and self-esteem, and become effective learners.

Office Manager Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us

Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us Marie Anderson marie@family-life.us Natalie Bruzon natalie@family-life.us

Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us

Web and Social Media Jean Flint jean@family-life.us

Contributing Writers Steven D. Herrington Holly Hester Christina Katz Karen Nochimowski

Billing Jan Wasson-Smith

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

We hope your spring is full of the exhilaration of warm days—and the giddy anticipation of the summer that is to come.

6 SonomaFamilyLife

May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

SUMMER THEATRE CAMPS! CHECK IT OUT TODAY! TEENS SUMMER MUSICAL CAMP (ages 13-19)

YOUTH SUMMER MUSICAL CAMP (ages 8–12)

Hairspray, Jr. Lion King, Kids!

June 12–July 20.

Shows on July 21, 22 & 23

June 19–July 27.

Shows July 28, 29 & 30

www.6thStreetPlayhouse.com

Call (707) 523-4185 Today!

ald McDaonnch R

Summer Day Camps

Weekly Session 8am-5pm June through Mid August • Horseback Riding • Swimming • Archery • Counselor-In-Training • Farm Animals • Camp Cooking and more!

Shuttles from Santa Rosa, Petaluma, & Rohnert Park Camps Held at Sky Tree Ranch in Santa Rosa www.mcdonaldranch.org • 707 583-6711

BE A KUNG FU

HERO THIS SUMMER!

Explore Sonoma County Parks • Castles and Kites – May 6 • Nuestros Parques – May 6, June 3 • Tide Pool Talks at Doran Beach – May 6, June 3 • Science Saturdays – May 6, June 3 • Wildlife Tracking for Kids – May 7 • Mother’s Day Bouquet – May 13 & 14 • Full Moon in the Park – May 13 • Family Nature Hike – May 20 • Campfire Programs – May 27, June 3 • Trails for Tots – June 2

See our online calendar for details and join us! sonomacountyparks.org

AT KUNG FU SUMMER CAMP

Authentic Kung Fu Training • Chinese Language & Painting Acrobatics • Games & Fun Summer Activities

707-338-2233 • www.Wu-Academy.com 1880 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa

Bits & Pieces

Hot Stuff

C

hili’s combination of meat, tomatoes, and steamy spices has been turning culinary heads for centuries.

Try some of Sonoma County’s best contemporary iterations of the dish at the Annual Great Petaluma Chili Cook-Off and Salsa- and Beer-Tasting. Listen to the Americana sounds of the Stony Point Band and the Bloomfield Bluegrass Volunteers while you nosh on chili and salsa, and try local brews. The event will be held rain or shine on May 6, 1–5 p.m., at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma.

Tickets are $10–$50, free for kids under 5, and may be purchased at greatchilicookoff.com. ¶

Sweet Tunes

Judy Bellah

D

Lessons in Beauty

T

rag out the dancing shoes. The free 12th Annual Strawberry Festival has all kinds of beats for your feet. This year’s lineup includes the alternative rockers Osito, rock/blues crossover band the Jennerators, and the folk-punk-bluesy-swing of Buck-Thrifty.

When you’re not movin’ and groovin’, you can fill up on barbecue, strawberry desserts, and even strawberry mimosas. The music happens May 27, noon–5 p.m., at the Guerneville Community Church in Guerneville. For details, see kggv.fm. ¶

he precision and passion of Japanese artists inspire many around the globe. Discover why at Matsuri! Japanese Arts Festival, where you can see everything from origami and martial arts demos to taiko drumming and folk-dancing performances. The free event will be held on May 7, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., at Juilliard Park in downtown Santa Rosa. See sonomamatsuri.com for more information. ¶ 8 SonomaFamilyLife

May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Find Your Calling

W

hat’s in your family’s future? A good education has grown many a dream. Find out what kinds of programs are locally available at Santa Rosa Junior College’s (SRJC) Day Under the Oaks. Stroll through more than 150 booths as you find out about the college’s academic, cultural, and student-life offerings for both young and mature students. You can even register for classes on the spot. The college will also host the Native American Spring Celebration and the Hui Pulama Mau May Day Aloha Festival on the same day. So after you explore the SRJC exhibits, you can enjoy multicultural dances and other festivities. The free events will be held on May 7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., on the oak-lined SRJC campus in Santa Rosa. ¶

The gardens at Cornerstone Sonoma

The Good Life

I

f you’re a foodie with a taste for both adventure and home, Sunset magazine is probably on your coffee table—and

it could be in your weekend plans. The magazine is hosting the Sunset Celebration Weekend May 20–21, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., at Cornerstone Sonoma in Sonoma.

Meet celebrity chefs, enjoy gourmet food and wine, tour glamping-oriented exhibits, learn about smart-home technology in the Smart Cottage, and stroll through Cornerstone’s gardens. Tickets are $35–$125. Children’s tickets are free if acquired in advance or $5 at the gate.

Wine- and beer-tasting tickets will be available on site. For details, see cornerstonesonoma.com. ¶

Beloved Bivalves

A

www.sonomafamilylife.com

marine delicacy, oysters are one of our area’s claims to fame. Get your fix at Oysterpalooza, where you can have your bivalves barbecued or fried up in po boys. If not everyone in your clan is crazy about the sea creature, don’t worry. There will be smoked brisket tacos and tacos doprados, too, as well as a number of adult beverages, such as Lagunitas draft beers, local wines, and hurricanes. After you indulge, burn off calories dancing to high-energy bluegrass music by Dirty Cello, One Grass Two Grass, and The Sam Chase. The event will be held on May 28, noon–7 p.m., at Rocker Oysterfeller’s Kitchen and Saloon in Valley Ford. Advance adult tickets are $20 and may be purchased at oysterpalooza. brownpapertickets.com. Tickets at the door are $25 or $10 for ages 6–10; children ages 5 and under get in free.

