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SEPTEMBER 2018 | FREE suburbanparent.com
inform | educate | inspire TM
FORT WORTH | ARLINGTON | MID-CITIES
Tips for Keeping Your Middle Schooler
the everything back to education school issue
ORGANIZED
I’m Not Who I Thought I’d Be at
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Do Nothing Day
Why is play-based learning so powerful?
Go ahead and Pamper Yourself
See what's on Our BookShelf
Encouraging children to think abstractly and uniquely.
Now that the kids are back in school, it’s time for moms to take care of themselves!
Inspiring reads for Moms who need a pick-me-up.
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ARLINGTON’S CHOICE FOR FAMILY DENTISTRY
Kellie Johnson, Welcoming New Patients! Dr. Kellie Johnson, DDS has an extensive background in dental medicine and is a member of the following dental organizations: •
Alpha Kappa Alpha
•
American Dental Association
•
National Dental Association
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Texas Association of Women Dentists
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Academy of General Dentists
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Texas Dental Association
DDS
Together with her talented staff, Dr. Johnson builds beautiful smiles for all ages. When visiting her office, you will find state-of-the-art treatment in a relaxed, caring, and comfortable atmosphere. •
Offering many facets of dentistry including: Family, General, Pediatric, Surgical and Cosmetic Dentistry
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Most PPO Insurance, CHIP and Medicaid are accepted
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Payment plans available for extensive dental procedures and non-insured patients
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Accepts most credit cards, care credit and capital one
KELLIE JOHNSON, DDS 3900 Arlington Highlands Blvd. Suite #245 Arlington, TX 76018
817-466-8383
www.happysmilesdentistry.com
maryshares PUBLISHER/EDITOR
M
any of you may want to know about what has been happening in the lives of my family. My mother is dying, and dealing with a dying parent is hard to understand until you are thrust into the inevitable situation.
While I hesitated to actually share this information with you all, I ultimately de-
Mary Ellen Caldwell, RD, LD, CLT editor@suburbanparent.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Renée Higgins renee@suburbanparent.com
COPY EDITOR
cided I should. For my readers who may also have terminally ill or ailing parents,
Francie Morin
please know my heart is with you, even if I don’t personally know you. Life does
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
not come with a handbook for dying parents. My siblings and I sure wish it did. I do suggest that you take time, cherish those final years, or months, or weeks, but realize it probably won’t be picture perfect at the end. My mother has not passed yet as I write this, and she has the strength of an Ox, and we have to watch her while she sneakily tries to get out of bed. She can’t feel her feet, so this would be detrimental. She also pretends to be sleeping so she can hear our conversations. We sometimes say something that may make her laugh; just so she knows we are on to her! I can’t say there is an answer to how a child becomes parent and parent becomes child. I read somewhere it’s like a birth process gone backwards. I will recommend that you talk to your loved ones. Ask questions now about how they would want to be managed, when they can’t manage themselves. Questions like; “When you are too sick to speak for yourself, who do you want to speak
Christa Melnyk Hines Kathryn Streeter
CALENDAR EDITOR Paula Leonard
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Misty Stagnone Photography mistystagnonephotography.com
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for you.” Have a plan ready. With myself and my three other siblings there are a lot
Francie Morin francie@suburbanparent.com
of voices! But somehow we have been able to recognize what matters most.
ACCOUNTING
“Mom, you matter because you are you, and you’ll matter to the last moment of your life.” We will be following the plan she prepared for us. Hmmm, we are still trying to figure out how to get a “Boys’ Choir” similar to the recent Royal Wedding, for her High Mass at her favorite Catholic Church. Yep, that’s in the plan!
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MEET OUR COVER KID ... Jay, 5 years Jay is a superstar! He can sing, dance and play soccer. He’s a super big brother too to his little sisters Amelia (3) and Annabelle (2). He knows when it’s time to shake things up and when it’s time to be gentle. He enjoys watching Netflix, loves to learn new things and hopes to be on the Disney Channel someday.
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Suburban Parent and Irving Parent are registered trademarks. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit all submissions due to space. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission is prohibited.
shouldknow
less injuries
working out when sick
As parents, we naturally worry about injuries to our adolescent athletes, but is there anything we can do to help prevent them?
