Parent january 2018

JANUARY 2018

Ha ppy

2018!

It’s time for a reset

Help your child learn how to set goals

family fyi

Apology 101 should be a required course Sorry, Elton John once sang, different.” The sorry part is as seems to be the hardest word, and important as the lesson learned. judging by what’s been in the media Kids learn a lot from what they the last couple months, he may be see on TV and online. If they keep right. hearing celebrities say, “I’m sorry if The news has been chock full of I hurt so-and-so, but I remember high-profile entertainers, politicians it differently” or “I’m sorry if my and business people apologizing actions hurt Person X, but it was for misdeeds. I’m not even going to a long time ago” they may begin get into what was being apologized to think as long as they say, “I’m for. What I noticed of all the mea Karen Bergamo-Moore sorry” it doesn’t matter what A mother’s culpas is they fell well short of what comes next. It’s not a matter of perspective an apology is supposed to be. “if.” When someone says you hurt How to apologize is one of the lessons we them, that’s a fact. They were hurt - no if, ands teach early on as parents. When children are or buts. barely old enough to talk we guide them through And speaking of “buts,” anytime “but” is used, how to apologize for slighting others, whether it negates everything that came before. it’s taking a friend’s toy or whacking that friend There should be a pass/fail course titled on the head with the aforementioned toy.

Apology 101 for adults. It would go like this: We teach our kids to be sorry for hurting Repeat after me, “I’m sorry I did (Insert infraction someone, either physically or emotionally. here) and that my actions hurt you. I was wrong.

When The Boy was little and had to apologize It won’t happen again.”

I would ask, “what are you sorry for?” to make This one isn’t so much about parenting, but sure he knew what the important component about remembering what our parents taught us was. He might have wanted to say, “I’m sorry I in the first place.

Karen Bergamo Moore lives in Camillus got caught,” but he knew better than to say it with her husband and son. She works in the out loud.

I have a friend who tells her child “Don’t be communications office at the SUNY College of sorry, be different.” In other words - don’t do Environmental Science and Forestry, is active in it again. Learn from your mistakes. I amended Boy Scouts and enjoys running 5Ks with her son. her approach slightly to “Be sorry. Now be Follow her on twitter at @kmoore623.

family fyi

contents from the editor

3 Apology 101 should be a required course.

6 No resolutions; it’s time for a reset.

meals in minutes calendar 4 Soup’s On!

healthy family 5 Using the new year to help your child learn to set goals.

7 Family-friends events and programs.

To our readers: Have a happy and healthy 2018!

JANUARY 2018 SYRACUSE PARENT

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mealsinminutes sick of the cold? dive into a bowl of steamy, rich goodness

!

Soup’s

on

Easy Corn chicken chowder soup Ingredients Directions Ingredients 1 Tbsp butter 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped celery 5 cans chicken broth 1/2 pound chopped cooked chicken breast 2 cups egg noodles 1 cup sliced carrots 1/2 teaspoon basil 1/2 teaspoon oregano salt and pepper

Directions In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Cook onion and celery in butter until just tender, 5 minutes.

Pour in chicken and vegetable broths and stir in chicken, noodles, carrots, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes before serving.

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SYRACUSE PARENT JANUARY 2018

4 slices bacon, diced 1 chopped onion 2 cans cream-style corn 2 cups cubed potatoes 1 can cream of mushroom soup 3 cups milk salt and pepper to taste

Saute bacon with onions until onions are tender. Add corn, potatoes, soup, milk, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are done, stirring occasionally.

Veggie stew Ingredients Directions 1 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 cup sliced onions 2 minced garlic cloves 1 cup sliced carrots 1 cup sliced celery 4 cups quartered mushrooms 3 unpeeled potatoes, cubed 1 16 ounce can tomatoes, chopped 2 cans kidney beans 8 ounces tomato sauce 1 cup water 1 teaspoon thyme 1 bay leaf salt and pepper 3 Tbsp flour 1⁄4 cup water 1⁄4 cup red wine

Saute onions, garlic, carrots, celery and mushrooms in oil, 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add a bit of water to prevent sticking. Put in remaining ingredients, except flour, 1/4 cup water, and wine.

Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 30 minutes. In a bowl, gradually stir flour into 1/4 cup water until smooth. Add to stew, along with wine.

