Birmingham Parent's March/April 2021

THE PREMIER PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL AL ABAMA

MARCH/APRIL 2021

Special Needs & Baby Issue POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION:

MORE THAN JUST THE BABY BLUES PICKY EATER OR

ARFID?

baby book

PAGE 21

APPS FOR KIDS

WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

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ed note WELCOME TO THE MARCH/APRIL 2021 ISSUE! Welcome to our first double issue for 2021 – our March/April Special Needs and Baby Guide. We are excited about this issue, also, as we promote our first VIRTUAL Special Needs Expo on March 13.

In this issue you’ll find some highlights of all the businesses, services and products available for review on March 13, starting on page 8, and some will even be offering Facebook Live on that day so you can talk to them directly and see what they have to offer.

And of course, we’ve got some great special needs-related stories. We’ll explore ARFID, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (page 16), something I had never heard of until this issue. We also take a look at Tourette syndrome and tics (page 18), and we have a story on great apps for parents of kids with special needs (page 14). We’re even exploring “Pandemic Parenting” beginning on page 12.

Birmingham Parent’s Baby Book begins on page 21, and we’re talking about great and inventive ways to take a meal to new parents (page 22), post-partum depression from a local mom that literally wrote a book about it (page 26), and a gift guide for parents and babies, beginning on page 24.

We hope you’ll enjoy this jam-packed issue, and we hope you’ll join us for the Virtual Special Needs Expo on March 13 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Pre-register NOW at https://birminghamparent.com/directory/special-needs-expo/. It’s FREE! Happy Spring! We are all ready for it!

P.O. Box 326 (add 800 Hwy. 52 E. for pkg) Helena, AL 35080 205-624-2405 205-624-2515 FAX www.birminghamparent.com

editorial PUBLISHERS David & Carol Evans EDITOR Carol Muse Evans ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lori Chandler Pruitt CONTRIBUTORS Tyler Drouet, MA, Ed.S. Tanni Haas, Ph.D. Malia Jacobson Sarah Lyons Paige Townley Dr. Heather Deisher Jan Pierce, M.Ed. Elena Epstein Denise Yearian Laura Marbury, Ms, RDN, LDN

sales

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Tom Gonzales SR. MARKETING CONSULTANT Kayla Fricks MARKETING CONSULTANT Stacey Spence

art & production ART DIRECTOR Keith Dunn

Carol Muse Evans publisher/editor carol@birminghamparent.com

ABOUT THE EDITORS: Carol Muse Evans is the publisher/editor/owner of Birmingham Parent magazine, a publication she and her husband David began in 2004. The Birmingham, Alabama-based parenting publication attracts more than 60,000 readers monthly in a four-county area and receives 10,000 hits per month on its website. The magazine has a 20,000+ print circulation, plus several thousand in readership of the digital edition online. It is the only independently audited free publication in our area. Evans is an award-winning writer and editor who has also has written for several other publications as a freelance writer since the late 80s. She is a graduate of Auburn University in journalism and is a graduate of Scottsboro High School. She is married with two grown children and lives in Alabaster. She is a member of the National Federation of Press Women, Alabama Media Professionals and Southeastern Advertisers and Publishers Association (SAPA).

Lori Chandler Pruitt is associate editor of Birmingham Parent. She also is a freelancer for Business Alabama magazine and has written/edited for several other publications. This award-winning writer and editor is a graduate of the University of Alabama in news/editorial and Hueytown High School.

She is married with two children.

4 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

DISTRIBUTION T&P Deliveries LEGAL COUNSEL Balch & Bingham LLP BIRMINGHAM PARENT IS A PUBLICATION OF EVANS PUBLISHING, LLC. Publishers: Carol Muse Evans, David K. Evans Sr. Birmingham Parent (EIN200694149) is published monthly by Evans Publishing LLC. www.birminghamparent.com or editor@birminghamparent.com. Birmingham Parent is ©2021 by Evans Publishing LLC. Family Connections Media ©2021

by Evans Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Editorial submissions are welcome. For back issues, please send a self-addressed 10” x 13” envelope with $4 for postage and handling.

contents EATING DISORDERS IN CHILDREN: WHEN

PICKY EATING IS A PROBLEM

16

What Parents Need to Know about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Sometimes characterized as extreme pickiness, ARFID is an eating disorder involving an aversion to food and eating.

our focus

our features

our regulars EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to our March/April 2021 issue...................4

12

MARCH/APRIL 2021 CALENDAR OF EVENTS.............. 33

PANDEMIC PARENTING..............12

FOUR FABULOUS DAY TRIPS that Can Turn into Summer Fun ........30 PERSONALIZE YOUR PLATE for National Nutrition Month®............38

21 Birmingham Parent's

babybook BEYOND THE CASSEROLE: 8 New Ways to Provide a Meal...21 PRODUCTS WE LOVE for Baby & Parent............................ 24 GREAT APPS FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.............................. 14

Postpartum Depression: More than Just the Baby Blues..............26

WHEN PICKY EATING BECOMES A PROBLEM — ARFID...................16

ASK THE SPECIALIST Planning Your Pregnancy............ 27

WHAT IS TOURETTE SYNDROME...................................... 18

Building Baby’s Library, One Great Book at a Time...........28

ON THE COVER: Cousins Harper, age 5, Jace age 5 and Hunter, 22 months, of Helena are ready to enjoy the outdoors again.

Photo by Christy Pierce photography, 205-902-0385; www.christypiercephotographyllc.com.

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5

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PANDEMIC PARENTING: WAYS TO MAKE CHANGES FOR LASTING IMPROVEMENTS

8

Just as stress levels can cause your own behavior to be less than ideal, stress can also cause your children to act out. Keep this in mind as you deal with your children and yourself.

By Tyler Drouet, MA, Ed.S.

No one ever claimed parenting was easy, but throw in a worldwide pandemic and what was once a small hitch now feels like an epic challenge. We can no longer keep on doing what we’ve always done and get the results we want.

School closures, work changes, social distancing

12 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

and more combine to impact parenting in unprecedented ways.

But, what if instead of derailing parenting, the pandemic could prompt us to make key choices that will not only benefit us in the short term, but actually yield meaningful and lasting changes? Read on to find out the crucial

changes you can make for lasting improvements.

Acknowledge feelings and fears.

It's easy to gloss over children’s fears, but moving quickly past them won’t make them magically disappear. While you may be able to shield your children from some aspects of COVID-19, the pervasiveness of the situation means even young children are aware of how dramatically their world has changed. Address fears by having open, age-appropriate dialogue with your children.

Their disappointment about no birthday parties or missing Grandma is just as big in his world as your worries are to you. Simply

Continued to page 20

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GREAT APPS FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

By Tanni Haas, Ph.D.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a great occasion to pay particular attention to kids with special needs. Like any other kids, kids with special needs are diverse, and there are many educational apps that can help them with their specific needs.

Here are some of the best ones, and they’re all free. If you’re a parent or caregiver of kids with special needs, have them check them out, and then download the ones that are the most useful and fun.

ChatterPix Kids (Available at: Apple Appstore, Google Play) This app is great for kids who need help practicing their oral communication skills.

They can either upload or take a picture of themselves, draw a mouth, and then record anything they want to say. It’s particularly useful if you’re having a difficult conversation at home and your kids find it easier to express their views through an avatar rather than directly to you. It can also be useful in school if your kids require extra time composing an answer to a teacher’s question. They can record and re-record their response until they get it just the way they want it.

Coach.me (Available at: Apple Appstore, Google Play) Drawing on the latest psychological and behavioral research, this is a great app which assumes that a key to achieving one’s goals is to develop good, consistent habits. Users decide which habits they’d like to develop, track those habits over time, receive reminders, and then get positive feedback (high-fives) when they reach their goals. Depending on their age and maturity, your kids can either use this app on their own or with a little help from you.

Emotionary (Available at: Apple Appstore, Google Play) If you want to help your kids better understand other people’s emotions, the best thing you can do is help them better understand their own.

This app has more than 100 short, dictionarystyle definitions of common emotions, each accompanied by a emoticon. This helps kids develop a rich vocabulary for expressing their emotions, and it teaches them coping skills so that they don’t become overwhelmed by their emotions. They can create their own emoticons for emotions they think aren’t included in the app but are really important to them.

