LancMoms Magazine - January 2011

8/8/2019 LancMoms Magazine - January 2011

1/12

MOM OF

THEMONTHKimberlyFletcher

HOW TO:

THE CHARMED

BELT

MOMSTHE WORD:

PUT THAT

PLATEIN THE

DISHWASHER

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LancMoms.com| January 8, 2011

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2/12

Lancaster, Pa.LANCMOMS.COM JANuAry 8, 011

Allow me to set the stage.

As I write this, Christmas isnine days away. There is lots,lots, lots to do. Im frazzled, butdetermined to remain happily

focused as I wrap, bake andaddress my way through theDecember daze.

My daughter is busy withschool, and in the nal days ofrehearsal for Nutcracker! Imoverwhelmed with a franticschedule at home and at work sotime, to say the least, is stretchedlike a taut, red gift ribbon.

My alarm, set for 5:30 a.m.

on this particular day (and everyday), allowed me to check offextra items on the to-do list whilemy daughter enjoyed extendedshut-eye. I even whipped up abacon-and-cheese omelet forthe slumbering, sixth-gradeballerina. (In the interest of fulldisclosure, this is not the regularbreakfast menu.)

I called for her to come

downstairs. She was cheerful.Even happier, when she saw thefeast of eggs, English mufn andhot tea.

I headed upstairs to check thelaundry, and get ready for work.

ll was well.

Until I returned downstairs.

And entered the kitchen.

And gazed toward the sink.

There, at its edge, was theplate, fork, cup and saucer upon

hich my daughter had justdined. Unlike the dishes, she hadanished. In an instant, so did

my Christmas spirit.

I realize that the exhaustivetrek from the kitchen bar tothe kitchen sink probably tookan entire three steps. But Imguessing she wasnt gasping foroxygen by the time she arrivedat the counter.

True, rinsing off her dishes,

opening the dishwasher door and placing utensil and plate insidewould have required additionalcaloric output. Closing thedishwasher door, even more. But

for a healthy dancer who spendshours a day running, talking,stretching, talking, leaping andtalking, Im thinking she canhandle it.

And she did, quite adeptly,when she was summoneddownstairs to do what she shouldhave done in the rst place.

Which brings me to this: Whymust I repeatedly ask that things

be done around the house? Andwhy do other parents think Imnuts?

Too many of my friends,exasperated by children and, Imsorry here, men, by husbands aswell, have given up, saying itseasier to grab the dish rag and dothe work themselves.

I refuse to surrender, but thatdoesnt mean Ive won the war.

I know what Im up against.For example, items I leave

on the staircase arent thereto accessorize the carpet.Toilet paper, books, shoes andtoothpaste are strategically positioned so they cant beoverlooked by the next empty-handed person headed up thestairs.

Or can they?

Because my daughter hasno supernatural powers, Imassuming that she uses her feetand the steps a couple timesa day to get to and from herupstairs bedroom.

Amazingly, however, itemson the staircase are unmoved.For days, even a week at a time.I can only surmise that they areinvisible to her.

Yet I believe that kids capableof dribbling a basketball around

a court for hours at a time orchasing a soccer ball seasonafter season have the stamina totoss dirty clothes into the washer.Maybe even pull them from the

dryer and fold them. I bet theycan push a lawn mower, or dustthe tabletops. And, yes, carry thetoiletries upstairs.

Instead, too many parentsare doing all of this for them.But why? Why are we coddlingour kids? Are we afraid itwont be done perfectly? Thattheyll burn down the house?Will this approach help them to become responsible membersof a household and, ultimately,independent young adults?

Being in a family is like beingpart of a sports team or a dancecompany or a musical group:Everyone must do his or her partfor the good of all. That means perfecting a pirouette ANDcleaning the commode.

To do any less is, simply,unacceptable.

At worst, were raising ageneration that feels entitled toeverything and responsible fornothing. At best, were setting apoor example for what it meansto be stewards of our homes andcommunities.

So parents, stand with me.Say no to co-dependency.Take a cue from those amongus whove found the balance between childhood activity andhousehold duty. And take noteof kids who seem to have theroutine down pat.

Omelet, anyone?

Barbara Hough Roda is momto Faith and managing editorof the Sunday News. Contacther at [email protected] or

481-7335. Check out her blog atLancMoms.com.

Put that plate in the dishwasherBarbara Hough Roda

Check out what other Lancaster Moms (andDads) are doing and saying. Forums, blogs,questions, and answers all can be found atLancMoms.com. Get a LancMoms.comcard, good for discounts and services.

Visit LancMoms.com

Infamous Ryders founder, Chris Lopez, top, helps youngeInfamous Ryders, brothers Julian, from left, and JaidenBermudez, both 6, and their cousin Juju Holland, 9, distributetoys at Crispus Attucks Community Center last month.

( Justin Graybill/Sunday News Photo

Need a recipe?Check out LancMoms.coms Recipe FinderEverything from Almond Joy Cheesecake to

Pumpkin Apple Wafes.


3/12

Lancaster, Pa. LANCMOMS.COM JANuAry 8, 2011

By Maureen LeaderSpecial Features Writer

Mom of the Month, KimberlyFletcher has had a few surprisesas a mother. But as busy as thismother of 17-year-old twins,

atasha and Morgan, is, shesnever missed a beat.

In Fletchers fth month ofpregnancy she was surprised tolearn that she was having twins.

Looking at that ultrasoundas shocking. It was quite a

surprise. Though there are twinsin her husband Tracys family,Fletcher never considered thepossibility of herself havingthem.

I just didnt think about it,she said. Even though she wasshocked and afraid, it was morethe fear of the unknown. Inthe past, when she had thoughtabout having a family, it was,Ill have a baby and then two tothree years later, Ill have anotherbaby. But Fletcher recalls as achild she always wanted to be atwin and nds it interesting thatshe ended up having them.

