Parent Columbus
February - March 2012
KITCHEN HELPERS • MONEY LESSONS • PREPARING FOR SECOND BABY
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Parent Columbus
Also inside Columnists wanted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Calendar of events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Easy recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Expecting baby No. 2. . . . . . . . . . . 20 Uncommon lunches. . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Cooking with kids, page 9
Money lessons, page 16
Little white lies, page 14
Kids’ craft, page 30
Jennifer Tchida column. . . . . . . . . 28
Comments should be sent to Doug Showalter, The Republic, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 or call 812-379-5625 or dshowalter@ therepublic.com. Advertising information: Call 812-379-5652. ©2012 by Home News Enterprises All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited. Stock images provided by © Thinkstock.
Parent • February - March 2012 • 3
Columnists wanted From the editor: Columbus Parent’s longtime humor columnist and local mom Debra Gayman has retired her column. Rather than seek one person to replace her, we’re giving everyone an opportunity. If you are a parent or grandparent, male or female, and you have something to say, now is your chance. We publish only six times a year, so we won’t be able to accommodate everyone. However, if you would like to submit a column for consideration, here are the guidelines. All writing MUST be the original work of the person submitting the column. Maximum length: 600 words. Topic must be appropriate for our readership (parents and grandparents). Columns can be either serious or humorous, however we are not looking for tales of woe. Any submission selected for publication will be subject to editing as we feel appropriate. Writers will have a chance to review edited columns before publication. Writers selected must agree to have their photograph published with their column. Submissions may be emailed to dshowalter@therepublic.com or mailed to Doug Showalter, c/o Columbus Parent, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201. Columns may be submitted at any time, and there is no limit on the number of columns a writer may submit. To be considered for publication in the April/May issue, submissions must be received no later than March 1. Happy writing!
Doug Showalter
4 • February - March 2012 • Parent
Calendar of events February
tickets $2.50 each or $3 at the door.
— First Fridays For Families: “The Ugly Duckling.” Presented by Art Reach —The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Free, 6 p.m., The Commons. Based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen story, we follow a poor little swan as he grows up “ugly” in a family of ducks before realizing his full potential. Information: 376-2539 or caac@artsincolumbus.org.
and customer service desk, or by calling
3
10
— Taste of Chocolate. 5 to 8 p.m., Fair Oaks Mall. Advance
Tickets available at Fair Oaks Mall office 350-0406.
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— Kidscommons Carnivale Rio. Annual fundraiser for kid-
scommons children’s museum, 7 to 10:30 p.m., at kidscommons, 309 Washington St., for ages 21 and older. Information: 378-3046 or kidscommons.org.
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— Community Cast-A-Ways Sale. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Donner
Center. Free admission. Booth rental $26/
space. Registration required: 376-2680 or online at https://secure.columbus.in.gov/ vsiwebtrac.html.
11
— Columbus Indiana Philharmonic presents “Cool & Swingin’.” Five by Design returns to Columbus with a new show featuring legendary alto sax performer Richie Cole. Performances include “Almost Like Being in Love,” “What a Wonderful World,” “Night and Day,” and many more well-known songs. 7:30 p.m., Erne Auditorium, Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St., Single ticket prices begin at $10; tickets available at thecip. org or 376-2638, ext. 110.
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— Columbus City Band winter concert. Free, 2 p.m., Asbury United Methodist Church, 1751 27th St.
The annual Taste of Chocolate appeals to all ages. It returns this year on Feb. 10 at Fair Oaks Mall.
Hans Christian Andersen’s story of “The Ugly Duckling” will be presented Feb. 3 at The Commons.
List your events l Fax 812-379-5711 l E-mail: dshowalter@therepublic.com l Mail: Columbus Parent, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 l Deadline for next issue: March 16.
Parent • February - March 2012 • 5
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-26 — 2012 CANstruction. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fair Oaks Mall. CANstruction is a local event associated with the international competition. Teams build sculptures made entirely out of canned foods. All cans are donated after the event to Columbus area food banks. Free. Information: 390-6912 or info@paragonme.net.
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— Music at Asbury: Indiana University International Vocal Ensemble. Free, 7:30 pm, Asbury United Methodist Church, 1751 27th St. This is not the usual college choir. The group performs music from outside the Western music tradition. You will hear music from Africa, South America and Eastern Europe. Information: 372-4555.
Canstruction challenges teams to build structures out of cans of food. After the event, which runs Feb. 18 to 26, the cans are donated to area food banks.
30
— Columbus Bluegrass Jamboree concert. Donner Center. Open jam sessions begin at 4 p.m.; group performances begin at 5. Free (donations will be accepted). Information: 376-2680 or columbusparksandrec.com.
March
2
— First Fridays For Families: Jim Cosgrove, Mr. Stinky Feet. Free, 6 p.m., The Commons. Using his guitar and a box of instruments, Mr. Stinky Feet knows how to make kids laugh and sing. Information: 376-2539 or caac@artsincolumbus.org.