DO NADA
September means schedules are back in full swing. School, sports, music lessons, dance classes, the list goes on. And while we’re 100% on board with how important extracurricular activities are, sometimes you just need downtime. That’s why we love the idea of a Do Nothing Day. Pick a Saturday or Sunday and stay home. Don’t do chores; don’t run errands. Don’t even change out of your PJ’s if you don’t want to. Just be together. Sounds easy enough, but it’s not for us moms who think we have to “do” for our kids all the time. But, if you can pull it off, you’ll be pleased at how well rested, relaxed and connected you feel as a family at the end of the day. Gifted is a term, not a goal for your child. Whether they have been labeled gifted or not, help your child keep a healthy perspective on grades. Sky-high expectations can be difficult to maintain and “giftedness” shouldn’t be used as a motivator. If your child is actually identified as gifted, beware of their drive to be perfect in all areas of their life. Perfectionism is time consuming and tiring. It can even cause abdominal pain and eating disorders. Watch for burnout too as striving to stay on top can cause stress and overtiredness which leads to low quality sleep, illness and trouble in school. Well, yes. Make sure our athletes get enough sleep. A study presented to the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that adolescent athletes who got eight or more hours of sleep per night were much less likely to be injured than athletes who slept less. Other than grade level, no other factor was significantly associated with injury including gender, number of sports played, sport specialization, and hours per week or weeks per year of participating.
Regular moderate exercise 3-4 times per week can boost your body’s defenses against illness, but what happens when you do get sick? Should you continue to work out? If your symptoms are above the neck (i.e. cold or sore throat), sure. But if they’re below the neck (i.e. upset stomach, aches, or cough), then no. Either way, listen to your body and don’t overextend yourself. Take your morning run down to an easy jog or walk. A high intensity or long workout could make things worse. And if you just don’t feel up to it, then don’t do it. If you have a fever, definitely take the day off. As you feel better, ease back into your regular workout routine.
thechixsite.com
lunch kabobs
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Put kabobs in your kid’s lunchbox and they’ll win best lunch at the lunch table. They might actually eat it too! For Turkey Burger Kabobs, layer turkey meatballs, Monterey Jack, pickles, lettuce and tomato. Yum! For Pizza Kabobs, layer Mozzarella cheese with tomatoes, olives, basil, pepperoni, and bell pepper. For a PBJ Kabob, layer small sandwich squares with fruit in between. Fruit Kabobs are always great too with strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, pineapple and grapes. Include some sauces to dip these in (like BBQ, pesto, marinara, or yogurt) and they’re even better. Why is food on a stick so fun?
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2015
questions
q&a Diana, mom of 2 Q. My son, Nick loved his teacher and class last year, but hasn’t connected this year. A. For our kids, having a new teacher (or teachers) every fall is similar to us getting a new boss and being on a new team once a year. The most helpful thing you, as Nick’s mom, can do is listen to his concerns and respond empathetically. “She’s not funny like Ms. Crystal.” (You miss laughing.) “There’s no comfortable place for reading.” (Those soft couches were nice.) Ray sits on the other side of the room. (It’s hard to be separated.) “Recess is after lunch.” (That’s a bummer, you like a break in the morning.) “There are too many rules” (It’s hard to know what to do all the time.) Empathy goes a long way in Nick feeling understood by you, especially because you can’t change his class. JoAnn Schauf | yourtweenandyou.com
Carla, mom of 2 Q. Why is play-based learning so powerful? A. Play-based learning stems from a joyful learning experience that is packed with stimulation, tenacity, engagement, and meaning. An authentic play-based environment is also an academic environment. Schools that incorporate play-based learning encourage children to engage with peers in stimulating opportunities of imagination and creativity, which encourages children to think abstractly and uniquely. Children use the art of playing to connect with experiences that are meaningful in the context of their world. When children participate in unstructured play where they use multiple methods to seek solutions, they develop tenacity, perseverance and problem-solving abilities. It also develops their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical abilities, which are all attributes that make up the foundations for future success. Play-based learning can be a transformative experience because, at the end of the day, play is their work. Julie Grebe, Director | Parker-Chase Preschool – Carrollton Campus
Jennie, mom of 3 Q. Each school year brings issues I don’t always know how to address as a parent. What help should I expect from my local church? A. You’re right; parenting in our rapidly shifting culture is a tough job! Somewhere along the line churches got labeled as irrelevant by many, and that is a shame. Throughout the Metroplex there are solid churches that want to partner with you as the parent in equipping your student to not only survive, but thrive, both in school and well into adulthood. Look for a church with an intentional spiritual development strategy that expresses a desire to partner with you as the parent, and with leaders who are well equipped to connect with and to invest in your kids. Praying an awesome school year ahead for you and your family! Eric Estes, Community Pastor | 121 Community Church
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VERONICA, MOM OF 1
ASKS...