14 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

iOT Session (Available at: Apple Appstore) Created by a well-known occupational therapist, Dr. Frederick Covington, this app features lots of kid-friendly, game-like exercises aimed at improving their visual perception, tracking, and coordination. It also improves fine motor skills, especially kids’ ability to create proper letters. The app is used by occupational therapists everywhere, but your kids can use it too, either on their own or with your help, to track their progress over time.

MindShift CBT (Available at: Apple Appstore, Google Play) Based on cognitive behavioral therapy, which is widely used, this app teaches kids how to deal with different anxiety-provoking situations like conflicts, social situations, and tests. It features tools that help users relax, practice mindfulness, and re-orient their thoughts. It has audio recordings with guided mediations, a journal for users to record thoughts that make them the most anxious, and general tips for managing anxiety.

Model Me Going Places 2 (Available at: Apple Appstore) This social skills app teaches kids how to interact with different kinds of people that they encounter in their daily lives, such as grocery store clerks, hairdressers, doctors, and restaurant waiters. It has 12 photo slideshows that model kids engaging in appropriate behaviors with people in different settings.

My Little Suitcase (Available at: Apple Appstore) This game-like app, which can be played by up to four people, enhances kids’ ability to memorize and match items. Similar to the popular card game “Memory,” each player has a suitcase with six different items represented on a small card that is faced down. Players take turns turning the cards over. If the card is theirs, they put it in their suitcase. If not, it’s the next player’s turn. Aside from improving their working memory and retention skills, they learn how to focus, categorize, and engage in proper turn-taking. It’s a great game for the whole family.

Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences & Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.

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WHEN PICKY EATING IS A PROBLEM:

WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ARFID

By Malia Jacobson

regarding their energy needs are influenced Happily, pickiness is a passing by their poor body image. Patients with childhood phase for most kids. It ARFID are not driven by their body image in the changes that occurred in their nutritional can even be a healthy sign that habits.” children are eating intuitively, What is ARFID? according to their own internal Sometimes characterized as extreme cues of hunger or fullness, says pickiness, ARFID is an eating disorder an aversion to food and eating. “This Devan Weir, a registered dietitian involving isn't just picky eating,” says Weir. “ARFID is really extreme to the point where it's causing on staff at THIRA Health, a malnutrition and medical consequences.” mental health treatment center “Patients with ARFID have disrupted for women and girls in Bellevue, food intake based on other concerns, such as texture/color, fear of vomiting, or choking but Washington. also there are physical consequences of their In some children, though, picky eating is an early sign of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a little-known eating disorder that can cause severe nutritional deficiencies, developmental delays and family chaos. The term is unfamiliar to most parents and healthcare providers, even though ARFID affects between 5 and 14 percent of children and nearly a quarter of those in treatment for eating disorders, according to the Journal of Eating Disorders.

“Most people with eating disorders are not meeting their energy needs (nutrition intake, energy expenditure) due to their behaviors, says Stephenie B. Wallace, MD, MSPH FAA, Associate Professor, UAB Pediatrics Division of Adolescent Medicine. “For patients with Anorexia nervosa and bulimia, their behaviors

16 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

reduce intake,” Wallace says. “They have poor growth parameters such as significant weight loss, or have nutritional deficiencies.

Overcoming this nutritional intake deficits can be a challenge and required frequent evaluations with dietitians and therapists.

“The difference between ARFID and picky eating is that the health of children with ARFID is gravely affected by the changes in their nutrition intake” Wallace explains.

“Picky eaters continue to grow and develop as expected for their age. A key part of the diagnosis for ARFID is that a nutritional deficiency, significant weight loss or reduced height growth are signs that their health is impacted by their behaviors. Children with ARFID can be affected socially as well as eating in social situations can affect

relationship with family and friends.”

Formerly called “selective eating disorder,” ARFID is a relatively new diagnosis defined in the 2013 edition of the DSM, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Although experts believe that ARFID is on the rise, plenty of healthcare providers haven't heard of the condition, notes Weir. “Up to 63 percent of pediatricians and sub-specialists are unfamiliar with it, so parents often need to search around to find support and help.”

Blood tests don't detect ARFID, making the disorder even harder to identify and treat, according to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA).

The condition occurs in adults but is more common in children, particularly in those on the autism spectrum. Children with ARFID may have an anxiety disorder or sensory processing disorder. Researchers report that youth with ARFID are more likely to be male and have other psychiatric or mental health conditions.

The most visible symptoms of ARFID are similar to other eating disorders and include dramatic weight loss, lethargy, cold intolerance, and digestive problems like constipation, cramps, or “upset stomach.”

But unlike anorexia nervosa, ARFID isn't characterized by a distorted body image or fear of weight gain, says Mehri Moore, MD, THIRA Health's medical director and founder.

Food Fears

Because children with AFRID often report gastrointestinal discomfort after eating, they may begin to fear foods that might bring on symptoms and be afraid of choking or vomiting. They may have little motivation to eat and claim to be full or suffering from a stomachache when mealtimes roll around. As the disorder progresses, children may whittle down their list of acceptable foods to a single type or texture, protesting if anything else touches their plate.

Without treatment, ARFID can persist into adulthood. One study found that more than 17 percent of adult women seeking treatment for gastrointestinal problems met at least some of the diagnostic criteria. ARFID can cause neurological and growth problems in children as the body slows its metabolic process to conserve energy. In extreme cases, nutritional deficiencies can cause fatal electrolyte imbalances or cardiac arrest.

Warning Signs

Stalled growth and "falling off the weight chart" can be red flags for ARFID, especially when accompanied by low energy, difficulty concentrating, fears about food, and disinterest in eating. But caregivers won't always notice dramatic weight loss when their child has ARFID or another eating disorder, notes Moore.

In fact, changes in eating-related behavior without any change in weight should peak parental interest, Moore says. “When children and teens show either an increase or decrease in their interest in food, or do things like hide food in their bedroom, and parents don't notice any change in weight, that's a time to become curious.”

If picky eating doesn't resolve by grade school, becomes more extreme as children get older and seems to be affecting a child's physical or mental health, an evaluation may be in order, says Weir. “Parents can start with their pediatrician and find additional resources and support from the Ellyn Satter Institute, the National Eating Disorder Association, and THIRA Health, where we specialize in eating disorder recovery.”

“If parents are worried, their child should be evaluated by their doctor, Wallace says.

“During that assessment, the doctor can take a nutrition history to determine if there are concerns for nutritional deficiencies along with their vital signs. Reviewing the impact of current nutritional intake on their current growth percentiles is key. With prior records, the physicians can determine if their height growth have changed from prior assessments.

Children with AFRID can also have other conditions such as autism, OCD and anxiety that are contributing to the behaviors causing their reduced intake.”

“Once it has been determined there is an impact on their child’s health, an evaluation from a dietitian and therapist is necessary for recovery, Wallace adds. “The dietician can provide an assessment on what foods need to be added to address growth and development concerns. For patients to increase their oral intake, frequent behavioral therapy sessions will be required. If oral intake is not sufficient and medical parameters are worsening, tube feeding can be used to provide nutrition. There are no specific medications that treat ARFID but medications can be used to better manage their co-occurring conditions.”

Parents need support, too. Eating disorders like ARFID are not only developmentally dangerous for children, but extremely challenging for caregivers, says Moore.

“Often, we'll see that parents are doing a balancing act, making different meals for different family members while trying to manage extreme food preferences for one child. Because of the strain that an eating disorder places on everyone in the household, it’s important to seek out whole family healing.”

Malia Jacobson is a nationally published health and family journalist. Carol Muse Evans, Birmingham Parent publisher, also contributed to this story.

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What is Tourette syndrome?

By Carol Muse Evans

According to the Tourette Association of America, Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by sudden, involuntary movements and/ or sounds called tics. They can include eye blinking, head jerking and facial movements such as throat clearing, sniffing and tongue clicking.

“The statistics on TS are that one in 100 school-age children have Tourette syndrome or tic disorders in some form,” according to Dr. Julie Savage Jones, a registered nurse with a doctorate in education who has served as the support group leader for the Tourette syndrome support group of central Alabama since 2013. She has three children with TS. One out of every 100 children ages 5-17 has TS or another Tic disorder, according to the Tourette Association. It is now estimated that one million Americans are impacted, and 50 percent are going undiagnosed. Tourette syndrome affects all races, ethnicities, genders and ages, and it is three to four times more common in boys than girls.

