Memphis Parent December 2015

FRESH NEW LOOK,

SAME GREAT CONTENT

c k th ready to ro

e world!

PLUS

STRONGER FAMILIES =

STRONGER MEMPHIS

OUR CAN-DO-KIDS

LEARN ABOUT

AN UPDATE!

THEN & NOW

RETURN FOR

RSV BABY GEAR -

DECEMBER 2015

memphisparent.com

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

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MEMPH IS PARE NT

DECEMBER 2015

Kids don’t take a day off.

Neither do we.

The Spence and Becky Wilson Baptist Children’s Hospital is dedicated to caring for your children from birth through their teens. The pediatric ER is staffed 24/7 with pediatric physicians and specialists to help ensure your children get the best emergency care. All pediatric services, including the ER, are conveniently located with easy parking and access, and offer the same level of exceptional care you’ve come to expect from Baptist.

6225 Humphreys Blvd., Memphis, TN 38120

901-227-PEDS (7337)

Get Better.

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

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Speech Therapy Feeding Therapy Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Register now for January feeding groups! ph: (901) 309-3077 www.brightsong.net

Discover Your Unique Design and Thrive in it!

• Educational & Occupational Assessments available • Find more satisfaction in life by choosing the right career

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MEMPHIS PARENT TURNS 25

by Jane Schneider

We’re celebrating 25 years of bringing you the best information for families in Memphis!

• Avoid wasting time and money in a job or college major that is not for you

Our Cover Kids & their moms (L to R): Tramica Morris & Moziah Bridges, Regina & Kathryn Barker, Logan & Kim Guleff

Donna W. Walker

Certified Career Direct Consultant

(901) 577-0929

email: ruwalking@yahoo.com https://careerdirect-ge.org

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Stronger Families Make a Stronger Memphis

by Jane Schneider, Kristi Cook

DEPARTMENTS 6 Around Town Discover Antarctica, Briarcrest’s OneVoice Wins Big, Madonna Learning Center’s Christmas show 7 Dear Teacher Help with homework, jump start your toddler’s education

Dance Scholars, Inc. 29th Annual Performance

“Students’ Works & Dances”

Sat. December 12th 7pm Tickets Available Dec. 1st

24 Other Voices The family talent show 26 School Notes Let us help you find a school

Advertising Art Director Christopher Myers Advertising Manager Sheryl Butler

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22 Parent to Parent Talking toys

Art Director Bryan Rollins

Adults/Children Group Rate

by Dec. 10th $7/$4

Southwest Tennessee Community College Union Campus Theater 737 Union Ave. 38103

by Candice Baxter

10 Savvy Shopper Ways to keep fraudsters out of your wallet

Editor Jane Schneider

Graphic Designer Dominique Pere

Call 301-3262 (danc)

Baby Gear, Then and Now

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Can-Do Kids: Ready to Rock the World

by Jane Schneider

28 Family Table Blue cheese cole slaw 29 Other Voices Giving thanks for family 30 Early Years Being present, RSV 32 December Calendar and Events 38 Our Favorite Moments Kid funnies and cute pics of your cute kids

OUR STAFF

Advance Tickets $10/$8

At door $12/$10

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8 One Cool Dad Sculptor Tylur French

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Account Executive March Gates Production Operations Director Margie Neal Calendar Editor Meena Viswanathan Copy Editor Shara Clark

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Publisher/CEO Kenneth Neill Chief Operating Officer Molly Willmott Editorial Director Bruce VanWyngarden Director of New Business Development Jeffrey A. Goldberg Events Manager Jackie Sparks-Davila Marketing/Communications Manager Kendrea Collins Email Marketing Manager Brit Ervin

Digital Manager Kevin Lipe Distribution Manager Lynn Sparagowski Controller Ashley Haeger IT Director Joseph Carey 460 Tennessee Street, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38103 p 901.521.9000 • f 901.521.0129 send advertising queries to: sheryl@memphisparent.com memphisparent.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

25 Years and Counting As I write my editor’s note this month, I must tell you, I’ve been fretting about this 25th anniversary issue. There are so many details, so many talents from so many people that must be carefully woven together to create this beautiful, complicated whole. It can be a bit daunting at times. I remember feeling the same way when preparing for my son’s birthday. I worried I wouldn’t live up to his expectations, that that my plans would somehow fall short of his dreams. Well, the same goes for my work with the magazine. I don’t want to fall short for you, our reader.

But here we are, kicking off the 25th anniversary with a brand new look and logo.

Did you notice? It’s brought to you by our new art director, Bryan Rollins, who is brimming with creative ideas on ways to enliven these pages. I hope you’ll find it as engaging as I do.

Since we’re celebrating this milestone, I’ve been thinking about what has changed and what has remained the same when it comes to raising kids. I was doing some reading to learn about parenting thought, to discover how our views have shifted, and I came across some interesting information.

It was at the turn of the 20th century when the old adage, “Children should be seen and not heard” first arose. Scientific research suggested rigid feeding, bathing, and sleeping schedules for babies. To keep them from “undue stimulation,” it was recommended that they shouldn’t even be played with before six months of age.

By the late 1920s, experts suggested children be strictly controlled and that parents expect instant obedience and demand chores. Furthermore, so as to not spoil your child, mothers were told to withhold their affection. Eek. Post-World War II, Dr. Benjamin Spock’s Baby and Child Care became the go-to bible for parents of the Baby Boom generation, selling 50 million copies worldwide by 1980. Spock’s message was far more affirming than in decades past, telling mothers to “Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” He also encouraged parents to be more flexible and affectionate with their children, at last.

Pediatrician T. Barry Brazelton followed somewhat in Spock’s footsteps, doing work to help parents and pediatricians better understand how the behavior of young children was effected by parents and vice versa.

Today’s flurry of books and blogs seem to prey on the fears and anxieties new parents harbor, playing up their lack of knowledge or competence around childrearing. Admittedly, the worries and challenges we face as a society today — technology, gun violence, terrorism — are different than they were 25 years ago.

However, much of what it means to actually raise a child day-to-day remains the same. What children need is fairly simple: love, guidance, limits. As a parent, you will gradually become the expert on your child. Consider what is it you want for him and how can you help him achieve his goals. What are the lessons you want to instill in him, what values are important to you? Let those questions guide you.

I believe the journey our children take us on does require some personal reflection. I remember my own son asking me my reasoning behind a decision and having to stop and really think about why I was coming down with the edict of the moment.

Yet, I think if you are mindful, raising a child can be an act of empowerment and can help make you a stronger, more confident person. Being a parent requires you to think beyond your own needs, to consider the strengths and limitations of another, to communicate your thoughts and feelings effectively so that your child can gradually become equipped to manage the world independently of you.

As a parenting magazine, our aim is to help you with this most important job.

Raising a child can be many things — busy, frustrating, joyous, maddening — but ultimately, we hope we can help you embrace the joy.

We’ve been around for 25 years, and with the help of our advertisers and you, we’ll be here for many more to come. Thanks for being part of the journey.

JANE SCHNEIDER

janes@memphisparent.com • Follow me on Twitter @membelle

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AROUND TOWN

A FINAL JOURNEY TO THE ICE Pink Palace educator invites families to take part in her voyage to Antarctica

By MEENA VISWANATHAN How would you like to spend your winter on the frigid continent of Antarctica? Alex Eilers, manager of education for the Pink Palace Museum, is headed on her final journey to the South Pole to complete research on Weddell seals.

“What I thought would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience when I went in 2012, has turned into two more wonderful opportunities,” shares Eilers.

“I am excited about bringing the world closer to families and connecting with teachers and student community in the process.”

She was initially selected to be a PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) teacher in 2012, a program funded by the National Science Foundation that brings educators and scientists together on polar expeditions. Eilers worked alongside researcher Jennifer Burns, a biological sciences professor at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, and a team of scientists on a project involving Weddell seals of the Ross Sea. During her first trip, the group studied the “over-wintering” behavior of seals by gluing satellite tags to their heads. The team applied tags during the summer (January and February) then tracked the animals’ location and diving patterns over the winter. It was during this trip that Burns observed many of the female seals shedding fur (molting) later in the season and wondered aloud if these seals had pupped earlier in the season.

“That simple question led to the project we are on today,” observes

Eilers. “The 2014-2016 project focuses on the connection between reproduction and molting and what drives the timing of these events.”

Eilers will be at McMurdo Station on Ross Island for six weeks from mid-January to the end of February.

Here’s how you can travel with Alex to Antarctica: Receive a post card from Antarctica: Design a post card and mail the selfaddressed card in an envelope to Alex Eilers at the Pink Palace. She will mail all post cards from the post office at McMurdo Station with an Antarctica postmark. • Submit your card by December 18.

“Get Fit” Antarctica Challenge: The distance between the Pink Palace and McMurdo Station is 8,764 miles. For every minute you exercise or learn about science, you will earn a “virtual” mile with Alex. The goal is to reach Antarctica by May 2016. Log your miles on the website.

For details, go to antarcticarevisited.com. Or follow Alex’s journey at polartrec.com, search Alex Eilers or Weddell Seals in the Ross Sea project.

PLACES TO COOK WITH KIDS Children love holiday traditions so plan to create a new one by making a gingerbread house together.

Visit these outlets and you’ll return home with a yummy treat and a clean kitchen. — Candice Baxter

BRIARCREST’S ONEVOICE A CAPPELLA CHOIR WINS BIG

SHARE THE LOVE

Congrats to Briarcrest’s a cappella choir, OneVoice, and its director, J.D. Frizzell. The 12-voice group won Macy’s All-School A Cappella Challenge and a $25,000 prize.

“There aren’t a lot of pep rallies for fine arts students, so I appreciate Macy’s doing this,” says Frizzell, OneVoice founder and Briarcrest’s director of fine arts.

Schools from across the country submitted videos of “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5, and one winner was selected from elementary/ middle, high school, and college entries.

Briarcrest’s video, well produced and engaging, highlights their lush vocal talent.

Last spring, OneVoice received the 2015 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award for Best High School Album and Best High School Soloist. • Watch them at youtube.com/user/ macys/acappellachallenge

No matter who you are, everyone has a special gift. That’s what kids at Madonna Learning Center discover each year as they rehearse their annual holiday program, A Christmas Gift.

Their excitement is infectious. It starts in the classroom as the kids learn songs, dances, and skits. Then it steadily builds until opening night, when they share their multiple talents with family and friends.

“Everyone has a special gift to give during the holiday season and this performance is our students’ gift to the community for their continued support,” say Madonna faculty.

Come see for yourself. • A Christmas Gift, Germantown Performing Arts Center, December 15 & 16 at 7 p.m.

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Students from Madonna Learning Center perform at GPAC

L’ECOLE CULINAIRE

Gingerbread Cottages December 5 & 12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Kids decorate preassembled gingerbread houses with candies and learn how to make waffle cone trees or marshmallow snowmen to decorate.

Ages 6+ • $45 per parent/child pair lecole.edu/memphis

SALUD COOKING SCHOOL

Whole Foods East Memphis

Kids Baking: Pies and Tarts December 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Kids learn the basics of pie making and create some tasty examples, including gingerbread and chocolate chip pie, and chocolate pecan tarts.

Ages 10+ • $39 per person Gingerbread House December 12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or December 13, 2-5 p.m.