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— Community Cast-A-Ways Sale. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Donner Center. Free admission. Booth rental $26/ space. Registration required: 376-2680 or online at https://secure.columbus.in.gov/ vsiwebtrac.html.
— Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. Anne Frank was a teenager living in Amsterdam when she went into hiding during the Nazi occupation. Composer/conductor Michael Tilson Thomas has created an extraordinary musical work for narrator and orchestra that presents portions of the young teenager’s story of hope, determination and the resiliency of the human spirit. 7:30 p.m., Erne Auditorium, Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St. Single ticket prices begin at $10; tickets available at www.thecip.org or 3762638, ext.110.
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April
3
— Kids/Teens Only Garage Sale (ages 8-18). 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Donner Center. Clean out your closets, get rid of some stuff and make some extra money. All items for this sale must be kid/teen oriented. We provide the building, tables, chairs and advertising, you provide the stuff to sell. Admission to the sale is free to the public. Fee is $6/first table, $3 each additional table, and deadline is March 2. Registration, 376-2680 or online at https://secure.columbus.in.gov/ vsiwebtrac.html.
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— Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Dances from around the world, featuring Christie’s Dance Studio and Dance Street. 3:30 p.m., Columbus North High School auditorium.
6 • February - March 2012 • Parent
Mr. Stinky Feet will entertain children March 2 at The Commons.
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— Music at Asbury: Dan and Kim Christian. Free, 7:30 p.m., Asbury United Methodist Church, 1751 27th St. These accordion national champions will entertain with a variety of music. Information: 372-4555.
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— First Fridays for Families: “The Jungle Book.” Free, 6 p.m., The Commons. Dancers Studio presents “The Jungle Book,” which was adapted
21
— Music at Asbury: pianist Kozo Kaneko. Free: 7:30 p.m.,
by Disney from Rudyard Kipling’s classic story. Information: 376-2539 or caac@
Asbury United Methodist Church,
artsincolumbus.org.
1751 27th St. One of Japan’s top pia-
7
— Easter Egg Hunt. Free. 10 a.m. Donner Park. Areas for ages 1-2, 3-4,
nists comes to Asbury. Also, a Japanese professional ocarina player who lives in
5-6 and 7-8. If raining, eggs and candy will be distributed in Donner Center. Please bring a bag or basket for your eggs. Information: 376-2680 or columbusparksandrec.com.
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— Family Service Inc.’s “Don’t Shake” Run Walk. Registration
is open. This event includes 5K and 10K runs, a 5K walk and kids fun run, with age group awards. Information: 372-3745 or familyservicebc.org.
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— 2012 Spring Craft Show & Sale. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Donner
Center. We provide the tables, chairs, ads, and you provide the items to sell. Fee includes booth space (up to three 6-foot ta-
Columbus will perform with Kaneko. Carnivale Rio, a fundraiser for kidscommons, will be Feb. 11. bles and chairs). You may buy more than one booth. Please indicate when registering the type of items to be sold and if you need electricity. No flea market/garage sale type items please. Admission to the show is free to the public. Registration fee is $29/space, and deadline is April 11, or until max is met. To register: 376-2680 or online at https://secure.columbus.in.gov/ vsiwebtrac.html.
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— Columbus City Band spring concert. Free, 2 p.m., Asbury United Methodist Church, 1751 27th St.
Information: 372-4555.
21
-22 — The Republic’s Home and Garden Show.
Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. Information: 379-5655 or kburnett@ therepublic.com.
22
— Columbus Symphony Orchestra “A Tour of Europe.”
Featuring the music of Rossini, Ravel and Beethoven, 3:30 p.m., Mill Race Park amphitheater.
28
— Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. Pianist Di Wu
returns to perform Rachmaninoff’s pow-
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erful Piano Concerto No. 2. 7:30 p.m., Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St. Single ticket prices begin at $10; tickets available at www.thecip.org. Information: 376-2638, ext. 110.
May
5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday. Admission is $6. Information: 378-3046.
Foundation for Youth. 405 Hope Ave. For a complete schedule of activities: foundationforyouth.com.
Bartholomew County Public Library. Story time sessions and other children’s activities: barth.lib.in.us.
Columbus Gymnastics Center. 405 Hope Ave. Classes and open gym for children. Information: 376-2545.
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— A Garden Tea. Fundraiser for the Book Buddies program. Join us for tea in the Terrace Room of the BCSC Administration Building, 1200 Central Ave. Information: 376-4461.
Ongoing MOMSNext provides fellowship, support and friendship to mothers of elementary-age children. Meetings are twice a month throughout the school year from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church. Information: Grace Lutheran Church, 372-4859. Hamilton Center Ice Arena. 25th Street and Lincoln Park Drive. Admission: child (5-17) $3.50; adult (18 and older) $4; 4 and younger free. Skate rental $2. Call for schedule and programming. Information: 376-2686.
The annual Easter egg hunt draws eager children to scour spring flowers at Donner Park.
