Syracuse parent june 2013

June 2013

every penny

game time

Saving for your dream family vacation

Ideas for passing the time on the road

Father’s Day on the 50-YARD LINE

Coach Scott Shafer & family share memories

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what’s inside

family FYI 9 10 ways to make the most of a sunny day

20 Game time on the road 23 Checklist: Must haves for a day at the beach

24 Gifts for that special graduate

meals in minutes 5 Fast & easy meals and snacks

to get your family to the table

www dots 10 The best sites to see when

planning your next family trip

from the editor 6 Traveling and the pack list

calendar 7 Here is what’s happening around you this month

learning curve 8 We’re in this together:

healthy family 18 Top 5 kid-friendly foods for car trips

father’s day 4 Father’s Day is everyday 7 Father’s Day contest 13 On the 50-yard line: SU

Football Coach Scott Shafer & family share memories

frame it

contents

remedy rumors 16

The myths of west nile

mommy spa day 11 Meet the winner

pinteresting 22 Great ideas found on Pinterest

21 Sea shells, save shells: Making a sea shell picture frame

toy box 12 Top travel toys

paws and effects 14 Bear nose best: A few tips for parents and kids from a resident pooch

Father’s Day Q&A

25 Bare-footing it:

Let’s have “the talk”

26 A mother’s perspective:

Picked first for the home team

dollars & sense 17 Every penny counts:

Saving for your dream family vacation

Cover Photo

Wishing a happy Father’s Day to our cover photographer Raine Dufrane’s husband, Scott! He is pictured with their sons Austin, 9, and Colton, 7, in their hometown of Pulaski, N.Y. Raine C. Dufrane, owner of Raineydayz Photography can be reached at 430.3229 or visit raineydayz.com.

JUNE 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

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Father’s Day is every day

By Farah F. Jadran

I would be so fickle in my eating that papa would politely make me one of every kind of sandwich you can think of. And he did this because it made me happy. I eventually ate each sandwich in delight and it also prompted papa to start calling me Lady Sandwich.

Papa also had a wonderful old fashion camera. The first and most memorable photo shoot was when he took me to get my ears pierced…even when mama said I should wait another year or two…

Long story short, he took me anyway, I didn’t cry and I looked fabulous. So fabulous that I paraded around the house posing with my hands accentuating the new diamond earring studs.

There are photos to prove that jewelry modeling ability of mine, but no photos, thankfully,

One of the most memorable Father’s Day TV memories I have is when Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable puts on all of his past gifts from his children. He has on a tie that lights up, a bright visor and suspenders that also light up.

That episode always reminds me of my papa. Not because my siblings and I got him lightup wardrobe but because my papa loved everything we would get for him, and he still does.

His humble spirit, loving nature and pure-of-heart personality make him the best papa I could ever imagine to be created for a daughter like me.

Because my papa worked at night and my mama, during the day, he was the one caring for me all day until I was 5 and went to first grade.

There were days when

t Ask Abou amp!

Karate C

Ask Ab Birthday out Parties!

of mama’s face when she came home that evening. We were busted!

Other favorite childhood daddy-daughter days entailed magical trips to Sears Roebuck, Ace Hardware and all the local flower nurseries. My papa has always had a green thumb and the skill to build anything.

And Papa was the very reason why I made it to every cross-country and track meet on time. After a very long night of work, he would come home on Saturday mornings, shower and shave, and we’d hit the road for my parochial league’s races.

Afterward, we’d have a victory lap at the closest McDonald’s where I’d put away a Big Mac, fries and a Coke.

And before we headed home, he’d always “surprise” me with a large vanilla soft-serve ice cream cone too.

The moral of all these stories is that every day was, and is, Father’s Day. While I’m not around my papa every day because I live here…I hope he truly knows that I truthfully think of him all the time.

Each day, when I put on my earrings to accent my ensemble, I am usually not even thinking about where I got them or who gave them to me, but rather why I am even able to put them on.

That might sound silly to some, but it’s one of many moments I’ll have that were just between me and him. Happy Father’s Day, Papa, you made me into the happiest daughter I know.

Farah F. Jadran is the associate editor of Syracuse Parent Magazine. She can be reached at fjadran@ eaglenewsonline.com or on Twitter at @FarahJadran.

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SYRACUSE PARENT JUNE 2013

fast & easy meals/snacks to get your family to the table

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Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Yield:

Campfire meatballs 25 min 5 min 20 min 16

Directions: Peel four large onions and cut them in half as equally as possible. Mix 2 pounds of ground beef with Italian seasoning, minced garlic, ketchup and bread crumbs.

Make into meatballs that are the right size to fill the two pieces of onion – it’s ok if it overflows a bit as long as they are compact. Wrap individually in double layers

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Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Yield:

Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Yield:

of tinfoil. Toss into the fire, aiming for the coals. Cook about 10 minutes, turn them over and cook another 10.

Make sure to use utensils to remove them from the fire as they will be hot.

Two-ingredient simple 32 min pineapple cake 2 min 30 min 12

Directions: Take a box of Angel Food Cake and combine it with a 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple in its own juice.

Stir with a spoon. Pour into

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meals in minutes

Easy grilled salmon 30 min 22 min 8 min 6

Ingredients: 3 lbs. salmon fillets, skin-on Canola, olive, or grapeseed oil 3/4 cup soy sauce 4 garlic cloves, minced Directions: Cut fillets one-and-a-half to two inches wide. Place marinade ingredients in a bowl. Coat the salmon fillets in the marinade and then place them skinlessside down in the marinade.

Marinate for 20 minutes.

Prepare grill for high direct heat and, when ready, spray or brush oil generously on both sides of fish fillets. Place fillets on grill, skinless side down first. Close the grill lid.

Cook 1-3 minutes on the first side, depending on how thick the fillets are. Look for grill marks on the fish and a small layer of opaque (cooked) fish where the fish is closest to the grill. Using tongs,

and a metal spatula if necessary, carefully turn the fish onto the other side, so that the skin side is now on the grill grates. Reduce the flame to medium. Close the grill lid. Cook for another 2-5 minutes, again depending on the thickness of the fillets.

Salmon should be just barely opaque throughout when done. Remove from grill and serve immediately. Serve over vegetables.

a nine-by-13-inch cake pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Happy Father’s Day June 16th JUNE 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

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from the editor

publisher

David B. Tyler 434-8889 ext. 302 dtyler@eaglenewsonline.com

Traveling and the pack list Once the weather warms up, we try to get up to our camp as much as possible. We pack, load up the car, grab the kids and head out of Dodge.

Well, when I say “we” pack, I mean, of course, that I do.

Some of my friends laugh at me when I say that I pack for my entire family, but it just ends up saving me grief in the end.