Kids of all ages build and trim a gingerbread house.

Ages 3+ • $25/kids, $35/adults wholefoodsmarket.com/service/salud-cooking-school-memphis

DEAR TEACHER By Marge Ebert & Peggy Gisler

Meet Harper

GOT A PROCRASTINATOR? How to help with homework

Q A

Our son puts off starting his homework every night. Many nights he procrastinates so much he can’t get his homework finished.

Is there any way to cure or at least improve his tendency to procrastinate?

For many families, a homework contract resolves a lot of homework problems. The agreement between parent and child can state a specific time for starting homework. Talk over the terms with your child and reach an agreement. In certain cases, it may be helpful to have rewards and/or penalties to incentivize the child to follow the terms of the contract. For examples, check out our contracts on dearteacher.com. They are under Skill Builders/Study Skills.

Besides using a contract, the tendency to procrastinate can be reduced by having you and your child look over his homework at the start of a homework session as defined on the contract.

Then together you can decide which assignment will be the easiest to do. Starting on the easiest assignment will reduce your son’s reluctance to start his homework. Plus, you can further push your son to start his homework by not letting him do anything else before his homework is completed.

block tower architect

Class of 2030 future dog doctor

blueberry nut

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JUMP START

Q A

Your toddlers’ education

I am a stay-at-home mom anxious to help my toddler get a head-start on learning.

What’s my best approach?

One of the best ways to start toddlers on the path to being a learning star is by talking to them. This is true whether you are with them all day long or have more limited time because you are a working parent.

It is sad, but true, that young children from poorer homes usually hear far fewer words than those from well-to-do homes. The difference in the number of words heard in an hour is absolutely enormous — more than 1,000. It’s believed that this greatly affects the variance in IQ between economic groups. So talk, talk, talk to your children, and whatever your income level is will not be a factor in their becoming smart students. Incidentally, this does not mean hearing words on television; this simply doesn’t help children.

Beyond talking to children, introduce them to the world and talk about what’s around them. Get out of the house. Go to stores, restaurants, parks, museums, and libraries — anywhere your child can have a new experience. Let him see the Mississippi River, your neighborhood park, the train in Collierville Square, the bugs and birds in your backyard, planes, trains, and buses. Have them look at the day and night sky. Take them on walks and car rides. Introduce them to all your family. Create a scrapbook with their photos and share this with him before you gather for a holiday visit. Each new experience will widen your child’s horizons. The more they learn about the world, the more they will understand when they begin reading about it in books. . COOMM 9 7 MME EMMPPHHI SI SPPAARRE ENNT T. C

ONE COOL DAD

PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

As creator of Overton Park’s bike arch and Broad Avenue’s Water Tower, sculptor Tylur French loves Memphis — and it shows

By JANE SCHNEIDER | Photo By MARCI LAMBERT

While some dads punch a time clock each day, Tylur French fires up a blowtorch instead. French, an artist and owner of Youngblood Studio, produces public sculptures. I’ll bet you’ve seen his work. There’s the techno-colored bike arch at Overton Park, the stainless steel wave kids love to ride at Tobey Skate Park, the Pebble Sorter at Overton’s Rainbow Lake playground, and most recently, the Broad Avenue Water Tower, which features a topographic image of the Mississippi River. French has also done a number of art installations, like the Genome Project, for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of his primary clients.

What this 43-year-old Kansas City, Missouri passively engage in other people’s worlds, French native likes about his work is its collaborative strives instead to spark his kids’ imagination. nature. His employs five artists at his studio but They have a cool play space at his studio, located pulls in others for special projects, like painter in the old Defense Depot (coincidentally, Jeanne Seagle and mosaic artist Kristi Duckworth. Youngblood is housed in the huge former metalWhat one couldn’t do alone, he says, they can fabricating shop) where the kids can draw, craft, achieve together. or ride bikes in the parking lot. French also guides “I wanted to create a hub for artists in the city Lincoln on art projects. He shows me a clever because what you see and hear from clients is sculpture they created together using a cigar they want art that reflects our region.” French box with an explosion of toothpicks caught in also likes producing work that people encounter mid-blast. The piece was part of a Midtown art show. every day. “I like doing art in the community If creativity is fostered by our surroundings, where you’re raising your kids. Public art engages then the French home provides ample inspiration. with the environment. As a city, it makes us more Lincoln’s bedroom sports playful comic book forward-thinking.” posters and vintage games, while Sterling has a bookcase lined with 50s-era robots and DREAM AND CREATE spacemen (which they are allowed to play with, At his home in Cooper-Young, one French shares BTW). All are curated by Astrid, a Montessori with his wife, Astrid, sons Lincoln (7) and Sterling teacher who is also an avid collector of interesting (2), and daughter Sage (17), I notice further stuff, from rare Japanese foil beads and Cracker evidence of his creativity. There’s the playful red Jack charms she weaves into handcrafted jewelry rocket ship that soars over Sterling’s crib, made to vintage toys, games, and art. in memory of Tylur’s mother, whose own artistic nature encouraged him to dream and create, and THE BIKE ARCH the colorful scribble headboard that encircles Lincoln learned how to ride a two-wheeler while Lincoln’s bed. Then just 4, Lincoln drew the design French puzzled out the bike arch. His vision was and Tylur forged it out of metal. Once painted, simple: “I wanted something jubilant, exploding Astrid outlined it in twinkle lights. with energy.” The project, which took 18 months “I want the kids to know that if they have an to complete, embodied elements the artist most idea, it can be created,” he says. “You have the enjoys: problem solving, inventing, and power to do this, to make it happen.” repurposing material. The arch used 320 donated In this age of electronic gadgetry, where we bikes, some of which came with sweet tales, like

APPLY NOW!

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6 COOL FACTS ABOUT THE OVERTON PARK BIKE ARCH Time to build: 18 months Number of bikes: 320 Types of wheeled objects: bikes, scooters, tandems, trikes, skateboards, and a wheelchair Coats of paint: 6 per bike How attached: Each bike is soldered to five others Number of rideable bikes: Zero — usable bikes went to Revolutions for refurbishing

collaboration

www.cmdsmemphis.org 901.261.2157 8 8

the 52-year-old man who donated his childhood trike and a pair of bikes ridden by best friends, one of whom died at age 9. The bikes face each other and are painted alike, a tender reminder of their adventures together.

French has done much during his artistic career, from running a foundry to working on a diverse range of projects, all of which have helped him build an impressive skill set as a sculptor. Now, he says with confidence, “People should be able to come to us with anything that’s not normal — and we can do it.”

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Meet Cayden

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HOLIDAYS AT THE P!NK PALACE • Nov 14 - Dec 31 PED I

-FLI

Santa Send-Off • Pink Palace Lawn Thursday, Dec 24 • 3pm

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SAVVY SHOPPER

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Nightly 5:30-8:30 pm

December 11 & 12 December 18-30

Closed Dec. 24 & 25 Tickets online or at the gate.

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SHOP SMART Keep your personal information out of mayhem’s hands this month

By KRISTI COOK

The holiday shopping season is here, and you’re likely running from store to store. If you’re like me, you whip out your debit or credit card without a moment’s hesitation. It’s easy in the frenzy of the season to lose track of what you’ve spent or where you used your card last. That’s why identify theft is so prevalent in December.

Take a minute to consider these suggestions to ensure your information doesn’t fall into the hands of thieves.

Pack lightly • Too often we keep all of our credit/debit cards tucked away in a wallet for safekeeping. However, if your wallet is lost or stolen, you not only have to notify each respective bank, but a fraudster who finds the cards has instant access to card numbers, security codes, and expiration dates. Instead, the Federal Trade Commission recommends taking only the card you need for that specific trip and stashing it in a location other than a wallet or purse.

Tag along • Whether dining at a restaurant or shopping at the mall, never let your card out of sight when paying for services. Ask waiters and clerks politely to let you tag along for the transaction rather than letting them walk off with your card. Card-swiping devices — even simple photos — easily record card info that can later be used to make fraudulent purchases.

Be sneaky • When using ATMs or other devices requiring your PIN, cover the keypad with one hand while typing your code with the other. “That way, if there’s a pinhole camera being used to catch your PIN, that picture can’t be taken,” advises First Tennessee Bank’s corporate banking director, Chris Van Steenberg.

Shop wisely • While Van Steenberg says the safest places to use credit or debit cards are major or well-known stores and websites, sometimes shoppers want to purchase specialty items they can only find at craft shows or smaller merchants. Van Steenberg says it’s best to use a credit card, rather than debit, in these instances. “If there is fraud on your account, you’re not going to have your personal funds at risk.”

Know the signs • Holiday shopping is full of online purchases. However, before typing in a credit card number, ensure the site is secure. Check for a closed lock at the bottom right of the screen or a web address beginning with ‘https.’ Clicking the closed lock should also display the same ‘https’ web address. Always use secure payment options such as Paypal or Google Wallet when available.

Monitor accounts • Regardless of time of year, Van Steenberg reminds shoppers to monitor statements and accounts at least monthly, if not more frequently. If fraud is suspected, contact your bank immediately to initiate a fraud claim.

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Meet Jessica

Class of 2021 cat lover

beach seeker

cross-country runner

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FEATURE

STRONGER FAMILIES MAKE A STRONGER MEMPHIS We salute agencies helping children and parents live better lives

By JANE SCHNEIDER, KRISTI COOK, AND MARGOT PERA

There are many nonprofits in our community doing important work to help families grow stronger. We wanted to take a moment to say thank you to a few of our favorites. If you have a heart for their mission, send a contribution this holiday season. If we all do our part, we can make Memphis better for children and families.

When Latrina Moore was diagnosed with HIV in her early 20s, she had no idea what to do, let alone what would happen to her unborn child. “When I first heard the words, it was so surreal,” Moore recalls. “I was working as a medical assistant at Choices here in Memphis, and I saw cases like this all the time and never imagined I would be on the other side of the table.”

Moore unknowingly contracted the virus from the father of her first child, Ayanna, now 8. Family members turned their backs once they learned she had AIDS. The young mother was devastated. Then her doctor told her about Hope House, an early education and social service center dedicated to serving families and children ages six weeks to 5 years who are living with AIDS. At last, she had found a rock in stormy sea.

“I started coming to the support groups, and I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Moore says. “I had been shunned by lots of my friends and family and was sort of expecting to be treated the same way, but all of the social workers expressed love, concern, and patience.”

FROM HOSPICE TO LIVING WITH HIV Founded in 1995 by the Junior League of Memphis, Hope House initially offered hospice, but today it’s grown. “When anti-retroviral drugs were developed, we became a support system to help families learn how to successfully live with the virus, and more importantly, be a place where children and families can flourish,” says executive director Dr. Betty Dupont.

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF ABUSE The Exchange Club Family Center • exchangeclub.net 24-hour hotline: 276-2200

Hope House offers an array of programs to help families on a day-today basis, from life skills classes and education field trips for children to counseling, preschool, and housing assistance.

“The play therapy is a great outlet for children who have been exposed to violence and grief associated with their living conditions,” says Dupont.

After receiving individual therapy, children have morphed from being withdrawn and anti-social to outgoing and full of life. “A lot of our children would not be able to attend a school in Shelby County due their violent behavior and outbursts,” Dupont says. “Here, we can work through their trauma so they can eventually co-exist with their peers.”

