A Note from Kim

Dear Readers,

Who is your hero? Our Junior Heroes fundraising campaign reminded me of three lessons:   

1.  Never underestimate the power of email to inspire others.

2.  Wear waterproof mascara if you attend the Red Cross Heroes Breakfast.

3.  You can be a hero through words, actions, thoughts and donations.

I was so excited to accept the challenge from our local chapter of the American Red Cross to inspire our readers to raise money for their Junior Heroes campaign.  I couldn’t imagine the thought of your entire home filled with memories and mementos suddenly burned to the ground. Taking a little bit of time to raise funds and reach out to local families in need was absolutely something we could do to help.  Through email promotions and the hard work of our team leaders who reached out to their friends and neighbors, we raised $1585!  We’ve announced the winners of our campaign sponsor prizes - check them out here. 

Meanwhile, meet an important part of our fundraising success – Erica Christell. This Springfield Moms reader raised nearly $700 on her OWN!  I was so impressed with all she had done with the campaign that I invited her to meet for coffee, and she is now our new Executive Assistant for Springfield Moms. To spice things up, I also promised the American Red Cross that I would kiss the darling pig, Oliver, in honor of exceeding our fundraising goal.   Stay tuned: the squealer will be coming over next week!

Erica joined me and hundreds of others at the Red Cross Heroes Breakfast that honored local heroes in 12 categories. All of the fundraisers were recognized, but the true intent of the breakfast was to recognize the heroes all around us. 

Meet Bill Lloyd, who grew up with neglectful parents that didn’t provide any sense of home, comfort or peace. Retired, he now gives nearly all of his money back to help others; donating money, clothes or a hotel room for a good night’s sleep and a warm shower to someone in need.  Bill has done it all to ensure other kids don’t feel alone.  Two college-aged brothers, William and James Heffernan, used their Eagle Scout training to help resuscitate a grandmother choking at a local restaurant.  Staff Sgt. Robert Joseph Wilson had served three years and two tours in Iraq and voluntarily chose to go back one more time.  “I go where my troops go,” he told his father the day before he left.  He was killed by a road side bomb a few months later.  There were many other inspiring stories and a beautiful serenade by American Idol contestant Elizabeth Eckert. Believe me – we used the Kleenex box they provided guests at each table.

As Rachael Atchison, our emcee for the event, said, “thank your hero today” and remember, we all have the opportunity to be a hero!  Do you know of a great hero story for a future issue of our newsletter?  Email us. 

You will love the variety of this newsletter.  If you are planning travel now or in the future, check out some great vacation tips for kids of all ages!  From boating to swimming to summer-time grilling, we’re almost there!   Enjoy this terrific info-packed issue, and thank you to our dedicated Newsletter Editor Julie Kaiser and ALL contributors. 

If you haven’t already registered for our free bi-monthly email updates, register here!  You’ll love the new tips, articles, upcoming events and updates direct to your inbox!  Has your email address changed?  Register again with your new one (especially former insightbb users.)

NEW! On our website: 

Neighborhood Garage Sales

Updated!  Printable Coupons in Mom’s Choice

Summer Camp Directory, including a printable pdf

Summer Reading Programs

101 Tips for Living Green: download the pdf on Going Green  

Kim’s Blog: updated almost every weekday!

Thanks for reading, and all the best to you and your family!

The Red Cross: Up Close and Personal 

By Erica Christell

This spring, Springfield Moms reader Erica Christell raised nearly $700 on behalf of the American Red Cross Junior Heroes campaign.  She explains below how the Red Cross came to her family’s rescue during the tornadoes of March 2006:

I have always had a fear of natural disasters, especially tornados, since they are more prominent in the Midwest, so on Sunday, March 12, 2006, when I received the call that the tornados in Springfield were now headed our way, my nightmare started.

It was only a couple minutes later when Riverton sounded the sirens. We gathered the kids and headed to the basement. We all moved to a corner and started to pray. I remember my oldest son Collin saying, “There can’t be a tornado, I can hear a train” and at that moment I knew we were right in the middle of something awful.  That sound was not a train, but the whistling wind blowing through our home. It couldn’t get worse … or could it?

We lost power almost immediately, which meant we had lost our Sump Pump. We had never really worried about the basement taking water – it was just for storage, but now that there was nothing pumping the water out, it was rising fast. We couldn’t stay; the water was cold and had moved past our ankles in just a few minutes. We shuffled our way through the dark and then through the rubbish scattered throughout the house. We packed everyone in the car and left.

We left without anything but the clothes on our back, not knowing the condition of our home and not looking back. As we drove through Riverton, we saw chaos. The roads were blocked by trees, power lines and debris. Luckily, we had a destination. With more twisters to come, we headed to my in-laws where we could be safe. I think there were ten of us sleeping on the basement floors next to the weather radio that night.  Then, it was finally over, or at least the twisters were.

