February 2017 issue by Oregon Family Magazine

Feeling Loved, Lovable & Loving Teeth Grinding? Don’t Worry Where Does Your Food Come From?

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Your family. Our support. Counseling and psych assessments for kids, teens and families.

Pantone 320U Blue

www.EugeneTherapy.com • For Appointments Call or Text 541-868-2004 2

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

Fridays, 10-10:45 a.m. & Saturdays, 10-10:45 a.m. Bob Keefer Center 250 S. 32nd St., Springfield

“LOVE NG THEIR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. STRO YEARS

Wish I could have put both my kids in earlier instead of in home day care for so long.”

Share the joy of music with a child! For kids ages 8 months-5 years and their caregivers.

— Preschool mom Denny Price

Distributed through all Eugene/ Springfield, Creswell and Junction City public elementary and middle schools, most area private schools, and over 400 commercial locations throughout Lane county. PUBLISHER

Pacific Parents Publishing EDITOR

Sandy Kauten CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

willamalane.org 541-736-4544

Better Lawns & Gardens, Inc.

Oregon Family 1/6 page b&w February 2017 Willamalane ➤ Complete Lawn & Landscape Maintenance ➤ Lawn Restoration ➤ Leaf Pick Up

➤ Dethatching & Core Aeration ➤ One Time Projects ➤ Commercial and Residential

Programs to Fit Your Budget

Rick Epstein Bonnie Harris Christina Katz Hannah Kruse Heidi Smith Luedtke

541-915-1615 • Free Estimates w w w. b e t te r l aw n s a n d g a rd e n s . n e t

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Springer Design & Illustration ADVERTISING

Christi Kessler • 541.484.0434 christi@oregonfamily.com 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

The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts

Music School Opinions expressed by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily the opinions of this publication.

Private & group lessons on most instruments and in various styles (including dance, voice and musical theatre), for all ages, including preschool, school age & adults.

The

Music Box! A hands-on exploration of the world of music for kids grades K-5! Wednesday at 4 pm. www.theshedd.org/TheMusicBox

OrFam-Shedd 2017-02.indd 1

868 High Street (Broadway & High) www.theshedd.org/MusicSchool Shedd Presenting Sponsor

1/23/2017 8:01:46 AM

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

8 Helping Kids Navigate the Ups and Downs of Friendship

february

6 A Dad’s Eye View 12 Calendar of Events 19 Family Movie Time 23 EarthTalk

Feeling Loved, Lovable and Loving

26 Pet Rescue Spotlight

Where Does Your Food Come From?

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

Family Health

Q&A w i t h D r. M i s t y Ca r l s o n Pe d i a t r i c i a n , Pe a c e H e a l t h M e d i c a l G r o u p , C o t t a g e G r o v e

My child is healthy and active. He participates in sports and gets a physical exam every year. However, I’ve read stories of student athletes who have suddenly died - without any warning symptoms - from a heart disease they didn’t even know they had. What can I do to protect my child?

The most common type of heart abnormality that may lead to sudden death on the playing field is called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is due to a genetic condition, which leads to an abnormal thickening and enlargement of the heart muscle. The challenge with this heart problem is that it can be difficult to detect on a routine physical examination and may not present with obvious symptoms. One way to ensure your teen athlete is protected is to have him or her screened specifically for heart problems. While you can talk to your doctor about options, you might also consider attending PeaceHealth’s teen heart screening, which offers 15-minute screenings to student athletes and

otherwise active youth. Led by experts on our cardiology team and supervised by cardiologists, our free screening events – held up to a couple times each year – include an electrocardiogram (EKG), heart health questionnaire, blood pressure check and diagnostic results report. It’s painless, noninvasive and educational. In addition to screening for underlying

heart conditions, the event is also an opportunity to have your teen screened for risk factors that may lead to adult onset cardiovascular disease such has high blood pressure. The screening does not take the place of a general checkup by your child’s primary care provider, which is important for your child’s general health and well-being. Pediatric heart issues are rare, but when it comes to the health of your child, a little extra diligence never hurts. Our next teen heart screening occurs Saturday, Feb. 25 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center. Registration is required and appointments are limited; first come, first serve. For more details – and to register – visit peacehealth.org/ TeenHeartScreen.

Welcome, Dr. Carlson! Misty Carlson, MD, and her partner Eric Johnson, MD, of PeaceHealth Medical Group Pediatrics at RiverBend Pavilion, are the exclusive pediatric cardiologists in the Willamette Valley. She earned her medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and completed her residency and fellowship at OHSU.

A Lane County native—hailing originally from Elmira—Dr. Carlson was actually born in Eugene at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center, University District. She returned home and joined PeaceHealth to help local families get answers about their child’s heart condition quickly and close to home.

To make an appointment with Dr. Carlson, call (541) 222-6160.

The Spirit of Health O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

A Dad’s Eye View by Rick Epstein

RUDE DUDES (AND GIRLS WHO LOVE THEM) I

t’s February again, and time for the annual Valentine’s Day Love Report. My 14-year-old daughter is boy crazy. Her dementia is unleashed mostly over the phone, via the Internet or at school, at athletic events and other kids’ homes. Wendy seldom entertains boys at our house because she is embarrassed – not because the boys are rude, unkempt and inarticulate, but because she doesn’t want them to see her parents. We are unremarkable to look at. When we walk down the street, people don’t shrink away, gag with revulsion or cover their children’s eyes. But to Wendy, we are like dirty underwear. It exists, but you don’t wave it at people you’re trying to impress. Never theless, bad timing or transportation necessities do cause a fair number of encounters. Afterward, Wendy will make the best of it and ask me questions along the line of, “Who do you think is cuter – Justin or Brian?” I have so much to tell Wendy. I can tell her how an offset printing press works, why so many football fans hate the Dallas Cowboys, what “bemused” really means, what boys talk about, how to eat for $4 a day, why the Confederates almost won the war, and so much more. But Wendy requests my input only on boy cuteness. It’s not that she values my opinion. It’s because boys are her absolutely favorite topic and she uses me to help perfume the atmosphere with the magical scent of their names. I want to make the most of the scant amount of conversation that Wendy tosses my way, so whenever I see any of her boys, I prepare for the inevitable questions by studying them, trying hard to find differences between them and trying even harder to find good things

