Syracuse parent november 2013

November 2013

Getting ready Preparing the holiday feast

Top Christmas toys of 2013

DIY

Holiday ornaments

A Holiday Q & A

Have you planned a W trip to the tree e’r e in r farm? t h i s to g e t h e Since the kids were born, we go and get a tree every year. And every year, we promise each other to get it done earlier and earlier, but it never happens. We are promising that again this year, but it’s unlikely to happen. We’re still likely to be hanging ornaments on Christmas Day! Final thoughts…

This is the one time of year that my whole immediate family can get together so it’s a special time for me. A lot of times the holidays’ the focus becomes something other than it should be – too commercialized. We try to focus on nice meals, catching up and being together.

Megan Coleman is the content managing editor at CNY Central and an evening NBC 3 news anchor. Follow her and start a conversation on Twitter at @ MegsNewsFlash; we already do!

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Christmas…everything related to it. This year she will help out with the meal. Just the other day we were making ice cream sundaes for dessert, and she insisted on wearing an apron. She is getting into that kind of thing, and she wants to be a helper and be involved. She even has a stool to stand on.

How do you spend Christmas in the ‘Cuse?

We always do Christmas Eve at my inlaws and we have family friends over for dinner. We usually open presents at my in-laws’ house on Christmas Day. But, this year, we will have Christmas Day at our home. Rich is always talking about what it was like to wake up on Christmas morning and run downstairs to open presents, so this year, we will start hosting the holiday at our home. Also, we will light the menorah at our home.

How does Olivia prepare for the giftgiving season?

She’s very much into making presents.

She likes to make something for someone instead of buying them something.

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It’s amazing what you can learn in five minutes, so we did just that with your local evening anchorwoman, CNY Central’s Megan Coleman! Read on and learn about how her family spends quality time together during the holiday season: How do you divide time between family that’s in Syracuse and elsewhere?

When it comes to the holidays it’s difficult when you have a family and kids because everyone wants to be surrounded by their loved ones and people who are important. Even when Rich and I were dating, we devised a plan so that we would see everyone.

Since my family does not celebrate Christmas, we spend Thanksgiving with them in Kansas, and we spend Christmas with my in-laws here in Syracuse. Also, Hanukah is celebrated, too, here in Syracuse.

Does Olivia play a role in holiday meal preparation?

Olivia gets excited about it. She knows she will visit Nana and Papa in Kansas, and she gets excited about Hanukah and

M e g a n Cole m a n

learning curve

(315) 446-4386 (446-4FUN)

2 We’re in this together: A Holiday Q & A

The salon just for kids where the haircuts are cool and fun rules!

meals in minutes 5 Dips to pass: Easy dips for holiday parties

healthy family 11 Safe to sleep: Healthy sleep habits for babies 12 Three tobacco trends targeting teens 15 (Unidentified and unrealistic) great expectations

from the editor 6 Find your family

toy box 8 Top Christmas toys for 2013

sharkeyscutsforkids.com/dewittny • 3485 Erie Boulevard East • Dewitt, NY 13214

Martial Arts

Preschoolers is more than just games:

paws & effects

It’s Lessons For Life!

17 A tail of Mr. Orange

Jump!

Laugh!

Learn!

Grow!

frame it 18 Gift wrapping with fun and flare 19 Do-it-yourself holiday ornaments

family FYI

2 FREE WEEKS AND FREE UNIFORM ($99 Value)

4 Getting ready for that holiday feast 10 Are you a good or bad gift giver?

feature story 13 November brings holidays and new families together

for

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NOVEMBER 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

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family

FYI

some helpful information for your family

Getting ready for that holiday feast A large meal is customary come Thanksgiving. Planning an impressive Thanksgiving menu can be enjoyable for many people, while others get a little nervous when tasked with such an undertaking. But getting a head start and staying organized can make planning a Thanksgiving meal much easier than it looks.

Begin by jotting down ideas of which dishes you want to make this year. Traditional foods like turkey and candied yams may be expected, but it's perfectly acceptable to think outside the box as well.

If you won't be hosting a large crowd, you may want to serve more manageable Cornish hens in place of a larger turkey.

Root vegetables and squash are seasonal foods that can add some autumn flavor to your Thanksgiving dinner table.

Potatoes, corn, turnips and parsnips can be served baked or turned into soups and casseroles.

Thanksgiving is a great time to cel-

ebrate local foods as well. If certain items are native to your area, such as grains or game, incorporate these foods into the planning.

Once you have established the menu, you can make a list of what can be prepared in advance and what will need to be made shortly before the holiday or the day of. Separate your shopping accordingly. Any frozen or canned products can be purchased in advance of the holiday rush and stored until use. Frozen turkeys also can be bought weeks before and then thawed out when they need to be cooked.

