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Reporter Nancy Churnin covers healthy families. Join in the conversation on this blog and share how you keep your family strong. March 2010
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Dallas Museum of Art Autism Awareness Day Family Celebration Healthy snacks for the mind, body & soul My neck-up check-up at UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth To quit or not to quit: When piano and other lessons become chores Tips on working from home (with three little ones): life is but a dream Twin talk with Abigail Pogrebin, author of 'One and the Same' Love, work, and lots of smiles! (& a new Dallas Moms book club selection) Recent Comments
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March 3, 2010
Living with a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a challenge, to say the very least. "Simple" things like going out for dinner, attending a fundraiser at your child's school or taking a family outing to the zoo or a museum requires a great deal of planning and endless patience. Countless times my husband and I have left such events and/or outings feeling frustrated, tired and even insufficient as Ethan's parents. Just this past weekend, my husband left the annual PTA fundraiser at Ethan's school feeling deflated and frustrated after Ethan became over-excited and had difficulty following directions (while I was busy volunteering in another part of the event). Ethan lives with Asperger's Syndrome (which is categorized as an ASD) and Sensory Processing Disorder. We know that when Ethan becomes over-stimulated he sometimes "bothers" other people at events. As such, we work very hard to teach him to get personal satisfaction from activities without infringing on other's enjoyment; but, quite frankly, it can be downright exhausting and dispiriting. PHOTO: Leigh and her family are looking forward to going to the Dallas Museum of Art,for their free Autism Awareness Day Family Celebration
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The entry "Dallas Museum of Art Autism Awareness Day Family Celebration" is tagged: Asperger's Syndrome , Autism Awareness , Autism Awareness Day Family Celebration , Autism Awareness Month , Autism Spectrum Disorders , Dallas Museum of Art , Leigh Attaway Wilcox , Sensory Processing Disorder , the Center for Creative Collections
Have you ever noticed that the foods you eat affect your body, brain and emotions? Some foods that we eat can make us feel lathargic, while other foods can give our bodies long-lasting energy, help our minds stay focused, and help us feel great. Just like gasoline is fuel for our automobiles, food is fuel to our mind, body and soul. If you fill up your non-diesel car with diesel fuel, you will end up with a damaged engine. Similarly, if we deprive our bodies and brains of meals and snacks that are rich in vitamins and minerals, we will eventually break down. Choosing the right kind of fuel for our bodies doesn't have to cost a fortune. In fact, choosing foods that are high in nutrients will boost your physical, mental and emotional health and, thus, save you money in the long run. Good nutrition means fewer visits to the doctor and less time off from work and school. Good nutrition also helps you feel energetic and results in a better quality of life for you and your family.
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The entry "Healthy snacks for the mind, body & soul" is tagged: almond butter and apples , Annabel Lugo Hoffman , body , fruit kebobs , hummus , mind , nutritious snacks , quality of life , salsa and pretzels , smoothie recipe , soul , trail mix recipe , turkey rolls March 2, 2010
For a story on brain health that ran on the cover of the Dallas Morning News Healthy Living section today, I stretched my brain by exploring what the brain does, how it does it and how it can do it better. On a visit to the UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth, I learned about neuroplasticity -- the amazing ability of the brain to heal itself and grow at all ages. I watched a program where avatars are used to help children with high functioning autism build emotional cognitive skils by working out on screen scenarios with potential friends and bullies. I marveled at how everyone, from kids to aging adults, can boost their brain function. And I had a sobering, yet exhilarating test of my own brain fitness (which BrainCenter founder Sandra Chapman likes to refer to as a "neck-up check-up), testing my memory, my ability to analyze and identify themes and to find patterns. You can read all about it here. And it got me thinking: Wouldn't it be cool if we had brain fitness rooms in our recreation centers? It certainly left me eager and primed for another work-out! PHOTO: Scott Hayner having a brain fitness exam at the UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth, photo by Brad Loper, DMN
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The entry "My neck-up check-up at UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth " is tagged: Asperger's Syndrome , autism , avatars , brain fitness test , brain plasticity , neuroplasticity , Norman Doidge , Sandra Chapman , University of Texas at Dallas , UT Dallas Center for Brain Health
What do you do when your kid wants to quit an activity after you have invested a good bit of time, not to mention a good bit of money? We have experienced our kids being both committed to an activity and losing interest in an activity. My son began taking guitar lessons at Zounds Sounds in the 5th grade. He's in the seventh grade still playing the electric guitar and has added trumpet and the banjo to his repertoire. He has a natural passion for music and loves to play. He does not need to be forced. His guitar teacher and his band teachers at school are finding the right ways to motivate him while still helping it be a fun experience. It is the perfect equation of interest, talent, and commitment. My daughter, whose latest interests include her musical dance class, reading, and fashion design, took piano - for a while. Practicing became a chore. She wanted to quit. I have learned to trust my wife's instincts. When we use our instincts together, we make the best decisions. I was torn though about whether to let my daughter stop piano, What lesson does it send if we let her quit? What if she does have a natural talent and just needs to learn to work at it?