My son, bless his heart, has not had to pack for himself even once during his life, even though, at 9 years old, he’s more than capable of doing so. To be honest, this is my fault. I am more than happy to pack for him, and he really doesn’t care what he wears/brings on our trips.

My daughter, however, is a different story. If it were up to her, she would live in tank tops and short shorts, with flip flops on her feet and earbuds securely fastened in her ears.

As any parent knows, you need to make sure to always pack “extra.” Extra jackets in case the nights are chilly; extra swimsuits in case wet ones don’t dry fast enough for the next day; and, of course, extra sunscreen for those really sunny days that are, hopefully, to come.

What really gets my friends going, however, is that I pack for my husband. I would like to say that he wouldn’t forget anything, and maybe he wouldn’t, but the likelihood of him not packing underwear, or socks or a sweatshirt for a cold night has been well established. I mean, the man brought one pair of boxers with him on a two-week-long trip to Austria!

The summer packing I do isn’t limited to just clothes and toiletries, either. Camp equals cookouts, drinks on the beach and, of course, s’mores around the fire.

This means a separate list of food, condiments, paper plates, beverages and the like. In retrospect, it’s exhausting just to think about the planning that goes into a simple trip to our family beach house.

Fortunately, I have a standard list saved on my home computer. I pull it up, alter it to suit my needs for that particular week and print it out. What a time saver! I can even save each list by date to use as a reference for future trips. This list keeping has stood me in good stead for all vacations taken – such as our yearly Walt Disney World trip. It makes it easy to remember such random items as goggles for the hotel pool or band aids for the occasional blister suffered while walking the park.

Those essentials are already on the list, negating the need to even think of them on our next Orlando outing.

So, my aging brain gets the help it needs, not in human form, but digitally. Ain’t technology grand?

For a list of items for a day trip to the beach, see page 23.

Stay up-to-date with us on Twitter, @SRYparent, and at facebook.com/SyracuseParentMagazine. Also, find us on Pinterest!

Jennifer Wing editor Jennifer Wing can be reached at jwing@eaglenewsonline.com

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SYRACUSE PARENT JUNE 2013

editor

Jennifer Wing 434-8889 ext. 340 editor@syracuseparent.net

associate editor

Farah F. Jadran 434-8889 ext. 306 calendar@syracuseparent.net

ad sales

Linda Jabbour 434-8889 ext. 304 ljabbour@eaglenewsonline.com

business manager

Lisa Congdon 434-8889 ext. 303 lcongdon@eaglenewsonline.com

circulation manager

Lori Newcomb 434-8889 ext. 333 lnewcomb@eaglenewsonline.com

creative director

Sean Haney 434-8889 ext. 331 art@eaglenewsonline.com We want your news! Contributions can be sent to Farah Jadran, Associate 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

here is what’s happening around you Sat June 1

and Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt. 449.2948.

PROMISE WALK

8:30 AM Registration. Onondaga Lake Park, Willow Bay Shelter Area.

There will be a 9:30 AM ceremonty, the walk commences at 10 AM. Activities for the kids by KidzClub Indoor Play and Party Place, balloon artist and a face painter. PJ’s Bounce house is supplying a bounce house, Mega Bubble Man, and Gail’s Lil Dancin’ Pals. For more information, visit promisewalk.org/Syracuse.

Wed June 5 NOOK HD/HD PLUS

7 PM. Bring your NOOK HD or HD Plus and learn about the many features of these dynamic interactive devices at this 1-hour tutorial. Device must be registered before class. Please RSVP at the NOOK counter or call the store at 449.2948. Barnes and Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt.

Thu June 6 LIBRARY ICE CREAM SOCIAL

4 to 8 PM. Friends of the Cicero Library present their 28th annual Ice Cream Social. Make your own sundae for $1.50 and support your library.

NOPL @ Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane. Visit nopl.org or call 699.2032 for more information.

STORYTIME

WITH

MISS

COLLEEN

10 AM every Thursday in June. Story time with books and activities. Ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. Barnes

NOOK SIMPLE TOUCH/GLOWLIGHT

2 PM. Bring your NOOK Simple Touch or Glowlight and explore the many features of our fabulous, easy to use eBook Device must be registered before class. Please RSVP at the NOOK counter or call the store at 449-2948.

Tue June 11 CARD MAKING

5:30 PM. Make your own unique homemade cards and learn four creative projects for you to customize and take home. Adults and accompanied children over the age of 9 are welcome. Supply fee is $15 (payable at the time of the class). NOPL @ N. Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane.

Registration required at nopl.org or 458.6184.

Wed June 12 SUNY UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY PRESENTATION

books and sign copies. The subjects include fiction, mystery, history, environment, children’s books, family and childcare and more. Barnes and Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt.

449.2948.

Sat June 15 WILD THING VISITS STORYTIME

11 AM. Join us for a special Storytime featuring Where the Wild Things Are

by Maurice Sendak, with a guest appearance by the Wild Thing! Barnes and Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt. 449.2948.

Thu June 20 OLDE TYME FIDDLERS CONCERT

6:30 PM. The Olde Tyme Fiddlers return to the Brewerton library this summer for another toe-tapping performance of your favorite fiddle tunes!

NOPL @ Brewerton, 5473 Library St., Brewerton. Free. Registration requested at nopl.org or 676.7484.

5:30 PM. Presentation for high school students interested in a career as a physical therapist, physician or physician assistant. Presented by Kevin Neville, Assistant

Fri June 14 LOCAL AUTHOR SHOWCASE

6 to 7:30 PM. Stop by for a meet and greet event, as multiple local and area authors will be here to discuss their

calendar continued on page 11

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#

FATH

ER

Make Father’s Day a Hole-in-One! If you’ve got the No. 1 dad in the world and he loves to drive the ball on his day off, then you’ve got to enter him in our Hole-in-One Drawing For Dad! Email fjadran@eaglenewsonline. com by 5 p.m. Monday, June 10, with his name and contact information. Moms, we know you’ve got to help the kids with this one so be sure to enter the special guy for his chance to enjoy two passes for 18 holes of golf and a cart at Timber Banks in Baldwinsville. This prize is valued at $130! The emailed entries will be entered into a random drawing. Good luck!

JUNE 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

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Father’s Day Q&A It’s amazing what you can learn in five minutes, so we did just that with our local evening anchorwoman, CNY Central’s Megan Coleman!

Read on and learn about how her family celebrates Father’s Day:

How do you help the kids get ready for Father’s Day? Like a lot of families, our time is precious. I work full time and he does too. Spending time together is the most important thing for us. My daughter Olivia is 3 and she’s starting to understand Father’s Day more and appreciates what the day means.