What should I do to make sure my child is nutritionally prepared for school? A. Research shows breaking an overnight fast with a balanced meal can make a major difference in overall health and well-being, especially for children and teens. Eating a smart breakfast can help improve behavior and school performance. On the other hand, skipping breakfast is a no-brainer, quite literally. When children skip breakfast, their brains and bodies suffer all day long. Get your kids started on the nutrition fast track to a high-energy, health-smart day with tasty, filling breakfast options. Visit EatRight.org for more information
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Does your child miss the public school birthday cut off? Come see our accelerated Pre-K & Private Kindergarten. Experience the true Montessori difference, a proven success with development for over 100 years.
www.nrhmontessori.com
TOUR OUR CAMPUS FROM 9:30 -11:30 AM DAILY
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CHARM HER Sending your daughter off to college? Invest in a Me & You gift! A piece of jewelry you can both appreciate. One for you and one for her! This season, Chamilia, a Swarovski company, released 12 new “Birthstone Galaxy charms. This collection is made with the fine jewelry standard of Swarovski! Don’t miss out on a Me & You gift idea! www.
1 Self Therapy Dough by Pinch Me
3 Home Sweet Home!
We know, it may be hard if you are dropping of your child for the first time! Keep this scent-infused therapy dough with you; it just takes a squeeze to help you relax and recalibrate. It’s a sensorial experience packed in a tin so you can de-stress anywhere you go. We found this at www.thegrommet.com.
It’s like your home is glad to see you, each time you come home to home. The natural coir fibers are inserted into an all-weather vinyl backing for lasting endurance. The mats are stain, rot and mildew resistant, and easily cleaned with a good shaking or vacuuming. 18”x30”. We found it on etsy at www.skytoseacreativeco. $40.00
2 Need a Beauty Boost? Try an Internal Beauty Booster that can nourish your skin from within. PUR attitude has a nice Rest, Relax & Renew Supplement that delivers 1,000 mg of three different molecular weights of Hyaluronic Acid. (HA) is in almost every cell of our body and is essential for our body to function properly – like keeping the skin hydrated. Use as a dietary supplement 20 minutes before bed. Make sure to consult your doctor if under the age of 18. www. purattitude.com, $39.00
4 Weighted Sleep Therapy with nodpod! Self-care is an important factor in your daily routine. Don’t let it be put on the back burner due to busy schedules! With September being National Self-Care Awareness month, now is the time to start focusing on yourself. A good night’s sleep helps to feel rejuvenated for the day ahead. Enjoy the gentle pressure from the microbead filled eye pillow. Find it at: www.nodpod.com, $25.00
chamilia.com, $45.00
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Enter for a chance to win @ suburbanparent.com
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bookshelf
inspiring reads for Moms Who Need a Pick-Me-Up
Imperfect Courage Hand Wash Cold
Present Over Perfect
It’s easy to think that meaning, fulfillment, and bliss are “out there,” somewhere outside of our daily routine. But in this playful yet profound reflection on awareness, the compelling voice of a contemporary woman reveals the happiness at the bottom of the laundry basket, the love in the kitchen sink, and the peace possible in one’s own backyard. Follow Karen Maezen Miller through youthful ambition and self-absorption, beyond a broken marriage, and into the steady calm of a socalled ordinary life. Read along as she discovers it’s the little things - even the unexpected, unpleasant, and unwanted things that count.