See rockeroysterfellers.com for details. ¶

May 2017

SonomaFamilyLife 9

Teach about Trauma

An Open Letter from the Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools

By Steven D. Herrington, PhD

I

’d like to tell you about one of the greatest obstacles to the health, well-being, and educational success of Sonoma County’s youth: childhood trauma. Statistics suggest that nearly one in five children in our county has suffered two or more of these negative experiences, which range from death of a parent to physical or emotional abuse at home to extreme bullying at school. Research tells us that this exposure dramatically increases children’s risk for behavioral problems in school as well as challenges later in life, such as missed work, alcoholism, diabetes, heart disease, and even early death.

These are grim facts. But this is a hopeful article. That is because such negative outcomes have been shown to be preventable. Simple things such as a strong connection to a parent, teacher, or other caring adult can mean the difference between a child who overcomes his or her traumatic experiences and a child who suffers lifelong harmful consequences.

10 SonomaFamilyLife

As the Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools, my hope is that we as parents, educators, and community members can bring awareness about our power to change young lives for the better into our homes, doctors’ offices, and classrooms. To this end, I’d like to tell you more about the science around Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Nearly two decades ago, a landmark study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente found that ACEs have a lasting impact on children’s physical and mental health. They also are surprisingly common; nearly two-thirds of about 17,000 surveyed adults experienced at least one.

While it’s easy to think that only a certain segment of children are impacted by trauma, research makes it clear that youth in our most privileged and least privileged areas are susceptible to ACEs. Children who are exposed to four or more ACEs are 32 times more likely to have learning and behavioral problems.

Mistreated children are also more likely than their peers to be held back a grade, have poor attendance, and be placed in special education classes.

May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Sadly, we can’t always prevent a child from experiencing trauma. But once we know it is happening, we can respond with empathy and take action to ensure the child recovers to live a long, healthy life. That’s where you, as a caring parent, family

Adverse Childhood Experiences have a lasting impact on children’s physical and mental health. They also are surprisingly common. member, educator, or child caregiver, come in. Responsive caregiving, provided by trusted adults, can mitigate the effects of childhood stress, trauma, and neglect.

“Kids who do really well despite extreme adversity generally are able to point to somebody in their life who believed in them,” Brian Farragher, executive director of the Hanna Boys Center, said in a recent article published by the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE).

I’m proud that SCOE is participating in a new county initiative that strives to take the research on this matter and use it to help local children. The ACEs and Resiliency Fellowship is unique to Sonoma County. It seeks to give new tools to those on the frontlines— teachers, counselors, coaches, and nurses—to better help kids who have suffered traumatic experiences. If you have a group that is interested in learning more, consider setting up a training. More information about this collaborative effort can www.sonomafamilylife.com

be found at acesconnection.com/g/ sonoma-county-aces-connection.

My hope is that anyone who works with children will be aware of ACEs and their impact on student learning and behavior. I also hope that school leaders will take a systematic approach to providing trauma-informed care.

This includes, among other things: an investment in school leaders who are committed to trauma-informed care; professional development to help staff understand what trauma is and how it manifests itself; trauma-sensitive policies like Restorative Practices; and community collaboration.

Perhaps most important, schools need to be a safe place where students can heal, build resilience, and feel secure enough to learn.

This includes taking measures to build student self-esteem; providing a predictable structure with consistent routines; and, above all,

I hope that school leaders will take a systematic approach to providing trauma-informed care. giving students a sense that they belong and are cared for. Thankfully, this is what great teachers have always done best. Let’s work together as a community to build on these solid foundations and ensure a brighter and healthier future for all of our children. ¶ Steven D. Herrington, PhD, is the Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools. More information is available at scoe.org/files/ACES_ Bulletin_January_2017.pdf.

May 2017

Change your own

motor oil?

Then do the right thing !

Recycle BOTH the oil & filter!

Get Complete Oil Recycling Info & Free-Drop-Off Location Listings at RecycleNOW.org Or Call the EcoDesk at: (707 ) 565-3375

BIKES

BOATS

CARS

FARM

SonomaFamilyLife 11

Family Fun Visit with goats, chickens, and bees at Redwood Hill Farm.

All Eyes on Mom

Local Ways to Celebrate Her Big Day

T

Sebastopol Let your tree-huggin’, dirt-kickin’ gal spend the afternoon at the sustainable Redwood Hill Farm. During an educational tour May 13–14 (and May 21), 11 a.m.–2 p.m., she can learn how to feed, brush, and milk a goat as well as learn about the farm’s other inhabitants (bees and chickens) and crops, including olives, apples, and hops. Tours are $20 for adults and $10 for kids; ages 5 and under get in free. Reserve your space at redwoodhillfarm.org.

12 SonomaFamilyLife

Giorgia Bertazzi

here are very few things one can be sure of in life, but this much is true: Moms are tired. Every single one of them needs a day (month? year?) off.

Hence Mother’s Day. Not sure what to do to make the lady of your house feel special? Here are some ideas.

Benjamin Beilman plays the Green Music Center.

Rohnert Park Does Mom have an ear for classical music? Take her to listen to the soulful strains of Benjamin Beilman’s violin. The young winner of the prestigious 2014 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship and his accompanist, pianist Orion Weiss, will be performing pieces by Schubert, Janácek, and Bartok on May 14 at 3 p.m. in Schroeder Hall at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center.

Tickets are $30 and may be purchased at gmc. sonoma.edu.