Cook, stirring, five minutes. Discard bay leaf before serving.

healthyfamily Using the new year to help your child learn to set goals I recently re-joined the gym. The next step in my goal of an overall healthy lifestyle.

While I was reveling in the rows of empty ellipticals, a thought came to me – “Pretty soon this place is going to be jammed packed with New Years resolutioners.” Yes that’s right, “resoultioners.” Look it up. I believe it means those who decide, again, for the 10th year in a row, to make a lifestyle change; that this year is going to be the one. They start off strong, inspired by their dreams of change, and somehow, despite their best efforts, putter to a halt.

This made me think - how can this cycle be broken so that a better example of goal setting is role modeled for children? How can we as adults help our kids develop realistic goals and take steady and planful action towards those goals. To set them up on a trajectory of inspiration, motivation and momentum, peppered with rewards to keep them going.

Some have probably heard of S.M.A.R.T goals.

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time bound. There seems to be validity in an approach to setting goals that make sense, can be tracked, have taken into account how they can be reached, seem reasonable for the person to achieve a desired outcome and have some semblance of a target date to increase the likelihood that the goal can be checked off the list.

In light of all that, I offer the following as a general outline to begin this process with

your child: Specific: The goals should be clear. You can help your child clarify goals by working through the “what, why and how” with them. Help them brainstorm but let them choose. Ultimately, the goal has to be theirs, not yours.

Measurable: There has to be a way to track progress. This helps to show if the goal has been achieved or not and keeps the momentum moving forward. Help your child answer: What can be done now to start working towards this goal? What needs to be accomplished by next week, next month, in the next three months to achieve the target? Help your child create a visual. A vision board, poster, or some sort of checklist can serve as a tool to keep the goals in mind, and also helps monitor progress. Ask questions like “How will you know when you have accomplished this goal?” “What will help you monitor how you are doing?”

Achievable: Big or small, we need to see that we are reaching milestones along the way to stay motivated. If the goal they set seems outrageous (i.e. becoming an NFL star), help them to break that goal down into small, attainable, short term goals (action steps).

Maybe your child needs to learn how to play football first. Help them think about the small action steps that go into a goal like learning a new sport. Even big goals that seem out of reach can be achieved by taking steady action

Jennie Mazza Jones, LCSW, CCPT has a private practice located in Clinton N.Y., and specializes in providing psychotherapy to children and their caregivers utilizing play therapy. She can be reached at 315-737-3094, jennie@ jenniemazzajones.com and jenniemazzjones.com.

along the way.

Relevant: To set your child up for success, the goals need to be relevant. Important questions to ask: Is it something they care about? Or, is it something they think they should care about but aren’t truly invested in? Does the goal make sense, for them, at this time?

Time bound: Help your child figure out the target date for the overall goal. This sets up accountability and makes it easier to create actions steps to be accomplished along the way.

This critical step to goal setting also outlines a map to the goal and creates a reward system.

One final tip: Role Model: I’ve said this before, kids learn more from what we do than what we say.

You can have greater impact by being an example…make it a family effort.

JANUARY 2018 SYRACUSE PARENT

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fromtheeditor No resolutions; it’s time for a reset

I

t’s a new year. A fresh slate.

Many people make resolutions in the new year. They resolve to do things like quit smoking, lose weight, excersize more, spend time with family and, of course, get different projects done around the house.

Although I don’t plan on fulfilling any resolutions this year, I do, as always have some goals. As I partner with my Jennifer Wing husband in running our household, I find myself sometimes Editor cutting corners and “saving time” when it comes to day-today chores.

I think most homeowners probably do the same, unless they are super-organized and able to focus on the task at hand without succumbing to distraction and surrendering to a need for relaxation.

Maybe this is a good time we, as homeowners and parents, take a look around us and see what needs to be re-vamped, replaced, redone or simply removed.

Or maybe, just maybe, you aren’t like me, with one million junk drawers, a spare bedroom full of old furniture, clothing, and who knows what else and a garage full of “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” clutter.

But, in my household, that is my reality.

Let’s take my kitchen, for instance. Each cupboard has a function, and the ones that are used on a daily basis are, at least to my tired eyes, pretty tidy. As for the lessutilized cupboards, it’s pretty much “Thunder Dome” when it comes to organization.