LIFE IS BETTER As for Latrina Moore and her children, “This daycare has been a godsend. I am back in nursing school and getting straight As, and I have learned so much from these support groups and have dear friends in the other moms and families that attend functions here,” says Moore. “I am so much more open and confident now. I have learned ways to deal with my family and overcome obstacles in my life.” — Margot Pera

GIVE HOPE TO FAMILIES Hope House is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Help them raise $20,000. • hopehousememphis.org

care and child development but also home and car safety, nutrition, and parenting skills. The agency also provides much needed guidance to parents wishing to further their education or gain employment.

Leaving no one out, the “Generations” program The Exchange Club Family Center empowers families with the ability to break the cycle of family violence provides seniors the opportunity to share their love and attention with youngsters, much like the national and child abuse.

Families learn to identify domestic violence, Foster Grandparent program. — Kristi Cook receive counseling, and gain anger management and parenting skills. Many programs provide advocates AN ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION FOR TEENS who assist families involved with the juvenile justice JIFF • Jiffyouth.org, 522-8502 system or help them find appropriate housing and For teens that are third-time offenders in the juvenile childcare.

A comprehensive program for first-time teen justice system, the road to adulthood is a rocky one.

Some studies indicate juvenile detention leads to a moms teaches child development and provides advocates who pay home visits each week to help failure to graduate high school and a higher likelihood moms put into practice positive discipline techniques of spending time behind bars as an adult.

The JIFF program — Juvenile Intervention and and family planning. — Kristi Cook Faith-based Follow-up — works to give kids a second chance. Juvenile Court refers young offenders to HELPING FAMILIES HELP THEMSELVES JIFF’s 16-week mentoring program, which matches Porter-Leath • Porterleath.org, 577-2500 community leaders with teens who need guidance.

Porter-Leath remains passionately committed to Students are picked up after school, fed, and through helping at-risk children and families, and each year, Christ-centered intervention, discuss life choices. serves more than 10,000 Memphians. Their mission: “Most kids at 17 or 18 realize gangs aren’t the answer, “Empowering children and families to achieve a healthy, but they’re not sure of an alternative,” says executive director Richard Graham. Offering alternatives does optimal, and independent lifestyle.”

Programs include foster and adoptive care, as well help; JIFF’s recidivism rate is 40 percent.

One option JIFF offers teens is earning a paycheck as early childhood and parent education. Preschool programs arm more than 5,000 children each year at Sweet LaLa’s Bakery, run by business owner and JIFF with the necessary skills for a successful start in board member Laura Young. To create her almondkindergarten. Parents not only learn about prenatal flavored sugar cookies, Young rents a kitchen in the 11 2 2

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Abe Scharff YMCA building and hires teens to work under the watchful guidance of JIFF volunteer Sheryl Miller. Young has hired 12 JIFF grads since last December.

“When you get to know their stories,” she says, “you realize many are looking for a way out.”

— Jane Schneider A SAFE PLACE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Family Safety Center • familyjusticecenter.org Hotline: 274-7477 For women experiencing the trauma of an abusive relationship, the Family Safety Center offers respite.

The center brings together the civil, criminal, health, and social services women need to help them move beyond their abuser. Since 50 percent also have children, the center offers on-site childcare, counseling, and even play therapy. Being housed in one location also helps agencies work together, “so they don’t have to be all things to their clients,” says executive director Olliette Murry-Drobot.

Her staff works to help women understand the cycle of violence. “Some don’t realize they’re in a violent relationship because sometimes it’s so subtle, the victims are made to feel like they’re crazy.”

Women often come two and three times before leaving their abuser completely. But since the center opened in 2009, domestic violence cases in Memphis have steadily declined. — Jane Schneider

ABOVE: LATRINA MOORE (HOPE HOUSE)

A ROCK IN A STORMY SEA Hope House • hopehousememphis.org, 272-2702

Meet Bebe

student council president

Class of 2016 Costa Rica lover

Beyoncé’s biggest fan

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T:9”

T:5.875”

We’ve been friends for a long time – before we could even spell “mammogram.”

Make a pact with a friend to support each other in getting regular mammograms. Then follow through.

Call 1-844-SIS-PACT or log on to sisterpact.com for more information. Ask a doctor if a mammogram is right for you.

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FEATURE

BABY GEAR

THEN &NOW

By Candice Baxter

Memphis Parent has been devoted to families in the MidSouth for a quarter century.

The generation of babies born around our first publication are having babies of their own, and the timeless need of stuff remains constant. Here are a few classics that have gotten a Millennial upgrade.

There’s nothing like the suction bulb you bring home from the hospital for clearing tiny stuffed noses, but these can grow mold and bacteria. The new alternative is the NoseFrida Snotsucker, invented by a Swedish doctor. This apparatus is a nozzle hooked to a tube, powered by a parent sucking the other end; the center is blocked by a replaceable filter. The idea seems gross, but the product gets rave reviews for dealing with ongoing allergies and curbing the dreaded snot-sucking battle. Best results when paired with infant salene spray. • $15

The 90’s crank swing didn’t require electricity, but it only lasted half an hour, good for folding laundry or fixing a quick supper, terrible for waking through the night every time the motion stopped.

Baby swings evolved to battery-powered, gentler sweeps forward and backward or side-to-side. Now on the scene is the Mamaroo. It cradles baby on a papasanlike perch and sways in a figure-eight to simulate movement in the womb.

Mamaroo has buttons on the base, like foot pedals, to allow for hands-free activation, five different motions, and can play your iTunes library through a cell phone app. • $300

The Moses basket has been around obviously since Biblical times, a convenient portable safe bed to keep baby near in different rooms of the house. The Fisher Price Rock n’ Play serves the same purpose, just fold it up like a director’s chair and open it in a new spot. Plus, the angle of the padded sling keeps baby slightly inverted, so gravity aids in digestion. It features a sturdy metal frame curved for rocking as well as vibration settings. • $50-$110

The side of the tub used to be reserved for a net full of bath toys, held by two not-sopowerful suction cups. The bath toy scoop like the Munchkin Turtle Super Scoop is designed for mounting on the back shower wall. It can be held by command strips to be removed when bath toys are outgrown. The sturdy plastic detachable scoop has holes for draining bathwater and comes in various animal shapes. This makes bath time clean-up simple and fun. • $29.99

The corner-stuffed animal hammock that comes in every baby bedding set has been upgraded to something more functional. The Boon Animal Bag is a stuffed bean bag/fuzzy sack with a zippered mesh opening.

You can store plush toys away and have a soft seat for lounging. • $40

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Through a challenging academic curriculum and a supportive environment we cultivate a love for learning that inspires girls to reach their full potential.

Accepting applications for 3, 4 and 5 year old kindergarten.

SUCCESS GROWS HERE

Woodland combines small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and personalized instruction to help grow your child’s success. Call 901-685-0976 to schedule a tour, or email admissions@woodlandschool.org.

A co-ed, Pre-K — 8 independent school in the heart of East Memphis. woodlandschool.org

©2013 Woodland Presbyterian School. All rights reserved.

For more information contact us at 901-767-1356 or Admissions@saa-sds.org.

ST. AGNES ACADEMY-ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL 4830 Walnut Grove Road • Memphis, Tennessee 38117

WWW.SAA-SDS.ORG

LEARNERS TO LEADERS A Catholic tradition since 1851

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M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

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FEATURE

and Still Growing Strong Memphis Parent magazine hits a major milestone

By JANE SCHNEIDER

Twenty-five years — one quarter of a century — that’s how long Memphis Parent magazine has been serving families in Memphis and the Mid-South. I think that’s an impressive run, don’t you? Especially when you consider how much the media landscape has changed in that time.

In 1989, when we got our start, the World Wide Web had just been invented. We carried around mobile phones the size of a shoe, and most of us still got our news from daily papers, magazines, and the three broadcast networks.

National magazines had long served families with advice on child rearing; after all, Parents magazine was launched in 1926. But niche publications that told local stories and relied on local experts were an idea that was just beginning to take root.

The magazine’s founder, 22-year-old Nell McCorkle (a Hutchison grad), had seen just such a product, Carolina Parent, and it captured her imagination. A Davidson graduate with a degree in journalism, McCorkle thought families in Memphis would benefit from such a paper and so, put her journalistic talents to work.

IT’S ALL ABOUT BEING LOCAL McCorkle drafted a business plan with the help of her father, then began pitching her idea and selling advertising to schools, hospitals, and business owners around the city. Like many entrepreneurs, she started small.

“I was the delivery person, ad salesman, editorial writer, photographer, layout person; I did it all,” McCorkle told us on our 15th anniversary. But soon, she was in the publishing business, proudly producing Memphis Parent six times a year.

Two and a half years later, with her sights set on seminary, McCorkle sold the fledgling publication to MIFA. Ellen (Abbey) Westbrook, then associate executive director over public affairs and fundraising, realized it was just the tool the nonprofit needed to continue their community outreach.

Kim Gaskill, MIFA’s public relations professional, became the magazine’s editor and Sloane Taylor was hired to sell advertising. As a parent with two schoolage children, Taylor understood the publication’s mission and would sell for Parent for the next 15 years before passing the baton on to our current advertising manager, Sheryl Butler. Sheryl started selling for Parent in 2007.

When Sandy Koch took over as Parent’s managing editor in 1996, the paper became a monthly and Koch used her years as a foreign correspondent to give the publication more of a news slant. She worked to broaden the magazine’s readership base and become an important voice for parents. “We didn’t do as many birthday party stories and developed instead topics that focused on education, health, and nutrition,” she says.

MIFA produced Memphis Parent until 1999, when it was sold to Contemporary Media. Parent complimented the publishing company’s other niche products: Memphis Flyer, Memphis magazine, and Inside Memphis Business.

A NEW ERA AT CONTEMPORARY MEDIA I took over the helm as editor in July 1999. My son was just starting preschool at the time. With my news background — I covered education in Boston before moving to Memphis — I felt the direction Sandy had taken the magazine fit well with my orientation. I also believed Memphians deserved to receive parenting information that was accurate, interesting, wellwritten, and reflective of our community.

I’ve been lucky enough to work with many talented writers over the years, including those pictured below, all of whom feel as passionately about parenting as I do. There’s also a host of professionals here at Contemporary Media that manage everything from the social media and marketing of Parent to the design of its pages as well as its timely distribution to Kroger stores and 400 other outlets citywide each month.

Since 1999, we’ve grown bigger, gone full color, added more advertisers, and won more than 50 awards from the Parenting Media Association, our trade organization. We’ve also broadened our editorial scope to cover the wide-ranging topics that affect parents every day. Our hope is that we give you ideas on how to enjoy family time, access the resources we have here in Memphis, and consider new ways of thinking about what it means to be a parent today.

I find the best part of my job is getting a chance to speak with you for stories, or to see the photos you send of your children each week. I know how challenging being a parent can be. So I want to assure you our mission will remain the same, to help you do what you love doing best — raise healthy, happy kids.

Here’s to another 25 years.

(L to R) Matthew Timberlake, Meena Viswanathan, Jane Schneider, Stephanie Painter, and Jennifer Williams-Fields 186 MMEEMMPPHHI S I S PPAARREENNT T ODCETCOEBMEBRE 2R021 5 015

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Building a foundation that lasts a lifetime

Coed Pre-K3 – 8th grade

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Monday, January 11, 2016 9:00 am – 12:00 pm For more information contact us at 901-767-1356 or Admissions@saa-sds.org.

