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THE SCIENCE OF LAUGHTER
SUMMER SAFETY PROTOCOLS
It’s nearly time to return to school as we used to know it! Your child’s annual
check-up gives you the chance to cover any physical or mental health concerns, be sure you’re current on vaccines, and track growth and other developmental milestones. Call your clinic for an appointment now to be sure you get in before September. Not yet a patient? Call 541-242-4444 or visit our website.
OUR PEDIATRICIANS ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! 541-242-4444 • OregonMedicalGroup.com 2
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Eat Smart, Waste Less A family of four could save up to
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T R I P L E P : T H E P O S I T I V E PA R E N T I N G P R O G R A M
Top 10 Tips For Parents
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Children are more likely to misbehave when they’re bored, so provide lots of engaging indoor and outdoor activities for your child like playdough, coloring books, cardboard boxes, dress up, play forts, etc.
L e a r n m o r e a n d s i g n u p a t L a n e T r i p l e P. o r g T rip le P On l i n e i s f r e e f o r OH P m e m b e r s ! • T r i p l e P e s t a d i s p o n i b l e e n espa ño l. J U LY 2 0 2 1
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PLAYING SAFE Summer COVID precautions for unvaccinated kids. THE HISTORY OF LAUGHTER Medicinal Benefits of a Good Laugh PICKY EATERS Ideas for Introducing New Foods to Finicky Toddlers FAMILY HEALTH Summer and Siblings
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DAD’S EYE VIEW “Daddy’s Lost Patrol” This month’s Dad’s Humor Column PARENTING Tips to Coast Through Summer with Kids
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MOVIE REVIEWS Kids: Cruella Parents: The Water Man
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FAMILY HEALTH Skin Protection, Inside (the body) and Outside
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RESCUE SPOTLIGHT Doggie: Phoenix Kitty: Etienne
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Newborns to young adults, we are with you every step of the way.
Ross Newman, M.D., F.A.A.P, welcomes a newborn patient to the world. We are the only pediatricians who still make rounds to visit our newborn patients at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.
To schedule an appointment, call 541-HUG-KIDS. 995 Willagillespie Road, Suite 100 • 541-484-5437 • www.EugenePeds.com
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Our Contributors 1
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Oregon Family Magazine is distributed monthly, year-round via direct mail into homes in greater Lane County, and at high-traffic commercial locations, including Eugene, Springfield, Coburg, Veneta, Elmira, Cottage Grove and Creswell.
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PUBLISHER Pacific Parents Publishing EDITOR Sandy Kauten GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT Springer Design & Illustration ADVERTISING Jo Schechter • 541.914.9434 Josuccess@comcast.net Christi Kessler • 541.484.0434 christi@oregonfamily.com
1. KIMBERLY BLAKER
Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family and lifestyle writer. She is also owner of KB Creative Digital Services, specializing in SEO content and blog posts. Kimberly is a mother of two and grandmother.
2. PILAR BRADSHAW, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Dr. Pilar Bradshaw practices the full spectrum of pediatric medicine, seeing patients from birth to young adulthood. Named as 1 of 7 “Favorite Pediatricians” by Parents magazine, she believes in the ability of parents to embrace the joys and challenges of raising children.
Sandy Kauten • 541.683.7452 sandy@oregonfamily.com OREGON FAMILY MAGAZINE P.O. Box 21732 • Eugene, OR 97402 541.683.7452 Email: info@oregonfamily.com Web: www.oregonfamily.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/OregonFamily
3. RICK EPSTEIN
A Dad’s Eye View contributor, also award-winning columnist, and journalist. Author of Rookie Dad (Hyperion) and The Right Number of Kids (McKenna Publishing Group). His wife and three daughters run a living laboratory in which he is constantly tested, analyzed, and experimented upon. It’s as if a guinea pig could write.
4. BONNIE HARRIS
Bonnie is Oregon Family Magazine’s resident Movie Review Master Extraordinaire. She enjoys watching movies of all kinds, and has been doing movie reviews for over 9 years and counting. She lives in Eugene with her family, enjoys gardening and cooking.
5. PAM MOORE
Pam Moore is an author, body positive health coach, occupational therapist, and certified personal trainer who helps women push through fear to become their best selves. She’s also the host of the podcast Real Fit. To get her free guide to crushing Impostor Syndrome visit pam-moore.com.
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1993 Opinions expressed by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily the opinions of this publication. © 2021 Pacific Parents Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without prior expressed written permission from Pacific Parents Publishing.
6. RODDY SCHEER
Journalist and photographer specializing in environmental issues, the outdoors and travel. When he is not out in the field taking pictures, Roddy runs EarthTalk, the non-profit Publisher of the syndicated EarthTalk Q&A column and the EarthTalk.org and Emagazine.