The last 17 years have beena lot of fun. The girls cameout running, said Fletcher.Apparently they never stopped!They have been involved withdance, basketball, track, tennisand some drama. They evenhad a small scene in the popularmovie, School of Rock. And

while the girls were growing up,she and Tracy were at almostevery event. Its been verycool, she said. But it has gone by fast. Truly a blink of aneye.

And its because of this thatFletcher says she really tries tobe there in the moment. Shesaid she would describe herselfas a fun loving mom andincredibly demonstrative.

She says she likes a lot of thesame music as her daughtersand loves shopping with them.The Fletchers have alwaysenjoyed their Family Movie Night complete with popcornand candy. Weve always donethat. Fletcher added that eventhough her daughters have agreat group of friends shes glad

that they still like their traditionalFamily Movie Night.

Fletcher is a mom whounderstands how importanther time, her hobbies and herinterests are. When the girlswere about ve years old,Fletcher was driving with them

and she started singing along toa song. The girls said they weresurprised to hear her singingand yet singing was somethingFletcher always enjoyed doing.

It surprised her that her girlshad never heard her sing. Sherealized she needed to get backto it. She started to sing at herchurch regularly and she lovesit still. She has also gotten back

into her other hobby: knitting.She remembers knitting whilewaiting for the girls to nish adance class. But lately shes beenable to devote more time to it.

Surprisingly, the Fletchers areunsure if the girls are identicalor not. They look very similar but they cant be 100 percentsure if they are identical unlessthey have a DNA test. Fletcher believes theyll probably have

the test at some point before thegirls go to college next year.

An obvious big surprise

to Fletcher was that she wasnominated to be Mom of theMonth in the rst place. Herdaughter, Morgan completedthe questionnaire. When asked,What are the two best thingsabout this mom? Morgan wrote,She is a very dedicated person

and always makes sure thateveryones wants and needs aremet. Fletcher said, Its nice toknow she is still watching. Yourbabies are always watching youbut it is nice to know that at 17,she is still watching.

When Fletcher looks backon the past years raising herdaughters to young womanhood

she says, I am proud, I amblessed and I am humbled. Thereally, really are great kids.

Now that the girls are lookinat colleges, Fletcher soon willhave an empty nest. She says,My reality will change.

But dont feel sorry for

Kimberly Fletcher. Dont thinkfor a minute that this Mom othe Month will be alone with herknitting and her singing onceher girls go away to school.Fletcher already has thingsplanned for her and her husband:Wherever they attend, well beon the highway well be aeverything.

Mom of theMonth

Kimberly Fletcher with her daughters Natasha, left, and Morgan, right.

Kimberly Fletcher

Fletcher loves to travel, especially to the Caribbean.

She has always worked outside the home and is in the HumanResources eld.

A perfect day for her involves a nice dinner after a full day

of shopping.

Fletcher attended Franklin and Marshall College and met herhusband, Tracy, there.

The Fletcher family has a dog named Romeo.

She loves to bake and says she is known for her pound cake.She says, Im a dessert girl!

Fletcher enjoys spending time with her mother and her sister.One of their favorite things to do is to attend wine tastingstogether.

Fletcher is a mom who picks her battles. On some things sheis strict, she says, but on others she is more relaxed.

Mom details

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L PLANCMOMS COMJANuAry 8 2011


4/12


By Dr. Arthur S. Seiderman

ADD/ADHD is incorrectlydiagnosed or misdiagnosed fourtimes for every one time thatit is correctly diagnosed. Howcould that be? Well, lets lookat the facts. The Centers forDisease Control and Preventionhave published research that hasshown that 3 to 7 percent ofschool-aged children suffer from

DD/ADHD. If we can use ve

percent as the average, then in aclass of 25 children only one has

DD/ADHD. Yet six or sevenor more kids are on medicationfor ADD. These medicationsinclude: Ritalin, Concerta, andothers.

TIME Magazine, The Nework Times, USA TODAY,ewsweek, The Lancaster New

Era, and LANCASTER NEW

ERA, and The PhiladelphiaInquirer all have questionedhow can this be? In fact, it wasreported that there were 25 deathsattributed to these drugs andsuggested that these stimulantdrugs might increase the risks ofstrokes and serious arrhythmiasin children and adults.

As a result, the FDA (FederalDrug Administration, a U.S.federal agency), voted to suggest

that these drugs carry the mostserious of the agencys drug-risk

arnings a black box.

Dr. Steven Nissen, a

cardiologist at the ClevelandClinic and a panel member stated,I must say that I have graveconcerns about the use of thesedrugs and grave concerns aboutthe harm they may cause.

Many believe Ritalin isaddictive. Bruce Wiseman, president of the CitizensCommission on Human Rights(a psychiatric watchdog group),notes that the U.S. Drug

Enforcement Agency has labeledRitalin a class one narcotic,sharing the spotlight withmorphine, opium, and cocaine.Let it be noted that these are NOTmild drugs. There are potentiallysignicant side effects. It is notlike taking two aspirins and callme in the morning.

Again, we ask, How can thisbe? Here is a frequently occurring

scenario: some school personneltell the parent that their childcant concentrate and is dgety.Better see your doctor and getsome medication for your child,the parent is told. Mom or dadtake their son/daughter to see thedoctor, as suggested.

Doc, the teacher tells usJohnny cant concentrate.

The physician responds, Noproblem. Ill write a prescription

for Johnny and that will help himconcentrate better.

This may be one of the very

few places in all of healthcarewhere an invasive intervention isprescribed withoutany objectivetesting being performed forverication of the tentativediagnosis.

Indeed, it is a sad commentaryon the over-medication of ourchildren today.