May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

David Neft

Mikala Kennan

Stop and smell the flowers at the Russian River Rose Company.

Healdsburg Treat Mother to the fragrance of roses and the flutter of butterfly wings at the Russian River Rose Company. During the Mother’s Day open house on May 14, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., she and the clan can stroll under trellises bursting with blooms in the Rose Allee, or take in a deep breath in the Perfume Rose Fields. Flowers from the latter are used to make the company’s rose water, which you can sample via a spray or a rose sorbet. If you want to give Mom a flower to take home, you can purchase a rose or iris from the nursery. Admission is only a $2 donation.

Families are welcome, but leave home picnics and dogs. See russian-river-rose. com/events.html for more information.

Santa Rosa If you have the bucks to splurge, take your lady to the St. Francis Winery for a gourmet meal and some serious vino. Choose from salmon, duck, steak, or a pickled peach and burrata dish, each paired with a different St. Francis wine. Dinner will be served in elegant, farm-table style on May 14 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $195.69 per person and may be purchased at stfranciswinery. com. Reservations are required.

Sonoma Creative mamas will relish the opportunity to dress up as their favorite artists, performers, or even pieces of art for the Come As You Art gala, Sonoma Community Center’s annual fundraiser. Besides delighting Get wild for the in other revelers’ imaginative Come As You Art gala. wear, Mom can listen to live music by Vitamin Girl, indulge in cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, or throw some cash at the center’s projects during the Fund-a-Need “auction.” The 21-and-over event will be held at the center May 13, 6–9 p.m.; tickets are $100 and may be purchased at sonomacommunitycenter.org.

Proceeds go toward helping the center sustain its historic building as well as its arts and cultural programming. ¶ www.sonomafamilylife.com

May 2017

Take Action ✔Yardwork Done!

Check yardwork off your to-do list today We have all your lawn and garden equipment needs covered.

Aerators, Tillers & Dethatchers The region’s largest rental equipment provider with 4 Sonoma County locations.

Open 7 days a week

Santa Rosa 539-0707 • Windsor 838-4373 Healdsburg 431-3544 • Fulton 544-0501

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

• What did you like?

• What didn’t you like?

• What subjects would you like us to cover?

• Got any local story ideas? e-mail melissa@family-life.us

SonomaFamilyLife 13

May

Calendar of Events

¡Vamos a Celebrar!

T

hroughout Mexico and in the United States, Cinco de Mayo is a joyous affair. You can celebrate locally on the Windsor Town Green in Windsor. Listen to the band Orquesta La Original perform everything from mariachi to salsa while youth troupe Windsor Bloco drums up Latina rhythms and Ballet Folklorico dances in colorful costumes. Little ones can play a round of volleyball, try their hand at decorating maracas, or just mess around in a bouncy house.

Ride your bikes to the event, and enjoy the services of a free bike valet. There will be food and drink to refuel everyone. The event will be held on May 5, 5–8 p.m. ¶

Tuesday 2 FREE Celebrate Día de los Niños with Storyteller Olga Loya. 3:30

p.m. Rincon Valley Regional Library.

6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa. sonomalibrary.org.

Wednesday 3 FREE CoderDojo. Learn to code,

develop websites & games. Beginners welcome. Ages 8–17. Wednesdays. 4:30 p.m. Petaluma Regional Library. 100

Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. Register: coderdojopetaluma.org.

FREE Homework Help. Help with all subjects on a drop-in basis. Also May 10 & 17. Grades K–12. 5:30–7:30 p.m.

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

Petaluma Cinema Series. May

3: Green Is Gold. May 10: The Truman Show. May 17: Deadpool.

7 p.m. $5–$6. Santa Rosa Junior College. Petaluma Campus. 680

Ballet Folklorico

Sonoma Mountain Pkwy., Sonoma. petalumafilmalliance.org.

Thursday 4 The Chaotic Art of Life. A funny & thought-provoking play about 3 men & 2 women who confront their lives through art. Thru May 7. May 4–6: 7:30 p.m. May 7: 2 p.m. $18–$37. Sonoma Community Center. 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. sonomacommunitycenter.org.

Cloverleaf Ranch summer camp Open House: May 21st

cloverleafranch.com 14 SonomaFamilyLife

May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Junie B’s Essential Guide to School.

Musical based on Barbara Park’s popular book. $16–$21. Lap passes (for children 2 & under) are available for $5 on the day of the show only. 6:30 p.m. Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. lutherburbankcenter.org.

Hair & Skin Care for the Entire Family!

Champagne Hair Lounge

7981 Old Redwood Hwy. • Cotati

Special

Cut & Color $75 Special for 1st time clients.

Call for an appointment 707 665-5826 7 days a week

Songs for a New World. A

contemporary song cycle by Tony Award–winner Jason Robert Brown weaves characters & history together, illuminating the timelessness of self-discovery. Thru May 7. $26. May 4: 7:30 p.m. May 5 & 6: 8 p.m. May 7: 2 p.m. Spreckels Performing Arts Center. 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. tinyurl.com/mm82uo3.

Friday 5 First Friday Art Walk. Stroll through

SUMMER CAMPS AT SONOMA ACADEMY Week long sessions June 12–August 11 5th-8th graders Half & full day camps

Santa Rosa’s downtown & SOFA (South A Street) neighborhoods.

Richard Goode. Piano. 7:30 p.m. $35–$85. Sonoma State University.

Green Music Center. Schroeder Hall. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu.

Crazy, Awesome Science! Fridays.

2 p.m. $12 (admission to museum).

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

Located in Santa Rosa

Have fun, be challenged, learn new skills, & make new friends!

