Sonoma Family Life May 2022 by familylifemag

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May 2022

B-Day Party 20 locations

Vegan in Minutes Chickpea salad

Camp 101 What to ask staff

Little Luxuries Self-care for moms

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUTH VACCINES Clinics hosted in partnership between County of Sonoma, Sonoma County Office of Education, and local school districts

Learn more at scoe.org/vaccines

Parents, guardians, and youth interested to learn more about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to visit our website

COVID-19 vaccine clinics are currently available at school sites around Sonoma County for students ages 5+ and their families

LIFE IS BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE A PLAN, LET’S TALK LA VIDA ES MEJOR CUANDO TIENES UN PLAN, DÉJAME AYUDARTE CON EL TUYO ■ HOME ■ AUTO

■ LIFE

■ BUSINESS

*YO SOY UN AGENTE DE FARMERS* PERO MIS PUBLICACIONES SON MIAS Y NO SON DECLARACIONES NI RÉSPALDOS POR O PARA FARMERS® PARA MAS INFORMACION VISITA MI SITIO WEB DE MI FARMERS INSURANCE®

ROBERT STROUD FARMERS INSURANCE LUZ MARIA VEGA | OFFICE: 707-546-2010 CA LICENSE NUMBER | 4052502

SUMMER CAMPS DAY CAMPS

SPORTS CAMPS

SPECIALTY CAMPS Calling adventure seekers, animal lovers, budding engineers, and all kids who love to explore new and different activities! Pick one—or two—that’s just right for your camper.

Join the generations who have grown up with our popular day camps! Sign up for Doyle Adventure Camp where campers take excursions aboard CityBus and enjoy canoeing, swimming, games, crafts, special events, and more.

Archery & Sword Campers get their bodies moving and gain confidence on and off the field! Children with all levels of sporting ability are welcome.

Animal Vet Bicycle Adventure Engineering Fencing Kamp Kennedy KidScience Adventure

Basketball

Outdoor Adventure

Cheer & Dance

UCP Camp Kaos

Dodgeball Flag Football Multi-Sports Pickleball Soccer Volleyball

View camp dates and register at SantaRosaRec.com

May 2022

Every Issue

10 Features 10 Beat Homeschool Boredom Tips for keeping kids engaged.

12 Why STEAM Rocks Interconnected disciplines are the key to learning.

14 Great Charter Schools Here’s what really matters.

16 Let’s Party! There are plenty of places to have a great birthday.

22 Summer Camp 101 Questions to ask camp staff.

26 Sensitive Ones Some kids feel the emotions of everyone around them.

Dear Reader

Cooking with Kids Vegan in Minutes

Bits and Pieces Make a Paper Iris Learn about the Earth High Tea for Mom Explore Science at a Fair Budding Birders Say “Cheese!”

34 Calendar of Events 40 Humor Break Missing in Forever 21

28 Birth without Fear Advice from a veteran obstetrician.

30 Little Luxuries How to squeeze some mom-fun into your day.

32 Kid-Chaos vs. Parental Order A local karate teacher shares a bit of his parenting philosophy.

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7 May 2022

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Santa Rosa Symphony’s AT SONOMA ACADEMY!

SUMMER MUSIC ACADEMY JULY 11-29: 9AM-3PM

For beginning & experienced students

WEEK 1: JUNE 27-JULY 1, THEME: ENCANTO WEEK 2: JULY 11-15, THEME: ROYAL BALL WEEK 3: JULY 25-29, THEME: SAFARI ADVENTURE Meet Real Live Animals with Classroom Safari!

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

WEDNESDAY=MOVIE DAY! FRIDAY=BOUNCE HOUSE DAY!

Photo: Susan and Neil Silverman Photography Sponsored by Family and Friends of Sonja Coyman-Myklebust

(707) 546-7097 x219 www.srsymphony.org

Karate is the BEST thing you can DO for Your Child!

8465 Old Redwood Hwy. Windsor (707) 228-2819 • www.studiow.dance

COMMUNITY LEARNING IN THE HEART OF SANTA ROSA

THE SCHOOL THAT GROWS WITH YOU! Give your child the BEST start to life there is! Get 2 Weeks of FREE Lessons and a FREE uniform 50% Off Enrollment for a Limited Time

“My daughter has grown so much in her confidence and willingness to step forward and help. For someone who is only 4 years old she has more courage and confidence than some adults.” —Justin Overshiner, Rosie age 4, Santa Rosa Your child will develop supreme confidence, incredible self-control, laser sharp focus, exceptional fitness, rock solid self-respect, improved grades, and relief from pandemic stress.

Call Now (707) 575-1681

or visit our website AskAboutKarate.com Shotokan Karate Leadership School® At the corner of Marlow and Piner Roads

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• Project Based Learning • Multi-age, Developmental Classrooms • Environmental Education • Social Emotional Learning • Public Magnet School • K-4 for 2022/23 Growing a Grade a Year

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ALL GRADES K-4 (707) 890-3869 | 203 S. A St. www.srcschools.org/learninghouse May 2022

SonomaFamilyLife 5

Dear Reader

his month is for you, Mom! Check out our Bits & Pieces section (pages 8–9 and 41) and our Calendar of Sharon Gowan Events (page 34) for Publisher/Editor Sharon@family-life.us ways to celebrate your special day. Need some self-care? Read “Little Luxuries” (page 30) for simple, creative ways to make body and spirit feel good. If only Mother’s Day lasted, well, forever—or at least a week. But, alas, after your “day off” it’s back to planning the summer. And, if you haven’t already, now is the time to sign up the kids for camp. Once you’ve chosen their special hangout, read “Summer Camp 101” (page 22) for tips on what to ask camp staff.

Many parents worry that, over break, their kids will forget much of what they’ve learned during the school year. The solution? A little homeschooling. “Beat Homeschool Boredom” (page 10) offers ideas on how to keep lessons fresh. June and July are great times for field trips, for instance, or to teach life skills like how to change the oil in the family car. All work and no play is a set-up for an unhappy crew. So be sure to make room for entertainment. Does someone in your brood have a birthday coming up? Check out “Let’s Party!” (page 16) for a list of places you can celebrate without breaking the bank. We hope your May is full of fun delights—and flowers for Mom!

Marketing/ Sales/Events Patricia Ramos 707-205-1539 patty@family-life.us

Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us

Contributing Writers Marty Callahan Katy M. Clark Christopher Emdin Tanni Haas Christina Katz Alan Lindemann Tom Miller Heather Nardi Dolores Smyth Laura Theodore

Billing Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office P.O. Box 351 Philo, CA 95466 (707) 205 1539

Gershwin’s Magic Key Sunday, June 5– 3 pm Weill Hall, Green Music Center Bobby Rogers, conductor Classical Kids Live!

Sponsored by The Alan and Susan Seidenfeld Charitable Trust, and Victor and Karen Trione

Tickets: $20/adult; $10/youth srsymphony.org (707) 546-8742 See srsymphony.org for current COVID protocols.

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Cooking with Kids

Vegan in Minutes Plant Protein Pumps Up This Salad By Laura Theodore

hether you are an accomplished vegan chef or just learning the craft of creating pleasing plant-based meals for your family, it is essential to find recipes that are delicious and easy to prepare. This nourishing recipe nicely fits the bill. ¶ Recipe reprinted, with permission, from Easy Vegan Home Cooking by Laura Theodore (Hatherleigh Press, 2022), hatherleighpress.com. Laura Theodore is a nationally recognized television personality, podcast radio host, celebrity PBS vegan chef, and award-winning cookbook author. She is co-creator of the highly successful Jazzy Vegetarian cooking series on national public television, and she is host of the Jazzy Vegetarian podcast on Unity Online Radio. Laura has made guest appearances on The Talk on CBS, Insider/ Entertainment Tonight, and the WCBS Radio Health Report. She has been featured in the New York Times, New York Daily News, Mother Earth Living, VegNews, Family Circle, Readers Digest, and PBS Food, among other highly respected news, food, and lifestyle-related journals.