Symptoms of ADD/ADHDare often the same symptomsthat occur in other conditions,e.g. visually-binoculardysfunctions (where the twoeyes do not work as a team

and therefore concentrating onvisual tasks become difcult andlaborious the best known of

these conditions is convergence

insufciency.Actually, a very recent study performed under the directionof NIH (National Institutes ofHealth, a U.S. federal institution)showed that these very symptomsthat occur in both ADD orconvergence insufciency could be eliminated through the useof a non-invasive interventionknown as vision therapy.

Some other interventions

which might be helpful inlieu of medication include: psychological, occupationaltherapy, speech and languagespecialist, reading specialist,nutritional counseling, etc.

However, a completedifferential diagnosis withappropriate testing must be performed rst, beforeprescribing. And, you as a parent

must speak up and insist onsuch testing before acceptingmedication for your child. Pleasenote that the use of medicationscan be very helpful whenprescribed correctly, rather thanindiscriminately.

Perhaps, the best lineof defense in making theseimportant decisions is to becomemore informed on ADD/ADHD,binocular dysfunctions, etc.

* * *A FREE two hour seminar

will be held at The Shady Maple

Banquet and Conference Center,

Monday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m.Dr. Arthur S. Seiderman, aoptometrist and psychologist,along with Dr. Robert Fisher,clinical child psychologist aneducator, will be presenting.

If you would like to attend, please call 717-656-0534 treserve your free seating.

Come talk to these doctorsand talk to other parents whohave experienced the same

issues with their children.For more information or

questions call 717-656-0534and ask for Missy. A helpfulwebsite address is: www.helpaddvisiontherapy.com.

DD/ADHD and the use of drugsAre we over medicating our children?

Dr. Arthur Seiderman isdoctor of optometry, who hasearned a masters degree in chil

psychology and is a graduate o

The Gesell Institutes program aYale University.

He has written several books,lectured throughout the USA,Canada, and Europe. His worhas been translated into sixlanguages.

He taught graduate levecourses at Penn State University

for many years, is a past presidenof The Disabled Reader Group

of The International ReadinAssociation (IRA), and maintainshis private practice in Leola.

Dr. Arthur S. Seiderman

These days, families arebusier than ever before, makingit difcult to spend quality timetogether thats fun for everyone.

Thanks to Nintendos Wii videogame system, families can nowget the best of both worlds,spending time together thats funfor the whole family, all from thecomforts of home.

Meet the WiiAffordable and fun, Wii

is much more than just atraditional video game console it is a family entertainmentcenter, Internet portal (with a

broadband Internet connection),ideo game arcade, photo album

and more rolled into one. The

Wii video game system usesthe unprecedented Wii Remotecontroller that mixes thefamiliarity of a standard home

electronics remote control withcutting edge motion-sensingtechnology. This versatile deviceis capable of a variety of fun andimmersive applications.

For example, in a tennisgame, such as is found in WiiSports, the Wii Remote becomesa virtual racket when you swingyour arm. Your Wii experiencecan be completely customizedusing fun, 3-D caricatures of

yourself, friends and familycalled Mii characters.

The Online ExperienceBy connecting the Wii

console to a broadband Internetconnection, families can shop,

download original and classicgames and get the latest in newsand weather. You can even browsethe web from your living roomsofa. And, with special onlinemultiplayer gaming capabilities,family members and friends wholive miles away or right downthe street can connect to certaingames to compete directly withyou or share high scores.

Your Pictures Worth a

Thousand WordsShow off your favorite digital

photos on your TV with the

Photo Channel, a fun, easy wayto display vacation snapshots,family portraits and more. Createa virtual scrapbook by making a

slideshow featuring a soundtrackwith your favorite music les onan SD Card to wow family andfriends. You can even add specialeffects, or create puzzles andmosaics starring your family.

Exclusive Software LibraryWith more than 600 titles

to choose from, Wii will keepyour family busy and active.You can nd the right game forevery type of person with a wide

range of genres such as Action,Adventure, Puzzles, Racing,Role Playing, Sports, and Music.

If your Wii console is connecteto the Internet via a broadbanconnection, you can alsodownload one of the more tha

450 original and classic gamesfrom the Wii Shop Channel.Each Wii comes with a copy oWii Sports, and other new gamessuch as Wii Fit Plus and NewSuper Mario Bros. Wii and WiiSports Resort are surere hits forthe whole family.

Parental ControlsWii lets you manage the kin

of experience your kids havewhile they play. A wide range o

parental controls lets you decidethe content your kids can access,and which games they can play.

Bring the whole family together with Wii

L P LANCMOMS COM JANuAry 8 2011


5/12


hands-on activities + museum objects = lots of FUN!

More chocolate, more moose, more fun!

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January 29 & 3012 - 4 pm

By Marci WattersonSpecial Features Writer

Traveling for business,

holidays, family gatherings, ormaybe sightseeing and youvespotted a quaint little gift shopand you have to check it out.

Small store gift trinkets fromthese occasions are often broughthome. What we do with them issomewhat a mystery though.

re they given away, placed ina box, drawer, on a knickknackshelf, or lost in our homes, dueto their size?

Why not make a charm belt?!

Items needed:1 or more beltskey hoops or hooksready made key chains,trinket,

or piece of jewelry with a holeleather hole punch and/or large

nail and hammer;(not requiredith open hoops or weaves such

as a macram belt.)

a piece of wood;(optional,but should be used with nail andhammer)

If you happen to be workingwith a leather, or a simulatedleather belt, a hole punch is veryhelpful. Placement is really up

to you. Bend the belt back ontoitself and line up the belt and lastseveral holes, leave the last holeover the space you want to punch.This gives a nice uniformity andif you would like to mark thearea ahead of punching with apencil, you have time to changethe spacing. If you intend touse a nail, choose a large headnail and maybe a piece of woodbehind the wood, as you hammerthrough.