ST. AGNES ACADEMY-ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL 4830 Walnut Grove Road • Memphis, Tennessee 38117

WWW.SAA-SDS.ORG 4841 Park Avenue Memphis, TN 38117 901.685.1231 www.holyrosarymemphis.org

LEARNERS TO LEADERS A Catholic tradition since 1851

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ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL 2K-8

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

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COVER STORY

LOGAN

k c o r o t ready ! d l r o w e th

We love discovering kids around our region who are doing big things. So, in celebration of our 25th anniversary, we thought we’d bring you an update on some of the Can-do and Cover Kids we’ve featured over the years, kids whose stars continue to shine.

We’ll be starting out this month with the three tweens and teens featured on our cover, and we’ll continue with updates through 2016. I think you’ll be impressed by what this next generation of Memphians is up to. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store — for these kids and yours! — Jane Schneider

Do you have a Can-do Kid?

WRITE: Put CAN-DO in the subject line SHARE: Tell us cool stuff about your kid SEND: Email janes@memphisparent.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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Logan Guleff’s interest in cooking began early, when he helped his mom in the kitchen at age 5. As his passion grew, it led to the creation of his cooking blog, Order Up! With Logan. From there, Logan’s creative cuisine quickly began winning national food contests; one even took him to the White House for a luncheon with First Lady Michelle Obama when he was 10.

But it was his win on MasterChef Jr. (Season 2) that was the real game changer, opening doors to some pretty amazing offers.

Since then, he’s judged BBQ contests and is now developing appetizers for Olive Garden. Catch him on MasterChef Jr. this winter, and you can vote on the appetizer you like best.

Logan regularly posts how-to videos on Facebook and YouTube, he even did a video with Stuart Edge! What amazes his mom is how her son’s popularity spans the globe. “His fans write from Indonesia, Vietnam, Argentina, it’s crazy,” says Kim. Logan is the top-rated kid chef on social media with more than 60,000 followers. Locally, you can hear him on WAAM 990 Talk Radio each Monday. Logan’s next big thing? Hosting his own cooking show some day.

MOSIAH Did you see Moziah Bridges in TIME magazine’s 30 Most Influential Teens for 2015? The announcement came last month, surprising Mo when a reporter from WREG-TV called for comment. “We didn’t even know!” says Tramica, Mo’s mom. But they were thrilled.

We first met Kathryn in 2009 as a Cover Kid entrant. Her interest and talent for modeling led us to use her in a number of magazine spreads, showing off everything from back-to-school fashion to fun Halloween costumes where she dressed as a hippy.

But among our favorites is the picture of her as a fairy,

Mo is the CEO of Mo’s Bows, a line of handmade bow ties. Mo’s grandmother taught him how to sew using vintage fabrics she had on-hand as a seamstress. He launched his business at age 9, selling ties locally and online. Five years later, his $200,000 venture employs seven people, including his mom and grandma.

We met Mo after Oprah’s O magazine shout-out in August 2011. “I thought it would be like a lemonade stand,” says Tramica, “and he’d sell his bow ties for a couple of bucks.”

Instead, Mo’s entrepreneurial spirit and winning smile has taken them on an incredible journey: At age 11, he was the youngest entrepreneur to appear on Shark Tank, his bows are carried by Neiman Marcus, he’s given fashion tips to NBA draftees on ESPN, and he’s even presented President Obama with a handsome blue bow tie.

“I was trying to take a selfie but I was so nervous,” Mo says with his characteristic grin.

Now 14, Mo is being mentored by Shark Tank investor Daymond John and does motivational speaking at schools and business events nationally. He’s still charming and a fashion maven at heart, so watch out for his next big idea: a line of skinny ties.

taken when she was 5, for our Garden Fairies spread (you can see A Guide to Fairies on our website).

Kathryn is now 11 and a sixth grader who does competitive dance at her middle school. Her team will be competing at nationals next spring in Orlando.

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PARENT TO PARENT

CREATIVE OR CREEPY?

The latest interactive toys talk (and listen) to your kids. Thoughts?

By CAROLYN JABS

Having a toy that can talk is a persistent childhood fantasy. Adults have been trying to bring that fantasy to life ever since Thomas Edison installed miniature, hand-cranked phonographs in porcelain dolls. Over the years, toy manufacturers have experimented with toys that say prerecorded phrases (Chatty Cathy from the 1960s) or tell stories when a child pulls a string or presses a button.

need some help with the kids this holiday season?

K K Want to feel this good about your school?

Come learn about our excellent Christian education at our upcoming open houses!

Immanuel Lutheran School

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Thursday, January 21st, Noon and 6pm Sunday, January 24th, 2pm

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kid station is open and ready to play throughout the holiday Season!

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( We are closed on Christmas Day, New Years day and Sundays, when our center is available for rent for birthday parties and events. )

(Light meal provided)

Immanuel Lutheran School Christian Education for PK3-8th Grade 6319 Raleigh LaGrange Road Memphis, TN 38134 901-388-0205 • www.ilsmemphis.org 2 8 2 MME EMMP PHHI SI SP P A AR RE ENNT T ODCETCOEBME B R E2R0 21 50 1 5

Kid Station Drop In and Play Center Visit • 579 Erin Drive, East Memphis Call • (901) 761-PLAY (7529) Click • www.kidstationonline.com Ages 3 months to 12 years are welcome to play!

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More recently, toys have become truly interactive, equipped with software that makes them seem responsive to children. This fall, Mattel announced development of Hello Barbie, a new version of the iconic doll that, with the help of a Wi-Fi connection, analyzes what a child says so Barbie can respond.

Cognitoys has introduced a talking dinosaur named Dino, which answers questions and responds to commands. Both toys are supposed to “learn” as a child uses them, so their responses become tailored to the child.

These toys join a crowd of other talking toys, ranging from a baby doll that can “read” 70 words to a “talk back” doll that repeats what a child says in a squeaky voice, from programmable “pets” to radio-controlled robots.

Some people think all this responsiveness has educational potential. One intriguing study found that children who played with toys programmed to say their names and other personalized information were more attentive when the toy presented unfamiliar material.

At the same time, many experts believe young children are better served by toys that allow the child to control the script. Playing is a way for children to work out their own ideas about the world, and it may be better for them to be the ones putting words in the mouths of their favorite stuffed animals, dolls, and action figures. Some toys that seem amusing to adults may actually limit a child’s imagination.

In short, parents will want to think carefully before purchasing this season’s most seductive talking toys. Here are some questions worth asking: WILL THE TOY WORK? Nothing is more frustrating than a new gadget that doesn’t work properly.

Before choosing a talking toy, be sure your child is developmentally ready to manage the controls. Think about whether the toy will challenge or frustrate your child. Will it be too difficult to use without adult assistance?

Consider durability, too. A toy that breaks down or has technical glitches will interrupt the flow of play.

worries that Hello Barbie will “eavesdrop” on children. “It’s creepy,” says Executive Director Dr. Susan Linn. Others are concerned toys that depend on Wi-Fi will become targets for hackers who have already demonstrated an ability to manipulate baby monitors and other household equipment. To minimize security risks, parents should turn off toys when not in use and take advantage of any safeguards provided by the manufacturer. The makers of Dino, for example, allow parents to set up an account so they can monitor and, if necessary, delete what a child says to the toy.

IS THE TOY A GOOD ROLE MODEL? If a toy is going to have regular conversations with your child, you’ll want to be sure that what it says is consistent with what you want your child to hear. Some toys are surprisingly sassy. How will you feel if your child mimics the toy?

DOES THE TOY STIMULATE IMAGINATIVE PLAY? Talking toys are often one-trick ponies. The toy does the work, so your child becomes a passive consumer of entertainment. Once the novelty wears off, your child is likely to be bored, a sure-fire indication the toy isn’t giving your child room to think and grow. Many child development experts believe children benefit most from simple toys that give them open-ended opportunities to experiment and explore. If you decide to invest in interactive toys, be sure that your young child also has access to basic toys like building blocks, puppets, puzzles, and art supplies.

Finally, it’s important to understand the limitations of talking toys.

Children need to become skilled with language because it’s the best way to share information, express feelings, and build a sense of closeness with other people. Toys that talk may be clever and amusing, but they cannot help a child develop understanding and empathy. That’s something they can learn only in the company of living, breathing, caring people.

DOES THE TOY GATHER INFO ABOUT CHILD? — Freelance writer Carolyn Jabs is working on a book about constructive Whenever a toy connects to the cloud, parents have to assume anything a responses to conflict. • growing-up-online.com child says in its presence is being recorded. What use will companies make of those recordings? The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood

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OTHER VOICES

FROM OPEN HOUSE TO OPEN MIKE

How one mother’s clan embraced a new holiday tradition – the family talent show

By MARGIE SIMS

Being the youngest of eight, my Christmas traditions have always been packed with people. Now, as the mother of 10, the holidays still call for a crowd. If I ever meet a lonely Christmas, I suspect I will have to find the nearest throng and join in.

Though I have never been alone at Christmas, there have been seasons of change. Parents age, families relocate, children leave home — each creating transitions that can be emotional and draining. It was during one of these times, however, that we found a new family tradition, one that has endured.

When we moved from Memphis to Vermont more than a decade ago, I was unsure of what these New Englanders would think of our big Southern family. A Christmas Eve Open House seemed like the obvious answer to making new friends. Our church held Christmas Eve services, after all, so folks could come eat with us before or after. Thus, a new tradition was born.

In the five years we lived in Vermont, we only missed one Christmas Eve Open House. That year, my father had passed away the previous November, and I was expecting our ninth child — a transitional season of sadness and change.

It was our 9-year-old daughter, Emma, who suggested we hold a Christmas Eve talent show instead. And so, following our traditional dinner where we crowded around the table, joined hands, and said grace, the talent show began.

First up was Mom Dot’s lengthy passage from Macbeth (which she can still quote at age 88):

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

Her hands sliced through the air. Her voice quavered with emotion.

It was quite a sight to behold — compelling, convincing, and poignant.

As my mother-in-law exited the stage, she turned and declared, “I don’t believe a word of that!” While I’m glad she’s more optimistic than Shakespeare, I also loved that her recital might remain etched in the minds of my children.

Then, 7-year-old Silas, donning a white lab coat and oversized glasses, set up a makeshift lab in front of the fireplace. Upon opening his act, he scurried around his laboratory before looking up and gasping.

“Oh, hello. I didn’t see you there,” he said, pressing his glasses higher up on his nose. “My name is Dr. Silas Sims, and today we’ll be conducting a science experiment.” He proceeded to mix vinegar and baking soda (with the expected result) followed by a burst of applause.

Next up was 14-year-old Cory, who showed us the art of speed-eating chocolate bars, and 10-year-old sister, Dorothy, with her gymnastics/dance routine. More applause.

Mary and Emma, 15 and 17, performed “Sisters” from the movie White Christmas, using branches from our tree trimming as their feathery fans.

2244 MMEEMMPPHHI S C TEO MBBEERR 22001155 I S PPAARREENNTT DOE C

Matt and Ben, both feeling liberated by their break from West Point Academy, brought out musical instruments and inspired us with worship songs.