This book leads us to concentrate on what is truly important. Leave the dishes, the cat litter, the laundry…. It will be there and eventually it will get done. Shauna Niequist leads us to her very own personal experiences overcoming an overwrought life filled with busyness, stress, and feelings of inadequacy. Niequist came to the realization that she has been missing out on the beauty of everyday life with her husband and children, recognizing that she needs to slow down, simplify and learn how to say no to demands on her time. Hey readers, you may learn a lot from this insightful, soulful way of living.
Karen Maezen Miller For Adult readers
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The Gift of Another Ordinary Day An intimate memoir of a family in transition-boys becoming teenagers, careers ending and new ones opening up. It is a story of mid-life longings and discoveries, of lessons learned in the search for home and a new sense of purpose, and the bittersweet intensity of life with teenagers. Poised on the threshold between family life as she’s always known it and her older son’s departure for college, Kenison is surprised to find that the times she treasures most are the ordinary, unremarkable moments of everyday life. Katrina Kenison For Adult readers
Shauna Niequist For Adult readers
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A social entrepreneur, adoptive mother, and the 2017 winner of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, Jessica is bringing her tales of global connection, motherhood, entrepreneurism and women’s empowerment to cities across the US. Noonday Collection Founder Jessica Honegger tells the whole Noonday story as it’s never been heard before--and leads the reader on a journey to discover their own imperfect courage. The perfect read for anyone who has ever had a big dream, but needed a little push to get out of their comfort zone and go scared! Jessica Honegger
for adult readers
Keeping Your Middle Schooler
rganized H
ey, Moms! When your son or daughter starts middle school this fall, teachers will expect them and their classmates to manage homework, school supplies and activities without the same oversight they experienced in elementary school. Set your tween up for success in a way that supports their growing independence. This is the time to let go and hope that you have taught your child how to stay organized. Of course, continue to offer guidance as your tween chooses organizational systems and colorful supplies that motivate them-all while staying on budget. Many moms have said that the dollar store is their favorite place. They have tons of bins and organizational things that you can buy and not bust your bank.
GET ORGANIZED
CHOOSE A CALENDAR
Organization is a learned and essential life skill. Mismanaged materials result in needless stress, time-wasted tracking down lost items and poor grades. “When kids get into the habit of organizing, they’re developing valuable planning and critical-thinking skills that will help them become better problem solvers and creative thinkers,” says professional organizer Shawna Childers.
Between school, extracurricular activities and a budding social life, busy middle schoolers can get overwhelmed. Select a cool calendar with your tween that she can fill out each week to help her visualize and prioritize her time.
ACCESSORIZE THEIR LOCKER
REMEMBER HOMEWORK
Writing to-do lists and filling out assignment pads helps kids keep track of homework. If teachers permit, your tween might also snap photos of assignments posted on the board with their phone. Mikita Burton, a mom of three, and professional organizer, took advantage of technology to help her son remember homework materials. “Most teachers now have ‘web backpacks’ where parents
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can also see the assignment. I used the technology that our kids are now accustomed to and added assignments to his cell phone,” she says. “I set reminders and they would ping five minutes after the dismissal bell in hopes that by the time he got to his locker, he’d be reminded of the assignment and bring the correct book home.”
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Prevent a locker from becoming a jumble of books, smashed papers and supplies. “A locker shelf should be your first purchase,” Burton advises. Discount stores sell baskets that can be flipped on the side to create an inexpensive locker shelf or purchase a shelf at area office supply stores. Hang magnetic baskets on the lockers inside door to house extra pens and pencils. Kids generally love choosing personalized accessories to customize their temporary space. “Fun decorations on the inside encourage kids to keep it clean,” Burton says.
BY CHRISTA MELNYK HINES
TOSS CLUTTER
“A great way to stay organized for the entire school year is to re-organize their binders, notebooks and folders quarterly,” Childers says. “It works well to do this ‘clean out and refresh’ after each report card.”
ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE
MANAGE BACKPACKS
Simplify filing and retrieving of materials stashed in backpacks with color-coordinated folders and notebooks for each school subject. Get your child in the habit of cleaning out his backpack weekly to manage the balled-up papers, broken pencils and other trash that inevitably collect.
As long as your tween completes their work and earns good grades, you should be comfortable with whatever kind of organization system your tween implements. Late assignments and poor grades will mean more oversight from mom, which typically doesn’t excite an independence-driven middle schooler. “Letting your child fail a bit is hard as a parent, but I’ve found sometimes that’s what we need to do to help them learn,” says Childers.
CREATE A HOMEWORK STATION
Together, design and organize a functional, distraction-free homework space and stock it with necessary supplies. “Every kid should have what I call a landing station-a place in their room or common area to land all of their stuff,” Burton says.
Each afternoon, Burton’s son stows his backpack in a large round plastic tub on the floor. He files paperwork that needs to be signed or reviewed by his mom in a hanging file folder box positioned above the tub. A small night stand holds his school-issued laptop and serves as a charging station.
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BY KATHRYN STREETER
‘m in my 40th year of life, and today I sat for most of the morning at the kitchen table working on my sevenyear-old son’s model Porsche, a beautiful blue Boxster—at least that’s what the picture shows on the box. School is out and he and his older sister have asked: “Mom, are you going to be using the kitchen?” “Well, noooo,” I answer cautiously. Turns out that today is Car Day and the chosen venue is the kitchen. My son has decided that he’s not waiting for the weekend when Dad can help him put his new model car together. He’s emptied the contents all over the table before I realize what’s happening. Forget my personal ambitions for the day; my to-do list will have to wait. My son cheers me on as I painstakingly follow the instructions to assemble the Porsche. Then he deserts me, running off to continue a game with his sister that involves toy cars of every kind imaginable, unearthed from their hiding places around the house and now all over the kitchen floor. Unbelievable. It reminds me of games they played as three and five-year-olds. But apparently that stage isn’t over, even though they have long aged out of it. Honestly, assembling model cars is not my forte. The little tiny pieces, the absurd directions with drawings that don’t match up to the pieces I’ve neatly laid out on the table, the pre-drilled holes that aren’t big enough, the wimpy, poorly manufactured screws—so little and easily lost—all are mind-boggling “Oh no!” A rebellious screw goes ping, ping, ping down onto the wood floor and immediately becomes invisible. The kids let out a sigh of dismay: “Moooom!” I lamely remind them that it wasn’t my idea to dive into the Porsche project; normally, this is Dad-duty. We all scramble over the floor, brushing aside dust-bunnies and cracker crumbs until we rescue the all-important screw.
But, screw it. This is my life at 40, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. These little voices begging me to stop working on the computer (“You love the computer more than us!”) so that I can witness some new skit they have for me. Or a newly constructed house—which resembles a Dr. Seuss creation—carefully made out of three deserted shoeboxes for their pipe-cleaner people. Or the snake of cars winding through chair legs in the kitchen. I used to think I’d be an amazing sophisticate when I turned 40, probably too busy to put together a model car for my son. Don’t be too harsh. Forty sounded so out there—I imagined I would be this better-spoken, better-occupied, better-disciplined, better-dressed woman. By 40, I’d actually feel a daily sense of accomplishment, enjoying a life where I was leading the agenda, not reacting to strawberry jam stains on my daughter’s favorite white shirt that needs to be perfect for school tomorrow. Strict work time carved out for writing great stories, captivating articles. Shouldn’t you find yourself concentrating on things of weighty significance by 40? “Mom! We have eighty-eight cars. With the Porsche we have eighty-nine!” my daughter shouts triumphantly. How the heck can one family have so many cars? Clearly, I wasn’t entirely right about how age changes a person’s life. The scene of the 89 cars in the kitchen says so. There’s quite a lot going on as I hit this milestone birthday, and much of it is sweetly familiar. It’s good to discover that for now, time mercifully allows change to happen less drastically than I’d imagined. I’m glad I’m sitting here in jeans. After all, I’m dressed appropriately for concentrating on things of weighty significance—the kids, and yes, the model car. A sense of accomplishment? You bet. My little clients are happy, even if I couldn’t get the darn headlights attached.