Hoop and woven belts arefun and your work is almostdone. Basically any hardwarestore will have a vast array offasteners and key hoops/hooks.Choose smaller fasteners forlonger, lighter items and largerfasteners for heavier items, orquick release items. Place thefasteners in pattern on the belt,

add a few charms and leaveseveral empty to be flled later.Fasteners can also be added asyou go.

These belts over time will tella story all their own! Althoughthe, Charmed Belt is meant to be like a larger charm bracelet,

its much more! These beltsbecome a childs way to expressthemselves. Children can evencollect or trade certain charmswith friends. Lets not forgetabout the guys out there, with asimple punch around the bucklearea, a charm hoop can be addedtoo!

Fellows, pocket lights, nailclippers, sport items and evenlittle pocket games can be addedto the belt.

Adults can now wear anddisplay any mismatchedearrings, pendents, medals, orspecial small tokens they mayhave tucked away.

For gift items, hardwarestores carry a empty photo keychains. They could be flled witha special handwritten thought,

along with a pinch of glitteror maybe a group photo ofclassmates.

Have fun!

Above: gather your charms. Below start punching holes.

ear your charmed belt wherever you go.

The charmed belt!

Lancaster PaLANCMOMS COM JANuAry 8 2011


6/12


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8/12

,,

By Cynthia Hummel

Special Features Writer

When Rachael Ray set out torite a 30-minute meal cookbook

for kids, she wanted to dosomething different than existingbooks that teach children tomake pizza and turn sandwichesinto animals or clowns.

I have tried to write reallygood recipes that people of allages will enjoy making, Ray

said.Kids can as young as four

can make food for themselvesith her book, Cooking Rocks!

Rachel Ray 30-minute Meals ForKids, which divides sectionsinto age levels. The rst sectionis for the youngest children, ages4- to 6-years-old, who will needa GH (grown-up helper.)

Recipes such as Tomato-Basil

Cup-O-Soup, for example, cango with cooks to college, wherethe skills can make one popularon campus. Ray even pointsout that old people, like her(then 35) make the same recipes

ithout alterations.Ray introduces kids to

measuring, knives and cuttingand cleaning-up as well askitchen basics, such as usingscissors, spoons, spatulas and

a cutting board, rolling pin andpans. She also advises adults toallow kids to make mistakes andmake cooking fun for all.

Pasta and Trees

For 4 to 6-year-olds with aGH (Grown-up Helper)

Makes 4 servings

1 pound broccoli topsSalt and freshly ground black

pepper to taste1 pound pasta: penne rigate,

corkscrew cavatappi, elbows ormedium shells

1 T. extra-virgin oil oil(evoo)

2 T. butter, cut up1 cup grated Parmesan,

Parmigiana Reggiano or Romanocheese.

Have your GH (Grown-upHelper) put a big pot of water onto boil for the pasta.

Separate the broccoli intosmall trees by pulling themapart. Ask your GH to trim offthe woody stems of your trees so

you can break them up right. Putthe broccoli orets (trees) into a pot and have the GH add waterenough to just cover the tops. TheGH should bring the water to boiland add 4 pinches of salt to thewater; you can count for them.Cook the broccoli 5 minutes andhave the GH drain it.

When the pasta water boils,have the GH put 4 pinches ofsalt into the pot and add pasta.Cook to al dente (thats Italianfor done but with a bite to it),according to package directions.

Put the evoo and butter in a

big bowl. Have the GH add thehot drained pasta and broccolito the bowl. Add the cheese tothe bowl and stir it all up untilthe butter melts and the cheesemixes in. Add a little salt andpepper and taste the pasta to seehow the seasoning is.

Candy SushiFor kids ages 7 to 11Makes 4 servings

1 T. butter, (cut into piecesmarked on the wrapper)

12 marshmallows2 cups puffed rice cereal, such

as Kelloggs Rice Krispies6 fruit roll-ups (pressed, dried

fruit rounds, 6-inches wide) anybrand, any avor

6 strips licorice, such asTwizzlers brand, cut in half.

Melt butter in a mediumsaucepan over low heat andadd marshmallows. Stirmarshmallows until completelymelted. Remove mixture fromheat and add cereal. Stir tocoat cereal evenly in meltedmarshmallows.

Roll out the fruit roll-ups.Place a few spoonfuls of thecoated cereal onto each fruitroll-up and gather toward the

back edge of the roll-up. press2 cut licorice twists onto cerealmix. Wrap and roll the candy andfruit roll-up so that the nished product resembles a sushi roll,shimmying the licorice into thecenter of the Rice Krispies.

Place a sharp knife into a bowl of very warm water. Cutcandy sushi with a warm knifeand arrange pieces onto a plate

to serve. The candy sushi lookslike a big platter of Californiasushi roll! This is one trick thatmakes a tasty treat!

Creamy Tomato-BasilMug-O-Soup

Ages 12 to 16Makes 4 mugs and toppers

2 cups whole milk2 canned diced tomatoes,

drained (14 ounces each)2 rounded T. tomato paste1 med. yellow onion, chopped

Salt and freshly groundpepper to taste

1 teaspoon sugar3 T. all-purpose our2 T. butter, cut into pieces

(tablespoons are marked on thewrapper)

1/2 stalk celery, coarselychopped2 sandwich-sized English

mufns, split1 clove garlic, cracked with a

heavy panExtra-virgin olive oil (evoo),

for drizzling1/2 cup granted Parmigiano

Reggiano or Romano cheeseDried Italian season blend,

any brand

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves,torn or shredded

Heat milk to a simmer over

medium heat in a medium pt. Putomatoes, tomato paste, onions,salt, pepper, sugar, our, butterand celery into a food processorand grind until smooth. Pourmixture into milk and raise heato bring soup to a boil. Reduce

heat and simmer 15 minutes.

