DALLAS MOMS

If you have a "sensory kid" like I do, you may have found that experiencing a movie in a traditional theater is just not feasible. For several years my son, Ethan, who lives with Asperger's Syndrome and Sensory Processing Disorder, was simply not able to handle the sensory overload he experienced in mammoth, uber-loud theaters. Ethan struggled with feeling safe and grounded in the pitch black movie theaters, especially those with steep stadium seating. Further, typical sound levels were far too loud for his sensitive ears, so when the lights went down and the music got loud, we had a very frightened little boy in our lap with hands clamped in a death-grip over his ears (because he was actually in physical pain from the noise.) Many families who have children living with Sensory Processing Disorder or Autism Spectrum Disorders are shaking their heads affirmatively while reading because they've experienced this scenario to varying degrees with their own children.

Fortunately managers at many theaters now recognize the need for "Sensory-Friendly" movie screenings for special needs families like ours; often, I expect, because these managers have lived through the same experiences with their own children or nieces and nephews. On a national level, the Autism Society of America (ASA) has partnered with AMC Entertainment to offer kid-friendly films once a month for sensory-sensitive kiddos. Also, many Texas-based Studio Movie Grill (SMG) locations partner with Variety the Children's Charity of North Texas, to offer monthly showings for families living with special needs, and have done so for five years. It was at a SMG location that we first experienced a "Sensory-Friendly" film with Ethan. As a bonus, when we arrived for the movie, we were thrilled to find out that kids' tickets are free!

PHOTO: How To Train Your Dragon will be offered free for kids with special needs at Studio Movie Grill theaters March 27

Exercise has always been an important part of my life. I was never a great athlete, but I enjoyed playing a variety of sports in junior high and high school, and that set the stage for a lifetime of fitness. Exercise has not only helped me maintain a healthy weight over the years, it has also helped me concentrate and focus in school and work, manage stress, and stay connected with friends. For me, exercise has definitely been a prescription for physical, mental and emotional health!

Given my passion for exercise, I was particularly excited to learn about First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign, which was recently launched to help combat childhood obesity through healthy eating and exercise. Part of the Let's Move campaign is to encourage children and adolescents to exercise for one hour each day. Below are some activities we encourage for our children to get the recommended amount of exercise and, in the process, hopefully develop a life-long love for fitness.

We know the Dallas Moms and our readers have the cutest kids in the world. And Wilhelmina Models, suspecting as much, asked me to let you know about the contest they're hosting for ages 4-7 to find the next Natalie Portman, Amanda Seyfried, Hayden Panettiere and Katherine Heigl -- all of whom got their start with Wilhelmina Kids and Teens division.

The contest, co-sponsored between Wilhelmina Models and Next Direct, invites U.S. parents or legal guardians to submit picture of their children or legal wards for public online voting at this Facebook.com site here. The 50 kids with the most votes on MONDAY, March 15 will be flown to LA for a 2-day live finals event at Universal Studios April 24 and 25.

The winner will receive a $100,000 college scholarship fund, a one-year contract with Wilhelmina Models and participate in a fashion photo shoot for Next.

PHOTO: Hayden Panettiere got her start with Wilhelmina Kids and Teens division

This past Friday, I flew to Knoxville, Tennessee, to lead a training on social and emotional intelligence and my Cool Kids curriculum for mentors who mentor children through their churches' KIDS HOPE USA mentoring programs. On the plane home on Saturday, I reflected on balancing work, which often includes business travel, and family life

I was only on the trip away from my family for one night, but I was aware how separated I was from my family's activities. I must confess that it was a nice change of scenery and routine, but I missed out on time with my kids. Their life went on without me.

Work and business travel can become a distraction that disconnects parents from the day-to-day activities of kids and spouses, but work and business travel do not have to stunt your relationships with your kids or spouses.

My long-term plan to indoctrinate my children with a love for a variety of foods is working. Sort of. And by sort of, I mean it is working on two out of three kids. If I had a nickel for every person who reminded me that every child is different, I'd be rich, rich, rich. Unfortunately (and fortunately) those people are absolutely correct. My three children are different in many ways and those differences are easily discerned at the dinner table.

This weekend, I took the girls to the local Chinese buffet. There were snow crab legs on the steam table so I grabbed a couple for myself. When I got to the table, Cammy eyed them with curiosity, Ashley with suspicion. I cracked open one and extracted the sweet meat. I dipped it in butter and offered it to Cammy who eagerly tried it. Immediately enamored she reported to her sister, "It's really, really good. Especially with the butter." Ashley could not be persuaded. I've learned not to push.

Johnny Depp is by far my most favorite actor in the entire world, so this is a touchy topic for me. Will you let your young children watch Tim Burton's new Alice in Wonderland movie that released Friday? I have had a few interesting conversations about this with some of my kids friends Moms.

This time of year can be overwhelming for a teacher! I really have to step back and look at the big picture. My second graders have accomplished a lot this year and I am proud! But, with Spring Break five days away and open house looming, I am anxious for this week to go quickly so I can enjoy some quality time with my family.