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Chickpea & Artichoke Salad Prep Time: 20 minutes Refrigeration Time: 2 to 3 hours

1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

Ingredients

1 8

1 can (14 to 15 ounces) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2 to 3 ounces baby spinach, finely chopped 6 sweet mini peppers (or 1 medium sweet red or orange bell pepper), seeded and thinly sliced 1 can (14 to 15 ounces) water-packed baby artichoke hearts, drained and chopped 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons maple syrup 2 tablespoons good-quality balsamic vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice

May 2022

/ teaspoon garlic powder salt, to taste

Directions Put the chickpeas, spinach, mini pepper slices, artichoke hearts, olive oil, maple syrup, vinegar (or lemon juice), optional paprika, and garlic powder into a large bowl. Gently stir together with a large spoon to thoroughly combine. Taste and add salt and pepper, as desired. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours to allow the flavors to develop. Divide between four to six bowls and serve. Serves: 4 to 6

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Bits & Pieces

Make a Paper Iris

his time of year, the velvety purple petals of irises dot Sonoma County hills. Teens and adults can make their own versions of this spring flower at a Paper Iris Folding virtual class. Sponsored by Sonoma County Library, the class will teach participants a traditional paper crafting technique from Holland. This free class will be held on May 10, 6–7 p.m. Participants must register by May 5 to receive the required free craft kit. Register at tinyurl. com/2p9ebz5a. ¶

Learn about the Earth

ow do we get kids to take care of the planet? By helping them to enjoy it. Such is the philosophy of Envirichment, a nonprofit group that offers hands-on educational activities that encourage children to interact and care for the environment. On May 28, 10 a.m.–noon, Envirichment staff will bring pond-exploration activities to the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa. The event is free with admission ($11–$14 or free for babies 0–11 months). Find out more at cmosc.org. ¶

High Tea for Mom

here’s tea, and then there’s high tea. In the English tradition, high tea includes not only tea but also finger sandwiches, cookies, and, of course, scones and clotted cream. Floral china is usually also involved. Moms are invited to point their pinkies up and take part in the social ritual May 7–8, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Mother’s Day High Tea at the Tudor Rose English Tea Room in Santa Rosa. Tea is $33 for ages 11 and older and $26 for ages 10 and younger. Reservations are recommended and may be made at tudorrosetearoom.com/ mothers-day.html. ¶

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Explore Science at a Fair

iology, engineering, computer science. These are just a few of the subjects kids will encounter at the annual free North Bay Science Discovery Day. With more than 100 hands-on activities, the annual fair aims to encourage kids to explore the many dimensions of science, including chemistry, technology, and math. It will be held on May 15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. Admission and parking are free. Masks and proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test are required for entry. See northbayscience.org for details. ¶

North Bay Science Discovery Day

Budding Birders

ost people find birdsong pleasant. A growing body of research even shows that it improves mental health. Give kids a chance to listen to it and find out more about their feathered friends at the Budding Birders Family Bird Walk. At the event, which will be held at the Environmental Discovery Center at Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa, naturalists will lead little ones ages 4–10 in hands-on educational activities. The walk is free; parking is $7. Registration is not required. Accommodations will be made for those with disabilities. Call 707-565-2041 for accessibility information. To find out more about the event, go to tinyurl.com/yxd644am. ¶

Say “Cheese!”

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CHOU PHOTOGRAPHY

ans of the British stop-motion animation series Wallace & Grommit know what happens when Wallace gets a “bit peckish”: He heads straight for cheese. If he were actually human, he’d probably ecstatically taste his way through the Artisan Cheese Festival. The annual celebration of all things cheese will feature more than 60 artisan producers showcasing their wares, which will include not only numerous California cheeses but also local wines and brews. The festival will be held on May 7, noon–4 p.m., at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. Tickets are $60 for ages 13 and older and $30 for ages 5–12. Go to artisancheesefestival.com for more information. ¶ May 2022

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the teacher to get back to work feeling refreshed. For little learners, look for fun, clean YouTube videos that they can dance to. Jack Hartmann’s Kids Music Channel is a popular choice for educational music videos that get young kids dancing and singing along.

Beat Homeschool 5 Ways to Get Boredom Out of a Rut By Dolores Smyth

hether you’re new to homeschooling or a seasoned pro, you’re likely excited by the chance homeschooling gives you to teach your kids one-on-one and tailor a curriculum to meet their individual learning needs. But as weeks turn into months, your homeschooling routine may have become, well, too routine. If you’ve noticed your kids getting glassy-eyed during homeschool, try these five ways to liven up your lessons. 1. Change the scenery. Sometimes all you need to breathe new life into an activity is a different setting. If possible, set up a table and chairs or lay down a blanket outdoors in a spot that’s conducive to teaching your day’s lesson. You can also explore teaching some of your lessons at a bookstore, a park, or a local library where patrons are allowed to sit and talk quietly. 10 SonomaFamilyLife

Another way to switch up your homeschool setting is to redecorate. You can join your student in renovating your classroom or let your kid take the creative reigns. Encouraging your kids to make their desks their own can make learning from that space more enjoyable. 2. Get moving indoors or out. If your homeschoolers are increasingly misbehaving or unmotivated, try getting them moving to reinvigorate and refocus. Physical activity lifts the mood and allows both the student and May 2022

Sometimes all you need to breathe new life into an activity is a different setting. For older homeschoolers, a casual walk around the block may be all they need to get centered. If you’re up for a more spirited option, your older kid may get a kick out of challenging you to a karaoke-style sing-along from one of the many playlists available online. 3. Take a field trip! Think back to when you were a kid and looked forward to one of the most exciting school activities there was: a field trip. As a homeschooling parent, you now get the chance to combine fun and learning by planning a field trip that immerses your learner in a topic you’re teaching. For examples, a science chapter on animals calls for a trip to a farm; or a history lesson is brought to life with a visit to a historical site from the era you’re studying. Broaden a lesson on world culture with a trip to a cultural festival or restaurant serving foreign cuisine. A lesson on world religions flourishes when you explore ways to respectfully visit a religious institution or a museum featuring religious art exhibits. And a day at the beach becomes an educational endeavor www.sonomafamilylife.com

when you incorporate hands-on discussions on landforms, tides, and sea life. 4. Plan a family tree project. One lesson that your child will remember for a lifetime is a “my heritage” project. Here, help your learner jot down five questions about your family ancestry and create a family tree that stretches as far back as you know. Then visit or call relatives who can answer those questions and fill in any missing information from your family tree. This project is about more than just names and dates. It promotes bonding with relatives, new and especially old. It also fosters an appreciation for one’s roots and the struggles that older relatives may

have overcome to give your family a brighter future. 5. Make it a life skills day. If taking a break from homeschooling for the day is in order, consider spending the school day teaching your

One lesson that your child will remember for a lifetime is a “my heritage” project.

to the not-so-distant past by having her or him watch you write a check, affix a stamp, and stick it in the mailbox for snail mail delivery. More advanced skills include showing your kid how to operate a washing machine and dryer, and how to change a car’s oil or fill up a tire. (Be sure to explain why both tasks are important.) Also, a trip to the grocery store with a shopping list, a budget, and coupons can be a great lesson in financial literacy.

kid invaluable life skills. After all, your kid may be more eager to learn how to prepare a basic meal or sew a button than to dive into math.

No matter the homeschooling stage you’re in when you (inevitably) hit a rut, you have the flexibility to change things up. Happy homeschooling! ¶

Easy life skills include how to repot a plant, draft an email, or pay a bill online. You can take your kid on a trip

Dolores Smyth is a homeschooling mom and parenting writer.

Join Our Community Apple Blossom Elementary School

Our mission is to nurture our students’ creative and critical thinking, academic proficiency, global awareness, appreciation for diversity and respect for themselves and others in a continually changing technological world.

Grade levels: TK-5 • Small class sizes: TK-3 average 20 and grades 4 & 5 average 26 Interactive, project-based learning • On-site pre-school Before and after-school care ART, MUSIC, GARDENING, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Art of Academic Excellence 707.823.1041 www.twinhillsusd.org

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700 Watertrough Rd. Sebastopol, CA, 707.823.6278 twinhillsusd.org

May 2022

SonomaFamilyLife 11

I needed to embrace these different subjects to understand how “life,” the subject of biology, truly works. We try to teach certain skill sets to our students, but there are many ways to approach a subject or create the type of relevance that supports rigor. We need to be sure to include the arts as we think about student motivation and the ways that students may plug into an activity.