The next day we evaluated our home’s damage. The house was intact, no broken windows and no roof damage, but branches and leaves were scattered throughout the house. They had blown through the screens in the windows we had left open. That wasn’t the problem, though.  The four feet of standing water in the basement with no electricity was the problem.  For the next two days, my family removed the water with five gallon buckets.  We were lucky compared to some families. We had a safe place to stay, but our home was uninhabitable, and the bills were still coming. Now we had to find a way to manage our finances while new expenses were on the rise. 

My first call was to the American Red Cross. We were in need of necessities like diapers, food and toiletries. My husband and I were both using our benefit time to deal with the situation. It didn’t take long before that was gone, and we had to go back to work. Meanwhile, the American Red Cross worked to find us referrals to meet our needs. They provided my family with more than food and diapers – they comforted my children with stuffed animals and snacks. They issued our family a clean up kit for our home, including rubber gloves, bleach, towels, laundry soap, dish soap and buckets. We were displaced for two weeks while we worked with insurance companies and repairs were being made to our home. When our family needed help, the American Red Cross was there. We are now back in our home with battery back-up installed on our sump pump. We also have a new generator and are ready for power outages, should they occur. Thank you, American Red Cross. You will always have a place in our home and in our hearts.

Erica Christell lives in Riverton with her husband Chip and her three children: Collin (15), Nathan (9) and Addison (2). She also works with Kim Little as an Executive Assistant for Springfield Moms.

• 18^th Annual Junior League “Kitchens In Bloom” Tour of Homes Fundraiser, May 4^th 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. The residences this year are in the Washington Park/Leland Grove area.  The fabulous homes on tour are owned by Dr. and Mrs. D.G. Allan at 1114 Woodland Avenue; Dr. Stephen and Lisa Stone at 2021 Wiggins Avenue; Donald and Marybeth Evans at 1050 Williams Boulevard; Lamar and Michelle Villere at 1049 Woodland Avenue; Steve and Dana Kinion at 1635 Ruth Place; and Matt and Ellen Giacomini at 1324 South Bates. Tickets are $12.00 in advance and $15.00 at the homes.  Interested in tickets?  More info here

• Mother’s Day is May 11.  Celebrate Mother's Day by showing moms in your life and moms who stay at the Ronald McDonald House how special they are! If you are looking for a unique way to tell the mothers in your life "Happy Mother's Day!", then order an award winning card designed for the Ronald McDonald House! For every $10 donation, we will send a card to a mother on your behalf. You can purchase your card(s) online at www.rmhcspringfield.org (fundraisers page) or mail a check with the names and addresses of the mothers you'd like for us to send a card to: Ronald McDonald House, Attn: Mother's Day, 610 N. 7^th St.,  Springfield, IL,  62702.

• Old State Capitol Art Fair:  May 17 and 18^th.  Don’t miss this great opportunity to share art with your children and to add some beautiful pieces to your own home décor!  Encourage your kids to visit the children’s tent for kid-friendly activities and reasonably priced art so they can start developing their own taste in artwork for their bedrooms.  For more information, visit www.socaf.org. 

• Babes of Summer Photo Contest Begins May 21^st: Babies ages 2 and younger are eligible to have their photo taken for the contest. Professional photographer Kimberly Smoot will be taking contest photos during four “picture stops” at Marine Bank Branches in Springfield and Chatham.  Finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges selected by Capitol Radio Group. Finalist photos will be posted on the WDBR website, and the winner will be determined by online voting. The winner will receive a grand prize package worth at least $500. The other finalists will receive prizes worth $100.  This contest is sponsored by Springfield Moms bronze sponsor Marine Bank.  For more details, click here

Sink or Swim: Preparing for Swimming Lessons

By Jenny Bright

• When signing up your little one for swim class, be honest with yourself about their swimming ability. We all want our kids to be achievers but you don’t want your child to feel intimidated by the water or his classmates.  If you still aren’t confident, ask a swimming instructor if she will place your child into the correct class for their age and ability.

• It’s never too early to introduce your child to the water.  Children as young as six months old can take a parent/child class.  Just remember that children under the age of one should never be dunked under the water.

• Ask about the adult/child ratio.  You want to ensure your kids receive the attention that they need to succeed, so the adult-to-child ratio is important.  A good rule to follow is the younger the child(ren), the more adults should be present. And even though it’s a swimming class, a lifeguard should always be present and on duty.

• Please don’t set your child up for failure. Telling a child that he/she doesn’t have to jump in or get their face and ears wet only leads to tears. I have taught swimming classes for many years, and it is impossible to learn to swim without getting your head wet. If your little one is afraid, let the teacher know and she can work to build up confidence to help your child succeed.  (If your little one has tubes and can’t have water in their ears, buy ear plugs. For little ones under three or four years old, consider buying the ear band that goes around their head to help secure the plugs and keep the water out.)