Kathryn Streeter’s writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Week, Austin Amercan-Stateman and elsewhere. Find her on Twitter, @streeterkathryn.
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timeout
community calendar | september 2018
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1 | SATURDAY
4 | TUESDAY
Jurassic Park in Concert
Oklahoma!
7:30-9:30pm Featuring groundbreaking special effects, the action-packed adventure of Jurassic Park pits man against prehistoric predators. Tickets from $36. Through Sept. 2. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St, Dallas www. mydso.com
2 | SUNDAY Group Dynamix - Adventure Sundays
2-6pm Every first Sunday of the month, play on the largest indoor ropes course in Texas. There’s Blacklight Dodgeball, BowTag, Climbing Trees, Gaga ball and more! For ages 12 and up. $33. 1100 Venture Ct #120, Carrollton www. groupdynamix.com
3 | MONDAY Labor Day Pool Party
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12-6pm The Texas Pool Labor Day Party is all about food, pool games and fun. There is a snack bar, but coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome. Tickets start at $10. Texas Pool, 901 Springbrook Dr, Plano www. texaspool.org
7:30-9:30pm Set in a Western Indian territory just after the turn of the century, the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background for a love story. Tickets from $22 for adults and $10 for children age 12 and younger. Through September 29. Artisan Center Theater, 444 E Pipeline Rd, Hurst www.artisanct.com
5 | WEDNESDAY Texas Rangers vs. Angels
7-10:30pm Come cheer on the Texas Rangers and enjoy dollar hot dog night! Tickets start at $17 and can be purchased online. 1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington www.www. mlb.com/rangers/tickets/promotions
6 | THURSDAY JumpstART Stories & Art— Jump into Fall!
10-11am Meet at the Irving Arts Center for stories and art! Create a take-home art project and then browse the galleries with your kids as part
of this fun and free morning activity. All supplies provided. This month’s theme: Jump into Fall! Apples, pumpkins, falling leaves! For age 2 and older. Free. 3333 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving www.irvingartscenter.com
7 | FRIDAY Beau Jest
7-9pm Lovely Jewish parents asked their charming Jewish daughter to bring home the beau she has been dating for months. But wait! He’s not Jewish – so she hires an actor to play the Jewish boyfriend to please her folks. $22. Artisan Center Theater, 444 E Pipeline Rd www.artisanct.com
8 | SATURDAY Open Auditions for The Nutcracker
10-10:45am Dancers age 5. 11am-12pm Dancers ages 6-8. 12:15-1:15pm Dancers ages 9-12. 1:30-2:30pm Dancers ages 13+. $10 Audition fee. Performance dates are Dec 1 and 2. Audition Location: North Central Ballet, 12077 Katy Rd, Ste 713, Keller, 817428-8232, www.northcentralballet.com
Luna
Andrew
Avery
15 on Aug. 13
4 on Aug. 28
2 on Sept. 16
UPLOAD YOUR BIRTHDAY KIDS PICTURE @ suburbanparent.com Submit by 10th of the month PRIOR to their birthday.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
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timeout Operation Kindness 25th Annual Dog Day Afternoon
10am-1pm Highlights include, Best K9 Costume, Stupid Pet Tricks and Best Pooch Smooch contests with prizes. There’s a Mutt Midway and dozens of pet-friendly vendors, plus free microchipping for the first 100 dogs. Free. 3201 Earhart Drive, Carrollton www.support.operationkindness.org/site/Calendar/1617683945?view=Detail&id=101845
2018 Dallas Chocolate Festival: The Future of Chocolate
11am-5pm The three-day festival brings in over 70 chocolate makers and chocolatiers from around the world and locally. Check the website for more information. $35 for adults, $5 for children 10 and under. Fashion Industry Galleries, 1807 Ross Avenue, Dallas www.dallaschocolate.org
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9 | SUNDAY Second Sunday Family Funday—Paint It!