Why STEAM The Multiple Dimensions Rocks of a Good Education By Christopher Emdin

hy is it that a student cannot memorize multiplication tables, but can memorize dozens of raps, rhymes, and songs? It has taken us far too long to recognize that there is a difference between rigorous knowledge and mere regurgitation. Memorization drills do not work. What does work are activities that engage students emotionally and connect to what they already know. This is where the A in STEAM sparkles. Teaching STEM concepts using the arts not only connects to students’ lives but also taps into their existing identities. And in doing so, it extends that identity to include a STEM identity. The division of disciplines ends up hurting people. If we truly examine all the separate disciplines, they share many of the same skills. It is not that you are a math or history or English person; every one of those specialties uses critical thinking. Everybody 12 SonomaFamilyLife

needs to collaborate. Everybody needs to be creative. My biology advisor when I was an undergraduate told me, “If you want to be a biologist, you need to be an English major. You need to be a statistician. You need to be a historian.” She explained to me that May 2022

We need to step back and look at the humanity of the children in front of us. Several years ago, I attended an “Influencers Dinner” at Columbia. The guest list included noted scientists, businesspeople, politicians, and other community members. Over the course of the evening, we all had to guess what everyone else did, without giving away our own profession. As you can imagine, everybody missed the mark— by a lot. Then we had to share what we wanted to do with our lives. One of the attendees, Dr. Joachim Frank, a Nobel Prize–winning chemist, admitted that his dream is to be a fiction writer. Intrigued, I asked him to tell me more about his interest in fiction. His imagination and creativity, he said, have been developed through his fiction. By exploring literature, writing, and art, he has created a form of “peripheral vision”—an ability to look toward the edges and fringes— that informs his scientific research. When an experiment does not work or a hypothesis fails, he looks to the more humanistic pursuits in his life for inspiration. As he explained, the big, Nobel Prize–level breakthroughs www.sonomafamilylife.com

happen because something unexpected influences his thinking. We need to look at scientists as whole people who can tap into these nontraditional domains. Similarly, we need to step back and look at the humanity of the children in front of us. How do we honor the

We try to teach certain skill sets to our students, but there are many ways to approach a subject. non-STEM attributes of young folks and use those as starting points for joining the STEM-STEAM world? This humanistic consideration is what will transfer to the next year, the next classroom, and to a future career. If we support young people

as they examine, think critically, and form a human connection to the material, they are far more likely to remember it. We remember what we feel. We need to teach from this STEAM-based point of view. ¶ Excerpted, with permission, from STEM, STEAM, Make, Dream: Reimagining the Culture of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics by Christopher Emdin, Ph.D. Christopher Emdin, PhD, is the Robert A. Naslund Endowed Chair in Curriculum and Teaching and Professor of Education at the University of Southern California (USC), where he also serves as director of youth engagement and community partnerships at the USC Race and Equity Center. He previously served

as director of the Science Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University, and alumni fellow at the Hiphop Archive and Hutchins Center at Harvard University. The creator of the #HipHopEd social media movement and Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S., Emdin has previously been named Multicultural Educator of the Year by the National Association of Multicultural Educators, and has been honoroed as a STEM Access Champion of Change by the White House. He also served as a Minorities in Energy Ambassador for the US Department of Energy. He is the author of STEM, STEAM, Make, Dream (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Ratchetdemic (Beacon Press), and For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood…and the Rest of Ya’ll Too (Beacon Press).

HAVE YOU FOUND THE PERFECT KINDERGARTEN FOR YOUR CHILD? Summerfield is the place. Apply now for fall!

summerfieldwaldorf.org

APPLY NOW FOR 2022-23 www.sonomafamilylife.com

May 2022

SonomaFamilyLife 13

Student-Focused Instructional Planning Effective charter schools teach students where they are, not where they should be based on their age or grade-level. This occurs by having clear prevention and intervention systems that assess students’ strengths, learning styles, and interests. Additionally, those same systems are applied to help students build the necessary strategies and skills to be more successful

Great Charter Schools 5 Winning Characteristics to Look For By Tom Miller

y journey into public charter schools and learning about the characteristics of effective schools began in 2008 when I was an Exceptional Children’s teacher. I later became the director of a rural charter middle school. It was during this time, while writing my dissertation on charter schools, that my “leadership lid” was lifted as I spent time in five high-performing K–8 public charter schools. As a result of this experience and my 2011 research, I discovered these five characteristics of effective charter schools. Clear School Mission Effective public charter schools understand and live their mission daily. From the governing board to the families, they are intentional with 14 SonomaFamilyLife

communicating the mission at every opportunity. The mission lives through succession planning, stable school leadership, effective teachers, and highly engaged parents. May 2022

Effective public charter schools understand and live their mission daily. in the classroom. By having such a clear education plan in place, teachers can master their craft and implement these plans with fidelity. Effective schools do not waiver from their clearly defined education plan; they tweak it based on the results, closing the achievement gap for all. Multiple Levels of Parent Engagement Being schools of choice, public charter schools count on building strong relationships with their parents and community. Effective charter schools engage their parents and community as partners in the school’s programs and success. These relationships grow through intentionality, purpose, and transparency. From working side-by-side while building the school to teaching classes, the formula is simple: be clear and deliver on promises.

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RELENTLESSLY PURSUING EXCELLENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS “Real Time” Site-Based Decisions Effective charter schools have built operating systems that continually inform leadership about what is working and what is not. These leaders trust their “on the ground” staff to make decisions based on what is best for students and the organization. These systems create speed, flexibility, and the potential to gain competitive advantage by responding to an event soon after it occurs. These “real-time” decisions bring value to the organization and improve customer relations.

Be clear and deliver on promises. Strategic Personnel Decisions Effective charter schools develop strong processes to recruit, hire, and retain dedicated, mission- and value-oriented members. Through autonomy, they can provide their current staff expanded professional opportunities without an inflexible process that school districts may incur. As a result, school leaders intentionally build leadership capacity in the teachers and staff who are carrying the school through the development of innovative school-improvement initiatives.

LIMITED NUMBER OF INTER-DISTRICT TRANSFERS AVAILABLE. CONTACT SCHOOLS FOR MORE INFORMATION.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS Yulupa Primary School Strawberry Intermediate School TK-Third 2250 Mesquite Drive, Santa Rosa 707 542-6272

Children must be five on or before Sept. 1, 2022 to be eligible for kindergarten. Two-year Kinder Bridge program offered for children turning five on or after Sept. 2, 2022.

707-542-2201 • LEARN MORE AT WWW.BVUSD.ORG

Their future begins with a great education. Register now for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten in the 2022-23 school year.

Albert F. Biella, Brook Hill, Luther Burbank, Learning House, Hidden Valley, Helen Lehman, Abraham Lincoln, James Monroe, Proctor Terrace, Steele Lane, SR Charter School for the Arts, SR French-American Charter, Cesar Chavez Language Academy

Before- and after-school day care at selected sites. Register early; classes fill quickly!

Tom Miller, PhD, is an education coach, trainer, and consultant who uses the strategies described in this article to assist public charter schools leaders across the country. Find out more about his work at leaders-buildingleaders.com.

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Fourth–Sixth Grade 2311 Horseshoe Drive, Santa Rosa 707 526-4433

For information and a link to register: www.srcschools.org/kindergarten Need help? Contact your school.

www.SRCSchools.org/kindergarten May 2022

SonomaFamilyLife 15

Let’s Party! 20 Amazing Birthday Bash Locations By Katy M. Clark

our child’s next birthday is fast approaching, and you’re wondering where to hold the party. Perhaps the thought of having it at home makes you break out in a cold sweat. Maybe it is simply not an option.

As the mother of two kids, now a teen and tween, I’ve spent over a decade attending or hosting birthday parties at more than two-dozen spots. There truly is a place for everyone and every budget. So check out this list of 20 locations for your child’s next birthday party and get ready to celebrate! 1. Take your group to a local sporting event, such as a minor 16 SonomaFamilyLife

Piggyback your party on an outdoor summer concert.

B. Bryan Preserve, a private Point Arena reserve for African animals. Also check out Classroom Safari’s programs.

Go roller-skating at a roller rink. 3. Go to a swimming pool, water park, or splash pad. 4. Find a local park where you can rent a pavilion to serve as home base while the kids run around.

league baseball game. Check out the Sonoma Stompers or see the kids playing in the Lake County Baseball Club.

5. Think about special events in your town. Piggyback your party on an outdoor summer concert or a viewing of a holiday parade (think Memorial Day or Fourth of July). See the Calendar of Events (page 34) for ideas.

2. Visit a zoo or petting zoo like the San Francisco Zoo or the

6. Go to the movies and out for pizza or ice cream.

May 2022

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GRADUATION

LARGE PARTY ROOMS AVAILABLE

PARTIES!

LOCATIONS WITH A FULL BAR

COMMERCE BLVD., ROHNERT PARK CLEVELAND AVE., SANTA ROSA MONTGOMERY DR., SANTA ROSA HEMBREE LN., WINDSOR

Santa Rosa

2280 Santa Rosa Ave 707-544-2828

Rohnert Park

1451 Southwest Blvd 707-795-4433

Rohnert Park

6314 Commerce Blvd 707-303-7474

Petaluma

919 Lakeville St 707-769-8989

Cloverdale

Windsor

1143 S. Cloverdale Blvd 6580 Hembree Ln #258 707-751-6100 707-836-1700

Santa Rosa

4501 Montgomery Dr. 707-890-5033

Santa Rosa

3125 Cleveland Ave 707-595-6505

Napa

1501 Trancas St. 707-669-5060

THROW A

PARTY! BIRTHDAY PARTIES BACKYARD PARTIES COMPANY PARTIES CATERING & MORE 707.763.9253 • www.wickedslushpetaluma.com Helen Putnam Plaza in Petaluma, in American Alley www.sonomafamilylife.com

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7. Take a walk or hike at a nature center or botanical garden, where you can learn about the outdoors and celebrate with a picnic.