Rather than spending all of your time cooking the night before the dinner, mashed potatoes and casseroles can be prepared and frozen, then reheated on Thanksgiving. Some foods actually taste better when flavors have had an opportunity to meld. Even some baked goods can be made in advance and refrigerated or

frozen until use. Think about preparing batters for cookies or cakes and then storing them in the refrigerator before finishing them on Thanksgiving.

Timing can be challenging on Thanksgiving. Whenever possible, free up your oven for side dishes and desserts so that you will have ample space inside. A turkey can take up valuable real estate in the oven, so you may want to consider investing in a rotisserie or a deep-fryer so the turkey can be cooked more efficiently elsewhere. Then you will have plenty of oven space for heating side dishes and desserts.

Dense foods should be placed in the oven first to enable them to heat thoroughly. Finger foods and appetizers may only need brief heating. Do not underestimate the power of the outdoor barbecue for quickly heating up foods if you are short on space in the kitchen. continued on page 16

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

meals in minutes

Jalapeño Popper Dip

Greek layered dip 1 seven-ounce package hummus 1 four-ounce package crumbled feta cheese ½ cup chopped tomatoes ¼ cup chopped cucumbers 2 tablespoons sliced kalamata olives Instructions Spread hummus on bottom of bowl.

Layer other ingredients on top.

Serve with pita chips.

1 four-ounce can diced jalapenos, drained 1 eight-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 cup sour cream 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs 4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted 1 tablespoon dried parsley Instructions In a mixer or by hand, combine cream cheese and sour cream.

Add cheddar cheese, 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, and diced jalapenos, mix well.

Spoon into 8-by-8-inch baking dish, spreading evenly.

Blend bread crumbs, melted butter, 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese, and dried parsley, using a fork or your fingers, until crumbly.

Sprinkle the buttery crumb topping evenly over the cream cheese mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until hot and breadcrumbs are golden brown. Do not overcook.

Serve with bread or crackers.

Dessert dip 1 tub light whipped topping 3 packages vanilla pudding powder 1 can pumpkin pie mix (already spiced) Instructions Whisk it all together and serve with graham crackers or apple slices or both.

NOVEMBER 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

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from the editor

Find your family When fall turns to winter, and Central New York is enveloped in its icy embrace, I keep my focus on the upcoming holidays. At this time of year, I feel very blessed to have a loving family, great friends and, most of all, my two children. To say they have made my life complete might seem a bit of a cliche, but it is nonetheless true. I do understand that some people have no desire to have children, but for those who do and, for one reason or another, cannot have them, adoption is a wonderful option.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month, and there are so many children out there who need a loving home.

In 2011, in the U.S., 400,540 children were living without permanent families in the foster care system, 115,000 of which were eligible for adoption, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’s Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. But nearly 40 percent of these children will wait more than three years in foster care before being adopted.

According to UNICEF there are 17.9 million orphans worldwide who have lost both parents and are living in orphanages or on the streets.

The thought that even one child does not feel loved, does not have someone to tuck them in at night, dry their tears or give them a hug and a kind word when they need it, is unbearable. These children deserve more – it’s not their fault that they were born into situations where they have no one to care for them.

If you are thinking of adopting, why not take that first step and use the Internet to research the process – whether for a domestic or international adoption. The process, I’m told, is complicated, but there are many agencies and experts out there willing to help.

In an upcoming edition of Syracuse Parent, we will be running a story about one couple’s adoption journey and how they made their family complete.

As the National Adoption Center says: “There are no unwanted children, just unfound families.”

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

Jennifer Wing editor

Jennifer Wing can be reached at jwing@eaglenewsonline.com

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SYRACUSE PARENT NOVEMBER 2013

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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.

here is what’s happening around you

Fri Nov 1 CREATION CLUB. 3:30 to 5 PM. Do you want to learn to use the green screen and make movies? Create and edit videos, podcasts, images, make 3D models and more using the software and hardware available at the FFL! For grades 6-9. Please register. 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. 637-6374. fflib.org.

Sat Nov 2 FEED OUR VETERANS BAKE SALE. 9 AM. Hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary No. 5538. “We are the guardians of our veterans rights while keeping America’s veterans and families strong.”

Homemade baked goods at the Great American in Boonville.

Sun Nov 3 FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION. Practicing forgiveness in marriage: The Way We Start Over.” 7 to 9 PM. Family Life Education Office. Holy Cross Church, 4112 East Genesee St, Dewitt/Syracuse.

Walk-ins welcome. For more information call (315) 472-6728.

Mon Nov 4 THE MEMORY TREE (A Linden Corners Novel)

by Joseph Pittman). 6 to 8 PM. Come for a meet and greet signing with Joseph Pittman, author of The Memory Tree, a wonderful Christmas story of moving on beyond grief and loss. Barnes & Noble. 449-2948. 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt.