1-4pm Parents and children have projects they can co-create. This month’s theme: Paint It! Grab a paintbrush and go with the flow to create colorful compositions. Free. 3333 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving www.irvingartscenter. com/event/2nd-sunday-family-funday-2018-09-09
10 | MONDAY Dallas Farmers Market
11am-7pm Come visit the 26,000 square foot food hall and artisanal vendor market containing four anchor restaurants, a mixture of local specialty foods, artisanal food vendors, and seating areas both inside and out. Open daily. 920 S Harwood, Dallas www.dallasfarmersmarket.org
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SEPTEMBER 2018
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timeout 11 | TUESDAY InterSkate Bargain Night
5-9pm Every Tuesday evening is Bargain Night! 1408 Texas 121 Business, Lewisville www.interskate.net
12 | WEDNESDAY First Ladies – Style of Influence
9am-5pm This exhibit examines how the role of the first lady has evolved over time. Tickets start at $13. Through Oct. 1. George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, 2943 SMU Boulevard, Dallas www.bushcenter.org
13 | THURSDAY 32nd Annual Grapefest
10am-10:30pm Come out to Grapevine September 13-16, 2018 for the 32nd Annual GrapeFest. The festival is Free on opening day, Sept. 13, and
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Free through 5pm on Sept. 14. Main St., Grapevine www. GrapeFest.com
14 | FRIDAY Native American Pow Wow
10am-10pm Come experience colorful tribal dance contests, an arts & crafts show, tipis, honoring ceremonies and singing. Free. Traders Village, 2602 Mayfield Rd, Grand Prairie www.tradersvillage.com
15 | SATURDAY Open House at North Richland Hills Montessori
10am-2pm. 8725 North Tarrant Pkwy, North Richland Hills 817-281-9992 www.nrhmontessori.com. See ad in this issue.
Spanish Conversation Class
10-11am Intermediate class for those who have some knowledge of Spanish. Free. Fort Worth Central Library, 500
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SEPTEMBER 2018
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timeout W. Third St., Fort Worth www. fortworthtexas.gov/library/ branches/central
16 | SUNDAY Dallas Cowboys vs. NY Giants - Season Home Opener
7- 10pm The Cowboys meet the New York Giants in the at home season opener. General Admission (standing room only), $40. 1 AT&T Way, Arlington www.attstadium.com
18 | TUESDAY Baby Story Time
10-10:30am For ages 6 weeks to 1. Includes songs, rhymes, a story and free play. Free. Southlake Public Library, 1400 Main Street #130, Southlake www.cityofsouthlake.com
19 | WEDNESDAY Parenting The Love & Logic Way
6:45pm. Join us for six Wednesdays and learn how
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to raise self-confident, motivated children who are ready for the real world. $10. 121cc. com/loveandlogic. See ad in this issue.
20 | THURSDAY Addison Oktoberfest
6-11pm With incredible German culinary fare, the festival also includes a Marketplace, music, and kid-friendly options like rides, midway and games. Through Sept. 23. Tickets start at $10. 4970 Addison Cir, Addison www.addisonoktoberfest.com
21 | FRIDAY Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden Fifth Anniversary
9am-5pm Come celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Children’s Adventure Garden with a birthday party and other festive events. The festivities coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month with the first-ever quinceañera fashion show,
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timeout both taking place on Sept. 22. Free with general admission: Through Sept. 23. 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas www.dallasarboretum.org/cag
22 | SATURDAY Girls in Aviation Day Dallas
10am-2pm The North Texas Chapter of Women in Aviation International (WAI) will be hosting its fourth annual Girls in Aviation Day - a program designed to introduce girls to the possibilities of a career in aviation. Girls ages 8 to 16. Free. 6911 Lemmon Ave, Dallas www.flightmuseum.com
23 | SUNDAY Treasure Island Reimagined
1:30-3:30pm Step into a world of dramatic sword fights, thrilling acrobatics, and magical shadow puppetry. Costumes encouraged. Based on the book by Robert Louis Steven-
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SEPTEMBER 2018 Let our advertisers know you found them in Suburban Parent