As I’ve gotten older and wiser, I realize there are a few pots and pans that I use every week, even several times a week, and some that I never use, for various reasons. (The biggest reason is probably an inability to reach past the clutter to gain purchase of these items.)

Do I miss these other pans? Not really. So why are they occupying space in my jumble of lid-less canisters, assorted high-tech but unused small appliances and strange utensils (e.g. avocado slicer, burger press, s’more maker)?

I don’t know why they are there, but I do know that they need to go. Along with my “Super Shooter” cookie maker that no longer works, my rusty cheese grater, the pot that has a dark singe mark on the bottom where there was burned-on pasta and those disposable containers of which I seem unable to dispose.

Don’t even get my started on my “crayon drawer.” Yes, that is correct. I have a drawer – a rather large drawer, in fact – full of crayons, markers, sharpies, glitter pens and glue sticks ... in my kitchen. Just to be clear, my children are not children any more.

And yet, I have a drawer devoted to crayons.

You get the idea. I need to do that long overdue reset of my household. To step back and scan the everyday “traffic pattern” of my family’s life and try to remove the junk, the obstacles that dot that pattern. I think that, now that it is 2018, this might be just the time to do it.

I will begin with a to-do list, crayon in hand.

Jennifer Wing can be reached at jwing@eaglenewsonline.com

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We want your news! Contributions can be sent to Jen Wing, Editor, Syracuse Parent Magazine, 2501 James Street, Suite 100 Syracuse, New York 13206. Original contributions become the property of Syracuse Parent Magazine. Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned. To contact us please call 315.434.8889, or fax 315.434.8883

Syracuse Parent Magazine is a unit of Community Media Group LLC. Published monthly. Deadline for advertising and calendar events is the 10th day of the month preceding publication. Display advertising rates available upon request. Syracuse Parent Magazine reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. We do not guarantee any of the information, services, or products published in this or any issue. The opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this paper. Copyright © 2008 by Syracuse Parent Magazine. No portion of Syracuse Parent Magazine may be reproduced without permission from the editor.

calendar

Thursday-Sunday, Jan 4-7

Saturdays, Jan. 6,13,20,27

Disney On Ice presents Dream Big

Youth Art Classes: Painting + Printing

7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m., 3,7 p.m.

Saturday, noon, 4 p.m. Sunday; War Memorial Arena, 515 Montgomery St., Syracuse; 315-435-8000, disneyonice.com.

High-flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and lovable Disney friends make this an experience your family will never forget.

Believing is just the beginning when Disney On Ice presents Dream Big skates into your hometown!

10:30 a.m.–12:30p.m., Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse; Explore your creativity by experiencing different materials and themes each session. Have fun exploring color and experiment with different techniques and materials to create vibrant paintings and prints. Classes are taught by dedicated artists and educators. Space is limited, all materials and equipment provided. Cost: members $65 per session; non-members $85 per session; Sign up for two sessions: members $105; non-members $135.To pre-register,contact Caitlin Albright, Education Assistant, at 315- 474-6064 ext. 307 or email calbright@ everson.org.

Saturday, Jan. 6 SU basketball vs. Notre Dame 3:15 p.m., Carrier Dome. Ticket prices vary; cuse.com

Cross Country Ski Basics 9-11 a.m., Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville; 315-638-2519.

This clinic is perfect for beginner skiers. Join a naturalist to learn the basics of cross country skiing: how to glide, turn, snow plow and come to a stop (and how to get up if you fall!) You must bring your own skis, boots and poles.

Advance registration required. Cost: $10.

Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 6–Feb. 25 Try Snowshoeing 12:30 p.m., Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville; 315-638-2519.

This snowshoe clinic will include instructions and a short snowshoe hike. Visitors with little or no

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calendar

snowshoe experience will especially enjoy this introduction. Registration is required beginning at 8 a.m. the day of the hike and space is limited.

This program will be offered only when snow conditions are acceptable. Program Fee: $5 per person, includes snowshoe rentals. Call 315-6382519 that day to register and check conditions. If there is not enough snow for snowshoeing, the nature center will hold an indoor program on identifying winter, wildlife tracks at 1 p.m.

Thursday, January 11 Sensory Friendly Time 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the MOST. 315- 425-9068, most.org.