“Tics can appear as early as three to four years but the average age is seven years, says Dr. Jan Rowe, OT, OTR/L, FAOTA, coordinator of the Tourette syndrome and Tic disorders Clinic and co-director, COA/UAB Tourette Center of Excellence at Children’s at Lakeshore.

“The worst years (peak) is 10-21 years of age,” Rowe explains. “One third of people’s tics resolve, one third lessen before adulthood and one third will have tics into adulthood.”

According to the Association, Tourette is underdiagnosed. Many children, parents, teachers and even physicians don’t fully understand TS, which can lead to bullying, a lack of community support, an improper diagnosis and a host of other issues that impair the quality of life for someone with TS. It is important to mention there is no cure for Tourette and the cause remains unknown, though it is thought to involve genetic, neurological and environmental factors that may be treated.

“TS can manifest in a number of ways, and it is multifaceted. It is not all about the tics,” Jones explains. “There are associated issues that go along with TS, such as 18 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

Photo of Tourette Advocacy Day Courtesy of Tourette Association of America

On March 3, advocates from The Tourette Association of America will virtually advocate for the most pressing issues facing the Tourette community on National Advocacy Day. The Pre-Advocacy Day Evening Kick-off will include guest speaker Ben Brown, host of Tourette's Podcast (https://www.tourettespodcast.com/), Jerry Gidner, Director of the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration at the U.S. Department of the Interior, and Congressional staff.

More information at https://tourette.org/public-policy/take-action-on-tourette-national-advocacy-day/.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, learning disabilities, anxiety and sensory issues.”

“The syndrome manifests in a number of ways,” Jones agrees. “My oldest son struggled in school. He had almost every one of the co-occurring conditions, including sensory issues. Certain sounds bothered him. The feeling of cotton used in art class bothered him. Many types of pencils (the way that they felt) bothered him. He could not sit still even in the fourth grade. He was impulsive. He made noises. All of these behaviors caused problems in school. As a result, I decided to homeschool him, starting in the fourth grade.”

Doctors look for the following to diagnose Tourette syndrome in particular, according to the Association: • At least two motor tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic have been present, not necessarily at the same time.

• Tics may wax and wane in frequency but have occurred for more than one year.

• Tics started to appear before the age of 18.

• Tics are not caused by the use of a substance or other medical condition. There is no cure for Tourette syndrome, but thanks to years of dedicated research, there are various treatment options.

Tourette syndrome is a lifelong condition, according to the Association. Some tic disorders may be transient, but for 66 percent of people, TS persists into adolescence and adulthood.

“Tics can cause physical discomfort, disrupt daily activities such as school work, social interactions, sleep and play,” Rowe says. “As children get older, work duties and even driving can be compromised because of tics.”

However, TS can be treated.

“Individualized education plans can help children with TS and learning issues, Savage says. Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics is a therapy that has been found to be as effective as medications without the potential side effects of medication….

Sometimes homeschool is the best educational option. It has been for us, but it is not for everyone,” Jones says.

“The gold standard of care for children with tics and TS is Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT),” Rowe adds.

“This is a non-pharmacological behavioral program. We teach strategies to interrupt tics.

This is no cure for tic disorders but CBIT teaches youth to manage their ticks.”

Carol Muse Evans is publisher and editor of Birmingham Parent.

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birminghamparent.com | 19

Continued from page 12

your kids also crave accomplishment.

With some of the usual kid-centric wins of classroom achievements, sports victories, and extracurricular efforts currently on hold, experiencing wins at home becomes even more crucial. Give your child responsibilities that she can check off each day. It doesn’t have to be big or glamorous to create a sense of satisfaction. Help your kids set goals they can work towards with small daily steps. Try making a chart to record progress or highlight everyone’s victories at dinner each night. The feeling of accomplishment builds a lasting sense of self-esteem and personal responsibility.

conveying that you hear him goes a long way in allaying concerns. Open and honest dialogue helps build a trusting,open relationship that will be a solid foundation as other fears and feelings come up.

Fix your focus on the positive.

With so much negative news, making your home a positive place helps your children regard home as their haven. Being positive doesn’t mean sugarcoating things, but rather purposefully finding the positive things, big or small.

Children take your lead when it comes to their outlook, so your good attitude goes a long way to create an overall positive atmosphere. Establish your home as their safe escape when the world feels cold.

Create rhythm and routine.

When school is virtual, work is from home, and activities are cancelled indefinitely, it can be tempting to toss routine. The truth is both you and your kids need routine more than ever. The predictability of a daily schedule helps soothe anxiety caused by the world’s unpredictability.

Though routine may look differently than in pre-pandemic times, you can still infuse your days with structure. Follow a general daily order to give the guardrails we all crave, and let them weigh in on the routine for an added sense of ownership.

Put on your own oxygen mask.

Self-care has become a buzzword, but despite the trendiness, the concept is crucial. You’re only able to help others when you function at your best. By taking measures to create margin, you increase your ability to respond to your children with patience and grace.

Ask yourself what activities make you feel more like you. Carve out time for those activities and remove unnecessary draining activities.

Practicing self-care gives you the fuel you need so you can pour into others, and also models an invaluable life skill for your kids.

20 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

Make discipline positive.

When circumstances feel out of control, our natural inclination can be to overexert control anywhere we can. The problem is hypercontrolling our kids can lead to more harm than good. While you may get momentary compliance, the results are short-term at best, and may result in long term relational damage and an underdeveloped sense of personal responsibility in your child.

The added together time brought by the pandemic makes it a perfect time to work with your kids to brainstorm solutions to discipline problems without relying on control, nagging, and punishment. Creating positive discipline patterns, rather than punishment-based models, will transform your relationship and offer more effective results.

Create a Sense of Accomplishment.

Who among us doesn’t need some wins?

For the same reasons you enjoy little victories,

Seek Support.

Sharing a burden is the best way to reduce its weight so talk candidly about struggles with friends. Simply knowing you aren’t alone in your struggles gives a boost. In addition to talking with friends, seeking out the help of a professional counselor or coach is one of the most valuable things you do for yourself as a parent. In stressful times, having a professional on your team equips you with an invaluable tool set. Furthermore, studies have shown children of anxious parents are more likely to suffer from anxiety themselves, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, so by working on your own mental health, you can help reduce your child’s likelihood of suffering from anxiety.

Let Grace Abound for All.

If there was ever a time to dole out grace recklessly, it’s certainly now. We are all dealing with shorter fuses. Just as stress levels can cause your own behavior to be less than ideal, stress can also cause your children to act out. Keep this in mind as you deal with your children and yourself. We will make mistakes on a daily basis during a pandemic, and during ordinary times. Apologize freely, give and receive grace, and fix your eyes on moving forward. Mistakes will happen. Homes where grace abounds give a safe place to get back up after those inevitable falls.

Tyler Drouet, MA, Ed.S. is a parenting coach with Simplify Atlanta where she works with parents of children from birth through high school. Contact her at tyler@simplifyatlanta.

babybook

22 24 26 27 28

Beyond the Casserole: New Ways to Provide a Meal Products We Love Post Partum Depression: More than Just the Baby Blues Ask the Specialist: Planning Your Pregnancy Building Baby's Library, One Great Book at a Time

(Photo of Lakelyn of Helena by Christy Pierce Photography.) birminghamparent.com | 21

babybook

BEYOND THE CASSEROLE: 8 NEW WAYS TO PROVIDE A MEAL

By Sarah Lyons

Each time we added another child to our family, friends brought meals to our home to help with the transition. Adding a new baby to the family can temporarily turn the house upside down and having the privilege of a ready-made meal was a huge blessing. Now, when the opportunity presents itself our family loves to turn that blessing around to others. Since casseroles are many people’s go-to dish, providing other meals can be a fun break for the family. Here are some ideas that will get you thinking outside the casserole dish: NOT JUST DINNER Families have to eat three meals a day, not just dinner. Try bringing muffins, fruit, yogurt, or an egg bake for breakfast.

For lunch, bring sandwich fixings or soup along with precut veggies or a salad. Also consider bringing a breakfast dish for dinner.

NO NEED TO COOK No time to cook an extra meal? Bring the family takeout from their favorite restaurant or one that they have been wanting to try. Gift cards can also be an easy way to provide a meal for a family because they can use them at their leisure. A gift card for a restaurant that delivers is an added bonus. Another easy idea is to pick up a pizza and breadsticks or a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Provide a salad and dessert and dinner is served.