• If you are enjoying a water excursion with your family, stay safe.  Always remember: Reach, Throw, and then Go.  Basically, this means don’t jump in after a struggling swimmer. (When you jump in, you place yourself in as much danger as the swimmer.)  First, plop down on your stomach and see if you can reach them to pull them to safety. Don’t squat down, or in their panic they may pull you in on top of their head. If the victim is too far from the side of the pool, check for a white safety ring to toss in.  If there is not reaching equipment available, call for help before entering the water.  Plant yourself if possible before extending an arm.  Maintain a defensive posture, and don’t let the victim pull you under as well.

Finally, remember to use SPF 15 or higher for all members of your family when outdoors and reapply often.  Have a great and wet summer!  

Area Swimming Lessons

• The Springfield Park District offers a variety of private and group swim lessons at both Eisenhower and Nelson Center pools. For a complete list of days and times, please visit www.springfieldparks.org.

• The Springfield YMCA offers a variety of swim lessons at its indoor pools located on 4^th Street.  For a complete list of days and times, please visit www.springfieldymca.org.

• Adventure Dive and Travel also offers lessons:  http://www.goforadventure.com/pages/swim.htm.

Jenny Bright is married to Joe with three children (ages 6, 4 and 2).  She teaches baby, toddler and preschool classes at the Springfield YMCA on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during the school year.

Enjoy Lake Springfield This Summer

By Lisa Barutcu

I have lived in Springfield almost 14 years, and I believe Lake Springfield is one of the capital city’s most fantastic assets.  But I have been on Lake Springfield only once.  I don’t have a boat, and I don’t know people who have boats so I have always assumed that weekends on the lake are out of the question (until I make a friend who owns a boat!).  Since that hasn’t happened yet, my 4-year-old daughter suggested “we could just borrow a submarine from CWLP,” and I decided I’d better figure out how those of us who don’t know a pontoon from a power boat can enjoy Lake Springfield.

Boat Rentals

According to www.lakespringfieldmarina.com, there are several types of watercraft available for rent for a half-day or a full day.  A complete list of boats and rental prices are available on the website.  For as little as $25, you can rent a kayak.  I might try that, but you won’t catch me doing any roll-over maneuvers.  As a matter of fact, I don’t know how to operate a boat at all.

Before You Row, Row, Row Your Boat

To find out if I am qualified to operate a jet ski or pontoon, I spoke with Doreen Pappas at Lake Springfield Marina.  For insurance reasons, rentals are only available to boaters 18 years of age or older who have a valid Illinois Drivers License.  You must be 18 or over for a jet ski as well.  I confided in Doreen that I have never driven a boat, but she assured me that my rental includes a tutorial in boat operations, if needed.   I told her it sounded like lots of fun to gather eight or ten of my closest friends to rent a pontoon for a day, but that I don’t have any lifejackets or other nautical necessities.   Not a problem – the rental includes lifejackets, too.  The boat is filled with fuel before your day on the lake, and you only pay for what you use. 

In addition to personal watercraft (jet skis), and pontoons, the Marina also has a “party barge” for rent.  It is quite large – Doreen mentioned that a driver can be supplied, for a fee, to drive the party barge while its occupants enjoy a day (or evening) on the lake.  While most people hire the driver for the party barge, Doreen has not heard of anyone hiring a driver for a jet ski so I’d better cross that idea off the list. 

Apparently children as young as ten years old can become certified to operate a boat in Illinois (supervised), but the Marina requires a driver to be 18 or over.  If you see the kid that mows your lawn zooming around the lake, it would have to be on a privately-owned watercraft.

While I won’t be entering a regatta anytime soon, I do feel confident I could take my family out for a day on the lake.  The Marina even rents those giant tubes that you can ride behind the boat.  That sealed the deal for me.  See you on the lake!

For more information on boat rentals:

Lake Springfield Marina

217-483-DOCK (483-3625) or www.lakespringfieldmarina.com

For more information about boating rules and water safety, visit CWLP’s website: http://www.cwlp.com/Lake_Springfield/Water_sports/boating.htm#Boating Rules

Lisa Barutcu lives in Springfield and is married to Cuneyt.  She is the proud mom of 6-year-old Tolga, 4-year-old Melis and 5-month-old Tarkan. She tries to scrapbook once a month and is well aware of the irony of spending her free time looking at pictures of her children!

“Women in the Outdoors” Comes to Lake Springfield for

One-Day Retreat on July 26^th

Do you love the outdoors but can’t find the time to enjoy it?  Are you tired of your typical weekend filled with errands, laundry, kids, cleaning, chores – same old, same old?  Relief is on the way! 

Register now for the 4^th Annual “Women in the Outdoors” event – a specialized “Ladies On the Lake” one-day retreat on Lake Springfield, Saturday, July 26^th, where you can sign up for workshops on topics including outdoor cooking and fire building, canoeing, basic boat safety/boat handling, even bowfishing (with instructors from Illinois Bowfishers)!  Co-sponsored by the White Oaks chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and Land of Lincoln Power Squadron, this specialized Fishing and Boating Event is offered to all women ages 14 and older.  All activities will take place at the Bridgeview Park Building at 149 North Lakewood Drive.