FREE Bodega Marine Laboratory

Essay Writing • Introduction to Robotics Scratch Programming • Storytelling Policy Debate • Basketball Lego Robotics • Sport-A-Palooza!

Arduino Robotics • Olympic Sports Outdoor Camping & Backpacking Skills Soccer & STEM • Javascript Programming Woodworking • Inventing • Baseball

Tours. Explore the dynamic

biodiversity of the Northern California coast. Fridays. 2–4 p.m. Bodega Marine Laboratory. 2099 Westshore Rd., Bodega Bay. bml.ucdavis.edu.

FREE Cuentos y Cantos—Bilingual Story & Play Time. Exploraremos cuentos, cantos y rimas en inglés y español. Explore books, songs & rhymes in both English & Spanish.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

Visit www.sonomaacademy.org for more information and to register.

May 2017

SonomaFamilyLife 15

Ages 0–5. Para edades 0–5. 11 a.m.– noon. Sebastopol Regional Library.

7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. sonomalibrary.org.

Tarzan. Disney musical. Thru May

21. Fridays–Sundays. Plus May 18.

Shows at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. Spreckels Performing Arts Center. 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. tinyurl.com/ mm82uo3.

FREE Cinco de Mayo. Orquesta

La Original band, Ballet Folklorico, Windsor Bloco. Kids’ activities & food & drink. 5–8 p.m. Windsor Town Green. 701 McClelland Dr., Windsor. townofwindsor.com.

Saturday 6 Castles & Kites. Fly

kites & build sand castles at the beach. Longtime

sand sculptors will be creating elaborate creations. 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Doran Regional Park. 201 Doran Beach Rd., Bodega Bay. parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov.

about growing food & taking care of the Earth. 11 a.m.–noon. Sebastopol Regional Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. sonomalibrary.org.

Art Spark. Every week there is a

& Salsa- & Beer-Tasting. 1–5

different craft, from printing to felting to building cars. Saturdays. 2–3 p.m.

Free with admission: $12. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org.

p.m. $10–$50. Benefits Cinnabar Theatre. Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds.

175 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. greatchilicookoff.com.

Nuestros Parques Hike. A bilingual naturalist will lead this free family walk. Walk: 10 a.m.–noon. Potluck picnic: 1 p.m. Walk: free. Parking: $7. Hood Mountain Regional Park.

1450 Pythian Rd., Santa Rosa. parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Occidental Community Choir. May 6–7 & May 12–13. May 6, 12 & 13: 8 p.m. May 7: 2 p.m. $15. (Except May 6: $10.) Kids under 12: free.

Occidental Performing Arts Center.

3850 Doris Murphy Ct., Occidental. occidentalchoir.org.

FREE Kids Garden Workshop.

FREE Healthy Living at the Library.

Gardening for kids & families. Learn

Rethink Your Drink. What you drink

Great Petaluma Chili Cook-Off

DNA: Music Is in Our Genes.

IT’S BEEN A FLIPPIN’ FANTASTIC FIRST YEAR AT SGA

sonoma

SUMMER CAMP THEMES

#1 local resource for for 25 years local families

June: Pirates 5-9, Circus 12-16, Luau 19-23, Patriotic 26-30 July: Medieval 10-14, Jungle 17-21, Character 24-28 August: Gymnastics Warrior 31-4, How It’s Made 7-11 707.343.1402 • 1620 Carneros Meadows Way, Ste. 108 • Sonoma www.sonomagymnasticsacademy.com

16 SonomaFamilyLife

LOCAL

magazine • web • email • events

May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

is as important as what you eat. Learn how much sugar could be in your drink & the various names that added sugar goes by. 2 p.m. Preregistration is required. Call 869-9004.

Guerneville Regional Library. 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Community Garage Sale. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Sonoma Community Center. 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma.

938-4626. sonomacommunitycenter.org.

Tidepool Talk. Free. Parking: $7. 11

a.m.–noon. Doran Regional Park. 201 Doran Beach Rd., Bodega Bay. parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Armstrong Redwoods/Austin Creek Run. 5K–50K. Thru May 7. 8 a.m. both days. $35–$65. Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve.

17000 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville. pctrailruns.com/event. aspx?dtid=9973.

Ages 5–12. Class: free. Parking: $7.

10 a.m. Doran Regional Park. 201 Doran Beach Rd., Bodega Bay. parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Sonoma County Human Race. 3K & 10K. 8 a.m. Various costs. Herbert Slater Middle School. 3500 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa. humanracenow.org.

FREE Sunday Boating at the Barn.

Borrow a rowboat, canoe, kayak, or sailboat & spend the afternoon on the Petaluma River. Sundays. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. David Yearsley River Heritage Center. 100 E. D St., Petaluma. friendsofthepetalumariver.org.

Sunday 7 FREE Petaluma Community Engagement Fair. Exhibition of

FREE Matsuri! Japanese Arts

local community, political, labor & environmental groups gathering together to create a better world.

Noon–4 p.m. Lucchesi Community Center. 320 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma.

Festival. Origami & martial

arts demos. Taiko drumming & folk-dancing performances. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Juilliard Park. Downtown Santa Rosa. sonomamatsuri.com.

FREE Day Under the Oaks. More than 150 booths share info about the college’s academic, cultural &

Learn to identify tracks of local species.

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student-life offerings. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Santa Rosa Junior College.

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

Monday 8 Mother’s Day Craft Table. Ages 3 & up. Thru May 13. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

(Except Sat: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.) Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library. 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park. sonomacounty.libcal.com.

Tuesday 9 FREE Toddler Time. Songs, rhymes,

finger plays & simple stories. Ages 18–36 mos. Tuesdays. 10:30 a.m.

