Giggle Magazine - Gainesville - April/May 2017

alachua

county’s

PREMIER

p a re n t i n g

M AGA Z I N E

APRIL/MAY 2017 | Volume 9 • Issue 1

the

best

farm party

ever!

SWEET TREATS, BARNYARD FUN

& MORE! P. 67

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nicole Irving CREATIVE DIRECTOR Allison Raber ASSOCIATE DEPUTY EDITOR Colleen McTiernan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Claire Stortz Vice president of sales Shane Irving Account executive Maria Buoni marketing assistant Delia Albert PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Alison Walker ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE April Tisher executive assistant Sayeh Farah ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ashleigh Braun Contributing Writers Wendy Eckhart, Selena Garrison, Teal Garth, Kelly Goede, Nicole Irving, RaSheba Jones, Lisa Katz, Helen Kornblum, Colleen McTiernan, Olivia Pitkethly, MA, LMHC, Meredith Sheldon, Danielle Spano, Taryn Tacher, April Tisher Contributing Photographers AB Photography, Sincerely Gone Photography

Mailing address

headquarters address

5745 SW 75th Street 101 SW 140th Terrace Unit 286 Suite C Gainesville, FL 32608 Jonesville, FL 32669 Gainesville Office: p. 352.505.5821 Tallahassee Office: p. 850.254.9704 Fax: 877.857.5140

gigglemagazine.com giggle@irvingpublications.com

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Giggle Magazine is a registered trademark property of Irving Publications, LLC. All rights reserved.

Giggle Magazine is published by Irving Publications, LLC. Š 2017

Irving Publications, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Irving Publications, LLC is not responsible for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Nothing that appears in Giggle Magazine may be reproduced in any way, without written permission. Opinions expressed by Giggle Magazine writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion. Giggle Magazine will consider all never before published outside editorial submissions. Irving Publications, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates.

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Creating happy, healthy smiles, one child at a time.

Providing specialized dentistry for children and adolescents in a “child-friendly� environment, we focus on preventive care to help each child have a healthy smile that will last a lifetime.

Serving infants, children and teens in Gainesville and surrounding areas State-of-the-art digital technology Latex-free office Now accepting insurance from Humana, Delta Dental PPO and Solstice

Dr. Robert N. Mixon, D.M.D., P.A. Dr. Michael G. Gooch, D.M.D. Dr. Andrew C. Gooch, D.M.D.

Haile Plantation Village Center 5209 SW 91st Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608 and Northwest Professional Center 4910 NW 27th Court, Gainesville, FL 32608

352-335-7777 www.kidsonlydentalplace.com Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

Education Matters! We are proud to be Board Certified Pediatric Dentists. gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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from the publisher

MEET OUR

COVER CUTIES!

it takes a team Since having my first son almost 13 years ago, I have never lived around any biological family. My parents and sister live up north, my brother across the country, my in-laws in Central Florida and my extended family in South Florida.

So, it has just been my hubby and me raising three little men on our own in Gator Country.

However, when my oldest was 13 weeks old, I ventured out to find a new family of sorts. I attended my first mommy luncheon with my baby in tow and never looked back. The ladies that I met became my family, my rocks and my shoulders to cry on when my own was not available. They became my “mommy squad.”

My mom squads have changed as my kiddos and our lives have changed, but nevertheless, each is so very important to me. It takes a village to raise these kids and, as a working parent with a demanding and busy career, I am the first to admit I cannot do it alone. And, I don’t want to. The “squads” in my life help me through the good and bad, the busy and not so busy, and the times when I have to shuffle my calendar around to just make it to the pickup line.

This issue marks our eight-year anniversary of bringing Giggle Magazine into your lives. My passion for helping parents navigate the journey of parenting was sparked when I realized how important it was for me to have the help of other people, and I wanted to bring that same support to others. So, I hope that Giggle Magazine has, in some small way, been a part of your mom squad.

How old is Colton?

4 years old

What is his favorite farm animal? Horses What is his favorite color?

Blue What is his favorite snack?

Grammy's pancakes!

What is his favorite movie?

"Cars" MEET CINNABON! Cinnabon is a six-year-old American Miniature Horse. She is a two-time world champion and her favorite treats are her daily Oreo cookie and the occasional peppermint!

Thank you!

ops!

O

Correction: In the February/March issue of Giggle, we printed a photo of a diver touching a manatee in the "Spring Break Daycations" article. While it is legal to swim with manatees at the location listed in the article, it is illegal to touch them.

Like us on Facebook /GIGGLEMAGAZINE

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follow us on Twitter @GIGGLEMAGAZINE

Visit us on Pinterest /GIGGLEMAGAZINE

Our cover was photographed on location at the C Bar Ranch in Alachua, Florida!

Follow us on Instagram @GIGGLEMAGAZINE

Photo by Sincerely Gone Photography

Nicole Irving, Publisher nicole@irvingpublications.com

Colton AND Cinnabon

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April · may 2017 happy family • happy community

67

TM

health 44 'Tis the Season for Allergies 46 Scrap the Swabs: How to Safely Clean

Your Ears 50 Lovely Lavender

happy home 56 Spring Cleaning Your Fridge 59 Quilting: More than Just a Hobby 62 Queries from the Curious

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giggle stamp 64

life 8

learn

Going to Grandma's House

10 POWER PARENT Jonathan Turner 15 Where Do You Fit in Foster Care?

20 Lost + Found: What to Do if Your Child

conception 2✱ college™

Eco-Friendly Toys & Games

Goes Missing

22 happy family Colón Family

86 expecting

How Alachua County Stacks Up:

Recycling and Environmentally Friendly

Practices 76 Alachua County Kindergarten Roundup 78 The Honest Truth About Cheating 80 The Pursuit of Family Happiness 74

88 infant

Baby Talk: Enriching Your Child’s

Two Too Terrible

92 early years

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Getting

happy community

34 Trailblazin' Treats

102 April/May Calendar

36 Jazz Up Your Boring Grilled Cheese!

104 corkboarD

Real About Imaginary Friends

94 kids

Learning How to Lose

38

96 tweens

A Parent's Guide to Tween Dating

38 Salsa Fiesta!

98 teens

When Your Senior Does Not Want to Go

fe a t u res

ALACHUA

How to Start Your Family Garden It Takes a Village: Local Mom Squads Rockin' Alachua County!

FARM BIRTHDAY PARTY | FAMILY GARDEN | MOM SQUADS

26 29 40 53 67 72 82

Composting Your Way to a Happier Garden

Farm Fresh Fun! 4 Ways to Use Your Plastic Easter Eggs All Year Long

Academic Summer Programs

to College ... Yet COUNTY’S

PREMIER

PARENTING

MAGAZINE

GIGGLE MAGAZINE

Family photo by AB Photography. Farm photo by Sincerely Gone Photography.

Language Development

90 TODDLER

24 Buying vs. Renting: Which is Best for You?

forks & spoons

To Donate or Not? What You Should Know About Cord Blood Banking

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APRIL/MAY 2017 | Volume 9 • Issue 1

the

best

farm party

ever!

SWEET TREATS, BARNYARD FUN

& MORE! P. 67

www.gigglemagazine.com GIGGLEMAGAZINE.COM | APR/MAY 2017 1

Photo by Sincerely Gone Photography gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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life

gra n d par e n t s

Going to Grandma’s House: The beneficial bond between grandparents and grandkids

BY OLIVIA K PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

If I knew having grandchildren would be this much fun, I would have had them first!”

Becky Raymond, grandmother of four little ones aged 3 and under, agreed with this saying. She said she is more laid back and happier when she is spending time with them. “Seeing your baby’s baby fills your heart with such a profound love, a feeling that is hard to describe,” she said. “Their unconditional love fills a spot that no one else can fill.”

The bonds between grandparents and grandchildren provide many benefits, according to a 2016 study from Boston College published in Gerontologist.

The relationship can actually reduce depressive symptoms in both groups.

The study found that when grandparents can give support, whether financial or emotional, to their grandchildren, they feel better. Also, when grandparents can connect to a younger generation, they are exposed to new and different ideas from their own peer groups. The relationship keeps grandparents more mentally sharp and engaged. A recent study from the Women’s Health Aging Project in Australia showed when postmenopausal women spent one day a week with their grandchildren, they had a lower risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

“When I have my grandchildren, I get up early, clean my house and do laundry so when they arrive, they have my total undivided attention,” said Raymond.

Children receive different types of attention from parents versus

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grandparents. Parents are often involved with keeping up the household, discipline and work responsibilities, as well as caring for the other children in the home. When children are with their grandparents, they are solely focused on them. Children spending time with their grandparents can hear the wisdom of their grandparents as they grow into young adults. The stories they heard as children can offer new meaning to them as they get older and interpret them with more mature understanding.

Spending time with grandparents also reduces behavioral issues in adolescents, especially if the family is having difficulty adjusting to life situations, such as divorce.

So what constitutes a healthy bond between grandchild and grandparent?

According to an article published in Family Relations, a publication of the National Council on Family Relations, there are three critical elements: a child feeling a sense of emotional closeness to the grandparent, a child having regular contact with the grandparent and a child viewing the grandparent as a source of social support. Social support can

include a grandparent being present at birthday parties or recitals, offering hugs and kisses or giving advice to their grandchild.

These relationships are becoming more important as generations continue to live longer. Many children now have the opportunity to establish relationships and make memories with great-grandparents, which wasn’t always possible in previous generations. “My grandchildren make me want to take care of myself, so that I can hopefully be around to see them grow up,” said Raymond. ]

É If many miles are between you and your grandchild, you can still maintain a close bond.

Write letters and/or Skype/ Facetime with your little ones.

As they grow and become more independent, continue to let them know how much they and their activities matter to you.

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life

p o w e r par e n t

jonathan turner Real Estate Attorney

HUSBAND to LINDSEY, DADDY to DAUGHTERS LORELEI (5) AND LANIER (3), SON DENVER (9 MONTHS) AND SELAH THE DOG

PHOTOS BY SINCERELY GONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Early starts mixed with late nights can certainly make for exhausting days for Jonathan Turner. But with his wife, Lindsey, and children cheering him on, he stays motivated.

What does your typical workday look like?

I’m awake sometime between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. to either take over baby monitor duties from my wife or to go for a run. If I’m staying in, I usually make my morning coffee and either put the girls’ lunches together, read, or log in remotely to my work computer. After the kids are awake, my wife and I will fix the girls breakfast and feed Denver his bottle and yogurt cup.

If it is my day to drive the girls to school, we sing songs, play 20 Questions, or the girls take turns picking YouTube videos about dinosaurs, GoPro roller coasters or downhill mountain biking, or something like “How to build a tree house.” At the office, I spend most of the day at my desk or at the closing table where I review residential and commercial transaction files’ surveys, title search results, municipal lien search results, and closing statements; communicate with parties to a transaction, realtors, lenders, and other title agents and attorneys; draft and review documents for lenders, borrowers/buyers, and sellers; and meet with all the parties to sign documents and close the transactions. Occasionally I will travel away from the office to deliver original documents or meet with buyers/

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sellers who must sign documents but are unable to leave their own jobs or busy schedules. The most rewarding part of any day is closing for a first-time homebuyer — they may be nervous, but it is a happy occasion for everyone in the room. In the evening, my wife and I coordinate who will pick up the girls from daycare and who will make any quick errands on the way home.

Once the girls are all fed and bathed, I tuck them in their beds, usually by carrying them both on my back. Finally, my wife and I eat dinner, clean up the dishes and laundry, walk the dog and exhaustedly get to bed to start again the next day!

How do you balance work life and family life?

For work-related meetings and activities, my wife and I stay balanced with good communication and coordinating our schedules (she’s an attorney, too). But for work-related project deadlines (i.e., drafting commercial loan documents), if I have to leave the office for the daycare or pediatrician, I will connect remotely to my office computer from home after the kids are asleep or before they wake up the next morning.

What advice would you give other working parents?

For working parents, little problems during the day (baby throws up on your work pants, kid spills fruit pouch in your car, kid rides her bike over other kid's baby doll, kid puts ChapStick on her lips but then

all over her forehead, etc.) require longterm analysis. When there is an issue or decision to deal with, you must consider the following: “In 10 years, what impact will my reaction or solution to [issue] have on my family/job/life?” Insert any problem and answer the question for each item: family, job and life. Then decide what to do, how to act or how to approach your problem.

Doing this makes the little daily challenges seem like nothing at all.

What sacrifices/compromises have you had to make?

As a parent, time is the most obvious.

My wife and I joke about the carefree days when we could sleep to 9 or 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning, wander down to the gym, have a nice lunch, come back home for an afternoon of watching TV or a nap and enjoy a quiet dinner. The other sacrifices/compromises are all standard ones for a dad of two girls: knowing things I shouldn’t. I can recognize Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinky Pie, etc. I have rehearsed and executed interpretive dance routines to “Let It Go,” “A Whole New World,” “Roar” and “Shake It Off.” I know how to do a flat spin, ice cream scoop, arm roll and finger twirl.

When and how do you make time for yourself?

Ten- to 12-mile training runs around the neighborhood from 4:30 to 6 a.m. with either my running mix playlist or a Mike Fabarez podcast.

What is your go-to breakfast?

Coffee.

What is your coffee order?