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Playing Safe This Summer
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BY PILAR BRADSHAW, M.D., F.A.A.P. | EUGENE PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATES
UMMERTIME BRINGS A MUCH-NEEDED break from a challenging school year and more time to enjoy the season with our kids! The risk of COVID-19 is decreasing in Oregon as more adults are being vaccinated; however, young children still are not approved to receive the coronavirus vaccine and COVID is now ranked in the top 10 causes of death in American children. With that in mind, I encourage families to follow these summer safety tips:
In addition to taking precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus among children, providers at Eugene Pediatric Associates remind families to keep basic summer safety in mind:
• Keep unvaccinated kids from different households socially distanced and masked when they are playing together inside and encourage outside play as much as possible.
• Outfit kids with a properly-fitted life jacket if they are in a boat (floaties are not adequate protection).
• Unvaccinated children playing at the pool, park or beach should stay at least 6 feet away from people they don’t live with. When not in the water, those children 2 years and older should wear masks. • Avoid poorly ventilated or crowded areas if you have unvaccinated kids.
• Make sure an adult is within arm’s reach of a young child that is in or near a swimming pool or around any body of water. • Keep backyard pools empty or gated when not in use.
• Make helmets a priority for children (and adults) when bike riding or skateboarding. • Be sure to use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher when outdoors, and be sure to reapply often if kids are swimming. If you have questions about summertime safety and COVID-19, check the Centers for Disease Control’s website, or visit us at EugenePeds.com. ✦
• Rethink air travel with unvaccinated children unless it’s an urgent trip. • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. • Keep kids home when they are sick. • Get your unvaccinated child tested if they become sick with symptoms of COVID-19, or if they are in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.
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What Makes Us
THE HISTORY OF LAUGHTER AND SCIENCE BEHIND ITS MEDICINAL EFFECTS BY KIMBERLY BLAKER
AUGHTER MAY REALLY BE the best medicine. Scientific research has backed up the positive effects a good laugh can have on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Laughing is so beneficial to health that laughter therapy has even become an alternative approach to treating depression, stress, and other mood disorders. Evidence from numerous studies finds laughter to be an effective method in cognitive-behavioral therapy because of its effects. Gelotology is the term used to describe the study of laughter. This field was developed in the late 1960s and examines the physiological and psychological effects of humor. One of the founders was William F. Fry, who would watch comedic movies while drawing blood samples. The results showed that laughter increased the activity of immune system cells. Norman Cousins was a big proponent of laughter as medicine. At the age of 50, he was struck with a disease
with a low recovery rate. But he noticed that he experienced less pain and fewer symptoms when laughing. He prescribed himself regular laughter by watching Candid Camera and Marx Brothers movies and lived another 25 years. He worked with the California University Hospital to more formally study the health effects of laughter.
BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER Just a few of the recorded benefits of laughter on mental, physical, and emotional health include: • Increased endorphin levels • Increased production of immune cells and antibodies • Decreased levels of stress-causing hormones like cortisol and epinephrine • Improved memory • A refreshing mental break that helps replenish mental resources • Strengthened social bonds • Increased intake of oxygen, which stimulates organs • Reduced muscle tension • Ability to better handle scary or stressful situations
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S OUR UNDERSTANDING OF the benefits of laughter has grown, people have started to incorporate laughter for other aspects of health, too. A physician from India, Madan Kataria, created laughter yoga which combines breathing, movement, and laughter to promote mental and physical health. A study examined the effect of this method on older adult women experiencing depression in comparison to a control group that used exercise therapy. Those who completed laughter yoga reported significantly higher life satisfaction and improvements in their depression compared to the control group. The study found laughter yoga to be as effective as exercise programs. The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor is a non-profit organization started by a group of psychologists who promote the use of humor to support improved health and well-being. They have an extensive research library that shares academic research related to the benefits of humor and laughter. Counselor and stand-up comedian, Richard Granirer, of Stand Up for Mental Health, uses stand-up comedy to educate the public about mental health and reduce the stigma around it. He also teaches those with mental health issues or disorders to utilize their struggles to create comedy, which gives them a sense of control and self-worth.