14. Try a martial arts studio, where kids can play games and learn age-appropriate skills.

8. Pick fruit at an orchard in the summer, or pick pumpkins at a pumpkin patch in the fall.

16. Jump over to a trampoline park.

9. Go to a kids’ museum. The Children’s Museum of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa hosts picnic table birthday parties.

15. Go roller-skating at a roller rink.

The Children’s Museum of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa hosts picnic table birthday parties.

10. Visit a laser tag venue. 11. Go to the bowling alley and bring a cake or sweet treat. 12. Scale the highest heights at an indoor rock-climbing center. 13. Celebrate at a mini golf venue.

17. What about a visit to the Mendocino County or Sonoma County humane societies? Don’t forget to check for allergies first! 18. Gymnastics clubs and gyms let you rent their spaces so kids can run, jump, and play to their hearts’ content.

19. Try an ice skating party at Snoopy’s Home Ice in Santa Rosa. (In my experience, this party idea is suited for older kids who can already skate or have fun trying.) 20. Let kids be creative at an arts, dance, or music studio. Finally, perhaps you are able to have a party at home, but are just too worried that your house isn’t big enough or exciting enough. In my experience, some of the best (and cheapest) birthday parties I have ever hosted were in our home. The home parties pleased kids and parents alike! During the COVID-19 pandemic, you can host a great party outside. Katy M. Clark is a writer who celebrates her imperfections as a mom at experiencedbadmom.com.

Serving the North Bay for 30 years Water Slides Combos and More! SUNDAY’S 10% OFF Expires 5/31/22

707-528-7529 • www.partyjump.com 18 SonomaFamilyLife

May 2022

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Birthday Safari!

LOVE TO DANCE?

WE LOVE TO DANCE AND YOU CAN TOO! The Keenan School works to bring the fun and joy of traditional Irish dance to all! From the age of 3 to the teen years, dancers of all levels of interest and experience have a place here.

PLEASE CALL FOR COMPLIMENTARY CLASS 326 Petaluma Blvd. North • 542-1367 Keenan5678@att.net www.keenanirishdanceschool.com

Take a walk on the wild side!

An Educational Adventure

Meet all of our animal ambassadors SCHOOLS • PARTIES • EVENTS 707-529-9489 • www.classroomsafari.com bonnie.classroomsafari@gmail.com

BRING THE FUN TO YOUR NEXT CELEBRATION!

NOW HIRING STYLISTS

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Weddings • Fundraisers School Events Stuffable Animals & Photobooth

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SonomaFamilyLife 19

FREE

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ual Fair

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Email, Phone, and Care Packages Every camp has a policy about how to communicate with your kids (email or phone), and about how many care packages you may send and what you can put in them. Know those policies and follow them. Kids don’t want to be called out for not following the rules. It’s embarrassing, and it can socially hurt them.

Summer Camp 101

Teach your kids how to have fun without putting themselves in any danger.

How to Keep Kids Safe & Happy

By Tanni Haas

ummer camp is without a doubt something kids look forward to all year. Nevertheless, there are important issues you should address to ensure that your kids have a really great time at camp. Based on my experience as a parent of seasoned summer campers, as well as conversations I’ve had with other parents, I’ve pulled together a list of some of the most common issues.

Allergies If your kids suffer from seasonal allergies, such as grass or tree pollen, tell the camp physician or nurse and pack all the medication they need. It can be a real drag for them to walk around the whole time with a runny nose or watery eyes. If they suffer from more serious allergies, such as animal or food allergies, inform the camp that your kids shouldn’t come into 22 SonomaFamilyLife

Find out how the camp handles homesickness. contact with those allergens. Our son is very allergic to horses. We didn’t think anything of it before we realized that his camp has alpacas, which can induce the same allergic reaction as horses. May 2022

Making Friends Some kids find it easy to make friends, and others have a harder time. If your kids have a difficult time, ask if they can bunk with one or more of their regular friends from home. Most camps permit this. Explain to your kids that no matter how confident the other kids may appear, chances are that they are nervous, too. Use yourself as an example and tell them what you did when you were a kid— it makes the situation much more relatable and manageable. Homesickness Your kids can still get homesick even if they’re rooming with close friends. It can happen to any camper, no matter how well-prepared and seasoned they are. Find out how the camp handles homesickness. Can you call your kids, even if there’s a no-phone policy? Is it possible to visit them outside camp visiting days? Pack some family photographs or a favorite stuffed animal with their belongings; it can help put them at ease. www.sonomafamilylife.com

Campers grades 5 to 12 plus Family Camp

ADVENTURE AWAITS YOU! Enjoy Hiking, Horses, Swimming, Backpacking, Crafts, Nature, Archery, Spiritual Reﬂection, Campﬁres, Challenge course and Outdoor Skills.

Programs start July! Register Now at www.RedwoodAdventure.org Providing opportunities for leadership development, spiritual and personal growth, environmental stewardship, lifelong personal connections, fun and adventure.

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May 2022

SonomaFamilyLife 23

Safety You want your kids to have fun at camp, but you also want them to be safe. One of the best things you can do to prepare them is to teach them how to swim. Most camps include a swimming program with access to a pool. Another popular activity is hiking. Be sure that your kids have footwear with good traction. More generally, teach your kids how to have fun without putting themselves in any danger.

Can you call your kids, even if there’s a no-phone policy? Emergencies Despite your best efforts, emergencies can happen. Hopefully, it won’t be anything serious, and the camp doctor or nurse can take care of it. To be on the safe side, pack hard copies (front and back) of your hospital, medical, and dental insurance cards with your kids’ belongings. A hospital stay can be very costly without insurance.

SUMMER CAMPS Spend Your Summer at the Schulz Museum!

June 6–August 19

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Volunteer opportunities for ages 12–14

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2301 Hardies Lane Santa Rosa, CA 95403 (707) 579-4452 schulzmuseum.org

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24 SonomaFamilyLife

CAMP FREEZE

Ages 4 and up

Extra Trips Many summer camps offer day or overnight trips to nearby ball games, amusement parks, or other special places for an extra fee. These trips can be expensive, so before you sign up your kids for them, ask the camp how many kids usually go on these trips, and take a good hard look at what you can afford. If only a few kids are going and the trips are expensive, don’t feel pressured to sign your kids up. There are plenty of exciting activities for all the kids who remain at the camp site. ¶ Tanni Haas, PhD, is a college communications professor.

ART & SCIENCE

May 2022

www.sonomafamilylife.com

JOIN US THIS SUMMER FOR CAMP & LESSONS GET OUTSIDE, MAKE FRIENDS, & EXPERIENCE HORSES!

Super Kids Camp JUNE 13 - AUGUST 5

Super Kids Camp Includes Fun, Interactive and Educational Activities: Weekly Themes, Dress-Up Days, Swimming, Rock Climbing, and More!

OUR PROGRAM IS DESIGNED SO YOUR KIDS SPEND THEIR SUMMER OUTDOORS, BEING ACTIVE AND ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER YOUNG INDIVIDUALS AND ANIMALS!

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Learn More and Register at ssusuperkidscamp.com 100 Lynch Road • Petaluma • 707-799-5054 www.stridesridingacademy.com • www.summeratstrides.com

JUN 13 - JUL 1

SUMMER THEATRE CAMPS

GRADES 2-5

GRADES 5-12

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Toy Stories

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JUL 11 - 29

May 2022

Luther Burbank CenteR for the Arts SonomaFamilyLife 25

• Be gifted in many ways: compassion, empathy, creativity, and usually above the normal range intellectually. • Pick up on subtleties in gesture and tone as well as the words coming out of other people’s mouths.2 • Feel highly emotional. All kids can be emotional but a highly sensitive child may cry when they are hungry, sad, upset, excited, or happy. They may cry during sad parts in movies or get scared easier. A stern look from you could reduce them to tears.

Sensitive Ones Is Your Child an Empath?

By Heather Nardi

was often called too sensitive as a child, which caused me to avoid certain situations or groups, observe more than speak up, blend in with others, and feel lonely even when showing a happy face. I could sense those same intense feelings in my daughter, Ellie, even when she was a young child. As an empath, Ellie could sense stomachaches, aggression, sadness, headaches, and all the emotions that everyone around her was feeling.

An empathic child is a child who is good at reading others’ emotions and adjusting their behavior accordingly. In contrast, a highly sensitive child is a child who feels easily overwhelmed by this process. Have you considered the possibility that your child may be an empath or spiritually gifted? The traits of spiritually gifted and empathic children usually include being sensitive, intelligent, distracted, intuitive, and wise.