The museum turns down the noise, turns off flashing lights, and shuts off the air compressors so people with sensory processing challenges can enjoy the Museum. The MOST also offers quiet areas where participants can relax and regroup

Cross Country Ski Basics 1-3 p.m., Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville; 315-638-2519.

This clinic is perfect for beginner skiers. Join a naturalist to learn the basics of cross country skiing: how to glide, turn, snow plow and come to a stop (and how to get up if you fall!) You must bring your own skis, boots and poles.

Advance registration required. Cost: $10.

Trail Tales 1 p.m., Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville; 315-638-2519.

Perfect for pre-school aged children (3-5 years old), accompanied by an adult. A naturalist will first read two stories to the children and then lead the group out on a hike themed to match the stories. Free with nature center admission.

Friday, Jan. 12 Silver Nights vs. Baltimore Blast 7:05 p.m., OnCenter War Memorial Arena, Syracuse; syracusesilvernknights.com.

Come watch some hometown soccer action.

Saturday, Jan. 13 Winter Farmers Market 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Baltimore Woods, Marcellus; baltimorewoods.org, info@ baltimorewoods.org.

Visitors to the market will enjoy a diverse mix of local farm and artisinal food products from top regional producers. Held indoors with free parking.

Saturday, Monday, Jan. 13, 15 Syracuse Crunch Hockey 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Rochester Americans, 1 p.m.

Monday vs. Binghamton Devils, War Memorial Arena at 800 S. State St.; syracusecrunch.com, 315-473-4444.

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Sunday, Jan 14 Symphoria Casual Series: Brahms’ Third 2:30 p.m., St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, 310 Montgomery St. • Syracuse; experiencesymphoria.org.

This performance features members of Symphoria’s viola section in Telemann’s “Double Viola Concerto,” and concludes with Brahms’ dynamic and expressive “Symphony No. 3.”

Tuesday, Jan. 16 SU mens’ basketball vs. Pittsburgh 9 p.m., Carrier Dome. Ticket prices vary; cuse.com.

Wednesdays, Jan. 17,24,31 and Feb. 7,14,28 Nature’s Little Explorers Winter Session - Winter’s Patterns 10-11 a.m., Baltimore Woods Nature Center, Marcellus; info@ baltimorewoods.org, baltimorewoods.org.

This six-week series is recommended for ages 3-5. Each week participants will discover the many wonderful patterns of trees, birds, snowflakes, tracks and even sounds. Weekly themes: Mirror, Mirror; Tree Patterns; Bird Patterns; Sound Patterns; Snowflakes!; Animal Track Patterns. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Lessons will take you outside every day, so be sure to dress for the weather. $35 for members; $50 for public.

Friday, Jan. 19 Crunch vs. Toronto Marlies 7 p.m., War Memorial Arena at 800 S. State St.; syracusecrunch.com, 315-473-4444.

Come see some hockey action in downtown Syracuse.

Star Party: Finest Winter Skies 7-9 p.m., Baltimore Woods Nature Center, Marcellus; baltimorewoods.org.

The area surrounding the constellation Orion has more bright stars and deep-sky clusters than any other section of the sky. And there will still be good views of Uranus, as well. Back up date Jan. 20. Be sure to dress warmly. Program for all ages. $6 for members; $9 for public.

Saturday, Jan. 20 CNY VEX IQ Robotics Challenge 8 a.m.–3 p.m.,Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology, Syracuse; most.org.

This challenge uses a robotics kit that was designed to be simple and easy for students as young as 8 to use. Structural pieces snap

together and come apart without tools, allowing for quick build times and easy modifications. A variety of gears, wheels and other accessories allows for customization of robots. Each year’s team challenge is different and the team must accomplish a task with its robot they built and programmed. The event is open to students in grades four through eight. Families of participants and the general public are invited to watch the competition.

To Build a Fire: Winter Wilderness Survival 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Baltimore Woods Nature Center, Marcellus; baltimorewoods.org.

Learn how to make and maintain fires in cold, snowy and wet conditions. We will cover fire making, both with and without matches, how to find dry material and processes it into kindling and tinder. We will also delve into the “Fire Burrito” and other tips and tricks. Dress appropriately for the weather since we will be outside for the bulk of the program. Program for ages 10 and up. $10 for members; $15 for public.