HOW HAS HUMOR CHANGED OVER TIME? Humor as a source of laughter has been around as long as humans have been able to communicate. According to Robert R. Provine, a laughter expert, “The necessary stimulus for laughter is not a joke, but another person.” Laughter seems to have evolved as an essential part of social interaction, even if it does not happen face-to-face. The current thought is that humor is based on the recognition to observe or create incongruities in a social setting, and as humans’ cognitive abilities and language has developed, so has humor. Playfighting may be one of the earliest forms of humor due to the mix of playfulness with fighting behavior. In 2008, a group of British historians hunted down the oldest recorded joke - a fart joke in Sumeria in 1900 B.C. It was inscribed on a tablet and translates to: “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial. . .” “A young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap.” Although the words used may change, jokes at their core tend to
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make light of similar ideas - like fart jokes or toilet-related humor. Top 10 oldest jokes from history, discovered by researchers led by humor expert Dr. Paul McDonald, reinforce the idea that at their heart, jokes have not changed too much over time. Humor has always dealt with “taboos,” witty retorts, pointing out ironies, making light of difficulties, or come at someone’s expense. The format of jokes may change, and the details may shift to reflect the times, but the basic elements remain the same. Throughout history, humor has developed to reflect the times as people used laughter to connect. What people find funny varies based on individual and shared experiences. Humor generally reflects current events and stages of life and can be a way to relate to others. Shared humor relies on shared context and understanding of content. So people may not be able to appreciate jokes that have a more specific connection to a particular group. Some types of humor may be more global and relate to the basic human experience. In contrast, others have a more narrow audience that can appreciate them. Jokes and humorous content have also been shared in a variety of different ways, depending on the technology available. Humor can be shared in any way that people communicate. Jokes have been shared through every medium imaginable - carved on tablets, written in newspapers, sent in letters, graffitied on walls, or told by entertainers like court jesters and stand-up comedians. The rise of technology has also led to alternative ways of sharing humor. In the 1950s, Charley Douglass, a sound engineer for CBS, created laugh tracks to make a shared experience of laughter for people watching at home. Today, humor can be shared far and wide through the internet and social media in the form of memes or videos. Humor and laughter are universal and vital parts of a happy and healthy life. Keep your spirits up by finding ways to keep laughing. Though each person’s sense of humor may be a little different, you just have to seek out what you find funny or enjoyable. Especially when you are feeling down, it is even more important to try to find something to laugh at to lighten your load. Socialize with people who make you laugh for a boost. Sign up for a daily joke or comic strip. Follow your favorite comedian. Keep a running list of books, songs, tv shows, or movies that make you laugh. Or start a ‘funny file’ for emergencies with cards and pictures that bring a smile to your face. Even if you don’t feel like laughing, try forcing a few chuckles - the more ridiculous, the better. You’ll likely find yourself genuinely laughing before you know it! ✦
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Ways to Encourage Your Toddler to Try New Foods BY ANGELICA HOOVER
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HERE ARE FEW PARTS of parenting that are as notoriously challenging as encouraging your toddler to try new foods. It might be an uphill battle to introduce new snacks, flavors, and textures, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Here are some simple ways to encourage your toddler to try new foods.
KEEP PORTIONS SMALL New and unfamiliar foods can overwhelm your toddler, especially when they arrive in large quantities. It’s a good idea to introduce new foods in small portions—think one carrot stick, one apple slice, or a single spoonful of yogurt or oats. Giving them a chance to taste the food just once will reduce their fear around it and reduce the amount of food you stand to waste, too.
BUILD ON THEIR FAVORITE FOODS Does your toddler love pasta and peas? Try broccoli or squash the next time around. Do they have a soft spot for blueberry yogurt? Try adding in some fresh strawberries for their next snack. You can provide variety in your little one’s meals without straying too far from the familiar foods they love. Explain to them you have added a new ingredient for them to try so that they learn to expect and appreciate variation.
GIVE NEW FOODS GLOWING REVIEWS Use descriptive language to talk to your child about the taste, texture, and flavor of a new food. Is this new food soft, firm, or crunchy? Hot or cold? What does its color remind them of? This is a fun way to encourage them to enjoy new things without focusing simply on their likes and dislikes.
veggies you made, you can rest assured that this probably isn’t a reflection of your cooking skills. It has a lot more to do with them feeling comfortable, in control, and in the right mood to try something new.
MAKE MEALS TASTIER Adding a dipping sauce or seasoning can make trying new foods fun for your child. At snacktime, try adding ranch or humus to your child’s veggie plate.
BE PERSISTENT AND PATIENT Some experts suggest you need to expose a toddler to a new food 8-15 times before they will eat it. So, it pays to be persistent. And keep in mind, many toddlers show resistance to trying new foods at some point. This is a completely normal phase of their development. In most cases, they will grow out of their picky ways. ✦
DON’T FORCE THE ISSUE Forcing your child to try a new food generally does more harm than good. You can decide what you put on your child’s plate, but it’s up to them to decide if they eat it, and how much they’re willing to try.
DON’T TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY If your toddler is hesitant to try the roasted
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To learn more about infant development, register for Parenting Now’s upcoming Incredible INFANTs virtual parenting group starting on June 17. To enroll, email enroll@ parentingnow.org or call 541-434-4343.