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

to say about them. All the boys she’s interested in look the same – they are slim and with long, unkempt hair. Their personalities vary only from impolite to rude and from stupid to really stupid. To Wendy there are worlds of difference between her boys, but when she invites me to explore those worlds, I’m an amateur trying to judge a dog show – one Irish setter looks a lot like another Irish setter. One may be a little taller or a little shaggier, but I can’t even tell them apart, let alone pick a winner. It would help if they wore name tags or if I could mark them with a harmless dye. A few months ago, Wendy and her best friend Gianna decided to host two of them at our house, chaperoned by her sister Marie, who was home from college. Wendy knew we’d be away. “See?” I’d boasted to her, “Mom and I have active social lives, too.” (We were going to a funeral.) Marie later reported, “Wendy and Gianna spent the whole day preparing. They bought chips and Coke and had a special DVD. They even baked brownies. Then they worked on their makeup and hair. When the boys stumbled in, they pretty much ignored the girls, ignored the movie, and just ate the snacks and grunted to each other. And after they left, Wendy and Gianna were all moony about how adorable they are and how awesome it was having them come over.” “These girls don’t seem to expect much from their man-candy,” I said, “By the way, did you ever notice that all of Wendy’s boyfriends look the same?” “It’s because Wendy is so cute she can always choose her type,” Marie said, “and her type is skinny with shaggy hair and black skateboarding clothes.” “But what about intellect, humor, charm and a loving soul?” I asked. “Dad,” she said, “We’re talking about eighthgraders. These boys have just learned to walk on their hind legs! Besides, YOU shouldn’t be criticizing Wendy’s taste. From what you’ve told me, when you were her age, your type was: female, breathing and unselective. And I doubt you were much different from her boyfriends either.” “But they’re bums!” I said. “If YOU were such a teen superstar, why did Grandpa want to send you to a military academy?” “That was for reasons of national defense,” I said. “And the enemies of freedom are lucky I remained in public school.” Marie laughed affectionately. “OK, Dad,” she said, and patted my hand. Rick can be reached at rickepstein@yahoo.com.

Keep your beat PeaceHealth doctors help care for your kid’s heart – with everything from diagnosis to condition management – so your family doesn’t miss a beat.

Pediatric Cardiology ■ Teen Heart Screenings ■ Adult Cardiology

peacehealth.org/heart O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Loves Me, Loves Me Not

Supporting Kids Through the Ups and Downs of Friendship by Heidi Smith Luedtke, PhD

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M â&#x20AC;¢ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

riving home, you ask your kids what happened at school today. Your son mumbles, “Nothing,” in his casual, I-dare-you-to-askfor-more information kind of way. Before you can follow up, your daughter chimes in “I hate Maddie. She told Sarah she thinks my hair is ugly, and now Sarah won’t let me sit with them at lunch. They’re not my friends anymore. I hate them both.” Catching Kids’ Feelings Whew! When you asked your daughter about her day, you were hoping to hear she had aced her spelling test. Instead, you’re sitting in the driver’s seat wondering how to navigate a tricky emotional situation. Kids may be overwhelmed if they don’t know how to handle their feelings, so they pass them on to adults, says Lawrence Cohen, PhD, psychologist and author of Playful Parenting. This eases their distress and frees kids to explore what’s happening without getting stuck on issues they can’t solve. Parents don’t have it so easy. We may feel our kids’ pain as if it were our own, especially if their experiences cause us to revisit our own childhood turmoil, says Cohen. As parents grapple with their own feelings, they may unintentionally make things worse for kids by asking probing questions like, “Why didn’t Sarah stick up for you?” or “Did

something else happen between you three?” M i c h a e l T h o m p s o n , P h D, c l i n i c a l psychologist and co-author of Best Friends, Worst Enemies calls this “interviewing for pain.” And, he says, this approach can backfire. It may cause kids to become more upset and confused instead of helping them move on. Although kids’ clashes are uncomfortable for parents, it’s best if parents support without intruding. Conflict is a crucible for social development. Why Conflict Occurs and What Kids Learn From It We all want to feel a sense of connection to others and to be recognized as competent, powerful individuals. Your child’s desires to sit with the cool kids at lunch, make the dance team and win an award in the science fair grow out of these needs for connection, achievement and status. The recipe for dissonance goes something like this: Create a close bond between friends, add a spirit of competitiveness and an ounce of I’m-better-than-you-are, and voilà, you’ve got conflict. Winning friends and earning bragging rights on Super Mario aren’t incompatible goals in the long term, but on any given afternoon they can cause friction.

Friendship Resources for Families • Read Making Friends is an Art by Julia Cook with your child. http:// www.juliacookonline.com/books/ life-issues/making-friends-isan-art/ • Help your child cope with cliques. http://kidshealth.org/parent/ positive/talk/cliques.html • Get special tips to help kids with ADHD make friends. http:// www.additudemag.com/adhd/ article/924.html While it’s tempting to wish for perpetual harmony, a reasonable amount of conflict is good for kids. “There’s no doubt that some of the most important lessons our kids will learn don’t happen in the classroom but with a friend or two” during playtime, says Michelle Borba, EdD, author of Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me. A child’s sense of personal identity develops as he sees himself through the eyes of his friends. When disagreements arise, kids learn to negotiate, to stand up for themselves, and to communicate their values. And when they mess up they learn to take responsibility and make apologies, reminds Borba. These social skills stick with kids into adulthood and are critical to school and career success. While parents can help kids learn from their experiences, we can’t learn these lessons for them. How to Support Kids’ Friendship Skill-Building Getting involved in kids’ social lives can feel like stepping into a minefield – you don’t know where hot issues are buried and missteps can cause emotional explosions. Use these strategies to support your kids through trying times in social development. Create Opportunities. Kids don’t want parents to manage their social

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

lives – that just isn’t cool. To help kids make friends parents have to be stealthy. Invite another family over for dinner and let the kids entertain themselves while the grown ups talk. They may groan initially, but they’ll rise to the occasion. Step back and let kids get acquainted through play. Share family activities often if the kids hit it off. Put Problems in Perspective. Though it’s easy to dismiss kids’ social woes as insignificant, research conducted at University of California Los Angeles shows social rejection activates the same brain areas responsible for physical pain: Being left out really does hurt. Just don’t overreact. It’s likely your child will get over the hurt, reconcile with her friend, or find a new one. Check Your Expectations. Kids vary widely in how many friends they have and the depth of their relationships. “How many friends our kids have isn’t the issue,” says Borba. What matters most are your child’s feelings about himself and his relationships with peers. Friendship should be a (mostly) positive experience. Be a Sounding Board. Resist the urge to clean up your child’s friendship fall out by calling the friend’s parent or telling your child what to do. Instead, listen compassionately to what happened and absorb the weight of your child’s sadness. With your emotional support, she’ll find her own way to mend the rift. Quarrels and breakups happen, and painful feelings may linger. Often but not always – after some time or a shift in activities – kids find a way to make up. To parents, it may seem like kids break up and make up too easily. They go from best friends to worst enemies and back again before we know what’s happening. Whether friends come or go, parents can offer an accepting smile, a listening ear, and a shoulder to cry on. But we can’t make them empathize, sort out their feelings, force an apology, or fix their friendships. Some lessons only friends can teach. Heidi Smith Luedtke is a personality psychologist and author of Detachment Parenting: 33 Ways to Keep Your Cool When Kids Melt Down.

