Sun Journal Special Sections Family 2002

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Family

Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002

Black Magenta Yellow Cyan

Nutrition and supplements can make a difference for life

By Donna Labbe ReLiv Key Director In today’s fast food, convenience-oriented society, 70 percent of us don’t eat the minimum daily intake of key nutrients, according to recent studies.

By depriving our bodies of these essential building blocks, we leave ourselves vulnerable to illness, disease and nagging fatigue.

In fact, science points to poor nutrition as the key factor in many of the critical diseases that plague us today. How bad is it? Well, in 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act acknowl-

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edging a link between dietary supplements and reductions in various cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis and other chronic diseases.

Consider these statistics:* 3 80% of cancers are diet related 3 Two-thirds of death are caused by poor diet — including heart disease 3 80-90% of osteoarthritis can be attributed to obesity 3 95% of type II diabetes is caused by obesity 3 50% of us are suffering from B6 deficiencies, which can lead to fatigue and depression Clearly, when it comes to choosing the

E WE GROW HER

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Studies of a variety of supplements purchased off the shelf at various outlets show some may include just a fraction of the active nutrient they advertise. Also, when starting a regimen of nutritional supplements, there is a question of how much is too much? Are the vitamins working together or against each other? It can be a guessing game with serious consequences, so do your homework!

For more information on nutrition and supplements, one may contact Donna Labbe at 7839800 or 946-5454. *Statistics have been gleaned from a variety of sources, including the American Cancer Society, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Basel in Switzerland.

Why you shouldn’t allow your children to smoke marijuana Some parents who saw marijuana being widely used in their youth have wondered, “Is marijuana really so bad for my child?”

The answer is an emphatic “yes,” and parents should familiarize themselves with these reasons: 3Marijuana is illegal.

3 Marijuana now exists in forms that are stronger - with higher levels of THC, the psychoactive ingredient - than in the 1960s. Studies show that someone who smokes five joints a week may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day.

PELLETIER’S KARATE Taylor Hill Rd., Lewiston

right foods, the majority of people — including children, men, women and seniors — make deadly decisions.

The good news is that research shows supplementation can substantially improve health by bridging the nutritional gap. According to Dr. Stephen Pheiffer, a family practitioner and member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Reliv, a food science company, “There is overwhelming evidence that supplementation can enhance the immune system... Food can cure what ails us and prevent diseases. A daily supplement is like low-cost health insurance.”

When looking for supplements, choose wisely. Not all deliver what they promise.

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3Hanging around users of marijuana often means being exposed not only to other drugs later on, but also to a lifestyle that can include trouble in school, engaging in sexual activity while young, unintended pregnancy, difficulties with the law, and other problems.

3Marijuana use can slow down reaction time and distort perceptions. This can interfere with athletic performance, decrease a sense of danger, and increase risk of injury.

3 Regular marijuana users can lose the ability to concentrate that is needed to master important academic skills, and they can experience

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short-term memory loss. Habitual marijuana users tend to do worse in school and are much more likely to drop out altogether.

3Teens who rely on marijuana as a chemical crutch and refuse to face the challenges of growing up never learn the emotional, psychological, and social lessons of adolescence. The research is not complete on the effects of marijuana on the developing brain and body For more information about the effects of drugs and how you can protect your children, call toll free for the free Consumer Information Catalog publication “Growing Up Drug Free” 1-888-878-3256.

Free guide offered to parents Each year, more than 58,000 children in the United States are abducted by non-family members. More than 200,000 children are abducted by family members who are seeking to interfere with a parent’s custodial rights. In the most dangerous type of abduction—stranger kidnapping— fully 40 percent of children are killed.

In an effort to protect children against these assaults, the U.S. Department of Education just released a new guidebook titled Personal Safety for Children: A Guide for Parents. With information that children of all ages can understand, the guide provides facts and figures on child abductions, tips for discussing safety, a list of approaches for staying safe, numbers to call during an emergency and additional resources for more help.

Personal Safety for Children: A Guide for Parents, available in both English and Spanish, is a publication of the Departments of Education and Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. For a copy, while supplies last, contact 1-8774ED-PUBS (433-7827), or visit ww Temple Shalom w.nochildleftbehind.gov/parents/ safety/index.html

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Advertising Supplement Sunday, November 10, 2002

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Family

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By Sonja Christiansen / Karuna Reiki Master Teacher The truth is we all have varying degrees of stress throughout our lives. There is good stress, like the kind of stress you feel when you are in love, striving for a purpose, finishing a project on time. Then there is the not so good stress; the kind you feel when you are depressed, scared or overworked.

Stress affects each of us differently. It’s another word for fear.

Fear of lack, fear of not being loved or accepted, fear of not doing or being good enough.

Take a moment to think about what you are feeling. Where does it feel tight? Do you have a headache? What does it mean to you when you say, “I’m stressed?” How do you feel? How do you react ? Slam doors? Drive fast? Go off for some quiet time?

Sleep? Have a drink? Yell at people?

What about the people around you? How do they react to stress? As you can see, the way people feel stress, how they react to what they feel and even what causes them to feel stressed is very individual.

Children feel stress as well as adults. Think back to your own childhood. When were you fearful? How did you react? Wet the bed, act out, cry, become quiet? How did the adults around help? How do you wish they would have helped? Be aware of changes of behavior in your children. Children often have a different view or understanding of the world around them. They may feel stressed and fearful about things you would never consider. Recognizing fear or stress reactions in your children or grandchildren is the first step in making them feel safe and helping them through their fear. You can teach your children many of the coping skills you use.

Sometimes when we are stressed, we worry so much about ourselves or our families that we make ourselves worse. This viscious cycle feeds on itself. It happens whether you are an adult or a kid. Having outside activities helps to get your mind off the things that are bothering you. When we get involved in other interests or in helping others we are able to let go of ourselves for a

Stressed?

while. It gives us a break, and we can return to our situation with new eyes and different feelings.

Stress management is not a workshop, seminar or magazine article. It is a balanced way of looking at yourself and your life on a day-to-day basis. Only you know what you need, and only you can make the changes required. Helping your children to learn good coping skills will benefit them through their entire lives.