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SUMMER & SIBLINGS BY RACHEL MARTIN
URING THE LONG DAYS of summer, when school is out, children often spend more time with brothers and sisters (siblings) than usual. Sometimes this can mean opportunities for building close sibling relationships, and other times it can mean lots of shouting, fighting, and parental stress and frustration. Whether siblings go to child care together or stay home together, they are likely to experience increased intensity in all aspects of their relationships during summer break. These changes also impact levels of parental stress and the children’s relationships with their parents. Many interactions involving conflict between family members are stimulated by sibling quarrels. When family life is characterized by arguing, the bonds between parents, as well as between parents and children, are likely to suffer. Levels of closeness and conflict that exists between siblings vary greatly. Some siblings have very little conflict, while others engage in so much antagonistic behavior toward each other parents need to keep a close eye on interactions to ensure no one gets seriously hurt. In general, the greater majority of sibling relationships fall somewhere in between. Reasons for quarrels are many, from a clash in temperaments, to boredom, one wanting attention from the other, or difficulty sharing possessions. Parents don’t need to intervene in every sibling disagreement, but should focus on those where strong emotions are apparent. Such intervention gives the message that you care about each child’s feelings, and models essential social skills children need to learn. It is important to teach children that the feelings of other children are very important and need to be taken into consideration. Because children under the age of 3 have very little self-control, it is often a good idea for a parent to help distract and redirect a younger child bothering a sibling by offering another toy or activity, or gently moving the child away. Providing a place for an older sibling to play
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without interruption can be helpful too, such as a table or a room with a baby gate for separation. Recent research has shown that sibling relationships are better when parents use a problem solving approach, helping children to understand each other’s point of view, and look for a solution satisfactory to both. When sibling interactions start to become loud or when a child asks a parent or other caregiver for help in dealing with his or her sibling, it is often a good opportunity to help children learn the process of problem solving. In cases where a child has broken a family rule, problem solving is not the best first response, but many other quarrels lend themselves to this process. The following are some basic steps for teaching interpersonal problem solving to children who are old enough to talk and have enough self control (beginning at about 3 years) to follow through with agreed upon solutions.
PROBLEM SOLVING IN RESPONSE TO SIBLING QUARRELS
Interrupt the quarrel by asking, “What’s going on?” Ask the children to sit down together to talk. Refusal to talk should not be an option, especially in cases of hurt feelings. Hold on to, or move children away from, any objects in dispute to elevate this distraction. Clarify children’s feelings and the problem at hand. Ask each child what he or she is feeling and what they would like to do. Help each child truly hear and understand the point of view of the other, including feelings. Summarize or restate the problem to make it clear. If one child objects, talk about it some more until all agree on what the problem is. Suggest possible solutions. Ask the children: “What can you do so you can both (or all) be happy?” Then provide a few creative suggestions yourself to help the children understand what is being
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asked and to help them think “outside the box.” Keep asking for more solutions until a reasonable one is clearly acceptable to everyone involved. This may be difficult at first, but it gets easier and easier with practice. Parents must truly value putting the children in charge of choosing a solution, rather than imposing on the children a solution the adult wants or likes. Choose. Once the children have found a solution they agree on, and it is okay with you, check facial expressions and ask the children if each of them is happy with the chosen solution. If one is not happy, keep trying to find a solution truly acceptable to each child involved. Implement the solution. Keep an eye on the children, and if the solution is not working, suggest they think about some new ideas and try again. For example, Susie is making a structure
with wooden blocks. Tommy comes along and wants to add some blocks to Susie’s structure. Susie objects and yells at Tommy. You, the parent or caregiver, hear this and go over to where the children are playing.
Going through steps 1 and 2, you move the children out of reach of the blocks, discuss both children’s feelings and desires, and then sum up the problem as “two children want to play at the same time with the same blocks.” Next is step 3, and you ask the children
“What can you do so you can both be happy?” At first they probably will struggle to answer the question, so you make outsidethe-box suggestions, such as we could “take all the blocks outside and play under the bushes,” or they could “get sponges and wash and dry all of the blocks.” Then if the children still can’t think of any ideas, you could suggest some more reasonable solutions – like dividing the blocks in half, or “Tommy could gather up the farm animals and bring them over to live in the block structure if Susie will allow Tommy to add some blocks to the structure.” It usually doesn’t take long for the children to agree. Then you can go back to your cooking and just keep an eye and an ear out to see if the solution is working. The more parents respond to children with a problem solving approach, the better children tend to become at using the process on their own without adult help, and they will find these skills useful in all of their future relationships. ✦
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The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts
Community Music School Classes & private lessons for all ages � Contact the registrar today! � 541.434.7000 / registrar@theshedd.net
MARIACHI del Shedd (Tuesdays & Fridays 4:30-6p, Summer camp)
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The Music Box! Mondays through Thursdays, 2 sessions each day Class size limited to 10 students per section. Sign up any time! 13
A Dad’s Eye View
Daddy’s Lost Patrol BY RICK EPSTEIN
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FEATHER!” SAID 4-YEAR-OLD SALLY, picking it up off the trail. We had been visiting friends when a minor crisis at their house had sent us to go kill some time at the town’s nature center. My wife sat on a bench nursing the baby while I took the two older girls for a stroll along something called the Butterfly Trail. It was tame even for us. The path was wide and paved with chipped bark. But the surrounding woods were hot and damp enough for mosquitoes to be taking a lively interest in us even at midday. Looking at Sally’s feather, her souvenir-oriented 7-year-old sister Marie asked, “What else are we going to find?” “I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe a piece of shell from a bird’s egg. But we’re not shopping; we’re here for the experience,” I said. “Close your eyes and listen.” “I hear birds chirping,” Sally said. “I hear a woodpecker pecking,” Marie said. This was perfect! We had almost completed the loop through the woods, when I saw a slightly more rugged parallel trail just on the other side of a half-scattered