Toast English mufns. Rubwith cracked garlic and drizzlewith evoo. Top mufns witcheese and a pinch of drieItalian seasoning, then melt anbrown cheese under broiler intoaster oven.

Stir fresh basil into soup, anadjust seasonings. Pour soup

into mugs and cap mugs withgarlic-mufn mug topper.

Kids in the kitchen withRachael Ray

Creamy Tomato-Basil Mug-O-Soup with toasted English mufn.

Above: Candy sushi. Below: Pasta and Trees.



9/12

, ,

The following table represents the average costs for a two-income family

with two children, based on gures from 2001 U.S. Department of Agriculture

reports. Factoring the estimates for just these necessities, the total is around

$61,000. However, transportation and other costs likely push that gure over

$100,000. In the years to come, researchers estimate the costs to surpass$200,000.

In a perfect world, shop-ping would take place free fromcrowds, with low prices on allthe items, and with no crabbychildren in tow.

However, reality often meansthat time-pressed parents have totake their children along for theride.

Shopping can be stressfulenough when an adult does italone. With children factoredinto the mix, it can turn into anadventure. Now that holidayshopping is in the past (at leastuntil next year) parents can takea look at shopping from thechilds point of view.

Unable to dart from store tostore and squeeze through othershoppers, parents must pilot thestroller or shopping cart and bat-tle through. Others must attemptto keep an eye on a youngsteritting through a sea of much-taller people in the mall or store.

Without having a breakdownor throwing in the towel andskipping shopping all together,

hat can parents do when theyhave to shop with children?

The answer: Be patient and

follow a few ideas to minimizethe confusion.One of the key things to re-

member is that children espe-cially toddlers have short win-dows of time of good behaviorand patience.

While an infant in a strollermay be content to sleep the entireshopping trip away, a boisteroustoddler or school-aged child maybecome anxious when faced with

crowds and long hours strappedinto a carriage or car seat. Planfor short bursts of shopping sothat children will not becomeoverwhelmed or bored by theexperience.

Rushing out to shop with atired or hungry child is anotherway for parents to set themselvesup for disaster. Hunger pangs andsleepiness can turn a normallyamenable child into one prone totantrums rather quickly. Parentsshould time shopping jaunts forafter naps and meals to eliminatethese factors from the things thatmight trigger poor behavior fromchildren.

With the many toys, trinketsand other items on display forsale at area stores, children maybeg and plead for certain things,making shopping more chal-

lenging. Try to avoid the storesthat can be big temptations forchildren to times when shopping

can be done sans kids. If a childis allowed to bring a toy, book orother distraction from home, itcould help minimize the numberof I want that requests made.

When possible, talk to olderchildren during the shoppingexperience. Mention how muchthings cost and how they are be-

ing paid for. Kids can learn valu-able life lessons about managingnances by mimicking their par-ents.

Allow children to help withsome decision-making pro-cesses, such as, Should we buythe blue or green shirt? Beinginvolved can make the shoppingtrip more tolerable and childrenwill feel proud if theyre in-

volved in the process.While shopping with kids cansometimes be a headache, minor

irritations can turn into tragedyquickly if parents do not keepsafety in mind when kids arealong for the trip.

It is very easy to lose trackof children in bustling stores.Unfortunately, child predatorsalso can be lurking because theyknow its easier to kidnap a child

or take advantage when parentsare distracted and there are largecrowds.

Although it may seem inhu-mane, kiddie harnesses are ef-fective means to keeping youngchildren close by. Most harness-es are equipped with a plush toybackpack and a plush lead withhandle. This gives the childrensome freedom to walk withouthaving to constantly hold Mom-my or Daddys hand, but notenough slack to run off into thecrowd.

Children who will be ridingin shopping carts or strollersshould be monitored closely andstrapped in. Parents should notleave the stroller or wagon inone place to go browse. It onlytakes a minute for a fall to occuror for someone else to wander

off with the child.Its a good idea for parents totake a picture of their children

before starting the shopping tripso that theyll know exactly whathey are wearing and be able toreport it to the authorities shoulthe youngsters wander off.

Remember to take a pictureof the childrens shoes, as well.Child abductors often change theclothing of a kidnapped child bu

do not know the size of footwearand leave those shoes in place.Identication may be made

by what shoes the child is wear-ing.

To learn more about keep-ing children safe, visit the Website of the National Center forMissing and Exploited Childre(www.missingkids.com).

Another thing to keep in minis meal time. Apart from thehassle of waiting on food courlines for lunch or a snack, dininout with kids in tow also can beexpensive. Save time and mon-ey by packing lunch in a smallcooler, complete with juice box-es and nger foods that childrecan munch on.

Shopping with children manot be the ideal situation, but in-

novative and safety-conscious parents can make the best of iall year long.

Age

0-2

3-5

6-8

9-11

12-14

15-17

Housing

5,370

5,340

5,250

5,020

5,270

4,810

Food

1,440

1,630

1,970

2,290

2,400

2,530

Clothing

570

560

610

670

1,100

1,000

Health

700

670

770

820

830

870

Care/Ed

2,090

2,270

1,560

1,090

840

1,470

Totals

10,170

10,470

10,160

9,890

10,440

10,680

Average costs of raising a family

Keep kids needs in mind when shopping

Rushing out to shop

with a tired or hungrychild is another wayfor parents to setthemselves up fordisaster.