26 SonomaFamilyLife

The Characteristics of a Highly Sensitive Child (HSC) or Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Not all highly sensitive children are the same, but your child may... • Feel things deeply and can be easily overstimulated in their environment. • Often become overwhelmed by sensory overload. These children dislike loud noises, may be sensitive to tags or zippers in clothing, and may dislike more scents than other children.1 May 2022

• Dislike change. While many kids don’t like change, a highly sensitive child will often shut down when forced to change routine. They may get anxious, angry, depressed, or even scared. • Be hard on themselves, holding themselves to a very high standard. They may beat themselves up about getting something wrong. • Worry or wonder about things that aren’t deemed age-appropriate, such as death or what will happen when they become adults. They are more sensitive to weather conditions and natural disasters. • Prefer to play alone. They enjoy quiet, peaceful play. • Pick up on things other children their age don’t. They can also be very curious and constantly looking for answers. • Need frequent breaks from the routine busyness of life, especially after a particularly social day. • Love animals. HSCs often develop a special bond with animals, or are very sensitive to their needs.3 • Have a keen sense of observation and know how to read people well. They observe character traits and gather an accurate story of who the person is. www.sonomafamilylife.com

• Take things personally. For your child, being highly emotional means everything that happens is personal. • Be well-behaved. Sensitive kids are well-behaved and also expect to be in similar surroundings. They don’t understand when other children misbehave or aren’t nice to them.

• Quiet, shy, introverted, withdrawn. • May be perceived as a slow learner only because the child needs to

Narcissists ZERO

• Seems to read your mind. Knows what you want before you ask. The Empathic Spectrum below was taken from The Empath’s Survival Guide by Judith Orloff, MD.

The Empathic Child In addition to the traits of the highly sensitive child, the empathic child may show some or all of these characteristics: • Feels others’ emotions as if these emotions were their own.

understand the depth of something first.4

According to Dr. Orloff, “If you think about this distinction in terms of an empathic spectrum, empaths are on the highest end, highly sensitive people are a little lower on the spectrum, and people with strong empathy but who are not HSPs or empaths are in the middle. Narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths, who often suffer from ‘empathy deficit disorders,’ are at the lowest end of the spectrum.”5 Loving, empathetic people

HSPs

MID-RANGE

Empaths HIGHEST

Notes 1. Maureen Gaspari, “Highly Sensitive or Sensory Processing Disorder?” The Highly Sensitive Child, April 2, 2019, thehighlysensitivechild.com. 2. Lisa Natcharian, “Why Are So Many Gifted Children Also Highly Sensitive?” Institute for Educational Advancement, April 18, 2017, educationaladvancement.org. 3. Sadiya Qamar (Contributor), “Highly Sensitive Child—Signs, Habits & Parenting,” MomJunction, June 8, 2021, momjunction.com. 4. “Help for Emotionally Hypersensitive Children on the Autism Spectrum,” My Aspergers Child, accessed October 8, 2021, myaspergerschild.com. 5. Judith Orloff, MD, “The Difference between Empaths and Highly Sensitive People,” Dr. Judith Orloff, May 21, 2021, drjudithorloff.com/ the-difference-between-empaths-and-highlysensitive-people. ¶

Adapted, with permission, from The Sensitive Ones: Healing and Understanding Your Child’s Mental Health by Heather Nardi (Wise Ink Creative Publishing, 2022). Heather Nardi is a writer, speaker, and life coach. Her writing has appeared in Highly Sensitive Refuge, Thrive Global, and Elephant Journal. For more information, visit empathmama.com.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED! Now Accepting Applications

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CALL NOW 707-206-9988 367 West Robles Avenue, Santa Rosa • www.schoolbusing.org www.sonomafamilylife.com

May 2022

SonomaFamilyLife 27

Ask your physician if a familiar face will meet you when you get to the hospital. 4. When not in active labor, eat what you feel like eating. Sometimes women in labor are not allowed to eat, possibly because there is always the fear that emergency surgeries may become necessary. In natural labors, when contractions may stop for a while before starting up again, laboring women should be allowed to eat if they feel like it.

Birth without Fear 5 Secrets for an Easier Labor By Alan Lindemann, MD

ou’ll have many wonderful memories of being a mom, but those of being in labor likely won’t be among them. That said, how might mothers make their labor easier? As an obstetrician with more than 40 years of experience, here is my advice for making labor easier.

1. Let your baby decide when to be born. For many women, labor tends to start and stop. It may take longer to let your baby decide when to be born, but you and your baby will fare better with a labor and delivery that avoids as much technological intervention as possible. 2. Avoid being tethered to the bed. Walking around often helps to promote labor. If you have all kinds of monitors attached to yourself and IVs in your arm, you’re unable to get up and do what’s best for advancing your 28 SonomaFamilyLife

labor: walking. Plus, being able to walk around tends to moderate fear. 3. Labor works best without fear. Some doctors don’t understand that fear stops labor. We know this is true for animals in labor—if they become afraid or detect a predator, their labor will stop. Often, when women enter the hospital for labor and delivery, their fear will tend to stop their labor. To alleviate fear, it helps if the familiar face of the physician you have being seeing throughout your pregnancy meets you at the hospital. May 2022

Some doctors don’t understand that fear stops labor. 5. Avoid Pitocin if at all possible. Pitocin creates hard contractions that are so painful that epidurals become necessary. On a fetal monitor, Pitocin contractions show a steep increase into a sharp point followed by a sharp decline—a type of contraction that can be ineffective in labor. Natural labor contractions, on the other hand, show a slow increase into a wide bell curve and a slow decline. A natural labor contraction is painful, but less painful than those created by Pitocin, and women can often manage the pain of natural contractions without an epidural. ¶ An obstetrician and maternal mortality expert, “Rural Doc” Alan Lindemann, MD, teaches women and their families how to create the pregnancy and personal health outcomes they want. A former clinical assistant professor at the University of North Dakota, he served as a clinical faculty member and preceptor with medical students in rural rotations. In his nearly 40 years of practice, he has delivered around 6,000 babies and achieved a maternal mortality rate of zero. Learn more at lindemannmd.com.

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SonomaFamilyLife 29

drink with a tiny umbrella in it. And you deserve a tiny umbrella too, Mom—or maybe a dollop of whipped cream with a chocolate swirl or a little heart design atop your coffee foam. Exposure to nature. The civilized world gallops at a breakneck pace. But nature helps us slow down to the incremental speed of life. The seeds we plant don’t sprout overnight. Frequent exposure to the earth, air, sun, and stars helps us regain our patience and pacing.

Little Luxuries 10 Ways Moms Can Nurture Themselves By Christina Katz

ne of the pitfalls of giving gifts to celebrate holidays is that we become a society of scorecard keepers. How did I do? Did I get more gifts than last year? Were the gifts given with genuine sincerity, or did I sense feelings of obligation? Do I measure how others treat me as proof of how worthy I am? Here’s a little secret about gift giving and receiving on any occasion, moms. It’s not a competition. You are not the best mom ever if you get the most presents. You are the best mom ever if you let yourself feel good about the job you are doing every day, even on the most challenging days. And if you want a gift, whether you feel you deserve something special or simply because you think you should always feel treasured, go ahead and give yourself one. Be generous with 30 SonomaFamilyLife

yourself year-round and others will follow suit during special times. Being a great mom means putting your needs first, instead of delegating that job to others and feeling resentful if they let you down. Here’s a little secret: Other people can’t let you down if you don’t let yourself down. So pick yourself up during the mom-gifting time of year with a little reward. You always deserve something special just for being you. Foofy drinks. For her birthday lunch my daughter wanted a tropical May 2022

Get around folks who validate all the gifts you have to offer the world. Your favorite books and magazines. Few things make me cheerier than a glossy new seasonal magazine. Books inspire movies in our minds. Even the Internet with all of its diverse content cannot replace my insatiable thirst for hunkering down, one spread at a time, and escaping into artfully photographed and delightfully designed magazine pages. Don’t ever deprive yourself of your daily allotment of mental escape. Belly laughs. I was on the phone with an old friend the other day and the laughs just came cascading out. There’s nothing like chuckling over old antics or sharing a giggle with someone who has known you forever. Get your kicks in whatever way works for you; the endorphins are an extra, feel-good bonus. Streaming sitcoms or reading comics also works well in a pinch.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

Delicious food. Keep at-home copies of your favorite take-out menus. Sometimes Mom needs someone else to do the meal prep, cooking, and serving. Besides, sitting down to be waited on every once in a while is a great way to power up your inner chef. Bon appétit! Self-care. A quick nap. A long bath with bath salts and bubbles. Saying no to everything that does not feel like a yes. Asking for hugs. I’d be willing to bet that moms who practice self-care live longer. For sure, they live happier. Fresh flowers. Flowers are love. I’m always expanding the repertoire of choices in our yard. I mix them up with blooms I find in small

bouquets at the market. If you are feeling cynical about the gift of flowers, try a more playful approach. Scents you love. Jasmine. Lemon. Rose. Cinnamon. Juniper. Cookies fresh from the oven! You control your environment, so make it smell wonderful to you.