Tue Nov 5 FIRST STEPS 9:30 AM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Program for toddlers: First Steps is an action-packed, language building program that features music, movement, rhymes and stories. For children who are good walkers. 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. 637-6374. fflib.org.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID RELEASE PARTY. 5 to 7 PM. Wimpy Kid themed activities and snacks in celebration of the release of Hard Luck the eighth book in the series. Barnes & Noble.

449-2948. 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt.

FABULOUS 4’S AND 5’S STORYTIME. 10:30 AM on Tuesdays. Help your preschooler get ready to read as we enjoy stories together and build important early literacy skills. 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. 637-6374. fflib.org.

Thu Nov 7 STORYTIME WITH MISS COLLEEN. 10 AM every Thursday except for Thanksgiving Day. Barnes and Noble story times provides activities and learning opportunities. Ideal for toddlers

and preschoolers. Storytime takes place every Thursday of September. 449-2948. 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt.

CUDDLETIME. 9:30 AM on Thursdays. Enjoy rhymes, songs, stories and more with your baby at this language-building program. For babies not yet walking. 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville.

637-6374. fflib.org.

NOOK SIMPLE TOUCH/GLOWLIGHT. 2 PM. Bring your NOOK Simple Touch or Glowlight and explore the many features of our fabulous, easy to use e-Book Device must be registered before class. Please RSVP at the NOOK counter or call Barnes & Noble. 449-2948.

3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt.

Sat Nov 9 CORDUROY BEAR VISITS STORYTIME. 11 AM. Special storytime featuring Corduroy by Don Freeman, with a guest appearance by Corduroy Bear himself. Barnes & Noble. 449-2948.

3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt.

Mon Nov 11 STORYTIME WITH THE SYRACUSE SILVER KNIGHTS. 11 AM. A day off from school with the players of the Syracuse Silver Knights Soccer team. Listen to your favorite stories, bring your camera for pictures and autographs. 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. 6376374. fflib.org.

Fri Nov 15 HOLIDAY SHOPPES. The Junior League of Syracuse, Inc.’s three-day (Nov. 15 to Nov. 17) holiday marketplace, is known throughout Central New York as a shopping destination, attracting nearly 5,000 shoppers annually. Holiday Shoppes offers boutique shopping at its best, featuring an impressive array of nearly 200 unique and distinctive merchants. Proceeds from Holiday Shoppes are used to fund the Junior League of Syracuse. Tickets $5 advanced sale from Junior League Members, $6 advance sale from Price Chopper, and $8 at the door. Jlsyracuse.com.

Sun Nov 17 ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE. 2 to 4 PM. CNY Montessori School of Syracuse in Dewitt. Information about the school and the Open House is available at mssyr.org or by calling 449.9033.

REBUILDING TRUST IN MARRIAGE. 7 to 9 PM. Sponsored by The Third Option, a program to build better marriages, and the Family Life Education Office. Holy Cross Church, 4112 East Genesee St, Dewitt/Syracuse, New York.

calendar

Walk-ins welcome. For more information call (315) 472-6728.

Mon Nov 18 SECRET SCIENCE CLUB. 3:30 to 5 PM. Do you like cracking codes? Do you like doing science experiments? Secret Science Club brings these two things together. Each month do fun hands-on experiments based on themes in popular science fiction books. Examples of these experiments include making hot air balloons, taking apart machines, and launching model rockets. Registration required. Fayetteville Free Library. 637-6374. fflib.org.

Wed Nov 20 BRANCH OUT AND GROW 7 to 8:30 PM. A support group for separated and divorced, meets on Wednesdays at the Bishop Ludden High School, 815 Fay Road, Syracuse. Besides support, we will also be showing a meditative video: “Facing My Anger” by DivorceCare and discussing it. All are welcome. Sponsored by Family Life Education (A Hope Appeal Agency).

For information call 472.6754, ext. 5. familylifeeducationsyracuse.org.

THE MINECRAFT GAMES. 6 to 8 PM. First annual Minecraft Games. The rules of The Minecraft Games are simple: Many participants will enter the arena, only one will be the victor.

Similar to the Hunger Games, this is a PVP battle to the last heart. Registration required. Fayetteville Free Library. 637-6374. fflib.org.

Sat Nov 23 OPEN HOUSE. 10 AM to 4 PM Nov. 23 & 30. Hercules Candy Company welcomes the community to visit and watch the making of candy canes. Free cider, candy, cookies and prizes. 209 W. Heman St., East Syracuse. hervculescandy.com

Tue Nov 26 JUDY’S BOOK CLUB. 7 PM. Join the group by the fireplace as they discuss Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed. Barnes & Noble. 449-2948. 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt.

SOCIETY OF CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS GROUP. 7 PM. Come for a discussion at the children’s stage. A

great way to get information and connect with local authors and illustrators. Barnes & Noble.

449-2948. 3454 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt.

NOVEMBER 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

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Top Christmas toy Nerf Rebelle Heartbreaker Bow Phoenix The Nerf Rebelle bow fires darts up to 75 feet for far-reaching fun.