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stone fence. Figuring that the nature center offered a second trail, I led the girls onto it. They were getting tired when the trail narrowed to about the width of a bunny, with poison ivy on each side. Then it emptied onto a paved public road. Marie said, “I want to go back to Mommy. My legs itch.” “All right,” I said, “The quickest way back is to walk along this road.” By keeping to the left, I figured we’d
eventually get back to the nature center. Sally was wearing out, so I put her up onto my sweaty shoulders, and we shuffled along. As me made our next left turn, Marie said, “This is the wrong way; the nature center is back that way,” pointing back the way we’d come. “No, I’m sure it’s this way,” I said and promised her $5 if I was wrong. The road was narrow, wending its way through a tasteful and moneyed neighborhood – lovely homes with curving driveways nestled among tall trees. There was no one around to give us directions. With no traffic or voices, the only sound was the far-off thwocking of a tennis ball. It was eerie, walking amid unpeopled opulence, but feeling hot, exhausted and desperate, leading my demoralized troops. The road ended unhelpfully in a cul-de-sac and I realized that my ever-leftward plan wasn’t working and we might never find our way back. I imagined a lean woman, dressed by L.L. Bean, calling the authorities to have our lifeless bodies removed from her fern-bed. I told Marie, “This is a dead-
end; we’ll go back the way we came,” and handed her a fiver. She smiled, but Sally said, “Give me $5, too!” “No way!” I said. She began crying and I lowered her onto the pavement so she wouldn’t drip onto my head. She could cry and walk at the same time. Back in the woods, Sally found another feather and cheered up, reminding me that kids get happy as easily as they get unhappy. Marie was already happy; if she got $5 every time I was wrong, she’d have one sweet franchise. Once back through the stone fence, it was easy to see we’d re-entered the tended grounds of the nature park. Betsy and the baby were sitting where we’d left them. “How was the Butterfly Trail?” she asked. Our season of hopeless wandering quickly shrank into the little 45-minute span it had actually occupied, and although the kids tattled with wide-eyed gusto, I made the official report: “It was fine.” Like our little Death March, child-raising years seem really long, but not in a bad way. This time is so crammed with emotion and adventure that it defies normal measurement. With the intense living involved with three childhoods all going on at once, it’s a wonder that time moves forward at all. But it will, and one day I’ll be hoping my daughters will trust me to take my grandchildren to the park. ✦ RICK EPSTEIN can be reached at rickepstein@yahoo.com.
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Dear EarthTalk: What are the main contaminants we have to worry about in our drinking water? How can we know if we are being exposed and what can we do about it?
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ODAY, MOST AMERICANS GET their water from their sinks or fridge filters, and it travels great distances to get there. On the way, it may pick up chemicals that are harmful to our health if not filtered out properly. An analysis by the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) using 2016 data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that some 18 million Americans were living in areas with unsafe levels of lead in the water. In another report, USA Today found that 63 million Americans were exposed to unsafe drinking water from 2007-2017. Water pollution issues were also found to disproportionately plague minority and low-income communities. Flint, Michigan has been a leading example of U.U. communities facing water pollution. Discolored and highly polluted water was piped into Flint for 18 months during which time residents experienced skin rashes, itchy skin and hair loss. Although complaints were filed by Flint community members, they were dismissed by government officials. Many felt the government’s response (or
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— L. MINTO, BERN, NC lack thereof) was rooted in prejudice as the majority of Flint’s population is black and two of five residents live below the poverty line. Michigan’s own Civil Rights Commission called the poor response a “result of systemic racism.”
miscarriage, infertility and brain and kidney damage. Some other common contaminants in drinking water are perfluorooctanesulfonic (PFOS) and perfluorooctane (PFOA), strontium and perchlorate. PFOS and PFOA
PHOTO: PIXABAY.
Earthtalk
DEAR EARTHTALK
Contaminated drinking water is a problem from coast-to-coast, and could be the next big public health crisis facing the United States. One of the main poisons in Flint’s water was lead, which entered the water via corroded plumbing. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), says that lead exposure is especially harmful to kids, causing brain and nervous system damage, developmental, learning and behavioral issues and hearing loss. In adults, lead can cause high blood pressure,
are persistent man-made chemicals that can seep into groundwater sources and don’t break down easily. They’ve been linked to chronic kidney disease and several forms of cancer. Strontium can weaken bones and stunt bone growth. Florida, Texas and Eastern Wisconsin each have higher than normal percentages of strontium in their water because many
reservoirs come from carbonate rock aquifers in these states. Perchlorate disrupts the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones. It has also been labeled a “likely human carcinogen” by the EPA. It is estimated that 11 million Americans live in areas with perchlorate concentrations that are higher than what is considered safe in drinking water. If you’d like to know what’s in your drinking water, look online for free local water testing reports, or find a lab that will test your home water supply for between $20-100. Advocating for clean water to local, state and federal government agencies is also key to maintaining the community’s right to clean water. CONTACTS: Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water, epa.gov/groundwater-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water; More than 2 million Americans exposed to high levels of strontium in drinking water, ehn.org/ strontium-in-drinking-water-2651752809/ removal-of-strontium-from-drinking-water; Perchlorate in Drinking Water, emagazine.com/perchlorate-in-drinking-water/; Flint Water Crisis: Everything You Need to Know, nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisiseverything-you-need-know. EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine. com. To donate, visit https//earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.