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The entry "To quit or not to quit: When piano and other lessons become chores" is tagged: Brad Schwall , Cool Kids , lessons , piano lessons , Rick Riordan , Ryan Sheckler , skateboarding , The Lightning Thief , Tony Hawk
OK, sometimes it isn't necessarily a good dream, more like a nightmare, but overall, my decision to opt out of traditional 9 to 5 employment has been a good one for our family. Once my husband opened a restaurant of his own, and our family grew, it became more difficult to manage our family responsibilities when I worked for someone else and they determined my schedule.
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The entry "Tips on working from home (with three little ones): life is but a dream" is tagged: business , childcare , LaDawn Fletcher , mompreneur , Mother's Day Out , tips , working from home March 1, 2010
I recently read the book One and the Same: My Life as an Identical Twin and What I've Learned About Everyone's Struggle to Be Singular by Abigail Pogrebin. I always have my eye out for books that will help me understand what is like to be a part of a pair and so when I saw this book advertised in a Twin Club newsletter, I downloaded it to my Kindle on a whim. I'm glad I didn't have much going on that week because I could not put the book down. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel like I was getting to know the future Maddie and Izzie better. I was lucky enough to get the chance to ask Abigail a few questions that I would like to share here with you.
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The entry "Twin talk with Abigail Pogrebin, author of 'One and the Same'" is tagged: Abigail Pogrebin , Amanda Dittlinger , Kindle , multiples , One and the Same: My Life as an Identical Twin and What I've Learned About Eeryone's Struggles to be Singular , Twin Club , twins
I received an e-mail from family a few weeks ago with a story written by my cousin about his two-week journey to Haiti. My cousin is a doctor, and a hero already to many of his hometown of Easton, MA including his wife and five boys...but now he is a hero to many, many more as he was called on a spiritual journey to help the sick and injured people of Haiti. While he spent time working in Haiti, he also went to find a girl his family has been sponsoring to be sure she and her family were all right. I wanted to share his story with you today because it touched my heart. This world may be full of darkness, but there is gold in the details if you look (closely) and listen (carefully)~magically your world will brighten, and you will see greatness. I am proud to know Geoff and I am inspired by his story.
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The entry "My cousin's trip to Haiti" is tagged: Amy Twomey , compassion , doctor , earthquake , Haiti , mercy , rescue
We all need money to support our basic needs, but our happiness is not significantly affected by how much money we make; it is affected by our level of optimism. The Pollyanna in me is optimistic and smiles because I know my attitude can make my day! Being compassionate in all the things we do every day can give us peace of mind and solve a lot of problems simply by realizing that our problems have valuable lessons. Love is always the best solution. If we choose to give positive energy and smile then I think we can become immune to the ups and downs of life and so can those around us.