Thus far, what’s been the most memorable Father’s Day moment for your husband?

My son, Henry, just turned 1 and he finally started saying “Da Da”. This put my husband, Richard, over the moon! So, I think he already got his Father’s Day gift in advance. And Olivia has started to give big hugs and kisses followed by an “I love you”.

She looks up at you and you know she really means it. It’s wonderful to hear them say it.

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Do you usually plan a gift from you?

I never grew up in family that gift giving was a big thing.

Again, spending time together is the best gift we can give one another. It’s the simple things. We took a walk on Mother’s Day for an hour-anda-half as a family and that was great. It seems kind of simple but those moments matter most when you live such a crazy life.

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SYRACUSE PARENT JUNE 2013

What’s your most memorable childhood Father’s Day moment?

There are so many! My dad is such a sweetheart, he is one

M ega

W e’r ei

n Cole m

an

n t h i s to g e t h e

r

of those loveable teddy bears.

Everyone that meets him, falls in love with him instantly. He’s very sensitive and he has a real down-to-earth personality.

I remember at my wedding, during the speeches, he was choked up the whole time. I have always been so close to him and talk to him almost every day. He’s been a big part of my life and loves being a grandpa to Henry and Olivia.

It is fun for me to see the joy he brings to them.

Do you have any crafts in mind for Olivia to make?

Olivia does a bunch of drawings right now, many of which are illegible but it’s fun to see her bring home artwork from school too. She’s learning to draw different things and she’s learning to write her name. For this year’s Father’s Day craft, we’ll be using some stickers, but also some paint and chalk…everything she can get her hands on that will get her dirty will make it to the kitchen table when it’s time to make the card.

Some final thoughts…

Richard is everything you could ask for in a partner and he is just a terrific father. He is so involved with the kids and it’s wonderful to see how much he loves them.

family

FYI

10 ways to make the most of a sunny day

2. Swing for the sky

Bring the kids to a local playground and either try out the slide yourself, or bring a good book or crossword to work on while you watch from a bench. Breathe in that fresh air while your little ones burn some of that extra energy!

3. Take in some local color

Visit the local farmers’ market and grab some locally-grown produce and freshly-baked treats while soaking in some local color and mingling with your neighbors.

4. Grab a cone

Nothing says warm weather like a stop at an ice cream shop. Help boost local business while sampling some yummy frozen goodies.

5. Talk to the animals

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo has a new elephant house to visit. Stroll around the zoo outdoors, then stop indoors to watch the monkeys play and hear the lions roar. Or, visit your local duck pond – you might be lucky enough to see some ducklings, goslings or even cygnets (especially at the village of Manlius Duck Pond!).

It’s as simple as grabbing a Frisbee or a wiffle ball bat and ball. There’s no need for an offical league here – you aren’t being judged for your athletic prowess, just your willingness to get down and dirty and burn off some calories while having fun with the kids.

7. Pack a picnic

Grab a blanket, some sandwiches, drinks and chips and hit your yard, your local park, or a friend’s house or a play date. Relax in the shade while sipping some lemonade – but watch out for the ants!

8. Take a hike (or bike)

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When the warm wind blows, launch a kite and watch it dance on the breeze. Do it in your own backyard if you have space, or stop by your local park.

6. Show your sporty side

Whether in the woods or around the block, put one foot in front of the other and drink in your surroundings. See what the Joneses are up to with their landscaping, bring your puppy along on a leash and get ready to get some exercise while you dispel the winter blahs for good.

9. Clean up

Grab a bag and your kids’ hands and help the environment by picking up around your neighborhood.

You’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment while beautifying your environment, and you’ll teach your kids the importance of keeping our world green and clean.

10. Plant the seed

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When the temps are up, there’s no need to stay inside and watch TV. Here are some easy, fun ideas to get out and get moving with the kids this month: 1. Go fly a kite

Visit your local greenhouse and let your kids each pick out a plant. When you get home, help them plant it and care for it. When it blossoms under their care they will feel a sense of pride in their accomplishment.

JUNE 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

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www dots

it’s always best to share! here are some of our favorite links

The best sites to see for your next family trip We’re no longer relying on an atlas to help us plan the road trip, nor are we solely relying on driving to and from our beloved destination. Now, there is a plethora of websites out there that claim to have all the answers for your next family vacation. But, there are some that stick out from the rest and we’ve got them outlined for you in this very edition. Take a look at all of these next time you’re planning a trip and see which one works for you and your family. Let the travel site searching begin!

www.vagabondfamily.org

www.familyvacationcritic.com

Family Vacation Critic features reviews of family-friendly hotels, resorts, destinations and attractions. The site is packed with ideas on where to go next, highlights the best family travel deals and provides advice for traveling with kids of all ages. Members can ask questions about destinations or any aspect of traveling with kids in the popular family travel forum, share their tips and ideas, and post reviews of the places they’ve visited.

Most importantly, every review on Family Vacation Critic is written specifically with families in mind. The site features in-depth reports on family-friendly hotels, resorts and destinations, written by our experienced family travel experts, as well as member submitted reviews. These

reviews – written by parents, for parents – offer families a priceless insight into how kid-friendly hotels and resorts really are.

www.tripadvisor.com

TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 200 million unique monthly visitors, and over 100 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 30 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors. TripAdvisor, Inc. manages and operates websites under 20 other travel media brands.

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VagabondFamily.org is built for parents or soon to be parents who want something different for themselves and their children.

Living a travel (or nomadic) lifestyle throws a lot of challenges your way and we are here (as a group) to help you prepare, plan and live a less common lifestyle with your children. Whether your planning an open ended trip or a trip from one to 12

months the advice on this website will go a significant way to making your travels much more enjoyable, for both you as parents and your children.

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SYRACUSE PARENT JUNE 2013

here is what’s happening around you

Fri June 21 SUMMER READING KICK-OFF EVENT

6 to 7:30 PM. Students entering grades 1 through 6 and their families are invited to our 2013 Summer Reading kick-off event. Learn how to earn a free book and enjoy activities celebrating imagination. Barnes and Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt. 449.2948.

Sat June 22 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

11 AM to 2 PM. Fayetteville free Library. 300 Orchard St. Take a tour of our new spaces and experience our newest services! Take part in interactive art exhibits for all ages, watch demonstrations in the Fab Lab and Creation Lab for all ages! Book sale to take place all week.

Tue June 25 SOCIETY OF CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS GROUP

7 PM. Welcome, Central New York children’s writers and illustrators!

Come for a discussion at our children’s stage. A great way to get information and connect with local authors and illustrators. Barnes and Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt. 449.2948.