As a spontaneous surprise (even to my husband), my husband and I sang “I Got You Babe,” karaoke style. The kids howled and secretly filmed our performance (footage that I promise shall forever remain secret).

Our daughter Bethany finally concluded the show with “O Holy Night” sung a cappella — the most sacred part of our Christmas Eve celebration.

While our Christmas Eve Open House disappeared years ago, the talent show continues on, despite our moves from Vermont to New York, Florida to Virginia. I want my kids to remember and cherish this family tradition until they celebrate the holiday season with children of their own.

This year, all 10 kids plus my daughter-in-law will be home for the holidays. They know to have their acts readied. And though we anticipate a happy 2016 with a wedding and two graduations, who knows when we’ll all be together again for the holidays.

After our 29 years of marriage, my husband and I have seen many Christmases come and go. And as much as I would love to still be heading to my own mother’s home come Christmas day, I have learned that life is seasonal; we must lean into change. After all, no matter where we live or what lies under the tree, what matters most is that we celebrate together.

“Oh, hello.

I didn’t see you there,” —Dr. Silas Sims, 7

Now Taking Applications for 2016-2017!

d School

An International Baccalaureate Worl

The International Baccalaureate Experience December 9 at 6:30 p.m.

December 10 at 8:30 a.m.

Lausanne is the only PK - 12th grade independent International Baccalaureate World School in Tennessee. Upper School administrators will give presentations on the IB Diploma Programme and its benefits for students, especially regarding college and university admission. These presentations are especially important for prospective Upper School students as well as families wanting a greater understanding of how the Lausanne curriculum is vertically aligned from PK-3 through 12th grade.

No RSVP necessary.

Monthly Admission Previews at Lausanne

December 16 - Lower School Preview

Each month you’ll find division-specific presentations designed to help you learn how Lausanne can empower your child as an individual and prepare him or her for college and for life in a global environment. Help your child start ahead, come visit Lausanne as soon as you can! Please RSVP for the above events using the Admission Calendar, www.lausanneschool.com/admissioncalendar.

Individual tours are also available!

Early Explorer Experiences

First Wednesday of the Month September – May, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

December 2 - Engineering January 6 - Music

Make plans to bring your little ones to a special hands-on experience each month in the Lausanne library and explore how enhanced literature, language, art, music and science studies in early childhood and lower school create greater connections for students in the classroom and a stronger knowledge base for success in upper levels of study. Activities will include story time and a special activity followed by time playing in Lausanne’s new Outdoor Discovery Center. Sign up for an upcoming event: www.lausanneschool.com/EEE

Lausanne, whe re we emp owe r indi viduals to be The Rea l Me”!

Watch how!

honoring proven traditions

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so our children advance as problem-solving scholars

ST. GEORGE’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL Germantown Memphis Collierville PK—Grade 12

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admission@lausanneschool.com | 901.474.1030 | www.lausanneschool.com | Memphis, TN

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

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SCHOOL NOTES

CONSIDERING A NEW SCHOOL NEXT YEAR? We can help you through the process

By GINGER SPICKLER

Featured in some copies of Memphis Parent this month is the Memphis School Guide’s 2016 School Navigator. Here you’ll find an overview of local K-12 school options, how to determine which school is a good fit for your child and family, and what you need to know to enroll.

You’ll discover the info here is just a start.

Memphis has long had a number of options parents could choose from, including traditional public, Optional, and private schools. But now we’ve got charter and iZone schools, too, not to mention eight different school districts. It’s enough to make a confused parent want to draw the blinds and take a stab at homeschooling (which many families have done).

HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW Every local child has a guaranteed seat in a zoned school. But you also have choices for your child.

An active search will help you pick the right school.

I founded Memphis School Guide, a website launched earlier this year, to help you understand what your choices are and how to make the best decision. But who am I? And what’s inside the Memphis School Guide? Read on.

MEMPHIS SCHOOL GUIDE’S ORIGIN STORY The term “origin story” has links to superheroes and supervillains, but I am neither (although my family may disagree on any given day). I’m a pretty typical wife and mother of two who came to Memphis 22 years ago for college.

Until recently, I worked for a nonprofit called Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust (MOST).

By providing scholarship funds, MOST helps more than 500 low-income kids annually attend private schools. There, I spoke with many parents who were looking for a different option for their children, and from listening to the stories of those who received scholarships, I know how lucky we are to have a community of strong independent and parochial schools in Memphis serving kids across the economic spectrum.

But, here’s a twist. My own first- and fifthgraders walk two shor t blocks to our neighborhood public school, something my husband and I never expected when we moved to Midtown. However, after researching and visiting a number of other options, we decided to give our public school a shot. I’d never say it’s perfect (no school is), but it’s been a good fit for us, and the close proximity gives us the ability to be involved in a way I don’t think we could if we lived further away. (Plus, walking to school just feels so retro.)

These days, a number of kids on our street join my boys on their walk to school in the morning. And as they do, they give a friendly wave to other neighborhood children who are in back seats heading off to other schools — public and private, near and far. All of us — walkers and drivers alike — feel fortunate to have found schools that fit our families’ needs.

That’s not to say finding or getting into those schools was always easy. I’ve had many playground conversations with parents trading tips and rumors on how to navigate the school search and enrollment process. Sometimes they have good info, sometimes not. For almost everyone, it often seems unnecessarily complicated and confusing.

YOU’VE GOT THIS I created Memphis School Guide for families who want to do well by their child but don’t have time to try to figure out all the local-school craziness on their own (which is probably EVERY family, in both cases).

After you’ve looked through the 2016 School Navigator, I invite you to visit us at MemphisSchoolGuide.org. If you’ve already found the right school for your child, please leave a review on your school’s profile; other parents would appreciate hearing about your experience. If you’re still looking, take time to browse our pages and save your favorites — we’ll let you know each time important new information is added about a favorite school.

As confusing as school choice can seem, you know what your kids need, and given the proper information and tools, you’ll find it. The best news? You don’t have to be a superhero to do it.

Is the 2016 School Navigator missing from your copy of the magazine? Get the digital version at MemphisSchoolGuide.org.

ALL ABOUT KIDS

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FAMILY TABLE

STILL SEARCHING FOR YOUR SIGNATURE DISH? Try this blue cheese cole slaw and boom! Problem solved.

By LIZ PHILLIPS My immediate family is full of crazed foodies, but the extended clan has members who remind us that there are other interests to pursue out there in the world. One outdoorsy and athletic branch, my Chicago-Colorado cousins have the appearance of people who live on quinoa, broccoli, and hummus. So I was not expecting to find a must-have recipe at our latest family reunion. But I did, and according to my cousin Beth, it’s one that she’s asked for whenever she brings it to parties — which she does all the time, because it’s her Signature Dish.

According to my husband, everyone needs a signature dish. From a parental point of view, I agree. I think it comforts children to know that their parents have their “things.”

I bragged about my mom’s creamy cheesecake, and my dad’s spaghetti with Bolognese sauce was legendary. But I’m such a dabbler that my kids can’t name Mom’s S.D. However, you could say that there’s a subcategory — the signature party dish — to which my cousin’s blue cheese cole slaw belongs. And I’ve made it my own.

In the spirit of the holidays, though, I’ll share it with you. You just have to promise that if you bring it to parties, you’ll pass it on to all who ask.

This salad has so many virtues. Though there are people who detest blue cheese, everyone else likes this, kids and grownups alike. It’s super easy to make, and most of its ingredients are in your pantry.

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An all-season recipe, it’s especially useful in winter, when members of the cabbage family are cheap and plentiful.

You can shred your own, or buy one or two bags of pre-shredded slaw mix (I’ve used broccoli slaw with nice results). And it’s lowcost, but the blue cheese, its one extravagance, makes it feel like party food.

The dressing, which gets its pretty mint green hue from the blended scallions, is also gentle on the distracted. I watched Beth and her sister, Barb, make it together, and as they chatted, catching up on family news, they forgot to reserve the cheese to be stirred in just before serving and instead blended it in. The “mistake” was a hit, and a new variation was born. (And don’t tell, but it’s pretty healthy, especially if you go easy on the sugar.)

A word about that the sugar: My cousin cut the original recipe’s sugar from 3/4 cup to 1/2, and her slaw is delicious. But since I don’t get as much exercise as she and her family do, I can’t bring myself to put even 1/2 cup of sugar into a salad. I use 2 tablespoons and feel just fine about it. So start with just a bit, taste the dressing, and add more if needed. Don’t skip it altogether. Some sweetness is needed to balance the sharpness of the cheese. Decide for yourself. That’s how you’ll make this your very own signature party dish.

BLUE CHEESE PARTY SLAW Courtesy of Beth Nevins Hall

INGREDIENTS: 4 green onions (including tops), cleaned, trimmed, and coarsely chopped 3/4 CUP sugar (my cousin uses 1/2 cup; I use 2T) 1/4 CUP white or cider vinegar 1/2 TEASPOON salt 1 TEASPOON celery seed (or skip the salt and sub 1.5 teaspoons celery salt) 1 CUP vegetable oil 4 OZ. crumbled blue cheese 1 large head of cabbage, shredded (or 1-2 bags any kind of slaw mix)

In blender, mix onions, sugar, and vinegar until sugar is dissolved. Add salt and celery seed (or celery salt), then add oil slowly as the mixture is blending. Chill dressing 2 to 4 hours or overnight, or not at all. Add cheese to cabbage and toss with dressing.

Alternative: If you prefer a smoother dressing, add blue cheese crumbles to the dressing after you blend in the oil. Blend to desired consistency.

OTHER VOICES

GIVING THANKS FOR FAMILY

Acknowledging the issues that separate and unite us as family By STEPHANIE PAINTER A

It was a radiant summer day, the start of our family vacation. My relatives had opened a map showing various attractions at San Diego's Balboa Park, and then, we scattered.

Strolling through museums or bobbing on the carousel, we spent the hours in vastly different ways.

Now we were meeting back at the Japanese gardens.

The ever-punctual grandparents arrived first, followed by my stepbrother and other members of our extended family. Six-year-old Alec trailed behind his mother, toting a new souvenir. At last, all 14 of us came together — too many for a soccer team, but enough to form a quirky and complicated family. It was absurd to feel so grateful for my relatives' safe return. We were only sightseeing, after all, out of harm's way in a lovely park.

At dinner, we shared the day’s discoveries. My stepdad asked, “What did you explore this afternoon?” There was no lite answer that would fit the tone of our carefree evening. But as I thought it over, it seemed the right occasion, and my loved ones the appropriate audience, for my story.