At home it is a half packet of Carnation Essential Breakfast mix (rich milk chocolate), a light or medium roast Keurig cup, a teaspoon of honey and Coffeemate creamer.

At Starbucks it is a venti white chocolate mocha, iced, three pumps hazelnut, two pumps vanilla, extra shot, with whipped cream.

At Fresh Market it is a 20-ounce suicide of all the daily brews (including half & half).

What is your must-have work tech item?

Internet access to the county official records books.

If you could have one super power, what would it be?

Hmm … maybe teleportation?

Or the ability to duplicate myself each morning so I’m able to get things done at multiple locations or quicker at a single location.

Which TV character most resembles you? Why? I have been told I resemble Phil Dunphy (“Modern Family”) and Ross Geller (“Friends”). gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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From left: Children Lorelei, Denver and Lanier

Who are your biggest supporters?

My wife. It may appear that my girls are my biggest supporters — FaceTime calls while I’m at the office or cheering for me when I’m running. But my wife is the one who taught them how to call and how to cheer — their excitement is a reflection of her.

Who is your greatest inspiration?

My parents. Many different people inspire me for specific aspects of my life, whether I emulate what I have seen accomplished or push to succeed on their behalf. My parents cover the most categories.

If you had a day all to yourself, and money was not a factor, what would you do?

Honestly, I’d probably do work around the house. And if money is not a factor, I would hire some guys to help me reconfigure the bathroom, put in a new dryer, replace carpets for a couple rooms and install a wall organization system in the garage.

Finish this sentence: I hope that I have taught my children ... to take pride in things they are passionate about, to respect others and to pray. ✽

WHAT ARE THINGS YOU MUST HAVE AT WORK? ❶ Computer ❷ Phone ❸ Scanner/printer ❹ Conference table ❺ Two fantastic assistants!

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53

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more beds needed in Alachua County to ensure local foster youth can remain in our community.

1

does make a difference.

YOU Be the hope a child needs.

Be the love of a family.

Be a foster parent.

Contact us at 352.244.1684 or visit www.PartnerFamily.org to learn more about becoming a foster parent.

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life The “yes” that followed started a whirlwind of diapers and onesies, sleepless nights and court dates, Medicaid fights and first smiles. Our biological kids, ages 5 and 18 months, had to abruptly adjust to being a big brother (again) and a big sister/middle child. Our friends brought diapers, clothes and food and told us how wonderful we were for taking in a little guy who needed our help.

The questions came all the time, from friends and strangers alike. “Are you going to adopt him?” “How are you going to survive when they take him back?” “Do your kids have the same dad?” (Yes, seriously.) All of the wellintentioned (and less so) inquiries grew to be exhausting, but I was (usually) happy to answer them and shed some light on the need for foster parents in our area.

Where Do You Fit in Foster Care?

BY SELENA GARRISON

The day our first foster child arrived is one that I will never forget. After months of classes, preparation and home studies, we had gotten the call. There was a 9-day-old little boy who needed a home — maybe just for a little while or maybe forever. His momma was not able to take care of him and his dad was unknown. He was being released from the hospital that afternoon. Would we take him?

According to Michelle Giordano, recruitment specialist at Partnership for Strong Families, there are 310 children in out-of-home care (foster care, relative placement or non-relative care) in Alachua County alone. There are only 64 foster homes in Alachua County, and 53 more beds are immediately needed to put each child in a home. That is just one county! Across the entire state there are close to 20,000 children in out-of-home care. The need is huge, and the available beds are few. The fact of the matter is that we need great foster families to help take care of these kids!

Kristy Sutton, co-founder of Gainesvillebased Foster Florida and momma to four biological kids and momma-fornow to almost two dozen foster kids over the years, said that most children come into care as a result of neglect or abuse related to substance issues with their parents. “So many times this is a generational cycle,” said Sutton.

“The parents of these precious kids likely experienced the same thing as children. With no support system, no healthy coping mechanisms, and no model for appropriate parenting, they are continuing the cycle with their own kids.”

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If being a “full-time” foster parent doesn’t seem right for you, maybe a “part-time” option would work. You might consider getting licensed as a foster parent and providing short-term respite care when other foster parents are in need of a break, have to travel for work or have an out-of-town emergency.

This is why foster care exists. Foster parents provide a safe place for kids who have been removed from their parents to grow and thrive, while having their physical and emotional needs met. In the meantime, their parents often undertake various services and opportunities to work toward getting their kids back.

Foster parents provide support to both the children and their parents and work to help toward a successful reunification when possible and appropriate.

When asked about the hardest part of being a foster parent, Sutton echoed the feelings of the people I speak with every day. “People just don’t understand,” she said. “There is a general lack of understanding and knowledge from the general public surrounding what foster care is and what foster parents do. We aren’t out here trying to adopt everyone else’s kids. Our job is to provide a support system for a family in need and take care of their kids while they can’t.

That does sometimes lead to adoption, but it isn’t the primary goal.”

Sutton also pointed out that there is an underlying connotation with many people that foster kids are “bad” kids.

“I wish people outside of foster care understood that these kids are just normal children, like your kids and my kids,” she said. “They just want to be kids, but along the way, they have collected some intense baggage through no fault of their own. They need a stable,

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loving place to help unpack that baggage and start the healing process as their parents work through their issues or as other permanent options are sought after.”

The road of providing care for children coming out of trauma is definitely not one that everyone can (or should) walk, but there are so many ways to help, no matter your situation!

The first way you can help is by inviting children into your home and becoming a licensed foster parent. This generally requires background screening, an application process, several weeks of training and a few home studies. Of course, before becoming a foster parent, you should do your research and decide whether this route is best for you.

If being a “full-time” foster parent doesn’t seem right for you, maybe a “part-time” option would work. You might consider becoming a licensed foster parent and providing shortterm respite care when other foster parents are in need of a break, have to travel for work or have an out-of-town emergency. Another option is to become a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) volunteer.

GAL volunteers are the court-appointed “voice” for the child once he or she is in foster care, and they seek to investigate what choices will be in the child’s best interest.

You can also support foster families through many different avenues, including provision of supplies, child care, prayer support, meals and other tangible needs. Connect with your local Foster Parent Association or church to see how you can help. You can also reach out to Foster Florida, an organization in Gainesville co-founded

by Kristy Sutton and Lacy Basford that seeks to surround foster families with people who are willing and able to provide for these needs. ]

If you are in the Gainesville area and would like additional information on becoming a foster parent, you can contact Michelle Giordano (Partnership for Strong Families) at (352) 244-1684 or a licensing specialist at Florida Baptist Children’s Homes at (352) 672-6112. You can also hear more information directly from Kristy Sutton on her blog, Thishardcalling.com.

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life

lost+found

What to do if Your Child Goes Missing

BY KELLY GOEDE

Statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) show that over 465,000 entries were made into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center in 2016 — each entry a report about a missing child.

Although a vast majority of those cases resulted in a child being found safe, many parents still experience the terror of having their child go missing, even if for a short period of time. That panic is paralyzing and something that no parent or child should ever experience. As with so many arenas of parenting, planning can solve many problems before they even happen.

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Before you go

Planning for a family outing might warrant matching outfits for the children, making them easily identifiable. Bright colors will also make spotting children easier in a crowd. Snapping a photo of each of your children upon entering a theme park or other large venue will assist in the event of the unimaginable. Identify a meeting place (such as an easily identifiable landmark) and a time to meet in case the group becomes separated, and be sure that your children know your cellphone number.

“Even at an early age of 5, [children] can retain their parent’s phone number,” said PJ Mauldin, school resource deputy at Wiles Elementary School. If you are going into a theme park or other large venue for an extended period of time, you can always use a sharpie marker to write your phone number on your children's forearms.

If you really plan ahead, you can have an ID bracelet made with all of your contact information permanently etched.

What to teach your children

The old philosophy of “stranger danger” needs to be updated. While your child should avoid talking to strangers, they need to know how to find a “good stranger” to ask for help if they get lost. “Good strangers” include front desk clerks, policemen, firemen, people wearing name badges or even mothers with strollers.

Advise children to not go looking for you if they get lost — instead, find that “good stranger.” Some children are prone to wander, whether through genuine curiosity or due to conditions that predispose them to it. In those cases, a wearable GPS device may be a valuable tool, as it tracks the movements of your child, allowing you to locate them using your smartphone. At home, have children check in at regular intervals if they are playing outside.

Deputy Mauldin also encourages parents to teach their children to dial 911 in case of an emergency.

What you should do

Of course children do not always adhere to our code of conduct and either wander off or forget where they are supposed to be.

When or if that happens, it is time to spring into action as every minute counts when you are trying to locate your child. “If you realize your child is missing, you should not wait for an extended period of time,”

said Deputy Mauldin. “Do, however, take a couple of deep breaths as you cannot help your child if you cannot think straight.”

Once you compose yourself, you can begin to contact people who may help: law enforcement, school, neighbors and your child’s friends.

Be prepared to share information such as your child’s name, date of birth, height, weight and any unique identifiers (glasses, braces, scars) with law enforcement.

Be sure to provide them with a detailed description of what your child was wearing and let them know at what time you first noticed your child was missing.

After reporting your child missing to law enforcement, call NCMEC at 1-800-THELOST (1-800-843-5678). If your child is missing from home, NCMEC advises you to search any spaces throughout the house where your child may hide, such as under beds, in closets, inside large appliances (like washing machines) and vehicles.

Advise children to not go looking for you if they get lost — instead, find that “good stranger.”

In Florida, we also live near bodies of water and swimming pools, warranting a search in any nearby. And if the details of your child’s disappearance involve a suspected abduction, law enforcement will advise you if your child’s circumstances meet the criteria for an Amber Alert, which is reserved for the most serious cases where a child is at risk of bodily harm or death.

Although kids will be kids, we as parents can arm them with information to use in the event that they become separated from us. Even practicing a scenario with your child will help them to remain calm if they become truly lost. “The best thing you can do for your children is talk to them!” said Deputy Mauldin. “Many parents are afraid to talk to their children and teach them that bad stuff can happen. We need to prepare them for both the good and the bad!” ✽

safetytips

label a child’s ++ Never backpack or lunch box with their full name. This will prevent strangers from reading it and calling their name as if they know them.

sure your child’s ++ Make cellphone is fully charged

when they leave the house and that you program it with all necessary phone numbers, including close friends, adults they trust and family that can help if they are needed.

advantage of ++ Take opportunities to get your

child’s fingerprints and DNA taken when available.

Keep them stored in a safe place so that they are easily accessible if they ever are needed.

adults to watch ++ Assign specific children when you are on an outing. Do not assume that your partner is watching when he or she assumes you are.

ahead with worst++ Plan case scenarios with your children. Talk through situations to instruct them on how they should respond and how they should find help.

a list of your ++ Keep child’s friends’ contact

information so you can contact them in the event that he or she goes missing to see if they have any information.

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life

happy fa m i ly

Meet t he

Colón Family

John, Jennifer, John Daniel (JD) (6), Lyla (3) and Selah (2)

PHOTOS BY AB PHOTOGRAPHY

Occupation(s): John is a registered nurse, and Jennifer is a first grade teacher.

Favorite family meal: Friday night pizza and a movie.

Favorite date spot: Anywhere we are together (without kids)!

Movie in our DVD player right now: “Donut Man” or “Peter Pan.” The kids’ favorite books: "Love You Forever," "I Love You Stinky Face," "The Kissing Hand," "Polar Express" and their children's rhymes bible.

Mommy and Daddy’s favorite TV shows: "This Is Us," "Timeless," "Flea Market Flip" and "Fixer Upper."

Websites we love: Fiercemarriage.com, Amazon.com and Pinterest.com.

Favorite sports/extracurriculars to do: Anything outdoors.

Favorite family activity: Dance parties, putting on plays and playing in the backyard with our neighbors.

Favorite day trip: SeaWorld.

Favorite family vacation destination: The beach.

What makes my kids laugh: When daddy dips and kisses mommy.

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We love life and all that comes with it — the good and the bad. We just take it one day at a time.

Parenting ... is the toughest but most amazing responsibility we have been given.

Why we love living in Gainesville: We love all of the parks/hiking trails and our church family. We also have family that lives here.

Something that we want our children to value as they grow up: God first, then family and friends.

First word you think of when we say “family”: Happiness.

Must-have item(s): Pacifiers, snacks and scented candles.

Three words that describe our family: Spontaneous, silly and outgoing Anything else you want us to know about your family? We love life and all that comes with it — the good and the bad.

We just take it one day at a time. Parenting has taught us so much about the love Father God has for us. It is the toughest but most amazing responsibility we have been given. We love all of our crazy family! ]

life sweat equity you put into the rent-to-own property will not be reimbursed.

Your car In most cases, it makes more sense to buy a car than it does to lease, especially if you drive a lot of miles, have children who may damage the interior, or if you are particularly rough on vehicles. There are a few instances where leasing might seem like a better option, but according to Consumer Reports, the financial workings of leasing are so confusing that people don’t realize that leasing invariably costs more than an equivalent loan to purchase the vehicle. However, many people cannot afford the higher payments that buying requires and opt to lease so that they can drive a new model car for a lower monthly payment. If payments are your main issue, consider buying a lower-cost new vehicle or a reliable used one.

Your clothes and accessories

Buying vs. Renting: Which is Best for You?