One way that has been helpful is to make a list. Helping your children make lists or draw pictures of how they see stress or fear may also be a way you can help them deal with the stress in their lives.

Making lists can also help you clarify your personal values and the values of your family group. Being clear helps you to think about what is important in your life in the long run. It means thinking about your personal philosophy, your belief system and your morals. It means asking yourself what is most important in each area of your life. Clarifying your values means finding meaning in your life and in your daily activities. Then when you encounter stress circumstances you will see them as part of the larger picture of your entire life and will be able to cope with the situation more easily.

Make a list of the categories that are important in your life: business, financial, family, career, physical, emotional, spiritual, etc. Take some time alone and ask yourself what your needs are in these areas. This is hard work and will take some time to accomplish. You will realize as your life changes, the questions and answers will change also. As you develop and work with your list you will have a better understanding of who you are and how your feelings and reactions have an impact on yourself and others.

Once you become self-aware, you will then be able to make changes. Did you find you would feel better if you had more

Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002 sleep? How could you have that happen in your life? What changes could you make? What about your career/job? Did you find you need more money, a better sense of accomplishment? How can you have that happen? How about your family life? What works for you, what can you change?

Look into activities to help you and your family find the peace within — meditation, yoga, T’ai Chi, etc. These practices can be individual or family-based. You can find a teacher or go to your local library or book store for instruction books, tapes and videos. When you’re able to find the small quiet space within, you will be able to handle the stress in the your life as well as help your family find the balance in theirs.

Circumstances, relationships and time all slide into each other throughout our lives. Always fluid. Sometimes smooth and calm, sometimes raggedly running over rapids and waterfalls, but always moving. Stress acts like a dam holding back the river. Sometimes that’s OK, but sometimes it causes the river to overflow into destruction. Only by understanding the conditions surrounding the river, can we make a decision about how we can control the dam.

Tips to de-stress

1. Find quiet time to be alone everyday. Children of all ages benefit from quiet time as well.

2. Set your priorities around your needs and your family’s needs.

3. Exercise. Anything from walking to working out in a gym as well as taking classes in T’ai Chi or Qigong. All family members can join in these activities. Do what works for your lifestyle. The important thing is to do something.

4. Get enough sleep.

5. Eat healthy.

6. Remember that sometimes you can’t change the situation, you can only change your attitude about the situation.

Sonja Christiansen is a holistic health practitioner, instructor and stress management consultant with Healing Focus in Auburn.

Family 7

Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002

Child, parent should learn to live with demanding teacher

Q.

By JOHN ROSEMOND Knight Ridder Newspapers

As this nefarious, deconstructionist idea took hold in our culture, the idea that children were to obey adults mutated into the idea that adults were responsible for establishing a “positive working relationship” with children.

My request for a specific third-grade

This turns the relationship upside down. It puts adult authority figures in the position of trying to be liked by children, which makes them something other than people with

teacher for my son was ignored by the principal. The teacher to whom he was as-

them or not. I would not have dared tell my parents that a teacher didn’t like me, because

approach just doesn’t work with my son.

they would have immediately assumed I was doing something distinctly unlikable in the

The school year is not a month old, and an

teacher’s class. Today, it is likely that a child who complains that a teacher doesn’t like him

obvious personality conflict has developed between the two of them.

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will be taken at his word, and the teacher may well wind up on the hot seat.

In the real world, an adult must obey authority figures whether or not he or she likes

I’ve spoken to the principal, but she says my son is going to have to learn to take instructions from authority figures, whether he likes them or not. What

them. If he doesn’t like one of the authority figures in his life, he can cast an opposing vote, find a new job or move to a different community.

While he is free to disagree with that authority figure, he is not free to disobey. We

can I do?

adults have a responsibility to prepare children to be capable of making a successful ad-

You and I have a point-of-view conflict.

justment to the real world.

I’ll be blunt. It is simply not possible for a child to have a “personality conflict” with an

I think you ought to tell the teacher what I once told one of my daughter’s high school

adult who sits in a position of authority. Two adults can have a personality conflict. Two children can have a personality conflict. But a child and a teacher (or other adult authority figure) cannot. Period.

interests as well.

In the meantime, I suspect you need to put some effort into your son’s discipline at

be democratic. Gordon and others who followed him wrote and spoke of the “democratwere equals

will support your decisions, whether I agree with them or not. Moreover, I will insist that long-term interests (albeit she didn’t like it!), and that approach will be in your son’s best

child blurring over the past 40 or so years.

ic family” and the “democratic classroom.” The implication was that adults and children

teachers: “I don’t agree with how you handle some situations, but I’m here to tell you I Amy obey you, and there will be consequences if she doesn’t.” That was in Amy’s best

The idea that this is possible is new, a function of the distinction between adult and

“Parent Effectiveness Training,” promoted the idea that adult-child relationships should

“Because my aunt enjoyed Schooner and my mother-in-law still does, I felt confident recommending it to my mother. What a feeling I had when she told me recently that the past 3 years have been among the happiest years of her life.

Forty years ago, when I was 11, I was expected to obey my teachers whether I liked

signed is very demanding, and that sort of

In the 1960s, well-intentioned “experts” like psychologist Thomas Gordon, author of

“A daughter’s love for her mom”...

authority.

home. In all likelihood, what you’re describing is not so much a child who has some innate aversion to “demanding” adults, but rather a child who simply hasn’t learned to do what adults tell him to do.

(John Rosemond is a family psychologist in North Carolina.)

The Peanut Gallery

Cover designed by

Child Care & Pre School

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Family

Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002

Saving a child’s life Nearly two years after a national recall to repair, hundreds of calls continue to pour into a national window-blind repair hotline.

Teens 15-18 need driver education

Several infants and toddlers still strangle in window cords every year, despite increased awareness of cord safety measures. Safety experts say that most cord strangulation incidents occur among children under the age of four. Infant deaths often involve window cords within reach of a child’s crib. Toddlers and older children frequently become entangled in the cords afKeep a close eye on kids when there is a ter climbing on beds or low-standing dangerous window situation. furniture placed near a window.

Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to check their blinds. Officials say the key to windowcord safety is to eliminate or severely reduce a child’s access to windows and cords by following these safety rules:

U Move all cribs and furniture as far away from windows as possible,

preferably against another wall U Install cord stops on horizontal blinds and mini-blinds to prevent inner-cord access U Secure all pull cords out of reach by using a cleat or permanent tiedown device U Eliminate looped pull cords on older (pre-1995) mini-blinds and shades by cutting the loop and attaching safety tassels to the pullcord ends

Protect kids by keeping cribs away from window treatments.

Made in Maine

WCSC offers parents and consumers free safety kits for childproofing corded window blinds, shades and draperies. Kits can be ordered through WCSC’s toll-free line at 1800-506-4636. Additional cord safety information and instructions can be found on the WCSC website at www.windowcoverings.org.

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Family 3

Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002

Learning through play and every day values.

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By CARLENE SMART Freelance Writer

In this country, cars kill more teens than cancer, gang violence, suicide or drugs and alcohol combined. In 1995, more than 5,600 teens died in car crashes. A teen’s chances of dying in a car crash triple from ages 13 to 15 to ages 16-19. Being a teenager does not mean being reckless or irresponsible. It does mean teens are at increased risk of being involved in auto accidents. There is, however, good news that lessens those statistics. Teens can increase their chances of accident-free driving by taking charge and preparing to be a safe (not fast) driver.

Choosing the right school At age 15, teenagers can get their driver’s permit, provided they take a driver education course, and anyone from age 15-18 must take driver education. Choosing the right driving school can prepare teens for the challenges they will face daily as a responsible driver. So, how does a parent choose the right driving school?

Know what kind of license the school holds and how many instructors they employ. Commercial school vehicles and classrooms are inspected annually when the license comes up for renewal.

Types of driver education school licenses: 3 A Class A license entitles a school to employ Class A or Class B instructors or teachers to teach both the classroom and behindthe-wheel phases of driver educa-

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tion for passenger type vehicles (Class C vehicles).

3A Class B license entitles a school to employ Class A or Class B instructors or teachers and to teach only the behind-the-wheel phase of driver education for passenger type vehicles (Class C vehicles).

3A truck driver education endorsement to a Class A license entitles a school to employ only Class A instructors or teachers to teach classroom, behind-the-wheel, and range (off-street) driver education for commercial motor vehicles (Class A and/or Class B vehicles).

The Class A license means the instructors have had college courses in teaching methods and have had defensive driving and first-aid courses. Class A instructors can drive and teach. Class B instructors take eight hours of courses and can give only road instruction; they cannot teach.

According to Larry Caron, coowner of Roy’s Driving Academy in Lewiston, parents should do their homework.

“Parents should check out the reputation of a driving school before they sign their child up,” he advised. “Many times teens want to take their course with a school just because a friend is, and that may not be the wisest choice.”

The state sets a minimum on insurance, ($100,000 property damage; $100,000 personal injury or death of any one person; and $300,000 for personal injury or death of a number of persons. Combined single limit is $400,000) but it’s a good idea

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to carry more than that. What attitude does the school have? To get as many students in and out as possible?

“We believe we’re training teens to be safe drivers, not just drivers,” he added.

According to Caron, other facts to look at when choosing the right driving school would be how long the school has been in business and how long their employees have been there overall.

“Take a good look at the teach-

Keep these quick facts in mind: * Permit is good for 18 months. You must keep it at least 90 days before applying for a license. * You must driver with someone at least 20 who has held a license for at least two years. * A license at 16 is provisional for two years. (Any type of violation results in loss of license; after two years it becomes a regular license, with points taken off for violations.) * For 90 days you are not allowed to drive with other teens with the exception of family. * Any type of alcohol transportation (even with parent in car) will result in loss of teen’s license. * License will be taken for 60 days for the first violation. * Limiting the amount of night time driving helps keep inexperienced drivers off the road because of reduced visibility. According to Allstate’s “Teen Driver, Taking Charge,” 41 percent of motor vehicle deaths occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. *Limiting driving on Friday, Saturday and Sunday may help reduce risk of accident. More than half of teenage deaths occur on the weekends. *Try to keep four seconds between you and the vehicle before you. Tailgating is a stupid reason to get into a crash. *Always use seat belts. *Never drink and drive.

— Carlene Smart

ing location and the type of vehicles that are being used,” he added. “Many of today’s vehicles have new technology like anti-lock brakes and traction control. Students need to learn to drive in the newest vehicles possible.” Caron suggested cars be about 2 to 5 years old to give drivers the access to newer technology and safety.

Parents are required to sit in on a class. Parents can expect their teens to receive both classroom training and on the road driving experience. If the teen successfully completes the course, they will receive their learners permit. Parents should ask if the price for the permit is included in the price of the course. Some schools wait until after you’re enrolled before they tell you it’s not part of the fee.

Since teens are inexperienced drivers, Allstate Insurance recommends young drivers have more than just the 90 days and 35 hours (five hours after dark) of driving time. Dwight Hawkins, driving instructor for Roy’s Driving Academy said he’d really like to see teens have experience driving about 100 hours “in all fours seasons and in all types of weather.”

Parents should ask for a copy of the Driver Education curriculum and find out how their teen is performing in class. Allow your teen to get a license only when you believe the time is right; his or her life may depend on your judgment, not on their getting a license because everyone else is or because they’ve reached the right age.

Pediatric Associates of Lewiston, P.A. Office Hours

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Separate Well Care, Sick Waiting & Treatment Areas.

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Family

Family 5

Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002

he joys of adoption

fine,” noted Crowell. “My sister and I were parented equally…my parents didn’t have to try harder with me just because I was adopted.”

ADVOCACY

Helpful hints from adoptive parents and kids

By DENISE SCAMMON / Freelance Writer

S

LIFE BOOKS

Some kids think they are either born OR adopted because no one has told them their birth story. One of the few good books on adoption that County recommends is written by actress Jamie Lee Curtis, adoptive mother, and author of “Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born.” County agrees with Curtis’ statement: “Everybody is born. It’s the one universal thing we all have. Children who grow up in the families they were born to are usually told detailed stories about their births. Adopted children often don’t have those kinds of details.”