Outdoor cooking workshop instructor Kathy Andrews encourages participants to shake up their cooking routine this summer   “Tired of the same old ‘throw some

The $50 registration fee includes admission to the day’s events, lunch and refreshments, a 1-year subscription to the Women in the Outdoors magazine and use of equipment and supplies.  The registration deadline is July 21, 2008 (with an early bird deadline of July 12 for a reduced registration fee of $40).  Bring a friend and take $5 off each of your registrations!  There will also be a silent auction, raffles, gift items and more.  Monies raised will be used for future Women In The Outdoors events throughout Illinois.

For more information, visit the national website for Women in the Outdoors at www.womenintheoutdoors.org, email regional coordinator Cindy Spillman at cswito@hughes.net or call local organizers Sue Gibbons (622-8270) or Jeanine Garner (638-5157) for specific Lake Springfield details.  Flier  Registration Form

Throw a Great Garage Sale

By Amy McFadden

Those boxes sitting in the basement corner are begging for freedom, and spring and summer are prime times to hold a garage sale, so why not make this your year!  No doubt, putting on a garage sale is a lot of work, but the rewards can be well worth it; we made over $1,000 the year we sold all our “baby gear” and cleared out the storage room at the same time.  For maximum return on your efforts, consider some of these tips before you raise those automatic double-doors and let strangers in to peruse your castoffs:

Planning Is Everything

Prepare for the sale in advance, at least two weeks if not a month ahead.  If you can piggyback your sale onto a subdivision-wide sale week, it will increase your traffic, which can be worth competing with neighbors for business.  Consider pairing with a friend, relative or neighbor so you’ll have more to offer.

• Don’t put out junk; toss out any stained clothing or broken items.  This is especially true if you plan to hold future sales.  My sister-in-law claims I “made a name for myself in the garage-sale world” by putting out quality items in good condition.

• Popular items include baby clothing, baby equipment and toys, maternity wear and household knick-knacks (even those ugly ceramic figurines Granny gave you for Christmas).  The best-selling clothing items are those that are in-season, so dig out your spring and summer castoffs first.  Adult clothing doesn’t move as quickly, if at all.  Our advice is not to waste your time; just donate your fat (or skinny) jeans to Goodwill and focus on kids’ stuff. 

• Entice kids to part with toys they no longer play with by offering to let them keep the money the item yields.  Older kids will often enthusiastically search their drawers for extra items to make even more cash!

• Be realistic about pricing.  If your prices are reasonable, you are more likely to move your merchandise.  One year a woman told me she was buying at my sale because of my prices; she said comparable clothing items were marked $8 at the neighbor’s sale. 

• Some general pricing guidelines are:

Baby Clothing Separates - $.25-$.75

Big-Name Kid’s Clothes (Gymboree, Mini Boden, Hanna Andersson)-$1-$5

Cribs (in good condition) - $20-$25

High Chair - $5 - $15 (for deluxe brands like Peg Perego or Chicco)

Bouncy Seats - ask for $8, accept $5

Household Bric-a-brac - $.25 - $5

            Maternity Clothing - $.25 - $5

• Make use of those pre-printed sale stickers, which you can easily find at dollar stores, office stores and discount chains like Meijer, WalMart and Target.  Put a sticker on everything; this is a good project to do in the evening while watching tv.  While you’re working, sort like items (by gender, size, type).  In the future, you can keep some of the stickers in the kids’ closets and mark items as you clean out too-small items each season in preparation for your next sale.

• Drum up some business.  If you frequent second-hand stores, you might casually mention your sale to other shoppers while you’re in the store; often the same people who shop resale shops are also garage-sale-goers.  Advertise the traditional way, too.  The price of a classified ad in the newspaper (around $12) will pay for itself; serious shoppers check these listings religiously.

• Friday is the day to do it, because it seems to be popular with garage sale queens.  Consider running the sale for only a few hours; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. is a popular time.

• Make signs directing shoppers to categories of stuff; you’ll get fewer questions.  Also, post an “Early Birds Pay Double” sign for those persistent people who show up at 6 a.m. for an 8 a.m. sale.  That way, they still get to shop, while you’ll get a little bonus for putting up with them browsing while you’re setting up.

• Get at least $25 in change and small bills to get yourself started making change.  Plan to only accept cash, and post a sign stating your policy.

• Anticipate opportunities to meet the needs of your “customers.” In hot weather you can put out a cooler of ice-cold pop and water for sale.

• If possible, hang clothing on racks.  Be creative with what you have on hand - a rolling laundry cart with hang bar can become a clothing rack.  Also, borrow as many large tables as you can get your hands on.  Neatly fold your clothing items; it’s okay to fan them.  Make sure your display isn’t a jumbled mess or heaping stacks to sort.  Some shoppers won’t dig.

• Set up a “check out table,” where you will tally items and bag purchases (save your grocery bags for a few weeks in advance so you’ll have plenty on hand).