Open House is usually scheduled the week before spring break. My second grade team tends to plan our main field trip to the Dallas World Aquarium the same week, and this can make for a stressful time! But when it's over, it's done! This is a time for parents to visit the classroom where their children spend so many hours, and see projects and displays of their children's work. The children really enjoy the reponsibility of showing parents around the class: their desk, projects, work, journals... But what's on everyone's mind is the count down to spring break! I always have a constant soundtrack to life running in my head and instead of singing "I love Paris in the springtime, I'm singing, "I dread open house in the springtime!" But after open house my song will change to Madonna's Holiday!

You can turn this world around
And bring back all of those happy days
Put your troubles down
It's time to celebrate
Let love shine
And we will find
A way to come together
And make things better
We need a holiday

Photo: Two of Ashley's adorable students from last year's field trip to the Dallas World Aquarium checking out the sharks!
http://www.dwazoo.com/d/

Got a young artist who cares about the earth? Aaron Brothers Art & Framing is sponsoring a Coloring Earth Green art contest for ages 5-12. Entries should focus on the planet and the protection of the environment and be unframed on 9 by 11 inch paper. They will be accepted at Aaron Brothers stores until April 18 in time for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22. About $26,000 in prizes will be awarded to kids and their schools, which includes a grand prize trip to the Crayola Factory for two students and their families. Artists must be legal residents of Texas (or Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon or Washington).

For more information click here. Teachers can download or request a free kit that contains "Green Thought Starters" at www.aaronbrothers.com/teachers.

The issue of racism in our household has really been....a non-issue.

Not because we don't care about it or think it's relevant, but both my husband and I are from a generation that has never truly seen the effects of such injustice first hand.

Actually, let me clarify, there is certainly a level of socioeconomic racism that still exist very much today which we have encountered, and whether it's blighted inner-city schools, or racial profiling, we know that unfortunately those things do still exist. But as far as segregated schools and whites only water fountains, we are blessed to only know about that through our history books.

Anne Brown, a married (33 years and going strong!) Richardson mother of two and grandmother of three, loves crafting with her grandkids. She began crafting with kids as a fifth grade teacher and added stamping to her repertoire when sending out cards to senior citizens as part of her work with the Comfort and Care ministry at her church. St. Patrick's Day is a great opportunity to make inexpensive and fun crafts with the kids, Anne says. She's sharing some ideas with us in celebration of National Craft month in March:

My grandkids come over quite often and they love to get into "Gee's" craft supplies and create some fun projects. This weekend we created a simple, fun card for St. Patrick's Day and I know they are going to love my "search for the Gold" game when it gets a little closer to the day!! Here is the game: using a pattern that you can either create or or download from one of those free Internet sites, cut out a number of shamrocks. Let the kids color them green using crayons, markers, paint, whatever you have on hand. Remember, the point is to have fun with your kids, not spend a ton of money! While the kids are coloring, you hide a "treat" of some sort that will be the "pot of gold". Then, take the shamrocks, write age appropriate clues on the back and then hide around your home. When all clues are in place, turn the kids loose to begin their search. Even your youngest "leprechaun" will enjoy this game.

"Some Things That Easter Brings" by Elsie Parrish

Easter duck and Easter chick,

Easter eggs with chocolate thick.
Easter hats for one and all,

Easter Bunny makes a call!
Happy Easter always brings

Such a lot of pleasant things.

The poem is correct, and the Easter Bunny will be making a call to our house very soon. Since Richard and I have twelve nieces and nephews to buy for, I was looking for creative and inexpensive ideas. Not that I mind shopping for a great sale or items that are marked down. Actually, it can be quite an adventure.

Nine-time Grammy award winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis doesn't just talk about teaching kids about music; he does it. The jazz great is very busy and will be presented by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra this weekend. But he found time before his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis performances to answer questions from 12-year-old Sam Schwall, who can't wait to hear him while he's here.

The remaining concerts are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $22-$115. Call 214.692.0203 to buy tickets or click dallassymphony.com

Here are Sam's questions and Wynton Marsalis' answers:

Sam: What do you think needs to be done to keep traditional jazz in front of people and kids and keep modern jazz going?

Wynton Marsalis: It's important for parents and teachers to teach kids the value of the love of music which is taught by showing them that you love music. Make it purely fun, play music for them. Then, let them play music. When they play music, listen to them, and tell them how great it sounds.

Few parents read their children the original Brothers Grimm tales these days, which may be a good thing. Take Hansel & Gretel -- a story of children abandoned by their parents and preyed on by a cannibal witch. Rough stuff! Fortunately, the Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts company softens the original with a preschool-friendly tale of a loving family that gets separated when the children get lost looking for berries in the forest. I wrote my weekly KidBeat story about the real-life brother and sister (Kathy Burks' children and longtime puppeteers Douglass Burks and Becky Burks Keenan) here.