Large or Pan

SOUTH EUGENE & UO 30 W. 29th Ave (at Willamette)

541-484-7272 NORTH EUGENE/FERRY ST BRIDGE 54 Division (just off River Rd)

541-461-7272 Order online at papajohns.com Open Lunch & Late Night Locally Owned & Operated WE BAKE. WE DELIVER.

Ultimate Meats Pizza only $11!

Limited Time Only! Expires 2-28-17. Can not be combined with any other Coupon or Special. Delivery Charge Extra. Drivers carry less than $20.

My #GoodLifeGoal:

a third row of seats

When we finally found the car we wanted, SELCO was there with just the right auto loan. Their interest rates are fantastic, and we were approved in no time. They even found us a better rate on our auto insurance.

selco.org • 800-445-4483 • Branches throughout Eugene and Springfield Banking | Mortgages | Insurance | Investments | Business Lending

Membership requirements apply. See SELCO for details. NMLS#402847

16SEL016I SELCO “Car” ad updated O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 The Oregon Family Magazine 1/2 pg Island: 5.75” x 8.1875” 4C

Legos: NEW! Bring the kids to build, play, and explore with the Library’s big and varied collection of Legos. Grades K - 6. Downtown Library, drop in every Wed at 4:00 pm. FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

february

events

Story Times Downtown Public Library story times: Baby Story time (ages 0-1) Fridays 10:15 & 11:15am. Wonderful Ones Story time, 10:15 & 11am, Terrific Twos Story time, Tues 10:15 & 11:00, Preschool Story time (ages 3-6), Weds 10:15 & 11:00, Sensory Storytime (for kids with sensory integration issues or special needs) Weds 1:00pm. Pajama Story time every Tues of each month at 6:30pm. Features stories, rhymes, and songs for children 0-6. Ph 541.682.8316 Family Story Time (all ages). Fri 10:15am and Fridays at 10:15am at Bethel Branch Library. Ph 541.682.8316 Springfield Public Library story times: Preschool Story time (ages 3-6) Weds 10:00am. Lap sit story time (ages 0-3) Weds 10am, Sensory Storytime (for kids with sensory integration issues or special needs) every other Thurs. Ph 541.726.3766

Barnes & Noble weekly story time. Whimsical Weds 7:00pm. Toddler-Time, Weds 11:00am. Saturdays at 11:00am, Ph 541.687.0356 STEAM Storytime. For preschoolers and kindergarteners with their caregivers. Mondays, 3:30pm, Ph 541.682.8316, FREE!

On-Going Events Public Skate @ The Ice Center. Call for skate times. Ph 541.682.3615 Saturday Kids Workshops at MECCA. From magnetic puzzles to robots to sock creatures. No need to pre-reg. All materials are included. Kids under 10 accompanied by an adult. Each week features a different creative reuse project. MECCA, 11am – 3pm, $3-5, Ph 541.302.1810 Play Date. Young kids and family: drop in on First Friday evenings for creative fun together. Downtown Library, 6pm, Ph 541-682-5000

Dog Tale Time at Eugene Library. Have fun and build skills in short one-on-one sessions reading to trained dogs. Dogs and handlers’ courtesy of PAAWS. Every Sat Oct 1 - Dec 10, 2 – 3:30pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 “2PM Talks”. A docent-led talk every Tues thru Sun at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, included with price of admission. Ph 541.346.3024 “Earth, Moon & Sun”. A fun and informative full-dome movie weaves together Native American legends and scientific understanding of the Earth, Moon and Sun system to help distinguish between myths and science. In the exhibit hall “Take Flight” where visitors of all ages can try their hand at Paper Airplane Launchers, the Hoverport, the Rocket Launcher, and other flight experiences. The Science Factory Children’s Museum Ph 541.682.7888

1 WEDNESDAY Minecraft Block Parties for Teens (only). See the 2nd

2 THURSDAY Ideas on Tap. Lessons from Malheur: Community Resilience and the New Sagebrush Rebellion. UO geographer Peter Walker explores its effects on the community of Burns, OR, and the Bundy family’s long running efforts to challenge the federal government. Marketplace@ Sprout! 6-8pm, Ph 346-3024, FREE!

Oregon Men’s Basketball vs Arizona State. Matt Knight Arena, 8pm Minecraft Block Parties for Kids and Teens. Come play and create with Minecraft, and share tips and strategies. Kids ages 8 - 12 are invited to join in the fun. Downtown Library, 4pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

3 FRIDAY Engineer It! Architecture and the First Oregonians. Explore the architecture of these early Native American homes and delve into a variety of engineering challenges. Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 8:30am-12:30, $40, Ph 541.346.3024 Teens: Light-Up Art. Make light-up art. All supplies provided. Sheldon and Bethel Branch libraries, 4pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Play Date. Young kids and family: drop in on First Friday evenings for creative fun together. Downtown Library, 6-8pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Minecraft Block Parties for Kids and Teens. See the 2nd Free First Friday. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and Museum of Natural and Cultural History allow you to enjoy the museum’s new exhibits and old classics for FREE today! 11:00am-5pm Father Daughter Dance. Enjoy an appetizer and dessert buffet, a family friendly DJ, professional photography and craft opportunities. Semi-formal to formal recommended. Eugene Faith Center, $10-40, 6:30-8:30pm First Friday Artwalk. A guided tour begins at The Lincoln Gallery, followed by stops at

Get your tickets now:

HultCenter.org • 541-682-5000

A Theatrical Production of Kung Fu and Zen

Photo: Keith Ladzinski Photo: Keith Ladzinski

Monday, February 6 at 7:30 pm 12

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

Mike Libecki:

Climbing Dreams

Saturday, February 18 at 8:00 pm

Wednesday, February 22 at 7:30 pm

Shaolin Warriors Friday, February 3rd Raven Frame Works Inc, Contemporary Mosaic Art Studio, The Dining Room, and Maven Art Boutique. 5:30 – 8pm, FREE! Ph 541-485-2278 Family Fun Night. Fun-filled evening with dinner, games, crafts, and live entertainment. Dinner served until 6:30pm. Petersen Barn, FREE! Ph 541.682.5521 LOVE. Real-life LOVE stories, multimedia design and theatrical elements create an awe-inspiring urban dance show. A student performance by Xcape Dance. Hult Center, 7:30pm, $15-17.50, Ph 541-682-5000 Pink Martini. Eugene Symphony orchestra performs with Portland-based and Eugene favorite Pink Martini. Hult Center, 5pm, $75-137.50, Ph 541-682-5000 Nearby Nature No School Day Adventure. Make a bird nest and your own fairy fort or gnome home in the forest. Go on an animal homes scavenger hunt and create your own fort! Ages 6 - 9. Alton Baker Park, 8:30am-3pm, $40-45, Ph 541.687.9699 Shaolin Warriors: The Legend Continues. Remarkable skill, stunning movement, and death-defying martial-arts. Hult Center, 7:30pm, $23-48.75, Ph 541-682-5000