CNY CICERO LIBRARY SUMMER READING KICK-OFF

10 AM to 4PM. Dig into reading at your library this summer! Register to earn rewards for reading all summer long. Pick up your reading record and get more information about

all the events happening at the library this summer. NOPL @ Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane. Free. For more information visit nopl.org or 699.2032.

JUDY’S BOOK CLUB

7 PM. Join Judy and the group by the fireplace as they discuss The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman, a debut novel both heartbreaking and transcendent. Barnes and Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt. 449.2948.

THE BUBBLEMAN

2 PM. Watch him create beautiful bubble sculptures. His eccentric combination of comedy, juggling and gigantic bubbles is a treat for children of all ages. NOPL @ N. Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane. Free. Registration required at nopl.org or 458.6184.

Wed June 26 MAKER CLUB: DEBUT MEETING

2 to 4 PM. The Cicero library is starting a Maker Club for children and teens ages 7 and up. The first session will be used to design a club logo, make an avatar mask and brainstorm some projects for future Maker Club events. There will also be general supplies available if you find another easy project you’d like to work on. For more information, visit nopl.org or call 699.2032. NOPL @ Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane.

Thu June 27

calendar

dren ages 7 and up. We will work on several garden-related projects, including a worm composting bin, habitats for beneficial insects, soil testing, and seed saving. NOPL @ Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane. Free. Registration requested at nopl.org or 699.2032.

Sat June 29 BIBLETOONS BY H. ERIN NELSON

11 AM. Join us for a storytime with author H. Erin Nelson featuring her book, Bibletoons. Barnes and Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt. 449.2948.

SUMMER ARTS & CRAFT SHOW

Marcellus-Skaneateles Art Guild (MSAG) Summer Arts & Craft Show and Sale. 10 AM to 5 PM. Activities for the kids, art, food, music. Marcellus Park, Platt Road & Route 175, Marcellus. For information call 673.2967.

SAVING GRACE

BY PAMELA FAGAN HUTCHINS

1 to 3 PM. Come for a meet and greet and signing with Pamela Fagan Hutchins, author of saving grace, a spell-binding, fast paced mystery that will make you consider your life and the choices you live with. Barnes and Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt. 449.2948.

Sun June 30 WEE ONES FUN FAIR

JUNIOR GARDENERS: DEBUT MEETING

10 AM. Junior Gardeners meet throughout the summer to plant and tend two raised beds in the Library Farm community garden at Cicero. For chil-

1 to 5 PM. North Syracuse Community Center, South Bay Road. Celebrate summer with pony rides, face-painting, music and many other free activities.

Free admission and free parking. Sign up to get your free swag bag at PipLinEvents.com/WeeOnesFunFair.htm.

Our Mommy Spa Day giveaway winner is…

Sheila Fraser, of Tully, was selected in the Syracuse Parent Magazine Mommy Spa Day giveaway drawing held in May. Sheila is the winner of a $50 gift card to CNY Laser. She is pictured here with her 4-year-old son Christian. We hope all moms had a great Mother’s Day! JUNE 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

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toy box

Top travel toys Travel ‘N Doodle The Travel ‘N Doodle is compact and will keep kids entertained on the go. A messfree way to doodle, the drawing mats change color from the moisture in the pen. The designs disappear in a few minutes, revealing a clean surface.

Wikki Stix Cultivate your child’s creativity with sculpting on the go. Wikki Stix are bendable pieces of wax-coated string that can be shaped into letters, people, animals, and other figures. They don’t take up much space and are inexpensive to replace at the end of your trip.

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Scribble and Write

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SYRACUSE PARENT JUNE 2013

Your child can practice drawing simple shapes by tracing the light with her finger. When she’s mastered the first levels, she can graduate to writing upper and lower-case letters.

The fun learning games help reinforce letter recognition and pencil control, and the portability makes it a great toy to bring along on a trip.

Father’s Day

on the 50-YARD LINE Coach Scott Shafer & family share memories

By Farah F. Jadran This fall, Scott Shafer will run out of the Carrier Dome tunnel as Syracuse University’s new head football coach. As a former Orange defensive coordinator, Scott is no stranger to the SU turf, but this year will bring new challenges as he steps up as the squad’s leader.

With these challenges not only comes the leadership and commitment he will devote to his team, but also challenges of maintaining a solid family life.

He and his wife, Missy, are proud parents of Wolfgang, who is off to Ithaca College in the fall and Fayettelle-Manlius High School student Elsa.

Scott’s pumped for the upcoming season — we all learned that in his media debut, but what he’s always been psyched about is his team…the home

team.

I took the time to find out from each member of the Shafer Family just what it is to be a team and why Elsa, Wolfgang and Missy believe Scott’s an MVP at home.

Their genuine answers and apparent family devotion became some of the most refreshing words I’ve heard in a while.

From Dad “My favorite memory for both my children starts with the day each child was born.,” Scott said. Wolfgang came at what Scott considers “a very difficult time” in their lives with the passing of his father only 15 days prior to his birth. “He was a shining light in our life,” he said.

On the other hand, Elsa decided she would arrive early. “She was such a blessing for Missy, Wolf and I back in our early years in Dekalb, Ill.,” Scott said. “Together, the three of us used to go fishing and I have fond memories of Elsa pretending she was the wormy girl in charge of selling us the wax worms and night-crawlers through the window of our jeep. She would take our tackle orders lining up the worms on the dashboard for us to choose.”

Scott described moments like these as the “dirty days” for the jeep. The routine was fun and the time spent still brings a smile to his face.

In present time, you have to wonder how the moving around for football coaching jobs has gone and how the most recent head coaching change has affected Team Shafer.

“The changes in my career always seem to bring us all closer together,” Scott said. “The one constant in my life to help me and the kids through transitions in career is my soul mate, Missy.

It can be crazy at times in the coaching profession but…Missy

always seems to keep me focused on the fact that, regardless of how crazy things may seem, our family always comes first.”

The one thing that has never changed is that all four of them have had a voice in the “next move” for choices that occur in Scott’s profession.

“We always call a family meeting at the kitchen table to discuss the choices to be made prior to any life-changing decision.”

With these decisions comes the discussion of what athletic conference the team will be in, followed by Elsa searching the Web for communities and housing near and around the university in question.

“For this opportunity it was an easy process because we love SU and the community we have fallen in love with here in Central New York,” Scott said.

The Roster It would be impossible to pass up the chance to ask SU’s head football coach what position each family member would play if his household was a football team, so, I did ask… Here’s Scott’s line-up: “Missy is definitely the quarterback in the family managing the ‘game of life’.

Missy is a very strong leader that keeps us all pointing toward the goal and objective of keeping the family first.

Elsa would play a lot of positions.