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

Thursday 11 FREE Mindful Minis. Kids’ yoga &

meditation workshop. Playful yoga practice & exploration of mindfulness thru fun activities. Children will learn tools for home & school to increase awareness, self-esteem, balance & how to calm those busy minds. Ages

6–11. 4–5:30 p.m. Register by calling 838-1020. Windsor Regional Library.

9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Windsor. sonomalibrary.org.

Friday 12 Pippin. High-energy, award-winning musical follows the story of a young prince who longs to find passion & adventure in his quest to live an extraordinary life. $10–$15. Thru May 21. Presented by Cinnabar Theater’s Young Rep. Cinnabar Theater.

3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. cinnabartheater.org/pippin.

Bob O’Clock Variety Hour. A wild &

crazy homage to the great TV variety shows of the ’60s & ’70s. Must be 18 1/2 years old to attend. Thru May 13.

8 p.m. $20. Raven Theater. 115 North St., Healdsburg. raventheater.org.

Saturday 13 Mother’s Day Invasive Bouquet

Cindi Roddan

Workshop. Learn to identify native & nonnative wildflower species, harvest invasive species & make bouquets. All ages. Bring sturdy shoes, water, gloves, garden clippers & a hat or sunscreen.

May 13 & 14. 2–5 p.m. Class: $10.

Parking: $7. Ragle Ranch Regional Park. 500 Ragle Rd., Sebastopol. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Walk on the Wild Side. 4-mile guided

A Rosy Day

F

or over a century, the Luther Burbank Rose Parade and Festival has inspired the celebration of community. From the decorated floats to school marching bands, the event brims over with life. Hence this year’s theme: Life in Motion. The parade begins on May 20 at 10 a.m. at the corner of Sonoma Avenue and E Street. Then the action travels to downtown Santa Rosa, where festivalgoers will find live music, family activities, and a variety of food. For more information, including the parade route, see roseparadefestival.com. ¶

18 SonomaFamilyLife

flat hike. 9 a.m.–noon. Individual: $3.

Family: $5. Parking: $7. Tolay Lake Regional Park. 5869 Cannon Ln., Petaluma. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

FREE Poetry & Music of Jonah Raskin & Steve Shain. Poet & author

Raskin performs along with Shain, a string bass player & founding member of the Rohnert Park Symphony. 1–2 p.m. Cloverdale Regional Library.

May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

401 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. sonomalibrary.org.

Mother’s Day High Tea. Thru May 14. Scones, tea sandwiches, cupcakes & more. $24–$37. Tudor Rose English Tea Room. 733 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. tudorrosetearoom.com.

Redwood Hill Farm Tour. Learn how to feed, brush & milk a goat. Find out about the farm’s bees & chickens & crops, including olives, apples & hops. Also May 14 & 21. Adults: $20.

Kids: $10. Ages 5 & under: Free. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Redwood Hill Farm. 2064 Gravenstein Hwy., North Bldg. 1, Ste. 130, Sebastopol. redwoodhillfarm.org.

Come As You Art Gala. Annual

fundraiser. Dress up as your favorite artist, performer, or even piece of art.

Live music by Vitamin Girl. 21 & over.

6–9 p.m. $100. Sonoma Community Center. 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. sonomacommunitycenter.org.

Sunday 14 FREE Museum Admission. Mothers

get in free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org.

King Tuff. 7 p.m. $27. Parking is free

for motorcycles, full two-seaters, cars with 3 or more, or wine club members.

Others: $10. Gundlach Bundschu Winery. 2000 Denmark St., Sonoma. gunbun.com.

Mother’s Day Open House. Stroll in

the Rose Allee, visit Perfume Gardens, sample rose water. No picnics or dogs.

10 a.m.–5 p.m. $2 donation. Russian

SAFE SWIMMERS START HERE

River Rose Company. 1685 Magnolia Dr., Healdsburg. russian-river-rose.com.

Benjamin Beilman, violin. In concert with pianist Orion Weiss. Performing pieces by Schubert, Janácek & Bartok. 3 p.m. $30. Sonoma State University. Green Music Center.

Schroeder Hall. 1801 E. Cotati Ln., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu.

Winery Mother’s Day Dinner.

Choose from salmon, duck, steak, or a pickled peach & burrata dish, each paired with a different St. Francis wine. 6:30 p.m. $195.69. St. Francis Winery. 100 N. Pythian Rd., Santa Rosa. stfranciswinery.com.

Saturday 20 Sunset Celebration Weekend.

Celebrity chefs, gourmet food &

APR 30 10:30AM2:30PM

URJ Camp Newman's Family Fun Day & Open House with PJ Library®

REGISTER NOW FOR SWIM LESSONS

SONOMA COUNTY FAMILY YMCA 707-545-9622 x 3138 www.scfymca.org

Sonoma County Family YMCA 1111 College Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95404 • 707-545-9622 • F 707-544-7805 The Y is a non-profit Community Organization. Financial Assistance is available.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

You're invited to a FREE day of Israel-themed camp fun at Camp Newman in Santa Rosa! * Petting Zoo * Beach Games & Camp Sports * Hay Ride to Our Kibbutz/Farm * Make a Mosaic * Archaeology Dig Treasure Hunt * PJ Library Books & Story Time * Arts & Crafts *Israeli Boot Camp * Nature Walks

RSVP: CampNewman.org/event/openhouse May 2017

SonomaFamilyLife 19

wine, glamping exhibits, smart home technology. Thru May 21. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $35–$125. Children’s tickets are free if bought in advance or $5 at the gate. Wine- & beer-tasting tickets available on site. Cornerstone Sonoma. 23570 Arnold Dr., Sonoma. cornerstonesonoma.com.