4 SATURDAY Nearby Nature Green Start Play Day. Enjoy the outdoors with pre-school crafts and stories. Rain or shine! Kids 5 and under only, with an adult. Alton Baker Park, 10-11:30am, $5, Ph 541.687.9699 Oregon Men’s Basketball vs Arizona. Matt Knight Arena, 1pm Block Kids Competition. a nationallyrecognized building competition for kids grades 1 – 6 introducing them to careers in the construction industry and encouraging them to use their imagination to create a structure with a specific set of materials. Adv Reg required. River Road Parks, 1:30-4:00pm, Ph 541.682.7888

5 SUNDAY Family Fun. This week, “Around the World in Song” for musical fun with Kris Olsen of Do Re

Play. Downtown Library, 1pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Piccadilly Flea Market. Come find your newest treasure at Eugene’s only Flea Market where people sell crafts, collectibles, wares and services. Lane Events Center, Early bird 8-10am $7.50/10am – 3pm $1.50, Ph 541.683.5589

6 MONDAY Flies and Flowers Walk. Explore the important role of flies in the pollination of our early wildflowers, learn the process of pollination, learn names and ecology of colorful native flies, and identify early spring wildflowers. Mt Pisgah, 10am-noon, $5, Ph 541.741.4100 Curious Kids Storytime with Taylor, at 6:30pm. Springfield Public Library, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

7 TUESDAY Teens @ 4:30. Springfield Public Library, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

10 FRIDAY

11 SATURDAY

Teens: “Dr Who Club.” Get together to enjoy episodes, snacks, and Whovian conversation! Downtown Library, 4-5:30pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

Couples Classic 5k race. Get your heart pumping with your sweetie. Child care is available and refreshments offered. Stick around for drawings and the hot tub! River Road Park, 9:30am, $15-30 Eclectic Edge Racing.

The Maltese Falcon. Sam Spade, a shopworn private detective, gets more than he bargains for when he takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar and a priceless statuette. Hult Center, 7:30pm, $22-25, Ph 541-682-5000 Oregon Women’s Basketball vs UCLA. Matt Knight Arena, 6pm Second Friday Art Walk. Starts at Springfield City Hall, 5:00pm, FREE! Little Wonders: Stories and Activities for Pre-K. This month’s theme is “Caught in the Rain.” Learn and play with crafts and other activities celebrating clouds, rain, and rainbows. Museum of Natural and Cultural History, ages 3-5, 10:30am – 12:30, $3-10, Ph 541-346-3024

Emerald Valley Opry. featuring: Monroe Street, Slow Ponies, Jimmy Bobby Band, Back porch Soiree. Powers Auditorium Willamette High School, doors open 5pm, concert 6:00-9:30pm, $3-$8/under 7 free, Ph 541-688-0937 The Maltese Falcon. see the 10th A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shakespeare’s adored comedy of love, magic, fairies, mixed up lovers and the mischievous Puck comes alive in Toni Pimble’s delightful choreography. Hult Center, 7:30pm, $29-65, Ph 541-682-5000 Valentine Sweetheart Ball. Dinner, live music, Dance the night away! Eugene Hilton, $55, Ph 541.255.3003

12 SUNDAY The Maltese Falcon. 2pm, see the 10th A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 2pm, see the 11th Family Fun. This week, “Move Like a Mammoth” with the U of O Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Learn how prehistoric animals including mammoths, saber tooth cats, and giant ground sloths ran, leapt, climbed, and ate. Downtown Library, 1pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Oregon Women’s Basketball vs USC. Matt Knight Arena, 11am

continued on next page…

Family Fun: Move Like a Mammoth Sunday, February 12th

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Asian Celebration Saturday-Sunday, February 18-19 Frontier Heritage Fair. Highlights historic trade goods, muzzle loading firearms, blankets, beads, books, camp gear, art, knives, leather goods, historic replicas, period music, instruments and much more. Lane County Fairgrounds, 9am-6pm, $3

CITRUS FEST

32nd Annual Asian Celebration. Features an array of Asian cultural performances and dances, music, and fine art; demonstrations of Asian crafts, cooking, and martial arts; children and youth activities, a heritage exhibit, an Asian food court and marketplace, and more. Lane Events Center, 10am-7pm, $6-10, Ph 541-554-9350

Sunday, Feb. 12 Noon - 3pm Enter to win a citru s gift b asket! Draw in at 3p g m!

It's our annual winter food event! Our produce department will be offering samples of a variety of citrus fruits for your tasting pleasure and palate education. Don't miss out! 25th & Willamette • Daily 8AM-10PM 541-345-1014 • capellamarket.com

14 TUESDAY

18 SATURDAY

WREN’s Wetland Wander. Families and children of all ages the opportunity to investigate the wonders of the great outdoors! Meet at Willow Creek Natural Area. Bring water and wear muck boots. WREN will provide binoculars. 9am11pm, Ph 338-7047, FREE!

National Geographic Live! Mike Libecki: Climbing Dreams. Follow climber Mike Libecki as he tackles mud and mayhem in a quest to conquer the world’s last unclimbed peaks. Hult Center, 8pm, $25-39.75, Ph 541-682-5000

Teens @ 4:30. Springfield Public Library, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

16 THURSDAY Kids: Make Balloon Rockets. Have fun and learn about science by making and launching balloon rockets. Grades K - 6. Downtown Library, 4pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Oregon Men’s Basketball vs Utah. Matt Knight Arena, 6pm

17 FRIDAY LEGO Club for kids. Springfield Public Library, in children’s area, 2-4pm, Ph 541-726-3766

Mixed Media for Kids and Tweens. Explore Pakistan. (ages 7-12). We strongly encourage adults to attend this program with their young ones. Adults get to create, too! Springfield Public Library. 10:30am – 12:00, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766 Read to a Greenhill Dog – Kids and Teens. Springfield Public Library, 1 – 3pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766 Living Lab Day. Learn about local psychology and brain development research, try some mind and brain science activities, and participate in studies to help us make new discoveries in science! The Science Factory, 10am-3pm, $5, Ph 541.682.7888