While at the Museum of Photographic Arts, I stopped to watch the multimedia exhibition, “7 Billion Others” — a collection of interviews

at the

Stephanie Painter and family on vacation in San Diego.

with people living in various countries around the overshadow reunions, and careless remarks from world. The conversations explored issues that relatives leave us feeling vulnerable. We turn our separate and unite us all, as members of the backs on a unity that is ours to claim, then return human family. to the ‘real’ world, where others are less vested One man’s moving story awakened me to the in our happiness. importance of honoring our connectedness as As I set the holiday table for Christmas this family. In his interview, he recounted the horror year, I consider that our kin will travel hundreds that faced his family in Germany during World of miles for this homecoming. It’s just the War II. When the man was a baby, SS officers occasion to reconjure the family as a sanctuary barged into his parents’ home, and since they from the outside world, a place where we can were Jewish, the SS planned to send the family offer support and acceptance to one another. to a concentration camp. As one German officer Some family members share my genes, others looked at the child, tears welled in his eyes. He have joined us through marriage, yet each has made an excuse to leave, warning the couple that faced the sting of the world’s rejection. Before he would return the following day. Given a short chiding my sister, I should ask myself, “What kind reprieve, his parents planned their escape, of year has she experienced?” Surely there have sending the baby to relatives while they pursued been defeats, disappointments, and criticisms. another route to safety. Many years later, after I’ve experienced similar blows. tremendous struggle, the family was reunited.

At the kids’ table, cousins and siblings laugh Upon finishing my story, we set aside our wine together, relishing the joy of being together. The glasses, and my family members grew reflective. young are not yet making lists of grievances.

We gazed across the table at one another. On our With some effort, they can keep the healing joy shared vacation, we faced no divisive threats. In in their reunions during the years to come. For fact, we faced nothing more demanding than grown-ups, this holiday homecoming is a chance making dinner reservations. We were spending to work at renewing bonds. time together — smooth sailing, right?

Today, I continue to reflect with thankfulness But destruction can take root and grow inside for grandparents, families, too. Only hours earlier, I had bickered step-siblings, nieces, and nephews reuniting near with my sister over a trivial matter. Quickly, the the meditation garden on that sunny afternoon. division of kitchen clean-up duties in our vacation I know how we might contribute to the story of rental had us communicating like keyed-up “7 Billion Others”: by recognizing that it’s hard middle-schoolers. We may lack the Kardashians’ out in the world, but it’s strengthening here, penchant for drama, but we can string together where we can care for one another. damaging words.

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EARLY YEARS

DOES MY BABY HAVE RSV? Be on the watch for this common winter virus

By KRISTI COOK

Did you know that 90 percent of children who contract RSV are healthy, full-term babies?

Respiratory syncytial virus or RSV is a virus that causes infection in the lungs and breathing passages. Highly contagious, it’s spread by virus-containing droplets from people coughing or sneezing during the winter months. While preemies can be more susceptible, thousands of children under the age of 2 are hospitalized annually with RSV. However, Emily Joyner, the mother of three, quickly learned these risk factors don’t always apply. “My son, Hayden, was born full term at 8 lbs. 3 oz. He was a perfectly normal, healthy baby.” Yet, at four weeks of age, he developed RSV and spent 21 days at Le Bonheur on a ventilator. “No one warned me about RSV,” recalls Joyner.

“It’s always something you hear preemie parents getting warned about.”

Surprisingly, 90 percent of babies hospitalized for RSV are full term and healthy. In fact, any child under the age of A RESPIRATORY VIRUS It’s impossible to distinguish between RSV and a common 2 is at higher risk, with those under six months posing the cold during the first few days because both produce cold- greatest potential for hospitalization, according to Irwin. like symptoms such as runny nose, congestion, cough, and fever. However, rather than improving by day three or four CONTROL THE SYMPTOMS Because RSV is a virus, it can’t be treated with antibiotics as with a cold, children with RSV develop more severe or vaccine. It all comes down to symptom control. To reduce symptoms, says Irwin.

Erin Bakken discovered as much when her 4-week-old son, congestion, “Suctioning is one of the most beneficial things,” Grey, contracted RSV. “He quickly worsened and started Irwin says. He recommends nasal saline drops to loosen getting super congested,” says Bakken. “When they get nasal congestion followed by suctioning out mucus. Children worse, it gets really scary.” An increase in congestion is one with more intense symptoms may benefit from breathing treatments or supplemental oxygen; a hospital stay may be change to watch for.

“It’s congestion on steroids,” explains Irwin. “It’s a whole required for more intensive supportive care. lot more — really thick, really snotty nose.” Coughs typically worsen, often sounding deeper or occurring more LASTING EFFECTS Once believed to disappear after about a week, frequently. Bakken can relate. “I spent the whole night in the rocking chair with Grey sleeping on my chest because he DeVincenzo’s research indicates some effects of RSV, such as coughing, hypertension of the lungs, and wheezing that couldn’t catch a good breath lying down.”

“The big thing is wheezing,” adds Irwin. “Colds will not acts like lingering asthma, may persist much longer — cause wheezing,” With up to 40 percent of infected children several months or even years. Some effects, such as an developing bronchiolitis (a lower respiratory infection) or increased risk of developing long-term asthma, are more pneumonia, wheezing often occurs. “If you have bronchiolitis, common when hospitalization is required as an infant.

Therefore, delaying a child’s first infection may help to which is most commonly caused by RSV, you’re going to see heavier, faster breathing. And you may hear wheezing even reduce both the severity of symptoms and its lasting effects.

RSV season runs from late fall to early spring and spreads without a stethoscope.” via droplets and contact with contaminated objects.

“If somebody’s been coughing, sneezing, and has a lot of RISK FACTORS While most children with RSV don’t require hospitalization, nasal drainage, it’s all over their clothes,” says Irwin. His certain factors increase the risk. A premature birth, ongoing advice? “Keep babies away from anybody that’s sick, and immune problems, congenital heart defects or disease, and wash your hands regularly.” chronic lung disease are most common.

The country’s foremost expert and researcher on RSV, Dr. John DeVincenzo, an infectious disease specialist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, says while RSV can be fatal, “In the U.S., we don’t have that many deaths because children have access to good pediatric hospitals, and when they get sick enough, they get support.”

DeVincenzo and Dr. Andrew Irwin of Pediatrics East offer helpful advice on what to watch for and when to seek care.

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IS YOUR CHILD AT HIGH RISK? Synagis, an injection of labcreated antibodies that prevents RSV, may be given to children at high risk. For preemies under age 1 who don’t meet Synagis guidelines, another option is available.

Contact Dr. John DeVincenzo at 287-5377.

WAYS TO WARD OFF INFECTION While the majority of children contract RSV by their second winter, the potential for complications is reduced as your child grows older. To help delay that initial infection: + Wash hands before touching an infant or toddler + Keep children & adults with cold-like symptoms away + If you have a cold and must handle a child, wear a mask + Remove clothing that has been in contact with sick individuals before handling a baby + Cover coughs and sneezes + If possible, delay entering your child into a child care setting until age 2

AS A PARENT, IT’S ABOUT BEING THERE Childhood is fleeting; don’t spend it behind your iPhone

By MATTHEW TIMBERLAKE The Urban Child Institute

In this column, we’ve spent the last year talking much about our favorite subject — young children and their developing brains.

We’ve taken a magnifying glass to a range of issues parents face in the early years of their children’s lives, from soothing separation anxiety and talking about emotions to encouraging language development and fostering empathy.

In 2015’s final month, we’d like to step back and take a wide-angle look at the simple idea at the core of everything we do: healthy social and emotional development.

While it might sound like science, it’s really just life. And as a parent, you can do great work by simply being there for your child.

THE OUTSIDE AND THE INSIDE When young people leave home to begin their lives as adults, they need to be ready for a world filled with other individuals and differing points of view. With a healthy social foundation, your child will know how to interact with others because he or she will have the ability to consider and understand another person’s ideas and motivations and deliver the appropriate response to the behavior they experience.

It ’s a two-step process: first is understanding; then, calculating a response.

The same can be said for one’s emotional health. Young people need to be able to navigate the complex internal world we all possess. Our lives are filled with triumphant highs and dismal lows, frustrating barriers and hard-earned victories. People who are emotionally grounded can handle those daily ups and downs. This doesn’t mean stalwart composure through the darkest times or stone-faced humility at success. It

means the highs don’t corrupt and the lows don’t destroy the psyche. First, your child must understand his own emotions, then he can calculate a response.

We’re not seeking robotic perfection from our children, nor do we propose a clinically precise series of lessons for all parents to employ. Getting the most out of our time actively parenting our kids really is mostly about being present and practicing real communication.

TALKING THROUGH IT Talk to your kids, not at your kids. Ask about their school day with specific, openended questions. How did the frog dissection go? What did you learn about frogs? Did you have more trouble with your mean friend today? Why do you think she gets so angry? What makes you angry?

Read together. Share board books with your baby, read storybooks to your toddler, share Wind and the Willows and Neversink with your school-age kids. Have family reading time. Talk about the books you enjoy.

Ask specifics about the book your child is reading and discuss plots, characters, and outcomes.

Play together. Build a zoo with Legos.

Draw a mastodon under the Overton bike arch. Guess what your preschooler has created. Craft a nose out of Play-Doh and wear it. Dress up in tutus and tiaras, ninja PJs and Batman cowls. Run around the backyard, be playful — get on your child’s level.

Finally, be present. Discuss daily activities you see and do together. If you engage with your child often and help him interpret the world, your kid will be ready for anything.

Learning not to rob banks begins with learning not to take others’ toys.

Go to TUCI.org for a copy of the Parents Guide to Kindergarten Readiness.

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CALENDAR

DECEMBER by MEENA VISHWANATHAN

1 � TUESDAY

Ice Skating at the Memphis Zoo. Memphis Zoo. Through January 3, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Open during SunTrust Zoo Lights nights, 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Enjoy Memphis’ only outdoor ice skating rink. $6. Regular zoo admission applies. 333-6500.

Mini Masters. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Tuesdays, 10:30-11:15 a.m. $8. Call 761-5250 to pre-register and pre-pay by Monday noon before class.

SunTrust Zoo Lights. Memphis Zoo. Through December 30. On select nights, 5:30-9:30 p.m.

A wild winter wonderland awaits. $8/person.

333-6500.

Orion Starry Nights. Shelby Farms Park. Through December 27. Sunday-Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 6-10 p.m. Drive through the park and view beautiful lighted displays, then have fun at Mistletoe Village. $20/car. Benefits Shelby Farms Park Conservancy. • shelbyfarmspark.org/starrynights

Peter Pan. Playhouse on the Square. Through January 10. This popular musical takes audiences on a trip to Neverland with Peter and his friends. $35/adult. $10/child. 726-4656.

2 � WEDNESDAY

Polar Express Train Rides. Public Square in Batesville, MS. Through December 13. Also December 15-27. Departure times: 11 a.m. & 1, 3, 5:30 & 7:30 p.m. Enjoy the ride to Christmas Town while your family relives the story of The Polar Express, complete with singing characters. Kids are encouraged to wear footy pajamas. $45/adult. $35/ages 2-12. For tickets, grenadapolarexpressride. com or call (877) 334-4783.

3 � THURSDAY

If Scrooge Was A Brother. Hattiloo Theatre. Through December 20. Thursday & Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday at 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 3 p.m. Discover how three spirits visit to change the attitude of Eb Scroo, a successful African-American businessman.

General Admission: $30. Saturday matinee: $26/adult. $22/student. 525-0009.

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Ballet Memphis presents Nutcracker The Orpheum

4 � FRIDAY

Miracle on 34th Street. Landers Center Theater in Southaven, MS. Through December 20. Children ages 5 and up are invited to watch this play based on the novel by Valentine Davis. $22/adult. $18/child.

Premium tickets: $30. • dftonline.org or call (662) 470-2131.