Knowing she is a play-maker we would utilize all of her talents that help the team maintain harmony and balance throughout the game.

Wolfgang will play both ways on the team probably a back-up quarterback when dad is gone recruiting to help mom manage the team.

I would take a role of utility player accepting the roles designated by Missy probably on defense, defending the family philosophies throughout any crucial plays continued on page 27 JUNE 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

13

paws and effects

Bear nose best A few tips for parents and kids from a resident pooch The summer of 2013 will be my first sunny season with my family. I am a five-month-old Labrador-mix and I was adopted from Helping Hounds in DeWitt. With warm weather around the corner, I know it’s important for me to steer clear of outdoor dangers.

In addition to having all my vaccinations up-to-date, I recently had my regular dosage of flea and tick medication and I’m always sure to have my heart worm preventative medicine too.

These are all important factors when deciding to take me on family trips and visits to our local New York state parks.

But even when we’re outside playing in the yard, there are a few things you must remember in order to keep me safe while also caring for the lawn.

Homeowners use pesticides in their yards for a variety of reasons. Some utilize pesticides to make their lawns appear lush and healthy, while others must use pesticides to address issues like insect infestations.

Applying pesticides is often frowned upon by environmentalists, but it's not just Mother Earth who can suffer from the use of pesticides.

If your family pet loves to get outdoors and run around in the yard, you might be putting your four-legged friend in danger if you're not careful when applying pesticides. Exposure to pesticides can make pets like me very sick and, in some instances, prove fatal. But pet owners can reduce that

14

SYRACUSE PARENT JUNE 2013

risk significantly by adhering to the following tips: • Remove me from the lawn before applying pesticide. It's a no-brainer to move me inside before applying pesticide to your lawn. But homeowners should also scour the yard for toys, bedding and feeding dishes and move them inside or into the garage before applying a pesticide. Pet health could be at risk if such items are left in the yard and get even a drop or two of pesticide on them. Therefore, carefully scour the yard for my belongings, raking high grass to find toys or bones when necessary, before applying pesticides.

• Adhere to the instructions on the pesticide label. The label on the pesticide you choose should have specific instructions as to how much pesticide you should apply and how long you must wait before allowing anyone, including the family pet, to gain access to the treated area. If you let me back in the area too quickly, I could be poisoned.

• Be careful inside, too. Chemical products are not only used to treat lawns. If you need to use a chemical product like a bug bomb indoors, keep me in mind before application. Remove bedding, feeding dishes and toys, and cover your fish tank to prevent liquid and vapors from getting into the tank and threatening the lives of your fish.

• Keep areas treated for pests off limits

to me. If you have a pest problem in your home, be it insects or rodents, keep any areas you treat with chemical products off limits until the issue has been successfully resolved. Even if I am not in the room during or after application, I can still be poisoned if I eat poisoned insects or rodents. This is called secondary poisoning, and pet owners concerned about their pets but still in need of a way to eradicate pests should look for a product with a low risk for secondary poisoning.

• Keep bait products out of my reach.

Bait products are often effective because they're attractive to insects or rodents. Unfortunately, the same properties that attract pests might also attract me, your companion. When using bait products around the house, be sure to place them beyond the reach of me. If you're using bait products that you must bury outdoors, keep in mind that dogs like me and maybe even cats can often dig these products up rather easily. So once the bait is planted, make the area off limits to me.

If you follow all these guidelines with me in mind and all my fellow dog and cat family members too, we will be sure to have a happy and safe summer!

Associate Editor Farah Jadran is the proud owner of Bear. Each month the pet of one of our staff members will host a column with an issue that relates to keeping pets happy and healthy.

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remedy rumors

if it works, good. if it doesn’t here’s what will

The myths of West Nile 1. Kids are at the most danger of getting sick from West Nile virus. Truth: People over 50 are at the highest risk for developing severe West Nile disease. Relatively few children have been reported with severe West Nile Virus disease. By contrast, most of the deaths due to WNV during 2002 were among people over 50. Half of those deaths were among people over 77 years old. It’s always a good idea for children to avoid mosquito bites, but it's also important for adults – especially older adults – to take steps to avoid mosquito bites.

2. It's only people who are already in poor health who have to worry about West

Nile virus. Truth: Healthy, active older adults who spend time working and exercising outdoors have been affected by severe West Nile virus infection. Being over 50 is a risk factor for developing severe West Nile disease if infected with the virus. There is a risk of getting mosquito bites while leading an active life outdoors. This doesn't mean you have to stay inside – it does mean that it's important to use repellent when you go outside.

3. Repellents containing DEET are not safe. Truth: Repellents containing DEET are very safe when used according to directions. Because DEET is so widely used, a great deal

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When manufacturers seek registration with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for products such as DEET, laboratory testing regarding both short-term and long-term health effects must be carried out. Repellent with DEET can be used for both adults and children, according to directions.

4. There's not much I can do about West Nile virus. Truth: There is a lot that you, personally, can do to reduce your chance of West Nile virus infection. Reduce the number of mosquito bites you get. Make a habit of using insect repellent with DEET when outdoors.

Spray repellent on exposed skin and clothing. Get the details about safe repellent use.

Prime mosquito-biting hours are usually dusk to dawn. Pay special attention to protection during these hours, or avoid being outdoors. Make sure window and door screens are in good condition. Have an older neighbor or family member? See if they need help installing or repairing.

For more information on West Nile and other disease prevention, visit cdc.org.

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making, spending & saving - tips and techniques for family finances

dollars & sense

Every penny counts for that dream family vacation Family vacations are fun and they’re very much a part of how we get to know all our family members better. A trip helps us learn about our patience as a family and the vacation itself allows the opportunity to spend time together in a stress-free setting, in a place that’s meant for relaxation and also lots of fun and adventure!

However, all fun and adventure comes with a price tag – we all know it! Aside from putting it on a credit card now and then having a big bill later, there are many other ways to finance that family getaway. Take a look at a few of the Syracuse Parent Magazine suggestions and choose the one that suits you: Change Jar. It might sound silly and you might think you couldn’t possibly fund a vacation with only loose change, but it could very well be a viable option for you and your family. On most days, we can individually come across more than $1 of loose change and maybe even a dollar bill. With some quick math and rough estimates, that’s close to $500 for the year. Multiply that by two if you have a spouse, partner or other adult family member collecting their loose change and bills too. Lastly, the little ones can keep a loose change jar too with all the coins they might find in the couch or on their way to the bus stop.

You just never know where and how that $1,000-plus for the vacation can be compiled.

your general savings account just won’t do in this case. You can try opening a separate savings account completely devoted to the vacation so that it won’t be a tempting source of extra funds.