MEAL SCHEDULE If the family is in need of more than one meal, set up a meal schedule for them. Discuss what days of the week work best and how many meals they would like to have per week. Use a website like www.signupgenius.com or www.takethemameal. com to set up a meal schedule and recruit friends and family to fill the open slots. These websites work great because it allows you to list the families’ likes and dislikes, and best time to deliver. Utilize social media to recruit friends and family.

FILL THE FREEZER Another creative way to provide meals for families is to stock the freezer and pantry. Make homemade items that freeze well like casseroles, soups, or crock pot meals. You can also pick up easy pre-made meals at the grocery store like frozen ravioli, pizzas, and quick fix snacks like chicken tenders. Stock the

22 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

babybook Providing food for a family is a great way to show you care, especially during a time of transition.

pantry with staples like pasta and sauce, peanut butter, cereal, boxed dinners, rice, and other staples. Recruit friends to help and have one person deliver the items to the family.

LUNCH BREAK Many new moms struggle to find time to take care of themselves. Offer to bring lunch and stay to help out. Let mom put up her feet while you tidy up, play with the kids, vacuum, or hold the baby. Encourage her to take a short nap or a relaxing shower. These little gestures can make a big difference in someone's day.

SNACK BAG Providing food doesn’t have to mean providing a meal.

Families need snacks, lunchbox goodies, and quick fix items as much as they need meals. Consider providing these items or a small bag of snacks and special treats for the family.

Other items like magazines, small toys, or a thoughtful card could also be added to the treat bag.

KEEP IT COOL When the family is busy or would prefer not to be interrupted, consider setting a cooler with ice on the porch. Friends can deliver the meal at their leisure and when the family is ready they can find it in the cooler to heat up at their convenience.

GROCERY DELIVERY Many grocery stores provide online ordering and drive up service. Have the family order and pay for the groceries and offer to pick them up for them so they don’t have to worry about running to the store. If you would like to go the extra mile, help carry them in and put them away. You can also check in with them before running errands for yourself and offer to pick up items they need. The family will be grateful they have one less errand to worry about.

Providing food for a family is a great way to show you care, especially during a time of transition.

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BIRMINGHAM PARENT'S

Products We Love

for Baby & Parent

By Elena Epstein, Director of the National Parenting Product Awards

Lulla Owl A soother and sleep companion for babies that’s perfect at home or on-the-go. Soft, small and lightweight, with no plush filling, making it ideal for sensitive babies. Offers continuous comfort with 24 hour sounds of natural heartbeat and breathing. $39, ages birth+, https://lulladoll.com/products/lulla-owl

Earth Mama’s A Little Something For Baby A bundle of travel-sized organic herbal favorites safe for newborns. Includes Organic Diaper Balm, Sweet Orange Castile Baby Wash and Lotion, Calendula Baby Oil and Organic Baby Face Nose & Cheek Balm. $25.99, birth+, https://earthmamaorganics.com/products/a-little-something-for-baby.html

MamaZen Mindful Parenting App A stress relief app for moms using a combination of meditation, hypnotherapy and mindfulness to help ease stress, fatigue, burnout and anxiety. Includes 150 brief audio sessions (5-15 min) covering common topics among moms – stress, anxiety, frustration, anger, guilt, health and diet, stage of childhood, and more.

30 day free trial, then $14.99/month, https://www.mamazen.com/

24 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

Ahimsa Stainless Steel Dinnerware Non-toxic, durable, and dishwasher safe, these colorful dining items are designed by a pediatrician and mom. Free of BPA (and all bisphenols), PVC, Phthalates, Melamine & Lead. $64, ages 12 months+, https://ahimsahome.com/

PROD U CTS WE LOV E

Potty Time ADVENTures – Farm Animals, Dinosaurs and Busy Vehicles Cleverly combines the design elements of an Advent Calendar with a Potty Training Chart so children are rewarded with hidden themed wood blocks. Available in three themes: Farm Animals, Dinosaurs and Busy Vehicles. $24.99, ages 18 months+, https://www.liladvents.com

KeaBabies Maternity Support Belt Features soft, lightweight and breathable mesh with adjustable Velcro. Elastic mesh provides ergonomic weight distribution. $18.96, https://keababies.com/ products/pregnancybelly-band-support-belt

MEMEENO Belly Band Made with 100% organic cotton front and back with an infill of super soft polyester fleece. Keeps baby’s tummy warm and for some babies helps soothe tummy aches, gas and general fussiness.

The triple layer band warms itself using your baby’s own body temperature. $26.99, ages birth+, https://www.memeeno.com

Evereden Foaming Baby Shampoo and Wash Pediatrician created to be safe enough for a newborn, from head to toe. Features naturally-derived oat amino acids that function as an ultra-gentle yet efficacious surfactant to cleanse. Hydrates and calms skin with coconut juice and coconut water. Lathers up easily, rinses quickly, without any tears. $17, ages newborn+, https://www.ever-eden.com/ products/baby-foaming-shampoo

For more product reviews, please visit nappaawards.com

birminghamparent.com | 25

babybook

MORE THAN JUST THE BABY BLUES

By Paige Townley

The birth of a baby is one of the – if not the most – exciting and emotional days in the lives of any couple. But for new moms (and sometimes even new fathers), the birth of the baby can result in a rather unexpected problem: depression.

More specifically, postpartum depression. While often referred to as the “baby blues,” postpartum depression is different in that it doesn’t go away after a few days and is actually a serious illness. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that approximately one out of every eight women in the United States experience postpartum depression. In some states, it’s as high as one in five women, the CDC notes.

It’s an issue Calera resident Amanda Dodson Gremillion knows all too well. She experienced postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, Aubrie. “I didn’t realize anything was wrong for a while,” Gremillion says. “I had heard about the ‘baby blues,’ and I tried to tell myself that’s all it was, but it just never went away. I was trying so hard to hide it, but I just knew I was really unhappy. I didn’t like being a mom, and I was ashamed of it.”

In addition to dealing with the emotions of being a new mother, Gremillion was also dealing with other stresses: two family members passed away and she got laid off from her job. The combination of it all, in addition to her existing issues of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety, 26 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

culminated in a battle with postpartum depression.

Amanda Dodson Gremillion and family.

“Things just continued to get worse and worse, and I eventually realized it was more serious than the baby blues,” she says. “It was overwhelming.”

After a nearly two-year struggle – which almost led to the end of her marriage – Gremillion reached out for help. When she finally started the recovery process, she began journaling. “That really helped me see what was wrong and how I got to be where I was,” she adds. That journaling eventually turned into blogging. While at first her blog posts were only seen by friends and family, she eventually decided to share it more publicly. “I began hearing from so many others saying how it was helping them and making a difference for them,” she adds.

“That meant a lot to me, and I knew I could do more.”

That’s when Gremillion got another idea: she began writing a book about her experience with postpartum depression, as well as OCD and anxiety. “I wanted other people to seek help and know that they are not alone,” she says. “The fear of what others will think is a big reason a lot of people don’t get help sooner. They are scared to tell anyone and they feel ashamed of their thoughts, even if they cannot help it and do not act on them.”

Her book was first published in 2012, but she recently updated and re-published it. The

new title of the book, Just Buy Her A Dress and She’ll Be Fine, is based on a comment she once heard that stuck with her. “Someone made a comment to me once about buying someone a dress after they had a baby so they would not get postpartum depression,” she explains.

Gremillion says an important aspect of the book is incorporating humor wherever possible, as she finds that the serious topic of postpartum depression is often too depressing for people. “A lot of people don’t want to talk about it because it is depressing,” she says.

“Learning to laugh about everything again was another step in healing for me, so I tried to add a little humor to lighten it up and make postpartum easier to talk about.”

Whether others can enjoy the humor or relate to her struggles, Gremillion’s goal with the book is simple: to show others they aren’t alone and encourage them to get help.

“Postpartum depression happens to so many people,” she says. “My family and I didn’t know anything about it before it happened to me. We were clueless, and we’ve learned so much going through it. It’s important for people to know that everyone goes through hard times, but you can get through it.”

Paige Townley is a freelance writer.

Gremillion’s book, Just Buy Her A Dress and She’ll Be Fine can be purchased through Gremillion’s website, justbuyheradress.com.

ASK T H E S P E C I A L I ST

sponsored by

Planning Your Pregnancy

By Dr. Heather Deisher

Women who plan on having a baby can take steps to help ensure that they have a healthy pregnancy so their baby can have a healthy start in life. increase the possibility of having a baby with a low birth weight. A woman who is obese has a higher risk of complications during pregnancy.