Includes Heartbreaker Bow, five darts, dart storage accessory and instructions. Ages 8 and up.

LeapPad Ultra A kid’s tablet with seven-inch hi-res screen, Wi-Fi with kid-safe web, and access to a library of 800-plus fun and educatorapproved apps, games, eBooks, videos, music and more. Features built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery, Wi-Fi, peer-to-peer play, front-andback cameras, MP3 player and more. Ages 4 - 9 years.

Big Hugs Elmo Sesame Street Big Hugs Elmo loves getting hugs, but he really loves giving them! Along with getting a hug from this hugging plush toy, little ones can pretend with Elmo, and even dance, sing, nap, and cuddle with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street pal. Ages 18 months – 4 years.

Doc McStuffins Deluxe Get Better CheckUp Center Just Play’s Doc McStuffins Deluxe Get Better Check-Up Center comes with everything you need to play doctor. The check-up center features a lightup, talking tabletop area and X-rays along with a talking Big Book of Boo Boos for interactive fun.

The electronic cell phone, height checker, play scale, colorful eye chart and more help kids prepare for checkups and the set comes with a dress coat to help dress the part. Includes tools and sticker sheets. Ages 3 and up.

Draw Something Party Game From Zynga, everyone can play this game at the same time because it’s easy to see what’s being drawn on the illuminated drawing tablet which clears with just a click, and lets you move quickly from one drawing to the next. Choose a word on the card to draw, and if a team member shouts out the answer, your team wins coins. But if your team is too slow, the other team can steal and earn the coins. Ages 8 and up.

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SYRACUSE PARENT NOVEMBER 2013

ys of 2013 Go! Go! Smart Wheels Construction Playset by VTech Construction time is fun time. Push the included SmartPoint Dump Truck to hear imaginative phrases, music or sounds at each of this toy construction set’s six SmartPoint locations. Your little one will learn about numbers, weight concepts and shapes. The truck engages your child with three sing-along songs and many unique phrases.

This toy construction set’s pieces reconfigure and connect to other Go! Go! Smart Wheels playsets (sold separately) to encourage your child’s creativity. Ages birth to 2.

Hexbug Nano V2 Black Hole This new breed of gravity defying Nano V2 bugs can now climb up vertically, horizontally, around corners, through loops and tubes, to the tip top of any Nano V2 habitat set. The Black Hole enables Nano V2 super-fans to customize the design and layout of the three-story set, unleashing kids’ creativity.

Ages 3 and up.

Retro Toys Barbie Styling Head Your Barbie fan will love to give Barbie stylish new hairdos. Barbie has luxurious blond hair; this styling head comes with a hairbrush, a head band, four barrettes, three mini barrettes and four hair ties. Your child can wear the hair accessories, too. Ages 3 and up.

Twister This classic game is sold with two more moves. Twister challenges you to put your hands and feet at different places on the mat without falling over. Ages 6 and up.

Classic Chatter Telephone from Fisher-Price Introduced in 1961, the Chatter Telephone was the ultimate pretend play toy with its ringing rotary dial and its friendly interactive design. Since then, technology has changed quite a bit, but the Chatter Telephone still makes children smile just the same way. With eyes that roll up and down, a mouth that chatters and a dial that rings, this friendly phone is ready for a whole new generation of children to enjoy!

Ages 1 and up.

NOVEMBER 2013 SYRACUSE PARENT

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family

FYI

some helpful information for your family

Are you a good or bad gift giver?

Choosing the right gift for your spouse

She obliged. And much to our wondering eyes should appear, but an avocado colored Waring blender with multiple gears.

Now, if this were a TV show, the sound track of that very moment would have been ah–ah. Instead I remember nothing but a long awkward silence, interrupted by, “A blender? You got me a blender?”

And it was at that moment I realized that either you’re a good gift giver, or you’re not. My dad, as much as he tried, was not. It wasn’t until my sisters and I were old enough to take on the task of either buying gifts for him or assembling a very specific list complete with earmarked

catalogs that we strategically passed on to him — that we finally found peace on Earth at the holidays.

One woman told me how her husband brought back a souvenir T-shirt from a holiday sports tournament in Hawaii that he attended while she stayed home with their week–old baby. That was his one and only Christmas gift to her that year. Worse yet, she’s a petite size 2 at the very most. The T-shirt he gave her was a size XXL. Being short on cash isn’t a good excuse to be a bad gift giver. In fact, the best gifts don’t require money but rather a little creativity. For example, one year I created continued on page 16

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BY SUSAN DUTCH The large box was wrapped in white glossy paper and adorned with red velvet ribbon that crisscrossed. It was trimmed with a large crowning bow and curly ribbon tails that draped down the sides of the package.