On the Big Day

Avoid using a cash-box; my Granny lost over $400 when someone lifted the cash box at one of her sales.  Instead, wear an apron with pockets and keep the money on your body at all times.  If you’re teaming up with a friend, have one person be in charge of the cash and divide up profits later.

Be on the lookout for tag-switchers, and other party poopers who try to pull a fast one.  Don’t let yourself get distracted when figuring totals or making change.  Put large items outside the garage to entice drive-by traffic to stop.  Rotate items and refold frequently.  If your items look neat, people are more comfortable buying from you.  In addition, a table that looks “full” is more inviting than one that looks picked over.

Never leave your stuff unattended, not even for a minute.  Arrange for a friend or family member to take over for you during bathroom breaks.  If you are inside the garage, keep a close eye on your garage goods that are not for sale (a few people tried to buy my husband’s bike and my son’s Power Wheels Jeep) and cover valuable equipment (mower, snowblower, tools) with an old sheet.

Take a cue from the retail pros; help direct your shoppers in the right direction.  If you are friendly and offer help finding something, or suggest an item a person might not have considered, you are more likely to make a sale.

Be willing to bargain, within reason.  Don’t take offense if someone offers you less than you marked an item.  If it’s early in the day, you might politely decline saying something like, “That price is firm this morning, but if you want to come back at 2:00, I might consider your offer then.”  Offer “bonus buys”; if someone takes several items off your hands, throw in an extra or two.  Slash prices or offer 2-for-1 extras near the end of the sale to get rid of your extra stuff.  You don’t really want to haul it back into storage after all that work, do you?

With a little planning and preparation, you can turn your “jumble” and sweat equity into a decent profit, and fulfill any unrealized retail business dreams while you’re at it.

Would you rather shop the garage sales than organize one?  Be sure to visit our new Neighborhood Garage Sales website page.

Amy McFadden is a full-time domestic manager with two children, Will (5) and Alice (3); and a husband, Kevin.  In her former life-before-kids, she was an attorney.

Tips for the Reluctant T-Ball or First-Year Soccer Coach

By Rodd Whelpley

• Have realistic expectations for yourself. The children will come to you as rag-tag, sloppy and inattentive athletes. (They are 4, 5 and 6 year olds.) By the end of the season, with some luck, they will be a collection of only slightly less rag-tag, sloppy and inattentive athletes who had great fun playing ball together. Really, that’s your whole goal. Maybe, by the last game, you’ll see that your players understand dribbling, shooting or fielding grounders. If so, great. But the true measure of success doesn’t come until next season. When most of your team signs up to play a second year, take that as a sign that you kept the game fun.

• Teach them the least they need to know. Plan to teach only the rudimentary skills of the game. For instance, for t-ball, I concentrate on: running from base to base in the proper direction, batting, fielding ground balls, throwing to first base and catching. We don’t worry about fielding fly balls, sliding, force outs, tagging out runners or even trying to put out the lead runner, because those skills aren’t t-ball skills.  Next season! 

• Have a written plan for each day’s practice ready before you get to the field. (Once you’re on site, you’ll face endless questions about t-shirts, game schedules and whose turn it is to bring snacks.  You’ll be lucky to unpack your equipment, let alone make an on-the-spot practice plan.)  

• Use the hand-outs!  Many local leagues have hand outs for coaches that illustrate the game’s fundamentals and describe drills you can run. I make copies of these hand-outs and give them to parents, so they can practice at home.

• Talk less and have the kids move more. For a 5-year-old, listening to the coach is boring. Try never to spend more than a minute explaining a skill or a drill. It’s OK to grossly oversimplify a skill in order to explain it in 60 seconds. For soccer dribbling skills, the mantra might be: “Little kicks and run; little kicks and run.” 

• Waiting your turn is boring, too. Break the team up into three or four groups. Enlist parents as ad hoc assistant coaches. Demonstrate to players and parents the three or four drills you want to perform, and then have each parent take a group to a different station on the field. After six or seven minutes, rotate groups.

• Make each player feel special.  Prepare yourself to serve up a good many “praise sandwiches.” That’s where you put a little meaty instruction in between two slices of praise.  You can structure every practice and every drill around the praise sandwich recipe:

1.     Tell them what new skills they are going to work on today.

2.     At the end of each practice, remind them what they learned at today’s practice and how much you enjoyed playing ball with them.

3.     During individual drills, help players improve in a positive way. For example, you might say, “Brian, you step up to the plate like a champ. Your feet are perfect. I think you’ll have even more success if you keep your head steady and your eyes focused on the tee – even after you hit the ball.”

4.     Once each practice, single out a player for a moment of nothing but praise. One of my favorite moments of last season was seeing the smile spread across Liam’s face when, just before he stepped up to the plate, I leaned in and whispered in his ear: “Liam, you are one heck of a hitter.”

5.   Just by being out there, each player is naturally improving. Even if the results aren’t perfect, there is always one aspect of his or her performance that’s praiseworthy. Lauren let an easy grounder get through her legs last practice, but I stopped the drill and shook her hand. Why? Because she turned right around, chased it down and threw the ball back as fast as she could. That’s the kind of successful effort worth rewarding, and success breeds more success – especially when it’s nurtured.