Oregon Men’s Basketball vs Colorado. Matt Knight Arena, 12pm

19 SUNDAY 32nd Annual Oregon Asian Celebration. see the 18th Family Fun. This week jump into “Hip Hop” with Unity School of Dance. Learn hip hop and breakdancing moves in a fun way that welcomes beginners as well as experienced dancers. Downtown Library, 1pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Piccadilly Flea Market. See the 5th Frontier Heritage Fair. 9am-4pm, see the 18th

20 MONDAY Experience Hendrix. Celebrates the musical genius of Jimi Hendrix by bringing together a diverse array of phenomenal musicians. Hult Center, 7:30pm, $50.50-$99.75, Ph 541-682-5000

College of Making it Happen New! Summer Start for Special Education Programs! Become a licensed special education teacher and earn your MAT or special education endorsement by Summer 2018. Applications due March 15, 2017

B.Ed. | MAT | M.Ed | Endorsement Programs Information Sessions: February 20 - 12pm Lunch and Learn March 2 - 5:30pm 40 E Broadway, Suite 250, Eugene

FEBRUARY 18 & 19, 2017

Lane Events Center, Eugene Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-6 Adults $6/day, $10 both days, 12 & Under Free Presented by the Eugene-Springfield Asian Council www.asiancelebra on.org

For more information,contact: Tracy Conaghan, Admissions Counselor teacheug@pacificu.edu | 541-485-6812 x3905 pacificu.edu/Eugene

Teaching | Social Work 14

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

National Geographic Live! Saturday,February 18th 21 TUESDAY Family Night. In February, the theme is “Fractured Fairytales.” Make masks, listen to stories, and act out tales. Sheldon Branch Library, 4pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Little Family Yoga with Brynne Blevins. Springfield Public Library, 10:30am, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766 Teens @ 4:30. Springfield Public Library, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

22 WEDNESDAY RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles. A multimedia spectacular journey through the life and times of the world’s most celebrated band. Hult Center, 7:30pm, $33-$60, Ph 541-682-5000 Mariachi Flor de Toloache. All woman mariachi band with an edgy, versatile, and fresh take on traditional Mexican music. Hult Center, 8pm, $23-$37.50, Ph 541-682-5000 Black History Month play By & For Kids. “Be Yourself: A Story of President Barack Obama” performed by students of The Drinking Gourd School. Downtown Library, 10:15 and 11:00am, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

24 FRIDAY

28 TUESDAY

Oregon Women’s Basketball vs California. Matt Knight Arena, 6pm

Reading Patrol! Storytime with Officer Jarden Quinone. Springfield Public Library, 4:00pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

Teens: WTF? What the Friday?! Something new for teens on the fourth Friday of each month. Get together, have fun, then choose next month’s activity. Downtown Library, 4pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316

Dirty Dancing. Don’t miss your chance to see this record-breaking live theater sensation. Mature themes. Hult Center, 7:30pm, $38-111, Ph 541-682-5000

Family Night. In February, the theme is “Fractured Fairytales.” Make masks, listen to stories, and act out tales. Bethel Branch Library, 4pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Teens @ 4:30. Springfield Public Library, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

Kathleen Madigan. The only comedian in the history of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” to go unchallenged by any other comedian. Hult Center, 8pm, $35-$39.75, Ph 541-682-5000

26 SUNDAY Family Fun. Create easy “Origami” with Tomo Tsurumi of the Oregon Asian Celebration. Downtown Library, 1pm, FREE! Ph 541.682.8316 Oregon Women’s Basketball vs Stanford. Matt Knight Arena, 1pm

Wetland Wander Tuesday, February 14th

• Challenging Curriculum • Self-Directed Learning

• GYMNASTICS • TUMBLING • TRAMPOLINE • AERIAL CIRCUS ARTS 541-343-4222 329 West 3rd Avenue www.bouncegymnastics.com

• Multi-Age Classrooms • No Tuition • BIRTHDAY PARTIES • PARENT’S NIGHT OUT • OPEN GYMS • CAMPS • NINJA ZONE Photography courtesy of Stephanie Urso Photography

Pre-Lottery tours and information: Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 am Tuesday, Feb. 21, 6:30 pm K-8 Fall 2017 Enrollment begins in February For Details Call 541-681-9662 or visit www.ridgeline.org O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Kids Grinding Teeth? Don’t Worry.

hildren grind their teeth for a variety of reasons, including emotional stress and an unbalanced bite. However, in most cases there is no obvious cause. Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is seen in about 40 percent of children under the age of 17. “For parents, the real concern comes from the loud sound children make when they grind their teeth,” said Dr. Tara Paluska, a general dentist at the Kaiser Permanente Valley River Dental Office in Eugene. “It sounds awful! However, grinding in children rarely affects their quality of life and often stops as they get older.” Dr. Paluska said a dentist may want to prescribe a mouth guard, or refer a child to a jaw joint specialist if the child is complaining about the following: • A sore jaw • Continued pain in one or multiple teeth with no cavities • Constant headaches • Continued ear aches without ear infection • Pain in cheek muscles

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

“For daytime teeth grinders, parents can help by making the child aware of the habit,” Dr. Paluska said. “They can gently remind their children to relax their jaw when grinding is observed.” For the nighttime grinder, Dr. Paluska said there is little that will stop the habit, as the child is not aware he or she is grinding. Talking with the child’s pediatrician about stress and anxiety management may be beneficial for older children. “Most often, I will monitor the child and any wear on the teeth and intervene if needed. I don’t usually recommend night guards in younger children because they don’t (and often won’t) wear them. Also, as they start getting adult teeth, the guard will not fit anymore,” Dr. Paluska said, adding that once all the adult teeth are in, she recommends a night guard if grinding is still occurring. If you are concerned about your child’s teeth grinding, Dr. Paluska recommends having a dentist evaluate the habit and provide ageappropriate recommendations. Learn more about Kaiser Permanente Dental at kp.org/dental/nw

SMILE MORE

60566713_NW_1/17

Find out if Kaiser Permanente Dental is right for you — now open at Valley River Center.

kp.org/lane All plans offered and underwritten by Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest. 500 NE Multnomah St., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. ©2017 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

SCIENCE FACTORY 2300 Leo Harris Pkwy (across from Autzen Stadium) sciencefactory.org

NEW EXHIBITION -Take Flight Have fun exploring the principles and forces of flight! Launch rockets, airplanes, & helicopters! EXPLORE NEW WORLDS!

lay On Disp Feb 8 6 March 2 EXPERIENCE FAMILY-FRIENDLY "EDUTAINING" SHOWS IN OUR 70-SEAT PLANETARIUM! Immerse yourself in the second largest full-dome theater in Oregon.

Strengthen your core. Improve your endurance. Increase your flexibility.

COMMIT TO BE FIT.

Get 2 personal at-home training sessions for the price of 1. Each session is a $50 value. Get up to 4 sessions free, but must purchase by 2/28/17 and used within 30 days.