My three sisters and I were giddy with anticipation as my father proudly delivered the (obviously store wrapped) masterpiece to my mom. A broad toothy smile brightened her face as we all arose from the crumpled giftwrap that encased us,

abandoning our own gifts to gather for the answer to the much-anticipated question: What did dad buy mom this year for Christmas?

He encouraged her to give it a jiggle and take a few guesses. Could it be the mink stole that she always wanted? (It was the ’60s, people!) Or maybe he had put sparkling diamond earrings in a small box that was enclosed in a series of bigger and bigger boxes, each carefully wrapped. The suspense was killing us.

As she began untying the ribbon ever so slowly, we wiggled and squealed in excitement, begging her to put us out of our misery and rip that puppy open!

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SYRACUSE PARENT NOVEMBER 2013

healthy family

Healthy sleep habits are as important for your baby’s growth, development and wellbeing as proper nutrition. Unfortunately, our babies are not born with a full set of sleep skills; in fact, we have to teach them.

It is our job as parents to give our children the foundation to establish healthy sleep patterns early on. Making sleep a priority for our babies gives them the best chance at avoiding sleep problems in toddlerhood, childhood and beyond. Creating positive sleep associations however, is only part of the larger picture that is healthy sleep.

Ambassador for the National Institute of Health Safe to Sleep Campaign, Kelly Weygandt - Founder of Clayton Babies Sleep Consulting, a 10-year pediatric registered nurse and certified child sleep consultant by The Family Sleep Institute offers these tips to ensure that your baby builds safe and healthy sleep habits.

First, babies should be placed on a firm, safety approved, sleep surface with a tight fitting sheet. These surfaces can include cribs, bassinets or portable play yards as long as they are currently safety approved.

Further, while it may be tempting, babies should never be placed on a couch, bed or other soft surface, or in a car seat, swing, carrier or other device to sleep. The campaign recommends that babies sleep in a separate but nearby sleep area, such as in a bassinet in the parents’ room, for up to six months whenever possible.

Second, the sleeping area should be completely free of all bumpers, loose bedding, blankets, pillows, toys and other objects. In short, the crib should be totally empty. Only after the child’s first birthday should you begin to introduce a small blanket and soft toy to the crib.

The Safe to Sleep campaign goes on to outline other ways you can reduce your risk: Get prenatal care.

Breastfeed baby.

Offer a pacifier not attached to a strap at sleep times.

Do not smoke around baby.

Do not allow baby to get overheated during sleep- room should be cool at around 68 degrees.

Follow your healthcare provider's recommendations on vaccines.

Avoid products that claim to aid in reduction of SIDS or other sleep related deaths.

Do not rely on home heart or breathing monitors unless prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Provide baby with lots of supervised tummy time during wakeful periods.

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For more information on the Safe to Sleep campaign and safe sleeping guidelines please visit nichd.nih.gov/sids/.

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healthy family

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

Three tobacco trends targeting teens

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Nobody wants their child to take up a smoking habit. But it can be hard for kids to “just say no” when they are bombarded with tobacco marketing in stores. As a parent, here are three of the tobacco industry’s latest tactics that you should be aware of: Flavored tobacco Tobacco products now come in a wide range of flavors: chocolate, strawberry, pineapple, grape, etc. Flavored cigarettes have been banned since 2009 by federal law, but no such restrictions apply to cigars and many other tobacco products. Along with the fact that other tobacco products are generally cheaper than cigarettes, it should not be surprising that sales of cigars and other tobacco products have risen dramatically

in recent years.

“Tobacco-free” products Tobacco has a bad reputation. That is one reason why tobacco companies are now selling products labeled as “tobacco-free” such as electronic cigarettes and nicotine lozenges. These products are promoted as less harmful than cigarettes or as tools to quit smoking. However, there is no clear evidence that these products are safe and they have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as smoking cessation devices.

Although they do not contain tobacco, they do contain addictive nicotine.

The tobacco companies’ widespread marketing may entice more young people to try these new products and get hooked.

Price discounts Tobacco companies spend 84 percent

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SYRACUSE PARENT NOVEMBER 2013

of their total marketing budget on price discounts. “Buy one get one free” sales and “two for one” deals can make the price of cigarettes low enough for youth to afford them. When tobacco is cheaper, more teens will buy it.

The tobacco industry is spending billions of dollars each year to recruit new customers, and it is working. Nearly 4,000 kids under the age of 18 try their first cigarette every day in the U.S. Tobacco use remains the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S. Fortunately, there are ways that we can work together to counter these practices.

Concerned parents who would like to get involved in efforts to prevent tobacco use in our community can contact Tobacco Free Onondaga County by calling 4353280, visiting TobaccoFreeOnondaga. org, or finding them on Facebook.