Life and Lava: How Earth’s Largest Volcanic

Eruptions Cause Species Extinctions 9:30–11 a.m., Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology, Syracuse; most.org.

Junior Café Scientifique will feature James D. Muirhead, PhD, postdoctoral research associate, department of earth sciences, Syracuse University, who will explore the causes of extinctions. A light breakfast is provided, and participants must be accompanied by an adult. The event is free, but TACNY asks that you RSVP to jrcafe@ tacny.org. After the event, participants are welcome to explore the museum for free.

Sunday, Jan. 21 “Pushed Aside: Reclaiming Gage” 4 p.m., The Oncenter Civic Center Theaters, 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse; societyfornewmusic.org.

World premiere of an opera about Matilda Joslyn Gage, a visionary of women’s rights and human liberation, by Persis Parshall Vehar, libretto by Gabrielle Vehar, fully staged with orchestra, Heather Buchman, conductor. Cast includes Danan Tsan, Laura Enslin, Julia Ebner, Jonathan Howell, Steve Stull and Gregory Sheppard, directed by Victoria King, set by David Harper, lighting by Bob Dwyer, costumes

by Jody Luce. This opera tells the story of a woman of courage and integrity publicly defying 19th century laws and a remarkable corner of the world, now known as Central New York, that became a fount of free thought and radical activism for social justice. COST: $15, $12 seniors/students, $30 family.

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calendar Wednesday, Jan. 24

SU basketball vs. Boston College 7 p.m., Carrier Dome. Ticket prices vary; cuse.com.

Thursday, Jan. 25 Trail Tales 1 p.m., Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville; 315-638-2519. Perfect for pre-school aged children (3-5 years old), accompanied by an adult. A naturalist will first read two stories to the children and then lead the group out on a hike themed to match the stories. Free with nature center admission.

Thursday–Sunday, Jan. 25-28 Moonlight Skiing and Snowshoeing Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville; 315-638-2519.

The trails will remain open until 9 p.m. on these evenings if there is adequate snow cover. This is an opportunity for skiers and snowshoers to take advantage of the natural moonlight along Beaver Lake’s 10 miles of trails. At trails’ end is the Visitor Center with exhibits and a comfortable meeting place. Hot chocolate and other refreshments will be available. For their safety night visitors should

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remember to sign-in and sign-out at the Visitor Center, go with a friend, and bring a flashlight in case a section of the trail is especially dark. Free with nature center admission. There will be a guided moonlight snowshoe hike at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26 that will explore the Nature Center’s woodlands and meadows on snowshoes. Registration is required for the guided hike beginning at 8 a.m. the day of the hike and space is limited. This program will be offered only when snow conditions are acceptable.

Call that day to register and check conditions.

Snowshoes may be rented for $5.

Friday-Saturday, Jan. 26-27 Syracuse Crunch Hockey 7 p.m. Friday vs. Belleville Senators, Saturday vs.

Toronto Marlies, War Memorial Arena at 800 S. State St.; syracusecrunch.com, 315-473-4444.

Saturday, Jan. 27 Be the Electrical Engineer Noon-4 p.m., Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology, Syracuse; most.org.

This new museum program enables you to learn, engage and explore the activities of a different type of “scientist” on the last Saturday of each month.

You receive a “Passport” tracking your progress through the program’s three steps: Learn, Engage, Explore. Earn your passport stamp each month to win a prize, and enter your completed passport into a drawing for a chance to win the grand prize.

Symphoria Masterworks Series: Shifrin Plays Mozart 7:30 p.m., 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse; experiencesymphoria.org. Music Director Lawrence Loh conducts Tchaikovsky’s dramatic “Symphony No. 5.” Award winning clarinetist David Shifrin performs Mozart’s “Clarinet Concerto.” Ticket prices vary.

Snowshoe Hike and Bonfire 6 p.m., Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville; 315-638-2519. Join a guide for a snowshoe trek along the Southern Exposure trail. Upon returning sit by a warm bonfire and sip hot chocolate. A great event for the whole family.

Advance registration required. Cost: $5.

Sunday, Jan. 28 Silver Nights vs. Florida Tropics 4:05 p.m., OnCenter War Memorial Arena, Syracuse; syracusesilvernknights.com.

Come watch some hometown soccer action.