Aligned Fitness Michael Graves, CPT, PES (541) 868-5757 Facebook.com/AlignedFitness

Seeking Oregon Surrogates Make dreams come true! Help create a family while earning $40,000+ for your own family.

HOT and NON-HEATED classes for people of all ages and body types. Beginners welcome! Intro offer $39 for 1 month unlimited yoga! 18

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

Movie Time

Trip and Meredith out to rescue Creech.

by Bonnie L. Harris

Boy With Truck Meets Monster Paramount / Nickelodeon Movies, Rated: PG Now in theatres

ickelodeon Movies gave the green light to their new live-action feature, Monster Trucks, on the age-old premise that boys love big trucks with big tires and monsters with big teeth and even bigger appetites. Although Monster Trucks tries to be a genuine family film, it’s missing the universal appeal that entertains girls as well as parents, and more importantly, an uplifting story that teaches

a valuable lesson. Instead, the film relies on physical comedy, noisy action, and the stereotypical formula that kids are smarter than the disapproving adults around them. But, if you’re just looking for a cute popcorn movie with plenty of excitement and an adorably slimy monster, then start your engines, because Monster Trucks is it. When Creech meets teenager Trip Coley, he’s a homeless monster evading the sinister executives at Terravex Oil Corporation. While drilling, Terravex hits a large

pocket of subterranean water and Creech, along with his family, gets sucked into the oil pipes. Hiding out with Trip causes major problems because Terravex wants to keep their plot to kill the water creatures under wraps. But first, they have to catch Creech, who discovers that Trip’s old truck is perfect camouflage. Trip and his girlfriend, Meredith, keep Creech safe until Trip’s estranged father betrays them to Terravex. After a couple of high-speed chases,

FOR THE PARENTS Live or Die for Love Passengers Columbia Pictures, Rated: PG-13 Now in theatres

ome perfectly good movies never recover from a rocky promotional campaign, but Passengers, the new sci-fi adventure directed by Morten Tyldum, is making a surprising turnaround at the box office thanks to strong wordof-mouth popularity. The film balances just the right proportion of “Lost In Space” adventure with a love story akin to “Titanic,” and brings it home with electrifying stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. Even better are the moral conundrums woven into the story that still have me wondering what I’d do

Terravex captures Creech, and although he’s reunited with his parents — yes, two more big, blobby, monsters — Terravex still plans to poison them and continue drilling for oil. At the last minute, Trip receives unexpected help to rescue Creech and another super-duper chase with gigantic trucks and earth movers brings Creech back to the drilling site for a final showdown. Monster Trucks ends with a twist that signals a sequel, but judging from the so-so plot and the forgettable characters, one monster in a truck is enough.

fix the problem takes every ounce of their skill and ingenuity, and furnishes the backdrop for plenty of thrilling action. Refreshingly, Passengers breaks with gender stereotypes, allowing Aurora to save Jim, while still retaining his admirable masculinity. It’s a great film and well worth the time.

in the same situation. What someone would do for love after accidentally waking up aboard a luxury voyage to an interstellar colony provides the foundation for the budding romance between Spacewalking to passengers, Jim and Aurora. make repairs. Light humor mixes with soulful revelation as these two very different people explain why they chose a hundred-year journey into the unknown void of space. Unfortunately, disaster looms when they discover that their damaged vessel might not reach its final destination. The race against time to find and

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

of the planet. Foods and food products from around the world are more widely available than ever. While location and geography play a major role in shaping our cuisines, social and cultural influences are just as important. If you live somewhere urban, for example, you may have easier access to processed foods

Discovery Box by Hannah Kruse, UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History

Where Does Your

Where Did Your Food Come From?

FCome From?D I

magine all of the food you and your family eat in an average week: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, treats and beverages, dining out, late night snacks, special occasions. Consider the details. Where did you get the food? How much of it was packaged and processed? Are there special meals that are traditional for your family? Was it grown or produced nearby, or was it shipped from far away? Do you know how much food you use in one week, or how much a week’s worth of food costs? Let’s take our imaginations one step further. How would your answers be different

1. Tonight at dinner, think about where your meal came from. To do this, you’ll need to find out where in the world each part of the meal was produced. Do a little online research to learn about your food and how far it traveled to get to your dinner plate, asking an adult for help if needed.

if you lived in a different part of the world? What does locally-grown produce look like in Germany? Could you get your favorite soda in Chad? What would your typical meals be if you grew up in India? Or Japan? Or Mali? Where we live has a lot to do with what we eat. Just a few centuries ago, for most of the world, dietary options were limited to the foods that you or your neighbor could grow. You might have lived your entire life without ever seeing a banana! Things have changed drastically since then. Methods of farming and production have advanced, and commerce is reaching to the farthest corners

2. Make a list of the ingredients that make up your meal (you can choose to do just a few). If the ingredients came from packages, read their labels. If the fruits and vegetables have stickers, read those, too. 3. On your list of ingredients, write down the country that produced each one. If you don’t know exactly, write down a country that often produces this food— you can learn about this online. 4. Using a marker and a world map, make a dot on the country or region that each ingredient came from. If you have a larger map, it might be fun to write each ingredient on a sticky-note and stick them to their countries. Look at how many places contributed to your meal!

The Revis Family, United States, from the exhibit Hungry Planet: What the World Eats.

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

PHOTO: PETER MENZEL

Further Questions… If you did this activity for another meal, how might it be different? What if you only ate locally grown and processed foods? Would there be foods you like that you couldn’t get anymore? How would your dinners change? How would this map change?

than rural families do. People in cities also have access to more exotic foods from around the world—such as za’atar spices blended in Lebanon or tamarind paste produced in tropical regions. Culture also shapes family traditions, which in turn call for certain dishes, and flavors from specific regions often follow families as they move around the globe. For example, a family that moved from Mexico to the United States generations ago might still prepare tamales and rosca de reyes at Christmastime. The economics of our countries and our families influence our diets, as well. Some families cannot afford to eat the same foods as others, and some countries have trouble making food accessible to their citizens. Wealthier people living in more developed nations can generally purchase and eat a wide variety of the foods they want, while people living in poorer areas eat only what they can afford to buy or grow themselves. There are also many people living in refugee camps who only get the food and water rations that are given to them, with little or no choice in the matter. Food experiences can differ dramatically between cultures, nations, and even families in the same neighborhood. But as the global food trade continues to grow, transferring more and more ingredients across the planet every day, our dinner plates increasingly have something in common: Foods from far away. How about your dinner plate? Where did all those ingredients come from? Try the activity at left, and find out how “global” your meal really is. Beginning this month, you can learn lots more about food around the world at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. A new exhibit called Hungry Planet: What the World Eats goes on view February 24. And mark your calendars for March 4, when the museum will host What’s Cooking? A Global Foodways Family Day, featuring food-focused crafts and activities for visitors of all ages— plus snacks, a FOOD for Lane County food drive, and storytelling by Cullen Vance! Visit natural-history.uoregon.edu for details. The museum is located at 1680 E. 15th Avenue, on the UO campus. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PHOTO BY PETER MENZEL

WHAT’S COOKING?