It might be easy to find a wide selection of baby books in stores in which to record the details of birth and growth, but few of these cover the special facts of fostering and adoption. For one thing, not all children are adopted as babies. Today, special journals or scrapbooks called ‘Life Books,’ for adopted and fostered kids, record details ranging from ‘First Greeting’ to ‘Anticipation’ to ‘How You Grew’ to ‘Funny Things You Said.’

“These life books are great and are especially important for children who have spent years in multiple foster homes. It’s like a scrapbook that documents their life through pictures and anecdotes,” noted County.

ome experts urge using the word ‘adopted’ as early as the age of two, while others say telling children about their adoption is best done between the ages of six to eight. Ellen County, adoptive mother of six children, has her own advice: “Start telling your adopted child the story of his or her life as soon as possible,” she says. “We adopted our youngest when he was 13 days old and were able to tell him his life story while rocking him to sleep,” she added, as her three-year-old toddler climbed onto her lap. “At least three times a week we still talk to him about how he came to be part of our family.”

County gave an example of the type of details young children might want to know and how to frame the conversation, which might go something like this: “The phone rang in the middle of the night, and Daddy answered it and was told you might become part of our family that night and to wait for a second phone call. Daddy didn’t wake Mommy up until he answered the second phone call. Daddy and Mommy were so glad you could come live with us. We didn’t have any diapers or bottles or baby formula in the house, so Daddy went out in the middle of the night to get the stuff you needed.”

Talking openly about adoption allows the children to be very comfortable with the ADOPTION AS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE subject. “One of our children liked to play a game where he would bury himself under “We have a large circle of friends who have adopted who tell our children, ‘We made a mound of pillows and then pop up as if he was hatching,” County recalled. “Then, he the decision to adopt after watching you become part of your family and we feel we would say it was my turn to hatch and his turn to can do that, too,’ ” County continued. “Since we have continuously adopted over the adopt me.” years, our older children have seen how the adoption process works with their How and when to tell them isn’t own eyes.” always an issue, however.

Crowell has experienced the same reaction to adoption. “My sister “Whether I was mature wants to adopt. Among her reasons, she wishes to give her biological enough to understand When you see a mother holding an infant in the grocery store, do children the same positive experience she had when I was adopted,” adoption wasn’t a you ask, “Did you have a vaginal or caesarian delivery?” Probably not. Most said Crowell. people would consider such a question intrusive or rude. Adoptive families, howfactor in my case ever, are often faced with comments or questions from well-meaning family members or since I could see OPEN COMMUNICATIONS strangers who simply don’t know better. “People have been Oprah-ized,” says Beth O’Malley that I looked It’s important to keep the lines of communication open M.Ed, adoption expert, adoptee and national-recognized speaker.

According to O’Malley, “Many different from people believe they can ask anything, anywhere. This is often not family friendly for adoptive famiwith the birth parents and their families if at all possible, my adopted lies. It’s time people became educated on good adoption manners.” O’Malley suggests you not say : according to County. “The subject of adoption comes up family,” weekly, if not daily, in our household. Sometimes the said Hollie subject comes up because of school projects in which 3 Are you baby sitting?

3 Is her father Chinese?

3 Is she adopted?

Crowell of the students are supposed to bring in their baby pic3 Are you her ‘real’ mother?

Auburn, tures.” County added, “We have a lot of contact with  3 Do you know why her real mother gave her up?  3 Why didn’t you adopt from this country? adopted our birth moms. We know that the link between our 3 How much did your child cost?

26 years kids and their birth parents doesn’t end because we O’Malley says the most offensive term is referring to the biological parent as the “real” parent.

This ago by adopted them.” implies the adoptive parent is somehow unnatural or not authentic.

O’Malley offers thse tips: a famEvery situation is unique, and not all birth par3 Do not use the word “real” in reference to the biological parent. Terms such as birth parent, first ily that ents are ready for contact at the time of the adoption.

Mother, birthday mom are more appropriate. already Some birth parents have to work on their own probincluded a 3 Did you know that adoptees never refer to their parents as “adoptive parents? “ They are called lems first, such as drug addictions or problems they biological “Mom and Dad,” just like in your family. are never able to overcome. County believes it has daughter.

3 Do wait before asking a question about adoption in front of the adopted child. been an important experience for her children to meet “Since I am 3 Do ask yourself, “Why do I feel the need to ask this question?” Curious about adoption? Go their birth parents and their families. “It’s also been a of a different online, talk to a social worker, go to the library, or attend seminars. good experience for the birth parents to know how their race than my children are being raised. Some birth parents and their adopted family, Beth O’Malley M.Ed helps families talk with their adopted children about their families come here for birthday parties and Christmas,” said adoption wasn’t beginnings. Her specialty is how-to create life history books. To receive free tips on adoption County ,as she looked through a stack of photos from one such something that my talk and lifebooks, go to www.adoptionlifebooks.com Sign up online and get started get-together. parents could keep right away.O’Malley is the author of LifeBooks: Creating a Treasure for the Ad“My sister wonders why I am not interested in going to Korea to secret even if they had opted Child, publisher Adoption Works Press, meet my birth mother. There has never been any mystery about my wanted to. I don’t think there $13.95 available at Amazon.com background because my parents have always been open with me about is one ‘correct’ age to talk about anything I wanted to know,” said Crowell. “I know that my mother would like to adoption…I think it should be each meet my birth mother so that she can say ‘thank you’ for giving birth to me.” parent’s individual choice.”

Don’t say it!

The County Family of Auburn ADOPTIVE vs BIOLOGICAL

On the surface, it may seem that adoptive parenting is the same as biological parenting (diapers, teething, curfews, setting limits). The differences between raising an adopted family and raising a biological family may involve loss (Usually, but not always, infertility is involved.) and lots of unknowns — such as medical history and genetics.

Sometimes the adopted child may feel abandoned by the biological parents.

“I always knew I was adopted, that my birth mother hadn’t abandoned me, and that my parents had always wanted to adopt. I understood the difference between being born and being adopted at an early age,” noted Crowell. “I couldn’t have asked for any two more loving people as parents. They see me as their ‘miracle.’ I feel the same way about them.”

If, by the age of six, your adopted child wants a sibling, you might find he asks pregnant strangers if his mom can buy the baby when it’s born, noted County, or you might find your adopted children like to pretend they are your biological children.