Kidscommons. 309 Washington St., climbing wall and wonderland of discovery, education and imagination for children up to age 14. Hours are 10 a.m. to
On March 31 Columbus Indiana Philharmonic tells the story of Anne Frank in the music of Michael Tilson Thomas. 8 • February - March 2012 • Parent
Five by Design returns to Columbus Feb. 11 with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic.
Kitchen kids
Parents find that having too many cooks doesn’t spoil anything By Crystal Henry n photos by doug showalter
F
rom the time children are born, one of the most important things in their lives is food. Babies are comforted with nourishment, and introducing solid foods is a fun milestone. As they grow, children’s personalities even emerge through food preferences. And they learn a sense of adventure just by trying peas for the first time. Bringing children into the kitchen from an early age can teach them to appreciate and be conscientious about the things they put into their bodies and provide a bonding experience for parents and children. From the time babies can sit up on their own, they can become familiar with the kitchen. Some parents fill a low drawer with baby-safe items, such as bowls and measuring cups, for their little ones to explore while they prepare meals. Marguerite Rommeck of Columbus said her chil-
dren love to help in the kitchen, which she began letting them do when they were about a year old. She taught them to always wash their hands before handling anything, and just after they turned 1, she let them help by adding ingredients while she baked. Liam and Chloe have been cracking eggs since they were 2. She said she lets them crack each egg in a separate bowl, so if they ruin one it’s only one egg. Rommeck measures the flour, sugar or vanilla and lets them pour it in the bowl. Since neither child has long hair, she lets them help operate the stand mixer. She puts her finger where they need to go with the lever, and they get to turn it on. “The kids think they are seriously cool with this one,” she said. She said she always stresses the dangers of putting hands or hair too close each time they do this. She Parent • February - March 2012 • 9
Above: While making chocolate chip cookies, Chloe Rommeck, 5, cracks an egg under the watchful guidance of mom Marguerite and brother Liam, 3. Below: Chloe smashes nuts to add to the dough. Opposite page: Liam and Chloe place the cookie dough on baking sheets. also has child-safe knives, which allow the children to spread their own butter, peanut butter and avocado on bread or crackers. And she often puts them in charge of washing berries and other fruit.
Try new things Harriet Armstrong, program assistant for health and human services at the Bartholomew County Extension Office, said getting children involved in the kitchen is a great way to help them take ownership of what they put in their bodies. Getting them to eat a variety of things can be challenging, but allowing them to help prepare meals takes some of the mystery and apprehension out of trying new foods. Taking children to the grocery store can also help get them involved and interested in their nutrition, she said. Plenty of foods aren’t served more often because people get into ruts and eat the same things all the 10 • February - March 2012 • Parent
time. Armstrong suggests taking children to the produce section and letting them pick out one new fruit or vegetable they’ve never tried. Then incorporate that new food with things they already know they like. Just being involved in the decision to try a new food will help them want to try it.
ents can give them a Popsicle stick to spread with. Or let them use the aerosol can to spray the pan. Elementary schoolchildren can work on measuring skills by knowing what a cup or a teaspoon looks like. Experiment by asking them how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon and then use flour to find out.
Parents also should model good food buying by comparing labels and pointing out ingredients. It gets children and parents thinking about what they put in their bodies.
Armstrong said both of her daughters helped in the kitchen at an early age, and now when they come home from college they enjoy cooking.
Pass it on Armstrong said getting children involved in the kitchen is important because she’s seen too many students who rave about their mother’s cooking but say that she never wanted them in the kitchen. So they never learn those recipes or cooking skills. She said having children help does take longer, but it’s worth it. “It’s the planting of information that’s going to reap rewards later on,” she said. If children are too young for knives, she said, par-
Maria Yang of Columbus said both of her girls enjoy being in the kitchen, too. Lulu, 9, loves to help sift flour, crack eggs and roll dough. And now she gets the job of rinsing dishes and putting them in the dishwasher. Jasmine, 5, loves to help, too. Yang said the most fun they have is making Chinese dumplings called jaozi. The girls put on their aprons, and Yang’s husband also joins in. The girls spoon some of the filling onto a wrapper and fold it. “Who cares what it looks like if it’s yummy?” Yang said.