Don’t ever deprive yourself of your daily allotment of mental escape. Self-expression. Be your insouciant self today and every day. What does this mean to you? If you are holding your breath, biting your tongue, biding your time, or

practicing any other delay tactics that prevent you from living your life with the volume cranked up, seek assistance. Get around folks who lure you out of your shell and validate all the gifts you have to offer the world. Surprises. Don’t wait for others to catch you off guard. Delight yourself with little impulsive decisions that make you happy now. A surprise isn’t just a big, painstakingly planned party. It’s at least 20 opportunities a day to be sweeter to yourself. Go ahead, choose differently. ¶ Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz definitely deserves more treats in her life. Luckily she never feels deprived because she gives herself enough to keep herself feeling fortunate.

OPEN HOUSE, MAY 22ND, 12-1:30PM

The Art of Academic Excellence Twin Hills Middle School 6-8

A safe, small country school with high academic and elective standards. Teachers focus on character development and lifelong learning habits. We offer a challenging high school prep environment.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Rohnert Park would like to invite you and your family to our Open House: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to meet Jesus for Ages 3-Grade 5 for Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation. Light snacks and free childcare provided. Catechesis of Good Shepherd introduces children to Jesus through presentations on scripture and liturgy that allows children to enter a space where they listen to God with hands-on material. 707-585-3708 | sesreled@gmail.com www.stelizabethrp.com

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Electives: Culinary arts • Dance • Spanish • Music • Art • Photoshop • Video editing • Technology MATHEMATICS ENGLISH • SCIENCE CREATIVE ARTS ATHLETICS • HISTORY

Are you ready for a challenge? 707.823.7446 www.twinhillsusd.org

May 2022

700 Watertrough Rd. Sebastopol, CA, 707.823.6278 twinhillsusd.org

Charter Middle 6-8

SonomaFamilyLife 31

for ourselves then win for others. If you are dead-broke and living under a bridge, you won’t be able to help many people. You have to first fix that situation. In a airplane emergency, you are told to first put your own oxygen mask on and then help the person next to you. If you can’t breathe, you can’t do much to help anyone else.

Order is what parents generally want. Whereas chaos is what kids want.

Kid-Chaos vs. Parental Order A Fresh Approach to an Age-Old Conflict

By Marty Callahan

“T

he test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” –F. Scott Fitzgerald, author

Consider F. Scott Fitzgerald’s belief that holding two opposing ideas in mind at the same time is a good test of first-rate intelligence. Then consider that Sun Tsu, the author of the 2,500-year-old book The Art of War, stated that battles are won by thinking not by fighting. The conclusion we can draw is that a person with a first-rate intelligence has a much better 32 SonomaFamilyLife

chance of winning in battle than a person without one. By extension, the person who can win in battle, where conditions are the worst imaginable, would have a better chance of winning in life, where the conditions are bad but not nearly as bad as in war. Winning in life can mean many things, but what’s true in all situations is that we must first win May 2022

Growth Mindset When I was young, the common belief was that you were born with a certain amount of intelligence and that was all you got. But social scientists have now discovered that intelligence is like a muscle that can grow and get stronger. In other words, if we work at it, we can become more intelligent. Working at it means reading, writing, studying, and formulating ideas and speaking about them. Messiness May Be Better Than Neatness Researchers at the University of Minnesota tested students on how well they came up with new ideas while working in an orderly or disorderly environment. What they found was that the students working in a messy environment came up with more interesting and creative ideas than their counterparts who worked in an orderly environment. Also, Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman, authors of A Perfect www.sonomafamilylife.com

Celebrating Mess (Back Bay Books, 2008), demonstrate that moderately messy systems use resources more efficiently, yield better solutions, and are harder to break than neat ones. Order, and all that goes with it, is what parents generally want. It makes life easier. Whereas chaos and all that goes with it, is what kids want. Watch kids play when there are no adults giving them instruction or telling them what the

Battles are won by thinking not by fighting. rules are. You’ll see that they are at their happiest and freest; there is nothing they love better. Child development experts tell us that kids need this type of play to grow and become who they are meant to be.

#1 resource for local families magazine • web • email • events

YEARS

IGNITE YOUR SUMMER! AT IGNITE MARTIAL ARTS

Find the Balance Here’s a challenge for you: Hold the two opposing ideas of order and chaos in your mind at the same time and then continue to function normally. I believe you will find that they can exist together in harmony. When you do this you will become a happier and more peaceful parent to your perfectly messy and chaos-loving child. ¶ Marty Callahan has spent his life understanding and improving the lives of students both young and old. His passion led to the founding of the Shotokan Karate Leadership School in Santa Rosa in 1981. With a dream of awakening the extraordinary leader in his students, Marty has inspired, taught, coached, supported and trained more than 15,000 students in 40,000 classes. Find out more about him at askaboutkarate.com.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

All camps have a different theme and include a full week of games, martial arts training, weekly theme-specific activities, trampoline park, indoor playground, bowling, movies, and tons of fun!

SPACES FILL UP QUICKLY SO REGISTER EARLY! WWW.IGNITEMARTIALARTS.ORG/CAMPS • 707.523.1144 BRAND NEW LOCATION NOW INSIDE THE EPICENTER IN SANTA ROSA! May 2022

SonomaFamilyLife 33

May

Calendar of Events

Tuesday 3 FREE Santa Rosa Taco Tuesdays Rides. All cyclists welcome to roll through downtown Santa Rosa. Taco trucks will be on hand to sell tacos & drinks. Presented by Just North Bay Kruzer 707 Bike Life. Meet up: 5:45 p.m. Pedals up: 6:15 p.m. Humboldt Park. 1172 Humboldt St., Santa Rosa. facebook.com/groups/340583634378145.

Wednesday 4 FREE North Bay Job Fair & Veterans Resources. May 4: 2–5

p.m. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa

34 SonomaFamilyLife

Rosa. May 24: 3–6 p.m. Mitote Food Park. 665 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa. sonomamediagroup.com/nbjf. Musical Moments with Nancy Nelle.

Music & movement sessions for kids ages 1–5, families & siblings. Free with museum admission ($11–$14; babies 0–11 mos. free). Wednesdays. 10:30–11:45 a.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/uthvdmu9. FREE Improving Fertility Naturally.

Valerie Feghali, a physical therapist turned health-and-nutrition coach, leads this Zoom workshop for women who have had difficulty getting

May 2022

pregnant. 11 a.m. Register: tinyurl.com/ mr43fjec.

Thursday 5 FREE Hikes with Hounds: Sonoma Valley. Bring your furry friend on

an afternoon 2-mile hike. All dogs must be on a 6-foot leash. Parking: $7. 5–6:30 p.m. Sonoma Valley Regional Park. 13630 Hwy. 12, Glen Ellen. tinyurl.com/5n6e2eny. American Crown Circus. Circus

stars from around the globe perform under the big top. Each paid adult includes 2 free children 10 & younger. $8–$20. Parking: $10. May 5: 7:30 p.m.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

May 6, 7, 8: 5:30 & 7:30 p.m. May 9: 7 p.m. Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. Tickets: tinyurl.com/2xj5enn3. Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Tickets

include 2 tacos from food trucks & 2 drinks from the Mitote Bar. Entertainment & family-fun activities. $10–$25. Mitote Food Park. 665 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa. Tickets: tinyurl.com/yckmfab8.

Friday 6 Matilda the Musical. Based on the

movie & Broadway musical. $12–$36. May 6, 13, 19 & 20: 7 p.m. May 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 & 22: 2 p.m. Spreckels Performing Arts Center. 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. Tickets: tinyurl. com/bdfdakn5.

Mass yoga class: 9 a.m. Competition: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Calabazas Creek Regional Park & Open Space Preserve. Glen Ellen. Registration required: tinyurl.com/28e89atz. Sonoma County Human Race. Adult

5K: $45. Youth 5K: $35. Registration: 7.a.m. Event: 8 a.m.–11 a.m. Free kids’

activities. Old Courthouse Square. Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/yckkvkkz. Ask a Farmer. Join Farmer Emily & Gardening Grammy for a multigenerational learning experience. Learn about gardening practices & participate in maintaining the museum’s edible garden. Free

LAKE COUNTY

PASSION PLAY

Occidental Community Choir: Common Ground. May 6, 7 & 14: 7

p.m. May 8 & 15: 3 p.m. $25. (Except May 6: $10). Kids 12 & younger: free. Occidental Center for the Arts. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct., Occidental. Tickets: occidentalchoir.org.