Once you’ve established an amount to contribute to the account on a weekly or monthly basis, you should set up a direct transfer transaction. If the funds are being transferred for you, there is no chance you will miss an opportunity to contribute to the fund.

Waste Less, Save More. Are you spending weekly paychecks at the drive-thru window at Starbucks or McDonalds, at the local watering hole for happy hour or by buying cigarettes? If the answer was “yes” to any of these, think about how much money that totals up to be. If you regularly spend $3 each day, five days a week on your daily dose of coffee, that’s $780 for the entire year. And if you spend $40 a week at a happy hour, that’s a whopping $2,080! Now, you’ve not only saved almost $3,000 for your trip, you’ve also made some healthy lifestyle choices!

Yard Sale. If you think some of your “trash” will truly be someone else’s treasure, then you better clean it up and put a price tag on it. Having a simple garage sale will not only earn you some extra cash, but you’ll rid of those items that haven’t been doing much else but taking up space.

Savings Account. Putting money in

Basic Budget. Doing a good old fashion budget is still an option. If you’re looking to do a trip within a few months, make a list of all your possible expenses. Figure your monthly expenses and payment responsibilities first and then figure your luxury expenses too. Next, subtract the luxuries and figure how that amount will work in your travel budget.

Any further travel expenses should be accounted for and then of course they should be added into your budget.

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healthy family

tips and ideas for keeping your family fast, fit, and feeling great

Top 5 Kid-Friendly Foods for Car Trips

By Roseanne Jones, MS, RD, CDN Are you ready for summer vacation? It starts at the end of the month and it will be great to have our children at home with us for a healthy combination of relaxation and exploration. There is so much exploring to be done!

And so much to get ready when you are planning a vacation, including food for the car-ride. The goal is foods that can be easily packed and still score high marks for nutrition.

Tip: Adding some protein (meat, nuts, hummus, or dairy) to each of the snacks below will ward off hunger a little longer for those long car-trips!

Here are the Top 5 Choices listed by Food Group: 1. Protein Svelte Sammies: Mix and match the filler with the base.

Pack in a lidded bowl and store in an insulated cooler to below 40 degrees.

• Chicken salad with low-fat mayo, celery and dried cranberries

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SYRACUSE PARENT JUNE 2013

• Tuna salad with low-fat mayo, celery and chopped apples • Hummus and veggies • Peanut butter and jelly • 100% whole wheat bread • Whole wheat bread • Whole wheat tortilla wraps • Whole wheat flat bread 2. Grains Mix-n-Match Trail mix: Try to get at least 3 food groups in your mix. Pack in smaller portioned zip-lock baggies; each person can make their own mix!

• Ready-to-eat cereal like rice squares, clusters, O’s or graham cereal • Nuts or seeds like peanuts, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds…..

• Dried fruit like cranberries, cherries, raisins, apples, bananas….

• Coconut • Wasabi peas (one for the adults!)

• Chocolate like

dark semi-sweet chips or M&M’s (or peanut butter chips?)

• Mini-marshmallows (one for the kids!)

• Cherry tomatoes • Baby carrots • Cut celery sticks • Cucumber slices

• Small pretzels

• Broccoli florets

• Small cheese crackers Granola bar: If you choose this option be sure to check your nutrition facts label for more than 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams protein and less than 35% calories from sugar.

• Single-serve fruit cups

3. Fruits and Veggies All fruits and veggies should be rinsed before packing and if they have been cut they need to be stored in your insulated cooler. Small baggies or containers may be helpful to distribute the snack of choice to each family member.

Think Hummus for a dip, it comes in single-serve sizes too!

• Grapes for older kids who won’t choke

4. Dairy • Yogurt tubes (freeze them before you pack them) • Regular yogurt • String Cheese • Single-serve cottage cheese 5. Beverages BEST CHOICE: • Water! Bring a couple of gallons and refill your own bottles!

• 100% vegetable juice • 100% fruit juice Have a great summer and don’t forget these snack ideas for when you are lounging at home too!

Roseanne Jones, MS RD CDN Pediatric Dietitian Genetics and Metabolics Center for Development Behavior & Genetics 725 Irving Ave, Ste 112 Syracuse, NY 13210

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family

FYI

some helpful information for your family

Game time on the road!

You’ve chosen the route, you’ve packed the bags, the car’s packed and now you’re backing out of the driveway. Whether it’s two hours or 10, do you have a game plan for those hours? For all those minutes and seconds spent in the car? We certainly hope so!

But if that wasn’t something you put on your list, we’re here to give you a few suggestions that might just do the trick for your family vacation. Plus, you might end up finding a favorite or find that you’re enjoying the game too!

1. The Alphabet Hunt This game keeps the wide open road interesting.

Select a category such as animals, birds, flowers or just general objects, and make it so everyone must spot a thing from

20

SYRACUSE PARENT JUNE 2013

the selected category in alphabetical order. As you move through the letters, the game gets harder. You can create an incentive by challenging everyone to get at least 10 letters in a row and then winning a treat at the next pit stop!

2. Guess That Car’s Trip Ever drive up alongside another car and notice they’ve packed a lot of luggage or maybe some peculiar items are sticking out the back? Maybe the passengers are dressed in garb that gets you wondering…where’s that car going? If so, make a game of it! As a family, take turns choosing cars and guessing where they’re headed.

Be as creative as you dare, but this might be a good time to teach the kids it’s also not polite to stare.

3. License Plate Game Now, don’t write this one off as “overplayed” because there’s still ways to make this one new and unique! Like the Alphabet Hunt game, make it a challenge. List all 50 states on notepads and make rules such as only one person can claim a car’s plate and the first one to reach 25 wins a special prize or snack. Plus, you can add bonuses for older kids to name the capitals of the states as they mark down license plates on their list.

4. I Spy It might be one of the oldest or well known road games but it certainly has its draw. Give each passenger a turn to choose an object that can be seen in the car or that’s packed in the car. Again, learning can be incorporated by

making the objects chosen be in alphabetical order 5. Count the Cars Pick a color, any color!

Also, choose a number and then begin your car count. If the color is blue, have the passengers help spot blue cars on the road and keep a running count.

The color can be designated for a certain amount of time or while you’re in a certain county or state, depending on your destination and length of your trip.

6. Play it on a Pad No, we don’t mean iPad this time. Rather, we suggest you go back to the basics. Give the kids a pencil and a pad and suggest games such as tic-tac-toe, hangman or Pictionary. The possibilities are endless and the time spent together is time well spent.

fun and low budget crafting projects for parents & kids

frame

it

Sea shells, save shells

While you’re away from it all, ask the kids to each save one or two of their favorite shells. You can tell them ahead of time that the shells will be used to decorate a frame or you can keep it a surprise for when you get home. The next few steps are easy!