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The entry "Love, work, and lots of smiles! (& a new Dallas Moms book club selection)" is tagged: French , Irish Blessing , Jacqueline Kelly , Nat King Cole , Posh Spice , Sigmund Freud , smile , Smile , St. Patrick's Day , The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate February 28, 2010
Hansel and Gretel can be a tricky fairy tale for kids -- parents abandoning their children in the woods and a wicked witch that tries to kill them and must be killed in turn. As I said -- rough stuff! Fortunately the Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts production at the Dallas Children's Theater tinkers with the Grimm tale. Their Hansel and Gretel is from a loving family. They get lost when they go out to pick berries. And they "soften" the witch's demise by baking her into a giant cookie. I saw it with a packed crowd of kids at the Saturday 1:30 p.m. show, including my nephew and niece, three-year-old Ross and five-year-old Emma. Every child I talked to was pretty thrilled at seeing the puppets float across the dark stage as if alive. I thought the witch would scare toddlers like Ross. But Ross ran up to the witch puppet at the meet and greet the puppeteers have after each show and told her, "I love you" as he reached out to touch her green face (is this kid going to love Wicked one day, or not?). Read on for what the other kids had to say: PHOTO: Cousins Jett Lane, 6, of Frisco and Caleb Woodfin, 8, of Murphy with the witch and goose puppets and puppeteers Becky Keenan and her mom Kathy Burks
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The entry "A kids' eye view of Hansel and Gretel" is tagged: Dallas Children's Theater , Hansel and Gretel , Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts , puppets , Rosewood Center for Family Arts
After my jab last week at the ugly underbelly of motherhood- which by the way, is also what you call that dangling kangaroo pouch you get once post-pregnancy deflation sets in- it is only fair that I balanced things out. After all, as mothers, if we know anything, it's that life is fair, right? Ha! Of course not. Did you miss that whole kangaroo comparison? Anyway, throughout this journey I have discovered tiny bits of joy in the oddest places; kind of like that wonderfully warm Skittle you find wedged beneath your underwire right at 3 o'clock when you need it the most. Luckily, motherhood comes with many tiny pick me ups as well, sometimes just enough to get us through to the next day, but often times it's exactly what we need. Here are a few examples of where I find tiny bits of joy in all the wrong places...
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The entry "The Perks: Obscurely Wonderful Things About Motherhood" is tagged: breast-feeding , child labor , Destiny DeLaRosa , joy , Motherhood , perks , post-pregnancy , potty training , sick kids , Skittles , wine February 27, 2010
Deb Silverthorn, a Plano mother of three, loves celebrating Purim. She shares what it means to her along with her yummy hamentashen recipe. Flour on the faces, hands, shirts, and all-over-everywhere is the key to the giggles that bring Purim memories. My children sitting around the kitchen table, with their friends and our dear friend Lola, cutting circles of dough and filling them with chocolate chips (for themselves), raspberry jam (for their Mommy), and poppy seed filling (for their Daddy), are at the heart of the Jewish holiday of Purim, celebrated tonight and tomorrow. Haman be darned, he tried, like many have to off the Jews - tonight we remember him, and his fortunate failure, as we enjoy the sweet taste of Purim, of survival, of future. On this holiday, we enjoy Hamantaschen cookie-like treats in the shape of a triangle - the shape of the villian's hat. Purim, which is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar, commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in Ancient Persia from Haman's plot "to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day." (for more, see www.chabad.org) PHOTO: Deb's Yavneh Purim collage
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The entry "Deb: Celebrating Purim with my kids (with memories and a great recipe) " is tagged: Chabad , Congregation Beth Torah , Deb Silverthorn , Esther , Haman , hamentaschen , Hollywood Temple Beth El , Jewish , Los Angeles , megillah , Purim , recipe , USY , Yavneh Academy
Right before the holidays this year, my niece, Sydney, suggested I come to her reading class at Williams Middle School in Rockwall for an author visit; I quickly agreed. Sydney's teacher, Terri Bates, a caring and passionate reading teacher contacted me, and we set up a time for my visit.