Saturday 7 First Annual Vertex Try Hard Rope Competition. Prizes, raffles

& games. Food & drink for purpose. All proceeds support youth-climbing teams & programs. Free to members. $30 non-members. Mass yoga class: 9 a.m. Competition: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Vertex Climbing Center. 3358A Coffey Ln., Santa Rosa. climbvertex.com/ events. Calabazas Park Preview. Prizes,

raffles & games. Food & drink for purchase. Proceeds support youth-climbing teams & programs. Members: free. Nonmembers: $30. www.sonomafamilylife.com

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MAY 14TH & 15TH, 4–6PM

Off Highway 29, about 4 miles north of Lakeport. 7010 Westlake Rd, Upper Lake

Christian Play for People of all Faiths Free Admission Please join us in the Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord, Jesus Christ, here in beautiful Lake County, California. † Free of charge; donations are gratefully accepted. † Bring your own chair. † No smoking, food, drink, or pets on grounds. † Water available. † Facilities for the handicapped.

707-263-0349

www.lakecountypassionplay.org

May 2022

HELP SPREAD THE WORD!!! Like and share our Facebook Page facebook.com/PassionPlayLakeCo

SonomaFamilyLife 35

with museum admission ($11–$14 babies; 0–11 mos. free.) 10 a.m.– noon. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org/event/ ask-a-farmer/2022-05-07. FREE Art Connects Us: Family Celebration Day. Collage & chalk art,

marimba music & movement. 2–5 p.m. Petaluma Arts Center. 230 Lakeville St., Petaluma. petalumaartscenter.org. Tudor Rose Mother’s Day High Tea. Serving tea & finger

sandwiches, scones & cookies. $26–$33. Reservations required. May 7 & 8: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Tudor Rose English Tea Room. 733 4th St., Santa Rosa. Reservations required: tudorrosetearoom.com.

California Artisan Cheese Festival.

Chef demos & pairings, educational sessions, authors, cheese-makers & more. Ages 13 & older: $60. Ages 5–12: $30. Noon–4 p.m. Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. Tickets: artisancheesefestival.com. Public Farm Tour: Goat Kid Cuddling. Cuddle with baby goats & learn about sustainable farming. $25–$40. May 7 & 8. Tours at 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Redwood Hill Farm. 5480 Thomas Rd., Sebastopol. Tickets: tinyurl.com/mrxbcacr.

Sunday 8 Mother’s Day Special. Mothers get free admission to the museum. (General admission: $5–$12 or free for ages 3 & younger.) 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org. Mother’s Day Paddle. Guided

excursion through the inlets & channels of Spring Lake. Life jackets, boats & paddles provided. $25–$27. Parking: $7. 10 a.m.–noon. Spring Lake Regional Park. 393 Violetti Rd., Santa Rosa. Registration required: tinyurl.com/49yfbudm. Mother’s Day Springtime Piano Concert. $20, includes parking. Jack

London State Park. Concert: 2 p.m. Wolf House tour: 11 a.m. House of Happy Walls. 2400 London Ranch Rd., Glen Ellen. Tickets: tinyurl. com/5a2ufm6y. Mother’s Day Lavender Labyrinth Sound Bath Experience. Featuring

ENHANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE “WHOLE CHILD”

Cross & Crown Lutheran School 2-5 years Preschool TK–Kindergarten 1st through 6th Grade

REGISTER NOW FOR 2022-23 (707) 795-7863 www.crossandcrownschoolrp.org 5475 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park Preschool license #490100475 36 SonomaFamilyLife

May 2022

www.sonomafamilylife.com

Blue Muse Sound Healing & Karma Moffett. Bring a pillow, eye mask, yoga mat or blanket/sleeping bag. $35. 5–6 p.m. Bees & Blooms. 3883 Petaluma Hill Rd., Santa Rosa. Tickets: tinyurl. com/bae3ece5.

Mother’s Day Food Truck

Gratis Hora de cuentos en familia

Celebration. Multiple-course

tasting menu plus mimosas & drink specials & a welcome favor for each mom. $20–$50. Three sittings: 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 4 p.m. Mitote Food Park. 665 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa. Tickets: tinyurl.com/etde3eh9.

Tuesday 10 FREE Paper Iris Folding Virtual Class. Instructor will teach teens &

adults a traditional paper-crafting technique from Holland. Sponsored by the Sonoma County Library. 6–7 p.m.

Friday 13 FREE Spanish Family Storytime/ española. Disney’s Encanto will be

read in Spanish. There will also be children’s activities such as Sonoma County’s Children’s Museum on the Go./ Encanto de Disney se leerá en español. También habrá actividades para niños como el Childrens Museum on the Go del condado de Sonoma. 6:30 p.m. Windsor Town Green. 701 McLelland Dr., Windsor. facebook. com/MercaditoWindsor. Les Schwab Monster Truck Spring Nationals. $18–$30. 2 & younger: free.

Parking: $10. May 13: 7 p.m. (Pit Party:

6–6:50 p.m.) May 14: 7 p.m. Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. Reserved seating online only: sonomacountyfair. com/events.php#May. Seussical. The Cat in the Hat will

narrate the story of Horton the Elephant, who unwittingly discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Performed by North Bay Theatrics. $12. May 13: 7 p.m. May 14: 2 & 7 p.m. May 15: 2 p.m. Cotati Veterans Memorial Building. 8505 Park Ave., Cotati. Tickets: tinyurl. com/2p9y7eda.

Saturday 14 FREE Summer Kick-Off & Brunch BBQ. Live music, lots of foam to play in & squirt guns filled with washable paint. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Free breakfast

The YMCA Preschool provides your child with high-quality, age-appropriate activities and enjoyable experiences. Personal attention, rich sensory experiences, and a generous supply of giggles! Part Time/Full Time Care Flexible Plans available Serving Infant-5 years 707 308-3043 • www.scfymca.org 2590 Piner Rd. Santa Rosa www.sonomafamilylife.com

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SonomaFamilyLife 37

burritos for the first 500 people: 10 a.m.–noon. Free hot-dog lunch for the first 500 people: noon–2 p.m. Rohnert Park Community Center. 5401 Synder Ln., Rohnert Park. tinyurl. com/2enw2xhx. SRSYO Great Concertos. Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra performs. $5–$20. ID & proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test 72 hrs. prior required. 3 p.m. Green Music Center. Weill Hall. 1801 East Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. Tickets: tinyurl. com/54mmyz9e. FREE The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites. Virtual

performance by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. May 14–15. Tickets: lutherburbankcenter.org/events/list. FREE Lake County Passion Play.

Bring chair. May 14–15. 4–6 p.m. 7010 Westlake Rd., Upper Lake. lakceountypassionplay.org. FREE Chop’s Teen Club Open House. Tour the tech lounge,

gymnasium (with climbing wall), art studio, sound recording & music studio, teaching kitchen, college &

CAMP

career hub & more. 1–4 p.m. Chop’s Teen Club. 509 Adams St., Santa Rosa. chopsteenclub.org/openhouse. Dirty Cello & Sebastian St James.

Led by cross-over cellist Rebecca Roudman, Dirty Cello plays blues, rock & Americana. $40–$45. 7:30 p.m. SOMO Village (redwood grove). 1400 Valley House Dr., Rohnert Park. Tickets: tinyurl.com/3pwm55ey.

Sunday 15 FREE North Bay Science Discovery Day. More than 100 hands-on science,

technology, engineering & math activities & interactive demos. Free parking. COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required. COVID-19 pediatric (age 5+) vaccine available on site. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. northbayscience.org. St. Lawrence String Quartet.

Award-winning ensemble plays Haydn’s String Quartet in C Major Op. 76, no. 3 & Franck’s String quartet in D Major. $25–$85. 3 p.m. Green Music Center. Weill Hall. 1801 East Cotati

W O B N I A R A N WIN

38 SonomaFamilyLife

Street Teen Players. Based on the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical & Universal Pictures’ cult classic movie. $18–$25 or free for ages younger than 2. May 19 & 20: 7 p.m. May 21: 1:30 & 7 p.m. GK Hardt Theater. 52 W. 6th St., Santa Rosa. Tickets: tinyurl.com/yu3kpd46.

Saturday 21 FREE Museum Member Swap Weekend. Use your Sonoma County

Museum membership to visit 8 participating museums throughout Sonoma County. Entry is free for up to 4 guests. May 21 & 22. Visit website for participating museums: schulzmuseum.org/member-swap. FREE Castles & Kites. Fly kites & build sand castles. Bring own kite. Parking is $7 or free with Regional Parks Membership. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Doran Regional Park. Boardwalk. 201 Doran Beach Rd., Bodega Bay. parks. sonomacounty.ca.gov/castles-and-kites.

pork ribs, side dishes, chili, beer/ wine, photo booth, live music & more. Proceeds support underprivileged kids in Petaluma. $30–$150. Noon–4 p.m. Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. Herzog Hall. 175 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. Tickets: tinyurl.com/ybcv4fab.