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Parenting Trends FOR AN
EASY, BREEZY SUMMER BY PAM MOORE
HILE THE WORLD IS determined to make us believe summer is fun and relaxing, we parents know better. The days are long, which means our kids are up way too late. No school means scheduling camps, playdates, sitters, etc. Then there’s all that sun, which means coercing our kids into putting sunblock on. Yes, summer is hard, but you can make it easier by embracing some hot trends. Maybe you stopped caring about trends when you gave in and bought a minivan. Maybe it happened as soon as you peed on the stick. But trust us, there’s a reason these parenting hacks are hot right now. They save so much work.
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BABYWEARING. The baby snuggles while you keep both hands free. Babywearing means not having to strategize your approach at every doorway or MacGyvering through stairwells with 40 pounds of stroller, baby, and diaper bag slung across your body at awkward angles. Babywearing eliminates those face-prickling, nervous-sweat moments when you’re futzing to unlatch your stroller as your baby wails and the one thing just won’t attach to the other thing and all eyes are on you in an otherwise quiet, public place. If I regret anything in my life, it’s that I didn’t wear my kids more when they were babies. (Exception: the Moby wrap. Wrestling 25 yards worth of cotton with a crying baby on your hip can make anyone weep, particularly a postpartum woman).
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CO-SLEEPING. Co-sleeping could be the best-kept secret of lazy parents. Contrary to popular belief, co-sleeping doesn’t make you an attachment parent, a helicopter parent, or a hippie. It means you are probably sleeping better than everyone else. It means you’re capable of snoring when the kid snuggles up with his center of mass directly over your Adam’s apple. It means you’re a gentle soul who finds the sound of your kid breathing like an overweight octogenarian adorable, even without an Ambien or two. Co-sleeping means never leaving your bed in the middle of the night. I regret not co-sleeping with my kids when they were babies. I also regret that they thought co-sleeping was a slumber party. Specifically, the kind of slumber party where the first girl to fall asleep would wake to find her underpants hidden in the freezer.
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BABY-LED WEANING. Baby-led weaning is fancy way of saying you feed your baby regular food. Instead of spoon-feeding your baby purees that you have to make or buy, you give them soft foods they can eat with their hands. Why did I spend so much time pureeing various combinations of fruits and vegetables, then struggle to simultaneously feed myself, read the paper, and spoon-feed them for hundreds, maybe thousands of meals? I beg forgiveness from the patron saint of judge-y mommies. My sins include (but are not limited to) ignorance and hypocrisy. I scoffed at baby-led weaning. I am
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ashamed to admit that this cloth-diapering, home-birthing, chicken-raising mama thought it was “too crunchy.” I wish I’d considered how much easier (read: lazier) it would have been to set a few mashed pieces of my chicken and sweet potatoes on my babies’ high chair trays and let them have at it.
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WALDORF PRINCIPLES. Waldorf schools are notorious for banning screens. While letting the TV babysit your kids is the epitome of lazy parenting, there is, in fact, a place for the Waldorf philosophy in the lazy parent’s home. Waldorf emphasizes connecting with nature and creative play. Sending your kids to the backyard and shutting the door behind them is a great way for them to discover the natural world. Meanwhile, the glut of plastic toys hampers kids’ imaginations. Letting kiddos create a rich imaginary world means fewer toys to trip on and less time spent inventing ways to make clean up fun (or sighing loudly while shoving toys in bins after bedtime).
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MINIMALISM. While minimalism is trending right now, less is truly more. Fewer toys mean less time spent sorting and tidying toys. A smaller wardrobe means less laundry. A smaller house means less cleaning. Principles of minimalism apply not just to your material things but to your emotional and spiritual life as well. In a culture that values staying busy, minimalism asks us not just to
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weed out material clutter but the obligations that clutter our calendars as well. Don’t feel like meeting up for a drink with that preschool mom you’d never be friends with if you didn’t have kids the same age? Don’t. You’re not a terrible human. You’re just a minimalist, protecting your greatest asset – your time. (She doesn’t need to know your prior commitment is binge watching Game of Thrones.)