How can you help your child understand the concepts of birth and adoption?

“When our cat was pregnant we used that as an opportunity to teach the kids the biological aspects of being pregnant and giving birth, and then finding adoptive homes for the kittens,” said County. It’s a great parallel.

Overprotection, in some cases, is an adopted or foster parent’s reaction to a lack of knowledge on the part of strangers, who not knowing any better, will say to a child ‘You’re so cute I could just take you home with me,’ or ‘You’re so adorable I wish you were mine!’

“Those are two statements that are offered as a compliment, but to a child who may have spent years in foster care and may have been ‘almost adopted’ two or three times, those statements are scary,” explained County.

“Ever since I was adopted at 31⁄2 months, people have been asking my parents questions about my adoption, such as if I would speak Korean or English when I learned to talk. A question asked when I was a teen in school was whether or not I was a foreign exchange student,” said Crowell. “That question bothered me a lot.”

Since children spend a good part of their day in school, communication between foster and adoptive parents and teachers can be critical to understanding the control issues of these children. “I feel that parents should actively work with school personnel to help them get to know their child and work as a team to develop the best plan for that child,” noted County. “Good achievement in school gives the child a feeling of success and accomplishment.”

In advocating adoption, Crowell offers some advice from her own experience. “I feel the best thing any parent can do is to be completely open with their adoptive children,” she stressed. “If they have a different ethnic background, don’t push that culture on them, as this makes them feel different and can lead to alienation in the family. Remember, your culture is also their culture. Let them be who they want to be with your guidance.”

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption awarded the annual Angels in Adoption award to the Countys last year in honor of their outstanding commitment to promoting adoption and making a difference in the lives of children and families through adoption. The award banquet was to be held on September 11, 2001. The Countys flew to Washington D.C. with all six children, but due to the devastating terrorist attacks, the banquet was canceled. County said, “I don’t need a pat on the back for what I’ve done. I feel that I am the one who has been given the greatest gift...my family.”

PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS

Some adopted children experience attachment issues and feel anger at being abandoned, and many adoptive parents find themselves falling in a trap as they try to protect their adopted children from any further possible hurt.

“Children who are adopted when they are older may remember crying and having no one come to pick them up and hold them. They may remember being hungry and having no one come to feed them,” County added, noting “They may have attachment issues because their needs were not being met.”

Awareness of being overly protective helps adoptive parents acknowledge they are holding themselves to unrealistically high parenting standards. When adopting through a state agency foster parent program, in addition to interviews, parents may receive letters as a way of reminding them that ‘although the children are living with you, they are not legally yours.’ This screening process, while appropriate, can add to the feeling of being scrutinized. “Adoptive parents can easily feel overwhelmed by constantly being judged on whether or not they are good parents,” said County.

“While they waited for me to arrive, my parents feared that their feelings for me would be different than for their biological daughter, but my mother tells me that her ‘mother’s instinct’ kicked right in when I was placed in her arms. She actually stripped me in the airport to make sure all my fingers and toes were there and to make sure I was Denise Scammon photo

This simple plaque at the County home makes a strong statement.

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6

Family

Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002

Saving a child’s life Nearly two years after a national recall to repair, hundreds of calls continue to pour into a national window-blind repair hotline.

Teens 15-18 need driver education

Several infants and toddlers still strangle in window cords every year, despite increased awareness of cord safety measures. Safety experts say that most cord strangulation incidents occur among children under the age of four. Infant deaths often involve window cords within reach of a child’s crib. Toddlers and older children frequently become entangled in the cords afKeep a close eye on kids when there is a ter climbing on beds or low-standing dangerous window situation. furniture placed near a window.

Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to check their blinds. Officials say the key to windowcord safety is to eliminate or severely reduce a child’s access to windows and cords by following these safety rules:

U Move all cribs and furniture as far away from windows as possible,

preferably against another wall U Install cord stops on horizontal blinds and mini-blinds to prevent inner-cord access U Secure all pull cords out of reach by using a cleat or permanent tiedown device U Eliminate looped pull cords on older (pre-1995) mini-blinds and shades by cutting the loop and attaching safety tassels to the pullcord ends

Protect kids by keeping cribs away from window treatments.

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WCSC offers parents and consumers free safety kits for childproofing corded window blinds, shades and draperies. Kits can be ordered through WCSC’s toll-free line at 1800-506-4636. Additional cord safety information and instructions can be found on the WCSC website at www.windowcoverings.org.

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Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002

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In this country, cars kill more teens than cancer, gang violence, suicide or drugs and alcohol combined. In 1995, more than 5,600 teens died in car crashes. A teen’s chances of dying in a car crash triple from ages 13 to 15 to ages 16-19. Being a teenager does not mean being reckless or irresponsible. It does mean teens are at increased risk of being involved in auto accidents. There is, however, good news that lessens those statistics. Teens can increase their chances of accident-free driving by taking charge and preparing to be a safe (not fast) driver.

Choosing the right school At age 15, teenagers can get their driver’s permit, provided they take a driver education course, and anyone from age 15-18 must take driver education. Choosing the right driving school can prepare teens for the challenges they will face daily as a responsible driver. So, how does a parent choose the right driving school?

Know what kind of license the school holds and how many instructors they employ. Commercial school vehicles and classrooms are inspected annually when the license comes up for renewal.

Types of driver education school licenses: 3 A Class A license entitles a school to employ Class A or Class B instructors or teachers to teach both the classroom and behindthe-wheel phases of driver educa-

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tion for passenger type vehicles (Class C vehicles).

3A Class B license entitles a school to employ Class A or Class B instructors or teachers and to teach only the behind-the-wheel phase of driver education for passenger type vehicles (Class C vehicles).

3A truck driver education endorsement to a Class A license entitles a school to employ only Class A instructors or teachers to teach classroom, behind-the-wheel, and range (off-street) driver education for commercial motor vehicles (Class A and/or Class B vehicles).

The Class A license means the instructors have had college courses in teaching methods and have had defensive driving and first-aid courses. Class A instructors can drive and teach. Class B instructors take eight hours of courses and can give only road instruction; they cannot teach.