6.     Teach, model and reward the really important stuff. Kids are going to space out, chatter, interrupt and sometimes inexplicably wander off the field (usually to find a potty or a drink). The only time to show real displeasure is when players are doing something dangerous (climbing fences or swinging bats with other players way too close) or hurtful (telling teammates or opponents that they stink).

7.     Otherwise, keep the happy talk going: “I love how you’re moving to the ball, Jack, good job”; “Great hit, Emma”; “Tanner, get up in ready position. Show ’em you’re a ball player. That’s it.” Face it, the reason we’re reluctant coaches is the same reason we all eventually became reluctant athletes. Somewhere along the way, we heard enough negative messages, either from coaches or teammates, that we started to believe them. If you can help it, that’s NOT going to happen to players this young on this team. Of course, you can never control how a player feels, but you can – and will – do all you can to control a positive environment.

And it will rub off. At some point this season, you’ll be sweating bullets standing up to the plate with Jackson, who has failed to connect with the ball on the tee after five awkward, loopy swings. From the bench behind you, some little voice will shout, “Go Jackson. You can do it.”

That’s the moment you win the championship. 

Rodd Whelpley is a reluctant t-ball coach for his 6-year-old son Ethan’s team.  For more information on area sports and recreational activities, visit the website: Sports and Activities Page

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Thanks, Mom!

By Amy Boley

“This Mother’s Day, I am writing to share my experiences with other Moms who are fostering their own children’s curiosities. I studied formally at the University of Arkansas to obtain a degree in Geology, but my training began much sooner.  My own Mom always encouraged me to ask questions about the world around me, and our outings to Lincoln Memorial Garden, Carpenter Park and other regional places were frequent.  Just as memorable are the evenings we spent in the backyard catching fireflies and toads, or watching ants hurry across the sidewalk. The experiences and nurturing I received throughout childhood gave me a love for nature, and I attribute much of it to my Mom making sure I had the time to get outside and be a part of everyday life.  She always managed to give me so much with so little, and the best things in life really can be found in your own back yard!  Thanks Mom, I am passing it on.” 

Amy Boley credits her mother with why she chose to become a scientist.  She works for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

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The Online World, In Bite Size Pieces for Springfield Moms!

By Elizabeth Kerns

We have all sat online perusing through an interesting web site and all of a sudden, something catches our attention – click. Then, something else looks interesting – click.  Twenty minutes (or maybe an hour) later, we realize we have no idea what we were originally looking for!  Well, no more!  I am here to be your online guide to interesting, eye-catching, "I have to click on that" web sites. 

Where do you start?  In this issue, we are going to explore social networks online! 

Social Networks Online

Regardless of being a working mother or stay-at-home mother (or somewhere in between), we have all found ways to network online. There are so many social networks that it's hard to keep track of them as you join them! I joined MySpace, then Facebook, then another and another! When I began to BLOG, I was amazed at how many people blogged and how many social networks were out there.  Which networks have you joined? 

·         MySpace: www.myspace.com – No, this one isn't just for the 16-year-olds who want to be an online social butterfly (though they are on there too) and yes, it can be safe.  It's great to look up people you went to school with to see what they look like and what they are doing today.  MySpace also has a great feature where you must have people add you as a friend just to see your profile or pictures.  USE IT!  You never know who is looking at your photos or photos of your kids!  This way, you can ensure only those that you know are looking at your profile. 

·         Facebook: www.facebook.com – I have found that Facebook is more for specific social networks such as college groups.  Again, you might find some long lost friends on there.

·         LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com – More for the professional, I have found that this is a great resource.  Similar to MySpace, you enter e-mails of people to search for them, but it serves almost as an online resume as you enter your professional experience, education, professional associations and interests.

·         SecondLife: www.secondlife.com – Ever play the game "The Sims"?  This is fairly close, but is an online community where you can interact, play and even work.  You can make real money and spend real money, interact with real people and more.  Very interesting but fairly difficult to master (in my opinion). 

·         SpringfieldMoms: www.springfieldmoms.org – SpringfieldMoms.org has an online web forum, “Family Forum,” for Springfield Area parents, too!  Did you know that?!

·         BabyCenter: www.babycenter.com/community - An interactive web forum for parents.

·         ParentsConnect: www.parentsconnect.com – A social networking site for parents produced by Nickelodeon, offers a local guide, message boards and video blogs for parents looking to trade advice.

Additional Social Networks Online

·         MothersClick: www.mothersclick.com

·         Minti: www.minti.com

·         Maya's Mom: www.mayasmom.com

·         HybridMom: www.hybridmom.com

Final Words

Be smart about it. You can connect to people that you know and don't know.  Make new friends and learn about old ones. Don't post ideas that you don't want repeated. While most of these are networks that are password protected, someone may still be able to figure out who you are even if you don't want to be figured out. 