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ROMPERS. The romper should be the staple of every lazy mom’s summer wardrobe. Yoga pants may be comfy and match everything but they’re not a great summer piece (unless you’re attempting a budget version of one of those perspire-excessively-in-a-compression-garment weight loss strategies). Send your yoga pants to Goodwill along with the teeny-tiny Legos and find yourself a romper. The romper is superior to yoga pants in every way. It doesn’t just match everything – it is everything. Once it›s on, all you need are shoes and you›re dressed. Romp-and-go style is yours with zero fuss (until you have to use the restroom.) As parents, we are busy. We don’t have time to check out all the trending hashtags on Instagram. Don’t worry about hashtags. Do whatever is easiest and you’re sure to be in vogue this summer. ✦
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Family Movie Night
Fashionably Abnormal BY BONNIE L. HARRIS
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RITERS OFTEN SAY THAT a great villain makes a story’s hero seem more heroic. But when the bad-girl villain is also the victorious hero, that’s a story with an original twist. Like Maleficent from 2014, Disney’s new spin on Cruella De Vil turns a previously despicable villain into a loveable, misunderstood CRUELLA Walt Disney Studios Rated: PG-13 In Theatres & on Disney Plus
Cruella sets her next trap. orphan with perfectly good reasons for her outrageous behavior and wildly eccentric wardrobe. Director Craig Gillespie pushes the visual whimsy to its cartoonish limit while still keeping Cruella’s story funny, endearing, and oh-so entertaining. The fabulous costumes, exquisite set design, and rousing soundtrack keep equal pace with the superb actors, who play their roles with impish gusto and perfect comedic timing. But clumsy Estella Miller, aka the future Cruella, excels in terrible timing and never quite fits her daring fashion sense
into a normal mold. After her mother’s death, penniless Estella lands in London and teams up with Jasper and Horace, two pint-sized thieves who give her a place to live and the skills to survive. Fast forward ten years and Estella dreams of working for the House of Baroness, a couture designer at a posh department store who’s the English version of The Devil Wears Prada. Estella gets her wish, but she discovers that catering to the Baroness comes with a heavy price. Eventually, Estella must decide
between remaining the meek, law-abiding employee, or give in to her alter ego, the devilish Cruella, in order to defeat the Baroness at her sinister game. Secrets build upon secrets, and the more Estella upstages the Baroness, the more she embraces her Cruella persona. After a fiery madcap finale, Cruella literally puts Estella to rest, and takes the Baroness’ place as London’s fashion icon. Be sure to watch the credits for a humorous hint at the sequel, which definitely involves Dalmatians.
FOR the PARENTS
Ripples in the Water THE WATER MAN Harpo Films, Rated: PG Streaming on Amazon
Gunner & Jo on the quest.
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ROMOTED AS DAVID Oyelowo’s directorial debut and produced by Oprah Winfrey, The Water Man tries to be a serious family drama about a boy struggling with his mother’s impending death, but the film only skims the surface of emotional issues rather than diving in. The story follows teenage Gunner Boone, a city kid in a new town, and rebel, Jo Riley, who team up to cross a mountain range looking for an immortal apparition called the Water Man. Intriguing premise, but Oyelowo’s film jumps between realism and fantasy rather than blending them into a seamless, enchanting story. Gunner has good reason for his quest, but Jo’s reasons for guiding him into the dangerous forest are less clear. Rather than dealing with the issues of parental neglect, child abuse, fear of death, and survivor’s guilt, which are all mentioned, there’s almost no emotional exploration of these problems. The climactic encounter
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with the Water Man and the raging forest fire at the end of Gunner’s journey could have been powerful metaphors, but instead, they become the backdrop for a clichéd rescue scene. The Water Man could have made waves, but only if the director had realized its potential.
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Summer Skin Protection Inside and Outside BY STATEPOINT MEDIA
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ANY PEOPLE PRIORITIZE SKIN protection when spending time outdoors, but skin damage from UV rays and free radicals can occur inside too. Consider these tips and insights this summer:
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR HAZARDS If you’re already taking measures to protect skin while outdoors, that’s great. The sun is responsible for up to 90% of visible skin changes commonly attributed to aging, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. But you don’t have to be at the pool or beach to be susceptible to sun damage. Whether you’re driving your car or you’re inside your home, it’s important to keep in mind that your skin can be exposed to free radicals from the sun’s rays through windows. What’s more, blue light from digital screens — ubiquitous these days — can also be harmful to skin. Additionally, damaging free radicals can be generated by pollution, certain foods, like those with a high glycemic index and red meat, exercise, alcohol and more.
TOPICAL CARE Be sure to apply a topical SPF daily to your face and body. Keep in mind that some
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fabrics don’t offer complete protection, so wearing sunscreen even on areas of skin that are not directly exposed to sunlight is a good idea. You can offer additional protection to sensitive areas like your scalp by wearing a hat. And of course, take good care of your eyes with sunglasses featuring UV blocking.