son. Tickets start at $26. Dallas Children’s Theatre, 5938 Skillman St, Dallas www.dct.org
24 | MONDAY Space Mission at LEGOLAND Discovery Center
10am-6pm Reach a new altitude of fun with Space Mission at LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Free with paid admission. Through the end of 2018. 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, Grapevine www.dallasfw.legolanddiscoverycenter.com
25 | TUESDAY Baby Story Time
10-10:30am This caregiver and child story time is interactive and best for ages 6 weeks to 1 year. It includes songs, rhymes, a story and free play. Free. Southlake Public Library, 1400 Main Street # 130, Southlake www. cityofsouthlake.com/544/Kids
Light of the World PreSchool and Kindergarten
Light of the World School offers a developmental, Christ-centered program using an intergrated curriculum. TEKS Aligned Letterland ■ Handwriting Without Tears ■ Frog Street Press Phonics ■ Science ■ Math Their Way ■ Social Studies ■ Health Education ■ Chapel ■ Music ■ P.E. ■ Spanish ■ ■
Classes for 2’s, 3’s (PK 1), 4’s (PK 2) and Kindergarten Classes 2-5 days/week Low Student/Teacher Ratio 8750 N. Riverside Drive • Keller, TX 76244 817.750.0442 • www.lotwchurch.org
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timeout 26 | WEDNESDAY ARTS & CRAFTS: Kids Story and Craft Time
10:30-11:30am Come to the Whole Foods Market each Wednesday for stories, crafts and healthy snacks at the Highland Village store’s kids area near the cafe. Kids ages 2–6 with an adult. Free. 4041 Waller Creek, Highland Village www.wholefoodsmarket.com
27 | THURSDAY Oktoberfest – Fort Worth
5-11pm Oktoberfest returns to Panther Island Pavilion for an authentic German celebration. There will be dachshund races, chicken dancing, stein hoisting, bier barrel rolling races and Bavarian dancing. Thursday tickets are $5; $10 on Friday and Saturday. 395 Purcey St, Fort Worth www. oktoberfestfw.com
28 | FRIDAY State Fair of Texas Opens
Save big with a Family 4-Pack. Get 4 General Admission tickets plus $50 in food and ride coupons for just $100. BIGTEX. COM. See ad in this issue.
29 | SATURDAY La Pulguita: Art Mercado
12-5pm Celebrating Latino artists/artisans at the Latino Cultural Center.Free. 2600 Live Oak St, Dallas. www.facebook.com/ events/263262104270447
30 | SUNDAY Allen Bridal Show
12-5pm Representatives from 100+ wedding-related businesses will be there. Tickets start at $10. Allen Event Center, 200 E Stacy Rd, Allen www.alleneventcenter.com
Please note: Although we strive to bring you the most current information available regarding event dates & times, confirming with the event venue before going is always a good idea.
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wholesomeending
pampering you! Now that the kids are back in school, it’s time for moms to take care of themselves!
First day of school tears?
Setting aside nurturing time for a facial, massage or simply time to relax at home is very important to keep yourself healthy. We know you want to be the best you can be for your family; so when you find yourself feeling run down or stressed, make sure to schedule in a time for “self-pampering!” And for working moms, maybe schedule a personal day – you deserve some alone time and self-pampering at home.
Lingering until your
After School (drop-off) Enrichment for moms
providers to assume
An at home Spa Day would not be complete without a long soak in a hot bath! Bath bombs or fizzies are the perfect addition to your bath. Why spend money on expensive bath bombs when you can make them yourself? Get the how to at www. somethingturquoise.com
self-pampering; you
child stops crying sends her mixed signals. Go ahead and reassure her – maybe introduce her to another child her age. No one else can comfort your child better than you, but in this case, allow the teachers and child care that role. So, go home and start your personal deserve it.
Go Coconuts! This natural source of vitamin E can promote and repair your skin. Did you know you could use coconut oil while shaving? Simply bring your jar of coconut oil into the shower. The heat will melt the solid oil – then pour a small amount into your palms and smooth in any area (even sensitive bikini areas) you want to shave.
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tip Repair dull yellow nails with sliced lemon and cucumber in a bowl of cool water. Soak hands for ten minutes. Use an orange stick to push back cuticles.
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