Little Heroes 5K. Presented by the Children’s Tumor Foundation. 11 a.m.

5K (all ages): $30. Kids Fun Run: $15.

Proceeds support research for cure for neurofibromatosis. Spring Lake Park. 393 Violetti Rd., Santa Rosa.

Register: ctf.org/lhsantarosa.

Spring Family Hike. Hikes start on the

Luther Burbank Rose Parade &

hour: 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. Hikes: free.

Parking: $7. Spring Lake Regional Park. Environmental Discovery Center. 393 Violetti Rd., Santa Rosa. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Festival. Parade begins at 10 a.m. at corner of Sonoma Ave. & E St. Festival in downtown Santa Rosa. roseparadefestival.com.

FREE Hora de Cuentos para Niños/ Bilingual Storytime. Ages

0–5. ¡Bienvenidos a la Hora de Cuentos para Niños en español e inglés! Vamos a leer cuentos en español e inglés.

Para niños de 0–5 años. ¡Gratis! 10:15 a.m. Roseland Community Library.

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

FREE Santa Rosa Symphony Guitar & Flute. 2–3:45

p.m. Sebastopol Regional Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. sonomalibrary.org.

Peaceful Warriors. Explore yoga, meditation, chakras & affirmations.

Strengthen your body & mind.

Ages 11–14. 2 p.m. Limited to 12 participants. Register online, in person at the library, or by calling 433-3772. Healdsburg Regional Library. 139 Piper St., Healdsburg. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Wool Festival. Wool grading & trading, felting, spinning, weaving, demos, BBQ, live music. Thru May 21. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Shearing starts at 11 a.m. Casari Ranch. 42900 Curley Ln. (Hwy. 1), Point Arena. casariranch.com.

Sunday 21 Petaluma Kids Gran Fondo. Ride,

run, roll. 9 a.m. Lucchesi Park. 320 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. petalumakidsgrandfondo.com.

Wednesday 24 FREE Tinker Thinkers: Forces & Motion/Fuerzas y Movimiento.

Ages 5–12. Learn about basic physics concepts: friction, gravity & Newton’s First Law. 4 p.m. En este programa, los niños y sus familias aprenderán más sobre conceptos básicos de física como la fricción,

Mom & Dad Please Put Your Affairs in Order Be Prepared

Alison Wong is a mom and author of New Mom Comics, the must have handbook for new moms that offers a hilarious point of view on the every day realities of parenting. For more information visit newmomcomics.com.

20 SonomaFamilyLife

• • • • •

Nominate Guardians for Minors Wills & Revocable Living Trusts Powers of Attorney Meet at Your Home FREE Consultation

Evening & Weekend Appointments Available

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Maria Grace Wilson, Attorney at Law mgracewilson@mgracewilsonlaw.com

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It’s confidence for a lifetime!

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May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

la gravedad, y la Primera Ley de Newton. Para niños edades 5–12.

El Miércoles 24 de mayo. ¡Gratis!

Northwest Santa Rosa Regional Library. 150 Coddingtown Ctr., Santa Rosa. sonomalibrary.org.

Friday 26 Funky Fridays at the Hood. Kick off the summer concert series with The Bruthas. Bring a blanket or low-back chair & picnic. Beer & wine available for purchase (no outside alcohol). 5:30–9 p.m. Concert: free. Parking (at the Los Guilicos complex off of Pythian Rd.): $10.

Hood Mountain Regional Park. 1450 Pythian Rd., Santa Rosa. parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Saturday 27 FREE 12th Annual Strawberry Festival. Live

music by Osito, Jennerators, Buck-Thrifty. BBQ, strawberry desserts & mimosas.

Noon–5 p.m. Guerneville Community Church. 14520 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville. gcc-ucc.org.

Sunday 28

Monday 29

Oysterpalooza. BBQ

oysters, poor boys, smoked brisket tacos & tacos doprados. Lagunitas draft beers, local wines & hurricanes. Live, high-energy bluegrass music. 12:30–9 p.m. $10–$25. Ages 5 & under: free. Rocker Oysterfeller’s Kitchen & Saloon. 14415 Shoreline Hwy., Valley Ford. oysterpalooza2017. brownpapertickets.com.

Museum Mondays for Little Ones.

Stories, arts & crafts activities & movement games for children ages 1–5 & their caregivers. 10 a.m.–noon. $5 per child. Up to 2 adults per child are free before 11 a.m. After 11 a.m., regular museum admission ($8–$12) applies. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org.

DOES YOUR CHILD KNOW HOW TO SWIM? Lessons offered at Finley Aquatic Center & Ridgway Swim Center Register now:

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SonomaFamilyLife 21

Crafting with Kids

Plant a Present Shoe Pots Make Mom’s Day Special Shoe Pots

By Christina Katz

L

ooking for a Mother’s Day gift that is as much fun to make as it is to give? Then look no further. Shoe pots make great gifts and are a sure way to put a smile on Mom’s face.

1

Find the shoes. Head over to your local resale shop, and look for a pair of shoes Mom would love.

Nothing strappy or sandal-like—these shoes must hold some soil. A pair of pumps, sneakers, or boots works well.

Look for shoes that reflect Mom’s personality and favorite colors.

2

Gather glass beads. Pick up some glass beads at your local dollar store or craft supply shop. Look for ones that compliment the colors of your shoes. Avoid dark colors and clear beads, neither of which will pop against a dirt background.

3

Shop for flowers. The best types of plants for shoe pots are flower starts because they are small and allow for variety. (Unless you have a very large boot, you won’t be able to fit a fully-grown plant.) Alyssum, pansies, and fuchsia make great choices because they are inexpensive and come in many different colors.