✓ Juggling ✓ Unicycle ✓ Swimming ✓ Song Writing ✓ Dance

www.campwinnarainbow.org

Xanadu Jr. Performance by the 6th

Chili Cook-Off. Eight tastings of

camp rforming arts

TO N U WA RD THE F

Check us out and register today at:

Thursday 19

Ribs for Kids & Great Petaluma

circus and pe A residential 7 to 14 for kids age

✓ Stilts ✓ Trapeze ✓ Silks ✓ Drama ✓ Clowning

Ave., Rohnert Park. Tickets: gmc. sonoma.edu/st-lawrence-string-quartet.

FREE Santa Rosa Creek Clean-Up.

510.525.4304 May 2022

Volunteers will choose various walking routes along the creek based on where the trash is. Bring a face mask, gloves, water & other supplies. 9–11 a.m. Olive www.sonomafamilylife.com

Park. 105 Orange St., Santa Rosa. Registration required: tinyurl.com/ yckpyr7s. FREE American Graffiti Car Show. Car show & cruise. 11a.m.–5 p.m. Downtown Petaluma. petalumadowntown.com.

Thursday 26 FREE State of Arts Education: Uplift, Inform, Connect! Recognize & celebrate the progress made by a variety of arts education projects in our community from the past year. All welcome. 8:30 a.m.–noon. Sonoma County Office of Education. 5340 Skylane Blvd., Santa Rosa. Advance registration required: tinyurl.com/ yc75dpzd.

sonoma

admission ($11–$14; babies 0–11 mos. free.) 10 a.m.–noon. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. tinyurl. com/472bbtv8. North Bay Fashion Ball. All ages

welcome. This year’s ball-pageant themes are Tarot Card, Met Gala, Gender Drag, Pop/Rock Star, Up-Cycled/Recycled, Festival Wear & Y2K. Come dressed in a theme; anyone from the audience can walk on runway & may even win a princess tiara. $15 (half-price for competitors). 7 p.m. Phoenix Theater. 201 Washington St., Petaluma. Tickets: tinyurl.com/ v9ekffxm.

LOCAL for 25 years

#1 local resource for local families magazine • web • email

Friday 27 FREE Friday Night Live at the Plaza: The Coffis Brothers. Rootsy rock

concert, vendor booths & variety of family-friendly activities. Different band every Friday evening throughout the summer. Street fair: 6 p.m. Live music: 6:30–9:30 p.m. Downtown Plaza. 122 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. cloverdaleartsalliance.org.

Saturday 28 Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris: The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza. Talk &

book signing: $5–$15. Free for children 3 & younger seated on laps. Museum admission ($5–$12 or free for ages 3 & younger) includes book signing but excludes talk. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. Tickets: tinyurl. com/4e355z7d.

Summer is a time for kids to explore and expand the limits of their imagination. At Y CAMP, every day is a new adventure! SIGN UP TODAY and discover adventure, fun and new friends! Find Your Y at: Sonoma County Family YMCA 1111 College Ave. SR · 707-545-9622 · scfymca.org

Envirichment–Pond Exploration.

Hands-on, environmental activities for kids of all ages. Free with museum www.sonomafamilylife.com

May 2022

SonomaFamilyLife 39

Humor Break diameter. “In case that helps find her because she’s that big,” he stated. An examination of store records indicates that Smith used her credit card to purchase $86 worth of items, all in size small. A sales associate remembers assisting the teenage daughter during checkout but has no recollection of Smith. “I remember the girl because she was wearing this totes adorbs lanyard,” said Ava L., sales associate in training.

Missing in Forever 21 A Middle-Aged Mom’s Plight By Katy M. Clark

ennifer Smith, 50, was reported missing from Midtown Mall on Friday afternoon at approximately 3:43 p.m. Smith was last seen shopping inside Forever 21 with her teenage daughter. “This was her dream, to come to Forever 21 and buy stuff to make me happy,” Smith’s daughter, 14, told the outlet. Forever 21 is a retail store that caters to teens and twenty-somethings. “We were browsing the crop top section and I heard my mom mumble something about muffin tops,” her daughter said. “I went to look at the micro minis and that’s the last I remember seeing her.” Smith, a former Fulbright Scholar to Mozambique and a 1993 graduate 40 SonomaFamilyLife

of Yale University, stands nearly six feet tall and reportedly wears a size 12. Thus, her disappearance within the store is not only alarming but also surprising. Security officer Jethro Blart’s review of the store’s security camera footage confirmed Smith’s presence in the store. “The footage shows Ms. Smith towering over the clothing racks while shaking her head,” he announced. Blart, who recently watched a YouTube video on lip reading, claims Smith said, “Who could fit into these?” while holding up a pair of short shorts to her left thigh. According to Blart, the short shorts and Smith’s thigh were of similar

May 2022

“There might have been someone who requested a printed receipt that day,” Ava L. continued. She said this was memorable since most patrons skip the paper receipt and get it sent directly to their phones instead. Ava L. suggested that mall security guards check Talbots or Chico’s. “That’s where my grandma shops.” When Smith’s husband was reached for comment, he was unaware that his wife was missing. “I didn’t even know [my wife and daughter] left the house,” he said. “I was watching the game.” Anyone with information about Ms. Smith is urged to contact the mall’s security guards. Update: Ms. Smith was found safe inside Forever 21 at 3:49 p.m. She was reviewing a paper receipt near the cash register while wearing reading glasses, which had rendered her unremarkable. Forever 21 appreciates the assistance of the mall security force in this matter and will consider instituting Midlife Consumer Awareness training for its employees. This post was originally published on Sammiches and Psych Meds. Katy Clark writes about motherhood at experiencedbadmom.com.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

GAN ISRAEL PRESCHOOL Ages 2-5+

PLAY-BASED EMERGENT CURRICULUM Our nurturing and qualified teachers have been serving Petaluma families of all faiths for over 45 years. With a 1/6 ratio and an emphasis on social and emotional learning, our program provides a positive first learning experience. Students enjoy yoga, music and movement, art, and a beautiful outdoor play area.

Float Her Boat

very mom has her idea of what she’d like for Mother’s Day. For those who find renewal in nature, the Mother’s Day Paddle may be just the right celebration. The guided excursion will take participants through the inlets and channels of Spring Lake in Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa. Vessels will hit the water on May 8 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The two-hour trips are each $25 for Sonoma County residents or $27 for those who live out of the county. Boats, paddles, and life jackets will be provided. Registration is required; sign up at tinyurl. com/49yfbudm. ¶

All COVID-19 and CCL guidelines are followed so that we can provide a safe and healthy experience for all.

We are open to all faiths PRESCHOOL: 9AM-1PM M-F AFTERCARE: 8:30AM-4PM M-F TOURS: 3PM M-F WEEKLY SUMMER CAMP: 9AM-1PM M-F

JACK LONDON PARK PARTNERS

APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.BNAIISRAEL.NET • 707 763-5136 BIJC CENTER, 740 WESTERN AVE. PETALUMA

Piano for Mom

efore Glen Ellen’s Jack London State Historic Park was a place to hike on the weekends, it was the home of the park’s namesake and his wife, Charmian. A professional pianist, Charmian took a liking to a 1901 Steinway, which the pair bought and took to their ranch. The piano now lives in the House of Happy Walls, which was Charmian’s home after her husband’s death and, at her request, is now a museum. In honor of Mother’s Day, volunteer members of the Jack London Piano Club will tickle the Steinway’s ivories on May 8, 2–4:30 p.m., playing songs that celebrate the love of mothers. Prior to the concert, a free docent tour of the ruins of Wolf House, Jack London’s dream home, will be offered at 11 a.m. And after the concert, trails will be open for hiking. Concert tickets are $20, including the parking fee. The concert can only be accessed via staircase; call 707-938-5216 for questions regarding accessibility. To purchase tickets, go to jacklondonpark.com/ events/mothers-day-2022. ¶

www.sonomafamilylife.com

Preschool 2022-23 Registration Children's Circle 2.5-3+ years

9:15-12:15pm M/W or T/Th, optional F

Kinderclub 3-5 years

9:00-12:30pm M/W/F or T/Th

Montessori in Motion 3-5 years 9:00-12:00pm M/W, T/Th or M-Th

For more information and to register, go to www.townofwindsor.com/preschool or call 707-838-5945

May 2022

SonomaFamilyLife 41

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