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By Mary Carney, MPH, CHES, Public Health Educator, Tobacco Free Onondaga County

- AND -

Saturday, November 30 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Watch us make Candy Canes by hand! • Register for FREE Prizes • FREE Cider & Cookies • FREE Candy Tastings

209 West Heman St. East Syracuse, NY

463-4339

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-6

Hercules Candy Company St. Matthew’s School

ďƒŚ

The holidays are a difficult time for struggling families, but Liz Nolan, the Executive Director of Hillside Children's Center, Central Region, works to make the holiday season just a bit easier for children with disabilities and their families.

Hillside Children’s Center is an affiliate of Hillside Family of Agencies and works to care for children and provide opportunities to families to give their children a safe and successful life.

Hillside, one of the oldest family and youth non-profit human services organizations in Western and Central New York, works to offer mental health, child welfare, special education, infant, international and special-needs adoptions and developmental disabilities services to children and families.

Not only is November the beginning of the holiday season, it is National Adoption Awareness Month.

Hillside is helping to sponsor National Adoption Day in the Syracuse Area on Nov. 22 to finalize approximately 70 adoptions.

Nolan looks forward to this event every year; she especially enjoys hearing a bell ring at the finalization of each adoption.

“It’s incredibly heartwarming,� she said, when describing this event when children of every age find a home thanks to the work of Liz and Hillside Children’s Center.

Hillside organizes foster care as well as adoptions, yet many families end up adopting a child after bringing them into their homes.

Seven of the children from Hillside’s foster program are being adopted this month at Adoption Day. In addition to the adoption programs in November, Hillside’s “Special Santas� program begins around Thanksgiving and continues throughout December.

Hillside sets up three drop-off points for people in the community to donate unwrapped gifts to the center. “We want every child to get three gifts,�

Nolan said.

The program helps families who cannot afford to buy their children presents and ensures each child gets to feel the joy of opening a few gifts during the holidays. This program is an integral part of the way Hillside makes the holidays brighter for those families with which the agency works.

Nolan looks forward to the coming adoptions and the collection of holiday gifts as well as the many other services Hillside provides to those in need.

join us for our OPEN HOUSE Saturday, November 23

209 W. Heman St.

St. Matthew’s Church

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Yates St. Ellis St. W. Manlius St.

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Learning to Ride

Give your child the gift of

Holiday Gift Certificates Now Available for

4 Private Lessons with a Professional Trainer

for only $120.00 (a $140.00 value)

West Sorrell Hill Road • Warners, NY 13164 315.345.2189 • www.SorrellHillStables.com 14

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• Perfect for ages 6 and up • All levels of riding welcomed • Sessions are limited in size

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

healthy family

(Unidentified and unrealistic) great expectations worked. My brain was rewiring. I was being required to do something totally new. I was confused and my body and brain were confused.

Clutch, break, gas, gear shift, ignition, hill….oh my! I got there but it took my brain a while to figure this out.

My father got frustrated because I wasn’t getting it. It was so simple to him, a man who has been driving for 30 years. My brain figured it out but it was hard. My father had the unrealistic expectation that this should be easy.

When we expect our teenager to manage a difficult situation because we “taught them better than that”, we get angry and disappointed. This is out of unrealistic expectations. When they make a choice for their lives that we would not choose for them, we are disappointed. This may come out of our unidentified expectations. Our unidentified expectations are generally formed out of our personal opinion about who our children “should be” or “should not be”. I have to remind myself that my children are unique individuals – not smaller copies of me.

Recently I sat my oldest son down and gave him a piece of paper with a dollar amount that was in the bank account. I then gave him a

Th

e re s

s a M c M or r is

Bare-footing it list of the bills I had to pay and the amounts. I asked him to figure it out.

He immediately said to not pay the mortgage. Now let me tell you that was a fun conversation. We talked and I explained things to him. I can’t expect him to know about paying the bills and why there isn’t extra for the myriad of things that he wants, if I don’t show him. The answer, as always, is to listen and learn. Listen to your child. Listen to what they are saying and what they are having trouble with. Explain things to them.

They have only been in this world a short time. It is our job to show them how it all works and explain it to them no expect they know.

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Tours available. Call for an appointment.

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Lately, I have been reminded (personally and professionally) how unidentified and unrealistic expectations can really cause a stink in all areas of life from family, children, partners, friends and colleagues.

We, as parents, often expect our children to do and be something that they simply can’t pull off. Because they can think and talk and function like a small humanoid, it is easy to forget that our children’s brains aren’t fully developed. It isn’t until well into the 20s that a brain finally stops growing. There are things that our adult brain can do that a child’s brain – a teenager’s brain – a young adult’s brain – just can’t do. When we ask too much of the teenager and then get frustrated with the outcome, we are acting out of unrealistic expectations.