Some starters may not have flowered

22 SonomaFamilyLife

yet, so combine them with those already flowering.

4

Drill holes in shoes. If you don’t drill drainage holes, the soil in your shoe pots will overflow every time you water them. To avoid this, drill several holes into the bottom of your shoe pots. Three or four larger holes work well if you can place them in the middle of the soles. If you do not have a suitable drill bit, use your screwdriver bit and a large screw to make holes. For heels with metal arch supports, drill six to seven smaller holes around the base of the shoe, where the shoe material meets the sole.

5

Prepare larger shoes. If you are using bigger shoes, such as boots, fill them with balled-up newspaper or packing peanuts in a sturdy plastic bag. To make sure water can flow down into the shoe and out the drainage holes, don’t cram materials in too tightly. This reduces the amount of potting soil you will

have to use in your shoe pots and helps keep them lighter.

6

Add plants to pots. Once you have decided on attractive plant combinations, loosen plants from pots and knock off as much soil from each root ball as you can.

Even after removing a good amount of soil, you likely will not need to add potting soil to small shoe pots.

Fill each shoe with as many types of flowers as you can.

7

Water your shoe pots. Don’t be afraid to get your shoe pots wet! First, tuck a bit of granular flower fertilizer down into the dirt. Then allow the shower of water to rinse dirt from the sides of pots. Insure drainage holes are working as they should.

8

Top your planters with glass beads. For maximum impact, press glass beads into any dirt that is showing atop your shoe pots.

These beads will act as mulch to help preserve moisture after watering. But the best reason to add them is because they add more color and pizzazz to your gifts. ¶ Christina Katz is an author, journalist, and writing coach.

May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Cooking with Kids

Fast & Fresh Make Dinner in a Flash

By Momma Chef

Herbed Salmon Butternut

Looking for simple and tasty recipes for you and your family? Here are delicious dishes that require no more than six ingredients and six minutes of prep time.

Directions Mix together dry ingredients and rub on salmon. Pour marinade over salmon and bake at 350°F uncovered for 20 minutes.

Herbed Salmon

Butternut Squash Soup

This is a fabulous weeknight family meal, simple and tasty. I suggest keeping the marinade stocked in your refrigerator.

Ingredients ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon brown sugar ½ tablespoon chili powder 1 ½–2 pounds boneless salmon filet ¼ cup Whole Foods Mediterranean Herb Marinade

Salmon Prep Tips 1. If you are using skin-on salmon, spray pan with Pam so skin won’t stick to pan.

2. If you can’t find the Whole Foods marinade, use ¼ cup olive oil and a squirt of lemon juice.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

I know it’s probably not fair for me to toot my own horn, but this is hands down the best butternut squash soup you will ever make! Not to mention it’s unbelievably easy to prepare. I like to add cream cheese to give the soup a rich texture. But if you want to make it dairy-free, you can put in ½ cup of your favorite milk substitute, and the soup will still be delish! Make sure to add the cream cheese or milk substitute

3. If after 20 minutes the timer beeps and the salmon is ready to come out of the oven while simultaneously your youngest boy is peeing on the carpet, ignore the peeing situation and immediately take the salmon out of the oven. (Yes, this actually happened to me.) No matter what, don’t overcook salmon!

May 2017

Squash Soup when the soup is done cooking, right before it’s blended.

Ingredients 1 chopped onion 1 tablespoon olive oil 32 ounces cubed butternut squash 1 box (32 ounces) vegetable broth 8 ounces water 8-ounce low-fat cream cheese 1/3 cup brown sugar Directions In a large saucepan, sauté the onion in olive oil over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add cubed butternut squash, mix, and cook another 2 minutes. Add the vegetable broth and water. Cover partially and cook over medium heat for 25 minutes until butternut squash is very tender.

Puree squash, cream cheese, and brown sugar in a blender, food processor, or soup emersion in batches until smooth. Serves 8. ¶ Karen Nochimowski, aka Momma Chef, is a mother of three active boys (ages 12, 8, and 5). Find her recipes at mommachef.com and at facebook.com/ themommachef.

SonomaFamilyLife 23

Camps

Camps

Camps

La Cantera

Camps

FANWAR LARP

Training & Day Camp

Racquet & Swim Club

Live Action Role Playing!

Summer & Afterschool Junior Tennis Programs

kids learn to act out stories & adventures in an imaginary world.

Ages 8–18

Super Kids Camp At Sonoma State University

707-569-4859 Sebastopol fanwar.com

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

Afterschool Mon. & Wed. 4 Classes - $50

707-664-4FUN

superkidscamp@sonoma.edu www.sonoma.edu/campusrec/programs/skc

Summer Tennis Camps and Summer Swim Lessons Call or go online for our brochure!

Got Art? We Do!!!

544-9494

3737 Montgomery Dr. Santa Rosa

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

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Visit our website www.srunited.com Or contact Roy at camps@srunited.com

Celebrating 25 Years

Classes • Camps Birthday Parties 5435 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park • 285-2002 www.scribblesandgigglesart.com

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June 12 – 16

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24 SonomaFamilyLife

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Summer Overnight Camps for Kids and Teens ages 7-15

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

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Engineering Lab Stretchy Science Simple Machines Survival Science Ideas Into Action Mix O’Science Santa Rosa, Rincon Valley 6/12–7/28; M–F; 9am–3pm siGn up: Santa Rosa Rec. Parks & Cmnty Srvcs: (707) 543-3737 Questions: (707) 793-2251 kidscienceadventures.com

For students entering 3rd – 6th grades

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10AM – 12PM

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Office The Y isConfidence, a non-profit community based organization. and Cognitive 3273 Airway Dr., Santa Rosa • Lic. #493009227YMCA Program 707.544.1829 Financial Assistance is available. www.latticepreschool.com Academic Skills.