1. Go to a local thrift store, craft store

or home goods store and select a frame

2. Clear the kitchen or dining room table to make room for your shells, frame and super glue.

3. Place the shells on and around

the frame so you can see what the design will look like as you decide where to place each treasure.

4. IMPORTANT: Parents should

be the only ones using the super glue to adhere the shells to the frame. Gorilla Glue or other strong adhesives from craft stores will work too. These types of glue can be very sticky (no pun intended) and can be extremely harmful to the skin, eyes and mouth so parents should do this part of the craft.

5. Let the frame and newly adhered

6. Choose the wall, mantle or shelf

that will hold your craft and your now framed memory.

Supplies: Shells (from your trip),

printed photo(s), plain wooden frame(s) in correct size for your photo(s), and craft or super glue. Craft time is about 20 minutes with one hour of glue setting.

shells sit for at least one hour before placing the photo in the frame.

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However, there will be many photos taken and printed for those family vacation memories too. What better way to commemorate your special trip than with a frame that has a little piece of your sandy destination?

(or two) that will be big enough for your chosen photograph.

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Heading to the beach for a day trip or for an extended vacation? There’s so many things to do such as building a sand castle, swimming and maybe kids are taking turns burying one another’s feet in the sand. No matter what, you’ll have memories with everything that you do.

JUNE 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

21

ing:

22

A carton of possibility

A

Kids love animals, especially birds, so, with a little supervision from big kids or adults, young kids can easily make a bird feeder out of a milk carton!

This craft idea is the chance for kids to get interested in wildlife like birds that are as close as the backyard.

Plus it teaches them a little recycling along the way. As you can see any carton will do, even mom and dad’s old half-and-half carton!

This craft encourages the kids to put down the videogames and spend some time outdoors and with the family. This craft can get a little messy, but when you’re a kid the motto is: the messier the better! There are many ways to make a bird feeder and for this one, you really just need the carton, some string that can hold some wait, scissors and bird feed. Be sure the kids step aside when it’s time to cut the cardboard carton for the feed to fill and for the string to be attached.

After creating this bird feeder, hang it near a window and enjoy all the bird watching! This gives the opportunity for close-up observation of differnet bird species that easily turns into an educaitonal experience for all.

From Pinterest: “SummerCrafts — Web designer of summercrafts.org/ where Summer Crafts fanatics find the best pictures, ideas and accessories online. Find @ SYRparent on Pinterest too!

This five-minute sponge ball craft is so easy colorful and fun. Even the kids can help and they will play for hours! It’s a fun craft to make and then becomes a great toy for indoor and outdoor use.

All this craft takes is a pack of three or four flat 4x6 (or bigger) sponges in your favorite colors.

Parents, we’ll need you to use the scissors or a knife that will cut finely through the sponges.

Cut the sponges vertically and lay out at least four strips of each color.

Next, you will choose two colors to start with and tie them in a knot through the center of the strips. Then you will add on the strips in different knots to create a sphere shape as shown in the photo.

Now the sponge ball can be fun in the tub or a splash in the pool! Plus, sponges are very inexpensive and the scissors are most likely are already in the house, so there’s more opportunity to make many more sponges. The kids can even have some friends over to make one or two themselves.

From Pinterest: “SummerCrafts — Liana Haitonic pinned from craftgawker.com. Find @SYRparent on Pinterest too!

SYRACUSE PARENT JUNE 2013

spongey

subject

some helpful information for your family

List for a day at the beach

family

FYI

Why not make a day of it and visit one of Central New York’s wonderful beaches? No need to make a big production about getting ready, just use this handy list to pack, and you’re off! Make sure to include quanities when it comes to items that need to be packed in multiples, (for instance, if four of you are going, you will indicate that you need four swimsuits, four bottles of water, etc.)

 Sun block (spf 30 or higher)  Sun face stick (non-drip, so it doesn’t get in the eyes)

 Towel  Lounge chair  Sand toys  Beach umbrella  Emergency cash  Cell phone  Radio/headphones or ear buds

 Books  Small first aid kit

Apparel:

 Swimsuit  Water shoes  Hat or visor  Sunglasses  Change of clothes  Flip-flops

In the bag:

 Chips  Granola bars  Syracuse Parent Magazine

In the cooler:

 Juice boxes  Bottled water  Sandwiches  Extra ice for drinks  Yogurt

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JUNE 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

23

family

FYI

some helpful information for your family

Gifts for that special graduate those pursuits.

All-Star Athlete: If your guy or girl took home more trophies and sports-related awards than you can count, a sporty gift may be just what is needed.

Plan a day when you can take your graduate to a sporting event of his or her choosing.

You may be able to take in a home game of a favorite team or fly to a playoff game. Sports enthusiasts who attend many games may enjoy receiving a ticket stub diary, where

they can scrapbook their photos and memories of different games throughout the year.

Travel Bug: Perhaps your graduate has a love for travel and plans on seeing the world before starting a job or furthering his or her academic career.

A new set of luggage might be the right fit. If not, consider a subscription to a travel magazine or some books about specific destinations he or she has admired or would like to one day visit. Think about ordering a personalized passport cover and a traveler's journal for documenting all ports of call.

Future CEO: Some students just seem destined for corporate success. Help pave the way with gifts that befit a CEO. Many mergers and acquisitions are made out on the golf course, so having the skills of the game is a necessity. Golf lessons with a PGA pro or a membership to a golf course is a great place to start. Students who want to make a good first impression can benefit from a

personalized leather portfolio for keeping resumes at the ready. Business cards printed with contact information can be handed out at networking events and job fairs.

Philanthropist: If your student has been participating in a cause from as early as you can remember, a philanthropic gift could be a nice touch for graduation. Make a donation in his or her name to a charity of his or her choosing. If you prefer to spread good will together, schedule volunteer time at a community center, hospital or disaster relief organization or enroll in programs that can use volunteers.

Career-focused: A graduate ready to begin his or her career may need a few resources to get started. A savvy business wardrobe can help make a good first impression. Gift cards to stores that carry professional wardrobes will benefit those grads that may not have the budget to stock their wardrobes with career essentials.

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Students work hard on homework and various other projects during the course of their academic career. For those about to graduate, some potentially life-changing decisions await and students have the opportunity to graduate to a new stage in life.

Many families celebrate graduation with a party for the guest of honor, which is presented with a variety gifts during the festivities. Gifts are often chosen on the personality and interests of the graduate. If he or she has been voted most likely to travel or most likely to be a company CEO, there may be gifts tailor-made for

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SYRACUSE PARENT JUNE 2013

Let’s have ‘the talk’ Th er

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Bar e-footing it

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inch of their body and brain.