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The entry "Katherine Lindsey- Winner in more ways than one" is tagged: Abby Diamond , contest , Katherine Lindsey , Kristie Smith-Armand , Williams Middle School , winner , writer
Is taxing soda a good way to help fight childhood obesity? Yvonne Sanders, a Frisco mom who is very concerned about weight control and healthy eating, is not a fan of soda, but doesn't like the tax idea either. Check out what she says and then tell us what you think! As a British mom (or mum as we're called in the UK) living in Frisco, I have to weigh in on the soft drink debate. As you may have heard, several states are considering putting a tax on sugary soft drinks as a way of fighting childhood obesity. For instance, one state lawmaker in California introduced a bill this month that would add a one-cent tax on to each teaspoon of sugar in a soft drink. In other words, because there are over 9 teaspoons of sugar in a 12-ounce can of Coke, each can would cost an extra dime. PHOTO: Yvonne and her sons Thomas and Drew
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The entry "Yvonne says taxing soda isn't a sweet idea for kids; what do you think?" is tagged: Coke , fizzy drinks , Frisco , grocery stores , McDonalds , Slimming World , soda tax , United Kingdom , weight-loss , Yvonne Sanders February 26, 2010
I was very moved by the story of Dallas friends Rachel Hersh and William Malouf, both 13, who flew to Uganda to film what became a 15-minute documentary about Spirit of Uganda, a touring music and dance troupe of Ugandan children who raise money to build schools for themselves and children back home. I wrote about Rachel and William in my weekly KidBeat column here. You can also meet William and Rachel (who came up with the idea as her bar mitzvah project, which she presented at Temple Emanu-El in October) along with the 22 children, ages 9-20, in the Ugandan company Sunday at noon at the House of Blues. The fundraiser includes a lunch buffet, a performance and the movie, Against the Odds. Tickets are available at 214-828-9323 or www.empowerafricanchildren.org.
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The entry "Dallas teens make a documentary to help orphans in Uganda" is tagged: Against the Odds , Empower African Children , Episcopal School of Dallas , House of Blues , Peter Kasule , Rachel Hersh , Rosewood Center for Family Arts , Spirit of Uganda , Temple Emanu-El , William Malouf
When you or someone in your family has a pet allergy, choosing to bring a pet into your home can be a very difficult choice. However, bringing an allergy-friendly pet into your home does not have to be difficult, and can be easily accomplished with a bit of research. Depending on the type of pet that is causing allergic reactions in your home, you may have to choose one of these types of pets. Here are some simple tips to follow to help you in choosing the best pet for your needs.
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The entry "Tips for choosing the right pet when a family member has allergies" is tagged: allergies , bearded dragon , birds , Christy Howard , cockatiel , dogs , fish , gerbils , guinea pigs , hamsters , hypoallergenic , lizards , long-haired dogs , macaws , mice , parenting , pet allergies , pets , rats , reptiles , shedding , short-haired dogs , snakes
When the Dallas Morning News Mom Bloggers get together we never lack for a subject to discuss, and definitely inspire each other regarding topics for future blog posts. Such was the case at our second get-together on Friday evening, February 19, 2010. Each of us brought our favorite appetizers, beverages and enthusiasm to welcome moms (unable to meet at our first get-together of the Dallas Mom Bloggers, hosted by Amy Twomey), and to share in conversation and relaxation. On this Friday night, I offered to host and we met in the "living room" of my counseling office. I am very blessed to have an older home in downtown Garland, which has been converted into offices. Such an atmosphere has created comfort for my patients, as well as for me, my husband, and when one of the pups comes to the office with us, he or she offers comfort to children and adults, alike. I was very glad to host this event and to give my Blogger colleagues a tour of the offices, children's play therapy room, as well as the deck and gazebo where I hold meetings and workshops from time to time. It was a nice evening - without snow or rain!