When I was a girl learning to drive, my father taught me with a manual transmission. We were out in the country on some red dirt road stopping and starting, bouncing all over the place. Then he put me on a gravel road on a hill at a stop sign and had me turn off the truck. I had the oddest sensation, for a period of about five minutes, I felt like I couldn’t figure out how my arms and legs

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

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family

FYI

Gift giver a coupon book filled with special vouchers that my husband could cash in on, such as: Good for one night of staying in when I want to go out.” Or for agreeing to “be wrong” when I know “I’m right”’ in an argument. He loved it.

No matter what gift ideas you come up with this year for that special someone, give yourself enough time to think it through.

Ask lots of questions, listen carefully to what he or she is saying, is

Holiday feast

12/15/13

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Delegate some of the work to others on Thanksgiving so you and your family can better enjoy the holiday. Encourage guests to bring their favorite items to serve buffet- or pot-luck style for Thanksgiving. This not only cuts down on the amount of work for the host and hostess, but gives guests an opportunity to showcase their culinary skills as well.

Desserts are often laborintensive elements of entertaining. Precision in measuring and preparing helps guarantee success. If you do not have the time to bake this Thanksgiving, serve store-bought cakes and save yourself the hassle, or ask guests to bring desserts so you can focus your attention on the main meal.

While prepping for the

continued from page 6 wishing for or enjoys doing, and, chances are, you will put a genuine smile on your loved one’s face and reap the rewards of being a great gift giver.

Susan and her husband, Bill, a very good gift giver, live in Syracuse with their dog Yankee, who was a “joint gift” four years ago.

She can be reached at mizmatch@ mizmatch. com. If you have been on the receiving end of a bad gift, tell her about it at mizmatch. com or @mizmatchblog.

continued from page 4 Thanksgiving dinner, keep the dishwasher empty so you can easily load items as they are used and keep kitchen clutter to a minimum. Increasing the number of finger foods can help reduce the number of dishes used while cutting down on post-holiday clean-up.

When preparing for the meal, keep storage containers at the ready. Have guests fill up take-away containers with leftovers before the table is cleared so that no food goes to waste. Promptly refrigerate all leftovers so that they are safe to enjoy later on.

Thanksgiving is a time when big meals are customary and a good deal of work is required.

Breaking down the work into manageable tasks helps the holiday go off without a hitch.

paws and effects

The Tail of Mr. Orange Tips for parents & kids from a resident feline The holidays are here and it’s the “purr-fect” time to make your home feline (and canine) friendly. These special times are not just about the humans in the home or those who may visit. Rather, it is about all of us, and that includes four-legged family members like me.

My name is Mr. Orange and I am a 9-year-old Tabby.

If you have not yet guessed, yes, I am indeed orange and I have little white mittens on my paws.

I am a family man, so be mindful of how your feline or canine might take to new visitors during the holidays. I love snuggling with my family but it does take me some time to warm up to new people. Making smooth and calm introductions is best when it comes to kids meeting your family pet.

Also, the holiday meals means you’re eating extra and also that means there is “extra food” on the table!

Be sure to tell guests (and remind yourself, too) that feeding me table food is not a good idea. Just because I may purr or meow beautifully does not mean my belly will be too happy later that night!

Every now and then, my main owner (Renee) gives me a sip or two of skim milk and that is quite the treat! However, she knows that I cannot do this all the time or too often.

It is important to refrain from feeding cats and dogs human food because it can make us sick or cause even more severe (even fatal)

implications. If you don’t want to travel to the emergency vet clinic on Christmas Eve, tell Uncle Paul I do not need a taste of the Christmas roast.

Also, I notice this every year – you put up quite the display of lights, ornaments, décor and even change out furniture. Remember to leave my regular hangout areas as “regular” as possible so I do not feel too disrupted.

And when it comes to electronics and lights, you need to unplug them when you’re not around. I may or may not get too curious and we don’t need to find out what could happen next!

Lastly, décor during Christmas tends to call for holiday greenery and flowers. In particular, Poinsettias are a feline’s worse enemy.

Symptoms of poinsettia poisoning are mild signs of vomiting, drooling, or rarely, diarrhea may be seen. Signs are self-limiting and generally don’t require medical treatment unless severe.

The milky white sap found in poinsettias contains chemicals called diterpenoid euphorbol esters and saponin-like detergents.

Far more worrisome are the following plants that are commonly found in holiday bouquets and floral arrangements: lilies, holly or mistletoe.

Even bouquets brought into the house by holiday guests should be thoroughly inspected, as lilies are the No. 1 flower often used by florists. Just one or two bites from a lily can result in severe acute kidney failure in cats –

even the pollen is thought to be poisonous!

Other yuletide pants such as holly berries, mistletoe and rosemary can also be toxic to dogs and cats.

I am here for the long haul and, with that said, it’s up to my family to keep me out of harm’s way.

I love what the holidays bring and I love seeing my family beam with happiness when they’re enjoying the holidays…oh, and when they’re enjoying my company, of course!

Whether you’re happy or sad, I know what to do. I

don’t like to see anyone in my family sad or upset. It has become my pleasure to calm everyone down and I know it’s easy to get worked up during the holidays.