BY SELENA GARRISON

In today’s world, we have the option to rent just about anything. From homes to cars to clothes and accessories, we have endless options. But when is it best to buy? And is renting ever the better option?

Your home While buying a home might seem like what you are supposed to do as a “grown up,” it is not the best option for everyone. A few reasons to rent instead of buy include flexibility with life changes, uncertainty in your job or income, credit issues and the joy of not being responsible for most

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maintenance expenses. If you are settled in your job, have good credit, plan to stay in the same area for at least five to seven years, and can afford to purchase a home, buying may be in your best interest. A third option is rent-to-own. In this situation, a tenant usually pays a fee called “option money” to allow them the option of buying the house at the end of the rental term and pays about 20 percent above the typical rent for the house.

A portion of that rent is credited to the tenant for an eventual down payment. If the tenant decides not to purchase the house at the end of the rental term, the extra money that he or she paid is not reimbursed. The tenant is also often responsible for repairs and maintenance during the lease term, and any money or

With the rise of online retailers have come a slew of options for renting both clothing and accessories. While it is obviously necessary to have staple pieces in your wardrobe, the idea of renting clothing has moved from just special occasions to everyday wear. While rental sites like Renttherunway.com cater to fancier outings, sites like Letote.com and Gwynniebee.com cater to everyday pieces to spice up your wardrobe with a variety of subscription options depending on your budget. If accessories are your thing, renting that great pair of boots or that designer bag from a site like Bagborroworsteal.com might be more cost-effective than buying them outright.

In general, if you are going to wear an item over and over again (think your favorite jeans, your go-to sandals, the little black dress that works for any occasion) buying is probably your best bet. If you are looking for a little variety but don’t want to spend big bucks on pieces you won’t wear often, then renting might be in your best interest.

Regardless of what you are looking to buy or rent, as a savvy consumer you have tons of options at your fingertips. Do your research and make the best choices for your personal situation. Happy shopping! ✽

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✿ How to get started Before you begin harvesting fruits and vegetables, there are some logistical and environmental factors to consider. Most crops require at least some sunlight, so you need to find an area of land that receives direct sunlight but can also be shaded, either by trees or artificial barriers. You will also need to add compost or fertilizer to your soil and till the ground by digging and stirring the soil to break it up. Tilling prevents the soil from becoming crusty and dry. This allows for air, water, sunlight and nutrients to penetrate the soil and reach the roots of your crops so they can grow steadily and strong.

✿ Getting the kids involved

How to Start Your

Family Garden

BY TARYN TACHER

Our society has taken a turn toward health consciousness, and rightfully so. With the rising popularity of veganism and gluten-free and paleo diets, people are becoming much more invested in their health and what they put into their bodies. What better way to monitor the food you eat than by growing it yourself? Starting a family garden can be a fun and educational way to bring the whole family together to work hard and eat healthy.

When your family consists of children of all different ages, sometimes it can be hard to find activities for everyone to enjoy. Luckily, starting a family garden is one thing you can all work on and benefit from together. Get some smaller tools for the youngsters so they can help you till the soil and tend to the produce.

You will want to keep their hands away from sharp garden sheers, but rakes, shovels, spray bottles and wheelbarrows are all perfectly safe tools that your children can use to help out. You may also want to section off parts of the garden for each child so they can manage their own areas with whatever fruits, vegetables and plants they like to grow and eat. Snap peas, radishes, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and green beans are great for kids because they grow quickly and easily. Just wait for the look on your children’s faces when they take a bite out of their first harvested items from the family garden — pure bliss.

✿ What to grow and when to grow it When deciding what you and your family want to grow in your garden, it is important to pay close attention to when fruits and vegetables are in their peak season so you can ensure you are cultivating high-quality produce. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the best crops to grow in the spring are bell peppers, blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, grapefruit, papaya, peaches, potatoes and radishes. In the summer, take a stab at mangos, passion fruit and watermelon. Try growing avocados in the fall, and broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, squash and strawberries in the winter. If you are looking for crops with more versatility, you may want to include oranges, sweet corn and tomatoes in your garden. They are fruitful for the majority of the year, with the exception of the summer months. Add guava, mushrooms and peanuts to your garden for year-round prosperity.

littering the soil with crushed eggshells to create a jagged foundation that will deter them from ransacking your garden.

You can also spray a simple dish soap and water solution (1 part soap: 10 parts water) over your plants to detract critters from snacking on the fruits of your labor.

Luckily, this just barely soapy water mixture will neither harm your crops nor the people who eat them.

Just wait for the look on your children’s faces when they take a bite out of their first harvested items from the family garden — pure bliss. ✿ What to do with what you grow ✿ Reading a plant tag When you add new fruits, vegetables and plants to your garden, it is necessary to know how to decipher the information on the plant tag. Generally, the first item listed on a plant tag is the plant’s common name, followed by its scientific name underneath. Below the names, you will find the maximum height and width the plant can grow up to, which is helpful when arranging your garden.

This is usually expressed as a range of a few inches. Next is the zone number, which determines what region the plant grows best in. The U.S. Department of Agriculture designates these hardiness zones based on location temperatures.

Alachua county falls in zones 9a and 8b.

You can go to Garden.org/zipzone for more information regarding hardiness zones. Below the zone number, you will find information regarding how much sun exposure the plant needs. Sun exposure is sometimes written out and other times is listed as an icon — a full sun means at least six direct hours of sunlight per day, a partial sun/shade is equivalent to half of that amount and full shade translates

to less than three hours of direct sunlight each day. The final listings on a plant tag indicate water needs and animal resistance. Water needs are indicated with one, two or three raindrops — one meaning soil should dry out before watering again, two meaning soil should be dry an inch beneath the surface and three meaning soil should remain damp at all times. If a plant tag has a rabbit or deer icon that is crossed out, animals will likely stay away from it.

✿ Keeping the bugs at bay Maintaining a fruitful garden can be difficult if bugs keep getting in the way of your plants’ natural growth. To keep the pests at bay, make sure that your plants are healthy and strong. This means regularly checking the leaves for damage and discoloration and removing any diseased or dead areas. It is also important to tackle weeds before they spiral out of control. Bugs like to settle in weeds, so eliminating them from your garden is a surefire way to limit the congregation of critters. For handling larger pests in an environmentally friendly way, try

Perhaps the most exciting part about cultivating a garden is being able to eat the food that you have grown. Gardening eliminates the guessing game about where your produce comes from because you are involved in every part of the farm-to-table process. If you have an excess of fruits and vegetables from your garden, you can gift your friends, family and neighbors with your juicy peaches and succulent tomatoes, or you can even sell them in a local farmers market. ]

IT TAKES A

Village GAINESVILLE MOM SQUADS

BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN & APRIL TISHER | PHOTOS BY SINCERELY GONE PHOTOGRAPHY

They look different for every mom. They take on different roles, which change over time. They are your words of wisdom, your shoulders to lean on, your helping hands, the people you trust with the most precious ones in your life. You call them your team, your village or your mom squad. You love them, your children love them and you don’t know how you would do it without them!

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T

hose friends who are by your side while raising children are priceless. They are with you through the feeding issues and diaper rashes. They sympathize with your sleepless nights and give you advice on teething.

If they are also moms, their children often become your children’s best friends. It takes a lot of work to nurture friendships once you begin having children, but it is so worth the effort to maintain the relationships between you and your core group of friends and family.

Moms Village

This group of 62 moms (17 pictured) started off as the local chapter of Moms Club International. But two years ago, they decided to break off and form their own group with no dues and less pressure to attend meetings, said Sheila Traynor, mom of two.

Through their Facebook group, Moms Village, this squad organizes two to three play dates a week and a monthly moms' night out. “Something that does not involve kids and usually involves some cocktails,” said Kristen Cooper (mom of one), laughing.

Aside from planned get-togethers, the moms offer each other support, from bringing each other meals after the birth of a new child to asking advice about schools and babysitters. “This is a group that everybody’s got different experiences, different ways of parenting their children and we all have such a great respect for each other,” said Kristen.

“We’ve learned from each other quite a bit.”

Danyel Boudreau, Meghan Mary Boudreau, Emily Butler, Shea Carter, Fernanda Castro, Kristen Cooper, Ashley Frankel, Sadie Gee, Irene Gutierrez, Patricia Huddas-Enqvist, Heidi Kling, Megan Knittel, Caroline Maher, Summer Miller, Jamie Sabourin, Robyn Toigo, Sheila Traynor and their amazing children!

Through the group, the moms involved have been able to develop close relationships with women that they never would have met otherwise. “If I was in a jam, I know I could probably call upon anyone in the group and say ‘look I need someone who can come over here for an hour to watch the kids’,” said Sheila. And that kind of inherent support is exactly what the Moms Village is all about.

It Takes Three

April Tisher, mom of four, Elaine Almond, mom of three, and Jen Garret, mom of three, all met through the Junior League of Gainesville about 13 years ago. During this time they have offered each other support in their parenting journeys, from watching each others’ children to giving advice during those tough child raising moments.

“That whole middle school thing, they’ve got it all figured out so I don’t have to,” said Garret. “I can just say ‘Alright, what do we have to do to look at the middle school magnets?’ and they tell me.”

The biggest boon of their mom squad has been the babysitting co-op the three moms have developed. For instance, if Jen is running out for a doctor’s appointment or planning a night out with her husband, she can rely on either April or Elaine to watch her kiddos. The hours that they spend babysitting are accounted for, and then they can count on Jen to watch their children in return.

Elaine Almond, April Tisher and Jen Garret

The trio also likes to plan family fieldtrips to the beach, the springs and the movies, and they have even vacationed together! Over the years spent together, their children have all become close friends as well.

“I love them and I love their children like they’re my own children,” said Tisher. “That’s not something that you just get. It takes time and relationship building.” ]

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| APR/MAY 2017

33

forks & spoons

Trailblazin' Treats!

BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN

Whether your kids are heading off to camp for the day or to the park with friends, their summertime fun is sure to make them hungry. Pack them one (or all!) of these tasty trail mixes to keep them energized and full throughout the day! Simply mix all the listed ingredients for a delicious treat.

The below recipes are just guidelines — if you prefer a heavier nut to dried fruit ratio or a sweeter trail mix, just add more of whatever ingredient you would like!

EACH RECIPE MAKES 6 SERVINGS

Chunky Monkey

Simply Healthy

½ cup walnuts ¼ cup granola ½ cup banana chips ¼ cup chocolate chips

½ cup almonds ½ cup dried cranberries ¼ cup granola ¼ cup dark chocolate chips

Berry Mix

Sweet and Salty

¼ cup almonds ¼ cup cashews ¼ cup wheat cereal ¼ cup dried strawberries ¼ cup dried blueberries ¼ cup chocolate chips

½ cup peanuts ¼ cup pretzels ½ cup raisins ¼ cup M&Ms

Island Time Peanut Butter Lovers ¼ cup peanuts ¼ cup almonds ½ cup banana chips ¼ cup peanut butter chips ¼ cup chocolate chips

¼ cup granola ¼ cup cashews ¼ cup dried pineapple ¼ cup dried mango ¼ cup white chocolate chips ¼ cup coconut chips

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35

forks & spoons

Guacamole Grilled Cheese SERVINGS: 4

Jazz Up Your Boring

Grilled Cheese!

For the guacamole: 3 avocadoes, peeled and pitted 1 ½ teaspoons salt 1 lime, juiced 5 cloves garlic, minced 2 small tomatoes, diced 2/3 cup diced yellow onion 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped Cayenne pepper, to taste For the grilled cheese: 8 slices Italian sandwich bread 8 slices cheddar cheese Butter Mash the avocadoes together with salt, lime juice and garlic.

Then mix in the tomatoes, onion, cilantro and cayenne pepper.

Store in the refrigerator for about a half hour for the flavors to mix well.

National Grilled Cheese Day is April 12! Instead of celebrating with your basic, go-to grilled cheese, try one of these recipes for a twist on a classic!

Heat a pan over medium heat and add enough butter to coat the bottom of the pan. While the pan heats, butter the outside of two slices of bread. Place cheese on the inside of both slices of bread, spread a heaping spoonful of guacamole on one side and put the two sides of the sandwich together.

Grill the sandwich on one side until the bread is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Flip the sandwich over and grill for about 4 more minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Repeat for remaining three sandwiches.

Apple and Cheddar Grilled Cheese

Pizza Grilled Cheese

SERVINGS: 4

SERVINGS: 4

8 slices white cheddar cheese 8 slices bread 2 green apples, sliced thin Butter Honey mustard

8 tablespoons marinara sauce 8 slices mozzarella cheese Pepperoni 8 slices Italian sandwich bread Butter

Heat a pan over medium heat and add enough butter to coat the bottom of the pan. While the pan heats, butter the outside of two slices of bread. Place cheese on the inside of both slices of bread, top with ¼ of the apple slices, and put the two sides of the sandwich together.

Heat a pan over medium heat and add enough butter to coat the bottom of the pan. While the pan heats, butter the outside of two slices of bread. Spread 1 tablespoon of marinara sauce on the inside of each slice of bread. Place cheese and pepperoni on the inside of both slices of bread and put the two sides of the sandwich together.

Grill the sandwich on one side until the bread is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Flip the sandwich over and grill for about 4 more minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Repeat for remaining three sandwiches.

Serve with a side of honey mustard for dipping!