Step 4.

Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

Smoking and drinking alcohol can make it more difficult to get pregnant. Smoking during pregnancy can also increase the risk of complications and sudden infant death syndrome. Drinking alcohol while pregnant can cause lifelong problems for a baby including heart defects and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Step 5.

Talk to your doctor about all medicines you are currently taking. This includes over-the-counter or prescription medications, herbal supplements and dietary products. Some may not be safe to take while pregnant.

Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Pregnancy is like a journey, which actually starts before a woman becomes pregnant. Women who plan on having a baby can take steps to help ensure that they have a healthy pregnancy so their baby can have a healthy start in life. Here are five steps to help your little one start off on the right foot.

(400 mcg or .4 mg) of folic acid every day for at least one month before and during pregnancy.

Step 1.

To help reduce the risk of some birth defects, begin taking 400 micrograms

Step 3.

Be at a healthy weight before you get pregnant. Being underweight can cause problems getting pregnant and could

Step 2.

Have a medical checkup before pregnancy. Preconception care, which is medical care you receive before you are pregnant, can help evaluate your health and identify lifestyle risks that could affect you and your baby.

By putting your best foot forward and planning for your pregnancy, you can help prevent problems that might affect you and your baby. For more information about preconception planning, talk with your doctor or call 877-909-4233 for a free referral to an obstetrician/gynecologist near you.

Dr. Heather Deisher is with Brookwood Women’s Health and affiliated with Brookwood Baptist Medical Center.

birminghamparent.com | 27

babybook

BUILDING BABY’S LIBRARY, ONE GREAT BOOK AT A TIME

By Jan Pierce, M.Ed.

28 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

BEST BOOKS TO CHOOSE FOR BABIES • Choose sturdy board books or washable cloth or vinyl books.

• Choose bright colors and simple pictures on solid backgrounds.

• Babies respond to rhythm in language and simple rhymes.

• Babies enjoy seeing pictures of familiar objects such as animals, food or clothing.

• Babies love stories about the things they do such as eating, taking a bath or going to sleep.

• Babies like repetition. They like books with repeated words or phrases.

• Babies like to touch a variety of textures and help to turn pages in a book.

• Babies love to read homemade books with pictures of their family members.

Educators tell us that every child needs to hear 500 books read aloud to them before entering kindergarten. Hearing all those stories prepares boys and girls for learning to read.

They’ll pick up important “book knowledge” such as concepts of words and sentences, left to right orientation, top and bottom, the beginning, middle and end of a book and much more. They’ll learn to enjoy book language, which is different from everyday speaking. They’ll move and bounce to the rhythms of words, they’ll learn to love characters who do silly things and they’ll giggle at funny pictures. They’ll learn there are books about virtually everything in the whole wide world.

They’ll learn something else from hearing their parents and other significant people in their lives read to them – they’ll learn to love reading. Since one of the primary indicators of success in school is learning to read, parents are wise to pour themselves into building baby’s love of and immersion in books.

Many medical professionals believe children can even begin to enjoy language and music before they’re born. It’s never too early to read aloud to baby.

Given the importance of baby’s exposure to good books, let’s explore the kinds of books to put into your family’s library. The benefits of board books for babies are many. They’re usually small enough for little hands to hold easily. The pictures are simple and clear and the print is large. The heavy, durable quality of the paper means the books will last through hundreds of readings and can even survive an inadvertent dip in water or a few nibbles from baby’s teeth. In addition, you’ll be assured that a board book is appropriate for baby – not too difficult in language and topic.

Know the Classics When it comes to books for baby there are some classics you just don’t want to miss. Anything by Eric Carle will delight babies.

His Very Hungry Caterpillar or The Very Busy Spider are just right for exposure to beautiful pictures and a simple story. Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon, Mem Fox’s Hello Baby and Bill Martin books so full of rhythm and rhyme are also classics. Bill Martin’s Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and his collaboration with Eric Carle on Brown Bear, Brown Bear are two selections that should be on every baby library shelf. Other popular titles include Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.

Other authors with wonderful books for baby are Tana Hoban, Sandra Boynton and Philip Eastman.

There are other books written for the purpose

of exposing baby to specific topics or skills.

The Baby Gym Books by Sanja Rescek introduce the five senses in titles such as Wiggle and Move, Touch and Tickle, Bounce and Jiggle and Calm and Soothe. My Little Quiet Books by Pockets of Learning teach baby beginning concepts of color, counting, opposites and recognition of animals. Spots and Dots by Chez Picthall are wordless books meant for newborns to babies six months of age. They introduce visual stimulation through high contrast images in black and white and in bold colors.

Every book store and library have special sections of books just for baby. For those with tight budgets you might consider regular use of your local library and build a “rotating library” at home.

In addition, your local library will have read-aloud times to introduce you to new titles and teach baby to sit and listen to another adult read.

Skill Building In addition to the sheer pleasure of hearing books read aloud, babies also love the cuddly closeness of sitting with their readers. They’ll learn to point to certain objects and characters. In fact, there are lots of books for babies and toddlers meant specifically for building recognition of shapes, colors, objects, parts of the body, familiar animals and the like.

The skill of hearing the name for an object and then finding it on the page is not only a book skill, it’s also related to beginning math skills such as sorting objects into categories.

Many books for babies and toddlers will build skills. Color recognition, shape recognition, and learning to count are early skills necessary for success in school activities later on. The subtle skills of noticing the emotions of characters, the action of a story and lessons learned will also set the stage for later reading comprehension skills.

Quality books for your baby are the building blocks of future literacy. Your efforts to make books available and your time spent reading aloud to your baby will be rewarded many times over when it comes time for your child to become an independent reader.

Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a retired teacher and freelance writer. She specializes in articles on parenting, family life and education.

birminghamparent.com | 29

Birmingham Zoo, American Alligator

Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham Museum of Art

FOUR FABULOUS DAY TRIPS THAT CAN TURN INTO SUMMER FUN

By Denise Morrison Yearian

Local day trips are a great way to spend time with your family that creates lasting memories and saves on travel expenses. With a little planning and creativity, you can turn simple day trips into at-home activities that will ignite kids’ interest in learning for days to come!

Here are four fabulous day trips with themerelated activities to get you started:

ZIP DOWN TO THE ZOO

Take a trip to your nearest zoo (www. birminghamzoo.com). Before going, ex www. exploreamag.org plore the website to explore kid-friendly web pages and become familiar with exhibits, demonstrations and programs.

Afterwards, try these activities: 1. Create a personalized adventure book by having your child write about and illustrate her trip to the zoo.

2. Make animal masks from paper plates, paint and yarn.

3. Make origami birds.

4. Draw an animal shape and use different materials such as fur, fabric, yarn or beads to create a textured animal.

DIG DEEP INTO NATURAL HISTORY

Visit a natural history museum to explore fossil exhibits (The Anniston Museum of Natural History is just an hour away, www.

30 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

exploreamag.org.) To make the most of your trip, find books and videos on the subject. Or search out kid-friendly websites such as www. fossilsforkids.com or www.amnh.org/ology.

Then try these ideas: 1. Create fossil impressions with plaster and nature items.

2. Collect clean chicken or beef bones.

Cover bones with petroleum jelly and bury them in a pan of plaster. When it hardens, have your child dig through the plaster with a spoon to “unearth” the bones.

3. Bury miscellaneous items in a sand-filled kiddie pool and dig in.

4. Write and illustrate an adventure on what you might find if you were a paleontologist.

ADVENTURES AT THE ART MUSEUM

Visit your local art museum (www.artsbma. org). Before going, check out special exhibits and family programs. Keep the creative juices flowing with these fun activities: 1. At home, create abstract art by taping paper to the bottom of a flat pan. Squirt paint randomly around the paper then roll a marble through it.

2. Carve a soap sculpture by whittling a bar of white soap with a plastic butter knife.

Or mold a sculpture with homemade baker’s clay.

3. Create three-dimensional art using cereal boxes, straws, wires and other recyclables.

4. Draw a portrait of yourself using a mirror. Sit across from a sibling and draw one another.

EYE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Visit a local park for a nature hike. At home, try these activities: 1. Make leaf, flower and bark rubbings with paper and crayons.

2. Pour plaster into animal track indentations, let it harden, then carefully remove the surrounding dirt. Turn tracks into paperweights or refrigerator magnets.