Parent • February - March 2012 • 11
Let’s make these! Here are some quick and easy recipes to try with the kids: Banana Bites
No Cook Dough
2 bananas
2 cups flour
1 cup boxed pancake batter
1 cup salt
Cut bananas into ¼-inch slices. One at a time dip the slices in batter, coating all over and shaking off excess batter into the bowl. Place on a greased skillet or griddle over medium heat. Cook for 1 minute on each side or until golden. Older kids can help slice the bananas, and younger kids can help dip them. Let an adult handle the griddle or skillet. But let the kids pour the honey, syrup or yogurt on top before serving. — Weelicious.com
Pizza Dough: 1 envelope dry yeast 1 teaspoon sugar ¾ cup warm water 1¾ cups flour 1 teaspoon salt Combine yeast, sugar and water. Let sit 6 to 8 minutes. Combine flour and salt in separate bowl. Mix water and flour mixture together and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Roll out on a floured or greased surface and spread out in a greased pizza pan. Let the kids help apply sauce, cheese and toppings of their choice. Cook in a preheated 475 degree oven for about 10 minutes. — Babblingsandmore.blogspot.com
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1 tablespoon cooking oil ½ to 1 cup cold water 2 drops food coloring Combine flour and salt. Add water, food coloring and oil, and mix until ingredients are combined. Knead well. If consistency is too wet, add a little flour. — Jessica Blaikie on easy-kids-recipes.com
Oatmeal Banana Cookies 1/3 cup butter, softened ¼ cup milk 2 cups oats ½ cup raisins 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 ripe bananas, mashed Mix ingredients together in a medium bowl. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes to allow the oats to soak up all the milk. Drop by tablespoons onto a cookie sheet. Bake 25 minutes at 325 degrees. Allow to cool. — Lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com
Smoothie Your Way 1 banana 1 cup fruit ½ cup plain yogurt ½ cup milk Let the kids help wash the fruit and measure the ingredients. Have a variety of fruits to choose from, but let each child choose what fruits to put in his smoothie. Put in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. — Weelicious.com
Parent • February - March 2012 • 13
Parents are human, too, when it comes to fibbing By Leanne Italie n Associated Press
A
s a lawyer, Laurie Gray knows from experience that witnesses aren’t always capable of knowing, let alone telling, the whole truth. As a mom, she allows herself the same human quality.
advice from parenting experts — NEVER lie to your mom but don’t tell grandma she’s fat — doesn’t leave much wiggle room for the less-than-necessary lie.
Last year, she had her 10-year-old daughter lie about her age to register for a free email account, knowing the company’s minimum was 13.
“What helps children grow, whether they are 5 or 10 or 35, is a relationship with the parent in which authentic, intimate and deep exploration of thoughts and feelings is encouraged,” said Berger, a mom of two adult children.
“She had told me you have to be 13,” said Gray, of Fort Wayne. “I responded you don’t actually have to BE 13. You just have to enter a year for your birth date that was at least 13 years ago.” Rare is the parent who hasn’t faced a similar “ethical” dilemma: How to model honesty for kids while navigating the grays of telling a lie, especially one that isn’t an act of kindness but rather a fib of convenience, or even laziness. Must we always ’fess up when caught in iffy lies by offspring, or is it OK to plead guilty to lesser crimes without seeking mercy from that old nag, bad modeling? The usual 14 • February - March 2012 • Parent
Child psychiatrist Elizabeth Berger sees a couple of options.
“This does not mean that the parent must fall on his sword. It means that the parent listens respectfully to the child’s point of view, whatever it may be,” she added. “The parent can say, ‘Ah, well maybe I didn’t handle that situation so well. I’ll have to think this over,’ or the parent can say, ‘Ah, I did my best. Go eat your broccoli.’” Sean Horan isn’t a dad. He’s a “deception researcher” at DePaul University in Chicago. Human beings lie all the time, “and we lie the most to people that we’re closest to,” he said. “Some scholars have proposed that lying is, in fact, a ‘compe-
tent’ communication behavior.”
Fostering guilt Then how can we get away with telling children as young as 10 that lying is bad, most of the time? “That’s not reality,” Horan said. “If we raise children saying that lying is always wrong, they’re going to grow up feeling really guilty.” Deception, he said, is sometimes neither good nor bad. And the parent whose social lie is overheard by little ones? Like making up a dental appointment when a fellow mom calls for the umpteenth time to bag on the car pool. “What counts for the child is the child’s sense of the parent’s honesty and trustworthiness in relation to the child,” Berger said. “A child who feels loved and respected by parents who are reliable and devoted to the child is not going to have his faith shaken by a fib about car pools.” For mom Lee Reed, the nuances as she presented them to her 15-year-old daughter are these: “A little white lie allows the other person to keep their dignity and benefits them fully. Being dishonest, and true lying, is done to keep the person lying out of trouble. If she is the only one benefiting from the lie, then it is wrong.” Was that the case when Reed cited her daughter as the reason she couldn’t join work colleagues for dinner after work
one Friday? While she doesn’t leave the teen home alone at night, she could have arranged a sleepover at a friend’s house but plain didn’t feel like going out. “I let her know that it felt easier to use her as my excuse and that it was purely selfish on my part,” Reed said.
Shades of gray Kirsten Bischoff does worry about repercussions when caught fibbing by her 12-year-old daughter, who’s old enough to understand the “many shades of gray surrounding the concept of lying.” That emotional sophistication, she said, makes it more precarious for mom and dad when they’re found out. Was there any fallout for Gray and her 10-year-old over the email registration fib? What about all those kids allowed on Facebook by their parents before the minimum age of 13? On a recent visit with her grandmother, Gray’s daughter tried to log on to her email account and was prompted for her birth date. “She typed her real birthday, honest child that she is, and received a message saying she’s not old enough to have an email account and that her account will be closed in 30 days,” mom reports. Gray doubts she’ll ever “explicitly say the words, ‘It’s OK to lie,’ but just might find herself saying, “‘See what happens when we don’t tell the truth?’”