I also heard some fascinating thoughts by Heather Carlile, a licensed professional marriage and family counselor, who will talk about "Joys and Challenges of Childhood Fairytales" as part of a free Spiritual Parenting Series at the Center for Spiritual Living Sunday. It starts at 12:45 with a potluck lunch, followed by Heather's presentation. Get the details at www.csldallas.org (free childcare provided). Check out what Heather has to say here:

Got teens who are looking for service hours? Or do you want an opportunity to volunteer as a family? The St. Paddy's Day Dash Down Greenville, hosted by Run On! and the North Texas Food Bank, is seeking volunteers 16 and older for March 13. It should be fun, too -- they promote it as "the craziest and best 5K foot race to hit Dallas." Plus breakfast and a T-Shirt will be provided. If you do it, be sure to report back and send pictures!

Volunteers will be needed from 5:30 to 11:30 a.m. on race day; it all kicks off at Central Market. Contact Sophia Sindalovsky at sophia@ntfb.org or Paige Phelps at Paigep@ntfb.org by Tuesday, March 9 to confirm your participation.

My husband and I love to go deep sea fishing in Key West. We had always wanted to take the kids who love to fish also. We decided that we would take them the day after Thanksgiving for a three-day trip. We were going to fly into Miami and drive to Key West, we should have gotten into the hotel around 6:00 p.m., which was good since we had to be on the boat at 7:00 the next morning. In Miami we got the pleasure of standing in line for the rental car for two hours after our flight had been delayed two hours. I knew it was going to be a long night and early morning.

Have you ever had to stifle a laugh or snicker, when your little one said something profound? At the last get-together of the Dallas Mom Bloggers, I recall LaDawn enlightening us about her "gutsy" two-year old daughter, who seems to have a mind of her own. When her daughter didn't get her way at breakfast one morning, LaDawn reported that she had to look away to keep from bursting out in laughter. It seems her daughter looked and sounded too cute, expressing her feelings of dissatisfaction for the decision made by her mother.

As LaDawn told her family story, I went back to yesteryear, remembering when my daughter did the same thing. I never wanted to laugh at her, even when she was so cute with her little curls bouncing in time to her defiance. I also remembered not to laugh when she expressed her views, but sounded so much like us - her mom and dad.

Yes, ladies, I DID meet Dr. Mehmet Oz, star of the Dr. Oz show (9 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays on KFWD-TV Channel 52), in person for my interview that ran in today's DMN here. He had flown into Dallas to play in the NBA All-Stars celebrity game. So, was he as nice in person as he is on T.V.? In a word -- yes. And then some. He talked a lot about his love for his wife, Lisa, and their four kids and his passion for getting people healthier (so fewer will end up on his operating room needing open heart surgery before their time).

He talked about the importance of listening because kids aren't always receptive to us "fixing" their problems (and parent-to-parent, I have to agree). But sometimes if we listen, we get a better sense of what it is they need us to do. That's what Dr. Oz does. And he was thrilled to discover that even when he didn't think his oldest, Daphne, was listening to all his great advice, she was internalizing it in her own way. Which is why she came out with her own book for college students wanting to keep fit, The Dorm Room Diet, while she was still an undergraduate at Princeton University.

So, did the best-selling author help with his daughter's book? "She told me not to. She said I'd just ruin it," he said and laughed, noting that parents who step back can also learn a lot from their kids.

Why do you think playgroups matter...or don't? Are they more important for moms or children? Do they help moms relax while kids play together or do they induce stress as moms try to be perfect parents of well-behaved children?

It's probably a mix of all of the above, but I think it's typically a beneficial aspect for both parents and kids. As an active stay-at-home mom of two-year-old triplets, I belong to several playgroups and consider it an important part of my children's and my schedule. We meet just frequently enough that it isn't overwhelming to our schedules, but still keeps us connected as a group.

PHOTO: Madison, Payson and Hayden (all far right) enjoy lunch at a playdate with three sets of twins

Most women are concerned more about how their legs and butt look than any other body part. When we turn around and ask our significant other if we look fat in something, we really mean, 'Does my butt look fat?'. With that in mind I wanted to share an exercise program for legs and butt that is killer, yet doable.

Each exercise requires nothing more than your body as weight. Be careful not to underestimate the intensity. You will be sore as you begin doing the workout but the pain subsides as the legs tone up and the glutes tighten. Do each exercise for 1 minute, unless otherwise noted.

For all who think the writing life is glamorous, Frisco mom Bettina Restrepo has a story to share. As the author of Moose and Magpie, Bettina has been impressing a lot of kids, but her five-year-old, Allen, has proved a tough sell. Check out her story and visit Bettina when she reads and signs her book at Barnes & Noble at Stonebriar Centre, in Frisco Saturday at 2 p.m.:

I'm not impressed by you - says my son.

Last year, my first picture book was published. It made me an instant celebrity with children when I visited several elementary schools and book stores. But my son, Allen, is not impressed with me. Recently, a small fiasco happened as I was getting ready to leave for a storytime.

"Are you going to another book party?" asks Allen. "AGAIN?"

PHOTO: Bettina and Allen