3. Find a caterpillar in its natural environment, then recreate its habitat in a glass jar. Observe it at various stages of its lifespan and record observations. When the insect emerges from its cocoon, release it and write a creative story.

4. Cook dinner and roast marshmallows over an open fire. Look at stars and identify constellations. Listen for insect and animal sounds.

Denise Morrison Yearian is a former educator and editor of two parenting magazines, as well as the mother of three children and four grandchildren.

Sea Stars Camp This three-day buddy camp is designed for students with special needs and their guardians to explore the Gulf of Mexico. Come discover the marine habitats on and around Dauphin Island by boat and bus, including Mobile Bay, the salt marsh, and the beach.

CAMPS

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For more information email seastars@disl.org, call 251861-2141 ext. 7515, or visit disl.edu/dhp/sea-stars-camp.

Access our great camps & summer programs all year online at: https://birminghamparent.com/directory/kids-camps/

SUMMER

SEPTEMBER 24-26, 2021

101 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528

SEPTEMBER 24-26, 2021

Sea Stars Camp This three-day buddy camp is designed for students with special needs and their guardians to explore the Gulf of Mexico. Come discover the marine habitats on and around Dauphin Island by boat and bus, including Mobile Bay, the salt marsh, and the beach.

Save the Date!

For more information email seastars@disl.org, call 251861-2141 ext. 7515, or visit disl.edu/dhp/sea-stars-camp.

101 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MARCH /APRIL 2021

For our March/April issue, Birmingham Parent seems to have more actual events to list, and still a number of good, virtual ones. As we step into spring, here’s hoping we’ll get some relief from the pandemic and get to enjoy events and the great outdoors again!

Don’t miss these fun ones, along with a new crop in the pages that follow.

Happy Easter!

April 4 Sunday A Very Special Easter Egg Hunt

March 13 Saturday Birmingham Parent’s Virtual Special Needs Expo

10am-2pm, The pandemic is hindering an actual event, but our great vendors and sponsors will be on hand for information, great giveaways, a downloadable “swag bag,” and much more. See everything special needs in one place and online thereafter. FREE, but be sure to preregister at www.birminghamparent.com. Sponsored by NBC 13, 97.3 Play, 106.9 FM, Griffin Mobility, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and Children’s of Alabama.

9:30am-noon, Pelham Rec Center Gymnasium. A familycentered event focusing on active participation for children with disabilities or limitations.

Three egg hunts: ages 1-5, ages 6-12 and siblings ages 1-12. Look for the golden eggs for special prizes. The Easter Bunny will be available to visit up-close or from a distance!

This event will create an environment to allow children to have fun where they are comfortable. Space limited; advance registration required. https://pelhampark.activityreg. com/ClientPage.

birminghamparent.com | 33

MARCH CALENDAR 3 WEDNESDAY

Easter - Sunday, April 4, 2021

1 Monday Exercise Medicine Journal Club 11:30-12:30pm, Virtual.

Exercise Medicine Journal Club (GBS 746J Exercise Medicine), previously open only to UAB graduate students, is now open to anyone interested in exercise biology and medicine. This season's focus: “Tissue Specific Effects of Exercise.”

Information, www.calendar. uab.edu.

2 Tuesday

Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting 5:30-6:30pm, Online.

Alcoholics Anonymous is hosting online meetings.

These meetings are open to anyone seeking recovery Zoom meeting ID: 869-4566003, www.calendar.uab.edu.

Arts Circle + Virtual Arts.

Pass: Mary and Richard Powers - 6pm, Virtual Members and subscribers are invited to attend the Arts Circle LIVE:

AEIVA Salon Series featuring the private collection of Mary and Richard Powers. Arts Circle LIVE: AEIVA Salon Series events are monthly recurring live virtual collection tours broadcast from the homes of local, regional and national art collectors.

Tickets, $29-$49; free/ available to Arts Circle and Virtual Arts Pass members., www.alysstephens.org.

Yoga at the Gardens: Ashtanga - 8:30am, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Registrants encouraged to practice social distancing and are required to bring their own yoga mats and props. Face masks are required when interacting with others outside of your family group in the Gardens, and for entering the Garden Center. Face masks are not required while taking part in outdoor yoga classes. Preregister online. Birmingham Botanical Gardens Friends: $8; Non-members: $10. www. bbgardens.org/.

Brickology 9am-5pm, McWane Science Center. Brickology will allow visitors to explore and be amazed by science, engineering, art, and math concepts using construction block play. This 5,500 square foot exhibit was designed and constructed by the McWane exhibits team. McWane Science Center has adjusted this exhibit experience to support current health and safety precautions related to COVID-19, providing the most engaging and worry-free experience possible. 205714-8300, www.mcwane.org.

Admission charged.

Alabama School of Fine Arts Music Department Junior Recital 3-4:40pm, Recital Hall, www.asfa.k12.al.us.

4 THURSDAY

Hockey: Birmingham Bulls vs. Huntsville Havoc 7:30pm. Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena. Enjoy the prospect of catching a fantastic free souvenir and great game! www. birmingham365.org. $38.

Perfect Game National Baseball & Academy Showcase Noon, Hoover Met Complex., www.hooveral.org/calendar. www.hooveral.org.

Yoga at the Gardens 8:30am, Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Registrants are encouraged to practice social distancing and are required to bring their own yoga mats and props.

Face masks are required when interacting with others outside of your family group in the Gardens, and for entering the Garden Center.

Face masks are not required while taking part in outdoor yoga classes. Pre-register at www.bbgardens.org. Friends: $8; Non-members: $10. 205414-3950. www.bbgardens. org/.

5 FRIDAY Wish Night 2021 6-10pm, Ross Bridge Welcome Center/Resort and Spa. Wish Night spreads the mission of hope, strength and joy by granting wishes to Alabama children with critical illnesses.

The event includes an opportunity to meet local wish kids and their families, bid on silent and live auction items, participate in our Wine Pull and Diamonds Direct Raffle, as well as see the power of a wish yourself. Tickets, www. birmingham365.org.

6 SATURDAY

Arbor Day Celebration 9:30 -11:30am, Aldridge Gardens. www.hooveral.org/ calendar.aspx?EID=7528, www.hooveral.org.

Alabama School of Fine Arts Auditions for Theatre Arts, Dance & Visual Arts 8am-5pm, ASFA campus, www.asfa.k12.al.us.

PLEASE NOTE: Calendar information should be uploaded to our website at https://portal.cityspark.com/EventEntry/EventEntry/BirminghamParent and may appear in print if uploaded by deadline. You may also go to www.birminghamparent.com and simply click on the calendar icon. Entries added online after the print deadline will not appear in the print version. Information cannot be accepted over the phone.

Birmingham Parent publishes a calendar 6 times a year. January events are included in the November/December issue. Deadline for the May/June 2021 issue is April 9, 2021.

Guidelines: Birmingham Parent’s calendar is intended to be a resource and service to the community and our readers. Events which are open to the public, fundraisers, free classes, etc., are events that may be included in our monthly calendar. We reserve the right to reject any event or listing due to rules or space restrictions. For questions regarding calendar entries, call 205-624-2405 or e-mail calendar@birminghamparent.com.

Due to the pandemic, all events may not be up to date nor have accurate times. Some events may even be canceled. Note, many events currently are VIRTUAL. Be sure to check ahead with the actual venue.

34 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

BUSA Red Diamond Soccer Tournament Noon. Hoover Met Complex, www.hooveral.org/calendar Historic Night Tour – Sloss Furnaces 7:30-9:30pm, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark.

The first 20-30 minutes is a talk from Sloss’ curator about the historical reasons why people believe Sloss is haunted. Then an hour and a half tour of the site to learn how the furnaces worked as well as deaths that are known to have occurred there. We will also be leading the group to two places not open to the public. Cost is $25.

For more information or to register, e-mail Ty Malugani at tyler.malugani@birminghamal. gov, www.slossfurnaces.com.

Hockey: Birmingham Bulls vs Pensacola Ice Flyers 7pm, Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena, www. birmingham365.org. $38.

8 MONDAY Special Education Information Session 5pm, Virtual. Earn your graduate degree from the UAB School of Education. UAB offers concentrations in collaborative teaching for K-12 and early childhood special education. A traditional program is available for those who hold a current teaching certificate and an alternative master's program for individuals looking to enter the teaching field. Learn more at a virtual information session. www.calendar.uab.edu.