Be Active
your way
Let your inner child inspire you with indoor winter activities that don’t feel like exercise. Bowling can be fun for the whole family. It incorporates a great workout while being social. With every twist and turn you can burn up to 300 calories an hour. Don’t forget to take the kids!
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Parent • February - March 2012 • 15
Taking mon into acc Children learn lessons about all work and no pay By Jennifer Willhite
I
t’s true. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Often, children as young as 4 truly believe money comes from mommy’s purse or daddy’s wallet. Not realizing how much work goes into making money, they assume there is a never-ending fount. And mom and dad are the go-to source. When is a good time to start talking to your child about money? Mandy Williams, banking center manager for First Financial Bank, recommends starting with the basics as early as possible. “Starting can be as easy as showing children what money looks like, the difference between dollar bills and coins and the value of each piece,” says Williams. “It is also important children understand how money can be used in different ways — to spend, to save and to give.” Talking with your children about the value of a dollar doesn’t mean you have to divulge the entirety of your personal finances, says Diane Smith, business teacher at Columbus East High School. “Parents often feel finances are a personal issue,”
16 • February - March 2012 • Parent
says Smith. “So they typically keep it amongst themselves. And we’re not talking about sharing how much you make. We’re talking about spending, where the things we get come from and how much those things cost.” According to Smith, parents should include their children in the family’s money matters. For example, if you’re shopping for a new television or refrigerator, include the children in your shopping venture. “Don’t be afraid to sit down with the kids and try to map out a plan about where you can get the best price,” Smith says. “Say, ‘Let’s find the best value for what mommy and daddy can spend’ and include the kids in on those discussions as early as possible.”
Helpful tools One proven tool for learning the value of money is the allowance. Toting the trash to the curb, cleaning one’s room, baby-sitting and mowing the lawn are just some of the jobs we did to earn our own cash as youngsters. So what’s changed in this digital age? Nothing.
ney count
Parent • February - March 2012 • 17
Smith recommends giving a weekly allowance that comfortably fits within the family budget. Let children earn money doing chores or things outside their normal role to help them appreciate what it takes to make money. Have your child sweep out the garage one Saturday afternoon or help clean out the neglected hall closet. But the lesson shouldn’t stop there. Say you agree to a weekly allowance of $5. Break it down and pay it in single bills. One percentage can be available for the child to spend and the rest set aside in a piggy bank. Set goals. Ask your child how much he would like to save in a set period of time. Not only does the child get to see the savings grow, but it’s exciting for him to know he’s reaching his goal. Another tool Smith recommends is keeping track of your child’s receipts. Then, if he comes back asking where his money went, you can go over his receipts with him. A retrospective look at a written record can help show just how far money goes. Recently, Tony Pottorff and his wife, Margie, instituted a point system with their daughters, Delaney,
18 • February - March 2012 • Parent
6, and Amanda, 11, to help teach them the value of money. The girls can earn up to 10 points a day, each worth 10 cents. They can earn points for doing their chores and also doing nice things for others. When payday arrives at the end of the month, each may earn up to $30. That money is then divided into thirds. The first third may be spent immediately, the second third is saved over a longer term (up to three months or so) and the final third is put in the bank where it can’t be spent. Money is a powerful incentive, and it’s no different with kids. The Pottorff girls have become quite competitive. While cleaning up one of their play areas after the holidays, Amanda expressed displeasure over how points equate to amount of work done. Saying she had done twice as much work as her sister, Amanda felt she deserved twice as many points. Considering their age difference, Pottorff explained to her that when Delaney is 11, he will expect just as much work from her. Meanwhile, the point system stands as is.