Family Day

SATURDAY, MARCH 4 · 11:00 A.M.–3:00 P.M. Explore farms, markets, and family meals at our newest exhibit, Hungry Planet—What the World Eats. Bring the family and enjoy an afternoon of crafts, snacks, hands-on activities, and much more! Storytelling by Cullen Vance at 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. $10 per family · Free for MNCH members · Half-price family memberships available during event 1680 E. 15th Avenue, Eugene · 541-346-3024 · natural-history.uoregon.edu

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Fun and healthy bath and body care for the whole family

Little League Softball & Baseball Registration Deadline Soon — Sign Up Today!

541-683-5835 • 1801 Willamette Street • Eugene, OR • Uncommonscentsmeridian.com

EverybodyPlaysBall.org

Parents of 3-7 year olds Do you struggle with your child’s Disobedience? Hitting? Fighting Tantrums? Help is at hand! Take part in the Success for Children & Families Project and learn how to:

be your

 Improve your child’s behavior  Increase your confidence in parenting

BEST

Receive the Triple P Positive Parenting Program FREE of charge and up to $90 in gift cards/cash

top-ranked degrees online

Call Today to see if you qualify for this exciting and important research project!

Success for Children and Families Project 541-434-1551 success@ori.org www.ori.org/ success

Oregon Research Institute

When Samantha Diaz enrolled online with Oregon State Ecampus, she was a new mom with a job and a husband in the military.

1,000+

SPRING & SUMMER CAMPS DIRECTORY Coming in March!

classes online

20+ undergraduate degrees

25+

Over the years, her family added two more children and moved across the country twice. Through all of life’s twists, she thrived as a distance student and made progress on achieving her goal of teaching kids with troubled backgrounds and those with special needs. Thanks to Ecampus, thousands of students like Samantha can earn an Oregon State degree online and advance their careers. Spring term starts April 3. Apply today.

graduate programs

Call 541-683-7452 to Advertise 22

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

ecampus.oregonstate.edu/family | 800-667-1465

Earthtalk from the Editors of “E” the Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: You hear a lot about solar and wind energy, but what’s new in efforts to generate electricity from ocean waves? — Melanie Bernstein, New York, NY

ave p o we r ad vo c ate s cheered in September 2016 when Hawaii-based Naval researchers started feeding power from two experimental offshore wave energy devices into the grid on nearby Oahu, representing the first time the American public could access electricity derived from ocean waves. The trickle of energy from these experimental devices doesn’t amount to anything substantial yet, but wave energy’s potential is huge. Analysts think we could derive at least a quarter of U.S. electricity needs by harnessing wave power around our coasts. Most other countries around the world have coastlines they could exploit for wave energy, as well, if engineers could create affordable technology to capture and transport the energy back to shore where it would be used to power local communities or get fed into existing larger power grids. But just because we can tap ocean energy big time doesn’t mean we necessar ily will,

given the high costs of getting started, technical issues with maintaining offshore equipment, and the challenges of scaling up for mass consumption. The world’s first experimental wave farm, the Aguçadoura Wave Park off the coast of Portugal, went online in September 2008 with three wave energy converter machines, but ceased operations only two months later when bearings on the equipment gave way, underscoring the technical challenges of running complicated heavy machiner y in unstable mar ine environments. While such technical problems may be frustrating, financial concerns loom larger over wave ene r g y ’s future. Two of the biggest wave energy endeavors in the world, Pelamis and Aquamarine, both based out of wave-battered Scotland, went belly up recently despite funding

from the Scottish government and plans to build out the biggest wave energy farms in the world based on the success of earlier prototypes. A quamar ine ’s C EO John Malcolm chalked up his company ’s demise to “ the considerable financial, regulatory and technical challenges faced by the ocean energy sector as a whole.” Meanwhile, cheap natural gas and the surge in solar and wind power options have kept ocean energy on the back burner. But wave power is far from dead in the water. Besides the experimental wave farm off Oahu, two larger projects are being built off the coast of the United Kingdom, while three additional projects are underway around Australia. Funding for these projects has come from not only the host governments but also the private sector. American defense contractor Lockheed Martin, for one, is a big player in deployment of wave power technologies and is a driving force behind the 19 megawatt,

grid-connected wave power station currently in the works near Victoria, Australia. Here in the U.S., wave energy advo c ates s ay the fe deral government has done too little to encourage research and development in this promising niche of the energ y sector. Subsidies and tax incentives helped solar and wind power grow from pipe dreams in the 1980s to significant players in the global energy mix of today. Wave power advocates would like to see similar incentives employed to boost the development of ocean-based renewable energy sources, but for that to happen the American public will need to speak up to get Congress to act. CONTACTS: Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org; Lockheed Martin, www.lockheedmartin.com. EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of the nonprofit Earth Action Network. To donate, visit www.earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

U.S.-based Lockheed Martin is branching out from defense contracting in assisting with the design of Ocean Power Technologies' (OPT) PowerBuoy technology to harness electricity from offshore wave farms, as deployed here off the coast of Victoria, Australia.

O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

The

Love Actions by Christina Katz

Just because you have a family, does not mean you have a close family. Parents with bonded families cultivate a safe, secure environment so everyone in the family can relax, feel their feelings, and love each other. When you create a caring environment within your home, your family will connect and thrive regardless of what is going on in the outside world. However, if you establish an environment where emotions cannot be expressed, family members may struggle to feel loved, lovable, and lovingâ&#x20AC;Ś

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 â&#x20AC;˘ O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

he four actions of love have nothing to do with gender, race, class, or social status. They are simply a conscious choice to create a loving family context no matter what. Children who don’t get their emotional needs met tend to become adults who seek external fixes for internal needs. Since love is an inside job, unfortunately this never works. Kids who do not experience enough love within the family unit are likely to become grown-ups who struggle as they move out into the world. If talking about love makes you feel uncomfortable, you may not have grown up in a family where emotional values were openly expressed and appreciated. Even so, it’s never too late to cultivate a loving family. The best way to teach kids how to love themselves, so they can smoothly transition from childhood to adulthood, is to actively practice the four love actions with yourself and then with each member of your family. When parents consciously set a loving tone, everyone in the family benefits.