10 WEDNESDAY Lunch & Learn: The Art of Flower Arrangement Noon, Virtual. Floral design demonstration led by Carolyn Chen from Wild Things. Learn how to process flowers, tools used and the basics of arranging flowers. Must register at www.alysstephens. org. FREE.

12 FRIDAY Hockey: Birmingham Bulls vs Macon Mayhem 7:30pm. Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena.

www.birmingham365.org. $38.

13 SATURDAY

streamed. Tickets, www. st-francis-music-academy. ticketleap.com/2020unblurred-live. Information, avoicu@saintfrancismusic.org, www.birmingham365.org.

15 MONDAY Birmingham Parent’s Virtual Special Needs Expo 10am-2pm, Birmingham Parent’s Virtual Special Needs Expo. The pandemic is hindering an actual event, but our great vendors and sponsors will be on hand for information, great givewaways, a downloadable “swag bag,” and much more. See everything special needs in one place and online thereafter. FREE but be sure to pre-register at www. birminghamparent.com. Sponsored

by NBC 13, 97.3 Play, 106.9 FM, Griffin Mobility, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and Children’s of Alabama.

Alabama School of Fine Arts Auditions for Math & Science, Creative Writing, & Music - 8am-5pm, ASFA Campus, www.asfa.k12.al.us.

How to be an “Outsider” Noon, Birmingham Zoo, webinar. What is nature play and how can we incorporate the natural world into our lessons from behind a screen?

How is free play important for the health and development of young learners? Learn the answers! 205-879-0409, www. birminghamzoo.com.

16 TUESDAY Teen Kickball Night 5:30-8pm, Fungo Holler Park, Pelham. Ages 13-18. A fun night with friends! Eat pizza and play a fun game of kickball. http:// pelhamalabama.gov/calendar.a Hockey: Birmingham Bulls vs Knoxville Ice Bears - 7:30pm, Pelham Civic Complex & Ice, www.birmingham365.org. $38.

Alabama School of Fine Arts Dance Department Senior Choreography Performance & Reception 7pm, DJDT, www.asfa.k12.al.us.

Alabama School of Fine Arts Music Department - Junior Recita - 3pm, Recital Hall, www.asfa.k12.al.us.

Outdoor Adventure: Treetop Nature Trail Hike & Tree Ring Printing 9am-1pm, Oak Mountain State Park. Guided tour of the Treetop Nature Trail Boardwalk; meet birds of prey.

Learn how to make a print from tree rings and take home a piece of natural art. http:// pelhamalabama.gov/calendar.

Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach Jr. Shows March 18-21, Virginia Samford Theatre. When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion which results in a tremendous peach – and launches a journey of enormous proportions. For showtimes and tickets, go to www.virginiasamfordtheatre. org.

14 SUNDAY 2020 UNBLURRED: Chamber Music Soirées with Violinist Daniel Szasz & Friends 6pm, St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. Part of six live concerts during the year; held at church with limited seating and following strict COVID-19 safety measures such as mandatory masking and social distancing. The concerts will also be live-

18 THURSDAY

19 FRIDAY Family Camping in Pelham City Park 5pm-9am. Pelham City Park Complex. Bring your tent and sleeping gear to enjoy a night under the stars. We will provide fun activities and a great opportunity to connect with the outdoors. No pets, please. Food truck food

available. Breakfast provided.

Space is limited and advance registration required. https:// pelhampark.activityreg.com/

20 SATURDAY

ArtPlay Presents Vocabby's World Play It Again Sam 10:30am, Virtual. Beep Beep!

Join Vocabby’s World® and your ArtPlay friends to learn new vocabulary words about music. Ages: 0-5 years.

Tune in using any electronic device from the safety of your home. Must register. www. alysstephens.org. FREE.

27 SATURDAY

LifeWay's Going Beyond Live with Priscilla Shirer and Anthony Evans 9am-4pm, Bill Harris Arena at the Crossplex. Priscilla Shirer's Bible studies presents powerful biblical truth. Tickets, www. birmingham365.org.

13th Annual Rumpshaker 5K 8am-noon, Homewood Central Park. 2021 Registration Options: in-person 5K event limited to the first 500 registrants; virtual 5K (eligible for team discount); 100-mile challenge (eligible for team discount); 200-mile challenge (eligible for team discount); multi-event (in person 5K plus 100 or 200 mile challenge (eligible for team discount. www.birmingham365.org.

28 SATURDAY Career Event -Miles College Students & 2020 Grads 7am-7pm, virtual. www. eventbrite.com. FREE Family Yoga in the Gardens 9am, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Enjoy this unique opportunity for healthy fun with the family in the gardens of Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

For ages 3 and up. $15 dropin (child+1 adult) $5 for an additional family member (per class). www.bbgardens.org.

birminghamparent.com | 35

APRIL CALENDAR

4 SUNDAY Easter Sunday

A Very Special Easter Egg Hunt 9:30am-noon, Pelham Rec Center Gymnasium. A familycentered event focusing on active participation for children with disabilities or limitations.

Three egg hunts: ages 1-5, ages 6-12 and siblings ages 1-12. Look for the golden eggs for special prizes. The Easter Bunny will be available to visit up-close or from a distance!

This event will create an environment to allow children to have fun where they are comfortable. Space limited; advance registration required. https://pelhampark.activityreg. com/ClientPage.

6 TUESDAY American Red Cross Blood Drive Noon, Hoover Met Complex. www.hooveral.org/calendar.

Home Safety & First Aid for Tweens - 5:30-6:30pm, Pelham City Park. Ages 9-12.

Looking to build independence and basic knowledge of home safety and first aid for your tween? This class will be taught by the Pelham Fire Department (no certification awarded.) Light refreshments served. Space is limited; advance registration required. http://pelhamalabama. gov/calendar.

7 WEDNESDAY Lunch & Learn Yoga, Movement and You - Noon.

Virtual. Yoga instructor Marie Blair will teach participants yoga and breathing techniques that can be done at your desk. Join us for an hour of relaxation and self-care! www. alysstephens.org.

Alabama School of Fine Arts Music Department - Student Recital3pm -4:40pm, Recital Hall, www.asfa.k12.al.us.

8 THURSDAY Mother-Son Bingo 5:30 -7:30pm, Pelham Rec Center parking lot. Hang out

with Pelham firefighters, see their fire truck and meet the new fire dog, Ashly. Pizza, bingo, prizes and more! Each child must be accompanied by an adult. Pizza served and advance registration required. https://pelhampark.activityreg. com/.

9 FRIDAY Perfect Game Deep South Easter Celebration Noon, Hoover Met Complex.

Soccer. www.hooveral.org/ calendar.

10 SATURDAY 2021 BirmingFAM Festival Noon, Trim Tab Brewing Co. This first annual two-day festival hosted by TrimTab Brewing celebrates community with local vendors, small businesses, local food, activities for all ages, and live music. Benefitting Pay It Forward Alabama. Limited pre-sale tickets are available for purchase at BirmingFAMfest. com at a lower cost and with exclusive offers. Stay tuned for more information on vendors, events and music lineup.

205-374-8749.

Outdoor Adventure: Fairy House Hike & Camping 101 9am-1pm, Oak Mountain State Park. Fairy House Hike on the Light Trail Build a fairy house out of natural elements on the Light Trail and let the magic of the woods come to life. Learn how to build a fire, set up a tent and determine necessary camping supplies.

Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably and wear sturdy walking shoes. http:// pelhamalabama.gov/calendar.

16th Annual Sloss Furnaces Gumbo Gala 11am-2pm, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark.

This cook-off benefits Birmingham's Episcopal Place, a local nonprofit that helps lowincome senior citizens. Gumbo teams compete. Visitors may taste as many samples as they wish while supplies last. Familyfriendly and dog-friendly event.

Information, tickets, registration, www.gumbogala.com.

36 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

16 FRIDAY

Family Kickball Night 5:15-9pm, Pelham City Park fields. Families will play against other families in a friendly competition. Pizza served at 5:15pm and play begins at 6pm.

No experience necessary.

Space limited; advance registration required. https:// pelhampark.activityreg.com/ ClientPage.

Honda Grand Prix of Alabama 7am-6pm, Barber Motorsports Park, https:// barberracingevents.com/.

17 SATURDAY 10th Annual Lyla Ride benefiting RMHCA 7am-1pm, Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Leeds. Benefitting Ronald McDonald House. Entry fees are $25 per rider or $30 for a rider and their passenger.