Grill the sandwich on one side until the bread is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Flip the sandwich over and grill for about 4 more minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Repeat for remaining three sandwiches. ]

Looking for a quick add-in for a plain grilled cheese? Try adding one (or more!) of these ingredients to tickle your taste buds!

BACON | TOMATO | PESTO | SAUERKRAUT | BBQ SAUCE | SMOKED SALMON | SAUTEED MUSHROOMS | SPINACH | JALAPEÑO PEPPERS

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37

forks & spoons

Salsa Fiesta!

RECIPES COURTESY OF TONY ESPETIA | PHOTO BY ALLISON RABER

A must-have accompaniment with tortilla chips and other Mexican dishes, salsa can be traced to the Mayans, Incas and Aztecs. However, the name “salsa” (Spanish for “sauce”) didn’t appear until the conquistadors arrived in the early 1500s. Spice up your dinner this Cinco de Mayo with authentic Mexican salsas!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

RED SALSA

G

A A LS NS E RE

A VERDE) ( SALS

Pico de Gallo Salad 2 large tomatoes, diced K large red onion, diced 1 bunch cilantro, chopped fine 2 Haas avocados, peeled, pitted and diced 2 tablespoons white vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon oregano Combine all ingredients in a serving bowl and mix well.

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Giggle Tip: The amount of peppers can be increased or decreased depending on your preference in spiciness.

(SAL

SA

RO JA )

Red Salsa (Salsa Roja)

Green Salsa (Salsa Verde)

3 large red tomatoes, stem removed

8–10 tomatillos, peel and stem removed

2 cloves garlic

2 cloves garlic

½ bunch cilantro

1 serrano pepper

1 habanero pepper, stem removed

½ white onion, diced

1 jalapeño pepper, stem removed

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons salt Fill a large, deep pan about halfway with water. Add in tomatoes, garlic cloves and both peppers. Cook on high until the water starts to boil, then let boil for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, rinse the cilantro and chop it very fine.

Once boiled, add all ingredients into a blender, adding the diced cilantro, 2 tablespoons of salt and 1/3 of the water. Close the lid and blend on high for 30 seconds. Pour into a serving bowl and enjoy.

Fill a large, deep pan about halfway with water.

Add in tomatillos, garlic cloves and serrano pepper. Cook on high until the water starts to boil, then let boil for 5 minutes.

Once boiled, add tomatillos, garlic cloves, serrano pepper, salt and 1/3 of the water to a blender.

Close the lid and blend on high for 30 seconds.

Pour the salsa into a serving bowl and add the onion. Eat and enjoy! ]

heading p

R ockin'

ALACHUA COUNTY!

BY WENDY ECKHART

The idea behind painting rocks is not a new one. People all over the country have been doing it for quite a while. In fact, the idea has taken off in several communities in Florida. After a long weekend visiting in Martin County, my two kids got the bug! We had painted some rocks at their grandparents’ house and gone to a local park for a rock hunt. The kids were so excited not only to hide the rocks they had painted but to actually find rocks that had been hidden, too! We found rocks with meaningful quotes, sparkles and polka dots! It was so much fun, we decided to start our own rock-painting group to see what joy we could bring to those around our community.

É HOW-TO: The idea is pretty

inexpensive. You can buy a few small containers of acrylic paint at any craft store or big box store. You will need a paintbrush and some water to wash your bristles. Once you have painted your rock, we suggest you seal it with a clear coat to protect the artwork. You can buy a clear coat at any store that sells spray paint. Then, go out into the community and find a place to set your rock for someone else to find. We have so many beautiful areas in Alachua County, and we hope that this will help families spend more time together outdoors and enjoy this gorgeous area in which we live!

Don’t forget to label your rocks “Rockin’ Alachua County Facebook.”

We can’t wait to see what you create!

LOC AL

FINDS!

JONESVILLE TENNIS PARK

COFRIN PARK

ROCK PHOTOS COURTESY OF WENDY ECKHART. KIDS' PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY FAMILIES.

We had some friends join us one afternoon and we started painting. Our one requirement was that the rocks had to be bright enough to catch someone's attention. On the back of each painted rock we wrote “Rockin’ Alachua County Facebook.” Then, we went out into the community and started leaving them around parks and highly frequented areas with the hope that someone would find them and check out our group on Facebook.

Within two days, we had almost 80 members and the page was filled with images of smiling kids who had found our rocks.

The idea is simple. Paint a rock to bring joy to someone else’s day. That is it!

You do not have to be a professional artist. All you need is to enjoy the act of giving a painted rock to bring a smile to another person’s face. You can enjoy painting alone or as a group. Get together with your family, playgroups, mommy groups, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or art clubs. Painting rocks can be a wonderful group activity, and finding rocks is even more fun! What is more exciting than a real treasure hunt? Head out to a park and take a nice walk. You could find a rock on a bench, in a tree, on a log … the possibilities are endless! You may even find them while out shopping!

gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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health

'Tis the Season for Allergies

BY KELLY GOEDE

Itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing … forget waiting for the weather report — your child’s symptoms broadcast loud and clear that it is allergy season! Tree, grass and weed pollens along with mold spores can make life miserable for scores of allergy sufferers, and spring means lots of sneeze-inducing flora are in full bloom. And, thanks to a warm winter, trees are blooming earlier, which means pollen levels are rapidly climbing higher than normal.

Without freezing temperatures to cause grass to go dormant, the pollen and mold spores they emit are rampant. Just ask the hood of your car, which is no doubt colored a delicate shade of goldenrod by now!

Navigating your child’s allergy season symptoms requires a plan, sprinkled with some knowledge and prevention, and possibly fortified with medication.

If your child is an allergy sufferer, he isn’t alone.

Up to 40 percent of children in the United States are affected. In fact, Dr. Jeffrey M. Phillips, an otolaryngologist with Accent Physician Specialists, said that “children as young as 3 years old can have allergies to outdoor allergens, while kids as young as 1–2 years old can have allergies to indoor allergens, such as dust mites, pet dander and molds.” Knowing what your child is allergic to is a simple first step, involving a visit to an allergy doctor or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor. Finding out exactly which allergens are wreaking havoc goes a long way toward helping you know how to combat them.

Skin tests (in which the doctor applies a diluted allergen to the skin with a small prick) can identify specifically what is making your child feel so lousy.

From there, many times doctors will prescribe various antihistamines, nasal sprays and other allergy combatants. Dr. Phillips noted that most common antihistamines do have pediatric formulations, so they are safe for your child to use. Once outside the doctors’ office, it is time to go into offensive mode.

At no time in history have we ever been as informed about the condition of our air quality as we are now!

With a quick check of websites like Pollen.com and Weatherchannel.com, parents can easily obtain the

pollen counts for their area and determine if their child will likely be suffering more or less from their allergies that day. As a rule of thumb, warm and dry days (especially with wind) will be worse for allergy sufferers than cool and moist days. The best time for your child to spend outdoors is right after it rains, when pollen has been temporarily washed away and the air is cleaner. Ironically, thunderstorms can produce nasty effects for allergy sufferers, as their increased winds can spread and even rupture pollen grains, causing a phenomenon known as “thunderstorm asthma,” which according to Jaxallergy.com (the website of the Allergy & Asthma Specialists of North Florida) can cause increased and worsened allergy symptoms.

Outdoor pollen levels can also affect indoor air quality as children can track in allergens on their shoes and clothing after being outside. Keep doors and windows closed and use an air purifier with a HEPA filter to clean out airborne particles.

Also, having children change out of their outdoor clothes will reduce the allergens in their immediate environment. A bath before bedtime will remove any residual pollen and other allergens from your child’s skin.

And which allergy culprits are the worst offenders this time of year? Beyond the grass, look no further than the abundant oaks, which have a long period of pollen production (February to late May), according to Jaxallergy.com. The other trees that cause the most allergy issues in Florida include birch (late winter, early spring), elm (late January through the spring), bayberry and maple. And even though pine trees are the ones to coat every outdoor surface with their yellowy pollen, pine allergies are rare — more likely the oaks are to blame for your child’s symptoms. ]

Tips from Dr. Phillips • Grass and weed pollens peak earlier in the morning, so it might be best to have a child who suffers from spring allergies avoid heavy play outdoors during that time.

• Sunglasses can help protect eyes from pollen.

• Use pillow and mattress covers on beds and use a dehumidifier to keep indoor air dry.

• Avoid hanging laundry outside, as sheets and clothes can pick up pollen from the air.

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45

health

Scrap the Swabs: How to Safely Clean Your Ears

BY MEREDITH SHELDON

Some people use their car keys. Others use the end of a ballpoint pen, bobby pins or even a long pinky nail. Perhaps worst of all was the woman who used a metal spoon that had been passed down in her family for three generations just to clean the gooey wax out of her ear.

Earwax, according to Dr. Jeremy Melker, a private practice ENT doctor with Gainesville ENT and Allergy Associates, is a normal, anti-fungal protection barrier produced in ears. Yet, people try to clean and eliminate this sticky substance using foreign objects like cotton swabs, which end up doing more harm than good.

“The old saying is don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear,” said Dr. Melker. “I’m progressive, so in 2017, I’ll let you use your fingertip on a washcloth.” Besides a fingertip, Dr. Melker recommends that adults and kids use droplets of inexpensive mineral oil two to three times a week to eliminate excess wax. He said this is a safe and effective practice so long as the adult or child does not have any tubes or holes already in their ears.

Fishing for wax in your ears with cotton swabs can put you at risk for two things: chronic itching and ear damage. Cotton

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gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

curettes can break down the protective barrier and even cause hearing loss.

“I’ve had several patients who hit their ear drum with Q-tips and knocked their bones out of hearing alignment and require surgery,” he said. “Others poked holes or lose the head in there and can get an infection.”

Besides cotton swabs, ear candling is another dangerous method of removing wax. People place a candle in their ear while lying on their side. The burning of the candle is thought to soften and eliminate earwax. The practice can damage the eardrum and it can burn the ear and the person. “I have no idea where the practice began,” Dr. Melker said. “But I know where it ends, and that is usually my office.”

An increase in thicker earwax comes with an increase in age, said Dr. Melker, so adults often have more problems with

“The old saying is don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.”

Cotton curettes can break down the protective barrier and even cause hearing loss.

wax buildup than kids. However, trying to clean out wax in kids’ ears is where problems usually start. He said wax is a healthy substance and does not need to be cleaned out religiously. He recommends mineral oil for people who have an uncomfortable amount of wax buildup.

“A lot of it comes from when parents come in with good intentions that actually make it worse,” he said. “Some parents get anxious about seeing the wax in their kids’ ears, and we routinely see problems from those do-it-yourself sort of kits.”

If you experience discomfort from wax buildup, Dr. Melker recommended scheduling a visit with a local ENT doctor for proper treatment and cleaning.

“It has to be done with great care and it can be very uncomfortable. I have patients who have literally had 50 years of wax crammed in there,” he said. “As an ENT, it is easier to clean it with the specialized equipment that we have.” ]

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health 2 1

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Lovely

Lavender With its calming scent and beautiful color, what isn’t there to love about lavender?

From face masks and bath bombs to nail polish and hair dye, you can easily add a touch of lavender to your everyday routine!

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1. Fango ESSENZIALI Calm Face + Body Mud Mask $32.50, Macy’s and Macys.com 2. Merle Norman Pretty Lily Eye Shadow $12, Merlenorman.com 3. L’Oreal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Purple $12.99, Target.com, Walmart.com and other retailers 4. Lavender Vanilla Pillow Mist $12.50, Bath & Body Works

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5. OPI Fiji Collection in Polly Want a Lacquer? $12.50, Ulta.com

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6. A French Kiss Bubble Bar $8.95, Lushusa.com

Made with sea lavender!

7. June Jacobs Age Defying Ultimate Overnight Copper Marine Masque $80, Junejacobs.com

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WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

Composting Your Way to a Happier Garden

BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN

Every day the average person generates 4.3 pounds of waste, according to the Duke University Center for Sustainability and Commerce. And of those 4.3 pounds, about 65 percent is made up of food scraps and yard waste — items that can instead be given new life in your garden as compost. gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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Benefits of compost

Aside from reducing the amount of waste that ends up in our landfills, composting has a number of benefits. Using compost in your garden can improve the structure of your soil and allow it to hold on to more nutrients, said Denise DeBusk, the environmental and community horticulture agent of the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County. The composting process also creates a large supply of plantavailable nitrogen, which leads to lush, green plant growth, every gardener’s goal!

How to start your compost heap

First you need to determine where you will keep your compost heap. Whether you choose to buy a compost bin or tumbler, or make your own wooden bin, DeBusk recommends that you try to aim for a structure that is 3-feet tall, 3-feet wide and 3-feet long, as it is the optimal size for compost processing. If you are using a storage structure without a bottom, she also recommends adding a layer of sticks as the base of your pile before you start to add your scraps and yard trimmings.

You will want to make sure that your pile is easily accessible so that you can mix it frequently. You should also consider placing your compost pile downwind of your home to avoid being greeted by the unpleasant odors that can sometimes accompany compost. Once you have selected a site and a storage method, you can start adding materials to your compost heap!

Tabletop Composting If you are planning on adding kitchen scraps to your compost, you’ll need somewhere to store them before adding them to your pile — the sight and smell of old, decomposing veggies sitting on your counter might not be ideal when you are trying to cook or entertain.