PB&J: Holiday Sing Along. Germantown Performing Arts Centre (GPAC). 6:30 p.m. Children ages 3-8 can come in their jammies and join Jeremy Shrader and friends as they sing favorite Christmas and Hanukkah tunes. Enjoy craft activities and sweet treats in the lobby afterward. $8/child with up to two adults. 751-7500.

Polar Express Story Time. Barnes & Noble Collierville, 7-7:30 pm. Children ages 2-8 enjoy story time, craft/activities, and giveaways. Free. 861-9517 National Storytime: The Polar Express. Wolfchase Barnes & Noble. 7-7:30 p.m. Do you still hear the silver bell? Come in your jammies and celebrate the 30th anniversary of this beloved children’s classic.

Story time and crafts. Free. 386-2468.

Ballet Memphis presents Nutcracker. The Orpheum.

Through December 6. Friday at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m. Ballet Memphis partners with Memphis Symphony Orchestra to present this holiday tradition featuring professional dancers and musicians performing along with children and vocalists. $7-$72. Group discounts available. 737-7322.

5 � SATURDAY

Breakfast with Santa. Memphis Botanic Garden (MBG). 9-11:30 a.m. At this annual celebration, take pictures with Santa, enjoy crafts, and eat a yummy breakfast. $18. • memphisbotanicgarden.com/santa or call 636-4131.

Star Wars Characters Meet-and-Greet plus Jedi Training Academy at The Knowledge Tree.

December 5: Cordova, 10 a.m.-noon & Germantown, 1-3 p.m. December 12 at Summer Avenue, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

December 19 at Horn Lake, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Children meet and take selfies with Star Wars’ Darth Vadar and a Storm Trooper. Then participate in Jedi

Training with a Jedi Master. Pre-order tickets online, as space is limited, $5. • theknowledgetree.com Family Studio. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. 761-5250.

Holiday Magic of Science. Pink Palace Museum. On select Saturdays (Dec. 5, 12, & 19) at noon. Deck the halls with science! Watch snow appear before your eyes, see static electricity in action, learn why tinsel is so sticky, and play a holiday song using your palms. $4.75/adult. $4.25/child. 636-2362.

IRIS Orchestra Family Concert. Bert Ferguson Community Center in Cordova. 1-2:15 p.m. Children are treated to a kid-friendly concert, then take part in an instrument petting zoo, and interact with musicians. Free. 751-7669.

Missoula Children’s Theatre presents Aladdin.

Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center (BPACC). Performances at 2:30 and 7 p.m. Join us for a magic carpet ride through an adaptation of this Disney classic. $10/person. 385-6440.

Movie Night: Frozen. Morton Museum of Collierville History. 6:30-8 p.m. Bring a pillow and blanket and come ready to sing along while you watch Frozen with Elsa. Free. 457-2650.

A Christmas Story. Harrell Performing Arts Theatre.

Through December 13. Friday at 7 p.m. Saturday at 2:30 & 7 p.m. Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Children ages 7+ will enjoy this musical that follows 9-year-old Ralphie during his quest for a unique Christmas gift. $20/adult. $15/child. 457-2780.

6 � SUNDAY

Holiday Artist Market. Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Features more than 35 local and regional art vendors, music by a cappella singing group Take Note, and more. Free. 544-6200.

STEM Challenge: Build a Bridge. The Knowledge Tree, Cordova. 2-4 p.m. Also on Tuesday, December 29, from 1-4 p.m., Build a Rollercoaster. Students in grades 4 to 8 get to participate in a STEM challenge workshop where they can design and build using K’Nex kits. Free. Space limited to 50 students.

Register online at heknowledgetree.com/memphisstem-challenge-registration-page/

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Disney’s NEWSIES The Orpheum

Jingle Bell Ball. The Peabody Hotel.

Cookie Party for toddlers through second grade, 2-3 p.m. Jingle Bell Rock for children grades 3-5, 3:30-5 p.m.

Peabody Hotel ballroom is transformed into a winter wonderland for one final Jingle Bell Ball. Come see magicians, mimes, decorated trees, and jolly old St. Nick and his elves. $25. Benefits Memphis Children’s Charities. memphischaritable.org or call 527-5683.

8 � TUESDAY

Hanukkah Storytime: Simon and the Bear. Wolfchase Barnes & Noble.

11-11:30 a.m. This fanciful Hanukkah tale celebrates eight miracles: family, friendship, hope, selflessness, sharing, faith, courage, and love. Join for a special story time and activities.

Free. 386-2468.

Disney’s NEWSIES. The Orpheum.

Through December 13. Based on true events, this Broadway musical shares the story of a band of underdog newsboys who become unlikely heroes as they stand up to the most powerful publisher in New York. $25-$125.

For tickets, call 525-3000.

11 � FRIDAY

Snowy Nights in My Big Backyard.

MBG. December 11 & 12. Also December 18-30. (Closed December 24 & 25.) 5:30-8:30 p.m. Celebrate the holiday season in the children’s garden. Play in the snow, sip hot cocoa or spiced tea, create a winter craft, and enjoy games and a musical light show on the Leaping Lawn. $10.

636-4100.

A Lifetime of Christmas. The Kroc Center. Through December 20. Friday & Saturday at 7 p.m. Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

The Sensory Family-Friendly Performance is Sunday, December 13, at 2:30 p.m.

Celebrate the season with sleigh rides, and a trip on the Polar Express. Enjoy a night of entertainment provided by elegant sugarplums and tap-dancing penguins. Pay-what-you-can. stagedoormemphis.org or 729-8029.

12 � SATURDAY

Jammies and Jingles Breakfast.

Children’s Museum of Memphis (CMOM). 9:30-10:30 a.m. Come clad in your coziest PJs and enjoy a pancake breakfast, pictures with Santa, face painting and crafting. Plus, enter to win the Cutest Jammies contest at 10:15 a.m. Five winners will receive a Village Toymaker gift certificate and CMOM Family membership. Every child receives a holiday plush SpongeBob to take home. $18 Museum admission not included.

Reservations. 458-2678 x221.

Germantown Holiday Parade. Begins at the corner of Kimbrough Road and Farmington Boulevard and ends at Germantown Athletic Club. 2 p.m. Line the parade route and watch decorated floats, horses, school groups, clubs, and marching bands. Rain date: December 13. Free. 757-7382.

Roudnev Youth Ballet presents Nutcracker. Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s School. 5 p.m. Also on Sunday, December 13, at 2 p.m.

Enjoy a traditional interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. $20-$35.

For tickets, call 537-1483.

29th Annual Student Works & Dances.

Southwest Tennessee Community College Theater, 7 p.m. Student performances feature classical ballet, modern & jazz idioms. Guest musician: Lisa Goble & The Gloominati Group: Buzz McIntyre, Rob Hayes & Joe McCleary. $12/adult. $10/child.

Advance & group discounts available.

301-3262.

Germantown Symphony Orchestra and Germantown Chorus Holiday Concert. GPAC. 7 p.m. Festive concert celebrates the holiday season with new and familiar holiday songs along with a sing-along. $14/adult. $12/child.

751-7500.

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CALENDAR

HALF & FULL DAY CAMPS FOR AGES 3-12 YRS

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Roudnev Youth Ballet presents Nutcracker Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s School

15 � TUESDAY

Madonna Learning Center presents A Christmas Gift. GPAC. Also on Wednesday, December 16, at 7 p.m.

Everyone has special gifts to give during the holiday season.Come discover the many gifts our students have to give. $5/person. 751-7500.

The Little Gym of Germantown The Little Gym of Germantown www.tlggermantowntn.com www.tlggermantowntn.com 901-755-1323

901-755-1323

18 � FRIDAY

Movie Night: The Polar Express.

Morton Museum of Collierville History.

6:30-8 p.m. Bring a pillow and blanket to watch this holiday favorite and receive your gold ticket. Free.

457-2650.

19 � SATURDAY

Family Tunes & Tales. At area libraries including Central, Cordova, and Germantown Community Library.

11 a.m.-noon. Join the musical families of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra as they present a story set to music.

For details, call 537-2500.

Spotlight Saturday: Classic Collierville Christmas. Morton Museum of Collierville History. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Celebrate the season with holiday crafts and hot chocolate at the museum. Free. 457-2650.

Cordova Presbyterian Early Childhood Learning Center Looking for a Christian Preschool We offer Full-time classes for 1- 5 year olds.

Part-time classes are also available for the Pre-K and Junior Pre-K classes.

Cordova Presbyterian Early Childhood Learning Center has fun, developmentally appropriate educational activities that prepare your child for entry into Kindergarten.

7am- 6pm Monday-Friday

we have degreed and certified teachers in our Pre-k and Junior Pre-K rooms

For more informatio n call

(901)756-9

TheCordovaPreschool.com • 8707 Fay Road, Cordova.

at the corner of Sanga Road

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21 � MONDAY

Mandalas of MBG. MBG. 2-3 p.m.

Celebrate the Winter Solstice gathering materials to make small nature mandalas as well as one group mandala. $2 plus garden admission.

636-4119.

23 � WEDNESDAY

Miracle on 34th Street. Malco Paradiso.

2 & 7 p.m. Ring in Christmas with this classic film. $13.50 • malco.com

24 � THURSDAY

Santa Send Off. Pink Palace Museum.

3 p.m. On Christmas Eve, wave Santa goodbye via helicopter on the front lawn. Free. 636-2362.

28 � MONDAY

Starry 4K. Shelby Farms Park. 6 p.m.

A family fun-run through the twinkling landscape. $25. Includes race T-shirt.

Benefits Shelby Farms Park Conservancy. Register online at shelbyfarmspark.org/starry4k

31 � THURSDAY

To Infinity and Beyond: New Year’s Eve at Noon. CMOM. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Meet Buzz Lightyear as we blast into the Drop and Shop Event. Dixon Gallery New Year at CMOM. Wear your and Gardens. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. favorite costume from a Toy Story Take care of last-minute shopping while movie and be one of five lucky winners the kids make original wrapping paper. to receive a CMOM family memberDrop-in program. Free. 761-5250. ship and special prize. Before the clock ticks down to noon, join for festivities that include pictures with characters, themed crafts, a scavenger hunt, face painting, and balloon art. After a Children’s Ballet Theater presents goodie toss and balloon drop at noon, Nutcracker. GPAC. 2:30-3:45 p.m.

Mary Van Dyke directs this condensed hit the dance floor. $15. Includes version of a holiday classic. $35/person. museum admission. 458-2678.

Reservations. 921-0388.

20 � SUNDAY

Music of Christmas 2015 27th Annual Christmas Service

of Lessons & Carols Sunday, December 6 5:00 p.m. - Adult and Children’s Choirs with Members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra

7:00 p.m. - Adult, Junior and Senior High Choirs with Members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra

Independent Presbyterian Church 4738 Walnut Grove Road | Memphis, Tennessee 38117 | www.indepres.org

Melinda Doolittle The Orpheum

ONGOING EVENTS

Museums and Exhibits Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Scenic Impressions: Southern Interpretations from the Johnson Collection. Through January 3. My Own Places: Paintings and Prints by Martha Kelly. Through January 3. 761-5250.

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Wonder, Whimsy, Wild: Folk Art in America. Through February 28. Exhibit showcases folk art made between 1800 and 1925. The artists depict a wide range of subjects, from portraits of children and animals to dentures carved to advertise a dentist. All works made by minimally trained or selftaught artists. 544-6200.