Attention

is a basic human need. Babies who don’t get enough observant care, cannot thrive. A child who does not get noticed enough may have trouble acknowledging his feelings. Attention from parents is what helps us learn how to take care of ourselves. When we don’t give ourselves adequate attention, it’s easy to become drained and depleted. You can’t activate your personal power without paying attention to yourself. Paying attention to ourselves means putting ourselves first and staying constantly aware of our feelings and impulses, so we can steer our way appropriately through life. If you feel out of touch with this love action, start with selfattention and then take time to observe those closest to you. When you do, you’ll intuitively know what to say and do.

Acceptance

i s w h at a l l o w s us to relax and be ourselves. Without validation from parents, a child cannot learn self-acceptance. A child who feels rejected by her parents will reject herself and eventually also reject others. Children need unconditional love, so they can learn to ride the wide spectrum of feelings that come with life. Emotions make us human,

and acceptance is what allows feelings to pass through us without taking over the entire show. Parents need to take care not to project unwanted or feared qualities onto babies and children. When parents can accept and process their feelings on an ongoing basis, children do not have to carry burdens that do not belong to them. If you feel out of touch with this love action, work on self-acceptance and then extend an accepting attitude to your loved ones. You’ll quickly see how allowing formerly rejected parts of yourself leads to more tolerance of others.

Appreciation

makes us feel like we have something to offer. When parents enjoy a child, a fuller person comes to life and feels safe to share more authentically. When we appreciate ourselves, we can face the world with more optimism and cheer. Appreciation leads to gratitude, but it’s hard to appreciate yourself when you have not felt understood. Without a sense of our own worth, it’s difficult for us to appreciate others. Appreciation must be genuine, of course. Without attention and acceptance, appreciation cannot follow. If you feel out of touch with this love action, start with self-appreciation and then try valuing your loved ones more. The wonderful thing is that as soon as you practice the art of appreciation, you feel better immediately, even if you are out of practice.

Affection

warms our hearts and helps us feel connected to others. When we experience fondness from others, we can love ourselves more easily. Affection can be communicated by words, gestures, and touch. Saying, “I love you,” doing thoughtful things, holding hands, and offering hugs expresses our internal feelings of fondness towards another. Affection builds on attention, acceptance, and appreciation. It’s always a little weird when someone goes from distant to trying to hug you. So make sure you lay the groundwork with your kids first. And always be respectful with older children about touching. If they don’t want to be touched, find other ways to show affection until they come around. If you feel out of touch with this love action, start with self-affection and then gradually express more warmth

for your family. Affection is always win-win, benefitting both the hugger and the hugged. Parenting can be complicated. But choosing loving actions on an ongoing basis can bring parenting back to simple yet powerful basics. Activate the power of the four love actions in your home and watch the immediate positive effect they have on you, on your family, and on the world. Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz is not fond of clichés. She likes to break them down and make them spill their secrets.

Self-care For Parents Self-love is a phrase that has become a cliché. What does it really mean? When we break self-love down into the four love actions, suddenly we know what we need to do in order to love our self and others more. Self-attention means selfawareness, self-reflection, slowing down and turning within. Paying attention to what is happening within us in the moment. Not taking immediate action but just making time for contemplation. Self-acceptance means letting go of guilt, shame, and needless suffering. Appreciating what we feel, think, and believe. Recognizing things that annoy us and working on resolving them in ways that honor our boundaries. Self-appreciation means celebrating our positives. Paying attention to the fact that we are good, we do good, and we deserve to feel even better. Relishing our uniqueness and individual selfexpression. Letting go of what others think and cultivating healthy self-regard. Self-affection means active selfcare. Paying attention to what we need and want and being open to receiving those things on an ongoing basis. Rewarding our self for no reason, letting more good in, and loving ourselves steadily in a sometimes chaotic world. O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

Rescue Spotlight

ank is a local celebrity!! Everyone who meets him absolutely adores him! Tank is 11 years old and in great spirits. His big ole’ head is packed with personality and smarts. He knows how to sit, is housetrained, can fit up to three (wow!) tennis balls in his mouth, and loves to play games. He is the sweetest pup we’ve had in a long time and is our “go-to ambassador” for our school events. Tank absolutely ADORES children! He loves pats on the head, snuggles, kisses and hugs… but, this lover boy is best suited as an only pet. He’s been at the shelter for over 250 days – likely an unfortunate victim of stereotype. He’s even been on TV and featured on the radio! Staff and volunteers are mystified as to why he is still waiting – but maybe it’s because he’s been waiting for you! Come meet Tank… you will fall in love. Greenhill Humane Society is open for adoptions and visits Friday-Tuesday, 11am-6pm (closed Wed & Thurs) at 88530 Green Hill Road in Eugene. For more information call (541) 689-1503 or visit www.green-hill.org

60% of students with learning problems have undetected vision problems.

ASSY is a large, beautiful, and gentle tortoiseshell female kitty with a soft meow that will win your heart. This 5-year-old girl was relinquished to WCDC when her owners' property management company changed and decided the family could no longer have a cat. She is a little overweight, but is healthy according to vet check-ups and labs. She is in a foster home now, and has already shed several pounds. Sassy likes to give kisses and head butts, and will fall asleep in your lap afterwards. She likes to lay on your chest and snuggle, and will drool a bit when she is super happy. She is good with people, including children, but is stressed by other cats. However, she lived happily with a large dog in her original home. She likes to play with fabric ribbon toys, and is fascinated by feet and by shoes. She enjoys being brushed, but is not a fan of being picked up. She is quiet and sweet, but can meow if closed off from her humans. Her adoption fee is $75. She is negative for feline leukemia and FIV, spayed, microchipped, vaccinated, defleaed and dewormed, and comes with a free vet visit. To meet her or for more info, please call Beth at (541) 255-9296. West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue, www.westcoastdogandcat.org.

! ! ! ! ! !! !

Joshua Hirschstein, Director

“The words don’t bounce around anymore!”

Comprehensive Treatment for Learning-Related Vision Problems Dr. David Hackett Dr. Carol Marusich Monthly Workshops on How Vision Impacts Performance 26

541.342.3100 LifetimeEyeCare.net

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M

LANE

TUTORING S! ERVICE, INC. • Competitive College Admissions Experts; SAT/ACT Prep • Friendly, Certified Teachers • One-On-One

! 541-484-4133 ! lanetutoringservice.com ! Trusted in-home tutors

• Tutoring in All Subjects, K-12

since 1990.

Some say they’re local, others want to be…

We’re your neighbors in Junction City.

Look for us at your favorite grocer. Ask for us at your favorite restaurant.

Local Milk & Ice Cream Fresh

Everything is a Choice (even your advertising)

Choose Wisely

To advertise, contact Sandy • 541.683.7452 • sandy@oregonfamily.com O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 â&#x20AC;¢ O R E G O N F A M I L Y. C O M