These counter-top compost bins are the perfect way to seal in the smells while allowing proper airflow to reach your scraps.

1. EcoCrock Compost Bin, $39.99, Chefn.com This cute countertop composter has a dual bucket design for easy removal and a charcoal filter to eliminate odor.

2. Green Cycler, $119.99, Thegreencycler.com Sized to fit easily on your countertop, the green cycler allows composters to manually shred their kitchen scraps.

3. Fresh Air Countertop Compost Collector, $29.99, Fullcirclehome.com The unique design of this compost collector allows for increased airflow and opens with just the touch of a button.

1.

What to include and what to keep out

2.

Compost requires three basic ingredients, according to the Environmental Protection Agency — browns (twigs, branches and dead leaves), greens (food waste and grass clippings) and water. The brown and green ingredients provide carbon and nitrogen, while the water helps to break down the organic materials added to your heap. To help your compost process more quickly, DeBusk recommends alternating between layers of greens and browns.

According to the EPA, you can compost any of the following: fruits, vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, nut shells, yard trimmings, shredded newspaper, cardboard, grass clippings, houseplants, paper, hay, hair, fur, straw, leaves, wood chips, sawdust, ashes, lint and rags. For a more efficient compost heap, it is best to shred food waste to speed up the decomposition process.

You should avoid placing any dairy products in your compost heap, as they can cause bad odors and attract pests as they spoil. Oils, fats, grease and meats are to be excluded for the same reasons. And although you may think that including your furry friend’s waste in your heap is a good idea (hey, it works with manure!), pet feces can contain substances that are harmful to humans, so you’ll want to keep your garden clear of excrement. Along the same lines, you should keep any yard trimmings treated with pesticides away from your compost to prevent the chemicals from killing the microorganisms working to transform your kitchen scraps into black gold. ]

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Don’t know what to keep your compost in?

Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station offers free wire bins and countertop kitchen scrap containers.

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happy home

Spring Cleaning Your Fridge

BY TARYN TACHER

You open the fridge to grab a snack only to find that it expired three months ago. We have all been there before. But what is even worse is when you swing open the door and are greeted by the most putrid odor.

Now your appetite is ruined, and you have to figure out which item in your fridge is the culprit for the rancid stench so you can get rid of it immediately.

Spring is here, and it is the perfect excuse to clean out your fridge. It is time for a fresh start — time to organize your fridge from top to bottom, ridding it of anything and everything that has expired, is growing mold or that you simply never eat.

Start your fridge spring cleaning one shelf at a time. Remove everything from each shelf, and throw away all expired food items.

!

Note: You will want to avoid throwing these items into your kitchen garbage where the smell can linger. Put these foods in a separate garbage bag, and add them to the garbage that is outside or in your garage.

Next, wipe down the shelves with some paper towel and basic cleaning spray to disinfect. According to FoodSafety.org, cross-contamination can occur in your fridge if the juices from raw meat, seafood, poultry and eggs drip onto other foods.

You can prevent this spread of bacteria by placing uncooked proteins in sealed containers or plastic bags and by storing eggs in their original cartons. You may

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As you prepare to refill your fridge, be mindful of the items you are putting inside. even want to add liners to the shelves to make future clean-ups easier and keep a box of baking soda in the fridge to help eliminate odors.

Once you have disposed of all expired foods and sanitized the shelves, you are almost ready to restock. As you prepare to refill your fridge, be mindful of the items you are putting inside. That salad dressing you tried once and hated? Throw it out.

The marinade you bought for a specific recipe and will likely never use again?

Toss it. The lackluster mustard you got on sale? Get rid of it. The key is to only keep the food items that you know you will use.

An overstocked fridge must work harder to keep your foods fresh because there is less room for the cold air to circulate, which will only lead to food spoiling more quickly and a higher utility bill.

Now that your fridge is clean and you have discarded unnecessary items, the next step is to organize. Stock soonto-be expired items in the front, so you can use those up first. Avoid keeping perishable foods, like eggs, on the fridge

door, as recommended by the USDA. The temperature of compartments on the door varies more frequently than the interior, which can cause certain foods to spoil more quickly. When restocking beverages, add new bottles or cartons to the back of the fridge, so the chilled ones remain in front, readily available for you to grab and drink. Make a rule about leftovers, and stick to it. If you do not finish them in the specified amount of time — the USDA suggests no more than four days — then throw them out. Utilize the produce drawers to keep your fruits and vegetables in good condition until you are ready to eat them.

You should make it a habit to clean out your fridge at least once every few months.

If you are stocking your fridge mindfully and frequently tossing out overdue items, cleaning out your fridge will become far less painful — no more intrusive odors, no more sticky surfaces and no more unused items taking up valuable space.

So, what are you waiting for? Start spring cleaning your fridge now! ]

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happy home

Quilting: More than Just a Hobby by teal garth | photos by teal garth

Growing up, Linda McSwain’s family never had blankets on their beds — they were always quilts. She grew up in Kansas, where her grandmother made quilts out of whatever she could find.

They weren’t always pretty, but they kept her warm at night.

“I think what it all comes down to is that a quilt is love,” she said. “It’s just a way of passing down love. I don’t know any child that doesn’t like the quilt that grandma made them.”

grandmother sew quilts about two years ago. Before she learned to use the sewing machine, she would help pick out the patterns, artwork and colors for her more experienced co-quilter to sew.

“I don’t think it’s a hard thing,” said Emma.

“Because even if you mess up something, it’s just something that you made and it’s art that you made and you can make it into what you like, so it’ll still look cool.”

A quilt-making grandmother might seem like a typical stereotype, but the technique is practiced by people of all ages.

Another quilter that started at a young age is 18-year-old Fiona Schneider. She first began sewing at the age of 4 or 5, she said, mostly because she couldn’t reach the pedals before then.

A perfect example comes in the form of McSwain’s 12-year-old granddaughter, Emma McSwain, who started helping her

“My favorite part is the design aspect,” she said. “I’m really big on color and matching colors and creating patterns, so

that’s definitely my favorite part. Just the composition and creating a pretty quilt.”

Fiona and her mother, Cheryl Schneider, estimate that they have each made over 100 quilted objects. Schneider runs an Etsy shop and sells all sorts of things, from pillow covers to teapot cozies.

Schneider and McSwain are both part of the Tree City Quilters' Guild, a Gainesville organization started in 1993 of around 100 members who come together each month to share their creations and participate in community service events. They donate quilted amenities, such as blankets, pillowcases and even placemats to multiple Gainesville programs, including Ronald McDonald House, Haven Hospice and Malcom Randall VA Medical Center. gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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Although each of the four women got started at different ages and for different reasons (taking a college class or watching her husband’s grandmother create a beautiful blanket) they now all agree that quilting is much more than a hobby — it is a form of expression and a valuable life skill.

“All four of my children, including the two boys, sew and quilt, for the same reason that the girls also know how to change the oil in their cars,” said Schneider.

Whether it is finishing a simple quilt in just a few hours, or spending years perfecting a work of art they are not ready to give up, there’s no doubt of the lessons learned in the production process.

My favorite part is the design aspect. I’m really big on color and matching colors and creating patterns, so that’s definitely my favorite part.

Just the composition and creating a pretty quilt.

- fi o n a s c h n E I der

History is a big part of quilting, said Schneider, whether it is recording your own life history through quilts or learning about historical events, like the Civil War through quilts made in that time period. “A lot of people don’t think about it,” she said, “but the American flag was a quilt.”

McSwain added that math skills also come into play when deciding what size quilt you want to make and calculating how much fabric and how many squares you need. A quarter-inch seam is also crucial for making sure your quilt fits together, she added.

Both Fiona and Emma agreed that the tradition of quilting is something they would someday like to pass on to their children.

“For some of us, [quilting] becomes a lifelong love,” said Schneider. ✽

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FROM ABOVE: Emma McSwain working on a new project and displaying a quilt made by her great-great grandmother.

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Ballet | Pointe | Modern | Jazz | Tap | Hip-Hop gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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happy home If you have enough memory on your phone or computer, start with the picture application already available to you and move all of your photos into folders. Now you can back up the photos on an external hard-drive or upload them to a photo storage site such as Flickr, Google Photos or iCloud Photo Library.

These services are free up to a certain file size. Larger files may require paid services such as Carbonite or Mozy. Do your research to find out if the service does automatic backups for all of your files.

Some back up only the photos you share.

N ASK HELE

Queries from the Curious Q

I’m drowning in digital photos on my camera … and old family slides … and yellowing albums … and canisters of undeveloped film. I’d like to create a coherent family history for my kids, but I don’t know where to start. I’m just shoving everything into a big storage bin for now. Any advice?

Your storage bin presents a messy picture, at first glance. You’ll need to imagine the outcome of whatever organization scheme you choose before you’ll be able to see coherence in your photographic treasure trove. Ask yourself the following questions before storing and organizing your photos. ●●

Who is the intended audience? Are you envisioning albums, CDs, DVDs or a web-based sharing site? What formats do you want for the contemporary photos?

●●

Have you moved pictures from your digital camera onto your computer? Do you know how to do that?

●●

What are your criteria for printing photos?

The easiest first step would be to cull the printed photos by tossing duplicates, out of focus or unintentional shots, and those in which the locale or subjects cannot be identified. Purge these from your digital camera, too.

As you look at your collection, think about how you might organize it. Many folks start with chronology and create sub-folders within the year for months or seasons. You might prefer to organize by topics — Family Vacations, Birthday Parties, School Events — that resonate strongly with you. Keeping your computer and paper systems parallel is essential to creating the coherence you want.

If you have various film formats, VHS tapes, negatives, slides or canisters of undeveloped film, look into iMemories, DigMyPics.com, or another online service that moves old and new formats onto DVDs. If you prefer the personal touch, check out Harmon’s and Total Video Service in Gainesville.

Delegating the tedious transfer of pictures and videos gives you time to review your collections. Now decide with whom and how you want to share the family history.

How much wall or shelf space do people have available for framed displays?

Explore digital photo frames for a rotating display. Would grandparents like a book featuring each child’s activities over the past year? Shutterfly will give you creative ideas for using photos to personalize gifts, and scrapbooking is a creative outlet for special photos. If you want to keep a limited collection of printed originals, use photo boxes with labels that match your organizational scheme.

A shorter answer to your question would have been “it depends.” And it does depend — on what you think is best for your particular photos and family! ✽

 Helen Kornblum is a life coach and organizer in Gainesville, Florida. Find her at www.CoachOrganizer.com. Her specialty is coaching teens and young adults who have ADHD.

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giggle stamp

eco-friendly toys & games

BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN Reclaimed Wool Penguin Stuffed Animal $49.99, Cateandlevi.com This adorable penguin is made from wool from reclaimed sweaters, which means that no two stuffed animals are alike!

From chemical-laden plastics to batteries, the toys our children play with can have a big negative impact on our environment. According to “Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash,” Americans buy and throw away about 40 percent of the world’s toys. So next time you are looking to buy your little one a new toy, consider purchasing something a little more environmentally friendly; something that they can love longer and that, once it is past its prime, will introduce less harmful wastes into our landfills.

Build-A-Bouquet $27.99, Greentoys.com This brightly colored floral toy is made in the United States from 100 percent recycled plastic milk jugs.

Apple Park Frenchy Fox Rattle $9.95, Little Jill & Co. This sweet little rattle is made with 100 percent organic cotton and filled with sustainable corn fiber.

Red Fire Truck $19.95, Lukestoyfactory.com All of the trucks from Luke’s Toy Factory are made in the United States, and 30 percent of the plastic used has been replaced with sawdust from furniture mills and window factories in the country.

Dinosaur A–Z Puzzle $25, Beginagaintoys.com and Amazon.com Get the best of both worlds with this fun and educational puzzle. Made with sustainably harvested rubber wood and child-safe stains, this alphabet dinosaur is designed with the environment in mind.

United State Geography Bingo $15.99, Shop.eeboo.com Made with 90 percent recycled grey board and vegetable-based inks, this bingo set helps players learn the different regions of the United States!

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Bring barnyard fun to your kiddo's next birthday party!

FARM FRESH FUN! Does your little one just love farm animals? Consider throwing him a farm-themed birthday party this year, complete with miniature horses and baby animals to make the experience one he’ll never forget! From party favors and games to food and decorations, we have everything you need to throw the perfect party for your little farmer.

BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN | PHOTOS BY SINCERELY GONE PHOTOGRAPHY | SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE C BAR RANCH

Wrapping plastic yellow silverware in green napkins makes them look like ears of corn!

Special thanks to Danielle Gamble from Sunshine and Sprinkles (Facebook.com/sunshinesprinklesgville) for creating this adorable rag tie banner for us!

DINNER BELL jj Wrap juice boxes in printed labels for an authentic farm touch. (Visit Gigglemamagazine.com for free printables!)

jj Make your own trail mix (check out our recipes on page 34!) for a delicious, kid-friendly snack.

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Be sure to provide an even mix of sweet and healthy snacks!

jj Place fruits and veggies in ceramic berry boxes for a fresh from the farm feel. (We found ours at Michaels for $3.99 each!)

jj Create your own animal headbands for a sugar-free party favor. You can find a printable template on our website at Gigglemagazine.com

jj You can easily make this barn centerpiece yourself! We used a red tri-fold project board, white tape and black construction paper.

jj Fill your “pig pen� with servings of pigs in a blanket.

party animals

Whether you decide to have your kiddo’s birthday celebration at a farm or bring a petting zoo to you, animals are an integral part to a perfect farm party. Always make sure to have hand wipes and hand sanitizer at the ready when handling animals!