Lancaster, Pa.LANCMOMS.COM10 JANuAry 8, 2011


10/12

. Leave at apawnshop

. (K) Use a ladle

. (K) Weatherreport word

. Skin-creamadditive

. (K) To ___ ishuman

. (K) Cookiefavorite

. (K) River deposit

. (K) It can beapple or cherry

. where noman has ___before

. Food meant forLent (3 words)

. (K) Peaseporridge ___. (K) Skinny fish. Politicalinfluence. What anampersandmeans. (K) Commonarticle

. so shall ye___. On the otherhand . Decorativepitcher. (K) The bestis ___ to come. (K) What anacorn becomes

. Folklore figure

. (K) ___ zag. (K) Water or cap. Symphonyorchestra. (K) Oozethrough thecracks. Word on a bill. Expressed, as

a farewell. (K) Sound of ababy chick. (K) What ___you up to?. (K) Didnt tellthe truth. Comrade. (K) Family man. (K) So what

___ is new?

. Chopped meatdish

. Bit of this anda bit of that

. (K) Young malehorse

. (K) McDonaldsfreebie

. (K) Place tocatch the bus

. Beardedblossom

. (K) It may bebrought to aparty

. Business bigwig

. Anemic personsneed

. (K) Cameraattachment

. (K) She doesnthave antlers

. Becomecompost. (K) Night spot. (K) React to asad movie,perhaps

. Get what fitsjeans company. (K) Horsessnack. Diving seabird. (K) A third of six. (K) Tailor-madeline. Before, of yore. Iraqi capital. Lend dignity to. (K) Engine need. (K) Item to chew. Comic strippinhead. Midas undoing. (K) Orangecovering. (K) Command

to Bowser. Distinctiveatmosphere

. (K) Carpentryfastener. Date of Marchmadness?. Hand over. (K) Relaxingretreat

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

2009 Universal Press Syndicatewww.amuniversal.com/ups

Can you find the answer to thisriddle within the solved puzzle?

What comes betweenpartners?

Look for the answer in next weekss paper.

Created by Timothy E. Parker November 16, 2009

The (K) Clues are for Kids

Helpless

23-A) Solo

Previous riddle answer:

Theres a new queen of babynames. Isabella took the crownfrom last years winner, Emma,to claim the top girl baby nameof 2009. Jacob continued his

remarkable run by holding ontothe top boy name for the 11thear in a row over a new number

two for boys, Ethan. New to the top 10 this year

for boys are Jayden and Noah,and for girls, Mia.

To see all the top baby namesfor 2009, go to Social Securitys

ebsite www.socialsecurity.gov.

A favorite feature of SocialSecuritys baby names website isthe Change in Name Popularitypage. This years winner for thebiggest jump is Maliyah, whichundoubtedly is related to thepopularity of the First Family.Malia (the spelling used by theFirst Daughter), also is one of thetop 10 fastest risers among girlsnames. Isla, the name of popularactress Isla Fisher (and wifeof Sacha Baron Cohen akaBorat, which thankfully has yetto make the list) was the secondfastest riser among girls.

On the boys side, Cullenhad the biggest increase, likelyattributable to the popularcharacter Edward Cullen in theTwilight novels and movies.King came in as the numberthree top mover for boys, but

more on Elvis later.The girls name Marely,

hich interestingly had the thirdlargest increase last year, hadthe biggest drop this year fromnumber 334 to 851. Mylee hadthe second biggest drop; Miley(as in Cyrus) also dropped inpopularity.

In the wake of controversiessurrounding Lindsay Lohan,Lindsay dropped from number381 to 524. Brett, Jonas and

lvin are among the boys namesith the largest decreases. With

Brett, Social Security wondersif Americans are ready to retirethe name (sorry Vikings fans,we mean Jets fans, um Packersfans). And despite the soaring

popularity of singing trios whether human brothers orthe chipmunk variety fewerpeople apparently are willing toname their sons Jonas or Alvin.

With 69 baby Baracks born in2009, Barack continues to move

up the list to number 1,993 from2,424 in 2008, and 12,535 in2007, but still lags well behind

First Dog Bo at 782.Many patterns of recent years

continued. Religious namescontinue to be very popular,including the girl names Heaven atnumber 275 and Nevaeh (Heavenspelled backwards) at 34. Messiahwas number 663 for boys. Anextraordinary 3.7 percent of theTop 1000 boy names rhymedwith the word maiden andnames associated with cities,states, or countries were popular,particularly for girls.

And for all of you Elvis fansout there, heres the annualupdate from Social SecurityCommissioner Michael J. Astrue:Elvis slipped from number713 in 2008 to 858 in 2009.Unconfrmed reports indicate hewas all shook up by his 2009rank, but pleased that Presley is

number 268 for girls, and thatKing and Memphis landed at462 and 605 for boys.

The Social Security websiteoffers lists of baby names foreach year since 1880. SocialSecurity started compiling babyname lists in 1997.

Be sure to check out www.socialsecurity.gov to see themost popular baby names foreach state, as well as an exclusivevideo of Chubby Checkercounting down the most popularnames of the past decade.

Whats in a name?

Here are the top 10 boys and girls names for 2009:

Boys: 1) Jacob Girls: 1) Isabella2) Ethan 2) Emma

3) Michael 3) Olivia4) Alexander 4) Sophia5) William 5) Ava6) Joshua 6) Emily7) Daniel 7) Madison8) Jayden 8) Abigail9) Noah 9) Chloe

10)Anthony 10)Mia

Lancaster, Pa. LANCMOMS.COM JANuAry 8, 2011 11


11/12

the bottom of the hill, so thattubers do not slide into theparking lot. There are multiplelanes including a kiddie lane,

family lanes, intermediate lanes,and the Xtreme tubing lanesfor the daredevil riders. Xtremelanes, which are the steepest andfastest lanes, were added in thepast few years). Two tow ropesare available to make your ascentto the top of the hill a little biteasier.

You can enjoy a full dayof tubing with the cost ofadmission, and season passes

are available. At night theresa different atmosphere. Whenthe sun goes down the hill getsfaster. Fire pits are setup at the

bottom of the hill, so its a fun,festive evening, Melissa says.