To be painfully blunt, this force of nature that is overtaking our children’s bodies and minds will be addressed. They will address it with us or they will address it in the school halls with the advice of the much wiser 16- or 17-year*old. We either teach our children to manage their sexuality or it will manage them, usually with devastating effects. So let’s talk. In fact, let’s talk, sex.

If you have gotten this far in this column, the questions facing you are how, how much and how often and probably quite a few other questions. Because this format is limited, I will say this.

Call you friendly neighborhood marriage and family therapist. We would be delighted to talk about this. If that is too scary, go to a book store. Go to Amazon.

Google it. Find a book that fits your perspective on sex and read it. We would love to talk to you about it. If there is interest, we could even do a brief seminar on the topic.

However we go at this, let’s just commit to talking. It’s hard. It’s awkward but it is worth it.

Let’s send our kids out into this sexualized world armed with knowledge not with questions that the locker room or the internet will happily answer.

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Being a marriage therapist, I have a unique vantage point when it comes to the topic of sex and the many aspects of human sexuality. I think it is interesting that we live in such a sexualized culture but are often quite shy when it comes to the discussion of this very normal and important part of our lives. Sex is everywhere but we don’t talk about it. We make jokes about it but we don’t talk about it.

While this is a big topic, I would like to highlight, what I think is one of the more challenging areas of this conversation and that is talking to our kids about sex.

As a parent it is quite difficult to love, care for and protect these precious, innocent and beautiful little people and then to realize one day when you least expect it, they become sexual beings. It is hard thing to grasp but here is the dirty little truth. They are sexual beings and we either talk to them and teach them about it or the kids on the bus will and the reality is they probably already have.

I was having this conversation the other day with an adult and a very simple truth struck me. I have never ever heard in my practice or in life a person say to me, “I wish my parents wouldn’t have talked to me about sex.” I have only ever heard that they wished they had.

Sex is one of the more powerful human experiences and we are leaving our children to make sense of it themselves. We wouldn’t leave our children alone to figure out how to drive a car but we leave them alone to face an avalanche of hormones that change every

JUNE 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

25

Picked first for the home team

By Karen Bergamo

I was never a sporty girl.

I spent a good part of high school finding ways to avoid participating in gym class — including mastering my mother’s signature on notes proclaiming, “Karen has an upset stomach. Please excuse her from gym class today.�

I joined the tennis team as a freshman because I had a

crush on one of the guys on the team. The crush didn’t last, but I played the sport well enough to earn my varsity letter. Even with that letter in hand, no one ever did, or ever will, describe me as a “sporty girl,� so how I begat a child that plays a different sport every season is beyond me.

There’s soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and then soccer and lacrosse in the spring and summer.

When I became a mom I was prepared for the semiinevitable future as an “Insert-Chosen-Sport-Here�

Mom. I figured at some point I’d be chauffeuring my son here, there and yonder to practices and games. I knew I’d have to bring the snacks on occasion and stand out in all sorts of elements to cheer

on the home team.

What I wasn’t prepared for was being expected to play these sports.

In the past four years I’ve played soccer, basketball, lacrosse and even football.

None of it was pretty by any athletic standard, but my son was more than happy to have me out there playing, because to him, that’s what it was — play.

No one told me, in all those endless days of phys ed, that sports were fun. I’d always equated it with the fear of being chosen last (happened more than I care to remember) and embarrassing myself (happened almost as much as being chosen last).

I now have tapped into my inner Mia Hamm and found I’m not half bad at soccer (I’m not half good either but I’m no

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longer being graded). And when the need arises for someone to stand there with a lacrosse stick and catch a ball, I don’t stink at that either.

It turns out playing a sport is a lot more fun when your kid picks you first for his team. And it totally makes up for being chosen last in gym class.

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Father’s Day on the 50 YARD LINE cont. that everything in life is really overratedeverything but family.”

In terms of teaching, Missy says that Scott is always teaching Wolf and Elsa life lessons. But more than anything, she says the kids have learned from his example.

Last but not least, Scott’s ability to communicate with the family has made him a “great father,” Missy said.

“Having open lines On father’s day I think the biggest of communication is the thing I could recommend is to continue key to success in any relationship,” Missy to be a consistent leader in the family. I said. “Scott has a way of being able to believe all children rely on us to employ keep those lines open discipline. So many times our children rely between the kids and have the hard on us to enforce what they already know conversations is right! We have this acronym hanging in when necessary.

It is never a onethe basement of our house… way street with him…it goes both ways. “ D O THE RIGHT THING And because I NTERACT WITH OTHERS the team’s S EE THE “BIG PICTURE” THE TEAM COMES FIRST quarterback tends to get the C ONSIDER ALTERNATIVES IN CRUCIAL DECISIONS last word in the I MPROVE DAILY huddle, we’ll P LAN TO WIN IN ALL OF LIFE’S ARENAS end things here L EAD BY EXAMPLE and wish fathers of all kinds in I NVITE CHALLENGES CNY a very N EVER GIVE UP; NO MATTER HOW GRIM happy Father’s E XPECT TO BE A CHAMPION! Day.

Coach Shafer’s Father’s Day Huddle

BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL

3 year olds through 6th grade Elementary School Accredited by the Middle States Commission Offering Faith, Knowledge, Discipline, Morals, and Dividends for Life since 1931.

Providing your child with academic excellence in a positive and personal environment!

Tours available. Call for an appointment.

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in the game of life.”

Now that’s an all-star approach on the field.

Dear Dad For this edition, I thought it would be a great opportunity to have both Elsa and Wolfgang share a personal message to their father and for our readers to see it too.

Elsa: “Dear Papi, Happy Father’s Day! I’m so proud and lucky to be your daughter. You do so much for this family and me. I know that I can always come to you if I need a good laugh, advice or a big bear hug. You have overcome so many challenges and built many bridges to get across them. You have taught me so much and I will always look up to you and thank you for all that you’ve done. I love you so much and I will always be your little girl!”

Wolfgang: “My dad will make my transition to college a lot smoother because of the advice he gives to me. There has never been a time where my dad doesn’t have the right thing to say to me whether it’s me getting into trouble, or calming my nerves before going into my first college football game. He definitely has a way with words… Happy Father’s Day, dad.

Thanks for everything you’ve done for this family. I’m so proud of you and love you so much.”

Scott in three words Loyal. Teacher. Communicator.

Missy says there has never been a question in her life of whether or not the family comes first for Scott. “We are his priority and everything he does — he does with us in mind. You will often hear him say

3219 James Street • Syracuse, NY 13206 315-463-1261 • www.blessedsacramentschool.org JUNE 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

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