Eye-opener for everyone The system is working well, and Pottorff says it’s been an eye-opener for the girls. He says they don’t ask for as much since they’ve seen firsthand just how far money goes. Acknowledging neither he nor his wife has been disciplined with money in the past, Pottorff sees this as an opportunity to offer the girls a lesson he never learned. “I am definitely going to tell them, and kids hate to hear this, but ‘learn from my mistakes,’” says Pottorff. “‘I know it’s not fun, but trust me, you’ll be thankful in 20 to 25 years, because it’s almost going to be second nature that you’re putting money back.’” Pottorff recommends parents take their children into the bank with them. Explain why you’re there and what you’re doing. Not only do they get a sucker from the bank teller, but they learn something, too. Also, let your child witness transactions. When you pay for something, let her physically hand over the money and get the change handed back to her. Teaching a child the value of money is also an opportunity for you to learn something new, too. One possible resource for expanding your financial understanding is Smart Money Week. A decade ago, a collaborative effort among the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and organizations devoted to financial literacy, including educational institutions, libraries and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., launched Smart Money Week. Designed as an educational tool for individuals of all ages, the community program focuses on banking, credit and other money matter basics. The idea being, the more educated you are about money and how it works, the better your ability to manage your finances. Often held during April, Smart Money Week is a nationwide event. Depending on your schedule and learning style, you may attend workshops in the classroom, online or tune in to the Money Smart Podcast Network. Regardless of the teaching method, being smart with money is about patterned behavior. As with anything else, positive childhood habits carry over to adulthood. “We certainly learn our habits from our parents,” Smith says. “Whether we know that we’re setting the example for them or not, kids are watching us.” Parent • February - March 2012 • 19
Coming
attraction How to keep your firstborn from feeling second-best By Crystal Henry
H
aving a baby for the first time throws new moms into a world full of questions and a land of new experiences. So when that second baby comes along, these mothers are often referred to as veterans. However, while some questions like, “Is this diaper normal?” are answered from previous experience, other questions and issues come up for the first time. The second pregnancy brings new challenges almost as soon as it begins. A second-time mom who experiences morning sickness will often have an audience in the bathroom that a first-time mom doesn’t. And depleted energy levels or weight-lifting restrictions aren’t easily explained to a needy toddler. When delivery day arrives, mothers not only have to get themselves to the hospital, but they also have to have somewhere in mind to deliver their firstborn. Moms without family close by will need to rely upon the help of a trusted friend or neighbor to take care of their older child while they bring the second one into the world. When the little one arrives, they will need some gear. But one advantage veterans have is that they’ve 20 • February - March 2012 • Parent
figured out what items they needed the first time around and can get rid of the unnecessary ones. One new consideration is how to lug around two children. While some parents upgrade to a double stroller, others start with a sling or other baby carrier and keep the single stroller for the older child. Nicole Wiltrout, a Columbus mother of two, suggests getting out the baby gear several weeks before the baby is due. She said for the first week or so her 2-yearold son, Ben, was constantly playing with it and pressing buttons. But by the time baby Jonathan arrived, Ben was bored with it and didn’t bother Jonathan when he was in the bouncy seat or pack ’n’ play. The one thing she didn’t bring out was an activity mat, and when she did, Ben insisted that he and Jonathan take turns playing with it. Rachael Branham of Columbus said she had to get a lot of new baby items for her second child because they lost most of their baby things in the flood in 2008. But even then, she said, there are a few things she would need to replace if they had a third. Having two children of the same gender helped so that she didn’t have to buy new clothes, but she got a
Parent • February - March 2012 • 21
new crib mattress, a special outfit for the baby to wear home from the hospital, his special blanket, a baby book, diapers, a double stroller, a new baby monitor and a new nursing pillow.
Wiltrout said it probably depends on the age of the firstborn, but Ben was old enough to understand vaguely what was happening. And they wanted to make sure they prepared him as best they could for his
Even if the children are the same gender, the proximity of their birthdays also plays into whether they’ll need new clothes. A summer baby and a winter baby won’t be able to share as many clothes as children born around the same time of year.
baby brother’s arrival.
Is everyone ready?
brothers that they found at the library.
They talked about what babies are like, who would take care of him while mom and dad were at the hospital, and what life would be like once they brought the baby home. They also read books about babies and big She said just talking to him about what the plans
The entire household will need to prepare for the arrival of the new baby, but the firstborn may need a little help getting ready.
were helped him adjust. By the time her due date arrived, Ben was very excited to spend a few days with
Annie Tennis, a Columbus mom expecting her second child in April, said son Isaac, 2, doesn’t really seem that interested when she and her husband talk about his new baby sister.
his grandparents rather than being apprehensive about
Still, they’ve started to point out babies when they see them and are teaching Isaac to be gentler with things like the family cat, hoping that will carry over to the baby. Tennis said he’s not overly rough, but he is a little boy.
a baby might cry. Before Jonathan arrived, Ben would
They also moved him into a bed and moved his crib into the new baby’s room. When Isaac goes in there to play with the crib, they explain that this is where his sister is going to sleep.
hungry or tired or some of the other reasons the book
the changes going on. Wiltrout said that one book they read called “Why Does Baby Cry?” talked about all the different reasons get upset when he heard babies crying, so she wanted to address the issue before Jonathan was born. She said Ben still gets a little worried when he hears Jonathan crying, but they just remind him that he’s probably mentions, and this calms Ben down. Branham said Jace, her oldest, noticed her tummy
submitted photos
growing, and they talked about the baby growing in-
Rachael Branham holds her son, Jace. She has since given birth to a second son, Tyce. 22 • February - March 2012 • Parent
Nicole Wiltrout is pictured with son Ben prior to the birth of his brother, Jonathan.
photo by Doug Showalter
Annie Tennis plays with son Isaac, 2, in their Columbus home. Tennis is expecting her second child in April.
side. They took him to the ultrasound, but he wasn’t really interested. And when they saw a baby, they would remind him that he’d have a baby in his house soon. They read him stories, and he would talk to her belly. But she said that until he saw Tyce, she doesn’t think Jace really understood that he was real. She said he was very excited when they talked about having the new baby, but the first time he saw her holding Tyce he cried. However, by the next day he was asking to hold Tyce, too. She said Jace wasn’t allowed to come visit at the hospital because Tyce was born during a swine flu outbreak, and children weren’t allowed to visit the birthing center. But she said even if he had been able to come, it might have been for the best that he didn’t. She worried it might be scary for a 2-year-old to see mommy hooked up to machines and not able to move easily. It also gave her time to rest and recover from her cesarean section, and it gave them time to bond with Tyce, knowing Jace was at home with his normal
routine, getting showered with affection from loved ones who were taking care of him.