Additionally, for your sanity’s sake and others, use one e-mail or log-in when you sign up for these things.  You can change your password (which I highly recommend anyways), but if someone wants to look you up on one social network to another, your screen name is consistent. 

What is your favorite social network?  Email me at 411mommy@gmail.com and let me know!

Liz Kerns is a full time association director, part time college instructor, part time volunteer, full time mother and wife, part time blogger on www.411mommy.org and part time graduate student.  She lives in Chatham with her husband and 7-month-old son.

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The Gift of Boredom

By Becky Aud-Jennison

Do you remember complaining of boredom as a child?  Here are some of the answers I remember hearing: Pack a lunch, take a hike and go exploring; go ride your bike for one hour, then turn around and come back and tell me what you saw; write a story that you can read to me later; write a letter to a pen pal or relative; go make mud pies; make a clover chain necklace, one for you and one for me; turn cartwheels; read a book; play pretend; or my favorite – find something to do!  Today, many of my mother's suggestions would be met with acute fear by the child and the parent.

I was the youngest child, with three older brothers, the youngest being seven years older than I was.  In essence, I had an only child experience in a very small village with few playmates.  Some of my best memories of playing with those few children were on days of exploring.  We would create magnificent fantasy scenarios that we would act out by a wooded pond, in an abandoned barn, at the local cemetery and its surrounding forest and at my friend's sprawling farm.  We would play in frigid temperatures and in the heat of summer.  We would take off with a lunch and go on a walk for several miles.  I wrote interesting stories and loved to write letters.

My children's ages span from three to 20.  When my oldest became the age where I had begun regularly chanting the "B" word, I noticed I had never heard her utter it.  Did she even know what the word boredom meant?  I was so busy cooking up batches of play-doh and going to the park and enrolling her in every child centered activity imaginable that she had no time for boredom. 

I recalled my own early childhood and remembered that my books were limited, but I truly enjoyed reading the same ones over and over.  My toys were few compared to my own child, but I had a wonderful imagination at an early age.  Then I asked the big question: Did I feel neglected because my parents didn't take me off to a variety of activities or lessons or movies or didn't engage in "floor time" with me regularly?  No, I didn't. 

I didn't because I had an extremely loving and caring mother, and I was never under the assumption that it was her job to entertain me.  She had many other things to do, and yes, she would frequently incorporate me into helping her, but there was no expectation that her primary job was to make sure I was never wanting for activity or stimulation.  I learned early on that it was my responsibility to keep myself from being bored.

Being a parent and working with parents confirmed my suspicion that with our current parenting expectations and the wide variety of entertainment we give our children at home and away, boredom is a thing of the past. 

That is, unless I could somehow force boredom to happen.  I realized that through boredom, creativity can blossom.  So after the children grew out of their naps, we began having a routine "quiet time."  Quiet time was time in their room in the afternoon when electronics and interacting with others is off limits.  Every child is in their own room with no blaring music or other distractions.  And then they have their choices – they can read or write or just sit and ponder or engage in another quiet creative activity such as drawing.  They sometimes moan when quiet time is announced, but when they come out they play with abandon.  I have taken great delight in seeing our five youngest children play for hours outside with no elaborate props.  Yes, sometimes there is a war involved, which I think may be unavoidable given the state of affairs these last five years, but there is always some brilliant fantasy.  The summer is the best time for this with the long days and warm nights.  The children put up tents and have sleep outs.  They catch snakes and look at bugs and fish and explore.  They give me a glimpse back into my own childhood and an indescribable gratefulness for their ability to use their imaginations and play so hard that they are covered in dirt and exhausted at the end of the day. 

Boredom isn't a bad word.  Consider teaching it to your children.  You might be surprised by what blossoms!

Becky Aud-Jennison is a member of the Springfield Moms Advisory board and is a frequent contributor to the Springfield Moms newsletter.  See her “Ask the Counselor” article on kids and cell phone use posted below.

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Practical Parent Pointers

By Amy McFadden

Chart Your Way to Cooperation: Encourage chores and good behavior by creating chore and reward charts for your little ones.  Inspired by our preschool teacher, Beth Waldman and Springfield Moms contributor Lisa Barutcu, I fashioned a chore chart out of a small piece of poster board and some colorful library card sleeves, which can be found at Ergadoo in Springfield for about $5 for a 25-pack. 

I used some simple clip art images so our three-year-old could check her “jobs” without help, and made index cards with each child’s name.  Every day, I switch the cards around so they rotate duties, which include setting and wiping the table, sorting recycling into the bins, and putting away toys and laundry.  Once they’ve finished the task, they can put their card in the “Done” slot.  They love the responsibility and actually look forward to checking the chart, while I love the idea of instilling the practice of “pitching in” at an early age.