According to Larry Caron, coowner of Roy’s Driving Academy in Lewiston, parents should do their homework.

“Parents should check out the reputation of a driving school before they sign their child up,” he advised. “Many times teens want to take their course with a school just because a friend is, and that may not be the wisest choice.”

The state sets a minimum on insurance, ($100,000 property damage; $100,000 personal injury or death of any one person; and $300,000 for personal injury or death of a number of persons. Combined single limit is $400,000) but it’s a good idea

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to carry more than that. What attitude does the school have? To get as many students in and out as possible?

“We believe we’re training teens to be safe drivers, not just drivers,” he added.

According to Caron, other facts to look at when choosing the right driving school would be how long the school has been in business and how long their employees have been there overall.

“Take a good look at the teach-

Keep these quick facts in mind: * Permit is good for 18 months. You must keep it at least 90 days before applying for a license. * You must driver with someone at least 20 who has held a license for at least two years. * A license at 16 is provisional for two years. (Any type of violation results in loss of license; after two years it becomes a regular license, with points taken off for violations.) * For 90 days you are not allowed to drive with other teens with the exception of family. * Any type of alcohol transportation (even with parent in car) will result in loss of teen’s license. * License will be taken for 60 days for the first violation. * Limiting the amount of night time driving helps keep inexperienced drivers off the road because of reduced visibility. According to Allstate’s “Teen Driver, Taking Charge,” 41 percent of motor vehicle deaths occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. *Limiting driving on Friday, Saturday and Sunday may help reduce risk of accident. More than half of teenage deaths occur on the weekends. *Try to keep four seconds between you and the vehicle before you. Tailgating is a stupid reason to get into a crash. *Always use seat belts. *Never drink and drive.

— Carlene Smart

ing location and the type of vehicles that are being used,” he added. “Many of today’s vehicles have new technology like anti-lock brakes and traction control. Students need to learn to drive in the newest vehicles possible.” Caron suggested cars be about 2 to 5 years old to give drivers the access to newer technology and safety.

Parents are required to sit in on a class. Parents can expect their teens to receive both classroom training and on the road driving experience. If the teen successfully completes the course, they will receive their learners permit. Parents should ask if the price for the permit is included in the price of the course. Some schools wait until after you’re enrolled before they tell you it’s not part of the fee.

Since teens are inexperienced drivers, Allstate Insurance recommends young drivers have more than just the 90 days and 35 hours (five hours after dark) of driving time. Dwight Hawkins, driving instructor for Roy’s Driving Academy said he’d really like to see teens have experience driving about 100 hours “in all fours seasons and in all types of weather.”

Parents should ask for a copy of the Driver Education curriculum and find out how their teen is performing in class. Allow your teen to get a license only when you believe the time is right; his or her life may depend on your judgment, not on their getting a license because everyone else is or because they’ve reached the right age.

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2

Family

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By Sonja Christiansen / Karuna Reiki Master Teacher The truth is we all have varying degrees of stress throughout our lives. There is good stress, like the kind of stress you feel when you are in love, striving for a purpose, finishing a project on time. Then there is the not so good stress; the kind you feel when you are depressed, scared or overworked.

Stress affects each of us differently. It’s another word for fear.

Fear of lack, fear of not being loved or accepted, fear of not doing or being good enough.

Take a moment to think about what you are feeling. Where does it feel tight? Do you have a headache? What does it mean to you when you say, “I’m stressed?” How do you feel? How do you react ? Slam doors? Drive fast? Go off for some quiet time?

Sleep? Have a drink? Yell at people?

What about the people around you? How do they react to stress? As you can see, the way people feel stress, how they react to what they feel and even what causes them to feel stressed is very individual.

Children feel stress as well as adults. Think back to your own childhood. When were you fearful? How did you react? Wet the bed, act out, cry, become quiet? How did the adults around help? How do you wish they would have helped? Be aware of changes of behavior in your children. Children often have a different view or understanding of the world around them. They may feel stressed and fearful about things you would never consider. Recognizing fear or stress reactions in your children or grandchildren is the first step in making them feel safe and helping them through their fear. You can teach your children many of the coping skills you use.

Sometimes when we are stressed, we worry so much about ourselves or our families that we make ourselves worse. This viscious cycle feeds on itself. It happens whether you are an adult or a kid. Having outside activities helps to get your mind off the things that are bothering you. When we get involved in other interests or in helping others we are able to let go of ourselves for a

Stressed?

while. It gives us a break, and we can return to our situation with new eyes and different feelings.

Stress management is not a workshop, seminar or magazine article. It is a balanced way of looking at yourself and your life on a day-to-day basis. Only you know what you need, and only you can make the changes required. Helping your children to learn good coping skills will benefit them through their entire lives.

One way that has been helpful is to make a list. Helping your children make lists or draw pictures of how they see stress or fear may also be a way you can help them deal with the stress in their lives.

Making lists can also help you clarify your personal values and the values of your family group. Being clear helps you to think about what is important in your life in the long run. It means thinking about your personal philosophy, your belief system and your morals. It means asking yourself what is most important in each area of your life. Clarifying your values means finding meaning in your life and in your daily activities. Then when you encounter stress circumstances you will see them as part of the larger picture of your entire life and will be able to cope with the situation more easily.

Make a list of the categories that are important in your life: business, financial, family, career, physical, emotional, spiritual, etc. Take some time alone and ask yourself what your needs are in these areas. This is hard work and will take some time to accomplish. You will realize as your life changes, the questions and answers will change also. As you develop and work with your list you will have a better understanding of who you are and how your feelings and reactions have an impact on yourself and others.

Once you become self-aware, you will then be able to make changes. Did you find you would feel better if you had more

Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002 sleep? How could you have that happen in your life? What changes could you make? What about your career/job? Did you find you need more money, a better sense of accomplishment? How can you have that happen? How about your family life? What works for you, what can you change?

Look into activities to help you and your family find the peace within — meditation, yoga, T’ai Chi, etc. These practices can be individual or family-based. You can find a teacher or go to your local library or book store for instruction books, tapes and videos. When you’re able to find the small quiet space within, you will be able to handle the stress in the your life as well as help your family find the balance in theirs.