Back at home When the new baby comes home, reactions differ from child to child. Wiltrout said Ben is very loving toward Jonathan and is sometimes interested in what he’s doing, but for the most part he doesn’t pay much attention to him. She and her husband try to make an effort to give Ben special one-on-one attention when they can, and she thinks that has helped. They also give him little tasks like throwing diapers away or getting burp cloths to get him involved and show him he’s needed. Branham said Jace cried and wouldn’t come near her, and it took him almost a whole day to come near or hold Tyce. She was worried, but soon he was telling anyone he met about his brother and loved kissing him and giving him his pacifier. She said she didn’t have any more trouble until Tyce got old enough to start playing with Jace’s toys. see SECOND on page 29 Parent • February - March 2012 • 23
Lunch is served — with a side of the
unexpected By Alison Ladman n For The Associated Press
G
etting creative with kids lunches can be a bit of a minefield. It can be hard enough to get them to embrace new foods at home, never mind when they are surrounded by friends at school.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t break free of the same-old-sandwich routine. It’s just a matter of using foods already in your children’s comfort zone, but working with them in new and creative ways.
COLD HAM AND CHEESE CASSEROLE This “casserole” is a great way to use up leftovers. Feel free to play with the ingredients. Chicken, steak and even chopped leftover hamburgers are fine substitutes for the ham. Start to finish: 10 minutes Serves: 1
Leftovers are a great place to start (assuming they were well-received the first time around). Plenty of thick stews and chilies can be repurposed as chilled fillings for wraps, especially when topped with shredded cheese. Ditto for salads, including the pasta and potato varieties.
1 teaspoon mustard
Or consider deconstructing something, such as pasta salad. Put it back together in a way that’s fun for kids, as we did for the tortellini veggie skewers. Also, breakfast is great for the beginning of the day and makes a fun supper, so why not also consider it for lunch, too?
2 tablespoons shredded cheddar
24 • February - March 2012 • Parent
2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar ½ cup cooked rice, white or brown ¼ cup cubed cooked ham 1 scallion, thinly sliced, to garnish In a small bowl, stir together the mustard, mayonnaise and vinegar. Add the rice, ham and cheddar, then mix well.
Parent • February - March 2012 • 25
26 • February - March 2012 • Parent
TORTELLINI VEGGIE SKEWERS Start to finish: 20 minutes Serves: 1 ½ yellow bell pepper 12 cooked tortellini 6 whole black olives 6 cherry tomatoes 1 slice deli turkey 1 slice provolone cheese Cut the yellow pepper into 6 strips. Using each pepper strip as a skewer, push 2 tortellini onto each strip. Use a paring knife to poke a hole into the top of each cherry tomato and cap the end of each pepper strip with a tomato and an olive. Cut the slices of turkey and provolone into 6 long strips, then wrap one of each around the skewers. Serve the skewers with a side of your child’s favorite salad dressing.
BREAKFAST LUNCH This easy pancake and bacon breakfast-lunch lets kids assemble their own meal. You just need to give them the basics — tiny pancakes, cooked bacon slices, blueberries and maple syrup for dunking. Start to finish: 15 minutes Serves: 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon cornmeal ¼ teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon sugar Pinch salt ¼ cup plain yogurt 3 tablespoons milk 1 tablespoon butter 2 slices cooked bacon ½ cup blueberries (or favorite fruit) Maple syrup, for dipping To make the pancakes, in a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, sugar and salt. Add the yogurt and milk, then whisk until just smooth. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Drop spoonfuls of batter into the pan, leaving space between each to allow for spreading. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, flip and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Allow to cool thoroughly before packing. Pack the pancakes with the bacon, fruit and maple syrup on the side.