For those “extra” behaviors you want to encourage, you can print free incentive charts on several websites.  For instance, to encourage good table manners in our son, we have posted a reward chart, which he gets to mark each night he displays good manners during dinner.  After so many marks, he gets a small reward, such as 50 cents or a trip out for ice cream.  You can also print and laminate cute “reward coupons” for free from the Internet.  Be sure to state each goal in specific, positive terms (for instance, “I will sit straight in my chair at dinner,” is preferable to “I won’t act up at the dinner table.”) Check out www.latitudes.org/behavioral_charts.html and www.bubhub.com.au/rewardcharts.php.

Heloise Would Be Proud: While the kids delight in those little hand-stamps they get at the fair or at the end of special activities, the ink can be a real pain to remove.  Rather than scrubbing your kiddie’s little hands raw, try using a little eye makeup remover on a cotton ball to wipe the stamps away easily.  You can rest assured that if it is safe enough to use on your eyes, it won’t harm your little one’s skin. 

In Our DVD/CD Players Right Now: Even grownups will get a kick out of the movie Enchanted, starring the amazing Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey (sigh!).  Now available on DVD, the movie is in heavy rotation at our house, not to mention the soundtrack in our car, which includes Broadway-worthy tunes that are silly and sing-able, too.

Speaking of soundtracks, don’t discount the classics.  Our little Oz-phile passes car rides by singing along with Judy Garland and Buddy Epsen to the original soundtrack from The Wizard of Oz.  (Truthfully, her mom finds herself joining in, especially on the Munchkinland selections.)

Another flick pick, if you’re relaxed about PG movies with a few instances of mild language, is Night At the Museum, which we could easily watch again and again.  Ben Stiller is hysterical as a night watchman in an enchanted museum, where the exhibits come to life after dark.  Some children might be a little frightened by some of the critters that emerge, but our fearless 3½-year-old is a big fan of the dinosaur bones that romp around like a puppy.  Incidentally, if you happen to visit the Science Center in St. Louis, they screen the film each evening in their I-Max theater.

Reviews We Can Use: If you decide to venture out to take in a show at the movie theater, don’t be afraid to make a pit stop in the potties at either Showplace West 12 or Parkway Pointe (which, despite its age, maintains a nice, clean restroom facility).

Send in your tips and win!  If you submit a topic and we include it in the column, you’ll be eligible for a prize drawing.  Email your helpful hints for saving families time and money to amy-mcfadden@comcast.net. 

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Grandma’s House: Successful Sleepovers

By Holly Schurter

For both grandchild and grandma, a sleepover is something to look forward to beforehand, and savor when it's over. To be sure that happens, here are a few things you might want to think about.

For Parents:

Be sure she has everything she'll need, including any stuffed animals or blankets that insure a good night's sleep.

• Do a quick review of manners and skills your child might need at grandma's: please and thank you, brushing teeth, folding pajamas.

• Clue your child in about what to expect. Do grandma and grandpa sleep late? Do they eat dinner early? Let your child know some things might be different, but that's OK.

• Send along some grandparent-friendly activities: a favorite book, a game, a DVD to watch together. Encourage your child to bring along a small “gift” like a picture he's drawn, or a photograph of him that his grandparents can keep.

• Make your child's grandparents aware of any information that will help them make your child comfortable. If your 3-year-old absolutely refuses to eat peas or the 6-year-old is afraid of storms, grandma and grandpa should know that.

• Consider whether or not you need to leave a medical-care permission/authorization. Make sure grandma and grandpa are aware of your child's health issues.

• Tell your child stories or share photographs of your own childhood. These stories serve as conversation-starters for your child's visit with her grandparents.

• Make sure everyone knows when you'll arrive and when you'll be back. Your child will be more comfortable if he knows what to expect.

• Be enthusiastic about the visit and respectful when you speak of your child's grandparents. Let her know you expect she will have a great time with her grandparents.

 For Grandparents:

• Ask questions ahead of time about your grandchild's likes and dislikes. Take them into consideration as you get ready, just as you would for any other guest.

• Check to be sure there are no medical issues you need to be aware of.

• Have a cozy place for your grandchild to sleep. Even if it's a sleeping bag on the floor, add some extra pillows or a special blanket so your grandchild knows you've been looking forward to her visit.

• Speak well of your grandchild and considerately of his parents. Respect the family rules your adult child asks you to remember regarding their children.

• There's a difference between indulging your grandchild with a special treat, and spoiling him.

• Plan at least one special activity or project with your grandchild. Chances are she will enjoy even simple things like baking cookies or a building project of some kind with you.

• If you have a hobby, share it in an age-appropriate way with your grandchild.

• If possible, introduce your grandchild to your friends and everyday activities. This helps him see you “in context.”

• Have a disposable camera on-hand for your grandchild to use, and take a few photographs of your own. Try to get at least one photograph of you with your grandchild each time he sleeps over. Don't just make memories – record them!

• Get out a few old home movies, photographs, or special mementoes you've saved that your grandchild will enjoy seeing. Use them to share stories about your own childhood or about her parents' childhood.

 Sleepovers are a great way for grandparents to bond with their grandchildren. With a little planning, everything will go smoothly, and you'll be happily planning the next sleep-over.