Pre-register, Ronny Burleson at 205-229-2136 or walk-up registration the day of the event starting at 7am. Riders will meet at the church. Kickstands go up at 9am. Riders enjoy a run through multiple counties before returning to church for lunch and door prizes. www. rmhca.org.

ArtPlay Presents Vocabby's World Down by the Pond 10:30am, virtual. Join Vocabby’s World® and your ArtPlay friends to learn new vocabulary words about ponds. Ages: 0-5 years.

Tune in using any electronic device from the safety of your home. Must pre-register, www. alysstephens.org. FREE. Diabetes Walk for Camp Seale Harris - 8am-noon, Veterans Park, Hoover. Family-friendly walk/run raising awareness of diabetes, connecting the diabetes community, and an opportunity to make it possible for kids to attend Camp Seale Harris - Alabama's only diabetes camp. http://www.hooveral.org/ calendar.

Mutt Strut 2021‍ Noon, Virtual. 5K and 1-mile fun run. Benefitting Hand in Paw, handinpaw.org.

Zero Gravity Basketball Tournament Noon, Hoover Met Complex. www.hooveral.org/calendar.

18 SUNDAY Line Dancing Workshop 1:30-4:30pm, Pelham Rec Center. A fun afternoon of line dancing led by instructors Jackie Tally and Faye Smitherman. Workshop is for those who are currently taking line dancing classes. Learn four new dances, with time to dance your favorites between instruction. Space limited; pre-registration required. http:// pelhamalabama.gov/calendar.

19 MONDAY Goat Yoga, 5-7pm, Pelham City Park Complex. Enjoy a 15-20-minute yoga class and interact with the "kids."

Afterwards, visit the “instagoat” picture spot and hold one for a picture. Bring your own camera. Space limited; preregistration required. https:// pelhampark.activityreg.com/ ClientPage.

24 SATURDAY

2021 Red Shoe Run: Rockin' 5K - 7:30am-noon, Homewood.

Ronald McDonald House of Alabama is offering two participation options in 2021: a socially-distanced start line for the in-person 5K and 1 mile and a virtual option to rock the streets wherever you are. And, a snoozer option for those who wish to fundraise and get their t-shirt! Virtual awards ceremony to recognize top runners, biggest team, and best fundraisers. Sign up at www.redshoerun-bham.org.

30 SATURDAY Tonight's the Night: Taylor Hicks performs Rod Stewart's Classic Hits 8pm, Avondale Brewing Company. Tickets, www.eventbrite.com.

EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS MARCH/APRIL 2021 Birmingham Children’s Theatre 1001 19th St. North, Birmingham AL, 35203, 205-458-8181, www.bct123.org Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 16th St. N., Birmingham 205-328-9696, www.bcri.org Birmingham Museum of Art Bart’s Art Cart! FREE drop-in art program for kids and families f eatures a different theme from galleries and art activity each month. Saturdays from 11am-1pm.

Bart’s Books. A storytelling program for children ages 4-7.

2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, 205-254-2565, www.artsbma.org Birmingham Public Libraries Find a library near you for fun events and enrichment! www.bplonline.org

Due to the pandemic, many attractions may not be open or may have abbreviated times.

Some may be closed.

Be sure to check ahead.

Aldridge Botanical Gardens 3530 Lorna Road, Hoover 205-682-8019, www.aldridgegardens.com Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame 1631 Fourth Ave. N., Birmingham 205-254-2731, www.jazzhall.com Alabama School of Fine Arts 1800 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd., www.asfa.k12.al.us

Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 2150 Richard Arrington Blvd. N., Birmingham, 323-6665, www.ashof.org Alabama Wildlife Center 100 Terrace Drive, Pelham, 205-663-7930, www.awrc.org American Village Highway 119, Montevallo 205-665-3535, www.americanvillage.org Barber Motorsports Park 6040 Barber Motorsports Parkway, Leeds, 205-298-9040, www.barbermotorsports.com Birmingham Botanical Gardens 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham 205-414-3900, www.bbgardens.org

Birmingham Zoo Special Saturdays. On the second Saturday of each month from 10-11am for ages 8-up, the Birmingham Zoo and KultureCity presents a series of zoo-based learning experiences for children and adolescents with cognitive or physical disabilities. Caregivers must attend all classes. FREE; space is limited to 10 students per class. Information, Roger Torbert, rtorbert@birminghamzoo.com.

2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, 205-879-0409, www.birminghamzoo.com Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum 1919 Ninth St., Calera 205-668-3435, www.hodrrm.org Jefferson County Library Cooperative Find a library close to you for all kinds of fun events and enrichment! www.jclc.org McWane Science Center Home School Day! On the first Monday of each month, home school students and their families can come for special programs, live science demonstrations, giveaways and a discounted ticket price. for home school parents, $7 kids, $6 for accompanying adults.

Member Mondays. Every Monday, McWane Science Center members receive extra perks while visiting!

Includes a special gift for kids when checking in, 30 percent discount on gift shop purchases, $1 small popcorn at IMAX concession stand and a free members-only evening event each month. Also, on the second Monday of each month, McWane opens its doors from 5-8pm for its members.

Blue Star Museums Military Discount. Blue Star Museums offers FREE admission to active-duty military, including Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard and Reserve members, with up to five family members. To learn more visit bluestarfam.org. Offer does not include IMAX movies or parking.

Moss Rock Preserve Preserve Parkway, Hoover 205-739-7141, www.hooveral.org.

Oak Mountain State Park 200 Terrace Drive, Pelham, 205-620-2520, www.alapark.com.

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center 1214 81st St. S., Birmingham 205-833-8264, www.ruffnermountain.org.

Shelby County Public Libraries Find a library near you for all kinds of fun events and enrichment! www.shelbycounty-al.org Southern Museum of Flight 4343 73rd St. N., Birmingham.

205-833-8226, www.southernmuseumofflight.org Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla' 205-477-5711, www.tannehill.org Vulcan Park 1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham, 205-933-1409, www.vulcanpark.org

birminghamparent.com | 37

PERSONALIZE YOUR PLATE FOR ® NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH

By Laura Marbury, MS, RDN, LDN

March is National Nutrition Month® and this year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright. org) is encouraging you to “Personalize Your Plate!”

Developing a healthful eating pattern is not a one-sizefits-all endeavor. Everyone is different, and our choices are shaped by many factors.

No matter your situation, there is more than one way to personalize your plate for healthful eating.

become healthier now and maintain your health for the future.

Avoiding food groups leaves nutritional gaps. For example, if you’re lactose intolerant you may be avoiding dairy foods, but dairy provides essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium and vitamin D, which people of all ages need for growth and maintenance. These nutrients also play a role in preventing chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

If you are lactose intolerant, personalize your plate by choosing aged cheeses, like cheddar or Parmesan, which contain nearly no lactose. You could also try fermented dairy foods, like yogurt or kefir, which contain beneficial bacteria that help you digest lactose.

Choose lactose-free milk instead of milk impersonators, which do not offer the same package of nine essential nutrients as real cow’s milk.

Choose a Variety of Foods A healthy eating pattern includes a variety of foods from all food groups, according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Each food group offers a unique package of nutrients that, when combined, help you

Plan Ahead Finding time to sit down for a well-balanced meal is often just as challenging as deciding what should be on your plate. Most Americans fall short when it comes to eating enough plants – fruits, vegetables, whole grains – and dairy foods, but planning a weekly menu will make healthful eating easier.

38 | birminghamparent | march / april 2021

Check your schedule to determine how many meals you can realistically eat at home each week. Then choose healthful recipes that include a variety of food groups. Eating the MyPlate way (www.myplate.gov) can guide you. Aim to fill half of your plate with fruits and veggies, one-fourth with lean protein, such as chicken, seafood, beans, and nuts or seeds, and one fourth with whole grains.

You can enjoy a cold glass of milk with your meal or add a serving of cheese or yogurt to your plate.

Learn New Skills Make meal planning easier, help incorporate variety, and better suit everyone’s preferences by getting the whole family involved with planning and prepping each week. Encourage older kids to find fun recipes that explore new flavors and foods.

Make meals even easier on yourself by learning new cooking techniques that can minimize the amount of time and effort spent on preparation. One-pot meals, sheet pan dinners, and slow cooker or instant pot recipes are just a few cooking methods that can simplify family meals.

Laura Marbury, MS, RDN, LDN is a Food and Nutrition Outreach Manager for The Dairy Alliance.

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