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The entry "Anything can happen when the Dallas Moms Bloggers get together..." is tagged: Amy Twomey , Annabel Lugo Hoffman , Asperger's Syndrome , autism , Dallas Symphony , Destiny Delarosa , Dr. Brad Schwall , Easter Seals , hypnotherapy , Jennifer Pennifer , LaDawn Fletcher , Leigh Attaway Wilcox , Leslie Kuerbitz , The Princess and the Frog , UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth , yoga February 25, 2010
While we're still feeling the chill of winter here in North Texas, it is prime time to start making plans for kids' summer programs and activities. Most parents I know struggle with scheduling meaningful, fun activities for their kids when school is out and the temperatures are scorching. However, for parents like me who are raising kids with special needs, this task can be exponentially more challenging. Many of the programs and summer camps offered throughout the area are simply not structured to meet the needs of my son Ethan, who is 7-years-old and lives with Asperger's Syndrome; he often requires additional supports and specially trained staff. Photo courtesy of: Anne Bramlett and Speech & Language Services of North Texas, one of the vendors represented at the NAA-NT/ASCC Summer Resource Fair .
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The entry "Summer resource fair for special needs families" is tagged: ASCC , Asperger's Syndrome , Autism Spectrum Disorders , Equine Therapy , Leigh Attaway Wilcox , NAA-NT , Nagla Moussa , Occupational Therapy , Plano Parks and Recreation Center , Social Skills Groups , Speech-Language Therapy , Summer Camps , Summer Resource Fair
Candace Hickey, a North Dallas mother of triplets Brooks, Reese and Sloane, alternates Thursdays with fellow moms of multiples, Jessica Melker and Amanda Dittlinger. Check out her triplets' latest escapades in the snow: Surviving a snow storm (and a house without power) with 3 year old triplets! PHOTO: Brooks, Reese & Sloane playing in the snow just hours before the power outage
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The entry "Candace: The fun of a snow day with triplets includes the power outage " is tagged: 7-11 , Albertsons , Backyardigans , Blackberry , Candace Hickey , Krogers , multiples , power outage , snow , triplets , Walmart , Wow Wow Wubzy
It's two weeks and counting before I run my first half marathon. I actually paid money to race; those of you who know me know I really won't back out now. With that being said, I have several lessons learned as the clock ticks away to Race Day. 1) Proper Equipment: Proper shoes, clothing and sunscreen are essential, but not necessarily a panacea. My knees start to ache after about the 5 mile mark. I did buy new shoes, but to no avail. New shoes, with more cushion, only reduce the 'oldness' factor by so much. My hat, sunscreen and sunglasses seem to work fine. But I have learned that I will not wear cotton anymore when I run because I perspire so much and the cotton doesn't wick or dry. So I'll be sweating and getting cold all at the same time.
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The entry "Training for a half marathon - two weeks left " is tagged: Lisa Keys-Blair , marathon. Susan G. Komen , running gear , training February 24, 2010
I went to see the last performance of Ragtime The Musical at the Jewish Community Center last weekend, mainly to check out the children I wrote about in KidBeat who were playing children in the show. I didn't go expecting too much -- after all, this J Players production was a community theater show. But I was blown away by the passion, the talent, the singing, the dancing, the flipping, the magic tricks on stage as director Linda Leonard worked with a remarkable cast to unspool this complex story of families and collisions between WASP, Jewish immigrant and African American lives at the turn of the century. And I was also blown away by a little girl in the front row who stared up at the stage with rapt adoration during the almost three-hour show, and then worked intently on a Super Mario game on a DS during intermission. Seven-year-old Sydney Horowitz had not missed a single show in which her brother, Sam, 10, played the key role of Little Boy -- who narrates some of the tale. PHOTO: Sydney Horowitz, who didn't miss a single performance of her brother, Sam, in Ragtime the Musical at the Dallas JCC
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The entry "Ragtime and a sister's love" is tagged: Dallas Children's Theater , Dallas Jewish Community Center , Dallas Theater Center , J Players , Linda Leonard , Ragtime , Sam Horowitz , Shakespeare Dallas , Super Mario , Sydney Horowitz |
THINGS TO DO
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Thank you, Sandra! I'm going to get Th
Nancy,
Please let me know how
Leigh,
Thanks for the informati
Leigh, I know exactly how it feels to g
Lisa: I love this idea...anyone have an
Leigh:
Hope to see you and Etha
Sheila, we always love Passover on the
Leslie, thanks for your comment. It is
Thanks, Kristie. That is fascinating ab
Annabel, thanks so much for these great