Don’t forget the games! An egg relay race ties well into a farm theme and is fun to boot!

Simply give the kiddos wooden spoons and eggs (you can hard boil them for easier cleanup) and see who can make it to the finish line the fastest without dropping their egg.

You can also create your own ring toss with old fashioned soda bottles and mason jar bands!

our favorite

farm songs “The Farmer in the Dell” “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” “Mary Had a Little Lamb” “Bingo” gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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sweet tooth Jazz up pre-made cupcakes for an easy DIY dessert.

PINK PIGGY

CHICKEN LITTLE

For our pig-inspired cupcakes, a simple swirl of light pink frosting was the perfect touch.

These feathery cupcakes are coated in shredded coconut.

SWEET SHEEP

CLASSY COW

We covered white frosted cupcakes in mini marshmallows for a wooly look.

Black fondant cutouts over white frosting created the perfect spotted cow cupcake.

FARM

FRESH

PHOTO BOOTH What’s more fun than a birthday photo booth?

Complete with hay bales and animal props, your kiddo’s friends are bound to have fun taking silly photos together.

1

Print out animal face cutouts for a simple and fun photo booth prop. We bought ours from Etsy.com/shop/UponATimeDesigns.

2

A few hay bales add a distinct farm look to your photo booth and provide many opportunities for seating.

3

Your photo booth needs decorations, too!

We added a plastic steer head and a lasso for the complete farmhand feel.

4

Don’t forget to post a sign with a birthday party hashtag so you can find all of your friends’ photos on social media!

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Giggle Tip: Set the photo booth up near the entrance to the party to ensure that everyone takes a turn!

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4 WAYS TO USE YOUR ster Eggs All Year L a E c i t ong Plas

BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN

Plastic Easter eggs. We buy them just to use them one day of the year. Then they get packed away after the holiday, not to be seen again until the next year. But why waste the storage space if we can use these handy little eggs all year ‘round? From DIY toys to handy home dĂŠcor replacements, plastic eggs can be reused in many ways!

Use air plants, succulents, clover, or any other plants that will do well in a small space.

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* Always be sure to supervise any little helping hands when crafting!

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#1 Planter These mini planters are perfect for small succulents and air plants.

#2 Shakers

• Plastic eggs • Spray paint (optional) • Painter’s tape • Superglue • Air plants, succulents, clover, or any other plants that will do well in a small space Separate the tops and the bottoms of the plastic eggs and cover the inside surface of the bottom half of the egg with painter’s tape. Spray paint the eggs in whatever color spray paint you choose, or leave the eggs as is if you like their colors. Depending on the original color of the egg, you may need several coats of spray paint.

Once the eggs are dry, remove the painter’s tape from the inside. Glue two of the painted bottom halves together on the rounded side so that there is an opening on both the bottom and the top. Then simply plant your succulent or air plant in the top half of your planter and enjoy!

#3 Matching Games Teach your kiddos their uppercase and lowercase letters with this DIY learning game! You can also extend this idea to telling time, spelling, or anything else you can think of!

• 26 plastic eggs • Sharpie Separate the bottom and top halves of the eggs. On each of the bottom halves, use the Sharpie to write a

Birdfeeders #4 Birdfeeders

Upcycle your plastic eggs and feed the birds while you’re at it!

• Plastic eggs • String • Peanut butter • Birdseed

letter of the alphabet in lowercase.

On each of the bottom halves, write a letter of the alphabet in uppercase. Once the eggs have dried, let your little one try to match the uppercase and lowercase letters together! To make this game more of a challenge, write the uppercase and lowercase versions of one letter on different color Easter egg halves.

Put the string through the holes in the top and bottom of your Easter egg. Tie knots at either end to keep the egg together.

Coat the egg in the peanut butter, and then roll the egg in the birdseed.

By using different materials inside each egg, each shaker will produce a slightly different sound!

• Plastic eggs • Uncooked rice • Uncooked beans • Plastic beads • Super glue • Decoration (ribbon, googly eyes, washi tape, permanent markers, etc.)

Place each of the different materials inside the bottom halves of the eggs, then superglue the top half of the egg to the bottom.

Once the glue is dry, the shakers are ready to decorate. Your kiddos can design their shakers as they please, but be sure to do all gluing for them. Once the decorations are on securely, let your little ones shake away!

Once the egg is completely covered, use the string to hang your new birdfeeder from a tree.

Be sure to pick a tree that you have a good view of from your house so you can enjoy watching the birds come and go! gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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learn

How Alachua County Stacks Up: Recycling and Environmentally Friendly Practices + Alachua County's statistics* are better than national/international statistics.

- Alachua County's statistics* are worse than national/international statistics. = Alachua County's statistics* are about the same as national/international statistics.

Q. Do you use a reusable water bottle? +

*Based on a poll of our readers

have purchased an LED light bulb.

These numbers have increased since the phasing out of incandescent bulbs.

Q. Do you recycle pizza boxes? +

A. About 41 percent of respondents

said that they did recycle pizza boxes, compared to a survey by IPSOS in which 77 percent of respondents said that they recycled pizza boxes. Pizza boxes actually should not be recycled.

The grease from the pizza often soils the box, which can contaminate the paper fibers in the pulping process.

Q. Do you recycle aluminum cans? +

=

A. Respondents said:

Drive alone: 70 percent Carpool: 12 percent Work from home: 18 percent

=

According to the American Community Survey, Americans: Drive alone: 76.5 percent Carpool: 9.2 percent Public transportation: 5.2 percent Work from home: 4.5 percent Walk: 2.7 percent Ride a bike: less than 1 percent

Q. Have you purchased at least one LED light bulb in your lifetime? +

A. All of the respondents said that they had purchased an LED light bulb in their lives.

According to the 2016 Sylvania Socket Survey, 70 percent of respondents

Q. Do you grow your own produce in a home or community garden?

-

-

said that they did recycle aluminum cans. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 55.1 percent of aluminum cans were recycled in 2014.

A. None of the respondents said that they had a PV cell on their roof to make use of solar energy. According to Business Insider, over 1 million homes had solar installations in 2016, which is about .8 percent of households in America.

A. About 18 percent of respondents

grow their own produce. According to the National Gardening Association Special Report, in 2013, 35 percent of US households participated in food gardening.

said that they did use a reusable water bottle. According to a 2012 survey from EcoFocus Worldwide, 59 percent of respondents use a reusable water bottle.

Q. Do you recycle cardboard boxes?

A. About 88 percent of respondents

Q. Do you have a photovoltaic cell on your roof to utilize solar energy?

Q. How do you get to work?

A. About 94 percent of respondents

A. About 82 percent of respondents said that they did recycle cardboard boxes.

According to a report produced by the Environmental Protection Agency, 89.5 percent of cardboard boxes were recycled in 2014.

Q. Do you compost food/yard waste?

+

A. About 65 percent of respondents

said that they did not compost food and/ or yard waste. According to a survey from the National Waste & Recycling Association in 2014, 72 percent of Americans do not compost.

Did you know that Alachua County recycles 61 percent of its waste?

This is one of the highest recycling rates in the state, according to Alachuacounty.us!

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Alachua County Kindergarten Roundup

WEDNESDAY

MAY 10 AT 2 P.M.

BY RASHEBA JONES

Calling all 2017-2018 kindergarteners and their parents!

Alachua County Public Schools will be hosting Kindergarten Roundup on May 10 at 2 p.m. to help new kindergarteners register for classes while getting used to their new school for the next six years, said Kevin Berry, elementary curriculum supervisor of Alachua County Public Schools.

Parents and their child can sign up and register for classes at their zoned school in this district-wide event. The schools will provide tours of their campuses, allow families to view the classrooms and even meet their child’s potential teacher.

The event is a great opportunity for parents if this is their first child going to kindergarten or the first time they will have a child attend the zoned school. It also allows the students to get used to their new home away from home for the next six years. To help with the transition, current kindergarteners make crafts to welcome the future kindergarteners.

School administrators and district staff encourage parents to attend Kindergarten Roundup to help make a smooth start to the academic year. The number of students registered affects the number of teachers hired and supplies needed.

Parents who cannot attend the event can still register their child at their zoned school. If the parent is not able to make it to the school, they can also fill out the application at the Zoning Office located at the Kirby Smith Center.

Parents who wish to enroll their child at a school other than their zoned school are still encouraged to go to their zoned school and register their child for classes. Then they can fill out a zoning exemption to place their child at the school of their choice. ]

TO FIND YOUR CHILD'S ZONED SCHOOL AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, Visit the Alachua County Public Schools website at Sbac.edu 76

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with What do I need to bring me to register my child?

Parents should plan to bring the following:

Two proofs of residence

Acceptable forms of proof of residential address include deed or mortgage, utility bill, medical bill, automobile or homeowner’s insurance policy or bill, lease agreement and homestead exemption.

health records

Physical exam and immunization

Child's birth certificate

If you have misplaced your child's birth certificate, you can order a certified copy through the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

child's social security card

You can get a replacement for a lost or stolen card for free by submitting an application along with proof of age, identity, and citizenship or immigration status to the Social Security Administration.

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learn

The Honest Truth About Cheating

BY KELLY GOEDE

copy and paste from expert articles, and cheating seems like a viable option to a student who feels backed into a corner.

What if your child is caught cheating?

After you move beyond anger and frustration, calmly approach your child and ask some open-ended questions, such as “Why did you cheat?” and “What could you have done differently?”

As children progress through school, they are required to show growth and improvement in their academic performance. With added pressure from a culture of high-stakes testing, children find themselves expected to perform well on state assessments. The focus has shifted from learning for mastery to fulfillment of standards, which has done nothing to help the age-old blight on students — cheating.

According to a survey of 24,000 students at 70 high schools conducted

by Professor Donald McCabe of Rutgers Business School, 64 percent of students admitted to cheating on a test, 58 percent admitted to plagiarism, and 95 percent said they participated in some form of cheating (plagiarism on an essay, cheating on a test or copying homework). As parents, we cringe to think of our son or daughter being dishonest in any way, but we know it happens, and hopefully learning why will help it happen less often.

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Why do kids cheat?

In order for a child to be prepared to take an exam or turn in a completed assignment, a complex series of events must occur, involving stages of brain development and behavior reinforcement.

When an assignment is given, your child must engage in listening, transferring the spoken word into a meaningful understanding of what is expected (or read the written assignment and digest what is expected) and formulate a plan to begin to tackle it. He must decide how he is going to approach the assignment, and he brings his whole personality to the task — a child who is shy may not be inclined to ask questions, which can lead to a misunderstanding of the assignment, and a child who is disinterested in the topic may not be inclined to jump right in. And when the assignment comes due, some children do not budget their time to fit in completing the assignment and, under pressure to perform, resort to copying from a friend. Add in access to technology, which gives students the ability to text answers to a friend, obtain someone else’s already written paper and

Clearly but calmly explain to him the seriousness of cheating and what the consequences are if cheating continues into college and beyond. Dr. Jill Geltner, school counselor at Howard Bishop Middle School, said that it is important to stress to your child that as he ages, the consequences for cheating become quite large and severe. In middle and high school magnet programs, getting caught cheating can mean removal from a program, as these programs have honor codes requiring honesty in academic situations. As a parent, Dr. Geltner suggests a meaningful consequence that will clearly communicate to your child the seriousness of cheating.

As parents, we cringe to think of our son or daughter being dishonest in any way, but we know it happens, and hopefully learning why will help it happen less often.

Above all, knowing that all kids make mistakes — and even cheat — means that you have many rich opportunities to teach and guide them. And just like schoolwork, teaching children to be honest does not come with shortcuts. ✽

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The Pursuit of Family Happiness

BY OLIVIA K PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

With spring comes another season of sports, recitals and graduations. Like many of you, I look forward to these milestones in my children’s lives, but I get just as excited to find a weekend on the calendar with nothing scheduled!

It’s such a rare occurrence, but we try to make the most of it.

Family leisure time is recreational time between parents and children, and this time is just as important as any other event. According to a study out of Baylor University, engaging in recreation and activities at home is a more effective route to family happiness than going on an expensive vacation. Throwing a ball in the yard, playing a board game or having a family movie night further strengthens the family bond and promotes individual happiness as well.

In my practice, I once treated a child with anxiety and fears who was misbehaving at home, specifically when he was with his father, who was experiencing his own stressors. I encouraged the two of them to spend more time together, just regular father-son recreation time, without any pressures or schedules. Within a few weeks, the family was reporting increased family cohesion and improved mood from all involved!

The Baylor University study is good news to families who have a jam-packed schedule or are on a tight budget. While big trips to theme parks and cruises are amazing in their own right, the time a father spends chasing his son around the yard is just as meaningful.

“

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Fletcher Eaton, father of three, recognizes the magnitude of those little moments with his children. “When we don’t have sports practices or games to attend, we play with the dog, ride our bikes or watch movies,” he said. “We also visit the local springs around Gainesville.”