Circumstances, relationships and time all slide into each other throughout our lives. Always fluid. Sometimes smooth and calm, sometimes raggedly running over rapids and waterfalls, but always moving. Stress acts like a dam holding back the river. Sometimes that’s OK, but sometimes it causes the river to overflow into destruction. Only by understanding the conditions surrounding the river, can we make a decision about how we can control the dam.

Tips to de-stress

1. Find quiet time to be alone everyday. Children of all ages benefit from quiet time as well.

2. Set your priorities around your needs and your family’s needs.

3. Exercise. Anything from walking to working out in a gym as well as taking classes in T’ai Chi or Qigong. All family members can join in these activities. Do what works for your lifestyle. The important thing is to do something.

4. Get enough sleep.

5. Eat healthy.

6. Remember that sometimes you can’t change the situation, you can only change your attitude about the situation.

Sonja Christiansen is a holistic health practitioner, instructor and stress management consultant with Healing Focus in Auburn.

Family 7

Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002

Child, parent should learn to live with demanding teacher

Q.

By JOHN ROSEMOND Knight Ridder Newspapers

As this nefarious, deconstructionist idea took hold in our culture, the idea that children were to obey adults mutated into the idea that adults were responsible for establishing a “positive working relationship” with children.

My request for a specific third-grade

This turns the relationship upside down. It puts adult authority figures in the position of trying to be liked by children, which makes them something other than people with

teacher for my son was ignored by the principal. The teacher to whom he was as-

them or not. I would not have dared tell my parents that a teacher didn’t like me, because

approach just doesn’t work with my son.

they would have immediately assumed I was doing something distinctly unlikable in the

The school year is not a month old, and an

teacher’s class. Today, it is likely that a child who complains that a teacher doesn’t like him

obvious personality conflict has developed between the two of them.

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will be taken at his word, and the teacher may well wind up on the hot seat.

In the real world, an adult must obey authority figures whether or not he or she likes

I’ve spoken to the principal, but she says my son is going to have to learn to take instructions from authority figures, whether he likes them or not. What

them. If he doesn’t like one of the authority figures in his life, he can cast an opposing vote, find a new job or move to a different community.

While he is free to disagree with that authority figure, he is not free to disobey. We

can I do?

adults have a responsibility to prepare children to be capable of making a successful ad-

You and I have a point-of-view conflict.

justment to the real world.

I’ll be blunt. It is simply not possible for a child to have a “personality conflict” with an

I think you ought to tell the teacher what I once told one of my daughter’s high school

adult who sits in a position of authority. Two adults can have a personality conflict. Two children can have a personality conflict. But a child and a teacher (or other adult authority figure) cannot. Period.

interests as well.

In the meantime, I suspect you need to put some effort into your son’s discipline at

be democratic. Gordon and others who followed him wrote and spoke of the “democratwere equals

will support your decisions, whether I agree with them or not. Moreover, I will insist that long-term interests (albeit she didn’t like it!), and that approach will be in your son’s best

child blurring over the past 40 or so years.

ic family” and the “democratic classroom.” The implication was that adults and children

teachers: “I don’t agree with how you handle some situations, but I’m here to tell you I Amy obey you, and there will be consequences if she doesn’t.” That was in Amy’s best

The idea that this is possible is new, a function of the distinction between adult and

“Parent Effectiveness Training,” promoted the idea that adult-child relationships should

“Because my aunt enjoyed Schooner and my mother-in-law still does, I felt confident recommending it to my mother. What a feeling I had when she told me recently that the past 3 years have been among the happiest years of her life.

Forty years ago, when I was 11, I was expected to obey my teachers whether I liked

signed is very demanding, and that sort of

In the 1960s, well-intentioned “experts” like psychologist Thomas Gordon, author of

“A daughter’s love for her mom”...

authority.

home. In all likelihood, what you’re describing is not so much a child who has some innate aversion to “demanding” adults, but rather a child who simply hasn’t learned to do what adults tell him to do.

(John Rosemond is a family psychologist in North Carolina.)

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50 Mollison Way • Lewiston • 783-1552 • Fax 207-782-2122

����� RONALD J. ��������� OUELLETTE ����������� 184 Webster St. Lewiston, ME 04240 ������������ (207) 786-3622

�� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� *Ronald J. Ouellette Registered Representative Securities offered through MWA Financial services, ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Modern Woodmen of America, 1701 1st Avenue, Rock Island, ��������������������������������� IL 61201, 309-558-3100. Member : NASD, SIPC

Are You Eating Yourself Sick?

Depression?

Obesity? Diabetes?

Arthritis? Fatique?

ADD? Migranes?

Fibromyalgia?

Call 783-9800

INFORMATIONAL MEETING NOVEMBER 19TH AT 7:30 Call for details

As seen on Channel 13 News

Early reading and writing skills a special focus 6:30 am to 5:30 pm full day childcare-sliding fee scale 3.5 hour Head Start preschool program is free for income eligible families Snacks and Lunch provided Call 795-4040, ext. 10 for more information www.geocities.com/hskids.geo 486 Turner Center Road

Step By Step Child Care Center Turner, Maine 04282 Tel: 225-3478 Fax: 225-2560 E-mail: haraumi@aol.com

Our program offers structured learning, mind growing activities and lots of fun for infants, toddlers, pre-school and school-aged children.

We are located in the Turner Primary School, making the transition from childcare to Kindergarten an easy one.

Center Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Business Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Monday - Friday

225-2072

Pre School Available - 8:30-11:15 am

•Learning & Enriching Environment •Licensed •First Aid/CPR Trained

SCHOOL AGE

We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.

Grades K-6th

Register now for fall Activity Based Program Swimming & Field Trips

Open for: Before School • After School 1/2 Day Wednesdays • Snow Days • Teacher Workshop Days • School Vacations For more information or to register call:

795-4095

YMCA

Transportation provided to & from all Auburn Schools.

8

Family

Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, November 10, 2002

Black Magenta Yellow Cyan

Nutrition and supplements can make a difference for life

By Donna Labbe ReLiv Key Director In today’s fast food, convenience-oriented society, 70 percent of us don’t eat the minimum daily intake of key nutrients, according to recent studies.