Program of First United Methodist Church 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.

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

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

Financial Assistance is available.

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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.

Like Us On Facebook May 2017

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SonomaFamilyLife 25

Humor Break

Clean Is a Dirty Word

The Blessings of a Messy House

By Holly Hester

O

n a daily basis, our messy house really depresses me. I mean, before I had kids, I was a clean person.

How did I let this happen? I just can’t seem to keep up with the mess—and my kids (and husband, let’s be honest) are like the worst, most disgruntled maid service you would ever want to have. I knew something had to change.

And it turns it out it was my perspective.

It all happened one day when I put an enormous pile of laundry in front of the washing machine. I was procrastinating sorting it, when our youngest son, August, started to jump over the pile. His brother and sister joined in and for a good hour my kids played a rousing game of “jump over the Daddy dirty underwear pile”—far worse than any pool of hot lava, from what I am told. (By the way, the pile of dirty laundry was not just my husband’s underwear. Preparing to wash hundreds and hundreds of my husband’s dirty underwear would be a very different post and possibly on some medical website.)

I sat back happily watching them fly through the air and thought, “They’re learning balance, coordination, and how to work as a team. None of this would have been possible if I had done the laundry any sooner.”

26 SonomaFamilyLife

It made me wonder what other valuable skills my kids would have if I just gave up cleaning entirely. Here are a few I’ve come up with: Clutter Treasure Hunt Why wait until once a year on kids’ birthdays to provide them with this engaging activity? You don’t even have to buy

A dusty countertop is perfect for finger-painting. any prizes for this version. The prize is simply a missing shoe or puzzle piece or a spoon—whatever your child is desperately searching for because nothing is ever in the right place in a messy house. This also provides another very necessary life skill—determination.

Refrigerator Round Up What do kids learn by getting food out of a clean fridge? Absolutely nothing. But digging through a fridge of half-rotten food not only develops children’s sense of taste and smell, it also expands their vocabulary with words and phrases such as “stench” and “expiration date” and “botulism.”

Dusty Little Picasso You buy a 12-pack of play dough. Your kids play with it for 20 minutes, leave

the lids off, and by the next day you’ve got to go out and buy more. You feel guilty because you want your kids to be creative, but you hate to see them waste art supplies. The solution? Never dust again. A dusty countertop is perfect for all your children’s finger-painting needs, and, in addition, they can practice writing.

Garbage Gross-Out Garbage left unattended quickly becomes a scientific teachable moment.

Things are biodegrading, spores are everywhere, and if you’re lucky, maggots appear, too. I also highly recommend it as a strength-building exercise for teens. Carrying a 40-pound sack of reeking, maggot-filled garbage at arm’s length all the way to the can outside is amazing for the triceps and abs.

I hope this helps you feel better about whatever state your house is currently in. Know that you’re not scarring your children forever because all your hangers aren’t facing the same direction. In fact, you just might be helping them.

And if for some reason all of this doesn’t make you feel better about your mess, just watch Hoarders. That show always makes me feel like I’m a neat freak. ¶ Holly Hester lives in Sebastopol and writes about life on her blog, Riot Ranch. Find her book, Escape from Ugly Mom Island!, on Amazon.

May 2017 www.sonomafamilylife.com

25 OFF $

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CARPET • TILE & GROUT • HARDWOOD • FURNITURE AREA RUG • 24 HOUR WATER RESTORATION Minimum charges apply. Not valid in combination with other coupons or offers. Valid at participating locations only. Carpet up to 350 sq. ft., tile & grout and hardwood up to 250 sq. ft. Natural stone in-home estimate only. Certain restrictions may apply. Call for details.

ANY CLEANING SERVICE $

200 OR MORE

Expires: 4/30/17 5/31/17 Promo Code: MAY17 APR17

Summer Classes Art, crafts, cartooning, LEGO Animation, and even ice skating at the Charles M. Schulz Museum!

June 5–August 11 Reserve your space online www.schulzmuseum.org/learn or call

(707) 284-1272

BIRTHDAY

SAFARI

Take a walk on the wild side!

An Educational Adventure

Meet all of our animal ambassadors SCHOOLS • PARTIES • EVENTS

Choose from VIP, Standard, or Reptile HAVE A REALLY WILD BIRTHDAY!

$75 OFF

GIVE THEM A SUMMER OF FUN! initiation fee with the mention of this ad

SUMMER MEMBERSHIPS, SWIM LESSONS & CAMPS AVAILABLE NOW CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION WWW.WIKIUPCLUB.COM 707-544-2330

707-529-9489

www.classroomsafari.org www.sonomafamilylife.com

May 2017

SonomaFamilyLife 27

Struggling in school is last year.

so

GET STARTED this summer for a better school year. Pick up the phone and schedule a comprehensive Cognitive Skills Assessment for your child.

• Identify specific weak skills that may be holding your child back • Learn the “why” behind your child’s struggles • Gain invaluable insights into the next-best-steps for your child

Find out WHY your child is struggling—and get started turning old struggles into new smiles!

Call today and get a Cognitive Skills Assessment for just $100—that’s 50% off the regular price.

LearningRx Santa Rosa

LearningRx Petaluma

In the Copper Dome Building 100 Brush Creek Road, Suite 102 (707) 890-3200 www.learningrx.com/santa-rosa

In the Adobe Creek Shopping Center at Lakeville Hwy. & McDowell Blvd.

(707) 781-7373 www.learningrxpetaluma.com