Theres also an outdoorconcession stand, and KnickersPub in Heritage Hills GolfResort & Conference Center isopen. Knickers has a premiumhot chocolate bar, so its a great

place to warm up after youve been tubing for a while, shesays. Knickers outdoor patio isequipped with patio heaters, andcan be a cozy place for parentsand grandparents to take a breakand watch the kids as they havefun.

If you and your family wantto take a break from tubingand return later in the day(or evening), you can do so.Admission is good for a wholedays worth of fun, and you geta lift ticket that goes on your

jacket (just like a lift ticket at a

ski resort). When you return, justmake sure youre wearing the

jacket with the lift ticket.Group rates are available for

groups of 15 or more, and youcan even host a tubing eventor party at Avalanche Xpress.Melissa says that there have

even been wedding parties atAvalanche Xpress.

Hours are Monday throughThursday 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday4 to 11 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to11 p.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m. to10 p.m. On both Martin LutherKing Day (Monday, January 17)and Presidents Day (Monday,February 21), Avalanche Xpresswill open at 9 a.m.

For further information onAvalanche Xpress and tubingconditions, please visit www.AvalancheXpress.com or call877-782-9752.

Snowtubingcontinued from page 12

Tips to save a lot when planning family meals(ARA) Ah, family dinner

time. A meal lovingly prepared

and family members gatheredaround the dining table sharingstories from their day. While aspecial meal is a time-honoredtradition, the planning, timeand the cost involved may leavesome without an appetite.

Many shoppers are on thehunt for affordable and simplershopping routines. Regardlessof whether youre planninga holiday feast, a birthdaycelebration, or just day-to-daymeals throughout the year, itseasier and more cost effectiveif you go into grocery shoppingprepared.

Consider these tips fromnational grocery retailer Save-

-Lot before your next shoppingtrip:

Plan for several mealsrather than just one

Many grocery shoppers makethe mistake of only planning fora big special meal when they cancut time and cost by planning forseveral. Decide ahead of timehow your family might wantto use leftover meat or veggiesfrom the meal, and buy extraingredients to extend your mealinto the following week. Forexample, if during the holidaysour family craves the leftover

turkey sandwiches as much asthey love the big roasted bird,be sure to stock u on bread,

mayonnaise, mustard and lettucein advance.

Create a weekly mealplanner

This is a good idea yearround, but its especially helpfulto do so during holidays whenyour schedule gets more hectic.Think about what you andyour family members typicallyconsume each day. If there is a

particular food item or meal ideathat your whole family enjoys,make sure to stock up when it ison sale. Ask each family memberto pick a meal for dinner. Makecontingencies such as quick andeasy lunch items for kids whomay be home during a school

break, or snacks for visitingfamily members.

Visit grocery store websitesfor tools and deals

Grocery retailers frequentlyoffer tips and tools for meal

planning, as well as exclusiveonline bargains. Check to see ifyour store is offering discountsin exchange for signing up fortheir shopping clubs year round.For example, Save-A-Lot offersa $5 coupon for signing up for itsSmart Shopper Club.

Take advantage of storebrands

Many grocery stores offertheir own private brands offoods and everyday items,and frequently these itemsare of e uivalent ualit as

more expensive national brandnames. By using store brands,

you can save a little money onyour grocery bill and splurgeon something special, such as acelebratory dessert. Store brandsare great for helping to keep yourweekly grocery costs down.

Keep track of ingredients toreplenish

Youve got everything laidout to make chocolate chipcookies, but you forgot to buy the

baking soda nothing is morefrustrating than having to make areturn trip to a store. Keep trackof ingredients you frequently usein your cooking. Then, as soon asyou use up an item, immediatelyadd it to your ongoing grocerylist. By the end of the week,not only will your shoppinglist be complete, but you wont

be stuck in the store trying toremember what is or is not in

your cupboard. You also wont be tempted to buy somethingyou dont need. Whats more, besure to use measuring utensils soyou dont use more ingredientsthan necessary which can becostly to your familys waistlineand budget.

Eliminate shopping hasslesGrocery shopping can be a

time-consuming hassle, especiallyfor busy, on-the-go families.Some retailers offer discounted,everyday prices that can helpeliminate the need to ma out

complicated store-to-store routes,or navigate through a maze ofaisles to fnd the best deals.

With these few simple tips,

youll not only save money athe grocery store, but youll havemore time to enjoy cooking ancelebrating with those you love.

$5.00OFFA $20.00Purchase

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Add a little color to yourwinter wardrobe with a scarf

from Accents!

AccentsTanger Outlets (Above Nike Outlet)

717-390-0653Store Hours: Mon-Sat 9-9; Sun 10-6

Lancaster, Pa.LANCMOMS.COM12 JANuAry 8, 2011


12/12

Day TrippinSnow tubing at Avalanche Xpress

By Rochelle A. Shenk

Special Features Writer

The cold days of Decemberhave morphed from the holidaysinto a new year. Although theresa nip in the air, family activitiesneed not be limited to indoors.Avalanche Xpress at HeritageHills, York, provides wintersnow tubing fun for the entirefamily.

Melissa Wadlinger, HeritageHills marketing coordinator, saidthat this is the ninth season forthe snow tubing experience.

Heritage Hills driving rangewith its 80-foot hill is turnedinto the tubing hill in the winter.Decembers cold days allowedthe tubing hill to open for winterfun on Dec. 17.

Families, scout troops, churchgroups, and sports teams can

all be found having fun snowtubing.

All ages are welcome.

However all tubers must be ableto slide down in their own tubeand once at the bottom of the hillthey must be able to exit the laneon their own, so the minimumage for children is three or four,she says.

Snow tubes are provided inthe cost of admission, so youonly have to bring yourselfand your family for some great

outdoor fun.Dont forget to dresswarmly! Hats, gloves, mittens,warm sweaters and jackets areimportant.