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812-373-2700 800-334-0077 www.sandcrest.org
Parent • February - March 2012 • 27
Jennifer Tchida
Classic tales for winter reading
Looking for something good to read this winter? Here are some great children’s books that don’t always get the attention they deserve. Let’s call them “overlooked classics.” “Freight Train,” by Donald Crews — A bright and colorful book that describes all the cars in a freight train. A fantastic book for budding train enthusiasts. Ages 2 and up. “The Snowy Day,” by Ezra Jack Keats — Peter wakes to find the city covered in snow. This picture book beautifully conveys the pleasures that can be found in a place blanketed with snow. Ages 3 and up. “Harry the Dirty Dog,” by Gene Zion — Harry is a lovable dog that hates baths. So he decides to run away from home. Harry has some fun as he gets really dirty, but he realizes how much he misses his family. The problem is he is so dirty no one recognizes him. What’s a dog to do? Ages 3 and up. “The Monster at the End of This Book,” by Jon Stone — Grover reads on the first page that there’s a monster at the end of the book. He begs and pleads for the reader not to turn pages, but you can’t read a book without turning pages. Will there be a monster at the end of the book? This book is pure fun. Ages 3 and up. “Make Way for Ducklings,” by Robert McCloskey — Mr. Mallard thinks the Boston Public Gardens would be a great place to raise his family, but Mrs. Mallard thinks the area is too busy for her babies. She decides to build her nest elsewhere and meet Mr. Mallard when the ducklings have grown. When it’s time to make the move the ducklings cannot fly. How will they get to the Public Gardens safely? Superb charcoal illustrations add to this touching story. Ages 3 and up. 28 • February - March 2012 • Parent
“Harriet the Spy,” by Louise Fitzhugh — Harriet wants to be a writer and a spy, so she decides to keep a notebook of everything she sees as practice for her future career. Unfortunately, Harriet loses her notebook, and her friends read what she has written, some of it mean-spirited. Harriet finds herself alone … can she make things right? An honest look at growing up and the turbulence of childhood. Ages 8 and up. “An Old-Fashioned Girl,” by Louisa May Alcott — A quiet and unassuming story of Polly, a shy, country girl who has a chance to see how her rich friend, Fanny Shaw, lives in the city. But it’s Polly who shows Fanny and her family that wealth is not needed to be happy. Ages 10 and up. “The Book of Three,” by Lloyd Alexander — The battle of good and evil takes place in this compelling fantasy with plenty of adventure and humor. Taran is assistant pigkeeper, but his dream is to be a hero and escape his life in a small village. He gets his chance when unrest breaks out in the kingdom. How will Taran’s future change? Ages 10 and up. Jennifer Tchida is children’s services librarian at Bartholomew County Public Library.
SECOND continued from page 23 Keeping the older child’s routine can be especially difficult with all the changes a new baby brings. Wiltrout said she tries to talk Ben through her day with the baby. For instance, if she’s about to nurse Jonathan, she’ll ask Ben if he needs anything and often tries to get him to use the bathroom to cut down on his asking for things while she’s nursing. She also tries to get Jonathan down for a nap before Ben’s naptime so she doesn’t have to juggle both of them at once. She said getting enough sleep has been more difficult. While she could try with one child to sleep when the baby slept, she can’t nap for an hour in the morning while Jonathan’s napping with a 2-yearold running around the house. She said she’s very fortunate to have a husband who has always been more than willing to take on any parenting task. But he certainly has his hands full now. “We often joke that he has become a single parent to a 2-yearold, and I’m a single parent to a newborn,” she said. Branham said it’s double the laundry, dishes and responsibility, but as the work grows so does your love. “It has to be one of the sweetest, tear-jerking things to see your oldest kiss, hug and hold your newborn for the first time,” she said. “It’s perfect.” Parent • February - March 2012 • 29
Kids’ Craft Little leprechauns reflect on
St. Patrick’s Day By Kathy Antoniotti Akron Beacon Journal
I
’m fond of using the expression, “If you are lucky enough to be born Irish, you are lucky enough,” especially around St. Patrick’s Day, which honors the patron saint of Ireland. Americans of Irish descent have come to embrace the heritage handed down by ancestors, many of whom fled their homeland during the great Irish potato famine in the mid-1800s when millions had to leave or starve. St. Patrick’s Day in America is a secular holiday that people celebrate with parades, parties and what we call “the wearin’ o’ the green,” which, by the way, is also the title of an 18th century Irish folk song. But in Ireland, where March 17 has been observed for more than 1,000 years, St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday commemorating the death of St. Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to the country. The words of the old ballad have a special meaning that expresses the sadness of Irish Catholics during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, when wearing a shamrock and the color green was a sign of rebellion and grounds for hanging. You can “try on a little leprechaun” using these instructions I found at www.familyfun.go.com/crafts/ try-on-leprechaun-985020. Supplies you will need: Small mirror, 4 to 5 inches wide. Printable templates from the website. Sheets of craft foam in light and dark green, yellow and orange. Tracing paper. Pencil.
30 • February - March 2012 • Parent
Scissors. White craft glue. Tape. String for hanging (optional). Download the patterns from the website. Use tracing paper to transfer the frame, hat, hat band, beard, hair and shamrock onto colored foam sheets and cut out. Make the frame yellow, the hat light green, the beard and hair orange, and the hat band brown. You will need to trace three leaves and the stem out of the darker green foam and glue them together on the hat band to form a shamrock. Cut out the circle from the yellow frame and mount the mirror to the back of the yellow frame with tape. Using the photo as a guide, attach the orange beard and hair to the yellow frame with glue. Layer the hat on top of the hair, the hat band onto the hat and the shamrock on top of the hat band. Tape a string to the back of the frame to hang, if you would like.
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