Positive psychologist Martin Seligman introduced his Authentic Happiness theory in 2001 and later it evolved into Well Being Theory. According to Seligman, well-being consists of five elements: positive emotion, engagement, meaning, positive relationships and accomplishment. For example, my children enjoy helping me cook in the kitchen. During this time, we smile and laugh (positive emotion) and talk to each other (engagement). I also take the opportunity to teach them about healthy food choices and how to measure ingredients (meaning) and trust them to pour the ingredients into the pan (positive relationships). Soon we are sitting down enjoying a meal we made together (accomplishment)!

When you think back to your own childhood, what are the happy moments you remember most? Which memories have the most meaning? Those little moments sometimes have the greatest impact on a child. So when you are managing your family schedule next month, make sure to leave some empty spots on the calendar, just for creating those little moments. ✽

LEISURE TIME • Cooking a meal together • Going for a bike ride • Racing around the yard • Family movie night • Baking cookies • Playing a board game or card game

• Building a fort in the living room • Taking a nature walk • Throwing a ball outside • Drawing or painting portraits of each other • Going for a swim • Visiting a local playground • Making a Pinterest craft • Reading to each other • Working in the garden

”

I remember my dad painting my nails on my back porch in New York. It is the sweetest memory.

– Nicole Irving

gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

IDEAS FOR FAMILY

• Feeding the ducks at the pond • Doing a water balloon toss

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4340 Newberry Road, Suite 301, Gainesville, FL 32607 gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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Academic Summer Programs

BY COLLEEN MCTIERNAN

't n s e o d g Learnin top at s o t e v a h e h t f o d n the e r! a e y l o o sch

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There are so many options for summer camps. From horse camp to swim camp, there is something for everyone. But what about for your middle or high schooler who wants to grow academically? It should come as no surprise that there are camps for that, too!

Depending on your child’s area of interest, there are many academic summer programs to choose from at a number of different universities, both close to home and far away.

É University of Florida Student Science Training Program

É Boston University Summer Challenge

Rolling admission

Rolling admission

Cpet.ufl.edu/students/sstp

This seven-week research program is designed for students who plan to pursue STEM careers. Current juniors who are interested in participating in university-level research should apply as soon as possible to be considered.

É Santa Fe College for Kids Program Sfcollege.edu/cied/communityed

Session 1 (7/10 – 7/20): Registration closes June 29.

Session 2 (7/24 – 8/3): Registration closes July 13.

Students between the ages of 10 and 14 can sign up for either a half or full day of courses during one of two two-week sessions.

Courses available include cartooning, anatomy, yoga and website tech, among many others!

É Cornell University Summer College Sce.cornell.edu/sc

Application deadline for all programs is May 5

High school students can apply for three- or six-week sessions in nine different fields of study, including social change and sustainability, engineering and robotics, and debate and literature.

Most of the programs offer college credit and are available to current sophomores, juniors and seniors.

É Harvard Pre-College Program Summer.harvard.edu

Application deadline is May 8

Students between the ages of 15 and 18 can apply to attend this Harvard program for two, four or six weeks. With on-campus housing, non-credited courses and plenty of fun activities, this academic program is the perfect introduction to college life.

Bu.edu/summer

Summer Challenge students enroll in two seminars designed to include different types of teaching methods, including lectures, projects, discussion and even field trips. These twoweek seminars range in topic from abnormal psychology and nutrition to photography and creative writing.

É University of Miami Summer Scholars Program Miami.edu/ssp

Application deadline is April 25

Designed for current sophomores and juniors with excellent leaderships skills and a 3.0 GPA, this program allows students to earn college credit, while learning more about what major they might be interested in pursuing once they graduate.

É SCAD Rising Star Program Scad.edu

Priority deadline is May 15

Open to rising high school seniors, this five-week art program is offered at three different locations — Atlanta, Hong Kong and Savannah. Courses vary by location and include classes such as drawing and design to help students build their portfolios.

É FSU Summer Music Camps Music.fsu.edu/summermusiccamps

Registration remains open until camps are full

Perfect for musically inclined students, the FSU College of Music offers band camps for middle and high school students along with piano camp, choral ensemble camp and string orchestra camp, among others.

É Penn Summer Pre-College Program Sas.upenn.edu/summer

Application deadline is May 15

Current sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply for this intellectually challenging summer course. Pre-College students take summer courses alongside Penn students for a true college experience, complete with college credit. ]

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conception2college™  expecting To Donate or Not? What You Should Know About Cord Blood Banking

 infant | 0-1 Baby Talk: Enriching Your Child’s Language Development

 toddler | 2-3 Two Too Terrible

 early years | 4-5 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Getting Real About Imaginary Friends

 kids | 6-9 Learning How to Lose

 tweens | 10-13 A Parent's Guide to Tween Dating

 Teens | 14-18

Photo by Sincerely Gone Photography.

When Your Senior Does Not Want to Go to College ... Yet

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To Donate or Not?

What You Should Know About Cord Blood Banking

BY APRIL TISHER

When I was pregnant some of the first literature I received was about cord blood. I was intrigued by the information, but I didn’t think we could afford to store it with a private company. Was I making a huge mistake by letting those irreplaceable stem cells go to waste? I wondered if donation to a public cord blood bank would be an option. I didn’t really know the difference between the two and needed to learn more.

Why save the cord blood?

The first thing to know is that cord blood saves lives. Cord blood is used to treat diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma or sickle cell anemia. The second thing to know is that umbilical cord blood is not the same thing as embryonic stem cells. It is simply the blood remaining in the umbilical cord after the baby is born. If not collected for banking this is considered medical waste and is disposed of after birth taking all the rich blood-forming cells with it. There is no harm to the mother or the baby during collection; it occurs after the cord has been

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cut and clamped off. The mother does have to sign consent and fill out medical history forms for the donation.

Where to bank it?

Private cord blood banks provide what they call “biological insurance.” If an immediate family member needs a stem cell transplant, cord blood from a baby may be an option. According to ViaCord, a popular private option in the United States, the initial collection of cord blood with a private company can cost around $1,600 and runs about $175 annually to store. That can be cost prohibitive for many families, and there is no guarantee that the cord blood will be the best match for a family member. There is a 25 percent chance that a child’s cord blood would be a perfect match for a sibling. Also, there are some instances in which a child’s own cord blood may not work for transplant in the future. If the child ends up with a blood disease, such as leukemia, the stem cells from the cord blood cells would also carry the same affected genetic material, making it unsuitable for transplant.

Another option is donation to a public bank. Cord blood donation is hardly new; in fact LifeCord Blood Bank was established locally in Gainesville in 1998 and works with both UF Health and North Florida Regional as local donation sites. LifeCord is one of the approximately 16 public cord banks in the United States. It partners with 12 hospitals in Florida, Alabama and Georgia and processes about 8,000 annual donations of cord blood. From the storage facility in Gainesville, LifeCord has provided cord blood to 25 states and 13 countries. Richard Jones, the Director of LifeCord in Gainesville, said that the cord blood bank provides the training, collection supplies and collection kits to the participating hospitals and comes daily to pick up donations. From there all donations are screened, processed and stored in liquid nitrogen until needed. Every donation is registered in the National Marrow Donor Registry Program, which handles all potential future matches. There is no cost for the donor to donate the cord blood or for storage at a public bank. However, once donated the donor releases all rights to the blood. Jones also noted that the safety and health of the mother and baby come first. In emergency situations or if things do not go as planned, the donation is the last thing considered.

Who can donate?

Donations are accepted from anyone that meets the basic health criteria. Donors must be free from infection and must be from single births only. There is too much chance of confusion when multiple babies are born. Donors from all ethnic backgrounds are eligible and encouraged to donate. In fact, the more diverse the donation population is, the better chance a match can be found when someone is in need. According to Bethematch.org, studies show that when donated cells closely match a patient, their chances of transplant success improve and patients are more likely to match someone of the same ethnic background. ] For more information about saving your baby’s cord blood, talk to your care provider or visit Lifecord.org

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ag e s 0 - 1

Baby Talk: Enriching your child’s language development

BY OLIVIA K PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

Avoiding screen time, for both parents and babies, may also be best for boosting language skills. Research from the University of North Carolina shows that babies prefer the sound of a mother’s voice over any other voice, while other studies from the US, Switzerland, Taiwan and Scotland indicate babies prefer positive face-to-face interactions for visual stimulation versus any other stimulus. With these studies in mind, it seems that babies learn best by imitating their mothers’ facial expressions and mouth movements instead of mimicking what they see on screens.

The biggest gift we can give to our children is our undivided time.

“Babies are hardwired to tune in to their parents, and parents best serve their children when they are available and responsive,” said Charles. “The biggest gift we can give to our children is our undivided time.”

There’s something about babies that brings out this unfamiliar voice and vocabulary.

Suddenly, we’re speaking in a higher pitch and making up words like “boogly googly” and “nosey wosey.” But how is this affecting our babies' language development?

Brandee Charles, a speech-language pathologist who works with preschool and elementary-age children, said this type of talk is captivating to a baby. Baby talk, also called “motherese,” involves more dramatic facial expressions, prolonged vowel sounds, simplified grammar and higher pitches in the parents' speech.

“Babies go through the very exciting stage of babbling between 4–6 months

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and this is a critical part of their development,” said Charles. “The pattern of motherese supports this stage as it promotes interaction and communication because it is so highly engaging with the baby.”

Charles noted that physically interacting with your baby is also beneficial to language development. “Providing them with tummy time builds balance and strength, and having a parent on the floor with them face-to-face builds emotional bonds and opportunities for communication,” she said.

Babies absorb information by watching facial expressions and mouth movements, and will try to imitate what they see.

Playing peek-a-boo or talking to your baby while she’s on the changing table can also serve as important building blocks toward communication.

By the time your child turns 3, he will have outgrown the “motherese” speech pattern.

I miss the days of hearing my son say “ammit” for elephant, but promoting clear speech is important for children. “We don't want to forget all the sweet little speech patterns our babies use, but we also don't want to hold them back from their potential to mature in their production of words and speech sounds at the appropriate age,” said Charles. ]

Tip from Brandee:

If you don’t want to forget all of the cute things your baby used to say, videotape your child saying some of your favorites so you can revisit them while encouraging appropriate speech patterns!

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ag e s 2 - 3

Tips for Taming & Avoiding Tantrums Bring crayons and snacks to occupy your tot at a restaurant — waiting for food to be served can seem like an eternity to your hungry little one!

Try to stick to a sleep schedule and give your child some control by picking out his own PJs, bedtime book or sleeping music.

Crouch or sit down to look your little one in the eye so he knows you are listening when agitation makes communication difficult.

Give at least five minutes notice when you are about to leave the playground or turn off television.

Two Too Terrible

BY DANIELLE SPANO

As your adorable infant approaches the two-year mark, you can hardly imagine him being anything but sweet. And then, it happens. Like the flip of a switch. Your curious cutie is becoming more independent as he tries to comprehend the world around him. He is developing physically, socially and emotionally, and there are times that this growth will be, in fact, terrible.

Each new word, activity and accomplishment brings a sense of selfsufficiency that motivates your munchkin to test the limits of his newfound liberation.

As parents, we set those limits to teach and protect them. We ensure that they are safe, eat healthy foods and get enough sleep, to say the least. But as your eager explorer discovers his individuality (and the word “no”), his frustration toward your boundaries can cause those twos to be trying.

Before you wonder what happened to your lovable little one, understand that this behavior is typical. “It is developmentally normal for toddlers just learning verbal skills to get frustrated when trying to express themselves,” said Dr. Stephanie Kirkconnell of Gainesville’s Alliance Pediatrics. The inability to communicate and control feelings adequately contributes to misbehavior and outbursts. Your child does not yet understand his emotions and cannot properly

communicate his needs and feelings to you.

Moreover, he cannot comprehend your attempt to ease the situation. As both your tempers rise, it is easy to lose your cool, but this is the most important time to remain calm.

In the journal Emotion, scientists Michael Potegal and James A. Green described the sequence of tantrums. Understanding their timing can help frazzled parents get control of the situation. Potegal said parents should allow their child to get past the point of anger, as he will be more inclined to seek comfort after he emerges from that stage.

They explained that, while difficult, parents should do nothing as their child acts out his anger; asking questions or attempting to diffuse the situation may only escalate or prolong the outburst. “It's difficult for them to process information. And to respond to a question that the parent is asking them may be just adding more information into the system than they can really cope with,” said

Know your child’s favorite songs! A round of “If you’re Happy and you Know It” might be just the distraction that turns that frown upside down.

Praise your preschooler when he handles tantrum triggers like a champ and controls his emotions.

Pick your battles! Your little one may quickly recognize that it hurts to have shoes on the wrong feet, avoiding a half hour tantrum when you ask him to change!

Green. Keep calm and don’t fuel the fire.

Sounds easy, right?

Enduring an outburst is not pleasant, so avoid situations that may instigate an incident whenever possible. Being hungry and tired makes us all short-tempered, so be sure not to push the limits when your tiny tot may be vulnerable. When frustrations rise, use music, a change of scenery, or a different toy as a distraction. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests you allow your child some sense of control and set reasonable limits that encourage him to build his self-esteem. This confidence will help him communicate and behave maturely. There will be ups and downs, so learn from each experience to help make this precious time not so terrible. ]

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ages 4 - 5 who is “part dolphin, part elephant and part cotton candy.” Throughout the movie, we see the relationship Riley had with Bing Bong and the creativity that came from their friendship. Having an imaginary friend and creating new games can develop a child’s imagination, boost creativity and brainpower and foster self-reliance. Children with active imaginations are less likely to rely on others, or on screen time, to entertain them.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

Getting real about imaginary friends

BY OLIVIA K PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

When I was about 5 years old, I had a friend named Patty. She had straight brown hair with bangs, brown eyes and stood as tall as my bedroom doorknob.