DOUBLE UP Ultimate skin health comes from a combination of defensive layers. Double down on your skin’s health from the inside out with a daily supplement, such as Heliocare Daily Use Antioxidant Formula. Eighty-seven percent of U.S. dermatologists
recommend taking Heliocare to help protect skin from free radicals, like those produced by the sun’s UV rays. Dermatologistrecommended, this natural, dietary supplement contains 240 milligrams of a powerful antioxidant formula derived from the extract of Polypodium leucotomos (PLE), a tropical fern native to Central and South America that’s been used for centuries as a remedy for skin-related conditions. Unlike other skincare supplements that contain PLE, Heliocare has a clinically-established, proprietary antioxidant formula, Fernblock PLE Technology, which aids in eliminating free radicals in the body. “Ultimately, no one is immune to skin damage. Taking a supplement like Heliocare each day is an excellent precaution to help your body protect itself from the damaging effects of free radicals,” says New York-based dermatologist, Rachel Nazarian, MD. “By neutralizing the outcome of these harmful atoms, it can help to promote a healthy appearance of skin.” To learn more and to access additional skin care information, visit heliocare.com. To help keep skin healthy and radiant, avoid free radical damage in the first place and prioritize a comprehensive skin care routine, even when indoors! ✦
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Rescue Spotlight
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eet PHOENIX! This gorgeous bundle of energy had a rough time before coming to Greenhill but with lots of TLC and medical care she is ready to live her best life with her forever family! She would love an active family that she can accompany on lots of adventures. She loves being outside to play and get zoomies! Phoenix is looking for a patient family who will continue using positive reinforcement training so she can improve her manners. She is a very smart pup who is very food motivated! A staff member said, “Despite her painful past, she is a lovable girl who always greets our team with sloppy kisses and a wiggling tail. We love this goofball, squeakerloving girl and can’t wait for her to find her forever family who will give her endless love, cheese, and attention!” Phoenix is a 2-year-old Boxer mix with black fur and lots of affection! She loves getting attention and would enjoy having a family that is home often to spend a lot of time with her. Phoenix would do best living without cats as she still has lots of puppy energy. It’s not recommended that Phoenix go right into a home with another dog, but she could become comfortable living with one in the future. Phoenix will definitely be an incredible snuggle buddy and partner in adventures! Greenhill Humane Society open seven days a week, 11 am – 6 pm at 88530 Green Hill Rd in Eugene. Cat adoptions are on a first come limited capacity basis. Dogs and small animal adoptions are by appointment. For more information call (541) 689.1503 or visit www.green-hill.org.
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he Cat Rescue & Adoption Network presents ETIENNE, a dashing male grey & white tuxedo kitty. About 5 yrs old, he is outgoing and affectionate with anyone he meets. He will do best in an active household that can give him plenty of stimulation, and he’d love access to a catio or a secure outdoor space with cat-proof fencing. He has tested positive for FIV (the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), but he’s a healthy boy and will likely have a normal lifespan as an indoor-only cat (the virus can’t be passed to dogs or to people). This sweet and easygoing guy would love a forever family to call his own. He is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and negative for FeLV. To meet Etienne, please call 541-225-4955 option 1, or visit our website at CatRescues.org.
Fix ⎮ Mend ⎮ Repair
FiX
For an online directory of where to find over 200 repair businesses, FiX iT Fairs, resources and more, visit www.fixitlanecounty.com. FiX iT Lane County is dedicated to helping people fix more things locally. Choosing to repair and reuse consumer goods builds a healthier local economy and environment.
Lane County
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Strength in Unity Festival
COMING IN OCTOBER
YEAR OF THE OX
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TIPS TO FIND YOU
PERFECT HOME Page 8
A Simple Approach To Declutter Your Home
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CONTRACTOR SPOTLIGHT Q&A Page 12
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One-On-One Tutoring: • Friendly, Certified Teachers • All Subjects, K-12 • In-home or Online
College Prep Services: • SAT/ACT Prep • Admissions Essay Coaching • College Admissions Coaching Ask about Joshua’s 1-1 course: Grammar for College-Bound Writers
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Featuring
JULY 31, 2021 • ALTON BAKER PARK (PAVILIONS) Performances, Demos, Marketplace, Food Vendors, Youth Ac v ies
10:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M. | Free Admission | www.AsianCelebra on.org Presented by the Asian American Council of Oregon and the Japanese American Assoc. of Lane County
SUMMER SPECIAL! An orientation, free uniform, and a month of lessons for $59.95 Kenpo Karate builds selfdiscipline, self-confidence and concentration.
4404 Main St. • Springfield
747-3181 • www.eastgatekenpo.com
KIDS EAT FREE THIS SUMMER
Los niños comen gratis todo el verano en el condado de Lane
SUMMER CAMPS
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FREE GRAB & GO MEALS FOR YOUTH 18 AND YOUNGER
Comidas gratuitas para jóvenes servidas aquí
Little Timbers 4-week Summer Academy
Caregivers can pick up food without children present. For the site nearest you, call FOOD For Lane County. FOOD For Lane County is an equal opportunity provider.
Tue-Thur 7/20 - 8/12
Los cuidadores pueden recoger comida sin jovenes presentes. Para el sitio más cercano, llamen a FOOD For Lane County. FOOD For Lane County es un proveedor de igualdad de oportunidades.
Summer Camp 1 Age 6-15 • July 6-8
Summer Camp 2 Age 6-15 • Aug. 17-19
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(541) 343-2822 www.foodforlanecounty.org
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Strides for Social Justice BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY TODAY. You’re invited to participate in this free, inclusive, family-friendly program that will guide you to various landmarks for a view into local Black history and the powerful influence of Black residents within our community. Strides for Social Justice will educate, engage and encourage physical activity for people of all abilities, while generating financial resources in support of the NAACP and other organizations. Only by looking back can we move forward. Learn more at stridesforsocialjustice.org.
History
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