By depriving our bodies of these essential building blocks, we leave ourselves vulnerable to illness, disease and nagging fatigue.

In fact, science points to poor nutrition as the key factor in many of the critical diseases that plague us today. How bad is it? Well, in 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act acknowl-

www.sunjournal.com

edging a link between dietary supplements and reductions in various cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis and other chronic diseases.

Consider these statistics:* 3 80% of cancers are diet related 3 Two-thirds of death are caused by poor diet — including heart disease 3 80-90% of osteoarthritis can be attributed to obesity 3 95% of type II diabetes is caused by obesity 3 50% of us are suffering from B6 deficiencies, which can lead to fatigue and depression Clearly, when it comes to choosing the

E WE GROW HER

FAMILY CHILD CARE 14 6th Street, Auburn, ME 04210 Full time care for all ages.

Focusing on growth and development through every day experiences.

• Provider with education degree, and 11 years experience • Assisting staff person • All meals and snacks provided • Located in good neighborhood with a large play area.

Contact Linda Fisher 783-5922

CHILD CARE INFORMATION  Child Care Subsidy  Child Care Referrals  Information & Education for Communities & Businesses  Child Care Resource Library  Training & Resources for Child Care Providers

1 1⁄2 miles past Mardens www.pelletierskarate.com

786-3731

Studies of a variety of supplements purchased off the shelf at various outlets show some may include just a fraction of the active nutrient they advertise. Also, when starting a regimen of nutritional supplements, there is a question of how much is too much? Are the vitamins working together or against each other? It can be a guessing game with serious consequences, so do your homework!

For more information on nutrition and supplements, one may contact Donna Labbe at 7839800 or 946-5454. *Statistics have been gleaned from a variety of sources, including the American Cancer Society, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Basel in Switzerland.

Why you shouldn’t allow your children to smoke marijuana Some parents who saw marijuana being widely used in their youth have wondered, “Is marijuana really so bad for my child?”

The answer is an emphatic “yes,” and parents should familiarize themselves with these reasons: 3Marijuana is illegal.

3 Marijuana now exists in forms that are stronger - with higher levels of THC, the psychoactive ingredient - than in the 1960s. Studies show that someone who smokes five joints a week may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day.

PELLETIER’S KARATE Taylor Hill Rd., Lewiston

right foods, the majority of people — including children, men, women and seniors — make deadly decisions.

The good news is that research shows supplementation can substantially improve health by bridging the nutritional gap. According to Dr. Stephen Pheiffer, a family practitioner and member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Reliv, a food science company, “There is overwhelming evidence that supplementation can enhance the immune system... Food can cure what ails us and prevent diseases. A daily supplement is like low-cost health insurance.”

When looking for supplements, choose wisely. Not all deliver what they promise.

1-800-543-7008 Serving the Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties

FINDERS/SEEKERS CHILD CARE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER A Project of Community Concepts, Inc.

3Hanging around users of marijuana often means being exposed not only to other drugs later on, but also to a lifestyle that can include trouble in school, engaging in sexual activity while young, unintended pregnancy, difficulties with the law, and other problems.

3Marijuana use can slow down reaction time and distort perceptions. This can interfere with athletic performance, decrease a sense of danger, and increase risk of injury.

3 Regular marijuana users can lose the ability to concentrate that is needed to master important academic skills, and they can experience

Free To Be Me

FAMILY CHILDCARE & PRE-SCHOOL Debbie Bellemare (25 years exp.)

“A trusting and caring environment that allows children to be free to explore their interests.”

• Has Certificate Of Quality Care • Nationally Accredited

777-3357 CHILD HEALTH CENTER PRESCHOOLS “Improving the lives of children and families by providing the care, knowledge, skills and resources that help them achieve their goals in life.”

• Quality Licensed Preschool • Ages 1 1/2 through 5 • Exceptional Staff/Child Ratio • Caring, Experienced Staff • 2, 3, 4, and 5-Day Sessions • Each session = 2 1/2 hours • Mornings or Afternoons • Locations in Auburn and Norway

Call now for enrollment information.”

625 Court St., Auburn, ME

782-5437

199 Main St., Norway, ME

743-7035

short-term memory loss. Habitual marijuana users tend to do worse in school and are much more likely to drop out altogether.

3Teens who rely on marijuana as a chemical crutch and refuse to face the challenges of growing up never learn the emotional, psychological, and social lessons of adolescence. The research is not complete on the effects of marijuana on the developing brain and body For more information about the effects of drugs and how you can protect your children, call toll free for the free Consumer Information Catalog publication “Growing Up Drug Free” 1-888-878-3256.

Free guide offered to parents Each year, more than 58,000 children in the United States are abducted by non-family members. More than 200,000 children are abducted by family members who are seeking to interfere with a parent’s custodial rights. In the most dangerous type of abduction—stranger kidnapping— fully 40 percent of children are killed.

In an effort to protect children against these assaults, the U.S. Department of Education just released a new guidebook titled Personal Safety for Children: A Guide for Parents. With information that children of all ages can understand, the guide provides facts and figures on child abductions, tips for discussing safety, a list of approaches for staying safe, numbers to call during an emergency and additional resources for more help.

Personal Safety for Children: A Guide for Parents, available in both English and Spanish, is a publication of the Departments of Education and Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. For a copy, while supplies last, contact 1-8774ED-PUBS (433-7827), or visit ww Temple Shalom w.nochildleftbehind.gov/parents/ safety/index.html

NURSERY SCHOOL

74 Bradman St., Auburn, ME

8-1 Student Teacher Ratio Non-Sectarian Enrollment State License Ages 3 to 5

MORNING SESSIONS 2-3 & 5 Day Options 9:00 to 12:00 Noon Extended Hours. M-W-F 8 am to 2 pm

For more information, call 786-4201

South Lewiston Child Care Center Serving families in Lewiston/ Auburn area for over 30 years!

• Open All Year • Fully Licensed/Insured • Quality Care with a Christian Emphasis • Pre-School Program ages 21⁄2-5 • Before and After School Care • Summer Camp Program ages 6-10 • Fun, Educational and Safe

Call 784-2526

Advertising Supplement Sunday, November 10, 2002

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