She had a brother named Norman and always had a place at the dinner table.

According to my mom, she would only visit over the summer. She lived in a big oak tree next door. And, oh yeah, she was imaginary.

According to a study by University of Oregon psychologist Marjorie Taylor, 31 percent of children have created invisible friends by the time they are 7 years old. She studied more than 150 preschool children and 28 percent of them had imaginary friends. Taylor revisited them three years later. She was surprised to learn that not only had the imaginary friends remained, but even new ones were created.

While some parents may be concerned about this behavior, wondering if their child is too shy or doesn’t have any “real friends,” Taylor said inventing an imaginary friend is normal and children can differentiate between real-life and pretend. Imaginary friends can remain for several years. She is currently studying

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fiction writers and their relationships with the characters in their books, much like the idea of having an imaginary friend.

A team of British child psychologists found that children with imaginary friends are more likely to be better problem-solvers and better equipped for real-life social interactions later in life. When children play with their imaginary friends, they develop a quiet, internal dialogue, which helps them think through tasks.

If you have watched the movie “Inside Out,” you know the character of Bing Bong, the main character Riley’s imaginary friend

Research has also shown that imaginary friends can help a child deal with difficult situations. Children use play to express their emotions, such as anger, grief or anxiety.

Nicole Mayer, mother of two, said her 3-year-old daughter had an imaginary family.

“I have a hilarious video of her telling us their names, like Lipstick Medicine and Beer Jeremy, but they lived in California,” she said. “It was right when we moved into our new house (from Florida to Georgia) and she missed the old one, so lots of stories of her ‘California family’ followed.”

Julie Krolak, another mother of two, said her son Tommy had an imaginary friend named Ghostie. “He’s a little boy that lived in our house whose parents died,” she said. “Last year we lost a lot of family members and family friends, 15 total. At some point during the year Ghostie went to heaven with his family.”

Using an imaginary friend can be important in creating dialogue between you and your child. Ask questions about the friend — what he or she looks like, what they like to do, how they feel. Engaging in this way will show your child you are interested in what she says, thinks and feels. ]

!

If a child begins to act violently or if his/her play is sexual in nature, these behaviors may indicate deeper issues and require professional help.

Contact your child's pediatrician or a psychologist for further assistance.

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ag e s 6 - 9

Learning How to Lose by taryn tacher

As the saying goes, “you win some; you lose some.” And while everyone craves the euphoria that comes along with winning — the pure bliss of yourself or your team being crowned victorious — not everyone can win all the time. For every winner, there is at least one loser, so it is crucial that we learn to accept our fate no matter the outcome.

When we are young, we are constantly praised and told we are the best, the cutest, the smartest and a whole plethora of other words that describe our supposed superiority. As our social lives take flight and we begin to interact with others, we realize we are surrounded by an entire population of people who grew up being told that they were all of those “-est” words, too. It becomes apparent the first time we lose that we are not, in fact, perfect.

So how do we prepare our children for their impending losses? How do we set them up to fail graciously?

“I applaud progress and effort, and tell [my children] that the only real competition in life is in the mirror,” said local mom Rachelle Lee. “Be your best self, work to improve your performance, and don’t worry about how others are doing.”

If your child hates to lose, as most, if not all children do, remind your child of her redeeming qualities — like the goal she scored earlier in the soccer game or all the words she spelled correctly in the spelling bee. Don’t harp on the negative — like the missed block or the misspelled word.

Encourage your child and applaud her

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for her effort. Be a role model of good sportsmanship by congratulating the winner and accepting the outcome.

“Children pick up on parent attitudes and how they handle things,” said Lee, “so unconditional positive regard is important, as well as discussing how actions affect others.”

We need to teach our children to handle winning and losing with the same level of maturity. By encouraging them to congratulate the victor and to humbly accept praise when they, themselves, are the victor, we are fostering healthy competition among them and their peers.

It may even be helpful to orchestrate situations at home to allow your child to practice winning and losing through activities like board games and backyard obstacle courses. This way, when your child inevitably acts on her initial sore loser or sore winner tendencies, you will have the opportunity to talk her down and remind her of the proper way to handle the results of competition.

Prompt your child to think of that feeling she experienced when she lost to instill empathy for others when they are defeated. Encourage her to harness the euphoria of winning to compel her to allow others to revel in their wins, too. No one likes a sore loser or a sore winner.

There is always going to be someone smarter, faster, stronger and better at everything, but what matters most is that your children continue to be their smartest selves, their fastest selves, their strongest selves and their best selves.

If they give it their all, they have every reason to be proud. ]

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ages 1 0 - 1 3

A Parent's Guide to Tween Dating

BY DANIELLE SPANO

Puppy love may be cute when your toddler has a little crush, but when your tween has his first real love interest, it can be downright scary! According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children now begin dating at around 12 or 13 years old. Your child is growing up, and you may be uneasy about proceeding into this uncharted territory. While there is no road map to dating, you can provide your tween with direction and prepare for this journey together.

Communication is going to be a strong foundation in this process. You have to set boundaries and provide opportunities for your child to ask questions that may not be easy to ask. Kelly Pankratz, an elementary school teacher, said that she began developing an open relationship with her 12-year-old son and establishing her only child’s self-worth at a young age. This paved the way for conversations about having standards and expectations of a healthy relationship. The conversation should be a two-way street, where you provide guidance and make it comfortable for your tween to ask questions and contribute to the dialogue. Getting your tween to talk may not always be easy, so giving him something concrete will help to solidify the message.

Seeing is believing, and the ability to recognize characteristics of good and bad relationships will help your child make smarter dating decisions and avoid negative circumstances. Real life scenarios are excellent teaching tools. Point out and discuss situations you see in public or in the media that represent negative characteristics of relationships. Lead by example at home by showing mutual respect, balancing your relationships with your other responsibilities, and showcasing positive

interactions in your relationships. Use communication and demonstration in tandem to prepare your tween to dip his toe in the dating pool.

While your tween may be ready to dive right in, you may be hesitant to let him sink or swim. You should both feel comfortable with his dating situation. Of tweens surveyed by Teenage Research Unlimited, 20 percent stated that their parents knew little about their dating relationships. Get familiar with who your child spends time and shares interests with, and allow age-appropriate opportunities to socialize with adult supervision, whether it be in your home or on a group outing.

The Pew Research Center found that while few teens date someone they initially met online, social media has become a primary medium for pursuing and getting to know a love interest, with 50 percent of study participants using social media to let someone know they like them. This means that parents also need to monitor and discuss online activity. Pediatrician Dr. Ron Eagar recommends in the guide “Caring for Your Teenager” that tweens start by dating in groups and hold off on single dating until the age of 16.

Whenever the time comes, insist that you meet both the object of your tween’s Keep normal curfew time or even make it affection and their family and ensure that you understand each other’s values. earlier for dates.

Setting Boundaries for a Budding Romance Have the talk. Ensure your Romeo or Juliet understands what is not acceptable at their age and maturity level.

Insist that dates occur in public places like a restaurant, the bowling alley or the mall.

Require that you meet/know who your child is dating and know where they will be while on dates.

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Reinforce social media and texting etiquette — dating details should not be made public, and intimate talk and pictures are not allowed.

Ensure that responsibilities such as keeping up grades and doing chores do not falter.

As parents, we do what we can to protect our little ones from getting hurt. We can kiss a boo-boo, but it is more difficult to mend your child’s self-esteem or a broken heart. You can prepare them, advise them, listen to them and be there for them. Once the dating door is open, the key is to remain a part of the process. ]

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gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

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When Your Senior Does Not Want to go to College … Yet

BY LISA KATZ

You have had this ideal plan in your head for your child’s entire life. He will complete elementary, middle and high school, and then he will be off to college. But now there is a kink in your plan. You child announces that he does not actually want to go to college. He has other ideas.

Rapid breathing takes over you entirely.

You can actually hear your own heartbeat.

You feel overly nauseous with a tinge of panic. What do you do as a parent? Should you push him to reconsider? Or do you support him, 100 percent, in his new plan?

The best thing you can do is to remain calm. You may feel like lecturing him on every good reason for him to pursue the college path, but it may not be the right path for him at this time. Take a moment to let it sink in before you react. This is key to having a conversation like this, especially when emotions may run high.

When ready, listen with an open mind and heart. Realize that this is not easy for him either. It may be just as hard for him to tell you that he wants to delay or forego college as it is for you to hear it.

“The first step is to have an open-minded discussion with your child about why they do not want to go to college,” said Jacquie Lamb, LMHC, LLC. “Sometimes parents have a tendency to want to 'convince' their child to seeing it their way. While that was a good parenting strategy when children are younger, it becomes more complex when your child is reaching adulthood.”

If your child feels strongly about not being ready to go to college, there are plenty of other options to pursue after completing high school.

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• Start off at a community college first • Take a gap year (one year off) to travel or work • Enlist in a branch of the military • Volunteer or get a small stipend doing an internship • Enroll in a vocational program to learn a trade or specialty • Try classes online before committing to a college away from home

gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

You may want to ask your child some of the following questions to get an idea of why he is feeling the way he is.

Why and when did you decided this?

Who have you discussed this idea with?

Is this connected to your boyfriend/ girlfriend?

Are you worried about being away from home?

What would you do instead of going to college?

When Gena Bugda, mother to a recent high school graduate, learned that her son wanted to join the Marines instead of going to college, she and her husband tried to get him to reconsider. “Yes we tried to change his mind, ” said Bugda.

“We had already paid for his entire college years before. We explained that it would be much easier to go to college when his friends were going because they would all be the same age, doing the same thing, having the same experiences.”

However, after talking the situation over with their son, they realized that it was his life and therefore his decision to make.

“He’s getting real-world experience, finding himself and getting some focus,” said Bugda. “Now he actually talks about his plans when he completes these next four years.”

Our job as parents is to guide our children to be as successful as possible. It is not surprising that young adults tend to change their minds about what they want their future to look like and where their interests lie. It is important that they know all the consequences and benefits of changing their minds about college. ]

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happy community April 1 April Fool’s Day April 1 Alachua March for Babies 8 a.m.

Westwood Middle School Marchforbabies.org

April 1 Family Day at the Dairy Farm 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

UF/IFAS Dairy Farm Facebook.com/FamilyDayattheDairyFarm

April 1–2 Party for the Planet

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Sfcollege.edu

April 1–2 Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

NE First Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601

April 2 Daniel’s Dash 5K: A Superhero in the Making 8–10:30 a.m.

Flavet Field Danielsdash.com

April 2 Baskets of Sunshine Family Volunteer Event

Noon – 2 p.m.

Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Facebook.com/AVeryGoodDeed

April 2 Embers Wine and Food Festival 2 p.m.

Embers Wood Grill Emberswineandfoodfestival.com

April 7 Orange and Blue Debut 7:30 p.m.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Floridagators.com

April 8 Pups in the Park

9 a.m. – Noon Dogwood Park and Daycare Gainesvillepetresuce.org

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gigglemagazine.com | APR/MAY 2017

A P R IL / M AY ca l e n d ar April 8 All Pro Dad Father & Kids Experience 1–4 p.m.

University of Florida Football Practice Fields Allprodad.com

May 5 Jazz on the Green 6 p.m.

Bo Diddley Plaza Jazzonthegreentour.com

April 9 Easter Egg Hunt

May 6 Moonlight Walk

April 9 Jest Fest!

May 6 - 7 Tree City Quilters' Guild Quilt Show

11 a.m.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Kanapaha.org

11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Historic Thomas Center Gvlculturalaffairs.org

April 10–18 Passover April 15 Haile Village Center Easter Egg Hunt 9 a.m. – Noon Fountain Square at Haile Village Center Hvcoa.com

April 15 Waldo Farmer’s and Flea Market Easter Egg Hunt 10 a.m.

Waldo Farmer’s and Flea Market Waldofleamarket.com

April 16 Easter Sunday

7–11 p.m.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Kanapaha.org

Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Best Western Gateway Grand Treecityquiltersguild.blogspot.com

May 6 Moonlight Walk

7–11 p.m.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Kanapaha.org

May 7 O2B A Kid Again 5–8 p.m.

O2B Kids Supercenter Edfoundationac.org

May 10 Kindergarten Roundup 2 p.m.

Sbac.edu

April 22 Earth Day

May 12 Mother’s Day Sleepover

April 22, 23, 29 & 30 Builders Association of North Central Florida Spring Parade of Homes

May 14 Mother’s Day

Noon – 6 p.m.

Bancf.com

April 22 Florida Museum 100th Anniversary Gala

6–11 p.m.

Florida Museum of Natural History Flmnh.ufl.edu

April 22–26 Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale

Saturday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday – Wednesday: Noon – 6 p.m.

430-B N. Main Street, Gainesville Florida 32601 Folacld.org

6:30 p.m. – 9 a.m.

Sun Country Sports – West Suncountrysports.com

May 20 Noche De Gala

7 p.m. – Midnight Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Nochedegala.org

May 29 Memorial Day

Alachua County Public Schools Closed

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