If you and your family havesnow pants or jackets they will be perfect that way yourclothes will stay dry.

A snow crew makes andgrooms the hill every day. Asafety crash fence is installed at

- continued on page 11

ACCU-AIRE MECHANICALSERVICES, INC.Commercial/IndustrialConstruction ServiceHeating Ventilation Air ConditioningLancaster 285-2228

BINKLEY & HURST LPFarm & Industrial EquipmentSales Service Parts Rental133 Rothsville Station Rd.,Lititz 626-4705Outback Toy Store101 W. Lincoln Ave., Lititz 625-2020

EBERSOLES VACUUM CLEANERSALES & SERVICEHousehold & CommercialCentral VacuumsBags-Parts-Service20 Beaver Valley Pk.,Willow Street 717-464-1325www.ebersolesvacuum.com

GEHMAN FEED MILL, INC.Livestock & Poultry FeedsHorse, Pet & Wild Bird FeedsDenver 717-336-5585

GOODS STORE, INC.Clothing Dry Goods Hardware Lawn & Garden ShoesEast Earl 354-4026Quarryville 786-9028Schaefferstown 949-2663Ephrata 733-7356

HIGHS AUTO SERVICE, INC.General Repairs State InspectionAir Conditioning Service

1603 Rothsville Rd., Lititz 626-0264

HOOBER, INC.Case IH Farm EquipmentIntercourse 800-732-0017McAlisterville 800-433-6679Middletown, Delaware800-341-4028Seaford, Delaware800-843-3056

HOPEWELL MENNONITESHARING PLANA Faith-Based MinistryAffordable Medical CoverageFamily or Business610-286-6160Mon., Tues., Thurs., FriBox 129, Morgantownwww.sharingplan.com

J.B. HOSTETTER & SONS, INC.Hardware Paint HousewaresLawn & Garden Equip ElectronicsAppliances Just Ask RentalMount Joy 653-1841

JOHN M. HESSAUCTION SERVICE, INC.1667 Cider Press Rd., Manheim877-599-8894 #AY000253Lwww.hess-auction.com

KAUFFMANS FRUIT FARM& MARKETFruit Growers 717-768-7112Deli Groceries ProduceBulk Foodswww.kauffmansfruitfarm.com3097 Old Phila. Pk., Bird-In-Hand

LANDYSHADE MULCH PRODUCTSBark/Mushroom/Playground Mulch

Screened Top Soil Railroad Ties1801 Colebrook Rd.,Lancaster 898-7689

LICHTY BROTHERS, INC.Finest Collision ServiceShowroom Quality PaintingTowing Hunter Wheel AlignmentEast Earl 717-445-6733

MARK G. BRUBAKERCertified Public Accountant214 N. Market St.,Elizabethtown 367-25551 N. Hess St., Quarryville 786-1433

MARTINS AUTO SALESSpecializing In Used Pickup Trucks1025 W. Main, New Holland717-656-6621

MARTINS COUNTRY MARKETS, LLCGroceries Home Dressed MeatsLIncoln Mall at Ephrata 738-3754Morgantown 610-286-5045

M. M. WEAVER & SONS, INC.Massey-Ferguson Sales & Service169 N. Groffdale Rd.,

Leola 656-2321

MUSSELMAN LUMBER, INC.Lumber Building MaterialsNew Holland 354-4321Ephrata 733-2241

SENSENIGS FEED MILLGrain Pet Food & Supplies115 S. Railroad Ave., New Holland354-4756 800-724-2002

WEAVER MARKETS, INC.Supermarket & Banquet FacilitiesAdamstown 717-484-4302Reinholds 717-336-3868

www.weavermarkets.com

WEAVERS STORE INC.Shoes Boots ClothingHardware Sporting GoodsArchery Range HousewaresFivepointville - Rte. 897717-445-6791 800-856-4031Leola Hardware 717-556-0791

YODERS COUNTRY MARKET,RESTAURANT & BUFFETMenu & Buffet Dining Banquets14 S. Tower Rd.,New Holland 354-4748

PaulB LLCHardware Ephrata717-738-7350 Fax 738-7360Paul B. Zimmerman, Inc. Company

ROHRER SEEDSQuality Farm & Garden SeedsSmokestown 717-299-2571

ROOTS COUNTRY MARKET ANDAUCTION, INC.

Market every Tuesday705 Graystone RoadManheim 717-898-7811

ZIMMERMANS INSURANCEPersonal Light Commercial Life200 W. Main, Leola717-656-2176

ZOOK MOLASSES CO.Molasses: Liquid Dried OrganicGOOD FOOD, INC.Processors of Syrups,Molasses, Sugar, Cooking Oils& Dry BlendingHoney Brook 800-327-4406

www.goldenbarrel.com

When doesm a r r i a g ep r e p a r a t i o n

begin? In thelate teens? Theearly twenties?

No. It beginsat birth. The

baby comesinto the worldwithout anyhabits orattitudes ofhis own. These are formed according to the home influence. In theearly years of life parents can lay the foundations for the successfulmarriages of their children later on.

How can they do this? By providing an atmosphere of love betweenparent and parent, between parents and children. By giving the childrengood care and wise discipline. By cultivating the habit of cheerfulness.By answering the childrens questions about life. By practicing andteaching the wise use of money. By giving spiritual training at home,

backed up by Christian experience and example.There are no perfect homes where little children may grow up.

But all homes can improve. And they must improve because todayshomes are producing tomorrows parents.

No. 61RS Concord Associates. For a free copy,

ask for No. 61 and send a long, self-addressed, stampedenvelope to: Concord Associates, 205 W. Riverside Dr.,

Bridgewater, VA 22812.

When DoesIt Begin?

Documents

LancMoms Magazine - January 2011