Memphis Pink Palace Museum.

Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees.

Through December 31. This holiday tradition features animated characters set in a magical snowy setting, miniature trains chug through Gingerbread Village, Penguin Pals skate on Penguin Pond, and meet-andgreet photo opps with Santa. $6/adult. $5/child ages 3-12. Pictures with Santa: $10 (available until December 24).

Benefits Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. 636-2362.

CTI 3D Giant Theater.

Polar Express 3D. Through December 31. The Light Before Christmas 3D. Through December 31. Living in the Age of Airplanes in 2D. Through January 8.

636-2362.

Parent Support Groups and Mom and Baby Classes can be found under Resources & Guides at memphisparent.com

OTHER PROGRAMS

Mallory-Neely House Tour. MalloryNeely House, 652 Adams Avenue.

Fridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $7/adult. $5/child (ages 3-12).

523-1484.

Magevney House Tour. Magevney House, 198 Adams Avenue. Saturday, December 5, 1-4 p.m. Free.

523-1484.

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Kaleidoscope Club. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m.

Ages 5-9. This after-school program explores a project involving horticulture, art, or literature. $8. Snack provided.

Call 761-5250 to register.

Open Studio. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Fridays from 4-5 p.m. Ages 15+. Bring your sketch book and supplies to learn how to advance your skills.

Walk-in program with instruction.

Free with admission. 761-5250.

Cuttlebone Casting – Beginner All Ages Workshop. Metal Museum.

Sunday, December 6, from 1-3 p.m.

Learn about the tools and techniques used to cast molten metal into small cuttlebone molds while making a silver or pewter pendant. Tuition: $22.

Material fee: $8. Limit: 8 students.

774-6380 to register.

Childcare Workshop. Frayser Branch Library. Saturday, December 12, from 10 a.m.-noon. Nutrition: Focus on Child Obesity. Call 357-4115 to register.

Peace on Earth Begins at Birth

Trillium WomanCare

prenatal care ~ home birth ~ water birth www.trilliumbirth.com 901-292-5354

Certified Professional Midwife services licensed by NARM and The State of Tennessee

Miss Donna’s swim school gift certificates available

call now for holiday specials

9o1.753.6762

18 months-adults & special needs welcome “My daughter went from being scared of everything to do with water to jumping off the diving board & swimming like a fish” -mom of Tiffany, age 3

Every HERO needs a

MENTOR,

GUIDE.

every mentor needs a

m e m p hisp are nt .co m M ME EM MP PH H II S SP PA AR RE EN NT T .. C CO OM M

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CALENDAR

MEMPHIS LIBRARY EVENTS

For a complete listing of library events, stop by your local branch and pick up “Infodates,” the library’s monthly calendar, or go to memphislibrary.org.

CENTRAL 3030 Poplar Ave. 415-2700 • International Story Time. Saturday, December 5, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Join Ms. Phyllis as we celebrate diversity through stories, crafts, and music.

• Read with Me, Sign with Me - Family Story Time.

Saturday, December 12, 11 a.m.-noon. Family story time and activity for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing families in collaboration with Deaf Family Literacy Mid-South.

The Christmas Spectacular 2015 Lindenwood Christian Church

HOMESCHOOL CLASSES

Homeschool Days - Holidays for the Birds. Memphis Botanic Garden. Wednesday, December 2, 2-3:30 p.m. Ages 5+. Children take a winter wildlife walk and learn about unique bird adaptations and create take-home bird feeder gifts. $5/child. Garden admission not included. Call 636-4100 to register and pre-pay.

FUND-RAISERS

Wrapped with Love Redux. Malco Theatre locations in TN, AR, MO, KY, LA, and MS. Through December 25. Purchase handmade film bows made from actual film representing about 24 frames, equivalent to approximately one second of a movie. $1/each.

Benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

761-3480.

AUDITIONS

TheatreKids Registration for An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe. Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center. Registration open until December 18.

Students in grades 7-12. This adaptation will feature Poe’s famous short stories including The Tell-Tale Heart, The Oblong Box, and more. All participants will be included in the production but individual parts will be cast via auditions. New this year, participants learn behind-the-scene techniques in addition to honing their acting skills. Registration fee: $100 (includes $50 non-refundable deposit). 385-6440.

THEATRE PERFORMANCES

IRIS Orchestra: The Musicians of IRIS. Germantown Performing Arts Centre. Saturday, December 5, at 8 p.m. & Sunday, December 6, at 2 p.m. Classical Concert Series highlights the string virtuosi of IRIS Orchestra performing a “Sweet Sixteen” work from the great American composer Samuel Barber. Ticket prices: $45-$65 for Saturday and $40-$60 for Sunday. 751-7500.

Melinda Doolittle. The Orpheum. Saturday, December 12, at 7 p.m. Melinda Doolittle, the popular performer from American Idol (Season 6) comes to entertain at the Orpheum. $27.50/person.

525-3000.

The Christmas Spectacular 2015. Lindenwood Christian Church. Sunday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m.

Music at Lindenwood, the concert series presents 3 36 6

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this annual holiday favorite. Features conductor Chris Nemec with guests Anthony & Beard performing along with the church’s choir, orchestra, and soloists. $18/person. 458-1652.

Tony Bennett with special guest Antonia Bennett.

The Orpheum. Friday, December 18, at 8 p.m.

Antonia Bennett tours with her father, opening the performance with a collection of jazz/pop standards. $70-$125. For tickets, call 525-3000.

STORY TIMES

Barnes & Noble Booksellers The Avenue Carriage Crossing Mall, 853-3264 Mondays at 11 a.m. Ages 1-6.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers 2774 N. Germantown Pkwy. 386-2468 Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Ages preK-6.

National Story Time: How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Saturday, December 5, 11-11:30 a.m. Celebrate the holidays with a fun story and activity. Free.

Story Time: The Animals’ Santa by Jan Brett.

Tuesday, December 15, 11-11:30 a.m. Discover the identity of the animals’ Santa at this story time, followed by an activity. Free.

National Story Time: How to Catch Santa. Saturday, December 19, 11-11:30 a.m. Enjoy the season with this story filled with humor and holiday warmth. Free.

The Booksellers at Laurelwood 387 Perkins Rd. Ext. 683-9801 Story time with Miss Marjorie every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Germantown Community Library 1925 Exeter Rd. 757-7323 Wild, Wild Wednesday. On select Wednesday (Dec. 2 & 16) at 1 or 4:30 p.m. Ages 6-12. Exercise STEM skills, learn basic home economic practices, and have fun. Free.

Fairytale Story Time. Saturday, December 5, at 10 a.m. Listen to German fairytales in English and German, followed by a craft. Free.

Puppets on the Loose with Community Leaders.

Tuesday, December 8, at 4:30 p.m. Ages 6-12.

Puppets introduce community leaders as they read stories, answer questions, and sing silly songs.

BARTLETT 5884 Stage Rd. 386-8968 • R.E.A.D. to Tootsie. Saturday, December 19, 11 a.m.-noon. Children ages 5-11 read stories to a therapy dog. Registration required.

CORDOVA 8457 Trinity Road 754-8443 • Happy Birthday, Babar! Saturday, December 12, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Celebrate the birthday of everyone’s favorite elephant Babar and his father Jean de Brunhoff. Share stories and peanut snacks, then decorate an elephant hat to wear home.

FRAYSER 3712 Argonne 357-4115 • Les Passees Kids on the Block Puppet Show: Problem Solving. Saturday, December 5, 3-4 p.m.

For grades K-5. Brenda and Melody get into a fight but learn how to resolve their differences.

• Winter Break Story Time. On select Mondays, (Dec. 21 & 28), 2-3 p.m. Children ages 5-12 listen to stories and participate in activities.

NORTH 1192 Vollintine 276-6631 • Teen Creation Thursday. On select Thursdays (December 3, 10, & 17) from 3-4 p.m. Teens learn how to make different types of craft projects.

PARKWAY VILLAGE 4655 Knight Arnold 363-8923 • Daycare Holiday Crafts. Thursday, December 10, from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Children make ornaments, listen to music, and enjoy snacks.

• Holiday Crafts. Thursday, December 10, 3:45-5:45 p.m. Children make ornaments, listen to music, and have snacks.

POLAR-WHITE STATION 5094 Poplar 682-1616 • DIY Candle Bookends. Monday, December 7, 3-4 p.m. Teens are invited to a “make and take” program to design special holiday bookends.

RANDOLPH 3752 Given 452-1068 • Colorcopia: Color in the Gardens. Monday, December 7, 10-11 a.m. For participants with limited mobility. Practice implementation of higher-level color techniques in painting, specifically using the rules of complementary and tertiary colors.

• Teen Cooking. Tuesday, December 15, 4-5 p.m.

Learn how to make donuts.

WHITEHAVEN 4120 N. Mill Branch Rd. 396-9700 • Family Engineering Night. Thursday, December 10, 4-6 p.m.

• Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses. Thursday, December 17, 3-4 p.m.

E NTIRE FAMILY

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FAVORITE MOMENTS

After jokingly telling my 6-year-old he’d receive sticks and coal in his Christmas stocking if he misbehaved, my son remained unphased. “Well, I could still use those for something.” Gotta love his optimism.

— Thanks to Kali

Terri Imara (5) with Alvin Ailey II dancer, ce for dan n take has Ayanna Wright. Imara enjoyed three years. Her mother says she imitated she h muc so watching Alvin Ailey II . the last performance from her seat

Liam (7 mos.) disc ov time. Liam is luck ers a swing for the first y to ha Conor, who enjoysve a big brother, helping.

I recently had an interesting conversation with my teenage son, for whom using the USPS is a novelty.

Ev: So when I send my letter to the post office box, will Dave get it?

Me: Yes, the postman will notify him.

So what will they do, send him a text?

Ashton (2), on her mom’s

wedding day. “Everyone thought Ashton would be shy and not walk by herself,” writes her mom, Justina. “When I saw Jaycen (5) is a good student, so to she did, it melted my heart with tears of joy and celebrate his birthday, his mom happiness.”

Ashley threw a superhero party and

took him to a Grizzlies game. “I’m so proud of my little sprout,” she says.

Sunyah (8) loves it when her

dog, LeeLee, tags along on her walk to school in the morning, says mom Amanda.

No, they’ll put a little scrap of paper in the box to tell him he’s got mail.

Wait, that paper could sit there for a long time. Texting would be much faster.

Me, laughing: True, but it is the post office we’re talking about.

— Thanks to Jane

YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE HERE! Bays (4) & Mary Kirk (4) pay a visit to the petting zoo at the Pink Palace Crafts Fair.

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Camron (9 mons.) & Xzavier (4) cuddle

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up with Santa.

Send us your kid funnies, photos, or artwork via email with Favorite Moments in subject line to janes@memphisparent.com

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PLACE YOUR ORDER ONLINE AT MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM OR CALL 901.521.9000.

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When a mother is worried about her child, nothing else matters.

With your support, nothing else has to.

Your gift to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital matters because – big or small – it helps us help children.

And we believe nothing is more important. Through the generosity of donors like you, children and their families can receive the lifesaving and life-changing care they need.

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Where Every Child Matters