And so, this holiday season, I will continue to communicate via meows, open doors to rooms I want to enter and, of course, I will snuggle you until you turn that frown upside down.

I hope everyone has a “Meowy Christmas” and a Happy New Year!

Mr. Orange is a proud family member to Account Executive Renee Moonan.

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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Gift wrapping with fun & flare Holiday shoppers spend billions of dollars each year on gifts for friends, family and coworkers. But holiday shoppers also spend substantial amounts of money dressing up those gifts with bows and wrapping paper. Shoppers may not want to spend much more on wrapping paper, bags and other ways to dress-up their gifts, and by employing a few tricks of the gift wrapping trade, they may not have to. This year, why not try some frugal, yet flashy, ways to wrap presents this holiday season?

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Children's artwork:

Over the course of a school year parents can accumulate dozens of original pieces of art from their children's time in the classroom. Instead of relegating those pictures to a memory box or temporary glory on the refrigerator, turn them into unique gift wrap. Pair these pieces of art with colored ribbon, and everyone who gets a unique masterpiece will feel special.

Newspaper: Recycle

newsprint and comics into wrapping paper. Encourage everyone to wrap in newspaper for a cohesive look come Christmas morning.

Cloth: Leftover cloth from

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Halloween or cloth purchased to create homemade curtains can be turned into giftwrap for awkwardshaped gifts.

Use decorative ribbon to seal the bundle shut.

Brown paper:

Brown paper tied with twine

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or ribbon is inexpensive and can easily be recycled after use. Use a marker to put the names of gift recipients on each package to save on gift tags as well.

Glass jars: Use mason jars when wrapping smaller gifts, including gift cards, to give them an arts-and-crafts feel.

Fabric gift bags: If you're handy with a needle and thread, sew sacks out of leftover fabric to make gift bags of various sizes.

Cookie tins: Find unique cookie tins from yard sales or leftover tins from holidays past and use them as gift boxes.

Recipes: If you will be giving a cookbook or foodthemed gifts, print recipes that can be used as gift wrap and then later used to make certain dishes.

Baby linens: From blankets to wash cloths, use baby linens to wrap infant-themed gifts for new parents.

Baskets: Wicker baskets are available in various shapes and sizes. They can be used to make a gift collection and then reused over and over again.

fun and low budget crafting projects for parents & kids

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Do-it-yourself holiday ornaments

Holiday decorating is a big part of the holiday season. Bins are taken out of the attic or garage, and decorations are once again given their opportunity to shine for several weeks before being packed away again.

Among the many decorations families use to deck the halls are ornaments that were made by hand. This year creating homemade ornaments can be a crafty project that helps families make new holiday memories.

Christmas tree ornaments come in all shapes and sizes and often tell the stories of holiday traditions. There are several different ways to create personalized, do-it-yourself ornaments and leave the cheap, easily– broken ornaments from the dollar stores behind.

The only obstacle with regard to DIY ornaments is a

limited imagination! Homemade items can add whimsy and a personal touch to the holiday season. Now, go get started with these ideas:

PHOTO ORNAMENTS:

Fun photo ornaments showcase how a family has changed and grown over the years. Experiment with different ways to create these ornaments. You can glue a photo to a ceramic ornament and cover it with decoupage glaze to set it permanently. Try purchasing clear, glass ornaments, and then remove the top of the ornament, which is usually spring-loaded, before slipping a photo inside and replacing the top. You also can laminate a photo, punch a hole in the top and affix a ribbon.

Ceramic ornaments: The popu-

larity of paint-it-yourself pottery has led to an increase

in ceramic and crafts shops across the country. During the holiday season such shops offer many holiday items that can be painted.

Often the store will then fire the pieces after they are painted so that they are shiny and hardened for display.

Those who want to do their painting at home can visit their local craft or hobby shop, where typically there are unfinished ceramic ornaments that can be painted with acrylic paints found right in the next aisle.

A finishing coat of clear glaze will help protect the ornaments from year to year.

Wood crafts: Many of today's craft centers have expanded to include sections devoted to unfinished wood items. Everything from letters to animal cutouts to boxes and rocking horses can be purchased and fin-

ished. Turn keepsake boxes into painted and ribbonadorned gift boxes. Stain a treasure chest that can be used to store reindeer snacks for Santa's crew.

Turn small decorative pieces into ornaments for the tree.

Paint and affix wood initials onto stocking holders to identify to whom each stocking belongs. Crafty individuals also can turn plain wood plaques into signs with clever sayings, such as "Park your sleigh here."

Scavenge around the house: Young chil-

dren can use any medium for making ornaments.

Garlands made of macaroni or popcorn are traditional.

Fabric scraps can be sewn and stuffed with potpourri for homemade scent satchels. Hand-drawn pictures can be made and laminated and hung on the tree.

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